PrincessV
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2006
- Messages
- 14,318
OVERTURE. (Act I, the Pre-Trip Report)
Well folks, Ive had so much fun reading TwinkieMamas and UtahMamas TRs, and I have two more weeks before a new semester of school starts, so I thought Id give this trip-report thing a try.
For some background, please allow me to introduce the cast keeping in mind, this is a small production:
Me A 30something FL mom with a penchant for wearing a tiara to induce creativity at work.
My love affair with the World began with my first trip with Dad in 1977, was encouraged by several visits while attending college in Tampa, and was solidified over an eight year marriage to someone almost as Disney-obsessed as I. Turns out, Disney was about the only thing we had in common! Since my divorce three years ago, my Mom has accompanied me and DS on several trips to The Mouse, an effort for which I give her great credit as she is not one of us
yet. (Youll enjoy hearing more about her experiences after our family trip in December.)
DS4 My DS has grown up going to Disney, starting with a trip one hot September when he was a mere 4+ months old. (Dont worry, were Floridians, remember?
We did Epcot and stayed in the comfort of AC most of the time, slathered on the sunscreen, and consumed great quantities of fluids.) Hes celebrated his first and second birthdays with Mickey and kicked off every holiday season of his young life with several days of Holiday Decorating by Disney. But, thanks to a ridiculously hectic schedule and financial turmoil this past year, we havent made it back since last December.
So I began pondering the DISboards in July, looking for opinions, tips and tricks to plan the best Holidays at the World trip ever. Oh, I found what I was looking for, all right, and then some! Not only did I find all I needed for our December trip, but along the way I became convinced we absolutely HAD to make a quick trip during the season of astounding FL resident resort rates. But where oh where to stay? I decided to capitalize on the pirate thing currently invading my DSs world
and, armed with my FL resident discount code, I called and booked a room at CBR at the beginning of September. And the first Mommy & Son Trip to the World is a go! Now the real fun begins
what to do with our time? Where will we eat? What will we wear? 
And, goodness, how on earth will I come up with creative ways to announce my DISness in this limited amount of time?! OMG, Ive only got a month to plan break out the UG, sift through the Passporter, open the spreadsheets and lets get cracking!
Well folks, Ive had so much fun reading TwinkieMamas and UtahMamas TRs, and I have two more weeks before a new semester of school starts, so I thought Id give this trip-report thing a try.
For some background, please allow me to introduce the cast keeping in mind, this is a small production:
Me A 30something FL mom with a penchant for wearing a tiara to induce creativity at work.
My love affair with the World began with my first trip with Dad in 1977, was encouraged by several visits while attending college in Tampa, and was solidified over an eight year marriage to someone almost as Disney-obsessed as I. Turns out, Disney was about the only thing we had in common! Since my divorce three years ago, my Mom has accompanied me and DS on several trips to The Mouse, an effort for which I give her great credit as she is not one of us
yet. (Youll enjoy hearing more about her experiences after our family trip in December.)DS4 My DS has grown up going to Disney, starting with a trip one hot September when he was a mere 4+ months old. (Dont worry, were Floridians, remember?
We did Epcot and stayed in the comfort of AC most of the time, slathered on the sunscreen, and consumed great quantities of fluids.) Hes celebrated his first and second birthdays with Mickey and kicked off every holiday season of his young life with several days of Holiday Decorating by Disney. But, thanks to a ridiculously hectic schedule and financial turmoil this past year, we havent made it back since last December.So I began pondering the DISboards in July, looking for opinions, tips and tricks to plan the best Holidays at the World trip ever. Oh, I found what I was looking for, all right, and then some! Not only did I find all I needed for our December trip, but along the way I became convinced we absolutely HAD to make a quick trip during the season of astounding FL resident resort rates. But where oh where to stay? I decided to capitalize on the pirate thing currently invading my DSs world
and, armed with my FL resident discount code, I called and booked a room at CBR at the beginning of September. And the first Mommy & Son Trip to the World is a go! Now the real fun begins
what to do with our time? Where will we eat? What will we wear? And, goodness, how on earth will I come up with creative ways to announce my DISness in this limited amount of time?! OMG, Ive only got a month to plan break out the UG, sift through the Passporter, open the spreadsheets and lets get cracking!
) I know you will have better luck! 
I can think of worse places to evacuate to, but that would COMPLETELY screw up my well-formulated plans! 
I caved and booked an extra night. This is no longer a One Night Stand, but a genuine, honest-to-goodness Long Weekend. In a mere 24 hours, DS and I will arrive at POFQ, all Limed up and ready for F-U-N! Bags are packed, food-consuming-establishments selected, small toys with which to bribe DS to wait patiently while Mommy finishes her meals purchased. I have my Fellow Fockers list printed and LGMHs attached to every piece of baggage and equipment to ensure easy DIS recognition. Only one thing left to do
. get there 
Tampa Bay readers already know why I’m at work and not on the road at this hour. For those unfamiliar with the joy of West Central Florida’s roadways, let me introduce a bit-part character, Malfunction Junction. This is the name commonly used when referencing the I-275 / I-4 interchange, which we must traverse in our journey to The World. I have the choice of spending a couple hours at work, thereby using less vacation time, or spending that time in bumper-to-bumper traffic. I’ll go to work, thank you very much. I did, however make a critical error: I did not thoroughly explain how this would work to DS – let’s call him Leo from here on out, since that’s his fave Little Einstein’s guy – and he was NOT a happy camper when I dropped him off at pre-school. 
I won’t make that mistake again!
) I never use a map at WDW; I’ve been there so many times, I could draw the flippin’ map. So first thing I do….. miss my turn. No problem, just a minor kink that’s easily corrected. Back on track and we get to the POFQ lobby, where Tym checks us in quickly and easily. I had requested a ground-floor room near the pool and/or food court. As Tym readies the map, I get excited to see where the Disney Reservation Gods have placed us…. Drum roll please…. Room 6302!!! Have you guessed? The 2nd farthest room from the elevator of the 2nd farthest building from POFQ civilization. “And,” Tym says with a smile, “You’re on the third floor!” “Tym, I’m traveling all by myself with Leo here. Can you possibly get us a little closer to things and at least get us on the first floor?” No can-do. According to Tym, this is the room the Disney Reservation Gods have assigned, and we should be honored to have it. I won’t bore you with the details of every walk to and from the room, but suffice it to say that I learned something important about Leo during those walks: he walks at about .05mph and no amount of begging, bribing, demanding or cajoling will increase that speed.
Can't wait for more 
