Oh, Great, Mom's on her Disney kick again - 1st time ptr

[DIS_Indoctrination]

I think your driving plan is great, and I'm sure you won't let the excitement get in the way of safety. If you're tired, a 30 minute nap at a rest area can do wonders.

Even if everything doesn't go as planned you have plenty of wiggle room with your arrival time. I'd make sure the longer breaks are someplace everyone can stretch their legs, grassy rest area, a park or an elementary school that isn't in session. My friend keeps a tube of tennis balls in her car for long trips & then get the kids to toss them & chase them whenever they take a break.

 

[2princesses2princes]

I just found out I am going on a mini vacation this weekend. I am a bit nervous but should give me some good practice for our trip in February. My baby brother moved to NC in May, and I miss him so much. My mom, husband and I are going to go visit this weekend. I am so excited, but I hope my kids will forgive me for leaving them with my inlaws for the weekend. This way I can get a feel though too for when we bring the 4 kiddos to visit their Uncle and soon to be Aunt.

 

[20thingamabobs]

How exciting you get a mini vacation this weekend! I sure hope NC is getting warmer/nicer weather than this gross weather we've been getting here farther North... it's just cold and rainy and gross...

 

[Simba22]

Not sure if you know this (you probably do but you didn't mention it), you can only get Tonga Toast at Kona Cafe which is a TS restaurant at the Poly. We planned our breakfast there on a MK day, so that we could take the bus to MK then just hop on the monorail to get to the Poly and then back to MK. Nice and easy! And I didn't suffer from a sugar crash after eating it! For most people, myself included, you actually stay pretty full all day after eating it!

 

[20thingamabobs]

Not sure if you know this (you probably do but you didn't mention it), you can only get Tonga Toast at Kona Cafe which is a TS restaurant at the Poly. We planned our breakfast there on a MK day, so that we could take the bus to MK then just hop on the monorail to get to the Poly and then back to MK. Nice and easy! And I didn't suffer from a sugar crash after eating it! For most people, myself included, you actually stay pretty full all day after eating it!

I'm not sure when the last time you went was but when we stayed at the Poly in April 2010 I got Tonga Toast at Captain Cooks which is there counter service place. I got it one morning for breakfast before we headed out to the parks. And I just double checked Allears.net to make sure things hadn't changed. They updated their menu Sept 2010 and it still lists Tonga Toast:

http://allears.net/menu/menu_chh.htm

I just didn't want you thinking you need to make an extra ADR at Kona cafe if you don't want to. You can definitely just do a quick service at Captain Cook's and get Tonga Toast if you don't want the sit down meal at Kona.

 

[2princesses2princes]

I'm not sure when the last time you went was but when we stayed at the Poly in April 2010 I got Tonga Toast at Captain Cooks which is there counter service place. I got it one morning for breakfast before we headed out to the parks. And I just double checked Allears.net to make sure things hadn't changed. They updated their menu Sept 2010 and it still lists Tonga Toast:

http://allears.net/menu/menu_chh.htm

I just didn't want you thinking you need to make an extra ADR at Kona cafe if you don't want to. You can definitely just do a quick service at Captain Cook's and get Tonga Toast if you don't want the sit down meal at Kona.

You know what's funny? I was just looking up the recipe for Tonga Toast when I got the email notice for you posting this. Thanks for the tip on Captain Cooks, we are trying to figure out how to fit that in, with disney transportation and wanting to be at rope drop each morning.

 

[2princesses2princes]

I think your driving plan is great, and I'm sure you won't let the excitement get in the way of safety. If you're tired, a 30 minute nap at a rest area can do wonders.

Even if everything doesn't go as planned you have plenty of wiggle room with your arrival time. I'd make sure the longer breaks are someplace everyone can stretch their legs, grassy rest area, a park or an elementary school that isn't in session. My friend keeps a tube of tennis balls in her car for long trips & then get the kids to toss them & chase them whenever they take a break.

After a lot of thinking I have decided to make a hotel reservation, and if we dont' need it I'll call and cancel. I just want that option just in case. I don't want to put us at risk if we are getting too tired. Plus starting out vacation with absolutely no sleep might not be wise either.

As for the tennis balls, I thought about frisbees too, but tennis balls is a great idea. Something small enough. I hope the weather cooperates for us.

 

[2princesses2princes]

Finally told the kids that we are going away this weekend and they are staying home with Nanna and Boppa (my inlaws). My oldest got really teary eyed when she found out we were going to visit my brother and his fiance'. I wish we could have taken them, but not for this short of a trip. They will see them for Christmas and then when we got to Disney in February we plan on stopping there on the way back.

So I am trying to figure out how on earth I am going to handle driving to disney. This is the true test this weekend. We'll be driving 24+hrs between Friday and Sunday. Getting to Disney from here is about 22hrs. Anyway, I have been a cleaning freak, trying to get my house cleaned up for the inlaws to come and stay. They are not super clean people, but I want my house clean for them. Gives me an excuse to get the hubbys help too.

My inlaws agreed to come stay friday through sunday with the kids but couldn't be there thursday night due to mother inlaw's work. so i got my "niece" to come stay tonight with them until the inlaws arrive tomorrow. well today i found out my mother inlaw does not have to work tomorrow but my father inlaw is being a pain about coming earlier. it would so make my life easier, i could go to bed earlier tonight, and not have to worry about my niece getting the kids up and on the bus on time.

So for now here's

Tonight's agenda

3pm get out of work (suppose to be 5pm sneaking out early)
Go grocery shopping
Work on cleaning and laundry
5:30pm pick up mom to go get rental car
7pm home and finish cleaning/packing/make and eat dinner on my own dan will be gone at a meeting fomr 7 til 10
8:30 get kids ready and in bed, get their snacks, clothes and backpacks ready for tomorrow
9:30 be in bed (i know i am dreaming on this one, but it's my goal, pray i meet it)
3:30am up and att'm,
4:00am hit the road, oh wait pick up mom then hit the road

 

[hollybearsmom]

travel safely!

 

[mreid1974]

Hello!!! Im here to join you in your planning!!! most of the resturants you are doing i have yet to do.. We have done Chef Mickeys everytime we go.. Im interested in seeing how you like the other resturants. We are talking about going in August 11 for Free dining and stay at POR for the first time!!

 

[20thingamabobs]

Have a safe and fun trip! And good luck getting to bed early tonight!

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

Just wanted to let you know that I was still here!

I love that yall are doing Chef Mickey's on your arrival night. We always try to do that, too!

 

[PrincessOliviasMom]

Just found your PTR and I’m here to offer my 2 cents worth …

We have always wanted to try another breakfast location but never wanted to compromise park time. Where would you recommend for our last morning, the day we leave?

We’ve done both the Lilo/Stitch breakfast at the Polynesian and the character breakfast at 1900 Park Fare. Both were really good but we enjoyed the Polynesian more for breakfast because it is served family style. They also have a “parade” with Mickey where the kids follow him around with fun music playing. The 1900 Park Fare breakfast was good but the characters are kind of a hodge-podge mix. We do, however LOVE Park Fare for dinner with Cinderella, the Prince, Lady Tremaine & the stepsisters.

We have never driven to Disney or around Disney, always flew and used resort transportation. That was the plan for this trip, well drive down but then park for the week. However I am finding a few things I would love to do that might be easier if we drive.

We’ve done both – fly and drive (from WI). The flying is definitely a faster mode of transportation but we quickly found that we could pack so much more if we drove without having to worry about baggage fees, etc. We also realized that driving to/from the parks is usually quicker than waiting for the buses.

There were times when we’d hit a park earlier in the day and take a break mid-way through and then go back to the park. When we did this, we’d leave the car in the parking lot of the park to save our “good spot” and just take the bus back and forth for our break. It works out well!

With that said, I would never balk at flying and I would certainly never rent a car just to drive to/from the parks.

Our girls (ages 3 & 5 on the first drive and 4 & 6 on the second drive) did GREAT in the car. Just bring lots to keep them busy. My husband and I would switch driving every tank of gas or so. I won’t lie – we were tired by the time we got there but not too tired to appreciate Disney!

Well yesterday my ever so out spoken when it comes to Disney 8yr old son informed me that he does not want to know when we are going. I am not sure how it got brought up to be honest, but he was very clear that he does NOT want to know until the day we leave and he figures it out.

We’ve done surprises for the kids to let them know about upcoming trips and they’ve loved it. Last year we went with 2 other families (and we all drove). But, 1 week before we left, we did a huge scavenger hunt in our yard. The kids had to follow clues to find envelopes and when they found all the envelopes they had to line up from youngest to oldest (7 kids total) and open their envelopes. Each envelope had 2 pieces of cardstock – the red ones spelled out “DISNEY!” and the yellow ones spelled out “In 7 Days”. So we had the kids all hold their red cards out first (and the parents, of course, took pictures) and then they held up the yellow cards. You should’ve heard the hootin’ and hollerin’ when it finally clicked. Then, they had a few more clues to find the treasures. We had given each kid a Disney bag filled with a Disney journal, autograph books, Mickey tie-dye shirts and all sorts of other smaller trinkets. Then we had Mickey ice cream cake from Dairy Queen after the hysteria calmed down a bit. They STILL talk about how cool the treasure hunt was. The kids truly loved to be surprised in that way. Not quite the same as finding out the day that you leave but still fun!

Have fun planning for you and your family!

 

[2princesses2princes]

Just found your PTR and I’m here to offer my 2 cents worth …


We’ve done both the Lilo/Stitch breakfast at the Polynesian and the character breakfast at 1900 Park Fare. Both were really good but we enjoyed the Polynesian more for breakfast because it is served family style. They also have a “parade” with Mickey where the kids follow him around with fun music playing. The 1900 Park Fare breakfast was good but the characters are kind of a hodge-podge mix. We do, however LOVE Park Fare for dinner with Cinderella, the Prince, Lady Tremaine & the stepsisters.


We’ve done both – fly and drive (from WI). The flying is definitely a faster mode of transportation but we quickly found that we could pack so much more if we drove without having to worry about baggage fees, etc. We also realized that driving to/from the parks is usually quicker than waiting for the buses.

There were times when we’d hit a park earlier in the day and take a break mid-way through and then go back to the park. When we did this, we’d leave the car in the parking lot of the park to save our “good spot” and just take the bus back and forth for our break. It works out well!

With that said, I would never balk at flying and I would certainly never rent a car just to drive to/from the parks.

Our girls (ages 3 & 5 on the first drive and 4 & 6 on the second drive) did GREAT in the car. Just bring lots to keep them busy. My husband and I would switch driving every tank of gas or so. I won’t lie – we were tired by the time we got there but not too tired to appreciate Disney!


We’ve done surprises for the kids to let them know about upcoming trips and they’ve loved it. Last year we went with 2 other families (and we all drove). But, 1 week before we left, we did a huge scavenger hunt in our yard. The kids had to follow clues to find envelopes and when they found all the envelopes they had to line up from youngest to oldest (7 kids total) and open their envelopes. Each envelope had 2 pieces of cardstock – the red ones spelled out “DISNEY!” and the yellow ones spelled out “In 7 Days”. So we had the kids all hold their red cards out first (and the parents, of course, took pictures) and then they held up the yellow cards. You should’ve heard the hootin’ and hollerin’ when it finally clicked. Then, they had a few more clues to find the treasures. We had given each kid a Disney bag filled with a Disney journal, autograph books, Mickey tie-dye shirts and all sorts of other smaller trinkets. Then we had Mickey ice cream cake from Dairy Queen after the hysteria calmed down a bit. They STILL talk about how cool the treasure hunt was. The kids truly loved to be surprised in that way. Not quite the same as finding out the day that you leave but still fun!

Have fun planning for you and your family!

I would love to do something like that, and I have been planning like crazy, but now with my 8yr old making his statement that he absolutely does not want to know before the day we leave my hands are tied. How can I take that away from him now? I just hope it's as exciting for the other 3 to wait. I just don't know. I'd rather tell them at least a week before, it's still a surprise. I will keep working on him and maybe he'll crack at least a little for me. (Then they can help pack too)

 

[2princesses2princes]

Just wanted to let you know that I was still here!

I love that yall are doing Chef Mickey's on your arrival night. We always try to do that, too!

There is just something so magical about starting out at Chef Mickey's. I love that we can get a glimpse of Epcot and MK all in that first night, but not actually go into the parks.

 

[Simba22]

I'm not sure when the last time you went was but when we stayed at the Poly in April 2010 I got Tonga Toast at Captain Cooks which is there counter service place. I got it one morning for breakfast before we headed out to the parks. And I just double checked Allears.net to make sure things hadn't changed. They updated their menu Sept 2010 and it still lists Tonga Toast:

http://allears.net/menu/menu_chh.htm

I just didn't want you thinking you need to make an extra ADR at Kona cafe if you don't want to. You can definitely just do a quick service at Captain Cook's and get Tonga Toast if you don't want the sit down meal at Kona.

Sadly, I've never been able to afford a stay at the Poly so I didn't know that! Thanks for the info!

 

[Simba22]

We’ve done surprises for the kids to let them know about upcoming trips and they’ve loved it. Last year we went with 2 other families (and we all drove). But, 1 week before we left, we did a huge scavenger hunt in our yard. The kids had to follow clues to find envelopes and when they found all the envelopes they had to line up from youngest to oldest (7 kids total) and open their envelopes. Each envelope had 2 pieces of cardstock – the red ones spelled out “DISNEY!” and the yellow ones spelled out “In 7 Days”. So we had the kids all hold their red cards out first (and the parents, of course, took pictures) and then they held up the yellow cards. You should’ve heard the hootin’ and hollerin’ when it finally clicked. Then, they had a few more clues to find the treasures. We had given each kid a Disney bag filled with a Disney journal, autograph books, Mickey tie-dye shirts and all sorts of other smaller trinkets. Then we had Mickey ice cream cake from Dairy Queen after the hysteria calmed down a bit. They STILL talk about how cool the treasure hunt was. The kids truly loved to be surprised in that way. Not quite the same as finding out the day that you leave but still fun!

That is a GREAT idea! You all must have had so much fun with that! How cool!

I would love to do something like that, and I have been planning like crazy, but now with my 8yr old making his statement that he absolutely does not want to know before the day we leave my hands are tied. How can I take that away from him now? I just hope it's as exciting for the other 3 to wait. I just don't know. I'd rather tell them at least a week before, it's still a surprise. I will keep working on him and maybe he'll crack at least a little for me. (Then they can help pack too)

I still say you should tell them to pack their suitcases because you're going on vacation but tell them it's somewhere boring. Somewhere you know they will argue with you about going! Tell them you're going to a really old city, like Colonial Williamsburg or something and that you'll be touring museums and libraries

 

[DIS_Indoctrination]

Hope you're having a great non-disney trip.

 

[2princesses2princes]

We made it safely, just got to my brother's house about a half hour ago. It was soooo beautiful driving through the rocky mountains. I have never been in the mountains aside from one time in southern california. We are planning on leaving her Sunday morning to head home, however my brother's fiance' is begging for us to stay til Monday morning. We'll see.

 

[lyncecelia]

Wow, wanting to drive with 4 kids! That's very brave of you! I know my DBF's kids (4 as well) gets antsy sitting in the car for an hour to drive from their mom's house to ours. I can't imagine doing it for 22 hours!

If we ever have to drive halfway across the country, I'm insisting on an RV then we can explore and they can have their space and not be stuck in a seat. (We're hoping to do this from NH to Disneyland one day actually) Lol.

I would definitely suggest though dividing the drive in half. Growing up my sister and I were on tons of car trips from FL to VA. If we didn't have that break at night, we would've killed each other (that is, of course, if our parents didn't kill us first). But we get along otherwise.

Can't wait to read more! And enjoy NC!

Oh and I understand the whole "some PTR get more readers than others" it's discouraging but I'm reading!