*~* First Trip: 59 Years In The Making *~* 11/25 - PTR is now closed!

[DsnyMama]

*~* WE GOT FREE DINING *~*​

Free dining has been applied!! We officially swapped to Coronado Springs and I put in a request to be in the Cabanas!

Pretty happy with the financial aspect of switching! Get to experience TWO hotels - one DVC category and one mod, keep tickets the same, and keep DxDDP and still save a bit!


Original Reservation
2 adults, 2 children
9 nights Art of Animation Little Mermaid Room
9dy base tickets
Deluxe Disney Dining
$3,789


New Reservations
2 adults, 2 children
2 nights Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani
7 nights Coronado Springs Resort
9dy base tickets
Deluxe Disney Dining
$3,593



I've been playing the swaparoo game with ADRs, but I'll save that for another night! TONS of homework tonight...

 

[DsnyMama]

The glow stick bath was cute and hilarious at the same time. It's like a rave for pre-schoolers.

Joining in. I did the same thing to DD when we took a mother/daughter only trip. She thought we were going to CBR, but we went to AKL instead.

We took my mom for her first trip in 2010 at the age of 58. She LOVED it. It's so much fun seeing it through a kids eyes, but I think watching my mom was even more fun!

Great 4th of July pics! I am so, so happy that you have a ressie at AKL! You have to take a pictu of your mom when she finds out! Can't wait to see ow your kids react to the animals as well!

Super cute 4th of July pics

Your kids are sooooo cute. Love the chocolate face!! haha. Looks like they had a great 4th of July!!

Awesome 4th of July pictures!!!!

Loved the pictures!!! The kiddos are so cute!! Especially loved the snack pic!!

Im joining in! sounds like you guys are going to have an amazing trip!!

PS we have overlapping trips! Maybe Ill see you around the world!

Love your 4th pictures. Makes me wish I would have got some of DS. It was just so hot that we didn't end up doing anything picture worthy lol.

Thank you everyone!! We had such a great 4th! Welcome aboard to my new followers!!

 

[DsnyMama]

Our princess dresses came today (we have three more on order!). I was searching for beautiful, yet affordable dresses since we were ordering a total of FIVE for this trip!!

Aurora for Akserhus breakfast
Cinderella for 1900 Park Fare dinner
Alice of 1900 Park Fare breakfast
Snow White for BBB and Cinderella Royal Table
Belle for Be Our Guest


I found these from an Ebay seller and I'll admit I was worried because this is a Hong Kong seller, the prices were cheap, and I was worried they'd be horrible - but ordered anyway! I am *SO* glad I did! They looked a little 'cheap' from the pictures but they are the exact opposite! They are high-quality materials, sewing is great, and they are stunning in real life! A tad wrinkled from being straight out of the shipping bag. I feel they run true to size - this is the "small" which is a 3-4 and Ava is 3.5yrs old, 37lbs, and 39.25".

These were the "deluxe" version dresses and were a mere $18.99 each with FREE shipping! If anyone needs to order dresses, I HIGHLY recommend these!

Really bad iPhone pics, trying to get pics with my camera but my computer isn't reading my memory card!

Seller: http://stores.ebay.com/princess-dre...54459018&_sid=860423568&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

 

[DsnyMama]

Bitten by the ADR bug again. Added a few things, took a way one or two and rearranged a bunch It's final now - I'm not TOUCHING it!



November 26, 2012
Breakfast
* On the road!
Lunch (depends on if we arrive in time to make our ADR, backup is Mara
* Sanaa
* Adult Menu
* Child Menu
* Mara
Dinner
* Boma


November 27, 2012
Breakfast
* Crystal Palace with Pooh and Friends
Lunch
* Plan on using snack credits between breakfast and dinner
Dinner
* 1900 Park Fare - Cinderella's Gala Dinner


November 28, 2012
Breakfast
* Hollywood & Vine - Play & Dine with Playhouse Disney
Lunch
* Mama Melrose Fantasmic Dining Package
* Adult Menu
* Child Menu
Dinner
* 50's Prime Time Cafe
* Adult Menu
* Child Menu


November 29, 2012
Breakfast
* Akershus - Princess Storybook Dining
Lunch
* Coral Reef
* Adult Menu
* Child Menu
Dinner
* Via Napoli
* Adult Menu
* Child Menu


November 30, 2012
Breakfast
* Tusker House - Donald's Safari Breakfast
Lunch
* Yak & Yeti
* Adult Menu
* Child Menu
Dinner
* Ohana


December 1, 2012
Breakfast
* 1900 Park Fare - Supercalafragalistic Breakfast
Lunch
* Snack credits
Dinner
* Narcoossee
* Adult Menu
* Child Menu
Dessert
* Wishes Dessert Party


December 2, 2012
Breakfast
* Kouzzina
* Adult Menu
* Child Menu
Lunch
* Les Chefs de France
* Adult Menu
* Child Menu
Dinner
* Biergarten


December 3, 2012
Breakfast
* Kona Cafe
* Adult Menu
* Child Menu
Lunch
* Cinderella's Royal Table
Dinner
* California Grill
* Adult Menu
* Child Menu

December 4, 2012
Breakfast
* Cape May Cafe - Goofy's Beach Club Breakfast
Lunch
* Siestas by the pool!
Dinner
* Raglan Road
* Adult Menu
* Child Menu


December 5, 2012
Breakfast
* Chef Mickey's with Mickey and the Gang
Lunch
* Be Our Guest Quick Service
Dinner
* Crystal Palace with Pooh and Friends

 

[DsnyMama]

Alright, so I think I *finally* have my ADRs officially figured out! So, let the official touring plans commence!


Date:November 26, 2012
Game Plan: Travel and resort day! 9-10 hour drive, lots of exploring Animal Kingdom Lodge and Kidani Village, lots of pool time, and relaxation!
Dining: Lunch at Sanaa, dinner at Boma.


• Car packed, loaded, gassed up, and ready to go the day before
• Goal is to leave home by 12:00 am
• 9-10:00 am - Arrival at Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani
• Early check-in if available, head to room and unpack/store luggage
• Explore Kidani
• 11:30 – Sanaa lunch
• Pool time at Kidani
• Walk to Animal Kingdom Lodge – explore the Lodge and swim
• 4:00 - Animal Kingdom Lodge Culinary Tour at Boma and Jiko
• More swimming and/or Lodge activities
• 7:30 – Boma
• Movies by the pool after dinner
• Bedtime!



Pretty low-key day here! The goal is to just soak in AKL/AKV in all it's beauty! Lots of pool time at both pools would be lovely!

Any ideas on surprising mom? A few ideas running through my head. I want to tell her NOW but I won't. Should I just pull up and say here we are for two nights? Seems kinda drab... What about telling her we are just there for lunch by the pool and to soak up the atmosphere and secretly check in? Then after lunch when she expects to be heading over to CSR I give her our room key? Or maybe a treasure hunt the morning we leave with a special invitation hidden at the end telling her? Ideas??

 

[RooRach0906]

Just wanted to let you know airtran is having a sale you go to their website ans on the left hand side there is a link for it.. you have to go thru the link or it won't give you the sale price we saw ones for $80 a person. You have to buy them by July 20.

 

[oboedm]

I don't know how you can surprise your mom! All of those are good ideas. Maybe you could drive to CSr, say something like, I really feel like staying somewhere else for our first few nights, pulling away, then driving to CSR?

 

[DsnyMama]

I don't know how you can surprise your mom! All of those are good ideas. Maybe you could drive to CSr, say something like, I really feel like staying somewhere else for our first few nights, pulling away, then driving to CSR?

Ohh that's a good idea too!!

Just wanted to let you know airtran is having a sale you go to their website ans on the left hand side there is a link for it.. you have to go thru the link or it won't give you the sale price we saw ones for $80 a person. You have to buy them by July 20.

Thanks for the heads up! Checked the sale and it's at $107 per person one way right now. Unless something miraculously happens with the budget, we'll probably still stick with driving + hotel one night for $250 VS nearly $700 flying. I wish though!!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

So happy for you that you were able to take advantage of FD!

Sanaa is on our list for next year, so I secretly hope you keep it just so I can see another dining review of it.

Those princess dresses are so cute! Cant wait to see the others when you get them

 

[DsnyMama]

So happy for you that you were able to take advantage of FD!

Sanaa is on our list for next year, so I secretly hope you keep it just so I can see another dining review of it.

Those princess dresses are so cute! Cant wait to see the others when you get them

Thanks!!

I'm strongly leaning towards cancelling - I just don't know. Since we are only at the Lodge for 2 nights, I'd love to take full advantage... That being said, I'd really LOVE to try Sanaa and my mom thinks the menu looks amazing! If we get to the Lodge early enough, I think we'll go for it! If not, there's always next time!

Thanks, I really love the princess dresses - they are beautiful! I can't wait to get the next shipment!

 

[DsnyMama]

Date: November 27, 2012
Game Plan: Magic Kingdom today, but only visiting Fantasyland. Midday break to rest up for the night! MVMCP in the evening!
Dining: Breakfast at Crystal Palace, dinner at 1900 Park Fare.


• 6:30 am - Wake up!
• 7:15 am – Bus from Animal Kingdom Villas to Magic Kingdom
• 8:20 am – Crystal Palace breakfast – Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet
• 9:15-9:45 – Merida meets at Fairytale Gardens.
• 9:40-10:20 - Fairy Godmother meets behind Cinderella Castle.
• Head straight for Fantasyland! Grab Fastpass for either Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, or Little Mermaid if necessary. According to wait times, ride Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Dumbo, The Great Goofini, Mad Tea Party, It’s A Small World, Peter Pan’s Flight, Winnie The Pooh, Mickey’s Philharmagic, and the Carousel.
• 1:00 pm - Leave Magic Kingdom VIA bus to Animal Kingdom Villas
• Mid-day break – hotel activities, rest, pool, ect
• Leave Animal Kingdom Villas VIA bus to Magic Kingdom by 4:00
• Monorail or boat launch from Magic Kingdom to Grand Floridian
• 5:05 pm - 1900 Park Fare dinner
• Monorail from Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom
• 7:00 pm - Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party!
• Snow White & Prince, Aurora & Prince, Rapunzel & Flynn Rider. Town Square.
• Begin in Adventureland.
• Abu, Aladin, Jasmine, and Genie. Agrabah Bazaar.
• Move to Frontierland.
• Woody’s Dance Party at the Diamond Horseshoe. Woody, Jessie, and Bullseye.
• Ride Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
• Move through Liberty Square and on to Fantasyland.
• Cinderella & Prince Charming. Fantasyland near It’s A Small World.
• Peter Pan & Wendy. Fantasyland
• Belle & Beast. Fairytale Gardens. 9:00 pm - Grab a spot near Casey’s for the fireworks and parade.
• 9:30 pm – Holiday Wishes
• 10:05 pm – Celebrate the Season Castle Show
• 10:30 pm – Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade
• Head to Tomorrowland.
• Cosmic Ray’s Dance Party. Stitch, Pluto, Goofy, Chip and Dale.
• Ride Space Mountain
• Ride the People Mover
• Double back and do anything missed
• 12:00 am - Bus from Magic Kingdom to Animal Kingdom Villas
• Bedtime!



WHEW! We'll definitely need that 3hr break midday! It's a very detailed plan, but I thrive on details and schedules! It helps me to stay on track and helps us see all we want to see! I'm not total commando to the point where I refuse to deviate from the plan or force someone to do something they don't want! Actually, I'm quite flexible! I just like to have a gameplan that in a perfect world would go great - lol. It really helps us not to stand there and go, "ok - now what", "what do you want to do", "whatever, doesn't matter, what do you want to do", ect, ect, ect...

 

[DsnyMama]

Sadly, we have *zero* pictures from our Honeymoon because we didn't do Photopass and my camera was ruined by melted Almond Crusted Cheesecake from Narcoossee We also don't have any pictures from our second trip because my laptop got a virus and bit the dust - along with *all* of my pictures from Ava's birth through first year. Very, very, very sad stuff.... Thankfully, I do have these and many more to come! At least we have the memories!


Breaking up the plans with a few (ok, a lot!) pictures from last year!!


Sharing their 1st Mickey Bar!






Her 1st glimpse of the castle!




Walking hand in hand down Main St!




Me and the hubby at MVMCP




Levi laughing at the step sisters at 1900 Park Fare




Getting her special pins!




Meeting her absolute favorite!




Tink facepaint




Little dude looking so grown up!




Meltdown central after having to leave the Boneyard at AK




Parade time!




Snuggles with my little dude




Nap time!

 

[tofubeast]

Such sweet pics. Love the messy one with the ice cream. Who doesn't love a Mickey bar?

 

[DsnyMama]

Such sweet pics. Love the messy one with the ice cream. Who doesn't love a Mickey bar?

Thank you

 

[Krystalynn]

Love love love the pictures! and your very detailed plans sound awesome. I'm glad to see that you'll be having a 1900 park fare dinner right before the christmas party too. I was wondering if I was crazy for doing so since I see people have said to just have dinner at the park on party nights!

 

[rachel09985]

Love those princess dresses you bought! They are soo adorable. I especially love your son's first mickey bar mess! So funny.

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Your MK/MVMCP plans look great!

 

[DsnyMama]

Love love love the pictures! and your very detailed plans sound awesome. I'm glad to see that you'll be having a 1900 park fare dinner right before the christmas party too. I was wondering if I was crazy for doing so since I see people have said to just have dinner at the park on party nights!

Nah - not crazy! We'll be in MK from 8am-1pm that day, plus we have another full MK day and a 1/2 MK day in addition to that day - so I'm not worried about getting to the party right at 7pm! Plus, 1900 Park Fare is a DO NOT MISS for our family and I didn't have any other night it would fit!!

Love those princess dresses you bought! They are soo adorable. I especially love your son's first mickey bar mess! So funny.

Thanks!!! I'm in love with the dresses too!

Your MK/MVMCP plans look great!

THanks! It looks super busy, but I just like to plan every detail so that we can get done as much as possible!

 

[DsnyMama]

Date: December 1, 2012
Game Plan: Resort day! Wilderness Lodge, pony rides and stable visits at Fort Wilderness, visiting Art of Animation and Pop Century (DD's favorite resort so we have to make a pit stop!), the monorail lop resorts.
Dining: Lunch at Whispering Canyon Cafe, dinner at Narcoossee, and Wishes Dessert Party at the Magic Kingdom.


• 8:30 am - Wake up!
• 9:00 am - Leave resort by car
• Drive over to the TTC, park car, hop the monorail
• Take the boat launch from Magic Kingdom to Fort Wilderness
• Check out the horses and do a Pony Ride at Tri-Circle D Ranch at Fort Wilderness
• Take the boat from Fort Wilderness to Wilderness Lodge
• 12:05 pm – Whispering Canyon Café lunch
• Explore the Lodge
• Take the boat from Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom. Hop monorail back to TTC.
• Drive over to POP/AoA.
• Explore Art of Animation/Pop Century
• Drive back over to the TTC, park and hop the monorail
• Tour the Monorail Resorts
• Change into dinner clothes
• 5:35 pm – Narcossee dinner
• Drive over to the TTC, park and hop on the MK monorail
• Walk through the shops at MK, photopass pictures, ect..
• 8:45 pm - Wishes Dessert Party
• Board the monorail back to the TTC
• Drive from TTC back to CSR

 

[DsnyMama]

Date: November 29, 2012
Game Plan: Epcot, but only Future World. Heading over to explore the Boardwalk at dusk!
Dining: Breakfast at Akershus, lunch at The Coral Reef, dinner at Cape May Cafe.

• 6:30 am - Wake up!
• 7:15 am - Bus from CSR to Epcot
• 8:15 am – Akershus breakfast
• 9:30 am - Head back over to Future World – straight to The Land
• Grab FP for Soarin’ and ride if the wait is small
• Ride Living With The Land
• Ride Journey Into the Imagination with Figment
• Explore ImageWorks
• Check wait times for Character Spot
• Ride Test Track if up and running
• Ride Mission Space if desired –Kids play in play area
• Check out Innoventions East and West
• Ride Spaceship Earth
• 1:00 pm - Explore The Seas pavilion
• Turtle Talk with Crush
• The Seas with Nemo and Friends
• 2:35 pm - Coral Reef lunch
• Continue touring Future World – double back to favorites. Walk to International Gateway and exit.
• 5:00 – Head over to the Boardwalk area
• 6:25 – Cape May Café dinner
• Walk the Boardwalk
• 8:30 pm – Scope out a spot for Illuminations
• 9:00 pm – Illuminations
• Walk World Showcase
• Bus from Epcot to CSR
• Bedtime!