To Infinity And Beyond or Bust...a June 2013 PTR

[Kitkat6595]

And we have made our countdown!! Thanks to TheDis, I received a download for a free, awesome countdown chain. The boys had a blast making the chain and the sign today and it really heightened the excitement around here. We are at the 35 day mark!!!!

We have a few milestones to hit before then, such as my son turning 6 and his final month of Kindergarten and all that comes with that. But, we are getting more and more excited and talking about it more every day.

I bought my third park ticket from Undercover tourist, continuing on my budget plan. One more next pay period and those are all set!! Then, all that will be out of pocket when we get to Florida will be the meals, parking and gas. Everything else will be set.

Now, I need to get working a little more on my plan/schedule. I've been slacking on that, too preoccupied with reading trip reports, etc. Time to focus and figure out what we're doing. I have a vague idea of our daily schedule such as where we are going and if I needed ADRs on those days. But, I think I need to take a look at Touring Plans and get some ideas of where to start. With a 3 year old, I don't want to be too rigid. If he wants to stop and smell the flowers (literally), then we will do that. If he wants to jump in the water fountains, then we will do that. But, I'd like to have a basic idea of what we'll do and a basic order of things. We did receive our maps from the website, so looking at those will help! Those maps are adorable, by the way. Definitely take advantage of the free maps if you haven't already. The boys got such a kick out of those. And I know they will come in handy.

I'll start with our boring arrival day.

Saturday, June 1st: We have decided that we are definitely not doing a park day that day. After waking up early for our flight, I don't want their first experience of the parks to be when they are exhausted and possibly cranky. So, we will pick up our rental, go somewhere for lunch, go grocery shopping and...I don't know what else. We can't get into Windsor Hills until 4pm. By the time we get our car at the airport, we will only have 3 hours to kill. We'll just see what time it is and figure something out. We'll be on vacation!!!!! That is all that matters.

I haven't made any ADRs for that night, so we're keeping it low key. We'll get dinner ordered in that night at the condo, I think. My oldest son really wants pizza delivered one night, so maybe that will be his pizza delivery night (you'd think we never got pizza at home, he's so focused on having it there one night...) We'll go for a swim, play some games and get to bed ON TIME.

Next up - plans for our first ever day in the parks as parents!!!! AHHH!!!!!

35 days!!!!

 

[Kitkat6595]

Ahhh, I get a relaxed feeling just looking at a picture like that! Where's my lounge chair when I need it!

Tell me about it. We are planning for our first day in Florida to be a lounging/swim afternoon, so now I REALLY can't wait for that lounge chair. Ahhhh...thinking about it already...

I just found this PTR--and I love what you say about waiting on Harry Potter until the kids "get it"! We'r waiting for the same reason!

We are such Harry Potter fans, but know this is the right call. There is really not a lot for them to do at Universal yet. We want this trip to be focused on who they are now and what they want to do now. My oldest doesn't want to do roller coasters, so we aren't pushing him. We know we will go back in a few years when they are both older and that trip will look very different from this one. I am totally ok with that.

Congrats on paying off your hotel with just coupons! Thats impressive! Your trip is coming up very soon. I hope your family is super excited.

We are getting there!! Thanks!

 

[Kitkat6595]

1) Yesterday, I was cleaning out my boys closet and found a Pluto plush I didn't even know we had. They got so excited and immediately asked if Mickey and Goofy were in there too.

Too bad that isn't how it works, right?


2) On Saturday, we were taking the boys out to dinner. My youngest asked where we were going. Before we could answer, he looked up at us with hopeful little eyes and said, "Disney?"

Disney is officially on our mind. Bring it!!

33 days.

 

[indimom]

1) Yesterday, I was cleaning out my boys closet and found a Pluto plush I didn't even know we had. They got so excited and immediately asked if Mickey and Goofy were in there too.

Too bad that isn't how it works, right?


2) On Saturday, we were taking the boys out to dinner. My youngest asked where we were going. Before we could answer, he looked up at us with hopeful little eyes and said, "Disney?"

Disney is officially on our mind. Bring it!!

33 days.

That is so cute! Can't wait to hear about your trip!

 

[archdandy]

It must be a great feeling to see your children so excited for Disney!

 

[Riles_and_Gabe]

I love your countdown chain. I can't wait to put something up for our trip!!

 

[NorCalGal]

Loving your pre-trip so far!

We also need mid-day breaks because we have a napper.

and it had two bedrooms, a full kitchen, laundry, living room, two bathrooms and access to a great big pool and playground.

We plan on eating breakfast back at our condo every day, packing snacks for the park, eating lunch at the parks and most dinners.

I was always opposed to doing laundry on vacation, and going back to the hotel mid-day at Disney...until I went to WDW with my brother and nephews (who were then 4, 6, and 16) in AUGUST. The boys were so funny. In the morning, they were fine eating breakfast "at home", we just couldn't get them away from the TV to go to the parks (lesson learned, don't turn on cartoons.) We had a mid-day break and let them swim and cool off and had dinner "at home" and then went to the nighttime events. It worked out great.

And now for our itinerary, as it stands right now.

[Thursday, June 6th:
This day is Hollywood Studios day!!

I think this is where they have the Jedi Training Academy. Do you think your boys would be interested in that? There may be You Tube videos of that as well. As an audience member (only in Calif so far, haven't seen the FL version), it is absolutely adorable and I love how the smaller kids get so into it.

1) Yesterday, I was cleaning out my boys closet and found a Pluto plush I didn't even know we had. They got so excited and immediately asked if Mickey and Goofy were in there too.

Too bad that isn't how it works, right?

Your boys are adorable. I hope you have a great time!

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

Subbing so I can come back and catch up.

 

[tammilynne]

Hi! I came over from the June fb group! Great report so far!

 

[Amyz00]

I came over from the FB page also! Will be catching up in the next day or so. Your boys are just precious! They are going to have such a great time!

Amy

 

[Kitkat6595]

That is so cute! Can't wait to hear about your trip!

Thank you so much!

It must be a great feeling to see your children so excited for Disney!

It is!! Tonight, Sam said something about making sure Swiper the Fox (from Dora the Explorer) is not at Disney, because "he mean and scary, Mommy. He no come to Disney". Got it. Sure, he mixed up his companies - Disney vs. Nick Jr - but he was darn cute doing it.

I love your countdown chain. I can't wait to put something up for our trip!!

I actually got our chain from someone on TheDis. You give him your email and he sends you the document for free. People are so incredibly friendly and generous! The chain goes up to 130 days or something like that.

Loving your pre-trip so far!

I was always opposed to doing laundry on vacation, and going back to the hotel mid-day at Disney...until I went to WDW with my brother and nephews (who were then 4, 6, and 16) in AUGUST. The boys were so funny. In the morning, they were fine eating breakfast "at home", we just couldn't get them away from the TV to go to the parks (lesson learned, don't turn on cartoons.) We had a mid-day break and let them swim and cool off and had dinner "at home" and then went to the nighttime events. It worked out great.

I think this is where they have the Jedi Training Academy. Do you think your boys would be interested in that? There may be You Tube videos of that as well. As an audience member (only in Calif so far, haven't seen the FL version), it is absolutely adorable and I love how the smaller kids get so into it.



Your boys are adorable. I hope you have a great time!

I'm glad the mid-day breaks worked for you and your nephews. I hear mixed reviews on it. I think my boys will really need it. But, I'm going with the flow. If they decide they don't and we can survive with a nap in the stroller, then we'll do that. I'll be flexible. I'm also looking forward to laundry! June is not as hot as August, but it's still HOT!!!!!

Good tip on no cartoons in the morning. And I've shown my oldest Jedi Training Academy. He wants to watch, but he's shy and doesn't want to be in front of all of those people "performing". Maybe some day.

Subbing so I can come back and catch up.

Welcome!

Hi! I came over from the June fb group! Great report so far!

Thanks! Welcome!

I came over from the FB page also! Will be catching up in the next day or so. Your boys are just precious! They are going to have such a great time!

Amy

Thanks, Amy!

 

[Kitkat6595]

25 days!!!!!!!!!!



I'm at work, so I'll post more about our park plans later. I have our Animal Kingdom and Epcot days kind of planned out and am now looking at our Magic Kingdom days. Man, there is a lot of stuff to do there. When I went with hubby back before kids, we only spent one day at Magic Kingdom and we did everything we wanted to do. Now fast forward with two kids and two days is not enough!!!!!

Anyway, one other little tidbit, I had a stroller tag made for us to put on our rental stroller. It turned out so cute and my boys LOVED it.

Isn't that adorable?

 

[indimom]

25 days!!!!!!!!!!



Anyway, one other little tidbit, I had a stroller tag made for us to put on our rental stroller. It turned out so cute and my boys LOVED it.

Isn't that adorable?

Wow! 25 Days, I'm so jealous!!!!

And the sign is a great idea. You'll be able to find your stroller in the sea of lookalikes. Hmmmm... methinks I need one of those for our car... (a black impala just disappears in store parking lots )

 

[Kitkat6595]

I did read somewhere on the boards about tying something around the rental car antenna. Or take a picture of it. I am not going to remember what our rental looks like after a day in the parks!

Today is my sweet big boy's birthday. I can't believe he is six!! I'm all emotional and amazed at how fast time is flying. We've been making slideshows for every birthday for each of our boys since they were born. Just thought I'd share since I'm in that kind of mood today.

Birthday slide show

Once we celebrate his birthday today (and his family birthday next week), it will be nothing between us and Disney except for the end of school!! We are getting so close!!!

 

[Kitkat6595]

Just purchased our 4th and final park ticket through Undercover Tourist, using the coupon code from Mousesavers.com's newsletter. Check tickets off of the list!!!!

Condo - Paid in full
Airline tickets - Paid in full
Rental stroller - Paid in full
5 day park tickets - Paid in full

WOOHOO!!!!!!

All that is left is food, parking and rental car. I'm so excited!!!!!!!

 

[Kitkat6595]

Well, we are down to just 8 days!!!!!!!!!!! How did that happen!??! A few busy days left at work, a few last days of school for my oldest, and then we will be leaving...one week from Saturday!!

I've started my packing list and started gathering things. I noticed this weekend that we were one suitcase short. Not that a suitcase is that important or anything. geesh. So, we went right out and bought a new big rolling duffle and we are back in business!

The boys are getting pumped that our countdown chain is so short. And my little one thinks everything is for Disney. "Dees my Disney shoes, Mommy?" Ahhh. I love it.

They are starting to talk about the characters they want to meet. This is a new thing for them, so I'm glad I bought autograph books a long time ago. (Side note - must get pens the characters can hold...recommendations?) They have decided they MUST meet Goofy, Mickey, Donald and Daisy.

Boy, I'm sure glad I booked Tusker House for our first meal on our first day!!!

 

[indimom]

Oh wow, it's really getting close! Can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[Kitkat6595]

Well, we will be leaving for Disney on Saturday!! After a year of planning, we are finally only days a way. My oldest has his last day of Kindergarten tomorrow, I have two days of work left, and then we leave bright and early Saturday morning!!

I can't believe it is finally here.

Now to make it these final days...

 

[Amyz00]

Well, we will be leaving for Disney on Saturday!! After a year of planning, we are finally only days a way. My oldest has his last day of Kindergarten tomorrow, I have two days of work left, and then we leave bright and early Saturday morning!!

I can't believe it is finally here.

Now to make it these final days...

Yay!!! We head out on Sunday and we are all so excited! I just keep praying that no one gets sick right before or during our trip and preferably not after as well.

 

[ampc3]

just found your ptr... you must be back now... how did it all go??