Monorail Drink-A-Thon

[Laugh O. Grams]

Hi Everyone...hope you don't mind if I jump in. WLL, good to see you, long time, no post, and I promise, no black olive talk!!
Question for some of you: The wife and I have been doing the Monorail Drink-A-Thon for quite some years now...10 in fact (since Freshman year in college). Here's the rub: We're expecting our first rugrat, a girl, in July and I'm hoping that this is not the deathknell of our Drink-A-Thon days!!! Anyone have kids and can give me a few pointers or am I just an heartless scumbag?

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

sprite...Please post with whatever you find! I am hoping that "double deal" is at every WDW bar and lounge!

laugh-CONGRATS! That is SO EXCITING! Now, what exactly do you want to know...

I do not think you are a heartless scumbag...just remember...the baby has to fit into YOUR life. It is not the other way around. (Does that make sense?) I mean, maybe you will have to take a break from your partying days, but it is certainly not an end to them. And congrats on having a girl! do you have any names picked out? You will have a new appreciation for WDW when you take your little girl for the first time!

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Oh, and LOL about the black olives. I razz BostonRob about it every time I see him post!!!!!

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

laugh-CONGRATS! That is SO EXCITING! Now, what exactly do you want to know...
And congrats on having a girl! do you have any names picked out? You will have a new appreciation for WDW when you take your little girl for the first time!

Thanks...we're naming her Olivia Giada. We're taking her for her first trip in November. Gotta get her love of Disney off to a good head start!! We're really exited! Glad to get your opinion on the Drink-A-Thon days, though. we have a few friends who have babies and it doesn't seem to slow them down...much...but never on vacation.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Oooo! What a pretty name! Are you Italian? Did you get "Giada" from the gal on FoodTV? I love that name and almost named my DD "Gianna" but went with "Ava" instead!" I am not Italian at all, but always liked those type of names.

Oh my...I see she will be SPOILED with Disney! That is how my DD is. She does not realize how lucky she is!

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Oooo! What a pretty name! Are you Italian? Did you get "Giada" from the gal on FoodTV? I love that name and almost named my DD "Gianna" but went with "Ava" instead!" I am not Italian at all, but always liked those type of names.

We get asked that all the time, but no...it's after my Grandmother and yes, I am Italian...the wife is Chilean...safe to say, the kids gonna' be born with a thick head of hair!!

 

[robinb]

Whoo Hoo! This thread is on the move again .

First of all, a BIG LOTW Welcome goes to our new members 1MegMeg and sprite!

I also want to thank everyone for their recent trip reports and pictures. {{sigh}} It really makes me want to go again! Less than 100 days to go for me!

WLL: I'm glad you liked OKW. I'm an owner there . However, I agree with your assessment that it can be a bit too spread out. We have reservations for 1/1/06-1/7/06 in a 3 bedroom Grand Villa with friends. The GV is bigger than either one of our houses! It's our second trip in a GV with 4 adults and 3 kids ... talk about luxury!

Laugh O. Grams: Congratulations! My DD went to WDW for the first time at 4 months old. Make sure to set up at least one character breakfast for little Olivia. The characters (mostly women) love babies! You'll get some great photos. I didn't become an official LOTW until well after my baby days, but I think it's easier with a baby. Just make sure to bring a comfortable stroller and your little one will sleep through a lot! If you're planning to travel a lot, I would recommend a Maclaren strolller. They're expensive, but indistructable. WDW ate 2 strollers before I got my Maclaren. When Olivia is a tiny baby, there is a stroller called the "Snap 'N Go - Infant Car Seat Carrier" by Baby Trend. Your car seat will snap right into it. It's much better than spending too much on the useless huge combo strollers where the car seat attaches. The stroller is too big and heavy to be any use outside the Mall.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

If you're planning to travel a lot, I would recommend a Maclaren strolller. They're expensive, but indistructable. WDW ate 2 strollers before I got my Maclaren. When Olivia is a tiny baby, there is a stroller called the "Snap 'N Go - Infant Car Seat Carrier" by Baby Trend. Your car seat will snap right into it. It's much better than spending too much on the useless huge combo strollers where the car seat attaches. The stroller is too big and heavy to be any use outside the Mall.

Too late...we already went out and bought the Bugaboo Frog. It's great for city travel, because of the large wheels, and we actually need the car seat attachment so we can take the car seat along to strap the baby into the backseat of cabs. If you look around the Upper West side of Manhattan, where we live, they're everywhere! Although the baby isn't due for a month and a half, we already have the nursery complete as well. Now, we just need the kid! It's funny because we have friends who have kids who are 1 year old, have nannies, and they still are not as prepared as we are. My wife is an incredible planner.

 

[ctrabada]

Welcome, sprite and Laugh!

Laugh, congrats and don't worry about it... you'll still be able to enjoy your beverages. Like WLL said, you do have to adjust but you can do it comfortably without missing too much of your old lifestyle. We had Cristy when I was in my 30's and we were scared that our carefree lifestyle was over. It really wasn't.... we adjusted well and still enjoy going out and traveling, etc. I'm lucky that my parents live in Orlando so they babysit when DH and I want a night alone... but that only happens when we go up there... down here, my in-laws are not much help, but we still adjusted. My DH enjoys diving and I used to travel a lot for work and a professional organization and it didn't affect us much.

WLL, my DD keeps telling me how glad she is that mommy and daddy are Disney fanatics like her! Kids know more than we sometimes give them credit! Of course, what she doesn't know is that she IS a fanatic because of US! And yes, my home resort is SSR and we'll be there for the 1st time in a couple of weeks! I will post a TR when I get back.

ahhhhhhh, we will be staying at the BWV in Oct for F&W and MNSSHP. Last year, we went the 1st day of the World Series and after F&W, we went to ESPN to watch the game. Boy, were we hammered by the end... I'm surprised we managed to find a cab back to our resort.... So this year I decided that I was going to stay at the BW for F&W, period. I was lucky to find a studio for that weekend (Oct 29-31) so we'll do F&W on 10/29 (with DD staying at grandma's) and MNSSHP on 10/30. Love those points!

 

[ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!]

Cristy,

Unfortunately, we are not doing CR for the June (melis bday) trip...but its still an option for our coughcoughAUGUSTcough trip

aieeeeeeeeeeee this thread gets better and better, adri when are you gonna post those pics ?

 

[ctrabada]

ahhhhhhhhhh, OK... am I totally losing my brain cells or did I see your or Meli's sig at some point say CR 14 Fl Concierge for Meli's bday????

 

[ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!]

nonono youre not going crazy....YET

we were originally doing CR14 but we decided (because she LOVES the poly) to do AKL (cos we havent done it yet and we wanna do jikos with the wine pairing) and Poly concierge...whatever, mr jack daniels doesnt want me to be typing ayasrnjsadfajdfl;jdf;lkdsjfasd

exactly

wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[robinb]

Too late...we already went out and bought the Bugaboo Frog. It's great for city travel, because of the large wheels, and we actually need the car seat attachment so we can take the car seat along to strap the baby into the backseat of cabs. If you look around the Upper West side of Manhattan, where we live, they're everywhere!

It must be the new "in" thing, then. When I was in NYC last (a couple of years ago) all I saw were Maclarens . The problem is that it only accomodates Graco and Peg Perago car seats and that it is only good to 40 lbs. My 47lb 6 year old will use my Maclaren in August and be perfectly comfortable. The best car seat I ever owned was a Britax Roundabout which lasted until my DD was 3+ and in a booster and that doesn't fit. Plus ... the price ... . OMG. That makes a Maclaren look cheap! Honestly, I think it will make a fine pram, but I don't see it being very comforatable once your DD gets past 1-2 years old. The "grown-up" kid variation looks to be too far off the ground and not upright. I would be totally surprsied if you'll be using it in 2-3 years. Look around your neighborhood and see if any of the toddlers are in it. If so, then I guess I'm wrong!

BTW, the Snap 'N Go allows you to put your portable car seat onto a frame (much like the Frog). Your baby will fit in the portable car seat no longer than 6-9 months, then she'll get too big for it and need a rear-facing or convertible seat and then you're done with that part of the stroller.

I admire that your wife is such a great planner! My DD's room wasn't "done" and painted until she was 3 . She slept in a crib in our room or in our bed. She didn't need a room until we moved her into a toddler bed .

 

[TheNerdyMinnie]

ctrabada: originally we planned on doing cr 14th floor concierge but I managed to change Ahhhhhh!'s mind afte several drinks. Hopefully, if all goes well, we'll be hitting up AKL and Poly concierge (my fav).

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

OMG...whenever I need info on ANYTHING I am coming to Robin! She is a wealth of knowledge!

ahhhhh...Um...you mentioned those pics. well...you sent me that link but I guess you do not understand... I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEM NOW! When I told you I was computer challenged, I guess you did not understand to what extent!

You and Meli are gonna LOVE the AKL. Well, I hope you are. I am nuts about the place. it runs a close second behind my beloved WL! Jiko is AWESOME...and so is Boma!

Meli-that new pic of you is adorable!

Cristy-I am anxious to hear your opinions on SSR!

 

[ctrabada]

Meli, I loove that picture! Your haircut is so cute! I concur with WLL, you will love AKL. We did concierge there in 2002 and had a blast. We loved concierge there. The following year we did concierge at WL and did not like it at all because we were spoiled by our experience at AKL. Even though I absolutely love the WL, I did not like concierge at all so now we just ask for courtyard view and save some $. We loved sitting in our balcony at AKL with a glass of wine watching the animals. Boma is a great place to eat. I haven't tried Jiko, but it's on my list.

Robin, wow, you sure know your strollers and car seats! I remember when my DD was a baby, the choices were so limited.... now I see these hi-tech contraptions that look so light and easy to handle and I wish they had been around when I needed them!

WLL, will do... we are really looking forward to our 1st stay at SSR. This past weekend was soooo expensive that this time around we're doing "budget" Disney. We're eating breakfast in our room and bringing groceries to prepare our own lunch at TL. The main reasons we're going are: (1) Star Wars weekends (I'm a HUGE Star Wars fan), and (2) Crush 'n Gusher at TL. So, Saturday we're going to MGM and Sunday to TL. I'm thinking of eating at Mama Melrose.... anyone has an opinion on it?

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Robin- You know, it's funny but I don't see alot of toddlers period. Only small babies and Kinderdarten aged kids. I think the babies come in "waves" around here, with a new wave every 5 years. We're keeping an open mind and going with the flow with the baby gear. If it works out...great...if not, we buy new. I'm not too concerned, it's all part of the fun, I guess.

Ahhh- I completely agree with WLL...you're going to love AKL. It's the only resort we'll stay in anymore, and Victoria Falls, the bar in the middle of it all is great, if you need to "fill your prescription". Some people say the resort's dark...well, it just so happens some people like dark, including yours truly.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Laugh-I appreciate a "dark" resort after a long day at the hot, bright parks. I LOVE VF...but I found out on this board that they no longer accept the DDE card which I think is weird. Most other resort lounges accept it, so i do not know what makes VF different. Next time I am at AKL I am gonna stick to the cozy little lounge right inside the entranceway to Jiko...you know which one I mean? I actually think it has a name...or maybe it is just the "Jiko lounge."

Cristy-When and IF I ever stay concierge, I know enough from these boards that I do not want to do it at WL. One reason is... I hate the solid balconies on the 6th and 7th floor. I keep hearing that AKL CL is awesome. Maybe I will start savin now and do it on our 10 year anniversary (2 years away!) I know nothing about Mama Melroses...hopefully someone else will have some answers for ya.

Do you know I have NEVER been to BB or TL? Can you believe it? How sad is that?

 

[lillygator]

WLL - I have never been to BB or TL either!!

 

[ctrabada]

WLL and lillygator, you've never been to TL or BB? what are you waiting for?! and I don't want to hear the one about how you look in a bathing suit... I stopped caring some years ago... sad, but true... I am what I am and I'm not going to deny myself of fun because I don't look great (not even good) in a bathing suit... TL is my favorite water park... it's so lush and tropical, even though the slides at BB are better, but now, with Crush 'n Gusher, I'm hoping it'll match up with BB. I like both parks, but prefer TL. That lazy river is the best! The one at BB is good too, but I just like the tropical feeling at TL better.

Regarding WL Concierge, that's one of the things I really hated: the balconies! OMG, I'm only 5' tall. As it is, in most of the balconies, the railing cap usually blocks my view when I sit, but to have a completely solid wall was terrible! and paying all that money for it! I believe they are now building a proper concierge lounge at WL, but I still wouldn't like to stay in the concierge floor...

ahhhhhhh and laugh, I also don't know why people consider WL and AKL "dark." I personally think that the dark decor makes the resorts cozy, considering what huge lobby atriums they have... imagine it they were decorated all bright... ugh.... I love them as they are: warm, inviting and cozy.