One crappie year, a quick Disney trip and we're still married!!(All done, 09/24)

[deide71]

Bring It On!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[fizz13]

Yes, definately the "Mom"
Claire xx

 

[Disney owl]

What a year
Great reports

 

[offwegotoneverland]

Thanks for the great report...loved teh bit about no cheese sandwich...kids love thier routines don't they!

 

[cjhinch]

I am definitley subbing! Your Connor just sounds too cute.......and I can totally relate to everything to you have experienced so far!

 

[toony]

Awesome report!

Can't wait to see the pictures you' ve mentioned.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

subscribing

 

[MagicMe]

Loved the last installment - can't wait for more

Although we've never had grilled cheese sandwiches at McD's (at least around here - PA); when my neice was younger, she always ordered a cheeseburger without the brown thing! Since they wouldn't honor that request, we would order a cheeseburger without any of the condiments so they would have to give us the bun, burger and cheese. Since it was fresh, we were able to remove the brown thing without losing the cheese and although it wasn't "grilled", she was happy with the cheese sandwich.

 

[roberrl187]

Great start to your trip.

 

[connorsmom911]

As promised...some pictures to tide you over. Overtime has been great for the $$, but it's nights, and my brain is a little fried right now. I'll try to get a new installment up this weekend...

Buffalo Airport Playground, sponsored by Fisher-Price

Our rental car

Pit stop before check-in...

I have arrived!!

My view!!

See, daddy has to get a few pictures for himself...

When you wish upon a star...

 

[pooksma]

Great photos Tracey! Sorry the overtime is keeping you from keeping us entertained but I understand.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

I am loving this report. The buzz thing brought tears to my eyes. We are taking our DS in 3 weeks for the first time and hope to be near the doggies in POP. What a wonderful view you had. That CM was great!!!! I cant wait to hear more.

 

[mikesdisneymom]

Great Photos thanks for sharing

 

[connorsmom911]

Sorry, got my days slightly mixed up...didn't eat at Chef Mickey's the first night...realized that when uploading my pictures yesterday...we did have short naps but no alarm set. We're just getting ready to go out shopping and DTD this night. See, that's what I get for trying to write the report when I can't think.

So, I will diligently go over my pictures before I post the next installment to make sure I'm in the right day!

Stay tuned...

 

[aGoofyMom]

Love the pictures...and thanks for working the OT!

 

[disneycutie84]

Can't wait for another installment! Love the pictures, very cute.

 

[TomB'sWidow]

Great pics,and your little boy is so adorable. Can't wait for the next installment bring it on.

 

[smwf71]

Yes, the fights at the airport are so familiar! I especially hate the way home when DH is "exhausted" from the trip and I get to keep track of the kids the whole time by myself - with layovers! Ugh! He keeps taking us back to WDW, so I can't complain!

 

[connorsmom911]

Venturing out of the confines of the world was a first for us on this trip…previous trips we went straight from the airport to the resort and back again. Even on the first trips where we drove, it was a “Disney or Bust” mentality. Why would we waste precious time outside? But this time was different…I was on a mission to save some money on Disney souvenirs and thanks to the DIS, I had learned of the secret (well, to me anyway) Disney outlet store!!! Plus we had to find bottled water cause I am not drinking the swill in the parks…and I mean the Dasani bottled water, if you can even call it that. Shouldn’t it tell you something when the UK pulled Dasani off the shelves because it had dangerous levels of bromine in it? Coca-Cola…you make great soft drinks, especially the Diet Coke with lime! Stick to what you know. Leave the water to the water people.

So, with my trusty Windows Live Local map in hand (if you have not seen this site, it is pretty cool…www.mapblast.com in most areas of the continent they not only have fabulous maps and cool features like push-pins to mark your destinations, they also have a “birds eye view” feature that shows satellite imagery of the area…you can zoom in on all the Disney parks (well, not much of MK) and resorts…really cool bookmark when you’re in between trips and suffering major withdrawal…) we set forth to locate the outlet mall and Character Premier. I had even used the satellite imagery and the map of the mall so that I could tell dh which way to turn and where to park…I am so THE WIFE sometimes, at least in my own mind. Of course what do we spy on route but a couple of police cruisers ::cop: with full lights going, just parked in the middle and side of the road just down from the mall (which apparently is the Commons, the residence for all the CP and IP people…what kind of partying were you guys all up to that night?????), so dh was a very excited happy camper and made me take pictures…I was trying to be discreet. Cause you know now in Florida they have that “shoot first, ask questions later” law. My mom is pretty sure my dad is gonna get shot this trip or next…just cause he’s that type.

Anyways, back to the Premier Outlet…I love this place, and we only managed to get to the Character Premier store! I could have spent a butt-load more than I did but the little guy would have none of it. I tried to keep him happy…I mean I actually succumbed to the whining and let him ride (gasp!) BARNEY!

Oh, the horror! It’s sacrilege! My son would not even know what that purple blobby thing is if it were not for daycare. That THING is not allowed in my house. It was the first rule we agreed upon when we even contemplated having children. But I digress. Connor is just so not a shopper. I hate that. I really hope our next child is a girl who loves to shop with mommy. Ok, I’ll settle for healthy and happy, but a little extra shopping gene wouldn’t hurt! But again, no Barney in the house!!!

When dh finally had enough, I reluctantly skulked to the cash and paid for my purchases, all the while eyeing the back wall of Buzz Lightyear toys, all at least 50% off. Man, if we had more luggage space I could have done most of the xmas shopping, but space was at a premium already with that disneyshopping.com order I placed before we left home. Dh was kind of taken aback at the knock on the hotel door when I was in the shower. When he answered it, it was bell services delivering boxes! Oops, didn’t I mention that honey? Again, because we live north of the border, some companies don’t understand that it does not cost all that much more to ship here. The customer is responsible for the taxes and duty after it crosses the border. But disneyshopping doesn’t get this and whenever I have gotten quotes on shipping, it’s more than the cost of the item!!!! What is up with that?!?!?! Plus I don’t qualify when they have the free shipping deal (which seems to be an all-the-time kind of thing). So, again heeding the advice of my predecessors on the DIS, I got together with aGoofymom and we put in an order at work a couple weeks before the trip to ship to ASMo. And, because the purchaser is in Canada, there’s no tax!!! Score one for the foreigners!!! Worked so well I did it again a month later when my mom and I headed to Michigan. I think the customs guy was a bit taken aback when he asked the most expensive item we bought and I replied “Halloween costumes” in June. Perhaps that’s why we got waved through even though I was way over the duty-free allowance AND had 9 bottles of wine (we’re allowed 2!). I always say it pays to be honest when you declare at the border. I have always told the truth (well mostly) and usually sailed through or had to pay minimal taxes and duty while passing those poor suckers whose cars are being completely stripped!! Nanananana!!!

Now the tumblies are getting rumbly so we make our way towards Downtown Disney for some grub and more shopping, but at least this time it’s fun stuff for Connor.

But I made one fatal error in my OCDPD (obsessive compulsive Disney planning disorder) planning…Downtown Disney on a Saturday night. Hmm, can anybody say wall-to-wall people and bumper-to-bumper traffic? It took us 20 minutes to get there and another 20 driving around to find a parking spot. Now we’re all ravenous, so first order of business is food. My plan is Wolfgang Puck Express.

Last trip we indulged our first night at the older cousin over on the West Side and it was one of our more memorable meals. So I figured this would be a very wise use of our first counter-service credit. Except I didn’t count on the line-up. But I remain calm, spot a patio table just freeing up and I flag Derek down to grab it with Connor while I stand in line to order. It takes me a good 10 minutes in the line before it dawns on me that if I get mine and Connors entrée and then swap with Derek to get his food, we are going to be all night just eating and it is starting to get dark. So, horror of horrors, I pull out my cell phone and call him. He answers and I quickly run down the menu options like an auctioneer at an estate sale asking what he wants, feeling absolutely foolish thinking this 45 second phone call to my dh who is sitting 100 feet away is probably going to cost upwards of $10. Oh well, shake head and move on. Dinner was quite scrumptious, way more food than we could eat with one exception…I ordered mac and cheese for Connor. Usually a favourite staple at home and a sure bet when we eat out, but I failed to realize this wouldn’t be boxed KD (us northerners refer to Kraft Macaroni and Cheese as Kraft Dinner or KD) but rather gourmet, homemade stuff. One bite and “Mommy, I not like this…” Well, at least he really likes salad so he shared my Chicken Caesar and Derek’s Rosemary Chicken and we still left lots. I took my crème brulle to go and Connor and I headed to Once Upon a Toy while dh headed for the Pin Station. I figured he could score some much needed alone time and not spend too much money (first mistake!! Haha!).

I had posted on the boards before the trip for ideas on what to bring back for Connor’s daycare friends. Lots of ideas and even some flames later , I decided we would spring for a box of Potato Head parts. Great idea since the daycare already has the bodies, we could concentrate on getting as many parts in the box as possible. Connor really enjoyed this, taking his time, weighing the options, picking his favourites and stuffing the box full. That was the shopping list for Once Upon a Toy. Dh finally found me about ½ hr later as I was approaching the cash register with the box of parts…oh, and a Bear in the Big Blue House cd, a light-up Mickey spinner (cause grandpa had bought Connor his first Mickey light-up spinner on the last trip right before Wishes and my little destructive angel broke it a few months back), a Buzz Lightyear light-up spinner (because mommy bought Connor his first Buzz Lightyear light-up spinner on the last trip right before Wishes…do you sense a pattern here? Like maybe the family can’t coordinate its purchases? Well, at least it wasn’t Connor who broke this one, it was daddy…), a couple pins…oh, and a Pal Mickey, the 50th anniversary one. Cause we didn’t buy him last time for Connor, and really…it was for mommy . Well, we’ve been in the “world” less than 24 hours and already I’ve plunked down $250 on souvenirs (if you count the box that bell services dropped off in the room). Did I mention this was supposed to be a budget trip? Ok, I admit it…I’m a sucker for all things Disney. And lets not forget the $100 in pins and Star Wars toys that dh had plunked down before catching up with me…he failed to mention that until we were safely back outside after my big purchase. We just stopped and looked at each other for a moment before we both shrugged our shoulders and chimed in at the same time “oh well”. First magical moment. We didn’t start a fight, we didn’t berate eachother for spending FAR TOO MUCH MONEY, we just smiled, he put his arm around me and we elbowed our way back through the crowds to the car.

Coming up…My solo hunt for the H2O and off-property at night is a scary place.

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

I'm in.

Enjoying your report.

Connor is really quite cute. Adorable, even. FYI.

Thank you. NOT. For that picture of Barney. Shudder

For the love of all that is Disney... what were you thinking?

It will induce a Group ZZUB here.

For your 411, 911.

Cheers, Mel