Planning our Wilderness Lodge Adventure! Nov 8-15 ~ We are back!

[MeMom]

09-16-2008 - The final plans


5:00 PM Head to DTD - Festival of the Masters, Lego Sculptures, SHOP, Goofy's Candy Company, possibly share a sandwich at Earl of Sandwich to tide us over to dinner.8:50 PM Chef Mickey's


November 9 - EPCOT

5:30 PM Dinner at 'Ohana
If we have the energy and not a melting down baby, explore resort, hang out on beach
9:00 PM Wishs on Poly beach (I think this is a pipe dream...Henry will most likely be DONE by this time!)


November 10 - DHS
7:30 AM Wake up, runner for breakfast at Roaring Fork
9:00 AM Rope drop at DHS (our first rope drop ever, let's see if we make it!)
12:30 PM Lunch at 50s Prime Time
3:00 PM Parade
5:40 PM Dinner at Mama Melrose
8:00 PM Fantasmic


November 11 - AK
SLEEP IN as much as possible
Breakfast at Roaring Fork
Bus to AK
12:00 PM Lunch at Yak & Yeti
3:45 PM Parade



November 12 - No Parks Day
8:00 AM Wake up
9:40 AM Breakfast at Boma!!!
Explore AKL and purchase Zebra Domes from the Mara
Lunch will either be Earl of Sandwich, or I would like to check out the Pepper Market at CSR
Possible activites for today: Wintersummerland, Petting Zoo, Resort hopping, relax at pool and swim (we will probably relax and swim-this is DH's day...he could lay at a pool for a week!)
5:30 Dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe
Possible evening activies: Wishes on the Poly Beach at 8 pm, Campfire at FW at 7 pm, Electric Light Parade (not sure on the time) at WL beach.


November 13 - MK

Breakfast at Main Street Bakery
Henry's 1st Haircut

Dinner at a counter service at MK
7:00 PM Spectromagic
8:00 PM Wishes


November 14 - EPCOT
Sleep in! Again!
Breakfast at Roaring Fork
Lunch at Sunshine Seasons
5:25 PM LeCellier
9:00 PM Illuminations
This day I would like to squeeze in a DVC Tour and the Behind the Seeds Tour....we'll see what happens...


November 15
7:30 AM Wake up, pack, talk about how I don't want to leave, bags to Bell Services.
10:00 AM Breakfast at Kona
ME to MCO.
Cry as we say good-bye to Orlando.

The days are gonna be busy. I packed as much as I could in, not sure if we'll get to it all....DH is keen on getting back to the hotel for a nap/swim mid-day, but I'm more apt to keep going and take in as much as I can. I think Henry will be the decision maker!


It's real!

If your Chef Mickey's meal isn't until that late, you're going to need that Earl's sandwich!

Will Henry sleep in the stroller while you watch Wishes at the Poly?

I hope you do get to do a rope drop. It's a great time to get good park pictures without a ton of people in them.

We do love the Jammin' Jungle Parade!

A day to hang out sounds good. Eat a zebra dome for me. Resort hopping is one of my favorite activities.

Breakfast at Main Street Bakery - how nice! So much to choose from, and it's all good!

Brooklynn had her first haircut in Magic Kingdom, too. You'll have some sweet pictures to treasure forever!

Sunshine Seasons has some awesome rotisserie chicken. I hope to do the Behind the Seeds Tour sometime. Maybe we can do it next summer.

I hate even thinking about last days. As soon as you drive out from those magical arches, the world is just not as colorful and bright, and music doesn't just follow you around everywhere you go. The best remedy for the sadness is just to start planning what you're going to be doing on your next trip!

Too bad we'll miss you. We're leaving on the 24th, stopping over in GA for some sleep, then getting up early and arriving at WDW around 11 on the 25th. We've been during Thanksgiving week before, but we came home two days before Thanksgiving Day. This time, we will actually be in Disney World on Thanksgiving Day , and we're having our turkey dinner with Chef Mickey!

 

[Charleston Princess]

If those plans are written in ink in the Passporter, then you know it is really close!!!

 

[Camster0307]

Hey Brook - Your plans look great! And, in comparing yours to mine, it looks like our paths may cross! We're at DTD on the 11th also - shopping and having dinner at Fulton's; and we're also at Epcot on the night of the 14th - have dinner ADRs at the Rose & Crown at 7:50 (I'm hoping we'll get an outdoor table & will just stay there for Illuminations). Keep your eyes open for us (and I will for you); I WILL have a LGMH attached to me somewhere!

November 13 - MK
Sleep in as much as Henry will allow...(for some it's just wrong not to be at rope drop at MK, but we love our sleep when we can get it! )

We've been going to WDW every year for the past 10 years - have YET to make one single rope drope! (we love our sleep too! )

 

[teruterubouzu]

Those plans sound great! I don't have a kid, but to me I don't think your days seem over scheduled at all. Isn't it exciting to have your days all plotted out like this?

 

[John's Mom]

Brook,

Your plans look great! Time has really flown since Valentine's Day.

 

[CJsMom]

The plans look really good! How exciting to have Henry's first haircut at Disney! I bet he will sleep in the stroller a lot so you will get to do most things on your list. Good luck sleeping in though!

 

[brookelizabeth]

If your Chef Mickey's meal isn't until that late, you're going to need that Earl's sandwich!

Will Henry sleep in the stroller while you watch Wishes at the Poly?

I hope you do get to do a rope drop. It's a great time to get good park pictures without a ton of people in them.

We do love the Jammin' Jungle Parade!

A day to hang out sounds good. Eat a zebra dome for me. Resort hopping is one of my favorite activities.

Breakfast at Main Street Bakery - how nice! So much to choose from, and it's all good!

Brooklynn had her first haircut in Magic Kingdom, too. You'll have some sweet pictures to treasure forever!

Sunshine Seasons has some awesome rotisserie chicken. I hope to do the Behind the Seeds Tour sometime. Maybe we can do it next summer.

I hate even thinking about last days. As soon as you drive out from those magical arches, the world is just not as colorful and bright, and music doesn't just follow you around everywhere you go. The best remedy for the sadness is just to start planning what you're going to be doing on your next trip!

Too bad we'll miss you. We're leaving on the 24th, stopping over in GA for some sleep, then getting up early and arriving at WDW around 11 on the 25th. We've been during Thanksgiving week before, but we came home two days before Thanksgiving Day. This time, we will actually be in Disney World on Thanksgiving Day , and we're having our turkey dinner with Chef Mickey!

Earl - I know it! And Joe and I are now used to eating little snacks during the day too. I REALLY wanted to eat at EoS, so I'm more than happy to pack it in.

Wishes - Yep, Henry generally is pretty good about sleeping in the stroller. He doesn't nap as long, but he will go down. I didn't really think of that...if he's not completely melting down that just might work...!

Jammin' Jungle Parade - We haven't seen this parade (or any parade!) yet. We were IN it in 2006, so we sorta saw it as it came through the backstage gates because we were on the first float with Rafiki. It would be neat to actually see it!

Resort Hopping - I just love seeing all the other beautiful places at WDW! I want to stay in them ALL though. I will have a Zebra Dome for you! (and anyone else who might want me to have one for them...free of charge, no problem! )

Main Street Bakery - The pictures from the food thread just have me drooling. I mean, hello? FRENCH TOAST LOAF? Ya, I gotta eat there!

Sunshine Seasons - I love me some rotissere chicken! I haven't figured out what to eat there yet, so that is sounding mighty fine.

It is too bad we will miss each other! I would love to meet your clan and see sweet Brooklyn in person. Maybe our paths will cross on a future trip though...

If those plans are written in ink in the Passporter, then you know it is really close!!!

Hey Brook - Your plans look great! And, in comparing yours to mine, it looks like our paths may cross! We're at DTD on the 11th also - shopping and having dinner at Fulton's; and we're also at Epcot on the night of the 14th - have dinner ADRs at the Rose & Crown at 7:50 (I'm hoping we'll get an outdoor table & will just stay there for Illuminations). Keep your eyes open for us (and I will for you); I WILL have a LGMH attached to me somewhere!



We've been going to WDW every year for the past 10 years - have YET to make one single rope drope! (we love our sleep too! )

Yea!! I will keep watch for you and your girls!

And about rope drop! Glad I'm not the only one!

Those plans sound great! I don't have a kid, but to me I don't think your days seem over scheduled at all. Isn't it exciting to have your days all plotted out like this?

YES! It's very, very exciting! I had to share each detail with DH, even though he helped me do the rough drafts! I hope you are right on the overscheduled thing - I think we'll be okay, and we are pretty flexiable people...while I would be disappointed to not hit everything on my list, I'm also going in with the mentaility that it's likely we won't get to everything. That will help me cope if we do miss something!

Brook,

Your plans look great! Time has really flown since Valentine's Day.

It really has. We've had so many things in our lives, birthdays and trips...it really has gone by quickly. Though, I would be more than fine if the trip started TOMORROW!

The plans look really good! How exciting to have Henry's first haircut at Disney! I bet he will sleep in the stroller a lot so you will get to do most things on your list. Good luck sleeping in though!

Henry is starting to be so shaggy, I'm tucking his little hair behind his ears all the time. DH said the other day "we might have to...before Disney..." and I said "No way!" We'll make it, just a few more short weeks...he might end up looking a bit like a girl, but I'll just dress him in blue!

I know, the sleeping in is the biggest dream...but, hey, it's the Year of a Million Dreams, right?!

 

[thewesterberg]

Your plans sound great and realistic! And remember, if you don't fit it all in, there's your excuse to go back! (If I were you, I'd skip stuff on purpose to seal the return deal!!! )

Getting Henry's haircut at the Barbershop is going to be so neat! In true Dory fashion "Just keep tuckin', just keep tuckin', just keep tuckin', tuckin', tuckin'..."

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Your plans look AWESOME!

I'm especially excited about H's first haircut in the barbershop. I trust you will fully document this for posterity and our enjoyment on the DIS?

You have some good meals scheduled in there. I am also looking to fit EoS and WPE in somewhere as I've heard such great things. And I'm also dining at Le Cellier on my last night.

DVC tour. Are you tempted? I am. Did you see the Travel Channel special this week? I haven't watched yet but it's on the Tivo. I'm totally tempted and worried about how I will say no when faced with temptation in October!

Plans are in ink in the passporter! We're in the final stretch now!!!

 

[marieNJkitty]

I hope you are right on the overscheduled thing - I think we'll be okay, and we are pretty flexiable people...while I would be disappointed to not hit everything on my list, I'm also going in with the mentaility that it's likely we won't get to everything. That will help me cope if we do miss something!

It looks like you will have a great time! As long as you have that kind of mentality you should do fine. We took DS when he was 18 months. We had the DDP and our schedule was packed. As each day went by he got more tired. By the fifth day, he only wanted to play in our hotel room and we missed our last day at the park. It was a little upsetting to me even though I was prepared from reading the DIS. At the time, I thought I wouldn't be back for a few years. Go figure we are going back a year and a half later and new to DVC! Just enjoy being there and expect the unexpected!

 

[tiggrbaby]

You have great plans that leave a lot of flex time. And the haircut will be sooo cute!

 

[marieNJkitty]

double post

 

[CJsMom]

Henry is starting to be so shaggy, I'm tucking his little hair behind his ears all the time. DH said the other day "we might have to...before Disney..." and I said "No way!" We'll make it, just a few more short weeks...he might end up looking a bit like a girl, but I'll just dress him in blue!

I know, the sleeping in is the biggest dream...but, hey, it's the Year of a Million Dreams, right?!

Nah, it won't hurt for him to be a bit shaggy for a few weeks. Totally worth it! And hopefully all the stimulation at DW will make him so tired that he'll sleep in for you at least one morning!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Your plans sound great and realistic! And remember, if you don't fit it all in, there's your excuse to go back! (If I were you, I'd skip stuff on purpose to seal the return deal!!! )

Getting Henry's haircut at the Barbershop is going to be so neat! In true Dory fashion "Just keep tuckin', just keep tuckin', just keep tuckin', tuckin', tuckin'..."

That is the exact mindset I plan to have, "something for the next trip!" And about the "Dory fashion".

Your plans look AWESOME!

I'm especially excited about H's first haircut in the barbershop. I trust you will fully document this for posterity and our enjoyment on the DIS?

You have some good meals scheduled in there. I am also looking to fit EoS and WPE in somewhere as I've heard such great things. And I'm also dining at Le Cellier on my last night.

DVC tour. Are you tempted? I am. Did you see the Travel Channel special this week? I haven't watched yet but it's on the Tivo. I'm totally tempted and worried about how I will say no when faced with temptation in October!

Plans are in ink in the passporter! We're in the final stretch now!!!

Oh yes, no worries, there will be PLENTY of pictures (and most likely video) of Henry's first haircut for my DIS pals to enjoy! I love that you called him "H". We do that too, "H-Man".

I'm SO excited about eating. I had to fit in both WPE and EoS somehow...even if I'm not hungry, I've gotta just have a little taste, I've been drooling over the food pictures thread for months!!!

I didn't see the special on the Travel Channel. I always seem to miss them. And yep, both DH and I are veryyyy tempted to buy into DVC...we just need to learn more about it to see if it would be a deal for us at all.

It looks like you will have a great time! As long as you have that kind of mentality you should do fine. We took DS when he was 18 months. We had the DDP and our schedule was packed. As each day went by he got more tired. By the fifth day, he only wanted to play in our hotel room and we missed our last day at the park. It was a little upsetting to me even though I was prepared from reading the DIS. At the time, I thought I wouldn't be back for a few years. Go figure we are going back a year and a half later and new to DVC! Just enjoy being there and expect the unexpected!

I was thinking the same thing-Henry will start out fine, and slowly fade as the week goes on. Thankfully it works out pretty well that we hit Epcot (my favorite!) and DHS (the park that DH feels he didn't get to really experience last time) right away in the week. I just hope Henry is still up for MK, I'd be reallyyyy bummed to completely miss MK!

But, like you, we'll be back...so while it would take a while to get over, I figure we'll get back sooner than we expect. (Hopefully we'll follow your footsteps in the DVC part too...)

You have great plans that leave a lot of flex time. And the haircut will be sooo cute!

That was the hope, to have some flex time because of baby and also DH is big on it. He would love 2 weeks, and just lay around every other day!

I'm excited about the haircut too!

Nah, it won't hurt for him to be a bit shaggy for a few weeks. Totally worth it! And hopefully all the stimulation at DW will make him so tired that he'll sleep in for you at least one morning!

It will be worth it! And it's still not so bad yet that people aren't sure if he's a boy. I am looking forward to him being covererd in stickers and getting his first pair of Mickey ears!!!!

And good point on the sleeping!!!

 

[brookelizabeth]

09-23-2008 - Countdown update, more shirts and a change in plans?

Our countdown is looking veryyyy nice!!! And Henry has become a pro at taking the Mickey Heads off. Joe or I just slightly lift the day's tag and he reaches right up and takes it off with a big smile!

It kept falling off the door I had it on, so I've had to place it in our closet, out of sight , in case we have a showing. The other day Henry was playing in our bedroom while I was getting ready for the day...I hear a noise from our closet and look in to see Henry poking out of the closet with the countdown chart in front of him! He had pulled it completely out of the closet! Smart kid...he wants all the Mickey Heads GONE too!

Here is a pic I took the other day...this picture solves the mystery of what could be that first word... Now we are into the fun facts under each Mickey Head!

We have also completed our Disney wardrobe with 3 new arrivals today and 2 the other day.

First...my Wall-E shirt...and we FINALLY saw the movie and loved it! So, so cute!! (sorry my shirt is wrinkly...I failed to fold the laundry...)

Next...Joe's Wall-E shirt:

Joe's Muppets shirt...designed on Zazzle.com. He just LOVES it and is excited to wear it. It looks a bit like a "computer dork" shirt, and is slightly nerdy looking-just up his alley! I like it too, and love that he's so excited about it.

And Henry's Muppets shirt--Gonzo:

(He looks soooo sweet in blue! And check out that mop of hair!)

I also got a Kermit shirt off Disneyshopping.com, but am not too fond of how it fits...as of right now I'm thinking I will return it (so I didn't take a pic). We'll see when I loose a few more pounds what I think of it. Here is a link on Disneyshopping, in caes you'd like to look! http://disneyshopping.go.com/webapp...&productId=1229035&langId=-1&categoryId=59007)

And now for the possible change in plans...
We recently found out there is going to be a launch on November 12th. Which is our planned "No Parks Day". It's the day Joe gets to decide what to do-lay around, do whatever. When I read about the launch on another PTR I KNEW this would be totally up his alley...sure enough, he got VERY excited when I told him about it! We found out the launch will take place at 8:40 PM, which works very well with the loose plans we have right now, which was maybe the campfire, or fireworks after our 5:30 PM ADR. Now we have to figure out how long it takes to get there from the WL, and if a taxi won't cost us our entire life's savings just to see the launch! What a cool thing that would be though, huh?! We'll see if it works out...

 

[thewesterberg]

Our countdown is looking veryyyy nice!!! And Henry has become a pro at taking the Mickey Heads off. Joe or I just slightly lift the day's tag and he reaches right up and takes it off with a big smile!

What a smart boy!

The other day Henry was playing in our bedroom while I was getting ready for the day...I hear a noise from our closet and look in to see Henry poking out of the closet with the countdown chart in front of him! He had pulled it completely out of the closet! Smart kid...he wants all the Mickey Heads GONE too!

Okay, that confirms it... he's a genius! That's just too funny and VERY cute!

Here is a pic I took the other day...this picture solves the mystery of what could be that first word... Now we are into the fun facts under each Mickey Head!

Oooooooooh... that's what that word was! (BTW... I just have to say it again, your calendar is looks great!)



And your t-shirts - love them all! Especially Henry's blue Gonzo one! I'm a huge Muppets fan, so that sways me to start with, but with his eyes and hair color, he's going to look just adorable in it! Blue's my favorite color on Junior too.

And now for the possible change in plans...
We recently found out there is going to be a launch on November 12th. Which is our planned "No Parks Day". It's the day Joe gets to decide what to do-lay around, do whatever. When I read about the launch on another PTR I KNEW this would be totally up his alley...sure enough, he got VERY excited when I told him about it! We found out the launch will take place at 8:40 PM, which works very well with the loose plans we have right now, which was maybe the campfire, or fireworks after our 5:30 PM ADR. Now we have to figure out how long it takes to get there from the WL, and if a taxi won't cost us our entire life's savings just to see the launch! What a cool thing that would be though, huh?! We'll see if it works out...

I hope this works out for you! When we went last year there was a launch scheduled, but it ended up being way postponed (like months!) so that didn't pan out. I hope for you that they keep it locked in on that date!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Okay, that confirms it... he's a genius! That's just too funny and VERY cute!

It's amazing what he gets into...when he did this, I just stood in awe. Then quickly realized he was about to tear every Mickey Head he could get off!

Oooooooooh... that's what that word was! (BTW... I just have to say it again, your calendar is looks great!

and thank you! It's been fun to read the Disney facts each day too! Today's was "In 1994 Walt Disney World hit the 1 billion visitors mark."

And your t-shirts - love them all! Especially Henry's blue Gonzo one! I'm a huge Muppets fan, so that sways me to start with, but with his eyes and hair color, he's going to look just adorable in it! Blue's my favorite color on Junior too.

I really love Henry's blue Gonzo shirt too! We LOVE the Muppets...the other day we just watched a bunch on YouTube and Henry was totally into it. He couldn't stop grinning and giggling at Beaker.

I bet Junior looks superduper cute in blue!! He's got those electric eyes!

I hope this works out for you! When we went last year there was a launch scheduled, but it ended up being way postponed (like months!) so that didn't pan out. I hope for you that they keep it locked in on that date!

Wow-for months! I really hope it stays within that same week...Joe has been researching about it and found a nearby town (Titusville) where you can watch the launch from...but the problem is getting TO Titusville. So, now he's researching any sort of shuttle busses that might go out. I really want him, if any way possible, to get to go see it first hand. Even if he just gets to go, I'm fine with that, I'll stay behind with Henry and watch it from WDW - but he'd be SO excited to see it close up. We'll see what happens though...I think he'll be pretty pumped even if it all doesn't work out to see it up close - just to see it at all, even from WDW will be a thrill for him!

 

[teruterubouzu]

That's exciting that there's a launch planned for while you are there! I was supposed to get to go to a launch back in the 80's, but it got postponed. Have you looked into renting a car for the day? You could pick it up and return it at the Dolphin. A 1-day rental might work out to be cheaper than a shuttle.

 

[brookelizabeth]

That's exciting that there's a launch planned for while you are there! I was supposed to get to go to a launch back in the 80's, but it got postponed. Have you looked into renting a car for the day? You could pick it up and return it at the Dolphin. A 1-day rental might work out to be cheaper than a shuttle.

I keep hoping it doesn't get postponed...

I had no idea there was a car rental at the Dolphin! I am sure I have read that before, but it just didn't sink in. This is something to definetly look into...only problem would be that we would need to cart along the car seat for Henry....unless car rentals have something like this available too. Hmmm....

 

[Camster0307]

Hi Brook! I hope the launch stays on schedule too. It's a stroke of luck to be down there when one is scheduled and they are very cool to see. They are just so unpredictable though - they can be postponed days in advance or just hours before.

Calendar is so cute! I've got to get cracking on mine!