Mom's buying so we're flying TR About This Page:

[kangelop]

I'm so glad your flight went so well. That helps start the trip on a good note.

Sorry about the meltdown and bus driver. Can't wait to see if you made it to SW at a reasonable time!!

[saibot0001]

Poor Abby and poor you (sometimes people forget that when or kiddos are having a hard time, it is just as hard sometimes harder on the mom. It sounds like that the server from Trails End was there just when you needed her. Isn't that nice? As for HDDR, we love it too, but we opted to skip out on it thus time b/c we have so many new resturaunts we want to try. I totally agree that the balcony seats are so much better! The first time we were on the floor close to the piano and the servers did keep walking in front of us but I know they were just doing their job. The next time we tried the balcony and sat on the side just over the stage, and it was perfect. Good for you to be flexible on letting everyone sleep in on the SW day. I bet the day goes much smoother b/c of it. That is something I learn to be a little better at on each trip! I usually am a go,go,go type "A" personality, but I have had to learn to slow it down and remember we are on vacation to relax too. So if someone needs a break or to sleep in to let them b/c it's their vacation to and the day will be so much better for doing so. I'm loving your TR (as I knew I would)!

[Colexis Mom]

Sorry the day ended on a sour note!

[sophierushmom]

I swear I think Lenny and my husband were seperated at birth! They have the same lets be a grouch and complain about silly things on vacation!

[lsugirlinutah]

Just getting caught up! Sorry Lenny wasn't happy with the rental car. At least you got a Cadillac; about half the time when I rent a car they don't even have the car I reserved. This is a problem because I need something like an SUV or van that holds at least 6. It reminds me of Seinfeld: "You know how to take the reservation, but not how to HOLD it."

I'm also glad your flight was uneventful. That makes a huge difference.

We have also had the massive meltdowns at the end of the day. Even from older kids who should know better. And I'm sorry your bus driver didn't help matters. I've been having more and more encounters with snippy CM. In fact, I'm not calling the Cruise reservation line for awhile. All the CM I've asked questions to have made me feel like I'm a complete moron.

Looking forward to more!

[nursemom]

Goodness, what a rough start. It seems the first day is the toughest for our family too. Either a DH migraine, motion sickness, or grumpy kids. After being up early, flying, driving, and being in the parks it is tough to keep it together as an adult, let alone as a child.
I am glad the Trail's End server was so kind. Looking forward to more!

[CinderAbby]

Originally Posted by elisa1006

So glad the plane ride went so well. I know how stressed you were over how Abby would react. What a magical upgrade at the HDDR. I can't wait for my girls to see the play area at Pooh! I think they'll enjoy it! Sorry about how your night ended though. Glad y'all finally got back to ASSP. I agree with letting Abby sleep in. I too would have wanted to get up and go, but I can see how it'd be best for all of you to sleep in and not fight that battle!
Can't wait for the next installment!

Thanks Elisa. Like I said, while I was hoping that Abby would show excitement over being on a plane for the first time, but I'll take no reaction over a bad one any day, KWIM? The play area at Pooh was fun - I had fun watching all the kids there playing even though there weren't too many by the time we got there. Part of me can't say I'm surprised by Abby having a meltdown - I pretty much do expect one to happen at the drop of a hat with her but I always try to be optimistic that one won't happen. When it does, I just deal with it whatever way the situation calls for.

Originally Posted by B.M.

Sorry Abby had such a rough go of it.... Sounds like your original thought to just hang around the resort the first night would have suited you guys better..... Just like all of us with trips to Disney and elsewhere; live and learn....

Thanks - doing not much of anything WOULD have been much better but as you say, live and learn. I just don't know if what I learned will make it's way into the next trip , whenever that might be

Originally Posted by Jakesmom1118

happy to see you started your TR. Glad to hear the flight went smoothly.

Thanks. I'm glad you enjoy it

Originally Posted by WeRDisneyFanatics

Sorry about the rough ending to the day. Travel days are so exhausting - physically and mentally. Sometimes I feel like having a meltdown myself.

Me too - but I don't think adults can get away with meltdowns like the kids can. And I have to agree, the travel day is exhausting. For some reason I thought by flying instead of driving that it wouldn't be as bad. Boy was I wrong.

Originally Posted by Fortissimo

It's here, it's here! A CinderAbby TR!
I'm glad you flight went so well. I was sending mental pixies the day you left.
Poor Abby, she sounded exhausted.
More, please!

Thanks Robin. I'm glad you enjoy my TR's. And I could tell everyone was sending me pixies for the airport and the plane ride. If you hadn't, I don't things would have gone as well as they had. Yes, I was totally stressed for a few minutes but that eventually went away completely and I really did wonder why I was making such a big deal out of it (probably all the unknowns). Abby was totally exhausted but she doesn't always know to quit while she's ahead. I don't help matters either I guess - I could have said no to the park that night but I didn't. Maybe next time I will.

Originally Posted by Cam22

Sorry your long first day caused some issues as the day wore on!

Thanks Cam. It happens - we all get grumpy when we get tired but some of us know how to handle it better than others.

Originally Posted by ravensgirl76

I'm so glad you started your TR happy to hear the flight went well, and i feel your pain with a complaining DH...i sometimes wonder myself how in the world did he function before we got married I'm sorry to hear about your rough first night and def agree about letting Abby sleep in. I hope your day at Sea World was fun and relaxing, can't wait to hear more!!

Thanks - and I'm glad to see it's not only me with a hubby who complains. I just have less patience for it on vacation I guess. He's not completely helpless but I swear he acts like he's NEVER driven around Disney before. Hello, it's his 5th time there - he should know it like the back of his hand now . What happned that night happened, all we can do is go forward and maybe change how we do things.

Originally Posted by phoebec

I understand the first day meltdowns, I had one of my own right along side my son. It has to be the excitement and the tiredness. I'm glad Abby calmed down and I understand how frustrating the complaining and grumpies are. I hope everyone settles in and has a great time. Can't wait to hear about Sea World!

Thanks. I remember reading your TR and I could "hear" all your frustrations coming thorugh. It's not easy dealing with everything we do just as mothers - throw in vacations and meltdowns and everything else that happens and something eventually has to give.

[CinderAbby]

Originally Posted by lazanya

Yay! You started your TR!
What a long & exhausting day for you all. Sorry about the meltdowns.
But how nice to get some Disney Magic at HDDR!

Thanks Jodi. It was long and exhausting and stuff happened. Hopefully we know better for the future. We did get some Disney magic and I was hoping it really would start the vacation off right. I guess we just didn't get enough of it

Originally Posted by citygirl

I am so excited you started your trip report! I can't wait for all the installments. I'm not suprised Abby & Lenny had a meltdown, Sometimes there is a letdown when you realize something you anticipated a long time for is finally happening. Lenny probably wanted the trip to be perfect and after not getting a DTS was afraid other things would go wrong. Sorry you had a rude bus driver. That did not help at all. Hope things went better the next day.

Thanks. I'm glad you enjoy my TR's. It'll be a couple of days before I'm done but I promise it won't take forever even though it might seem like it. You know, I never really thought of it in those terms - being a letdown - but thinking back, yeah I kind of did have that feeling of "Yeah, okay, we're here. Now what?" As for Lenny, I think he just wanted something to complain about. I had been telling him don't get his hopes up for any particular type of car but apparantely he did. Me? I was just happy to have a car in the class we paid for, I didn't care about anything else. And no, the bus driver didn't help at all. Unfortunately, it's not the first time we've had a driver like that at FW. It's actually making me leary of going back there again and using the bus in the future.

Originally Posted by ilovedisney247

Great start! I'm glad the plane ride went smoothly for you! I'm glad you enjoyed the HDDR, but I agree that you shouldn't push too hard on the first day. Sometimes it leads to adult melt downs in my house--so I completely sympathize with your DD!

Thanks. While I didn't exactly push for the first day - an ADR was NOT my choice but rather Lenny's and going to the park was Abbys - I did nothing to prevent it either so I'm just as guilty as they are. Now if only I can take what happened this year and remember it on any future trips.

Originally Posted by chezp

What a great dose of Disney magic at the Hoop Dee Doo! You did get a lot done on your first day.

Thanks Cheryl. We did get a lot done but it ended up being too much.

Originally Posted by kangelop

I'm so glad your flight went so well. That helps start the trip on a good note.
Sorry about the meltdown and bus driver. Can't wait to see if you made it to SW at a reasonable time!!

Thanks. It really was nice to have a good experience at the airport and on the plane. It did start it on a good note but unfortuantely you see it didn't last.

Originally Posted by saibot0001

Poor Abby and poor you (sometimes people forget that when or kiddos are having a hard time, it is just as hard sometimes harder on the mom. It sounds like that the server from Trails End was there just when you needed her. Isn't that nice? As for HDDR, we love it too, but we opted to skip out on it thus time b/c we have so many new resturaunts we want to try. I totally agree that the balcony seats are so much better! The first time we were on the floor close to the piano and the servers did keep walking in front of us but I know they were just doing their job. The next time we tried the balcony and sat on the side just over the stage, and it was perfect. Good for you to be flexible on letting everyone sleep in on the SW day. I bet the day goes much smoother b/c of it. That is something I learn to be a little better at on each trip! I usually am a go,go,go type "A" personality, but I have had to learn to slow it down and remember we are on vacation to relax too. So if someone needs a break or to sleep in to let them b/c it's their vacation to and the day will be so much better for doing so. I'm loving your TR (as I knew I would)!

Thanks. Throw in a grumpy husband too and it makes it even harder but as a mom, we just do what we have to do. It's a never ending, thankless job but someone has got to do it. And it was nice to have the server on the bus recognize that Abby was more than a tired child. It's not often that you get people that know and understand that it wasn't a matter of mommy and daddy keeping a child out to late - that there was something else there causing it as well. That IMO instantly gives you a type of bond with someone that while you may not know who they are, you know and can understand what they go through.

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who would prefer to be up on the balcony - and it has nothing to do with the cost of the tickets. It's just the overall experience and I feel it's better where you can watch and see pretty much everything. I'm still go, go, go so it's hard for me to relax on a Disney vacation. There's just so much to see and do and I'd rather being doing them than staying at the resort burning daylight. I'm really glad that you enjoy my TR's to keep coming back. I try to make them enjoyable without being too boring and it makes me happy to know tha people do enjoy them.

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Sorry the day ended on a sour note!

Thanks Marnie. We just had to deal with it and move on. Hopefully I'll remember our experiences for the next time we go.

[CinderAbby]

Originally Posted by sophierushmom

I swear I think Lenny and my husband were seperated at birth! They have the same lets be a grouch and complain about silly things on vacation!

They probably were. Knowing that, we should have left them together and gone off on our own at the parks. Then they would have really had something to complain about

Originally Posted by lsugirlinutah

Just getting caught up! Sorry Lenny wasn't happy with the rental car. At least you got a Cadillac; about half the time when I rent a car they don't even have the car I reserved. This is a problem because I need something like an SUV or van that holds at least 6. It reminds me of Seinfeld: "You know how to take the reservation, but not how to HOLD it."

I'm also glad your flight was uneventful. That makes a huge difference.

We have also had the massive meltdowns at the end of the day. Even from older kids who should know better. And I'm sorry your bus driver didn't help matters. I've been having more and more encounters with snippy CM. In fact, I'm not calling the Cruise reservation line for awhile. All the CM I've asked questions to have made me feel like I'm a complete moron.

Looking forward to more!

That's too funny about that quote from Seinfeld. I've never heard it before but I do think it sums it up very well. And yes, having a good flight made a difference. Had anything gone wrong, I'm sure the first day would have turned out much, much worse than it had. Everyone knows better when it comes to meltdowns at home, I just don't get why it doesn't continue on vacation. Is it a matter of some subconscience thought "vacations are hard enough as it is, lets make it even harder than it needs to be?" Now I realize Abby has a good reason for her meltdowns but husbands for instance don't have a good reason. They might think they do, but we know they don't

Originally Posted by nursemom

Goodness, what a rough start. It seems the first day is the toughest for our family too. Either a DH migraine, motion sickness, or grumpy kids. After being up early, flying, driving, and being in the parks it is tough to keep it together as an adult, let alone as a child.
I am glad the Trail's End server was so kind. Looking forward to more!

It was rough but like I said, I thought that flying would help to make a difference. We were able to sleep in our own beds and get a good nights sleep before hand, we didn't have hours and hours of exhausting driving, etc. It didn't make a difference. I don't know what I can do to make a difference but I can only hope that we don't repeat the "mistakes" of this year the next time we go.

[Huntermom]

Just caught up. so glad your flight went smoothly. Hopefully, Lenny's attitude will improve as the trip progresses and he appreciates all the time and energy you put into planning.

We have long since learned for our family, getting a slightly later flight means having a better first day. How could Abby not be exhausted when he day started before dawn?

[mcc0313]

I was so excited to see that you started your TR. I am so glad that the flight and time at the airport went easily. I thought about you as I know how anxious you were (we fly everytime and I still get anxious before a flight) so when I read how well it went, everyone felt ok and that you had a great flight I was so happy.

Sorry the first day was a rough one, early flights do the same for us, we are all excited as we are getting to our happy place but we don't realize how tired we really and that sometimes a quiet relaxing day is better than racing to the parks.

Mickey Magic on the first day with the seating, sorry that it was not really a perfect spot, I can see how the balcony would be better in terms of less people in front or walking around you. Glad that you all made it back to ASS - sounds like you definitely had a night but I am hoping to hear some sleep for everyone was a great help.

[CinderAbby]

Originally Posted by Huntermom

Just caught up. so glad your flight went smoothly. Hopefully, Lenny's attitude will improve as the trip progresses and he appreciates all the time and energy you put into planning.

We have long since learned for our family, getting a slightly later flight means having a better first day. How could Abby not be exhausted when he day started before dawn?

Thanks. I'm not saying anything about Lenny - you'll just have to stay tuned as to whether his mood improved or not. I've contemplated doing a later flight next time but it will probably come down to the cost. As for Abby, she sleeps so poorly at times that being exhausted is something I think she's use to.

Originally Posted by mcc0313

I was so excited to see that you started your TR. I am so glad that the flight and time at the airport went easily. I thought about you as I know how anxious you were (we fly everytime and I still get anxious before a flight) so when I read how well it went, everyone felt ok and that you had a great flight I was so happy.

Sorry the first day was a rough one, early flights do the same for us, we are all excited as we are getting to our happy place but we don't realize how tired we really and that sometimes a quiet relaxing day is better than racing to the parks.

Mickey Magic on the first day with the seating, sorry that it was not really a perfect spot, I can see how the balcony would be better in terms of less people in front or walking around you. Glad that you all made it back to ASS - sounds like you definitely had a night but I am hoping to hear some sleep for everyone was a great help.

Thanks for everything. And you're right too. Between someone earlier saying we almost have a let down feeling once we're there and you talking about not realizing how tired we are - I thinking it's a combination of both. It's almost hard to describe the exact feeling but somewhere between the two I think is apt. We had a day but the night certainly took the cake. And you'll just have to stay tuned to hear anything else.

[omd]

I am tuned in and waiting .

[CinderAbby]

Originally Posted by omd

I am tuned in and waiting .

Your wait is now over (for a day at least )

[CinderAbby]

Thursday 7/21/2011 Part 1

Thursday morning I was up early at 7. I’m not sure why I got up so early but I did. I spent a little bit of time writing up the start of my TR but I didn’t get much done. I woke Lenny up at 8 so he could start getting ready. It always takes him a while to wake up and get the scooter packed up so I was in hopes that he’d have all of that done by the time Abby woke up. He did and by 10 am, I was getting antsy to do something that day so I went in and started to wake Abby up. She finally woke up and got ready and told me that she did want to go to Sea World for the day. So after stopping at the food court for a quick breakfast, that was where we headed.

We were finally there about 11:45 and got in our only line for the day - the line to buy our admission tickets. I was able to purchase two disability tickets which saved us $80 so I was quite happy with that. After having a couple of photos taken, we headed over to the Manta ride. No, we didn’t ride it but Abby wanted to watch it for a few minutes.

She kept telling me it was a ride grammy would do - and knowing my mother, she would too. From there, we checked out the sea turtles but Abby didn’t have any interest in them - she actually wanted to go to the Manta Aquarium.

　
That exhibit I have to say was pretty cool - in more ways than one. It had all sorts of tanks in it with sea creatures and in one portion of it, you actually stand underneath the manta tank and you can see all of them swimming above you. It was also nice and cool in there. While Lenny had been getting the scooter out of the car, I used my phone to connect to the weather channel and the info it gave me said it was 89 degrees outside but it felt like it was 96 - and it certainly did, so to be inside where it was dark and cool, we took our time looking at everything.

　
After the manta aquarium, we headed over to the Pets Ahoy show. Out of all the shows they have at the park, that was really the only one Abby wanted to see. As we approached the building, I saw a family with a scooter rider talking to an employee and when they were done, I asked him where we should wait. He told us to wait behind the other family and that we could go in the exit. We were really early for the show but because we were in the shade, we sat down to wait and enjoy being out of the sun. We looked over the maps trying to decide what we wanted to do and to try and figure out where exactly all the pressed pennies could be that we wanted to look for. Long before I expected it, we were let into the theater and it was even cooler in there than the manta aquarium had been. We enjoyed every minute of being in there. The show started and while it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, we really enjoyed the show. It was really cute with what they had all the animals doing.

From Pets Ahoy, we decided it was time for lunch and when we were looking at the map, we noticed there was a buffet listed on there which I hadn’t seen online. We love buffets so we headed there for lunch.

It turned out it was only a pizza, pasta and salad buffet but that was fine with us - we like all 3 and it was reasonably priced. With tax, it was a little over $38 for the 3 of us. We headed in there and the only disappointment for us with the meal is that Sea World is a Pepsi product park . We’re Coke product people so there weren’t a lot of choices for us to drink . Abby opted to drink the water we brought into the park with us. Lenny had a little bit of fruit punch but he didn’t care for it and I went with the root beer. It was fine and it helped to wash down the meal. The food on the other hand was good. I had a little bit of pasta with some alfredo sauce and a roll and some cheese pizza. Abby had the rolls and pizza and Lenny had a little bit of everything. I agree with Lenny when he says they could have had a few more options for the buffet - more cold salads for instance (they only had 3 big bowls of it, 2 were caesar and one was garden, they could have had other veggie salads, potato salad or even cold pasta salads, etc) - but for what we paid, I can’t complain.