It's Never to Soon to go back to Disney: My 1st PTR- Sept. 2009

[DevonsDisneyMom]

My son is hungry the minute he wakes up so we are bringing cereal with us for the monings we don't have breakfast planned so that he can eat that before we head out to the parks.

I think I'm starting to get excited about the trip again! Do you have a list of your park days on here? I can't remember.

Ughhhh I called the High School and the lady that answered wasn't happy when I said he was going to miss a week of school, she then put me through to my sons counselor's voicemail. Oh well we'll see what happens next. No changing plans though thats for sure! Tonight is his HS Back to school night also.

Ha Ha!!! So is Devon... After about 10 minutes of waking up the boy is ready to eat!!! Oh, well the boy is just going to have to wait!! Just kidding, I usually don't wake him up when we are in Disney till I am completely ready to go, so all he has to do is get ready and out the door we go to eat!!!

I'm so glad your trip excitement is coming back!!! It will be here befroe you know! Yep, my park schedule is somewhere on the 1st page of the thread I believe, but I posted it below just to make it easier!

Wed 9/23 DHS
Thurs 9/24 MK
Fri 9/25 AK and MNSSHP
Sat 9/26 Epcot

I'm working on an update now with the full details of telling Devon's teacher!!! Boy was I surprised by the response I got!!! Honestly though, the school has no right being snippy with you! As long as the child is going well is school and makes up the work, what's the big deal??? Personally, I think they were just jealous that you are going to Disney World and their not!!!

Okay Reese... Between you and Adrienne being scared of telling the school you guys are leaving, I am feeling very lucky!!

My kids' school has known since January and they just said have a great time! The office lady keeps asking if she can go too!

Ha Ha!!! I told them finally... Their response is coming up in my update, which should be posted in a few!!

Oh, and I think I will PM you my cell number and you can text me when you find out what section you are in...

Got your PM Toni... PM'ed you back with mine as well!!! I will text you when I get my section, but you text me when you get your section too!!!

I noticed your ticker says 12 days....

It sure does Raecheal!!! We are so excited!!! Next week can not come soon enough!!!

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

Hey there all!!! Not long to go now!!! Woo Hoo!!!

So, as promised a complete update of Devon's first few days of school!!! To start, I am absolutely in shock that Devon has been getting up with no problems since Wednesday!!! Last year it was like pulling teeth to get him out of bed in the morning!!! Well, today is his 3rd day of school and he is LOVING it!!! His teacher is awesome and he says school is alot of fun!!! I'm thinking it's b/c his teacher is a huge fan of group learning so he gets to talk alot!! Yes ladies, my son is a bit of a chatterbox!!! I have no clue where he gets that from!!!

Last night I attended Devon's back to school night. Oh, what fun!!! Actually, it was pretty informative... Come to find out that NONE of the kids have any textbooks (except religion book, b/c the state doesn't pay for them) yet b/c the state has yet to settle it's budget and until it does NO school has any of the required books!!! Is that ridiculous or what!!!!???? So for now, everything is done on printed out worksheets instead of doing the actual work in the book!!! Crazy!!! Really annoys me!!!

I also found out that Devon's class room is equiped with a Smart Board this year!!! It is so cool!!! Basically, instead of writing on the blackboard, his teacher has powerpoint slides that project onto a screen which the kids and teacher can write on as well!!! Very neat... My how the times have changed since I was in grade school!!!

Ok now on to the big question on everyones mind!!! How did Mr. Devon's teacher take him missing school to go to Disney??? Well..........................

She took it great!!! Matter to fact I was shocked by how excited she was that we were going!!! Woo Hoo!!! I told her to feel free to sent the work that he would be missing home before hand, but she told me not to worry about it that she would do it with him when he came back!!! How awesome is that!!! She told me to go and have a great time and not worry about anything related to school!!! Could not have wished for a better response!!! I also told her that we were not leaving until early evening on departure day so Devon would be in school that day, and that I apologize now if he is off the wall that day!!! She laughed and said not to worry, she'll keep that in mind!!!

On to other things, even though my class is really hard, I am actually ahead on all my class work which is great, b/c I won't have to worry about being behind when I get back. I finished all this weeks assignments on Wednesday, so I moved on to next weeks, and I am done all those as well!! So I will start the assignments that are do the week we are away at some point this weekend, and I should be good to go!!!

I also mailed off Devon's letter from Goofy yesterday afternoon on my way to get Dev from the bus stop, so hopefully he should get it today or tomorrow!! Can't wait to see his reaction. Our weekly Disney Movie night is tonight. We plan on watching Incredibles!!! Oh, and guess what I get to do tomorrow!!! Yep, you guessed it... Online check-in!!! YAY!!! Quick question thou??? Is there a place that you can write in a request i.e building location??? If so how and where??? Want to make sure I know before I do it!!!

Alright... I better rap this post up before you all get tired of hearing from me!!! My weekend is jammed pack, so hopefully the time will pass quickly!!! I'll try to post again before weekend's end, but not sure if that will happen.

But, before I run, here are a few pics from Devon's first day of school:

One last thing I promise!!! Football season is offically underway!!! Yeah!!! Let's GO EAGLES!!!

 

[oregonmommyof2]

I am so glad that the teacher didn't give you a hard time... I just get irritated with some of the school districts around the country that fine the parents or send them to court of taking their own children on a vacation... I can understand them being concerned if the parents were taking the kids out all of the time, but I thought that is what Child Services is for...

 

[wdwgirl03]

Aww, glad Devon is enjoying school. If I were his teacher I would have a big problem with him going...because I wasn't going too!

Only 11 days to go, yippee! Soon you'll be single digit dancing.

 

[mommyof2Pirates]

It sounds like devon has an awesome teacher. I find it hilarious that they have a smart board but no text books. This whole PA budget thing is crazy. It is causing more harm than what its worth.

Glad to hear you are ahead of the game with school work...hard work really pays off in the end...keep on going and you can be worry free on your travels!

Have fun doing online check in today! Let me know if you figure out the comment thing. I am thinking I might just call the resort if I cant figure it out. We paid for a preferred room so I am not that bothered by not being able to comment but I wanted to take off the request for the pack and play so they know not to bother. Anyway keep me posted on what you find out.

and more importantly GOOOOOO EAGLES!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Porturican]

Yayyyyyy that his teacher was cool about him missing school and not to worry about the work hes missing she will do it with him when he gets back that is great! It was sooo much easier to take the kids on vacation when they were in elementry but now with High School it's a bit more complicated. The counsler was great and she just told me to talk to the attendance office and to email all his teachers on this website we use called School Loop. And for those who cannot give me the info ahead of time i just need to check on there daily. Plus I'm going to have them email me since I can check my email from my phone. If worse comes to worse my son will just be doing a BUNCH of homework that weekend when we get home since we get home on a Saturday by 1pm. (too bad we don't fly back into SFO because I only live 5 min from there)

My sister did our online check in but it didnt give her the opportunity to request any certain area. She just called back in to reservations and they added our requests in our ressie.

Your son's first day of school pics are adorable, my kids roll their eyes when I want to take their pic on the 1st day and I'm barely aloud to do that right in front of the house.

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

I am so glad that the teacher didn't give you a hard time... I just get irritated with some of the school districts around the country that fine the parents or send them to court of taking their own children on a vacation... I can understand them being concerned if the parents were taking the kids out all of the time, but I thought that is what Child Services is for...

I know, I was super duper happy with the teachers reaction!! I totally agree, school districts who do that are crazy... If your child is doing well in school and they make up the work they miss, what's the problem???

Hey, quick question, you did online check in right??? Is there a way to write in a request for room location?? If so where is it and how do you do it??

Aww, glad Devon is enjoying school. If I were his teacher I would have a big problem with him going...because I wasn't going too!

Only 11 days to go, yippee! Soon you'll be single digit dancing.

Ha Ha!!1 I know right!!! Yeppers... Single digits is right around the corner.

It sounds like devon has an awesome teacher. I find it hilarious that they have a smart board but no text books. This whole PA budget thing is crazy. It is causing more harm than what its worth.

Glad to hear you are ahead of the game with school work...hard work really pays off in the end...keep on going and you can be worry free on your travels!

Have fun doing online check in today! Let me know if you figure out the comment thing. I am thinking I might just call the resort if I cant figure it out. We paid for a preferred room so I am not that bothered by not being able to comment but I wanted to take off the request for the pack and play so they know not to bother. Anyway keep me posted on what you find out.

and more importantly GOOOOOO EAGLES!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes go Eagles!!! Woo Hoo!!!

Yes the whole budget thing is crazy... I was floored when they said they didn't have texts b/c the state won't provide the funding due to the unsettled budget. As for the smart boards, the kids had a race for education last May to raise $$$ for the school, and that is what they bought with the $$$, along with 8 new dell mini laptops for the computer run!!!

I know I am freaking out about the on line check in!! I know I'm a geek!! Since are flight does not leave philly until later on the day we arrive, I am thinking of calling the resort once we get to the airport
to see if they could tell me where my room assignment is. Do you think that is crazy???

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

Yayyyyyy that his teacher was cool about him missing school and not to worry about the work hes missing she will do it with him when he gets back that is great! It was sooo much easier to take the kids on vacation when they were in elementry but now with High School it's a bit more complicated. The counsler was great and she just told me to talk to the attendance office and to email all his teachers on this website we use called School Loop. And for those who cannot give me the info ahead of time i just need to check on there daily. Plus I'm going to have them email me since I can check my email from my phone. If worse comes to worse my son will just be doing a BUNCH of homework that weekend when we get home since we get home on a Saturday by 1pm. (too bad we don't fly back into SFO because I only live 5 min from there)

My sister did our online check in but it didnt give her the opportunity to request any certain area. She just called back in to reservations and they added our requests in our ressie.

Your son's first day of school pics are adorable, my kids roll their eyes when I want to take their pic on the 1st day and I'm barely aloud to do that right in front of the house.

I know, I was so happy with her reaction... She basically said the same thing... Better to take them out now while you can b/c once they get into the up grades its harder, as I can see from your case!! Well I'm glad that your DS school wasn't to harsh I'm sure everything will work out!!!

I do already have it noted on my ressie that section I requested, I was just hoping to add it on there for extra security!! If there is not a place to add it when I check in online tomorrow, maybe I will call afterwards just to double check to make sure they can see my requests.

Thanks, he's my little cutie, you can tell in the one pic out from of the school that he was telling he to hurry up!!! He's still ok with me taking pics of the first day of school at the house, but if we get around people he knows, he is not very cooperative!!

 

[oregonmommyof2]

There is no way to put in requests with online check-in...

Only thing you can do is a Pack'n Play or a fridge...

If you called it in, it should be there... We had our TA triple check on our room location... So hopefully we will get it, if not, we paid for prefered so the way I figure it, we can't go wrong...

 

[Sarilas]

Devon is adorable! I cannot wait to hear how your trip goes. And I haven't told my daughter's school about our trip yet... I'm afraid someone might give the surprise away!

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

There is no way to put in requests with online check-in...

Only thing you can do is a Pack'n Play or a fridge...

If you called it in, it should be there... We had our TA triple check on our room location... So hopefully we will get it, if not, we paid for prefered so the way I figure it, we can't go wrong...

Well that stinks!!! Ugh!!! I am just going to call after I do the check-in just to verify that they see my requests from when I booked the trip. Fingers crossed that we get a good location to Classic hall!

Devon is adorable! I cannot wait to hear how your trip goes. And I haven't told my daughter's school about our trip yet... I'm afraid someone might give the surprise away!

Thank you so much!!! He is a good looking kiddo isn't he!?!?! I will definitely be doing a full report when I get back so be on the look out!!!

I don't blame you, that your absolutely stink if the surprise got blown!! I always wait till the last minute to tell the teachers... Don't want to stir the pot too early in case they have any issues with it!!

I see you are going to MVMCP??? Love it!!! But I like MNSSHP better!!

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

Bet you'll never guess??? Ok... I won't keep you guessing!!


I changed one of my dining ressies and boy I tell you picking are slim!!! I orginally had 1 5:10p ressie at 1900 Park fare on 9/25. But since it is the night we are going to MNSSHP and Devon appointment with Pirates League (640p) I got nervous that the timing won't work out and we would be too rushed. My plan was to try and get Yak & Yeti ressies for lunch, since we would be at AK, both nothing was available, so now we are eating at Boma for breakfast at 8:45a. I'm sort of exciting b/c I been wanting to eat there for awhile.

Now... I have a question for you all... AK does not open till 9a that day. Do you think AK buses run at early? B/C we will have to take a bus to AK then transfer to another bus to get to the lodge... Or, do you think we should just get a taxi there that morning? If so, are there taxi available at the resort that early, or do I need to call for one? Also, how much do you think the taxi will run??

Appreciate your help guys!!!

 

[Sarilas]

I see you are going to MVMCP??? Love it!!! But I like MNSSHP better!!

We absolutely are going to MVMCP! I would LOVE to go to MNSSHP, but we planned this trip like a week or two ago and didn't have time to squeeze it in. That's what we get for flying by the seat of our pants!

 

[mommyof2Pirates]

I found this answer to the same question you just asked on the moms panel of WDW.com.

The "normal" buses don't start operating until one hour before the parks open, but the "character/breakfast meal" buses start even earlier. If you are asking a Cast Member about bus timing, be sure to ask about the "early character/breakfast meal bus", or otherwise they may not provide the appropriate information for you.

Character/breakfast meal buses for the Animal Kingdom area will start running at approximately 7:00-7:15am, daily, and should go to BOTH the Animal Kingdom Park and the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Even though you aren't going to a "character" meal, you should still be able to use this early bus service for your early breakfast. Be sure to tell your bus driver that you need to go to the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and he should be able to take you directly there, or take you there after stopping at the Animal Kingdom park.

By the way, the early character/breakfast buses also start running at 7:00-7:15 am to go to the Epcot and Hollywood Studios areas. The early character/breakfast bus to the Magic Kingdom area starts as early as 6:30 am, daily.

I dont think you need to get a taxi. You should be able to get a bus. Check with the CM at the resort to be sure when you check in.

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

We absolutely are going to MVMCP! I would LOVE to go to MNSSHP, but we planned this trip like a week or two ago and didn't have time to squeeze it in. That's what we get for flying by the seat of our pants!

Well, you are going to have a great time... The snow falling on main street really puts you in the Christmas mood!!! Be sure to get your free cookies and hot chocolate before the parade starts!!!

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

I found this answer to the same question you just asked on the moms panel of WDW.com.

The "normal" buses don't start operating until one hour before the parks open, but the "character/breakfast meal" buses start even earlier. If you are asking a Cast Member about bus timing, be sure to ask about the "early character/breakfast meal bus", or otherwise they may not provide the appropriate information for you.

Character/breakfast meal buses for the Animal Kingdom area will start running at approximately 7:00-7:15am, daily, and should go to BOTH the Animal Kingdom Park and the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Even though you aren't going to a "character" meal, you should still be able to use this early bus service for your early breakfast. Be sure to tell your bus driver that you need to go to the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and he should be able to take you directly there, or take you there after stopping at the Animal Kingdom park.

By the way, the early character/breakfast buses also start running at 7:00-7:15 am to go to the Epcot and Hollywood Studios areas. The early character/breakfast bus to the Magic Kingdom area starts as early as 6:30 am, daily.

I dont think you need to get a taxi. You should be able to get a bus. Check with the CM at the resort to be sure when you check in.

Oh that's awesome!!! Thank you so much!!! I have heard that buses taking people right to other resorts early in the morning, but just figured that was true luck!!! I will definitely be sure to talk to a CM at the resort to see about this!!! Thanks so much!!! You Rock!!!

 

[Beauty & the Best]

Come to find out that NONE of the kids have any textbooks (except religion book, b/c the state doesn't pay for them) yet b/c the state has yet to settle it's budget and until it does NO school has any of the required books!!! Is that ridiculous or what!!!!???? So for now, everything is done on printed out worksheets instead of doing the actual work in the book!!! Crazy!!! Really annoys me!!!

Wow, that is amazing - you'd think they'd put books pretty high on the priority list, but I guess not.

She took it great!!! Matter to fact I was shocked by how excited she was that we were going!!! Woo Hoo!!!

That is great! Now there's no guilt about taking him out of school - he'll probably even learn those lessons better b/c of the hands on lessons from the teacher when she works on the homework w/ him.

On to other things, even though my class is really hard, I am actually ahead on all my class work which is great, b/c I won't have to worry about being behind when I get back. I finished all this weeks assignments on Wednesday, so I moved on to next weeks, and I am done all those as well!!

You go girl!! It's one thing to work hard not to fall behind, but to be ahead is really something.

I changed one of my dining ressies and boy I tell you picking are slim!!! I orginally had 1 5:10p ressie at 1900 Park fare on 9/25. But since it is the night we are going to MNSSHP and Devon appointment with Pirates League (640p) I got nervous that the timing won't work out and we would be too rushed. My plan was to try and get Yak & Yeti ressies for lunch, since we would be at AK, both nothing was available, so now we are eating at Boma for breakfast at 8:45a. I'm sort of exciting b/c I been wanting to eat there for awhile.

I've heard Boma breakfast is really good, I'm sure you guys will love it! We're eating there for dinner on the last night of our trip.

You must be SO excited now!!! I kinda feel like this week will drag too, but I absolutely have to get some work done before next week - and I'm taking a day off to get my hair done (which takes like 4 hours ) so even this week isn't a full work week.

You said you're getting a pedicure...what color are you thinking of doing? I'm like a nail polish chameleon. I love changing the color of my nails every couple days. I bought some new polish last week, my new fav is a bright neon-like purple.

And Devon is super cute, um I mean handsome and grown up (in case he reads this ) in his back to school pics. Thanks for posting those!

Also I saw you've been moved to the TR board, how did that happen? They just moved you or you asked to be moved?

ONE MORE THING - I don't know if you've been following wdwgirl's TR, but she posted this link to youtube that basically shows the Fantasyland rumors are true:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08W5Os-Wnj0

Wow!

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

Wow, that is amazing - you'd think they'd put books pretty high on the priority list, but I guess not.



That is great! Now there's no guilt about taking him out of school - he'll probably even learn those lessons better b/c of the hands on lessons from the teacher when she works on the homework w/ him.



You go girl!! It's one thing to work hard not to fall behind, but to be ahead is really something.



I've heard Boma breakfast is really good, I'm sure you guys will love it! We're eating there for dinner on the last night of our trip.

You must be SO excited now!!! I kinda feel like this week will drag too, but I absolutely have to get some work done before next week - and I'm taking a day off to get my hair done (which takes like 4 hours ) so even this week isn't a full work week.

You said you're getting a pedicure...what color are you thinking of doing? I'm like a nail polish chameleon. I love changing the color of my nails every couple days. I bought some new polish last week, my new fav is a bright neon-like purple.

And Devon is super cute, um I mean handsome and grown up (in case he reads this ) in his back to school pics. Thanks for posting those!

Also I saw you've been moved to the TR board, how did that happen? They just moved you or you asked to be moved?

ONE MORE THING - I don't know if you've been following wdwgirl's TR, but she posted this link to youtube that basically shows the Fantasyland rumors are true:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08W5Os-Wnj0

Wow!

Hey chickie!!! Hope you had a good weekend!!! Mine flew by with the million and one things I had to do!! Are you as excited as we are??? I sure hope this week goes by fast!!!

Yes, I am so glad I am ahead of the game with my schoolwork... We have a project that is due the week that we are in Disney that I started working on last night... Lets just say I was in tears at my parents house. we have to build some sort of yield curve on tresury bonds and I am lost... I had my dad help me, and he was like, you totally understand the concept, but the problem is your professor is not geiving you enough info on what he wants. Needless to say I am meeting with him tomorrow so hopefully he can clarify something and I can get this thing done!!!

I love getting my toes did too!!! I was going for a purple color too!!! How funny!! It's my favorite color!!! Great minds think alike that for sure!!

Thanks for the compliments on the back to school picts!!! Devon is loving 2nd grade so far!!!

And I have no idea how my TR got moved???

I have been readings Sarah's TR, but not since Friday! I will have to check in out!!

 

[wdwgirl03]

You are officially in the single digits!! WOO HOO!!

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

You are officially in the single digits!! WOO HOO!!

Woo Hoo!!! I know we are so excited this time next week, I will hopefully be just about all packed and ready to go!!