August2011 PTR...just couldnt wait to get started!

[aubs04783]

So...I am new to posting on the DIS boards, but am a LONG time reader. I love anything to do with disney. When I was a kid, we went every single year the week after Thanksgiving. It was heaven!! Anyway, my youngest daughter is finally tall enough to ride the majority of the rides so DH gave the ok
I am SOOO excited that we decided to suprise our two DDs (8 and 3) with the trip. We will be driving down from Washington state and visiting a couple relatives on the way. They think that is the main purpose of the trip. They also think that after the last group of relatives we will be visiting in Fresno we will be heading back north for home! My goal is to make it all the way to the disney gates without them knowing but my 8 year old is pretty smart I think she will catch on way before that.
I decided to make them a "suprise we are going to DL" book. I got the idea for the plan book thanks to brookies_mommy (thanks! It was such a cute idea that I had to try it), although mine is more geared for the girls suprise, though. I took pics of the book. I am also planning to pack some suprises (mainly disney themed clothes) for each day we are in DL.

Here is the cover of the book:

Next page is where we break the suprise!

The page for our tickets

This page has our three day overview. The script is a little small, I apologize

These two pages is for my two DDs spending money. I went and ordered them cute giftcards to tuck in behind these pages.

Now we have a couple of pages of our days in DL and DCA in more detail for them to see!

And then the last couple of pages are the pages where I will put the suprises for each day we are there. Now, most of the stuff is too big (like the clothes) to put in the book, so I havent quite figured out how I'm going to do this yet. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! I was thinking about putting envelopes with clues to look somewhere in the hotel room to find them. I'm not sure if that will work or not!

I will be posting some pictures of some of the suprises I have in store for the girls as well. Let me know what ya'll think and if you have any suggestions! We dont get to take vacations very often (because my DH and I are foster parents and we just cant afford to take everyone with us), so I want this to be a very special family trip for us

Thanks everyone!

Aubrey

 

[aubs04783]

Hello everyone!
I wanted to show off my girls. My oldest is 8 and she has been to DL once, 3 years ago.

My baby is 3 and has never been! I actually got prego with her while I was at DL. Well, not in DL itself, but while we were on vacation It is the happiest place on earth

So here is some of the Disney suprises that I have got for them so far. All of these things are going to go in a seperate "secret" suitcase for when we get down there!

Some Mickey earrings for both of them. They are going to love these!

Tinkerbell shirts (with attached wings) and matching tinkerbell hats! I got them for 50% off at Disneystore.com!

Matching Minne swimsuits. In case you are wondering why they are all matching is because my 3 year old has to do and wear everything her older sister has!

Cinderella nightgowns. These were too adorable to pass up!

Minnie Mouse sun dresses...again so cute!

And some autograph/photo books I got off ebay for a steal

Well, that is all I have for now! I am getting more disney stuff in. If anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them. Cheers!

 

[TheColtonsMom]

Everything is adorable...I loved Brookies_mommy's stuff too and may be doing some stuff for our October trip. Looks like you have a great start going!

 

[aubs04783]

Everything is adorable...I loved Brookies_mommy's stuff too and may be doing some stuff for our October trip. Looks like you have a great start going!

Thank you so much! I know...she is so creativeI wish I could have came up with that stuff on my own...

 

[yupikgal]

Have a wonderful trip!! Your girls are so cute and I'm sure they'll have an excellent time! (you too, of course) Thanks for sharing the pics of the adorable things you chose for them to wear, and the scrapbook pages!!

 

[aubs04783]

Here are the other pair of Minnie hats I got the girls!

Sundresses I found for super cheap online for the girls...I only took a pic of the one though...

I couldnt leave my DH out, so I got one for him too!

And a shirt for myself

Well, that's all for now!

 

[aubs04783]

Have a wonderful trip!! Your girls are so cute and I'm sure they'll have an excellent time! (you too, of course) Thanks for sharing the pics of the adorable things you chose for them to wear, and the scrapbook pages!!

Thank you! I hope they will have a good time too...I know I will!

 

[yupikgal]

Wow you ordered the cutest things, I love the new hats and shirts! I miss when our kids were that age...now they insist on buying everything for themselves..oh well!

We're very excited about our upcoming trip, we'll be there at the end of May/beginning of June, just in time for the new rides!

 

[aubs04783]

Wow you ordered the cutest things, I love the new hats and shirts! I miss when our kids were that age...now they insist on buying everything for themselves..oh well!

We're very excited about our upcoming trip, we'll be there at the end of May/beginning of June, just in time for the new rides!

I'm also glad that they are still young...I wish they would stay this way !
Wow! Youre trip is coming up fast...You will have to let me know how all the new rides are. I'm super stoked about the new little mermaid ride! That is my all time fave disney movie and Im glad they are finally making a ride to commemerate it

Thanks for your comment and have a great trip in May/June!

Aubrey

 

[reyasmommy]

You have some really cute items and ideas there. I'm excited to hear how it goes?
I'm going to be surpising my DD too. We're also taking a road trip and I'm hoping to keep her clueless until we get to the front gates.

Hope we can both pull it off?!

((oh and your DD's are adorable))

 

[yupikgal]

I'm also glad that they are still young...I wish they would stay this way !
Wow! Youre trip is coming up fast...You will have to let me know how all the new rides are. I'm super stoked about the new little mermaid ride! That is my all time fave disney movie and Im glad they are finally making a ride to commemerate it

Thanks for your comment and have a great trip in May/June!

Aubrey

Sorry I didn't see your reply until now! Yes our trip is such a short time away, we actually leave on the 26th for San Diego, then back up to Anaheim from the 30th-June 5. That is one of my favorite movies too!! (LM) and I'm so excited about the ride!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Sounds like this will be an awesome trip!! My hubby & I did foster care for 8 yrs, but after adopting 4 of these kiddos....we decided to be done. The last 2 (set of twins) are special needs & take most of my time & attention. So I totally understand not having the freedom to go & do like you'd like to. Good for you for treating yourself & your girls to some much needed respite!!

I love all the goodies you've got the girls!!! So cute!!

Will be following along!!

 

[smile4stamps]

Wow! You have so much planned already! Your girls are going to love it! Make sure you share all your excitement here so as not to let on about what you are trying to hide!

 

[aubs04783]

You have some really cute items and ideas there. I'm excited to hear how it goes?
I'm going to be surpising my DD too. We're also taking a road trip and I'm hoping to keep her clueless until we get to the front gates.

Hope we can both pull it off?!

((oh and your DD's are adorable))

Good luck! It's so hard to keep the secret but I know that it will be worth it to see their faces Have fun!

Aubrey

 

[aubs04783]

Sorry I didn't see your reply until now! Yes our trip is such a short time away, we actually leave on the 26th for San Diego, then back up to Anaheim from the 30th-June 5. That is one of my favorite movies too!! (LM) and I'm so excited about the ride!!

Ahh! I'm so jealous! I wish our trip was that soon. I hope you have a really great time!

Aubrey

 

[aubs04783]

Sounds like this will be an awesome trip!! My hubby & I did foster care for 8 yrs, but after adopting 4 of these kiddos....we decided to be done. The last 2 (set of twins) are special needs & take most of my time & attention. So I totally understand not having the freedom to go & do like you'd like to. Good for you for treating yourself & your girls to some much needed respite!!

I love all the goodies you've got the girls!!! So cute!!

Will be following along!!

Wow! Bless your heart for fostering and adopting not just one but 4! I cant imagine. It is a lot of work but SO worth it. I would love to take them with us but its just not feasable to our budget Maybe one day I'll win the lotto! Although, I am looking forward to getting some alone time with my girls. Thanks for the post!

Aubrey

 

[aubs04783]

Wow! You have so much planned already! Your girls are going to love it! Make sure you share all your excitement here so as not to let on about what you are trying to hide!

I know...it is REALLY hard. Sometimes I think my oldest knows what is going on but I hope not. Now, I dont say anything at all about it!

Aubrey

 

[aubs04783]

Ok, I thought I would lay out my plan for you guys to let me know if I need to change anything or add anything! I really value everyone on here's opinion so much, any advice would be so great.

We are leaving on a Thursday morning from Washington State. We are stopping in Grants Pass, OR for lunch with DH's sister. We will then be heading out to Redding, CA to spend the night with DH's grandpa/ma.

We will stay until lunch the following day, then head down to Fresno, CA to stay the night with my grandparents, which I havent seen in about 15 years and my daughters and husband have never met. I am so excited! We will stay the night and leave the next day for the suprise!

We will probably hit Anaheim about 5pm on Saturday and go strait to the hotel. I'm not quite sure what to do about dinner because we wont be going to DL until the next day and I dont want to give anything away. I know it will be really hard at this point. Maybe someone can give me some pointers on how to avoid DL related things up to this point?

The next morning I plan on telling the girls that we have a suprise for them after they wake up. As much as I would love keeping the secret unti lthe gate, I have the suprise book and their clothes suprises and autograph books for them for the first day, so it just wouldnt be feasable

So, Sunday I plan on using our Magic Morning passes, going to Big Thunder Ranch BBQ for lunch, and Blue Bayou for dinner.

Monday, we head to DCA and do the world of color picnic for lunch and then the world of color later that night.

Tuesday is our last day, so we will be heading back to DL. I am thinking Rainforst Cafe for dinner and doing most of our shopping that night, then back for fireworks that night. I also want to do the BBB for the girls before we go to dinner. They will absolutely LOVE doing that.

We head home the next day

Are we missing anything? I know 3 days is not alot. I almost feel like we should just do DL and not DCA because of the age of my youngest (3). I have never been to DCA, but it seems more geared for older kids/adults. Any thoughts on that?

Thank you for everyone who has read this/commented. I really appreciate all of the support and help! I love DL and I I just want to make this trip the best I can for my family. We dont get them very often!

Aubrey

 

[DizNee Luver]

Where are you staying??? If you're staying on Harbor....it's gonna be almost impossible to keep Disneyland from them.....it's right there!! There are also tons of signs when you get close.........guess you could blindfold them......lol

 

[DizNee Luver]

Oops didn't finish my thoughts before hitting enter......

I'd do the BBB on the first day.....the hairdo's last for a few days....that way they could be princesses every day while there.

Rainforest is great to go see, but food wise is not so hot. We used to love going there, but the last 3 trips we've seen a steady decline in the food. Last Aug, no one enjoyed their meal & there were 10 of us. Maybe do Goofy's Kitchen for dinner......we love starting & ending our trips with a character meal!!!!

I'd still do the parkhopper passes. The WoC show is absolutely stunning & worth going to. The little one will enjoy Bugs Land.....also check out the Animation Academy (Talk w/Crush is there).

You don't have to spend the whole day there....so if you think you've seen & done enough....hop back over to DL & then back for WoC.