PTR: Our First Family Trip to Meet the MOUSE!! *Finished Mini TR 8/26*

[Mommy2LittleVols]

Hi Julia!! Joining in on your PTR--I live in TN, too!! I live in a suburb of Memphis. We are leaving for our WDW in 11 days--can't wait!! You have a beautiful family! Just wanted to say "hello" and that I'm subscribing!!

Hi Becky and welcome to my PTR! Thanks for joining us! I always love "meeting" fellow DISing Tennesseans. Wow, your trip is really close! I bet you are getting super excited!

 

[shordiebecka]

ohhh love your spread sheet! i'm thinking of making one similar. I have TGM's day to day itinerary planning (seperate sections for each day), but I might have to make one big spread sheet for easy reference in case plans change.

 

[ladybugmom]

Hi Becky and welcome to my PTR! Thanks for joining us! I always love "meeting" fellow DISing Tennesseans. Wow, your trip is really close! I bet you are getting super excited!

We are!! This will be a first for my girls and I haven't been since 1994!! 10 days!! Whoo hoo!!

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

ohhh love your spread sheet! i'm thinking of making one similar. I have TGM's day to day itinerary planning (seperate sections for each day), but I might have to make one big spread sheet for easy reference in case plans change.

I use the UG touring plans, but have found that it helps me a lot to have that sheet to reference as an overall master plan.

We are!! This will be a first for my girls and I haven't been since 1994!! 10 days!! Whoo hoo!!

Wow! Your first trip after 15 years, and the first trip for your girls - should be a blast!! I can't wait to read your TR!!

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

We've made some great progress in planning over the past couple of weeks. My SILs decided that they were just coming for part of the trip, and convinced my other SIL, Gina, to let my two nephews come with them since they will only miss 1 day of school. Woohoo!

Kristy booked the rooms for them last night. They booked 2 rooms at ASMovies. One room will be Kristy and Cynthia, and the other will be Mam, Pap, Zach, and Landon. They are staying from Friday, Sept. 25 to Tuesday, Sept. 29. (The boys are flying home Monday night so they can go to school on Tuesday.)

Darren, Dakoda, Sarah, and I are still staying at Pop Century from 9/25-10/2. I'm so glad to finally know for sure who is going! Now the real planning can begin!

 

[lizet313]

Glad everything is working out.

 

[that's nice]

We've made some great progress in planning over the past couple of weeks. My SILs decided that they were just coming for part of the trip, and convinced my other SIL, Gina, to let my two nephews come with them since they will only miss 1 day of school. Woohoo!

Kristy booked the rooms for them last night. They booked 2 rooms at ASMovies. One room will be Kristy and Cynthia, and the other will be Mam, Pap, Zach, and Landon. They are staying from Friday, Sept. 25 to Tuesday, Sept. 29. (The boys are flying home Monday night so they can go to school on Tuesday.)

Darren, Dakoda, Sarah, and I are still staying at Pop Century from 9/25-10/2. I'm so glad to finally know for sure who is going! Now the real planning can begin!

It sounds like you are going to have one BIG Disney party!!!!!!!!!! LOL

 

[Cinderelly5507]

You'll have a Grand Gathering now! How exciting!!!

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

Okay, so I tried to update Saturday, but got sidetracked because my Yorkie decided to have her puppies! So here is the real update (if I haven't lost all of my readers since I haven't updated in a month ). I'm sorry it's been so long since I updated. I started a new job, so I've been super busy. Now that things are settled down and we are only 95 days out from our trip, I will definitely be updating more often!

First major development - we have decided to forego the 12 hour drive with an infant and a toddler and FLY to Orlando instead! Woohoo! We got a great price on airfare ($44/person each way - thanks to my good friends over on the Budget Board!), so I was able to convince DH to do it. He has never flown, so he's not too crazy about the idea.

Second major development - we got a definitive YES from my SIL about my nephews, so they are going for sure! YAY! So we definitely have a Grand Gathering for half of our trip.

I finally got a chance to sit down with my other SILs this weekend and nail down our itinerary. Here is what it is looking like (obviously, all the ADR's are pending):

Day 1 - Friday, Sept. 25, 2009
Travel/Disney Studios
Depart @ 1:15 pm
Arrive in Orlando @ 2:55 pm
Settle in at Resort
Fantasmic Dinner Pkg @ Mama Melrose
Fantasmic! @ 8:00 PM

Day 2 - Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009
Magic Kingdom Day 1 (Water Park for SILs and DNephews)
Breakfast: Grand Gathering Welcome Breakfast @ Tony's
Lunch: @ MK or Resort
Nap/Downtime
Dinner: Casey's Corner
Spectromagic @ 8:00 PM
Wishes @ 9:00 PM

Day 3 - Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009
Epcot
Breakfast: @ Resort
Lunch: Biergarten (earliest seating possible)
Nap/Downtime
Dinner: Teppan Edo
Illuminations @ 9:00 PM

Day 4 - Monday, Sept. 28, 2009
Animal Kingdom & Downtown Disney
Breakfast: Tusker House
Nap/Downtime
Late Lunch: Fulton's Crab House (OOP)
Shopping!
Dinner: CS @ Downtown Disney

Day 5 - Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009 (Extended family leaves this AM)
Disney Studios
Breakfast: @ Resort
Probably will sleep in and take it easy this AM
Lunch: Toy Story Pizza Planet
Block Party Bash @ 3:00 PM
Dinner: CS @ DS

Day 6 - Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009
Magic Kingdom Day 2
Breakfast: Main Street Bakery
Lunch: Liberty Tree Tavern
Dreams Come True Parade @ 3:00 PM
Nap/Downtime
Dinner: @ MK or Resort

Day 7 - Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009
Free Day
I told DH that we could do whatever he wanted on this day (except leave early )

Day 8 - Friday, Oct. 2, 2009
Our Last Day
Breakfast: Chef Mickey's
Depart @ 10:55 am
Arrive @ 12:40 pm
Unpack and cry

 

[shordiebecka]

I'm still reading! Glad to hear you will be back around. I also have been MIA because of silly grad school..sigh...

your itinerary looks really great. Its good that you scheduled so much down time, thats the best way to do it!

 

[wahmtexas]

Hi
I am killing time on DIS before we leave to meet my parents for dinner(DH is out of town)
Switched our Poly ressie to WL yesterday(long story) but we have never been to WL so I am really excited.
I am so happy for you, you are helping so many people work from home and off to a great start.

 

[that's nice]

Your plans look good!!!

When you're unpacking I'll be packing up the car to leave Saturday morning to go to the airport!!!!! LOL

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

I'm still reading! Glad to hear you will be back around. I also have been MIA because of silly grad school..sigh...

your itinerary looks really great. Its good that you scheduled so much down time, thats the best way to do it!

I feel for you on grad school! What are you studying? I can't imagine trying to do the parks without downtime. My kids would be sooo cranky.

Hi
I am killing time on DIS before we leave to meet my parents for dinner(DH is out of town)
Switched our Poly ressie to WL yesterday(long story) but we have never been to WL so I am really excited.
I am so happy for you, you are helping so many people work from home and off to a great start.

Hi Michelle! Thanks for stopping by! I'm jealous - I really want to stay at WL. I'm going to try to convince DH to stay there at Christmas-time one year. I've heard the decorations there are amazing. I'm loving the job so far, and I can't thank you enough for all of your help!

Your plans look good!!!

When you're unpacking I'll be packing up the car to leave Saturday morning to go to the airport!!!!! LOL

Thanks! How is Juliana's potty training going? And did you guys ever decide on a house?? Off to check your PTR...

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

The day is finally here! I got to make my ADR's this morning and.........I GOT EVERYTHING I WANTED!!!!! Except the Fantasmic! Dinner Package, but I'm ok with that.

I did make one small change to the Itinerary that I posted a few days ago - I decided to forego the Grand Gathering Breakfast at Tony's since we would miss out on park time, so we are eating at Chef Mickey's that morning instead. I also decided not to try and do a TS breakfast the morning that we leave so that we wouldn't have to rush.

So, here are our CONFIRMED ADR's!!!

9/26/09 - Chef Mickey's - 7:00 am
9/26/09 - Tony's Town Square - 12:35 pm
9/27/09 - Biergarten - 12:00 pm
9/27/09 - Teppan Edo - 5:20 pm
9/28/09 - Tusker House - 8:10 am
9/28/09 - Fulton's Crab House - 5:00 pm
9/30/09 - Liberty Tree Tavern - 11:30 am
10/1/09 - Le Cellier - 2:10 pm

 

[princess_momma]

Yay for getting everything!! It looks like we have a lot of the same tastes!! I wish we were going to Fulton's crab house...but its not on the dining plan

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

Yay for getting everything!! It looks like we have a lot of the same tastes!! I wish we were going to Fulton's crab house...but its not on the dining plan

Yeah...the only thing that DH requested we eat while on vacation is crab legs. So we'll be paying out of pocket for that.

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

Since I haven't looked at it in a while, I decided today was as good a time as any to update our vacation budget.

Originally, DH wanted us to spend no more than $1500. Total. For 7 days at Disney World. Our room and tickets alone were right at $1100, so I don't know what he was thinking.

Here is how it is looking now:

Transportation:
Airfare for 3, plus free Infant: $363.60
Ground Transportation: FREE! - Magical Express
Airport parking: $100 (I have no clue how much this might cost, so I'm erring on the side of caution)
Total Transportation: $463.60

Lodging:
7 nights at Pop Century: $574.00

Park Tickets:
2 Adult 7-day MYW Base Tickets: $562.56

Meals and Food:
Dining Plan: FREE!
Breakfast: $50
Lunch: $0
Dinner: $100
Snacks: $50
Groceries: $50
Total Meals and Food: $250

Shopping and Souvenirs: $250

Tips and Miscellaneous: $200

Total Budget: $2300.16

I think DH should be able to live with that....I mean, it's only $800 more than he originally planned, right? Good thing I have that new job....

 

[MRYPPNS]

So I'm reading along and up pops this!

Finally, my Master Schedule spreadsheet:

I have to admit - I "borrowed" this from a fabulous PTR that I highly recommend (PTR for the planning obsessed).

I'm glad my Master schedule form is helpful for you. I always had that handy when we were at Disney. And thanks for the kind words about my PTR

 

[jenjolt]

Found your PTR over on another one and saw that we would be at Disney at the same time so I had to come over and say hi!!!! You have quite the gang going and you guys are going to have a great time!!

Congrats on getting all the ADRs you wanted YAY!! Isn't that a great feeling!

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

So I'm reading along and up pops this!



I'm glad my Master schedule form is helpful for you. I always had that handy when we were at Disney. And thanks for the kind words about my PTR

I hope you don't mind that I borrowed your design. It was so well thought out that I just had to use it.

Found your PTR over on another one and saw that we would be at Disney at the same time so I had to come over and say hi!!!! You have quite the gang going and you guys are going to have a great time!!

Congrats on getting all the ADRs you wanted YAY!! Isn't that a great feeling!

Hi! Thanks for joining me on this crazy ride! I'm going to have to check out your PTR...