Shank Family, Party of 15! Twins, Tweens, and a Toddler oh my!

[bugsmama11]

That pillowcase dress is super cute! What if you switched it up a little so there wasn't so much white (hide any spills a little)? You can make that super easy and for not much if you don't get too elaborate and have to buy a lot of fabric for the bits and pieces. If you want, I can make something for you. I'm actually making some pillowcase dresses for someone else this weekend. I have some black to make a Mickey head and would just need about 3/4 yard of a main fabric (red polka dots?). No pressure--just throwing out the idea.

Really? That would be awesome! Ok, so for the crafty challenged person that I am, how would I measure Miranda? She is basically in 2T...I can go look at Joanne's later today and see what catches my eye as far as fabric. I can private message you later to let you know what I found and to be able to finally meet? Again this is really awesome of you and I appreciate it greatly!

 

[bugsmama11]

So my MIL suggested that since she hadn't scheduled any breakfasts while they were there, that we could get an ADR for ourselves for the last couple days.

I really had wanted to try Chef Mickey's and from the mixed reviews that I had heard, I decided we maybe hold off on that til the next trip with my parents.

After seeing the great TR from STLMickeyMom, I asked DH if we could try Tusker House! He took a look at it online with me and decided that would be great to try! So we ended up with a 9:20 ADR because there really wasn't much to choose from and since we are not extreme early risers (I know the whole family portion of the trip will be spent getting up way too early, so I thought a little bit later start would be alright for us.)

However, then Disney announced the "Show Your Disney Side" event at the MK....

I decided that we would keep our ADR for TH and just get to the MK a little later...I know I must be crazy to even try this with a 2 yr old, but you only live once right? The day will go by how Miranda is doing and with the MK being open all night we can leave and come back if we want!

 

[bugsmama11]

Alright so a quick recap:

Flights.....check
Room(s)....check
Park Hoppers....have to wait til we get there.
ADR's....check

So we should be just about set, but my MIL threw another surprise in for all the kiddos....The Pirates and Pals Cruise! She had such a hard time getting us all in for most places that she decided that this would be neat! None of us have ever done it, so I'm for sure looking forward to it. I've been looking at some youtube videos and some are pretty entertaining.

Some ADR Trouble:
She wanted to try and get CRT for all of us again, since my nieces were only 4 and 6 mo at the time and now we also added Miranda. However, she said that because we are a party of 15, that she found it hard every place she tried for a table. She even said we could split up 8 and 7, but would like to be at least near one another, and that still made it difficult.

So she had to scrap the idea of going back to CRT and opted to get the ADR at 1900 Park Fare to end the trip off with. Again, another place that we've never been. I guess I should say that other than eating at CP, CRT, RFC, TRex, and Trails End...that's the only places we've ever ate TS at. So we have lots left to try!

 

[STLMickeyMom]

That's a bummer you couldn't all get into CRT but I think you'll like 1900. The food was ok, the strawberry soup was delicious and the stepmother and stepsisters are HILARIOUS! Plus, it's gorgeous in GF and fun to just sit in the lobby and soak it all in (and it smells ridiculously wonderful in there! I think from the soap shop upstairs--basin?).

I'm so excited you are going to try tusker house! We loved it so much-I hope you like it as much as we did. Drink some of that delicious juice for us!! Jackiemarie21 said that they asked for to go cups of it when they left--I wish I would have thought to do that! It's so good....

 

[STLMickeyMom]

I tried to send a PM about the dress, but it told me you couldn't receive PMs. Not sure why? If you want, try to send me one and we'll see if it works for you instead b

 

[bugsmama11]

I'm back everyone...again sorry for the hiatus!

I would just like to give a big thank you to STLMickeyMom because she was amazing and made me the perfect and cutest dress for Miranda!

For whatever reason, I can't get my pic to load on here, so maybe she can do that when she sees this.

We came together on a design and she did a great job!

Can't wait for Miranda to wear it...39 days to go!

 

[STLMickeyMom]

Here ya go! Sorry it's so big-I'm on my phone and photobucket won't let me resize.



And you're more than welcome! I loved doing it!

39 DAYS?!? That's SSSOOOOO close!

 

[bugsmama11]

=So we are officially 39 days out today and for the past week (well more than that) I have started to go into mini panic mode!

I'm worried about not getting good fast passes since we can't book til the night before we go to the parks?

I'm worried about getting to the airport since we have to be up in the middle of the night and my poor mom would have to take us and still manage to get to work herself....

I'm worried that since I've never done a trip like this with a kid of my own that I will over pack and freak out at how much stuff we really are taking? I want to be adequately prepared, but at the same time I don't want to pay extra baggage fees?



I think what I'm most thinking about is that, I'm very much a theme park lover, and while I know that my touring style will have to be different now that we have a 2 yr old, I guess I'm having a hard time fathoming the idea that I may not get to do most of the things that I would like to
Don't get me wrong I will enjoy every minute of the trip and can't wait to see things through Miranda's perspective, but I think I need to lower my expectations and that way it won't be such a big deal if we can't figure out how to fit something in?

All of that makes my hubby want to go hide somewhere, of course he just thinks we pack a bag and away we go, but there's so much more involved. Ahh to be that person who thinks that planning a trip like this isn't stressful..

 

[STLMickeyMom]

I hear you--I can't really talk too much about planning with DH because after awhile, and several "uh uh"s and "that sounds good"s and "whatever is fine"s, I know I lost him and he's not really listening to me. Thank goodness for the DIS!

I forget what airline you're flying. Is it southwest? I don't worry too much about how many bags we have since you don't really have to worry about them once you check them. Gotta love staying on site and having them take care of the luggage! Plus, I'd rather have what we need then have to buy it there...

Have you considered staying at a hotel by the airport before your trip? I don't know how much a night would be, but it might be worth it to avoid the extra stress, especially since your flight is so early. You could just use the shuttle in the morning and might even be able to get some extra sleep.

I totally had to wrap my brain around not doing everything, or not doing everything we did before kids, before our first family trip, too. I just keep reminding myself how fun it will be to do those things with them when they're big enough. Premade excuse to plan future trips!

 

[bugsmama11]

So this past week was our twin nephews 8th bday. They are so athletic and are into lots of activities and we can't wait to see them next month. Our twin nieces had their bdays back in Feb and are now 10, the last time we went to Disney the boys were just 2 and the girls were 4, man how this trip is going to be a lot different!

Anyhow, I also have the task of trying to get my parents in on all the Disney fun and get the starting of logistics going for our trip of Oct. 2015. But now that I threw out what the potential budget might have to be for all of us, they aren't sure we can do it?

My parents have usually camped and very rarely stay in hotels on their vacations. They frequent the Smoky Mountains and they will stay in the park itself and pay like $20 a night to camp, so the sticker shock at a Disney vacation I think has them in a daze. My dad just turned 64 and has never flown and my mom has but not since I was a kid. She wants us all to fly, but now might consider driving and camping (and not necessarily at FW either). So I'm a bit bummed that we may not get Disney in next year now???

 

[bugsmama11]

I hear you--I can't really talk too much about planning with DH because after awhile, and several "uh uh"s and "that sounds good"s and "whatever is fine"s, I know I lost him and he's not really listening to me. Thank goodness for the DIS!

I forget what airline you're flying. Is it southwest? I don't worry too much about how many bags we have since you don't really have to worry about them once you check them. Gotta love staying on site and having them take care of the luggage! Plus, I'd rather have what we need then have to buy it there...

Have you considered staying at a hotel by the airport before your trip? I don't know how much a night would be, but it might be worth it to avoid the extra stress, especially since your flight is so early. You could just use the shuttle in the morning and might even be able to get some extra sleep.

I totally had to wrap my brain around not doing everything, or not doing everything we did before kids, before our first family trip, too. I just keep reminding myself how fun it will be to do those things with them when they're big enough. Premade excuse to plan future trips!

I know Eric is like "Can this trip get here any faster, so that I can have a break with all this Disney stuff"...ha ha!

We are actually flying Delta and while first bags are $25, second is $35. I hope we can all manage with one bag, but I know that we will have to pay at least for one second bag for someone because we are bringing some snacks with us. I typically like to pack my clothes separately from any toiletries or extra stuff and I don't think I can mange to pack those in with snacks? Anyone for a conditioned protein bar?
I have never traveled by plane with a toddler on this kind of trip, so I know that I will want to pack all kinds of crud that I probably won't need, but even packing essentials can seem like a lot.

I don't think I would be comfortable at a hotel the night before? I say that only because I think it may be best for Miranda to get as much sleep as she can and being in her own bed may get her better sleep. I know that we will spend the next 11 days in a hotel room but it's just a preference. We can always opt for the Metrolink because we live not far from a station, however it would probably take us almost an hour to get from our house to the airport on it...don't want to get up any earlier than we have to!

And I know that missing certain things gives us a reason to come back, but with my parents not 100% now on taking our trip next year, it makes me a little sad that I might have to wait just a little longer is all.

 

[bugsmama11]

Alright, are there any things that I should recommend that our nieces and nephews do now that they are older? Obviously, they can all do rides now that they weren't able to do before and only 1 of them really remembers our last trip, so let me hear your thoughts?

We have a 11 yr old boy (will be 12 in Sept.), 10 yr old twin girls, 8 yr old twin boys and 6 yr old girl and then Miranda is 2. I know my 6 yr old niece and Miranda will be able to do a good amount of rides together and I now Miranda will enjoy that. The older kids will now be able to do stuff that they couldn't before. We ran into a problem last trip because even though the girls were 4, one was much taller and got to go on things like TT when her sister didn't. All of them should be of height to do just about everything, it will come down to if they want to ride that particular ride I think.

We are doing the Pirates and Pals cruise and they all don't know about it, but I couldn't remember if there were other things that they might enjoy...

 

[STLMickeyMom]

Alright, are there any things that I should recommend that our nieces and nephews do now that they are older? Obviously, they can all do rides now that they weren't able to do before and only 1 of them really remembers our last trip, so let me hear your thoughts?

We have a 11 yr old boy (will be 12 in Sept.), 10 yr old twin girls, 8 yr old twin boys and 6 yr old girl and then Miranda is 2. I know my 6 yr old niece and Miranda will be able to do a good amount of rides together and I now Miranda will enjoy that. The older kids will now be able to do stuff that they couldn't before. We ran into a problem last trip because even though the girls were 4, one was much taller and got to go on things like TT when her sister didn't. All of them should be of height to do just about everything, it will come down to if they want to ride that particular ride I think.

We are doing the Pirates and Pals cruise and they all don't know about it, but I couldn't remember if there were other things that they might enjoy...

what about the jedi league thing by star tours in HS? don't know if they're into star wars, but it always looks so cute and like the kids are having fun up there battling darth vader!

 

[bugsmama11]

Hello! I know I have been a bad DIS'er and not been on for a update in awhile, but I'm here now!

So we have now figured out how to get ourselves over to the airport that morning that we leave. My mom decided that it would be best for everyone if we just drove over that morning and she would come over later that day to retrieve my car. This way she isn't getting up at 230a and then taking us over and having to come back for work. I now feel more comfortable that we will make it on time for our flight (or let's hope so).

I have started to piece together the beginnings of our trip. I'm still awaiting Miranda's fanny pack with goodies from her Gran. Once I see what's in there, I can see what I need to take of the stuff that I've bought her for the flights. I had to go back through the summer clothes that I have got Miranda, to see what all I had and what she might still need.

I guess I'm being a bit mundane? Little details that aren't really all that exciting huh?

I now have 2 awesome dresses and a My First Disney Trip shirt that are going with us. One great Minnie dress (Thanks STLMickeyMom), a Frozen sundress, and the tshirt. Now the hard part of figuring out when she gets to wear all these cute items??

 

[bugsmama11]

So I'm still trying to convince my DH that we should add 3 days onto our PH's and not 2!

He says that since we have to check out of OKW and into ASsports on the 22nd, that once we get all that done and get to DTD then we won't have time for a park. But what if we are able to check in early (fingers crossed) and we can get in our room, freshen up, and head out? I think the extra what like $20 would be worth it on our tickets to have the option to go if we wanted?

I guess I'm just trying to cram in as much fun as possible, but I'm also not sure that we need another almost half day or more at DTD? We're planning on the 23rd to go into AK, go to TH for breakfast, stay for a bit...then head back to resort and chill and then head out to MK for the 24 hr event (nowhere near staying the whole time with a 2 yr old). Then the 24th, doing HS in the morning and Epcot that night to finish our trip.

Maybe we will play it by ear and see how much we get accomplished with the inlaws and then towards the end of their trip we can see how many days to add?