We are back! "Christmas with the mouse" trip report!!!**New 1/1/08**

[princess-rn]

Hi Piglets Mommy! Nice to meet you! We are actually going to wait to do LTT and MVMCP until after we transfer over to the GF. So we are doing it December 9th. I'm VERY excited!!! I can't wait to see my favorite place on earth decorated for my favorite holiday!!!!!

How long are you guys staying?

 

[SLDL]

Hey there! I found your PTR from your comment on the GF board. Your report is getting me excited too! We are going to be at the GF Dec. 5 to 9th. What dates will you be there? This is my first time at the GF & I am so excited! We are going w/ my family of 4 & my husband's cousin's family of 4. I am constantly saying 'do you know it's the GRAND FLORIDIAN!" I don't think they are aware of this place! Of course, anywhere would be have wonderful for me at Christmas time (we stayed at the POR in '03 in Dec. & that was great). What night are you planning on doing the Candlelight Processional?

 

[princess-rn]

Hi SLDL!! We are super excited too. We will be there Dec 1-12. The first night at DTD Hilton, the next 5 days at POFQ and the last 5 at GF! I LOVE POFQ but I'm SO excited about GF. I've wanted to stay there FOREVER and now we are during the Christmas holidays!! **YIPPEE**

We are doing the Candlelight Processional on December 5th (I believe..I don't have my information handy right now). I know it's going to be BEAUTIFUL!! When are you guys doing it?

 

[Piglets Mommy]

Hi Piglets Mommy! Nice to meet you! We are actually going to wait to do LTT and MVMCP until after we transfer over to the GF. So we are doing it December 9th. I'm VERY excited!!! I can't wait to see my favorite place on earth decorated for my favorite holiday!!!!!

How long are you guys staying?

Hi!
We will be there Dec. 1-5th. It will be Our family of 4 plus my in-laws. This will me the first time DH has been to WDW with his parents in 25 years, so that is pretty exciting.
Have a great time! I WDW at Christmas!

 

[princess-rn]

Piglets Mommy..I really would like to go on a big family disney trip. I think that would be so much fun!! I don't think my husbands or my parents could handle our pace though. LOL.

I can't wait to go! I'm so excited about being there for the beginning of the holidays!!!

 

[princess-rn]

I JUST BOOKED OUR WILDERNESS LODGE SLEIGH RIDE!!!

I just found out on here from a wonderful diser about the sleigh ride they do at Wilderness lodge December 1-30th. For $35 4 adults or 2 adults with 3 children 9 and under get a 25 min sleigh ride around the wilderness lodge area. It sounds wonderful! So, I called today and booked our sleigh ride for Dec 10th AFTER our Whispering Canyon Cafe dinner. I am SO excited!!! ( I get excited easily don't I? LOL)

The only issue I have is that our Whispering canyon cafe dinner is at 5:20pm. So what do we do if we have 2 hrs to kill before the sleigh ride??

Suggestions???

btw..if you are interested in booking the sleigh ride do so quickly. They are booking up fast. Call 407-wdw-play.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

Piglets Mommy..I really would like to go on a big family disney trip. I think that would be so much fun!! I don't think my husbands or my parents could handle our pace though. LOL.

I can't wait to go! I'm so excited about being there for the beginning of the holidays!!!

Yeah...that's been the most challenging part of planning this trip...I don't want to plan so much that I run everyone into the ground, but I also don't want to waste time with everyone standing around sauing What do we do now???

Enjoy your Sleigh ride! It sounds awesome! This will be my first trip to the Lodge, but from what I have heard, there is plenty to do there at Christmas, so you should have plenty to do between dinner and the sleigh ride. Depending on when you get out of Dinner, that might be a great time to ride the bus arount Ft. Wilderness and check out the decorations there, too.

 

[princess-rn]

That is a great idea! If we get out of dinner in time we could kill 2 birds with one stone and see Ft. Wilderness also. I think my son is going to LOVE the sleigh ride. He's totally into horses right now.

I'm trying not to "over plan"...but it's hard for me not to. I'm not planning out every minute of the day though. We are very fIexible once we get in the parks. So, we have plenty of time during the day/evening to go back to the resort to let my son rest if needed. When we went 2 years ago he did great. We took our own stroller and when he was ready for his nap he just got in and went to sleep. This year..i don't know. He's 5 so too big for any stroller we could bring. I just plan on taking it day by day. We have already budgeted $$ for stroller rental everyday if needed. Which I think we will need. I know he is going to get tired of walking at some point.

Are you crafty? I AM NOT..but I wanted to make a "countdown to disney" calendar with my son at the 30 day mark. Any creative ideas??

 

[Piglets Mommy]

That is a great idea! If we get out of dinner in time we could kill 2 birds with one stone and see Ft. Wilderness also. I think my son is going to LOVE the sleigh ride. He's totally into horses right now.

I'm trying not to "over plan"...but it's hard for me not to. I'm not planning out every minute of the day though. We are very fIexible once we get in the parks. So, we have plenty of time during the day/evening to go back to the resort to let my son rest if needed. When we went 2 years ago he did great. We took our own stroller and when he was ready for his nap he just got in and went to sleep. This year..i don't know. He's 5 so too big for any stroller we could bring. I just plan on taking it day by day. We have already budgeted $$ for stroller rental everyday if needed. Which I think we will need. I know he is going to get tired of walking at some point.

Are you crafty? I AM NOT..but I wanted to make a "countdown to disney" calendar with my son at the 30 day mark. Any creative ideas??

I'm not crafty either, but "stole" this idea from other DISers.....You can easily make a countdown using the Mickey Head paint Chips they have at Home Depot....Just pick when you want to start, and stick the # of Mickey Heads equalling the # of days left to a door, wall. etc...then each day, the kids can take one of till you get to departure day.

DD is just getting away from napping this year...I'm hoping I can keep her wanting a nap till after we get back from Disney....I know she's going to need it (at least I know I will!) Not sure what we're doing for a stroller...DH wants her to walk the whole time, but I know I'll end up being the one to carry her...Ds may want a break too, so we are taking the little umbrella stroller to get through the airport, and will probably just rent one in WDW so they can both take turns riding.

I am getting so excited! I can't wait! We REALLY need a vacation!!!!

 

[princess-rn]

Yet again ANOTHER great idea!! Thanks!!! That is cute AND super easy!!! My son will love it!!! We could even do it on his bedroom door.

You are awesome!

BTW..I just looked at your counter....69 days until both our VACATIONS!!! *YIPPEE*

 

[Piglets Mommy]

Yet again ANOTHER great idea!! Thanks!!! That is cute AND super easy!!! My son will love it!!! We could even do it on his bedroom door.

You are awesome!

BTW..I just looked at your counter....69 days until both our VACATIONS!!! *YIPPEE*

YAY!!! I can't wait! I think I'll be super excited once we hit the 60 day mark....although the rest of our $$$ is due 45 days out....I'm not looking forward to that payment

FYI....I just watched the Travel Channel Disney Great Hotels episodes.....There is a campfire with marshmallow roasting, stories and sometimes movies with Chip & Dale every night....Just one more possibility for the night you are in that area.

 

[princess-rn]

I know what you mean!! I can't wait until the 30 day mark!!! I went ahead and paid our vacation off early. Mainly just to ensure that I would have those disney points to transfer to my disney rewards card. Gotta love that disney visa!!!

I have all the travel channel Disney special episodes from today recorded on our DVR. I will hopefully be able to watch them soon. I've seen the Grand Floridian one already. I just want to watch it know I will be there in less than three months!!!

They have the campfire with marshmallows and movies at the WL or FW? That would be cool!

Did you see on the disney site that they are going to put Christmas lights on Cinderella's castle for, what I think I read was, the first time? It's going to be BEAUTIFUL!!!

 

[Hedy]

I know what you mean!! I can't wait until the 30 day mark!!! I went ahead and paid our vacation off early. Mainly just to ensure that I would have those disney points to transfer to my disney rewards card. Gotta love that disney visa!!!

I have all the travel channel Disney special episodes from today recorded on our DVR. I will hopefully be able to watch them soon. I've seen the Grand Floridian one already. I just want to watch it know I will be there in less than three months!!!

They have the campfire with marshmallows and movies at the WL or FW? That would be cool!

Did you see on the disney site that they are going to put Christmas lights on Cinderella's castle for, what I think I read was, the first time? It's going to be BEAUTIFUL!!!

I can't wait for this!

 

[SLDL]

Did you see on the disney site that they are going to put Christmas lights on Cinderella's castle for, what I think I read was, the first time? It's going to be BEAUTIFUL!!!

Where did you read this? I looked on the disney website & didn't see that. That sounds great!

 

[SLDL]

Hi SLDL!! We are super excited too. We will be there Dec 1-12. The first night at DTD Hilton, the next 5 days at POFQ and the last 5 at GF! I LOVE POFQ but I'm SO excited about GF. I've wanted to stay there FOREVER and now we are during the Christmas holidays!! **YIPPEE**

We are doing the Candlelight Processional on December 5th (I believe..I don't have my information handy right now). I know it's going to be BEAUTIFUL!! When are you guys doing it?

Our GF days will overlap a bit! I just cannot wait to go. My DS has been asking alot about it lately..he is almost 5 so not much concept of time & he asked when we were going & I said '2 months' & he said 'okay, not tomorrow but the day after tomorrow" We are doing the Candlelight Processional on Dec. 8th & seeing Stephen Curtis Chapman...I am so excited!

 

[Piglets Mommy]

I know what you mean!! I can't wait until the 30 day mark!!! I went ahead and paid our vacation off early. Mainly just to ensure that I would have those disney points to transfer to my disney rewards card. Gotta love that disney visa!!!

I have all the travel channel Disney special episodes from today recorded on our DVR. I will hopefully be able to watch them soon. I've seen the Grand Floridian one already. I just want to watch it know I will be there in less than three months!!!

They have the campfire with marshmallows and movies at the WL or FW? That would be cool!

Did you see on the disney site that they are going to put Christmas lights on Cinderella's castle for, what I think I read was, the first time? It's going to be BEAUTIFUL!!!

Yeah, Gotta love that Disney Visa!

The campfire thing is at Ft. Wilderness...some nights they have movies, other nights it's storytelling or a sing along.

I haven't heard about the lights on the castle. That will be beautiful! I saw photos from Disneyland Paris where they did that...amazing!

 

[princess-rn]

Where did you read this? I looked on the disney website & didn't see that. That sounds great!

I get a "disney insider" email every month and it lead me to the link. I'm not sure exactly what that link was though. Im' sorry!

It's going to be SO beautiful. I think I read they are going to do a "lighting" ceremony either each night OR at each MVMCP. I can't remember which.

 

[princess-rn]

Our GF days will overlap a bit! I just cannot wait to go. My DS has been asking alot about it lately..he is almost 5 so not much concept of time & he asked when we were going & I said '2 months' & he said 'okay, not tomorrow but the day after tomorrow" We are doing the Candlelight Processional on Dec. 8th & seeing Stephen Curtis Chapman...I am so excited!

Our day overlap? How cool! I am so excited to get there. I know what you mean about your son. My 5 yr old DS finally has it in his head that we are going to disney "After Turkey day". NOw...the day after t. giving he's going to be packed and ready...we will have to address that when it comes! LOL

I LOVE Stephen Curtis Chapman. The CP is going to be SO beautiful!!!

 

[princess-rn]

Yeah, Gotta love that Disney Visa!

The campfire thing is at Ft. Wilderness...some nights they have movies, other nights it's storytelling or a sing along.

I haven't heard about the lights on the castle. That will be beautiful! I saw photos from Disneyland Paris where they did that...amazing!

Do you have to call wdwplay to reserve a spot at the campfire? It's sounds like something my son would LOVE!

Yeah, I read somewhere on here that the crane is already there getting ready to start putting the lights on. I can't wait to see it!!! They said it was going to look alot like DL Paris.

 

[princess-rn]

ORGANIZATIONAL UPDATE!!

So, I'm getting organized in a way that I have NEVER been organized before for a trip. (keep in mind...I'm NOT an organized person in ANY other realm of my life. Just disney!! My husband is amazed!!!)

I have a lovely pink (fav color) 3 ring binder that I have placed plastic sleeve paper protectors in with all my pertainent info for the trip. Here's what it includes so far.

1. Directions from our front door to the DTD Hilton.
2. Our DTD Hilton one night reservation confirmation.
3. Directions from the DTD Hilton to POFQ. (to officially start our vacation)
4. Our 5 day POFQ reservation confirmation.
5. Map of POFQ
6. Directions from POFQ to GF
7. Our 5 day GF reservation confirmation.
8. Map of GF.
9. Park Hours for all 4 parks including times of parades, special shows and fireworks for our 10 day stay
10. A list of our ADRs with confirmation #s.
11. A List of all participating restaurants included in the DDP.

I'm also going to add my packing lists, and my list of people I will be Christmas shopping for while we are there.

Does this sound crazy or what???? ...but you know what...I LOVE it!!!! REally, you think this is crazy..wait until I post my packing lists!!!!