Updated 9/6**I must be crazy cause I took 5 kids to WDW alone! -

[cmp1111]

User CP made me miss this update. Sigh.

My SIL and niece volunteered to babysit for us so we could go out for lunch in exchange for the extra room in the condo. Jenna and I eventually decided on DTD since I have 3 boys and a toddler who hate to shop and I knew I wouldn't get to with them without a fight.

Nice, and I know that "Can't shop" feeling.

After our shopping we got a drink and a pretzel and listened to a high school orchestra play. I think they said Lincoln high school but I can't remember what state. They looked miserable in their full length black dresses and suits.

I can imagine!

 

[DisneyJo]

Did baby Tau remember that he rode the monorail they always fall asleep at the wrong times don't they

How nice getting a kid free shopping day and cute photo you sent DH

 

[jcc0621]

Love the ornament. We get one every trip too. I told Jim we are going to need another tree soon. He was not amused

 

[debraW76]

Fun report! And it's making all my concerns about taking ONE kid by myself just disappear.

Oh you can do it! Just take it easy, count on making frequent stops, and know your child's limits before you leave. I see your son will be 21 months when you leave? Find the baby stations in each of the parks and you will be fine.

More coming...

My head would be swimming trying to keep track of all that!
Ha ha! It was. That is why I had to write it down!

Awww!

Yes, that is my pouty face because I missed my husband but wasn't going to cry.

User CP made me miss this update. Sigh.



Nice, and I know that "Can't shop" feeling.
It stinks but we keep looking at our future plans and we know that by not going overboard today we can later!


I can imagine!

They were sweating walking onto the stage.

Did baby Tau remember that he rode the monorail they always fall asleep at the wrong times don't they

How nice getting a kid free shopping day and cute photo you sent DH

He does remember the monorail. Of course we rode it again when we went to MK so that helped too. Yes, I was very grateful my SIL came for a few days.

Love the ornament. We get one every trip too. I told Jim we are going to need another tree soon. He was not amused

Thank you! I love this tradition too. So far we only have 3 but eventually I want my own Disney tree. I think your idea was great even if Jim wasn't amused

 

[debraW76]

After Jenna left we all took a stroll around the resort to pick up an entertainment schedule. When Jenna checked in on Friday she flirted with the guy at the front desk to get free internet for the weekend. I wanted to see about getting it for the rest of the week but alas the flirting skills of a stressed out mother of 5 were not up to par with my single, savvy, entrepreneur friend. Which basically means I had to pay for it.

I did however, discover they had an entertainment card for $25 which gives you discounts at the bar and gift shop, free or discounted activity fees, and internet for the whole week. Considering internet was $10/day this was a no brainer.

Up until now I hadn't really spent a whole lot of time at the resort but was very impressed with its theatre, pool, game room, and the room itself. Most impressive was the tiled showers in the room. We had a 3 bedroom, 3 bath condo with two full kitchens and two living rooms. It was 2000 square feet and could sleep 12. Needless to say it was huge. For a family of 7 staying onsite can be expensive and I was quite happy with the value of the rooms. Plus I am a bit claustrophobic and have to have my own space. The spacious rooms gave me that at a fraction of what the equivalent DVC room would have cost. We did have to give up transportation, mousekeeping, and just the never-ending joy of staying onsite but still I feel good about our choice considering our circumstances.

After our stroll around the resort we picked up Alpha from OKW, then headed over to the Animal Kingdom Lodge to drop something off and also to just take a look around. I also wanted to taste the much talked about Zebra Domes. We purchased two packs so each could have one and went to the pool to eat them.

I had heard so much about this dessert and had wanted one since our last trip. Since I had a good excuse to go to the lodge it just seemed logical to try one. I sat all the kids down and gave each one a dome and finally had one for myself.

When I picked it up it was a bit hard to handle because it was much softer than what I had imagined. I had read so many raves about the zebra dome and I knew it was a chocolate/mocha center in a white chocolate shell. I make oreo balls at Christmas and had imagined that the white chocolate shell would be similar. But it was suprisingly soft and a little messy like melted chocolate. But I didn't care because I knew that looks could be deceiving.

Finally I took a bite and (Prepare yourself CP) I was disappointed. I know I am not going to make any friends with this but I just didn't think it was as great as I had heard. Maybe all the great reviews had just built my hopes up too high that nothing could have met my expectations, or maybe I was just expecting it to be something that it wasn't. But either way I didn't care for them. Tau, Omicron and Delta agreed with me while Alpha and Chi loved them. My niece and SIL thought they were just ok. I had 3 left so I took them back to the room with me to save for DH.

After walking around the savanna and viewing some animals we headed back to our room, ate dinner, showered, and went to bed.

I was missing my husband terribly and so were the kids. But I had no time to think about that as I knew I needed some rest for the rest of the week.



Next... Day 3 - Scheduled Spontaneity

 

[DisneyJo]

Sounds as though your villa was fantastic, any photos? And I can definitely see that staying off site would save you lots of money with so many of you!

I don't like coffee so won't try a zebra dome but have heard of others that disliked them so you're not alone

 

[lisalonglash]

I'm sorry I got behind on your TR!

Your villa sounds fabulous - love to see some pictures! Sorry you didn't dig the zebra domes - I have no opinion yet, never tried them (but I will at our dinner at Boma this trip!). The ornament is sweet

 

[mobes_jk]

I don't like zebra domes either. I don't get what the fuss is all about - I couldn't take more than 2 bites of the one I tried.

 

[Charleston Princess]

That's okay, Debra, I'll forgive you for not falling in love with the zebra domes! But what did you think of Animal Kingdom Lodge? Where any animals out when you were there?

 

[cmp1111]

That sounds like a great place for your family.

Since you gave the kids the zebra domes, I'm assuming you got the non-alcoholic ones. The ones with the booze are MUCH better. I like them, myself, but wasn't expecting the greatest dessert either. And I do prefer the boozy ones.

 

[debraW76]

Sounds as though your villa was fantastic, any photos? And I can definitely see that staying off site would save you lots of money with so many of you!

I don't like coffee so won't try a zebra dome but have heard of others that disliked them so you're not alone

Here is the jacuzzi that we never got to use.

and here is the shower.

Here is the big pool

And the kiddie pool

I'm sorry I got behind on your TR!

Your villa sounds fabulous - love to see some pictures! Sorry you didn't dig the zebra domes - I have no opinion yet, never tried them (but I will at our dinner at Boma this trip!). The ornament is sweet

No problem. Just get here when you can.

I don't like zebra domes either. I don't get what the fuss is all about - I couldn't take more than 2 bites of the one I tried.

Glad I'm not the only one

That's okay, Debra, I'll forgive you for not falling in love with the zebra domes! But what did you think of Animal Kingdom Lodge? Where any animals out when you were there?

Thanks CP I loved the resort and can totally see why you loved it so much too. That is where my mom wants to stay someday.

We saw the big cow looking animals with the long horns. There was one that something must have been wrong because he couldn't hold his head up straight LOL! We also saw some giraffes but not up close. Sorry, I didn't have my camera at the AKL. I'm hoping that my niece has some and will give me a copy.

That sounds like a great place for your family.

Since you gave the kids the zebra domes, I'm assuming you got the non-alcoholic ones. The ones with the booze are MUCH better. I like them, myself, but wasn't expecting the greatest dessert either. And I do prefer the boozy ones.

WHAT!!??? There are two different Zebra domes???? That's just great!! Now i have to go back to try the 'other' one

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Hi Debra, you hopped to my TR so I'm hopping right back over to yours! I have some reading to do!
Anita

 

[debraW76]

Hi Debra, you hopped to my TR so I'm hopping right back over to yours! I have some reading to do!
Anita

Hi Anita and you are just in time for an update.

 

[SunnieRN]

Oh my goodness, how did I miss this??! I loved your pre-trip report and hadn't noticed this yet!! Better late than never I guess!

First of all, congratulations!! You not only survived, but so far it sounds as if you flourished!! Good going!!!

As for Cici's, what a bummer that it was closed, but what truly amazed me is that all of the kids agreed to go the same place!!

I laughed so hard about whether your condo came with a "servant", that was one to send in to readers digest!

Morocco TS is one place I have no desire to eat, but I am really excited to try the CS location on our next trip!! Looks really pretty in there though!

Loved the SE vs MS conversation, that is hilarious!! My daughter was very much that way when she was young. I mean really young!! She started talking in sentences at 10 mos old, so that I'm sure will give you a clue. lol! She also read by age 2. When we went to disneyland when she was 2 years and 3 months old, I had a map and had marked all the rides we were going to ride on the map for her. We were walking along (she refused to ride in strollers after she was a year old), she was reading the map and someone says "Oh my Gawd, that little girl must have that aging disease". She was small for her age, but spoke so well and read, so she shocked everyone. Believe it or not that happend to us more than once, the other time when she ordered off the menu at a restaurant. That time the waitress brought over the manager, another waitress and the bartender so she would read for them. It was hilarious!

Glad you got a break to shop and I will be looking forward to reading more adventures!

 

[debraW76]

Monday, June 8, 2009​

Monday is the day I was going to be spontaneous. I had a list of suggestions but really wanted to try to deviate from the usual overplanning that I have been accused of doing. So I penciled in "Monday 10am to 4pm - Be Spontaneous" in my agenda.

Somehow during the night all the kids played musical beds and I woke up with Tau lying perpendicular to Chi and me causing us to make the letter "H". I was up before 6 this morning. Why can't I sleep late on vacation?

My morning routine - coffee on the patio, doing my morning sudoku puzzle. I had about one and a half hours of quiet time this morning and it was just too much. You see, when I am not busy and completely stressed out by the kids I have time to think. I start thinking about my DH and I start missing him.

But not for long. Soon everyone was up. My SIL and niece were going to MK today so we left around 9 to drop them off. I didn't want to pay for parking and wasn't sure how the passenger drop off worked so I decided to drop them off at the Poly and let them take the monorail to MK. I also didn't want to argue with the guardsmen so I decided to tell a little white lie and say that we were eating breakfast at the resort. Unfortunately Chi heard this and so then I had to explain to her why I said that.

After we dropped them off I asked the kids what they wanted to do and gave them my list of 'suggestions'. They wanted to go back to the room and swim. That was not my idea of being spontaneous but it was easy, manageable, and cheap so it took little persuasion for me to agree to it.

We quickly put on our bathing suits, grabbed our towels and headed to the pool. I found a spot where I could see Tau in the baby pool and the big kids in the big pool and just chilled for about an hour. Everything was going great until Tau got a little too hungry and tired and started pitching a huge fit. He started yelling he was sleepy and laid down on the pavement. I was trying to get the big kids out of the pool, pack up all our stuff and he was just fighting me saying he wanted to go to sleep right there! Finally I got them all wrangled up and back to the room

We showered and took a vote for lunch and the kids chose McDonalds. But not just any McDonalds. We went to the big McDonald's on I-Drive. Tau fell asleep on the way so I had to order, take the food to the table, and gather up all the kids all while holding a sleeping baby.

I got the chicken quesadilla and the kids all got regular happy meals

After lunch we took another vote and the kids decided to go to Disneyquest in DTD. We parked and found our way to the entrance. I was a little disoriented at first but soon figured things out. It took me a while to realize that the arcade games were free (actually one of the kids had to explain it to me LOL). We hit all the big attractions starting on the top floor and worked out way down.




Next...Disneyquest

 

[luckylady]

Just found you and am going to catch up. BTW my DH is also an architect.

 

[luckylady]

I had heard so much about this dessert and had wanted one since our last trip. Since I had a good excuse to go to the lodge it just seemed logical to try one. I sat all the kids down and gave each one a dome and finally had one for myself.

When I picked it up it was a bit hard to handle because it was much softer than what I had imagined. I had read so many raves about the zebra dome and I knew it was a chocolate/mocha center in a white chocolate shell. I make oreo balls at Christmas and had imagined that the white chocolate shell would be similar. But it was suprisingly soft and a little messy like melted chocolate. But I didn't care because I knew that looks could be deceiving.

Finally I took a bite and (Prepare yourself CP) I was disappointed. I know I am not going to make any friends with this but I just didn't think it was as great as I had heard. .

[/QUHappy to know I am not by myself in not liking those.

 

[JJBEAN]

Just found your TR tonight and was intrigued by the title...you are a brave woman! We have three little ones and one on the way in October so I was curious how your trip went with so many kids. My DH and I are itching to take another Disney vacation soon but have decided to wait until after the baby comes. I will have to live vicariously through all these TR's. I love how you had a "spontaneous day"...we really need to do that on our next trip...our kids would love it! Sounds like you and your kiddos are having a great time...I can't wait to read more!

 

[mrsksomeday]

Great installments, looks like you are having a good time. It was so sweet of you to take that picture for your hubby! Bill and I didn't care for the Zebra Domes either . You are very talented to get the food, round up the kids, and carry a sleeping baby all at the same time .

 

[ma2jr]

Wow... you're my hero