A Disney-addicted mom: 2nd annual August trip and Marathon Weekend *Update 10/7*

[DrMomof3]

(Pictures of our family shirts on previous page, FYI!)

I also bought the kids tons of "stuff." Each child is getting a new DVD: Diary of a Wimpy Kid for Nathaniel (he read the first 2 books), High School Musical 3 for Jessica, and How to Train a Dragon for Zachary. I'm going to pack them in a suitcase because we're not bringing a portable DVD player. DVC resorts have DVD players in the living room. These will be mid-trip gifts or saved until they are needed!

I bought a bunch of Phineas and Ferb stuff for $1 at Target. Each child is getting a small package of markers. Then I got them each a small "journal" (not P&F). I bought Zachary a re-usable sticker kit where you can make different faces but I wrapped it in tissue paper before taking a picture. Each child is getting A Guide to the Magic for Kids, also wrapped in tissue paper.

For Nathaniel.

Sample page. You're supposed to find these pictures in Tomorrowland. Cool!

For Jessica. It's a travel memory game and looks like fun!

I made 3 travel journals/coloring/activity books. One for each child. They are age-appropriate and specific for each child.

Sample Journal page

Phineas and Ferb maze and activity page

Pirate coloring page

Princess maze

Little Einsteins coloring page

Amanda

 

[-Hope-]

Love the shirts! The journals and activities are great as well- and looking for those pictures in Tomorrowland should be fun!

 

[DrMomof3]

Love the shirts! The journals and activities are great as well- and looking for those pictures in Tomorrowland should be fun!

Thanks Hope!

Amanda

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Amanda - The kids books that you made for them are awesome! (The other stuff is pretty cool too, but I love that you made each of then an age specific book!)

 

[DrMomof3]

Amanda - The kids books that you made for them are awesome! (The other stuff is pretty cool too, but I love that you made each of then an age specific book!)

Thanks Debby! I had downloaded a lot of the stuff last summer so it was a lot easier this year to just re-print all the pages I wanted. I added some new pages.

Amanda

 

[natebenma]

I really love the shirts!!! Can't wait to see some group shots with you all wearing them!

Looks like some great gifts and very lucky kids!

Your trip is getting closer and closer!

 

[DrMomof3]

I really love the shirts!!! Can't wait to see some group shots with you all wearing them!

Looks like some great gifts and very lucky kids!

Your trip is getting closer and closer!

Thanks Dee! Every year I say I'm going to do less and then I don't. I sound like my mom who every year told us Christmas was going to be smaller and then gave us a gazillion presents.
Less than 3 weeks. I totally NEED a vacation!

Amanda

 

[Native NYer]

The tshirts are cute! How did you make them?
Love the activity books.
A new DVD for each kid is such a great idea.

 

[Native NYer]

Double post.

 

[DrMomof3]

The tshirts are cute! How did you make them?
Love the activity books.
A new DVD for each kid is such a great idea.

I didn't make the t-shirts. I ordered them off Etsy!
The activity books are easy to make and fun for the kids. I think I'll save the DVDs until we need a distraction in the room!

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

I ordered 3 chocolate slipper desserts for our CRT night. You have to know my kids to know that my choice was none or 3. I had them write "Princess Jessica," "Pirate Nathaniel," and "Pirate Zachary." They have a pretty easy order form that they email you so it wasn't difficult.
I also ordered an in-room celebration. I'm getting the Family Tote ($70 + tax) and then I ordered Tom the "He be a pirate" thing which is a tub of beer with some extras. Not cheap but it'll be fun to surprise everyone!

Amanda

 

[starann]

Great Goodies and treats for everyone!!! Where did you order the A Guide to the Magic for Kids? And I LOVE teh activity books you made for the kids...how much did it cost to get it bound? I always say I'm going to do one for my kids and then have 100 pages loose that I toss cause they are driving me crazy. Also I think for Casey's 1st B-day I'll give activity books as favors instead of a bunch of junk!!!! (I have alrady decided I'm doing a Mickey theme for his party...9months to go1!! LOL!)

 

[Native NYer]

Such fun surprises!

 

[-Hope-]

The chocolate slipper dessert is DELICIOUS! The beer tub sounds great too- I'll have to remember that if I ever get Robbie to go back.

 

[klacey1]

Amanda, I love all the surprises you have for your family! I'm sure they'll love it all!

 

[DrMomof3]

Great Goodies and treats for everyone!!! Where did you order the A Guide to the Magic for Kids? And I LOVE teh activity books you made for the kids...how much did it cost to get it bound? I always say I'm going to do one for my kids and then have 100 pages loose that I toss cause they are driving me crazy. Also I think for Casey's 1st B-day I'll give activity books as favors instead of a bunch of junk!!!! (I have alrady decided I'm doing a Mickey theme for his party...9months to go1!! LOL!)

Amazon sells the Guide to the Magic for Kids but I actually bought them directly from the website (I don't have the link but you can google Guide to the Magic). The website offers a "volume" discount so I saved a little by doing it that way.
I spent $12 at Staples for 3 activity books. Nathaniel and Jessica's books were definitely bigger and more expensive than Zachary's.

Such fun surprises!

Thank you!

The chocolate slipper dessert is DELICIOUS! The beer tub sounds great too- I'll have to remember that if I ever get Robbie to go back.

I got the idea from you so THANK YOU!

Amanda, I love all the surprises you have for your family! I'm sure they'll love it all!

Thank you!!!

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

I'm starting to get really excited for my trip! I've had a tough week at work and NEED a vacation!
I've starting packing a little bit. I can't pack clothes yet - the downside to summer travel. I've set aside a bag for carry-on stuff and then a suitcase to check. I've packed things like toiletries, swim diapers, power strip, extra batteries, etc. I'm so ready to GO! A few more days until I do online check-in. I also paid off our room balance today (yay!). I've purchased the APs already (3 new, 2 renewals). I even bought three $25 gift cards (one for each child) and then two $100 gift cards (one for each adult). I also earned $50 gift card by doing surveys. In addition to the Disney GCs, I'm waiting for a $25 GC to Rainforest Cafe (I hope it comes in time) from mypoints. I printed out the $0.99 kids meals for Rainforest/T-Rex. I also started receiving mobile info from Disney today. WOOHOO!
Not only is this trip around the corner BUT... our 75 day window for my birthday cruise was this week. I got a Palo dinner reservation and booked massages and a shore excursion. I also did online check-in for the cruise. Our boarding time is 11:30-12 and I've heard that's a decent boarding time.
I also didn't mention that I'm getting to go to DISapalooza. For those who don't listen to the DIS podcast, they're having a party at Wizarding World of Harry Potter in December. 700 people from 9:30pm-midnight. I didn't think I could go but the stars all aligned. It'll be a short trip. I leave at 6:30am on Saturday and return home late on Sunday. I got free airfare on points so it's just hotel, park tickets, party tickets, and food. Not bad at all! Another little birthday present to myself...

Amanda

 

[natebenma]

I'm starting to get really excited for my trip! I've had a tough week at work and NEED a vacation!
I've starting packing a little bit. I can't pack clothes yet - the downside to summer travel. I've set aside a bag for carry-on stuff and then a suitcase to check. I've packed things like toiletries, swim diapers, power strip, extra batteries, etc. I'm so ready to GO! A few more days until I do online check-in. I also paid off our room balance today (yay!). I've purchased the APs already (3 new, 2 renewals). I even bought three $25 gift cards (one for each child) and then two $100 gift cards (one for each adult). I also earned $50 gift card by doing surveys. In addition to the Disney GCs, I'm waiting for a $25 GC to Rainforest Cafe (I hope it comes in time) from mypoints. I printed out the $0.99 kids meals for Rainforest/T-Rex. I also started receiving mobile info from Disney today. WOOHOO!
Not only is this trip around the corner BUT... our 75 day window for my birthday cruise was this week. I got a Palo dinner reservation and booked massages and a shore excursion. I also did online check-in for the cruise. Our boarding time is 11:30-12 and I've heard that's a decent boarding time.
I also didn't mention that I'm getting to go to DISapalooza. For those who don't listen to the DIS podcast, they're having a party at Wizarding World of Harry Potter in December. 700 people from 9:30pm-midnight. I didn't think I could go but the stars all aligned. It'll be a short trip. I leave at 6:30am on Saturday and return home late on Sunday. I got free airfare on points so it's just hotel, park tickets, party tickets, and food. Not bad at all! Another little birthday present to myself...

Amanda

Congrats on your cruise reservations. What are you doing for a shore excursion? Or will there be a cruise PTR?

I'm so excited about your DISapalooza party at WWoHP!

 

[DrMomof3]

Congrats on your cruise reservations. What are you doing for a shore excursion? Or will there be a cruise PTR?

I'm so excited about your DISapalooza party at WWoHP!

I haven't done a cruise PTR because I'm not spending a lot of time planning. My goal for the cruise is "forced relaxation" and therefore my biggest priority is sitting on the verandah with a drink - coffee in the morning and alcohol in the evening! Our excursion is a very fancy wine and cheese tasting on Nassau. I'm not 100% that we'll do it. I'm waiting for the new Passporter book to come out so I can read up on these things.

Amanda

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

and therefore my biggest priority is sitting on the verandah with a drink - coffee in the morning and alcohol in the evening!

Sounds perfect.