"Amuck, amuck, amuck!" A Pre-TR (link to TR in the first post)

[grizbuzz]

Your pictures of your kids are precious. I especially love the one on Olvera street with the older kids holding the babies. Thanks for sharing. I can't imagine taking care of two baby twins, a 3 and a 5 year old. I just have the 3 and 5 year old and I feel like I have my hands full. It's getting easier as they get older, but I still don't think I could manage four! You are amazing!

That Halloween vest is over the top! I must admit that I would probably wear it and I do have a similar Christmas sweater that wore when I was pregnant (and hopefully is too big for me now).

In terms of saving money. Definitely must have the Disney VISA if you don't already. Also, does anyone do that Sunshine rewards program mentioned on on the Disney Rewards boards? Seems like people say good things about it. I'm interested if anyone has experience.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1910846

 

[mommaU4]

We REALLY can't afford to go on this trip this year. It's going to be really tight up until the time we leave.

My husband was in a car accident back in March and we're still dealing with the insurance companies. We've had to pay most of the doctor bills out of pocket and as you can imagine that's been insane. He was rushed to the hospital so the prices have been through the roof because of the ambulance and ER visit. Then on top of that he needed knee surgery back in June. Our health insurance paid a good chunk of that, but we still needed to pay 20% which was a pretty penny.

Oh well! Once I'm at Disney all my worries will just melt away.

I'm sorry to hear about your DH and his car accident. I bet that was scary!! I'm glad he's ok but that really does suck about the bills. I hate dealing with insurance companies too.

Sounds like you guys can really use this vacation!!

Ohhhh thanks for sharing. I love looking at photos.

The two up above are my favorites.

So freakin' adorable. You're one lucky momma!

Thanks! I can't believe my son is a teen now though!! Almost makes me want another........almost.

I was going to say that the pics of your DD remind me of my kids when they were that age. They were all bald! Noelle didn't get a hair cut until she was 4 years old. I always tried to dress the girls in something pink and even then sometimes they'd be mistaken for boys. LOL

It must run in families because when I see my baby pics, I was bald too. My mom said I was like that until age two, and family members would always tease her and say, "When are you gonna quit shaving that kids head?"

Now Adam's hair grows really fast and all the girls have long-ish hair. Lindsey's is super thick and curly. Kind of a pain to brush out, but really nice and she's always getting compliments.

 

[mommaU4]

I think Aurora's prince is Philip. Can't swear to it though.

Do you have a Disney Visa card? Then your Walmart purchases, car repairs, whatever, give you dollars for the Disney trip.

I can't remember where you are staying. Do you get breakfast, or have a fridge, coffee maker, etc to make breakfast. That's where we usually save money.

Here's my big cheapatude. I will not pay for water in Disney. The counter service places will always give you a cup of ice water, no charge. And there's a Food 4 Less on Katella, if you want to have fruit and other snacks without paying Disney prices. We load up there when we get to town.

That's right! Prince Phillip. Geez, we just watched that movie 3 days ago. You'd think I would remember.

I do have a Disney Visa. Thanks for reminding me. I took it out of my wallet in an effort to cut credit card spending by only having one in there. I should use that one though so I can get the rewards.

I'm not sure where we are staying yet. I'm booked at two different places. One of them is the HoJo, but I know they don't offer a breakfast so if we end up there, I will definitely end up bringing breakfast snacks like muffins, granola bars, fruit, etc.

I don't buy water at Disney either. We usually bring our own, which can be a hassle to lug around. I didn't know that they will give you free ice water at the CS places! Thanks!! Maybe then I won't have to haul so many water bottles into the park.

 

[mommaU4]

Your pictures of your kids are precious. I especially love the one on Olvera street with the older kids holding the babies. Thanks for sharing. I can't imagine taking care of two baby twins, a 3 and a 5 year old. I just have the 3 and 5 year old and I feel like I have my hands full. It's getting easier as they get older, but I still don't think I could manage four! You are amazing!

That Halloween vest is over the top! I must admit that I would probably wear it and I do have a similar Christmas sweater that wore when I was pregnant (and hopefully is too big for me now).

In terms of saving money. Definitely must have the Disney VISA if you don't already. Also, does anyone do that Sunshine rewards program mentioned on on the Disney Rewards boards? Seems like people say good things about it. I'm interested if anyone has experience.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1910846

Aww thanks for all the nice comments.
And looking back, I'm not entirely sure how I did it either. Some days were a blur. I guess you just do what you gotta do. Ruben took some time off, about 3 weeks after the twins were born (same with the other two), but then he had to go back to work, and my mom lived about 4 hours away at the time, and since we couldn't afford any help, it was either I did it, or nothing got done.

I remember taking all four to the grocery store. Adam would walk beside me, Noelle would sit in the cart, and the twins would be in a stroller. I'd be pushing the stoller with one hand and pulling the cart behind me with the other. I imagine we made quite a scene walking through the store, but we needed food so what else could I do?
They were, and still are, all really good kids. Well behaved in public, good in school, helpful around the house, etc.
I got lucky I guess.


As for your Christmas sweater, I'm pretty sure it's going to be way to big for you now!! I know that vest is already getting too big for me. Hmmm, we should make a deal. I'll get rid of my big vest, if you get rid of your big sweater, and we can trade them in for something more form fitting.
Wait, no, never mind, scratch that. I'm not ready for form fitting just yet. Maybe by October I'll think about it again.


I signed up for that Sunshine Rewards after reading about it on the DIS, but I don't really get it either. It just seems really confusing to me, so I never really did anything with it. I get emails from them all the time, but I usually just delete them because I don't know what to do.
I think I have something like $2.02 in my account which isn't even enough to buy a churro! I cannot believe some have made enough to pay for their Disney hotel rooms!

 

[travelmel]

Thanks for posting your cute pics! What a great childhood they're gettin'

 

[mommaU4]

Thanks for posting your cute pics! What a great childhood they're gettin'

Thanks. I really hope so. I want them to look back and remember all the fun they had. And I'd love for them to grow up and continue the tradition by taking their own kids to Disney.

I actually told Adam that I didn't want him to be a lawyer or doctor when he grows up. I said "I want you to work for Disney so you can get me into all the theme parks for free".

For some reason he just shook his head, and rolled his eyes at me.

 

[mommaU4]

So originally the plan was to be in Anaheim for 6 days/5 nights. Well, I was going over our plans with Ruben last night and he suggested the possibility of adding another night!! If you knew my husband, you'd know how HUGE that is!! Usually he's suggesting we cut out a night.

I had planned to leave on a Tuesday morning and stay through Sunday. But his idea was to leave Monday after the kids were out of school, so we'd be in the parks bright and early Tuesday morning.

On top of that, he suggested having his parents who live about 2 hours from DL, drive in and meet us on Tuesday. They could spend the night in a hotel, and watch the kids for us on Wednesday morning so he and I could go to DL and take the Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour which is something we've both always wanted to do.

Then after the tour we'd spend the rest of the day together with his parents.

I like the ideas. Of course it's all up in the air and will depend on his parents and if they are even interested in doing this plan. And instead of cutting back money-wise, here we are adding expenses!!!!

So I'd still have to rework the plans somehow. Maybe cut out the Ariel's Grotto meal..... I'm not sure.

I told you plans for this trip would change a hundred times before it was actually time to go which is why I haven't bothered to post a day by day plan yet!! LOL We are just waiting to hear back from his parents and then I'll know for sure what's going on. If they say yes, then it's back to the drawing board for me. (in a good way though )

 

[mommaU4]

Question: Does this orange color make it hard to read? I was using it because it's fit in with the Halloween theme of the trip, but does it make it harder for people to see?

 

[reyasmommy]

So originally the plan was to be in Anaheim for 6 days/5 nights. Well, I was going over our plans with Ruben last night and he suggested the possibility of adding another night!! If you knew my husband, you'd know how HUGE that is!! Usually he's suggesting we cut out a night.

I had planned to leave on a Tuesday morning and stay through Sunday. But his idea was to leave Monday after the kids were out of school, so we'd be in the parks bright and early Tuesday morning.

On top of that, he suggested having his parents who live about 2 hours from DL, drive in and meet us on Tuesday. They could spend the night in a hotel, and watch the kids for us on Wednesday morning so he and I could go to DL and take the Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour which is something we've both always wanted to do.

Then after the tour we'd spend the rest of the day together with his parents.

I like the ideas. Of course it's all up in the air and will depend on his parents and if they are even interested in doing this plan. And instead of cutting back money-wise, here we are adding expenses!!!!

So I'd still have to rework the plans somehow. Maybe cut out the Ariel's Grotto meal..... I'm not sure.

I told you plans for this trip would change a hundred times before it was actually time to go which is why I haven't bothered to post a day by day plan yet!! LOL We are just waiting to hear back from his parents and then I'll know for sure what's going on. If they say yes, then it's back to the drawing board for me. (in a good way though )

It's funny you mention this, because last night I was thinking about adding an extra day too. Just because I'd like to do a hollywood/LA tour. Husband doesn't know anything about this yet. I have to run some numbers to see if I can even make it work. But I thought that would be so much fun.

Question: Does this orange color make it hard to read? I was using it because it's fit in with the Halloween theme of the trip, but does it make it harder for people to see?

I can read it just fine.

 

[mommaU4]

It's funny you mention this, because last night I was thinking about adding an extra day too. Just because I'd like to do a hollywood/LA tour. Husband doesn't know anything about this yet. I have to run some numbers to see if I can even make it work. But I thought that would be so much fun.

I can read it just fine.

We're so bad! Yesterday we both mentioned we should be doing "budget" trips and now we are both thinking about adding days.

A Hollywood/LA tour would be fun!! You should go for it. Then you can see the Disney Soda Fountain and El Capitan theater. http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/el_capitan/

Here are some pics from our June visit to the Soda Fountain:

 

[mommaU4]

Just wanted to let everyone reading along know that I've updated the first post on page one with links to the pre-trip "highlights" for those who'd like to skip any of the in between chatter.

 

[kaoden39]

Just wanted to let everyone reading along know that I've updated the first post on page one with links to the pre-trip "highlights" for those who'd like to skip any of the in between chatter.

But it's the chatter that makes it so much fun.

 

[kaoden39]

I don't know if you have ever read over on the WDW side or not but here is a trip report that is so worth reading.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1872155

 

[mommaU4]

But it's the chatter that makes it so much fun.

I actually think so too.

I don't know if you have ever read over on the WDW side or not but here is a trip report that is so worth reading.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1872155

OMG, I started reading that the other day!!! I only got to page 15 or so. I'm sorry but there is no way on earth I would put up with that kind of behavior from anyone, even a family member!! I have a very short temper and I would have been over it by day two.

I'm kind of scared to go back and read more......

 

[mommaU4]

Has anyone reading along done the Walk in Walt's Footsteps Tour? I've read some online reviews and it sounds good, but I'm just wondering if anyone has any personal experiences to share?

 

[kaoden39]

I actually think so too.

OMG, I started reading that the other day!!! I only got to page 15 or so. I'm sorry but there is no way on earth I would put up with that kind of behavior from anyone, even a family member!! I have a very short temper and I would have been over it by day two.

I'm kind of scared to go back and read more......

To me it was like watching a car wreck and I couldn't look away. I love her writing style she is hilarious. I would have throttled my sister and her partner if it were me. My temper is like yours, I got a lot of laughs from Marina's trip report. Poor thing.

 

[mommaU4]

To me it was like watching a car wreck and I couldn't look away. I love her writing style she is hilarious. I would have throttled my sister and her partner if it were me. My temper is like yours, I got a lot of laughs from Marina's trip report. Poor thing.

She is really funny. I hate to laugh at what happened, but she's so funny when she explains it all! I wouldn't have been amused though. I'd have been really PO'ed!
And that's another reason why I only travel with my immediate family.

 

[kaoden39]

We took my Mom and my niece last time and my goodness. I was so exasperated with my Mombecasue she didn't go to the park at all one of the days, spent only half days on the days she did go she drove me nuts. It was such an expensive trip after all and here she was not participating at all. She won't ride a lot of rides and she expects me to sit andd wait with her so I miss a lot of rides. I finally told her well I'll see you after the ride. This trip I will for the first time be able to ride Splash Mountain to mention just one ride. I am so excited to finally ride what I want.

 

[mommaU4]

We took my Mom and my niece last time and my goodness. I was so exasperated with my Mombecasue she didn't go to the park at all one of the days, spent only half days on the days she did go she drove me nuts. It was such an expensive trip after all and here she was not participating at all. She won't ride a lot of rides and she expects me to sit andd wait with her so I miss a lot of rides. I finally told her well I'll see you after the ride. This trip I will for the first time be able to ride Splash Mountain to mention just one ride. I am so excited to finally ride what I want.

Wait, you mean you've never been on Splash Mountain?? Ever or just that trip? I LOVE that ride!!

I'm a little nervous about spending the day with my in-laws if they do in fact decide to join us. It will be great if they can watch the kids so Ruben and I can take the tour. But the rest of the day might be a total wash out because they move sort of slow, LOL, so I'm not sure how much we'd get done.
I think that's why Ruben suggested coming in a night earlier.

We'll see.

 

[kaoden39]

I have never been on Splash. That is one ride I have sorely missed. This time I will not miss it.