Amirah95
Best! Day! Everrrrrrr!
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2003
...in a couple of months I'll be planning an on-site WDW vacation for the first time.
In May 2014, for the first time EVER, my DH and my DD17 will not be going to WDW. It will be just DD5 and I and I am super nervous about it. DH will be starting a new job and knows now he won't be able to take off at that time and my DD17 will be a college student and cannot be bothered with us little people. DH is the one who normally takes care of the driving and getting my plans off the ground.
We're not the type of family to fly or stay on-site (normally), but because I am scary like that and DH said no to me, driving from NJ to get to WDW so DD who will be 6 and I will be flying (I've flown before, but not DD). We will also be staying on-site for the first time EVER and that worries me too. I've never planned an on-site WDW vacation EVER. Ever is my fave word right now.
I pulled some pages from my Passporter (which I'd normally archive right away because I wouldn't need any of it) to add back into my deluxe binder to help with my planning and I've been going through threads for those who have stayed at Caribbean Beach with a little one. I chose Caribbean Beach because it's a moderate and because of how it looks to be honest...the pool areas will attract my DD5 like no other and the room is bright and I really like the Finding Nemo theme. I don't have enough to budget for a monorail hotel or other deluxes so CB it is.
I will be getting a rental car so we can move around the Disney freely because I do bus at home to get to work and will not do it on vacation so that's one thing that I can handle without being worried. If we were at a monorail hotel, I will admit that I could skip the rental car.
Planning for attractions and shows is going to be quite different because my DD17 and DH are not going...I think I'm going to go for everything my DD5 may want to do with the hope that it will all be enough that it will fill up our days.
I am not sure about my DD5 and adding on a meal plan option either because her eating habits are crazy at this point...sometimes she'll eat this and sometimes she won't or drop it all together and then she doesn't want to eat at all and skips lunch altogether...it's a mess right now and I'm hoping she'll change to "normal" eating habits by next year , but who knows with that kid.
For the first time we'll also be eating all of our meals out so that crashes into my budget as well. I am used to villas with full kitchens so planning meals out, though sounds simple for the two of us, really isn't because my LO is picky. I plan on going off-site to pick up a few things like apples, tomatoes, bananas and carrots to have in the room...these are the things my DD5 likes to eat the most normally. I will take a few of these items out with us on park days, no doubt. I'm sure she'll go for Mickey Bars and stuff like that so no issues with snacking.
Lastly, I have to be at WDW for Star Wars Weekend and the end of the Flower & Garden Festival so I can't skip going altogether. DH will be back on board for MNSSHP so it's back to normal after.
Yes, I am a big girl and a Mom so I'm going to do it. Any tips for first time on-siters with a little one will be helpful. I just needed to come on here and vent a little. It feels kinda odd not being a "roadtripping family" for once. Oh and the extra money I'll be spending too...woo wee. I hope this vacation will not take the "roadtrip" out of me ...yes, I have already been warned.
Sorry for this being so long. Thanks to all who read this and finish it! Thanks!
In May 2014, for the first time EVER, my DH and my DD17 will not be going to WDW. It will be just DD5 and I and I am super nervous about it. DH will be starting a new job and knows now he won't be able to take off at that time and my DD17 will be a college student and cannot be bothered with us little people. DH is the one who normally takes care of the driving and getting my plans off the ground.
We're not the type of family to fly or stay on-site (normally), but because I am scary like that and DH said no to me, driving from NJ to get to WDW so DD who will be 6 and I will be flying (I've flown before, but not DD). We will also be staying on-site for the first time EVER and that worries me too. I've never planned an on-site WDW vacation EVER. Ever is my fave word right now.
I pulled some pages from my Passporter (which I'd normally archive right away because I wouldn't need any of it) to add back into my deluxe binder to help with my planning and I've been going through threads for those who have stayed at Caribbean Beach with a little one. I chose Caribbean Beach because it's a moderate and because of how it looks to be honest...the pool areas will attract my DD5 like no other and the room is bright and I really like the Finding Nemo theme. I don't have enough to budget for a monorail hotel or other deluxes so CB it is.
I will be getting a rental car so we can move around the Disney freely because I do bus at home to get to work and will not do it on vacation so that's one thing that I can handle without being worried. If we were at a monorail hotel, I will admit that I could skip the rental car.
Planning for attractions and shows is going to be quite different because my DD17 and DH are not going...I think I'm going to go for everything my DD5 may want to do with the hope that it will all be enough that it will fill up our days.
I am not sure about my DD5 and adding on a meal plan option either because her eating habits are crazy at this point...sometimes she'll eat this and sometimes she won't or drop it all together and then she doesn't want to eat at all and skips lunch altogether...it's a mess right now and I'm hoping she'll change to "normal" eating habits by next year , but who knows with that kid.
For the first time we'll also be eating all of our meals out so that crashes into my budget as well. I am used to villas with full kitchens so planning meals out, though sounds simple for the two of us, really isn't because my LO is picky. I plan on going off-site to pick up a few things like apples, tomatoes, bananas and carrots to have in the room...these are the things my DD5 likes to eat the most normally. I will take a few of these items out with us on park days, no doubt. I'm sure she'll go for Mickey Bars and stuff like that so no issues with snacking.
Lastly, I have to be at WDW for Star Wars Weekend and the end of the Flower & Garden Festival so I can't skip going altogether. DH will be back on board for MNSSHP so it's back to normal after.
Yes, I am a big girl and a Mom so I'm going to do it. Any tips for first time on-siters with a little one will be helpful. I just needed to come on here and vent a little. It feels kinda odd not being a "roadtripping family" for once. Oh and the extra money I'll be spending too...woo wee. I hope this vacation will not take the "roadtrip" out of me ...yes, I have already been warned.
Sorry for this being so long. Thanks to all who read this and finish it! Thanks!