Our Family's 2nd Trip to Disney World-Pre-Trippie

[3princesses+aprince]

Oh, your movie night sounded very cute!!! I love the blue jello and nemo fruit snacks, very cute!!! I may have to steal that one for when we do Nemo night!

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

Oh, your movie night sounded very cute!!! I love the blue jello and nemo fruit snacks, very cute!!! I may have to steal that one for when we do Nemo night!

Thanks Pam! Definitely try it- it was very easy to make, and it was sooo delicious!!!!!!!

 

[Brave teacher]

It sounded fun even if you didn't care for the dinner. I may need to steal your idea for Disney-themed dinners fro the week leading up to our trip.

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

It sounded fun even if you didn't care for the dinner. I may need to steal your idea for Disney-themed dinners fro the week leading up to our trip.

LOL Megan! Let me know if you need any ideas!!!

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

Is it normal to think about Disney CONSTANTLY? LOL!!!! I mean I get my normal stuff done, and am not slacking on anything, but in any spare moment I get- I think about DISNEY!!!! Ok thats not true, I also think about disney while I am trying to get stuff done!!!!! I even had a dream about SpectroMagic last night- yes one of those crazy disney dreams that make absolutely no sense whatsoever. I had a dream that Bill, Austin, and I and a few others in our family were standing in front of the castle, and none of the lights on the floats would work except the pumpkin carriage. Man was I disappointed!!!!

Anyway, when I was at work today, I was thinking about that darn park hopper pass again. I am thinking that if we choose to add something extra, that is what it would be. I don't think that I want to do MNSSHP. I don't know, my mind may change again- but I have always used the hoppers and I realllyyyyyy like them!!!!!!!! I'll probably just stick with what I know and enjoy the hoppers for 5 days!!!!!

But--- I have been thinking of a few other things to make our vacation as magical and memorable as possible. Here they are:

1) Fly in Monday night as planned- Fly out Sunday afternoon rather than late Saturday night. That way we can enjoy our last full park night and get a good nights sleep. Not sure on this yet. Because Bill has to be into work at 6am Monday morning, so he usually gets to bed by 8 on Sunday nights.

2) Was thinking of making an ADR for a TS restaurant one night for a special dinner. I was looking at Biergarten in Karen's PTR- and that looks awesome. I am a little unsure of the food because I am a chicken when it comes to trying something new!!!! Not sure if I am going to do this either, but I will keep it in mind for a while.

Ok, time to go get some things done around the house, I'll be back on later !!!!!

 

[Charlefours]

Is it normal to think about Disney CONSTANTLY? LOL!!!! I mean I get my normal stuff done, and am not slacking on anything, but in any spare moment I get- I think about DISNEY!!!! Ok thats not true, I also think about disney while I am trying to get stuff done!!!!! I even had a dream about SpectroMagic last night- yes one of those crazy disney dreams that make absolutely no sense whatsoever. I had a dream that Bill, Austin, and I and a few others in our family were standing in front of the castle, and none of the lights on the floats would work except the pumpkin carriage. Man was I disappointed!!!!

Anyway, when I was at work today, I was thinking about that darn park hopper pass again. I am thinking that if we choose to add something extra, that is what it would be. I don't think that I want to do MNSSHP. I don't know, my mind may change again- but I have always used the hoppers and I realllyyyyyy like them!!!!!!!! I'll probably just stick with what I know and enjoy the hoppers for 5 days!!!!!

But--- I have been thinking of a few other things to make our vacation as magical and memorable as possible. Here they are:

1) Fly in Monday night as planned- Fly out Sunday afternoon rather than late Saturday night. That way we can enjoy our last full park night and get a good nights sleep. Not sure on this yet. Because Bill has to be into work at 6am Monday morning, so he usually gets to bed by 8 on Sunday nights.

2) Was thinking of making an ADR for a TS restaurant one night for a special dinner. I was looking at Biergarten in Karen's PTR- and that looks awesome. I am a little unsure of the food because I am a chicken when it comes to trying something new!!!! Not sure if I am going to do this either, but I will keep it in mind for a while.

Ok, time to go get some things done around the house, I'll be back on later !!!!!

of course--who does not think of Disney Biergarten--perhaps it was how I was feeling that night our first go around but I was not happy with the food. The entertainment was nice. If you like German food, you will be fine but for us, we are passing this go around.

PH: the dilemma! you have time to decide. Just keep reminding yourself you have until 45 days out to make changes without penalty.

MNSSHP: I am on the fence too but at this point--I think we are going to go if it is happening when we go like it did this past year. Who knows? We may change our minds too.

 

[Victoriasmom98]

To park hop or not to park hop.......that is the question....... Well, here's my two cents on that one.....I've never had park hoppers, so I don't know what I am missing! I plan for 2 days in each park and I will wait for the park hours to be posted and then make the plans, including ADR's, accordingly. No, Janine....it is not abnormal to think about Disney 24/7. My older brother was talking with me the other day and asked "aren't you Disney'd out by now???" WHAT??!!! ARE YOU INSANE, MAN???? As long as I can afford it, I plan on continuing to go! Ok, so I'm staying with POP, then. I may change the dates, though from going down just Thursday to maybe going down Monday.....it depends on when Peter can get time off of work. He's still working that one out. Now, we need to make sure Pam stays with POP!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Oh, Ann

And no Janine, it's not abnormal to think about Disney ALL the time. Well, maybe it is, but not for this group of people! Hey, there are worse things in life to obsessed with! Am I right????
I think about Disney all of the time, and your doing good if it's not getting in the way of other things. Sometimes I scribble down park schedules and restaurants while I should be doing somebody's yearly review at work And right now, my carpets need to be vacuumed! But, here I sit!!!!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

I keep thinking that one of these days I'm going to get caught at work on the boards instead of going after some dead beat dad's bank accounts.......

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

of course--who does not think of Disney Biergarten--perhaps it was how I was feeling that night our first go around but I was not happy with the food. The entertainment was nice. If you like German food, you will be fine but for us, we are passing this go around.

PH: the dilemma! you have time to decide. Just keep reminding yourself you have until 45 days out to make changes without penalty.

MNSSHP: I am on the fence too but at this point--I think we are going to go if it is happening when we go like it did this past year. Who knows? We may change our minds too.

Thanks for your input on that one Stephanie (Biergarten). It looks like a pretty cool atmosphere- but then again I have never eaten German food. I think we might pass on this one as well.

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

To park hop or not to park hop.......that is the question....... Well, here's my two cents on that one.....I've never had park hoppers, so I don't know what I am missing! I plan for 2 days in each park and I will wait for the park hours to be posted and then make the plans, including ADR's, accordingly. No, Janine....it is not abnormal to think about Disney 24/7. My older brother was talking with me the other day and asked "aren't you Disney'd out by now???" WHAT??!!! ARE YOU INSANE, MAN???? As long as I can afford it, I plan on continuing to go! Ok, so I'm staying with POP, then. I may change the dates, though from going down just Thursday to maybe going down Monday.....it depends on when Peter can get time off of work. He's still working that one out. Now, we need to make sure Pam stays with POP!

I think we can convince Pam to stay at POP. It is so much newer than ASMu and cuter. You are definitely right about the PH's- however, I think once you try them, you have a hard time doing without them . Are you guys doing MNSSHP?

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

Oh, Ann

And no Janine, it's not abnormal to think about Disney ALL the time. Well, maybe it is, but not for this group of people! Hey, there are worse things in life to obsessed with! Am I right????
I think about Disney all of the time, and your doing good if it's not getting in the way of other things. Sometimes I scribble down park schedules and restaurants while I should be doing somebody's yearly review at work And right now, my carpets need to be vacuumed! But, here I sit!!!!

LOL Pam!!!!! I work in accounting, so I am ALWAYS on spreadsheets on Excel. Well, I have a special one that I have created for our trip that I am going to included all of our info for each day on (Park Hours, EMH's, also if we do any ADR's)- so it looks like I am still doing my actual accounting work when I am sitting trying to map out my schedule!!!!! Oh, and I sit and crunch disney vacation numbers on my adding machine, and nobody ever knows the difference as well!!!!! I know, we are terrible. Me with my secret spreadsheets while I should be making sure company bills get paid, you making park schedules while you should be doing reviews (LOL), and Ann DISing on the job. I guess we are all on our way to becoming the "3 unemployed Mouseketeers" aren't we j/k!!!!!!!!

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

I know I should be asleep- but I have been tossing and turning for almost 3 hours, so I decided to DIS. Well, the reason for that is, I came home with a HORRIBLE headache - it was so bad that I picked up McDonald's for dinner, and went to bed afterwards. I had a fever as well , so Bill told me to go lay down and he would take care of everything . So I fell asleep, and my fever must've broke because I woke up around 10pm feeling so much better. The only problem is now I cannot get to sleep .

So I've been thinking- I really need to start cranking out some t-shirts. I am really not sure how many I want to do. Probably more for Austin then for us. I do know that I definitely want the one design with the cartoon airplane and map of WDW that says "We are on our way to Disneyworld"- I want that for the plane ride down. I want an animal print mickey head for me for AK, and I want to do one for Austin for AK too. I think I also want to do a Sorcerer Mickey shirt for Austin for HS. And a found a few other cute DISigns as well. Oh sooooo much to do. But like Pam says, us September go'ers are really at a standstill right now because we can't do anything with planning our schedules until the park hours come out. Same thing with plane tickets- the dates and flight schedules are out for SpiritAir, but I don't want to book yet because they haven't started with the September flight discounts yet. Oh and free dining- I really wish that would just hurry up already!!!!!!

I am still leaning toward the park hoppers at this point- though I am not going to add them to our ressie until later on. MNSSHP, still not sure about. It would be nice to do, but it is not something that I feel like I HAVE to do ya know?

Here is a new one for ya'll- autograph books. Last time we went, we purchased the cute little blue one with all of the characters on it, along with the big chunky mickey pen (they say that characters prefer the chunky pens). Well, Austin probably got under ten autographs and there are still a TON of blank pages left in it. Do you think we should bring that along- or buy a new one so he doesn't get duplicates of ones he already has? I was leaning more towards getting a new one because we will be celebrating his
5th bday there (even though it is two weeks after we get back from wdw), and it said that the characters will write special messages to you if it is your bday. I think that would be so much more special if he had an all new one. Also, I loved Pam's autograph books from her May trip with the foam letter stickers. I actually went to AC Moores a while back and purchased a big thing of the foam letter stickers, a foam notebook with blank cardstock pages in it, and mickey head button scrapbook stickers to decorate with. I don't know if I should just make my own, or buy a new book, and let him use the foam one to collect stickers or something with. You see, I love homemade stuff so I really don't know. Opinions please!!!!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Eww, sorry you weren't feeling good, but glad your better. I was up dising until 1:15am, I got in from work and did not even feel like laying down!

As for the Autograph books, it cost a minimal amount to make them and the kids did get a lot of attention from them and their T-shirts. If your going to use the one from last year, i'd say that would be fine. I know, like mine there must be a ton of pages left. This way it will be an ongoing souvie. I'm using mine again for this trip! I was thinking about making new ones, but though that was silly! As if I don't have enough $$ to dish out this year. Plus I just love the ones I made and so don't the girls. We are going to start off where we left off in May. I'll add a page in there noting the start of a new trip!

So, speaking of shirts. I got to get on mine too. I bought a package of iron on transfers 2 weeks ago at Michaels. I had a coupon so a $10 pkg of 10 only cost me $6.

I want to print some out now, but don't want them to get ruined. So, as soon as I buy my first set of tank tops, I can get to it. That's all i'm missing. I've actually been looking in walmart and target, but nothing yet. The tank tops I bought on walmart.com last year for the girls were perfect, but they of course no longer have those.

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Hey Janine.....I was up last night around the same time. I couldn't sleep. I'm still fighting this darned cold I've had for 3 weeks now. So, I got up and went on the couch......Then the hamster kept running and running in her wheel, which, of course, squeaks, so I couldn't sleep there either!! Then the guinea pigs decided they were going to try to get my attention.....so they started in with their sqealing.......UGH!!! I went online for a bit and then back to bed. Boy, when you have nights like that 6am comes awfully early!!! Here I sit, in my half coma, working. Ok, so not exactly at this very moment, but you know what I mean.

OH NO!! 3 Unemployed Mouseketeers?? I hope not!!! I'm just finally getting back on my feet financially and that would just devastate my whole world. Technically I am on my morning 15 minute break, so I'm in the clear.

As for the autograph book, I'm just using mine from last year. Like everyone has said, there are tons of blank pages left and why buy a new one when that one is perfectly fine. Even if there are repeat autographs, what I'm doing is dating the pages of the ones already in there so I know when this year's autographs start. Victoria will be 12 in 2 weeks so I think my years of getting the characters' autographs are dwindling....

Yes, I am definitely going to MNSSHP! I think that's why I decided to go in September! I love Halloween and to see it Disney style is going to be awesome. I love the idea of trick or treating in the MK! I made up special bags for Victoria and I to collect our candy in!

Don't you just love Excell spreadsheets!! I think I do one for everything in my life. I have my household budgets, wedding budget, and Disney budget all planned out on seperate ones.

 

[Charlefours]

I WANT SEPTEMBER HOURS OUT TOO!!

My TA said they should be out mid month. Hoping they are out in the next week or two!!

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

Eww, sorry you weren't feeling good, but glad your better. I was up dising until 1:15am, I got in from work and did not even feel like laying down!

As for the Autograph books, it cost a minimal amount to make them and the kids did get a lot of attention from them and their T-shirts. If your going to use the one from last year, i'd say that would be fine. I know, like mine there must be a ton of pages left. This way it will be an ongoing souvie. I'm using mine again for this trip! I was thinking about making new ones, but though that was silly! As if I don't have enough $$ to dish out this year. Plus I just love the ones I made and so don't the girls. We are going to start off where we left off in May. I'll add a page in there noting the start of a new trip!

So, speaking of shirts. I got to get on mine too. I bought a package of iron on transfers 2 weeks ago at Michaels. I had a coupon so a $10 pkg of 10 only cost me $6.

I want to print some out now, but don't want them to get ruined. So, as soon as I buy my first set of tank tops, I can get to it. That's all i'm missing. I've actually been looking in walmart and target, but nothing yet. The tank tops I bought on walmart.com last year for the girls were perfect, but they of course no longer have those.

I think I agree and will probably keep the same book. No use spending the extra $$$ with all of the empty pages we have!!!

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

Hey Janine.....I was up last night around the same time. I couldn't sleep. I'm still fighting this darned cold I've had for 3 weeks now. So, I got up and went on the couch......Then the hamster kept running and running in her wheel, which, of course, squeaks, so I couldn't sleep there either!! Then the guinea pigs decided they were going to try to get my attention.....so they started in with their sqealing.......UGH!!! I went online for a bit and then back to bed. Boy, when you have nights like that 6am comes awfully early!!! Here I sit, in my half coma, working. Ok, so not exactly at this very moment, but you know what I mean.

OH NO!! 3 Unemployed Mouseketeers?? I hope not!!! I'm just finally getting back on my feet financially and that would just devastate my whole world. Technically I am on my morning 15 minute break, so I'm in the clear.

As for the autograph book, I'm just using mine from last year. Like everyone has said, there are tons of blank pages left and why buy a new one when that one is perfectly fine. Even if there are repeat autographs, what I'm doing is dating the pages of the ones already in there so I know when this year's autographs start. Victoria will be 12 in 2 weeks so I think my years of getting the characters' autographs are dwindling....

Yes, I am definitely going to MNSSHP! I think that's why I decided to go in September! I love Halloween and to see it Disney style is going to be awesome. I love the idea of trick or treating in the MK! I made up special bags for Victoria and I to collect our candy in!

Don't you just love Excell spreadsheets!! I think I do one for everything in my life. I have my household budgets, wedding budget, and Disney budget all planned out on seperate ones.

I do love my spreadsheets in Excel . I do think that I am definitely going to use the old Autograph book, and probably date it like you and Pam.

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

I WANT SEPTEMBER HOURS OUT TOO!!

My TA said they should be out mid month. Hoping they are out in the next week or two!!

That is great to know Stephanie!!!!! It will make things soooo much more convenient once they are out- and then watch out world- the real planning begins!!! If only that darn free dining would come out already!!!

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

So here I sit in bed on my laptop with Austin in bed with me. We are at the start of a very dangerous blizzard, and Bill elected to stay at work overnight (he works at a local casino, so they put him up in a room overnight) so he did not have to worry about driving in tomorrow. He is getting paid round the clock (even for sleeping!), so even though I am going to like the extra $$$$, I still hope is is home safely by tomorrow night. We are supposed to get anywhere from 12 to 24 inches of snow with winds 60-70 mph. I really don't like being in my house without him overnight, but I guess I can get through the night. My mom and stepdad live about 5 minutes down the road, and my dad and stepmom live right down the street. My dad will plow my driveway in the morning- but I am still going to be stuck in here all weekend. Bill, Austin, and I went grocery shopping last night and Shoprite was a madhouse !!! But we got everything we needed, I just wish he were here with me. They have already issued a state of emergency for the state of Maryland (who is really getting pounded by this storm right now), so it is only a matter of time before they issue one here in NJ. The snow actually didn't start till about 6pm tonight, we already got a few inches or so, but we are supposed to get around 3 inches an hour. So please all my dis buddies, say a prayer for me, my Aussie, and my cat (Dory)!!!!!