~ Curse YOU indoor plumbing!!! ~ Sept 2009

[mommyof2Pirates]

I got all caught up on your TR. I am dying to hear what happened at pop.
Congratulations on your anniversary, the diamond earrings looked beautiful. What a nice guy. Dont you love how getting no presents for each other turns out to be the best present you've ever got.

Thats usually how it works for dh and I too.

Gabriel is so handsome with the missing teeth and all. I love hearing about his funny sayings. Thats so great that his communication is getting better everyday. I could see his excitement through the pictures and yay for eating mac and cheese.

Well I am sitting on pins and needles waiting for more updates......Keep them comin.

 

[Gabrielsbigtrip]

I got all caught up on your TR. I am dying to hear what happened at pop.
Congratulations on your anniversary, the diamond earrings looked beautiful. What a nice guy. Dont you love how getting no presents for each other turns out to be the best present you've ever got.

Thats usually how it works for dh and I too.

Gabriel is so handsome with the missing teeth and all. I love hearing about his funny sayings. Thats so great that his communication is getting better everyday. I could see his excitement through the pictures and yay for eating mac and cheese.

Well I am sitting on pins and needles waiting for more updates......Keep them comin.

Thank you!

Our Pop problem is in the post right before you posted (#20).....it's not too horrible and probably wouldn't bother most but we need our sleep.....ESPECIALLY since we are park hoppers and walk ALL day long and like to get an early start in the morning.

The last thing I look forward to is the sound of Turbo Flushing ALL night long

Not sure when I can get to the next update because Discovery Cove was awesome and I really want to do that day justice. I have two company Crab Feasts to plan - one this friday and one next so I will be a busy busy bee

Thanks for reading along!

 

[KathyRN137]

They play music all over the resort and we were listening to the Beach Boys when Gabriel says “Where is that AWFUL music coming from??!” Now, this is something that is said in Sponge Bob on one of the episodes…but no one knows that but me. He takes so many one liners from movies or shows and uses them in real world settings to express himself. It can be VERY embarrassing or VERY funny.

Okay Carol, I am now fully convinced that our sons were TWINS in a past life!! Sorry about your bad first night and crazy first morning... what a way to start a vacation!!

Hopefully the dolphins and Shamu helped make things better soon!


Kathy

 

[mousescrapper]

Hi Carol,

subbing in for your adventure...

I am so sorry about the POP problems...that is a shame, but it seems for now despite that you guys are having a good start to the trip.

looking forward to more

Julie

 

[Gabrielsbigtrip]

Okay Carol, I am now fully convinced that our sons were TWINS in a past life!! Sorry about your bad first night and crazy first morning... what a way to start a vacation!!

Hopefully the dolphins and Shamu helped make things better soon!


Kathy

How funny and special Autism can be at times (thankfully - I think God does that to help us make it through each day)
About Pop - I wouldn't say the bad sleep ruined our vacation but it did put a huge damper on each day being a bit groggy each morning. I could have dealt with it but I was more concerned how miffed Peter was about it. He can be a bear when his sleep is bad. Plus it was turning him against doing another trip THAT is where the biggest problem came in for me! But, that is okay because I will just plan a fall trip and stay at our beloved WL to see the decorations. Maybe 2010? We'll see....I'll need a 40% code for that one

Hi Carol,

subbing in for your adventure...

I am so sorry about the POP problems...that is a shame, but it seems for now despite that you guys are having a good start to the trip.

looking forward to more

Julie

Hi Julie, thanks for subbing! No, our trip wasn't ruined but I have learned my lesson....Go where you know Hope I can keep it interesting

 

[Gabes_mommy]

Carol,
I am so sorry to hear about the loud plumbing at Pop. There's nothing worse than being exhausted and not being able to sleep. Your tale has inspired me to bring a fan we use for white noise on our trip just in case.

I am looking forward to hearing all about your day at Discovery Cove. I have never been there so I am really interested in hearing what you thought if it.

 

[Gabrielsbigtrip]

Carol,
I am so sorry to hear about the loud plumbing at Pop. There's nothing worse than being exhausted and not being able to sleep. Your tale has inspired me to bring a fan we use for white noise on our trip just in case.

I am looking forward to hearing all about your day at Discovery Cove. I have never been there so I am really interested in hearing what you thought if it.

Thanks. If I were driving....I would have brought a fan and our air purifier. The plumbing was so loud, I am not even sure they would have drown it out completely. I think it would have helped though. I think you will be fine at CBR....I have a few friends that have stayed there and love it.

It is a shame because the resort is pretty decent besides that. Although at Epcot you are the farthest bus stop away and when you have walked yourself to the point of no return...that walk from the Big Ball to the bus stop is a killer

It just really makes a difference to us WHERE we stay. I think it is because of the way we tour the parks. The added extra walking, the lack of sleep and the decor (while fun) not being magical just did us in.

I don't know if you have ever been to the Wilderness Lodge but just walk in there....the Grandness of it, yet it was cozy too, the music....everything we just loved it!

I will gladly pay for that feeling next time because in our case - I guess it really does matter

Can't wait to hear about your trip!!

 

[Gabes_mommy]

Thanks. If I were driving....I would have brought a fan and our air purifier. The plumbing was so loud, I am not even sure they would have drown it out completely. I think it would have helped though. I think you will be fine at CBR....I have a few friends that have stayed there and love it.

It is a shame because the resort is pretty decent besides that. Although at Epcot you are the farthest bus stop away and when you have walked yourself to the point of no return...that walk from the Big Ball to the bus stop is a killer

It just really makes a difference to us WHERE we stay. I think it is because of the way we tour the parks. The added extra walking, the lack of sleep and the decor (while fun) not being magical just did us in.

I don't know if you have ever been to the Wilderness Lodge but just walk in there....the Grandness of it, yet it was cozy too, the music....everything we just loved it!

I will gladly pay for that feeling next time because in our case - I guess it really does matter

Can't wait to hear about your trip!!

We visited the WL on our last trip and I fell in love. I can't wait to stay there sometime soon.

 

[Gabrielsbigtrip]

We checked in fairly quickly and were given a 12:10 Dolphin Swim. Gabriel wasn’t pleased we were doing breakfast first. He wouldn’t eat anything and was being pretty grouchy.

After a quick breakfast (cereal, muffin and banana) we grabbed vests, snorkels (even though we brought our own…..the special animal safe sunscreen they give you is inside the snorkel packs, plus you get to keep the snorkels).

We hit the warm fresh water river so Gabriel could practice. He didn’t understand the whole thing….I had to really get him to pay attention to me and walk him through breathing through the snorkel and not diving all the way under. Well, there wasn’t going to be any stopping him from diving all the way under so I ended up giving him my dry snorkel where it doesn’t matter if you go under. The first go around was a bit stressful but he eventually got the hang of snorkeling.

Getting started

Before he understood what the snorkel was for

Almost a pro now with a new mask and my snorkel

By George I think he's got it!

Hello there

Next we checked out the rays and fish. Gabriel immediately pops out of the water to declare loudly “THIS PLACE IS FILTHY!” (the algae on the rocks I guess?)

OOOOOO that water was cold. Gabriel was a little skittish because the fish and rays come soo close… I couldn’t blame him, I was surprised too.

This ray was HUGE and looked like he had been chillin for awhile. I was happy he didn't come out for a look see

I have sooooo many pictures...alot of them I was trying to zoom on fish further away and a school would swim like 2 inches in front of my face and the bajeebers out of me! So a bunch of my pictures are no good because of what I will call "Fish Freak Out"

After that we stopped at the snack shop and got some soft pretzels (small) and drinks (they are included and are all you can eat). They also had cookies and other snacks but not a big variety.


Okay - here is where the show comes in…….I have no pictures of this show but God forbid there may be some out there on the world wide web!

I took my suit that was a full one piece because I thought that would be the most comfortable with the vest or wetsuit. I usually keep that suit at our beach house just in case I forget the one I normally wear and I had grabbed it last time we were there.

Remember how I threw my suit on in a low lighted room as I was freaking about the shuttle?

Well, after we get our snack I suggest we go over to the locker area to leave our camera and snorkels while we do our Dolphin Swim. I get everything put away and say that I am going to use the bathroom. As I am leaving the bathroom I noticed in the mirror that there is something wrong with the back of my suit!

About 3 inches across the entire butt was SEE THRU!!!!!!!!! AND at the most important area!

I came out of the bathroom with my hand behind my back to cover my exposed back side and told my husband.

He smiles and says “I know but I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want you stressing about it” !!!!!!!

I yell “You could have told me to get a wetsuit because it’s really bad!”

He replies “Yeah I know, when the light hits it you can see the everything”



UGHHHH…I could have KILLED him.

The place to grab a wetsuit is right there so I get one and go back to the changing room. Have you ever put a wetsuit on? Do you know how hard they are to put on when you are already wet?!

So, now that I felt like a bratwurst ready to pop….we headed off for our Dolphin Swim with me thinking I would pick up some swim shorts in the gift shop.

Up next ~ our Horsey ride.....I mean our Dolphin Swim

 

[joy13]

Great report so far! I can't wait to hear about your Dolphin Swim - I so want to do that someday.

We stayed in the 90's section of POP in '07 - but we were on th 4th floor - so that may make a difference.

 

[mousescrapper]

Ok I am sorry to be laughing, but your suit story.....

Oh Carol....I would have strangled my DH if he let that happen to me....yikes...

DC looks so amazing! My DH and Aldine would love that...me not so much....I actually have a fear of going under water...even though I know you are floating, I am so glad the kids love being in the water and have no issues there.

Can't wait to here about the Dolphin part!

 

[Gabrielsbigtrip]

Ok I am sorry to be laughing, but your suit story.....

Oh Carol....I would have strangled my DH if he let that happen to me....yikes...

DC looks so amazing! My DH and Aldine would love that...me not so much....I actually have a fear of going under water...even though I know you are floating, I am so glad the kids love being in the water and have no issues there.

Can't wait to here about the Dolphin part!

That's okay, go ahead and laugh

His reasoning of WHY he didn't tell me and the stupid grin on his face made me want to give him a swift kick! You know what they say about paybacks ....so he better watch it!

He's actually sick now so I can do anything.......yet

DC was so great but yeah, if you have fear of under water...I would say stay away....although they have actual thick vests so you would never go under water too.

I am a good swimmer but when we hit the first drop off (8ft) I just about drown trying to take pictures and make sure Gabriel wasn't drowning I guess you tend to sink more in fresh water than salt(I don't remember our SCUBA training very well but I think salt water keeps you more buoyant)

Once he got the hang of MY snorkel he did much better. Of course that left me with his stinky kiddie snorkel which was . Luckily there aren't any waves to swamp you.

I was also VERY pleased with how well Gabriel did swimming. That boy is a . I wanted to look into swim lessons at Michael Phelps swim school......who knows........I just know he wouldn't do well in the usual team sports

I hope to post the Dolphin Swim tonight or tomorrow. I was so worried Gabriel would do something that would spook the Dolphin.

 

[Dizneydawn]

I am so glad to find your report! Funny and love the fact you are honest with your writing!

Laughing at your exposed tukkus. You know you were walking in the background of someones pictures. They will develop them and their Christmas Card this year will have you and your now famous bottom in it. Think of how many fridges your best side will be gracing over the Holiday's!

And.....

Mousescrapper...when I started reading - your post was the last.

Put the title of this report - with your avatar...and I read...

MOUSES CRAPPER!!!!

You have no idea how much that made me laugh!

 

[Gabrielsbigtrip]

I am so glad to find your report! Funny and love the fact you are honest with your writing!

Laughing at your exposed tukkus. You know you were walking in the background of someones pictures. They will develop them and their Christmas Card this year will have you and your now famous bottom in it. Think of how many fridges your best side will be gracing over the Holiday's!

And.....

Mousescrapper...when I started reading - your post was the last.

Put the title of this report - with your avatar...and I read...

MOUSES CRAPPER!!!!

You have no idea how much that made me laugh!

Thanks - I KNOW there are probably "Crack" pictures out there

Oh well, what can you do

But I will get him back....I don't know when or how....but it will happen


By the way - love your avatar - I have "For the Birds" on my Ipod and my son plays the part over and over and over again where those Birds are pecking and pecking and pecking....he thinks it's a riot

 

[Dizneydawn]

Thanks - I KNOW there are probably "Crack" pictures out there

Oh well, what can you do

But I will get him back....I don't know when or how....but it will happen
I have plenty of pay back success moments in my life. How about carefully picking out the top 1/4 inch of toothpaste from his tube. Then with a toothpick - place Desitin baby butt cream in the space now open.

He will get a brushing experience he will never forget and it will take a minute to understand what is wrong.

That and he will have a smooth lip for a while! No bumps!

By the way - love your avatar - I have "For the Birds" on my Ipod and my son plays the part over and over and over again where those Birds are pecking and pecking and pecking....he thinks it's a riot

Glad he likes it! What a great relationship you all have and how lucky is he that you were picked for his Mom!

 

[Gabrielsbigtrip]

We sat through a little movie and some dolphin chat with the trainer, signed waivers and we were off. It was pretty hot sitting there with that wetsuit on but if felt nice when we entered that cold water lagoon!

We swam with Dixie and had a very nice trainer. You kind of stand in the water in a group of 8 and get Dixie to do tricks, feed her fish, touch her in different places to see what she feels like and learn about her and dolphins in general. You are supposed to stand close together and not move your feet so much umm try telling Gabriel that one.

Gabriel wanted to ride her right away and during one of his pictures I had to stop him from hoping on her like a horse!

This picture does not look like Gabriel at all...I am not sure what it is but he looks heavier here or something. I am not sure if it is something with the camera because I wasn't happy with our family shot and I thought I looked awful in my shot by myself. I had to buy the package anyway just for Gabriel's pictures though

When it was our turn, I went first to be at the other end for Gabriel. I was very afraid he would let go or do something to the dolphin he wasn’t supposed to that would get him hurt.

Well, you are supposed to hold the dorsal fin and the one flipper and stay on the side. Gabriel hopped right on top…(I had told Peter to make sure Gabriel understood what to do). The trainer chuckled and said luckily he was light enough because normally Dixie wouldn’t go for that. I am not sure what that means but it all went off without a hitch.

and then

This version is cropped because there was a lone strange lady in the backround photo bombing his picture ( No, she didn't have a see thru bathing suit bottom but she was making a weird gesture to someone on the beach I guess)

After the swim I headed to our chairs to get my swim coverup and headed for the changing room to take off the wetsuit and put that on so I didn’t moon the entire guest population again!

We had lunch afterwards and it was decent….Gabriel actually ate the Mac and Cheese again! I think my camera was still in the locker because I didn’t take any pictures.

I had Cobb Salad and Peter had the Salmon. There was a cool band playing.

While the boys finished dessert (Gabriel got a cupcake) I ran over to the gift shop to pick up shorts and Gabriel a stuffed Dixie that he saw on the way to lunch.

I didn’t try on the shorts but they were the biggest size the had! They looked small but I thought they had to fit……..

I also went to check out our Dolphin photos and order the whole package video and all. This is such a rip…but what can you do? I had to get those pictures on CD and I wanted the video to show my mom.

After all that I went to put the shorts on and of course they didn’t fit. I had to do some running around to get my credit card out of the locker and then going to the main gift shop to get a refund. I figured I would just do a vest over my swim coverup at this point because the wetsuit was uncomfortable and hot. This really drives home the point that I need to get this extra weight OFF!

We did the fresh water pool again and because there was lightning in the distance they wouldn’t let anyone go into the caves and outer portion. We swam in the main section until they opened it back up and as we went along we got out and walked through the aviary. Gabriel really isn’t too impressed by animals and since we pulled him out of the giant waterfall he was ready to get back to the water.

I had to pick up the final picture package so I left to get them and Peter and Gabriel headed over to the rays and fish again…..Gabriel didn’t really want to.

I put the pics in the locker and headed back to find them….I got in the ray pool and swam the entire circle but didn’t see them….on the way out I see them coming and Gabriel is crying a bit behind Peter. I ask what is wrong and basically Gabriel wasn’t being good at the ray pool because he didn’t want to be there so Peter told him he wasn’t happy with him and that’s enough to get him upset. He told me he hurt under his arm and I told Peter that he probably didn’t like the salt water pool because under my arms hurt too in there I guess from the vest rubbing.

Anyway, that was enough for the day so I took him to the shower so we could get ready to go and Peter was able to go check out the sharks and cudas.

The showers are stocked with Crabtree and Evelyn shampoo, conditioner and body wash. I got us cleaned up and headed out to our chairs to wait for Peter and give him his change of clothes for his shower.

We trudged out for our shuttle pick up. The shuttle arrived and instead of the big bus we had on the way, this was like a mini van that sat eight. It was just us and another couple that was going to Pop too.

It started raining while we were on the shuttle and thought that we would get some dinner at Pop. We both got the burger and I couldn’t eat all mine. I really wasn’t too hungry ( for some reason - that lasted the entire trip ). Gabriel tried one fruit loop (he picked those) and he spit it out. I ended up eating those and taking the milk back to the room for his cheerios.

As we were eating I look up at Peter and there is a toddler with bright blue all over his hands (Tie Dyed Cheesecake) reaching for Peter’s head (we were in back to back booths). The kiddo just missed rubbing it all over Peter’s head. Hmmm….maybe I should have let him after the earlier Moon show fiasco!

We headed back to the room (the trash from our room was in the bag and on our bed) what the heck is up with that? I guess they forgot to take it with them???

After I threw that away, I got Gabriel some cheerios and a cottage cheese double and muffins. I put him in his pj’s and let him watch Ice Age on PSP again. Daddy channel surfed while I unpacked our stuff and downloaded the pictures from the day.

(Mousekeeping also had left two photo pass 20% off cards (one for my b-day and one for our anniversary). I was able to use one of them to pre-order our Photopass CD when we got home - even though I wasn’t that thrilled with all of the pictures.)

I went to bed trying to figure out what to do for the next day as I listened to the resort guests use the bathroom facilities.

Up next….where should we go?

 

[Gabrielsbigtrip]

Glad he likes it! What a great relationship you all have and how lucky is he that you were picked for his Mom!

OOOO girl, you play hard ball!

We have a huge double standard in this house so I don't think I want to mess with him THAT bad

Thanks for your kind words

 

[mommyof2Pirates]

oh my I was laughing so hard picturing the bathing suit I would have knocked my husband out for that one Thats a man for ya. Maybe he secretly liked it.

The pics of the sting rays and dolphins were so awesome. What a great experience. I loved the comment about it being really filthy in there His one liners are cracking me up.

Cant wait to hear more.

 

[jana616]

I'm in and enjoying your report so far! Discovery Cove sounds so cool. We were in the 90's section at the same time as you, and we definitely didn't have the same problems you did with the flushing (we knew ours was super loud, but didn't hear everyone else's). I'm thinking the top floor really made a difference. Can't wait to read more!

 

[Gabrielsbigtrip]

I'm in and enjoying your report so far! Discovery Cove sounds so cool. We were in the 90's section at the same time as you, and we definitely didn't have the same problems you did with the flushing (we knew ours was super loud, but didn't hear everyone else's). I'm thinking the top floor really made a difference. Can't wait to read more!

Thanks and yes Discovery Cove was wonderful but so very pricey. I had to compromise on the resort in order to book DC so that is why we were trying POP. I honestly didn't read anything about the TURBO toilets in my research. Maybe the ground floor is the worst floor?

I read your reply on your report and yes, we found the food court to be a zoo if you got there after 8am. If you were there early it wasn't that bad