1 Child and 10 Adults--A GG to Celebrate DD's 4th Bday :) TR Link is Posted

[jenny105]

Welcome back! Ugh, I am not good in traffic, so that extra long ride home would have had me freaking out. Lilian can keep her cool much better than I can!

 

[DrMomof3]

What a frustrating car trip!!! I feel for you!
My kids do MUCH better when we keep a schedule. It's hard sometimes at Disney because there's so much cool stuff to see and do! We try to make early ADRs so we can have a relatively normal bedtime routine.

Amanda

 

[leamom2princesses]

Glad to hear you made it back home safely!

Sorry the trip home was so long but I think it was a great test for Lilian and it sounds like she did wonderfully.

Can't wait to see some pics of the skirt. Have a great weekend!

 

[kcandbella]

Welcome back! I am glad to hear things went as well as possible. The packing list is a great idea.

I hope you get the skirt done! I only have one more thing I want to sew for the trip. This will make SIX things I have sewn for her for Disney! I am officially crazy! I have been working like crazy on bows to match, too!

 

[MHTeacher]

Glad you made it home safely!

I know it was a long trip, but it sounds like it gave you some valuable insight into traveling with Lilian for your September trip to Disney.

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Welcome back! Glad you made it back safely.

 

[mousescrapper]

Hey Julie. I am planing on doing a TR when I come back so I will be sure to give the update on Fantasyland and TT. If there is something specific you would like to know about--just let me know and I will do my best to see what is up.

not sure yet...but if Toontown closes before Nov...which who knows when...I just want to know where the Fairies will be? Besides Mickey and his house...I love that house. Hope we can "see" it before it moves...

We are pretty set on MK as being our first stopping point. Only because this trip is for Lilian and her wishes. Disney is Cinderella's Castle to her. That is what she wants to see first thing. So that is the route we will go this time around. next time, I think we would play it differently, but who knows what the future will hold for us (or anyone or Disney)? Thanks for offering suggestions nonetheless!

You are welcome. If your goals are to basically see the castle and soak in MK...this certaintly can be accomplished in under 2-3 hrs.

Here are the other tidbits of information I learned on this trip:

*I will be creating a daily packing list for the park bag so I can put the bulk of it together at night and add the last minute things in the morning.

I love those lists...I always kept a bag packed in the stroller w/ the park/touring essentials and then just added the fresh things in the morning, like cups, snacks, and the days touring plan!


*Lilian is going to need some type of “consistent” schedule to thrive the week we are down there. Active in the morning, lunch, break, more park time, dinner and wind down time before bed.

Some colorful kid-friendly maps that you can laminate and give her stickers to cover up the stuff you do can help her feel part of the "plan" Sticking to an overal guide of a daily plan really does help keep those tired/cranky moments for the kids and adults at bay.

Here is a link to the PDF file if you have not seen these:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/me...en_us/PDF/MagicalBeginningsGuide_03192010.pdf



*We might be able to get her to take a nap in the afternoon. She was very passive in her stroller and looked like she was fighting sleep.

we always carry a thin towel and clips to place over the stroller to help w/ the heat and maybe entertain that needed quiet time or nap...JAT



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You should be really well planned and prepared ​

 

[creativeamanda]

I think I would still go to MK Sept 11 and perhaps have dinner at the Grand Floridian or the Polynesian. I think it would give her that good first experience, and I think that the NOJ will actually lower crowds since it's a hard ticket even similar to the way MNSSHP and MVMCP lower the am crowds in Magic Kingdom.

That's just my 2 cents.

 

[lexmas]

Glad your trip went well!

I love the idea of daily packing lists. I think I will probably have to do that, because I am constantly forgetting things.

Can't wait to see the skirt!

 

[Charlefours]

Long car trips made longer are never fun! I'm sure you were so glad to finally be home.

I agree that some form of consistency, especially for little ones, is the key to a good trip. We always found an afternoon break helped us to get things finished w/o getting overly tired and cranky so I think that's a good plan. Besides- who wants to be in the parks in the heat of the day!

I like the idea of having a list for the park bag as well- all those little steps of organization that others (ahem, my family) think are obsessive are really what makes everything run smoothly so you can concentrate on just having fun on your trip!

Definitely glad to be home! I think the afternoon break is the best thing for us--the weather is going to be HOT so having time to cool off, get off our feet, swim and/or rest seems ideal!

I know my DH thinks I am crazy but at least I am with others who are like me here on DIS! I have a feeling he will be thanking me as the mornings should go nice and smooth hopefully.

I'm sorry to hear that the ride home took so long, but that is awesome that Lilian did so well!

We've tried to keep Ashlyn's schedule consistent while on vacation, too. When we were able to take our big stroller (couldn't this past trip, but will be bringing it in September) we would just lay it all the way back and pull the canopy all the way down and she would go right to sleep. I'm hoping that it will work again this coming trip and she'll be able to take her regularly scheduled nap while we're still in the park.

Can't wait to see some of the things you're going to be making!

Hi Christina! It is part of driving unfortunately but we survived. It is just one of those situations you just have to go with it because there is nothing else you can do about it.

You are lucky Ashlyn is still willing to nap in a stroller--most times Lilian is not. I have a feeling we all will want the break--if anything to get away from other family members! Plus, with how hot it is going to be, I think getting some downtime during the really hot part of the day seems ideal. Hopefully it will lead to less meltdowns at night for all parties involved.

Thanks! I finished a skirt last night so I hope to get pictures up tomorrow.

 

[Charlefours]

Welcome back! Ugh, I am not good in traffic, so that extra long ride home would have had me freaking out. Lilian can keep her cool much better than I can!

You would be fine if you had to be. Lilian is a seasoned car traveler--we have driven to CO, NC x 3 and countless trips to MI and IN while we lived in IL.

What a frustrating car trip!!! I feel for you!
My kids do MUCH better when we keep a schedule. It's hard sometimes at Disney because there's so much cool stuff to see and do! We try to make early ADRs so we can have a relatively normal bedtime routine.

Amanda

I know Lilian does better if she knows what to expect. I am a little worried about it but if I stick to my plans and everyone else wants to stay than Lilian and I will leave. I think it will be good to get out of the sun and the excitement of the parks for a bit each day.

The only night we are eating later is Friday, our last night, so we can eat while watching Illuminations. MNSSHP is the only other night that would be a late one for us. She is normally in bed now about 8:30 most nights so we will try to be somewhat near there whenever possible.

 

[Charlefours]

Glad to hear you made it back home safely!

Sorry the trip home was so long but I think it was a great test for Lilian and it sounds like she did wonderfully.

Can't wait to see some pics of the skirt. Have a great weekend!

HI Leanne! Thanks I am glad to be home. We were ready to be home that's for sure! We could not have asked Lilian to be better than what she did. I think the key to driving down to Disney will be planning time for her to get out and run around a bit. I may pack a picnic lunch for Friday (our long day) and have a few balls to play with in the van. Then, we can stop at a rest area (hopefully with a play area) and run around for a bit to stretch our legs and burn energy off.

I am going to post pictures tomorrow of the skirt I finished last night.

Welcome back! I am glad to hear things went as well as possible. The packing list is a great idea.

I hope you get the skirt done! I only have one more thing I want to sew for the trip. This will make SIX things I have sewn for her for Disney! I am officially crazy! I have been working like crazy on bows to match, too!

Thanks Kayce! I cannot wait to see what else you have sewn for your trip. I did finish the skirt last night! I am excited about it--I think it turned out pretty cute!

 

[Charlefours]

Glad you made it home safely!

I know it was a long trip, but it sounds like it gave you some valuable insight into traveling with Lilian for your September trip to Disney.

Yup! It was good to know things in advance that will help our trip go more smoothly!

Welcome back! Glad you made it back safely.

Thank you!!

 

[Charlefours]

You should be really well planned and prepared

I think the Fairies, as of what has been said as of now, will join Mickey, Minnie and the Princesses up in Exposition Hall that has been under construction to make way for this. I will definitely let you know what is happening when we go down. Any other things you want scouted, just LMK. I will post prior to leaving about it too.

I love lists too. I think having one with everyday items and then any extra items we need for that specific day is what I am thinking. Thank you so much for the link--I had not seen that one yet. I will probably pack the towel/clothes pins just in case but she is not a regular napper nor normally sleeps in her stroller anymore. Just in case though, it would be worth it.

Thanks--I sure hope we will be ready but then again, I know there is no way to anticipate or plan for every possible scenario.

I think I would still go to MK Sept 11 and perhaps have dinner at the Grand Floridian or the Polynesian. I think it would give her that good first experience, and I think that the NOJ will actually lower crowds since it's a hard ticket even similar to the way MNSSHP and MVMCP lower the am crowds in Magic Kingdom.

That's just my 2 cents.

Thank you! I think we are set on going to MK knowing that we may not get down as much as we could at another park. I think just going there and exposing all the newbies, including my DD, will be the best thing possible to set the trip off to a magical start.

Glad your trip went well!

I love the idea of daily packing lists. I think I will probably have to do that, because I am constantly forgetting things.

Can't wait to see the skirt!

I know that is why I want to have the daily pakcing lists so if I am slow going in the morning, I am not scrambling and I know I can do a quick check to see if we are missing things by glancing at my list.

I will post pictures of the skirt tomorrow.

 

[elizablake]

Your daily packing list is a great idea that I haven't heard of before. In the past, we have always had a backpack "area" where we would toss things that shoud return with us to the parks. Are you going to make one master list for everyday or will it vary each day?

 

[kcandbella]

Looking forward to seeing the pictures tomorrow!

 

[Charlefours]

Your daily packing list is a great idea that I haven't heard of before. In the past, we have always had a backpack "area" where we would toss things that shoud return with us to the parks. Are you going to make one master list for everyday or will it vary each day?

Thanks! It will be specific to each day--obviously there will be the common items (like the cameras) but I will also have specific daily needs. For instance, on Tuesday is Lilian's birthday so it will have the specific things needed for BBB among other things.

Looking forward to seeing the pictures tomorrow!

Coming up shortly

 

[Charlefours]

As those of you who read FB may remember, I finished Lilian’s first bubble skirt on Saturday evening. I am really happy with it. No, it is not perfect but I think it is pretty decent for being the first clothing I have sewn for Lilian. I have so much more to learn! I have two more items planned and have the materials for them. Hopefully I will be able to start one in the next week or so. :

Here are the pictures:

DH is holding up the skirt for me—you can kinda see the bubble at the bottom. The second two show Lilian wearing it--she loves it and did not want to take it off! Lilian really seemed to enjoy wearing it, which makes me really happy.

The second exciting thing that has happened in the last few weeks is that we decided to buy me a new camera—Canon Rebel XS. I have had a lot of fun playing with it the last few days. Bear with me because I want to show some pictures I have taken—I still have a lot to learn with it but I love it already!

The first is a picture of Lilian—one of my favorites right now.

The second is a goofy one—completely her right now.

Next, is a flower from my planter beds—I love spring and taking pictures of our flowers and garden once it is planted.

Lastly, is another fun one of Lilian.

Thank you for letting me show off pictures of the skirt and Lilian. Besides getting the new camera and finishing the skirt, we went to hear DH's dad sing in a concert featuring Frank Sinatra songs. It was a great concert! I sure hope you had a great weekend.

 

[Dancegrl624]

What a cute skirt!!! I must say, being a ballet teacher, I LOVE the middle picture. Look at her beautiful little tendu!!!

 

[dismagiclover]

You did a great job on the skirt! The skirt and the little girl in it are adorable