Have a Happy Birthday - Part One - Updated 9/30 COMPLETE - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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whatever you do dont mention this to my DH as his bday is the only one left to celebrate at WDW... lmao I am already loving this tr Jill. I can't wait to read more..
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I'm really excited to hear what you guys thought of the train. I live i spartanburg,sc and it runs through here as well. I've often thought about it but have been nervous to try it...Also, looks like maddie and i have close birthdays!! I cant wait to hear more.
Oh....what a great start I can't wait to read more.
And you deserve SEVERAL glasses of wine for "hosting" that birthday party. OMG!!! All those kids in one yard. Now you know why I'm a bad mommy and haven't had a party for Jimmy yet (I'm thinking MAYBE when he turns five and starts asking).
I'm insanely jealous that you're going back so soon after your June trip with another one planned in the fall.
That's a funny story about the joined birthday party. A bunch of us mothers from day care last year were thinking the same thing after all the same kids were attending the 3rd birthday party in 2 weeks. Right before Christmas! I'm hoping we don't run into this again with starting a new school.
Despite the excitement rapidly building in our household the night before, we were able to get the girls to bed on time. Sleep for me though was an entirely different story. I was hoping to get at least two hours before we had to wake back up at 12:30, but instead of sleeping, I found myself listening to the movie that Thom was watching (Mission Impossible III) . I felt Thom get out of bed right before I was just about to nod off to sleep - - that’s about the time that the final gun battle in MIIII left me wide awake. As the credits rolled on the movie, Thom came back into the room and noticed that I was awake “I thought you were going to sleep.”
I shot him a dirty look before saying “I was until you left the tv on right before an incredibly loud shoot out.”
He apologized before he turned off the tv and went right to sleep. I, on the other hand, got out of bed and went downstairs to play some games on Webkinz for an hour - - might as well make some money for Wolf if I couldn’t sleep. I did get to sleep a little after 11 p.m., but that alarm clock was beeping before I knew it. Who really needs more than a 1 and ½ of sleep when your destination is Disney?
I had taken a shower the night before so I popped out of bed and was ready to go within minutes. Thom woke up two very happy and excited girls who acted as if they had already had a full night of sleep! Once everyone was dressed and the bags were loaded in the minivan, we were off! The train station is only about 10 minutes from our house, so we were there by 1 a.m. And we did see some interesting sights on the way - - lots of bar activity in our town after midnight!
My parents were meeting us there to see us off and we spotted their car as soon as we turned into the parking lot. We had asked them to retrieve our car later that day (i.e. once they had woken up), but they get very excited about anything that their granddaughters are doing so they suggested that they just meet us there. Hey, you want to stay out until all hours of the morning, fine by me. Once they came out of the station to greet us, we discovered that they had been there since midnight thinking that the train left at 12:30.
While Thom picked up our tickets, my parents and I took the girls to find some seats together. Thom then grabbed our big piece of luggage and the two strollers to check. It was as easy as that – no lines, no security, no hassle. While we sat there chatting with my parents, a young man bought himself some snacks from the vending machine. He brought over a Rice Krispie treat for Mary Devall and assured us that he was okay. He proudly told us that he was an Eagle Scout. Okay, the crowd was a bit . . . um . . . different at the train station at 1 a.m. but everyone seemed nice.
An announcement came over the loudspeaker that the train was delayed right outside of Columbia, so we ended up waiting an additional 45 minutes. The girls had their Rice Krispie treat to split and we had an abundance of excitement bubbling within us, so the time actually went by fairly quickly.
At one point, Thom went to the window to ask about the train. Mary Devall asked where he was going and I replied that he was checking out the situation. As Thom walked back to us, Mary Devall yelled out to him “Hey Daddy! What’s the situation?”
We were finally told that the train was approaching, so we walked way down to the right of the tracks where the sleeper car passengers boarded while everyone else waited closer to the station. Apparently we were the only sleeper car passengers at this stop.
It was awesome watching this massive train come into the station and park right in front of us. The attendant hopped down from the train, checked our tickets and pointed us in the direction of our room. We gave my parents a quick hug goodbye and then waved to them from our big picture windows once we were in our room. The beds were already pulled out and ready for us, so the girls had a blast crawling up on the bed to wave to their Papa and Junebug. My parents had to be exhausted by this time, so they motioned that they were leaving after giving us a final wave goodbye.
Mary Devall trying out the upper bunk
Maddie on the bottom bunk
As soon as Thom sat on the lower bunk, he immediately said “I’m only traveling by train from now on.”
We quickly decided who would sleep where and we were in bed when we realized that the train was already moving. Mary Devall and I slept on the upper bunk while Thom and Maddie took the lower one. Despite a little giggling early on, the girls soon fell back asleep. It did take me a little longer due to excitement and a little fear that I was going to fall off the bunk. The rational side of me knew there were cords that would catch me, but the illogical side wondered if those cords could break. I finally found a position the made me feel a bit more secure and sleep overtook me. I did wake occasionally through the night when we would stop (but thankfully they didn’t announce each stop over the intercom) or when the train would jerk, but when I finally woke about 8 a.m. I felt well rested (or at least I didn’t feel comatose ).
We had been told that breakfast was served until 9 a.m. in the dining car, so I went ahead with Maddie while Thom got Mary Devall up and at ‘em. I wasn’t sure what the set up was in the dining car (whether it was cafeteria style or what), so I was pleasantly surprised to see booths lining each side of the car with paper clothes on the tables and immaculately dressed servers.
The one challenging part of the train proved to be moving from car to car. As soon as Maddie and I were in the hallway outside of our room and took a few steps on the rocky train, she turned to me and held her arms up for me to hold her. We had to go through two cars to make it to the dining car and I prayed that I wouldn’t hit Maddie’s head on the side of the train as we tried to stay upright. It was challenging, but all part of being on a train.
When we made it to the dining car, a server immediately asked me how many. I told him four and he asked me to wait in the lounge until he could clear a table. Getting down that aisle without landing on a diner’s lap was our next goal and we did make it! We found a seat and, within minutes, the server came for us. Thom and Mary Devall showed up a few minutes later and Mary Devall’s face was just lit up with the wonder of actually eating on the train.
Our meal was actually included in the price of the sleeper car which was a nice bonus. I was impressed with the menu - - French toast, breakfast sandwiches, omelets, etc. I ended up going with just the continental breakfast while everyone else enjoyed the French toast. I was quite impressed with myself with not spilling .
After we enjoyed watching the world go by while we had a nice breakfast, Maddie and I returned to the room while Thom and Mary Devall did a little exploring. Once they returned, we had about an hour before we reached Orlando. I spent the time freshening up while the girls played and then discovered an extra overhead storage compartment.
It was actually meant for storage, but it was carpeted and had a railing, so Thom decided that Mary Devall could sleep in it on our way home. They had the best time playing in that compartment until we reached Orlando.
When the train stopped, we bid goodbye to our attendant and were waiting for our luggage within minutes. This process was probably the longest of the trip because we had to wait for the checked luggage to be brought to the station and then Thom had to wait in a longish line to retrieve it.
During this time, both Thom and I were a bit put out at one van service that was all but dragging people on their vans. It was as if you really didn’t have a choice. Thankfully, once Thom had our luggage and the strollers, all of the vans had left and we grabbed a taxi instead which is what we had planned to do anyway.
The driver was a very nice man, but he spoke broken English and had zero idea of where Saratoga Springs Resort was. Just about the time that I was envisioning us driving around and around Orlando, he called over another driver who set him straight. He wasn’t the best driver in the world, but he did get us there within about twenty minutes in one piece. He left us and our luggage at the Carriage House where I took Maddie with me to check in while Thom and Mary Devall brought up the rear with the luggage. We were waited on within minutes, but unfortunately our room wasn’t ready yet. I asked her the general area where we would be and she pointed to the Springs area which I remembered from what I had read being a good location.
We put everything we would need for the day in one backpack and then sent the rest, except for the two umbrella strollers, off with bell services. We had asked Mary Devall before the trip if she thought she might need a stroller (since we were accused near the end of our June trip for being mean parents by not getting her a stroller ) and she finally admitted that one might be nice. We had an extra one at home, so it was easy enough to bring that one along with Maddie’s. The funny thing was that Maddie’s actually fit Mary Devall better so they ended up switching.
We followed the signs to the bus stop which was just across the street from the Carriage House and the pool. Within minutes, an AK bus (Mary Devall’s park of choice on this day) appeared so we were quite happy. There are five bus stops in SSR and the Springs is the last one, so once a bus arrived, we were on our way to a park.
Up next . . . a little rain, a little fun and a lot of Yak Attack
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Gosh, another trip!! I'm so jealous!! More please 
! I'm so glad we get another Jillybean TR to read already!
ANGIE
Hurry back!
I'm hoping we don't run into this again with starting a new school.
. I felt Thom get out of bed right before I was just about to nod off to sleep - - that’s about the time that the final gun battle in MIIII left me wide awake. 
As the credits rolled on the movie, Thom came back into the room and noticed that I was awake “I thought you were going to sleep.” 
While we sat there chatting with my parents, a young man bought himself some snacks from the vending machine. He brought over a Rice Krispie treat for Mary Devall and assured us that he was okay. He proudly told us that he was an Eagle Scout. Okay, the crowd was a bit . . . um . . . 
different at the train station at 1 a.m. but everyone seemed nice.
and then waved to them 
from our big picture windows once we were in our room. The beds were already pulled out and ready for us, so the girls had a blast crawling up on the bed to wave to their Papa and Junebug. My parents had to be exhausted by this time, so they motioned that they were leaving after giving us a final wave goodbye.
).
We found a seat and, within minutes, the server came for us. Thom and Mary Devall showed up a few minutes later and Mary Devall’s face was just lit up with the wonder of actually eating on the train. 
I was impressed with the menu - - French toast, breakfast sandwiches, omelets, etc. 
I ended up going with just the continental breakfast while everyone else enjoyed the French toast. I was quite impressed with myself with not spilling 
. 
It was as if you really didn’t have a choice. Thankfully, once Thom had our luggage and the strollers, all of the vans had left and we grabbed a taxi instead which is what we had planned to do anyway. 
Just about the time that I was envisioning us driving around and around Orlando, he called over another driver who set him straight. He wasn’t the best driver in the world, but he did get us there within about twenty minutes in one piece. 
He left us and our luggage at the Carriage House where I took Maddie with me to check in while Thom and Mary Devall brought up the rear with the luggage. We were waited on within minutes, but unfortunately our room wasn’t ready yet. I asked her the general area where we would be and she pointed to the Springs area which I remembered from what I had read being a good location. 
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