That's the Second Biggest Double Stroller I've Ever Seen- A Dec 2010 TR

[Curiouser&curiouser!]

I am not a fan of going out to eat with little ones just for that reason- You never know when it will be wonderful and when it will be stressful! We mostly go to places that are loud and family friendly, but sometimes I still just can't wait to be done!

 

[KatMark]

Sorry for the stressful dinner at EOS (that Hawaiian sandwich is the one I want to try in September). I truly don't miss those stroller days at all.

 

[jc040404]

Too bad about dinner, but Hooray for finding Blue Dog! I love that they cleaned him up for you, too.

Can't believe you wanted to be in the front for EE! Just looking at that ride scares me! Sounds like you had fun though!

 

[All7OfUs]

Ugh!! I remember a zillion meals just like that; stressful and NOT fun! but, hey, still having the coffee is the best consolation prize I can think of! I do LOVE me some Earl's, but not at the price you paid, I think.

 

[PirateKate]

Thanks for the rider switch explanation. After reading yours and a heated argument on the tips forum, I feel both at ease and more confused at the same time. We'll have to just ask and try when we get there! I love your description of the meal. I've had more of those than I can count! Between being a teacher and scarfing food down so I can have time to use the bathroom at lunch, and having three kids, I tend to eat very fast because I'm anticipating interruption and disaster! I'm hoping our trip is pleasant. The kids are older, and Finn, while he is 3, is probably the most mature of the three.

I usually try to avoid heated threads. Although some of them can be sort of funny.

I think just asking when you get there is the way to go. I always figure as long as the CM doesn't object to a particular use of a rider switch pass, then it's fine.

That's the trouble with eating out with the boys- even when it appears that everything is going well, there is still a bit of pressure to hurry, because you never know when disaster will strike. I bet your trip will be pretty pleasant, since all your kids are older, especially if Finn is a mature three-year-old.

One more rider switch question. If you use the fastpass line, do all riders need fastpasses in addition to the rider switch card or only the first group? For example, could my DH have a FP and ride while I sit with the baby. Then, I would go using a rider switch card but not a FP. I am so confused!

From a practical standpoint, you definitely could have the first rider use a FP and the second rider use the rider switch pass. I think the objection is whether or not this is a misuse of the rider switch pass system, which I honestly don't know if it is or not.

The possibilities of what you could do using FP and rider switch pass are great. For example, you could get one FP for Splash Mountain and one for BTMRR and have one person ride using the FP and the other ride with the rider switch pass, doubling the effectiveness of FP.

Generally, we try to use moderation with our rider switch passes. We don't go out of our way to plan using rider switch to its greatest possible advantage, but if a rider switch pass seems desirable and the CM doesn't have a problem giving us one, we'll use it.

I am not a fan of going out to eat with little ones just for that reason- You never know when it will be wonderful and when it will be stressful! We mostly go to places that are loud and family friendly, but sometimes I still just can't wait to be done!

Eating out with little ones is definitely a gamble. We've had some great meals and some terrible ones. At home, we know which places will have really fast service and which places have really great take out. I do miss eating like normal people, sometimes.

Sorry for the stressful dinner at EOS (that Hawaiian sandwich is the one I want to try in September). I truly don't miss those stroller days at all.

I did like the Hawaiian sandwich. I don't really think I'm going to miss these stroller days either. So far, the boys keep getting more fun and interesting the older they get. And easier.

Too bad about dinner, but Hooray for finding Blue Dog! I love that they cleaned him up for you, too.

Can't believe you wanted to be in the front for EE! Just looking at that ride scares me! Sounds like you had fun though!

Blue Dog stayed pretty clean the whole trip, too, since we didn't let Carter take him in the parks any more. He still looks pretty good.

I don't think EE is too scary in the front...except maybe for the part where the tracks are broken and you can look down and see the ground and sit there just long enough to wonder if the ride is going to break down...

Ugh!! I remember a zillion meals just like that; stressful and NOT fun! but, hey, still having the coffee is the best consolation prize I can think of! I do LOVE me some Earl's, but not at the price you paid, I think.

The coffee was a wonderful thing. I'm sure we'll give Earl's another try someday. Maybe at three in the afternoon, when the boys are seven and eight. I'll get more coffee.

 

[oOJulieOo]

I always seem to miss your updates until a day or so after you've done them!

Anyways, navigating through crowds with strollers is something that I despise! For that reason, I mostly use my Ergo Baby carrier when we're out and about. I know that I am going to have to use the stroller at Disney World, though, and reading this update reminds me of why I am dreading it!

I hope EOS is less crowded when we are there. I am really looking forward to trying it!

Are boosters and high chairs readily available at most of the counter service restaurants at Disney?

 

[PirateKate]

I always seem to miss your updates until a day or so after you've done them!

Anyways, navigating through crowds with strollers is something that I despise! For that reason, I mostly use my Ergo Baby carrier when we're out and about. I know that I am going to have to use the stroller at Disney World, though, and reading this update reminds me of why I am dreading it!

I hope EOS is less crowded when we are there. I am really looking forward to trying it!

Are boosters and high chairs readily available at most of the counter service restaurants at Disney?

I do think that a single stroller isn't nearly as difficult to maneuver as a double stroller is, so maybe it would be quite as bad. I think we just hit EOS at a bad time. The weather was too cold and I think the only park that was still open was Epcot.

The only place we had any issues at with high chairs or lack thereof was EOS. I prefer for Carter to still use a high chair, since the booster seats can seem a little unstable and he isn't really used to them, so I'm not sure if all the restaurants would have offered boosters. But they all had a plethora of high chairs.

 

[PirateKate]

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[wlake]

Glad Blue Dog is back! One of the best things about the litter of pups my boys have is that they are designed to go in the washer. You just know a mom did that!

I love Basin! I managed to leave my boys (all three!) behind and go in on my own for a few minutes -- it was heavenly.

I'm impressed that you can manage a double stroller in crowds. I struggled with an umbrella stroller.

 

[schriverl]

I didn't realize what could be done with the vinylmations. We just gotback from Disney last Monday and I eyeballed those things for over a week. Now I could kick myself. Looks like a lot of fun.

 

[GingerJay]

Your new vinylmation look a little like Mickey's eye, doesn't he? I agree, he is a little weird. Can't wait to see what you ended up trading him for

 

[oOJulieOo]

I have to say I like the Cinderella's castle vinylmation better than the eyeball vinylmation. I hope your trades get better and better! I am slowly becoming more and more convinced that I must purchase vinylmation when I am there. It sounds like such a fun thing!

 

[schriverl]

Your new vinylmation is part of the holiday series. Just saw it on disneystore.com. Not sure which holiday though.

 

[Nermel9]

I'm finally all caught up on your TR, I'm really enjoying it! Your boys are so cute, I'm loving reading about all the things they liked doing!

I'm so glad you found Blue Dog, that was tense! I'm glad someone picked him up and brought him to lost and found, because I'm sure a lot of people just walked by. And that's so cool that you still got the gift card from Pop even though you changed to CSR, a little unexpected pixie dust!

I can't deal with DTD when it's crowded, World of Disney is impossible to get through without a stroller, I can't imagine how hard it must be with one! Earl of Sandwich is one of my favorite places in all of Disney to eat, but again, it's annoying when it's busy.

The Vinylmation things are so cute, but I just can't get into the whole trading thing! I'd like to, but I feel if I do, I'll just obsess about it and end up spending way too much money on it. The one you got when you traded your Cinderella Castle was strange, I have no idea what it's supposed to be!

Looking forward to reading more!

 

[MImommy]

I never got into trading pins but I may have to give the Vinylmations a try. I have to agree that the castle was much better!

Love the pic of Carter sound asleep in his stroller.

In regards, to the FP vs rider swap card. I have no problem get two FPs. I just hate to waste one! I guess I could always give it away, if it isn't needed.

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

Hmmm...that is weird looking! Although I couldn't really tell that Cinderella's Castle was supposed to be Cinderella's Castle until you said so...maybe I'm not the best at this...

 

[PirateKate]

Glad Blue Dog is back! One of the best things about the litter of pups my boys have is that they are designed to go in the washer. You just know a mom did that!

I love Basin! I managed to leave my boys (all three!) behind and go in on my own for a few minutes -- it was heavenly.

I'm impressed that you can manage a double stroller in crowds. I struggled with an umbrella stroller.

Even Blue Dog's bark box is machine washable. He still barks, even after being washed a hundred times.

I think next time I will try to go to Basin alone. Maybe Jeremy can take the boys to the Lego store.

The double stroller was a struggle, many times throughout the week. I think the boys are getting dangerously close to the weight limit. Either that or maybe it's just getting too old. It was originally Dash and Ella's. I recently got two Graco Ipos to replace the gigantic double stroller, so hopefully that will be easier.

I didn't realize what could be done with the vinylmations. We just gotback from Disney last Monday and I eyeballed those things for over a week. Now I could kick myself. Looks like a lot of fun.

I'm kind of surprised Vinylmation trading isn't better advertised. It's obvious with pin trading, but I guess Vinylmation is kept quiet. I did have a lot of fun with my Vinylmations.

Your new vinylmation look a little like Mickey's eye, doesn't he? I agree, he is a little weird. Can't wait to see what you ended up trading him for

Mickey's eye- maybe that's why it kept looking at me! I was fairly certain any trade would be better. And it was.

I have to say I like the Cinderella's castle vinylmation better than the eyeball vinylmation. I hope your trades get better and better! I am slowly becoming more and more convinced that I must purchase vinylmation when I am there. It sounds like such a fun thing!

I liked my Cinderella Castle Vinylmation better, too. It's kind of nice to get a strange Vinylmation right away, since then all the others are an improvement. I had a blast with my Vinylmations. The trading aspect is nice, because it gives you something do with them besides buying more and more.

Your new vinylmation is part of the holiday series. Just saw it on disneystore.com. Not sure which holiday though.

Yeah, that's not anything like any holiday I've ever celebrated. I just googled Vinylmation holiday 2 series and I'm still not sure what it was supposed to be.

I'm finally all caught up on your TR, I'm really enjoying it! Your boys are so cute, I'm loving reading about all the things they liked doing!

I'm so glad you found Blue Dog, that was tense! I'm glad someone picked him up and brought him to lost and found, because I'm sure a lot of people just walked by. And that's so cool that you still got the gift card from Pop even though you changed to CSR, a little unexpected pixie dust!

I can't deal with DTD when it's crowded, World of Disney is impossible to get through without a stroller, I can't imagine how hard it must be with one! Earl of Sandwich is one of my favorite places in all of Disney to eat, but again, it's annoying when it's busy.

The Vinylmation things are so cute, but I just can't get into the whole trading thing! I'd like to, but I feel if I do, I'll just obsess about it and end up spending way too much money on it. The one you got when you traded your Cinderella Castle was strange, I have no idea what it's supposed to be!

Looking forward to reading more!

Thanks for the compliments on my boys! It is so interesting to me to experience Disney through their eyes.

I knew Blue Dog would be too dingy for anyone to keep! I would like to know exactly who found Blue Dog and where he was turned in and what happened to him. I wonder if he was sitting back there at Guest Relations the whole time in a "To Be Cleaned" box. And the gift card from Pop was really great, too. Altogether, it was a really good morning!

Downtown Disney was too crowded that night, for sure. We probably should have just gave up when the parking lot was full and gone back to our room for a nice peaceful meal and stayed inside.

I can see how the Vinylmations could become spending hazard. So far, I'm doing pretty good with not buying too many. I think what will get me will be the same thing I ran into with my pins. Eventually, I'll trade for one so good that I won't want to trade it again and therefore have to buy more.

I never got into trading pins but I may have to give the Vinylmations a try. I have to agree that the castle was much better!

Love the pic of Carter sound asleep in his stroller.

In regards, to the FP vs rider swap card. I have no problem get two FPs. I just hate to waste one! I guess I could always give it away, if it isn't needed.

One thing that is nice about Vinylmations over pins is that they don't have to be worn. My pin lanyard is kind of a pain with the boys, because it is too sharp to wear while I carry them and there is always a choking hazard, if the back should ever come off. The Vinylmations, I can just throw in my bag, stroller, or pocket and it seems safer for the boys to play with.

Hmmm...that is weird looking! Although I couldn't really tell that Cinderella's Castle was supposed to be Cinderella's Castle until you said so...maybe I'm not the best at this...

I wasn't sure about Cinderella's Castle at first, either. I don't think it really captured the spirit of Cinderella Castle. I do wish I knew what the weird one was supposed to be!

 

[PirateKate]

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[teachermommy78]

I feel your pain!!! I don't get it so much anymore, but in my mid to late 20's I had to constantly tell people my age! Once I was at Sam's club when I was REALLY, REALLY pg with Finn. He was 10 lbs and I was 8.5 months pregnant. I looked like a 24/7 emergency. Anyway, my nieces were in town and they were walking on either side of the cart chatting away with me. Sophie was in the large basket part (yes, I know, she doesn't belong in there) and Ethan was in the seat part. I looked VERY young. And it looked like I had 4 kids and was about to pop out my 5th. I literally stopped dead in my tracks and looked around and there was a couple staring at me. Then I looked the other way and someone was actually POINTING! To top it all off, everyone else deserted me, so I looked like I was quite possible single. Normally I would have been mortified, but it was really funny. I'm sure I would have been whispering to Scott in the same situation. I just smiled and then I rubbed my belly. My family found it quite amusing as well. It's when it STOPS happening that you feel bad. I've stopped getting carded for R rated movies (at least the 1 I've been to in the past several years!). Take some comfort in the fact that we'll look really good when we're 40!

 

[amazingact21]

I understand what you mean about the hair, it's a struggle to keep it under control at WDW. Ponytails are convienent, but unless want to take your hair down during a ride and then redo it once the ride's complete, it is a pain.

Sorry the security guard thought you were a teenager, I know it can become frustrating after awhile. I had to pick up my brother from high school one day, and the secretary mistook me for a student (I am just shy of 21). Hopefully, you didn't get too much more of that on your trip.