My Jackson & I are going to MNSSHP becomes...YOU THOUGHT YOU'D LEAVE THE FAMILY HOME! UPDATE 3/22

[collcass]

SO, as you may have already surmised from the title of my Pre-Trip Report, every time I talk to someone about my trip I get the same the conversation is the same
​

Person: I heard you are going to WDW again
Me: Yes
Person: When
Me: October 21
Person: You are taking the kids out of school?
Me: No, they aren't going
Person: You booked a trip to WDW for just yourself & Jackson? Isn't he too young? What do the kids think? What about Cass?
Me: UGGGGGGGGGGGH
​

To be honest, I am already completely sick of hearing about it so rather than telling anyone else, I will just share my planning here.

I guess I should explain my family for everyone to understand.
I am Colleen, 43. I am a part time event planner and a stay at home mom who helps people plan Disney vacations alost daily. Planning vacations makes me happy especially when it helps others enjoy vacations.

My husband, Cass,46, and I have been married for 19 years. He's been in the fire service for 17 years.

Together we have 5 children. We often refer to them as our olders (Sammi, 17 & Sully, 16) & the youngers (Collin,13 & Ethan,11)

Lastly, and starring in his first trip report is our "creamed corn baby", Jackson who just turned 2
(said in a sarcastic manner as Cass oftens tells people Jack will be sitting beside us in the nursing home wiping the creamed corn from our chins since we were older when he surprised us with his arrival

Seriously, though, Jackson literally makes me laugh (and shake my head) at least 100 times per day. We worried quite a bit prior to his arrival how the kids would react to him. I was actually almost 8 months pregnant before we told them because I worried so much. It was all for naught. Each of them adores Jack, My house is ruled by a 2 yr old. we all know it, but he makes us happy so it is what it is

Now that I've introduced us let's get to the details. This trip will only be the 2 of us & it came about for 1 reason:
THIS WINTER IN NEW ENGLAND HAS BEEN MISERABLE

My pinterest boards are a good measure regarding the winter. If it's been cold & snowy, I tend to pin Caribbean vacations, summer haircuts & outfits, and WDW. The year, i probably pinned 100 beaches to one board. LOL
HERE'S PROOF OF OUR YUCKY WINTER (PHOTO TAKEN 3/5)

AND HERE'S ONE FROM EXACTLY A YEAR PRIOR (PHOTO TAKEN 3/5/14)

With four older children, we have extremely busy lives. This winter has been crazy and I really wanted a quick escape in March with Jack to visit family in florida. I began to plan, but came to the realization that Cass would not be able to juggle the spring sports schedule, his work schedule, and the remainder of the extra curricular activities on his own so I gave up on it Then a frieind mentioned something about F&W Festival & it got me to thinking about Fall in WDW & within an hour
I WAS BOOKED

WHEN: OCT 21-27
WHERE: CBR (but I am also considering POFQ or WL)
WHO: Colleen,43 & Jackson,2

Once i remember how to insert photos here, I'll properly introduce you

Thanks for following along with us. I must forewarn you: I am a uber planner. I ask a ton of questions &over analyze the silliest of details, but I also love Disney & thoroughly enjoy almost every aspect of the planning

if you made it this far: ​

 

[collcass]

let me just see if this works: Jackson on his first St Patrick's Day

 

[collcass]

I was rudely woken up by 911 DISPATCH JUST PRIOR TO 3 AM so I am pretty much useless this morning. Despite having a ton of work to do, i am perusing the DIS boards. Before actually accomplishing work this morning I will give you a few updated pictures of Jackson. Throughout the PTR, i might refer to him by different names. He's been given far too many nicknames in his short 2 years, yet we use them all in different situations; the most recent being Jacknado as he literally tears through our house (the snow is three times as deep as he is tall so he hasn't been outside since mid Jan). He is also referred to as 5.0, JTH (Jackson Tate Henry), jack-Jack, cowboy, Action Jackson, and Little Man Tate (Jack's godfather is a huge Golden Tate fan)

his older brother let him have his donut

SLEEPY JACKSON ON THE BUS TO TERMINAL AT DFW

JACKSON'S COUSINS JUST RETURNED FROM WDW 2 WEEKS AGO. HE IS MESMERIZED BY THE SPINNING MICKEY

JUST AFTER HIS 2 YR OLD CHECK UP LAST WEEK.

I doubt Jack will make any of the height requirements this trip which is the one bummer about leaving the crew at home. Last week he was exactly 33 in & 23#. Yes, children grow, but 7 in before October isn't realistic. I am hoping my FIL, who lives on the west coast of Florida, (and thoroughly enjoys WDW especially with his grandchildren) will meet up with me for one of my MK days. At least I would get to ride 7DMT which wasn't open on our last trip in 2013.


​

 

[collcass]

October hours were released. this makes me happy. They changed it up a bit so I have several different itineraries as of now, but will narrow it down prior to end of April when ADR's will be made.

I'm debating several things:
A resort switch: Currently at CBR. Might switch to POFQ OR WL
MNSHHP: 10/22&10/25 or 10/25 ONLY.
DDP vs DxDDP

I am still a bit weary of bringing a toddler by myself which oftens makes me laugh since I didn't think twice bringing the older four by myself

 

[Jackiemarie21]

Hi! I followed you over from my PTR! Cute kids! I look forward to hearing all about your plans! I think a trip with just you and your toddler sounds like great fun and I totally understand it! I also get your not wanting to talk to others about it! I get all the time how we go to Disney too often, we are going to get sick of it, spoiling our kids with it, etc. Its what we love as a family, so don't worry about it! But I haven't even told hardly anyone about this trip for that exact reason! Everyone has an opinion and we know the old saying about that right?

 

[collcass]

Hi! I followed you over from my PTR! Cute kids! I look forward to hearing all about your plans! I think a trip with just you and your toddler sounds like great fun and I totally understand it! I also get your not wanting to talk to others about it! I get all the time how we go to Disney too often, we are going to get sick of it, spoiling our kids with it, etc. Its what we love as a family, so don't worry about it! But I haven't even told hardly anyone about this trip for that exact reason! Everyone has an opinion and we know the old saying about that right?

Thanks for following along, Jackie! I was so excited (even with the mommy guilt) about a trip trip for just Jackson and myself. BEing the youngest of five, we spend far more time running errands, Picking up & dropping up kids from various sports & extra curricular activities, and taken care of other daily chores that we don't actually have a lot of down time together.

That being said.............the trip no longer Jackson and myself. The dates have changed as well. I am not sure how I feel about this; in fact, I am not ready to give up on the trip and will not cancel my existing ressie. I guess I should explain how these changes came about

Up next: Yes, Indeed I booked a trip for the toddler & myself and I AM LEAVING THE rest at home becomes:

Psych....YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE LEAVING US AT HOME!!!

 

[collcass]

Psych....YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE LEAVING US AT HOME!!!

I booked the trip. I began planning. I had several friends who booked trips and am assisting them in their planning so Cass really didn't think much about finding me knee deep in the world of Mickey. (I am an event planner so I do often research online) My Mickey Mail came & though I had a feeling he suspected something was up, he simply said "maybe mickey has a good deal for you" It was all going well. Fast forward to Friday. We had a birthday party to attend for a friend. We head out. Cass' cousin had just arrived. We partake in a few lovely (and much needed) adult beverages. Cass' cousin suddenly blurts out that she'd booked a trip to the world for thanksgiving. I immediately began to question her and get all the juicy details (and correct the mistakes she'd made) when it popped into my head that I was in trouble. I knew. I could simply feel it. I could literally hear the wheels turning in Cass head. My trip was doomed. It would not come to fruition.


Why? We love Thanksgiving. We love traditions, but we've noticed how hectic Turkey day had become. In 2009 we went to the world for thanksgiving. We rented a lovely 6 bdrm home in WH. We did an on site/off site split stay. My aunt & uncle & cousins accompanied us. My FIL came for Turkey day. It was the BEST THANKSGIVING EVER. Every Thanksgiving when the craziness begins, Cass brings up Turkey Day in Florida.

The little voice in my head said another year would go by and I would not visit the world for F&W or have a chance to goto MNSSHP


Instead, we'd be in the world for Thanksgiving!

I need to track down some photos of that last trip. I'm still digesting the trip and attempting to wrap my head around the cost associated with it.

 

[collcass]

Regarding our 2009 trip. It was a surprise. The kids were then 5,7, (turned 11 during trip), and 12. They knew we were going away, but not where we were going. We drove to my parents the night before (we had a very early departure out of LaGuardia. ON the way to my parents, while stuck in a commuter traffic nightmare on 95, Cass came up with some crazy story. We were Flying to Topeka, Kansas. We were then driving to the Thunderidge Turkey Farm where we were going to farm the turkeys for a week and get them ready for thanksgiving. .

We arrived at the airport and sat the kids at the gate adjacent to our actual gate (the olders had already figured it out) I walked to the gate attendent and devised a plan. Just prior to boarding, she called our children over the loud speaker. SHe looked over the counter to them and explained "You are not going to Thunderridge turkey farm, You are going to Disney world"


Collin was ecstatic. sam & SUlly were happy. Ethan, the 5 year old, literally threw himself on the floor screaming. He'd bought Cass' story. He's a creature of habit. He wasn't happy. He wanted to play with turkeys. LAST SURPRISE EVER FOR THAT KID. lol

He calmed down & in the end had a fabulous trip. I found my photos, but photobucket wont let me change the privacy so I can't get them to show up. If anyone knows why, please let me know

 

[Lidian]

Hi mama! I'm here! Sorry that you'll miss out on F&W, but you'll be there for Thanksgiving! That's awesome! I'll be ready to watch for pics of the castle lit up and the other festivities! Crowds aside, I'd much prefer Thanksgiving over October.

 

[collcass]

Hi mama! I'm here! Sorry that you'll miss out on F&W, but you'll be there for Thanksgiving! That's awesome! I'll be ready to watch for pics of the castle lit up and the other festivities! Crowds aside, I'd much prefer Thanksgiving over October.

Thanks! It is a wonderful time of year to be there so I will get excited.

Hoping this link works to the album from our first Thanksgiving trip



EDITED TO ADD: Sorry, I always have problems inserting photos. It was easier to insert the link for the slideshow, but you can scroll through at the bottom of screen after opening the slideshow.

A few notes: the 1st few photos are at LaGuardia and were taken just after they found out we were going to Disney. As previously stated, my middle guy, Collin was excited, while the youngest freaked out. You can't tell from the photo, but he was insanely crying. LOL. The next series is when we arrived at the house;your standard house photos followed by when we met up with some friends with who I had grown up with in CT. Crazy looking kids: COllin decided that year he hated his forehead and refused to have his hair short which is where his surfer dude look came from. Ethan, the youngest, cut his hair at school the day before we left and you will notice a cut above my oldest son's lip. On our first day he was rough housing by the pool. Literally seconds after me scolding him for what he'd just done, he dove in and scraped his face on the bottom
http://s2.photobucket.com/user/collcass/slideshow/Facebook/Disney Thanksgiving 2009

 

[collcass]

And here's the 2nd slideshow.

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/collcass/slideshow/Facebook/Disney B Thanksgiving 2009

 

[Jlopez87]

I'm enjoying reading about your plans. I haven't logged into dis boards in over 5 years but when I searched MNSSHP family pics for costume/outfit ideas, your pic came up and then I couldn't stop reading. I wanted to comment so I had to find my old password and log in

I am in ct. Huge Disney fan. My husband and I have gone to Disney every year since 2008, taking one year off for a Disney cruise and one year off while I was pregnant with our little one

Our last trip was in October 2013. We took our 11mo to MNSSHP! He is two now and we have a trip booked for the end of October (just before he turns 3) to do the party again . It's just the three of us, so unless I want to go on 7dmt myself I won't be riding it for a while (oh how I miss tower of terror)

It was a miserable winter here and Im sure I said, "I wish I could be in Disney RIGHT NOW" about 100x a day!! We planned to go in January of this year so I agreed to skip oct 2014 but then January didn't work out. Then my husband suggested may for the garden festival but that also turns out to not be so good. I told him that if he can't get away from work in October that he should expect that I will still be going with our 2yo lol

I just read the update that you won't be there for MNSSHP but may be going with the whole family for thanksgiving. It will be sad to miss MNSSHP. Maybe mvmcp? .... no matter when you go, no doubt that it will be magical can't wait to read more of your plans.