Feeling Very Royal!! A November 2012 PTR

[disney_dreamingmom]

So, I’m finally diving in to the world of posting my very own trip planning adventures. I hope I can do justice to the genre of trip-reporting  and live up to the awesomeness that I’ve enjoyed in so many of your posts! Please forgive any newbie mistakes… I hope I can make up for my inexperience with lots of enthusiasm for all things Disney! So, first things first I guess!

What: Our 3rd Trek to the Happiest Place on Earth
Where: Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside
When: November 10-17th, 2012
Who: Yours Truly, My Hubby, & our 2 kiddos

Cast of Characters:
Me, Lesley: 35 years old, Stay at Home Mom to 7 year old DD and almost 2 year old DS. I was a Registered Nurse in our local university hospital for 15 years but transitioned from part time nurse to be a full time stay at home mama last spring and have never looked back!! I love reading, scrapbooking, trip planning (of course) and just hanging out with my family.
Favorite Disney Movie: Mary Poppins, Tangled, Pocahontas
Most Beloved Disney Memory: Watching Wishes for the First Time with tears in my eyes and looking over and seeing tears in my husband’s eyes too!
Disney Character I’d Most Like to Be: I’m so NOT Practically Perfect in Every Way… so it’s nice to have goals!
Favorite Attraction: Kilimanjaro Safari, Soarin, and The Tea Cups for the sheer giggle factor

My Hubby, Kirk: My high school sweetheart. We’ve been married for 12 years but together for 20. He’s a Director in our County’s Planning Department and is a wonderful provider for us. However, I like to remind him that being a professional municipal planner does not mean he gets to be the family’s appointed trip planner!  HE LOVES ALL THINGS DISNEY and is truly our trip cheerleader, keeping us focused on the fun and revved up for our trip months in advance. He likes to be practical but is truly a softie when it comes to his kids and our family trips to the world.
Favorite Disney Movie: he’ll go for the classics every time: Snow White
Heaven on Earth: Main Street, USA
Favorite Character(S): Chip and/or Dale
Favorite Attractions: POC, Space Mountain and KS

Our Sweet Girl, Lindy: She’s 7 years old and in first grade now, 2nd for the trip. This will be her 3rd trip. I like to call her my tiny girlfriend because she possesses all the qualities I love to hang out with. She’s sweet natured, hysterically funny, understanding, and loves to snuggle! She’s truly one of those kids that you could take anywhere and she’d adapt, have a great time and give you no problems. She is pure JOY for her daddy and myself. Did I mention she is the most patient, nurturing big sister as well? She loves to entertain and help us with her little brother and she loves being the apple of his eye! He calls her “La La” She loves softball, basketball, scrapbooking with her mama, and dancing around the house!
Favorite Disney Movies: Mary Poppins, Tangled, Cars
Favorite Character: Rapunzel
Fave Ride: IT’S A SMALL WORLD!!

Our Little Man, Tate: He’s turning 2 this April. He does everything to the max… plays hard, sleeps hard, snuggles hard, and yes, challenges his mommy daily with his boisterous energy and shall we say he’s…. persistent!?  But he is so much fun, and cracks us up constantly. He loves TRAINS and TRACTORS and toting his little custom made golf club from daddy around the house 
Favorite Character: the Mouse Himself
Favorite thing about Disney: WDW railroad: How do I know this? Every time we talk about Disney World, he runs around pulling his pretend steam whistle, shouting “ Wooooo Woooo!” (We show him Youtube videos all the time to feed the addiction early!)

So there you have us..

Tell me 10 years ago that I would have become a true Disney-freak and I probably wouldn’t have believed you. I never had any great desire to go to Disney until we had our first child… I wouldn’t have opposed a vacation there, but never understood why it was such a phenomenon with some people… until I discovered it for myself. This little desire to go to Disney started stirring in me as soon as we had our DD. We started ordering the trip planning DVD’s, researching, and reading but we always hesitated because WHAT if it didn’t live up to our expectations and we spent all that money? So, for the first few years, I’d get the itch but just let my pragmatism take over and never booked. Then came the Buy 4 Get 3 Free Promotion when our daughter was 4 in 2009… and we could no longer resist… We booked in March and travelled in May for our first trip! We planned night and day like crazy people and we were only on property for minutes before we were completely smitten. We were planning our next trip before we even exited the MK the first day! That first trip was slightly commando-ish since our daughter was a trooper and wanted to do it all! We stayed at Pop and did the whole sha-bang, dining plan, etc.
After we had our son, that itch came back again…. There I was with a newborn, no sleep, my daughter was starting school, and I couldn’t stop thinking about that next trip! There was no way I was flying with a baby (too much stuff to drag along) That trip was also in November but the week before T-giving. T was 7 months old and we packed up and made the trip? What has Disney done to us? My husband and I used to be such practical, sensible people… now we were driving 17 hours with two kids and taking an infant to WDW? And you know what?! IT WAS AWESOME! We had a blast … our kids were amazing on the drive and we just adjusted the tempo of the trip to be more laid back for naps, etc. We met some friends from church there for a few days. They’re DVC members so we rented points at Kidani Village…. Now my husband is a total deluxe resort snob… too bad we don’t have a deluxe resort bank account! 
So, now here I am… in love with WDW and completely obsessed with planning our 3rd trip, this November! Woohoo! Up next, down to the nitty gritty planning!

Thanks for indulging me… can’t wait to plan this trip, step by step!

 

[disney_dreamingmom]

Alright, so let’s get this planning PAR-TAY started! So, it has been our goal to plan a trip for sometime this late fall or into next winter. But it was just an idea floating around happily in our home and manifested itself in the form of frequent viewing of the Disney Planning DVD… goofy, I know. But it keeps those fires of enthusiasm burning… Lord only knows how many times we’ve watched that thing!

Anyway, last week I was shuffling and shredding my way through a big old pile of junk mail… I came across what I thought was just another mailer from Disney Visa but when I threw it on the shred pile, I noticed a tiny but very exciting word… PIN!
WAIT! STOP THE PRESSES… A discount pin for lodging during the month of November! WooHoo! Let’s check it out! I called my husband right away and informed him we had to get the kids to bed early tonight so we could make some magic…. I MEAN DISNEY MAGIC!! There was a trip plan in process!
-Lesley

That night, we cozied in on the couch and called up the Reservations Center… Is it just me or is it more fun to make your plans over the phone with a CM than just booking online? I love the little bit of magic that they offer…

We were running through a few different lodging scenarios when our dear CM, Joshua, made a FABULOUS suggestion!
CM: “Since you have a 7 year old daughter, maybe she would enjoy one of the new Royal Rooms at Riverside…. I have a few of those available! “

Holy cow! They were under the discount code too?! We took one look at those new royal rooms and knew that was the PERFECT room for our little princess (and prince too  )
So, we booked right then and there… The rack rate for that room was $214 and we saved over $100 per night! We booked 7 nights, with 7 days of Magic Your Way Base Tickets at Port Orleans Riverside…

Yay! The trip planning was underway… Up Next… Sharing the royal news with our little princess and DDP decisions, decisions!!
Hope you can join me!!

 

[jpmom97]

Love your story so far!! Can't wait to read more! We stayed at POR in 04. It was just a regular room but we really liked it. The whole place is so pretty and peaceful. We are going a few months after you, looking forward to hearing your plans!

I think I am first?

 

[disney_dreamingmom]

Love your story so far!! Can't wait to read more! We stayed at POR in 04. It was just a regular room but we really liked it. The whole place is so pretty and peaceful. We are going a few months after you, looking forward to hearing your plans!

I think I am first?

Yay! Thank you for being my first follower EVER! I'll have to check out your plans for your next trip too! Thanks for joining me in the fun....

 

[ChipNDad]

Disney Dreaming Mom,
Can't wait to follow your report!! Ironically my family and I will be in the World around the same time as you! Maybe we can arrange a little meet and greet!! You have a beautiful family...you should definitely be proud.

 

[disney_dreamingmom]

Disney Dreaming Mom,
Can't wait to follow your report!! Ironically my family and I will be in the World around the same time as you! Maybe we can arrange a little meet and greet!! You have a beautiful family...you should definitely be proud.

Thank you, ChipNDad! Okay, remember how I told you that my husband was also a Disney Nut and his fave characters were Chip N Dale? So, I should feel very lucky that I'm being sweet-talked by my own husband in my PTR?! Anyway, up next, on with the plans...

 

[disney_dreamingmom]

When we left off, we had finally decided on a Royal Room at Riverside (say that three times fast!) I had heard they were in development but had not seen any pics and didn’t know when they would be available. But with a little research, we fell in love with the theming. First of all, check out those fiber-optic fireworks headboards! And they are supposed to include various items from princesses that have been invited to Riverside by Tianna herself. The first royal rooms are due to open in a week, so I’m excited for some Dis-ers to post some pictures of all the details. I just think it will keep the magic flowing, even when we’re just hanging out at the room.

DD caught wind of the fact that we may be planning another Disney trip but the morning after we booked, we left our little Princess in on the secret… We were headed back to Disney but even better…. She was going to be living like a Princess! Her face lit up and she gave us huge hugs….”Thank you Mommy! Thank you Daddy!!” E-LATED! I should have had the camera… she is so excited. She fancies herself pretty grown up now that she’s a wise old 1st grader but princesses still make her giddy! Yay… my first taste of this trip’s magic… watching her reaction.



But also on a practical note, I think a moderate room will be a great fit for us. I’m thinking that my 2 year old will still be in a pack and play when November rolls around. The thought of him in a big boy bed already causes me to have palpitations BUT IF he gets out of his crib between now and then, our plans will change! Anyway, I am hoping that we can slide the pack and play in the vanity area and use the curtains to separate him when he needs to go to bed early or take a nap, etc. I realize it’s not sound proof or anything but I think just not being able to see his big sister and start giggling may be a help!

Speaking of a little boy who may crawl out of his crib, has anyone out there used the bed rails provided by Disney? What are they like?

 

[teekathepony]

Hello! I'm joining in too!
Those Royal Rooms look so awesome, I love how Disney is doing these special rooms in certain resorts now.
Looks like a great trip so far, can't wait to read along with the plans!

 

[disney_dreamingmom]

Hello! I'm joining in too!
Those Royal Rooms look so awesome, I love how Disney is doing these special rooms in certain resorts now.
Looks like a great trip so far, can't wait to read along with the plans!

Thanks for joining in! Hopefully we can get so more inside info on those royal rooms as soon as they open...

 

[FourFireworksFans]

Hi! I have used the bed rails at Swan/Dolphin & they were great....They are for both sides of the bed and Very secure.

Side note....We are booked for POR (Royal Room) for Nov 10-15!!! I am SO EXCITED!!!