shhhh Dec '08 & (6/'10) pre-trip twofer

[NYPDwife]

Your family seems wonderful. I hope we get to meet on Christmas Day!!!

 

[hollybearsmom]

We are definately dropping Ohana dinner, and I also got vetoed for 1900 Park Faire. And, my dh doesn't want to do Tusker House either. What??????? Where does he think those table services are going to go? And I thought we had agreed not to go to PH since there is one here, "but the kids really like it and we ate there on our Honeymoon, so it really isn't the same honey". Oh I hate when he pulls the sentimental card! i always cave. So we are giving up 50s Prime Time for PH. Which I am really okay with, we've never been there so I don't know what I am missing.
So now I have to shift the reservations around. IF I can. And he understands that. I think. We talked about the trip a lot the past two days. We have the frig swap secured, mailing payment for the stroller swap I joined this week, and chasing down the pins I ordered on ebay that have been "misplaced" by my post office. We looked at DISsigns and picked three so far that we agree on, little does he know I have a whole disc full of personalized ones and blanks already saved, but we have to let them have their moment of authority right? I mean, I'll be packing the bags so i guess we know who gets final say on that...

 

[njdisneyfreak]

Thanks Joh, and yes, we plan on using Disney Dollars for the older girls starting this fall. We will give them the DD for rewards, incentives, in their Holiday cards, etc. About one a week. Anywhere we can substitute them for actual cash, so that they will have $50 each of their own to use in the Parks. We are missing school, so the budgeting will help meet their economics assignment. They will keep track of their money in a checkbook register to show where they started, what they bought, and balance it after each purchase. We plan on meeting their savings dollar to dollar so they will have $100 for the week. That is probably more than some families give their kids and less than others, we think that is a reasonable amount. The younger kids, we have planned on about $50 each, which the parents will dole out.

I just got all caught up on your PTR. All I can say is, "WOW!" You've gone through a ton of planning and a lot of life stuff. Thank God for the Disboards, right? It helps keep us sane sometimes. I like your idea about the money for the kids. My parents would encourage us to save up our allowances, and then they would add to it, once we arrived. It was great.

Excuse me a moment for screaming, but CHRISTMAS!!!!!!! What? Yeah, my question too. Can't get off the weekend after Labor Day, can't get off for Halloween, but Dec 25 through New Years?!?!?!?!? Crazy scheduling process, but he has to use his vacation and the "vacation gods" accepted that last week of the year! Is there anymore excited smilies I can add.

Oh my goodness, all my plans are changing for sure now! The family trip for 2010 summer still on, but half of them will probably come for Christmas, and then there's the other two families..one will not, one might. Tickets for the Christmas party, warmer clothing needed, ohmygoodness, I have to get busy starting to plan now!

YEAH

You're going to LOVE going during Christmas!!! We went last year thinking we wouldn't be able to experience that again for some time, and now we're going for the second year in a row! It's an absolutely amazing experience, and in a way, it's like experiencing WDW for the first time all over again. Everything is so transformed and beautiful. They even bring out characters you don't normally get to see. It's so wonderful!

WOw, I have been busy. We have a confirmation number and our second room for grandpa booked. He isn't sure yet about ddp so that's on hold for now. But for our family..WE are thinking about this...
24th DH gets home from work with presents for kids, they always open pjs on the 24th so this won't be new...except mommy is making them shirts and pants, with one of the creative disigns "we're going to disney right now" The princess will flip out for certain, monster won't know what's going on if he is even still awake then. Hop into the strategically/magically packed car (done while naps were taken and after laundry was done before school vaca started) and start the drive.
25th - pull in very tired to POP, get our tickets and go straight to the MK. Photo on Main street, Bakery for breakfast, and then just survive the crowds.
Dinner at either Crystal Palace or Liberty Tree as late as possible and more of the magic until we drop.
26th - Epcot. After sleeping in. Coral Reef for dinner.
27th. AK. Dinner the Luau.
28th DAY OFF. Tour the resorts and see the trees, go to DTD and shop a little. Dinner at Planet Hollywood.
29th DHS Breakfast at Hollywood & Vine. Not sure about the end of the day. Nothing CS looks that great to us and there is not much here for us, we may go back to Epcot in the evening.
30th AK thinking of trying the Yak & Yeti for lunch CS. Dinner of snacks or Luau if we didn't get in earlier. Back to MK for the fireworks this night.
31st. Epcot Breakfast at Akershus, Dinner is either Garden grill or Sunshine Season.
1st MK Dinner at Cosmic Rays
2nd check out, Chef Mickeys, then the long drive home.

I cannot wait!

We'll be in the same parks on some days. Who knows? Maybe we'll run into each other. At the very least, we might get to meet at the Dismeet on Christmas morning! I've never done something like that before. Should be neat, if I can convince my DH to go over and say hi to perfect strangers. Strangers to him, since many of us will know each other from the Disboards.

Having a Christmas countdown is really a homage to my mother. She and I would start sometime around now telling each other how many shopping days were left until Christmas. I really miss her, but I smile each time I see my ticker. And I got most of her decorations, so my room will definately be decked out! Did the Griswolds ever do WDW?

Here's a photo of the kiddies. My dd, now 9. Princess turning into Hannah Montan Rock Star. My neice, 3. Our little Daisy Duck. My nephew 5, Super Guitar Hero, and Cars fan. And my baby, not so little anymore, 2. Loves the Little Einsteins now. It is a busy summer for us all. But we are having fun, I think.

Cute kids!

We are definately dropping Ohana dinner, and I also got vetoed for 1900 Park Faire. And, my dh doesn't want to do Tusker House either. What??????? Where does he think those table services are going to go? And I thought we had agreed not to go to PH since there is one here, "but the kids really like it and we ate there on our Honeymoon, so it really isn't the same honey". Oh I hate when he pulls the sentimental card! i always cave. So we are giving up 50s Prime Time for PH. Which I am really okay with, we've never been there so I don't know what I am missing.
So now I have to shift the reservations around. IF I can. And he understands that. I think. We talked about the trip a lot the past two days. We have the frig swap secured, mailing payment for the stroller swap I joined this week, and chasing down the pins I ordered on ebay that have been "misplaced" by my post office. We looked at DISsigns and picked three so far that we agree on, little does he know I have a whole disc full of personalized ones and blanks already saved, but we have to let them have their moment of authority right? I mean, I'll be packing the bags so i guess we know who gets final say on that...

I hope all works out with the ADRs. You're not going to do 1900 Park Fare? On our last trip, we did both the breakfast and dinner, and will be doing them again on this trip. We absolutely loved them! The food is amazing, the service exceptional and the entertainment from the characters is over the top funny, during both meals.

Let us know how things work out with the changes.

 

[hollybearsmom]

Augh! Again, a change! It seems that hubby will be going to TX for 3 months after the 1st for school (Air Force). He will either find out today or on his next duty weekend when he leaves....which means we may have be back on the 31st so he can leave on the 2nd. AUGH!
Is the dream team listening!?!?!?!? I could use some dusting oh tag fairy, pretty please.... where oh where has my fairy godmother gone? oh where oh where could she be?????


On the other hand, we came across my dd first trip pictures so we will be able to recreate some of those for her and ds. That will be such a great moment. If only we could find our Disneymoon phtots so hubby and I could do the same for our anniversary there. I will try to load a few of these photos today and share them with you all later!

 

[njdisneyfreak]

Augh! Again, a change! It seems that hubby will be going to TX for 3 months after the 1st for school (Air Force). He will either find out today or on his next duty weekend when he leaves....which means we may have be back on the 31st so he can leave on the 2nd. AUGH!
Is the dream team listening!?!?!?!? I could use some dusting oh tag fairy, pretty please.... where oh where has my fairy godmother gone? oh where oh where could she be?????


On the other hand, we came across my dd first trip pictures so we will be able to recreate some of those for her and ds. That will be such a great moment. If only we could find our Disneymoon phtots so hubby and I could do the same for our anniversary there. I will try to load a few of these photos today and share them with you all later!

Here's some pixie dust coming at you:
I guess that's the life of a military person, but that doesn't make it any easier. I hope he finds out that the date he leaves doesn't interfere with the trip. Has he find out yet? Can you possibly add dates to the front of your trip if you have to leave earlier than expected? Recreating photo memories is so much fun! How cool would it be to do that each time you return to WDW and then make albums for you and one for each child for when they are adults? I hope you find your Disneymoon photos, so you can recreate some of those memories, as well.
Here's some more pixie dust:

 

[hollybearsmom]

CRAZINESS!!!!!!!

Quick updates....24-30 at Shades of Green. REALLY LOVE TO MEET UP WITH SOME DIS'SERS! PM me!!!!!!

 

[hollybearsmom]

And did I mention we need a nanny for two days! Any regulars up for the challenge????? Seriously, got a college person home for the holidays want to make a few dollars? pm us

 

[hollybearsmom]

Things are getting so insane i am pulling out my hair, almost.
The grands are reminding me they are old, they go to bed early, they have to eat at certain times, etc....
My brother has told me he is there to enjoy spending time with and just watching his kids and they are not into Disney like I am. They aren't even going to the park two days, they may just play put-put and go to the playground at FW, or fish, or just ride the boats all day. But the days the kids are with me, I shouldn't wear them out either.
MY dear, sweet, dh reminded me this all started with a mouse, no wait, I mean me. I wanted to change the holiday to something totally different to help me cope with the loss of my mom since last year we just went through the motions and were miserable. I decided i wanted to go somewhere for Christmas and if the family wanted to join us there they could. He is so supportive and wonderful!

I made these plans and reservations months ago! People were ready and said oh that sounds good. Where are those people? Where has my family gone?

So dh and I will spend a good part of tomorrow revising the plans, baack to our plans, and send the rest of them the note cards that say here is our touring plan and the times of the parades and where we will sit. Find us and join us, don't find us. Have a great time.

I really thought it would be a nice thing to see Disney together and be something positive to do as a family that might help start the healing and bonding. Call me a dreamer.....but I was hoping.

So too myself, a little pixie dusting. We are going to church this am which always makes me perk up. And then I will start the iron-ons of the DISsigns as i did all the washing this weekend of the 32 shirts I have bought over the past few months.
They can wear them, wash the car with them, I can't make them like them. But my kids and my dh, they will have no other choice since I am doing all the packing!!!!!

So, here's hoping for a magical day!

 

[hollybearsmom]

We are having a great time, I'lll tell you about it soon!

 

[hollybearsmom]

I will be starting my trip report for the santa surprise early this week...

http://wdwenchanted.com/showthread.php?p=5985#post5985

I will be going on with the Grand Gathering June 2010 pre-trip as soon as I get the report done.

 

[NYPDwife]

I heard you were just feet away from me on Christmas day! I'm sorry we didn't get to meet. It was crowded at the entrance! Were you singing along with the CM? I DID get to meet Dawn (Tnk).