A toddler, preschooler and Disney - Oh My! Pretrip Report

[Macduffy]

This may as well be our first trip to Disney. DH and I went 10 years ago - our first vacation together!

The Cast:
Moi, Stacy (29) - perpetually tired mommy. I'm loving the planning part of the trip!
DH, Scott (30) - go with flow kind of guy. A nice compliment to my control freak nature.
DS3, Ben - turning four on our trip. He LOVES anything Playhouse Disney.
DS20 months, Logan - a good eater and sleeper AT HOME, not sure about on vacation!
My Mom, Grammy - I don't think we'd try this trip without her!

We are booked to stay at the ASSp from September 17 - 23! I really wanted to stay at the Contemporary since we will be visiting MK the most but we decided on two rooms at Sports.

Here is a picture of Ben and I with our Disney chain countdown. I think Ben was a little devastated when I said we wouldn't be going to Disney until all the rings on the chain were gone.

This is a horrible picture of DH but he'll never read this!

And here is my lil' man:

 

[Macduffy]

Itinerary

So my first task was to start an itinerary. I found an awesome spreadsheet online and made some changes to fit my style. This is AWESOME! I knew I wanted to go to MK first because it was more magical for the kiddos and that I wanted to be in MK on Ben's b'day. Once the September hours came out I could make it a bit more finalized making sure that we were at DHS on a night they are open a bit later. We won't be going to Fantasmic - the kids are just too young to enjoy it and I'd rather not waste time waiting in line.

When my ADR's were made I had it finalized - or so I thought! Delta changed our flights so it really screwed up our schedule but I made the necessary changes and we are finalized once again!

I tried to stick to Logan's nap schedule the best I could when making up the itinerary and will spend the next 81 days working on making his nap a little later in the day. While Ben will take the occasional nap I've pretty much planned for him to swim in the pool if it's nice out.

I planned for an hour of travel times to and from the hotel each time and a 2 hour break during the day. Logan naps about 1.5 hours at home. I hope it won't take an hour to get to and from the hotel but thought I better be generous with the time as Logan may nap a bit longer.

DH makes fun of my 10 page excel document but I think secretly he's glad I'm super organized

 

[Macduffy]

Preparing the Kiddos

We decided to tell DS3 that we were going to WDW rather then surprising him. I think he's too young to *get it* so we thought we'd spend the next few months explaining what Disney World was so we got there he would be excited.
We ordered Playhouse Disney channel and he LOVES it. I get so happy when he talks about going to see Mickey Mouse and Goofy. I'm glad we told him early. I'll be honest and say that I've threatened to call Mickey on more then a few occasions if he didn't start behaving

We also started a 90 countdown chain but that isn't working too well. Ben thinks it's too long and get sad when we take down a ring because there are soooo many others left. I think I might scrap this idea and go with a 30 day countdown. Much better for a preschooler.

We bought a new stroller for DS3 for the trip. We're making sure that the youngest is NEVER it because it's a "big boy" stroller and if baby DS is in it that goes out the window!

DH and I have also started taking the boys out to more restaurants to get them (and us) used to eating out more. We've taken them before but not regularly - especially since we've been saving $$ for the trip.

Lil DS doesn't really require much preparing... yet! There's not many places with giant characters around on a regular basis for us to take him so here's hoping his fascination with Mickey will hold up when he sees him on the trip LOL

 

[TinyDancer]

How exciting! I'm also taking a preschooler & a toddler to WDW very soon.

Love the paper chain!!

 

[MJAJmom]

My son was 3.5yo on his first trip to WDW. Can't wait to hear more about your trip!! Beautiful shot of your youngest one!

 

[Macduffy]

Oh Oh....

So went to a local weight loss business to meet with a weightloss coach. I want to loose some weight for Disney (20 lbs). Anyway, I told the coach I had to bring my son with me and asked if that would be a problem. She said not at all. I packed toys, a sippy, crackers and more toys. Oh my god.... he was OUT OF CONTROL the whole appointment! He tore everything apart was running all of the place and threw a huge temper tamtrum in her office. I was mortified but all I could think about was Disney. How the heck am I going to cope in MK or DHS with these "throw myself on the floor and kick and scream until I get what I want" episodes.

I sure hope I didn't get in over my head taking a then 20 month old with us. I've gotten a lot of slack from friends about taking him. They think DH and I are crazy to take the boys (4 and 20 months) to WDW because they are too young to remember it. We try to explain that Disney isn't going to be a once in a lifetime trip for us and that we plan on going back every chance we get (we live in Atlantic Canada) but people still think we're nuts.

Is anyone else taking young kids to Disney getting slack? DS#1 thinks that Mickey Mouse is REAL and that he lives in the Castle with his friends - how freaking cool is that? I want him to experience that even if he may not remember - I will and that's all that really matter rights? LOL

Here are the boys wearing mine and DH's mickey ears last night. Ben's are sideways of course. Should we bring our old ears or get new ones on the trip? I don't really want to pack them up and take them....

 

[crocko]

Hey there! Following along now.....

We're going the same time that you'll be there.

My son will have just turned 5 and my daughter just turned a month ago....so, we're in a fairly similar boat.

Look forward to hearing about your planning and hope the next 79 days fly by for you.

 

[jana616]

I'm in as well! We're going on our first family trip from 9/7-9/14, and I have a preschool aged son (4 and 1/2) and a toddler son (26 months when we go) too! I haven't gotten much slack from people about taking them young. I wanted ODS to go when he would still totally have the "eyes popping out of his head with awe" reaction. And I'm not going to leave YDS behind! I don't know how much my ODS will remember (in the short term, a lot!), and I doubt my YDS will remember much, if anything. But I will remember, and that will be more than worth it.

 

[Macduffy]

I'm jealous... you're trip is sooner then mine LOL! At least the little ones are free!!! At least that how I'm justifying him not remembering a thing LOL!

 

[crocko]

Just because they won't necessarily remember the trip years later.....doesn't mean that you won't.

 

[Macduffy]

Passing the Time

So I'm starting to go coo coo waiting for this trip! Aren't we supposed to grow out of that when we are older?? Guess you never grow out of Disney excitement!

To help pass the time DH and I decided to have a Disney Theme Night every friday. there is an amazing thread with the BEST suggestions.
On Friday we are having an Aladdin night with Rice and Chicken Kabobs. We'll make magic carpets out of felt while we watch Aladdin.

I'm excited but a little sad that our youngest won't really enjoy this stuff we are doing but trying to make myself feel better by saying that his time will come and when it does he will have DS3's energy to feed off of and have fun with.

As far as the planning and prepping goes I'm at that point that there really isn't anything to do now but WAIT (the hardest part for ANY true blue planner). I hope these theme nights will hold me off for a little bit longer LOL!

What do you do to help pass the time?

 

[Macduffy]

I found the link for the Disney Theme night ideas:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1707141

 

[dvcmember00]

Joining this TR, where did you get the spreadsheet that you are using. I've been using the same one for a few years and I'm looking to try a new one!

 

[Macduffy]

Here is a copy. It's an excel file but I use Google Documents to work on it.

http://www.4shared.com/file/116417102/b80ed9f3/Disney.html

I found it on iVillage Disney Message Boards and changed it a bit to fit "us".

 

[dvcmember00]

Thank you! I'll check it out!

 

[Macduffy]

Finally a trip update! So we are 63 days until the trip and this countdown is going sooooo slow. My 3 year old has lost ALL interest in the countdown chain (note to self: 90 days is waaaaaay to long of a countdown for a preschooler LOL). So DH and I decided to have a Disney Theme Night every Friday. There is an amazing thread on in it over in Families.
So last week we did Aladdin! I haven't seen this movie in ages and DS has NEVER seen it.
I thought this would get him excited about the Carpet ride in MK. I wasn't sure he or toddler DS would like all the singing in the movie but it was tolerated.
This week is A Bug's Life but I'm recovery from minor surgery so it will be low key but still fun.
Check out the pictures! All ideas came from the Theme thread - I can't take credit!

Our family room was transformed into an Arabian room LOL! We used the kids playroom table and cushions from the couch. I bought cheap scarf's at the dollar store and plastic wine glasses (with fruit punch) for Sultan's wine. DS loved this!

We made Jafar Kabob's - they were delicious!

Raja Tiger Cookies (so easy to make I swear to you)

Abu's Monkey Bread

I just had chicken fried rice as a side. We ate and watched the movie and then made magic carpets! DS LOVED his carpet! Again all stuff from the dollar store.

This was a MUCH better way to get the boys excited about the trip and to be honest is was really exciting for DH and I too! I'm so excited about next week.

While I"m recovering I"m taking the time to work on my Planning Binder - it's soooo addictive. I found the Creative DISings board and I can't stop myself from making Dining Punch Cards, T-shirts for the boys, pillow cases and mousekeeping envelopes. Be careful if you head over there!

 

[Krissy04]

You guys are going to have a blast!

Here are my thoughts on bringing young kids to WDW...I think it's great! Every single experience, whether they have a conscious memory or not is shaping them and making them who they will grow up to be. PLUS you and your husband will have the absolute best memories. We took our DD (now 3) for her first character meal at 6mo old. I have to admit, I wasn't too sure about it. My mom wanted to take her to MK and this was our compromise. Well, she loved it and we were hooked. We have gone back with her every year (and bought DVC) and it is a totally different experience each time, but always wonderful. We did get a lot of slack from our friends...oh well...we love and so look forward to our Disney trips!

 

[Macduffy]

Wow! I can't imagine how people who pla trips a year in advance do it.... we booked in May and it seems like time is sloooowing down. Poor DS3 asks every day if we are goig to Disney tomorrow and I feel bad but at his age really didn't think a surprise would work since he wasn't 100% sure what WDW actually was.
The Disney Theme Nights are awesome though - MUCH better then the countdown chain! Last week we did a bug's life and tonight we did Incredibles. I asked DS if he knew what our Disney nights were and he said "yes, we get to watch a movie and have treats and make stuff" - Yay he *got* it!!!! All the work and planning is now worth it!
I almost had a meltdown the other week about baby DS and the plane. When I was trying to convince DH to go on the trip and he said baby DS was too young I kept saying "it's not like we are paying for him to go" and so he agreed. Now baby DS is getting to be a handful - wanting to run everywhere, not listening and throwing fits when we stop him from doing whatever mischief he wants to be doing! My mind keep fast forwarding to te 3 hour plan ride and I was sick to my stomach. I looked at buying him a seat (he'll be 20 months at travel) and the price would be $400! Gulp - we don't have that extra money
SO I decided to log on to Delta and select our seats. I booked myself in the window and DH in the aisle and left the sandwich seat open (DS3 will be with my mother across the aisle). PRAYING that it will remain vacant and the baby can have it Wishful thinking but it's all we can do at this point. Delta said that I can bring a Car Seat and if there is a seat he can have it so here is hoping!
Here are some pics of our theme nights:

Movie: Incredibes
Menu: "Super" Hero Sandwiches, Frozone's Sundae's
Activity: Making Super Hero Capes

 

[ScotsMinnie]

I'm in! Your plans sound great! Don't listen to those strange people who say you are nuts to take the little ones because they are too young to remember it. So what? They are going to have a ball when they are there and you will remember it and also have fabulous photos to treasure.

We took our little girl when she was very little and we had a fantastic holiday. We took lots of video and she loved watching it back.

Loving the theme nights!

 

[Macduffy]

Okay so when did I turn into a Disney Maniac???

Today my DH just looked at me and shook his head after discussing with him a good way of cleaning pennies and asking him if he knew what the zinc to copper ratio was for CDN pennies. I then began to reflect on Disney Planning past....

It started innocently enough - we ordered Playhouse Disney for the kids so they would become more familiar with some of the Disney Characters. Then I went on to making a Disney Countdown Chain - all innocent activities but somehow, someway I turned into a crazy Disney Lady.

Each Disney Act is seemingly normal but add them together and you get a NUT! Weekly Disney Theme Nights, creating T-Shirts for the boys, stroller tags, penny press tubes, and a deluxe Disney planning binder are just the tip of it all! I even followed the online automic clock and called WDW DINE at exactly 6:57 AM (accounting for 3 secs of dialing time)....but it worked and we are dining with Mickey for DS's b'day!

Now I'm researching about the best pen to get for Character Autographs (BTW - the consenses seems to be a retractable sharpie LOL), how to clean pennies so they are EXTRA shiny for the press and pouring myself into the cake chatter thread to pick out the PERFECT b'day cake for DS.

I'm obsessed and LOVE it LOL! Sure my friends think I'm coo-coo and DH scratches his head and walks away but my boyz will have a blast!

All the designs and ideas came from the talented ladies on the Creative DISigns board who have shared all their amazing ideas and files!