WDW Day 1: Downtown Disney and Old Key West

We're back!!

I don't even know why I put exclamation marks with that statement.  I'm depressed.  Someone fly me back to Disney World.  The trip was everything I thought it would be and then some!  I can't believe it's over.

Maybe it was the amount of time and planning that went in to it that made it that much more special.  Or maybe it was that it was the first time we went as a family.  Either way, it was truly magical!  I can't wait to go back when the boys get older.

I took 1,000 photos.  Exactly 1,000.  Plus we purchased and used PhotoPass (which I highly recommend).  The easiest way to blog about this and share my experiences at each park, restaurant, and resort is to break it down daily.  So, here we go!

We had an 8:30am flight out of Detroit last Wednesday morning direct to Orlando.  The boys were so pumped when we woke them up to go!  They took cups of dry cereal and yogurt in the car and my parents met us at my house since it's closer to the airport.  Off we went!

The flight was relatively smooth (my definition of smooth and yours might be something completely different).  The boys stayed entertained and quiet.  They are pros at flying!

We found our way to Disney's Magical Express transportation to the resort easily.  A quick train ride in the airport and we were there!  We waited a few minutes to board the bus and Evan was asleep in my arms as the bus pulled away from the airport.  The movie that played on the ride had us all excited and Sean enjoyed the "Old Fashioned Mickey" cartoons they played too.

We arrived to the airport around 11:00am and by 12:30pm we were at our resort, Old Key West!  The best part was not having to wait for our luggage at baggage claim.  Magical Express took care of that for us.  Our room wasn't ready, so we had packed our bathing suits and sunscreen in our carry-ons.  We grabbed our first Quick Service lunch at Good's To Go and hit the pool!

We quickly learned that QS at our resort was pretty low-key on the rules.  Our meal plan includes one drink, one meal, and one dessert.  They were willing to trade the drink and dessert for sides like fresh fruit, yogurt, fries, small salads, etc.  Besides, they give you the refillable mug to use the fountain drinks as your drink.  Why would you need another?

The pool was amazing!  Sean AND Evan loved the waterslide.  I can't believe Evan was brave enough to go down it by himself.  I'm glad we brought our Puddle Jumpers even though the pool had life jackets.  The boys are so comfortable swimming in the PJ's that it made things easier.

This was considered the main pool and the Hospitality House.  They had a Quick Service counter, a restaurant (Olivia's), a gift shop, the lobby and check-in desk, shuffleboard, tennis courts, a sand area, an arcade, hammocks, and a ferry that takes guests to Downtown Disney.

By 4:00pm our room was ready.  The boys watched more Mickey cartoons in the lobby as we got our paperwork and a huge golf cart drove us to our room.  Our room ended up being a 10 minute walk to this area, but our room also had a smaller pool and a bus stop by it so it was a good spot.

We rented DVC points through David's Vacation Rentals.  We chose a two-bedroom villa as it gave us lots of space and a full kitchen/washer and dryer.  Both of those came in handy!  My parents took the master bedroom with a king bed and the beautiful bathroom that had both a shower and a jetted tub.  Our bedroom had two full size beds and a bathroom with a bathtub/shower combo.  We had a balcony that overlooked a part of the golf course, the Hospitality House, and a smaller pool to the left.

After changing clothes and putting our grocery order away from Strollers and Groceries, we went out to catch the bus to Downtown Disney for our T-Rex dinner reservation!  I wish we had more time to stroll though DTD.  There was so much to see and do!  The kids fell asleep in the stroller after we arrived and walked to T-Rex.

It actually worked out that they were sleeping.  We were able to keep the stroller with us in the restaurant instead of having to park it outside.  Makes things easier with a diaper bag and other things stored inside of it.  Sean woke up early into dinner and was in awe.  He loved it!  We walked around half the time we waited for our dinner just looking at all the different rooms.  Evan slept and when he woke up...he was not a happy camper.  He was petrified (as we thought he'd be).  We had to take turns taking him outside.  Poor guy...

I can't speak for everyone, but my dinner was delicious!  I had a NY Strip Steak, some red skin mashed potatoes, and a vegetable medley.  Perfection!  And the dessert was sooo cool!  Four slices of yummy chocolate cake with ice cream and it even had dry ice.  A neat dinner experience minus Evan's meltdown.

Sean was in luck with the Lego Store being right next door.  So, we spent the next hour at the Lego Store and the World of Disney!  We could have spent longer easily, but we knew we needed to get on the ferry to go back with a long day ahead of us tomorrow.

Evan picked out Buzz Lightyear Mickey Ears and a giant sucker that he's been waiting for!  Sean picked out a Lego set with working trucks and 311 pieces...fun!  We strolled over to the ferry pick-up spot and admired all the different stores and restaurants along the way.

The ferry ride back was relaxing.  Evan had an ice cream that Grandpa bought him (sucker...) and they were both anxious to see if Tinkerbell came and left them something.  The deal was simple:  if they behave during the day, TInkerbell would leave them something at night.  We can't fault Evan for being afraid of T-Rex, so they both got a bag (The Little Mermaid bathtub toys and Mickey water bottles)!

And then it was lights out.  With visions of Magic Kingdom and Cinderella's Castle in their heads...

Disney World Prep

On the eve of our much anticipated Disney World trip, I find it completely relaxing to blog about how I've spent the past 9 months planning, prepping, and scouring the internet for said trip.  Traveling gives me so much anxiety, it's unreal.  So, I'll do what I can to take my mind off of the actual traveling and focus on all the details that are going to make this trip stand out.

About 9 months ago, after much convincing to both my dad and Scott, my mom and I booked a trip for the 6 of us to stay at the Old Key West Resort on Disney property for a week in June when school let out.  We decided to rent DVC points through David's (an online company).

We tried for Boardwalk Villas.  And we struck out.

So, we tried for Animal Kingdom.  And again, we struck out.

Finally, we went for Old Key West and were in luck.  Let the planning begin.  Right around this time Sean celebrated his 4th birthday and was working on his handwriting skills.  I told him he could write a letter to Mickey asking if we could go.  If Mickey wrote him back, we could go to Disney.  Secretly, the trip was already booked.

He checked the mail for days upon days.  It finally came in November, but I stashed it away to reveal on Christmas morning.

Christmas morning finally came and we revealed the trip to the boys by buying them each a Trunki suitcase by Melissa and Doug and filling it with Disney related gear and toys - stuffed animals, t-shirts, activity pads for the plane rides, cups, etc.  And of course, Sean got to open up the postcard that came from Mickey and Pals.  It was really exciting!

And from that point on, it was plan, plan, plan!  Anybody who warned me that telling the boys 6 months in advance would be torture for them and for us was dead wrong.  The boys loved being a part of the planning and researching.  They watched the Disney Planning DVD countless times with me, watched youtube videos of the rides so they knew what they wanted to go on, and of course, we counted down the days (great number and scissor skills involved with that!)

I had the round chalkboard signs from my baby shower years ago.  I simply added the "ears" and bow and now we have a countdown board!

We started the countdown chain on our chalkboard wall in the playroom at 60 days.  I knew Sean needed the work on his scissor cutting skills so this was perfect.  Gave them both something to look forward to in the mornings!  Even Evan was able to cut a few off toward the end.

As we got closer to packing, I started a pile of things that I found on clearance at the Disney Store and Target that I had been accruing.  I also read the blogs about Dollar Store items to buy in advance and did one giant shopping trip.  Since we're going in June, we needed cooling towels, misting fans, and stroller fans too.  An Amazon wish list helped keep me organized too.

A Pre-K homework assignment involved him writing where he wants to travel to.  And of course, he picked Disney.  Proud of my little guy!  That was two different nights worth of working on letters to be able to write that.

The day these arrived in the mail was so exciting and it really made things feel so real!  I bought Scott a "Bit Belt" for his Magic Band since he's been known to lose his Fitbit.  A friend at work passed on her Mickey shaped "bling" to put on my band and the boys have special "skins" to put on theirs that have their name and my phone number in case we get separated.  No need to buy those temporary tattoos or other wrist bands when we can use the ones they have to wear.

After we made the reveal at Christmas, I knew I wanted to make the boys a picture book using photos I found online of all the big things to do at Disney so they could visualize it.  We've had many conversations looking at the pictures and talking about what we'll do and see.  I can't wait to replace the stock photos with ones that we took on our trip when we get back.

Smaller projects included the stroller sign that I made out of scrapbook paper, stickers, and ribbon and then laminated.  We also needed some pressed pennies containers that we reused our Mini M&M containers and put scrapbook paper around.

Last but not least, I struggled with the autograph book ideas.  I went back and forth with making them a book each or ordering custom ones from Etsy.  Finally, I decided I wanted to buy the Junior Encyclopedia of Animated Characters book from Amazon (a hardcover book).  I figured they would more than likely look at something like this after we got back and read about each character than just a book of signatures.  I took it to Kinko's, had them take off the hardcover binding and re-bind it with a spiral binding, and they also laminated the inside front page and back cover.  I'm really pleased with how it turned out!  The boys can take turns being the one to bring the book to the character.  And now we'll have a much more meaningful keepsake.

I'll also be bringing two picture mats to have some signatures done on so we can frame a picture of us with signatures around it.  I'll only bring those to the character dining restaurants we're going to so we don't have to lug it around the parks all day.

And that's it!  Months and months of planning and prepping are finally coming to fruition tomorrow morning when we board our early morning flight.  I know we're going to have an amazing time no matter what!  But, I'd like to think that the extra planning and projects will make it that much more special.  Now, fingers crossed for sunny weather and minimal tantrums!

Our Pre-K Graduate!

I look back at last week and breathe a sigh of relief.  I have no idea how we accomplished what we did in a week's time!  It never fails.  The end of the school year and suddenly we are over-booked.  I'd love for one year to just coast into summer vacation.  For it to be casual, lazy, and uneventful.

This year, it went off with a bang.  4 hours of tutoring prepping students for their final exams, a pediatrician's visit for a random ear infection for Evan (thanks - rec center pool), a vet appointment for Bailey to get her yearly vaccines, a work baby shower that I helped plan and execute, hair cuts for all the boys, and graduation.  Phew!  I'm glad it's over.

The boys ended their year at Tutor Time on Wednesday of last week.  Scott and I still had work Thursday and Friday, but the boys were lucky to have those days with Nana and Grandma.  I quickly grabbed this shot before pediatrician and vet appointments after school/work.

I love the side-by-side comparison photos!  I can't believe it will be time for Evan to start these next year in preschool and for Sean to be at an elementary school in the Young 5's program!  I'm trying to hold back the tears.

The baby shower on Tuesday after work was a hit!  15 ladies gathered at Chili's (per the mama-to-be's request) for chips, salsa, drinks, cake, and gifts!  It was so fun getting to hang out outside of work!  Sometimes I feel like I never see anyone outside of my classroom.

It's bittersweet though, as we celebrated Mallory's impending birth, we also said our farewells.  She'll be taking time off indefinitely to stay home with her baby girl.

Thursday finally rolled around and Sean's graduation from Pre-K was that evening.  I picked up the boys early from home, took them for haircuts and to Costco for an ice cream treat before meeting the rest of the family at his school.  Grandma, Grandpa, Nana, and Pops joined us for the graduation and dinner out at TGI Friday's down the road.  It was an absolutely beautiful program that his teacher put together!  A few songs, mock awards, and a small reception afterwards, she outdid herself.

He was so excited to be a part of this!  Definitely nervous too, as he'd put his hand or fingers in his mouth (a nervous habit) from time-to-time.  But, he sang.  He smiled.  He was elated as he won his mock award for the "Lego Engineer Award".  How fitting.

We'll definitely miss his teacher, Ms. Kathryn and his buddies.  This was the most comfortable we've ever seen him in a class with friends.  Evan will return in the fall in the preschool classroom so I'm sure Sean will visit every so often at pick-up or drop-off.  But, it's time for Sean to move on.  Hard to believe!

And with that, summer vacation started!  And so did the crappy weather and storms.  Seriously, I think we're set on rain for a long time.  We try and find small gaps in the rain weather to get outside for some summer fun.

Although the past two days, it's been more like this for outdoor entertainment.

Happy summer vacation!!  We made it!

Tons of Trucks

Last night my parents took the boys overnight so Scott and I could go out for a bit.  We had nothing big planned.  We just wanted the chance to sit outside on a patio somewhere in downtown Plymouth over some dinner and drinks.  Mission accomplished.

We even decided to walk downtown and back home to help justify the calories consumed in food and drinks.  Makes that Margarita from Barrio's that much more delicious!  We even heard Music in the Park as we sat on the patio.  Bonus!

This morning I woke up early and drove out to Troy to pick up the boys from my parents'.  Rochester Hills was having a "Tons of Trucks" event at Borden Park.  My dad said he'd go with me and the boys, so we packed up the van and headed out at 9am.  I'm so glad we got there when we did!  No lines for the working trucks.  

Just as we left the last working truck in a row, the lines seemed to form.  We made our way over to the SWAT team truck, street sweeper, ambulance, and fire trucks.

The kids insisted we wait in line to try out one of the inflatable contraptions.  I'm glad my mom insisted I bring them socks and shoes to wear instead of their crocs.  They needed socks to go on the inflatables.  We did one turn going down the big inflatable slide and then headed over to the play structure.

This play structure was awesome!  Relatively new, innovative things to keep the kids entertained and safe, and so different from what they're used to!  

We had to practically drag the kids off the playground, but we were ready to head home for lunch.  My mom, the boys, and I all grabbed a bite to eat at Kerby's before heading back home.  The kids really enjoyed their time at Grandma and Grandpa's, as usual.  And it was a nice blend of time for me and Scott last night and then family time today.