Is it time to go yet??? No? Dang it! How about now?

[readytogotodisney]

Hello!! While I've been planning our upcoming Disney trip since the plane trip home from our last one 6 months ago, I've decided to give this pre-trip report a try! Wanna join me?

Who's going? Me!

my son Alex!

my niece - Paige!

my nephew Payton!

my parents and my sister Amy! (no picture right now)

When: January 13th - 18th! Escaping the cold nasty winter of Indiana!

Where: WDW of course!!! And we're staying at the Beach Club Villas

 

[readytogotodisney]

Alex is my Disney baby! His first trip was when he was 13 months old and he LOVED it! He loved Small World and the fireworks! We still watch the Wishes fireworks on youtube at LEAST three times a week! He gets really excited when he see Tinkerbell fly down from the castle!

On our upcoming trip Alex will be 25 months old and I'm so excited to see he reacts to everything now that he's a little older!

Paige is a HUGE fan of all the characters! We were on a hunt on our last trip to get as many autographs as possible. That and the smashed penny machines. Paige is going to be 10 years old on our trip and very excited to see that she has to have an adult ticket and her little brother still has a child's ticket... she doesn't understand that only means the Mouse is getting a little bit more money from Grandpa!

Payton is the thrill seeker and as been since day 1! I remember on one of our previous trips he kept telling CM's that his Grandma said he was 48" tall so he could ride whatever he wanted. He still had a lisp so he was probably about 4 years old. He loves ToT and Aerosmith Rockin Roller coaster, Splash Mtn, and Space Mtn. No "baby rides" for this kid, unless of course he can sit next to Alex and he's more then happy to ride. Payton will be "almost" 9 when we leave, and since everyone else in my family would rather not going on the thrill rides, I am Payton's assigned coaster rider buddy!

Payton and Paige's mom is my lovely sister Amy. She would die if she knew I had put a picture of her on here, so I won't, in order to protect the innocent. She's my older sister and I love her!

My Mom and Dad, they're the ones that make this all possible. They are DVC members, and have been since 1992 or 1993. Plus Dad travels A LOT for his job so plane tickets are going to be all frequent flier miles. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Me? Well I'm a Disney freak! I just love going there, I like people watching and see all the little kids reactions! I love just walking under the train tunnel in MK and I just can't help but smile from ear to ear. I feel just like I did when I was 6! I'm also a big time planner! Give me a trip and I'll plan and replan, and plan again!

My DH and my sister's DH are going to be staying home this trip...which is fine, bc they just don't get it! I say let them enjoy the snow and grey skies! I'll tell Mickey that they send their regards.

 

[walt's girl]

I'm Here!! (misschris from BBC ) Alex is just so dang cute!! Does he need a girlfriend? Lo has a space available on her dance card

 

[DisneyGuess]

#2!! Woot!! I'm here!!

 

[readytogotodisney]

I'm Here!! (misschris from BBC ) Alex is just so dang cute!! Does he need a girlfriend? Lo has a space available on her dance card

Hi! Maybe if we see each other in WDW we can arrange a blind date for our LOs!

 

[readytogotodisney]

#2!! Woot!! I'm here!!

Hi Dana!! Thanks for joining!

 

[Paolicious]

here from BBC jumpin in with two feet

 

[DisneyGuess]

Payton remind me of my almost 10 yr old. He's a thrill eeker too. When we were down in 2007 he delighted in scaring the heck out of me by lifting his arms in the air during Space Mountain! He was so little, to me anyway, that I just knew he was going to go flying out, lol!
He rode everything he was tall enough for. The only thing he couldn't ride was RnR!
Can't wait to hear more planning! I'm so glad you went with BC for this trip!
Alex is so cute!!
Can't wait to hear about Paige's adventures with the characters!

 

[readytogotodisney]

So I mentioned that my parents are DVC owners. Their home resort is OKW, not bc it's their favorite or anything, but bc it was the only option back when they bought into it. It's been years since we actually stayed there, it's more or less our back up plan just in case everywhere else is booked. We always book a grandvilla at 11 months at OKW, and then wait 4 LONG months to change and hope we get lucky... only we've never had a problem booking elsewhere at our 7 month window. It helps that we go in January I'm sure.

But even with that said I've had many people say that I'd be extremely lucky to get Beach Club if it wasn't our home resort. So I had my 2nd and 3rd choices ready to go when I called the morning of our 7 month window to see where else we could stay.
So the night before I was so excited to be able to finally call! But I was also really worried that I would forget in the morning or be busy with Alex that I wouldn't get around to it in time! What if didn't get around to it until afternoon and they were all booked!!! Oh the drama that goes on in my head

But I did wake up and remember! And Alex did cooperate and let me have a phone conversation with an adult on the phone and not demand to be held! The stars were aligned and then the CM said it..... "Yes we do have availablity at Beach Club for that week....!!!!

I got our rooms I was so excited!!! Only I couldn't tell anyone that was going to care where we stayed....
My Dad was at the dentist, my sister was indifferent about it and the kids are all in the dark about this trip anyway.... Didn't I mention that it's a surprise??

 

[readytogotodisney]

here from BBC jumpin in with two feet

Hey Paola!

 

[readytogotodisney]

Payton remind me of my almost 10 yr old. He's a thrill eeker too. When we were down in 2007 he delighted in scaring the heck out of me by lifting his arms in the air during Space Mountain! He was so little, to me anyway, that I just knew he was going to go flying out, lol!
He rode everything he was tall enough for. The only thing he couldn't ride was RnR!
Can't wait to hear more planning! I'm so glad you went with BC for this trip!
Alex is so cute!!
Can't wait to hear about Paige's adventures with the characters!

Your story about you being afraid that your son would fall out reminds me of when I took Payton on Everest for the first time. My sister looked at me and said "Hold on to him on the drops... do NOT let him fall out" While we were waiting in the line all I could think was maybe I shouldn't take him on this... what if he does fall out? Dear God! I would never be able to look at my sister again. I seriously fought with myself the whole line, Payton even asked me 2x are you sure you're not scared to go on this?? But I told myself Disney doesn't want him to fall out as much as I don't want him to fall out... he's above the height requirements... it'll be fine! Needless to say we both made it out alive!

 

[DisneyGuess]

Your story about you being afraid that your son would fall out reminds me of when I took Payton on Everest for the first time. My sister looked at me and said "Hold on to him on the drops... do NOT let him fall out" While we were waiting in the line all I could think was maybe I shouldn't take him on this... what if he does fall out? Dear God! I would never be able to look at my sister again. I seriously fought with myself the whole line, Payton even asked me 2x are you sure you're not scared to go on this?? But I told myself Disney doesn't want him to fall out as much as I don't want him to fall out... he's above the height requirements... it'll be fine! Needless to say we both made it out alive!

LOL!!! My DH kept telling me I was a worrywart!! But it scared me! I don't even hold my arms up on coasters, why did my 6 yr old?!

 

[walt's girl]

I didn't know this trip was a surprise!! How fun!! I can't wait until Lo is old enough to surprise... let's be honest, she has no idea we're going to Disney yet anyway !! And she has no idea what it is sooo YES!!! I am also planning a surprise trip (unintentionally) too!!

You're getting really close to your ADR's aren't you!?!?! So exciting! The hardest thing I've had to submit to is chooseing dinning that works for all of us, it's HARD!!!

 

[readytogotodisney]

You're getting really close to your ADR's aren't you!?!?! So exciting! The hardest thing I've had to submit to is chooseing dinning that works for all of us, it's HARD!!!

11 days!!! But who's counting right?

 

[readytogotodisney]

We are a QS family through and through. I remember as a kid we would do all the TS meals: Le Cellier, 50's Prime Time, Sci-Fi Diner, CRT (before it was a character meal), we did all the biggies, but they did it bc there were appeasing me. Half my family is such picky eaters, a grilled chicken sandwich or a hamburger and they're good. Me not so much! I love food and I love to try new things. You put a sauce on it and I will eat it up!!!

I still have a long list of TS places that I would like to eat, Garden Grove, Crystal Palace, Liberty Tree, The Plaza, Ohana's, Biegarten, Mama Rosa's, Via Napoli, Tutto Italia... I could go on and on. But I know better then to try and convince my family so I won't even bother.

But that doesn't mean I won't plan where I'm eating when for every day I'm at Disney! That includes marking off one of my to-eat places off my list : Crystal Palace!!

I remember as a kid walking past CP and trying to get my family to go there to eat, but no one would want to wait, so we would end up with QS. It looked so pretty on the outside, and the menu looked so good! I want to go!! Well now I'm paying the bill so I can go eat where I want to!

I've read other posts about getting into MK early for an ADR at CP and the great pictures you can get doing this. I figure my son is up at the crack of dawn anyway, why not get out with Alex and have a Mommy and me character breakfast! I have been to Disney at least 16x in my life and I never remember going to a character meal, so it'll be the first for me and Alex.

It's 11 days until I can make ADR's and I already know that I will be (trying) for a 8:05 ADR at CP on our first full day at Disney. I think it'll be a great way to start the trip, but I don't know how Alex will react to the characters. We shall see when we see &!

The only other ADR I want to make is for the Dessert Party. Of course Disney seems to be dragging their feet with releasing the dates and I don't even think they're opening up Sept dates yet, so I will no doubt have to wait a long time to make that ADR. Haven't I waited long enough?

 

[mousescrapper]

joining in


think it is so aweome you go w/ your parents and they own the DVC we joined DVC in '09 and envision many MANY yrs down the road of taking our grandkids too

I see you are escaping the cold just like my family and I

and love the idea of you having a special pre park CP meal for just you and your son...love it! we did the CP breakfast back in '08 and just loved it...those pre park moments are awesome!

 

[readytogotodisney]

joining in


think it is so aweome you go w/ your parents and they own the DVC we joined DVC in '09 and envision many MANY yrs down the road of taking our grandkids too

I see you are escaping the cold just like my family and I

and love the idea of you having a special pre park CP meal for just you and your son...love it! we did the CP breakfast back in '08 and just loved it...those pre park moments are awesome!

Welcome Mousescrapper! Thanks for joining in!
My parents bought into DVC in 91 or 92, I can't remember exactly. I know it was the first year it was available and OKW wasn't even finished yet. They bought it for the very same reason, to be able to take the whole family down the road. I was only 12 at the time, and my older sister was 19 and grandkids were still a decade away. But here we are 20 years later and their dreams have come true. My Dad absolutely LOVES to see the kids reactions to WDW and he has said that he feels lucky to be able to give that to them and be there to see it.

 

[readytogotodisney]

Just got done watching Walt: The Man Behind the Myth. I had it DVR'd and I had a chance to sit down and watch it. I think I probably cried about 3 or 4 times, hearing about some of his hardships, seeing the stories about the old movies that I loved as a kid, Snow White, Mary Poppins, Bambi. etc
I love learning about the history behind Disney and where it all started. Makes me want to go out and get some of the books about it and learn more.

 

[mousescrapper]

Welcome Mousescrapper! Thanks for joining in!
My parents bought into DVC in 91 or 92, I can't remember exactly. I know it was the first year it was available and OKW wasn't even finished yet. They bought it for the very same reason, to be able to take the whole family down the road. I was only 12 at the time, and my older sister was 19 and grandkids were still a decade away. But here we are 20 years later and their dreams have come true. My Dad absolutely LOVES to see the kids reactions to WDW and he has said that he feels lucky to be able to give that to them and be there to see it.

that is great...our oldest children [twins] are 12 now

 

[readytogotodisney]

Today, unexpectedly Airtran released only 2 additional weeks of their flight schedules. It did go until the 6th of Jan, but since we didn't fly out until the 13th, we just had to sit and wait.
Well by chance today Dad was looking at the schedule and now you can book through the 20th!
So random to only release 2 weeks worth, I'm sure it has something to do with the merger with Southwest and starting to merge the schedules. But it's just what we need!!
The only bad thing is we won't land at MCO until 7:30pm, add another hour to get to to the hotel, and it'll pretty much be time for Alex's bedtime.

But at least we'll wake up in Disney!