Pre trip report- Bens early birthday reward trip! updated with a brief TR

[hollymattbenmilo]

Its nearly time for our holiday! three weeks! Its been booked for 9 months!!

I am writing this now, as in true "my life" style... we have to now move house a week before our holiday... and we have a puppy.... so its just crazy! So I will steal a few minutes in between packing to write this up!

This trip is really dedicated to Ben, who 2 months after our last trip (November 2008) developed Epilespy out of the blue... we had 8 months of stress, constant hospital trips, sleepless nights, mri's, eegs..the list is endless... and as off 5 months ago, ben is now controlled and on medication.

He has been the bravest boy in the world... and I booked this holiday as a "healing" for the family over all the worry and stress we have been through.

so...
me- disney fan, fan of all things magical and full of imagination. this will be my 4th ever trip to dlrp.. my second as a mother. And I have also been to disney world florida years ago.
daddy- is very much looking forward to his second trip to dlrp- loved potc ride and wants to get a picture with stitch this time!

Ben- my brave and gorgeous 5 year old, who will be turning 6 just after this trip.. so this is a "birthday trip" for him

Milo- my gorgeous 2 year old, who i am hoping will enjoy it as much as he did when he was 1... but if he find anything scary we will just take turns with each boy.. too ensure everyone has run and does what they want..

Lola.. the new addition Basset hound puppy, will be on holiday with nanny!


feb 7 to 12.. 6 days! yippee

booked ezyshuttle with john, am looking forward to this service!

We have got the free meals vouchers... and in the evening i expect will use these as cheyenne and sante fe buffet... which i have yet to book!

aims- to do everything we didnt do last time.. and not so much charecter chasing... we wont go looking for them as much as last time, instead we will do more walking around the park and take our time and enjoy it all.

I may book us a cafe mickey meal there... once I see how Milo reacts with it all.

I am looking forward to seeing the playhouse disney show, as Milo does watch Mickey mouse on tv.. so it will be something he can relate to.. where as ben is disney mad through and through!

Ben is most looking forward to buzz ride, peter pans flight and star tours.

I am most looking forward to its a small world...as this was closed last time we went! haha


So yes, thats about it... I am very excited! preparing for it to be cold! and hoping I am not too exhausted from the move and the new basset hound puppy!

 

[Zeebs]

We look like we will be leaving as you are arriving. Hope you have a fantastic trip.

We are taking our two boys

Cullen who will be 4 at the end of Feb so it is a trip for his birthday and Seth who is 2.

On our last trip to Disney Seth did not like the characters, I am hoping as he reacted well to Father Christmas that he will be better when he sees them this time.

We plan to go to Cafe Mickey's as well.

Kirsten

 

[IsobelJackmummy]

I hope you all have a great time, sounds like you deserve it!

 

[hollymattbenmilo]

Thank you! yes i am not sure how Milo will react as he is just 2.. and at that age!! haha.

Ben will love it i am sure.. as he did last time when he was 4-nearly 5.

thank you! i cant wait

 

[loriscot]

Might see you going around! I really can't wait - 2 weeks 5 days to go!! It's our first time - any tips? We've not booked any meals yet, in fact i better go and book my transfers from cdg to disney right now! So much to do but i am so looking forward to it Hope you and your family all have a great time

 

[hollymattbenmilo]

Might see you going around! I really can't wait - 2 weeks 5 days to go!! It's our first time - any tips? We've not booked any meals yet, in fact i better go and book my transfers from cdg to disney right now! So much to do but i am so looking forward to it Hope you and your family all have a great time

me too!!! and i hope you have fun too!
tips...mmm... enjoy it.. dont worry about getting everything done.. go with the flow.. and just take it in! you will understand that more when you get there... its like walking into a world where.. all the news, the worries just go away and youre left with.... the freeness of childhood!

 

[mommy2ash]

i hope you all have a wonderful time. you deserve it. if milo is anything like ash you wont have a problem till he is closer to three. last feb ash loved everything and in november a lot of her faves scared her to death. i am still trying to convince her the drop on potc is only small lol.

i cant wait to hear about it when you get back and see some pics. you had some great ones last time. the playhouse disney show is excellent. ash really enjoyed that. i still have a bag full of streamers and leaves lol.

 

[hollymattbenmilo]

oh fab thats good to know! yes i was thinking Milo may still be under "that age" but not sure... we will see! haha
ben is still more scared of things at nearly 6 then milo is, and he was ok on everything last time!

thank you, i cant wait! have had such an awful 3-4 weeks with having to move, both cars breaking down, i am being bullied at school gates by other mums etc... its just what i need to escape!! haha

 

[AngieChristine]

, i am being bullied at school gates by other mums etc... a

That's horrible? Surely, that sort of stuff belongs in the playground... when you're 10?

Big hugs

 

[loriscot]

oh fab thats good to know! yes i was thinking Milo may still be under "that age" but not sure... we will see! haha
ben is still more scared of things at nearly 6 then milo is, and he was ok on everything last time!

thank you, i cant wait! have had such an awful 3-4 weeks with having to move, both cars breaking down, i am being bullied at school gates by other mums etc... its just what i need to escape!! haha

That's awful, parent bullys are not showing a very good example to the kids are they! And as if you haven't had enough of a crazy stressful time of it lately without that, no wonder you're looking forward to your holiday! Here's some hugs & love to help you feel a wee bit better

 

[hollymattbenmilo]

Thank you, Its been a huge shock, esp as I have always been polite and just.. looked after my kids.. I knew I never fitted in, as they all hang out in places i wouldnt, social club in evening, and meet up in the day to watch jeremy kyle..you get the idea. But I have always been polite, but this last week they just hate me.. and i have done nothing. So yes.. in a bit of shock and my other half if doing school run for me. I will be moving schools when we move also, as we will be near and even smaller school with just under 200 pupils, which will suit us both better... i wish i could say I wasnt affected by it... or letting it get to me, but I have found it very confusing.. and upsetting.

But yes.. this month will be and has been hell.. but i have the summer to look forward to, and hopefully a seizure free summer for Ben on the beaches of cornwall and ....in jst over 2 weeks 6 days in my favourite place! Plus... we asked everyone for euros for christmas..and just had a count up... and its looking good!! I will even treat myself to a silly hat this time! haha

 

[mommy2ash]

Thank you, Its been a huge shock, esp as I have always been polite and just.. looked after my kids.. I knew I never fitted in, as they all hang out in places i wouldnt, social club in evening, and meet up in the day to watch jeremy kyle..you get the idea. But I have always been polite, but this last week they just hate me.. and i have done nothing. So yes.. in a bit of shock and my other half if doing school run for me. I will be moving schools when we move also, as we will be near and even smaller school with just under 200 pupils, which will suit us both better... i wish i could say I wasnt affected by it... or letting it get to me, but I have found it very confusing.. and upsetting.

But yes.. this month will be and has been hell.. but i have the summer to look forward to, and hopefully a seizure free summer for Ben on the beaches of cornwall and ....in jst over 2 weeks 6 days in my favourite place! Plus... we asked everyone for euros for christmas..and just had a count up... and its looking good!! I will even treat myself to a silly hat this time! haha

omg i cant believe people behave like that that is awful. nobody ever deserves to be bullied. i cant imagine that happening at ashleighs school i mean what do you do there except drop them off. it sounds like you and your kids would be better off at the other school. not long more now and you can put it all behind you

 

[hollymattbenmilo]

yes i cant wait!! haha. yes i know.. well thats what i do, smile say hello and leave... think that was part of the problem! haha

oh well!!! i am super excited!! this time next week i will be in a little cottage!! and a week later in dlrp!!!

only thing i am annoyed about.. is by the time the schedual comes up fro the 7-12th ... times etc... i will be offline because of move!!! typical!

 

[mommy2ash]

yes i cant wait!! haha. yes i know.. well thats what i do, smile say hello and leave... think that was part of the problem! haha

oh well!!! i am super excited!! this time next week i will be in a little cottage!! and a week later in dlrp!!!

only thing i am annoyed about.. is by the time the schedual comes up fro the 7-12th ... times etc... i will be offline because of move!!! typical!

i have never seen a schedule before i leave. i would be pretty easy to spot over there, frantically grabbing a schedule and trying to mentally make a plan, i must look insane

 

[hollymattbenmilo]

haha.... well that will be me in 2 weeks and 3 days!! haha

 

[MummyMinnie]

I hope you all have the most lovely trip, sounds like you all deserve it too.

Lots of fun and magic for you all.

Hope the move goes well and life becomes brighter for you

 

[hollymattbenmilo]

Thank you!!!!

Just been emergency docs i may have a hernia.. i am 24!!! haha.... its a good thing i have a sense of humour, moving next week then disneyland.. i am going, come hail or high water!!! hear me body!

 

[MummyMinnie]

Thank you!!!!

Just been emergency docs i may have a hernia.. i am 24!!! haha.... its a good thing i have a sense of humour, moving next week then disneyland.. i am going, come hail or high water!!! hear me body!

OMG you're really having a bad time.

If it's any consolation my son has been ill and due for an op in a couple of weeks, we nearly cancelled but decided to go ahead and I have to say he looks the best he has done in a long time, in fact the trip has done us all the world of good so hope it has the same effect on you all.

 

[hollymattbenmilo]

yes thank you! i think the same thing..its like a reward trip for us all after a little stroke of bad luck we have been having!!! but i cant complain, bens still seizure free.. so for me... that equals out the lcuk!

 

[hollymattbenmilo]

right.... a very very late trip report...in brief!

well due to moving etc, and had no internet for two months after move the trip report never got done, so i will have a go at remembering some details.

ok..
well i cant do a normal step by step report as it was feb! and i still have baby brain..my memory doesnt stretch so far!! haha.. so i will cover some essential informations!!

Free Dining- this was fantastic! normally we eat on a tight budget! so it was quite an experience to just go into hukuna matana (my fav) etc for lunch and then we ate dinner every night at santa fe which everyone loved! The other thing about this trip.. that i will hit upon later was the very cold weather that hit for 3 days.. so being able to eat in was a real treat away from the cold and snow!

a new experience- the plan for this trip was lots more charecter meets and because milo wasnt a tiny baby anymore.. more adventuring around the park.... none of which happened due to weather.. BUT what did happen was we spent alot more time in studios! i usually am not the biggets fan of this park.. i dont feel the magic there, but this trip changed that for me. because of animagic, stitch live etc... there were places we could go indoors.. which was a lifesaver.. and something i wouldnt have really done with a 2 year old.. and how wrong i was! they both loved it and it was a really lovely experience!

weather- well... we knew it would be cold liek last time.. maybe even a touch of snow.. but we didnt expect what we got. The first day was ok.. and half of the second day also.. but day the secodn half of that day and day 3 and 4 and 5 were insain!!! The snow hit so strong.. the river by the hotels was frozen over...a few dead ducks as evidence how cold it went and fast! the parades were cancelled and only the fluffiest of charecters were around! haha. It was soo icy that it was very dangerous to walk. We still got in the park and did emh.. we would then go abck to the hotel for a few hours, then go back to parks for a few hours in the afternoon.. but that was it.. and that was prob the best anyone could ahve done. At santa fe i met alot of families who were arranging to fly straight home and trying to claim their holiday on their insurence. were not even going into the park!

there was one moment.. when i looked at milo and thought.. oh ym goodness i need to get this child in the warm and i was a little frightened i had allowed him to get too cold.. but once he had eaten he was fine and asking for stitch.. so back to stitch live we went! haha.

boys were dressed in 3 layers of clothes and ski suits..i was in simular as was matthew. The cold we could manage it was when ever the snow was forcefull.. and we were stranded walking somewhere.. it really stung! And pizza planet was closed the whole stay!! so that was a shame as that would have been a right life saver rather then having to go back to hotel.

we had a really lovely holiday!! we really did.. despite the weather... it was just a freak snow storm.. we were there before in november with snow and was a lovely experience.. this was a bit more dramatic thats all.

the only dissapointment was not seeing the parade. (but no blame to them.. it would have been stupid to do, and hardly anyone would have been watching! haha) and the lack of hours we had.
the bonus's, were the lack of people! hahahaha... no ques on anything.. at all! we never had more then 5 of us in stitch live etc.. which was quite fun.. infact the only thing that ever looked remotely full was animagic...as i think the entire contents of both parks were in there! hahaha.. and potc was just a warm heaven! haha.
on the second to last day.. Ben woke up with a black eye. I took him to santa fe reception where i was told to go back to my room and either call a doctor for 60 euros or ring the first aid for free. so i rang first aid who said i had to go back to reception.... so went back to reception to be told to go to park!! that was a bit annoying! but when we got there, the lady was lovely and told us ben had a condition from being in extreem cold with no eye protection like ski goggles!!! haha couldnt believe it.. so he wore an eye patch for the last day which i think he quite liked!! haha

the last day the weather was much better... how typical! haha

right... i will try and get some photos on here!! any questions on feb please ask... and if youre going in feb dont be freaked out by the weather.. all the cast members i spoke to were in total shock at the weather.. it was just a bit of madness! haha... but honestly it was fine!