THE DISNEADS ARE HEADED TO WDW! Update 5/21...We're outta here!

[sneadae]

We've got an awesome update today!

First, and most important, we got our cabin assignments for our cruise portion of our trip. We booked a Category 12 stateroom guarantee. For those of you who don't know, that is basically the lowest inside stateroom cabin available. Inside cabin, no window, and usually on decks 1 or 2. We didn't really care because it's only 3 days and we are planning on staying busy.

But, lucky lucky us!!

When I went to check our reservation last night, it turns out we were assigned a cabin in Category 9!! This means that we will have a large porthole window! And we'll have the split bathroom layout, which will be great for getting ready. We are on deck 2, and I was able to find some pictures of our particular room on someone's trip report and it looks like a great room! Yay! Pixie dust for the DISNEADS!!

One month from tomorrow, we will be flying off to WDW! It's an exciting time around here. Remember me writing about needing to go shopping for clothes and such for our trip? Well, over the weekend, we spent an entire day shopping for clothes. It was quite a shopping trip, let me tell you

We all found at least 3 or 4 new outfits for the trip. Little A got 4 new dresses, and Little CJ got some new Lightning McQueen swim shorts (his fave!). We are saving all of our new clothes for our trip. The great thing is - we can finally get the suitcases out and start packing! And we'll have to start packing soon, because the next four weeks are gonna fly by. My schedule is crazy busy and May 22 will be here before we know it.

One decision we did make is that we are going to keep our Fantasmic Dining Package ressie. Yes, it's at 3:40, and no, we won't get to have a break during the day. But CJ is assuring me that it will be okay and that I shouldn't worry If anything, we can spend the morning at HS and maybe have a few hours to take a midday break at noon if we need it. We'll just play it by ear.

Which means, we will be cancelling a Chef mickey's dinner ressie we also have for that day. I think I'll head over to the May reservation posts and see if someone can benefit from my cancellation.

Up next...let's plan out Castaway Cay! Can you help us??? And, what do we have planned for our departure day??

Have a good week everyone!

 

[MRNsMommy]

That's great news about the cabin upgrade! You definitely got some pixie dust spread your way!
What day is your CM ressie for again?

 

[sneadae]

That's great news about the cabin upgrade! You definitely got some pixie dust spread your way!
What day is your CM ressie for again?

It's for May 24 (Sunday) I think around 6:40. Do you guys want the reservation?? I'd love to help you all out if you want it!

 

[Disnead]

Been a while since I commented, so here is what I'd like to add:

We've got an awesome update today!

First, and most important, we got our cabin assignments for our cruise portion of our trip. We booked a Category 12 stateroom guarantee. For those of you who don't know, that is basically the lowest inside stateroom cabin available. Inside cabin, no window, and usually on decks 1 or 2. We didn't really care because it's only 3 days and we are planning on staying busy.

I am even more excited about the cruise now than ever (if that is possible)! I have never been on a cruise without some sort of balcony. So I was a little worried about being in a dungeon room. I really enjoy getting my coffee and drinking it on the balcony in the morning on the ship. But I guess this time I can just stand in front of the big window. Should be nice!

One decision we did make is that we are going to keep our Fantasmic Dining Package ressie. Yes, it's at 3:40, and no, we won't get to have a break during the day. But CJ is assuring me that it will be okay and that I shouldn't worry If anything, we can spend the morning at HS and maybe have a few hours to take a midday break at noon if we need it. We'll just play it by ear.

This was the classic moment when she starts to overthink plans (which is good to a point). Thats when me...Mr. No Worries...comes to the rescue and tells her that it will be OK. We can make it work. See I really want Connor to see F!. I think he would really enjoy it. So I stood my ground on this one.

I think this balancing act (Planner vs. Go with the flow) that we have works out fairly well. I joked with her this week and told her that she was my life's project manager....so true.

Up next...let's plan out Castaway Cay! Can you help us??? And, what do we have planned for our departure day??

This will be my favorite stop! I can't wait. I want to lie in the sun. I want to snorkel and take some underwater pictures with my new camera. I want the kids to have fun and play in the sand. I don't want Millie to eat the sand.

I think that all those things will happen. Will we need an excursion? I'm not sure we will.

 

[sneadae]

Hellooooo!

I'm back for another update! I believe that it is worthwhile to post an update today, because today marks our "1 month out" day! Exactly one month from today, right about now, I will be finishing my very first Dole whip float with thoughts of Wishes still lingering in my mind

Today was a very special day for the Disneads. Little CJ had to go register for Kindergarten! I can't believe my baby is going to Kindergarten next year. I feel all teary eyed just thinking about it. So, I left work a little early, made a mad rush home to pick up the family, and we arrived at Kindergarten registration around 7:00 PM.

When we walked in, the "greeter" reminded me that I should have brought little man's birth certificate as well as proof that we actually resided in the school district, so guess what we did? Piled back in the car, drove back home, got the needed items, and headed back to Kindergarten registration. Sheesh! I hate when I am unprepared. Today, I was THAT mom. The one that just didn't have a clue.

Here's my happy little man exploring the Kindergarten Center:

We even got to look around in a classroom, which he thought was WAY cool:

I am so thankful that he is in a good preschool, because it has prepared him for what Kindergarten will be like. I noticed alot of similarities between the Kindergarten classroom and his current preschool classroom.

But why, OH WHY, can't he go full day??? Please, State of Ohio decision makers, whoever you are....please consider full day Kindergarten options for us!! Some kids (MINE) need the full day option. He needs to be busy all day, he needs to be learning. He is a high energy kid who must stay busy in order to stay OUT OF TROUBLE. Two and a half hours is not nearly enough time.

So, that's our big news for today. It was an exciting night.

I've got a busy weekend planned and I hope to make another update before my busy weekend starts. I've been thinking about our day at Castaway Cay, so if anyone has any suggestions on what's fun to do there (besides beaching and swimming, of course) then SPEAK UP!!

 

[DisneyBride'03]

hi there!!
Cute pics!
I havent been on the Dis for a week! Yep, life gets in the way, esp when you are chairing an event like ACS Relay for Life!
Kindergarten....our little one starts pre school this Sept and I cant believe it!!!!

ok, onto Disney!

FOUR weeks from today we leave!! You too, right?!!

Your cruise....for a 3 day...you will be so busy trying to get everything into your day, you wont miss a balcony! Smart to pay the cheapest rate for a 3 day....you may even be upgraded at the last minute! SOme of our cruisers were!
We had a balcony... did we spent lots of time out there, no! It was nice at ports cause we woke up and looked out to CC and the Atlantis..(not that we even got off the ship for Bahama day!)
As far as Castaway Cay day.....we did a package with the snorkel gear...we never had time to take the bike ride! We jsut played in the sand, took turns snorkeling with CJ, DS15 was at the teen beach, CJ and I did the banana boat ride, (no flip offs!) and DS did the teen one. It was fun going around the ship and the Flying Dutchman!
THe day seemed to go by super fast.. I would love one day to do a cruise with 2 stops there!
Try and get off the ship EARLY to get your spot that you want on the beach and characters are waiting for pics!!! INC Capt Jack
It truly is the highlight of the cruise!
Thanks for allowing me to "re live" our day

 

[DisneyBride'03]

DUH!

Just read you DID get upgraded! woohoo!!!

Alot stay on the ship at Nassau, and alot get off! We stayed and enjoyed, esp with a litlle one! Ava was abt 19 mths, and we didnt do any excursions at CC! Plenty to do!

 

[sneadae]

DUH!

Just read you DID get upgraded! woohoo!!!

Alot stay on the ship at Nassau, and alot get off! We stayed and enjoyed, esp with a litlle one! Ava was abt 19 mths, and we didnt do any excursions at CC! Plenty to do!

Yep, we got upgraded! Exciting exciting. 4 short weeks from today!!

I don't know how I am going to make it 4 more weeks!!

Wow, chairing the relay for life? That sounds big! Best of luck! Hope everything works out great.

 

[sneadae]

Okay, get ready for this, because we have a HUGE update!!!


We just bought DVC!!! We are proud owners at Bay Lake Tower!!!

Yep, that's right. Finally. CJ and I were finally on the same page, at the same time. It's truly incredible. I am so excited!!

See, we started to buy resale. We found a couple of contracts that we thought we would like. We looked at some Boardwalk, some Animal Kingdom, some SSR. We thought about it for a couple of days. Ran some numbers. Then, we re-examined buying from Disney. We called our guide, Nick Cotton. He gave us some ideas, told us about the incentives. We crunched more numbers. CJ made a spreadsheet with our options. After that, we realized that Bay Lake Tower was the clear answer for us.

Today, we called our guide and got the process rolling. I'm nervous, but excited. It's such a big purchase, but it's a great investment and I really do think Bay Lake Tower is the right choice for our family right now. Oh, what fun!

 

[sneadae]

Well, it looks like I am gonna have to start another PTR, because we just booked Bay Lake Towers for Dec 17th - Dec 22! We booked a bay lake view studio for our first stay as DVC owners. I am beyond excited!

Now, can anyone fill me in on crowds during that time? We went during Thanksgiving week and I said I would never do it again. Should I worry that this time before Christmas will be super busy too?

I promise to get back on track with our upcoming trip....lots of distractions going on around here.

 

[schdp]

Welcome Home!!!!

I know you guys will love it

 

[Disnead]

Welcome Home!!!!

I know you guys will love it

Thank you. We are really excited. Now if we could just get some real pictures on what is happening in BLT it would be great!

We may need to go on a covert operation and sneak into BLT when we are at WDW in a couple weeks.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

welcome home!!!!

Congrats!!

You will definately have to stop at CR for a visit and see what is going on at your new Home!!!
Cant wait, departure day is around the corner!!!!

 

[sneadae]

I'm so sorry I haven't been on here in a while. We are 3 days away from recital and I've been stressed and worked to the MAX!

A lot has been going on, but no changes to the trip! We are looking forward to it (obviously) and can finally say we are in the single digits. Yay yay!

CJ will be doing a live broadcast from our resort. We'll post the link right before we leave. He plans on setting up a webcam - hopefully we will get a great view at SSR!

I will do a couple of big updates next week. Recital is on Sunday, so after that I can relax and focus on the trip. Woohoo!

 

[DisneyBride'03]

hey! how are ya, besides busy??!!!

Sunday is the day for me too! Relay will be over, but not the same as putting on a dance recital! yikes!!
It really felt real last night when I was able to do online check in at VWL!!

We are in single digit mode! WOOhOO!

Hope your recital goes off without a hitch, wont say break a leg....good luck!!

 

[sneadae]

HOORAY! THE HARD PART IS OVER! NOW WE CAN GET EXCITED!! LOL Like we weren't excited already...


So I made it through recital and it was great. We had a great recital this year with minimal issues. Only one minor issue with the sound - which for some reason decided to not work at exactly 1:30 on the dot, which by the way was the exact time my matinee show was supposed to start. So we started 10 minutes late, and CJ frantically burned new CD's backstage while also running curtain, stage, and cueing music on the headset. Then things were great after that!

Here's some pictures of me and all the teachers!

Also, little CJ graduated from preschool! That was fun and cute, and of course I got all teary eyed over my baby!

We leave for WDW in 3 days! I can't believe the weather down there right now. Cold, rainy, blustery! I really hope its not like that when we are there. The last two trips have been like that for us, and I just want some hot sweaty humidity please!!

We've decided to cancel our Fantasmic Dinner Package and keep our Chef Mickeys. The reviews for the FDP have been really bad lately, and apparently they have closed the special entrance for the package people, and have been requiring them to line up about an hour before the show starts. Seems to defeat the purpose of doing the package. We are still gonna try and see F!, but it won't be through the dining package.

Today, Little CJ has school and Little A goes the the babysitter. I will finish packing up our stuff. The suitcases are mostly packed, just need to add the clothes

Yesterday I went to the UPS store and shipped our box of supplies to Saratoga Springs. I sent food, snacks, drinks, diapers and wipes, sandtoys, and pooltoys. They should be waiting for us when we arrive on Friday!

I will try to do an update each day up until we leave. Also, we will post a link to our webcam before we leave. We'll have a live webcam during our stay at SSR, and we will also be broadcasting the sailaway party on the Wonder.

 

[sneadae]

hey! how are ya, besides busy??!!!

Sunday is the day for me too! Relay will be over, but not the same as putting on a dance recital! yikes!!
It really felt real last night when I was able to do online check in at VWL!!

We are in single digit mode! WOOhOO!

Hope your recital goes off without a hitch, wont say break a leg....good luck!!

Yay! You are done too! Woo hoo!

I am looking forward to meeting you and your family. I told CJ we were having a "dismeet." He's looking forward to meeting you guys too. We'll have to figure out the time and place

 

[DisneyBride'03]

let me know! 3 CJ's in the house! lol

love the pics, no jazz hands? lol You had the best arms though Looks like all the toes were pointed too...

The rain is suppose to end by Friday, a Dis friend who lives there told me today!

oh, I just thought of something..we are at CR Friday for an ADR at Chef Mickeys....you guys do need to check BLT out anyway..maybe our paths can cross there!
I have to start packing...I have all the girls outfits in a designated area in their closets....i am so bad with Ava though, I plan a morning and evening outfit for her!

 

[DisneyBride'03]

OOPS! How could I forget to comment on that adorable PS Grad pic Love it!!!!!

 

[sneadae]

I am sitting here typing the final segment of our PTR!!

We will be leaving for the airport in 6 hours. I really should get to bed

How can one sleep when the trip they have been planning for 9 months is finally here???

We are super excited...just finished packing the bags and carefully placing our ME tags!!

Tomorrow we will arrive at MCO at 10:00 AM. We have a busy day planned, but I will try to make a short update at some point. Also, CJ will be streaming live from our SSR resort, so we'll try to post details about that too. Yippee I can't wait!!!