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Post by dmkedm on Jan 16, 2023 19:51:16 GMT -5
Hi, all...here at WDW (staying at SSR)...it's a complicated trip--a full week for DS, DIL and DGS; 4 days when DD is here, too; and 2 days w/close friends (since his childhood) of DS's (and mine)...currently we're on Day Two...and until tomorrow night it's DS, DIL, DGS and me...and it's DGS' first visit to WDW (he's 18 months old) and it's been beyond awesome....
I have a studio (where DD will stay w/me starting tomorrow night); DS, DIL and DGS have a 1-bed...due to availability issues at the time the trip was finalized, my studio is in preferred (Springs) while DS & Family are in standard (Paddock)...my studio was ready when we arrived yesterday--but DS' one-bed wasn't ready til 2.5 hours later. So we decided to put DGS down for his nap in my room, only there wasn't a pack 'n play here...so we called to get one, and gold stars to Disney--they delivered it within 15 minutes of my call. DS got his room ready text while DGS was still asleep so I volunteered to go over to the Paddock to check it out (I'd put myself on all 3 room reservations--our friends are also staying on my points and they arrive Thursday night); I'd gotten a key card (it turned out to be a bit complicated to arrange, but they "got" right away that I'd need access so I could babysit!) and it worked just fine. The one-bed is fabulous--we're all thrilled w/it...but there was no pack 'n play there, either...but once again Disney came through w/a pack 'n play delivered before the family got back to their villa (after DGS' s nap and our early family dinner--at the Turf Club and it was GREAT!)
Today we had an appointment for "baby's first haircut" at the MK Harmony Barber Shop--and it was an AWESOME experience! (So awesome that my "frugal" DS supplemented the 20% tip I gave the stylist w/an amount that made her tip exceed the cost of the haircut/experience -- he gave her a $30 tip (that included the $6 I'd given)...My DGS--probably like every 18-month-old on the planet--was wriggly and not too terribly cooperative....but the stylist had toys (and bubbles; oh did DGS love those bubbles!) and my DIL helped keep him still enough for the stylist to cut his (very long) hair....it was a great haircut, topped off w/a set of ears w/"My First Haircut" embroidered on the back and a certificate "suitable for framing" along w/a dusting of pixie dust on both DGS' hair and my DIL's hair. It was really really awesome! ; ;
We had fun at MK (DGS particularly enjoyed the Dumbo playground that is just off the Dumbo ride, which he also loved); had a so-so lunch at Cosmic Ray's Cafe and then headed back to SSR for DGS' nap. It was an excellent morning!
While DGS napped, I went to Epcot (to get my chocolate-dipped shortbread cookies which were out of stock at both MK and SSR--sadly they were not available at Epcot (either in England or at Creations) either. I LOVE those cookies and I can get them only at WDW--despite Walkers Shortbread cookies, in multiple shapes and flavors, being available both in many grocery stores and online, for some reason the chocolate-dipped ones are only available at WDW (or through one of the services that stocks WDW merch)....I was pretty disappointed (altho the nice CM in England said they will get restocked on Thursday so hopefully I can get them then)..,
In the meantime, DGS woke up and his parents texted me that they would like to go to Garden Grill at Epcot (a family favorite) at 4;45....was that ok w/me (it was around 3 at this point and I was still at Epcot)...I enthusiastically agreed and rode Living w/the Land (Soarin had an 80-minute wait, which I was not up for) while I waited for them to arrive.
And despite the awesomeness of Baby's First Haircut this morning, our dinner at Garden Grill was the highlight of the trip (so far anyway)....DGS just about burst w/delight at meeting Mickey, Pluto, Chip & Dale...he most especially loved Pluto...even kissed him on the nose! It may take months before DS, DIL and I stop smiling over this. I can't describe how purely delighted, thrilled, overjoyed DGS was w/Pluto especially, but also w/Mickey, Chip & Dale...he chortled and clapped and laughed and just LOVED it....and us adults just LOVED how much DGS loved it!
So, it's been a great start to DGS' first trip to Disney. Nana (that's me) is THRILLED....so far no sign of sensory overload (altho we're being pretty careful to stick to DGS' normal schedule)....
Tomorrow I get to babysit for 2-3 hours so DS and DIL can go do Epcot (or wherever they want to go) as adults...This makes me super happy; I'll have DGS' stroller and we'll probably go over to the playground (DGS loves playgrounds) by the Congress Park pool--and then maybe to Disney Springs. DD arrives around 5 and DGS is dotty about DD, too, so their "reunion" will be fun (and will give me a break if DS and DIL decide to stay out for longer than the 2-3 hours they asked for)...
This is such a happy week. Yes, I know DGS won't remember this trip--but I sure will (and so will DS, DIL and probably DD and our friends, too)...so worth the points (and the money because of course Mom/Nana is paying for the trip--and it's my complete pleasure to do so)....
Will check in again later in the week, hopefully to report yet more highlights and thrills...but these first two days have been awesome! Dani
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Post by reblzmom on Jan 16, 2023 21:04:42 GMT -5
I just loved reading this! No grandchildren for us yet - and I can't wait for times like this.
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Post by lephelps on Jan 17, 2023 7:58:05 GMT -5
This is such a happy week. Yes, I know DGS won't remember this trip--but I sure will (and so will DS, DIL and probably DD and our friends, too)...so worth the points (and the money because of course Mom/Nana is paying for the trip--and it's my complete pleasure to do so).... Eh, he may not have any direct memories but he'll have the ones created as you all show him pictures and tell him all about it over and over as he grows up.  Our DS (now 22, 2 at the time) doesn't have any (many?) memories of his first trip or at least he can't tell his "real" ones from ones we've planted over the years reminiscing but he at least has the stories of the trip to remember.  |
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Post by raspus on Jan 17, 2023 9:10:33 GMT -5
What a great start to your trip. Can’t wait to read more. Keep having fun.
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Post by Adelard of Bath on Jan 17, 2023 10:36:24 GMT -5
Eh, he may not have any direct memories but he'll have the ones created as you all show him pictures and tell him all about it over and over as he grows up. Our DS (now 22, 2 at the time) doesn't have any (many?) memories of his first trip or at least he can't tell his "real" ones from ones we've planted over the years reminiscing but he at least has the stories of the trip to remember. Apparently I was there when I was around one year old...I guess I threw up on my brother on a ride, and people thought I was a girl - they kept talking to my mom about my curly strawberry blonde hair, which she hadn't cut yet. Those are my memories of my first trip! Although I think it would be great to go back to the late-70s and see it again. |
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Post by Brian5581 on Jan 17, 2023 12:10:56 GMT -5
What a wonderful and memorable start to your trip. Thanks so much for taking the time to share.
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Post by dmkedm on Jan 17, 2023 20:34:56 GMT -5
Here we are at the end of Day Three, still reveling in how wonderful it is. DGS is LOVING it here, and so far no sign of sensory overload (no doubt it helps that we are scrupulously adhering to his normal eating-and-sleeping schedule)....we did Hollywood Studios this morning...I walked him around in his stroller while his parents did rope drop at Millenium Falcoln (which they like much more than Rise of the Resistance)...his eyes were round with wonder....about 30 minutes later we met up w/DS and DIL and went over to ride Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railroad...he enjoyed that--more wide-eyed wonder (he particularly liked (as did his parents and as do I) the place where the train cars 'dance' (we did a waltz and a conga...he danced right along (while seated, of course)...then we got something to eat at Toy Story land (they do make the best grilled cheese sandwich, and at 10:40 it's not quite as packed to the gills as it gets later in the day)...
I then returned to SSR for a badly-needed nap (had a rocky night last night....one of those nights where I just could not sleep, and when I dozed I had nightmares--nothing wrong and I wasn't sick, just "one of those nights"). I'd promised DS and DIL that I'd take care of DGS while they did some "Disney Adulting" from 1-7....DGS was still napping when I got to their villa (did I tell you how gorgeous and wonderful the SSR 1-bedroom vlllas are?) and he slept til almost 3...we then wandered over to the playground at Congress Park and from there to Disney Springs for a hot fudge sundae (he was not impressed with ice cream-his first taste of it-but I enjoyed mine!)....then DD texted to say she was in an uber on her way to SSR so we headed back.
We did have a couple of "adventures"-DGS pitched his toy dinosaur out of the stroller and I didn't notice it til later. We backtracked and found it so no big deal, just an extra 1000 or so steps! Then, on the way back, I looked down and saw he had "lost" one shoe--more backtracking (another 1000 steps or so) but i found it, thankfully. That would have been harder to replace than the dinosaur toy. And I "learned" to watch for things being pitched out of the stroller....he once again took off a shoe and sent it "overboard" but this time I saw it happen and so did not have to backtrack to retrieve it!
We got back to our villa in the Springs just about 5 minutes before DD arrived and it was a fun "reunion" for the 3 of us...we got DD's stuff put into our villa and then it was DGS' dinner time (and he goes from charming and happy to a screaming monster when he realizes he's hungry) so we hot-footed it over to Artists Palette for dinner. Turns out DGS doesn't like Disney's meat balls (but I sure do), but we had a banana and a baby granola bar w/us and he was happy with that for his dinner, along w/some other baby-specific snacks.
Then we got a text from DS and DIL saying they were on their way back from Epcot, so we went back to the DS family villa; changed and cleaned up DGS, put him in his jammies and brushed his teeth and read him a bedtime story....all done by about 1 minute ahead of his usual 6:45 bedtime...and right then DS and DIL came in--joyful reunion between baby and his parents, and DS/DIL/DD...chllled with them for about 15 minutes, heard about the wonderful time they'd had "adulting" at Epcot, and then walked ;back to our villa in the Springs (DS and family are in the Paddock section.) Now, my teeth are brushed and my face is washed and I'm just about ready to crawl into bed myself....hopefully to sleep at least 8 hours (to make up for last night's sleepless night...
And so ends another really wonderful day at WDW....can't begin to tell you how much I'm loving this trip. DGS is just enthralled with it all and is SO happy...no meltdown's at all! How very fortunate I am to be able to do this kind of family trip. Remind me of this next time I do any complaining about Disney! It sure is magical for us this week, in spades. Dani
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Post by helenabear on Jan 17, 2023 21:06:33 GMT -5
Save the lack of sleep, sounds like a lovely trip so far I cannot wait to read more!
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Post by disneyteach on Jan 18, 2023 15:44:11 GMT -5
Sounds so fun! Thanks for sharing! We took both of my kids shortly after their first birthdays and those first few trips have always been my favorite. The character interactions, especially. You all are doing all the right things when traveling with a baby, including midday naps!
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Post by dmkedm on Jan 20, 2023 6:35:31 GMT -5
Having some trouble posting....not sure why....but will try again here this morning....failed to figure out how to post this last night....
Anyway....Wed and yesterday were two more great days...had a tough bus ride to HS yesterday, but finally got there 75 minutes after arriving at the bus stop at 7:32 a.m. At HS, fun was had by all...highlights were the wonderful meal and even better service at 50s Prime Time, and the Smugglers run ride DS, DIL and DD did while I took care of DGS...
DS and DIL are so into this Disney experience that they scheduled a session w/my guide for tomorrow; they're seriously thinking about buying their own DVC points....fingers crossed! Of course, they both know a great deal about DVC already (especially DS) from using my points all these years....but DIL really wants to do the tour/presentation, so once again I'll take care of DGS while they do that at noon tomorrow....
Wed we did Epcot...DS bought GotG lightning lane rides for DS, DIL and DD and they all totally loved it. We did get a boarding group, but the timing of it fell during DGS' nap time, so DD and I rode it on the boarding group slot while DS and DIL took DGS back to SSR for his nap. I also got to ride Soarin (one of my 3 all-time favorite rides) that morning...
All in all, it's been completely wonderful here...now on to figuring out what I'm doing wrong while i'm trying to post on this thread! Happy day everyone...
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Post by capeokw56 on Jan 20, 2023 8:49:59 GMT -5
Thanks for doing this TR and I'm following along. We're taking our DD, DSiL, and two DGSs in April and it's the DGS's first trip. We're also taking DS, his DFiance and DGS in October. We're really excited about these trips and your report is fueling the fire!
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Post by dmkedm on Jan 20, 2023 12:24:42 GMT -5
This morning (Friday) brought our first significant hiccup....all 7 of us (DS, DIL, DGS, DD, dear friends and I) went to AK for early opening (got there at 7:30) and it all started out really well. DGS was in a happy mood (as were all his adults, despite the 7 a.m.. departure)--we rode FOP using baby swap and while the first group rode, DS hung out w/DGS (and then rode himself via Lightning Lane)...during that time DGS was fine...happy, bouncing around when we let him out of his stroller (w/6 adults on one toddler, the odds were good for keeping track of him!)...he didn't eat much for his 9 a.m. snack and DIL reported that he'd been up a couple of times last night (1 a.m. and 3 a.m.) but went right back to sleep after they tended to him both times....
Then we got in line for safari--it posted a 35-minute wait....about 50 minutes in w/no end to the line in sight, DD and I bailed, taking DGS w/us...we both had to use the ladies room and it was getting urgent...we arranged to meet back up w/the group at yak & yeti at 11:05 or so (I have a Landry's Select Club m'ship, so we were hopeful of getting in despite not having a reservation)....anyway, we took turns using the ladies room--DD went first, and while I was taking my turn DGS's stomach rebelled...he got super sick to his stomach, and he was crying most piteously...DS.DIL had not packed a change of clothes for DGS so DD popped into the Mercantile Exchange and bought him a clean t-shirt while I cuddled him and told him it would all be ok....he fell asleep in my arms...of course we texted DS and DIL and they came right away (but they did get to ride safari, a small silver lining)....
So we left AK and brought DGS back to SSR (and a badly-needed bath), where he's now sleeping soundly. He doesn't have a fever and he had no further stomach "episodes" so we'll play it by ear as to what we'll do next. .Of course we're hoping it was a passing bug or just something he ate.... if he seems fine come 2 or so, we'll go over to Epcot (DS bought lightning lane rides on GofG for all of us for 3:30)....I have a work zoom call at 3:30, and one of our friends has a 2 p.m. call, so we may or may not get to use the LLs on GotG....we shall see....
Of course, we're all hoping DGS' stomach explosion was a passing thing that is now behind us, but we'll take good care of him if he is still sick (or sick-ish) after he awakens from his nap...and now we know to make sure to have a change of clothes w/us, altho DS and DIL say they almost always do--that the absence of a change of clothes this morning was an aberration!
Wish us luck for this afternoon/tomorrow!
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Post by dmkedm on Jan 21, 2023 13:50:47 GMT -5
It's our last day here at wdw....all is good...DS and DIL just got back from their DVC tour, to ask if I'd like to go with them to tour Riviera w/their (and my) guide. I said "sure"....DGS just awakened from his nap, and DD is still at MK (where we started our day), so the timing is good. We plan to ride the Skyliner to Epcot after the Riviera tour...
DGS seems completely past his stomach upset of yesterday morning...we had a fine time at Epcot yesterday afternoon (5 of the 6 adults rode a Lightning Lane GotG; I stayed behind to take care of DGS)...then we had dinner at England (fish 'n chips for half of us) and France (where the other half wanted to eat....those of us who had fish 'n chips had dessert at France's patisserie....yum!)....came back to a wine-and-ice-cream "party" for the 6 adults in DS/DIL's one-bed, after putting DGS down for the night. That was so fun....DS had bought a couple of bottles of wine and a package of Mickey ice cream bars and the conversation just flowed....lots of laughter; it was a good group!
So, now time to head over to DS/DIL's to drive over to the Riviera....can't get Lightning Lanes for GotG now (they're sold out for the day), but we still "need" to do a loop through World Showcase....I so hate the thought that we're leaving tomorrow....oh, well there will soon be another trip!
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Post by sherrih on Jan 21, 2023 16:10:11 GMT -5
This sounds like a wonderful trip. I love going with the grandkids (3 & 1)....you see everything from a completely different perspective. My son and DIL do the same and try to keep them close to their normal schedule - makes for much more "pleasant" children. I'm glad you had a great time - and there's always the next trip to plan.
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Post by dmkedm on Jan 22, 2023 16:14:01 GMT -5
And another Disney trip comes to an end. We're all home again (DD to CT, friends to Fort Lauderdale; us to VA)....and none of was ready to leave....the trip home was smooth & easy for all, and we're already talking about "next trips"....DS and DIL are very interested in buying Riviera and are currently researching resale vs direct, # of points, etc. To pay for it they'd have to raid their "down payment fund" (for buying their first house) and that makes DIL especially nervous. They have lots of options, tho....including continued use of my points, or me adding them to my BC contracts (they still like BC the best of all, but that 2042 expiration date is a "killer" for them....so we'll see what they decide to do...
Disney was absolutely wonderful this trip....even the hiccups didn't bother us much, and we had several moments of pure magic. "Baby's First Haircut" was a major highlight, as was DGS' reaction to meeting Mickey & Pluto at Garden Grill. But even the adults got in on the magic....heading home from Epcot last night, I got to the bus stop and within 1 minute a DVC van pulled up saying, "would you like a ride back to SSR"...since I was exhausted (it is very tiring having so much fun!), that was a very welcome "moment of Disney Magic" as the DVC van driver characterized it....
I think we're going to go back in June....DIL's brother & Sister-in-law and their 2 kids (10 and 13) want to plan a Disney trip for June and love the idea of us coming with them....I've offered my points for rooms for all of us (probably a 2-bed for them and a studio for me)....probably at AKW or SSR or OKW, dependiing on availability....DS suggested Riviera, since they are seriously considering buying points there....but the points cost of a 2-bed plus a studio in June at Riviera requires more generosity than I have....but they're thrilled w/AKV, OKW or SSR....so we'll see how that pans out. But they sound pretty serious about it...
Thanks for "coming along" on this trip w/me....I suspect the TR would be better w/pix, but DS and DIL are hyper about not putting DGS' face on the Internet and of course he is in every picture! Til the next time....Dani
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