Am I nuts.....Bringing In-Laws for their 1st Time!!! May 2011 PTR

[BelleTinkMom]

Welcome everyone to my very 1st PTR.

When: May 28th to June 5th
Where: Disney All-Star Movies

Let me introduce myself and my wonderful and crazy crew.

Hi, I'm a 33 year old wife and mother of 2 beautiful girls. I work full-time to help save money for Disney!!!

DH is a 35 year old offshore oilfield worker. He works really hard for us to go to Disney!!!

We have been married for 11 wonderful years ........Rethinking.......

DD Jaden is a 10 year old 5th grader. She is in competition dancing, so we travel quite a bit.

DD Madison is a 5 year old Kindergarden student. She is also in dancing, but not competition.

We LOVE Disney and LSU football. Bet you couldn't figure that one out!!

A little recap of our previous trips:

Trip 1: May 2007 Our Very 1st trip for our whole crew which consisted of Myself, DH, DD10 (who was 6 at the time), DD5 (who had just turned 2), my mother and step-father, my sister and DN6 (who was 3 at the time) We had the great time. We spent 5 days in the parks.

Trip 2: May/June 2009 Our trip was the same crew except for my sister. She couldn't take time off work. We spent 8 days in the parks.

Trip 3: April 2010 A surprise trip to our girls. It was just us: myself, DH, and two DD's. We spent 6 days in the parks.

I recently wrote my 1st TR and loved reliving all of our wonderful memories.
Although I stopped taking notes about day 3 into our trip, so the end starts to miss those little details.

Our May 2011 trip will include myself, Shannon, Jaden, Madison, MIL Gail and FIL Carl. Neither MIL or FIL have ever been. I should thank them for our first trip.

When Jaden was about 1 or 2 years old, she told me that they would take us to DW when she would be about 5. Well, Madi was born when Jaden was 4 and she told us that we would go when Madi was about 5. After awhile, I started thinking that I could not make Jaden wait. I knew that by the time we would go, she would be about 10 and I didn't want her to miss out on the magic when she was little. I am sure glad we went when she was 6 because at 10, she thinks she is 21. She really would have missed out on the magic of seeing DW from a 6 year old eyes.

So I am rambling already!! I will post details for our upcoming trip , things currently happening in our lives and I will also include some details from our past trips. So, I hope everyone is ready to help me plan and reminisce my past trips!!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

subbing...
can't wait to plan along with you guys, since I'm not sure when we are returning to WDW just yet...maybe 2011 maybe 2012; so, I'll plan with fellow dissers for my disney fix for the time being...

can't wait to hear all about your plans for your newbie in-laws...they are going to have a blast seeing it through your dgts eyes for the first time!
Connie

 

[BelleTinkMom]

subbing...
can't wait to plan along with you guys, since I'm not sure when we are returning to WDW just yet...maybe 2011 maybe 2012; so, I'll plan with fellow dissers for my disney fix for the time being...

can't wait to hear all about your plans for your newbie in-laws...they are going to have a blast seeing it through your dgts eyes for the first time!
Connie

Yea! My first follower.

 

[BelleTinkMom]

I have lots to catch you up on.

My reservations are made.

And for the big news.................





























FREE DINING!!!!

How exciting. I am going to save about $800. Who would have thought that they would have free dining at that time.

Our Dates: May 27, 2011 to June 3, 2011. We have to come home on Friday, June 3rd because we have Dance recital on June 4th and 5th.

Resort: All-Star Movies Preferred Room

We are also going to fly. My in-laws want to fly. It makes me no difference. We flew 2 times and drove once.
Either way would be fine by me. I am just excited to be going back to DW.

Now its just to decide what dining reservations I will be making. Oh, I need to figure out which date to call and those reservations. I am soooooo excited.

By the way, I also updated my countdown ticker.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

CONGRATS! ON THE BOOKING!!
on the FREE DINING
you guys are going for a great week; that was the week we went in 2009!
summer crowds still not peaking yet!​

 

[BelleTinkMom]

CONGRATS! ON THE BOOKING!!
on the FREE DINING
you guys are going for a great week; that was the week we went in 2009!
summer crowds still not peaking yet!​

We went this same week in 2007 and 2009. The crowds were not that bad, and the heat has not quite set in yet. I thought about Disney all day today at work. I am so excited.

 

[BelleTinkMom]

OK, I really need to get planning. So here we go.

The free dining offer at the value resorts was the quick service plan. We like to have a few table service meals, like character meals. My girls enjoy this. They allowed us to upgrade from the quick service to the regular dining plan for about $150 more.

We will have 7 table service credits with the dining plan. This is our list of meals we are thinking about. I know, we need to choose.

Hoop Dee Doo Review - this is a must for Shannon, he absolutely loves this place.

Whispering Canyon Cafe dinner - we all love this. Madi calls for ketchup at home, its too funny

Ohana dinner - we have never eaten dinner here, but here great reviews.

Ohana's Best Friends Character Breakfast - did this last trip and we absolutely loved the food, atmosphere and the charater interaction.

1900 Park Fare Dinner - we ate here last trip and even though the food was just ok, Madi fell in love with Prince Charming.

Tusker House at AK breakfast

Cinderella's Royal Table - Madi is asking to go back to the castle, but I think she would prefer to go back to 1900 Park Fare, she would get to see Cinderella and Prince Charming.

This is just a short list. We will have to make some decisions before November 28th. I will need to set me a reminder to call and make our ADR's or get online.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Looks like a great starting list...we have only done AK Tusker House for Donald's bkf; but, I look forward to trying Ohana's just looks like a great place and think the characters there would be fun.

 

[BelleTinkMom]

Looks like a great starting list...we have only done AK Tusker House for Donald's bkf; but, I look forward to trying Ohana's just looks like a great place and think the characters there would be fun.

Ohana's was great for breakfast. The characters interaction was awesome. They also have a little parade and the kids get to use maracas (sp?). The food was also great. You get a platter of eggs, bacon, sausage and breakfast potatoes. Then they keep coming around with mickey waffles. They have the best juice also. The kids weren't to crazy for it, but I loved it.

 

[BelleTinkMom]

Our rough itenarary:

Friday, May 27:
Arrive around noon and check in resort
HOpefully get acquainted with our room
DTD
Eat at Wolfgang Puck Express
We could also head over to the park that has EMH or we could rest

Saturday, May 28:
Resort Breakfast
Epcot day
Sunshine Seasons?
Maybe Illuminations will be showing tonight.
Ohana's for dinner

Sunday, May 29:
Resort Breakfast or Main Street Bakery
MK probably all day
Whispering Canyon Cafe for Dinner - we love this restaurant
Back to MK-I think they have EMH this evening
Maybe we can catch the evening parade and fireworks

Monday, May 30:
Resort Breakfast
HS if Fantasmic is showing
I think we may need a rest today.
Back to HS for Fantasmic (if showing)

Tuesday, May 31:
Breakfast at Tusker House
AK
Rest
HDDR 9:30 showing

Wednesday, June 1:
Sleep in
Resort Breakfast
Epcot

Maybe AK - if EMH

Thursday, June 2:
Ohana Breakfast
We will decide what which park we will want to go back to

Friday, June 3:
No plans, we will try to get a late flight so that we can have some time in the parks in the morning.
I think MK would be the best park. What a way to end our vacation.
Whatever park we want to return to


This is just a rough draft. A lot will depend on park hours and parade/show times.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

sounds like a good sounding board; until you get the hours and show times...when we went this past April Illuminations and Wishes played every night and Fantasmic was Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday. I had to really plan around Fantasmic and Spectro (now, they have the Electirc Light Parade) since they did not show every night.

Hope you guys are enjoying the wonderful weather that has been in our neck of the woods can't wait for next week when it is suppose to get even cooler

 

[BelleTinkMom]

sounds like a good sounding board; until you get the hours and show times...when we went this past April Illuminations and Wishes played every night and Fantasmic was Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday. I had to really plan around Fantasmic and Spectro (now, they have the Electirc Light Parade) since they did not show every night.

Hope you guys are enjoying the wonderful weather that has been in our neck of the woods can't wait for next week when it is suppose to get even cooler

Hey Connie, looks like you are the only one out there!!

I am wondering if the Electric Light Parade will still be there next year. Even though I love Spectro, I would also like to see the Electric Light Parade.

Unfortunately, we all have been sick this week. Hopefully, next week we will feel better and be able to enjoy the beautiful weather, because we all know, it usually doesn't last very long.

 

[Peter Pan Fan 22]

Joining in!
Your rough itinerary looks great! Congrats on free dining! That's awesome! And I love all those dining choices you mentioned!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Hey Connie, looks like you are the only one out there!!

I am wondering if the Electric Light Parade will still be there next year. Even though I love Spectro, I would also like to see the Electric Light Parade.

Unfortunately, we all have been sick this week. Hopefully, next week we will feel better and be able to enjoy the beautiful weather, because we all know, it usually doesn't last very long.

I believe I read somewhere that the ELC is sticking around for awhile. I'll have to research that one to see...but, you guys should be able to catch it with what I'm thinking...

 

[BelleTinkMom]

Joining in!
Your rough itinerary looks great! Congrats on free dining! That's awesome! And I love all those dining choices you mentioned!

Thanks for joining. I hope to get more info up soon.

 

[BelleTinkMom]

This past Labor Day we spent the day at the beach in Grand Isle, Louisiana. We don't live very far and we hardly ever go. My in-laws were camping so we decided to spend the day. The girls had a blast. Here are some photos I took.

I think I took about 200 pictures in an hour. I am trying to take better pictures. So I have been practicing alot.

I have a DSLR camera and I really need to learn how to use it. I usually only use the auto setting. I would love to learn how to use the manaul settings. I do have a video I purchased, I really need to sit down and watch it.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

great pictures!
I have not been to Grand Isle since I was probably your girls age...
I can remember my parents waking us up before the sun to go crabbing and coming home looking like a boiled crab (I was so sunburn) great memories!

 

[BelleTinkMom]

great pictures!
I have not been to Grand Isle since I was probably your girls age...
I can remember my parents waking us up before the sun to go crabbing and coming home looking like a boiled crab (I was so sunburn) great memories!

We don't go very often, and its right in our backyard. It only takes us about 35-40 minutes to get there. THe girls loved it. It was fun just to hang out and have some girl time. No one else came on the beach with us.

 

[Peter Pan Fan 22]

Beautiful photos! I especially love the last one of your youngest daughter. It looks like she is walking back in time. So cool!
My dad's family is from Grand Isle. We live 2 hours away, but try to make it down at least every other year to check out how things have changed.

 

[DisneymoonJess07]

I am working on planning a Girls-Only trip for the dates you're talking about - the Free Dining is what got us, but we're hoping to stay in Pop Century. Looking forward to seeing more of your plans!!