MoTo Squad
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2007
- Messages
- 55
Okay, you got me...I said I wasn't going to do it, but here I am again...so excited I need a cathartic release, so here I go.
First a confession...my first trip to Disneyworld was when I was 40. I had been to Disneyland once, when I was about 7, but the only evidence I had a good time was a picture of me standing by Goofy with a big "smile." However, I confess I am still a big Disney fan...
...."Hey quarterback, you just won the Superbowl...what are you going to do next?....(Say it with me now....I'm going to DISNEYWORLD!!!)
So when I had twins in 2003 I secretly started counting the days until they would be old enough to go to Disney!
My husband, who had been to Disneyworld numberous times when he was a kid (trips with his church every summer), was somehow not a fan...I know, I know, it seems impossible, right?
Anyway, I made up "our" minds that we would take them for the first time when they turned 4...and we had a great time, but my husband made me agree...we would only go 3 times....when they were 4, 8 and 12. Then after that we would be done....of course, DH
So here we are, trip number 2. The twins will turn 8 in "the most magical place on earth.." It's very exciting because they are now old enough to really appreciate more of what "the world" has to offer. They don't remember their first trip, so they are very excited this time...making the planning even more fun!
Compare and contrast:
The first trip was a surprise...easy to do for 4 year olds. They didn't know until we got on the plane and the flight attendant asked them if they were excited to go see Mickey!
This time we are driving!
This is the price I paid for upgrading to a moderate resort over a value resort....we are staying at CBR in a pirate room and have also upgraded to the DxDPP to take advantage of more sit down dining. We are doing 5 days (4 park days) over spring break: 4/16 - 20.
So here is the plan:
4/15 6pm -- Depart Maryland. We figured we would leave shortly after the kids got out of school and start driving through the night...hoping to avoid the million and one stops you have to make with kids in the car. The "dream" is that they will watch a couple of movies and then fall asleep around 10:00pm...by the time they wake up we should be in Orlando, just in time for breakfast and hopefully early check in.
I must take a side trip here and express my undying appreciation for the classic Disney movies which are "loonnngg" (Merry Poppins comes to mind -- one of my kids favorites) compared to what's on these days.
4/16 Arrive at CBR. Check in, unpack, hit the pool and spend the day gathering energy for the next 4 days.
4/17 Magic Kingdom (Extra Magic Hours in the evening -- they are open until 2am) Although I know we won't be staying that long, this will be the first time we will really stay late in the park -- the kids will be old enough to "hang", so that should be exciting.
4/18 Epcot
4/19 Magic Kingdom (Extra Magic Hours: AM) Crack of Dawn! All day birthday celebration!
4/20 Animal Kingdom
Originally, we were going to do 1 day at each park, but last time we went we only spent 1/2 day at Hollywood Studios. The Studios were great for the kids when they were younger, but it was just "okay" for us. Kind of a slow day. This time, we decided to skip it and take a 2nd day at Magic Kingdom.
Anyway, I have done tons of research on this site (thanks for the helpful tips) and have made many ADRs.
I got some good ones: Aloha Show on our arrival day...kind of ease us into the mood. We plan to see the show then hang out on the beach and watch the fireworks Saturday night.
Crystal Palace, which we did before. I thought the kids might be too old at 8, but my son still loves Tigger and Winnie the Pooh (and I remember the food was good), so I booked it. Of course, some we could not get ---we had CRT for dinner the first time we went, but could not get in this time. I was disappointed over that, but it was a long shot anyway. I know this books up about 6 months out.
We also really wanted Chef Mickey. It is of course booked solid for the time we are there. Last week, on a whim, I even decided to try again for a reservation. I put in a request through the website...I got excited when it didn't immediately come back "No availability"...but my system is so slow...I watched the hourglass turn for what seemed like an hour...(okay, maybe not an hour, but it certainly seemed like a few minutes) Then....
SCORE
someone must have cancelled or something, because we got a reservation for breakfast on their birthday!
Could Tinkerbell be spreading her magic fairydust?
What else might we get...dare I chance CRT again?.....
I put in the request......
the hour glass spun.....
........and spun......
then...................
Alas, no! "No Availability"
No worries...there is always next year (oops...did I say that out loud
First a confession...my first trip to Disneyworld was when I was 40. I had been to Disneyland once, when I was about 7, but the only evidence I had a good time was a picture of me standing by Goofy with a big "smile." However, I confess I am still a big Disney fan...
...."Hey quarterback, you just won the Superbowl...what are you going to do next?....(Say it with me now....I'm going to DISNEYWORLD!!!)
So when I had twins in 2003 I secretly started counting the days until they would be old enough to go to Disney!
My husband, who had been to Disneyworld numberous times when he was a kid (trips with his church every summer), was somehow not a fan...I know, I know, it seems impossible, right?
Anyway, I made up "our" minds that we would take them for the first time when they turned 4...and we had a great time, but my husband made me agree...we would only go 3 times....when they were 4, 8 and 12. Then after that we would be done....of course, DH
So here we are, trip number 2. The twins will turn 8 in "the most magical place on earth.." It's very exciting because they are now old enough to really appreciate more of what "the world" has to offer. They don't remember their first trip, so they are very excited this time...making the planning even more fun!
Compare and contrast:
The first trip was a surprise...easy to do for 4 year olds. They didn't know until we got on the plane and the flight attendant asked them if they were excited to go see Mickey!
This time we are driving!
This is the price I paid for upgrading to a moderate resort over a value resort....we are staying at CBR in a pirate room and have also upgraded to the DxDPP to take advantage of more sit down dining. We are doing 5 days (4 park days) over spring break: 4/16 - 20.So here is the plan:
4/15 6pm -- Depart Maryland. We figured we would leave shortly after the kids got out of school and start driving through the night...hoping to avoid the million and one stops you have to make with kids in the car. The "dream" is that they will watch a couple of movies and then fall asleep around 10:00pm...by the time they wake up we should be in Orlando, just in time for breakfast and hopefully early check in.
I must take a side trip here and express my undying appreciation for the classic Disney movies which are "loonnngg" (Merry Poppins comes to mind -- one of my kids favorites) compared to what's on these days.
4/16 Arrive at CBR. Check in, unpack, hit the pool and spend the day gathering energy for the next 4 days.
4/17 Magic Kingdom (Extra Magic Hours in the evening -- they are open until 2am) Although I know we won't be staying that long, this will be the first time we will really stay late in the park -- the kids will be old enough to "hang", so that should be exciting.
4/18 Epcot
4/19 Magic Kingdom (Extra Magic Hours: AM) Crack of Dawn! All day birthday celebration!
4/20 Animal Kingdom
Originally, we were going to do 1 day at each park, but last time we went we only spent 1/2 day at Hollywood Studios. The Studios were great for the kids when they were younger, but it was just "okay" for us. Kind of a slow day. This time, we decided to skip it and take a 2nd day at Magic Kingdom.
Anyway, I have done tons of research on this site (thanks for the helpful tips) and have made many ADRs.
I got some good ones: Aloha Show on our arrival day...kind of ease us into the mood. We plan to see the show then hang out on the beach and watch the fireworks Saturday night.
Crystal Palace, which we did before. I thought the kids might be too old at 8, but my son still loves Tigger and Winnie the Pooh (and I remember the food was good), so I booked it. Of course, some we could not get ---we had CRT for dinner the first time we went, but could not get in this time. I was disappointed over that, but it was a long shot anyway. I know this books up about 6 months out.
We also really wanted Chef Mickey. It is of course booked solid for the time we are there. Last week, on a whim, I even decided to try again for a reservation. I put in a request through the website...I got excited when it didn't immediately come back "No availability"...but my system is so slow...I watched the hourglass turn for what seemed like an hour...(okay, maybe not an hour, but it certainly seemed like a few minutes) Then....
SCORE
someone must have cancelled or something, because we got a reservation for breakfast on their birthday!
Could Tinkerbell be spreading her magic fairydust?
What else might we get...dare I chance CRT again?.....I put in the request......
the hour glass spun.....
........and spun......
then...................
Alas, no! "No Availability"
No worries...there is always next year (oops...did I say that out loud
