Laurabearz
I cant load my bobbin!
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2001
- Messages
- 13,634
Cast of Characters....
Me, Laura, Disneyland vet. Three trips to WDW, one with kids last Jan (OKW 2-bedroom)
Hubby, Ozo, First time to WDW was in January
Madeline (almost 3, this was her last free trip!) and Abigail (AKA Juju, 16 months old) second trip to WDW for both.
Steve, (AKA Chubby De Marco) Ozo's buddy. Been to WDW twice, his first trip with kids.
Linda1, Steve's wife. Second trip to WDW, first with kids.... (BTW, Ozo and I met at their wedding)
Nicholas, 13 months old. Their son ... first trip
Linda2, Steve's sister. Has kids, (10-13 years old) but they are not on the trip. Last trip to WDW was in 1993. She now plans to rent the house and bring her kids back in June.
HOW THIS TRIP CAME TO BE.....
Our friend Steve, was changing jobs so at the last minute he called his friend who has this house he rents in Orlando. Then Steve begs us to go with him, since we have been with kids and they haven't. Now mind you our family already has a 9 day WDW trip planned this May and we were just there in January!! We declined.... Then, three days later, on April 1st.... Like a cruel joke, it started to snow.... Snowed two inches..... In APRIL!!!! That was enough to put us over the top and say sure if the price was right.... We found great airfare so we were coming along!!! Wooo hooooo!
We all make our separate ways to the airport. This is the first time I have been inside the newly remodeled Midway Airport. I had dropped people off and picked them up but hadn't' flown outta Midway in a while. It was really nice. I was impressed. Everything went very smoothly.
Our flight didn't leave until 830 PM on Saturday.... I kinda liked having the whole day to finish packing and cleaning but it made for a very long day. We arrived past midnight and neither of my kids slept on the plane....... In fact they even fought sleeping on the long car ride to the house.....
We rented from Dollar for the first time. I am glad I had registered for FastLane. It let me "cut" in front of 10 people. This would have been really sweet ... but my friend failed to sign up and he had to wait.... So no time saved this trip. We really liked walking to our car.... No bus to worry about ... and with two small children and all the gear they require... I think Dollar will be getting our business for a while. We found a code (last minute) for 219 for the week for a Dodge Caravan. We opted to upgrade to a grand caravan for 4 dollars more (sure glad we did too) Van was clean. It took forever to pack up the two vehicles (our friends rented a mid size car ... don't know the rate, sorry) with all the luggage (2 sets of golf clubs, one in a hard case UGH, 4 large suitcases, 1 double stroller (AKA The Beast), 1 full sized stroller, and a bunch of Misc. bags.....) It was close to 1 am before we hit the road......
The house (www.floridawonderland.com) was a nice 4 bedroom unit. 1 king, 1 queen and 2 bedrooms with two twins each. The pool was small but we used it a lot! Nice to take a quick dip in.... The spa was hard to operate.... In fact we lucked out that the pool guy stopped by on Tuesday.... He showed us how to use it. Poor directions in the house info book. The pool area was screen enclosed. This was nice. I only wish such a contraption would hold up under Chicago snows! LOL
Every afternoon the resident Cranes came by with their two chicks.......... They spent about an hour searching for food in back of our house ... it was really neat. The house has a huge big screen TV with a DVD player (no VHS in the main room which really sucked). Large leather Sofas that allow two people to lounge and two people to sit comfortably. My husband and I are going to look for something similar for our place. (my big complaint is he takes up the whole sofa!! LOL)
The decor is modern ... clean lines ... nice artwork...... plenty of kitchen ware.... Although Linda1 and I thought it was poorly laid out. After a day or two, one of us knew where everything was.
Anyway I digress..... We got to the house around 130 AM my girls are still awake! Didn't take long to get them asleep....... we all hit the hay......
Sunday was kick back and settle in day ... went food shopping, unpacked, swam.... The boys had 315 tee time at some course @ WDW (don't know which ... sorry) Due to the time change the boys ended up rushing off.... In the car.... Taking one of the carseats with them.... That meant that the GIRLS WERE TRAPPED WITH THE KIDS! We called the boys and arranged for Linda2 to meet them around 530 at the 7th hole (it is close to the parking lot) to pick up the seat. While we waited Linda1 and I took the kids for a stroll around the complex to see if we could find a park. The kids really needed to run around for a while! LOL Anyway we walked and walked and went in what we thought would be the right direction for a park but to never found one. Two days later the pool guy shows up and tells us how to find it ... apparently the first left we took should have been a right..... Ah well..... It would be nice if this info was in the house info book.
We head back to the house disappointed we couldn't slide and swing.....
Linda2 arrives back around 630 and we make plans to meet the boys at DD around 730 for dinner.
Downtown Disney.........
We were shocked at the crowds.... Mind you Ozo and I were at WDW this past January. No crowds, ... no lines...... This Sunday was the last day of the major spring breakers and DD was packed! We attempted to play in LegoLand but that was over run with kids.... Bigger kids too ... pushy kids.... Our two girls couldn't take it..... poor things. We decide to walk around and find some place to eat..... It was now 830 on a Sunday night.... Every restaurant had a 90 min wait! We were stunned! We decide to hit the merry-go-round then head home for grub. All the kids went down easy! Woo hoo!!!!
Side note. Last trip we didn't walk around DD much ... just hit LegoLand and WoD, and ate at Fultons. That's it. This time, although the place was a mad house we walked around a lot more. It was great to "see" all the shops that I have been reading about and I am really looking forward to walking INTO some of them as opposed to walking NEAR them! The place was too crazy to venture in this trip...... Maybe in May...........
Also, being a parent of a toddler in her first weeks of potty training (she was a champ the whole trip ... only 2 accidents!!) There needs to be more restrooms that are clearly marked at DD. Maybe in all the hub bub I just didn't see them. ::::Shrug:::::
We had planned to get an early start on Monday. I had explained to everyone the benefits of arriving early because the kids main goal in life is to ride Dumbo ... and if we want to accomplish that, without an hours wait, we need to be at the MK before it opens. Then we would all be free to enjoy the day (But sweetie you already rode Dumbo ... lets do something else....works a lot better than..... no honey we cant wait an hour to ride Dumbo ... you wont last in line. TRUST ME on this!)
Now the house was large ... but trying to get 5 adults and 3 littleones (two bathrooms) ready early in the morning is rough to say the least! Our goal was to be out of the house by 8:15. We left at 9:15 :-( The other couple left shortly after us.......
Our friends had told us the house was 5 minutes from WDW. WRONG more like 25 minutes down RT 192. I didn't mind the ride ... lots to look at.... SHELL WORLD, ORANGE WORLD, 95% off WDW tickets shops (are these for real?) Water parks, Mini golf, Ferris wheels, Tattoo parlors..... a feast for the eyes! LOL The down side is..... Madeline wanted to go to all of those places.... Maaaaamaaaaaa I wanna go there....... Maaaaamaaaaaa I wanna go there...... PLUZZZZZZZZZZZEeeeeeeeeee Maaaaamaaaaaa! Every day ... both directions..... all the time............ it sucked! It really really sucked. We will never stay offsite with littleones again. The house was wonderful, but the drive made it a nightmare. :-(
I don't know how it happened..... I picked the right line in the parking que so we got sent up to park right near the TTC and could walk to the gates. This never happens to me... I always make the poor grocery store check out line choice ... you know. they lady in front wants to write a check but doesn't t have a DL or even a check for that matter <grin> We were very tickled! Madeline was a bit disappointed because she considers the parking trams a ride.
Long lines at the TTC ticket windows ... we were glad we bought ours ahead of time. They did ask to see them before we were allowed to enter the Monorail que. There was a 20 minute wait to get on a monorail train, as Madeline calls it, but the crowds moved smoothly. Our girls were excited to be there and were very well behaved. Security, on the other end, went smoothly too.
Our day at MK will be in the next post
Me, Laura, Disneyland vet. Three trips to WDW, one with kids last Jan (OKW 2-bedroom)
Hubby, Ozo, First time to WDW was in January
Madeline (almost 3, this was her last free trip!) and Abigail (AKA Juju, 16 months old) second trip to WDW for both.
Steve, (AKA Chubby De Marco) Ozo's buddy. Been to WDW twice, his first trip with kids.
Linda1, Steve's wife. Second trip to WDW, first with kids.... (BTW, Ozo and I met at their wedding)
Nicholas, 13 months old. Their son ... first trip
Linda2, Steve's sister. Has kids, (10-13 years old) but they are not on the trip. Last trip to WDW was in 1993. She now plans to rent the house and bring her kids back in June.
HOW THIS TRIP CAME TO BE.....
Our friend Steve, was changing jobs so at the last minute he called his friend who has this house he rents in Orlando. Then Steve begs us to go with him, since we have been with kids and they haven't. Now mind you our family already has a 9 day WDW trip planned this May and we were just there in January!! We declined.... Then, three days later, on April 1st.... Like a cruel joke, it started to snow.... Snowed two inches..... In APRIL!!!! That was enough to put us over the top and say sure if the price was right.... We found great airfare so we were coming along!!! Wooo hooooo!
We all make our separate ways to the airport. This is the first time I have been inside the newly remodeled Midway Airport. I had dropped people off and picked them up but hadn't' flown outta Midway in a while. It was really nice. I was impressed. Everything went very smoothly.
Our flight didn't leave until 830 PM on Saturday.... I kinda liked having the whole day to finish packing and cleaning but it made for a very long day. We arrived past midnight and neither of my kids slept on the plane....... In fact they even fought sleeping on the long car ride to the house.....
We rented from Dollar for the first time. I am glad I had registered for FastLane. It let me "cut" in front of 10 people. This would have been really sweet ... but my friend failed to sign up and he had to wait.... So no time saved this trip. We really liked walking to our car.... No bus to worry about ... and with two small children and all the gear they require... I think Dollar will be getting our business for a while. We found a code (last minute) for 219 for the week for a Dodge Caravan. We opted to upgrade to a grand caravan for 4 dollars more (sure glad we did too) Van was clean. It took forever to pack up the two vehicles (our friends rented a mid size car ... don't know the rate, sorry) with all the luggage (2 sets of golf clubs, one in a hard case UGH, 4 large suitcases, 1 double stroller (AKA The Beast), 1 full sized stroller, and a bunch of Misc. bags.....) It was close to 1 am before we hit the road......
The house (www.floridawonderland.com) was a nice 4 bedroom unit. 1 king, 1 queen and 2 bedrooms with two twins each. The pool was small but we used it a lot! Nice to take a quick dip in.... The spa was hard to operate.... In fact we lucked out that the pool guy stopped by on Tuesday.... He showed us how to use it. Poor directions in the house info book. The pool area was screen enclosed. This was nice. I only wish such a contraption would hold up under Chicago snows! LOL
Every afternoon the resident Cranes came by with their two chicks.......... They spent about an hour searching for food in back of our house ... it was really neat. The house has a huge big screen TV with a DVD player (no VHS in the main room which really sucked). Large leather Sofas that allow two people to lounge and two people to sit comfortably. My husband and I are going to look for something similar for our place. (my big complaint is he takes up the whole sofa!! LOL)
The decor is modern ... clean lines ... nice artwork...... plenty of kitchen ware.... Although Linda1 and I thought it was poorly laid out. After a day or two, one of us knew where everything was.
Anyway I digress..... We got to the house around 130 AM my girls are still awake! Didn't take long to get them asleep....... we all hit the hay......
Sunday was kick back and settle in day ... went food shopping, unpacked, swam.... The boys had 315 tee time at some course @ WDW (don't know which ... sorry) Due to the time change the boys ended up rushing off.... In the car.... Taking one of the carseats with them.... That meant that the GIRLS WERE TRAPPED WITH THE KIDS! We called the boys and arranged for Linda2 to meet them around 530 at the 7th hole (it is close to the parking lot) to pick up the seat. While we waited Linda1 and I took the kids for a stroll around the complex to see if we could find a park. The kids really needed to run around for a while! LOL Anyway we walked and walked and went in what we thought would be the right direction for a park but to never found one. Two days later the pool guy shows up and tells us how to find it ... apparently the first left we took should have been a right..... Ah well..... It would be nice if this info was in the house info book.
We head back to the house disappointed we couldn't slide and swing.....
Linda2 arrives back around 630 and we make plans to meet the boys at DD around 730 for dinner.
Downtown Disney.........
We were shocked at the crowds.... Mind you Ozo and I were at WDW this past January. No crowds, ... no lines...... This Sunday was the last day of the major spring breakers and DD was packed! We attempted to play in LegoLand but that was over run with kids.... Bigger kids too ... pushy kids.... Our two girls couldn't take it..... poor things. We decide to walk around and find some place to eat..... It was now 830 on a Sunday night.... Every restaurant had a 90 min wait! We were stunned! We decide to hit the merry-go-round then head home for grub. All the kids went down easy! Woo hoo!!!!
Side note. Last trip we didn't walk around DD much ... just hit LegoLand and WoD, and ate at Fultons. That's it. This time, although the place was a mad house we walked around a lot more. It was great to "see" all the shops that I have been reading about and I am really looking forward to walking INTO some of them as opposed to walking NEAR them! The place was too crazy to venture in this trip...... Maybe in May...........
Also, being a parent of a toddler in her first weeks of potty training (she was a champ the whole trip ... only 2 accidents!!) There needs to be more restrooms that are clearly marked at DD. Maybe in all the hub bub I just didn't see them. ::::Shrug::::: We had planned to get an early start on Monday. I had explained to everyone the benefits of arriving early because the kids main goal in life is to ride Dumbo ... and if we want to accomplish that, without an hours wait, we need to be at the MK before it opens. Then we would all be free to enjoy the day (But sweetie you already rode Dumbo ... lets do something else....works a lot better than..... no honey we cant wait an hour to ride Dumbo ... you wont last in line. TRUST ME on this!)
Now the house was large ... but trying to get 5 adults and 3 littleones (two bathrooms) ready early in the morning is rough to say the least! Our goal was to be out of the house by 8:15. We left at 9:15 :-( The other couple left shortly after us.......
Our friends had told us the house was 5 minutes from WDW. WRONG more like 25 minutes down RT 192. I didn't mind the ride ... lots to look at.... SHELL WORLD, ORANGE WORLD, 95% off WDW tickets shops (are these for real?) Water parks, Mini golf, Ferris wheels, Tattoo parlors..... a feast for the eyes! LOL The down side is..... Madeline wanted to go to all of those places.... Maaaaamaaaaaa I wanna go there....... Maaaaamaaaaaa I wanna go there...... PLUZZZZZZZZZZZEeeeeeeeeee Maaaaamaaaaaa! Every day ... both directions..... all the time............ it sucked! It really really sucked. We will never stay offsite with littleones again. The house was wonderful, but the drive made it a nightmare. :-(
I don't know how it happened..... I picked the right line in the parking que so we got sent up to park right near the TTC and could walk to the gates. This never happens to me... I always make the poor grocery store check out line choice ... you know. they lady in front wants to write a check but doesn't t have a DL or even a check for that matter <grin> We were very tickled! Madeline was a bit disappointed because she considers the parking trams a ride.
Long lines at the TTC ticket windows ... we were glad we bought ours ahead of time. They did ask to see them before we were allowed to enter the Monorail que. There was a 20 minute wait to get on a monorail train, as Madeline calls it, but the crowds moved smoothly. Our girls were excited to be there and were very well behaved. Security, on the other end, went smoothly too.
Our day at MK will be in the next post
Sorry to hear about what happened at DD. I remember going to Disney Boardwalk and being "forced" to eat at ESPN because everywhere else was packed! Cant wait to read more! Thanks for posting.
