POP'ing back to Disney! A PTR! Updated 6/10 with pics!

[adisneymama]

So since I'm about 34 days out and overly excited, I thought I would start a pre-trip report. Yeah I know the title is cheesey but I never said I was creative, so it'll just have to do!

So here are the dates and an introduction to the crew:

July 2-10 staying at Pop Century! Passholder rate with Dining plan.

Me: The wife/mom and OCD planner for this and all Disney trips!

DH: The Dad. Loves Disney and goes along with what I plan. You could say he has learned to just do what I say. Well at least at Disney!

DD: Just turned 7 and just bridged over to be a Brownie! Our little drama queen/diva all in one.

DS: Our rambunctious 2 yr old. He is only still if he is asleep and even then I wonder!

We will be driving from the Houston area and plan to drive it in one day. Dh says we will leave around 3 AM on 7/2 which will put us in the Mobile, AL area around lunch time. This is our hometown so we plan to have lunch at a local park near my mothers house We figure this will also allow the kids some exercise and let them burn off some of the stored up energy they are surely to have by then. After the park visit/picnic it is on the road again for the second half of our trip. We should arrive in Disney around 8-9 pm. Boy is that going to be a long day! Good thing we have no major plans for early the next morning!

I've got to scoot for now, but I'll come back on later to post some pics of our crew and post our dining reservations.

 

[adisneymama]

Ok I'm back with the pics, family time called so I had to take a break.

Now back to the program...

Pics removed as I only leave them up for a short period of time.
Up next, The ADR list!

 

[adisneymama]

So far about the only thing I have done is make our ADR's. This is the game plan for this trip.

Arrive late on July 2nd. Pass out from exhaustion! This will be us when we see the beds for the first time!
July 3rd A late breakfast at CM. This is my birthday as well. No I won't tell you how old I will be! Plan on doing Magic Kingdom and turn in early if we feel the need. Not sure how we will be doing after the long drive so left it a pretty open day.

July 4th - Playhouse Disney lunch with JoJo. Hang out at HS for most of the day, but make it back to MK for the fireworks. Yes, I know it will be crazy, but I am very sentimental about Independence day. I think it comes from being born so close to the holiday as well as the fact that my brother has been serving our country for 13 years now and is currently on his second tour in Iraq.

July 5th Princess Storybook for Aubrey. Do as much of Epcot as we feel like and then play the afternoon by ear.

July 6th - Another late breakfast, this time 1900 PF. We really enjoy the dinner here, but have never done the breakfast. This should be fun! We'll probably head back over to MK afterwords if not even before hand.

July 7th - HS with the afternoon open should we feel like hopping to another park or going back to the room etc. Hoop De Doo that evening. Another dining option we have not done before.

July 8th - DH's birthday. AK for Donalds. This is one of dh's favorite places to eat. Since we don't usually spend too much time at AK we'll probably wonder back over to the MK and let dh spend his birthday money on the kids!

July 9th - Sadly this is our last day in the parks. We'll finish up Epcot that morning and then mosey on over to MK for the afternoon. 1900 PF for dinner and then a few last rides and waves goodbye.

July 10th back on the road to start heading home. We may be making a side trip on the way as well. I'll fill you in on that later. We are suppose to decide that this weekend.

Well that is a start. Now I need to get my hiney in the bed. I'll try to post more tomorrow.

 

[jmskinner]

I saw your post over at the July thread about having a PTR and thought I would join you.

Our first trip to WDW was a July 4th weekend. We lived in San Angelo, TX at the time. We flew though, but that is an additional 8 hours on top of your drive if we drove it.

I hate the part between getting ADR's and your trip. You don't have anymore planning or anything to do. Just waiting.

 

[adisneymama]

I know! It is hard once the ADR's are made! All you can do is second guess them and try to change them! Wow we would definitely be flying if we had another 8 hrs! We have flown from here in the past. This is our first time driving. But with the cost of airfare these days and having to pay for 4 tickets, we decided to drive.

Glad you decided to join. I hope to give a little update later with some of the things I have gathered etc to start getting ready.

Oh and funny, our very first family trip was July 2004. We checked in on dh's birthday that year. Been hooked ever since!

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

so.....are you going to video tape the fireworks? and then show it to me? LOL

 

[adisneymama]

I'm actually working on figuring out how to record from the new camcorder to the computer just for you John. LOL

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

I'm actually working on figuring out how to record from the new camcorder to the computer just for you John. LOL

you have 30 days to play and learn. july 4th at MK will be the bomb

 

[adisneymama]

Got into it last night and realized I don't have the right kind of usb cable for it. Getting one is on the agenda for today though!

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

Got into it last night and realized I don't have the right kind of usb cable for it. Getting one is on the agenda for today though!

dont waste too much time. time to learn so you can get some great video. just get an extra battery for camcorder. never know how much you will record. no need to burn to dvd when you can just play it on your own computer.


Hey Buddy, record everything. even the fireworks on July 4TH.

But test on the different recording types. try to get the most for your camcorder.

 

[adisneymama]

LOL Do you really think Buddy reads this?

Ok bought the firewire today. Dh is playing with a video now. It isn't Disney related but if we can get it to work I may see if I can post it. Just to get the practice.

So we had a pretty busy weekend here. Dh had an allergic reaction to the new fabric softener I bought. So I have been busy all weekend when I'm not busy with something else. I'm still not done! This is Aubrey's last week of school. Her last day is Thursday. Then we start all the fun summer activities. I'm hoping they will make the month of June fly by!

I'm getting ready to start my packing list and list of things to not forget! I'm also off to buy that spare battery John!

So who wants a rundown of what I'm packing?

 

[flipflopmom]

Have you seen my to do list?? Who says there is nothing to do after making ADR's??? I am driving DH crazy with order of touring in each park.......

I can't wait to see all your new video!

 

[adisneymama]

LOL with two small kids I don't order the touring. Just outline what park each day etc so that I can plan the ADR's. We kind of wing the rest. Less stressful that way. Actually that is the way we have done it from day one! Except can you believe our very first trip we didn't have any ADR's! We really didn't know about them. We were able to book Chef Mickey's at the resort at the last minute and have been hooked ever since!

Dh got the video uploaded to you tube he said. So now I need to go check it out and see if I can figure out how to post it here. Hopefully, I'll be back in a bit with the video!

 

[adisneymama]

Let's see if this works....this isn't Disney. It is my Daughters Bridging ceremony from Daisy to Brownie.

 

[jmskinner]

Your link worked for me.

I only plan what day at what park and ADR's also. My DH jokes that I have everything scheduled but I don't.

 

[adisneymama]

Yay! Glad it worked! I have no idea how to be fancy and post the little video screen in the post instead of the link. So I guess I'll just have to keep posting the links!

 

[jmskinner]

I just tried posting a video myself hoping I could help you out,but I don't know how either.

I don't mind clicking on links.

 

[adisneymama]

LOL Thanks for trying! Hey this is a big improvement for me...trust me!

Ok, so I'm trying to make a list of things that I need to get done. So far this is what I have:

Finish washing all the new clothes that were bought for the summer, but that were put up for Disney!

Dh needs to service the double stroller. He hasn't oiled it in a while. And yes I think I am pretty sure of which one I'm taking!

Need to gather things for the kids backpacks for the van.

Need to make the kids try on the crocs that I bought way back when. See if they have grown into them or not. If not, we'll be buying shoes.

Need to decide which bag I am going to use in the parks. Although I'm thinking the messenger style bag I used in December will work great again.

Need to pack the Roby sleeve for the GAC for DD! This is going to make carry and protecting the GAC so nice and easy. John and Susan I won't have to be yelling "hey GACman anymore!" Aren't you thrilled?

Need to try to find the sports bottle caps that I bought. I know where one of the three are. I bought them to put on a coke bottle or a bottle of juice etc. The kids thought they were neat and now they have gone missing. Maybe if I clean Aubrey's room I might find them.

Oh and I really need to try to find the large pack of mini Dv's that I just bought and haven't seen since a certain 2 yo brought them inside for me.

Well there is a start. I guess my next order of business should be finishing the photobooks from our Aug 2008 and Dec 2008 trips before we leave for this one!

Oh and off to do some more of this

 

[dolfinjuls]

Hi Debbie! I followed you from the July boards! Can't wait to hear about it all...it's getting so close! Hopefully you'll be able to start the TR asap to keep me busy until it's time for us to leave!

 

[adisneymama]

LOL I'll do my best! Welcome aboard!