All that was standing between me and Disney was 13,000 chickens!! Oct. 2010 PTR

[Believeinfairytales]

I think your mom needs to let her parents make the decisions for her. I think that if she wants to ride the rides and she is plenty big enough, then let her. She's not too young! But ultimately, her parents make the decisions and if they are fine with it and your cousin is fine with it, then your mom doesn't really have a say.

 

[Lbg206]

I think your mom needs to let her parents make the decisions for her. I think that if she wants to ride the rides and she is plenty big enough, then let her. She's not too young! But ultimately, her parents make the decisions and if they are fine with it and your cousin is fine with it, then your mom doesn't really have a say.

That's exactly what I say as well. My mom "says" the same thing as well, but still takes every opportunity to try and talk the kids out of riding anything big or fast or at all scary. She obviously has no decision making power and realizes that it's Bekah's parents' decision, but she keeps telling her how scary and horrible these rides are. That's what bugs me....I don't want the kids being afraid of them because of her putting that in their heads. If they get scared and won't ride then fine, but I want them to make up their own minds. Luckily I don't think her powers are working on Bek......the more my mom protests the more Bekah gets excited and says she IS riding and how fun they look. haha

 

[tksbaskets]

Each child is different but it seems like Bekah is excited about trying the new rides. If her parents are OK with it I think it's fine for her to try it. You may just have to nicely say "Not everyone loves to ride the fast/big/spinny rides but we get to make our own choices, isn't that great??"

(I don't know your relationship with your mom but a comment when you are alone about not projecting her own bias/fears to her granddaughter might be appropriate if properly worded....)

 

[Lbg206]

Each child is different but it seems like Bekah is excited about trying the new rides. If her parents are OK with it I think it's fine for her to try it. You may just have to nicely say "Not everyone loves to ride the fast/big/spinny rides but we get to make our own choices, isn't that great??"

(I don't know your relationship with your mom but a comment when you are alone about not projecting her own bias/fears to her granddaughter might be appropriate if properly worded....)

Thanks! And I agree, that's pretty much what we're trying to do. Luckily her fears haven't rubbed off on Bekah at all yet. She's a pretty strong willed little girl so I'm not too worried, just wish my mom would ease up a bit. As for our relationship my mom and I are inseperable (sp?) and more like sisters than mother and daughter so talking to her isn't a problem. I've already done it several times and I know what she's doing isn't being done maliciously, she's just honestly truly scared for the kids that they'll get scared or hurt while on the ride. She seems to think there's no possible way they could actually like coasters and that they'll panic and try to jump out during the ride. They're her youngest niece and nephew so I get her concern and love for them, just wish she'd keep her fears to herself.

Oh well though, it's not too big of a deal and not as serious as it may sound, I just mostly needed to vent a little bit and appreciate you guys listening. My next post I'll be back to posting new trip planning info. Thanks again.

 

[nessz79]

Sorry to hear that- sounds like mom's fear of coasters and things even extends to fear of her grandchildren riding those things. I'm not sure how much you can do about it except maybe pull your kids aside and let them know that she has a phobia and not to let it bother them. I have the same sort of problem with my MIL and snakes. She has the kids thinking they are everywhere because she's so afraid of them.

 

[Believeinfairytales]

That's exactly what I say as well. My mom "says" the same thing as well, but still takes every opportunity to try and talk the kids out of riding anything big or fast or at all scary. She obviously has no decision making power and realizes that it's Bekah's parents' decision, but she keeps telling her how scary and horrible these rides are. That's what bugs me....I don't want the kids being afraid of them because of her putting that in their heads. If they get scared and won't ride then fine, but I want them to make up their own minds. Luckily I don't think her powers are working on Bek......the more my mom protests the more Bekah gets excited and says she IS riding and how fun they look. haha

LOL! I make my son ride everything at least once. If he doesn't want to ride it again after the first try, that is fine, but he must at least give it a try!

 

[Lbg206]

LOL! I make my son ride everything at least once. If he doesn't want to ride it again after the first try, that is fine, but he must at least give it a try!

I love that philosophy!!! That's exactly what I would do if it were just me and the kids or when I have my own kids, but with this trip with the kids having a slightly nervous mom and a very nervous aunt we'll just have to try and meet in the middle somehow.

 

[Lbg206]

WOW we only have 50 days left!!!! that means tomorrow it'll be in the 40's. LOL I know I sound like a little kid, but I'm really excited. 28 years old and I'm still this excited for Disney.

Right now I am working on making a countdown calendar for the Bekah and Jake since Bekah asks ever single day how many days are left. I will post pics once I have in finished, hopefully sometime next week.

For right now though I'm having way too much fun seeing the kids get excited. In the beginning Jake (5) was the excited one, but Bekah (almost 7) was terrified of the plane ride there so that's all she could think about. Now though as it gets closer she's the one who can hardly wait. Since the trip isn't until Oct., but we booked it and started planning in early May we wanted to keep their excitement going so "Mickey" keeps sending them surprises along the way. We started back when we booked the trip my 5 year old cousin's b-day was just a couple weeks after so Mickey...i.e. me and my mom sent the kids a package with disney flip flops and a note from Mickey saying how excited he is to see them when we visit. Then to keep their interest peaked Mickey sent them a post card or two during the summer and then two weeks ago before school started he sent them some disney workbooks to start getting back into practice and another letter. The 2nd of Sept. Bekah will be turning 7 so Mickey will of course have to send her something for her birthday. I believe he is planning on sending them each disney pj's to wear on the trip. It's so much fun hearing them call me to tell me all about it and and be SO excited when they get a new postcard or gift. They are too cute at those ages.

My aunt and uncle plan on having everything packed into the car the night before the trip so the final "Mickey" surprise will be when they get up the day of the trip and go to mark off the last day on the countdown calendar there will be a note sending them somewhere and then another note until finally either one top of their suitcases in the car or in their carseats will be their mickey and minnie ears to wear. Between the Mickey shirts my aunt got them and the ears everyone will know exactly where we are going in the airport and on the plane so hopefully they should get a fair enough amount of attention that it'll help take Bekah's mind of the flying. She doesn't seem nearly as worried as she was in the beginning.

I think it's also helping having all these postcards and gifts sent because originally if you mentioned to the kids about meeting the characters they seemed a bit timid and nervous, especially Jake, but after Mickey and also Donald sent him letters he's now really excited to meet them and give them hugs. It brings back great memories of when I went as a kid. SO much fun!!!

 

[Lbg206]

Well, I finally finished the countdown calendar for the kids last Friday. It seemed to take me forever, but DH was out of town for the weekend so I had some quiet time to work on it.

 

[Believeinfairytales]

Your countdown calendar is really great. I am thinking of making one for our trip, but it isn't until next year, so I have plenty of time!

Your trip, however, is coming up quickly!

 

[Lbg206]

Your countdown calendar is really great. I am thinking of making one for our trip, but it isn't until next year, so I have plenty of time!

Your trip, however, is coming up quickly!

Thanks, I worked hard on it hoping would turn out okay. I gave it to them on Saturday, but apparently it has caused some knock down drag out fights between Bekah and Jake over who gets to mark off the days. We hung it up in the hall between their bedrooms so it wouldn't favor either one over the other by putting it in one's bedroom. I also explained to them how they needed to share and either be together when they marked off the days or take turns one doing it one and the other the next. My aunt told me yesterday though that sharing isn't exactly up their alley with this. Guess I made it too cute and they like it TOO much. LOL I didn't mean to cause any fist fights.

 

[Lbg206]

Woohoo!!! I just received our Magical Express packet in the mail yesterday!! Now I am REALLY excited. We leave 5 weeks from today. It feels like it is finally getting here!! Can you tell I'm excited? Haha The funny thing is that I got the ME info before getting our package info from Disney....doesn't that part usually come first? Oh well, I finally received some mail from them!! Just wanted to share my happy news.

 

[Lbg206]

So, the last of the "Mickey" surprise gifts were sent this past weekend and we were nearly caught. LOL This time it was for Bekah and her 7th b-day which is technically tomorrow, but my DH and I went to visit them on Saturday and her gift was actually from from Princess Tiana and all the princesses and was the "Princess and the Frog" movie and some popcorn and candy and new kool-aid fizzies for a movie night. Since we didn't want the choclate to melt my mom asked if we'd just take it since we were going and stick it in the mailbox at their house. They live backa long lane and their mailbox is mostly out of sight around a turn before the house so it was easy to slip it in without them knowing. A little while later my aunt sends Bekah out to bring in the mail for her and the second she opened the box we could hear her shrieking and squealing and screaming all the way from in the house. It was TOO cute!! She ran back in and opened it and we had to read the postcard together about a hundred times and it was great, but after the excitement died down a little she turns to me and says "It's so strange...every time you or aunt Linda is here I get mail from Disney World." Now this little girl is AMART and I could see the wheels in her head turning and figuring it out. Luckily I thought fast enough to cut her off and pointed out that their last gift (the workbooks for school) she received on her own once day because she called both my mom and me to tell us all about them. Luckily that seemed to wrk and made her forget about it....phew!!!! We have one postcard left to send about a week before we go and then the day we leave their mickey/minnie ears will be waiting for them in their carseats in the car. Getting so close now....31 days left!!!

 

[Believeinfairytales]

So, the last of the "Mickey" surprise gifts were sent this past weekend and we were nearly caught. LOL This time it was for Bekah and her 7th b-day which is technically tomorrow, but my DH and I went to visit them on Saturday and her gift was actually from from Princess Tiana and all the princesses and was the "Princess and the Frog" movie and some popcorn and candy and new kool-aid fizzies for a movie night. Since we didn't want the choclate to melt my mom asked if we'd just take it since we were going and stick it in the mailbox at their house. They live backa long lane and their mailbox is mostly out of sight around a turn before the house so it was easy to slip it in without them knowing. A little while later my aunt sends Bekah out to bring in the mail for her and the second she opened the box we could hear her shrieking and squealing and screaming all the way from in the house. It was TOO cute!! She ran back in and opened it and we had to read the postcard together about a hundred times and it was great, but after the excitement died down a little she turns to me and says "It's so strange...every time you or aunt Linda is here I get mail from Disney World." Now this little girl is AMART and I could see the wheels in her head turning and figuring it out. Luckily I thought fast enough to cut her off and pointed out that their last gift (the workbooks for school) she received on her own once day because she called both my mom and me to tell us all about them. Luckily that seemed to wrk and made her forget about it....phew!!!! We have one postcard left to send about a week before we go and then the day we leave their mickey/minnie ears will be waiting for them in their carseats in the car. Getting so close now....31 days left!!!

Love this! How wonderful! I never would have thought to have sent the kids mail before the actual trip. I may have to steal that idea. Love the idea about the ears being in the carseat before they leave, too.

 

[Lbg206]

Love this! How wonderful! I never would have thought to have sent the kids mail before the actual trip. I may have to steal that idea. Love the idea about the ears being in the carseat before they leave, too.

Thanks! Go right ahead and steal it, it's been so much fun. It started simply because I had a few extra postcards left over after my trip last year and my mom wanted to send them to the kids from Mickey and Donald and Pluto, etc. But then Jake's b-day was about a week after we offically booked the trip and then of course if Mickey sent him something then Bekah had to have something as well. It's been a good way to keep their interest up since we booked so long before we're actually going. You'd think it wouldn't be hard to keep a 5 and 7 year old interested, but it just helps to keep up their excitement.

 

[tksbaskets]

Woohoo!!! I just received our Magical Express packet in the mail yesterday!! Now I am REALLY excited. We leave 5 weeks from today. It feels like it is finally getting here!! Can you tell I'm excited? Haha The funny thing is that I got the ME info before getting our package info from Disney....doesn't that part usually come first? Oh well, I finally received some mail from them!! Just wanted to share my happy news.

It always seems more real when that package arrives! I remember our first ME experience. DH was a bit worried that the luggage wouldn't find us. It did and it was a wonderful way to start vacation without having to worry about lugging bags!

 

[Lbg206]

Sorry everyone that I haven't updated in a while. The plans are made, the packing is about to begin, and I'm just biding my time for the next 17 days to pass quickly. Just 10 more days until I can check in online! Woohoo!!

I think we've decided we're requesting 60's building, preferrably lakeview, but we'll take any view we can get. The connecting rooms are most important so hopefully we'll at least get that and a newly refurbished room would be awesome!!!

 

[Lbg206]

Calling all packing experts!!!!!


Here is my packing list....what am I forgetting because I always forget something??

Boarding passes (6)
Online resort check-in
La Nouba tickets
Itineraries and touring plans
Magical Express tickets
Sunscreen
Small camera
Big camera
Chargers for both
Cell phone
Phone charger
Clothes 7 pairs of shorts, 7 shirts, one pair of jeans, one sweatshirt, and two extra shirts just in case
Contacts case and cleaner
glasses just in case
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Shampoo
Razor
Shaving cream
Body wash
Deodorant
Ponytail holders
Brush
Hairdryer
Flip flops
Bathing suit
Band-aids
Sunglasses
photo I.d. and wallet with credit card, small amount of cash
refillable water bottle
Asprin
socks
two pairs of shoes in case one gets wet
panchos
glow sticks for the kids
snacks for the plane and hotel room

Any other suggestions or things you guys see missing?

 

[tksbaskets]

Looks good! I never used to take two cameras but our summer trip last year I did because I wanted to take my little one white water rafting. I was SO glad I did when my Canon Rebel digital died two days into our 8 day vacation. The little camera was all that stood between me and a disposable for the week.

The only thing I'd add is a book and some magazines for the plane

 

[Lbg206]

Looks good! I never used to take two cameras but our summer trip last year I did because I wanted to take my little one white water rafting. I was SO glad I did when my Canon Rebel digital died two days into our 8 day vacation. The little camera was all that stood between me and a disposable for the week.

The only thing I'd add is a book and some magazines for the plane

Thanks! I never usually take two cameras either, but this is the first year I've had my new Canon Rebel and can't wait to take some pics with it, but don't want to carry that big thing around every day so I'm bring my small point and shoot as well. As for the book I always have one, but this time with my 5 and 7 year old cousins and their first plane trip I'll never get any reading done. LOL We have a nonstop flight anyway that's only 1:45 and I'm guessing they'll keep my attention otherwise I would bring one normally.