My Dad's First trip with his Grandkids!

[crystal1313]

So….I’ve finally talked my dad into coming to the DLR with us! He hasn’t been in 10 years. And he’s never been with my boys, DS6 and DS4. My mom has come with us lots of times, but never my dad. I asked him to go before the boys get too big and stop believing in everything because it is so magical to go with them right now.

So the players on this trip are:
Me
DH
DS6
DS4
My mom
My dad

We are going July 20-24. 3 day tickets from our credit union for the kids and my parents. DH and I have AP’s. Originally we wanted to stay at the PPH. Since room occupancy is 5, we would have to get two rooms…and dad thought it was too expensive =( We are bummed, but that’s ok, we will still have a great trip! DH and I are debating paying the difference of the hotel prices, or paying for my parent’s tickets so we can swing the PPH. But it’s a lot of money. But it could be for their 39th anniversary on July 12th….
So for now, we decided to stay at the Ramada Maingate at the Park in one of their brand new suites. It’s a 2 bedroom suite. 950 sq ft. 2 rooms with 2 queen beds in each. Each room has it’s own bathroom, fridge and microwave. In between the rooms is the parlor room. It will be nice to have all the extra space. I’m a little nervous about the construction going on at the hotel and the parking situation while we are there. But we have stayed here many times. The management is wonderful. We’ve stayed once in the new building and it was really nice. And the walk to the parks is quick and easy. I just feel a lot of responsibility because I suggested this place and I want the trip to be perfect for my parents.

Other things I’m thinking about doing:

Fantasmic dessert seating….but it’s so expensive! I think I’d rather use that money towards staying at the PPH or saving it for other things. Thinking of just going to Pooh’s corner and buying a lot of goodies we can all share….

PP+….I don’t know if this would be really worth it to us. I can only think of a handful of spots with a PP photographer. And they always usually take my camera and take a photo with it too. And both my parents and I have a DSLR….I DO want to get at least one family photo with all of us in the photo! And tons with my parents and kids together.

BB dinner….we took our kids when we were there in Dec. They could have cared less! LOL. But we really enjoyed ourselves and know my parents would love it too. For sure only getting one kid meal and having them share it since neither kid ate any of their food last time.

Probably eat at the Carnation, and maybe one more table service place. Café Orleans or Wine Country Trattoria. I really want to try Big Thunder BBQ, but I’m not sure if my kids would eat anything there! They are pretty picky and I don’t want to pay a high price for them to eat nothing. Maybe we can just get the dessert there!

Preparing:

So DS6 is pretty big for his age…54 pounds and 48 inches tall! He can finally ride Screamin’ this next trip….but he looks ridiculous in a stroller! Way too big for a stroller now. So we had to break the news to him that he will be walking this next trip. He wasn’t too thrilled. So we are trying to walk on the weekends and get his stamina up. My parents need to start walking too. I’m going to start inviting them along. They are not used to walking very much and my mom is still recovering from a major surgery she had in September. She has Crohns. So she takes much longer to heal. Last trip we walked 11 miles in one day and DH and I felt like we didn’t walk very much that day, so we walk a lot! LOL. Hoping to take breaks and fully expect my parents to not stay with us all day long, which is fine. Since we have 3 days, also thinking about taking a swim break at the hotel at least one of the days. The pool at the Ramada looks pretty awesome. We’ve never used it in all of our trips. Zero entry and splash zone! We will still have one stroller for DS4. He ALWAYS falls asleep around 9. It’s rare for him to make it until 10pm. So the stroller is nice to push him back to the hotel.

I’m also starting to make lists for packing and what snacks/CS/ TS places we want to eat at. So excited!

 

[luulu1999]

Hi!! Following along!!! We are going in July too!! The end 27th-Aug 4th I am sooo excited!!! My DS(6) is also 48 inches and he is really excited to get to ride ALL the rides!!! Have fun planning!!! I am at a stand still til time to start making ressies!!!

 

[crystal1313]

So exciting luulu1999!! DS has been begging to ride Screamin' for YEARS! (He rode TOT at 3 years old). In December he was just barely under the marker. DH just measured him the other day barefoot and he is over 48! Yay!! We've already started talking to him about how he needs to keep his head back for the beginning. He's excited!

I'm kind of at a stand point too. Debating which places to eat at now. I want to be more flexible, but with a larger group, I'm worried that will turn into us waiting longer and having hungry cranky kids. But I'm not sure I want to have to commit to reservations because we usually don't follow a plan of touring. We go with the flow and change as the day goes on depending on what we all want to do. For sure I'll make BB reservations. But everything else I'm torn about.

Are you getting PP+?

 

[Cheshirecatty]

Following along, Crystal!

I just wanted to mention(you might already know this), if you decide to do Big Thunder BBQ, you can take in food for your boys, purchased from elsewhere in the Park!

That way, you can just order for you and Hubbie, and your Parents, and they won't charge you for the boys!

I don't know if you've eaten there before, but we love it(I'm slobbering as I type)!

 

[crystal1313]

Ohhhh!! Great to know Karry!! I've never eaten there before. I've heard so many wonderful things! Thank you!!!!

 

[crystal1313]

Hi! Wow, I haven't posted in a LONG time on here. LOL.

So, we are in the countdown phase, yay! Just paid for PP+ today! Super excited about that. I really debated it and went on a walk with my parents last night (We live one street over from them, lol) and told them about it and they thought it was a great value and told me to order it!

I'm also starting to plan my packing list...and outfits for me and the kids! Gotta pack the Star Wars shirts for the boys who want to do Jedi Training Academy this trip! I'm going to attempt to wear a dress again and a skort! Little worried about the skort, but I'm going to test wear it at home and see how I like it. I really want a new pair of flip flops! We will see. I have a fantastic brown pair, but need a black pair, but having a hard time justifying the cost. Maybe I'll just wait until we are there and get a pair of sanuks!

I also have been accumulating some extra goodies for the kids! Got some super cute teeny tiny Thumper plush for them! DS4 is Thumper obsessed! Got a bunch of glow sticks! Found their light up/spinny things and going to get new batteries.

New thing for us is telling them ahead of time about the trip. So been asking DS4 what rides he will be brave enough to go on. What treats they both want to try. What rides they want to go on. What meet n greets, which is entirely new for us! This is the first trip they have shown interest in meet n greets. Also, working with DS6 in telling him he needs to communicate with us and tell us what he is thinking. Sometimes he gets ideas in his head, and if his plan doesn't go exactly how he wants, he doesn't handle it well. It's hard to teach "going with the flow" LOL. But I think he is understanding the concept. I just keep running different scenarios by him. For instance,"What if we want to ride Space Mtn and we get there and it's closed? We have 3 days at the parks, remember" so he's been saying we can go to another ride nearby, etc and come back to Space Mtn at another time. I sure hope it's helping!!

Can't wait!!!

 

[TheSpooph]

Have fun in your trip! I am going to start a countdown soon with DD so she can start earning coins for the penny machines.

I'm glad to hear what you decided to do on the PP+. I'm still thinking it over but I think we will do it. I'm hoping to get done fun shots at the FF princess and Pixie Hollow M&Gs.

Hope your parents enjoy it as much as you. I'm sure you'll come back with lots of great memories.

 

[luulu1999]

It is getting closer!! We did the pp+ last time and again this time, we didn't really make the most out of it last time but I def plan on getting magic shots and everything this time, we got a bit of a surprise with out kids height, they went to the dentist the other day and for some reason they measured them and DD5 is also over 48 inches!! So she says she wants to ride all the rides too!! But we will see

 

[crystal1313]

Thanks guys!! So excited!! Is it the 20th yet!?!

 

[crystal1313]

Got my photo pass +!!!! 8 days out. Cannot wait!!

 

[WendyandTheLostBoys]

We will be in the parks July 22-24. Hope to see you around!

 

[MinnieMe87]

How fun!! My Mom and I will be there the 20-23rd!! It's my first trip to DL and I can't WAIT. We are counting down here too!!

 

[crystal1313]

Wendy and the lost boys and Minnie me, if you see us say hi! We have a DS4 who is a strawberry blonde and DS6 who is blonde. My DH and I are blonde too. You can see pics in my trip report in my signature. I'm so stinking excited!!! Have a great time everyone!! I'm starting laundry now. Probably start packing tonight!!

 

[crystal1313]

Hi! We are back and I cannot wait to start our trip report. We had a blast! Need to upload photos and start! Hoping tomorrow.

 

[Cheshirecatty]

Hi Crystal! Waiting……..for that report! (Did you try Big Thunder BBQ?)

 

[crystal1313]

Hi Karry! I'm so lagging on this TR! We are in the process of trying to buy a home and it's the most stressful thing I have ever done! I have all my photos now, so I don't have excuses! I need to start We didn't end up trying the BBQ. We thought about it once, but none of us were very hungry at the time. I actually only ate one hot meal the entire trip. Mostly salads and sandwiches because it was so darn hot and humid!

 

[Cheshirecatty]

Buying a new home---how exciting!!!

I totally understand why a trip report would go on the back burner in favor of that event!

I get you about not eating a hot meal(or a large one), when it is warm/muggy outside! We experienced this same thing when we visited the Resort over July 4th---much hotter than the previous times we'd been there, during that same week,(soooo disappointing), and we didn't eat nearly as much as normal(probably a good thing!)

Hoping to make up for those "Lost Meals" when we visit in October!

 

[crystal1313]

Finally uploaded my photos!!

Arrival day:
We got to our hotel, the Ramada Maingate around 2:30 I think. Traffic in LA was as usual, horrible and the last hour our kids were driving us crazy! LOL. Happy to be out of the car! We had early check in through their special AP rate and our room was ready. I was a bit concerned about parking because the hotel is under renovations. We checked in on a Sunday and easily found two spots near our building. We never moved our car until our departure day. We headed to our room and it was gorgeous! A 3 bedroom suite. 2 rooms with 2 queen beds and a full bathroom in each and in between them a parlor room that was very spacious! On the 4th floor and had a view of Mickey's Fun Wheel and TOT and a bit of Cadillac Range (could see the top of Flo's as well) We were thrilled!

Got settled in our room and took the boys down to the pool. It was fantastic! Heated, beach entry, and a couple of splash pad things for the boys, which they loved!! Could hardly get them out when it was time for dinner!! I had brought food from home. We bought a bunch of BCR burritos and a quesadilla and some Spanish rice from our local Mexican restaurant and packed them in our cooler for the trip to LA. All 6 of us ate for $22! And we had two burritos left over!

After dinner, my parents volunteered to put the boys to bed. DH and I had friends at the parks, so we left and headed to DCA. I went to Kingswell camera to redeem my PP+ voucher. Then we headed to the car in the Grand. I didn't realize it was under renovation and we sat outside near the pool which was wonderful because the weather was beautiful!

We had a drink and met our friends and headed into DL. We got in at a horrible time, right as fireworks were ending. It was tough to navigate through the crazy crowds but we eventually made it to the Matterhorn. This was not my first choice to ride, but the line wasn't long so I went with it. (It's too painful for me and I usually only ride when DS6 asks me to). Next we headed to BTMR which was awesome, but wish we were seated further back in the train. Still really fun!

We headed back to the room after that as we knew we would be getting up early to try to be at the park for rope drop!

(Sorry, I have zero photos of arrival day!-I need to get my moms camera because she has some of the kids at the pool!)

 

[crystal1313]

Day one!

We decided to hit DCA, even though it was an EMH day and we didn't have EMH. RSR was a top priority! We got there shortly after rope drop and I got in line for RSR FP and everyone else took a break on a bench. DS6 was walking for the first time this trip, he's ridiculously huge for a stroller and it was time he walked! I did miss an extra stroller, but he did really well on the trip. My mom couldn't believe the changes to DCA. Last time she was there, everything was behind walls and we had to enter behind Soarin. So it was quite a change for her. (well and my dad who hadn't been in so long)

After grabbing a fastpass, we headed to TSMM. The line was fairly short, but still seemed to drag in the room before you grab the glasses. My parents loved it! And the boys rode with their grandparents, so DH and I actually got to ride together!! He still beat me by a long shot

After that DS6 said he wanted to try Screamin for the first time. After he was measured, he wasn't quite sure, so we went on Mickey's fun Wheel on a "wiggly" car as DS4 calls them.

DS4 realized he doesn't quite like a "wiggly" car, as you can see his death grip on my shorts! LOL

We survived and headed to Goofy's Sky School. Took this on the way

My DH and dad rode together and then my mom and DS6 sat together and me with DS4. We loved it! DS6 asked his nana to ride again. DS4 was hungry and DH and my dad were in search of caffeine. So DH and my dad headed to Starbucks. DS4 and I waited for my mom and DS6 and had a snack. Then we all met at Starbucks. I realized we could pull another FP and thought I could for RSR, not realizing I couldn't until our ride time at 1:30. Oops! So I headed to Soarin instead for a FP. It's my dads favorite!

After Starbucks we headed to Monsters Inc. The boys love it! At some point we finally got a PP photo:

DS6 was in a weird photo taking mood the entire trip and refused to get in this photo! (And you will see he also made silly faces a lot. sigh) And you can see DS4 already picked his one souvenir for the whole trip within 3 hours of arrival! A giant stuffed Thumper. He is Thumper obsessed right now. I knew he wouldn't drop it if I didn't get it for him, but I followed through on my promise that Thumper was the ONLY thing I would buy for him this trip.

Then we headed to Soarin and it was wonderful as usual. Love this attraction! Thumper rode too! LOL.

Next up was lunch at Cars Land at Flo's a family favorite!

(Now DS4 wouldn't get in the photo. I can't win!)

And then RSR! For some reason DS4 refused to ride RSR even though he had been on it lots of times before. I tried everything to get his to ride to no avail. Ugh. So DH stayed with him and the rest of us rode.

 

[crystal1313]

Here's my parents with DS6 after RSR

We had two extra FP for RSR, so my dad took DS6 again. I wish I had given him the PP+ card but I realized when it was too late!

At this point DS4 was not himself at all and I wondered if he was feeling well or not. He insisted to go back to the hotel to nap. this child has not napped since he was 2! LOL. So my dad volunteered to take him back for a nap. Secretly I think my dad was tired! He has bad hips and is not used to walking this much. The catch was DS4 had to walk, because the stroller was holding our huge cooler full of water and snacks. My dad said he was fine walking.

SO the rest of us took some PP+ photos:

Crazy DS6 driver!

Nest, DS6 wanted to try GRR. Mom and I weren't keen on the thought of being totally drenched, although it was SUPER hot. DH volunteered to take him. Wait was an hour long. DH was smart and threw his flip flops in the stroller. No wet shoes and socks for him! (I had also thrown in DS6 sandals).

Mom and I actually had some alone time! We went shopping in Paradise Pier, watched the Goofy's show with the fountains, grabbed an ice cream, rode Little Mermaid and took some photos!

Then we headed to GRR. Hoping to see them start off on the ride