Everybody neat and pretty? Then on with the show! – a PTR

[Villainess]

Hello everyone and welcome! :welcome: You are about to embark on a PTR unlike any other. Here you will encounter thrills, danger, and adventure featuring a cast of thousands! OK, not really; you are more likely to hear tales of indecisiveness, excitement, and overpacking with a cast of only 7. :rotfl:

Your doombuggy awaits. Watch your step. Please keep your hands and arms inside the vehicles at all times. Food and drinks are permitted (so grab your popcorn, :mickeybar , turkey leg, or dole whip), and of course no flash photography, please.

[Villainess]

Cast of Characters (in no particular order)

Me, Danielle (27, soon to be 28) – Disneyholic and proud! Super organizer, co-planner, thrill rider, and creative guru of the bunch, also official photographer (though I have lots to learn still!). Fave attractions are POTC, HM, and Mr. Toad’s Wild Road. Loves Captain Jack, the Villains (esp. Maleficent, Big Bad Wolf, Evil Queen, and Jafar), Captain Jack …
DD, Cibella (16 mos.) – super lovable and adorable! Loves to dance (to ABBA and POTC theme), play supermarket and dolls, and read books. Her vocabulary is growing by the day and is very intelligent. She is currently cutting 6 teeth, including 4 molars (poor baby!). Loves Donald Duck, Tigger, Ariel, and Mickey; growing quite fond of the princesses, too. This will be her second trip!
DS, Luca (11 weeks) – absolutely positively handsome and cute! He is a little comedian in his own way; always smiling and laughing and quite content amusing himself. He recently discovered his feet! Too early to have a favorite yet but laughs at the site of DD’s Goofy doll and gives a huge grin to Mickey. The names Buzz and Disney also make him laugh. This is his first trip to WDW!
Mom, Nonna (54) – The overpacker of the group! Last trip her suitcase weighed 49.5lbs! Former CM at TDS (b4 Children’s Place took over). Fears thrill rides. Fave attractions include POTC and IASM. Loves Minnie and Cinderella.
Dad, Pop Pop (56) – Co-planner and golfer of the group. Will go on some thrill attractions. Favorite attractions include Country Bear Jamboree, Buzz Lightyear, and POTC. Goofy, Mickey, and Buzz are his favorites.
Sister, Melissa (24) – Newlywed. Donald Duck is her hands down favorite. Philharmagic and POTC rank high on her favorites list. Some thrill rides are ok for her, but tends to get motion sickness so she passes on MS.
BIL, Seth (33) – other half of the newlywed pair and fisherman of the group. Not sure what his favorite character is, although he does sport some Donald tees.

[NMAmy]

Well, I can't resist a good Mickey Mouse Club reference! And I think you're incredibly brave to go with two itty bitty ones although it looks like you have lots of backup--can't wait to read more.

[Villainess]

Well, I can't resist a good Mickey Mouse Club reference! And I think you're incredibly brave to go with two itty bitty ones although it looks like you have lots of backup--can't wait to read more.


:welcome: I think I'm pretty brave too! LOL!

[Villainess]

OK, so you know the who (cast), the what (vacation), the where (WDW, of course!), the why (do you really need a reason why to visit WDW?), but not the when.

Our cast has varying arrival and departure dates. DD, DS, Nonna, Pop Pop, and I will be spending 2 whole weeks there! Apr. 23 – May 8. Melissa and Seth will be there Apr. 23 – Apr. 29.

[GoofyaboutMickey]

Oh what fun to be going with little ones. And lucky to have help along :thumbsup2

[Villainess]

Oh what fun to be going with little ones. And lucky to have help along :thumbsup2

:welcome: It was lots of fun bringing DD at 7 mos last May; DS will be 6 mos for this trip!

[carissanboys]

Love the start of your PTR :thumbsup2

[irene_dsc]

:welcome: It was lots of fun bringing DD at 7 mos last May; DS will be 6 mos for this trip!

Y'know, I found traveling with babies relatively simple. It's travelling with toddlers that gets more complicated - they get into stuff, want to walk, yada, yada, yada. So much easier when you can just throw them in a sling! I agree that you are very brave, but backup is good, so long as they understand toddler time, lol.

[Villainess]

Love the start of your PTR :thumbsup2

:welcome: Enjoy your trip! Be safe driving and have a wonderful time!!!!

Y'know, I found traveling with babies relatively simple. It's travelling with toddlers that gets more complicated - they get into stuff, want to walk, yada, yada, yada. So much easier when you can just throw them in a sling! I agree that you are very brave, but backup is good, so long as they understand toddler time, lol.

:welcome: I agree - it wasn't bad traveling with DD but now she wants to walk and be out of the stroller. My backup is great - we actually live with my parents so they know both the kiddos schedules, etc and my sister and BIL come over all the time too.

[Villainess]

I thought I would include some pics of DD's first trip last May. It was her first plane ride too and she did great - slept both ways!!!! She loved the characters and gave them kisses, interacted with no fear. I hope she won't be afraid this year.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/lunanstarz/Disney%20pics/2007/IMG_2003.jpg
fell asleep watching Wishes
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/lunanstarz/Disney%20pics/2007/IMG_2282.jpg
where I would love to watch WIshes from
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/lunanstarz/Disney%20pics/2007/IMG_2281.jpg
Crystal Palace
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/lunanstarz/Disney%20pics/2007/IMG_2335.jpg
Pirate Princess
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/lunanstarz/Disney%20pics/2007/IMG_2368.jpg
waiting to see Minnie
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/lunanstarz/Disney%20pics/2007/IMG_2519.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/lunanstarz/Disney%20pics/2007/IMG_3094.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/lunanstarz/Disney%20pics/2007/IMG_3261.jpg
We found Nemo!
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/lunanstarz/Disney%20pics/2007/IMG_3497.jpg
my sister and DD
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/lunanstarz/Disney%20pics/2007/IMG_3585.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/lunanstarz/Disney%20pics/2007/IMG_2136.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/lunanstarz/Disney%20pics/2007/IMG_3642.jpg

[carissanboys]

Your daughter is beautiful princess:

[NMAmy]

fell asleep watching Wishes
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/lunanstarz/Disney%20pics/2007/IMG_2282.jpg


That picture is precious! What a beauty your little one is.

[Villainess]

Gee, it's been awhile! Sorry about that - we had the stomach virus in the house, a few more teeth on their way and divorce stuff - bleh!

OK, back to planning!!!!

[mindyd]

Hi,

Your daughter is adorable I love the pictures of her with the minnie dress on. Can't wait to hear more about your trip and I do not miss teething at all poor baby.

[Villainess]

We're booked for a 2bdrm at OKW for the first portion of our stay when Melissa and BIL will be with us. We've requested 3rd floor bldgs 62, 16 or 23.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/lunanstarz/Disney%20pics/2008%20trip%20planning/OKWMap.gif

For the second portion of the trip we are at SSR in a studio but are the waitlist for BW. We're beginning to think the studio is going to be too small and may have to see about a 1 bdrm; I believe this will be a topic for discussion over the weekend.

I've stayed at OKW lots of times and SSR once but our view wasn't so great (a parking lot). I believe Pop Pop requested a view of Downtown Disney and some buildings as well since him and Nonna have stayed there on a few 'couples only' trips.

I'm hoping we get into Boardwalk - I would like to stay somewhere new, AKL would have been nice too but it was available that morning but by noon not available when we called - maybe the next trip!


Coming up ... Countdown, Disney on Ice, and ADR's.

[Blueyed Girl]

I'm late, but I'm here!! Can't wait to read more. I LOVE OKW!! Your plans sound good so far.:thumbsup2

[carissanboys]

Yay! An update :)

[becca011906]

Gosh these pre trippies are so much fun to read (what the heck took me so long to join in the fun!!!) Can't wait to hear some more. You dd is so tiny!!! Adorable LOVE the minnie dress!

[Villainess]

I decided to make a countdown for our trip. DD loves to take the Mickey heads off each morning - sometimes even 2 or 3! :lol: I wish it would make the trip come faster, though! She is very excited whenever we talk about visiting Mickey (and Donald!).

I started the countdown at 101 days.
Here it is!
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/lunanstarz/Disney%20pics/2008%20trip%20planning/IMG_6987.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/lunanstarz/Disney%20pics/2008%20trip%20planning/IMG_6989.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b220/lunanstarz/Disney%20pics/2008%20trip%20planning/IMG_6995.jpg

[mindyd]

I love the count down calendar very cute!

[becca011906]

That is so cool!!! Love the idea, we just have our regular calendar with the # of days wrote on it... maybe i should make somethink like that to count down from 30 days??? hummm i'll have to see what i have around the house to work with, we're on a no spending $$$ till vacation unless it's for vacation thing going on... don't think i should count that! LOL

[carissanboys]

I LOVE your countdown calendar! It's very unique compared to others I've seen. Great job! :)

[Villainess]

Glad you like countdown! The large Mickey head is just matting posterboard I had laying around - I used a dinner plate and 2 salad plates to make the Mickey head. The small Mickey heads are the paint swatches from Home Depot. I had the ribbon as well (I make hairbows). Total cost was for the characters in the Mickey head but I stocked up on them at AC Moore with 40% off coupons! I did consider printing out character clip art too. So not an overly expensive project!

[BrittBritt]

Great start. I can't wait to read more. Your DD is just precious, and after seeing your countdown calendar, you're clearly far more creative than I am.
Thanks for sharing!

[BeeBopp]

Hey, I'm new to the site, came across your PTR, those countdown calendars are awesome! Looking forward to reading more! :cool2:

[Villainess]

:welcome: to my new guests! The more the merrier!!!!

I made this the other day for my DD to wear with some of her outfits (both vacation and not). I think it came out rather nice!


Last night I was cleaning out DD's closet, trying on last year's spring and summer stuff to see if anything would still fit her. To my surprise (and delight!) there are 2 sundresses that do! :cheer2: One is a peach gingham Minnie sundress that I bought for her in WDW last year. I also found a NWT Minnie polo shirt dress that I was supposed to give to a friend's DD but never did. :rolleyes1 Oops! That will fit DD as well this year! The other stuff I'm going to try to sell so I have extra spending $ for the trip and whatever doesn't sell will go to a group of Mother Therese's nuns who work with the poor of the poor in my area.

We are trying to convince my grandparents to come with us on vacation. Their last trip to WDW (and vacation) was in 2003 for my mom's 50th bday. They were first completely onboard with the trip but backed out bc my grandfather had to have cateract surgery. That was Friday - on Saturday he went to the dr. and was told he has 20/23 vision and will only need glasses for reading and even more wonderful is that his right eye will not need to ahve this procedure which we originally thought. So we were all bummed that they weren't going to come bc of this (we completely understood) but now there is nothing holding them back and I would love for them to spend the vacation with the kiddos.

Be back later w/ more info! It's feeding time for Luca!

[MomsOf2boys]

Looks like I made it to the pre trip report barely before the trip itself... and no one is here.... I hope the trip is incredible!

[Villainess]

My sincere apologies for disappearing - 2 very sick kids and my divorce was finalized in that time.

Here is the start of the TR if you would like to join in!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=25606570#post25606570