Being made a Saint TWICE deserves a trip to Mickey's House! PTR Update pg.12 06/06!!!

[MegansMom]

Welcome to my June 2012 PTR! You are in for such a treat because on top of all the fun we will have planning this upcoming trip, I will also be sharing with you all some of the highlights from our July 2011 trip that I was unable to report about due to health issues--no worries though, things are definitely MUCH better for me now! I will update all about that soon!

For now, let's get this PTR off and running! There is so much to say about this trip--so much has already been planned--so the updates are sure to be fast and furious! (It's so hard to not spill all the details and backstory to this trip right now, but it would inevitably come out like jarbled mush!) Sooooooooooooo, let's just start with the basics: the WHO, the WHEN, and the WHERE!

THE WHO

Although we had a great time traveling with our great friends last July, we are SO excited that this trip will be JUST THE THREE OF US!!! For those of you who know us, you know how much we love touring our favorite place on our time, in our own way! For those of you who do not know us....a brief intro:

Me--Jen/MegansMom/Mommy
I am a 35 year old wife, mother, and teacher who was RAISED on trips to WDW! (Yes, I had a very blessed childhood!) Now that I have a family of my own, I have been trying to carry on the tradition of a childhood filled with Disney memories for my own daughter.

Tom--Honey/Daddy/Fastpass MASTER
Tom is a 36 year old hubby, father, and Assistant Controller for a large corporation here in our Cincinnati area. He was not raised on Disney like me, but has quickly joined in the love of all the MAGIC found at Disney. He has also perfected the use of the FP, and therefore earned himself the title, FASTPASS MASTER!

Megan--Princess/Squirt/"Our SAINT!"
Megan is our miracle 8 year old 2nd Grader whose FAVORITE place in the entire world is MICKEY'S HOUSE!! She enjoys EVERY opportunity she has to enjoy all the MAGIC at WDW, and is SO proud that she is the REASON and solely responsible for this trip this year. (Much more on that LATER!)

THE WHEN
We arrive on Wednesday, June 13th, and don't have to return home until Sunday, June 24th!!! 10 GLORIOUS DAYS of MAGIC!!!

THE WHERE
We have once again rented DVC points, and will be staying in studio accomodations at OLD KEY WEST RESORT for the entire trip!!!!

Okay, so there is the basic scoop....I have SO much more in store for you though, so hurry back!!! See you real soon!

Links to Updates!!!
The What, The Why, and the How!
July 2011 WDW Trip…Part One
Well, this is a FIRST!
It's Father/Daughter Dance time!
Health Update
We are officially set! A PTR update!
July 2011 Trip...Day Two!
July 2011 Trip...Day Two cont!
A Little Bit of Easter and First Communion!
July 2011 Trip...Day Three! (it continues down to the next post under it too!)
Less than two weeks to go....AAAAACCCCCKKKKK!!!!
8 Days to GO!!!!!
Purse Dilemma....SOLVED!!!

 

[Minniesnumberonefan]

Joining in!

We will be there the 16th-24th for our anniversary so I'm excited to see what someone else has planned for the same time

 

[micandminforever]

Joining the fun read.

 

[Trentmom]

YAY, you have started

Back to read

 

[disneychard]

Joinging in!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Here, Jen!!!

 

[redsox721]

So looking forward to hearing about this trip and the previous one.

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

Here!!! 10 days are wonderful!

 

[cherbear]

yay!! Love your intro pics. I feel like I haven't seen some (or all) of them til now

 

[MegansMom]

Joining in!

We will be there the 16th-24th for our anniversary so I'm excited to see what someone else has planned for the same time

Happy Anniversary!!! How many is it for you two??!?! My lovely hubby and I will be celebrating #13 in July....it just keeps getting better every year! Wouldn't it be great if some of our plans overlapped?!?

Joining the fun read.

YEAH!!! SO glad you are here for the fun!!!

YAY, you have started

Back to read

Not too much to read yet...but already working on the next chapter!!! This one is going to be fast and furious!

Joinging in!

SO glad you have joined in...should be in for a good time with both pics of the PTR and the TR from last year! WELCOME ABOARD!

Here, Jen!!!

YEAH!!!! I am so glad you found your way here....I am going to have to go out and let some of our other friends know it is here!! Sending you hugs each and every day!

So looking forward to hearing about this trip and the previous one.

YEAH! So glad you found your way over!!! I think this one is going to be FABULOUS, and I am so looking forward to letting you all in on our last one!

Here!!! 10 days are wonderful!

YEAH!!! We can't wait for our 10 days...it is SO Megan's "fault!" More on that later!

yay!! Love your intro pics. I feel like I haven't seen some (or all) of them til now

HEY girlie!!! You are right...those are from our trip last year, so you haven't seen these yet! LOTS more to show you in more updates soon! Sooooooooooooo.......I would LOVE to know about that ticker of yours!?!?! Spill the beans girlie!!!

 

[cinderella crazy]

Joining in! Can't wait to hear more!

 

[lmillercrew]

I'm Here! I'm Here!!! AND we will be at Disney at the same time!!!! We are going June 19-27 at AllStarSports.

 

[sunny_stace]

Can't wait to hear all about both trips! I'm definitely in!

 

[MegansMom]

Joining in! Can't wait to hear more!

WELCOME!!!! So glad to have you here! It is SURE to be fun!!!

I'm Here! I'm Here!!! AND we will be at Disney at the same time!!!! We are going June 19-27 at AllStarSports.

YEAH!!! SO glad you could make it over!! How fun that we will be there at the same time! We will have to compare notes on what we are all doing!

Can't wait to hear all about both trips! I'm definitely in!

Stace!!! SO glad you found me!!! I feel like I have so much to share....it is so hard to even know where to begin!!! SO glad you are along for the ride!!!

 

[ampc3]

Haven't had time to read yet Jen, but just wanted to let you know I'm here :O
Glad to hear and see you back girl! can't wait to catch up...

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Hang on. I think we might overlap!!!!!!!!

 

[MeMom]

We arrive on Wednesday, June 13th, and don't have to return home until Sunday, June 24th!!! 10 GLORIOUS DAYS of MAGIC!!!

I'm Here! I'm Here!!! AND we will be at Disney at the same time!!!! We are going June 19-27 at AllStarSports.

Hang on. I think we might overlap!!!!!!!!

Wigd, set us all up with a DIS meet. We arrive on the 23rd.

 

[MegansMom]

Haven't had time to read yet Jen, but just wanted to let you know I'm here :O
Glad to hear and see you back girl! can't wait to catch up...

You are so sweet!!! I am so glad you are here! Can I tell you how GREAT it feels to be back!?!?!?! There is just something wonderfully special and warm about the friendships we have on here! So good to be "hanging out" with everyone again!

Hang on. I think we might overlap!!!!!!!!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!! Now, I am already TOTALLY excited about this trip, but that little tidbit just made my stomach flip flop with joy!!! Now, I know you are a little "preoccupied" right now...in the best way EVER, but when you get home, we have to figure this all out!!!

Wigd, set us all up with a DIS meet. We arrive on the 23rd.

OH MY GOSH!!! OH MY GOSH!!! OH MY GOSH!!! Girls, we MUST talk...I would love to hear the details!! Wouldn't that be amazing if I could see you all before we leave!?!?!?! Oh what a perfect ending to this trip that would be!!!

 

[cherbear]

HEY girlie!!! You are right...those are from our trip last year, so you haven't seen these yet! LOTS more to show you in more updates soon! Sooooooooooooo.......I would LOVE to know about that ticker of yours!?!?! Spill the beans girlie!!!

Until I looked at it again just now, I guess it's not the greatest pregnancy ticker! As you have guessed, I am halfway through my first pregnancy, and it's a little GIRL

We were quite surprised to find it is a girl, but very very thrilled! So far, so good. Dr says she looks perfect. I'm due August 3, but I suspect she will arrive as a July baby! I'm just shy of 5 feet tall, so there's not much room for her in there. LOL

After the years of hell, the failed adoption, you can bet we are just OVER. THE. MOON!!!

And I'm already set on taking her to Disney in Aug/Sept of 2013, just after she turns 1!!! I know she "won't remember" it, but WE WILL. We haven't been since '09 and let's face it, mama just can't wait any longer than that to go back!

 

[MegansMom]

Okay, so we have tackled the WHO, the WHEN, and the WHERE, so I think that leaves the WHAT, the WHY, and the HOW! Alrighty then, let’s GO!
THE WHAT
Well, obviously, the main WHAT is that we are going to Disney World for 10 days…..but you all know the OCD planner I am, and I know how you all love details, so of course we already have our Master Plan already devised. HERE IT IS:
Wednesday, June 13th: Departure Day!!! Megan’s dance recital is the night before, so our plan is to head home afterwards and go right to bed so we can wake early on Wednesday—like 2 or 3am—to head out on our journey. Even with gas prices soaring towards $5/gallon, it is still cheaper for us to drive, and since we honestly enjoy the road trip, we will be hitting the “Holiday Road” heading due south to MICKEY’S HOUSE! J (Sidenote: Yes, we are that geeky family that starts every road trip by blasting the infamous Lyndsey Buckingham song Holiday Road from National Lampoon’s Vacation as soon as we pull out of the driveway…even if it is 3am!) Tom usually has us there in about 13 hours, so we should arrive at OKW sometime late in the afternoon. Our plans are to check-in and hit the pool for the rest of the evening. I am not going to make any ADRs for this night…we will just chill and eat whatever we want, when we want. Just a chill out kind of night!
Thursday, June 14th: MAGIC KINGDOM!!! Okay you all know us too well….you know that there is no other place for us to head on Day one than to our princess’s favorite kingdom!! Yes, it is an EMH morning, and I am sure that will make it more crowded, but we will just be so happy to be there, it doesn’t matter what we accomplish. We will be eating dinner at a family favorite….Liberty Tree Tavern at 5:15pm. The perfect way to start a trip for the three of us!
Friday, June 15th: Hollywood Studios! Tom still can’t believe we are going to be missing Star Wars Weekends by a mere few days, but we can’t wait to hit the Studios for another classic family battle on TSM and to take in FANTASMIC! We are having an early dinner at Mama Melrose’s at 3:50pm as part of the Fantasmic Dinner Package so we will be guaranteed a good spot to sit for the show that night.
Saturday, June 16th: Magic Kingdom! We will be in for another fun day of our favorites like IASW and Splash Mountain, and our bellies will be SO happy after our 5pm dinner at OHANAS!!! We are ALL salivating already just thinking about that amazing meal!!! YUM!
Sunday, June 17th: Animal Kingdom! We will surely take in our Nemo and FOTLK shows….do those EVER get old?!?! This will not be a full day for us though, and we will head back to OKW for a wonderful afternoon and evening at their beautiful pool! Later that evening, we will hop aboard one of the OKW boats and take a relaxing ride over to SSR for our late dinner at Turf Club Bar and Grill. What a way to end a beautiful Sunday!
Monday, June 18th: EPCOT! Although Megs is terribly upset that her favorite EP ride—Test Track—is going to be closed our entire trip, we are determined to go out and find some NEW favorite things to do this year at EP….looking forward to tackling Innoventions for the first time, finding some new fun meet and greets in the World Showcase, and seeing if Megan enjoys trying out one of the missions…will it be switched to Perry the Platypus by then?!??! We are in for a late meal at a window seat at Nine Dragons at 8:30pm so we can take in a little of Illuminations while we eat. Now, yes, I know what a lot of people often say about Nine Dragons, but we had a DELIGHTFUL dinner there last July, and it was one of the only restaurants Tom actually requested to return on this trip. (BTW…they have AMAZING iced tea!)
Tuesday, June 19th: Hollywood Studios! We are returning for a second day for some of our favorite movie memories. We are taking in a first on this second HS day….dinner at Sci-Fi Dine In Theater at 6:25pm. We would love input on what to try…suggestions?!?!
Wednesday, June 20th: Magic Kingdom! Just can’t get enough of this magical place! We will be hopping a boat over to Wilderness Lodge later that evening for a fabulous and FUN dinner at 5:20pm at Whispering Canyon Café. We had such an AMAZING dinner here last year that Tom and Megan both made sure we were returning here again this year. Tom couldn’t stop eating ribs…and is SO looking forward to repeating it all over again this year!
Thursday, June 21st: EPCOT!! Another day of fun at Future World and World Showcase, followed by dinner at 5:15 at Tutto Italia! After hearing CP’s amazing review of this restaurant coupled with the fact that my hubby is Italian, we knew we HAD to try out this place this year. Again, any suggestions for what to try are greatly appreciated!
Friday, June 22nd: Magic Kingdom! We will be in for a FULL day and night of Disney magic! I haven’t made reservations for this night yet….can’t figure out which restaurant either in or near MK we want to take in….suggestions anyone?!??!
Saturday, June 23rd: Magic Kingdom! We will come for one last spin on Dumbo and to absorb as much pixie dust as we can before we head out and start heading home. Oh how we all hate that last day/minute/moment in MK! BUT, I am sure it will be an end to another wonderful vacation for the three of us.
Sunday, June 24th: Arrive Home!
THE WHY
Well, this trip actually started out as a dream trip across the USA….just like the Griswolds in our own “Family Truckster”….to see all the sites out West and in California that we have always wanted to get to see. We are talking a full 2 week trip to the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, San Francisco, San Diego, LA, oh yes, and of course DISNEYLAND!!!! Let me just tell you, we were three excited vacationers!!! BUT, then reality came calling, and we realized the VERY expensive trip that we had in the works, really was NOT the wisest move since we are nearing the process of building our dream home. I remember Tom’s reaction once we actually totaled it all up….it was something along the lines of this: “WOW! We could go to Disney World THREE times for that amount!” Yeah…..it was THAT expensive!
So being rationally-minded people, we knew we needed to come up with alternative vacation plans. Now, I know what you are thinking—you think we just naturally switched our plans to going to Disney WORLD since we knew it would be THAT much cheaper. Well, you would be WRONG! Tom really wanted to try something different because he wanted to try to wait to go back to WDW until after the Fantasyland expansion was finished. SOOOOOOOO a very long process began of trying to find an alternative vacation destination. It was painful at times….nothing seemed interesting or worthwhile at ALL to Megan and me, but we knew pouting and trying to sway Daddy’s opinion was just NOT going to happen. We knew we would need a MIRACLE for that to happen.
Well, that is EXACTLY what we got! J See, our school has a special award that they give to one girl and one boy student in each homeroom once a trimester called the “Saint Award.” It is given to a student who is the epitome of what we want all our students to be—kind, compassionate, respectful, courteous, etc.—I think you get the picture. It is called the Saint Award because 1. That is our school mascot and 2. The kids who receive this award truly are “Saints” in their own ways in and outside the classroom. Megan has received this award the first trimester of every year since Kindergarten…yes, we are ABUNDANTLY proud of her. This school year was no different, and in her first report card we received the certificate proclaiming her once again the first trimester “Saint” for her 2nd grade homeroom. Now, I realize at this point you are probably wondering what this has to do with Disney. Well, at one point in our VERY painful and long debate with Tom about where to go for vacation, Megan brought up going to WDW once again. Tom quickly told her no. Megan then asked when we could go back to Disney—searching for some hope/timeline of when she could go back. Tom quickly replied, “When you win two Saint Awards.” (See, it is traditionally awarded to a child only ONCE a year, so he thought he had come up with a response that would satisfy Megs, but would never actually happen!) Well, we kept working on vacation plans, and quickly found ourselves at the end of the 2nd trimester. It was a very typical Friday afternoon for Megan and me when we received her report card, and since she had already won the Saint Award, we weren’t looking for anything else in the envelope besides her report card. WELL……….you can ONLY imagine the profound surprise on both our faces when out dropped a certificate as I was pulling out her report card………..a certain light blue certificate…………a certain light blue certificate that was identical to one she had received in her report card the last trimester!!!!!!!!!!!! That’s right….she was once again awarded the SAINT AWARD!!!!!! It was a first in school history!!!! We quickly ran up to her teacher to make sure it wasn’t a mistake, but she assured us that Megan’s behavior and support for her fellow classmates once again earned her that prestigious honor!!! Well, you could not contain our excitement. She and I literally started jumping up and down, screaming in excitement, and eventually crying tears of overwhelming pride!!! And THAT’S when she remembered and she screamed at the top of her lungs, “THIS MEANS WE GET TO GO TO MICKEY’S HOUSE!!!!!!” I started laughing because I had forgotten about Tom’s off-handed comment, but wanted to take advantage of this opportunity as best I could! J We quickly called Tom on speakerphone to break the big news. He was so unbelievably proud of her, and laughed just as hard when she promptly reminded him of what he said. So, it was decided that night at dinner that we would indeed be heading back to WDW for vacation…I mean come on…where else do you take someone who has been named a Saint—TWICE!?!!??!
The dates for the trip quickly fell into place. We chose to leave on the 13th—the day after her ballet recital—so she wouldn’t miss any of that fun. Since we are heading down in the middle of the week, we quickly decided to go ahead and stay for 10 days to take us through to the next weekend. We can’t wait, and what has made this all even more special is that she realizes SHE is the reason we are going back to WDW…she earned it all by herself! I think it has made it mean that much more to her!!
THE HOW
Even though gas prices are sure to be nearing $5/gallon this summer, we are still currently planning to drive our beloved “Family Truckster” one more time down to Mickey’s House. I have been watching for flight deals, but haven’t found much that looks good yet. I will keep waiting though…we shall see!!! It will be okay if we drive though, because I think there is a part of each of us that really enjoys that part of the trip…our time together singing to our favorite Disney music, watching our favorite Disney movies, and snacking on our favorite car foods. Tom is a master chauffeur, and usually has us pulling under that beloved sign within 12-13 hours of leaving our home.

Okay gang…so fire away with the suggestions I need for restaurants/food. The next update will be the first one featuring the trip from July. I have a video that you all MUST see, but I am just hoping it will upload since it is in HD! See you real soon!