Boo to You & Turning 2! Oct 2012 PTR *NEW* 10/30 We're Back! TR Link Posted!!

[Imagineer5]

Aw so excited for you guys! And jealous too! That's going to be such a funt rip. I was so mad not to go anywhere for our 5 year anniversary. You're going to have a blast.

 

[khertz]

Jealous.

Looks like a great idea. Especially since you'll get to experience Cars Land this time.

Yes, I'm SO excited about Cars Land! That was one of the things that kind of tipped the scales. Yes, WDW has a lot of new stuff too, but we will get to see that in October. Otherwise, it might be a very long time before we had ever been able to check out Cars Land!

Oh my gosh, what an awesome anniversary present! I, too, am very jealous, but also very happy for you!

I'm really looking to get to Disneyland next year, maybe Oct 2013. I'm going to have DH read both your TRs to try and convince him!

Sounds like a plan! Honestly, DH I don't think ever would have been onboard for a DL trip had he not had time to go there by himself for a day last year. Sometimes it's those little things that make them think planning for DL is "their idea." (Sorry to all the men reading this thread! )

I think DL in October would be fantastic! You'd get to see the holiday overlay at HM and maybe try the Halloween party at the park. Isn't it free there? Plus I'm sure the weather will be fantastic that time of year.

First...I'm all caught up. Loving all your plans. I almost bought AG the Mickey shirt Paxton wore for the 4th the other night...but he picked out a new Buzz/Woody T instead.

Second...I got caught up on your May TR and am subscribed to that too. My husband appreciates your DH's research. He enjoyed seeing all the popcorn machines and weather vanes. Don't you love Disney details?

Third...I'm so excited you get to go back to DL for your anniversary! That's amazing. We are actually planning to do that next year for our anniversary. This year we went and ran the Expedition Everest Challenge since it was a few days after our anniversary. We've since been bit by the runDisney bug. We are planning to each run a half at Disney World this winter on our current APs before they run out and then I think we are going to splurge next year and do the Premier so that we can run the Disneyland 1/2! Which will fall a few months after our anniversary but who cares because we'll get to do DL solo. I'm excited since we've been there for a day but we barely scratched the surface of what all is there. We didn't even make it to CA. I can't wait to read your review of the place you're going to stay at. I'm currently torn on do we stay on property/off property for the race since there are off property places literally right next to the on property places.

Last...think of me on your 2nd day of this trip, the 21st, it's my birthday! I told DH that for my 30th bday next year I didn't want a party I just wanted to be in the MK on my 30th bday with our kids. So, if y'all do October 2013 at the same time we might just have to meet.

That would be cool to not only visit both parks but run a race in each one too! And yes, as small as DL is compared to WDW you still definitely need a few days to really get into it and see what all there is. We decided against the on property because it was just too expensive and we were trying to keep costs down as much as possible since we are taking a big vacation right after we come back, pretty much. While we were searching, there seemed to be some really amazing looking off-site hotels within walking distance to the parks. One that we were strongly considering was Red Lion but the parking fee there was kind of outrageous and I think they charged for internet access.

That will be awesome if you get to go to MK on your birthday! We just might be there at that same time because I want to squeeze in one more trip before Paxton turns three. I'm not sure if we'll travel over the week of his actual birthday again or not, but we will see how it goes this year. Yes, we would definitely need to plan a DIS Meet if our days overlap next year though!!

What a great holiday you all had. Nothing beats family time. Sorry fireworks didn't work out. This was DS's first 4th. I had my doubts that it would work out but some how we pulled it off and DS got to see his first fireworks. I was in shock to see him still awake when the fireworks started at 9:45. He didnt have much of a reaction though, I think he was too tired to care about what was going on..haha. The whole experience gave me reassurance that we would get to see wishes this trip. Last trip when he was 7 months we didn't get to any of the night activities because his bed time was 6:30. Now that it is closer to 7:30-8:00 we have alot more flexibility.

Paxtons Mickey shirt is adorable. I think I saw it at Target and was tempted but DS is still small for his age and I think the smallest they had was 12months. Every time I see your pool pictures I smile. Paxtons reaction to the water and hose is adorable.

Your anniversary trip sounds amazing! Disneyland twice...you are too lucky!

I did notice that DS was a lot more flexible this trip with staying up past his bedtime and not being entirely awful when he did vs. last year when he would just fall asleep in the stroller and go right into the crib back at the resort. I think the heat also played a major role in him not wanting to stay up for the fireworks this week. Hopefully it will be a little cooler in the evenings in October so he can actually stay awake for Wishes and experience them. He slept through them with his earmuffs on last year!

I really am so lucky, and I keep reminding myself of that! I will likely NEVER have an opportunity to visit 2 Disney parks 4 times in the span of 12 months again, so I'm enjoying every moment of it!

Aw so excited for you guys! And jealous too! That's going to be such a funt rip. I was so mad not to go anywhere for our 5 year anniversary. You're going to have a blast.

We went to Las Vegas for our 1 year anniversary and then after that we haven't really done anything until last year when we spent a couple of days in New Orleans. So I figured we'd better do it up big for 5 years since we have been kind of lax about it up until now! I'm so excited! I keep forgetting it's only a little more than a month away!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Glad to hear you had a great 4th of July!

So excited to hear about your anniversary trip. Sounds like fun

 

[skier_pete]

Nice bonus trip! And probably by then the lines for Carsland won't be as crazy as they are now. I'll have to return the favor and let you know the secrets to success in Carsland! At least if the AP/EE is still going on, you can use it, and if not, you won't have people already in the park in front of you!

As far as leaving Paxton, we left our DD for overnights pretty young, and she was about 3.5 when we left her in Arizona with my mom while we flew to Colorado for 4 days. Now we send her to my MIL for a week or two each summer. It's nervewracking the first time, but remember, your parents successfully raised you without anything too bad happen - they can handle Paxton for a few days! It's probably worse for you than for your child.

Funny story, a close friend of ours let her daughter, who's going to be 7 in August, sleep over our house. She was very nervous about it and said this is the first time her daughter had ever slept away from them overnight. When she said that I thought "Holy Cow, am I a bad parent for wanting to dump my kid off every chance I get?" Then I decided, nope, I'm not.

Skierpete

 

[tofubeast]

Yay for your anniversary trip!!!! Now you can do some of the stuff you missed at DLR!!

 

[khertz]

Glad to hear you had a great 4th of July!

So excited to hear about your anniversary trip. Sounds like fun

I'm so excited about it!! Starting to look at what we want to do each day, but it's so frustrating. Our trip is in 48 days and we still don't have park hours for that weekend available!! Soooo different from planning WDW, but at least this time, I have an idea of what to expect.

Nice bonus trip! And probably by then the lines for Carsland won't be as crazy as they are now. I'll have to return the favor and let you know the secrets to success in Carsland! At least if the AP/EE is still going on, you can use it, and if not, you won't have people already in the park in front of you!

As far as leaving Paxton, we left our DD for overnights pretty young, and she was about 3.5 when we left her in Arizona with my mom while we flew to Colorado for 4 days. Now we send her to my MIL for a week or two each summer. It's nervewracking the first time, but remember, your parents successfully raised you without anything too bad happen - they can handle Paxton for a few days! It's probably worse for you than for your child.

Funny story, a close friend of ours let her daughter, who's going to be 7 in August, sleep over our house. She was very nervous about it and said this is the first time her daughter had ever slept away from them overnight. When she said that I thought "Holy Cow, am I a bad parent for wanting to dump my kid off every chance I get?" Then I decided, nope, I'm not.

Skierpete

Thanks for the tip about the AP Early Entry! I just looked on the DL website, and it says we can register for it up through the middle of September! I'll have to discuss this with DH tonight and figure out how many days we want to be getting up THAT early. Definitely will do it for at least one day at DCA to get onto the Cars Land attractions early in the day before the crowds arrive. I was really nervous about it being that we are there over a weekend only and DL is such a big locals park. I know we will have fun though even if it is crowded.

We have let him have a couple of short overnights with my mom in the last couple years, but this is our first "big" trip away from him. We were always at the most a couple of hours away if anything happened. Now we will be on the other side of the country! But I figured we needed to do something like this soon because we are planning a BIG Italy trip in 2014 just me and DH and I definitely don't want that to be the first time I have to leave DS for an extended period of time! I will just have to make sure my parents know how to Face Time so I can see my little guy even though we are away. I know it will definitely be much worse for us than it is for him. He will love spending a few days at Nonni & Poppi's house!

Wow, 7 is pretty old to have never spent the night away from home!! I would have been worried about the little girl crying all night missing her parents. Definitely doesn't make us bad parents to need some time away from the kids. Like my friend always tells me when I share my nerves with her over leaving DS, "You need it for your marriage!" So true!!

 

[khertz]

Yay for your anniversary trip!!!! Now you can do some of the stuff you missed at DLR!!

That's exactly the plan!! I figured in the future, we'd be much more likely to take a weekend trip to WDW since it's so close, but an opportunity for a weekend trip to DL might never come up again. The more I think about it and start planning, the more excited I get!!

 

[jenny105]

Wow, you lucky girl! I want to see tons of pictures of Cars Land. TONS!

Glad you had a great 4th!

 

[Leger13]

I've got my name in the hat for the new infusion center that we are supposed to be opening at the hospital (eventually... they have been talking about it forever!), which will put me working 5 days a week 8-5 vs. 2 12hr shifts a week with rotating weekends. Once I get into that position, no more weekends or holidays! Now, if only they would actually get to work on getting it ready...

Ahh, don't hate me!!! When DH presented it to me, he started out by saying, "I want to ask your opinion on something, but I don't want to get you too excited in case it doesn't work out." I'm planning to do another short TR for that trip, so just direct your DH to the DL TR threads and maybe that will sway him!!

That's great!!! I hope you get it!

Haha well he's a great hubby! My DH wants to go to DLR but he wants to wait until Alex is a bit older. Same with the Disney Cruise. I think we'll have some big trips planned for when Alex is in middle/high school I can deal with WDW till then

 

[khertz]

Day 3: Monday October 22nd

We will start off our second full Disney day at Epcot!

Priorities for the morning will be all of Future World: Journey Into Imagination, Seas with Nemo & Friends, Character Connection, Mission Space, and Spaceship Earth. Yes, you read that correctly, Soarin' is not on my list! It could possibly be on my parents' must-do list, but I'm not sure. DH and I are not big fans.

We have an early lunch planned at my new all-time favorite Disney World restaurant Via Napoli!

Lunch is for 11:30, so I know there is no way we will have all of those Future World attractions accomplished before then, but I don't really have a priority of which ones I want to do first. Since we are sticking with the fairly low-level attractions, I figure we will just do what we can until our ADR and save the rest for later.

I'm SO looking forward to this lunch! I have been craving that Quattro Formaggi pizza since last November. This is also the one ADR that will be for only the three of us. My parents are going to try their luck for a Le Cellier ADR that day, but I don't know how successful they will be. Not that they did not want to try Via Napoli, but we wanted just one meal to be our little family, and I knew they wouldn't want to miss out on the character meals, so I gave them the choice of VN or 50's Prime Time and they would rather join us for 50's.

After lunch we will probably spend a little time wandering the World Showcase until we are ready to head back for a little break in the afternoon.

Hopefully either before we leave for break or by the time we come back, we can stop at the Visa Meet & Greet in Innoventions

After our break, we will be heading back to Epcot for just a little while so I can catch the first or second performance of...

HANSON!!!

Can't even describe how excited I am by this, and by the fact that I can take Paxton with me! He loves dancing to their music with me, so hopefully he will enjoy the show. We will probably bring his earmuffs though just in case. I'm more worried about the crowd screaming than I am about the music being loud though!

I'm thinking for the afternoon, we will park at the TTC and monorail over to Epcot, so that once we are finished in Epcot, we can monorail to MK for the evening.

My main goals for MK that evening are to see (maybe) MSEP...

...if Paxton is up for the waiting & spot holding involved. But definitely want to see Wishes!

I'm hoping Paxton will enjoy his first actual viewing of fireworks since up until now, he has always slept right through them! If not, well, at least we will have those earmuffs with us.

Once Wishes is over, we will head out with the masses to get back to Bonnet Creek for the night.​

 

[Leger13]

Love the day 3 plans! I was trying to find the restaurant I had seen you get that delicious looking pizza at! I'm glad you posted this. I'll have to go back and look at the menu. Right now we have an ADR for Teppan Edo. My DH won't even ride Soarin' once. He doesn't do heights And I really want to get a Disney Visa just for that picture experience but we don't need any more credit cards.

 

[oboedm]

I love the ear muffs! Where did you find them? Are they regular winter ones? Don't know where to get those in good ol' AZ! . Love the day 3 plans and that you a planning and meal with just your family.

 

[khertz]

Love the day 3 plans! I was trying to find the restaurant I had seen you get that delicious looking pizza at! I'm glad you posted this. I'll have to go back and look at the menu. Right now we have an ADR for Teppan Edo. My DH won't even ride Soarin' once. He doesn't do heights And I really want to get a Disney Visa just for that picture experience but we don't need any more credit cards.

It is soooo yummy! I would eat at Via Napoli every day of every trip if I could get away with it!!

For Soarin' it's not even a heights thing for us, we just don't get the big deal over it. Yeah, it's great to do every few trips, but only if you don't have to wait a long time for it. I'm always amazed by how busy it always is. I just don't get it.

I love the ear muffs! Where did you find them? Are they regular winter ones? Don't know where to get those in good ol' AZ! . Love the day 3 plans and that you a planning and meal with just your family.

They are Peltor Ear Muffs! Got them from Amazon (but the idea came from Drew Brees!).

They are more ear protection/noise muffling earmuffs vs. winter keep-your-ears-warm earmuffs. DS slept through Wishes entirely last year with those on.

 

[MEK]

Great day 3 plans. I love the PP pictures of you guys! I really enjoyed the MSEP. It was so fun!

I know I just got back from Disney World, but I already can't wait until my October trip! Via Napoli is a great lunch ADR. I hope your parents get their Le Cellier ADR.

BTW - I started a new TR so if you are interested or have time check out my siggie!

 

[mandas08]

Day 3 looks great! I am really wishing we could have fit Via Napoli into our dining plans. I had booked it originally but later changed it to LE Cellier because I know how much DH will love it. Our favorite food is pizza so it will def be on the list next trip.

What is Hanson doing in Disney? Is there some sort of event going on?

Those Ear Muffs are a great idea. I wonder if DS would keep them on? He seems to be getting better with hats and sunglasses so maybe he would. Maybe those are something I should consider for our next trip. Have there been any other occasions besides Disney that you have found them handy?

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Day three is looking great! I am a huge fan of Soarin' but I get that not everyone loves it. That just leaves more seats for me!

Love those ear thingies...great idea! I wish we had thought of that when our youngest didn't like fireworks..even at aged 4 she had issues, and those would have come in handy for sure!

 

[khertz]

Great day 3 plans. I love the PP pictures of you guys! I really enjoyed the MSEP. It was so fun!

I know I just got back from Disney World, but I already can't wait until my October trip! Via Napoli is a great lunch ADR. I hope your parents get their Le Cellier ADR.

BTW - I started a new TR so if you are interested or have time check out my siggie!

Ooh, lucky you with two WDW trips so close together! I will definitely check out your TR today!

I'm going to try to help my mom get her Le Cellier ADR by checking for her frequently. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Day 3 looks great! I am really wishing we could have fit Via Napoli into our dining plans. I had booked it originally but later changed it to LE Cellier because I know how much DH will love it. Our favorite food is pizza so it will def be on the list next trip.

What is Hanson doing in Disney? Is there some sort of event going on?

Those Ear Muffs are a great idea. I wonder if DS would keep them on? He seems to be getting better with hats and sunglasses so maybe he would. Maybe those are something I should consider for our next trip. Have there been any other occasions besides Disney that you have found them handy?

I still have never been to Le Cellier! Maybe one of these days we will make it there... Via Napoli is great and not too expensive compared to the other WS restaurants.

Hanson is performing at Eat to the Beat in the American Pavilion on Monday & Tuesday night! I've been a fan for 15 years, and missed out on them performing there last year by just a few days. I was so excited this year that our dates worked out perfectly with the days they would be performing!

So far I haven't needed to use them for anything else. We bought the kids size instead of the infant size though so he could use them for several Disney trips if he needed to. At the time, he didn't like keeping hats or sunglasses on (still doesn't if he doesn't need them...won't leave a hat on indoors but if we put it on him outside to keep the sun out of his face he will!), but we managed to slip those on while he was sleeping and didn't have any problems.

Day three is looking great! I am a huge fan of Soarin' but I get that not everyone loves it. That just leaves more seats for me!

Love those ear thingies...great idea! I wish we had thought of that when our youngest didn't like fireworks..even at aged 4 she had issues, and those would have come in handy for sure!

I would gladly give you my seat on Soarin'!

I bought the kids size so that he could wear them for several years to come. Loud noises don't seem to bother him now, but I know how kids fears can change year to year so I figured they were a good investment!

 

[Leger13]

It is soooo yummy! I would eat at Via Napoli every day of every trip if I could get away with it!!

For Soarin' it's not even a heights thing for us, we just don't get the big deal over it. Yeah, it's great to do every few trips, but only if you don't have to wait a long time for it. I'm always amazed by how busy it always is. I just don't get it.

I actually just changed our Teppan Edo ADR to Via Napoli after seeing you talk about it again. I'm down with spending $30 on a pizza over $30/person at Teppan Edo. Especially since I know Alex loves pizza. Not sure how he would do with Japanese food. I can't wait to try Via Napoli. I feel so fancy saying the name lol!!

I like Soarin' but I can see why there's not a real draw for some too. It's sight seeing in video form really. I do like it but I never make a point to ride it like we do with TT or Nemo. As for the picture, when we did it with my BFF we always tried to get there when they opened so we didn't have to wait forever. We have only done it a few times. I'd rather get to the character spot when they open now for Alex. Ah priorities, how they change when you become a mommy

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[afwdwfan]

Soarin' is not on my list! It could possibly be on my parents' must-do list, but I'm not sure. DH and I are not big fans.

I agree... I always try to get a ride on it, but it isn't something I'm going to want to FP and come back later. The technology is cool, but to see the same video again after waiting for at least a half an hour, even with FP... just not worth it.

We have an early lunch planned at my new all-time favorite Disney World restaurant Via Napoli!

Mmmmmmmm....

I gave them the choice of VN or 50's Prime Time and they would rather join us for 50's.

Nothing wrong with 50's, but really, what were they thinking?

HANSON!!!

Can't even describe how excited I am by this, and by the fact that I can take Paxton with me! He loves dancing to their music with me, so hopefully he will enjoy the show. We will probably bring his earmuffs though just in case. I'm more worried about the crowd screaming than I am about the music being loud though!

I still don't know how to comment about this part of your plans.

It is soooo yummy! I would eat at Via Napoli every day of every trip if I could get away with it!!

For Soarin' it's not even a heights thing for us, we just don't get the big deal over it. Yeah, it's great to do every few trips, but only if you don't have to wait a long time for it. I'm always amazed by how busy it always is. I just don't get it.

They are Peltor Ear Muffs! Got them from Amazon (but the idea came from Drew Brees!).

They are more ear protection/noise muffling earmuffs vs. winter keep-your-ears-warm earmuffs. DS slept through Wishes entirely last year with those on.

I'll fully endorse them as well. I bought some of these last year and DS hates fireworks, but we were able to watch Wishes and Fantasmic! and he slept through Holiday Wishes and Illuminations with them on. They work great.

I'm going to try to help my mom get her Le Cellier ADR by checking for her frequently. Keeping my fingers crossed!

I hope your luck is better than mine.

I actually just changed our Teppan Edo ADR to Via Napoli after seeing you talk about it again. I'm down with spending $30 on a pizza over $30/person at Teppan Edo.

Just don't buy the salad and the "fillers." That stuff is overpriced and you really don't need it anyway. Stick with the pizza, it will be enough food and it will be the cheapest Table Service meal you eat.

 

[Leger13]

Just don't buy the salad and the "fillers." That stuff is overpriced and you really don't need it anyway. Stick with the pizza, it will be enough food and it will be the cheapest Table Service meal you eat.

thanks for the tip!

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