DH wants to go for the food: day 1

[ljcrochet]

I have had such a blast reading everyone else’s pre-trip reports, I decided after 9 trips to “The World” I would give it a whirl. Be nice to me though as I am a Pre-trip report virgin.

Confirmed cast:
Myself, DH, our 4 year old twin DDs (this will be their 6th trip in 4 years, such lucky little princesses), and hopefully my MIL since this trip was all her idea

Wishy Washy cast:
My BIL

In Sept of 07 the entire cast (with the exception of wishy washy BIL but his twin brother came along) all journeyed down to visit the Mouse together. MIL enjoyed her trip so much that she said she wanted to come spend her 60th birthday with the same group plus whishy washy BIL. It has only been a year and a half since that trip, but guess what she turns 60 this weekend! We were thinking of going this month, but have decided for scheduling reasons that August would be a better month.

We knew right away that one of my BILs wasn’t going to be able to make a trip this year, but my other BIL was still very much interested in going. We were so excited to book AKV Kidani Village for a 2 bedroom and a separate studio with a Savannah View. That should definitely give us plenty of room. We will be down there from 8/15 to 8/21.

Of course the best laid plans immediate go astray. Now suddenly my second BIL is not sure he can go or not. Instead of wasting valuable DVC points on a “maybe” we decide to drop the studio. If he changes his mind again, he gets the pull out couch in the 2 bedroom. :p

Now that I have those DVC points available again, I immediately think about extending the trip even longer. But for how much longer and do I really want to be in the same room the whole time? We are thinking of switching rooms at some point during the trip.

So now I know when we are going, where we will be sleeping for at least part of the time, and hopefully wishy washy BIL will decide to come and celebrate MIL’s birthday with her, even if it will be a couple of months late. Next we have to tackle the challenge of picking out our ADRs and cross our fingers we get some of them. Any suggestions on where you think we would just love to eat?

Chapters
Mickey photos and breakfast ADRS (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31723003&postcount=12)
Dining plan changes (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2162029&page=2)
Breakfast ADRs (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31830206&postcount=17)
Lunch ADRs (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31886236&postcount=21)
Dinner ADRs (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32125793&postcount=24)
Can't miss stuff (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32161834&postcount=30)
History of past disney trips (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32183984&postcount=34)
Characters DD wants to see (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32227679&postcount=35)
We decided on the 2TS restaurant (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32434157&postcount=40)
Airfare booked (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=32441296#post32441296)
October Changes (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32585947&postcount=55]Changes[/URL]
[URL="http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32607680&postcount=57)
Magic Express (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32655643&postcount=59)
October ADRS thoughts (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32688205&postcount=61)
October ADRs made (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32708405&postcount=64)
T-shirts (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33022034&postcount=73)
Characters we are planning on meeting (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33140113&postcount=82)
Autograph cards part 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33154967&postcount=87)
Kadani View (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33184737&postcount=91)
Photopass (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33299792&postcount=96)
We are off (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33365958&postcount=97)

[ljcrochet]

Well no decisions have been made about ADRs yet, but I do have a quick update. We have decided that staying the entire week at AKV would just be too boring so instead of being there from Saturday night to Friday morning, we decided to head on over to BLT for a couple of nights. We are going to make the move on Thursday night and we added a couple more days to the trip :). Now we get to stay for an entire week!
Now the toe tapping begins. Will they ever release those August hours? Don’t they know there are some obsessive people out here that NEED those hours to plan their trips. I mean I have to have my ADRs decided on super soon and I don’t even know which park I will be in each day yet! I can’t wait to make that first reservation call and see if we can get Castle for breakfast again. Since we are going to be at BLT, I need to go back to Chef Mickeys again.
Unfortunately I still haven’t decided on where else to go, so back to the food porn threads I go…

[amandelba]

I'm so excited to go to Kidani and BLT in the same trip. It's gonna be awesome!

[amandelba]

Maybe we should skip the parks and just enjoy the resorts. And EAT of course!

[ljcrochet]

Here are so disney pictures from our past trips
Not sure if this will work, but her is my DD dancing during the block party parade
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/videos%20of%20the%20girls/th_100_5652.jpg (http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/videos%20of%20the%20girls/?action=view&current=100_5652.flv)

Here is the same DD on the last trip at the princess breakfast at Epcot
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/20081210150.jpg
She was not feeling well.
Some of other DD at the breakfast.
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/20081210142.jpg
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/20081210152.jpg

[kaos928]

I'll be there around the same time 8/17 to 8/22. Your DDs are absolutely adorable! And I'm so jealous of your resorts :rotfl: We're on a tight budget so it's ASMu for us! I don't mind too much though, hey at least its Disney, right?!

Can't wait to read more :)

[jenn-]

I hope you guys have a blast. I wish I could slip away to meet up with you again.

[ljcrochet]

I hope you guys have a blast. I wish I could slip away to meet up with you again.

You have to find a way to make it happen.

Last year , I was listen to Jenn plan her disney trip and decided since DH had to be in Southern Florida for a conference, it was the perfect time to go MNSSHP and met Jenn in person.
Here is Jenn and I (along with my princess) meeting Mickey and Minnie.
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/20081027030.jpg
This was after my DD made friends with the CM. We were given so pixie dust and taken right to Mickey and Minnie.
Here is all of
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/20081027026.jpg

[jenn-]

Maybe we should skip the parks and just enjoy the resorts. And EAT of course!

I think we would be perfect Disney buddies. The parks are over rated, point me to the FOOD!:drinking1

ETA: EEK! She slipped pictures of me on here while I was replying to her DH:scared1:. Guess that's what I get for trying to talk to her hubby ;).

[ljcrochet]

Here is some fun pictures from our 2007 trip
First up is the turkey leg
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/Septemberdisney012.jpg
That is BIL who was never planning on coming this trip.

Here are the girls eating a mickey pop
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/Septemberdisney171.jpg

Here is all 6 of us http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/image02.jpg
Here is MIL and I with the girls at MGM (when it was still MGM)
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/image19.jpg

[amandelba]

I think we would be perfect Disney buddies. The parks are over rated, point me to the FOOD!:drinking1

ETA: EEK! She slipped pictures of me on here while I was replying to her DH:scared1:. Guess that's what I get for trying to talk to her hubby ;).

:rotfl2:

[ljcrochet]

August hours are finally out. We get get into serious planning now.
First up is how to figure out which places we want to eat. DH as you can tell wants to eat every where and skip the parks. Not me. :) I can't wait to eat. But I also can't wait to go to the parks.

I was just replying to another tread and realized on our last trip we went to all but one of the Mickey Character meals (not counting the Mickey's BBQ). And the one we missed was one we had an ADR for but woke too full so called to cancel. So I know we are making an ADR for Cape may this trip.
We have to do Chef Mickey's again since we are staying at BLT. Here is a picture of Mickey's from our last trip
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/20081213031.jpg
Look how cute my girls are holding hands
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/20081208010.jpg
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/20081209040.jpg
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/20081209068.jpg

So far for breakfast, we are thinking CRT, princess storybook at Norway, Chef Mickey, Ohana, and Boma.
i think DH wants to try the Tanga Toast at Kona.
Any other most do breakfast?

[amandelba]

That's quite a few Mickey pix. All you need is Cape May Cafe's Mickey to complete your collection. :lmao:

[mousescrapper]

popcorn::

subbing in...

[amandelba]

Great looking kids:thumbsup2

[ljcrochet]

Just when we thought we had the ADRs almost all planned out, DH (:wave:) decided to play with the numbers and see how Deluxe dinning plan would work. Of course if we do this, then there is no way BIL could come since the dining plan would have to be for every one in the room for the whole time. Now with being DVC member we don't have to add the dining plan till about the week before we go, so we still have time to really decide. As of right now, I think we are going to book the meals as if we are doing deluxe.

Only thing is the afternoon tea is off, but then again that can be added to our October trip with FIL (I forget if I mention but I think we are going back in October with FIL, hopefully his waitlist for the tree houses come through).

[ljcrochet]

Right now here is what we are thinking about for breakfast

Arrival day: Breakfast at home (maybe) before we take the dog to be boarded. Then off to get MIL and to the airport for our flight. Should get to MCO airport by 1, wonder how long it will take us to get to AKV using magic Express?


Second day (or first full day): Boma.- This is a new one for us. We have done dinner at Boma but never breakfast. But staying at AKV, how can you not go to Boma for breakfast.

Third day: Norway- hopefully DD will enjoy this more then last time. Also I have read a ton of reports on people seeing Ariel for Breakfast so hopefully we will get lucky and see her.

Fourth day: Cape May. I'm pretty sure this is the only character meal on Disney property that we have not been to yet. Had a ADR last trip, but we woke up too stuffed from LTT.

Fifth day: no breakfast planned, have to use some of those snack credits. Or do you have a good suggestion for this breakfast?

Sixth day CRT. This will be MIL's first time doing this meal (I think) and the girls third time. In December, they kept on asking us when are we eating in the castle but we didn't plan it for that trip so it is a must for this trip.

Seventh day Ohana. This was one of DH's favorite meal last trip. I loved how great Mickey was especially since DD and I missed him since we were in the bathroom. The CM took us to him and he was amazing. Like it was every day that he greeted kids next to the oven area instead of their table.

Eight day Kona. DH really wants to try the Tonga Toast. I want to know if there are pineapple in the pancakes or if it is just in the sauce?

Ninth day Wait a second, when did this get to be a nine day trip? I thought we were going for a week.:confused3 This is our last day, and since we are staying at BLT where else can we eat breakfast but Chef Mickey's. This might be a new tradition to end a trip at Chef Mickey's.


At Norway and CRT, we will get 2 photo packages since we are 5 people. Usually we get the girls then one of all of us. I might want to get one of each girl alone with Cinderella instead of a family one. I will have to see how MIL (and DH) feel about doing that instead of getting the family picture.

I'm off to bed. I will have to check in the morning to see what DH is thinking for lunch and dinner. Any ideas? I think we are going to do the Hoop Dee Doo review.

[amandelba]

Just when we thought we had the ADRs almost all planned out, DH (:wave:) decided to play with the numbers and see how Deluxe dinning plan would work.

It's true, I ran the #s and before factoring in the last meal credit and before counting any snacks, it is $120 cheaper to do DxDDP over the TiW card for the 4 of us:cool1:. Of course we are doing all TS and no CS, but that's just how we roll:rotfl:.

[ljcrochet]

Just wanted to give a quick update, we are all booked. No problem making any of the ADRs. I was a little concerned since we are doing a split stay that the last 3 days might be a probelm, but it wasn't. Once we add the dining plan in, I will call back and try and get a refund for CRT and HDDR since we had to pre pay instead of the credit card hold.
The only thing that suprised me was if we don't do the dining plan we will have to ask day of about the TIW discount for CRT. Not really a big deal since with a breakfast and dinner every day, the deluxe dining plan will save DH money on his meals and on the girls meals. Plus (and this is a big plus) I get my desserts without feeling guilty. I'm not totaly sure I would save money on the dining plan since if we didn't do the plan, I might have gotten an appitizer or two as my meal, but this way I will get to try food that I might not have wanted to OOP.

I will come back to update about dinner ADRs and the 2 lunch ones we made.

[H20DogsNDisney]

Right now here is what we are thinking about for breakfast

Arrival day: Breakfast at home (maybe) before we take the dog to be boarded. Then off to get MIL and to the airport for our flight. Should get to MCO airport by 1, wonder how long it will take us to get to AKV using magic Express?


Second day (or first full day): Boma.- This is a new one for us. We have done dinner at Boma but never breakfast. But staying at AKV, how can you not go to Boma for breakfast.

Third day: Norway- hopefully DD will enjoy this more then last time. Also I have read a ton of reports on people seeing Ariel for Breakfast so hopefully we will get lucky and see her.

Fourth day: Cape May. I'm pretty sure this is the only character meal on Disney property that we have not been to yet. Had a ADR last trip, but we woke up too stuffed from LTT.

Fifth day: no breakfast planned, have to use some of those snack credits. Or do you have a good suggestion for this breakfast?

Sixth day CRT. This will be MIL's first time doing this meal (I think) and the girls third time. In December, they kept on asking us when are we eating in the castle but we didn't plan it for that trip so it is a must for this trip.

Seventh day Ohana. This was one of DH's favorite meal last trip. I loved how great Mickey was especially since DD and I missed him since we were in the bathroom. The CM took us to him and he was amazing. Like it was every day that he greeted kids next to the oven area instead of their table.

Eight day Kona. DH really wants to try the Tonga Toast. I want to know if there are pineapple in the pancakes or if it is just in the sauce?

Ninth day Wait a second, when did this get to be a nine day trip? I thought we were going for a week.:confused3 This is our last day, and since we are staying at BLT where else can we eat breakfast but Chef Mickey's. This might be a new tradition to end a trip at Chef Mickey's.


At Norway and CRT, we will get 2 photo packages since we are 5 people. Usually we get the girls then one of all of us. I might want to get one of each girl alone with Cinderella instead of a family one. I will have to see how MIL (and DH) feel about doing that instead of getting the family picture.

I'm off to bed. I will have to check in the morning to see what DH is thinking for lunch and dinner. Any ideas? I think we are going to do the Hoop Dee Doo review.

They all sound good!

[ljcrochet]

First let me start of by saying we are mostly breakfast and dinner people. Disney trips pre kids, we would eat breakfast. Then have a late lunch early dinner. Not to mention snacking in between.

Now with the girls, we try and be slightly better with meals on vacation. So most days we have a breakfast and dinner planned without lunch scheduled. We’ll need some place to use up the snack credits. We only have 80 :rotfl: I do plan on using snack credits for drinks. Figure we need to drink our water in the heat.

Arrival day:
Figured we will be hungry after our flight so we’ll have a late lunch at Sanaa. I wonder how they will do the appetizers with the deluxe dining.
Second day:
Snacks till dinner
Third day
Epcot: need to try school bread and sweet pretzels at Norway
Fourth day
We have a lunch ADR today at Sci Fi. I have never eaten here. It looks so fun to eat in the cars.
Fifth day
Hold on to your chairs, but we don’t have a breakfast ADR today. Our first ADR is lunch at Tusker House. MIL loved the Finding Nemo show last time, so we are doing the lunch with the priority seating for the Finding Nemo show.
Sixth day
No lunch ADR
Seventh day
No lunch ADR
Eighth day
I’m really exited for this lunch ADR at Chefs de France. :banana: I have not told my girls about Remy, but we should get to see him during lunch. MIL might know since she has been looking at menus on allears and reading reviews here.
Last day
Not sure what time we are leaving yet, so don’t know about lunch. Any ideas for favorite last Disney lunches?

[mousescrapper]

all those ADR's sound nice....

double check on how long Remy is at CDF though I think it's a limited engagemnet....

I like eating out for breakfast too..beyond the normal cold cereal and frozen waffles of everyday plus the kids seem to be in a happier mood to sit and eat then later in the day.

I havn't dined at many TS over the years, so I'm not sure how much help I can be. I have many CS fav's though:confused3

But if you need to add in another TS on the last day maybe the Wave at CR or what about 1900 PF.

Unsure about the pineapples in the actual pancakes at Kona, but the Tonga Toast we had, it is so super rich...very filling. If you don't like bananas though don't get it.

I think your Chef Mickey's ending sounds great!

[ljcrochet]

Sorry for the lack of planning updates. We went to Sesame Place for a twins group weekend Memorial day. Every time I go to an amusment park, I marvel over how it is not Disney. During the parade, we had a huge group of people (over 50) all in matching purple shirts (so it was obvious we were today), and people still pushed in between us. One lady who pushed in between our group was standing in the street blocking our view. So I asked the Sesame Place employee with the yellow shirt who was crouching down in front of us (yes she stayed there for the whole parade) is she could do something about that lady. She walked over to her, and came back to me saying sorry I tried.
That was minor compared to what happened later in the parade. A 12 year old girl (i'm guessing on the age) pushed between me and my girls friend's mom(R). R had to as the girls to move over so her DD could sit back down. Girl stepped on R's 4's DD hand a bunch of times, was standing on my towel pushing into me. I asked her to take a step back and not stand on top of me. Girl gets upset and starts to run away, I tell her "don't leave, just take a step back so you are not on top of me". She leaves any way. R's 9 year old DD comes and sits down between R and myself now that there is room for her. Parade ends, and the girls mom comes over to yell at R and me. Something about how her daughter went missing for 10 mintues due to what we said to her. It is kind of funny writing it out now. Mom claimed she was close enough to hear what we said to her daughter, so my DH said how if you were close enough to hear what we said, how did your daughter run off? Her resonse was Don't play mind games on me.

I will be back with my dinner ADRs soon.

[ljcrochet]

Here are our Dinner ADRS


Arrival day:
After a 3 o’clock lunch at Sanaa figure we will either go a park, probably Magic Kingdom since I love starting my trip at MK. Then off to dinner at 8:30 at Whispering Canyon. Wonder if we will be hungry at 8:30?
Second day:
Today is dinner at Jiko.
Third day
Biergarten, we have had ADR here on two previous trips but cancelled both times, once for Turf Club (I think we didn’t have park hoppers and decided not to go to Epcot) and once since we met a friend at Garden Grove for her son’s 2nd birthday
Fourth day
No clue if we will be hungry since we have a breakfast and lunch ADR today, but we have an 8 ADR at Tutto Italia.
Fifth day
Tonight we have a Yak & Yeti ADR about 15 minutes before park closing. It is so nice walking out of AK when it is empty.
Sixth day
Le Cellier at 6:50 tonight.
Seventh day
Hoop de doo review tonight. This is the first time seeing the show for us. Hopefully it will be good.
Eighth day
Ohana for dinner
Last day
Home :sad1:

We are trying 5 of these for the first time.

[mousescrapper]

I understnad the non-Disney feel when you go to other amusement like places or hotels in general...we've had good comparisions and then the obvious "this would never fly at Disney"...

I guess that is why those that love WDW and return yr after yr get it....wonderful, count on service (minus the few cranky CM's and other flukes)

but you just can't beat it!


Your dinners sound nice....looking forward to hearing about the HDDR and LeCellier as well...we've never done either too and thinking about them for our next 2 upcoming trips.

[H20DogsNDisney]

Here are our Dinner ADRS


Arrival day:
After a 3 o’clock lunch at Sanaa figure we will either go a park, probably Magic Kingdom since I love starting my trip at MK. Then off to dinner at 8:30 at Whispering Canyon. Wonder if we will be hungry at 8:30?
Second day:
Today is dinner at Jiko.
Third day
Biergarten, we have had ADR here on two previous trips but cancelled both times, once for Turf Club (I think we didn’t have park hoppers and decided not to go to Epcot) and once since we met a friend at Garden Grove for her son’s 2nd birthday
Fourth day
No clue if we will be hungry since we have a breakfast and lunch ADR today, but we have an 8 ADR at Tutto Italia.
Fifth day
Tonight we have a Yak & Yeti ADR about 15 minutes before park closing. It is so nice walking out of AK when it is empty.
Sixth day
Le Cellier at 6:50 tonight.
Seventh day
Hoop de doo review tonight. This is the first time seeing the show for us. Hopefully it will be good.
Eighth day
Ohana for dinner
Last day
Home :sad1:

We are trying 5 of these for the first time.

again it all sounds yummy:)

[ljcrochet]

Thinking of changing Yak and Yeti for a 2ts credit resturant. Not sure, but I'm thinking that 5:45 after eating a buffet lunch at 1ish is just too close together.
Think about : California Grill, Citricos ,Narcoossee's ,Artist Point, Yachtsman's Steakhouse.

[amandelba]

I think we should add another signature restaurant, but which one?

LOL we were posting at the same time.

[ljcrochet]

I think we should add another signature restaurant, but which one?
See he only cares about the food!

[ljcrochet]

I really want to make a list of not miss stuff on the trip:
Here is some stuff that we have either never done or not done since we had kids.
HS:

Car stunt show (have never seen this one.
find the spot with the characters that we always miss
Indian Jones show (don't think we have seen it in 4 year)

AK

Flights of Wonder (we have never seen this)
It's Tough to be a Bug! (if my girls don't seem scared)

[amandelba]

I really want to make a list of not miss stuff on the trip:
Here is some stuff that we have either never done or not done since we had kids.
HS:

Car stunt show (have never seen this one.
find the spot with the characters that we always miss
Indian Jones show (don't think we have seen it in 4 year)

We need to find the Incredibles and FroZone!
Star Tours now that the Girls are tall enough (what about Tower of Terror?!?!)
Try American Idol


AK

Flights of Wonder (we have never seen this)
It's Tough to be a Bug! (if my girls don't seem scared)


Dinosaur?

[ljcrochet]

Like I already said, DH is going for the food. I'm going for the whole Disney experience including the rides and food. I know that both girls are over 40 inches, so that opens up some new rides (maybe).
This will be my tenth trip to disney, DH's 13th. The girl's 6th trip. Not sure about MIl, i'm thinking 3rd or 4th trip, I will have to ask DH or MIL.

Girls want to go outside and play. I will report back later with some more planning rambling.

[mousescrapper]

I think it would be nice to do a sig dinning...what about CG? can it work out when you are at BLT? just a nice walk over....

Ummmm, :confused3 how old our your girls? in the siggies it says 4, but they've been 6 times? you must have gone twice before they tunred 1?

about going to the next level ride w/ them....take it slow....do they seem to enjoy the big stuff? what have them been on so far that is close to a thrill...JAT...

[ljcrochet]

I think it would be nice to do a sig dinning...what about CG? can it work out when you are at BLT? just a nice walk over....

Ummmm, :confused3 how old our your girls? in the siggies it says 4, but they've been 6 times? you must have gone twice before they tunred 1?

about going to the next level ride w/ them....take it slow....do they seem to enjoy the big stuff? what have them been on so far that is close to a thrill...JAT...
I can't believe that my girls have already been to disney 5 times (6 if I count going when I was pregnant with them)
There first trip was October 2006 - they were 17 months old. DH had a conference in Orlando. FIL met us at disney
Second trip was September 2007 - 2 1/2 years old with MIL and one BIL. We did the DVC tour this trip, DH wanted to buy in and I didn't
Third trip came about kind of funny. FIL leaves in Southern Florida, we saw that Playhouse disney live was playing near him in March, I think it was like September at that point. FIL got us tickets to the show and we were going to spend the week with him. Then he said lets drive to disney. So in March 2008, he took us to WDW. We stayed at Hilton grand vacation Club just had to sit for the time share presentation. DH and I kept on looking at one enough and saying this really made DVC look amazing. Last day of our trip, FIL goes to upgrade his tickets to Florida resident season passes ( could not get them before the trip since Easter week was a black out period). As we are waiting for FIL and his wife to finish, DH asks how much it would cost to upgrade our tickets to season passes. It was like $200 so we did it. Figured just had to plan a trip before March 2009.
I think we came home and started to plan a December trip, I don't remember how we picked the dates of that trip, but we decided that we could use Continental frequent flier miles for 2 of the tickets on delta (we don't fly Continental any more since we moved and now mostly fly Southwest). Got the tickets, and decided to splurge and stay at the Polynesian.
Then we get an ad from DVC, and I find out my best friend bought into DVC. We start thinking about DVC again. Decided to do it. We bought 160 points at Animal Kingdom Villas. Switched our Poly trip to use developer points at SSR. We did the first and last night in a studio and the rest of the week in a one bedroom.
October 2008: DH had to be in Southern Florida for a conference. It was MNSSHP time and the flights home were cheaper from Orlando then Ft Lauderdale. We also had developer points left over that would cover a Sunday night at SSR. So we decide to go to WDW for MNSSHP. Then I remember that my good friend (who I had never met was going to be in Disney), SSR is all booked up so we can't use our leftover developer points. Decide to go anyway for Saturday and Sunday night and stay at POFQ. This will be the girls 4th trip, but the first one that we had to get them tickets. Decide to get them Annual passes since we get a DVC discount. We went into all 4 parks in 2 1/2 days, including riding Toy story Mania for the first time. That Sunday, DH took the girls swimming and got them ready for MNSSHP while I went to MK to met Jenn for the first time. It was almost 4 o'clock and I was the only person on the bus from POFQ to MK.
Here is Jenn and I at the castle.
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/IMG_0802.jpg
Here is one of my girls dressed up and sleeping
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/IMG_0820.jpg
I have to find the other picture, that DH got the minnie ears hair clips in DD's hair (lasted about 10 minutes while in MK).
As you can see both were minnie, one was pink minnie and one was red minnie.

December 2008: First trip "home". This was our first trip staying on points (even if they are developer points). Best friend who bought in to DVC right before us, decided they have to join us, we have to spend her DS's second birthday together. FIL has developer points to use as well, so he came the day best friend left.
Here is a picture of the kids at Garden Grove. By the time best friend, knew she was coming and their waitlist for SSR came through, it was the only character meal we could get.
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/20081207024.jpg

Now this is the girls 6th trip pre-trip report. :yay: MIL said back in the September 2007 trip, she wanted to go back when she was 60th with both BILs. When we bought AKV, we got 2008 points but had to bank them since Kadani was not open yet. So this year we have double the points. Unfortunately both BIL can't make it so it is just MIL and us. ADRs are made for 5 people.
This is my BIL's from 1993
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/magickingdomaugust93.jpg
That was my first trip to disney as well as first trip on an airplane.
I think this is long enough. I will be back later with an update on which signature place we decided to go to. Will we get the ADR we want?:wizard:

[ljcrochet]

DD just told me she wants to see Captain Hook when we go back to disney. Figured I would make a list of which characters the girls want to meet. Here is the current list my girls gave me:

Captain Hook
Minnie Mouse
Ariel (i really hope she will be at the storybook breakfast)
Mickey Mouse
Daisy Duck
Donald Duck
Little Einsteins
Belle


All pretty easy ones to find unlike in October when DD wanted to meet Marie. Never did find her.

[mousescrapper]

Thanks for the history of your trips...it's always fun to hear about how people fell in love w/ Disney! :lovestruc

your character wishlist looks great! Ariel was at the story book bfast for us this past March...so good luck!

My twins (now 10) I was pregnant, even though I didn't know it during our '98 trip, my DD Aldine likes to say she has been to WDW 4 times including that one too.... ;)

[ljcrochet]

You know I did a history of my girls trips, but totally forgot to mention my trips without them.
My DH (he was my boyfriend at the time) was going with his dad, and brothers following a cruise for his grandparents 50th anniversary. I flew down to Miami to met them for the drive to Orlando. I got a non-stop flight from Newark to Miami. I had never flown before and got upgraded to first class but had no clue. Got on the plane was given a drink (i think a soda) before we took off.
I have to find the pictures and scan them in. Here is one page that I scanned (along with the one of my BIls above)
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/figment.jpg
1996: we were planning a cruise with friends who wound up backing out on us right as we were supposed to pay for the cruise. Some how DH and I decided we didn't want to do that cruise without them, instead we decided to do a Carnival crusie on the Fantasy with a disney stay. I think the cruise was 4 days and Disney was 3 but I'm not sure anymore. I do know we were at Disney Christmas week.
2000: was our first trip staying on property. We stayed at All star Sports the week before labor day. Flew home on Labor day. This was my contact mishap trip. I did not bring my glasses with us and I think I only had 2 extra contacts with me. At the time, I was wear the one week accuve, so I was just planning on wearing the contacts for the week, and throwing them out when we got home. First day of our trip, go on space mountain and my contact flys out of my eye. Okay I have a spare back in the room. Second day of the trip, we go on rock n' rollercoaster and both contacts fly out of my eye. Did I metion I'm blind without them? Now it is day 2 of a week long trip. I have one contact. I don't remember why, but we went in to guest relations. The amazing CM asks where I normally order contacts from, when i tell her Costco, she gets us directions to Costco. Off to costco we go to get me new contacts. Good thing we had a rental car that trip. Went to Don Pablos for food after and I put my contact in my eye in that bathroom.

2005- I can't beleive we went 5 years without a disney trip. I wonder if I'm forgeting a trip? summer 01- bought a new house so no big trip, 02- hawaii, 03- what did we do? or was this hawaii?, 04 crusie to celebrate BIL graduation law school. DH went in 03 for a work confrence.
2005: President's week. Flew down to visti FIL and his wife. We did the drive from their house to Disney.
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/mgm.jpg

[jenn-]

I am so jealous you got Le Cellier. It is a favorite of mine (okay all of 1 time I have been able to get in there I loved it). We have never broken down and gone to any of the deluxe restaurants on the meal plan. We should have done that in October without the kids. We really enjoyed Chefs de France, but I don't know what a picky eater like you will have there ;). Well I guess mac n cheese is always a safe bet.

Your girls have definitely been more times than my boys. They are only on 2 trips with their 3rd being planned in my head. If their first trip would not have been as traumatic as it was, we might have gone back sooner. If we are counting prenatal trips in there, I guess Brandon has been twice too. I was right about 22ish weeks with him on the kids first trip. Now DD on the other hand, I can't remember how many times she has gone. I know at least one time without us, maybe another time, and she will be going in August without us again. That is one Disney spoiled little girl. I guess it makes up for the fact that she didn't get to start going to Disney until she was 5. DVC points are our friend (even more so since someone else pays for them :rotfl: ).

Meeting you is definitely in the top 3 Disney memories in my book. :hug: I would have to say it is only topped by my honeymoon (which truthfully was a half good, half bad trip as DH was sick as a dog, and I ended up in urgent care with impetigo), and the excitement on my kids faces each time. I really hope we can coordinate another trip soon. Then we can do all sorts of crazy things to drive our DHs insane.:dance3:

[ljcrochet]

I am so jealous you got Le Cellier. It is a favorite of mine (okay all of 1 time I have been able to get in there I loved it). We have never broken down and gone to any of the deluxe restaurants on the meal plan. We should have done that in October without the kids. We really enjoyed Chefs de France, but I don't know what a picky eater like you will have there ;). Well I guess mac n cheese is always a safe bet.
I'm actually worried about the food at Le Cellier. I know I will love the appetizer and the dessert, just not sure about the main course. I might get advantageous, or just fill up on pretzel bread.
I'm so excited about Chefs de France, I didn't tell the girls about Remy. Not sure if MIL knows (but she has been lurking so probably does). I know DH will be getting the escargot appetizer.
Meeting you is definitely in the top 3 Disney memories in my book. :hug: I would have to say it is only topped by my honeymoon (which truthfully was a half good, half bad trip as DH was sick as a dog, and I ended up in urgent care with impetigo), and the excitement on my kids faces each time. I really hope we can coordinate another trip soon. Then we can do all sorts of crazy things to drive our DHs insane.:dance3:
Let me know when you get your dates picked for you next trip, and I will work on DH some more. May for our kids birthday sounds fun. Not sure It will work out but worth a shot planning.

[ljcrochet]

I can't believe I forgot to come back and update. I decided that I wanted to try the lobster at Narcoossee's. So first I called and could only get 9:10 pm. That is really too late with the girls. I was able to call back and get 5:45. I might check and see if I can get it a little later. But if I can't not a big deal.
We canceled Yak and Yeti for that night.

[ljcrochet]

I think I might love the on-line ADR system for checking. I can still have a 9:10 but there is a 6:10 available. I wonder if I should change it or just leave the 5:45 alone?

[ljcrochet]

We purchased our airfare down to Orlando back in April. The return flight was to expensive and it might have been before we decided to change the date we are coming home.
DH has been watching the flights, it went up then down but not low enough then up then down. DH even started talking about staying another night, or maybe flying home from Tampa. But when we started to work out all the details, decided we would not save enough money to make it worth it. :cheer2:
So DH booked our flight for $161 a person. Hopefully it will go down and we will get a credit.
So now we have a way home.

I don't know if I mentioned it but FIL reserved OKW for the 6 of us (FIL, FIL's wife, DH, DD, DD and me) for October. I think he also waitlisted for the treehouses at SSR. In the back of my mind the trip was not really real, not sure why. Girls have AP that are expiring at the end of October. DH and I will get AP when we go in August. So when DH was on Southwest site, he priced out the tickets and booked them.
I don't know if i want to see my credit card bill for this month.
At least we have more disney reward dollars to put spend on our trip.

[jenn-]

Flying has to be so expensive. We have to drive to Disney. It would be way to expensive to fly the six of us there. MIL and SFIL are worked out the details, but I am pretty sure we will be getting one of the treehouses in May. Luckily they have some points at SS that makes it a home for them so they can book it 11 months out. I think it is too early for me to start a pre trip report though.

[ljcrochet]

Never too early for a pre-trip report.
I wonder if I can make this one into a 3 trip pre-trip report.

[amandelba]

Hopefully it will go down and we will get a credit.
So now we have a way home.

Or hopefully it will go up, so I'll look like a genius;)

[ljcrochet]

Or hopefully it will go up, so I'll look like a genius;)
I would rather have the credit. :rotfl2:

We are thinking of surprising the girls when we go in October. They know about the August trip. Thinking about telling them in October that we are going to visit Pop-Pop. Get on the plane, and not tell them till they figure it out when they see Magic Express. Any cool ideas to surprise them?

[jenn-]

You mean, other than not tell them where you are going? What more of a surprise do they need when stepping out of the airport and seeing the Magic Express?

[ljcrochet]

You mean, other than not tell them where you are going? What more of a surprise do they need when stepping out of the airport and seeing the Magic Express?

Just trying to decide the best way to surprise them.
Figure to pull it off we will have to let Pop_pop know what we are doing so he won't spoil the surprise factor.

[amandelba]

I booked us on the EPCOT Segway Tour on the morning of the 19th (we had no breakfast ADRs).:woohoo: I'm sure Grandma will watch the girls for a few hours:thumbsup2. Just remind her to feed them breakfast with snack credits not meal credits:rotfl:

Also, I booked Dani for BBB on the 20th at 1pm. They had 10:30, but the CM thought it would be cutting it too close with breakfast. She said we can try to check in earlier and see if they'll accomodate us.

[jenn-]

I booked us on the EPCOT Segway Tour on the morning of the 19th (we had no breakfast ADRs).:woohoo: I'm sure Grandma will watch the girls for a few hours:thumbsup2. Just remind her to feed them breakfast with snack credits not meal credits:rotfl:

Also, I booked Dani for BBB on the 20th at 1pm. They had 10:30, but the CM thought it would be cutting it too close with breakfast. She said we can try to check in earlier and see if they'll accomodate us.

My ILs did the Segway Tour. They enjoyed it. Which package did you get for Dani? We did the cheapest option when we were there with DD last. I know a lot of girls can keep the up do for days, mine wanted to hit the swimming pool just hours later. In the end I don't really think it was worth it for her. They did the same thing after begging and begging for face painting :sad2:.

[mousescrapper]

I think I might love the on-line ADR system for checking. I can still have a 9:10 but there is a 6:10 available. I wonder if I should change it or just leave the 5:45 alone?

I knew I meant to post earlier, but I think the computer flaked out on me...

if you haven't done anything yet...I'd just leave it. I think the later you go the more crowded and possbile longer waiting time to get seated. And yes I think the 5:45 is nicer and more doable than the 9:10 pm time.

So DH booked our flight for $161 a person. Hopefully it will go down and we will get a credit.
So now we have a way home.


That is a good deal!

I don't know if i want to see my credit card bill for this month.
At least we have more disney reward dollars to put spend on our trip.

that is one way to look at it :rolleyes1


We are thinking of surprising the girls when we go in October. They know about the August trip. Thinking about telling them in October that we are going to visit Pop-Pop. Get on the plane, and not tell them till they figure it out when they see Magic Express. Any cool ideas to surprise them?

please recap each trip! :confused:


and surprise? I've seen on other people's TR that on the DIS-igns threads you can have or do your own personal invites to the parks, dining, etc.

An ivite back to WDW drawn out for them to open at the airport or on the plane could be really sweet w/ a few Disney $ thrown in too.

[amandelba]

My ILs did the Segway Tour. They enjoyed it.

I think DW is backing out already. I think she thinks not coordinated enough to handle a Segway for 2 hours. :rotfl2:

Which package did you get for Dani?


The middle package with the nails. She loves to get her nails done. She's the "girlie" girl when it comes to that stuff.

I know a lot of girls can keep the up do for days, mine wanted to hit the swimming pool just hours later.

We'll have to her out of the pool for the day:thumbsup2

[ljcrochet]

I think DW is backing out already. I think she thinks not coordinated enough to handle a Segway for 2 hours. :rotfl2:



I will be calling in the morning to cancel the Segway tour. I have been reading dining review threads and was a little sad that we didn't make an ADR for Crystal Palace. The french toast is on of my favorite foods. DH has been checking the on-line ADRS for me, only problem is which breakfast do we give up assuming we can find it available.

So about 5 minutes ago, DH says to me that he can book Crystal Palace on Friday and we can cancel Ohana breakfast.

Problem with that is I don't want to cancel Ohana, then DH says maybe we can move Ohana to Wednesday. Problem with that is we are staying at BLT on Friday so we can take the monorail over to Poly.

Then DH checks Wednesday for Crystal Palace. They have an opening for 8:10. So no way to do the segway tour at 9 if we are going to have breakfast at 8:10. DH will have to wait for the segway tour. Either he will do it with his dad when we go with them in October or next time we go back with MIL.

[jenn-]

I bet his dad would really enjoy the segway tour. Enjoy eating with Tigger and Pooh.

[amandelba]

So, it was a busy couple of days for us. We:

1. Booked the EPCOT Segway Tour.:banana:
2. Booked Bippity Boppity Boutique.:cutie:
3. Cancelled the EPCOT Segway Tour:confused3
4. Cancelled and rebooked our return flight for SWA credits.:woohoo:
5. Make a reservation for Crystal Palace breakfast for DW's french toast.:goodvibes

Now we need to start planning our October ADRs:eek:

[jenn-]

Yep those October ADRs are right around the corner.

[ljcrochet]

Yep those October ADRs are right around the corner.

Don't remind me! We have one more day then I thought. Southwest airlines is having a huge airfare sale. Only problem it is not for Friday or Sunday flights. We were going Sunday till Friday in October, but FIL was able to change the reservation. I don't know if he changed the wait list or forgot about that idea. But as of now we are staying at OKW in a 2 bedroom. We have to make ADR's next week. As of yesterday October park hours are not out yet. :(
FIL had one food request, he does not want buffets due to germs. I think that means we have to rethink 3 breakfast if you don't count Norway Princess breakfast.

I really want to do the afternoon tea in the Grand Floridian. If I didn't want to suprise the girls, I might talk to them about the Alice in Wonderland Tea. Last time I mentioned it they did not want to do a tea without us.

[ljcrochet]

As you know DH book BBB for Dani. She is all excited about it. It is so funny. She was brushing her hair tonight after her bath, and said she was brushing it for BBB. She knows she is not getting a new dress. As of right now, she wants to wear her Cinderalla dress and wants the bun hairstyle. But if anyone one has pictures of the other hairstlyes that I can show her, let me know.

[ljcrochet]

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/0710003.jpg
Look what came in the mail!:banana:
I'm so excited. August is going to be here sooner then I know it. Also we went to AAA today and got 8 day park hopper tickets for us and MIL. We each got purple mickey tickets. DH and I plan on upgrading our tickets to AP at some point during the trip. We also got the AAA diamond parking pass, since it is a perk of getting the tickets at AAA.
We got some stuff to keep the girls busy on the plane. (Disney princess magic ink books) and magnetic princess dolls to dress.

[jenn-]

August is like super soon. That means you are going to ditch me soon :sad1: .

[ljcrochet]

Today when I got the mail, I got all excited to see a magic express envelope. But this was the one for the trip home :( Split stay means two magic express reservations espically when we are changing resorts.

It is almost our 90 date for October ADRS. As of now, we are thinking of heading to Beach's and cream the day we arrive for lunch. I know FIL will want to try the kitchen sink.
Rose and crown for a late dinner so we can see illuminations
Day 2
Olivias for breakfast
Grand Floridian tea
T-rex for dinner
Day 3
Norway for breakfast. DH and FIL will do the segway tour in the morning. I wonder if we will have time to take Dani to BBB before breakfast. If we do downtown disney or MK.
California Grill. What is a good time to do it so we can see wishes at 9?
Day 4
Rainforest Cafe at AK
Kona Cafe or Paradiso 37
Day 5
The wave (breakfast)
Teppan Edo or Couzzina
Day 6
Chef Mickey (it will be the third trip in a row that we end with a Chef Mickey's)
San Angels for lunch before heading home.

I think we have only eaten at 2 of these restaurants, but have an ADR at one of them for August. So new restaurants.

[jenn-]

All sounds like good eatin'. You will have to be extra good on your diet leading up to the trip if you are going to try ingesting a kitchen sink. I think getting a first thing in the morning appointment at BBB at MK and then a late breakfast at norway would be your best bet. Getting from DTD to a park can be a PIA whereas you can monorail via TTS to get from MK to Epcot.

[ljcrochet]

All sounds like good eatin'. You will have to be extra good on your diet leading up to the trip if you are going to try ingesting a kitchen sink. I think getting a first thing in the morning appointment at BBB at MK and then a late breakfast at norway would be your best bet. Getting from DTD to a park can be a PIA whereas you can monorail via TTS to get from MK to Epcot.

Thanks. I was thinking we might have a car this trip. I should say FIL will have a car. I think he has booster seats for the girls (unless they outgrew them), not that they need them with Florida's lack car seat laws.

[ljcrochet]

:cool1:
DH got up before 6 am this morning to be on the computer to make the ADRS. He got most of them around the time we wanted I called at 7:20 for the rest. I was surprised that I did not have wait. I was able to book the girls for BBB. I made sure I could cancel one of the girls if S does not want to go.

Monday:
beaches and cream for lunch depending on the time
Rose & Crown 7:05 - I might try to make it for slighly later. I want to watch illuminations from here.
Tuesday
Olivia's for breakfast
Grand Floridian tea
T-rex for dinner.
I had to call for the tea and T-rex
Wednesday
DH and FIL are doing the Segway tour at 8:30. Then they will have to rush over to Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall We have BBB at 8am at Magic Kingdom while DH is on the segway tour.
Californa Grill for diner. Hopefully it is late enough to be eating dessert when it is time for wishes
Thursday
Rain Forest Cafe for breakfast
San Angel inn for dinner
Friday
The Wave breakfast
Tappan Edo dinner
saturday
Chef Mickey's
Tony's for lunch before our flight home.

I know DH wants to try Couzzina, so we might be changing something to eat there. Also Paradiso 37. I was going to try and call and make a reservation there for Thursday instead San Angel's inn. Just have to look up the number.

DH has to call and add ME on to the reservation. I wonder if when he calls, if they can send the tags/vouchers to us instead of to FIL? Any DVCers know the answer to this?

[jenn-]

Sounds like a whole lot of good eatin'.

[ljcrochet]

This morning DD came down stairs talking about BBB. She was dreaming about it over night.

[jenn-]

Which one? Glad to know it isn't only me that wakes up from dreams of Disney.

[ljcrochet]

Which one? Glad to know it isn't only me that wakes up from dreams of Disney.

It was Dani. It was so cute, she walked down the stair telling Sydney about BBB. She is so excited. Hopefully she will like it when we go and Sydney doesn't get upset that she is not going.
As of now the girls don't know about October. I really want to surprise them in Disney. I figure I will just tell them we are going to visit FIL and his wife. Just won't tell them that we are visiting them in Disney instead of their house. Now that the ADRs are made, hopefully DH won't talk about the trip with them.

Paper cut emergency. Then girls have camp.

[jenn-]

So now that you have the October ADRS out of the way, have you started thinking about the next set? When is your 90 day for that one? Are you coming to hang with me in May?

[ljcrochet]

So now that you have the October ADRS out of the way, have you started thinking about the next set? When is your 90 day for that one? Are you coming to hang with me in May?

Give me time.:rotfl2: October's ADRs are made. Now it is time to get into full planning mood for August. Have to decide what to pack. I'm planning on doing laundry in the middle of the trip, so maybe I won't pack as much stuff.

Not sure about May. I would love to come and hang out with you. My girls would love to meet your boys, but it is the end of our use year, so not sure if it will work out. But I do know we have southwest credit that we have to use by June 25 or 26, so who knows.

I have to get started making my girls autograph books. I'm thinking of making them out of 4x6 index cards. Just trying to decide if I should bind the pages or use 2 binder clips on it? What do you think?

[ljcrochet]

I still have to make a game plan for August. Which parks are we going to hit? When are we going to lounge by the pool. Right now, I'm thinking the days we have a breakfast ADR, we will go till we get tired, then go back to the resort to use the pool or soak up the AC depending on how we feel. MIL will probably soak up the AC (maybe do some laundry while we are in the pool). Shower then depending on the time, dinner or another park.

I'm trying to decide if the autograph books should be 4x6 or 5x8? Or are the index cards 5x7? Either way. I know that the 3 x 5 are too small. 4x6 will be the easiest to print, but are they too small?

[jenn-]

I still have to make a game plan for August. Which parks are we going to hit? When are we going to lounge by the pool. Right now, I'm thinking the days we have a breakfast ADR, we will go till we get tired, then go back to the resort to use the pool or soak up the AC depending on how we feel. MIL will probably soak up the AC (maybe do some laundry while we are in the pool). Shower then depending on the time, dinner or another park.

I'm trying to decide if the autograph books should be 4x6 or 5x8? Or are the index cards 5x7? Either way. I know that the 3 x 5 are too small. 4x6 will be the easiest to print, but are they too small?

I think if you want to do something the characters can sign, you will have to go larger than 4x6. Some of those character signatures are pretty big. What are you thinking of doing?

[ljcrochet]

So after reading Jenn's PTR, i got inspired to make tie dyed shirts.
Here are the shirts after they were dyed
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/0730011.jpg
Next time I make tie Dye shirts I need better plastic gloves look at what my hands look liked
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/0730012.jpg
Here is Dani showing off her new shirt
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/0731001.jpg
All the shirts
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/0731002.jpg
I need to get a better picture of the shirts.

[mousescrapper]

wow all your trips are coming together...how do you keep it all straight ;)

I can't wait to hear what you think of BLT :thumbsup2

the tye-dye MM shirts are too cute....my DD Mae (6 1/2) is all about tye-dye...she did a skirt during the last week of school this past May and then over the summer she did a shirt at a camp...and thinks her tye-dye "suit" (when she wers them together) is all that :rotfl:

[jenn-]

Those shirts came out great. I feel the pain about the dyed hands. I've had that one happen once or twice now. The real fun one was the green between the toes though. Yeah don't ask how that one happened. I can't believe the first of your trips is just around the corner. What am I going to do while you are gone?

[ljcrochet]

wow all your trips are coming together...how do you keep it all straight ;)

I can't wait to hear what you think of BLT :thumbsup2

the tye-dye MM shirts are too cute....my DD Mae (6 1/2) is all about tye-dye...she did a skirt during the last week of school this past May and then over the summer she did a shirt at a camp...and thinks her tye-dye "suit" (when she wers them together) is all that :rotfl:
I hate planning multiple trips at once. Espcially these 2 that are less then 2 months apart. Last year when we went in October and December, the October one was last minute so the december one was already planned.

I will be sure to take a ton of pictures of your "home" for you.:cool1: And think you want me to try to check out?

Those shirts came out great. I feel the pain about the dyed hands. I've had that one happen once or twice now. The real fun one was the green between the toes though. Yeah don't ask how that one happened. I can't believe the first of your trips is just around the corner. What am I going to do while you are gone?
Green between the toes sounds bad. I had a few splats of red on the feet, nothing bad. But would you believe my fingernails still have the dye on them. Chlorine in my friends swimming pool took off most of the dye the day I made the shirts.

You will manage. Your computer will just look weird without the open yahoo chat window. :rotfl2:

[mousescrapper]

I will be sure to take a ton of pictures of your "home" for you.:cool1: And think you want me to try to check out?




thanks...

I'm most curious about the room views right now and then 1 thing I can think of is can you bring your own food down to the pool deck at the BLT pool. Say we are doing a resort rest ime and kids are playing at the pool can I go up to our room, make snadwhiches and bring them down in a little soft sideded cooler?

Plus love to know if you can get in the Top of the Floor Lounge and how that goes...I know it's BLT DVC members staying on prop only who can get in, but I'm curious how crowded or nosiy, especially for kids...

can kids even go in there at night or no cuase it's a "lounge" :confused3

[amandelba]

:woohoo::banana::cool1::yay::dance3::cheer2: :woohoo::banana::cool1::yay::dance3::cheer2: :woohoo::banana::cool1::yay::dance3::cheer2: :woohoo::banana::cool1::yay::dance3::cheer2:

[jenn-]

:woohoo::banana::cool1::yay::dance3::cheer2: :woohoo::banana::cool1::yay::dance3::cheer2: :woohoo::banana::cool1::yay::dance3::cheer2: :woohoo::banana::cool1::yay::dance3::cheer2:

I do believe someone is a little excited to go to Disney, aren't they :lmao:

[ljcrochet]

I do believe someone is a little excited to go to Disney, aren't they :lmao:

Yep, he filled out a notepad with our ADR info so we can take notes on the food and do a dining report.

We are in the middle of packing. :cool1: Sydney is saying she does not want to take any princess dresses but I will be packing them for her. Dani wants to take Aurora and Cinderella. I think I will pack Cinderella and Ariel (white dress) for sydney. I might also pack jasmine and Mulan since they both take up no room in the suit case.

[jenn-]

Yep, he filled out a notepad with our ADR info so we can take notes on the food and do a dining report.

We are in the middle of packing. :cool1: Sydney is saying she does not want to take any princess dresses but I will be packing them for her. Dani wants to take Aurora and Cinderella. I think I will pack Cinderella and Ariel (white dress) for sydney. I might also pack jasmine and Mulan since they both take up no room in the suit case.

Smart Mommy. You know as soon as Dani wore hers, Sydney would be looking for hers.

[ljcrochet]

I'm working on making autograph books for my girls to bring to the character meals. Nothing like waiting for the last minute. :rotfl2:
I'm trying to get old pictures of my girls to use on the pages, only problem is I can't believe how much my girls have grown. Even since last October, forget about the earilier photos no matter how cute they are.
Here is a picture of each girl from their first disney trip. Can you tell where we are in this picture?
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/October2006224.jpg
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/LJcrochet/Disney/October2006226.jpg

First character meal of the trip is Norway.

Belle
Aurora
Jasmine
Snow White
Mulan
Ariel (hopefully, didn't see her here last time but I'm hoping)

Second character meal is Cape May Cafe. We have never been.

Minnie
Goofy
Donald


Third character meal is Cinderella's Royal table. Last trip, the girls kept on asking when where we eating in the castle
According to all ears the characters are: Cinderella, Fairy Godmother, Belle, Aurora, Snow White
Both times we have been here we have seen

Cinderella
Belle
Snow White
Jasmine


Next character meal is Ohana

Lilo
Stich
Mickey
Pluto


Last character meal is Chef Mickey

Mickey
Minnie
Goofy
Pluto
Donald


If my count is right, it is only 5 character meals. Nope I forgot about Crystal Palace. See what I get trying to do this from memory
Crystal place has my favorite french toast

Pooh
Tigger
Eyeore
Piglet


So i need at least 26 cards for each girl. So 52 total. I have 12. Guess what I'm going to be doing tomorrow. :rotfl2:

[jenn-]

Well at least your mainly packed. Good luck on finishing them all on time. How are you going to bind them?

[ljcrochet]

Well at least your mainly packed. Good luck on finishing them all on time. How are you going to bind them?

You mean I have to bind them? :rotfl2:
Right now the plan is to use my bind it all. I had thought about doing a binder clip, but figure it will look nicer with the spiral binding. I will just have to make sure to clamp the binding too tight. I wonder if the girls fat disney pens will fit inside of the binding?

Update on how many cards I have done:
20 cards total done.
5 will go in both girls books.

On my new list I have 28 cards to make for both girls. Ten are done.:cool1: 18 more to go.
Crystal place breakfast cards are finished.
Dani's cards for Akershus are done
As soon as I find a good picture of Cinderella, CRT cards are done for both girls.

[mousescrapper]

the autograph cards sound nice..hope you'll share pictures. and very smart to bring your one DD's dresses. that happened w/ my DD who said she didn't want the dress and once there of course she did :headache:

[ljcrochet]

the autograph cards sound nice..hope you'll share pictures. and very smart to bring your one DD's dresses. that happened w/ my DD who said she didn't want the dress and once there of course she did :headache:

Dresses are all packed. I packed 2 dresses for Sydney (who didn't want any) as well as the Mulan and the Jasmine. they are so small figure I can always throw them under the stroller.

I have 46 cards printed. I will post pictures after I bind them. Still have to make a cover and some more pages.

[ljcrochet]

My list is downstairs so I figured I would type it out here to check with character meal cards I still need, plus decide on a few extras since I know my girls will want to met some other characters
Dani: PSB

Belle
Jasmine
Mulan
Snow White
Aurora
Ariel
Mary Poppins

Cape May
Minnie
Goofy
Donald

Ohana

Stitch
Lilo
Pluto
Mickey (have 2)

Crystal Palace
Eyeore
Piglet
Tigger
Pooh

CRT

Cinderella
Aurora
Belle
Snow White
Jasmine

Chef Mickey's

Minnie
Mickey
Goofy
Donald
Pluto

[ljcrochet]

I for some reason can't find good pictures of Sydney with some of the characters. Here is what I have printed for her so far
PSB

Belle
Aurora
Jasmine
Ariel
Mary Poppins
Cape May
Minnie
Goofy
Pluto
CRT
Cinderella
Aurora
Belle
Snow White
Jasmine
Crystal Palace
Piglet
Eeyore
Tigger
Pooh
Stitch
Lilo
Pluto
Chef Mickey
Mickey
Minnie
mickey
Goofy
Donad
Pluto


I think I only need a PSB snow white for Sydney as well as a Mulan. :cool1:

Plus I want to make some extras for the characters I know the girls will want to meet, but for those I might just do the same card for each girl.
I used the cards from here (http://s143.photobucket.com/albums/r132/donatalie), but changed them a little to add pictures of my girls.

[jenn-]

You are really working quick on the cards. I hope you have an awesome trip!

[amandelba]

I for some reason can't find good pictures of Sydney with some of the characters. Here is what I have printed for her so far
PSB

Belle
Aurora
Jasmine
Ariel
Mary Poppins
Cape May
Minnie
Goofy
Pluto
CRT
Cinderella
Aurora
Belle
Snow White
Jasmine
Crystal Palace
Piglet
Eeyore
Tigger
Pooh
Stitch
Lilo
Pluto
Chef Mickey
Mickey
Minnie
mickey
Goofy
Donad
Pluto


I think I only need a PSB snow white for Sydney as well as a Mulan. :cool1:

Plus I want to make some extras for the characters I know the girls will want to meet, but for those I might just do the same card for each girl.
I used the cards from here (http://s143.photobucket.com/albums/r132/donatalie), but changed them a little to add pictures of my girls.

Great job, but did you pre-order the photopass CD yet? :lmao:

[ljcrochet]

Hi from Kidani Village! As i'm checking in, I can see an ostrich walking in the grass. This morning we saw Giraffe's eating right in from of our room. http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/P1060378.jpg

http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/P1060377.jpg

Right now Dani is napping, I think Sydney is awake watching Aladdin.
I will try and do a trip report when we get home, but DH is trying to do a live dining review. (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2256249) Hopefully he can keep it.

[mousescrapper]

well that is not something you see everyday while you eat....:goodvibes

hope the rest of your trip is amazing!

[ljcrochet]

I'm home now. I will have to see about getting this tread moved to the trip report forum so I can tell you all about our trip. The good, the scary and the in between.

We had a lake view at BLT that was almost a full magic kindgom view. It was if you were sitting on the couch in the living room. But we were too busy to make it back to the room (or even to the top of the world lounge) for wishes but it would have been a perfect veiw.

As soon as I clear out space on my hard drive, I will upload my 4 gb of photos and start posting the trip report.

[mousescrapper]

welcome home!

looking forward to hearing about your trip and the little bit that you were at BLT :goodvibes

enjoyed your husbands food report too

Oh and hey here is a link to a BLT thread that is asking for people to post their room #, the supposed view and what you actually saw:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2257082

[ljcrochet]

welcome home!

looking forward to hearing about your trip and the little bit that you were at BLT :goodvibes

enjoyed your husbands food report too

Oh and hey here is a link to a BLT thread that is asking for people to post their room #, the supposed view and what you actually saw:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2257082


Thanks. I just posted my view in that thread. Here is a picture of my DD with the view behind her
http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/Bay%20lake%20towers/P1070137.jpg

[ljcrochet]

I was just looking at the photopass pictures. We ordered the photopass CD before we left. We didnt' get as many photos as I would have liked. only 159 i think. But I did find out that you can add multiple borders on the photos. I also might try and add some of my own photos to put the fun borders on them. So now I have the same photo with 4 different borders instead of just having the plain photo and one with a border.
Has anyone done that to their photos?

I was suprised at the photopass cm's. In our whole trip we only had 2 excellent ones. The others did not impress me at all. We could be standing next to a photophass photographer and had to ask them to take our photo. They also took like one picture each time. Even the one I asked if she did any special ones. She told me yes, but didn't have us pose for any. We did get one cute tinkerbell photo of the 5 of us, as well as a simba of just DH and I.
They never asked to take our photos, except one after Dani did BBB. The was an amazing one in Epcot. George was a floater who was in front of the hopstoch board across from Rose and Crown. I will tell you about George when I write my trip report.

[ljcrochet]

It was finally time for our trip. We had a 10 am flight out of Islip, so we loaded most of the suitcases into the car the night before. We had 2 big suitcases as well as one little suit case we were check. I love southwest. Everyone gets 2 checked bags for free.
DH had a back pack with his 2 laptops. One for work and one for doing his live dining reviews.
Both girls decided they need backpacks with stuffed animals for the plane. I had my DVC bag packed with the poncho and other stuff we would need for the parks. We had a carry on bag with snacks as well. So 3 checked bags and 6 carry on bags plus MILs bags (one checked bag, pocketbook and a carryon) but at this point we only had our bags.

I think we set the alarm for 6:15, I don’t think we need it at all. Woke up finished loading the car, and turned off the water to all the toilets. Two of our neighbors have come home from vacations to find that the upstairs toilet leaked and destroyed the downstairs of their houses. We did not want to come home to that mess. We also unplugged most of the appliances.

Told Cloe (our English springer spaniel) it was time to go to petsmart.
http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/trip%20report/0809002.jpg
Have never seen a dog move so fast. She loves to go to petsmart. Girls kept on telling her she was going to slipway camp. I think we left the house before 7. Girls wanted to come into petsmart to drop Cloe off. Cloe sometimes has a problem being boarded, since she loves to go on grass. PetsHotel has her go inside so she holds it. Will we get a call?

After dropping off Cloe, we start to drive to MIL. Turn on the road and the street is closed due to what looked like down power lines. Had to turn around and go another way. Good think we were early. :LOL:

Get to MIL’s and have to move our luggage into her car. Very tight fit, but we got it. I wish I had taken a picture of it. I squeezed in between the two car seats for the ten minute ride to the airport. Found a smart cart in the airport’s parking lot, so it was a snap to get everything into the airport. DH and I check the bags, while MIL sits with the girls.

I love Islip airport. There are never any lines. In fact we got to security and no one was in front of us. Just had to start to put our stuff on the x-ray machine. In fact I forgot to pull out my quart bag with the liquids, but it was not a problem.

Since we skipped breakfast, DH got the girls breakfast while MIL and I got us coffee at starbucks.
http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/trip%20report/0815427.jpg
After the girls finish breakfast, we head to the gate for last minute potty time before boarding.
Plane landed early but we are waiting for a gate. I think we sat on the ground for almost a half hour waiting for our gate. Finally get off the plane and make our way to ME. They have changed how you check in since last December. Now if you have a ME booklet, you bypass the check in counter and go to a podium right before the different resort lines. We wait about 5 minutes behind one family at the podium. No clue why it is taking them so long, but they have a split stay, with a second ME for the return trip. Asking the clueless ME guy a ton of questions. DH sees the Animal Kingdom Lodge line start to go to a bus. We finally get to check in, and tell them we have 4 check bags. It only takes us a minute to check in but by this point, the animal kingdom line is gone.  We have to wait a few minutes to get put on a bus. The girls were the first ones on the bus. I followed them on with my Magic express booklet in my hand, while DH gives the driver the stroller and some of the carry ones. He goes to get on the bus and the ticket person starts to give him a hard time about not having a ticket. I walk to the front of the bus to show them the tickets again. The ticket checker was not having a magical day. Bus fills up pretty quickly and off we go. We are on the last stop of the four stops. First the bus stops at Pop Century, Coronado Springs and Caribbean Beach Resort before stopping to let us off at Animal Kingdom Kidani village.
Dani had a nap on the bus
http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/trip%20report/0815241.jpg
We check into our 2 bedroom villa, except it is not ready yet. Girls watched a little TV while we checked in.
http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/trip%20report/0815431.jpg
http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/trip%20report/0815434.jpg
By this point it is passed time to check in for our lunch at Saana. We walked downstairs at 2:55 for our 2:50 ADR.
http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/trip%20report/0815435.jpg
http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/trip%20report/0815436.jpg
Had a great lunch. You can read about it here (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33178174&postcount=41).
We are still waiting for the phone call with our room number. It is after 4 at this point. We walk outside to check out the firepit and the animals
http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/trip%20report/0815465.jpg.

[jenn-]

Looks like a fun first day. Can't wait to see what you did for the rest of the day/week.

[ljcrochet]

Girls enjoyed looking out at the animals from the fire pit area. DH went to find out our room number. We were 7246. It was the first floor by the Zazu elevator. It is a dedicated 2 bedroom, which means it only had one door to the hallway. It was not a one bedroom with a studio attached. Only one microwave, one fridge one DVD player.
Very long walk down a slightly boring hallway to get to.
Our luggage was already in the room when we arrived. Some pictures of the room
http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/trip%20report/0815466.jpg
Master bedroom
http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/trip%20report/0815469.jpg
Master bathroom: full length mirror was on the door to the toilet
http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/trip%20report/0815467.jpg
http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/trip%20report/0815470.jpg
Shower in master bedroom
http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/trip%20report/0815471.jpg
Second bedroom
http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/trip%20report/0815468.jpg
View from the room
http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/P1060378.jpg
While I’m looking at the room, DH takes out his work laptop to post his first dining report of the trip. I just realized I forgot to tell you the laptop on the plane story. DH takes out his laptop to watch a DVD, Sydney see and asks to play burger shop. Laptop battery says 3 hours left. DH tells her sure. Turns on Burger shop and laptop battery dies. He then takes out work laptop to watch his DVD, and discovers the laptop does not have a DVD player. So instead of watching a movie, DH starts his dining report with the airport food. So now all DH has to do is upload (or have me upload) the photos to photobucket, add them to the review and post. A perk of being a DVC member is free internet. Just have to sign in. DH plugs in his work laptop, first thing he notices is the Ethernet cable in his laptop bag is broken. We throw that out and he used the one form the room. Laptop will not connect. Don’t know if it is the site to log on is a blocked website or not, but it would not work. Worked fine on the other laptop. So no clue what was up with it.

After getting the laptop working, DH posted the report and off to Magic kindgom.

[jenn-]

That room looks very nice. I want a room with that view!

[mousescrapper]

Thanks. I just posted my view in that thread. Here is a picture of my DD with the view behind her


looks like a vewry nice corner view of Space Mt and MK huh? did you see any fireworks from your room? I forget now what you said?


I was just looking at the photopass pictures. We ordered the photopass CD before we left. We didnt' get as many photos as I would have liked. only 159 i think. But I did find out that you can add multiple borders on the photos. I also might try and add some of my own photos to put the fun borders on them. So now I have the same photo with 4 different borders instead of just having the plain photo and one with a border.
Has anyone done that to their photos?

Yes I do that all the time, love more options of fun stuff to play around w/ and then print and use once we get our CD home. :thumbsup2



The beginning of your report is on a good start! I just love your DD's curly hair! reminds me of my Mae's hair.

Good to know abou the DME check-in change, but sorry you missed the first bus you saw.

Once agian your room view looks great.

[ljcrochet]

looks like a vewry nice corner view of Space Mt and MK huh? did you see any fireworks from your room? I forget now what you said?


Once agian your room view looks great.[/COLOR]

We never made it back to the room for fireworks. THe one drawback of doing deluxe dining was we had some latish dinner. One night we almost made it back for the fireworks, but didn't. we saw some of the fireworks from the skybridge.

[ljcrochet]

We left Kidani Village to head to the Magic Kingdom. I want to know what Disney was thinking when they put the smoking section right outside of the door that you have to pass to get to the bus stop. Almost every time we walk by there was some one smoking; usually they tried to turn the other way. Really stupid place for the smoking section.
Bus to magic kingdom was not bad. We didn’t have a lot of time in MK since we had an 8:30 ADR at Whispering Canyon.
The girls decided they wanted to go on Jungle cruise first thing. Sydney starts leading us there. My 4 year old can already navigate her way around MK. Not sure if that is good or bad. When we get to jungle cruise, it had a pretty long standby wait, so we got fast passes. Had to deal with an upset girl about why we were not waiting for Jungle Cruise since that was what she wanted to go on.
We decided to walk towards Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to see if maybe it had a short wait. On the way there guess who we found.
http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/trip%20report/0815473.jpg
We get on line to get Goofy’s autograph. DH goes to check BTMR, I think it had too long of a line so we skipped it.
http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/trip%20report/0815478.jpg
Right as we were finish getting Goofy’s autograph, it started to pour. I had brought our ponchos with us except they were in a bag on the stroller which was back by Jungle Cruise not covered. We walked back to Jungle cruise and the rain was just a drizzle. Girl wanted Tiki Room and Magic Carpet ride. We checked the time for Tiki Room; next show was starting in 15 minutes. Told the girls it was too long of a wait for our first day, we would get back to it.
Got in line for the Magic Carpet ride. I think it was a 5 minute line. I decided to go cover the stroller, figured if I didn’t get back in time I would just skip the ride. I was back before we got on the ride. I’m not sure why I have so few pictures of this evening. It is so not like me to only take 7 pictures in 2 hours at MK. I did not seem to take a first night castle shot or anything except for the Goofy Pictures. I did take over 1067 pictures on my camera. All of one of our breakfast pictures was on MIL’s camera. You will have to stay tuned to find out why.
The whole time we were on line for Magic Carpet, they kept on making announcements about how MK was under a thunderstorm and the ride might get shut down.
After Carpet, we went to jungle cruise to use our Fast passes. My girls love this ride.
I think after we finished we figured it was time to start leaving for the boat to Wilderness Lodge.
After the long walk from the boat dock, we were at WCC about 5 minutes early for our ADR.
The girls played Lincoln Logs while we waited.
http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/trip%20report/0815480.jpg
Dinner was fun. Girls loved the antics.
http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/trip%20report/0815482.jpg
It was funny watching them try and do the ketchup run. They did the horse race.
http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/trip%20report/0815497.jpg
http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/trip%20report/0815498.jpg
They did have enough before we were done. We asked the server to box up the desserts. Funny thing is I have eaten at WCC twice on the Dining plan and once without. I have never eaten dessert there. When we didn’t have the dining plan, we skipped dessert. The two times with the dining plan, we ordered the desserts to go. Just meant no ice cream for dessert. At this point we were all so exhausted that the thought of getting back to the resort did not seem fun. I was thinking to myself, why didn’t we schedule this for when we were at BLT, and then we could just take the boat back.
Not sure who’s idea it was, but we decided to take a cab back. I was just going to put the girls in the stroller to wait, but instead went outside to find out about getting a cab for 5 people. I ask the valet , telling them that I’m still waiting for 2 people to settle the check at WCC. I walked out before we were given the check. I missed the special cake they brought out for MIL or the singing for her not sure which since I was out side. A cab comes and they tell me it is for us. I explain to the driver that I’m still waiting for 2 people to settle up the bill at WCC. I also make sure that the cab will fit 5 people. Driver says no problem just get in and wait. At this point it is starting to rain again. I get the girls into the cab, stroller in the trunk. I get Dani seat belted and I realize that there is only 3 seatbelts in back. I am watching the door looking for DH and MIL, and I see them coming, MIL takes a step and is on the floor. This was right in front of the door, but still WL. I leave the girls in the cab to help MIL make sure she is okay. I have no clue what I said to the girls and the driver. DH helps MIL up. She says she is fine and just wants to go. I am really surprised that no one from WL really helped or tried to make sure she was okay. We got into the cab, which seem to have the slowest cab driver. MIL sat in the front seat, the rest of us in the back. I had Sydney seat belted between DH and me. I was sitting between both girls kind of keeping their seat belts in place.
I think the cab ride was $25 or $27. More then I expected since every report I read said oh most cab rides are only around ten dollars.
Both girls fell asleep in the cab. We opened the stroller and put them in. We stopped at the gift shop to get our mugs. DH and I got coffee, MIL got decaf. DH also filled up one of the girl mug with soda, don’t remember if we filled up both or not.

Walked the endless walk to the room, had MIL put her leg up. Her knee and elbow were both swelling up. DH and I gave her ice to put on them.

[ljcrochet]

I have been so busy, i'm teaching 2 nights a week that I have not found the time to update.
Photo pass CD came but when I was making my backup I noticed that one photo was corrupt. It was a really cute one of Dani at BBB. I emailed photopass and they sent a new CD. It came today. I have had a chance to look at the cd yet but here is a photo from our first day from photopass
http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx31/amandelba/trip%20report/Image003.jpg


I wanted to share a funny story about my girls. We are getting ready to go back to disney with my FIL. As of now I have not mentioned disney to the girls. Just told them that we are going to Florida to see FIL. FIL lives about 3 hours from disney. Today we are in the car talking about our upcoming trip to see FIL and his wife and Dani starts talking about Disney. lol