We're going to Cinderella's Castle - TO EAT!

[adisneymama]

DD won't nap but DS will pass out in the stroller. When he falls asleep one of us just takes Aubrey on rides while one of us shops(read this as an excuse to find air conditioning!) Or if he is really out of it and I can move him without waking him up, then we will ride things like IASW or POOH while he sleeps on my shoulder etc. We don't generally go back to the room for a nap, but I leave the option open if everyone is wearing their grumpy pants at that moment! I pack plenty of snacks and drinks though and that usually keeps them going.

Sorry I haven't been on, we have had a hectic weekend. My power cord died for my laptop so I was without my computer until dh came up with a handy dandy fix! I did manage to get a few things crossed off my list and updated my TR as well, so all in all a good day!

 

[flipflopmom]

Got an email today that the Disney shopping website is having a semiannual sale, so I am grabbing a few t's and some shorts for the girls to go with their tops!

 

[flipflopmom]

So, My Disney documents folder on my PC was getting out of control! I had to make folders for my folder! Then I started working on a page for each park of the specific tips I had read, magic photopass shots, best snacks, etc. Then I spent time working on the transportation stuff............................... I am nuts!! Can you say OCD?

 

[adisneymama]

Slow down, take a deep breath....now feel better? LOL

You are going to have way to many notes to keep up with in the parks. Remember the tips posted on the boards are not always great tips for everybody. Go thru them and see what you think is the most useful for your family and then maybe just down those few. Go and enjoy your family and the parks. Who knows, maybe you'll come back with some magical tips of your own!

 

[flipflopmom]

Guess who got her Mickey Mail today??? And, the id silcone bracelets I ordered for the girls came, too. It's getting closer! We went to my parents' house this am to go out for breakfast with them, and my Dad asked Miss Goofy if she was ready to go eat breakfast! She jumped up and down and said "With Mickey Mouse???""""" They're getting psyched too!

 

[flipflopmom]

So, at 6am this morning, I put batteries in my misting and stroller fans, and cut packaging off stuff I had bought to take. Why? I am so excited and wanted to do something that didn't involve the computer!!!!!

 

[flipflopmom]

Well, Daddy will be having surgery to remove the kidney with cancer, his only remaining kidney, and go on dialysis. He told the dr. he had to wait until after July 19 for personal reasons... meaning my trip to WDW. He told me yesterday his babies were not going to miss Disney World...... I feel pretty positive about everything, and this trip planning is definitely keeping me from stressing as much!

25 day, 23 hours, 20 minutes, and 43 seconds until 3pm check in on July 11!!!!

 

[meanmom121]

Flip Flop,

Just joining in. Sorry I'm so late. This will be first trip for our DD9 and DS11. We will be at POP July 13 through July 20. Hope to run in to you.

Feel free to say hi if you see us. -- We will decorate our window with our names and groovy flowers at POP - also I think I'll have a meanmom121 door magnet (it hasn't arrived yet)

I'm so out of control crazy about this trip I think the girls at work are going to have me committed.

I will especially be keeping your dad in my prayers - I lost my father to ca 9 yrs ago and I will pray that you have your dad for many many years to come. Making a note in my date book to pray for him on his day of surgery also.

 

[adisneymama]

Sorry to hear about your dad. He sounds so strong though. This is going to be an extra magical trip for all of you.

We made a few last minute changes to our ADR's and have been getting errands ran etc. Busy Busy around here!

 

[flipflopmom]

We've gotten like 8 inches of rain in the last 48 hours or so... It's so miserable here. I keep thinking of stuff I need to do, but don't even have the energy to do it!

One of my friends, a non DISer just got back.... The tips she gave me were like the first things I learned on here, and I knew about stuff she didn't know after being there for a week. She was beat!!! I am getting antsy! I guess I'll go add to my to do list!

I checked all my ADR's, and they're all there, so that's good!

 

[flipflopmom]

Ok, so we found out that a space shuttle launch will happen on our arrival night. So those adrs I spent months planning just went out the window since dh really wanted to see the trail from the shuttle. We were able to score a chef mickeys which dh says will be better for the girls anyway than my perfect night on the poly beach I had planned after ohana. I booked a surprise wishes cruise for us that night! I am sooooo excited! I hope I can find someone that wants to split it with me, but if I don't, oh well. I also ordered the mickeys welcome in room celebration for the girls. I just couldn't help myself! I am determined to make this trip as magical as possible for us, especially not knowing what the next months will be like with daddy....

 

[flipflopmom]

Just wanted to list them out here, since I switched so many around

July 11 Chef Mickey dinner 5:10
July 12th Tusker House breakfast 8:00am, before park opening at 9
Yak and Yeti 1:30
Boma 7:30
July 13th CRT 8:15am, park open at 9
The Plaza 12:05
Crystal Palace 6pm
July 12th - Ohana breakfast 9:50
Narcoosee's 5:55
July 13th - Akershus 8am
Coral Reef 11:55
Marakeesh 6pm
July 14th -Hollywood and Vine 8am
Mama Melrose 4:55
July 15th - Boma breakfast 10 am
Ohana dinner 7:10
I love the online ADR system.... I checked for a chef mickey's time incessantly until one came open!

 

[flipflopmom]

Found a cruise share partner! Ms. Lois from the July board!

 

[shordiebecka]

Hi! Just found your PTR..I am going July 25-August 2, what is this July board you are talking about! your plans look great so far. sorry to hear about your dad. things always work out the way they are supposed to though. Can't wait to hear more!

 

[flipflopmom]

July board rocks! If you haven't found it yet, go to Theme Parks attractions and Strategies, Doin the Happy Dance, and it's the official July 2009 thread. List of who is going, their ADRs, general excitement and chatter.

My Disney prep for today? START CLEANING MY HOUSE! Dad's surgery will probably be soon after we get back, so I need everything DONE before we go. I'm OCD about leaving a clean house. It's always wrecked as soon as we get back, but it helps!

I also want to start bagging the girls' clothes for the trip. They haven't been allowed to wear their Disney clothes yet! No stains on the trip clothes!

I have to take Daddy Thurs for an outpatient surgery to prepare his arm for dialysis, so nothing will happen then. Hopefully Friday I can go to the bank and get the change I'll need for Mousekeeping, make those envelopes, and work on some posters to decorate windows. I want the girls to help with this.

 

[Mindy5767]

July board rocks! If you haven't found it yet, go to Theme Parks attractions and Strategies, Doin the Happy Dance, and it's the official July 2009 thread. List of who is going, their ADRs, general excitement and chatter.

Did you post your photo yet?

 

[flipflopmom]

I don't have one of me all four of us, but there is one amidst all the Hokie talk of DH and my girls. I'll have to try to take one this weekend.

 

[flipflopmom]

SO I got up at 5:50 am, and checked the dining system, and there it was, a 7:10 Ohana res. on our check out night!

I have GOT to get to the PO today and mail down the extra stuff for my girls' Mickey's Welcome. It comes with 1 autograph book, and I had already purchased two of them, so I am going to ship them down so Mickey can sign it, too! I don't know what we'll do with the extra one, we'll see.... I am also reworking my journal pages today, got to update them with all the new ADRS. I'd like to just print it all out, but I know as soon as I do I'll find 1 more tip to add.

The Dis is so awesome, everytime I think "wonder if I can do that" I post it and I have the answer!!

 

[flipflopmom]

2 weeks from right now I will be almost to AK, preparing for my Tusker House house ADR.! DH finally asked me some questions and looked at what I have printed out in the journal so far!!! He's getting excited,too. The girls are finding hidden Mickeys in the dog food, nachos, you name it! We told them at 90 days out, right after I made ADRs, so they've been thinking about this for a long time!

My bff went 2 weeks ago for her family's first trip. They have a 13,10, and 5 year old. She did no planning, left it all up to her SIL that goes frequently. Well, once they got there, they decided it was too hard to keep everyone together, so they separated from her DB, DSIL ,and their kids. They had no plan, no idea of park layouts, just knew when to show up for ADR's. When she got back, she was exhausted. She said "We had a blast. We're glad we did it" but it sounded like she wanted to say we won't go back. They didn't take any breaks, and missed the fireworks every night b/c they were beat.

Jump to the next week. Dh's good friend went for his family's first trip. This was the week that everyone came back and posted "Never again in the summer" due to a heat wave. I thought, Oh no.... Their kids are the same ages as ours, so I couldn't wait to hear how it went. When he got back, he told Brad it was the BEST vacation they had ever taken. They had a blast! Brad was laughing with him about all the planning I have been doing, and his friend laughed and said "Yeah, we couldn't have made it without DW's notebook." Hmm..... so I had to call his wife, and we talked for about 1 1/2 hours. They napped every day, had plans of what to see when. She's already figured out how much they'll have to save a month to do it next year!

Moral of the story, take the nap, have a plan.

 

[flipflopmom]

Got a lot checked off my to do list today - cleaned out the trunk, filled my mousekeeping envelopes, shipped down the extras for Mickey's welcome, got cash for tip for cruise.... paying bills tomorrow.... YUK!!!