Wet, Sweat, Fun & Sun But You Have HOW Many Snack Credits Left?

[DizNee Luver]

The title is pretty spot on to our 11 nights in Florida and Walt Disney World. We got wet, we did more sweating than I've experienced in my entire life, we had a lot of fun in the sun but we did end our trip with a ton of snack credits.....but more on that later.

I did a pre-trip reporthttp://www.disboards.com/threads/oregon-to-wdw-will-be-quite-the-adventure-going-live.3380417/ if you need a rundown on the planning portion of our trip. You will also get a clearer picture of my family.

This was a first time trip for our 5 youngest kids. The 5 kids were all adopted (well one we are in the process of adopting) out of the foster care system and 3 of them have special needs. (autism & developmentally delayed). None of the kids have ever flown. So it was an interesting trip!! We were meeting my 26 year old son who was finishing up his 3rd go-round on the Disney College Program. We stayed 11 nights at the Pop Century and did 8 park days.

I hope you'll stay tuned and join me as I share a picture heavy trip report, that covers the 4 parks, the different types of transportation available at WDW, lots of food pictures (or "food porn"), our experience with the Disabilities Access Service, Fastpass+, traveling with sensory kiddos and all our other ventures.

 

[ksromack]

I'm here

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Joining in! That is so great how you have opened your hear and home to those children - this trip must have been such an amazing experience for them!

 

[kelmac284]

I'm here. YAY. Can't wait!!!! I so love your reports because they are so detailed and you guys take such great pics I really feel like I am going along. I know you saw on FB but our trip to DL is def happening. We bought our airfare and reserved our room a few days ago. I am super stoked even though it is going to be really short and super budget and it will probably be really crowded but I don't care. I am really looking forward to everything you have to say and I know you guys stayed onsite and we aren't but I still feel really overwhelmed about planning our trip for next summer since everything has changed so much since we went 6 years ago. We need to start booking our meals in Dec so I need to get it figured out and I am really worried we won't get some of the things we want like BOG since we have to do each one every day and can't do the whole trip at once like staying onsite and also going in the busy summer. I also still don't know that I understand the whole my experience app and not sure if it is better to try and book the dinning on the app or by calling so def have questions about that.

 

[RI Disney Star]

I'm here...can't wait to hear all about your trip!

 

[skojo]

Joining in

 

[DizNee Luver]

I'm here

Welcome Kathy!!!

Joining in! That is so great how you have opened your hear and home to those children - this trip must have been such an amazing experience for them!

Welcome!! 4 of the kids have been to Disneyland but the one we're in the process of adopting had never been on a vacation let alone a Disney one......very exciting!!

I'm here. YAY. Can't wait!!!! I so love your reports because they are so detailed and you guys take such great pics I really feel like I am going along. I know you saw on FB but our trip to DL is def happening. We bought our airfare and reserved our room a few days ago. I am super stoked even though it is going to be really short and super budget and it will probably be really crowded but I don't care. I am really looking forward to everything you have to say and I know you guys stayed onsite and we aren't but I still feel really overwhelmed about planning our trip for next summer since everything has changed so much since we went 6 years ago. We need to start booking our meals in Dec so I need to get it figured out and I am really worried we won't get some of the things we want like BOG since we have to do each one every day and can't do the whole trip at once like staying onsite and also going in the busy summer. I also still don't know that I understand the whole my experience app and not sure if it is better to try and book the dinning on the app or by calling so def have questions about that.

That's great news about your trip Kelly!! So I did all my dining reservations on the WDW website....didn't want to chance an issue with my phone or the app.

I'm here...can't wait to hear all about your trip!

Welcome Beth!!

Joining in

Welcome!!!

 

[kelmac284]

Oh I didn't even know you could do them on the website. I feel so confused lol. I always called at 4 a.m. but I keep hearing people talking about midnight etc so I don't know what the right thing to do is. I hate to say it but for this trip I wish we WERE staying onsite then I would have just used a TA. When we were supposed to go last year I used one and she was awesome and was going to do everything for us and it was FREE to boot but since the ONLY thing we are buying through Disney is the tickets that's not going to work.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Our adventure started on the afternoon of August 6th. We live 2 hours + from the Portland Airport and we had a 5:30am flight the next morning, we decided to book a Stay-n-Park at the Shilo Inn near the airport. We left home around 1pm and made our way north in 2 vehicles. Our 28 year old son Tyler, who wasn't joining us (his decision), drove me and the twins with all the luggage in our SUV, while my hubby Mike, drove his Kia and the other 3 kids. We had traffic issues from the minute we hit I-5. Not sure what all of it was caused by or if it was just the sheer number of people out on the road, but it took us way longer than normal to reach our destination. I-205 in Portland was a nightmare.......stop and crawl, stop and crawl....... My nerves were pretty shot by the time we finally parked. We decided to get an early dinner (even though, it wasn't very early at this point) at Red Robin. We enjoyed our meal and the kids loved having milkshakes with their dinner. We loaded back up in our cars and headed to the Shilo Inn. Tyler helped Mike with all our luggage as I checked us in. The gal working the counter seemed new and very confused on how to do things. Our rate didn't seem right & I kept questioning her if she had it right and she said yes. I reminded her that we booked a Stay-n-Park and that one of our vehicles would be staying until the 18th. She assured me everything was good. She handed me the parking pass and told me where we could & couldn't park. After we got everything up to our room, Mike moved the car & Tyler headed back home.

We got the kids settled, medicated and in bed by 7pm. We watched a little TV and then lights out. Wake up time would be 2:30am!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Oh I didn't even know you could do them on the website. I feel so confused lol. I always called at 4 a.m. but I keep hearing people talking about midnight etc so I don't know what the right thing to do is. I hate to say it but for this trip I wish we WERE staying onsite then I would have just used a TA. When we were supposed to go last year I used one and she was awesome and was going to do everything for us and it was FREE to boot but since the ONLY thing we are buying through Disney is the tickets that's not going to work.

Well as far as I know, anyone can book online. I found it easier to do it this way. I also didn't get up in the middle of the night to do them. I did all of mine around 7-8am our time and pretty much got everything I wanted. The key is to take the reservation, even if the time isn't right (if its a harder one to get). Then when the trip gets closer, start going back on & trying to get a better time. Lots of people cancel around the 30 day mark as they set their plans in stone. You grab the new time and Disney won't cancel your other reservation until the new one is confirmed.

 

[DizNee Luver]

"Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" was our wake up song at 2:30am. I'd like to say I slept like a baby, but I would be lying......too much excitement and anxiety of oversleeping to really sleep. Mike & I got up first and showered and then got the 5 kids up and dressed. Mike went down and got a luggage cart and we loaded up our 9 checked bags & 6 carry-on items and we headed down to the lobby about 3:15. I checked in with the front desk gentleman to inquire about the airport shuttle. He said, nothing opens until 4am. Hmmmm, interesting, as I had pre-arranged with the TSA Passenger Support Agents to get help with getting the kids through the security process as we had a wheelchair, 3 kids with autism and developmentally delayed. They had contacted me and said to plan on getting to the airport around 3:30am and they would have someone there to meet us and walk us through the process. The front desk guy said he could have the driver take us at 3:30 if we wanted....we said yes please.

Here's our luggage waiting to be loaded on the shuttle.



Not bad for 7 of us (2 of the suitcases were just formula for Michayla who is g-tube fed and feeding syringes, pull-ups, swim diapers & wipes).

Here's my tired crew.....excited but tired!







Michayla uses a wheelchair on outings because she likes to throw herself on the ground or just lay on the ground and then you can't get her back up. She will crocodile roll and tear up our shoulders and such. We also found she seems most comfortable if in a chair or stroller. She is able to get around fine on her feet and she loves to rock back & forth dancing......she just isn't always cooperative in new places or places with lots of stimuli.

More to come......need to sort the next batch of pictures!!

 

[ChosenBelle]

I can't wait to hear all about your trip!

 

[DizNee Luver]

I can't wait to hear all about your trip!

Welcome!! Next post we'll be in Florida!!

 

[kelmac284]

Yay it has begun!! And thanks for the info on the ressies. I don't know if early june will be better or worse than when you guys went. I think the schools on the East Coast get out even earlier than we do like around Mem day so not sure if it will be worse. I guess I am just going to do my best and I am already prepared NOT to get some and I know I will just have to keep checking. Can't wait for your next installment!!!

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

"Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" was our wake up song at 2:30am. I'd like to say I slept like a baby, but I would be lying......too much excitement and anxiety of oversleeping to really sleep. Mike & I got up first and showered and then got the 5 kids up and dressed. Mike went down and got a luggage cart and we loaded up our 9 checked bags & 6 carry-on items and we headed down to the lobby about 3:15. I checked in with the front desk gentleman to inquire about the airport shuttle. He said, nothing opens until 4am. Hmmmm, interesting, as I had pre-arranged with the TSA Passenger Support Agents to get help with getting the kids through the security process as we had a wheelchair, 3 kids with autism and developmentally delayed. They had contacted me and said to plan on getting to the airport around 3:30am and they would have someone there to meet us and walk us through the process. The front desk guy said he could have the driver take us at 3:30 if we wanted....we said yes please.

Here's our luggage waiting to be loaded on the shuttle.



Not bad for 7 of us (2 of the suitcases were just formula for Michayla who is g-tube fed and feeding syringes, pull-ups, swim diapers & wipes).

Here's my tired crew.....excited but tired!







Michayla uses a wheelchair on outings because she likes to throw herself on the ground or just lay on the ground and then you can't get her back up. She will crocodile roll and tear up our shoulders and such. We also found she seems most comfortable if in a chair or stroller. She is able to get around fine on her feet and she loves to rock back & forth dancing......she just isn't always cooperative in new places or places with lots of stimuli.

More to come......need to sort the next batch of pictures!!

Loving this! I love the luggage tags. Let me know how the DAS works there

 

[DizNee Luver]

Yay it has begun!! And thanks for the info on the ressies. I don't know if early june will be better or worse than when you guys went. I think the schools on the East Coast get out even earlier than we do like around Mem day so not sure if it will be worse. I guess I am just going to do my best and I am already prepared NOT to get some and I know I will just have to keep checking. Can't wait for your next installment!!!

According to Derek, the schools down there are out mid-May and the hot & wet summer weather has arrived. So you probably be dealing with the same things we did. I got all the reservations I wanted but staying onsite we book at 180 days....not sure what the timeline is for off property.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Loving this! I love the luggage tags. Let me know how the DAS works there

Will do!!

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

Hi! I'm excited about reading the rest. I do love the luggage pic because that is so my family. The early morning one cracks me up

 

[DizNee Luver]

Hi! I'm excited about reading the rest. I do love the luggage pic because that is so my family. The early morning one cracks me up

I think we did good luggage wise with our big family!!

 

[Sailormoon2]

seems like quite the travelling gain, very anxious to see how you manage all the variables.