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

[BelleTinkMom]

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.

Thanks. It really is such a small world out there. The one thing I love about Grand Isle, is that it is not commercialized. It's a nice quiet beach town, a great place to relax. Too bad I don't think I know how to relax. We really should go more often.

 

[BelleTinkMom]

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!!

Isn't Free Dining awesome. I know it's saving me about 800 dollars even after upgrading from Quick service dining to Regular Dining Plan.

 

[BelleTinkMom]

Madison, my 5 year old, decided to be my big helper and fold the towels that are sitting in the living room. She is folding and singing "It's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow". She is in her own little Disney World. I know I will have to refold all the big towels, but it doesn't matter. We love to listen to Four Parks One World CD I purchased on our last Disney trip.

 

[BelleTinkMom]

Hopefully, we will get together with my in-laws to finalize our dining choices. Shannon and I were talking about which restaurants we were thinking of cutting out our list. We are starting to favor more dinner reservations than we are used to. We like to eat a big breakfast with our table service and then eat a late lunch/early dinner with our counter service. But, since we are starting to really like a few dinner restaurants, we were thinking of keeping a few more breakfast ressies and paying out of pocket for the least expensive ones. We are getting the dining plan for free, so what's a few dollars out of our pockets. I really don't know what my in-laws have in mind. I really think they are clueless about Disney World and have no idea about all the planning to be sure that our vacation goes off without as few hitches as possible.

I think I may ask the kids which restaurant they really want to eat at and be sure we keep these. I usually make the decisions as to what they might like or not like, but I think after 3 trips, they may have an opinion as to which restaurant they really like. So hopefully by the weekend I should have our final list of restaurants for our ADR's.

Real Life:

A little piece of info about us: We LOVE LSU. You will start to see this about us. So, as football season is under way, we are a little hopefull that our team really starts to improve. Any way, we have been to two games so far. We are on the waiting list for season tickets. So they offer us a mini-packge. It consisted of three games and Shannon is only home for 1 game, so the girls and I have to endure the other two games by ourselves.....which is no big deal. They love it.

The girls and I went to the game against Miss. State:

She didn't eat a blue snowball this day!!!

We all went to the game against West Virginia. I didn't bring the camera because it was raining when we parked and I didn't want to shield the camera from the rain the whole game. It ended up not raining for the game, so I could have brought it.

So on with Disney.......I think I will do a little mini TR from our first trip, since I was in the dark about the Disboards back then. I'm amazed at how young Madison was, she was only two.

 

[BelleTinkMom]

Let's start my 2007 mini TR. I am relying on my memory for this one..guess there won't be many details.

The cast for this trip included: myself-Jaime, DH-shannon, DD-Jaden then 6, DD-Madison then 2, my Mom, Step-dad, my sister and her Daughter-Savannah then 3.

Our dates were: May 24 - May 30 at All-Star Movies. This was a Thursday to a Wednesday. DH works offshore and his company didn't have vacation time for offshore personnal at that time. We had a 5-day one-park pass.

We flew out of New Orleans with a layover in Atlanta through Delta, can you believe they had the cheapest price and they didn't charge extra for luggage. We decided to fly at the last minute and I didn't pay for DD2, she had just made 2 about 2 weeks before, so I passed her for under 2 and she sat on my lap. I was really nervous about the kids flying. I had only flew once before, but DD2 is the type of child that once she is set on something, there's no changing her mind. So I was nervous that if she didn't want to sit when it was time, she wouldn't sit. I was also worried how they would take to the air pressure changes for their ears, especially because we had a layover. All three girls flew without compaining. Arent' they angels.

Our flight was at 6 am and we live about 1 hour from the New Orleans Airport so at 3 am we were up and on the road at 3:30 to pick up my parents, sister and neice. Our flights went off with no troubles and we arrived in Orlando about 10 or so, maybe, I remember arriving at our resort about 11:30 or noon.

I had booked a preferred room and I don't think I could've been any closer. We were in the Toy Story building bottom floor, the 3rd and 4th room down. it took us about 3 minutes to get to the bus stop.

I was so excited to see this when we opened our door:

A few from around the resort:

The plan for this afternoon was for me, mom and sister to take a cab to the grocery store while my step-dad and DH were going to take the girls swimming.

When we returned to the resort we took a little swim and then tried to rest, but I couldn't because I was so excited to be at Disney. Oh I forgot to say this was all of our first ever trip to Disney.

So we headed to DTD to do a little shopping and supper. At the bus stop:

DD-Jaden

We ate at the Rainforest Cafe. We enjoyed this so much. Or should I say, the adults enjoyed their meal.

hey were so tired, we had been up since 3am and they didn't want to take a nap.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Hey! looks like you girls are having alot of fun celebrating LSU!

sounds like a great start to your 2007 trip...I cracked up when I saw the last picture; too cute! hope you had enough arms to carry the girls back to the resort!

can't wait to hear what you guys decide on for ADR's; if we decide to go next Oct we should just make it for the free dining so I will finally be able to make some serious ADR's so I can't wait to hear where you guys go...I like to do breakfast and than leave the evenings open, too! I don't like to have my day dictated by ressies...

Connie

 

[BelleTinkMom]

Hey! looks like you girls are having alot of fun celebrating LSU!

sounds like a great start to your 2007 trip...I cracked up when I saw the last picture; too cute! hope you had enough arms to carry the girls back to the resort!

can't wait to hear what you guys decide on for ADR's; if we decide to go next Oct we should just make it for the free dining so I will finally be able to make some serious ADR's so I can't wait to hear where you guys go...I like to do breakfast and than leave the evenings open, too! I don't like to have my day dictated by ressies...

Connie

Hey Connie

We always have fun at LSU. I was almost crying looking back at our 2007 trip. The girls were so little. But, it's fun posting those memories on here.

Almost have our ADR's chosen.

 

[BelleTinkMom]

WoooHoooo!!!!

Our flights are now booked. There's no turning back now. I didn't realize that Southwest put out their flights 7 months in advance, I thought it was 6 months. I have a reminder on my calendar for the 6 month mark, so much to my surprise, I received an email from Southwest this morning and just as I was about to delete it and what do I see..........Now taking reservations through June 3. WHAT!!!!! This falls just perfect since we are leaving to come home on Friday, June 3rd.

I searched for our dates and the flights were under my budget price. I said I was not paying more than 1200 to fly. Well, they were slightly over 1000.

They had the times we were looking for. We will leave out of New Orleans at 8:35am and arrive in Orlando at 11:20am. We should be at the resort by 1pm. To come home, our flight leaves Orlando at 7:05pm and we will arrive in New Orleans at 7:50pm. It's only a 1 hour 45 minute flight.

So we went over to my in-laws tonight to book our flights and discuss our ADR's. They were surprisingly excited. It was their idea to come with us to Disney, but they really didn't seem to excited to be going. So I am glad.

We discussed a little ADR's, but they basically said anything we wanted was fine with them as long as it wasn't some exotic food.

Now all I have to wait for is the park hours to come out to finalize our schedule. Hopefully that will be soon, because they currently go up to April 2011.

So, I think I've rambled on enough for tonight.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Jamie how exciting ..I did not know SW did it that far out...great to know!
that is funny about you IL's and the exotic food comment (alot of people around the country think we have exotic food ). Well, that should make it easier for you to decide what ADR's to make!

 

[BelleTinkMom]

Jamie how exciting ..I did not know SW did it that far out...great to know!
that is funny about you IL's and the exotic food comment (alot of people around the country think we have exotic food ). Well, that should make it easier for you to decide what ADR's to make!

I didn't know sw put out prices that far in advance either. I was so glad I signed up for their newsletter emAils or I would have waited til the end of No ember. I would have been so bummed if the flights that we got were full because I waited.

My mil is not to sure about Ohanas for dinner but we want to try it so I think I will definately stick with that one.

 

[BelleTinkMom]

2007 Mini TR

Day 1 - Friday, May 25, 2007

Being we had never been, of course it had to be MK.

We had an early ADR at Crystal Palace. I never thought that seeing Main Street this empty would be so rare.

This is still one of my favorite breakfasts food wise. They always have good food.

You may have noticed that Madi is not in any of the pictures. She had a fit when Winnie the Pooh came up to our table, like she literally jumped out of the high chair into my lap screeming bloody murder. We learned our lesson and she started to sit away from where the characters would approach our table.

After breakfast, we start to make our way around the park, starting with Adventureland. We went on Swiss Family Treehouse,

Jungle Cruise,

Magic Carpets of Aladin,

Pirates of the caribbean,

and we also played around in the POC gift shop

and we see our first characters, Peter Pan and Wendy.

 

[pinkxray]

I'm joining in! I love your pictures so far, esp. the one with the girls asleep at RFC.

I'm hoping to go back in May and DH is breaking down more and more to agreeing, but we'll have to wait and see how that works out.

We tried CP last trip and it was . I really want to return there for breakfast but I also want to try CRT for breakfast (we had dinner there last time). Decisions, decisions.....

Anyway, looking forward to hearing more!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Fun update! great pictures sounds like a fun morning...I don't think I have ever been to see the park so empty...
I was just saying another thread I am definatley adding CP next time we go and I hope I'll be able to get early moring ADR's so I can get that empty park shot!

 

[BelleTinkMom]

I'm joining in! I love your pictures so far, esp. the one with the girls asleep at RFC.

I'm hoping to go back in May and DH is breaking down more and more to agreeing, but we'll have to wait and see how that works out.

We tried CP last trip and it was . I really want to return there for breakfast but I also want to try CRT for breakfast (we had dinner there last time). Decisions, decisions.....

Anyway, looking forward to hearing more!

Thanks for joining.

Well, after my first trip in 2007, I was hooked. And eventually, DH is now ready to go back anytime I say lets go. He says he loves it.

We have also ate breakfast at CRT and we enjoyed it. You can't beat the atmosphere.

 

[BelleTinkMom]

Fun update! great pictures sounds like a fun morning...I don't think I have ever been to see the park so empty...
I was just saying another thread I am definatley adding CP next time we go and I hope I'll be able to get early moring ADR's so I can get that empty park shot!

That is the only time we have ever seen the park that empty. We ate here on our 2009 trip, but the park wasn't that empty. I am so glad that this was our first experience at the MK.

 

[BelleTinkMom]

So, I found on the touring plans site the park hours for May. Can't find them anywhere else, so I will start planning by these hours. These plans may change.

Friday, May 27
Arrive in Orlando at 11:20am hopefully be at the resort for 1pm
Downtown Disney
Eat at Wolfgang Puck Express

Saturday, May 28

Ohana's Best Friends breakfast with Lilo and Stitch
Epcot
Lunch or dinner at Sunshine Season
Illuminations - we've only seen this on our first trip in 2007

Sunday, May 29

Cinderella's Royal Table (hopefully get and ADR for this day)
MK
head back to resort for a nap/rest
Ohana's Dinner early ADR
Wishes
Main Street Electric Parade
Stay at MK for EMH hours

Monday, May 30

Sleep in
Resort breakfast
Hollywood Studios


Tuesday, May 31

Animal Kingdom
Tusker House Breakfast

back to resort for nap/rest

Hoop Dee Doo Review 9:30 because you can get category 1 seating on the dining plan.

This is what I have so far. The rest of the days I will wait to post once the June hours are out. Everything will depend on if the hours stay the same and if I can get the ADR's on the days I want. I am pretty sure that I will be able to get them with the exception of Cinderella's Royal Castle breakfast. This one is sometimes hard to get into, but I will be flexible on my days to be able to eat here. Both my girls were upset that we didn't eat here on our last trip and it's one of their first request for this trip. So, I will try my hardest to get this one morning, because if kids are happy = no wining, and makes mom and dad happy.

 

[BelleTinkMom]

Back to Mini TR 2007:

As we made our way onto Frontierland, we saw the Woody's Round-up Parade. They got the kids to do the hokey pokey and ride these wooden horses.

Then we rode splash mountain and big thunder mountain while my mom and Madison waited. This became Jaden's favorite ride. My mom managed to get this pic:

Then onto Fantasyland and It's a small world, and Cinderella's carousel, and the tea cups - which turned into Madison's favorite ride. I think we also saw Mickey's Philharmagic, but maybe this was another day. I am relying on my memory and going through our photo album.

Jaden wanted to ride the Tomorrowland Speedway. I think the wait was like 45 minutes, but she insisted on riding so her and Shannon waited and rode.

We headed to Toontown and Jaden, my sister and my neice Savannah got their faces painted.

Shannon decided to take a quick nap!!

He probably will kill me if he knew I posted this pic. And of course you know he denied that he was sleeping.

We headed into the toontown hall of fame and saw Minnie, Mickey, Donald and Daisy. The line for the princesses was too long and I knew we had the Princess breakfast in Norway one morning.

We went through Mickey and Minnie's house and rode Goofy's Barnstormer.

Up next Day 2...

 

[BelleTinkMom]

OK, hopefully you've probably wondering where I've been. Well, school, dancing, and everything else. I will try to pay more attention to my PTR. I will get back to our upcoming trip soon. I have some big plans to post about.

So, on with this mini-TR......

Day 2 - Hollywood Studios

We had breakfast at Hollywood and Vine with JoJo and Goliath and Leo and June. I remember having an early ADR because we showed up to the park and there was no one there. We were the first ones in line. This worked out really good because when we were done with out breakfast, the park was just opening. The food here was really good. The character interaction was the best of our trip. The food was also good.

We watched Playhouse Disney, and saw Chip and Dale, Mickey, Minnie and Goofy near the Sorcerer's Hat.

We also watched Muppet Vision 3-D

and saw Mike from Monsters Inc.

and watched the parade. It was the parade that all the characters were riding in the old model cars. I know we also rode Rockin Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. Shannon gets motion sickness and he opted to ride Tower of Terror and he was quesy for the rest of the afternoon. We also saw the Beauty and the Beast show, which I loved because this is one of my all time favorite Disney movies. That's all the pictures that I have, I do know that we also watched Fantasmic. We had an ADR at Hollywood and Vine for dinner, with a Fantasmic package.

 

[Becc1]

Hi I just wanted to let you know I was enjoying your report so far, we will be there the exact same dates as you so I like to see how your plans are going. We have a few of the same restaurants in mind too, I know that 180 mark can't come soon enough!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

fun updates! love how a child and a man can sleep ANYWHERE! I have so many pics of Danny these last few years like that...but, don't tell him he was sleeping...

your plans sound great and I know you can't wait to start really putting them into play!

Connie