Day one. Thursday May 19
I truly apologize in advance for the VERY long explanation of my group - but you see group dynamics play a very large part in the rise and fall of my perfectly planned vacation, so please if you will indulge me - get to know us a bit.
My core group:
Self - mom, 36, afraid of heights, planes, and anything fast. Yes I hate rides.
Love spending time with my family, planning trip, seeing joy on my children's faces. Not a drinker AT ALL .Morning person - ESPECIALLY when it comes to DISNEY!! Last time aqt Disney - 1980 (pre Epcot)
DH - dad 37 going on 12, loves rides, hates heat, lines, other people in general. Hates planning,wants to "wing it" ,loves Budweiser.Night owl. Would prefer to be up till 2, wake at 11. Never been to Disney . Raised by a pack of wolves in fact I believe.
Do you see any trouble yet?> I have no idea how we ended up married either.
ds 11 - LOVES rollercoasters, fast rides of any kind. Is autistic, extremely picky eater, likes pizza and ziti with marinara. A word to the wise - Disney has terrible pizza. Not in one place - but everywhere. TERRIBLE. Is very sensitive to other people's emotions. Craves papers and crayons when stressed or upset. (did you know there is not one lousy box of plain old crayons in all of Disney World?) Been chanting -Disney World ,airplane,rollercoaster, pool, hotel,rides, all day every day for about 2 months.
ds 6/7 - shy, quiet, not crazy about rides but looking forward to Disney. Frightened of Mickey if you can believe that.Also very picky eater (does not even like chicken - likes grilled cheese though - which is nearly completely absent from the entire state of Florida as near as I can tell) NEVER wants to go out to eat as eating is his least favorite thing. Looking forward to Disney with some moments of sheer irrational panic at thoughts of rides he does not want to go on (where on earth does he get that from)
dd 5 - stubborn,free spirited ride lover. Does not understand the height requirement thing AT ALL. Good eater YAY! Looking forward to trying all the restaurants mommy has planned!- loves princesses,and being with mommy who you will remember HATES rides. Wants to go on all the rides!
ds 2 - along for the ride,too short for rides he wants to go on, but enjoys rides he is dragged on after all. WANTS MOMMY>... ONLY MOMMY.... 24/7. Does not enjoy most restaurants as he,like his brothers is very picky. Wants to meet Mickey (who ds 7 is petrified of)
Add to all above children - ALL VERY grumpy morning people , ALL EXTREMELY fair skinned children who require a head to toe slathering of SPF 50 every morning. Which btw they ALL hate. What a way to start off everyday- the "you go first, no you go first" fight to avoid the sunscreen lineup. The sunscreen processional took about 30 minutes each morning as I struggled to protect them from the horrible sunburns and ensueing freckles of my childhood.
Extended family staying offsite:
My parents, two lovely wonderful people who want nothing more than to enjoy some time with their children and grandchildren (sans the fighting) Willing to go along with my plans once they realize that it is PS or no nice restaurants for you.
My younger sister and her dh , my nephew 7, neice 4. Not participating in planning at all. Want to just "see what happens". Does not believe in PS. Does not think we will be out of luck without them.
My other younger sister, her dh and their son turning one on our trip. Not participating in planning as ds is too young really to enjoy some of the joys of Disney dining. Or so they/we think.
BIL's family - sister with nearly one year old son, brother and wife with nearly teo year old ds and 5 year old dd. Planning on doing dinners with us, if they can, as they also do not believe a PS is a necessary evil.
So that is everyone. The only one who KNOWS we will be stuck eating at all the counter service restaurants w/o a ps - ME. The only one who gives a hoot about what park we go to what day - me.
Well we got back last Thursday (5/26) and I finally have a minute or two to jot a few things down before my mind will mercifully erase some of the pain from our (my)oh so planned trip. Rather like childbirth the excruciating pain of giving up my carefully choreographed 4:30 PS at Coral Reef to ensure seating next to the aquarium will fade as well. Time heals all wounds. Already I don't remember exactly why we never got to Chef Mickey's, or the near tears experience of being in MGM without a PS. The 95 degree heat does not even seem like it was all that terrible. I am sure in time to come all this will fade, but for now....
First of all - I had a wonderful, fantastic beautiful time and am already devising a plan on how to afford another trip within a year hopefully.
However, let's just say all my planning - went down the tubes.Why? Well - life. Try as I may, I can not control, the heat,a 2 year old's exhaustion, dh's sheer frustration at nearly everything,or the rest of our party's complete and utter disregaurd for the holiest of the holy plans - the sacred PS.
How I plotted and planned and researched untill my eyes were bleary! I planned each day by my PS arrangements. Which park we would go to, when we would go, how we would get there. I made people swear on their lives - yes indeed - we are planning on Magic Kingdom on MOnday - AK on Wednesday. NO we will not be changing those plans. I went over the importance of a proper PS. Let them know if they wanted to come to a certain dinner I would love to have them BUT I needed to know IF they wanted to come! I let them know w/o a PS chances of coming to 1900 Park Faire to meet Cinderella were slim to none.
It was perfect I tell you perfect. Then enter...reality.Now truly I love my family more than anything in the world. I would go again in a heartbeat and would take every member of my family right back. BUT this time we would have to do things just a bit more MY WAY! MY DISBOARD WAY! MY COMPLETELY OBSESSIVE, PSYCHOTICALLY PLANNED OUT WAY!
Don't these plans sound just great for our first day - just me and my brood mind you. Wait till we throw everyone else in on the mix!
Planned to the T way:
Arrive Thurday mid afternoon., say around 1 or 2. Check in to POR. Have porter bring bags to room. Go for a quick dip in pool and head on over to MGM and dinner at Sci Fi. My kids are too young to enjoy MGM for anymore than half a day really - so this was our planned day to go there.
Reality:
Have very hard time dragging children away from Nick Hotel. Get lost (yes lost - don't ask how - Florida is just a jumble of roads all leading to Disney, yet we still took about 45 minutes to find POR)
So, guess when we arrive at POR? 4:00/ or in other words the time when EVERYONE else is also arriving. I was in line (a very Disney like line with ropes and all) for an hour. It then took my very lovely CM about 30 minutes to try to accomodate my requests. Please put us as close to the main pool as humanly possible. My oldest son is autistic and we will be spending alot of time going to and from that water slide. Ground floor would be nice, but secondary to location. GOD how I wished we had gotten there sooner! No need to chastise me here,- I do realize I was too late to expect any miracles.We ended up in building 16, which on paper looks close to main pool, but in fact is VERY far away IF you follow the pool signs. The walk was actually about half as short if you instead go to the lobby and cross the bridge to the pool that way. By the time we got to our room - no porter btw as we were told they were busy AND our room was so close we would not need it (lOL) it was 6:00. So, MGM not happening, so we just hit the pool. That was a 15 + minute walk with four young children. Very lovely walk yes, but still a long walk.We stayed at the pool for a while, but it started to be a bit chilly at sunset so we went back to the room to change for dinner. Remembering all the wonderful things I had read about Whispering Canyon, and desperately needing to inject some magic, I lucked out and got a PS for 8:20 I believe. By now I am exhausted , dh is tipsy as he had a couple beers at the pool and is not used to the glaring hot sun amplifying the effect of a bud by , oh about a hundred, and kids are , well kids - fussing, fighting, fidgeting and still - raring to go. Yes WC was the answer. We valet at WC and enter the Wilderness Lodge, and instantly I am filled with awe! What a beautiful resort - had I the extra $$ I would have transferred there that night! No offense to POR - we just loved this resort! We arrive in time to see the napkin spinning thing , though apparantly that was the last time for that as it did not happen again. We had about a 10 mnite wait and they were going to seat us WAAAY in the back. I explained to the very nice CM that we really were looking forward to being in on the action and would wait for another table if possible. She was not pleased , but did send us back over to wait for another table. The best part of waiting was that great table filled with lincoln logs for the kids to play with! It completely absorbed them so they were oblivious to the goings on in the restaurant itself untill we were thrust right into the middle of it. My normally sensitive shy ds 7 was sucked right into all the festivities! He caught onto the ketchup thing right away and could not wait for us to get our food to ask for ketchup! Every time someone needed ketchup he and dd 5 were up and running to help with the delivery. When I "dropped my fork" and was given the giant fork , all my kids were beside themselves! (Ahhhh some of the planning is finally paying off) The stick pony races were a huge hit.We had a wonderful meal here. Paid for our children's dinners with cash and used 2 TS for dh and I (again that wonderful planning) Dh had the steak, I believe I had a pasta primavera with chicken type thing, two orders of nachos for appetizers, and we also had dessert. My dh could not believe we could have all that food covered by the dining plan. Are you sure? he kept saying.YEP- got it covered I smugly tell him. I am confident my impeccable research will make this trip go smoothly. So - not the day I had planned - but still loads of fun!
A word about POR - if you are staying here - it is a lovely place really. There is no way however to get to MK or anywhere else in under an hour. It just is not happening. Unless you hit the bus stop exactly right, which we tried to no avail.Also there is a fridge, but NO FREEZER part. Not even that little pretend freezer area found in most mini fridges. So that case of water and the case of gatorade you (I ) bought is pretty much a waste. Also - water view does not mean water view,as best I can see it means NOT parking lot view. Not saying anything bad - just stating a fact. If you do not want parking lot view - pay for water view - but if you pay for water view - don't expect to actually SEE any water.
Tomorrow: Oh my God we have NO coffee, and the speakerphone does not work.
I truly apologize in advance for the VERY long explanation of my group - but you see group dynamics play a very large part in the rise and fall of my perfectly planned vacation, so please if you will indulge me - get to know us a bit.
My core group:
Self - mom, 36, afraid of heights, planes, and anything fast. Yes I hate rides.
Love spending time with my family, planning trip, seeing joy on my children's faces. Not a drinker AT ALL .Morning person - ESPECIALLY when it comes to DISNEY!! Last time aqt Disney - 1980 (pre Epcot)
DH - dad 37 going on 12, loves rides, hates heat, lines, other people in general. Hates planning,wants to "wing it" ,loves Budweiser.Night owl. Would prefer to be up till 2, wake at 11. Never been to Disney . Raised by a pack of wolves in fact I believe.
Do you see any trouble yet?> I have no idea how we ended up married either.
ds 11 - LOVES rollercoasters, fast rides of any kind. Is autistic, extremely picky eater, likes pizza and ziti with marinara. A word to the wise - Disney has terrible pizza. Not in one place - but everywhere. TERRIBLE. Is very sensitive to other people's emotions. Craves papers and crayons when stressed or upset. (did you know there is not one lousy box of plain old crayons in all of Disney World?) Been chanting -Disney World ,airplane,rollercoaster, pool, hotel,rides, all day every day for about 2 months.
ds 6/7 - shy, quiet, not crazy about rides but looking forward to Disney. Frightened of Mickey if you can believe that.Also very picky eater (does not even like chicken - likes grilled cheese though - which is nearly completely absent from the entire state of Florida as near as I can tell) NEVER wants to go out to eat as eating is his least favorite thing. Looking forward to Disney with some moments of sheer irrational panic at thoughts of rides he does not want to go on (where on earth does he get that from)
dd 5 - stubborn,free spirited ride lover. Does not understand the height requirement thing AT ALL. Good eater YAY! Looking forward to trying all the restaurants mommy has planned!- loves princesses,and being with mommy who you will remember HATES rides. Wants to go on all the rides!
ds 2 - along for the ride,too short for rides he wants to go on, but enjoys rides he is dragged on after all. WANTS MOMMY>... ONLY MOMMY.... 24/7. Does not enjoy most restaurants as he,like his brothers is very picky. Wants to meet Mickey (who ds 7 is petrified of)
Add to all above children - ALL VERY grumpy morning people , ALL EXTREMELY fair skinned children who require a head to toe slathering of SPF 50 every morning. Which btw they ALL hate. What a way to start off everyday- the "you go first, no you go first" fight to avoid the sunscreen lineup. The sunscreen processional took about 30 minutes each morning as I struggled to protect them from the horrible sunburns and ensueing freckles of my childhood.
Extended family staying offsite:
My parents, two lovely wonderful people who want nothing more than to enjoy some time with their children and grandchildren (sans the fighting) Willing to go along with my plans once they realize that it is PS or no nice restaurants for you.
My younger sister and her dh , my nephew 7, neice 4. Not participating in planning at all. Want to just "see what happens". Does not believe in PS. Does not think we will be out of luck without them.
My other younger sister, her dh and their son turning one on our trip. Not participating in planning as ds is too young really to enjoy some of the joys of Disney dining. Or so they/we think.
BIL's family - sister with nearly one year old son, brother and wife with nearly teo year old ds and 5 year old dd. Planning on doing dinners with us, if they can, as they also do not believe a PS is a necessary evil.
So that is everyone. The only one who KNOWS we will be stuck eating at all the counter service restaurants w/o a ps - ME. The only one who gives a hoot about what park we go to what day - me.
Well we got back last Thursday (5/26) and I finally have a minute or two to jot a few things down before my mind will mercifully erase some of the pain from our (my)oh so planned trip. Rather like childbirth the excruciating pain of giving up my carefully choreographed 4:30 PS at Coral Reef to ensure seating next to the aquarium will fade as well. Time heals all wounds. Already I don't remember exactly why we never got to Chef Mickey's, or the near tears experience of being in MGM without a PS. The 95 degree heat does not even seem like it was all that terrible. I am sure in time to come all this will fade, but for now....
First of all - I had a wonderful, fantastic beautiful time and am already devising a plan on how to afford another trip within a year hopefully.
However, let's just say all my planning - went down the tubes.Why? Well - life. Try as I may, I can not control, the heat,a 2 year old's exhaustion, dh's sheer frustration at nearly everything,or the rest of our party's complete and utter disregaurd for the holiest of the holy plans - the sacred PS.
How I plotted and planned and researched untill my eyes were bleary! I planned each day by my PS arrangements. Which park we would go to, when we would go, how we would get there. I made people swear on their lives - yes indeed - we are planning on Magic Kingdom on MOnday - AK on Wednesday. NO we will not be changing those plans. I went over the importance of a proper PS. Let them know if they wanted to come to a certain dinner I would love to have them BUT I needed to know IF they wanted to come! I let them know w/o a PS chances of coming to 1900 Park Faire to meet Cinderella were slim to none.
It was perfect I tell you perfect. Then enter...reality.Now truly I love my family more than anything in the world. I would go again in a heartbeat and would take every member of my family right back. BUT this time we would have to do things just a bit more MY WAY! MY DISBOARD WAY! MY COMPLETELY OBSESSIVE, PSYCHOTICALLY PLANNED OUT WAY!
Don't these plans sound just great for our first day - just me and my brood mind you. Wait till we throw everyone else in on the mix!
Planned to the T way:
Arrive Thurday mid afternoon., say around 1 or 2. Check in to POR. Have porter bring bags to room. Go for a quick dip in pool and head on over to MGM and dinner at Sci Fi. My kids are too young to enjoy MGM for anymore than half a day really - so this was our planned day to go there.
Reality:
Have very hard time dragging children away from Nick Hotel. Get lost (yes lost - don't ask how - Florida is just a jumble of roads all leading to Disney, yet we still took about 45 minutes to find POR)
So, guess when we arrive at POR? 4:00/ or in other words the time when EVERYONE else is also arriving. I was in line (a very Disney like line with ropes and all) for an hour. It then took my very lovely CM about 30 minutes to try to accomodate my requests. Please put us as close to the main pool as humanly possible. My oldest son is autistic and we will be spending alot of time going to and from that water slide. Ground floor would be nice, but secondary to location. GOD how I wished we had gotten there sooner! No need to chastise me here,- I do realize I was too late to expect any miracles.We ended up in building 16, which on paper looks close to main pool, but in fact is VERY far away IF you follow the pool signs. The walk was actually about half as short if you instead go to the lobby and cross the bridge to the pool that way. By the time we got to our room - no porter btw as we were told they were busy AND our room was so close we would not need it (lOL) it was 6:00. So, MGM not happening, so we just hit the pool. That was a 15 + minute walk with four young children. Very lovely walk yes, but still a long walk.We stayed at the pool for a while, but it started to be a bit chilly at sunset so we went back to the room to change for dinner. Remembering all the wonderful things I had read about Whispering Canyon, and desperately needing to inject some magic, I lucked out and got a PS for 8:20 I believe. By now I am exhausted , dh is tipsy as he had a couple beers at the pool and is not used to the glaring hot sun amplifying the effect of a bud by , oh about a hundred, and kids are , well kids - fussing, fighting, fidgeting and still - raring to go. Yes WC was the answer. We valet at WC and enter the Wilderness Lodge, and instantly I am filled with awe! What a beautiful resort - had I the extra $$ I would have transferred there that night! No offense to POR - we just loved this resort! We arrive in time to see the napkin spinning thing , though apparantly that was the last time for that as it did not happen again. We had about a 10 mnite wait and they were going to seat us WAAAY in the back. I explained to the very nice CM that we really were looking forward to being in on the action and would wait for another table if possible. She was not pleased , but did send us back over to wait for another table. The best part of waiting was that great table filled with lincoln logs for the kids to play with! It completely absorbed them so they were oblivious to the goings on in the restaurant itself untill we were thrust right into the middle of it. My normally sensitive shy ds 7 was sucked right into all the festivities! He caught onto the ketchup thing right away and could not wait for us to get our food to ask for ketchup! Every time someone needed ketchup he and dd 5 were up and running to help with the delivery. When I "dropped my fork" and was given the giant fork , all my kids were beside themselves! (Ahhhh some of the planning is finally paying off) The stick pony races were a huge hit.We had a wonderful meal here. Paid for our children's dinners with cash and used 2 TS for dh and I (again that wonderful planning) Dh had the steak, I believe I had a pasta primavera with chicken type thing, two orders of nachos for appetizers, and we also had dessert. My dh could not believe we could have all that food covered by the dining plan. Are you sure? he kept saying.YEP- got it covered I smugly tell him. I am confident my impeccable research will make this trip go smoothly. So - not the day I had planned - but still loads of fun!
A word about POR - if you are staying here - it is a lovely place really. There is no way however to get to MK or anywhere else in under an hour. It just is not happening. Unless you hit the bus stop exactly right, which we tried to no avail.Also there is a fridge, but NO FREEZER part. Not even that little pretend freezer area found in most mini fridges. So that case of water and the case of gatorade you (I ) bought is pretty much a waste. Also - water view does not mean water view,as best I can see it means NOT parking lot view. Not saying anything bad - just stating a fact. If you do not want parking lot view - pay for water view - but if you pay for water view - don't expect to actually SEE any water.
Tomorrow: Oh my God we have NO coffee, and the speakerphone does not work.
The one thing I love most about Disney is that even when the kids are grouchy, the sun is hot, the lines are long, you can still feel the Disney Magic! 
Can't wait to read the rest. 
spending so long planning, printing out timetables of where would be a good place on what day, booking PS (GULP: international calls show up on the bill 
), refused to even discuss what he might like to do (can't say I didn't try to involve him).
)
