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

[UsNew2Disney2008]

just found your trip report! love it so far. Too badd DH was so grumpy! Can't wait to read more

WELCOME! Glad you found me. Yeah, he was a bit grumpy, but then again 8 days away from home with 2 little ones kinda frustrates him just in general. But just last night, he said he was glad we did it!

 

[Debbie6221]

I have been so terrible with everyones TRs. I guess I just think I will hear about everything over at our thread! I MUST read!!!!!!!

 

[bhwhiz]

Great TR! We'll definitely skip Stitch with our 5yr old girl next month.

 

[Gabes_mommy]

I just found your TR today.

Your DD with "baby mouse" is so incredibly sweet and both of your kids are such cuties! My DH is a total Disney grouch too so I can totally relate to your report.

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

So we woke up today. My whole schedule is becoming a wreck. Every time my phone goes off 30 minutes before an ADR,

Nicolas starts "I do not want to eat again!"
Carlos moans "There goes the anal alarm- time to eat. All we are doing is eating!"
Me "um, who HAD to have the DxDP again?"

Well, I got overuled this day.

We got up, and we were suppose to go to MK this morning, but since we were suppose to do DHS yesterday but instead ended up at DHS, the boys decided it was hot and we were going back to AK - again!

So we ate breakfast - anyone?

At Maya Grill. Their buffet was way faster than Pepper Market.
So we eat, head to AK. The boys decide they are going to KRR first. We weren't there at RD. We got there about 9:15. By the time we got to KRR, it was 5 minutes until the ride opened and we'd be the 4th in line. We got our baby swap ticket. Mia looked so mad.

I rode. I got drenched. I'm talking go to the bathroom and wring out your underwear drenched. At least I changed into flops before the ride. I had a poncho, but honestly it was so hot that i figured getting drenched would be nice. And boy did I get what I asked for!

And then we got told we could stay on. Guess who got drenched AGAIN? Then we ride swapped - the boys did it. Dry. They stayed on again. little wet - but mostly dry.

Someone is messing with me. But I'm not vain - seriously. It is hot and the water felt great.

Afterwards I took Mia to the fountains just outside the ride and let her have at the water. She enjoyed that too. It really helped to tolerate the hot.

So Carlos starts in about wanting to ride EE. Well - since Nicolas wants no part of it, It will be me & Carlos so Single Rider line please. I waited about 10 minutes and rode. It was really good. However - no yeti. THere was suppose to be a Yeti right? No Yeti.

This was a pretty big ride for me to do myself. I was pretty proud. I mainly did it so a certain DIS buddy of mine would have no excuse not to ride one thing out of her comfort zone (ah hum... Cammie) And she rode it too, btw! YAY CAMMIE!

Okay, back to the AK flow.

Then we head over to TS. Ride that seriously 6 more times, get ice cream and head to FOTLK. Nicolas and Mia both really loved the show. Sorry, my pictures didn't do well. I have a small new camera - works well in sunlight - indoors, not so much.

When it was just Nicolas and myself, I got us there early enough to get great seats. He was picked to be in the little parade at the end, but refused. This time, he'd love to have been picked, but we got there too late. We got in line about 5 minutes before the show started. Our seats were midway up on the Elephant side. It was a good show. Carlos liked it. Mia would have but she was so hot and cranky - and since this had been a theme, I had began to suspect something was up with her.

So, Carlos suggested after the noon show that we go back to the resort and let her rest and get Nicolas in the pool so every 10 minutes he would quit asking. We had lunch - at Pepper Market (I know you guys are shocked - right?). I seriously did fall in love with their strawberry shortcake though. It was to die for!

So more of the same.

Later that evening I have reservations for San Angels. The boys were tired, so they came back to the room and the whole family napped. The wake up call was for 1.25 hours before our dinner reservation at 5:30.

I woke the boys up to "it's time to eat again?"

I let it roll in one ear, and out the other. This was our anniversary dinner and I really wanted to make it!

So we got out to the bus, and waited and waited and waited some more. 1000 buses and FINALLY one came for EPCOT. We were 30 minutes late for our ADR but they still took us! More on that next time!

 

[meanmom121]

good report - I'd love to say more but "it's time to eat again"

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

So we arrive in EPCOT for our dinner at San Angels. I had been warned the food was average, but the atmosphere was wonderful. We'd picked here to celebrate our 9th anniversary.

So we arrive late to EPCOT. Carlos refuses to take pictures. I threaten, gets me no where. So we walk to WS, the whole time him saying "they aren't going to take us". So we get there, go inside and YEP, they'll take us. I had called on the way there and tried to back our ADR up, but they were fully booked for the evening. I had expected to be turned away, but they didn't.

So within 5 minutes we were seated. My bud had told me to ask for a table next to the water, but I felt since we were late I had no right. I saw her write "anniversary" on our ticket, so I wonder if that is why they escorted us to a nice table right by the water.

Mia loved it. Nicolas kept freaking out and asking every 5 minutes when the volcano was going to errupt. Then came the ordering, cause we all know, IT IS TIME TO EAT AGAIN!

Now the sidebar is that this became my joke. After a meal, Nicolas would ask where we were going next and I'd tell him to eat. That kid was like his mom - seriously sick of eating! But it was so funny to see his face!

So the kids entertained themselves taking pictures... and I think they did a really good job!

Okay so this was probably my BEST meal at WDW. We honeymooned on the Mayan Riveria and they had soup that was just like the one I had there. Just light broth, tortilla strips, cheese (small bit) and avacado. Aztec Soup - to DIE for! It was fantastic. My main dish was chicken of some sort - wasn't impressed. Carlos commented they wanted the lights down low so you wouldn't see the food. He got a white sauce, pablano style chicken. Not my thing. But overall, both dishes were bland. The kids meals were too. For dessert though I got the white chocolate mouse dessert that was AMAZING. Seriously that is my favorite anyway, but this was great!

So this is definately on my return list - but I'll do soup and dessert and skip the TS credit for it. Total dinner would be $15 or so. The chips and salsa they give you is pretty much stadium nachos with Pace picante sauce IMHO. Now the margarita I got there was yummy, so maybe more than 15.

Reminds me, I should plan on this as a lunch ADR for our Nov trip!

Now that we were through stuffing ourselves, Nicolas wanted to ride the Fiesta ride. Well, not really. He was really still all upset about STITCH so we took him kicking and screaming almost to prove to him all dark rides WEREN'T like that. He LOVED it. And I did too, until the 4 twenty somethings in the front boat decided that lots of alcohol and a boat ride wasn't the best choice.

So we got stuck on the ride for a bit as they de-puked the first boat. Nicolas didn't like that, but he was fine since we could see the people cleaning.

So I suggest we head over to Norway - there is another boat ride there that just has a little plunge at the end - he should be fine. Well - useful info would have been that it was dark, and there was a TROLL who cursed you!

WHY ME!?!

So we get off it and Nicolas says he will NEVER EVER NEVER ride it again. But he did pose by the troll in the gift shop. He begged for the hat, but I knew after Stitch luggage was tight so I refused.

It was 8:30 and I wanted to catch Illuminations. Everyone else in my party had other ideas. The boys want to see if they can do Test Track, but standby is 40 min long. So we made our way to the bus stop. I'm beginning to think I'm never meant to see night time activites.

So we take the bus back, get off at Stop 1 : El Centro to get someone Daddy Juices and Milk for the kids. They sell it for 2.50. Not bad.

Then we hike 15 miles to our Rancho corner view room of the lake. I debate telling them seriously I could care less about the view - just get me closer to EL CENTRO!

Which leads me there to another gripe. So Mia is napping daily and she is asleep pretty much from 3-4. Guess when our Mousekeeper likes to come? We NEVER saw her. I saw her cart out and went over and exchanged towels with her. The rest I did myself. Just like home. Buy hey, not washing 3 loads of clothes per day... priceless.

So we get ready to go to sleep. Tomorrow is EPCOT baby! My ME DAY!

 

[CRdisMom]

how did the kids do walking in the parks, Did nicolas ride much?

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

how did the kids do walking in the parks, Did nicolas ride much?

You know, every chance he got he was asking to ride. And I don't remember that being his request before. I honestly think that the walking at CSR and the pool wore him out. He was up those stairs 500 times a day to ride the slide and I'd say that was a good 3 hours of his day.

Mia wanted to be held, but she didn't like that we were sweating, so she was really at a loss for what she wanted. It was up - down, up - down.

We tried Mia on a kiddie leash. I had one Dad say "Hey, I wish I had one of those. I'd buy it right now if I could" "No - really!" But Mia, being the smart cookie she is, she figured out the gig and just basically screamed and kicked until we took it off. Good in concept, but it didn't work too well for us.

Hauling the Joovy Sit and Stand on the bus though was seriously no problem. It folds super easy and we just tucked it under the seat of the bus.

 

[meanmom121]

I second your soup appraisal. I haven't eaten it there, but we live in south Texas. Tortilla soup is a standard at resturaunts and it is so yummy. We have it all the time.
Nicolas looks so much like his dad What a cutie-pie (I mean Nicolas)
I loved Mia's monster face.

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

I second your soup appraisal. I haven't eaten it there, but we live in south Texas. Tortilla soup is a standard at resturaunts and it is so yummy. We have it all the time.
Nicolas looks so much like his dad What a cutie-pie (I mean Nicolas)
I loved Mia's monster face.

I visited Houston last year. I LOVED the food there. I seriously ate at Ninfa's about 4 nights of the 5! Real tortilla soup is great. Around here though, so many make it thick with corn meal. So not my thing.

We're huge mexican food fans here - but the real stuff, not so much the ground beef taco things.

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

It is absolutely beautiful here, yet I'm moody and in a rut.

The kids are fighting non-stop.

I wanted to take a beach trip, which it looks like it is either that (4 nights - all four of us at the oceanfront condo) or WDW in Nov - just me and DH for 2 nights at BC - but I have to pick. I'm leaning toward keeping the WDW trip and giving up the beach. I think we could use some "us" time.

The house is bombed.

I need to call the repair people for the ceiling leak fiasco we had prior to leaving for WDW this May. That should be a two day job.

The grass has gotten so much rain, everything is on hyperdrive. There is about 5 days worth of weeding.

I need to work on my photopass.

I am STILL making my BFF's birthday present - yeah, her birthday was the end of March. I suck.

I'm suffering from don't know where to begin, don't want to begin, just want to run away and scream and forget all this mess for a couple of days blues.

 

[jezaduck24]

It is absolutely beautiful here, yet I'm moody and in a rut.

The kids are fighting non-stop.

I wanted to take a beach trip, which it looks like it is either that (4 nights - all four of us at the oceanfront condo) or WDW in Nov - just me and DH for 2 nights at BC - but I have to pick. I'm leaning toward keeping the WDW trip and giving up the beach. I think we could use some "us" time.

The house is bombed.

I need to call the repair people for the ceiling leak fiasco we had prior to leaving for WDW this May. That should be a two day job.

The grass has gotten so much rain, everything is on hyperdrive. There is about 5 days worth of weeding.

I need to work on my photopass.

I am STILL making my BFF's birthday present - yeah, her birthday was the end of March. I suck.

I'm suffering from don't know where to begin, don't want to begin, just want to run away and scream and forget all this mess for a couple of days blues.

I'm so right there with you! My 3 1/2 y/o was home sick last week from pre-school and was a terror! One afternoon I had him in time out 4 times within 2 hours. It's a gorgeous day here in Georgia, too, and I could care less. I went out to an audition last night, which was pointless btw, and DH let the kids run wild. The house looks like a bomb went off in it.

Usually I can re-group but today it just feels like too much. I wish I could give you an answer to your load...but maybe just knowing you're not the only one in Mommy-prison helps? Take care....

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

I'm so right there with you! My 3 1/2 y/o was home sick last week from pre-school and was a terror! One afternoon I had him in time out 4 times within 2 hours. It's a gorgeous day here in Georgia, too, and I could care less. I went out to an audition last night, which was pointless btw, and DH let the kids run wild. The house looks like a bomb went off in it.

Usually I can re-group but today it just feels like too much. I wish I could give you an answer to your load...but maybe just knowing you're not the only one in Mommy-prison helps? Take care....

Oh it does help! At least I know I'm not the only one. I try to talk to my husband about it and I get "well, why not go back to work?". Yeah, that would make it better. He just doesn't get it. I could just use a 12 hour break - but that isn't going to happen.

I think I'm going to start cleaning downstairs and maybe that will improve my mood. It sure can't get any worse.

PS - Mommy Prision! I LOVE IT!

 

[karajeboo]

Lorrie, I'm so glad y'all liked San Angel Inn!!! It is so pretty in there, isn't it? Look at it this way, Carlos actually admitted it was too much food! So next time you go, you can made just the ADRs that you will actually use!!!

Need more pictures!!!

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Kara - if it had been the two of us. It is very romantic. Not that I REGRETED having the kids there, but it would be really easy to have - say 5 or so of those mixed margaritas and forget you weren't really in mexico. I say that, becuase you know how lightly I drink - I downed the whole one very quickly and felt nothing... But it was very tasty!

He did admit he was so wrong. Now, he was right in that the kids eat 3 times a day, but he didn't understand my arguement of WE didn't have to. So, anyway... next trip. Basic plan. DONE!

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Sorry I've been neglecting the report. I've been a little caught up in trying to catch the house up. It is amazing how long it can take you to get things back to normal after a trip.

I'll be back later with more pictures!

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

So I've been buying time for the Photopass CD to arrive. I still don't have my fingers on it, so I guess I will just go head and then post extra pictures when it gets here.

The plan for this day was to head to EPCOT and enjoy our day there. This was the day we were going to eat at Le Cellier and Tuttos.

Nicolas "I wanna see Darth Vader"
Me ... Jaw on the floor
Carlos "me too, let's go to DHS"
Me "Do you know how hard the ADRs were?"
Carlos "it is too hot for steak and I seriously don't want italian for dinner. I'll take one for the team and go there, but I don't want it".
Me...

As a sidebar, Carlos has these little moods... Chinese can't be eaten for dinner because it is a lunch only food and sometimes he does the same with italian. The kids love pasta, so it was a great place for everyone to be happy, but no...

So I text Kara about should I stick to my guns about Ohana or Tuttos - she says both . Should've listened to her

So we procede to DHS with the understanding that we are going to make the Tuttos dinner. We get to DHS and it is hot again. I mean sweat rolling off places you didn't know you had hot. Mia was frustrated and running a fever. We never quite figured out if she really had a bug or if the heat just really got to her. She was screaming "HOT" by the time we got there. Once we got home and had the dr guess it was a viral thing, we discovered she had cut 3 of her 2 year molars there - bet that was what was going on with her! Anyway...she was hot and cranky and wanted in AC!

It was about 9:15, we ran to TSM and got FPs - the return time was already 12:40. Since standby was 40 minutes, Carlos said just get in line because he doubted we'd be there at 12:40. We entered the line and it only took about 30 minutes. I actually won which really chapped Carlos. Of course, I told Nicolas he won, but I really enjoyed that I SPANKED Mr. Carlos. His 90,000 was nothing compared to my 130,000.

Here we are waiting for the ride...

Then we headed out to get Mia to the Mouse. She ran up and hugged him forever and just so tight! It was just too darn sweet.

Then we went over to see if we could get little man picked for Jedi Training. We got in line about 20 minutes prior to the 11 show. It was hot, hot, HOT! Carlos walked with Mia a bit to get her out of the sun, but she was still really complaining. This kid doesn't gripe about much, so we paid a bit more attention than we would if say the other one was complaining.

After our 20 minute wait, it was done.

Nicolas was picked to be trained! WOO-HOO. He's watched selective bits of the movies and really enjoyed that with his dad, so this will probably be THE HIGHLIGHT of his trip.

Then this guy shows up, and according to Nicolas, all bets are now off! SERIOUSLY! He starts screaming "I DON'T LIKE THIS" an of course the crowd giggles because it is so obvious that my little guy thinks this is THE Darth Vader. He runs off the stage. Carlos goes and meets him over there and tells him it is pretent. Nicolas watches some other novice Jedi trainees battle him, and decides to go back up and face his fears.

At this point I took Mia back over, so the photo taking suffered, but I didn't worry. I noticed this lovely Photopass Photographer and since I had prepurchased my CD, I just let him take care of it for me. And boy did he! 45 pictures of Nicolas alone!

WE had a great time there and got Mia into Backlot and cooled her down with some water and a fan. Carlos actually wanted to Stay. He snuck off and rode Star Tours. Nicolas attempted to ride it 3 times. Each time he made it to C3PO and turned around.

So after this, Nicolas wanted to go back to the pool. He thought it was too hot too. Mia started saying room. I was worried she needed out of the heat. Even with the misting fan she was really hot and she still is young enough that she doesn't sweat too much. Carlos looked like this but agreed to leave.

I found a nice family to pass our FPs off to. They were especially happy. It is always fun to send some magic someone's way.

Finally he knew how I'd been feeling.

So we head back to EAT at CSR AGAIN at PEPPER MARKET.

I throw my first semi fit and tell him I will NOT be eating dinner there . So we go back to the room. The guys decide they are too hot and tired to go to the pool, so we all just lay down thinking we'd nap a bit. At 5:15 we woke up.

And the 5:30 Tuttos ADR. Yeah, that got traded for dinner at the resort. We ended up back at Maya Grill - which was okay this time. Not as great as the first time, not as bad as the last. Just okay. I did get the empanadas there, which were probably one of the best things on the menu.

 

[OhMari]

Just to get everyone on the same page - we were offered a bounce back. I've booked BW for the two of us for two nights in Nov to celebrate my birthday.

I've gathered I should do Le Cellier for dinner one night, but I'll need a good place on the BW area outside EPCOT. Nothing in DHS excites me - suggestions that works on the BASE dining plan. I didn't even consult him about it this time.

Every year for his birthday he has what he calls the "week of Carlos". Well, I'm having the weekend of Lorrie for once. I'm not consulting him about anything, down to his underwear. It is all about me and that is that.

The Steakhouse at the Yacht Club.
Cape May has Buffet style food.
You will love November, it is warm, but the humidity is gone.
Keep watching the Code Board, 30% off is great, but last year they extended Free Dining.
And, they may even have a 40% off again.

 

[OhMari]

You girls are cracking me up. My husband kept calling our vacation the Rebecca Smith production since I planned everything. Finally on our last Epcot day he said he really wanted to get a hot dog at the lunch place in Germany, and since he didn't get to plan or pick anything out on the trip I should make this possible. Well, I felt bad and told him that I really wanted to go to Sunshine seasons for our counter service because I had heard it was one of the best counter services, but we would go get him that hot dog in Germany since that was the one and only thing he really had his heart set upon. Well, we get to Germany and he orders the bratwurst. Needless to say, when he took his first bite I could see the disappointment on his face. He sets it down and says, " I can not eat that. It is the most disgusting thing I have ever eaten in my life." Then I decide to just rub it in a little bit that I am always right and that is why I planned all of our meals. I have not gone wrong yet. I can now bring this moment up every time he wants to do something that I don't want too. I do not like hot dogs and all they had were hot dogs and bratwurst's at this place.

Sorry for hi-jacking, but Brats have to be the grossest product ever invented. 99.9% pure fat.
Beer and Brats-Wisconsin=heart attack.