***1st Week of December Thread ADR Plans, Park Hours, and dealing with Pop Warner***

[Candycane83]

We will be at AK early for a morning Safari fp....but can't stay for ROL because we have tickets for MVMCP....no adrs that day...breakfast at POFQ and small dinner either at CHH or the Plaza..saving lots of room for the dessert party. Thought Sanaa might be a relaxing hour in the middle of the day...might need the rest...might need an adult beverage before heading to MK for the night!

I think it's a great plan to have a rest break there especially since you don't plan to go back in AK anyway

 

[Lisa F]

DH definitely isn't a Disney fiend like I am. I really have to be aware of that and know that every vacation we take isn't to Disney. He was talking with his friend about the trip and just wishing it was already over and wishes the girls were older. Yet on the other hand, he wants another child!

I did agree that taking young children to WDW isn't always the easiest but it's really what you make it out to be, and to also be flexible.

You've got this @Candycane83 !!!! Just remember, if your little guy melts down, you aren't the only ones dealing with similar issues!

Definitely BE FLEXIBLE. You know i took kiddo right at the same age. it was wonderful. He slept in the stroller a bunch. we went with the flow. You have a long trip and it won't be your last, if you miss something... no biggie!

 

[Candycane83]

DH definitely isn't a Disney fiend like I am. I really have to be aware of that and know that every vacation we take isn't to Disney. He was talking with his friend about the trip and just wishing it was already over and wishes the girls were older. Yet on the other hand, he wants another child!

I did agree that taking young children to WDW isn't always the easiest but it's really what you make it out to be, and to also be flexible.

You've got this @Candycane83 !!!! Just remember, if your little guy melts down, you aren't the only ones dealing with similar issues!

I plan keeping DH in mind actually because I know he's not that into it. Thanks so much for the words of encouragement you guys are all really the best!

 

[Candycane83]

And..... it didn't come.

I totally missed this! Sorry to hear they didn't come today! So disappointing Really hope this comes tomorrow and you can show us all the wonderful stuff you got

 

[Candycane83]

Definitely BE FLEXIBLE. You know i took kiddo right at the same age. it was wonderful. He slept in the stroller a bunch. we went with the flow. You have a long trip and it won't be your last, if you miss something... no biggie!

I definitely need to keep the mantra: there's a next time! Don't sweat it!

 

[Lisa F]

I think it's a great plan to have a rest break there especially since you don't plan to go back in AK anyway

agree. i'd do it.

 

[Mrs. Inc]

agree. i'd do it.

Thanks for the encouragement... I made a 1:50 reservation... I just feel the need to have a scheduled break in the day! Bread service, soup, salad and s'mores...sounds great!

 

[areno79]

I day if they get cranky.... Send the boys to the hotel and hook up with some of the fine women from the 1st of December thread!

You know we'll be somewhere either or .... Or just with !

@Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL that quote!

@LisaF we all have our down days. You have a GREAT attitude. We all allowed an off moment. .

@DisneyBelle27 I think you are so brave going on a solo trip! When you're ready I'm sure that the right match will come along.

@Mrs. Inc that is so special that you were able to do that with your youngest.


Ohhh..... Ohh.... Scored an 8am BOG on 12/6!!!!
Options...options... We also have the EMM booked. If we hate it on 11/29 then we have a PPO BOG!
The adr search is OVER! No more

Speaking of positivity in attitude, anyone ever play 3 great things with friends or family? Where you go around and share 3 great things that happened that day or that you are grateful for? Anyone want to do a 1st Week of December thread version?



1. I have THE BEST Disney planning buddies on the planet!!
2. I'm having Sunday Dinner on Saturday at Teppan Edo on 12/3 thanks to the very lovely and always helpful @Lisa F!!
3. As of 7:50 p.m., our trip is paid in full!!



Can you burst from happiness?!

And while nowhere near as exciting as getting a PPO BOG or having your trip paid in full, I just got a Touring Plans text for a Tusker lunch for 6 people on 12/8. I managed to book it and now I don't have to worry about our party not being seated together (our original plans were two Tusker ADRs-- one for 4 people and one for 2 people).

Yay!!!! SO many awesome things happening to day for my Dis friends!!
Don't you just LOVE when a plan comes together?!?!

I love breakfast too, and I love a variety. two bites of this, a bite of that, a pile of bacon, happy happy girl. That's why we are doing breakfast every day but two (and that's to fit in early lunches).

BTW I have a 10:50am Dec 8th Ohana that I am ready to give up if anyone wants it! for 2

Dude...you are totally tempting with that Ohana breakfast. We're not huge breakfast people, but it sure is tempting! We have a 1900 Park Fare Breakfast on 12/9 though. I just can't decide which breakfast would be better. Also, I feel like the same restaurant for breakfast AND for lunch may be overkill! But then there's , who is clearly one of my favorites! It's like Sophie's Choice over here!

 

[areno79]

Okay, here are my 3 things:
1. I got my personalized Disney t-shirts that I've been waiting to arrive for weeks! Very exciting package to get and see that they turned out great (and DH loved them!)
2. Getting to chat with my awesome Dis friends today and share in excitement and concerns and all of the awesome Christmas things with all of you!
3. This is non-Disney related, but without going into the whole story, me, my sister, and my aunt (who's like a sister) haven't spoken to my mother since January. There was some ugly stuff that went down and for my own mental health I had to step back and take a break from her. I know it was really eating away at my aunt because they are the only 2 siblings left out of 5 (my other 2 aunts, my uncle, and my grandmother all died within the last 3 years, at fairly young ages.) Anyway, my aunt called me tonight to tell me that she decided to be the bigger person and call my mom to meet and talk things through, and my mom agreed. I'm not quite there yet, but I think this paves the way for me to get the ball rolling and start talking to my mom again. It's scary and something I've been avoiding for the last 10 months, but this makes it a little easier for me to start taking steps toward reconciliation.

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

I think I'm generally not a positive person so this is a little hard for me.

Ok. Who are you and what have you done with @Candycane83 ?

Imposter!!!!

We all know the real @Candycane83
is a positive person as proven by her uncontrollable and excessive use of dancing emojis and smiley faces.

 

[Mintycake]

However, my DH really hates Disney, so I feel that I need to do everything in my power to minimize waits and make the day flow better. He is very impatient and if a line is longer than 5-10 minutes he will get irritated. My kids are probably more line patient than he is, LOL! He also has an awful poker face and I can instantly tell when he is annoyed which makes it a downer for me.

I feel ya. My DH is not super excited about Disney even though he's never been. Lines make him cranky. All of my planning has been done to minimize waiting so I can make this the best the trip can be. I'm not a line person either but at Disney I was patient, because I was just happy to be there. Also DH has been on my case a bit about how much planning I've done . We generally take cruises which basically involve booking a cabin and a dinner seating and then me spending all of 3 hours picking shore excursions if any. He doesn't understand why everything needs to be booked in advance or why trying to assemble a touring plan is time consuming.

But it is really hard being a parent in today's society. I think in the past when kids did normal kid things it was expected and this myth of the perfect parent did not exist. It couldn't because people worked too hard, had too many kids and life was too uncertain to worry about that nonsense. Communities would pitch in and parent other people's kids. It wasn't all good but it wasn't all bad. Nowadays we all have special snowflakes (me too) and it's like some big competition... do your kids eat quinoa and kale and LOVE it? do they never watch tv? blah blah blah. We are judged everywhere we look...breast vs. bottle, working mom vs. stay at home mom and the list goes on and on and on. I think we are all conditioned to be jumpy when our kids start acting up. In some ways Disney is great because in 90% of the cases no one cares if your kid is acting up because 10 feet away someone else's is also acting up and maybe worse than yours. So maybe it will be great for your DH to chill out a bit about how the kid is behaving and let him work through some of his own stuff for a bit. If not gosh enjoy the quiet and solitude and ability to do what you want when you want it. So rare as a mom!

PREACH. I feel constantly judged as a parent. Today my daughter shared a candy afterschool with a friend (we have a Halloween rule that she can eat candy for 2 days and then the Halloween Fairy takes it and trades it for a toy. So this is day 2 and I allowed her to take 3 things from her candy bag as a playground snack) and the mom got really upset because she did not want her kid to eat candy. My dd was confused as she was trying to share and be kind and her friends mom was almost yelling at her (and giving me the stink eye too). And I work with new moms and the judgement is just brutal. I am really non judgemental with my clients (even though sometimes I totally disagree with their choices) but I still make them feel heard and respected. Not my circus, not my monkeys.

Speaking of positivity in attitude, anyone ever play 3 great things with friends or family? Where you go around and share 3 great things that happened that day or that you are grateful for? Anyone want to do a 1st Week of December thread version?



1. I have THE BEST Disney planning buddies on the planet!!
2. I'm having Sunday Dinner on Saturday at Teppan Edo on 12/3 thanks to the very lovely and always helpful @Lisa F!!
3. As of 7:50 p.m., our trip is paid in full!!



Can you burst from happiness?!

OK I love this. Three great things that happened/I am grateful for

1. My dining reservations are fixed on MDE and so everything looks so much cleaner and neater.
2. I finally decided we are not doing the DDP and just going OOP. Now I don't have to stress about that decision.
3. A contract that I thought I had fell through yesterday, but today I picked up a new one FOR MORE MONEY! I wasn't even anticipating any clients this month (which was fine as I was going to focus on some courses I am doing and of course, Disney). But this is a quick, 2 night gig, which pays more than the 4 day gig that I originally was going to do. I also feel stoked as it was a referred client which is so much better when you get an endorsement from someone they trust This contract will go towards our trip.

BONUS: 4. Picked up a Cinderella knock off dress for 50% off today for DD! She will be so surprised! I think she'll like to wear it to 1900 Park Fare dinner.


I suffer from anxiety and one of the things I do as I'm falling asleep is list all the things I'm grateful for - I find it really helps.

 

[Mintycake]

oh ok and more bonus...
MY TRIP WILL BE PAID OFF TOMORROW!

And we ordered from Garden Grocer. Better safe than sorry I think in regard to DD's picky eating. And DH even helped me pick out stuff for our order. So that's taken care of now.

So still need to get my packing list together, pick up walking shoes (I have runners, Teva sandals, and a pair of Sketchers but DD needs another pair - I'm thinking of keens for her as all she has is running shoes), meet my friend to pick up her old Disney cards (for SDFP - and she is really tough to nail down), put up the Xmas tree (we want to do it before we leave), confirm the cat sitter, pick up the suitcases from my parents (since we never travel together, we share a set), go to the bank to get US $, and finalize my touring plans. I'm sure there's stuff I'm forgetting here.

OH! And I found the dvd of Prep and Landing for DD to watch at our library yesterday!

 

[Maryemcd]

I day if they get cranky.... Send the boys to the hotel and hook up with some of the fine women from the 1st of December thread!
You know we'll be somewhere either or .... Or just with !

@BDFmom - love it! My sis asked about what nights we are "free" so she can make some plans with friends in Orlando. If my nephew and I are feeling up for it, we could leave her and go back to the parks.

I was a very anxious parent when kiddo was a baby and also very anxious about what people thought of me and would retreat whenever he got a little fussy for fear of being judged, so I get it. I was also NOT at my best and got easily rattled and did not want ANYONE seeing that. But that is around the time when I started to get over it a bit (really once they hit the toddler phase their behavior can be so unpredictable and outsized for the situation you really have to learn to get over it, lol). It is good to start letting him (the kid not the husband but the husband too) work through his emotions on his own and not whisk him away to somewhere safe and private whenever his emotions are in flux.

But it is really hard being a parent in today's society. I think in the past when kids did normal kid things it was expected and this myth of the perfect parent did not exist. It couldn't because people worked too hard, had too many kids and life was too uncertain to worry about that nonsense. Communities would pitch in and parent other people's kids. It wasn't all good but it wasn't all bad. Nowadays we all have special snowflakes (me too) and it's like some big competition... do your kids eat quinoa and kale and LOVE it? do they never watch tv? blah blah blah. We are judged everywhere we look...breast vs. bottle, working mom vs. stay at home mom and the list goes on and on and on. I think we are all conditioned to be jumpy when our kids start acting up. In some ways Disney is great because in 90% of the cases no one cares if your kid is acting up because 10 feet away someone else's is also acting up and maybe worse than yours. So maybe it will be great for your DH to chill out a bit about how the kid is behaving and let him work through some of his own stuff for a bit. If not gosh enjoy the quiet and solitude and ability to do what you want when you want it. So rare as a mom!

@Lisa F - not a mom, but totally agree with all of the challenges that you and others mentioned her. Everyone is so judgmental and has their own version of the "rules" - not just other parents, but schools, day care, etc.

I got behind by about 3 pages while I was out shopping!

Today was day #1 of Operation Sleep Schedule Adjustment at our house! We're getting up earlier and going to bed earlier so we can begin preparing for all our early mornings at the end of THIS month! I hope to start now and then take advantage of the time change next weekend to get even farther ahead of the game.

I think I must have hit the jackpot with dh! He's not the biggest fan of Disney, but he knows it makes me happy and it makes the kids happy so he goes and he doesn't grumble or anything. He lets me talk through things when I need to and he offers input, sometimes even good input.

@Iowamomof4 - You have an official plan for "sleep schedule adjustment". That is cool!!

Speaking of positivity in attitude, anyone ever play 3 great things with friends or family? Where you go around and share 3 great things that happened that day or that you are grateful for? Anyone want to do a 1st Week of December thread version?



1. I have THE BEST Disney planning buddies on the planet!!
2. I'm having Sunday Dinner on Saturday at Teppan Edo on 12/3 thanks to the very lovely and always helpful @Lisa F!!
3. As of 7:50 p.m., our trip is paid in full!!



Can you burst from happiness?!

@Talby - congrats on the trip being paid off!!

And while nowhere near as exciting as getting a PPO BOG or having your trip paid in full, I just got a Touring Plans text for a Tusker lunch for 6 people on 12/8. I managed to book it and now I don't have to worry about our party not being seated together (our original plans were two Tusker ADRs-- one for 4 people and one for 2 people).

@SilSprBea - yay for Tusker House! Since our plans for the 8th aren't finalized, I find myself holding 3 ADRs at TH for Thursday. And FP+ at HS. ugh. I think we are going to stick with TH on Saturday the 3rd. I've never been, but looking forward to it.

oh ok and more bonus...
MY TRIP WILL BE PAID OFF TOMORROW!

@Mintycake - YAY!


Did I mention, I ordered some shoes yesterday since I had $40 coupon for DSW. I got the Keen's Whispers (http://www.dsw.com/shoe/keen+whisper+sport+sandal?prodId=268539) and Sketchers Go Walk (http://www.dsw.com/shoe/skechers+gowalk+3+dominate+slip-on+walking+shoe?prodId=dsw12prod8250154)

 

[Maryemcd]

and I almost forgot....


30 DAYS!!!!


(okay, 30 days until I arrive, but still 31 days until I go to my first park)

 

[CynBeth]

Happy 30 days for those of us heading to Disney on 12/2!

 

[Talby]

I LOVE how the Disney planning goes around here! The only thing better than having something really exciting happen (ADR capture, plans coming together in all manner of ways, etc.), is having a wonderful group of people who GET IT, get as excited as you do when you share it with them. I mean....that's just really cool! I think everyone feeds off each other's excitement and it escalates and before you know it, it feels like a party on here!!

and I almost forgot....


30 DAYS!!!!


(okay, 30 days until I arrive, but still 31 days until I go to my first park)

Happy 30 days for those of us heading to Disney on 12/2!

WOOT WOOT for 30 DAYS!! I am in the 30-day boat now, too!. Who else is on board? I know @Lisa F and @areno79......

 

[Lisa F]

Yay!!!! SO many awesome things happening to day for my Dis friends!!
Don't you just LOVE when a plan comes together?!?!



Dude...you are totally tempting with that Ohana breakfast. We're not huge breakfast people, but it sure is tempting! We have a 1900 Park Fare Breakfast on 12/9 though. I just can't decide which breakfast would be better. Also, I feel like the same restaurant for breakfast AND for lunch may be overkill! But then there's , who is clearly one of my favorites! It's like Sophie's Choice over here!

haha it is in my secondary account so I can hang onto it for a bit. I love breakfast lol. I almost did ohana twice in one day but flipped around my schedule to do it on another day

 

[Lisa F]

I LOVE how the Disney planning goes around here! The only thing better than having something really exciting happen (ADR capture, plans coming together in all manner of ways, etc.), is having a wonderful group of people who GET IT, get as excited as you do when you share it with them. I mean....that's just really cool! I think everyone feeds off each other's excitement and it escalates and before you know it, it feels like a party on here!!






WOOT WOOT for 30 DAYS!! I am in the 30-day boat now, too!. Who else is on board? I know @Lisa F and @areno79......

Yup my ticker says 31 days lol but it is 30 days per MDE and per my calendar. yay for a month having 30 days so my OCD is happy about the same day of the month being 30 days away lol

 

[Lisa F]

also since my journey is a 2 day process, it is 29 days til I have to leave. And looking at the weekends til then... I really need to start packing soon! 4 weekends until we go but one of them is thanksgiving!

 

[SilSprBea]

also since my journey is a 2 day process, it is 29 days til I have to leave. And looking at the weekends til then... I really need to start packing soon! 4 weekends until we go but one of them is thanksgiving!

We arrive Disney 12/4 but we leave on 12/1 to drive down to cocoa beach for a few days so the trip feels really close for us now, less than 30 days even though Disney is 32 days away!

And on the counter issue mine is right in internet explorer but wrong on chrome and safari, so I guess it's a browser thing?