I thought we were going to D.C.? Suprise trip! UPDATE: Hilarious unveiling video!

[Crisgw]

I should start out by saying, I'm addicted to WDW, but I feel like I'm in good company with that here

I just went to WDW in January for our youngest son's 4th birthday and have somehow convinced my DH to change our springtime Washington D.C. trip to a WDW trip! When we were in WDW in September of 08, I convinced him to buy AKV (DVC) and ever since then, I think the man has lost his mind slightly....the Mouse must have finally gotten to him

Don't even know how it happened...a driving trip to D.C. to a flying down (tickets were a STEAL) to WDW...but hey, I'm not going to complain! Next post I'll introduce the cast and explain the what/where/when/how's of it all

 

[Crisgw]

Okay, so here's the cast:

Me, Cristina, I'll be turning 3-0 at the beginning of April (so in a way I suppose this could be a birthday gift for me of sorts and it IS the day after Mothers Day...). I am addicted to the mouse. Addicted. I've been going to Disney every year since I was 3. By the time our September 09 trip rolls around, we'll have been there 4 times this year (and we live in Ohio!)

DH, Josh, he was not brought up with Disney. Went twice as a child and wasn't too thrilled to take ours at first. Learned on our September 2008 trip about DVC and somehow, he bought into it and now we're DVC members (I still don't know what happened...we went into the tour "just looking, NOT buying" and bought. That day )

Youngest DS, Ben, he's totally nuts. If anyone watches 30 Rock, we call him Tracy Jordan because he's just that random and funny. He loves Disney and is addicted to Big Thunder Mountain. He's been going to WDW since he was 8 months old. We just did a birthday trip in January for his 4th bday and he loved it!

Oldest DS, Nate (6), he's the sweetest and most sensitive kid. He is very bright and is obsessed with reading. He expressed his "jealousy" over Ben's bday trip and wanted a trip on his bday in July. We once went to WDW in July (07) and I vowed to NEVER go in the summer again...too hot and too crowded!! SO, this trip is also part of his early bday gift. He loves Disney and is totally into pin trading now.

So, this trip is going to be a SECRET. We are not telling the boys until we are at *least* on the plane. I'd like to keep it from them until we land! I suck at keeping big secrets and it's KILLING me. The boys think we are going to D.C. and Ben in particular is pretty annoyed at the prospect of that trip which he said will be "BOOOOORING". So, can I keep it for 49 more days!?!?!

I'll put up some pictures of us tonight

 

[Crisgw]

Nate and Ben on Nate's 1st day of Kindergarten this past year

Here is the family in 2005, the boys' first trip to WDW (sorry it's grainy!)

Us in July 2007

Our Sept 2008 trip

And January 2009 (sans Josh, he had to stay home to work, poor guy)

 

[Crisgw]

Even though I have no readers (do *I* count?) I'm still plowing ahead

So, this secret trip (well, secret from our two sons) is becoming HARDER and HARDER to keep. I almost slipped up about 100 times this past weekend. We were at the store buying groceries and my oldest brought the Mini Wheats over (Disney "toy" inside) and said "I wish we were going to Disney soon not Washington DC"...it about broke my heart and then DH said "but in DC there are lots and lots of statues to stare at"

So, the boys really think we're going to DC and they think we're flying there so I think we're covered until we get to Orlando. They're only 4 and 6 so if they ask why the plane's going to Florida, DH decided he'll say "because it's a connecting flight to DC"

Update later on ADR's, plans and AP's for DH and youngest DS!

 

[Crisgw]

So, onto some ADR's I've made (we are 99% sure we are doing the DDP again...we just love to eat!)

May 10-Sci Fi (dinner)
May 11-Ohana's dinner
May 12-Tutto Italia (dinner)
May 13-Coral Reef (dinner)
May 14-Teppan Edo (dinner)
May 15-Le Cellier (lunch)

I purposely avoided Boma (one of our favorites!) because we are doing it hopefully 2 times in September!

Anyone have any experience with Tutto Italia? This will be our first time there

 

[as dreamers do]

If you don't have any readers, what am I -- a bologna sandwich? I just so happen to be the lucky first poster on your thread. I'm really loving your pre-trip report so far & can't wait for more developments!! (Your boys are absolutely precious, by the way!)

I dined at Tutto Italia last year. (In May, come to think of it...) The food was good and reading the descriptions of the dishes made me think they were pretty authentic Italian fare (e.g. use of veal in some entrées, and their traditional antipasto). I had the cannelloni, which I wish there was more of (I think there were two) because for half of the dinner I sat watching everyone else eat while my plate was clean. That was a bit awkward! Then, when it was time to collect our bills, my tablemates and I were all put on one despite requesting at seating to pay separately. After two more failed attempts by our server trying to separate the bills (extra charges, drinks on the wrong bill), the manager came out and got very angry with us, and told us that he couldn't split the bill more than twice. Huh?! All the while, my companions and I were trying our best to be very understanding with the waitstaff and keep our cool despite an obviously frustrating situation for everyone. In the end though, we wound up pulling out our cell phone calculators and dividing the costs accordingly.

So that's my one and only experience with the restaurant. Now, I realize we had a tricky situation to begin with (a table of five wanting five separate bills) while yours should be pretty straightforward with one bill. So all things considered, Tutto Italia has decent food, beautiful atmosphere (pretty fancy shmancy), and friendly waitstaff for the most part. Just don't do anything that would merit the manager getting called to your table.

P.S. Sorry about hijacking your thread! I get kinda wordy sometimes!

 

[Crisgw]

Hey! My first reader! I wish I had a prize for you

I hope we don't run into the dividing the bill issue as our 4 and 6 year olds will be up a creek without a paddle on that one!

Tonight, I'm hoping to post some more pre-trip pics from our last trip to get myself in the "mood" I have a confession to make. I am addicted to food pictures...aka food porn and it embarrasses my DH to NO end when I take photos of our food as it comes out...I'm always like "NO NO NO don't take a bite yet!!!!"

 

[as dreamers do]

I know what you mean about food porn. It's totally addicting - both looking at pictures of it and taking pictures of it. In fact, tonight, to celebrate booking my trip, I pulled out my Disney pirate shaped pasta for dinner and actually contemplated taking a picture of it. Whaaaat? This is so out of hand.

Going through photos from past trips are a fool-proof way to "set the mood" for an upcoming one, as you put it. Post post post your little heart out!

 

[Crisgw]

Pictures WILL be posted I have to locate what photo site I loaded them too (duh). We are trying for little terror #3 right now and there is a SLIGHT (and I mean slight as I am what I'd like to call "fertility challenged") chance I may be like 9-10w pregnant during this trip....did I mention the chance is kind of slight?

 

[Happydog]

Hello -- I have two little boys, too, 3 & 6. We LIVE outside DC... So I couldn't use your excuse with mine My boys are June babies, both, and my DH, so we are all going in June, AND we are surprising them, too. The DIS has been my only outlet, b/c I can't talk too much at home...
Maybe I can tell them we are going to Upper Arlington after school lets out
Your ADRs look good, some nice choices. We were in WDW in November... and have booked a trip this Christmas. A first for us. Looks like you have had a great few trips already this year! Look forward to following your PTR and your surprise trip plans...

 

[Crisgw]

Maybe I can tell them we are going to Upper Arlington after school lets out

If you told them you were coming to UA, Ohio they would HARDLY be excited I personally love DC! I was looking forward to it but I am looking more forward to WDW!

Now, back to food pic hunting.....

 

[Crisgw]

While at work and SUPER busy...I find myself looking out of my office window wishing I was looking at this

That's from the January 2009 trip and our first stay at SSR. DH couldn't go (poor guy) which is why I think he was able to be swayed to this upcoming May trip....

Oh Main Street Bakery Cinnamon roll....how I cannot wait to see you again!

Where it ALL began...this is what our DVC invitation (to tour) was in....laying on the bed in the Mickey head.....memories

MMMMMM....WDW popcorn...

 

[Crisgw]

After seeing this pic...I'm seriously reconsidering not doing Boma until Sept.....

 

[Crisgw]

So, in other Disney news...I bought the 8 round trip tickets for our BIG family vacation in September from AirTran (we usually fly SW) and all 8 were only $1433!! I was shocked in a good way! So, now I'm getting jazzed for THAT trip as well! It's going to be especially cool since my (then he'll be my BIL) sister's fiance (who will be 30 when we go) has NEVER EVER been to Disney!! So, I'm stoked he'll be going with us!

 

[goin2themouse]

I'm in! Can't wait to see if you can keep the secret!

By the way, you're my very first PTR sub.

 

[Laura.bora]

ooooh - I LOVE surprise trips!! I'm in! We just took our 3 on their first surprise trip back in Sept. 08 and we want to surprise them again in December 2010. Have you discovered the KOTS thread yet? (Keepers of the Secret) - they have lots and lots of stories of people who surprised their kids - might give you a few ideas!

 

[Crisgw]

Welcome goin2themouse and Laura.bora

I'm going to be doing our itinerary soon....I'm getting ready to get organized!

Laura.bora, I didn't even KNOW a thread like that existed. I'm so excited now! Off to check it out!

 

[Laura.bora]

IT is a VERY cool thread and it has a few of my favorite surprises - including mine! The fortune cookie one is pretty cool too!

 

[Crisgw]

Ack! I can't find the KOTS thread! Any links??

 

[Laura.bora]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1312518

There is the KOTS thread for you! I'm the very last post at the moment.