Move over Dumbo our circus is taking over! Surprise trip adventure!!

[JoeyEmmaMomma]

Cranky CM? So not cool. That really bugs me.

And, happy late Anniversary!!

 

[ValarDisneyus]

Okay! I think I've caught up! I love that you surprised the kids! So fun! And I can't wait to hear more about AoA! We're going on our first trip to WDW ever in May and I booked the Mermaid room. How was the food there?

Thanks for letting me vicariously vacation with you! <3

 

[luckylady]

I'm thankful my kids are out of school because Common Core would have driven me and DH nuts. I'm glad you didn't let the bad lady at check in ruin your day, some would have been yelling. Making popcorn as I wait for more.

 

[KatMark]

Mo, just wanted you to know I've not forgotten you. Been dealing with an issue with my mom and her health. I hope to get back here tomorrow to catch up.

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Reading along...

We used to be in Burbank not Joliet and in the pre-planning stages of a trip in December of 2015...two of us have never been and the other three are jonesin' real bad as at this point it has been just over three years since we were last there! I do have a pre-planning report started...

I am looking at POR for our stay as we are not in our room much and it seems to be the cheapest option right now. Is the Murphy Bed a small bed for a small child? Skyler is 10 now and tiny so I think she'll love it but the problem then is the boys...Tyler will be turning 17 on the trip and now is a 6 feet 1 inch football player and Dylan will be 16 on the trip and on the shorter side...and I know them sharing a bed will not work! I am thinking someone might end up on the floor!

We are also thinking of driving...it's not my favorite mode of transportation but with air for five as high as it is out of Chicago, it might be in our best interests. You made it look very easy...I think I could do that!

Enjoying your report!

 

[ZehnJahren]

I subbed in to your report and then went to Disney for 11 days and missed out on a ton! I think I'm all caught up now and ready for the next installment!

 

[Elevationist]

Your experience at AoA's check-in is infuriating to me. There's absolutely no excuse for that! I'm so sorry that happened to you. I wish you HAD asked for a manager and told them how cold you were being treated! Those CMs at check-in are on the front line, and for many people, their first glimpse of Disney customer service. They potentially set the tone for a first-time visitor's entire stay and expectations, or a long-time visitor's desire to continue to return. Unacceptable!

 

[LoJoDisney]

Happy Anniversary!!!! I love LOVE so this made me really happy that you were celebrating 14 years!

The video cracked me up "we should have waited to give you these in the morning" You can still tell they LOVED their gifts! The Halloween bags are awesome!

The picture of the kids sleeping are adorable. I really hope the coughers got better as your trip went on!

That stinks the AOA cast members inside were not magical, but great the ones outside were! It looks like a really fun resort! I would love to stay in the Little Mermaid rooms because it's my favorite princess movie!

 

[Chicago Mo]

Yeah, I didn't think you were gonna make rope drop. It always seems to take so long to pack up and check out, and then adding checking in...I'm impressed you made it for 10!

hey can't blame a girl for trying to get to rope drop! Oh yeah we really didn't unpack since we knew we were going to move the very next morning. so it was pretty easy move.

You're cracking me up today...between Ramada and Morticia...that was just funny.

Thanks! i try to be a little witty sometimes.

OMG stop updating so fast! i can't keep up!

i didn't think i was?!?! i want to take my time with this too..

The rain at Epcot. I'm so sorry. And when one of the kids asked you if it was raining outside? REALLY? That would have gotten a scowl and a "we don't ask dumb questions" from me. Is it raining. You are a trooper for getting new shoes and pants. I would have said "nope, back to the hotel." Mom of the year I am not, but I think you may well win that award!

gotta keep truckin! no rain was going to stop us!

I think we had the same future you did on SE. And you took great pics on there!

Thanks! we had a blast! Futures crack me up!!!

Love the fountains. And too bad for that guy who wanted to take a picture. Kids having fun trumps that, plus you were there first.

Yes! I understand wanting the shot.. I wasn't going to rush my kids! enjoying themselves!

OMG! I just remembered that picture of the person on the electric scooter. Don't crash.

Cracked me up when i started editing and came across that picture!

Yay for Art of Animation! Sorry you had crabby CMs to start. Looking forward to your park day.

yes! crabby CM's! How is that possible! at CHECK in the most magical time too! I was shocked!

happy anniversary!!! I had to laugh at your comment above that you both got the same card. my DH and I didn't get the same card, but I had the one he gave me in my hand to give him for quite awhile, then put it back for something else, so we almost did the same thing! isn't it great to know your hubby so well!

Thanks! yes slim pickings at the card aisle!
Too funny you almost did the same thing!

anyway, i'm glad you got all checked in at AoA. I want to stay there so bad! can't wait to see the pictures!

Will be posting today!

and i'm really glad that there were awesome CMs outside to make up for the crank inside! let's get this day started off right!

Yeah, I was really upset about crabby CM!!! they are ALWAYS supposed to be happy and show a magical front. This one sucked on a lemon i think.

ETA: I started my new TR! there's a link in my signature if you feel like checking it out

I'm there!!!

Not surprised you didn't make Rope Drop. That was a bit on the over ambitious side.

Glad to see the wonderful interactions of the other cms made up for lack of Disney magic inside though.

It was terrible! I cannot believe the smug no magic reception we had!

All caught up just in time to get behind again when I leave for Disney on Saturday!

i am so happy you and your Mom get a re-do! Have a blast!!!

Oh and no need to apologize for me being an idiot and not realizing your TR started. I was growling at myself in that post.

HA HA HA HA! I knew you were busy and is i hadn't heard from you soon you would have gotten a PM!!!

Our 2015 budget (which started Oct 1st) was approved last night so now I can breath until the end of February when we start the process all over again.

phew! at least you can breath now!!! well until Feb.

It was awesome to finally see the reveal after anticipating it for so long. I'm so glad it went well for you.

Glad you liked it!!! I was truly happy i was able to pull it off and what a relief to finally be able to tell them!

So I was slightly offended ( ) when you bashed Georgia but then I remembered the one time I drove to WDW in 2011. Boy that is a rough drive with zero to look at! You did not miss a thing by driving through at night. That's the main reason I fly every time now.

Oh no please don't be offended. Illinois is just as bad and Indiana is even worse.
i was more upset about the NO PEACHES!!! ANYWHERE
I am sure if we ventured INTO the state it would be a lot better then here!!! Then again anywhere is better then here lately

Love POR! Jim and I really enjoyed staying there in May. We were on the second floor in building 15 too but I know it wasn't the same room because ours was set up opposite to the one you were in.

No kidding when we were walking in i had thought it was the same! I was thinking about you!!!

What a bummer that MK was so crowded the first night. But it seems like you had a great time at Epcot minus the rain.

you could put us anywhere and we will make it a good time. Yes the rain put a temporary GRRR moment, but i quickly got over it as soon as i had new Mickey clothes!!!

for the rude CM at AOA! I hope that was the last one you encountered during the trip.

YES!!! What is that about.. Rethinking the whole thing i get mad all over again!!! Bad Ana...

Freakin' A woman! I can hardly keep up with ya! Now I've gone and forgotten everything that I wanted to say.

Ginkoba.. it's supposed to help with forgetfulness... Wait........ What??? what were we talking about!??!

I'll just start out with "thank gosh a mighty my kids aren't in elementary school and having to learn Math". Common Core sounds like a bunch of malarky to me. One of Hunter's teachers (he's a Jr. in high school) said that she really thinks that it will be beneficial to the students. That came from his American Literature teacher. I'm like you. How about just saying 7-7=0 a gosh darn 0. Not a name. Not a strategy. A Zero.

EXACTLY! just infuriates me!!! poor kids..

Anyway, loved the fact that you were able to surprise the kiddos with the move over to Art of Animation. We drove over there a trip or two ago to have a look around and it looked really neat.

It really is adorable!!! perfect for kids. or anyone who will not mature into adulthood like myself..

Sorry that you ran into so many not-so-magical castmembers. Don't they realize that they are some of the first folks that guests see so they are setting the tone for a whole vacation? UGH!

Yes i was SHOCKED over the crumby CM's we had this trip.. Lilke i said for 1 cranky CM we had 4 better ones!!!

I am enjoying your fish eye photos, especially the one with grumpy hat guy

Did you? Some of them are pretty yucky.. But thank you for the lift!
Goofy hat guy.. I honestly want to photobomb all his pictures like he was doing to me...

"Is it raining?" Oh my, I don't even know what I'd say but it wouldn't be pretty. This seriously cracked me up though.

the #1 Duh moment of the trip for sure.

Those darn puppy faces should be illegal, I am a sucker too. Way to suck it up Mom.

Thanks i was not happy.. i was almost downright evil with my wet feet..
Until i got into new mickey clothes. again transformed into pure Disney Bliss!

Ouch, wearing a tin full of pins, how did his neck not hurt?!

I have NO idea. but he didn't seem to mind I asked him several times if it was bugging him!!

Love the cupcake purse

Isn't it PERFECT for her? D~ and her creations are so beautiful!

Oh no he didn't?! Turn down another ride from a CM...kill me!

YES!! can you believe it?!?! I wanted to hang him by his toes!!!

How do you get your kids away from the lights on the street? I think I'd have to drag mine away.

It's not easy.. They are really cool..

The real family photo is freaking awesome, I love it so much!

Happy Anniversary!

Thank you!!!

At least you got one excited over the switch to AOA. Too bad you didn't have a good experience at check in, but glad there were some good ones outside to make up for it.

They ALL loved it.. don't let the video fool you.. 10 year olds trying to act cool... I know better!

 

[Chicago Mo]

bwahahahahahaha, they are HI larious when tired!!!!!!!

OMG. they are nuts.. and i felt terrible we were video tapping this. and they were acting like screw balls. They really LOVED all their gifts. so much so they wore the backpacks pretty much EVERY DAY and wore the shirts PROUDLY. i never had to ask them to put them on they did it and loved it.
this is just my house. on a daily basis. THEY. ARE. NUTS.

boo for bad cms......hope they didn't forget to text you when your room was ready.............

juuuuuuuuuuust wait...

Oh I feel the pain of the torrential rain, it was wakeful, we were in rain a foot or so deep at MK too.

Now you're getting back to the GOOD stuff!

I am i am!!!!

I am here and finally all caught up. The post Disney blues hit hard and I have been avoiding Disney reminders. Next trip won't be until 2018.

YAY!!! Your here!!!
I understand your blues. Been rough around the house. still is they won't look at the PP pictures still

I am bummed we didn't get to meet but it was your first and my last day. Although I did get those texts from you when you got soaked. That rain was awful.

It was HORRIBLE!!! If i didn't get those new clothes we would have been back at POR a lot earlier!!!
I was upset as i was looking forward to meeting you!

I will try to be around more. I just finally finished editing my photopass pictures. My deadline is next week. Guess I will begin our trip report soon.

GOOD! I will say it does help with everyone jumping on board and laughing with you through your trip.. Nice to have dis friends!

I do have to agree with you...

Like you have a choice?

Now that I am a non-smoker... I never really just sit on a bench and enjoy what is going on around me. I do miss that part. There is nothing more peaceful than sitting there with my coffee enjoying the sights, sounds, smells as Disney wakes up. I need to make a point of doing this on our next trip.

I love the stop breaks. even if you don't smoke you need to just stop. relax and look around.
every morning: i had at POR

Loved that the kiddos were still sleeping. POR looks like the perfect resort for you guys.

it's a nice resort!!! love the pool the rooms are a little small for 5 of us.. OK a LOT small for us.

Ana... er... Morticia makes me mad... But I am so happy that you had so many other CMs make up for her.

Yeah what the devil is all that boo yucky about?!?! Your THE welcoming committee dang it be happy! stop peeing on my happiness for being here this was another awesome surprise for my kids and she is ruining it!

Yikes - you are late for your first Disney day... but - no worries... I know all of you will have so much fun anyways!

you know us well...

Loved all of the surprises... Yes, Tom needs some definite Videography lessons... Tell him, he's fired.

OMG right? just awful!!!!! SO needs practice! i am so bummed about the video taping. out of the 9 days we were there he only has 2 hours of video!!! i'm so mad!

Love you... Miss you... Like crazy...

Mean it!

D~

Back at ya! I have LOTS of pictures with bags!

Cranky CM? So not cool. That really bugs me.

And, happy late Anniversary!!

you and me both.
Thank you!!

Okay! I think I've caught up! I love that you surprised the kids! So fun! And I can't wait to hear more about AoA! We're going on our first trip to WDW ever in May and I booked the Mermaid room. How was the food there?

Thanks for letting me vicariously vacation with you! <3

Hi!!!
I will tell you ALL about AoA give my final thought on the resort when i am done writing the whole thing too. I DO recommend the resort! If you have Any questions about it please don't hesitate to ask!

I'm thankful my kids are out of school because Common Core would have driven me and DH nuts. I'm glad you didn't let the bad lady at check in ruin your day, some would have been yelling. Making popcorn as I wait for more.

bad check in lady... just.... experience checking in I have video of this too and you can see me standing there with Morticia. grrrrrrrrrrr
i hope you have a big bag!
I will post in after i am done with replies!!

Mo, just wanted you to know I've not forgotten you. Been dealing with an issue with my mom and her health. I hope to get back here tomorrow to catch up.

Oh Kathy I know you have other things going on.. and you know you and your family in always in my prayers.. Mia rose is just as cute as a button too!

****************************************************************************

Sorry no replies yesterday.
I stayed home from work because 1- we didn't have running water. which means NO BATHROOMS. <-- screw that i will stay home

2. I deserve a day off

I stayed home did some work stuff and caught up on TV watching while snuggling with Logan. It was BLISS!!!
I did partake in a cookie or two..
saw a hidden mickey!


Meg had Basketball practice from 4-5 then cheerleading from 5-6:30
The boys scrimmaged the older kids:
and i sat outside and froze my well don't need to give you any visuals..
just know it is getting COLD out


came home showered bed just to do it all over again today.
Dog training tonight
working tomorrow and Sunday at the fun job. HOPEFULLY have a full day off on Monday!!


Let's get on with an update shall we?!?

 

[KatMark]

Mo, I'm trying to catch up. Love the video of the Tess gifts and the surprise of AOA. Boo for not happy CM's, but for the five who made up for it playing with the kids outside.

 

[Chicago Mo]

Reading along...

Oh GOODIE!!! Welcome! thanks for coming aboard!

We used to be in Burbank not Joliet and in the pre-planning stages of a trip in December of 2015...two of us have never been and the other three are jonesin' real bad as at this point it has been just over three years since we were last there! I do have a pre-planning report started...

I know both towns! where are you now?
HOW FUN! I will fly on over to your PTR once im done with a update!!!

I am looking at POR for our stay as we are not in our room much and it seems to be the cheapest option right now. Is the Murphy Bed a small bed for a small child? Skyler is 10 now and tiny so I think she'll love it but the problem then is the boys...Tyler will be turning 17 on the trip and now is a 6 feet 1 inch football player and Dylan will be 16 on the trip and on the shorter side...and I know them sharing a bed will not work! I am thinking someone might end up on the floor!

Total of 5 people? it's going to be a bit cramped with the one bathroom not much leg room. but if your just sleeping in the room i think you will be fine!
Matt who is sleeping on the murphy bed is about 5 foot?!? maybe?
it will be a great size for your 10 year old. the other 2 beds are your normal size queen i think? As long as your boys can sleep with each other you should be be good there too. Tom and i fit fine on there. have you gone on the POR web site?

We are also thinking of driving...it's not my favorite mode of transportation but with air for five as high as it is out of Chicago, it might be in our best interests. You made it look very easy...I think I could do that!

It is an easy drive!!! BORING as all heck, yet saved us a TON of money!!!

Enjoying your report!

Thank you!!! any question please ask away!!

I subbed in to your report and then went to Disney for 11 days and missed out on a ton! I think I'm all caught up now and ready for the next installment!

thank you for coming on!!! and WELCOME!
lots of installments this weekend i hope!

Your experience at AoA's check-in is infuriating to me. There's absolutely no excuse for that! I'm so sorry that happened to you. I wish you HAD asked for a manager and told them how cold you were being treated! Those CMs at check-in are on the front line, and for many people, their first glimpse of Disney customer service. They potentially set the tone for a first-time visitor's entire stay and expectations, or a long-time visitor's desire to continue to return. Unacceptable!

Check in was NOT fun! I wish i did too but like i said i was rooted to the spot! I couldn't believe I was on Disney property! I expect a lot more from checking in.

Happy Anniversary!!!! I love LOVE so this made me really happy that you were celebrating 14 years!

Thank you!!! yep! 14 years! i can't believe it either. I think he needs to take me back to Disney for our 15 year anniversary.. Just sayin..

The video cracked me up "we should have waited to give you these in the morning" You can still tell they LOVED their gifts! The Halloween bags are awesome!

they really did love them all!!! they were out of their minds too, from such a LONG day.
looney tunes...

The picture of the kids sleeping are adorable. I really hope the coughers got better as your trip went on!

Aren't they cute when they SLEEP??? Zack lost the cough Meg kept hers for a lot longer!!! She is my drama sick too.

That stinks the AOA cast members inside were not magical, but great the ones outside were! It looks like a really fun resort! I would love to stay in the Little Mermaid rooms because it's my favorite princess movie!

It does!!! If i was a first timer this would have turned me off.
thankfully i know better and KNOW Disney is better then this..... person..

the rooms are ADORABLE!!! Highly recommend!!!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

I know both towns! where are you now?
HOW FUN! I will fly on over to your PTR once im done with a update!!!



Total of 5 people? it's going to be a bit cramped with the one bathroom not much leg room. but if your just sleeping in the room i think you will be fine!
Matt who is sleeping on the murphy bed is about 5 foot?!? maybe?
it will be a great size for your 10 year old. the other 2 beds are your normal size queen i think? As long as your boys can sleep with each other you should be be good there too. Tom and i fit fine on there. have you gone on the POR web site?



It is an easy drive!!! BORING as all heck, yet saved us a TON of money!!!



Thank you!!! any question please ask away!!

We're in Joliet now.

We are newly 5...used to be 4...Me, Ty, and Skye have been to POR before but Cary and Dylan have never been at all. But, when were were there we stayed in the mansions so I'm not familiar witht he bayou...and I heard rooms were remodeled. I'm not too worried about space, I mean more would be nice but we do really just sleep there so I'd rather save the cashola! I don't think the boys (step-brothers of sorts) will share but if not, one of them (or they can take turns) can pile up the top blankets from the beds and sleep on the floor. Skye and Ty would/could share a bed but I don't know that Dylan woudl be comfy on the murphy...ah, no biggie, we'll be in DIsney and exhausted by the time we're crashing so no one is going to really care where they sleep in the end!

It has been a long time since the last time we drove...but it is looking like the best option right now in the interest of being able to spend as much as possible in the budget on the actual vacation fun...I have a long time to go back and forth and change my mind so I'll figure it out eventually!

 

[Chicago Mo]

after an UNSUCCESSFUL check in at AoA luggage stashed somewhere on property we were getting outta here and off to our first real for goodness "planned" park day, on the dining plan and EVERYTHING! WOOOO HOOOOOO Let's DO THIS!

I was still a little miffed about the encounter with Morticia but what are ya going to do right?
Get over it and KEEP ON SWIMMING!

So we jumped in the car and drove over to:


Yep back to Epcot! Today was the "planned" Epcot day! WOO HOO! Apparently one of the kids had a camera here too! KID VISION!
It was a very short walk from the car over to bag check in



Scanned our Magic Bands and CM Danielle welcomed us to Epcot! Hello Danielle!
She looked at all the kids and their buttons had the very same perplexed look on her face as everyone else. Looks at me TRIPLETS? Yes!!! We had a bit of small talk, especially Meg and her very worn out Duffy asks our last name then said: Stay right here... Zack looks at ALL of us and said "I KNOW I KNOW!!" we laughed i think we got through to him when a CM talks you listen and the answer is ALWAYS YES

She comes back with something and asks our last name again. I spell it out for her. Tells us Meg needed a new Duffy! and the boys needed some Birthday gifts too!





huh? What......... Did she.......................


Then the tears came. she just gave the kids a "No strings attached" for three FREE stuffies!!!! FREE can you BELIEVE THIS!?!? we walk 4 feet into Epcot and a hail storm of Pixi dusted came upon us!



TEARS!!!! I cried!!! She was so sweet with me i kept thanking her over and over!

BEST CM EVER!




See?!?!?!? One bad CM and 5 best CM's EVER come out of no where!!!
After i cleared my tears hugged poor Danielle over and over it was time to part.. although i didn't want to leave her behind!!!

Even Tom was ecstatic!


Day two and the Pixi Dust is following my midgets!

OK OK.. we were going to miss our first FP if we didn't get a move on NOW..
off we went!!! Back to TEST TRACK!!!

we made our cars. I rode with Matt
this is his car:



Making cars is serious stuff..




Have to stop here.. I hope to get back on tonight!!! running out of time!!!

If NOT i wish everyone a WONDERFUL PIXI DUST FILLED WEEKEND!!!





.

 

[Gracefulskinny]

What a sweet cm!!!!! Thats wonderful that she did that for you!

 

[KatMark]

WOW...that was some MAJOR pixie dust scored there for those adorable triplets, my friend. I would have been in tears too. Good for all of you after the crabby ones at AOA.

 

[ZehnJahren]

Aw how great!!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Well, that was an awesome way to start off the day at Epcot!

 

[ValarDisneyus]

What a lovely story! Man, I'd be writing Guest Relations a thank you note for Danielle, gracious! That's SO cool!

So which stuffies did the kiddos choose?

 

[STLMickeyMom]

That....is....so....FREAKIN AWESOME!!!!!! That CM is so what a CM should be! I would have totally been crying too!