"So is this when they bring out the Mickey Mouse cattle prods??" Final Thoughts 1/10!

[gellybean]

everyone!!


This will be my 3rd TR and I have to tell ya, I'm the most excited about this one!!! So many things to share. I took notes most every night and a ton of pictures considering we were only there four days.

I'm so ready to get this TR started!!!! I promise I'll fill you in on the TR title origin as soon as I can. Bear with me!


I do have a PTR for this trip, and for our next trip we have planned at Christmas. The link is in my siggie if anyone would like to read a bit more about the planning portion of this trip.

Otherwise, I will try to sum up!


Mother in law lives in Florida. We go every summer. My mom has a lovely AP burning a hole in her pocket. She suggests a side trip to Disney on the way to mother in laws and offers to come with us to keep the boys so Mr. I and I can have a date night. SCORE! Throw in special summer fireworks and the return of MSELP and you don't have to suggest it to me twice! DONE!

Mother in law bought herself a brand new cherry red Mustang convertible... decided to give us her 'old' mini van. Previously referred to as the Mimi Mobile in my TRs. Logistics of making this happen were .... but we were for another family size vehicle. We were willing to do what it took to get it back to Texas!


I think that's enough back story.... for now.


Here are the details of the trip!


When - August 2-10 with 4 nights in Disney, 3 nights at my mother in law's house and 1 night on the road

Where - Poly baby! I was sooooooooooooooooo excited about this decision!!

How - Flying down one way, ME to Poly, AP rate for 4 nights, renting a car to drive to Jax, driving back the Mimi Mobile to Texas

Why - Because it's truly the most magical place on earth!

Who -

Main Cast:

Me, myself and I - Gellybean - Elastigirl - Momma - 30

I'm a sahm and love most every minute of it. I plan on going back to school next summer to get my teaching certificate, to begin teaching Fall 2011. I'm a member of the WISH thread here on the DIS. I love to read, DIS, plan Disney trips (or anything for that matter), play with our two chihuahua puppies, watch football, etc. I started going to Disney World when I was 6 and have been 13 times I think. I truly am my happiest at Disney. And now that I'm taking my own family there... well color me blissful cus it's the best feeling in the world.

Mr. Incredible - Dad - 32

He's a recent convert to the world, something I am soooooooooo thrilled about. He works in the restaurant industry and puts in a lot of hours 49 wks a year. We try to make the most of our weeks off but we also try to let him have some downtime. Something I reaaaaaaaally strived for this trip. The date nights we get at Disney are very special to us!!

Dash - oldest son - 7

He has been going to the World since he was 4. He also goes to Disneyland with his dad and step mom, and little sister. In fact, he went in June. Lucky duck. WDW in January and August, DL in June. I'm jealous!!! He loves it.... like he had a choice. Started pin trading this trip and got really into it. Will be starting 2nd grade in a little over a week. (you mom's out there know how it is!)

Jack-Jack - youngest son - 2

This was his 3rd trip and he really got into this trip. He learned how to say Mickey Mouse right before we left and said it often. He knew we were at Mickey's house and was very excited about it. He was really into the transportation options this trip and got the magic this trip more than ever before.

FairyGodmother - my mom - 67

She went to Disneyland in 1956 and Disney World in 1973. She loves it maybe even more than I do if that's possible. She has an AP this year, went in May with a girlfriend and was all too ready to go back in August and hopefully again in December. She decided this trip that she'd stay a few nights on her own after we left and brave the world alone! I was really proud of her for that decision!


Supporting characters:

My mother in law - lives just north of Jacksonville. Has been on a few trips with us in the past but declined going this time.... because a) she doesn't do well in the heat and b) we'd be at her house the second part of the trip

Sister in law and brother in law - live in Atlanta. Flew down to spend the weekend with us while we were at MIL's. Have been featured in previous TRs as well.




So now you have all the details.... It's time to get this TR started!!!!


Thank you all for reading along with me!!! Can't wait to share all the moments, both good and bad, magical and are you freakin kiddin me?! with you all!!!!


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Chapter Links to go here!

Intro - this post
Day 1, Part 1: Departure Day - YeeHAW and away we go!!!!
Day 1, Part 2: An AM Aloha Arrival!!
Day 2, Part 1: Picture Perfect Poly Morning
Day 2, Part 2: Lunch and a Lanyard
Day 2, Part 3: Boats, Cokes and Monorails OH MY!
Day 2, Part 4: 'Ohana means STUFFED and HAPPY
Day 3, Part 1: Operation: Rope Drop
Day 3, Part 2: Say What, Say What?
Day 3, Part 2: TR Title Finally Explained!
Day 3, Part 2: TR Title Finally Explained! CONTINUED
Day 4, Part 1: DTD MADness and the Big NO NO!!
Day 4, Part 2: Crazy night at Cali Grill
Day 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 From Disney to MIL's and back to Texas!!
Day 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 From Disney to MIL's and back to Texas!! CONTINUED
Final Thoughts!

****************************

 

[Disneymoon09]

I'm along for the ride!

 

[gellybean]

This journey began Monday, August 2nd. It was not our typical travel day.... the last few trips we'd left in the mornings and Mr. Incredible was already off work. We'd pack up the night before, sleep as late as we could and get to the airport.

Well this trip we were leaving the night before Mr. I's vacation started, so we had a lot of hurry up and waiting going on. My mom was driving in that morning, I was running around getting the house clean, packing up everything. I had put things off for fear of having everything done too soon, which would result in me sitting around, twiddling my thumbs watching the clock tick by sloooooooooooowly. I didn't have to worry about that this time. I was literally vacuuming when the doorbell rang and it was my mom and oldest sister. I finished vacuuming, thankfully the part of cleaning I had saved for last, got ready and left the boys at home with FGM watching Aliens in the Attic... a non - Disney movie SHAME on me!... while oldest sis and I ran to Target, got a few last minute items, picked up Chick Fil A for lunch and then headed back to the house. Mr. I called me while I was in the drive thru line at Chick Fil A and he was leaving work On TIME! MIRACLE !!!!!!!!!!!

It was beginning to sink in at the point that we were on vacation... finally!

Mr. I got home and took a nap. *crickets chirping* Really?! I mean I get it, he'd had to be at work at 7am after closing the night before... but talk about anti climatic.

My mom laid down as well. The boys watched tv or played PS3 or something while I finished up packing. I had taken our longhair chihuahua, Lily, to my friend's house the night before and left her there, so that was taken care of. I had everything ready to load and woke Mr. I up around 3:15. Had Jack Jack wake my mom up at 3:30pm. Our goal... to leave by 4pm.


Yeah right.

Mr. I got changed out of work clothes and started packing up the car. We weighed the suitcases and in the process realized we were way over on one. We finally broke down and packed a third suitcase, something I was trying to avoid because of the late hour in which we were arriving MCO. No magical express luggage delivery that late so we were on our own to schlep luggage.

At midnight. With two boys. And a tired grandma.

At any rate... we re-arranged our suitcases, triple checked the lights and A/C and alarm. Thankfully I had gased the car up the night before.

We pulled out of our driveway at 4:20pm. 20 mins late. All in all, for us, we were doing well!

I snapped a few pictures on our way to the airport, having completely forgotten to pack some of the suitcase weighing process.

Grandma sandwich!

Very soon.... 18 mins later to be exact we were at the airport. We longterm parked our car, handed the key to my mom who would be flying back in to Austin on Sunday the 9th, and caught the shuttle to the terminal. Thankfully, this time we remembered the carseat!

On the shuttle. Jack was excited to be on a big bus... if he only knew what was to come!

It took a bit to get to the terminal... had some drop offs on board. When we finally got into the building, I was surprised at how long the security line was.... they only had one line going through the x-ray machine. We got in the self-help line at Southwest, re-printed our boarding passes, ( I prefer the official feeling passes, instead of printing them at home... weird much? yes!)
weighed our luggage - nothing was over 45lbs , and sent our carseat away in a plastic bag. With a much lighter load, we head to the security line.

Jack-Jack had on his monkey harness and everyone was watching him walk through the line. The line zig zagged so we had people to the left and the right of us. Jack Jack turned and saw a man in a cowboy hat, boots, belt buckle, the whole 9 cowboy yards as you often see in Texas and yelled about as loudly as he could "YeeHAW!!!!"




I was partly mortified but mostly amused. My father wears a cowboy hat often and he had just shown Jack Jack how to "ride a horse" by sitting on a saddle (on a saddle stand, not a real horse) and waving his cowboy hat high above his head and yelling "YeeHAW!" Well apparently every cowboy hat deserves a big ol YeeHAW. Thankfully the man in question was most likely a grandfather himself and was amused as well. Everyone in the security line was laughing. I posted it to Facebook because it was that funny.

We made it through security fairly easy... Jack Jack was more with it than he has been in the previous trips and just followed along, wanting his shoes off far too early... sitting down in the middle of the line to take them off. We waited for the stroller to pass the swipe test, put all our shoes on and were ready to grab some dinner. Our flight wasn't until 6:40pm. We checked in at the gate, got our stroller gate check tag straight through to MCO which was a nice option to have, and asked what time we would be boarding. 6:20pm we were told. So we had 40 mins to eat, change diapers, restroom stop etc. Our 20 mins late didn't matter at all! YAY!

Waiting for grub

Showing me it was empty and ready for some food!

Mr. I got us all a BBQ plate to share. The boys, mom and I had Chick Fil A around 2:30pm so we weren't that hungry. But put a plate of BBQ in front of the boys and they're gonna want some.

As soon as we were done eating, it was time to head back to the gate to await our boarding call.

Watching some plane action while we waited for our boarding call



Right at 6:20pm we were called to get in line. I had checked us in the day before and we were A 22-25 and 27 for mom since she was booked on a seperate confirmation number. One guy between us. We joked around with the guy, about checking in at exactly 6:40pm the day before since he'd sandwiched himself between my first confirmation number and second one. He let mom go in front of him and we were called to board almost immediately after standing in line. Very nice of him.

Mr. I, Jack Jack and I were in one row and FGM and Dash were in the row behind us, with both boys at the window. It worked out great. I kept waiting to smell *IT* and thankfully never did! Jack Jack had managed to time his dirty diapering for boarding time both times he's flown. Maybe it was the late flight.... but no diaper changing on the plane this time.

A very happy Jack Jack to be on an airplane

The head flight attendant was FAB U LOUS!!! I laughed out loud several times. Love that about Southwest. His name was Robert, based out of Chicago and he made the safety portion his own spill. Was really funny.

He told us all to turn off our blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, Chuck Berry's, Halle Berry's.... oh wait no.... NEVER turn off Halle Berry.




Right as the wheels lifted off the ground he came over the speaker and asked for the owner of the Black Toyota Sienna to please return to their vehicle. They had left their lights on.





The other male flight attendant on board, Adam, tried to make a funny later on in the flight and I swear you could hear crickets chirping. It fell flat. Which was even funnier... really. Poor guy!




Jack Jack really enjoyed the flight. He kept saying bye to everything down on the ground. He said whoooa when he could tell the plane was slowing down. Really cute.

The flight was very short... just long enough for drink service. We arrived in Houston, right on time if not a little early, prepared to turn around and get right back on the next flight since we only had a 35 min layover. Only to find our next flight had been delayed by bout 40 mins. No biggie!

We had time to snap a pic with the NASA prop


And a few more pics while we waited for the plane to arrive...

I have no idea why he was telling FGM to be quiet.

The plane arrived a little earlier than they thought and we were boarding 15 mins after we should have taken off originally. Not bad as far as delays go.

We were boarding group A but in the 40s this time and the flight was FULL. We were behind the wing... the same arrangment except we put FGM and Dash in front this time.

Jack Jack was tired... and I knew it. I encouraged him to snuggle up with his bunny and take a night night and before the Houston lights were out of sight, he was asleep. Very sweet.

Except he woke up an hour into the flight... an hour into a two hour flight. We tried to entertain him with our phones. He played Bejeweled. I tried to turn it off a little earlier than I had to, I was getting paranoid he'd drop it and it would go sliding under a billion seats. Well his face crumpled and he cried. Loudly! I did what any good parent would do and gave the phone back to him.

I talked to him though about how it would have to go bye bye before the plane could land so the next time I had to turn if off he was fine with it. I really should have prepared him for the first time better than I did... so lesson learned.

A quick 2 hours later and we were landing in Orlando!!!

Snapped this one after we landed. It was supposed to be his excited face.




Up next : Bathroom breaks.... stubborn men.... luggage lost???.... Where are you Magical Express?? .... a bus trip... and slap happy boys!


Stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Dugette]

You've started the TR! So excited to hear about your trip and how you liked the Poly! I love the Yeehaw in the airport! The boys are growing up so much with each trip, very cool to see! Great start, can't wait for more!

 

[gellybean]

I'm along for the ride!

So glad to have you!

You've started the TR! So excited to hear about your trip and how you liked the Poly! I love the Yeehaw in the airport! The boys are growing up so much with each trip, very cool to see! Great start, can't wait for more!

I've started!!

The boys really are growing up.... there are some pictures I tried to get almost exactly like ones from years past and I may try to post some of the older ones for comparison!! Such a happy sad thing all in one!!

The YeeHaw in the airport was pretty stinking funny. And it may or may not be the last time he says it....

 

[joyfulDisneytears]

I'm here! Looking forward to reading it all!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I'm here and subbed. Now I feel bad, I've been home longer and haven't started my TR yet!! But I have uploaded some of the pictures to photobucket.

 

[stayhomemom77]

I'm here, I'm here!

Let the TR begin!!

 

[Jasperann]

Hey, it looks like I came back to the DIS Boards just in time for your new TR!! Yay!

 

[bluejasmine]

Im on board looking fwd to the Poly report staying there is 26 days!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I'm here!!!! So glad Jack-Jack didn't go #2 on the flight this trip! Seriously, the magic has already begun. However, your "next up" comments make me a tad nervous..... Love the pic of Jack-Jack with the empty mouth!!!!! LOL!

How do your boys get cuter and cuter each trip? I mean really, they already were insanely adorable and yet here they are a bit older and cuter yet!

 

[blue and green]

here! great start, cant wait to hear the rest!

 

[Queenofallthings]

Great start .... subbing

 

[gellybean]

I'm here! Looking forward to reading it all!

Glad to have you!! Thanks for readin'!

I'm here and subbed. Now I feel bad, I've been home longer and haven't started my TR yet!! But I have uploaded some of the pictures to photobucket.

YAY!!

Don't feel bad!! It's taking me far longer in the past to get started. I'm just anxious to get it started with school starting back and a PTR to work on too!

I'm here, I'm here!

Let the TR begin!!

Glad you're here!!

Hey, it looks like I came back to the DIS Boards just in time for your new TR!! Yay!

You did!!! So glad you're back on the DIS and here for my TR!

Im on board looking fwd to the Poly report staying there is 26 days!

You're gonna love the POLY!! There, I spoiled my own TR. But we lovedddddddddddddddd it!!!!!

I'm here!!!! So glad Jack-Jack didn't go #2 on the flight this trip! Seriously, the magic has already begun. However, your "next up" comments make me a tad nervous..... Love the pic of Jack-Jack with the empty mouth!!!!! LOL!

How do your boys get cuter and cuter each trip? I mean really, they already were insanely adorable and yet here they are a bit older and cuter yet!

Brook!!!

I was so relieved he didn't make the *IT* smell on the plane. That's what I call progress!

Didn't mean to make you nervous.

Really.



Awww!! Thanks for the sweet compliment on my boys. I think they are pretty stinkin' cute myself but I'm supposed to think that!

Henry is getting so little man-ish!!! Love that!

here! great start, cant wait to hear the rest!

Thanks for reading along!!!!!

Great start .... subbing

Thanks!!! and

 

[2kids2luv]

I'm subbing in too. Great start to the TR. I like the "yeehaw" story at the airport - too cute. I'm jealous that you get to stay at the Poly.

 

[2_Eagle_Mom]

I'm here!!!

Well I'm going to be here. I've got to get to bed, but wanted to make sure I subscribed before I forgot. I'll be back tomorrow night to read all about your trip.

J

 

[Lady Lallie]

I'm here! I'm here!! I feel like I'm late for a very important.....TR!

 

[disneymoon_0307]

Keep it coming I can't wait to hear more. Your boys are adorable!

 

[407-W-DISNEY]

Hi!
My husband and I were at the Poly from the August 3rd to the 8th! We stayed in FIJI...

I will look at my pics from the resort and see if I can spot you or your kids!!

Wasn't the Poly wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Hi, I'm subbing. Looking forward to reading more!