A 2009 Magical Christmas Anniversary Pre-Trip Report

[raider97]

Well, I am so glad you let us know about this, but I think we are going to go ahead and do the CP dining package, anyway. I think we might actually do it Sunday night in lieu of going to church, which is our typical habit the week of Christmas. I'm glad I know now--I am hoping it will now be easier to get reservations at Le Cellier--we were planning to go to Le Cellier to celebrate dh receiving National Board Certification in Early Adolescent Math.

That sounds like a great celebration night out!! I would probably use it in your case too. I am also hoping it opens up some Le Cellier seating, but just for a standard ADR. I am hoping on the 17th the standby line won't be terrible. Wishful thinking probably.

Stephanie

 

[raider97]

I'm sure whichever option you select will be great and the kids will love them. As for me, I've had a couple of hectic weeks; we're getting ready to move, the fall semester is starting back up and i'm taking 13 credits at UNLV (i won't be teaching full time, maybe i'll stay on to sub periodically, though), i got hit by a car while walking my dog (no injuries, just really freaked out), and some other family drama with my SIL (who is only 16, but teenagers can cause a lot of damage, as we all probably know). The dog incident is fully detailed in my TR. Other than all that, I'm alive and healthy, and that's all that matters. How have you been? Got the kids ready for school?

Deanna

OMG!! Hit by a car!! Yikes.... so glad to hear you are o.k. I need to catch up on your trippie!! Sorry to hear about your SIL's and her teenage drama. What are you taking classes in this fall? We had meet the teacher and kinder camp today. It went well. My oldest has her cousin in her class which is nice because we had to change schools this year due to boundary changes. And my middle baby is thrilled to be in school this year. I am less excited to see her going since she has food allergies including a severe allergy to peanuts and this is her first time being a way from home.

Stephanie

 

[raider97]

I think I might have told you all that I bought some clothes off of disneyshopping for the trip. If I didn't tell you guys... then guess what I bought some clothes off of disneyshopping.com for our trip!! LOL!! I bought them back when they were having their big sales so I got several tshirts for a great price. I think most of them were $2.99 or $3.99 a piece.

I bought 4 for Minnie, 4 for Tinkerbell, and 1 for Woody (they didn't have many in his size). I also got them a sweatshirt a piece and some pjs for the girls I can take and give them from Santa for Christmas on the trip. I don't have a picture of them all, but here is one of the ringers I bought.

 

[raider97]

I also decided to buy Woody a new bed spread and sheets for his room. And I found this one for a great price!! Woody LOVES them so I am happy. And they seem to go well with his one orange accent wall in his room (it was orange when we moved in and it will probably be years before we actually get it repainted a more neutral color).

 

[creativeamanda]

I so totally want that Mickey t-shirt!

 

[mousecrazy425]

Just got caught up on your PTR. Your plans sound great, and you have such a beautiful family! I'll be there in December as well, so I've gotten some good ideas from reading!

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Great deals! I actually just got a few for my two youngest on the Disney shopping website on sale!

 

[raider97]

Just got caught up on your PTR. Your plans sound great, and you have such a beautiful family! I'll be there in December as well, so I've gotten some good ideas from reading!

Hi! Thanks for stopping by... I hope to get a couple of updates on here tonight or tomorrow.

Stephanie

 

[raider97]

Great deals! I actually just got a few for my two youngest on the Disney shopping website on sale!

Which ones did you pick up? They ahve great deals when they have clear out sales!! How are your ADR's going? Did you make yours today? What do you think of the hours?

Stephanie

 

[raider97]

We are PAID IN FULL!!

I am super excited. Now I am just looking forward to my 90 day ADR window. I'll post more later on hours, plans, and dining thoughts.
Just thought I would share my good news!!

 

[creativeamanda]

We are PAID IN FULL!!

I am super excited. Now I am just looking forward to my 90 day ADR window. I'll post more later on hours, plans, and dining thoughts.
Just thought I would share my good news!!

Woo HOOO! That is always such a great feeling, isn't it?

 

[raider97]

Woo HOOO! That is always such a great feeling, isn't it?

It is! I was thrilled to get m reservation confirmation today with a zero balance. How is your planning coming?

 

[raider97]

I am sorry it has been so long since I had a good update on my trip report. I have been tinkering with my ADR wish list in my head and have been pouring over the December hours since they were posted yesterday.

I think I have finally come to the realization I need to step down from my soap box. I am really disappointed they changed the Candlelight Processional Pkg from 1 table servce credit to 2 this year. So upset, I thouhgt about not going. But I have been looking forward to this since I planned this trip, and I would hate to stand in the standby line with three stir crazy kids and a grumpy husband because I was being stubborn. So I think I am just going to drop something else and try for a package.

My New and Ever Changing ADR Wish List

12/17 Teppan Edo or Le Cellier CP Pkg Last Showing if possible
12/18 Late Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare
12/18 Early Dinner at CRT
12/19 T- Rex Reservation
12/20 Early Princess Storybook Breakfast
12/20 Teppan Edo or Le Cellier depending on what I can get on the 17th
12/21 Early Crystal Palace Breakfast
12/22 Lunch at Sci-Fi Drive in
12/23 Dinner at Grand Floridian Cafe
12/24 Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern
12/25 Dinner at Ohanas

So what do you think? I think the hardest ones to get are going to be the CP package on the 17th, CRT on the 18th, and Le Cellier on the 20th. I have a little over two weeks to go before my 90 day ADR date. I imagine my list may change before then.

Anyone had breakfast at 1900 Park Fare? I am booking it for Alice and the Mad Hatter. Minnie loves Alice in Wonderland so I am hoping she will really like this one.

Stephanie

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Congrats on being PIF!!!!!!!!! That's such a relief, right? I did my ADR's yesterday. I was very successful...but Le Cellier is a problem! I hope you can get it, but it will be tough for the first day of your trip.

 

[happenin2you]

OMG!! Hit by a car!! Yikes.... so glad to hear you are o.k. I need to catch up on your trippie!! Sorry to hear about your SIL's and her teenage drama. What are you taking classes in this fall? We had meet the teacher and kinder camp today. It went well. My oldest has her cousin in her class which is nice because we had to change schools this year due to boundary changes. And my middle baby is thrilled to be in school this year. I am less excited to see her going since she has food allergies including a severe allergy to peanuts and this is her first time being a way from home.

Stephanie

This semester I am taking French, Spanish, Visual Rhetoric, Nutrition: Food, Health, and Ethnic Issues, and Beg. Tennis. The first three are all for different degree programs (French major, Spanish minor, and English minor) and I love nutrition classes and the faculty that teaches them and they fill my upper division requirements. Tennis I love to play and I am taking the beginner's class for selfish reasons; I figure I can stretch it out over more semesters of play and credits if I start at the lowest level. Anyway, it's a busy day at UNLV, starting at 7:30am and finishing at 3:45pm, it's like a job! I'm loving it so far though. Ask me how I feel come midterms =)

I hope your younger daughter's school is going well, I can see how you would be less than excited to send her with such a serious allergy. I think the best thing you can do is make sure that she knows not to share any food with the other kids because they won't know if it came into contact with anything potentially harmful at their home.

Congrats on paying off your trip. Not many things feel better than that. For me, even though I may know that there's no reason I wouldn't be able to pay it off, I just feel like nothing can happen once it's paid. haha, as if I would let it be cancelled!

your ADRs look great too. I hope you get them all!

 

[raider97]

I so totally want that Mickey t-shirt!

I know... I love this one. I wish they had adult sizes in this one!!

Stephanie

 

[raider97]

Congrats on being PIF!!!!!!!!! That's such a relief, right? I did my ADR's yesterday. I was very successful...but Le Cellier is a problem! I hope you can get it, but it will be tough for the first day of your trip.

Thanks! Glad to hear your ADR's went well. I am crossing my fingers and toes. I was originally hoping for a lunch on the 17th. We check in on the 16th. But now that I've decided on the CP Package I am hoping for Teppan Edo on the 17th with the CP Package and then Le Cellier on the 20th for dinner.

How is the planning going?

Stephanie

 

[raider97]

This semester I am taking French, Spanish, Visual Rhetoric, Nutrition: Food, Health, and Ethnic Issues, and Beg. Tennis. The first three are all for different degree programs (French major, Spanish minor, and English minor) and I love nutrition classes and the faculty that teaches them and they fill my upper division requirements. Tennis I love to play and I am taking the beginner's class for selfish reasons; I figure I can stretch it out over more semesters of play and credits if I start at the lowest level. Anyway, it's a busy day at UNLV, starting at 7:30am and finishing at 3:45pm, it's like a job! I'm loving it so far though. Ask me how I feel come midterms =)

I hope your younger daughter's school is going well, I can see how you would be less than excited to send her with such a serious allergy. I think the best thing you can do is make sure that she knows not to share any food with the other kids because they won't know if it came into contact with anything potentially harmful at their home.

Congrats on paying off your trip. Not many things feel better than that. For me, even though I may know that there's no reason I wouldn't be able to pay it off, I just feel like nothing can happen once it's paid. haha, as if I would let it be cancelled!

your ADRs look great too. I hope you get them all!

What interesting courses you are taking. Wow, that is a pretty long day though. I love your idea on starting tennis at the lowest level. I played on my high school team, but not much since then. Minnie just took tennis lessons this summer so I am hoping to get to be able to practice a bit with her this fall when our temps start to cool off.

I caught up on your trip report today. You are doing such a great job writing it... much better than my ramblings. Can't wait to hear what happens next. How is your SIL doing?

Tinkerbell is doing well at school. Thanks for asking. It is going to help so much that her teacher asked me to be room mom so I can be there more often. Such a relief, but I am sure it is going to be so much work too.

I know what you mean about doing anything not to have to cancel a trip. It is such a great feeling when you have it all paid for. I am bound and determined we will make it there for Christmas this year!!

Stephanie

 

[raider97]

I found $100!!!

Well, not really. My dad called me last week to tell me that he was browsing the unclaimed property site and saw my name and old address and a claim for a $100. So I looked it up and sure enough it was me. So I am working to fill out the paperwork to get it back.

And what should I spend it on?

Well, I had been debating whether I was going to make an appt for the girls at the Pirates League or make them over myself. I am already planning to do BBB with the girls and the Pirates League with my son. But the Pirates League looks so cool and I think they will really like it. Well, problem solved. I decided it was meant to be. So the $100 will be applied towards the makeovers at Pirate League for the girls.

And I scored some more free money... I got an email last week from Southwest about a fall travel deals. So I decided to check my flights. Sure enough I saved another $100 on our tickets. So now we are up to $230 towards another trip sometime this spring.

Life is good.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day weekend!!

Stephanie

 

[raider97]

Yippee!! I just looked at my counter today and we are at 100 days... tomorrow double digits. How exciting!

And I only have 10 more days until ADR day! Can't wait!

Stephanie