**A YEAR in the Making of a Disney Trip-Sept. 2011**9/28 TR Link Added!**

[inkedupmomma]

No! They didn't announce it yet! I'm just going off of the probability that they'll have one then, based on the past couple of years and Touring Plans. If it doesn't happen, we'll change it up, but we're hoping it works out this way. Do you have your park day plans ready? I am excited to see if we can plan a DisMeet!

I do..but now I think I need to change them!

 

[hollisterluva92]

I'm in!!!! I don't know how I missed your ptr, but I found it and just spent half an hour catching up! All of your kids are adorable! Can't wait for more updates!

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

I'm in!!!! I don't know how I missed your ptr, but I found it and just spent half an hour catching up! All of your kids are adorable! Can't wait for more updates!

And thank you! I'm in the full-swing of planning mode now, so you can expect more and more updates! Glad you found us!

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

I do..but now I think I need to change them!

Do what you've got to do!!

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

(This is pretty much word-for-word from my blog, but I wanted to post it here, too! It seemed appropriate. If you read my blog and are having to see this twice, sorry...but thanks for reading!)

My firstborn baby girl just turned five a couple of weeks ago. As if that didn't feel bittersweet enough, her request for a new "big girl" room did.

The conversation went a little something like this:

"Mommy, I want a new big girl room for my birthday."

"Oh, you don't like your fun butterflies and dragonflies? You're room is so pretty now!"

: : blank stare : : "Mom, this room is for babies. I am not a baby."

{Insert my realization of that fact and subsequent emotional breakdown here.}


She's right. She's definitely not the baby who wanted bugga buggas to decorate her room three years ago. Her butterfly bedding was fraying from washing it constantly. Those pastel curtains were starting to fade. And five year olds apparently do not need mobiles hanging in the corner. Silly mommy.


What kind of room does a big girl like Juju need? A Disney Princess room, it seems. That's grown-up?? She assured me that all cool kids have Disney Princesses.

Now, I love those princesses as much as the next Disney addict, but plastering Cinderellas as big as my child all over the place is not really my thing. I discussed this with her and we decided to go a more subtle route, just having touches of princessy things here and there.

By subtle, I mean she chose purple walls and pink bedding. I have proclaimed since I was I was pregnant with her that I would NOT be a mom who would turn her daughter into a girly-girl, surrounded by girly-girl colors and dressing up in tutus and dresses all the time. But you know what? I didn't turn her into this. She has chosen this. And I just gave in big time.

We're tight on cash (who isn't?), but I was determined to give her the room of her dreams. We bought her purple paint for her birthday, and her grandmother bought her pink bedding. We reused the pink curtains from our upstairs playroom (it will be turned into a room for Bubba eventually, and I doubt he wants pink curtains...you never know, though...). I took the castle decal from the upstairs playroom and slapped it on the wall in Juju's room. For artwork, I turned her existing decorative frames into Princess art using scrapbooking paper and more decals. It is all very girly, and she loves it. Here it is, in all its pastel glory:

Purple and pink princess room (taken at night, sorry it's dark!).

Sign we got at WDW. It's the first thing you see when you enter the room.

Cinderella's Castle wall decal, plus her toy version she got at WDW...er, I mean from Santa.

Her princess throw pillow.

The decorations I made from old frames, scrapbooking paper, and wall decals from the playroom.

Her stuffed animals. I want to remember all these guys when she's too old to love them.

Another view of the room. Be jealous of the 80s Barbie Dream House.

Her armoire with Disney snowglobes and the hitch-hiker towel animal that somehow made it home with us in her stuffed animal basket.

So, all in all, we spent $30 for paint and supplies, and her grandma gifted her sheets and a comforter. We owned or created all the decorations, and her sentimentality (or mine?) allowed us to keep a couple of things from her old room.

Is it overwhelmingly purple and pink? You bet. I totally failed at preventing that. But even I have to say that it doesn't just SCREAM tacky princess decorations, though it does speak it loudly. She got enough of the characters to make her happy, but there are few enough of them to keep me sane.

It comes down to this: it's her room, not mine. While a color like that would lead me into some sleepless nights, she loves it. She picked the theme, and she owns it. As if she weren't a princess enough already, now she has a room fit for her royal status.

 

[inkedupmomma]

Looks awesome! God..5 years ago my princess was 5! I am lucky enough to still have a very innocent and disney princess loving 10 year old now! I say this, because all of her 10 year old friends do not love disney, or anything to do with toys or anything of the sort Scary how fast they gro wup! Enjoy this time!

 

[HoltDisney07]

I'm still here too. I just got caught up on the latest posts. It too was crazy in our house the past few months with the holidays and what not. So I noticed that two of you have park days "planned" already. Do you just base these on touring plans? Does that mean you avoid the parks on the extra magical hours days and try to go on low volume days?? I really don't think we would really use the extra hours as our youngest will only be just under 3.

Unlike you guys I started on my ADRs first lol. I do have DXDP for crying out loud. So what are some of your must do's. I have looked at so many reviews and menus I am dreaming about Disney food.

Also is MNSSHP really worth it? I was also considering the Wishes dessert, but can only do one.

Oh and the in-laws are paying for our flights as a xmas gift, so no more driving for us. I may even call to see if we can extend our trip one more day. I know DH would kill me though.

 

[TinyDancer]

I already commented on your blog.. but I love her room! My DD would LOVE it also!!

 

[newmommy_2010]

I am here, just got caught up & Can't wait to hear more. I love the room very cute & your little boy is the same age as mine...Don't they grow up so fast!!! We are taking him next oct and I can't wait!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Love the room!!! So, I have to ask -- is that your Barbie house from your childhood? I had one just like that, and I still mourn the fact that my parents sold it in a garage sale!!!

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

I'm still here too. I just got caught up on the latest posts. It too was crazy in our house the past few months with the holidays and what not. So I noticed that two of you have park days "planned" already. Do you just base these on touring plans? Does that mean you avoid the parks on the extra magical hours days and try to go on low volume days?? I really don't think we would really use the extra hours as our youngest will only be just under 3.

Unlike you guys I started on my ADRs first lol. I do have DXDP for crying out loud. So what are some of your must do's. I have looked at so many reviews and menus I am dreaming about Disney food.

Also is MNSSHP really worth it? I was also considering the Wishes dessert, but can only do one.

Oh and the in-laws are paying for our flights as a xmas gift, so no more driving for us. I may even call to see if we can extend our trip one more day. I know DH would kill me though.

The first trip we took, I did it based on Touring Plans, plus the fact that MK has to be the first and last park we do. I guess we got set in our ways because we do it just about the same every time--tradition! We don't do EMH most of the time, unless they add it on last-minute (last year they added AM EMH at Epcot, but we didn't know it til we got there and were an hour behind).
I've been looking at menus, too, and I have a plan of my ADRs. I don't get to book until March, so I am careful to make things tentative!
This will be our first MNSSHP, so I can't speak as to whether it's worth it or not. Juju wanted to go, so we'll see.

Looks awesome! God..5 years ago my princess was 5! I am lucky enough to still have a very innocent and disney princess loving 10 year old now! I say this, because all of her 10 year old friends do not love disney, or anything to do with toys or anything of the sort Scary how fast they gro wup! Enjoy this time!

I hope that my kids keep on loving Disney forever! (They might not have a choice!)

I am here, just got caught up & Can't wait to hear more. I love the room very cute & your little boy is the same age as mine...Don't they grow up so fast!!! We are taking him next oct and I can't wait!

They DO grow up fast! I can't believe the baby is sitting up next to me playing with toys and laughing!

Love the room!!! So, I have to ask -- is that your Barbie house from your childhood? I had one just like that, and I still mourn the fact that my parents sold it in a garage sale!!!

Sure is! Santa went shopping in my parents' attic this year! Juju put "pink Barbie house" on the top of her Christmas list, and I thought, "Hmmmm...I know where there's a nice pink Barbie house with furniture..." Santa thanked me.

 

[pinkxray]

Juju's room looks great! I can't believe you are able to keep it so organized. Caitlin has a huge playroom filled with toys yet her bedroom is still a disaster.

It is so much easier do little Princess touches instead of all out Princess. It will be easier to change over later.

 

[PirateKate]

Hi! I'm all caught up. Your kids are adorable!

I know Halloween was quite awhile ago, but Carter had the same Tigger costume as one of your girls.

I like Juju's new room. It looks like a good room for a princess.

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

Juju's room looks great! I can't believe you are able to keep it so organized. Caitlin has a huge playroom filled with toys yet her bedroom is still a disaster.

It is so much easier do little Princess touches instead of all out Princess. It will be easier to change over later.

Oh, trust me, it's not always organized! And I just throw random toys into those toy bins!

Hi! I'm all caught up. Your kids are adorable!

I know Halloween was quite awhile ago, but Carter had the same Tigger costume as one of your girls.

I like Juju's new room. It looks like a good room for a princess.

YAY! And thank you!
That's so funny that they had the same costume! Juju still tries to put hers on all the time and it's thrown into her dress-up drawer now. The youngest two kids have grown so much since October that they no longer fit at all!

 

[bellelab]

I just discovered your PTR and I am loving it! We are going to DW Sept. 24-Oct.1 so we will overlap a day. We are also staying at Pop, a first for us and I am so excited!

I have to say that I may just steal your idea for a Disney Fund Jar. What a great idea! Looking forward to reading more. I'm debating about doing a PTR....I don't know.

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

I just discovered your PTR and I am loving it! We are going to DW Sept. 24-Oct.1 so we will overlap a day. We are also staying at Pop, a first for us and I am so excited!

I have to say that I may just steal your idea for a Disney Fund Jar. What a great idea! Looking forward to reading more. I'm debating about doing a PTR....I don't know.

Glad you found us! We LOVE Pop! Maybe we'll see you there on the one day we overlap!
The Disney Fund Jar has raised over $400 in pocket change so far! You have to do it--it'll shock you how quickly and easily it can fill up.
As for the PTR, I'd suggest it, too. This is my third trip, but it's my first PTR. It is a great way to keep thoughts organized, as well as get input and think things through. Plus, it's kind of fun to go back and read where you've come from in all the planning.

 

[teetee830]

Hi, I'm subscribing to your PTR. Sounds good so far. I'm also going for my first MNSSHP in September. But it will be the Sept 27th-Oct 2. I'm hoping to catch MNSSHP on our arrival day too. I can't wait.

I've been toying with the idea of a PTR, I wanted to start on for our last trip in December but I was mostly done planning when I decided so this might be the time. I just booked this morning.

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

Hi, I'm subscribing to your PTR. Sounds good so far. I'm also going for my first MNSSHP in September. But it will be the Sept 27th-Oct 2. I'm hoping to catch MNSSHP on our arrival day too. I can't wait.

I've been toying with the idea of a PTR, I wanted to start on for our last trip in December but I was mostly done planning when I decided so this might be the time. I just booked this morning.

CONGRATS on booking!! Isn't that a great feeling!?!
And I think it's definitely the perfect time to start a PTR! Let me know if you do so I can follow along!

 

[HoltDisney07]

We had to change our travel dates. We are now going in August. Ugh, not ideal at all, but my daughters school put up such a fuss when I called and asked about their policy that we thought it was best to change the dates. Since we are going for 10 full days and she would miss 6 days of school I thought it was best to just move our vacation and deal with the heat. Lucky for us they still have availability at Pop so we could get the free dining special, and it was actually $24 cheaper lol.

Now I am seriously stressing....only 15 days until I can/must make my ADRS!!!

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

We had to change our travel dates. We are now going in August. Ugh, not ideal at all, but my daughters school put up such a fuss when I called and asked about their policy that we thought it was best to change the dates. Since we are going for 10 full days and she would miss 6 days of school I thought it was best to just move our vacation and deal with the heat. Lucky for us they still have availability at Pop so we could get the free dining special, and it was actually $24 cheaper lol.

Now I am seriously stressing....only 15 days until I can/must make my ADRS!!!

Well, I hate that you had to change your dates, but August will be fun, too! We're lucky that Juju will be on fall break when we go, so she won't be missing any days (she'll be in kindergarten then). I hope you have all your dining choices ready!!