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

[flipflopmom]

The above statement will always be what I remember about telling our girls we were taking them for their first trip to the World. Here's the background...

DH (Stitch, loveable, but can come up with some of the craziest plans!) and I (Who else but Cinderella, I am destined to be a Queen someday!) spent our Honeymoon at the Wilderness Lodge. It was my first trip and I fell totally in love! We promised ourselves that we would come back on our 10th anniversary with our kids. Well, DD 1, age 9, took two and a half years to conceive, with the help of fertility drugs. We should have known - she does EVERYTHING on her own time. I'll call her Tink, because she is a competitive gymnast and is always flying around.

Well, wanna make God laugh? Tell Him your plans or a doctor's diagnosis. 7 years later - SURPRISE! The baby we couldn't have on our own was on her way! So, our 10th anniversary, I was 8 1/2 months pregnant and on bed rest due to pre-eclampsia.

We had wanted to wait a few years until darling Goofy was older, but with the 4/3 deal and realizing that next year they would both age up, we booked for July. Cancelled our beach ressie, and WDW, here we come! Also decided to do DxDP, will probably be the only year we can afford it!

So, we decided to wait for Easter to tell them. Easter Sunday was my 90 day, so I stayed home from Sunrise Service to let Goofy sleep, DH took Tink, and I made my ADR's. Got everything I asked for, and was ELATED! DH and Tink came home, we all went back to church, and I was jumping out of my skin to tell them.

Their Easter Baskets had Mickey Crocs, new Disney movies, Disney Dollars, Princess and Hannah M. ponchos, Cinderella and Mickey nightgowns, Stuffed Mickeys, Jo Bros and Mickey and Pooh shirts.... and Tink had the Birnbaum's guide. Seem obvious? Did I mention they are blonde? It wasn't until Tink read the postcard from "Fairy Godmailer" Mickey that he would see them in July that it came to her!

So, in all my excitement over getting all those ADRS, I blurted out "We're eating in the Castle with Cinderella, and we're eating with Lilo and Stitch, Mickey, Donald, The Princesses, JoJo..... Tink is BOUNCING up and down and squealing, Goofy is hugging her Mickey. Tink says "Did you hear Mommy? We're going to Cinderella's CAstle!" Goofy's reply? "TO EAT"! I would have called her Piglet instead, but she's not at all shy. She's a mess, totally fun, and completely clumsy!

So join me in doing what I do best, planning and organizing. My to do list gets longer everyday, and my box of Must Haves According to Dis gets bigger each week! Any other OCD planners want to chime in with your ideas, hang on! This pre-trip will be my journal, to do list, and the SAGA of
THE FIRST FAMILY TRIP TO WALT DISNEY WORLD! ( and you must read that like Chevy Chase says "The Griswold Family Christmas Tree" to get the full effect!)

Contents of thread
1. Background and the reveal
2.ADR's and itinerary
3.What I've bought thanks to DIS!
4. My to do list

 

[flipflopmom]

A few more specifics,
We are staying at POP July 11-18th. I am really excited to stay there, and we've requested a lakeview room in the 60's building, Tink has ADHD, and would totally never sleep with a pool in sight!

As mentioned before, we're pigging out on the DxDP. I have the feeling we'll all be named Pooh when it's over, but we get to try out a lot of good places!

Here's the basic itinerary of our trip
Saturday - Leave home around midnight Friday night. Hopefully DH can get home from work and go to bed around 6 and get 6 hours of sleep. He can go to sleep at the drop of a hat. We have a 12 hour drive, so we want the chicks to SLEEP!!!!!!!!! Check in, check out POP, head out around 5 to ride monorails to give the girls their glimpses WDW (of course asking to ride in the cab! another Dis tip). We have a 6:50 ADR at Ohana, then the plan is to hang out on the Poly beach for the EWP and Wishes if they can make it that late!

Sunday - 8am ADR Tusker House, AK opens at 9. Lunch will be at 1:00 at Yak and Yeti, and then dinner at 7:30 at Boma!!! We might head back after the 3:45 parade to rest, just depends on how much of the park we've done!

Monday - CRT 8:15. MK opens at 9. Lunch at 12 at the Plaza, probably back to rest after lunch, then back to MK. Dinner at CP at 6.

Tuesday - MK EMH, then Ohana breakfast at 9:50. Back to POP, then back to MK around 1. Harmony Barber Shop for Goofy's first haircut and some great gel for Tink, watch the parade if we missed it on Monday, catch the boat to Hoop De Doo at 5. After HDDR, we might head over to the campfire for a while, then to EPCOT for EMH.

Wednesday - Akershus 8am - Epcot opens at 9. Lunch at Coral Reef 11:55, maybe a rest break, then back, dinner at Marakeesh at 6, Illuminations and park close at 9

Thursday - Hollywood and Vine 8am, DHS opens at 9. Mama Melrose Fantasmic dining at 4:55. Not sure about a break on this day! Fantasmic and Park close at 9.

Friday - I HAVE NO IDEA! This day is the only one unplanned thus far. We have breakfast at 10 at Boma, and dinner at Narcoosee's at 6. We'll more than likely head back to MK for EMH after dinner... May just hang out at POP and resort hop - I have to go back to the Wilderness Lodge again! Maybe DTD.... I just don't know. I figure we'll need one day to do whatever we want. DH says he just hopes I have planned time to sleep sometime in the trip!

Saturday - check out, Breakfast at Chef Mickey's at 11:20. Hit a park somewhere, again, more than likely MK, or possibly EP, then head home around dinner time. Drive until we can't anymore, stop and sleep, and finish up Sunday morning!

 

[flipflopmom]

So, in thinking about my trip to the Dollar Tree tonight, I decided to compile a list of things I've bought thanks to DIS.

bagalinni
Vera Bradley mini messenger for Tink
Parks music CD
crocs
Tevas
shoe organizer for bathroom
water misting fans
moleskin
Disney t shirts
Unofficial Guide to WDW, Complete Guide to WDW, Passporter (I might send this one back, don't really need)
hand sanitizer
lots of Dollar Tree goodies for Tinkerbell gifts
Dollar Tree Rain ponchos
pins from a bargain bin for the girls to trade
all the stuff in the girls Easter Baskets I listed in post 1
Gum
stroller clip fans
hats for the girls
itouch

Does a printer to print out all the stuff for my planning binder count?

 

[abbadabbadoo]

Congratulations on your family's upcoming trip! We stayed at Pop Century last year for our first trip and I LOVED it. It's so fun and colorful and I thought the buses were great there!

I recently started my PTR, too! I hope you'll check it out! My trip is 9/19-27, so I still have quite some time to go, but I am so excited I wanted to do my PTR early. Maybe our ideas and plans will end up helping us both! Look forward to hearing about more of your plans!

 

[flipflopmom]

[/COLOR]My to do list - [/COLOR]

1. Using Unofficial Guide, make a plan for each day. I want it to be comprehensive, with snacks included. Gotta find the School Bread and Dole Whip, in true DIS fashion! DONE!!!!!!!!!

2. Print out Mousekeeping envelopes DONE!

3. Get all pages printed out for my journal - I've got a lot I want to put in there! Got some changes to make since I switched some ADRs around, and I need to update the extended park hours. DONE!

4. Order customized maps DONE! They are here and GORGEOUS!

5. Pre order Photopass CD DONE!

6. Using All ears menu, guestimate what our tips will be DONE!

7. Order Disney gift cards with the money I have stashed for the trip, not really done, DH decided he wants me to give it to him to put in bank account and just use the debit card to pay off KTTW

8. Order a Trip Tix from AAA DONE!

9. Fax reservation request, already in system thanks to AAA Called, they have it noted!!!

10. Check on adding another day park ticket, just in case. DONE!

11. Decide on shipping box down with the "Welcome gifts" I got for the girls, or just put in suitcase

12. Get all my info ready for the fridge and stroller swap. Still working on this. UGH! It's been a pain! I've done all I can. Let's hope it works out.
13. Take info for the Fairy Godmailing I promised DONE!

14. Make a countdown calendar DONE!

15. Buy a stroller bandana, and nametags DONE!

16. Decorate the window or not, maybe, but not go overboard! Just decided on some mickey heads, gotta get that done!
17. Work on souvenir budget Forget about it! But I did print out a sheet to help budget!
18. Get a better handle on bus routes for the trip! Done, thanks Diane!

19. Make Hokie Disney tshirts thanks to DISigners, but I've got to figure out how!

20. Get more pennies and some sort of container for pressed pennies NOw I need more quarters!!!

21. Order slipper dessert for CRT breakfast. Decided against this. They'd rather get into the park than eat more! They'll have plenty of desserts on DxDP Yeah, right. I ordered it anyway.. It's only $15, why not!

22. Decide on/order celebration goody bags/ mickey Cake for first night??? Not going to do this after all. We switched to Chef Mickeys for our first night dinner, so no need to add to the magic there!

23. Download all the application ITouch apps once it gets here! DONE!
24. Make copies of DD's birth certificates, just in case, to verify ages DONE!
25. Make copies of insurance, credit cards, etc. to put in safe in room in case of lost wallets DONE!

26. Check on Disney Visa and AAA benefits such as Storytimes, Meet and Greets, etc. Done. Probably won't be doing these, since they are during our nap time. May catch Visa photo shoot just for the free pic!

27. Order rewards points card from Disney Visa

28. Go to Home Depot and get Lime Green Mickey Heads! DONE!

29. Pack - DUH!

30. Download my Disney cd's to my Itouch, if it ever gets here, and DD's MP3 player DONE!

31. Get a cd case to put movies in for traveling

32. buy batteries for misting fans, etc. DONE!

33. Remember what I needed to add to my list as I was reading the boards! DONE!

34. Get dramamine, bonine, ginger pills, whatever and try them out!

35.Order id bracelets for girls DONE!

36. Clear off memory cards!

37. find travel nail care kit... I know it's somewhere around here! done!
38. find or buy a power strip DONE!

39. Ship extras down for Mickey's welcome.Done!
40, Call & add Lois & crew to wishes cruise, when the girls' aren't in earshot! DONE!!

41. Fill Mousekeeping envelopes Done!
42. Get car serviced and checked out for trip DONE!

43. Clean out car and trunk! Done! Although I'll probably run it through the car wash and vacuum it so we can trash it on the way down!

At one week out,
fax ress. request, line up dog boarding, email my itouch all the docs I made, final journal pages printing, charge all camera batteries, garmin, mp3, ds, make sure bills are paid, stop mail, notify bank we'll be using card out of town, give info to neighbors, finish packing, pack 4 park bags (baggalini, DD's backpack, DD's vera mini-hipster, and DD's "tinkerbell messenger bag"), pack activities for road trip, Make sure house is clean!

 

[flipflopmom]

Congratulations on your family's upcoming trip! We stayed at Pop Century last year for our first trip and I LOVED it. It's so fun and colorful and I thought the buses were great there!

I recently started my PTR, too! I hope you'll check it out! My trip is 9/19-27, so I still have quite some time to go, but I am so excited I wanted to do my PTR early. Maybe our ideas and plans will end up helping us both! Look forward to hearing about more of your plans!

Thanks for reading! I am heading over to check yours out now!

 

[OhMari]

Passporter (I might send this one back, don't really need)

I'm with you on the Passporter, the font was so small, I couldn't see it, and I didn't want to bring my reading glasses along.

Don't take the maps you order from Disney, they are too good to use at WDW. Save them. You can get plenty of maps at each park.

 

[allbluezoo]

ooh, I am definitely following you! Literally I think, LOL! I am trying to get on the stroller swap right after you I think?

Everything you have planned sounds awesome and you are very detail oriented, like me I think you have made me want to do my own PTR!

 

[flipflopmom]

I'm glad someone is actually reading this! I am really enjoying writing it, just to get my thoughts down! I plan on printing it out and putting it in my binder when I am down. I am definitely doing trip report and dining review when we are back!

 

[carrie6466]

I'm following along because I like to see that I am not the only one who is over-excited and can't wait for July

 

[flipflopmom]

So yesterday, Dh and I were talking about the trip, which according to my family, is all I ever do! I was giving him, again, the run down of the week. We had grilled out, and it made me think of O'hana! He said 'It's my only time off, remember, I want pool and rest time!" I am a teacher, so that fact doesn't hit me usually.

My reply - "We have nap breaks scheduled on 4 days, there's only 1 day we don't, but I'll put it in... We leave the room at 7:00 most days, and we'll be back by 10:30 or 11:00" ? So, that does sound pretty wild. Guess I need to REALLY make sure we get in those naps.

My other statement was - "Everybody on DIS says the best way to approach it is to realize that you can't do it all, and know you are coming back. " He said - in two years, we'll go back! He's thinking alternate Disney with a trip to a secluded beach in NC every other year!!!! Works for me, maybe....

I just need to pin him down on what HE wants to do so I can get everyone's must do's on the itinerary. We weeded out a few MK things yesterday, but not many/ We're still up in the air over conservation station in MK... I think we're weeding out a few things in EPCOT, I need to do more reading on each of them, and DHS will be up to him to weed out, b/c I don't have any desire to do the stunt shows, etc.

I'm worried he won't enjoy himself, that he'll say "I ran around doing nothing I wanted to for a week"......... I did tell him that the thrill rides he was unsure about, he was riding them with DD first when we do Rider Swap, so that if she doesn't want to do it again, I can go by myself in single rider. He would just say - never mind!

Any suggestions on how to make it more fun for him?

 

[dolfinjuls]

Hey! Came to check out your PTR from the July board! I'm so excited for your first family trip! Our first trip was last year and we stayed at Pop! too! You guys will love it!

 

[adisneymama]

Hi I'm here from the July board too! We are also staying at Pop, but this will be our third time there. We have also stayed at the WL too! I love your list. I'm about to post some of my to do list on my PTR as well. Come on over and check it out. Your DD's sound too cute!

 

[adisneymama]

Congratulations on your family's upcoming trip! We stayed at Pop Century last year for our first trip and I LOVED it. It's so fun and colorful and I thought the buses were great there!

I recently started my PTR, too! I hope you'll check it out! My trip is 9/19-27, so I still have quite some time to go, but I am so excited I wanted to do my PTR early. Maybe our ideas and plans will end up helping us both! Look forward to hearing about more of your plans!

Heading over to check yours out too!

 

[flipflopmom]

So, I am thinking about shipping this box down. I've got a lot of stuff accumulated, thanks to DIS. I think pretty much anything anyone put on a packing list, I copy and pasted into mine. DH is going to have a heart attack trying to get it all in our little KIA.

So I am thinking about shipping down the stuff like stroller fans, over the door organizer, gum, extra batteries, misting fans, etc as well as the girls' welcome gifts.

How far in advance should I ship this stuff? I am afraid the box is going to be HUGE, which means I would have that, the POP fridge from the swap, and the stroller from stroller swap to get once we get there......

I'll let you know what I decide.

 

[VAYankee]

I just stumbled on to your PTR - we are staying at POP 6/28-7/05; we are also driving down, My DH and DS(15) - my other two kids are "too old" (20 and 21 and both working all summer). Are you from Virginia (I noticed your reference to a Hokies t-shirt) and you mentioned a 12 hour drive - we are from VA and will be driving also; not our first time driving, but our first stay at POP, I can't wait! I also have my list of things to bring thanks to different posts and other people's suggestions. I am definitely scheduling in some nap/down times at the hotel so we can just veg out at the pool (also my husband will need some time to work - have laptop will travel!).

 

[adisneymama]

 

[OhMari]

If your dh is into sports, maybe he would like an evening over at ESPN.
Or the Richard Petty Driving Along runs $100.
I gave my dh the Richard Petty Drivng Experience to my dh as a surprise for our 25th Wedding Anniversary and Birthday.
I should of gave it to him on our first day.
I would have had him at my beck and calling the rest of the vacation.
He did it on our last day, and he beamed for a week.

 

[flipflopmom]

Are you from Virginia (I noticed your reference to a Hokies t-shirt) and you mentioned a 12 hour drive - we are from VA and will be driving also;

YEP! We're Virginia's, we live right on the NC line, about 1 1/2 hours south of Blacksburg. GO HOKIES!!!!!!!! We drove it on our honeymoon, DH thinks it will take about 12 hours, I am really hoping for less. Our plan going down is to leave around midnight, if he can come home and nap, and then break it up on the way back!

 

[flipflopmom]

My dad has a lot of health problems. We found out today he probably has kidney cancer, he only has one kidney due to complications from kidney stones in the 1960s. He's diabetic, with a rare blood type, so a transplant is not an option. The doctor is suggesting a kidney removal, which would mean dialysis 3 times a week for the rest of his life. He's having more tests done Friday, and then goes back to the doctor 2 weeks from today....... I am SO scared.........

This PTR may end up being the trip that doesn't happen, depending on what they schedule for him... My kids would be devastated, but I can't see me being 12 hours away if something were to happen.

Pray please.