SURPRISE! We aren't going home we are going to Disney!

[mouselovr]

So here we are back for a week and a half from the Surprise trip. I will do some background for those of who did not see the pre trip report (which would be about everyone, since I think I had maybe 8 post and 5 were from me!), I did not do real well on it but I am hoping to do better because now I have PICTURES!!! And everyone loves pictures and I have a lot of them. 1500+ and I also have the photopass pics that I have not gotten yet. So I am hoping this goes well for my first trip report.

So the Necessities -

The Why - Back in the spring my DH and i started talking about planning a trip for us only. In July we celebrated 15 years of wedded bliss, in the company of 200 teenagers at church camp. So it wasn't the most romantic thing in the world for your 15th but then again the last 15 yrs have been a little short on the romance side for the most part, not bad at all just I definatly did not marry the most romantic guy in the world! So Cancun in Dec was the thought, great prices and warmth. you can't go wrong there. One day while checking on prices for the trip I came across "FREE DINING". Darn WDW!! There they go making me an offer I didn't think I could refuse. Well when I told DH he really couldn't refuse. He said " Well, book it! We can still go to Cancun in the Spring and Disney at Christmas." Well who wouldn't go for that! So i did. I decided we would keep it a secret from the kids until after the trip was paid for incase we had a change of mind so they wouldn't be dissapointed.

Well we did not have a change of mind. We are from IN and had to be in Murray KY for a friends vow renewal on the 5th, which sorta was a bummer, not the wedding part but that was my bday: and I knew I was going to be at WDW the next day and missed out on that giftcard!! And I so had it spent! I was taking pics for her, before I decided to go back to school and get a job that could support my Disney habit I did wedding photography so it was off to KY for the weekend to DS best friends for the wedding. After that the kids were coming home to Grammy and Papaw and DH and I were going to FL for a week by ourselves - or so the kiddos thought - HEHEHE. I planned and packed and they were none the wiser! It worked out perfectly - more on that later.

Next - the WHO

there is myself - I love everything Disney. Went once when I was a kid with the familly, I remember very little I really only remember being to little to ride Space and so my cousin - probably about 8 or 9 at the time - and I (probably about 4-5) sat at the end of space and waited for about an hour for our parents to get off. Man how times have changed! Now if I can't see my kid at WDW I freak out and if you tried that CPS would be taking you away!! I did not make it back until DS was 2 (8 yrs ago) and I fell in love! I love being a kid and being able to get away with it without people looking at me like i am a freak!

This is what a 12 hour night shift with a 16 hour drive drive: and no or very little sleep look like!

There is DH - He went to WDW reluctantly the first few times. The first 2 times we were there ( May & June, 5 days totla both trips) we were the people who knew nothing about WDW, we were wanderers! Not a good thing. Then after nursing school my gift to myself and the family was a trip to WDW, but I turned up pregnant. So we had to wait a whole year to go. In that time I became an avid DISer and a found TGM in the process and we had an AMAZING trip in the horrible heat of Sept (which I would love to have right now in the freezing cold of IN winter) with free dining! And he was hooked!! We went last year at Christmas and he says he would go every year at Christmas because he had such a great time.

DS - 10 loves to go to WDW. I had him convinced that we were not going back until after the Fantasyland refurb and he would see something Disney and jsut moan about not getting to go.

mine is the one in the yellow.

DD- 3 - This little Princess is the reason that the 20070 trip did not happen in 2006! She really LOVES Disney and everything about it. She loves Princesses, Mickey, Donald, Dumbo, the Castle, the monorail, the boats, it's a small world and everything inbetween!!

These pics are from last years trip - I wouldn't want to spoil the pics from this year already!!


The line up for the days were -
Day 1 - Dinner at O'Hana's with a friend from work
Day 2 - BBB at MK then to Akershus for Breakfast and the MK for Spectro and Wishes...maybe
Day 3 - Breakfast at CP Dinner back to O'hana?
Day 4 - Studios the Rose & Crown for Dinner
Day 5 - AK - Dinner at Chef Mickey
Day 6 - MK Campfire singalong at fort Wilderness
Day 7 - Epcot to Soar and Sum of all thrills! then off to home

Stay tuned for more! Hope to have some of you join me for all the fun and food!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

[mouselovr]

Here are a few more pics from last years trip My parents went with us last year- Wow that was great!! Built in babysitters!!

and the one before that....

Addi's first ever Character and her fave!!

Just because I love the pic - from last year the part of the trip without the kids, when you have time to take pics of something besides the characters!

and this one

 

[reyasmommy]

Looking forward to reading more.

I'm loving your pictures and really enjoy the ones where you're all wearing the same shirts. I'm going to have to cordinate something like that on our upcoming trip. We just recently went from a party of 3 to a party of 4, so I think it would be super cute.

Your DD is adorable... she's the same age as my DD whom is also really into the princesses. I can't wait to get pictures of her with her many dresses and each of the princesses.

 

[rmkstorey]

yayyyyy!

this sounds like fun!

 

[hcoker1]

Looking forward to hearing more about your trip. Love the picture of the masks, well done.

 

[mouselovr]

I am having some trouble getting my multi quote to work!! So to all three of you - I am so glad to have you join me!

 

[mouselovr]

OK so we have the whos, whys stuff outta the way and holiday celebrations behind us so we can get on to the pics and the TR!!

So as I was saying earlier we had been in Murray KY and we left there about 9 PM. The kids were thinking we were off to home and to Grammy's house with them so DH and I could go on vacation w/o them! Instead we all snugged in and headed south. I slept for awhile and DH drove to the first gas stop (we only stop for gas when we drive!) I woke up and DS sorta did, he asked if we were in IN yet, DH said "no, not yet, go back to sleep". So he did. That simple, no more questions. We got real lucky because he did not ask any more questions so we never had to lie about where we were. Everytime we would stop he would ask somrehting like " Are we still in KY," "Have we had that much road construction," " Are we ever going to get to IN," "How much longer?" It really worked out better than I ever thought it would! At 7AM just before the FL state line I had to call work so the girls could hear his reaction so I did and asked him if he noticed anything different about our surroundings or the long amount of time it wa taking us to get home. I said I notice we have been driving FOREVER the road construction must have been bad. I then told him we were not going home but to WDW! He was speechless.
ANd for a 10 yo boy that is almost unheard of.! He asked if that had been the plan all along and was so excited!! We would tell him nothing more than that we were going and he would get the rest of his info on a need to know basis. He told his sister when she woke up who was pretty excited about going to see the princesses and Mickey once again.
When we got to WDW

This is when it really hit them what was going on! Then DS started asking ever more where we were staying, we had to go pick up a stroller from a SWAP! At ASMu then it was off the our resort

I checked us in at the cutom house while DH took the kids and went for a walk, our room was not ready so we wondered around the pool, where I did not take any pics But it was pretty cool not that I ever got to it but I sure wish I had!! Anytime I got the chance to nap my butt was sleepin!

We ran downtown and got some shoes while waiting on our text message that we were not expecting for about 2 hours. We had no more than left the resort and there comes a text! We are getting back to the resort and there comes another text!
So I found out they had sent me a text for the wrong room! So glad that I did not try to go there and it work! I did that oone time on a shopping trip with my mom and aunt and THANK GOD the door was chained! Because our key worked and I don't know what was going on behind that door but the man on the othersidw of it was not too happy!! We couldn't get back to elevator fast enough and they practically had to drag me down the hall because I was laughing so hard I could hardly walk! What a great memory that one is!

But back to my trip
We were in Martinique - pretty blue buildings here are some pics for ya before we took over the room!

2110 it was, not the corner room I had requested and hoped for but at least on the ground level!

Cute Nemo motif!

my favorite thing about the difference with the value and the mods - the fridge!! My family thinks they have to have a gallon of milk before bed everynight!

More to come tomorrow with dinner at O'hana!yummy!

 

[Rozz]

We love the Caribbean Beach Resort! I look forward to more of your trip report. Keep it coming!

 

[ladybugmom]

Hi!!! Congrats on 15 years of marriage!! My hubby and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary in June (by taking our 2 girls to WDW in May!!). Where in IN are you from? My hubby is in Columbus, IN a lot for work. I just found your TR and am excited to read it as we are planning to go to WDW next year for Christmas! What are your opinions on the crowd levels? The weather? Would you recommend the dates you were there? And if so, why? I can't wait to hear more about your trip!! Oh--and I think it's great that you surprised your kiddos with this trip!!

 

[Tracyplus5]

My family thinks they have to have a gallon of milk before bed everynight!

Mine too!

 

[Tracyplus5]

My hubby and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary in June (by taking our 2 girls to WDW in May!!).

Wow- us too (celebrated 10 yrs June 5th and we were in WDW May 3 - 10!) It really is a small world!

 

[mouselovr]

We love the Caribbean Beach Resort! I look forward to more of your trip report. Keep it coming!

We have stayed there 2x and if we ever stay on prop it will probably be where we stay, especially with the new pool upgrades! They were way cool!

Hi!!! Congrats on 15 years of marriage!! My hubby and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary in June (by taking our 2 girls to WDW in May!!). Where in IN are you from? My hubby is in Columbus, IN a lot for work. I just found your TR and am excited to read it as we are planning to go to WDW next year for Christmas! What are your opinions on the crowd levels? The weather? Would you recommend the dates you were there? And if so, why? I can't wait to hear more about your trip!! Oh--and I think it's great that you surprised your kiddos with this trip!!

Congrats on your 10 years, in todays world that ranks up there with 25 sadly! I am about 20 miles West of Bloomington IN. about 2 hours from Columbus, I drove up there to school 3x a week for a year when I was young and stupid!! I LOVE Christmas at Disney! We have been in June, Sept, May and Dec and I would always go in Dec! Last year we went the first week, arrived the Sun after Thanksgiving and sstayed until mon or Tue of the next week(Pop Warner week, the week we were there this year). I would definatly go the 1st week, the crowds were ont as low as Sept but they were comparable. WE did not have to wait for anything that year. This year the crowds were bigger and you can see a big difference in the level from week 1 to week 2. Disney did have better deals this year so that may have made a difference but I had a friend there the same time, except they arrived on Wed of the 1st week and left on Wed of the 2nd and she could see a difference in the crowds for the start of the trip to the end. So for me I will always go the Sun after Thanksgiving until the next weekend, which has an added bonus of my birthday at Disney!!

Wow- us too (celebrated 10 yrs June 5th and we were in WDW May 3 - 10!) It really is a small world!

Conrats to you and your honey!

 

[ladybugmom]

Wow- us too (celebrated 10 yrs June 5th and we were in WDW May 3 - 10!) It really is a small world!

No way!! It IS a small world!! Congrats!! Our anniversary is June 26th and we were at WDW May 16-23 (AKA the week of the monsoon--it rained evryday ALL day)!!

 

[ladybugmom]

Congrats on your 10 years, in todays world that ranks up there with 25 sadly! I am about 20 miles West of Bloomington IN. about 2 hours from Columbus, I drove up there to school 3x a week for a year when I was young and stupid!! I LOVE Christmas at Disney! We have been in June, Sept, May and Dec and I would always go in Dec! Last year we went the first week, arrived the Sun after Thanksgiving and sstayed until mon or Tue of the next week(Pop Warner week, the week we were there this year). I would definatly go the 1st week, the crowds were ont as low as Sept but they were comparable. WE did not have to wait for anything that year. This year the crowds were bigger and you can see a big difference in the level from week 1 to week 2. Disney did have better deals this year so that may have made a difference but I had a friend there the same time, except they arrived on Wed of the 1st week and left on Wed of the 2nd and she could see a difference in the crowds for the start of the trip to the end. So for me I will always go the Sun after Thanksgiving until the next weekend, which has an added bonus of my birthday at Disney!!

Thank you so much for the detailed explanation!! It helps sooo much in our planning!! I appreciate you taking the time to do that for me!!

 

[mouselovr]

Thank you so much for the detailed explanation!! It helps sooo much in our planning!! I appreciate you taking the time to do that for me!!

You are so welcome! That is what the DIS is for!

 

[MBKELmom]

I can't wait to read more. I'm debating CSR or CBR as an upgrade from value. What are your thoughts on CBR? and more pictures pretty please.

 

[mouselovr]

So we have checked into our room and are headed off to dinner at our family fave - O'hana. I have never seen anything here other than the main building and the pool and beach area. I can't imagine staying here although the monorail and the food would be huge pluses! Not that I would not like to stay here if it cost me the same as CBR but you get what you pay for and since I have my own car there I really can't justify it, but if I could.... oh let me dream of that for a minute
OK I'm back so we arrive at the poly

took some pics

and shopped around for a little while while waiting on our time and friends to arrive.

- DS waiting so patiently on his food.

Then we ate and ate and ate!! I did not get pics of the food because we were all starving so much that I did not get time to get the camera out for any!! Sorry about that for all the food junkies! But the food was good, it was a little blander than I remember it from past trips but still pretty yummy and especially with those dipping sauces! I think I could just eat those outta the bowls DS LOVED the dumplings and the sweet & sour sauce, I think they even brought us more. We love O'hana because of the meat! All that meat that just keeps coming! I also love the salad dressing it is amazing I could eat just the salad, but the rest is great too. My friend has a 1 yo ate 1/2 of the plate of broccolli! She just kept asking for more, I have never seen a child eat so much broccolli, especially at that age.


The entertainment is also a big ++ for us. DD loves the dancing and playing limbo and coconut racing but on this night this is what we got

not what we had expected or hoped for. He just walked around and played his ukalalie (sp) and sang some song.

He finally did call for a marraca (sp) shaking and we got in on the tail end of that but it did not last long enough for us to hardly get over there,

So the kids made thier own entertainment.. they chased each other around the tables and the statues! much to others people disgust I am sure! The little one here is my friends DD mine is hiding in the bottom corner as they were playing hide & seek also!

Then came the DESSERT!! i love the Bread pudding and the ice cream and they even brought out an extra bowl of ice cream for the kids, after they had brought them each out macs and cheese and chicken nuggets for dinner!

See the ice cream in the front of the pic?

All in all it was a hit - my friend from worked loved the food and even made a comment about it when we got back home that they will have to make it a regular when they go ( and they pay OOP!)

Next up BBB & Princess dining!

 

[mouselovr]

I can't wait to read more. I'm debating CSR or CBR as an upgrade from value. What are your thoughts on CBR? and more pictures pretty please.

Never stayed at CSR but we do like CBR we would like it even more if we had spent more time there! DS swam one day and loved the pool with the 2 slides. There is also a kiddie area that has a boat and a thing that dumps water on the kids so I think if you have kids it is a great place. I have heard that CSR is more a convention center atmosphere but it looks really nice. there is a thread on the resort page that I am sure you have looked at for pics of CBR and it has pool pics too!

 

[ladybugmom]

Oh--I just LOVE O'hana!! The food there is soooo good and the bread pudding is TDF!!! It was a favorite of ours on our last trip!!

 

[Angies1274]

Joining in!! Great pictures!! I'm enjoying all the ones of CBR. (we are hoping to stay there in the future.) It looks like you had alot of fun at Ohana's. We've only eaten breakfast there but dinner looks very yummy!!

Oh and congrats on 15 years of marriage!!! DH will be celebrating 15 years in August. (planning to celebrate with another trip this year....hopefully.)

Looking forward to reading more......