3 Trips! 5/31-6/4 @ Art of Animation / 8/31-9/4 Disneymoon & 10/26-11/1 Bugs 1st Bday

[21hearts]

So this is my second attempt at a PTR - but this one is for three trips!

Trip #1
May 31st-June 4th at the Art of Animation.

Trip #2
August 31st-September 4th at Port Orleans French Quarter - DISNEYMOON!

Trip #4
October 26-November 1st staying at Art of Animation (Cars room) for Bugs 1st Birthday.

 

[21hearts]

Saved for links

The Cast
Whats The Plan - Trip #3
Trip #1 Plan
The *new* Disney Stroller
Friday @ Hollywood Studios & a rainy Monday at the Magic Kingdom!

 

[21hearts]

So who are we? Pictures are from our trip from February 2012.

First up we have me. My name is Melissa and I am 23 years old. My aunt & uncle are CMs and I've been going to WDW regularly since I was 6 years old. I sell Avon and I'm planning on selling a lot to help pay for this trip. Sooo does anyone want to buy some Avon? lol. I have been married for 5 years and I have three kids. More will be said about them further down the page. I love love love love Cinderella. I'm also an AVON representative - which my bonus money is paying for half of Trip #1.

Next up is my husband will be known as DH for the rest of the PTR. He's second because he helps pay for these trips. He is a disabled veteran who is very limited on how he can work. So he mostly does odd & end jobs here and there. We have been married for 5 years (will be 6 in September). Now its taken me 6 trips to WDW to get DH to be as open minded about it as he is. It was actually his idea to do this trip. DH likes Peter Pan. Oh and I totally plan on making him shave for this trip.

Next up is the off spring. There will be lots of pictures of the off spring on here. I hope you like cute kid pictures.

Left to right: Bug (age 1), Pirate (age 4) and Princess (age 2).

Now you will notice 2 things about that picture
1.) We had 2 single strollers. Yeah not doing that again.
2.) Princess has a stroller as wheelchair tag on her stroller.

Now #2 from above is why we did #1. We didn't think it was "right or fair" to have a double stroller when we had to use the tag for Princess but it was such a huge pain in the butt - esp when DH & Pirate would go on a ride. Sorry to all of you judgmental people who are sooooooooooo going to judge me when I come through the line with my double stroller but my sanity means more to me then your dirty looks & comments. Note this is said in a teasing manner but 1.) yes we've gotten dirty looks & rude comments from people and 2.) I really don't care anymore. That tag is the only way that Princess could enjoy herself and well that's more important to me then what you think.

So now from the top

Pirates favorite characters are: Buzz, Peter Pan and Mater. His favorite ride is the Buzz Lightyear ride (or BUZZ as he says it) and he loves the Magic Kingdom.

Princess is a huge princess lover & is looking forward to meeting the girl from Brave. Princess loves the Winnie The Pooh ride (at least we think she does judging by her reaction). Princess was born with a rare medical condition that affects her speech & development. It also causes her right leg to swell up which prevents her from walking or standing for more then 10 minutes. Add that to DH has a bad back from the Army and can't hold a kid for more then 10 minutes and I need that stroller as wheelchair tag. Yes I was the crazy women holding Bug while pushing Princess through the line because my DH is disabled.

Bug will be turning 2 on October 29th. She just loves everything about WDW. I would have to say that her favorite character is Duffy. Yes Duffy. I know the $30 Disney Bear.

Also joining us on trip #3 (& possibly trip #1) are my parents Pop Pop & Nana. Pop Pop & Nana joined us on our trip in February for a few days.

Pop Pop & Pirate

Nana & Stitch

 

[21hearts]

So Whats the plan? Trip #3

So I'm trying to make our plan for October but I keep running into one road block: my parents. Nana & Pop Pop own their own business so its hard for them to make plans like this. October could come and they could be so swamped that they can't go or so dead that they can't afford to go. We did tell them we would help out with some of the financial issues (we're paying for the house at Windsor Hills, their tickets and most of their food while they are there). But they still need money for gas, some food and gifts. Last trip they spoiled the kids rotten (which I knew they wanted to do but had they had to pay for everything for 2 of them they wouldn't of been able to do).

So here's what my planning spreadsheet looks like right (we use easywdw.com ). I also don't know how long my parents are talking about staying with us.

Friday - 10/26 - Travel Day & Universal Studios DH does Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights

Saturday 10/27 - Disney Or Universal Studios

Sunday 10/28 - MK - may do MNSCHP with Pirate.

Monday 10/29 - Epcot - Lilly's 2nd Birthday

Tuesday 10/30 - Hollywood Studios

Wednesday 10/31 - Rest day or park day.

Thursday 11/1- Travel day

 

[21hearts]

May/June Trip

When: May 21st-June 4th
Where: Art of Animation! Checking in on opening day!
Why: Star Wars Weekend!

May 30th - Pack & load up the van

May 31st - Wake up at 7am, go to work and get done by 11-12. Have lunch then put the kids in the van and drive to Orlando. Arrive no later then 3pm.
-- ADR - Planet Hollywood at 4:45pm.

June 1st - Magic Kingdom
-- ADR 11:35am at Liberty Tree Traven

June 2nd - Hollywood Studios : Star Wars Weekend
-- ADR 4:20 Sci-Fi

June 3ird - Epcot
-- ADR 11:40 San Angel Inn

June 4th - Hollywood Studios
-- ADR 11:05 50's Prime Time

 

[21hearts]

The new Disney stroller.

So DH and I had been talking and there is no way we want to do 2 single strollers again - Esp since trip #1 is going to be during a very crowded Star Wars Weekend. So we bought a double stroller to use for our Disney trips.

We have Pirate & Princess in the pictures because they both jumped into the stroller as soon as I had it put together. Pirate fits fine if the shade is up but with it done his head is on the shade. But Pirate doesn't use a stroller anymore so that's kind of moot anyways. But Pirate is 44inches & 38lbs. So if you have a bigger child and you want to use a City Mini GT Double for they will fit with the shade open. Closed there heads will be on it.

 

[Corrine 1973]

I bet you are super excited that you #1 trip is coming up. I have just over a year to wait so I guess I will have to live vicariously through you this next year.

I know what you mean about people giving you dirty looks and comments when you bring a stroller in a line with the sticker. I took my oldest son (will be 10 on friday) to WDW last may. I ended up getting a stroller for bigger kids for him because he has CF and does not have the endurace to walk around the parks for 5 days straight even with brakes. Using the the stroller as a wheel chair was great, but I got my share of dirty looks. I was taking him through the wheelchair entrance of Star Tours when some one asked if he got to cut the line because it was his birthdate (he was wearing a b-day pin. I guess it was her dd b-day and she wanted to be able to cut in line). I explained that he had a medical condition and left it at that. I could almost feel her shooting daggers at me as I walked away. I didn't let it get to me. It is my son's right to have as good a time as anyone else, and your daughter has that same right.

Have fun on your trip, can't wait to hear about it when you get back.

 

[21hearts]

I bet you are super excited that you #1 trip is coming up. I have just over a year to wait so I guess I will have to live vicariously through you this next year.

I know what you mean about people giving you dirty looks and comments when you bring a stroller in a line with the sticker. I took my oldest son (will be 10 on friday) to WDW last may. I ended up getting a stroller for bigger kids for him because he has CF and does not have the endurace to walk around the parks for 5 days straight even with brakes. Using the the stroller as a wheel chair was great, but I got my share of dirty looks. I was taking him through the wheelchair entrance of Star Tours when some one asked if he got to cut the line because it was his birthdate (he was wearing a b-day pin. I guess it was her dd b-day and she wanted to be able to cut in line). I explained that he had a medical condition and left it at that. I could almost feel her shooting daggers at me as I walked away. I didn't let it get to me. It is my son's right to have as good a time as anyone else, and your daughter has that same right.

Have fun on your trip, can't wait to hear about it when you get back.

Oh yes I am getting super excited! We check in in 1 week. 1 week! This will be Princesses 6th trip to WDW and our 5th with the pass. We've had everything from "What makes you so special?" to "Special needs kids shouldn't be allowed at WDW." The first two trips it bothered me. Now I couldn't care less. On our last trip I had a rather rude guy in line for the Winnie The Pooh line ask why my daughter was so special that she got to sit in her stroller in line & his grandson couldn't. I told him she has a medical condition. He said that it wasn't fair. So I told him to go find the line where they are handing out life threatening medical conditions that will require your child to barely be able to speak, have to have neurosurgery and may possibly require that her leg(s) be amputated. He quickly shut up then. Usually once people hear "rare medical condition" they mind their own business.

 

[21hearts]

Only 2 days to go until we check into the Art of Animation. I apologize for the lack of updates but you see we were at Disney!

We spent last Friday at Hollywood Studios and yesterday (Monday) at Magic Kingdom!

"Princess S" with Pirate

My beautiful new Mickey ears

Princess S & Pirate. It was a very rainy day at the Magic Kingdom

Princess S, Pirate & myself

Princess S & Pirate

These were all taken with my Iphone

 

[21hearts]

2 days (Well 1 day & 11 hours) until we check into Art of Animation! I can't wait!!!

I have all of the kids stuff packed already. I did want to sneak a trip to the Disney Outlet & buy some pins/vinlys for the kids to trade but I don't think there's time for it. I'm washing a load of my clothes that I'm going to pack now. I'm planning on washing hubs clothes next. I'm so excited!

 

[21hearts]

So we just returned from our stay at Disney's Art of Animation. What a beautiful resort. My kids totally loved it - esp the pool.

I am sad to say that this was one of our worst Disney trips ever - due to the fact that everyone got really sick. So sick that we only went to the parks one day.

 

[Corrine 1973]

So we just returned from our stay at Disney's Art of Animation. What a beautiful resort. My kids totally loved it - esp the pool.

I am sad to say that this was one of our worst Disney trips ever - due to the fact that everyone got really sick. So sick that we only went to the parks one day.

Oh no, I am so sorry to hear that. That is one of my worse fears to get sick at Disney. I hope everyone is feeling better now and looking foward to having another try in a couple of months.

 

[21hearts]

Oh no, I am so sorry to hear that. That is one of my worse fears to get sick at Disney. I hope everyone is feeling better now and looking foward to having another try in a couple of months.

Thanks. Everyone is still actually sick. Its pretty bad. Bug has finally gotten over an ear infection and now Princess has one. Dh and I both have really bad coughs and runny noses. My head is so stuffed up that I have so much pressure that I have to take medicine or I can't get out of bed. Pirate is still sick but I would say that he's feeling the best out of all of us.

 

[21hearts]

Whats The Plan - Trip #3 - Over Haul

So since Trip #1 bombed due to sickness we decided to stay onsite for Bugs birthday trip. Were going to stay at Art of Animation again but this time in a Cars room since Pirate was going crazy being able to see the Cars section but not able to see it up close (they still had fences up). So if we stay on site we may have to cut off of a day or two.

Whats The Plan - Trip #2

Honestly there is no plan for this trip. DH and I both want to experience WDW without kids. We want to be able to do whatever we want whenever we want. I'm not expecting us to make it to rope drop at all for this trip but I am expecting us to hit up PM extra magic hours - esp at the Magic Kingdom or at Epcot. The last time DH and I went to WDW without kids was for my 19th birthday and I was 6 months pregnant with Pirate. So to think that for my 24th birthday I may get to go without kids is kind of exciting. There are no guilty feelings (so far) about leaving the kids home.

ETA - so my husband just surprised me and said that he booked us at the Boardwalk!

 

[21hearts]

Trip #2 - Thoughts & Lists

So since we will only be at WDW for 3 nights and 2 days we know we are not going to be able to do everything that we want to do. But here is what we have so far

The Dates: August 31st-September 3ird.
The Where: Disney's Boardwalk (with military discount)

We will be using our annual passes & we are not getting the dining plan for our trip.

So far our thoughts are

Friday the 31st (aka my 24th birthday)
- Drop kids off around 3pm. Get to WDW about 5pm. Have dinner at DTD and possibly go to Disney Quest tonight.

Saturday the 1st
- Water Park in the morning. Hollywood Studios to see F! at 8:30.

Sunday the 2nd
- Other water park today in the morning. Epcot at night to see the fireworks which will be a first for DH & me.

Monday the 3ird
- Be on the road by 9am to pick up the kids around 11am.


We know for sure that we want to do at least one of water parks and do Disney Quest. F! & the fireworks are optional since we could do those with the kids. We know for sure that we aren't planning on visiting the Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom. We do want to do the World Showcase without kids and be able to go in and really see what each country has to offer (apparently their are movies?).