The Mission: Prove to Grumpola Husband that Disney Magic DOES Exist!

[eagillinois]

I am leaving my grumpy DH at home with the teenagers and my 7 yo son and I are planning a trip for just the two of us at the same time arriving early Sunday the 26th and leaving Saturday the 2nd. We are also staying at POFQ.

I am curious how the socks work out for you. I have a small Vera Bradley bag that we take every trip...it works out really well and I never have to take it off for the rides.

 

[heathers4um]

Hi again!

So can you tell me...what are those socks you referred to and the Vera bag...does she make a special kind that works for us Disney goers? I am trying to figure out something easy to put our cars and fast passes in when we go and I am not crazy about having something hanging around my neck like the lanyards everyone says works great.

 

[TandLMommy28]

Socks--any socks that say "wicking" on them. They are fantastic. I wore them all day at Cedar Point and my feet stayed dry and comfortable--and I was sweating buckets.

Vera--A lot of people swear by the mini hipster but if you JUST need your phone, money and park passes, I recommend the All in One. It's basically a wallet with a phone pocket. It has a strap that hooks, so you can wear it as a wristlet or you can hook it through your belt loop.

 

[TandLMommy28]

I am back from summer vacation (Cedar Point, a play on Broadway, visiting family in Rhode Island and Hershey Park all in one week!). And that can only mean one thing...

Disney planning is officially in full swing!!!

I made myself cool it while planning the other trip because I was starting to feel like the other trip was just a hindrance in the way of getting to Disney. So now that I'm back, it's time!!!

I just downloaded a bunch of Disney travel podcasts on my iPod and I'm about to get into Disney training on the treadmill this morning. I'm also planning some "heat training" every afternoon walking the kids in the stroller.

 

[TandLMommy28]

I am working on perfecting our Touring Plans. None of the Touring Plans are actually right for us so I improvised. I printed out the afternoon half of the "One afternoon and One Full Day for Parents with Small Children". Then I edited it to fit our plans a little better. We'll be skipping eating dinner in the park thanks to a late lunch at Chef Mickey's and that frees up some time to hit up a little of Fantasy Land on our first day, along with Touring Plans recommendation.

For our second day, I'm going to base it on the "Happy Family" Touring Plan and just cut out the things that we have already done (Tom Sawyer Island, Jungle Cruise, Bears, and the treehouse are not things we need to do twice!). The full day touring plan for small kids cuts out all of the good rides, what good is that?

Here's my half-day touring plan. Feel free to critique it.

http://www.TouringPlans.com/etp2/etp_v2.php?id=369770578fbd011405b8ba886917bbcd

 

[TandLMommy28]

I am running into serious issues with the stroller I bought. It's fine for pushing the kids around a little (and I assume they will walk quite a bit, they aren't babies!). But i bought it mostly to have a basket for stuff that we have in the park and the basket is horrible. The lady sold it because the basket got a hole in it. I sewed a new lining into it but now the lining has a hole, too. It is too big, so it drags the ground even empty. I need to figure out how to shorten it a bit. That's got to get done NOW because I like to bring a stroller to the zoo for "practice".

 

[TandLMommy28]

* My Disney budget is about to take a huge hit. Our 20 year old water heater is leaking all over the garage. Fun stuff. We decided to cheap out and get the least expensive water heater we can and replace it with a good one in 2 years. But still, we are looking at $500 and that's a whole lot of Mickey Mouse ears.

* I fixed the stroller basket. It was a disaster and a huge headache but it's done! I pinched it up about two inches and sewed it so that it's smaller now. It doesn't fit as much stuff, obviously, but it no longer drags the ground, even when it's got my camera, purse and cooler stuffed in there.

* Meijer Back to School sales are ON. I have purcahsed underwear and socks already. Woohoo! Gotta love fresh underwear on vacation. Maybe that's weird, I don't know, but I just hate packing underwear for a trip. I like to toss a whole unopened package in the suitcase!

* I found a Mickey t-shirt for Lucas at Target for $3 in the clearance stuff. That'll save me $20 at the park. Woohoo!

* I am obsessed with Disney planning to the point that I am not accomplishing the work I need to accomplish in order to pay for this trip (I'm a freelancer). I need to get my head back in the game!

* My mom went off on me for over planning. She said I'm not leaving any room for fun and I'm going to be disappointed when no one wants to follow my rigorous schedule. I tried to explain to her that my planning is not because I want every minute accounted for... quite the opposite. If we know ahead of time that we don't have time for certain things, we won't be disappointed when we get there. And planning out how to reduce thigh chafing, packing the perfect first aid kit and knowing how many pictures I can take without recharging my camera battery? All to prevent emergencies! A touring plan is not to make everyone stressed out, it's to reduce stress. She doesn't get it. Sigh.

 

[jonesephus]

I am back from summer vacation (Cedar Point, a play on Broadway, visiting family in Rhode Island and Hershey Park all in one week!). And that can only mean one thing...

Disney planning is officially in full swing!!!

I made myself cool it while planning the other trip because I was starting to feel like the other trip was just a hindrance in the way of getting to Disney. So now that I'm back, it's time!!!

I just downloaded a bunch of Disney travel podcasts on my iPod and I'm about to get into Disney training on the treadmill this morning. I'm also planning some "heat training" every afternoon walking the kids in the stroller.

Have to laugh about the "heat training"-- I need to get on that, but it's been so muggy and over 90 (which I know will be Florida in Sept), but I just don't have the will!!!! (That and my darn allergies!!!) We are taking our two DD (4 and 17 mo) in Sept for the first time, so I am enjoying you report! DH is tolerant, though not super-excited, and he thinks I am little obsessed with planning this thing!

 

[TandLMommy28]

It's been super muggy here and we've been hiding in the house as well... I need to force myself out there but it's so HOT.

I just watched a YouTube of Wishes and bawled my eyes out. It took me out of the technical planning for this trip and back to the emotion at the heart of all of this. My childhood centered on waiting for the day that we would finally go. And when we did, it was perfection. Not because of all the planning or ADRs or shows or short lines (that trip was in September as well) but because my family was there and we were living out a long time dream.

When my daughter was born, I was very sick. I ended up in the hospital for a week after her birth (it was non-pregnancy related but the birth made it worse) and for two weeks after getting home I was in bed. I could barely even sit up. When I finally felt well enough to take care of her myself, colic hit. And she screamed and she screamed for five straight months. And to be honest, during that time I didn't like her very much. I hadn't been able to bond with her in those early days because I was too sick and now she was just crying and crying all the time, day and night. She didn't even sleep--ever. She took 10 minute cat naps a handful of times throughout the day and otherwise she screamed.

And sometimes, when I really couldn't take it anymore, I would look into her screaming little faceand I would say, "It's going to be OK because SOMEDAY, a very, very, very long time for now, you are going to stop crying and you are going to be a beautiful five year old girl and when that day comes, I am going to take you to Disney World and show you Cinderella's castle and all the other amazing and magical things there. And right now it feels like this day is never going to end and you will never stop crying but someday, someday..." And now... someday is almost here. I am going to take that screaming baby (who did turn into a very beautiful five year old girl!) to Disney World and I am going to hold her hand and walk through Cinderella's castle and I'm probably going to bawl my eyes out thinking about how far we have come, me and her.

 

[TandLMommy28]

I joined Weight Watchers. Woohoo! I really only have a small goal of 15 pounds before Disney World. That's less than 2 pounds a week and I think that's very doable. I just hate seeing pictures of myself right now, it makes me sad. I have hypothyroidism and insulin resistance so I have a harder time losing but Weight Watchers works! And I'm ready to do this! I'm actually down 2.5 pounds already since Friday but I am still in "vacation recovery" and losing vacation bloat!

We are going to Hobby Lobby today to check out prices on tie dye. I am thinking about making Mickey shirts as an art project this week (we home school and summers are casual but we do not fully take summers off).

 

[wlake]

I've been that mom crying at Disney too, as she watches her child so something that she never thought he'd be able to do. I wish I had thought to pick something in the future like that and focus on it when my younger son had colic -- with a screaming infant and a 3 year old who had just been diagnosed with a sensory processing disorder and needing tons of daily therapy, that really would have helped me hang on.

Anyway, I must admit I haven't read your touring plans (trying to limit my time on here to say, less than all day long! ), but something that worked for my family (DH, DSs who were 7 and 4) was getting a good Disney for kids guidebook, reading it together, and then having everyone pick two things for each day -- a must do and a want to do. Luckily, many of those overlapped, and we made our daily plans around those. That way, everyone left the park feeling happy. (Tired, hot, hungry, but happy!)

 

[Caretames1]

Oh My! You have me crying my eyes out I think this is going to be a magical trip for you all the way around.
I am one of those overplanner types, which my seem too strucured, but I call it being perpared for what will be available to us and what everyone will like or be able to particpate in.

I can't wait to read the rest of your PTR, and then you Trip Report when you come back.

p.s. Our Disney budget got hit hard too, Car repairs, Emergency Surgery, & Equipment Replacement.( Hubby is a Moblie DJ) But we just rearraged some piorities and will not go out eat or buy B-day or Anniversary Present for each other this year.

Have a great trip

 

[TandLMommy28]

We did the exact same thing--our birthdays and anniversary are all in a 17 day span (August is CRAZY at our house) and we are not doing gifts or anything else. Plus, I joined Weight Watchers and now that I've been eating healthy, I don't even want to go out to eat! We went out Friday night for pizza just because the house was in chaos from the water heater stuff and we all felt sick all day Saturday. I'll be sticking to my Kashi granola bars and fresh fruit, I think! Cheaper and healthier, it's a win-win!

And it's officially official, our Disney vacation is paid in full! And I even did it a full week earlier than the 45 day deadline--when the water heater went out on us, I was not sure we'd be able to swing both but I did some extra freelance work and my husband's check was unexpectedly more than I planned on and we were good to go!

Now, let the saving for travel, MNSSHP and souvenirs begin!

 

[TandLMommy28]

SCORE!!!!!!!!!!!

I got Crystal Palace moved to 8am. The idea of getting into MK before opening just seems so exciting! And being done in time to get going on a good touring plan is even MORE appealing.

So now I have 3 out of our 4 breakfasts at pre-opening. Epcot/Akerhaus is still at 9:30 but that's OK for now. I just keep on checking!

Of course, on the flip side we home school and we live by a "we get going whenever" schedule so I am working on getting up early. I was going to bed by midnight but this week it's 11:30 and I'll keep moving it up until I am in bed by 10. I want to be easily getting up at 6 to shower and get things ready before the kiddos get up. I figure if we need to leave at 7:15, the kids REALLY don't need to be up before 6:55... right? Throw on some clothes, sunscreen and out the door we go.

 

[NaLisa]

I'm enjoying reading your plans, so much so that I'm subbing to a TR for the first time. Keep us updated!

 

[TandLMommy28]

Aw, thanks! It's nice to know some people out there don't think I'm crazy. My husband just shakes his head every time I say, "And today on the Dis, I read..." I really wish he understood why Disney is so magical to me. I can only hope that once he goes, he will understand.

I'm super grateful that the freelance work is just rolling in this month, it's helping with building up the savings/vacation fund which are both completed depleted. I've got an extra "easy money" project going right now and it should last most of August. It's good to have easy work right now when my attention span is not at its best!

We've got one more week of swim lessons and then I guess summer is over. Which would mean that Monday is the official start of our school year. Sigh... I prefer starting after Labor Day but with taking a week out of school right away in September, and knowing that we won't be in great shape to be doing school work the 2 or 3 days after we get home, knocking out a few weeks in August is probably for the best.

 

[TandLMommy28]

So my mom calls me the other day and says, "After church I was talking to this lady who just got back from Disney and she told me that there's one restaurant that I just HAVE TO eat at..."

And since I read the Dis Boards, I knew what she was going to say so I braced myself for it...

"It's that steak house? The one in Canada? It starts with an L, I think? Do you think you could switch our Epcot dinner reservations to that one instead?"

Sigh...

And so, my search for Le Cellier has begun. I don't eat steak so I thought I was getting off easy not being on that search! But mom really wants it. So I've been checking 2 - 3 times a day. I have heard that at the 45 day mark sometimes it's easier to find reservations so I'll be checking a lot over the weekend, as the 45 day mark to Epcot comes up. For whatver INSANE reason, while the rest of our crowd levels are supposed to be in the 0.6 - 2.3 range, our Epcot day is at 8.8, which isn't making my search for Le Cellier any easier! I'm also trying to bump our Akerhuas to 8am and I'm striking out on that so far as well.

But it's fun searching! Not much else I can do between now and the week before we go, anyway!

 

[TandLMommy28]

OK, yes, this is three posts in a row but I just have to say...

I CAN'T WAIT TO DO THE MR. POTATO HEADS AT ONCE UPON A TOY!


I am more excited about this than anything else. I love Mr. Potato Head so much. And I can't find many decent pictures of the store and the Mr. Potato Head section and it's frustrating!

I am from Rhode Island (although I do not live there now). If you don't know, Hasbro, maker of the awesome Potato, is headquartered in my home town of Pawtucket, RI. When I was in college, the state funded this art project and all different artists made giant Mr. Potato Head statues. They placed them all over the state--at restaurants, the convention center, beaches, museums, etc. A friend of mine from Rhode Island and a friend from California who was visiting me over the summer went on a one-day search to take pictures of ourselves with as many of the statues as possible. This involved lots of tolls, lots of getting lost, calling artists at HOME, getting permission to go places inside buildings that the general public is generally not allowed and even one ferry ride because one of the statues was on an island! But in the end it was an incredibly memorable day! And my love of Mr. Potato Head lives on...

Presently there is only one statue I know of that is still on display. I took pics of my kids and my best friend's son in front of it when we were in RI in July...

The boy in the green and the girl in the pink are mine. The one in the middle is my friend's son.

My daughter and my friend's son.


So I think the Mr. Potato Head thing is going to be Sunday morning while we wait for Chef Mickey's. I can't wait much longer than that!!!!!!!

 

[TandLMommy28]

I've been reading other PTRs and it occurred to me that I never shared photos of our group. I will have to find decent pics of the adults but here are the kiddos.

Found this place in RI on vacation! Some family farm and they let people take pictures with Mater. My kids were beside themselves with excitement!

The four of us last summer in New Hampshire.

Me. A picture I actually like, that never happens!

My aunt Jacquie

And my mom!

 

[jkluttrell]

I could have written a lot of your posts word for word. We are going in October and my husband is being so grumpy about the whole thing. I am not even telling him about most of the "plans" until we get there. He is the most impatient person I have ever met so waiting in line for characters or sitting and trying to snag a good spot for the parade 30-45 minutes early will not suit him well. I keep having to remind him that this trip is not for him, it is for our kids (and me but I don't tell him that one, HA!).

I also bought a VB bag for our trip. I got the backpack in Espresso. Love it and I think it will be perfect for me.

We have an amusement park tradition (kinda) in our family (along with my in-laws) of going in the summers. We have been to Six Flags in St. Louis, Dollywood and Magic Springs. I say all that to say Cedar Point is high on our list. We are wanting to go there so badly! Next summer we are either going to Cedar Point or Universal.

I am looking forward to your trip report to see how much fun your husband has!