The Double Stroller Diaries: CBR 5/14-5/21-UPDATED 8/3 --DAY 3 at F&G Festival About This Page:

[Happymommy]

Cast of Characters: Me (Dina), 31 – 10th trip; Joe (DH), 32 – 3rd trip; Aidan (DS), 4 – 2nd trip; Danny (DS), turned 2 four days prior to leaving for Disney- 2nd trip.

Our Journey: Flying out of Philly International 9am, Saturday 5/14, and returning Saturday 5/21

Lodging: Caribbean Beach Resort (Trinidad North) Thanks to Courtney at Grandgetaways for getting us great AP rates (AGAIN!!)

Special Plans: Not too much, trying to take it easy and go with the flow. Chef Mickey Dinner(Saturday)—I’ll just give you a heads up, it doesn’t happen.,Crystal Palace Breakfast (Sunday),EMH at MGM (Tuesday Morning) and at AK (Tuesday Night),‘Ohana Dinner (Thursday),Star Wars Weekend at MGM (Friday)

I’m not sure how I got Joe to agree to this trip before he took his first trip to Disney in September 2004, but somehow, I did. His mother says he can’t say no to me—well, he can, so its not that!!

In May 2004, we realized we really needed a vacation, and after pricing some different things, we decided on Disney. I booked a Dream Maker Package at All Star Movies for September. After I booked the trip, I found these boards, and learned about Annual Passes and the discounts that went along with them. We realized that for just a little more, we could switch from the package to annual passes, and spend a week at Wilderness Lodge (hoping to get a discounted rate). Also, if we had the annual passes, we could take another vacation to Disney the following summer (May, 2005). So, we decided to do it!! Luckily we found Courtney at Grandgetaways, and she got us our discounts!! So, thanks Courtney and everyone on Passporter, if it wasn’t for you guys, I wouldn’t have realized that taking two trips to Disney in such a short span of time was a possibility (actually 3, because between the two trips, Joe and I also decided to take a parents-only weekend last January).

The weeks leading up to our trip were really hectic, so up until the day before, I had nothing packed, and tons of laundry to do. I was pretty nervous. On Friday (the day before our trip), my parents drove up to Havertown from Rehoboth Beach (where they live), to help with the kids, while I did laundry. But, there was so much to do, and I was just a mess. I swear I will never again wait until the last minute to pack.

I had shipped two boxes to CBR filled with diapers, wipes, swimmy diapers, sippy cups and pool toys. I called CBR on Friday to see if they had arrived, and I was excited to find out that they were in the registration area waiting for me (yay!!)

That night I made a farewell dinner of Spaghetti and Meatballs (Danny’s favorite—Aidan is extremely picky (he has Sensory Integration Disorder), so he always gets one of the 5 foods he eats anyway). Danny loved it!!!!



Joe gave the kids baths and put them to bed, while I continued to pack and clean the house. I never made it to bed that night. I woke Joe up at 4:30am, at his request ,(his mom was coming at 6am to take us to the airport). He went downstairs, and was a little annoyed at all of the bags we had (we had one just for their asthma medications and nebulizers). So, I went through them again, and took some things out, and condensed to the point where he was happy (though this really irritated me).

Joe showered and dressed, and I did as well. We were ready when his mom came at 6. I got the boys up, and got them dressed really quickly (they were barely awake), washed faces and brushed teeth, while Joe packed the car. I had bought them each 3 shirts at the Disney store, so I surprised them with the first shirts today—they both had Mickey. They looked so cute. They put their Mickey ears on (we bought them on our last trip in September, and walked out the door--I wish I took a picture). We were in the car by 6:15am. Our flight was leaving at 9:30 (I know this is really early, but we were 2 hours early in September, and almost missed our flights because of really long lines at Security).

We made it to the airport by 6:35, and opened the stroller onto the sidewalk. We got the kids in the stroller, laid the bags next to it, and said quick goodbyes to Joe’s mom (we would later find out that we were too quick). We then started to make our way into the Airtran Terminal.

There was no one inside, and we walked right up to the counter. I had checked in, online, the night before, so they just checked our bags, and gave us the gate assignment. The Airtran employees were really friendly and cheerful. It was a pleasure to talk to them!! I was really excited!!

We started walking up to the gate, and came to the line for security-- which was really long. We were glad we left the house early. The kids were pretty quiet in the strollers, and everything was going smoothly—too smoothly. It hit me. Oh my god!!! We left Danny’s carseat in the car, which was being driven back to Havertown by Joe’s mom!!! He really needed the carseat since he just turned two, and had to be fastened into the seat on the airplane, but he’s really small for his age, and I know he couldn’t just sit there with a lap belt. Secondly, he needed the carseat in the Quicksilver towncar. Quicksilver had called the day before and told me that they would not be able to fit a carseat in the car because they had a few trips prior to picking us up at the airport. They wouldn’t have enough room in the car to store a carseat before picking us up. The booster was no problem as that fits in the trunk, but they couldn’t do the carseat. I replied, that it was no problem at all, since I was taking the carseat anyway—“Don’t worry about it!!!—no problem,” I told them. Now, I was in a panic.

Joe immediately grabbed his cell phone and started frantically calling his mom, but she didn’t have her phone turned on. He kept calling over and over, and by some stroke of luck, she turned the phone on. She had just made it to our exit on I476, but she could turn around—no problem. She’s a saint!!! Thank God!! Joe told me to stay in line, maybe she’d be quick enough that he would be back before we got to the xray machines (I seriously doubted it, and was not crazy about going through security with 2 kids, a huge double stroller, 4 bags alone). He started making his way back down to the street, and the boys and I continued on in line.

We made it to the detectors in no time (wouldn’t you know it), and I had to start getting the kids and the bags out of the stroller. Then I had to try to find a way to close that thing up and get my shoes off, while holding Danny (this stroller takes two hands and a foot to close—its really tough) because he will take off, and he’s fast. I could tell I was starting to hold people up, and I was getting nervous. The kind gentleman behind me asked if he could help me, but I didn’t think I should hand him my kid, and closing that darned stroller takes lots of lots of practice (I’m not kidding—really, I’m not). So, I thanked him, and told him that I thought I could handle it. We finally made it to the table, and I just started throwing everything I could into the bin with my shoes, while I pleaded with Aidan to stop running to the other tables. I’m also trying to keep hold of Danny ( who was really wiggling to get down). Am I on vacation yet?? Where’s my Dole Whip?? The nice Security agent took my closed stroller, and then they told me to take Aidan’s shoes off—are you serious? I must have given them the saddest look, because they started laughing at me. I got Aidan’s shoes off, and he started running for the metal detector. He went through too fast. The agent told me to call him back, and get him to go through again. He went through again, but this time he touched the side of the machine. He needed to go through again. I pleaded with him to walk through slowly, hugging himself, and after 2 more tries, he did it!!! (yay!!!) Danny and I walked through, and it was over!!! Well, not quite. Now I had to stop Aidan from running away, get the bags off of the table, get that darned huge stroller opened, get my wiggling, screaming toddler in it, and get our shoes on. The security agent came over and told me he tried to get the stroller opened, but couldn’t figure it out. I thanked him, he was nice, no one can get that thing open. It took me six months to really figure it out. He was so nice, though. After just 10-15 minutes, I finally did it and we were off to the gate!!! Thank God!!!!

After a 5 minute walk (5 minutes of Aidan pleading to go in every store he saw—I promised him we could go in a store once daddy was back), we got to the gate. Noone was there. We sat in some seats by the windows. I got their orange juices out of the cooler, and gave them some dry cheerios and cereal bars—the poor things hadn’t even eaten breakfast yet, and I really needed some coffee!!!

Coming Up
Why we won't fly to Disney again lol!!!
A ride in a nice black car
and
Chicken nuggets in a bucket!!!

[hktmom]

Fantastic...another Trip Report to keep me from booking a trip I shouldn't take .

But GoodNess! Did you get the short straw at Security! I bet you were beyond relief to be done with that whole scene!!

Can't wait to read more, but will wait patiently

Heather

[lauren-roxy]

Great start!! WE have three kids and have vowed not to fly until they are older, they are all under 5! We also take a double stroller which is hard to open, I feel your pain! Can't wait to read more!!!

[Tara O'Hara]

Well! You had some airport experience Dina!! But at least you are on your way now! Great start to your report!!

[LizardCop]

Great Start Dina...BUSY, but started!!!

[DrDolphin]

Dina - good thing you are a patient woman!! Great start - can't wait to read more!

[loobyoxlip]

OH, no. I do ticket checking at security once a day at my airport, so I see that scene you just played out over and over again. Just know you are NOT alone!! We've had kids crawl on the side of the metal detector, refuse to go through, have a fit b/c their stuffed animal is in the x-ray machine and they must have it NOW...

Hopefully your dh comes through with the car seat soon! And I hope your trip gets smoother from here on out

[LSUtigerfan]

Great start! and a great name too! I love it
Can't wait to hear more....

[travismom]

Great start!! Sounds like you could have used about 4 extra hands. Glad you made it safely through security. Can't wait to read more

[Fortissimo]

You managed this with no caffiene in your system?

You are no longer Happymommy - You're Wonder Woman!

Hurry back with more, please!

[CRCrazy]

Wow! Dina - you did a great job! Now - this should mean that all your vacation disasters should be used up - so the rest of the trip should be perfect, right???

Can't wait to see how it played out!

[DopeyGirl]

Wow Dina! Not the best start to the morning, was it!? But, the end result of going through all the airport hassle was SO worth it, wasn't it! How can you be angry at the airport stuff when you're on your way to DISNEY WORLD!?

Great start!!! Looking forward to more!!!

[Colexis Mom]

Gosh Dina, you sound exhausted already.......and you didn't go to bed either

I hope things are on the up soon

[Cinderbrella]

Wow! I feel your panic, Donna! You are a brave and courageous woman to handle that on your own!
My Din-laws and DH were with me to help check in our 4 kiddos and I was still in a panic. !*@# ! light-up shoes!
Looking forward to your next post!!

[Tinkerbelly]

Bless your heart! You did better than I would have done.I would be in tears. I get so stressed out at the airport. But if it wasn't for DH..I would probably loose it!
You're a wonder...Wonder Woman!!

p.s. This is hoping that DH made it back in time.. I can't wait to read more!