We ARE going back!

[Skip2MyLou]

Well eventually anyway...

This PTR is a promise to myself & my family. We ARE going back!

Yesterday a pin code came in the mail with Ariel on it. There is a picture of 2 kids swimming inside. DD saw it and with puppy dog tears in her eyes said, "Mommy can we go back to Disney & go swimming in this pool?"

The last time we went was October 2011. She turned 3 that trip. That kid has an amazing memory. We knew we were taking a break in 2012 to have a baby. Whats that saying, "When you make plans, God Laughs". Well he had a good ol' giggle on that plan & surprised us with twin boys!

The plan was to go back in Sept 2013 for the baby's 1st birthday. That would mean 23 months between trips. *Sigh. The biggest break we've had since our honeymoon in 2006. Well, expenses are a bit different with 2 infants than 1 so now I must return to work.

I had an interview last Monday. I felt like it went great. It looks like the feeling was mutual, as I just got a call back for a 2nd interview THIS Friday! I am very confident about this job. I have a lot of experience. Plus I know there were 15 interviewees and 4 openings.

The bad news is I will not be able to use vacation time for 1 year from my hire date. The good news is, our income will more than double so we will be able to afford a few upgrades

So... If I don't get the job then September 2013 we are Disneybound...If I do get the job than Spring 2014 we are Disneybound!!

Up next....Introductions!

 

[danielle79]

Yeah I'm first, great news on the second interview! Can't wait to hear more! hopefully we are planning a Feb 2014 trip! God likes to laugh at our plans!

 

[Skip2MyLou]

Yeah I'm first, great news on the second interview! Can't wait to hear more! hopefully we are planning a Feb 2014 trip! God likes to laugh at our plans!

Thanks for stopping by!

I hate the thought of waiting until 2014 to go, but maybe the new Seven Dwarfs train ride will be complete. We can dream

 

[Skip2MyLou]

We may not know the when, but we know WHO! Plus some "maybe" guests too!

So lets get started!

I am Katie. 33 & currently a SAHM.



DH, Wes. 34 & and the hardest working man I know. He's an EMT & has been working 2 jobs while I've been off of work with the pregnancy & babies.



DD, Lizzie. We also call her LouLou. She is 4. Smart, funny, sweet. Mostly a tomboy, with a little girly mixed in. Her favorite things are Dinosaurs, Jessie from Toy Story, and Princess Belle.



William, 3 months. My grump. He has such expressive eyebrows & always looks mad about something. He is also my "talker".



Ian, 3 months. Such an easy baby. If it weren't for his brother, we would forget we have babies. He only cries when he is hungry, but when he is, watch out! Goes from 0 to 100 in 1 second



William & Ian are fraternal twins. Everything about them is opposite. But so much fun!





Up next, we have the possibility of a few guest appearance. I won't post their pictures right now, to protect their privacy & because I don't know if they will really go.



First is my mom. 60's. She has gone on our last 2 trips. She is a big help with the kids. Rents an ECV (or is it EVC?) because of her ankles. She has really grown to love WDW as much as I do.



My dad & stepmom. 60's. They live in Michigan and take a yearly vacation to see us in September. They have expressed an interest in meeting us in WDW for a few days. They don't fly, and my dad refuses to drive the interstates It takes them 2 days to drive from Michigan to Tennessee to come see us. My dad is a bit like The Beast. Rough exterior, but can be pretty sweet when it comes to his grandkids. I don't hold out much hope but miracles do happen


DH's family - MIL, SIL, and an Uncle. They have gone with us once before and only have an interest in MK & AK. They want to do a waterpark, Universal Studios, and the beach. So IF they go, they will only meet us for a few days & then head over to "those other vacation spots"




Finally, some family friends. They are a military family with a 4 & 2 yr old boys. The oldest is best friends with my DD. The DH is getting deployed in March for at least 9 months. They have been waiting to go when the boys will remember it, so hopefully they will get there soon. It just a matter of getting the dates together so we can let the kids experience some of the attractions together. If it happens, we won't necessarily travel together, but just meet up for some of the time.


Next: A recap of past trips!!

 

[wiigirl]

Super cute family!

 

[danielle79]

I know, I know, I don't want to wait a year either! Twin boys are so cute! I have a cousin on my dad's side that has 21 year old twin boys and a cousin on my mom's side that has twin boys that just turned one year, this is the reason I am not having any more kids! We have three girls and can't even imagine finding out I was pregnant with twin boys! Wouldn't it be great if the Dwarf Mine ride was open! I posted something on the rumor board just trying to get a little info on when in 2014 it would soft open and people really flamed me saying I shouldn't plan on it and not to get my hopes up!

 

[Skip2MyLou]

Super cute family!

Thank you! And thanks for stopping in!

I know, I know, I don't want to wait a year either! Twin boys are so cute! I have a cousin on my dad's side that has 21 year old twin boys and a cousin on my mom's side that has twin boys that just turned one year, this is the reason I am not having any more kids! We have three girls and can't even imagine finding out I was pregnant with twin boys! Wouldn't it be great if the Dwarf Mine ride was open! I posted something on the rumor board just trying to get a little info on when in 2014 it would soft open and people really flamed me saying I shouldn't plan on it and not to get my hopes up!

I have learned you will get flamed for just about anything here.

2014 could mean Jan 1 or Christmas..Who knows at this point?! But I do know that we will miss out on most of the construction. Fantasyland is basically done, lots of rides seem to be getting upgrades (like test track), and Main Street will be back to normal. Plus I like Starbucks so I'm excited to have some real coffee
in the parks. Hopefully all the kinks will be worked out of the fastpass +/magic band system by them. See, we can find the good in waiting a year

Oh, and I think our unspoken fear when we found out it was twins was 2 girls...I can't imagine my DH with 3 girls

 

[Skip2MyLou]

Growing up we never really took vacations. Our vacations were day trips to Cedar Point & Boblo Island. DH's family only did vacations to Gatlinburg & a few trips to the beach, and those were long weekend type vacations.

BUT I did get one real vacation as a child. My dad stayed home, he could never see the benefit of missing work

In May of 1988 my mom, aunt, and grandmother packed us up for a trip to Florida. That was 3 adults & 4 kids in a conversion van. I called it "Old Blue". They were big in the 80's, had real curtains in the windows, a removable table in the middle & the backseat layed down. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? At 9, I was the youngest on that trip. So if your counting people, you will realize it was a real tight fit. We drove from Michigan to Florida. I think we spent more time in that van, than we did in Florida. We went to Wet & Wild, Kennedy Space Center, the Cocoa Beach (I think), and Magic Kingdom.

All those people that say "I'm waiting for the kids to be able to remember their trip"...well I was 9, and I barely remember it. I have a horrible memory anyway, but most of my memories center around pictures that were taken. I think I was the main photographer on our MK day because we have about 8000 pictures of Small World.

The only other picture I have is this one. Pluto stole my hat.

And that started my love of all things Disney!

 

[Skip2MyLou]

I call this a new beginning because it renewed my love of Disney, and gave my husband his love of all things Disney. Really, it is were OUR Disney story begins.

Dh & I began planning our wedding in early 2005. Now, we are not like most couples. There was not a grand gesture or proposal. I am a little sad about this now, but at the time it did not seem like a big deal. We had been dating for 5 years, in our late 20's, and wanting to start a family soon. We pretty much just talked about it & decided we would get married in the fall of 2006. It was a joint decision, and not the least bit romantic . Oh well

So I set to planning our wedding. It was a pretty elaborate affair for DH's family, but I had a strict budget too. DH's job was to plan the honeymoon . He went to a TA at Macy's. She sold him extra park days on our tickets & told him we could use those to "hop". She sold him the dining plan & told him to make reservation when we got there . She talked him into a Savannah View room at AKL (that was a good one). She did not tell him about MNSSHP.

Soooo...we made a LOT of 1st timer mistakes. But we both fell for WDW We were there October 30-Nov 3

 

[Skip2MyLou]

DH's family is not like most other families I have met. They are very close & very involved in each other's lives. Yes, it can be annoying..but its also nice too. We do a lot together. I can't imagine it any other way.

We talked them into joining us for our 2008 trip. This is HUGE. DH's parents do not like to leave home for more than a day or 2. A week vacation is unheard of, even if 2 of those days were travel days. So this was a big deal. We went the last week of March. We stayed at the cabins in Fort Wilderness. It is now my favorite resort & I can't wait to go back. The plan is to get a pop up when our boys turn 3 & FW will be our "home" resort.

In order to post pictures from this trip, I have to post my inlaws pictures. So I guess if they get mad about that, then I will take them down. This trip had a lot of frustrations, as most do when traveling with in laws. MIL & FIL are smokers. Heavy smokers. We spent a lot of time looking for smoking areas. They smoked in every country in World Showcase. It has since become a family joke. They are also not early risers. And they have to eat before doing anything. They LOVED Trails End Buffett...ok, I did too!

So we were lucky to make it into a park before 11am.

FIL passed away in September 2011. These pictures are a little bittersweet. He did not want to go, but he really enjoyed the trip.

MIL & FIL at Epcot


DH & FIL at Epcot. We were actually stopped by random people several times to take pictures of their hats!

DH at the Flower & Garden Festival


DH & SIL


DH, Myself, MIL & FIL at Safaris in AK


Fun at AK

 

[Skip2MyLou]

In February 2010 we took DD on her 1st trip. My mom tagged along, and now shares my love for our trips to Disney. I think she is the only other person who sees it as a value like I do. I swear we spend more on our trips to Gatlinburg when it comes to hotel, food, and entertainment, than we do Disney! This was also when I discovered ADR's before park openings We have been missing out!

This was also the 1st time we flew & used ME. So nice!!

We went for 6 days, staying at Pop Century. 3 at MK, 2 at Epcot, and 1 day at AK. Skipping DHS, since we did not think there was much for DD to experience. Taking a toddler is a much different trip. We would do rope drop, then leave early. Some times back to the hotel, some times we would visit other hotels. Whatever DD needed, we did. Even a nap in the Poly lobby

DD had just started walking a month before & really wanted to stretch her legs this trip. One of my favorite memories was at MK, near the Columbia Harbor House. We let her out of her stroller & just followed her. I don't know what they are called, but there are round metal pieces in the walk ways. DD had to inspect each one. To this day, if she sees one, she has to step on it.

My mom also got a new name on this trip. She has always been "Grandma T" to her other grandchildren. DD was barely talking, and kept yelling "GHI!!!" whenever my mom was more than 10 ft from her. Soon it became "Ghi Ghi"...and that was the trip that she got a new name!

So...here are our highlights from that trip!

 

[Skip2MyLou]

Our last trip was 5 years in the making, planning, dreaming. October 28 - November 5 2011. Our 5 yr anniversary & DD's 3rd birthday were in that week.

I wanted to take my niece to Disney. I wanted this trip to be long enough that we would not feel rushed. But I wanted her to be old enough to understand that she would be away from her parents for an extended period of time.

We did 9 days! At 5 1/2 yrs old, My niece did great. I think it was day 7 when she finally asked when we were going home, but she never got sad. We stayed at Port Orleans FQ. That was pure bliss! I loved that resort. Loved the boat to DTD. Definitely comes in a close 2nd behind FW.

I can't post many pics of this trip as my brother has a strict rule against DN's pics on internet.


Disclaimer...Photobucket has rearranged my pictures...so in no particular order here they are!

Thanks for reading! I can't wait to go back!

 

[Skip2MyLou]

I got a job!

Out of 200+ applicants, I am 1 of 4 people that were chosen. Feeling pretty proud of myself today

So spring 2014 it is! I'm thinking the beginning of May. I want to avoid spring break & Easter (April 20), but I want it to be warm enough to enjoy some pool time. 9 days was perfect for our last trip, but I will have to see how many vacation days I can take.

And since this will be our last trip that we can fit into a regular hotel room, we are thinking about splurging and staying on the monorail or at an Epcot resort. I really think monorail & boats could help make this trip a little less stressful with 3 small children.

Any suggestions?

 

[Alysa]

Twin boys added to your beautiful family! How wonderful! Our boys are about the same age but I only have one 3 month old, not two!
Congratulations on the job! Looking forward to hearing lots more details about your trip.

 

[Skip2MyLou]

Twin boys added to your beautiful family! How wonderful! Our boys are about the same age but I only have one 3 month old, not two!
Congratulations on the job! Looking forward to hearing lots more details about your trip.

Thanks for stopping in! We are just now getting used to having 2 infants, and finding a new "normal". But I can't imagine what life would be like without one of them

 

[Skip2MyLou]

So I've got 30 minutes to myself! What to do?! Update my PTR!


We have a ton of life changes right now. My new job starts March 11. I am a little disappointed in the long wait, but apparently they promoted some employees & want to train them in their new position. Understandable.

I will be a 911 dispatcher for a mid size city. I used to do this for a large metropolitan area and loved my job. Then I had Liz & wanted to stay home with her. Add to that, I did not fit in with a lot of my coworkers. I consider myself lucky to get to stay home with her for 4 years. It was the best 4 years I am just hoping this is a good fit.

We have been house shopping since November. Actually, I have been browsing since last spring when I was pregnant. We got the official pre-approval & started looking. Then this job came along, increased our budget, and we started over. This week we found the *perfect* house for our growing family, put in an offer on Valentines Day, and our realtor called us 20 minutes later to let us know it was accepted! I can't believe it went so quick. I have to wait for 30 days on my new job to close, so we are moving the end of April.

Big Changes!

As for the trip... I need some help from my fellow Disers! I know how all of you enjoy planning a trip! (Yes, this is a shameful attempt to get more readers )

My budget is $5000. We like to stay onsite and get the dining plan. It fits our family. I know it doesn't save a lot of money anymore, but we consider it a value to not have to think about paying for meals during our trip. I get 2 weeks vacation next year.

We want to go the 1st week of May, perhaps even the end of April...but AFTER Easter crowd is gone.

This is our last trip in a hotel room. When the boys turn 3, we will buy a pop up camper & Fort Wilderness will be our Disney Home.

So Disers.... whats your plan for 3 Adults, 1 Child, and 2 -20 month olds. How many days? Which resort? What kind of specials can we hope for in May?

I look forward to your ideas!

 

[Alysa]

Not sure about the hotel - have you considered renting DVC points since there are 6 of you?
Congrats on the house!!!

 

[happybelle]

Can't answer your questions, but I am in for the report. I am a sucker for babies.

 

[Skip2MyLou]

Not sure about the hotel - have you considered renting DVC points since there are 6 of you?
Congrats on the house!!!

There are 5 of us. 2 adults, 3 kids. I have thought about it for the extra space. But, I am so nervous about giving some one else control over my reservation or being taken advantage of. I looked into Davids rentals but I think he is over priced.

Can't answer your questions, but I am in for the report. I am a sucker for babies.

And they are such cute babies They are starting to get mobile. Kicking & wiggling until they spin in circles. Willie is rolling from tummy to back.

Yesterday they both got to try green beans. Ian loved them. Willie, eh, not so much. Every spoonful he managed to get his hand to his mouth to pull them back out. He ended up covered in green beans




So I decided to run some quotes on hypothetical dates for our trip. We won't have firm dates for a while, as my new job has a shift bid every 6 months. We may even do a split stay if any of our families tag along since they will want to go as cheap as possible. We may upgrade tickets when we get there, but we generally don't park hop and, as of right now, are only thinking about 1 water park day)

Itinerary #1
May 1-11
All Star Movies - Preferred Room (DD is a HUGE Toy Story fan)
10-day MYW tix
Basic Dining Plan

Itinerary #2
May 3-11
POR - Royal Pool View
8-day MYW tix
Basic Dining Plan

Itinerary #3
May 5-11
Poly - Standard room
6 day tix
Basic Dining Plan.

So what do ya'll think? Longer trip or nicer hotel? I wish values had queen beds