Is it Christmas Yet? Can we Sleep with the Animals? - Updated 8-20

[Mom2Kate-Anna]

Hi everyone I am fairly new to the boards and have loved reading the trip reports and all of the overall useful information. So I finally decided why not go for it myself. I hope you all enjoy!!

First a little background info on my gang. We will start with who else but me, Ashley, I grew up in Florida (this is also where we currently live) on the beach and took yearly vacations to the world, usually camping at Fort Wilderness. My love for disney started at an early age but increased to great proportions when I had my own children. I am a stay at home mom/Dance Instructor I work afternoons and the kids mostly come with me, if my husband is not off of work yet. It is wonderful I Love My Job.

Now on to my hubby Nathan... we met at shall I say it........SPRING BREAK. I was working on the beach and he was visiting from Tennessee. Well I left a lasting impression I guess and he kept returning weekend after weekend. Well we were eventually married and now have 2 beautiful girls. I took DH on his first trip to disney the summer before we were married. He loves Disney but not so much in the planning but always thanks me in the end for bugging him endlessly on where he wants to eat.

On to the most important parts of our gang our two princesses. They are true Disney lovers just like their mother. The oldest is Kate she is 5 and very outgoing. She can't decide if she is a princess, pirate, or a popstar. The baby is Anna and is 2. She is our little snuggle bug and just the sweetest laid back child. She tries to be just like her sister so she can't decide if she is a princess,pirate or pop star either. Kate's first trip was at 9 months old when Nathan return from his first tour of Iraq. They had just met a few weeks prior. Anna's first trip was at 6 months after Nathan's final tour.

Next I will update with pictures of the cast and our hotel choice.

 

[Mom2Kate-Anna]

Ok well here it goes my first time posting pics......

Nathan and Kate on our trip to Gatlinburg

Anna and myself also during the vacation

Yes, I try and dress the girls alike as often as I can.

 

[njdisneyfreak]

I'm on board for your PTR. I can't wait to read all about your planning. Your girls are so cute.

 

[Mom2Kate-Anna]

Now on to the important stuff where to stay.
I went back and forth on where to stay. We knew that we wanted something very special because this was not only our big yearly family vacation it was everyones Christmas present. The girls will be getting things for the trip to unwrap Christmas morning such as princess gear, autograph books and things to do in the car on the way down.

So after Kate watched the planning dvd she asked "next time we go to Disney can we stay withe the animals" I went all out and booked the Animal Kingdom Lodge Club Level for Dec 29th-Jan 4th. But I can't tell her that we are going to "stay with the animals" because we are waiting until Christmas Day to tell them .

Well here are a few more pics of he girls past trips now that I got the hang of photobucket.

Kate's 4th Birthday at the Magic Kingdom

Christmas 2007

Anna's 2nd Birthday At Epcot

And a few other of my favorites

 

[Alysa]

Super cute! Our kids are the exact same ages.
Have a blast!

 

[bellasmommy0]

You have some gorgeous girls. sounds like you are going to have a great trip, cant wait to hear more about it!!

 

[Native NYer]

Your daughters are beautiful!!!

 

[Mom2Kate-Anna]

Thanks to everyone for all of the responses so far.

I'm on board for your PTR. I can't wait to read all about your planning. Your girls are so cute.

Thanks, I absolutely love planning. I think I always end up changing things just so the planning doesn't end, maybe over planning

Super cute! Our kids are the exact same ages.
Have a blast!

Thank you,we will!!

You have some gorgeous girls. sounds like you are going to have a great trip, cant wait to hear more about it!!

Can't wait to add more. Posting ADRs hopefully tomorrow!!

Your daughters are beautiful!!!

Thanks So Much

Up next ADR's...

 

[katiebug86]

Wow. Your husband sounds just like my boyfriend Ryan! It's weird. Your girls are ADORABLE. I am just missing you by a couple of days.. can't wait to hear more. Your doing a great job so far.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Too Gorgeous little girls!!! What a great present!

 

[Mom2Kate-Anna]

Wow. Your husband sounds just like my boyfriend Ryan! It's weird. Your girls are ADORABLE. I am just missing you by a couple of days.. can't wait to hear more. Your doing a great job so far.

Thanks so much!! Yeah my husband is counting down the days to college football season, I'm guessing Ryan is just as ready for it to start.

Too Gorgeous little girls!!! What a great present!

Thank You!!!

 

[Mom2Kate-Anna]

Well after much thought over the dining plans (we have never used them before, just DDE) we decided to go with the deluxe dining plan. I did the math over and over and over again and we came out ahead everytime with the deluxe plan versus the use of DDE or the regular plan. So my adr's are booked and with all of the credits we have with the plan we still have an extra adr we will just pay OOP. Alot of them are new to us as I told myself since we are doing the deluxe plan we are going to try many new things and not just our regulars.

So here they are

12/29
Dinner Jiko 7:10 - New to us

12/30
Breakfast Akershus 8:40
Lunch Le Cellier 12:00 -New to us
Dinner O'hana 7:00 - New to us

12/31
Breakfast Donalds Safari Tusker House 8:05 - New to us although we did do the breakfast when it was at Restuarantasaurus (sp?)
Lunch Yak and Yeti 12:00 - New to us
Dinner Boma 6:30 - New to us

1/1
Lunch Crystal Palace 11:30- Must Do each visit
Dinner California Grill 5:40 - New to us

1/2
Breakfast Hollywood and Vine 8:10 - New to us kinda- Our last visit for breakfast the power went out in that section of the park so they brought pastries and fruit with coffee and juice out at no charge and they also brought out the characters.
Lunch Mama Melrose 12:00-New to us
Dinner 1900 Park Fare 7:00

1/3
Lunch The Plaza 11:30 - OOP
Dinner Cinderella's Royal Table 5:45

1/4
Lunch Rose and Crown 12:00 New to us
Dinner Chefs de France 6:00 New to us


Well there they are. Up next touring plans and other surprises!

 

[katiebug86]

Thanks so much!! Yeah my husband is counting down the days to college football season, I'm guessing Ryan is just as ready for it to start.

Thank You!!!

Yep .. he is. lol Acutally on his myspace page he has a countdown ticker like the ones we have for disney world for when the first LSU game.

 

[njdisneyfreak]

Well after much thought over the dining plans (we have never used them before, just DDE) we decided to go with the deluxe dining plan. I did the math over and over and over again and we came out ahead everytime with the deluxe plan versus the use of DDE or the regular plan. So my adr's are booked and with all of the credits we have with the plan we still have an extra adr we will just pay OOP. Alot of them are new to us as I told myself since we are doing the deluxe plan we are going to try many new things and not just our regulars.

So here they are

12/29
Dinner Jiko 7:10 - New to us

12/30
Breakfast Akershus 8:40
Lunch Le Cellier 12:00 -New to us
Dinner O'hana 7:00 - New to us

12/31
Breakfast Donalds Safari Tusker House 8:05 - New to us although we did do the breakfast when it was at Restuarantasaurus (sp?)
Lunch Yak and Yeti 12:00 - New to us
Dinner Boma 6:30 - New to us

1/1
Lunch Crystal Palace 11:30- Must Do each visit
Dinner California Grill 5:40 - New to us

1/2
Breakfast Hollywood and Vine 8:10 - New to us kinda- Our last visit for breakfast the power went out in that section of the park so they brought pastries and fruit with coffee and juice out at no charge and they also brought out the characters.
Lunch Mama Melrose 12:00-New to us
Dinner 1900 Park Fare 7:00

1/3
Lunch The Plaza 11:30 - OOP
Dinner Cinderella's Royal Table 5:45

1/4
Lunch Rose and Crown 12:00 New to us
Dinner Chefs de France 6:00 New to us


Well there they are. Up next touring plans and other surprises!

Looks good. Not only will you guys be at AKL when we're there, but we'll both be at the AK on Dec. 31st. We're bound to run into each other.

I can't wait to read your next update.

 

[NatalieMT]

First of all what a beautiful family you have! What a fantastic surprise trip too, sure you will make memories for a lifetime. I like the surprise element aswell, I can imagine it will be so exciting for your daughters.

Great ADRs too, like the opening night at Jiko. Sure you guys will have a blast. I look forward to reading more.

 

[Mom2Kate-Anna]

Looks good. Not only will you guys be at AKL when we're there, but we'll both be at the AK on Dec. 31st. We're bound to run into each other.

I can't wait to read your next update.

I know, how cool is that. I was so excited when I found the disboards to actually know that there are people that love Disney just as much as I do and plan just as much as I do . Now I might even bump into a few on vacation.

First of all what a beautiful family you have! What a fantastic surprise trip too, sure you will make memories for a lifetime. I like the surprise element aswell, I can imagine it will be so exciting for your daughters.

Great ADRs too, like the opening night at Jiko. Sure you guys will have a blast. I look forward to reading more.

Thank you so much. I just hope that I can hang in there and keep it a surprise, especially from the older one.

 

[Mom2Kate-Anna]

So far here are our touring plans.

Day 1 12/29- AKL here we come!!

We plan on getting up super early and start our drive, I will pack up the car the night before. It usually takes between 5 and 6 hours, depending on traffic and the kids. Our first stop will not be the hotel but Downtown Disney. This is the girls first surprise, we are whisking them away to the Bibbidi Boppidi Boutique . Kate will have her makeover and I will do Anna's since she is too young. Then they both can have there photo session. I just hope we get a good FGIT!!

Next, on to the hotel to check in. Hopefully I will have a package waiting for each of the girls in our room. The rest of the day we will hang out and relax at the lodge, have dinner at Jiko and get to bed early.

Day 2 12/30- Epcot

We will start out our day with a breakfast with royalty, The Princess Breakfast at Akershus. We have done this only once before and loved it. The girls love character meals so we try to do one a day for them.

Since the WS opens early today we just plan on taking our time touring the countries after breakfast. Then end the morning in Canada for lunch at
Le Cellier.

After lunch we will head back to the lodge (after I get my Grand Marnier Orange slush for the walk to the bus). We will then nap/rest and prepare for dinner at O'hana. Plans after dinner.... Sleep. This will become a theme throughout the trip. I do not like cranky kids especially when they are mine.

Day 3 12/31- Animal Kingdom

We will start this day off with Donalds Safari Breakfast. We will then head to get fast passes for the safari, hit Dinoland and watch Festival of the Lion King (one of my favorite shows). Use fast passes hopefully and then lunch at Yak and Yeti. We may try and watch Nemo (but not a must do have seen it before and not that high up on my list), check out the animal trails and hit A Bugs Life on the way out.

This is when we will can you guess it ....Rest up for dinner at Boma and hang out at the lodge the rest of the night.

Up next ... Plans for the rest of our stay.

 

[Bloodhound]

Great plans, I love the AKL....some Dis friends are going early Dec....I am still on the fence cause we are already going to DLR/So Cali in Oct....so money makes it a big factor.

 

[Mom2Kate-Anna]

I have just a minute so I thought I would try to sqeeze in two more days....

Day 4 1/1 - Magic Kingdom FINALLY

The plan is to eat something in the room and be at MK at rope drop. We will them play it by ear. Hitting Fantasy Land first and then on to ToonTown. Lunch is planned for Crystal Palace (a must do for Nathan). We will then hit Adventure and Frontier Land.

We will spend all day today in the MK so we will either do Hall of Presidents or Carousel of Progress for naptime for the girls, just because the kids do not enjoy these and they are in dark enclosed spaces.


During the day we will grab fast passes here and there for some of the more popular attractions.

Then it is off to California Grill for an early dinner. After dinner we will probably travel to DTD and shop for a while and then return to the lodge!!

Day 5 1/2- DHS (it still feels so weird typing that)

We start off today with Breakfast at Hollywood and Vine. Then we will get fast passes and ride Toy Story Mania (can't wait). Other plans for the day include Backlot tours, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Playhouse Disney and Lights Motor Action.

Maybe we can hit most of those before lunch at Mama Melrose. Must do's for the afternoon are Beauty and the Beast Stage Show, only then will we be allowed to go back to the lodge. This is one of Kate's Favorites.

After our afternoon rest, I will help the girls into their princess gear and we will be off to the Grand Floridian for dinner at 1900 park fare. Then back to the lodge.

 

[Mom2Kate-Anna]

Great plans, I love the AKL....some Dis friends are going early Dec....I am still on the fence cause we are already going to DLR/So Cali in Oct....so money makes it a big factor.

Thanks, I am thrilled we decided on AKL. We have only seen pictures and can't wait!! Would love to hear about your October trip. When the girls get a little older I would love to take a few weeks and take them to Disneyland and then do some other things on the west coast.