25th Ann.-2 TR w/over 1500 pics!!!!

[kaoden39]

I got thrown for a loop this afternoon, Disney Dining called to let me know that Hook's Pointe was going down for refurbishment March 8th. Our anniversary dinner (with no kids) was to be there on the 11th. So after humming & hawing....we decided to cancel our Friday lunch at the Blue Bayou & replace Hook's Pointe with it. So the Blue Bayou it is for our "romantic" dinner.
This actually opened up my Friday so I could add in the Pat-E-Cake birthday party for Anthony (who will turn 8, 2 days after we get back). So it actually worked out better in the long run.

Now I just have to hope I don't get any more phone calls like that one!!! I had to retype about 15 pages in my planning book.....lol

That sucks. Wouldn't it be nice if they had their eggs all in one basket and knew these things ahead of things.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Well you think they would have on that!! Someone should have known they were closing down & not to take PS for it. Guess the right hand isn't talking to the left one!!!

Oh well, it worked!

 

[kaoden39]

Well you think they would have on that!! Someone should have known they were closing down & not to take PS for it. Guess the right hand isn't talking to the left one!!!

Oh well, it worked!

Well, that was my thought.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Ok, so here's the official Itinerary for our trip...which by the way is in 6 DAYS!!!!!!

Saturday, March 7: Leave home around 5am & head south. Arrive in Anaheim around 7pm. Drop off the 4 kids at Motel 6 & get them settled in. Park at the DL Hotel & run to the park to upgrade our 6 day parkhoppers to AP's. Run back to the DL Hotel & check-in. Dump stuff in room & go back to the park until closing. Enjoy the surprises in the room that will be delivered that evening!!! (gift basket & rice krispy treats/milk)

Sunday, March 8: 8am Magic Morning with the kids. We'll have breakfast at the River Belle Terrace. Mike & I have PS at the Cafe Orlean's for lunch & then we'll take in the Billy Hill & the Hillbillies show before meeting back up with the kids. We have dinner at Goofy's Kitchen, then Mike & I head back for our Fantasmic Dessert Seating.

Monday, March 9: Start out with our early entry for ToonTown then we have PS at the Carnation Cafe for breakfast. Check out of the DL Hotel Check in to the Tropicana Inn. Look around residential areas & look into employment opportunities at DL, go to the Character Warehouse & then back to the parks. Meet up with the older boys & have dinner at the House of Blues.

Tuesday, March 10: Take the 2 little ones to Ariel's Grotto for the princess breakfast. Meet up with older boys & take on DCA! Lunching at Award Weiners, go to Playhouse Disney & the Animation Bldg. Grab dinner from Taste Pilot's Grill & secure a spot to watch the Pixar Play Parade. Head back over to DL.

Wednesday, March 11: Family going to the Lilo-n-Stitch buffet & then to DL. Meeting a good friend at 1pm at the Hungry Bear to have lunch with her family. Catch the Flag Retreat & then Mike & I have our Anniversary dinner at the Blue Bayou (with no kids).

Thursday, March 12: Breakfast at Mimi's prior to park opening. Mike & I are doing the Walk in Walt's Footsteps Tour. Meet up with kids after tour & see Aladdin at DCA. Dinner at the PCH Grill, then back to DL.

Friday, March 13: Starting our day at Goofy's Kitchen & celebrating Anthony's birthday (Bday Mar. 16). Quick lunch at Coke Corner, then we'll take the 2 little ones to the Pat E. Cake Birthday Party at the Plaza Inn. Meeting up with older boys for dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. Back to DL until they kick us out!!

Saturday, March 14: Up early to head home

As you noticed, no rides mentioned.....they fall in between everything else. We get a ton of riding done...even with a full schedule. So we're very excited as we get closer & closer to leaving.
Thanx to those that have been reading & commenting on my PTR. I really appreciate all the input & compliments I've received. You make me smile!!

PS: I CATCH THE FIREWORKS EVERY NIGHT!!! My favorite thing to do!!!

 

[goofycathy]

So we've had a HUGE change in our plans.......
Now instead of just my hubby & I going to Disneyland.....now 4 of my kids are coming!!
My older boys got the money together & were going to get their own package & join us on the trip.....but how in the world would I explain to my 7 & 3 yr old why everyone went but them..... so we crunched numbers & figured out how to bring the 4 of them. They have their own package & motel but will join us for most of the trip. The deal with the older boys was, Mike & I did not want to change plans we already had set & they would need to watch their young siblings for this to work. They agreed & now there will be 6 of us invading the parks!!
So let me introduce you to the "stow-aways".....lol

Tyler (22) & Derek (19):

Anthony (7) - turns 8 (2 days after we leave) so we'll have to incorporate a birthday for him!!

Adaleah (3):

The most fun about this addition is, we're not telling the 2 young ones!! We're going to put them in the car & tell them we're going to go visit someone. After a few hours in the car, when they start whining about being in the car we'll tell them "Well Mickey doesn't live across the street!!". I can't wait to see their faces!!!! (we'll have the video camera & camera's ready)

Awww how can you say no to those handsome boys and that beautiful princess??? You will have a blast, I wish more than anything I was planning a trip but I think we have to put it off until next year
I hope you guys have a great time and I will be thinking about you guys!

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

I'm here! I found your PTR!

Holy cow 6 days?!!! Are you freakin' excited!!!??

Your oldest DS's are around my age (I'm 21!). The 2 younger ones are going to flip when they find out where they're going!!!! My parents did that to me when I was around that age and I still remember it!!

Oh plus!! To you for bringing those beautiful kids into your home! They're a lucky bunch!!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Awww how can you say no to those handsome boys and that beautiful princess??? You will have a blast, I wish more than anything I was planning a trip but I think we have to put it off until next year
I hope you guys have a great time and I will be thinking about you guys!

I know I was feeling guilty about planning this without them, so it all worked out in the end. I'll be much happier with them there.

 

[DizNee Luver]

I'm here! I found your PTR!

Holy cow 6 days?!!! Are you freakin' excited!!!??

Your oldest DS's are around my age (I'm 21!). The 2 younger ones are going to flip when they find out where they're going!!!! My parents did that to me when I was around that age and I still remember it!!

Oh plus!! To you for bringing those beautiful kids into your home! They're a lucky bunch!!!

I'm jumping out of my skin....I just want to get there!!!!

We feel blessed to have these 4 little ones in our lives. I should hear in the next day or two on the twins adoption. They may already be mine legally!!!!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

So I thought I'd include pics of my planning book & the smaller book I keep in my backpack in the park.

The planning book has everything in it. Itinerary, budget, packing list, restaurant menus, daily schedule, fun things to do at DL, maps, journal pages so I can note down what we did, etc. It's probably 1 1/2" thick...lol

The smaller book is a photo book that I keep pretty much the same things but in condensed form. The daily schedule so we don't miss our PS resies, a pic of my twins since they won't be with us, tips & photopass pic hints.

Like I stated earlier in this trip report....I'm an uber-planner!!!!

 

[goofycathy]

HOLY COW! That is the coolest thing Ive ever seen, when we finally nail down a date can you make me one of those?!?!?! LOL j/k but those are SUPER awesome!

 

[goofycathy]

OH, and also, since I live so close im pretty much just not going to let you know ( althought I think thats what im doing now ) and just stow away somewhere in your big car....im sure I could find a place under luggage or something, lol

 

[Michelle2]

So I thought I'd include pics of my planning book & the smaller book I keep in my backpack in the park.

The planning book has everything in it. Itinerary, budget, packing list, restaurant menus, daily schedule, fun things to do at DL, maps, journal pages so I can note down what we did, etc. It's probably 1 1/2" thick...lol

The smaller book is a photo book that I keep pretty much the same things but in condensed form. The daily schedule so we don't miss our PS resies, a pic of my twins since they won't be with us, tips & photopass pic hints.

Like I stated earlier in this trip report....I'm an uber-planner!!!!

WOW! That is AWESOME! I think I am going to take yours and totally copy it for my trip---I need all the organization I can get, plus it makes it more fun! I thought I was a planner and totally prepared, but I have got nothing on you.

Did you get all of your menus for your book from allears?

I am so excited you also get to take your kids. That will make your trip even more special!

 

[mariezp]

WOW! You are so organized and crafty at the same time. I am sooo impressed! I usually have a folder with our itinerary, daily plans, park info and the to-do-list but it never looks as good as yours. You go girl!

 

[DizNee Luver]

First of all, thank you very much for the nice compliments....I was afraid you'd all tell me I was nuts!! I just find it passes the time & I like having everything together for quick reference.

I did get most of the menus from themouseforless.com but I did check on the DIS dining site for possible price updates. There were a few changes, but not enough to make me reprint the menus. We use those to budget how much per person per meal. Unfortunately we are going to be very tight on money & we'll have to stay very close to what I figured we could spend each meal.

I also like having the photo book sized one for easy reference in the parks. I keep important phone #s, daily schedule, when the older boys will watch the younger siblings, where my friend is staying & when we're meeting up, photopass tips on adding in effects, fun things to try, foods we've missed on past trips (after looking at the dining review thread with pics), all the PS resies at a glance & the picture of the twins (that way they'll be there in spirit). I would call it my lifeline in the parks.

goofycathy if you can find room under my luggage, you're more than welcome to stow away.....but Ford Expeditions have about a foot behind the back seat for all 6 of our luggage, so good luck with that.....still not sure how we're getting everything back in there after my spending sprees!!

So thank you all again for sticking with me & we only have 5 MORE DAYS!!! of this planning craziness!!! Then you'll have to wait for us to come home with a trip report & pics.

 

[Teki]

Kudos to you for adopting those kids! and i hope your trip is fantastic!

 

[Teki]

Ive found if you pack everyone in one big suitcase instead of several you save room, my sister and I never have sepeate suitcases, I cant get the boys to do it though they are afraid of there undewear touching I guess (sorry these posts are all belated Im going through your PTR as if you just wrote it )

 

[DizNee Luver]

We'd never thought about that..... interesting concept!! We actually had thought about leaving the big suitcase empty so we could fill it with the stuff we buy while there, & use backpacks & tote bags for our clothes (these squish into spots better than suitcases). But maybe putting all the clothes in the big suitcase then the bags could be squished into the holes.......
THANX.....I might try that!!!!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Kudos to you for adopting those kids! and i hope your trip is fantastic!

Thank you very much.....lol I didn't go back to page 5 before I replied to your post on page 6 We feel blessed!!!

 

[kaoden39]

I am so going to steal your book ideas. That will help me to pass the time.

 

[DizNee Luver]

I am so going to steal your book ideas. That will help me to pass the time.

Sweet!!! It does help & it's great to reference to while on the forum threads!