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!

[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]

Originally Posted by 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

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!!!

[debrapagliasotti]

Originally Posted by Corjack

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]

Originally Posted by debrapagliasotti

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]

Originally Posted by Corjack

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]

Double post..oops

[Corjack]

SO we will overview Epcot. We have some must do's here that we all love.

Soarin' - I have done it once or twice. It is cool, I am not as a big of a fan as others. DH, DS and DD love it and my MIL does too. I am sure it will be a big hit!

Test Track - We all love this one and are going to TRY and ride it at night. We tried last May but it was down when we got there. ;(

Seas With Nemo and TT w/Crush we concider this the same ride. It was Jack's FAVORITE last year.

Spaceship Earth, My DD's favorite and we always ride a few times.

Mission Space, DS was a tiny bit to short last year so he will for sure be tall enough this year. He is going to love this ride space and spaceships are some of his favorite things.

Kim Possible - we tried it last year but there were like 5 other people doing the same one so it was impossible to not feel like you were just following them.

Circle of Life - we never seem to get to this. It is on our list.

Ellen's Energy Universe, never done this either, it's on the list.

Figment and the imagination area after the ride is one of the kids favs!

Innoventions and Sum of All Fears, we always seem to get to do these when someone is napping or it is raining!!!

Living with the Land is another favorite, of DH's! He has always loved this one!

Grand Fiesta boat ride in Mexico is another one we always do.

Malestrom freaks the kids out a little I think, we skipped it the last 2 years.

THe Countrys we normally browse, kids are to little to get into them to much and we usually are STARVING and mostly go to that part for FOOD!!!

We love the Mexico QS place, we always eat there a couple times.
Germany is a Fav or DH, he loves the Brats and the carmel store!!!
We are in the Morocco QS place last year and I really liked it. No one else was a Big fan.
We have eaten at the CHina QS place but it was not a must do again.
I LOVE the Norway Bakery!!!!
Sadly, we have never stepped in the American Adventure.....it's on the list.
We have also never been in the Canada pavilion. ;( On the list.
France is a family favorite, we love the pastries!!!
We have never been in the Japan area either. Which is crazy because it is a favorite of my hubby and kids at home. ;I.... on the list....
Also on the list in trying the fish and chips in UK. I always hear about it but we always seem to start on the other side and never get there and are still hungry.


As for food and wine festival kiosks, I am going to have to take a few months to look those over with Dh and everyone to see what we want to try. We might even make an afternoon of trying them ALL!!!

We do also love Sunshine seasons QS area. Lots of great options and GREAT desserts! WE are also going to do a dinner at Garden Grill Probably Tuesday the 6th or Wed the 7th, depending on when Christmas parties start. One of those nights we will be at the Christmas party.

We usually end up hitting Electric Umbrella once too! Nice outside patio to eat!

I also excited to see who is there for the free concerts during our trip!



..............

[debrapagliasotti]

Originally Posted by Corjack

SO we will overview Epcot. We have some must do's here that we all love.

Soarin' - I have done it once or twice. It is cool, I am not as a big of a fan as others. DH, DS and DD love it and my MIL does too. I am sure it will be a big hit!

Test Track - We all love this one and are going to TRY and ride it at night. We tried last May but it was down when we got there. ;(

Seas With Nemo and TT w/Crush we concider this the same ride. It was Jack's FAVORITE last year.

Spaceship Earth, My DD's favorite and we always ride a few times.

Mission Space, DS was a tiny bit to short last year so he will for sure be tall enough this year. He is going to love this ride space and spaceships are some of his favorite things.

Kim Possible - we tried it last year but there were like 5 other people doing the same one so it was impossible to not feel like you were just following them.

Circle of Life - we never seem to get to this. It is on our list.

Ellen's Energy Universe, never done this either, it's on the list.

Figment and the imagination area after the ride is one of the kids favs!

Innoventions and Sum of All Fears, we always seem to get to do these when someone is napping or it is raining!!!

Living with the Land is another favorite, of DH's! He has always loved this one!

Grand Fiesta boat ride in Mexico is another one we always do.

Malestrom freaks the kids out a little I think, we skipped it the last 2 years.

THe Countrys we normally browse, kids are to little to get into them to much and we usually are STARVING and mostly go to that part for FOOD!!!

We love the Mexico QS place, we always eat there a couple times.
Germany is a Fav or DH, he loves the Brats and the carmel store!!!
We are in the Morocco QS place last year and I really liked it. No one else was a Big fan.
We have eaten at the CHina QS place but it was not a must do again.
I LOVE the Norway Bakery!!!!
Sadly, we have never stepped in the American Adventure.....it's on the list.
We have also never been in the Canada pavilion. ;( On the list.
France is a family favorite, we love the pastries!!!
We have never been in the Japan area either. Which is crazy because it is a favorite of my hubby and kids at home. ;I.... on the list....
Also on the list in trying the fish and chips in UK. I always hear about it but we always seem to start on the other side and never get there and are still hungry.


As for food and wine festival kiosks, I am going to have to take a few months to look those over with Dh and everyone to see what we want to try. We might even make an afternoon of trying them ALL!!!

We do also love Sunshine seasons QS area. Lots of great options and GREAT desserts! WE are also going to do a dinner at Garden Grill Probably Tuesday the 6th or Wed the 7th, depending on when Christmas parties start. One of those nights we will be at the Christmas party.

We usually end up hitting Electric Umbrella once too! Nice outside patio to eat!

I also excited to see who is there for the free concerts during our trip!



..............

There is so much at Epcot we havent seen/done. Last time we went on TT, it kept breaking down every little bit, so the kids really want to experience it the right way...breakdown free

I have a whole list of stuff I want to try for snacks (I figure thats a whole post in itself ).

[Corjack]

Originally Posted by debrapagliasotti

There is so much at Epcot we havent seen/done. Last time we went on TT, it kept breaking down every little bit, so the kids really want to experience it the right way...breakdown free

I have a whole list of stuff I want to try for snacks (I figure thats a whole post in itself ).

I heard TT is very cool after Dark!

I am excited about the free DDP and F&W!!!!! YAY!