The Perfect Disney Vacay...Waiting for Something to Go Wrong!

[justbishop]

As long time WDW-philes, DH and I wanted our only child's very first trip to be PERFECT. DH and I have been numerous times, staying at various off site hotels and 2 different on site value resorts (ASMu and Pop), but it just wasn't seeming special enough for a first trip until I discovered the wonderfulness that is DVC point rental. So we will be staying in a "value" 1 bedroom at AKV Jambo for a non-ridiculous price that we can (kinda) afford

Not only do we have the specialness of a 2 y/o's very first trip, but we are also getting the honor of introducing my mom and Step-Dad (fellow Disney lovers) to the joys of staying on site (AKV Jambo "value" studio) for their first time on this trip! How much more special does one trip get?! Funny you should ask...

Not only were we able to get perfect breakfast ressies for CP and CM's for some good old fashioned character fun, but I've also booked the 'rents into Chefs of France (their favorite) on the night of their anniversary, AND was finally able to snag spots for us all at the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party

And to top it all off with a cherry, DH agreed to let me book us for 2 nights at Hawthorn Suites near Universal (Canada Ave.) for WWoHP portion of the trip, which now gives us an entire free day to enjoy AKL later in the week (the original plan was to cram WWoHP in during the AKV stay of only 5 nights)! Hawthorn seems to have great reviews, and the 7 night itinerary is seeming to come together effortlessly at this point, even without the benefit of IOA early entry or Dis park hopper tickets!

So that's where things stand at this point. Here's hoping that the remaining days til we jump in the car (we drive from SC) go quickly and without mishap!

Left to do (I'm sure I will be adding to this as I think of things. Suggestions welcome!):

DONE! * Buy comfy yet flattering vacation wardrobe pieces for me
* Drag DH out to do the same
DONE! * Make child stop growing so that an entire new wardrobe is not necessary for her...kidding, of course. (Buy her a few pieces of clothing)
DONE! * Buy mister fan, LED/glowstick toys, and rain ponchos here
* Buy soft earplugs for DD (thanks to the 9/2011 countdown thread for this idea!)
* Set aside spending cash
DONE! * Call Main St. Barber Shop and schedule DD's first haircut
* Figure out and order cake for Mom and SD's anniversary dinner at Chefs
* Get oil changed in car
* Grocery shop for road snacks (and possibly other unperishibles/unmeltables for the villa)
DONE! * Buy stroller rain cover

 

[StephaniexMarie]

Aww, I'm so following along! I really would love to stay in AKL in the future, in a villa or regular room.

 

[agmmbolam426]

I love seeing the face of a child when they see the castle for the first time. Good luck with the PTR

 

[justbishop]

Thank! I will have the car today (we only have the one, so I have to drop him at work once a week or so if I want it), and the plan is to hopefully buy a few pieces of clothing for myself, and the dollar store to shop for toys and trinkets for the trip

Oh! And I'm also about to add another item to my to do list...I still have to call Main St. Barber Shop and schedule DD's first cut!

ETA: noticed that most people add photos so that readers get a better idea of who they're reading about...

Cutest photo EVER of DH and DD

And a somewhat non-UNflattering (double neg, woohoo!) shot of DD and I at our birthday party (we are 2 days apart and just had a cookout this year)

 

[StephaniexMarie]

Your little girl is so precious!

 

[justbishop]

Thanks, we think she's pretty cool

So I had the car yesterday, and got some good shopping done!

Good deals for DD at Old Navy...a sun dress, 1 skirt, and 2 tank tops. She's quickly outgrowing a lot of her clothing, but with these pieces plus a few that should still fit by the time the trip rolls around, she should have plenty to wear.

Hit the mall afterward and got a long black prairie skirt for myself at American Eagle for about $10 on clearance. Bought the same one in white last week before they were 40% off the sale price I paid, so I'm hoping to find my receipt for that one so that I can get an adjustment. Got myself 3 new tanks at Gap for cheaper than I could have gotten them at Target (most of my existing ones are XXL size from when I was pregnant, so I really need a new tank top wardrobe), as well as a cute short ruffled skirt on clearance at Sears for $6. I'm thinking that I'll go with skirts for most (if not all) of the trip to avoid the line of demarcation where a structured waistband cuts into my belly fat

I also made it to Target and the dollar store and started stocking toiletries, car toys, and glow stick stuff to give DD in the parks. I feel like I've been a crazy Disney planner in name only for close to 10 months, but now that I have physical vacation items in my house, I'm well on my way to insanity!

Yesterday also proved a good first test of the new stroller purchase that was sparked by this trip looming, the Britax B-Agile. Super easy to fold/unfold, lightweight for a full-ish sized stroller (17lbs), and the best part...she actually napped in it! This child has not slept in a stroller since she was 6 months old, but I was actually able to get her to sleep in this stroller! I had to put the shoulder straps that I'd previously removed back into action to keep her from sitting up every time we passed something interesting, but once I strapped her in better, she fell right to sleep without protest. This bodes very well for park days!

 

[MsPoppinsTX]

What fun!

We are taking my daughter to Disney this December and I'm having the same dilema about clothing and sizes. How big is she going to be by December? What if I buy something now because it's on sale but it doesn't fit? And of course December is unpredictible weather, so how much am I going to have to pack?

Love the pictures...what a cutie!

 

[justbishop]

I can't imagine having to plan for the possibility of cold weather, lol! And I'm so grateful that we will have a w/d in our villa, since it means that I can get away with only packing enough clothes for 3-4 days! Good luck with your packing!!

And just for fun, my crazy Disney planner lady chart:

Still need to fill in a few optional park visits for AKV check in night and our resort day toward the end of the trip.

 

[justbishop]

Just made DD's first haircut appointment for the Harmony Barber Shop in MK!!

Next stop, ordering the cake for my parent's anniversary dinner at Chefs of France, then room requests at AKV (close to lobby)

 

[justbishop]

It's a day of ones (see my ticker)!

And I updated my todo list in the OP

 

[justbishop]

Found a mister fan at Walmart yesterday, so that's one more thing from my to do list DONE!

Also had a bit of reservation setter's remorse a few days ago and rescheduled DD's haircut, as well as our CP meal. Here is our reservation schedule now for the WDW portion (5 nights) of our 7 night vacay...

*************

9/11 AKV Check in

5:10pm: Dinner @ Boma

9/12 Magic Kingdom

9:30am: First haircut (plan on getting to the park about 8:30 and going in before RD to wait and hopefully get this done sooner than our appt. time. CM on the reservarion line assured me that we'd be allowed in before the 9am park opening, even though our appt. isn't until 9:30 anyway)

11:35am: Lunch @ CP

Not sure what time: Wishes Dessert Par-tay @ Tomorrowland Terrace

9/13 Animal Kingdom

8:00pm: DH and I have a grownups only dinner @ Kona Cafe (hopefully followed by a visit to WL, because I've never been and would love to walk around!)

9/14 Resort Day, AKV

9:30am: Leisurely breakfast @ Chef Mickey's (possibly followed by a visit to BWI, same reason as WL, and then back to AKV for pool/hang out time and dinner at The Mara)

9/15 EPCOT

12:45pm: Lunch @ Le Cellier (possibly followed by return to AKV for nap, so that DD might be up for Illuminations later)

7:00pm: Mom and Step-Dad's anniversary dinner at their fave WDW restaurant, Chefs of France

9/16 Departure Day

Breakfast: Whenever we roll out of bed and check out, at The Mara

*************

We have 6 day NON-HOPPER park tickets, and my parents REALLY want to visit HS. I've let them know that there is NOT a set day built into the itinerary for us all to go, but am thinking that I'm going to suggest that they hit it up after breakfast at CM's on 9/14, our resort day.