I'm turning 30! What better way to celebrate than Disney World? 6/8 -6/16

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

The autograph book came out really cute! I bet your DS will love getting autographs!

 

[DisMomAmy]

I love the autograph book!

 

[iixheartxyouxox]

what a great autograph book! & i totally know what you mean about disneystore.com..there have been many times when i was so excited to buy something only to findout its sold out, its such a tease! lol

 

[TeresaG]

Thank you guys so much for the compliments. I'm so very happy with how it turned out. It's exactly what I wanted from an autograph book. And Alex loves it already which is a great sign.


Yesterday we received some "Mickey Mail" from the mailman. It was a booklet with hotel info, what to do at the parks, etc. as well as a DVD with the same sort of stuff.


Well, Alex was super excited to get this Mickey Mail, and has been watching the DVD in his playroom whenever he has TV time. It's really adorable. He's getting himself so so so excited to go back, and by default he's getting Maddie just as excited. I would probably never had watched this DVD otherwise, but now it's almost the only thing the kids want to watch.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

If you have Netflix streaming there are some Disney info shows on there, too!

 

[PirateKate]

The autograph book turned out great! I bet you all will have a lot of fun getting those autographs.

I toyed around with the water parks, too, but came to the same conclusion you did. With little kids, it's just not worth the money. I'm sure we'll have a water park trip in the future, when everyone is tall and strong swimmers.

 

[mrssmith06]

Love your autograph books!!! I had just bought one this time but I think I might make them for the kids next time!!

 

[TeresaG]

If you have Netflix streaming there are some Disney info shows on there, too!

Thanks for the suggestion! My DH actually told me he recorded a few on the DVR so we have some available. I asked Alex if he wanted to watch a new one but he said "not yet"

The autograph book turned out great! I bet you all will have a lot of fun getting those autographs.

I toyed around with the water parks, too, but came to the same conclusion you did. With little kids, it's just not worth the money. I'm sure we'll have a water park trip in the future, when everyone is tall and strong swimmers.

Welcome back!! I can't wait to read about your trip!

Thank you! I really am thrilled with how the book turned out. I know Alex is super excited to have just the pictures alone so having the autographs next to the pics will be even more exciting.

I totally agree. I was really on the fence about it, but realized I'd spend most of the time worrying about the kids in the water that it just wouldn't be enjoyable. Maybe next time. Or the time after that.

Love your autograph books!!! I had just bought one this time but I think I might make them for the kids next time!!

Thank you! They were so simple to make and cost almost nothing (well, for me it did since I have a family member who works in a photo lab so I get free/discounted prints ). From now on this is the kind of autograph book I'm going to make to bring for the kids. Super cute.

 

[TeresaG]

You know, it's funny about Disney trip planning. Only other real die-hard Disney planners really 'get' it (read: The Disboards ).

Last night we were watching a Disney special (the DVD that came in the mail) and Maddie went crazy pointing to the balloons they sell on Main Street. Balloons are her new favorite thing ever. lol. So I said to DH "you know, I think we're going to have to bite the bullet and set money aside to buy the kids a balloon while we're down there." Which led to a conversation about how much the balloons cost (not sure? Anyone know? $20?) and what we would do with the balloons after the day we buy it. Seems silly to leave it in the room. At the same time, I know my daughter, and every time we go back to the park she's going to want ANOTHER balloon, not understanding that the balloon is back at the room. We're REALLY looking forward to this situation.


Now really. Who else would worry/think about a stupid balloon situation?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

AKL doesn't allow balloons, so we would really be in trouble! Guests are required to check their balloons with Bell Services.

DH loves to take photos of the balloons at MK, but luckily DS has never asked for one. I don't know how much they cost, but I would ballpark $15.

 

[PirateKate]

I don't know how much balloons cost, either. I'd guess $10. I'd also guess they only accept cash.

I think if I were going to buy balloons for my boys, I'd get them the very last day and take them home, so I wouldn't have to haul them around all the parks. Of course, it wouldn't be much fun taking the balloons on an airplane, either, but we usually drive.

 

[DisMomAmy]

We bought balloons for the boys on our 2009 trip and kept them in the room for the week. I don't remember how much they cost... I remember thinking they were expensive. It wouldn't surprise me if they were $20 but I'd guess somewhere between $10-$20.

When we left, I wasn't sure what to do with the balloons. The CM who came to pick up our luggage & drive us to the front of the resort (we were at CBR), took the boys & their balloons outside and said some magical words before letting the balloons go. He cut off the little weight things from the bottom for the boys to keep. It was very cute & something you'd only see at Disney!

 

[Disney9.9.10]

Hi! Just joining in now!

Your pictures are all beautiful, and I would say to keep them coming!

I also love the countdown, and autograph book! I wish we had some little ones to do this sort of thing for! It is great how excited your kids are - and I agree with you that only "Disney People" really get that sort of thing.

Great PTR so far!

 

[TeresaG]

AKL doesn't allow balloons, so we would really be in trouble! Guests are required to check their balloons with Bell Services.

DH loves to take photos of the balloons at MK, but luckily DS has never asked for one. I don't know how much they cost, but I would ballpark $15.

I'm pretty sure I remember hearing this once before. Makes sense though, especially considering they go as far as using paper straws to protect the animals.

I'm guessing the balloons are between $15 to $20 too. Which is really obscene if you think about it. I like to take pictures of the balloons too, but I try not to draw attention to it.

I don't know how much balloons cost, either. I'd guess $10. I'd also guess they only accept cash.

I think if I were going to buy balloons for my boys, I'd get them the very last day and take them home, so I wouldn't have to haul them around all the parks. Of course, it wouldn't be much fun taking the balloons on an airplane, either, but we usually drive.

Yea, bringing the balloons home is probably not an option. I highly doubt we can bring it on the plane. I think I'm going to talk to Alex about sharing his balloon with another little boy or girl checking in to the hotel the morning we're leaving. That way he can share the magic. Maddie...Maddie I'll just have to hide the balloon from I think. She won't understand giving it to another kid just yet.

We bought balloons for the boys on our 2009 trip and kept them in the room for the week. I don't remember how much they cost... I remember thinking they were expensive. It wouldn't surprise me if they were $20 but I'd guess somewhere between $10-$20.

When we left, I wasn't sure what to do with the balloons. The CM who came to pick up our luggage & drive us to the front of the resort (we were at CBR), took the boys & their balloons outside and said some magical words before letting the balloons go. He cut off the little weight things from the bottom for the boys to keep. It was very cute & something you'd only see at Disney!

It seems so wasteful to leave them in the hotel room doesn't it? Or is that just me? lol! I mean, carrying them back to the parks each day would be pure insanity but after spending $20 on balloons you'd think they'd get a little more use than floating in the hotel room we'll barely be in.

That's a cute story! I love how Disney makes things so magical like that. I think I'm going to talk to Alex about giving the balloons to another little boy or girl who is checking in when we're checking out. That way he can be a part of make someone else trip magical.

Hi! Just joining in now!

Your pictures are all beautiful, and I would say to keep them coming!

I also love the countdown, and autograph book! I wish we had some little ones to do this sort of thing for! It is great how excited your kids are - and I agree with you that only "Disney People" really get that sort of thing.

Great PTR so far!

Hello and Thanks for joining!

Thank you for the compliments on my pictures. And the countdown and autograph book! lol. Alex and Maddie absolutely adore the countdown and it's a really great way to draw out the magic and fun of the upcoming trip.

This is the first time he's had an autograph book that's more than just blank pages in a book so we'll see what he thinks of it when it's completed. I have a feeling he's going to love it but we'll see.

 

[TeresaG]

It's time to figure out the rest of our food situation.


I do believe we have officially decided that on arrival day we will be going to MK. DH called Disney and added another park ticket to our stay so now definitely official.

So now Day one, June 8th the plan is to check in to Pop, hopefully drop stuff off at our room (if not, give them our suitcases) and then head to MK.

Since we're leaving the house so early I'm going to pack breakfast to-go. I'll probably make egg and cheese sandwiches on English Muffins and we'll eat them on the way to the airport. That's a nice and hearty breakfast everyone will eat and it should keep the kids full for a few minutes.

I imagine the kids will be hungry when we arrive at the hotel, but there's a good possibility they won't be because they tend to eat a lot while we're on the plane (are my kids the only one who require a constant stream of food into their mouths to keep them happy while traveling??

We'll be arriving at MCO at 9:30am so by the time we get to Pop (thinking noon-ish) I'm pretty sure they will want to eat. We're not using a TS this day since we're saving it for CRT, so that means we'll only have CS and snack credits to get us through the day. If we eat late in the afternoon it should act as a late lunch/early dinner. Thinking about it more (possibly OVER-thinking it...lol) I will probably pack sandwiches for the kids to eat in case we're stuck at the airport for too long waiting to get on the ME.

So since we're going to MK we'll probably eat at our favorite CS Columbia Harbour House. The kids will have eaten a sandwich that I packed from home so Kenny and I will eat as late as our tummy's will allow to try and get us to dinner time. We'll probably grab some snacks (I'm thinking Dole Whips, Popcorn and maybe something from the MS Bakery...) to get us through. I'll share my chicken meal with Maddie (who will probably eat the whole thing ) and that will be our dinner.


Day one is a mess. lol. All I know is I would like to eat at CHH.

 

[CandleontheWater]

I'm joining in!

I love your autograph book, how clever and resourceful! I am not really a fan of autographs, and I'm going to try and keep my son Everett away from them as long as possible, but I know there will be a day when he'll want to start collecting them too. Your homemade book came out awesome, so maybe I could try something like that myself!

I never even thought about the balloons, that is a sticky situation!

I think your first day plans look fine, its always tough on travel day because so much is up in the air (litterally, ha ha ) and I think you've got a good go with the flow plan!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We lose money on the Dining Plan so we'll just get a TiW card. Our arrival day plans have changed from Epcot with dinner at Rose & Crown to AK with dinner at Jiko.

You can always just grab some extra snacks or something at MK. I got some of the apple slices with caramel dip on night while we were waiting for Wishes. It was really good!

 

[TeresaG]

OK, yea. Apparently I am not very good at writing a pre-trip report. It's just that everything is planned and all we've been doing is waiting for the day to show up.

I promise I'll be better about writing a trip report. Promise.

BTW, we leave in 2 days! Yay!

 

[PirateKate]

Have a great time!!

 

[DisMomAmy]

I missed your sendoff... I hope you are having a great trip!! I can't wait to hear all about it when you get back!!