Fun Crazy: I made it - I can't believe it's really here!

[Disney Brat]

I just found you and I am along for the ride!! We are heading down right after you guys!! We leave on the 21 and return on Nov 3! We arrive in WDW ont he 22, and leave WDW on the 2, but we got flights that were about $400 cheaper per person out of Minneapolis, so we are driving there first! Going to spend the night there going down and comming back. Can't wait to read more of your plans!

 

[Alysa]

I guess you'd better make sure you add kleenex to your packing list.

I know, I'm terrible! DS always catches me at it and says "Is okay Mummy. Don be sad!

Hi Disney Brat! Thanks for stopping by. We are flying out of the states too - Buffalo. Crazy Air Canada! I heard on the CBC that we have the highest airport taxes in the world! Are you doing any of the Halloween parties? Where are you staying? Love to hear about your trip!

 

[Mom2Kate-Anna]

Fellow compulsive planner - excellent! Do they really know how difficult all the dining is to plan? I think not, we suffer in silence (kind of) and wouldn't let someone else do it for anything!

When I start planning these trips so early everyone just looks at me like I have three heads or something. After the trips are over and they realize just how much that planning was needed ( I have taken first timers I think 5 times now) they are oh so thankful. But the next trip starts to coming around and I start planning. And once again I must start growing those heads again, and they start asking why are you planning so early. How quickly they forget. Or maybe I just make it too easy for them!!!

Love your story of meeting your hubby. When things are meant to be who cares where you met.

Character Connection is by Innovations West I believe. As you walk to The Land it will be on your left. We usually always see Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Donald and Chip & Dale there. We have also seen Daisy,Pinocchio and Mary Poppins.

 

[Alysa]

Whew! That was a close one! I just read that the SSR pool slide is going to be closed for almost all of September. Does anyone know if rehab often goes past schedule? We are kind of nervous about staying there but everywhere else was booked and a DVC cast member told me that because of our party size there is no way we could get anything else on the waitlist. Plus, the cast member said that the reason DVC resorts seem so crowded lately is because even thought the AKV's are nearly sold out, Kidani Villiage is not done yet so all those guests are going to the other resorts. Don't know if that is true, it's just what she said. We drove by SSR when it was under construction and we were kind of worried about how out of the way it seemed. But AKL had some bus trouble in the past too and it was excellent when we were there in May. I'd love to hear feedback from anyone who has stayed here already.

I just found the collection of SSR wdwinfo photos and they make me feel better. Some of the photos look lovely. It doesn't seem to be landscaped as well as others and maybe it is missing that jaw dropping feel of the lobby like some of the others but the rooms look pretty and the pools look fun. Plus we get an extra night for the same number of points! Plus we are not sleeping in the lobby! I can just see my boy playing out there on the splash pad with Donald and going down the slide.

I realized I hadn't said too much about DS so far because I was trying to keep it to Disney anecdotes. But even though he has been twice before, this will be his first real trip because he is only now old enough to understand what is going on. He talks about it all the time and asks to go "today" after his bottle every morning. He knows we are going in October and he knows who is going with us on the plane. He mentions how my sister's dog will not be going because she is "Fraid of Spooky Trees" (Disney Sing Along Disneyland Video anyone?) He knows about the speedway, and that they have a train, that Lightning McQueen and Mater live there, and really, he doesn't need more than that. When we were there in May my daughter and I stayed away from all the stuff that he would love, like Mike and Sulley, the Incredibles, the new Nemo ride and Lightning and Mater. We both wanted to share those things with him. I just can't wait to show him everything: Donald's Boat, the Lion King and Finding Nemo shows, the Philharmagic, the new Nemo ride, the Kilimanjaro Safari, Dumbo, Toy Story Mania, and I hope he can go on Buzz's space ranger spin.

75 days tomorrow! When can I start packing?

 

[dreamin_disney]

Hi! I just loved reading your plans. I also enjoyed watching the utube video -so cool! I'll be back to read updates.

btw- cute autograph book idea

 

[Alysa]

Note to self: MUST remember to arrange magical express when DVC member services is NOT closed. Now that we have our flights!! $119 out of Buffalo!! Our flight leaves at 7am so we have to get up kind of early. No problem, I won't be sleeping anyway.
DH and I drove down for that first trip together at the Millennium. We were going to get a hotel half way down but I convinced him to drive through the night with me. I was so excited, we got there at 3 am and tried to sleep in the Port Orleans parking lot. DH says it was like trying to sleep beside a pop-tart. I never slept a wink. I was so excited and when the sprinklers turned off and the buses started rolling at 5:30 I said "that's it! It's open! Lets GOOOOOO!!!" Needless to say, DH won't let us drive down anymore.

My sister asked us if we would stay with them the night before at a hotel in Buffalo but I told her that I don't go to budget hotels ( I was kidding!) and she told me I sucked.


So here is my version of Stacey - my top ten "Must do's"
"Wham, wham, wham." My DD actually said that yesterday.
1. splash mountain
2. haunted mansion
3. jungle cruise
4. pirates of the caribbean
5. spaceship earth
6. Mission space
7. Kali River Rapids
8. Wishes and Illuminations
9. The Seas with Nemo and friends
10. Goofing around with my kids at the pool

Then, my top ten absolutely SO NOT doing:
1. Tower of Terror
2. Space Mountain (of Terror)
3. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (of Terror)
4. Rocking Roller Coaster (of Terror)
5. It's (Not) fun to be a bug
6. Astro Orbiter
7. Star Tours
8. The barfy virtual reality things at DisneyQuest
9. Test Track
10. I'd say the teacups but I may not have a choice. DH told DD that Mummy would take her and now she mistakenly believes that Mummy loves them and I feel like an ogre telling her that they should be renamed the vomit cups. Oh well, we did laugh and that's what half a chewable kids gravol (dramamine, for my American friends) is for.

My DD said she most wanted to do Snow White and that there was NO WAY she was going on the Haunted Barrels (in Centreville, on Centre Island on Lake Ontario). Okay sweetie, good to know, I promise, no barrels!

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Last year we stayed at Best Western the night before and it was fine but this year I convinced DH to stay at the millenium. I stay there every november with girlfriends for a shopping weekend. We hang out on the balcony and have a fashion show at night. Doubt if it will quite the same type of fun staying with the family but I'm sure DH will come around and thank me after.

We are sooooo NOT thrill riders either. I like to refer to us as "show people".

 

[Alysa]

So I sent out an email asking everyone going on the trip what they want to do most and least and here are three more entries:

Our sister-in-law replied and said she is most looking forward to reading in the sun, and seeing her cute nieces and nephews;
and that there is no way she is going on any roller coasters, or letting my brother wear an anti-disney t-shirt.

DH said he is most looking forward to getting up in the morning and the most he has to think about is which park he is going to. (He might be a bit burnt out at work) Then I told him he didn't even have to think about that!

and that there is no way he is going on the vomit cups.


DS said yes to meeting Lightning McQueen and Mater, and going on the Speedway racer; and a big no on the Scary Trees.


Okay - so can I start packing NOW?

 

[irky416]

I love the autograph book. That's such a cute idea.

I enjoyed your Definitely Not Do List.

 

[Alysa]

I enjoyed your Definitely Not Do List.

Thanks irky416! You must have a similar list of "So not doing that!"

 

[Alysa]

I waas reading a cute trip report today hlrababy's report and she mentioned a great site for costumes.

I realized I had been remiss in my planning, and that I had start trying to figure out who was going to be what at MNSSHP. If I have to sew four costumes I have to start now!

I told DD that she had to pick one and that she couldn’t change her mind anymore. (No more "Jasmine, no, pocahontas, no, Mulan, no, Wendy, no, Marie from the aristocats…")
So she thought about it a long time and said “I want to be Mulan, but I don’t want to be alone.” So I asked her what if Daddy was Shang and her eyes lit up and she said "Oooohhhh!" I knew that one would be a tough sell so I pulled out the big guns. I called him up at work and checked that he wasn’t too busy, and then I put DD on.
“Daddy, if I dress up as Mulan will you go to Disney as Shang? … short pause… Yeah!!!! Kay, bye Daddy! I love you!”

When he got home that night:
DH “So, I am dressing up as Shang?”
Me “It’s so good of you. Thanks for doing that. Is it okay?”
DH: “ I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for her.” Glaring
Me: “I know. That’s why I got her to ask you!”
DH: More glaring. Big sigh.

Don’t let him fool you. She’s Daddy’s girl. He loves it and he would do anything for her. She has him wrapped around her little finger.

So that leaves DS and me. DS was waffling between Lightning and Prince Edward so he could go with my niece who was dressing up as Giselle. It would have been cute but now she is being Alice. I really would have loved it if he would go as Mushu but he said “No, too scary”. Maybe I’ll bring both costumes and hope he goes for the Mushu but I won’t pressure him in any way. It wouldn’t do any good if I did anyway. He is as stubborn as his Mum.

DH thinks it’s all fun and games to me but now I have to figure out how to make a Shang costume. From scratch. At least I can pick up the Lightning and Mulan from the Disney Store (I hope!)

Now me. I don’t know. I suggested that I could be Snow White to my sister and she said “That’s’ a lot of work to make a costume”. I said “I already have one.” and she replied “Of course you do.” I made it for my daughter’s second Halloween for a party we threw. It’s nice but I feel like maybe I should be something different. I would have liked to have matched the others with the Mulan theme but but my options are kind of limited: Ping, the Matchmaker, Mulan’s granny, Crickie, the Emperor and Shan Yu. All very beautiful – not so much.

Ooooh – If my niece was going to be Giselle, I could go as Queen Narissa. Now that would be fun!

Any Suggestions?

So far, my niece is confirmed as Alice and my younger nephew is going as Dash. The rest of the cast is still unknown…

Did I mention that I CAN'T WAIT??!?!?

 

[passthepixiedust]

Heck, your countdown is in the 70's? You can SO start packing now! I mean, it's just being well prepared, right? (this is where you agree with me so I feel slightly less insane for making packing lists 80+ days out....)

Hello, fellow Canuck!

 

[Alysa]

Hello PassthePixieDust!
You lovely Canadians are making it feel so homey around here!

Heck, your countdown is in the 70's? You can SO start packing now! I mean, it's just being well prepared, right? (this is where you agree with me so I feel slightly less insane for making packing lists 80+ days out....)

THANK YOU! In honour (no that is not spelled incorrectly!) of you I went out to the Disney Store to check up on the costume status. If I have to make either of the kids costumes, I need to know now! Well the CM there said nothing until well into September.

The kids summer stuff looks great but my DH needs some cargo shorts and I need to pick up some cute sun dresses, sandals, pajamas and a sun hat and bathing suit. I didn't get much new stuff this year and my summer wardrobe is getting a bit dull.

I saw a cute post that was talking about their shopping wish list for Disney. I love it - planning your Disney shopping! I am going to try to pick up:
1. A Mulan polly pocket type dress up set for DD.
2. Wilderness Lodge Lincoln Logs for DS
3. A really nice Omega style Mickey watch for DH (if it is too expensive I may have to hold off and save for his birthday trips if we can make it)
4. For me? Not sure but I will know it when I see it! I'd love to get some cute polo shirts and a new tennis skirt from the GF. They have some CUTE outfits there!

Anyone else have any shopping list must haves?

 

[Alice BlueBonnet]

Hey! I just wanted to say I'm really enjoying reading your pre-trip report. I'm with you on the costume conundrum, it's always a big deal for my friends and I as well. This year we're doing a Peter Pan theme, which should be cool. I think if you want something fun that matches someone in the group, you could always be the Queen of Hearts to match your niece as Alice, and Disney has a great adult costume for that. But considering the variety of costumes in your group, I'd just go as Belle!! She's your favourite, after all. And think of all the legitimate singing you could do....

 

[AZMickeyfans]

Hi, I'm enjoying reading your PTR. We are having a costume crisis as well. No one can decide here either! ARGH.

Anyway, great start so far. Cannot wait to read more.

 

[hlrababy]

I really, really think you need to go as Queen Narissa!! Her makeup is awesome!!

 

[passthepixiedust]

Hello PassthePixieDust!
You lovely Canadians are making it feel so homey around here!

Are you not Canadian? I assumed you were because of your location, lol!

THANK YOU! In honour (no that is not spelled incorrectly!) of you I went out to the Disney Store to check up on the costume status. If I have to make either of the kids costumes, I need to know now! Well the CM there said nothing until well into September.

Lol! That is exactly the kind of thing I like to see done in my honour! (Everyone tries to correct me too!)

This year we're doing a Peter Pan theme, which should be cool.

I tried to convince my children to dress up as Wendy, John and Michael Darling, although I had talked the boys (10 and 8) into nightshirts, my 15 y/o daughter is NOT digging the idea... We will be there on Halloween night and I so far have NO idea for myself!

 

[Alysa]

Alice BlueBonnet

you could always be the Queen of Hearts to match your niece as Alice

LOVE IT!! Although this is more my style...

AZMickeyfans
Hi! Thanks so much for stopping by! How many of you are going?

hlrababy

I really, really think you need to go as Queen Narissa!!

Wouldn't that be soooo fun?!

passthepixiedust
No, no! I am a Canadian too!! Sorry I made it sound like I wasn't!

10 great things about Canada, in no particular order, eh!

1. The group of seven and Emily Carr
2. Super nice people
3. Anne of Green Gables
4. Strong native community - I'm a smidge Cree!
5. We invented hockey, duct tape, superman, basketball, insulin, and Tim Hortons coffee
6. Beaver's tails on the Canal, Carnaval, and Algonquin Park (sorry, that's as far as I have travelled)
7. Bob and Doug (Coo-ooh-coocoo-coo-ooh-coocoo), Terry Fox, David Suzuki, Wayne Gretzky, Rick Mercer, Mike Meyers, Lenord Cohen, Bryan Adams, Farley Mowat
8. Cute Mounties and peacekeepers
9. Bilingualism
10. Our Queen

I so far have NO idea for myself!

Would you not be Tink? Good luck with the nightshirts! Actually my DS was Peter and my DH was Hook last year. They were so cute together. DD wanted to be Wendy but Cinderella won out in the end. DD is a bit indecisive (like her mother)

 

[Diamondintheruff]

They had a booth at the Toronto Zoo. I was there earlier this week and had the kids all pysched up for one. We were for sure going to see the Polar Bears and have beaver tails (the booth is right near them). Didn't end up with either. They are building the Polar Bears a new home and had that area closed off so no beaver tails for us.

 

[Alysa]

Mmmmmm Beaver tails! But really, they are the best when you are so cold you can't feel your body. And then that first bite and the sugar and cinnamon and hot lemon and you can feel it warm you up all the way to your skates!
Heaven!