Houston, We Have A Secret: A TX Vacation With A WDW Surprise ...aaand Done! Page 43

[mom3sonstt]

What day?

We will be there for Saturday and Sunday's games. Staying at a nearby Marriott overnight Saturday.

 

[Mrs. Gumdrop]

Congrats to you all! A new addition to your brood is wonderful news! Boy or girl, I know for sure you will be having a...

Also I look forward to the wrap up to this trip and the beginning of the next TR!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Congratulations!!!!!!!!

Thank you!

I've already congratulated Barry, so... CONGRATULATIONS BAMBI!!!!

So I guess I'm not allowed to comment on this... (but thanks again, anyway!)

Get a bigger tractor.

I like the way you think

I like that shirt!

Me too. I couldn't find it in my size, though.

How many times did the bus smack into the center rail?

Unfortunately, none. That would have made for a much funner ride, though.

Thanks for sharing your trip with us. I'm looking forward to reading about the summer trip!

Thanks for reading along!

Any chance that TR will actually be done before you go back again???

Wow, I havn't even started it and I'm getting greif. Sheesh...

CONGRATS! Such exciting news!

Thanks!

I think they are secretly plotting a big Disney playdate! ? or ?

Not that I know of, but I wouldn't be opposed!

 

[afwdwfan]

Wow, I havn't even started it and I'm getting greif. Sheesh...

No, you're getting grief for not having this TR done before your summer trip!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

You think its tough now, wait until they hit their teens

<-- This guy is not crying hard enough. He needs to be flooding tears out.

Yep… it’s that right hand, left thing you were telling me about.

Or in this case, Disney Hand and Mears Hand.

The longer he doesn’t care about fashion, the less you’ll be spending on cloths, but again, all that changes when the teens arrive (or the first girlfriend… which ever comes first)

Heck, at this point he doesn't even care if it's clean.

Considering the driving habits I’ve encountered in Florida in general, it could only be an improvement.

At least they turned their blinker off after they made their turn.
Wait, come to think of it, they never used their blinker. Same difference.

It works if you ain’t in a hurry.

Luckily we weren't. I thought being picked up 3 hours early was a bit much. I guess they leave in that extra half hour padding for the driver.

That was your bonus attraction for the trip. It doesn’t match the excitement of Test Track, but it beats Small World by a mile...

Test Track was designed by competent Disney Imagineers who hold guest safety at the utmost pinnacle of their efforts. That Southwest plane might have been built by some 3rd shifter coming in to work hungover from a weekend long bender. THAT'S a thrill ride!

But at least the bags did make it home

Good Point.

It’s just an arms race… now he has to steal something else from you and then you’ll have to respond, and before you know it a Seal Team will have to get involved. It could get messy.

As long as I have Fed on my side, I'm good.
But Fed, like any good mercenary, works for the highest price. This could get messy and expensive.

Enjoyed the ride…
looking forward to the next one (and the one after that )

Thank you!

And pretty cool to have the place to yourself.

Not to myself. Bambi was on the balcony with me. Which made it 100x more awesome.

To be fair, you were going home, and leaving WDW. I'm surprised you got out of bed, actually.

I heard that mousekeeping has a taser to "encourage" people to leave when their stay is up.

Very wise. I'm not sure you can improve on Lego Batman, anyway.

Lego Star Wars?

Well, it's not like you have a plane to catch or anything. Oh, wait...

The front desk did offer to give me a taxi voucher if the bus never showed, so that was nice.

That is a little weird. On my last flight to Florida, it was cheaper to fly back to Baltimore through Long Island.

One flight I priced - it was actually cheaper to fly from Milwaukee to Chicago, transfer planes, then fly the rest of the trip than it was to drive to Chicago and get on that exact same plane.

For some reason, it reminds me of the final moments of Mission: Space.

You threw up at Midway, too?

Is there any type of food that would be worse to have in your mouth as you fall asleep than a hot dog?

I would imagine Scrapple would be up there.

I consider this an homage, rather than a ripoff. Whereas I just ripped off the cheeseballs. In any case, it does seem like a fair deal.

Isn't homage some kind of French cheese?

My despair at seeing another one of your TR's ending is mitigated by the knowledge that another one is coming. And since I'm considering a surprise trip to WDW in July, I'll be very interested in reading along...

In any case, this TR has, as always, been extremely entertaining. Any chance you could do this full-time?

Yes, I can do this full time. But then I'd have to charge people to read them and sell advertising. I have a feeling that suddenly, they won't seem so funny anymore.

Hmm. I wonder if any other ideas will be stolen from Barry. I guess you'll just have to read along here and see!

(Idea of shamelessly plugging my TR here stolen from Barry.)

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Congratulations Barry, Bambi, Madison, and Evan!!!

Thank you!

So pretty...and I'll be seeing that in 31 days.

It's even prettier on the other side of the building. They have animals over there!

She was exhausted from all that dancing the other day.

That does sound like her!

And that is exactly why I will NEVER fly out of Midway again.

I thought it was kind of fun. Besides, my next of kin would get a huge settlement out of it!

What an awesome idea, even if it was Mark's

Mark as this whole elaborate system when different color pins mean different kinds of visits or something. Our elaborate system is "hey kids, what color pin do you want?"

Barry, I enjoyed this report as much as the last one and I'm sure the next one will be just as good. Although I hope we move a little quicker with the new one, or I'll have to be reading it while on my trip. NOT!!!!! But then again, if you were still doing it when I get back from my trip, I could then SHAMELESSLY plus my TR as others have done here as well.

Thanks Kathy!
And feel free to shamelessly plug away!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!! How exciting for you all!!

Ugh that returning Magical Express trip stinks, doesn't it? I don't know if I'd have the fortitude to get up at 6 for that.

Can't wait for your next TR!!

Thank you! Maybe if the had some kind of rope drop ceremony for the first people on the bus or something it would seem like fun?
yeah, probably not.

Congrats Barry and Bambi!!!!

What exciting news! I'm glad to see that you have already planned your third child's first trip to WDW - gotta start that obsession early!

I can't wait for your next TR!

Thanks!

Thank you to everyone. We are very excited about our new Disney fan.

Congrats to you all! A new addition to your brood is wonderful news! Boy or girl, I know for sure you will be having a...

Also I look forward to the wrap up to this trip and the beginning of the next TR!

Thank you! That picture is too cute!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Barry - what are the odds that you will be at the Brewers - Cubs game this weekend? My son and I will be up there on a bus trip....just thought I would see if you might be there also.

We will be there for Saturday and Sunday's games. Staying at a nearby Marriott overnight Saturday.

We had discussed going to Sunday's game. I'll send you a PM...

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Heck, at this point he doesn't even care if it's clean.

That probably won’t change even when he hits his teens
(but once again the “girlfriend” caveat still applies )

Test Track was designed by competent Disney Imagineers who hold guest safety at the utmost pinnacle of their efforts. That Southwest plane might have been built by some 3rd shifter coming in to work hungover from a weekend long bender. THAT'S a thrill ride!

No… That’s a terror ride



By the by… I don’t know if you had a chance to see it yet, but I came up with an possible image y’all could consider using for the cruise that’s coming up on the horizon. I posted it back over Here if you’re interested.

 

[mom3sonstt]

We had discussed going to Sunday's game. I'll send you a PM...

Got your PM - that would be great if it works out!

 

[petals]

Something "new"...hmmmm....let me think...well I accidentally picked up a jar of Almond Butter instead of Peanut Butter at the store last week.



Oh, and Bambi is pregnant with our 3 child!


She's due in the Spring, so the little guy/girl's first Disney trip will be in August 2012, when Bambi, Madison and Evan will be in a good friend's wedding in WDW. (Matron of honor, flower girl, and ring bearer, respectively).

Don't ya just hate when you buy Almond Butter instead of Peanut butter!


















Oh yeah and CONGRATULATIONS ON BABY NUMBER 3

 

[amyrella]

Congratulations on your growing family! Wish bambi an easy and healthy pregnancy!!! The kids must be thrilled!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Don't ya just hate when you buy Almond Butter instead of Peanut butter!

Actually, it tastes pretty good.

Oh yeah and CONGRATULATIONS ON BABY NUMBER 3

Thank you!

Congratulations on your growing family! Wish bambi an easy and healthy pregnancy!!! The kids must be thrilled!

Thanks! Madison is much more thrilled than Evan. She wants to change diapers, ever after helping change my nephew's daughter's diaper last week. We'll see how long before that novelty wears off!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Fin. Finito. Wrapped Up. Get up, get up, get outta here, gone!

This Trip Report is (almost) over. I still have to finish up one last post with a few more thoughts on things.

Taking A Surprise Trip
It's harder than it seems...and so much fun if you can pull it off. I was worried. Madison is pretty sneaky and could have easily discovered our plans. There were several times that it almost slipped out. It kind of felt like we were International Spies, tasked with carrying sensitive information. We found ourselves talking in code around the kids.
But when we arrived at the Orlando Airport and the kids saw their grandparents - everything we did to keep the trip a secret was worth it!

Houston, TX
Let me start by saying that we all had a great time in Houston. We did some awesome stuff, ate some really good food, and saw some very impressive sights. But as a vacation destination - ehhh. Houston is ruled by business, mostly energy companies. And while I never felt out of place there as a visitor, I never got that feeling that they were throwing open their arms and welcoming tourists. Part of that may be because we stayed with my aunt - a local pretty much trained to avoid any touristy areas. If you ever get the chance to go there for something (the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, for example) go. But if you're looking at a map, trying to find a nice place to go for a week in the summer, well, there are other places that would serve you better.

Animal Kingdom Lodge
Do it. You will not find a cooler hotel than this anywhere. Seriously, if the pool didn't convince you, there are giraffes outside your window. Giraffes!

You Guys
My readers are far and away the best on the DIS. I would have stopped writing trip reports long ago if it hadn't been for you! Thank you so much for spending your time with me. It really means a lot to me!


There may have been other things on my list to go over, but I don't recall them right now. Besides, I've been preoccupied starting the Trip Report for our Summer Vacation:

2 Kids, 2 Dogs, 1200 Miles: 2 More Weeks in FL: Patriotic Edition

See ya there, right?

 

[KatMark]

Barry, I thoroughly enjoyed this report and am so looking forward to the new one (I've already subscribed). And becuase I've read your reports, I got to meet you and Mark and the boys.

And you don't have to tell me twice...23 days and I'll be at the AKL sitting on my balcony with my coffee and watching those giraffes.

 

[buckeev]

Thanks for sharing Mr. B!
You are a very gifted writer and I've enjoyed this report more than a June bug in a pile of horse droppins' ! If y'all are ever down this way again, give me a heads-up!
Best wishes for the (ever-expanding) family!

 

[kate_wdw]

I thoroughly enjoyed your TR and was sad to see it come to an end.

Until I saw that you have a 2 week (!) TR in the works!

(I don't have any trips planned and plan to live vicariously through you )

And last but not least, congratulations to you and Bambi on the new baby!

 

[glennbo123]

Great job Barry! It was a lot of fun following along on the adventures of such a nice family.

 

[Poolrat]

This was such a fun ride.


Thanks and I am heading over to the new one.

 

[petals]

I don't like trip reports ending but yay starting a new one... This one was great so hopping over there now