Party of 9, 3 generations, from LA to FL... let's geaux!...COMPLETE

[TeaForTulips]

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[TeaForTulips]

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[TeaForTulips]

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[Trista_Daisy]

This looks awesome! I'm so excited! Great job on the pictures, Sister!

 

[arielrebornxoxo]

That eat me cake and drink me cake is a wonderful idea. It has me thinking about baking soon

 

[TeaForTulips]

That eat me cake and drink me cake is a wonderful idea. It has me thinking about baking soon

Hello!! So glad to see a reply!

Thanks so much! I cheated though and did not bake the little Eat Me cakes. I used the little 100 calorie hostess cakes that are pink and wrote on them.

I am baking banana bread right now though!

 

[TeaForTulips]

Since Jen and I are already here we of course will just be waiting patiently for everyone to arrive.

Mary will be flying here and the rest of the gang will be renting a van and driving. It is only about 14ish hours. With 4 adults if everyone drove 3-4 hours they will be here in no time!

The plan is to have everyone here Friday September 23rd. The reservation begins this night.

Disney time will be Saturday through the following Friday then everyone will depart Saturday October 1st. While we all want as much time at Disney and together as possible but we also know that having Sunday to relax before work will be nice.

I would say before work and school but I already know I will be in school during this time. Le sigh. Hopefully it will not interfere too much for our vacation. On our last cruise I was paying almost $100 in Internet costs so I could take a final that was only available for 24 hours.

Anyway!

I have always wanted to take Pierce to the beach. Anytime he sees a beach he says Tarah and Jeni are taking me there. It just melts my heart. With that being said I will be wiggling in some beach time during this trip!

I am not sure when but my thoughts so far are either getting up really early one morning to go or going one day after lunch and the kids can nap along the way. The beach is only 30-45 minutes away from us, but I am not sure how far from Disney. Can’t be too much more I imagine. We will prolly only spend an hour or two there, but it is important to go.

I would also like to get a Water Park day in there somewhere, but we will see. While Disney water parks are great and I will make use of my annual pass next summer spending every weekend there… I don’t know if we are ready to spend a day on this trip there or not. That is up for debate.

We are spending 8 nights but only 7 days so we will have 8 CS and 8 TS credits to use in our 7 days.

Here is our ADR Plan so far… of course subject to change. Since I don’t know park hours I have planned dining based on what park we will be at. This will be our first time on the dining plan. I have this thing about wasting time traveling from park to park or park to resort to spend 2 hours eating. With a large party I know our TS meals will not be quick, so I have planned all our meals either in the park we will be at or on a monorail resort.

MK:

B- Crystal Palace (get into the park early. Marmee gets to see Piglet, kids meet Pooh and the gang, and their breakfast is yammers!)

L- Pecos Bill (good placing in the park, toppings bar is great!) or Cosmic Rays (so many options and again good toppings)

D- Ohana (I have wanted to eat here for some time! I think the food options will be great for everyone)

MK 2:

B- Main Street Bakery (need I say more?)

L- Columbia Harbor House (yummy food, more options than burgers)

D- Crystal Palace (wanting to stay in park one night for parade and fireworks, TS at MK is limited, and their dinner is yummy too)

EP:

B- Chef Mickey (never been here, kids will get to meet the gang incase lines are not friendly in parks)

L- OPEN for CS meal of choice (Epcot’s food options are so vast and we will just get whatever anyone wants that we are near during lunch!)

D- Le Cellier (great reviews, have wanted to ear here, menu options sound pleasing foreveryone)

EP 2:

B- Akershus Royal Banquet (can meet the princesses, get in park early, the squishies love their breakfast!)

L- OPEN for CS again

D- La Cantina de San Angel (always been a family tradition to eat at the outdoor Mexican pavilion for dinner and great seats to Illuminations, refurb made it even nicer!)

HS:

B- Snacks, brought from home- granola bars, poptarts, etc.

L- Toy Story Pizza Planet (these kids love them some Toy Story so this will be fun and pizza will be a change of pace)

D- F! Package @ Mama Melrose (Never been here or done the F! Package, but of the options this one was the winner)

HS 2:

B- Resort CS (had an extra CS credit to throw in somewhere)

L- Sci-Fi Dine In (great food, fun atmosphere, good location in the middle of park)

D- OPEN CS (HS has a few CS options that will work out)

AK:

B- Donald’s Tusker House (get into park early, more characters)

L- OPEN CS (I was think Flame Tree BBQ but really whatever we are around when hunger strikes will work!)

D- Earl of Sandwich! (We LOVE Earls and it is an affordable OOP dinner. AK always closes early and we always leave there with plenty of time in the day, so this will be our DTD day)

There you have it! Comments, opinions, questions, and concerns are welcome and invited!

 

[TeaForTulips]

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! My first Florida Christmas (as an adult) was quite special. It even included Jen saving our nextdoor neighbor as her condo caught on fire! I am very blessed and I hope you are too. Don't forget to remember those less so this holiday season.

I hope to have another post soon!

 

[TeaForTulips]

Planning this trip is something my Marmee, sister, and myself really enjoy and talk about often! (when others are not around like Bobo and Mario as they tend to get over the topic quickly ) The down fall though is with me living here and them living in LA it is hard to plan everything together. The shopping, packing, etc...

The upside is that since I practically live at the World on weekends now I hope to have everything memorized by the time they come. Bathroom? I know! Best path to a certain place? Follow me! I hope to become a Disney pro. I wonder if the Disney Moms Panel counts having fur babies?

In preparing for this trip waaaaaay in advance I bought my sister a beyond awesome stroller that would be good for the kids even as they grew and would be a great Disney stroller! (double) I am now thinking though that with 6 people in a van with luggage and things to keep everyone happy on the drive that her gianormous stroller may not fit... It takes up her whole trunk as it is now. But it rocks just the same! With that being said I decided I am going to just rent a double stroller from Orlando Stroller Rentals. They make it easy, they are good strollers, and the reviews are great. It is a little extra money but I think it will be worth it. On the stroller front I also have been pondering about getting a couple inexpensive unmbrella strollers for the trip in case we decide we only want something light weight at some point in time and we would also be able to split the kids up if needed. Part of me thinks this is a waste and maybe I just want to buy those really cute Disney strollers from KMart. I am sure my senses will kick in but I keep looking at them online! So cute!

In other news... I am starting my lists for this trip. I am an obsessive list maker. Many who know me consider this a problem. Not harmful of course, but indeed obsessive. The lists are detailed, lengthy, organized, and pretty. If you write or smudge my list I will make a new one! I don't know why. When we came to Disney before I would pack everything. Literally everything. I am already an over packer but I was Walgreens to go. Haha. If anything could possibly happen on vacation I bring something to assist it. With the known medical issues in my family I am also super prepared. With my chronic headaches and migraines I carry every over the counter pain medicine known to man. Since I live here though I am sure my packing will be much easier! I of course will still pack everything known to man as I am not wanting to fight traffic to run home for everything. (my 30 minute drive on I4 can and has quickly become almost 2 hours) But! Space will not be an issue. Once when I was younger I packed a ridiculous amount of socks. We would freeze water in bottles over night so they would stay cold and thaw out in the parks. This caused everything to get wet... I put the bottles in extra socks and ta da! No one talked about my socks any more!

I will eventually share these lists with you for your viewing pleasure.

I usually work 230-1130 PM Monday through Friday. While I work from home and I am glad to not work weekends... working til 1130 PM is not fun. It is amazing how many things it stops me from being able to do. I was very excited to hear I get to work 8-5 this Friday! Jen and I will be attempting to get into Magic Kingdom! I read online that parks reach capacity but we are still gonna give it a go. I originally wanted to do Hollywood Studios as they are doing fireworks also, but then I read they are open late but only for EMH and will close at midnight for others. Womp womp. Magic Kingdom though is open until 3 am for everyone. I have never been a big new years eve person but I have always wanted to be. Wish us luck in getting in! I may have to find a plan B. In Orlando I am sure there will be lots going on.

Hopefully I will be able to share their NYE fireworks show! Fingers crossed!

 

[mickeymom55]

Good luck with your New Year's Eve plans!! Hope you have a great time - your enthusiasm is amazing. Sounds like you have thought lots about your trip. Also, congrats to Jen for making a difference in your neighbor's life - Kudos for being unselfish and helping out. Can't wait to hear how you like the dining plan - we've never tried it, but would like to if we are able to take a trip this year. Again, enjoy and Happy New Year!!!

 

[VroomVroomLightning]

I just followed you over here from something you had posted on!! Yippee!! So glad I did too!

My partner/fiance and I just got back from Disney for a week with our family in the beginning of December. Along with us we had a 4 year old and a 10 month old. For the baby it was nice to have one of those strollers that lay down so that she could sleep better. And the 4 year old fell asleep in an umbrella stroller just fine. As far as busses go it was muh nicer to have the umbrella stroller. Then again we used the bigger stroller to hold stuff underneath too.

Good Luck getting in on New Year's Eve! Can't wait to read more!!

 

[TeaForTulips]

Good luck with your New Year's Eve plans!! Hope you have a great time - your enthusiasm is amazing. Sounds like you have thought lots about your trip. Also, congrats to Jen for making a difference in your neighbor's life - Kudos for being unselfish and helping out. Can't wait to hear how you like the dining plan - we've never tried it, but would like to if we are able to take a trip this year. Again, enjoy and Happy New Year!!!

Hooray! Readers! Thanks so much! What a kind post! Our neighbor is 96 and put candles in her nativity is what caused the fire...

I am excited for the dining plan! When we went a couple years ago we just new we would not spend as much on food as the dining plan costs... Wrong! We did not tally it up but needless to say we spent a ton on food. It prolly would not have been so bad if we had planned for the cost, so that is why I am excited for the dining plan. My only thing now is planning for the tip cost!

I just followed you over here from something you had posted on!! Yippee!! So glad I did too!

My partner/fiance and I just got back from Disney for a week with our family in the beginning of December. Along with us we had a 4 year old and a 10 month old. For the baby it was nice to have one of those strollers that lay down so that she could sleep better. And the 4 year old fell asleep in an umbrella stroller just fine. As far as busses go it was muh nicer to have the umbrella stroller. Then again we used the bigger stroller to hold stuff underneath too.

Good Luck getting in on New Year's Eve! Can't wait to read more!!

Aw thanks! Isn't Disney with all the Christmas decor magical? This was my first year to experience it.

We will not be using the buses unless forced. They are always there for plans of our party splitting ways, but we will have two cars also.

I am hoping the kids will at least some days nap in the stroller, but I am prepared to go back to the resort for pool/nap time. I am looking forward to the stroller being the catch all also.





I am very hopeful for getting into Magic Kingdom tonight. From what I read online though I am also planning for the worst. I am at work... well I am at home but working this morning. My goal is to get ready on my lunch break (although a nap sounds delightful ) so when I get off at 5 today we can head out! I say get ready because I am currently in my jammies still as I rolled out of bed at 745 turned on my computer, let out my dog, and was working by 8.

I also got a new camera for Christmas so I am excited to use it tonight! Woop!

 

[Marmee81]

: Here I am, Marmee to Teafortulips and Trista Daisy.The countdown has begun for the big trip! This is my very first post and I am excited to be here. This trip has been in the making for a couple years now, but when my oldest got pregnant it changed our last trip, her family couldn't go. Good things come to those who wait! Now not only will Pierce be big enough to really experience Disney, but Hallise (the bump back then) will also be old enough to remember her first Disney vacation. Haven't taken a road trip with two little ones in twenty years, hopefully Nana and Bobo won't arrive looking like this As a Disney alumni we will be along as support and helpers (as well as Tarah and Jen) stroller pusher, picture taker, babysitter for "big" rides so that Trista and Mario can also enjoy his first Disney experience. :footnote for Disney: Where is piglet? After all he is Pooh's best friend.

 

[TeaForTulips]

: Here I am, Marmee to Teafortulips and Trista Daisy.The countdown has begun for the big trip! This is my very first post and I am excited to be here. This trip has been in the making for a couple years now, but when my oldest got pregnant it changed our last trip, her family couldn't go. Good things come to those who wait! Now not only will Pierce be big enough to really experience Disney, but Hallise (the bump back then) will also be old enough to remember her first Disney vacation. Haven't taken a road trip with two little ones in twenty years, hopefully Nana and Bobo won't arrive looking like this As a Disney alumni we will be along as support and helpers (as well as Tarah and Jen) stroller pusher, picture taker, babysitter for "big" rides so that Trista and Mario can also enjoy his first Disney experience. :footnote for Disney: Where is piglet? After all he is Pooh's best friend.

Hooray, Marmee! I'm so happy you deicded to join!

Your first post! Now you and Trista can help me out!

 

[Trista_Daisy]

The three Prothro gals making a Pre-Trip report! Hooray!

 

[TeaForTulips]

Dislcaimer and Warning:

The following post is very negative. If you wish to skip a negative experience review of Disney World please do not read this post.

To sum up our evening at Magic Kingdom for NYE.... NEVER AGAIN!!!

If you wish to know the details feel free to continue...

As you obviously know by this point, yes we made it in for NYE. Arriving around 5 oclock I was hopeful yet doubtful. Upon arriving at the gate to showour APs for parking we are told the park is at full capacity, so they are only letting in AP holders and resort guests... I was so exicted! If I only would have thought that one through. I don't know how Disney manages the number of people in their park, but after last night I dare say they don't. You mean the park is at full capacity but you are letting in say another 30,000 people who are AP holders and resort guests?

You could barely walk in the park. Literally. And when you could walk you couldn't walk where you wanted as you weren't allowed anywhere because they had you moving like cattle. We were trying to get to Main Street from Fantasy Land... blocked off. We move along to try to get through before Tomorrowland... blocked off. I'm told to go to Fantasy Land to get through...Hmm. They just told me to come this way. We move along through Tomorrowland down to Main Street near the Plaza. Blocked again. Both directions of traffic must stop. You are forced to go through the back entrance to a behind the scenes area wih two options. A back way to Tomorrow Land or a back way to Main Street. Aha! Main Street please. We get to Main Street and the road is closed. We are told to use the sidewalks. Why certainly! Go to the sidewalks and more cast members..."Can't go this way. You must go this way..." Well sir thats the way I just came from all the way from Fantasy Land and its taken me about an hour to do so. How about you suggest something else???? At this point I was angry. I understand they are doing their job but someone needs to have better control over the situation.

So we waited. Finally after I observed more chaos... we got moving again. The right sidewalk was still not letting anyone through but for some reason the left was? Making our way up Main Street's left sidewalk... at of course an unbearable slow and crowded pace we hit a wall. A wall of people that is. ALL of Main Street from the castle to about half way down, including all the side paths to the hub are shoulder to should people!

We manage to stand on a bridge near Crystal Palace to catch the Holiday Wishes. We have seen this so I didn't mind the tree view... Then we are told "This is not a viewing area. You must keep going". To which I said with great attitude... Where?! Find me a place to go and I will gladly do so. There was no where to go! There were no open paths. The park was at a stand still of people looking up.

We finally make it to the castle after the fireworks show. It has only taken us oh 3 hours to get to this point... then the news is delivered. More herding. "You cannot stay here. You most keep moving". After delivering my sorrows to a cast member of my aggrivating long trek around the entire park to get to this place you are telling me I cant stay? I was ready to go but we were at the point of no return. We managed all this just to give up? No!

We should have...

The kind cast member (there were very few that night...kind that is) let is through. Hooray! ... Not so fast! About ten feet through we are stopped. More cast members now informing us the castle hub is now one way and we are going the wrong way. We must turn around.

Ok... now what? Back through Tomorrowland we go. As we go back to the behind the scenes area. (because we were forced to go there) I take note of the tables and chairs that are set out again. Previously they were filled with a mass amount of teenagers and I assumed it was a little private thing. This time it was about half full with a hodge podge of people. We ask a cast member and they inform us it is open for all. Hooray! A place to sit down!!! Because let me tell you... you could not find a square inch of this place that was availble for you to stand still unless it was in a 120 minute line. We quickly nabbed a table and chairs... 3 hours to go still but we know better than to leave.

We chatted with those around us and enjoyed the merriment of not being in the herds. I decided it was time for a snack from the bakery. I waited in the hour long line that made its way out the door and down the sidewalk. I headed back to our little table with my goodies in hand... and I should have known. Amongst the herd they were now not letting me go back to the table but to continue to tomorrow land.. What?? No. I am going right there where my party is waiting. Thank you. I stepped around the cast member who was annoyed at my lack of obedience. What do they expect from me? I will go where my family is. The end.

Settled back in my seat with our goodies we continued to wait. It was very bright back there and the crowd was thickening. Our view of the castle was horrible. I saw the tip top of it but knowing we were not going to get a seat anywhere else we stayed. The fireworks were in the sky anyway...

There were a few trees in the way but I had a plan to step to the side when the started to record. Wrong! Before we knew it there was no room to move. The area was about the size of a football field packed with people. (mostly standing room) Before the fireworks began, a so kind group of about 4 people stand directly in front of me.

Another group decides to sit directly next to me. Literally as they lined their chairs touching mine. I had no where to go. I finally got up and went in stood in a small group of people much in front of everyone but far enough ahead to not be in anyones way. I later wished I would not have done so as I was away from Jen at the stroke of midnight which made us both sad. Everyone was jumping shouting and hugging and I was struggling to get back to her. Lesson learned.

I will say... the fireworks were AMAZING. The one magical moment of the evening.

Leaving... We hauled it the moment the fireworks were done. Well of course so did everyone else. We were packed like sardines leaving the park. We knew this would happen. We were good though. 5 inch baby steps heading toward the exit, shoulder to shoulder with our fellow Disney mates. At the last moment through the archway under the train there is a cast member telling everyone they must exit to the right... Now. If you could just picture that for a moment. The little area under the arch is wall to wall people with the exception of the one foot area in front of the cast member telling everyone to go right. What good is that doing unless you are doing it upon entering the arch also? There is no path through the arch. There was no one coming from the other direction but if they were they could not get through regardless. After everything I've been through tonight you are telling me I cannot take one step forward to get out I must fight my way through this to the other side.

I am shamed to say we broke the rules. We stepped around the cast member. I did not look to see if anyone dared follow. I was done with the herding and the lack of logic behind some of it. I took one step and was free. I chose to do so rather than spend another 10 minutes in the pointless bottle neck. I am sorry Disney and to the cast member who with much attitude (deserved attitude but still) yelled "Move to the right... OR JUST IGNORE ME!" Sorry. I know you were just doing your job but I had to.

We caught the second ferry boat and the second tram. We were happy to be out of the madness. Time to sit back and relax to the very last row of the parking lot where we parked. Leaving the park we go to I4 to head home but traffic was horrible within Disney still. We continued and saw all the exits were blocked by policemen. It seemed as if the the herding continued as the cars back up behind closed exits and everyone was forced to continue. I don't know if everyone had to leave and turn around to stay on property? I am not sure what was going on but it was crazy. Even the buses seemed confused as they lined up to exit only to be detoured back onto the road.

Luckily we made it just fine. I think we got home around 145 and we went to bed after wishing our family a happy new year.

Now...

Was it worth the aggrivation, the struggle, the crowd, the cattle herds, etc... NO!!!!!!

You can easily google to find lovely video of last nights fireworks and they are all much better views than I had. They did not even lower the lights for us poor cast offs in the back.

We did it once and will never do it again.

If you ever spend NYE at Disney I have one piece of advice. Get there early and stake your claim. Do not move. Have someone there to keep your spot all day. Take turns. These people had there 4x4 areas with blankets lunch coolers, etc all set.

I regret our choice to go for NYE but you live and learn. I was with my love at the happiest place on earth. While it was not very happy last night I am still blessed and grateful.

I apologize for my negative review on the evening. Please know I still LOVE Disney and understand the circumstances of the evening.

I hope you and yours had a happy new year! May 2011 bring you love and joy and hopefully some Disney magic!

 

[VroomVroomLightning]

Sorry to hear your New Year's Eve was chaotic. I was on the Dis sometime that night and was reading about park closings and at all these different levels. Then I thought about you and your family and was wondering if it was possible to still have a good time with all those people there.

I had a friend from North Carolina who was down in Orlando for a few days and told me that her and the family were going to visit Disney on New Year's Eve. I advised her that probably would not be the best idea. She said they got near Disney and just turned away cause they saw all how crazy it was! Luckily they were able to go there yesterday though and have a nice day to visit.

Happy New Years to you and your family in 2011 as well! I hope you have a magical year!

 

[mickeymom55]

I wouldn't say your review was negative - I'd say you reported your experience. The CM's did what they were told to do and, right up to the end, you followed instructions beautifully. As you indicated, lesson learned. I, too, had friends who were heading to MK for NYE - I gave them as much advice as I could, but they were determined. I haven't heard back from them yet (they are probably still being herded behind buildings) but I'm sure they won't have nice things to say about the experience.

Happy New Year!

 

[TeaForTulips]

Sorry to hear your New Year's Eve was chaotic. I was on the Dis sometime that night and was reading about park closings and at all these different levels. Then I thought about you and your family and was wondering if it was possible to still have a good time with all those people there.

I had a friend from North Carolina who was down in Orlando for a few days and told me that her and the family were going to visit Disney on New Year's Eve. I advised her that probably would not be the best idea. She said they got near Disney and just turned away cause they saw all how crazy it was! Luckily they were able to go there yesterday though and have a nice day to visit.

Happy New Years to you and your family in 2011 as well! I hope you have a magical year!

Thanks! Your friends made a wise choice! I will definately be checking the crowd charts online before heading to the parks again. I'm not sure when all the holiday crowds die down, but I will be checking!

I wouldn't say your review was negative - I'd say you reported your experience. The CM's did what they were told to do and, right up to the end, you followed instructions beautifully. As you indicated, lesson learned. I, too, had friends who were heading to MK for NYE - I gave them as much advice as I could, but they were determined. I haven't heard back from them yet (they are probably still being herded behind buildings) but I'm sure they won't have nice things to say about the experience.

Happy New Year!

I'm glad it wasn't that negative. I think my mind was more negative than the review because I was just so disappointed. I hope your friends were able to enjoy themselves!

 

[TeaForTulips]

I called Disney to check for a PIN code. I was very excited to hear there were a few but only one applicable to our dates.

My goal was to see if I could somehow manage to get us all in a villa at Bay Lake Towers at Contemporary. My goal would be to have it a suprise and my whole family would just die! I checked online and it showed available. To stay on a monorail resort is just so nice I would imagine and the Poly doesn't have enough room for us all without getting 3 rooms... no thank you!

The cast member told me though that she showed not availability for BLT. Hmmm.. I didn't go into how I saw it online. I just took her word for it. My next thought was the tree houses. The only other place I would be willing to shell out money for than the Contemporary would be a tree house. It is the closest thing I could get my Marmee to the Swiss Family Robinson tree house which is her favie.

Unfortunately... with the PIN it was still over $2000 more than our current package at AsMu. There are a million things I could do with $2000 at Disney and they are all worth it WAY more than a room which we are rarely in.

We would maybe do a mod but again with our party size we would need three rooms. I cannot wait until they finish the Animators Resort with more than 1,100 family suites! (not to mention the amazing themeing, etc)

Needless to say our current plans for AsMu will be sticking. There is not a deal even with resort AP discounts that will equal our free dining deal. I am not complaining of course! But I will still be keeping my eyes open for any deals that may arise!