Another dream vacation...this time, in the making!!

[jaycns]

Yahoo!!! Another trippie right away!!! Way to go!!!

I picked the land/sea option, but mainly because I've never been on a cruise and the DCL is my dream! But staying in a deluxe is a dream for me too since Moderate level is all my family has ever been able to afford so any of your options are a dream to me!

Having said that, going to WDW in December is PURE magic!!! The decorations both in the parks and in the resorts are beyond compare and there are so many extra things to do that it can't be beat. Of course, it's busier but you all have the luxury of having been a bunch so you can maximize your time how you need to. You definitely have the knowledge to do so.

Also, since DH is such a doll to continue "doing" Disney, I would COMPLETELY humor him and go to Wilderness Lodge (it's MY dream resort). I can also see a non-Disney person really liking the extras like Cirque and Hoop Dee Doo, that kind of thing thrown in along with the parks. Half day park, half day other activity is not too bad depending on the busyness of the parks at the time you go.

Can't wait to read along and see what you decide.

As for us, I think we are planning an October trip because your MNSSHP pics and description sounds great for the girls to experience this year and then, DFIL is hoping to take us all crusing on the DCL the year after when the girls are 7 and 5ish. I'm trying to decide now if we can maybe push for a deluxe resort is we get free dining. Wonder what the difference in $$$ would be for about 6 or 7 nights.

Enough about me - this is about you....it's great you are surprising the kiddos!!! Can't wait to relive this vacation through you - even through the planning stages (that's so much fun too isn't it???)

We just joined AAA on line. I am going in to find out about discounts on Monday (I think you have to get vacation quotes from thier TA on site). Maybe with a discount like that though...a deluxe might be priced right? I am all for skimping on other things during the year to do it up big at Disney.

As far as surprising the kiddos...this is already getting so hard. I want to share it with "Aladdin" most. He is so helpful with planning and I think I may have to trick him and tell him we are planning one for Sept. 2008 and let him help me thinking that it is for a whole year away. Tricky, sneaky!

My kids are asking me all of the time if we can do Disney again. When we will do Disney again. And why we are not doing Disney again (I guess I have them trained!!). So....it is hard not to spill the beans. BUT...I am inspired by others I have seen on this board. I am inspired by their unique reveals and the joy and disbelief on their kids faces.

I would love to see our kids look like that. I would LOVE to get them to the point where we are driving under the WELCOME TO WDW sign BEFORE they figure it out...which would be hard but not impossible...if we tried to arrive VERY early in the morning (and took the last part of our journey while it was still dark) and told them we were aiming for S. GA....they would be none of the wiser if we could keep them asleep....and if they woke up...well...the younger two might not figure it out. And if "Aladdin" woke up and figured it out...he is game enough not to ruin it for the younger two and he would be head over heels for an extra hour!

I would also like to surprise them the second trip as well. Just tell them that we are going to ????? AND then bam once again be at Disney when they wake up. That is our current version of our very foggy at this point certain to change plan. Will it work???? Don't know! Will it be fun to try? YES INDEED!!!

Thanks for reading along (again!).

 

[jaycns]

Wow! You really put a lot of thought into option #1 already! You blow me away with all of your planning!

I chose option #1 in September. What a wonderful, magical experience that would be (I thought I knew a lot, but I had no idea that even existed - maybe because I'm DVC and it wouldn't be offered to us ). I agree that if you're going platinum, I'd do it in September to get enough water time in. November-December weather can be VERY iffy. You'd have to pack both warm and cold weather clothes and every day you just don't know what you'll get (we were just there in Nov this year, Dec in 05).

I've never been on the DCL (I'm dying to try it) but I would think weighing the choice of platinum vs. cruising and a "regular" stay....I'd go platinum!

I can't wait to hear what you've decided. And I LOVE that you're surprising the boys. I really want to do that some time with my kids.

Thanks for following along! I am so excited about this! It's great to see all of my "old friends" here. I was really starting to wonder what I would do without "seeing" everyone once my last trip report ended!! I am so glad to see so many freindly faces here!!

NEXT UP...
Pictures of the cast of characters
Ressies made (by next Wednesday)
Final plans announced
THEN...how to surprise the boys...a fun problem to work out!!

 

[jaycns]

Hi, Jay!!! (I kind of feel like a stalker, following you all over the place!! ) Too many options! OMG! My head would explode! You're just like me, though. The ultimate planner. "If we do this, we could do this, but if we did THIS, then we could do This...." Drives DH nuts. So I plan it all & let him in on the "Major" decisions. I don't even have an opinion on which of your options to chose because any one of them would be fabulous. My first time to the World was just after Christmas 1995. Loved the decorations, HATED the crowds. Can't wait to hear your decision! Good luck.
Barb

Here are our dates (as of right now...they may change slightly)

9/2-9/9 and then 11/28-12/3

Will you be there either time? I only travel during LOW times...I am a wimp when it comes to crowds.

Any info you have on WDW at Christmas time would be very helpful!!

And as far as the stalker thing....not a chance...part of the reason I had to start a pre trip report was I was gonna miss you and a lot of others I had come to know through the trip report. I didn't want to have to say goodbye.

Hopefully the pre trip will serve that purpose and we can all discover some neat Disney tips and tricks together in the process of me sharing the planning of our next trip (s)!!

 

[jaycns]

I LOVED the Wilderness Lodge!!! It had such a cozy and comfortable feel to it. It is a beautiful resort with some great pools and the geyser of course. They have a cool boat dock which is not far away at all, really just passed the pools. We easily took the boat directly from the WL to the Contemporary and ate at Chef Mickey's for our very 1st Character meal. We didn't have to wait very long at all for the boats. Like you said, from there you can easily take the monorail to the MK. One night we watched the water parade on the WL dock and were it felt so magical. Now remember, I have never stayed at other WDW resort so I can't say if I would like another resort better. I can tell you this...my DH who is **not** that into Disney either but knows that I am now in love with it said he may be inclined to go back again if we stay at the WL and not the Dolphin...hahaha.

If I could afford it, I would definitely stay at one of the hotels that had the monorail running through it. Like you, I feel the monorail is the best way to travel through the World...too bad the monorail doesn't go to all the WDW resorts and parks. Just imagine if the monorail went to AK!!! Whoooohooo!

I had to laugh about your "bus horror" adventure while you were in college. I had a horrible experience on a public bus when I was a little freshman in high school. I went to a strict Catholic high school and wore a uniform. So this one day, for the 1st time, my twin sister and I had to take a public bus home. My sister and I been arguing and so I refused to sit next to her on the bus. I, still in my Catholic school uniform, take a seat by a window and my sister who has on gym clothes takes a seat away from me. Before I know it I have this really creepy religious freak sitting next to me, talking to me and creeping me out for the entire 20 minutes ride home. I could hear my sister laughing in the back. Uggg...the horrors, your story made me relive my horrid story... thanks alot! Hahahaha...just kidding. Laughing, so I know what you mean. We still took the buses around WDW but we had to wait quite awhile for some of them and they are a pain when you have a stroller!

Have you ever thought about splitting up your Disney time? Perhaps one week in Sept and then another week in early Dec? Good luck on the decision making, I know it is hard. Ohh and by the way, I never knew there was an actual "premium" Disney plan, I thought that was just something you called going all out. Hahahahaha.

See...I knew buses were evil! lol and your story just proves it!

As to your suggestion...after talking with dh last night I didn't see it until after I had posted what he insists we do...split it up...but with him not having to come to the second week. So...GREAT suggestion!! That is just what we are doing!!

 

[Quacktatty]

Loving your pre-trippie!!! I just started one of my own.

I am all for Concierge. For me personally, Platinum plan would be overkill. I love to spend my time in the parks and all that recreation would take away from it! Plus, I think your boys might enjoy the platinum plan when they are older and can take more advantage of all the tours. Lots of fun stuff to do when you are 16 (okay, so that's like 11 years for you guys!!!) I would totally pick AKL as well...that's my dream resort if I am ever willing to splurge.

 

[kimwim8]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Well, I'd say (in choosing between platinum or concierge)....I'd do the platinum. That sounds like your DH would love a lot of the stuff on that plan. And then since you're going back within a few months...you could do a lot more of the park attractions that he might not be thrilled with.

How awesome! AND...you're gonna do BOTH as a surprise!! There's no way I could hold it all in! I think I could maybe keep the first trip as a surprise and tell my kids about the second one. Then when the first one happened, I'm sure they'd still be totally excited that they were going BACK!! But that's just me. If you can keep both a secret...you're kids are gonna freak out!

 

[MouseTriper]

See...I knew buses were evil! lol and your story just proves it!

As to your suggestion...after talking with dh last night I didn't see it until after I had posted what he insists we do...split it up...but with him not having to come to the second week. So...GREAT suggestion!! That is just what we are doing!!

Yeah...I am so excited for you!!!!! What a great idea!!! Hahaha. Ohh and I think that would be cool if you let "Aladdin" in on one of the secrets. I bet he would be grinning from ear to ear.

Can't wait to hear what is next!!!

 

[momoftriplets]

Here are our dates (as of right now...they may change slightly)

9/2-9/9 and then 11/28-12/3

Will you be there either time? I only travel during LOW times...I am a wimp when it comes to crowds.

Any info you have on WDW at Christmas time would be very helpful!!

And as far as the stalker thing....not a chance...part of the reason I had to start a pre trip report was I was gonna miss you and a lot of others I had come to know through the trip report. I didn't want to have to say goodbye.

Hopefully the pre trip will serve that purpose and we can all discover some neat Disney tips and tricks together in the process of me sharing the planning of our next trip (s)!!

The September dates won't work for us. That public school thing will get in the way. End of November???? Now there's an idea. We had thought of those dates as an option, too. I can just see DH's face now. "Honey, we have to go to WDW the Sunday after Thanksgiving & stay the week so I can meet Jaycns. You know, the DIS'er I met online... Oh, I'm sure she's perfectly harmless.... No, honey, I'M the stalker... not her!" Too funny! Anyway, we've haven't gotten that far yet.

As far as hitting the World at Christmas time - I went Dec 30, 1995 - Jan 8, 1996 with a friend & her extended family. Here's what I remember - This was before FastPass, so we waited in line FOREVER. Generally an hour each time. Extremely crowded. It was so busy that week, I vowed I would never go back at that time again. Now, I'd love to take the kids there for Christmas because their birthdays are December 26. How fun to celebrate there. See how being a Mom can change your outlook? I did love the decorations. This was before I knew anything about DIS, so I was a total novice. Did learn enough while I was there to know that I absolutely had to go back. Took me another 7 years, but I made it with DH & three kiddos in tow. Now DH & I look forward to it as much (if not more) than the kiddos do.

As for surprising the kids - I have mixed feelings on this one. I know I love to plan things & anticipation is half the fun. I don't know that I would want to take that away from them. Also, I'm almost certain I couldn't keep it a secret. I'd have to blab - but that's just me...

I do like your options, though. Go platinum with DH & kiddos & then hit the parks hard when you go back in November.

Great to "see" you again. Thanks for the kind words. Looking forward to the final decisions.
Barb

 

[jaycns]

Loving your pre-trippie!!! I just started one of my own.

I am all for Concierge. For me personally, Platinum plan would be overkill. I love to spend my time in the parks and all that recreation would take away from it! Plus, I think your boys might enjoy the platinum plan when they are older and can take more advantage of all the tours. Lots of fun stuff to do when you are 16 (okay, so that's like 11 years for you guys!!!) I would totally pick AKL as well...that's my dream resort if I am ever willing to splurge.

The Platinum Plan is to induce my grumpy dh. The kids and I would be content with day after park after day in the park after day in the park.
However, dh is not quite as into it as all of that . He could quite happily live without ever stepping foot in any theme park ever again (or so he claims...but I wonder... ). However, we took a look at the ins and outs of balancing what dh would like to do with what I would like to do with what we know the kids would love to do and we came up with a compromise. First 3 days start out on the PP...for the last three days drop the PP but continue to stay at the concierge level. That way we can enjoy all that we want of the PP without depriving the kids of their "park time" or wasting money on the plan when we would rather be in the parks!!

THANKS for joining in! Do you have a link to your pre trippie?

 

[jaycns]

I am so excited that although the last TR ended you haven't left us in the dust. I so enjoyed your last trip report and am looking forward to going through the decisions and then finally the trip with you again.

I live with a Disney Grump and guess what he has never been. We are going for 11 days in just 26 days. He is all worried that there isn't going to be enough to do. Oh the ignorance!

I hope to convert him with just one trip. DD and I love to go and I already have thoughts of a quick girl trip in September?/Oct.

Sorry to ramble, am looking forward to going through this trip with you. Your family is precious.

Happy planning!

HOW did you talk him into 11 days? GOOD WORK!!

I think we need to start a support group...

"HELP MY SPOUSE IS A DISNEY GRUMP" could be our motto

If you will be there in September from the 2-9...make sure to say hello!

 

[jaycns]

WOO HOO!! Two trips in one year - you are a lucky girl!! Have fun planning!

Lucky girl I am!! I am so excited!! However, dh is such a schmooze...getting out of a long Disney vacation by dangling another one in front of me like a carrot....and notice....I jumped right up and ran after it!!

 

[jaycns]

The September dates won't work for us. That public school thing will get in the way. End of November???? Now there's an idea. We had thought of those dates as an option, too. I can just see DH's face now. "Honey, we have to go to WDW the Sunday after Thanksgiving & stay the week so I can meet Jaycns. You know, the DIS'er I met online... Oh, I'm sure she's perfectly harmless.... No, honey, I'M the stalker... not her!" Too funny! Anyway, we've haven't gotten that far yet.

As far as hitting the World at Christmas time - I went Dec 30, 1995 - Jan 8, 1996 with a friend & her extended family. Here's what I remember - This was before FastPass, so we waited in line FOREVER. Generally an hour each time. Extremely crowded. It was so busy that week, I vowed I would never go back at that time again. Now, I'd love to take the kids there for Christmas because their birthdays are December 26. How fun to celebrate there. See how being a Mom can change your outlook? I did love the decorations. This was before I knew anything about DIS, so I was a total novice. Did learn enough while I was there to know that I absolutely had to go back. Took me another 7 years, but I made it with DH & three kiddos in tow. Now DH & I look forward to it as much (if not more) than the kiddos do.

As for surprising the kids - I have mixed feelings on this one. I know I love to plan things & anticipation is half the fun. I don't know that I would want to take that away from them. Also, I'm almost certain I couldn't keep it a secret. I'd have to blab - but that's just me...

I do like your options, though. Go platinum with DH & kiddos & then hit the parks hard when you go back in November.

Great to "see" you again. Thanks for the kind words. Looking forward to the final decisions.
Barb

OH MY GOODNESS! If you would...if you could...if we could say hello at WDW I would be over the moon! Sadly (according to my dh who thinks planning a trip "with a bunch of Disney crazed strangers" is a somewhat unbalanced thing for me to do) I have grown to consider many of those on the trip reports boards friends... I would love to meet up with you if it would be possible! I saw that a few trip report writers did a meet up for tea at the GF.....WOO HOO what a neat idea. Wouldn't it be great to do something along those lines??!! WOO HOO! (Doesn't it look like this little guy is saying "WOO HOO" as he dances?!)

 

[SoonerGirl]

I think we need to start a support group...

"HELP MY SPOUSE IS A DISNEY GRUMP" could be our motto

I would definately become a member of this group! DH has got to be one of the biggest Disney grumps of all time - he enjoys seeing the kids have fun, but unrealistically believes we could have just as much fun doing something else It's crazy I tell ya, just crazy!

 

[jaycns]

THE RESSIES HAVE BEEN MADE!!!!

As you can tell by the size and color of my statement I am very excited.

Still on the fence about a few things (but that is what penalty free cancellation periods are for!! ).

Before I go into the details of the arrangements let me clarify...this report will chronicle planning for BOTH of our upcoming 2007 trips. I will write a separate trip report for each of those...of course links will be provided!

Now...back to the exciting news...

TRIP NUMBER 1: Ressies are made for 9/2-9/9 at AKL concierge level. We will have our own car so the location won't really "hurt" us very much. The first three days of this stay will be on the Platinum Plan (forever more known as PP). We will do all sorts of extras those first few days followed up by enjoying the parks in the later half of the week. Hopefully that balance works out for our entire family (update very shortly with photos and bios of said traveling fools). * The only worry I have about this ressie is the fact about the whole DVC thing at AKL. Construction and them taking over the concierge facilities....what will our stay be like? BUT....the worry was taken over by two things...first, I know Disney will have proper plans in order to make sure our stay is perfect construction or not and they will have a new concierge lounge open before they close the old one. Second, if they don't...I am more then ready to insist on switching to a resort where we will be able to enjoy a peaceful vacation full of all of the extras we are paying for (not being nit picky, but if we pay for it...I want it. ).

Trip Number 2: Ressies are made from 11/25-12/3 at the Contemporary to stay in the Atrium Club (which is no longer concierge light...but rather a full concierge offering now) for a mom and boys trip. Now...that said, dh may be joining us for the last three days!! Or so he claims...I will not hold my breath...but have made two ressies (vs. just one) so that we can add him (or not) later to the second half if he is available (and just as importantly...willing) to come. I am so excited to see WDW at Christmas time!! * My worry with this ressie is as follows, I made it with Disney directly...in doing so I may have "taken up" the last available concierge room on that level. AHHHH....now I thought I was being "smart" when I booked it so that I would know for sure I had the room we wanted no matter what. However, upon talking with our new AAA travel agent I came to find out that I could have saved HUNDREDS of dollars by booking through them (which is why I canceled our AKL ressies for trip number 1 through Disney and rebooked using AAA). I am hopeful that a solution will present itself...otherwise, I am one of those people who is eaten alive by the thought of missing out on a chance to save money. I may change resorts and allow our AAA agent to book us at the Poly in a concierge room. GRRR...the Poly is not my favorite resort. The CONTEMPORARY is...however...it is only a monorail ride away...but I wanted the Contemporary. It may be worth the extra money. I have a hold on the Poly. room (I didn't ask the AAA agent to do this...she just did...guess she is trying hard to convince me to switch and book through them). Bottom line is I could save hundreds if another room opens up. I am terrified to let mine go and then have someone else scoop it up before the AAA agent can pick it up for us using a AAA rate. I am going to be the annoying person who calls her AAA agent every day this week to see if one opens up. If not...I guess I will have a hard decision to make. Get the AAA discount or stick with the resort I love so dearly.

TIP ALERT If you are going to travel to WDW look into joining AAA!! WOWSERS!! I paid $59 for a year long membership. I saved (on the AKL trip alone) over $850!!!! WELL worth becoming a AAA member!! I guess this month is also "Disney month" at AAA. So maybe check it out this month if you are planning....just saying...CHA CHING!!!

**Sidenote...why did I not ever even consider AAA before this?!**

TO BE CONTINUED...

 

[Quacktatty]

THANKS for joining in! Do you have a link to your pre trippie?

Splitting seems like a good idea!

The link to my report is in my siggy!

 

[jaycns]

The ressies are made...so, of course, I had to eBay!!

Um...why you may ask...well my good friends...a handy dandy DIS board tip I picked up way back when is the reason...

I had to buy pins!! I ordered ONE HUNDRED pins.... I know, I know...overboard...but see ummm...well....it's like this...okay....flat out, I am as addicted as my kids to pin trading...so, they each get 22 pins to trade on our first trip and I get 34. That is more then fair, right?!!

For those 100 pins I paid only (only yeah right...dh would stroke out if I told him how much..but come on all you Disney lovers, you know this is a GREAT deal) $199!! Okay a TON of money to "waste" on little metal pins...but I could only get about 25 pins at Disney for that money and we are getting triple that. No Sedsma pins. No fake ones. I only buy from people with lots of good feedback and who advertise no Sedsma or fakes. I have not been burned yet (although watch me have to do foot in mouth for saying that before the pins actually get here).

Also, pin trading is SO MUCH FUN! The boys and I love it!! It saves us TONS of money once at WDW to have my kids into trading pins vs. looking for things to buy. I am so excited to get the pins and sort them out (this time in secret). Another hint...I put the ones that I like or think my boys might really like (not to be greedy honest...this move really does have the good mom stamp of approval) on my own lanyard. This way my boys don't trade away ones they actually like. See my boys have this disease...if they walk up to a CM they MUST trade pins. Not so much "Aladdin" anymore, he has turned into this little pin hunter...he looks for hidden Mickey/cast lanyard pins and also has a few other types he likes so he collects (anything with Walt Disney himself on it is a HUGE hit with "Aladdin"). But the two younger ones...well, I have seen "Stitch" trade away a perfectly good Chip pin that he only has one of for another Chip pin that he already has "only" three of already on his lanyard. This would be no biggie in the grand scheme of things if he didn't then wish he had the other pins at the end of the night. So, if I ever get a pin via buying off of eBay that I think they would really like, I put it on my lanyard and only trade for another pin I think they might like more.

"So what do you do with all those pins when you get back home?"

GEE, I thought you would never ask... Well, I am actually proud of this idea. A few years ago I noticed we had tons of pins we had traded for at WDW just sitting around. We would get them out and look at them every once in a while but then back to the drawer they would go. So...three years ago after our trip I went to Micheal's and bought art canvases on a wooden frame. We took those plain canvases and I let the kids each paint something abstract on theirs. On mine, I just left it as is. Right then and there we started adding pins to it. We would add them around the outside and left the picture showing in the middle. As the years passed and we collected more and more pins we worked our way in and eventually (just this past trip) all of the boys ended up with their canvas being "finished" and full of pins. For each of the boys I got a mounted canvas that was about 8X10. If I had to guess I would say that each boy has somewhere between 35-65 pins (that is a wide guesstimate but I am too lazy to get up and go and count their pin collections and I can only imagine the explanations I would have to think up for that one if they saw me)on their completed piece. I will have to sneak off to buy new ones before this trip...and let them paint them upon our return.

My canvas was a lot bigger then theirs. About 24 inches square. Mine is still WAY far away from being completed...as of right now it is sitting in a closet. When I am finally finished with it, I will let myself hang it and not before. It's a work in progress and will take many more visits to finish...but I like it and it's a nice thing to be able to pull it out and look at it every now and again. I thought about painting mine too and hanging it up before mine was finished...but I do have to admit, that type of artwork looks better in a children's bedroom then on another wall of our home. Of course, once my canvas is covered with pins it will be worthy of display anywhere!! I think I may end up hanging it in our walk in closet (where I can start every day seeing reminders of fun times as I pick out the days clothes) or in our library (yep, we are geeks, we like to read, we have loads of books, so instead of a den, it's a library ).

That is my Disney tip of the day...well my third one actually. 1.CHECK AAA rates before booking with anyone else (WOW...big savings). 2. Pre buy your Disney pins (WOW...big savings again) on eBay. 3. If you collect pins...find a use for them, don't just let them gather dust in a drawer!

TO BE CONTINUED...

 

[jaycns]

First up in my run down of our cast of characters? Well....me of course!

I am a 30 something Disney lovin' mom of 3 boys....that sums it up. Okay, there is more to it then that. On top of being the mom of my boys, I am also their teacher. Our family has chosen to home school the boys. We started in order to make sure they got a great education and one of the best "side notes" to our undertaking has been getting to take our vacations in the off season! You will find us "doing school" in June, July to ensure we have a September free for travel and then some early autumn fun on those beautiful fall days.

My first trip to WDW took place when I was five years old. From the moment I walked up Main Street at MK holding a Mickey head balloon in one hand and my dad's hand in the other, I was sold! WDW is my "happy place" and I hope to return many, MANY, M-A-N-Y more times!!

Here is a picture of me with my very own little "Goofy". He is my sweet middle son. We were at one of my favorite places...AKL.

Next up is the Disney Grump, aka my dh. He doesn't "hate" Disney...but he is far from loving it either. The following picture is proof that even Disney grumps can be happy at WDW. I arranged for a personalized menu and a diver with a sign at the Coral Reef...that actually DID have dh smiling from ear to ear!!

Following Grumpy is our eldest, "Aladdin". He is currently 10 years old and in LOVE with Disney:

His other love is soccer (in a BIG way). In the next photo he is the one in the middle. I couldn't find any "clean" pictures of him playing soccer (yep, I had to wash that WHITE uniform) or any of him alone. He is the tall one in the middle. All of my boys are tall. Helps with getting on to rides younger at WDW.

He is also a great big brother. He is of course, the tallest one in this picture (in the red hat).

The second tallest boy in that picture (in the gray coat) is our 7 year old, "Goofy".

He too is a Disney lover (his favorite character being Pluto) I have nicknamed him "Goofy" since he acts more like Goofy then Pluto! Here he is all "Goofed" up on our last cruise.

Not only is he nicknamed after a dog and is his favorite character of all time a dog...but he loves them in real life as well!!

Last, but never least is our very own sweeter then sugar cane (but often as sticky ), "Stitch". "Stitch" is now 5 years old. He loves Disney also (good job mom, three for three there!!).
Two pictures of "Stitch" from our last Disney vacation:

Here is "Stitch" with his favorite animal (he LOVES turtles) taken last year in Grand Cayman.

So...that's us...the cast of characters that will be taking the planned trips.

TO BE CONTINUED...

 

[Vivsmom]

I am so excited for you and your family. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind sending me a PM with the name of who you have bought from on ebay. I was just looking at this the other day and would like to order some quickly before our trip in 24 days. I am always nervous that I'm not going to get the "real" things.

 

[jaycns]

I am so excited for you and your family. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind sending me a PM with the name of who you have bought from on ebay. I was just looking at this the other day and would like to order some quickly before our trip in 24 days. I am always nervous that I'm not going to get the "real" things.

How about I post as soon as I actually get the pins? Like I said, every other time it has worked out GREAT (but I don't know which sellers in my feedback were the pin sellers (I didn't add them to my favorite seller list...shame). I ordered bought them today via Buy It Now and paid via PayPal so they should come shortly. I have PMed you the name of the seller I felt comfortable using...but again, I don't have the pins yet...hopefully by the end of the week.

 

[disneyloverforchrist]

okay, totally obsessed with everything you post now, so i will live through you for the next year as you plan your trip!!! I picked the concierge room with dining but in late november/december.

Me and my (now) husband went December 10th-19th and absolutely LOVED it! I had only been in July before that...and waiting an hour and a half for IASM seemed normal! This time was perfect because the crowds were minimal but the festivity was at a maximum!!!

I'm not sure if you have ever had the chance to go around Christmas but I think every child should have a Disney Christmas experience!!!