Take the plastic off before eating the cookie!

[DizptchrAJ]

Quick Trip Report for a Quick Holiday Trip

Who -- Me, the Mom, T the Dad, and L the child unit 2.5 years old
What -- Disney Trip
Where -- Port Orleans Riverside
When -- December 9-12th.
Why -- Christmas

So we are DVC members but decided to take this trip last minute, like within the 45 days out time frame, so of course there was no DVC available. i had one long weeekend open at work because a co worker had asked me to switch shifts, so i had 5 days in a row.
First we had checked into DVC, no go. then even checked into Value resorts... nothing avail. So we found avail at CSR for a preferred room. Later in the week i rechecked and found that we could stay at POR for cheaper (about 160$) so i called and swapped.
Our APs had expired so we just bought tickets to MVMCP for sunday and that was it as far as parks.
So on Friday i got out of work at 6am -- i work overnights, and took the dog to doggy camp. then came home last minute packing and we left for the airport about 2.5 hours away. We were flying jet blue for the first time. It was super cold out so i was glad to be getting out of NY. Out flight was on time.
This was the first time i had flown with L without a car seat. We had gotten him a CARES harness. Well that was a disaster. HE stood in the seat and defiantly refused to sit down. I had to take his shoes off so i could force him to slide down (he was digging shoes into the seat). And he was screaming. he is usually so good on planes. I finally got him in the harness but he was not happy, and between working 12 hours the night before and not napping i think i even started to cry a little. Deep Breath and a second to compose i became the adult again and just tried to soothe him. Even the flight attendant came by and offered us a handful of snacks and drinks. As soon as the plane began to move L went quiet. Then the real fun began.
Sitting behind us was a 17 yo male and his mother. I'm going to give him the benifit of the doubt and say maybe he was on the Autism spectrum. But he and his mother argued loudly the entire trip. Swore at each other the entire trip. He kept demanding more snacks from the FA's. Then he was standing in the aisle. Then he was announcing he needed a cigarette and he was going to smoke one in the bathroom. Then he decided he needed to use the bathroom and pushed past several people in line. His mother didnt help. Kept calling him stupid and telling him to shut up.
Then the plane landed. And you know when the plane is at the jet bridge and everyone has to stand up just to wait there all squished like sardines. ( i always just wait in my seat). Well he starts yelling at people to get off the plane. Then an older gentleman starts chastising him. This whole time hes kicking my husbands seat. T tells the older gentleman (hey just let it go its not worth it) My son senses tension and starts to cry. the 17 yo tells my son "Hey you need to be patient!" -- i respond "He's 2 years old whats your excuse" (momma bear coming out) -- 17 yo -- "I;m not stupid" -- random person on the plane "No but you're rude" i Went back to focusing on L. The 17yo then began saying he was going to punch eveyone on the plane. Then the door opened and people began getting off.
We hung back and i took a second to thank the two flight attendants bc they actually handled the male's antics pretty well up until those last few minutes. Worst flight experience ever but it wasnt the airlines fault.

We got off the plane, and went straight to magical express. We didnt have to wait too long in line but did on the bus before it left. No big deal. L was sick of sitting though. We took a seat in the back. POR was the last stop and we got off and walked into the resort. First stop was to check in. They had first put us in the mansions but i asked if they had anything in Aligator Bayou so L could try the Murphy bed. She advised us that that would be a farther walk but we are quite ok with that. We got a room a bldg right near the bus stop.
Overall i was happy with the room. there was a couple mousekeeping issues, nothing worth complaining over, but the theme was great, amenities were good. I'm used to DVC but would have no problem staying moderate based on POR.
After they dropped the bedrail i requested off, we went to dinner. Ah the fun of food courts. T does not do well with food courts. Going to different stations and then standing in line to pay while your food gets cold. Makes him hangry. So as he got Hangry i told him to just pay for his food and sit down. He got the carved turkey - was cold before he finally ate it. I got the custom pasta. Mine was nice and hot. I shared with L.
Positive note - we weren't going to do refillable mugs so i had a paper cup. i filled it and set it down on the cup station, which isnt even and it spilled. but i had to wait 3 minutes before i could refill it. So i just sat down. The manager came over and asked how everything was. I said good but mentioned the drink incident. So she went and activated a new cup and even offered to fill it. My husband was already filling my old cup up so she said "ok save this cup for later then"
We finished up dinner and went over to the arcade. L rode a motorcycle, bowled and played air hockey. He really enjoyed himself. Plus this arcade is huge compared to other ones we have been in on property. Then we walked back out , stopping for a bit to watch yeehaa Bob.
We tried to set up L in the murphy bed when we got back but he decided that sleeping in between Mommy and Daddy was more fun. I was ready for bed. It was late Friday Night and i had been up since 3pm on thursday.

 

[DizptchrAJ]

Saturday -- Woke up to a toddler sleeping sideways in our bed and a foot in my face. Got ready to go and grabbed a quick breakfast at the food court. Im not a breakfast person so i just split a banana with L, and T split his bounty platter with L. Then we rented a surrey bike... a first for us. We took turns driving, the one hill was a pain but we still had a lot of fun. L rode in the front and had fun trying to ring the bell. Then we got on the bus and took it to Epcot. Didnt actually go into Epcot, just used it as an excuse to grab the monorail over to the MK resorts.
We stopped first at Grand Floridian and visited the gingerbread house. and bought gingerbread and got to see a demonstration. I decided here that maybe a refillable mug would still be a good idea since drinks cost 3.99 a piece and T and i could share one.
The QS at GF was under renovation so i had to go to a lounge to get it filled. There i watched this woman purchase a bunch of bottled drinks. The CM asked her if she wanted to used Snack Credits for those.
Woman "Ugh, yeah, I dont even know how much i have left"
CM "Do you want me to check"
Woman "No i want you to just ring those out. I want to be back in my room"
The woman left with her drinks and didnt say another word while the CM was still holding her receipt.
Then the next man walked up and just said "Coke" and gave her his mug. She filled it from the soda gun and he snatched it and went and sat down.
I told T if this is how you have to be to stay at the GF, thats ok i dont want to stay here. (but i still really really do).
Next we stopped at the CR and checked out the gingerbread display. Visited the gift shops. L got a BB8 spinning toy. We also walked over to BLT just to check that out.
A little thing i found annoying... i decided at BLT i would refill my mug, but the station was inside the pool area. And we couldnt get in bc it was locked so i couldnt fill my mug. So if i wanted to buy a drink i couldnt do that either. I get the whole pool hopping thing, but still found this consequence annoying.
So we took the boat over to WL instead. Love their tree. Stopped at the gift shop and got my mom a christmas door hanger with bells on it. Also filled our mug.
Remember i skipped breakfast? Yeah i was hungry so we jumped on the bus and went to Disney Springs. First stop was Earl Of Sandwich. We actually managed to get a table inside. I got the italian, cant remember what T got and L got a grilled cheese that he didnt eat. Sandwiches were delicious as normal. Then we walked around Disney Springs. I spent too much on pins (teehee). L rode the carousel and the train. The line for santa was 60 minutes to get a pager to then wait 270 minutes to see santa. We skipped.
New Disney Springs is nice. But it was crowded. We checked out the christmas tree trail. then went to see the drone show. at one point we stopped at Candy cauldron and T got a giant cookie he was going to share with L and i got an apple pie candy apple that i wasnt going to share with anyone. We took our snacks and took the boat back to POR.
Back in the room i enjoyed my apple but had to share with L. and L slept in our bed again.

 

[DizptchrAJ]

Sunday -- This morning we walked over to FQ so i could get beignets. T for hangry in the food court again. And i forgot L's sippy cup in the room. so L got a $8 "My First vists to Disney World" sippy even though it was his 4th trip. (we now make him use that cup all the time) Then we walked back to POR and let L play on the playground.
We had a moment here where L was watching the bigger kids climb one of the jungle gym ladders and he wanted to try. So i had to keep T away (because T is a nervous mess when L is being adventurous and i thought his nervousness would make L scared) and i stood by while L climbed the ladder all by himself. It was special because he took a long time (little legs) and there were older kids who were patiently waiting. But when he got to the top all the older kids clapped for him and told him good job. L had a beaming smile and clapped and yelled "yay".
Then we swung him some in the hammock and decided to go back to Disney Springs. So we took the boat.
Annoying tid bit. The line to get on the boat at POR was long.. and they would only take half the boat bc they had to also stop at FQ. We waited a long time. Then we finally got on, stopped at FQ and one boat was there picking up the 2 people waiting. our boat stopped and picked up no one. And there was still a really long line at POR.
Somehow we ended up at Jock Lindseys and we got the chicken wings and a couple of drinks. L took a nap.
We then got on a bus and took that to the Poly. From there we got on the monorail and since we were a little early for the christmas party rode the monorail around twice.

MVMCP - we got let in around 345 with just the party tickets. they let us go around Main Street USA to the right where we got to take a couple pictures in front of some trees. Then they gave us our fist cookie. Now L loves cookies. He immediately says "Cookie" takes the cookie and chomps into it. Only problem was this cookie was shrink wrapped. The look on L's face was priceless... and the CMs just laughed and said "Every Single time"
We finally got the plastic off the cookie and gave it to the toddler and made our way into the park.

The park was busy so we headed straight over to Barnstormer. L was just barely 35in so i wasnt sure he was going to make the cut... but he did. so we got in FP for his first ever rollercoaster. Now he has gone on pleny ot disney rides where he just rides so i think this is what he as expecting. He sat next to me and enjoyed the scenery as we made our climb. Then we went down the hill. at first there was a look of terror on his face but that soon turned into laughter. Just like his mommy hes going to love coasters.
We then had a FP for Enchanted Tales with Belle. L was a little too young to interact, but he loves this movie at home and was really interested. But this one mother got right in front of us when the first part began and he couldnt see the wardrobe. I would have been more understanding than this, but the woman looked right at him before she moved to stand in front of him. then she kept crowding use out until we were at teh edge of the room.
But thats ok bc we were right at the edge before the door too the next room, so we got front row seats to the Belle portion. (L loves Belle).
We then went over and road the people mover bc i love the people mover, then went to Caseys for a hot dog. The party still hadnt officially started so the place was mobbed. I mean it was insane. But i managed to get our food ordered and T found a tall table outside. From there we watched them light the castle.
The party had begun so we headed over to Big Top Souvenirs and got our party Merch. then we went and rode Barn Stormer 2 more times. L was so into this ride, he would get into the seat and pull the lap bar down before i could even get in next to him. But he didnt get the concept of having to get out at the end.
Re rode Dumbo Next, then the tea cups. Then we let L run off some energy at the dance party where he went crazy. his idea of dancing is falling to the floor and spinning in a circle. We did a few cookie stops and then rode buzz lightyear 3 times in a row.
We then went and got a spot in the grassy area to watch the fireworks. I dont think people realized this area was open to anyone because it stayed relatively empty and we were even able to sit to watch the show. We then went and rode the jingle cruise and got more cookies. then we staked out a spot in frontier land for the parade. Had a perfect spot to watch that. My favorite part is the soldiers. We then made our way down main street and got in to see Talking Mickey before they closed the doors. We had to wait quite a while but it was worth it. L saw mickey and just kept saying "Mickey". We got a great picture with all of us.
Waiting forever for a bus back to POR but expected that bc it was at the end of the day, but out bus stop was right by our room.

Monday -- had to catch the Magical Express early - before anything was really open. No issues at the airport. L pulled the same antics getting him back in the CARES harness. But that 17 yo wasnt on the flight so that was a plus. And we got to watch the new Petes Dragon on the flight.