Sorry to say this, we are home. We were home last weekend as well and don't have any travel planned next weekend either. I am starting to worry about meeting our goal to hit fifty states. But life gets in the way of travel. For example, Big Boy is turning ten and we are having a birthday party for him next weekend. Now, although I am totally against him turning ten (I will have a double digit kid.. a tween OMG Lyk noway) I am going to have to let it happen. And if it is going to happen anyway, I guess I should throw him a party.
Now, if anyone thinks I am dragging reluctant kids around the country just to satisfy my need to achieve our goal, let me relay a quick Big Boy story.
We were sitting at the dinner table and I was trying to get him to say where he wanted to go for dinner for his actual birthday (not the party) and he came up with the idea of flying somewhere cool for dinner. Of course, I had to remind him that his actual birthday is on a school night so this would not be possible but I think it is pretty cool that he came up with this idea. heaven help us if my husband ever stops working for the airline. My kids won't know what to do with themselves.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Disney - coming home
As I believe I had mentioned before, my husband booked the flights for this particular trip and he had us scheduled to leave Disney at 7:00 PM which wold have put us back at our house no earlier than 10:30 at night... on a school night. And that was with no flight delays and us racing through the airport, catching the fist bus to the parking lot and me driving above the speed limit. OK, that last part is likely to happen n matter which flight we take
So, in light of this, I re booked us for a much earlier flight. On our last day, we slept in, treated ourselves to a restaurant breakfast and took our time gathering our bags. we took full advantage of our 1:00 late check out and only had a half hour to kill in the lobby before Magical Express picked us up out front at 1:30.
We had plenty of time to shop at the airport (Big Boy's favorite past time) and got on our first choice flight with seats to spare. Just moment before boarding, I asked Big Boy to make sure his phone was turned off and he got this sick look on his face. He had lost his cell phone. I tried calling the phone several times prior to boarding but couldn't hear it ring and no one picked it up. I called a couple of more times from the plane with no results. In an act of desperation, I texted the phone with a message that it was a lost phone and to call my cell number if it was found. I then had to turn my phone of for the flight.
As soon as I landed, I checked my messages and there was a phone message from a man identifying himself as TSA and advising me that they had found my phone and it would be in lost and found. We checked the lost and found over the next several days but it never showed up.
I am not too stressed about the pone as it was a cheap flip phone that I had bought off ebay to hold me over when my phone had gotten wet a few years ago. It is just a hassle to buy and turn on a new phone. And, I can't blame Big Boy for this. I was the one who told him to put it in the little phone holder pouch on the side of his backpack without realizing that it would slip out on the x-ray belt.
Now, before my faithful readers try to scroll back through my posts to figure out just how many phones and cameras we have lost during travel, I will save yo the time. We are up to two phones and two camera (if yo count the camera we lost in DC which didn't involve flying). Not a bad average considering I am traveling alone with two kids in tow and have been on several trips. I have not lost anything really important yet...like one of my kids.
So, in light of this, I re booked us for a much earlier flight. On our last day, we slept in, treated ourselves to a restaurant breakfast and took our time gathering our bags. we took full advantage of our 1:00 late check out and only had a half hour to kill in the lobby before Magical Express picked us up out front at 1:30.
We had plenty of time to shop at the airport (Big Boy's favorite past time) and got on our first choice flight with seats to spare. Just moment before boarding, I asked Big Boy to make sure his phone was turned off and he got this sick look on his face. He had lost his cell phone. I tried calling the phone several times prior to boarding but couldn't hear it ring and no one picked it up. I called a couple of more times from the plane with no results. In an act of desperation, I texted the phone with a message that it was a lost phone and to call my cell number if it was found. I then had to turn my phone of for the flight.
As soon as I landed, I checked my messages and there was a phone message from a man identifying himself as TSA and advising me that they had found my phone and it would be in lost and found. We checked the lost and found over the next several days but it never showed up.
I am not too stressed about the pone as it was a cheap flip phone that I had bought off ebay to hold me over when my phone had gotten wet a few years ago. It is just a hassle to buy and turn on a new phone. And, I can't blame Big Boy for this. I was the one who told him to put it in the little phone holder pouch on the side of his backpack without realizing that it would slip out on the x-ray belt.
Now, before my faithful readers try to scroll back through my posts to figure out just how many phones and cameras we have lost during travel, I will save yo the time. We are up to two phones and two camera (if yo count the camera we lost in DC which didn't involve flying). Not a bad average considering I am traveling alone with two kids in tow and have been on several trips. I have not lost anything really important yet...like one of my kids.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Disney - trip report
I have covered our adventures of getting to Disney this trip, where our money went and I have covered our hotel room. Now, I want to get into the meat and potatoes of this trip.
The weather was near perfect. It was still on the hot side but not the unbearable August heat we try to avoid. We had rain showers for two of our days. Actually, we had one day of drizzle and one day of monsoon but this averaged out to two showers if you do the math.
But the most important thing was the crowds. They were very light. I figure that most parents don't yank their kids out of school this early in the semester so we reaped the benefit of their being good parents. Most of the rides had a 15 minute wait or less. Even Soarin - an ever popular ride had only about a 40 minute wait... not that my kids would wait 40 minutes for a ride but it was nice for the other folks. On our EPCOT day, we arrived late in the afternoon and even at that late hour (after 3:00), there were still Soarin fast passes being distributed for somewhere around 7:00 PM.
Even though we only had two days in the parks, we didn't feel the need to rush around and we still managed to ride enough rides to make the trip worth it. We skipped Animal Kingdom because the only really big draw for my kids there is Everest and we thought our short time would be better spent in the other parks. Lil' Bit absolutely loves the Everest ride and was disappointed but being so easy going, she adapted to the decision.
Halloween decorations are up. I enjoy them but still felt, like it was a bit early for them. The Micky's Not So Scary Halloween Parties had already started and in fact, there was one on our first day. For those not in the know, Disney has two awesome special events. The Halloween Party and the Christmas Party. On these nights, the park closes early and guests who purchase specific tickets to the events are allowed in. The Halloween party features trick or treat stations thoroughout the park. Upon arrival for the evening, everyone is given a plastic trick or treat bag and then whenever the guest comes across a trick or treat station, they can stand in line for a handful of free candy. One year, I measured out take on our luggage scale and found that we had received non less than four pounds of candy.
They also have dance parties throughout the park where a DJ (or animated DJ in the case of Cosmic Ray's) plays dance music and the guests can dance with Disney Characters.'
Most of the rides are open for the event and there are almost no lines (ad even less when the good parents take their kids back to the hotel).
I digress because we didn't do the Halloween party this year. We have done it twice and didn't feel that the extra money was in our budget this time.
Judge me, don't judge me, I am OK either way but one thing I like about going to Disney without my husband is how much freedom I can give my kids in the park. My husband is a bit more of a helicopter parent and I am raising them as free range kids. Big Boy has a cell phone and we always have rules and a plan but the kids are old enough to go on rides without me. I don't care for certain rides such as Tower of Terror so I let them go on without me. The kids love the independence and they are awesome together. Big Boy is very protective of his little sister and takes very good care of her. He has only lost her once (that is a story for another day).
I do ride a lot of rides but leave the bigger coasters to the kids. I enjoy watching the crowds and soaking up the Disney ambiance while they are on ride.
Here are some pictures from our trip.
Our Lunch on a Budget
Dinner on a Budget - pizza at the hotel
Big treat - a mango smoothie and ice cream sundaes
The weather was near perfect. It was still on the hot side but not the unbearable August heat we try to avoid. We had rain showers for two of our days. Actually, we had one day of drizzle and one day of monsoon but this averaged out to two showers if you do the math.
But the most important thing was the crowds. They were very light. I figure that most parents don't yank their kids out of school this early in the semester so we reaped the benefit of their being good parents. Most of the rides had a 15 minute wait or less. Even Soarin - an ever popular ride had only about a 40 minute wait... not that my kids would wait 40 minutes for a ride but it was nice for the other folks. On our EPCOT day, we arrived late in the afternoon and even at that late hour (after 3:00), there were still Soarin fast passes being distributed for somewhere around 7:00 PM.
Even though we only had two days in the parks, we didn't feel the need to rush around and we still managed to ride enough rides to make the trip worth it. We skipped Animal Kingdom because the only really big draw for my kids there is Everest and we thought our short time would be better spent in the other parks. Lil' Bit absolutely loves the Everest ride and was disappointed but being so easy going, she adapted to the decision.
Halloween decorations are up. I enjoy them but still felt, like it was a bit early for them. The Micky's Not So Scary Halloween Parties had already started and in fact, there was one on our first day. For those not in the know, Disney has two awesome special events. The Halloween Party and the Christmas Party. On these nights, the park closes early and guests who purchase specific tickets to the events are allowed in. The Halloween party features trick or treat stations thoroughout the park. Upon arrival for the evening, everyone is given a plastic trick or treat bag and then whenever the guest comes across a trick or treat station, they can stand in line for a handful of free candy. One year, I measured out take on our luggage scale and found that we had received non less than four pounds of candy.
They also have dance parties throughout the park where a DJ (or animated DJ in the case of Cosmic Ray's) plays dance music and the guests can dance with Disney Characters.'
Most of the rides are open for the event and there are almost no lines (ad even less when the good parents take their kids back to the hotel).
I digress because we didn't do the Halloween party this year. We have done it twice and didn't feel that the extra money was in our budget this time.
Judge me, don't judge me, I am OK either way but one thing I like about going to Disney without my husband is how much freedom I can give my kids in the park. My husband is a bit more of a helicopter parent and I am raising them as free range kids. Big Boy has a cell phone and we always have rules and a plan but the kids are old enough to go on rides without me. I don't care for certain rides such as Tower of Terror so I let them go on without me. The kids love the independence and they are awesome together. Big Boy is very protective of his little sister and takes very good care of her. He has only lost her once (that is a story for another day).
I do ride a lot of rides but leave the bigger coasters to the kids. I enjoy watching the crowds and soaking up the Disney ambiance while they are on ride.
Here are some pictures from our trip.
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| Big Boy reading in Disney - that's my boy! |
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| LOVE the talking trash can!! |
This is a new water oriented play area in Toon Town
Our Lunch on a Budget
Dinner on a Budget - pizza at the hotel
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| Al Star Sports dining hall |
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| And there's my boy - reading again |
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| A few more inches to go before we can ride the Rockin Roller Coaster |
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| Never too old for a stroller after a long day of walking |
Big treat - a mango smoothie and ice cream sundaes
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