SURPRISE! Hey Kids Santa's coming early!

[osu2k1]

My mom bought us a 1 week timeshare at an auction for Westgate Vacation Villas in Kissemee. Surprise, we're going to Orlando! It's always been a dream of mine to see WDW and being on the West Coast, I grew up going to Disneyland.

A bit o' History​

DL is so much a part of my life; my parents picked my name on a license plate while walking the park when I was cooking; we lived in Irvine, CA until I was 3 years old, so we were there often. After we/they moved home to Oregon, we didn't get to go nearly as often. My first trip back was in 1985, and I was 7. I remember it well. We stayed at the DL Hotel, and my little sister jumped into an elevator with out any of us. Scared the crap out of us! We can laugh now, but we weren't then!

As we grew up, my parent's company would need to go to Anaheim for conventions. So my sister and I would go wander the park (CA wasn't built yet) and hang out. We were there right after CA opened, and have been going every few years as we've gotten older.

When DH (Rob) and I got married, we decided to got to DL for our honeymoon. It was great, since I am very familiar with the area. We loved DL. Once we had DS1 (Chandler), we took him when he was 18 months. We didn't do many rides, but still had a great time. We stayed at the DL hotel and my mom went along. It was nice because my dad passed away 4 months earlier.

One of my favorites from his first trip!

In 2008, DS2 (Lincoln) came along. When he was 9 months old, and Chandler was turning 4, we went again. Had to get the same photo, just added a 2nd kiddo.

Chandler hated the characters, but Lincoln loved it. We had a great time. And Chandler couldn't wait to go back.

Next up: Who's who!

 

[osu2k1]

Who's going? Well, the above can give you a hint. Just the 4 of us. But a bit about each, just for fun!

I am Melissa, I am 34, and live in Portland, Oregon.

I like to sew, knit, crochet, read (a lot), and I am currently a 2nd degree blue belt in Taekwondo.

DH is Rob, he's 33. He just graduated from college with an engineering degree. He's starting his Masters this fall. We are leaving the day after final exams! Priorities!

Chandler is 7, and is just finishing 1st grade. He's a bright kid, who has a speech disorder and had a Tethered Spinal Cord (surgery to release it 2 years ago). He's also a 2nd Degree blue belt in Taekwondo, with his Mama!

Lincoln is 4, my VERY energetic kid. He's "spirited" and a lover! He's got a sweet heart, but VERY crazy. Love this kid so much! He's the one who will try our patience everyday and this trip could be very interesting, thanks to Linc.
And it's very hard to get a photo of him standing still.

So this is us (at Easter, all dressed up). And we're going to Disneyworld!

Next up: initial game plan

 

[DizNee Luver]

Woo Hoo you've started your PTR!!!! Great looking family & cute boys!!! I'm assuming that Chandler is doing great after the surgery if he's doing Taekwondo. That's amazing!! So are you also on a first name basis with Doernbecher's?? We spend quite a bit of time up there with the twins. They're amazing!! I think every family has a Lincoln....always on the go & quite the character.....I think our's is Shyann (5) She's delayed but you see those gears a cranking and she keeps us on the move!!

Can't wait to read more of the plans!!!

 

[osu2k1]

So when my mom bought the auction item for Westgate Vacation villas, I was stoked! Even if Rob said not to buy any trips. I swear I didn't plan it!

After our last trip to DL and staying at the Grand Californian we are a bit spoiled, but my mom paid for that trip. So it was cool. I called Toby, my amazing travel agent at AAA, who planned that trip.

She quoted us for airfare, 1 night at ASSp (so we could get the discount cards that go with the magic your way deal), and 5 day park hopper tickets. We paid for the airfare and $200 deposit on the rest. Sweet! We were going to be able to do it for about $3k. We planned on adding a rental car for the week so we could go out to Kennedy Space Center (a dream of mine). So we'd have to budget for that, food, and goodies.

After reading about this place mom bought, we decided it looked sketchy! Almost bullying timeshare people, dirty rooms, very out dated, etc.

So back on the phone to Toby and we decided to look into Moderate resorts. I needed 2 queens, so the value ones were out unless we did the family suite.

I loved the look of PO hotels, not really having one I preferred more. I also liked CS since they had the 2Q beds. But THEN we saw the refurbished rooms at PO Riverside! The Royal Guest room was calling! It's a bit girly for the boys, but they will love it.

So Toby got me a quote for POR RGR for 8 days/7 nights with 7 day park hopper tickets and the DDP. I was nervous to tell Rob what the cost would be! It was about $5,100. So We booked it, and he said "it's just money, and I'm getting a bonus in June." (He works for Intel, so they are hitting their production goals.) So now we need to figure out how to spend the week!

Next up: Where to eat?

 

[osu2k1]

Woo Hoo you've started your PTR!!!! Great looking family & cute boys!!! I'm assuming that Chandler is doing great after the surgery if he's doing Taekwondo. That's amazing!! So are you also on a first name basis with Doernbecher's?? We spend quite a bit of time up there with the twins. They're amazing!! I think every family has a Lincoln....always on the go & quite the character.....I think our's is Shyann (5) She's delayed but you see those gears a cranking and she keeps us on the move!!

Can't wait to read more of the plans!!!

He actually had surgery and all the stuff done at Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital. We loved that hospital!! They were great. It also helps that Rob's mom works as a nurse in there Pediatric Rehab unit. Chandler is doing AMAZING! I am so impressed with how well TKD has helped him in his recovery. Both the kids have speech delays so we are working with KidTalk/Scottish Rite for Lincoln's speech. Chandler gets ST through the school district.

 

[DizNee Luver]

He actually had surgery and all the stuff done at Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital. We loved that hospital!! They were great. It also helps that Rob's mom works as a nurse in there Pediatric Rehab unit. Chandler is doing AMAZING! I am so impressed with how well TKD has helped him in his recovery. Both the kids have speech delays so we are working with KidTalk/Scottish Rite for Lincoln's speech. Chandler gets ST through the school district.

I always forget that Legacy is up there.......we started with the CDRC when the twins were born......so we always have gone there.

That's wonderful that he's doing so good!!!

Shyann (one of the twins) speaks at about a 2 yr old level buy she is starting to expand her vocabulary.....but most of the time only we understand her.....lol Her & her sister get speech thru their early intervention & then with them starting Kindergarten in the fall....they'll get it at the school level as well. Michayla (the other twin) doesn't speak, sign, or communicate at all.....so sad & really hard to know what she's thinking, needing or feeling. She also gets speech, but the only word she says is mama.

 

[osu2k1]

Chandler had about 50 words at 3.5 yrs. He has Childhood Apraxia of Speech, which is a Neurological disorder. He's getting better, but it's just hard to understand him with some of the letter sounds. He gets speech 3 times a week at school which is fantastic in a time when those things are being cut.

No communication has got to be hard, but the fact she can say 1 word, means she CAN speak. She's just having trouble getting it out. I totally get and understand how hard speech issues can be. But man it's nice that there are ways to work with them.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Chandler had about 50 words at 3.5 yrs. He has Childhood Apraxia of Speech, which is a Neurological disorder. He's getting better, but it's just hard to understand him with some of the letter sounds. He gets speech 3 times a week at school which is fantastic in a time when those things are being cut.

No communication has got to be hard, but the fact she can say 1 word, means she CAN speak. She's just having trouble getting it out. I totally get and understand how hard speech issues can be. But man it's nice that there are ways to work with them.

That's great that he is getting that much speech at school!! Does he also get outside therapy??

Between the autism, being cognatively a 1 yr old, an oral aversion (doesn't eat anything by mouth) and being born with a huge cleft palate (she has pierre robin sequence) there's a good chance she'll never speak.....but we always hold out hope! She's already amazed the drs who told us she'd never walk. She does & it's a cute gait she has. We call it the tippy stomp. She has the meanest calf muscles because she walks on her toes most of the time....but in doing so....she also stomps when she does it. We love it!! We're hoping with continued help & therapy that someday she'll be able speak more words down the road!

 

[osu2k1]

Man, there are so many places to eat! I didn't even know where to start. But with reading some serious posts on Disboards, and getting hungry doing it, I got some ideas. Here was my post that I had as my rough draft:

Saturday, December 08, 2012 Dinner T-Rex, 7 PM?
Sunday, December 09, 2012 breakfast at Akershus, if we don't get CRT for the morning of the 12th. Lunch at Biergarten (possibly Candlelight Processional package, which might change that) Snacks at Sunshine Season's
Monday, December 10, 2012 Breakfast at the Hotel Lunch at Flaming Tree BBQ Dinner??? Suggestions?
Tuesday, December 11, 2012 Breakfast at hotel Lunch at Earl of Sandwich(DTD) Dinner?? going to MVMCP
Wednesday, December 12, 2012 Breakfast at CRT (hoping for 8 AM) Lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern Dinner at hotel/Boatwrights?
Thursday, December 13, 2012 Breakfast at Mainstreet Bakery Lunch at Cosmic Ray's Café Dinner at O'hana not sure what time I should make it at though
Friday, December 14, 2012 Breakfast? Lunch at 50's Café Dinner? Snacks at Pizza Planet to make kids happy
Saturday, December 15, 2012 Flying home, airport by 2. Any last minute suggestions?

I was up at 3 AM (got to love being a West Coaster) to make online ADRs for CRT. I was told this place would be fine for the boys, so I went with it. That was the only one I really cared about at 3 AM. I got it for 8:10 AM! Score!

In the morning I got back online to make the rest...Thank goodness I double checked my CRT date! It was for 12/8 (the morning we were leaving to GO to WDW). Whoops! So I canceled it and tried to get one for Wednesday the 12th. I got one for 8:05! Sweet.

As the morning went on a friend who lives in Hawaii messaged me on Facebook about places to eat, etc. She mentioned that her boys would have HATED CRT and that they did 1900 Park Fare for dinner and had a great time. She mentioned that Charming would be there and the step sisters were a hoot. So I made dinner ADRs for that, with the possibility of canceling CRT. Especially since it'll cost us 2 Table service credits.


This is what I got:

Saturday: House of Blues DTD at 7:15 (not sure if it's late enough. We arrive at MCO at 4:05 PM. Then will ride the Magical Express to POR. I just don't know if I've allowed enough time. Thoughts?

Sunday: Via Napoili 4:30 with the hopes of changing it to CP package

Monday: Tusker House 9:10 AM and T-Rex at 4:00 for dinner

Tuesday: NOTHING-need to figure it out.

Wednesday: CRT at 8:05 AM- I think I might cancel it and do 1900 Park Fair at 6:25 for dinner. I heard the dinner there is better for boys, and it's only 1 TS credit versus 2.

Thursday: 'Ohana 5 PM

Friday: 50's Prime Time Cafe 5:45 PM

So I need to figure out Tuesday, and what to do about 1900 or CRT.

Any suggestions on food??

Next up: Final food choices made Post #12

 

[DizNee Luver]

We're doing Tusker House & Animal Kingdom on that same day!!! Our ressie is for 8:00am.....but we'll probably still be there when you come in!!!!

My boy (since he was 3)....has loved seeing the princesses! We've done Ariel's Grotto at DL quite a few times. He loves getting the attention from the pretty girls.

Suggestions for your "non-park" day (party that night)......breakfast at Kona Cafe ...... lots of highly favorable reviews of this place and their Tonga Toast & Macadamia Nut/Pineapple Pancakes.

Cape May is also a lesser-known character meal, but people are raving about the food, service & character interaction (but its only 3 characters).

 

[DizNee Luver]

This was on page 4!!!!

 

[osu2k1]

Saturday: House of Blues DTD at 7:15

Sunday: Lunch at Le Cellier at 12:45 (Candlelight Processional Package), CP at 5 PM

Monday: Tusker House 9:10 AM

Tuesday: Quick serve dinner-MVMCP night!!

Wednesday:

Thursday: 'Ohana 5 PM

Friday: 50's Prime Time Cafe 5:45 PM

Disney Dining Credits left: 1

I need an idea for Wednesday night. I don't really have a plan for that day at all. So I am open to going somewhere fun (but only 1 dining credit) with the kids.

Next Up: itinerary

 

[osu2k1]

Here's the schedule so far!
Saturday Dec 8:
Depart Portland around 6:30 and arrive in Orlando around 3:40 (local time).
Travel to Port Orleans Riverside via Magical Express and get settled.
Go to dinner at House of Blues at 7:15, arriving via Water Taxi/boat.

Sunday Dec 9: Epcot day
Breakfast at POR
Epcot-hit the big rides, Soarin', Mission Space, etc.
Lunch at Le Cellier at 12:45
Break to the hotel before CP? Not sure
Candlelight Processional (with James Denton-Desperate Housewives) at 5 PM
Dinner at a QS place in Epcot
Illuminations at 9:30 (if the kids can hold out).

Monday Dec 10: Animal Kingdom
Breakfast at Tusker House at 9:10
Do the rides/safari etc
Break to hotel.
*DTD in the afternoon or go to Hollywood Studios?

Tuesday Dec 11: MVMCP night!!!
Low key day since we are hitting MK for the first time for the big party. With our package we have mini golf, I was thinking we could go do that, check out our hotel's pool (if it's warm enough).
QS food today. Head to MK around 5:30 since we have hopper passes AND MVMCP passes. Plan to stay until 10 or so.
*should we go earlier, maybe 4 since this is our first time at MK?

Wednesday Dec 12: Disney Hollywood Studio
Toy story ride... Pizza Planet. All will be asked for by Lincoln.
No dinner choice yet. So I am open to ideas. here! Maybe go back to Epcot?

Thursday Dec 13:
Up and at them MK early morning!
Ride hard and go back to the hotel around 2-3.
Dinner at O'hana at 5.
*Should we just go straight to the Poly from MK on the monorail?

Friday Dec 14:
Dinner at 50's Prime Time Cafe at 5:45

Saturday Dec 15: going home day
See if we can get a late checkout. Shopping, any last minute things, do before we take off.
2:30 Head to airport depart at 4.

Next: How to surprise the boys.

 

[osu2k1]

The plan is to surprise the boys. Our current idea is to tell them once we get to Denver and have our 1 hr layover. I am making drawstring backpacks for them. Chandler's (DS7) will have Star Wars on the inside, and Lincoln's (DS4) will have Cars (he picked it at the fabric store). My mom is going to embroider the outside "Disneyworld 2012" on it.
Then inside the bags will be: Custom travel journal and autograph book for each, Pins & Lanyard for each, Coloring stuff for both, Bingo game for Lincoln, Custom Disney Maps for Chandler, a gift card for each kid (their piggy bank contents-which should be a good chunk of change), and maybe a t-shirt or PJs.

I still need to print all the journal pages, and autograph book, have them bound. I need to stalk Ebay for lanyards. And have my mom finish doing the embroidery so I can sew the backpacks. Can't wait to share pictures of the surprise bags.