We're Doing Disney Again Someday...Plus One! ~ Come Read my Trip Report!!!

[Dugette]

Hi, everybody!

I know, it's a super-vague pre-trip report title ...mostly because we don't know exactly which Disney venue and when, but we do know we're bringing our soon-to-be little Disney fan where and whenever we go! Hopefully, doing this PTR will help us iron out some of those pesky details (i.e. - park or cruise, which year, etc.) and maybe get us some bringing-baby-to-Disney advice, since we've gone 7 times as a couple without kids.

Speaking of us, how about some introductions?

I am "Dugette" and my DH is "Dug". Here we are on our December 2010 holiday trip to WDW:

Our first two babies are fur-babies, our dog Bailey and cat Kitty:

Our new addition is scheduled to arrive around September 7th! We are so excited!!! You can see the original announcement/ultrasound here, if you'd like:

Dug Baby Intro

We are about 19.5 weeks today. Here's the 19 week baby bump:

This report will likely be a combination of Disney-trip planning, baby updates, general baby planning, and Disney-themed nursery decorating and it will probably go on for quite awhile, as I doubt we'll take a trip before not-yet-born baby is 1-year-old. So, please come along and enjoy the ride with us!

Chapters
Baby's First Kids Meal
Various Trip Options
Prince or Princess?
Some Princess Pics
Dining with a Princess
Today's Disney & Baby Ponderings
Baby Bump Pictures
23 Weeks & WDW Changes
24 Week Update
Fantasyland
Pictures from the iPhone
27 Weeks
Disney Cravings
Photo Update
Nursery is Painted!
Disney Labor Skills
Disney Deals
Some Nursery Progress
Work Shower & Wall Decor
Trip is Booked!
Nursery is Complete!
40 Weeks
Still Waiting
A Nice Saturday
Dug Baby is Here!
Dug Baby Pictures
The Birth Story
Newborn Photos
Disney Tidbits
Random Photo Update
Character Meets
A Few Pictures
Polynesian Dreams
Photo Update #1
Photo Update #2
Photo Update #3
Extra Disney Dollars. And Pictures. Part 1
Extra Disney Dollars. And Pictures. Part 2
Half a Year Old - Part 1
Half a Year Old - Part 2
7 Month Update
Disney Clothes & More
Recent Photo Update
8 Month Picture
ADRs & Touring Plans
9 Months & July 4th
Disney Training
10 Months & Discounts
Room, Flight, Practice!
11 Months
One Year Old - Part 1
One Year Old - Part 2
Updated Touring Plans
Fast Pass +
Jingle Jungle Cruise!
Happy Halloween!
Disney Randomness
DO/DON'T - Mini WI TR - Part 1
DO/DON'T - Mini WI TR - Part 2
All Kinds of Magic
Day 1 - Sat. 12/7
Day 2 - Sun. 12/8
Day 3 - Mon. 12/9
Day 4 - Tues. 12/10
Day 5 - Weds. 12/11
Day 6 - Thurs. 12/12
Day 7 - Fri. 12/13
Day 8 - Sat. 12/14
A Little Nostalgia
More Disney Training
Very Quick Update
We're Back!
What Would I Do Differently?
It Has Begun!

 

[Dugette]

A brief baby update to start you off:

Last weekend, Dug Baby had his/her very first "kids meal". We went out to eat brunch (Keys Cafe), as I'd been wanting a nice veggie omelette, but also was really craving pigs in a blanket (very strange for me to crave this, by the way). So, we ordered my omelette and were trying to find the most cost-effective way for me to get a bit of pancake and sausage link to make a pig-in-a-blanket. The waitress let us know that the cheapest option would be to get a kids meal. Only, it came with a Mickey pancake. Awesome, we'll take it!

So, Dug Baby's first kids meal was this:

And we both enjoyed it!

Also, we have an exciting ultrasound coming up on Friday this week. We have our anatomy scan and, if Dug Baby cooperates, we'll find out if he/she is a boy or girl! Can't wait! We have no preference, but are so looking forward to knowing a bit more about who will be going to Disney with us! Dug did have a dream that Dug Baby was a girl and we were at Disney with her a few years down the road and she was doing the BBB and getting all done up like a princess. We shall see, though! I'll let you know!

 

[Dugette]

So, our first two thoughts were:

1.) Go to WDW for hopefully about a week in early December 2013. Dug Baby would be about 15 months and the holiday stuff would be in full swing. And we could check out the changes, especially the Fantasyland expansion. Weather should be reasonable (hopefully not freezing like in 2010) and rates are low. Ideally, we'd be able to swing staying Garden View at the Poly. We love it there and it would be so convenient to get to the MK and Epcot (which we would focus on).

2.) If we can't wait that long for a trip, I think I'd feel more comfortable taking a not-yet-1-year-old on a cruise rather than to the parks, since your room travels everywhere with you (and we enjoy cruises and would love to go on another one). And I hear Disney cruises are the best for bringing infants. I'd love to try the Fantasy or the Dream. Those cruise TRs are enticing!

However, there are a few other things on the table too:

1.) Some have suggested a land-and-sea trip (a few days cruising and a few days at WDW). This does sound fun, but I worry that it's going to be too expensive for us. Most likely, our budget will be around $3k for everything, so I have my doubts that this would be feasible. We would for sure NOT be staying at the Poly during the WDW portion...maybe Pop?

2.) Disneyland would be fun. Dug's brother is living in Southern CA right now, but there's a good chance that he will not be out there anymore by the time we would want to travel (holidays of 2013). It's a thought, though.

3.) I'm seeing reports that the Mine Train ride may not open until early 2014. We really want to check that out. If this is the case, maybe we wait until Spring of 2014 to go? Seems so far away, though. But, maybe we could catch some of the Flower & Garden Festival, which we've never seen.

So, these are the things on the table right now. And we're open to suggestion. Budget-wise, we're hoping to use frequent flyer miles for both of our tickets and we can get nearly 20% off Disney gift cards from Target (to pay for anything purchased through Disney), so those will both help us to keep things around our $3k-ish budget.

So much to think about! And so hard to plan a trip so far ahead of time. We tend to be pretty short-notice on these things...one trip we even booked only 10 days out. There will be a lot more dreaming and counting down involved with this one, I think!

 

[AprilRenee]

I'm in!! Can't wait to hear all about it! And to find out Dug Baby's sex! I felt like those 20 weeks waiting to find out where the longest of the pregnancy (well, until I went overdue ) I'm sure you guys are really excited!

 

[Dugette]

I'm in!! Can't wait to hear all about it! And to find out Dug Baby's sex! I felt like those 20 weeks waiting to find out where the longest of the pregnancy (well, until I went overdue ) I'm sure you guys are really excited!

Glad you're here! But still no Caden??!! Wow, that would seem like a longer wait than 20 weeks! I hope he decides to come check out his awesome Disney nursery soon!

 

[jeni16]

I'm following along as well! DH & I are also expecting our first due in October & are hoping for a October 2013 trip. So any tips/advice would be very helpful. Like you, we've only gone by ourselves before. This will be a whole new experience. Currently, we are going through withdrawl since we won't be taking a trip this year.

 

[Disneymoon09]

Joining in! Expecting our little boy in August, and hoping our quick get away in November works out. Can't wait to find out who baby Dug is!

 

[AprilRenee]

Glad you're here! But still no Caden??!! Wow, that would seem like a longer wait than 20 weeks! I hope he decides to come check out his awesome Disney nursery soon!

He's coming today, whether he likes it or not! I'm being induced this afternoon. I will be so happy to be done being pregnant. It was a lot of fun but I'm done! Ready to meet him so be looking for pictures probably Wednesday sometime

 

[reelmom]

I can't believe you are already almost 20 weeks. It seems like it is going by fast, at least to me. LOL. You look so cute with a baby bump.

 

[Dugette]

I'm following along as well! DH & I are also expecting our first due in October & are hoping for a October 2013 trip. So any tips/advice would be very helpful. Like you, we've only gone by ourselves before. This will be a whole new experience. Currently, we are going through withdrawl since we won't be taking a trip this year.

Congratulations on your little one! Hopefully we can get some good tips on bringing a 1-year-old. It will be such a different experience! I totally understand the withdrawal. We were lucky enough to go to WDW last October, so I'm not really feeling it yet, but the idea of the next trip being so far away is tough.

Joining in! Expecting our little boy in August, and hoping our quick get away in November works out. Can't wait to find out who baby Dug is!

Congrats to you too! We're all due so close together! Sounds like you'll be the first taking a trip, though! I hope it works out well!

He's coming today, whether he likes it or not! I'm being induced this afternoon. I will be so happy to be done being pregnant. It was a lot of fun but I'm done! Ready to meet him so be looking for pictures probably Wednesday sometime

I hope everything is going well with your induction! I can't wait to see pictures of the little guy!

I can't believe you are already almost 20 weeks. It seems like it is going by fast, at least to me. LOL. You look so cute with a baby bump.

It does seem like the last 5 weeks or so have gone really fast to me. So much to do still, it doesn't seem like we're almost halfway already! And thank you!

 

[jc040404]

I'm here! I'm so excited to follow along, both with the planning and preparing for Dug Baby's arrival. Love your bump pic! Dug's dream was really sweet. Do you have a feeling either way? I remember reading that mommies are usually right with that "gut" feeling. I'm going to guess it's hardly true, but it's still fun. (I will say I was right about both of mine though!) I can't wait to find out!

Your planning sounds like it's going to be full of fun.. and changes! You have so many possibilities!

 

[Mom&RN]

I'm joining in, am considering starting my very first PTR for an upcoming trip June 2013 but was thinking I was getting ahead of myself.... but, like you, I want lots of advice so maybe I'll get going on it. You've given me encouragement that I'm not jumping the gun. I've never taken a infant/toddler to WDW, my son was about 8 the first time we went so don't have any first hand advice for you. However, I'm not sure staying at WDW would be any less convenient than doing a cruise with a little one. You'll know your kiddo well enough to know when its time to head back to the room for some down time and stroller naps are a common siting in the Magic Kingdom. I must admit, though, that I'm biased towards going to Disney instead of cruising...

 

[Dugette]

I'm here! I'm so excited to follow along, both with the planning and preparing for Dug Baby's arrival. Love your bump pic! Dug's dream was really sweet. Do you have a feeling either way? I remember reading that mommies are usually right with that "gut" feeling. I'm going to guess it's hardly true, but it's still fun. (I will say I was right about both of mine though!) I can't wait to find out!

Your planning sounds like it's going to be full of fun.. and changes! You have so many possibilities!

Thanks on the bump pic!

As far as a gut feeling, my standard answer is that, if forced to guess, I'd say Boy, but I don't really trust my gut instinct, so maybe that means Girl. We'll see soon! I will say that, if it's a boy, I'd be like, "Oh, okay, that's what I figured," but if it's a girl, I think I'll be somewhat surprised.

Yes, this planning should prove interesting. It's a whole new world now!

I'm joining in, am considering starting my very first PTR for an upcoming trip June 2013 but was thinking I was getting ahead of myself.... but, like you, I want lots of advice so maybe I'll get going on it. You've given me encouragement that I'm not jumping the gun. I've never taken a infant/toddler to WDW, my son was about 8 the first time we went so don't have any first hand advice for you. However, I'm not sure staying at WDW would be any less convenient than doing a cruise with a little one. You'll know your kiddo well enough to know when its time to head back to the room for some down time and stroller naps are a common siting in the Magic Kingdom. I must admit, though, that I'm biased towards going to Disney instead of cruising...

I think it's totally fine to start a PTR this far in advance. I know I've followed some that went on for quite awhile. In fact, I'm sure my other ones would be longer if we scheduled our trips further in advance. I definitely feel like the longer ones can help you more advice and planning-wise.

I will say that I'm currently leaning pretty strongly towards WDW versus the cruise. I think the main draw of the cruise for me would be if we bring a months-old baby that needs extensive sleep and feeding. But, if we can hold off until baby is a year or so, I think I'd feel better about WDW. And I think that's what we'd like to do. And, if we can swing staying at the Poly, it would be so convenient to come back for nap breaks and stroller right onto the monorail if baby's asleep. Of course, this is somewhat hard because I don't know what baby is like yet. I guess we'll see. This PTR might change dramatically in 6 months or so...

 

[Dugette]

Survey says....









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Dug Baby is a little girl!!!

She is perfect and measuring right on (20 weeks today). Weighs 12 oz. She was putting on quite the little dance party for most of the ultrasound. So cool to know that the dream Dug had about taking a little princess to WDW was right!

 

[jeni16]

Congratulations! We've got another month until we find out. It's driving me nuts waiting.

 

[MeMom]

The magic is going to go to a whole new level the first time you go with your little girl!

 

[reelmom]

Congratulations!!!!! A Disney Princess!

 

[Disneymoon09]

Congrats on the Princess!! We can't wait to see the magic through our Pirates eyes, and I'm sure your princess will be a Disney lover. Have you picked out names?

 

[jc040404]

Awwww!! Congrats!! I LOVE that Dug's dream was right!

 

[Dugette]

Congratulations! We've got another month until we find out. It's driving me nuts waiting.

Thanks! I hope the time goes quickly for you. I felt like, for me, it went reasonably fast between 17 and 20 weeks. I remember thinking, at 17 weeks, "Three more weeks to go still!" and then 20 weeks snuck up on me pretty quickly, where I couldn't believe that it was actually time to find out! Let me know when you find out what you're having!

The magic is going to go to a whole new level the first time you go with your little girl!

I can't wait! I started checking out some of your/Jill's TRs just to see what it's like to have a little girl(s) at WDW. (I'm excited to find out what Jill's having, by the way. I'll have to check over there next week!)

Congratulations!!!!! A Disney Princess!

Thank you! I still can't quite believe we're having a little princess!

Congrats on the Princess!! We can't wait to see the magic through our Pirates eyes, and I'm sure your princess will be a Disney lover. Have you picked out names?

Thanks so much! I'm sure that both of our little ones will be big Disney fans! It will be so magical to watch them experience everything for the first time! We do have a name picked out. Our princess will be Isabella Madison (besides liking the names, the significance is: family name on Dug's side and my birthplace). Have you picked out a name for your pirate?

Awwww!! Congrats!! I LOVE that Dug's dream was right!

I know, how cool is that?! I guess we'll just have to make the whole dream come true and take her to WDW...