Celebrating my Un-Birthday Disney Style-April 2010-New 5/3 - The TR has started!

[DisMomAmy]

ha ha like that this is an item on your list

Oh Amy...

and can I come

J~

If I have to remember to do it, it needs to be on the list!

Don't worry... I'm used to the changes... it'll be fine.

Yes - you can come... any time you want. We can plan around your schedule. Just let us know when your flight lands. The airport is only a few minutes from the mall.

Thanks for the spreadsheet!!!! It's fantastic! I can't wait to plug in all of our information. You are a planning Godess!

 

[disneyfan61]

Hi Amy. Wasn't just beautiful here today We also got to do some yard work done & I filled all my bird feeders as the birds were noisy because they were empty!! We had soccer & then went to Olive Garden for dinner. It has been way too long that I have been there. My DH & I went for a walk tonight then we watched UP which we got from Netflix. It was a good movie.

Sorry to hear about your plans. Hopefully all your ADR's will work out for you. It is getting closer & closer.

Boo to the rain heading our way. Today was just so nice. Spring Fever!! Happy first day of Spring

 

[mrsksomeday]

Amy, I am so sorry you are going through this planning crisis. I would try to go ahead with CP, I think they will let you. I hope it all works out for you.

I love your Disney Saturday plans, that sounded like so much fun.

What is this about a spreadsheet? I love spreadsheets, who do I have to beg for one?

 

[SwansLoveDisney]

It sounds like you had a great day today! We had wonderful weather all week and then it snowed all day today.

I can't imagine ever passing up an opportunity to go out to dinner. Or not liking pizza!

No baby yet! Hopefully soon!

 

[eandesmom]

I agree with what Heidi said too... it's just unfortunately that the kids and/or DMIL are the ones who will suffer the consequences.

I know. But you can only worry about what you can control and not what you can't. It's hard.

On the flip side, and not to wax all philosophical on you or anything but (as you know) we go through this stuff all the time in our blended family life. And I do think its important for kids to know that life isn't fair, things change, and you have to learn how to roll with it and deal with disappointment. Taking a step back...helps.

Not that I'm always very good at it!

 

[mrsksomeday]

It sounds like you had a great day today! We had wonderful weather all week and then it snowed all day today.

I can't imagine ever passing up an opportunity to go out to dinner. Or not liking pizza!

No baby yet! Hopefully soon!

Julie!! I have been thinking about you . I bet you are so excited and wanting to officially meet that baby. I can't wait to see pictures.

 

[Angies1274]

Hi Amy!

Oh no.. about the ADR's!! I hope everything works out!

On a brighter note...it sounds like you had a great Disney Saturday!! The boys got Toy Story Mania for the Wii for Christmas and love it!! I've actually gotten pretty good at myself. Maybe my score won't be so bad now when we go in April.

YAY! for a 70 degree day! What a great first day of Spring!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Oh, crud, Amy! Sorry to read about the glitch in your plans! I hope you are able to figure out something that doesn't entail giving up your Le Cellier or Crystal Palace ADRs!

What a lovely Disney Saturday, though! We had a bit of Disney fun last night -- I bought The Princess and the Frog and we took it over to my mom's to watch. It was just as cute the second time around.

 

[Lovemy3babes]

I'm sorry you are having to completely change plans! Vacationing with others can be fun but it is definitely extra work. I hope you're able to get something for 5 on the days you need them Amy!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Hi Amy. Wasn't just beautiful here today We also got to do some yard work done & I filled all my bird feeders as the birds were noisy because they were empty!! We had soccer & then went to Olive Garden for dinner. It has been way too long that I have been there. My DH & I went for a walk tonight then we watched UP which we got from Netflix. It was a good movie.

Sorry to hear about your plans. Hopefully all your ADR's will work out for you. It is getting closer & closer.

Boo to the rain heading our way. Today was just so nice. Spring Fever!! Happy first day of Spring

It was gorgeous yesterday!! Glad you got to enjoy the day as much as we did! Sounds like we won't see weather like that again for a while.

Amy, I am so sorry you are going through this planning crisis. I would try to go ahead with CP, I think they will let you. I hope it all works out for you.

I love your Disney Saturday plans, that sounded like so much fun.

What is this about a spreadsheet? I love spreadsheets, who do I have to beg for one?

Thanks Tracy! Julie/Mousescrapper sent me an excel spreadsheet for calculating OOP dining costs. If you PM me your email address I'll ask her if it's OK to forward it on to you. She's always happy to share her planning tools.

It sounds like you had a great day today! We had wonderful weather all week and then it snowed all day today.

I can't imagine ever passing up an opportunity to go out to dinner. Or not liking pizza!

No baby yet! Hopefully soon!

It's funny... Alex used to like pizza, but after 2 years on the gluten & dairy free diet he didn't like it... He had a little belly ache on & off yesterday (common for him - unrelated to illness) so I think he just wanted to stick close to home in case it came back.

I think your snow is heading our way next... fortuantely it's going to be all rain. Unfortunately we've already had a ton of rain (7 inches last weekend) so another 1 1/2 - 2 inches of rain is not a welcome forecast!

Can't wait to see baby pictures.

I know. But you can only worry about what you can control and not what you can't. It's hard.

On the flip side, and not to wax all philosophical on you or anything but (as you know) we go through this stuff all the time in our blended family life. And I do think its important for kids to know that life isn't fair, things change, and you have to learn how to roll with it and deal with disappointment. Taking a step back...helps.

Not that I'm always very good at it!

Our kiddos are certainly learning a little more about that every time we run into a snag with Jeff & family. Part of the problem is the ex... so far she hasn't come in to play this year, but she's the reason the cousins didn't show up in Orlando at all last year!

Another funny thing is that Alex keeps asking to see his ex-aunt. None of us really liked her from the beginning, she was always very controlling & often just mean. Zach doesn't even really remember her, but Alex does and doesn't understand the whole divorce thing. He was in tears saying how he missed her... so we may be giving K a ride home to her mom's house sometime during our stay at Jeff's... I suppose a cordial hello couldn't hurt anyone.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Julie!! I have been thinking about you . I bet you are so excited and wanting to officially meet that baby. I can't wait to see pictures.

Me too!

Hi Amy!

Oh no.. about the ADR's!! I hope everything works out!

On a brighter note...it sounds like you had a great Disney Saturday!! The boys got Toy Story Mania for the Wii for Christmas and love it!! I've actually gotten pretty good at myself. Maybe my score won't be so bad now when we go in April.

YAY! for a 70 degree day! What a great first day of Spring!

The boys (DH included) are still enjoying TSM this morning! I have a feeling we'll be buying it too.

I'll have to give it a try (if they let me have a turn) if it will help with my score!

Oh, crud, Amy! Sorry to read about the glitch in your plans! I hope you are able to figure out something that doesn't entail giving up your Le Cellier or Crystal Palace ADRs!

What a lovely Disney Saturday, though! We had a bit of Disney fun last night -- I bought The Princess and the Frog and we took it over to my mom's to watch. It was just as cute the second time around.

Alex still seems to be in a Disney mood today... He's playing Deal or No Deal (his obsession) and he's changed some of the dollar amounts to the names of rides at WDW!

He also asked us all what our favorite part of Disney is... then he said his favorite part is spending time together.

I think lots of DISers had fun with Princess & The Frog this weekend!

I'm sorry you are having to completely change plans! Vacationing with others can be fun but it is definitely extra work. I hope you're able to get something for 5 on the days you need them Amy!

Luckily our first three days are remaining unchanged. Luckily the boys' restaurant picks were scheduled during those days... I'd be really mad if the change of plans messed up their favorites. I'm just having an Epcot dilemma now... more on that later.

 

[MRYPPNS]

I'm with everyone else about the CP ADR...showing up at 8am with 5 should be no problem because people are always running late for those early ADR's....

However I wouldn't dare try that at Le Cellier....any chance that dinner could just be you and Tim?

I guess there is going to be a Toy Story 3 game for Wii too.....anyone know anything about it?

 

[DisMomAmy]

I'm with everyone else about the CP ADR...showing up at 8am with 5 should be no problem because people are always running late for those early ADR's....

However I wouldn't dare try that at Le Cellier....any chance that dinner could just be you and Tim?

I guess there is going to be a Toy Story 3 game for Wii too.....anyone know anything about it?

That seems to be the consensus about the ADRs... I think I've finally come up with a plan that I like for Friday & Saturday... and CP might be completely out the window!

Toy Story 3 for Wii... FUN!! I just looked it up... it should be released in June right around the same time the movie is released.

 

[DisMomAmy]

As you know, I’ve had to make a few changes to our itinerary due to Jeff, Karen, J & K’s change of plans. Our first three days will remain unchanged.

Monday, 4/26:
• DHS in the morning (H&V late breakfast/early lunch)
• Epcot in the afternoon/evening (Teppan Edo dinner – Zach’s restaurant choice)
• Stay for Illuminations

Tuesday, 4/27:
• AK when we get there (probably close to RD)
• CS lunch – maybe stay through parade?
• Swim at pool
• Mom & Dad night out – Shula’s & DTD
• Jeff & the gang will arrive late Tuesday night – probably around 10pm (but I’m sure this won’t surprise you to hear… they’ll probably arrive late)

Wednesday, 4/28:
• Jeff & the gang will be at Universal all day today so our plans are unchanged*
• MK at RD, break?, chef Mickey’s for dinner, back to MK, stay for Wishes

*They had originally said they wanted to relax on Wednesday & go to Universal on Thursday, but then when I explained that I had made Boma ADRs for Thursday, Friday & Saturday (I’m cancelling Fri & Sat today), and that we had Alex’s favorite restaurant planned for Wednesday night they said it was no problem to go to Universal on Wednesday.

Here’s where things get a bit messed up…

Thursday, 4/29:
• Originally (way back when…) our Epcot day, but more recently we switched this to our waterpark day when Jeff & all were going to be going to Universal on Friday & relaxing at the resort on Thursday… just in case J & K wanted to join us at the waterpark.
• This will either stay as our waterpark day or become a resort day. If J&K want to join us at the waterpark we might still go, otherwise (based on the boys’ decision) we’ll just stay at the resort and swim, play mini-golf, ride surrey bikes & relax.
• Dinner at Boma for the whole group!!

Friday, 4/30:
• Original Plan:

o Waterpark day, which was then switched to our Epcot Day (with lunch for 4 at Le Cellier)​

• New Plans (Plan A):

o Epcot am with just the four of us, including our lunch at Le Cellier.
o Back to resort to say good-bye to everyone & pick up DMIL.
o Night at DHS including Fantasmic??** and dinner at 50s PTC?? (probably won't do both Le Cellier & 50s PTC?)​

• New Plan (Plan B):

o Epcot am with DMIL (not sure we’ll make RD), skip Le Cellier & eat a CS lunch.
o DHS including Fantasmic?** and dinner at 50s PTC.​

** Fantasmic is listed as a maybe only because it happens to be showing on a night we'll be there... We weren't planning to see it at all, but I'm not ruling it out.

Saturday 5/1:
• Original Plan:

o MK morning (8:05am Crystal Palace) then free day for park hopping​

• New Plan:

o AK morning/ MK pm – stay until 7pm closing for Grad Nights​

I really like our new plan… Friday & Saturday night were both problems all along… MK closes at 7pm for Grad Nights both nights, AK always closes early (5pm Friday, 6pm Saturday, Epcot has an EMH night Friday, DHS has F! both nights as well as an EMH am on Saturday. Epcot & DHS are going to both be crowded on both nights! But I also know that Epcot isn’t the boys’ favorite park so they probably don’t want to end with Epcot… I’ve decided to have our last night end at 7pm with MK!! It shouldn’t be too crowded since the park is closing early. We can start our morning at AK, which I hadn’t planned to visit a second time but I knew the kids would want to go back, even if it’s for a short time, just to hit their favorite rides. We’ll get to visit all four parks in our last two days. It could also be hard to make an early ADR if we are out late the night before. This way we'll get back to the resort, get the kids to bed & have some time to finish packing up.

What do you think??

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Finishing the vacation at MK sounds perfect!

That's a lot of shifting around...I hope plans stay pretty firm now! You are great for doing so much re-arranging to accommodate family.....good for you.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Finishing the vacation at MK sounds perfect!

That's a lot of shifting around...I hope plans stay pretty firm now! You are great for doing so much re-arranging to accommodate family.....good for you.

Alex is a little upset that we aren't visiting DHS on what he calls, "favorites day" but I don't really want to go anywhere near the place when it's an EMH morning & a F! night with MK closed. He'll get his fill the night before.

I don't mind shifting things around... sometimes I end up with an itinerary that was better than the original! It's just those darn ADRs!

 

[MRYPPNS]

I really like your new plan for Saturday ending at MK early. And you can always ride the monorail to one of the deluxe resorts to visit/get dessert/play on the beach if you are all up for a little more that night.

Here's a thought for Plan B on Friday. How 'bout dinner at Captain's Grille at the Yatch Club? TK just gave them a great review in one of her TRs and it's a restaurant that has been on my short list from some time (just haven't made it there yet). It's on the way to DHS via boat so that could be cool and I don't think an ADR would be hard to get. Or Beaches and Cream.....they don't take ADR's at all.

 

[disneyfan61]

Plans look good to me!! We will also be at AK on 5/1 so maybe we can plan to say hi on that day.

 

[KathyRN137]

I’ve decided to have our last night end at 7pm with MK!! It shouldn’t be too crowded since the park is closing early. We can start our morning at AK, which I hadn’t planned to visit a second time but I knew the kids would want to go back, even if it’s for a short time, just to hit their favorite rides. We’ll get to visit all four parks in our last two days. It could also be hard to make an early ADR if we are out late the night before. This way we'll get back to the resort, get the kids to bed & have some time to finish packing up.

What do you think??

I like it!

Your MK rationale is very sound... I think lots of folks will choose to go to another park because of Grad Night! It probably won't be too crowded.

You should always end with a bang... will they do Wishes early or will it still be too light out at 7pm??


Kathy

 

[DisMomAmy]

I really like your new plan for Saturday ending at MK early. And you can always ride the monorail to one of the deluxe resorts to visit/get dessert/play on the beach if you are all up for a little more that night.

Here's a thought for Plan B on Friday. How 'bout dinner at Captain's Grille at the Yatch Club? TK just gave them a great review in one of her TRs and it's a restaurant that has been on my short list from some time (just haven't made it there yet). It's on the way to DHS via boat so that could be cool and I don't think an ADR would be hard to get. Or Beaches and Cream.....they don't take ADR's at all.

Great ideas Heidi! I will keep all of those in mind!!

Plans look good to me!! We will also be at AK on 5/1 so maybe we can plan to say hi on that day.

That sounds great! I was wondering about that... I was going to go back and look at your itinerary to see if we might overlap better with my new plan. My guess is that we'll be there long enough to ride EE a couple times, Dinosaur once or twice and anything we might have missed on Tuesday.

I like it!

Your MK rationale is very sound... I think lots of folks will choose to go to another park because of Grad Night! It probably won't be too crowded.

You should always end with a bang... will they do Wishes early or will it still be too light out at 7pm??

Kathy

Unfortunately no Spectro or Wishes... but we're planning to see Wishes on Wednesday night, plus we're planning to see Illuminations this year and who knows... maybe Fantasmic too!

That's something I'm looking forward to in February next year... earlier night time entertainment.