MamaMouse0920
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2022
Hello & welcome to my 3rd Trip Report!
We returned home yesterday from our most MAGICAL Disney vacation yet, and I am already deep in the throes of the Disney Blues. I seriously can't wait to get back! This trip had tons of highs, a fair share of lows, and everything in between. Before I get started, feel free to check out my Pre-Trip Report HERE. You can also check out my 2 previous Trip Reports (Feb 2023 can be found here & September 2022 can be found here).
For any newcomers, I'll start with introductions.
I'm Bethany, a 31 year old wife & mama living in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. I work for the Minneapolis VA facilitating the onboarding of residents & fellows entering the VA. Previously I worked in physical therapy but with where I am in life (AKA, wrangling two young kids) working the administrative side has offered tons of flexibility & advantages, and I'm very happy with where I am - even if it's not in the career I dreamt of (or spent oodles of $$$ in college ). I love coffee, carbs, the Minnesota Vikings, & of course all things Disney. I grew up going to Disney World at least 5x/year (my grandma worked for Northwest Airlines, now Delta, lived in Orlando, and had a part time job at the Disney store inside the airport so we had the "hook up"!). I am very, very fortunate to have been blessed with such a wonderful childhood.
Joining along (in life & this trip ) is my wonderful husband, Matt. He is 41 & also works at the Minneapolis VA- also on the administrative side. He's the best double-stroller-pusher, meltdown-tamer, and overall follower of my crazy, Type A planning!
Up next are the two kids: DD4 & DS3. They're 18 months apart and fight like Simba/Scar at the end of Lion King one minute, and then are the two best friends that anyone could have .00003 seconds later. I have 3 (younger) siblings myself, and even I can't understand it.
DD4 is a mega ruler follower & people-pleaser (like her mama) and DS3 is very much his way or the highway (......also like his mama ) and is NOT afraid to let you know it. He had his fair share of embarrassing tantrums this trip, and I swear if he didn't make up for his craziness in sweet smiles, gentle snuggles, & perfectly timed "I love you, mama" remarks, I don't think I'd have any hair left at all.
We purchased 5 park day tickets (non park hopper) for the 4 of us, and stayed offsite at Wyndham Bonnet Creek from Thursday 9/7/23 through Thursday 9/14/23. We had planned it to look like this:
Thurs 9/7: arrival - flight lands around 11:30am, check in to hotel, head to Disney Springs (ADR at Chef Art Smith's Homecomin' for 2:15pm)
Fri 9/8: Magic Kingdom (MNSSHP day so out by 6); kids haircuts @ Harmony Barber Shop at 12:00pm
Sat 9/9: Animal Kingdom
Sun 9/10: rest day (swimming/checking out resort amenities)
Mon 9/11: Epcot; Theme Park Nanny scheduled from 5-9pm so mom & dad could enjoy the park solo for a few hours
Tues 9/12: Hollywood Studios; ADR at Mama Melrose's at 5:15pm as part of Fantasmic Dining Package
Wed 9/13: Magic Kingdom pt2; Fireworks Dessert Pre-Party
Thurs 9/14: check out, depart for Ft. Myers to visit Matt's parents
Fri 9/15: Ft Myers
Sat 9/16: Ft Myers
Sun 9/16: departure, arriving home around 3pm
Seemed like a solid plan, right? BUT you know what they say about the best-laid plans............................
I'll jump right into the nitty gritty in my next post
We returned home yesterday from our most MAGICAL Disney vacation yet, and I am already deep in the throes of the Disney Blues. I seriously can't wait to get back! This trip had tons of highs, a fair share of lows, and everything in between. Before I get started, feel free to check out my Pre-Trip Report HERE. You can also check out my 2 previous Trip Reports (Feb 2023 can be found here & September 2022 can be found here).
For any newcomers, I'll start with introductions.
I'm Bethany, a 31 year old wife & mama living in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. I work for the Minneapolis VA facilitating the onboarding of residents & fellows entering the VA. Previously I worked in physical therapy but with where I am in life (AKA, wrangling two young kids) working the administrative side has offered tons of flexibility & advantages, and I'm very happy with where I am - even if it's not in the career I dreamt of (or spent oodles of $$$ in college ). I love coffee, carbs, the Minnesota Vikings, & of course all things Disney. I grew up going to Disney World at least 5x/year (my grandma worked for Northwest Airlines, now Delta, lived in Orlando, and had a part time job at the Disney store inside the airport so we had the "hook up"!). I am very, very fortunate to have been blessed with such a wonderful childhood.
Joining along (in life & this trip ) is my wonderful husband, Matt. He is 41 & also works at the Minneapolis VA- also on the administrative side. He's the best double-stroller-pusher, meltdown-tamer, and overall follower of my crazy, Type A planning!
Up next are the two kids: DD4 & DS3. They're 18 months apart and fight like Simba/Scar at the end of Lion King one minute, and then are the two best friends that anyone could have .00003 seconds later. I have 3 (younger) siblings myself, and even I can't understand it.
DD4 is a mega ruler follower & people-pleaser (like her mama) and DS3 is very much his way or the highway (......also like his mama ) and is NOT afraid to let you know it. He had his fair share of embarrassing tantrums this trip, and I swear if he didn't make up for his craziness in sweet smiles, gentle snuggles, & perfectly timed "I love you, mama" remarks, I don't think I'd have any hair left at all.
We purchased 5 park day tickets (non park hopper) for the 4 of us, and stayed offsite at Wyndham Bonnet Creek from Thursday 9/7/23 through Thursday 9/14/23. We had planned it to look like this:
Thurs 9/7: arrival - flight lands around 11:30am, check in to hotel, head to Disney Springs (ADR at Chef Art Smith's Homecomin' for 2:15pm)
Fri 9/8: Magic Kingdom (MNSSHP day so out by 6); kids haircuts @ Harmony Barber Shop at 12:00pm
Sat 9/9: Animal Kingdom
Sun 9/10: rest day (swimming/checking out resort amenities)
Mon 9/11: Epcot; Theme Park Nanny scheduled from 5-9pm so mom & dad could enjoy the park solo for a few hours
Tues 9/12: Hollywood Studios; ADR at Mama Melrose's at 5:15pm as part of Fantasmic Dining Package
Wed 9/13: Magic Kingdom pt2; Fireworks Dessert Pre-Party
Thurs 9/14: check out, depart for Ft. Myers to visit Matt's parents
Fri 9/15: Ft Myers
Sat 9/16: Ft Myers
Sun 9/16: departure, arriving home around 3pm
Seemed like a solid plan, right? BUT you know what they say about the best-laid plans............................
I'll jump right into the nitty gritty in my next post