The July (2010) Plan needs Pixie Dust: DVC, Minivan & Twins Included

[disneydreamingdebby]

Since Nikki did a 2006 flashback and has cute kid photos and video (Gosh Nikki, how can I compete? ), I thought I would share bits of our first day of our first trip to Disney. (I can't really count my trip as a child because I can't remember it; I won't count DH's either because he doesn't remember much either.)

August 2008

Our first stay: Poly

Our first method of transport to MK: boat


Our first ride: Stitch - Didn't photograph this; I might have scarred my children with this bad decision. (I wish just looking for a filler ride until our princess lunch!)

Our first meal/ lunch: Cindy's Table

 

[taymacsmom]

Cute! Love the missing front teeth.

 

[irishdancer86]

hey! lovely photo's, I like the girls dresses, my mum used to dress my sisters in complimenting outfits (they're only 1.5 yrs apart) and they loved it!

stitch as a first ride...controversial!

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

A piece of advice I give anyone new to Disney is "make a list of must-dos and complete it; anything else you accomplish is a bonus!" (I am sure I read that on the Dis...)

I guess I need to take a page from my own book. What are our must-dos? I am going to list them, but what if the list is too long? Deep breath:
(not including rides we've done - we will fit them in)

AKV- both pools
AK - Flights of Wonder, at least one trail, Ms. Devine
MK - Tom Sawyer Island, Hall of Pres., MMM, Electrical Parade
EPCOT - Innoventions, Kim Possible, explore the countries, Capt EO, Pick a Pearl
HS- Great Movie Ride, Indiana Jones, Writers Stop, Fantasmic - if they open second show times
BCV kitchen sink, Stormalong Bay
BW- Bakery, pool

This seems totally managable. I will sleep on it and add what I missed tomorrow.

 

[tinkerbell60]

A piece of advice I give anyone new to Disney is "make a list of must-dos and complete it; anything else you accomplish is a bonus!" (I am sure I read that on the Dis...)

I guess I need to take a page from my own book. What are our must-dos? I am going to list them, but what if the list is too long? Deep breath:
(not including rides we've done - we will fit them in)

AKV- both pools
AK - Flights of Wonder, at least one trail
MK - Tom Sawyer Island, Hall of Pres., MMM, Electrical Parade
EPCOT - Innoventions, Kim Possible, explore the countries, Capt EO
HS- Great Movie Ride, Indiana Jones, Writers Stop
BCV kitchen sink, Stormalong Bay
BW- Bakery, pool

This seems totally managable. I will sleep on it and add what I missed tomorrow.

I love the idea of a list of "must dos". We definitely have Capt EO and the Main Street Eleectrical Parade and MMM fireworks on our list for this trip.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Cute! Love the missing front teeth.

Emma lost her front teeth at the age of three jumping off the couch mouth first into the coffee table! (You cannot believe how long the root is on a baby tooth!) It was a difficult adjustment when she grew her front teeth!

hey! lovely photo's, I like the girls dresses, my mum used to dress my sisters in complimenting outfits (they're only 1.5 yrs apart) and they loved it!

stitch as a first ride...controversial!

I always tried to put them in coordinating outfits. Now, they both have their own "style" and are not very amicable to me dressing them.

I love the idea of a list of "must dos". We definitely have Capt EO and the Main Street Eleectrical Parade and MMM fireworks on our list for this trip.

Do you have a list in your head each time you go? This will only be our third trip, so I feel like I have so much time to make up for!

At the same time, I want to enjoy it and not just rush, rush, rush.

 

[tinkerbell60]

Emma lost her front teeth at the age of three jumping off the couch mouth first into the coffee table! (You cannot believe how long the root is on a baby tooth!) It was a difficult adjustment when she grew her front teeth!



I always tried to put them in coordinating outfits. Now, they both have their own "style" and are not very amicable to me dressing them.



Do you have a list in your head each time you go? This will only be our third trip, so I feel like I have so much time to make up for!

At the same time, I want to enjoy it and not just rush, rush, rush.

It seems like almost every time we go, there is either a new ride or show, or something different. So yes, I always have those things in mind. DH always likes to ride Soarin - and we all like to do Toy Story Midway Mania. DH always must have ice cream at Beaches and Cream.

I almost feel guilty saying this, but the more we go, the less of a list I have. Of course, my kids are older too which helps. We definitely punt most days.

It is very important to "slow down and smell the roses"......that is one of the beauties of having a less structured plan.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

My obsession for the trip has not waivered! However, I am having a terrible time planning past day four.

"Why? " her attentive audience gasped with a sympathetic tone.

1. I have no idea how spent we will be. We are morning folks (three are- I pretend.) Yet, I think late night hours are critical to maximizing our park time.
2. I want to include parades and fireworks. (Again, no idea on our energy level and crowd levels might drive me insane.)
3. I want to plan in a trip to Downtown Disney. I don't think this is something my family wants to do. So, do I go without them??
4. I want to enjoy the resorts, but won't we enjoy them in the midday break I keep scheduling.
5. Possibly, since I am now planning the downside of our vacation, I am avoiding this scenario?!

I keep trying to plan. I even made a planning poster thinking I just need to see it all on one page (and the spreadsheet wasn't cutting it.) I even made stickies for parades, fireworks, and Fantasmic.

HELP ME - Any suggestions?

 

[tinkerbell60]

My obsession for the trip has not waivered! However, I am having a terrible time planning past day four.

"Why? " her attentive audience gasped with a sympathetic tone.

1. I have no idea how spent we will be. We are morning folks (three are- I pretend.) Yet, I think late night hours are critical to maximizing our park time.
2. I want to include parades and fireworks. (Again, no idea on our energy level and crowd levels might drive me insane.)
3. I want to plan in a trip to Downtown Disney. I don't think this is something my family wants to do. So, do I go without them??
4. I want to enjoy the resorts, but won't we enjoy them in the midday break I keep scheduling.
5. Possibly, since I am now planning the downside of our vacation, I am avoiding this scenario?!

I keep trying to plan. I even made a planning poster thinking I just need to see it all on one page (and the spreadsheet wasn't cutting it.) I even made stickies for parades, fireworks, and Fantasmic.

HELP ME - Any suggestions?

A couple of thoughts.......DTD is time consuming, unless you drive your own car. Even then, it will take a chunk out of your day because there is just a lot of traffic over there AND parking can be a pain. However, there are some great shops. There is also the Characters in Flight balloon if that interests your family. If you decide to go, try to do something earlier in the week (Monday ish) - I understand it is less crowded then, and gets more crowded toward the end of the week.

There is down time when you are waiting for parades or shows, like Fantasmic or Illuminations - something to consider.

I think planning the end of the vacation period is very depressing, and you do tend to feel a sense of desperation, trying to fit in everything that you felt you had plenty of time for in the beginning.

 

[belle8306]

Could you plan a leisurely morning at DTD and/or some resort touring. Then rest/swim at your resort. Later that night you could go out to do the parade and fireworks. If you family didn't want to go out that morning maybe they could swim while you go to DTD. Hopefully, by having a pretty easy morning, you will all be ready to hit a park that night.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

My obsession for the trip has not waivered! However, I am having a terrible time planning past day four.

"Why? " her attentive audience gasped with a sympathetic tone.

1. I have no idea how spent we will be. We are morning folks (three are- I pretend.) Yet, I think late night hours are critical to maximizing our park time.
2. I want to include parades and fireworks. (Again, no idea on our energy level and crowd levels might drive me insane.)
3. I want to plan in a trip to Downtown Disney. I don't think this is something my family wants to do. So, do I go without them??
4. I want to enjoy the resorts, but won't we enjoy them in the midday break I keep scheduling.
5. Possibly, since I am now planning the downside of our vacation, I am avoiding this scenario?!

I keep trying to plan. I even made a planning poster thinking I just need to see it all on one page (and the spreadsheet wasn't cutting it.) I even made stickies for parades, fireworks, and Fantasmic.

HELP ME - Any suggestions?

I hear ya! I always get hung up around day 4! And usually by day 4 of the trip, is when we stop following the schedule so directly. Maybe you can plan a meal at DTD. That way, you have an excuse to go there and can do a little shopping before or after. We are two (sort of still) young adults and we can't do both early morning and late night. Every time we have a late night planned, the next day is sleep in (and by sleep in, I mean 8am wake up call instead of 6!) If we have early morning, we don't plan any PM EMH, usually back by 10 or 11.

Just don't stress!! You'll see that no matter how perfectly you plan this trip, there may be times when your day looks NOTHING like you planned.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I'm here! Now I need to go back and read!

 

[irishdancer86]

I have no suggestions, only commiserations in that i'm on the same boat, staring at the itinerary wondering if it's even feasible!

but on the plus side i suppose its a fairly nice worry as worries go?!

i hope you get DTD fitted in, would T Rex for diner and build their own dinosaur entice the girls?

 

[mgsmom]

I'm with you on getting stuck - you're right - you don't really know how tired you will be or how much of your plan you will have actually gotten to do! Plus, there are always things that you want to repeat right away so other things get put off...

I would do the DTD in conjunction with a meal - that sounds like a good idea. Or, go by yourself while the others play in the pool or something.
I want to try and get over there too, but I have better chances b/c DH is determined to get a sammich at EoS!

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

A couple of thoughts.......DTD is time consuming, unless you drive your own car. Even then, it will take a chunk out of your day because there is just a lot of traffic over there AND parking can be a pain. However, there are some great shops. There is also the Characters in Flight balloon if that interests your family. If you decide to go, try to do something earlier in the week (Monday ish) - I understand it is less crowded then, and gets more crowded toward the end of the week.

There is down time when you are waiting for parades or shows, like Fantasmic or Illuminations - something to consider.

I think planning the end of the vacation period is very depressing, and you do tend to feel a sense of desperation, trying to fit in everything that you felt you had plenty of time for in the beginning.

Wendy, the bus to DTD seems to be the only bus ride that was loooong! I have to consider if we should drive or not. DH is all about driving to Disney and parking the car until it is time to leave again. We have had great experiences with buses.

The wait time for Fantasmic is why I am only going to schedule it if Disney adds the late show. I understand the crowds are lower for the second show so we wouldn't have to wait 60 to 90 min.

Could you plan a leisurely morning at DTD and/or some resort touring. Then rest/swim at your resort. Later that night you could go out to do the parade and fireworks. If you family didn't want to go out that morning maybe they could swim while you go to DTD. Hopefully, by having a pretty easy morning, you will all be ready to hit a park that night.

I think maybe we could pool hop to Saratoga and check out that resort and have lunch at DTD.

I hear ya! I always get hung up around day 4! And usually by day 4 of the trip, is when we stop following the schedule so directly. Maybe you can plan a meal at DTD. That way, you have an excuse to go there and can do a little shopping before or after. We are two (sort of still) young adults and we can't do both early morning and late night. Every time we have a late night planned, the next day is sleep in (and by sleep in, I mean 8am wake up call instead of 6!) If we have early morning, we don't plan any PM EMH, usually back by 10 or 11.

Just don't stress!! You'll see that no matter how perfectly you plan this trip, there may be times when your day looks NOTHING like you planned.

My pefectionist nature is a bit prohibitive in this case. =) I think I am just planning to maximize. I think that I need to look at which is more important for us each night/next morning and pick between late night or early morning. We do have a rainforest meal planned at AK - maybe I will switch to DTD.

I'm here! Now I need to go back and read!

Welcome! I am glad you came over to visit!

I have no suggestions, only commiserations in that i'm on the same boat, staring at the itinerary wondering if it's even feasible!

but on the plus side i suppose its a fairly nice worry as worries go?!

i hope you get DTD fitted in, would T Rex for diner and build their own dinosaur entice the girls?

It is a good worry to have! I asked them before I made ADRs to choose between Rain Forest and TRex. They picked Rain Forest, but like I told Nikki, maybe I will switch to DTD instead of AK

I'm with you on getting stuck - you're right - you don't really know how tired you will be or how much of your plan you will have actually gotten to do! Plus, there are always things that you want to repeat right away so other things get put off...

I would do the DTD in conjunction with a meal - that sounds like a good idea. Or, go by yourself while the others play in the pool or something.
I want to try and get over there too, but I have better chances b/c DH is determined to get a sammich at EoS!

I love Earl of Sandwich! I might just take a morning to go to DTD and let the thrill seekers go seek some thrills.


Okay, so two options: swim at Saratoga - eat lunch at Earl or plan a dinner at Rain Forest and cancel the AK. Which will I do? I am excited to revisit planning now.

Thank you so much for the ideas to get me back in the groove!


Now I am off to do some !

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

I took my dad to the oncologist yesterday. I don't know how you give a status on someone with terminal cancer. He is quite thin, and he has terrible back pain (a tumor pressing on a nerve most likely). The doctor told him he needs to get ahead of his pain. Therefore, he is going to schedule the nerve block to alleviate the pain.

Lyrics from Art Garunkel's Disney girls:

Mom, hi, Rick and Dave, hi, Pop, well good morning, Mom!
Love, get up! Guess what? I`m in love with a girl I found.
She`s really swell cause she likes church bingo chances and old time dances.

All my life I spent the nights with dreams of you.
The warmth I missed for the things I wished are coming true.
I got my love to give and a place to live, guess I`m gonna stay.
It`d be a peaceful life with a forever wife and a kid some day.
It`s early nights and pillow fights and your soft laugh.
But fantasy world and Disney Girls, I`m coming back.

Back story... This is my mom and dad's song. I have so many memories of sitting in the backseat of the car watching my dad turn to my mom, with such love in his eyes, and sing it. My parents think I am a "tad" crazy since I am terribly obsessed with Disney. I think that I can turn this back on them. I think that the subliminal message of Disney Girls might be the catalyst...

Far-fetched I know. I wanted to share something about my parents though, and since this is a Disney PTR I had to make the connection.

And speaking of Disney, , I have more time to devote to my touring plans and PTR. Schoooollllls OUT FOR SUMMER!!!

I'll be writing more soon! I have some changes based on advice from you, my fab friends!

 

[taymacsmom]

Yeah for school being out! My girls are in the middle of exams right now and the oldest is graduating on the 22nd. Then we will be done too!

 

[Charleston Princess]

So sorry to hear about your dad's pain!

Hurray for school being out! Isn't it a great feeling to have summer stretching ahead of you?

 

[irishdancer86]

for school being out! DBF has tomorro, all next week and the next monday to go!

sorry to hear about your dad's pain hopefully they will be able to relieve it somewhat...

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Yeah for school being out! My girls are in the middle of exams right now and the oldest is graduating on the 22nd. Then we will be done too!

CT ends late...do you start in Sept after Labor day? Our seniors graduate before the underclassmen are finished.

Congrats on the high school graduate! (From what I've heard, Toy Story might be especially moving for you.)

So sorry to hear about your dad's pain! ?

Thank you.

Hurray for school being out! Isn't it a great feeling to have summer stretching ahead of you?

It is wonderful to not have that constant nagging feeling that we have as teachers. (You know; the constant worry of lesson planning, grading, contacting parents, etc. )

for school being out! DBF has tomorro, all next week and the next monday to go!

My last week of school flew by. I hope that your DBF's does too. Going back in for the Monday always stinks.

sorry to hear about your dad's pain hopefully they will be able to relieve it somewhat...

Thanks; hopefully next week.