Giving Thanks for How Far We've Come at the Happiest Place on Earth

[longing2Batdisney]

for being paid in full

sounds like you have some great loot for their Disney bags!

you guys are going to have a magical time!

Connie

 

[luvmy2babies]

for 45 days.

Well, spent some time on touringplan.com to get our basic plans down for each day. I made my own using the "Holiday Touring Plan for Parents with Small Children" they have as a guide. Pretty neat tool how you can put in what you want to do in what order and it puts it on the map of the park for you. I may not follow it strictly because well what plan gets followed strictly on vacation with small children, but being there during a holiday week, I am sure I will try to follow it closely. Plus it helped me make sure I wasn't going to be doing something and planning my next activity way across the park.

I was even able to add in visits to fast pass booths, and it showed where the restrooms are, which is of the utmost importance when traveling with children.

So far (and I don't think it will change based on the crowd calender) we have:

Sunday: (arrival day) Depending on what time we arrive: Check in at the resort then take the bus to MK to eat and see the decorations.

Monday: breakfast at the resort (hopefully) around 7:00 to 7:15. Catch an 8am (or therebouts) bus to MK to be there for the opening.

My plan for MK on Monday includes Adventure Land, Fantasy Land and meeting Tiana and Naveen. We will stop at 11 for lunch (hoping for Cosmic Ray's) and at 2:00 get a snack and find a spot to rest and wait for the parade. DS naps around this time, but only sleeps an hour so it is not worth going back to the resort. My plan is to get a spot near the beginning of the parade route so when it goes by us we may be able to get back to Fantasy Land a little quicker to do a couple of things before our Crystal Palace ADR. It's at 5:20.

After dinner, we'll visit the Baby Care Center to wipe ds down and put him in his pj's. Then we're heading over to DHS. It's evening EMH and Fantasmic is showing, but we're only going to see the Osborne Lights. With that park closing at 8:00 every other day of the week, Monday will likely be our only chance to see them. We're spending Thursday there, but we have dinner at 1900 Park Fare at 5:30 before they turn them on.

Tuesday: Catch the bus to MK around 7:45 and either walk or take the Monorail to the Contemporary for 8:40 ADR at Chef Mickey's. After breakfast, either walk or take the Monorail to MK.

My plan for MK for Tuesday includes Toontown and Tomorrow Land. Now with breakfast at Chef Mickey's and a Dinner scheduled at Akershus on Wednesday, I'm not thinking I'll end up in the character lines there except for maybe the Fairies, but I did include the others in my plan anyway just in case. This day will be less about rides even though I do hope to ride Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin with them. We'll do QS for lunch again but a little later since breakfast will be later.

Not planning on seeing the parade again after our break unless dd wants to. We'll either use the parade time to repeat a favorite ride or two or catch one we missed. Or if possible, we'll go through the shops on Mainstreet to get to the exit because we're heading over to Epcot for the rest of that day, hopefully on the Monorail.

My plan for the evening there is to hopefully do the things outside WS: Imagination Pavilion, Land Pavilion, and Living Seas (Nemo Ride, Turtle Talk and exhibits). A QS dinner will be in there. Plan to be out of there around 8:00 to head back to the resort even if it means we skip the Imagination Pavilion and go a little earlier the next day.

Wednesday: Sleep in a little, which for ds means 7:30. For dd it means 8:00-maybe. Breakfast at the resort around 8:30 or so. Catch a 9:30 or so bus to Epcot to hopefully arrive around 10:00. This is our full day at Epcot. We'll start outside of WS since it doesn't open until 11. I want to check out Innoventions, take some pictures in front of Spaceship earth, and hopefully see Captain EO (dd is a huge MJ fan even though she had no clue who he was until after his death). Head into WS when it opens and make our way from one side to the other. Since our dinner ADR is at Akershus in Norway, we'll start on the UK side.

No real plan here except to see them in order and have a light lunch in Italy or wherever we are at 1:00. I know I want to do Pick A Pearl in Japan, but other than that and seeing the entertainment in each place and getting dd's passport filled out I have no firm plans. We'll do Kidcot stops if she wants. Hopefully we'll see Mulan in China and Jasmine and Alladin in Morocco. I’m playing it by ear as far as our break on this day since we're getting a late start and there's no parade. We'll just take one when we need one.

Our ADR is at 5:40, so at 4:30 or so we'll get the clothes from the locker and go to the Baby Care Center so I can change ds and dd can change. Then we'll make our way to Norway. If we have any countries left, we may try to see them after dinner. I'm really hoping that by this time hopefully we've gotten dd's passport done and after dinner, we can just check out the decorations for a while and then head back for the bus. I want to be out of there by 8:00.

Thursday: Catch a 7:30 or so bus to DHS. We have H&V at 8:30. Now, if we don't ride TSM, no one will feel bad. I think my one advantage of this trip is that dd is really oblivious to all there is to do at WDW. I will not likely be forced to deal with DHS's most popular attraction. I did put it in my plan to obtain a fast pass for it, but from what I have read if I am able to get one, the return time may be after we've left there for our dinner.

So for that day, I have HSM 3, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast Live, Play House Disney Live, Muppet Vision, Character meetings and the afternoon parade and TSM only if time allows (and I doubt it will). We haven't even seen Toy Story 3. I know crazy right? The others are must do's although I admit Muppet Vision may be skipped if time doesn't allow for it. It's a bit away from everything else and is more for me anyway. Dd knows Kermit from Sesame Street but that's it. Due to the fear factor, we'll be skipping Honey I Shrunk the Audience. After the parade, we'll make our way to the lockers and Baby Center to get ready for "1900 Park Fare Happily Ever After" dinner at GF.

No plans to see DTD on this trip and I definitely don't even want to see DTD on Thanksgiving, so my plan for getting back to the resort is to use Epcot as a transfer point from the Grand Floridian. If we're up for going in for a while, cool. If not, back to the hotel.

Friday: AK. My dd loves animals. Grab a light snack at the food court and catch an 8:00 or 8:15 or so bus to AK. We have Tusker House at 9:40. Interesting thing here is I thought I was getting an 8:40 ressie. By the time I realized it was 9:40, nothing earlier was available. I'm still checking, but for sanity's sake we'll grab a snack before going to the bus stop. If the reservation remains at 9:40, my plan is to do rope drop, go in, take some pictures and hopefully grab fast passes for KS before we go to the restaurant. Setting up a touring plan for AK was a little more difficult cuz it's a bit spread out, but on the agenda (in no certain order here) is Camp Minnie Mickey, Finding Pocahantas characters, Dinoland (Boneyard and Triceratop Spin), Festival of the Lion King, Tree of Life Exhibit, Asia, KS, Affection Section (if it still exists) and the train ride. Somewhere in there we'll stop for a snack or a QS lunch, but we'll definitely do our regular break around 2:30 or so to get a good spot for the Jamming Jungle parade at 3:45.

Right now I have it so I save Dinoland until after the parade, but if we're ahead of schedule enough and do it before the parade, we will leave AK after and head back to MK. Either way I plan to go back to MK. Friday is our last park day and I'd like to end things there…see the castle again, etc.

I'd love to see some fireworks on this trip, but I think it will be just too late to hang out for us. Plus I really don’t want to be trying to leave any park when it is closing. As a family we are much better getting started early, hanging out all day and settling in early in the evening. Wishes at 10pm is way too late. Fantasmic is early, but dd would be frightened by the fire. Illuminations is a small possibility since we're getting a late start on Wednesday, so I'll see how we feel. It will likely come down to how crowded the park is that day and from what I have read, it is going to be pretty crowded. More than likely though fireworks will have to wait for another trip.

So that is it. Our flight home is at noon on Saturday so all we'll have time for prior to DME pick up is breakfast and checkout as I imagine they'll pick us up around 9am.

Still a lot to do. Have to get our memory books and dd's passport book printed out and put together. Have to make our shirts and finish shopping. My time is limited since I'm keeping the trip a secret from dd. But I have a day off next week on 10/14 to take ds for shots and hope to get some things done while dd is in school Then on 10/16, dd has choir rehearsal and will be out of the house for at least 2 hours. Thankfully ds can't talk yet. I do so much thinking out loud I joke that he will have flashbacks of hearing about this trip.

 

[luvmy2babies]

About to call it a night, but had to post, I'm loving ebay's help with this trip. Posted previously about the adorable lanyards I got and today the Cinderella Carriages I ordered for Pick a Pearl were in the mailbox when we got home. Thankfully dd isn't fretting over being relieved of her mail checking duties. I replaced it with carrying ds's bottle bag from the van, but she hasn't complained. Last time she checked the mail she just missed seeing some Mickey Mail so I've checked the mail ever since.

I opened the box and was really happy. They looked better than the picture online and they came with the chains. I thought I was going to have to buy chains after the charms came. They are so adorable.

 

[luvmy2babies]

So the major thing going on here that I haven't really talked much about in this trip report is the issue with my dining reservations. I remember the night I made them. I had gotten home from my Orientation at my daughter's school and finally knew the dates for our trip (I was planning it around her fall break). I was so excited because her being out the week of Thanksgiving meant we'd have a longer trip. I made 6 ADR's and was so happy with them.

It was about a month later when the bomb dropped. I should have counted the baby in the party size when I made them. It was a little fact I picked up on here while searching for tips on doing Disney with an infant. So, since then I'd been trying to get them changed and had only managed to do one of them, Hollywood and Vine and going by my searches, that one does not seem to be a hard one to get.

Two previous calls to Disney Dining I got the "It will be okay" spill from the CM. The 2nd one did look for availability and found none. She said I'd probably have to wait longer if the restaurant was at capacity but should not be turned away. I figured I'd keep trying even if just to avoid having to have that awkward conversation whenever we went to eat.

Well, I just got off the phone with Disney Dining again and the CM managed to change 2 of my ADRs to include my baby. Counting the one I already changed, I'm now set for 3 of the 6.

I had already changed Hollywood and Vine. She got both the 1900 Park Fare and Chef Mickey's changed to include him and at the same times.

She encouraged me to keep calling. She said getting Chef Mickey's changed was a major accomplishment, so I'll call again after the system comes back up on Thursday.

Of the 3 left, I'm most concerned about the Akershus reservation. I may try to get a breakfast there instead when I get home tonight. I think I'll be standing in the princess line at MK on Tuesday just in case.

I celebrated getting the 1900 Park Fare dinner changed by ordering my dd this adorable Cinderella dress online from Toys R Us. I had sworn I'd not spend money on these, but she does love to play dressup and when I saw this dress my heart melted. The fact the dress was on sale didn't hurt.

 

[luvmy2babies]

Logged on tonight and saw the gift card offer at the bottom of the page. 5 night non-discounted package qualifies you for it. We are at a value resort so the offer in our case is for a $200 gift card.

I called Disney and asked for the offer to be applied. The lady put me on hold for a couple of minutes, but when she came back she said it worked and the gift card would be waiting for me when we arrive.

I know I have said it before, but I love this site.

That's $200 less that I have to come up with for spending money.

 

[luvmy2babies]

Okay so today was the long awaited day off. The reason for the day off was to take my son for his 9 month check-up. He's doing great. Weighs 20lbs and is 28in tall, which the pediatrician says is pretty much perfect. He got a couple of shots, which was why I took the day off.

After the appointment I got a few things done. Left there and went to our Disney store to get a few things. Finished up the gift bags and got most of my Christmas shopping done. Got another $200 gift card to go with the one I got through that Disney offer.

Then I went over to the library and printed out all the pages for our memory books. I still need to print the covers, but I need to get some ink for my printer.

I was thinking today I just can't believe we are really going. It is less than 6 weeks away and it still doesn't seem real yet. I guess that is the effect of the first trip.

Edited to add: I went ahead and reserved my son's wheels for the trip with Orlando Stroller Rentals last night as well. Stroller, rain cover and insurance plus tax came to $110. A bargain over renting from the parks, not that those strollers would accommodate my son anyway. That new design cuts out the infant set or really any child that might want to lie down.

But the one from OSR will be great. I have coveted the Baby City Mini every time I go to Babies R Us, but when they had their trade-in event and I prepared to trade in my Jeep three-wheeler (I love it but it's bulky), they were out. The Mini folds with ease, isn't heavy and if I need to I can put ds in the Ergo and let my daughter sit in it.

I love the fact I can pay for so much of this trip in advance. Should need very little cash really.

I've spent a good deal of money but it is spent. The written plan has me paying all household bills before leaving save the electric bill which isn't due after we get back. Last vacation I had to go online and pay something (can't remember what) during the trip. Blech!

 

[luvmy2babies]

More changes. Hoping this one will make the trip easier and not harder. It's okay if it isn't easier but definitely don't want it to be harder.

For several reasons I did not initially purchase a seat for my son on the plane. Mainly I didn't think I could handle dragging a carseat in the airport and have to deal with putting anything under the DME bus.

I just began to think about how much more relaxing the actual flight might be if he had his own seat, mainly the fact that we could take up an entire row the three of us and not worry about a stranger sitting next to us and it being the first stranger we ran into that didn't adore my son.

Some unexpected money came and I was able to add a gift card offer to our reservation so I purchased a seat for him. I called Southwest and a nice lady helped me get it at the lowest price I could. The outbound flight was still available at the web fare of $112 that I paid for dd and me, but for the return flight the web fare was sold out and the lowest available was $209. She told me to book the outbound flight for him online and put in my confirmation # when the system asked who would be traveling with this minor and she would simultaneously book the infant fare for the return flight, which was $165, so saved me over $40 and I know what I'll be doing with that money.

I'll have to buy another carseat for this since there's no way I'm taking the one he uses everyday.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3882167

I love the thing, but it's a monster. Heard a lot of people travel with the Scenera (sp?) and I see it is only $39. Although that isn't nearly as much of a factor as having to lug it around. It does appear to be lightweight though.

I feel great about having purchased him a seat, I'm still thinking about the best way to get the seat through the airport though. I have not traveled with a carseat on the plane before. Dd flew once as an infant and I held her since dh was with me. Next time she flew she was big enough for the airplane seatbelt. I always checked her seat as luggage and installed it in the rental car upon arrival. So, I have carried one into the airport, but not past the luggage counter.

There's this thing onestepahead.com has you can put a seat on and wheel it around like luggage, but I'm not sure we'll fly enough to justify the $90 it costs. Plus it leaves the carseat exposed and I want it covered when it goes under the DME bus. There's this other thing called Traveling Toddler that looks great…attaches your carseat to a rolling carry-on. Then I read it has to be detached when you go through security. I'm thinking I'll get a bag I can use as a backpack and stick the carseat in and plop my backpack in the seat. Traveling sans stroller I believe will make this all doable.

Only downside is now I'll definitely have to sit in the middle seat between dd and ds. But I think the flight will be better for all of us. I expect dd to be looking at her things, mainly her memory/activity book and given my son's love for paper, it's best if they are separated.

 

[luvmy2babies]

I go to the mailbox everyday looking for something that has to do with this trip.

The Magical Express packet came yesterday. I just stared at those yellow tags and thought wow. It was one of the many "we are really going," moments.

Today, dd's Cinderella's dress arrived. We were in Wal-Mart doing some shopping today and I picked up the transfer paper for the shirts I'm going to make and some other supplies. Then I found a few things I wasn't expecting but really wanted for ds.

Wal-Mart had a clearance rack in the infant section full of Disney shirts. Long-sleeved ones for $6, short-sleeved ones for $3. I got him a short-sleeved Buzz Lightyear shirt (he loves Buzz, his face brightened when he saw it) and a short-sleeved Lightening McQueen shirt. The 2 long-sleeved ones I am really in love with. One had Mickey Mouse on ice skates in the snow. It says Totally Cool at the top. But the find I'm most excited about is the other shirt.

As I have prepared for this trip, I thought, "Ds really loves Handy Manny, a Handy Manny shirt would be nice for Hollywood and Vine." I was in the Disney Store and they had one, but the smallest they had was a 2/3-way too big. I was thinking it again while I was looking through the shirts tonight and there it was. Manny is walking and the tools are in the box, except Flicker is outside it. It says "Let's Go Tools" on the top and has a little patch that says "We Fix it" at the bottom.

Went to pick up the Scenera today and all they had was pink. I'l try another Wal-Mart tomorrow. We have 3 around here.

 

[luvmy2babies]

It is getting so I might be disappointed if I go to the mailbox and there's no Mickey Mail. I wonder if dd has noticed that she got fired from collecting the mail. I have her carrying ds' bottle bag instead. If she checked the mail the cat would long be out of the bag.

Yesterday, there was a letter with all of the details of our reservation. Not sure what I'm going to do with the Planet Hollywood vouchers as I don't have DTD is our plans unless we get there and dd says she doesn't care to see the castle yet. Yeah, that'll happen.

Anywho, mid-October came fast. On Thursday we'll be down to 30 days and I'll really have to start thinking about packing. Streamlining is the name of the game so my overpacking tendencies that resurfaced after having ds, will really have to be under control. I am going to purchase a larger suitcase since one of the wheels broke on mine anyway in hopes of getting everything in one and only having one other small bag dd can pull when we get to the airport. I'm going to try a trick I picked up on here of putting outfits into large ziplock bags and pushing the air out of them for organization and space and try to get everything into them except my jeans and dd's princess dresses.

As I mentioned previously, I'm going to order snacks, bottled water, milk, juice, diapers, wipes, baby food and formula (still debating on that one due to the $9 markup) from Garden Grocer. Not having to pack diapers and wipes is really going to help. 50+ diapers take up a lot of packing space even when removed from the packaging. Only diapers I'll put in the suitcase are 8 or 10 Huggies overnights I'll bring specifically for him to sleep in at night. Lately the boy wakes up ready for a wet t-shirt contest and I know I point the fountain down before putting him to bed.

Some non-disney stuff is going on too. Parent/teacher conference and report cards this week. Forking over money for cheerleading this week...$140 but it's a deal really because it's one payment covering a uniform package and althletic fee. They practice an hour twice a week and it's right there at school in the hour between dismissal and the start of aftercare. Compared to paying a monthly fee and carting her to a lesson it wins hands down over any other activity. Didn't even mind the $45 I shelled out for real cheerleading sneakers.

Ds is crawling and finding life to be a real adventure. I picked up outlet covers. Most of the outlets remained covered from when dd was younger, but a few were open. People who had the house before put the cabinet things in so we're set there. I had to put a pillow under the coffee table to keep him from going under there because as I found out this weekend he doesn't know how to get out. Happened with his sister too. I think he kicked a toy under there and went to get it. Spent some time moving things he tries to pull down and cushioning the corners of the TV stand because everything is a drum to him now and he likes to go over there and pound on it. And so it begins...life with a mobile baby.

Working on a new me as I pass through the stages of grieving. Dh has been gone over 7 months now and I can tell I have changed. I can feel I do have my own identity outside of being dh's wife and even being dd's and ds' mom. So, I got myself some more makeup and clothes. I even started wearing makeup to work and I haven't done that in years. I lost my desire to "be pretty" some time ago as dh's illness progressed. But I figured out a way to get the makeup on in 5 minutes and while I still walk around some mornings shaking my head in disbelief he isn't coming home, I'm feeling better.

 

[JaneBanks]

I just found your PTR and it's been a pleasure to read! I am truly sorry for your family's loss and I am SO glad that you are taking this wonderful trip with your children. It is definitely deserved.

I can't wait to read what's coming next!! Subscribing!

Its so close!!!!

 

[jillyb]

I've just finished reading and I just want to say you're an amazing woman! I'm so glad that you and the kids are taking this trip.

 

[luvmy2babies]

Well, I'm sleepy, but I couldn't let the 30 day point pass without putting something on my PTR.

Today is October 21st. This time next month, we'll be sleeping (hopefully) soundly in our room at All Star Movies after getting our first taste of WDW parks at MK. Hopefully I'll fall asleep with a vision of my daughter's various expressions of joy from the day.

Had a threat today at work. The project I am working on through no fault of my department is in a real crunch. Upper management has stated they are not approving any more vacations because there is a deliverable at the end of November. One lady on the team is currently on vacation and the manager asked if she should be called back into the office.

When asked if anyone had plans for next month, I reminded my manager of my dates. She asked had the vacation been approved. I guess she forgot signing the request. It was nearly 2 months ago.

When I said, it was approved 2 months ago, she said vacations plans already made may need to be tweaked a bit. Now she is not aware of exactly what I have planned, just knows I plan to be out of the office. She didn't officially ask. I'm betting she won't. I told the project lead, who will be providing my manager with recommendations on needed resources that there is no messing with my vacation, that I had dropped a bundle on it, had purchased plane tickets and my trip insurance would not cover, "Oh, I have to work instead."

And believe me, if they somehow got me to cancel my trip and work, I think they'd regret it later. I booked ADRs before getting the trip approved, but got the days off approved before booking the actual vacation.

This will be my 3rd set of holidays at this company and I have never taken off any days other than the ones the company was closed. Looking back, since dh worked for the Post Office and only had the actual holiday off for Thanksgiving and Christmas I always work.

So what happened today that was trip related...I got up at 5am as usual and for kicks (or so I thought) logged onto the Disney Website. Low and behold, there was availability at Crystal Palace for 3 people on the day we plan to be at MK. It's at 3:35, which isn't an ideal time and means we'll probably have to take our 2:00 break very close to the restaurant or be blocked from getting there by people viewing the parade, but we'll make it work. We'll either share a light lunch at 11:00 or get snacks and then snack later that evening. Might work out better...can probably get over to DHS before they turn the Osborne lights on.

So, I'm down to 2 ADRs that are still for 2 people. One of them I am very concerned about, Akershus. I have had the CM I get on the phone check the entire week for any meal before 7:00pm and nothing. I'm going to keep trying, but considering a CC hold is required for this reservation I don't hold out much hope of people cancelling. They pretty much know they want it when they get it I imagine. They might want a better time, but it's booked pretty solid at this point. I guess someone might cancel if they get CRT instead, but when I had the CM do the same search for CRT, nothing.

I think before I change dd's clothes or even tell her about the meal, I'm going to try to talk to whoever is checking people in about our chances. Just in case, I have the princess line in my touring plan for Tuesday. I have also begun to practice eating with ds in the Ergo. I'm getting pretty good with it. I can get him in and out without even undoing any of the buckles.

Parent/teacher conference went well..A's and B's. Teacher did say dd seems to decide when she wants to put forth extra effort...that she is obviously very smart and turns it on and off. She had major trouble reading and it has gotten so much better. She does need more practice hearing phonics sounds correctly.

Ds has developed his own crawling style (both knees at once) but manages to get pretty much anywhere he wants to go. He is also pulling up and has begun self-feeding for snacks.

Cheerleading shoes must have been thrown here because they were on the porch when I got home. Got here before the Crocs which were ordered days before. Crocs should be here tomorrow though.

Got the ziplock bags today. Picking up the suitcase this weekend and some jeans. Hope to finish the memory books as well.

Hooray for 30 Days!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[luvmy2babies]

I've just finished reading and I just want to say you're an amazing woman! I'm so glad that you and the kids are taking this trip.

Thanks, and I am really really glad too. I'm looking forward to getting away. I hope to experience the feeling of being out of the real world other people talk about. Fighting traffice everyday I go to work, I'm looking forward to Disney transportation. 6 days without getting behind the wheel or having to yell GET IN THE VAN!!!!!!!!!

I hope you and your family are well.

Under 30 days. Yeah!!!

 

[luvmy2babies]

I just found your PTR and it's been a pleasure to read! I am truly sorry for your family's loss and I am SO glad that you are taking this wonderful trip with your children. It is definitely deserved.

I can't wait to read what's coming next!! Subscribing!

Its so close!!!!

Thanks for your kind words. I am really looking forward to going. Maybe once we are on the plane, I'll stop saying "I can't believe we're going."

 

[jillyb]

Woohoo!!! You're in the 20's now!!!

Not sure if I read this right but Akershus doesn't require a CC. CRT, however, does.

 

[luvmy2babies]

Woohoo!!! You're in the 20's now!!!

Not sure if I read this right but Akershus doesn't require a CC. CRT, however, does.

Hmmm, then which restaurant was that I gave CC information for? I know it was one of them. I couldn't get CRT. It wasn't pre-paid, like CRT is, but I know I gave CC information for one of my reservations for a hold or maybe in my excitement I thought I did.

Someone else had to cancel an Akershus breakfast during that week, (unfortunately had to postpone their whole trip I think due to a child's illness) but it is on the same day as our Chef Mickey's breakfast and since I did get Chef Mickey's modified, I didn't try to get it.

I'm going to keep trying. And I usually check for any availability for CRT during the call. I'm willing to take any meal, that doesn't have us out too early or too late. I am glad I haven't gotten a repeat CM on the phone who might say "Her again?" Hopefully they are used to it. I've read posts where people got a princess meal even days before so even though I didn't want to be thinking about ADRs this late in the game, I'm encouraged. I guess I should just be grateful that I can see all my reservations online. I see a lot of people can't.

I can't believe how fast this thing is approaching. This time next month we will be in Magic Kingdom.

 

[jillyb]

Hmmm, then which restaurant was that I gave CC information for? I know it was one of them. I couldn't get CRT. It wasn't pre-paid, like CRT is, but I know I gave CC information for one of my reservations for a hold or maybe in my excitement I thought I did.

Someone else had to cancel an Akershus breakfast during that week, (unfortunately had to postpone their whole trip I think due to a child's illness) but it is on the same day as our Chef Mickey's breakfast and since I did get Chef Mickey's modified, I didn't try to get it.

I'm going to keep trying. And I usually check for any availability for CRT during the call. I'm willing to take any meal, that doesn't have us out too early or too late. I am glad I haven't gotten a repeat CM on the phone who might say "Her again?" Hopefully they are used to it. I've read posts where people got a princess meal even days before so even though I didn't want to be thinking about ADRs this late in the game, I'm encouraged. I guess I should just be grateful that I can see all my reservations online. I see a lot of people can't.

I can't believe how fast this thing is approaching. This time next month we will be in Magic Kingdom.

Well I hope that it was just your excitement that made you think you were using your CC!

Hope your Magic Kingdom day is magical!

Oh...could you do list what park you're going to be in and what day you'll be there and where you're eating on those days? I've tried to go back through your posts to figure it out but I'm just not with it this morning! LOL

 

[luvmy2babies]

It is probably kind of hard to tell my schedule because my plans changed from the beginning of the report.

Sunday

This is our arrival day. Plane lands at 3:25 and we're taking DME. Hoping to go over to MK to at least see the castle, check out the decorations, eat QS and just let it sink in that we are actually there. How much we do will depend on how we feel and what time we are actually able to get over there. I didn't want to take a chance on trying to make a reservation for this day since we have an afternoon flight.

Monday

We will try to make rope drop at MK. Have a very early dinner reservation at Crystal Palace at 3:35. But hey, it was available for 3 so I took it. We love these characters. Even ds loves Pooh and Tigger.

Sometime around 5 or 6 depending on how things go, we are going to hop over to DHS to see the Osborne Lights. These things look amazing on video. I can't wait to see them. That's all we're going over there for though so we won't be there long.

Plan for Monday is Adventure Land, Fantasy Land and meeting Tiana and Naveen.

Tuesday

8:40 breakfast at Chef Mickey's, then over to MK. Plan for Tuesday is Toontown and Fantasy Land.

Around 3 or 4 depending on whether dd wants to stay and see the parade since we might miss it on Monday, we're going over to Epcot. Plan for the evening is Living Seas/Nemo ride and some other things outside WS and QS at Sunshine Seasons.

Wednesday

Breakfast at the resort unless by some miracle I get a breakfast reservation at Akershus. Then World Showcase. Our reservation at Akershus is for 5:30. None of the CMs I have spoken with believe we'll get turned away, but may have to wait longer. I just called a little while ago and the guy said that day is blacked out. I'm hoping to be able to ask before I change dd's clothes.

Thursday

DHS. 8:30 at Hollywood and Vine. My children love Handy Manny and Agent Oso. Dd hasn't seen the Little Einsteins in a while as the show comes on at a weird hour now, so I will be interested to see how she reacts to them. When Jo Jo was still there I asked her if she remembered Jo Jo and Goliath and she didn't. This was one of her favorite shows. And how does ds know who these characters are, you ask? Well, he has to do something while I'm getting dressed. He can be playing and if dd is watching and he hears Manny, he will stop what he is doing. I got him a Handy Manny shirt to wear that day. Hope he likes him.

5:30 at 1900 Park Fare. Still debating on changing at DHS or at the Grand Floridian. Got dd an adorable Cinderella dress.

Friday

AK. Hoping to get there for the (now) 8am opening. We have Tusker House at 9:40. I swore I was making it for 8:40, but guess I had a not so good moment. We'll have to get a snack at the resort or in the park after we get in to survive with no meltdowns until then. Just tried to change this one and it is booked solid as well.

Hoping to finish up with the evening at MK since this is our last park day.

Saturday

Travel home. Flight is at 12:05, so DME will likely pick up at 9:00. We'll have breakfast at the resort.

 

[luvmy2babies]

This time next month is Thanksgiving. We'll be eating breakfast at Hollywood and Vine and spending the day at DHS, catching some shows. Will we even attempt to ride the mighty TSM?

Really, it's doubtful, but we'll see how Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin goes over. This is one of the areas where our trip being a surprise and dd not knowing much about WDW comes in handy. We can skip this and it won't be a big deal. Now if we miss the princesses, ds and I might need a separate plane to get home, so in the unlikely (according to every CM I have spoken to) event we do get turned away at Akershus, I'll be doing my best to make sure she meets them between our 2.5 days at MK.

Dinner that day is at 1900 Park Fare. I got dd an adorable Cinderella dress. I got it on sale shortly before it reverted back to the original price and I was really happy about that. I ordered two tiaras today from flowergirldressesforless.com. The location of the comb on the Disney Store crowns (on the sides pointing down) makes wearing them painful for dd. Unfortunately I have fallen a bit behind on doing the extra stuff. Having trouble finding ink for my printer. But it will alll work out, hopefully without me being up late the night before we leave.

So at this point in our trip we will have hopefully done the things I consider things we really need to do-the things that were the biggest motivators for the trip in the first place-riding a boatload of rides together and meeting the children's (and my) favorite characters at least once.

I'll be letting out a big sigh of relief once we meet Tiana, which is first on the list after Dumbo on Monday…and first if we get to Dumbo and it is too close to 10am (Tiana's first scheduled appearance). I don't want to be running back and forth over there all day to catch her. I'm using that as extra motivation to get dd up for rope drop.

A confession to make: I'm hoping dd either won't notice or won't want to stand in the Fairy line. I hear it gets dreadfully long, really fast and is easily 3 times as long as the princess line. I'm sure because they don’t appear elsewhere.

Of course my main goal is that we enjoy ourselves…all of us including ds. Even at his age, he has things he likes to do more than others. He loves being outside…always has. His daycare started taking them out for walks when he was under 4 months old and even they commented on how happy he seemed outside. He had his feet dipped in the ocean for the first time at 5 months old and he loved it. Seemed to hate it the 2nd time, but it turned out he needed a nap. He conked out under the tent for 45 minutes while dd and I played in the waves and he woke up loving it again.

A week with no carseat will probably be like a vacation to him. He doesn't hate it. He just grunts when he's buckled in and as soon as it's unbuckled it's "get me outta here." If I hesitate after I have unbuckled him, he starts to whine. It could be the process of getting strapped in he doesn't like. Once he is in, he sings and "talks" or will fall asleep if he's tired. He loves his stroller and the Ergo. He loves the carousel at the mall (we sat on a bench that rocked while dd rode a horse close by) and he loved the train at the zoo.

One reason I want to take this trip is because there are so many more things we can all do than there are at any other place. I've been asked if I should bring someone with me so dd can do bigger rides (she's 48 inches tall). But no. She'll be scared for one and really, by the time we do all the stuff we can all do together, there'll be no time for stuff ds can't do. I'd be spending money to bring someone so I can come home with dents in my arm from dd's grip.

Now, if I'd had the money and we weren't going over a holiday, I would have invited dd's sitter. She's their Godparents' daughter. Mainly though she loves the children and they love her and I know she'd love to go to Disney..huge Tinkerbell fan and loves Pooh and she and dd go to the same school so she'll be on break that week too. I couldn't afford it though and didn't feel right about taking her from her family over a holiday. And even though I know she wouldn't mind, I'm not sure she'd want to spend the break doing all this little kid stuff. I'm thinking I'll invite her when I take them on a Disney cruise…that way she can go off on her own when she wants but dd won't have to spend all her time in the splash area because ds can't go in the regular pool.

Yes, I'm already thinking about the next Disney vacation.

 

[luvmy2babies]

This day next month will be our final park day.

We will start off at Animal Kingdom, hopefully have breakfast at Tusker House if ds doesn't create a fire code violation, but I'm going to get us there early to go through Camp Minnie Mickey anyway. I'm going to get dd a safari journal to do the activities. That will be a nice souvenir from there and make things more interesting, not that she won't find that park interesting. She loves animals. We're doing the passport at World Showcase, then I read about the safari journal and thought it was cute and I know she'll enjoy it. It will be a good way to keep her moving too.

I think AK is the largest park, so I'm glad it is opening early at 8:00.

Hoping to finish up at MK that evening. The only way to end the vacation to me is to see the castle one more time. I so wish the fireworks were before 10:00. I'm still considering perhaps staying in Epcot on Tuesday night to see Illuminations since we're only doing World Showcase on Wednesday.

I know I'll feel a bit of sadness when we walk out of MK that night. Hopefully dd won't be too upset. When we took our vacation in June, she did express some regret about going home on the last day, but I told her it wouldn't be our last vacation and she was okay. I know even if we can't stay as long, I want to go to Disney at least one more time while ds is still young enough to get in for free, so that combined with my vow I won't go in the summer, doesn't leave a lot of time between now and another trip because he turns 3 January 9, 2013.