The Coolest Uncle in the World and His Nephew...... Zilla?

[shawn68]

Ok, so let me explain the title for those who don't understand,....which I guess would be most of you because you don't know me or my nephew.
I'm Shawn a 45 year old Disney super freak, who also happens to be the coolest uncle ever.., well, that's what my nephews say at least. Then there is Mason, my 12 year old nephew, he's the one in the angry birds hat.

That was his 11th birthday so we are both a bit older now, but still both good looking guys. Just kidding, I'm not that full of myself.
You see Mason has had a rough go of it lately. His mom and dad are going through a divorce, he has an Autistic older brother Gage, who's 13, and a little brother Ryder who's 2. Mason has Aspergers, but is very high functioning, just like his awesome uncle. Yes, I have never been diagnosed, they didn't really do that back when I was young, but I fit every category perfectly to be high functioning.
A month ago, when he was really having a tough time with the way life was going, I asked him what he would do if he could do anything. He said he would go to Universal and see the Transformers and go see the mouse.
Mason is a HUGE Transformers fan, and has always had a passing interest in "the mouse". So, I confided in my wonderful wife Kristy what Mason had said, and she told me to take him. I couldn't believe my ears, sure, she's great and all, but this is Florida! Home of our favorite place, Disney World, and her favorite eatery, Boma! Well, she also knew that in September we would be back...
So I told his mom my plan first, then let Mason know everything except the part about going to see Mickey.
So today is Monday the 21st, and on Thursday the 24th, I pick up our rental car and we head off to what Mason says is our destiny.
Oh, and since Mason is also a big fan of Godzilla, he wants his nickname to be Zilla........ Hey, hard to argue with a kid who says if Megatron starts acting up not to count on him helping, he's just a boy who is not named Sam Witwicky.
He's going to be a bit disappointed that we are not taking Hank to Florida. Hank is my Jeep Liberty, who happens to be a Transformer, but don't tell anyone..... He's black, so he's undercover. ( I placed a Autobot car emblem on the back of the Jeep, and now Mason has decided Hank is a Transformer. Everytime he sees my Jeep he says Hi Hank. I simply hit the lock button on the remote, and bam, Hank just said Hi to Mason. He loves it, and I will never tell him any different.
We will head to Downtown Disney on Friday evening, for dinner at T-Rex, Mason is also a huge fan of all things dinosaur, and he says he will grow up to be a paleontologist, and I can't disagree with it, that boy knows his dinosaurs! Then, take a stroll through the shops, not missing the Lego store, because well...... He LOVES them!!!! Then we will head off to slumber, or hopefully to slumber.... We might both be too excited to sleep. First day will be Universal Studios, and that means Transformers!!!!
I am a professional photographer by trade, so expect this report to be pic heavy and wordy, because well, I like to write......
I hope you stick around and enjoy Mine and Mas.....I mean Zillas trip report.

 

[macraven]

looking forward to reading about your trip to the darkside.
and the pictures you'll be sharing with us.

the 24th can't get here soon enough for you and Zilla


you'll love the transformer ride.........

 

[schumigirl]

Awwwwww..............what a good uncle!

Looking forward to reading about Zilli's trip to the darkside. And seeing lots of pics.

Sounds like you'll both have a great trip

 

[MidnightParade]

Looking forward to all the pics! I would love to take my nephews to Universal. They are dealing with their parents splitting up now as well) and oldest is hugely into the Simpsons right now. You are pretty amazing Uncle!

 

[shawn68]

Glad y'all want to see more. I always wonder if I just enjoy hearing myself speak.
I have finished his itinerary cover.

His itinerary pages are also complete, as is his 100 mile gift list.
When my wife and I got married almost 8 years ago, we honeymooned at Disney World, and from a trip report, we got the idea to give each other 100 mile gifts, to pass the time.
I have decided to revive that tradition with Mas.... Zilla..
we have 920 miles from our small town in Texas, so he gets 10 gifts.
1. A backpack with a hydration pack, like his uncle
2. His itinerary book (being Aspergers, he likes to know what and when we are
doing things
3. Captain America shirt, just like his uncle
4 A buff. If you have seen Survivor, you've seen a buff. Good for protection for his
neck from the sun, and also a god way to cool down if you dampen it.
5.A night light to keep both of us sane. He doesn't do well without one. This one
displays the planets on the ceiling.
6.Set of colored pencils and a tablet. He loves to draw.
7.A love knot blanket. For sleeping in the car if he gets cold. (I crank the AC)
8. A custom shirt that states how cool his uncle is. lol
9.A camera. Never too early to start them on a career path.
10. A pair of spiderman socks.
Well, more to come tomorrow as I will post his shirt design, as well as his autograph book.

 

[macraven]

lucky zilla !


the party and adventure will start way before you even hit the parks.


kewl uncle you are!

 

[schumigirl]

I love the sound of the 100 mile gift ideas........don't think my DH would do that for me as we travel 4,300 miles or so to get to Orlando.........yeah maybe not

He's really going to enjoy this trip......can't wait to hear about it some more

 

[shawn68]

Lol, maybe you could do 500 mile gifts.

 

[KelleyK75]

Joining in. I hope you have a great trip!

 

[chs27]

I love the mile marker gift idea! You are the coolest uncle.

 

[shawn68]

Well, as I write this, we have tackled driving almost a thousand miles, eating at Downtown Disney, and......Universal Studios.
For right now we will just talk trip down and dinner last night, as I still need to get the photos downloaded.

So after the baseball game, I coach Little League, I don't just watch a bunch of strange kids playing baseball, that's just creepy. I headed over and picked up Zilla about 8pm. He was ready to go. Started walking out to the car as I was pulling up, and when the car stopped moving he got in and said his byes to his mom and little brother.
Literally 20 minutes into the trip, he said he was tired of sitting in the car, and wanted to know how much longer. Ugh, this might be a looooooonnnnnngggggg drive..... For both of us.
Another fifteen minutes and he had his nose in his iPad and all was good. About 10:30pm he decided he was tired, and wanted to lay down. So he put the seat back and closed his eyes. It was quiet for about five minutes when he shot up and said, " Wait! If I go to sleep, who will keep you awake so we don't crash and die? I'm to young to die, I'm just a little kid!" I finally convinced him that I would stay awake and he went off to slumber.
As you recall, I gave Zilla 100 miles gifts, so lets discuss the reactions each received.
1. A backpack with a hydration pack, like his uncle-- "Oh wow, I guess you think I'm a pack mule now" His exact words. I spit out my water all over the car as I was driving. That boy! I guess that one was a dud.
2. His itinerary book (being Aspergers, he likes to know what and when we are
doing things) " Wow, a book with pictures! Can I go to all these places?" I will call that a win!
3. Captain America shirt, just like his uncle. A small? Uncle Shawn I might be too fat!" He's a 14-16, which translates pretty well to adult small. I don't think he was impressed. That's a loss.
4 A buff. " What the heck?! You trying to get me arrested? If I wear this they will think I'm a bank robber." Not sure why those things go together, but it's a loss.
5.A night light " I'm sorry uncle Shawn, but I have one with me in my bag." A loss
6.Set of colored pencils and a tablet. He loves to draw. "Sweet!" Winner winner!
7.A love knot blanket. For sleeping in the car if he gets cold. " Wow, it's all the marvel characters! They're so cute!!" A big win!
8. A custom shirt that states how cool his uncle is. See the other shirt comment. Loss
9.A camera. Never too early to start them on a career path. "Awesome! I can do it like you now!" Winner
10. A pair of spiderman socks. Uncle Shawn, I don't like socks. Loss

Hey, at least I won a few.

I drove wide awake until we got almost to Mississippi, so I pulled off at the state line rest stop, and took a few hour nap. AT 4am we were back on the road, and were that way until 2:30pm when we rolled into the Motel 6 on International Drive.
Well, the photos of the hotel on Booking.com looked a lot better than in person. Mason, always the optimist said it smelled good, and was happy as long as the HUGE spot on the carpet wasn't blood. I promised it wasn't...... Actually I'm not sure, so let's get off the spot topic.
So after he played with his Mario Brothers toys for a bit, and I rested, we drove to Downtown Disney.
Mason loved the Lego store and had to get a trio of them. Then it was time for T-Rex Cafe.
A huge reaction!!!!! He loved it so much! He talked the waitresses ear off, and she was wonderful. I wish I had remembered his name, but she was amazing and was tipped well for her awesomeness. He got chicken nuggets, while I ate the Chicken Flatbread appetizer. Wow, that appetizer was huge, and incredibly
good! Mason said his nuggets were awesome and the fries were even better than awesome.
Finally, we went back to our hotel, it did look better at night at least. We got into our room and noticed that you could hang meat in there. It was Alaska cold. So I thought, I will turn on the heat to knock the chill off........ It got even colder! Turns out our AC works on super freeze out or not at all....... So Mason and I slept with extra blankets on the beds.
So tomorrow I will tell you about our Universal Day, but now I need some rest, and Mason has already went to sleep. Hate to wake him up for his shower, but we will see...... Talk to y'all tomorrow.

 

[Lynne G]

Nice, you are a great uncle. Fun to see your pictures. Great camera you have. I am a canon fan. Dd is a Nikon fan, so we always have 2 cameras.

Too bad all the gifts were not a hit. I am sure he is still having a great time.

 

[ATAfamily]

Sounds like you have a great trip planned. Uncle of the year goes to you

 

[schumigirl]

Wow....that is some drive you had!!!!

As for the gifts.....well, some you win

Looking forward to hearing more of your trip.

 

[mrsabbott]

Looking so forward to hearing more!!

 

[Tink2Day]

What a great Uncle you are!

Can't wait to hear more. I am interested to see where they're at with Diagon Alley if you go by there.

 

[Dallas Bengal]

Hope you two are having a awsome time....cant wait to read more!!

 

[macraven]

come back and write some more of your fabulous vacation.....

 

[15isto2]

I hope to read the rest of your report, you are one great uncle. Mason sounds so funny with some of his responses to your gifts,

 

[schumigirl]

Any updates from Zilla's uncle