Mission Accomplished~Now A Trip Report~Day 10~A BRIEF CONCLUSION~

[monymony3471]

I have to keep this a secret for 135 days?​

Pre-trip report: Mission Possible

Today my secret is still safe. There are 24 days to go and I am ready to burst! I don’t know how I am doing this. My kids love Disney and I’m not telling them that we are going. As of right now I don’t know how I am going to tell them. I have a bunch of ideas; we just have to make it all work out. The goal is to tell them in the morning right before our flight.

The night before we leave (Thanksgiving), we are staying at a hotel near the airport. My mom is going with us as always. My son turns 10 two days after we get there. The boys think we are going next year. This is the queen mother of all secrets!

Secret agents:​

Me: Secret agent Monica 35. Wife. Mother to 3 wonderful kids. I run a licensed in home day care.
DH: Commander: Tim. 44. My husband. My kid’s father. Coach. Regional Manager. Travels lots!!!
DGM: My mom. AKA Nanee (to my kids, and well sometimes I even call her that). Bestest grandmother in the world!
DD2: Malorie. My baby and princess. Although she speaks perfectly at this very young age, she knows how and when to keep quiet. She has her heart set on dinning with some princesses. And just for information’s sake. That castle is HERS! She was 10 months old on her first trip and I swear she remembers that castle. Sometimes becomes her alter ego: Crabby Patty.

The targets:​

DS9: Matt. My first born. He loves Starwars and pirates. He’s fascinated with swords, light sabers, and guns. Loves the Magic Kingdom and hasn’t stopped talking about the Hoop Dee Doo from 2003. My Matthew keeps us on our toes. We found out at 10 months that Matthew is severely allergic to peanuts, the hard way. One taste from my finger and within a minute his face was swelling up. That was my first time riding in an ambulance. He is also allergic to eggs. Matt was just diagnosed with ADD and GAD. (General anxiety disorder)
DS8: Zack: Loves Legos and soccer. My very own Goofey. He’s a very bright kid and sooooo stubborn. He has to get the last word in always. And we but heads because of that.

The objective:​

Check in at Pop Century November 25, 2006. Check out Dec 2, 2006. We, I mean me, changed our hotel a few times. First it was ASMo, then ASMu because of the family suites. We’ve stayed at both and after reading, in secret, so much about POP Century. I decided what a great cover up. The boys won’t know what I’m talking about and it seems very cool. It has something for all of us to enjoy. Perfect. I needed two rooms for a party of 6. Plus 2 value rooms cost less than a family suite.

At first we were driving. Again. (no, no, nono, no!) Just to save money. So, the goal was to sneak in under the night's cover (Friday night) and stay at a hotel just outside of Disney property. Sounds like a good plan, but in the end it was cheaper to stay at the Pop. So, I added a room only the night before our package started at Pop.

Then Northwest offers a cash and miles deal. Husbandese: Honey, all 6 of us can fly round trip for around $800.00. Works for me and Tim. Then I decifered an on line code that took $790.00 off of our two room packages. That was like we got the airfare "almost free" (that's one of the funniest lines I hear while shopping in Mexico).

We are on the dinning plan. We’ve done it before and it was great for us. Can’t wait to do it again. I’ve got all my ADR’s. Liberty Tree, Donald’s Breakfastasaurous, Biergarten, Hollywood & Vine, 1900 Park Fare, and the above mentioned Hoop Dee Doo. Plus we are going to MVMCP for the first time.

There are more things in the works, but this message is about to self destruct. Up next....How I became a secret agent.

 

[OhMari]

I've seen on here, where DIS'ers make a scavenger hunt for their kids and the end result is telling them about WDW.

Neat surprise.

 

[monymony3471]

We actually thought about doing a scavenger hunt. We must read the same posts. My kids love scavenger hunts. They grew up doing them all the time.

 

[Avivasmom]

Love the pre-trip report so far.

I actually have 2 trips in November planned..we live South of the Mouse. And Aviva has no clue about either one of them. One is Sunday and still not sure how I am going to tell her. We are driving from St Petersburg...so wll be a different way then the normal route. And even igger is grandpa and grandma will be there.

Then wll be there the same time as your family, again driving fom St Pete (visiting SIL and new baby). And not sure how will surprise her but she may guess.

And even have a trip planned on her bday from Jan 2-4.

What to do is the question?

 

[disneychickforever]

loving the report "Secert Agent Monica". I think your boys wil be surprised....but wy does your little girl know??

Can't wait to read more!

 

[monymony3471]

disneychickforever: To help you understand me, I am the worst when it comes to secrets. I can't keep one for the life of me. That's why I failed the first mission. With DD I can tell her lots of things and I know she hears and understands but I know she doesn't understand the grand scheme of things.

She tells everyone ,"I'm a princess and I'm going to marry a prince and live in the castle." That really doesn't get interpreted as we are going to disney world.

I also need to talk about this because like I said I am bursting here with the excitement. DH says he is excited too, but day to day he doesn't go through all the things I do that are disney related.

So, she's my little confidant if you will.

 

[disneychickforever]

ah okay, I understand now

I don't think I could keep a WDW trip a surprise....I'm having enough of atime keeping 'Ohana's a surprise from my sister.....

Waiting patiently for more w/ lots of popcorn!

 

[monymony3471]

Thanks for reading along. (and humoring me) If anything comes out of this, I'll have a very nice journal to add to this trip's scrapbook.

_________________________________________________________________

How I became a secret agent​

This trip was supposed to take place in November 2007. I started pricing and talking about the trip in spring of 2006. I have 3 children. Matt turns 10 at the end of November (10 year old is charged as an adult). Zach is 8, and Malorie is 2. Next year she won't be free. Ouch! I start to think if we go now in 2006 I can really save some money. Lightbulb!!! Stop planning for 2007 we are going in 2006. One mention to my DH that it’s cheaper to go now and he was on board. I know how to talk husbandese. (It’s also a requirement of a secret agent to speak more than one language) So, I came back to the disboards and dove into my plans and reading, and reading and more reading.

Our 1st family trip to WDW was in Sept of 2003. The Coronado and Hoop Dee Doo were the only plans I made back then. GASP I KNOW! How did we ever survive and have any fun w/o all the planning I submerse myself in now? We did have a ball. We didn’t know any better. All that mattered to me was we were in Disney and at the end of each day my 2 little boys were content and passed out.

2nd family trip was planned in 6 weeks. OMG 6 weeks to plan WDW??? (Yes, I’m good, I know. Pat Pat Pat)
Originally we had a 2 week vacation planned to drive around Michigan. The day the kids got out of school we had two weeks to our selves. I had it all figured out. Where we would go, places to stay over night, and our routes all mapped out. Then when I was calculating the cost something in my head started talking to me. No I don’t see dead people; my inner little Mickey Mouse started to wake up. This is the same if not more than what we’d pay to go to Disney. At the first mention of this to my husband, remember my special language, husbandese, I was on the phone with WDW travel and had a reservation booked at ASMo. We drove. My kids were 8, 6, and 10mos. My mother came too. Enough said.

This trip, the one I’m going to write about eventually, is our 3rd Family trip. The kids don’t know a thing about it. I am dying here. Brilliant DH said this will be a surprise. (Yes commander) Well the 2nd trip was supposed to be a surprise too. Let’s just say I spilled the beans big time. I failed my mission. So now I’ve been assigned another mission to redeem myself and I am forced to share my secrets here. I hope you don’t mind.

I found disboards.com in 2005. My siggy is proof of that. Wow! What a wonderful invention. I love this place. It helps pass the time while you secretly plan for your trip. It helps with post Disney depression. It keeps your little inner Mickey burning. AND it helps keep you sane because after you find this place, you realize you are not alone with your obsessions with WDW.

Because of the boards, last year we enhanced our trip and took some time to enjoy it more. How? We were spys in training. We found the umbrella in MGM and pulled on the handle, we found those cool sidewalk lights in Epcot and heard singing drinking fountains. We missed the ring in line at the Haunted Mansion but caught the chick opening her eyes. We didn’t wake up Tinkerbell, but I hope my daughter will be able to this time. We discovered the Dinosaur in Dinoland that you walk under is female (thanks to a chatty CM). Heard voices on Main Street and conversations on phones. This year we are on a mission to talk with a trash can and catch Devine in action. Sneak back later to find out how a secret agent works at home.

 

[Lovemy3babes]

Great report! Can't wait to read more.

 

[monymony3471]

Love the pre-trip report so far.

I actually have 2 trips in November planned..we live South of the Mouse. And Aviva has no clue about either one of them. One is Sunday and still not sure how I am going to tell her. We are driving from St Petersburg...so wll be a different way then the normal route. And even igger is grandpa and grandma will be there.

Then wll be there the same time as your family, again driving fom St Pete (visiting SIL and new baby). And not sure how will surprise her but she may guess.

And even have a trip planned on her bday from Jan 2-4.

What to do is the question?

Thanks! We used to have very close friends that lived in St. Petersburg. When I traveled with my parents when we were young I remember part of our trip to Disney at the end was going to stay with them. I loved picking the oranges right in their back yard! One time they took us deep sea fishing in the gulf. Wasn't pretty.

 

[7krazykids]

im supposed tgo be at work right now.... but , your pre triip report hasme in a nother world...... im hoping the "bosss" ( my dh) wont ruin my fun.... anyways.... ill be looking for more of your report.... it has me soooo excited cause i leave in 17 days and + or - a few hours....uggg the wait is killin me and the kids...< sigh>

 

[monymony3471]

im supposed tgo be at work right now.... but , your pre triip report hasme in a nother world...... im hoping the "bosss" ( my dh) wont ruin my fun.... anyways.... ill be looking for more of your report.... it has me soooo excited cause i leave in 17 days and + or - a few hours....uggg the wait is killin me and the kids...< sigh>

How long are you staying? We will probably just be getting there and you'll be packing up to come home. If you are staying a whole week.
Glad you find this entertaining. I'm trying my best to keep it interesting. Thanks for posting. Hope to have more tomorrow.

I'll fine tune it tonight. DS8 has a concert tonight and he's playing a very cuddley Elvis. This should be a hoot!

 

[7krazykids]

monymony2471....


we are driving down on the 19 and staying outside dw for the night..then on the 20th we take on the world!!! and stay at pop til saturday..so we are stayng 5 nights and 6days... im gonna start packing tomorrow..( i hope) 7 kids is alot to pack for....

cant wait to hear back from you...

 

[monymony3471]

monymony2471....


we are driving down on the 19 and staying outside dw for the night..then on the 20th we take on the world!!! and stay at pop til saturday..so we are stayng 5 nights and 6days... im gonna start packing tomorrow..( i hope) 7 kids is alot to pack for....

cant wait to hear back from you...

7 kids is alot to do anything for! I give you tons of credit. And you are taking them to Disney.

 

[disneychickforever]

How was your son as Elvis? We have a kid in our church who does the same thing every year at the charity show we put on....last time he was "signing autographs", us older girls were playing along and started to "faint" when we got "Elvis'" autograph

Waiting for next installment

 

[mousebit]

Hi mony!

Followed your siggy link over here. What a great pre-trip so far!

 

[Disneyfreak92]

Of course, after you pointed out that we would be going to the World at the same time, and I saw the link in your siggie, I HAD to read your pre-trippie. It's great. I can't wait for more! I love the secret trips!

 

[monymony3471]

mousebit and Disneyfreak92: Thank you so much for the nice comments. Thanks for coming over. More is on the way! Shhh don't tell anyone.

 

[monymony3471]

How a secret agent works at home​

We, I mean me, changed our hotel a few times. This seems to be a very common trend here on the trip report boards lately. That’s what secret agents do. (Did you all know that you are secret agents in training?) Throws everyone off track. First I chose ASMo. We only stayed there for a night last year.

I read somewhere and I quote, “Don't be afraid to put in too much detail. Details are like chocolate; we can never have enough” So, here’s my first side note: Last year I booked the ASMo and a few weeks before we left my mom wanted to go so I added her on the reservation.

We drove and were in Atlanta and figured, we are going to get there ahead of schedule. I called the resort and asked if we could stay there for the night (ASMo) before our package started. Now I’m driving and I didn’t have my paperwork in front of me. I figured I’d give her our phone number and she could pull up our info. There was no record of us staying at ASMo. What????? I throw my envelope at DH and yell find the paperwork!!!!

He finds it and notices right there our resort was listed as ASMu. HUH? I didn’t change the resort. I keep everything and told him to look through and find the older reservation before mom was added on. It stated ASMo. So I was confused. When the paper work came I saw my mom was added on and put the papers in my envelope. The girl changed my resort without my asking.

So, I’m asking this person do you see our ressie, here’s our ressie number. Yes you are booked at ASMu for the week. Can you change us to ASMo? I ask. Nope booked solid. I was sad. Because that’s not what I booked. That’s not what we were expecting. The CM understands my disappointment and frustration. So she asked if there was a number she could reach me back at since I was driving. I gave her my cell phone and told DH, we are stopping now. I was too worked up to drive. I needed a break.

We pulled into a Mickey D’s. (McDonalds) and let the kids run around and play. My phone rang. I sat at a table and listened to the CM’s she had her supervisor talk to me. She apologized for the mix up. She couldn’t find anyway to put us in the ASMo, but she could put us in the ASMo for tonight. Free of charge. Then she said for the inconvenience there would be Park Hopper tickets for the day waiting for us upon our arrival. Wow. What a way to soften the blow. I took it. Guess what happens next? We get back on the freeway and get stuck in a major traffic jam for hours. That caused us to get to the resort at 8pm. Originally we thought 3pm. That my friend is Murphy’s Law at it finest. We did get to eat and tour the resort and the kids got to swim in the pool. So, in the end, a free night at Disney is not too shabby. End side note.

Then I switched to ASMu when I read about the family suites. We’ve stayed there too last year and after reading, in secret, so much about POP Century; I decided it had something for everyone in our group to enjoy. The boys won’t know what I’m talking about; I haven’t shared anything about Pop with them. So, my sneaky mind starts to scheme and if I had to talk about Disney while the kids are around I can just say Pop. Perfect. I needed two rooms for a party of 6. 2 value rooms cost less than a family suite.

At first we were going to drive from Michigan all the way to Orlando. Again. (no, no, nono, no!) Just to save money. So, the goal was to arrive the night before and stay at a hotel just outside of Disney property. Sounds like a good plan, but in the end it was just convenient to stay on Disney property. Did that last year. So, I added a room only the night before our package started. The experience we had driving to WDW last year was still way too fresh in my head. I just had to find a way to get us there in a plane. An affordable way. An email from the Northwest Operatives came my way. Hey are they spying on me???? Northwest began a cash and miles offer.

Husbandese: Honey, all 6 of us can fly round trip for around $800.00. At the times we want to fly. It could have been under $600.00 but I was not flying in the middle of the night with a 2 year old. Maybe UtahMama (<--funny funny diser) can do it, but I can’t. Finally something good comes from all of my DH business trips.

Then I deciphered a code I was told about on line that took $790.00 off of our two room packages. Thank you FigmentKid! (a really nice and helpful diser) That was like we got the airfare “almost free”. (That statement is one of the funniest lines I hear when shopping in Mexico. Hey lady, come look at my junk. It’s almost free.)

We are on the dinning plan. We’ve done it before and it worked great for us. Can’t wait to do it again. I’ve got all my ADR’s. (I’ll tell you about them when you sneak back later).

I have a PassPorter. Love it. I’m almost done organizing and putting everything I’ve planned into the one book. Another great thing for a secret agent to use. Doens't look like all the other books the kids are accustomed to mom using. When I look through the old books the questions start flying. If I leave it all bounded up somewhere in the house, my kids won’t notice it.

My sons are 9 and 8. They are readers. My 8 year old has to know everything. As soon as he comes down the stairs in the morning, the question of the day is coming. “Mom, what are you doing?” He’s a spy in training and doesn’t even know it.

Have to add another side note: Do your kids ask you questions when the answers are just way too obvious? Of course they do. I think its part of genetics. I’m in the bathroom, door closed, fan on, and I hear knock knock, knock, “Mom what are you doing?” I have an answer to questions like that. “I’m on the roof.” Sometimes my answers are, “It’s on the roof”, or He’s on the roof”. But you get it.

Every morning he comes down and I am packing their lunches, fixing them breakfast and sometimes in the middle of feeding a baby, signing their planners and homework, all at the same time. Another requirement of a secret agent is to be able to multi-task. So, far all you moms qualify. End side note.

I wake up between 5 and 5:30 most mornings. That gives me some time to work on things Disney related. The kids I watch start coming at 7am and that’s when my own children wake up to get ready for school. I also get my chance to play the riddles too.

I carry around a large manila envelope that holds all of my secrets. Kind of like DISUNC’s (another diser. His trip report is a must read. My DH is reading it too.) clip board. My folder has everything regarding our trip. As soon as I hear the bus and my boy’s footsteps when entering the house from school, the documents and anything with any connection to Disney go inside. I work in the basement, so I have 15 seconds to react before they fly down the steps. My best time is 8.9 seconds. The kids’ bed time is my time. I run to my computer and search away, shop away, and plan away.

Sneak back later to read all about my secret itinerary.

 

[disnygrl30]

Hi Monica
Just thought I'd stop by and read your pre-trip report. I'm still trying to get the courage up to write one. We leave in 25 days Guess I better get started huh!!! Good job so far.