10 people, 8 days and 3 rooms, IT WAS WILD!!!! *7/16* pt 3 on pg 20

[meriann]

Ok this is my first ever pre-trip so please hang with me...

This is a family vacation with my DH's family and our first ever vacation as a group. This is also the longest time we will have spent together as a whole family since we got married in 94. We are going June 14th-22nd

We all live in different states and as a Marine my dh tends to visit many countries for extended periods of time : so family time is LIMITED!

Ok so the cast,split in to main and supporting cast.

MAIN

Me, I am a Marine spouse and mom of 3. I am also a demo for a rubber stamp company( don't know if i can what which one here) I have classes in my house and do shows when I can. I have a regular Bunco group and volunteer in my kids schools weekly. I am OBSESSIVE when it comes to planning this trip. I have a special binder with TONS of stuff in there already.

my DH, whom we will just call SSGT. He is a wonderful loving and understanding hubby when it comes to my trip excitement. He is laid back and just a good guy. He has been a Marine for 14years and LOVES IT.

DS, well call him Buzz he is soon to be 11 and when he was 3 was the cutest Buzz Light year EVER! He has Aspergers but is very high functioning and CAN"T WAIT for this trip. He and SSGT are both major Star Wars NUTS so we are HOPING SW weekend will still be going on while we are there.

DD#2 well call her the DIVA. She is 8 going on 18 and full of EVERYTHING. She thinks she is going to be the next Hannah Montana, but still wants to be a princess. But ONLY Jasmine, why you ask, becasue she gets to show her belly : I don't know how she ended up this way.

DD#3, well call her Aurora, she is in LOVE with sleeping beauty and has her full costume for halloween and will get to wear it again for our day at the castle that I want to plan( I will get to that soon)

here is a picture of our first trip to Disney this Jan. we only spent 1 day at MK then left for a cruise the next day but the kids LOVED IT!

here is one of the end of the day

The supporting cast
MIL, this is SSGT's mom. she is the BEST MIL in the WORLD, this trip was her idea that we have been "talking" about for a few years, just waiting for DD#3 to turn 5.
FIL, SSGT's step dad but also one of the sweetest men you will ever meet in your life. They both live in Il and work for a seed corn company so summers are hard but they planned this special for the grandkids. They are also VERY MUCH go-getters. they run and play with the kids and are really big kids at heart.

BIL, this is SSGT's baby brother. He is very quiet, and I am not sure how he feels about this but he will just have to ENDURE! He lives in OH, and has a job that like my dh we never see him, so getting time when we are actully together, is a treat.

SIL, bil's wife. she is VERY sweet and just as excited as I am about this trip. We are going to their house this Thanksgiving to plan iteneray!

my neice, we will call the ROCKSTAR. she is 9 and as HM as my DIVA. they are 2 peas in a pod. We got to have her for a week this summer and she told me EVERYTHING in DIs that she wants to do too.

so thats the begining of what I am sure will turn out to be an epic LONG drama....


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

We are home and I have started my Trip Report

Part 1, Getting there Pg 19
Part 2, a Birthday Surprise Pg 20

 

[kindakrazy2]

Yeah Meri! Great start - can't wait to help you plan your trip! You know I am helping whether you want me to or not! Hahahahaha!!!!

 

[meriann]

I am counting on you Sarah! You can be my fairy Godmother!

 

[meriann]

Ok part 1, how we got started.

Dear MIL has been saying that once the kids were all at least 5 we would all go to Disney. Well my youngest will be 5 in April of 08. So in May during one of our regular Sunday phone calls, she asks if I have been thinking of dates for our trip? I was ????????????? then she said next summer we have to have our big trip. I said I would prefer Oct since the weather is much nicer but she refused to let the kids miss school. (who is the mom again?) So I said, pick a time in the summer and we will do it.

She calles back a few days later and said June 14-22nd. Then said..... OK since you're the major disney fan, you check out prices ect... then we will see what works best. SO I spent way to much time here and at the disney site, trying to get prices ect...I was ready to SCREAM by the end but at the same time, I would spend many nights laying in bed wondering what hotel I really wanted.

We finally decided that for the 10 of us the best option for us was to book 2 rooms at Shades of Green. I got them as soon as they were available to us in June! We are hoping to get connecting rooms so we can come and go. They are so big and we don't plan on spending too much time there, I think it will be wonderful.

Then I went right out and bought a binder and decorated it so I could put all my ideas, menus and notes in one place.

Now I have been spending countless hours reading the boards trying to pick what ADR's we will want, what special things we want to do. So far the MUST do for the girls is, an appt with the fairy godmothers at BBB and then Lunch at CRT. I can't wait to see my youngest in her Sleeping Beauty dress sitting at the castle!


We are all meeting at BIL for Thanksgiving and will plan our all our ADR's and our days that weekend.

I just would like to know if we will know what the EMH will be. I want to plan park days for those. None of us are sleepers so We will make full use of them.

Our other hope is that we will know about Star Wars weekends. SSGT and Buzz are the BIGGEST SW's fans so we want to try to do some of the fun things that happen at MGM.

Any tips or any help people have I am a sponge and want to soak up as much as I can!

 

[lovebuzzandwoody]

Hi!
Here via Sarah!
Great start!

 

[kindakrazy2]

Thanks Buzz! You'll get to love Meriann!

OKay, going back to read the last installment!

Meri, if you want more visiters add *PHOTOS* to your title and *new 9/28* and change the date everytime you add to it!

People like photos and new reading material!


OH shoot - I just realized I forgot to wake up the kids for school! I'll be back after work!

 

[kindakrazy2]

Ok part 1, how we got started.

Dear MIL has been saying that once the kids were all at least 5 we would all go to Disney. Well my youngest will be 5 in April of 08. So in May during one of our regular Sunday phone calls, she asks if I have been thinking of dates for our trip? I was ????????????? then she said next summer we have to have our big trip. I said I would prefer Oct since the weather is much nicer but she refused to let the kids miss school. (who is the mom again?) So I said, pick a time in the summer and we will do it.

She calles back a few days later and said June 14-22nd. Then said..... OK since you're the major disney fan, you check out prices ect... then we will see what works best. SO I spent way to much time here and at the disney site, trying to get prices ect...I was ready to SCREAM by the end but at the same time, I would spend many nights laying in bed wondering what hotel I really wanted.

We finally decided that for the 10 of us the best option for us was to book 2 rooms at Shades of Green. I got them as soon as they were available to us in June! We are hoping to get connecting rooms so we can come and go. They are so big and we don't plan on spending too much time there, I think it will be wonderful.

Then I went right out and bought a binder and decorated it so I could put all my ideas, menus and notes in one place.

Now I have been spending countless hours reading the boards trying to pick what ADR's we will want, what special things we want to do. So far the MUST do for the girls is, an appt with the fairy godmothers at BBB and then Lunch at CRT. I can't wait to see my youngest in her Sleeping Beauty dress sitting at the castle!


We are all meeting at BIL for Thanksgiving and will plan our all our ADR's and our days that weekend.

I just would like to know if we will know what the EMH will be. I want to plan park days for those. None of us are sleepers so We will make full use of them.

Our other hope is that we will know about Star Wars weekends. SSGT and Buzz are the BIGGEST SW's fans so we want to try to do some of the fun things that happen at MGM.

Any tips or any help people have I am a sponge and want to soak up as much as I can!

Okay, I'm here now!

EMH - some people avoid the emh park of the day like the plague because they tend to be busier that day. We like to go for the morning ones and then hop to another park once it gets busy. Sometimes the evening ones can be busy too but not always. You need to get a wrist band to stay in the evenings.

Not sure when the SWWs are. I know they are constructing the Jedi Training stage right now (or at least that's what we were tld by a CM when asked what was behind the huge plywood wall) so that should be done by the time you get there.

Make your CRT ressies as soon as your 180 mark comes up. Set your alarm and call exactly when the lines open. No getting a cup of coffee and then calling - you won't get it. Call first, then get coffee!

If all else fails, we ate the Princess Storybook Dinner in Norway at Epcot and it was nice and a good way to meet 5 princesses at once!

 

[meriann]

don't worry, I will be up bright and early on Dec 17th so I can call and get my CRT and bibbity BB for the girls!

My newest purchase has been matching t-s for hte WHOLE family. The Disney outlet had them for $4 bucks a piece and I had a gift card too! then I got free shipping. WHOOOO WHOOOO they have the mickey head on the front then in the head there are pictures of different disney characters.

we all have different colors so it will be a sight, IF I can get the guys to wear them with us. I am temped to take them and have our trip dates put on the back, but I think that may be pushing it

Here is Sleeping Beauty in her's, its big but she has 8 months to grow into it.

 

[kindakrazy2]

don't worry, I will be up bright and early on Dec 17th so I can call and get my CRT and bibbity BB for the girls!

My newest purchase has been matching t-s for hte WHOLE family. The Disney outlet had them for $4 bucks a piece and I had a gift card too! then I got free shipping. WHOOOO WHOOOO they have the mickey head on the front then in the head there are pictures of different disney characters.

we all have different colors so it will be a sight, IF I can get the guys to wear them with us. I am temped to take them and have our trip dates put on the back, but I think that may be pushing it

Here is Sleeping Beauty in her's, its big but she has 8 months to grow into it.

Awww...super cute!

 

[lovebuzzandwoody]

Your daughter is adorable! She looks very happy in her new shirt! A girl after my own heart... new things make me that happy too!

 

[kindakrazy2]

New things make me happy too!

 

[kindakrazy2]

Happy Birthday Meriann!

Just wanted to make sure you have a wonderful day!

 

[kindakrazy2]

chirp, chirp, chirp...



hear that?

Its crickets....


this thread needs an update! or a picture! or a joke or something!



Meri, come back to us!

 

[meriann]

Thanks for the birthday wishes, its been busy around here. I haven't done much disney planning, EXCEPT for shopping for what new CRICUT stuff I need. I am FOR SURE getting the disney font and 1 of the character cartridges.

I can MAKE my own micky heads vs. stealing them from home depot

Is there a forum here for people who have done disney scrapbooks?

 

[kindakrazy2]

Thanks for the birthday wishes, its been busy around here. I haven't done much disney planning, EXCEPT for shopping for what new CRICUT stuff I need. I am FOR SURE getting the disney font and 1 of the character cartridges.

I can MAKE my own micky heads vs. stealing them from home depot

Is there a forum here for people who have done disney scrapbooks?

Check out the community boards. Lots of creative people over there!

And what's with implying there is something wrong with liberating the LGMHPCs? Hmmmm.....they want to go to Disneyworld!!

 

[mrsksomeday]

Great start to your pre-trippie, can't wait to hear more. I love hearing about huge family trips.

 

[meriann]

Thanks sarah I will have to check out the other boards. I only seem to visit a couple on here.

mrsksomeday, thanks for reading. Sarah made me start this and I think its too early, since I havn't even done ADR's, but its still fun!

Where in Il are you? I am orginally from Bloomington/Normal. Since my dh is a Marine we moved around a LOT and are in Virgina right now.

 

[kindakrazy2]

Thanks sarah I will have to check out the other boards. I only seem to visit a couple on here.

mrsksomeday, thanks for reading. Sarah made me start this and I think its too early, since I havn't even done ADR's, but its still fun!

Where in Il are you? I am orginally from Bloomington/Normal. Since my dh is a Marine we moved around a LOT and are in Virgina right now.

No fair blaming me! Okay, so maybe it was my fault!

But I wanted you to come and play here sometimes too!

And you know where I am! Next question!

 

[meriann]

Ok here are my thoughts on dinners tell me what you think

I "think" I want to do Hoppty Do on the first night we get there. We will be there by noon nad the others that afternoon. That way we can relax and have a fun dinner.

We don't know what parks when yet but on the MGM day we HAVE to do Sci Fi. Its our favorite.

Then on 1 MK day we are going to try for CRT for lunch.

Other than that I have NO CLUE. I know other than hoopty we don't want to do resort resturants and I am not doing one for every day.

What about Epcot where should we go? I am thinking Coral Reef but I HATE seafood. We also have to factor in 4 kids ranging in age from 5-11. I am thinking at AK of just doing CS meals but waiting to see what the new resturant sounds like. HMMMMMM to many decisions.

 

[cherbear]

Hi Meriann! I followed Sarah's plug. Sorry I didn't make it here sooner! You're off to a great start planning this trip. Your kids are cute! I love the group pic...very nice looking family!

As far as your meal at Epcot...get an ADR for Le Cellier if you can! The kids will LOVE the desserts!

And happy Belated Birthday!