BobbleHead's 5th Birthday Trip PTR - Happy Turkey Day! - 3 days to go!

[cltk78]

http://www.**************/id/1259477966.png

Welcome to my Pre-trip Report!
Now that we've booked our trip. I decided it's time to do a pre-trip report. So here goes!

Cast:
Me (aka TokyoGirl): Age 30
DH (aka CasualCat): Age 30
DS#1 (aka BobbleHead or BirthdayBoy): Age 4, celebrating his 5th b-day at WDW
DS#2 (aka BlueEyes): Age 4 months, will be 14 months at time of travel

Dates:
Leaving NC on Nov 28th and driving to SC to visit CasualCat's grandparents. Arriving at WDW on Nov 29th and Departing on Dec 5th.

Resort:
Animal Kingdom Lodge - savanna view
This will be our first time staying at AKL.

ADRs:
We'll have the Quick Service dining plan. So at the moment, we're only planning to do one table service meal - Best Friends' Character Breakfast at 'Ohanas on BobbleHead's birthday.

Tentative Itinerary:
Our touring plan (thus far) for each day. The parks listed is where we would start the day. We plan to leave the parks mid-day to go back to the resort for lunch, naps, etc, and then head back to the parks in the afternoon.

11/28 : Drive from home to DH's grandparents in North Augusta, SC.

11/29 : Leave North Augusta ~7am; Arrival at Animal Kingdom Lodge hopefully by 4pm (allowing for stops for food, gas, restroom); head to Downtown Disney for shopping, dinner at Earl of Sandwich, and dessert at Ghirardelli

11/30 : Disney Hollywood Studios

12/1 : Magic Kingdom

12/2 : Epcot

12/3 : Liam's birthday - 7:40 am Character breakfast at Ohana's; Animal Kingdom

12/4 : Magic Kingdom

12/5 : Departure


Special plans:
TBD

More to come...

Table of Contents:
1. Story behind this trip
2. Itinerary updated
3. Introduction of Our Cast
4. My Disney Binder
5. What's been happening since I last posted
6. OMG! I can now order Mouse ears from Disney! WooHoo!
7. Only 180 days to go!
8. Made our ADR this morning
9. Disney Family Movie Night
10. New Tentative Itinerary
11. What to wear?!? Part 1
12. What to wear?!? Part 2
13. BlueEyes's Birthday and Souvenirs
14. So sorry! I've been a slacker about posting AGAIN!
15. Must Do List
16. 34 days to go, and what did we receive today.....
17. T minus 30 days and counting

 

[cltk78]

We've been planning to take this trip since before BobbleHead was born. The last time CasualCat and I were at WDW was September 2004 when I was 7 months pregnant with BobbleHead. We decided during that trip that we would come back to celebrate BobbleHead's 5th birthday.

I began officially researching and making preliminary plans almost a year ago, not too long after I found out I was pregnant with BlueEyes. We initially were planning to stay at either ASMovies or Pop. Then, it was either Pop or WL, and recently either AKL/AKV, WL, or CBR.

When I called yesterday to book our trip, the order of our preferences was:

1. AKV 1 br value villa (wasn't available for our dates using 40% off PIN)
2. AKL standard room w/ savanna view (available, booked using 40% off PIN, and paid in full)
3. WL standard room w/ courtyard view
4. CBR pirate room w/ water view

Now that the trip booked and paid for, the real fun can begin. Check back regularly for updates on my planning progress.

 

[cltk78]

I updated our itinerary, based on research I've done on crowd levels, best parks to visits, and parks to avoid for each day of our trip. The itinerary may change. I'm waiting for MVMCP dates and EMHs to be announced.

Next on my to do list: researching counter service restaurants.

 

[cltk78]

I haven't posted to my PTR in a while, and I decided to restart posting by introducing our cast.

CAST:

Myself (Tokyo Girl) and DH (Casual Cat)​

We're both 30 years old. I'll turn 31 in June. We've been together 10.5 years and married almost 8 years. Tokyo Girl and Casual Cat are our gamer/user names on our video game systems (Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii). And here we are this past Christmas.

DS#1 - Bobble Head/Birthday Boy​

He's currently 4 years old and will turn 5 during our trip. He got the nickname Bobble Head as a baby. He had incredible head control early on, but he loved to move his head around just like a bobblehead toy. Here he is on his 4th birthday.

DS#2 - Blue Eyes​

He turns 6 months old on Sunday. We call him Blue Eyes because he has beautiful blue eyes just like his daddy (DH), and I honestly though I'd have a blue-eyed baby. Here he is with his first plush Mickey, a gift from Grandpa (my dad).

 

[cltk78]

I started my Disney binder a few weeks ago. Yeah, I'm one of those people. What can I say...I'm a planner, I love being organized, and I love doing research for our trips/vacations.

So far I have sections for:
1. Resort info
2. Dining Plan info
3. Resort restaurant menus
4. Magic Kingdom menus
5. Epcot menus
6. Disney Hollywood Studios menus
7. Animal Kingdom menus
8. Downtown Disney menus
9. Touring plans (Just general touring plans and NOT detail down to the minute touring plans - That's just crazy, especially with 2 little ones!)
10. Events/Activities

In the front, I have zipper pocket for storing pens, markers, and whatever else.

In the back, I have pockets to store stuff that I don't want to hole punch. Currently in them, I have the Vacation Planning DVD, our invoice (which is paid in full ), our 1st set of customize maps (plan to order another set in 6 months), and the special trip planning information that we received from Disney earlier this week.

 

[floridascgirl]

Isn't the planning fun? I'm presently trying to convince my DH that we need to go again...December this time. I actually just wrote out a "proposal" to give to him stating my case!!! I made a list of pros and cons for a Dec. trip and miraculously I could only come up pros!!!! Hopefully I'll be starting another trip planning binder soon...my fingers are crossed.

 

[cltk78]

Isn't the planning fun? I'm presently trying to convince my DH that we need to go again...December this time. I actually just wrote out a "proposal" to give to him stating my case!!! I made a list of pros and cons for a Dec. trip and miraculously I could only come up pros!!!! Hopefully I'll be starting another trip planning binder soon...my fingers are crossed.

It's so much fun! I'm keeping my fingers for you! December is a great time of year to go to Disney!

I see that you're in Charleston. DH and I use to live in Charleston. I graduated from CofC, and DH graduated from The Citadel.

 

[floridascgirl]

My husband and I both went to C of C and now we both teach there. It's a small world (no Disney reference intended)!

 

[cltk78]

Sorry it's been so long since I last posted on my PTR!

Here's what been happening trip-wise:

• I bought the 2009 Passporter guide. I'm really loving this guide!
• I printed up the menus for all the counter service restaurants that are on the QSDP and put them in my binder.
• We bought a Maclaren Twin Triumph stroller. We've been planning to do this since last year. Here's a few pictures:
  
  The boys trying it out
  

  

  
  The back with our diaper bag hanging the handles
  

  
• We bought a 2009 Honda CR-V. We were planning on driving our Honda Civic to Disney, but discovered that we wouldn't be able to fit our luggage, stroller, and pack-n-play in the trunk. So we went to look at and test drive vehicles, and we ended up getting a 2nd vehicle, the CR-V, a lot sooner than we were planning on. I love it! It meets all our needs as the family car.
• We decided not to buy tickets to MVMCP. We were going on Dec 3rd, which is BobbleHead's b-day, but apparently there's not going to be one on that day, at least, not at the moment. And honestly, it's not worth the money to us. Instead, we're going book Liam on one of the pirate adventure cruises.

I think that everything.

 

[Corrine 1973]

Just wanted to drop by and say hey

It is definatly cool that we both have sons with the same name

I hope that bobble-head has a great birthday at Walt Disney World.

 

[cltk78]

Just wanted to drop by and say hey

It is definatly cool that we both have sons with the same name

I hope that bobble-head has a great birthday at Walt Disney World.

Thank you! I hope your Liam was a great wish trip!

 

[cltk78]

I was so excited when I got the email from Disney about park souvies for sale on their website. Now I can order personalized ears for my boys before our trip without having to pay a ridiculous price.

Now which ones should I get?

For BobbleHead:
traditional black

OR

pirate

For BlueEyes:
traditional black

OR

baby blue Mickey

 

[Corrine 1973]

For Bobblehead I can go either way, but I am kinda leaning toward the pirate one. It is just to cute. I might have to get one for Liam as well.

I would definatly do the baby blue one for blue eyes. It will definatly set off those beautiful eyes he has.

 

[cltk78]

For Bobblehead I can go either way, but I am kinda leaning toward the pirate one. It is just to cute. I might have to get one for Liam as well.

I would definatly do the baby blue one for blue eyes. It will definatly set off those beautiful eyes he has.

Thanks! I think I'm going to order the pirate and baby blue ears.

 

[Leger13]

Hi Crystal! Subbing. Going back to read now

 

[cltk78]

Only....

180 days until our trip.
90 days until I can make ADRs. Well just one ADR - breakfast on BobbleHead's birthday.
21 days until my and DH's 8th wedding anniversary.
10 days until my 31st birthday.

 

[Leger13]

I haven't posted to my PTR in a while, and I decided to restart posting by introducing our cast.

CAST:

Myself (Tokyo Girl) and DH (Casual Cat)​

We're both 30 years old. I'll turn 31 in June. We've been together 10.5 years and married almost 8 years. Tokyo Girl and Casual Cat are our gamer/user names on our video game systems (Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii). And here we are this past Christmas.

DS#1 - Bobble Head/Birthday Boy​

He's currently 4 years old and will turn 5 during our trip. He got the nickname Bobble Head as a baby. He had incredible head control early on, but he loved to move his head around just like a bobblehead toy. Here he is on his 4th birthday.

DS#2 - Blue Eyes​

He turns 6 months old on Sunday. We call him Blue Eyes because he has beautiful blue eyes just like his daddy (DH), and I honestly though I'd have a blue-eyed baby. Here he is with his first plush Mickey, a gift from Grandpa (my dad).

Sorry it's taken me a while to come back and catch up.....

I just saw that you guys are gamers on PS3 and Wii. I have a Wii also and PS3. My PS3 name is CLeger if you ever want to hook up on there. I play Little Big Planet and Rock Band 2. My DH's name is LexDeath and he plays the Call of Duty games

Your boys are SO cute! I love that you call your oldest BobbleHead! Babies really are like that. haha

 

[Leger13]

Sorry it's been so long since I last posted on my PTR!

Here's what been happening trip-wise:

• I bought the 2009 Passporter guide. I'm really loving this guide!
• I printed up the menus for all the counter service restaurants that are on the QSDP and put them in my binder.
• We bought a Maclaren Twin Triumph stroller. We've been planning to do this since last year. Here's a few pictures:
  
  The boys trying it out
  

  

  
  The back with our diaper bag hanging the handles
  

  
• We bought a 2009 Honda CR-V. We were planning on driving our Honda Civic to Disney, but discovered that we wouldn't be able to fit our luggage, stroller, and pack-n-play in the trunk. So we went to look at and test drive vehicles, and we ended up getting a 2nd vehicle, the CR-V, a lot sooner than we were planning on. I love it! It meets all our needs as the family car.
• We decided not to buy tickets to MVMCP. We were going on Dec 3rd, which is BobbleHead's b-day, but apparently there's not going to be one on that day, at least, not at the moment. And honestly, it's not worth the money to us. Instead, we're going book Liam on one of the pirate adventure cruises.

I think that everything.

Very cool stroller. The boys look super comfy in it!

Congrats on the new car! I LOVE Honda! I have an '06 2 door Civic and DH has a Ridgeline. They've both been great cars!

I too was planning on going to MVMCP on the 3rd but now since they are not doing that date we are going to the one on the 1st. Let me just tell you that before we went to MNSSHP we weren't really sure it was going to be worth the extra $ but it SO was! So much so that we have been to that party twice now and are really looking fwd to the Xmas party. If you change your mind about it I think you guys would love it! Even if it's not on Bobble Head's bday.

I was so excited when I got the email from Disney about park souvies for sale on their website. Now I can order personalized ears for my boys before our trip without having to pay a ridiculous price.

Now which ones should I get?

For BobbleHead:
traditional black

OR

pirate

For BlueEyes:
traditional black

OR

baby blue Mickey

My vote is the pirate one for bobble head and the blue one for blue eyes

 

[Leger13]

Only....

180 days until our trip.
90 days until I can make ADRs. Well just one ADR - breakfast on BobbleHead's birthday.
21 days until my and DH's 8th wedding anniversary.
10 days until my 31st birthday.

lots of celebrating to do!!

And happy early birthday!!

 

[Corrine 1973]

If my math is correct your birthday in on June 12. (2 + 10=12 right?)

As our worlds get even a little smaller for we have one more thing in common. Are oldest boys names, you almost named your second son my second sons name and now a birthday. No not mine. Aidan will be 2 on June 12.