Trip Report The mistakes that I learned from..Trip back in time..

MySmallWorldof4 · Mar 8, 2017

21stamps said:
C has to go back to Palm Beach soon. We had secured another FP for Space Mountain earlier, so hit that up first...

Remember the kid who wouldn't move? So yeah, that didn't just start in 2016. That's been a theme for a few years now. Airports, and now Disney World.

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This cracks me up...he was trying so hard to get on the screen..lol
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Then the Tea Cups again, and afterwards stop for a few Photo Pass pics together, and sadly say our goodbyes on Main Street USA..
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T was sad to see C go. I think he liked having someone to distract him from my madness...and the constant phone in my hand. I'm sad to see her go as well, I miss my Florida peeps.

We took a few more photo pass pics...
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Spotted Snow White...and then stopped to get T a balloon. We stand in line for 10 minutes. Then he picks out a blue one.. Wait..I need cash???? I don't have cash at the park!!! T looks like his heart is broken. I get him a Mickey Ice Cream and tell him we'll go back to Poly, I'll get cash, and come back and get the balloon. Clouds are really gathering as well, I didn't bring our ponchos with us to MK today. We'll grab them too.
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Where is this bench now????? I did not see it in 2016.
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Time to go get ponchos and cash...T was so excited to see the train while we were out front!
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Thanks for waving Mr. Conductor!!!!

Wow, how well timed that picture is in front of Mk with the conductor waving!

21stamps · Mar 8, 2017

MySmallWorldof4 said:
You know, maybe one of the worst things of MDE is how many of us get so obsessive about the planning even while in the parks. It used to be that you could just go to guest services the day you were in a park and get an ADR, or you could just grab a paper fast pass, or heck just wait on line. We were probably more able to take it slower a few years back because we didn't have as much control over every aspect of "vacation". We could just "go with the flow" as you did in 2016. It is a great lesson to have learned and shared with us.

I think you're right. Technology is such a blessing and a curse. I do the same thing at our local amusement park..constantly check wait times, and we bounce from one side of the park to another based on them. It was a lot more relaxing before the apps at amusement/theme parks.
One thing that I really preferred in 2016 vs 2015, was the ability to do a 4th, 5th, etc FP from my phone. In '15 we were constantly running to the kiosks all day long. So that was a big improvement in my book.

As for paper fast pass, I was not a fan.. and between the 2, I prefer it this way.. I just need to remember to keep myself in check. It's why I abided to mine and equally requested son's rule in 2016- No phone during a meal.

21stamps · Mar 8, 2017

MySmallWorldof4 said:
Wow, how well timed that picture is in front of Mk with the conductor waving!

I know, right!!! I don't know if I'll ever get another photo like that. The waive was the icing on the cake.

MySmallWorldof4 · Mar 8, 2017

21stamps said:
I think you're right. Technology is such a blessing and a curse. I do the same thing at our local amusement park..constantly check wait times, and we bounce from one side of the park to another based on them. It was a lot more relaxing before the apps at amusement/theme parks.
One thing that I really preferred in 2016 vs 2015, was the ability to do a 4th, 5th, etc FP from my phone. In '15 we were constantly running to the kiosks all day long. So that was a big improvement in my book.

As for paper fast pass, I was not a fan.. and between the 2, I prefer it this way.. I just need to remember to keep myself in check. It's why I abided to mine and equally requested son's request in 2016- No phone during a meal.

In just a few short years we have become slaves to our phones.

21stamps · Mar 8, 2017

Next up..

Melt downs. Major Melt Downs.
From a 5 year old.
And a melt down by a 38 year old.

21stamps · Mar 8, 2017

MySmallWorldof4 said:
In just a few short years we have become slaves to our phones.

Completely.

MySmallWorldof4 · Mar 8, 2017

21stamps said:
Completely.

On a brighter note, and a hypocritical note, just 10 days until I choose our fastpasses.

21stamps · Mar 8, 2017

MySmallWorldof4 said:
On a brighter note, and a hypocritical note, just 10 days until I choose our fastpasses.

Ha ha! Awesome!! Good luck, I hope you get everything!

MySmallWorldof4 · Mar 8, 2017

21stamps said:
Ha ha! Awesome!! Good luck, I hope you get everything!

Yep and if I don't get everything I will try to let it go. Try.

21stamps · Mar 9, 2017

My mistakes are starting to pile up at this point..

First, let me go back to arrival day.
As I was unpacking, I realized that I left my flat iron, and majority of makeup, at home. Left them sitting on my bathroom counter, ready to be thrown on a bag. This might sound vain and trivial, but I definitely wasn't thrilled about 2 weeks without those items. Especially when out of my 70gb of photos on my phone, T and I are rarely in any together...which is the reason that I was so excited for Memory Maker.
That's Mistake 1.

Stressing over every second instead of being in the moment with my kid since arriving.
Mistake 2.

Pre paying for a Rental stroller at the parks, but not letting T use it, even when he asked repeatedly. I did pick it up. But left it parked all day.
Mistake 3.

Keeping my kid up til midnight and having him get up @ 6am...
Mistake 4.

So anyway, back to this MK day. We arrive back at the room to grab the cash, ponchos, get ready for dinner, and head out for the rest of the night at the parks.

T had asked repeatedly for a Stitch plush doll. I had, repeatedly, said no. (Sorry, not a plush fan, he has too many and I think they're germ monsters.)
So, C being the wonderful person on this trip, had left a "surprise" for T in the room. A Stitch plush doll!!!! He was THRILLED!!
I was actually shocked at how excited he was, and how attached to the plush doll he became. Hmm..maybe I need to loosen up on what he can and can't have. So thankful that C went against my wishes and bought him one.
Mistake 5.

So where's the meltdown?
Well, right now. Although this is more of a full on psychotic break..there's one more mini meltdown still to come..

T is excitedly playing with Stitch, sitting outside, I'm showered and dressed, T still isn't. I had left his clothes out while I was in the shower, he never put them on.
"We are on a schedule, T! Why are you still playing with that toy? Get dressed. Now."

T- "No."

What, did my kid just give a flat out "No." to me?!?

"You do NOT say 'no' to me. What is wrong with you? We need to go now. Get up, get dressed, put the toy down."

"No. I just want to stay here and play with Stitch. I'm tired, we can go back to the park later."

"We have too much to do. Put down the Stitch right now, and GET DRESSED. If you don't start getting dressed, by the count of TWO, I will take him away for the rest of the trip."
Yes, I raised my voice on those words.

I count "One.."
he doesn't move.
"Two.."
He throws himself on the bed and starts sobbing. SOBBING. Loudly.

What?? "T what is going on with you?? Why are you crying??"

T- "You're mean!!! I wish I could have just gone with C!! Or I wish we could just go home!! I'm not having fun right now!"

Me "What do you mean you aren't having fun?? We are doing so much fun stuff. We're at Disney World! No one is allowed to be sad at Disney Word. The rule is - you have fun all the time here." I smile and try to say that in a joking, lighthearted way.. he sobs louder.

Choking on his sobs now he says-
"But you are not fun! You just look at your phone all day and you keep being mean to me. I j(sob)us(sob)t want to le(sob)ave. Can we just go somewhere else where you don't look at your phone all day? And you don't (sob) be mean to me."

Now I start crying, near sobbing myself.
I get on the bed and hug him, tightly. He moves away and goes to the other bed. I walk over and scoop him in my arms as he's trying to wiggle away.

"T, I love you so much. I am so sorry that you are feeling this way. I just want you to have fun. This is supposed to be the best trip ever, and I just want you to experience as much as you can. I'm sorry..(sob)..I love you (sob)..I'm not being mean, I'm just trying to keep us on a schedule."

T- "Just go away from me!"

What is going on????? My kid has had tantrums..but not too many over his lifetime, and not in the last few years. He has NEVER spoken to me in this way.
Why is this happening now, and at Disney World??? W. T. H.

He puts the covers over his head. Hugging his Stitch doll.
I'm standing there in complete shock.
I walk into the bathroom..lean my elbows on the counter, put my head in my hands, and cry, almost as hard as he had been.
W. T. H. IS GOING ON????

There is no crying at Disney World!!!!!

I call my own mother. She's shocked when she picks up the phone to her crying, nose running, choking on sobs, 38 year old daughter.

She talks to me, talks some sense in to me. Tells me to CHILL OUT (in so many words), and just enjoy...and remember that this is about him.
Me "of course it's about him!! All of this is FOR HIM!!"
Her "then act like it. Start listening to him. He doesn't know what he's missing. You can't cram your lifetime of experiences into his first trip. Slow down. Missing a parade isn't the end of the world, cancelling a meal isn't the end of the world, just enjoy your time together and do what you can. Get your head out of your phone...it is Disney World, don't take the fun out of it"...
She said a lot more words.. all of them true.

I calm down.
I wash my face.
I walk back out in the room.

T is sound asleep.
I crawl in bed and hold him close to me. Things are going to change right now.

We lay there for a few minutes, then I wake him up.

I apologize profusely, and pinky promise that this "way of doing things" ends now. He looks skeptical. But he does give me his pinky to seal the deal..and then a tight hug. I hug him tighter.

We sit for a few more minutes, I tell him that we can stay at the room, or we can go back to park and get him a balloon..then he can pick any ride he wants, and we can stop to look at things as much as he would like.

He gets dressed and we head back to MK.
Stitch in hand.

And the rain comes.. ponchos on.

MySmallWorldof4 · Mar 9, 2017

21stamps said:
My mistakes are starting to pile up at this point..

First, let me go back to arrival day.
As I was unpacking, I realized that I left my flat iron, and majority of makeup, at home. Left them sitting on my bathroom counter, ready to be thrown on a bag. This might sound vain and trivial, but I definitely wasn't thrilled about 2 weeks without those items. Especially when out of my 70gb of photos on my phone, T and I are rarely in any together...which is the reason that I was so excited for Memory Maker.
That's Mistake 1.

Stressing over every second instead of being in the moment with my kid since arriving.
Mistake 2.

Pre paying for a Rental stroller at the parks, but not letting T use it, even when he asked repeatedly. I did pick it up. But left it parked all day.
Mistake 3.

Keeping my kid up til midnight and having him get up @ 6am...
Mistake 4.

So anyway, back to this MK day. We arrive back at the room to grab the cash, ponchos, get ready for dinner, and head out for the rest of the night at the parks.

T had asked repeatedly for a Stitch plush doll. I had, repeatedly, said no. (Sorry, not a plush fan, he has too many and I think they're germ monsters.)
So, C being the wonderful person on this trip, had left a "surprise" for T in the room. A Stitch plush doll!!!! He was THRILLED!!
I was actually shocked at how excited he was, and how attached to the plush doll he became. Hmm..maybe I need to loosen up on what he can and can't have. So thankful that C went against my wishes and bought him one.
Mistake 5.

So where's the meltdown?
Well, right now. Although this is more of a full on psychotic break..there's one more mini meltdown still to come..

T is excitedly playing with Stitch, sitting outside, I'm showered and dressed, T still isn't. I had left his clothes out while I was in the shower, he never put them on.
"We are on a schedule, T! Why are you still playing with that toy? Get dressed. Now."

T- "No."

What, did my kid just give a flat out "No." to me?!?

"You do NOT say 'no' to me. What is wrong with you? We need to go now. Get up, get dressed, put the toy down."

"No. I just want to stay here and play with Stitch. I'm tired, we can go back to the park later."

"We have too much to do. Put down the Stitch right now, and GET DRESSED. If you don't start getting dressed, by the count of TWO, I will take him away for the rest of the trip."
Yes, I raised my voice on those words.

I count "One.."
he doesn't move.
"Two.."
He throws himself on the bed and starts sobbing. SOBBING. Loudly.

What?? "T what is going on with you?? Why are you crying??"

T- "You're mean!!! I wish I could have just gone with C!! Or I wish we could just go home!! I'm not having fun right now!"

Me "What do you mean you aren't having fun?? We are doing so much fun stuff. We're at Disney World! No one is allowed to be sad at Disney Word. The rule is - you have fun all the time here." I smile and try to say that in a joking, lighthearted way.. he sobs louder.

Choking on his sobs now he says-
"But you are not fun! You just look at your phone all day and you keep being mean to me. I j(sob)us(sob)t want to le(sob)ave. Can we just go somewhere else where you don't look at your phone all day? And you don't (sob) be mean to me."

Now I start crying, near sobbing myself.
I get on the bed and hug him, tightly. He moves away and goes to the other bed. I walk over and scoop him in my arms as he's trying to wiggle away.

"T, I love you so much. I am so sorry that you are feeling this way. I just want you to have fun. This is supposed to be the best trip ever, and I just want you to experience as much as you can. I'm sorry..(sob)..I love you (sob)..I'm not being mean, I'm just trying to keep us on a schedule."

T- "Just go away from me!"

What is going on????? My kid has had tantrums..but not too many over his lifetime, and not in the last few years. He has NEVER spoken to me in this way.
Why is this happening now, and at Disney World??? W. T. H.

He puts the covers over his head. Hugging his Stitch doll.
I'm standing there in complete shock.
I walk into the bathroom..lean my elbows on the counter, put my head in my hands, and cry, almost as hard as he had been.
W. T. H. IS GOING ON????

There is no crying at Disney World!!!!!

I call my own mother. She's shocked when she picks up the phone to her crying, nose running, choking on sobs, 38 year old daughter.

She talks to me, talks some sense in to me. Tells me to CHILL OUT (in so many words), and just enjoy...and remember that this is about him.
Me "of course it's about him!! All of this is FOR HIM!!"
Her "then act like it. Start listening to him. He doesn't know what he's missing. You can't cram your lifetime of experiences into his first trip. Slow down. Missing a parade isn't the end of the world, cancelling a meal isn't the end of the world, just enjoy your time together and do what you can. Get your head out of your phone...it is Disney World, don't take the fun out of it"...
She said a lot more words.. all of them true.

I calm down.
I wash my face.
I walk back out in the room.

T is sound asleep.
I crawl in bed and hold him close to me. Things are going to change right now.

We lay there for a few minutes, then I wake him up.

I apologize profusely, and pinky promise that this "way of doing things" ends now. He looks skeptical. But he does give me his pinky to seal the deal..and then a tight hug. I hug him tighter.

We sit for a few more minutes, I tell him that we came stay at the room, or we can go back to park and get him a balloon..then he can pick any ride he wants, and we can stop to look at things as much as he would like.

He gets dressed and we head back to MK.
Stitch in hand.

And the rain comes.. ponchos on.
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I have to say that for a 5 year old T was a very astute observer of what you were doing i.e. Phone all day. You got caught up like the rest of us do in(gotta run,run, run do it all because the castle and the rides are just going to run away and we will never see them again. ) It is sooo hard to learn that you don't have to do it all. This is one reason my DH loves our beach vacations and the days at the waterparks instead. There is no running around. They are way more relaxing. But it is us as crazy adults that make it stressful. It doesn't have to be as you show in 2016. Ugh, I really hope I remember this for our upcoming trip.

I always rent a stroller. It has been a double for 13 years now since my kids are spread out. This trip we are going to probably just get a single for DD6 and she and DD9 can switch off. We haven't needed a stroller for years now for our regular galavants but at Disney you really need one when you are out in the heat for hours on end. Little kids really need it to get a break so they don't melt down on you at some point.

MySmallWorldof4 · Mar 9, 2017

MySmallWorldof4 said:
I have to say that for a 5 year old T was a very astute observer of what you were doing i.e. Phone all day. You got caught up like the rest of us do in(gotta run,run, run do it all because the castle and the rides are just going to run away and we will never see them again. ) It is sooo hard to learn that you don't have to do it all. This is one reason my DH loves our beach vacations and the days at the waterparks instead. There is no running around. They are way more relaxing. But it is us as crazy adults that make it stressful. It doesn't have to be as you show in 2016. Ugh, I really hope I remember this for our upcoming trip.

I always rent a stroller. It has been a double for 13 years now since my kids are spread out. This trip we are going to probably just get a single for DD6 and she and DD9 can switch off. We haven't needed a stroller for years now for our regular galavants but at Disney you really need one when you are out in the heat for hours on end. Little kids really need it to get a break so they don't melt down on you at some point.

PS I wanted to cry for you too. :cry:

Courtney6682 · Mar 9, 2017

21stamps said:
He throws himself on the bed and starts sobbing. SOBBING. Loudly.

What?? "T what is going on with you?? Why are you crying??"

T- "You're mean!!! I wish I could have just gone with C!! Or I wish we could just go home!! I'm not having fun right now!"

Me "What do you mean you aren't having fun?? We are doing so much fun stuff. We're at Disney World! No one is allowed to be sad at Disney Word. The rule is - you have fun all the time here." I smile and try to say that in a joking, lighthearted way.. he sobs louder.

Choking on his sobs now he says-
"But you are not fun! You just look at your phone all day and you keep being mean to me. I j(sob)us(sob)t want to le(sob)ave. Can we just go somewhere else where you don't look at your phone all day? And you don't (sob) be mean to me."

Now I start crying, near sobbing myself.
I get on the bed and hug him, tightly. He moves away and goes to the other bed. I walk over and scoop him in my arms as he's trying to wiggle away.

Ughhh that was so sad! Brought tears to my eyes! I'm so sorry it had to happen like that to realize what was going on. Your mom is a wise woman...glad she could help and make u feel better :inlove:

21stamps · Mar 9, 2017

MySmallWorldof4 said:
I have to say that for a 5 year old T was a very astute observer of what you were doing i.e. Phone all day. You got caught up like the rest of us do in(gotta run,run, run do it all because the castle and the rides are just going to run away and we will never see them again. ) It is sooo hard to learn that you don't have to do it all. This is one reason my DH loves our beach vacations and the days at the waterparks instead. There is no running around. They are way more relaxing. But it is us as crazy adults that make it stressful. It doesn't have to be as you show in 2016. Ugh, I really hope I remember this for our upcoming trip.

I always rent a stroller. It has been a double for 13 years now since my kids are spread out. This trip we are going to probably just get a single for DD6 and she and DD9 can switch off. We haven't needed a stroller for years now for our regular galavants but at Disney you really need one when you are out in the heat for hours on end. Little kids really need it to get a break so they don't melt down on you at some point.

He's always been that way. At age 4 he would tell me that I am "not using my manners" if I don't stop and look at him when he's talking to me. I have to explain to him that doing the dishes and listening to someone at the same time is not rude. It's called multitasking.lol.

I had no intention of renting a stroller that trip. But, pretty much every one of my friends told me that I will be crazy not to. I've always hated strollers. I was a huge fan of baby wearing for as long as I could, and worst case I would use the lightweight stroller...I've been to a zoo, amusement park, outdoor mall, etc, many times without a stroller when he was 1, 2, and even 3, and I regretted it after about 10 minutes. I just don't like dealing with them though, one time I actually had the big stroller at a zoo, mistakingly left my DSLR (in bag) in it while we walked inside an exhibit..came out and it was gone. My fault, but at least I can't forget something if I don't have a place to set it.lol
I gave in at Disney because of the weather forecast, but we would leave it parked in one land, go do another, and come back for it a few hours later. I made a huge mistake with this in Epcot.

MySmallWorldof4 said:
PS I wanted to cry for you too.

Courtney6682 said:
Ughhh that was so sad! Brought tears to my eyes! I'm so sorry it had to happen like that to realize what was going on. Your mom is a wise woman...glad she could help and make u feel better

Thanks. It was a little embarrassing to type that all out.. but maybe some "new to Disney" person will read it and not make the same mistake. I need to relive it every once in awhile so I won't make that same mistake again.

21stamps · Mar 9, 2017

Ok..MK in a New Way!

Tonight was EMH!

At this point the trip becomes all about Stitch. For the most part..lol. T wanted photos of Stitch EVERYWHERE. With only Stitch in them.

But first, we stop and get the balloon.
Then we do our One and Only Meet and Greet. Main Street Mickey.
We were told 20 minute wait, turned out to be 60. I was trying to be zen about it...and just smiled when they announced the hold up. A family in front of us was very excited for the meet.. they sang the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse song repeatedly. T was grinning ear to ear and singing quietly as well.

His face when finally meeting Mickey was priceless.

We get our photo taken on Main Street. I'm actually showing a real smile! So is he!!

Then use a FP for Buzz..

21stamps · Mar 9, 2017

I won't drag this day out ride to ride.. things did get a lot better! We watched Celebrate the Magic from behind a tree in front of the castle..

And then Wishes from over by Crystal Palace.. I let T sit in the stroller.

EMH is starting!!
First, a dance party

21stamps · Mar 9, 2017

We walk around and enjoy...go on Winnie the Pooh, explore the Treehouse, fly on a Magic Carper...and I let him stop wherever he wants..
Can you find Stitch?

21stamps · Mar 9, 2017

This is my favorite photo of the night.. T was "showing Stitch the glowing castle"

dmatt87 · Mar 9, 2017

21stamps said:
This kid and that spray bottle...
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That spray bottle was a life saver for us, but mostly my wife, on our 2011 Disneymoon. It was mid-August and the temperature was between 110-120 each day!

21stamps · Mar 9, 2017

We take a few Memory Maker photos.. EMH is ending.. the we take the launch back to the room.
At this point T tries to jump out of most of the photos.. saying "Just Stitch, I just want you to take photos of Sticth. Here! Take one right here." I felt like it was a bit foolish.. but hey, I'm rolling with it.