Our first trip to Disney at Christmas - the plan so far

[bellasmommy0]

Just had a look at the Crocs site, I love the HSM ones They're a good mix between the pink Minnie Janes and the brown ones. I may get some sandals/flip flop things too, I wish they would do Disney versions of all the styles I almost feel like I'm being unfaithful for looking at the non-Disney ones - maybe there is something in the water/some subliminal message when you're at WDW not that I'm complaining, esp. if DH gets the bug too

I also want to get some straps for my old Crocs, I have some Jibbitz (and I just saw the cuties ones they do ) but as the holes are too big I wasn't sure what to do with them

When you decide what to get you will have to let us know. I am hoping to order mine next week!!!!

 

[Becx N Gav]

Right, back on track - need to finish the day by day plan bit

Friday 19th - I'm guessing another late get up and if we have time/nothing better to do we'll go resort hopping and see all the wonderful decorations, I can't wait for this

ADR - Le Cellier (woohoo we got it at 180 + 10 days out ) 7.10pm (which is a nice time, I've heard of people that can only get afternoon ADR's-between 'normal' lunch and dinner times). DH wants to try the Cheese soup, we had some in a restaurant in Vermont and he can't wait to have some again (the F&W portions are so small ) I'm there for the choccie moose
Also it happens to be EMH in Epcot so DH is allowed to have a few drinks Then I guess we'll see where our mood takes us........

Saturday 20th - now DHS has EMH in the morning but is it worth geting up early and all the way there for 1 extra hour I'm thinking if we haven't managed to make Toystory Mania we may do this, but knowing us will set the alarm - hee I love Stitch DH always asks me to turn down the phone vol. - but roll over and go back to sleep again
As we're into our last few days we'll make sure we've done all the things we want to do and bought all the stuff we want to buy and prob just chill a bit

ADR - Captains Grille 5.40pm. DH suggested this one, we've not been there before, I think they may have chicken wings - DH has a thing for his wings, loves em I'll have to keep tally of how many he eats

 

[Becx N Gav]

Sun 21st - oh no, only 2 full days left I hate when it gets to this part of the trip, I just get worried about getting everything packed (hoping it will all fit despite the extra bag we normally bring ), checking out on time, getting to the airport in plenty of time. Not sure why but I'm such a worrier, I worry about most things even those I can't control. I don't let it stop me doing things but it sometimes makes me feel sick to my stomach Anyway, back to the fun still left to be had

So more time to do - whatever really!

ADR - Artists Point 5.50pm. We had a fantastic meal here last year, the server was great and really made our meal special - it was the day after our wedding and DH's Dad (who couldn't make the wedding due to some unfortunate circumstances) had just arrived that afternoon. Our server made such a fuss of us (we had personalised menu's too), he talked to us for hours after we'd eaten and took a bit of stick from my SIL's Plus the food was so gooood It's got a lovely atmosphere too, it's very grand with the high ceilings but still relaxed and informal.

 

[Becx N Gav]

Monday 22nd (almost Christmas ) - we usually don't do much the last day, get up late, pack and take it easy. We'll prob go to see a movie on this day, I'm hoping we'll get to see Toystory 3D (last year we saw Nightmare Before Christmas in 3D ) need to check when it's due out and how long they'll show it for. I loved NBC 3D it was so cool to have things pop out at you however the Cinema was awful (there should be a smiliy throwing up LOL) the floors were so sticky I almost left a croc behind as well as all the trash from (I presume) an earlier movie. Is this normal in American cinemas that they don't get cleaned in between shows? I find it hard to believe. Still can't complain about the price, here we would pay $12 ish (it's just under $2 / £1) and we don't live in a big city which would prob cost more like $18 - $25 - welcome to rip off Britain

ADR - Potobella Yacht Club (or whatever it will be called) 1pm. We think we'll get a DVC discount for this (20%) I can't wait to flash my DVC card - little things eh?

I'm guessing we'll stick with (whatever is left at) DTD, the musicians at Westside are quite entertaining, I just enjoy walking about taking in the atmos I do hope they something good with DTD, it was looking a bit unloved when we were there last year. I think they still need a few adult places but some more restaurants would help aswell. I'm guessing it'll be pretty much a building site when we're there? Not sure how long it would take to open new places

Tuesday 23rd (last day ) - go to be up fairly early as our airline (Virgin Atlantic) has a check in place at DTD but unless you want to wait for ages you need to be there pretty much as it opens. It is very handy (although I wish they would do it at resorts too) but I'm going to slim down my carry on bags as they only just fitted into those tiny lockers near the boat rentals and DH wouldn't leave his laptop in there so we carried it around for ages Then it's just a case of waiting for our lift back to airport I hate saying goodbye, but we're already talking with some friends who may come with us Oct 2009 well you have to have something to look forward to!
We're gonna grab an (Earl of ) sandwich - yummy
Flight home at 7.40pm.

 

[joelp]

YAY!! Pictures . I joked to my husband that I was going to save the pics of the people I knew I woud see and print them out so I could find them, he thought I was CRAZY....hmm maybe I am. I think I will be reading these reports enough I will have your faced memorized.

Good idea!!

Remind me to do that, too ...

 

[joelp]

Guess that means I'm subbing here, too ...

 

[joelp]

OK, here goes our plan so far -

Weds 10th - I'm guessing we'll have a late night so we're gonna get up when ever we feel like it, take it easy the head for AK at some point.

ADR - Jiko AKL 6.20pm. We'll take some more 'dressy' clothes and leave them in a locker, just in case it's really warm and we get all gross

Thurs 11th - again no rush to get going. We'll head to DHS mid-morning mainly because we want to go to the DVC Merry Member Mixer (just outside Int. Gateway near Epcot) and we can walk there (we prefere that to taking the boat and have got there quicker a couple of times ). Then prob back to Epcot for some drinks around the world

ADR - Hollywood & Vine 11am - we've not tried this one yet, we loved the Hollywood Brown Derby last year and we're hoping this will be good too.

We're staying at AKL - so maybe we'll see you on the Arusha Rock the night of the 10th (we'll be going to DHS that afternoon/evening, but it looks to be an early night ... maybe ... you never know ... )

We had lunch at H&V last May 2007 - surprisingly good food!! But very loud and "energetic" ... Nothing at all like the Brown Derby ...

 

[joelp]

Ok on with the show;


Sat 13th - Ah ha, MK here we come (after a late get up) This year as I said earlier I'm on a character stalking mission, we missed so many last year. The queues were long and we missed some by a few minutes got to find my autograph book and chunky pen, I may even keep a tally/score (I feel another spreadsheet coming on).

This is our "goodbye to WDW" day ...

Right now I'm thinking we'll head to the MK for a few hours ... but we may go to Epcot (my former boss is gonna be in WDW the same time and will be headin' to Epcot that day. Plus - its "Tradition!!" - that's where we went on our "goodbye to WDW" day last trip ... ) ... or we could end up at AK ... or - maybe (but not likely) DHS ...

Or - we might just hang out at AKL ...

Decisions ... decisions ...

So - we may see you at MK ... or not ... maybe ...

 

[Becx N Gav]

joelp, thanks for joining I need all the help I can get keeping this thread up and running (as well as a few days off work to write lots of posts )

I hope we do bump into each other, that would be cool Do you have a pic? Or will you be stalking us and scare me to death when you say 'Hi Becky' - that's happened before, once I'd been wearing a name tag for college or training and some joker decided to call me by my name! Also I was doing work experience at college and walked into the staff room, I thought I heard someone mention my old school as I walked past (this was a different city other end of the country) When I went back again this guy turned round and said 'you went to ********* school didn't you?' I was stunned as I didn't recognise him turns out he was in the year above and remembered my face I thought I looked totally different (short hair and glasses) but he still recognised me!

I hope to hear from you again soon

Now what have I got to talk about...........

 

[Becx N Gav]

This is our "goodbye to WDW" day ...

Right now I'm thinking we'll head to the MK for a few hours ... but we may go to Epcot (my former boss is gonna be in WDW the same time and will be headin' to Epcot that day. Plus - its "Tradition!!" - that's where we went on our "goodbye to WDW" day last trip ... ) ... or we could end up at AK ... or - maybe (but not likely) DHS ...

Or - we might just hang out at AKL ...

Decisions ... decisions ...

So - we may see you at MK ... or not ... maybe ...

This sounds like quite a few of our days, we could go here, or there or maybe do this ?!?! But I must say in the past when we've planned exactly where to be at all times it tends to go wrong
We found it hard to leave enough time for travelling/getting through a park and it's so much harder when it's hot.
So this year we're leaving it open and not pushing ourselves, we're already ready for a break (and we've still got just under 4 months to go ).

 

[Becx N Gav]

OK my next distraction will be making a countdown chart day/day from 100 days (we're currently at 112 days).

I'm gonna make a start tonight, I need to find a quick way to make 100 'spots' - I'll see what size punches I have. Then find a large enough sheet of paper to stick 'em on

I'll post a pic when I'm done, not sure how detailed it will be, but it'll keep me occupied

 

[bellasmommy0]

OK my next distraction will be making a countdown chart day/day from 100 days (we're currently at 112 days).

I'm gonna make a start tonight, I need to find a quick way to make 100 'spots' - I'll see what size punches I have. Then find a large enough sheet of paper to stick 'em on

I'll post a pic when I'm done, not sure how detailed it will be, but it'll keep me occupied

That sounds like something I need to do for DD, we did one last year, but I dont remember how far out we started it.

 

[Becx N Gav]

That sounds like something I need to do for DD, we did one last year, but I dont remember how far out we started it.

I guess it depends how large it is. I've found some Christmas gift wrap and an old cereal box. I'm making one that stands up (I just made a stand out of the extra cardboard) as we don't have any spare hooks on the wall (and I don't want to stick it up )

I also found some sticky paper which I'm cutting up using my star shaped punch, it's quite small so hopefully I'll fit all 100 on there (if not I'll do less days ).

What did you do for your one last year? Did you cross off days? I'm wondering about sticking over smaller stars or should I just cross them off? I could also do with another Sharpie (they've only just started selling them here in the UK and you can't get all the colours ) I got a free one but that's it!

I'll post some progression pics tomorrow

 

[Becx N Gav]

OK so here is the ceral box creation (I love recycling things )

Here are the other parts to be stuck on and decorated

I've also made some Christmas decorations to decorate our door/windows at SSR.
I got some good pictures from http://www.printstation.disney.co.uk/index.html

Some I coloured myself, others were already in colour.

I got the Mickey head shapes from one of the boards -our printer doesn't seem to know what lime green is though and it came out a horrible browny green so I then used the shape to make a template to cut out various other colours. The larger Mickey head I took from a colouring in picture from the Disney Print Studio, I just cut out Mickeys head and used that as a template.
I got some flourescent green card (closest I could find to lime green as we don't have Home Depot here ) so I could be recognised as a Diser.

The Print Station also has picture frames so I found some seasonal ones and now it's just a case of decideing which photos to use.


Here are some I coloured and laminated. I'm either going to fix magnetic strip to the back or hang them with fishing line.

These are to be hung up, the ones that look dark are gold but seem to have reflected the flash

 

[Becx N Gav]

Here are the larger heads and our ID cards, we've got one each (although as DH doesn't like to carry a bag I'll have to think of some other way to attach it to him)

Close up on the front of my card, I'm going to write our Dis name in marker pen (just need to borrow one from work) then I'll laminate them.

These are the frames, again once I've picked out the photos I'll laminate them and fix on some magnetic strip

One last one to show support for the Dis and the Podcast

 

[Becx N Gav]

I've also made these, the second was inspired from something someone else posted, I kind of adapted it for us - I wish I knew who posted it as I feel like I should thank them

I need to jazz this one up a bit, maybe use some shaped scissors round the edge.

More stuff to laminate

 

[Becx N Gav]

DH was looking some menus last night and was taken by the Wave breakfast offerings. So he called up today and our itinerary has been updated with the following

ADR - Sat 13th Dec Wave 10.40am

Hopefully we'll enjoy it, the Podcast gave it a good review and the menu does sound good - yummy and healthy all in one

Ah, just realised that will be another review to post when we get back

 

[bellasmommy0]

Looks like a great start, I think I will make DD one out of poster board so we can put it up in her room. I need to go to Home depot and steal me some LGMH to make some tags and such. We should be to page 4 soon.....

 

[joelp]

OK my next distraction will be making a countdown chart day/day from 100 days (we're currently at 112 days).

I'm gonna make a start tonight, I need to find a quick way to make 100 'spots' - I'll see what size punches I have. Then find a large enough sheet of paper to stick 'em on

I'll post a pic when I'm done, not sure how detailed it will be, but it'll keep me occupied

I'm still dealing with months ... "Only 4 months to go!!" doesn't sound that far off ...

At 10 weeks - I plan to start thinking in weeks ... (and panicking [sp?], of course, cuz with only 10 weeks to go, I will have sooooo much to do .... )

Then - when we tell the DD on her birthday and give her the countdown chain ... ... I'll start thinking "days!!!!!"

 

[Alysa]

LOVE the countdown - you are my kind of Disney nut!
Can't wait to see it when it is all done!