Making my mom's dream come true! Nov 28-Dec 3 PTR

[PamelaKay]

I love your scrapbook. What a great way to present the surprise!

Thank you. I am happy with the way it turned out. I couldn't have done it without help from fellow DISer's and my sister.

 

[scdak]

PamelaKay, I am flying out of Charlotte on 11/30, early am flight, should be at POFQ by noon. Its too hard on Mom to drive due to her back problems and decreased mobility, that would mean 2 days driving each way which cuts into prime Disney time. This way we are down there early in the day and she can rest for a while before we head to the MK for MVMCP I hope it does make your mother work harder in PT, a trip to Disney is a pretty good incentive. I work with several people with MS, and I know the challanges they face, the treatments they have to endure and its not an easy life. In fact, 1 of them is going to MK next week, and when I suggested an ECV to make it easier for her, you would have thought I gave her the best idea in the world, she has not been there since being diagnosed and had forgotten the size of the place! So she is planning on it and I think it will be one of the best things she could do, she is only there for 1 day before a cruise and was afraid that all the walking plus the heat would do her in for the rest of the trip.

 

[PamelaKay]

So it has been a while since I updated my pre-trip plans, but things have come together so nicely. The IPO at the Poly was able to make my final dinner reservation for the candlelight processional and I am excited to say it is at Le Cellier.

My dad has arranged for a scooter for my mom. He rented it from Walker's. He told me that the folks at Walker's were very nice, friendly and informative on the phone and then they followed up the call with a detailed email.

Our reservations are now completely booked. I bet when you read the list you think...man all this family will be doing is eating. I did make many reservations, but if you read my earlier posts you will see I had a couple of alterior motives.

1.) The sit down lunches and dinners will force my folks to take a break without me having to suggest resting. My mother has had MS for over 20 years and she has kept going by sheer will power alone. She is an amazing lady, but would feel insulted if I suggested that she and my dad might need to take a break.
2.) I don't want my parents to pay for anything. By doing deluxe dining and staying club level, all meals, snacks and beverages are taken care of in advance and I don't have to argue with my dad about paying for anything.
3.) I love to try new food and Disney restaurants are a great place for that.
4.) I think my Christmas cards this year will be of me and the folks with some Disney character.

Here is where we will be eating

Sunday - Mom and Dad arrive around 11:00
Lunch-Crystal Palace
Dinner - Narcoossees

Monday
Lunch-Coral Reef
Dinner-Le Cellier Candlelight

Tuesday
Lunch-Tutto Italia
Dinner-Artist Point

Wednesday
Lunch-Counter Svc at AK (I want to try Flame Tree)
Dinner-O'hana

Thursday
Lunch-Biergarten
Dinner-Flying Fish

Friday
Breakfast-Chef Mickey's
Lunch-Tepan Edo
Dinner-Park Fare

Saturday- Mom and Dad leave early that morning. I don't fly home until 7 that night so I am going for a late breakfast at Tusker House.

Only 2 1/2 more months until we go. Can you believe that fall is here already. Before we know it, Thanksgiving will be here.

I haven't eaten at Biergarten,Artist Point or Ohana for dinner before. I am looking forward to trying new places on this trip.

 

[PamelaKay]

Ok, so now that everything is planned and paid for I am second guessing myself. Should I have purchased MVMCP tickets.

 

[scdak]

Sounds like your plans fell in place as well as mine did, I still haven't told my mother about the surprise trip so she thinks we are going to Myrtle Beach!
I upgraded to the DxDDP for the same ulterior motive that you did.......rest times and there is no way she can try to pay for anything!
Looks like you made reservations at some nice places, I have 13 ADR's at this point but I am not looking for any more nor changing any of the ones I have. I did get the CP package that I wanted, I bet I am one of the few people on earth that didn't want Le Cellier!
I have MVMCP tickets for Nov 30th, I have never been to it and I am really looking forward to it mostly to see the Christmas parade and Wishes since I can't go later in the month when its done for regular park admissions.
Hope you have a great trip with your parents, I know that I am very excited about taking my mother down for this Christmas surprise!

 

[PamelaKay]

I am so excited. I just got a new samsung epic droid phone and it supports the lines app from touring plans.

 

[PamelaKay]

My mom called me yesterday to ask me what kinds of clothes to pack for our trip the week after Thanksgiving. I gave her an idea of some of the basics, but figure we will need to wait until closer to the date to see what the weather will be like.

Last year I was there the first week of December and it was 85 during the day and I had only packed 2 pairs of shorts.

 

[PamelaKay]

I was in Atlanta this past weekend visiting my folks and going to see the eye Dr. (I haven't found a good one in Charlotte yet and I have been seeing the one in Atlanta since I was 13 and I am in my 40's now).

My mom and I spent a couple hours talking about what clothes she needed to bring and then decided to order a few new items from Lands end. I admit, I got her hooked on the quarter zip thermacheck fleece pullovers. They are not to warm and you don't get cold wearing them and best of all, they don't have static.

So now that I am back in NC, I have started my list of items I want to remember to pack. The first item on the list was a power strip for charging everyone's phones, cameras etc in the room and the second was a nightlght for the bathroom. I have one list in my office and one in my bedroom. That way as I think of things, I can write them down and then hopefully not forget to pack an item.

 

[PamelaKay]

Only 42 more days to go. I am so excited.

They have finally announced the guest for the candlelight processional the night we are attending. It is John O'hurley.

I started staging stuff I want to pack in the guest room this week. After great tips from fellow diser's I bought some of the new purex laundry sheets. They pack so nice and light. You just throw one in the wash and it is your detergent and then move it with the wash to the dryer and it is your dryer sheet. What a great product.

Work has been crazy lately and I am so ready for a week at a magical place.

 

[PamelaKay]

Some days it feels like time is flying and others like the trip will never get here. I have spent a huge amount of time reading tips from DISers and have found a few that I am going to try on this trip.

1. I am taking a power strip for the room. Charging cell phones, camera batteries and mom's scooter will make plugging in a bit challenging.
2. I am going to pack my socks and undies in ziplocs. I read his and thougt what a great idea to have them not floating around the suitcase.
3. I am taking a night light for the bathroom. Since I am traveling with my senior parents, this tip was a great idea.
4. My dad is a diabetic and eats a pretty regimented breakfast every day (a bowl of cheerios and a small glass of v8 juice). After reading about requests at club level, I called the IPO and she ordered v8 for my dad for his stay.

I think I learn something new every time I go. This will be my 3rd trip this year and I plan to go 2 times next year. I plan to upgrade my tickets from this trip to an annual pass this year. I should have done this before.

I am trying to keep lists of things to buy and do. I want to pre-order the photopass CD and go to the Disney Store and get gift cards for spending money and tips at restaurants.

I have only been second guessing one thing about the trip. I did not get tickets for MVMCP. I went last year and it was so crowded. We have signature dinner ressies each night except for the O'hana night. I could move the Artist Point Dinner up and then get tickets for MVMCP that night. I am still not sure. This is the hard part of planning a trip.

 

[PamelaKay]

Did you know when you do a split stay, you get 2 DME packages. I got one for airport to POFQ for my one night before mom and dad arrive and then I got one for my return from Poly back to MCO.

Also, I just need to say it is a beautiful sight when the ticker no longer has the word month in it.

 

[PamelaKay]

Today I pre-ordered the Photopass CD. I plan to take every opportunity to get pictures with my mom and dad in front of all the beautiful Christmas trees.

 

[PamelaKay]

So I haven't updated lately. I have been busy counting down and playing on a thread of disers staying at the Poly the first week of December.

Just a few more days. I can't wait to see Disney through my mom's eyes. She hasn't been in over 20 years and has never stayed on property. I am going to try and take good notes, food pics etc so I can do a proper trip report when I get back.

I hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving!