"Honey are you awake?" "Mumble Mumble" - 6/17

[brookelizabeth]

We always have great luck with the Airport Hilton (right down the road from IKEA!). Beautiful place, great buffet breakfast, awesome pool. Usually aroudn $100/night and SOOOOOOOOO worth it.

Making note of this...our flight leaves at 6:30 AM and we haven't decided if we are going to just wake up in the middle of the night and do a park-n-fly, do a sleep-n-fly hotel, or a combo of both.

Do they do a sleep-n-fly deal at the Airport Hilton?

 

[princessjv]

Caught up and so darn excited to read that the trip was started great! Love the pictures! Are you so bummed to be home and settled back into real life?

 

[hjd0411]

Hi - can I just say how much I am enjoying your report!! You had me laughing lots!! Look forward to reading more. And your son is a cutie-pie!! Love the video of your surprise. Too cute!!!

 

[thewesterberg]

Caught up and so darn excited to read that the trip was started great! Love the pictures! Are you so bummed to be home and settled back into real life?

I've gone through some Disney-withdrawal blues recently. And I almost checked my brains at the door when $50/each way flights between MSP and MCO popped up in my inbox this week. As a fellow Minnesotan, you know this is pretty much unheard of. Between this and the free dining stuff, I was so tempted. I joked that I had to walk away from my desk at work out of fear I would "accidentally" put my credit card info and "accidentally" purchase the tickets for December!

Hi - can I just say how much I am enjoying your report!! You had me laughing lots!! Look forward to reading more. And your son is a cutie-pie!! Love the video of your surprise. Too cute!!!

So glad you're here!

I'm off to work on the next installment right now! I have a bit before Book Club tonight and this would be a good way to fill the time!

 

[thewesterberg]

Why can't Pinocchio's nose be twelve inches long?
We didn't have to wait long for our bus to Typhoon Lagoon. We hopped on and grabbed a seat in the back. We were pretty much the only people on the bus. Within 5 minutes, Junior was out. Sound asleep. This kid never takes naps, but put him on a city bus and he's sawing logs. On a trip to Chicago a couple of years ago, he did the same thing after our flight. Curled up on a couple of seats (we were the only ones on that bus too) and he was off in slumber land. Must be the combo of the vibrations, diesel fumes, and flying. I wonder if I could market this as a sleep aid???

When we stopped at DTD, everyone had to get off the bus because something was wrong with it. This ended Junior's nap a little pre-maturely, but even the little bit of sleep he got put him a good mood. Soon we were pulling into Typhoon Lagoon.

At this point in the trip, I felt overwhelmed. We'd never been to Typhoon Lagoon so I didn't know the "routine", and I felt so disorganized as we arrived. There was going to be double waiting for Junior as we had one backpack with all of our stuff crammed in and both DH and I had to change. Junior had his suit on, so he was good to go. This seemed like a set-up for melt-down. Who wants to stand around in the hot sun with oodles of fun water rides just out of your finger tips?

Then Junior spotted someone.

Who could it be?


STITCH!

So DH grabbed the camera while I took care of changing or getting a locker - something along those lines!

After this point the camera was locked in the locker, so that's it for pictures. We forgot the waterproof camera in the hotel room.

We found a good place for our stuff over by the wave pool and we played there for awhile. Okay, those waves are huge. And strong. I held onto Junior for his sake as much as mine! (Junior likes to stand between us and hold our hands, as the big waves come he is swung backwards by the wave and floats horizontal to the ground for a few seconds. He did this last year when we went to the ocean too.) We enjoyed it for awhile and then we decided to float along the lazy river for a bit.

Ahhhh.... this was much more relaxing then the wave pool! We plopped Junior into one of the tubes with a bottom on it. He then decided that he was "too old" to have one of those and kept trying to climb out of it. Finally we gave him a big tube and he quickly realized his skinny butt wouldn't stay in the tube! (Sometimes Mom and Dad, do know something, right kiddo?!)

By this point we were over by Ketchakiddie Creek so we hopped out of the Lazy River and headed to that area. We played with the water sprayers and then we saw the little tube ride. Now, Junior was a bit of a water ride wimp when we went to the Dells in August, so we were interested to see how this would all pan out.

"What do you think buddy?"

He said he wanted to go!

We waited at the end of the ride to get a tube. Can we say mass confusion?! It would have been so helpful to have a lifeguard here to help hand the tubes off to waiting kids. Kids that came down decided they wanted to go again and would keep their tube so there was this mass of kids waiting somewhat patiently in a mob around the exit. Finally some parents jumped in to take shifts of handing tubes up to waiting kids. Seemed to work much better (and more fair!)

Junior grabbed his tube and I walked up to the top with him to get him settled. This was his first time doing something like this. He rode the whole way down with a big grin on his face! He got out and wanted to go again, so he got in line for his tube and then proceeded to repeat this process over and over. Woohoo!! I think this is a good sign for the trip! He's finally willing to try new things!!

Now it was time to try something I wanted to do - swimming with the sharks! And Junior wanted to do this with me! So did DH, so we stopped to get our snorkels and the two of them lifejackets. I didn't think I would need one as I'm a good swimmer/former lifeguard.

We rinsed off, got the lifejackets on and waited in line (Well junior got his life jacket on. The one XL one the guy handed me and said "I think this will fit you" didn't quite fit. You see I am not what you would call petite I am 6'5" and have a very large frame. Well since I tend to sink like a rock and the life jacket wasn't going to work, I went around to meet Junior when he got out of the water.) Junior had a blast playing with his snorkel while we waited. Who knew you could make so many cool noises?? Finally it was our turn to go. We heard the warning about how cold the water would be, and how to keep swimming, not to kick, etc. We were in the second group to go and I was surprised by how many people got out because it was too cold. I was bracing myself as I entered and almost started laughing out loud... that water seemed warmer than about every lake here in Northern Minnesota!! I've swam in Lake Vermilion at the end of May when the lifeguard had mittens on!

We started out and that's when I started having issues. I don't think I'd ever used a snorkel before and being so pre-occupied on how Junior was doing, I couldn't concentrate on how to breath. I got my daily allowance of salt(water) as we went across. At a certain point, I just gave up and slowly swam with my head out of the water, keeping my eye on Junior. I sort of wished at this point that I would have grabbed a lifejacket in order to relax a bit more. We may not have seen much for sharks, but at least we could say we swam with them! We went down underneath in the ship to get a closer look at all the fish.

We met back up with DH and we decided to check out the family raft ride. Another one that I thought Junior might decide wasn't for him. We got in the line, which was about 15 minutes long. Can I just ask, why do they make the rocks along there so darn tempting to climb on when you're not suppose to?! I swear we spent 14.5 of those minutes reminding Junior to keep his feet on the ground! Actually, once the lifeguard told another kid to stay down we sorta told Junior that the lifeguard was talking to him, and that straightened him out!

Junior, being the "big kid" that he likes to think of himself, thought he could handle the raft going up the stairs by himself! Not wanting to see our son squished like a pancake, we gave him the job of pushing at the back, DH in the middle holding it, and me at the top saying "Red Light" and "Green Light" as to when he could push.

Soon it was "red light" since it was our turn. We jumped in and rode it down, the whole time laughing. As soon as we hit the bottom, Junior requested another go at it! We're 3 for 3 today - tube slides, swimming with sharks, and the family raft! WAY TO GO KIDDO!! We went one more time and then it was time for us to get going. I left the boys in the wave pool and I went and got change while I was returning the locker key, I heard this huge commotion and people yelling. I turned around to see a CM breaking up a fight between a couple of guests! Who knows what transpired, but it was a little scary. It was over real quick and the CM diffused the situation beautifully.

I wandered back over to find the boys, snapped this sort of scary picture (the sun was so bright reflecting off the sand!)

I think that is really the sun reflecting off of my Pale Scandinavian Legs.

The boys got changed and we headed back out to the bus stops to try and find our way to DTD. We weren't sure which bus to take to get to DTD. I asked a bus driver who really didn't tell me anything, so we crossed our fingers and we hopped on a Swan and Dolphin bus. Thankfully the first stop was over at the West Side, so we got off there and decided to take the water taxi over to the Marketplace.

The one thing Junior REALLY, REALLY wanted to do on this trip was build his own lightsaber. That's where we headed right away.

He painstakingly picked out each piece and then decided he would be a Sith. (He picked a red lightsaber, red, you think you raise them right and they turn out to be evil. Oh well now I know how Darth Vader's mom felt.) He was told that he couldn't open up his lightsaber in DTD or it would be tucked away. How long would he last??

We headed over to Earl of Sandwich, ordered our sandwiches, and before we even got our food, he had a TOTAL meltdown. Because he opened the lightsaber and it was taken away from him. (So maybe 10 minutes had passed??) I left DH to get our food and Junior and I had a little "heart to heart." He calmed down and we enjoyed our dinner (Junior and I were sneaking bites of DH's bread pudding, which got us laughing again. My BLT was SOOOO good.

After dinner we headed back to POP. We all needed to get to bed. If he hadn't had the meltdown, we were thinking about giving DisneyQuest a go, but that would have to wait until another time.

We got back and even as tired as Junior was, he really wanted to walk up the Rubik Cube staircase. To the 4th floor. How could he have that much energy?!?! I took one for the team, and hoofed it up the stairs with him.

Tonight was the first night of what I call the march of the Mug people. If you have stayed on site you have seen them. Marching with heads down and empty mugs towards the food court. Then you see them marching back to their rooms, heads held high, mugs full of some life sustaining beverage, a joyous site.

We got to the room and collapsed. It had been a good first day.

Then it would be a foot!

 

[stagemomx3]

Tonight was the first night of what I call the march of the Mug people. If you have stayed on site you have seen them. Marching with heads down and empty mugs towards the food court. Then you see them marching back to their rooms, heads held high, mugs full of some life sustaining beverage, a joyous site.

The Stitch pictures are awesome!

 

[teruterubouzu]

Tonight was the first night of what I call the march of the Mug people. If you have stayed on site you have seen them. Marching with heads down and empty mugs towards the food court. Then you see them marching back to their rooms, heads held high, mugs full of some life sustaining beverage, a joyous site.

This really made me giggle. I can just picture it in my head.

This was a great update! I loved all of the details about the water park, especially about the "cold" water.

 

[princessjv]

The march of the Mug People... that is too darn funny!


Who would have know you were a fish in your former life? Swimming in Lake Vermilion in March? YIKES!

 

[brookelizabeth]

about the Scandinavian legs and the "March of the Mug People"! I am soooooo one of them...

What a fantastic first day! TL sounds like a blast!

I think us Minnesotans have an extra layer (or two...or six...) of skin!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I know I joined the march more often than not!!!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Great update!! The Stitch pictures are precious!! Typhoon Lagoon looks fun. I've never been!

He painstakingly picked out each piece and then decided he would be a Sith. (He picked a red lightsaber, red, you think you raise them right and they turn out to be evil. Oh well now I know how Darth Vader's mom felt.)

Hey - you've done your best. Nature vs. nurture.

Tonight was the first night of what I call the march of the Mug people. If you have stayed on site you have seen them. Marching with heads down and empty mugs towards the food court. Then you see them marching back to their rooms, heads held high, mugs full of some life sustaining beverage, a joyous site.

I'm generally one of them!!

 

[bubba_mouse]

It is amazing (and a little sad) to see how much that little mug of coke brightens people's day.

I wasn't sure how I would like the water parks but I really liked them. They were a nice change of pace from the theme parks. And since it was kind of hot while we were there (only in the upper 80's most days we were there compared to mid to upper 90's when we were there in 2007) it was a nice break to be around the water and nice and cool, and I am not really a water person (see the sink like a rock comment in the trip report). We were even talking that next time we go back we will get the Water Parks and More option on our tickets. Yes there will be a next time, and many other times after that.

Growing up my family only took two big family trips. I lived up in Northern Minnesota near the Canadian Border. One summer we drove to Minneapolis and went to Valley Fair (My Mom accidentally broke my Dad's nose on the Flume) and the next Summer we drove down to Duluth. I want Junior to have lots of good memories of lots of fun trips while he is growing up. Sometimes I feel like Clark Griswold except our trips usually turn out fun and I don't drive a Family Truckster with fake wood paneling. But I am a big kid and I want us to have fun on our trips.

 

[brookelizabeth]

And, Bubba Mouse, hopefully you will never have a dead woman in a lawn chair strapped to the roof of your car on one of those vacations...


I am with you on the vacations and taking the little ones. When we lived in Chicago, our vacation was going to Minnesota to visit Grandma. When we lived in Minnesota, it was going to Chicago to visit my Aunt. I loved these trips but ACHED to go somewhere beyond the Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Illinois. One year my Dad got nutty and we went to Iowa. Man, that was excitement.....or not! When I was in 12th grade we finally went somewhere, Texas! It was the best trip everrrrrrrrr! My DH had a similar non-vacationing family when growing up, so we are both very into travel and getting out and about on family adventures. Hopefully it all makes for some awesome memories, for both the little one(s) and the big ones!

 

[Pluto_fan]

Great update! It sounds like you had a blast.
Hey, where's the Disney joke for this installment?

"I think that is really the sun reflecting off of my Pale Scandinavian Legs."

 

[PrincessV]

Sorry - I've had some seriosuly crazy stuff going on IRL and I fell behind on TRs. I'm caught up now! Well, on your TR anwyay.

Junior, being the "big kid" that he likes to think of himself, thought he could handle the raft going up the stairs by himself! Not wanting to see our son squished like a pancake, we gave him the job of pushing at the back, DH in the middle holding it, and me at the top saying "Red Light" and "Green Light" as to when he could push.

I can just picture this! Those rafts are MASSIVE!

 

[thewesterberg]

The Stitch pictures are awesome!

Stitch was being a little stinker as usual and DH wished he would have had the video camera to catch all his antics!

This really made me giggle. I can just picture it in my head.

The march of the Mug People... that is too darn funny!

I know I joined the march more often than not!!!

about the Scandinavian legs and the "March of the Mug People"! I am soooooo one of them...

DH made me laugh so hard when he describes this...

I just have visions of ants marching (and then the Dave Matthews song gets in my head) whenever DH talks about the march of the mug people!

I think us Minnesotans have an extra layer (or two...or six...) of skin!

In my case, there might be another "insulating" layer besides just the skin!

Typhoon Lagoon looks fun. I've never been!

We had a blast and barely did anything! We decided next time we go back that the waterparks are definitely a must-do again!

Hey - you've done your best. Nature vs. nurture.

And guess what he wants to be for Halloween? Darth Vader. Got the costume yesterday!

And, Bubba Mouse, hopefully you will never have a dead woman in a lawn chair strapped to the roof of your car on one of those vacations...

Let's all hope for that!!

Great update! It sounds like you had a blast.
Hey, where's the Disney joke for this installment?

Ummmm.........

It was a test..........

Yeah, a test.........

To see if anyone was paying attention.........

Right.

I didn't put the joke in on purpose.........

Because it was a.....a.......a....

contest.............

Right, a contest.

So, that makes you a winner!! You WIN!!! Congrats. Way to pay attention! Here's a Mickey Bar as your prize.... Don't get an ice cream headache eating it.

(and now I have to go back and add that since I didn't even realize I had forgot. That's not a good sign... )

Sorry - I've had some seriosuly crazy stuff going on IRL and I fell behind on TRs. I'm caught up now! Well, on your TR anwyay.

Hope your days are getting better! Thanks for stopping by in the midst of it all!

 

[Pluto_fan]

Oooh, a prize! Thanks! We love Mickey Bars!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I had to go back and read the joke....so so cheesy...yet I laughed out loud!

 

[thewesterberg]

Oooh, a prize! Thanks! We love Mickey Bars!

Well, if that's the case, here's a few more! ENJOY!

I had to go back and read the joke....so so cheesy...yet I laughed out loud!

Yup, really cheesy, but how can you not laugh (or at least snicker!)

 

[teruterubouzu]

Yup, really cheesy, but how can you not laugh (or at least snicker!)

Exactly, it's like the jokes on the Jungle Cruise!