Christmas Comes Early PTR Nov 27 - Dec 3 2011 **What's YOUR Opinion?**

[mphalens]

Just for reference- I have learned that if you have any dining credits left over at the end of your trip you can exchange them for snack credits to bring home in your bag or eat while you drive home, give them out as gifts when you get home to other kids or adults (they said that the cookies in most gift shops are very good) or something! I am not sure how many snack credits (I think that they said 4 snacks for 1 TS but don't quote me on that)! Just a thought so that you don't waste money!

I've heard that too! If only Goofy's at DTD was still snack credits!!!! My kids LOVE that place!!!!!

 

[momabaarjo]

I keep hearing conflicting reports about using dining credits for snack credits...I understand it is easily done with QS credits but not so much with TS. I guess it is worth a try...we will have the Boardwalk Bakery at our doorstep when we go to leave (can imagine myself filling a suitcase full of rice krispy heads ). From my projections we will have about 5-8 child TS credits leftover...my oldest and my youngest are pretty small eaters and would probably end up splitting an adult meal.

 

[Monknmom]

I keep hearing conflicting reports about using dining credits for snack credits...I understand it is easily done with QS credits but not so much with TS. I guess it is worth a try...we will have the Boardwalk Bakery at our doorstep when we go to leave (can imagine myself filling a suitcase full of rice krispy heads ). From my projections we will have about 5-8 child TS credits leftover...my oldest and my youngest are pretty small eaters and would probably end up splitting an adult meal.

I can't wait to try all of the little treats!

 

[mphalens]

So I've tried to stop obsessing about dining for a few days ... My lovely DH was giving me a hard time the other night "You can't tell me what you want for dinner TONIGHT, but you're freaking out about where we'll eat 8 months from now . . . "

Okay, so what else can I think about for now ... it's still early ... what will take up some time? CLOTHES

See, Mr CA thinks that a "big Disney trip" means a trip like his bff takes to the World ... you stay on site, you get this thing called a "dining plan" where you eat every meal at some Disney restaurant (often with characters) and ... you wear coordinating outfits every day (sometimes multiple outfits a day depending on where you're eating, etc. ) His bff's mom is one of my dear dear friends. She's supermom. She has an amazing blog and you can see pictures from their latest trip here ...
So, Mr CA, yeah, he's only told me 100 times he wants US to have cool outfits like our friends did. DH , well, he's not as into that idea as Mr CA would like him to be ... Mimi (who I thought would be ALL ABOUT the matchy coordinating outfits -lord knows she enjoyed dressing me all matchy-matchy with my cousin throughout my childhood ) isn't so into it ...
So, I have a feeling it's going to be me and my two boys ... and if we're lucky the other three will maybe have the same color shirt on as us or something ...

So ... I've been drooling over all the beautiful things the creative disboard custom sewers make ... but there are SO many girly things and not as many boy things ... and I've got to figure out what I can make for us that the three of us can wear ...
Who has an idea for me??? I'm thinking about some cute decoupaged jeans ... but I need other ideas ... weather in November scares me ... who knows if it will be beautiful or freezing cold???

 

[MARsMama]

I did something similar on our first trip, I made the three kids wear tops that were the same color, or mostly. So on day one they all had on a t-shirt that was mostly red. It made it much easier to keep an eye on them, I found.
I am hoping to do that again this time, but would like to pick up some cheap t-shirts that are all the same. I've seen on some PTRs here personalized t-shirts where there's a themed Mickey head with the child's name, or family name and the month and year. They were done with iron-on transfers as far as I can tell, and they look wonderful. I think they got the idea somewhere on the board here, but I have yet to find a board about such.
I'm not too worried about their bottoms though as they will all likely just wear the shorts that they have.
I don't know what it'll be like for weather in November, but it might be neat to all have a hoodie that is the same, maybe the same brand but all in differnt colors?

 

[MARsMama]

I just checked out your friends photos. Wow, they really did do matching outfits! They look amazing, and I love the themes she used for the parks.
To cut the cost some, or the time in making them, you could do just the shirts with various themed Mickey ears on them....that might even get Dh, and your parents more willing to participate

 

[mphalens]

Which would you choose????

I've been playing around on the Disney site pricing out other packages ...

If we switched to the Cabins at Ft Wilderness and kept the park hoppers and upgraded to the Deluxe Dining plan, it would only cost us $6110.92.

The 2 bedroom Villa at Saratoga Springs Resort with park hoppers and REGULAR dining plan is currently costing us $5948.20.
If we upgrade to Deluxe dining (which DH & I really want to do) it would cost us $6686.20 ...


So ... would you switch to the Cabins??? Has anyone stayed there? We just got our trip package today in the mail and the boys & I watched the planning video and the shots of the cabins made them look bigger than I'd imagined they would ...

Cabins? SSR? HELP!!!! I need opinions!!!!

 

[PixieMama]

Hmmmm...

One difference I can spot is that the cabins have full-sized beds while your villa has king and/or queen. So if going to a smaller bed doesn't bother you, then it may be a valid choice to switch to the cabins.

 

[momabaarjo]

So, I have a feeling it's going to be me and my two boys ... and if we're lucky the other three will maybe have the same color shirt on as us or something ...

So ... I've been drooling over all the beautiful things the creative disboard custom sewers make ... but there are SO many girly things and not as many boy things ... and I've got to figure out what I can make for us that the three of us can wear ...
Who has an idea for me??? I'm thinking about some cute decoupaged jeans ... but I need other ideas ... weather in November scares me ... who knows if it will be beautiful or freezing cold???

OMG...we are too alike. I swore when I had children I would never dress them alike (hated that my mom dressed me and my 2 sisters in the same outfit until we were basically out of the house)...NOW what do I do? My boys always match and they have to match somewhat with their sister...

I have so been thinking how I could pull this off on our trip...knowing full well husband will NOT get into the act. I am planning on having them in the same color tops...I am a scrapbooker and I like my pictures to match. Already thinking that day in AK will be green, HW will be red, maybe purple...MK in navy....

I have seen some cute Micky Mouse tye dye shirts that I am thinking about getting for the kids. My 2 oldest are past the character shirt phase...and I so know my dd-teenager will not do them for me now!

 

[momabaarjo]

I think I would go with the Villas...according to the facts the cabin is 504 square feet and the 2 bedroom villa is 1075 square feet. While I love my family, after a long day in the parks SPACE is important!

 

[mphalens]

OMG...we are too alike. I swore when I had children I would never dress them alike (hated that my mom dressed me and my 2 sisters in the same outfit until we were basically out of the house)...NOW what do I do? My boys always match and they have to match somewhat with their sister...

I have so been thinking how I could pull this off on our trip...knowing full well husband will NOT get into the act. I am planning on having them in the same color tops...I am a scrapbooker and I like my pictures to match. Already thinking that day in AK will be green, HW will be red, maybe purple...MK in navy....

I have seen some cute Micky Mouse tye dye shirts that I am thinking about getting for the kids. My 2 oldest are past the character shirt phase...and I so know my dd-teenager will not do them for me now!

I always swore I wouldn't ... until I did ... and then I sort of stopped, but DS#1 kept asking why his little brother wasn't wearing the same outfit as he was b/c apparently he LIKED his little brother having to dress "like him"
It's getting harder and harder to do though ... because apparently a size 6 and a 2T don't wear the same things

I totally just bought 4 patterns recommended by the DisBoutiquers for making pants & bowling style shirts for the boys, hats too ... and a cute dress pattern for me And I hit Goodwill today and bought some jeans I'm going to try decoupaging with Disney themed fabrics ... wish me luck!!!

I figure if we're doing a Toy Story theme for a day at HS I can get DH to at least wear an Alien shirt or something that coordinates maybe
Same idea with a Mickey theme at MK or what have you ... right?
Of course, he might just do this ---------> but a girl can try, right?

 

[mphalens]

I think I would go with the Villas...according to the facts the cabin is 504 square feet and the 2 bedroom villa is 1075 square feet. While I love my family, after a long day in the parks SPACE is important!

Um yeah ... I finally found some reports about the cabins in the Camping forum ... they won't work for us ... there's only ONE bathroom Too many sensitive tummies on this trip to only have ONE bathroom

 

[blessedmom4]

I just came across your PTR!! Your family is adorable! Another Charlottean here..I don't think I have come across anyone on the DIS from our area except a little boy who took a MAW trip a while back. Couldn't resist saying

 

[mphalens]

I just came across your PTR!! Your family is adorable! Another Charlottean here..I don't think I have come across anyone on the DIS from our area except a little boy who took a MAW trip a while back. Couldn't resist saying

yay!!!! another Charlottean!!!!

I wonder if the MAW trip little boy is my Mr CA's bff ... was the trip in Fall '09???

 

[blessedmom4]

yay!!!! another Charlottean!!!!

I wonder if the MAW trip little boy is my Mr CA's bff ... was the trip in Fall '09???

I had to go back and check the dates. This little boy had a Wish Trip December 6-14, 2008. His name is Sebastian. I found his TR and his Mom's Blog last year and he is so cute!!!!

 

[mphalens]

I had to go back and check the dates. This little boy had a Wish Trip December 6-14, 2008. His name is Sebastian. I found his TR and his Mom's Blog last year and he is so cute!!!!

Yup! That's my older DS's BFF!!!!! My kids are actually in her blog a lot (and her blog is AMAZING, isn't it???) Golly! I can't believe it was 2008 ... it still seems like it was just last year ... The things their family has gone through in the past 4 years would be enough to make many give up, but they just keep becoming more and more amazing.

 

[blessedmom4]

Yup! That's my older DS's BFF!!!!! My kids are actually in her blog a lot (and her blog is AMAZING, isn't it???) Golly! I can't believe it was 2008 ... it still seems like it was just last year ... The things their family has gone through in the past 4 years would be enough to make many give up, but they just keep becoming more and more amazing.

That is so cool! I just went back and it looks like you AND your children are in the Discovery Place photos?? Am I correct? (I love that place). We have had a few trials ourselves, it is so incredible to just let go and let God work out the details. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to watching your plans unfold!

 

[mphalens]

That is so cool! I just went back and it looks like you AND your children are in the Discovery Place photos?? Am I correct? (I love that place). We have had a few trials ourselves, it is so incredible to just let go and let God work out the details. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to watching your plans unfold!

That's me on the left

I just had my little guy with me that day (Mr CA went to work with Daddy)

I've been following your PTR too ... I hope your trip is full of pixie dust!!!

 

[blessedmom4]

That's me on the left

GREAT Picture! It is wonderful to have such a supportive group of ladies to get together with! Good for children AND Moms!
I just had my little guy with me that day (Mr CA went to work with Daddy)

I should have realized there was one sweetie missing; however, the picture of all of those cuties together was distracting! I don't follow the Blog; however, pop in from time to time to make sure they are okay and catch up a little on things. We share one set of the same doctors (Maybe more; however, I have seen some of our incredible friends in her posts).
I've been following your PTR too ... I hope your trip is full of pixie dust!!!

Thank you for letting me know you are following along, it means a LOT!

 

[blessedmom4]