Photo Trip Report: My 6 and 4 year-old park commandos -- How we conquered the World!

[jake&samsmom]

Work in progress....
Here's a little teaser.....

 

[jake&samsmom]

I am having a major attack of the post-Disney blues. You see, we just came back from our "once in a lifetime" (yeah, right) WDW Trip -- and already I want to go back.

My hope is that this trip report will help ease the pain of Disney widthrawal.

I dedicate this trippie to my wonderful children, Jake and Sam, who without major complaints, allowed their Disney-crazed Mother to drag them all over the World. You complete my joy.

I also dedicate this to my DH Derrick, who makes everyday almost like a day at Disneyworld (read:almost )

Btw, these two pictures were taken during our January 2007 trip to visit the West Coast Mouse!

 

[jake&samsmom]

Let me introduce y'all to my family. The cast:

Mom - that would be me, of course! Die-hard Disney fan. Knows all the lyrics to all the songs of all the Disney movies. Big fan of Ariel. Loves all things girlie and princessy

Dad aka Derrick aka DH - Semi-pro Poker player Computer whiz. Awesome Dad. Video cam toter. Favorite character: Goofy (just like him)

Jake - DS 6 turning 7 on this trip Favorite character: the big cheese himself, Mickey Mouse!

Sam - DS 4 Sweet little boy. Loves Donald Duck and naughty Stitch

The dates: October 25 to 30, 2007. All Star Music Resort at Walt Disney World!

 

[jake&samsmom]

Originally, our trip was supposed to be scheduled for the first week of January, 2008.

However, I decided that since the boys have a few days of fall break, why not go during October, to coincide it with Jake's Birthday?! Low crowds (or so I thought), great weather (did we escape the humidity? find out later). And a possible discount code! October is a go!

It was June of this year that I started making plans.

ADR's....Daily park schedule....Touring plans.....DDP or not?....Hotel choices....Airline bookings.....MNSSHP or not?.....Who knew it would be such hard work?

Wanted to stay at the POP because of all the great things about it on this board. However, got a discount code for Music or Sports only. Decided on Music because of recent renovation. Looking back, I am so glad that we chose Music. Would definitely stay there again next time. Read on and you'll see what I mean.

 

[jake&samsmom]

No one could sleep. Mom and Dad were doing the last minute packing. Ponchos - check.
Umbrellas - check.
Tickets - check.
Kids asleep - negative on that.

After begging, bribing, discussing, debating...finally.....

Here's a photo of their lanyards with pins I bought off ebay and on dispins (or was it dizpins? can't recall)

 

[jake&samsmom]

The next morning, the boys got up early without any complaints. Our flight leaves at 10:30 am from IAH which is about an hour drive from our home in Southwest Houston. We always fly Continental because my husband works for them We didn't use our buddy passes though, because I wanted to be 100% certain that we had seats on that plane to Orlando! (side note: I hate the standby/buddy pass passenger status. It makes me feel like a second class citizen...but on the other hand, the cost is nearly negligible, it's almost like flying for free, and who can beat that?)

Here's the boys all dressed up and ready to go

Our exit to get to the airport

The boys on the shuttle bus to the Continental terminal, all smiles...

Jake at window seat beside Mom.

Sam across the aisle, also in a window seat beside Dad.

 

[jake&samsmom]

It was an uneventful, smooth flight. In the plane, Jake completed all the homework assigned by Mrs. M. for the 2 days he'd be out. He also wrote in his journal about how the clouds looked like icebergs up close.

We ate Turkey sandwiches for lunch. I tried to nap, but Jake kept nudging me and asking help with his journal/spelling homework.

I hear DH snoring across the aisle.

Sam looks out the window frequently. I made sure he had a window seat this time. The last time we flew (to LAX in January of this year to go to Disneyland) he and Jake fought bitterly over who would get the window seat - I still am writing letters of apology to the other passengers of that flight.

We finally land, and head to this place

There wasn't much of a line, it moved along very quickly as you can see...

 

[THE HAT]

Loving the report so far, can't wait for more!!

 

[jake&samsmom]

Here's our bus (sorry, the pic's a bit dark)

All aboard! Next stop, Walt Disney World!

Welcome to the happiest place on earth...where dreams come true....

 

[jake&samsmom]

Loving the report so far, can't wait for more!!

Thank you...you are so nice! My first poster!

 

[Avivasmom]

What a great report so far....I LOVE the pics...your boys are just adorable.

Was it chilly out...I see sweatshirts and long pants.

We leave 3 weeks from tomorrow.

 

[jake&samsmom]

Check in at All Star Music was a breeze. No lines. Jake got a Birthday card from the reservation center CMs signed by Mickey and pals.

Very helpful CM at the front desk. Jake got a Birthday button while Sam got a 1st Visit button. The boys also received welcome balloons and lots of Mickey stickers. I'd say the customer service was A+!

Do you know what song is depicted by the notes on the front desk at ASMu?

When you wish upon a star........

 

[jake&samsmom]

What a great report so far....I LOVE the pics...your boys are just adorable.

Was it chilly out...I see sweatshirts and long pants.

We leave 3 weeks from tomorrow.

Howdy fellow Mom!

It was cold in Houston, but it was generally shorts weather in Orlando. Except at night, when I would recommend a lightweight jacket with a hood, and jeans. It was cool, and I am a little paranoid that the boys would catch a chill/cold (you know how us Mommies are!

Check accuweather.com, I did daily for the two weeks before our trip (OCD!?!) it helped. Also, it was cold enough in the early mornings there that we didn't get to swim at the ASMu pool. They say it's heated, but I was like, heated to what temperature? It's freezing!

 

[Avivasmom]

Check accuweather.com

I definitely will..we are 210 miles south of Disney so usually in the winter months it is chillier by more then 10 or so degrees.

 

[jake&samsmom]

We proceeded to our room in the Calypso building 10, room 602 on the third floor facing the guitar pool. It is a preferred room, and at least for this resort, I highly recommend it. (It is a loooong walk to the back, especialy for two tired sleepy children at 1 am)

I immediately noticed the name that tune contest, limbo rock game, and the upbeat but not loud pop music playing by the poolside.

 

[Avivasmom]

They are just to cute...do they get along?

 

[jake&samsmom]

Here are some pictures of our room

Surprise Mickey Head on our bed

The two double beds

Artwork on the wall

Flat screen TV

They have hair driers (somebody asked me if they did)

The shower curtain was new, bathroom smelled fresh and clean. Also, the shower curtain rod curved outwards, giving the bather more space.

The bed linens were crisp and clean, like they just came out of the washer/drier.

Here's the boys playing pirates with their swords that they just purchased from Maestro Mickey's, the gift shop downstairs

 

[jake&samsmom]

They are just to cute...do they get along?

They are best buddies, but have this sibling rivalry going on.....This is a typical conversation between them: "I have a better robot"...."I have more pins than you"...."My pins are nicer"...."I want to go first"...."I want the umbrella" -- that kind of thing. Drives me nuts sometimes!

 

[jake&samsmom]

We then proceeded to decorate our window, Halloween-Mickey style. I bought some window gel cling-ons from Home Depot, liberated some LGMH's from the same place , and bought some Jack-o-lantern lights from Target. I also brought along a 9 foot extension cord for the lights.

I was getting upset at the boys because the kept rearranging the cling-ons and not putting them on straight (OCD again! ) I had to remind myself that this was their window too, and they could "contribute" to it!

Notice the lights aren't up at this point, because they were in our checked-in luggage which hadn't made it in yet.

 

[Donald is #1]

Great report so far!