WDW through an 8-month-old’s eyes &10m &13m &16m...New 10/30!

[Leger13]

Love all the new pictures! Looks like you've really prepared Aria for WDW as good as possible. I can't believe ya'll go so soon! Lucky!

 

[jenny105]

How awkward having to ride the Scrambler with someone you don't know LOL.

Cute pictures! I guess she's going to do well with the characters!

 

[oboedm]

Another lovely outing with beautiful pics of your family! I am glad Aria did so well on the rides and with characters! It just builds even more excitement for the trip!

 

[smile4stamps]

She did GREAT with Curious George! It will be awesome getting the Photopass photos! Make sure you tell them you have the CD and feel free to snap TONS!!

 

[khertz]

Cute pictures! I'm glad she did so well with a costumed character for you...that should make your Disney trip even better!! Paxton would love to meet George, we read his books all of the time. The Man With the Yellow Hat looks a little creepy though.

You will definitely not get bored at Disney while she is sleeping in the stroller, you're right about that! That's when we got to switch off for Mommy & Daddy only rides, and do some shopping. She looks so darn cute in that ball pit!

 

[Imagineer5]

Just to give my mind a break from what I am forgetting (had to add the luggage scale to my list, woke up thinking about that…LOL…) I’m going to give some details for our JUNE 2013 TRIP!!! In addition to this trip, I’m still TRYING to come up with a way to see the F&G festival, though maybe I’ll just save that (and my time off which is seriously dwindling, and my $$ which is also dwindling…) for another time. I don’t want to burn out Disney when Aria is still too young to remember any of it (or burn out Andrew on Disney).

So we are fully booked for our house rental. It was the absolute closest to Disney I could find – literally super close to AK. It has 6 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, and a private pool as well as a community pool. It has 2 master bedrooms, 2 queen bedrooms, and 2 twin bedrooms, so perfect amount of space for our crew. Aria gets a bedroom, which is really nice. IMO, I would think we should get the 2nd master bedroom, but Andrew is too chicken to tell his parents that. So we will see about that. Did I tell you guys his parents offered to pay for the house? Obviously they will get the first master bedroom.

The house was from VRBO – here’s the link if you would like to see pictures:

http://www.vrbo.com/394754

for some reason they changed their picture format that I can’t get photo properties to post just the pictures here. UGH.

I emailed about 50 house rentals and a total of 8 came back with quotes, and this was the only 6 bedroom option, AND it was the closest to Disney so it was a no brainer.

Our dates: May 31-June 7 house rental
June 7-June 9 Andrew, Aria, and myself are going to go on property somewhere (possibly VWL, maybe BCV) for 2 nights for a vacation after vacation LOL. I’m going to need it, let me tell you!

With our Southwest points from opening DH a CC, flights are free. With our Capital One rewards points, the rental car will be free. The house is free. We already paid for annual passes, so park entry will be free. We will have to pay for: food, Universal tickets (will go 1 day), and gas? Not too bad! Maybe a photopass too.

So now on to the cast of characters.

You have seen plenty of Andrew, Aria, and me LOL so I won’t be introducing us again…

Andrews mother – Jenn. I call her Jenn, not Mom, IDK if that is weird but she is not my Mom and don’t understand calling her that. My DMIL is sweet, in love with Aria of course, and very doting on her children. She LOVES the Cape, loves to eat out, loves to read. I don’t honestly know how much park touring she will be doing, she might rent an ECV.

Next up, John, my DFIL. He is an engineer, loves to play golf, and travels for work Monday-Thursday and then heads to the Cape (Cape Cod) every weekend with Jenn. He is Dutch, and his sister lives in Holland with her family, and we will be staying with them when we go (probably next Fall instead of Spring).

Then we have Andrew’s older sister Melissa. She is about 1.5 years older than Andrew. She married Chris N. in 2008 who has 3 boys, ages (now) 11,12, and 21. She desperately wants a baby (girl!). She works as a special needs assistant at a pre-school. They live in Illinois and we see them about 3 times a year. She was fantastic with Aria over our Cape week!

Melissa and her boys

Then we have Chris N., (there’s another Chris coming, and about 6 total in the family LOL!). He is an electrician, born and raised in Arkansas. Very into sports, especially football and baseball. He is a very sweet guy and a great dad.

Melissa & Chris

Chris’ boys are Nick and Ryan. Nick is in 7th grade this year, and Ryan is in 6th. They are both fantastic boys, doing very well in school. They participate in about every sport under the sun. They love visiting Cape Cod as well, and enjoy going to the beach. Very typical boys, and the main reason we are going to WDW! We talked to Melissa about going to Disney next year, because originally we were thinking we could get another condo like we are doing for this upcoming (October) trip and we could take them with us. The boys have never been, and it’s long overdue. They don’t have a ton of $$$ which is why they haven’t been able to go, but have been talking about doing so. Anyway, Nick and Ryan are really great boys, and they were just wonderful with Aria during our Cape week. Aria was very smitten with Ryan and always watched what he was doing.

Ryan playing with Aria & her ponies…

Nick & Ryan with Aria (cousin picture!)

Next up is Kerry, Andrew’s twin sister and Aria’s godmother. She is an accountant, lives in CT, enjoys gardening, biking, cats. She works very hard, generally 80+ hours/week, so it was difficult finding a time we could all go based on her schedule as well as the boy’s school schedules.

And her husband, Chris J. He works at a computer security firm. He loves riding motorcycles, biking, Connecticut, and video games. He is sort of my “partner in crime” when it comes to the Cape – he also is not a huge fan, and does not come from a big family so doesn’t get all the family stuff we have to do, either (though, HE lives 5 minutes from his parents house/the house he grew up – ugh, I could not do that!).

And that’s it! We’ve got 8 adults and 3 kids. Kerry has said they will probably just go to Disney 2-3 days, a day at Universal, and a day at Busch Gardens. Melissa hasn’t responded with what she’d like to do. IL’s haven’t either. Our 180-day booking window (at least, the first day of it, since I will have to call each day) is December 2nd. This is the sort of crew that is perfectly happy eating every breakfast & dinner in the house, and bringing in lunch, but I’m trying to get them to look at a FEW restaurants we could do as a group. Andrew and I will NOT eat every meal in the house, IMO that’s not vacation.

I have asked them all to look through allears and I will start coming up with a schedule when we get back from this trip mid-October. I’m hoping for 2-3 dinners and maybe 2 breakfasts as a group in the parks/resorts (Ohana and Be Our Guest are top on my list for group meals).

Any suggestions for teenage boys?

Once we have a flushed out schedule, Andrew and I can add in some solo meals for just us, and I might take advantage of built in baby sitters for an evening or two, or maybe even do a tour or something? I wish they would be more forthcoming in ideas/plans for what everyone wants to do, but of course I am planning a trip for Andrew’s family, which is going to be difficult. I guess, if they don’t start giving me ideas before the 180 day window opens, I will just come up with some plans for us and others can do their own thing.

Ok enough talk for today… 8 DAYS TO GO!!!

 

[Imagineer5]

Love all the new pictures! Looks like you've really prepared Aria for WDW as good as possible. I can't believe ya'll go so soon! Lucky!

Aw thank you!! Yes we have definitely tried to prepare her (and us!)

How awkward having to ride the Scrambler with someone you don't know LOL.

Cute pictures! I guess she's going to do well with the characters!

Thanks yes I think she will do great! Can't wait for PP too. It was very awkward. Even better, was I was the one to suggest it. Andrew was somewhere else nad wanted to ride it, and this guy walked up and was turned away since he was a single rider. I said my husband wanted to ride!

Another lovely outing with beautiful pics of your family! I am glad Aria did so well on the rides and with characters! It just builds even more excitement for the trip!

Thank you! Yep she seems to love hte rides, and the character went great! AND YES it definitely made me even MORE excited for DISNEY and all its fabulousness!

She did GREAT with Curious George! It will be awesome getting the Photopass photos! Make sure you tell them you have the CD and feel free to snap TONS!!

Very true, I will have to remember, so they know we will definitely be KEEPING all the pictures, not just throwing the card away!

Cute pictures! I'm glad she did so well with a costumed character for you...that should make your Disney trip even better!! Paxton would love to meet George, we read his books all of the time. The Man With the Yellow Hat looks a little creepy though.

You will definitely not get bored at Disney while she is sleeping in the stroller, you're right about that! That's when we got to switch off for Mommy & Daddy only rides, and do some shopping. She looks so darn cute in that ball pit!

LOL! The man with the yellow had was like a 18 year old boy, and he did NOT look happy to have that job!! HAHA! I just ignored him and we went up to Curious George. After seeing the yellow hat man, I was really happy that Curious George was actually interactive (bopping her nose and such).

 

[oboedm]

Yeah, it stinks that they really don't know what they want to do. Maybe it's because they don't know what is there, especially food wise? I know that I was talking to a brick wall about "where to stay" until I realized there was a knowledge gap there, so I am trying to fill it in now. Maybe get the kids on board? My older niece and nephew like to learn about what is there... And that gets the parents excited.

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[Imagineer5]

Yeah, it stinks that they really don't know what they want to do. Maybe it's because they don't know what is there, especially food wise? I know that I was talking to a brick wall about "where to stay" until I realized there was a knowledge gap there, so I am trying to fill it in now. Maybe get the kids on board? My older niece and nephew like to learn about what is there... And that gets the parents excited.

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Unfortunately his family really is the opposite of me when it comes to vacations - they never want anything planned out, rarely go out to eat, want to save as much $$ as possible (even at the expense of NOT doing anything). I wrote some information about restaurants that I think would be fun, mentioned some parks, gave some links to look through, and not one response. We will see if this becomes a vacation planned just for Andrew and Aria and myself. IDK.

Melissa is keeping the trip a secret until Thanksgiving from her boys. We rarely talk with them and it's not like they have email, so IDK how to include them in the planning except to have Melissa go over info that I send with them. We will only see them at Thanksgiving, and then probably not til Florida.

 

[Imagineer5]

Quick update -

I spent the evening sick. Not sure if it was food poisoning or whatnot. It didn't worry me about the trip until I just found out Aria threw up a TON at daycare. She said she is acting fine otherwise, so I am waiting to rush home (my leave is basically all used up that I'm sitting at my desk today in a daze wishing I was home in bed). At least I will be home tomorrow, and if she throws up again will be going in to the pediatricians.

Maybe all you mamas can lend some insight on this - over the past 5-6 days Aria has been eating less milk - she had been about 30-32 oz/day, and over the last 4 days went down to about 28, and yesterday was at only 26. Still sleeping fine, acting fine, etc. In addition, she hasn't been all that interested in solids, though Andrew got her to eat a fruit/veg mix for dinner last night. And then this morning throwing up. No fever, and again she is acting perfectly fine.

Any thoughts?? Just a coincidence she would throw up after my fun evening in the bathroom?? Ugh I just don't know.

 

[cbcrockett]

Quick update -

I spent the evening sick. Not sure if it was food poisoning or whatnot. It didn't worry me about the trip until I just found out Aria threw up a TON at daycare. She said she is acting fine otherwise, so I am waiting to rush home (my leave is basically all used up that I'm sitting at my desk today in a daze wishing I was home in bed). At least I will be home tomorrow, and if she throws up again will be going in to the pediatricians.

Maybe all you mamas can lend some insight on this - over the past 5-6 days Aria has been eating less milk - she had been about 30-32 oz/day, and over the last 4 days went down to about 28, and yesterday was at only 26. Still sleeping fine, acting fine, etc. In addition, she hasn't been all that interested in solids, though Andrew got her to eat a fruit/veg mix for dinner last night. And then this morning throwing up. No fever, and again she is acting perfectly fine.

Any thoughts?? Just a coincidence she would throw up after my fun evening in the bathroom?? Ugh I just don't know.

She may have a little stomach virus, same as you. Hannah had one about two months ago. They are typically short lived. I didn't even take her in to the pedi (since they can't really do anything for them) and Hannah wasn't running a fever. Hannah, too, wasn't interested in eating much. Keep her hydrated (I personally wouldn't worry about milk... Water or Pedialyte) until she stops throwing up and starts acting like herself again. Then add the milk back in and the solids. That worked for us!

(Hannah was eating all solids when she had her little virus, which I still don't know where it came from, so we just drank water/Pedialyte for about a day and she ate plain waffles, crackers and applesauce for a day. All easy on the tummy!)

Hope y'all both feel better soon!

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[Imagineer5]

She may have a little stomach virus, same as you. Hannah had one about two months ago. They are typically short lived. I didn't even take her in to the pedi (since they can't really do anything for them) and Hannah wasn't running a fever. Hannah, too, wasn't interested in eating much. Keep her hydrated (I personally wouldn't worry about milk... Water or Pedialyte) until she stops throwing up and starts acting like herself again. Then add the milk back in and the solids. That worked for us!

(Hannah was eating all solids when she had her little virus, which I still don't know where it came from, so we just drank water/Pedialyte for about a day and she ate plain waffles, crackers and applesauce for a day. All easy on the tummy!)

Hope y'all both feel better soon!

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Thank you!! She's still iffy on the sippy cup, do you think I can put pedialyte in a bottle? She likes to play with the sippy cup but doesn't use it very well.

 

[smile4stamps]

Aww!! I hop your both feel better. It's possible you both have the same thing. Hopefully its just a tiny bug and passes quickly!!

 

[cbcrockett]

Thank you!! She's still iffy on the sippy cup, do you think I can put pedialyte in a bottle? She likes to play with the sippy cup but doesn't use it very well.

Definitely! The bottle is fine. However you can get it in her! I'm sure she'll be feeling better very soon!

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[deedee2177]

I definitely agree with the pedialyte. We gave it to my little guy in his bottle about a month ago when he had some tummy trouble and he took it just fine. The best thing is just to keep her hydrated and not to worry so much about the food right now.

I had my 7 month old son on my lap the other while I was looking at your pics of your little one and he saw her and said, "OOOOOHHH!!". It was so funny!! I told him to quick, no flirting yet he is too young!!

Hope you both get the yuckies out of your system before your trip!!

 

[Leger13]

Wow a June trip too? You lucky girl! Are y'all going to hit up SWW?? After December we won't be going again until December 2013. Sorry to hear Aria got what you have. Does sound like a stomach virus. When Alex had his in February he wouldn't drink the pedialite so we gave him G2 Gatorade as suggested by a children's hospital nurse. He didn't want to eat anything but fruit either. It totally sucks but the pediatrician can't do anything for them any more than you already are. I pray you both are 100% by the time you leave for Disney. At least you're getting it out of the way before you leave instead of while you're there like we did :-/

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[bellaally]

Lol I just read through all 38 pages, btw your daughter is beautiful, I followed you over from the Facebook group page for December. My husband and I are going for the first time in December for a short 5 night stay. But in planning this trip I have been excited on when to introduce Disney to my two baby boys, they are currently 19 months and 3 months. I was planning either September or October next year so they will be a little older but still young that we don't have to pay for them. I am glad I found your TR. I do take my son Jordan the newborn out but it can get pretty ugly when it's feeding time lol. He is breastfeed and still has not gotten use to a bottle( sort of like he doesn't know how to drink from one) and in public he recently starts to get panicky and cry when I use my cover up. So normally I have to go back to the car with him or find a private spot. But I saw the post of the baby breast feeding hat and I ordered one for him. Loving your plan for October. If you don't mind me asking how did you get such a great deal on that condo. For our first trip for my family I was thinking about a home rental, the kids might be a lot more comfortable then just a room at a Disney resort. Can wait till you go in October and see how the Aria likes it. I know your super close. Can't wait to read you tr!

 

[Joyciemc]

Finally all caught up! Aria did so great on your outings! I am sure Disney will be just wonderful

Love that you bought an Air Chair at the Faire (haha, that's a poem)... we have two that we got a couple years ago in P-Town and we just love them!

 

[Dugette]

I hope you're both feeling better! Your trip is so soon!

 

[Imagineer5]

Wow a June trip too? You lucky girl! Are y'all going to hit up SWW?? After December we won't be going again until December 2013. Sorry to hear Aria got what you have. Does sound like a stomach virus. When Alex had his in February he wouldn't drink the pedialite so we gave him G2 Gatorade as suggested by a children's hospital nurse. He didn't want to eat anything but fruit either. It totally sucks but the pediatrician can't do anything for them any more than you already are. I pray you both are 100% by the time you leave for Disney. At least you're getting it out of the way before you leave instead of while you're there like we did :-/

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I didn't realize SWW was at that time!! LOL! I think we may try and avoid it though. I'm not a fan! I bet Chris J. would enjoy it though so I will have to mention it to him.

I gave Aria pedialyte and she drank a little bit, I tried from a sippy, bottle, then straight from a glass which she prefered (minus getting the sticky liquid down her front...lol). she is doing WAY better now though and eating solids again as well as nursing better! YAY!

I know, I'm still so sorry you guys got sick! I hope it has fully passed through us (and Andrew still hasn't gotten sick!) and we stay well throughout the trip! Fingers crossed!

Lol I just read through all 38 pages, btw your daughter is beautiful, I followed you over from the Facebook group page for December. My husband and I are going for the first time in December for a short 5 night stay. But in planning this trip I have been excited on when to introduce Disney to my two baby boys, they are currently 19 months and 3 months. I was planning either September or October next year so they will be a little older but still young that we don't have to pay for them. I am glad I found your TR. I do take my son Jordan the newborn out but it can get pretty ugly when it's feeding time lol. He is breastfeed and still has not gotten use to a bottle( sort of like he doesn't know how to drink from one) and in public he recently starts to get panicky and cry when I use my cover up. So normally I have to go back to the car with him or find a private spot. But I saw the post of the baby breast feeding hat and I ordered one for him. Loving your plan for October. If you don't mind me asking how did you get such a great deal on that condo. For our first trip for my family I was thinking about a home rental, the kids might be a lot more comfortable then just a room at a Disney resort. Can wait till you go in October and see how the Aria likes it. I know your super close. Can't wait to read you tr!

WOW!! SO happy to see a new DIS'er here! Thanks for following me over!!

It's been maybe the last 2 months or so that Aria can be distracted when she is hungry long enough to get everything settled, find a nursing spot, etc. Before then, I could NOT move fast enough! I bet by December your little one will be much more patient for it hahaha. I hope you like the hat!! Love that you were reading all the posts, makes me so happy!

The condo we are staying at this trip I got from a government travel website - getravelop.com which is due to my work. IDK how to get it that cheap otherwise, but any sort of DoD, military, etc can use it. However, for our June trip the 6 bedroom house with a private pool is only $800 for the week - if you are interested in details on that click on the VRBO link! It's a steal, though certainly more reasonable if you can split the cost between a few people.

I love staying at the DVC resorts for the extra room, but the price of staying offsite is pretty tempting!!

Finally all caught up! Aria did so great on your outings! I am sure Disney will be just wonderful

Love that you bought an Air Chair at the Faire (haha, that's a poem)... we have two that we got a couple years ago in P-Town and we just love them!

YAY welcome back to the DIS! LOL! Love P-TowN! It's my favorite part of the Cape I think!

I hope you're both feeling better! Your trip is so soon!

THANK YOU! I'm impressed you stopped in to say hi!! I hope things are going great for you and baby Isabella!!

We are feeling much better!! I will do a new update in just a sec...gotta go pump! LOL (I'm at work)