My first PTR..May 2011 anyone out there??

[loganpaulsmom]

I just found this today...and I am subscribing.. We are not going to Disney this year so I will live vicariously through you for your trip, LOL! Can't wait to read all the way through what I have missed so far.

Congrats to you on your cancer free status!

Thanks Mindy for subscribing.. it's gonna be a crazy ride.. I have changed my plans so many times already, I think because I really want to make it the perfect trip.. We will see..

 

[KatMark]

Where do you live? That is way TOO much snow. We are getting our first blizzard in some years and getting anywhere from 18-24 inches; but it is nothing like the East Coast has gotten all winter long.

 

[purplepixiedust]

Real life has come at us FULL FORCE.. Arghh.. It has been crazy.. We are literally buried in snow.. There is NO where to put it.. Today we are supposed to get another foot and tomorrow another 10 inches.. This is horrible..
What is going on with everyone else? Where has everyone been? Am I the only one reading my report again??? HAHAHHA

Wow, I live by Lake Erie and am used to getting buried in snow (beg my husband every year to find a job down south, LOL!) and your snow pics just made me shudder! Although we are supposed to get about a foot of snow with this storm coming.. we shall see.

I don't have any advice to share as we have only stayed at POP and went for 6 nights last year Feb/March. It was my first official trip to Disney (had been there as a teen for a few hours in MK on a trip once) and was plannedon the spur of the moment and I found the DIS boards a few weeks before we left on our trip. Now I am addicted to this board (and Disney itself) and keep reading as much as I can to make the most of future trips.

I think it will be nice for you to have off days. My younger son was 6 when we went and he was just exhausted at night from all my husband and I tried to do with them. I can't wait until next year when we go back and can just relax and enjoy and see what we want.. I think we felt compelled to just do as much as possible. My 6 year old would have been content with a few hours at each park and then just hang out at our pool!

 

[loganpaulsmom]

Where do you live? That is way TOO much snow. We are getting our first blizzard in some years and getting anywhere from 18-24 inches; but it is nothing like the East Coast has gotten all winter long.

You live in Chicago right? i have heard you are in for it.. Not as much as we are getting.. I am so over it...

 

[DONTMINDME]

Those pics look just like mine from last winter we got 3 majors all over 18 in and 2 were within week of each other it was the winter from _____ well you know where, this year we hardly got any but I'm still ready for it to be over! Sping here we come. Disney Here we come i'm sooo ready. Just stay safe and sneak in a snowball fight with Logan!

 

[AKL LOVER]

My 6 year old would have been content with a few hours at each park and then just hang out at our pool!

OMG, this was completely my daughter last time we went. I was so frustrated! I mean, if all she wanted to do was swim, I could have booked a room at the comfort inn down the street from my house and saved us a bunch of money!! It's so funny how their preferences change from year to year because she was not really interested in swimming the first 2 years we went. I'm hoping she'll be back to her park loving self this time around...



And by golly, if nothing else, those snow pics will get the comments on your PTR flowing again! YIKES! I can't believe how much snow that is...it's ridiculous. If you could send some down here we'd gladly take it. Everything is missing us this year...

 

[purplepixiedust]

OMG, this was completely my daughter last time we went. I was so frustrated! I mean, if all she wanted to do was swim, I could have booked a room at the comfort inn down the street from my house and saved us a bunch of money!! :laughing

My thoughts exactly. It was cute though, he would just sit at the bus stop and ask what time we would be back so we could use the pool?!?! It wasn't even all that warm. My older son who was 8 at teh time would just roll his eyes at him.. He wanted to ride ride ride, and the younger one had fun, but hated all the walking each day. AND we were only at POP, so if we had a fancier themed pool, I can only imagine how much he would have wanted to be there!

 

[loganpaulsmom]

OMG, this was completely my daughter last time we went. I was so frustrated! I mean, if all she wanted to do was swim, I could have booked a room at the comfort inn down the street from my house and saved us a bunch of money!! It's so funny how their preferences change from year to year because she was not really interested in swimming the first 2 years we went. I'm hoping she'll be back to her park loving self this time around...



And by golly, if nothing else, those snow pics will get the comments on your PTR flowing again! YIKES! I can't believe how much snow that is...it's ridiculous. If you could send some down here we'd gladly take it. Everything is missing us this year...

If I sent Logan outside in the backyard the snow would cover him completely. He is 45 inches and we have well over 60 inches.. OMG..

OMG, this was completely my daughter last time we went. I was so frustrated! I mean, if all she wanted to do was swim, I could have booked a room at the comfort inn down the street from my house and saved us a bunch of money!! :laughing

My thoughts exactly. It was cute though, he would just sit at the bus stop and ask what time we would be back so we could use the pool?!?! It wasn't even all that warm. My older son who was 8 at teh time would just roll his eyes at him.. He wanted to ride ride ride, and the younger one had fun, but hated all the walking each day. AND we were only at POP, so if we had a fancier themed pool, I can only imagine how much he would have wanted to be there!

Logan loves the pool too.. but, he LOVES the parks.. I was trying to give us a few days to just relax and not have a plan.. Was even thinking about maybe heading to one of the water parks.. But, I don't know when we will be back and want to spend as much time at the parks as possible!

 

[loganpaulsmom]

So.. we are getting another snow storm on Saturday.. First of all, there is NO where to put it! Second of all, hubby's 40th is this weekend.. and I am having a surprise party for him.. Only 20 people but.... It is still costing me a pretty penny and people are already callng me and saying if its bad out they aren't going to go.. WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.. what is a girl to do.. I would postpone.. but, I am having the party at a friends house.. The next day is the superbowl which everyone already has plans and the week after next people have plans for Valentine's Day.. Not to mention, I don't have a freezer big enough to freeze all the food or his awesome cake that I am having made for him (he loves Dunkin Donuts coffee) so I got a cake made to look like a Dunkin Donuts cup.. I seriously will freak out if no one shows up.. WHAAAAAAAAAAAA.. Ok. off of my soap box now..

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Oh no! Hopefully it will all work out!

 

[loganpaulsmom]

Ok.. So to add insult to injury, my little man woke up yesterday sicker than a dog.. 102..6 fever. Never in his 5 years has he been so sick.. It has kind of screwed up how everything is supposed to go down today for hubby's surprise 40th. he was supposed to go.. But, now with the fever, I don't think its a good idea.. Which, of course means that one of my Inlaws now can't go.. I feel so bad.. But, what can I do.??
Hubby is being really easy about still going out tonight.. I am hoping that he doesn't have a clue.. The whole point is for the surprise..
I have told my little white lie, that I am working all day today.. I am really running around to pick up the food the cake etc and heading to my friends house which is where the party is..
Wish me luck.. It will so good to see old friends and I am crossing my fingers that some Pixie dust gets sprinkled and hubby is SURPRISED..

 

[DONTMINDME]

Sorry Logan is so sick hope he gets well soon, kids are pretty resiliant. Good luck pulling off the surprise, I've never managed to so I'll keep my fingers crossed and add some fairy dust.

 

[loganpaulsmom]

Life has gotten in the way of me continueing to make my Disney Plans.. But, I am hoping after this past weekend, things will finally settle down and now I will be able to just countdown till our big trip.
A couple of things.. This past Saturday was the hubby extraodinaire's 40th Surprise Birthday.. And it was a SURPRISE! I can't believe I pulled it off because everything tht could have happened did.. But.. in the long run, it worked out.. Here are a couple of pictures from the night! And, I bet you all will LOVE the cake

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I'm glad that everything worked out for the party.

 

[loganpaulsmom]

So now that life is back to normal I can once again focus on my trip...

First off:.. We ended up paying for the trip this past Saturday.. We knew when we booked it that we have to put half our trip on a credit card and we would pay the other half in cash. We have 1 credit card that has a very low balance on it and we really only use it for big purchases or emergencies. Well,. I needed to call the company to switch the day that our bill was due, because of husband's pay cycle, when I called they told me they couldn't make any changes to my account because it was "under review".. They would not give me an explanation.. So.. We were afraid that they would cut down our spending limit (which apparently is happening to alot of folks who have high limits but don't use their cards). So, I just went ahead and put it all on the credit card.. NOW.. I can just sit back and relax a bit.. Oh yeah, and bust my butt at work to try and pay it off QUICK!! HAHA

Also.. because I have "paid it off".. I am really thinking about adding the DDXP to the last part of our stay.. I ran the numbers and I totally think that it is worth it.. it ends up being only about an extra $300 for the 4 nights.. And that will allow me to add some signature dining as well as a couple more TS's..
Here is what I was thinking.. (feel free to insert opinions )
Sunday, May 8th, is the end of our DDP and it's moving day to the POLY
I looked over my ADR'S for the first part of the trip and was going to end up paying for 3 dinners OOP.. Well.. if I play my cards right, and I think all this planning will allow me too, I will be able to only pay for 1 dinner OOP and that will because its NOT on DDP (IL MULINO)
So, anyway back to my idea.. Sunday, May 8th I can start my DDXp so instead of our lunch at Le cellier being on the first part of our trip, I will have used all our TS's up and it would then become part of our DDXP.. In total we will have 12 Meals each or 36 meals totalLe Cellier. -3
(thinking of adding another dinner because lunch is at 2:30pm) maybe 8:00 ressies at La Hacienda?) -6Monday. may 9th. (No ressies) thinking of adding a Signature.. But need everyone's help.. Narcoosis?, Flying Fish, Citrico's, California Grille? -12
Tues. May 10th. Crystal palace, Ohana -18
Wed. May 11th. Chef Mickeys, Kona -24
Thurs. May 12th Ohana's -27So as you can see, I still have 9 meals left. (if anyone can run the numbers for me again to make sure I am correct, sometimes I am not the best at math)..
So I think that I will be much better off the add another signature meal but just trying to avoid running from ressie to ressie..
What do you guys think??

 

[loganpaulsmom]

Bueller... Bueller.. Anyone.. Anyone???

 

[loganpaulsmom]

So now that most of the crazieness has gone out of my life.. No more Big Birthday's or Christmas or anything, I think that I can FINALLY start planning the outfits for Disney.. This time, I am being a bit of a PITA as I want us to match on a few occasions and since I do not have a creative part of me at all, that is going to require me spending more money to purchase outfits..
The first thing on the agenda.. I found for my husband and Logan.. Its a black shirt that says PPA (Princess Protection Agency).. I thought it would be so cool if I could be the Princess..
I have a woman who has made me these amazing flip flops before.. I am having her make 2 more pairst his time.. They are fantastic and I get compliments on them ALL THE TIME.. she has does custom clothing and I am going to have her make me a ribbon skirt.. I just need to find someone now who will make a great tinkerbell shirt for me.. LOVE HER..
I also put a bid in on EBAY for a Safari Miickey shirt.. She would then make 1 for hubby and one for Logan, so we can match when we go to AK..
I had an idea of doing a shirt on " what are you celebrating".. We will see if it comes to fruition..
I decided that its too much for me to get something to wear for each day.. Plus, Logan being only 5 more than likely needs 2 outfits a day, thats 18 outfits.. I definitely can't afford to 18 customs, unless I come in to some money.. I will try to post some pictures of what I am looking at after..

Oh, and my girlfriend got her sister a fantastic Swarovski Crystal Mickey Necklace that I LOVE LOVE LOVE.. I have tried googling it, going on Ebay, all the sites that sell Disney jewelry.. and I can't find it.. It must have a been a needle in a haystack.. and now nothing compares.. I was going to surprise myself for Valentines Day..

 

[Jasperann]

I just wanted to let you know that Il Mulino has certificates on Restaurant.com and you can find codes online (a current code is LOVE) to buy a 25.00 certificate for only 2.00 or a 50.00 certificate for 4.00 Which would make your dinner there a little cheaper. There are restrictions and you usually have to spend 20.00 more than what the certificate is worth, but it is easy to do at Il Mulino.

Okay now back to reading your report...

 

[loganpaulsmom]

I just wanted to let you know that Il Mulino has certificates on Restaurant.com and you can find codes online (a current code is LOVE) to buy a 25.00 certificate for only 2.00 or a 50.00 certificate for 4.00 Which would make your dinner there a little cheaper. There are restrictions and you usually have to spend 20.00 more than what the certificate is worth, but it is easy to do at Il Mulino.

Okay now back to reading your report...

I already bought one.. thanks for letting me know.. but I am SO bummed, I didn't know that I could buy a $50 one.. and I know that I can't use 2.. Bummer.. OH WELL..

keep reading.. and let me know what you think

 

[purplepixiedust]

I am back... I have to admit, I got busy a few days after I subscribed to this thread and forgot all about it!! OOPS. But I am back. I am glad you had a good party. SOrry to hear your son has been sick. I am not a real help with all the dining because we haven't had the chance to do sit down dining at Disney yet.

Isn't it funny how you start planning what to wear for your trip?? It is half the fun!

My husband and I are trying to decide on the best time to go next year to Disney. I think we will be going the last week of January or the first week of February. He works outdoors and we live in a colder climate so he would like a break from the weather here. Even if it is 50's in Florida it beats teens to 20's in Pennsylvania!