But we aren't from New Jersey - A trio of Kansan's take on Jersey Week

[starnightstarsky2000]

Just got back from our third family Disney trip. We stayed at Pop Century arriving Oct. 30th and returning Nov. 6th during what is affectionately known as Jersey week since it appears that the entire state of New Jersey visits WDW during this time frame.

First some introductions are in order:

Me: 31 Disney Fanatic and raiser oF hedgehogs and sugar gliders as well as working as a NICU guard at one of our local hospitals.

DH: 33 (pdmedic) Rapidly becoming a Disney Fanatic even though he didn't have any use for Disney up till a few years ago and before then thought Florida was only good as a SCUBA location. He works full time as a police sergeant and recently got moved to an investigative position.

Together we were celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary (March 25,2000) even though we are closer to 11 years married at this point.

DS: Turned 10 on this trip Fan of all things Club Penguin and Stitch. This trip was planned as a surprise for his 10th birthday which was Nov. 3rd

So coming up during this report:

Did we manage to keep the secret and surprise our DS?

Did the DS decide to ride the roller coasters this year?

What was our view on the F&W Festival?

Did we succumb to the DVC presentation?

For this and more stay tuned. :rolleyes

tons of food porn and fun photos to follow...

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

Joining!! Your title got me since I am from Jersey!

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

We share the same anniversary date but it will be 5 years.

What is a sugar glider?

 

[Tiggeye]

I'm in. From Jersey and own DVC you got my attention!

 

[hill6]

I am from Jersey and when we went to the Poly a few years ago right before Thanksgiving we were asked by the guy who drove us to our room why so many folks from NJ were just there. Explained to him about how they close the schools for a few days and he was amazed.

 

[pdmedic]

Joining!! Your title got me since I am from Jersey!

Glad to have you aboard.

We share the same anniversary date but it will be 5 years.

What is a sugar glider?

Congrats on 5 years a sugar glider is like a small flying squirrel I'm sure my wife will be along soon with a much better description.

I'm in. From Jersey and own DVC you got my attention!

Glad to have you.

I am from Jersey and when we went to the Poly a few years ago right before Thanksgiving we were asked by the guy who drove us to our room why so many folks from NJ were just there. Explained to him about how they close the schools for a few days and he was amazed.

Yeah it was a bit of a surprise to us since we don't have anything like that here in Kansas.

Well as already mentioned I'm Starnightstarsky2000's husband and figure I'll get my side of the trip in as well. Still in the process of unpacking then going through photos but this was an excellent vacation from my point of view. Look forward to sharing it with all of you.

Travis

 

[starnightstarsky2000]

Hello everyone and thank you for joining us on our Trip report! Sorry to be behind the ball I see my speedy hubby has already started it for you. (of course it is easy to be speedy when you leave all the unpacking, washing, house cleaning, getting DS back to school for your wife to do LOL but HEY then again I was off for another 5 days and he headed back to work Sunday morning so it was all good but back to the questions....


So the first one we are going to answer is "Did we manage to keep the secret from our son???

This is actually a Yes and NO as WE didn't tell him and he had NO IDEA from us, however one of his school friends who was coming to the party told him all about both surprises (both his birthday party AND the Trip)

Now our DS has Aspergers so though he has the body of 10 yr old he has the mind of a 18 yr old (at least) so when his friend told him this he waited until we were half way home on the Monday before we left to make the following statements to me...

"We are doing a Surprise Birthday Party at Pizza Street and We are going to celebrate my birthday at Disney World"

Yep there it was in clear facts, now if he has asked as a question I could have somehow played it off but nope it was a straight up known statement and since I don't believe lying is good (even if its a surprise) answered him "Yes we are". his response..

"COOL I thought WE couldn't afford to go this year!!!" but then he made a sad sound, I was driving so I asked him "Whats wrong?

I parked the car at my moms (was there to grab our special shirts we had made up for the trip) and he was like "Nothing" well I knew THAT wasn't true. But then there was my mom who took one look at him and said "You told him?" I explained what happened and she looked me straight in the eye and said "You should have lied to him?" "What? How is lying to him the right choice?" Then our DS looks up and saids "Yep you should have?" But then he said "But don't tell Dad I will pretend to be surprised"

So yea umm that was the great revile not at all what I was hoping/expecting but that is our son "Kids GOTTA LOVE THEM!!!" And he did a great "Surprised act" at his party and was really excited to go back "home" to the world....


Now onto the next question did our son who rode everything in '06 under the sun (even embarrassed his dad into riding Everest and his dad HATES and despite my best tries has never ridden a roller coaster before) and then to the extreme shock of both myself and DH (who now was as crazy about riding roller coasters as I am) in '09 refused to RIDE any Roller Coasters ..Agree to ride any Roller Coasters on this trip????

Stay tuned for the answer as well as why the demand made by someone to ride all the BIG E Ticket rides comes back to Bite err soaked someone...and the story of the sushi and snails....

 

[Flossbolna]

Hi, I am really looking forward to your report! Especially since I am thinking about a trip next year during Jersey week.

I am sorry that your DS's friend spoiled the surprise, but I agree with you that you should not have lied. I think if you have lied the surprise would have had a sour taste to it. And how would your son know in the future wether you tell the truth or not.

 

[starnightstarsky2000]

Flossbolna,

Yep that was My thought exactly and I stood firm to my guns even when my family told me the same thing my mom did. I looked them square in the eye and said "You may raise your kids as you see fit but WE are NOT raising our son with lies. But yea just go to show you the WONDERFUL differences in "parenting". I am glad you have joined up somehow I have become unsubscribed to your trip (computers HATE me) but I will be joining you again (computer being bad or not)

Okay so where were we...Oh yes so it is Saturday Oct 30 and we are umm "Trying" to leave for the airport....you know what I will let DH hop on here and tell THAT tale I believe he would be the better person...so everyone just hang on he will be on sometime today..

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

That is such a bummer your surprise was ruined!! I agree you did the right thing about telling him the truth.

 

[starnightstarsky2000]

Shinysparklybubbles,

Yea it was a shame but thank you I KNEW I wasn't the only parent who knows that to lie to your child is wrong. Gotta tell you after my family I was beginning to wonder..Not that it would have changed our minds but made me really worried for our kids future.

 

[heaven2dc]

Sounds like this is going to be a super fun TR!! Too bad that your son found out before the big reveal but at least he was a good sport about it and acted surprised at the party!

 

[pdmedic]

Ok guess I'm up for the next part of the story.

We got back from the "surprise" birthday party and finished packing late since we hadn't really had the chance to pre-pack anything due to DS not supposed to know about it and me being out of town for the two weeks prior to the trip. Work seems to think I need a lot more training for what I'm doing now so I haven't been home much. In fact gone again this next week for hostage negotiation training.

So my packing consisted of emptying the bag of dirty clothes into the laundry and repacking them with some additional Disney shirts. We got DS packed and DW packed as well but by that point it was late and we had to be at the airport early so we got a few hours of sleep before the alarm woke us back up.

Now is the point where I'd like to be able to tell you that everyone gleefully got up and on to Disney via the airport we went. That however was not the case. DS isn't a morning person by any stretch of the imagination so we had to go through the normal morning routine of trying to get him ready and out the door and get luggage in the car but we got out right when we planned to.

Got about a block away from the house when DW realized she forgot something..... Ok back to the house to grab it. Then back on the road realize something else got left so back to the house and back on the road again.

The third time was a charm and we headed to the airport. Everyone decided they were hungry and to grab something to eat on the way. We were up near the airport where we don't normally go and DW wants to get something before we get to the airport and $$$ go up. So we exit where it looks like there is food and realize we got onto another highway. After taking some side streets ( I used to work as a paramedic up in the area we were at but its been a while) we get back to where she wanted to eat. Get breakfast and get back on the road.

Get to the airport park curbside long enough to get out all of our bags (1 carry on and 1 checked bag per person plus camera bag and DW's purse) set the GPS to get back to the house for the person who is watching the house for us and head in to get checked in.

DW had done the pre-board check in for Southwest and we turned our checked bags over to the Southwest people and headed to our gate. Went through the security check point with no problems (first time that has happened as a family) and find someplace to sit for a bit till it's our time to board.

We were in the "C" boarding group but were able to find 3 seats together at the back of the plane and I got the window seat DS was offered it and didn't want it and DW has sat their once and really didn't like it so she took the aisle.

Got airborn with no problem and after we got above 10K ft DS started playing his Nintendo DS and DW read while I broke out the GPS to set the high speed and watch were we were. Didn't know you could do that till I read it here on the DisBoards but it was neat to see where we were and watch as we got closer to Orlando. Then I did some reading as well and we got to Orlando without any problems.

We had used the Magic Express tags so we were able to skip picking up our bags and we headed over to Magic Express.

The next question is could we find Magic Express?