I Suppose the Baby Can Come, As Well-A December 2013 PTR Updated 12/13* TR Link Up

[MeeskaMomma]

What a cute dragon! I can't believe your trip is so close!!! Also, you know I love the spread sheet!

 

[afwdwfan]

You certainly are more organized than I am.

The dragon costume looks great. It is just too bad that the little kids don't ever want to actually wear their super cute costumes.

Don't forget the disposable plastic placemats that stick to the table to go with your disposable bibs.

 

[MagicShell]

Next month! Landons costume is so cute. I like his little earmuffs.

 

[teekathepony]

Aww! Landon's costume is so cute! Love the pics of him at the pumpkin patch too.
Time is going so fast, isn't it?? I can't believe my trip is almost here, which means yours is coming up fast!

 

[marDgreen88]

Wow, can't believe how soon your trip is!

Sent from my iPod touch using DISBoards

 

[Disney9.9.10]

What a cute little dragon Your trip is coming up so fast!!

 

[Nermel9]

Aww I love Landon's costume and earmuffs!

Yay you're trip is so close! Which means mine is too!

 

[amazingact21]

Oh my goodness...how exciting that time is ticking down so quickly! I loved seeing your spreadsheet! You are too orgaized!

Of course Landon was too adorable in his costume...and I have to add that I too, was a little surprised that it wasn't a Disney one. But he still rocked it out to total cuteness, either way!

Mickey Mail is the absolute best. I think for me--that's the definite realization factor for our trips...once we get it, then I know it's really real! lol!

Mickey Mail is definitely that final step before a Disney trip. It's so nice to open your mailbox and see Mickey!

What a cute little dragon!

Yay for the trip coming up so soon!

We also did that ordering-things-from-Amazon-for-the-trip thing. I was just going through the box today. Good times!

Amazon is such a great thing for trips with babies. I don't know what I'd do without it.

What a cute dragon! I can't believe your trip is so close!!! Also, you know I love the spread sheet!

The spreadsheet keeps me calm this close to the trip. It's nice knowing what needs to get done on time.

You certainly are more organized than I am.

The dragon costume looks great. It is just too bad that the little kids don't ever want to actually wear their super cute costumes.

Don't forget the disposable plastic placemats that stick to the table to go with your disposable bibs.

I thought all Landon's Halloween pictures were going to be of him screaming.


Ugh, placemats! Wish I'd thought of that...Alex saw your comment the same day I did, and we both realized we hadn't thought of that.
Hopefully, we can pick some up at a store.

Next month! Landons costume is so cute. I like his little earmuffs.

Thanks! I think we enjoyed his costume way more than he did.

Aww! Landon's costume is so cute! Love the pics of him at the pumpkin patch too.
Time is going so fast, isn't it?? I can't believe my trip is almost here, which means yours is coming up fast!

I know! It's so hard to believe the holidays are actually here. Normally, I'm wishing time would speed up, but I'll let it go at a normal pace while you're at Disney.

Wow, can't believe how soon your trip is!

Sent from my iPod touch using DISBoards

It's really exciting!

What a cute little dragon Your trip is coming up so fast!!

Thanks! It's so exciting to think of our trip in weeks rather than months.

Aww I love Landon's costume and earmuffs!

Yay you're trip is so close! Which means mine is too!

It's great! I cannot wait for the end of November to arrive.

 

[UGAFan0829]

Oh my goodness...your trip is SO close! I am SO super excited for you and cannot wait to read all about it! When I saw the pics of the Magic Bands on FB, I could only imagine how excited you were!

 

[afwdwfan]

Ugh, placemats! Wish I'd thought of that...Alex saw your comment the same day I did, and we both realized we hadn't thought of that.
Hopefully, we can pick some up at a store.

We used them a lot. They're handy to have, but at the same time, we've also just carried a package of Clorox wipes and just wiped down the table.

 

[amazingact21]

Some good news in regards to Disney came to us this past week.


On Monday, our MagicBands arrived in the mail!





The colors were a little more vibrant than they looked on the computer screen, in case anyone is wondering.


They were personalized, and even Landon had one.





We took off the extra material on Landons band so that it would be kid-sized and, amazingly, it fit.






Its a good thing they are water-resistant, because it keeps going straight to his mouth now.









Alex and I were able to try on the bands a few weeks earlier when we visited with his siblings, so we knew how they felt. But it was still exciting to wear ours, knowing they would soon hold our Disney room keys, Fastpasses, and tickets.







I debated for months on whether or not to preorder Photopass+. I was afraid we wouldnt get our moneys worth, but I talked with my mom and after agreeing to split the cost, I bought it. The package arrived yesterday, so now all the items we need on our check in day are here.


There is quite a bit, though. Between the bands, the photo voucher, our ticket vouchers, and the reservation confirmation pages, well need to carry a duffel to the check-in desk at Pop&






And, finally, after months of calling every day, Alexs persistence paid off. Yesterday, Alex texted me with the news that he was able to get an annual pass discount applied to both of the rooms!


Hallelujah!




While its only about half of what a military discount would be, you wont hear me complaining.


A discount is a discount.



And the cast member on the phone was super generous and didnt even charge us the 50 change fee that usually occurs after the 45 day mark.




I cant explain what having this discount does for my peace of mind.


It was gnawing away at me, knowing we were paying rack rate for a value resort when we could have stayed at Shades of Green for half the price.




Its as if the final piece of the puzzle has been put in place and all thats left is to stand aside and admire the finished project.


Dont get me wrong, Im running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to get last minute To-Dos finished, but all the important Disney arrangements are taken care of.



Now its the fun stuff left!

Finding a holiday shirt for Landon to wear to MVMCP, getting some Christmas shopping done due to the fact that well be out of town on Black Friday, dealing with haircuts and car washes before we depart, etc, etc&.





Coming up right below this will be Day 4 Plans, so stay tuned&.

 

[amazingact21]

(whoohoo, 2 updates in a row!)



Day 4 Plans: (Wednesday, Dec. 4th)


How this morning starts off will depend a lot upon how well Landon does at Crystal Palace the day before. One way or the other, the four of us will be heading to:






Disney’s Hollywood Studios!


Before the baby, when it was just Alex and I, we loved our DHS mornings. We definitely didn’t enjoy the mad dash to Toy Story Mania, but what followed was always so pleasant and fun. The two of us would walk down Sunset Blvd, ride Rock N Roller Coaster as many times as possible, then stroll through the park, hitting Star Tours and Great Movie Ride along the way.


Since everyone and their brother is usually in line for TSMM or ToT or RNRC, there’s not a lot of people just roaming the streets at 10 o’clock in the morning. So it always felt like we had the place to ourselves for that hour or so.


Now, though, who knows how we’ll feel about DHS…



I have read countless trip reports that claim the park is difficult to tour with babies, and I kind of psych myself out over how much fun we’ll have there. The upside to it all is that my mother will be with us, so Alex and I can still ride the coasters if we want, and I don’t plan on spending the whole day there.


I believe if we wake up that morning with the mindset of, let’s just go have fun, take in the park, show Landon the joy of Disney, and not worry about what we can/can’t do, we’ll have a great time.




So, it’ll be smooth sailing….




If Landon gets freaked by the characters, we will alter my original plans and try to get a quick spin or two on some of the headliners.


If he does well with them, well…we’ll still head to the same location if he didn’t.






It’ll either be Toy Story Mania for us or Toy Story Meet and Greets.






My mom really, really wants to get a picture of her and Landon with Woody and Buzz, and we already have the cutest outfit for Landon to wear. I just hope the size and scale of Buzz doesn’t completely freak him out. Buzz’s Space Ranger suit is a far cry from Pooh’s furry tummy, and he could not dig the digs at all.


We’ll see…



In addition to the Toy Story gang, Alex and I would like to meet a few others on this morning.


It will be the character meet and greet day.


The next big one is Mike and Sully.


They are one of Alex’s favorites, plus Landon is obsessed with Sully.


I don’t know who he likes more at this point, Pooh or Sully….



I swear my kid is the male version of Boo. He sees Sully, and his face clearly reads, “KITTY!”


It’s sort of adorable…




If we have the time, patience, and motivation, we might also try and see Wreck-It Ralph.


Another favorite of Alex’s.


I’d really like to go on The Great Movie Ride at least once, because I love the attraction.





But it’s so long; I seriously doubt Landon could make it through the whole tour without getting fidgety. Perhaps if he’s napping….





Somewhere along the way, I might try and snag one of these bad boys:




I miss those cupcakes.

I miss cupcakes in general (Alex and I have all but completely cut out sweets) but those bad boys especially. My goal is to try them all.


Not at one time, of course. But eventually.


So far I’ve had 2. The peanut butter one pictured above and the marble one. (I wasn’t a fan of the marble.)


I think this trip the red velvet is up. But who can resist the looks of the butterfinger.


Oh how I love Disney dilemmas….







Then again, I have a 12:10pm reservation at:




50’s Prime Time Café, so I might not want to ruin my appetite.


Alex and I ate here September of 2012, and it was delicious! My mom and I were slated to have dinner at 50’s on our last night of our trip, but she wasn’t up to it, so I had to cancel.


Now, she’ll get to try it, and I’m excited.


It might sound nuts, but I am looking forward to having some “traditional” food.


Here at home, Alex and I eat boring, healthy food, and so I know my body will be grateful for the mashed potatoes and veggies. Plus, this will be one of the few restaurants where Landon can eat some of our food.


He’s an incredibly picky eater, and we don’t give him any grains or sweets, so at the other meals we will have to bring stuff with us for him to eat. It will be such a relief to just plop him down and set some vegetables and meat in front of him and be done.



I’m sure by the time lunch is over with, we’ll all be ready for our traditional afternoon break back at Pop.






At around 3:45pm we’ll drive over to the TTC and take one of my favorite modes of transportation.






Is it weird to be excited about riding the monorail again?


I mean, most people look forward to the parades, the roller coasters, seeing Mickey Mouse. Me, I cannot wait to see Bay Lake from the windows of the monorail.


Guess I’m just nuts…






My group will hopefully get to the Magic Kingdom around 4, and we’ll head into Adventureland to use our 4:20pm Fastpasses for my favorite ride.








I cannot even describe how much I missed going on Thunder these last 2 years. And it’s such a relief going into this vacation knowing I will get to ride it at least once. Barring closures, of course, which from what I’ve seen happens quite a bit. But still…I like to think positive.


We’ll probably get a Rider Swap so that I can go again when my mom uses her Fastpass.


Oh boy…2 turns on Thunder!



My heart rejoices.



After enduring the wildest ride in the wilderness, Alex and I will trek right next door and go on Splash.





I hate the drop, but I adore the theme of Splash, so I endure it.






In my opinion, it has the best story out of all Disney attractions. The anticipation, buildup, followed by the celebration at the end is just pure genius on the part of Imagineers.


My mom probably won’t use her Fastpass, and I have wondered if we obtained a Rider Swap, if I could take her MagicBand and use her FP in her place.


Back when it was paper passes, if someone didn’t want to go, there was no issue, you’d just hand over your ticket and nobody would question it. Now, though, with her name being on the band, I’m not sure.


And, on top of that, I don’t know if the pass is even allotted to her, since all it says on MDE is that I have Fastpasses for 3 for Splash. So maybe it’s no issue at all, so long as one pass is showing up.


A question we’ll have to wait and see to answer…



I will admit, though, having 2 Fastpasses for attractions right next to each other will be nice. No walking across the park for us.




With the coasters out of the way, we all might stop at Pecos Bill for some dinner. The make your own taco salad is a popular item among all of us, and it will be right near us.



After dinner, I will drag us all over to Fantasyland to use 6:20-7:20pm Fastpasses for Dumbo.


How exciting!


Landon’s first Dumbo ride!



The staple of every child’s first Disney trip.



I’m sure Alex and I are going to fight like cats and dogs over who gets to sit with him and who’s in charge of photos. I’d like to use the argument that Alex takes better photos, but he’ll just come back with, “But you ENJOY taking the pictures more.”


Honestly, I know it won’t be his only Dumbo ride, so I will give it to the dad and ride in the vehicle in front.


I know it’s possible to have 2 adults sit together on Dumbo, but Alex is over 6 feet, and I’m afraid we’d be squished if we sat together.


Who knows, though. Yet another thing we’ll wait and make the judgment call on once we’re there.





Originally, I had planned on us going on the headliners while the crowds watched the nighttime shows, but since I was able to get Fastpasses for 3 of the main ones, I might have us go to Main Street and see regular Wishes.



Plus, the new Celebrate the Magic show.







I have only ever seen the Magic, the Memories, and You, so I am curious as to how this new projection show holds up. The reviews I have read have been nothing but positive, which is a good sign. I don’t doubt it’ll be great.



And regular Wishes is always a magical sight to behold.








Then again, there’s the lazy (or exhausted parent) part of me that thinks it’d be nice to stroll around for a bit, maybe ride one or two dark rides with Landon, take a few pictures with the castle lit up, and then head back for an early night.


It all depends on everyone’s moods. We might not get a long afternoon break, so by 8 o’clock, we could be spent. Or we could be perfectly content wandering around the New Fantasyland.



The plans are open and capable of change.


We’re going with the flow, which I kind of like.



No matter what we decide to do, we’ll end our 4th day inside the Magic Kingdom, and you can’t ask for anything better than that.

 

[MagicShell]

Congratulations!!!!!!! Discounts are GREAT!!!!!!!

 

[afwdwfan]

Its a good thing they are water-resistant, because it keeps going straight to his mouth now.

They look like they'd make a good chew toy.

And, finally, after months of calling every day, Alexs persistence paid off. Yesterday, Alex texted me with the news that he was able to get an annual pass discount applied to both of the rooms!


Hallelujah!

That is great news!!! Any kind of a discount is always a good thing.

Now, though, who knows how we’ll feel about DHS…

We still enjoy it, and spend quite a bit of time there. True, there aren't many things a kid that age can do, but it is still possible to walk around, enjoy a few rides, and have a good time. We just don't do more than a few hours at a time there.

But it’s so long; I seriously doubt Landon could make it through the whole tour without getting fidgety. Perhaps if he’s napping….

We've never attempted this ride since we've had kids... for that very reason. Good luck!

Somewhere along the way, I might try and snag one of these bad boys:




I miss those cupcakes.

I love those things. I want one right now.

Thanks...

My goal is to try them all.


Not at one time, of course. But eventually.

Hmmm... trying them all at one time sounds like fun challenge...

Is it weird to be excited about riding the monorail again?

No. Not at all.

I mean, most people look forward to the parades, the roller coasters, seeing Mickey Mouse. Me, I cannot wait to see Bay Lake from the windows of the monorail.


Guess I’m just nuts…

Well, if that's the case, then I am too. I LOVE riding the monorail. It is kind of that "we're here" moment.

We’ll probably get a Rider Swap so that I can go again when my mom uses her Fastpass.


Oh boy…2 turns on Thunder!

My mom probably won’t use her Fastpass, and I have wondered if we obtained a Rider Swap, if I could take her MagicBand and use her FP in her place.


Back when it was paper passes, if someone didn’t want to go, there was no issue, you’d just hand over your ticket and nobody would question it. Now, though, with her name being on the band, I’m not sure.

Well, it probably isn't technically allowed, per se. But considering you can get any name put on a band, including nicknames... I don't think anyone will be checking a photo id to ensure that it is in fact yours.

Honestly, I know it won’t be his only Dumbo ride, so I will give it to the dad and ride in the vehicle in front.

Don't forget. You got 2 rides on Thunder, so it is only fair.

I know it’s possible to have 2 adults sit together on Dumbo, but Alex is over 6 feet, and I’m afraid we’d be squished if we sat together.

I don't know how much over 6' he is, but I'm about 6'3" and I think it would be tolerable for at least one ride if you both want to ride with him and let your mom take the pictures...

Then again, there’s the lazy (or exhausted parent) part of me that thinks it’d be nice to stroll around for a bit, maybe ride one or two dark rides with Landon, take a few pictures with the castle lit up, and then head back for an early night.


It all depends on everyone’s moods. We might not get a long afternoon break, so by 8 o’clock, we could be spent. Or we could be perfectly content wandering around the New Fantasyland.



The plans are open and capable of change.


We’re going with the flow, which I kind of like.

And that's pretty much what you have to do. If everyone is dragging, do what you have to do and call it a night... but if everyone is in a good mood and energetic, take advantage of it and do what you can, while you can. Those opportunities might not be there later.

No matter what we decide to do, we’ll end our 4th day inside the Magic Kingdom, and you can’t ask for anything better than that.

 

[marDgreen88]

That'll be such a fun day! I hope Landon does well with the characters!

Omg, you're the first person I've seen to take a picture of the INSIDE of the Magic Bands! I had no idea they had the names inside! THAT'S AMAZING!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[MeeskaMomma]

It all looks so exciting! I love the magic bands! Mi hope my 3 year old tolerates it as well as Landon does. Your plan looks great, and where is that cupcake from!!!!

 

[amazingact21]

Congratulations!!!!!!! Discounts are GREAT!!!!!!!

I know, it's definitely a relief knowing we were able to get a discount on the room. More souvenir money!

They look like they'd make a good chew toy.

They make an excellent one. But hey, if it keeps him entertained....

We still enjoy it, and spend quite a bit of time there. True, there aren't many things a kid that age can do, but it is still possible to walk around, enjoy a few rides, and have a good time. We just don't do more than a few hours at a time there.

That makes sense. And I'm sure we'll feel the same. Between the holiday decorations, the music, and even the Jedi Training Academy shows, I'm sure none of us will get bored walking around. Besides, it's Disney. Doing nothing at Disney is better than a busy day at home, any day.

We've never attempted this ride since we've had kids... for that very reason. Good luck!

Alex isn't a huge GMR fan, so if I do get to do it, it'll probably be my mom and me getting an escape the boys for awhile. I say that, but I know Alex and Landon will find trouble of their own without the wife and mother in-law around to hold them back. So it's a win/win.

Hmmm... trying them all at one time sounds like fun challenge...

I would love to see someone attempt that.

Well, it probably isn't technically allowed, per se. But considering you can get any name put on a band, including nicknames... I don't think anyone will be checking a photo id to ensure that it is in fact yours.

That's my thought.

Don't forget. You got 2 rides on Thunder, so it is only fair.

Alex seconds this justification.

That'll be such a fun day! I hope Landon does well with the characters!

Omg, you're the first person I've seen to take a picture of the INSIDE of the Magic Bands! I had no idea they had the names inside! THAT'S AMAZING!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Really? I got a kick out of the names on the inside. It makes for a great keepsake for future years.

(Funny story...when my mom got her MagicBand, she called me super confused. She couldn't find her name. She kept saying, "I thought they were personalized. I need to send mine back, because they messed up!" Then, I told her to look inside....

)

It all looks so exciting! I love the magic bands! Mi hope my 3 year old tolerates it as well as Landon does. Your plan looks great, and where is that cupcake from!!!!

Landon tolerates it right now, because it's a color he likes and he can put it in his mouth, but he's still really young. And we only put it on him for short bursts.
Worse case, you can store your son's somewhere safe and just pull it out when you need it.


The cupcake is from Starring Rolls in Hollywood Studios. It's right next to the Brown Derby right on the corner of Sunset Blvd., the direction you'd go if you were headed to RNRC and ToT.
They are delicious, and more than enough for 2 people to share.

 

[Disney9.9.10]

I'm glad that things are falling into place for you!

Landon looks so cute with his little magic band on! How sweet

I hope that Landon will share your love of DHS so that your touring doesn't have to change too much. I agree with your mom that the Buzz and Woody photo is a great choice, I hope to make it there on my next trip too.

 

[amazingact21]

I'm glad that things are falling into place for you!

Landon looks so cute with his little magic band on! How sweet

I hope that Landon will share your love of DHS so that your touring doesn't have to change too much. I agree with your mom that the Buzz and Woody photo is a great choice, I hope to make it there on my next trip too.

The Magicband does look pretty cute on him; we'll see how long he can stand it while we're in the parks.


I've only met Woody and Buzz when I was a little kid, so it'd be sort of cool to have a Meet & Greet with him. I'm hopeful Landon will either love the characters or be indifferent to them.

 

[Dugette]

Yay, we got our Magic Bands recently too! Only we haven't tried the baby's on yet, though, so good to know it should fit!

Also, so glad you finally got a discount! Great news!

Plans look good for that day. I can't wait to see the new projection show on the castle. Hope your day goes smoothly and Landon has a blast!