My Pre-Trip planning report!

[brandip22]

This will be so much fun!! Here’s the background and story: DH has been going to Talladega for the October race for years. He’s always gone with the guys and I never cared to go and he never cared for me to go, so it worked out well. After his trip in 2006, he came back wanting me to go this year. He said it’s too funny and I just have to see all the stuff going on. Reluctantly, I decided to go. We could go and have a weekend without DS (5) and all that. Well, I happened to notice that it’d only be 36 points for us to stay on our DVC points that next Monday through Friday (Oct 8-12), so why not drive on down there from Birmingham? Great- we decided to go! But, what to do with our DS? We don’t have family nearby and they all work, so that was an issue. We wanted to take him, but what about the race (only had 2 tickets) and what about school? (first year of Kindergarten- whole other debate question, so don’t start!) OK, Mamaw decided she was retiring and so she’d come down to stay with DS (Alex)- great! A week by ourselves? Can we do it? Will we die from missing Alex? Probably. But, to go on a trip with just us- how fun. We went to WDW for our honeymoon, but since have been with kids every time.
Well, then came some budget issues. Since we can only be there for really 3 full days, I don’t want to spend $240 each on Disney tickets. We plan to go back in May so we could get APs, but don’t have the money for those now. What to do? DH says he needs a vacation, so if we only can go sit at the pool, that’s fine with him. Yeah right! Well, lo and behold the Universal $86 tickets! Just what the Dr ordered. We’ve never been there and that would be fun to try. We are not fans of anything that goes upside down or drops, so we are a little worried there won’t be as much to do, but that is OK- it’s almost Disney World, right? OK, I know, it is Universal, but we’ll be staying at OKW, so that’s close, right?

 

[brandip22]

This trip I haven’t done a great job of the planning since there is no tourguidemike for US/IOA. How do I plan without that? So, last week I started trying to plan. We decided we wanted to go to MNSSHP the night of the 11th, so I bought those tickets. Then, I went ahead and purchased the US tickets online through AAA. Wonderful- almost set. Then, I made a few reservations for meals: Emerils, Margaritaville, Mythos and tried to get a last minute CM. Did get CM, but had my choice from the others. Almost all set- yippee! Just have to figure out how to get from Baton Rouge to Birmingham, from B’ham to Orlando and then back home. We can do that. Now, will wait to decide what to pack! Ready to obsess over touring, now. Right? Right? I thought so……………………..

On to Tuesday, September 19- T minus 16 days til we leave for Talladega. DH (Paul) & I go to lunch- we never get to go together, but for some reason we did this day. While sitting at lunch, Paul says, “I am really wanting Alex to go with us.” WHAT?????? I have been secretly wanting him to go since we started this trip idea months ago but would never have told Paul. I knew he wanted “us” time. So, he wants him to go? Me too! Then, we debated for pretty much the whole hour whether to take him or not. What to do for the race? Does he come? Do we find another ticket or do I just not go (that sounds best to me!) or what?? Help! What to do? Oh my way back to work, I called my Mom, who is actually the one who will be keeping him now that week. She said that she did feel it was not the nicest thing to do to not take him. Only because it’s there, though. If it were Vegas or Hawaii, then go as adults, but to a theme park? And one he’s not been to? Plus, she said, all week he’d be fussing over where we were and when were we coming back. Can you tell she’d rather not have to deal with a 5 year old all by herself? She said she’d even drive him up to Birmingham or somewhere to meet us after the race. What? So, I’m all frazzeled now- what to do, what to do?
OK, now to this morning. I mention as we are getting ready that Mom said she’d drive Alex up to us in B’ham. For whatever reason, this gets us into an argument over taking him or not. On the one hand, we want to but on the other, we’d like the time to ourselves. But on the other, we’d miss him so and see other kids and feel bad. Plus, we’d see those rides that he’d love and feel guilty. Plus, we promised he’d go there next trip. If we wait until May, that means we’d have to stay even longer, which is fine with me. However, it means we’d have to stay in a studio, which is not fine with Paul. Finally, I said I was not fighting about the issue. That it was entirely up to Paul (DH- stay with me here!). Paul decided that DS Alex will come with us. Alex will go with Paul to the race (YAY!) I will get to stay in the hotel or whatever- even more yay! Relaxation is the best!! I am so excited I can’t stand it! It’s so much better seeing it through his eyes. But, I can’t tell him. We are going to surprise him a couple of times! That’s coming next.

 

[brandip22]

OK, the surprise. The plan is to get up Saturday morning, the 6th pretty early- about 6-ish and head for Birmingham. It’s about a 5-6 hour drive from what mapquest says. We’ll get to our hotel, The Redmont, and check in if we can. Then, to do whatever. LSU will be playing Florida that day or night, so our primary goal is to get somewhere to watch the game. Yep, we are missing what will probably be the biggest game of the year. Not like us, but oh well. On Sunday, Alex and Paul will get up to go to the race. Now, we haven’t talked about this part, but I would bet they’ll go later since Alex will be there. I can’t imagine Alex would last all day and then for the race, too. I’ll just not talk about that until the tickets are purchased and we are on our way, ok? OK. So, we’ll get him up and put him in the car but not tell him where we are going. I have a feeling he’ll think it’s to Disney World, but we can honestly tell him that’s not it. Then, when we get there, we can ask him if he’d like to see the race. Lord, I hope he says yes, huh?

The plan on Monday is to just get him up and in the car and let him think he’s on his way home. Hopefully, we can get it going until we go under those Disney World signs. How could would that be? He’ll be so excited! We will then have to tell him that we are not going to EPCOT, AK or MGM this trip though. But, we’ll be able to go to US and IOA. Plus to MNSSHP so to MK for a while. This will be too much fun!! I would love any ideas on other ways to surprise him. I’m thinking of not even telling him what park each day or what rides are there so it can be totally new for him. Maybe not even tell him of the MNSSHP. Oh, the planning to do now! In 15 days, we’ll be on our way at least to the race. Ready or not, it’s time to plan!

 

[bubba's mom]

You will all have a great time at UO...don't worry...it's not all coasters and such. The coasters are: Mummy (indoor coaster...doesn't loop), Hulk and Dueling Dragons ...both at IOA ...both outside and loop. There are 2 kid coasters: 1 at Studios: Woody Woodpecker and 1 at IOA: Flying Unicorn. There is a playarea in the Studios called Curious George, and it's wet..bring change of duds for little man. Not sure of his height in inches, but you will be surprised all there is for you all.... I recommend you read the UO homepage and Universal section of allears.net...both are very informative. You also mentioned staying at WDW. Be sure to get to Universal early, as the parks may close earlier. Also, be sure to show your AAA card (bring it if you're a member) and show it at all the eating and shopping places, you'll get a discount (10% I think).

As far as surprising your little man, the only thing I could think of is associate with the characters. Jimmy Neutron, Shrek, Spiderman, Cat in the Hat, etc..... buy fruit snacks, a tshirt or coloring book. Tell him it has something to do w/ where you're going.....

Good luck and please keep us posted! (And, I'm with you....I wouldn't be too thrilled to sit at a race either )

 

[brandip22]

Thanks for the tips! Oh, and I have been reading your trip reports, so that helped me decide to take DS. Great report!

 

[bubba's mom]

Thanks for the tips! Oh, and I have been reading your trip reports, so that helped me decide to take DS. Great report!

Thanks..you all will have a great time!

 

[brandip22]

OK, so we are only 11 days away- WAAHOOOO! I can't wait, I can't wait. I really really can't wait. DS is very intuitive, though. He has been asking to watch the Disney stuff on the computer lately. I'm trying to get him to watch the US/IOA stuff instead.
DH took DS to the LSU game this weekend and he was out by the 2nd quarter, so we are thinking hard about him going to the race. Maybe DH can just sell that ticket. Yep, DS slept during the LSU game. That is the LOUDEST place on earth and he SLEPT! We trained him to be able to sleep with noise, but my gracious!!