September 2011 - The Planning Has Started!!!

[Disneybound!!]

My princess is here! She was born at 5:01 after one and a half pushes! She's 8 lbs 5 oz and 20 inches and a perfect doll. the only thing they had to do was break my water when I got to 9 cm, but other than that I did it on my own!

So glad that all went well for you, definitely answered prayers! Enjoy your new little one!

 

[Caretames1]

Well, my DH & I just finished planning out our days (I think) Here goes;

WED) Sept 21st-Arrive around noon in Orlando, get picked up by Car service & a stop at a store. Head on to POP!
If room is ready, stow bags, if not jump a bus to DTD. EOS is our choice for first meal. Shop, roam.

THUR) Sept 22nd, Breakfast @ POP then on to Epcot for an hour, then off to the My Disney Girl Princess Tea Party, back to Epcot, early dinner at the Boardwalk Hotel ( brewery place, blanking on name)
Haven't decided to do Illuminations yet. Depends if MNSSHP is Fri or not.

FRI) Sept 23rd Breakfast @ POP, then on the DHS, Lunch @ Sci-FI, leave to change for MNSSHP ( if that is in fact the night it's on) Head to MK for MNSSHP. Dinner at Columbia Harbour House and enjoy party

SAT) Sept 24th Early ADR in the Castle, then spend day at MK. Lunch ??/ decide then. Dinner at 1900 Park Fare, and then back to MK for Wishes.

Sept 25th depart for home.

Now, if it stays this way

Carey

 

[L-Harper]

My princess is here! She was born at 5:01 after one and a half pushes! She's 8 lbs 5 oz and 20 inches and a perfect doll. the only thing they had to do was break my water when I got to 9 cm, but other than that I did it on my own!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! I cannot believe only 1 and a half pushes. That is AMAZING!!!!

 

[L-Harper]

I found an awesome planning spreadsheet that I think you guys would like: http://www.plan-a-magical-vacation.com/disney-vacation-planning-spreadsheet.html

 

[Millermom0606]

O YAY DANI!!!!!! SO glad she made it into the world safely and easily!!!!

Ok so I have a question for you all....... How much should I budget for spending $$ for my kiddos?? I'm thinking like one thing a day?? Unless its NOT a toy, like if they want say a fan from Japan or something...... thats a pretty... O and then a snowglobe each which is like $50ish...... so thats $700...... does that sound good, too much, not enough? maybe round it up to $1000 just to 'be safe'???

I don't know how many souvies DH and I will want... I think last time he got a few beers and a Vinylmation and a fedora w Jack Skellington on it..... LOL so maybe $150??

This time I'm keeping track darn it!!!!
LOL

ANy help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!!!!

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

O YAY DANI!!!!!! SO glad she made it into the world safely and easily!!!!

Ok so I have a question for you all....... How much should I budget for spending $$ for my kiddos?? I'm thinking like one thing a day?? Unless its NOT a toy, like if they want say a fan from Japan or something...... thats a pretty... O and then a snowglobe each which is like $50ish...... so thats $700...... does that sound good, too much, not enough? maybe round it up to $1000 just to 'be safe'???

I don't know how many souvies DH and I will want... I think last time he got a few beers and a Vinylmation and a fedora w Jack Skellington on it..... LOL so maybe $150??

This time I'm keeping track darn it!!!!
LOL

ANy help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!!!!

We're a frugal family, so $1000 or $1500 in extra purchases could be another Disney vacation for us! Do you have a Disney store near you? I know some families will buy Disney gift cards in advance from the Disney Store (or elsewhere) and distribute them to family members. That way, it's a pre-determined amount for everyone and they have to decide what's most important for them to purchase (and since you have young children, you'll probably be making most of those decisions yourself). If you have the money, you could allocate $100 per child for the entire vacation and $200 per adult for the entire vacation. It depends on what you are including in the category of "spending"!

 

[MamaJessie]

Another frugal family here so my kids are going to have about 30-40 each depending on gifts. At this point they each have 10 in their souvenir fund. They will each have their own gift card (last time it was disney dollars) and when it is spent, it is spent. My kids are used to working within their budget so whatever they get makes them happy.

I think I spent about 40 on souvs for myself/home and DH was higher but again, it's because of his last minute halloween thing.

If you've got that much in the budget though, have fun

 

[Millermom0606]

Thanks ladies!! I'm going to try to keep them from buying stufties at all costs LOL
I'm thinking that my oldest should probably have a little bigger budget than say oh the little fella who can't talk LOL
They each have about $200 from bdays and christmas that I've saved for them as well... I'm going to get them a Gift Card with their pic on it from Disneystore.com.....

So far mommies must gets for them are
make your own ears
snowglobe
potato head pieces
refill mugs (they keep stealing mine from the last trip!!)
may add more later LOL

I think I may try to convince them to skip balloons this trip, or just have a communal ballon for the stroller..... maybe.... LOL

Am I crazy?!?!

 

[sjs314]

I know that I've asked this queston before but I had very little response....it's about ADR"s.......we really want to eat in HS or really close by...I have tried Mama Melrose and was disappointed and 50's isn't might type of food....but I have read so many awful things about Sci-Fi...we are on DDp and I like to use my credits to their full potential (like tutto italia and teppan edo!!!!) I don't even know what is close by to HS (we want to spend most of the evening there and not 1 1/2 communting back and forth) HELP!

Welcome to Dani's New Princess!! So happy for you, Dani, that everything worked out so well. Congrats to the new Big Brother, too!! I bet he will be a big helper!






Yay for your ADR's!!!!! Seems like Sept is really open to get ADR's that you want!




No turning back now! I'm glad you got what you wanted and now you won't be moving your dates anymore.
Ms Liz--- congrats on DVC!


My goodness!!!! A new baby, ADR's made, DVC bought, Flights purchased.... We are one happening thread!!



Hello to everyone else---- We are all one day closer to leaving!!!

Jo - you willing to bet on that?

Omg I woke up DH when I pulled up the JB and saw that they had changed the times on a couple of the flights, we had decided last night to book leaveing out of HPN not BDL even though BDL tends to be cheaper but only HPN has the early flight in the am.

I did have a slight pang of remourse after I went back to lay down and thought about not being able to change dates now all in all I know I did what is best since returning early our last day I can go pick up our Bella instead of having to wait until the following day, I save a few $ and I am usually missing her so much by time we get home. Our last trip I called almost everyday just to check on her.

 

[Millermom0606]

aww Sheila I know what you mean about the pets..... although our Standard Poodle goes to a doggie hotel with an indoor pool, so he almost doesn't want to come home when we go get him LOL

 

[MissLiz]

Millermom -- we had our DD do extra chores to earn some money for WDW for our trip last May. She ended up earning about $40 (she was pretty stinking lazy...lol). Then, since we were leaving on the last day of school, we gave her a card with $60 in it for doing such a good job in school the whole year, so she had a total of $100 to spend at WDW.

She did a great job of budgeting. The only thing she wished she hadn't bought was a water bottle/fan. Being stinking hot at AK does not make up for the fact that the thing is super heavy when it's filled with water. She learned from that mistake!




Our rule has always been that we would not buy anything the first time we saw it. If we still wanted it after we had seen other things, then we would get it. We usually wait to shop until the last morning we are there unless it's something we really knew we wanted.

For example, in September, I bought 4 plastic Mickey plates. We used them and I love them, but I didn't feel we had enough, so in Feb, I bought 4 more when I saw them.

 

[jbmom]

Thanks ladies!! I'm going to try to keep them from buying stufties at all costs LOL
I'm thinking that my oldest should probably have a little bigger budget than say oh the little fella who can't talk LOL
They each have about $200 from bdays and christmas that I've saved for them as well... I'm going to get them a Gift Card with their pic on it from Disneystore.com.....

So far mommies must gets for them are
make your own ears
snowglobe
potato head pieces
refill mugs (they keep stealing mine from the last trip!!)
may add more later LOL

I think I may try to convince them to skip balloons this trip, or just have a communal ballon for the stroller..... maybe.... LOL

Am I crazy?!?!

I try to be frugal at home so when we are on vacation we splurge. My kids will have about $300 each to spend between Disney and Universal. They have been getting Disney gift cards for Christmas, birthdays and Easter. They have been saving any cash they get from other family members.

I will buy ornaments, some new shirts, a new Disney Dooney(I absolutely love the one I have, but its a bit big), a few new kitchen items, photo albums and a calendar. My dh isn't a big spender at Disney.

So, no you're not crazy!

 

[L-Harper]

Thank you for posting about thee budget for souvenirs. I was wondering that too. It's easier for me though because my kids will only be 2 & 4 so they won't really get their own budgets. I am not also trying to figure out how much to budget for tips, drinks and breakfasts. For now in my budget sheet I'm thinking $1200 for ALL of the extras while we're there. That would include the souvenirs, tips, drinks, food for our 2 year old if he needs something extra, breakfasts, the balloon ride in DTD, all those things. We'll be there for 10 days, is this a reasonable number or am I budgeting too much? We aren't huge souvenir buyers either.

 

[sjs314]

Well, my DH & I just finished planning out our days (I think) Here goes;

WED) Sept 21st-Arrive around noon in Orlando, get picked up by Car service & a stop at a store. Head on to POP!
If room is ready, stow bags, if not jump a bus to DTD. EOS is our choice for first meal. Shop, roam.

THUR) Sept 22nd, Breakfast @ POP then on to Epcot for an hour, then off to the My Disney Girl Princess Tea Party, back to Epcot, early dinner at the Boardwalk Hotel ( brewery place, blanking on name)
Haven't decided to do Illuminations yet. Depends if MNSSHP is Fri or not.

FRI) Sept 23rd Breakfast @ POP, then on the DHS, Lunch @ Sci-FI, leave to change for MNSSHP ( if that is in fact the night it's on) Head to MK for MNSSHP. Dinner at Columbia Harbour House and enjoy party

SAT) Sept 24th Early ADR in the Castle, then spend day at MK. Lunch ??/ decide then. Dinner at 1900 Park Fare, and then back to MK for Wishes.

Sept 25th depart for home.

Now, if it stays this way

Carey

I think it looks good, and reading it over made me think maybe we should head to DTD on our first day for lunch, I have heard good things about EOS but we are doing the DxDP so I been planning on trying Raglan Road...Hmmmm

I found an awesome planning spreadsheet that I think you guys would like: http://www.plan-a-magical-vacation.com/disney-vacation-planning-spreadsheet.html

Where do you find these sites? That spread sheet looks similar to mine which is still no where complete since I need the October Hours

O YAY DANI!!!!!! SO glad she made it into the world safely and easily!!!!

Ok so I have a question for you all....... How much should I budget for spending $$ for my kiddos?? I'm thinking like one thing a day?? Unless its NOT a toy, like if they want say a fan from Japan or something...... thats a pretty... O and then a snowglobe each which is like $50ish...... so thats $700...... does that sound good, too much, not enough? maybe round it up to $1000 just to 'be safe'???

I don't know how many souvies DH and I will want... I think last time he got a few beers and a Vinylmation and a fedora w Jack Skellington on it..... LOL so maybe $150??

This time I'm keeping track darn it!!!!
LOL

ANy help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!!!!

My DS were older by time we went to Disney so they bought had their own $ for what they wanted(oldest was working and younger had saved allowances)

I still ended up forking over the $ for a shirt or two each trip for my eldest who would "hymn and haw" not wanting to part with his hard earned money. My youngestI did the same with since he was not into buying clothes for himself, other items he had no problem parting with his cash

I spend between $100 and $200 on me me me and DH will buy a shirt and something for his mother but that is about it.

I think $1000 a good target amount , back in the day of travelers checks I use to take $2000 then came home with a ton left over

 

[Smile4Me]

We are sitting down and looking at what we have put aside for all the extras costs tonight too (park hoppers, water parks, tips, MNSSHP, drinks, gas to the airport, parking, dog sitter, souvies, etc!)
I'm going to look at the menus and calculate what our meals might look like at each place to have a good estimate of what our total meal cost will be so I we will know what to bring for a tip at each place. (we always estimate high in case we have a great server!)
We have been looking at our daily schedule and my bf won't committ to what day he wants to go to the Halloween Party because dates haven't officially been released yet! I told him we should tentatively plan on it because history is on our side, but that the 5 and 6 month difference from the time we make our ressies, and then the dates are released, to when we go, there should be plenty of time to make some changes!! I'm pushing for 9/20 myself. His bday is 9/23 and he hasn't decided if he wants to go on his bday or not yet! And then have his bday just be a his choice day!

 

[DaniB]

My kids had 9 months to save up christmas & birthday money, allowance and any money their relatives gave them before we went to Disney. They saved up almost $100 each. This was for a 10-day first trip.

Then my brother received a large sum of money and generously gave them another $200 each. They were on .

My DD11 went through her money pretty quickly and only came back with $27.

My DS6 was actually much better and came back with close $80 or so.

We've been home for 6 months now, and each time the subject of a future Disney trip comes up - my DS keeps telling me he's not spending his money this time. He was so upset to come home and realize he had hardly enough left. He keeps telling me he's saving up to be rich! I love him. It's actually a great goal for one so young I think.

His sister on the other hand... She wants to save up for an iPod Touch - BUT she blows her allowance as soon as she receives it.

 

[sjs314]

Thank you for posting about thee budget for souvenirs. I was wondering that too. It's easier for me though because my kids will only be 2 & 4 so they won't really get their own budgets. I am not also trying to figure out how much to budget for tips, drinks and breakfasts. For now in my budget sheet I'm thinking $1200 for ALL of the extras while we're there. That would include the souvenirs, tips, drinks, food for our 2 year old if he needs something extra, breakfasts, the balloon ride in DTD, all those things. We'll be there for 10 days, is this a reasonable number or am I budgeting too much? We aren't huge souvenir buyers either.

Of course amount of tipping $ needed is relative to how long your length of stay is, how many TS meals you plan etc. At this point I plan on bringing $500 for 6 days. This is earmarked as follows, $400 for restaurant tipping, $15 for mousekeeping(3 Days)we never have them clean everyday, no need I like to make the bed/beds before we head out for the day. and $50 for skycaps, bell service etc. Extras $100, we would also like to do the balloon ride at DTD and $ souviener $(for me)

 

[KELLY]

We upgraded today to CBR!! Yeah for that.

As far as everthing else we bring 1000.00for 10 days. But we do the QSDP so know need for tip money. We do have 2 TS meals planed so that is 200.00. MNSSHP tickets around 250.00. I also have to buy one water park pass for our youngest. These 2 things are our biggest expenses.

We always have more food then we need on the QSDP so no need for extra's there. My girls each have GC and money from birthday's and such. Last year I told them they could get something every other day and after 10 days still had $ left over. But some of the stuff the pick is really inexpensive for Disney. The like the smaller stuff animals. And we bought them things like a t-shirt and autograph books and pens. Plus we will each get them a build a dino and clothes so that is another 75.00 or so. I'm getting a Dooney bag but I'm getting A gc for my birthday for that one.

Plus tips for the ME driver and mousekeeping.

 

[KELLY]

I think both of my girls want to do PL this year also. So that is also something I have to budget for.

 

[pinkle]

My princess is here! She was born at 5:01 after one and a half pushes! She's 8 lbs 5 oz and 20 inches and a perfect doll. the only thing they had to do was break my water when I got to 9 cm, but other than that I did it on my own!

CONGRATS!!!!That is the way to go...sounds like a 'good' labour

You could walk (or take a boat) to one of the restaurants in the Boardwalk area resorts. Cape May Cafe usually gets good reviews. It looks like it's about a 15 minute walk from the front gates of DHS.

i might look into that...i wasn't sure how long the boat ride would be...where do i get the boat in DHS

We have eaten at all the major places Mama Melrose, Prime Time, Sci Fi Brown Derby and Hollywood & Vine , each one had it good points and bad,I am not in a hurry to return to any of them.
The last time we were at DHS we took the boat over to BW and ate at ESPN one of our favorites. There are quite a few good places between all the Epcot Resorts and it does not take that long for the boat ride plus I personally find the boat ride very enjoyable.

THANKS FOR THE INPUT