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

[Chicago Mo]

Port Orleans! We are staying there for the first time in March. Excited for your review!
Good move skipping MK the first day due to the crowds!

Ohhh LOVE POR! Riverside? I would recommend paying for the preferred rooms!!!
It's a bit squeezed for a family of 5. Yet the rooms are amazing. the kids LOVED that pull out bed thing. The pool is AWESOME the food is even better.. Atmosphere is gorgeous! Ok so i guess you can say i recommend POR!!!

That is my big problem with the FP+ if you decide to go to a park that is insane, you are stuck there unless you have park hoppers

Can't wait to see where you end up.

we do always get Park Hoppers.. which may end this trip?!?! We never even stepped foot INTO MK as the crowds going in were INSANE! just turned around and left.
you can redo all your FP in another park at the kiosks they are really easy to change! I didn't find it easy to change the FP on the app.. I made Tom do those!

Don't you just LOVE POR!?! DH and I have talked about considering another resort and we just can't even consider it. Its just so beautiful.

AH yes, I've heard things about how crazy night of joy can be. I don't blame you from running away from it.

Oh yes! POR is simply beautiful! I am and will always LOVE Poly..
OH my goodness Night of Joy was CRAZY tons of Teenagers (not my happiness) singing (another of my NON happiness) so this wasn't turning out to be so Happy.. we more or less RAN away from it.

Yay you've checked in. I've never stayed at POR-Riverside, but if we ever went back to a moderate and Coronado was not available, POR-Riverside would be our only other choice.

It's really beautiful! plus some YUMMY FOOD and fun entertainment.

Love the new pull down bed...and smart son you have there sticking the coughing ones together.

The pull down was really CUTE! Wasn't expecting it! and VERY CLEAN!!!

Night of Joy crowds. We've experienced them before; glad you decide to go elsewhere. I'm going to guess you went to the Studios.

YUCK I had totally forgot about the Night of Joy. Also had thought we would be in MK a LOT earlier then expected.. Oops. but this is going to be part of our WHOLE trip..

I remember where you went, cause I was there that day too! I didn't see your change of park until I was at home on my couch checking Facebook that night. Wish I had seen it at the time - I might have got to meet you live and in person!

Did the kids know you were moving to AoA the next day or did you keep that a surprise too?

No kidding! I would have loved to have been able to say a quick Hi!!!

Nope AoA was also a surprise!!! i have video of this too!!!

The pasta picture makes me want to stay onsite. Maybe we'll just go to the resort to eat!?!

Can't wait to see/read where you guys ended up.

That pasta alone is worth the price in GOLD!

Coming right up!

I would love to stay POR riverside someday. It is so pretty. And how cool is that bed!

I cannot say enough great things about POR!!! the bed was really adorable!

I love the make-your-own pasta bar at POR!!!

and I know where you went next, cuz I was there!!!!

I wish i was there now and having some!!!!
you were? ugh oh.. I might have my days mixed up now.... I thought we met up on the 7th?!?

This made me laugh at work. Thankfully I laugh often at work so no one suspected anything.

Well that's a good thing! I hope to keep the laughs coming.

POR looks beautiful! WE booked a bounce back for next year and booked CBR again because we love it, but we are thinking of changing it to POR just for something different. It looks so beautiful there and I LOVE New Orleans. Hard to leave what we love, but I think we might have to.

My goal is to stay at several resorts who allow family of 5...
there are so many beautiful resorts!!

That pasta looked so good!

Wish i had it today for lunch!!!

Yikes about the Night of Joy. We would have left too. Don't want huge crowds like that!

No crowds are the worst!!! didn't want it to be our first day and batteling the crowds!

Can't wait to see where you end up.

coming right up!

Oh my that pasta looks amazing!!

We have done the immediate park turn around and chase course too! Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do!

The pasta was just DELISH! i cannot say one bad thing about it!

I'm a little late to the party but am loving your trip report. I had trouble seeing your reveal video through my tears. That was so adorable.

WELCOME!!!! Glad to have you!!
awww THANK YOU! it was a perfect moment and better way to tell them!

Oh no no MK!!! I can't wait to see what the alternate was though

coming right up!

i'm back and spent an awesome morning getting all caught up--love it all!!

WELCOME BACK!!!!

your pics of walking into POR made me so happy! I loved it when we stayed there.....sigh!

it's so beautiful!!!

and the alligator bed!! we stayed in a royal room when we went and didn't have that. Louis and ray are my favorites! if we'd been in that room the girls would have had to fight ME for that!

HA HA HA! it seemed pretty comfortable too! we can't stay in the royal rooms.. Family of 5!

I love all the goofy pics of the kids (bigfoot walk!!) and muppets references, but most of all, i am loving matt's logic--let the siblings cough on each other, wear my sisters bow as a show your Disney side bowtie. that's my kind of kid (and logic)!

he's nuts... i love my kids!

can't wait for more! (and, we were just there shortly after you all. when i start a TR i'll let you know, in case you need more Disney in your life! )

Please do! Love read along on trip reports!

Good choice, to go elsewhere the crowds were the worst of our trip at MK the Night of Joy!

blah.. couldn't handle it at all!

Just look at all of those little smiling faces! You can tell that they are so happy to be at Walt Disney World. I took a boat ride over to Port Orleans while the guys were at Disney Quest. It really is a beautiful resort. I haven't gotten around to that part of my trip report so I can't say what his thoughts were just yet.

I've seen video of the Nights of Joy and the crowds looked massive! Good idea to go somewhere else for the evening.

HA HA! Nope not going to blame me for a spoiler on your report!

This was still really early so we would have had a couple of hours before the Night of Joy started... Since they all were showing up I couldn't deal with it!


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

Weekend stuff!
as you know i don't Dis on the weekends! Friday i called off my day job. I was DEAD tired. just couldn't hack it. So i cleaned.. for 4 hours in my living room!!! Meg had Basketball practice then i was off to Dog training..

Saturday: Some moron decided to schedule our basketball game at 8am... WHO DOES THAT? My alarm kept going off I had thought it was for the game. NOPE it was for my regular work day. let's just say i did NOT have a good night sleep. Went to Meg's game i let a 5th grader be the coach. and we WON!!! came home i napped. then did the BORING task of downloading all the MM pictures. it was fun reliving them again other then that? I DID NOTHING! yes! you read that correctly i DID NOTHING ON SATURDAY!!!

Sunday:
FOOTBALL! Home game! YAY!!! had to be at the field at 10:30 for a noon game. I have no idea why so early but i was able to watch the Super Pee Wees.. THEY ARE SO CUTE!!!! like bobble heads with all the equipment and they are SO LITTLE!
OUR TURN! I have to say here i have never been so PROUD of the way the boys played!!! HOLY COW!!!
They played like the animals i know they can! I can assure you they played a LOT tougher then the damn Bears.
Well the end of the game the kids Matt was holding finally got sick and tired of it i guess (the kid was HUGE by the way) and pretty much grabbed him by the arm swung him- he fell on his knee. He was out. we lost the game. hate to be THAT mom yes it was because Matt was out the big kid got thought the line and that was the end of our game... Made Matt feel good knowing he is needed on the team! Zack was busy knocking kids on their behinds to help with the big kid. again I am SO PROUD OF MY KIDS!!! Meg cheered her heart out too. especially when she saw her brother being carried off the team. Made Zack get a little meaner too... Matt is OK. his knee looks good we did not go to the doc. Today is a new day and i will be keeping an eye on it.

I LOVE FOOTBALL!

Afterwards my Mom wanted to take them to this farm thing that has small rides and pumpkins petting zoos stuff like that Called
Bengtsons Pumpkin Farm <-- if you want to see what it's about

Today i am working job #1 then straight over to job #2.

Long day ahead of me!!!

Going to post football pictures of course..
Coming right up where did we end up!

 

[Chicago Mo]

YAY!! Finally through the Magical arches!!

Port Orleans looks REALLY pretty! I loved CBR, but would like to try this one sometime too!

Matt's logic is so spot on and so funny!

Your pasta looks amazing, this makes me really want to eat there. However I do have Maggiano's left overs for lunch today !

I didn't know Night of Joy brought so many people to MK! I can't wait to read about where ya went next- my guess is HS!

Yes FINALLY! took FOREVER to get to the arch! But totally worth the wait!

POR is worth it!!! LOVE IT!

Matt is out of his mind. don't know where my kids get it!

YUMMMMMMMMM Maggiano!!! haven't been there in a couple of years!

yes STAY AWAY FROM NIGHT OF JOY!

 

[Chicago Mo]

Like ANY good planner <-- HA HA HA HA HA can't even type that without laughing my head off

Check to see where should go. easiest place to go from MK!



I adore the old D design for the world!



Jumped on the Monorail and hit EPERCOT!!!! First trip we took the kids have called Epcot EpERcot ever since. makes me happy!!!





Sunshine state? HELLO?!?! SUN- SHINE- state???






What shall we do?!?! ahh! the first thing you see of course!

The person on the EVC looks as if they are going 60mph!!!


Isn't this how all families act in Disney?!?!




let's look at some really awful- blurry pictures!










thinking of redecorating my house:




AKA:

That IS the chick from Star trek right?!?!



Clark Kent:










Next post! Too many pictures!!!

...

 

[Chicago Mo]

Since no one else took pictures of their rides

I present Meg and my futures:



Really it's Meg's as i was there for the ride:





we stole oops i mean BORROWED the Jetson's car




becuase we apparently lived next door to the jetsons!




Mrs. Jetson is CHEATING on Checkers


so she had to sleep with the fishes




we had SO MANY laughs wanted to go again. but we needed to use our IMAGINATION!





.

 

[pucknasty]

you guys are totally doing this the right way...all the way down to the white boards. we drive from Indy and it takes 18+ hours. so you guys are awesome! definitely following you on your trip!

 

[Chicago Mo]

I have to say this is one of my FAVORITES!!!









YAY MORE BLURRY PICTURES!









Why did i post the above? just to show you that i can take crappy pictures too!!!



i like squigglie lines in photography.. they make me HAPPY!



Leaving you here. as my computer is starting to act wonky.

Have a PIXI dusted kind of day!!! talk to you all TOMORROW!!!

.

 

[Chicago Mo]

you guys are totally doing this the right way...all the way down to the white boards. we drive from Indy and it takes 18+ hours. so you guys are awesome! definitely following you on your trip!

Thanks for joining!!!

Thank you!! we did our best! BORING DRIVE!!!! Indiana- Illinois- Georgia are the worst just flat and NOTHING.

do you drive every time too?

 

[LoJoDisney]

I keep forgetting to tell you that I need to discuss this dog training with you! I need tips for my crazy poodle! haha

I am so glad that the boys played better football than the Bears this weekend! What a mess the past 2 Bears games have been- especially living with a Packers fan.

I'm glad Matt's knee is doing ok, what a trooper!

I grew up just down the street from Bengstons! My grandparents live almost walking distance from there!

I LOL'd (literally) at the women in the ECV looking like they were going 60MPH. I'm actually still laughing with that image in my mind. ahaha

I loved Spaceship earth! The end is so cute, I love the pictures of yours & Meg's futures! We didn't try Figments ride though

 

[Gracefulskinny]

Certainly not a bad way to start a trip. Those are two of my favs! And now you have One little spark stuck in my head and I'll probably be singing it for the next few days!

 

[annegirl]

Making me so excited for Epcot!
And yes, that person on the scooter DOES look like they are going super fast.

 

[Sisa]

Yes, I think my siblings and I were stone shocked when my parents told us about our surprise trip. They had our outfits laid out, all brand new. My siblings just looked at each other in disbelief. We thought they were joking. So my parents brought out our suitcases which were packed and again we were still skeptical. I think it was at the airport where it finally hit us. It was just so much to process, how did they plan this without us knowing, how did we not notice any Disney items, how did we not notice packed suitcases for 7 people, etc.

Okay onto your report....

The decorated car was AMAZING!!! Way to go Mom!!! I would have loved to see this going down the road!

Glad you were finally able to sleep in the car on the way there, I cannot fall asleep in the car no matter how tired I am. It's a miserable curse. My husband, however, will fall asleep within seconds of trying. Sick, just, sick.

No Georgia Peaches for you? How rude (said in a Stephanie Tanner voice)!

Ahh crossing into Florida, I'd be singing and dancing too. But to cross under those magical arches...just a dream, I cannot wait to live!

Okay, I just have to say that I love how you took more than just the arch and hotel photo. I was able to see more of what it looks like after passing under the arches. So thank you for that!

Okay, shut up! Like how sweet was that little girl with her birthday sign...LOVE! Only in Disney

That pasta looks fabulous....mmm!

Major bummer on the crowded MK Glad you were able to dart over to EpERcot....hehe I love that!
Awesome Figment photos!
Looks like you've had a great start

 

[STLMickeyMom]

I'm glad you thought to jump over to Epcot and avoid the crowds! We just did spaceship earth on our trip in January for the first time. The crazy future pictures cracked me up! And yes, I believe that is very appropriate behavior from your kiddos. If people aren't acting that way at Disney, they should be!

 

[DMGeurts]

Loved the Epercot day!!!

We don't like SSE at all... I know - BAD Disers... Seriously - we all cry when we are going STRAIGHT DOWN BACKWARDS... Nope - we don't do SSE anymore. Well, I don't anyways. BUt I do respect that ride and think everyone else should do it on every trip.

Awww... Love Figment too... We didn't get to do that one on our last trip.

D~

 

[sweetpeaandevie]

YAY!!!!!

Sorry, I am a day late and a dollar short but I have been just a little busy in a place that we all know and LOVE!!!! (hence being a dollar short! )

Oh the shenanigans with the reveal! hahahahaha, you got us all! Of course the upside to being late to the party is instant gratification!!!

I LOVED it! I can't believe that you pulled it off! They were soooooo surprised! I am so happy that it was sooooooo perfect! You ARE the best mom ever!!!

I am a little jealous about the night at POR. That was our resort choice until it was excluded from free dining. Don't get me wrong, CSR was an AMAZING resort as well! We loved it. I think it would be hard to find a disney resort that wasn't AWESOME!!!

aaaaaah, Epcot! we did not spend nearly enough time there! Especially not WS but that is a story for my TR. If I ever get the chance to do one.......

I can't wait to hear all about your trip! I hope that i will be able to keep up now that our trip is done

 

[solana131]

Yay for EpERcot! I don't blame you....at least you said "hi" to the castle as you were driving by on the monorail
I love SSE! And you and Meg make me laugh. I remember this afternoon from your FB pics. So much for the sunshine state!

 

[KatMark]

Great updates, Mo. You hit my two favorites at Epcot right off. Love yours and Meg 'a future pics!

 

[spiritsim]

Finally made the party!!! I was to tired at night to even think about posting pics or even getting on the dis.............. Guess I am getting old!!!
Even if I hate to admit it
Ok have to go back and read your report but wanted to let you know I am here!!

 

[Tinkercc]

Great pictures. My husband has a conference in WDW in November. I am going along. Our kiddos are staying at home. It's hard to take them out when they get in HS. Your trip report it getting me totally psyched for our trips.

I miss watching the little bobble heads play football. My son played for 7 years in the TCYFL. Are your boys in that league? I wasn't sure if it's just the suburbs. I know he used to play teams from Oak Park. Those games were so much fun to watch. The Bears need to step it up a few notches. Two losses in a row??? Ugh! Have a great day!!

 

[lovedonaldduck]

I would have loved to see you, although it was just a day trip for us so we might have already been heading home by the time you got to Epcot. I need to do a better job of checking Facebook when we are at the parks and I know I have DisFriends around.

We haven't been on SSE in ages - we like it, it's just not a high priority with us. I'm pretty sure Charlotte is the only one who likes Figment, although we usually ride it each trip since she does like it.

So glad you guys found somewhere less crowded to spend your first day,

 

[Chicago Mo]

I keep forgetting to tell you that I need to discuss this dog training with you! I need tips for my crazy poodle! haha

Anytime!! PM me either on here or facebook?

I am so glad that the boys played better football than the Bears this weekend! What a mess the past 2 Bears games have been- especially living with a Packers fan.

ohh NO! you live with a packer fan! it's enough we are doing this bad we don't need the people making us feel worse!!!
Yes the boys games are way more fun to watch now.. I don't feel the need to throw things against walls watching them!!!

I'm glad Matt's knee is doing ok, what a trooper!

Thank you! Yes he is OK! yet i might have him checked out anyway.. as i have HORRIBLE knees from sports. and want to keep up with him so he doesn't have the problems i have!!!

I grew up just down the street from Bengstons! My grandparents live almost walking distance from there!

No Kidding!!! it's a really fun (expensive) place! we didn't spend a lot of time there only because it was sunday after the kids played a really hard game everyone had to get up early for school and work the next day!

I LOL'd (literally) at the women in the ECV looking like they were going 60MPH. I'm actually still laughing with that image in my mind. ahaha

Seriously! she is like a bat outta hell!! GO SPEED RACER!

I loved Spaceship earth! The end is so cute, I love the pictures of yours & Meg's futures! We didn't try Figments ride though

Spaceship Earth is WAY fun!!! I wanted to ride it a few times with each person just for the future pictures. sadly this was the only time we rode it!
Didn't try Figment?!?! FOR SHAME!!! I love that little dragon!!!

Certainly not a bad way to start a trip. Those are two of my favs! And now you have One little spark stuck in my head and I'll probably be singing it for the next few days!

Yes! granted MK was the ideal way to start our Magical journey yet the crowds would have dampered the start with a grouchy Mom...
SO we headed over to the ball!

Making me so excited for Epcot!
And yes, that person on the scooter DOES look like they are going super fast.

Oh good!!! your going to have a blast!!! This person was in a HURRY to get somewhere!!! so funny.

Yes, I think my siblings and I were stone shocked when my parents told us about our surprise trip. They had our outfits laid out, all brand new. My siblings just looked at each other in disbelief. We thought they were joking. So my parents brought out our suitcases which were packed and again we were still skeptical. I think it was at the airport where it finally hit us. It was just so much to process, how did they plan this without us knowing, how did we not notice any Disney items, how did we not notice packed suitcases for 7 people, etc.

Too Funny!!!!! pretty much the same with mine with exception they saw a few things still won't tell me who saw what!!!

Okay onto your report....

about time...

The decorated car was AMAZING!!! Way to go Mom!!! I would have loved to see this going down the road!

She did do a great job! didn't see too many other vehicles decorated.

Glad you were finally able to sleep in the car on the way there, I cannot fall asleep in the car no matter how tired I am. It's a miserable curse. My husband, however, will fall asleep within seconds of trying. Sick, just, sick.

I didn't just fall asleep i passed out.. I think with all the emotions from Friday into Saturday finally took over, and i konked
I felt so much better once i woke up too!!!
SO sorry you cannot fall asleep! that makes for an even longer road trip!!

No Georgia Peaches for you? How rude (said in a Stephanie Tanner voice)!

No! Not a single one! i'm still upset over this!!! think i need to go back don't you??

Ahh crossing into Florida, I'd be singing and dancing too. But to cross under those magical arches...just a dream, I cannot wait to live!

it's the best feeling EVER!!!! Can't wait for you to do the same!

Okay, I just have to say that I love how you took more than just the arch and hotel photo. I was able to see more of what it looks like after passing under the arches. So thank you for that!

Yes! After the arches is when you start seeing all the FUN stuff! like turn this way for MAGIC KINGDOM or straight ahead for Animal Kingdom all the fun statues along the roads! Truly MAGIC!!! SO SO SO CLEAN!!!!

Okay, shut up! Like how sweet was that little girl with her birthday sign...LOVE! Only in Disney

RIGHT?!?!?!? How sweet was that.
I was Kinda hoping the person was a dis'er and would stop in to say HEY THAT WAS US!

That pasta looks fabulous....mmm!

OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGoodness it was to die for.

Major bummer on the crowded MK Glad you were able to dart over to EpERcot....hehe I love that!
Awesome Figment photos!
Looks like you've had a great start

we really did have a GREAT start!!! LOVE DISNEY! One bad turn never stopped us!

I'm glad you thought to jump over to Epcot and avoid the crowds! We just did spaceship earth on our trip in January for the first time. The crazy future pictures cracked me up! And yes, I believe that is very appropriate behavior from your kiddos. If people aren't acting that way at Disney, they should be!

Oh yes! that was the fastest park to get to from MK. so that's exactly what we did!
Isn't is a BLAST! LOVED SSE! we just cracked up!!!

Loved the Epercot day!!!

there is just SOOOOOOOOO Much to do at EpERcot!!! as you know when your in Epcot how the weather is right??

We don't like SSE at all... I know - BAD Disers... Seriously - we all cry when we are going STRAIGHT DOWN BACKWARDS... Nope - we don't do SSE anymore. Well, I don't anyways. BUt I do respect that ride and think everyone else should do it on every trip.

What?!?! No SSE for you? Do you go on Everest?!?!

Awww... Love Figment too... We didn't get to do that one on our last trip.
D~

WHAT THE?!?!? what's up with THAT?!? he's such a great little.... well.. FIGMENT!

YAY!!!!!
Sorry, I am a day late and a dollar short but I have been just a little busy in a place that we all know and LOVE!!!! (hence being a dollar short! )

Hey there! welcome back!!! I CANNOT wait to hear ALL about your trip!!
i am many dollars short.

Oh the shenanigans with the reveal! hahahahaha, you got us all! Of course the upside to being late to the party is instant gratification!!!

yes you got lucky on that didn't you!!!!

I LOVED it! I can't believe that you pulled it off! They were soooooo surprised! I am so happy that it was sooooooo perfect! You ARE the best mom ever!!!

I can't believe we pulled it off.. i still watch the video and cry!!! I JUST LOVE MY KIDS!

I am a little jealous about the night at POR. That was our resort choice until it was excluded from free dining. Don't get me wrong, CSR was an AMAZING resort as well! We loved it. I think it would be hard to find a disney resort that wasn't AWESOME!!!

POR is magnificent! just means you have to go back! your right most resorts are simply HEAVEN!

aaaaaah, Epcot! we did not spend nearly enough time there! Especially not WS but that is a story for my TR. If I ever get the chance to do one.......

There never is enough time for everything Epcot has to offer. the place is HUGE and has something in every nook and cranny!

You BETTER get on this trip report! I have been hearing about the trip FOREVER if i don't get to hear ALL about it i'm going to revolt!!!!

I can't wait to hear all about your trip! I hope that i will be able to keep up now that our trip is done

I hope so too!!! take your time!