Dear Santa, I'd like a double-deluxe Disney Xmas!! Dec'12 PTR! Upd 1/20 TR & DR links

[debrapagliasotti]

I'm hoping that we can do 2 days at Epcot myself! There is just so much to see and do here!

I think the issue with San Angel, is that people are used to Tex-Mex, and the food at San Angel is more Mex-Mex. I haven't been there before, but I have been to Mexico on a mission trip. The food we ate was unlike ANYTHING we get at mexican places around here!

I was really back and forth on San Angel, but looking at the menu, seemed like there were a few things the kids would eat (unlike some of the other WS places). We are trying Via Napoli in Oct, then still have another day in Epcot on this trip, so I am trying to do different places.

Hopefully the kids like Mex-Mex

 

[RooRach0906]

Joining in, we are also headed to WDW in Dec, early Dec, it will be our first trip during the holidays and we are super excited!!! Currently we are staying at SSR but are hoping to change to BLT or BWV.

 

[taaren]

Day 2 - Dec 19
Today is our 1st Epcot day. We originally planned 1 day in this park, but when we extended the trip, we added 1 more day here.

This morning we will just grab something to eat in the club level lounge bright and early and then walk over to Epcot.

Okay, quick question. Do you take into account MM (Magic Mornings ... I think WDW calls it something different) or EMH? Or do you just plan on all the days being super busy the week before Christmas, or does it not matter? Or will you adjust the plans if there is or isn't MM or EMH at the park you want to go to on the days you currently have planned?
You seem to be so sure of what you're going to do and I'm just trying to figure out my ADR's and hoping that I can work the right parks into the right days around those ADR's that I want ... (ie. one party member wants Chefs for their b-day lunch, so we're tentatively planning on Epcot that day and MK for the day we want to go to Whispering Canyons for another b-day lunch). But the park information for December won't be out til May?
Is there a better way to plan? It sounds like the MVMCP is the only thing you're waiting to plan around ...

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Okay, quick question. Do you take into account MM (Magic Mornings ... I think WDW calls it something different) or EMH? Or do you just plan on all the days being super busy the week before Christmas, or does it not matter? Or will you adjust the plans if there is or isn't MM or EMH at the park you want to go to on the days you currently have planned?
You seem to be so sure of what you're going to do and I'm just trying to figure out my ADR's and hoping that I can work the right parks into the right days around those ADR's that I want ... (ie. one party member wants Chefs for their b-day lunch, so we're tentatively planning on Epcot that day and MK for the day we want to go to Whispering Canyons for another b-day lunch). But the park information for December won't be out til May?
Is there a better way to plan? It sounds like the MVMCP is the only thing you're waiting to plan around ...

We dont really plan our park days around EMH or EEMH (am or pm extra magic hours). We dont really utilize them much, if we are there, great, if not, no big deal. If there is EMH before our ADR, then we will go and catch a ride or 2 before our ADR. I tend to go with what Touring Plans recommends as "Best Park". Of course, during the few days leading up to Christmas and on through NY all the parks are listed as 10/10.

We have 2 days at MK, 2 days at Epcot, 2 days at AK and 1 day at HS, so hopefully I can make the ADRs work around the days we have planned at the parks. We are also planning on Whispering Canyon for dinner on a MK day, as well as Ohana on another MK day. Hopefully it will all work out. I know some of this stuff my change a bit come mid June when my ADR date comes along, but hopefully not by much.

Like I said, I use Touring Plans, others like Easywdw.

Hopefully I helped out some

 

[newtexan]

Sounds like a good day with a projected level of 5. Should be able to do all those without trouble and maybe repeat Soarin if you are extra lucky.

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Joining in, we are also headed to WDW in Dec, early Dec, it will be our first trip during the holidays and we are super excited!!! Currently we are staying at SSR but are hoping to change to BLT or BWV.

Welcome!! The holidays just seem so magical at WDW looking at all the pics!!

Sounds like a good day with a projected level of 5. Should be able to do all those without trouble and maybe repeat Soarin if you are extra lucky.

I was super excited to see that Touring Plans had it listed as a 5! The next day we are going to HS and the projection is pretty low there too...I think a 5 again ...but then those numbers start to quickly jump to 10 in the next day or so

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Feb dinner & Disney movie nights​

This month we had 3 dinner & Disney movie nights and 1 mini movie night.

Feb 3 - Mary Poppins - I made a healthy version of fish and chips. Instead of frying the fish, I used a cornflake mixture and baked the fish. I served this with sweet potato fries instead of the traditional chips. The fish was really good! Everyone gobbled it up, even my 2 year old, Evan, who is super picky!! For dessert we had (pardon my awful attempt to spell this without looking it up )...Supercalifragilisticexpealadocious cake. This is a cake I have made before, but just changed the name to make it more appropriate for the movie. Hunter & Harper had never seen Mary Poppins. They enjoyed it.

Feb 10 - Lady & the Tramp - Spaghetti & meatballs, ciabatta garlic bread, Italian ricotta cheesecake. First and LAST time making that dessert...not very good. The kids liked it, but DH & I, not so much. Jaxon & Evan had never seen the movie, and they seemed to enjoy it.

Feb 11 - Mickey & Minnie Sweetheart Stories - this was our mini-movie night. I wanted to do this one too since it went with Valentines day. I made red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.

Feb 17 - Princess & the Frog - I made Gumbo, sweet cornbread. We ordered a King's Cake from a bakery in Lousiana and had it delivered. Normally we would have had this exact meal on Fat Tuesday, but I chose this movie because of the New Orleans theme and thought it would be perfect for Mardi Gras weekend.

We have 3 movies planned for March!! I will share those details at the end of March or beginning of April. There is one planned for this month that I am SUPER excited about (not necessarily b/c of the movie, but b/c of the food and theming I am doing)...hint, think...Hawaii

 

[debrapagliasotti]

In honor of Perry the Platypus, I would like to wish everyone...

HAPPY PLATYPUS DAY!!

Hunter & Harper loves the show Phineas and Ferb and love Perry! Today on Disney channel they are celebrating Platypus day, so I figured now was as good of time as any to show you guys a couple t-shirts I purchased recently for Hunter & Harper for our Dec trip. They dont know I have purchased them, and they are tucked away in a container until packing time.

Hunters t-shirt

Harper's t-shirt (she will probably wear hers on our HS day)

 

[newtexan]

The tshirts are cute.
The movie nights are such a good idea!

 

[francis6306]

KING CAKE!!! What bakery do you order from? I used to live in Hattiesburg, MS and we LOVED Paul's in Picayune! I miss King Cake!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

The tshirts are cute.
The movie nights are such a good idea!

Thank you

KING CAKE!!! What bakery do you order from? I used to live in Hattiesburg, MS and we LOVED Paul's in Picayune! I miss King Cake!

We order from Gambino's

 

[debrapagliasotti]

So, if you've been reading from the beginning, you know DH & I made a New Year's resolution to try and get a little healthier and work out more.

We have been doing Wii Fit Plus workout for the last couple months, and decided to start Insanity again this past Sunday. If you are unfamiliar with this workout, it is crazy hard. Its made for elite athletes...which I am far from!! Its a 9 week program, working out 6 days a week...all cardio type stuff to make you faster, stronger, etc. Anyways, DH and I tried to do this workout last year and got 6 weeks into the program and both got injured, me with a shoulder injury, DH with a bicep injury. We never got back into the program when we were healthy again.

Now, fast forward to this past weekend. We decided to start it up again...back at day 1. We felt awesome when we were doing this program, and decided to give it a go again. Since its crazy hard, we have a reward incentive in place for WHEN we make it through the end in 9 weeks (which should be early May). If...WHEN...we make it, we will reward ourselves with a trip to Las Vegas for the weekend, just the 2 of us.

I figure if I put this out here, I will be more accountable.

So, tonight is day 4...

A little incentive for me to do this workout in a few minutes, a pic from our last trip to Vegas this past June. This pic was from our hotel room at Bellagio.

Ahhh...how I love Vegas!!

I'll post a WDW update probably Monday detailing day 3...

 

[pinkxray]

I am trying to get caught up on the Dis. I am only a month and a half behind on your PTR

Whoo-hoo for adding two more Disney

Your Disney nights sound great. I think I tried one last year but DH never wants to sit through a Disney movie I'll have to give it another shot. Maybe if I do them once a month, instead of once a week like I first tried to do.

Good luck with Insanity. I have heard that is it very hard. If you can make it all the way through you deserve a nice trip to Vegas.

 

[debrapagliasotti]

I am trying to get caught up on the Dis. I am only a month and a half behind on your PTR

Whoo-hoo for adding two more Disney

Your Disney nights sound great. I think I tried one last year but DH never wants to sit through a Disney movie I'll have to give it another shot. Maybe if I do them once a month, instead of once a week like I first tried to do.

Good luck with Insanity. I have heard that is it very hard. If you can make it all the way through you deserve a nice trip to Vegas.

We are super excited about the 2 extra days!! Gives us a couple days at lower crowds

I was so suprised that DH was on board with the movie nights. I figured he would only be up for 1 a month, but he looks forward to them just as much as the kids do

As far as Insanity, we are doing the last workout of week 1 tonight. Tomorrow is our rest day and then we start week 2 on Sunday.

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Sorry I have been MIA to this PTR for the last month or so, but things have been super hectic this month!! DH & I have been working out really hard. We are almost finished with our 4th week of Insanity. Its a 9 week program and when we did it last time, we both got injured about 6 weeks in and never got back with it. This time around we are being very vigilant and following the schedule to a "T". When we finish the program we are rewarding ourselves with a trip to Las Vegas sometime in May or June (depending on when we can get our hotel, decent airfare and of course a family member to come stay with the kids for the weekend).

This month we also had Harper's birthday. She turned 9!!

The kids (and DH) had Spring Break this month. We didnt do anything special, but it was fun spending time with the kids.

We have had 3 movie nights this month. I will post pics of those in the next day or so...PROMISE!! I have the pics uploading to the camera as I type this! I will also post a trip related update in the next day or so. My goal is 2 updates tomorrow...but it could be Monday.

Between soccer and dance we are staying very busy with Hunter and Harper. Our typical week consists of soccer Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat and dance on Tues, Wed. Dance schedule is only going to get more hectic during April as its the final month before Spring recital.

DH and I have been doing a lot of talking recently about our living situation. Our house is too small for the 6 of us, but finding a 5 or 6 bedroom home in our town is impossible! The closest city to where homes that size are available are a good hour drive from us...and thats not going to work with DH job. So...we have decided to get these WDW trips done with in Oct and Dec, and then focus all of our time, energy and money into building a house. I am super excited about this, however...it means probably a few years before we can get back to WDW or even DL, and that makes me sad. I know it will all be worth it in the end, but boy oh boy will that be a long wait!

201 days until Oct trip...21 days until I can make ADRs for Oct trip...263 days until Dec trip

 

[newtexan]

what an update!
good for you and your exercise - Las Vegas what an incentive!

building a house - oh my goodness

21 days to adr's! have you changed your list?

 

[francis6306]

AWE! Vegas sounds like a great reward!! Where would you like to stay?

 

[debrapagliasotti]

what an update!
good for you and your exercise - Las Vegas what an incentive!

building a house - oh my goodness

21 days to adr's! have you changed your list?

Las Vegas is a huge incentive for us to stick with it every night. Week 6 starts "max" and all the workouts are about 55 min of intense cardio.

We've been talking about building a house for the last year or so, but never really gave it much thought. Over the last few months we have began discussing it more and over Spring Break decided thats definately the route we want to go. DH has already started coming up with floorplan ideas and has been talking to his brother who is an architecht to find out what we need to do when we are ready to get the ball rolling after the first of the year.

There arent many Oct ADRs to make since its such a short trip, but the plan is...

Oct 17 - dinner at Ohanas (backup would be WCC)
Oct 18 - early bkfst at Kona
Oct 19 - dinner at Via Napoli
Oct 20 - bkst at Chef Mickey

AWE! Vegas sounds like a great reward!! Where would you like to stay?

Bellagio is our favorite hotel. We stayed there last year for our 10 yr Anniversary and really fell in love with it. Other choices would be Venetian or Paris. We will see whats available when we book...which we wont do until we finish Insanity. Last year we were able to book Bellagio with just a couple weeks notice without a problem, so hopefully it will work out that way again for us.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Yay for sticking to a plan on the Wii Fit. We bought it too a couple years ago but we lost interest in it & we REALLY need to do something. Never thought about setting a couples getaway as an incentive. We've never been to Vegas....but I'd love to go & see some shows one of these years!!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Yay for sticking to a plan on the Wii Fit. We bought it too a couple years ago but we lost interest in it & we REALLY need to do something. Never thought about setting a couples getaway as an incentive. We've never been to Vegas....but I'd love to go & see some shows one of these years!!

The program we started out with was Wii Fit and Biggest Loser for Wii. The program we are doing now (Insanity) is a set of DVDs which I really enjoy much more than the Wii programs. We also do Wii Just Dance with the kids. That game really gets you sweating!!

We love Vegas. We have been a few times. We always see a few shows while we are there. We have seen 3 of the Cirque shows. Not sure what we would see this time around...probably another Cirque show or perhaps Blue Man Group. Not sure, but we would like to see all the Cirque shows in Vegas.