Christmas and New Years, A Disney Bride's Family of 4! My PTR 12/26-01/03, POR...

[magickingdom]

I'm so excited that I found your thread today!

We are going to be in Disney the same time as you!!

Here's our itinerary:

Dec. 26 - fly out of Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
arrive in Orlando late and stay overnight in hotel near airport
Dec. 27 - board the magic bus to take us to POP century
EPCOT - lunch at the coral Reef
Ate here on our last Dec trip and loved it!!
- dinner at the San Angel Inn
We have ate here many times and love it, especially the atmosphere!!
Dec. 28 - all day in the Magic Kingdom - dinner at Cinderella Castle at 5;50 pm
We ate here on our honeymoon, ahhhh eating in the castle!
Dec. 29 - morning in Animal Kingdom ( maybe we'll see you on Kilimonjaro Sarafi)
Afternoon in Hollywood Studios
early dinner at 4;45 at prime time cafe
We are eating here on our DS day!! PB shakes are the best!!
watch Fantasmic
snack time at the sci-fi diner at 9;30 pm
mmmmm...also love again the atmosphere is the best!!
( and the park is open til 1:00 am)

Dec. 30 - morning in Hollywood Studios
- afternoon in Magic Kingdom Dinner at Tony's town square 5 pm
Almost did tony's this time but decided to try Plaza restaurant something new for us!
- late snack or dessert at the plaza
at 8;40 pm
and extended hours til 3pm if we choose ( maybe we'll see you again!)
Dec. 31 - all day in Epcot (don't want to leave in case park gets full and we
can't get back in!
We did Epcot for New Year's EVE 2006-07 WE LOVED IT! The fireworks and dance parties in the countries are soooooo much fun, I am getting goosebumps just remembering it!! You are right the park does fill up I think they stopped letting people in at 10am in Epcot when we were there. We decided not to go in the parks this time on NYE bc of the kids. IT IS SO CROWDED BUT SO WORTH IT. We were there for 18 hours straight!!
Lunch at Le Cellier at 1 pm
YUM YUM YUM
late dinner/snack at the Rose and Crown Pub at 9:55 pm
(hoping to get an outdoor patio seat to watch illuminations and it's DH's birthday on Jan. 1st - so I already ordered a cake.)
Yay for Disney Cakes!!

Two out of our 4 adult children are coming with us DD 23 and DS 18
They will have one more day in Disney til Jan 2nd when they will make their own way back home via the magic express bus.
DH and I on the other hand, are leaving on January 1st for Port Canaveral where we are getting on a 7 day cruise!!!!

BTW - my daughter just graduated University and is starting her first year as a high school band teacher and she will also be teaching gr 1 physed as well as gr 9 social studies!!!

AND...... I love Big Brother!!!! I've seen every season! My favorite person of all time was Dr. "Evil" Will!!!
And I am so hooked on one of the cheater sites online too! You can ask me for it, I'm just not sure if I'm allowed to say it here!
I am obsessed you will have to PM me the site!!
WELL,.... I look forward to counting down the days along with you!!!

Take Care.

Debbie

Kammie

 

[magickingdom]

Our latest dilemma...
SHOULD WE CHANGE RESORTS??

Ok so I need some help here is what's going...
We are thinking of changing to Movies, or POP (and possibly even CBR)

POP - we could change here to save the most money (I am thinking there will never be any discounts bc of the time we are going). Been here, love it, but would like to try something new?! They do have their own bus

MOVIES - would save us money also, and Bella would LOVE the larger than life Mickey and Toy Story Characters!!! We are driving down so buses wouldn't be a problem but Eric does like that he has the option not to drive and enjoys the buses. I know all star resorts share buses...so not good!

CBR - same price as POR, but I was looking at it and like the theming. I never gave this resort a chance bc many years ago my parents stayed there and came back with negative feedback. What I remember mostly was how far their room was from everything. So I thought this morning I would just take a peak and I love the beachy look! The pool looks fun for Bella too! I don't know...

POR - Looks beautiful, sold DH and I on it...but is the theming exciting enough for Bella. I am thinking this might be a time when Bella is little to do a crazy themed value resort bc she would love it, and do more moderate/deluxe resorts when they are older.

I don't know maybe I am being CRAZY I just want everyone to have fun and I would like to save more money. HMMMM...

Please let me know what you think?!!! I need all the opinions and knowledge you can give me....

THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU

Kammie

 

[Purpleblanket]

Purpleblanket!! I am SOOO glad you found me. I have a hard time finding people who are going at this very busy time in December!! I love your plans, it seems we will run into each other at some time! I am so jealous of your cruise afterward! Have you stayed at POP before, we have and loved it we are even thinking of changing...hmmmm?!! Well I plan on posting a lot more this week so stay tuned...I would love to hear more from you!!!

Kammie

Hey there!!
Glad you came back and I look forward to hearing more of your trip report.
This is my 2nd time to Disney. The first was in 1981 when I was just 18 yrs old and Epcot had just opened. It will be the first time for DH and DS and DD.

We are all so excited.
And hubby and I are really looking forward to that cruise to recuperate from Disney! Our plan is to be up early for rope drop! and maybe go back to hotel for afternoon nap and freshen up and back to the parks til late.

Only 2 of our 4 children are coming with us. The oldest son is getting married in September and wants to do his own honeymoon. And another son just spent the summer in Europe and 4 weeks in Africa where he climbed Mt. Kilimonjaro. Therefore, we have our daughter who is 23 and youngest son 17 with us. They are staying an extra night on their own when hubby and I leave for the cruise.

Well, I look forward to talking with you more and as I'm writing this I hope I'm not repeating myself from a previous post!! lol


debbie

 

[Purpleblanket]

Hi Kammie

I just realized I did repeat myself a bit there! lol

And then I noticed that you responded to my itinerary! Didn't notice that right away... as I didn't scroll down enough!

But.. thanks for that.. I loved your comments. Sounds like we have some good
ADR's then.

Wow,... 10 am for the park to fill up on NYE? I knew they'd fill but didn't think it would fill that early.. Good thing we plan to get there early and stay for the day.

I know somebody who stayed at POP before and they highly recommend it. We don't plan on spending a lot of time in our room - so if this can save money I'm all for it!!
Good luck with your decision.

I'll PM you the big brother site... you can always find what's going on before it airs on tv because it's taped except for thursdays!
My fave person right now is Brittany and Regan.

Talk soon!

Debbie

 

[ChildAtHeart82]

I think no matter where you end up staying, you are going to enjoy your resort and have a good time. We've stayed at Pop and Movies. We're staying at a moderate for the first time in December when we stay at POFQ.

The theming at Movies is a lot of fun. When we stayed at Movies, we shared busses with the other All Star resorts and we were always the first picked up and the last to be dropped off. It makes sense that that would be the way they always do it based on where the resorts are, but I only have the one trip to go on. I've heard that at really busy times, like when you're going, that the resorts don't always share busses if at all. Since you'll have the car, you could try the busses your first few days and then use your car if it's not working out. The busses would probably be better for your MK day, though.

I think you'll find a little more to do during your time to relax at the resort if you stay at the moderates. That may or may not be worth the extra cost for you. For us, it's never been worth it for that. We chose POFQ for theming, size, and the boat to DTD. I think POR and CBR are similar in size so you could get stuck far away from everything at both. You can put in a room request to try and be closer to the food court to try and avoid that. The other thing the moderates have over the values is a slide at the pool. The one big thing I think POR has over CBR is the boat to DTD.

I hope this helps!

 

[magickingdom]

I think no matter where you end up staying, you are going to enjoy your resort and have a good time. We've stayed at Pop and Movies. We're staying at a moderate for the first time in December when we stay at POFQ.

The theming at Movies is a lot of fun. When we stayed at Movies, we shared busses with the other All Star resorts and we were always the first picked up and the last to be dropped off. It makes sense that that would be the way they always do it based on where the resorts are, but I only have the one trip to go on. I've heard that at really busy times, like when you're going, that the resorts don't always share busses if at all. Since you'll have the car, you could try the busses your first few days and then use your car if it's not working out. The busses would probably be better for your MK day, though.

I think you'll find a little more to do during your time to relax at the resort if you stay at the moderates. That may or may not be worth the extra cost for you. For us, it's never been worth it for that. We chose POFQ for theming, size, and the boat to DTD. I think POR and CBR are similar in size so you could get stuck far away from everything at both. You can put in a room request to try and be closer to the food court to try and avoid that. The other thing the moderates have over the values is a slide at the pool. The one big thing I think POR has over CBR is the boat to DTD.

I hope this helps!

Thanks for the info on Movies, that would be nice if they did individual buses!! I think we are leaning toward movies, Bella will love love love it!!

I am now looking into the layout to see if we request the toy story section where that would be located. We would pay for a preferred room!

 

[magickingdom]

Bumping...

Any other opinions on the resort change??

 

[moparop]

We really liked being at CBR on our last trip. The boys were 4 and 2. I think they would have eaten up the theming at ASMo, but we needed time to decompress when we weren't at the parks. That resort is so peaceful with the beaches, wildlife you see all around, and hammocks. And plus, when you need a bit of fun, just head over to the main pool, so much to do there! Yes it's a large resort, but Disney tries to match people with their resort request so even if you choose not pay extra for a preferred location, you can still have a great spot!

 

[magickingdom]

We really liked being at CBR on our last trip. The boys were 4 and 2. I think they would have eaten up the theming at ASMo, but we needed time to decompress when we weren't at the parks. That resort is so peaceful with the beaches, wildlife you see all around, and hammocks. And plus, when you need a bit of fun, just head over to the main pool, so much to do there! Yes it's a large resort, but Disney tries to match people with their resort request so even if you choose not pay extra for a preferred location, you can still have a great spot!

Thanks!! I think if we decide to do moderate, we may do CBR!

 

[magickingdom]

Sorry I have not posted any major updates lately. I have been working on making rag quilts for the girls for Christmas that they can bring on the trip. I have been doing a lot of thinking though and came up with our final plan. I have lots of info and new pics to share. I hope to get to write tonight if Meika cooperates with me. If not definately this weekend!! Headed outside now to do pudding painting with bella and swim. Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Kammie

 

[Tinker_Tam]

Hope i'm not to late to join in!! Your girls are adorable!

 

[magickingdom]

Yay!! Finally have some down time to do another update...

Here are some pics of the girls, we have been busy this summer!
Meika's Baptism, swimming, visiting the zoo and botanical gardens, helping Mommy in her classroom...

I have been keeping busy too, making disney rag quilts for the girls. I have finished bella's never never land quilt and will post pics along with Meika's princess quilt once I finish it (I am hoping in the next 2 weeks since I go back to work the 20th of sept). I am also trying to get things together to start a scrapbook for meika, and trying my hand at shadow boxes. Later on today I will be torturing meika painting her feet and doing footprint pics!!

ok ok NOW on to the PTR...
I have decided we will not be changing resorts. POR it is (for now at least until I go resort crazy again as it comes closer)! No really I believe this will be our home away from home! And as for the extra day we have lunch reservations for The Plaza Restaurant in MK (and LTT reservations on the our MK day on the 30th). That way we can sleep in from illuminations, go to MK, and head back to POR for dinner, swimming maybe, packing, and going to bed early for the ride home.

Check back tomorrow when I will post pics of all the new outfits I have gotten for the girls, then a post about something that has been consuming my mind the past week road trips with little ones!!

 

[magickingdom]

Oh I almost forgot these came in...

And I will be reserving our double stroller from magic strollers today!!

 

[magickingdom]

Stroller reserved!! The little things that get us closer and closer!

 

[Purpleblanket]

Oh I almost forgot these came in...

And I will be reserving our double stroller from magic strollers today!!

These are so cool!!! Where did you get them? Is it from the Disney site?

Debbie

 

[magickingdom]

yea, they are on disney's official website...personalized maps. you just mark what you want to see and do and they send them to you in the mail!!!

 

[magickingdom]

Hope i'm not to late to join in!! Your girls are adorable!

Of course it's not too late (my trip isn't even until the end of Dec!!)

 

[magickingdom]

Ok so here are some more outfits I have bought the girls for our trip...

Meika's animal kingdom outfit
(I also found a pink zebra shirt online at target for me, I am thinking about getting it?!) I also put the bag in this pic so you can see how I am storing the outfits and labeling them.

Meika's MK outfit for the 30th

The girl's dresses for New Year's Eve night/Ohana's

Bella's outfit for HS

Bella's outfit for AK

The girl's dresses for Epcot

All the outfits have leggings to go under them for when its colder, and Bella already has her zip up hoodie. I am just looking for one for Meika now. I did find one on sale for 9.99 on the disney website, but I am still thinking about it. I need to still finish up Meika's Chef Mickey's/New Year's Eve morn outfit, and find some kind of princess outfit for her for MK on the 2nd. Otherwise i think I am pretty good on the girls clothes, just need to work on my wardrobe...now how to lose some weight b4 I go (I have the hardest time sticking to a diet or exercise plan)!! I guess we'll see what happens. Meika is screaming at me so I have to go now. Next time...road trip activity ideas for little ones!!

Kammie

 

[Nermel9]

Those outfits are so cute!!! I love the matching dresses for Epcot!

Good luck with the weight loss, I know what you mean about having a hard time sticking to a diet, I'm terrible at it! I don't even think I want to weigh myself this Saturday because I've barely exercised all week, it's been SO hot here, I just don't have the motivation.

 

[magickingdom]

Those outfits are so cute!!! I love the matching dresses for Epcot!

Good luck with the weight loss, I know what you mean about having a hard time sticking to a diet, I'm terrible at it! I don't even think I want to weigh myself this Saturday because I've barely exercised all week, it's been SO hot here, I just don't have the motivation.

1st Husker Game this weekend and Labor Day will not be helping the diet!