"I Can" and "I Will" Go To The World...UPDATED 10-9-10 WITH PICTURES!!..

[tyandskyesmom]

There was meeting the Chicago Slaughter at football...




With Mongo...


With Jared Peyton...


The UNDEFEATED IFC 2010 CHAMPION BURBANK TITANS...




Various baseball practices...


A trip to Great America...
[IMG]http://i226.photobucket.com/al.../slaughter6thbdaypartydisney2010117.jpg[/IMG]

This was her first BIG GIRL ride...

 

[tyandskyesmom]

a picture of the park bag...

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Skye had her first mani/pedi...

 

[tyandskyesmom]

...on April 20, 2010 these were ready to be loaded into the car...



That is all of our bags...mine, Tyler's, and Skyler's. Grammy had one large suit case too... and that was all we needed... or is it????

 

[tyandskyesmom]

So, I have to tell you from the get-go that we did not do well with food pictures. I told myself I was going to come back and do the first all counter service food report but alas, that will not be happening. We got some pictures but usually remembered to take pictures after we were done eating. We also seem to have taken even less pictures all together this time around. I don't know if it was because of the weather or that we just have so many of the same pictures or becasue our trip was much shorter this time than the last two times or what...but we did. I also must warn you, I start out gung-ho on the note taking and such so the first few days will probably be very detailed and then not so much.

Ok, with that out of the way, let's get this show on the road (enter thunderous applause)...

The night before we left, Tyler had baseball practice and Skye and I ran to Target for some last minute items. She showered, we rolled her hair, we made dinner and ate all before the guys got home. They Ty jumped in the shower and they ate. Skye passed out early...nothing stops her when she is ready! Ty, Lou, and I ran around making sure we had all the chargers and that everything was charged and that the bags were ready for loading...cause, no one wants to be doing that at 3am!

And the THE day arrived. I was up first (at 3am) and showered before I woke up the kids and Lou. We were ready before the departure time but soon Grammy came walking across the street.

We all piled into the car and headed for Midway Airport. We live about 5 minutes away at that time of day so we pulled in shortly (around 4:40am) and pulled up to the Southwest area. Lou unloaded us and we all said "good-bye" and headed in to check our luggage.

The Southwest desk doesn't open until 5am so we waited in line for a few before they allowed us into the turnstyles.




We were checked in and on our way to gate B8 by 5:10am. We got to the gate and grabbed some seats and dropped our luggage. There was a USO function going on for Veterans at the gate next to us. Tyler and I ran a little further past our gate for the usual McDonalds breakfast.



We ate and Skye colored her Toy Story pictures and Tyler engaged Grammy in a game of War.







We had pulled boarding passes numbered A51 through A54 exactly twenty four hours earlier so we lined up at our numbers when told to and were boarding at 6:15am. We had planned to grab the first seats where the kids and I could have one row and then Grammy could have the isle next to us...unfortunately we were all the way to the wing before that happened. Wasn't a big deal but the further back you are the longer you have to wait for the slow people in front of you to get off!



We took off on time and had a very unevenful flight. Not too many kids actually...and no crying babys. We arrived at MCO at 10:14am. And first things first...a potty break...and then headed to...









I'm at a picture limit so I'll continue in the next post...

 

[PixieTl]

I love your park bag!! that's so cute! can't wait to hear about your trip! Glad your dh got a job!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

We took our first monorail ride (and we were very short on them this time around becasue we did not have hoppers) to our next destination...







It was weird not having a stroller to push. I kept feeling like I was forgetting something. We had our first trip down the escalators becasue we are usually using the elevators. I know, not something most of you probably think is a big deal but for us it was!

We got to the Magical Express area...



...and as I had heard rumor of, we did not need to go to the counter as in the past. There were podiums and the first one directed us to different zones depending on the resort you were going to and then another that split that into lines. We were in a line with Caribbean Beach. It was a very long line...which was eithe rgood or bad. Bad because there were a lot of people arriving or good because they had been waiting a while and we should get to load a bus soon. Well, I was wrong on the good part...but that didn't surprise me! At 10:46am, thirty two minutes after landing in Orlando, we boarded a bus. We left MCO at 10:57am and were waiting for our video to start.



Our driver was Dennis and we were the first stop. Dennis was one of those bus drivers that must love his job. He informed and entertained. He asked trivia and sang songs. It was more fun that your normal, average, going-to-Mickey's-house bus ride fun!

We soon saw these famous signs...



What's the trick to getting a good picture of that thing???

And soon we were seeing this one...



It was 11:25am when we arrived at Pop Century!!! We waited behind five families but it was not a horrible wait.





And Ty went around and took some pictures.

 

[tyandskyesmom]

When we made it up to check-in, we were actually put in a room on tha back side of the 80s building...one of the two buildings I absolutely did not want! So I asked her if there was anythign open anywhere else besides the 80s or 90s building...preferably in the 70s building but almost anywhere else would be fine. She had to call someone (I have never seen them do that before...and I have had to change our assigned room every time we have stayed at Pop). And as luck would have it, and it must have been someone else's luck becasue I have none, we got a room in building 6 of the 70s around the back on the third floor near the Goofy Splash Pad...but not too near. We had room #6323. It was near the elevator but also not far from stairs. And it was ready! So we headed to our home for the next eight days to check it out and drop off our bags...and change for the pool too.











And we had a renovated room!










We really liked the new look. The flat screen TV was nice but we really did not use it much becasue we weren't there that much. The curtain between the vanity area and sleeping area was great. But we did need for more drawers or some kind of storage. Everything was clean and pretty. We had a towel animal when we arrived. We did not have extra pillows on the rack like they used to...and we could have used them becasue I like a lot and I know I could have proabably asked for more but it was more a hastle...it worked with what we had. Tyler ended up sleeing on the floor on the top blankets off the bed. They were so fluffy and thinck that having the two of them folded up to fit between the beds gave him a mattress about a foot thick...I kid you not! Skye slept with me and Grammy had a bed all to herself. I loved the carpet!!! I don't think I have a picture of it but it was redish and had Mickey heads in it but they were not just in it. It was raised so that when you walked on them you could actually feel Mickey's head...super soft and fun too!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

So we changed into our suits and headed up to Everything Pop for lunch and to break in our Quick Service Dining Plan!

Loved the napkins...



And grabbed our four mugs (one yellow, one red, and two blacks)...









This is one of those times we forgot pictures...mostly! We had our four mugs, an adult cheese pizza, a kid's cheese pizza with a cookie, grapes, and a bottle of water, and an order of Shrimp Lo Mein. We had a brownie sundae and a regular sundae for dessert and two bottles of water. We had the receipt stamped so we could pick up our sundaes after we finished our food. We had 90 minutes from the time on our receipt to pick them up. The total cost was $92.56. Everything was great and disappeared quickly. The one picture I do have is of the sundaes...



They were huge and good and plenty for the four of us to share. We were quite full and didn't even finish them. Grammy insisted on taking the left over with us to the pool ... and some birds (we called them Skye's friends the whole trip...don't know why???) finished them under a chair for us!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

We purchased lunch at 12:17pm so I imagine we finished around 12:45pm and headed to the Hippy Dippy Pool.













Of course Tyler found some kids to play with and Skye just swam back and forth around the stairs. It was nice and warm and the water felt great. We swam until about 2pm.

When we got back to our room our luggage was there. We unpacked as well as we could and the kids decorated the window...





Yes, they brought all those animals with...that is what they think carry on luggage is for! And since it wasn't a holiday we brought flower window gel clings to decorate with!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

So we changed back into our clothes. Do you remember what the original plans were? Well, forget 'em. Since we did not swim and hang out as long as I thought we would, at 2:34pm we decided to head to....Animal Kingdom! We waited about ten minutes for a bus to come and we were off!





The first thing we always check out is the Spoonbills...for some reason the kids love them. Tyler fancies himself an animal expert so Animal Kingdom is always fun! However, this year, right around Skye's birthday, there were BABY SPOONBILLS born...and eggs waiting to hatch too! They were so cute...still grey and fuzzy.







And the nest next to the babies had the eggs in it and the mom was sitting in the nest. The dad was handing her sticks and grass with his beak to her beak and she was adding to the nest...it was so cute!





And then there were some plain old spoonbills but they were pink...I always thought they were white before??? The kids said I was crazy but I don't know...painting the spoonbills pink, painting the spoonbills pink!




And Scarlett Macaws...



And more Macaws...



Grammy has a green wing Macaw with almost no feathers so the kids have fun taking pictures of other macaws with "clothes" on to show Lovey when they get home...problem is the only one who can get close enough to Lovey is Grammy!

We did not intend to see the parade today but when we got there it was just about time and there were not too many people camped out yet so we sat on the bridge into Africa to watch.



It was super hot out there so I don't really know why grammy had jeans on...

 

[tyandskyesmom]

And within a few minutes the parade started...



That is actually at the end of the parade, which I don't really understand so I put it where I think it should go!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

 

[tyandskyesmom]

And it was then that we found out how crowded it really was!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Our idea was that it would not be a long wait for the Safari right after the parade but we were apparently too far down the bridge and the crowd was crazy around Tuskerhouse so by the time we got to the ride we wrapped around in places we did not even know existed. We have never waited very long for the Safari but today, we waited 40 minutes! And we experienced our first rude cast member here. The girl taking fast passes in the other side of the line was really rude about stopping us to let them go...very rude. We finally got to the front for our first ride on the safari. It was hot and crowded.

So we had plenty of time to take pictures...

...on the bridge on the way in...


...of pelicans and hippos...






...of black rhinos...



...Ancole Cattle (my favorite!)...




...Giraffes...






...Tommies (Skye's favorite!)...


...Crocodiles...


...White Rhinos...

 

[tyandskyesmom]

...Flamingos...




...Elephants, or "mmmm butt" as Tyler used to say...elephants are Tyler's favorite but we did not see much more than this...


...Water buck (or so says my animal expert)?....




...the male lion...



...ostrich...


By now it was getting late. The park was open until 6pm for non-Disney resort guests but 9pm for us. It was just after 5pm by this time so there were no more Nemo shows, or Lion King shows, of Bird shows so we decided to head towards Grammy's favorite ride...Kali River Rapids.

On the way the kids stopped to play the drums...

 

[tyandskyesmom]

The line did not seem to long but we waited about 40 minutes. We were prepared with ponchos to not get wet but it was so steamy and ot inside the line with no air flow that by the time we got to the ride we didn't care. Another thing I noticed was that there were not many fans going in the line areas. I mean they were there, just not on. I realize, for native Floridians, or visitors from hot climates, it probably wasn't that extreme, but I have to imagine, a lot of their guests do not come from those climates so we would have appreciated some ait flow when able! So we get on and Skye was told she had to ride in the seat with the bar because she must have measured under the height that they think is ok to be without it. They gave her a paper bracelet and a stamp to show she had been measured. Well, we were prepared to get wet...ponchos eventually went on becasue we were not sure how long or what we'd be doing for the rest of the day and didn't want to be soaked for it. Well, guess what? We hadly got a drip! That's right...you heard me, we came off pretty dry...much to our disappointment! But it was fun and the anticipation of getting wet was still there...so it was a good time. By now it was getting close to 6pm so we headed over to Dinoland U.S.A. on the way we watcherd these guys...



While Skye's favorite favorite is a chicken, she holds a special spot for monkeys. Her Chinese Zodiac is a Monkey and since she was little (well maybe I should say younger cause she's still little!) I have called her my littel monkey so she is facinated by monkeys.

When we got to Dinoland U.S.A. Tyler and Grammy (who is a fraid of heights and roller coasters but was being very brave this trip) went on this...



The line was not very long but they also got taken early becasue they were looking to fill a car with only two riders. While they were riding, Skye and I went to get her her Mickey Bar ($3.50)...



And half of it fell off the stick it was so hot! After her snack it was a good thing I had baby wipes...



...she needed it!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

So after all of that it was time to see if they would both keep their end of the deal about riding Dinosaur. It was after 6pm by now so we had to show our cards to get into the building. There was no line but we were stopped for a minute before going into the ride load area. You know, in the big round room with the fossils...dun, dun, dun...and yes, that is exactly what I hears every time someone said the word "fossils"...I was amazed at how many times they could find different ways to talk about fossils...dun, dun, dun! It's a Phineas and Ferb reference for those of you wondering. But we were not there long...and then we were loading our vehicles. Skye wanted to sit by Grammy, we think because she figured Grammy was more scared than her. And Tyler wanted to sit between me and Skye because he is a chicken bird! He held onto my arm and leaned into me the whole time, most of it with his eyes closed. Skye watched the whole thing! I even close my eyes at the end when that big Carnotaur is attacking from the front...but she watched the whole thing. She came off saying she liked it but we did not go again. They both asked for their dinos now. Tyler bought a Carnataur that he named Chili (I have no idea why???) and Skye for a bunch of little soft bowling pin dinos in a carrying bag with an egg for a ball. Everyone was happy then.

We dragged Tyler into It's Tough To Be A Bug. I know, he's a freak! They love finding all the animals in the Tree of Life down there.





We decided to head out around 7:30pm. We were heading to Downtown Disney...stay tuned to see how that went...pizza's here...I gotta go eat and watch G-Force...be back soon...miss me!

 

[Disney_Jill]

LOVE your pictures, they are great! Sounds like you are having a great trip so far.

 

[tyandskyesmom]

I love your park bag!! that's so cute! can't wait to hear about your trip! Glad your dh got a job!

LOVE your pictures, they are great! Sounds like you are having a great trip so far.

Thanx guys! The bag is great because it is smaller and Tyler will carry it most of the time.

We were having fun but getting tired at this point...it's still a long day!