A Very Merry 4th Birthday! December 2-14

[21hearts]

Hello & welcome to my first ever pre-trip report. Did you read the first part? Yes I tend to repeat myself a bit. Okay so I'm a bit nervous here.. I have no idea what to say. But I do have some questions. Like why would anyone want to read my pre-trip report? Why wouldn't they want to read it? I wonder if we can do this whole trip and not have any kids (errrr Rachel) screaming their heads off. Are people going to give us dirty looks when I bring the stroller in a "no-stroller" area again? Will I go off on someone again in protective mama bear mode? Okay so this got crazy real fast. I promise if I actually get some readers that I'll answer those questions if you ask really nicely.

So I'm a list maker. I LOVE lists. So there will be MANY in this thread. Oh and I also love to post and share pictures. So expect TONS of those. Yes TONS. I am very picture heavy. Always have been & always will.

We're skipping AK so we can do MK & Epcot twice.

I'm going to keep the first place updated with the most current information.

So a basic run down of information
Dates: December 2nd-5th
Hotel: West Gate Universal Partner Hotel
Dining: OOP
Tickets: 2 day tickets

Dates: December 5th - 12th
Hotel: 1 bedroom villa at Old Key West
Dining: DDP
Tickets: Annual Passes

Dates: December 12th - 14th
Hotel: Caribbean Beach Resort - Pirate room
Dining: OOP
Tickets: Annual Passes

The Cash Flow
$627.11 - WestGate hotel (3D/2N) & 2A/1C Universal 1 park/2 days ticket
$85 - Grinchmas character breakfast (includes tip).
$80 - Lunch for 12/3 & 12/4

Disney part is currently being tweaked again. We're most likely staying off site.

Grand Total $4564.81

Things To Do/See

Dapper Dans

NP PUSH, The Talking Trashcan
Daily at 10:00, 10:50 & 11:40am, 12:40, 1:30, 2:30 & 3:30pm
Length of show: 20 minutes

Chapters
We Are Who We Are - Meet Us!
Pictures from our February 2010 trip.
Whats The Plan Man?
Riverside OR French Quarter + some other randomness
Plan Updates May 15th
Things To Do & To Skip
Life Update #1
Lets Eat!
Picture Share #1
Make Up Your Mind! - second plan if we extend our stay by two days
An Early Christmas Present
Photo Share #2
Lets Talk Pixie Dust
Lets Get Crafty
Oh No! ADR not available.
ADRs? Check!
The "new" plan - June 14th 2011
Bye Bye Disney Trip?
The "Newer" Plan
The Final Plans!

 

[21hearts]

So can you hear the music playing? Is the song stuck in your head? Because its so stuck in mine now.

So lets get the ball rolling. I am Melissa & your host for this trip. You may and me. It will go to my head. I am currently 22 years old but will be 23 on this trip. Yes I know 23 and I have three kids. Its a bit of a long story so here we go. DH and I met when I was 16. We got married 5 days after my 18th birthday, then 6 months later I got pregnant with Troy, then 3 days after Troy was born DH deployed, then a month after he came home I got pregnant with Rachel.... You keeping up? Then two days before Rachel's 1st birthday I found out I was pregnant with Lilly.. So that's that story. I love Cinderella, Tinkerbell and Tigger. I use to be really big into collecting pins. I kind of stopped for a while but Troy was really into it the last time we went to the parks so I may start again. Notice I did say collecting. I can't even stand the idea of trading away one of my beloved pins. I have several lanyards with pins of just Tinkerbell, Tigger and Cinderella. Oh I am also a stay at home mom so I have TONS of time to stalk the boards.

My lovely husband is Charles and will be referred to as DH from here on out. He is the Anti-Disney. I know!!!! I don't get it either. The only way he agreed to this trip was the promise of one full day at each Universal theme park. He puts up with me and handles my Disney obsession very well. He requested that we stay at a moderate hotel this time and I quickly agreed and I even let him pick the hotel. He thinks his hot stuff now. lol. This will be the end of his part of the planning. The rest is mine. Mine I tell you!

Now for the off spring!

First we have our eldest & only boy: Troy. He will be turning four on this trip. His first love & crush is Tinkerbell. His request was that we see Tinkerbell. We can certainly do that. He loves baseball, everything Disney and super hero's. He kind of heard DH and I talking about going to Disney but doesn't know he'll be there for his birthday.

Next up is Rachel. She will be 2 (almost three) on this trip. She is my special needs/disabled daughter. She is a HUGE Aurora fan and we always have to meet her at least twice on our trips. She's really shy but she opens up for Aurora every time. Her first trip was in February 2010 right before her 1st birthday. We did one day at the Magic Kingdom and she loved it.

Rachel was born with a rare medical condition. Her right leg swells up to 4 to 6 times the size of her left and it becomes painful for her to walk. Because of the pain she doesn't walk very often. She can walk and does sometimes but usually not for longer then 5 to 8 minutes. Not to mention that if she doesn't focus on her walking she falls/trips. Because of this her doctor suggested we get her a walker. It would be nice if she could walk up to Aurora on her own. Oh my goodness just thinking about that makes me want to cry. When she was born we were told she wouldn't live to see her first birthday. But she did & she saw her second. She's my miracle baby.

Last but not least is my baby: Lilly. She will be 1 on this trip. We just had her first trip to Walt Disney World this past February when she was 3 months old. I can't wait to take her back and see how she reacts to the characters. Will she be like Troy? Running up to them for a big hug or more shy like Rachel? Oh and her first pair of Mickey ears!

So that's us. This is who we are. I can't wait to post some more and make this looooong!

Our last trip (as of me writing this) was one day at Epcot on March 20th for my cousin's birthday. What a way to celebrate!

Pictures are from our last trip on March 20th

 

[21hearts]

My favorite pictures from our most recent long trip. We stayed at POP and it was pretty nice.

Magic Kingdom

Disney Hollywood Studios

EPCOT

Animal Kingdom

 

[21hearts]

So here's my first post with what I'm thinking.

We always go from Sunday to Sunday when we do our long trips. For us we just have better luck with the week days at the parks. Not to mention its value season & hotels are usually cheaper Sunday - Thursday. But hey this is just us.

DH wants to stay at New Orleans French Quarter hotel again. We stayed there once in February 2010 and it was nice. I had heard they were re-doing it so maybe we'll give it a try again? Of course it all depends on money (doesn't it always). We stayed at All Star Movies & Pop Century for last two long trips and while they were nice DH wants a more "upgraded" room this time (his words not mine). Since he's the anti-Disney I'm going to try really hard to give him what he wants. Our travel dates are VERY flexible so we can move then around if needed to get a better price.

For some reason we always end up doing the parks in this order: Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom.

But DH hates Animal Kingdom so I may take Troy one day because he loves the safari ride and the animal trails. I do know we want to do two days at Epcot & Magic Kingdom. Plus DH really wants to do one day at each Universal park.

As for ADRs
Chief Mickeys for breakfast
Scyfi cafe since my DH loved it last time & if it gets him to go back I'm all for it.


I do know we will not do the Tusker House at AK again. DH complained the whole time & the kids weren't feeling it.

Other Musts
-- Car stunt show for my DS
-- Meet Buzz & Woody for my DS
-- Meet Aurora (at least twice) for my DD.
-- Would like to meet other characters around World Showcase.
-- Take the boat from resort to DTD

Hotel
-- Need a room close to lobby/food so Rachel doesn't have to walk far.
---- looks like building #14 is right next to lobby/food

 

[21hearts]

So Whats The Plan Man?

Sunday December 4th
Park - Hollywood Studios
Hours - 9am to 8pm
ADR - 4:30 Hollywood & Vine F! package

Monday December 5th -
Park - Epcot
Hours - 9am to 9:30pm
ADR - 8:05AM Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

Tuesday December 6th
Park: Magic Kingdom
Hours - 9am to 7pm
ADR - 5:05PM Chief Mickeys

3pm Parade

Wednesday December 7th
Park: Magic Kingdom
Hours 9am to 7pm
ADR - 8:05AM 1900 Park Fair

3pm Parade

Thursday December 8th
Park: Hollywood Studios
Hours 9am to 5pm
ADR: 11:30 Sci-Fi Drive In

Friday December 9th
Park: Epcot
Hours 9am to 8am
ADR: 12pm Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

3pm Parade

9:30 - fireworks

Saturday December 10th
Universal Studios

ADR - 5pm Planet Hollywood (DTD)

Sunday December 11th
Island of Adventures

Monday December 12th Troys Fourth Birthday
Check out by 11am.

 

[PolkaDotLuggage]

hi! i'm totally stalking/subbing! This will be my first time at Disney w/a 3 yr old so I may steal a list or 2 from you (i too LOVE lists). Can't wait to follow along!

 

[21hearts]

hi! i'm totally stalking/subbing! This will be my first time at Disney w/a 3 yr old so I may steal a list or 2 from you (i too LOVE lists). Can't wait to follow along!

I have my first stalker... I mean follower Your 3 y/o is going to have a blast!! This is the perfect age to take them to Disney. When are you going?

 

[Grace and Mickey]

Hi
Nice start on your PRT

You have a very cute family.
We will be at WDW the same time as you (Dec11th thur Dec18th) we are also celebrating a birthday My GS will be 5 on Dec 13th and our planning on doing Mickey's Christmas Part on Dec11th too. ( sure is a Small world)

looking forward to reading more

 

[21hearts]

Hi
Nice start on your PRT

You have a very cute family.
We will be at WDW the same time as you (Dec11th thur Dec18th) we are also celebrating a birthday My GS will be 5 on Dec 13th and our planning on doing Mickey's Christmas Part on Dec11th too. ( sure is a Small world)

looking forward to reading more

Hello!!!! && yay for another follower. That is so cool that we will be there at the same time!! Wow that's crazy that we have so much in common with our trips already! Maybe we'll run into each other? That would be cool!

 

[21hearts]

The hotel saga continues. DH wants to stay at New Orleans French Quarter now (esp since seeing the updated rooms) but they don't have a preferred category. This may be a deal breaker. Our 2 year old has a walker and will have leg braces during our trip. We would like to be close to the main building/food court so she can walk some and not be stuck in her stroller for 7 days. So I need to call & see if they can meet our needs. Fingers crossed.

Besides that we watched some videos on YouTube about a Christmas show, parade and fireworks. My kids loved it. We also saw a few videos on Grinchmas and they were totally into that as well. I'm trying to talk DH into at least one more day so we can do two days at Hollywood Studios since we want to see all of the shows. Rachel would love the Little Mermaid show & Beauty and the Beast. She has a hard time focusing unless music/singing/dancing is involved so I really think those will hold her attention. DH and Troy want to see the Lights! Motor! Action! show and the Indian Jones show. That's four shows. Can we pack that into one day? Plus Toy Story Mania, meet Buzz & Woody (we missed them last time because someone got hurt in line for them), DH and I want to do the drawing class, meet the characters by the Disney Junior show and of course ride the new Star Tours! That's way too much to pack into one day. So fingers crossed that we can do the 10th - the 18th.

I've already started looking for cheap/little Disney related things I can buy the kids for our trip. I want to make them a welcome basket and have a birthday one for Troy. I planned on bringing a few of his gifts that he can open before we head out to MK on his birthday.

Also does anyone know if I can have a cake made for his birthday? Were planning on having a special lunch at Cheif Mickeys and I thought it would be nice to have a cake as well.
-- Found the answer out for this... The prices through have me worried. I really want him to have a nice birthday cake but I'm not paying $50+!!!! I just may so he can have one.

Oh && I heard that Disney extended the Military discount! Woo hoo!! Please let us be able to use it this December!!!! Even if its 30% we'll save $400 on our room!! SWEET.

 

[Grace and Mickey]

Hi How your planning going?
Working on mine.

About the birthday cake, Will you have a car? Could you go get a cake from one of the local food stores? Or if you note of you Dining resersations (sp?) that it your son birthday the will bring you something like a cupcake with a candle.

I will keep my finger crossed that The miltary discount works for you I hopeing for "Free Dineing"

I have the worst time spelling today, ( sorry about that) guess me mind getting old.

Just thought I tell that My new Granddaughter was born 10/20/2010 just 9 day before you little one. I saw the date in you signature.

Have a good day

 

[21hearts]

Hi How your planning going?
Working on mine.

About the birthday cake, Will you have a car? Could you go get a cake from one of the local food stores? Or if you note of you Dining resersations (sp?) that it your son birthday the will bring you something like a cupcake with a candle.

I will keep my finger crossed that The miltary discount works for you I hopeing for "Free Dineing"

I have the worst time spelling today, ( sorry about that) guess me mind getting old.

Just thought I tell that My new Granddaughter was born 10/20/2010 just 9 day before you little one. I saw the date in you signature.

Have a good day

We will have our car! What a great idea. We can get a cake from Wal-Mart or Publix for half the cost of what the custom cakes at Disney cost. I'm hoping that Disney will announce soon what dates the military discounts will be good for. I'm praying for December. It would save us a bundle. Dh says if we get it then we can add on an extra 2 or 3 days!

I hope you get free dining!

That is so cool that your new grand baby is 9 days older then my DD2! What a small world!

 

[21hearts]

We've got a "loose" plan of what parks to do on each day.

Monday - MK
Tuesday - HS
Wednesday - MK
Thursday - Epcot
Friday - Epcot.

This can all change without any given notice of course. We've never had park hoppers before so we're not sure how much we will use it but the idea that we can do one park in the afternoon and another in a different one is exciting to us.

DH did also say that if the military discount comes through then we can add 2 or 3 extra days to the beginning of our trip and get in some more Disney days!

 

[21hearts]

Magic Kingdom

- Skip
-- Bird Room
-- Crystal Palace
-- Its A Small World

- Do
--ADR at Cinderella's Royal Table
-- Try Tony's Resturtant
-- Peter Pan for DH
-- Winnie The Pooh for me

Epcot

Skip
-- Living With the Land - well maybe last time Troy was very into the animals and plants. Rachel fell asleep.

Do
-- TS Mexican
-- Test Track
-- Soaring since Troy can do it & I never have
-- Ellen's Energy Ride? Maybe. Troy likes dinosaurs its inside and it could be a good nap ride for Rachel and/or Lilly.
-- Mexico boat ride - kids have never done it
-- meet Princess
-- Dolphin at end of Nemo ride (but skip the ride)
-- Turtle Time with Crush
-- Pick a Pearl in Japan
-- Meet Santa in USA
-- TS China
-- Lemon drink from France x2

Hollywood Studios

Skip
-- Back Lot Tour

Do
-- Beauty and the Beast Show
-- Indian Jones Show
-- ToT & RnRC for DH
-- TSM
-- Meet Buzz & Woody
-- see Christmas lights
-- Star Tours
-- ADR Scyfi Cafe
-- Night Time Show
-- Parade for kids


Animal Kingdom - Skip

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I'm checking in.

I haven't read everything yet, but I will be back in no time!

You have an adorable family!!!!

Have you considered eating at Akershus for the Princess Storybook meal? Granted, the girls aren't guarantees (we met Belle, Cinderella, Snow White, Ariel, and Aurora).

 

[21hearts]

I'm checking in.

I haven't read everything yet, but I will be back in no time!

You have an adorable family!!!!

Have you considered eating at Akershus for the Princess Storybook meal? Granted, the girls aren't guarantees (we met Belle, Cinderella, Snow White, Ariel, and Aurora).

I have thought of it. I was thinking of a breakfast but I wanted to see what the earliest time slot I could get is. Our kids usually get up between 6:50am to 7:30am and we eat between 7:40 and 8am. Our DD1 has to stay on schedule so I need to see if I can get a time that would be close to what our usual breakfast time is. I'm counting the days until I can make ADR's.

If I can't do the breakfast I'm thinking of doing Cinderella's Royal Table on our 2nd MK day for lunch.

 

[momabaarjo]

I can't wait to follow another Christmas PTR...be back in a while to catch up and comment.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Subbing so i can go back to read!

 

[21hearts]

I can't wait to follow another Christmas PTR...be back in a while to catch up and comment.

Yay another December tripper! ! Thanks for following!

Subbing so i can go back to read!

Thanks for following!!!

 

[momabaarjo]

I am so glad to find someone else who is picture heavy! I love pictures (and Troy as a pirate was precious)! I love to scrapbook, so hence my photo obsession justification ...I just signed up for a photography class at my local community college this summer so I can take even better pictures!

Your family is precious, and you must be a saint to have 3 little ones! Mine are spread out and my patience is thin most days!

I stayed at POR-R last summer and really liked the resort. I hope that you can get a room close to the main building...I found the trails to the room buildings hard to follow, found myself constantly lost (even in the daylight), and the resort is huge!