2 Castles, 2 Send out 2011 & Ring in 2012...12 Days of Christmas

[momabaarjo]

I finished the reveal books today for the kids...I guess that means I am not allowed to tinker with my ADRs anymore since they are now in writing in the books! I plan to give these to the kids along with their trip t-shirt after they open up their "letters" to reveal the trip in the Denver Airport.

Cover

Inside Pocket

The pocket holds maps to all the places we will be. Thanks Michelle for getting these for me!

Advent Connection

I have listed all the gifts that the kids received during Advent and their job is to match the gift to the trip. I think this will keep them busy for some of the flight in addition get them familiar with what we are doing. When they complete the task I have 1 more gift for them...the boys will get the pressed penny tubes and Ab will get a Hidden Mickey book.

Pages

Each day has a page or two showing where we will be for the day, listing any special events/times, as well as pictures about the place. I have left the back sides blank so that the kids can record daily thoughts and reflections.


Trip Reflection

The last 2 pages are reflection pages for the kids to write things they remembered about the trip that stand out...sorry the teacher in me just can't help it. This should keep them occupied on the plane for a little bit, too.

 

[swwake]

I keep wondering how they're not guessing it's a Disney trip with all these blatant clues! But maybe Disney is so entrenched in the kids' culture and life that they wouldn't think anything of it.

I love all the advent activities and gifts!

I was going to ask how you got those current park maps!!

The picture frame as souvenir is a great idea! I might have to steal that! (the idea, not your frame!)

 

[FosterA]

I LOVE LOVE those reveal books! What a great way to have fun yet be organized and sort of scrapbook at the same time.

I wanna see every single page!

 

[annmarieda]

The reveal books are awesome! I still remain in awe of all the advent activities and gifts. Like Susan though, I wonder if your kids just are always doing Disney things or if they might suspect at some point... I know my kids would know something was up if I started giving them Disney things.

And..as for the BW... I can't wait to see it myself. I know that I loved the YC so much when we stayed there....

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

Love the books Tammie. You can tell you put a lot of time into them and they look great!

 

[momabaarjo]

I keep wondering how they're not guessing it's a Disney trip with all these blatant clues! But maybe Disney is so entrenched in the kids' culture and life that they wouldn't think anything of it.

I love all the advent activities and gifts!

I was going to ask how you got those current park maps!!

Michelle was kind enough to gather them up from both Disney, USO, and Discovery Cove!!!

The picture frame as souvenir is a great idea! I might have to steal that! (the idea, not your frame!)

I love my picture frame collection (Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, Seattle, Washington DC, Boston...to name a few)!!! When I went on my first trip I got a Cinderella one and put the picture from CRT in it!

The reveal books are awesome! I still remain in awe of all the advent activities and gifts. Like Susan though, I wonder if your kids just are always doing Disney things or if they might suspect at some point... I know my kids would know something was up if I started giving them Disney things.

And..as for the BW... I can't wait to see it myself. I know that I loved the YC so much when we stayed there....

Sheesh...I have a dd who should be the top of her class when she graduates high school and 2 boys that are straight A's....you would think they would get it?

I don't think they are guessing a trip for Christmas because everytime we bring it up we always talk like it is going to happen in July and the first clue to announce the treasure hunt talked about lift and the 2 oldest are certain we are going skiing with the cousins...The kids really have not been too interested in even looking at Disney planning books or really give me any suggestions. Once in a while I can get them to look at something...when I came back from my convention trip they looked at the stuff lots and were excited so I know they want to go. I also do not think that they have made the connection between the gifts and their Christmas present...all my orginial clue said was that the gifts would lead the way...and again they focused on the word lift. I purposefully did not get a lot of things that were "DISNEY" in terms of major characters...

After we get back I am going to have to spend A LOT OF TIME with father in the confessional for all the white lies I am telling!

 

[momabaarjo]

I LOVE LOVE those reveal books! What a great way to have fun yet be organized and sort of scrapbook at the same time.

I wanna see every single page!

I owe it to you for helping me pull my ideas into something that worked! I will try and post a few more when I get a chance!

 

[FosterA]

Now that you've made the books, that must mean your itinerary and ADRs are pretty set in stone. I'd love it if you would post, again, the full line up of your schedule. Just a simple list of what park on what day basically. I want to be able to follow along at home while you are there! I know you've posted your plans many times but your report is HUGE and things got changed here and there so I'm curious to see the "final" lay out of what's happening on what day

 

[momabaarjo]

Now that you've made the books, that must mean your itinerary and ADRs are pretty set in stone. I'd love it if you would post, again, the full line up of your schedule. Just a simple list of what park on what day basically. I want to be able to follow along at home while you are there! I know you've posted your plans many times but your report is HUGE and things got changed here and there so I'm curious to see the "final" lay out of what's happening on what day

I have been meaning to do that...set in stone...YIKES that scares me or makes me really sad that planning is coming to an end. But I still have 16 days to tinker with Ridemax and my touring plans.

 

[Monknmom]

You are right that Disney owns Marvel...but Universal for the time being still has the rights to them for their theme park...I know my boys are going to love Superhero Island at Universal! We watched Captain America and Thor over Thanksgiving...loved Captain America!

That is a REALLY good job on the books! I didn't know about the above comment that you made- interesting how they share! I am really liking these advent days! Your so nifty with all of them so far!

 

[lovethattink]

Your advent calendar and activities are awesome! I think I'd like to try something like that next year!

Love your reveal books! Glad I could help!

By the way, thanks for the package! Where do you find the time to be so creative?!

 

[lovethattink]

We stayed at the BWV the year it opened, brought my mom for her first Disney trip. We loved it! The clown water slide is a bit creepy. But everything else is awesome!!

 

[momabaarjo]

100 Things I am Looking Forward to...​

100. Checking into the Royal Pacific Resort
99. Italian Margarita and a Cheeseburger in Paradise at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville
98. Breakfast at Chef Mickey's
97. Experiencing the Osborne Lights
96. Seeing Lightning McQueen and Mater
95. Grinch and Friends Breakfast
94. Tree of Life
93. Mickey's Philharmonic
92. Christmas Trees
91. Tower of Terror
90. Dinner at T-Rex
89. Pressed Penny hunting for the boys
88. Seeing Tink Fly
87. Breakfast at the Crystal Palace
86. Toy Story Mania and its Line/Queue
85. Innoventions
84. Main Street Stroll
83. Dole Whip
82. Pirates of the Caribbean Ride
81. Jedi Training
80. Mickey Bar
79. Miyuki in Japan
78. Tom Sawyer's Island
77. Riding the Monorail
76. Tonga Toast at Kona Cafe
75. Mission Space: Orange Side
74. Strawberry Soup
73. Kidcot Stations in Epcot
72. Shopping for Mickey Ears
71. Dinner at Ohanas
70. Living with the Land
69. A Mug of Butter Beer
68. Animation Studios Drawing Class
67. Karamelle-Kuche
66. Christmas Store Ornament Shopping
65. F!
64. Honeydukes
63. Tough Being a Bug
62. Swiss Family Treehouse
61. Biergarten
60. Soarin
59. Lego Store in DTD
58. Starring Rolls Cupcakes
57. Haunted Mansion
56. Via Napoli
55. Goofy's Candy Co. in DTD
54. Gingerbread House at GF (& other resort Christmas Displays)
53. Kim Possible Missions in Epcot
52. Macy's Holiday Parade at USO
51. Boulangerie Patisserie in France
50. 50's Primetime Cafe
49. POP Century Resort
48. Exploring the Windows in Hogsmeade
47. Ridemakerz
46. Date with dh at Yachtsman
45. Illuminations
44. Dinner at 1900 Park Fare with the Step Sisters
43. Grinchmas at IOA
42. Snorkeling at Discovery Cove
41. Breadpudding
40. Expedition Everest
39. Parades
38. Ghirardelli sundae
37. Night time in the parks
36. Test Track
35. Mickey Pretzels
34. The Sword in the Stone
33. Fish & Chips
32. Feeding the Larakeets
31. Yak & Yeti
30. Discovery Island Trails
29. Sci Fi Diner
28. Spiderman
27. Rice Krispe Treat
26. Walt & Mickey Statue…Roy & Minnie Statue
25. Festival of the Lion King
24. Main Street Bakery Treats
23. Pirate Tutorial
22. Discovery Club Stops in AK
21. The Simpsons Ride
20. Breakfast at Boma
19. Boardwalk Villas
18. Finding my Picture Frame
17. Dinner at NASCAR
16. Tequila Flight

17. Dinner at NASCAR

No, we are not NASCAR fans….but I have 2 boys and a dh who love all things cars. I thought this would be a great place to take them for dinner since unknown to them we are having lunch with the Princesses and dinner with Cinderella and her step family.

16. Tequila Flight

I am hoping that Jeff and I can pop in and have a Tequila Flight…maybe send the kids on the Gran Fiesta (wow, I can’t believe I did not just think of that before). I am not a huge tequila fan (love a good margarita though). But when my friend and I split the flight on my first trip to the world I realized that I must have always had the cheap stuff…what a difference! I also can’t wait to try a blood orange margarita…last time I had the avocado and it was pretty good!

 

[momabaarjo]

Your advent calendar and activities are awesome! I think I'd like to try something like that next year!

I really like it...and I am already thinking of how to do it next year! We have really been focusing on the religious side and true meaning of Christmas with which makes me feel a little less guilty about this trip being so over the top and the focus of my attention now for a year.

Love your reveal books! Glad I could help!



By the way, thanks for the package! Where do you find the time to be so creative?!

I am so glad you got the package...I have been doing my best work in the middle of the night lately...not sure if that is a good thing or not!

We stayed at the BWV the year it opened, brought my mom for her first Disney trip. We loved it! The clown water slide is a bit creepy. But everything else is awesome!!

I agree...that clown is creepy and not just a little bit.

 

[Dream426]

Tequila!! Haha Yeah the cheap stuff is never good.

 

[Leger13]

We ate at the NASCAR Cafe in ....2008 or 2009 I think. It's really really cool with all the cars hanging from the ceiling and such and the food is not bad either. Hope y'all enjoy it!

 

[momabaarjo]

Let the nightmares begin.... last night I dreamed that I was not packed Christmas morning and I was just throwing odds and ends into the suitcase and I could not get my family out the door and to the airport! I kept seeing a clock showing me that we were not going to make it and I woke up feeling the stress...in fact I am still feeling stressed! I have been trying to figure out how to get my teenager out of bed EARLY Christmas morning without making all of our lives miserable and ruining the moment! I may warn her before she goes to bed!

 

[swwake]

Let the nightmares begin.... last night I dreamed that I was not packed Christmas morning and I was just throwing odds and ends into the suitcase and I could not get my family out the door and to the airport! I kept seeing a clock showing me that we were not going to make it and I woke up feeling the stress...in fact I am still feeling stressed! I have been trying to figure out how to get my teenager out of bed EARLY Christmas morning without making all of our lives miserable and ruining the moment! I may warn her before she goes to bed!

Nooo! She'll get up. And if you get rushed with packing, just remember, they have stores down there, so worst case, you can get anything you need in Orlando.

It's gonna be fine. I'm sure you're excited. Can't wait to hear about the reveal!

 

[momabaarjo]

Near $1400 diaster averted....
I am so mad at fedex right now! I ordered our park tickets last week through undercover tourist and expected them to be here Wednesday. This morning I had not seen them so I clicked on the package tracking and fedex marked them as delivered on Wednesday...left at front door....hmmm. We have a chain link fence in the front yard with 2 dogs...never has any delivery person entered the gate before...must have left them at in laws down the block...normal procedure with ups, fedex, and uspo. So I called jeff and asked him to check with his mom about the tickets...that is a $1400 package! No, they did not deliver to her...OH NO what if they did come in the gate and leave the package???? Remember one of the dogs is still a 10 month chewing machine that is not so little anymore? Shredded in the yard is the package...we had not seen it because of the cold temps and coming in at dark!!!! The package and the paperwork are in shreds!!!!


BUT upon searching dh finds all 5 tickets ( thank goodness there has been no
Wind the last couple of days)...wet but still intact! I think I about had s nervous breakdown waiting for jeff to call!

I took pictures of the tickets with my phone and jeff's...now they are safely tucked into my paperwork binder...AND fedex is about to get an earful!!!!

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

Let the nightmares begin.... last night I dreamed that I was not packed Christmas morning and I was just throwing odds and ends into the suitcase and I could not get my family out the door and to the airport! I kept seeing a clock showing me that we were not going to make it and I woke up feeling the stress...in fact I am still feeling stressed! I have been trying to figure out how to get my teenager out of bed EARLY Christmas morning without making all of our lives miserable and ruining the moment! I may warn her before she goes to bed!

Oh goodness! As planning obsessed as you are.. I'd be surprised if your not done packing by middle of next week! though

Near $1400 diaster averted....
I am so mad at fedex right now! I ordered our park tickets last week through undercover tourist and expected them to be here Wednesday. This morning I had not seen them so I clicked on the package tracking and fedex marked them as delivered on Wednesday...left at front door....hmmm. We have a chain link fence in the front yard with 2 dogs...never has any delivery person entered the gate before...must have left them at in laws down the block...normal procedure with ups, fedex, and uspo. So I called jeff and asked him to check with his mom about the tickets...that is a $1400 package! No, they did not deliver to her...OH NO what if they did come in the gate and leave the package???? Remember one of the dogs is still a 10 month chewing machine that is not so little anymore? Shredded in the yard is the package...we had not seen it because of the cold temps and coming in at dark!!!! The package and the paperwork are in shreds!!!!


BUT upon searching dh finds all 5 tickets ( thank goodness there has been no
Wind the last couple of days)...wet but still intact! I think I about had s nervous breakdown waiting for jeff to call!

I took pictures of the tickets with my phone and jeff's...now they are safely tucked into my paperwork binder...AND fedex is about to get an earful!!!!

I would have been PISSED! Especially if they normally drop things off to your family down the street. Those drivers have their set areas and are normally the only ones who make those deliveries in their areas.