Celebrating Comfort and Joy ~ Early December 2012 *UPDATED 11/25*(LifeUpdate 11/28)

[RooRach0906]

A Little bit about the trip and the reason for the title.

We are celebrating comfort of staying at DVC for the first time as members.

We are also celebrating Joy, my mom and dad will be making Guest apperances as they will be down at the same time as us. (Last Year, my sister gave my parents a week at Disney, Resort Only, for Christmas. My mom picked the week of her birthday.) I am taking Mom, whose name is Joy, for her 65th birthday to the Tea at the Grand Floridian.

We are very excited for this trip. It's our first trip during Christmastime.

The Index
The Cast
When and Where
How and Special Happenings
Should We
Possible Restaurants
We Have Tickets
Resturants for ADRs
ADR Success
ADR Update
Pins
DD's Birthday Trip is On
ADR Changes
Arrival Day
Which Dessert
Pictures of the Desserts
DD's Autograph book
Day 2
New Bags
Exciting News
Added ADRs
New Day 1
New Day 2
Day 3
Approx Meal Cost
Day 4
Final ADR List (I hope)
Day 5

 

[RooRach0906]

The Cast

Me, Rachel ~ 28, Stay at home mommy

DH, James ~ 26, Hardworking Security Techician

DD, Annabelle ~ 2, who is a princess or tower of terror depending on the day

Guest Apperances

DNana, Mom aka Joy and DPopPop, Dad aka Jim (Here they are with all there grandgirls, there are no boys)

Up Next ~ When and Where?

 

[RooRach0906]

When?

Dec 9-15... if we stay driving we will leave probably around 8:30-9 pm on Dec 8 so we can arrive the morning of the 9th. We are hoping the flights we will cheap enough for the 3 of us to fly tho.

Where?

Boardwalk Villas

I am looking forward to staying here but also hoping that our waitlist comes though... if our waitlist comes through we will be staying at Bay Lake Tower.


Up Next ~ How and Special Happenings

 

[RooRach0906]

Just a quick update on everyday life our princess Annabelle turned two today!! Oh where did the time go.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Happy Birthday Annabelle!!!!

Looking forward to seeing your plans (we'll be there around the same time frame)!!!

 

[RooRach0906]

Happy Birthday Annabelle!!!!

Looking forward to seeing your plans (we'll be there around the same time frame)!!!

Thank you!!

Awesome!!! I am still very up in the air about a lot of our plans. There will be a lot of what do you think questions coming up.

 

[RooRach0906]

This past weekend we had Annabelle birthday party!!! We had an immediate family (Her Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and Grandparents) only party.

Her Cupcake Cake

The 3 of us

Birthday Outfit

She found some presents

Im so thankful we had awesome weather so we were able to do most of the party outside!

 

[RooRach0906]

How? and Special Happenings

We will cover both hows??? How it came to be and how we are getting there??

How it came to be?This was supposed to be our original trip with Becky and Penny (See TR) but we a great deal this past September we went then with them. James decided during that trip that it was time to buy into DVC Oh how I love how he loves Disney too!!! So we had to use our points at some time right??? and I am dying to see Disney in all of its Christmas Glory without a ton of people so early December it was!!!

How we are getting there? Well right now our plan is to drive... we will leave around 9ish on the 8th, so we can keep Annabelle up a little past her bedtime and have her sleep in the car and it will have us arrive around 9-10ish the next morning! However, if they have a great deal on plane tickets where it will only cost a little more to fly... we will fly instead!

Special Happenings
DMom,Joy 65th Birthday is on the 10th while we will all be there!!!! Woohoo so when I found out we would all be there then I asked her if she would like to do the Grand Floridian Tea as her birthday gift?? She said yes and is very excited because she LOVES hot tea and this will be a special Mother and Daughter only event! James and DDad will have Annabelle. What mom doesn't know is that I am planning on ordering her a Cinderella Slipper Dessert just to make it a little more special!! She has done a LOT for me over the years and I just want to repay her!!

DDad, Jim is also having us meet up for a dinner to celebrate Mom's Birthday where he will ordered a cake!!

Up Next ~ Starts the What should we do section??

 

[DizNee Luver]

What a cute outfit & birthday cake!!!! Your daughter looks pretty happy!!

Our twins turned 5 on the 19th but we're just getting to a small family party tonight. (sometimes having to pay bills & be responsible gets in the way of fun times.....lol)

Looking forward to the next installment.

 

[RooRach0906]

What a cute outfit & birthday cake!!!! Your daughter looks pretty happy!!

Our twins turned 5 on the 19th but we're just getting to a small family party tonight. (sometimes having to pay bills & be responsible gets in the way of fun times.....lol)

Looking forward to the next installment.

Thank you I made her tutu and cake(the cake with a little help)!! She did awesome especially since she had an ear infection at the time.

Happy Birthday to your twins!!!!!!

I understand about the bills... I always space out buying things for the party!! In fact, the goodie bags items were all bought clearance. I love seeing how much I can save!!

Glad to hear it and thanks so much for joining in!!

 

[BDL]

Subbing in from the Roll Call thread.

Congrats on the DVC. and REALLY congrats on that awesome cupcake b-day cake.

I think its cool that you have 3 generations going to WDW at the same time.

Looking forward to reading more.

 

[RooRach0906]

Subbing in from the Roll Call thread.

Congrats on the DVC. and REALLY congrats on that awesome cupcake b-day cake.

I think its cool that you have 3 generations going to WDW at the same time.

Looking forward to reading more.

Thanks for joining in!!
Thanks, I was so over the moon when DH said he was purchasing!! Thanks about the cake it was a lot of fun to make and tasted really good.

It wasnt planned really... DH and I had already decided December before my sister gave them the week and then Mom decided she wanted to go there on her birthday.. Their dates are Dec 5 - 12 and the lucky ducks are staying at BLT.

 

[RooRach0906]

I promise an update today after I finish doing what needs to be done and DD is down for nap.

 

[RooRach0906]

I promised an update so I try to keep my word.

Should We??

I am on the fence about a lot of things, so I decided to do this section to get some input from others.

Should we do MVMCP?? We would do it Dec 11 with the DVC members pricing but I still don't know if it would be the best use of money with a 2 1/2?? I do want to see the special shows and parade that I could only get then.

Should we do Annual Passes or 7 day park hoppers?? We are planing on going again in September of next year and we will have to pay for Annabelle then.

Should we do the Dining Plan or Pay Out of Pocket??? We like to do a Table Service a day but we will have a full kitchen(unless our WL comes through then it will be a studio) to possibly make our own breakfast and lunch or dinner.

Just some of the things I am considering. Oh the choices, I feel so overwhelmed this is the first time I remember being so overwhelmed with planning.

 

[RooRach0906]

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy and Safe Memorial Day weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are headed out of town tomorrow after DH gets off work to go see my extended family(aunts, uncles, and cousins) I am so so so excited we haven't seen them in over a year and some have never meet Annabelle!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

I promised an update so I try to keep my word.

Should We??

I am on the fence about a lot of things, so I decided to do this section to get some input from others.

Should we do MVMCP?? We would do it Dec 11 with the DVC members pricing but I still don't know if it would be the best use of money with a 2 1/2?? I do want to see the special shows and parade that I could only get then.

Should we do Annual Passes or 7 day park hoppers?? We are planing on going again in September of next year and we will have to pay for Annabelle then.

Should we do the Dining Plan or Pay Out of Pocket??? We like to do a Table Service a day but we will have a full kitchen(unless our WL comes through then it will be a studio) to possibly make our own breakfast and lunch or dinner.

Just some of the things I am considering. Oh the choices, I feel so overwhelmed this is the first time I remember being so overwhelmed with planning.

Do you think your daughter will stay awake to enjoy the festivities at the party?? From what I understand (since I've never been), the crowds are smaller, lots of character meet-n-greets and the special parade & fireworks. I'm not happy with the price or the price difference in the adult & child tickets....but it's the only way we'll get to see that extra stuff....so we're going to do it. I'm not sure I'd pay $54 for a child that will sleep through it all.

I can't really advise on the dining plan since this is all new to us. But if you have a place with a kitchen & you plan on using it for some of your meals.....it seems like paying out of pocket would make sense.

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy and Safe Memorial Day weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


We are headed out of town tomorrow after DH gets off work to go see my extended family(aunts, uncles, and cousins) I am so so so excited we haven't seen them in over a year and some have never meet Annabelle!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a great weekend......a family get together sounds like fun....especially getting to show off Annabelle!!!

 

[RooRach0906]

Do you think your daughter will stay awake to enjoy the festivities at the party?? From what I understand (since I've never been), the crowds are smaller, lots of character meet-n-greets and the special parade & fireworks. I'm not happy with the price or the price difference in the adult & child tickets....but it's the only way we'll get to see that extra stuff....so we're going to do it. I'm not sure I'd pay $54 for a child that will sleep through it all.

I can't really advise on the dining plan since this is all new to us. But if you have a place with a kitchen & you plan on using it for some of your meals.....it seems like paying out of pocket would make sense.



Have a great weekend......a family get together sounds like fun....especially getting to show off Annabelle!!!

I think that she would stay up until at least 9:30-10. I was told that since she is under three we do not have to pay for her but I still dunno if we should shell out the money for it.

Well eating some meals in the room might be changed because DH really wants to fly now.


We had a great time and my family loved seeing her it was great!!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

I'm glad you had a great weekend!!!

I think the party is gonna come down to you deciding how badly you want to see the things that are only available during the parties. Is it worth the money to do it. Maybe list out the pros & the cons and see how it weighs out.

 

[RooRach0906]

DH now wants to fly he was just so tired of driving when we took or 4:30 hour car trip one way this past weekend.. he does a lot of driving for work so I am not surprised by this so I think I will look up a lot of flights to see what we can come up with. There is a possiblity he will want to change back to driving but I doubt it.

ADRs ~ I have no idea where to eat this trip for some reason I am having more trouble with this than years past and I really think its because we don't know how we are paying yet... Anyway what are your favorite WDW resturants and are they good for picky eaters????

I know we will do Rainforest or TRex as we always have to eat at one or the other. I am also thinking maybe the Grand Floridian Cafe, we loved it last trip and I really would like to do it again.

Any suggestions would be apperciate it.

 

[RooRach0906]

Haha so although I can not figure out things I need to lol!

I already know what custom shirts I want to get for all of us to do a Christmas card photo in front of the castle or with Mickey. I also know what kind of custom dress I want to buy for Annabelle.

My DDad has picked Cape May Cafe for Mom's Birthday dinner, he just hasn't told me what day.

I did get DH to have way talk about meals lol basically we only decided that we are not going to make sure there is something for DD as we are hoping to fix her eating habits before our trip.