2012 A Not So Scarey Merry Trip to see Mickey!!! 11-1/11-11

[Corjack]

So I am starting my pretrip report. We normally go in the spring(April/May) so this is a REALLY long wait for me. I need to plot and plan!! I am sure I will drop off when summer hits and be back closer to time for vacation. We have lots of suprises planned for this trip for our kids. This will be our 5th year in a row! It is really awesome to see how our family grows each year. I will post a few pictures from years past. Good way to introduce our cast of 'characters'!
Who will include:

DH 42
Me 39
DD 9
DS 5
DD2
Gma(DH's Mom)(also referred to as MIL in this PTR)

This will be MIL's second trip with us but this trip she will have her own room!

Back after lunch with more!

 

[Corjack]

Our Cast of 'Characters'!

DH is 42 and will turn 43 the day before we leave! His Birthday is on Halloween! This does spur some of our LOVE of Halloween! He is a 'guy's guy' as I call him. Very likeable and easy going. He is a BIG kid and loves Disney as much as I do!

This picture is from our first trip in 2008.

ANd our last trip 5-2011 funny guy...LOL

Me...I am about 3 weeks from being 39! I am the resident Disney freak! I love planning and rooting through threads full of random Disney stuff. My first trip to Disney was in 1997 with DH(then he was DBF) and I loved it. I must admit coming with the kids really got me hooked. I love the feel of Disney and the magical way the kids see things. Staying on property was also a really BIG change for us. That is what really keeps us coming back. It is like being removed from reality for 10 days. HEAVENLY!

THis is me in 2010. We went in August right after Kara was born(On 6-7).

Again with Gracie

Grace Louise is our first born and the BIG Sister! She is a super kid and really a LOT of fun! She is fearless and up for anything. She is our adventurer. She will also eat anything and does not prefer ordinary 'kid' food. We homeschool so she is really close with her siblings. She is super smart and really funny! Gracie loves Disney she rode Tower of Terror when she was 4 and has not stopped since. In 2010 she was tall enough for everything and rode Rockin Rollercoaster for the first time. Now it is one of her favorites. She also loves the BALL ride at Ecpot. Crazy but it is her favorite!

in 2008

2009

2010 on her 7th bday!

2011

Jack Randall is Mommy's boy! He is a super fun rough and tumble ALL boy kinda boy. He has been to Disney every year since he was born(starting at 7months) and he has always been super easy going and loved it! Each year he sees it like it is all new and has new and more adventuerous favorites! Last year he LOVED the Nemo ride.

2008

in 2009

Jack and Daddy in 2010

in 2011 with Mickey

Kara Jane our Little Sugar! She was a suprise baby for us and a true blessing! Her first trip she was 2 months and her second she was 11months! She wil be 2 1/2 when we go back and I cannot wait to see her REALLY experience Disney for the first time. She is a feisty little thing and knows what she wants! She is also a lover and sweet little girl!

2010

First dip the the pool..when a 2 month old baby wills wim and not cry you KNOW that water is TO warm!! It was like swimming in pee water...

2011

Gma(MIL) she is DH's Mom. SHe is single and very easy going also. She loves spending time with the kids and is a super Gma. She went with us in 2009 and other than us needing some space a few times we did great. At that time we did not have Kara so we all stayed in one room. 2 rooms this time and it should be perfect!
She is hard to get pics of...here she is sitting with Gracie in Animal Kingdom

 

[Corjack]

So our overall plan is to fly out on the 1st in the EARLY am like 7-8am and then attend the LAST Not So Scarey Halloween Party on that night (11-1) then enjoy halloween decor at each park the next day as much as possible. WE are also planning on attending a Very Merry CHristmas party, probably the first or second one. WE will be flying back out either 11-10 or 11-11. We are REALLY hoping to see the Osborne lights too. I am very hopeful that they will be up one of those last few days. Last year they started on the 10th it was the second Thursday, so I am VERY hopeful that they start between the 8th and 11th this year! Waiting for the dates for parties and lights and flights is the name of the game right now. Not my favorite thign to do. ;( We are also planning our first Character meal. We really want to do Garden Grill just becausewe have seen it several times an the kids always think it is so cool since the restaurant spins. I have only read bad and so so things about the food so it will be pricey for bad food, not sure how DH will end up feeling about that. I would also liketo try Chef Mickey's but we will see. My DH is not so hyped on buffet style food.

Well that is all the time I have for now...I will be back asap.

 

[Corjack]

A few more pics!!!

2008
THis is our first year of Tye Dye Mickey's!!!

2009

WIth our dole whips

2010

2011

 

[Corjack]

save4

 

[Corjack]

I called today to ask a few questions and while I was on the phone and the kids were quiet I went ahead and MADE OUR RESSIE!!! YAY!!!!!!!! I am so excited and I have a LONG way to go! 263 days to be exact! We still ahve to book airfare and buy party tickets but YAY for plans being in cement now!

 

[DisneyDad79]

I'm on board! You already know we will be there the same time and I can't wait for the dates to be released. Your family is awesome! I couldn't stop myself from smiling looking at those pics of your kids. Congrats on booking the trip, I'm looking forward to following along!

 

[Corjack]

I'm on board! You already know we will be there the same time and I can't wait for the dates to be released. Your family is awesome! I couldn't stop myself from smiling looking at those pics of your kids. Congrats on booking the trip, I'm looking forward to following along!

THANK YOU!!! I will be so giddy when party dates are released. I am really hoping that we get in all we are hoping to! My kids have no idea we will be there for Christmas stuff too. They will FLIP!!! I am so excited about all the PICTURES I will get to take of NEW stuff!!

 

[Corjack]

I'm on board! You already know we will be there the same time and I can't wait for the dates to be released. Your family is awesome! I couldn't stop myself from smiling looking at those pics of your kids. Congrats on booking the trip, I'm looking forward to following along!

It's like a Vacation twin!!!! THank you for subbing!! So far you are President of my PTR fan club!!!

 

[Corjack]

SO now that we have dates set and rrooms reserved it is time for some details on parks and parties!!!

Magic Kingdom is my fav. When we get there I always go upstairs in the train station onto the balcony and just take in the view of Main Street and really take a minute to be greatful for beign there with my family and making precious memories. I try and always snap a picture of DH and the kids too! I like the feeling fo that picture. Usually it is from behind but I still love that I know what they are feeling in it. Then we take our time down Main Street and usually break off before the Hub and go to either Frontierland for POTC or to Future World for FPs then to POTC. It is always our first tide! We all love it!

There are a few things we ONLY do during EMH's or if there is NO line. THere are also a few things we just don't do. And things we LOVE and do AS MANY TIMES AS POSSIBLE.

Our list of things that we do NOT stand in line for are:

Peter Pan, I know some people feel it is a staple but that line is flippin crazy.

Pooh is also in this group. It is cute and we like it but it can have an HOUR or more wait easily.

Jungle Cruise is also only if the wait is not terrible. Or we get a FP.

Stitch, sometimes it is even a total pass.

Astro Orbiter, the line for this can just be crazy. We always do it but only during EMH.

Swiss Family Tree house. Kids love the little lizards they see all over that place and the view of the park from there.

Carousel of Progress is one we like but not one we always fit in.

Our list of SKIPS is small......Country Bear Jamboree, it was weird and we did not like it at all. We also have yet to take the kids to the Hall of Presidents, not becuase I don't like it(DH does not like it) but because they are just to small to get it. This year we are learning all about the presidents so maybe we will hit it, just me and Gracie.

Our list of MUSTS: Wether it be in a line or during EHM or with FP


The Mountains!! Although last trip we missed out on Splash Mountain, it was down a few times while we were there and we never did fit it in. We normally hit Space Mountain once or maybe twice a trip and Big Thunder we do As Much As Possible! We all love it!

Haunted Mansion is another FAV. I am excited to do this during the Halloween Party!!! We normally ride a few times!

Philharmagic we do once and would do again but never seem to fit it in!

Buzz Lightyear is one we hit SEVERAL times. WE normally do FPs for it and try and it it when lines are small(during parades).

IASW is a fav too. Not because we like it but because it is tradition. We normally do it LATE during EMH's when there is ONE family per boat and maybe only people in every 2 or 3 boats. Then we snap lots of crazy pictures of each other!!! When Jack was little he LOVED this ride and I am betting Kara will this trip!!

Dumbo is a must do but we noramlly only do it once. I am hoping with the extra set of elephants that the lines are better. We NORMALLY hit this ride during EMH or very early in the morning. It is not a ride we really enjoy during the HOT part of the day.

This trip the River Boat is a MUST DO because we have not done it yet!

Tom Sawyer Island, we did it last thing before we left last year and the kids LOVED it so it is now on the MUST do list!

Mad Tea Party is a DEFIANTE MUST DO! THe kids love it and DH likes to spin them silly. We do it several times and normally a FEW times during EMH, mostly at night though it can make you feel really sick during the day and the heat.

Magic Carpets we always do, normally a couple times.

Monsters Inc we LOVE, we do it at least once or twice, sometimes more.

POTC is a FAMILY FAVORITE, always our first ride.

Snow White we always do but only when the line is short, normally during late EMH.

People Mover is also a FAMILY FAVORITE! We always have LOTS of goofy pics we take on this ride. We ride at least 3 or 4 times.

When Enchanted Tiki Room is open we always hit it too!

Tomorrowland Speedway is a favorite of my boy so we ride it several times, normally in the evening or during late EMH, also not a fun one to wait in a long line for during the heat of the day!

We also really like Watching Sonny Eclipse in Cosmic Rays! It's kind of like a ride for the kids.

We also always look for the robot rash can.


As for Parades, fireworks and shows, we always watch the light parade and wishes one night. We will be watching the Halloween Party and CHristmas Party fireworks this time so regulare wishes could possibly get skipped along with the ligth parade. The day time shows it depends, we don't ever PLAN them but normally end up seeing most of them in part or all at some point. Normally we use parade times to ride busy rides!

Our favorite places to eat at MK are Cosmic Ray's, Aloha Isle, Main Street Bakery and Peco's Bills!

This trip we plan on trying Columbia Harbor House, Tortuga Tavern and the Ice Cream place on Main Street!

We also LOVE the frozen Lemonade not sure exactly were they have it, we used to get it from a place in toontown. I *think* last trip we got it from the Mrs Potts ice cream place.

Evening EMH are a MUST DO for us also. Since MIL is going with us we might leave Kara with her becuase 2 or 3 am is just to late for her. Gracie has done it every year and Jack stayed with MIL the year she went in 2009, he was 18 months. We always plan our day around it and take some naps! We see some cool characters and get in LOTS of rides. MK late at night is true MAGIC. We always take a picture like this...


3:15AM at MK on our way out!!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Joining in! We have trips booked for Oct & Dec to go to MNSSHP & MVMCP. I think it would be awesome to have your dates fall where you could see both parties in one trip

Cant wait to hear more

 

[Corjack]

Joining in! We have trips booked for Oct & Dec to go to MNSSHP & MVMCP. I think it would be awesome to have your dates fall where you could see both parties in one trip

Cant wait to hear more

THank you for joining in!!! I am VERY excited about the Christmas part!! We are also hoping the Osborne lights are up so we can see them too. I don't think we would ever take a trip in Dec(but after getting a taste of Christmas I may be eating those words). My kids are gonna be so excited! Have you done Christmas before? DH is on the fence about the CHristmas party, but I REALLY wanna go!!!

 

[Corjack]

Double post..oops

 

[debrapagliasotti]

THank you for joining in!!! I am VERY excited about the Christmas part!! We are also hoping the Osborne lights are up so we can see them too. I don't think we would ever take a trip in Dec(but after getting a taste of Christmas I may be eating those words). My kids are gonna be so excited! Have you done Christmas before? DH is on the fence about the CHristmas party, but I REALLY wanna go!!!

We ve never been for MNSSHP or MVMCP, so we are super excited about both. Our Oct trip is very short, just 3 nights, and 2 nights of MNSSHP is the plan w/ an afternoon at F&W. We added days to the beginning of our Dec trip just recently in hopes of catching that last MVMCP on the 18th. I am anxiously awaiting those party dates to come out in April.

I have heard such amazing things about both parties.

 

[Corjack]

We ve never been for MNSSHP or MVMCP, so we are super excited about both. Our Oct trip is very short, just 3 nights, and 2 nights of MNSSHP is the plan w/ an afternoon at F&W. We added days to the beginning of our Dec trip just recently in hopes of catching that last MVMCP on the 18th. I am anxiously awaiting those party dates to come out in April.

I have heard such amazing things about both parties.

I know I cannot wait for dates to be released, it will make it more REAL when we know specifics!!!

Are you dressing up for the Halloween parties??

 

[debrapagliasotti]

I know I cannot wait for dates to be released, it will make it more REAL when we know specifics!!!

Are you dressing up for the Halloween parties??

I know what you mean...I just want to see the dates already!!

My boys are all dressing up as pirates , I figured they will be fairly cool costumes. My DD is dressing up as Mad Hatter. I am just wearing a Mickey vampire t-shirt I found on the Disney website a few months back. DH wont dress up...not his thing.

For the other party night, the kids will just wear t-shirts. My little boys have Buzz & Woody costume t-shirts, DS10 has a Jack Skellyton t-shirt, DD has a Mickey mummy bling t-shirt.

I have pics of all the t-shirts and 2 of the 4 costumes in my PTR if you want to see them I will post pics of the other 2 costumes in the next couple days when I get them delivered.

Are you planning on dressing up?

 

[Corjack]

I know what you mean...I just want to see the dates already!!

My boys are all dressing up as pirates , I figured they will be fairly cool costumes. My DD is dressing up as Mad Hatter. I am just wearing a Mickey vampire t-shirt I found on the Disney website a few months back. DH wont dress up...not his thing.

For the other party night, the kids will just wear t-shirts. My little boys have Buzz & Woody costume t-shirts, DS10 has a Jack Skellyton t-shirt, DD has a Mickey mummy bling t-shirt.

I have pics of all the t-shirts and 2 of the 4 costumes in my PTR if you want to see them I will post pics of the other 2 costumes in the next couple days when I get them delivered.

Are you planning on dressing up?

I need to go check out your trip report! We are dressing up! My oldest will be Pocahontas, my little girl will be Snow White and my son will be determined closer to the date. He wants to be Bumblebee! LOL(that is what he was last year) I will talk him into something Disney before we go! I am not sure about DH and I. We will do something but probably not a WHOLE costume. A few years back we all went to the Pirate and Princess Party and all went as Pirates. I am hoping my son will either be a pirate or an indian to go with his sister!

I was on the Disney Outlet site today and saw that Vampire Mickey shirt! Very cute! I will be getting DH and I a couple new Mickey shirst before we go! And some new Crocs for Momma! My dog chewed my new Croc Cleo's last summer!!! BAD DOG!!!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

I need to go check out your trip report! We are dressing up! My oldest will be Pocahontas, my little girl will be Snow White and my son will be determined closer to the date. He wants to be Bumblebee! LOL(that is what he was last year) I will talk him into something Disney before we go! I am not sure about DH and I. We will do something but probably not a WHOLE costume. A few years back we all went to the Pirate and Princess Party and all went as Pirates. I am hoping my son will either be a pirate or an indian to go with his sister!

I was on the Disney Outlet site today and saw that Vampire Mickey shirt! Very cute! I will be getting DH and I a couple new Mickey shirst before we go! And some new Crocs for Momma! My dog chewed my new Croc Cleo's last summer!!! BAD DOG!!!

Those sound like great costumes

I've been spending too much time lately on Disney Store website. They need to quit adding new stuff all the time, then I wont need to look . I took advantage of a big sale 2 weeks ago and got the kids a few t-shirts each for our Dec trip.

I need new Crocs too...mine make weird sounds when I walk...it really disturbs me , but I think I will probably just wear tennis shoes for both trips.

Be sure to say hello if you read my PTR (the links for both are above my tickers)

 

[Corjack]

Those sound like great costumes

I've been spending too much time lately on Disney Store website. They need to quit adding new stuff all the time, then I wont need to look . I took advantage of a big sale 2 weeks ago and got the kids a few t-shirts each for our Dec trip.

I need new Crocs too...mine make weird sounds when I walk...it really disturbs me , but I think I will probably just wear tennis shoes for both trips.

Be sure to say hello if you read my PTR (the links for both are above my tickers)

I may actually take tennis shoes this trip. When it is hot I just can't wear tennis shoes. I love my crocs, I have Minnie Mouse Mary Janes that I love. I saw onthe Croc web site they have new Mickey crocs for kids....must resist!!!!

I hit your Halloween PTR, now to hit the CHristmas one!!!

 

[Katie & Glen]

Hi There! I jumped over from Debra's PTR! Plans look good so far! I am in the same boat of waiting for party dates to be announced and waiting no so patiently for October hours to be released. I was so excited the other day when the TA site had the September hours up.

Can't wait to hear more!! Oh and shameless plug - feel free to pop over to my PTR and also there is a link in my siggy for our Dec 2010 TR where we did a MVMCP.