Mommy and Jack's 2nd Fall Adventure is canceled!

[jenseib]

Looks like it is going to be a fun trip.
I love all the b-day party pictures. he looks like one happy guy! Some of the kids toys are soooo cool now a days

 

[stephielela]

Looks like it is going to be a fun trip.
I love all the b-day party pictures. he looks like one happy guy! Some of the kids toys are soooo cool now a days

I am so looking forwards to this fall trip. I'm not sure why, but I am getting more and more excited about it as time goes on!

Jack was quite the blessed little boy for his birthday. Luckily his manners are pretty good, so he thanked everyone for everything, and he was even willing to share his toys with his little cousin Aarilyn. He is really good with the littler kids and babies, so sometimes I feel like I'm depriving him of a smaller sibling, but there's not much I can do about that right now

 

[stephielela]

I hope everyone had a nice Easter weekend!

I kept Easter low key this year, since Jack is still recovering from his birthday fun. He got a Chuggington DVD, a Disney Parks Behind the Scenes DVD, and a pair of summer PJ's from the Disney store, plus my aunt made him a basket of candy.

We went to church earlyish (10 am) and then went home and got brunch ready for my grandparents. They got to our house around 12 and we all stuffed ourselves and then sat around and chatted. Once they left I had about an hour and hald to relax, so Jack and I started watching his Disney DVD. Then we headed over to our friends house for our adult Easter egg hunt. The kids hunted for their eggs too, and then we all sat around and chatted. My friend Rachel has 2 little boys, one's almost two, the other is 10 months, and Jack loves playing with them. He is so calm with them, and doesn't mind sharing, even when the 2 year old snatches things that aren't his.

We had a wonderful ham dinner and hung out some more. Jack and I finally went home about 9:45. Jack waned to take a bath, so I let him, and he proceeded to splash so much most of our bathroom floor was under water. Needless to say, he is grounded from the tub and will be taking only showers for at least a week. He was tired and passed out immediately, which was nice because it meant I got to get to sleep early too! (After mopping up the floor of course!)

He had a mini playdate with the boys this morning, so I could go tan and make a nail appointment, and he was sad to leave for daycare, but since Rachel and her boys only live about 2 hours away, I am sure we will be seeing them again soon enough!

 

[stephielela]

I was sitting here (more accurately standing here) thinking about this trip, and I started comtemplating the possibility of going to Disneyland instead...

I know, I know, I even caught myself off guard, but I was thinking about the fact that out plane tickets are going to be free, and plane tickets to California are more expensive than tickets to Florida, and Jack doesn't remember anything from his trip to DLR when he was 4 weeks old...

Then I started number crunching... and I think it would actually be more expensive! The hotel prices (onsite) are all higher than the value resorts at WDW, by probably almost twice as much. I LOVE the Disneyland Hotel, but I just wouldn't be able to swing it. We would even be going for one less day, and it was going to be more than the trip we have planned right now. I am keeping it in the back of my mind though, in case some deals come out. They have a Halloween party too, so I think it would be neat to go and compare... but for now we are sticking with WDW and our ADR day is TOMORROW!!!!! I didn't get a chance to talk to Jack's godfather, so I think I am just going to make the 2 ADR's I had planned, and one extra one for a lunch on our MNSSHP day, just in case...

 

[photographymom517]

Oh my goodness, Stephanie!!! You have to slow down until I catch up to your updates!

That was alot of info, but GREAT updates!!!!

I loved seeing the pictures from Jack's birthday parties & events!!! You probably already know I'm going to say this from our previous conversations, but my favorite picture is the one of Jack at Build a Bear with that huge smile on his face!!! I also thought that all of his gifts were great!

I cannot believe that lady only charges $1 per cookie -- those are amazing! The detail on them looks so accurate & the cookies look delish!!!! YUM! Jack's cake was pretty cool too!

I totally agree with Nikki -- I soooo want to borrow that giant ball to roll around in my front yard!!!

Thanks for the great idea -- I've been trying to figure out what to do with our Mr. Potato Head pieces. They've outgrown their boxes & are just thrown in a giant toybox with the rest of Luke's toys. After seeing that little bin on the table, it gave me a great idea! I have these little bins that I use for Luke's crayons & small sets of animals -- why didn't I think to use them for Mr. Potato Head parts?

After reading so many updates at once, I already forget all of my comments. LOL I'm going to have to get out my notepad next time & take notes!

It sounds like you had a very busy, but funfilled Easter!!! Our day started out slow, but we had a busy afternoon/evening. Luke was sooo exhausted after running around with my nephew all day that he fell asleep at 7pm and didn't wake up until this morning!!! I did a great job of staying away from the Easter candy, like I said that I would for my diet, BUT I had 3 pieces of strawberry dessert and a piece of chocolate/peanut butter cake. Oops!

Its actually pretty funny that you mention Disneyland because the other day when I was on facebook writing you a message, on the right-hand side one of your DL albums came up! So I looked through your pics & was thinking about planning a trip there myself!

I really want to cruise next year for my 30th birthday -- but now I'm starting to consider DL as an option instead. I doubt it will happen because like you said, the plane tickets are just too much. I'm especially worried now that gasoline & airfare prices are increasing.

Good luck with your ADR's!!! If you don't get something you want, just keep checking back! I didn't post it on my PTR yet but I was able to get a lunch ressie at Le Cellier that I couldn't get 180 days out! Things are constantly opening up!

 

[photographymom517]

Love love love love love ALL of the pictures of Jack!!!! I just had to add that!

 

[stephielela]

I am trying to make ADR's now and something is wrong with the site... if it doesn't start working asap I will wait till later today, nothing I want is super special.

 

[stephielela]

oops

 

[stephielela]

Well, I got my ADR's made! And I of course made more than I had planned!

So far I have:
10/23 (arrival day) 5:10 pm dinner at Chef Mickey's
10/24 (Epcot day) 11.35 am lunch at Le Cellier
10/26 (AK day) 10:20 am Tusker House
10/27(departure day) 11 am Kona Cafe

I will definitely be keeping the Tusker House and Kona Cafe ADR's. THe Chef Mickey's I really want to keep, but it's so pricey! The Le Cellier is almost definitely a cancel... I'm planning on doing F&W for dinner there, but I couldn't pass up the possibility... I would love to go and get just the risotto oh and the Chocolate Moose! I will probably cancel that one soon though.

Pirates League is not yet taking the later reservations for MNSSHP, she said to check back once the tickets go on sale.

I had a lot of trouble getting logged in, there was definitely something wrong with the system this morning.

Also I have heard a rumor that free dining may be announced before May 10th! At this point, I may need to look into upgrading to the DDP... We shall see!

 

[jenseib]

Free dining is now out for Visa members and wil lbe open to the public may 2

 

[stephielela]

I heard about the free dining, but naturally, it's on'y good till September... and since we moved our dates to October, we will have to wait and cross our fingers.

I also saw that MNSSHP tickets are out, so I will call tomorrow to see if I can get Pirates League booked!

I am super tired, but I plan on getting a "Wedding Weekend" update posted later. I will say that my bridesmaid gift was AWESOME, and actually useful... $200 in Disney gift cards!!!!

 

[jenseib]

I heard about the free dining, but naturally, it's on'y good till September... and since we moved our dates to October, we will have to wait and cross our fingers.

I also saw that MNSSHP tickets are out, so I will call tomorrow to see if I can get Pirates League booked!

I am super tired, but I plan on getting a "Wedding Weekend" update posted later. I will say that my bridesmaid gift was AWESOME, and actually useful... $200 in Disney gift cards!!!!

What an awesome gift!

 

[stephielela]

What an awesome gift!

I know!! I was really touched that she went to the effort to get me something I would really appreciate and use, and that she didn't just get us all the same jewelry or something!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I heard about the free dining, but naturally, it's on'y good till September... and since we moved our dates to October, we will have to wait and cross our fingers.

I also saw that MNSSHP tickets are out, so I will call tomorrow to see if I can get Pirates League booked!

I am super tired, but I plan on getting a "Wedding Weekend" update posted later. I will say that my bridesmaid gift was AWESOME, and actually useful... $200 in Disney gift cards!!!!

That's soooo cool!! How perfect for you! I love when people get gifts that are actually for the person who is receiving it! Some people get others gifts that THEY want them to have. You will definitely make good use of that gift!

 

[stephielela]

10/25~ Tuesday!

This is our MNSSHP day. I am really happy with the way I have laid out the schedule, and super glad I have a "down" day before MNSSHP! Last year would have been perfectly scheduled, if our room had been ready when we got there. Since it wasn't our nap was shortened and then with the rain etc... it just made it harder to get prepared for the party. That's a huge reason behind me adding another day this year.

This morning we will sleep in a bit. Epcot doesn't have EMH the night before, so we shouldn't be into bed too late, so I plan on getting up around 9. We have no ADR's so I figure we wll have a small breakfast, maybe in the room with pastries from Norway. We can explore the resort a bit, take some pictures, and then I think we will pool hop. Last year we only swam a little at the Hippy Dippy pool, so I think we will try the other ones first. Plus I know we will be visiting the Goofy fountains at least once!

I plan on having lunch at 12ish and then going back to the room for a nap around 1. I am hoping Jack will be sufficiently worn out from running around and swimming that he will sleep for a couple hours. I plan on leaving the resort at 3:30 and heading to MK so we can get in right at 4!

 

[tlenzendorf]

Ok, I'm here! Back to read!

 

[stephielela]

Ok, I'm here! Back to read!

I went back and read your whole TR, and you might not believe this, but I was there the same time!!! I think we were there fewer days, but same general time period, I think the 16th-22nd! It was HOT!!! I am not sure I will ever go back in August, now that I have discovered the Fall season at WDW!

 

[tlenzendorf]

I went back and read your whole TR, and you might not believe this, but I was there the same time!!! I think we were there fewer days, but same general time period, I think the 16th-22nd! It was HOT!!! I am not sure I will ever go back in August, now that I have discovered the Fall season at WDW!

That is really funny! And you are right, it was HOT. We survived, but I agree that I'm not sure we would ever go back in August. At least not without more beach days, water parks, and swim time!

 

[stephielela]

I am not going to go into too much detail on plans for the party because I don't know them myself! Here is what I do know-
*I want to get there right at 4 pm.
*I want Jack to have a 4:30 appointment at Pirates League- If this isn't possible, I will do makeup myself for him, draw a beard etc.
*We will eat at Columbia Harbor House (probably) around 5pm
*We will scope out a spot for the fireworks after the first parade, and stay there for the second parade.

I am not too picky about what we see/do etc. I would like to get pictures with Mickey and Minnie, preferably in their pirate gear but Jack's not too into characters yet, though if we can get Captain Hook and Smee that would be nice too. I don't even know what will be open in regards to the Fantasyland expansion. As we get closer, I will probably come up with a list of must do rides, but last year all my careful planning went out the window because it was pouring rain so we didn't even head to the park until about 5 and we had plenty of other issues. I do plan onbeing well rested, and ideally lasting all the way till 12, but it's a long shot!

 

[stephielela]

Just a head's up, tomorrow I will start a mini TR from the wedding I went to last weekend. After that I will do a mini PTR for the cruise I am leaving for next weekend! And when I get back I will do a quickie TR for that as well. I figure I need something to pass the time since my WDW trip is still over 5 months away and I don't want to have EVERYTHING planned before then.

Wedding stuff will be in blue, since that's what I wore for the wedding

Cruise stuff will be in red, since that's the color I associate with Carnival (besides blue) which is who we are sailing with!

Feel free to skip over these updates, though I will do my very best to make them entertaining and informative!