Quick Birthday Trip at the Magic Kingdom!!!

[bouncycat]

Okay, this is my FIRST trip report, so bear with me on this one. Little history, we are a military family living about 45 minutes away from Disney, so we usually just pop over for day trips. This time in May, we decided AFTER we made my mom's reservations in September, that DH wanted to go and stay onsite. So, off I go emailing my dreams unlimited lady about a quick trip for May, at a Value resort with the military deal. I was FULLY expecting this to come back and NOT be affordable...but it came back, 2 rooms for 5 people for 2 nights at ASMu, PLUS DDP for $690!!! I couldn't pass that up! So, I booked it, and we are now going to get there on May 18th, which is DH's birthday...with my dad and my step mom, and my ds. We wanna get there a little early so we can swim, and MAYBE get dh the birthday fun card to spend really quick. He's getting the free 5 day ticket, so he can run in and find something for us I'm sure! That evening, we have a very nice ADR planned for Kona, which is where dh wanted for his birthday dinner. So, hopefully they'll embarrass him really good, and then we're off to bed. On the 19th, this is my son's birthday. We're heading over to Magic Kingdom, and have an early ADR for Crystal Palace. That should be fun for him, he'll be 11. Then, it's a day of fun in the MK for us! We gotta take lots of pictures to finish up our journals from my birthday in the MK, which is how this day started! So, quick trip, but it'll be fun! We check out on the 20th, then it's back to the real world! This is our VERY FIRST disney resort stay, so any advice on what we should expect would be very appreciated!
Thanks for listening!

 

[bouncycat]

Okay, after reading some others, decided to add a little more! so, this is the people going with us!!

DH, he is turning 39 on the day we arrive, the 18th....OLD FART!! He is in the Coast Guard, and has been for 13 years, LOVES it!!!

ME, well, I'm easy! I'm the disney nut of the family, and would LIVE there if I could! I work at a bank, and am using ALL of my vacation this year to go to disney!!

DS, he turns 11 on the day we go to MK, he likes it there, he'll follow whatever we do, and just goes with the flow!

DAD, He goes with whatever I want and DSM wants, he can't really do theme parks too much anymore, but will go cause we want him there and like his company. He's retired, and is LOVING it!! He's a disabled Vet, who DOES NOT want an ecv, but pops pain pills for his shot knees the whole day, makes me sad to see him hurting, but I LOVE having him there!!

DSM, this trip was partly her idea, I just kinda ran with it We went to MK for my birthday in January, and I made us all journals for the day, which was fun. We were at my house working on the journals, and DSM realized we missed some stuff... so, she said lets go another day to finish it SO, I said OKAY!!! Not gonna turn down a trip to disney!! And we decided on TYLER's birthday, because HE will be free, and Chris being military will be free. COOL I'm using the military $99 passes for September, so we'll just get one day passes and go from there. DSM agreed, and dad said WHATEVER dh just kinda went with it, and this trip was born!

Was explaining to DH about my real mom's trip in September, and he was a little jealous about some of the places we were eating, so I said lets see if we can use the 40% off for May for a couple of nights, and he said okay, after a lenghty exlplanation on HOW we can afford to do this so I got a quote, and booked 2 nights, 2 rooms at ASMu, HAD to have 2 rooms because DAD Snores!! Plus, I'm a Very light sleeper, and just CAN'T have me cranky!! Next up tomorrow....itenerary!!!

 

[bouncycat]

Alright, since this is a quick trip for the boy's birthdays, this part will be quick.
We arrive on May 18th, check in to ASMu, I'm thinking I wanna get there maybe at around 10ish in the morning. I want to take DH to TTC to activate his pass, and possibly our one day, don't think I'll be able to get Tyler's birthday pass a day early, even if we ARE using it on the actual day...anyways, this way DH can get his $75 gift card, and then we can head over to DTD so he can spend it in world of Disney. After we shop just a hair tad, I wanna go back to the resort and possibly have a swim, and settle in to the room, not expecting them to be done when we get there, if they are fine, if not that's fine too. We have a 7pm ADR for KONA, and after that I wanna have us watch wishes from the poly beach, and then head back to the room for some sleep.

May 19th, DS 11th birthday!!! I can't believe my baby is gonna be 11!!! We have an 8:15 ADR for Crystal palace, and then after that we're off for the hunt for the pictures that we missed in January. I'm figuring we'll start in adventureland, didn't get to do too much there last trip, and we need to hit the treehouse EARLY before dad's knees start hurting him too bad. From there, well, probaby just mosey around the MK, hitting stuff we missed, etc. Which isn't much, but enough. Also hitting our Favorites. Splash wasn't open in Jan, so we'll ride that, we didnt' ride the liberty boat, aladin's carpets, small stuff like that. I got a list of pictures we need. We'll eat CS for lunch, whenever we're hungry after that, and then again for dinner. MK is open until 9, so we'll take our time going back to the room, and get another night's sleep. It'll be nice NOT to have to drive home after a long day at the park Then, the next morning, we'll check out, and head home. Very quick trip this time!! Which, hey, it's better then NO trip!!
Not sure what section is next, but I'll work on it! This might be it, since it is so quick, not much to plan, and it's already laid out, just gotta make the final payment on it here next week!!! So, fire away, let me know what you think about my quick trip....it'll be fun, since I'll be with my DH, DS, and DAD, my 3 FAVORITE guys in the whole wide world!!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Hello, and welcome to the pre trip reports board. We are going to Disney World for the first time May 12-19. We'll also be in the MK on the 19, so maybe we'll pass eachother. My flight does not leave orlando until 8:45 that last day, so no better way than to spend it in the MK.

That's fun, you guys are going to the MK for everyone's birthday. My birthday is right around Memorial day, and 3 of my kid's bdays are in the middle of the summer. I don't think they'll ever get to go on their actual bdays.

The wait is starting to kill me now. In the beginning I was happy with waiting, it was something special to look forward to, but now.... Now, I'm ready to go!

 

[bouncycat]

Thanks, was wondering when someone was gonna post!! it is becoming a pain to wait...now that the ADR's are made, there's not much left to do! I hope we can see in the MK, DAD isn't hard to spot, he's a tall very tan man with a bald head, DSM is a little taller then me, and flaming red hair...and me, well, i'm short, round and blonde, TRYING to become less round, but it's tough! DS is almost as tall as me probably WILL be as tall as me by the time may comes. Not sure what I'll have on so you can easily spot me, probably my tigger ear headband, not many of those around there!! What all have you got planned for your trip?

 

[bouncycat]

Okay, went home for lunch, and uploaded some photos!! YAAAY!!! Now, lets see if this works for me!

K, this first one is me, and my FAVORITE disney person Tigger...was taken the summer I had my AP's, Gosh I miss thos things!!

Next is of me and Dad on my birthday this past Jan on tom sawyer Island! Was chilly that day!

Next is DSM on the Carousel on my birthday...

Next is me and ds, gotta love him!!!

And finally DH, doing what he loves best!

I hope these work!!! That's the players for this trip!

 

[bouncycat]

So, DAD and DSM know we're going to the MK, but they don't know about the hotel....how do we tell them? They're coming down next weekend, and probably need to tell them then, so dad doesn't plan on working during that time. My one idea, is DSM usually makes flyers for family events....for my step brothers and stuff, Like example, next weekend, my brothers are coming down to help finish clearing out our back yard, the builders didn't clear it all, so guess who has to? Anyways, so when we decided to get the brothers involved in the clearing, DSM made flyers for them to remember to come help. So, do I take a page out of her book, and make one for them? Or, do I just tell them? They're easy, and won't be too mad LOL They'll like staying on property, not sure if they ever have either! They'll probably like the food, and the drinks, and the fireworks from the beach. That I do know! So, any other creative ways of inviting them to DH's birthday dinner at KONA? The first thing my dad is gonna ask is "how much is THIS gonna cost me?" I know, I can HEAR HIM!!! HELP!! PLEASE!!

 

[bouncycat]

on the flyer method...I'll seal it up in a nice envelope, and give it to them this saturday when they come to help with the yard. I know I need to tell them, so they can plan for the extra day in there and stuff, we can also drive so they can go straight home, and so can we. Plan accordingly. I saw some invitations that Natalie has on the creative Disigns board, and I'm basically gonna give them an invite to Kona, and CP. and they'll probably figure it out from there. They're breakfast people too, so they'll enjoy the early breakfast!!! Not sure what else to add to this thread, unless something comes up within the next 2 months, but hey, wishing everyone that's going in may for low crowds, no rain, and moderate temps and humidity!!

 

[shordiebecka]

stopping by on this one too! Two trips to Disney World..how exciting. Things look great so far & I'm so jealous you get to go twice this year!

 

[bouncycat]

Thanks Shordi, and The ONLY way this is possible for 2 trips is we're close to the parks, and the military discount. We usually only go for a day, and then come back home, that's what we did in January. That's also what my Dad and DSM are thinking we're doing this time, I'll tell them this saturday when they're down! I'm looking forward to both trips differently, so each will be unique in their own way! I do wanna take LOTS of pictures, so we can capture all the birthday magic!! Thanks again!! I'll let ya'll know how it goes telling dad and DSM!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Oh that's going to be fun.....A surprise!!!!!! I want to surprise my kids with a trip one day. Maybe next year....
That's cute that your DSM makes flyers for all of the events. So that's a great thing for you to do. I saw some of the invitations on the disign thread. They are awesome!!!

 

[bouncycat]

Yea, Natalie has one that I'm gonna use....I'm fighting the urge to make us all t-shirts, but that may be a futile effort. I just feel I should be doing SOMETHING, it's driving me crazy!! I'll let you know how they react this weekend, they won't be the bad ones, probably just concerned that I'm spending the money on them, but they're 25th anniversary is next month, so it'll be a late gift for them! Since they get their own room and all! HAHA

 

[leamom2princesses]

Hi there! You have to post about your families reaction to their envelopes.

 

[bouncycat]

I will leamom, I gotta print them out still, got until saturday, but realize now it's wednesday!! I get off work early today, but need to find time to walk...trying to lose weight too! UG!! everything at once! I guess I'm not happy unless I'm going 90 miles an hour with my hair on fire!!! HAHA I may take pictures, but then they'd know something is up!

 

[bouncycat]

Got the flyers done this morning, I used Natalie's blank design, and on the back I printed the invite...said something like this:
You're invited!!
Chris's 39th birthday dinner at disney's Kona cafe, the date, and
told them that Dinner and Dessert is included, Tips and Alcohol are NOT included, hopefully they'll get the hint! LOL And I put more info to follow, so DSM will ask me, and then I can explain it to her. She probably has NO clue how the DDP works or anything like that. So, she'll probably be happy about that! Anyways, next post will be their reactions I'll post that sometime saturday night or sunday morning!! Wish me luck!!

 

[bouncycat]

Paid this trip off this morning!!! Not happy or nothing am I?? HAHA I talked to my dad yesterday, to make sure he didn't plan any work for May 18th, 19th and 20th, he knows we're going over there, but thinks it's just for the day, I'll tell them tomorrow!! I told him I got something up my sleeve, that's easier to explain in person, what he doesn't know, is HOW disney does things, he's only ever gone over there for the day, never stayed on site, doesn't even know the dining plan EXISTS let alone how it WORKS!! I told him I'm gonna have to explain the details probably about 3 times to the REDHEAD for her to get it!! So he says "yea, redheads are about as bad as blondes" He's always gotta turn it around on us blondes!! Ah well, I'm excited to tell them tomorrow, and they can't use the excuse that it's too expensive, cause it's PAID FOR!!!!! I didn't really know how good this would feel!! I'll post tomorrow night or sunday morning to tell ya'll how the telling them went!!

 

[bouncycat]

They took it pretty well actually!! Had every type of info I could find from Dreams Unlimited site and here to give DSM the 'visuals' of it all, cause if she didn't see it, it would go in one ear and out the other!! Anyways, DSM is all for it, was concerned about our finances, which are fine, and told her it was paid off....I think that helped too, showed her a big map of the whole area, this is where we're staying, this is where we gotta go to eat, etc. Told her I had planned it out in my head on times when we had to be at the busses, etc. So she's happy! Dad was just "whatever" Which I knew he would be, he's like DH, go with the flow type! They both did think it was pretty neat with the food included in the package, they BOTH said that they didn't think that was possible!! SO, one set of people are told, gonna be a few months before I tell Ma!!

 

[bouncycat]

2 Month mark!! WOOHOO!!!! Is it time to start packing yet?? I guess I should start making my list of stuff to get at the dollar store....I can probably do that today!! I JUST CAN'T WAIT!!! This trip is our first time staying on property, first time using the dining plan...I hope it's just awesome!!!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

It's never too early to start packing. I am trying to contain myself though, because I have to pack for 6 people and there would be suitcases all over the place. Although it won't last too long. Congrats on paying it off, mine will be paid by next week, i'm sure that's a great feeling, can't wait.
I'm glad your Dad and SM were happy!

 

[bouncycat]

Yea, I am too....I kept hearing OOOO, OOOOOO , OOOOOOOOOOOOO as I was explaining things to DSM!! Some things she has never done, cause, like me she always goes for one day. She LOVES the idea of a character breakfast, she's just in awe of that one!! I can't wait, I'm ready to go NOW!!! I didn't get to my lists today at work, I'm not feeling well, so didn't do much here! Talk to you later!