Our 10th anniversary FAMILY celebration at WDW *9/7 Two more movie nights!*

[My2Qtz0205]

Welcome to my first PTR, ever!

The cast:

me & DH, married 10 years this October :hug:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/DawnMatt7thanniversarydate.jpg

our son, Q, turning 7 while we are there:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/QuadeCamdynwithcake2pg.jpg
He is growing out of the cartoon-phase (already? :confused3), but he loves the teeny bopper stuff, like Hannah Montana, Sonny with a Chance, and The Suite Life of Zach & Cody. He also likes Mickey Mouse.:thumbsup2

our daughter, C, age 3:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/Christmasmorning5.jpg
She is obsessed with everything having to do with The Little Mermaid. Needless to say, Ariel's Grotto will be the first place we stop when we get to MK. I'm trying to make this costume she is holding last until October so she can wear it to the MNSSHP, but she is dragging it all over the house like a security blanket, so a replacement might be in order.

My mom, my in-laws, and my bil & sil are joining us as well. I won't share their pics just yet, but I'm sure you'll see lots of pics of them in the TR.

Next up:
The details:wizard: (next post)
Planning, planning, planning! (post #9)
Got more stuff done (post #15)
Flight schedules are up! (page 2, post #17)
I did it! Flights booked! (page 2, post #27)
Changes, Changes (page 3, post #42)
Pics, pics, & more pics! (page 3, post #43) edit:I evidently like to say the same word multiple times.:rolleyes::rotfl:
My planning binder! (page 4)
Useful threads I included in my planning binder (page 5, first post)
Disney Shopping! (page 5, post #64)
Disney Mail (page 5, post #69)
Peter Pan Party (page 5, post #70)
Finding Nemo party (page 5, post #72)
Cinderella party (page 5, post #73)
Park hours are out! (page 6, post #77)
More movie theme nights, and first ADR is made! (page 6, posts #81 and #83)
All ADR's made! (page 6, post #86)
Halloween costume pics (page 7)
Lessons learned, and a little freak-out (page 7)
Aladdin & Beauty and the Beast Movie Nights (page 7, posts #101 and #102)

[My2Qtz0205]

When: October 16-23rd, 2009 (park days are 17th-22nd)

Where we're staying: Due to the size of our group, we decided to rent an off-property vacation home. I booked :cheer2: a home from a website recommended in my trusty Passporter! We are renting a 5 bedroom, 4 1/2 bathroom home with its own pool for just over $1k for the week. Not too shabby! This will give us a common area to gather while we are resting from the parks, it will give Q a quiet place to do schoolwork, will allow us to cut down on the meals we eat inside the park, and will give DH & I our own bedroom! :rolleyes1

Why we're going: As I mentioned in my PP, our official reason for going is to celebrate our 10th anniversary. In risk of being blasphemous, I wanted to do a cruise, but DH wasn't going for it. So, since our kids are at a good age to enjoy & remember WDW, I convinced DH that we should do that this year. We will actually be flying in on our anniversary. Q will be turning 7 while we are there, so he can get the giftcard to use as his birthday money! :teacher:

Next:
Park plans & ADR's, oh my!

[torsie24]

Yay! Another October PTR!!!

Can't wait for updates!!

[My2Qtz0205]

Thanks for stopping by, Torsie! I need to upload more pics, and then I'll do another update.

[mickeyfan71]

Joining in! I'm going in Oct also and it will be nice to have this to help the time pass! :yay:

[My2Qtz0205]

Yay! Thanks for joining me, Lisa!:cool1:

[AngelBabyJana]

I'm joining in as well! I followed you over here from the Official October Thread. We are going October 3-11th, so it will be nice hearing about all your plans as well. Cute kiddos that you have there! You can tell that your DD LOVES that Little Mermaid dress, how cute!

[My2Qtz0205]

Thanks, Jana! You should start your own PTR so I can follow along with you, too!:thumbsup2

[My2Qtz0205]

So here is what we have been up to:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/Countdownpostermaking1.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/Countdownpostermaking2.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/Countdownpostermaking3.jpg

Yup, we made our countdown calendar! Who cares that we can't use it until the end of June/early July--at least we're prepared! Now you begin to see into my neuroses. :scared1::laughing: I'm still going to prettify it a little more by adding a title and a big ole Mickey scrapbooking cut-out at the end.

So, if I've made my countdown calendar already, you know that I already have a preliminary park plan in place, so here it is:

Saturday, 10/17: First park day. Hoping to get an ADR at CRT for breakfast, then doing MK the rest of the day. We will go back to the house for a mid-afternoon break and maybe an early dinner, and then head back out if everybody isn't too burned out. I'm trying not to expect too much.

Sunday, 10/18: Epcot Day 1. We will do either Future World or World Showcase this day. MNSSHP this evening.

Monday, 10/19: Either DHS or AK, depending on what SIL wants to see most. She & BIL leave this evening.

Tuesday, 10/20: Whatever we didn't do Monday. Hoping to get an ADR at California Grill for just hubby & I, as our anniversary celebratory dinner.

Wednesday, 10/21: Epcot Day 2. We'll do whatever we didn't do on Epcot Day 1.

Thursday, 10/22: This is Q's birthday, so it is another MK day! I'm hoping to get an ADR at Chef Mickey's for an early dinner. This is a MNSSHP night, which means we'll be kicked out of the park by 7, so I think this would be a good time to go to DTD to let Q spend his giftcard.

Friday, 10/23: Fly back home.

I do have a "just in case" plan in place in case we can't get into CRT on Saturday. I will ask for Akershus for breakfast instead, and just make that our Epcot Day 1. Then I will bump up Epcot Day 2 or AK to Sunday. I don't know what I'll do if I can't get into Chef Mickey's for dinner on 10/22. That's the only place I can think of that DS might enjoy for his bday. He needs to be entertained, or he will not sit still!

Comments? Suggestions?

I mentioned in my OP that we are going to try to save money by cooking meals at home. I plan on packing lunches and snacks into the park each day except for those days that we have ADR's.

I want to get C an appointment at BBB while we're at MK, but I don't want to take away from Q's special day by getting it on his bday. What do you think?:confused3

Btw, I saw on the homepage that DL's BBB is offering Knight packages to little boys. It includes hair paint, a sword, and a shield for $12.95. Does anybody know if WDW's BBB will start offering this?

[My2Qtz0205]

Thanks, SIMMS. I'm hoping we can go back for C's 7th birthday, but I haven't told DH that I'm thinking about that yet.:lmao:

[mickeyfan71]

Love the countdown calendar. I need to get to Home Depot to get my supplies! :lmao: I know the BBB has something for the boys at WDW-just not sure exactly what it is. I haven't started a Pre-TR here but I have one on the "Enchanted" website if your are interested!

[shordiebecka]

I think having your little girl do the BBB would be okay on his birthday- I'm not sure what they offer for boys, but there is also a barbershop on manistreet that does cool hair stuff for boys- paint in the hair, etc etc. You could look into that!

Great planning so far!

[My2Qtz0205]

Love the countdown calendar. I need to get to Home Depot to get my supplies! :lmao: I know the BBB has something for the boys at WDW-just not sure exactly what it is. I haven't started a Pre-TR here but I have one on the "Enchanted" website if your are interested!

Haha! I felt so funny when I was standing there picking out 111 Mickey paint samples (110 for the countdown, plus 1 extra lime green Mickey head!). I was expecting someone to ask what I was doing.

I'll check out your ptr, too.

[My2Qtz0205]

Ok, so far I have:

Booked the rental house
Made a preliminary park plan
Registered Q's bday on the Disney website
Made our countdown calendar

Today I booked doggie's "vacation home," a new kennel with glassed-in suites with a front yard river view, a flat screen tv, and a fireplace. Seriously. Griffin has been surrended to the pound twice in his 18 month-long life, so I didn't want to leave him in a place that would remind him of the pound. The ordinary runs at the kennel looked just like what he was in when we rescued him. So, after making my DH tour the kennel with me on Saturday, we agreed it would be worth the $20 extra/night for Griffin's comfort. Here's our boy (ignore the bow:)):
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/thebrownbow2.jpg

The other thing I did today was pay a visit to the AAA office. I had heard they could get us discounted park tickets and car rental. The only park tickets they offer, though, are 3, 5, or 7 day park hopper passes. We had already looked at the park hopper option, and decided that was not for us. It would add another $400 onto our budget if we bought the discounted park hoppers. Big no. She also checked on availability of a rental minivan for our dates from Hertz. Would you believe all of their minivans have already been booked for our dates??? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? I can't even book my flight because Southwest is so daggone slow putting up their schedule, but the rental car companies are already running out of rentals? So now I'm panicking--should I go ahead and book a van through another company, even though I don't know my flight info? I know we're going to fly Southwest, but I don't know what time we'll arrive in Orlando. Grrr--don't these people know that I am an obsessive-I-need-to-know-details-NOW planner?? DH still needs to talk to his company to see what kind of discounts they can get for rental cars, so that is now His Job. I hate giving him something to be responsible for, but I have no choice. So I guess he will "get around to it.":rolleyes:

Wow, so this is the update that turned into a rant. :dance3: Thanks for reading!

[mickeyfan71]

Griffin will love his "vacation". That sounds awesome!

[My2Qtz0205]

YAY! I guess with all my grumbling yesterday, Southwest finally decided to stop holding out on me.:worship:

So, thanks to Maroo for the heads-up! :thanks:Where are my dancing bananas? Oh, there they are! :banana::banana::banana:

It looks like our flight will arrive in Orlando around noon. We can't check in to our house until 4. Hmmm....what to do with 4 hours? :scratchinI know we'll spend some time getting our bags, getting our rental car, loading the car and the carseats, and driving the 1/2 hour from the airport. So that will leave us about 2 hours to spare. Do you think we should go to DTD? I don't want to load up on souvenirs the first day, but I don't want to stalk out our rental home for 2 hrs., either. :rotfl:

[mickeyfan71]

I always make a trip to DTD on my first day-to get the mood going! :woohoo:
I'm thinking of playing some mini golf the day we arrive this time.

[My2Qtz0205]

I always make a trip to DTD on my first day-to get the mood going! :woohoo:
I'm thinking of playing some mini golf the day we arrive this time.

That sounds fun, too! I know Q especially will love DTD. Maybe I can have him look around for what he might like to buy with his birthday gift card on Thursday.:idea:

[shordiebecka]

You should definitely do DTD- I bet your son would love the lego store they have there!

Big props for making good arrangements for your dog. I am a hardcore animal lover, and I think the suites with the TV are excellent. Poor doggie- don't want him to think that he's being left again at the pound!

[My2Qtz0205]

I think having your little girl do the BBB would be okay on his birthday- I'm not sure what they offer for boys, but there is also a barbershop on manistreet that does cool hair stuff for boys- paint in the hair, etc etc. You could look into that!

Great planning so far!

:wave2: I missed your post because we posted at pretty much the same time yesterday. Thanks for posting on my ptr!

My boy isn't so much interested in the hair paint as he is the sword. :rolleyes: I blame his father.:lmao:

[My2Qtz0205]

You should definitely do DTD- I bet your son would love the lego store they have there!

Big props for making good arrangements for your dog. I am a hardcore animal lover, and I think the suites with the TV are excellent. Poor doggie- don't want him to think that he's being left again at the pound!

Exactly! :guilty:

[maroo]

I am in! :)

When I saw the cast I thought your little boys first name was "Q"...I realized when you introduced your DD as "C" that it was probably an initial.

We have a doctor in our town named Dr. Qu. He has a first name, but it is so long that he introdces himself as just "Q"... We were in a group full of people and someone asked him what his first name was...and he said, "Just call me Q, even my Momma calls me Q!"

So...there is your random Q story for the day! :rotfl2:

Glad my TR title spurred you to check the flights! :thumbsup2

[My2Qtz0205]

I am in! :)

When I saw the cast I thought your little boys first name was "Q"...I realized when you introduced your DD as "C" that it was probably an initial.

We have a doctor in our town named Dr. Qu. He has a first name, but it is so long that he introdces himself as just "Q"... We were in a group full of people and someone asked him what his first name was...and he said, "Just call me Q, even my Momma calls me Q!"

So...there is your random Q story for the day! :rotfl2:

Glad my TR title spurred you to check the flights! :thumbsup2

Yay! Thanks for joining in! Yes, I wasn't quite sure whether to share my children's first names, so for now I'll just call them by their initials.:thumbsup2

[shellywalker]

I'm joining!!! Everything looks great so far! We did MNSSHP last year and also stayed off property at a very nice Villa! Can't wait to read more!!!

[My2Qtz0205]

Thanks for popping in, Shelly!

I talked to DH last night, and he thinks we should probably buy plane tickets sooner rather than later. He thinks airfare will only increase this summer.

Today I have to itemize the costs for my mother. She is single, and works as a church secretary. She doesn't have a lot of extra money, so saving for this trip is a huge deal for her. She said if her expenses top $1000 then she can't go. We've already decided that we won't make her split the rental car cost with us, but I need to see what else we might have to cover so she can go. So, I'm off to compile all my information and figures.:surfweb:

[My2Qtz0205]

My flights are booked!! I guess that's it then--this big flying sissy is getting on a plane. :scared1: with my children, my life :scared:. Lord, please bless those flights!

I got my Mousesavers newsletter today, so I will probably buy our park tickets soon, too. We'll actually have seven days of park tickets, so we will probably go to a park on our first night! I think MNSSHP is going on that night, so MK is out. If Epcot is open late maybe we'll pop over there to see Illuminations.:cool1:

[torsie24]

Yay for flights!! That's it now, you're definitely going!! :)

[My2Qtz0205]

Oh, and I looked over the MNSSHP dates again, and it will not be going on our first night, so we can go to MK to see Wishes instead! pixiedust:

And here's how cute/weird C is. She has taken to tucking her Little Mermaid costume into bed, and calling it "The Princess." princess::rotfl:

[torsie24]

Oh, and I looked over the MNSSHP dates again, and it will not be going on our first night, so we can go to MK to see Wishes instead! pixiedust:

And here's how cute/weird C is. She has taken to tucking her Little Mermaid costume into bed, and calling it "The Princess." princess::rotfl:
Awww that is so cute!!

MNSSHP is on our 1st night, but I'm glad as it means I wont be tempted to try and make wishes, and then completely tire myself out for the next morning!

[shordiebecka]

haha..some kids are just so strange!!! Do you really think airfare will just go up this summer? I want to wait till june to buy my tickets...rethinking this though!

[My2Qtz0205]

I got my Disney Planning DVD in the mail today! I was so excited! C and I watched it together, and then I watched it again with Q when he got home from school. Yes, I cried! I am such a goof!:goofy:

DH was in the room when they were showing special events. He loved the look of MVMCP, and said "That would be neat to go around Christmas time one year." Of course I sat right up and said, "Oh, really?? Like in 2012?" He rolled his eyes at me.:sad2: He knows I already am planning that one, too.:rotfl:

[shordiebecka]

I've always wanted to go to Disney in Christmas time too! Nothing wrong with planning your next Disney Trips a little early!

[My2Qtz0205]

Hey Shordie, I missed your post yesterday.

The thinking behind the possible flight rate increase is that gas prices usually go up around Memorial Day weekend and stay high during the summer, so the airlines would be raising their prices, too.

We could be wrong, but I think there's been enough of a trend in the past to believe it's plausible.

[AngelBabyJana]

Thanks, Jana! You should start your own PTR so I can follow along with you, too!:thumbsup2

I definitely plan to start a PTR soon. Our regular computer stopped working (windows start up problem), and it has all of my pictures & Kodak software on it. My DH was nice enough to buy me a laptop since I was having computer withdrawals, lol. I'm still anxious to get my regular PC back from the shop though ..... I am so afraid that their not going to be able to back up my files (I don't want to lose all my pictures!)

Very cute countdown calendar - that looks like a fun project for the kids - I think I need to make a trip to Home Depot for some "mickey heads".

Yay on booking your flights! That makes it seems so much more real, doesn't it? I've been checking our flights daily - still hoping that they go down a bit in price. My DS 5 is really stressed about flying for the first time, so I've been trying to find ways to make him feel better about it.

It would be cool if they did offer the same Knight package at BBB - my son would love getting the sword. Also I would love to go around Christmas as well ..... definitely planning a future trip for that. Too cute about C tucking in her "Princess."

[Leitadala]

Joining in! My husband and I are going in October for our 3rd Anniversary, so it's fun to read someone else's October Anniversary PTR! I love your countdown calendar, right now we just have a dry-erase board that says "162 Days 'Till Disney Magic" lol

If your daughter is going to do BBB then have you looked into the Pirate's League that is supposed to open in June? Course, you didn't say your son was into pirates, but it seems like a good alternative if BBB doesn't offer anything for boys (I thought I read somewhere that they do spike the boys hair or something, but that might be DL)

[shordiebecka]

Yikes! I didn't think of the memorial day issue. Maybe I will try to buy before then..good looking out! :goodvibes

[My2Qtz0205]

Joining in! My husband and I are going in October for our 3rd Anniversary, so it's fun to read someone else's October Anniversary PTR! I love your countdown calendar, right now we just have a dry-erase board that says "162 Days 'Till Disney Magic" lol

If your daughter is going to do BBB then have you looked into the Pirate's League that is supposed to open in June? Course, you didn't say your son was into pirates, but it seems like a good alternative if BBB doesn't offer anything for boys (I thought I read somewhere that they do spike the boys hair or something, but that might be DL)

Thanks for joining in!

Honestly, I think Q could care less--he's just that laid-back about those kind of things. I just thought if a sword was involved, like at BBB/DL, then he would be all about it! LOL

I "prettified" my countdown calendar this weekend. I still need to take a pic of it, and I'll share it soon.

[My2Qtz0205]

I have a bunch of Disney-related thoughts jumbled in my head, so once I sort them out I'll type them into my report.

But...I did purchase our park tickets and our MNSSHP tickets today.:woohoo:

Stay tuned for questions for the veterans, pics of the prettified countdown calendar and planning binder in progress, and a story about a "princess" who evidently is having a bed-wetting problem (and I'm not referring to C).

[shordiebecka]

i LOVE planning binders. Can't wait to hear about yours!

[My2Qtz0205]

I've got to be the worst PTR updater ever!

Life wouldn't be exciting without changes, right? So, we've booked our rental house, bought our plane tickets, purchased our park tickets, and purchased our MNSSHP tickets.

Last week my mother informed me that she doesn't know if she can invest $1k on this vacation. I understand, because she is single and pretty much working on the poverty level, but I just wish she would make up her mind for certain!

After she mentioned this, I spent an hour or two online trying to find a 4 br off-site house that DOESN'T have 2 kiddie rooms. That's much harder to find than you think! I found ONE that our current rental company rents out, and it was kind of bleh. No originality in decorating. Just very vanilla and unappealing. Then I read on the Lodging boards about Windsor Hills. I thought I would check their prices out, thinking no way would a house 1.5 mis. from Disney be affordable! Well, I found TWO houses with 4 bedrooms (3 adult-sized beds and 2 twin beds), nicely decorated, for only $9/night more than what we're paying for the current house. I talked to our family, and they're down with paying a little more to be 7 mis. closer to Disney! One of the houses was even $5/night LESS! :woohoo:

Tonight DH's friend from work calls him and tells him that even though they are civilian contractors, because they work on a military base they can rent an Armed Forces timeshare condo? We need more info. on this, but for a 4 br condo, it comes to $375/WEEK. Yes, a WEEK! But, do I want to be in a small-ish condo with my in-laws (whom I love dearly, by the way), for a whole week?:confused3

So, basically everything is in a holding pattern until my mother makes up her mind. I'm also waiting on renting a car until I know how big a car we'll need. I can't fit 3 people in the backseat of a sedan when two of those people are in carseats.

On the plus side, DH is seeing the benefits of staying on-site next time! :rotfl:

[shordiebecka]

it's always something, huh! Well good luck and i hope things work out. Is there any reason you aren't staying on site this time? sorry if it's at the beginning of your PTR..i just haven't gone back and looked!

[My2Qtz0205]

We're not staying on-site this time because of the sheer number of us--7 adults (if my mom comes) and 2 kids. I also wanted us to have a common area for us to gather for meals, for Q to do school work, for us to play games, etc.

Next time (and I am dreaming here), I would love for us to stay at AKL. Mom has already said there probably won't be a next time for her (if there's a first time), and I don't know if bil & sil will go again. Hopefully they will be in the process of starting their family by then!:goodvibes My mil did express interest in going again, but finding 2 adjoining rooms are much easier than finding 4!

[My2Qtz0205]

I finally uploaded pics from my camera! :cool1:

In a previous non-update/update, I mentioned a "Princess" with apparent nighttime potty problems:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/Princesswithapottyproblem.jpg
Oh, the funny stuff I find that C has left behind:lmao:

I also mentioned that I finally prettified our Disney countdown calendar. Q was so excited when I asked him to pose with it tonight. He thought we were putting it up to start counting down. Poor kid.:headache:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/Completedcountdowncalendar.jpg

Finally (for this post), the kids' Mickey gifts! I racked up at The Dollar Tree the other day. I plan on wrapping these with cute Mickey paper, and leaving them out at the beginning of each day. The theory is that it will help cut-down on the "I wants" at the park. We'll see. ;)

For arrival day:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/MickeygiftsDay1.jpg

Other days during our stay:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/MickeygiftsDay5.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/MickeygiftsDay4.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/MickeygiftsDay3.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/MickeygiftsDay2.jpg

and finally, for departure day:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/MickeygiftsDay6.jpg

I also bought Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader, Disney edition card decks, 4-2oz. bottles of hand sanitizer, 3 packs of sanitizer wipes, 4 lip balms, and 4 ponchos.

Next post: My Trip Planning Binder!:banana:

[TigerKat]

Came here from the Official October thread! DH & I will be at SSR 10/17-10/21!:goodvibes

[My2Qtz0205]

:wave2: Nice to meet you! I'll have my LGMH on my person somewhere, so I hope to see you there!

[My2Qtz0205]

I finally got around to taking pics of my binder. It's still a bit of a work in progress. I'm thinking about adding a tab for MNSSHP.

All clip-art on the tabbed sections and covers are the work of our very own DISdesigners, by the way!:thumbsup2

Front cover:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1010822.jpg

Side view:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1010823.jpg

Ticket pouch, with airline itinerary behind it:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1010824.jpg

Day One:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1010825.jpg

MK (I'm going to put the park clip-art on the other side of the Day # tabs)
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1010827.jpg

Loose park itinerary:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1010828.jpg

All of the wonderful tips for each park that I found on a thread here on the DIS!
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1010829.jpg

Q's bday registration. I'll put his birth certificate in here, too, as the time gets closer:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1010830.jpg

Extras:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1010831.jpg

Such as, ideas for our Family Movie Nights (also compiled on a wondeful DIS thread!)
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1010832.jpg

And finally, the back cover:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1010834.jpg

And just for fun, what my DH does while I am obsessively Disney planning:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1010835.jpg
Playing World of Warcraft. I used to play with him every night, but my DIS obsession has made me cut back on my WoW time. :rotfl::surfweb:

P.S.--I also have a tab for packing lists, but I'm nowhere near ready to print those lists yet. I'm still compiling ideas for our final lists. I have a list for me & DH's suitcase, his carry-on, my carry-on, the kids' suitcases, their carry-ons, and a list for what gets packed in Grannie & Grandpa's car when they swing by our house on their drive to FL.

[My2Qtz0205]

Ok, I think I've lost all my readers, but just in case there are any lurkers out there: My mom is coming!

I've told her I'll take $85 off her portion of the housing, and she can pay me in increments. As for groceries, she only needs to pay for what she needs for her own snacks and breakfasts (her Lactaid milk, her instant coffee, etc.) So, that dropped her total costs back about $250, which made her feel like this is so much more manageable. She told me she was so bummed that she didn't think she could go, as she has never missed one of Q's bdays. It wouldn't be the same there without her, anyway.:hug:

[AngelBabyJana]

You didn't lose all your readers, I am still here. Just been having a busy weekend, still had to squeeze in my DIS time though, lol.

I'm glad that you were able to work it out where your mom could still come along. It would be sad if she missed your trip and didn't get to celebrate Q's birthday with him.

Also what a neat binder! You seem so organized!

Love how the countdown calendar turned out! How are you going to "countdown" the days? By putting stickers on the Mickey heads? Or do you have other ideas?

Too cute about "The Princess" and her pull-up ...... wouldn't want her to have an accident, lol.

[My2Qtz0205]

:yay: Thank you, Angelbaby! It's depressing talking to myself! hehe

We're going to put stickers over the numbers to count down the days. I got 500 Disney-themed stickers at Dollar Tree for $5. We have Mickey, Princesses, Tinkerbell, Hannah Montana, and Nemo.

[torsie24]

Ooooh - love the binder!!!!!

[My2Qtz0205]

Here's another cute little C quip:

The other night the kids were up waaay past their bedtimes, and DH and I were sitting in bed reading. We are in the flight path for Norfolk Int'l. Airport sometimes, and we heard a jet go over our house that sounded really low to the ground. We looked out, kind of alarmed. Evidently the kids thought it sounded unusual, too, so they watched it from the window. C comes running into our room, really excited. "Mommy, Mommy, that plane is going to Disney World." Me: "Really? You think so?" C: "Yes! Disney World is bee-you-tiful!":cloud9:

[My2Qtz0205]

Ooooh - love the binder!!!!!

Thanks, Torsie! :flower3:

[Tillybud]

Hi, I've just seen your post on gemmybears ptr so I thought I'd pop over and say hi :goodvibes

I love your ptr, I would be very stressed out with all the organising for such a large group but at least it will all be worth it when you get there. C looks absolutely adorable and I love her Little Mermaid costume, especially with the nappy :lmao: My dd is obsessed with Ariel & Eric and we were lucky to meet them at Disneyland Paris last October when we went for halloween, maybe you need to plan a trip to Europe for another anniversary ;)

I'm impressed with your organiser, when we finally decide on our dates for our first trip to WDW next year I'm going to have to do something similar. I also love your countdown. I'm looking forward to see how Q celebrates his birthday. Our dd spent her 1st and 2nd birthday in Disneyland Paris and I feel so guilty that she isn't going to be there for her 3rd but I'm sure she won't remember ;)

Anyhow I'll stop waffling on, I hope to read more in the lead up to your holiday and I hope C has a wonderful time when she gets to meet Ariel (dd watches vides of Ariel in her grotto on youtube so we can't wait to take her)

Happy planning :goodvibes

Victoria

[Tillybud]

Here's another cute little C quip:

The other night the kids were up waaay past their bedtimes, and DH and I were sitting in bed reading. We are in the flight path for Norfolk Int'l. Airport sometimes, and we heard a jet go over our house that sounded really low to the ground. We looked out, kind of alarmed. Evidently the kids thought it sounded unusual, too, so they watched it from the window. C comes running into our room, really excited. "Mommy, Mommy, that plane is going to Disney World." Me: "Really? You think so?" C: "Yes! Disney World is bee-you-tiful!":cloud9:

that is so cute :lovestruc

[My2Qtz0205]

Hi, I've just seen your post on gemmybears ptr so I thought I'd pop over and say hi :goodvibes

I love your ptr, I would be very stressed out with all the organising for such a large group but at least it will all be worth it when you get there. C looks absolutely adorable and I love her Little Mermaid costume, especially with the nappy :lmao: My dd is obsessed with Ariel & Eric and we were lucky to meet them at Disneyland Paris last October when we went for halloween, maybe you need to plan a trip to Europe for another anniversary ;)

I'm impressed with your organiser, when we finally decide on our dates for our first trip to WDW next year I'm going to have to do something similar. I also love your countdown. I'm looking forward to see how Q celebrates his birthday. Our dd spent her 1st and 2nd birthday in Disneyland Paris and I feel so guilty that she isn't going to be there for her 3rd but I'm sure she won't remember ;)

Anyhow I'll stop waffling on, I hope to read more in the lead up to your holiday and I hope C has a wonderful time when she gets to meet Ariel (dd watches vides of Ariel in her grotto on youtube so we can't wait to take her)

Happy planning :goodvibes

Victoria

:wave2: Hi, Victoria! Thanks so much for popping over! I remember seeing your siggy and asking about Ariel & Eric, but for the life of me I couldn't remember what board that was on so I could check on the answer! :lmao:

Do you know I've never, ever been out of the U.S.? I hate flying sooo much! I think I would have to be drugged for an entire flight over an ocean!:scared:

[shordiebecka]

I'm still here! love your planning binder. Question: where are the tip sheets from the Dis? Is it the threads about the specific parks? And :goodvibes:goodvibes your mom is coming hooray!

[My2Qtz0205]

I believe the tips for the parks are on the Disney Tips board. There are four different threads, one for each park.

[Tillybud]

:wave2: Hi, Victoria! Thanks so much for popping over! I remember seeing your siggy and asking about Ariel & Eric, but for the life of me I couldn't remember what board that was on so I could check on the answer! :lmao:

Do you know I've never, ever been out of the U.S.? I hate flying sooo much! I think I would have to be drugged for an entire flight over an ocean!:scared:

Hi Dawn, you're welcome and I'm liking your ptr, how's the planning coming on ? Anymore cute quotes from your little chap ? :goodvibes

Your response made me fly, I have told my husband that I'll have to be drugged to managed the flight to the US, I am so scared but I know it will be worth it in the end :) I think my dd will be blown away when she finally gets to meet Ariel in her grotto, it looks amazing !!

Happy planning and I'll be popping by for updates, take care :goodvibes

[My2Qtz0205]

I'm glad I'm not the only big flying chicken! :rotfl:

Nothing much else has happened this week. I looked at some 5 BR homes in Windsor Hills to see how much they run. I found one or two that might be swingable, but I haven't heard back from their owners. We'll most likely just keep the house we've rented. The rental company was very nice when I called to ask about pool safety measures. The house is 8 mis. from WDW instead of 1.5, but I'm sure it will be wonderful.

I've been lurking over on the Disboutiquers board, just in awe of their creations and wishing I knew how to sew! That spurred me on to looking on Etsy for costumes for C and an Disney-themed outfit for "Baby", C's doll that has gone everywhere with her since she turned 2. C was just having a fit over all of the cute creations on that site. I found a couple of dresses for Baby that I will probably buy for the trip. Whoo-boy, I think I've finally lost it. I'm looking for custom Disney outfits for my daughter's doll!:rolleyes:

[Tillybud]

I'm glad I'm not the only big flying chicken! :rotfl:

I've been lurking over on the Disboutiquers board, just in awe of their creations and wishing I knew how to sew! That spurred me on to looking on Etsy for costumes for C and an Disney-themed outfit for "Baby", C's doll that has gone everywhere with her since she turned 2. C was just having a fit over all of the cute creations on that site. I found a couple of dresses for Baby that I will probably buy for the trip. Whoo-boy, I think I've finally lost it. I'm looking for custom Disney outfits for my daughter's doll!:rolleyes:

I'm pleased I popped on to see how your plans are going, the lengths we go to for our kids :goodvibes you must post some pics of baby in her custom disney outfits if you get them ! I discovered etsy a few weeks ago and was so pleased to see some sellers ship to the UK, I have ordered some great Minnie and Disney Princess themed hair accessories, so cute :goodvibes

can't wait for your next planning update :)

[My2Qtz0205]

Here are some links to some of the threads I included in my planning binder:

Disney Movie Theme Night Ideas:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1707141

MK tips (this was on page 11 of the Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies board! :scared1:)
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2162490

Epcot tips
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2165142

DHS tips
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2159097

AK tips
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2158273

[Leitadala]

And just for fun, what my DH does while I am obsessively Disney planning:

Playing World of Warcraft. I used to play with him every night, but my DIS obsession has made me cut back on my WoW time. :rotfl::surfweb:

LOL same here! He's asked me "so what are you going to do once our trip is over" (hopeing I would say I'd start playing WoW again) - I of course told him "Plan for our next trip!"

Love the binder! Especially the back cover pic, that is too cute!

[My2Qtz0205]

Hi, Leita! I did get one night of play in last week. I'm less than half a level from 77! Argh, so close!

Last night I got an email from our rental company that the home we rented from them is no longer represented by their company. Bummer! They offered me two other homes for the same price. The home I chose is 1.5 levels. 4 bedrooms are downstairs, and 1 bedroom is upstairs. All of the bedrooms have their own bathrooms. The kitchen is a nice size, too. I like the looks, and the decorating, of the other available home better, but the kids' bedroom would be upstairs, and DH & I would be downstairs, and I didn't like that. It is 1.5 miles closer to WDW than our other house, so that's nice!

[My2Qtz0205]

I did some Disney shopping today! Yay! :goodvibes But before I get to that, here is C decorating her poncho. I "hemmed" it with scissors. After I hemmed one sleeve I realize I shouldn't have done that. Now there is a big gaping hole on the side of it. :confused3

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/Camdynsponcho3.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/Camdynsponcho2.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/Camdynsponcho1.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/Camdynsponcho4.jpg
Can you tell who her favorite princess is? :rotfl:

Now, for the exciting stuff! I got my Disney Visa, and you know I've been cruising Disney Shopping for deals since then. We found a Cinderella castle playset for C for Christmas:

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/CinderellaCastlePlaySet.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/CinderellaCastlePlaySet2.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/CinderellaCastlePlaySet3.jpg

Waay cool!
The other things I got are personalized groom & bride mouse ears for DH & me. Mine will say "10 years" on the back, and his will say "10-16-99". I also got an Ariel bathing suit, cover-up, and towel for C, and a Wall-E towel for Q.:love: I love shopping, even if it is virtual shopping!:surfweb:

I ordered our personalized park maps last week, and we got an email today saying those are en route! :woohoo:

[My2Qtz0205]

We got our Disney maps today! Yay! :goodvibes

I have some pics of C plotting her route through the parks, and some video as well. I'll try to upload tonight.

[My2Qtz0205]

*shameless bump for myself so I don't lose my report completely*

Update coming on Sunday: our Mickey ears are in, and our first Disney Family Movie Theme Night! (Peter Pan)

[Kriddlet]

What a cute castle! :thumbsup2

I am also in love with your planning binder and countdown calendar :love: They both look great!

[My2Qtz0205]

:welcome: Kriddlet! Thanks for the compliments! :flower3:

The castle is BIG. I was expecting to hide the box in my closet. Ummm, no can do. It is still in the Disney shipping box, on top of a shelf in the garage! We (yes, I mean WE! :rolleyes1) are going to have so much fun with that toy!:goodvibes

[My2Qtz0205]

We got two exciting packages in the mail last week: our personalized maps, and our bride & groom personalized ears! :goodvibes

C loved the maps!
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/Camdynopeningmaps2.jpg
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/Camdynopeningmaps1.jpg
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/Camdynopeningmaps3.jpg
She was plotting out her route. Ariel's Grotto is her #1 destination! princess:

And, my much-coveted Mickey ears:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/anniversaryears1.jpg
DH holding them for me

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/anniversaryears2.jpg

I can't decide when to wear them. Our actual anniversary is our travel day, so should we wear them on the plane? on our first day at the parks? to our anniversary dinner at California Grill? :confused3

Up next: our Peter Pan Party!

[My2Qtz0205]

As part of our Disney Preparedness Campaign, we are having a family Disney movie theme night every Saturday from yesterday until the Saturday before we leave for Disney!

We invited another family that is also going to Disney sometime soon--either August or October--they haven't decided yet!:scared1: My friend and I will switch off the hosting duties.

Last night I hosted, and the theme was Peter Pan! pirate:It was so much fun! I bought $1 wooden treasure boxes at Michaels, and filled them with necklaces, rings, and gold coins from The Dollar Tree. I made two treasure maps--one for my family, and one for the other family. I placed the siblings' treasure boxes together, on top of a black "x" in the yard. The oldest sibling got to lead the way to the treasure by reading the maps. The dads helped. ;) Once they found their treasure the kids' brought it inside, and painted their treasure boxes!

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/PeterPanParty3.jpg
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/PeterPanParty2.jpg
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/PeterPanParty4.jpg

After they were done painting, it was time to eat! Our menu included Pirate Pizzas (french bread pizzas that got left under the broiler a little too long! :sad2:), fruit skewer swords, and Tinkerbell cookies (little sugar cookies I bought from the grocery store bakery, topped with icing and sprinkles).

The decorated table:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/PeterPanParty6.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/PeterPanParty1.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/PeterPanParty5.jpg

After dinner, it was movie time! popcorn:: Q is not a sit-still-and-watch-a-movie kind of guy, but he surprised me! He really enjoyed it, and was laughing and having a great time. My kids had never seen that movie, and I hadn't seen it in a long time, so it was a lot of fun.

Next week my friend is hosting, and she chose Finding Nemo for her theme.

[My2Qtz0205]

Bump for Sunday's update: Finding Nemo night

[My2Qtz0205]

This Saturday it was my friend's turn to host a Disney movie theme night. She chose Finding Nemo.

To start with, the kids painted plaster fish statues:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/FindingNemoparty1.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/FindingNemoparty2.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/FindingNemoparty3.jpg

For dinner, we had fish sticks & mac 'n cheese with goldfish (like Nemo & Marlin in their sea anemones):

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/FindingNemoparty4.jpg

After dinner, they had another craft--sea-themed necklaces:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/FindingNemoparty5.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/FindingNemoparty6.jpg

Posing with their completed necklaces (and chewing on salt water taffy :thumbsup2):
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/FindingNemoparty7.jpg

For dessert was yellow cake with blue sea icing, and Finding Nemo fruit snacks:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/FindingNemoparty10.jpg

Finally, us watching the movie (the man is my friend's husband):
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/FindingNemoparty8.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/FindingNemoparty9.jpg

This Saturday is our Cinderella party. I'm going to cook a fancy meal, and we're going to focus on table manners. We'll see how that goes! :rolleyes:

On a planning note, I'm still in a holding pattern until they release park hours and I can make ADR's. The only thing that is kind of stressing me out is that we haven't booked our rental car yet! :scared1: DH's company gets a discount through Avis, and my mom gets a discount via AARP for Alamo. I'm still trying to find the "best" rate. I'm afraid if we don't make a decision soon, we will be stuck with either a luxury car, or a compact!

I'm also still looking for the perfect park bag. I thought I found one at Target, but then I came home and looked at the reviews, and they pretty much said the bag falls apart within 3 months. I need a medium bag--one bigger than, say, an empty nester or a single person would need, but smaller than a backpack. I bought a soft sided cooler to go under our double stroller that will hold our water, our snacks, and our lunches, so those will not have to go in our park bag. I am overwhelmed with choices from the bag thread. I think I just need to hold the bag in my hands and check out all the compartments for myself.

[My2Qtz0205]

Ok, I've been talking to myself for a while now. Kind of depressing, but if nothing else I'll keep on updating just to use it as a journal for our scrapbook.:confused3

Last Saturday we hosted a Cinderella themed party. I was thinking fancy, so I got out the lace tablecloth, bought some flowers at Harris Teeter (for a steal! $2 for the carnations and $5 for the mixed bouquet!), and roasted a chicken with vegetables. It was dee-lish! Our drink options were sparkling apple cider or sparkling lemonade. For dessert we had cherry pie. I bought blue Chinet for the kids, and the adults got to eat on our good china.

The craft this time was to decorate foam tiaras (or a crown, for Q) with glitter glue and jewels. I had the tiaras, crowns, and glitter glue leftover from Q's 4th birthday party, so all I had to buy was the jewels, and I had a 50% off coupon for Michaels. :cool1:

As the crowns were drying, I sent the kids outside to do a shoe hunt. I told them Cinderella had lost her shoes, and they needed to find them. I hid 4 pairs of my heels in our front yard, but evidently I didn't make it hard enough. They were back in about 30 seconds. :laughing:

Pics:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/Cinderellaparty4.jpg
crown-making

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/Cinderellaparty5.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/Cinderellaparty1.jpg
the kids' table

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/Cinderellaparty2.jpg
close-up of the decorations, courtesy of The Dollar Tree

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/Cinderellaparty3.jpg
food porn :rotfl:

We're having another theme party this Saturday, and my friend said it will be either Beauty and the Beast, or Lion King.

Also on Saturday, we get to break out our countdown calendar! :banana::banana::banana:

[torsie24]

OMG, your parties are awesome!!!

Great job!

I wish I was in the vicinty! Or the country! Lol.

[My2Qtz0205]

Welcome back, Torsie! I would definitely invite you to my parties if you were in the country! :lmao:

We booked the rental car! I forgot that little tidbit! My husband's company gets corporate perks, and one of the special offers this month was 40% off through Avis. So we booked an SUV. I had wanted a minivan, but it was something like $140 more a week.

My friend just called and said they have plans for Saturday that she forgot about, so it looks like we will be on our own! I can't not have a party, since that will be the day we put up our countdown calendar, so I think we will have a Little Mermaid party! C will be overjoyed at this, of course!

[jaydoe]

Hello...
I just finished reading your whole thread!!! I LOVED it! :) I love your countdown calendar! I've been trying to come up with an idea for a countdown calendar for me and my DD. I'm going the exact same time you are. We are going the 16-24 of October!! :cheer2: It's me, my DD (8) and I know this is super strange but also my ex-hubby! He's my DD's dad and he and I are actually pretty good friends. Anyway, enough about me..... It's going to be fun to read all your planning and activites, since I will be there the same time you are!! By the way.....I love your dinner parties.....keep them coming!!! I love all the activies you do for them!!! Super cute idea!!:)

[My2Qtz0205]

First off, hi, Jaydoe! Welcome to my PTR! That is so exciting that you're going the same time we are! I love having a plannig buddy!

Now, readers and lurkers alike, HELP ME! :worship:

Do PM EMH really bring that much more park traffic in, and about what time does it start to get busier?

Here is my tentative plan:

F 16th: (Arrival Day) Grocery shop, settle in, get to Epcot for Illuminations & Food & Wine Festival
Sa 17th: MK (hours 9a-11p), bfast at CRT?
Su 18th: DHS (hours 9a-7p), MNSSHP (I figure this will be our least favorite park, so I don't mind leaving it early)
M 19th: Epcot WS (11a-9p) After going to MNSSHP the night before, I thought we might enjoy a lazy morning.
Tu 20th: AK (hours 9a-5p), late dinner for DH & I at Cali Grill?
W 21st: Epcot Future World (hours 9a-7p, PM EMH)
Th 22nd: DS's birthday--MK (hours 9a-7p), and yes, it is AM EMH, which suuucks, but at least it will be our 2nd day at MK, and it is his birthday, after all. Dinner at Chef Mickey's. DTD in the evening for birthday shopping.

Of course, the ADR's have not been made yet, hence all of my restaurant choices are ?'s, with the exception of Chef Mickey's, which is non-negotiable. My boy wants to eat with Mickey on his birthday, and he will!

As a reminder, we are off-site, non-park hoppers.

[jaydoe]

Your plan looks good. Try not to worry too much about the EMH...at least you will be hitting those parks with EMH during the middle of the week verses the weekend. And hopefully it won't be too busy while we are there!!!;)

So what is your plan for the ADR's?? Are you going to be calling or doing it on-line?? I'm totally new to this whole ADR thing and I've got to say.....I'm more than a little intimidated!!!:scared1: This is only my third WDW trip. I live closer to the west coast....so I'm a little more familiar with Disneyland and getting ADR's there is nothing!! :)

[My2Qtz0205]

I'm going to try the online reservation system. I can make my first one a week from today! Of all the planning I have done, this is what I am the most stressed about! :scared1:

I have a back-up plan in place in case we can't get CRT, and I have a few alternates in mind in case we can't get into Cali Grill, but I have NOTHING in mind in case we can't do Chef Mickey's! I guess we could do Crystal Palace, but Q is much more a Mickey kind of boy than a Pooh kind of boy.

I thought about doing Mickey's Backyard Bar-b-que, but it starts so late that we wouldn't get our shopping in at DTD. We can't stay out late that night because we have to be at the airport at an ungodly time the next day.:sad2:

[jaydoe]

Well all that nervousness and intimidation for nothing!! I got on at 4am my time and booked all my ADR's on-line. :woohoo::yay::dance3: We are staying at POP so I was able to do the 90+10. We were even able to book CRT breakfast on the 20th!!:)

I know you'll be getting on tomorrow to book.....so best of luck to you!:wizard::wizard: I hope you get all the ones you want!!

By the way.......have you done anymore of those amazing Disney Movie Parties?? I loved all your creative ideas.

Anyway....good luck getting those ADR's :)

[My2Qtz0205]

I got my CRT ADR this morning! :banana::banana::banana: I did not sleep much at all last night. I had my cell phone alarm on, and put it beside my pillow. I forgot to turn all my other notifications off, so I got startled awake at 3am by someone posting on my facebook page (I have a Blackberry). I made it back to sleep until about 5:30, when I woke up from a dream about oversleeping. I just got up then. I hit the reservations button right at 6:01 a.m. Then I went back to sleep! :rotfl: I get to do it all again on Wednesday (for our anniversary dinner), and on Friday (for Chef Mickey's). I will be so happy when it is done!!

As for parties, we did a Little Mermaid party a couple of weeks ago, a Lion King party last week (I took NO pics! :scared1:), and today we are doing Jungle Book. I need to make a list and go get my stuff for that.

[jaydoe]

:laughing::laughing:That sounds like me!!! I was up at 3:45am! And I didn't really get a good night sleep. I kept going over and over in my head all the different ADR's I had to book. Then.....I thought to myself "Are these the right days??? Should I switch some of my days?? Should I try to just get some sleep???" :rotfl: Yeah....that's pretty much how my night went! THEN....once I woke up and got all my ADR's I was soooo excited, I couldn't go back to sleep! Needless to say, I was pretty exhausted yesterday:lmao: !!!

But CONGRAT'S on getting CRT!!!!!:thumbsup2 Good luck to you getting the rest of you ADR's. :)

And have fun with the Jungle Book Party!!!

[My2Qtz0205]

I need to catch up here....

A couple of weeks ago my friend was sick, but my kids were looking forward to a movie night, so I just so happened to have the materials to throw together an impromptu Little Mermaid movie party. We didn't do a craft, but it was still all good.

Table decs:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020205.jpg

I printed the photos from the Scrapbooking board. The credit for these go to susan0326.:thumbsup2

Our menu was Ursula dogs (hot dogs cut into an octopus shape), shell-shaped Mac 'n Cheese, blue Gatorade, and blue Jello with Swedish fish "floating" in it.
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020206.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020209.jpg

The happy mermaid eating her chocolate chip cookies Dad made:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020210.jpg

Last week my friend hosted a Lion King party. I didn't take pictures. What kind of scrapbooker am I?:scared1::sad2: The menu was "Pumba Pizza" (delivery pizza with ham on it) and grapes. They made a foam monkey mosaic. It turned out cute, but it was tedious! There were hundreds of little foam squares with adhesive on the back, and you had to adhere them onto a half-sphere monkey head in a pattern. They also made jungle-themed necklaces.

Tonight we hosted a Jungle Book themed party. I did last minute prep on this. Not my best planning work. :rolleyes1 I couldn't find any table decs that were jungle-themed at The Dollar Tree or Target.:confused: We made do.

Here are Q and C getting ready to eat. I got the jungle animals from The Dollar Tree:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/JungleBookparty1.jpg

For a craft they made these foam jungle animal puppets:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/JungleBookparty4.jpg

Our dinner menu was Mowgli's Mango Chicken, Bagheera's Basmati Rice, Baloo's fruit salad, and for dessert was Monkey bread.
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/JungleBookparty2.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/JungleBookparty3.jpg

Whew! All caught up now. :woohoo: I'll be out of town next weekend, and my friend will be out of town the 2 weekends after that. While she is gone I will probably do Star Wars, since I don't think her girls would be interested in that.

As of today, we are 89 days away! :yay::yay::yay:

[shordiebecka]

I think you did awesome for last minute planning! Glad to hear you got the ADR's that you wanted!

[jaydoe]

Yay.....a movie night update!! :yay::yay: I love those! Cute ideas! I love that you did the seashell pasta for mac and cheese on The Little Mermaid Movie Night! Nice touch!! :thumbsup2

[My2Qtz0205]

:cool1: They're done!

Here is what I have:

10/17 CRT 8:25 a.m.
10/20 Cali Grill 7:15 p.m. This is MNSSHP night, so no Wishes.
10/22 Chef Mickey's 5:10 p.m.

All in all, I got every restaurant I wanted, within 25 minutes of the time I wanted it. It was pretty easy-peasy, though I did get up super early to make the CRT and Chef Mickey's ressies.

I added our anniversary celebration to the Cali Grill ressie, and Q's bday celebration to the Chef Mickey's ressie. I would like to order a Mickey head cake for his bday, but I don't think I have to call about that just yet. I need to go back and read the Cake Chatter thread info.

[jaydoe]

:banana::banana::banana::yay::yay::yay::woohoo::wo ohoo::woohoo:

Congrats!!! I'm glad you got everything you wanted. Especially for your anniversary dinner and the Birthday celebration!!! :dance3:

Now......if only October 16th would just GET here already!! :laughing:

[noogagirl]

I'm in! Thanks for following me over from CafeMom!

[noogagirl]

Hey I just noticed that we'll be there at the same time!! We're going with DH's Aunt and Uncle and another family October 18th-23rd at AKV. Those lovely DVC members are letting us sleep on the pull-out couch. :rotfl:

I need to start a PTR...

[My2Qtz0205]

Thanks for following me over!

I don't have much to update. We've taken a break from movie nights with my friend being out of town, and birthday weekends and such.:rolleyes1

I did finish my Halloween costume! :cool1: I am just being extremely lazy in uploading my pics!:rolleyes:

[My2Qtz0205]

I'm finally getting around to posting pics of my Halloween costume. I got the tutu instructions from the Disney for Families board, and decided to give it a whirl. And I just-so-happened to have a red top with white polka dots on it. I'll probably wear my black capris under it instead of my black skirt. My capris were dirty the day I took this pic. :laughing: If I can find super-cheap yellow Crocs I will get them, too, but I will not pay a lot for them, as I don't see myself wearing yellow shoes just because! I'm going to get the headband Minnie ears to go with my costume. :)

Side view
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/MinnieHalloweencostume1.jpg

Front view
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/MinnieHalloweencostume2.jpg

Close-up
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/MinnieHalloweencostume3.jpg

:banana::banana: One more thing to cross off my to-do list!

[jaydoe]

awww! That is sooo cute!! We are going the MNSSHP on the 20th. But I hadn't really planned on dressing up. Although, your costume is super cute and look pretty comfortable. My only plan was to wear some black capri pants with a orange top....then maybe get like a witch hat or something like that. Maybe get some of those fun eyelashes and go with it!!!:rotfl: I'm obviously not as creative as you! :laughing:
My daughter is going as silvermist....tinks friend. She wears blue, which happens to be my DD's favorite color.
What about your kiddo's? What are they going as??

[My2Qtz0205]

awww! That is sooo cute!! We are going the MNSSHP on the 20th. But I hadn't really planned on dressing up. Although, your costume is super cute and look pretty comfortable. My only plan was to wear some black capri pants with a orange top....then maybe get like a witch hat or something like that. Maybe get some of those fun eyelashes and go with it!!!:rotfl: I'm obviously not as creative as you! :laughing:
My daughter is going as silvermist....tinks friend. She wears blue, which happens to be my DD's favorite color.
What about your kiddo's? What are they going as??

C is going as Ariel, of course! :lmao: Q says he wants to be Mickey. I think I can make that outfit. I just need to find him some red shorts, and either glue on white felt circles or sew on large white buttons on the front. I'll put him in a black t-shirt, and he can wear his Mickey ears I got him from my last trip in 2007.

[My2Qtz0205]

I am way behind in posting photos. It's a pain when I can only do that on our one older computer. Bah.

We have season's passes to Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and we learned a couple of things on our last trip: 1. C does NOT like 3-D movies. :sad2: She was so freaked out by the Elmo & Friends movie there, and ended up taking her glasses off and covering her ears the entire time. 2. Q LOVES roller coasters. He rode The Big Bad Wolf twice in a row. I think he'll be a lot of fun to take onto the coasters at WDW.

We also went to the National Zoo in D.C. last weekend, and I observed another (hopefully not foreshadowing) quirk of Q's. The National Zoo is HUGE, so when we first got there I asked each kid what he/she most wanted to see. C wanted to see the zebras, and Q wanted to see the gorillas. Great. I would make sure we made it to those two exhibits. Q translated that to mean, "We're going to see the zebras and the gorillas, and then we're going back to Grannie's house!" So once we saw the zebras early on, he thought we would book it to the gorillas and then head out. Ummm, no! We spent more time on the Metro getting to the zoo at that point than we had actually spent at the zoo! We're going to walk around and enjoy it, buddy! That made for a lot of whining and temper tantrums, so I HOPE AND PRAY that he doesn't act like that at Disney! I can just see him wanting to visit his top two or three attractions, and then head back to the house to swim for the rest of the day. I didn't spend $4K to swim in a pool in Florida! :headache: Please let this go well, please let this go well!

We are 39 days out as of today. As in, just over a month. :scared1: The kids start school again on Tuesday, Q starts up soccer practices and games next week, gymastics resumes next week, and the week after that MOPS starts back up! Also before our vacation, I am going to Nashville for a 4 day MOPS convention, so I know October 16th will be here before I know it! I AM FREAKING OUT! Slow down, time! I feel like I don't have time to catch my breath.

Quick, someone sprinkle pixie dust on me!:wizard:

[Suellen]

I'm here! Followed you over from my PTR! HAHA! I love your costume and it actually looks like what I was thinking of getting the girls!! :)

[My2Qtz0205]

Thank you, Suellen! You can totally make those tutus yourself! I used a black elastic headband for the waistband, red tulle, some pompoms, and ribbon! I just-so-happened to find that big yellow flower pin on the clearance aisle at Michael's.

[Suellen]

Sending you some pixie dust! I to wish time would slow down a bit!!

I can't make them.... OMGosh I am home ec challenged!

[My2Qtz0205]

Girl, I am sewing-challenged myself, but these are no-sew! If you can tie knots, you can make those tutus! Mine does not look nice enough to sell, but who cares--it's for me! :rotfl:

[carps09]

Thanks for stopping by my PTR! I love your embroidered anniversary ears! It never occurred to me to have our bride and groom ears embroidered. Also, loved the Ursula dogs - too cute!! Have a great trip!

[My2Qtz0205]

Thanks for stopping by my PTR! I love your embroidered anniversary ears! It never occurred to me to have our bride and groom ears embroidered. Also, loved the Ursula dogs - too cute!! Have a great trip!

Thanks for saying "hi!" I wanted to have our anniversary dates embroidered so that people would know we're not newlyweds. Don't want to mislead people. :rotfl: I got them embroidered through disneyshopping.com because I heard that they will not embroider anything except for names in the park.

[My2Qtz0205]

I'm lazy with uploading photos to photobucket, I'll admit it.:rolleyes1

I'll break this into two posts, since I have a lot of pics.

A few weeks ago we did an Aladdin :genie:movie night. We went with a Middle Eastern/Moroccan theme.

Food porn:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020269.jpg
Pita chips & hummus, and black olives for Matt

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020268.jpg
Kabobs--I marinated chicken tenders in Catalina dressing, cut them in bite-sized pieces, and then skewered them with fresh pineapple, mango, cherry tomatoes, and yellow and orange bell peppers. Yummm!:cloud9:

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020270.jpg
Served that with couscous--and wonders of all wonders--C is eating it! :scared1::woohoo:

For our craft, the kids decorated their own magic carpets (pieces of felt):
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020271.jpg

Next up: Beauty and the Beast:rose:

[My2Qtz0205]

I was rather excited about this movie night, as my kids had not seen Beauty & the Beast before. I knew C would love it. :lovestruc

Table decs:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020272.jpg

C sitting at the table in her B&tB dress-up clothes. She did not want her picture taken, but big mean daddy snuck a pic anyway. Boy, she was MAD!:mad: After this pic she ripped off her costume and stomped up the stairs. :rotfl: You just have to laugh at the drama sometimes.
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020273.jpg

Main meal was a ham & cheese crustless quiche. Boy, this was a pitb. It took twice as long as the recipe said to set up. Forgive the half-eaten pic here. We were really hungry by then! :lmao:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020274.jpg

I served it with fresh steamed green beans. Q surprised me here by eating it! :yay:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020275.jpg

Dessert was eclairs. Mmmmm! :lovestruc
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020276.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020277.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020278.jpg
Chocolate makes for a happier girl, though she doesn't look it here! :confused3

For the craft, the kids made coffee filter roses.
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020279.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020280.jpg

I think we're going to try to do Mulan tonight. It's a SCHOOL NIGHT :goodvibes :teacher: so we have to make sure to do it early so the kids are in bed by 8pm!

[redsunfish]

Hi there, found your PTR from the October thread. My husband and I will be at disney at the same time as your family (10/15-10/21). My birthday is the same day as your anniversary!

I love reading about each of your movie parties. I can't wait until we have kids that we can take to disney where they can experience a little disney magic :)

Looking forward to reading all about your trip.

-Sarah

[My2Qtz0205]

Hi Sarah! Happy early birthday!

We've had a couple more movie nights, Mulan and Toy Story 2. I didn't take any pics of TS2! :eek: I'll post Mulan soon, though.

[noogagirl]

I was rather excited about this movie night, as my kids had not seen Beauty & the Beast before. I knew C would love it. :lovestruc

Table decs:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020272.jpg

C sitting at the table in her B&tB dress-up clothes. She did not want her picture taken, but big mean daddy snuck a pic anyway. Boy, she was MAD!:mad: After this pic she ripped off her costume and stomped up the stairs. :rotfl: You just have to laugh at the drama sometimes.
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020273.jpg

Main meal was a ham & cheese crustless quiche. Boy, this was a pitb. It took twice as long as the recipe said to set up. Forgive the half-eaten pic here. We were really hungry by then! :lmao:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020274.jpg

I served it with fresh steamed green beans. Q surprised me here by eating it! :yay:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020275.jpg

Dessert was eclairs. Mmmmm! :lovestruc
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020276.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020277.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020278.jpg
Chocolate makes for a happier girl, though she doesn't look it here! :confused3

For the craft, the kids made coffee filter roses.
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020279.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/DawnS_6201/P1020280.jpg

I think we're going to try to do Mulan tonight. It's a SCHOOL NIGHT :goodvibes :teacher: so we have to make sure to do it early so the kids are in bed by 8pm!

Your movie nights are so awesome! I'm sure my DSS (8) wouldn't enjoy that, but we try to keep the magic alive by buying small goodies like pins for trading and other Disney stuff between trips. It always gets us really excited to go back!

[jaydoe]

WOW!!! You have been busy with your movie nights, huh? I love your movie nights!! You are just so crafty!!

Can you believe......just ONE MONTH left!!!!?? How much more do you have to do before??? I was saying I feel a little overwhelmed. Even through I am basically ready to go. I need to get to wal-mart for a few last minute items. But I at least made me a list. I also just put together my Itinerary Book. It basically has all my flight, room, ADR confirmations, etc. It also list what we will do each day.......I don't why, but making my silly Itinerary book makes me sooooo happy!! :rotfl: I am also going to do a grocery delivery from Garden Grocer. I won't have a car so that will really be our only option to at least get some water's and some breakfast items!! Other than that.......we are ready to go!!! :banana:

So I'm curious what more you have to do to get ready for your vacation?? Maybe if you list what you need to do.....it will give me some ideas. You know.....cause maybe I am missing something important!!! :laughing: