Trip Report The I'm Ditching the Spreadsheets....an Unrecognizable Trip!

We arrived home around 10pm last night from our Disney vacation. The planning for this trip started in March, but by September it was not even close to the original. So how did it all turn out? Did I make the correct decisions? Was this trip as hectic as the last one? Should I have cancelled so many dining reservations? Did we miss too much because upon arrival I decided to rip up the spread sheets..the same ones that I so painstakingly obsessed over?! I'm thinking about all of this as I am attempting to organize my 609,504,302 photos.

There were a few hiccups, including my Etsy order not arriving in time, sprinting to the Magical Express just as the doors closed, leaving our Elf on the Shelf in the room after check out, getting stuck on a ride, a missing boat captain, broken ornaments, and a horrible 3 hour lunch. All in all it was an amazing trip. I do not regret the decision to change from the original plans, or the second, or the 3rd, or even the plans I had when we were on the plane heading to Orlando. I decided to throw out most of them and take a (semi) wing it approach.

 

[21stamps]

Believe me he is going to see the water park and just want to hang there all day. Don't waste your money. He may even get too tired from that water park and just want to get pizza from their pizza area. That is what happened with us one day.

Your vote is cancel the Paw Pass?
What about the birthday package?

 

[21stamps]

Oh, I didn't know it was a surprise. Has he been there before? If not, then definitely don't overplan. He will enjoy the water park and the magiquest game.

Yes. Complete surprise! No. He's never been. He's been asking for the past 3 years.. It's literally right next to Kings Island, our amusement park. Every time we pull in he begs even more. Lol

He asked for his bday party to be there- the prices are obnoxious. I invited 28 kids.. I would need the parents there as well at this age. And I'm not spending that kind of money on a party.
So we're doing his kid party at Jump Zone, and I'm surprising him with the Great Wolf stay.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Your vote is cancel the Paw Pass?
What about the birthday package?

The birthday package seems lame, but I would take that over the paw pass seeing as it is a surprise and you need the room decorated.

 

[Courtney6682]

For his own birthday? I don't know...
maybe I could call tomorrow and find out if I can bring my own balloons and door decoration..at least with his name on it...I wonder if I'll still have to buy the entire package. I'd rather just do my own small cake too. But, I don't know how.

This whole thing is a surprise. He won't even know we're going until we pull in the parking lot.

Hmmm. Yeah our kids always knew we were going for their birthdays, so we always picked out decorations together. You're nephew def isn't going? He would have been able to help a little

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Is it just the 2 of you? Or did you invite other kids for the day?

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Yes. Complete surprise! No. He's never been. He's been asking for the past 3 years.. It's literally right next to Kings Island, our amusement park. Every time we pull in he begs even more. Lol

He asked for his bday party to be there- the prices are obnoxious. I invited 28 kids.. I would need the parents there as well at this age. And I'm not spending that kind of money on a party.
So we're doing his kid party at Jump Zone, and I'm surprising him with the Great Wolf stay.

Ha, should have read this post first!

 

[21stamps]

I've never been able to justify their prices.. we have another indoor waterpark that you can buy a day pass to.. for a fraction of the price.

I finally am giving in because we're not doing Disney for his bday. It was a yurt.. or GWL. We can do a yurt another time. I know that he's been dying to go here.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

He is already getting a birthday party with loads of kids. They have a bakery in there that has fun cupcakes. Maybe skip the cake and have him pick out a couple of cupcakes for you guys to share together. The birthday package may be unnecessary too. He will not care if there is no poster on the door but will just be happy to be there.

 

[21stamps]

Hmmm. Yeah our kids always knew we were going for their birthdays, so we always picked out decorations together. You're nephew def isn't going? He would have been able to help a little

No. I didn't invite him. Now I feel guilty, thanks.lol.
I wanted it to just be the two of us.

But, you get charged the same amount for 2 or 4 there.. so we are entitled to 2 more wrist bands. I invited one of T's friends to spend a few hours in the afternoon on our second day.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

So get 3 cupcakes then.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Is this all next weekend?

 

[21stamps]

He is already getting a birthday party with loads of kids. They have a bakery in there that has fun cupcakes. Maybe skip the cake and have him pick out a couple of cupcakes for you guys to share together. The birthday package may be unnecessary too. He will not care if there is no poster on the door but will just be happy to be there.

You sound like my friends. Maybe you all are right.

This is the first time that I've ever done a complete surprise lol.
I'm going to cancel the Paw Pass and leave the bday for now.. I have until Friday to cancel it. So, 2 days.ha ha.
Do you think that we'll have time for the bowling and arcade? Are they open late? Those are the only reasons that I'm justifying that pass. If not, I'll probably cancel it.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

As this is your first time there, and seeing as it is not something that your are dying to do.(Don't blame you. Their prices make Disney seem reasonable.) Let him enjoy exploring the place at his own pace. Do they yoga if he enjoys it and the party in the afternoon if he wants. Enjoy the waterpark and eat in between from one of their quick service spots. If you do too much he will need recovery from everything and you guys will have a double meltdown. Again.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

You sound like my friends. Maybe you all are right.

This is the first time that I've ever done a complete surprise lol.
I'm going to cancel the Paw Pass and leave the bday for now.. I have until Friday to cancel it. So, 2 days.ha ha.
Do you think that we'll have time for the bowling and arcade? Are they open late? Those are the only reasons that I'm justifying that pass. If not, I'll probably cancel it.

I think they were both open late. We didn't do the bowling area because it was always too busy.

 

[21stamps]

Is this all next weekend?

This coming weekend. His bday party is next weekend. His birthday is the 18th.

I can only do his party on Sundays and I couldn't have it on Easter

The plans are-

Friday morning he will get his first wrapped gift-a Cedar Fair Platinum Pass. Then that evening we'll go to Passholder Preview night at Kings Island to go on the new ride that he's been talking about for a year.

Then Saturday, I work. Then KI at night again...

Sunday morning - Easter basket hunt then brunch with extended family.
Then I'll tell him that he needs to run home with me- (hopefully this goes over ok lol)... we arrive at Great Wolf Lodge.

Tuesday- his birthday.. I'll have a suitcase there containing his wrapped gifts and put them out while he is sleeping.
After gifts- water park til 1. Shower, and check out.
Not sure what we're doing after that, probably a park then dinner at Benihana later.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

This coming weekend. His bday party is next weekend. His birthday is the 18th.

I can only do his party on Sundays and I couldn't have it on Easter

The plans are-

Friday morning he will get his first wrapped gift-a Cedar Fair Platinum Pass. Then that evening we'll go to Passholder Preview night at Kings Island to go on the new ride that he's been talking about for a year.

Then Saturday, I work. Then KI at night again...

Sunday morning - Easter basket hunt then brunch with extended family.
Then I'll tell him that he needs to run home with me- (hopefully this goes over ok lol)... we arrive at Great Wolf Lodge.

Tuesday- his birthday.. I'll have a suitcase there containing his wrapped gifts and put them out while he is sleeping.
After gifts- water park til 1. Shower, and check out.
Not sure what we're doing after that, probably a park then dinner at Benihana later.

Those sound like amazing plans! Except for you needing to work Saturday, but then you do need a way to pay for all this fun stuff. He will love it! You are an awesome mom!

 

[21stamps]

As this is your first time there, and seeing as it is not something that your are dying to do.(Don't blame you. There prices make Disney seem reasonable.) Let him enjoy exploring the place at his own pace. Do they yoga if he enjoys it and the party in the afternoon if he wants. Enjoy the waterpark and eat in between from one of their quick service spots. If you do too much he will need recovery from everything and you guys will have a double meltdown. Again.

I knew there was a reason I should post here.
Words of wisdom from you and @Courtney6682 lol.

You still vote for MagicQuest?

I think they were both open late. We didn't do the bowling area because it was always too busy.

Yeah. I'm worried about that!

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

I knew there was a reason I should post here.
Words of wisdom from you and @Courtney6682 lol.

You still vote for MagicQuest?



Yeah. I'm worried about that. Prices are insane this weekend.. so I'm assuming that means they are busy at this time.

People on Easter/Passover break. Probably will be busy. I would do the MagicQuest. He will love the wand.

 

[21stamps]

Those sound like amazing plans! Except for you needing to work Saturday, but then you do need a way to pay for all this fun stuff. He will love it! You are an awesome mom!

Hopefully he enjoys them!!! He's only getting a few actual wrapped presents from me this year.lol

I decided to work Saturday. Wasn't going to at first,but I have too much time off in the next few months. Work totally gets in the way!

People on Easter/Passover break. Probably will be busy. I would do the MagicQuest. He will love the wand.

And every catholic school is on break that monday. I'm just hoping that people chose to go out of town and it's not too crowded. Wishful thinking probably.

Thank you for the advice!!!!!!!

 

[21stamps]

Ok gals. I cancelled the Paw Pass and the 1980s bday pack.