A PTR for a trip in 6 weeks? It can be done! 31 hours to go!!!

[jmkford4]

Hello everyone!

My name is Janell and this is my very first PTR for our very first trip to WDW!

I have been debating about doing a PTR for a while now, and I only have 6 weeks until the trip. I guess it is now or never!

Let me introduce us. This is me. Don't mind the white spot on my forehead. It is a makeup mistake that apparently can only be seen through a camera lens!

This is my DH, Andy, me, and my kids Luke (1.5), Alex (3), and Madelyn (8). This was last year so we are all a little older!

Also coming are my mom and my cousin Devon.

This is my mom and Madelyn.

This is Devon and Alex after his incident with the clippers. He has hair now.

And this is Lucian. We call him Luke. He is not a lycan, but most people assume he is.

We are going to WDW from September 18-24. We will be celebrating my birthday on the 22nd, and we will also be going to MNSSHP. We are very excited. We were originally going to stay at Pop Century, but we were upgraded to SSR! We are so lucky. My mom and Devon will be staying in their own room, and Madelyn will probably end up sleeping with them as well. We will be with the boys.

To be continued in the next post....

 

[jmkford4]

We are from Chicago. Right now it is beautiful, but in the winter it can get pretty chilly. So around the end of March this year, it was still cold and snowy, and we were desperately awaiting spring. I was born in Illinois, but I grew up in San Diego. I am just now getting used to the cold after 12 years!

I have always wanted to go to the world, especially after visiting DL many times in my teens. I really wanted to take the kids, and it never seemed a good time. Then in April, we saw the deal for free dining! DH and I talked about it and we booked. We were very excited.

I read up on POP and knew that we picked a good place. Plus I heard they had a great food court and bus service was decent.


Then we got upgraded to Saratoga Springs. It was unexpected to say the least, but who turns down an upgrade?

 

[jmkford4]

So here is our ADR list:

Friday Epcot 9/18 San Angel Inn 4:30 PM
Saturday DHS 9/19 50's Prime Time Cafe 11:15 AM
Saturday DHS 9/19 Mama Melrose 4:15 PM
Sunday MK 9/20 Crystal Palace 8:15 AM
Sunday GF 9/20 1900 Park Faire 4:45 PM
Monday DTD 9/21 T REX noon
Monday DTD 9/21 Raglan Road 7:00 PM
Tuesday Epcot 9/22 Le Cellier 11:30 AM
Tuesday MK 9/22 Diamond Horseshoe 5:05 PM


We will also be at MNSSHP on 9/22, which is also my birthday!

The Diamond Horseshoe called to try and change us to LTT. They said they had a special event. I haven't called back yet, I forgot. I was thinking I would cancel the ressie anyway, as I thought a sit down dinner would cut into park time. I figured we would catch a quick bite at CS. Any thoughts?

I am obsessed with Halloween. It is my favorite holiday. Madelyn has a BBB appt at DTD at 2pm on the day of MNSSHP. She already has a Tinkerbell costume, but I want to dress up too! DH and I usually do. My fave Disney characters are Maleficent, The Queen of Hearts, and Alice in Wonderland. Only Alice would be cool enough in the September heat...but I have found an awesome ( and awesomely EXPENSIVE) custom Queen of Hearts dress. It is a full skirted gown, and I think I might die in the heat. IDK. Then we could all be Alice themed. DH said he would be the Mad Hatter, even in the heat. We are a crazy bunch!

 

[oregonmommyof2]

YAY!

You decided to write a PTR!!

Hopefully we will run into each other at MNSSHP... If you decide to switch to LTT that night let me know!!

 

[jmkford4]

Now you know what I look like IRL! It is hard to imagine people unless they post pics, that is why I love the Dis. There are pics everywhere!

 

[oregonmommyof2]

Now you know what I look like IRL! It is hard to imagine people unless they post pics, that is why I love the Dis. There are pics everywhere!

I was actually thinking about occupying my time while DH is gone by posting some pics everyday from different Disney trips of the past... And of course whatever embarrassing ones of him I could find...

 

[jmkford4]

I was actually thinking about occupying my time while DH is gone by posting some pics everyday from different Disney trips of the past... And of course whatever embarrassing ones of him I could find...

That is a GREAT idea! I love your pics...especially your avatar. My youngest is 1.5, and I am really hoping for a shot like that. But he is a momma's boy, so IDK. I hope he will be so entranced with them he will go willingly!

 

[Mickey_Dust]

Subbing!! Great start! I can't wait to read more. your kids are beautiful, I totally agree about not really picturing someone until your actually post a picture of yourself.

Oh and the kids/boys thing I am so happy to entertain you with my little devils antics !! (However the coffee hasn't been done in this house yet, salt yes sugar yes and the shredded cheese oh the shredded cheese... I mean why do they take whole handfulls when 3/4 of it ends up on the floor cant they take 1/4 handfuls and get the whole thing in their mouth??) My 20 month old takes his diaper off every chance he gets... then he tells me "Pe, Pe" But I take him to the potty and nothing!! Grrr!

keep up the great work! And Congrats on the Upgrade! I am so jealous, I want an upgrade

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Hi Janell!

I'm glad you started a PTR, I'm in the same boat as you... we're going around the same time and I had debated on writing a PTR myself. It's good to see you did

Wow, congrats on getting upgrading to SSR, I hope you give us some feedback on it! It's kind of ashame you'll miss out on Pop Century though, but hey- there's always next time Unless of course you fall in love with SSR.

 

[disneygirlinnj]

subbing! running off to work though so i'll catch up there

 

[DisneymoonJess07]

Hello there!! We are also in Chicago!!! It's supposed to be warming up this week, so I hear - hopefully!

Anyway, great start to your PTR! Can't wait to hear more!

 

[disneygirlinnj]

OK at work and caught up. What a beautiful family! And I have to say I thought the photo of your mom was actually you! I promise that's a compliment lol

 

[jmkford4]

Subbing!! Great start! I can't wait to read more. your kids are beautiful, I totally agree about not really picturing someone until your actually post a picture of yourself.

Oh and the kids/boys thing I am so happy to entertain you with my little devils antics !! (However the coffee hasn't been done in this house yet, salt yes sugar yes and the shredded cheese oh the shredded cheese... I mean why do they take whole handfulls when 3/4 of it ends up on the floor cant they take 1/4 handfuls and get the whole thing in their mouth??) My 20 month old takes his diaper off every chance he gets... then he tells me "Pe, Pe" But I take him to the potty and nothing!! Grrr!

keep up the great work! And Congrats on the Upgrade! I am so jealous, I want an upgrade

My son Luke, the youngest, is just at this phase. He takes his diaper off whenever he can. His favorite time is the middle of the night and first thing in the morning. And then he pees all over the place! Ah, boys....

Hi Janell!

I'm glad you started a PTR, I'm in the same boat as you... we're going around the same time and I had debated on writing a PTR myself. It's good to see you did

Wow, congrats on getting upgrading to SSR, I hope you give us some feedback on it! It's kind of ashame you'll miss out on Pop Century though, but hey- there's always next time Unless of course you fall in love with SSR.

I actually said something to DH last night and he laughed. I said, " I am kinda disappointed we are not at POP." It just seems so lively and I was really looking forward to the food court! Definitely next year!

Hello there!! We are also in Chicago!!! It's supposed to be warming up this week, so I hear - hopefully!

Anyway, great start to your PTR! Can't wait to hear more!

Hi! Are you in the city or the suburbs? We are in Plainfield!

OK at work and caught up. What a beautiful family! And I have to say I thought the photo of your mom was actually you! I promise that's a compliment lol

Thanks! Many people think we are sisters. I hope I age as well as her!

 

[jmkford4]

So LTT called today and said they wanted us to change our ressie from the Diamond Horseshoe to there. They said it was b/c of MNSSHP; they were using it as a treat station. IDK.

So now we will be there at 5:05pm. That is great, b/c that is originally where we wanted to eat! DH will be happy. He likes his meat.

My mom paid off her trip today! It was due tomorrow, and now we are both paid off! All the big things are paid for, as we already have our plane tickets and our MNSSHP tickets. The next things are Halloween costumes and car rental. We haven't decided on either.

I want to tinker with my ADR's. We have a 12pm TREX lunch on Monday, but if we go to a park that day, we will have to leave at about 11. Not a huge deal, as I was thinking DHS that day. Decisions!

 

[oregonmommyof2]

I bet we will see ya at LTT... Well, depending on where we are seated... Our ADR is at 4:25...

I wish they still had characters...

 

[jmkford4]

These are a few of the websites I have bookmarked in my Disney addiction, um I mean researching.

http://www.safetytat.com/ Kids safety tattoos. I plan on getting these.

http://www.seatguru.com/articles/tsa_prohibited_items.php#beverages TSA allowed items and in what quantity

http://www.orlandogasprices.com/ For those who are driving or who are renting a car

http://www.disneyphotopass.com/previsitcdplan.aspx To pre-order Photopass

http://www.goodypak.com/index.html/ I plan on ordering autograph books and pens from here. Good prices!

http://www.memoriesbybetsy.com/Memories_by_Betsy/Welcome.html
Won't do this, but a cute idea for gift baskets for the kids

http://www.smartertravel.com/travel...-this-checklist-before-you-go.html?id=3312981 Before you head to the airport guide

http://www.partnerdistributors.com/WaterMisterFans.html Water mister fans

http://www.sunhealthsolutions.com/index.html Sunscreen indicators

http://www.gardengrocer.com/

http://www.themouseforless.com/tripplanning/menus/wdw/images/AK/PicnicInThePark.pdf This is a menu and info about the picnic in the park at AK. I thought this might be fun

http://www.momsminivan.com/ Car games and such for kids

http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2008/12/animation_academy_the_magic_of.html At DHS, thought DD might like this

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___47180 Stroller fans

I think that is it for websites.

Next post, tips I have collected.

 

[jmkford4]

If you want to see the MK fireworks and don't mind not seeing the castle go to fantasyland in front of Winnie the Pooh. You have a perfect view, and it is usually free of people.

Key under the Mat at the Muppets (3d) MGM Studios

The rope in the well outside Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular MGM Studios

Small door in the rock wall in the Boneyard at Animal Kingdom

Mice in the rafters at Cinderella’s castle Magic Kingdom

Lady and the Tramp paw prints outside of tony’s Magic Kingdom

Umbrella on the lamp post that drips 'rain' when you hang on it MGM Studios

Talking and walking trashcan in Tomorrow land also see if you Magic Kingdom
can find the person who is making him walk and talk.

Devine (women dressed as trees/ on stilts) Animal Kingdom

Epcot Rose. That is located past the Fountain of Nations on the EPCOT
way to WS. It is very easy to never even notice it but look for the
pinkish red tiles as you walk toward WS, it is in the very center

Whitewash Brushes on Tom Sawyer Island Magic Kingdom

There's an old wall phone in the candy shop on Main Street where Magic Kingdom
you can listen in on a mother/daughter conversation.

Cinderella’s horse has a gold bow on her tail at the carousel Magic Kingdom

you'll see a huge net hanging from the Ceiling...it's full of redish MGM Studios
squares and odd shapes...well it's full of Jello...as bad of jokes as
you can get...its "A-net Full-of-jello" get it...Annette Funicello ...
ehhehe...ooh.
When you're waiting in line next to the Haunted Mansion's front doors, read through all of the tombstone epitaphs. Pay special attention to that of Madame Leota. Every minute or so, her face presses out slightly, her eyes open and dart back and forth, and she returns to sleep. People will call you crazy for about a minute, when five other people see it and start shouting.

Once you go through the mansion, take your time exiting. Take a gander at the engraved wall of the mausoleum and the pet cemetery for a few chuckles, then see if you can find the granddaddy of Disney World scavenger hunt photos - the bride's ring in the sidewalk. Skeptics say that it was never intended as a secret, but was just a leftover from a pole that was removed. But Disney lovers and cast members have constructed quite a story about the ring, which they say the doomed bride pitched out the window before murdering her husband-to-be. It's embedded in the stone sidewalk and is very difficult to find, but it's there.

 

[jmkford4]

Take pics of kids each day (in case they get lost you have a pic with what outfit they are wearing)

Take pics of where car is parked (the sign on the pole)

Take pic of photo pass card #

Take a pic of a card that says "this camera belongs to: @ which resort with phone numbers" so if you lost your camera, most likely someone will look thru the pics

label everything!

Use a clear over the door shoe organizer for toiletries

Next up, food not to miss!

 

[Mickey_Dust]

awesome list I will be adding most of those to the tips in my binder!! I need to check out those websites. Thanks

I love the idea of the Alice in Wonderland theme... and if the characters are in the same spots everyear then the Queen of hearts and the cards are in the back path from Fantasyland to tommorowland. We saw her there with the cards in 2007. What a great picture that would be you dressed up as her standing beside the Queen. I think I have seen the costume and I agree its lots of money but it is beautiful!

 

[jmkford4]

awesome list I will be adding most of those to the tips in my binder!! I need to check out those websites. Thanks

I love the idea of the Alice in Wonderland theme... and if the characters are in the same spots everyear then the Queen of hearts and the cards are in the back path from Fantasyland to tommorowland. We saw her there with the cards in 2007. What a great picture that would be you dressed up as her standing beside the Queen. I think I have seen the costume and I agree its lots of money but it is beautiful!

I REALLLLLLLLY want to get the costume, but I am afraid I will be very hot. I *love* dressing up!