Summer trip, what was I thinking?

[ChevyNat]

It's been long over due, my trip report! But when I came back from my trip, I was very, very sick (well I started to get sick there) and I could not do anything.... Then of course, back to my reality, had to work, get kids back at school and back to my little routine.

So I decided to write my trip report now and at least share my pictures and adventures.

From Vegas to Disney in 1 1/2 week... here I go...

The cast of this amazing trip:

My Sis, San, she is a wonderful person, giving, thoughtful and just plain spoiling my kids to no end. She has no children of her own, get the picture? She wanted to bring my son to see Cirque du Soleil Believe with Criss Angel for Christmas, but could not make it happen! And that's me in blue with her at OKW (my favorite place in the world)

My Son, Ryan. He is 13, soon to be 14, and amazingly enough still wants to travel with his mom. Loves science, magic, and anywhere that is warm. So he is not very happy here right now in Canada, does not like the snow.

And finally, my diva, Shannon. She is 10 and love nature, snow, the great outdoors. So she is happy here. She can't get enough of Disney and is happy feeding the ducks and animal watching. Her favorite park is.... you guessed it Animal
Kingdom.

And I can't forget my Bro in Law, Dave! He is wonderful and loves everything that my sis and I do. Does not hurt that he knows his way around Orlando ha! ha! I never seen a man love my kids as much as he does, I am very lucky that he was there for them, when their father left. ok, enough mushy stuff... lets get cracking!

 

[Señor DonDuck]

Better late than never. I'm in.

 

[ChevyNat]

My sister and I were planning a Halloween trip, we wanted to do one for 4 years now... But as we started to plan, we decided to go to Vegas (to see Believe, with Criss Angel) and Disney. She said that the kids would miss too much school in Oct, therefore we decided August... My Bro in Law was working and decided to only come to Disney for half of our stay.
Ok, it's traveling time, my sis, me and the kids drove to Syracuse NY for our flight (she had points with Delta) We got there fine, but the plane ride was an adventure in itself... We got on our plane and arrived to Detroit, there the flight attendant told us that our connecting flight to Minneapolis had changed gates, so we ran to the other end of the airport, only to find out that our plane was delayed, so I approached the counter to ask if we could still make our connection in Minneapolis for Vegas... the attendant at the counter just looked at me blanked and said that our plane was arriving at an other gate, so of course we ran there... and waited, and waited, I approached the attendant and asked if we could still make our connection, only to be told that we were at the wrong gate, Yes the plane was going to Minneapolis, but it was not our plane....URGH! So we were on stand by! By then I was stressed and my son had tears because he thought that we would not make our flight. Thank God, an entire family of 5, did not show up for the flight and we were able to get on (they probably were on our plane ha!) We rushed for our Vegas connection in Minneapolis but the attendant at the last gate was super rude, but at this point I did not care and when my but hit the seat of the plane I was drained... A good thing the flight attendant was very nice to my kids and made jokes to ease the tension ha! We arrived in Vegas at 11:30 am.
We had a good night sleep and got up early, very excited! We went for a walk outside and to McDonald's... Wow what heat... it was a very dry heat... my DD said that she never thought it could be this hot ha! ha! We come from the North so this heat was unbearable ... But what a beautiful place... Unfortunately our stay was very short... but we made the most of it....

Our resort for our stay, Luxor, it's nice, the best part was that the kids were overly excited to stay there... so that made it special.

On our walk outside

At the entrance of the Luxor

 

[reyasmommy]

The luxor was the first Vegas hotel I ever stayed at, I always thought it was pretty cool. We've taken quite a few Veges vacations and like to stay at a different hotel each time.

Did you go to Vegas for the soul purpose of seeing Chris Angel? LOL!! That's cool!

Vegas can get SUPER hot..... uncomfortably so... but is so much fun.

Can't wait to hear more.

 

[ChevyNat]

The luxor was the first Vegas hotel I ever stayed at, I always thought it was pretty cool. We've taken quite a few Veges vacations and like to stay at a different hotel each time.

Did you go to Vegas for the soul purpose of seeing Chris Angel? LOL!! That's cool!

Vegas can get SUPER hot..... uncomfortably so... but is so much fun.

Can't wait to hear more.

Yes, we went to Vegas just to see Criss Angel ha! What a ride ha! ha! We plan to go back for longer on to bring my mom to see Elvis - Cirque du Soleil and visit a little more... but not in the summer time ha!

 

[ChevyNat]

I am trying to post a link to my video... it's my first time doing this... here goes!!!

 

[beautyqueen]

Yes, we went to Vegas just to see Criss Angel ha! What a ride ha! ha! We plan to go back for longer on to bring my mom to see Elvis - Cirque du Soleil and visit a little more... but not in the summer time ha!

On two of my Vegas trips I have met Criss Angel, once it was just a brief little "hey Criss" and wave during a UFC fight that I was at to watch a friend fight and Criss was there, the second time I saw him by the elevator in Luxor and had a little "hey how are ya, love the tv show" type of convo. I had the camera for the UFC one but not the time where I really got to meet him, figures huh?

 

[beautyqueen]

I am trying to post a link to my video... it's my first time doing this... here goes!!!

It looks awesome! LOVE IT! I'm really surprised about the kids being allowed to be in the casino area, when I took my oldest with us a few years back he wasnt' allowed to even stop on the walkways if it was in the casino area, and there was NO camera's allowed either, but we stayed down the strip a ways from you, @ Flamingo the time my son went

 

[ChevyNat]

It looks awesome! LOVE IT! I'm really surprised about the kids being allowed to be in the casino area, when I took my oldest with us a few years back he wasnt' allowed to even stop on the walkways if it was in the casino area, and there was NO camera's allowed either, but we stayed down the strip a ways from you, @ Flamingo the time my son went

The kids were allowed to walk through the Casino, since our elevator was at the far end of the Casino, but not sit down at the games... It was very early in the morning and kind off sneak that picture in... My son loves Star Wars and wanted his picture taken with it.

 

[ChevyNat]

You were very lucky to see Criss Angel and talk to him... I was not told not to take pics or film... and no problem with the kids either...of course, I took the pictures of my son sitting by the game really quick..
We had to walk through the casino to get to our room (elevator).

 

[beautyqueen]

You did luck out with getting in a quick pic of the star wars games and your son by them! I never did see those games when I was there they look really cool!

 

[ChevyNat]

We went to have breakfast at McDonald's across the street, it was very nice and different. After a quick meal, we wanted to go for a walk on the strip but it was WAY to hot for that. So we made our way back to the Luxor and shopped around (connecting the Mandalay, Luxor and Excalibur, nice and in air conditioning ha!). We made this funny DVD where all of us are on a flying carpet soaring over Vegas... very funny!
It was a long day, so after lunch, we headed back at the room for a quick rest before the show.
Believe, was great, my son loved it. I know it gets bad reviews, but I really enjoyed it, worth every cent in my opinion.

A very Happy boy, waiting to his idol!!!

The entrance to the theater was incredible, Criss Angel and white rabbits, very magical ha!

At McDonald's

Room number, lucky 13

 

[ChevyNat]

It was very quick, but our promise to my son was kept and he got to see his idol. We went to bed and caught the 8:00 am flight to Syracuse, NY, with Continental this time around ha! ha!
We arrived around 4:00 pm and drove to Ottawa... it was exhausting...My Sis's hubby was waiting for us at home with some snacks, we went to bed early, just to do it all over again the next day. We had flights to Orlando at 11:00 am. We were all excited to go to our second home at OKW.
Getting out of the airport, the heat and humidity hit me like slap. Wow was it hot there. So I spent all of my vacation with BAD Hair Day ha! ha! but it was fun just the same.

Home Sweet Home, OKW

Breakfast nook (our patio)

My daughter's pet for the week along with 2 ducks that woke us up at 7:00 am sharp

 

[Señor DonDuck]

All caught up now. That was a nice video. I haven't been to Vegas in years.

 

[ChevyNat]

Unfortunately it was a very short trip and I promised myself that I would return one day... I just hope that it's soon...

 

[ChevyNat]

Our second day, we decided to go to Epcot... I got ready and by the second I opened the door, Wham, heat and Humidity... I can't believe how hot it is in Florida, I knew it was hot, but that much ha! ha! Well, looks like it's going to be an other bad hair day ha! That did not stop us in having a wonderful time there. (I've tried to upload an other video that I've made through Photobucket, but it's in m4p and it won't let it go into it, I have no clue how I managed the one that I already have here... it's done with imovie, too bad they were cute... have to go with pictures, Iguess)

 

[ChevyNat]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd_aZWL7-1E

This is a movie that I did of our vacation, one of many! I hope that it works and that you enjoy it!

 

[ChevyNat]

The next day was spent at Magic Kingdom, once more I did my hair to look half decent, then I opened the furnace's door and I was not 2 minutes outside that the sweat ran from the top of my head all the way down my back and places where sweat should not be , But I was in Disney and had a great time.
The park was very busy, but we still managed to get in some great rides.

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[ChevyNat]

We decided to leave the park late in the afternoon to make our way to DTD for supper. We arrived at House of Blues and walk right in. Service was wonderful, our server was joking and always attentive to our needs. I never had a bad experience there, and the food is delicious

Rosemary Skillet Cornbread

Made to order Penne pasta with Marinara sauce

Creole Seafood Jambalaya

It was a wonderful meal, we had a blast. After, we strolled around in DTD for a little and made our way back to MK for Spectromagic and Wishes, it was a perfect ending to a fun day, and also a little cooler, so we could enjoy it more.

 

[Señor DonDuck]

That is a magnificent fireworks pic! Great way to ends the day.