For the Love of Disney - Dec 5-13

beyondblessed · Dec 20, 2009

Hi everyone! We are back and I'm finally getting a few minutes to get this Trip Report started! We went to Disney December 5- 13 and had THE BEST time! Thanks to all who followed along with my pre-trip report and even tolerated my extended absences from time to time. I hope you'll stick around for the actual trip report too! I'm so grateful for the wonderful people I've met on Dis.

I'm going to include my intro here as well as the individual links to my PTR. And then...begins the fun of the actual trip! :lovestruc

THE CAST

Nikky (Mommy) – I’m the Disney travel agent in our family! I’ve been in love with Mickey since I was a little girl and just can’t get enough. I’ve been to Disney 12 times since I was in 6th grade. I plan and plan and plan, driving my husband completely crazy but he’ll willingly admit it’s my obsessive planning that ensures we have such great Disney vacations. I truly find the planning almost as thrilling as the trip. I work full time as a Financial Analyst at our local hospital and spend most of my time as a devoted soccer Mom (although my girls don’t actually play soccer :confused3

). In what little free time I do have I enjoy attending my daughters’ and husband’s sporting events, scrapbooking and planning current and future Disney trips.

Travis (Daddy) – Isn't he cute? :lovestruc

I introduced the love of my life to my first love (Mickey) about six months after we started dating. After all, how could I choose to spend my life with someone without first making sure they’d indulge and enable my Disney habit? Unfortunately Travis does not “get” Disney like I do…however; he is 100% supportive and devoted to making his 3 girls happy (as long as I take care of the arrangements). He is a high school math teacher, softball coach and golf coach…I say he only teaches so he can coach. As much as I love and admire him for the career he’s chosen…it really impedes on my Disney planning since the only times I want to go are when school is in session. More on this later…

Hayley (DD13) – Hayley was introduced to Disney World when she was a year old. She’s been 4 times and is a lot like her Mom – can’t get enough. She will be in 8th grade this fall! :sad:

She’s my sports girl, although she’s the shortest in her class, she’s small and mighty. During the school year she is a cheerleader, plays basketball and volleyball and runs track. In the summer, she plays on 2 softball teams and is the primary reason I’m a soccer Mom (but like I said…no soccer).

Caya (DD5, pronounounced “Kay-uh”) – Caya was introduced to Disney World when she was 6 months old. The sweetest thing you will ever meet until she doesn’t get her way…then watch out! We like to call her our “tomboy princess” if there is such a thing. She’s been known to “dress up” and play softball in high heels and a tutu. We think it ought to help her coordination! :laughing:

She cannot wait to meet the princesses and ride Dumbo and the Coffee Cups (as she calls them). I LOVE that this is all still real to her – makes it real for the rest of us as well. She is on a competitive cheerleading squad that practices 2 nights a week and competes several weekends throughout the year – the secondary reason I’m a soccer Mom (still…no soccer). I do however believe she can start playing soccer on our local rec team this fall. We shall see…maybe I’ll officially get to be a soccer Mom.

:dog:

gellybean · Dec 20, 2009

Am I first? Am I first?!

I think I am!! :cool1:

YAY!! Glad you're starting your TR! Can't wait to follow along! :goodvibes

beyondblessed · Dec 20, 2009

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4th - The Day Before!

***Some of this was previously written, sorry, hope you can follow along!***

The morning started off as normal. Quick breakfast of cinnamon toast and milk (had to use the last of the milk and bread

), got ready and out the door by 7:00. Trav took the girls with him and I headed to work. I’m leaving in about 15 minutes (can’t get anything done anyway). I have to head to the bank on my way home. I need to check my ginormous packing list and finish zipping up the suitcases. I checked in online this morning with air tran and only paid for one checked bag…I’m probably going to have to add another. I also have to finish the load of towels I threw in this morning, run the dishwasher, clean the bathrooms and vacuum (I have to come home to a clean house…especially, since I have to go back to work the day after we get home! boo)

Well, all of that actually happened (except the going to the bank part). I picked the girls up at 3, ran home and finished a couple last minute packing things and Travis was home by 3:30. We backed the expedition into the garage and filled the back. We had the stroller, 1 huge suitcase (to check), 4 carry-on suitcases, 2 backpacks, 1 messenger bag (Caya) and my tote bag. Thank God my sister-in-law is going to pick up our pets later tonight because we would not have had room for the rabbit cage. We all put on our comfy clothes (that we can also sleep in) and headed to the truck. Travis had already gotten the oil changed and filled up with gas so we didn’t have to worry about that. We stopped at the bank and withdrew some more cash!

We drove through McDonald’s (our 1st vacation meal) and were finally on the rode by 5:15. Everything always takes longer than I want it to (so how is it that a vacation flies by in the blink of an eye???).

We both called our Mom’s to let them know we were officially on the road. What is that…it doesn’t matter how old we get, we both still feel the need to call our Mom’s before we leave town, as soon as we arrive at our destination and again once we’re safely back at home. I don’t think there is anyone in this world more excited about this trip than my Mom. She knows exactly how much this means to me and exactly how much we need this. I sooo wish she could come along.

We stopped at the Walmart in Brownsburg, IN just before you get on the loop. Travis had to grab some razor blades and I needed some shave gel. We hopped back in the truck and were at our hotel by 7:30pm CST/8:30 EST. We stayed at the new Hampton Inn & Suites right by the new airport. It was very nice and brand new – love that! They offered the park-sleep-fly thing where we were able to stay there and leave our car while we were gone. The shuttled us to and from the airport. I highly recommend this to anyone tossing around the idea. So convenient.

We brought in all of our luggage so we’d have it in the morning. I did a little reorganizing/repacking, Travis gave Caya a bath and Hayley took a shower and worked on homework before heading to bed. It was midnight before we actually had the lights and tv turned off (after watching a little bit of the Tiger Woods scandal updates-haha). We were just “too excited to sleep”!!! Sleep does come eventually – I’m sure we all dreamed of the wonderful things to come over the next 9 days! Oh Walt, we sure do LOVE YOU! ZZZzzzzzzzz

(This is actually Caya on the way home but I deleted the picture :headache:

of her on the way there and it looked almost identical to the one I took on the way home!)

UP NEXT: DECEMBER 5 - ARRIVAL

Native NYer · Dec 20, 2009

Joining in!!!

disney<333 · Dec 20, 2009

I'm here!!
Great start. Looks like you guys were off to a great start.
The sleeping picture of Caya is priceless. Both girls are beautiful. :lovestruc

Can't wait to hear more.
Suscribing.

AlohaPolynesian · Dec 21, 2009

I'm here!

BippityBoo · Dec 21, 2009

Great start! Cant wait to read more!!!! :cool1:

ladybugmom · Dec 21, 2009

YAY!! I'm here Nikky!! Can't wait to read more!! :goodvibes

jordanyosh · Dec 21, 2009

helloo!

praisehisname · Dec 21, 2009

I'm in, and love it so far!

MeMom · Dec 21, 2009

You have a beautiful family. I look forward to reading along on your report.

We're leaving this weekend for a post-Christmas/New Year's trip, so anything we see on your report this week will fuel our excitement. :yay:

wdwgirl03 · Dec 21, 2009

I'm here too, can't wait for more!

Charlefours · Dec 21, 2009

I'm here too and subscribed! Looking forward to the next edition. popcorn::

TinkerbellLuvr7 · Dec 21, 2009

I'm here!!!!! I can't wait for more!!!!

lillylynnb · Dec 21, 2009

Im here cant wait to read more !!!

floridascgirl · Dec 21, 2009

I love reading PTR's because everyone is excited and abuzz with planning. It really is depressing when they are over and we have all returned from our trips. :sad1:

I'm so happy you are writing a TR...maybe it will help me feel better. I've got a serious case of the "post Disney blues".

kcandbella · Dec 22, 2009

Looking forward to reading about your trip!

disney<333 · Dec 25, 2009

Merry Christmas Nikky!!
Hope you all had a great day. :santa:

beyondblessed · Dec 27, 2009

Hi everyone! Thanks so much for stopping by, signing up and providing the encouragement to keep chugging along. Things were a bit crazy with Christmas. We were gone 2 entire weekends in December which really hurt my Christmas shopping. I started on Wednesday, the 16th and finished Wednesday, the 23rd! I surprised myself. I took one day and got all of Hayley's gifts and another day for Caya - everyone else got squeezed in the weekend before Christmas...and I spend a couple lunch hours ordering things online. And of course there were all the parties and get togethers. I'm sad it's all over - post Christmas depression is almost as bad as post Disney depression! I'm going to start planning a Christmas in July party now! :rotfl:

We had a wonderful Christmas with all of our family but I'll save that for another post when I have my pictures uploaded! I hope everyone on the DIS had the most merry CHRISTmas ever! :lovestruc

beyondblessed · Dec 27, 2009

Saturday, December 5th ~ Arrival
Weather: 20 degrees and snow flurries in Indy and in Orlando 67/45, Partly Sunny

OMG We are going to Disney World TODAY! The alarm started singing promptly at 4:00 am (3:00 am our time EEK!). I hopped up and skipped to the shower singing Zip-a-dee-doo-dah all the way! (literally) That was my Dads favorite song to whistle I cant whistle so I sing. Now that I think about it, I cant sing either!!! I got ready rather quickly (if I do say so myself). Trav got in the shower as soon as I got out. We got the girls up at about 4:45 and got them ready. By 5:15 we were headed out the door. Travis pushed the luggage down and I ran the extra bag out to the truck. When I walked around front they were already getting on the shuttle. Promptly at 5:30, it was there to pick us up.

We arrived at the Air Tran counter before 5:40 and curbside checked our one big suitcase.

*** Total $25 ($10 Shuttle Driver / $5 Curbside)

In hindsight we should have paid the extra money to check more. We ended up carrying with us 4 carry-on suitcases, 2 backpacks, 1 messenger bag, my tote bag and a stroller. We probably looked like a walking circus. Air Tran might end up allowing more free checked bags after having to deal with us. :rotfl:

We made it through security with no major problemsjust the hassle of all that baggage, folding and unfolding the stroller, taking off our shoes, jewelry, etc. and putting it all back on. Thats quite a workout when you throw wrangling a couple little ones into the mix. We found our gate (#B21) and made our camp. With all that stuff, you have to call it camp!

Travis went and got a quick breakfast for him and Caya, Hayley got a Starbucks and I got a coke! I was so excited about my coke for breakfast - I know, I know.its a terrible breakfast. But I figure it cant be much worse than coffee.its just cold coffee. I actually quit drinking coke in August except an occasional one on the weekends. My reward is that I can drink as much as I want while on vacation-thank God coke is Disneys drink vendor of choice. So, heres a toast (bottles up)heres to making magical Disney memories that will lift our spirits, last a lifetime and continue a legacy started by my Dad. Cheers to the Ears! :earsboy:

*** Total $12

OK, on with it, no more sappy stuff, I promise (for a little while anyway).
We started boarding at 6:10before Travis even got back with his breakfast. It was much earlier than I anticipated. We were in row 17, pretty much right in the middle but in front of the wing. We had an entire row, Caya by the window, Travis in the middle, Hayley on the aisle and me on the aisle across from her.

I drew the short straw I guess and had to sit by the stange hillbilly dude that was chewing tobacco through the entire flight and SPITTING IT INTO A WATER BOTTLE! I was so offended, for crying out loud, you cant smoke on a plane anymoreand with all the different major illnesses floating around you certainly should not be able to spit on a plane!!! Come on people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

During the flight, the girls looked at the Birnbaum kids book and the activity book I made each of them and listened to their iPods. Travis listened to his iPod and took a nap (lucky!!!) and I read some more of my planning books. The time went quickly (other than the constant spitting), we ascended, they served drinks (I always order gingerale when flying Im not sure what but I have for as long as I can remember-I never buy it at home, I think Im going to start) and cookies, picked up trash and we were descending. Oh, and only one bathroom trip the entire flight and she actually went!

About halfway through our flight the family in front of us who had the entire row, both sides started shifting a bit and I recognized the Mom. It took me a minute to put it together, but it was Jennifer (of 29apr00) - who was on her way to Disney and DCL for their vow renewal ceremony. What a coincidence I had just read her pre-trip report and what are the chances we would be one row apart on the same flight. I introduced myself as we were exiting kind of makes you feel like a stalker when you know someone only from a message board. haha Jennifer if you read this, I promise Im not a stalker, it was nice to meet you aboard Air Tran!

Caya screamed on the landingnot a scared scream, just an excited oh my scream. Hilariousto her parents anyway, probably not to anyone sitting near us. We just sat back and waited for everyone to get off. When it was our turn, we got our backpacks and suitcases and skipped (not literally this time) down the aisle. We grabbed the stroller, still in one piece, whew, unfolded it and took off.

We stopped quickly at the restrooms and got on our very first Disney ride the airport monorail. I love the feeling I get when Im riding it, realizing where its taking me!

We headed straight for the Magical Express. In all my planning, I thought wed take time to enjoy the scenery (airport and people), smell the roses, enjoy our surroundings..in all actuality we RAN as fast as we could because we could NOT wait to get to Disney!!! We had our travel vouchers so we didnt even have to stand in line at the counter. We got to walk right by the first white handed guy who gave my girls a high 4 by the way! Too cute! Our flight had landed at 9:20 and in no time we were checked-in and in line for the bus headed to Poly. We didnt get an actual Magical Express bus we got a poopie yellow mears shuttle bus but it did at least have the movies. We only waited about 10 minutes with 3 other families and we were off to the world. The bus driver was hilarious and talked with us most of the way (we sat up front).

This bus stopped at 3 hotels Grand Floridian, Wildenerness Lodge (I think) and Polynesian but we were 1st. Under the Disney arch and through the Poly gates into heaven on earth. What a feeling! Im teary very teary! We get off the bus and the driver pulls our luggage we tip him ($10) and turn to the glory of our new home for the next 9 days! Bell Services is right there to load our luggage onto a cart.

We go in to check-inI had done online check in so everything was already waiting for us in our little folder. They gave us our keys to the world but our room was not ready yetthey did tell us it was in Raratonga. I wasnt sure how I felt about this but was way too emotional to do anything (crying and smiling and laughing). It ended up being perfect for us. It is the closest building when you exit the Great Ceremonial House on the TTC sidevery close to the monorail and bus stop and a short walk to the TTC. We had a view of the quiet pool on the first floor (room 1812). I could not complain, of course a Magic Kingdom view or Club Level Room would have been nice, this was perfect for us! :lovestruc

Since our room was not ready, we left all of our bags with Bell Services and went to Captain Cooks for a late breakfast/early lunch. I was so looking forward to and craving the Tonga Toast but it was now 11:00 am and they had already switched to lunch.

Captain Cooks has the self order touch screens some people complained, we loved it. OMG the dessertsheavenly. They have an apple pie that is to die forI had to ask what it was, kind of like an apple crisp with powdered sugar on top. I want one NOW! :lovestruc

Okay, back to my reportthey have a bakery case that only has giant size desserts-XXL, double serving, portions of yummy-ness! Cupcakes, Cookies, Cakes, Pies, Brownies, Pastriesthey also have fruit: Fresh pineapple, apples w/caramel dip, mixed tropical fruit, and packaged to go: Mickey Rice Crispy Treats, CookiesIm sure there is more. We ordered:

Travis: BBQ Sandwich (Yummo) w/ Chips, Water
Nikky: Double Chesseburger w/Cole Slaw, Water
Hayley: Double Cheeseburger w/ Chips, Chocolate Milk
Caya: Chicken Nuggets, Carrots, Chocolate Chip Cookie, Chocolate Milk
*** (we got one pineapple and 2 cupcakes as our desserts to share)

And 2 refillable mugs - (looking back we could have done without these you get so much food/drink but it did make for a couple of good souveniers)

***4 Counter Service Meals (Total Used=4)
*** Total $26

(I think I have pictures of our meals on the laptop - I'll upload asap!)

After lunch we walked around the resort a bit and then went on a monorail ride (just because we could

)! I love the recording you hear "Please stand clear of the doors - por favor montangase alijado de las puertas. Makes me so happy!!!

We called our Moms from the monorail and let them we arrived safely. We got off at the Contemporary and headed down to the bus stop. Our bus came quickly and we headed to Disney Studios. By 1:00 pm we were standing in line at our first theme park or the trip.

UP NEXT: DEC 5 - DISNEY STUDIOS

For the Love of Disney - Dec 5-13

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<font color=red>I'm just a big Disney Freak! :-)<b

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