(tap tap...crickets chirping) Anyone out there reading our PTR? October 2010

[laashley]

Your costumes are very cute. Really like your mousekeeping envelopes, great idea to print them out for the restaurants too. Might have to do that myself.

Hmm, 17 hours with a 5 and 8 year old. Your mom may rethink doing that ever again. No, I am sure you will all have a fun time! You may here "are we there yet" about 300 times though!

29 days for you and 31 for me!

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

My one brother is scared to fly too... We are all going to Disney next Aug/Sept and he isn't going b/c he won't fly!!!

 

[Chelley00]

I was thinking about a cruise for graduation, but it would've been a Disney cruise

Your mom is so lucky. DD will want a Disney cruise, but DS is set on weird places, like Honduras, Costa Rica etc.

Too funny about your mom deciding to fly home! That many hours in the car with my gang would definitely do that!!!

I dunno, it would take a lot to make my mom want to fly. Like Vicodin

29 days for you and 31 for me!

I can't believe we are so close!!!



Today has been kind of a crummy day, so it was so nice to come home and send out our countdown email!

For my mom

For my brother and SIL

So, I have this extra money budgeted from when we got the 40% off discount code. I've been debating on what to do with it. The OCD accountant in me says save it, but the "in desperate need of vacation" part of me says "screw savings!!" Help me decide!


Idea #1 A second MNSSHP. We LOVE MNSSHP. We are going with my brother's fam later in our trip, but that night will focus on nephew. First we'll have to wait to get our pictures taken with the dwarfs. After that, it's all Fantasyland, Woody's dance party and what they want to do. If we go earlier in the week, we can do it our way. Plus, I think it takes 2 nights to see it all, and even then, you can't really see it all! This is the cheapest, less guilt option

Idea #2 Universal. Brother, SIL and nephew are going to Univeral on our last day. We have our second AK day planned that day. We love Harry Potter, so that's incentive enough to go, but we are not diehard fans enough that it's a necessity. We've been to Universal before, and wasn't totally wowed (although I LOVE the Mummy ride)

Idea #3 Spa. We could put R & O in Neverland Club, and mom and I could head to the Grand Floridian for massages. This is the most expensive option, but oh, the most relaxing!

Idea #4 La Nouba. We've never been to this. It's almost as expensive as the spa option (for all 4 of us). I know the kids would love it, and so would my mom, who was floored by Medieval Times in Chicago (she lives in a very small town )


Let the voting begin!

 

[starann]

Oh, Oh, I'm the 1st to vote!!!

My vote would be #1 or #4.

MNSSHP....I know how much you LOVE it. And going will give you a chance to enjoy it without having to worry about the others enjoying it.

Cirque.....I saw a Cirque show in Las Vegas and fell in LOVE. It was an amazing show. Really breathtaking. If you go to their website and join their club, they send out special offers...one might come along to make it 'hurt' your purse as much!


As far as your mom in the car for that long with you and the kids. If I could do it in the car with my dad, his wife, my DH, my bro, my 10yo neice, my best friend, my 1.5 and 2.5yo and my 6mo old brother and sister (twins) I feel confidant that your mom will muddle thru!

 

[laashley]

#1 MNSSHP definitely. That may be because I've been looking at the photos from this year on the threads. It's getting me so ready to go! That's my vote. It would allow you to focus on your kids (and yourself) for one party and then the rest of your family for the other one.

 

[Chelley00]

If I could do it in the car with my dad, his wife, my DH, my bro, my 10yo neice, my best friend, my 1.5 and 2.5yo and my 6mo old brother and sister (twins) I feel confidant that your mom will muddle thru!

My mom has already been through a big long trip. 19 hours to Texas for my brother's wedding, with me, my DH and my kids who were 13, 10, 4 and 15 months at the time. She survived

#1 MNSSHP definitely. That may be because I've been looking at the photos from this year on the threads. It's getting me so ready to go! That's my vote.

I looked through our old MNSSHP party pics the other night. Even if we only get to go once, I'm so excited!!!


I had a different picture planned for our daily email countdown, but when I opened the mailbox today, I knew I needed to change what I sent!

!MICKEY MAIL!​

 

[Tink9721]

I vote for #1! I've never gotten to do MNSSHP at all so that's what I would do

YAY for Mickey mail!!!

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

I so have to go with Universal!!! To go to WWOHP alone is worth the trip!!! It is amazing! We had a blast there last month!!!

YAY for Mickey Mail!!!!

 

[Chelley00]

I vote for #1! I've never gotten to do MNSSHP at all so that's what I would do

That's kind of where I'm leaning

I so have to go with Universal!!! To go to WWOHP alone is worth the trip!!! It is amazing! We had a blast there last month!!!

The only thing about Universal is that DS5 doesn't get to do much. He did a lot of sitting and waiting for the big kids to get off rides, and since my mom is not a rider, I'm afraid they'll be bored.



Oh how I love Fridays. Kids are at school and I'm home alone (well, DH is here for awhile). I pulled out the suitcases and over the door holders and packed what I could. Mostly toiletries in travel size containers, medicines, Disney shirts the kids shouldn't miss in their drawers and pool stuff. I've finished the kids activity books and am working on printing one for my mom today. It feels to good to get a few things ticked off my list.

Last night I got my email from memoriesbybetsy with pictures of our completed baskets!

From left to right:
DD - autograph bag, book, pen, pins, Epcot passport, light up toy and magic towel all in a Nemo sand pail for the Poly beach

Nephews - autograph, bag, book, pen, pins, Mickey ears, light up toy, magic towel and activity book

Moms - Mickey ears, character mug and picture frame

DS - autograph bag, book, pen, pins, Epcot passport, spinner toy, activity book and magic towel all in a Nemo sand pail for the Poly beach

I love Betsy! She's so easy to work with, responds to emails quickly, and it's so fun to get a piece of Mickey magic that you can surprise people with!




Todays countdown email, since 30 days from today we'll be at Epcot

 

[laashley]

Last night I got my email from memoriesbybetsy with pictures of our completed baskets!

Todays countdown email, since 30 days from today we'll be at Epcot

Such cute baskets, she did a great job!

Us too! 30 days til Epcot.

 

[20thingamabobs]

Man, I got so far behind... I wasn't getting my update e-mails so somewhere along the line I lost track of your PTR and now you only have 2 weeks!! Have we made a decision between the four options? I did HP in June and I have to say that if you're not a diehard fan than I wouldn't choose this. I would go with #1 or #4. I love MNSSHP and it would be awesome to do it twice but I'm leaning towards saying La Nouba more because it is AMAZING! I've seen all but 1 of the Cirque shows and La Nouba is by far the BEST!

 

[Chelley00]

Such cute baskets, she did a great job!

I think so too. I can't wait to see the kids faces!

Have we made a decision between the four options?

We did. Finally!

TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY!​

So I've been slightly MIA. I've been searching the disboards, but not posting because nothing Disney related has really been happening. It's been a life of soccer games, practices and tournaments, work, homework and all the other fun joys of being a mom.

We did finally decide on what to do. 2nd MNSSHP! And there's a reason.

My mom's best friend lives outside of Orlando and my mom was planning to go see her and possibly have a "slumber party". Her friend is only off the first 2 days of our trip, which means my mom will probably be with her on Sunday, which means I'll be doing MNSSHP #2 with just the kids. With my mom not going, I didn't think La Nouba or Universal were good, and that definately leaves out a spa trip (although, going alone sounds soooo nice!) I'm perfectly happy going to MNSSHP.

We went last week and got costumes. DS picked Cars pit crew

I found a cute little clown costume. Easy, not hot, and comfy. The kids picked it. They went back and forth between the clown and a Dorothy costume (Wizard of Oz is my favorite movie) Clown won. They decided I'm too old to be Dorothy.

DD is going to be wearing an Animal Kingdom zookeeper costume lovingly made by me. I'll have to get pictures of it later. It's hanging in her bedroom and she's asleep.



I'm really starting to freak a little. Yes, we have 2 weeks, but next week, when I'd usually be packing, is going to be stupidly crazy. It's soccer sectional time and DS14 is on a ranked varsity team, which means they will be playing a lot of sectional action next weekend. We also have DS's girlfriend's volleyball tourney to go to (her last game and I haven't been to one yet!) a friend's birthday party to go on Saturday night, and on Sunday, we are hosting DS's girlfriend's surprise birthday party here. To prepare for all of that, DH is LEAVING TOWN for 5 days for a fishing trip next week, leaving me here to clean the house to prepare for all of that with 3 kids in tow. If I don't pack this weekend, I may not get it done without the kids knowing!! It's going to be so hard to pack for a 12 day trip and still leave everyone enough clothes to wear for the next 2 weeks.


To do list:

Order MNSSHP tickets
toll booth change
load giftcards for the kids spending money
order DS a new ID tag (I pulled his out and its broken)
finish and pay for Garden Grocer order
Preorder photopass (using discount from DD's birthday trip photopass!)
print out DS14's schedule for DH
Email DS5's teachers
fill out Passporter pockets
print and laminate schedule
Get the van ready (oil change, rainx, tire pressure etc)
Replace batteries in headsets/remote control in van
PACK PACK PACK PACK PACK PACK PACK PACK

 

[20thingamabobs]

I'm not sure how much of a discount you get with the birthday photopass but I thought you might to check out this offer too:

http://www.disneyphotopass.com/previsitcdplan.aspx

I doubt it, but they may let you combine the offers! But thought I'd post it just in case you were interested!

 

[LoveMyTwoPrincesses]

Stopping in to say hi! I will have to catch up on your report over the weekend.

 

[Chelley00]

I'm not sure how much of a discount you get with the birthday photopass but I thought you might to check out this offer too:

http://www.disneyphotopass.com/previsitcdplan.aspx

I doubt it, but they may let you combine the offers! But thought I'd post it just in case you were interested!

At one point I saw a thread where they were combining the resort given discount with the preorder, but it wouldn't let me do it. However, the preorder saved me more than the discount would have, so thank you!

Stopping in to say hi! I will have to catch up on your report over the weekend.

Today the kids and I tried the Mickey head tie dye shirts. Not sure how it will turn out because the kids insisted on "helping". We'll know tomorrow! I also bought a few shirts on sale and have decided to make a few iron ons for the kids. I'm even going to make my mom an "it's my first visit" shirt. Just what I need is to add more freaking projects to my list 12 days before we leave. Someone smack me!!!

I spent some time on this lovely rainy morning (first time we've seen rain in MONTHS and MONTHS) and got some things crossed off my list.

Order MNSSHP tickets Done
toll booth change
load giftcards for the kids spending money Had to order new cards, but done
order DS a new ID tag (I pulled his out and its broken) Done
finish and pay for Garden Grocer order Done
Preorder photopass (using discount from DD's birthday trip photopass!) Done
print out DS14's schedule for DH
Email DS5's teachers
fill out Passporter pockets
print and laminate schedule
Get the van ready (oil change, rainx, tire pressure etc)
Replace batteries in headsets/remote control in van
PACK PACK PACK PACK PACK PACK PACK PACK
buy new sunglasses
call the bank to put travel notice on card (they like to turn them off when we're on vacation for some reason, and even denied my card the first time I tried to order our MNSSHP tickets because it was an out of state charge!!!)

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

Your trip is getting so close!!! Very jealous! For a little over a week to go before you leave, you pretty much seem to have all your eggs in a row that's for sure!!!

 

[20thingamabobs]

Glad that discount helped save more money! I can't wait to see pics of your shirts you're making!

 

[laashley]

Looks like you were able to get quite a few things done on your to do list this weekend!

Yay for the 2nd MNSSHP!

Hope the Mickey tie-dye shirts turned out well. You sound like me always taking on last minute tasks. I think sometimes life just isn't normal if I am not making myself crazy

 

[Chelley00]

Single Digits Single Digits Single Digits ​

Today is 9 days before my mom will show up on my doorstep "unexpectedly", hand my 2 little ones a note that tells them they are off to Disney World! I'm so excited I'm sick. (literally, I'm in a flare up of an autoimmune disease and feel miserable right now so pray it clears up soon!)



I just completed our online check in for the Poly!! Now, if I just survive a very busy weekend and get everything packed up, we'll be good to go!!!

Off to work. Have a great day, friends!

 

[20thingamabobs]

YAY for Single Digit Dance!!!