Magee (Plus Three) Meets the Mouse

[kelsbels]

Hi everyone! I have been a DIS boards fan for a long time now, but have not posted in quite a while. However, I would like to rectify this immediately and start a PTR for my family's trip to meet the Mouse in September. Will you join me?

My name is K and I just LOVE Disney World! I have not been in five years, though, so I have experienced some major withdraw. However, life has been pretty sweet these past five years, so I really cannot complain. I'm a teacher, book lover, and news junkie. Here's a picture of me and the sweetest part of these past five years...my little Magee.

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This is PC. He loves me enough to love Disney, too. He works LONG hours as a restaurant manager, so our vacation time is precious. PC loves being outside, junk food, and spontaneity. Here's a picture of PC and Magee. She was quite young here, but I love this picture too much not to include it. Plus, we've now become those people who only take pictures with/of their kid.

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Here's a picture of PC and I in our past life...i.e., pre-Magee. This was on our last trip all the way back in 2009. Little did we know how much better our life would get!

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Magee is our hilarious, sassy, 2-year-old. She will be just older than 2 1/2 when we travel to Disney is September. She LOVES Minnie, Princess Jasmine (although I have no idea why...she's never seen Aladdin), and being the boss of bosses. She is also epileptic and is on anti-seizure medication to try to control her daily seizures. We're not quite there yet, but I am hopeful. This pic pretty much sums her up.

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The last person in the "plus three" I mentioned in the thread title is my mom, aka Nana. Nana loves Dinsey World, too, and was not about to miss out on Magee's first trip to meet the Mouse. She is also a teacher, loves to garden, and is the best Nana anyone could ask for. Magee and Nana are thick as thieves, so it was a no-brainer to take her along on our trip. This is a recent picture of my mom and my sister at my sister's bridal shower.

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We also have my sister's wedding to look forward to pre-Disney, so we have a lot to celebrate in the coming months.

Well, that is the cast of characters for our trip. I am so excited I could almost burst. Taking my bestie to the World for her first trip is going to be just amazing.

I hope you'll come along with us on our adventure. I've been trying to hunt down other trip reports with two or three-year-olds in tow...and I've only found a handful. So...if you've done it (or are considering doing it), I'd love to hear your advice, cautions, and words of wisdom.

Next up...THE DETAILS!!!

 

[kelsbels]

Saving for later...just in case I decide to get really fancy.

 

[kelsbels]

Let's play a game...Guess Our Resort! Here's your clue...while not my first choice of resorts, the promise of "DOORS" sealed our fate. Is that vague enough for you?

 

[kelsbels]

Since I know you are just dying to play along...I'll give you another clue.

Clue #2...we're staying at a MOD.

Are you getting an inkling?

 

[AprilRenee]

Joining in

doors....mod....WHAT?? I'm gonna need another clue LOL

 

[AprilRenee]

Oh my goodness! I just noticed your Madeline shirt in that first pic! That's awesome! Where did you get it???

 

[kelsbels]

Joining in

doors....mod....WHAT?? I'm gonna need another clue LOL

Yay!! So glad to have you along. Clue #3...from my completely non-scientifically conducted research, this moderate resort polarizes people the most.

Oh my goodness! I just noticed your Madeline shirt in that first pic! That's awesome! Where did you get it???

Thank you! I just got it from ModCloth. However, I think they source the shirts from a manufacturer called Out of Print Clothing. I have my eye on the "Goodnight Moon" shirt, too.

 

[kelsbels]

As promised, here are a few more of the details.

Who: K, PC, Magee, and Nana

What: 5-ish days in the parks...park hopping throughout. A MNSSHP, too?

When: Wednesday, 9/24 through Monday, 9/29

Where: ???...can I keep you intrigued much longer?

Why: It's been five years since we've been to Disney, and Magee has never been. So, that's reason enough for me. However, once Magee was diagnosed with epilepsy, I will admit I got a dose of reality. I know there are far more difficult things that parents and children (and everyone) deal with in life, but we got a bit of a wake-up call a couple days after Magee's second birthday. We are determined to live and love with our family to the fullest, and we are excited to make this memory together.

We have never done a MNSSHP before and have never taken a trip that has coincided. We've now got the opportunity to do it, but I'd love some input for you MNSSHP vets. Do many kiddos under three hang around for this fun event? It sounds like something Magee would enjoy, but I cannot tell from the description if she might still be a little on the young side for this kind of thing. I'm not sure a costume would be in the cards as Magee can be pretty picky about what she wears. Here she is as Baby Katniss for Halloween...she wasn't quite sure if she did actually want to volunteer as tribute.

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I've already made some ADRs, but my mind is ever-changing about our MUST eats. The only one that we absolutely have to do is Sci-Fi. Nana is a HUGE fan of Sci-Fi. I'd like to do Cape May, but I am a little leery of the transportation nightmare that might ensue trying to get over to the boardwalk. Any one have any suggestions for a MUST eat...particularly with a Minnie-loving, short-attention-spanned 2-year-old?

...and just for fun, a few FAVS:

Ride:
K: ToT (Carousel of Progress is a close second)
PC: EE
Magee: TBD, but if I had to guess...Hall of Presidents, j/k
Nana: Carousel of Progress

Restaurant:
K: The Wave or Artist Point
PC: Crystal Palace (for the chicken strips...I kid you not)
Magee: undoubtedly the various snack stands with MICKEY BARS
Nana: Sci-Fi

Please come in an share your disney wisdom...ADR, MNSSHP, or otherwise!!

 

[missangelalexis]

Joining in!

Sounds like you have a great trip in the works! Awesome that your mom will be joining too. I am having a very difficult time solving your clues, you have me stumped! I'm going to take a shot and say Port Orleans Riverside??

I am such an advocate for MNSSHP, but unfortunately don't have experience bringing a little one so I can't help there

Magee's Katniss costume is so cool!

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[kelsbels]

Joining in!

Sounds like you have a great trip in the works! Awesome that your mom will be joining too. I am having a very difficult time solving your clues, you have me stumped! I'm going to take a shot and say Port Orleans Riverside??

I am such an advocate for MNSSHP, but unfortunately don't have experience bringing a little one so I can't help there

Magee's Katniss costume is so cool!

Can't wait to hear more!

We are SOOO lucky that my mom is coming along. She is a great travel companion! As to my resort mystery...it could be I'm just not the best clue giver, so I'll give it away with this picture...

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We'll be staying at...

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Since I just cannot justify staying in a 1 bedroom deluxe, and since we desperately need a "door" between Magee and the "land of the living" when she naps, the actual doors that separate the vanity area from the bedroom at CSR seem to solve our problem. Magee will not nap if she can see people, so the curtains at the other moderates made me too nervous. Our plan is to throw a pack-and-play underneath the hanging rack and let Magee nap there during the day. Fingers crossed the area is closed off enough that she'll nap...or she'll just be so exhausted from Disney euphoria that she'll crash anywhere (and I'll have worried for naught). ...Or I suppose there is that third option in which she refuses to nap at all .

Anyone have tips for room requests at CSR? I'd love the best of all worlds (wouldn't we all?), but I've read that that really only exists for preferred rooms. Your take on this?

Here's a little Disney blast from the past for you.

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This is PC at the Brown Derby circa our 2007 trip. This performer was asking PC when he was going to put a ring on it. I've never seen PC sweat so much in his life. My dad enjoyed PC's discomfort thoroughly.

Up next...some ADRs will be revealed!

 

[AprilRenee]

THEY HAVE DOORS???? How did I not know this?? Caden also is not a fan of sleeping where he can see us so I was planning on stuffing him in the POP bathroom with a cot and the curtain but those doors are almost enough to make me want to upgrade.

 

[kelsbels]

THEY HAVE DOORS???? How did I not know this?? Caden also is not a fan of sleeping where he can see us so I was planning on stuffing him in the POP bathroom with a cot and the curtain but those doors are almost enough to make me want to upgrade.

I am not kidding when I tell you that those doors were behind 95% of our decision to stay there. Otherwise we probably would have stayed at POR. I just think it's the best solution given our needs and our budget.

Now I just need people to tell me how much I'll love CSR...I'm nervous.

 

[kelsbels]

Ok...so let's talk about preliminary plans and ADRs. I'll start with Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Wed., 9/24: Based on our flight time, I'm going to assume we'll be checking in to CSR around 2:00 (maybe a bit earlier). I am hopeful Magee will nap once we get to the hotel; but if not, we'll take her to the pool and settle in. We have a 6:40 ADR at Garden Grill, so we'll head over to Epcot around 5:15 or 5:30. I'd love to get FastPass+ for Living with the Land (I know Magee will LOVE this attraction), Spaceship Earth, and Soarin'. I'd also like to hop on Nemo (side story: Magee calls Nemo "Flounder" and Flounder "Nemo." No matter how many times I've tried to sort this out with her, she remains confident in her choices.) Depending on how Magee does, we may stay and walk around FandW in World Showcase or we may head back to the hotel. We'll play that one by ear. To be fair though, Magee does not usually go to bed before 9:30, so staying up later usually isn't a stretch for her. (Don't worry...she's a night owl, but a late sleeper).

Thurs., 9/25: We'll let Magee sleep until she wakes and then pop over to AK for the day. We'll hopefully FastPass+ EE, KS, and the FotLK show. I will not go on Dinosaur, but both PC and my mom will want to. They can do the regular queue for this ride while I take Magee to play or head over to the Conservation Station via the train. We'd also like to do the Nemo show...or what we'll probably have to refer to as the "Flounder" show. I expect we'll head out from AK around 2:00 to head back to CSR. Magee will hopefully nap when we get back (she is a late napper). I think my mom and Magee will hang around the hotel and pool for the remainder of the day while PC and I head back to Epcot. We'll probably single ride TT, do Spaceship Earth, maybe try to grab a 4th FastPass+ at a kiosk for Soarin, and indulge in a little FandW.

Fri., 9/26: MK day! I'd like to get here at rope drop (true confession: I've never made a rope drop in any of my 6 trips to WDW). We have a Crystal Palace ADR at 9:40 (which I may or may not drop). I'd like to FastPass+ Peter Pan, BTMR, and 7DMT. If Splash and Space have lines that are too long, we'll FastPass+ them for Sunday (or ride during MNSSHP). We'll definitely ride Buzz (probably multiple times...I suspect it will be another Magee favorite) and PoTC. Of course we'll pop onto other rides as time and lines allow. We'll head back to the hotel mid-afternoon for a nap (maybe for all of us at this point). Then, I suspect, we'll all jump on the bus for another evening at Epcot. I LOVE Epcot at night...more than any other park. We'll probably just wing dinner - maybe Sunshine Seasons or FandW fare. The Mexico boat ride will be on the plan and probably a revisit of Nemo and some exploration of The Seas.

So...what do you think so far? Ambitious with a 2 1/2-year-old? I know we'll have to play so much of this by ear. I don't want Magee to get overwhelmed or run down, so we'll adjust as necessary.

What says the DIS board about a 9:40 ADR at Crystal Palace? Kind of breaks up a nice morning in the Kingdom, no? PC loves CP, but Magee doesn't really know any of the Winnie-the-Pooh characters (with the exception of the main man himself whom she refers to as "Chickie the Pooh Pooh"). I may try to make a lunch ADR at Liberty Tree instead.

And since an update just isn't as fun without some pictures...here's a few more for your viewing enjoyment. These are all from previous trips to The World!

Sooooo Disney!


Standing in line for Maelstrom. We were LOSING it!​

 

[missangelalexis]

I think your plans sound good! It's good to plan to play things by ear since you never know what might happen.

As for your Crystal Palace ADR, personally I probably would cancel. Only because that's prime park touring time! But really it's totally up to what you guys want to do and if CP is a must then go for it!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Joining in!

After one solo visit last October, I've become a huge fan of all things Halloween at Disney! I'm looking forward to introducing the parties to our kids this October.

I'm guessing your MK Friday, the park opens at 9am. If that's the case I might consider pushing the Crystal Palace breakfast later in the morning or do a lunch version if you can find an ADR. The first two hours after rope drop are the best times for touring the parks with lower crowds and shorter lines. I think Magee will enjoy CP even she's not familiar with the characters - our kids didn't know much about them either on their first visits but quickly warmed up to them.

 

[AprilRenee]

I don't think it's too ambitious. If anything Caden is becoming more and more able to go go go. Yay!! So I'm thinking by Disney time we'll be golden as long as I can get him naps and bed at reasonable times. I have a sleeper inner too! (Well not this week but usually). It's fabulous isn't it?!

And I agree with previous comments. 9:40 is smack in the middle of low crowd/low line times at MK in the morning. I wouldn't want to be stuck in breakfast! Lol If you want breakfast I'd go for a 10:30ish time. Or just skip it and do lunch.

 

[Jackiemarie21]

I saw your PTR on April's and thought I would come check it out. We went last July with our DD who was 25 months at the time. It was an amazing trip! Check out the TR link in my signature. It's different going with a 2 year old, but in a good way! It really forces you to slow down and enjoy everything. It sounds like your dd is similar to mine sleeping wise. She is a night owl and likes to sleep in. Our most successful days were the ones where we let her sleep as late as she wanted and then stay out a little later. The early morning lead to tantrum city! we also put her to sleep in the bathroom (at the poly) and it worked out very well.

Can't wait to hear about more of your plans!