Heigh Ho! Heigh Ho! It's Off to Celebrate We Go!--LAST UPDATE!!! PG 62 ENJOY!!!!!!!!!

[Lady Lallie]

Oh man. I'm a little boo baby today after reading your update. Sniff Sniff. Megs looks just precious. I can't believe how much she has grown this year!

 

[redsox721]

Thanks for the happy tears. What great pictures of your little ballerina. Love the smile. How proud you must be of her. I am touched by her story and love hearing about all her accomplishments. She is truly an angel.

 

[moparop]

Yeah, that was a TOTAL tear jerker Jen!

I am sitting here proud as a peacock for your Megan - such an amazing triumph!

As for your resort-itis - I have to admit, last summer we had decided we were going to stay at ASMo and then opted for CBR. I don't regret it. So, if you need another enabler - I'm there for ya girl!!

 

[MegansMom]

Trying to think back to our trip

We took the bus 2 -3 times a day, for 7 days....so between 14-21 times



Of those time, we only had to stand twice.

I really do not remember having any major issues with it

My son's favorite movie at the time was Toy Story 2 so he really loved it here

Not to hijack your TR, but here are two pics from the resort

My mom, Me and my son

My son

Thanks for the info!!! That helps so much!!!! I LOVE the pictures too---thanks for sharing!

Thanks for the warning Jen! Good thing I am at home and not at my kleenex devoid office!

Megan looks so beautiful and happy! congrats to her, and you and Tom too for never giving up on her and always believing she would do it!

I thought that would help prepare you all!!! I am glad I caught you at home so the tears can fall freely!!!

Thank you for the congrats! She was so happy and so proud.....she can't wait for her next recital!!!

what a sweetheart! She is an amazing little girl! I had tears in my eyes reading this update, you can hear your pride bursting off the page. She is lucky to have a mommy and daddy like you and your DH.

Thank you for your sweet words! I am truly proud!!! I used to be upset that I was only able to have one child, but I am so glad that I was blessed with the one I have!

Sorry my one picture was so big..I Just resized it

No problem!!! The pics were great!

Thanks for the kleenex warning

That beaming smile on her is awesome.

What an amazing girl she is

Thank you....I quite agree!!!!

Oh, Jen! What an amazing little girl you have!!! Of course, I just boohooed through this last update! You have been blessed with a very determined fighter! She looks too cute in her costumes, and I bet she was just precious up there on stage!!!

She was SO precious!!! Her face was just so happy and full of pride the entire time! I'm sorry to make you boohoo, but I am so happy to share our little story----I think it is quite amazing!

What a beautiful little girl you have! LOVED the pics in her recital costumes, any chance you could just record her doing her own performance for your DIS friends?

Thank you!! I will try to get her to do her dance on video for you....but I won't promise what you are going to get!!! Without the music, it will probably be quite amusing!

awwww I love the recital update and Megs is so adorable in her costumes!! She looks as proud as you are!!

She was really proud of herself!! She also LOVED the flowers everyone brought for her!

I've stayed at Sports and Music. But not movies. In the mornings til 1030-11 there were tons of busses. Sometimes they'd go directly to Movies or Music, I assume this b/c they were empty Sports (when i was there) did not have their own busses per se, but were often full so they skipped they other 2 resorts and went straight to the parks. Unlike POR where the busses continue the full loop of the resort (and you just felt bad cause the people waiting couldn't get on) when the busses got full... they headed out. It seemed like the bus depot did a pretty decent job getting lots of fresh busses directly into the other 2 resorts, bypassing sports if it kept filling up. Does that make any sense????

At the parks, only MK has seperate queues for each of the all star resorts. The other 3 parks (If I remember correctly) had just 1 shared queue for the return route.

On the plus side, since the ASresorts are very popular, there was often 2-3 busses showed up at a time at park close! So the wait for a bus was not any worse than POR or POP.



Does that help clarify things???

WOW!!! That info helps out A LOT!!!! Calmed quite a bit of my worries!!! Thanks hon!

Oh man. I'm a little boo baby today after reading your update. Sniff Sniff. Megs looks just precious. I can't believe how much she has grown this year!

I wish I would have taken a close up picture of her face and hair---she looked so pretty with the make-up and her hair all curled!!! We are going to be in trouble in about 10 years when the boys start calling! She has gotten SO tall this year---there is almost nothing she can't ride at WDW now! Where has my baby gone?!?!?!?!?

Thanks for the happy tears. What great pictures of your little ballerina. Love the smile. How proud you must be of her. I am touched by her story and love hearing about all her accomplishments. She is truly an angel.

Thank you so much! She is something---that is for sure!

Yeah, that was a TOTAL tear jerker Jen!

I am sitting here proud as a peacock for your Megan - such an amazing triumph!

As for your resort-itis - I have to admit, last summer we had decided we were going to stay at ASMo and then opted for CBR. I don't regret it. So, if you need another enabler - I'm there for ya girl!!

Thanks for sharing in my pride and joy!

Thanks also for the help in the enabling department.....I am waffling back and forth so much I'm getting dizzy!

 

[siestakeys04]

I can't believe she is going to be six years old already. We are staying for the first time at a value all star music, so I hope the kids will enjoy it. I wonder how are the buses?

This is a surprise trip for the kids!! 13,9

 

[cherbear]

what a beautiful little dancer! Thank you SO much for the pictures and the story. I can see why you are SO PROUD!

 

[MinnieNurse]

What a wonderful update. Your little princess looked adorable. I do not blame you for crying, I would have been a mess.

 

[MegansMom]

I can't believe she is going to be six years old already. We are staying for the first time at a value all star music, so I hope the kids will enjoy it. I wonder how are the buses?

This is a surprise trip for the kids!! 13,9

I can't believe that either!!! They have it marked on our reservation that we are there celebrating her 6th birthday---I know we are also celebrating our anniversary and my birthday, but hers is the most important---ANYWAY, and I am SO hoping that they do a little something special for her....like a balloon in her room or a card or something. I have never stayed value either, and the buses is what concerns me the most....here's to hoping!!! Read back through the past several pages, others have been giving me their two cents about the buses....hope it helps!

What a great surprise!

what a beautiful little dancer! Thank you SO much for the pictures and the story. I can see why you are SO PROUD!

Thank you so much! I am surely one proud Mommy!

What a wonderful update. Your little princess looked adorable. I do not blame you for crying, I would have been a mess.

Thanks sweetie! I was truly an emotional mess.....so thankful for the dim lights. One of the groups danced to "Butterfly Kisses," and even though she wasn't in that group, I bawled like a baby!


Attention MeMom: I remembered today that you have stayed at ASMO, so I was wondering if you could oblige me with your thoughts about your experience there....as well as any pictures you might have that might give me some insight as to what it is like at ASMO....TIA dearie!!!

I hope you all are having a great Thursday!!! Today we get to celebrate my brother's birthday---he turns 35 today! Megan already has on her "party dress" to help celebrate......the girl knows how to PARTY!!!!

 

[MRYPPNS]

Jen- Your tiny dancer is just too cute for words!

As for the resort...I say upgrade to a mod!

 

[timandlesley]

Absolutely adorable, can't imagine how proud you were of her, what a major accomplishment!
Lesley

 

[If U Had Wings]

The recital pics are beautiful! She looks so thrilled.

 

[TarzansKat]

OH, hon, so many wonderful updates! You truly do have much to celebrate.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Wow! She looks adorable in her dance costumes! She's a natural!

 

[MegansMom]

Jen- Your tiny dancer is just too cute for words!

As for the resort...I say upgrade to a mod!

Thanks Heidi!!! And the enabling continues!!!

Absolutely adorable, can't imagine how proud you were of her, what a major accomplishment!
Lesley

Thank you Lesley!!! We were very proud parents that night!

The recital pics are beautiful! She looks so thrilled.

Thanks hon!!! She was so excited and revelled in the moment!

OH, hon, so many wonderful updates! You truly do have much to celebrate.

Thanks TK!!! I can't wait to get this party started!!!

Wow! She looks adorable in her dance costumes! She's a natural!

Thank you!!! She has been dancing all over the place since then---in fact, last night we all went to Joe's Crabshack to celebrate my brother's 35th birthday, and she actually got up and participated with the servers when they did their dance to the YMCA!!! It was SO cute!!! I think Tom took a picture of it on his phone, so I will have to download that and post it up here for you later! Speaking of pictures on the phone........I realized after I uploaded my pics from KC off of my camera that I was missing quite a bit....here they were actually taken with Tom's phone again! So tonight, I will download all the photos on the chip in his phone, and then post the KC TR later on this week once I have all the pictures uploaded that I need. Just a little nibble to chew on for you though......there was a celebrity sighting while we were there!!!

NOW....just because the KC TR has been delayed, does not mean that I am not going to keep rolling on this PTR.....right now I am going to go finish my update for a lot of trip related issues/plans........stay tuned!

 

[PookieB]

You have been blessed with an angel! Love the recital pics! You have so much to celebrate!

 

[MegansMom]

Due to the delay of the KC TR, we have now arrived to my favorite part---discussing our park plans and ADRs!!!! I know that makes you all so happy.....I can see you smiling from here!!!

Our plans have actually already undergone many changes and alterations in the very short time that this trip has been booked. I'm not going to share all those scenarios and situations with you, but I am going to share a little about how we have gotten to the point where we are right now!

As is usually done once I book a trip to WDW, I search all the resources for the best days for the parks, crowd levels, and ADR options based upon that. We usually always do a base ticket, so it does not take long for me to discern which park we will hit each day, and subsequently, where we will eat.....for that is SUCH an important question!! So by the time we hit the road last Friday, I already had my skeleton chart created to share with my hubby while we were making the 8-hour drive to KC. Usually he listens, nods, and basically just makes a mental note of the food that he will get to consume while we are away. BUT this year was different!!!!!!!!!! I was not met with the usual quiet acceptance of my diligent work and plans, but actually commentary and input from the man that usually never cares! NOW, before you get the wrong idea, I was THRILLED to hear it! I have planned every single second and last detail of the three previous trips that we have taken, and it was refreshing for once to be given some input.....even if it was after all the planning. Miss Megan actually piped up too with a request for the one thing she really wanted to do on this trip....which I will share with you shortly. SO, after hearing all their input, I quickly tore out my notes from my handy dandy green notebook, and started over!!! (Didn't I have a fun ride out to KC!!!! ) I had new things to consider that I never thought I would ever have to consider, so I was pumped up and excited!!! What were these new things, these suggestions you say?!?!?!!?!? Well, I'll tell you!

For those of you who have not been to WDW in September before, one of the biggest complications in planning our touring is the shortened park hours---some nights the parks are closing as early as 7 or 8pm! SO, you need to be smart and frugal with the planning so you can get the most "bang for your buck" as my lovely hubby would say. There is the MNSSHP to plan around as well, so it can cramp your touring style a bit. In my first plans, there were many nights that we would really be done with the parks so early that it would give us a LOT of time to relax back at the resort.....and I thought, "Wow, a relaxing WDW vacation!! Huh!" I thought my hubby would be so happy about all the relaxation time, but then he shocked me!!! He said, "The downtime is great, but what I really want to do is be in the parks---that is what we are there for, right??? We can relax at the pool all day and night here at home." I explained to him that I didn't set out to do that, but with only the base ticket option and the realization of how long we would really be in each park, I knew there would be days that we would be done touring at some of them very early on, and would have the rest of the day to relax. And then he proceeded to shock me again---he said, "Okay, well then we are going to need to upgrade to a Parkhopper ticket so that we can hop all over and get the most park time possible!" That's right.....that is when my jaw hit the ground, and I fell over as far as I could buckled in my seat---shocked doesn't even begin to express my thoughts at that moment. Did you notice he said NEED....like there is no way else we could possibly go this year without it......yeah, I know....unbelievable, huh!??!?!?! I then shrieked a little bit------and the gears in my head started spinning out of control thinking about all the possibilities that would now be available to us!!! We have never hopped before because we never felt it would be advantageous to us with a little one, but now I think we know each park well enough, know what we like to see and what we don't, and know Megan's stamina is much better that we can handle it! I know there will still be days that we will not hop, but it will be so nice to have it available on the days that we can use it!

So here is a rough draft of our park plans for the time being. There is one thing you should know, we all LOVE MK!!!! SO, that is why we will be there so often. It by FAR is our favorite, and I really don't see it ever losing that title---we are just MK addicts!!!

Sunday 9/20--Tom and Megs will pick me up from the Women's Weekend (I'll explain about that at some point) around 1 or 2pm, and we will begin our drive to WDW. We will drive as long as we can this night---probably until 1 or 2am. We will then stop and check-in to a hotel somewhere near the GA/FL border. I am realistically thinking we can get at least 9-10 hours of good driving time done on this day. YEAH!

Monday 9/21--We will wake up early---yes I know we will be going to bed late, but we will be too excited to sleep---and continue our trip southbound to the Mouse's House. I am hoping that we have less than 4 more hours to drive, and hopefully make it there no later than noon! We will check-in, and then head to...................DHS!!!! They have EMH in the evening until 10pm, and since we are all about getting the most "bang for our buck," we will be heading there that night!

Tuesday 9/22--We will start out early at EPCOT because it opens early for AM EMH, and spend about half the day there, then hop over to MK to enjoy the rest of the evening. (YEAH, our first steps on MAIN STREET!)

Wednesday 9/23--We will start early at MK, and finish the day at EPCOT for EMH in the evening until midnight!

Thursday 9/24--We will start early (AM EMH) and spend an entire glorious day at the MK!!!! (8am-9pm!) Oh how we love it there!!!

Friday 9/25--We will start out early at AK, and hop over to DHS at some point in the evening so we can make it to FANTASMIC at 8pm!!!! (Megan ACTUALLY wants to see it---yeah, I know, shocking---considering how scared of it she used to be!)

Saturday 9/26--I am leaving the morning open as to which park we will go to---wherever we feel we need to go back and see, but we will hop over to MK for the evening and stay until closing at 10pm!

Sunday 9/27--We will start at rope drop at MK and stay all day to enjoy PM EMH!!! (9am-11pm!)

Monday 9/28--we will have a relaxing morning, and then by the afternoon will depart and begin our journey homeward!

Now, there will be pool time and probably naps thrown in here and there along the way, but I just wanted to share with you the framework for where we will be and when for each day. I tried to take advantage of EMH as much as I could this trip---normally we avoid them---just because we want as much time in the parks as possible......some of our hops are to parks that will probably be more uncrowded, but I am not as concerned about the crowds---it is September (typically low crowds anyway), and I married a Fastpass Master (Tom REALLY knows how to make the most of that system) so I know we will be okay regardless!

So that is the park schedule.......which brings me to our corresponding ADR Hopefuls!!!!! Now before I even started to select or think about ressies, Tom and Megan put in their two cents for the first time ever in regards to where they wanted to eat......yeah, I know.....SHOCKING AGAIN!!! But I was so glad to hear about what and where they wanted to eat. They gave me guidelines in choosing our ressies:

1. Tom and Megs both really like eating at character meals because it gives us the opportunity to see the characters without cutting into our ever-important park time.

2. Tom likes to eat as often as possible inside the parks because it saves on so much travel and transfer time to the hotels outside of them. (I NEVER knew this! You learn something new everyday!)

3. We ALL like having ressies before the park opens, or right near close to give us quiet, alone moments in the parks.

4. The ONLY thing Megan has requested to do on this trip is eat at the castle with the princesses for her birthday. (Hmmmmm.........)

5. We all like having dinner experiences---meaning getting a little something more than just dinner when we eat---a little more "bang for our buck" shall we say?!!?!??! We like to have genuine experiences that we can only get at WDW!

SO, taking all that in consideration, here is our ADR Hopefuls.....so far!

Monday 9/21--We may do lunch on the road really quick, so the only meal at WDW will be CS meal at DHS for dinner---I would love to hear about your favorites, but I am pretty sure my sweet angel will want to go eat with her Buzz and Woody at Pizza Planet.....and the princess usually gets what she wants!!!

Tuesday 9/22--I pack breakfast goodies, so we will snack on some of those on the bus to EP, enjoy CS at EP for lunch (probably Sunshine Seasons---we just can't pull ourselves away from that place), and I am hoping to nab a dinner ressie for CHEF MICKEY'S for after 7pm. MK closes at 7 that night for MNSSHP, so we will stay until then, and then hop on the monorail to take us to see MICKEY!!!!

Wednesday 9/23--I am hoping for an early 8am ressie at CRYSTAL PALACE for breakfast to get us into the park before opening....please keep your fingers crossed for us on that one...I am nervous that we won't get it!!! CS at MK for lunch (probably at Pinocchio's because Tom loves the little cheesecake you get there), and then hopping over to EP in the evening and dinner at the CORAL REEF before enjoying PM EMH at EP!!! We wanted to try something new here---we will miss our LeCellier meal, but we thought Megs would LOVE the aquarium view! I'm just not sure what time to schedule dinner.....suggestions???? Remember that EP is open until midnight!!!

Thursday 9/24--Once again breakfast on the bus, CS in MK for lunch (maybe Columbia Harbour House or Cosmic Ray's), and then a late dinner ressie at LIBERTY TREE TAVERN close to close. We are hoping to be able to eat, and then leave walking down an empty Main Street---AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!

Friday 9/25--Hoping to nab an early 8am ressie at Tusker House for breakfast at AK, CS at AK for lunch (probably Flame Tree Barbecue), and dinner at .......????????????? Here is the one spot I am stuck on where to book. AK has PM EMH until 8pm this day, but we know we will be hopping over to DHS at some point so that we can go see Fantasmic at 8pm. I know we will have to go to some hotel to exchange buses so that we can get to DHS, but I don't know where to go????? I would love to head up to a MK resort and eat at one of my faves there, but thought that might be too far and out of the way to travel just to eat and get back to DHS. I am taking ANY and ALL suggestions on what we should do on this day-----PLEASE HELP SOON, I only have 4 days until my ADR date!!!

Saturday 9/26--Breakfast on the bus to wherever we decide to roam, CS in whichever we park we are at that time, and then we are hopping over to MK for the evening, so I am hoping to nab an early dinner ressie for TONY'S RESTAURANT so that our evening is free to ride rides until 10pm!

Sunday 9/27--Breakfast on the bus to MK, and (please dear God let this work) lunch ressies at CINDERELLA'S ROYAL TABLE to celebrate my baby's birthday (2 days early) the way she wants to celebrate!!! I have NEVER booked for Cindy's before, and I am nervous to the point that it makes me sweat and break out into hives everytime I have to think about trying to book it. I don't care WHAT time our ressie is for lunch, but we want LUNCH. Everyone please keep your fingers and toes crossed for us that this works out okay!!! We will finish our evening with dinner at the CS of our choice at MK---whereever we haven't hit yet--and enjoy PM EMH until 11pm!!!

So that is our plans for right now!!!! I need help, input, and LOTS of pixie dust that it all works out okay!!!!

Okay, now is the time that you share your input and feedback, dining reviews, tips for getting ressies, etc. Enjoy gnawing over all these details!!!!

 

[MegansMom]

You have been blessed with an angel! Love the recital pics! You have so much to celebrate!

Thank you so much!!! Can you see why our party is going to be so big?!?!?!?!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Oh, all the plans and ADRs are so exciting, Jen! I love that Tom thinks park hoppers are a neccesity! That doubles the fun of trip planning, doesn't it?

All of your ADR choices look great -- I am hungry just reading about them! I am not sure what I would do about your Tusker House/Flame Tree/dinner day...but just so you know there are direct park buses from each of the parks -- so you will be able to board a bus bound for DHS at AK. Or you could head over to AKL for dinner at either the Mara (their food was so good) or Boma, and then head over to DHS. Or you could head to the Beach Club and eat at Beaches and Cream, and take a boat from there to DHS. That might be fun...

 

[MRYPPNS]

Or you could head to the Beach Club and eat at Beaches and Cream, and take a boat from there to DHS. That might be fun...

I second that idea! YUM-O!

 

[Trentmom]

I second that idea! YUM-O!

and I Third that idea

We did that last year and loved it.

Simple and tasty food and ice cream..what more can you ask for