Ok...first of all, you don't have to respond to every single thing I say because I just read all 8 pages of your TR so far & have alot to say!
I will certainly try!
Second, Luke sat here with me while I was reading your TR and he loved your pictures!!! He especially loved to see "Goosky" and "Chip & Dale" (Goofy is my favorite & Luke speaks clearly but for some reason, he can't say Goofy...lol)
For the longest time Jack called them "Chip and Dip". I kinda miss it!
Now...let the comments begin!
I LOVE Southwest!!! I thought their customer service was great on the phone & at the airport. I like how they have family boarding (although I will miss it completely after Luke is too old...I think its 8 or 9 yrs old ?) I forgot to get my stroller tag on the way home & they were very helpful in getting it for me in a rush so I could board in family boarding. I love free luggage! We overpaid waaay too much last year with AirTran and I will never fly another airline again (well none that charge for luggage or don't have non-stop flights anyway!) I recommend them to everyone I know...even though those people don't always listen to me!
I try never to fly anyone besides Southwest. Every once in a while I will, like in April for my friends wedding, the SW flights were over $100 more on the way back, so I am flying Frontier, but I SW is my favorite airline. They have always been very helpful.
How do you like your Vera Duffle? Do you have the large or small one? It looks like the large one but I wanted to be sure. What all do you fit in there for trips? I'm assuming you store it in the overhead compartment...are you allowed to access it during the flight or only after you land? Just curious! I always take a small carry-on that I shove underneath my seat & then I put my purse under Luke's seat since he doesn't really take anything with him on the plane (mommy puts all Luke's stuff in her bag for now...lol) I am considering getting a Vera Duffle & would like to fit the following into it: 3 tanks, 3 pairs of shorts, a light jacket, my Kindle, my digital camera, cell phone, Luke's DVD player and 3-4 DVDs with his headphones, my wallet, small make-up bag, my vacation planning binder/notebook, my journal, and possibly a small netbook...I know thats alot of stuff but do you think it would all fit in the large duffle? I know I'm a pain! lol
I do have the large Vera duffel, which (along with my purse, clutch wallet, mini hipster, and cosmetic bag) I only use for travel. The large duffel is plenty big and I am 99% sure it will hold all the stuff you mentioned. All the stuff I have I got last Christmas and the line was discontinued so I got it on a a great sale. Unless you are in love with a specific design, I reccomend going for a discontinued one. Of course now I wish I could get a couple more pieces, but oh well. Be careful though, they do get heavy, I packed a ton of stuff in mine and it was hard to carry. I did check mine on the way back despite some horror stories I read about damage, but it turned out fine. I probably wouldn't reccommend it though.
I don't blame you for leaving the airport when your flight was delayed so much. I really hope to never have a delayed flight. My husband hates to fly & gets very stressed out...I can't imagine if we had to wait an extra 4 hours or more! The drinks idea sounds good too...I was absolutely shocked when you said that you ordered 4 drinks! Your sister looks so young! I thought she was maybe 17 or 18 years old!
Haha, yes she is 21. It's hard for me to believe sometimes. Makes me feel old!
I love your shirts!!!! I almost made the "We're on our way to Disney" shirts with the airplane but I never bought more transfers or ink for my printer. lol I love that design!
I love the shirts, and I specifically made Jack's big so it will last a few years!
Your trip report title is great!!! I love how you set it up so you write an update & then list the Do's and Don'ts for the day!!! Great idea!!!
Thanks! I really did have a good trip, but it wasn't the perfect trip I imagined (it never is) and I wanted to help others and myself learn from my mishaps!
I couldn't believe the service you had at the Customs House at CBR. I mean, the CM's weren't really rude or anything but they didn't go above & beyond like they did with us! I was disappointed when I heard that! When we arrived, I only had a small carry-on and my Vera tote. They were very helpful at check-in, talked to us, explained the resort, asked if I had questions, told me to go to bell services, explained the delivery of my suitcases and grocery order, etc. And then they asked if we wanted to wait for a van or just take a shuttle bus. If you take the shuttle bus, it just stops at every village & you carry your own stuff (bags, stroller, etc). If you wait for bell services (the van) they load all of your stuff into the bag of their van, help you into the van, take you to your room, and carry all of your luggage/stroller/etc into your room for you.
The service wasn't bad, just indifferent, and that was hard for me. Disney is magical for me, and I was tired and stressed and needed that magic. The room location wasn't bad, except it's hard to get a 2 year old to walk that far to OPR when he doesn't want to. We are not slow walkers, but we are not speed walkers either, and it definitely took longer than I would have liked. I understand though that a lot of people request Aruba and Jamaica and obviously they can't put everyone in them. I have chosen to believe that they just aren't even getting faxes anymore, rather than think they just ignored my requests. I am interested to see what happens in September, I am going to put the same requests in I did last time at Pop...
I don't like it that they aren't accepting requests anymore & are doing everything via computer system. I like having a friendly voice to talk to & ask questions & make reservations with! I've also always had my requests (or close to them) fulfilled. Its so much easier especially with younger children! If it were only my husband and I, the requests wouldn't be that big of a deal. But with Luke, the location really affects our vacation. To be honest, I'm not sure we would've had the same experience if we had been staying in a different village. We honestly had a great room...on an end corner, 2nd floor so not much foot traffic, right beside the bus stop, very close to the pool/laundry, and right across the bridge from OPR. Had we not had that, I dont' think we would've loved our stay at CBR as much. So I do relate completely to what you were saying! I don't think you were complaining at all. I understand!
The food sounds amazing at Cali Grill!!!! I definitely agree with you though....$350....
...I know if we had to pay OOP for a meal that cost that much, we wouldn't enjoy ourselves at all! I can't imagine! Thats more than half the budget for food for our entire trip! LOL
The only time I will probably make it back there is for a very special adults only occasion. Worrying about Jack definitely detracted from the ambiance!
I have to visit the Contemp next trip! It is such a beautiful resort & I've never been to any of the monorail resorts! I definitely want to spend a day next trip just visiting the GF, Poly, and Contemporary. Or maybe I will eat at all of them instead!
I really want to try GF cafe as well as Ohana!
I love touring the resorts. I want to try 'Ohana again, but not if they really have done away with the noodles and the dumplings. I think that was just a rumor though. Kona breakfast was awesome, and comparitively cheap, so I know we will be doing that again!
I completely agree with you...I L.O.V.E. World Showcase!!!! I am very lucky because its my husband's fav as well so we spend alot of time there! I love the different cultures & just browsing the giftshops! My husband isn't a big drinker so I rarely get any alcoholic beverages on trips, but I'm trying a Sangria and Grey Goose slushie next trip for sure!
Well, if your husband doesn't drink, he can be the "responsible" adult for a night! 
Where are the lockers at Epcot? Or at any of the parks? How much do they cost? Next trip I was thinking about storing some stuff there so I don't have so much to lug around. We usually throw it in the bottom of the stroller, but when we go on rides, I have to carry it all around. Its a pain & I envy those girls walking around the parks with a tiny little crossbody bag!
In future world, they are next to Spaceship Earth. I think you go into the camera shop to rent them. At MK they are under the train station. I am not sure about the other parks.
I agree with you...we always check in early for ADR's! It seems to always work out in our favor & we mostly always get in earlier than our ressie! Always a plus with a toddler!
What are profiteroles? I'm too lazy to look it up online so I'll just ask you!
They are like cream puffs... they were pretty good, but I liked the Creme Brulee better
Chefs looks delicious!!! Its on my list of "must do's" for next trip! I was wondering if Remy was still there! I heard he was leaving & I wasn't sure if it was permanent or if he would be back! Glad to hear he's still there! The food there looks delicious!
Remy is there for lunch, but not dinner. And I have always liked Chefs. Even if the food was bad I would go there for the hot waiters!!
I laughed when you said that about Impressions de France! I know its outdated & everyone likes different things but I loved the show! LOL France is just so beautiful & since I'm terrified of flying over a large body of water, I suppose I will never see it in person...so Impressions is where I get my taste of overseas!
I think the show is pretty, I love the look of the French countryside etc... I just wish they would update it a bit!
Did you end up buying anything at Givenchy??? I guess I'll have to wait until you finish your report to find out, right?
You will have to wait and see, but I will tell you, I got the most amazing foundation as a free sample. I love it so much I am ordering a bottle from Sephora since no one sells it here in KC. And I don't ususally wear make up.
LeCellier looks delicious as well! I have to get in there next trip!!! I tried last trip but it was booked solid for our 10 day trip...guess thats what happens when you book your trip 14 days before you leave! Wish I could book ADR's like everyone else does at 180 days out but I will never have that luxury unfortunately for me (because of my husband's job).
Maybe you should just book every Thursday night as far out as you can. Then you can plan a trip around it!
I can't wait to try LeCellier...it looks like you & I have similar taste in food! You ordered exactly what I would have! Tomato stack, mushroom filet, and chocolate moose (I like how LeCellier its actually a chocolate moose instead of choco mousse! lol) What was the tomato stack like?
The tomato stack was perfect and exactly the way it's described. It's kind of tangy, amd the tomatoes were great which can be hard to find in the winter. The chocolate moose was yummy, but by the time we got around to eating it we were so full and tired none of us had more than a couple bites. The mushroom risotto... changed my life. It's that good. I have tried to replicate it at home and the taste was right, but the texture was a bit crunchy. Evidently risotto is hard to make.
Where is the entrance for Tusker House at AK? Is it clearly marked? I could see from your pictures that there was a sign, but is it to the left or right of the main entrance area? Just wondering because next trip, we are definitely eating at Tusker House!
I am thinking about doing Tusker House again as our one OOP meal in September. It was great! The sign is to the right, and the line is clearly visible.
I've heard from others on other TR's that everyone was getting to Tusker House at the same time...people who had later ADR's as well as people with the early ones. Then they were grouping everyone together & letting people in as a "first come first serve" type of thing. Thats horrible when you go to all the trouble of making the early ADR on purpose so you can get more park time! My parents did the same thing in September. They took a Donald picture on their camera as well & didn't pay the $30 for it. I'm completely obsessed with photography, family photos, scrapbooking, etc. and there's NO WAY I'm paying $30 for 2 or 3 pictures.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! Sorry its late! It sounds like you had great plans for the day! I understand what you mean about needing a break, I'm glad you got one! I also understand what you mean about not celebrating birthdays anymore...I just turned 28 in October. I haven't dealt well with bdays since I turned 25. I don't know what it is...maybe cuz its half of 50??? I'm not sure but I don't like 28 anymore than I liked 25. I guess I had plans years and years ago of what my life would be like by the time I was 25 or 30 and its nowhere near that now! So I really do relate!!!
Thanks! It was nice to get away. I haven't had a party since my 25th. I know what you mean about having plans and assuming what your life would be like and having it be totally different.
I'm so sorry to hear about your grandma. I hope her health is improving. Its definitely hard dealing with any type of family situation back home when you are hundreds of miles away! My SIL was going through a divorce when we went on our trip...and unfortunately one of my vacation memories is standing on Main Street listening to my MIL on the phone go on and on and on about what awful things my BIL was doing to make their lives harder. Lovely to remember about a trip, huh? I just wanted to share that, although it is not the same thing, because it was stressful on us. Its hard to enjoy your vacation as much as you want to when you're thinking about home.
I was a bit disappointed at how much the issues with my grandmother affected our trip. I'm sure that sounds bad, but we had been waiting for this trip for over a year, the first time my mom got to go to WDW with Jack and see it through his eyes, the first time all of us were there together, and this was how we were celebrating the holidays. It is way more evident looking back on it, and I wish I had picked up on it there, but now when I look back at the times we had squabbles or were grumpy, they were always after a phone call. Our next family vacation is a cruise, where we won't really have contact with the outside world... should make it easier! 
So...CP, CRT,
MVMCP, and Wishes Dessert Party all in the same day!!! I am super jealous!!!! Sounds like a busy schedule but definitely an enjoyable one! Loved your pictures from all! I'm hoping they keep Wishes around until the end of this year so I can try it! Do you know? I thought I would ask since you are going in September!
I guess we are lucky we had to cancel CP since we would have definitely been way too busy had we kept it. We had alos originally planned our photo shoot for this day, thank goodness we canceled that ahead of time! We never would have had time!
I loved it when you said Jack wanted a train set & socks for Christmas! I got Luke Scooby Doo socks, Handy Manny socks, Mickey socks, and some regular socks! The boy is obsessed with socks & shoes!!!
Jack loves his socks too. I got him some holiday Toy Story ones that he still wears.
I really liked how everyone had Christmas hats & shirts for the MVMCP! Great idea!
My dad didn't like his, but I made him wear it for family unity anyways.
Ok...I promise from now on, I will try to keep up with the updates! I am very impressed with your report so far! I love how you have the Do's and Don'ts and I love how you actually update! hehe! I still can't believe I'm not done with my report & we went in mid-June! I promised everyone an update by this weekend, so we will see!
I also seem to remember something about it not having an expiration date, but I'm sure you can call Disney and ask about that for a clarification
That is so sad! I hope it was okay!
