The Secret Spring 2011 WDW Expedition PTR

[Therinian]

This is my FIRST-EVER PTR!

* Who is in your party:

Our party consists of me and my 3 sons, A (6 y.o.), B (17 y.o.) , and C (9 y.o.); my husband has (wisely!) elected to remain at home to work overtime and help take care of his mother.

* Your travel dates:

April 24 (Easter!) – May 2

* Where are you staying:

Super 8 in Kissimmee; no fancy frills on this vacation (this time!).

* What Advanced Dining Reservations you have made (if any):

We’re having lunch at the Crystal Palace on Saturday, April 30.

* Do you have a set itinerary?

Oh, yes, indeedy!

WDW SCHEDULE

Sunday (4/24)
- Arrive @ Train Station: 4:30 p.m.
- Board Amtrak train
- Depart @ 5:20 p.m.

Monday (4/25)
- Arrive in Orlando @ 1 p.m.
- Get rental car
- Lunch @ KIDS CHOICE
- Stop for food/drink supplies
- Go to hotel
- Unpack & Unwind
- Dinner @ Captain Cook’s Snacks
- 9:00 p.m. Electrical Water Pageant
- 10:00 p.m. Magic Kingdom Fireworks

Tuesday (4/26)
#ANIMAL KINGDOM
- Depart hotel @ 7:00 a.m.
- Lunch @ Flame Tree BBQ or Picnic in the Park
- Return to hotel after lunch
- Dinner @ Mara (Animal Kingdom Lodge)

Wednesday (4/27)
#EPCOT
- Depart hotel @ 8:00 a.m.
- Lunch @ Sunshine Season Grill
- Return to hotel after lunch
- Return to Epcot @ 6 p.m.
- Light Dinner/Dessert @ The Electric Umbrella
- Get spots for Illuminations @ 8:30 p.m.

Thursday (4/28)
#EPCOT
- Depart hotel @ 8:00 a.m.
- Late Lunch/Early Dinner @ World Showcase
- Return to hotel after lunch
- Campfire Sing-a-Long @ 7:30 p.m. AND FREE Movie: “Monsters Inc.” @ 8:30 p.m. @ Fort Wilderness

Friday (4/29)
#MAGIC KINGDOM
- Depart Hotel at 7 a.m.
- Lunch @ Starlight Ray’s Café
- Walk over to the Contemporary Marina to see: 3:47 p.m. Space Shuttle Endeavour Launch
- Return to hotel after launch
- Dinner @ Old Town
- WASH LAUNDRY

Saturday (4/30)
#MAGIC KINGDOM
- Depart hotel @ 7 a.m.
- 2:20 p.m. Lunch @ Crystal Palace
- Return to hotel after lunch
- Dinner @ All Stars Movies Resort

Sunday (5/01)
- Early morning swim?
- Check out @ 10 a.m.
- Dry any wet items
- Go to Downtown Disney
- Lunch @ KIDS CHOICE
- Depart Downtown Disney @ 3 p.m.
- Stop for food supplies
- Go to train station @ 5 p.m.
- Return rental car
- Board train & depart @ 7 p.m.
- Dinner on train??

Monday (5/02)
- Breakfast on Train
- Lunch on train
- Arrive at home @ 5 p.m.

* Any special plans, events, etc. that you have planned:

April 30th is A’s 7th birthday, so we are having a character lunch at Crystal Palace. This way, in case we DON’T get a chance to see any characters in the parks, we can see a few here.

We are meeting up with my Florida relatives on Wednesday evening, who have booked the same hotel, so we'll spend the remaining days in the parks with them.

The kids and I are taking a train to our destination; it’s the FIRST TIME any of us have travelled via Amtrak, but I do know there will be LOADS of stops. C is a train enthusiast, so this should be a real treat for him!

I am completely packed for this trip; I have the park passes, train tickets, reservation information, my camera, all bags ready (and tagged with special tags made from a photo I took last summer!), and a slew of snacks for the trip.

There’s just one thing: A and C DON’T KNOW ABOUT THIS TRIP AT ALL!

I have planned and packed (starting in February) for this week-long excursion right under the noses of my two youngest sons—and only my husband (who’s funding this expedition), B, and all of our other relatives know anything about it. I'm surprised no one has said anything to them, but grateful it's still under wraps. We’re going to spring the news to the little guys on Easter… the day we leave for Florida!

 

[mrssmith06]

What a fun Easter surprise this will be!!

 

[Therinian]

I went to the local Disney Store today and picked up A and C's Disney gift cards. This is so much better than giving them actual cash!

Yesterday, I saw most of my extended family at a birthday party (my husband, A and C were camping with Cub Scouts), and the relatives were amazed that the little guys still are clueless about this trip. I'm still scratching my head about it, too; the kids have been in my bedroom many times and not once has anyone asked about the 6 full bags (with luggage tags attached!) sitting in plain sight.

I also secretly purchased "Voyage of the Dawn Treader", "Tangled" and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1", to watch on the long train ride. So at this point, we have everything ready... except the big reveal.

I'm not sure what to think about the weather, because I've not experienced inclement weather in Florida any time in the last 3 times I've been down there (2008, 2009, 2010), but maybe the rain-showers won't last all day?

 

[Therinian]

Others say they mean well, but it's challenging to keep my patience in check when they offer "helpful" comments about my upcoming holiday. I have three VERY different boys, and know each of them well. The only one who is causing me to have second... third... eighth thoughts about this is A. But, B and I have a plan in place in an attempt to keep the stress to low levels.

However, some have taken it upon themselves to insinuate (and/or actually say!) TO ME that:

A) I won't be able to handle my kids without my husband--because he's a man and therefore can get the kids in line faster than I can. Uh... Have they met me and my kids? I frighten the three of them MUCH MORE than my husband, because they know what to expect from dad--a smack on the back of the head and a few loud words; with me, it's a grab bag, and they never know if they're going to pull out a stern talking to... or GatorMom, who will grab them and do a death roll.

B) I need to keep an eye on them when on the train or in the parks--as though I don't watch the boys EVER and each has once had their face on milk cartons.

C) I don't know how to: book a hotel, rent a car, or drive on the highway in Florida, because I have never travelled ANYWHERE and am completely stupid.

D) They don't understand that some of the stuff I utter (verbally or on social networks) is actually said jokingly and therefore doesn't require an condescending answer. Can I vent without comments from the peanut gallery?!

Honestly, I just want to watch the kids have a good time and show them places they may really dig; I get the feeling some people are making their comments because they are either bored or jealous.

 

[Therinian]

But I have been busy, I swear! I've got 6 days left until the Florida vacation, and have almost finished packing The thing is: I have to pack for 3 people: myself, of course, and two of my sons--who have NO IDEA we're going anywhere. Do you know how hard it is to sneak clothes into a suitcase and then have to listen to a frustrated child whine that he can't find the thing you've packed? I have to go into my room and "find" the item they're looking for, with some excuse as to how it got there. Packing for a surprise trip is difficult, LOL.

I phoned the hotel to ask to change our reservation from 4 nights to 6 nights. They made an oops and have me staying 7 nights, but I hope to fix that upon check in, as nothing has been charged to my credit card yet. We originally planned on staying at my cousin's place, but now that I have two extra people in my party, it's impolite to ask her to make sleeping arrangements for everyone.

I've picked up the train tickets (all four), got a few of the snacks and drinks, changed the dining reservations to include extra people, and collaborated with B on our packing list. He made up a nice check-list for me and even helped shop for a few things.

A bit of backstory:

My oldest son, B, is not known for doing outrageous things, so imagine my surprise when he asked if he could go to Florida with his brothers and I.

He overheard hubby and I talking about tickets and asked what it was for. I said nothing, because his brothers were present. When we were alone, he asked me if he could come along, because he surmised my conversation with my husband meant train tickets to Florida. I was taken back a little, but B presented some good arguments: 1) He was going to be 18 soon and would like to go on one last vacation as a "kid" with his mom... 2) He could help me manage his brothers... 3) He would talk to his teachers himself and ask for work to do on vacation... 4) He has not visited Walt Disney World in 9 years.

I had my own arguments: 1) Hubby was probably not going to like paying another $400 for a train ticket AND a park pass... 2) His vacation was NOT the same week... 3) I don't think he really deserves it, since he has to go to summer school AGAIN.

But, as his mother, I really WOULD like to have him along. This *has* gone beyond just a simple trip to visit a cousin and her new baby; this is about spending time with my own kids--just myself, with no husband, grandparents, etc. I'm so wrapped up in what *I* like on a daily basis, that I forget what it's like to be a kid, or to get to know the boys beyond what I see during the few hours I'm with them each day. It's an opportunity for them to get to know me too, beyond the short-tempered, screaming shrew they live with. Take school and chores out of the picture, then maybe (hopefully) things will be more happy, relaxed.

As far as B is concerned, we both know that we don't spend a lot of time with each other, especially since his brothers have come into the picture. I'm a sentimental fool here, but after July 15, when he turns 18, things will probably change, (although not right away); he was offered to live with his grandparents, so may take that opportunity. I say I can't wait for him to leave, but say that when I'm ticked off at him (which seems to be often, lately). Really, though, I would like for him to stay until he gets his high school diploma--whenever that is.

So I mentioned to my husband that B wanted to talk to him about Florida. My husband is no dummy; he knew what B wanted, but stated B had to be the one to ask him about it. I told B this, and he balked at the demand; he was certain that his stepdad was going to say no. I also told B that if he doesn't ask, he'll never know the answer and will always wonder about it.

My husband wasn't thrilled about the prospect of shelling out more money, but agreed to pay for B to come with me. He had conditions for both of us, however: he told me that any other big vacations were probably out for the rest of the year; day trips would be the most we'd do. He instructed Billy to get a part-time job. These terms are reasonable, I think.

 

[Therinian]

I know this is out of chronological order, but this is an entry from my on-line journal; it's when I first talked about (in February) going to Walt Disney World:

My husband promised me months ago that he would send me to Florida for my cousin's shower, but we were really low on funds around the time it happened. We decided to wait until after she gave birth, but then I went and changed the game plan (as I usually do); I wanted to take C with me and visit Walt Disney World during the last days of our Florida vacation. ONE I don't want to impose on my cousin for more than a day or two because of the new baby + exhaustion + cramped quarters, and TWO C deserves it; he's been struggling so much in school with being bullied (that issue was addressed; the bully has left the school), writing and organizing his thoughts (several school staff members and I had a meeting about it and came up with a game plan), but has been doing better in reading (his tutor says he still has slight difficulties, but has definitely improved since January), so why not take him with me? I planned on riding a train, which he LOVES... "The experience will be good for him!" I thought.

"Why does everything you do turn into some big Broadway production?" my husband wondered aloud once.

"Because I'm a star, baby--and you people need to be reminded of that," I said jokingly, but part of me seriously believes that.

But I spent my hard-earned money on two tickets to Walt Disney World FOUR YEARS AGO, when I thought we were going in 2007. I bought those tickets, therefore (my) logic follows that I should be able to use them! They are, by the way, still good.

I booked a hotel room and reserved a meal in Magic Kingdom, as well as the rental car, while I waited for our tax refund money (which was later than expected) to buy the Amtrak tickets.

In the mean time, I agonized over whether or not to bring A with us, because he's so naughty, that I am still not sure which of us will have a meltdown while waiting in line for "It's a Small World". In the end, however, two things factored heavily on my decision to bring him with C and I: 1) It would be unfair for my husband to take a week's vacation just to stay home with A, and 2) A's 7th birthday occurs when we are on vacation; it's rude to leave him at home and have fun on HIS special day.

The funny part about this? Neither boy knows they are going to Florida--and by train. Ask them what they want to do for their Spring Break and you'll hear them say "Go to the Herr's Factory!" or "Go to Hersheypark!". While I don't doubt that those things would be SO MUCH easier to get to--and be less expensive all around, I really want to do this; I really want to take those boys to the place they've been dreaming about since 2006. And this time, we aren't just going to Downtown Disney...

My husband and I are waiting until THE DAY WE LEAVE to tell them. Let me tell you, this is EXTREMELY difficult for me, for I have had trouble keeping travel secrets from them in the past. Sometimes, I just want to take them aside and let them in on the secret, to win Parent Points with them. I have a feeling their one of their cousins will blab before then, though.