PTR; Joshua and Samantha's 1st Trip (Sep 17-26 '09) [Train Tour Pics!]

[lacrosse_lady72]

Love the picture of Wall-E! My boyfriend loves that movie so I made him a shirt that says Jo-E.

Can you believe you'll be there in less than a month??

Wall-E is my favorite Disney/Pixar flick!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Oh! wow just 4 weeks to go...

 

[jenny105]

Wall-E is my favorite Disney/Pixar flick!

My favorite is a toss up between Finding Nemo and Up!

 

[crocko]

Love the picture of Wall-E! My boyfriend loves that movie so I made him a shirt that says Jo-E.

Can you believe you'll be there in less than a month??

So exciting!! I love being down to only weeks on my counter...

I know what you mean... well our trips are less than a month away now

But wishful thinking at least, and we have the DIS to get the ideas flowing

Yes....now if only I could remember all the cool stuff I've seen/read...

Wall-E is my favorite Disney/Pixar flick!

It is very good....most of them are so good. I like Wall-E a lot and yet would probably place it in the middle of the pack of overall Pixar films

Oh! wow just 4 weeks to go...

1 less day now..

My favorite is a toss up between Finding Nemo and Up!

I might have to agree. Those 2 are awesome...toss in Toy Story 2 for good measure

 

[crocko]

This week turned out busier than we expected, so hopefully we can actually get some Disney stuff done this weekend...not too many weekends left!!


Yesterday, though, we did get a replacement camera for Joshua. As I mentioned previously, we took back the stinky Polaroid packaged camera....Office Max had a 20% off everything that could fit in a bag deal...so, we got a camera there for him and got it at 20% off!!

I believe this is the camera we purchased:

It isn't too big, but not so thin that Joshua should drop it much. It's a little better-cased, to make it more durable. The buttons look easy and it snaps a picture easily/quickly. Bridgette and I tested taking some pics while moving the camera some (Joshua's not always really steady) and the pictures still seemed to turn out very well.
::fingers crossed::


Well, hope everyone has a great weekend!

 

[hhockman]

That camera should be perfect. I have the A590, which is just one step up from that one and my 4 year old uses it all the time (as does one of his friends, also 4). The pictures are almost always clear (though sometimes of strange things). Christian loves taking pictures and does a good job with the camera. My one rule though is that he MUST have the wrist strap on his wrist when he's using it. Since that is also the rule with the Wii remote, he's pretty good about it. That seems to prevent accidental dropping.

Can't wait to see the pictures Joshua takes! (We got both of my boys Disney Pix Clix cameras. I know the picture quality is not great on them, but we got a 3MP one so I'm hoping they are at least okay. I only paid $20/each for them. Couldn't afford to get them both a "real" camera (last time we went, when Will was 5, I gave him one of my older cameras and he took about 2 pictures. He's not as into photography as Christian is. I'm planning to also bring that old camera. If the pictures are really bad after the first day, I'll let him use that one).

 

[crocko]

That camera should be perfect. I have the A590, which is just one step up from that one and my 4 year old uses it all the time (as does one of his friends, also 4). The pictures are almost always clear (though sometimes of strange things). Christian loves taking pictures and does a good job with the camera. My one rule though is that he MUST have the wrist strap on his wrist when he's using it. Since that is also the rule with the Wii remote, he's pretty good about it. That seems to prevent accidental dropping.

Can't wait to see the pictures Joshua takes! (We got both of my boys Disney Pix Clix cameras. I know the picture quality is not great on them, but we got a 3MP one so I'm hoping they are at least okay. I only paid $20/each for them. Couldn't afford to get them both a "real" camera (last time we went, when Will was 5, I gave him one of my older cameras and he took about 2 pictures. He's not as into photography as Christian is. I'm planning to also bring that old camera. If the pictures are really bad after the first day, I'll let him use that one).

At 3 MP, they "should" still turn out pretty good.

Joshua got to test his camera this weekend and the pictures turned out VERY well. He got some really good ones. Plus, he gets GREAT pictures of his sister because he's practically eye level with her.

 

[crocko]

Very exciting news from this weekend regarding the trip!


On Thursday/Friday, I started working the numbers/spreadsheets.
Early this year, my sister had mentioned the QSDP, but after running the numbers it never seemed to make sense...especially, since we already had 6 table service meals booked.
Well, as I mentioned a week or two ago, we added Whispering Canyon to our ADR list...then shortly after, I secretly added the 'Ohana breakfast. That got me thinking, why don't I try checking out the Basic Dining Plan package.

So, I put together 4 different plans and compared them.

A) No dining plan, but we keep all 8 TS meals
B) No dining plan, but we scale back to original 6 TS meals
C) Quick-Service dining plan, and scale back to original 6 TS meals
D) Basic dining plan, and actually add a TS meal.

MUCH to my surprise, option D turned out to be the cheapest by a good $100. (In my spreadsheets, I also made sure to include tips and extra snack costs)

So, then I had to get my the General (Bridgette) to see if she wanted to do a lot of TS meals or thought that was a bad idea (because of the kids). Again...to my surprise, she liked the more TS idea. She likes the idea of almost daily, being able to have one TS where we get to sit down, relax, and get air-conditioned.
Then, we just had to run it by my mom and sis to see what they thought.
They were both very excited. My sister has really wanted to do a dining plan (ease/less worry about what to order/less cash on hand).

SO...this morning Mary booked the Basic Dining Plan for 5 adults/2 children and everyone is excited!

Because of that, I knew there was atleast one more TS meal that we'd need to book. Bridgette and I did some looking. Our 2nd Epcot day (Tuesday, Aug 22) was planned as a no-TS day. Initially, we figured we'd eat at Sunshine Seasons for lunch and then quick-service dinner wherever we ended up.
Now...the game plan is to have a late breakfast at Sunshine Seasons and then have a late lunch (3:50) at San Angel Inn in Mexico.

Yay!! To start, this is a place we've all wanted to have a chance to try...especially because of its beautiful indoor location at the Mexico pavilion. Plus, my family loves Mexican food so it makes perfect sense.

Then, after running all the numbers very carefully...I figured that my mom would have 1 extra TS credit and that I could actually end up with 2 extra TS credits. So, I told Mary that she, mom, and dad could take the 3 leftover credits and add another TS for our final full day (Friday, Aug 25). That's our separate day in which they will be checking out the Food & Wine Festival. Unfortunately, not much is available at this point, but they managed to get a 4:45 dinner reservation at Biergarten.



So, here is the new Crocker Family ADR list

Day 1 (Thursday) - Dinner at 'Ohana
Day 2 (Friday) - Breakfast at Crystal Palace
Day 3 (Saturday) - no ADR
Day 4 (Sunday) - Breakfast at Akershus
Day 5 (Monday) - Breakfast at Tusker House, Dinner at Boma (Bridgette, Mary, Dad)
Day 6 (Tuesday) - Lunch at San Angel Inn
Day 7 (Wednesday) - no ADR
Day 8 (Thursday) - Lunch at Whispering Canyon
Day 9 (Friday) - Breakfast at Hollywood & Vine (John, Bridgette, Joshua, Samantha), Breakfast at Kona Cafe (Mary, Mom, Dad), Dinner at Biergarten (Mary, Mom, Dad)
Day 10 (Saturday) - Breakfast at 'Ohana

 

[jenny105]

I love San Angel Inn! The atmosphere is great and the food is amazing. I think you'll enjoy it. I have an ADR there too for our last full day. I'm not sure I'm even going to need it because F&WF will be going on!

 

[stacikristine]

YAY for adding the DDP!!! That is so exciting. After having it in 06, my whole family is sold! None of us will go to Disney without it now And the camera looks like it will be perfect for Joshua. Can't wait to see the pics he takes!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Congrats on adding the DDP!!! We used the dining plan on our first trip with the boys in 2005 and haven't even considered a trip without it since! You'll love it

 

[chicagoshannon]

oh looks good! I'm excited to see how the dining plan works out for you.

 

[Macduffy]

Isn't it great when you sit down and work the numbers out to find the best deal is! Great Job!

 

[crocko]

I love San Angel Inn! The atmosphere is great and the food is amazing. I think you'll enjoy it. I have an ADR there too for our last full day. I'm not sure I'm even going to need it because F&WF will be going on!

Excited about the atmosphere.....glad you liked the food when you went

YAY for adding the DDP!!! That is so exciting. After having it in 06, my whole family is sold! None of us will go to Disney without it now And the camera looks like it will be perfect for Joshua. Can't wait to see the pics he takes!

We've now got it for Sept and Nov trips...so, maybe we'll come out of it hooked, too

Congrats on adding the DDP!!! We used the dining plan on our first trip with the boys in 2005 and haven't even considered a trip without it since! You'll love it

Glad to hear!

oh looks good! I'm excited to see how the dining plan works out for you.

I'll definitely give a good report and summary when I'm back.

Isn't it great when you sit down and work the numbers out to find the best deal is! Great Job!

Yeah...I love "working the numbers out".

 

[crocko]

Yesterday, Bridgette did some thinking about luggage and realized that we're probably short 2 pieces of luggage for the trip....specifically carry-on's for the kids.

She went to JCPenny and found this luggage.
As you may note, each piece is originally $160. They were on sale for $30 each.

So, she grabbed the cute pink one for Samantha and the blue one for Joshua.

Checked them out when I got home and they are very nice.




Now...just trying to figure out how we'll navigate through the airport with 2 kids, 4 carry-ons, 4 personal items, and 2 strollers. Hmmm.....

 

[crocko]

Found a picture that I can directly paste into the thread:

 

[Lynn5700]

YAY for the DDP!!! Ohh and I love the luggage!!!!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Now...just trying to figure out how we'll navigate through the airport with 2 kids, 4 carry-ons, 4 personal items, and 2 strollers. Hmmm.....

Yikes! Good luck with that It's been so long since I traveled with little ones, I forgot what it's like! I remember when DS9 was about 18 mos old we flew to Maryland to visit some friends. DH was carrying the baby and I had my purse, the diaperbag, a carry-on AND older DSs backpack with me (why I was toting all this stuff, I don't know!). Anyway, I was the "random" passenger selected to be screened before boarding the plane. It took forever for them to go through all our crap, everyone was boarded, seated and waiting for me by the time they were done. I walked on the plane and all eyes were on me, like I was holding everyone up - yeah, it was a great time!

 

[crocko]

YAY for the DDP!!! Ohh and I love the luggage!!!!

Thanks! It is fun that the kids now have their first "big-people" luggage.

Yikes! Good luck with that It's been so long since I traveled with little ones, I forgot what it's like! I remember when DS9 was about 18 mos old we flew to Maryland to visit some friends. DH was carrying the baby and I had my purse, the diaperbag, a carry-on AND older DSs backpack with me (why I was toting all this stuff, I don't know!). Anyway, I was the "random" passenger selected to be screened before boarding the plane. It took forever for them to go through all our crap, everyone was boarded, seated and waiting for me by the time they were done. I walked on the plane and all eyes were on me, like I was holding everyone up - yeah, it was a great time!

Yikes....from what I've seen, those screenings they do right when your trying to get on the plane are the worst. I understand the need.....but "JUST LET ME ON THE PLANE"

 

[crocko]

T
TH
THU
THUR
THURS
THURSD
THURSDA
THURSDAY
THURSDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!





Only 3 more weeks until Disney World!!!!!






Letter X
Ride - Disney's Magical X-press (I guess you could say that this will be the kids' first Disney ride)
Non-ride - X-tra Magic Hours (Hopefully the kids will think it's cool that we get to enter the parks early some days...kinda like taking shortcuts...the kids love shortcuts)
Characters: XR (Buzz), Xerxes (Aladdin movies)