Groovin' at Grumpy's Grotto! The Final Chapter-With Thanks to All

[KathyRN137]

Problem is I want to see/do it all!

Ahh, we all know that feeling! Once you reconcile yourself to the fact that it can't be done, you will feel so much more relaxed!!

I'll just bet that the kids are chomping at the bit!

Kathy

 

[Halloweenqueen]

OMG!!!!!! I sense a DIS meet! Our ADR is at 11:20...we'll be the family celebrating the birthday all in goofy-lookin' matchy matchy shirts!!!!!

That's neat! Now I have to run to Home Depot for some more Limey Mickeyheads!

 

[Halloweenqueen]

This week has gone by so quickly! My folks were here from Ohio to celebrate my 40th. Yippee. I made the huge mistake of talking to my parents about my wonderful Disney plans.

Remember my earlier explanation of my dear, dear parents? The ones who don't swim, don't like crowds, etc? Now add "do not like the vacation plan" to the list! They can't imagine why I would make reservations for dinner or fret about what we would do each day! They are at a total loss as to why I have spent hours combing websites and books for this trip! They think we should just "wing it" and see what happens.

I'll tell you what will happen...agruments, long periods of ackward silence, tears, tons of tears.

My mother brought up how we are going to have to use our cell phones or buy radios because she wants dropped off at the entrance to MK and will take the train to get around. I told her how we will have to probably tram it, then take the monorail or boat. You can imagine how that went over.

Now they are thinking about not coming. They just think it will be too hot, too crowded, and it will be impossible for them to avoid all the H2O.

They now want the weekend to think it over. They are currently at their ideal vacation, a casino. With it's AC, people movers, and comps I can't imagine they are going to pick Orlando now.

Which brings me back to square one. They wanted to see MK the first day, which wasn't the best day to tour it. I may do some major ADR overhaul if we don't have to do Disney with the grandparents.


So Monday I may be on an hour long phone call to Disney Dining. Wish I could request Clive.


I've so enjoyed the trip reports and got a big kick out of Buzz and Linnie Pooh's family call. I told my kids we need to think of something fun as well. Here are our top choices so far...


From Grandpa..."Shake and Bake!"

From eldest son..."Sanjaya!"

From eldest/middle daughters..."YumYum for the DumDum!"

From youngest daughter..."No BOBOs!"

Mom's personal favorite..."Tequila!" (and boy am I gonna need it! )

 

[KathyRN137]

Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad if the parental units decide to stay home. (Did I just say that out loud?)

I know it might appear to be sacrilage, but, not everyone "gets" WDW and not everyone (gasp!) likes going to WDW!

I've been pestering my parents to come with us to WDW for the past 2 years, since we purchased DVC. They're just not into it.

I'm hoping you can work things out, but, maybe it's for the best for all involved (especially the kids) if you go without them!

Kathy

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I've been having fun making some iron-on decals on my trusty photoshop.

I want a POTC theme, Star Wars Weekend theme, maybe something individual for the kids with their names, and a family one.

Here is my draft of our family one...just testing...

 

[earthfaries]

I thought my next step should be making some ADRs. I found out fast that many of the restaurants are filled up for reasonable times for my family. I've been asking internet friends and scouring my Disney books.

Plus I wanted to sit together. Time and again I heard we had to be split up. I wanted my family to eat at the same table, which also limited our choices.

This is what we have so far:

(after my folks leave on Tuesday, ADRs were a lot easier to get for 7 rather than 9!)

Wednesday- Beirgarden for lunch
Thursday- ?
Friday-?
Saturday-OHana for breakfast
Sunday-Boma for dinner
Monday-veg at the house and eat remaining food (I always buy too much)

I thought one ADR would be plenty for these days. Wednesday is an Epcot day for us. Thursday is AK. I'm leaving the remaining days to return to a favorite park or two, plus a day just to relax. I made our ADRs at the resorts for those days, so we don't have to be committed to a particular park.

I would like to go to Disney Studios on Saturday or Sunday for the Star War activities. I'm a HUGE fan! More like a freak! I may just go with an interested kid or two, leaving Dad with the rest.

Dad and my eldest want to go to DisneyQuest also. So we are looking at Friday morning as a possible time for DQ for them. I would stay with the rest by the pool.

My husband is amazed that I'm going into such detail about the trip! I've told him how difficult it has been to get us these ADRs so far. I guess he will see for himself and thank me once we are there!

I would love to go to Coral Reef, but it seems to have such negative reviews and my internet friends tell me not to bother. Anyone with a good experience there? I read Karen's experience and it sounds like her entire family enjoyed themselves.

That is all I have so far. I feel like I'm making some progress.

We ate at Coral Reef and loved it. We had the best giant Alaskan lobster tails ever. It was a lunch I will never forget. We requested a table by the aquarium window and the kids loved the view! I highly reccommend it. You can not always go by other peoples reviews. I have seen a lot of mixed reviews about Coral Reef. If you really want to do it, then do it! We did and we loved it!!!

 

[earthfaries]

I've been having fun making some iron-on decals on my trusty photoshop.

I want a POTC theme, Star Wars Weekend theme, maybe something individual for the kids with their names, and a family one.

Here is my draft of our family one...just testing...

I love that , it is so cute and fun. I love doing fun stuff like that at WDW. The MNSSHP we went to in 2005 we all dressed up together. There were 6 of us, me, my partner and mom and our three kids. We were super star super heros! We all wore black shirts and pants and shoes. shiney satiny red or purple hats my mom had painted with big glittery stars, and red satiney capes. We looked so cute. Everybody there loved it!! It was so fun. I have the picture they took of us at MK that night, I wish my printer was working so I could post it here!
Have fun! I know you will!!!!

And don't worry, your drive will be fun. We drive down from Asheville, NC every Sept. it takes us about 12 hours with stops. We love it! At least you don't have to drive down with your parents like we did one year! My dad is not someone fun to travel and vacation with Every park we went to he would keep dissapearing and we would finally find him walking in the shadows of a monorail track, building, etc. He hates the heat and the sun also!!!

 

[Goofyluver]

I looooove looooooove looooooove your shirt!!! Good job! I had to hire out for ours...I'm not that creative!!!

Oh...and the family call??? I vote for Sanjaya!!!

 

[Halloweenqueen]

My parents aren't going. To be honest, I'm glad. They just aren't amusement park types.

Luckily they are coming down for the races in May, so the kids will see them again soon.

Now it's back to the drawing board, since many of my reservations were for 9 and specific activities I thought they would enjoy. We want to go to the less crowded park everyday, so that means MAJOR changes. Oh well, it's fun.

We think our battle cry will be Sanjaya. lol Boy, will we get some looks!

I've been working on our Star Wars t-shirt designs. We are going on Father's Day and I was going to make them Vader themed (Luke, I am your father...), but everyone wanted their favorite character.

I'm buying shirts for each day, with some repeat wear. The shirt are all around $2-5, so I don't expect them to make it past the trip. We can always wear them for play this summer.


For the baby...

Lillian insisted on a princess!

The best character imho...

The Queen for my eldest daughter..

The badder the better for my eldest son...

The Father of the Universe for our Super Dad...

I debated with Boba or Mara Jade. Does anyone know her??

I'm one of the biggest SW fans! I'm dragging my family to MGM that day! What a lucky accident that we get to go on a SW weekend!!!

I'm going to start working on our Monsters Inc shirts next. I think they will be great for a day at MK!!!

Going to start looking over my days and ADRS...39 days to go!!!!

 

[Halloweenqueen]

My daughter wanted a change...

 

[DisneyJo]

Wow I love your shirt designs and it must be a relief to finally know about your parents!

 

[KathyRN137]

I'm glad, too, that your parents decided to stay home. You've got enough on your plate with that big crew!

Those shirts are awesome!

Kathy

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I'm still working on our new park plan. I'm having major difficulty finding anyplace that will seat all of us at one table and at a reasonable hour. I would keep our previous reservations, but most were for two tables since we were such a large party with my folks. Two tables just wouldn't work for us now. Eating at 9pm won't either.

The reservationists tell me to keep calling for openings. I'm crossing my fingers.

I am also thinking about cancelling our Wishes cruise. We reserved one because I know my parents would have freaked during the mass exodus from the park. The cruise is supposed to be great, but wouldn't the fireworks be just as grand inside the park?


It has been fun working on our shirts. I plan on making some tie dye shirts with black silhouettes of favorite characters this weekend. I have the family shirt design and the SW weekend shirts. Kristine from the Creative DISers is going to personalize some of her fabulous designs for me. And I'm still on the hunt for Incredible's shirts.

I found some neat old postcards from the World Showcase online. I'm going make them into t-shirts for our World Showcase day/night. My family is multi-enthic, so this is a great way to show off our country pride!

My husband is German descent...

My ancestors are from France...

My eldest daughter is Russian...

My middle daughter and youngest son are Chinese...

My youngest daughter is going to be the American in the group! lol

My eldest wants Italy, because Italian is his favorite cuisine...

Aren't they cute? And they can wear them whenever.

Now I'm working on favorite character shirts. Boy, this is fun!!!

 

[earthfaries]

I personally love watching the fireworks in the park, we like sitting outside of toontown and watching them alone from behind the castle, or Sitting there in the dark with the beautiful castle changing colors in front of you on the bridge to Tomorrowland. I have seen them from outside the park before, but being inside the MK with the magic, combined with the beautiful magic of the fireworks right above your heads is really special!

 

[lbwalsh101]

I am loing your TR! We are planning on MGM Sunday! Maybe we will see you there!

 

[KathyRN137]

Hey, it's not too long, now!!

Wishing you lots of for a fabulous trip!!

Kathy

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Boy, it is hard to believe that we are in the home stretch! Life is crazy here with all the end of the school year activities. I've hardly had time to post!

First, a confession. I have the suitcases out all ready. I have been making some purchases for our trip and thought they might as well go in the suitcase. Makes sense, right? My husband thinks I'm losing it. Why should he complain anyway. I always end up packing for him too!

I order a bunch of blank t-shirts and I am going to print out the transfers tomorrow. This is the latest design...

I also went ahead and bought some of the disney shirts on the $5 day. I was able to get lime green logo shirts and some favorite character shirts for the kids. I also bought some huge beach towels. They are so cute!

Our school had a picnic last Friday with Radio Disney. I had the kids wear the logo shirts that night. What a terrific idea! Those lime green shirts really stand out in the crowd. It was easy to keep an eye on everyone. I'm going to love this color coded vacation!


The ADRS are made (still trying to get a few) and our days have been planned out. I have tons of rest periods. My poor husband is on business trips until vacation, then leaves for Korea when we get back. So we have plenty of down time.

Saturday- travel, shop, rest

Sunday- MK morning-Crystal Palace lunch-rest

Monday-Epcot morning-Garden Grill lunch-rest

Tuesday-AK morning-Rainforest Cafe lunch-rest

Wednesday- MK morning-rest-MK Wishes and Spectro

Thursday-Rest day-Ohana's for late breakfast

Friday-rest morning-Epcot WS evening-Beirgarten-Illuminations

Saturday-rest morning-MGM Fantasmic Dinner-Hollywood and Vine

Sunday-MGM morning-Mama Melrose lunch-Star Wars

Monday-rest-travel home


It has been the most difficult process changing over those ADRs! And getting one table for 7 at a reasonable hour has been a challenge. I hope we don't run into a tropical storm that could wreck my carefully created plan! lol

 

[DisneyJo]

Your plan sounds great

 

[KathyRN137]

Kudos to you for planning so much down time for the kids to rest... believe me, I know it's so hard to tear yourselves away from the parks!

I'm really looking forward to your trip report!

Kathy

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Okay, well all the transfers have been printed. But now I'm afraid to do the next step. My ironing skills suck, so this should be interesting.

Here are some more designs I made...just general Florida ones this time. And I fixed the lettering on Anna's shirt. It is much easier to read now.

They are all the same size, but the turtle is showing up larger on photobucket for some reason.

I'll have everything we need for the trip. I'll be able to zip up the suitcase almost 3 weeks before our trip.

I'm debated whether I should use Garden Grocer or just shop at Publix when I get there. Planning everything beforehand sounds easy, but it is fun to vacation food shop!


23 more days!!!!


Thanks Disney Jo and Karen for your comments!!!