Trip Report: * Christmas with Mickey 2010 * "The Surreal Trip!" w/lots of pictures!

[TheTXTaylors5]

I was given a link for a Disney countdown chain by a fellow DISer. The kids and I are working on it. I'll post some pictures when we get it completed and strung up.

Jennifer

 

[alexi120]

I'm envious of this report already. 13 days AND a D&B?!?

We'll be at WDW for Christmas as well, 19th-24th. I'm nervous about the crowds, but I'm sure I'll just be happy to be there.

Our kids will have a budget this trip as well. I'm buying them "First Visit" gift cards to spend as they wish. Hopefully they'll make good decisions so that the cards will last the entire trip, but I'm not counting on it.

Happy planning!!

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

I'm envious of this report already. 13 days AND a D&B?!?

We'll be at WDW for Christmas as well, 19th-24th. I'm nervous about the crowds, but I'm sure I'll just be happy to be there.

Our kids will have a budget this trip as well. I'm buying them "First Visit" gift cards to spend as they wish. Hopefully they'll make good decisions so that the cards will last the entire trip, but I'm not counting on it.

Happy planning!!

Welcome Fellow Texan!

When we started visiting Walt Disney World more than once a year, we had to start giving the kids a Disney budget. Souvenirs at WDW are not cheap! The kids wanted "everything" as we walked through World of Disney or they found something they just couldn't live without. We never gave into their every whim. To be honest, I was tired of them asking for everything. So, we finally decided on ... Here's your budget. When the money is gone, it's gone. So, spend it wisely.

This has been a livesaver since we started this, not only on the pocketbook but it has helped not having meltdowns in the stores. They know we are serious when their money is gone, we don't give them more spending money. I have no input in their purchases, if they want that lightsaber (Again!) that is their choice. It has made them think about the purchases more and if they really wanted the item. The only restriction we put on their money is that they can't buy food items with the money.

I highly recommend giving children a budget while at WDW.

Normally, we visit Walt Disney World during Thanksgiving week and the week after and then a non-peak week. OMG! The non-peak weeks have spoiled us. Because, I know how WDW can be without the crowds. I am glad we will be at WDW the week before Christmas too. Hopefully, we can get in some rides before the crowds show and up then just enjoy the atmosphere and holiday festivities when the ride lines are too long. It will be busy. But, even the busiest time at WDW can be manageable with a little planning and a LOT of patience.

Jennifer

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

We'll be at WDW for Christmas as well, 19th-24th. I'm nervous about the crowds, but I'm sure I'll just be happy to be there.

I saw that you have a PTR going on too. I'll come over and check it out.

Jennifer

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Disney Paperchain Countdown
We finally have our Disney paperchain countdown up. It will be fun to see the chains get less and less. That means, we're getting closer to our trip!

Here are a couple pictures of our Disney countdown paperchain ...

Let the paperchain countdown begin in the Taylor home!

Jennifer

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

We are driving to Walt Disney World. From where we live in Texas, that will be over 19 hours in the car. We do it in two days. We'll depart at the crack of dawn on Friday, stay at a hotel that evening and then start again bright an early on Saturday with next stop ... Walt Disney World!

We usually arrive at WDW around 11 am on Saturday. However, with my Mom flying in, we might try and get to our Disney resort earlier.

So, what do we do for those nineteen hours in the car?
Watch DVDs
Play Nintendo DS (each child has their own)
Leapster
Game Boy
Take Pictures
Read Books
Read Magazines
Activity Books
Mad Libs Books
Play Games:
I Spy
License Plate Game (I found a great print out on another thread that I plan to use this trip.)
Alphabet Game

I am always open to new ideas on entertaining the kids while on a roadtrip. They can only watch so many movies and play so many games on their DS. We have been very lucky to have children that travel well. They've been all around this country in the car without too much fuss. But, they are children and DO get bored along the way. So, any new ideas are welcome!

Jennifer

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

44 Days Until ...

I get to see Cinderella Castle all decked out in her holiday lights.

 

[Pooh_Girl]

Yay!!! Another TR where I can live vicariously through you guys!! lol Can't wait to hear all about it!! I know you guys will have a blast!!

 

[DVCsince02]

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Glad you found me! I can't wait for this trip! See you soon!


Jennifer

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Yay!!! Another TR where I can live vicariously through you guys!! lol Can't wait to hear all about it!! I know you guys will have a blast!!

Hi Tina!

One day, you'll be living in Florida and I will be envious of you 365 days a year! Glad to have you along! This will be a long trip for us. Bill has been really busy at work. He will need the vacation. I told him yesterday, tell work they "can't" call you when we go away!

More planning and anticpating to come ...

Jennifer

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Cruise T-Shirts
I ordered our DISUnplugged Podcast Cruise 2.0 t-shirts today! Since, we are going on a "special" cruise, we wanted to get t-shirts to commemorate the cruise. The DIS uses cafepress for their logo t-shirts. Ours should arrive late next week. I can't wait to get them in my hands! I'll post a picture when they arrive.

Jennifer

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Packing
I will admit, I have already started some packing "piles" for our December trip. Am I crazy? I washed all our bathing suits and cover-ups & cleaned and put the snorkel equipment in their bags. So, they are all ready to be packed for some fun on Castaway Cay.

We are one of "those families" that does matching t-shirts while at Walt Disney World. Nowhere else but at WDW would my family let me dress them alike. So, I take full advantage! I have some matching t-shirts set aside that are only for our Disney trips. So, they have lasted for years. Since my Mom is coming with us this year, I asked if she would be willing to wear a matching t-shirt and she said "Yes!". So, I am on the look-out for another t-shirt to work into our rotation. Also, I may do some iron-on t-shirts to create something original for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. We'll see.

Some of our matching shirts over the years:

Jennifer

 

[bigmoonmullen]

Jennifer...

Great Stuff here!!!!

Mark

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Jennifer...

Great Stuff here!!!!

Mark

Hi Mark!

Thanks!

I know you are looking forward to this trip too! I promise, no pictures of you parasailing will be published.

Jennifer

 

[bigmoonmullen]

Hi Mark!

Thanks!

I know you are looking forward to this trip too! I promise, no pictures of you parasailing will be published.

Jennifer

Thank you... I might be confused for a flying whale

Ordered our shirts today and the Photopass.

Can't wait!!!! It will be there before we know it.

Tell Bill I said HI... after he wakes up from his fainting spell.

Mark

 

[mainegal]

Hi Jennifer!
I am enjoying our pre-trip report. Look forward to meeting you at WDW.
I arrive 12/4, depart 12/19.
Fifteen nights! Fourteen full days!
I still can't believe I am doing this. It will be a solo trip for me, except for when I meet up with DISers. I have never been anywhere away from home for that long. Not as an adult any way. As a youngster, I had two week sessions a Girl Scout camp.

I love your family's matching t-shirts.
Have fun with your preparations.

 

[DVCsince02]

I need help on two ADR dates. I can't commit to one or the other ...

Jiko or Yachtsman Steakhouse for dinner

The Hollywood Brown Derby or Sci-Fi Dine In Theatre for dinner

We've eaten at Yachtsman Steakhouse, The Hollywood Brown Derby and Sci-Fi Dine In Theatre in the past.

We didn't have the best experience at the Yachtsman Steakhouse. But, we will be staying at the BWV (just a short walk away). So, we wanted to give it another try. However, I have read nothing but rave reviews on Jiko and want to try it. I have a quandary ...

We've eaten at The Hollywood Brown Derby and Sci-Fi Dine In Theatre in the past. We enjoyed both. This will be our Christmas Eve dinner. We don't have to do anything traditional, we're at WDW afterall. The problem with these two ADRs is that one is when the park closes. Has anyone had experience with an ADR when the park is officially closed? Are the CMs rushing you? I'm leaning more towards The Hollywood Brown Derby ADR because we are eating at the Sci-Fi Dine In Theatre earlier in the trip.

Any suggestions???

Jennifer

Try as many places to eat as you can!

LODGING
We have been Disney Vacation Club Members for three years. Our home resort is Animal Kingdom Villas. In those three years, we have stayed at the following DVC properties:

Beach Club Villas (2xs)
Boardwalk Villas (2xs)
Saratoga Springs (3xs)
Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge

As you can see from above, we have yet to stay at our home resort Animal Kingdom Villas. We finally get to stay there in December. Pre-cruise we are staying at Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo House. Jambo House is the main building at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. They turned some of the regular AKL rooms into DVC Villas while they were constructing AKV. After the cruise, we are staying at the Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village. All the rooms there are DVC Villas. We will have a two-bedroom Villa at both locations. The extra space will be nice. My Mom can have her own room with Emily (DD8). The boys will sleep on the pull-out sofa. Bill and I will have our own king bed room.

We change resorts on the day my Mom leaves. We finish our stay at the Boardwalk Villas. I can't say enough good things about this place. We've stayed here our last two WDW trip. You can't beat the location. A quick walk or boat ride to Epcot AND DHS. It has become my new favorite DVC property. We'll see if this stays true after our stay at AKV.

Jennifer

After this trip in December, we will have stayed at all the WDW DVC properties. I love trying them all!

I was given a link for a Disney countdown chain by a fellow DISer. The kids and I are working on it. I'll post some pictures when we get it completed and strung up.

Jennifer

So glad you enjoyed it!

Glad you found me! I can't wait for this trip! See you soon!


Jennifer

I can't wait to see you all again!

 

[JWren1234]

We have a lot of new restaurants (to us) on our itinerary to try during our upcoming trip ...

Biergarten (Dinner)
La Hacienda de San Angel (Dinner)
Les Chefs de France (Lunch)
Via Napoli (Dinner)
Tony's Town Square (Dinner)
Liberty Tree Tavern (Lunch)
Columbia Harbour House (Dinner)
Mama Melrose (Lunch)
Boma - Animal Kingdom Lodge (Breakfast)
Jiko - Animal Kingdom Lodge (Dinner)
Kona Cafe' - Polynesian (Breakfast)

Any reviews, comments, recommendations on the above restaurants would be welcome.

Jennifer

Hi Jennifer!

I've done the Liberty Tree Tavern Lunch and the Kona Breakfast.

The Liberty Tree Tavern lunch is awesome. I like the Pilgrim's Feast, it's essentially Thanksgiving on a plate. Turkey breast, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans and gravy...I think it is terrific, and something you don't see in a lot of restaurants at WDW. The pot roast is another very good choice. Great colonial atmosphere, very calming break from touring the MK.

Kona breakfast is very nice as well, I always have trouble deciding between the Tonga Toast and the Macadamia Nut Pineapple pancakes. Both are outstanding!

Have a great time!!!!

Jason

 

[tmli]

Just popping in to say hi!! I can't wait to see you guys again it seems like forever since our ABD trip!

Chris isn't coming on the cruise. After the cruise I have to go home and back to work but we will be coming back to Orlando on Dec 23 for 10 nights over Christmas!!

Perhaps we can find time to meet before you guys leave, I know Chris would love to see you again as well!