Orlando 2017

26 March 2017 - Nick, Felix (7.5 yrs), Iris (4.5 yrs) and I drove through dreary, rainy, gray early spring weather from Rapids to Milwaukee for the first leg of our spring break trip. This adventure has been Mom's idea since last year, and they left last week to drive down and meet us in Orlando. We got to the Best Western by the Milwaukee airport a little after 3. After we checked in, we went down to the hotel pool and swam for about 45 minutes. The kids really had fun; especially Iris jumping in a lot. We got pizza from Domino's for dinner, all while listening to a smoke detector in the hall chirping until they finally fixed it. We all went to bed early.

27 March - We got up early and got breakfast. Managed to get a shuttle to the airport when they told us none were running. Got to the airport about 8:20 for our 10:35 flight. It didn't take long to check our bags and go through security. Killed time at the gate. {A friend of Iris's from the Y/preschool, Leigh, was also on the flight with her family, so that helped having them play together while we waited.} The kids did pretty well on the plane. {The Southwest attendants gave the kids First Flight certificates and plastic wings. :) } We got on our shuttle and to our hotel by ~3:30 local {kids did not like the long wait for the shuttle...}. We're in adjoining rooms with the folks at Disney Pop Century resort. The kids were anxious to go swimming, so we all went down to the pool It was low 80s and a bit windy. It was pretty fun to play together. After we swam for a bit, cleaned up at the room. Mom & Dad went out. We ran into some frustrations getting food at the hotel. The kids stopped listening, which got frustration also. We took a walk and saw an alligator. We got back to the room ~9 ET. Put the kids to bed, then went to M&D's room to talk and have some drinks.

Iris and Leigh

28 March - Between the late night, kids wiggling (each of us slept with a kid), and Nick snoring, 7 am came early. I got dressed, got some coffee and we had breakfast in the folk's room. We got ready, donned light clothes, put on sunscreen and got in line for the shuttle to the Magic Kingdom. Once on, the ride took about 20 minutes. It was packed. So many people! It took quite a while (~30 min) to actually get in the park. The kids were pretty amazed. Our first top was the Barnstormer ride. A nice, warm-up roller coaster. Iris loved it, Felix not so much. {Iris announced it made her "privates tickle".} We went on the Haunted Mansion next. Iris kept her face hidden most of the ride. We used a Fast Pass on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Ride (5 min > 74 min!). Felix loved that. I saw Iris and Grandma enjoying it, too. We went on the royal carousel (the kids took the biggest horses), then decided it was time for a break. {We went into the Castle Costuming shop, where Iris got "pixie dust" (glitter) sprinkled in her hair to bring her good luck for the day.} The six of us ate lunch at Columbia Harbour House. After that, the park was still so busy and the weather was sunny and high 80s. We took a cruise on the Liberty Square Riverboat. Felix and Iris were apprehensive about the loudness of the boat's horn, but it turned out to be not too bad. Iris decided she was too scared to go on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, so Grandma took her to the Tiki Room. (the wait for the Magic Carpet ride was too long). Nick, Felix, Dad & I went on the Fast Past line to BTMR. Felix & Nick rode in front of Dad & Me (like old times :) ) That's my favorite ride. we had to wait a while in the heat for Mom & Iris to join us and for our next Fast Pass time on Splash Mountain. We reached the line and Iris started freaking out that it was too scary for her, so Mom took her out of line, but suddenly Iris decided she was going to be brave after all. They got on a few logs back. We enjoyed it - nice, cool and damp after. Iris was smiles after, although it did "scare her privates." My brave girl. We got the kids their promised ice cream afterward. We were all hot and had sore feet, so we waited and got on the WDW Railroad back to Main Street. We were going to hit up the shops and go but we realized the parade was about to start, so we found a spot to sit. We waited and waited, and the kids got bored, so we headed to the Emporium to find the sword that Felix wanted for a souvenir. They didn't have it, and the parade was passing. Felix and I left the others and headed back to Fantasyland to go to the Castle Costuming and get his sword, fighting through the crowds. Headed back to meet the others and went back to the Emporium to buy Iris a Frozen light-up wand and a plastic bracelet. We left the park then and went to wait for a shuttle back to the resort. There was a bus there, but someone on the bus must have suffered a cut, so paramedics were there. That took a while then the ambulance and bus left. Then it took a long time for a new shuttle, then a long time to get back. ~1.5 hrs all told. :P  That really tried the kids' patience. Finally back, had a beer and snacks before all going to the pool So refreshing. Swam for ~30 min, then went back to the room and ordered room service pizza. Mom & Dad ran out for provisions, and I took the kids down to the playground for a bit to wait. Finally had dinner ~7:15. Talked about the day. Listened to some Moana. Watched some Chopped. Kids to be ~9. I took them out on the balcony to watch  the fireworks. More magic from Iris's pixie dust. :) Stayed up talking to the folks.

Iris's first roller coaster: The Barnstormer

Getting sprayed in the back at the Haunted Mansion

Small kids, big animals

Getting pixie dusted

Iris hiding in Mom's lap (back right)

Parade float

What could possibly go wrong?

29 March - We took it a little easier this morning. All got ready and got in line for the shuttle to Animal Kingdom around 8:40. It was much less chaotic getting into the park. Another hot, sunny day. Once we got in, we got the kids set up to start collecting Wilderness Explorer badges. We walked int Africa and killed a little time before it was time for our safari. I'm not sure how much Iris saw or liked it {she was sitting with Mom}, but we saw lots of animals, including 3 baby giraffes, a baby elephant, some white rhinos, and ostrich eggs. The kids learned how to play drums when we got off. Next we took the train to Rafiki's Planet Watch. The kids were a bit (well, a lot) more whiny today than yesterday, but that improved. Felix got into the spirit of collecting badges. After that, we took the train back into Africa and found it much more crowded than before. We walked over to Asia and stopped for lunch. Nick and I got falafel and samosas. The kids and folks got regular burgers, nuggets, etc. It was hot & sunny as we ate. Good thing our next Fast Pass was for the river rapids ride. Iris loved that, and I got refreshingly soaked. The kids were antsy to do the Boneyard playground, so we headed there next. I think all the grown-ups were feeling the effects of so many steps. Nick and I left them playing to ride on Expedition Everest. That was a fun coaster. We returned to find the kids still running around in the playground. We got them moving by offering to pick up souvenirs before we left. Felix got a large leopard (which he calls a cheetah), Iris got a smaller baby cheetah. Felix also got a crystal. We headed out of the park, caught the shuttle back right away and were back in the room by 4 pm. I have major pinky toe blisters, alas. Had a beer and some snacks in the room. We all went down to the pool for another family swim. If felt good, but it was clear we grown-ups were getting tired. Left after ~45 min. Went back up to the room to get cleaned up. We left the kids with the folks around 6 and went over to Disney Springs. We got to Morimoto Asia a bit before our reservation time, so we got drinks at the bar (I had a delicious coconut aloe mojito). Once we were seated, we waited ~50 min in anticipation for the sushi and sashimi pagoda we ordered. Finally, it arrived - two levels of ocean delight. :) Spicy yellow tuna roll; tuna, yellowtail, shrimp, sockeye salmon and some kind of snapper sashimi; a rose made from tuna "petals"; strips of snapper, yellowtail and lionfish; scallops in limes; oysters in 2 varieties each; a whole chilled lobster. Nick went so far as to rip the head apart so we could try the green brains. Um, muddy-tasting. After that feast, we walked next door to an Iris pub, Raglan Road. It was packed and there was band playing, but we managed to find two seats at the bar by the stage. A miracle! I had some Bushmills on ice and Nick had a coffee porter. We watched the band and the Iris dancers through the end of the show. We were about to leave when we discovered we could get a drink to go. We took one and walked around the complex. We got an English toffee bar at a candy shop. Saw as much as we needed to, then headed back to the hotel to talk with the folks a bit. The kids, apparently, were good. Went to bed ~11.

On the safari

At Animal Kingdom

Enjoying the water rides

SO MUCH SEAFOOD!

30 March - We slept in a bit, then got ready and packed everything up. The kids were brimming with energy in our snug little room. They played together with their new jungle stuffed animals. Mom & Dad went go to pick up a rental car so we could all travel. The kids got antsy. Eventually, we all left and headed to Disney Springs. We went to the Disney Store (lots of stuff, but very little Moana stuff), and the Lego Store (managed to walk out empty-handed). We ate lunch at Raglan Road. Iris threw a major tantrum on our way out of Disney Springs, because she didn't want to try using the bathroom. mom & Dad took the kids and we went separately up to Grandma Maxine's and Dennis's house in Weirsdale. This is really non-touristy Florida here. We got the grand tour and relaxed. The kids immediately went swimming while the adults chatted. {Iris got out of the pool for a break, took off her floaties, then jumped in. Dad caught her flailing and pulled her out. She remembers it vividly 3 years later, making a brief report on it this year in 2nd grade.} We visited the horses, I took a rest. We also could see a SpaceX launch from the backyard - caught a glimpse of the rocket as it rose and its vapor trail. The kids really liked that. We all went swimming together in the late afternoon. Had burgers and fries for dinner. Got the kids to bed ~8:30. We stayed up until 10:30.

Lunch at Raglan Road

At Grandma's & Dennis's

Visiting the horses

Enjoying the lanai

Watching the SpaceX launch

31 March - We slept in a bit, had a lazy morning. The kids swam before breakfast. After that, they were anxious to go visit the three horses here. They couldn't wait to go riding. Iris, Felix and I took turns riding around the yard. No one else wanted to get on the horse. The kids went swimming once more before lunch. By 1 pm we were packed up and on our way back to Orlando. The folks took the kids again, so it was a quiet ride for us. We got to our rather run-down hotel for the night around 2:50. We relaxed for a bit, then the kids when swimming in the small hotel pool. Iris got a rather big owie on her leg jumping in too close to the edge, but she shook it off. They swam until 4, then we got them cleaned up. Iris was very much in a hurry to go to dinner, but we had to settle her down because the restaurant didn't open until 5. We went to the Bauern-Stube, a German restaurant ~5 min away. That was definitely an unusual experience - we were the only people there until after 6. It was good in that we didn't have to wait too long for the food, and the kids weren't bothering others, but it was still strange. In any case, it was quite a change of pace. I got the Holstein Cutlet with spatzle and red cabbage. Iris got a brat, Felix got chicken cutlets, and Nick got rouladen. Mom got a cut of pork and Dad got a sausage sampler. Good beer with the heavy meal. We returned to the hotel and relaxed in the room while the folks attempted to return the rental car. After Iris's tantrum (she wanted to sleep on the tiny pull-out sofa, but we didn't want her falling off and hitting the coffee table), we put the kids to bed and stayed up late talking (and in Nick's case, drinking) in the folk's room. We didn't get to bed until after midnight and all of Iris's wiggling kept me from sleeping well...

A different kind of ride

Little dudes

Prosit!

1 April - ...making me a very crabby, on-edge Mama. I snapped at everyone as we were getting ready, eating the crappy hotel breakfast and having our shuttle to the airport delayed. I calmed down waiting with the folks for the shuttle to return and take us at 9:30. Still plenty of time. Got to the airport ~ 9:50, then stood in the long line to check our bags. The kids were difficult then, but improved going through security much quicker than anticipated. Nick took the kids to the gate while I got an iced coffee at Starbucks. We quickly learned our flight was delayed an hour because of a nor'easter in New Hampshire. More sitting, more waiting. We ate lunch at the gate (Chipotle for me, McD's for the rest), which helped kill time. They started boarding pretty quickly - too quickly for me, since I realized right after we found seats that I left my pone at the charging station. I might have freaked out a wee bit, but I got an attendant's attention and they got it to me right before the door closed. Whew! I sat with Iris who was excited to have a window seat again. She watched Moana on her tablet and I read and caught up in this journal. We landed around 2:30, deplaned, caught our bags, and waited about 15 min for a shuttle. Once we got back to our car, we took the kids to a Culver's because they had handled all the traveling fairly well. The ride home was long. We took 41 to 10, not our usual route. I ordered pizzas on the way, which were delivered about 10 minutes after we got home at 6:30. We had a "cat pizza party picnic" in the basement. The kids went to bed well. Nick and I were falling asleep by 9:30. Nice, long memory-filled trip.

Waiting to go home

Favorite Memories & other observations:
* Iris getting pixie dust in her hair - which made everything from seeing bonus fireworks to the sparkles on Lake Michigan "more magical".
* Felix's face after the thrill rides. He developed a quick appreciation.
* Iris saying those same rides "scared her private parts," but she decided to go on Splash Mountain after her initial cold feet.
* As much walking as I do, it wasn't nearly enough to prepare for our park days.
* But I will never go to a park in a Rascal, because WHY?! Those people were in the way everywhere! Same with strollers.
* High 80s and partly cloudy felt pretty great.
* It's worth paying a little extra to avoid staying at a place like that Quality Inn on McCoy.
* Our Disney Springs night. So much good stuff!
* We have lots still to do the next time we go back. :)

5 months after the trip...

{transcribed 1/30/2020}