I will never go back!

Britt · Sep 15, 2012

*sigh* Apparently I still haven't figured out how to post pictures. Why is it so complicated on this forum. LOL Any other one I've been on, you just click "upload photo" and BAM. lol

*Ok, off to figure that out and THEN I'll be back. LOL* <3

EDIT: Nevermind, got it. Apparently I have to be smarter then the comp...haha

Britt · Sep 15, 2012

(Also to add, I made most of the kiddos shirts. The Mickey and Stitch, I had a friend do for me) I think they came out great!!

Sept 1 was travel day!!
We spent the Aug 31st at a hotel in Denver so we could fly out bright and early at 6. It seemed like the morning was meant for us. We got checked in flawlessly and went to security. It was only..maybe 10 people deep? Super quick. About 2 minutes after we get in line there is a HUGE rush. I mean, they almost filled the turnstyles!!!! We had plenty of time to get through, get breakfast and get to our gate a couple minutes before loading

By the way....we were pricing out tickets in March and could not BELIEVE how much airline tickets were. We thought we'd be SOOOOOOO smart and fly into Gainesville instead and drive the 2 hours to Kissimmie. We high fived ourselves for MONTHS thinking how smart we were. That was until around Aug when I got the tingle to check flight costs. Yeah, we overspent by over $600

There is nothing like that slap in the face. ROFL. We learned a huge lesson there.

Sleeping at the hotel!

We hadn't even taken off!! 2 seconds after he started driving the plane towards the runway!! "But mommy, Im not tired!"

And now awake...lol

My son got to meet the pilots and all 3 boys were given their wings!

So we made the 2 hour drive with the help of the GPS. My father complaining about FL drivers (forgetting CO is worse...lol) complaining about the trees in front of the swamps. YES. Complaining about trees in front of the swaps. *sigh* He kept making this teeth sucking noise that I've never noticed before. The hairs were sticking up on my neck and Im trying not to tell him to STFU and stop sucking his teeth. lol Plus, nothing like feeling like a kid again then having your FIL driving you all over the place. LOL.

We stayed at the Orange Lake Resort at Holiday Inn and let me tell you....that place was AMAZING. It was gorgeous. My MIL says at check in "Now, I will be writing a review of your resort and this is my first time staying here. I'm hoping you make it memorable". What does the guy do? Bump us up to a personal villa near the gates!!!!!

2 Bedroom, 2 bathrooms, full kitchen/washer dryer, living and dining room. Personal space in the back and personal parking spot. They had the most awesome pools and lazy river.

First night there was BLAH. Lol. We went to Dennys for dinner and then the store for groceries, then BED.

Onto Chef Mickeys and Animal Kingdom!!!

lebeau · Sep 15, 2012

So cute! Looks like you've got your hands full. Can't wait to read this!

DisneyDebNJ · Sep 15, 2012

Great start Britt!!! What a gorgeous family!!!!

Britt · Sep 15, 2012

Day 1: Chef Mickeys and Animal Kingdom

We started the day off right! We loved Chef Mickeys on our trip last April (2011) and knew we had to make a stop there this time. Brendan had mentioned it almost daily since we'd be home, so I knew it'd be a hit. We got there and got checked in. He handed us our buzzer and we headed over to the waiting area. The boys had just enough time to look over the ledge and see the napkin parade (not sure what it's called? LOL) and their excitement was through the roof!!

(NO, I would not normally ever let them stand on the stools.lol)

First we met Mickey! Dylan is on a HUGE Mickey kick right now and thought he was just amazing!

While we waited for the rest, I got everyones breakfast. The food is NOT why you go to Chef Mickeys...lol It was pretty "meh", but the atmosphere was great!

Then Goofy!

And we decided we REALLY love Minnie

After breakfast, we headed back to our resort to pick up my inlaws!

Inlaws!

(I warned them the pic was coming. Counted down and these are STILL the faces I ended up with....LOL)

Lion King was first! (Im sorry the pics were so blurry. I was determined not to use any kind of flash!)

And then Finding Nemo (again, no flash)

Britt · Sep 15, 2012

Animal Kindgom PT 2 (apparently you can only upload 20 pics per reply....sad that I know this info..BWHAHAHA)

By this time, my inlaws were starving. I cant remember what the place was called, but I got some kind of chicken salad with a ginger dressing o.o I really didn't like it, but I dont really like ginger much. (I didn't realizing it already had dressing on it. lol I was going to eat it "naked")

Onward to Rafikis Planet Watch!

And we got to meet Turk!

Then we went on Kilimanjaro Safari, Kali River Rapids and made our way to Dinosaur. Something my 6 year old was looking SO forward to. He was to short last year and was devastated.

BEFORE Dinosaur

Annnnd AFTER...LOL

We made our way over to Everest so my husband can ride it, then to find the boys some ice cream to make up for Dinosaur (To be fair, I DID warn him...lol)

Then went over to It's a Bugs Life and then, made our way back to the resort. We were exhausted and it was almost 7 pm by then!

First night there, we decided to go swimming at the resort pool

myhappyplace · Sep 15, 2012

Your boys are adorable!!! And you totally scared me with your thread title, LOL. Can't wait to read more!

Britt · Sep 15, 2012

Day 2: The Olivias and Epcot (the Olivias are located at Old Key West)

After day 1, I was pretty tired of my FIL already! He'd spent the day complaining about hurting feet, heat, food, and the rides. I was NOT looking forward to this day as World Showcase is a long day! lol

This is the reason THIS happened at breakfast!! FIL?? WHAT FIL? rofl (Mimosa)

We had an AWESOME breakfast. I got some kind of potato mash thing that I loved. I asked for seconds of it, which I never do. Im not a breakfast person, so I found it and latched onto it....haha

My husband got this atrocity that he adored!

Banana Nut Bread French Toast!

Breakfast was reasonably priced. About $35 for the 5 of us to eat, INCLUDING the mimosas! We tried to be smart about meals. Adults split, kids split and then generally waters to drink, except this morning...LOL

ONWARD TO EPCOT

We got there JUST in time for the canon to explode!!!! By the way, we had just an AWFUL parking spot! 2 whole rows away from the handicapped parking. *SHUCKS*

First, off to Spaceship Earth with NO wait. Then into Innovations with nobody else in there. Off to Mission Space for my husband. I ACTUALLY WENT ON IT TOO (if you dont know me, which you probably dont, this was a HUGE feat for me...haha)

There was no wait at Mission Space, so Josh, FIL and I rode it on Green. Josh wanted to ride Orange, so he went back while FIL tried to gain our feet and someone was writing this in the air OVER and OVER. They must have known this Heathen was in town

What? Is that a meltdown approaching??

FIXED - No pouting at WDW allowed!!!

Gee Golly can you guess what we went on next?

I've heard some dont care for this "ride", but I love it. Im a huge shark fanatic and that is just my favorite place to be. I spent a good 10-15 minutes just standing, watching them stalk!

Anyway, got to see this little feller

This guy kind of reminded me of Falcor (please tell me you remember him!!!)

Onto Showcase

Where we met her (I can not remember her name for the life of me)

Lunch in Germany

The HORRIBLE crowds we dealt with! (My inlaws dont know I got this pic. Im going to clean it up and remove the trashcan, frame it and give it to them as one of their Christmas gifts)

And then we got to meet Snow White who was just ADORABLE

(And theres my 20 for Epcot...ROFL)

Britt · Sep 15, 2012

Just one more from Epcot! I thought these were ADORABLE!

After Epcot we went back to the resort and headed to the Lazy River. I NEEDED to get away from FIL at this point. I was near tears just on the drive to the lazy river area, so frustrated and so disappointed. He'd spent most of the afternoon complaining about the heat, walking, how "dumb" World Showcase was. He didn't want to walk through ANY of the countries (my MIL FORCED Germany on him, since thats where she's from. lol).

Annnnnyway, a couple pics from that!

Loves his sunglasses! LOL

Logan and I rescued this little guy. He seemed to be struggling quite a bit. Im not sure if they swim, but he was awfully cute!

Not a fan of the waterfall thingies...LOL

After this, we headed out to Magic Kingdom for their fireworks. FIL stayed behind at the resort. I think he could tell I was angry. I kept snapping at him...lol

THOSE were the worst crowds we experienced the whole trip. We got there early to get a spot for the Electric Parade, had a family who tried starting a fight with us when they moved their kids in front of my kids and I thought I'd have to throw down (hahahaha...kidding. Kind of.) but really, I told them they weren't letting their kids sit in front of mine. We'd been there 1 1/2 hours to get that spot and Im sorry, it's unacceptable. The dad/man called my MIL and I a *b word* and stalked off.

However a lovely family from the U.K. asked if they could "edge in" and so we made room. My boys LOVED making the new friends. They didn't put their kids in front of mine at all, they just squeezed in and the kids sat WITH my kids. We have NO problems making room for families, especially kids, but do NOT tell your kids to go stand in front of mine and then try taking my MIL's spot (she was bent over trying to get my sons shoe and the man swooped right in where she was standing!!!)

Annnnnyway, the parade and the fireworks were simply AMAZING. Wishes brought me to tears as always and hearing my kids "OOOOOOOO and AHHHHHHH" and watching my 2 year old bouncing and clapping...Brendan waving and screaming "IM RIGHT HERE TINKERBELL" as she flies over him and the people around us DYING with laughter...it was to emotional for me. I cried like a baby. LOL Happy tears, of course.

Britt · Sep 15, 2012

Day 3: Magic Kingdom - It's not Disney World until you go to MK!!

We started this day off a bit late. And with a morning time out for the little guy! LOL

And some visitors

\
(Im not even kidding this is NOT zoomed in. This guy was SOOO close to my lens it was ridiculous)

My inlaws didn't want to get up early at all (because goodness knows being at the parks at 9 is just TO early...lol). They payed for it though. The heat was through the ROOF and it was super crowded even though it was a "low crowd day". (mostly it was just crowded in Adventureland)

Darn stray dogs

We went onto the Jungle Cruise which I'd missed last time and it was so cute. The jokes were totally corny and I wish there were some "live" animals, but...whatever. lol Then rode the Magic Carpet ride, and Pirates of the Caribbean, It's a Small World and Splash Mountain. Thats the only side of the park we made it to before my FIL decided he was done and wanted to leave. And guess what...that meant we ALL get to leave. Yeah. I swear...trying to be "grown up" around a man like him....he tries me everytime.

What happened to their faces?? I told them it'd stick like that

We got out by the castle and this is what the crowds looked like

Day 4 coming up!!!

Annnnnd

ImagineerDude · Sep 15, 2012

You don't go to Chef Mickey's for the food...ya got that right!!!

Britt · Sep 15, 2012

Ok, let me try this again. I just typed it up, uploaded a ton of pics and was almost done and hit WHO KNOWS WHAT, but it deleted it.

*RAWR*

So, I was pretty upset with the day before. I spent the entire rest of the evening in my room with my toddler and just reminded myself that Im an adult and cant pout and going off on people wont get me anywhere except make my MIL miserable (I love her. She's a 2nd mother to me, easily. I love her to death.).

The next day, we went to Gatorland at my FIL's insistence. He paid for it. I think he knew how upset I was and I was TRYING to not confront him on it. And then headed out to Cocoa Beach. Im going to try and stay on track because none of ya'll care about the beach, you guys are just Disney hungry ; ) We ate lunch over the ocean and watched the Windsurfers and then played in the waves. Of course, we were rained out, but whatever.

DAY 4 (of Disney): MK and HS.

The more I thought about it, the more upset I was about it. We'd only done a few rides and NONE of what the boys originally wanted to do. I did NOT come to Disney to half a$$ it. I decided we'd go to MK in the morning and meet up at HS in the afternoon. We parked at MK with another HORRIBLE spot 1 row behind the handicap spots!

We got there and the first thing we did was get Mickey ears. We really hadn't had much of a chance before this and unfortunately, it was our last day at the parks.

We got done in time to see the Autumn Dancers/Singers! They pulled Brendan out to dance

Which just made this boys day! They had done this at our 1900th Park and Fare dinner last April too!

First things first, we headed RIGHT over to Buzz Lightyear. Which we rode 4-5 times, 1 right after another. NO wait, even at about 10 am!

No flash again!

We then got on People Movers and then went over to meet Stitch!

Then we sat and waited while Josh went on Space Mountain and decided to get a couple pics! lol

Went onto Speedway, made some pennies, played in a mister, rode Splash Mountain twice, went on Goofys Rollercoaster

and then went and had lunch at Pecos Bills (right name?? haha)

And then headed over to HS! Guess who crashed on the bus!!!

So, HS was a big fat fail. I was trying to give it a chance. Last time we went, we went during spring break, crowds were at an all time high and we were traveling with another part of 5. We didn't get to the park until almost noon and it was a NIGHTMARE. You couldn't walk, there were 2 hour waits for almost everything and the heat.....body parts just stuck together.

THIS year, I was determined to have it be different. I was going to go, I was going to have fun and enjoy it. We got there and my inlaws were all ready to leave

They'd gotten Josh fast passes to Rockin RollerCoaster and Tower of Terror. But when I wanted to walk down the street, my MIL stops me and says "Oh, we've already been down there".....ooook? I haven't? We sit and wait for Josh to ride his rides and then MIL wants to go onto "Great Movie Ride" so we do. Inlaws are ready to leave and Im like "We just GOT here. I paid for 4 days at 4 parks and Im not even going to get to be here????" And my FIL refused to just leave us and just come get us later "once Im home, Im not going to want to come back" - CUE Brittenys temper tantrum.

My face turns red and I turn around and storm off to find Mater and McQueen. I walk way ahead of them because if either one comes up to me, Im going to bite someones head off. I wait at the cue line for my boys and get them in line with me. My MIL just comes up to me and puts her arms around me and tells me she's sorry and to take my time and do what I'd like to do here. Tears just...pour. I was sooooo angry and stressed and just...TICKED. It was nice she understood why. But the whole week just piled on.

So this is what we did at HS.

FIN

Britt · Sep 15, 2012

So, my closing.

We left after seeing McQueen and Mater. I was so mad, disappointed and realized my time at the parks was over and my FIL had managed to fully ruin my trip. I'd spent more then 2 times what they spent and my trip was ruined. I'd tried not to let it, but...you know what...Im human and theres only so much a person can take.

We got back to the room and I sat down with my MIL after dinner and told her how frustrated I was. She said "Give me a minute" and went back inside. I sat outside and watched it sprinkle on the pond and sipped a margarita my husband made me. She came back out and told me that she had told Tim he was going golfing in the morning, she'd paid for it and he's staying at the resort and me and the kids are going to Harry Potter World by ourselves.

We went to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and it was everything I'd wanted it to be!!!!

My FIL played golf and then volunteered to play golf with the Special Olympics. Which is awesome, but you know what I heard about the REST OF THE TRIP?? How good he felt volunteering and doing something good. Im sitting there like "Yes, please...preen your feathers more please". If it was anyone else, I'd have thought it was awesome, but it was him and Im like...I hate you. LOL

The next day was hell. We had to drive those 2 hours BACK to Gainesville......thank GOSH we left when we did. Our flight had been moved up 2 hours and we BARELY got there in time. We flew through security and waited. And waited. Our flight was delayed.

We finally get on almost an hour later (by then, my kids have HAD it.). We get into Atlanta and then not only is our flight delayed, we have a gate change!

We finally get home and I swear, I almost SPRINTED through the Colorado air to my car....ROOOOFL.

I will NEVER EVER travel with my FIL again. I blamed Disney this past week and realized this morning, it was my a$$ FIL. Not Disney!!! <3 So, never fear...we will be back. More likely in 2014 after we've paid off our car : )

I will be sticking around to this board though....I love you guys and you guys can understand my inner nerd!!!

myhappyplace · Sep 15, 2012

That really sucks. It's true, you don't know people until you travel with them. I've learned there are certain people that I will never travel with. I'd rather go alone.

That being said, it looks like your kids had an awesome time, and that's what they'll remember. Your photos are just gorgeous too, btw!

SuprDav · Sep 15, 2012

I got a case of the giggles on the before and after pics for Dinosaur.

SuprDav · Sep 15, 2012

We learned many years ago to never travel with any family members outside of the husband, wife and child unit. That way differences can be discussed and resolved. Any more people than that and you end up having such a generic trip that no one really gets anything out of it.

ShookieJones · Sep 15, 2012

1.Beautiful Family (except your FIL

)
2.Awesome Pics
3.Excellent TR.

I'm glad you finally came to terms with the fact that it was you FIL that was the problem and not our beloved WDW.

I'm also glad you experienced and ENJOYED the WWoHP! AMAZING! I'm looking forward to that part of my vaca almost as much as WDW...
I ain't gonna lie though..frozen butterbeer has something to do with that.

Britt · Sep 15, 2012

ShookieJones said:
1.Beautiful Family (except your FIL )
2.Awesome Pics
3.Excellent TR.

I'm glad you finally came to terms with the fact that it was you FIL that was the problem and not our beloved WDW.

I'm also glad you experienced and ENJOYED the WWoHP! AMAZING! I'm looking forward to that part of my vaca almost as much as WDW...
I ain't gonna lie though..frozen butterbeer has something to do with that.

Oh my gosh, frozen Butterbeer was amazing! I got a text the morning I was going that said "Get it frozen" and I had no idea what they met. I bought 1 frozen and 1 regular for the kids and sipped both and went "OOOOOOOOOO This is what she means" HAHA. That "froth" they put on top? YUM!!!

Thanks so much!!

Britt · Sep 15, 2012

SuprDav said:
We learned many years ago to never travel with any family members outside of the husband, wife and child unit. That way differences can be discussed and resolved. Any more people than that and you end up having such a generic trip that no one really gets anything out of it.

I would absolutely agree with you!! I can not wait to just have all my boys there and not worry about what anyone but US wants to do

I will never go back!

Britt

Well-Known Member

Britt

Well-Known Member

lebeau

Well-Known Member

DisneyDebNJ

Well-Known Member

Britt

Well-Known Member

Britt

Well-Known Member

myhappyplace

Crazy Cat Lady

Britt

Well-Known Member

Britt

Well-Known Member

Britt

Well-Known Member

ImagineerDude

Well-Known Member

Britt

Well-Known Member

Britt

Well-Known Member

myhappyplace

Crazy Cat Lady

SuprDav

Active Member

SuprDav

Active Member

ShookieJones

We need time for things to happen.

Britt

Well-Known Member

Britt

Well-Known Member