The Circus goes to Disney!! - a December 2010 PTR

[daisylee]

We're finally getting to go to Disney!! Its been a long time coming, but we're just shy of a month away, and I thought a PTR would help get some of my thoughts and plans in order before we go. I hope you'll join me, and maybe give this first timer a bit of advice!


Oh, and the kiddos don't know yet!


Cast:
Me, Stacy, 38 and homeschooling mom to 4. Was a Kindergarten teacher in my former life, and while I sometimes miss the adult interaction, I wouldn't trade what my life looks like now for anything. I've been to Disney 3 times before, once when I was 5, a second time in 1987, and the last time was in 2002 with dh's family. Each time we stayed off site. This will be my first time staying at a Disney resort.

Dh, Kevin, 35 - computer engineer. He's the level headed one, and although he's on board with going to Disney, its taken him awhile to get here. His thoughts- it will be easier when the kids are older. He's right- but that's beside the point!

Ds, Michael, 7 when we arrive in Disney, has a birthday that almost always coincides with Thanksgiving. So- we'll be celebrating his b'day a little late in Disney this year. He's the one I'm most worried about figuring out that we're going before we're ready to tell- he's an incredible reader and never meets a stranger! I can just imagine some of the conversations we'll have with CMs.

Ds, James, 5. All boy and sweet as pie. Creative, creative, creative. He's the one who will make up a song or cut out paper to make an alien ( that looks alot like the sloth Sid from Ice Age). I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up an imagineer one day. He's got just the right mix of math/technical skills and creativity.

Dd, Anna, 4. Just turned 4 and a total spitfire! She's sweet when she wants to be, but can totally hang with the boys. Loving all things princess right now, and with perfect timing! Pic is from her princess party a few weekends ago.

Dd, Ruth, 2. The littlest princess, she's tiny and lovable. She's loving princesses, and LOVES to dress up!

 

[daisylee]

Why the circus? Well, because our last name rhymes with circus, and my dh thought it would be funny to call us the **rkus Circus when we went out somewhere. Then he thought it SO funny, he told my brother. Who and began using the wretched nickname himself. Then last year, my mom cuts out a news article about the Shrine circus coming to town and thought it funny enough to mail it to me. SO- the name has stuck, and I'm resigned to it. Because traveling with 4 children, 7 and under with no other adult help could end up being a circus if we let it. Which is why I'm set on having as much planned as possible with some wiggle room to be flexible and have FUN!

We originally planned on Disney during Dh's Sabbatical 2 years ago, but before we could get everything booked- we found out dd, Ruth was coming, and we decided we couldn't possibly go with 4 under the age of 5 by ourselves. SO- we put the trip off, and were planning for February 2011. Then Free dining got extended in July through December and a friend had just gotten back and said what a great deal free dining was, and I began reading that although crowds were low in Feb, many rides/attractions would close for refurb during that time. SO- we decided to push up our trip to enjoy the beauty of Christmas at Disney!

I wanted to do some character meals with the kiddos, so we opted for staying in a moderate. We could choose between WL cabins and POR, and chose POR for this round! I know we'll be staying in Alligator Bayou because we need the trundle in the room.

 

[daisylee]

The plans so far:
Saturday, December 11: Leave SC and arrive in Orlando. Staying offsite the first night at Royale Parc Suites.

Sunday, December 12: Eat breakfast at RPS, then checkout and head over to POR to check in!!!
Play in MK, and ADR at Tony's Place @ 6:30

Monday, December 13: ADR @ 1900 Park Fare 10:00 am
haven't decided whether we'll be back in MK or head to Epcot.
ADR @ Via Napoli 5:45pm

Tuesday, Dec. 14: Park undecided. MK or Epcot
Akershus dinner @ 6:45

Wednesday, Dec. 15: ADR at Boma 10 am, then AK (Extra Magic Hour evening)

Thursday, December 16: ADR at Crystal Palace 10:05 am. Probably will try to do Rope drop this day.

Friday, December 17: ADR at Hollywood and Vine 10 am. Definitely there at rope drop today.

Saturday, December 18: Our last day at Disney. Undecided on park, ADR for Chef Mickey's at 11:30. Still unsure about this ADR.

My wild and crazy young'uns this spring!

 

[carrie6466]

Hi Stacy!

On 12/16 the MK has morning EMH from 8:00 - 9:00. You might want to check it out. Morning EMH are a great time to ride Dumbo, so you might want to get there for that instead of rope drop if you can

 

[daisylee]

Thanks Carrie!! I never even looked at the morning extra magic hours. We're not generally early risers, but we'll see what the kiddos do when we're all in one room! That's pretty much why (almost) all our ADRs are for a late breakfast. Dh said he wanted at least a few dinners.


Outfit planning coming up next!

 

[carrie6466]

Outfit planning...ugh. All of our trips since June 2007, I've made outfits for DD to wear. I don't have the energy this year, so I haven't even started anything, although I do have the fabric. Probably could manage one or two if I'd get away from here <G>

So far, I've bought t shirts LOL

 

[Nemo32]

Joining! Your kids are adorable! You are guna love BOMA!

DBF and I are going Dec. 8-13 and can't wait to see WDW decked out in Holiday decor!

 

[daisylee]

Outfit planning...ugh. All of our trips since June 2007, I've made outfits for DD to wear. I don't have the energy this year, so I haven't even started anything, although I do have the fabric. Probably could manage one or two if I'd get away from here <G>

I've got too much on my plate to do elaborate dresses/outfits in a short amt of time. But I do have some cute things ready for the girlies!

Joining! Your kids are adorable! You are guna love BOMA!

DBF and I are going Dec. 8-13 and can't wait to see WDW decked out in Holiday decor!

Thanks! We've been to Disney at Thanksgiving before to see it all decked out, but never with our kids! Can't wait!! AND I'm definitely looking forward to seeing all the resorts decorated this time too- we stayed off site with dh's family last time and we pretty much just followed their plans.


I know I said outfits were coming next, and I'll do that tonight- but some dancing is in order!

We Got Mickey Mail today!!!

I haven't opened it yet, kiddos are around, can't wait to see what's inside! No ME tags for us, we're driving.

 

[carrie6466]

I love that you got your Mickey Mail. I've gotten my ME tags and am just waiting patiently (ok, running to the mailbox every day) for the rest of my package to come

 

[daisylee]

I love that you got your Mickey Mail. I've gotten my ME tags and am just waiting patiently (ok, running to the mailbox every day) for the rest of my package to come

I've been running out to the mailbox too! Part may be that I knew to expect something, but not WHAT would be in it! It seems so much more real now- and the luggage tags will definitely be part of our reveal!

In more exciting news,

We are ONE MONTH away TODAY!! WooHOO!!

Still haven't gotten the pics of the girls outfits taken yet. Can't do it when they're awake, and just been trying to catch up on everything once they go to bed at night. I've put together the "big" kids journals, and some "coloring books" for all 4. They're nothing special, but they will be when they are all filled in with all their little thoughts about each day. I'm dead set on proving people wrong that they won't remember the trip.

 

[Nemo32]

YAY FOR ONE MONTH AWAY!! ISN'T IT EXCITING??

 

[daisylee]

What a crazy few weeks its been! The kids have been sick, then everyone was well and we traveled for Thanksgiving (not a small undertaking), and now we're sick again. But-

We'll be in WDW in 10 days! YAY!

Now- to get working on the stuff that shouldn't be last minute but is because we've been sick, all while I still feel cruddy. And dh tells me on the way home from Thanksgiving (Monday) that he's not sure about all the breakfasts I have scheduled. I promise I asked! So- I've changed our breakfast at Boma on the 15th to dinner at Yak and Yeti on the same day.

I have a LATE breakfast at Chef Mickey's scheduled for our last day. Is it worth it? I've got one extra ts meal scheduled that I planned to pay oop, but we could just do 2 cs meals that last day.

 

[daisylee]

Just completed my online check-in!

Its beginning to seem real! Still feeling crummy from this cold, hoping that calling it an early night to bed will help!

 

[Nemo32]

YAY! You're so close! Hope you all are feeling well by the time your vacation starts!

 

[daisylee]

Most everyone is well now, except for one little girl running a fever.

BIG CHANGE! My IL's are coming for 2 full days! They'll check in to an off site hotel the same night we arrive, then they got a room at POR for Sunday and Monday nights. They'll check out and head home on Tuesday, but we'll have 2 extra adults for 2 days.

SO that changes up a few of our ADRs since they won't have park hoppers and a table for 6 just won't do!

Sunday, 12/12 we changed from Tony's Town Square to Nine Dragons in Epcot- YES, a whole park change that day!
Monday we'll be in Magic Kingdom instead so we can get Wishes in early in the week and not have to stay LATE on Saturday night.

Keeping breakfast at 1900 Park Fare as is, but rescheduled Via Napoli for later in the week ( Thursday evening).

Almost there! Starting packing up the boys stuff yesterday- short sleeve shirts with a hoodie for the week. They'll have a Disney themed shirt for every day! Mostly licensed stuff I've picked up at WalMart on clearance, but it works! The girls are a little harder and I still have some pillowcase dresses/tops to make for them before we leave. Nothing like leaving things to the last minute!