Magic, Memories and..... MCSPARKELSONS! A Christmas Grand Gathering! Update 5/1

[MAGICFOR2]

Mrs. McSparkleson, so wonderful that you were there to greet the Grands - I don't know who was more excited Ally or you!:

Mrs Wittier, you got your Park on right away! You had to get a drink directly after meeting up with the Fam! Nice View!

 

[karajeboo]

The McSparkleson's might be checking out the resort, but the Wittiers (thanks Tammie ) are off and running in the parks!!

What she means is, while she was being the bad daughter, off and running in the parks, I was being the good daughter, waiting for my loving parents' arrival.....

Now I approach the room thing differently than KJ. I arrive and unpack toiletries, but we live out of our suitcases. (No room pics necessary - KJ covered that! Ours looked the same, just a few extra halls away from the lobby!!) But I do need to post pics of the view - Amazing!!!!!

Anything less than 4 nights I do this, but for me, a Disney resort is more than a hotel, it's my "home" for a week, so I ALWAYS unpack.... after all, I don't live out of a suitcase at home, right?

The most important stop - FIGMENT!!!!!!!!

What's this?? The eagle has landed?!? Time to head back to BW! (Yeah, we walked this time!)

It's about time!!!!

I think you forgot about getting Mom and Dad all settled into their room??? Oh wait, that was a job for "good daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild....."

 

[karajeboo]

I know my TRs normally run months, and months, and months, but I'm going to try to speed this one up if possible. A) I have a cruise on March 30 and I need to clear the DIS for THAT TR! and B) I have thyroid surgery on January 25 and I'd like to be done by then, if possible.... yeah right!

I just checked and my photopass cd should arrive the day after tomorrow, and since I definitely want to use those photos, I didn't want to get too far ahead.....

So let's move along, shall we?

Once we got Mom and Dad off DME, Jeff got Mom settled in her wheelchair and Dad and I headed to the lobby to get them checked in.

Now because we added this extra Saturday night to Mom and Dad's ressie just a few weeks before, the super duper deal of a standard room at 10 points per night was not available for this night. So they had to take a garden view room at 16 points per night. Now in most cases, you could just keep the same room the whole trip if you were paying WDW for the room. But DVC works MUCH differently.

We asked if they could just take their standard room the first night, even though a garden view was reserved and paid for. So in essence, we requested a DOWNgrade for the night! But due to DVC rules, we would have to contact the owner and HE would have to call DVC to make this happen. Well, since we rented from an awesome Irishman, I didn't think it would be very awesome to call him up at 10pm in Ireland...... Not a big deal, just that Mom and Dad couldn't unpack the first night, they'd have to switch rooms the next night.

Seems a bit odd to me though, why would the front desk need "permission" to downgrade?

Anywho..... we would get them moved the next day so we just checked them in and dropped off their carryon in their temporary room.....

We then called Kami to find out where they were, and we all met up in the lobby.......

See my niece's pose? That was the norm in the beginning of the trip, but after awhile Aunt KJ wore her down.... she finally gave up I think and realized she was going to have her photo taken whether she liked it or not!!! Must be that teenage thing, having just turned 13 in October!

I pointed everyone in the direction of the Bellevue Room, which always reminds me of the bar in the Overlook Hotel in The Shining.... only this time we had Grandpa.... "Heeeeeeeer's Larry!"

Jeff and I stopped in the Bellevue Room every day of our honeymoon for coffee and bagels back in 1998......

So pretty, well, except for that whole Shining thing......

Suck it down Sista!!!!

Seems weird that after TWO YEARS of planning for this trip, everyone was finally all together!!!

Well, while we were sitting there, relaxing, and just realizing that our trip had finally begun, Grandpa gets up and hands Kami and I each an envelope.....

"Oh Dad, you SHOULDN'T have.....!"

No, seriously, he shouldn't have.

Because what was inside was one of my father's "famous" poems. See, he has documented everything from snow storms, to first days of school, to the purchase of new underwear...... he likes his poems.

So Kami and I decided to read our poem aloud....

Ahem.

"The Tripp Family Vacation" Poem - VIDEO!

So now you should understand. I am challenged. Poetically challenged. So much is explained in my genes after this, right?

Moving right along....

I had an ADR at Raglan Road for this night, but cancelled when Kami said she didn't want to go there, so we just decided to hang out on the BW for the evening.....

We headed to Big River Grille but the wait was about 45 minutes..... so off we went to ESPN, after all, we had some nice ADRs the rest of the week, so a little pub food was sounding good to everyone, I think!

This is where it got a little dicey.....

As we were standing in line to get in, Kami asked me about the Tables in Wonderland card. DOH! I forgot to head over the Guest SErvices at the IG and get my card that we planned on using the whole week!!!!

So Kami and I did the OJ and hurdled Gma in her wheelchair, small children, even a service dog, on the way to the IG to get my card!!!! We were getting text after text from Jeff, then from Emma, despite telling them that we would be back in 10 minutes. And honestly, I think we were gone maybe 15 minutes from the time the hurdling began, until we got back.

Because it's no more than 5 minute each way, plus about 5 to process.....

So why the ants in the pants, family????

When we got back, we were told that they wouldn't seat us until the whole party was there. Hello????? We were on our way back, fudge your story people!!!! We would have been back before drink orders were delivered!

We get back and everyone is up in arms that they won't seat us together. And the two tables are not even close to each other. OK, time for a McSparkleson to step in and take charge......

These amateurs were waiting to be seated in the DINING ROOM! I headed into the bar, found two empty tables side by side, and motioned for everyone to join me. But for some reason, they thought I was just seating myself in the DR. I finally had to get the server to let them know that it was a seat yourself bar, and I was doing just that!

Amateurs!!!! They's STILL be standing in line!

So after everyone settled down (Jeff was so mad, thinking I was just seating myself ahead of everyone else in the dining room! ), we ordered some drinks, and settled in to watch a little roundball on the monitors, while we ordered some pub grub......

Our new favorite QB, Cam Newton, most fun player to watch this season!!!!! Yes, we are Carolina Panther fans.....

And of course, the hottest Buckeye on TV!!!!

At one point, I accompanied Emma and Ally to the little girls room where Emma just ragged and ragged on me for "taking so long going to Epcot." Well, I had to set the tone for the week and put that little teeny bopper in her place. She had no idea why we had run over to Epcot, and we in fact, didn't even go in, yet she just went on and on and on...... I made it perfectly clear that if SHE wanted to pay the 20% we would be saving on each meal but taking 15 minutes to get the TIW card, she was welcome to it, but if she didn't know what she was talking about she needed to shut it!

I guess that's what makes me favorite Aunt KJ!

AFter the first day, Jeff and I were laughing at all the times we had yelled at all three kids...... Yup, just making friends all over the place!!!

Up next, up at at em, first day in the parks!!!!

 

[CRdisMom]

okay the banter totally reminds me of my sister...but she isn't as cool as me to be on the DIS....LOL.

your parents seems like an awesome pair. Loved the way your mom was primping her hair.

 

[podsnel]

awww....it made me cry to see Ally with your parents getting off the stupid Mears bus!!

Sad you didn't see Ship, but glad you figured out how to sit that family of yours down! Great, great poem, btw. Pretty funny- how you both read it SO EXACTLY THE SAME! Like you were sisters or somethin!

Hi Kami! Nice to meet you!

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

Hahahaha, I seriously can't count how many times I have already laughed while reading your trip report. Yall are hilarious and I love it!

Awesome views from your room! Now I want to stay at the BW. Where did you rent points from?

The pictures of Ally hugging her Grandparents are priceless. So sweet that she loves them so much!

I loved that yall read the poems out loud!

 

[15isto2]

I am really enjoying the report so far, in fact I am actually reading the words rather than just looking at the pics like I usually do

 

[karajeboo]

okay the banter totally reminds me of my sister...but she isn't as cool as me to be on the DIS....LOL.

your parents seems like an awesome pair. Loved the way your mom was primping her hair.

Yes, my mother is quite the, uh, primper?

awww....it made me cry to see Ally with your parents getting off the stupid Mears bus!!

Sad you didn't see Ship, but glad you figured out how to sit that family of yours down! Great, great poem, btw. Pretty funny- how you both read it SO EXACTLY THE SAME! Like you were sisters or somethin!

Hi Kami! Nice to meet you!

I was soooo mad that they got a Mears bus! It's fine for leaving the World, but not for arriving for the first time in 30 years!!!!! Yes, we know my father's iambic pentameter..... I have no idea if it's iambic OR pentameter! Heck, I'm just impressed that I remember there IS such a thing!!!!

Hahahaha, I seriously can't count how many times I have already laughed while reading your trip report. Yall are hilarious and I love it!

Awesome views from your room! Now I want to stay at the BW. Where did you rent points from?

The pictures of Ally hugging her Grandparents are priceless. So sweet that she loves them so much!

I loved that yall read the poems out loud!

I found a lovely gentleman (well, not sure if he's lovely OR a gentleman!) from Ireland. He has like a bazillion points and he was a pleasure to do business with..... He's my "dealer" now.....

I am really enjoying the report so far, in fact I am actually reading the words rather than just looking at the pics like I usually do

So it's almost like it's educational or something, right? A trip report with WORDS, not just a picture TR!!!

 

[MEK]

Kara - you are off to an awesomely hilarious start. The poem reading........"thanks Dad".

You mom and dad look like sweethearts! How wonderful that you were right there to meet them and they had their hats and T-shirts already on! Ally looks so happy.

Good choice to hang at the Boardwalk and ESPN.

Kami - your view looks super nice, too. I know the boardwalk view is the best, but I really like that view from the front of the building.

Love the T shirts.

Sorry you have to rush through your TR to get ready for thyroid surgery, but thanks for the heads-up so I remember to check frequently for updates!

 

[jmskinner]

love the poem reading. Really wishing I had been able to drive over and have a Dismeet with you while I was still in Florida.

Do you have a past of skipping lines to grab tables? Just wondering if there is something to Jeff's worrying about you doing that at ESPN.

 

[Beth D]

OK, a slacking groupie finally checking in on page 4!

Don't know how I missed this one, but count me in! I can't wait to go back and read everything!

Kara - you're looking rather skinny in your family photo! Rock on!

 

[karajeboo]

Kara - you are off to an awesomely hilarious start. The poem reading........"thanks Dad".

You mom and dad look like sweethearts! How wonderful that you were right there to meet them and they had their hats and T-shirts already on! Ally looks so happy.

Good choice to hang at the Boardwalk and ESPN.

Kami - your view looks super nice, too. I know the boardwalk view is the best, but I really like that view from the front of the building.

Love the T shirts.

Sorry you have to rush through your TR to get ready for thyroid surgery, but thanks for the heads-up so I remember to check frequently for updates!

Not really rushing, and there's still no way I'll be done by then..... But look at it this way, I'll have lots more free time for a week or so!

love the poem reading. Really wishing I had been able to drive over and have a Dismeet with you while I was still in Florida.

Do you have a past of skipping lines to grab tables? Just wondering if there is something to Jeff's worrying about you doing that at ESPN.

I know! How did we not make that happen???? No, no past of grabbing tables, but I must say, I'm a take charge kind of gal......especially when I'm hungry!

OK, a slacking groupie finally checking in on page 4!

Don't know how I missed this one, but count me in! I can't wait to go back and read everything!

Kara - you're looking rather skinny in your family photo! Rock on!

And might I say you are now officially my FAVORITE groupie!!!! Thank you!

 

[archdandy]

Great report so far! I even felt excited for your parents to arrive! I can't wait to hear about the rest of it.

 

[Must C Mickey]

Hooray for the Cam Newton jersey!!! Woot Woot.

 

[karajeboo]

Great report so far! I even felt excited for your parents to arrive! I can't wait to hear about the rest of it.

Oh, then you're gonna be sad to see them leave, too....

Hooray for the Cam Newton jersey!!! Woot Woot.

He's a stud, no? LOVE that boy!

 

[karajeboo]

After dinner the night before, I gave very explicit instructions to be in the lobby NO LATER than 8am so we could be at the park by 9am for opening!

About 7am I get a knock knock knock on the door......

"Good Morning KJ! Let's go get some coffee!" Yes, it was Grandpa. He was showered. He was dressed. He was ready to get his Disney ON!

Now let me give you a little background on Grandpa. You'll see me call him Dad. Or Grandpa. Or even Larry. He answers to all of them. He answers to some other things too, but that's when Grandma is REALLY mad at him!

Way back in the day, college if I recall, Dad and I were out together and I couldn't get his attention. "Dad!" Nothing. "DAD!" Nothing. So I tried, "Larry!" He answered. And it stuck. So I still call him Larry. Well, I did until his had his first grandchild. Now he's just grandpa.

Unless he doesn't answer. Then it's "LARRY!!!!!"

Luckily I had already been up for awhile working (yes, I made a deal with my boss that I would work for an hour each morning while on vacation.....) so I was ready to head down to the Boardwalk to grab our coffee.

We both had our resort mugs and we were off......

Grandpa insisted on getting us some muffins from the Boardwalk Bakery, despite all the cereal, bars, pop tarts, back in the rooms.....

"It's vacation!" he said!

Well, vacation for his FAVORITE daughter, son in law, and grandchild. We got muffins. The "other" side of the family got pop tarts!!!!

See Kami? That'll teach ya to sleep in when Grandpa is feeling generous!!!!

By the time we got back to the room, Ally and Jeff were ready to go! See, we don't mess around in Disney. We are up at the crack and off to the parks.....

Besides, we needed to get Grandma and Grandpa our of their garden view room, and into a standard room..... So they came back by and dropped off their luggage about 7:45 and we headed down to get them all squared away.

At exactly 8:00 I texted Kami.

When a McSparkleson says 8:00, we mean 8:00. Not 8:01 or 8:02. And certainly not 8:05.

Next thing, I see them "sneaking" through the lobby and out the front door, heading to the bus stop.

Oh no..... THIS McSparkleson will NOT be beat!!!!

So I did what any sane person would do.

I raced out the door, and while they were demurely walking down the sidewalk to the bus stop, I hurdled. No, not hurled, although I was ready for that later.....

I hurdled. Luggage, stuffed animals, small children, little old ladies checking in. I hurdled them all as I raced across the portico and through the grass, and over the bushes.

But I won. Oh yes I did!!! Much to the amusement of the bell service attendants, valets, and guests all over....

I made it to the bus stop FIRST!!!!

Because I know my sister. And I KNOW that if she had successfully snuck past us in the lobby, she would have texted us from the bus stop asking where WE were.... and that just could not happen.

Besides, the McSparklesons are WINNERS! Not unlike Charlie Sheen... well, okay, a LOT unlike Charlie Sheen.... but we're still winners!!!!

I look up and see Kami and her clan strolling down the sidewalk, with Jeff pushing Grandma in her wheelchair behind them, threatening to let her go and see how many people she can take out on the way..... THIS was a common occurrence on this trip.

Finally all together at the bus stop.....

Even though the monorail and the bus are more fun, we were heading to MK this day, and the only way to get there before park opening, is by bus.....

And then it happened. My plan was foiled! On DAY 1!!! How can this be? The bus driver AND the Times Guide AND my super duper iPhone app were all WRONG!!! Which in turn meant that my laminated notecards were wrong....

Which meant I was wrong!

On Day 1? After 2 years of planning? Where oh where did I go wrong????

It appears that Disney was mocking this McSparkleson..... they added hours to the park times all week long!

So we would not make rope drop at Magic Kingdom......

And I would be mocked by Todd. He was disgusted by his notecards and would never trust me again.......

But alas, we were finally HERE!!!!!

It was time to "Let the Memories egin"

Yes, we were all ready to egin our vacation!!!! Even Todd, who's big head was affecting how our trip would egin.... would he also affect how it would nd?

Stick around and find out.....

 

[soontobewed07]

so how was the egin of your trip? Poor Todd

I cannot believe how grown up Miss Ally is getting

Loving the trip report and laughing out loud which has the badookie asking "WHAT IS SO FUNNY?"

 

[MEK]

Another great update! What happened? Did the add extra hours all week? Who knew?

Can't wait to see what trouble you get into once you actually get in the park. Nice, color coded T-shirts. Is that in case you forget who you live with?

 

[emser]

Kara, like your Dad, I suspect you have never met a stranger either.

Your mom reminds me of you, the way she “ta’da” getting off the bus.




Hi Kami!

kate

Hi Kate!!!!!

As always, loving your TR. I was tearing up watching the excitement of Grandpa and Grandma getting off the bus.

Kami, love that you rode Figment first!

Figment has become my favorite!!!!

awww....it made me cry to see Ally with your parents getting off the stupid Mears bus!!

Sad you didn't see Ship, but glad you figured out how to sit that family of yours down! Great, great poem, btw. Pretty funny- how you both read it SO EXACTLY THE SAME! Like you were sisters or somethin!

Hi Kami! Nice to meet you!

Nice to meet you too!!!! KJ has told me lots about you!!! Uh, we'll leave it at that!

 

[emser]

So I have given up trying to "mini quote" my sister. I just can't seem to insert my comments into her text, so I will summarize.

While you, the "favorite daughter," were out getting muffins with dad, I was still sleeping. But yet, I had muffins delivered to my door! Who's the "favorite daughter?"

And yes, you may have beat us to the bus stop, but it only happened once. Once I say!!!

She does not kid...there were laminated note cards. LAMINATED NOTE CARDS!!!!!