We leave when?!?!?! A quick 2 days before we leave PTR!

[Crisgw]

I have never done a PTR, but I figured, I want to do a TR and foodie report so I should get my feet wet!

A little about our family, I'm Cris, the mom (the only lady in the house if you don't count our spayed 10 year old cat) to Nate (6 years) and Ben (3.5 years) and wife to Josh (the not so in love like his wife and kids with Disney).

Growing up, my family went to Disney every year. Mainly staying at the Poly. DH went two times as a child....it wasn't a big deal for them. I convinced DH to go when our first was 3 and our baby was, well a baby (8 months). Then we took a year "off" and went last July and here we are going in 2 days staying AKL and hopefully booking bounce back for the end of Sept next year for the Poly

So, I guess maybe some pics are in order to introduce ourselves....

Here we are last trip to WDW in July 2007:

Here are my crazy boys (really, they have some energy like nothing I've ever seen...)

My little activists

Nate and Me

Josh and Nate

Up next, packing...packing...and ADR's...

 

[Crisgw]

So....I started planning this trip this past March and it's FINALLY here! I didn't start packing until about a month ago. I have a problem...a shopping problem. I need AA for shopping. SA, Shoppers Anonymous. Once we booked the trip, I started thinking of all of the things the boys "needed" to wear at WDW. Of course, being only 2.5 years apart and too young to really get annoyed with me, I dress them alike whenever possible. So, I took this as an opportunity to buy them each a new t-shirt for everyday of our trip. Matching Disney t-shirts Then I founds some windbreakers on sale, and some Mickey Jibbetz and some comfy Gymboree Shorts...well, you know how that goes....anywho, here is all of the new stuff (excluding 4 pairs each of plaid and khaki shorts I just got, yes matching, on sale at Gymboree-which earned me Gymbucks BTW )

So, the boys are packed, everything down to vitamins and their "pressed penny" money. Are anyone else's kids obsessed with pressing pennies??? Mine are total in love with the idea. I put 10 pennies (and their coordinating 50 cents each) into ziplocks for each of them to use in WDW and you'd think I'd told them they won the lotto!

 

[Crisgw]

So, here are our ADR's for our trip (all dinner). I'm really excited about FD as we've been before in Sept (our fav. time to go) and never knew about FD!

Sept 6- Boma
Sept 7-Crystal Palace
Sept 8-Sci-Fi
Sept 9-Le Cellier
Sept 10-Ohanas
Sept 11-LTT
Sept 12-Coral Reef
Sept 13-1900 Park Fare

Soooooo...anyone have any suggestions on what to get/not get at these places? I know that Ohanas is my favorite meal every time I go to Disney....I just love it and hope it hasn't changed much from last July!

 

[kaysmommie]

Hi Cris,
I have to sibscribe to your trippie to see how you like AKL. I'm a resort changer like you . We switched 6 times before settling on CBR because of budget . Your family is adorable. Also unfortunate to my DH I can realte to the shopping too . I'm going to post my pics of the disney stuff tomorrow on my pretrip. Looks alot like yours except with a little more girl stuff because I have a DD. All your ADR's look great, the only one I haven't tried is Boma and Sci fi. Sci fi is on our list though too because DS will love the cars. I think they did change the menu at 'Ohana's a little. they did away with the banana's foster dessert . Hope you have a magical trip!

 

[Crisgw]

The resort changing was about to drive my DH MAD! He was about done and finally said "no more"...so AKL (per DH and the boys) it is...THIS year. However, we're booking a bounce back to the Poly (my choice) NEXT year!


I have one reader

Went to Target to gather "provisions" to occupy my 3 year old while my 6 year old is in Nintendo DS Lite Lala land and left having spent $55 with not much to show for it! I swear, I NEVER get out of Target for under $50! The store puts me in a coma like state and I wander around and buy stuff I don't even usually need! I bought our dog a hotdog halloween costume. I need therapy!

 

[princess&her4princes]

Hi Cris,

Just stumbled across your PTR and have to tell you how adorable your family is! I am a Mom of 3 boys and had to laugh when you made the comment about the amount of energy they have..I have to completley agree! Where do they get it from??!! I'm looking forward to the rest of your report!

 

[Michelle_and_Aaron]

Nice ptr so far! I am jealous because your trip in just a few days away and mine is still months off!
Your dining plans sound good. We did not really like the food at LTT dinner last year but the character interaction was great. Sci Fi was fun with the sitting in cars and watching old movie clips and all. I think that is all the places that we have been that you are eating at so there are lots of cool places that I can get info from you about.
I can't wait to read more.

 

[Crisgw]

Hi to everyone reading I hope that you'll stick around for the TR and food pics/report! I'm dedicated to doing them while at WDW (I hope, time permitting!).

I found some fun photos from last year at WDW that are helping me get excited for our trip in 2 days!!!!!

and nothing to do with WDW but just because I found these and couldn't stop laughing and thought some others might enjoy a chuckle (I had bought this dress for a friend's daughter and YES, that is my youngest SON )

 

[kaysmommie]

The resort changing was about to drive my DH MAD! He was about done and finally said "no more"...so AKL (per DH and the boys) it is...THIS year. However, we're booking a bounce back to the Poly (my choice) NEXT year!


I have one reader

Went to Target to gather "provisions" to occupy my 3 year old while my 6 year old is in Nintendo DS Lite Lala land and left having spent $55 with not much to show for it! I swear, I NEVER get out of Target for under $50! The store puts me in a coma like state and I wander around and buy stuff I don't even usually need! I bought our dog a hotdog halloween costume. I need therapy!

Your lucky Target trips for me are always a $100. I need to stay out of there too. The hotdog costume sounds cute .

 

[Crisgw]

You know...when I woke up this morning, I just KNEW it was going to be a rough day....the kind of rough that makes you contemplate running away!

That said, it's my last day working before we leave. Tomorrow I took off to:

1. get the boys' haircut (reminder CALL COOKIE CUTTERS!!)
2. get crazy caterpillar eyebrows waxed
3. get totally packed
4. go to running store and pick up some Balega socks for WDW
5. clean
6. clean
7. run a quick 5 miler
8. clean
9. watch OBAMA (WOO!!!) on the O'Reily Factor (Boo).....

Today is going to be a LONG day.

 

[rottiemom]

Hi Cris,

You've got me reading, too! I thought that I was bad starting a pre trip report 2 weeks before we were due to leave . Good for you!

We've never been to WDW so I'll enjoy reading about how a seasoned traveller does it. Your boys are adorable! And I love your "to do" list. Run a quick five miler int he midst of the craziness just cracked me up.

I hope that you love AKL & have a fabulous trip.

 

[Disneychix]

OMG you might be the best and meanest mom all at the same time! Putting your poor DS in a little girls pink dress and putting it on the internet! You have guts!

Can't wait to hear about your live TRs! The pics of the kids in the mickey ears are priceless too cute!!

 

[Crisgw]

Okay, so I can check off the brows......man that took awhile and I left an extra nice tip due to the caterpillar nature of the beast(s)....now if I can just get the boys to SIT STILL and not get hair ALL over their lolipops while getting their hair cut at Cookie Cutters, I will feel like a sucess. I also forgot to add that at 7PM I have a Neighborhood Team (Obama) meeting....man, can you say overextended!??!?

If I can't get my boys to sit still for their haircuts while watching Spiderman, sitting in a firetruck, eating a lolipop while getting bubbles blown in their face, then I must have failed as a mother!

 

[kaysmommie]

Okay, so I can check off the brows......man that took awhile and I left an extra nice tip due to the caterpillar nature of the beast(s)....now if I can just get the boys to SIT STILL and not get hair ALL over their lolipops while getting their hair cut at Cookie Cutters, I will feel like a sucess. I also forgot to add that at 7PM I have a Neighborhood Team (Obama) meeting....man, can you say overextended!??!?

If I can't get my boys to sit still for their haircuts while watching Spiderman, sitting in a firetruck, eating a lolipop while getting bubbles blown in their face, then I must have failed as a mother!

LOL my DS4 hates haircuts even sitting in the cars with a lollipop. Maybe I should try the bubbles. He cries the whole time. Seems like os many of us mom's are overextended, can't to have a break at Disney next month and sounds like you feel the same way. You will checking into AKL in no time . can't wait to read all about it.

 

[princess&her4princes]

Hope you get everything done on time!! I hear you on the brows....mine took a while last time, too! Good luck getting it all done before the BIG trip!!!

 

[coconutsunshine]

(I had bought this dress for a friend's daughter and YES, that is my youngest SON )

I don't mean to laugh at your beautiful children, but that is quite funny!!!

 

[Crisgw]

So, geesh, got MOST (didn't really clean much, got sucked into talking politics with neighbors...go figure, I'm a sucker for politics).

I'm still packing our suitcase (boys are done) and someone (her name is Sammy Sosa, yes I like baseball) thinks SHE'S going too....poor girl

Now, I am off to watch Obama on O'Reily gotta LOVE Tivo

 

[Crisgw]

A parting word before bed...I don't think I should be allowed to watch the opposite party from what I am a member of Seriously, kills me and makes my blood pressure shoot up and my IBS act up I am WAY nuts about it. Makes my blood boil.

On another note, I have SOOOOO much to do tomorrow, I got a few things off my list for tomorrow (eyebrows and socks). Let's make a list!:
1. Clean
2. Clean
3. Clean
4. finish packing everything
5. charge DVD players and DS Lite's
6. Rent DVD's from blockbuster
7. Go to Target
8. Tie up loose ends (SOOO many) on work project (from home thank God!)
9. Get boy's haircuts
10. Run quickie 5 miler
11. Canvass 50 houses
12. Get dog's food measured out for dog sitter
13. Get cat's food measured out for cat sitter (same person )
14. Pack Blackberry charger
15. Eat
16. Sleep............................
then GO TO DISNEY!!!

 

[princess&her4princes]

Have a wonderful trip!! I can't wait to hear all about it when you get back!!!

 

[Maddie2]

Aww, love your boys! We also have 2 boys, 3 years apart. They are now 11 and 14 and seeing your little guys brings back so many memories! Enjoy dressing them alike now (I did too when ours were little) because they won't let you do it forever.

We would LOVE to go in September sometime, but with older kids, it's just too hard for them to miss the beginning of a school year. Sounds like the perfect time!

Your shopping reminds me of me! In fact, in the rafters of our garage there are wrapped boxes of Disney shirts (though not matching ) for our family for our next WDW trip (whenever that is). I did, however, get matching pj's for all of us. They won't wear matching shirts in public anymore, but to please Mom, they will wear matching jammies.

You asked about meal ideas for your ADR's. It's already been almost 1.5 years since we were last there and it may have changed, but the Sci Fi Dine In had really good tomato basil soup. And, though it wasn't on the menu, they had really good cheeseburgers, onion rings and malts. Other things looked good too, but sometimes you just want the basics, know what I mean? When you are in a 50's style place, we just wanted basic 50's style drive-in food. With the DDP, it was a ton of food, so we did take some of it back to our room.

Have the best time!!! Can't wait to read all about it when you return!

Oh, and a note on not watching the opposite party. Me too. I haven't had the TV on in the past few days .... doing myself a favor.