Early Jan 2011, first trip to the World!!

[DIS_Indoctrination]

I love your trip plan so far. And you're totally right about not getting park hoppers to save money - that's what my family's doing for the first time ever this year. Sometimes its nicer to just focus on one park a day, it takes away some of the rushing around.

That's so funny about your daughter not watching tv - I'm pretty sure I was raised on Disney movies (hence the obssesion). When I was a kid I'd watch Jungle Book every single day. You might want to try Tarzan, Mulan, and Hercules - we loved those growing up.

Tarzan, Mulan & Hercules - great suggestions!!

Glad to know we aren't alone on the park hopper stuff. I think multiple parks a day would be overwhelming for first timers like us. Plus as first timers there will be a ton to experience, so we won't be getting bored.

 

[DIS_Indoctrination]

New reader, love your daily plan. Looking forward to reading more.

Thanks for the encouragement hollybearsmom. I'll try to keep it interesting.

 

[20thingamabobs]

Just found and read the beginnings of your PTR. Your plans sound great! You'll actually be leaving the day I arrive We're coming in for a long weekend the 7-9th to run the 1/2 marathon.

So far your plans sound great! With the agge of your daughter, I think heading straight for Fantasyland is a good idea! That way you can get through a lot of the attractions before the lines get a little bigger. I did some research and the only ride closures I can find for your whole trip is Star Tours at Hollywood Studios. Also, I know I read that Mickey, the Princesses (mainly Cinderella, Aurora, and Belle), and the Fairies will all be doing character meet & greets in the Town Square Exposition Hall at magic kingdom. I would double check this though because I can't figure out how they're gonna fit all those characters in that one building. Also, Ariel is meeting on the veranda in Adventureland, Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen are in Liberty Square and Pooh & Tigger are moving to the little area by City hall.

I also looked over the different attractions in the parks and I suggest also checking out The Princess and the Frog, Monsters Inc., and anything with the muppets, oh and Phocahontas. Those plus the ones you have on your list should cover most of the attractions/shows/characters you may come across.

Oh and I think your idea with the glow beads is awesome! It gives her something to be look forward to and adds a little extra light so it doesn't seem so dark! Good thinking!!

 

[lexmas]

subbing, I'll be back to read later!

 

[DIS_Indoctrination]

The boss is out of the hospital. He's at home watching Judge shows & plans to be in on Monday. Whew, that he's better & Yay, I can ask for my days off next week.

We have a busy weekend planned including festivals & birthday parties, but I'm so inspired by lexmas I'm going to try to make DD a t-shirt dress this weekend. I already picked up the fabric. Hopefully it won't end up in the spare bedroom closet next to the unbound quilt, the incomplete alfgahn & the unhemmed curtains.

Also inspired by lexmas, I've picked out some non-face shots of the family & will share them soon, but I've got figure out how first.

 

[DIS_Indoctrination]

Just found and read the beginnings of your PTR. Your plans sound great! You'll actually be leaving the day I arrive We're coming in for a long weekend the 7-9th to run the 1/2 marathon.

So far your plans sound great! With the agge of your daughter, I think heading straight for Fantasyland is a good idea! That way you can get through a lot of the attractions before the lines get a little bigger. I did some research and the only ride closures I can find for your whole trip is Star Tours at Hollywood Studios. Also, I know I read that Mickey, the Princesses (mainly Cinderella, Aurora, and Belle), and the Fairies will all be doing character meet & greets in the Town Square Exposition Hall at magic kingdom. I would double check this though because I can't figure out how they're gonna fit all those characters in that one building. Also, Ariel is meeting on the veranda in Adventureland, Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen are in Liberty Square and Pooh & Tigger are moving to the little area by City hall.

I also looked over the different attractions in the parks and I suggest also checking out The Princess and the Frog, Monsters Inc., and anything with the muppets, oh and Phocahontas. Those plus the ones you have on your list should cover most of the attractions/shows/characters you may come across.

Oh and I think your idea with the glow beads is awesome! It gives her something to be look forward to and adds a little extra light so it doesn't seem so dark! Good thinking!!

I saw the marathon & decided we needed to boogie out of there before those nutty marathon runners arrive. Are you running or watching? Either way you have my sincere admiration.

Great suggestions on the movies! Now that you mention it, we did do Monsters Inc. & the Princess & the Frog. I didn't realize the Muppets were Disney, but now I see they have their own attraction! Pocahontas is a great suggestion too.

Thanks for the encouragement!

 

[lexmas]

Great start so far! I'm all caught up!

Sounds like you've been doing great at the indoctrination! We don't have cable either, and DS only watches TV with DH (DS gets up really early, so in order to be able to sleep in a bit (and by sleep in, I mean until about 7 am) I compromise my TV morals...so DS watches TV while DH is "watching" him in the morning.) What he watches, I have no idea. Some disney stuff, some PBS...who knows. I think he would watch anything. I think mostly he watches Canadian PBS because he tends to tell me he's from, "Kids Canada". He seems to have his disney characters down, but I suspect that's more from the loads of disney books we have. We have those big storybook collection books...tons of them. So he spends a lot of time "reading" them to himself, and then, of course, lots of time having us read to him. DS was born to be a TV watcher though, he's always been happy watching it. DD was not, and couldn't care less about TV. Which is better for her, I'm sure, but it's strange how some kids love it and some don't care! I wish she would like it a little, because it would be nice to have her watch TV on the plane ride down to Flordia! She doesn't care for books either though...she has a very short attention span for anything other than climbing!

Okay, I can tell that it's getting late because I am rambling like crazy! Sorry about that! I can't wait to see your faceless family!

 

[20thingamabobs]

I saw the marathon & decided we needed to boogie out of there before those nutty marathon runners arrive. Are you running or watching? Either way you have my sincere admiration.

Great suggestions on the movies! Now that you mention it, we did do Monsters Inc. & the Princess & the Frog. I didn't realize the Muppets were Disney, but now I see they have their own attraction! Pocahontas is a great suggestion too.

Thanks for the encouragement!

I can't wait to see pics of how your shirt dress turns out!

We're actually running the half marathon... We've been training for a while now but I still ask myself every time I run whether or not I thought this through all the way lol. But, I'm looking forward to it and think it'll be a good accomplishment after.

 

[DIS_Indoctrination]

Ok, so I've been granted my time off!

We're going to do one more pass over the budget stuff tonight & hopefully get this trip booked this week. I'm a little skittish because a ton of our savings is going to be eaten up with DH college tuition in January. Compared to tuition the trip money is a drop in the bucket, but I still get that nagging voice in the back of my head that says what if something big comes up & the trip money could have helped.

Oh well, I should get a bonus in March to beef it back up again. We don't use credit cards & the only payment plan we enter into is a mortgage, so the savings is super important to my mental health.

Also, I'm going to use the vacation time option on DD daycare expenses to avoid paying for 2 weeks of daycare where she won't be present (Disney vacation time & Christmas holiday time). The savings should pay for 20% of the trip. It's sad that two weeks of daycare expense actually total such a big chunk of a Disney vacation budget.

Hopefully, the next post will have the pictures. I've almost got it figured out.

 

[DIS_Indoctrination]

This is my DD playing at the local children's museum about a month ago. We have an annual pass, which makes the lack of vacations through her life a little easier for us. Can you say staycation?

DD playing at the petting zoo are of the local zoo (about 2 months ago?). Again - annual pass, staycationation.

This weekend we went to a local festival. DD got her first character encounter. Sad that it wasn't Disney related, but happy that she was super interested & loved the character. I think it's the target dog, but I'm not sure.

After the festival we had a cowboy themed birthday party to go to. The denim jumper was the closest thing to a cowgirl outfit I could find on a short notice. The pink hat was a party favor.

On Sunday we went shopping for Halloween costume accessories, and made trips to the library, the park, a local consignment store and the grocery store. I saw the perfect stroller (Combi Strollee) for our Disney vaction at the consignment store. It was priced higher than a new stroller (thank you smart phone), so we didn't buy it, but I think I'll be ordering one online soon.

I did almost finish the t-shirt dress (inspired by lexmas) Sunday night. I just have to finish the appliqué portion. I'll try to get a picture of the dress up tomorrow.

 

[DIS_Indoctrination]

I can't wait to see pics of how your shirt dress turns out!

We're actually running the half marathon... We've been training for a while now but I still ask myself every time I run whether or not I thought this through all the way lol. But, I'm looking forward to it and think it'll be a good accomplishment after.

Someday, I hope to work the courage up to start thinking about training for a half marathon, or maybe just a 5K. I do so much desk surfing during the week, it's hard to imagine getting in shape to RUN 10 feet let alone more than 13 miles. You are so brave!!

 

[DIS_Indoctrination]

Great start so far! I'm all caught up!

Sounds like you've been doing great at the indoctrination! We don't have cable either, and DS only watches TV with DH (DS gets up really early, so in order to be able to sleep in a bit (and by sleep in, I mean until about 7 am) I compromise my TV morals...so DS watches TV while DH is "watching" him in the morning.) What he watches, I have no idea. Some disney stuff, some PBS...who knows. I think he would watch anything. I think mostly he watches Canadian PBS because he tends to tell me he's from, "Kids Canada". He seems to have his disney characters down, but I suspect that's more from the loads of disney books we have. We have those big storybook collection books...tons of them. So he spends a lot of time "reading" them to himself, and then, of course, lots of time having us read to him. DS was born to be a TV watcher though, he's always been happy watching it. DD was not, and couldn't care less about TV. Which is better for her, I'm sure, but it's strange how some kids love it and some don't care! I wish she would like it a little, because it would be nice to have her watch TV on the plane ride down to Flordia! She doesn't care for books either though...she has a very short attention span for anything other than climbing!

Okay, I can tell that it's getting late because I am rambling like crazy! Sorry about that! I can't wait to see your faceless family!

I love finding like minded parents! Every time, I get to say no to the TV, I try to remember how lucky I am to have the resources to say no. I've got friends where it's by far the lesser of two evils. My brother reminds me that TV isn't all evil (gives us topics for conversation & can help people relate) and I think the Disney trip is helping me to see that too.

 

[DIS_Indoctrination]

Accidentally un-subscribed, so just re-subscribing.

 

[DIS_Indoctrination]

I checked the Unofficial Disney World Guide out from the libary a few months ago (it was a 2007 edition) and I loved the book. I'm going to buy the new edition, but I'm also thinking of subscribing to the Touring Plans website (run by the same group who wrote the book for $10.95.

I see some people on here using tour guide mike. A subscription for that is $21.95.

So my questions, is tour guide mike better than touring plans? Do either one work? Anyone out there who's used both?

 

[jerseygirl16]

Congrats on getting the time off!!!

By the way your DD is adorable.

I haven't used touring plans or tour guide mike (been there too many times on my own) so hopefully someone else here knows.

 

[DIS_Indoctrination]

Inspired by lexmas, I've made DD a Disney t-shirt dress. One of my challenges was finding a fabric DD would like. I settled on buzz lightyear because the princess prints didn't have Ariel or Snow White, the tinkerbell prints wouldn't go well with the white t-shirt I had laying around & the pooh print was boyish - so why not just do Buzz her favorite character?

On the fabric, there were few buzzes in relation to the background so I pleated the skirt to make buzz appear more frequently.

Ready to see a pic?









In this pic you can see some of the extra buzzes peaking out from the pleates.


DH insisted that the buzz on the t-shirt be heart shaped to make it more feminine. He was right. The only problem I have now is I just made a short sleeve, short skirt summer dress for a winter trip. I guess she'll wear some thick tights & a coat.

 

[lexmas]

I have not used any of the tour guides, but I have heard good things! I'm sure someone will be able to help you!

I LOVE the dress! How adorable! You did an AMAZING job! Much better than I can do! SO so so cute! I love that it's Buzz too! My DH would have insisted on something to "girly" it up, so the heart is a nice touch. Funny that your DH insisted though, as if the fact that it's a dress isn't girly enough! Actually, my DH would have probably insisted on something pink, favorite character or not. He's like that. All week long when she's with me all day, DD wears DS's handmedowns, but when DH dresses her on the weekends, she's all pink all the time! That's what happens when you have a little boy with long hair and a little girl with short hair and everyone always gets them confused, I guess. It gets to him, somehow. Doesn't bother me in the slightest. Because really, it's all the hair, and they're going to think that my kid in the "big brother" t-shirt, the blue camo pants and the spiderman shoes is just a manly looking little girl, while that kid in the purple dress and the pink tights with hearts on them is a boy, no matter what, so I might as well just dress them how I want!

That is a rambly way to say I really love the dress. Sorry! I swear, I need to start sleeping late at night instead of getting caught up on my DIS!

As for the wrong seasons...well...it's Florida so it won't be THAT cold. Plus, I'm sure you can find some thick tights or leggings and a sweater! You'll sort it out!

 

[DIS_Indoctrination]

DH actually asked me to sew on belt loops & make a ribbon belt with a big bow! Yeah, that wasn't going to happen. Making the heart was the compromise.

I just found your directions for the pillow case dress & the t-shirt dress. I've skipped around on your pre-trip report so much, I guess I've missed a bunch of stuff. I wanted to make DD a pillowcase dress all summer, but couldn't find directions & I have to have directions. Now it's cooled off so much, I think I'll wait until spring & hope the pillow case dress works on a very big 4 year old.

When DD sees a little boy with longish hair, she asks, "is HE a boy or a girl?" She's doing it to be ornery. She knows it's a boy, hence the HE. When we say "boy" she says, "no, he's a girl." She almost made a little boy cry last weekend, almost made me cry being so mean.

JJ's hair is so handsome. He'll be driving the girls wild with those curls one of these days.

 

[20thingamabobs]

That dress is so cute! I love that you went with Buzz since it's her favorite character. You should definitely do a meet & greet with Buzz the day she wears it, I bet he would make a big deal out of seeing himself on a dress for once!

 

[dmmcdoug]

We're going to WDW the same dates as you (actually Jan2-8)
I'm using Tour Guide Mike. There's a link on one of the disboards forums (I forget which one) with a link for $3 off. His website is sort of confusing at first, but once you get through it all it's very helpful. On the other hand, I've also used the Unofficial Guide 2008, but not the touring plans website.

We'll be staying at the BWVs and have some of the same ADRs as you (but different days). Have fun!