The Peterson Family WDW Invasion 2009 PTR

[mariezp]

I should be ashamed! I hope my readers don't feel like I have abandoned them! All I can say is that my planning is rather at a standstill so not much new to report. I have not changed anything for days now!!!!!


Anyway....
Canyon girl, I am pretty sure I will be doing the same and get some of my shopping done while we are there and ship them home. That works for my DD but I will have to get my DS-18's gifts ahead of time since there is just not too much that would still interest him at Disney. I will definetly be cutting back on my spending this year so that should cut down on my shopping list right from the start. Yay for you and your upgrade!!! and a double Yay on your DH getting his citizenship!!!


Yeah, yeah, yeah, Pikester! I know. Decorate before we leave. I should be so organized! It is really hard to feel like doing that when it is still October or November! Gonna have to force myself though or be annoyed again when we get home. DH still insists on a fake tree so I have to wait on that part for sure.

LOVEMY3KIDDOS, you are really an inspiration! Get my cards out before we leave? I usually wait until the week of Christmas! I will have to see if I can do better.

Thanks for all the encouragement ladies. I will have to keep you posted on the outcome.



I did decide today to add an ADR for Teppan Edo for our day that we are undecided on which park to go to.... just in case, since it was one of the few places left that I thought I would like to try.

Speaking of ADRs... I ran across this video on another thread and thought it was hilarious!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jlfc8zZF7Wc

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Teppan Edo is great! Hope you do actually get to go and don't opt out!

 

[DL55]

Enjoying your PTR. Remember you won't do it all. Take time to relax.

 

[mariezp]

Teppan Edo is great! Hope you do actually get to go and don't opt out!

I really hope we get to go too! I have been considering it all along but there just doesn't seem to be enough days to cram in every place I would like to try, even with 12 days! I really think the family would enjoy the chef at the table though so will keep my fingers crossed. I made the ADR for the one day that is undecided on which park we will go to. No park hopper purchased yet but this just may be the deal breaker! Or, here's hoping we all just want to go back to Epcot! What are the chances of that?


DL55, glad you decided to drop by! I am going knowing that this may well be the only trip we ever take to WDW. I absolutely know we may not be able to see it all but I gotta make an effort to see all that I can! I am usually so wound up when we are at Disney that I need to keep moving anyway. As for rest... I get to do that all the time at home! Nah, seriously, since it will be off season the parks close fairly early and we only have a few nights that we will be out very late. Got the pool and hot tub at the house so we should be able to relax a bit there. It is pretty traditional for us to grab takeout for supper and watch a movie so we do get a little down time then too.



Not much news to add to this here PTR. Have been pondering the different modes of transportation for getting around and what would be the best way to get from point A to point B. That's just about it for now.

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Our whole family loves Epcot and we range from 5 to 32. I think you could get everyone to go back! How many days do you have scheduled for Epcot now? If it's only one, you could definitely use another Epcot day! We never get through everything in Epcot in one day. But, we spend a lot of time in WS. If you don't care that much about WS then you don't need both days.
As fro transportation, are you renting a car? I guess you must be...I just forgot. I would use that for pretty much everything. If you plan to go park to park or to just a meal outside of the park you are in, you could use Disney buses to save on gas, but your car will get you where you need to go quicker.

 

[mariezp]

LOVEMY3KIDDOS, as it stands right now I have 2 days planned for Epcot. Having never been before I have no idea what anyone will think. I am pretty sure that DD will want to go back to AK but that is just a guess. I may just go ahead and tell her we will only do 1 day. Then that only leaves DHS that we might want to repeat. I would like to do most of the shows, TSMM, VOLM, GMR, and the Backlot Tour. If we can squeeze that all in one day then we probably wouldn't need a second day at DHS. If that would all work out and everyone wanted to go back to Epcot I could get in my meal at Teppan Edo. Guess I just gotta wait to see.
Yes, we will be renting a car. I am pretty sure we will enjoy that mode of transportation best. Although, I do want to take a leisure ride on the monorail and maybe a boat but more for a midday break more than our actual mode of transportation.



I wish they would quit sending my reminders that my annual pass for Disneyland is about to expire! Makes me sad! I am going to miss going this year but on the bright side.... only 49 days til our first trip to WDW!

 

[D&DDisney]

I've been fixin to come over here and read this, but didn't get to it until today.

 

[mariezp]

D&D, you are cracking me up! I am glad you came over to see me here.... even though I have not had much to add lately. Guess I should see what I can do about that!


Let's see.... hmmmm..... anything new? Well, as D&D knows, I am fixin to send my final payment in for the house we will will be staying at. I am just waiting for the lady to respond to a few questions I had and confirm how she wants the payment sent.

I have been trying to decide if I want to place an order online for groceries. Been considering Gardengrocer.com but they are lacking a few things I would like to pick up. I know there is a shopping service called WeGoShop.com but I am just not sure about sending someone with a list. Of course, I guess we could do the shopping ourselves but that seems so unvacation like.

I have been working on my Christmas shopping so I will not feel so overwhelmed when we get home. I think I now have the majority of the buying done so next I will need to get wrapping and decorating. Maybe I should at least hold out til November... which will be here in just a couple weeks! I am actually done to a month and 2 weeks! How cool is that?

 

[D&DDisney]

It is "unvacation-like" to go shopping but saves a ton. We usually head over to the Winn Dixie outside of DTD. Do our shopping on 1st day of trip and then forget it. Not sure where your house is located but the Publix stores have decent bargains too.

Congrats on getting most of your Christmas shopping done already!

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

I think I now have the majority of the buying done so next I will need to get wrapping and decorating.

Our local Dollar Tree had Mickey & Friends and Princess Christmas paper for a $1 a roll!!! I am sure the roll is short, but at $1 you can grab a bunch!

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

One day in AK will be fine. HS...the shows take a bit to get through. Plus, they are at certain times and it may be difficult to time them just right to get everything in within one day. I'd say you will have to do a second day at HS. So, that may knock out your second Epcot day.

Congrats on having so much Christmas shopping done! I have 1 gift purchased! ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mariezp]

D&D, no doubt doing the shopping myself would save some cash. If we do end up shopping we will also do it on our first day. Our plane gets in at 4:15. We have no other plans besides getting settled in and relaxing at the pool so there should be ample time for a trip for groceries. I think the Winn Dixie and Publix are both pretty close to the house. I wonder which one has a bakery? Breakfast items are one of the things we really like to pick up so we don't waste time and money in the park. Do they have a Super Walmart in the area? I am very familiar with that chain.

MadilynnsMomma, good find on the wrapping paper! You never know what you will find at those dollar stores!

LOVEMY3KIDDOS, I think we will be okay with one day at AK. Also pretty sure one day will suffice at DS. There is a lot at DS that we can skip over because we have done the equivalent ride/attraction at DL or can just save for if we still have time at the end of the day. Just gotta wait for the show schedules and see if I can work the timing out. I am pretty confident that Epcot is going to have more that we will want to explore with our spare day.
You better get started on that shopping!


Okay, well I did have a few days of progressive vacation planning! Yesterday I sent the final payment on the house we will be staying in. I requested that the pool be nice and warm on our arrival day. The owner also confirmed for me that there were blow dryers so I do not have to worry about packing that! Also, will need to pick up some pool toys. I don't expect that will be a problem to find in Florida!

Next, I spent part of the day yesterday rounding up gift cards from various different rewards that I have earned. So far I was able to tally up $430! That should certainly help out with souvineers and dining.

And finally, I had been reading about the Photopass pre-order being discontinued. Well guess what! I received an e-mail with a link that allowed me to pre-order at the $99 discounted price. I am not exactly sure why I received the promotion but I am quite pleased with saving $50!

Only 41 days!

 

[DL55]

Wow, $430 in gift cards! That should help some.
We always buy breakfast items too.

 

[Canyon girl]

I always liked Publix, but I would imagine that both of them would have bakeries. As far as GardenGrocer.com, I wanted some things that they didn't have. When I called them to ask, they said that there is a place to request other things during the checkout process. They said to place the order a week or so early, and they would call with the prices of the other items. It still could work for you. Not sure where your house is, but here is a Super Center. http://maps.google.com/maps/place?c...cd=1&cad=src:pplink&ei=qPTfSrjjNKjGigPRz9D6CQ

Near the top of the list on this page, http://www.priceviewer.com/walmart_locations/FL.html#walmart_locations_K , there is a location on Vine in Kissimmee. Hopefully, one of these would work for you.

Naomi

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Hmmmm...Lucky girl getting that e-mail!

 

[lovesdumbo]

Enjoying your PTR! I'll be at WDW 11/30 to 12/7.

Have you considered getting just one annual pass? The annual pass would give you free parking and you would be able to purchase the Tables in Wonderland dining discount card.

We come home this year with 9 days til Christmas. How do I get it all done and enjoy Christmas both places? Anyone ever felt this way? Can anyone fill me in on what you do so you don't come home feeling completely overwhelmed and under appreciative of the season?

I'll be home 3+ weeks before Christmas but I am going to try my very best to be nearly completely prepared for Christmas before I leave for my trip but to be honest I haven't done as much to date as I thought I would have. I have done some shopping for my DS & younger DD who will turn 9 & 7 in January so I've done some birthday shopping too. I have purchased a couple of books for my DD(10) for Christmas but am sort of stumped as to what to get her this year. I was hoping to make a few gifts for other family members but haven't started any of that. I'm just wrapping up my very busiest time a work so maybe I'll get a lot done in the next 3 to 4 weeks but I have a feeling I'll be a ball of stress by the time I get home from Disney and need another vacation!

 

[Sherry E]

Marie -

I cannot CANNOT believe that, from when you first announced that your family was making a WDW holiday trip, it is now right around the corner. In just a few weeks! My mind is blown by this! The year has flown by! I am sure these next few weeks are going to be filled with pre-trip chaos and last minute odds and ends, so you may not have too much time to post here. I know I would probably be in a state of panic about now if I were in your shoes (even though you have done an excellent job of mapping everything out and making the best choices for your family). I have said this before to you but I am so excited for you and your family that you are getting to do this - especially for such a good length of time - and I know you will come back with an array of dazzling photos, through which I plan to live vicariously. You guys seem like a really good bunch of people and I know you will have a wonderful time.

I am sure you have not had any time to get back to my TR lately - I have barely been able to get back to it myself! - but I knew you, especially, would be very happy for me to know that I was able to get to DLR for a one-day trip to see the Halloweentime stuff after all, knowing all the trouble I had with planning my DLR trips this year. It was very last minute (explanation of how it came together is in TR) and I only got a few photos with the SD880, but at least I got to go! I really did not think it was going to happen. But I definitely came to two conclusions: I STILL love DLR at Christmastime much more than Halloweentime and I have given Storytellers Critter Breakfast three tries and I STILL prefer Goofy's Kitchen for all reasons. No comparison.

 

[mariezp]

Shame, shame, shame on me for leaving my poor PTR hanging in limbo! Between being sick and not having tons of new stuff to report my poor little report has been poorly neglected... as well as my readers. Well, let's see if I can try to keep on top of things for the next 16 days! Ya hear that? I am down to 16 days!!!! Those are going to absolutely fly by which is okay with me because I am so ready!.... well, not exactly ready because there is still much to do but you know what I mean, right?

DL55, I started my grocery list and it looks like the breakfast items make up about 50% of the whole list. Saves so much time to not have to stop to eat when you get to the park.

Canyon girl, thanks for the links to the Walmart. I think I have just about talked myself into having the groceries delivered but it will still be good to have the locations... just in case. Even DD thought the idea of having to go to Walmart while on vacation was a bad idea! Anyway, I have not been reading much very good about GardenGrocer.com lately so am leaning towards Wegoshop.com. I have my list pretty well put together. I just need to call and set up a time. This week I am really going to try to get to the last minute details!

LOVEMY3KIDDOS, I did feel pretty lucky getting that e-mail. Now here's hoping that there are enough Photopass photographers out and about to make it worth it!

lovesdumbo, thanks for reading along with me! From the look of your siggie it looks like you have been around WDW a few times! I hope you have managed to get a lot more of your preperations done since you were here last. It is really hard to get started! I have my shopping done but am still stalling on the decorations. It has been lovely weather and I have really been wanting to get the lights up. However, it has been warm enough that the wasps are doing a last minute swarm looking for some good places to hole up for the winter and I just am not brave enough to fight them!
You know if I were smarter and more experienced at the WDW planning I probably would have done the math and bought 1 annual pass. BUT I did not think of it and I already have our tickets. Can you upgrade when you get to the park? It just might be worth it! I wonder what sort of discounts are available for APs? Hmmmm. Something else to research! So tell me more about this Tables in Wonderland card.

Hello Sherry! I am so glad you popped back in! I did make it over to your report but it was a quick fly by! I am especially glad that you got to make your day trip to Disneyland! Here's hoping you get another holiday trip... but maybe it will be a little more relaxing. Wish I were going there with you too!
Still, heading to WDW is a pretty good constellation prize. I am really excited and really ready to go! So is the whole family. The kids are asking everyday "How many more days"? Even DH chimes in every so often. You are absolutely right that the time has flown by! I am getting all the cameras ready so I can take plenty of pictures just to share with you!

 

[mariezp]

So, let's see.... since I was last here.... hmmm, what to report? I think all my gift cards have gotten here except for one. I've still got some coupons to print out to also help save a few more dollars. I am looking forward to a pat on the back when DH sees how hard I worked to try to save a few bucks here and there!

I finally remembered to call the vet and make arrangements to board our dog. Can't believe I almost forgot that! A friend of mine comes and checks in on our cats. She also cleans my house for me while we are gone. So wonderful to come home to a nice clean house. I wonder if I could talk her into decorating for me while I am gone?

I made our reservation at the off airport parking to leave our car for 2 weeks so we don't have to depend on someone else to get us to the airport and pick us up. We found a place we really liked last year but wouldn't you know it they are no longer in business. I found a place right around the corner so here's hoping we like them just as well.

While I was sick I was taking some medicine that apparently made me overly sensitive to the sun. Since that happened I have purchased sunscreen and a hat to take with me to sunny Florida. I do not want to go through that again! I was so burnt my face was swollen for 2 days!

I spent about a week second guessing some of our extra activities wondering if we would be wasting too much park time. I think I finally talked my self down and decided that we will most likely enjoy a few activities that are different and perhaps a bit more relaxing. I did drop a couple table service ADRs to free up some time. While I know we would love the atmosphere at Coral Reef there was really nothing on the menu that appealed so it was the first one to go. I am going back and forth with Teppan Edo. I decided to keep the ADR but it may not end up a priority.

I did end up making one more switch on our days in the park. DS managed to make some definite plans with his buddies so we will be visiting them and their family on Saturday the 12th. Then they will be with us in the park on Sunday the 13th. Didn't have to change much. Just had to switch an Epcot day around with an MK day. May have to change any plans I thought we might do outside of the park. Guess it just depends on how much time we end up spending in Dade City.

One other interesting thing came up. My DS is 18 this year. He has really shown no desire to hurry out and get his driver's license... which has been okay with me. However, we realized that he was going to need a photo id at the airport. So DH works with him and they set out to take his driving test. Right off the bat he fails the parallel parking test. I tried to tell them before they left that they needed to borrow someone's small car specifically to pass that darn test! Of course, no one ever listens to me. He didn't really stand a chance. His truck is a monstrous 4 wheel drive extended cab pickup that DH or I could probably not even park. ANYWAY, they did apply for the state photo id but said it could take up to 8 weeks to get here! DH immediately starts planning a delay in our trip. Me, I pick up the phone and start making phone calls cause I am not about to give up on this trip yet! I call the TSA and was told that as long as he has a boarding pass he will be allowed on the plane...BUT he will have to arrive 2 hours early and go through the secondary security check which means he will be wanded, patted down and asked additional security questions. He is okay with it. He said it would probably give him something really good to laugh about later on. Here's hoping the photo id gets here in time so he doesn't have to go through all that!

So, my last bit of info for tonight is that I should receive my entry code to our house within the next few days! Isn't that exciting? I can't wait!!!!

 

[D&DDisney]

So excited for you. Only 2 weeks for you and 1 month for me.

Got your PM. I think we might just miss each other at the airport on the 16th. I'll call you that day and we'll see if we can meet up. Our flight gets into MCO at 10:50am.