Three Princesses and a June Trip to Disney World with pics, Final Update Aug 11th

[SnoopyDancer]

We did have some extra special magic which I will not spoil here and tell you about....read along to see!

WooHoo! Can't wait to here about it!

 

[momtoccc]

I would like to read this one too - sounds great!!

 

[twob4him]

Well I'm a little late to the party, but I'm here before your trippie begins. Can't wait to hear about your trip!

Hi Duck!!! Glad you made it!!! It's actually taken me longer to start due to loading 200+ pics into photobucket but, an installment is eminent!!!

WooHoo! Can't wait to here about it!

Hi Snoopy!! Thanks for reading...an installment is below!

I would like to read this one too - sounds great!!

Hi Momtoccc! Thanks for coming along!

 

[twob4him]

Day 0 – The Night Before Our Trip​

Hello all! I just want to thank you all for coming along on our much anticipated trip to Disney World. I sure hope you don’t get sick of pictures cause it just took me two days to load all 200+ into Photobucket!!!

So our saga begins…here’s a brief flashback to the day or so before we left! We are at the beach and Belle doesn’t appear one bit sick, right?

Below describes the discovery of one sick baby. Skip it if you want to and go onto the Rest of Sunday part below:

One Sick Baby:

Early Sunday morning, around 3 am, I discover Belle in our bed tossing and turning. She felt a little hot so I got up and took her temperature. It was 103 F and I wanted to freak out! She has only been sick with a fever twice this year and it’s a Sunday, the day before our Disney vacation. You know the one in which we declined trip insurance, and poor little Belle is sick, sick , sick!! I give her Motrin and the fever lowers…good.

In the morning, I call the local Urgent Care (cheaper than the emergency room and just as good) and they take her at 9:30 am. No ear infection, no throat problems. Hmmmmm???? Maybe a UTI?? I somehow get 2 yr old Belle to pee on the potty (TMI??? Sorry) and collect a sample. Sure enough, it’s an UTI. I breath a sigh of relief because they are treatable and recovery time is minimal in my experience once you take the antibiotics. I was so afraid it was going to be some random virus and she would be sick for a week!!! OK, next stop, the pharmacy. I pick up the Rx and some donuts for the morning and go home. I try to give little Belle her medication and promptly receive it back all over the floor. Yup and yuck! Ok we try again…same result and she is crying poor thing. I give her more Tylenol with similar results and tuck her into bed for a nap. After a bit I take her temp again and it’s down. She wakes up happy and acts like nothing is wrong. I get her to eat a little and drink.

Meanwhile the rest of Sunday :

Now today is Father’s Day! And despite the early morning trauma, we try to make sure Dad is happy too! I think he mowed the lawn (and our neighbors lawn) and watered the gardens and readied things around the house….you know typical dad stuff! However, the afternoon was filled with dad resting and the kids resting, some lunch in there somewhere and mom running around like a nut trying to get everything done!!!! Hahahahaha!! Luckily I had most things packed and readied ahead of time or else I wouldn’t have been ready at all!

In late afternoon, I finished packing last minute items and switched over important stuff from my purse to my fanny pack. Now I know the trip is close! The excitement is most definitely building! We are going to Disney!!! However the anxiousness over Belle builds too. The kids watch some Disney movies while DH loads the suitcases, except one, into the car and I make dinner….spaghetti and meatballs, veggies, dinner rolls and DH’s favorite … ice cream cake! We give him his Dad’s Day gifts, which included a new shirt and an underwater camera! Yaaaa! Now we can take pics at the pool!

Soon it’s time for Belle’s next dose….but I am wiser now and give it to her in the bathtub. Once again it goes down then up. How am I going to get this Rx in her? And keep her hydrated especially in the heat? By 7 pm her fever is back and I give her Motrin…course she refuses to take it and I try for half-hour. When I do get some in her it comes back. I hate when my kids are sick….I feel ….I don’t have a word to describe the angst….I feel horrible too.

We get everyone clean, talk about Disney for awhile and put the Princesses to bed around 8 pm with visions of Mickey Mouse dancing around a beautiful castle. We set three different alarms (3:45 am) so I don’t lay awake wondering if the alarm clock will work. I keep reminding myself that our trip is finally here after all of the waiting and planning and countdowns and talking about it. I Dis a little and write the final installment of my pre-trip report. Then around 9 pm I climb into bed. When we wake up, it will be our big Disney Trip Day 1!!!!!!! Yahoooottty!!!!!


Sooo, do we get up early and what about Belle….is she better or not???? Guess you’ll have to wait for the next installment…..

 

[LurrrvtheDuck]

Day 0 – The Night Before Our Trip​

Hello all! I just want to thank you all for coming along on our much anticipated trip to Disney World. I sure hope you don’t get sick of pictures cause it just took me two days to load all 200+ into Photobucket!!!

Yeah you've started! Yes the loading of pictures to photobucket takes awhile. I have 1,000+ pics from my Disney trip in April. Imagine 3 cameras and I'm a scrapbooker so I'm taking pics of signs and stuff. It's hard to pic and choose which ones to put in the TR.

BTW absolutely Lurrrv the pic of your 3 Princesses in your siggie. They're so cute.

 

[Goofyluver]

Poor baby belle!!! I do hope that she feels better!

 

[praisehisname]

Wow, I can't believe you're back already (you probably can't, either)! I'm really looking forward to reading all about your trip.

Denise

 

[DisneyJo]

And, and, and???? Don't leave us hanging Cathy

 

[twob4him]

Yeah you've started! Yes the loading of pictures to photobucket takes awhile. I have 1,000+ pics from my Disney trip in April. Imagine 3 cameras and I'm a scrapbooker so I'm taking pics of signs and stuff. It's hard to pic and choose which ones to put in the TR.

BTW absolutely Lurrrv the pic of your 3 Princesses in your siggie. They're so cute.

Wow I wish I could have taken that many! But I was limited and had my hands full. Maybe our next trip??? I want to go during the Flower and Garden Festival....mmmmmm, how do I get off of work???

Poor baby belle!!! I do hope that she feels better!

Well Goof I could tell you but then I would have to banish you No seriously, she turns out just a-ok soon enough!

Wow, I can't believe you're back already (you probably can't, either)! I'm really looking forward to reading all about your trip.

Denise

Oh noooo, one week was quite enough time to wear ourselves out!!!

And, and, and???? Don't leave us hanging Cathy

I know don't you hate the cliff-hangers? I will finish it today after Belle's follow-up doctor's appointment!

 

[30ishmom]

Your girls are so cute--looking forward to reading your TR!!

Poor Belle! Hope she feels better!!

 

[MeMom]

200, 400, 600...we could never get tired of pictures. They're what keeps us going! Bring them on!

 

[NJ2Boardwalk]

Hello fellow new jerseyan!!! where abouts are you located? cute kids...oh and waiting for the next installment.

 

[twob4him]

Your girls are so cute--looking forward to reading your TR!!

Poor Belle! Hope she feels better!!

Welcome 30ishmom!! Thanks so much! Believe me I was hoping and praying on this trip myself!!!

200, 400, 600...we could never get tired of pictures. They're what keeps us going! Bring them on!

Funny memom...I love pics myself...and next time hopefully I won't have my hands so full and can take lots more!!!

Hello fellow new jerseyan!!! where abouts are you located? cute kids...oh and waiting for the next installment.

Hello Boardwalk! I am all the way south in NJ in a little place called Cape May but I used to live sort of near you in Denville. I taught in Rockaway! Yes, I am posting an update next!

 

[milouster]

Hello Boardwalk! I am all the way south in NJ in a little place called Cape May but I used to live sort of near you in Denville. I taught in Rockaway! Yes, I am posting an update next! [/QUOTE]

Just had to say....I love Cape May! Dh's family owns a shore house in Mannahawkin so we come up for a week every summer. We usually make a trip down to the Cape May Zoo and/or Cape May at some point during the week each year.

Melissa

 

[twob4him]

Day 1 – Getting to Disney World and Settling In​

Hi everyone! If you like details, you’ll like this one!

I woke up at midnight and checked on Belle. She was hot again. I tried to give her Motrin and waited till the temp subsided. I slept next to her until about 3:30 am. Good enough! Let’s get this show on the road…it’s Disney Day folks!!! Whaaahoootttyyyy!!! I showered, dressed and got ready. Then Grumpy went next….he’s quick! We woke up Elizabeth and Cindy since their alarm malfunctioned. They dressed. However Belle was still sick with a fever. Grumpy and I were really chickening out at this point….I knew she would be better soon but I felt terrible moving her. All the while my brain was asking “How could this be happening?????” I was overwhelmed and, realizing this, my sensible self kicked in. Take everything in small steps. Small steps I repeated to myself. Ok, step one, get some Motrin into Belle. I did and she threw up 5 min later. Step two, lift baby with blankets and jammies and simply put her in the car. She can sleep to the airport and I can dress her there. OK we did that. Everyone else was up and happy and excited! Good focus on the positive and take small steps….we are going to Disney!! (repeat ten times). Our drive to the airport went well and we talked about what was going to happen when we got to the airport. Step 3, when we arrived I dressed Belle and put her in the stroller with a towel/blanket. As Grumpy parked the car, we waited curbside with the luggage. The sun was just rising and it was so pretty out.

People were looking at us…hmmmmmm?

Must be the decorated the stroller with LGMHs and a sign about the Dis hanging on it. I just smiled at everyone! Yes, people, we are on our way to Disney! We somehow got three kids, and 4 carry-ons, and 4 filled bags of luggage into line and checked ourselves in. No problems there! We got in line for the TSA check. Darn, we have to get poor little Belle out of the stroller. We put our shoes, fanny packs, 4 carryons and folded stroller through the machine and I held Belle through the walk-thru metal detector. Grumpy, Cindy and Elizabeth walked through fine. I had to put Belle down for a sec to gather stuff off of the conveyor belt and that’s when it happened…yup…right there on the wood floor…Belle tossed her cookies yet again …actually it was just water since she hadn’t eaten. Fortunately I had that towel blanket and TSA handed me paper towels. It wasn’t much and somehow she missed her clothes and shoes….good girl Belle! You are getting to be a pro at this!!!


We got to the gate unscathed and I bought a bottle of water for the flight. I wasn’t feeling so hot at this point and I really questioned the wisdom of vacationing at all…really who’s idea was this to go to Disney??? I really needed a miracle at this point. Belle slept in the stroller whilst we chatted quietly and made a few bathroom runs. Then they called our flight. We got on the airplane and found our seats. Belle woke up and was all smiles again. Our miracle occurred! Yaaaaa!!! We colored and played quiet games during the 2.5 hour flight and by the end I was feeling better too.

When we disembarked at MCO early (8:40 am), we hit the bathrooms and were all smiles! We are here…in Florida!!! We picked up our luggage after riding the mini-monorail. The girls loved that! A very nice man with a luggage cart was right there to help us and we went right to Magical Express Check In. Grumpy stayed with the luggage and I took the girls with me. Everyone was calling them princesses, which made me laugh cause it was the name of our trip. Just look at the sign on the back of the stroller! I checked in and since we had our own luggage, it only took moments. I was directed to the red carpet and line #6, I think. I saw Grumpy outside by the ME busses. We would have to wait 15 min for a bus. No problem I thought. The nice CM asked where everyone was from. I began distributing snacks to keep everyone happy when the CM said we could all go on the Saratoga Springs bus which was leaving in just a few moments. Wow, such magic already!

So out we go onto a bus with just three other families. We stop at a different place for each: Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, Port Orleans French Quarter and finally us…Port Orleans Riverside.

Since we were the only ones I didn’t rush to check-in. We actually stored our luggage until we found out about our room. So the resort was just beautiful and very lush with vegetation!

There was a long line in the lobby which I got into for a moment. I realized it was for check-out not check-in! It was early, around 10 am, so that made sense. I go to the check in counter and a nice CM is there to help. We exchange info and I ask if it is possible to get a room right away. Though I requested Alligator Bayou, it was much more important to have a room for poor sick little Belle. Her fever was back and she just needed to sleep. The CM said rooms in AB were all booked and wouldn’t be available till late. We instead got Oak Manor, 2nd floor but there is an elevator so it was ok. Off we go…and its hot out…really blazing ….but the resort is sooo pretty. We cross onto Old Man Island to see the pool…definitely on our list of things to do today!

We cross another bridge and easily find our way to our room. I was so excited it was a corner rooms with two windows. Here is our door which I decorated but forgot to take a pic. And our view from the balcony looking both ways.

Look how pretty!

I put little Belle down to rest in the middle of the bed and tried to give her medicine. She threw up and went to sleep. While she was resting, we called Bell Services about our luggage...they brought it right up. We also got a pack and play and some extra towels and blankets. We were all set! And hungry!!

Here is our room...notice poor sleeping Belle! We had a towel animal (the only one of the trip) but two pretty windows:

I think I am going to run out of space here due to pics...so let me post this and I will continue in the post below.....keep reading

 

[DisneyJo]

Awww poor Belle, great room though, POR is beautiful isn't it

 

[twob4him]

Day 1 continued from post above!!!​

It was 11 am by this time so Cindy, Liz (Elizabeth) and I headed to check out the resort’s Riverside Mill. It was decorated with lots of wood and beams on the ceiling and the huge wheel outside turned an axle which turned another wheel high up on the ceiling! There were different seating areas so we picked one near the kid’s play table and TV overlooking the water.

The girls got mac and cheese, applesause, carrots, and grapes. I got a turkey sandwich and fries and cookie. Mine was just ok…nothing to write home about. The cookie was yummy and the girls enjoyed their stuff. We refilled our cups twice and filled up once before we left. Grumpy made an executive decision not to get the refillable mug. Why? Well to walk all the way over to refill station was ridiculous. I could see having one at All-Star Resort where you walk past the machine everytime you go to your room but here, it was way out of the way. So no mug, no constant refills! No soup for you!

Now meanwhile, Grumpy was in touch with his friend, John, who was arriving soon! He bringing us a case of water and milk for Belle. He also splurged and brought the girls presents like fans and stuffed animals etc. So sweet! When we got back to the room, John arrived soon thereafter, and he and Grumpy went to eat whilst us girls unwound and rested. Belle was still asleep. When the "boys" came back we talked awhile, got everyone in their swim suits (except Belle and I) and off to the pool they went. It was around 2pm by now.

Belle woke up shortly after they leave and is rested and happy and no fever. She wonders where everyone is and I say "at the pool". She wanted to go to so I got changed and met everyone at the pool. I brought squirt guns and a blow-up pool ring. Big hit! I played with Belle on the steps while the four of them battled it out with the guns….hahahaha. Cindy and dad played awhile and then I wanted a pic of Elizabeth and Cindy coming down the slide. Well, Grumpy came down first and I clicked and got his pic. However, I forgot to forward the film and missed the pic anyways of the two girls…..darn camera! Hahahaha, the girls didn’t want to go again and since it was nearing 3:15 we wanted to get out anyway.

(Now unfortunately, I dont have the pool pics developed and put on a disc yet so I will post them eventually. Check back!)

We rinsed off at the outdoor shower and headed back to the room. Somehow everyone changed and we were back at the boat dock by 4 pm. That’s 6 people getting ready in 1/2 hour. Know I know that is only due to Disney Pixie dust!! We wait maybe 5 minutes and snap a few pics and jump on the boat.

The girls stayed right in the stroller and we sat in the benches. The captain was so anxious about traveling with children on board. Every 5 minutes he was saying don’t let the kids get near the sides etc. He was referring to Elizabeth, who was 9 and not about to jump overboard. We stopped at French Quarter and moved onto DownTown Disney all in about ½ hour. We passed by what they called “tree houses” which house some of the college workers. They looked small and a little bit run-down….however, perfect for rowdy college kids who were 20 yrs old!!! Once we docked at DTD, I tried to make it over to Bibidy Bobidy Boutique to see if Tim and Lesley were still there. They had had a 4 pm appointment but we didn’t get there till close to 5 pm. I looked around but I didn’t see them….darn I missed my first Dis meet.

We wondered around until 5 :20 pm. I bought a lanyard for work and some earrings. Liz scored some earrings too! We also penny pressed and got something to drink at a stand. It was still pretty hot out and clouds were gathering in the distance. We found our way back to the bus stop to get a bus to the Poly. Cindy fell asleep on the bus and little Belle was happy as a clam. Without the fever she was fine as there were no other side effects, like you would have with the flu or bad cold. My mantra the whole week was “drink drink drink even if you aren’t thirsty cause by then its too late”. That and “put on more sunscreen! “(I turned into an annoying yet loving mom)


We arrive at the Poly. Wow!! It is delicously deluxe and tropical and we just had to stop and take pics.

We browsed the lobby, took a few more pics, since we were early for our ADR and then made our way upstairs to Ohana’s.

While everyone made potty runs I checked us in. They gave me a buzzer/blinking device. I heard people coming up after me trying to get in.…they said sure if you want to come back in three hours at 9 pm. One guy asked me how long I was told I would wait. I said about 15 min cause we had reservations. He looked surprised as if he had never heard of making dining reservations. I silently shook my head. (I seriously think most people arrive at Disney without one stinkin plan or reservation. They do no research and haven’t a clue. I am sure these are the same people who complain about Disney too.) Oh well. I always recommend the Dis if people ask. More about this later.

I walked around with Belle and pointed out the water fall below and suddenly our gaget went off. Well that was only like a 5 minute wait. Since we had Cindy still asleep in the stroller I just pushed it right into Ohanas. We walked back and I see a beautiful large table in the corner right next to the windows overlooking the lake and MK in the background. I think, is that our table, is that our table????? Yaaaaaaa she is heading right for it! Score!!!! We get a great view!

(OK I think I need to switch to another post again....just keep scrolling down the page...still on Day 1)

 

[twob4him]

Day 1 continued more from the two posts above!​

We explain the dining plan to our waiter since there are 6 of us but 4 on the DDP and one not (John) and one kid sleeping anyways. Hahahaha. They bring us our drinks. I ordered a much talked about Lapu Lapu and John gets some tropical drink that came with a back scratcher in it. We laughed about that one.

Well, that Lapu is one strong drink. I only had maybe 4 sips…I know…I am a dissappointing light-weight when it comes to drinking. If they would of put a little more juice and a little less rum I probably could have handled it. Oh well…live and learn. I stuck with ice tea and soda the rest of the trip. Then the food starts coming. They serve it family style at your table….and I must say everything was fabulous and tasty and something I will never forget. Just absolutely divine. Here we are enjoying ourselves!

Now, those clouds I mentioned earlier??? Well, as we were eating, the thunder rang out and the skys opened up and drenched everything for a 3/4 hour. Course we didn’t mind since we were eating and eating and eating. Oh did I mention the dessert??? Oh my..it was this banana sauce over this cake with bananas and ice cream…..my oh my oh my….too bad I was sooooo full. It was so delightful. Just before dessert, little Cindy wakes up. I saved her a little bit of everything and she sat on my lap and ate too!

So we rolled out of the Poly and right onto the monorail. I didn’t bother to ask to ride up front. With the stroller and 6 people we would have had to split up anyway. We got off at the MK and snapped a few pics. The rain just stopped and it was so clean smelling and summery out. The sun set and it was a beautiful night.

We were tired though (remember the adults have been up since 3:30 am) and it was about 7 pm, so home we went via the bus. We got seats everytime and never had to wait for a bus more then 5-10 minutes except twice on the whole trip. Course we avoided busy times like park closing so maybe that’s why. We walked back to our room at POR and said our good-byes to John who was driving back to his hotel off-site. Tomorrow he was off to visit relatives.

I tried to give Belle more RX and she threw up. That’s it….I am not giving her anymore….its too strong or something and its not helping her get better if she isn’t keeping it down. We got ready for bed and I would say we were all asleep by 8:30 pm. And that folks, was our first day in Disney. It started out pretty rough but ended as sweetly as that dessert!



Next up, Day Two – Magic Kingdom Day with Early Magic Hours.

 

[kdzbear]

I just finished reading day 1 and I love your trip report! I can't wait to read more!

 

[twob4him]

Hello Boardwalk! I am all the way south in NJ in a little place called Cape May but I used to live sort of near you in Denville. I taught in Rockaway! Yes, I am posting an update next!

Just had to say....I love Cape May! Dh's family owns a shore house in Mannahawkin so we come up for a week every summer. We usually make a trip down to the Cape May Zoo and/or Cape May at some point during the week each year.

Melissa[/QUOTE]

Melissa that is so cool! Maybe I'll see you this summer??? I love our free little zoo! Not quite Animal Kingdom but it has lots of different animals!

Awww poor Belle, great room though, POR is beautiful isn't it

Jo it was more than I expected and we really enjoyed our stay!

I just finished reading day 1 and I love your trip report! I can't wait to read more!

Welcome kdzbear! Glad to have you joining us! I will try to keep going steadily since I am home and not working!