Trip Report THE ONE WITH THE FRIENDS IN FEBRUARY; Feb 16-23, 2019 *COMPLETE*

Hi all. Just returned from our February break trip and I can’t wait to share it with you!
First things first.....

THE WHO:
We have some friends we go away with every other February break.
In 2017 we did a Royal Caribbean cruise:
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In 2015 we stayed in a grand villa at AKL:
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And in 2013 we did the Disney Dream:
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Sorry, no matching shirts. We were still feeling each other out😎

So who do we have?
( @Rista1313 pay attention!)

Me
Husband-Ant
Son-AJ, 15
Son-Dre, 13
We have another son, X, who was at school and did not come with us but makes a guest appearance, or two❤️

Our friends
J tall bald and male
L short blond and fun
3 out of their 4 kids
Son-T, 17
Son-R, 13
Daughter-H, 12
Their oldest is away at college.

THE WHERE
We stayed in the Saratoga Springs Treehouse villas. Love them!!! More later!

I think that is all you need to know for now.

2019!
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Darstarr

Darstarr

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
No
Day 2/Feb 17

I did not sleep well, even though the bed was super comfortable. I was up about 5:15. Showered, probably checked WDW magic then got everyone up for our field trip.

Planning the trip we hoped X would be playing in Florida. Then, in the summer, X’s coach road tripped up this way and was then flying to Europe for vacay. He needed someone to dog sit so he asked me (not X). “How can I repay you?” Me: “Tell me where you will be playing Presidents week!”

I knew they would be home. Yay! I told L they did not have to come-it’s a 3 hour drive. T will be playing lacrosse in college next year so he wanted to come. L did too. R would go if Dre was (he was) and H, the lone girl said, “no one ever comes to my games so I AM NOT GOING.” Ok. J stayed behind and they had a Daddy/Daughter day.

We left about 7:15. AJ, T and Dre all had their own row and fell asleep soon after we hit the road.
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R slept on his mom.
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Driver was awake!
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This is time stamped 7:22 and it blows my mind how late the sun comes up in wdw! Granted I live on an island that sticks out into the Atlantic, but 7:22 seems late.

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We stopped in Vero Beach to pick up my Dad and some ice. We also decided to feed the kids and went to wawa. I had an egg burrito and it was pretty good.


I took this somewhere between Vero and Boca Raton because it reminded me of Andy’s wallpaper.
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We got to the game about 45 min early and had mimosas with some of the other parents. X’s girlfriend goes to school in Alabama and she flew in for the weekend as well.
Mom? check
Grandpa (93YO)? check
Girlfriend? check
Assorted friends from home? check
Opposing team from home “town” with kids you played against in high school? Check and check

This was going to be X’s day!
He scored within the first 13 seconds.
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This was after he scored his 5th goal!! I love this pix! I screen shotted it off instagram but am trying to hunt down the photographer.
He only played half, so the second half I could chat with the family from our town we had seen at the airport. She even brought her mom and dad which was cool!
Halftime:
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Big Jenga.
 
Darstarr

Darstarr

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
No
Day 2/Feb 17 cont

Post game interview
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One of the assistant coaches for the opposing team is Dre’s travel coach.
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Girlfriend
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We tailgated a bit but could not stay too long. We had a three hour drive back to WDW.

We dropped my Dad home then hit up WaWa again. Oh my stomach!!!

Everyone was sunburned. J was the worst without L around to remind him about sunscreen for his bald head. H bought me a present. Its a really cute Mickey Windchime for my front porch.
Boys went to the pool but I was in bed by 9:00.


Ant just sent me this
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Looks better than the other one.

P.S. The weekly all conference team came out the next day and X was not on it. Bummer.
But he did end up making the division 2 team of the week which is even better!!!
 
Darstarr

Darstarr

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
No
MinnieM123 said:
Thanks for sharing the treehouse photos -- I've always wondered what those were like inside and out. Very cool. :)
Click to expand...
I didnt realize they have been around for a very very long time. A woman I work with stayed in them about 25 years ago when her brother worked for Disney. They of course got a new lease on life when SSR came along.
 
Darstarr

Darstarr

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
No
Day3/Feb 18

I woke up about 4:45 to use the, ahem, restroom. I could not for the life of me fall back asleep! I may or may not have sat in the bathroom reading trip reports. Don’t judge!!!

I showered and started breakfast.
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Was I cooking for Gaston???
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Ant and J were going to return the van. J and L had a reservation to rent a car on Thursday so they could drive themselves to the airport (6:00am flight) but it only cost a little bit more to pick it up when they dropped the van. But saved a ton of time. They would then drive to AK and meet us there. So I made them sandwiches to go.
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This is our typical Disney breakfast when we stay in Villas. It gets us through until lunch and we save a ton of money.

The rest if us ate and caught the Tree house bus. The tree house busses make a loop, to the Springs stop (last stop before leaving SSR) and to two stops within THV. The driver was very nice. She saw where our room was and we jokingly asked her to give us a honk tomorrow. Anyhow, she informed us the bus comes to our stop every 20 minutes. :00, :20 etc. Good tip!
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AJ
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Dre

We got to the Springs bus stop and the monitor said our bus would be coming at 7:11. Then 7:14. Then I see two full buses go by without stopping. Then it says 7:30. There was a cast member there handling the situation so I was not too concerned. But 19 minutes is a big jump! At least we had the beautiful sunrise to keep us company.
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Looking for fish.

BTW, Ant and J were already at AK. The car swap was quick and easy. Who knew??

Our bus came and we were off. Love these seats.
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7:59 on line for Navi.
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Spash007

Spash007

Well-Known Member
Darstarr said:
Day3/Feb 18

I woke up about 4:45 to use the, ahem, restroom. I could not for the life of me fall back asleep! I may or may not have sat in the bathroom reading trip reports. Don’t judge!!!

I showered and started breakfast.
View attachment 353443

Was I cooking for Gaston???
View attachment 353444

Ant and J were going to return the van. J and L had a reservation to rent a car on Thursday so they could drive themselves to the airport (6:00am flight) but it only cost a little bit more to pick it up when they dropped the van. But saved a ton of time. They would then drive to AK and meet us there. So I made them sandwiches to go.
View attachment 353445

This is our typical Disney breakfast when we stay in Villas. It gets us through until lunch and we save a ton of money.
Click to expand...

I won't judge, because I may do the same thing with Trip Reports haha. I've developed this lovely inability to fall asleep most nights before midnight so while everyone else sleeps, I get ready for bed and then read Trip Reports.

Also, I have to ask about those eggs - is it one giant fried egg? I'm seriously hungry now after seeing that breakfast sandwich! :hungry:
 
Darstarr

Darstarr

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
No
Day 3/ Feb 18

After Navi we headed over to do Dinosaur. It was a short line and we moved through quickly.
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After about 7 minutes we were told the ride was down. Ok. We turned to leave but the CM said they would give us a bonus FP if we stayed in line. It was then L noticed her magic band was gone.
I always tell my kids they need to carry their own stuff. “Bring your own string bag!” That is how we do! I told L to tell her kids the same. But she got stuck with all their stuff anyway. So in one of the million times (in the 30 minutes we were inside the park) that she was in her backpack, her magicband fell off. The CM was kinda rude about it when we scanned to get our FP’s added. L was stressed enough and she was like, “you need to go back to your resort blah blah blah. “ I firmly said, we will handle it. L wanted to go to guest services alone but I said no. “I speak Disney. Lets go.” The men folk took the kids to EE and we went to guest services. They gave her a hard ticket and I made sure they added the bonus FP to it.

Meanwhile...
The boys and H on EE

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By 9:16 we met up with the others.

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Milk, cream, eggs...
Sounds like a healthy morning snack to me!

Hops, barley...
Combined with the ice cream its just like a bowl of cereal!

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If they are going to sell it I am going to drink it. Besides I was up so early it felt like noon!!!
 
DisneyGigi

DisneyGigi

Well-Known Member
Darstarr said:
Day one/Feb 16 cont

“Oh Ant, you're such a character!”
View attachment 352978
This was an unauthorized photo. We hadn't even sat down yet. But look how happy Mickey is!!!
Wait until he sees how many of his faces we eat! (17YO T ate 5 before the rest of us sat down)

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I have read that you are not suppose to touch their heads but Pluto INSISTED I scratch his nose. I asked him “whose a good boy?” I didnt get the leg jerk though.

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There was a somewhat long wait between the first four and the Mick. I am not sure if this is by design or if he was soooo popular he was running behind. If you have never eaten at Chef Mickeys before, the best I can tell, and please feel free to add or correct me, there are sections that are all seated at the same time. In our section, which was physically separated with walls both high and low, there were about 15 tables. The characters all came one after another. Then we all got our checks and left. Wash, rinse, repeat. But Mickey was MIA. I told AJ he could go to the restroom to “make some room”. Of course that is when Mickey came. I politely asked his handler if they could skip us and come back because my son was in the men’s room. (I did not tell him my son is 15 and could give a rat’s a$$ about Mickey). I wanted the group shot. I don't ask for much...

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The kids.

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Plus the kids with credit cards!

And T grabbed one more waffle for the road.
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We haven’t eaten there since 2008 I think? I love their new costumes. So cute!

I have had Donald, Mickey and Goofy ask me to kiss their bill for Donald, cheek for Mickey, and Goofy leaned down and wanted a kiss on the nose- I did each time (they make kissing noises) but also after the moment was over, each time freaked out over the amount of germs probably there. I lived though and in the moment, it made me feel like a 3 year old. I have a serious germaphobia though so it says a a lot that I get that caught up in the moment. 😳
 
Darstarr

Darstarr

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
No
Spash007 said:
I won't judge, because I may do the same thing with Trip Reports haha. I've developed this lovely inability to fall asleep most nights before midnight so while everyone else sleeps, I get ready for bed and then read Trip Reports.

Also, I have to ask about those eggs - is it one giant fried egg? I'm seriously hungry now after seeing that breakfast sandwich! :hungry:
Click to expand...
I scrambled those eggs. Then I made some over easy and some over medium. Cheese, no cheese, who wants hot sauce etc.
 
Darstarr

Darstarr

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
No
Day 3/Feb 18 cont

We headed to Its tough to be a bug. I have no idea the last time I did this. 10 years ago maybe??
Looks like pandora a little bit here.
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glub glub glub...
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So cool
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The walrus was my favorite by far!
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(In your best Ahh neld voice) “I’ll be back”
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There was a kid completely freaking out in front of us before the show began. Before the lights even went out.
I think this show was milder and gentler than I remember. I guess the screaming kid didn't get the memo.
 
SandiSmiles

SandiSmiles

Member
Darstarr said:
Day 2/Feb 17 cont

Post game interview
View attachment 353250

One of the assistant coaches for the opposing team is Dre’s travel coach.
View attachment 353251

View attachment 353252

Girlfriend
View attachment 353253

View attachment 353254

We tailgated a bit but could not stay too long. We had a three hour drive back to WDW.

We dropped my Dad home then hit up WaWa again. Oh my stomach!!!

Everyone was sunburned. J was the worst without L around to remind him about sunscreen for his bald head. H bought me a present. Its a really cute Mickey Windchime for my front porch.
Boys went to the pool but I was in bed by 9:00.


Ant just sent me this
View attachment 353256
Looks better than the other one.

P.S. The weekly all conference team came out the next day and X was not on it. Bummer.
But he did end up making the division 2 team of the week which is even be
Click to expand...
Darstarr said:
Day 2/Feb 17 cont

Post game interview
View attachment 353250

One of the assistant coaches for the opposing team is Dre’s travel coach.
View attachment 353251

View attachment 353252

Girlfriend
View attachment 353253

View attachment 353254

We tailgated a bit but could not stay too long. We had a three hour drive back to WDW.

We dropped my Dad home then hit up WaWa again. Oh my stomach!!!

Everyone was sunburned. J was the worst without L around to remind him about sunscreen for his bald head. H bought me a present. Its a really cute Mickey Windchime for my front porch.
Boys went to the pool but I was in bed by 9:00.


Ant just sent me this
View attachment 353256
Looks better than the other one.

P.S. The weekly all conference team came out the next day and X was not on it. Bummer.
But he did end up making the division 2 team of the week which is even better!!!
Click to expand...
Great photo of your son! And what a game he had! How wonderful that so many of you were able to attend his game!
 

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