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

Friends, I've been thinking,

I need a major distraction, and also, I received too many compliments for my laid back style..
I'm going to continue on the trip report binge and do a comparison of our 2015 trip here. It won't be as long.. I promise. If you want to follow along with my madness, you are welcome. I've had a rough past few days and need something to keep me busy.

So here it goes.. first I should change the title though..
ETA- actually its easier to do in a separate thread.

So here I am....

 

[21stamps]

I had been thinking myself that his hair looked like he just got out of a shower.
Now you have me double thinking whether I should get a double for our next trip.Just to give maybe another kid a few minutes to sit without DD6 yelling to get out of her spot. I can see the arguing already.

The monorail one is the worst. It was by far the most hot and humid day of that trip. He sat down maybe 5 times in between our room and the TTC. He kept asking me to carry him.. I was hot too, I tried, but it was making us both sweat even worse. His face was bright red and he was drenched in sweat by the time we got in line for the monorail.
I took a photo of his face during that walk, but it's gone.

One of my friends still uses a double for her kids who are same age as T and 2 years older while at Disney. She swears by it. I hate them, but I really should have used them more during that trip. I thought he would handle the heat much better than he actually did. He's already accustomed to Florida weather!!!

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

The monorail one is the worst. It was by far the most hot and humid day of that trip. He sat down maybe 5 times in between our room and the TTC. He kept asking me to carry him.. I was hot too, I tried, but it was making us both sweat even worse. His face was bright red and he was drenched in sweat by the time we got in line for the monorail.
I took a photo of his face during that walk, but it's gone.

One of my friends still uses a double for her kids who are same age as T and 2 years older while at Disney. She swears by it. I hate them, but I really should have used them more during that trip. I thought he would handle the heat much better than he actually did. He's already accustomed to Florida weather!!!

My DH always jokes around when people ask him what he did at Disney. He makes a pose with his arms up and wide and hands gripping an invisible stroller and then looking left, right, forward, and behind. He is pantomiming himself pushing the double, which is basically true since we have had a double at least for 13 years! People criticize the strollers, but it is better to have one then having kids freak out on you because they are overheated and don't know why they are so miserable. Those same stroller complaining people would be the ones giving nasty looks if kids have a tantrum in a restaurant. Well, maybe if they had a stroller to sit in to rest for a little bit, they would be in a better mood.

 

[21stamps]

My DH always jokes around when people ask him what he did at Disney. He makes a pose with his arms up and wide and hands gripping an invisible stroller and then looking left, right, forward, and behind. He is pantomiming himself pushing the double, which is basically true since we have had a double at least for 13 years! People criticize the strollers, but it is better to have one then having kids freak out on you because they are overheated and don't know why they are so miserable. Those same stroller complaining people would be the ones giving nasty looks if kids have a tantrum in a restaurant. Well, maybe if they had a stroller to sit in to rest for a little bit, they would be in a better mood.

Ha ha that's funny about your husband!

Prior to September 2015 I would have disagreed with you. I couldn't imagine a 5 year old in a stroller. I bought the 7 day park rental ticket ONLY because every single one of my friends told me to. IF I would have actually used it correctly, then there would have been much LESS complaining from T.
I was wrong, all of you stroller people were right!

 

[DryerLintFan]

That is so true. There are less chances of meltdoens when it is not boiling hot. It may be overly busy around Christmas, but with a 3 year old, she won't care if she doesn't make it on Peter Pan. It is usually the parents that get upset because they think their kids will be missing something.

I melt down in heat and humidity so badly that my husband installed an auto starter for my car so we could run the AC before getting into it the summer, lol. The only ride I'm obsessively insistent she goes on is Dumbo. I don't know why, but a ride photo from Dumbo, to me, is the most iconic childhood Disney trip photo of all time.

@21stamps I know you didn't have your flat iron but I'm so glad you're in so many pictures. When he's our age he won't care what your hair looked like, he'll only care that you shared these memories together and he has great pictures to remember them by. Plus you look gorgeous in all the photos (especially past where you decided to be less stressed about time). Flat iron or not, these are some really great pictures of you and your son <3

 

[21stamps]

We spent about 2 hours in Morocco alone. I could spend all day there.
I have never been to the real Morocco, which is crazy because I am a little more than mildly obsessed with the food and music. But, the closest I've ever been geographically is Kenya.

I have been to Israel serveral times, Lebanon once.. although I haven't been far inside Egypt, I have been scuba diving in Sinai a few times..
and my favorite trip of my lifetime- I spent 28 days in Turkey, by myself. But, I have never been to Morocco
So anyway, in this Epcot pavilion I am surrounded by all of things that I love. This was the only place where I scheduled plenty of "free time" for us. T does love middle eastern food, but I wanted him to be surrounded by a small example of places that I will take him to someday.

We shopped...and shipped quite a few items home. I bought T a little drum. We collected every one of the pressed pennies (he's lost all 40 of our pennies from that trip since then..in 2016 I purchased a pressed penny album so we wouldn't lose those as well).
I purchased my favorite Turkish Coffee.
And..bought 6 boxes of Turkish Delights to save for Christmas gifts.
When I was in Turkey I went to a highly reviewed bakery, placed my orders, and sent boxes of Baklava and Turkish Delights to my Grandfather, Parents, and Siblings.
Unfortunately--Every single one of them hated the Turkish Delights!
We do a gift exchange/steal with all of the cousins and fam at my parent's annual Christmas Party.. what better gift than the disgusting Turkish Delights, 6 boxes of them.

Ok, sorry, back on track..

I LOVE this Music!! So does T!!

 

[21stamps]

I melt down in heat and humidity so badly that my husband installed an auto starter for my car so we could run the AC before getting into it the summer, lol. The only ride I'm obsessively insistent she goes on is Dumbo. I don't know why, but a ride photo from Dumbo, to me, is the most iconic childhood Disney trip photo of all time.

@21stamps I know you didn't have your flat iron but I'm so glad you're in so many pictures. When he's our age he won't care what your hair looked like, he'll only care that you shared these memories together and he has great pictures to remember them by. Plus you look gorgeous in all the photos (especially past where you decided to be less stressed about time). Flat iron or not, these are some really great pictures of you and your son <3

Dumbo is a right of passage. I still kick myself for skipping it with him for his first time.

Thank you about the photos. I had to post those first ones.. although they're horrible- they seriously show the absolute stress on my face. I wasn't having fun. If I can see that in a photo, then I know that he could see it as well. I think that's why I love the pics of us playing at Casey Jr's Spash and Soak. I was actually having fun in that moment. Just laughing with my son. I'm so glad that my friend spent almost 3 days with us. I'm rarely in photos during our trips and outings, she was able to take some! I did ask a stranger at Poly (who ended up being from the same area where we live) to take photos of me and T on the beach.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Ha ha that's funny about your husband!

Prior to September 2015 I would have disagreed with you. I couldn't imagine a 5 year old in a stroller. I bought the 7 day park rental ticket ONLY because every single one of my friends told me to. IF I would have actually used it correctly, then there would have been much LESS complaining from T.
I was wrong, all of you stroller people were right!

You live, you learn, you get a stroller.

 

[Zipadeelady]

You're making me feel a little better!!
That's hilarious!
I truly believe that sometimes, in all of our "I know better than you, kid" wisdom.. we are actually quite wrong. Sometimes they don't need to 'do it all'. But hey, it makes for funny stories later.

I found my pic. I had the kids mixed up but as you can see they're very happy I made them stay for the parade that I knew they would love.

 

[21stamps]

I found my pic. I had the kids mixed up but as you can see they're very happy I made them stay for the parade that I knew they would love.
View attachment 193575

I feel so bad, but I just laughed out loud!!
Best. Disney. Photo. Ever. !!!!!
I'm sure they will show their own children someday.lol

 

[Zipadeelady]

I feel so bad, but I just laughed out loud!!
Best. Disney. Photo. Ever. !!!!!
I'm sure they will show their own children someday.lol

I'm the worst mom ever!!

 

[21stamps]

I'm the worst mom ever!!

Well, you are making me feel better about my "worst mom" guilt.. .

I bet you guys all look back and laugh on it now! The things we do to our children in the name of their own "enjoyment". Lol. They'll do the same to their kids some day I'm sure.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

I found my pic. I had the kids mixed up but as you can see they're very happy I made them stay for the parade that I knew they would love.
View attachment 193575

Poor things look like they had it. I think it is when we try too hard to create this picture in our minds of what a magical Disney vacation should be is when we fail.

 

[Zipadeelady]

Poor things look like they had it. I think it is when we try too hard to create this picture in our minds of what a magical Disney vacation should be is when we fail.

Oh they were definitely done. Now 2 out of my 3 kids gets mad when we want to take a mid day break. There's just know winning.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Oh they were definitely done. Now 2 out of my 3 kids gets mad when we want to take a mid day break. There's just know winning.

And before you know it, they will be leaving us so they can run off by themselves because we will be holding them back.

 

[Courtney6682]

I purchased my favorite Turkish Coffee.
And..bought 6 boxes of Turkish Delights to save for Christmas gifts.
When I was in Turkey I went to a highly reviewed bakery, placed my orders, and sent boxes of Baklava and Turkish Delights to my Grandfather, Parents, and Siblings.
Unfortunately--Every single one of them hated the Turkish Delights!
We do a gift exchange/steal with all of the cousins and fam at my parent's annual Christmas Party.. what better gift than the disgusting Turkish Delights, 6 boxes of them.

That's great LOL!!! I love it! What did they say when they saw them??? And what time of year was this again when u went?

 

[21stamps]

That's great LOL!!! I love it! What did they say when they saw them??? And what time of year was this again when u went?

We were the weekend before Labor Day and the following week. I placed the Turkish Delights in a cute Mickey Mouse bag and LOTS of tissue paper. I told them it was from Disney World. The unsuspecting person who chose it thought the package would be something good.. nope, Turkish Delights. We pick numbers, about 25 of us, and you can "keep" or "steal". Mine was one of the first one picks.. never got stolen. Lol.
The year before I had done I really cute Starbucks package with mugs, a bag of coffee, and a gift card. My poor cousin probably thought this gift would be even better.ha ha. Now no one trusts me

 

[21stamps]

We decide it's time to say goodbye to Morocco and check out some of the other pavilions.

I pry T from the drums..
@MySmallWorldof4 look at the red face.

T is (non stop) complaining about the heat, and about leaving the stroller in Future World. He keeps asking to sit and relax. Sorry bud, we don't have time to just sit.

Oh wait. Here- let's eat gelato! That will make the complaining stop!
I had a gelato as well, and an adult beverage.

It worked. For about 5 minutes.

 

[21stamps]

Finish the gelato.. T is asking to leave. Leave Epcot, and go back to the pool.

No! We're having too much fun! Just ignore the heat, T. Look at all of this awesomeness around. Let's continue to explore!! We'll be in the AC soon when we have dinner..with characters!!

Poor guy looks miserable..but says "ok" and we continue on. His attitude would go from angry to excited back to asking to leave, all within a millisecond at this part of the day.

Oh wait-- Drums!! He's happy again!!
Even more so, the wood carver. T was so impressed by and interested in him.
We spent quite some time chatting and asking questions. What a nice man, he told us that he learned wood carving as a young boy, from his father.
He said that sometimes he has no idea what he is going to make, just starts carving until the wood speaks to him.

T absolutely loved it, and asked for a souvenir. Unfortunately, T has a mom who is too cheap to spend a bunch of money on a wood carving today. Sorry

We continue on, T complains about the heat once more..

DRUMS!! He's temporarily happy again!

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

We do a gift exchange/steal with all of the cousins and fam at my parent's annual Christmas Party.. what better gift than the disgusting Turkish Delights, 6 boxes of them.

Ha ha! That is just cruel. Yes, Turkish Delights are quite gross. My DD15 was obsessing about them after watching Narnia. For whatever reason the movie made them sound like they actually were delightful. I knew the truth though and told her basically what they were and their consistency which I find revolting.

We were the weekend before Labor Day and the following week.

Was this 2015? We were there the same time!

T absolutely loved it, and asked for a souvenir. Unfortunately, T has a mom who is too cheap to spend a bunch of money on a wood carving today. Sorry

Don't be too hard on yourself. You cannot say yes to everything. Though now I see why you went with a gift card for the 2016 trip.

 

[21stamps]

More WS photos.. apparently These were not in my deleted " favorites" album. Lol

T is heavily whining now.
He says "Please Mommy, please can we just leave!!?? I'm too hot, I just want to swim. Let's just go in the ball (spaceship earth) and then go back to the hotel. Please."

It's 5:30pm, we have a 7:35 Garden Grill dinner reservation.

"T, we have 2 hours until dinner. With Mickey and Chip, and Dale, and Pluto. Don't you want to meet them? And thennn, later on is a super awesome show- with fireworks! Let's just stay. We will swim tomorrow, I promise."

T- "I don't care about dinner. And I don't care about a show. I just want to swim!! You SAID that we would have fun, and YOU SAID that I could use the stroller!"

Me- "T, you're 5 years old. You don't really need a stroller. We'll use it at nighttime when you're tired. We are having fun!!"

T- "I'm not having fun. I just want to rest and you won't let me take a rest!"

I call Disney Dining and ask if I can move our dinner up.
They said yes. We walked back to Garden Grill, did not go inside the Mexican Pavilion, did not go on the Gran Fiesta Tour.
We took a walk back to The Land, T complained the entire time.

Alright. Here. We're in AC. Calm down and relax- he did. We'll regroup and I'll get him to agree to stay until illuminations.

He enjoyed the meal very much. So did I!