The Rouses meet the Mouses: A very Canadian PTR May 2013

[3Rouselings]

Welcome to my first ever pre-trip report! I have been toying with the idea of starting one of my own for several months but I have finally reached a point where I am driving everyone in my life absolutely insane with my non-stop talk of Disney – so what better motivation?

Let me introduce you to my crazy cast of characters:

Me – Amanda, 37 relatively new to the Disney obsession! Love the thrill of planning all the details of a Disney vacation, and seeing all my hard work pay off through the eyes of my kids. My favorite restaurant was Liberty Tree Tavern (sticky toffee pudding, need I say more?!)

DH – Shawn, 39 resident tech guy. Wonderful husband and amazing daddy to our Rouselings. His favorite restaurant was Garden Grill.

DS – Zach, 11: loves video games! His favorite Disney character is Stitch, and his favorite ride is Test Track, and he could eat the ice cream sandwhiches

DD – Cameron, 8 our Diva with a heart of gold. Completely smitten with all things pink, purple and sparkles. She doesn’t have a favorite character, her favorite ride was Tomorrowland Speedway (I know, right?) and she loves Dole Whip just like her Mama!

DD – Emmersyn, 4 the little monkey! She loves Ariel, on our last trip her favorite ride was the Carousel and she loves Mickey rice crispy treats.

Along for the ride with us this time for their first ever Disney Trip are:

My Brother in Law – Mike, 33
Sister in Law – Misty, 33
Nephew – Tanner, 8
Nephew – Rylan, 6

They don't yet have any Disney favorites but that's all about to change!

We all live in New Brunswick, Canada. Not in the same towns but about 30 minutes apart. We try to get together often so the cousins have a great relationship. Shawn and I began thinking about a trip to Disney just about as soon as we returned from our first ever trip in May of 2011. When we put to word out to our family and friends to see if anyone would be interested in joining us on a return trip Mike and Misty jumped right in!

I hope you enjoy reading all about our plans, our trip and our big adventure!

 

[happybelle]

I like the name of your trip report.

 

[3Rouselings]

Thanks!

 

[3Rouselings]

Welcome to everyone who is reading! I know that not everyone will want to read every post so I thought a table of contents is probably a good idea.

Chapter One: The Whens and Wheres!

Chapter Two: Dining Reservations

Chapter Three: Getting in Shape for our Trip

Chapter Four: The Big Surprise!

 

[3Rouselings]

So - we are headed back to Disney!! For Shawn, the kids and I this is our second trip, we were lucky enough to have made the trip in May of 2011. For that trip we stayed at All Star Movies, at that time our youngest was only two so she was still "free" by Disney standards. We made the best of our room but I will admit that it was tight quarters for a week for the five of us.

Fast forward to 2013! We are 76 days away from our return and a much needed vacation.

When: May 4th - 11th With May 4th being a travel day giving us the day to make the 6 hour drive from our home to Portland, ME and us flying into MCO on the 5th.

Where: Disney's Art of Animation Finding Nemo Family Suite

Extras: We are doing a 5 day park pass, no hoppers, have ordered and received our Photo Pass Plus DVD and best of all we are on Deluxe Dining!!


Mike, Misty and the kids are staying in a Little Mermaid room at AoA, they went with 4 day park tickets and are also doing Deluxe Dining.

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

Just joining in from our Skisney thread! Can't wait to read along!

 

[3Rouselings]

For me a big part of making this an extra special vacation is the fact that I don't have to cook! I love delicious food and have found some really great meals during our last trip to Disney. So, for those who are interested here are our dining reservations. We are on Deluxe dining so some days are pretty meal heavy but we have allowed the kids to choose several restaurants of their choice and we are willing to sacrifice time away from the hustle and bustle of the parks to sit together and spend some quality time.

Arrival Day Sunday:
Kids choice 8pm Chef Mickey`s

Monday (Animal Kingdom Day)
8am at Tusker House
lunch open
5pm Rainforest Café

Tuesday (Hollywood Studios Day)
8am Hollywood and Vine
Kids choice 12:45 Sci-Fi
5:00pm Mama Melrose`s Fantasmic Package

Wednesday (Epcot Day)
Breakfast at Art of Animation food court
12:50 Teppan Edo
Kids Choice 5:50 Garden Grill

Thursday (Day 1 Magic Kingdom)
8am Cinderella`s Royal Table
lunch open
4:00 Be Our Guest

Friday (Day 2 Magic Kindgom)
9am O`hanas
lunch open
5:45 Liberty Tree Tavern

Saturday Departure Day
Breakfast at the AoA food court

 

[3Rouselings]

I will be the first to admit that I come last. Shawn and I have been married for 12 years, we have been together for 19 years. In that time like everyone else we have had a lot of challenges. We have been blessed with 3 amazing kids but as you know the more kids you have the less time there is for anything else!

Six years ago my dad died very suddenly of a heart attack. It flipped my world upside down and not quite two years later my mom was diagnosed with cancer. Her cancer diagnosis has been a very difficult journey and sadly, we have been given a terminal prognosis. All of these factors and many more things lead me down the road of depression. I began to feel hopeless, worthless and helpless.

Throughout all of this Shawn has been my rock. He began to make health changes in October of 2012, not really letting on to me because he didn`t want to add to my stress. In December I made the decision that I was worth the hard work and decided to join him on this lifestyle change. I signed up for an account on My Fitness Pal, sought out fitness classes through my work and I am very happy to say that I have lost 21.2 pounds! Shawn has lost 37 pounds - so between us we have lost the weight equivalent of our son! I am very proud of us, and I am proud of myself for making ME a priority

 

[happybelle]

Congratulations on the weight loss, that isn't easy. It is much easier to put it on when you have so many life problems. Good for you for making the changes for you to get healthier.

 

[Shaden]

awesome ptr so far !!!

My wife and I, also from Canada ... Niagara region are headed there in May as well, 5 - 17th.

Just want to say how awesome it is that you are doing whats necessary (and hard) tp get a little healthier ... I know how tough it is. Usednto be almost 300lbs ... lost 110 ... its tough, but worth it.

Also have a mom with cancer, every day is tough enough with that alone. I thank god for our health care at the same time I feel powerless to do anything, pretty much every day.

Wishing you and yours all the best, hope you have a magical time at dis, and wish you as many happy days with mom as possible.

 

[3Rouselings]

awesome ptr so far !!!

My wife and I, also from Canada ... Niagara region are headed there in May as well, 5 - 17th.

Just want to say how awesome it is that you are doing whats necessary (and hard) tp get a little healthier ... I know how tough it is. Usednto be almost 300lbs ... lost 110 ... its tough, but worth it.

Also have a mom with cancer, every day is tough enough with that alone. I thank god for our health care at the same time I feel powerless to do anything, pretty much every day.

Wishing you and yours all the best, hope you have a magical time at dis, and wish you as many happy days with mom as possible.

Thank you for the support. Life sometimes seems overwhelming but I have learned to take it day by day, and from one crisis to the next. I completely can relate to your feelings of helplessness with the medical system, we are really at their mercy.

Congrats on your success, I hope to be as successful as you.

And you never know we may run into each other while on vacation. Sendong you lots of

 

[3Rouselings]

Congratulations on the weight loss, that isn't easy. It is much easier to put it on when you have so many life problems. Good for you for making the changes for you to get healthier.

, it's a work in progress but I am already feeling more healthy and stronger. Everyone has life struggles, I try to find the positives in mine as much as I can.

 

[3Rouselings]

For those of you who read my intro you will remember that we are travelling with another family this time. This is our second trip, their first and boy are we all excited!!

On our first trip in 2011 we were on a pretty tight budget, there wasn't a lot of room for extras. This time around we began planning a lot earlier and our trip is already completely paid

We have had a pretty good year and have been saving for this trip for over 18 months so our budget is much more flexible. Our travelling companions not so much, they are going to be on a very tight budget.

I really wanted to do something fun and special this trip so I have booked all the kids (our 3 plus my 2 nephews) into the Pirates League on our last day in the Magic Kingdom. Then later that night we will be taking everyone on the Pirates and Pals Cruise I am so excited! They have no idea but I know they are going to love it. I am going to surprise everyone with the news the night before and am now looking for some creative ways to tell them. Any suggestions that you have would be great!

 

[3Rouselings]

We told the kids we were going back to Disney on Christmas morning here are a few pictures of that!

After opening several boxes nested one inside the other they finally found their individual gifts: How (which held our flight info), When (which held a highlighted calendar of May) and Who (which held a stuff Mickey and Minnie)

Tears of joy from Cameron

 

[happybelle]

, it's a work in progress but I am already feeling more healthy and stronger. Everyone has life struggles, I try to find the positives in mine as much as I can.

That is the best way to live. Too many people complain about things that don't matter when there are real problems.

I really wanted to do something fun and special this trip so I have booked all the kids (our 3 plus my 2 nephews) into the Pirates League on our last day in the Magic Kingdom. Then later that night we will be taking everyone on the Pirates and Pals Cruise I am so excited! They have no idea but I know they are going to love it. I am going to surprise everyone with the news the night before and am now looking for some creative ways to tell them. Any suggestions that you have would be great!

That is so sweet! How about a treasure map/hunt with a treasure chest at the end with the special news (maybe a computer certificate you make) and some chocolate coins.

 

[3Rouselings]

It's almost March Break time here, and there are several families from our kids schools and daycare who leave this weekend for Disney. I wish it was us!! Time seems to be going very slow the closer we get to our trip.