gellybean
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2008
- Messages
- 1,056
Hey all!!
to my very first TR. If you haven't read my PTR and are interested, the link is in my siggie.
We just returned from a wonderful, albeit interesting, family trip to WDW for 8 days. Allow me to introduce you to our crazy cast of characters:

We just returned from a wonderful, albeit interesting, family trip to WDW for 8 days. Allow me to introduce you to our crazy cast of characters:
Me aka Elastigirl (29) - I've been to Disney 11 times now and love love love it. It is truly my happy place. I could sit there and just BE for hours. I've done the world as a child, a daughter, an aunt, a sister, a best friend, a married woman and now a mom. Each trip gives new perspective and experiences and always makes me long to go back. This trip was no different. I'm suffering from the post-Disney vacation blues, I'll admit it.

DH aka Mr. Incredible (31) - Never been to Disney before this trip, despite growing up 5 hours away. It took me a few years to convince him to give it a try and I was very worried he would hate it.... you'll have to stay tuned to find out if I managed to make a Disney believer out of him.

Oldest DS aka Dash (6) - This was his second trip to the world, and he has been to Disneyland once, something I haven't even done. I'm so jealous!! He loves it. Loves the roller coasters, though this trip he informed me he only likes SLOW roller coasters!

Youngest DS aka Jack-Jack (1) - His birth a year ago spurred this trip. He was born on Dash's birthday and we decided to celebrate their birthday this year even before Disney announced their year of celebration. Go figure.
My Mom aka Fairy Godmother (66) - She started my family's love for Disney when she visited Disneyland California in 1956. She loves it as much as I do, if not more. She came along as a pseudo babysitter. Any excuse to get to come!
My MIL aka Mary Poppins (59) - She's only been to Disneyworld once before, to meet us on our trip in April 07. She lives about 5 hrs away from Orlando and really isn't a huge Disney fan truth be told, but she loves to see her grandkids any chance she gets.
My SIL aka Honey (34) - DH's only sibling. She loves all things Disney too, even worked at the Disney store in the evenings to get the perks!
My BIL aka Frozone (39) Generally an 'ice' guy that goes along with pretty much anything Honey wants.
So that's us! We weren't technically a Grand Gathering because the baby doesn't count! SIL and BIL were only able to join us for a bit.
Jump on board!! I promise there won't be many dull moments!!!
Table of Contents aka I just want to read the ACTION!:
Day 1-Part 1:Let's get back to the beginning! (Keep reading below!)
Day 1-Part 2: A Hop, Skip and a Tumble?
Day 2-Part 1: Fever Frenzy, Fast Passes, and Foot Pain!
Day 2-Part 2: Jiko and a Jumble
Day 3-Part 1: Soarin' and Sullen
Day 3-Part 1: Soarin' and Sullen Continued
Day 3-Part 2: Conch'd Out
Day 4-Part 1: TMI, CSI, and NOT the pretty one!
Day 4-Part 2: Dessert Derby
Day 4-Part 3: Silly g-ma's!
Day 4-Part 4: 'Ohana means FAMILY!
Day 5-Part 1: Paint and a Proposal?!
Day 5-Part 2: Yuk N Yeti plus another missed wish
Day 5-Part 3: Chills and spills with a side of Man-English
Day 6-Part 1: Mickey ears, Minnie ears, and more Mortification!
Day 6-Part 1: Mickey ears, Minnie ears, and more Mortification! Continued
Day 6-Part 2: Frustration and Fourth times the charm right??
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Let's get back to the beginning! Part 1:
We booked this trip back before the Buy 4, get 3 free deal. I grabbed that code as soon as it came out and was able to add an extra day. Then around Christmas Jack-Jack got really sick. It took four doctor visits to diagnose him with Scarlet fever, and a stomach virus. It was a scary three weeks and our trip was touch and go for a while. So you can imagine the feeling I had when we were finally on our way!!! It was surreal for sure.
I sent Dash to school that morning to have one less absence. We actually got out of the house on time, which is amazing for us, ran a few last minute errands, picked up Dash and we were off to the airport. Taking the toll roads got us there in about 25 mins. We parked in long term parking and caught the shuttle to the airport. We had so much luggage it was crazy!!! Thankfully only one of our suitcases was over the weight limit.
We got through security with minimal issue. I have immense respect for any person traveling with children by themselves. Holy cow, it takes a village to get through security with an infant. I plopped my bag of white powder formula in the security bin and told the TSA agent that it was formula. They nodded and sent me through. Little scary, that. I mean it wasn't labeled or sealed or anything!!

We headed to the food court. I love the food offerings at the Austin airport. They made a point to have only local restaurants in the airport and no chains. So no McDonald's, Sbarro's, or Burger King there. Mr. Incredible and I shared a BBQ plate. Got Dash pizza and FGM had a BBQ sandwich. Lunch was enjoyed by all.



Please take notice of the size of his cheeks as the trip progresses.

By the time we finished eating and had a quick restroom break, it was time to get on the plane. I mistakenly thought that because we were traveling with a lap child we'd be able to pre-board, which is really convenient on Southwest especially. I had checked us in online the day before but we were still at the end of boarding group A. Apparently, Southwest airlines no longer pre-boards for parties with small children. They have what's called family boarding that begins after boarding group A gets on. So we had a choice between getting in line at the back of group A or waiting in the pre-boarding area and going by ourselves. I opted to sit in the pre-boarding area so Jack-Jack could get down on the floor and cruise the chairs for a bit.
Sure enough, halfway through the loading of boarding group A, I smell *IT*. That *IT* that all mom's recognize instantly as their own child's special brand of poo smell. That's right. Jack-Jack had made me a special present. I had just changed him at the restroom break after lunch. I stood there torn. I didn't want to leave the pre-boarding area to go find a changing table. We were about to board and I wanted to make sure we all got seats together. So I laid him on a chair in the airport and changed him right then and there.

Very soon after the diaper was disposed of, we were called for family boarding. And on that little walkway chute-like thingie I smelled *IT* again -apparently he hadn't finished earlier.


I walked down between the seats of the plane toward the back where we could all sit together and grab Jack-Jack, a diaper, wet wipes and yet another ziplock baggie and head to the bathroom in the back. To be told the bathroom in the front has the changing table. I turn to look and the plane is still boarding. There was no way I could work my way up to the front, even if I had been a sized 2 skinny minnie! (which I'm definitely not) I opted to change him on the lid of the toliet.


We made our way back to our seats and were airborn in no time. Jack-Jack decided the window seat was the best so he sat in Dash's lap most of the trip.

It was really cute. He yelled a few times in excitement but never got mad or cried.

More to come soon!! Will we make it to Orlando without another present in Jack-Jack's pants?? Will Magical Express be smooth sailing or provide unexpected obstacles?? Will I regret my decision to handle our own luggage instead of letting ME pick it up?!?!
Stay tuned!!!!
Disney wishes!!
