got my fingers crossed that the castle doesn't burn down before we get there.

[mom2serena]

2009 has been the year from HELL for my family, especially for my 6 six year old daughter. It started with months of recurring ear infections before being allergy tested, then a horrible, horrible, horrible experience while in kindergarten. We pulled her out immediately and put her in private school. New friends, new school, new teachers, new everything. School gets out the first week of June and my mother gets flown by helicopter to the hospital. We rush to PA (from NC) and my girls get bounced around to all their cousins houses, etc while I am with my mom in ICU. 3 weeks later we return home. We are in NC for 2 weeks when my mother dies ON my daughters sixth birthday. By the time we get back home again after the funeral, its time to start school and its back to new friends, new teachers, etc. Her summer vacation was gone. Now she is really struggling in school and might have ADHD and some sensory issues. The poor kid, she's had way too many stressful events this year.

This trip has been the ONE bright spot that we have been looking forward to all year. That darn castle BETTER not burn down before we get there!!!

anyway, sorry for the downer, here's our plans. Our daughters are 6 & 4 which is why we have ALOT of character meals. The girls really have fun at them.

fly in the morning of Dec 12 (saturday)
Magic Kingdom
2pm lunch @ Tony's
I still need a dinner ADR
stay thru fireworks

sunday
magic kingdom
breakfast @ hotel
cosmic rays for lunch
4:30 dinner at 1900 Park Fare
-- free time

monday
breakfast @ O'hana's
5pm dinner @ biergarten w/ tix to
8pm candlelight processional
9:30 illuminations

tuesday
bfast @ Askerhaus
lunch @ Teppan Edo
rest @ hotel
3:30 dinner @ The Plaza
6pm- appointment @ Bibbidi Bobbidi @ the castle
7pm- Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party

wednesday
9am bfast @ the castle
4pm lunch? @ 50's Prime Time in HS
6pm I have a dinner ADR @ the Plaza just in case we end up spending another day in the MK

thursday
Animal Kingdom
bfast @ Tusker House
5pm dinner @ Rainforest

friday
bfast @ Hollywood & Vine
dinner @ Chef Mickey

sat
fly home

I tried to break the day in half, we don't have many lunch ADR's-- but there's plenty of walk up fast food places in each park, and most days we are having a later bfast because of the character meals. getting to the park late limits some rides, but with my girls being so young--they just want to hang with the princesses anyway.

This week I had my "magical Disney moment" I tried to get an appointment to the Bibbidi before breakfast at the castle, but with the time--it just wasn't going to happen. The boutique in the castle was booked solid. The cast member that I talked to 2 days ago got us the appt before the Very Mickey Christmas Party. Now that I think about it--its a perfect time. The boutique was booked solid the whole week--but somehow--he put me on hold many times to talk to many people-- but somehow-someway he got appointments for my two girls.

We are staying the POFQ- I am hoping something special will be going on since the Princess & the Frog will be opening the day before we leave and the whole New Orleans theme. I haven't heard of anything though.

My girls don't know about the character meals, the party, or the boutique. They just know that we are going to WDW. Shh! don't tell them.