20 Days at "Mickey's House" - sort of - my first PTR

[codyvt]

Hi there...

I've decided to try my hand at a PTR. I'm generally a lurker but thought maybe I would make my presence known. I'm not sure quite how to do this so I figured I would jump in with both feet and let some of you more experienced reporters give me feedback and comments

So, our current trip is set for 12/30/09 - 1/18/10. Sounds long, right? Originally we had 1/2/10 - 1/9/10 booked at AKL (Kidani Village) but then DH suggested we add on 100 DVC points and get a free cruise. We did and the free cruise could happen on 1/14/10. Instead of moving our vacation, we decided to lengthen it so now we are going from 12/30 - 1/18!

I digress... let me introduce us first:

Who we are:

me: I'm 35 (36 in mere days) and a Disney addict for about 8 years now. I've always been a fan but events beginning in 2002 turned me into a fanatic. Call me codyvt - Cody is my oldest pup - our 14 year old lab and VT is for Vermont - the only other place that makes me as happy as "Mickey's House"

DH: 45 going on 15. we'll call him Mr. Incredible per his request. A closet Disney fanatic, he was also turned into a Disney maniac about 8 years ago. He goes along with me and patiently listens to other people's trip reports and my ebbs and flows in planning mania. His only request is breakfast at least 2x at O'Hana and Boma (2x each one). Give him that and he's a happy camper. (there is no Mr. Incredible so Goofy will do)

DS: 18 and off to college in three weeks. I can't believe it. He is the root of my Disney fanaticism for reasons to be explained later. I came into his world when he was 10 and have watched him grow so much. We'll call him Dash for these purposes. Unfortunately, college winter term will keep him from coming on this trip but he factors into many our plans. Dash has been to WDW MANY times in his life and never tires of it.

DS: 4 and good at it. We'll call him Stitch for now. At this age, he acts like Stitch. Anyone with a preschool boy knows what I mean. DS has named WDW "Mickey's House" and the castle "'rella's house" so those monikers will appear frequently. DS is spoiled. He has been to "Mickey's House" 3x (not including this upcoming trip).

Granny: my mom and definitely coming on part of the trip if not all. A Stitch addict but we'll call her Snow White here so as not to be confused with DS Stitch. Snow White has accompanied us on at least part of each of our WDW adventures. She adds great amusement to our trips.
Our history:

Once upon a time, there was a man (Mr. Incredible) and his son (Dash) living by themselves (the result of a not so nasty divorce) in Alaska. Mr. Incredible went out with some friends one night and met yours truly. I am in Alaska basically because I "won" a bet and landed a TEMPORARY job here in 2001. Hmmm.... am still here (thanks Mr. Incredible) EIGHT YEARS LATER. That's great, you say, but how does Mickey's House factor in?

Fast forward about a year and I decide Mr. Incredible is my Prince Charming and we agree to get hitched. So, we ask Dash what he thinks and how we can involve him. Like the smart kid we know he is, Dash says "take me to WDW!" So, we think about it and realize that our family and friends would much prefer to go to Florida than come to Alaska for a wedding - especially in the winter (and no, it isn't always winter here)

Thus, it was done. Mr. Incredible and I agreed to get hitched at WDW. On 3/21/03, we were married at the Wedding Pavilion with cocktail hour on Italy Isola and the reception at the American Adventure. After that FANTASTIC experience, and special wedding guests, Mr. & Mrs. Mickey Mouse, we were hooked. We've been back 4x since and became DVC members in 2007.

And here we are at this trip. Tentatively, our plans are as follows:

12/30/09 - leave Alaska after work on the 5:00pm flight and arrive in Seattle at about midnight
12/31/09 - leave Seattle at 8:00am and arrive in Orlando at 5:00pm, pick up rental car and drive to Clearwater Beach for NYE on the beach
1/1/10 - 1/2/10 - hang out at the beach (it might be chilly but we're from Alaska so we might even swim)
1/2/10 - return rental car and check into our AKL 2BDR Savannah view Kidani Village room
we will do Deluxe Dining and park visits - plans to come soon
1/14/10 - check out of AKL and grab Disney transport to our Disney Wonder cruise
1/17/10 - disembark and head back to Orlando for one last day of fun
1/18/10 - get on plane at 8:00 and head back to WINTER (but hopefully with good tans and wonderful memories)

I hope I've got some attention and interest from this initial report... I will try to figure out how to post photos to give you guys some visuals to go with our intro...

First question: Stitch is 4. Our plane ride is a total of about 11 hours. Any ideas besides the DVD player (I've already had the then 3-year old screaming BLAST OFF along with Leo, June, Annie and Quincy on an otherwise quiet flight) and books? I'm open for any and all suggestions for LONG flights!

Look forward to "meeting" many of you.

- codyvt

 

[codyvt]

HELP!!!!! I can't figure out how to post pictures?! I feel like an idiot. My settings say that I cannot add attachments. How do I change this? GRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd love to really "introduce" my characters to you guys but I'm stuck... save me?!

 

[OhMari]

Hi,
You have to download your pictures to the DIS first, or to an off site like Shutterfly.

We have a pre-trip board, I am going to move you to that area until after your trip. When you return home, give me a PM, and I'll move you back here.

How is Alaska's summer going. We are having a really mild summer in Wisconsin. It is always in the 70's, most people like that weather, but I hate it, because it has to be in the 80's for me to swim laps. I think sometimes Alaska has warmer weather than the Mid-west states.

Looking forward to more pre-trip plans.

 

[codyvt]

Hi,
You have to download your pictures to the DIS first, or to an off site like Shutterfly.

We have a pre-trip board, I am going to move you to that area until after your trip. When you return home, give me a PM, and I'll move you back here.

How is Alaska's summer going. We are having a really mild summer in Wisconsin. It is always in the 70's, most people like that weather, but I hate it, because it has to be in the 80's for me to swim laps. I think sometimes Alaska has warmer weather than the Mid-west states.

Looking forward to more pre-trip plans.

Summer up here has been HOT - like in the 90s and there is no air conditioning here - but it is back in the 70s now and should stay here for the remainder of the summer. By October it will be near 0 in the mornings... brrr.... I've been to Wisconsin in the summer and it was HOT then

More reports to come. Thanks for putting me in the right place!

 

[codyvt]

deleted due to operator error
see new post (and corrected) below

 

[MagicMomentsMom]

Just wanted to say Hi and looking forward to your PTR! I have a 4 year old daughter, but I honestly don't know what I would do to keep her busy on that long of a flight Maybe a magnet board or a travel aquadoodle?

Veronica

 

[codyvt]

I am determined to make this work. Am going to try it via photobucket now... cross your digits!

Mr. Incredible & I at the GF

Dash at O'Hana

Stitch with Buzz (it was Halloween and MNSSHP)

Granny (Snow White) with her hero

and my favorite picture of me with a big blue guy

I think this time it should work

 

[codyvt]

Here in Alaska it is about 80 degrees and SMOKY today. When I say smoky, I mean the fires (yes, plural) are about 25 miles away. We have about 1/2 mile visibility and there is ash falling on cars and the ground. Our air quality is now at the purple level which, I believe, means that if you go outside, serious illness and/or death are certain to follow. This is unbearable especially considering that those of us who live here live for the summer because we know we have at least 8 months of the year when we are basically house-bound due to the cold. Which brings me to my post...

We have been busy bees planning and more planning for our January escape to Disney.

I ordered matching sweatshirts (hoodies, really) from the Disney store. I will try to find a pic. They are black and each one has blue writing with our names and STITCH on them. It's my first try at matching clothing. So far, the family is happy with my efforts. Also, little Stitch has a new duffle bag with Rocket from Little Einsteins and his name. He, of course, wants to use it now and take it with him everywhere. I'm not really sure why I thought he would be able to understand that the bag (and sweatshirt) are not to be used until our trip. Silly, silly mommy!

We have booked our rooms at the Clearwater Beach Hilton Resort for 12/31 and 1/1. Anyone ever stayed there and have any feedback?

Also, I normally rent from AVIS in Lake Buena Vista. Since we will be going to Clearwater first, I guess it makes sense to rent a car at the airport. Anyone out there have any preference as to rental cars. In my real life, I usually rent from Hertz or Budget but they seem unusually pricey at Disney. Any info is helpful!

I am thinking about getting unseen movies for Christmas and keeping them until we get on the plane. I have also attempted to split our flying days so that we leave here on 12/30 and then stay in Seattle overnight rather than try to do the whole 12 hours in the air at one time. I think that will help Stitch with the LONG flights. He is generally pretty good but 12 hours bothers me and I'm much older than 4

I am so enjoying everyone's PTRs and TRs that I feel like I am there. It is fantastic. I purchased the Kid's Guide to the Magic and am saving it to give to Stitch for Christmas. Of course, Mr. Incredible and I reviewed it last night and wanted to use the stickers and rate the rides ourselves. Hmm, who is this trip really for?

Must sign off for now and get back to work. I'm off to find some kind of breathing apparatus... wish me luck!

 

[codyvt]

To all of you who are far more organized than I - help!!!! I keep seeing "to buy lists" mentioned but have no idea what you guys put on them... and also carry-on luggage. I have some ideas here and am a seasoned traveler with a seasoned traveler little one but more ideas are unquestionably helpful... anyone willing to send me some lists? or even list ideas???? most appreciated!