The Pirate Queen & her King take on WDW: no plans attached. midday naps & no maps!

[jaci-h]

Hi, my name is Jaci (pronounced JACKIE) aka the Pirate Queen. and I just got back from my 5 day, no plans, belated Disneymoon--- an awesome, fabulous, rommmaaaaannntic vacation. that we decided upon 24 days prior.


On July 22nd, 2010... my DH and I realized that we had enough money, time, and employment to go to Walt Disney World on our delayed honeymoon. The moment I realized this was happening, I jumped on Dis. I started looking up schedules and making plans. 2 days later, my head practically exploded from all of the stress and worry I had. Unfortunately, Dis had given me all these expectations and major travel anxiety.

So I let it go. roughly a week later, I started a thread that turned into a mini club, named The Desperados. A group of DIS-ers who are anti-commando, laid back, and plan "roll with the punches" vacations. The Desperados can be found here. We can be identified with our LGMHs having pirate-like characteristics

From there, this vacation grew into a 3-hour-midday-naps, no-maps, ADR-deleting, kind of trip. and it was out of this world!

Next up: Cast of Characters.

 

[jaci-h]

Table of Contents

The One with the Cast of Characters
The One where we Drove to the Wrong Part of Dallas at 4:28am
The one with the Army Sized Basket of Fries and Nap #1
The One Where I Got Sick by Mouse Gears
The One Where I cried. and DH saw Disney through my eyes, finally.
The One with the Hilarious Flatulence.
The One where a Month Elapsed and a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

 

[jaci-h]

The One with the Cast of Characters

We are Mr. & Mrs. H
We've been married exactly 78 days. Known each other for 5 years, dating anniversary on thanksgiving day. Were engaged for 18 months exactly. We've been best friends for 5 years. Both devout Catholic. Both from large families. Both full of laughter and optimism.

Mr. H. Wesley. Wes. Pirate King.

Wonderful husband, loyal friend. Leadership facilitator (that's his job. He has so much fun, its unreal). Eagle scout of 7 years. Boy scout of way more than that. Loves his dog Jake. Obsessed over his vibrams five finger shoes. Walt Disney World first time!

Mrs. H. Jaci. Jac. Pirate Queen

Crazy wife. Preschool teacher, ex-nanny. Not afraid to send that kid to the corner. Oldest sister, mother hen. Loves rescuing kitties and puppies from behind the dumpster (we're at capacity now!). Obsessed with collecting Ariel pins, cooking. Aspires to be the best mom ever.

Admit it. We're cute.

Now here is a disclaimer!
I look reaaaaaallllyyyyy cute in those wedding pictures. I am definitely proud of that. But, at Disney. I didn't wear makeup. I didn't wear my hair curly or even really make an effort in the hair department past day 1. and I definitely didn't go out of my way to wear super cute clothes. So I may look somewhat scary.

You were warned!

DH says I don't need to put that disclaimer up... but its for my sanity

 

[smileycrissy]

You make an adorable couple!!!

Can't wait to hear more about these naps.

 

[Pineapple Whip]

From there, this vacation grew into a 3-hour-midday-naps, no-maps, ADR-deleting, kind of trip. and it was out of this world![COLOR]

You seem to infer that there's another way to do WDW... I must have slept through that pavillion.

DH says I don't need to put that disclaimer up

You married a very smart man. Good pick.

Great wedding pics, and I'm glad that you two had a wonderful time!

 

[jaci-h]

You make an adorable couple!!!

Can't wait to hear more about these naps.

Thank you I have a good looking husband!
I admit... the ability we have to take naps is like no other! and it made for a perfect no-fights vacation.

You seem to infer that there's another way to do WDW... I must have slept through that pavillion.



You married a very smart man. Good pick.

Great wedding pics, and I'm glad that you two had a wonderful time!

Yes, I did marry a smart man Especially because he's bringing home stuff to make s'mores right now!!!



I will update later tonight I'm currently about to watch the new episode of degrassi (yes, immature of me but I'm addicted!) and I'm on my laptop downstairs (it has no pics on it)

 

[jaci-h]

It was August 15th. Finally. I had just fallen asleep, it seemed, when my phone started ringing. In my half asleep state, I was extremely confused. I could have sworn I set my cinderella alarm (yes, at the ripe age of 22, I wake up to cinderella singing) for 3am. Yet this was my ringtone going off?

I sat up, horrified. It was actually almost 3:45, and my hubs was calling to let me know he was off work and running to W-mart to get a couple things we forgot to buy for our trip. To Walt Disney World.

We needed to leave at 4:30am. and I procrastinated pretty hardcore in packing. and it wasn't done yet!

I jumped out of my warm, comfy inviting bed and shooed all thoughts of taking a "short nap" out of my head. After apologizing to the cat for stepping on his tail, I began my frantic packing.

Eh, packing is done best when done frantically and excitedly, right?

Hubby came in, threw his underwear and socks in the bag and we were on our way to park n' fly! It was 4:28am. We should be good for our 7am flight, right?

Yeah, except we got turned around while heading to park n' fly and went the wrong way. Apparently in my head RIGHT actually means turn left and get lost in Garland instead of going to IRVING to the DFW International Airport's Park N' Fly

But alas, we made it to the airport!

and got to experience this:

glorious Texas sunrise!

Goodbye Texas 105 degree weather!
Hello Orlando 93 degree weather!

DH fell asleep as the plane was taxi-ing (how to you spell that?!) on the runway and slept all the way until the RUDE stewardess tapped him on the shoulder and asked him what he wanted to drink before I could tell her he wanted nothing but sleep.

and then a kid two rows ahead of us hurled. everywhere. I felt so bad for her. and myself, because I was feeling icky too and the *ahem* sensory factors weren't helping. For a moment I reached for my own barf bag...only to realize that it wasn't there. Really American Airlines?!

2.5 hours later, we laaaaaaaaanded!

My sister (a junior at UCF) picked us up... she was pretty hungover. Which was hilarious to us... and her I think. A 20 min drive later and we made it!

First glimpse! I squealed several times during the car ride (and dropped my camera when I saw the disney sign) and was teased my the two Disney skeptics in the car.

we checked into the swan It was perfect. Just grown up enough for our not so grown up honeymoon. Just enough non-Disney for my skeptical husband (lets just say he left less than skeptical, borderline in love with Disney).

We had signed up for the Westin rewards card... and what did it score us? A resort view upgrade!!!!!!!!

we hurried to the room to throw down our bags and look around. This is what we saw.

Resort view. Fabulous.

As DH had no sleep for about 20 hours before we left for Disney (aside from his nap on the plane), we laid down for a nap. I didn't sleep... I was too excited, and about 2 hours later he was rudely woken up by his wife jumping up and down on the bed yelling "we're at Disney!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

all was right in the world.

 

[Suellen]

I'm in!!

 

[Missyrose]

As a newbie Desperado, I can't wait to hear all about your laid-back trip!

 

[TruBlu]

Arrg! Bring on the trip with no plans!!

 

[Pineapple Whip]

Swan / Dolphin = Sheraton / Westin = amazing friggin beds! I drool when I think of sleeping in one. Any Desperado would have a hard time not sleeping in when at the Swan or Dolphin.

By the way, we were right across from you when we stayed there and I can see our room from your picture. Thanks for the memories. This is still one of my favorite places in WDW to photograph. Also, the rooms look exactly the same inside. Here's a shot from across the street.

 

[tinkerbells mum]

i'm in, really looking forward to hearing about a totaly laid back trip. we're off in 7 months and i'm torn between a minute by minute plan or totally go with the flow!! there will be 8 of us and i'm not sure if i can face organising 8 (including one who becomes a teenager whilst we are there!!) for 3 weeks!! loved the wedding photos xx

 

[jaci-h]

Hi friends! Just got back from a weekend visiting in laws... DH decided to tell them over lunch that my new nickname is Pirate Queen. and now they think I'm completely insane...

...they're not to far off, anyway.

I have parent-teacher night at school here in a couple hours and after that I will treat you all to my next installment!!!

Complete with me getting sick at Epcot and that causing a "double nap" first day.

Thanks for subbing!

 

[TruBlu]

Boo for getting sick.

Yay for double naps!!!

 

[nessz79]

Subscribing and looking forward to more!

 

[dsnygrl377]

Can't wait to hear more about your trip!! I like to go too, and have no plans and just go with the flow. Thanks for sharing with us!!

 

[reelmom]

The title of your TR almost made me have a heart attack? I am one of the ones with a touring plan made before I even have a trip planned, make ADR's 180 days in advance, and get slightly(ok, extremely) irritated when DH tries to change the plans. BTW, he has only done that once. He's a pretty smart man and catches on quick. Seriously, I am not quite that bad but close. I am interested in how you do a trip with no plans attached, midday naps, and no maps. Looking forward to reading and maybe finding ways to relax scared1 a little more at WDW.

 

[jaci-h]

So, since we hadn't had a single thing to eat since 6am that morning, we were starving by the time we made it to the room. In the car, DH kept saying "Oh! there's a McDonalds... lets stop!". and being the evil DW I told him to hold his horses and wait til we made it to Disney to eat!

He was glad I forced him to wait

He was so hungry, he refused to stop and wait for me to take a darn picture of the Dolphin. Hence him basically running in the direction of food.

and we ended up here:

It was cute. and sit down! and pretty inexpensive. and their kids menus were the little slide goggle things. (WHY?! Can't I think of the name!) and DH wanted one. But was too hungry to even think about asking for one.

We ordered the same thing. a well done burger with bacon, cheddar, and topped off with sauteed onions.

and its somewhat scary to admit, but we accidentally ordered a full order of fries. Fit for like 12 people. Ok, maybe four! and I didn't get a picture because I was so ashamed of the size and somewhat anxious of being judged because we ate almost the entire BASKET!

DH was happy.

after exploring the Dolphin and scoping out where the lounges/bars were in the Swolphin area... it was time.

FOR NAP NUMBER ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



so we went back to our freezing room. and pulled back the blankets and flat sheet(s) and snuggled up on our respective sides of the bed... which for some reason was opposite of our normal sleeping placement at home.

Not gonna lie... we didn't really snuggle with each other. We snuggled with the heavenly bed we were sleeping in. AND the layers of sheets & blankets (why on earth did we need two seperate layers of flat sheets?) were perfect because the room was so cold.

Best nap of my life.
or, should I say... best series of naps of my life!

 

[jaci-h]

Arrg! Bring on the trip with no plans!!

Arrrrrrr!

Swan / Dolphin = Sheraton / Westin = amazing friggin beds! I drool when I think of sleeping in one. Any Desperado would have a hard time not sleeping in when at the Swan or Dolphin.

By the way, we were right across from you when we stayed there and I can see our room from your picture. Thanks for the memories. This is still one of my favorite places in WDW to photograph. Also, the rooms look exactly the same inside. Here's a shot from across the street.

Woah... LOVE the view of DHS from the Dolphin. and that's a great pic. I really do love those hotels. If we do become DVC members, we'll have to remind ourselves to book a night or two at the Swolphin during annivs. They really are lovely, upscale and a nice grownup break from the busy-ness of disney

i'm in, really looking forward to hearing about a totaly laid back trip. we're off in 7 months and i'm torn between a minute by minute plan or totally go with the flow!! there will be 8 of us and i'm not sure if i can face organising 8 (including one who becomes a teenager whilst we are there!!) for 3 weeks!! loved the wedding photos xx

In my opinion, a minute by minute touring plan will usually be thrown to the wind. You might as well accept that at take Disney as it comes.

The title of your TR almost made me have a heart attack? I am one of the ones with a touring plan made before I even have a trip planned, make ADR's 180 days in advance, and get slightly(ok, extremely) irritated when DH tries to change the plans. BTW, he has only done that once. He's a pretty smart man and catches on quick. Seriously, I am not quite that bad but close. I am interested in how you do a trip with no plans attached, midday naps, and no maps. Looking forward to reading and maybe finding ways to relax scared1 a little more at WDW.

LOL. Don't have a heart attack. I honestly believe in relaxation ONLY vacations. If my trip stresses me out, whats the point?! I'm taking a vacation to lengthen my lifespan and remove work stress from my routine for a week or two No way am I gonna stress about touring plans and forgetting something.

Relaaax. All the cool vacationers are doing it.

 

[LisaKeys]

I'm in - looking forward to your TR's!