5 Girls and a Boys Not So Scary Halloween PTR ~ 10/10 TR link

[Mickey_Mom]

Oh you really must!!! Matt and I are REALLY dressing up...can't reveal what are costumes are at this time...but it will be GOOD! I plan to have a couple theme-y Halloween shirts too to wear during our stay...

Julie

Thanks for the info Julie -- we'll have to get our table to sing Happy Birthday to Emma and Ariana. We can be loud and silly... how fun would that be Natalie? I still have to look thru the cake threads but I'm liking the slipper right now.

I need to find a good sale on black t-shirts to stock up on DISigns to wear.

I love all the character meals you ladies have picked out. While I don't need to ONLY do them, I do like to do them. Sadly, my dh really could care less. Next trip... I travel with him, a teen aged boy... and my sweet little girl. I foresee making some solo (well, just my little one and I ) ADR's for some character meals.

The mugs... those are the new colors? Those are pretty wild colors. Not sure my boy is gonna want one...or my dh for that matter. Again... probably just my dd and I will want them.

As for the two MNSSHP... how fun! If you can swing it, then do it!

I've had two character meals that were just me and one of my kids. Ariana and I had a wonderful CRT breakfast while the boys slept in on one trip, and then Demetri and I had a special lunch at Play 'n Dine while the rest of my gang explored DHS. They're some of my favorite memories.

Loving the dining plans...hope you manage to get all your ADRs!!

Think the new mugs look cool - will definitely be wanting a pink one!

I like the new mug designs too, they look fun!

Awesome plans!!!! I am so glad you posted a pic of the new mugs. I love the new design and can't wait to get ours!!!!

Thanks! I think our times are pretty flexible so we should be OK.

 

[KathyRN137]

... after listening to Eryka say she wanted to move in with Tracy (let me know when you want me to send her stuff)

I had a great day and was so happy to meet Tracy and her family, I think we will have a wonderful week together!!!!!

I loved that line about sending Eryka's stuff....


I Love DIS-meets! Knew you guys would hit it off!


Kathy

p.s. Tracy, you need a countdown ticker!!
/

 

[Mickey_Mom]

I loved that line about sending Eryka's stuff....


I Love DIS-meets! Knew you guys would hit it off!


Kathy

p.s. Tracy, you need a countdown ticker!!
/

DIS tickers aren't working right now.... "PLEASE PARDON OUR PIXIE DUST WHILE WE WORK ON FIXING YOUR TICKERS!!" Hopefully they come back soon!

 

[Tinkermom76]

I loved that line about sending Eryka's stuff....


I Love DIS-meets! Knew you guys would hit it off!


Kathy

p.s. Tracy, you need a countdown ticker!!
/

Thanks! She still hasn't told me when to send it

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Thanks! She still hasn't told me when to send it

 

[stephielela]

Your plans sound great!! I LOVE Tusker House breakfast too, we are definitely doing that in September too!

As for 2 parties, if you have room in the budget, I'd totally do 2. I'm going to play it by ear, but I would LOVE to do 2 if we can afford it, there is just no way to see everything in 1 party.

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Your plans sound great!! I LOVE Tusker House breakfast too, we are definitely doing that in September too!

As for 2 parties, if you have room in the budget, I'd totally do 2. I'm going to play it by ear, but I would LOVE to do 2 if we can afford it, there is just no way to see everything in 1 party.

I think so too! I'm just about sold on the idea of two parties.

 

[Mickey_Mom]

I haven't told Ariana yet about the trip. I'm not keeping it a secret and we've openly talked about it in front of her, but she hasn't yet made all the connections.



That's where this little collage if you will, comes into play. I'm not very good at making these kinds of things, but it does what it needs to do.

(I couldn't figure out how not to stretch it. )



Basically, it's a mish mash of all the elements of this trip to help Ariana understand some key elements. First and most importantly, who is going. This will be the first trip that Daddy and Alex have not gone on and if I don't prepare her properly, she'll be asking where they are every day. She would not be satisfied to hear repeatedly, "they're at home".



Secondly, when we are going. The little calendar will show her we're going in September and which specific dates, with the Pop picture thrown in there too. We'll be doing a countdown chain like we did for our Nov/Dec trip -- it worked so well for both Ariana and Demetri that we'll resume our once a week movie nights -- but the calendar gives her a snapshot look at exactly when we'll be there.



The Grim Grinning Ghosts are just for fun, she LOVES that song and it ties nicely into our theme. The MNSSHP picture of course lets her know we'll be going to the party and lastly, the Princesses are announcing that we'll be celebrating her's and Emma's birthdays!



I'll print this out at work (shhhh!) and bring it home tomorrow to formally present it to Ariana where it will proudly sit on our fridge for the next seven months!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

That is a great collage, Tracey! what a wonderful idea...
maybe a countdown when it is in range along the same lines will help too and be fun at the same time!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

That is a great collage, Tracey! what a wonderful idea...
maybe a countdown when it is in range along the same lines will help too and be fun at the same time!

Thanks! We've done a few different countdown things before... one year we just X-ed off the dates on a Mickey calendar and last year we did the chain. We had weekly movie nights that the kids chose and after each movie was done, we'd take a section of seven links down. The kids loved it and it made the trip come so quickly!

While my chain was just strips of blank paper the kids stamped, Natalie used a really cool Disney chain that I'm going to use this time. I have all I need to put it together but haven't shown the kids yet.... stay tuned!

 

[Tinkermom76]

Thats a great picture... I want one too!!!!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Thats a great picture... I want one too!!!!

I'll email it to you!

 

[jenjolt]

What a beautiful collage Tracy!!! Arianna and Demitri are going to be very excited!!!!!! I am going back now to catch up on all of your plans!! Have fun!!!!!!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

What a beautiful collage Tracy!!! Arianna and Demitri are going to be very excited!!!!!! I am going back now to catch up on all of your plans!! Have fun!!!!!!

Thanks Jen!! I can't wait to show them.

 

[mousescrapper]

Love the Collage Tracy...what a great way to announce your trip and a fun visual reminder too

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

Trac, the collage looks GREAT!!! Can't wait to hear Ariana's reaction!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Love the Collage Tracy...what a great way to announce your trip and a fun visual reminder too

Trac, the collage looks GREAT!!! Can't wait to hear Ariana's reaction!

Thanks ladies!

I think we'll construct the countdown chain this weekend and get started with our movie nights next Tuesday. Twenty-eight Disney movies here we come!

 

[Tinkermom76]

WARNING

Anyone that plans a vacation with Tracy be prepared to stay longer than expected

We have now added a day to our reservation (well I have... Tracy you add yours yet???)

We are staying Sept 23 - Oct 2nd... now we just gotta figure out the extra ADR

 

[Mickey_Mom]

WARNING

Anyone that plans a vacation with Tracy be prepared to stay longer than expected

We have now added a day to our reservation (well I have... Tracy you add yours yet???)

We are staying Sept 23 - Oct 2nd... now we just gotta figure out the extra ADR

I haven't even told George yet, but I'm justifying it by offsetting the crappy flight times we're sure to get. He's always told me the best way to do Disney is get there as early as possible and leave as late as possible and if the flight times are yucky - just add on travel days. Works for me! I'm just taking your advice honey!

I have to change Ariana's collage already!

 

[Tinkermom76]

Day 1

Friday September 23 2011

Me in Red and Tracy in Green

This is the day we are leaving for the Happiest Place on Earth (that really isn’t a gimmick when they say that, it really is the happiest place on earth!!!)

Now Tracy has booked her airfare, but as I am cheap and got really great fares last year I am waiting a bit in hopes the price will drop (it has gone up twice since she booked :S)
George was all over the place when we were talking and deciding if we could pull off this trip financially. He’d grumble about a particular cost and then he’d suggest I buy the departure airfare right away, and then use any credits we may get if the prices go down towards our return flight. So once he gave me the green light one of the first things I did was buy those tickets!! SW is opening their booking window for October and forward in about a week so then I’ll join Natalie in the waiting game to see if those numbers come down.

If (and I really hope) I get the same flight as her then her wonderful hubby has suggested I leave the car at their place for the week and we all go to the airport together.
Another one of his suggestions while we were deciding.

I would leave my house at 8AM and get to Tracy’s just before 9am to get all of our luggage transferred to her van. Then after we are loaded up and stop for some Timmies we will be off for the Border.
Mmmmm… Timmies!! I do miss my Timmies coffee on these trips but Natalie has wonderfully offered to share her Timmies tea with me – almost as good Those times sound about right with a little room to breathe if we find lines at the border. What are Friday border lines in the middle of the day like I wonder?

I of course will be loaded down with passports, custody papers and birth certificates since I am usually questioned about the girls having a different last name then me.
I don’t have custody papers to contend with but I do sometimes have a guard who is not content when Ariana doesn’t answer any questions directed her way. We’ll be prepared for that.

One thing I am really looking forward to is getting a sandwich at Which Wich at the airport. We ate there last trip and the breakfast sandwiches are to die for!
I think this is the place I grabbed a buffalo chicken sandwich from on my January trip but couldn’t eat because my tummy was not cooperating. It smelled really good!!

I’m sure the kids will have fun playing around in the airport for a bit since they have a great play area.

We also like to watch the planes come and go from the glass viewing area….

…. And we might monkey around a bit in the gift shop too.

Our Flight leaves at 2:20pm and arrives in Orlando at 5pm.
The last couple of flights for me have left me with a queasy stomach. I’ve never had a flight that I wasn’t feeling a little ill, but these last ones have been doozies. Can anyone recommend something that I could take to curb the queasiness but not knock me out?

Hopefully everything will go smooth and we will be on one of these babies by 5:30pm.
I hope to snag another welcome arch picture. If it sucks I might have to cheat and go up the Rubik’s cube staircase for a bootleg version, lol.
I didn't know you could do that

And hopefully arrive here by just after 6pm

When we arrive we will head over to the online check in line since we are good DISers and we know the line there is shorter and will go faster!
But we’ll also know to request somewhere else if we’re not digging the location they give us!

Now hopefully we will be given rooms beside each other, in building 3 close to Classic Hall
We’ve tied our reservations together so they know at the least to put us in adjoining rooms, hopefully with a door in the middle. Oh and we’ll get Emma and Ariana birthday buttons too!

After we check for bugs and drop our stuff we will probably want something to eat (I want the chicken!!!!)
Nachos Supreme and Tie Dye cheesecake for me!!!

We will also grab our refillable mugs

Then I think it will be well after 7pm if not closer to 8pm so maybe a tour of the resort or pretty much whatever the kids feel like.
I say we tour all the swimming pools, lol!!


On my first day I tend to want to go somewhere since I feel like I am wasting precious vacation time. Since Tracy has MADE me add on 2 days this is the longest trip we have taken so I want to relax a bit more and just stay at the resort the day we get there. I’m hoping Tracy will squish my urge to want to hop on a bus
Oh yes I really had to twist her arm to add those extra days on... she really needed convincing I’ll tell you!

I have never seen this so I would really like to make my way over there

That is a pretty cool area … we can play a game of Twister too!

Then we will probably make it an early night since I think we might have an early start the next day!(for the kids, I will be unpacking and maybe Tracy and I can grab a drink and sit outside the doors and watch the lake and relax)
That sounds heavenly.