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

[vettechick99]

Hey! You know I had to come read your pre-TR and I'm excited we are going to be there at the same time. What an adorable family you have!! I'll look for your brood and you keep an eye out for mine.

 

[Alysa]

Vettechick!
I had an actual DISboards celebrity visit my trip report!


Thanks for stopping by! I hope we'll run into you! I'm pretty sure I'll be the one being dragged on the "Cars. Speedway racers!" Again. And again! Just a guess but that is all DS has been talking about for days. "At Disney. In October."

Cheers!

 

[Bev1016]

Alysa,
I love your PTR! I'm so excited to hear all about the fun that you have and see the cute costumes. We're taking our DS (who will be 8 months old) for his first WDW trip, so I might have to get some tips from you for taking babies!

I'm excited to read more!

 

[hlrababy]

Hey Alysa!! Just checking in with you!!!

I hope your costume's are going good! Of course, I think ours is changing once again...

 

[Alysa]

Hi Bev,

I might have to get some tips from you for taking babies!

Taking little ones is so nice. I know THEY won't remember but it is a great family getaway. We were in Korea last summer for two weeks and it was nice but really hard on us. (Plus the flights were HELL! Never fly
United!) Disney is just a great place to vacation with a young family because it is so easy. If you do it right they have a great time too and my kids LOVE watching the slide shows of the trip as they get older. I remember when my son was 7-1/2 months he loved just sitting in the splash pads. He also loved cuddling with the characters and "It's a small world". His sister wanted to do a princess breakfast and the characters fussed as much over him as they did with her and just COVERED him with lipstick kisses! To funny. Biggest piece of advice: go SLOW! Return to the rooms often for naps, have short days and take a comfy stroller in case he falls asleep before you get back.
If you have any questions, ask away!

Hi hlrababy!
What are you changing to?
Costume updates for us: The Disney store Mulan and Lightning McQueen costumes are not nice at all this year. The Mulan one is too frilly and the Lightning one is just a jump-suit. So I am currently bidding on a nice plain ebay Mulan one ($18 plus $5 shipping) and hoping a friend who owns a shop that stocks costumes at Halloween will get the actual Lightning car that you wear. Otherwise it is back to ebay for me. Those ones are pricier at about $60 with shipping. And so far I can't find a Narcissa costume anywhere. Keep your eye out for me! There is still a bit of time but I don't want to leave it much longer. Still have to go out and get the stuff for poor DH too.

 

[AZMickeyfans]

Good luck with the costume bids! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

 

[Bev1016]

Biggest piece of advice: go SLOW! Return to the rooms often for naps, have short days and take a comfy stroller in case he falls asleep before you get back.
If you have any questions, ask away!

Thanks! I think we're definitely going to go slow--good suggestion. I'm so excited to hear all about your big trip. It's going to be a blast!

 

[Alysa]

So we won the Mulan costume $61 CAN. Ouch! But that is one down. Now just trying to decide if I should go for bidding on the cute plush lightning costume which is starting at $25 and is not done for a week, or if I should just go ahead and get a regular one for $50 so that there is time for it to arrive... decisions, decisions!
PLUS! Our magical express tickets arrived today! Woo hoo!
Now I must go and finish laundry. We are off to Algonqin this weekend and when I return I will DEFINITELY be ready for some deluxe hotel action!
Have a great long weekend everyone!

 

[AZMickeyfans]

on the Magical Express tags arriving and the costume score! Mulan will be so cute.

 

[javaj]

Great PTR! I'll be waiting for your Plaza review, we're thinking of adding a Plaza ADR.

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Hi Alysa,
The costumes sound cute! Hope you get the Lightning McQueen
DD has (for the moment) narrowed down her outfits to take to her Princess Jasmine and her reversible Ariel (mermaid/bridal outfit). That may change - again - she keeps mentioning her Elizabeth Swan and her Aurora outfit She also has Snow White, Mulan, Belle (red and gold outfits), reversible Cinderella!.
We're planning to get her a HSM cheerleader outfit to take as well - our local Asda (UK Wall Mart) sells a good range of dress up! I try not to spend too much on them as she wears them to death!
DS says he's not taking any - not his Jack Sparrow or Harry Potter. He now wants a Batman costume! Agian, that may change - what am I saying - of course it will change!
Keep posting
Di x

 

[Alysa]

Mulan will be so cute.

Thanks AZMickeyfans! Here is a picture - I can't wait for it to arrive!
Here is a shot of it:

Hi javaj!
Thanks for stopping by! I'll definitely let you know about the plaza! I can't wait - only 35 days now!!! Oh My Goodness! I should start packing!

Hi Di - I went ahead and bid on the lightning - $39 plus $18 shipping so far and 3 days to go. I have a sickness...

Agian, that may change - what am I saying - of course it will change!

We are all about the changing costume choices here - so far so good though! Can't wait to see pics of your kids in their costumes!

 

[Alysa]

Well, we had the BEST time at Algonquin! We have finally figured out the art of camping. We were in the interior on Tim Lake but we didn't do any portages which was nice. DH broke down and finally relaxed his ideas about how little we needed to pack (one year he didn't even want to let me bring a towel! )
This year we took a huge new tent, TWO air matresses, a small heater, a small 2 burner stove and something called a sunshower where you let the water in it heat up all day and then you have a HOT shower before bed. It was heaven!
One evening, DD woke up in the middle of the night so I took her out to the beach at our site and there were so many stars you could almost read by the light. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and the lake was perfectly calm so it reflected all the stars. DD looked up then down and said "Ohhh Mummy, it looks like I could dive down into the sky!"
Between that and a chipmunk who ate all our dogs food whom DS called "Cheeky Chickie" and called for him at the top of his lungs when he wasn't around, we had the best time!
We got back to a mountian of work for me and I have not really slept more than three hours a night since Sunday. Being a freelancer is great but busy times are sometimes really hard. I never turn away work because there are times when you don't have any jobs for a few weeks but other times (like now) you are so busy you can't even see straight! I actually shouldn't even be writting this right now but I really needed a little mental break with some DIS friends!

Plus, yesterday was DD's first day of senior kindergarten and today was DS's first day of preschool. I have been a mess and almost too emotional to write about it. I think two is all I am going to have and this time is so precious and it is fleeting so fast. My babies are growing up before my eyes. I just wish I had more time to sit back a bit more and just enjoy this magical time with them.

Anyway, time to get back to the mountain of work (and the mountain of laundry too!)
Thanks for reading!

 

[AZMickeyfans]

Thanks AZMickeyfans! Here is a picture - I can't wait for it to arrive!
Here is a shot of it:

Such a cute costume!!! I'm sure it will look Fabulous on!




Sounds like a fun camping trip! We added the sunshower this year too and boy did that make a difference for us as well. It was so nice to be clean! Darned chipmunks!

 

[Alysa]

We added the sunshower this year too and boy did that make a difference for us as well. It was so nice to be clean! Darned chipmunks!

Isn't that thing awesome?!?!?

When we left the site, DS shouted (at the top of his lungs) "Bye Cheeky Chickie! I love you!"

 

[askelton]

I love it!

DH broke down and finally relaxed his ideas about how little we needed to pack (one year he didn't even want to let me bring a towel! )

Oh my!

a small heater

It's that cold already?

One evening, DD woke up in the middle of the night so I took her out to the beach at our site and there were so many stars you could almost read by the light. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and the lake was perfectly calm so it reflected all the stars. DD looked up then down and said "Ohhh Mummy, it looks like I could dive down into the sky!"

How sweet!

Plus, yesterday was DD's first day of senior kindergarten and today was DS's first day of preschool. I have been a mess and almost too emotional to write about it. I think two is all I am going to have and this time is so precious and it is fleeting so fast. My babies are growing up before my eyes. I just wish I had more time to sit back a bit more and just enjoy this magical time with them.

 

[AZMickeyfans]

Isn't that thing awesome?!?!?

When we left the site, DS shouted (at the top of his lungs) "Bye Cheeky Chickie! I love you!"

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Plus, yesterday was DD's first day of senior kindergarten and today was DS's first day of preschool. I have been a mess and almost too emotional to write about it. I think two is all I am going to have and this time is so precious and it is fleeting so fast. My babies are growing up before my eyes. I just wish I had more time to sit back a bit more and just enjoy this magical time with them.

I don't think you ever have enough time to sit back and enjoy them - it just flashes by before you know it. Just make the most of it when you can.

The camping trip sounds great - at least your DH has lightened up a bit about what you need to take. No towel???

 

[Alysa]

Hi askelton

It's that cold already?

It's only a bit chilly at night. DH really just brought it for me because he knows I always get cold. And if mummy isn't happy, no one is!

Hi Di

No towel???

I know!!!!! He did say I could bring a hand towel and I told him a thing or two a well but they are not suitable for a family friendly trip report and would probably be filtered out by the DIS.

33 days!

Okay, so after having STILL not lost the 30 pounds that I gained with the kids, I have made a vow that while they are off at school, that I will start running and eating better - well, no running this week so far but it was a crazy week and I have lost 5 pounds since Monday! I did eat a bagel today though at a playdate today with the kids though so that may go up a bit. Anyway, this may become a dual pre-trip/keep me accountable thread but it is for Disney so that I can go buy a new bathing suit last minute and look (hopefully) okay in it, so it still has relevance.

Some evil person has increased the bidding on the Lightning McQueen to $57(plus$18)... I want to keep bidding (I know, I have a sickness) but the "frugal" Scottish bit of me (hi Di and Grumpy!) is tell me that I am insane!

Thanks for visiting!!

 

[kaysmommie]

Hi Alysa,
I just found your link when you posted on my report. What a gorgeous family! Your trip sounds amazing. Is it going to be a grand gathering? I know if your all staying onsite at Disney (parties of 8 people & up) then you can link your reservations to be a Grand gathering. My friend owns DVC like you and that was no problem. The grand Gathering events sounds really fun. Anyway just thought i'd mention it in case. Your trip plans look great! Our trips overlap a little too. Looks like we will be in different parks so far. Good luck on the McQueen costume. The Mulan costume is cute, my DD has that one and I think she has grown out of it since it's a 5. Have you talked DS into being Mushu yet?

You know I'm trying to lose weight also but it's a challenge with my thyroid issues. I would be so thrilled with 15 lbs. but would be happy to lose 5 lbs. before the trip in 28 days . That is about the amount I gain every year on the dining plan. I don't even pig out and it takes me forever to get that weight back off after the trip. Anyway maybe you will inspire me. I try to walk 2 miles at least 4 times a week. It's so hard to find time though KWIM? Congrats on losing 5 lbs!!