The best laid plans... the good, the bad and the REALLY ugly * 7 nights in May 09

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Hello.

We're just back in from WDW. We stayed for the wonderful 4/3 deal and got back in Saturday. I thought I would write this to fill in my wonderful DIS buddies, and hopefully help out some other DISers since I've learned so much via other TRs!

So our cast will include:

Me - Lorrie - SAHM to two preschoolers. This was my 3rd Disney trip. First was 2 hours in EPCOT in 2002, then a weekend with my son last year (our first official trip). I'm a bit anal in the planning department, and a smidge control freak - or so I've been told.

My husband of almost 10 years - at first I would call him Grumpy, but he is more like Donald mixed with Goofy. He spent 2 hours in EPCOT with me, had a conference at CSR last year but didn't venture off the resort, and then this trip. He did NOT want to go, and made it very clear he was taking one for the team by going on this WDW trip.

Then there is my son. He turned 5 at Disney. He is very social, not shy at all, but very skiddish! We'll have more on that later. He loves the characters but claimed to be too big this year, but still hugged them tight when they came by!

Then my DD, who just turned 2. She is a thrill junky and really wanted to smack the CM that wouldn't let her on Barnstormer - she missed it by maybe half an inch. She loves thrill and found a new love on our vacation.... "MOUSE!"

So today I'm downloading and uploading photos. You'll see more of those later.

 

[CRdisMom]

oooh! I get to be the first to sign on......can't wait to read more.

 

[Camster0307]

FIRST!!!!!

(always wanted to do that!)

Can't wait to read all about it Lorrie!

 

[Camster0307]

oooh! I get to be the first to sign on......can't wait to read more.

Damn it, Laura!

 

[CRdisMom]

remind me never to get in a shotgun calling contest with you.

You two are going to miss each other by a couple of days?

 

[Camster0307]

remind me never to get in a shotgun calling contest with you.

You two are going to miss each other by a couple of days?

I WILL NOT lose again!

And it looks like Lorrie and I will miss each other by 3 weeks exactly. Poor planning, Lorrie!

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Laura & Cammie! WELCOME! I have two readers!

Laura - I think it is a couple of weeks, just like this time. What is up with that Cammie?

Okay, so I'm loading up photos. I will get to posting soon!

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Okay folks, so here are some photos to help put faces with the names.

Here is me with Mickey

Here is my dear husband Carlos who is a bit of a ham. He was trying to convey his excitement

Here is my DS & DD, Nicolas and Mia.

Okay, more uploading at nap time.

 

[meanmom121]

I'm waiting for episode 2

 

[CRdisMom]

could those kids get any cuter!!!

 

[DizzyErin]

I'm here too Lorrie .. not first or second like the duelling girls hahaha but i'm here!
Kiddos look so cute can't wait to read more

 

[mickeystoontown]

Signing on for more! I often say trip reports and pictures are what keep me sane until our next WDW vacation (which is, by the way 85 days away).

 

[karajeboo]

Yea, I"m 16th!

Lorrie - they are adorable!!!! Mia reminds me of Maggie from the Simpsons, with her paci.....

And could Carlos look any more excited???

Anxiously waiting for more!!!

 

[mhartel1]

Signing on...our kids are the same age so I am interested how they did. Though we leave on Friday so I am about to find out for myself...lol.

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

I'm waiting for episode 2

Welcome! Thanks for reading along!

could those kids get any cuter!!!

Thanks Laura - they are certainly a mess!

I'm here too Lorrie .. not first or second like the duelling girls hahaha but i'm here!
Kiddos look so cute can't wait to read more

Hi Erin! I'm so glad you are here

Signing on for more! I often say trip reports and pictures are what keep me sane until our next WDW vacation (which is, by the way 85 days away).

Welcome! Congrats on the trip coming up soon! I agree. I love TRs!

Yea, I"m 16th!

Lorrie - they are adorable!!!! Mia reminds me of Maggie from the Simpsons, with her paci.....

And could Carlos look any more excited???

Anxiously waiting for more!!!

Um, yes Carlos could look more excited. Specifically when I told him we were going to Boma to meet a DISer! Actually, he liked you so much he was a tad disappointed we weren't dining together.

I had hoped we would have been near each other at dinner, but I looked all over and didn't even see you! It was larger than I expected.

And by the way, funny you mention that about Mia - we actually call her Maggie for the same reason.

Signing on...our kids are the same age so I am interested how they did. Though we leave on Friday so I am about to find out for myself...lol.

Well, ignore my complaints about the weather because that is unusual. I'm just lucky I guess. But seriously! for leaving this week!

 

[Disneychix]

Talk to me about only spending 2 hours in EPCOT..??

My DS was less than 1/2 inch short on for Barnstormer. The first CM let him through but the one at the end of the line stopped him. Apparently he shrunk in those 5 mins! :shrug: He didn't know what he was missing though so no harm done.

Can't wait for more!!

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

So we started our journey on the 2nd - I had everything packed up about a week in advance and pitched the last minute things in the day before. I SERIOUSLY will never not do this! It was wonderful not to be running around like a chicken with my head cut off!

Our baggage total was 5 checked, one real carry-on, one kiddie bag (blankies, etc), one backpack, one dvd bag, and my bag - WHEW! Thank goodness we had our Joovy sit and stand that doubled as a luggage cart!

So we got to the airport 2 hours before our flight and sit down to eat. Security seemed to be looking for someone. Woman, middle age, dark hair, coat. Next comes more guards. Now the police. Now the dogs.

So we go down to the terminal after eating our breakfast and notice they are all talking (the airline people) so I gate check my stroller and ask what is going on - she told me that a woman had walked through the EXIT at the security checkpoint, rather than through security and the people reviewing this via video caught it and they were looking for her.

All planes grounded. All loaded planes unloaded. Everyone go back through security again.

Did I mention I hate flying?

I felt bad for the TSA people. People were ill, rude and put out. I just told them thanks for doing their job to keep us safe. So we did that and waited a bit - but while I was waiting I got to watch them find the lady. They entered a room. Her and the agents. To be a fly on that wall!

So we load the plane. My DS, Nicolas, hadn't had gum until a couple of months ago because he would always swallow it, so I buy the kids gummy bears for takeoff, landing. Well, this was Mia's first flight and guess what, my two year old begged so much for "BEWBLE GUM" that I gave it to her. She chewed it for 10 minutes, declared done and spit it out.

The flight went well. Mia was antsy and Nicolas was wrapped up in his new Scooby DVD but we got in a little shy of 1pm. We boarded Magical Express really quickly. It was about 25 minutes from landing/potty/checkin/aboard ME. Then it took us about 45 minutes to get to the resort.

I had requested a room near the food since we planned to dine there a lot and a pack-n-play. We were assigned a newly refurb room near the bus stop, but it was in the back of the resort in the Racho section - the only one I DIDN'T want. We were close to the second bus stop though, and the pool - but a good long walk to the front.

We rested a bit and headed out to AKL to meet my DIS buddy, Kara, before eating dinner at Boma.

We were on the deluxe dining plan. My husband had a cow when I wanted to take food pics, so I gave that idea up and just decided to put a bit of my DxDP dining review in here too.

The DxDP was a big discussion in our house, and his idea. More on that later.

We were pinched on time, so we took a cab from CSR to AKL - ride time was about 10 minutes and it was about $10 for the ride.

We entered the resort and peaked out on the observation deck. Carlos commented he was very glad we weren't staying there. He likes CSR better (sidenote, I almost moved us over to this resort before we left).

So Kara comes down and we get to talk for a bit.

She has a beautiful little girl who I was very glad to meet after hearing all about her the past year! Nicolas was grumpy because he just wanted in the pool! So he watched TV while we caught up. So did Carlos.

Then it was time for our dinner at Boma. I was VERY excited about trying this place. I've made a lot of Moraccan things around the house, and generally enjoy them. Boma - Ehhh. It was okay. I tried seriously most things - just a dab. Nothing was making me want to get more.

And then I hit desserts. I had Zebra Domes and there was a white creamy something. Almost like a mouse with maybe Baileys in it? . That I could have had more of - but I didn't. But it was wonderful. I had the wonderful glowing XFusion drink. Carlos had 1 piece of prime rib. That is it - nothing else. And a sour puss look on his face. He didn't want to be adventurous. I told him he could eat from the kiddo buffet. Seriously, the kids were happy. The kids buffet was good - they were quite happy with their meal.

Overall, I'd say it was a B experience. I'd go back with someone new who wanted to go, but I don't think I would go back if it were just us. It wasn't BAD, it just wasn't that great either.

So we got a taxi back to our resort after our dinner. We got in about 7:30 and decided to go to bed and rest up for our AK day the next day.

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Talk to me about only spending 2 hours in EPCOT..??

My DS was less than 1/2 inch short on for Barnstormer. The first CM let him through but the one at the end of the line stopped him. Apparently he shrunk in those 5 mins! :shrug: He didn't know what he was missing though so no harm done.

Can't wait for more!!

I guess it does seem odd - 2 hours in EPCOT.

So the story gos, we were just down in Orlando to visit family over a weekend. We had a day to kill - so we got conned by the lobby person to do the Sheraton time share presentation for two free tickets to Disney! WOO-HOO, I had always wanted to go to EPCOT. Well - their presentation was seriously about 5 hours. We FINALLY got out of there, got the tickets, and went to EPCOT. It was Oct, we had just spent 11 hours in a car the day before. Everything was full for lunch so seriously, we rode the ride inside the ball, walked onto Test Track not knowing what it was. Walked around the WS at a fairly swift pace and then left. We did get to see the Reflection of China show but that was pretty much it.

I often argue to Carlos that trip doesn't count.

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Talk to me about only spending 2 hours in EPCOT..??

My DS was less than 1/2 inch short on for Barnstormer. The first CM let him through but the one at the end of the line stopped him. Apparently he shrunk in those 5 mins! :shrug: He didn't know what he was missing though so no harm done.

Can't wait for more!!

Thanks - and we were close too! She was 35 inches at the 2 yr appt and I realized she had worn her flashing Princess sneakers that day. So - hint hint. Take em if you got em!

Her crocs just made her a smidge shorter. She DID know what she was missing though. We watched it while her brother rode and she screamed "I want dis! I want to go fast!" Poor baby, but she loved the teacups. She spun that wheel around and around!

 

[karajeboo]

Wow, who are those two hot babes????

I have to disagree with you on Boma though. We LOVED it!!! I had 4 bowls of soup, about 3 trips to the buffet, and I won't tell you how many trips for dessert!!!! We declared it the best buffet in Disney, bar none!!! But we are all adventurous eaters, so we like trying new crazy foods. I'm not a fan of curry so I stayed away from that, but otherwise, loved most everything I had.