Trip Report – Day 1
The plan was to get Riley on the bus at 7:30 and leave for the airport at 8am. Girls didn’t have a clue. Last night I had to tell them that we got a message saying that they RE-closed school. Given all of the craziness and off-again/on-again that had been going on all week, they bought it easily. I told them that I had lots of running around to do and they would have to come with me. Cammie says, “well, if we have to do all of your stuff, can we at least do something fun for us?” I ask, “Like what?” She says, “Maybe go out to lunch?” That was an easy one! YES, we’ll go out to lunch today!
I woke up at 6:30, did the last few things that needed doing, got the kids up and ready. Riley was a HUGE help and was just bursting with excitement for them. So cute. Got him on the bus no problem.
Right before we are about to leave, the dog sitter shows up to get Bailey. Crap! She was supposed to get there AFTER we left. The girls were in the back room, so somehow I managed to get the dog, her bed, toys, and food all out to the sitter’s car without them noticing. Phew!
It’s time! In the car and off we go. They know nothing, expect nothing. I am grinning like a mad woman!
We get close to the airport and Kel starts asking questions. I already had this response prepared. “Well, Dad leaves for Asia next week, so we have to ship is luggage ahead. It is really far away, so it takes a while for the luggage to get there.” They are young enough to buy this.
God bless curbside check-in! OMG, I would die without it. So worth the tip money. Got the luggage checked, girls don’t suspect a thing—they aren’t even paying attention. Off to park the car. They ask why we have to go in to the airport. I have this response prepared as well. “We have to get a bunch of papers for Dad’s trip to Asia.” They don’t question it. LOVING this.
Cruise through the terminal and get to Security. It is a LONG line, which is very unusual. Super tiny airport and we always just sail through. Whatev. It is 9:45 and the plane leaves at 10:45 and the gate is like 10 steps from Security, so no worries. But we wait. Cammie asks, again, “what fun thing do we get to do today?” AHA! This is my opening. “What is the most fun thing you can think of to do?” She says, “Go to Disney…” (thankfully). So I am way casual and say, “Well, we ARE at the airport, let’s just go.” This starts a 5-minute discussion between the 3 of us…”But Riley and Daddy aren’t here.” And all sorts of stuff like that. Finally, I show them the Boarding Passes, with their names on them—and they FREAKED out! OMG, it was awesome! People around us clapped! So fun.
I cannot believe how great they have become at traveling. We get up to Security and they don’t miss a beat…shoes off, bags in the bucket, show their IDs, the whole nine. I didn’t have to do a thing. (Note to self: can easily travel alone with all 3 kids if need be.) We get to the gate and they are boarding. We don’t have to wait a second. Walk right on the plane. And the girls proceed to giggle for the next 2.5 hours. And hug me. And say thank you every 5 minutes for the entire flight. So great. I got lots of nice comments from the folks sitting around us.
Off the plane, grab the luggage, get the car, run to Target to get some stuff for the Villa, and we are off to BCV. We all three CHEER when we go through the arch!
Valet at BCV (thank you, DVC, for free valet parking). Hug Art the Greeter who always knows us. “Erika from Maine! I didn’t know you were coming!” (Like we are old friends and I would have called him. LOVE Art!) We check right in, 2:45, room is ready. We ask if there is an Epcot view room available. No luck. 2 minutes after we get in our room, Bell Services arrives with our Owner’s Locker and other stuff. PER. FECT. OMG, the service at BCV is the best, I think. On the down side, not thrilled with our room. REALLY far from everything. Otherwise, it is clean and in great shape.
Dump all of our stuff, load the groceries in the fridge, change into suits and head to the pool. Seriously, we were in the room for all of 15 minutes. Just enough time to get suits and sunblock on.
Storm-Along Bay is awesome, of course. Girls love, love, love the slide. And I did a few runs on it myself (channeling LisaV!). We cruised the Lazy River for a bit. Then I sat poolside with a cocktail and watched the girls have fun. Life is good.
Around 5:30 we decide to head to DTD for some dinner and shopping. Ate at Earl of Sandwich. EMPTY. Seriously, DTD was oddly empty. There were people, of course, but there was NO line at all at Earl. I have never seen that. There was no line anywhere. We parked in the FRONT ROW at DTD. There were parking spaces everywhere.
After dinner, we went over to check out the new Tren-D store. It is different, which is great. Not the same ol’ Disney merchandise as everywhere else, so that was great. On the down side, I didn’t really find much there that I liked. And I so so so wanted to. The idea is great and I like the genre of stuff in there, just not the specific items. Everything seemed to be off in one way or another. Found one shirt where I loved the graphic, but it only came in like neon pink. And I really wanted a Peace-Love-Mickey shirt. And the only one they head was Peace-Love-Recycle (and the recycle symbol was a Mickey head). Girls found bracelets there that they loved, so we got those. Shopped around the Marketplace for a bit, bought a few things for the kids, and then headed back.
Back at BCV, we headed over to Beaches and Cream so the girls could get ice cream cones to eat while we strolled the Boardwalk. It was a PERFECT Florida evening.
Warm, but not muggy. Brilliant. Had a lovely stroll over, watched some entertainers and generally just soaked up the BW atmosphere.
Headed back to BCV and stopped on the Epcot bridge to watch Illuminations. It was awesome and the girls just DIED with happiness. Back in the room at 9:20, showers, and in bed by 9:45. Asleep by 9:46!
And now here I am, it is quiet and peaceful, and I am just SO happy and relaxed.
I’ll come back and add pics in to the report in a bit.
Oh Lisa, no car isses at all. At least not when I have a mechanic on retainer.
Never seen so many car issues in my life. 
). Are you all still planning the Princess half? Anyone need accompanyment, banter, jokes, etcetera along the way? Oh and I will help you pace too as long as you don't bypass me and run under a 9 minute mile...
I'm glad you have something that works for you. When I read about your pain, it sounded like there was no end in sight. After my experience of losing two days at a time to headaches, I mention it. Thanks to advertising EVERYONE knows about Prilosec, or worse, Cialis, but fewer know about Maxalt, et al. 
Sorry. I am kinda buttish about being naturopathic. Just ask my kids...
Oh there, I am much better now!!! 
