Nuclear Family Trip-Let's Hope I Don't Explode!! About This Page:

[benchley]

Looking forward to hearing all about your trip

[Jambo]

I can't wait to read all about it. I don't like the sound of a visit to the Celebration hospital! So, your little guy has graduated from his previous sleeping arrangement to the fold-out? Yay! I thought that was so funny and ingenious last time.

[MikeL]

Looking forward to reading all about it

[lfredsbo]

Welcome Home!!! Can't wait to hear all about this trip!!!

[OhToodles!]

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Sounds like an interesting trip!

My sentiments exactly!

[MayraLR]

Can't wait to read.

[KimandMark]

I'm going to backtrack just a little to the airport and apologize for some language.

My first post while in the hotel was after a long day and glass (or 3) of wine and I failed to use my appropriate-for-children vocabulary and I apoligize for that. I cuss like sailor but have been very good about keeping that away from little ears. Adam currently believe the very worst words one can say are "stupid" and "shut-up" both of which he heard in Toy Story/Disney Channel programming, repeated without malice and then learned that we don't say them. So imagine the extra mortification and personal diffculty I had when we overheard a Dad yelling at his elementary aged son to "shut up and stop being a stupid a--"!! Adam, lacking entirely in the concept of discretion, then loudly asked me why that Daddy said those bad words to his kids, those aren't good words and we aren't supposed to say them. He asked about 4000 times. I hope that Dad felt like a big jerk. And what should I say? Some parent's use bad words? He's a bad parent? Different rules at their house? So, again, I apologize as I realize the importance of keeping the bad words out of little ears/eyes.

(note that my kid is also the one who yells at kids who run near the pool by saying "my mommy says you can't run here"--I'm raising a nerd who will get bullied, I'm sure of it. But that's a story for another day.)

So. The airport. Flight was fine, delayed about 40 minutes in the end. Our driver wasn't anywhere to be found so I called twice and while no one called back the driver was there just a minute or two later. We'd booked a towncar but got the Escalade and Adam was very excited because Baca used to drive and Expedition and they look almost alike.

We checked in with no real problems, other than I had created to Adam accounts but only had one magic band. We had to get them merged without losing the FP+s and his AP. Frankly, I find MDX to mostly work well, but the number of bands/accounts/passes that appear in my account are nonsensical. I'm pleased that everything is linked (dinner ressies, room, dvc account, etc) but why can't this one thing be easier? Under my name on MDX there are four bands and two tickets but I've only ever used one band, the old ticket has no days left and the AP should be the only thing active. Anyway, they fixed it in about 10 seconds.

We unpacked and as part of that I was about to get out Adam's blow up toddler bed, that he barely fits in, when Jake decided to show him the chair/bed. He loved it! Yes, yes, mama, I want to sleep right here. He slept great all week!! We pushed it against the window with the foot against the wall, allowing access to the door and the ability to open one curtain. Next time I'd bring close pins or binder clips to keep the curtain totally closed but we used a carbiner off of Jake's backpack and it was fine too. On another note, the chair had clearly been the victim of some, uh, rough housing? maybe? The foot end legs did not properly support the bed and the whole frame was twisted meaning you really had to muscle the bed out to unfold it. Fine for a 36lb 41in boy; not fine for bigger kids though.

This was a theme in room: like there'd been a rock star party or bull fight. The refridgerator was deeply dented in several places, rocked back and forth and didn't really shut properly (it did work fine though). The tables had deep scratches on them. The wiring in the room seemed bad too; sometimes lights would come on and other times they wouldn't. The fan never came on, but we never needed it. I suppose AKL Jambo is showing it's age, but for the money we paid to stay there for the REST OF OUR LIVES I'd like to not feel the tack strips holding down the carpet.

After unpacking we went to MK to activate our APs and ride Pooh and Indy cars and returned to the room around 8:30 for bedtime.

The next morning Adam slept til 8. Unheard of. He normally goes to bed around 7:30 or 8 and gets up at 5:30 or 6 so this felt luxurious!! We didn't rush to rope drop and in fact did something I always tell people not to do--head to the park around 9, knowing it's already open and you missed out on the short lines of rope drop. Fortunately the first week of May is pretty slow and we had no problems with lines. I'd also failed in the checking rehab schedules department and talked up Jungle Cruise only to find out it was closed. Pirates was okay, Adam seemed to be concerned about the dark and the creepy skeletons, but I sold him on the "cotton fire" later in the ride. (Short story-our liqour store has a display for Jack Daniels Fire that includes a fake fire made of fabric with a fan, a very small version of the Pirates fires, Adam is amazed by it and how it works and calls it Cotton Fire).

Then we were head to BTM for our first FP+. Adam had watched videos and was pretty sure he wanted to go on it. But then he saw Splash Mountain. And the sunshined down, angels sang to him and he declared that he must go on that ride. I hate Splash Mountain. I hate getting wet when I'm in my clothes. I hate it. I haven't been on a log flume style ride in decades because I hate it so much. But when your baby boy asks to go, what to do you do? Well, first you show him the wet people getting off and explain the water part of this, stressing the water splashing on your head part. Then you make him watch the people go down the hill. And then you give in and agree to the very horrible ride because you love him. You also remind Daddy that Mother's Day is sunday and the hotel has a spa, just sayin'.

And so it was that Mommy got soaked.

Adam was wedged in so tight between us he didn't get a drop. BTM was the next big hit. We went back and forth between these two rides for quite awhile, Adam insisting on waiting in longer and longer lines and doing so patiently. It was completely crazy. Mine Train went the same way. Love it, wanted to do it again, but we did well convincing him that 90 minutes was just too too long.

We left in the afternoon for the pool, where my non-swimmer went down the water slide a billion times in row, with one of us catching him at the bottom. There were also Margaritas.

Our plan was to go to MK for earlish dinner, rides and Parade/FW. FW were the crap shoot, I just didn't see Adam making it that far and I'm not entirely sure he really likes fireworks anyway. We were probably too early to the park and had too much time to kill after eating at Pecos Bill's out of convenience and poor planning on my part (I don't get what people see in that place--it's fast food, and the toppings bar is just iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, onions and mushrooms; not exactly a feast). More Splash and BTM and then the People Mover. Adam loves the PM, more than seems right for a little boy who also loved BTM. But it's an excellent time killer.

We found a spot on Main Street, got a new spinner toy because I left the old one in the room (see, poor planning on my part) and waited. I like the new-to-me element of putting ropes up to keep people at the front of the sidewalk. I didn't like the behemoth strollers people use taking up some good real estate. I especally didn't like that the guy in front of us used it to take up three spots on the curb that he wasn't saving for anyone, he was just giving his stroller a good view. Or the guy who bought a balloon and then tied it to his stoller right in front of Jake's head. Whatever, it was overwhelmingly full of nice people who shared space and were pleasant to talk to. When Adam is older and I have less interest in getting out of the park quickly, we'll watch this in Frontierland instead.

Adam enjoyed the parade, but not much. He may have been tired. Or maybe it was the part where he expected fire trucks (you know, like all the parades he can remember). In any case, he watched, we left, he was asleep by 10:15 and we decided to just have a pool day the next day.

Take Aways from Monday:
-my kid likes roller coasters and wants to do them again and again
-my kid is stickler for rules/lines/fairness
-the margaritas at the pool bar are delicious, and expensive, but that's why I don't drive a new car, right?
-AKL is getting old and I'm concerned for state of the DVC rooms (and frankly, some clientele--stupid axx Dad-guy in particular, but he was not the only example of nasty parenting I saw)
-First week of May is awesome--low crowds means high flexibility for us
-I'll wear wet shorts for my kid. I'll hate it too.

[MayraLR]

Sounds like a great first day! Well, minus the ride on SM and your wet clothes. The things you do for your kids...

[mommapants]

Just joining in, sounds like a wonderful first day. Stupid parents are everywhere, can't avoid them.

I used to love it when my son thought the "S" word was stupid or shut-up now he knows it for real. We watched the Avengers and he was like "Mommy, Iron Man said the "S" word". Sorry the hotel is looking old. I felt that one time when we stayed at Fort Wilderness and within a year they were renovating all the cabins. I would bet AKL is on the list.

[DMA]

What a great day!
I love your honest, down to earth style! Makes for very enjoyable reading! Looking forward to the next installment.

[Colexis Mom]

Great first day!

[bluejn]

Great trip report, hate it when people are rude and not happy at wdw, especially when you have a small child to explain things too

[lfredsbo]

Great first day so far, minus the being soaked part

I think it's pretty exciting that Adam enjoyed the rides so much!

[cattailmarsh]

Awesome trip report. I love you telling just how it telly was. I love complete honesty. BTW, still waiting to hear but how 1 box of wine isn't enough? I have discerned (i think) that the wrong type was sent out. But not sure if that was all to it.

And yes you never know what they will like/hate, but you can guarantee that we (good parents) will sacrifice our own wants/desires/likes for our children! So yep - I see multiple days & years of wet shorts for you. Glad your trip is going well.

[KimandMark]

Thanks everyone!! I never know if I'm doing a good job parenting or not. Don't we all think our kids are amazing?!! And then yesterday, when he was super angry with Daddy, Adam yelled "Daddy, I'm so mad and you're acting like a bad word!" How do you not die of laughter (and cuteness) after that?

Originally Posted by cattailmarsh

Awesome trip report. I love you telling just how it telly was. I love complete honesty. BTW, still waiting to hear but how 1 box of wine isn't enough? I have discerned (i think) that the wrong type was sent out. But not sure if that was all to it.

And yes you never know what they will like/hate, but you can guarantee that we (good parents) will sacrifice our own wants/desires/likes for our children! So yep - I see multiple days & years of wet shorts for you. Glad your trip is going well.

Yes, they sent Pinot Noir instead of Pinot Grigio, and at first was trying to explain how they just substitute products when they don't have exact matches. Then I said something about that being fine, except that I wanted cold and white wine, not warm and red. They sent me a box of Chardonnay.

It wasn't enough because I guess I drink a lot!! After walking around in wet denim shorts (what a terrible idea) I deserved it.

I don't love box wine, there are some fine box wines out there. Black Box Chardonnay is better than, say, Franzia, but it's not great. It has one job--to be a cold, adult beverage that takes the edge off. I'm not looking for an earth shattering pairing with food or anything. At home we drink wine with almost every dinner, usually one glass, sometimes two. And we've got a very small collection in the cellar for aging, so wine is thing at our house. On vacation or nice summer evenings, I enjoy what I call "porch wine" or wine that is easy to drink, probably cheap, usually cold. So if you consider that we arrived on Sunday afternoon and had five full days in front of us and that I was likely to have a glass or two in the afternoon and another glass or five at night, a box goes away fast! I had help sometimes too, from my hollow legged husband who could eat and drink us all out of house and home and never gain a pound. Jerk.