A New Tradition Begins

[njbeachbum]

Hello all,

Well here we go. My wife and I do not have kids of our own but we have an ever growing gaggle of nieces and nephews. Since we need someone to take care of us when we are older we have decided to take each of them to WDW when they turn 13. A right of passage if you will.

Our first trip will be this November 22 - 28. We are starting our plans now and I wanted to keep you all involved in the excitement, the frustration and the joy of planning this trip! I will also be asking for your advice of course!

Dramatis Personæ​

- Me (Chris)
- Cyn (my wife)
- J*** our nephew

Plans so far:
Fly out of Philly on Thanksgiving Morning
Stay at Pop Century

I have posted a few threads about this and I liked them here (I couldn't remember my old screen name for the first thread so it is under my alterego PAbeachbum.

A new tradition: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1410823
(please note that we will not be making J*** sleep on the floor although wouldn't mind)

Thanksgiving Dinner: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1413214

If any one wants to chime in on anything, especially tips for Thanksgiving dinner in the world, please do!

 

[njbeachbum]

Ok, so we got a great deal on hotel and park tickets through AAA. Pop Century here we come.

J*** happens to be in town this week with his Gram and we talked about Thanksgiving Dinner. He has a list that he will choose from so we can make reservations.

I am really getting excited about this trip!!!

 

[winkers]

Wow! You're an awesome aunt and uncle!!

 

[buffy0214]

Congrats on your first trip!

My hubby and I have had two thanksgiving meals at WDW. One was at the
50s Prime Time cafe at MGM and the other was at the Liberty Tavern in MK. The prime time was fun but food-wise, the LT was better, but the Kingdom was way more crowded on Thanksgiving. The California Grill is supposed to be excellent. I think I would stick to simpler plans because your 13 year old nephew will mostly be wanting to ride the rides, I would think.

 

[njbeachbum]

Congrats on your first trip!

My hubby and I have had two thanksgiving meals at WDW. One was at the
50s Prime Time cafe at MGM and the other was at the Liberty Tavern in MK. The prime time was fun but food-wise, the LT was better, but the Kingdom was way more crowded on Thanksgiving. The California Grill is supposed to be excellent. I think I would stick to simpler plans because your 13 year old nephew will mostly be wanting to ride the rides, I would think.

Buffy, thank you so much! That is the kind of advice I need!

 

[njbeachbum]

Ok so LaLa's amazing trip report (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1263598) has inspired me to give some more details.

So on Saturday we were at my BIL's house (not a WDW fan at all - ugh) and pulled my nephewtigger aside and gave him a home made invitation, complete with a little poem inviting him and instilling a sense of responsibility in him as he is the first!

As a thirteen year old, he was just a tad too cool to be completely excited about it, but I could see a sparkle in his eyes. We allowed him to choose when he wanted to go (either Thanksgiving or Late January) he chose Thanksgiving, I assume because it is closer. And we were off.

I explained to tigger that we really wanted him to be involved in planning this trip and being the little academic that he is, that seemed to spark his interest.

So Cyn (my DW) and I have been working on what to allow him to plan and what to plan for him. She had a great point last night. She and I find the cornucopia of dining options daunting when trying to choose so she said that we should pick out a list of places for Thanksgiving dinner (maybe a list of 6 places) and let him choose. Then we will pick his special B-day dinner - California Grill for wishes on our last night. And then allow him to go crazy with the other meals.

We are also going to get him here for a weekend to go over all the park plans, like which day to do which park and which rides/attractions to make "MUST SEES"

I am quite excited - can you tell?

BTW, I found out that someone I work with is a DVC member so I am going to take her to lunch and see if she can sell me.

 

[njbeachbum]

Well here we are, a few days closer but even more excited. I got a great deal on a package (with DDP) from my AAA office so today I booked.

Tomorrow I am booking flights - WOO HOO! AIRTRAN!!

So here is where we are:

1) POP Preferred room
2) 6 Day Park Hopper with H2O, DQ, and PI
3) DDP
4) Magical Express Transport

Again we got a great deal so I am pretty happy.

We ordered the unofficial guide and I am getting a tentative plan together for our Table Service Meals.

So far we have:
1) 50's Prime Time Cafe (Thanksgiving Dinner)
2) Sci-Fi Diner
3) Boma
4) Liberty Tree
5) Beirgarten
6) Le Cellier
Any thoughts?

We may have two TS meals in one day because we want to do either the Luau or the Hoop De Doo review for a special birthday Dinner for J*** and pay it out of pocket. Any suggestions on which a 12-13 year old boy might like better? (I enjoy the luau but I don't know if I would have at 12-13)

I think we are going to do one day at EP, AK, MGM, and two at MK then have a day to catch up on anything we want to do again.

I am going to take the Keys to the Kingdom Tour by myself since A) I need private time and B) J*** isn't old enough. C) My wife told me she will be tired of me by Monday.

Any feedback, Any thoughts?

 

[roxannensteve]

We'll be there right after you, I believe - so I am listening...

 

[njbeachbum]

Hey all,

Well the trip planning is coming along. We made all our ADR's months ago but with summer time I haven't been on the boards much.

and are getting excited.

A funny story, I told that we were going to buy Mickey Crocs for the three of us to wear. His response was a look like I was insane and the comment, "Um I think my own shoes will be fine, thanks!"

Now on to the show:

We have our ADR's set

Thanksgiving Dinner - 50's Prime Time Cafe
Friday - Boma
Saturday - Tony's Main Street
Sunday - Rose and Crown
Monday - Hoop De Doo
Tuesday - Open

thought these all sounded cool.

Other special events
Monday - I ( ) I am doing the Keys to the Kingdom Tour
Tuesday night - we are all going to be at Mickey's Christmas Party.

I am working on our vacation book. I will post a PDF once it is done.

By the way, if anyone is reading and has pictures of the following, please drop me a PM or an email (njbeachbum AT gmail DOT com):

1) Mickey Waving
2) the Goodbye Flowers in "It's a Small World"

Thanks!
NJ

 

[roxannensteve]

Silll here...

 

[Avivasmom]

We will be there from the 26th to the 30th fourth year in a row going at that time.

What a great aunt and uncle you are.

 

[njbeachbum]

Well hello all,

I have been working on our disney book most of the weekend, Since I never fully explained the disney book I think this might be a good time to do so.

In 2005, Me + DW, my brother and his wife, and my parents went down to WDW for a last fling before my first niece was born. (by the way, she is the most amazing 2 year old in the world and I will challenge anyone who says other wise to a Peter-Pan/Hook style sword duel).

Well I was really excited about that trip so I made each couple a disney book. It had all kinds of information like park hours, hotel info, transportation info, etc. For each park/land it had trivia questions and things to look for (like hidden mickeys, etc.). There was also spaces for notes and autographs. Everyone liked it and we still talk about it.

So I decided to do it again, this years looks to be even better! It takes a lot of work compiling the info and all but of course this board helps! The book is pocket sized and will be about 60 pages. I may get this one professionally printed and bound, but perhaps not.

Anyway I spent most of the weekend on that. The parks are all done, so I need to get the Downtown Disney and Blizzard Beach stuff together. I think it will be ready for proofreading by next weekend.

Ok so here is the latest dilemma. I am second guessing our ADR's hoop-de-doo review in particular. Our nephew is twelve and I am worried he won't enjoy it, but DW keeps telling me to stop worrying about it, that it will be fine. I think she is right but now I am over thinking it. Oddly I am not worried about Tony's even though I think the food will only be so-so.

I also ordered J's birthday cake for the 50's cafe on Thanksgiving. That should be cool!

Keep reading, more to come.

 

[njbeachbum]

Hey all,

Not much news except I finished our "BOOKS" and we moved our schedule around a bit:

Friday is now MK
Saturday is AK

(No problems changing the ADRs!!!)

 

[snowwhite325]

I will be there at the same time!!! 11/26-12/1 stayin at POP

 

[njbeachbum]

I will be there at the same time!!! 11/26-12/1 stayin at POP

Awesome!!! Hope we see each other!

 

[njbeachbum]

Well it's all over but the actual trip.

We are packed, ready to get up at 4:00 a.m. and head to the airport. See you in Disney!!!!

 

[njbeachbum]

Hey all,

Our new trip report is here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=21974642&posted=1#post21974642