What's This? I can't believe my eyes, we're seeing Disney at Christmas time

[pixiedustmomma]

We are going at Christmas too...next year. Cant wait to hear more about your plans for your trip

Please keep us updated! We are going 23-27 Dec would love to hear what it's like

You will both love Christmas at Disney. While it can get crowded it is so beautiful and there is just something really magical about Disney at Christmas time. I have gone a couple times and also lived down there for a couple years. The decorations are amazing. The weather is usually beautiful. Usually you just need a hoodie in the morning and evening.

I am very excited to see all the decorations!!!

 

[jamiesmom07]

Hey! Thanks for stopping by. I am so excited too! I'm jealous you will be there two day more then we will! Is this your first time staying at POFQ?

This is our first stay at POFQ, we did stay at Riverside in April 2010 for our disneymoon/family vacation trip, we loved it there so thought with POFQ being smaller we'd love it even more.

I was happy to hear for you and the girls that you have ressies at CRT, we did that in 2003 when my DS was 5, he loved it, the princesses made over him something fierce
We have reservations there for breakfast our first day there, I can't wait. I know DS won't be quite as becuase he's 13 now but I'm going to enjoy every minute. Have you ever eaten there before?

 

[pixiedustmomma]

This is our first stay at POFQ, we did stay at Riverside in April 2010 for our disneymoon/family vacation trip, we loved it there so thought with POFQ being smaller we'd love it even more.

I was happy to hear for you and the girls that you have ressies at CRT, we did that in 2003 when my DS was 5, he loved it, the princesses made over him something fierce
We have reservations there for breakfast our first day there, I can't wait. I know DS won't be quite as becuase he's 13 now but I'm going to enjoy every minute. Have you ever eaten there before?

I have never ate at CRT and we where not going to until we decided to do the dining plan and had an extra meal credit to put towards it. I am so excited!! DD4 wants to do anything that has to do with Princesses, so she will be so excited!

 

[pixiedustmomma]

I was so excited to get Disney mail today!!!!! We got our luggage tags and the little voucher booklet that has the photo pass card, parking pass and a bunch of vouchers. Not sure if we will get to use any of the vouchers but it was still exciting to get it!!!


I love getting Disney mail!

 

[pixiedustmomma]

Tuesday we will be doing two different parks.

We have Breakfast reservations at Cape May Cafe at 8:55am. I would have like to go a little earlier but this was what they had. I am really excited to go because I love the Beach Club.

After breakfast we will head over to Hollywood Studios. I remember when it was referred to as MGM and I still find myself calling it that. I am really looking forward to taking my girls to see the Muppet Vision 3D and Toy Story Mania, which I have not rode yet! I know that DD4 will want to see Beauty and the Beast live on Stage, Voyage of the Little Mermaid and Play House Disney live on Stage. I'm not sure if those will all fit into our morning but we will give it a try.

Like with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad DD4 will be tale enough to ride Star Tours and believe it or not Tower of Terror. I'm not really sure what to do. Let her ride them or wait till next year. I know growing up as soon as I was tall enough I rode the rides. I'm just not sure if we should let her ride them. I'm guessing we will play it by ear. She has seen Tower of Terror on Youtube and knows what it does but I'm still not sure if she will go for it. Or if I want to be "that parent" with the kid crying on the ride.

We will take a mid day break for naps and resting. Maybe play in the pool a little bit and get some lunch.

Next we will head to Epcot! We have dinner reservations at Askershus Royal Banquet Hall at 5:20pm. Another special dinner for our two princesses.

Spaceship Earth, The Seas with Nemo and Friend, Turtle talk with Crush and Journey into Imagination with Figment are just a few at the things we would like to do. I am also caught in the should we let DD4 ride Soarin and Test Track. She will be tall enough for both. Also spending time walking around the world. Lets not forget trying to stay for IllumiNations. Hoping the girls won't mind and that the little one just passes out in the stroller if she gets tired.

 

[pixiedustmomma]

Got some not so good news this morning. I have to send my Canon T2i in to the service center. It is a two week turn around. We leave in three weeks! I am praying whatever needs fixed is easy and that it will take less then two weeks and get back to me before the trip. I used this trip as part of my begging to get this camera and now I might not have it for our trip. I am so upset about it.

On a good note, I got a call from the Disney Store letting me know my Rapunzel Animator's Doll has arrived. So I have to pack the kids up and drive all the way to the Disney Store and some how buy the doll without DD4 seeing it. I will let everyone know how that turns out.

 

[ellajeansmom]

Hi there

We're going to be there the same time as you! We're staying at Coronado Springs, but POFQ was also at the top of our list.

I'm sure the drive will be fine for you. Especially on the way down if you're driving overnight. We drive to Hilton Head, SC every March - its about an 18 hour drive for us. We've found that taking a break, even a quick one, every 2 hours is the key. Our girls are older than yours so we also rely on movies and electronic games (DS and Leapster). Your plan to have a bag full of surprise gifts is also a good one

Of our 5 sit down meals, 4 of them are ones you are doing too! None on the same days though. If you know your girls (especially DD4) are going to be good with meeting the characters I personally think character meals are a great time saver. You have to stop and eat anyways so you might as well meet some characters at the same time and then you don't have to wait in line to meet them in the parks.

Your daughter will love BBB if she already likes to dress up. Our girls did this on our 2009 trip and we all had the best time. One of my favourite pictures from that trip is of my DH watching them be transformed - he has the best expression on his face being excited for them We also ate at CRT the same day which was like icing on the cake for the girls, there is something magical about eating in the castle!

As for your concerns about DD4 going on some of the more thrill type rides, I think you'll quickly get a sense of what she can handle. On our last trip our younger DD, who was 4 at the time, went on more thrill rides than her older sister. Those included TofT and Splash Moutain. Both my girls loved Soarin' and Test Track. My girls definitely found it helpful to watch ride videos on youtube ahead of time

Regarding specific plans, we will be at Epcot the same evening as you and we will also be at MVMCP on the Wednesday...maybe we'll run into each other!

 

[aksunshine]

We are staying at POFQ, too!! We are JUST going to miss each other! We check in on dec 3.

 

[pixiedustmomma]

Hi there

We're going to be there the same time as you! We're staying at Coronado Springs, but POFQ was also at the top of our list.

I'm sure the drive will be fine for you. Especially on the way down if you're driving overnight. We drive to Hilton Head, SC every March - its about an 18 hour drive for us. We've found that taking a break, even a quick one, every 2 hours is the key. Our girls are older than yours so we also rely on movies and electronic games (DS and Leapster). Your plan to have a bag full of surprise gifts is also a good one

Of our 5 sit down meals, 4 of them are ones you are doing too! None on the same days though. If you know your girls (especially DD4) are going to be good with meeting the characters I personally think character meals are a great time saver. You have to stop and eat anyways so you might as well meet some characters at the same time and then you don't have to wait in line to meet them in the parks.

Your daughter will love BBB if she already likes to dress up. Our girls did this on our 2009 trip and we all had the best time. One of my favourite pictures from that trip is of my DH watching them be transformed - he has the best expression on his face being excited for them We also ate at CRT the same day which was like icing on the cake for the girls, there is something magical about eating in the castle!

As for your concerns about DD4 going on some of the more thrill type rides, I think you'll quickly get a sense of what she can handle. On our last trip our younger DD, who was 4 at the time, went on more thrill rides than her older sister. Those included TofT and Splash Moutain. Both my girls loved Soarin' and Test Track. My girls definitely found it helpful to watch ride videos on youtube ahead of time

Regarding specific plans, we will be at Epcot the same evening as you and we will also be at MVMCP on the Wednesday...maybe we'll run into each other!

Hi!

I believe we stayed at CSR when I was around six years old. So I don't really remember much of it. It looks beautiful. It is on my list of places I would like to stay.

I will have to remember to stop every two hours on the way home. My DD4 has a MobiGo and we have a portable dvd player for her too. For DD1 I plan on bring the small toys we have that light up and play music. Hopefully that will keep her entertained when she isn't sleeping. Crossing my fingers it works out.

I'm hoping the girls will do well with the Characters. There was only one year when DD4 was 2 that she was kinda concerned with Santa and the Easter Bunny. I've never thought of Character meals being a time saver.

DD4 is very excited for BBB and dinner at CRT! The other day when asked who she wanted to be she said "I can't choose just one". I can't wait to see who she will pick to be and see her face when we eat inside the Castle.

I feel a little bit better knowing someone else let their four year old ride those rides. I keep letting her watch them on Youtube and we will just see how she feels when we get there.

Maybe we will run into each other. I am so excited for MVMCP!

 

[pixiedustmomma]

We are staying at POFQ, too!! We are JUST going to miss each other! We check in on dec 3.

Hi! We were going to stay that first full week in December but I had to change our dates due to DH's work schedule.

 

[aksunshine]

Bummer!!! But you are still going , right!

 

[pixiedustmomma]

I have a feeling that to day will be our busiest day at Walt Disney World.

We start the day by having breakfast with Donald at Tusker House at 8:15am. Then we are headed to the Kilimanjaro Safaris. From there I would like to try It's Tough to be a Bug and Festival of the Lion King. After reading a ton of threads on here I have seen so many people talk about how younger kids don't like the shows. I can see how little kids could be scared of It's Tough to be a Bug. Is it wrong to still want to try? As far as the Festival of the Lion King goes I think DD4 will really like it and I am hoping that DD1 will at least enjoy the music enough to sit through it.

I have a feeling that Animal Kingdom will be a short visit. My girls love animals but after that there isn't that much more to do with them.

I am hoping we will get to take some sort of break in the middle of the day. But it might not happen today.

Surprise: At 1:40 DD4 has an appointment at BBB! I am so excited for this! We have already told her we are doing this but with the excitement of being at Disney I think she will forget. So it will be a surprise for her on this day.

Surprise #2: Reservations at Cinderella's Royal Table at 5:40. DD4 is going to be so excited to eat in the Castle. I am also really excited! I can't remember ever eating at CRT as a child and if we did, I haven't found the pictures to prove it. So this could possible be a first for all four of us.

Surprise #3: MVMCP! I am so excited to go. I can't wait for hot cocoa, cookies, magical snow fall, Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, the characters dressed for the season and of course the look on girl's faces. I hope the kids can last to see most of it, or sleep in the stroller.

I might have planned to much for this day. I get a little stressed just reading over everything. But we are going to have so much fun and make so many happy memories.

 

[pixiedustmomma]

I've started to get anxiety with the trip being so close. Tomorrow it will be two week till we leave! I am stressing out over it being so close. I am still totally excited about going but it is stressful thinking about everything I still need to do.

DD1 and I went shopping for travel size products today. So at least I don't have to worry about that anymore. We still need to go to costco and clothes shopping for me. I'm always last. I'm hoping that tomorrow we can get some of that done before we head to Columbus for a baby shower.

While browsing the Disney Family Board I found that the girls can have their picture taken with Santa while we are there. So Excited!!!

I need to make a packing list so I don't forget anything. I've already had the dream that I forgot everything.

 

[pixiedustmomma]

The plan for today is kinda crazy. We start off with breakfast at Hollywood and Vine at 8:15am. Now I Know this is in Hollywood Studios but after breakfast we will be heading over to Epcot to spend the rest of the morning there. I know that maybe a lot but I didn't find a place we wanted to eat at Epcot.

Of course we will take a little break at the resort for the girls to rest. We will then go to Magic Kingdom. We have a reservation at Whispering Canyon Café at 5pm. Then back to Magic Kingdom for the rest of the night.

 

[pixiedustmomma]

Our last day at WDW

We will be heading to Chef Mickey's for breakfast at 8:25. I really don't have a memory of ever eating at Chef Mickey's. I'm sure if I ask my dad he will tell me we did, I just don't remember it. So I am really excited!! After breakfast we will head over to the Magic Kingdom. We will probably spend time doing all our favorite rides.

After a break at the resort we are going to Hollywood Studios for the night. We have reservations at 50’s Prime Time Café at 5:50. We are all excited to see The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. It will be a nice way to spend out last night.

 

[pixiedustmomma]

11 days till we leave and we are sick! DD4 started with a runny nose Saturday and now DD1 has a runny nose and I have a head cold and a cough. DD4 also has a cough but it is mostly when she gets up in the morning. I called the doctor yesterday because she was sick last month and the cough did fully go away and they told me it is going around and doesn't react to antibiotics. It is something we have to ride out. As long as she doesn't have a fever of 104 we are fine.

With all that going on we are resting today. I am mostly resting while the kids play. I wish I felt like playing when I am sick. That is the one good thing about kids, they still have energy when they are sick. I just pray we are over this by next week. I'm not sure how it will work if we are all sick. But I have plans to go see the doctor Monday if we aren't feeling better.

With this down time we have I have put together my packing list. I have most of the clothes for the trip packed except jeans, pjs, socks, undies. So I have a list for what still needs to go in the suit cases, toiletry bag and everything that needs to go in the car. I figured if I have a list the possibility of me forgetting something is slim. But if I do I know where all the stores are so I won't have to pay Disney prices. That is the good thing about living behind the Magic Kingdom for two years. I know where Target, Publix, Walmart and Sams Club are.

I went to Costco yesterday to pick up some snacks for the trip but I forgot the bottled water. So I have to go back some time this week or next. I picked up the applesauce in the to go pouches. They cost a little more then applesauce in the cups but they are so much better for traveling. I am also making breakfast cookies and granola bars for the trip. I figured they will be great for the drive and great for snacks to have on hand at the park.

I also have our stroller rental set up with Orlando Stroller rentals. I still need to pre-order my photopass cd. I can't believe we only have 11 more days till we leave!

 

[pixiedustmomma]

DD4, DD1 and myself all have sinus infections. We are all on antibiotics. My last day of antibiotics will be Saturday, but the girls last for 10 days. The doctor warned me that DD4 could get the runs. I am praying that doesn't happen but I am bring a lot of pull-ups. Hopefully we all feel great when we get to WDW!

I already checked-in online and pre-ordered our photopass cd. We are so excited! DD4 asks me everyday if today is the day we are going to Disney.

Almost all packed and I believe I have everything I need for our trip. Still need to get a couple loads of laundry done. Tomorrow we are celebrating Thankgiving. DH has to work that day and won't be home till around 6:30, so we decided that tomorrow would be a better day for us to celebrate as a family.

Also this will be the first year we are doing an Elf at home. I didn't get the Elf on the Shelf because he freaks me out. But I got Pop-In-Kins Elf today and I think we will have him make is grand appearance while we are at WDW!