Surprise! We're Going to Disney!...Now do that thing you do PTR Nov. 28 - Dec. 2 2012

[alayne]

Yesterday my DM comes home from taking my DNiece to Dance Camp and says "Surprise! We're going to Disney! Kayleigh gets to perform in the MVMC Parade to be filmed by ABC-TV. Here is the package the dance teacher gave her. Now do that thing you do."

"That thing I do" - What you mean spend all my free time on the Disboards planning, researching, scheduling, and creating the BEST TRIP EVER! Sure I'll do that!!

Hi Fellow DisBoard Disney Fans,

I'm Allison and this is my PTR for our Dance the Magic Trip Nov. 28 - Dec. 2, 2012. This is our FIRST time Dancing at Disney. In fact, this is our FIRST time Dancing period. My Niece, Kayleigh, decided she wanted to Dance this year and after doing lots of research and letting her try all kinds of types of dance she has decided to do Ballet and Jazz. She has joined a Dance Company and part of the season includes the Dance the Magic Trip. Of course I'm all in because I LOVE ALL THINGS DISNEY. I'm really happy because I didn't think we were going to get to go this year so this is a great "Pixie Dust" moment for us.

Please join me and my Disney Crew as we plan our Dance the Magic Trip.

First Up - Meet the Crew

 

[alayne]

Meet the Disney Crew going on this trip.

First there is my family:

I'm Allison and I LOVE EVERYTHING DISNEY. I have been to Disney 9 times and can't wait to go again. I love to plan our trips and when a friend told me about the Disboards I was hooked. My favorite part about planning a trip is making shirts and booking ADRs. My family loves me but they can only handle so much DISNEY!!!

Then there is my DH, Jeremy. His first trip to Disney was on our Honeymoon and once we pulled under the Welcome to Disney World sign there was no looking back. He loves Disney but he will not ride any Roller Coasters. His favorite part about planning is not having too. He goes with the flow and loves Epcot.

Then there is DS, Ethan (8). Ethan's First Trip to Disney was at the fun age of 3 months. He doesn't remember a thing and says that it really didn't count. He says his first trip was in April 2011 when we went for Spring Break with my extended family but he loved our November Trip when it was just the Three of Us (I was pregnant with our DD so it was really Four of Us). He loves going to Disney and when he isn't talking about Disney he is playing Soccer.

Last in my family is our new addition DD, Madeline (3 months old today). This will be her First Trip to Disney (my DS is already saying it doesn't count ) at the fun age of 7 months. I hope that she will love Disney as much as we do.

Here is a picture from our April 2011 Trip (pre Maddie).

This is Maddie.

Kayleigh is the reason we are going to Disney. She is my niece and is 10 years old. She loves Disney and spends a lot of time hanging out with us. When we asked her what she wanted to do this year she told us Dance. She has tried Basketball, Softball, Soccer, and Cheer but just didn't seem to love them. So we found a Dance Camp and she was so happy. It was were she belonged. We signed her up for the 2012 - 2013 Season and were told that she could participate in the Dance for Magic at Disney World. After talking it over the answer was YES!!!

Here is a picture of Kayleigh from our April 2011 trip.

Last is my DM, MeMe. She doesn't love Disney but she loves her grandchildren and traveling so she goes. She likes to take care of the kids - she is glad to take one back to the room so everyone else can continue on or happy to sit with one while others ride a ride. She does not like to plan things -she would rather be told when and where to be. She is a lot of fun and a big help.

This is a picture of my DM with my other Niece, Anzley. Anzley can't go with us on this trip because she has a Tiger Elite Cheer Meet to attend. She is really sad because she loves Disney and helping with the planning but she knows that we will be going back in May so she is ok with sitting this one out. I wanted to include her because I will talk about her along the way.

So that's the Disney Crew. We are all really excited to be going back to Disney this year and can't wait to watch Kayleigh Dance.

 

[alayne]

Tonight we attended Kayleigh's Dance Camp Recital. She did a great job and her Dance Teacher said she will have no problem learning the Dance for Disney. So we signed all the papers and paid our deposit. We also received more information about the trip.

The first thing we were told was "Don't make any ADRs!". Oh my, that was a hard one to hear. I learned about ADRs on the Disboards and was so thankful for the information I received before our April 2011 Trip. At first my family thought I was crazy for having so many set times to eat but once the trip got underway they were really happy. They loved not having to wait and the places I had picked out.

So it looks like we are going to have to really go with the flow on this trip. I'm a planner so this is a hard one for me. ADRs is hafe the planning fun. I'm not going to complain too long - after all we are going to DISNEY!!!

I am going to do some research and look at the menus for Quick Service at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. These are the two parks we will be in the most and a lot of our meals will have to be QS due to the Dance Schedule. We haven't done many QS meals so I'm not familiar with all the options. I look forward to spending time on the Disboards reading reviews and suggestions on where the best QS meals are.

Next up... Dance Schedule and Disney Movie Theme Nights (found this thread a few weeks ago and can't wait to use some of the ideas).

 

[alayne]

This is all subject to change because we have to wait on Disney to send the final schedule which doesn't arrive until 2 weeks prior to when we depart. However, there is some what of a schedule posted on the Dance the Magic website.

It looks like we will be arriving either on Tuesday, Nov. 27th or Wednesday, Nov. 28th. I'm hoping for Tuesday!! My family has decided to fly in order to have more time at Disney and not on the road.

Tuesday, Nov. 27th
Arrive at Disney (early flight to get the most out of the day)
Hoping to head over to Epcot with dinner at Teppen Edo or Coral Reef

Wednesday, Nov. 28th
DHS if check in for Dancers is at the current time listed 7:30 pm
However, if we can't arrive until Wednesday then Tuesday will become Wednesday.

Thursday, Nov. 29th
Dancers will be with Disney from 8:30 till 1:30 and then head over to the MK for the Parade.

My family plans to head over to MK in the morning and hang out until the MK Parade.

Friday and Saturday
MK for the taping of the Christmas Parade. I don't think we will watch this because of the rules during taping. We will most likely spend the day at MK just incase she needs us for something.

Sunday, Dec. 2
This should be a free day unless they need some additonal taping. We are going to head over to DHS for the day until our flight home. All Dancers are required to be available until 3:00.

Kayleigh's dance teacher says we will get to attend the MVMCP one night. I'm really looking forward to this. We have never been before.

I have started looking at shirts that I want to make and an autograph book for my kids. I can't wait to get started. We are going to do our first Disney Movie night next Friday. I'm looking forward to planning this too.

 

[alayne]

On our last trip to Disney in Nov. 2011 we took our then 7 year-old DS on his first flight. He did great and loved every minute of the trip including the airport.

For this trip we are flying too. Since we are going for Dance the Magic and staying at the Port Orleans Resort we decided to fly. This will also give us more time at the parks and less time on the road. However, this will be my first time flying with an infant. I have been doing a lot of research on the Disboards for tips and suggestions on flying with an infant.

It looks like the best thing and safest thing to do is purchase a seat for your infant and have them fly in the car seat just like when traveling by car. I think this is the way we are going to go.

I have also read lots of threads on strollers and the airport. It seems to be about 50/50 pros and cons. I found the cutest Disney Minnie Stroller and I really would like to get it to take on our trip. We will be going again next year and she will only be 18 months old so we could use it then too.

I have found lots of tips and suggestions on how to make it a enjoyable flight and not have a lot of stress. The information has been very helpful and I have already started getting items together to make a fun activity bag for all three of the kids. I'll post pictures when they are completed.