We're going back to Walt Disney World in May 09!...pics added

[leamom2princesses]

Hi there! I have been admiring the May 2009 pre-trip reports and decided I would do one of my own. This is my first pre-trippie so bare with me okay?

Here's a picture of me with my girls during our May 2008 trip to the WDW.

First I should explain the title. Well, I had made it through two rounds of layoffs in October and November at my company and thought that I was in the clear. At the start of the year, the company started to bring a few folks back so I said what the heck we're going to Disney again this year. Why pass up the 4/3 deal?

In early January I went ahead and booked the 4/3 package at the AKL for May 16-23. We were very excited! We have stayed at ASports, CBR, POFQ, and offsite. We couldn't wait to stay at AKL. We had eaten at Boma's during last years trip and fell in love with this resort.

Well this past Monday (Feb. 9) I get pulled into a conference room and told - take a HUGE pay cut or lose your job. I couldn't believe it! Of course I decided to take the pay cut. The job market is awful right now.

Because of this development we decided that we had to cut some of the expense and decided to change to CBR. CBR is a lovely resort don't get me wrong. It's just not what we were dreaming of for this year's trip. We discussed not going at all but decided that regardless of what happens to my job, we only get one shot to make memories with our girls while they are small and still want to hang out with us, so we are going!!!

Up Next...meet the cast!

 

[leamom2princesses]

Here are some pics and details about the members of our cast:

Me (Leanne) 34 - I love everything Disney -the parks, movies, Disney Channel, clothes, you name it. I was born and raised in Southeastern Michigan but moved to Kentucky after college. I'm an engineer and most recently I manage engineers and technicians for a living. Yes I can be a complete tool. My husband came to terms with that 10 years ago so it's okay.

We will celebrate 10 years since our engagement tomorrow Feb. 14th. We took our first trip as a couple to WDW in March 1999. DH had never been there and it was my second trip. My parents took me to Disney World in 1987 and that's when the sickness began. I have been to Disney World 4 times since our engagement trip: 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008. We will celebrate 10 years of marriage and DH's 38th birthday during our May 2009 trip. We have two daughters. One 8 and one 3. Here's a picture of me with the girls this past October in Gatlinburg, TN.

This is DH (Joe) last year with our youngest princess. She was 2 at the time. DH loves spending time with his princesses but isn't quite the Disney enthusiast that I am. He humors me though and that's why I love him! He's my best friend and I can't imagine life without him.

This is our oldest princess. She is 8. She is funny, sweet, and quite the extrovert. She's never met a stranger. She loves Disney as much as I do. This will be her 5th trip to the world. Sadly she is starting to move out of the princess stage and is fascinated with Hannah Montana, High School Musical and the Jonas Brothers. This is a pic of her after her trip to BBB last year.

Last but certainly not least is the youngest princess. She is three. She is incredibly smart, shy and makes us laugh so hard it hurts. She has tons of personality in her tiny little body. She loves Mickey, Minnie, Pooh, Tigger, Goofy, Pluto and all of the princesses. This is a picture of her waiting to see Goofy at Liberty Tree Tavern last year.

Thanks for taking the time to check us out! I hope you are enjoying it so far. Up next is our tentative itinerary....

 

[MaryAz]

Whooo Hooooo you started a Pre Trippie!! Your girls are very cute! You and Dh are not so bad either DH and I are going through our final ADR picks tonight. Can't wait to check out your amazing itinerary-think it looks kinda like mine LOL

 

[leamom2princesses]

Whooo Hooooo you started a Pre Trippie!! Your girls are very cute! You and Dh are not so bad either DH and I are going through our final ADR picks tonight. Can't wait to check out your amazing itinerary-think it looks kinda like mine LOL

Thanks! I think they're pretty cute too but I may be a little biased.

I can't wait to see what your final decisions look like. We will probably lock in tomorrow. DH is working late tonight so that we can be together tomorrow. I will post our plans the first chance I get. Have a great night!

 

[leamom2princesses]

Well the plan looks like this as of this morning. We can't make our ADR's until tomorrow so this may change slightly.

May 16th
Fly out and arrive in Orlando around 11am

Head to the resort and hope for an early check in
If we get in we will unpack and check out the resort
If we can't get in yet we will head to DTD to Design a Tee
(The girls will love this I think)
I intend to do both of these things this day but the order may get reversed.

Have dinner at Ohana and watch Wishes from the beach of the Poly.

May 17th-DH's birthday
Animal Kingdom - be there for rope drop
Spend most of the day at AK then head to EPCOT
for the DIS meet
Dinner will be at Le Cellier or Teppan Edo...I'm going to let DH decide.

May 18th
Magic Kingdom Day!
Early appointments for girls at BBB
Lunch at CRT
spend the day having fun riding rides and getting autographs

May 19th Disney Studios
Spend the day having fun with the girls
Mama Melrose's for dinner hopefully with a Fantasmic dinner package

May 20th - EPCOT then MK
More fun on the attractions
Dinner will be at 1900 Park Fare I think...

May 21st - We're going to the Beach! I haven't decided which one yet but definitely want to let the girls see the ocean.

May 22nd - Family Choice totally open
Dinner at Chef Mickey's!

May 23rd - Back to DTD for last minute gifts and souvenirs.
Fly back to Nashvegas.

Well that's my plan for now. What do you think???

 

[leamom2princesses]

Hi there! If you've eaten at Teppan Edo, Coral Reef, or Chefs de France let me know what you think. We haven't done any of these and I'm trying to decide which one for our trip....let me know what ya think!

 

[L. Thomas]

We ate a the Coral Reef so long ago it wouldn't even count for a review. I do remember thinking I was spoiled to fresh fish (caught and cooked on the boat in the Gulf), but we got preferential seating next to the glass. That was in 1987 and the kids still remember sitting "front row" watching the fish.

 

[MaryAz]

Well the plan looks like this as of this morning. We can't make our ADR's until tomorrow so this may change slightly.

May 16th
Fly out and arrive in Orlando around 11am

Head to the resort and hope for an early check in
If we get in we will unpack and check out the resort
If we can't get in yet we will head to DTD to Design a Tee
(The girls will love this I think)
I intend to do both of these things this day but the order may get reversed.

Have dinner at Ohana and watch Wishes from the beach of the Poly.

May 17th-DH's birthday
Animal Kingdom - be there for rope drop
Spend most of the day at AK then head to EPCOT
for the DIS meet
Dinner will be at Le Cellier or Teppan Edo...I'm going to let DH decide.

May 18th
Magic Kingdom Day!
Early appointments for girls at BBB
Lunch at CRT
spend the day having fun riding rides and getting autographs

May 19th Disney Studios
Spend the day having fun with the girls
Mama Melrose's for dinner hopefully with a Fantasmic dinner package

May 20th - EPCOT then MK
More fun on the attractions
Dinner will be at 1900 Park Fare I think...

May 21st - We're going to the Beach! I haven't decided which one yet but definitely want to let the girls see the ocean.

May 22nd - Family Choice totally open
Dinner at Chef Mickey's!

May 23rd - Back to DTD for last minute gifts and souvenirs.
Fly back to Nashvegas.

Well that's my plan for now. What do you think???

Great minds think alike!!

We also arrive on the 16th but not until late aft
also plan to go to DTD and make a tee

Sun we are also at AK in the am then Epcot for the Dis meet then having dinner at Coral Reef

Mon also MK day!! With dinner at the Crystal Palace

Tues also DHS dinner at Kona

Wed MK breakfast at CRT DIs meet at the POP in aft then Whispering Canyon

Thurs you are going to the beach! How fun, we are going back to AK then hopefully Le Cellier for dinner

Fri we are going to check out Blizzard beach and have dinner at Rose and Crown and see illuminations

Sat is your last day we are doing last time at MK, dinner Chef Mickey's and DTD

Sun we go home.......

Wow, our plans are really similar! Hope we hit it off or you will be "oh no there's that crazy family again RUN"

 

[MaryAz]

Hi there! If you've eaten at Teppan Edo, Coral Reef, or Chefs de France let me know what you think. We haven't done any of these and I'm trying to decide which one for our trip....let me know what ya think!

I am trying to get ADR's for Teppan Edo and Coral Reef... so I think those sound good I tried to call today but was DENIED!!

 

[leamom2princesses]

Great minds think alike!!

We also arrive on the 16th but not until late aft
also plan to go to DTD and make a tee

Sun we are also at AK in the am then Epcot for the Dis meet then having dinner at Coral Reef

Mon also MK day!! With dinner at the Crystal Palace

Tues also DHS dinner at Kona

Wed MK breakfast at CRT DIs meet at the POP in aft then Whispering Canyon

Thurs you are going to the beach! How fun, we are going back to AK then hopefully Le Cellier for dinner

Fri we are going to check out Blizzard beach and have dinner at Rose and Crown and see illuminations

Sat is your last day we are doing last time at MK, dinner Chef Mickey's and DTD

Sun we go home.......

Wow, our plans are really similar! Hope we hit it off or you will be "oh no there's that crazy family again RUN"

I'm not worried a bit about not hitting it off . I'm watching the clock waiting to be able to call and make ADRs....I'm going crazy in anticipation. Come on 6am CST!

 

[leamom2princesses]

We ate a the Coral Reef so long ago it wouldn't even count for a review. I do remember thinking I was spoiled to fresh fish (caught and cooked on the boat in the Gulf), but we got preferential seating next to the glass. That was in 1987 and the kids still remember sitting "front row" watching the fish.

Thanks for posting. I'm really torn on this one. I've been checking out allears.net and people either love it or hate it...I'm so confused!

 

[leamom2princesses]

Well it took some shuffling but we finally have all of our ADR's. I didn't get exactly what I wanted but overall it looks good. Here is the plan:

May 16th
Arrive at CBR
Visit DTD and do Design a Tee
Dinner at 1900 Park Fare and pictures in Cinderella's carriage
Watch Wishes from the beach of the Grand Floridian
They didn't have anything at Ohana before 8:10

May 17th
AK until the DIS Meet at 3:45 in the France Pavillion
Dinner at Le Cellier for DH's birthday

May 18th
Magic Kingdom
BBB at 8am (I should be able to get some great pics of the park before it's crowded)
Lunch at CRT
spend the day at MK

May 19th DHS
Spend the day at DHS
Dinner at Ohana (YUM!) The Poly is so beautiful we just had to go back.

May 20 EPCOT
Spend the day here
Dinner at Teppan Edo

May 21 The Beach!
Dinner at Olive Garden probably...

May 22 The girls will choose this day
Dinner at Chef Mickey's

May 23 Back to DTD
leave for home

 

[leamom2princesses]

So this morning (I was up at 5am CST to make ADR's) I was looking at the brochure that AAA sent to me and noticed that they offer a "Story Time Experience" when you book a package through them. I usually do all of the booking myself but decided to let AAA do it this year because I am a member and they were offering some extra incentives. I called the number in the brochure. Turns out the girls will get to have a story read to them by one of the face characters for FREE yes FREE. CM says it usually a princess, Peter Pan, Jack Sparrow, or someone like that. How cool is that??? We are going to do this on the BBB day. The girls don't have a clue about it...I think I will keep this one a surprise...

 

[MaryAz]

Well it took some shuffling but we finally have all of our ADR's. I didn't get exactly what I wanted but overall it looks good. Here is the plan:

May 16th
Arrive at CBR
Visit DTD and do Design a Tee
Dinner at 1900 Park Fare and pictures in Cinderella's carriage
Watch Wishes from the beach of the Grand Floridian
They didn't have anything at Ohana before 8:10

May 17th
AK until the DIS Meet at 3:45 in the France Pavillion
Dinner at Le Cellier for DH's birthday

May 18th
Magic Kingdom
BBB at 8am (I should be able to get some great pics of the park before it's crowded)
Lunch at CRT
spend the day at MK

May 19th DHS
Spend the day at DHS
Dinner at Ohana (YUM!) The Poly is so beautiful we just had to go back.

May 20 EPCOT
Spend the day here
Dinner at Teppan Edo

May 21 The Beach!
Dinner at Olive Garden probably...

May 22 The girls will choose this day
Dinner at Chef Mickey's

May 23 Back to DTD
leave for home

You will be checking out all the restraunts I have ADRs for first!! Yay, you can give me all the info! So glad you got all you wanted!

 

[MaryAz]

So this morning (I was up at 5am CST to make ADR's) I was looking at the brochure that AAA sent to me and noticed that they offer a "Story Time Experience" when you book a package through them. I usually do all of the booking myself but decided to let AAA do it this year because I am a member and they were offering some extra incentives. I called the number in the brochure. Turns out the girls will get to have a story read to them by one of the face characters for FREE yes FREE. CM says it usually a princess, Peter Pan, Jack Sparrow, or someone like that. How cool is that??? We are going to do this on the BBB day. The girls don't have a clue about it...I think I will keep this one a surprise...

They told me about this when I was checking out going to Disneyland-sounds great!!

 

[Leleluvsdis]

Everything looks great!!! We will be there May 8th-16th.

BTW.. I L-O-V-E your name Mine's the same. You are the first person I've ever seen spelt like mine though

Can't wait to read more!

 

[leamom2princesses]

Everything looks great!!! We will be there May 8th-16th.

BTW.. I L-O-V-E your name Mine's the same. You are the first person I've ever seen spelt like mine though

Can't wait to read more!

Thanks for coming over! I LOVE your name also! Looks like you are leaving the day we arrive...bummer. I'm on my way to check out your PTR! I've never met anyone else that spells their name like ours either.

 

[leamom2princesses]

Just wanted to pop on for a minute and celebrate my good news for the day! My pay cut didn't take effect today it is taking effect on Mar. 1! WOOOHOOO! Two more weeks of regular pay! I WILL HAPPILY TAKE IT!

 

[MaryAz]

Great news! Think some should go in the WDW treat fund. What is your favorite treat?? This is my first time so I am looking for advice. Also, is your older DD going to pin trade?? I found a princess lanyard and starter pin kit on Ebay that I may get for my ODD.

 

[leamom2princesses]

Great news! Think some should go in the WDW treat fund. What is your favorite treat?? This is my first time so I am looking for advice. Also, is your older DD going to pin trade?? I found a princess lanyard and starter pin kit on Ebay that I may get for my ODD.

My favorite treat is probably is the frozen lemonade in Toontown or the frozen strawberry bars you can find at most of the ice cream carts. The kids love the Mickey bars. I'm going to try one of the infamous Dole Whips this time and maybe a little something from the Main Street Bakery (everyone tells me the treats there are to die for). I'm doing the WISH challenge here on the boards and trying to keep a watch on my points. There is no such thing as calories/points at Disney right?

DD8 loves to pin trade. We bought a few pins in 2007 and she has a lanyard full now...lol. Her uncle buys her pins for her birthday and other holidays (he lives in Kissimmee). She has some special ones that are off limits but most are fair game. DD3 has a lanyard and pins too but she only has them because she adores her sister and has to emulate her every move. She is far too bashful to trade.