We're planning our 4th trip to Disney, going Feb 4-14, 2009, just 26 days per our countdown calendar. Excited, but we're going to take it easier this time.
The first trip was May of 2005 - DS1 was 20 months old, and we went on Memorial Day Weekend. We did everything wrong that trip - arrived at MK at 11:00am, spent an hour+ in line at Dumbo, then left for the baby to take a nap. That whole morning I complained that we should have gotten up at the crack of dawn to get there when the park opened while DH said he was on vacation and no way waking early. The afternoon went back to Pop, napped, swam, then got back on the bus at 4:00 - the bus got in an ACCIDENT; had to swap buses... ugh. Got to MK at 6:00 and actually had a nice time til midnight close. The baby sang It's a Small World, and clapped for Mickey when he saw the parade. To avoid the huge crowds Mem Day weekend, we decided we'd just hang out at the Pop the next two days and come back to DIsney another time... had a wonderful time at the pools there and DS wouldn't stop swimming. It really was magical.
Next visit was Jan 2007 to avoid all the crowds and the heat - we stayed at AKL for a full week, this time with 3yo ds and 18 dd. Had a blast, until DS got sick the last half of the week. DD and I went to Epcot and MK together while DH and DS holed up in the room and then I GOT SICK - on the carousel. Got off and asked where the nearest bathroom was - ran over, and barely made it in the door. Threw up in the trashcan.
Then we went last year Jan 2008, staying 6 nights at WL. The preference was light crowds and cool weather over the threat of getting sick. Which of course DD (now 2) got her 3rd ear infection 2 days before the trip. She was on antibiotics and thankfully OK. The weather was wonderful too - we were able to swim. We only stayed 6 nights and did the Sea Racers and found we ran out of time. Vowed to stay longer next time.
That time is Feb 4-14 2009. Will be staying 3 nights at WL and 7 nights at OKW (in a one bedroom). Me (37), DH (40), DS (5), DD (3) and DS (9 mo). My friends think we are freaks for going so much; however, it is such an easy vacation I love it. And the kids love it. And my husband, who grew up in Miami and went to Disney alot loves it. We do the Magical Express (therefore no car seats) and the Dining Plan (no cooking).
Oh boy - gotta go - DD's ear hurts. More later.
Back - haven't figured out the linking thing yet, but maybe will get that down soon.
So, we're going back in just 26 days (and counting).
We are going to do pin trading this time. DH is on Ebay trying to find the cheapest price. (It was his idea to do the trading, but I know how it would go if he was in charge of this. We'd do nothing in advance and then get to Disney and pay $8 per pin that the kids would probably not even want to trade. So we're getting them for a couple dollars each and they can trade their hearts out (well, the 3 and 5yo - hopefully they'll get into it).
Another crazy thing we're going to try to do since AA charges for bags now.... is to try to carry on everything. Perhaps this is insane to try with a baby, but I thing the 3yodd and 5yods can manage their own rolling cases, and if I can stuff the rest into another bag for DH, we can manage. Since we're moving to a DVC resort with washer/dryer on the 3rd day, I can do laundry easily. Who knows though? Maybe we'll check one.
So, we're doing 10 days this time in order to have sufficient down time. DH likes to relax on vacation. So, we plan on going to the resorts for just a few hours some days. [Side note: This is pretty difficult for me b/c I've grown up stuffing as much from sunup to sundown on my vacas. Get to a theme park at open and stay til close. DH not so much. I'm coming around to his way of thinking though and must say am much more relaxed when we wait until later to go to the parks.] We may even skip the parks a couple of days. Deep breath.
This is the first time going with a baby too. Before, the little ones have been at least 17 mo. Little man Isaac is nine months old and usually pretty good, though having sleep issues recently. Sigh. Hope to correct by then. We are fairly insane I think and bringing just one single umbrella stroller. I think my 3yo will need one too, but we don't want to bring another. Nor our double jogger (lugging onto and off the bus would be a nightmare I think??) We aren't sold on this plan yet, so talk us out of it if you think we've really lost our marbes.
I do know I'll flip out if we have to pay the outrageous (imo) stroller rental fees at the parks.
Another thing different this time is that my parents will be with us 6 days (at a different resort than us). My dad is super fit and will handle the walking better than my hubbie; however, my mom will be suffering. I know we won't always be all together, but I still don't know how this is going to work. Made dinner ressies with them each night, so will at least see them then.
OK. all for now. Will post again soon.
Here's a link to what probably should have been the first post:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=29612026#post29612026
The first trip was May of 2005 - DS1 was 20 months old, and we went on Memorial Day Weekend. We did everything wrong that trip - arrived at MK at 11:00am, spent an hour+ in line at Dumbo, then left for the baby to take a nap. That whole morning I complained that we should have gotten up at the crack of dawn to get there when the park opened while DH said he was on vacation and no way waking early. The afternoon went back to Pop, napped, swam, then got back on the bus at 4:00 - the bus got in an ACCIDENT; had to swap buses... ugh. Got to MK at 6:00 and actually had a nice time til midnight close. The baby sang It's a Small World, and clapped for Mickey when he saw the parade. To avoid the huge crowds Mem Day weekend, we decided we'd just hang out at the Pop the next two days and come back to DIsney another time... had a wonderful time at the pools there and DS wouldn't stop swimming. It really was magical.
Next visit was Jan 2007 to avoid all the crowds and the heat - we stayed at AKL for a full week, this time with 3yo ds and 18 dd. Had a blast, until DS got sick the last half of the week. DD and I went to Epcot and MK together while DH and DS holed up in the room and then I GOT SICK - on the carousel. Got off and asked where the nearest bathroom was - ran over, and barely made it in the door. Threw up in the trashcan.
Then we went last year Jan 2008, staying 6 nights at WL. The preference was light crowds and cool weather over the threat of getting sick. Which of course DD (now 2) got her 3rd ear infection 2 days before the trip. She was on antibiotics and thankfully OK. The weather was wonderful too - we were able to swim. We only stayed 6 nights and did the Sea Racers and found we ran out of time. Vowed to stay longer next time.
That time is Feb 4-14 2009. Will be staying 3 nights at WL and 7 nights at OKW (in a one bedroom). Me (37), DH (40), DS (5), DD (3) and DS (9 mo). My friends think we are freaks for going so much; however, it is such an easy vacation I love it. And the kids love it. And my husband, who grew up in Miami and went to Disney alot loves it. We do the Magical Express (therefore no car seats) and the Dining Plan (no cooking).
Oh boy - gotta go - DD's ear hurts. More later.
Back - haven't figured out the linking thing yet, but maybe will get that down soon.
So, we're going back in just 26 days (and counting).
We are going to do pin trading this time. DH is on Ebay trying to find the cheapest price. (It was his idea to do the trading, but I know how it would go if he was in charge of this. We'd do nothing in advance and then get to Disney and pay $8 per pin that the kids would probably not even want to trade. So we're getting them for a couple dollars each and they can trade their hearts out (well, the 3 and 5yo - hopefully they'll get into it).
Another crazy thing we're going to try to do since AA charges for bags now.... is to try to carry on everything. Perhaps this is insane to try with a baby, but I thing the 3yodd and 5yods can manage their own rolling cases, and if I can stuff the rest into another bag for DH, we can manage. Since we're moving to a DVC resort with washer/dryer on the 3rd day, I can do laundry easily. Who knows though? Maybe we'll check one.
So, we're doing 10 days this time in order to have sufficient down time. DH likes to relax on vacation. So, we plan on going to the resorts for just a few hours some days. [Side note: This is pretty difficult for me b/c I've grown up stuffing as much from sunup to sundown on my vacas. Get to a theme park at open and stay til close. DH not so much. I'm coming around to his way of thinking though and must say am much more relaxed when we wait until later to go to the parks.] We may even skip the parks a couple of days. Deep breath.
This is the first time going with a baby too. Before, the little ones have been at least 17 mo. Little man Isaac is nine months old and usually pretty good, though having sleep issues recently. Sigh. Hope to correct by then. We are fairly insane I think and bringing just one single umbrella stroller. I think my 3yo will need one too, but we don't want to bring another. Nor our double jogger (lugging onto and off the bus would be a nightmare I think??) We aren't sold on this plan yet, so talk us out of it if you think we've really lost our marbes.
I do know I'll flip out if we have to pay the outrageous (imo) stroller rental fees at the parks.
Another thing different this time is that my parents will be with us 6 days (at a different resort than us). My dad is super fit and will handle the walking better than my hubbie; however, my mom will be suffering. I know we won't always be all together, but I still don't know how this is going to work. Made dinner ressies with them each night, so will at least see them then.
OK. all for now. Will post again soon.
Here's a link to what probably should have been the first post:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=29612026#post29612026
