Ok, I actually got onto the DIS because of the trip reports, so I decided to try my hand at writing one myself. I know what you're saying: "But...but..but...you're so NEW here!! What do you mean you got here because of the TRs?!" Ok, you wanna know the truth? A "friend" on a non-disney board directed me to Twinkiemama's and Utahmama's TRs as examples of how I should write my debrief after I come home. She apparently decided this AFTER she realised she hadn't done enough Kegels to read their reports safely (I must agree with that sentiment). I am not so blessed in the writing-abilities department, but she bribed me with fabric, so here I am. (anything for 5 yeard of cheater fabric!!) 
OK! Trip report! Right.
Where we are staying: AKL
When we are going: May 5-12, 2007
More importantly:
When we made our decision to go to WDW: April 14, 2007. I gave myself 21 days to obsess about going somewhere I knew almost NOTHING about....but it was the tax refund (that's almost like not paying for it, right?? RIGHT???), and we got CHEAP flights, AND DS starts Kindergarten in the fall
, so we decided "what the heck!" Now, it's more like "WHAT WERE WE THINKING!?!?!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
People going on said trip (I will steal the idea to list myself last...maybe I'll come up with something to describe me that sounds cooler than I actually am...kind of like a DIS resume..hmmm):
DH (33) - the ALPHA geek. Tall, PALE to the point of making vampires look tan, thick glasses, cute little beard, intelligent-yet spacey expression on his face. SOOO sexy (hey, you're talking to a woman used to have a thing for GILES on Buffy), ah yes and addicted to MMORPGs (massive multi-player online role-playing games for those of you whose husbands are normal). His entire input into this trip thus far has been "let's do it!" and "ANOTHER guide book!?! How many of those do you need!?!"
DS4 - LOVES animals. All of them. Wants to be a Vet when he grows up, and has felt this way for two years. Will NOT tire at the Zoo until we go home, which he NEVER wants to do. Intelligent, thoughtful boy who uses his great brain to figure out how to suck his thumb around all obstacles, interventions, and nasty thumb paint tried by his desperate parents...and to point out when mommy and daddy are WRONG (He's on to us already!?).
DD3 - Wants to be a princess or a fairy when she grows up.
rincess: Gets
away with EVERYTHING due to an adorable smile, being able to manipulate big brother with her hands tied behind her back, and having daddy in the palm of her hand. Very social and friendly...and an extreme dare-devil. (MAN is she gonna be ticked she is too short for the rollercoasters!)
Claims her title is "the pink and purple princess", and we must call her that.
OK, on to me (30!!) - The Omega geek. Not your typical-looking SAHM/substitute teacher. Cropped hair, tattoos (eek! run!), a little bit "fluffy", and usually wearing pink. (hmmm...actually I'm a pisces, so maybe I AM typical looking) I have been busted MANY times for the "showing bra strap" faux pas. OK, I know there's no excuse. I'm just a trashy person. Sue me. However, I will add, the last time my midriff saw sunlight was BEFORE I
had 2 c-sections in 12 months..and no one ever gets to see my undershorts.
: .
For everyone in the family BUT me, this is a first trip. I have been to WDW 3 times, the last trip when I was 13 (for my birthday!). So, needless to say, it's been a while.
Oh, another thing about me: I bring preparing for a trip to a whole new and frightening level...however, I REFUSE to schedule my day beyond where to eat and where to go. THis drives DH NUTS. I read 3 bajillion guidebooks for wherever we are going, then don't plan to actually DO any of it. I just like to know what my options are, wha thte associated stories of attractions and such are (like George on POC) and whether or not other people liked something and why/why not. DH says I do this to sound like a college tour guide, and just want to be a know-it-all...Ok, that too.
*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The night I made the reservation, I made as many ADRs as humanly possible. (thank goodness for unlimited long distance!).
So, we are going to:
Boma
Akershus Storybook Princess dining (couldn't get CRT on short notice...I'm dumb)
Sci-fi (DH is in love with sci-fi anything and I love to indulge him)
Victoria and Albert's
Chef Mickey's breakfast
Crystal Palace
Coral Reef (for DS)
Flying Fish Cafe
Jiko
Fulton's Crab House
Hmmmm....can you tell we like seafood??? MMMM...seeeeafoooooood.....
Other things we have planned:
Cirque du Soliel
Illuminations cruise
Our entire itinerary (if it can even be called that) consists of a list of our ADRs, and which park we have planned for which morning/evening. We are not planning on using any of the touring guides from any of the guide books I bought (*GASP!* Blasphemy!!), but I did jot down some suggestions on what to do when and orders. I know, I know. I'm SUcH a rebel (NOT!).
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Other plans....WARNING: Self-congratulating coming up!
OK, I had one idea (totally ripped off of the DIS). I went on eBay and bought a bunch of disney-themed summer clothes, and some custom princess dresses. I filled out the rest of the week's worth of clothing embroidering blank tee-shirts and pairing them with jeans shorts. I even got new disney themed undies for the kiddos (none for me...*pout*). The outfits don't match one another or the parents, but they are all Disney-themed. I then went to the local Disney Store and bought some figurine packs. I broke up the packs and got out ziploc bags for every day for each child. I put an
outfit and a figurine into each ziploc bag, sealed them and then wrapped them in cheap wrapping paper. I am still trying to think of cute sayings to write on my computer and print up on the computer in "disney' font. I plan on having a package waiting at the foot of the bed for each kid every morning. We will tell the kids the outfits and toys are a present from Mickey, and he must have left it while they were sleeping. This way, they have great outfits and a toy for the parks, and we can try to diffuse the "buy me this, mommy!!" argument with "but, Mickey just GAVE you a toy this morning!!" well, it's worth a try, anyway! I even managed to sell DH on this idea, and not get in trouble for the extraneous eBay buying. Go me!!
ADDED BONUS: No children "unpacking" for me by chucking their clothes all over the floor! Woohoo!
I Borrowed (stole) the ideas of packing a bag with snacks for kiddos (and MOMMIES!) then having a nice empty bag for purchases on the way home. We also got a refillable water bottle for the parks, and will probabyl get the refill mug (functional souvenier!!). We have a digital camera and my laptop for uploading pics. I read the DIS and take NOTES. I am such a geek. I have a small carryon which will carry swimsuits, jammies, toiletries, all of my bras (TMI??), and a change of clothes for everyone...just in case...Dh and I learned the HARD way to have a change of clothes available for all young family members, POTTY TRAINED OR NOT on hand for flights and airports...(Yes, I too have a "poop of ___" story. Mine is the Poop of 2006...aka Child clad only in father's undershirt attacks Phoenix airport!)...
Added Bonus: visible clothes to add to surprise outfits later!!
I also plan on wearing cargoes (GAH! I'll be a sneaker GEEK!). I may show my bra straps to all who look at me, but I don't show them my knees! HA!
I also have a track record for leaving my purse places....restaurants, casinos, broadway shows, trains, etc. So we have decided it is in my best interest NOT to carry a purse or any other bag at all. I will be condensing all carrying to cargo packets.
ADDED BONUS: No bag checks at parks! Woohoo!
Ok, That's all I have to share. Any and all suggestions and tips are welcomed!! SO GLAD TO BE HERE!! PEACE!
OK! Trip report! Right.
Where we are staying: AKL
When we are going: May 5-12, 2007
More importantly:
When we made our decision to go to WDW: April 14, 2007. I gave myself 21 days to obsess about going somewhere I knew almost NOTHING about....but it was the tax refund (that's almost like not paying for it, right?? RIGHT???), and we got CHEAP flights, AND DS starts Kindergarten in the fall
, so we decided "what the heck!" Now, it's more like "WHAT WERE WE THINKING!?!?!" ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
People going on said trip (I will steal the idea to list myself last...maybe I'll come up with something to describe me that sounds cooler than I actually am...kind of like a DIS resume..hmmm):
DH (33) - the ALPHA geek. Tall, PALE to the point of making vampires look tan, thick glasses, cute little beard, intelligent-yet spacey expression on his face. SOOO sexy (hey, you're talking to a woman used to have a thing for GILES on Buffy), ah yes and addicted to MMORPGs (massive multi-player online role-playing games for those of you whose husbands are normal). His entire input into this trip thus far has been "let's do it!" and "ANOTHER guide book!?! How many of those do you need!?!"
DS4 - LOVES animals. All of them. Wants to be a Vet when he grows up, and has felt this way for two years. Will NOT tire at the Zoo until we go home, which he NEVER wants to do. Intelligent, thoughtful boy who uses his great brain to figure out how to suck his thumb around all obstacles, interventions, and nasty thumb paint tried by his desperate parents...and to point out when mommy and daddy are WRONG (He's on to us already!?).
DD3 - Wants to be a princess or a fairy when she grows up.
rincess: Gets away with EVERYTHING due to an adorable smile, being able to manipulate big brother with her hands tied behind her back, and having daddy in the palm of her hand. Very social and friendly...and an extreme dare-devil. (MAN is she gonna be ticked she is too short for the rollercoasters!)
Claims her title is "the pink and purple princess", and we must call her that.OK, on to me (30!!) - The Omega geek. Not your typical-looking SAHM/substitute teacher. Cropped hair, tattoos (eek! run!), a little bit "fluffy", and usually wearing pink. (hmmm...actually I'm a pisces, so maybe I AM typical looking) I have been busted MANY times for the "showing bra strap" faux pas. OK, I know there's no excuse. I'm just a trashy person. Sue me. However, I will add, the last time my midriff saw sunlight was BEFORE I
had 2 c-sections in 12 months..and no one ever gets to see my undershorts.
: . For everyone in the family BUT me, this is a first trip. I have been to WDW 3 times, the last trip when I was 13 (for my birthday!). So, needless to say, it's been a while.
Oh, another thing about me: I bring preparing for a trip to a whole new and frightening level...however, I REFUSE to schedule my day beyond where to eat and where to go. THis drives DH NUTS. I read 3 bajillion guidebooks for wherever we are going, then don't plan to actually DO any of it. I just like to know what my options are, wha thte associated stories of attractions and such are (like George on POC) and whether or not other people liked something and why/why not. DH says I do this to sound like a college tour guide, and just want to be a know-it-all...Ok, that too.
*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The night I made the reservation, I made as many ADRs as humanly possible. (thank goodness for unlimited long distance!).
So, we are going to:
Boma
Akershus Storybook Princess dining (couldn't get CRT on short notice...I'm dumb)
Sci-fi (DH is in love with sci-fi anything and I love to indulge him)
Victoria and Albert's
Chef Mickey's breakfast
Crystal Palace
Coral Reef (for DS)
Flying Fish Cafe
Jiko
Fulton's Crab House
Hmmmm....can you tell we like seafood??? MMMM...seeeeafoooooood.....
Other things we have planned:
Cirque du Soliel
Illuminations cruise
Our entire itinerary (if it can even be called that) consists of a list of our ADRs, and which park we have planned for which morning/evening. We are not planning on using any of the touring guides from any of the guide books I bought (*GASP!* Blasphemy!!), but I did jot down some suggestions on what to do when and orders. I know, I know. I'm SUcH a rebel (NOT!).
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Other plans....WARNING: Self-congratulating coming up!
OK, I had one idea (totally ripped off of the DIS). I went on eBay and bought a bunch of disney-themed summer clothes, and some custom princess dresses. I filled out the rest of the week's worth of clothing embroidering blank tee-shirts and pairing them with jeans shorts. I even got new disney themed undies for the kiddos (none for me...*pout*). The outfits don't match one another or the parents, but they are all Disney-themed. I then went to the local Disney Store and bought some figurine packs. I broke up the packs and got out ziploc bags for every day for each child. I put an
outfit and a figurine into each ziploc bag, sealed them and then wrapped them in cheap wrapping paper. I am still trying to think of cute sayings to write on my computer and print up on the computer in "disney' font. I plan on having a package waiting at the foot of the bed for each kid every morning. We will tell the kids the outfits and toys are a present from Mickey, and he must have left it while they were sleeping. This way, they have great outfits and a toy for the parks, and we can try to diffuse the "buy me this, mommy!!" argument with "but, Mickey just GAVE you a toy this morning!!" well, it's worth a try, anyway! I even managed to sell DH on this idea, and not get in trouble for the extraneous eBay buying. Go me!!
ADDED BONUS: No children "unpacking" for me by chucking their clothes all over the floor! Woohoo!
I Borrowed (stole) the ideas of packing a bag with snacks for kiddos (and MOMMIES!) then having a nice empty bag for purchases on the way home. We also got a refillable water bottle for the parks, and will probabyl get the refill mug (functional souvenier!!). We have a digital camera and my laptop for uploading pics. I read the DIS and take NOTES.
I am such a geek. I have a small carryon which will carry swimsuits, jammies, toiletries, all of my bras (TMI??), and a change of clothes for everyone...just in case...Dh and I learned the HARD way to have a change of clothes available for all young family members, POTTY TRAINED OR NOT on hand for flights and airports...(Yes, I too have a "poop of ___" story. Mine is the Poop of 2006...aka Child clad only in father's undershirt attacks Phoenix airport!)...Added Bonus: visible clothes to add to surprise outfits later!!
I also plan on wearing cargoes (GAH! I'll be a sneaker GEEK!). I may show my bra straps to all who look at me, but I don't show them my knees! HA!
I also have a track record for leaving my purse places....restaurants, casinos, broadway shows, trains, etc. So we have decided it is in my best interest NOT to carry a purse or any other bag at all. I will be condensing all carrying to cargo packets.ADDED BONUS: No bag checks at parks! Woohoo!
Ok, That's all I have to share. Any and all suggestions and tips are welcomed!! SO GLAD TO BE HERE!! PEACE!
