How to do Disney for less than $383,000)...pics added

[shaunaday]

I wonder how many people get scared because of the title.

READ ON...

The cast:

Daniel: DH (34)
Not exactly a Disney fanatic, but really enjoys himself once he gets to the parks. I mean REALLY enjoys himself (think: grown man wearing pink flashing minnie ears, skipping down Main Street)

Daniel (DH) is a professional horse trainer...almost every picture I have of him looks like this:

Shauna: That's Me (33)
Disney freak. I may need a Disney intervention...I love all things Disney. Surprisingly, I have only been to Disney 4 times (and only 1 time as an adult).

I don't end up in many pictures since I am usually the one behind the camera...but here is a picture of me with my mom a few weeks ago:

Taylor: DD (12)
Loves Disney, into all things "cool", knows more than her parents...just ask her.

Here is my daughter on the way to see Dreamgirls at the Fox Theatre (she is really into all things Broadway):

Jackson: DS (4)
Disney souvenir from our 2003 trip...this will be his first trip!
William: DS (4)
Same as above.

Here they are, "Thing One and Thing Two":

The Plan:
August 31, 2008 to Spet. 6, 2008
Port Orleans Riverside
Free Dining
6 Day Park Hopper Tickets (although I shouldn't have purchased the hopper option, because we won't take advantage of it most likely)

Background info:
This will be the first time all 5 of us have been to Disney. You may have noticed when reading the "cast of characters" we brought home "Two Little Disney Souvenirs" the last time we to Disney. Of course we are thrilled with our brood, but talk about a shocker...

See, DH and I had tried to have another child for many years. We finally decided that wasn't God's plan for us to have another child, and we stopped trying and began focusing on what we had...one beautiful little girl. Since my daughter had begun kindergarten, I decided it was a good time for me to go back to school and get my teaching certificate. I ended up having to take some extra classes because of the amount of time I had been out of college, but decided that dedicating two years to my dream of becoming a teacher was well worth it.

During my first year, I really worked hard. I was still volunteering at my DD's school, working part time in the afterschool program, and going to college. My daughter and DH also made lots of sacrifices so that I could go to school. It was a tough year for us all. So for Spring Break, we decided we had all earned a vacation to the Happiest Place on Earth.

We really couldn't afford a big trip. We planned a budget trip of 5 days RV camping in Fort Wilderness. That may have been the best 5 days of my adult life! I don't know who was more fun to watch, my DD or DH...they both had such a fun time. Of course, so did I ...but I knew I would. But since that was DD and DH's first trip, I really was thrilled to watch them have so much fun.

Coming back home was tough for all of us. I sunk into a Post-Disney World depression (something all Disney freaks can identify with I am sure). Returning to class was tough enough due to the fact that I was missing Disney so much, but also it was Finals time and I was taking some tough courses. My DH must have been worried about me because he began talking about going back to Disney or Christmas. That made me feel a little bit better...I figured I could wait 8 months.

Well...of course that trip didn't happen. What DID happen that December was the addition of two, wonderful, healthy little boys to our family.

Up next: what did my DH said after hearing that he was going to be the father of twins? And what eerie thing did my daughter do for me before I went to my first dr. appt.?

Table of Contents: Click the on the titles below
The "OMG! We are Having TWO babies???" Post
The Plans for our 2008 Trip
The Countdown
Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust Tour 2008
We Interrupt This Pre-Trip Report for a Post-Trip Report to Destin, FL. (with lots of pics)
Grad School and Pooping in the Potty
Tink Gift Pictures
Yard Sale Woes
Disney Fun Money

 

[shaunaday]

Okay, so I found out I was pregnant and totally shocked. I kept thinking that maybe the test was incorrect, but sure enough, I was pregnant. I went to my first doctor's appointment when I was about 6 weeks along. Before I left for my appointment, my daughter gave me a card that said "I wish for twins". "Ummm...no!" I thought.

So anyway, DH and I went to our appointment and I convince the doctor that I have no idea when I conceived and I needed an ultrasound. She did one, and began explaining to us what we were seeing. She says with all seriousness yet with a sense of calmness, "It appears that both babies are growing at the same rate." I didn't even comprehend what she was saying, but when I looked at my DH and he was turning white, I realized that my DD's wish had come true (well, almost...she forgot to specify that she wanted twin sisters, not brothers. )

My hubby told me that he hoped I had enjoyed our WDW trip, because it appears he'd be paying for it for the next 20 years. He vowed never to go again. However, I am a sneaky little booger...and I figured out how to change his mind. More on that later.

As far as my planning goes, so far this is our schedule:

Aug. 30, 2008
Drive down (about 7-8 hours)
No theme parks on day 1.
Arrive, check in.
Ride monorail...just for giggles
Swim at resort
Decorate window...we are in the planning stages on this right now.
Buy Refillable mugs at Riverside Mill-Sassagoola Food Court

Aug. 31, 2008
Magic Kingdom- EMH (pm)
9:15 Breakfast CP @ MK
10:00-1:00 Magic Kingdom
1:00-4:00 Back to room for lunch, rest and swim
5:00-? Magic Kingdom (closes at 12)
CS Dinner at MK

Sept. 1, 2008
9:20 Breakfast at Chef Mickey's
10:30- Animal Kingdom all day
CS Early Dinner

Sept. 2, 2008
Breakfast at food court at resort
9:00-1:00 Disney Hollywood Studio
1:00-4;00 Relax in room and swim
5:00 Hollywood Studios for Fantasmic-dinner pkg. at Hollywood and Vine

Sept. 3, 2008
9:00-1:00 Epcot
Lunch at Coral Reef
1:00-4;00 Relax in room and swim
5:00 Epcot
Illuminations (?)

Sept. 4, 2008
9:00- 5:00 Magic Kingdom
3:00 Dreams come true parade
Chip and Dale Sing Along (Maybe)
GO TO BED EARLY

Sept. 5, 2008
*Meet up with DH's best friend and his family at one of the parks (who, BTW, is moving to Orlando this weekend...which means more trips to the Mouse House for me in the future. )
Dinner at Boatwrights

The boys are going to be so excited about the magic of Disney." I can't wait to see their faces when they meet Mickey for the first time. It makes me sad to see that my DD (12) is kind of getting "too cool for the magic". I mean she LOVES Disney, but it's different for her now. She knows the characters aren't real and that the little people in the "It's a Small World" are just robotics at its best...so I have one little magical surprise for her. Of course, she will "think" she knows I am behind it all, but I am planning on leaving TINK presents for all three kids each day.

The Tink presents are going to be packaged in gallon ziplocks (to make it easy to pack them and to bring them into the parks as needed). They will include a personalized note from Tinkerbell and some items they will want for the park that day (Pez dispensers, autograph books, granola bars, fruit snacks, glow sticks, t-shirts, lanyards, dining punch cards, etc). I will also add some sparkly "easter grass stuff" (whatever it's called) or confetti to the bags to make them seem to have been sprinkled with Pixie Dust. I am making many of the items myself...and having a blast doing it!

I have to thank the ladies over in the DISigns forum, because they have helped me with this!!

 

[bentleygirl22]

I see that your going to the coral reef you should see about doing a Diver Sign & Personalized Menu for your family .. its alittle extra magic..

ok heres how you do it ...
1st You need to call the disney dinning line to make your ADR for coral reef. hang up ..

make sure you have the correct ADR time & # in hand when you call.

call 407-560-6636 that # goes right to the coral reef
you will want to talk with Debbi or Meredith ( most of the time one of them will answer the phone)

tell them you would like to get the diver sign & personalized menu

They will ask you for your ADR # and time

they will ask you what you would like the sign to say .. is it for a birthday or just a magical night. (She will help you come up with something magical to say)

then they will give you a email address to send the photo's too ...


thats it .. And its free cool Huh ...

Hope that helps you have a magical time at disney. If you any questions please ask i will be happy to help ..

thanks again for coming over to my pre trip report ..
~Amanda

 

[dreamin_disney]

I love reading about you and your family. I'm hoping on going to wdw for the first time with DF and dd(9). I'm hoping to come back with a special Disney souvenir too-lol! the funny thing is I've been dreaming that i was given twins through adoption a boy and a girl. 2nd dream that i gave birth early to twins boy/girl. I'm a lil nervous since i had dreams of a baby girl before dd was born.Being in the same boat a few months ago I told God I leave it in his hands if its meant to be, if not I aprreciate being blessed enough to have dd.

Hope you have a great time on you trip. Its going to come fast. I'll be watching out for an update

 

[mkluvsmickey]

Great start! Looking forward to hearing more. What great souvenirs from you last trip!

 

[shaunaday]

I see that your going to the coral reef you should see about doing a Diver Sign & Personalized Menu for your family .. its alittle extra magic..

Ohhhhh Amanda, I am so going to do this! Thank you so much! I wondered how people did that. I am looking forward to surprising all the family with a few little unexpected bits of magic!!!

I love reading about you and your family. I'm hoping on going to wdw for the first time with DF and dd(9). I'm hoping to come back with a special Disney souvenir too-lol! the funny thing is I've been dreaming that i was given twins through adoption a boy and a girl. 2nd dream that i gave birth early to twins boy/girl. I'm a lil nervous since i had dreams of a baby girl before dd was born.Being in the same boat a few months ago I told God I leave it in his hands if its meant to be, if not I aprreciate being blessed enough to have dd.

Hope you have a great time on you trip. Its going to come fast. I'll be watching out for an update

dreamin_disney, good luck to you. I am a firm believer in God's plan. I can assure you that it was never my intention to have twins, but I am so happy that God saw fit and gave me those two little munchkins!! I have been blessed for sure!!

I'll send prayers and pixie dust your way.

Great start! Looking forward to hearing more. What great souvenirs from you last trip!

Woo Hoo...I have "readers"!!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

[shaunaday]

I have been doing cartwheels about this trip since I booked it months ago. I am not a patient person.

So we have been doing a few things to keep us excited and to get everyone geared up for WDW 2008. Here are some of what we have done:

Sunday nights are Disney Family Fun Nights
We watch a Disney movie and have a fun "themed dinner" together. DD is the main planner for this. She has really had fun coming up with creative ideas. Tonight we are watching Ratatouille and she has made menus and is "serving" us a "sampling" of her favorites.

Paper Chain
We made a really long chain and began our countdown. Next time, I will do a Disney Mickey Head timeline. I will just number the Mickey Heads (compliments of Home Depot) and tape them across the kids mirror in their bathroom or on the fridge. The chain was just too long and bulky to deal with!! Live and learn.

Mickey Head Collecting
Let's just say Home Depot loves us. I am using the Mickey Heads for decorating our room and for many of the Tink gifts that I have been crafting.

DIS Board Addiction
You know what I am talking about...I don't need to explain.

Tink Gift crafting and buying
OMG! If you haven't been on the DISign board here, you are missing out. I found my crafty side thanks to the ladies over there! I have been making all kinds of goodies. I have also spent a great deal of time and money at the Dollar Tree...which is no small feat, let me just tell you!

Today alone at the dollar store I got: glow sticks, glow necklaces, glow bracelets, t-shirts (for iron on transfers), candy, Wall-E ring pops, gum, Disney stickers, Disney puzzle, High School Musical hand sanitizer with belt clips, fat ink pens (for character signing), Mickey Mouse figurines, water bottles, Mickey Mouse washcloths (we will take these to the parks with us in ziplock bags...run them under cold water and you have an instant cool down), ziplock bags and sparkly shreds for packaging the tink gifts, and journals for the kids to write (draw pictures) in each eveing.


Annoy everyone who doesn't get it with Disney Talk

Watch the Disney Planning Video
Ahhhhh...I may go do that now.

Save money
The kids have been doing chores to earn spending money. They count their money each week. I think they are richer than us.

What I still need to buy:​

I saw these. I was going to make mine but the price was right...so I am buing them:

I have ponchos but they are thin...too thin. I think I need to buy new ones for all of us.

Water, snacks and lunch items for the room (we will have a fridge and cooler)

A new digital camera (although, I may borrow one for this trip...)

What I still have to make​

The family shirts

Dining punch cards

Mousekeeping envelopes

Finish making autograph books

What I still need to do:​

Call Coral Reef! (Thanks again, Amanda!)


Okay, what am I missing???

 

[amytheobald]

okay...I m in.. we will be headed to POR the week after ya'll! I don't know that your missing anything.

 

[samiet620]

I love your report so far. I just found it and was subscibbing regardless but when my dd14 saw that your dh is a horse trainer my choice was non existent! Goodness, I said Hun this is about DISNEY not horses or training them or handling them...I don't care we Need to subscribe mom!! Geez. So needless to say your DH has a fan!
Your kids are absolutely beautiful. I have twins too...a surprise as well! My oldest was but 3 months when I started my morning sickness. Needless to say we were surprised...it was like haveing triplets!!
Anyway about Disney...I hope you have a great time and I look forward to more updates. I don't think your missing anything. Can you rent a camera. We have rent a center here in Mass. I'm not sure if you can rent cameras but worth it to ask.
Ps. Try to slip a comment or two about your DH and his horse for this bratty child!

 

[irky416]

I'm in. Can't wait to hear more!

 

[shaunaday]

okay...I m in.. we will be headed to POR the week after ya'll! I don't know that your missing anything.

Woohoo! Thanks for reading. I'll get POR ready for you.

I love your report so far. I just found it and was subscibbing regardless but when my dd14 saw that your dh is a horse trainer my choice was non existent! Goodness, I said Hun this is about DISNEY not horses or training them or handling them...I don't care we Need to subscribe mom!! Geez. So needless to say your DH has a fan!
Your kids are absolutely beautiful. I have twins too...a surprise as well! My oldest was but 3 months when I started my morning sickness. Needless to say we were surprised...it was like haveing triplets!!
Anyway about Disney...I hope you have a great time and I look forward to more updates. I don't think your missing anything. Can you rent a camera. We have rent a center here in Mass. I'm not sure if you can rent cameras but worth it to ask.
Ps. Try to slip a comment or two about your DH and his horse for this bratty child!

Ugh. My DH ALWAYS steals the show. But I will see what I can do. Tell your daughter I am a second grade teacher. Come on...that's exciting. Right?

Twins plus a one year old? Bless you.

I never thought about renting a camera. I have a large digital camcorder/camera, but it's too big to tote around all day in my bag and to be honest it's just too complicated. I know I won't use it. So I am looking for a simple point and shoot that takes great pics.

I'm in. Can't wait to hear more!

Yeehaw!!! Welcome. I will try to keep you interested.

 

[the4princesses]

OH MY, WHAT A WONDERFUL GIFT TO GET FROM WDW!!!
I SURE WOULD LOVE TO COME HOME FROM OUR TRIP IN SEPT. WITH TWINS!!!
YOUR TWINS ARE SO CUTE!!
WE WILL BE AT POP SEPT. 3-10TH WITH FREE DINING!!
ARE YOU ALL FLYING OR DRIVING?
WE GOT A DING. FOR $63.00 SO WE WILL FLY!!
MY DD HAS A 3YR OLD MARE QH. WE HAVE A VERY NICE MAN
THAT IS A TRAINER HERE IN OUR TOWN AND HE IS TRAINING HER NOW!
THAT IS A NEAT PICTURE OF THE HORSE!!
HAVE YOU BEEN TO CORAL REEF BEFORE?
YOU WILL LOVE IT !!
WE WENT IN 2007 AND IT WAS THE BEST!!
HOPE YOU ALL HAVE FUN!
I'LL BE KEEPING UP WITH YOUR POST!!

 

[Wannabe Belle]

that is a pretty horse!!
where did you get the car's thing?
please read my trip report
I have 3 year old mare!!
I'm going to read your post!!

 

[DISNEYJAZZ]

loving your trip report! you will love the coral reef...really good food and i am a picky eater..the kids like fish wich was a good hting...thye loved the diver and the personalized menus....we had a blast at disney...
i am in the prepre trip planning stages for a trip next april with my other dd and her 3 girls..2 of which are idnetical twins! aren't twins awesome...ours will be 4 in spet. and they were a surprise.dd had been trying for a while to get pregnant and when her sister { brendi} found out she was having a boy the second time { elli and then blaze,the one's in my trip report from this april} dd candice cried and said " you had 1st girl and now boy what will i do hae to have twins!' wel becareful what you ask for...lol...about 3 mos later she found out she was 10 weeks pregnant with twins..thyewere born at 31 weeks and were small but fighters and are now just perfect lil princess' ,every dress is a princess dress,even a flowerd sundress is a ' flower princess dress'..
i can't wait to read more of your plans and ideas...love allthe crafty thinsg you are doing...i love doing allt hat stuff too and will rewatch the vacation planning dvd over adn over...just this weekend i had the twins watching a slide show of thier cosuisn at wdw...getting them ready! worked to my advantage since thier mom had been leaning toward a beach trip next summer...wants to wait for lil 'est girl to get older...but i swatyed her with " you never know what tomorrow brings...plan/do now,then we can do again in a few years!' so we decided on april/spring break so thye won't miss prek inthe fall { would of been cheaper then} they've never been in daycare { stay home with other g'ma and daddy} so spring in 2009 it is!
can't wait to read more....i am messing up on typing i know but in hurry to get to work to make moeny to give the mouse....lol

 

[amytheobald]

Woohoo! Thanks for reading. I'll get POR ready for you.



Ugh. My DH ALWAYS steals the show. But I will see what I can do. Tell your daughter I am a second grade teacher. Come on...that's exciting. Right? :rolley

Second graders are WAY harder to train than horses!!!

 

[shaunaday]

OH MY, WHAT A WONDERFUL GIFT TO GET FROM WDW!!!
...
HAVE YOU BEEN TO CORAL REEF BEFORE?

First of all, welcome! Hope you'll stick around.

Now, as far as the TWINs go...be careful what you wish for.
And, yes we have been to Coral Reef and loved it. I got the personalized menus and diver. I just got confirmation today. I will post more about this later.

where did you get the car's thing?

Hi there! Welcome! I got the Cars lanyards at Disneysmilesstore.com (I think that is the correct name) They were only about 5 bucks!!!

loving your trip report! you will love the coral reef...really good food and i am a picky eater..the kids like fish wich was a good hting...thye loved the diver and the personalized menus....

Hi DISNEYJAZZ! I got confirmation on the diver and menus today. Check back tomorrow for more on that. I gotta get in bed right now or I'd give you the background on that now...

Ohhhhh...are you in suspense??

Second graders are WAY harder to train than horses!!!

Amen sista!

 

[shaunaday]

Okay, I wanted to update my PTR with some information about some of the special magic I have planned for my family, but I need to give you some background first.

Settle in...it's a little long.

Three years ago, we had 1 year old twin boys and a 9 year old daughter, I was finishing up my education degree (finally) and my DH was the resident horse trainer at a horse farm. His job had some great perks...we had housing, a truck and great insurance on top of a decent salary. Also, he was doing a fair amount of training on the side to supplement his salary. Then one day life threw us a curve ball...

His employer told him he was getting out of the horse business, and we had 4 weeks to find jobs, housing and a vehicle for my DH. DH and I had talked about "one day" starting a business that catered to training and boarding horses, but since we didn't even have a house, much less a farm, I didn't see how that was possible.

Thankfully, just before I had to be admitted into the crazy house (I don't do well with change), I got offerred a job at a local school. That took some of the pressure off of us. We knew since I accpeted this job, that we would be staying in our town.

Finding our new house and the truck seemed easier, so I focused on that while DH began working on finding a farm to lease. We both were quite successful within a short amont of time. I found a house in town close to the school at which I would be teaching. I found him a great deal on a nice truck (unfortunately it drinks gas...but who knew gas would be 5 bucks a gallon??) and he found a farm to lease until we could buy our own.

DH began making calls and getting new clients. Before we knew it, he had a waiting list to get horses into his training programs!

NOW....don't misunderstand. The "success" of any business comes at a price. The price for his was high. For those first 2 years, we never saw eachother. Literally. DH leased a farm that was a 45 minute drive from the house in town that we bought in town. He usually didn't get home until after the kids and I were in bed. He worked 6 full, long days each week. On Sundays, he went to church with the family and then worked a half day. SInce my daughter and I left before DH got up in the mornings, she and I would go several days without seeing DH. The boys did see their daddy in the morning because he took them to the sitter, but tht was the only time they saw him.

It was HARD! We came close to NOT making it as a family. I mean really close. We wanted more time together but didn't know how to make it happen. We had a few people who could help part time at the farm, but we couldn't afford any additional help. We just didn't know what to do.

We spoke to our pastor at church about it, we talked to our parents, and we talked to our friends...no one offered much advice, just an ear to listen. We were two people who were totally lost...and our family was paying the price.

Before it got to the "throwing in the towel" point...we found a solution.

We found a farm to call our own. This farm was ready for horses and humans. The house was perfect for our family of 5 and the barns and pastures were in great shape. This meant more family time, but DH could still devote to his clients. Here's a few shots of WHAT we moved to:

But here are a few shots of WHY we moved here:

We have been here now for a little over a year. We are able to spend a lot of time together...even if it means we are all working on the farm in order to get that time together. The boys enjoy tractor work and Taylor enjoys riding the horses to cool them off. I enjoy organizing the barn and keeping the records and handling the invoicing. It's a family venture for sure! I can't even begin to tell you the difference in our lives today versus a year ago.

So now, we are planning to celebrate the fact that our family is still in one piece...and where better to celebrate than DISNEY?!


I am calling this trip our "Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust Tour" because without the faith we have in our family, the trust we have in God to make all things come together for good for those who love Him, and a little pixie dust, because I would have never thought we could have our own farm...I don't think this would be a family vacation for 5.

I have a few fun, magical tricks up my sleeve, but I think I have spent enough writing for now. I think I should go clean a stall or two now with my hottt hubby.

 

[shaunaday]

I don't know why my DD's picture is so small...I must have resized it before saving to to Photobucket. Whoopsie.

 

[Disney Brat]

I just found you, your PTR is great! I am an ex rider, I used to show and train Hunters and Jumpers! I had a really bad fall, and had to stop riding. I tried again and now my knees are too deteriorated to continue, which absolutly breaks my heart! I have talked to DH about maybe going back to western riding (I started out western and went english after a few years), but I have yet to do so! It is my dream to own a farm of my own! Your place looks amazing! DD 4 is also a part time rider...lol she started taking lessons at 3, and has been doing it on and off for just over a year.

I wish that I could have a souvie from WDW like you got!! DH and I cannot have any more kids, so we just put in our application for adoption this week! I love the Coral Reef, your plans there sound amazing!! Can't wait to read more!!

 

[TPCShauna]

Hi Shauna! My name is Shauna.

Love your farm and your wonderful WDW souvies. Looking forward to reading more!