Cross your heart we're going! Cross it!An Unexpected April Adventure! TR Started!!!!

[Angies1274]

Hi! Welcome to my PTR!!! Even though I have previously written two Trip Reports, this is my very first PTR. I'm so excited about this trip! My name is Angie by the way. As you can tell from the title I am huge fan of the movie UP although I guess it's fair to say I am a huge fan of all Disney movies or anything Disney for that matter...especially WDW!! This will be our 4th trip to Disney and we are hoping to experience alot of new things this trip but most of all we want to slow down and take everything in..smell the roses as they say. We've tried doing it on our last trip but I'm not sure we did very well. So, here's a little background info on how this trip came to be.....

Isn't it funny how in one week everything can change....last week at this time we still were undecided on whether we were going to even make it back to Disney this year. Although, I had been pricing vacations for April since the end of last year, I wasn't able to find a decent price on airfare. Why April? Well, we have visited in April for the last two years and have loved it! The weather is beautiful, there's usually very little rain if any, and the Flower and Garden Festival is going on. (so beautiful--need I say more?) But....it is during Spring Break time, right? Which means much bigger crowds. Luckily, we have found the crowds manageable, taking advantage of EMH (they work for us) Plus taking a break in the afternoon when it's usually much busier.

So, anyway as I was saying last week--no real plans although we were leaning towards going in July. I had even almost booked it. The airfare was good, the ticket prices were not bad. But, something kept stopping me. Maybe I was envisioning our very last trip in August. Not that it wasn't a great trip because it really, really was. But the weather...HOT and it rained almost every day we were there...and not a quick shower that Florida seems known for it was actually torrential down pours. Our trips in April kept coming back to me...and I just couldn't push those thoughts away that maybe there could be another April trip in our future? Then something magical happened! I was checking my husbands old email when what did I find................An email from Disney that contained A PIN CODE for the dates we originally wanted to go in April. I was estatic! I immediately priced the rooms and they were affordable!! YAY! But, then I remembered the flights and my good mood had suddenly turned sour. I manuevered my way back to the Jetblue website and gave it another try. DH prefers to only fly non-stop. I put in the dates and held my breath....and the prices that came up were not the prices that I remembered they were LOWER!! Not as low as they would be if we had flown out in July but with the Pincode it pretty much evened things out.

So, there you have it...a little bit of back history of how this unexpected trip came to be. Oh...the dates...April 12-April 16. I hope you decide to follow along as I plan our next adventure to the world. If you're interested here are the links to my last two TR's-- Our Short,but Sweet Sizzling Hot Summer Trip to the World and Easter Crowds + Lots of Fun Anyway= One Magical Trip Hopefully, they will help you get to know our family a little more.

Next Up--Introducing the Cast of Characters for this trip


Handy Dandy Links!!!


Cast of Characters
The Plans!!
Itinerary and Random Stuff
What are we celebrating???
Why we love the Flower and Garden Festival w/pics!!
ADR Update and the Food!! YUM!!
Touring Plans-Day1 & some pics of Pop!!!
Travel Goodies and um....fireworks?
Looking Back....Epcot 2008
Countdowns, Movie Nights, and Plans Change????
Give a day!! Get a day!!
Project Linus
Looking Back...Epcot 2009!
Looking Ahead....Epcot!! (Day 2-Touring Plans)
Shopping, Planning, Lists...Oh My!!
A little bit of News!!!!
Day 3-Touring Plans A Waterpark,DQ and some Shopping!!!!
Looking Back....Magic Kingdom 2008!
Great News!!...and Big Changes!!!
Revised Itinerary and a Recap!!
Looking Back....MK and Looking Ahead..MK Plans!!!
Favorite WDW Moments...
Looking Back....Disney Hollywood Studios 2008/2009!
A little of this and a little of that....
Day 4-Touring Plans Disney Hollywood Studios!!
Looking Back...Animal Kingdom 2008/2009
Day 5-Touring Plans Animal Kingdom!!
Looking most forward to-Top 10 list!!
Schedules, Characters, and Fun!! WooHoo!!
10 Days Left!!! The Countdown Begins!!!
More Favorites...and it's the Single Digit Dance!!!
YAY! Only 6 Days Left!!!!!!
More Favorites and... 5 Days to go!!!YAY!
More Planning, Favorites, and only 4 days left!!!
Souvenirs, AK Favorites, and 3 Days! WooHoo!!
2 Days!! 2 Days!!
We're Leaving........

 

[mickeystoontown]

I'm here! I'm here! I can't wait to hear each and every little detail.

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Hi Angie!! I'm here! Thanks so much for letting me know you had started this! I am SO excited that you are able to take another trip in April. Our last two trips have been in April and, I agree, it's PERFECT!

Can't wait to join in all the planning fun!

 

[dismagiclover]

I'm in too! Can't wait to hear the details!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Well! A little birdie told me you'd started a PTR so I decided to check it out..... woo-hoo! You're going back! Of course, I'm a little sad that you're not going at the same time we are, but we'll just have to try the next time we go!

Can't wait for the planning!!

 

[shelbys mommy]

I'm in! I can't wait to read it!!!

 

[disneylovin24]

Can't wait to meet everyone!!

 

[Cory's Gal]

Hi Angie! We'll be arriving on the 24th so we are missing you by a week!! Glad to hear you say all the great things about traveling in April!! We are looking forward to the Flower and Garden Festival and the beautiful weather!! Can't wait to read up on all that you have got planned!! I will have to go back and read your past TR!!!
~Beth

 

[wdwgirl03]

I'm here!

Bummer you guys get there the day we leave...otherwise maybe we could've had a DIS meet.

 

[Angies1274]

Yay!! I have readers!!!

I'm here! I'm here! I can't wait to hear each and every little detail.

Hi Lisa!! Thanks for joining!! I'm so excited to get planning and with only a little over 2 months to go, I'm going to need all the help I can get!!!

Hi Angie!! I'm here! Thanks so much for letting me know you had started this! I am SO excited that you are able to take another trip in April. Our last two trips have been in April and, I agree, it's PERFECT!

Can't wait to join in all the planning fun!

Hi Missy!! Yay!! So glad you joined in!! I know how much we LOVE going in April!! It really is perfect isn't it?

I'm in too! Can't wait to hear the details!

YAY! I'm so glad you decided to come over and join in on the fun!!

Well! A little birdie told me you'd started a PTR so I decided to check it out..... woo-hoo! You're going back! Of course, I'm a little sad that you're not going at the same time we are, but we'll just have to try the next time we go!

Can't wait for the planning!!

A little birdie huh? So happy that you've joined in!!! I'm sad too..because I really wanted a Christmas trip this year.Hmm...maybe next time!! But, really can't complain about going in April... after all we needed to use up that airline credit and what a better way!! Besides, I can live through your trip in December. Any idea when you may be starting your PTR??

I'm in! I can't wait to read it!!!

Welcome!! I'm so happy you're here!!

Can't wait to meet everyone!!

Welcome!! So glad you decided to join in!! I'm hoping to get my next update up very soon.

Hi Angie! We'll be arriving on the 24th so we are missing you by a week!! Glad to hear you say all the great things about traveling in April!! We are looking forward to the Flower and Garden Festival and the beautiful weather!! Can't wait to read up on all that you have got planned!! I will have to go back and read your past TR!!!
~Beth

Hi Beth! Thanks for joining in! Aww...we love April!! The Flower and Garden Festival is soooo beautiful and the weather is perfect! You'll have a wonderful time!! Okay, now I'm off to read your PTR!

I'm here!

Bummer you guys get there the day we leave...otherwise maybe we could've had a DIS meet.

YAY! You found me! I know.... It would have been so cool to have a DIS meet!!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

A little birdie huh? So happy that you've joined in!!! I'm sad too..because I really wanted a Christmas trip this year.Hmm...maybe next time!! But, really can't complain about going in April... after all we needed to use up that airline credit and what a better way!! Besides, I can live through your trip in December. Any idea when you may be starting your PTR??

Hey you never know, maybe you'll get a bounceback from this April trip! After this Christmas, our next trip will probably be after the Fantasyland revamp is done and I'd love to go during the F&G Festival.

As far as my next PTR goes.... I still have so many ideas rolling thru my head! I think I want to add a Universal day to go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter but aren't sure we can afford it. Maybe I'll roll around some ideas over here....

 

[Angies1274]

Hey you never know, maybe you'll get a bounceback from this April trip! After this Christmas, our next trip will probably be after the Fantasyland revamp is done and I'd love to go during the F&G Festival.

As far as my next PTR goes.... I still have so many ideas rolling thru my head! I think I want to add a Universal day to go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter but aren't sure we can afford it. Maybe I'll roll around some ideas over here....

Hey, I never thought of that!! A bounceback offer! Hmm....that would be wonderful!! But...it's very doubtful that I would get DH to agree to another trip this year. So many things we want to do around the house. Honestly, if wasn't for all that airline credit that we had built up from our last two trips we may not have went back at all this year.

After this trip, our plan is to wait a couple years after the Fantasyland expansion as well. I'm hoping with a few extra years of saving we may finally get to stay at a Deluxe next time!!

A Universal day sounds fun!! So far we've never been able to stay long enough to go somewhere else besides Disney. But, we have thought about checking out SeaWorld or heck even taking a trip to the beach while we are down there. Maybe on a future trip.

 

[Angies1274]

YAY!! I'm so excited to have some readers!! It's always nice to know that you are not talking to yourself. Besides that, it's great that we are able to share our excitement of our upcoming trips or just our love for Disney and there are people who just "get it". Lately, it seems like all I've heard is "Really, you're going again...why?" UGH!! So..um thanks!! Being able to share this trip is making me so excited!!!!

Anyways, let's get on with the purpose of this update..and that is to introduce you to the Cast of Characters for this trip. Some of you already know my family but for those of you who don't yet. Here is a quick introduction---

As you know already, I'm Angie and the official planner of all our Disney trips. I'm definitely a planner! (of all things actually) If you'd come to my house, there is a very good chance you would see little notes posted everywhere...by the computer, on the fridge, table, etc...you get the point. I guess I just like having things organized and planned out. Anyways, I'm 35 years old (almost 36) and currently a stay-at home mom. Well, actually last fall I decided to do something that I have wanted to do for years and that was to return to school. I am currently majoring in Early Education and Psychology and that keeps me busy during the day while the boys are in school. I'm in my second year and actually my classes start back up again in a few days. I'm looking forward to getting back into it again. Here is a picture of me and one of my favorite Hundred Acre Friends--

I'm very lucky to have such a supporting DH. He loves Disney almost as much as I do. But obviously he steps back and lets me do all the fun planning for our trips. He has no interest in deciding where we should eat or what park to visit first. As long as I let him know when we get there he's fine with that!!
A picture of him at our Chef Mickey's lunch last August--

DS-9 (Nick) Nick will be turing 10 a month after we come back from our trip. Another reason that we felt going in April was a good idea, since we are still able to pay child prices for him. He can sometimes be a picky eater and the adult portions are huge-- there would be no way he could finish them. Ahh...what can I say about Nick? He's such a sweet boy,sensitive and a little on the quiet side but he loves sports especially soccer and basketball. He is currently playing basketball and they won their first game the other night. He was soooo happy!! Like any other typical almost 10 year old, he loves video games!! It sometimes becomes a battle to get him to do anything else He's a great helper and great big brother.

DS-7 (Noah) Noah's my baby and he knows it. Loves to cuddle and so considerate of others. Just like Nick he's a great student and one of the best readers in his 1st grade class. He loves action figures and books. Just started getting into the video games lately with his older brother. Oh and he loves Phineas and Ferb!! We got them the soundtrack for Christmas and it's all I hear!! I find myself singing the theme song as I'm doing my housework.
Here is a picture of them from our Chef Mickey's lunch in August. (with their favorite...Goofy!!)

Another one on our April trip last year as we were walking around the trails of the Tree of Life--

This one is from our very first trip a couple years ago. (they look so little...)

Lastly, a few pictures of DH and I with the boys from past trips--

So, there you have it--the cast of characters for this trip. Now, I can finally get on with the good stuff......the plans!!!

Next up---Plans, Plans and more!!!

 

[shelbys mommy]

Your boys sound just like my boys & my oldest wears glasses too! Well, contacts now, but wow!!!!

 

[dismagiclover]

It's like seeing old friends I hear you about that 10th birthday and Disney food prices. Especially the character meals. It's going to be tough to shell out the adult price for my teeny 10 year old that eats like a bird (but maybe I'll get pay back in 8 years when I'm taking 2 teenage boys)

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Yay yay yay! As usual at work, I can't see your pictures but I know y'all... Plans plans!!

I got the tilted head, slightly squinty eyed, high pitched "really?" yesterday when I was telling a friend I was going back to Disney at Christmas. I too love how everyone here "get's it"!

 

[Angies1274]

Your boys sound just like my boys & my oldest wears glasses too! Well, contacts now, but wow!!!!

That's what I was thinking when I was reading your PTR!! Our boys do sound very similar.

It's like seeing old friends I hear you about that 10th birthday and Disney food prices. Especially the character meals. It's going to be tough to shell out the adult price for my teeny 10 year old that eats like a bird (but maybe I'll get pay back in 8 years when I'm taking 2 teenage boys)

Ahh....thanks! I know what you mean about not wanting to pay adult prices for a kid who eats like bird!! That factor alone was a big part of our decision to go back in April. I knew that we would probably get some kind of dining plan because we just like the convenience and having it already paid for when we get there =less headache IMO. But, having to pay all that extra especially like you said for the character meals for a child that seems to just pick around his plate and spends more time searching out the characters than eating......I just couldn't do it.

 

[Angies1274]

Yay yay yay! As usual at work, I can't see your pictures but I know y'all... Plans plans!!

I got the tilted head, slightly squinty eyed, high pitched "really?" yesterday when I was telling a friend I was going back to Disney at Christmas. I too love how everyone here "get's it"!

Hi Tracy!!

Oh...I know that face and have heard that "really?" so many times!! Honestly, when we first booked the trip...you would think I would've wanted to shout it from the rooftop but I knew what I was going to be hearing. That's one of the biggest reasons I decided to start this PTR!! It's so nice to talk to others who really understand!!!

 

[Angies1274]

Good News!!!

Just wanted to share that we received our 2010 Disney Vacation Planning DVD in the mail yesterday!!! YAY!! Always happy to receive some kind of Mickey Mail! It was so cute too..because when Noah found out he immediately grabbed it and wanted to watch the whole thing. (even though almost all of it is the exact same as last year and we've probably watched the others a dozen times already!!) I'm also considering ordering some new Disney maps as well.Last trip I got the character ones and as cute as they were I think I prefer the old style better. Hmm.... Does anyone know if there is a limit to how many you can order within a year? I ordered some in July of last year (I think) I like to keep them as souvenirs from each trip.

Oh and for anyone who orders anything from the Disney Outlet. There is a coupon today for 20% off the lowest price. I saw a Daisy Duck t-shirt I'm considering??? I think with the coupon it ends up being $3.99.

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Hi again Angie! I know exactly what you mean about those Disney doubters! Honestly, if someone told me that the only place I could ever go on vacation again was Walt Disney World...I'd take it! Not a problem! Luckily, I have a very good friend here that feels the same way so we can share with each other! She's actually going on a Land and Sea trip this March..her DH just got back from Iraq and they need a little family time!

Anyway...so nice to see your beautiful family again! Woo-Hoo on the Mickey mail! That's always a good day.

Can't wait to hear more plans....keep it comin!