October 1, 2015
The day had finally arrived. This was the day we would depart for the vacation we had been anticipating since we first began planning it in late November 2014. We would be experiencing many firsts and almost firsts, a whirlwind of excitement and entertainment, 11 days away from home, all without our own personal vehicle, all with this control freak mom having to give up control and go with the punches. During this trip we experience flight delays, disappointments, magic, sea sickness, real sickness, and more fun than the kids (or adults) could have ever imagined. Spoiler Alert! I will chalk it all up to a big win, despite any pitfalls we encountered.
We left our home in Smyrna via Grandma and Grandpa Shuttle to the airport in Nashville. My mom has a huge fear of not seeing land, so it took some convincing to get her to drive us to the airport where her grandbabies (and favorite child) would eventually travel to spend a week at sea (during hurricane season!). So my dad drove and she came along for the ride. We arrived respectably the two hours prior to flight time as advised by the airlines. This would be the first time my children DD, age 10 and DS, age 9 would ever fly. They were super excited and not worried at all. My husband had only earlier this year flown, one way, for the first time in his life. We flew frequently during the first 8 years of my life back when I was still in only child status, but I have only flown about a dozen times in the past 20 years. After quick goodbyes and hugs to my parents, we checked our luggage with the guy right outside the terminal, he gave us the appropriately marked luggage receipts and we went inside to feed the kids some dinner. I had already explained a few times about what they could expect to see and experience at the airport, so they were more asking questions about when something was going to happen, as opposed to asking what was happening. Annoying questions, yes, but good to know they do actually hear what I tell them sometimes.
We cleared the TSA body scan/DNA sample/first born donation check point and grabbed a delicious dinner at Burger King and the Pizza place. Then we stopped at a bathroom and headed over to the gate. The kids were very excited to just sit and watch airplanes for a bit. As the flight before ours boarded and cleared up some seating areas we noticed kids were getting “first time flyer” certificates and went over to nab some for our first timers. It was at this time that we learned the flight we were getting on was delayed by a minimum of 20 minutes…womp.womp.womp. Although it was already a 7:30pm flight, and we had already been such good humans attending work and school, we were stuck a little longer trying to be patient. We were leaving out of Nashville where the whole Middle Tennessee area was about to begin Fall Break, so we were in an airport full of people traveling, most of them going to see the World of Walt. To say that kids and grown-ups were a little restless would be an understatement.
We board, finally. Take off, finally. And land, finally. Because we were staying on Disney property we would be using the Magical Express. Because we were arriving (originally) after 10pm, we would be claiming our own luggage. Because I hadn’t been in the Orlando airport since 1998, I had no idea how much work it would really be to get to the main terminal, go down to the proper side for baggage claim- wait over half an hour for the baggage to even begin looping the belt thingy, claim all 5 bags, go back up to the 3rd level, cross over to the other side of the terminal and then get all the way to the end of that terminal with all of our stuff and now cranky tired kids who are still ready to see Mickey, we didn’t get one of those cool luggage carts and so we were exhausted by the time we got to where we needed to be. We were still greeted by happy Disney peeps and managed to get to a lovely ME bus and our luggage was loaded on as well, and then we sat. As we continued to sit for the better part of an hour, it became painfully obvious how tired and cranky everyone was, not just the kids. Finally we began the drive to AoA, and were excitedly the first stop for the bus. I had checked in online and received our room number via text before we ever left Nashville, so we knew we just needed to go to our room. What I didn’t realize (yes, I had a map), was exactly how far from the main building the Little Mermaid rooms are located. It wouldn’t have been quite so bad except that it was now well after 1am, and we were all worn out. We trudged with ALL of our luggage (in hindsight we would have left it to be brought via porter if we had been using fully functioning minds) to our room that was not located with a lake view (as I had requested). It also was not exactly what I would have considered close to transportation (another request), but then, none of the LM rooms really are close to transportation unless you count the view we had of the parking lot, so it is what it is. I gave my children very explicit instructions that no grownups can be awoken before 8am, and we tumble into beds and fall right asleep.
At 8:01am, my DS wakes me with the proclamation of hunger and we get up and begin getting dressed. We wake up DD and ask her to join us, we nudge DH, tell him we are going to eat and we will bring him something back. He is in complete agreement with this plan. We hike to Animation Hall and grab breakfast while trying to navigate the specifics of using our dining plan. We finish eating and I go to the desk to pick up a package that was left for me the day before by a CM who makes super cute Disney inspired paper crafts for door decorations. I am informed they are on their way to my room, but will most likely be returned because we have so kindly left the do not disturb sign on the door for DH to continue his nap. We shop a little in the gift shop. I find a nice Christmas ornament that I want to buy. This is something we started a few years ago, and now I like to pick up at least one ornament on every trip. The thing is, my kids at this point believe we are only spending two nights at AoA before we leave on a 7N cruise. We are. But I have a secret- we will be back for one more night after the cruise. This is why I choose not to buy my ornament at this time. They get some small stuffies and a hat, and then we grab breakfast for dad and head back to the room.
We encounter the Mousekeeper for our room and advise we just need extra towels for the pool, and there is no need to service our room this day, after all, we have only slept in it so far. The kids and I get ready for the pool and head out. After a few hours, DH is ready to go get lunch and we discuss walking back up to Animation Hall before we get ready to head out for MNSSHP. Lunch is great, a wonderful CM lets us know that even though my DS is on the child’s dining plan that he can ask for food from either menu. She even brings him some more food for that meal, as he was still hungry from his one chicken leg feast. I had not realized this was an option and up until that point we were just negotiating how we were going to share from our plates to make sure everyone was full. There was plenty of food to be had, no one would starve, but it was good to know that my growing boy was not as limited as we had originally thought. After lunch we went back to the room for an hour of downtime, then got dressed and headed out for the party. This foray into the party would only be my second time ever in the MK and a first for the rest of my family. I was so excited- Parade, Fireworks, Haunted Mansion, fun rides, characters. This night was going to be magical.
The day had finally arrived. This was the day we would depart for the vacation we had been anticipating since we first began planning it in late November 2014. We would be experiencing many firsts and almost firsts, a whirlwind of excitement and entertainment, 11 days away from home, all without our own personal vehicle, all with this control freak mom having to give up control and go with the punches. During this trip we experience flight delays, disappointments, magic, sea sickness, real sickness, and more fun than the kids (or adults) could have ever imagined. Spoiler Alert! I will chalk it all up to a big win, despite any pitfalls we encountered.
We left our home in Smyrna via Grandma and Grandpa Shuttle to the airport in Nashville. My mom has a huge fear of not seeing land, so it took some convincing to get her to drive us to the airport where her grandbabies (and favorite child) would eventually travel to spend a week at sea (during hurricane season!). So my dad drove and she came along for the ride. We arrived respectably the two hours prior to flight time as advised by the airlines. This would be the first time my children DD, age 10 and DS, age 9 would ever fly. They were super excited and not worried at all. My husband had only earlier this year flown, one way, for the first time in his life. We flew frequently during the first 8 years of my life back when I was still in only child status, but I have only flown about a dozen times in the past 20 years. After quick goodbyes and hugs to my parents, we checked our luggage with the guy right outside the terminal, he gave us the appropriately marked luggage receipts and we went inside to feed the kids some dinner. I had already explained a few times about what they could expect to see and experience at the airport, so they were more asking questions about when something was going to happen, as opposed to asking what was happening. Annoying questions, yes, but good to know they do actually hear what I tell them sometimes.
We cleared the TSA body scan/DNA sample/first born donation check point and grabbed a delicious dinner at Burger King and the Pizza place. Then we stopped at a bathroom and headed over to the gate. The kids were very excited to just sit and watch airplanes for a bit. As the flight before ours boarded and cleared up some seating areas we noticed kids were getting “first time flyer” certificates and went over to nab some for our first timers. It was at this time that we learned the flight we were getting on was delayed by a minimum of 20 minutes…womp.womp.womp. Although it was already a 7:30pm flight, and we had already been such good humans attending work and school, we were stuck a little longer trying to be patient. We were leaving out of Nashville where the whole Middle Tennessee area was about to begin Fall Break, so we were in an airport full of people traveling, most of them going to see the World of Walt. To say that kids and grown-ups were a little restless would be an understatement.
We board, finally. Take off, finally. And land, finally. Because we were staying on Disney property we would be using the Magical Express. Because we were arriving (originally) after 10pm, we would be claiming our own luggage. Because I hadn’t been in the Orlando airport since 1998, I had no idea how much work it would really be to get to the main terminal, go down to the proper side for baggage claim- wait over half an hour for the baggage to even begin looping the belt thingy, claim all 5 bags, go back up to the 3rd level, cross over to the other side of the terminal and then get all the way to the end of that terminal with all of our stuff and now cranky tired kids who are still ready to see Mickey, we didn’t get one of those cool luggage carts and so we were exhausted by the time we got to where we needed to be. We were still greeted by happy Disney peeps and managed to get to a lovely ME bus and our luggage was loaded on as well, and then we sat. As we continued to sit for the better part of an hour, it became painfully obvious how tired and cranky everyone was, not just the kids. Finally we began the drive to AoA, and were excitedly the first stop for the bus. I had checked in online and received our room number via text before we ever left Nashville, so we knew we just needed to go to our room. What I didn’t realize (yes, I had a map), was exactly how far from the main building the Little Mermaid rooms are located. It wouldn’t have been quite so bad except that it was now well after 1am, and we were all worn out. We trudged with ALL of our luggage (in hindsight we would have left it to be brought via porter if we had been using fully functioning minds) to our room that was not located with a lake view (as I had requested). It also was not exactly what I would have considered close to transportation (another request), but then, none of the LM rooms really are close to transportation unless you count the view we had of the parking lot, so it is what it is. I gave my children very explicit instructions that no grownups can be awoken before 8am, and we tumble into beds and fall right asleep.
At 8:01am, my DS wakes me with the proclamation of hunger and we get up and begin getting dressed. We wake up DD and ask her to join us, we nudge DH, tell him we are going to eat and we will bring him something back. He is in complete agreement with this plan. We hike to Animation Hall and grab breakfast while trying to navigate the specifics of using our dining plan. We finish eating and I go to the desk to pick up a package that was left for me the day before by a CM who makes super cute Disney inspired paper crafts for door decorations. I am informed they are on their way to my room, but will most likely be returned because we have so kindly left the do not disturb sign on the door for DH to continue his nap. We shop a little in the gift shop. I find a nice Christmas ornament that I want to buy. This is something we started a few years ago, and now I like to pick up at least one ornament on every trip. The thing is, my kids at this point believe we are only spending two nights at AoA before we leave on a 7N cruise. We are. But I have a secret- we will be back for one more night after the cruise. This is why I choose not to buy my ornament at this time. They get some small stuffies and a hat, and then we grab breakfast for dad and head back to the room.
We encounter the Mousekeeper for our room and advise we just need extra towels for the pool, and there is no need to service our room this day, after all, we have only slept in it so far. The kids and I get ready for the pool and head out. After a few hours, DH is ready to go get lunch and we discuss walking back up to Animation Hall before we get ready to head out for MNSSHP. Lunch is great, a wonderful CM lets us know that even though my DS is on the child’s dining plan that he can ask for food from either menu. She even brings him some more food for that meal, as he was still hungry from his one chicken leg feast. I had not realized this was an option and up until that point we were just negotiating how we were going to share from our plates to make sure everyone was full. There was plenty of food to be had, no one would starve, but it was good to know that my growing boy was not as limited as we had originally thought. After lunch we went back to the room for an hour of downtime, then got dressed and headed out for the party. This foray into the party would only be my second time ever in the MK and a first for the rest of my family. I was so excited- Parade, Fireworks, Haunted Mansion, fun rides, characters. This night was going to be magical.