Introducing her to the magic: A May 2012 pre-trip. Update 4/24

[mansionterror]

Some people don't get the Magic of Disney and don't understand why one would go back year after year. Some people really get confused when they find out that you are going "again" and taking your infant daughter. They just don't understand. This trip is going to be special, sad & bitter-sweet in some ways. The past year has been a crazy one for my family but I will get to that in a minute. First I would like to introduce the cast.

Hi, my name is Melissa and I Disney. I went on my first trip as a 3 year old and continued to go for years after. When I met my DH he had only been once as a child and they only went for one day. We honeymooned there and have gone almost every year since.

That is me and my DH James. As I said before James was not a huge fan of Disney before I came along. He still can take it or leave it but continues to humor me and take our family every year.

This is our daughter Ava, she will be 4 months old when we go to Disney and this will be her first trip. I am so excited to start her Disney obsession early!! She is our little princess (Belle to be exact) and we are just so blessed to have her.

Normally there would be another cast member and this is part of why our trip will be bitter-sweet. For 7 years we had custody of DH's nephew Colby. We took him to Disney every year from the time he was 2 till last summer before he turned 8. He has gone back to live with his birth mother and she has decided she doesn't want us to see him so he will not be going with us this year. Unfortunately she is a bit in-secure in her relationship with him and is weary of him wanting to move back in with us. There will be many parts of this trip that will be hard and I will miss him terribly.


Sometimes to get to the happy in your life you have to suffer through the not so happy parts: In Jan of 2011 DH was injured at work. This injury resulted in an all day surgery, 9 months of being stuck at home on bedrest, and a later BTK amputation surgery. He now has a prosthetic foot/leg and has been back at work since September of 2011.

During all this craziness we found out we were expecting which was a surprise 7 YEARS in the making. Yep it took us 7 years and I honestly think that what happened to DH was a test of our strength and faith as a couple and because we made it through our reward was our sweet girl.

We are going to be in Disney May 12 -19 during Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival. I am excited to experience my first Mother's Day in Disney with my family. We are staying at POR for the first time (we are a POP family) because of the 30% promo plus we needed a break from POP as we have lots of memories with Colby there.

Well I hope I have some readers and that all that info didn't scare you away. I am excited to see what is in store for Ava (I know it won't be much at 4 months) but I know we are going to have a wonderful time.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey]

I'm in! Sorry to hear about all the bs with your nephew's mom. I'm sure it will be hard, but you'll still have a great time making memories with your DD. My DS was 4 months when we took him this past Nov. Great age.

P.S. your DD is quite a cutie!

 

[MHTeacher]

I'm in to hear about your trip. We're going in May as well, although we'll be there later in the month.

I can completely understand about this being a bitter-sweet trip for you. My nephew has lived with us for over five years---came when he was 4, and he's now 9 1/2 years old.

Your daughter is a sweetie-I know you'll enjoy taking her to Disney this trip.

 

[mansionterror]

Yes, I have readers! I will try to update as often as I can between now and our trip and also attempt to not ramble too much.

I'm in! Sorry to hear about all the bs with your nephew's mom. I'm sure it will be hard, but you'll still have a great time making memories with your DD. My DS was 4 months when we took him this past Nov. Great age.

P.S. your DD is quite a cutie!

The situation just stinks because we just want to be able to see him and we know he wants the same. I am so looking forward to experience Disney through Ava's eyes, I know that it will be a wonderful trip and the beginning to many great new memories for our family.

We are definately in love with our sweet girl!

I'm in to hear about your trip. We're going in May as well, although we'll be there later in the month.

I can completely understand about this being a bitter-sweet trip for you. My nephew has lived with us for over five years---came when he was 4, and he's now 9 1/2 years old.

Your daughter is a sweetie-I know you'll enjoy taking her to Disney this trip.

We normally go the last week of May into the first week of June, we did that so that Colby would be out of school when we went. Since we don't have to worry about that this year we decided to go earlier for a bit cooler weather and to not have to deal with the summer crowds. Colby's birthmother (my DH's neice) seems to think that we don't need to see him anymore since we "have a child of our own". He was 11 1/2 months old when we came to live with us so really he was our first child and we loved him like our own.

 

[Jonesloonybin]

I am in!! I was mulling over the idea of starting my own PTR, when I came across yours.

I am sorry to hear about your nephew. That has to be hard.

I hope you will have lots of new memories with your precious baby girl. We tried for 3.5 years before we had our dd8. My oldest is from a previous marriage.

Can't wait to hear about your plans!

 

[mansionterror]

Hope to get another update in today.

I am in!! I was mulling over the idea of starting my own PTR, when I came across yours.

I am sorry to hear about your nephew. That has to be hard.

I hope you will have lots of new memories with your precious baby girl. We tried for 3.5 years before we had our dd8. My oldest is from a previous marriage.

Can't wait to hear about your plans!

Welcome my PTR. We really are very excited to continue our Disney tradition with our girl. It will be a whole new world. All babies are special and a treasure to all but when it takes a LONG time to get one here it is different.

My DH is reaching out to his neice (Colby's birthmother) and I hope it works. It is hit or miss with her.

 

[cantwaittoseemickey]

Hi! I am subbing I am so sorry to hear you will not be able to take your nephew this time. I hope that your dh's niece will understand how much this will affect him and your family as well and have a change of heart. My parents kept my daughter for quite a while after I gave birth to her as I was very ill afterwards. My dh had to work to keep providing for us. But they brought her over to see me all the time. Once I was able to care for her it was very hard for all of us. My mom cried for my daughter. My daughter cried for my mom and I cried because she didn't see me as her mom. She is now 14yrs old and I always say we have "shared" custody. She has spent a great amount of time with them and spends just about every weekend spending the night and most of the summer. We don't live far from each other and I am at my parents house all the time anyways. I have often felt that I don't have the relationship with my daughter that I should have but now I see it as it was meant to be. To just take my daughter away from my parents like that would be devestating to all of them. My heart goes out to you. I really hope there is a way that all of you will be able to see Colby and share his love.

Your daughter is precious! Congratulations! Starting her out in Disney young is perfect!

Having these traumatic events in your life will make your Disney trip that much more special. I'm sorry to hear about your dh's injury. But this is a great way to start a new beginning for him and the blessings in your life.

Can't wait to read about your trip.

 

[mansionterror]

Hi! I am subbing I am so sorry to hear you will not be able to take your nephew this time. I hope that your dh's niece will understand how much this will affect him and your family as well and have a change of heart. My parents kept my daughter for quite a while after I gave birth to her as I was very ill afterwards. My dh had to work to keep providing for us. But they brought her over to see me all the time. Once I was able to care for her it was very hard for all of us. My mom cried for my daughter. My daughter cried for my mom and I cried because she didn't see me as her mom. She is now 14yrs old and I always say we have "shared" custody. She has spent a great amount of time with them and spends just about every weekend spending the night and most of the summer. We don't live far from each other and I am at my parents house all the time anyways. I have often felt that I don't have the relationship with my daughter that I should have but now I see it as it was meant to be. To just take my daughter away from my parents like that would be devestating to all of them. My heart goes out to you. I really hope there is a way that all of you will be able to see Colby and share his love.

Your daughter is precious! Congratulations! Starting her out in Disney young is perfect!

Having these traumatic events in your life will make your Disney trip that much more special. I'm sorry to hear about your dh's injury. But this is a great way to start a new beginning for him and the blessings in your life.

Can't wait to read about your trip.

What a wonderful relationship for your daughter to have and it is nice to see that some families can work it out and stay a family.

I don't know if we will ever have that kind of relationship with DH's neice. She really really resents me because Colby saw me as his mother for so long and basically said that she doesn't want him around me so we are learning to deal with that. She told my DH that I was only Colby's family by marriage and pretty much said I didn't matter. It stinks but we have decided to just cut ties for now and hope things change in the future.

 

[mansionterror]

So sorry that it has taken me a few extra days to get an update up but here goes.

The plans:

I am a vetern Disney traveler but I have NEVER gone with an infant before so this is all new territory for us.

We will be leaving TN Friday evening and will drive until we reach Tifton GA where we will stay over for the night. I figure 6 hours on the road was enough for Ava for one night and she and we would need to be able to stretch our legs.

I will tell you that I have gotten to Disney via car and via plane and I have reasons to love both. Since Ava is so young I think the best thing to do for now is drive. We do have family traditions that I want to include her in that only happen if we drive.


Saturday morning we will drive over to the FL coast and plan to stop off at a beach so Ava can get her first view of the ocean than we will head on over to Disney property. We will get checked in and just have some down time.

Sunday will be a resort/DTD day so that we can get to know our way around POR and just enjoy a leisurely Mother's Day.


Our week is not planned out just yet so that will come as I figure it out. Here are some must dos for the trip:

Flower and Garden Festival
Tower of Terror (didn't get to last year because I was pregnant)
Seeing the expansion construction progress
Visiting the Animation Inn

Next update will include what we are looking forward to doing with Ava for the first time. Thanks for sticking with me.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey]

Traveling with our DS at that age wasn't bad at all. We flew cross country (which with flight delays turned into a 9 1/2 hour trip). He wasn't fussy at all, he had his own seat so he could sleep when he wanted to sleep and have Mommy and Daddy play with him when he wanted.

We discovered that he ate a heck of a lot more on the trip than he ever does at home. I don't know if it was from the heat or being very active but he was always hungry. He took a lot more naps so it gave DH and I to wander through gift shops, grab a snack, or stop any watch a show.

He ended up sleeping through Wishes on Main Street, but enjoyed watching Illuminations and Fantasmic. I was so worried all the loud noises were going to freak him out.

The best part of the trip had to be when he met Mickey and Minnie for the first time. All he did was stared at Minnie, didn't give a hoot that Mickey was there too.

 

[cantwaittoseemickey]

I will pray for you and your family and hope some day when Colby is older he will come to you.

I am looking forward to reading about your plans. We have both driven and flown as well. I agree they both have their pro's and cons. So sweet she is going to get to see the beach and put her little feetsies in the sand

 

[mansionterror]

Traveling with our DS at that age wasn't bad at all. We flew cross country (which with flight delays turned into a 9 1/2 hour trip). He wasn't fussy at all, he had his own seat so he could sleep when he wanted to sleep and have Mommy and Daddy play with him when he wanted.

We discovered that he ate a heck of a lot more on the trip than he ever does at home. I don't know if it was from the heat or being very active but he was always hungry. He took a lot more naps so it gave DH and I to wander through gift shops, grab a snack, or stop any watch a show.

He ended up sleeping through Wishes on Main Street, but enjoyed watching Illuminations and Fantasmic. I was so worried all the loud noises were going to freak him out.

The best part of the trip had to be when he met Mickey and Minnie for the first time. All he did was stared at Minnie, didn't give a hoot that Mickey was there too.

Ava doesn't seem to be too bothered by noise so it will be interesting to see how she handles the fireworks, shows, etc. I cannot wait to get some pics of her with characters. My DH doesn't want to fly for awhile...he doesn't want to have to deal with a car seat, stroller and having her ears hurt.

I will pray for you and your family and hope some day when Colby is older he will come to you.

I am looking forward to reading about your plans. We have both driven and flown as well. I agree they both have their pro's and cons. So sweet she is going to get to see the beach and put her little feetsies in the sand

My dh LOVES the beach and ocean so he is really excited for Ava to see it.

Another update is coming up soon...

 

[mansionterror]

Anyone's first trip to Disney World is exciting even when they are as little as 4 months. I know Ava won't remember anything from this trip but we will create some memories and will have pictures that she can look back on when she gets older.

Really if you want to get technical Ava has been to Disney already...I was about 8 weeks pregnant with her when we went last year.

She is really starting to notice colors, sounds and shapes so I think she is going to really enjoy the stimulation Disney will bring her. We are looking forward to the following new experiences with Ava.

Dumbo (we haven't ridden in YEARS and we will get to see it in it's new home).
Cindy's Carousel
Fantasyland (all together)
The Seas
Meeting the Characters
Getting her first Mickey Ears

This is going to be a very laid back vacation for us as we want to make sure Ava gets plenty of rest and I want to just enjoy this special time with her. She seems to handle travel and visits to new places well (we took her to Biltmore Estates in NC two weekends ago) so I think she will do well if we just keep it simple.

 

[Jonesloonybin]

Sounds like a great plan so far. At that age, being flexible is the biggest thing.

You all are going to be making some great memories!

(my dd8 is sitting with me and wants to give you some smilies.)

 

[mansionterror]

Sounds like a great plan so far. At that age, being flexible is the biggest thing.

You all are going to be making some great memories!

(my dd8 is sitting with me and wants to give you some smilies.)

Aww tell her I said thanks so much and here are some for her...



IF anyone has any suggestions of some things to do with Ava while there or just places to take a break and get out of the heat with an infant would be great!!

 

[mansionterror]

So, we are now under the 30 day mark in our countdown to Disney. We are getting excited and my list making will begin soon. I have found and purchased some of the cutest things for Ava to wear on our trip. To pass the time I may take some photos and post them here.

Our trip will really begin on Friday at about 6:00 pm. I am taking off from work 1 hour early so that we can get our sweet Pepper dog to the vet for boarding. We will also finalize details with the person cat sitting for us while we are away. DH wants to be on the road by 6 to 6:30 at the latest. We will drive from East TN (where we live) to Tifton, GA to stay overnight.

I thought I'd make this pre-trippie a little more interesting by throwing in some Disney Photos each post.

Sweet ducklings at Epcot.

Another duck that isn't known for being sweet. He was excited on this day though because Colby (blocked his face since we don't have custody of him anymore) had a picture of him in his autograph book.

Next update will include our plans for Saturday and some pics of those cute outfits purchased for Miss Ava's first trip.

 

[Jonesloonybin]

Aww tell her I said thanks so much and here are some for her...



IF anyone has any suggestions of some things to do with Ava while there or just places to take a break and get out of the heat with an infant would be great!!

Thanks!! She loved the smilies!!

We have only been to WDW once, but here are some ideas. (I am sure others can give you more)

MK
Shops of course
Carousel of Progress
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
Country Bears Jamboree
(There are the rides too, but these give you a little more time)

Epcot
Mexico Pavilion
Innovation buildings
The Land Pavilion
France (there gift shop has tables to sit at)

DHS
Animation Building
Disney Jr live on stage (it is floor seating, but you could find a spot in the back. It is nice and cool and low light)
Muppetvision
Writer's shop

AK
This is a hard one. I am not sure where you could go besides the shops or restaurants.

Hope this helps!! I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will not be too hot for either of our trips!!

 

[mansionterror]

Our plan for Saturday is to eat breakfast at Cracker Barrell (a family tradition) than to head on into Florida. We will stop at the Welcome Center for pictures (another tradition) before we drive to the coast to make a stop at the beach.

This year we are stopping at Flagler Beach for a few hours and so Ava can see the ocean and put her feet in the sand. When we are finished we will head on over to Disney property to check in at POR.

We have never stayed at POR so this will a be a first for all of us.

Here are a couple of things I am looking forward to purchasing this year:

First Mickey ears for Ava
Baby's first Christmas ornament
School Bread (YUM)
Grey Goose Slushie (looking forward to giving this a try).

The lovely castle.

The Tower of Terror, one of my favs!!
Hope you all stay with me.

 

[mansionterror]

Thanks!! She loved the smilies!!

We have only been to WDW once, but here are some ideas. (I am sure others can give you more)

MK
Shops of course
Carousel of Progress
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
Country Bears Jamboree
(There are the rides too, but these give you a little more time)

Epcot
Mexico Pavilion
Innovation buildings
The Land Pavilion
France (there gift shop has tables to sit at)

DHS
Animation Building
Disney Jr live on stage (it is floor seating, but you could find a spot in the back. It is nice and cool and low light)
Muppetvision
Writer's shop

AK
This is a hard one. I am not sure where you could go besides the shops or restaurants.

Hope this helps!! I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will not be too hot for either of our trips!!

We have a fan for Ava's stroller and a sunhat for her to wear so I hope these items will help keep her cool.

I am looking forward to Disney Junior...Ava likes to watch the Mickey Mouse Club and is really starting to notice colors and shapes so I think this show will be fun for her. I also think she would enjoy Nemo at AK.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey]

How funny is that, I was 8 weeks pregnant with DS during his first trip too!

I also wanted to add The Seas with Nemo, even going and viewing the aquariums will be exciting for your little one and will give you some relief from the heat.