MOM... We've been thinking... UPDATED! Going in JUNE instead of AUGUST now!!!!

[LastLookAtTheCastle]

It's almost never good when your kids come to you and say...

"Mom... we've been thinking... don't be mad... but we've changed our minds."

Uh, ok. About what? Bath time? What you want to be when you grow up? What you want for dinner? What?

It turns out that my kids, Fiona and James, had decided that instead of going out to Los Angeles for our summer vacation to visit friends and go to DisneyLAND, they, instead, wanted to go back to WDW.

Again. Because we just went for five days in January. And this conversation happened just this past Monday, while we were all off for President's Day.

So what is a Disney-loving mom to do? I mean, get mad? Sad? Throw a tantrum. Instead I said...

"ARE YOU KIDDING? YIPPEE!" And then we all jumped up and down in the kitchen for a few minutes.

And as such our August trip to L.A. has now become an August trip to Disneyworld. We all jumped on the computer and started getting some plannin' on.

Next up... Introductions!

 

[LastLookAtTheCastle]

So, yes, back to Disneyworld. We have some plans set (doesn't take us long to get plans hatching) but before we dive into that, here are the stars of this Pre-Trip Report.

Me:

I'm Kiley, a 40-year-old single mom and Disney lover. I first started going to Disneyland when I was three, and have been, between the Land and the World, well over twenty times now. It is complete escapism for me, and WDW never fails to make me laugh and cry. I work in marketing, and so I'm consistently blown away by the level of detail and forethought in everything Disney does.

This is also me... I call this "Kid, You Have No Idea What is Starting Here..."

Fiona:

Fiona is a 10-year-old 5th grader, going on a 30-year-old attorney. She's a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a voracious reader, and a social butterfly. She's a geek, and happy to be so. She has a wicked sense of humor, and a deadpan like you wouldn't believe. She's one part Mulan, one part Belle, and one part Tinkerbelle.

James (opening up his Valentines' present - a vinylmation!)

James is a 7-year-old 1st grader sports fanatic, a cuddly little boy one moment and a little jock the next. He would play soccer 24/7 if he could. He loves music and going to concerts too. He is goofy funny, and cracks me up constantly. He's one part Stitch, one part Phineas, and one part Tigger.

And it's just the three of us on this trip. We've done trips with Grandma, and uncles and aunts, but now, just we three.

And we're all really excited about that.

Next up... The Plans... so far!

 

[hockeymomNS]

AHHHHHHHHHHHH, you have raised them well!!!!

 

[LastLookAtTheCastle]

Thanks! It's the best darn job I've got... and I love watching them grow up and experience new stuff at the world. We still have all the same favorites, but there's always something new and "best" each trip.

And I love your pink ribbon Mickey... I'm a 3-Day Walker, and very involved in breast cancer fundraising, so we have a lot of those around!

 

[LastLookAtTheCastle]

So after the jumping up and down in the kitchen finished up, we started talking about where to stay. I explained to them that while flying to LA wasn't going to be cheap, we were at least going to be staying with some friends, which would cut down on the hotel expense, and Disney isn't cheap. We'd already figured on vacationing the week of August 4th, just before school started, so that week wasn't really negotiable. But where to stay? I wanted to make reservations quick fast and in a hurry because we were already within 180 days of arriving, and OMG, ADRs needed to be made for places we hadn't even talked about yet?

Don't you love how it all snowballs once you've made the decision? Must do it all NOW! Don't sleep! AIIIIIEEEE!

So, we've stayed at all but one of the moderates before (POFQ is the only one we haven't hit!) and just stayed at the Wilderness Lodge this past January, on rented DVC points. We've also done the Poly, at Christmas, CASTLE VIEW CHA-CHING! But this time, however, was going to have to be a real budget trip. Like, real, oh wow, breakfast in the room, I really mean it, budget trip. Also, without grandparents and other travelers who desire a few more creature comforts, value would be just fine for us. We're park warriors! We close those things DOWN. We just need a place to shower and PASS OUT.

I've stayed at POP, and ASSports before on solo trips (after trade shows in Orlando), and I knew that James would flip over ASSports. His sister, while probably preferring ASMovies, gladly gave in to the love of sports for her brother. He went bananas.

I called to find out what was available, but alas, no pin. I did however get a AAA rate, which brought it down to $589 total, for Sunday the 5th through Saturday the 11th.

So the plan so far is:

Saturday, August 4: Leave bright and early from our home in Virginia, and drive to probably Jekyll Island or maybe, MAYBE even Jacksonville, FL, if we really push it. We are all road warriors, and the kids don't even blink at a 4 hour stretch, so I really think we can make it to Florida and have one nice beach evening somewhere.

Sunday, August 5: Straight to the World! We are going to get 5 day park hoppers plus water parks, and plan on heading right to EPCOT on this Sunday.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday on property...

Saturday, August 11: Head home, MAYBE make it all the way. We'll see how depressed and tired we are.


Next up... ADRs! Oh, yeah. We already got them. And these two know what to eat and what they like.

 

[OrangeJuice]

Your kids have good taste! WDW is the best place for vacation. I can't wait to hear more of your plans.

 

[LastLookAtTheCastle]

Your kids have good taste! WDW is the best place for vacation. I can't wait to hear more of your plans.

Thanks! I know we have a while to go, but there are always plans and then re-plans to share.

 

[LastLookAtTheCastle]

So the room is booked, and like I said, we're already within our 180 day window, so we had to quickly talk about food.

And while this is a budget trip, we still have enough budgeted to have a few good meals. We're not DDP people - I've tried it twice and I've never been able to make it work for us. We snack all day, split meals too often, and Fiona eats like a bird. If she and I ate like James, well, it wouldn't be an issue... pig boy is an eater. But both times we've run out of snack credits early and had CS credits left over. And at sit-down places, we do a couple of appetizers for meals. Just doesn't work for us. And we'll be driving and bringing breakfast stuff for the room, too. So we prefer to make a couple of reservations at sit-down places and then graze all day.

That said... The Problem With Kids Getting Older: They're palates and tastes change SO DANG MUCH. I remember the good old days of pushing them around in the stroller and throwing some nuggets and grapes at them, and it working like a charm. Now? Not so much.

First and foremost, it is Tradition, unbreakable and always, to do at least one breakfast at the Crystal Palace, I tried to say we didn't HAVE to do that this time, and was met with complete horror and shock. They love to see themselves growing up in the place through pictures... Fiona at 2, climbing over me to get away from Tigger, James at 2 throwing himself against Piglet, that kind of thing. So regardless of ANY OTHER ADRs, that one is a requirement.

So, one ADR made, for 8:10 on Friday the 10th... and the park opens at 9am. Natch.

We then said we were each going to choose ONE place to eat. That's what we've done in the last couple of trips, and it works well. We each get to go somewhere we love. But they both said "we want to go to brand new places."

OK. Nice idea. I've always wanted to try Ragland Road. Never been there, and now that they are older, the noise will be fun, and not an issue. And that's when it got ugly.

Fiona says, "I've really always wanted to go to California Grill."

James says, "I want to try the brand new Mexican place at EPCOT, on the water, so we can watch the fireworks."

Wow. You people ain't cheap. Fiona pulled up the menus and said, "I really want the Cali Grill sushi. Or fish. (She's a big fish eater.)" James said "Tacos and beans and rice? Bring it on."

So, four ADRs have been made so far... La Hacienda de San Angel on Sunday the 5th at 8:30 in time for Illuminations, Ragland Road on Tuesday the 7th, and Cali Grill on Thursday the 9th for an earlier dinner at 6:00 (Wishes doesn't go until 10, and that's a little late for dinner for us, unfortunately.)

More soon... including some pictures of all of us through the years, and some of our favorite Disney moments... the ones that keep us wanting more!

 

[MHTeacher]

Enjoying reading your plans so far!

So funny that your kids wanted to go back to Disney for vacation this summer. Last year was the first year my kids didn't want to go back! GASP! They wanted a break, they said?!?!? But this year, they're more than ready to head back!

Looking forward to hearing more of your plans.

 

[LastLookAtTheCastle]

Enjoying reading your plans so far!

So funny that your kids wanted to go back to Disney for vacation this summer. Last year was the first year my kids didn't want to go back! GASP! They wanted a break, they said?!?!? But this year, they're more than ready to head back!

Looking forward to hearing more of your plans.

Thanks! Yes, our January trip was the first time my kids had been since September 2010, so they were completely ready (I'd been able to go on a solo trip and a long weekend with my mom last spring, so I'd satiated my need since then.) But since returning, all they have done is bemoan the fact that we probably weren't heading there again for another year. Fiona will be in middle school starting this fall, and while I HAVE taken them out of school for a day or two when they were younger, school is definitely more important now, so summer and holidays it is from this point out!

A BREAK? From FUN? Gasp indeed! Yowsa!

 

[LastLookAtTheCastle]

A quick update and Disney "sorta" story... but it's a sad tale... for those of you still here reading.

I just got back from Orlando for a work tradeshow, and was within 10 minutes of the parks, and NEVER GOT TO GO. Almost went over to do the Leap Day overnight, but I was already exhausted from working... maybe that makes me a Disney wimp. I don't know! It was AWFUL being SO CLOSE yet SO FAR AWAY!

At least the Orlando airport's Disney Store was well stocked. Lots of rice krispies and some new vinylmations for the kids!

BUT... I got to meet Debra Martin Koma from AllEars!!! I was in the waiting area for my flight down on Monday, and this nice lady sat down next to me, and I, of course, had to compliment her Mickey earrings, and we started talking! It was DEBRA! It was such an honor meeting her and getting to hang out while waiting for our plane!

Coming up next... family Disney histories and some of our favorite memories!

 

[MHTeacher]

I HAVE taken them out of school for a day or two when they were younger, school is definitely more important now, so summer and holidays it is from this point out!

I hear you! I'm a teacher (lucky enough to be where my kids attend), and when they were younger, we loved being able to visit during those off seasons, even if it meant missing school.

The last time we pulled our kids out they were in 9th, 7th, and K. Our high school is on a block schedule, so the four days we missed were really like missing eight days for my high schooler. After returning, and trying to get caught up, I realized it's just too hard to miss school, the older they get!

BUT... I got to meet Debra Martin Koma from AllEars!!!

How exciting! She seems as if she'd be so nice!

 

[LastLookAtTheCastle]

Quick update (and then I'll go back to doing a real update tonight because the following news makes it EVEN MORE IMPERATIVE THAT I DO...)

Due to the incredibly mild winter here on the east coast this year, my kids' school system didn't have to close once for any snow days. Very rare. We had three delays, but that only totals up to 4 hours missed for the winter. As such, the school board is voting this week to SHORTEN the school year, which means that instead of the last day of school being June 6, it will now be MAY 25, before Memorial Day!

So, what's a Disney minded mom to do?

That's right. Move the trip UP.

We're now going JUNE 3 - JUNE 9! I called and made the change yesterday, cancelled our August ADRs, and made new ones. I told the kids, who wanted reassurance that it would still be hot enough for Blizzard Beach (no problems there), and now the timeframe has been CUT IN HALF.

More updating and info soon...