Stitch's Great Escape...A Mom and Me Birthday Celebration! *7/26 Link to new PTR*

[jaycns]

Jay All I can say is Bravo you are the worlds coolest mom I really mean that!! Stitich is so happy and you guys having alone time is wonderful. When we go to WDW sometimes My eldest and I sneak away and go to the parks alone and its such a special time. Yak and Yeti looks wonderful however my husband is not a fan of chinese food. This time when we go we are using the counter service plan so we are only going to 3 sit downs since we have to pay out of pocket Chef mickeys(dinner) Never been there for dinner, T-Rex and Ohana. Can't wait to read more

It is sneaking away with, Aladdin, my oldest that inspired me to take 'alone time' trips. We snuck away together to an EMH at the Magic Kingdom a few years ago and loved every second of our amazing time alone together. I have thought back to that evening many times over the past few years and wanted to be able to create an extended version of that time with all of my boys.

We had planned on going to T-Rex this time but we took one look at the line and lost our nerve. Then again, we were looking at 7:30 on a Friday night. NOT the smartest time to think about strolling in anywhere at DTD (even the CS places). I am going to make double sure to try it next time. I would love to hear about your time there if you wouldn't mind posting about it once you guys go!

You really know how to bring out the lurkers! Your trip reports are the best! I've enjoyed reading them very much.

I've picked up some great ideas from you and I can't wait to plan another trip to WDW! Thank you Jay! Your family is wonderful and you are all very blessed.

I love lurkers! Thank you for the very, very kind words. I always hope that hopefully a few people will take a little something from my trip reports and turn it into something that will work for the benefit of their family. I know I have gained so much from the DIS. Especially by reading other trip reports. Each trip report is like a information mine of useful gems just waiting to be discovered and put to use! I am a trip report addict! And thank you for 'de-lurking'.

What a great day at Animal Kingdom! too funny that you rode EE four times . I have a question for you? Around what time did you leave AK that day? I really hope we are able to see some of those characters, Thomas just loves Flik.

We left at about 3:00 (or close to it). I have often seen characters in that area (to the far left after you go through the exit of the park). Sometimes we have seen long lines, but more often than not, the lines are very short (if there is any line at all).

Looks like you both had a wonderful day!

I was wondering how drenched you were after riding Kali River Rapids? My 12 year old wants to ride it in Sept. IF ( and this is a big IF) you can cover yourself pretty well with a poncho I'll try to take her on it. I just don't want to walk around in the humidity of Sept. soaked all day but I also don't want to freeze on the bus back to the resort at the end of the day either.

Great update and pics!

D-R-E-N-C-H-E-D is how wet Stitch was. Honestly, I doubt he could have been much more wet if we had dipped him in a pool. I, however, was blissfully NOT wet at all. A bit of my hair at the very front was wet (where the edge of the poncho hood didn't cover) and my feet/lower legs were totally wet (they stuck out from under the poncho) but that wasn't a big deal. Before we rode, I took off my socks and put them in my pockets (under the poncho). I was wearing Crocs (yes, Crocs with socks, I am dork) so they dried almost instantly and once they did, I simply put my socks back on and was dry and ready to take on the rest of the day.

If I (and I am no 'small girl' by any means) can cover up completely with a poncho, anyone can. The only other dampness was a little bit at the edges of my capris where they stuck out from under the edge of the poncho as well. I should have just hiked them up under the poncho before we rode.

I just handed off the poncho to another person getting on KRR after I had used it so I didn't even have to deal with carrying around a wet poncho after we were done riding.

Long answer short, you might be a tiny bit damp around the edges and you should be aware of your footwear choice (tennis shoes and socks would be soggy for the rest of the day I bet) but, with a poncho, you should be good (just make sure to pull it tight and tuck in the edges under your body before the ride starts). Hope that helps!

Wow, you hit the character jackpot as you were leaving AK!

I can't believe how much you got accomplished, the crowds must have been amazingly low. Sounds like March is a good time to go when Easter is later.

It was a great time to go this year. Past years, the predicted crowds have been too high around his birthday for us to even consider going. A late falling Easter really worked to our advantage this year!

Wow! This is the first time I've read any of your TRs and I'm hooked! I'll definitely be going back in time to catch up on your others.

Thanks for the great description of CSR. It has always looked like a great resort to me and now I know that I would like to stay there. I'm with you about the buses. I'd rather drive my own car any day.

I was sorry to read about the loss of your father. If your TR is any indication, then you have the support of your family and friends during a difficult time.

Looking forward to you next update, but in the meantime, I'll go read about your other adventures in WDW.

I will have lots more pictures from around the CSR to post later on in the trip report. It was a very beautiful resort.

I am glad I am not the only 'bus snob' out there. They were okay at the CSR, but I just don't rank bus transportation at the tops of my list anywhere.

We have been very blessed with the support of wonderful extended family and great friends now (and in other times of grief or need). Getting through a difficult time is always easier with the supportive, caring and loving people surrounding us. Thank you for your kind words.

Jay, I'm very sorry for the loss of your dad.

We are in the process of moving so I haven't been able to keep up - how wonderful to have a couple of updates to read!

I have been missing the World, and today I booked a trip for us this fall! I have a few questions for you about cakes and club level; if you don't mind, I will pm you in a few days. I'm typin this wiith one hand as I have a sleeping toddler on my lap.

Can't wait to read your next installment!

Thank you.

I love answering questions about cakes and our club level stays, feel free to PM away! I totally understand the one handed mom type. I do it all too often. I am impressed that you type so well while doing it. My typing looks more like my sleeping little one was doing the typing.

Great update! My whole family would think it was wonderful to ride EE 4 times in a row. It has become my ALL TIME favorite ride. I have always loved BTMR, but EE is the best.
I admire that you rode KRR twice. It is NOT my favorite. I suppose if it was a wish of my kiddos I would (that was the only way I have rode it in the past). I'm not a fan of getting drenched and then continuing with the rest of the day.
Wet thighs=chaffingNot good!
Can't wait to hear the rest!

I am not a fan of getting wet either. Thus, my poncho use.

 

[jaycns]

I am currently working on the next update and will have it posted soon. Thanks for sticking with me!

 

[PrincessCaitlin]

I am currently working on the next update and will have it posted soon. Thanks for sticking with me!

Can't wait for the next update!!!!

 

[jaycns]

Day 3- One AMAZING Evening!

As we left our room to head to El Centro, to catch a cab, I snapped a few pictures of Stitch. Here he is near the covered walkway that leads from the Casitas buildings to El Centro.

Walking out to catch our cab.

A banner that proclaimed just what we were planning on doing this evening.

Our cab ride took us to one of my very favorite resorts, The Contemporary. Before our dinner plans, I had promised Stitch a visit to his very favorite arcade (not just at WDW but anywhere). This is the only picture I have of our time at the CR. After I snapped this one picture, I slipped my camera into my bag and concentrated all of my energy and attention on having good time with Stitch.

We played and played and played and played until I was seeing little blinking lights even when I looked away from the games. We were the proud holders of piles of tickets (and two now emptied arcade cards). As my little 626 made his prize picks, I could see him almost glowing with pride over his stack of loot. Plastic army men (30 of them to give as a gift to his big brother, Aladdin), rubber ducks (3 of them to give as a gift to his big brother, Goofy), a small stuffed Mickey Mouse (to give as a gift to his little brother, Buzz) and two small stuffed apes and a collection of tiny plastic aliens (to keep for himself). As the CM packed his new goodies into a bag he was grinning from ear to ear. While this time went very quickly and I am not particularly in love with arcades, it is one of my favorite memories from our trip. Not because of any special occurrence or extraordinary experience but because it was a time where Stitch was in his element, having fun schooling his mom over and over again (yep, I lost and not even on purpose ), talking a million miles a minute about his favorite games, times he has played this game and that game back home, simply watching him and realizing that he is no longer a little boy. It seems like just yesterday, I had to hold him up so that he could reach the controllers, I had to read the instructions on the screen to him, I had to help him steer some of the racing games and I was letting him win. This time, he was teaching me a thing or two about hand eye coordination, beating me handily with no allowance on my part and without knowing it, showing me just what a cool big boy he has become.

When we finished up in the arcade we headed to dinner. Where would that be? Well, when we got off of the monorail, took a short walk and looked up we saw this.

Where were we? We were at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, of course. Another one of my favorite WDW resorts. Being back at the monorail resorts this evening, I remembered just how much and why I loved them. We were a few minutes early, so we took a load off in the lobby and enjoyed the beautiful surroundings and even more beautiful piano music. Here are a few pictures of Stitch and his newly claimed loot.

As we sat there enjoying the night (he still had no clue what was yet to come), he started telling me joke after joke. Both of us were laughing so hard. Another one of my very favorite moments to be sure.

A laughing Stitch. What a happy sight.

As we sat laughing, joking and enjoying each other's company, a man approached us. He looked at us and said "Hello, Mrs. Blankety Blank?" After I nodded that yes indeed, it was us, he turned to my little man and said, "Happy Birthday, Stitch, it's my pleasure to meet you." I was surprised he had pegged us (we were the only people I saw him approach). Who was this mystery man and what did he want with us? Hee hee hee. That is coming right up...

 

[mymainmouse]

Stitch[/B] was. Honestly, I doubt he could have been much more wet if we had dipped him in a pool. I, however, was blissfully NOT wet at all. A bit of my hair at the very front was wet (where the edge of the poncho hood didn't cover) and my feet/lower legs were totally wet (they stuck out from under the poncho) but that wasn't a big deal. Before we rode, I took off my socks and put them in my pockets (under the poncho). I was wearing Crocs (yes, Crocs with socks, I am dork) so they dried almost instantly and once they did, I simply put my socks back on and was dry and ready to take on the rest of the day.

If I (and I am no 'small girl' by any means) can cover up completely with a poncho, anyone can. The only other dampness was a little bit at the edges of my capris where they stuck out from under the edge of the poncho as well. I should have just hiked them up under the poncho before we rode.

I just handed off the poncho to another person getting on KRR after I had used it so I didn't even have to deal with carrying around a wet poncho after we were done riding.

Long answer short, you might be a tiny bit damp around the edges and you should be aware of your footwear choice (tennis shoes and socks would be soggy for the rest of the day I bet) but, with a poncho, you should be good (just make sure to pull it tight and tuck in the edges under your body before the ride starts). Hope that helps!

Well, that doesn't sound too bad. I may just have to go on KRR with her. We always have ponchos with us in a bag and I could probably take some flip-flops along in the bag as well to wear on the ride. I just won't tell her I am even contemplating KRR until we are close to the ride otherwise she might be disappointed if I chicken out. Thanks for the advise!

 

[mymainmouse]

It drives me crazy when I get schooled by my girls on video games. I should always win!
It sounds like you are both having a great time. I just love moments when you can remember your children at a younger age . It reminds me to savor every moment with them because they do grow up so fast.

Great update!

 

[SoonerGirl]

OK, I just LOVE that Stitch picked out gifts for his brothers with his winnings - such great young men you are raising, Jay.

 

[jaycns]

Day 3 One AMAZING Evening! *Part 2*

What the very nice CM wanted with us was to lead us up to our private dinner. As many of you know, I am just a tad bit in love with the private dining department/bakery/chefs at the Grand Floridian. When I was trying to come up with something super special for my little birthday Stitch, I could think of nothing better than his own personal private dinner party. One call to the wonderful CMs in the GF's private dining department and me describing what I was hoping was available led to this very moment. I cannot speak highly enough about how creative, caring and just flat out cool all of the CMs we have dealt with there are. Simply put, I adore them. They did a spectacular job on a one of a kind snorkeling Pluto cake (for Goofy's 8th birthday), this past September they put together an amazing dream luncheon with another even more amazing, one of a kind Indiana Jones themed dessert platter. And on this night, they put together an amazing dining experience for the two of us.

The planning all started with that phone call and me telling them a few of my hopes. By the time I had hung up, I (once again) realized that Disney was the perfect company to ask to make your dreams/hopes come true. The private dining CM who we have often dealt with in the past told us that she would get with pastry chef and let me know what our options were. She also told me to email her a list of our favorites (food wise) and if there was anything we absolutely wouldn't want to dine on either. Below is the email I sent to our favorite private dining CM.

*********************************************************
We will be celebrating Stitch’s 8th birthday, so I want the entire thing to be amazing for him. That includes his food. Amazing food for him is pretty simple and could even be called plain. He is not the most adventurous of eaters.

Stitch’s Favorite Foods:
-Steak (medium well)
-Corn (his favorite food EVER)
-Edamame
-Cornbread
-French Fries
-Bread, rolls, biscuits
-Rice (plain white rice, fried rice, yellow rice)
-Pasta (he loves plain pasta with very light butter and fresh parmesan cheese on it, he will not eat pasta with anything else on it)
-Chocolate shake
-Chocolate milk
-cheese flatbread
-cheese pizza
-grilled cheese
-carrots
-apples
-grapes
-hot dogs
-fresh baby spinach leaves (with nothing on them) are his favorite option for salad
-He does not like (or at least let on that he likes) pretty much everything else.

Jay’s Favorite Foods:
Steak (medium)
Bison Steak (medium)
MUSHROOMS ( I love mushrooms)
Lobster bisque
Shrimp (My favorite food)
I like Feta Cheese on my salads.
Grilled cheese
Brocolinni
Roasted vegetables (I do not like any form of steamed vegetable)
Pasta (especially Italian pasta salad with mozzarella)
Onions
I do not like peppers, cooked carrots, gravy (I love sauces, but not ‘gravy’ at all), salmon or avocado.

I would love if any of the meal could have a special “Disney” touch to it, similar to the way our private luncheon had Mickey Mouse shaped watermelon slices.

It would just be Stitch and myself and we are fine with whatever time you suggest as far as a dining time on the evening of March 8th. We will be staying at the Coronado Springs Resort. Please let me know when the chef has come up with a menu. I am excited to be putting another meal in the capable hands of the chefs at the Grand Floridian!

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

As far as dessert, I gave her a budget and a theme and told her to ask the pastry chef (I forget her name, but she is the one from the GF that you sometimes see on the cake shows on Food Network) to let her imagination run wild. I had long ago learned to trust in what they would/could come up with and that it would be beyond anything I could even imagine.

But back to the night that was to be one full of Stitch's sweet smiles.

We were taken up to the third (or was it the fourth?!) floor and led out on to a private balcony where a very beautiful table was laid out for us. Ahhhh...it was my idea of wonderful!
Stitch happily perched at his place. How cool were the rose petals!

My place setting.

Starting off with some tasty warm dinner rolls. I think I could have eaten the entire basket if I were not so excited about the food that was yet to come!

The views. Ahhhh. It was one spectacular sunset.

Very shortly, our first course was set before us. For me, lobster bisque. Tasty! It was very rich and creamy and had huge lumps of lobster floating in it. Sorry, I couldn't stop myself and tried a few bites before I was able to make myself put my spoon down and pick up my camera. Ha ha.

Stitch dined not on soup, but on a custom made bowl of Mickey Mac and Cheese. Mickey Mouse shaped noodles in a sauce of fresh Parmesan and butter. He loved it! *Note the Mickey Plate it was served on!*

A picture of us enjoying our next course, the salad course. We were so happy right at this moment and I felt as if we might be about to float away because we were just so happy.

Stitch had a salad of baby spinach leaves and nothing else (just the way he loves it). Notice how he bit a face into his spinach leaf, even at a fancy dinner, boys will be boys. Ha ha.

My salad was tasty! I dined on field greens with fresh sliced strawberries, feta cheese and roasted cashews, served with a strawberry vinaigrette. As you can see, I had already done a great deal of picking before I finally made myself stop to take a picture. Ha ha.

Great food, great views...

And even better company!

I don't know why I even took this picture, but a picture of a beverage table (yes, I am strange). Ha ha.

Playing peek-a-boo.

We were having so much fun together. I can honestly say, this was one of the most fun meals of my life with very lively conversation that had many unexpected twists. It was amazing how mannered, funny and intelligent I was reminded that my little Stitch is! As we were dining, I was so proud that he knew what fork to use when and that he used such good manners (except when biting faces into his spinach leaves )! He was the perfect little gentleman and a great date!

Next up was a shared course (they gave us enough of it for both of us to have had it as both of our main courses...and then some). We had Mickey Mouse cheese flatbread. Tasty and almost too good looking to eat (notice I said almost).

To be continued...

UP NEXT: The rest of our amazing meal and our out of this world dessert! I will work on the next installment and should have it up by the end of the weekend.

 

[lazydoxy66]

You've got one great kid! I love that you let him have 'his time' at the arcade.
The private dinner is fabulous. I can't wait to see the grand finish.

 

[Nicole786]

That private dinner looks great!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

So far that meal looks absolutely delicious!

 

[MouseTriper]

Oh my goodness Jay, I am loving your special trip with Stitch so far. I am finally all caught up and I have to say, once again, that you really know how to do Disney!!! I hope sometime I will be able to take special one-on-one trips with my children. What a special time for you both. I just can't help but think of how special all those memories will continue to be for Stitch as he gets older and has children of his own. I would bet that he just may continue the "tradition" with his own children. How special would that be!!

Oh, oh, oh...just imagine the thought of taking special trips with your grandchildren.....well into the future, of course!!!!

Again, I am loving your TR; and the start to that perfect Disney birthday celebration dinner is amazing. I can't wait to see the incredible dessert they came up with.

 

[29apr00]

what an amazing dinner you are having!! I can't wait to see the dessert you had!! Speaking of desserts.....do you have a picture of this special cake from Goofy's 8th bday? I didn't see that TR.

 

[jmamom]

I'm so impressed and its only halfway through dinner! I wish you could plan my next birthday! Can't wait to see the dessert, I bet its spectacular.

 

[k_reile]

wow...can't wait to hear about the rest of your dinner! THe first part looks really cool! I'm sure he was completely suprised!

 

[disneydusted]

Super, super, super!!! This is the way to turn 8 years old! I like how the private dining CM got all of your likes and dislikes and then had the chefs do it up for both of you! Stitch looks as if he is going to burst from happiness, you rather have that look too. What a great evening! Can't wait to see dessert!

 

[Spartangirl]

What an amazing surprise and birthday dinner......can't wait to hear what's next on the menu!

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

Jay

What a fun day for you and Stitch. Those pictures are fantastic. I can't wait for dessert. My favorite part.

I will be the big 60 in July. Will you plan my party? Disney works for me. I'm sure you can plan something better than my DH could. I think he is planning on taking me to Kansas City for the weekend.

Can't wait to read more. Keep it coming. It is so enjoyable to see a Mom getting that one-on-one time with each child. Lucky you.
Ginny

 

[CJsMom]

What else can I say? Love it, Love it, LOVE IT!!

 

[jess98ac]

Oh my...I am DROOLING! Can't wait to hear about the rest!