TRIP INTERRUPTED - or V's Summer Vacation(s)

[scottny]

Good for Leo for trying all those new things. Seems like a wonderful day.

 

[askelton]

V, your mother sounds shockingly like my mother but what are we to do? They are our mothers. Way to go Leo with all his new experiences. Have fun at F & W and be sure to try everything in France. Wonderful!

 

[puggymom]

Yeah LEO!!!!!! you are growing up. AWW V he is still such a cutie and I just want to pinch those cheeks.

Um, your Mom thought by taking a balnket it would wake you?

Hope traffic wasn't too bad going home.

Can't wait to hear the rest of your trip interuppted.

 

[KimAshton]

OMG Leo is just too cute. If you ever want to take a break from him send him to NJ. LOL. Since I can return kids.

 

[Goofyluver]

SO...everyone under 60" can ride the slides??? Looks like I'm in for a slide ride!!!

 

[TEminnie]

Face down. Not moving.

Along with approximately 2/3 of the US population. Give or take a state. It was CROWDED.

Note to self--avoid this place. Never mind, not headed there in January anyway as it's too dang cold!

chill or I’d chuck his Fish Pizza in the shark tank.

Just tell him it's "fish cheese"!

Really?? In Florida? In August? With a hole in the ozone the size of Donald Trump’s ego?

I have the same thoughts in my head whilst traveling with my MIL!

hadn’t been blessed with a YOAMD prize beyond the stupid certificate in Dec. – despite a whopping 20 days at WDW since the beginning of the promotion

Well, it's been extended through 2008 so ya gotta keep coming back to try!



Looking forward to 2nd half!

 

[sharkB8HooHaHa]

I feel for Gramma and the AC issue, but I'm sorry she went passive-aggressive on you...I have one of those in my extended family. I think we all do.

Lovin' Leo's bravery this time around. Yup, they grow up too fast. And funny, those poses look a lot like what my 4 year old pulls when he's "surfing" on pillows in the living room . Cowabunga!

 

[princessjv]

V, you can check coasters and water slides off your list...you lil'l guy is growing all up on you!

I am sorry I missed you...You are probably sleeping...in WDW right now! Leave some pixie dust! I hope you 'win' a prize this time!

 

[PrincessAlways]

She hadn’t slept at all, and she was G R U M P Y. I asked why she didn’t adjust the AC temp?

“I didn’t know how.” Uh-huh, there’s two buttons – one goes up and the other goes down. It’s not rocket science.

“Well, why didn’t you ask me, then?” I asked next.

“I didn’t want to wake you guys up.”

Oh carp. There goes that passive-aggressive thing again.

“There was an extra blanket sitting at the end of the bed. Would that have helped?”

“I just SAID, I didn’t want to wake YOU guys up.”


THIS is what makes living with my mother so flippin’ challenging. But I have learned the best approach is to just ignore her and go about my business, so I did. But I also got to hear throughout the day how exhausted she was because she didn’t get any sleep.

On the drive home, Gramma kept complaining of being “scorched.” I couldn’t help myself…

“Well, not wearing sunscreen may have contributed to that.”

“It has nothing to do with sunscreen. The sun’s just really intense today.”

Really?? In Florida? In August? With a hole in the ozone the size of Donald Trump’s ego?

You don’t say.

I chose, once again, to ignore Gramma and instead concentrated on re-living all the magical moments of the long weekend.

Oh V....I just love those interactions with your Mom!! The conversations sound very very familiar!!! Guess we're all in the same boat!

When I found them, they were in water up to Gramma’s thighs and Leo was floating next to her. Face down. Not moving.
“Uh – is he okay?” I asked.
“Yep. He keeps coming back up for air.”
“WHAT is he doing??”
“Watching people’s legs underwater. He said it’s ‘cool’.”

Okaaaaaay…..

I think you said it all!! Kids!!! How funny!

 

[HomeschoolMama]

The stuff with your mom sounds familiar...

 

[PaMom001]

V, I've had similar conversations with my mom.

 

[LurrrvtheDuck]

Awww what a wonderful ending to a great weekend trip.

On Leo and conquering his fears!

You look fabulous dahling in that pic with Leo.

I know exactly how you feel with your Mom and I have recently learned the technique of ignoring with mine.

Can't wait to read about the continuation of your trip and I hope you continue it from there with your Food & Wine Fest trip.

 

[DisneyJo]

Hi V

 

[PrincessV]

Everyone, please forgive the lack of individual replies - it's a little hairy right now, trying to catch up on a whole bunch of stuff that's fallen behind. But, if you haven't already seen, I'm trying to make up for it with a mini-F&W Fest TR!

Many thanks for so many sharing that their mother/daughter relationships bare a striking resemblance to Gramma and I. Strength in numbers, right?!

Yes, I was super proud of Leo for stepping up and trying some new stuff. And yes, it was also super tough to realize he's not a baby any more.



I know it's Tuesday, but an update here just isn't gonna happen today. I'll aim for one by the end of the week, though!

 

[PrincessV]

After a 3ish-day long interruption for school and work, it was Friday, August 31 and Leo and I were psyched for Part II of our date with The Mouse. I’d taken the day off to clean, re-pack, grocery shop and do school work. Around noon, I realized I didn’t have a written confirmation for our POFQ ressie that night.

Remember when I made that? Only the previous day, August 30. And I’d been SHOCKED they had anything at an AP rate, let alone at POFQ.


I was right to be dubious. I logged into Disney.com and searched for my ressie.

It found it. No problem.

Except.



It read #37489210874 – CANCELED.

Canceled? CANCELED???



I got on the phone and explained what was going on and the lovely CM put me on hold. When she came back, she explained that, indeed, that reservation had been canceled not 5 minutes after it was made.

She: “Maybe there was some miscommunication or misunderstanding when it was made?”

I: “I don’t really see how. I said ‘Here’s my credit card number', he said ‘Your confirmation number is blahblahblahbityblahblah’ and I said ‘Thank you.’ I don’t know what could have been confusing in that.”

To her credit, she was super nice and we both agreed it was odd that POFQ was able to be booked in the first place. As you may already guessed, there were no rooms available there anymore. But she did have a room at CBR, which had been my first choice anyway.

PHEW!!!! Crisis averted and only 2 hours before departure time!




I picked Leo up from school and endured the looks from THEM. You know the look, “I can’t believe they’re going to WDW AGAIN. They were there just last weekend!” I didn’t bother explaining my new WDW-as-Lake-House theory. TFI, I don’t really think it would help my case.



This weekend, I wisely followed the advice of my Tampa-dwelling co-worker and took an alternate route through the city to I-4. Worked like a dream! No traffic and we made it to WDW during the worst rush hour of the week in less than 2 hours.


Pulled into the Customs House at CBR, stood in a short line until called and then… got a Dream! Kinda.


“Welcome to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort! This must be Leo, right?”
“Yep, that’s him.”
“Well, Leo, if your mom can answer an easy Disney trivia question, I’ll give you ALL the stickers I have, a whole bunch of coloring books & crayons, AND a pirate hat! But she has to answer this one question correctly.”

Leo was like, “Whatever,” but I didn’t want to rain on Bobby Happy Crayons’ parade.


All said with a huge grin on my face, “Gee Bobby Happy Crayons, you’ve really set me up nicely, haven’t you? If I don’t get the question right and my kid doesn’t get the loot, we should be up for a pretty fun weekend, huh? Thanks a BUNCH.”


“Don’t worry PrincessV, this is easy? Ready?! Okay, here it is… what was Walt Disney’s birthday?!”














“How about just the month? You’ve got a 1 in 12 shot!”
“Uh – January?”

“Close!”
“Okay, December?”

“YES! Now, how about the year?”…


And on it went until I finally, finally got it right. And Leo got a mountain of stickers – he’s not into stickers, so I left those in the room, a ton of crayons and books – not real excited about those, either and I left them in the room, and a direct marketing piece cleverly disguised as a paper pirate hat – that went with us everywhere and continues to live in the back seat of the car, just in case Leo feels a pirate-y moment coming on.

Oh yeah, and we got a room. But not a parking pass, though I didn’t notice that till the next day. Think the wad of stickers on the dash was enough to show we were guests?


Anway, we set off to find our room in Trinidad North. I hadn’t been to CBR in 10-odd years, so it was a new adventure of sorts. We found our section…

…and then our room on the second floor, with this familiar view:

The Curse of the AP Rate strikes again. Not that I really cared – it actually makes those one-night stays easier to be near the car.

Or so I delude myself into thinking.


Leo and I both agreed we liked this room a lot. Better than POR. A lot better.

We didn’t stay long , though. It was dinner time and we set off in search of nourishment at Old Port Royale. The walk there was gorgeous… too bad I didn’t have a CARD in my camera to take pictures. (Don’t worry - got them the next morning!)

Not much to say about dinner – I had a chicken Caesar salad and Leo had pizza. Both were good. Not great, but good.

Before I knew it, it was time to settle in for the night and get ready for our big, relaxing Poly pool day. We had a really nice afternoon/evening, Leo and I. I was reminded once more how important it is that we get some just Mommy & Son time in our busy lives.

Coming soon: “Stop splashing!" "I’m not – that’s rain!”

 

[scottny]

How great. I would love to go back so soon. I need to move to Florida. Great start or continuation anyway great.

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

It read #37489210874 – CANCELED.

Canceled? CANCELED???

Well that's just craptacular!

To her credit, she was super nice and we both agreed it was odd that POFQ was able to be booked in the first place. As you may already guessed, there were no rooms available there anymore. But she did have a room at CBR, which had been my first choice anyway.

Really? Wow, you got super lucky. What is the AP rate for a Mod, may I ask?

“Don’t worry PrincessV, this is easy? Ready?! Okay, here it is… what was Walt Disney’s birthday?!”
“How about just the month? You’ve got a 1 in 12 shot!”
“Uh – January?”
“Close!”
“Okay, December?”
“YES! Now, how about the year?”…

What? I didn't have to answer anything and the kids got all the stuff anyway, well minus the pirate hat.

Ah, now that's worth it, eh?

Hmmm.... I kinda like this room.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I would have had a heart attack if I looked up my ressie and it said cancelled. It all got worked out though so that is wonderful.

I would have been annoyed with that "Dream". I am a party pooper I guess.

Love your "view", I hope the room didn't stink!

 

[cmp1111]

It read #37489210874 – CANCELED.

Oh, dear.

a direct marketing piece cleverly disguised as a paper pirate hat – that went with us everywhere and continues to live in the back seat of the car, just in case Leo feels a pirate-y moment coming on.

That is TOO funny - I particularly like your phrasing on "piratey moment".

Coming soon: “Stop splashing!" "I’m not – that’s rain!”

Uh, oh...

 

[puggymom]

OK now I have to go check my GF ressie for next August, you are making me nervous.

Love Leo's piratey moments too cute!

OH, no please don't tell me that it rained on your Poly time!