Making Time for a 1st time - October 2015/MNSSHP PTR COMPLETE 10/21/15

[NeedaDisneyFix]

Congrats!!!! Which hotel are you booked at? We are at Pop Century in a Standard Pool room; hopefully connecting with Tracy's room. Silly me, booked flights for Saturday and then when free dining came out; had to scramble to change our reservation somewhat. We originally wanted to stay until Sunday 11/1 but couldn't get a late flight with a price in our ballpark.

 

[NeedaDisneyFix]

We are looking at Pop on 10/24. We would get in around noon from Dallas and just spend the day catching up at the resort, but right now I haven't a clue.

 

[HizMinnie2015]

137 Days... Chicagoland is starting to get warm - finally. I never thought we would see the end of the spring rains. I'm ready to be outside, preferably at the lake lol.

Not much on the Disney front going on here. We have 77 days 12 hours and 40 minutes until FP's and online check in

My fiance met up while I got my hair done (priorities! ) with a lady (and family) I had met here to pass on some pixie dust... was so happy to help her out!

No new grandbaby yet. 3 more weeks until due date...
Wedding preparations are in full swing... gives me a headache, I think we should run away and elope.

We did join a gym the beginning of April and I set a goal to lose 40 lbs before we go to WDW on 10/24. After having strep for 2 weeks after that, and fighting a battle to get to the gym... I weighed yesterday and realized I've lost 7.2 lbs since I first weighed in May! Yeah buddy! My full goal is 151 lbs. But i cannot look at that. I will quit before I start. So i'm working on this first goal. I may not hit it, but as long as i'm moving in the right direction I'm ok with any loss.

Guess that's all for now!

 

[bruinsfan88]

Hi there! Jumping in super late! I saw you over on Elevationist's PTR and thought I'd pop over to take a look at yours! Congratulations on the wedding, and new grand baby that is incoming shortly! So much excitement along with planning your trip! Waiting for milestones for your trip are the worst! I just got to book my FP+ for my trip and now I'm like...ok now what do I do! Also congrats on the weight loss! That's so hard to do. I keep telling myself to get my butt in gear, and then I tell myself to stop talking to myself! I look forward to seeing more of your plans!

 

[Elevationist]

We did join a gym the beginning of April and I set a goal to lose 40 lbs before we go to WDW on 10/24. After having strep for 2 weeks after that, and fighting a battle to get to the gym... I weighed yesterday and realized I've lost 7.2 lbs since I first weighed in May! Yeah buddy! My full goal is 151 lbs. But i cannot look at that. I will quit before I start. So i'm working on this first goal. I may not hit it, but as long as i'm moving in the right direction I'm ok with any loss.

Congrats! That's super awesome! I need to get back on the wagon myself. I just love food and being lazy SO MUCH!

 

[HizMinnie2015]

GENERAL UPDATE-

1) No new baby yet... Momma is miserable and swears she is never doing this again. I just laugh and she gets mad, but its the way of life.

2) Dining update -
Thursday - Epcot
B -1900 Park Fair - we are doing MK late EMH which is until midnight the night before, I thought I would give Martyne an hour extra sleep, hopefully booking fastpasses from noon on. Epcot has late EMH hours this day to and both world are open until 11pm. Hoping that will help with the few rides that we want to do.
D - La Hacienda de San Angel - this is at 8pm so I'm hoping that we can sit and watch Illuminations from here

Friday - DTD/MK
B - O'hana I moved this from 10 to 9:15am; we are then going to DTD for just a few hours.

D - CRT - ok so I did say I didn't want to spend 2 credits to see the princesses; HOWEVER my inner child really wanted to be able to see the castle. I was looking for earlier breakfast ressies and happened upon CRT our last night to be in the parks (10/30) so I snatched it up. Martyne is pretty much going with the flow by now and letting me run at full steam. But since we got incredibly lucky to get the castle he wanted to see the Mad Hatter, Hence 1900 PF... its a guarantee to meet him then lol.

3. Wedding is on course for becoming an elopement.
As much as I want to share this with my friends and family, there's just not enough time or money between now and August to do this correctly and not hurt anybody's feelings. So, we are eloping and then throwing a small party for very very close friend and our families. Still its 75 ppl (WHEW) However this is much cheaper and manageable.

4. I ordered a cake from MK bakeries to suprise the DFi with at our Crystal Palace breakfast. His birthday is 10/23 and we leave on 10/24. I want to make sure he's not forgotten.


124 DAYS UNTIL DISNEY!!! I'm trying to be so very patient... its hard. I'm so ready for a vacation with the love of my life. LOL Fast passes are on 8/26 online check in is 8/25 and 8/26 as we have a room only and then a pkg starting the next day.

Guess that's all for now!

 

[KathyM2]

Wow...elopement!! That is so exciting!!! It sounds perfect!! Eloping and then a small party after. I wish actually that we had done this with our wedding...it would have been a lot more manageable!!

 

[HizMinnie2015]

BABY UPDATE

As of last night (6-24-15) we are proud grandparents of a healthy little girl. Kathryn Ann Riggert was born at 9:55am. She weighed 6lbs 8oz and is 19.5" long. She is my 8th grandchild and we are even with 4 boys and 4 girls. My daughter is doing well, even though she ended up with a C-Section delivery. She labored for 22 hours, but wasn't making any progress... I have to say she surprised me and was quite the trooper through it all.

 

[KathyM2]

Wow! Congrats! How exciting!!

 

[HizMinnie2015]

Ah, a moment to myself, a moment to breathe and a moment to blog... never thought I would see those moments again lol. Life can change so quickly, its nice to finally stop for a moment to smell the roses.

The new baby is wonderful - although my daughter and new granddaughter have now moved home to mom and dad's house. What a change after 20 years to have a new baby in the house on a consistent basis. Its nice being Nana, but 3am feedings are still a killer

Because of them moving in with us, we have had to rethink some plans and are now moving into a bigger place so we have room for everyone. The plan is to be moving on August 1st, get settled and before you know it, our FP and online check in day will be here (8/26).

Ok that's all I got... see ya'll later!

 

[KathyM2]

but 3am feedings are still a killer

OMG I can't imagine!! I remember the sleep deprived haze I was in for the 1st three months of both my kids' lives....I don't envy you that part...but sweet baby cuddles are the best.

before you know it, our FP and online check in day will be here

Yay!! So exciting!!

 

[HizMinnie2015]

Haven't been here in awhile... things have been CHAOTIC at my house!!!! Lil Miss Kathryn (Katt to this nana) is 2 mths old today - where did that time go??? She's turning into quite the lil Diva already LOL

I'm happy to announce I am FINALLY Mrs. Parks. HAHAHA (After 8 years of togetherness, it doesn't feel any different except when I say my name lol)

We have 61 days until our 1 night ressie and we have 62 days until our package begins... Means check-in happens twice in the next couple of days and FASTPASSES!!!!
We have finally gotten our Fast Passes narrowed down... we are braving the odds against going on EMH days...

DHS/Sunday - TOT, RNRC, Star Tours
MK/Monday - Splash Mtn. BTRR, and Haunted Mansion
Tuesday Non Park Day/MNSSHP
AK-MK/Wed. - Safari, Expedition, Kali RR (hopping to MK around 5pm)
Epcot/Thurs - Test Track, Character Spot & Mission Space (We should be able to ride Soaring during the evening EMH)
Friday DTD&MK - Peter Pan, 7DMT and Elsa/Anna

We have a very full week... I know we won't get everything on my wish list done, but here's hoping that we get darn close LOL <3

 

[Elevationist]

I'm happy to announce I am FINALLY Mrs. Parks. HAHAHA (After 8 years of togetherness, it doesn't feel any different except when I say my name lol)

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

We have 61 days until our 1 night ressie and we have 62 days until our package begins... Means check-in happens twice in the next couple of days and FASTPASSES!!!!
We have finally gotten our Fast Passes narrowed down... we are braving the odds against going on EMH days...

So jealous! I still have a little over a month to wait until I can do all this!

DHS/Sunday - TOT, RNRC, Star Tours
MK/Monday - Splash Mtn. BTRR, and Haunted Mansion
Tuesday Non Park Day/MNSSHP
AK-MK/Wed. - Safari, Expedition, Kali RR (hopping to MK around 5pm)
Epcot/Thurs - Test Track, Character Spot & Mission Space (We should be able to ride Soaring during the evening EMH)
Friday DTD&MK - Peter Pan, 7DMT and Elsa/Anna

Make sure you double check the tiering for Epcot and DHS. I want to say you can't get a FP on the same day for both ToT and RnRC, but I could be wrong. Same for Mission Space and Test Track.

We have a very full week... I know we won't get everything on my wish list done, but here's hoping that we get darn close LOL <3

You probably won't get everything done (nobody ever does, really), but you'll have a WONDERFUL time no matter what!

 

[HizMinnie2015]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

So jealous! I still have a little over a month to wait until I can do all this!

Make sure you double check the tiering for Epcot and DHS. I want to say you can't get a FP on the same day for both ToT and RnRC, but I could be wrong. Same for Mission Space and Test Track.

You probably won't get everything done (nobody ever does, really), but you'll have a WONDERFUL time no matter what!

I'm just glad the whole marriage thing is over. We've been together for so long, it was a pain to throw "celebration" for family LOL
I'm so excited our 60 days is here... I feel like we've been waiting forever for this first trip to happen.
Our Fastpasses are good... I checked and double checked them - Toy Story Mania & RNRC are Tier 1; TOT is Tier 2. And Test Track is Tier 1 and Misson: Space is Tier 2.

 

[Elevationist]

Our Fastpasses are good... I checked and double checked them - Toy Story Mania & RNRC are Tier 1; TOT is Tier 2. And Test Track is Tier 1 and Misson: Space is Tier 2.

Whew! Awesome! The whole tiering thing always throws me off and confuses me!

 

[HizMinnie2015]

me too lol... I double checked like 3 timed and the asked my friend who is a disney TA just to make sure I
I was right.

 

[HizMinnie2015]

SOOO Getting some pixie dust is always a good thing!!! We are flying in a day ahead of our package stay so that we can start vacation right away in the morning. I was told that I would have to wait until our package ressie hit 60 days to do our fastpasses. 60 days for that happens 8/26. However 60 days for our r/o discount is today... so I stayed up until 11p cst last night to check in... decided to go see if I could get fastpasses and sure enough I was able to make our selections!!! I started with our last park day because I wanted to secure them for A&E plus they had to be later in the day as I did want just a lil time for DTD that morning. We are able to get everything we wanted at times that worked well within our schedule. I was able to coordinate several with our friends who will be there for part of our trip so that we could all ride together...

I have to say even for being a newbie, planning for this trip was pretty easy. We got all the ADR's we wanted as well plus a few we didn't plan on, but are now excited for. I'm really ready for October to get here... Now we wait for Magic Bands, i'm guessing the first full week of October...

 

[HizMinnie2015]

43 DAYS OUT! We paid the balance on our trip so we are now paid in full and ready to go. All we need is spending money (LOTS AND LOTS!) and to pack. Our final customization date for magic bands is 23rd and 24th. So I'm guessing by Oct 9th or 10th. Maybe someone on here can give a better time frame. I'm so excited to finish this PTR and try my hand at a TR and a Dining TR.... we shall see soon enough!!!

 

[HizMinnie2015]

32 days... whew its almost here!!! Last year at this time I had been contemplating the whole thing and finally on 9/24 I took the plunge and booked the package. Now I'm packing things that aren't needed every day and trying to make a final shopping list of things we need. I love our ADR's and our FP's. I see that the hours for October have changed and that could play out in our favor or it could work against us. I have a very real gut feeling that September and October are no longer the quiet months that every one use to call them. I have a feeling we are going to see big crowds...

Soon we will see...

 

[Elevationist]

I'm having that same feeling about the crowds in early December! You'll still have a great time regardless, though!