2016 Trip Report: Day 1ish - Road Trippin'

Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23

This trip was meant to be a nice, long, relaxing vacation with an emphasis on family. No theme parks. No craziness, just fun and quality time.

As soon as my dad and TK got out of work, we were ready to get on the road. Addison (14-months-old) was already sleeping before we were even finished packing the car with our duffle bags. When we were all filed in, we stopped at Wendy's for a to-go dinner and hit the open road.

Mom started the driving and didn't stop until Virginia. In VA, TK, Jackson (4-years-old) and I got out to use the bathroom at some random diner that was open 24 hours. I got my dad some coffee and it was $3.20. My mom bought the same size coffee and they charged her $2.80. Huh?

TK drove from there and I guess I was asleep when they switched a second time from him to my dad. When we got into Georgia, I started to communicate with TK's cousin who we planned on meeting for breakfast in Savannah. When we got to Savannah, we met up at a Cracker Barrel with Aunt Janice, Dona, Matthew, Lauren and Nicholas. It was really nice to finally meet TK's cousin Dona and her children. We already love Aunt Janice and now I get to know more of our family and so do my children. We were so glad that the time was right.

From Savannah, TK drove and I sat in front with him until we reached our destination - Westgate Town Center in Kissimmee. We arrived at 3:30 p.m. and met Uncle George, Aunt Rosie, Georgie, Paige and Garrett in the lobby. Our rooms weren't ready yet, so we had to wait. When one of the rooms was ready, we all went there to wait instead. One of the staff members brought our room keys to us. Our room was two floors above my aunt and uncle's. We unpacked a little, which means I put my clothes in a drawer and threw the kids' Ziplocs in a drawer. Then, we headed out for dinner.

We chose Steak n Shake and that was a big mistake. It was messier than I remember and the food took for-ev-er. I am going to cross that one off the list for future trips. After dinner, Dad, Uncle George and I went to Super Target for food and supplies. When we got back it was super late, so everyone was either asleep or almost there and watching Zootopia. I took a shower and called it a day. 

What I Learned While on Vacation with a Wild Toddler and a Precious Infant

In December, we took a family vacation to Walt Disney World with both of our children (Jackson, 3 1/2; Addison, 7 months), my parents, my aunt and uncle, and my cousin, his girlfriend and her son. This was Jackson's second trip and Addison's first.

One might think, "You brought an infant to Walt Disney World? Are you nuts?" The answer is no. But, I was nuts to bring my son. He was scared on the plane, so he had a tantrum and he had tantrums when he was tired at the end of the day. That was nightmarish.

So, I learned a few things:

1. Last time and this time, I shipped all of the baby/toddler supplies to the resort two weeks before via UPS. They held onto the box for us until we checked in. I had a bigger box of stuff this time because I added a child since last time, but it was still only $26. 
2. Use the carseat in the airplane if your child is afraid of flying or if you think they will be too rambunctious. The child will be strapped into their car seat safely and they are used to it. We were "that family" on the plane and that was pretty nerve wracking. They both ended up falling asleep 20 minutes in, but the first 10 minutes were the worst and I wish my son would have been restrained, safely of course. 
3. Fly on the first trip of the day. My children were so tired by the time they got on the plane that they slept for almost the entire flight. 
4. Let your children fly in pajamas. They will be comfortable and so will you. 
5. Go back to the resort in the middle of the day to take naps or just relax. You and your children will be refreshed and a lot less cranky.
6. Be careful what you charge on your Magic Band. I charged souvenirs and food, and when I got my bill, I was SHOCKED. How did I spend that much? Easy. 
7. Don't plan a park for each day. It's too much for everyone. Schedule some downtime between parks. 
8. If you have a double stroller, bring it. My son and my daughter enjoyed their time in the stroller and sometimes my son wanted to run around and would climb back in when he was tired. 
9. If you are dining at a Disney restaurant and don't see something on the kids menu that your kid will eat, ask for something they will eat. They will probably make it for you, if it's not something crazy. 
10. If you need to warm a bottle, ask the Disney wait staff for a cup of hot water. 
11. We had a lot of stuff in our stroller, so we made sure everything was in a backpack and a bag before we got on the bus. We were able to grab the bags and fold the stroller before inconveniencing anyone else at the bus stop. 
12. A carrier is great to have for when your baby falls asleep and you have to get on a ride or see a show. Your back will thank you. My cousin even had a turn wearing my daughter around Epcot. 
13. Our stroller was one that the rental companies have in their inventory, so we made sure to put our pirate bandana on the handlebar. We were able to notice it in a sea of other black double strollers. 
14. Travel with more people than just you and your husband. The more helpers the better. My mother is my children's caretaker, so Nonna is great to have on vacation. She knows my children's schedules like the back of her hand and they ABSOLUTELY love her. 
15. Bring an extra bag for all of the souvenirs you are going to bring home. We spent a lot of money on souvenirs and it showed. My husband and I shared a shoe bag, so we were able to bring another bag for all of the extras.

If you have any tips for traveling with your kids, let me know in the comments, even if your tip is to bring a bottle of wine for every day you are away. Whatever works. 

Trip Report Day 5: 11/26/13

Halfway through our trip, we woke up and headed over to Hollywood Studios for our breakfast reservation at Hollywood & Vine. Fortunately, when we got to the park, I found a cast member and asked where those who had dining reservations entered the park. Everyone else was lined up at the turnstiles, so he led us to a side area where we gave our names, scanned our Magic Bands and walked right into an empty Hollywood Studios. It was pretty cool to see the quiet streets before all of the guests filed in.

At Hollywood & Vine, we saw Handy Manny, Special Agent Oso, June from Little Einsteins and Jake. Again, Jax wanted to eat in peace, so he wasn't so keen on the idea of pictures, but he did like all of the singing and the music. The waiter wasn't our favorite, but we had a good time.

Lightning McQueen

After eating, we headed over to Tower of Terror so most of us could ride it, excluding me. It is the only ride I refuse to try in all of Walt Disney World. I just think that the queue will freak me out and the ride will make me uneasy. When they were done, we went over to Rock N Rollercoaster to check the single rider line. They actually closed down that line because they said it was getting longer than the stand by line. I guess my secret is out. Fortunately, we were able to sit down to see the Lights, Motors, Action show and Lightning McQueen. Jax was interested in all of the cars in the show.

On our way to Muppetvision 3D, we saw a line to take pics with Lightning McQueen and Mater, so we waited so Jax could get up close to them. It would have been nice if he could have gotten a little bit more time to walk around them and analyze them, but there were people behind us that had been waiting too. When we got to Muppetvision, we went right in and I needed to change Jax's diaper, so I went in the dark corner and laid out his stuff, so no one could see and I could change him quick. We went right in after the little pre-show.

Osbourne Lights

Afterward, we headed over to Toy Story Mania, but only half of our party had Fastpasses for the ride. In the past, we would just get paper Fastpasses for the rest of our party and go right in. Unfortunately, with the new Magic Bands, we were unable to make any changes unless we went to Guest Relations at the front of the park and made the changes. This what not an option for us because the line for Fastpass return was already so long, so those with Fastpass went on and those without went to eat. Toy Story Mania is such a fun ride, but I lost the game to Tom. We met up with everyone else at Studio Catering Company for lunch, but they were already finished eating. We ate our lunch and I bought Jackson a Lightning McQueen snack bucket for $11.99, which was a pretty good deal. We went shopping in the Animation Courtyard for more cars, but were only able to find Star Wars versions instead. We bought a few, but we spent all day looking for Darth Mater and there were none in the whole park. We even asked cast members to look in the back for him.

Some of us went off to ride Rock N Rollercoaster and Star Tours, and we took Jax in to see Disney Junior Live. He loved it, but I wasn't a fan of sitting on the floor for the whole show. My dad couldn't even sit with us because with his knee, he couldn't sit on or get up from the floor. Also, I couldn't believe that they didn't sell any souvenirs or toys with Handy Manny or Oso. Where are those toys?

Tom and I were able to walk right on Star Tours even though stand by said 20 minutes. We had the Yoda/Wookie version of the ride and it was pretty cool. After that, I went with Georgie and Garrett to ride Rock N Rollercoaster and Tom and my parents took Jax to the Honey I Shrunk the Kids play area, which ended up being closed. We were able to use the single rider line and I rode the coaster next to some first-timers, so I warned them about the initial take-off and how fast it is. When we were done, I met up with Tom, Jax and my parents so we could see the Osbourne Family Dancing Lights. It was pretty amazing, especially when the music came on. Tom told me that Jackson loved it when it snowed on the street too.

We had a dinner reservation at Cape May Cafe, so we all met up and headed over to the Beach Club on the boat. The captain of the boat that was waiting when we got there was pretty grumpy so I was glad that we were waiting for the next one. The seafood buffet we had for dinner was great, especially the crab legs. I used the skills that I learned at Joe's Crab Shack to open and eat a bunch.

After dinner, we took a look at the arcade and it started to thunder so we decided to grab a cab and head back to the resort instead of taking the boat back to Hollywood Studios. I missed out on a No Way Jose at Beaches & Cream and my heart still hurts ...

Trip Report Day 4: 11/25/13

Today, we got up and ate a really small breakfast in the room and got ready to leave. We had to catch three buses to get to Fort Wilderness for our lunch reservation at Trail's End. This was my recommendation because I heard that they had a new a la carte menu and it was delicious.

Bridge in the Wilderness Lodge

We were able to get there with a little time to spare, so we did a little shopping in their trading post. Lunch was awesome and afterward, Jax was able to play on the jungle gym and swing on the swings for a little bit. We then headed over on a boat to the Wilderness Lodge to see their holiday decorations. That resort is amazing and cozy, and will probably be our next choice for accommodations. It is just so homey, especially during the holiday season.

We also headed over to the Grand Floridian to see their decorations, and I am sorry to say that some of the guests aren't so nice there. I held the door open for two different people and they didn't even say thank you, and people just walked right through while we were trying to take pictures without even an "oops" or a "sorry." Maybe that's not a big deal to you, but it is to me. Not a fan.

Gingerbread House at the Grand Floridian

Uncle George, Aunt Rosie, Garret and Georgie all went back to the room and the rest of us headed over to Downtown Disney to do a little shopping. Jackson was able to meet Santa, but he was already in a bad mood while we waited on line, so he looked like a little nut in the pictures we took. We had a dinner reservation over at Chef Mickey's so we hurried over to the Contemporary on yet another bus. Chef Mickey's was pretty funny because when everyone was swinging their napkins in the air, Jackson was able to join in and when he took pictures with Donald Duck, he put his hand in his mouth.

After dinner, we did a little shopping and then took the monorail over to the Magic Kingdom and a bus back to Kidani.

Trip Report Day 2: 11/23/13

We woke up and headed to Animal Kingdom. We started out at Pizzafari because none of us ate and I read that it was one of the places that served breakfast. When we got there, we just missed it, but the manager, Yusuf made sure that we got the last nine bounty platters, and if one of the plates was missing something, he threw in something else. He even threw in a plate for free because it was all he had left. It really helped us out and we were so grateful. I know I'll never forget his Disney touch of kindness.

The Tree of Life

After we finished eating, we headed over to Expedition Everest and rode it really quick and it was actually better on a full stomach. Jax couldn't ride Kali River Rapids, so we sat out with Aunt Rosie and hit the bathroom instead. By then, we were ready to use our Fastpass+ to ride Kilimanjaro Safari. Jax fell asleep, so I put him in the carrier and he slept through the whole thing. I noticed that they removed the Little Red/Big Red storyline and I think it was a good idea, but I did miss the guy saying, "Come in, Simba 1!"

After that, we enjoyed a few wonderful Mickey pretzels and then some of us went to It's Tough to Be a Bug and others to Festival of the Lion King. When the show was over, we met up and saw a character greeting spot with Pooh and Tigger. This was the deciding moment; would Jackson love the characters or be afraid of them? Well, Jax ran right over and into Pooh's arms. I did all I could not to cry like a baby. It made my day, no week, NO month! I was a proud Disney mama.

A Mickey Pretzel

We all then headed over to Dinoland U.S.A. so some could ride Primeval Whirl and we could take Jax on Triceratop Spin. He held on to Poppy's shorts for dear life. We also played a carnival game and I won Jax a stuffed turtle. At that time, our dinner reservation at Yak & Yeti was drawing near, so we headed over there. I checked us in and grabbed a drink at the bar before we were seated. We had appetizers and entrees, and our waitress was very friendly. I don't remember her name but she was blonde and I was able to leave positive feedback on the card on the table.

When we were done eating, we left the park to get back to resort to get ready for Poppy's birthday surprise that night. I told a little lie that I wanted to try the craft beers at the Crew's Cup Lounge and we were all going to go, so I arranged for cabs for us and we went to the Yacht Club. They have a cool train set in their lobby for Christmas.

When we got to the marina, I checked us in and then we told my dad that we had a surprise for him. My mom and I had planned a pontoon cruise to view Illuminations, complete with birthday decorations, snacks, soda, coffee, a fruit plate, cheese and crackers, and a special Mickey cake. We were able to go by Hollywood Studios to see the Christmas tree and then under the bridge in France in Epcot before the show started. It was great to see Illuminations from another angle, especially with snacks (thanks to the folks on my Disney list serv for the great idea).

After the cruise, we went back in the hotel so I could make a stop at the Crew's Cup Lounge (so I really didn't lie) and buy a round for me, Uncle George and Tom. We took our beers and made our way to the Beach Club to see the chocolate carousel in their lobby. It was amazing that the whole thing was edible and perfect. We went back to the hotel after that to get to bed and prep for the Magic Kingdom again on Sunday.

 

Jackson's First Trip to Disney Day 1: 11/22/13

Friday, November 22, 2013 is the date we have all been waiting for. It's been months and months since we started planning for my son Jackson's first Disney vacation. Our trip members included: me, Tom, Jackson, Nonna (my mom) and Poppy (my dad) from N.Y.; Aunt Rosie and Uncle George from N.J. and Georgie, Paige and Garrett from FL.

The Jambo House Christmas Tree

Our flight from NY was at 6:15 a.m. We took the earliest flight to get the fun started immediately. I scooped Jackson out of his crib at 4:30 a.m. as my dad knocked on the door. The car was already packed from the night before, so we only had carry-ons to lug along with us. We headed for the airport and Jackson was awake already, and he was soaked. As soon as we got into the airport, I changed his diaper and his clothes, and then we sped over to security. We let him run around in the airport before boarding because we knew he would be confined to a seat once we were in the airplane. On the plane, we put the portable DVD player on and started Cars 2. And, then we heard from our angels as the flight attendants said we could leave all electronic devices on throughout the flight. YES! He watched the movie and had some snacks, which kept him nice and comfortable. About one hour into the flight, he fell asleep and we laid him on the seat between us that was left empty, for obvious reasons. No one wanted to sit next to a crying baby for more than two minutes, never mind two hours. Jax didn't even cry once. He remained quiet and didn't wake up until we landed.

Upon departure, we got our stroller at the gate and made our way toward the Magical Express terminal to bring us to our resort. Uncle George and Aunt Rosie met us there and my mother handed out the Magic Bands to all of us so we could use them as our ticket aboard. Jax fell asleep again as we made the drive to our resort, Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani Village. We had to make stops at Pop Century (we stayed there in '04 and '07) and the new Art of Animation Resort (more on that later on in the trip).

Walt Disney World Railroad Station

We finally made it to the resort and saw all of the decorations, including a huge Christmas tree decked in African animals and animal print. It was gorgeous! We could already see zebras on the savannah from the lobby windows, which is what makes this resort so special in my eyes. Unfortunately, we found that our room was too far from the lobby, bus stops, etc. for my aunt who just had back surgery, so they kindly changed our room to a more suitable location the next day. By the time we got to the room, we were all hungry, so I changed Jax and we headed to Jambo House and Mara for lunch and to get our refillable mug. We chose the "Length of Stay" option for $18, but only bought one mug for Tom and I. (I had the Carved Turkey Sandwich, but for more on what I ate, visit yumness.wordpress.com.)

After lunch, we went back to the resort to see if my cousin, his girlfriend and her son showed up yet. They just got there when we did and we were able to talk a little bit and then get ready to head to Magic Kingdom, since we had MVMCP tickets for that night. Tom and I decided to stop at the concierge to put a credit card on our Magic Bands for easier purchasing. Our dinner reservation was at 5 p.m. for Tony's Town Square and we were able to get in with our tickets at 4 p.m. After dinner, we decided to ride Pirates of the Caribbean because it's a favorite, and I was glad it was Jax's first ride.

Afterward, we headed back to Main Street to claim a spot for the show and parade. While we waited, a few of us got hot cocoa and cookies in Tomorrowland. After both events, we were super tired, so I decided to take Jax into the baby center and then make our way to the front of the park for the castle show and Holiday Wishes. Uncle George and Aunt Rosie left and Georgie, Paige and Garrett went on rides. The castle projection show was awesome. We were able to do a little shopping after and then leave the park.

Unfortunately, we missed the dance parties, but that just leaves some things to look forward to the next time we visit.

 

 

I Don't Wanna Grow Up

This is my favorite part of the year. It is the part when I start planning a vacation with the hotel and the flights already booked. So, I know I am definitely scheduled to hit the road.

In August my family and I will be heading to Walt Disney World. For me it will be the 14th time I have traveled to my second favorite place on this great planet we call Earth (My first is Hawaii. It was sick and I am going back in 2012.). I just love going to Disney because it is just so much fun and I can be as immature as I want with little or no repercussions. For example, in WDW as an adult, I have:

• Seen my father, husband, cousin and uncle in costume on a hot summer day
  
• Eaten an ice cream pop while having it drip down my arm
  
• Skipped leisurely through Fantasyland
• Strapped a stuffed Mickey Mouse tour guide to my backpack and listened to him give tips and advice throughout the day
• Raced through Epcot barefoot in the rain to get to a dinner reservation on time
• Eaten an ice cream sundae named The Kitchen Sink after partaking in a seafood buffet (three family members got sick, one quit and TK and I sipped the remaining liquid through a straw to finish it)
• Worn a Goofy pirate hat
• Sang "It's a Small World" with a British accent like Zazu from The Lion King
  

Yea, I have no shame and apparently, no boundaries. I think living this way allows you to really, truly experience what fun is. So, let your guard down and have a great time...even if you need to pay Mickey a visit in order to do so...I'll even send you a sample itinerary.

Big Plans for This New Year

I am not the biggest fan of odd numbers, but I think that 2011 might bring me a lot of new and exciting things. First and foremost, I plan on keeping my self-respect and fire so that I can still be called difficult and never weak or naive. So there.

Now for the rest of the year, I have a few trips planned because new experiences are what keep me inspired. This month, I will be heading to Las Vegas for the third time in my life to tear it up with my friends. I've been there for a bachelorette party and with my family, but never with friends. We are all VERY excited. I will be going to see my first expensive Cirque du Soleil show, O, while we are there. The next trip I have planned is for work. I will be attending a conference in San Francisco on "Social Media and Community." The subject matter is very interesting to me, which you can probably see if you are friends with me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter. I am always down to learn new things, and if a world famous chocolate shop is down the street (Ghirardelli), I am certainly interested in traveling across the map to learn about whatever you want to teach me. The last trip I have penned in the datebook is to the one and only Walt Disney World and then Orlando, Florida. I will be away for two weeks with my family. I have been apart from Mickey for too long, even though normal people will say I was just there in 2009. I just love it there because I can break out in song randomly or skip down the street or dance to the music in my head, and no one cares! They just think, "She's feeling the magic," and they are right. The second week of our trip will be dedicated to golf, shopping, dining and Sea World, I think. For us, the second week is spent recuperating from the prior week of go, go, go at Disney. Also, speckled within the year will probably be a couple random weekend road trips with TK to see the states that don't require a plane or train to get to. This is only the beginning of the excitement.

This year, I would also like for TK and I to buy a home. We are outgrowing our current home and I would like to be able to use my Kitchenaid mixer and some of the other items I received for my bridal shower two years ago. It just frosts my cupcakes that all of our stuff is still in their boxes and that I will probably have to replace all of the spices on my spice rack because they are probably expired. I would love a place with a large kitchen and a nice little nook for me to draw, read or write. Ahhhh, that would be lovely. Some other bonuses would be a nice bathtub for frequent soaks and a fireplace to cuddle up in front of, but I won't hold my breath.

Another idea for this year is a possible baby bump...but don't get too excited! I am just considering it. I don't want anyone spreading any rumors or putting a December 31st deadline on me. Kids change your life forever and I like to sleep, so this is a big decision that I don't need anyone making for me. Since September 13, 2008 (the day after getting married) I have been asked about pregnancy. It is so strange that pregnancy is frowned upon until the day you get married, and then the day after it's like GAME ON! That's a lot of pressure. But, I would like to have a kid before I have to worry about being old and having complications. Right now I have a prescription for prenatal vitamins in my pocketbook. It is haunting me and I am not sure how I feel about it, especially since people talk about morning sickness, weight gain, hormones, mood swings and how your vagina is never the same. I may have to reconsider this whole situation. I'll get back to you.

So, that is what 2011 has in store for me, well, I hope. Watch, I'll reread this on December 31, 2011 and laugh at how wrong I was or, I will peer at it over a huge belly with a bowl of Chubby Hubby ice cream perched on top of it. Either one.