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

[UsNew2Disney2008]

So I thought I would share a bit of the CSR resort with you guys. It is beautiful! But if you are at the Ranchos, you are seriously walking 1/2 a mile to the front. You can board a bus and catch it around, but unless you catch a DTD bus, you are hoofing it back to your room. And we hoofed it many times. That was my only negative.

But here are some really good positives...

The resort was full of beautiful tropical flowers. Nicolas seemed to be bothered by them, but I did well (I have tons of allergy issues). It was just so pretty to walk around on that unless you were in a hurry, you barely noticed the walk.

 

[meanmom121]

Great report so far Lorrie I'm so happy Mia got her face painted - She looks so happy - "Look at me , the big girl" Great animal shots. I'm glad you got to see so many.

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Great report so far Lorrie I'm so happy Mia got her face painted - She looks so happy - "Look at me , the big girl" Great animal shots. I'm glad you got to see so many.

Thanks! I'm not as entertaining as some, but I try.

She LOVED that face painting. She did think she was something special that day!

 

[karajeboo]

Good updates Lorrie! Love Mia's expression in the KS pic - she looks so excited!!! And I can't get over how close those giraffes were!!!! I don't think I've EVER seen them that close!

 

[CRdisMom]

happy to see that nicholas liked the face painting this time. I still laugh when I see the angry genie

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Good updates Lorrie! Love Mia's expression in the KS pic - she looks so excited!!! And I can't get over how close those giraffes were!!!! I don't think I've EVER seen them that close!

The driver actually commented it was very abnormal for them to get that close. We were special I guess.

happy to see that nicholas liked the face painting this time. I still laugh when I see the angry genie

Carlos LOVES that picture. He has it in his office. Man was he angry with me. I think that is the most angry he has ever been - ever!

What, no comments about the OMG! face on the Nemo ride?

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Okay, so we're there, we eat, head back to the room, change and go to the pool. We were right by the Dig Site Pool, and Nicolas LOVED the slide. LOVED IT!

Actually, he wanted no part in doing anything but sliding! Forget the parks, he wanted the pool. And who could blame him - it was mid 90's and hot as blazes!

We finally coaxed him out and headed to our first Princess dinner ever, 1900 Park Fare.

Now - when I made all 500000 ADRs for the Deluxe Dining Plan that my husband just had to have, , we noted Nicolas' birthday. Hands down, this place went above everyone else in what they did - so for that, I have to give them props. It was technically the day BEFORE his birthday, but they treated him so special.

They gave him a special meal matt, and the characters seemed to gravitate more toward our table for conversation, etc.

I'd read others say the interaction was good - or the characters were a hoot. Well, they were a riot! The grumpy Step Mother was so dry and they enjoyed picking with Nicolas. There was a bit about the dog, Bruno, had been dyed blue.

They were seriously great! Nicolas told one of the Step Sisters that Mia was a big fan of hers, and she snapped, "Well, if she is SUCH a big fan of mine, why does she have Cinderelly on her shirt? Hmmmmmmmmm?". They were hysterical! The food was just average buffet stuff, but the "show" was great!

For the birthdays they had a little dance thing in the center, and cupcakes too. By far the biggest deal.

Okay for the pictures...

Yet again, Carlos had one piece of prime rib, several pieces of bread and complained about the food. We were still sitting here and I have to listen to "I'm hungry". So Nicolas, after eating his cupcake, had no room for his "Nicolas Special" ice cream. Chocolate Ice Cream with Gummy Bears.

Carlos thought he'd give it a shot - and luckily, I had the camera ready.

So we finished up and took the boat back to MK and caught the bus back to CSR. I would have been tempted to sneak into MK, but they were having evening EMH and I wanted no part of the masses that were flooding in at 7 pm.

Here are the kids enjoying the boat ride, which for them was a treat!

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

So we awoke to a little boy declairing, "HELLO! I'm 5 today!" So stinking cute. We had a few gifts for him that day, but I decided to hold them over until we got back from the park. We had a 7:50 at Ohana, and I wanted to sleep in and just get a taxi - so we did. It took around 10 minutes to get to the Poly, and in my opinion, worth every bit of the $10.52!

So we go in and they get the card ready during our check in because I reminded them that Stitch is his favorite and it was HIS BIRTHDAY!

Now, my opinion from our visit last year was that it was darn near everyone's birthday... so I think that diluted the whole birthday thing this year, but anyway, they decked us out in flowers and shuffled us to the picture area.

Then we had to sit and wait - and Nicolas entertained us.

Now in this one, you can see the shirt I made for him. The orignial plan was to go to DHS and try to make JEDI training. I had hoped this shirt would work and get him extra attention that day. Turns out... not so much. . Why? Because 10000 other kids had a shirt too.

Inside we had hands down THE BEST breakfast we had on our trip. Maybe it was that it was Family Style and I didn't have to shuffle back and forth to the buffet line for 3 people, who knows. But the food was fresh and the same stuff everywhere else, but just seemed better.

So around comes the characters and the kids were in heaven. And I was in heaven cause I got to drink my whole cup of coffee for once!

Which leaves me to a side gripe...
Why no Dr. Pepper in Disney. Not even in a bottle - anywhere! I checked! I checked under bushes, NONE - no where! I sware some places had it last year, not all but some. This year NONE! Not even the GIFT SHOPS! I checked more than one!

That was so not nice! NOT NICE!

So back to the breakfast...
They did the little birthday parade and it was full of kids - thus my point that it was EVERYONE's birthday. Still we got the character rotation twice and we weren't eating there that long, but I did notice it filled up quite a bit as we were leaving.

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

So it is Nicolas' birthday and we are suppose to be heading to DHS, but he decided he wanted to go to MK instead and ride a roller coaster. Okay, buddy. So here we go. I'm seriously thankful he wants to go to the park we are near!

So we walk into the park. It is 9:10 after we go by Guest Services and get his Birthday Gift Card. So we missed the morning show, but that is okay. We head toward Fantasyland after we soak up a bit of Main Street USA.

The line for Dumbo is 45 minutes. Being the loving mother I am ... I say, let's go ride the horsies! Secretly, there is a side agenda here. Carlos DID NOT want to come to Disney EVER!

I mean NEVER EVER EVER. So if I want to come back, it has to be smooth. No 40 minute lines for nothing! So we ride it, walk onto WTP - which all seem to like.

I attempt to make a hidden mickey of sorts...

We ride IASW, Teacups a few times, go to Barnstormer.

Then it is on to Buzz. We ride that twice, the boys ride Astro Orbiter and then the REALLY UGLY happens.

Carlos: "Nicolas wants to ride Stitch. I'm taking him"
Me : "No you aren't!"
Nicolas: "Stitch! Stitch! STITTTTTTTTTTCH!"
Me : "No! NO!"
Carlos: few remarks about me being anal, it being his birthday and what he wants to do, how I need to loosen up, etc.
Me : "Still - no! All my DIS buddies said no, and if Kara said no - it is a big fat NO!"
Carlos - rolls eyes, takes a very happy Nicolas by the hand and they go off to Stitch.

So Mia is begging for Buzz. I quickly text my buds of the horror that is about to happen. Again...

We ride it twice. Mia loves it. She is spinning the bucket non-stop. I sware she'd loved EE if they'd let her ride!

So we meet up with the boys. Nicolas looks horrible. Carlos looks like
Me: "told you"
Him: " I wish I had known"
Me: "Are you kidding me? - seriously?"

Evidentally, Nicolas did well to the last few minutes and then screamed "GET ME OUTTA HERE!" but since there was only 1 minute left, they had him tough it out. He is just a skiddish kid anyway, always had been. Never has finished Lion King - hates dark, bad guys, etc. With all this, who in their right mind would think he needed to ride Stitch of all things?

So from that point on, there went him being adventurous about riding anything and why he has that face on the NEMO ride.

I just comforted him and explained that was why he really needed to listen to me about the rides. So I just told him what I knew about each ride honestly. Some he rode, some he didn't. I did MAKE him go on NEMO. He was scared, but I knew there was nothing to be scared about.

After that he still wanted to spend his money on a BIG PLUSH STITCH!

More on that later.

Mia was getting tired of the hot. At about 11-noon daily she would start screaming "OUCH, HOT, HOT!"

So we left the park for CSR to have lunch there.

 

[jojo0612]

Funny thing, if Mommy doesn't pay attention, she can actually tell them the Magic one insteady - and he can end up as a Genie when he wanted Stitch. Results? Ticked off four year old.

I acutally took these photos, and we washed it off then and there.

I am reading your great TR here at work and actually laughed out loud! I can't tell you how much I can relate to you on this!!!

Can't wait to read the next installment!!!

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

I am reading your great TR here at work and actually laughed out loud! I can't tell you how much I can relate to you on this!!!

Can't wait to read the next installment!!!

Thanks for joining in! It was a priceless moment, I tell you! I was laughing at how mad he was, which just made him madder. He was pointing his finger at me saying, "STOP! Stop it right now! This is so not funny!"

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

So we stopped at Pepper Market (imagine that) to have lunch. Nicolas had really enjoyed the oreo cake we had gotten before so he asked for some. I was mentioning during ordering it was for my son's birthday - the nice CM says he'll take care of it.

About 5 minutes later, most of the staff came out singing to him with this piece of cake. He LOVED it! He is so not shy and really enjoys the attention! So we all sung and he had a blast. It was the best thing next to being home and having a cake here!

Next on his list? Swimming and the slide of course. He loved that slide!

We opened a few gifts in the room -

Mia and I rest, the boys hit the pool - we join them for a bit. Then it is time for dinner. We have ADRs for CM that night.

Nicolas: " I WILL NOT go to CM's. Mickey is for girls and babies. I am not a girl or a baby. I am 5. I want to eat here!"
Me: to myself - goodness, two of them?

So I call and switch our ADR from CM's to Maya Grill.

We go there and have a good dinner. Everyone is happy to be there rather than CM's, that is for sure. Just see for yourself!

And then I noticed the "Daddy Juice" and moved it out of the way so people don't think he is celebrating his 21st.

Now, spent 2 hours there. Dinner was perhaps one of the better ones. I had Snapper. The Empanadas were to die for! They had a great chocolate tres leches cake too. The entree was just okay. The salad I had was not my thing, and I love most salads. Very bitter. I'm not down with bitter.

So we headed back to the room to get some rest.

 

[Cory's Gal]

Loved the update! What a handsome 5 year old! Looks like his birthday was filled with a lot of fun! That Oreo Cake looks really good! LOVE the crazy expression on your DS's face with "Daddy Juice" in front of him, I think it's cute We have that same Carter's skirt/skort that your DD is wearing, it's so adorable! What a fun update!

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Loved the update! What a handsome 5 year old! Looks like his birthday was filled with a lot of fun! That Oreo Cake looks really good! LOVE the crazy expression on your DS's face with "Daddy Juice" in front of him, I think it's cute We have that same Carter's skirt/skort that your DD is wearing, it's so adorable! What a fun update!

Welcome! Thanks so much! I think I will keep him. I just love Carters outfits too- they are so great! Especially comfy and last and last!

As good as you think the cake looks - they had an amazing strawberry short cake that I got. It was fantastic! It reminded me of pics I've seen of the one at the Land area of EPCOT. VERY YUMMY!

 

[CRdisMom]

Tim did the same thing that carlos did. He knows best and those silly disbuddies don't know a thing. That lasted a day.

We haven't heard from the PF....do we?

 

[Disneychix]

We too fell in love with CSR in March (don't know if I already said that or not!). We hadn't planned on it but ended up eating quite a few times at the PM because it was really good and usually empty. However you probably take the cake on the number of times eating at Maya Grill and PM in one trip! Did they give you anything for free on your last day??

The daddy juice made me laugh! My DS is currently obsessed with getting Daddy his 'juice' from the fridge. I'm always telling people "he really doesn't drink it he just likes to help out!"

Can't wait for more!

 

[DizzyErin]

Lorrie Mia is just theeeee cutest .. i loove the look on her face on the Safari and how cute does she look with her little cheeks painted, so so scrumptious
And man Nicolas has really grown up in that yr .. it's crazy hey and a little scary!!
Loving the TR

 

[smithpack]

I went to to Disney the same time. May 1-10th. We stayed at Port Orleans Riverside. I have heard a lot of people say good things about CSR. I am trying to decide on whether to do a TR or not. I will probably start one in a few more days. Maybe we will see each other in our pictures.

I have a Mia also. She turned two on May 2nd. Her hair is a lot like your Mia's. I love your TR. My husband complained the whole time about money. I always have to make everything as smooth as possible so that he will want to spend the money again next year.

We did the Stitch ride last year, and I will never do that again!!! I took my then 6 and 5 year old on it. They screamed and cried the whole time and I couldn't even hold their hands to comfort them because they have these big heavy shoulder rests on you. I kept waiting for it to turn into a ride or something since there was a height restriction, but all it was was a dark, stinky horrible show. My five year old was ruined the rest of our trip that year as well. He was also scared on everything we went on.

You are doing such a good job at keeping the updates coming. I feel like I am right there with you.

 

[jessily]

Really enjoying your TR! Your kids are adorable!

 

[karajeboo]

[Me : "Still - no! All my DIS buddies said no, and if Kara said no - it is a big fat NO!"
Carlos - rolls eyes, takes a very happy Nicolas by the hand and they go off to Stitch.

I was quoted in the TR!!!! All I have to say is, MEN, silly, silly MEN! They day they learn to listen to us, will be the day we achieve world peace.....