Goofy with Peter Pan Syndrome and Family Go To Disneyland - PTR

[6Smiles]

I just got off the phone with Disney Dining and made my first dining reservation. I feel like I am a coke bottle that was shaken ready to explode, I am so excited. The trip is feeling really real now. I have to study, I have to study, I have to study, Nah .... I have to plan Disneyland! Oh drat smilies aren't working.

When: June 19 - June 27th
Where: Homewood Suites
Why: Because we need a V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N
How: Road Trip

That leaves the who:

Me: I'm the Mom, wife, finishing up prereqs for nursing, applying in December. Favorite characters Jiminy Cricket, Daisy Duck, Snow White and the Seven dwarfs, and Piglet.

DH: Goofy with Peter Pan Syndrome. He told me he would always be a kid at heart and would never grow up before we married, SO I WAS WARNED! In all honesty my DH Works hard, looks tough, but is a softy! Shhhhh don't tell him I said that.

DD14: Our lovable Drama Queen. Loves Tinkerbell, Aurora, Tianna and food porn. My eating partner, we will be eating our way through Disneyland.

DD12: Our Sports Girl. Favorite Characters: Robin Hood and Stitch. She is a like Robin Hood and would help anyone in need. But I think she's a little bit of a rebel like Stitch!

DD8: Our Babe, still trying to find her feet. Big hearted, very smart, loves reading and writing. Favorite characters Ariel, Belle, Princesses and Fairies.

DD5: Our Bugaboo. Loves and absolutely HAVES TO meet Minnie Mouse and Snow White.

So that's our group, I'll post more later but really have to get some school work done. Finals are only a couple of weeks away.

TTFN! (Ta Ta For Now)
Kris

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I'm on board, looks like you are off to a great start!

 

[Littleprincess2010]

Sounds like you guys are going to have an awesome trip!! I can't wait to hear more

 

[MinnieMelly]

I just got off the phone with Disney Dining and made my first dining reservation. I feel like I am a coke bottle that was shaken ready to explode, I am so excited. The trip is feeling really real now. I have to study, I have to study, I have to study, Nah .... I have to plan Disneyland! Oh drat smilies aren't working.

When: June 19 - June 27th
Where: Homewood Suites
Why: Because we need a V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N
How: Road Trip

That leaves the who:

Me: I'm the Mom, wife, finishing up prereqs for nursing, applying in December. Favorite characters Jiminy Cricket, Daisy Duck, Snow White and the Seven dwarfs, and Piglet.

DH: Goofy with Peter Pan Syndrome. He told me he would always be a kid at heart and would never grow up before we married, SO I WAS WARNED! In all honesty my DH Works hard, looks tough, but is a softy! Shhhhh don't tell him I said that.

DD14: Our lovable Drama Queen. Loves Tinkerbell, Aurora, Tianna and food porn. My eating partner, we will be eating our way through Disneyland.

DD12: Our Sports Girl. Favorite Characters: Robin Hood and Stitch. She is a like Robin Hood and would help anyone in need. But I think she's a little bit of a rebel like Stitch!

DD8: Our Babe, still trying to find her feet. Big hearted, very smart, loves reading and writing. Favorite characters Ariel, Belle, Princesses and Fairies.

DD5: Our Bugaboo. Loves and absolutely HAVES TO meet Minnie Mouse and Snow White.

So that's our group, I'll post more later but really have to get some school work done. Finals are only a couple of weeks away.

TTFN! (Ta Ta For Now)
Kris

I'm on board too! Like you, I am finishing up pre-reqs for nursing and I'll be applying in July - so excited to hopefully get in and get started on nursing. I'm taking my Mom to DL in 27 short days and I hope to get a PTR started on here real soon.

 

[rentayenta]

 

[6Smiles]

Yea! I'm not talking/writing to myself!

Hi Mommy2allyand averi, Littleprincess 2010, Rentayenta and Minniemelly



The plan:

June 17 - June 18 stay up all night and finish packing (already started)

June 18th about 2pm after DH Goofy goes to work, DD Drama Queen will take care of kids so I'll be fresh to drive the first shift of the trip. It will probably be hot so maybe sandwiches and fruit salad for dinner. DD Drama Queen will wake me up if they need anything otherwise she'll let me sleep and get them off to bed. DH gets off at 11pm will come home, we'll finish loading up and hopefully will leave about 12 -12:30 am on June 19th.

June 19th - I will drive until Quartzsite, Arizona where we will break, gas up and get a bite to eat and/or coffee and possibly switch Drivers. (Thank you helpful AZ Disers who drive!) Hopefully kids will be sleeping but if not the dual 7" RCA DVD players have been purchased and we'll get a couple of new movies as well as bring some classics!

Bing Maps put us at about at about a 7 and 1/2 hour drive so I am thinking about an 8 to 8 and a half hour drive with stops etc. We will be checking in at the Homewood Suites when we arrive and either our room will be ready or we will store our luggage and park the car for the day. We will catch the ART next door and go to the parks.

My DH and I have not been to the parks since we were 12 and our children have never been. I know the parks will probably be crazy busy while we are there but I can not wait to see my childrens faces and reactions when we arrive. The plan for the day is to take in the sights and sounds at the parks, ride the train, catch a few rides or shows and have a Late Lunch (already reserved) at the Carnation Cafe at 2:40pm. Afterward we will see how everyone is feeling, we might stay at the park, but most likely we will go back to the hotel settle in, go for a swim, and get a good night sleep because tomorrow will be our MM day.

I know most people stay closer to the parks and originally we were booked at the Camelot but chose to move for several reasons. First and the biggest reason is that my youngest Bugaboo has some autistic tendencies and has sensory issues (auditory mostly) but tends to get overly stimulated in certain situations so as an overly worried, overprotective mom I wanted to be able to get her totally out of the Disney scene and into a calmer setting at the end of the day and during breaks so she can decompress.

Financially we will be able to stay longer and do more things staying farther away from the parks.

DO NOT FORGET ITEMS:
Ear Plugs
Power Strip for charging cells
Nightlight
Glow sticks
Small flashlights
Swimming Floaties
Ponchos (Hmm... for Bugaboo on wet rides?)

Oh Wow time to go get Dinner put together. Where does the time go? Next up Father's Day and MM plans.

 

[6Smiles]

Ugh, my computer died so I was without one for two days not good when your classes are online. But I am up and running again and with 57 days to go let the planning continue. I wasn't able to get ridemax to work on my other computer, but it is working on this one so I have been playing around with that.

June 20th- Father's Day!
Magic Morning:
1. Peter Pan
2. Dumbo
3. Alice
4. Matterhorn
5. Mr Toad

Ugh I misplaced my list with the order of the rest, but if anyone can help out it would be most appreciated. Anywho, I haven't really decided what to do after MM but I know we will collect fast passes until we leave about 11:30 to2:30. Depending on what time I secure my special ressies for my Hubby. My hubby just loves the Renaissance era and so I am making ressies at Medieval Times for our break from the park. I plan on returning in the evening to catch the fireworks tonight because we have no plans for the next day. I don't think we'll be doing fantasmic or WOC this trip. Fantasmic looks a lot like the Fantasia 2000 which scares the bejeebers out of my little one and I just can't see standing around for WOC and hearing Mommy I have to go potty now and then what do you do?

Knowing it will be super crowded on Monday and Tuesday and the beaches are less crowded on these days these will be sightseeing days, visiting with family in the area, and resting up for the rest of the days in the park.

I am looking at going to Laguna and Seal beaches. Laguna mainly because when my Dad lived in California that is the one I went to. If anybody has any other suggestions on beaches let me know. I'm looking for two beaches that have a family atmosphere one with a boardwalk and the other with tide pools unless I can find both at one beach. Everyone will have three sleep in days so that we can be at the parks at opening the rest of the days. I'm still working on ride orders etc. I know even though I am an uber planner and will have schedules handy for the mornings. I plan to let the afternoons take their own course, (except for the shows we have to see.)

Well two days without a computer has put me behind on my studies so I am off to get some work done. Have a good day.

Kris

 

[rentayenta]

Huntington Beach is my favorite. I grew up in So Cal and I would do Seal beach and Huntington Beach.

 

[kaoden39]

One year we stayed over by the Angel's baseball stadium which is well away from the park and I have to tell you it was actually a relief to be away from the park at night. Sleeping was more relaxed.

 

[6Smiles]

Huntington Beach is my favorite. I grew up in So Cal and I would do Seal beach and Huntington Beach.

I like the idea of Huntington, it looks great. Thanks for the input.

One year we stayed over by the Angel's baseball stadium which is well away from the park and I have to tell you it was actually a relief to be away from the park at night. Sleeping was more relaxed.

I'm glad. I really struggled over the idea of where to stay, but as this is our first vacation I wanted to make sure we had some downtime.


The whole deal with Ariel's Grotto today has kind of taken some of excitement out of the trip for me today. The thought of having waited would have been disastrous for us because my babe and bugaboo have their hearts set on this restaurant.

So far we have:

Carnation Cafe 6/19 at 2:40p
Cafe Orleans 6/23 at 11:30p
White Water Snacks (CS) is 6/24
Ariel's Grotto 6/25 at 12:50p

So far I either got my time or close to it. Cafe Orleans was kind of odd though cause we may have to eat at seperate tables? Kind of weird but I figured I would get there early so I can hopefully prevent this from occurring. Either way we will have a good time. I think I am more nervous that everything still takes place after having to cancel three times in the past three years. We only have one payment left the the hotel, tickets, Ariel's, Goofy, and ART will be paid for. I took advantage of the Kroger/Fry's deals with the Gift Certificates so I have those set aside. We own our van so we won't have to rent one. So basically things are falling in line.

I should be bouncing off the wall excited with less than two months to go, but I am really apprehensive and feeling very overwhelmed. Hopefully will feel better tomorrow.

 

[kaoden39]

That would bum me about the Ariel's Grotto too. But, your trip will still be wonderful!!

 

[6Smiles]

I have been so busy with school that I haven't done much Disney Planning or reading the board...lots to catch up on and now I just realized this morning my Land by Land notes on restaurants, things to do or notice is being held hostage in my other computer . I never backed my vacation folder onto disk. That wonderful interactive map of the disneyland area, locations of things I wanted to point out to the kids either funny, ironic, history, games, packing lists etc is on a computer that will cost me more money to fix it then it cost to purchase.

We leave in 50 days and I still have 3 weeks of school left. I know where to find some things, but I don't know if I'm going to be able to put Humpty Dumpty back together again! I know we will still have a great time either way, its just disappointing because I had been working on this folder for almost 4 years!

 

[kaoden39]

I have been so busy with school that I haven't done much Disney Planning or reading the board...lots to catch up on and now I just realized this morning my Land by Land notes on restaurants, things to do or notice is being held hostage in my other computer . I never backed my vacation folder onto disk. That wonderful interactive map of the disneyland area, locations of things I wanted to point out to the kids either funny, ironic, history, games, packing lists etc is on a computer that will cost me more money to fix it then it cost to purchase.

We leave in 50 days and I still have 3 weeks of school left. I know where to find some things, but I don't know if I'm going to be able to put Humpty Dumpty back together again! I know we will still have a great time either way, its just disappointing because I had been working on this folder for almost 4 years!

I kind of stopped planning myself. I need to get on it again, but I am afraid to plan too much.

 

[6Smiles]

Classes and Finals are just about over but I am not too happy with my college. The powers that be in their infinite wisdom just said two of my classes will not count for my support courses for my degree and I feel like I have wasted an entire semester. But I have enrolled for every possible class next semester and will decide what to do after our trip!

Planning has been slowed with finals but I try to pop in every couple of days to see what is going on. I found a folder with a bunch of things I thought I had lost so I am on .

The first two days of our trip are finally posted and I am looking forward to Tuesday or Wednesday (May = 31 days) when something has got to be announced for WOC Hopefully since it will be thirty days out right?

My darling littlest peanut has a preschool promotion with a purple cap and gown on Wednesday night so she'll be going to kindygarten (as she says) a couple of weeks after we return. Our school is year-round. Lets just hope I don't continue my trend of getting a speeding ticket her first day like I did with the last one! on the first day of school. I have decided Daddy and Mommy will take her so DH will be driving!

Well I hope all the Mom's out there had a Very Happy Mothers Day.

Ta Ta for now!

 

[kaoden39]

Our kids were year round and I loved it. It is the best schedule ever for Disney fans. You can go to the parks year round then and not just during the summer. And that is easier. That sucks about your two classes, I would be really ticked about that myself. Our trips are getting so close. Ours is actually five weeks out from today. I can hardly wait.

I hope you had a good Mother's day yourself.

 

[6Smiles]

Today we have 33 days left and things are coming together. Husband finally got approval for our dates, all of our ressies have been made except for PPH which I will call soon once I finalize our schedule a bit more.

We are eating brunches/lunches at Ariel's Grotto, Goofy's Kitchen, Carnation Cafe (Gotta try the Potato Soup), and Cafe Orlean's (Pomme Frites, Mickey Beignets and Gumbo). I'm looking at the Traubador Tavern and White Water snacks for counter serve. Other than that I'm not sure we'll offset some of the meals by eating the free Breakfast and some free dinners (Mon-Thurs) at the hotel. We are driving so we'll bring some groceries with us and Target is across the street. Monday and Tuesday we'll avoid the parks so I figure Sunday would be a good day to make it as close to park closing time as possible.

I am torn as to whether or not to try for WOC but have seen pictures of Fantasmic other than the dragon so now I am dying to see it. Ridemax hasn't updated yet and I am thinking the DCA closing time will change to 6pm since it is a Grad night.

I am really getting excited but fear the crowds are gonna be huge. Strategy is go early, collect fast passes, take a mid-day break, and return in the evening.

I had a Snow White figurine that I got from WDW when I was like 7 years old that disappeared so I am hoping to replace her this trip. I think what I really liked about Snow White is how kind she was to the Dwarves. Stretching to reach 5 ft (on my tippy toes ) I can relate to the vertically challenged little guys not to mention Dopey... Ya just gotta love him. It seems like my favorite characters are the little guys with the big hearts.

Packing, unpacking, matching, unmatching and changing outfits that I want to pack for the chicklets seems to be my strategy. Oh yeah, Thanks to the Mom who gave the water bottle holder/carrying straps idea/link! They came out perfect! Made 6 for us and a matching one for my bugaboo's new Build-a-bear Snow White. Drama Queen suggested they'd make good pin displays for pin trading.

We have 6 (almost) full days in the parks so I am planning the first 2-3 hours, and prospective days to see the shows, meet Tianna, I'm a huge Miss Piggy and Beaker fan so Muppets is a must. (Sorry for the rambling just trying to remember things as I go so i can continue to add them to "The book".) Oh yeah some of the stuff I thought I had lost in the old computer I had printed out and saved in a file so I didn't lose as much as I thought I had. Oh I have to go look for Mspinups scavenger hunt thread. I have been playing ABC character's and rides with the kids and it has them entertained so it will be a good waiting in line game. License plate game is another good one and I found a couple of Mad Libs to play in the van. DH won a digital camera at work so we are all set there.

If time could just go a little bit faster all would be great! I feel like a little kid waiting for Christmas .

 

[kaoden39]

I am looking seriously at Troubador Tavern myself. I so want to try a broccoli and cheese potato.

 

[6Smiles]

I am looking seriously at Troubador Tavern myself. I so want to try a broccoli and cheese potato.

That is what I was looking at for myself. I am trying to get caught up with reading trip reports, I have a lot to go back and read, but at least i have time now.

 

[kaoden39]

That is what I was looking at for myself. I am trying to get caught up with reading trip reports, I have a lot to go back and read, but at least i have time now.

I also am craving the bacon wrapped asparagus.

 

[6Smiles]

I also am craving the bacon wrapped asparagus.

Is that from Bengal Barbeque? It sounds really good! I can't stay signed in for some reason.