Simply Meant To Be- My Disneymoon PTR ^_^

[centipede]

Hi everyone, and welcome to my very 1st PTR!

I'm not going to lie. The motivation behind my starting this is fueled by desperation. We are lost people! I've been going to WDW for years and I've planned plenty of successful trips, but this whole "Disneymoon" thing is a whole different ballgame.

The fact that I won't be surrounded by small children and trying to stay afloat in a never ending sea of preschooler's squeals and hasty diaper stops, baffles me. I am freakin' out over being in WDW without my army of small men in tow.

But OMG! We're planning to honeymoon at Disney World!

Not only is this our honeymoon, but this is also going to be the first trip that we have ever taken together, period! I am determined to make this the sort of trip that we'll tell our grand kids about one day.

So basically, I am a planner. I always have been. I make lists and love to educate myself to a point that most would find mind numbing. So of course, after years away from theDIS, I had to start a new account to help me keep track and aid me in planning my butt off.

If anyone thinks that they are up to it, I can use any help/advice that anyone is willing to give. Aside from a few day trips to DTD, I haven't been to the World since 2005 and I know that tons of things have changed.

So if you think that you can stomach the spectacular chaos that is about to ensue-

 

[centipede]

The cast of this trip. This is us...

Scary, eh!?

I am Jamie. I'm a 28 year old, stay at home mom. I love to read, play video games and I am a huge horror movie nerd. I dig Star Wars, write fan fiction and make ugly dolls in my free time. I also like to do anything crafty. My 1st trip to WDW was when I was 4 years old and I have been hooked since that fateful day. Even in my late 20's, I still turn into a psychotic preschooler who has had too much Mt. Dew as soon as I set foot on Disney property. Will my honey be able to handle a week of that crap? We shall see...

My kick butt fiance is Devon. He is a 29 year old butcher who spent most of his early adult life serving in the Army. It may be hard to believe, but Devon may possibly be an even bigger dork than I am. Example: He insisted that our newborn son's bedroom be decked out entirely in Super Mario Bros. He is a HUGE gamer, loves guns and tattoos and I actually suspect that he really does want the Zombie Apocalypse to happen one day. He has only been to WDW a few times and not in ages.

Then there are these guys... Jack(9), Nigel (7 w/DS) and Archer(4). They are my lovely little rugrats from my previous marriage.

The newest addition to the family is Reed and he is almost 4 months old.

No the kids are NOT coming on our honeymoon, but I had to do that annoying parent thing and show them off.

So that is us. The weirdos that you'll be going on this adventure with...if you so choose.

 

[reyasmommy]

Wow, you have your hands full. 4 boys, I couldn't imagine. I have a 5 year old girl and an 19 month old boy, and my son keeps me on my toes every second of the day. I need to seriously count one day how many times I yell .... "NO" .... "STOP" ..... "DOWN" .... "LEAVE IT" ... "GET IT OUT OF YOUR MOUTH" .... "DON'T DO IT" ..... yada yada yada

They're all VERY handsome and cute. I love Reeds hair.

Have fun planning your honeymoon. I honeymooned at WDW as well. It was the most amazing trip I've ever had my entire life. I haven't had one vacation live up to it. Of course traveling with my kids is wonderful in it's own way, but going on a trip with your spouse just the two of you is magical. I look forward to hearing about your plans. And CONGRATULTIONS!

 

[sissy_ib]

When are you going? We'll be there in January for our honeymoon! Are you wanting to do anything special like the tours or special dinners? Do you have a resort picked out? I love planing and I have started my PTR also. Although it is just a glorified itenerary, lol.

 

[centipede]

Wow, you have your hands full. 4 boys, I couldn't imagine. I have a 5 year old girl and an 19 month old boy, and my son keeps me on my toes every second of the day. I need to seriously count one day how many times I yell .... "NO" .... "STOP" ..... "DOWN" .... "LEAVE IT" ... "GET IT OUT OF YOUR MOUTH" .... "DON'T DO IT" ..... yada yada yada

They're all VERY handsome and cute. I love Reeds hair.

Have fun planning your honeymoon. I honeymooned at WDW as well. It was the most amazing trip I've ever had my entire life. I haven't had one vacation live up to it. Of course traveling with my kids is wonderful in it's own way, but going on a trip with your spouse just the two of you is magical. I look forward to hearing about your plans. And CONGRATULTIONS!

Yeah, sometimes it is even hard for me to believe! They are a hand full, but thankfully they are pretty well behaved. Plus, we like the chaos. I can't recall the last time I said the words, "I'm bored!"

Your little ones are adorable as well! Reed was born with a head full of hair, a faux hawk to be exact. His hair just keeps getting more and more ridiculous with each passing day. It WILL NOT do anything other than stick up in every direction imaginable. I think it is cute though and it definitely matches his personality.

Thank you for the congrats!

When are you going? We'll be there in January for our honeymoon! Are you wanting to do anything special like the tours or special dinners? Do you have a resort picked out? I love planing and I have started my PTR also. Although it is just a glorified itenerary, lol.

As of right now we don't have any specific dates set, but it is looking like April or September. I'm actually going to try to post an update very soon with some of our date issues in the hopes that someone will maybe be able to help us decide.

I think that we're only going to be down for about 5 days so I highly doubt that we'll do any tours on this trip. I definitely want to make a few ADR's, but we haven't really decided exactly where. I think the only one that we are set on is the Sci-Fi Dine In at DHS. I keep hearing that it is awful, but we plan on just going for a drink and an appetizer because the atmosphere looks fun.

Resort wise, still up in the air as well! My fiance's sister has offered to let us use her time share as her wedding gift to us so we are considering Floridays. It is very close to Disney property and it is absolutely beautiful! It has a HUGE tub with jets . If that falls through then we totally plan on staying on property and I think our first choice is POFQ.

Congrats on your honeymoon! Maybe I will have to pop over to your "glorified itinerary" and see if I find any ideas to steal.

 

[centipede]

Oh, yes, big news!

Yesterday I got a call from my Dad asking me to come and work in the office of the family business. I started today! With my now having a job, our income just nearly doubled. This bodes well for my Disneymoon

 

[sissy_ib]

As of right now we don't have any specific dates set, but it is looking like April or September. I'm actually going to try to post an update very soon with some of our date issues in the hopes that someone will maybe be able to help us decide.

I think that we're only going to be down for about 5 days so I highly doubt that we'll do any tours on this trip. I definitely want to make a few ADR's, but we haven't really decided exactly where. I think the only one that we are set on is the Sci-Fi Dine In at DHS. I keep hearing that it is awful, but we plan on just going for a drink and an appetizer because the atmosphere looks fun.

Resort wise, still up in the air as well! My fiance's sister has offered to let us use her time share as her wedding gift to us so we are considering Floridays. It is very close to Disney property and it is absolutely beautiful! It has a HUGE tub with jets . If that falls through then we totally plan on staying on property and I think our first choice is POFQ.

Congrats on your honeymoon! Maybe I will have to pop over to your "glorified itinerary" and see if I find any ideas to steal.

I really want a surprise for my DFH but I don't know what to do. We are at WDW for 5 days too, but more than the time it is the $$$. We are doing a cruise after WDW also so I cant go crazy on the first part of the trip. So now I am on the hunt for something affordable (read cheap) but meaningful

I love being on property but I would go for the time share with the tub!

Oh, yes, big news!

Yesterday I got a call from my Dad asking me to come and work in the office of the family business. I started today! With my now having a job, our income just nearly doubled. This bodes well for my Disneymoon

 

[centipede]

I didn't know where else to put this or what else to say, so here it goes...

I haven't abandoned this. I totally plan on continuing it and trying to update on a regular basis. The reason why I haven't posted anything this week is because we haven't been too up to making honeymoon or wedding plans.

Last Saturday night I received a call from my mother letting me know that someone murdered my younger step sister that morning. All week long we've been dealing with the mess that comes along with something like that. Tonight we are driving over to Melbourne because tomorrow there is going to be a memorial/paddle out in her honor.

Depending on how we feel and what is going on, I may try to post some more updates next week.

 

[centipede]

So, we're back to planning. Yay! My sister's memorial/paddle out was absolutely spectacular and beautiful. They still haven't charged the guy with murder, but they are holding him on other charges. It's been a few weeks and everything still feels very strange, but we're starting to make our peace with it all, or as much as you can make your peace with something like that.

Onward!...

Our Disney Vacation Planning DVD came in the mail the other day! I was really,really looking forward to this. It had been a few years since I ordered one and I have to say I was a bit disappointed. All of the other ones that I had seen were very high energy and goofy and they did a great job of getting me pumped for the trip. This one was very...blah. It was kinda boring actually. The kids had fun watching it, but us big kids thought it was pretty lame.

So the DVD was no help, then I broke out my old UG. This thing was bought for a trip that never happened waaay back in 2007. Can was say dated? I thought of ordering one and then I realized that the new ones for 2012 come out later this month. I hate waiting, but whatever. It must be done. At least the old one will hold me over...maybe.

For the past couple of days we've been sitting on the couch at night looking at theDIS and a few other sites. We have a few lists made and some ideas, but that doesn't change the fact that WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A DATE!

Yep. Still no date. Although, the good news is that we've picked a date to pick a date. We both have off on Tuesday so we're going to sit down with a calendar and plan this thing out. All we know is that it will be in mid-late April. Easter is on the 8th IN 2012 which is also our oldest son's 10th birthday, so early April is a no go. I had also toyed with the idea of waiting and going during Star Wars Weekends, but we scrapped that real quick and will just make a separate trip for that.

Has anyone been during April? Any advice or suggestions? I have only ever been during low-attendance times or mid-summer so I have no idea what April is like.

Next update, hopefully I will have a date picked out and then we can move on to tickets!

 

[centipede]

Yay! We finally have a date. We are going to be getting hitched on Sunday April the 15th 2012. We had decided on Saturday the 14th, but the venue we wanted had already been booked for that date

Since we finally went ahead and got that figured out I can now get down to planning the important stuff, like this Disney trip

As of now the plan is to get up bright and early on the morning of Monday the 16th and head for Orlando. Depending on how child swap arrangements get worked out with my ex, we may have to make a stop in Tampa to drop the older 3 kids with their Dad. Not a big deal, we'll just have to get up earlier because I want to try to make it to O-town by early afternoon.

My soon to be sister in-law and her wife are letting us use their time share so we'll probably try to pop over there and toss our bags in the door before heading to Downtown Disney. Did I say "toss"? What I meant to say was " unpack our luggage and fold everything neatly like mature adults".

The plans for DD aren't really set in stone as of now. I know that we want to do some shopping. We need to grab our bride and groom ears, our 1st X-mas ornament, candy apples from Goofy's Candy Co.love and probably a few other things that I am forgetting at the moment. We also plan on getting a charicature done and having dinner at T-Rex.

Once my big person is able to pry me away we're going to zoom over to Publix to grab things for breakfasts, snacks and the like. I hate having to make stops like that when we're down that way, but it is a necessary evil. Then, if we're not half asleep, I plan on taking advantage of the great big tub that won't have 500 pieces of plastic sea life and floating cars filling it

I've highlighted everything in the UG that we're planning on doing. I have some print outs of projected park hours for the trip. We've decided on ADRs.

Now I get to plaaan!

Aside from that stuff, I guess the biggest announcement is *drum roll, please*...We're getting annual passes! I cant believe it. I've lived less than 2 hours from the world for almost my entire life and I have never had a pass. We plan on taking Jack to Star Wars Weekends for his birthday and we also want to take Reed on his first trip before next summer, so it just made sense. The fact that after April I will be able to just hop in my car and go is blowing my mind!

Off to do more planning...

 

[centipede]

So I have tried to update this twice. Both times while at work. On dial-up! Both times, lost! <----Pretty accurate.

So I will try this again...

Things have been moving along at warp speed! Between work, the kids, life and wedding planning I have hardly had any time at all for theDis! I think this is the first big trip that I have ever planned without practically living on here for months beforehand. I am really hoping this won't be something I regret mid-trip.

I guess the biggest trip development...We got our passes in the mail!
<---Also accurate. So they're not really passes TECHNICALLY, but they're as close as I've ever been.

We've known for months they we were getting passes, but actually touching them made it real.

We also made our ADR's. We really went overboard, people! 2. Yes, 2. We talked about making quite a few, but decided against it. Not that we don't enjoy eating. It was the opposite actually. We like it so much that we have decided to graze and share for the duration of our trip. This way we can experience more variety and keep moving.

So the big winners. San Angel Inn and Sci-Fi Dine In. I have heard really mixed reviews for both so we made our choices based on ambiance. We're going to both strictly because they look neat and we only plan on getting drinks and appetizers. Yes, my trip report will be lacking in food porn and for that I apologize

We have also finalized out "itinerary". If you want to call it that. I'll post another update with the details soon.

Aside from that, it's just a waiting game. Torture game Some things make it easier though...

Today we got a package in the mail from my soon to be sisters in-law...sister in-laws. Which is correct!? Anyhow...they sent us the most awesome bride and groom mouse ears EVER! I'll post pics of those next time.

Now I am off to get a Dis fix while the house is quiet

 

[teffy]

I love to read, play video games and I am a huge horror movie nerd. I dig Star Wars, write fan fiction and make ugly dolls in my free time. I also like to do anything crafty.

You sound awesome!! Be my BFF? Seriously, you had me at "I write fan fiction."

Your trip sounds pretty epic too. I just bought my sister a pair of minnie ears for our trip in September and it just makes it seem so real. I'm looking forward to hearing about your plans!

 

[centipede]

You sound awesome!! Be my BFF? Seriously, you had me at "I write fan fiction."

Normally that scares people away! That or they have no idea what I am talking about. Then I explain it to them and they go like this...

 

[centipede]

Well hopefully later today or within the next couple of days I will have time to post the schedule, but until then...check out the awesome ears the sister in-laws sent us

 

[centipede]

Finally getting around to posting the game plan!

This has been such a weird trip to plan. I guess I should say, it wasn't weird until I found out we were getting annual passes. Because of this, I haven't had to go all commando on my trip plans. This has put me out of my element! I don't think I have ever planned a Disney trip with large periods of time that have no...plan!?

Either way, this is our "plan"...

Sunday is the wedding.

The three older boys will be heading back to their Dad's that night. My Dad and step mom have volunteered to leave the reception for a bit so they can meet up with my ex at their house for a kid swap. I was so worried that I was going to have to leave my own wedding celebration and meet my ex somewhere Thankfully, that was avoided!

The baby will be heading home with Devon's parents. They have been nice enough to agree to watch him for the entire week that we are gone. It is going to be strange not seeing him for the long, but we agreed, no kids this trip! Plus, Reed not going means we have an excuse to take him on his first trip to Disney soon after the honeymoon

So once the reception choas ends we are heading to the Holiday Inn. My mom and step dad are getting us a suite for the night and it is right beside the I-75 and Highyway 200 exit. The funny thing, it is basically on top of where the old Disney Information Center used to be. Growing up in Ocala I used to always try to con my parents into stopping in as we drove by.

Monday morning worries me. With the wedding being on a Sunday, I don't think most people are going to want to stay too late or party too hard, but who knows. I WANT to get up early Monday morning, but I think this may depend on how hungover we are . Then again, knowing that I am going to Disney will probably make getting out of bed pretty freakin' easy! Once we're up and packed, I am sure we'll grba some breakfast somehwere, fill- up the tank and be on our way to Orlando!

First on the agenda once we hit O-town is groceries! We'll be staying at Westgate Town Center which is like a mile from WDW so I will have to figure out which grocery stores are the closest. We don't really plan on eating much at the villa, but we will need drinks, snacks and breakfast things.

After a hopefully quick grocery stop, we're off to see the place. Devon's sister and her wife are flying in a few days earlier than the wedding and they are going to head over and check in. This way, we'll already have the keys and won't have to go through a torturous check-in process. I hate checking in. I seriously feel like flopping on the floor like a bored/over-excited child during check-ins. I'm sure we'll do a bit of "Oooh"ing and "Ahh"ing and then it is off to Downtown Disney!

Downtown Disney has been my only fix since 2005 and I really love going there! The DTD plans are:

-Have our caricature done. I've never done this and have always wanted to.
-Get my favorite candy apples.
-Buy an "Our 1st X-mas" ornament.
-Try to find some Nightmare Before Christmas artwork for our bathroom.
-See what we can find for presents to take back to friends and family.
-Dinner @ T-rex.

Aside from that, it's whatever. I think it will be nice and relaxing and just the thing to get us pumped(or more pumped ) for our first day in the parks. After we're done there we plan on heading back to the villa to take advantage of the giant tub! Have I mentioned how excited I am for this tub? No suction cup seahorses or squeaking dolphins!

Park day 1 is Tuesday the 17th. That is our Animal Kingdom day. I feel weird not going to Magic Kingdom first, but this is just how things worked out. I have only ever spent half of a day in AK so I am really looking forward to exploring more of the park. Also, totally planning on making opening every day...even if I have to steamroll my tall person out of bed in te morning. I'll totally do it too

First priority...getting our buttons!

After that, Kilamanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest, Primeval Whirl, Dinosaur and Kali River Rapids, in that order. Unless anyone can suggest a better order. Seriously, I know I got that order somewhere, I just don't recall where .

After those rides, we really don't have a plan. We're going to try to make a showing of the Lion King and aside from that we're just going to go with the flow. No food plan. Nothing.

I'm being laid back this trip .

Once we're done at AK we plan to hop over to MK. Our only plan for MK that night is to grab a good snack and get a good spot for the parade and fireworks. If we have time we may ride something, so we'll see.

That is arrival day and park day 1!

 

[centipede]

Day 2 is Wednesday the 18th. This is our Magic Kingdom day. We will have done the parade and fireworks the night before so we don't have to worry about any of that. No ADR today either. The only thing written in stone is to do Space Mountain first. I normally have small children hanging off of me so we make a beeline for Fantasyland. I also want to try the Jungle Cruise at night and get my first Dole Whip.

Day 3 is Thursday the 19th. This is our Epcot day and we have an 11:30 ADR for San Angel Inn. Even with a Fastpass, it always seems like I wait in line a million years for Soarin' so we're hitting that up first. I am personally excited to try Sum Of All Thrills. I've also never actually gotten a good spot and watched Illuminations all of the way through, so that is a goal. Oh, and stuffing/drinking ourselves silly around the world showcase

Day 4 is Friday the 20th. This is the Hollywood Studios day and we have a 3:15 ADR for Sci-fi. I am really looking forward to this day. I can't wait to try Toy Story, the new Star Tours and see Fantasmic for the first time.

Day 5 is Saturday the 21st and that is our FREE DAY. Yep. No plan. I figure we'll use this day to hit up whatever the heck we feel like. Unfortunately though, this is also check out and drive home day. Thankfully, APs mean I can come back whenever

I have to be at work on Monday morning so Sunday, the last day of the honeymoon, will be spent dying on the couch and watching Netflix. Hopefully I can start the actual trip report on the following weekend.

That is it for now! Hopefully I won't have any more hiccups before we leave. Today marks 2 weeks until the wedding and I am eyeball deep in craft projects! Unfortunately David's Bridal messed up on my dress, but that has been the only real drama and has all been taken care of.

Bring on the matrimony!