Saturday, October 18, 2008

Disney Day One



We left our house at 8:30 this morning and headed to O’Hare airport to begin our adventure. I had checked in online last night, but couldn’t get my printer to work, so we had to stand in line to print out our boarding passes. Unfortunately, dork that I am, I hadn’t written down the confirmation number and I didn’t have my frequent flyer card with me so I couldn’t pull up our flight information. I kept looking at the screen, thinking there had to be an option where I could look up my flight info by name. Nope. The screen kept asking me, “Do you need more time?” I thought to myself that I didn’t need more time; what I needed was psychic ability so I could discern my confirmation number. The screen then flashed, “Are you stupid? Did you not know that you were going to need a boarding pass? Why on earth wouldn’t you have your confirmation number written down?” Then the screen flashed the message, “Do you see the phone to your left? We put that there for idiots like you. Pick it up so a customer service representative can help you.”

I picked up the phone, gave the voice on the other end my name and the poor customer service rep who gets stuck dealing with imbeciles like me all day, helped me with my confirmation number so I could print out our boarding passes. We checked our luggage and moved on to the security check-point.

Upon arrival at security, a gentleman looked at all of us and counted the tickets, then looked at all of us again.

“You have SIX kids???”

“Uh yeah.”

“Really? Six?”

“Still yeah.”

“Wow.”

So he checked off all our tickets and we proceeded through security. Everything went pretty smoothly there with me and the kids. Joe set the alarm off 4 times though. I think he was trying to get strip searched.

The flight was uneventful. Clay had a hard time sitting still and I was constantly reminding him not to kick his feet. The poor woman in front of him probably had an exceptionally enjoyable flight. Not.

We went to pick up our rental van and the guy quoted me a price that was about $200 more than my email confirmation. I argued with him for several minutes and finally gave up. It was hot, the kids were restless, and we were all really hungry. I’ll look at the agreement more closely tonight.

We stopped at Ihop on the way to the hotel for an early dinner. The bathroom was out of order. The credit card machine was out of order and apparently they were completely out of fresh fruit. It’s FLORIDA! How does a restaurant in sunny Florida run out of fresh fruit???

Then it was on to the hotel. We were totally spoiled when we were here last October courtesy of the folks at Discovery Cove. This time our room wasn’t as nice, it wasn’t near a pool, and it smelled like someone had bladder control issues on the carpet. We requested a different room and got one right by a pool. It never hurts to ask!

Right now, Austin has a bad migraine that came on suddenly. I gave him some medicine and he fell asleep so I’m hanging out in the room with him. Meanwhile Joe has taken the other five down to the pool. I can hear them laughing and playing and it’s making me smile. I can also hear the sound of a waterfall in the background and Jimmy Buffet singing Cinco de Mayo in Memphis. The air is warm and (unlike California) very humid, but there’s a nice breeze rustling through the palm fronds out here on the balcony.

Ahhhh, this is going to be a nice family vacation. Although I really wasn’t looking forward to it, I’m anticipating a lot of fun, excitement on the kids’ faces, and some great family time. Yes, you can laugh at me come Wednesday when we’re all sick and tired of being confined together and the kids are all wired on artificial flavors and colors and the “GO GO GO “ factor has set in and everyone is having crab attacks. But for tonight, we’re going to enjoy each other’s company as we head to the grocery store to get some breakfast items and snacks before we call it an early night.

34 comments:

Unknown said...

Have a blast, cant wait to read more

MaNiC MoMMy™ said...

Ahhh, I just sighed for you. Just being THERE, in your room, having the whole crew together and knowing they are happy and healthy and hopefully relaxed and ready for a fun and well-deserved family vacation has got to mean something good!

Hope the week remains pleasant and enjoyable--Make some great memories! xo

debi9kids said...

I am so glad it seemed to get better once you settled in, aside from poor Austin's migraine.
Hope you have a GREAT vacation and get a chance to relax a bit too (haha!)

Keeley said...

Wishing you quiet nights and happy smiles on your vacation. =)

sam said...

Great big hugs to you and yours, Dawn ... I envy your vacation.

Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] said...

I'm so glad you're here!!! I'll call you Sunday. :)

Donetta said...

I hope he gets to feeling better. I can just see your smiling face.

Anonymous said...

Glad you made it in one piece!

I have to ask, what was the reaction from the younger kids when they woke up Saturday morning and you told them you were going to Disney that day instead of Monday?

Donna in PA :)

Elleah said...

My husband and I are heading there in January and can hardly wait!

Handyman said...

Hey, we go to Orlando alot. and be extremely early back to the airport. I fly alot and the security at orlando airport is verrrry slow. have fun Do not go to the gas station next to the rental agency. They charge over $5.00 a gallon

Anonymous said...

Hi Dawn!
Welcome to our hot/humid/did I say HOT state?!? I am about 3 hours south of the Disney/Universal area-and I do think we take that fact for granted.
Too bad you are not on Universal Studio's Property (well-then that would mean you would be going to a Univesal park!) Anyhew-BEST EVER hotels. Full star treatment!!!
None-the-less, I'm sure you'll have a GREAT time! Try to make the best of it - Disney IS the happiest place on earth! (yeah yeah yeah-I'm a mom too. I can already hear what you are thinking!)

Anonymous said...

Was everyone so surprised? What did the younger ones say when you woke them up? I hope Austin feels better! And say hi to Mickey for me!

Anonymous said...

I had the exact same thing happen when I rented from N******* Its frustrating. Afterwards I contacted the company and they refunded the money. Hopefully you'll have that luck too.

Michelle said...

Glad you made it safely, Dawn. I'm now off to print my rental agreement. And I'll be highly entertained if we're also B19 tomorrow (please please be in the B and not the C concourse!). Bummer about the migraine, but let's hope it's just today and you all have fun. Wish US luck in getting a room by the pool, too -- errr one of the pools anyway ;)

Anonymous said...

you should have told the guy that said "you have six kids?" that "yes, with six you get eggroll"

Jillie Bean (AKA Bubba's Sis) said...

Where are you staying?

Bren said...

Sorry Austin got a migraine. Hope he's feeling better tomorrow and can enjoy himself.

Anonymous said...

Dawn - Have a GREAT TRIP! I'll be at "the World" in 3 weeks and can't wait, so I'll be living vicariously through you for the next few days.

Sending wishes for an injury and illness free vacation.

KC said...

Have a great trip, Dawn! I live not too far from Orlando and we've been having great weather lately - well, great for Central Florida, which means no hurricanes, no love bugs, and the temp is under 90 degrees. I hope the weather holds up for you and you guys get to do everything you want to! :)

Anonymous said...

Dawn - I get those migranes after getting on planes as well. He might have had his sinuses stuffed to bursting by the changes in cabin pressure. I've always found steaming helps gets rid of it. A nice steaming shower or bath might be just the thing for him. Hope he feels good enough to run around disney world tomorrow.

MaBunny said...

Wow Dawn, have a GREAT time! I've never been to either Disney world OR Disney Land, so I'll be reading your posts and wishing I was there with my own family. Hope Austins migraine gets better and it doesnt ruin his trip.

Kim Williams said...

Hope you guys have a great vacation there Dawn! I can't wait to see pictures of the kids at Disney, especially Brooklyn and Clay since they are the youngest and at the age where it all seems very real.

Relax and enjoy your time!

FoxMcLeod said...

I'm so glad that your day ended better than it started. I really pray that you guys have a great time and that poor Austin doens't get any more migraines. I know how hard that is, but on VACATION! Boooo. I hope you guys find lots of fresh fruit and good stuff to eat so you all feel great.

Kelly said...

You'll have a lovely time, I'm sure, despite the crab attacks - those moments of discord make for fond family members down the road, really! Enjoy your vacation!

Anonymous said...

Dawn, My son Craig is a monorail driver at Disney. If you see a 6' tall dirty blonde blue eyed monorail driver with a name tag that says "Craig, Nantucket, MA", that's him! Have a blast! You're in my favorite place on earth! Linda

my3boys said...

When you get a hotel, do you get two adjoining rooms? I only have 3 kids, but I think we need two rooms. We haven't splurged yet though. As they get bigger, I think we'll definitely need to.

Anonymous said...

I hope Austin starts feeling better very soon. Enjoy yourself!

Anonymous said...

I hope Austin feels better. I get migraines...what a bummer. Have a great time enjoying each others' company. Hopefully they won't be feuding like my 3 are doing at the moment. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! And they were gone overnight at their grandparents. You'd think I'd be more patient after a little break....can I come to Florida???

Sherry

Anonymous said...

I have the same question as another reader about the # of rooms you need. Do you get a suite, adjoining rooms, or squeeze? I have 3 kids who are little so hotels usually just charge us the extra person fee for each. They tightly share a queen bed but in a couple of years I don't think that will work. Hotels are cool in person but booking on-line usually gives me grief if over 4 per room. Paying double for a hotel stay is going to hurt though. What do you do to keep family together that works?

Tonia/Castaic CA

Anonymous said...

It must be a Ihop thing because last time we stopped at a Ihop the bathroom was out of order. That's a real bummer. Hope all the rest goes well. At least the weather is supposed to be cooler this week-end here in Florida.

Lynne's Somewhat Invented Life said...

How clever those automated gadgets are, huh? I'm surprised it didn't call you by name and ask for your autograph.

Anonymous said...

Hope your having a blast!! I went to Disney World when I was 8 and when I was 16. We had so much fun each time. Hope your kids are having an awesome time!!! (And hope you can find some "awesome time" in between the kid's version of awesome!)

Anonymous said...

hope all is going well on your trip god bless and what great photos

Carrie M. said...

Dawn, what hotel did you stay at? Was it Imperial Palms in Kissimmee? My ex-husband and I used to go every year with the kids and the hotel picture looks so familiar.

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