Recovered from worst trip ever, now planning a mother-daughter trip for DD's birthday

[dreamer423]

Love the decorations! Funny, I decorated for cruises, but never for a World stay. i am now inspired. May have to wholesale borrow ideas with much thanks.

Also-how great about the flights and less travel time!

 

[02AggieGirl]

Hi! I just found your report and I'm in!! What an awesome way to celebrate your DD's bday! I need to finish reading your report.....then I will be looking forward to the updates.

 

[02AggieGirl]

This weekend we did a little creativity in preparation for our trip!

We actually made the countdown timer for our last trip in 2008, (DD doing our double digit dance for that trip)

then I recovered it this winter with tropical paper to countdown to the cruise DH and I took in June for our anniversary. This weekend I pulled out the few Disney scrapping supplies I had left and we recovered it yet again.

Then I made DD a Mickey Money box for change. She has 2 Mickey banks, but she likes to get in there and count the change, and it disappears! I thought by making her a box, she could get money in, but not take any out. We'll see how well she does. Oh how I love the Mickey font Cricut Cartridge!

and this is something R hasn't seen. I totally stole this idea from "aristocrats_lover" in the decorating your resort room thread. (thank you!) This was all I had time to do before R got home.

These are for the window, and I'll add to our decorations stash soon (maybe some ribbons, we have lights etc). I also have magnetic paper left to make a sign for the door. I'm hoping to be able to sneakily decorate the window/door while she's sleeping or in the shower

I love all this! You have inspired me for our next trip....whenever that may be!

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

Isn't is such a great feeling when you hit the double digits!!! It's even better when you hit the single digits thou!!

 

[Chelley00]

check out www.memoriesbybetsy.com.. I love her baskets!!

Thanks for the plug for Betsy. I have her on my list for gift baskets if that's what I decide to do!

May have to wholesale borrow ideas with much thanks

I borrow all my ideas, so feel free to borrow too!

Hi! I just found your report and I'm in!!

Welcome!

I love all this! You have inspired me for our next trip....whenever that may be!

Maybe sooner than you think? We usually only go every other year and this trip just snuck in there

Isn't is such a great feeling when you hit the double digits!!! It's even better when you hit the single digits thou!!

I'll just be happy to get down around the 30's. This 90 stuff seems so far away!!!

 

[Chelley00]

Okay, I have a few minutes in between taxi driving Our kids are in private school, which means no bus. I drop them off every morning, then have to pick up R at 3:15, then go back and pick up J (DS13) from soccer practice at 5. Then on Monday and Friday he has karate at 5:45. Ugh. I really need a taxi-mom bumper sticker!

I've been working on our park plans/ADRs/packing list etc, especially now that we've added days to our trip and we're flying. We always drive, so I can way overpack. Now, not so much I would love to get by with just packing carryons, but the OCD person in me knows I will never be able to fit all the crap I'll just "HAVE" to take in carryons!!! Since we're flying Airtran we have to pay for each checked bag so no way are we checking more than one.


Okay, so the plan for day 1. Our flight leaves late evening on our first day.
I'm debating taking DME to CBR and ordering from GardenGrocer, or if I want to get a towncar and do a grocery stop. R would probably love the towncar as she's always wanted to ride in a "limo".

We get in pretty late that evening, so we'll have to find something from the food court for dinner, and just take time to unpack. I've read you can see Illuminations from one of the beaches at CBR, so we might go to see that if we're not too tired from traveling.

 

[Chelley00]

Happy Sunday everyone. We are being bad and skipping church this morning because we got up late. DH went on a motorcycle trip with his parents and I'm home with the kiddies working on some planning pages for our trip.

I think we've decided to use DME and just order groceries from Garden Grocer. That saves us $100 from getting a towncar and is money I can put towards a little surprise for R. (still undecided!)


Our first full day we're going to, where else, Magic Kingdom. We'll do breakfast in our room since neither of us ever eat a huge breakfast. I'm planning on buying cereal bars, granola bars, milk, juice and fruit from Garden Grocer.

We HAVE to make it for rope drop because I know it's going to be very busy that day. Plus, in all our trips to MK (probably 6 times ?) we've NEVER made it to the opening ceremonies!!! Our first order of business is R's favorite MK ride, Space Mountain, especially since it will be fresh off the refurb! After that I'm sure R will want to head over and do the other mountains. My must do is Haunted Mansion. Riley wants to make sure to go to Tom Sawyer Island because we've always skipped it. The rest we'll play by ear.

We'll probably do lunch at our favorite MK CS, Columbia Harbor House, and I'm hoping we can get an ADR at 1900 Park Fare for dinner. I'd like to make it back to the park for Spectro, because we've never seen that either! If it's horribly busy, I'm not going to worry about Spectro, as we'll have another full day at MK later in our trip.

 

[dreamer423]

We HAVE to make it for rope drop because I know it's going to be very busy that day. Plus, in all our trips to MK (probably 6 times ?) we've NEVER made it to the opening ceremonies!!! Our first order of business is R's favorite MK ride, Space Mountain, especially since it will be fresh off the refurb! After that I'm sure R will want to head over and do the other mountains. My must do is Haunted Mansion. Riley wants to make sure to go to Tom Sawyer Island because we've always skipped it. The rest we'll play by ear.

Marco LOVES Tom Sawyer's island. HE could spend hours there. I suggest you to bring drinks and a snack for a quickie picnic there. There are plenty of hidden benches/tables along the paths.


Tell Me about Columbia House please.

 

[Chelley00]

Tell Me about Columbia House please.

The BLT salad is very good. They have honey mustard dressing to go with it. They also have tuna sandwiches and chicken strips. I like that it's lighter food. We like sitting upstairs and watching people come and go from the Haunted Mansion




So, there's a major change to our trip! I've been reading about all these people making their ADRs for Thanksgiving, and how there is little availability over that whole weekend. I was starting to worry about crowds and lack of table service availability, especially since R basically wants character meals and nothing else. I looked at moving our trip up, went to check out ADR availability for that week just to see, and got every TS we wanted at a good time, so I booked them, rearranged our resort ressies, and we're now going 2 weeks earlier!

It stinks that R won't be at Disney on her actual birthday, but I think we'll have more fun since it shouldn't be as crowded, and she gets to eat everywhere she picked, plus a few extras she doesn't know about. I couldn't get one of her picks, 1900 Park Fare for dinner but I think she'll be happy with what we got.

Now I just have to deal with our flights. Going to MCO we can change with no penalty, coming back maybe not, but the flights are so cheap right now I'll gladly eat the change fee if I have to if it means having a less crowded time at WDW!

So our new schedule looks like this:

Thursday: EARLY flight (7am ick) Check in and head to Epcot for the afternoon. Late lunch/early dinner at Le Cellier (this is for me because we've never been able to eat here. However, R scarfed the cheese soup at F&WF last year, so I know she'll enjoy it!)

Friday: DHS, dinner at 50's Prime Time

Saturday: Epcot, dinner at Coral Reef

Sunday: AK breakfast at Tusker House, dinner at Rainforest Cafe (R LOVES animals. She will adore this restaurant!)

Monday: Epcot again, breakfast at Akershus, dinner at Garden Grill

Tuesday: MK, dinner at Chef Mickey. If we decide to do MVMCP, it will probably be this night?

Wednesday: MK breakfast at CRT, dinner at Crystal Palace

Thursday: AK, then off to DTD dinner at Fulton's Crab House (my daughter is a seafood FANATIC and they have crab legs on the kids menu!!!!!)

Friday: DHS, dinner at Sci Fi

Saturday: MK, breakfast at Cape May is scheduled, but I think I'm going to change to either 1900 or Ohana. We've just never been to Cape May

So now I have 2 less weeks to plan!!! That's a good thing!

 

[Gabes_mommy]

I just found your PTR today.

How wonderful to have a mother/daughter trip. Your DD is so cute!!

I can't wait to hear more.

 

[02AggieGirl]

So, there's a major change to our trip! I've been reading about all these people making their ADRs for Thanksgiving, and how there is little availability over that whole weekend. I was starting to worry about crowds and lack of table service availability, especially since R basically wants character meals and nothing else. I looked at moving our trip up, went to check out ADR availability for that week just to see, and got every TS we wanted at a good time, so I booked them, rearranged our resort ressies, and we're now going 2 weeks earlier!

Yippee! Are you still staying at CBR?

So our new schedule looks like this:

Thursday: EARLY flight (7am ick) Check in and head to Epcot for the afternoon. Late lunch/early dinner at Le Cellier (this is for me because we've never been able to eat here. However, R scarfed the cheese soup at F&WF last year, so I know she'll enjoy it!)

Friday: DHS, dinner at 50's Prime Time

Saturday: Epcot, dinner at Coral Reef

Sunday: AK breakfast at Tusker House, dinner at Rainforest Cafe (R LOVES animals. She will adore this restaurant!)

Monday: Epcot again, breakfast at Akershus, dinner at Garden Grill

Tuesday: MK, dinner at Chef Mickey. If we decide to do MVMCP, it will probably be this night?

Wednesday: MK breakfast at CRT, dinner at Crystal Palace

Thursday: AK, then off to DTD dinner at Fulton's Crab House (my daughter is a seafood FANATIC and they have crab legs on the kids menu!!!!!)

Friday: DHS, dinner at Sci Fi

Saturday: MK, breakfast at Cape May is scheduled, but I think I'm going to change to either 1900 or Ohana. We've just never been to Cape May

So now I have 2 less weeks to plan!!! That's a good thing! [/COLOR][/QUOTE]
These ADRs look great! I'm so happy you were able to get everything you wanted--sending pixie dust your way so that 1900 Park Fair will become available!

 

[shordiebecka]

Good idea moving it up 2 weeks! I originally was going to do the weekend before thanksgiving- but airfare was ridiculous, and i was worried about crowds- since my days were flexible- i looked up the cheapest days to fly in Nov and got 13-17, which is perfect! what are your dates now? my parents are staying CBR the first week of November, then I'm at CSR the 13-17!

Oh, and congrats on getting all your ADR's. Don't you love the online ADR's?

 

[dreamer423]

Sounds like you've got it all planned out! Great job getting all your ADRS done.

And Thanks for info on Columbia House. We love HM so it might be fun to watch.

 

[Chelley00]

Yippee! Are you still staying at CBR?

We are! R still goes back and forth between CBR and CSR, but I'm not changing again!!

sending pixie dust your way so that 1900 Park Fair will become available! [/QUOTE]

Thank you! There is NOTHING available for the entire week we are there!

i looked up the cheapest days to fly in Nov and got 13-17, which is perfect! what are your dates now?

We'll be there Nov 12-22 now.

And Thanks for info on Columbia House.

You're welcome!

 

[Chelley00]

Nothing like changing an entire vacation to give an OCD planner a reason to stress!!!

I think I have everything set.

First day, our flight leaves at 7:11am. YAWN! R and I neither one are morning people, so this should be fun. However, it gives DH time to drop us off at the airport and then get the boys to school.

I'm trying to figure out luggage and packing list. I haven't flown as an adult (so sad!) and R has never flown, so I'm trying to plan what to take in carry ons and what to check (if anything)

We should be at CBR no later than 11? Hopefully we can check in, then head over to Epcot. We have late lunch ressies at Le Cellier. I doubt we'll stay too late because of how early we have to get up that day, plus I'll want to unpack and get settled. This is a day we'll play it by ear. We have 2 other days planned at Epcot, so I'm not too worried about hitting the major rides this day.

 

[Chelley00]

Day 2: DHS


Our first order of business will not be Toy Story Mania. Oh no. My daughter is a roller coaster fan. And her big thing to do today is to make me ride RNR.

I've never ridden it. I'm not a fan of roller coasters going upside down because it gives me a headache. However, I will load up on Tylenol and ride RNR with my daughter as her early birthday present. She better pick a really nice nursing home out for me when I'm old

After that will be TOT. We LOVE TOT in our house. Last year we had the best ride ever on it, going down first, and lasting forever as we were the last ones in line before they shut the gate. It was fabulous!

Then we will head over for TSM fastpasses, and maybe ride it standby. Our second DHS day we might go for TSM first, but this first day is all about R and her desire to ride RNR. We also want to do the Backlot tour. We've never made it back there!

Lunch will be, well, wherever. None of the CS places at DHS thrill me, so we'll suck it up and eat when we get hungry, somewhere Dinner that evening is at 50's Prime Time, a restaurant we've never been to. I'm really hoping we get a good waitress here! Should be an early evening since it's not a Fantasmic evening.

Any recommendations for CS at DHS? We usually end up at Pizza Planet.

 

[shordiebecka]

Things look good so far!! DHS has awful CS- I don't care for ANY of it- one possible idea would be to take a little break and go over to the boardwalk or the beach club and eat at a CS place there. That's what I would do!

 

[dreamer423]

ITA. CS @ DHS pretty awful.

Beaches n' cream for burgers or just ice cream

Not sure if you're on DDp, but Scifi is fun and air conditioned. Food-eh-shakes and fries' good. maybe a good lunch spot.

 

[Chelley00]

one possible idea would be to take a little break and go over to the boardwalk or the beach club and eat at a CS place there. That's what I would do!

I've thought about Beaches and Cream. R would just want to eat ice cream and nothing else (so would I!) It's on our list!

but Scifi is fun and air conditioned.

We have an ADR for Sci Fi later in the week. I'm really nervous about it after reading some of the reviews though..




Day 3. Epcot again. We love Epcot. It usually takes us one day to Future World and one day to do World Showcase, so I'm not upset about scheduling 3 days in for it. Today is our Future World day. For this second Epcot day, our first order of business will be Soarin. Last year was my first time riding it. R loves it. We'll also have to do a few rounds of Test Track, thankfully avoiding Mission Space. We'll do Sunshine Seasons for lunch. OH how I dream about their turkey foccacia sandwiches We have an ADR this night at Coral Reef. R will LOVE this. She loves animals and mammals, so she should get a kick out of watching the fish swim nearby. A must do is Illuminations. We've never been! Some how we always end up leaving Epcot before the show!






Day 4: AK We have an early morning ADR at Tusker House. Another first for us. After that, Expedition Everest. R literally rode this thing 20 times in one day on our last trip. I'm hoping she'll let my breakfast settle a little before we go!

With R's huge love of animals, I'm hoping we can spend some more time on the animal trails then we usually do. We usually run right through them to pacify R in between rides. Since this is her trip, we're going to focus more on the animals this time, which means ending our day at Rainforest Cafe. Totally not my choice (I'd rather go to Boma ) but this is one R will be thrilled to go to. Hopefully it will be warm enough after dinner to let R go swim.



Day 5: FINALLY Magic Kingdom: Stinks that both Tour Guide Mike and Unofficial Guide both say to wait this long in our trip to go to MK! Oh well, we've got 3 days here, so we can wait awhile. There is a MVMCP here this night so it closes at 7, but that's okay, because tonight is our Chef Mickey's ressie. Last year when we ate here I ended up with the flu that night, and so I'm a little icky about eating here again However, this was one of R's only 2 requests (besides 1900 Park Fare, which I can't get! ) I really really want to find a place to watch Electric Light Parade this night. Maybe monorail over to the Poly?

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

sounds great!!!!

I found after riding RnR esp if you are a shorter person, when I get in the ride and pull the restraint over, I kinda of use my feet to push down on the little bump in the car (you'll see it!) and push myself up as high as I can as much as possible to keep from banging my head and it works!! Before you can blink the ride will be over!!

Sci Fi is wonderful for kids, the reviews are eh. In the past the service has been slow so if you are looking for a quick in and out, you won't get it there! And even though the week will consist of non-stop burgers, they do offer burgers for dinner but they aren't on the menu if that would even apply to you

More happy planning!!!