"Surprise! You're going to Disney, on your birthday, with your favorite cousin!"

[emyrus2004]

Hi y’all, welcome to my Pre-Trip Report! This trip will be my most magical yet as I am taking one very special little girl. But let me not get ahead of myself…

I’m Cheyanne, 25 years-old, and I am a Disney fanatic. I only took 2 trips to Disney World as a kid and really enjoyed it but it wasn’t until I had the most amazing experience of working there as part of the College Program the fall after I graduated college that I truly fell in love with the place. (This is hands down my favorite picture from my time in the College Program and one of my favorites of all time.)

Me and Neil Patrick Harris


I will start in the next post with the actual PTR. Thanks for reading along!

Table of Contents
And you are?...
And you are?..Continued
Celebrating an 8th birthday at the Hippy Dippy pool!
Warning!!! Big Shopping Post Ahead!
Surprise! You're going to Walt Disney World! - Friday, May 27th
Arrival Day! - Saturday, May 28th
First Full Park Day/Emrys’ Birthday! - Sunday, May 29th

 

[emyrus2004]

If you are going to join me on this little journey, you should probably know a little more about me. Like, why am I doing this PTR? Three (main) reasons:

1. Writing a PTR will help me pass the time and stay organized.
2. This trip will be a very different type a trip than I’m used to taking and I can use some advice. What better place for advice than the DIS?
3. Frankly, I’m starting to drive my family, friends and family crazy with all of my planning/excitement

As you can tell by my stats (9 posts in a year and a half, wowzer that’s sad), I have been a lurker for quite a while. I have spent more hours and read more trip reports than I can count. I love trip reports for a couple of reasons but mainly it helps me pass the time between my trips by getting to see the fun had by other families at Disney World. With starting my own PTR, I’m going to make an effort to speak up and say “Hi” to the people whose TR I have been enjoying for so long. Also, if I don’t run out of time before my trip you may be lucky enough to get quick TR from my previous trip

So, who am I? I’m a lover of Disney World (if I hadn’t already made that clear ), entertainment in all of its forms (music, television, movies, etc.) and my family & friends. I work as a Group Sales Coordinator at a Waterpark here in the beautiful Texas Hill Country and I really enjoy it. Working at Disney World really made it clear that the theme park industry is where I want to be and in a perfect world I will eventually make my way back there to work with the Disney Y.E.S. (Youth Education Series) program.

Brownie points to anyone who can guess where I am. Hint: I'm at WDW.

While I am currently single, I can honestly not wait for the day that I find my Mr. Right and start a family. In the mean time I give all of my extra love to 3 very special little girls.

This is a couple years old but still super adorable.

Continued in next post…

 

[emyrus2004]

Those special girls are…

Emrys – Age 7

Maeve – Age 5

Sloane – Age 2 ½

They are technically my 2nd cousins (they are the daughters of my oldest cousin); however our family is so close they are more like my nieces. I love them more than anything and have enjoyed every moment of watching them grow up. They are such funny, smart, creative, beautiful and thoughtful kids. I am very protective over them and want to try and do whatever I can to make their lives just a little bit better.

In 2008, when I was living in Florida, I got some news that broke my heart. My cousin and his wife were getting a divorce. As a child of divorce, I know how hard it is and it was something that I never wanted those little girls to have to go through. They were/are so young, Sloane was only 4 months old at the time, but I know that they were confused and hurt and it killed me that I wasn’t there to give them all giant hugs. As soon as I got back to Texas that was the first thing I did. Their lives are a bit more stable now but I still do what I can to make sure they feel special.

Which leads me to this trip. I have been lucky enough to get to go to Disney three times in the past two years. On my most recent trip with my best friend, I wistfully mentioned how I wished I had the money to bring all of my little girls to Disney. My friend off-handedly mentioned “Why don’t you just bring one at a time?” and what do you know the idea stuck. As soon as I got back home I started thinking and trying to figure out if it would be financially possible for me to take one girl at a time and surprisingly enough it was. My next obstacle was making sure I wouldn’t be stepping on anyone’s toes by being the person to take them on their 1st trip to Disney World. My aunt and uncle (the girls’ grandparents) have wanted to take them to Disney for a few years now but, as most families can relate to, they just don’t have the extra money for the trip yet. I also needed to check with the girls parents to make sure they would be okay with me taking their little ones half-way across the country by myself. Thankfully, I got the thumbs up from everyone and they said they would be happy to pitch in where they could.

As it typically goes, the oldest is up first. Miss Emrys is an amazing little girl. She is so thoughtful, caring and kind. She is also very much like me in the way that she is a planner/delegator, analytical and likes things to go according to plan. Being the oldest, and with the personality she has, I am concerned that the divorce will effect her the most. I hope that this trip is so special for her that the good memories overshadow the bad ones from this time in her life when she gets older. This is also one of the few times that the focus will be all on her and I want her to enjoy every moment of it. To make things even better, our first full day at Disney will be her 8th birthday! Not only will I be giving her all of the attention but all of the kind CM’s and maybe even a Princess or two will wish her Happy Birthday I can’t wait to see the smile on that pretty little face. And don’t worry about the other two; the plan is to take each of them when they are to the “Big Girl” age of 7.

Up next...Celebrating an 8th birthday at the Hippy Dippy pool

 

[CreightonsMomma]

I'm in!

That is very sweet of you to do this for the girls. This surely will overshadow the hurt and pain that Emrys is going through right now. My mom took me to Disney World right after my parents divorced and I have to say it is my most memorable experience.

Can't wait to read more about your plans. Like you, I am trying to pass the time until it's my turn!

 

[marymac123]

I am here. You are the sweetest thing ever! I wish my DD had someone as special as you in her life-for those times Mom or Dad are just not right for. Love the picture with NPH

 

[emyrus2004]

Yay, I have readers! Who have commented! I'm glad that my ramblings at 2 in the morning are not going to waste

I'm in!

That is very sweet of you to do this for the girls. This surely will overshadow the hurt and pain that Emrys is going through right now. My mom took me to Disney World right after my parents divorced and I have to say it is my most memorable experience.

Can't wait to read more about your plans. Like you, I am trying to pass the time until it's my turn!

Welcome! I really do hope that the trips will make a difference in their lives once their grown-ups. It helps to have fun, great memories to look back on to drown out the bad.

Your little one is too cute and he has a great name! I could go on and on about names. We have unique names in our family and you can't imagine the number of times I have made and remade lists in my head of what I want to name my future kids.

You only have 2 more weeks! Your trip will be here before you know it.

I am here. You are the sweetest thing ever! I wish my DD had someone as special as you in her life-for those times Mom or Dad are just not right for. Love the picture with NPH

Welcome! While I can't wait to have my own kids, I sure am happy to be special person in their lives. It's nice to be known as "the fun one". I love NPH and my friend and I freaked out for about 3 days after this picture was taken.

 

[TanzUnited99]

I am subbing and looking forward to reading more!

What a lovely surprise to take each of the girls to Disney! It will be so special and something each of them will remember forever. Also on it being Emrys' birthday on the first day of the trip!!

 

[emyrus2004]

When I got the go ahead to start planning the trip I had to decide when we were going and where we were going to stay. I knew I wouldn’t have money or time to go much earlier in the year than about April and my department (me) runs a music festival at our waterpark the first 4 Saturdays of our summer season so that ruled out April 30 – May 22. When I started to do searches for a room at Disney I found out that it would be cheaper for us to go the weekend after our music festival rather than before. So that was settled, we would be going the weekend of Memorial Day and as luck would have it guess who’s birthday falls on the Sunday of Memorial Day?

(Since this picture, she has lost those two front teeth )

Emrys! She will be turning 8 years-old on Sunday, May 29th. I am so looking forward to making this her best birthday yet. Two other perks of going over Memorial Day weekend is that I get that day off as a vacation day so I was able to extend our trip a day and we are getting Free Quick Service Dining.

Dates: Saturday, May 28th – Thursday, June 2nd

Since I’m paying for this trip pretty much by myself we will be staying at a Value. I decided to go with a Value that not only have I never stayed at but I’ve actually have never even been to.

(Picture from AllEars.net)

Pop Century!

I’m pretty dang excited to stay here. I have heard great things and seen beautiful pictures from others trip reports and am looking forward to experiencing it myself. I know that Emrys will enjoy all of the bright colors and fun theming. We are booked for a preferred room and I am really hoping to get one in the 60’s section. I really love that decade and the Hippy Dippy pool is so cute.

(Picture from AllEars.net)

Emrys is going to love swimming in that pool and taking pictures with all of the super-sized statues. I don’t know who will be more excited walking around this resort, me or the 8 year-old

I have been planning this trip for over 2 months now and that time coupled with my mild case of OCD means that I have already made a plan or two (or 40) for the trip I just got in something that I am super excited for so my next update will most likely be a “Stuff that has been bought for the trip” update.

Until then

 

[emyrus2004]

Oops, double post.

 

[emyrus2004]

I am subbing and looking forward to reading more!

What a lovely surprise to take each of the girls to Disney! It will be so special and something each of them will remember forever. Also on it being Emrys' birthday on the first day of the trip!!

Thanks for joining! I see that you are going in September, you are going to love it then. It is one of the least crowded times at Disney

 

[britt_ji]

I'm subscribing! I think it is so great that you are bringing her on her first trip! I'm sure she will have an amazing time

We are also surprising my 8 year old niece with her first trip around the same time. It's a great thing to plan, isn't it?

 

[TanzUnited99]

Hope you manage to get a room in the 60s section...the Hippy Dippy pool sure looks like fun!

Am also looking forward to seeing what you have bought to take to Disney and the item that is making you super excited!!

 

[emyrus2004]

I'm subscribing! I think it is so great that you are bringing her on her first trip! I'm sure she will have an amazing time

We are also surprising my 8 year old niece with her first trip around the same time. It's a great thing to plan, isn't it?

Thanks for joining! I have thought about our trip so much this weekend that I actually had a dream about it last night I'm headed over to your PTR because it looks like our trips have one or two thing in common

Hope you manage to get a room in the 60s section...the Hippy Dippy pool sure looks like fun!

Am also looking forward to seeing what you have bought to take to Disney and the item that is making you super excited!!

Me too! I'm debating on whether or not I want to send in an actual request The whole resort seems great so I'm sure we will be happy no matter where we are. I'm going to get my shopping update up later today.

 

[emyrus2004]

Knowing that the month leading up to our trip is going to be crazy busy for me with work; I started doing some pretty intense planning early on. With the planning has come a nice little shopping list that I’m sure will continue to grow the closer we get to our trip. Good news though, I have started shopping already Everything is laid out on the bed in my spare bedroom. Last weekend my brother stayed the night; he walked into the room looked at the stuff, shook his head and started putting everything on the ground. What?? He doesn't get my Disney obession. Anyway, here it is.

Everything acquired so far.

The first thing is something that isn’t necessarily for the trip but will come in VERY handy while we are there.

(That little Mickey head says we only have 89 more days )

After YEARS of wanting a fancy shmancy phone I finally got one! It’s a LG Optimus S with Android 2.2 and best yet it’s purple. I was getting so tired of everyone around me getting iPhones and Android phones and then coming to ME to help them set their new phones up. All the while I had no money to get these high tech phones. I finally made the decision that I NEEDED one of these phones for the trip so I could take good photos to send to my family of Emrys and use it to distract us when we got bored in long lines. Thankfully, the stars aligned and I found this little beauty for $50. I downloaded the Undercover Tourist app and it is amazing! It is going to be so helpful during our trip; I can’t wait to use it.

The first couple of park things are for me. My old roommate from the College Program is a HUGE Vera Bradley fan. After using one of her bags during a visit to the park, I became a wee bit obsessed with Vera Bradley. For this trip I decided I needed a new park bag.

I absolutely LOVE this hipster and best yet I got it off eBay for only $30! I also discovered that I have a Vera Bradley outlet 15 minutes away and had to take a trip there. I settled on just getting a new i.d. holder but I will definitely be going back.

Next, a new bag for Emrys.

I got this super cute bag at Target for $12! (If you can’t tell I like to find a good bargain.) It has wheels on it and comes with a shoulder strap. It's just the right size for a soon to be 8 year-old. I wasn’t originally going to get her a new bag (I was just going to use my smaller suitcase for her stuff) but when I found this I couldn’t pass it up.

Old Navy + Disney + 40% off Kids’ Sale =

Actually, I did really good and didn’t go crazy when I found myself in the middle of Old Navy (my favorite store) looking at about 8 Disney shirts that were all 40% off. I went with a favorite of mine & Emrys, Ariel, and a close second, Belle. I also got a cute pair of denim shorts for her. Even though she is already saying she is “too big for Princess stuff” I’m sure she will be more than happy to wear these shirts after she meets them. I only wish they came in adult sizes so I could get some for me.

My first foray into Disney shirt making.

Following a tutorial I found on the Disign board I made these Mickey head shirts. I used a bleach pen to do the head and was expecting the maroon shirt to bleach out to more of a pink color but it still turned out looking pretty cute.

The last thing I have for Emrys right now that will probably be the thing she loves the most.

During my first trip back to Disney after the College Program, I wanted to Pick-a-Pearl in the Japan Pavilion in Epcot. Thanks to the Dis I found this amazingly cute charm to put the pearl in off of eBay for $5!!! I knew that getting Emrys the necklace and letting her Pick-a-Pearl would be something that she would go crazy over. This is actually going to be a birthday present from her mom. She will get the necklace before the trip and get a certificate as a surprise while on our trip.

Finally, something for the other two girls.

I’ll explain about how the surprise will play out in the next post but I knew I needed to get a little something for Maeve and Sloane. I went to the Disney Store a couple weeks ago and they were having a BOGO on their plush. I got the Marie kitty for Sloane and Pascal for Maeve. Confession, I have yet to see Tangled and it wasn’t until after I had purchased Pascal that I questioned why he was red and looks a little angry. I found out that since he is a chameleon he turns red when he is angry (duh, Cheyanne). Tangled is Maeve’s favorite movie right now so I doubt she will be upset that her Pascal is the angry, red version of the chameleon. She will actually find it pretty funny. I got Sloane Marie because she likes kitties and I like Marie.

Well, that’s all that I have for now. My shopping list is still a fairly decent size so I will do another shopping update when I get another bunch of stuff.

Up next…Surprise! You’re going to Walt Disney World!

 

[marymac123]

The gold pick a pearl cage is cute-I got one for DD5 & me last year in silver tone on ebay. We are going to try to make 1 for each of us every time we go for our charm bracelets. She will def love to do the pick a pearl & the ceremony.

 

[CreightonsMomma]

Welcome! I really do hope that the trips will make a difference in their lives once their grown-ups. It helps to have fun, great memories to look back on to drown out the bad.

Your little one is too cute and he has a great name! I could go on and on about names. We have unique names in our family and you can't imagine the number of times I have made and remade lists in my head of what I want to name my future kids.

Awww...Thanks for the compliment on Creighton and his name. And yes...only two weeks, but gosh it's going too slow lol.

 

[CreightonsMomma]

Celebrating a birthday at Disney will surely be a memory that Emrys will never forget. How cool!!

Pop is such a cool hotel and the pool looks so awesome!

I love love love love the shirts that you made. They are so cute and perfect!

I can't wait to read about how the surprise plays out.

 

[TanzUnited99]

Have just had a look at your shopping purchases and they look great!

Love the Belle and Ariel tops - on getting them in the sale! I have also been introduced to Vera Bradley and have become a fan!

How did you find the Disney shirt making? Am planning on making some using the Disigns board but am not very creative!

 

[britt_ji]

You've made some great purchases! I love the shirts you bought for Emry at Old Navy. They, of course, led me to the website and I'm now planning on a few purchases of my own I have two big totes from Vera Bradley, love the brand! The shirts you made came out great, as well. Oh, I forgot to mention my jealousy over your picture with NPH Adore him! Can't wait to read more...

 

[emyrus2004]

The gold pick a pearl cage is cute-I got one for DD5 & me last year in silver tone on ebay. We are going to try to make 1 for each of us every time we go for our charm bracelets. She will def love to do the pick a pearl & the ceremony.

The necklace is actually silver like yours; we probably got it from the same place on eBay I got so excited when I got my pearl; the girl doing the ceremony forgot to bang the little drum and I was like “What about the drum?” I’m such a nerd.

Celebrating a birthday at Disney will surely be a memory that Emrys will never forget. How cool!!

Pop is such a cool hotel and the pool looks so awesome!

I love love love love the shirts that you made. They are so cute and perfect!

I can't wait to read about how the surprise plays out.

Thanks for the compliment on the shirts. They were super easy and inexpensive to make. This surprise plan is coming up next.

Have just had a look at your shopping purchases and they look great!

Love the Belle and Ariel tops - on getting them in the sale! I have also been introduced to Vera Bradley and have become a fan!

How did you find the Disney shirt making? Am planning on making some using the Disigns board but am not very creative!

Thanks! Making the shirts was really easy. Here is the link to the tutorial http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2390932. I haven’t made any shirts using the iron-ons but I have found a couple designs that I like. I will probably wind up making Emrys’ “I’m going to Walt Disney World!” t-shirt because I don’t like the one Disney has on sale right now on their website. If I make one, I’ll let you know how it goes.

You've made some great purchases! I love the shirts you bought for Emry at Old Navy. They, of course, led me to the website and I'm now planning on a few purchases of my own I have two big totes from Vera Bradley, love the brand! The shirts you made came out great, as well. Oh, I forgot to mention my jealousy over your picture with NPH Adore him! Can't wait to read more...

I love the shirts! If I could fit into a child’s shirt I would get some for me in a heartbeat. I don’t know if you can tell online but some, if not all, of the Princess shirts have glitter on them. Both of the shirts I picked up have it on the wording. It’s sparkly without be crazy.

If I could have a celebrity BFF it would totally be NPH.