Will I be Herding Cats Again?* **** COMPLETED *****

[mom2mek]

Hey ladies,

Do any of you have any MNSSHP t-shirts? I am hoping to have them for me and my Mom since we aren't dressing up. Does anyone remember the graphic thread? Thanks a bunch!

If you look under the "Just For Fun" Forum, there is a category called "Creative DISigns" and there are lots in there. If you don't see something, you can request it in a new thread and someone will usually come along and help you out. There are some amazing DISigners out there!

We are all so much alike. I have so many lists I have lists of where I am keeping my lists.

Everything seems to be coming together! Yummy cake!

Yes I have those lists as well! We all need a 12 step program!

Sara

 

[mom2mek]

I'm going to go ahead and post my itinerary along with a few surprises I have planned.

October 8 - flight leaves at 6:50 PM (so after school, the kids will find out via a "very well-thought out and strategically planned surprise" that will leave everyone who sees it in awe of my amazing surprising abilities!!!

Note: this surprise is not figured out yet! I need to get on that, huh?)

We will need to leave the house by 4:30 to get to the airport by 5:15 (20 minutes away but we will be leaving at rush hour - ugh). Flight arrives MCO at 8:45, pick up 2 rental cars (minivan and bike Just kidding - but it's an economy size and it's basically for having something extra due to luggage. Once we are there we will all fit into the van to go to and from the parks) SURPRISE #1 - THE TRIP!

October 9 - EPCOT baby! Planning for rope drop. Have a lunch ADR at the Coral Reef for SURPRISE #2 - THE PERSONALIZED MENUS AND DIVER

I arranged this for Shawn (DH) to celebrate our anniversary which is at the end of the month. But when I lined it up, she asked me about the note about Katie's birthday, so I told her if they could add a "Happy Birthday Katie" to the diver banner, that would be great - so we'll see. Planning on leaving for a break sometime after lunch to let the kids swim and also to be there for our Garden Grocer order delivery! THen back to Epcot for some Food & Wine Festival and Illuminations!

October 10 - PARTY DAY! But first the guys (Shawn and step-dad) are going to go over to Epcot for the Segway tour (not technically a surprise as they know about it ) The kids, myself, and the grandmothers will be sleeping in (ha!), swimming, and then SURPRISE #3 - MICKEY'S NOT SO SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY! The kids will be so excited. We have a lunch ADR at Kona at 2:15 and then onto the party at 4:00!

October 11 - KATIE'S BIRTHDAY! After our late night at the party, we will be taking our time this morning and just getting over to the MK whenever. (Gasp - did I just say that? ) I'm keeping it in the back of my mind, the possibility of going over to one of the MK resorts around 11 or so and renting a couple sea raycers to drive around for an hour before going to the MK - I'm just gonna play that one by ear!

Then on to the MK for SURPRISE #4 - THE BIBBIDI BOBBIDI BOUTIQUE! Katie and Emily will be doing this (with Cinderella dresses) and Michael will head over to Ft. Wilderness for SURPRISE #5 - ARCHERY AT FT WILDERNESS with Shawn and Pop Pop! Then we will all meet back up at the Grand Floridian for Katie's birthday dinner and SURPRISE #6 - THE MINNIE MOUSE CAKE! Then back to the MK for Spectro and (maybe) Wishes.

More in a minute...must do some work now...

Sara

 

[AZMickeyfans]

When I get done with stuff this morning I think we have some of the same schedules! I'll have to compare. I need to get the kids ready for school and go to early morning conferences first but I'll check.

 

[mkluvsmickey]

I'm so excited about your plans! You have so many surprises - this is bound to be a great trip! Can't wait to hear how the archery goes - sounds fun!

A week from tomorrow you will be on your way!

(I still think you should just stay an extra day or two.... )

 

[Poohtigeey]

Sara, this is going to be such a wonderful trip for you guys. I'm so excited for you!

 

[mom2mek]

When I get done with stuff this morning I think we have some of the same schedules! I'll have to compare. I need to get the kids ready for school and go to early morning conferences first but I'll check.

Back yet?
That would be cool - maybe a quick DIS meet?

I'm so excited about your plans! You have so many surprises - this is bound to be a great trip! Can't wait to hear how the archery goes - sounds fun!

A week from tomorrow you will be on your way!

(I still think you should just stay an extra day or two.... )

Thanks Michelle! I hope the archery is fun for Michael and I hope that Shawn doesn't end up with an arrow in his rear-end from Michael!

One more week! But I have so much to do!

Sara, this is going to be such a wonderful trip for you guys. I'm so excited for you!

Thanks Monica! I hope so! 2 months till girls trip! That will be a trip of a different color, now won't it?

Sara

 

[Poohtigeey]

Thanks Monica! I hope so! 2 months till girls trip! That will be a trip of a different color, now won't it?
Sara

Yes Sara. I believe it will be GREY!!!!

 

[mkluvsmickey]

Yes Sara. I believe it will be GREY!!!!

 

[kaysmommie]

Your plans look great. Katie is going to have the best ever birthday! i can't wait to hear all about how you are going to pull off the surprise. We have Coral Reef Dinner on the 8th, so missed you by 1 day. Well hopefully we still meet at MK.

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

I stumbled on your report in another post and was soooo excited!!! I love your report from last Thanksgiving. It helped so much in my planning.

We are still going this Thanksgiving but last month decided to switch resorts to the Wilderness Lodge. I had forgot about the archery experience at FW until I read your trip report so I may have to plan that for DS.

I hope you have a great time and look forward to hearing about the party. I would love to do that party in the future.

Erika

 

[mom2mek]

Yes Sara. I believe it will be GREY!!!!

Yes, but if too much "grey" happens, our trip might be more of a green color...

(Good thing gglcs are not in the same park as the Primeval Whirl...I'm just sayin...)

Your plans look great. Katie is going to have the best ever birthday! i can't wait to hear all about how you are going to pull off the surprise. We have Coral Reef Dinner on the 8th, so missed you by 1 day. Well hopefully we still meet at MK.

Leave some Chocolate Wave for me please!!! I'll be posting the rest of the schedule in a few...

I stumbled on your report in another post and was soooo excited!!! I love your report from last Thanksgiving. It helped so much in my planning.

We are still going this Thanksgiving but last month decided to switch resorts to the Wilderness Lodge. I had forgot about the archery experience at FW until I read your trip report so I may have to plan that for DS.

I hope you have a great time and look forward to hearing about the party. I would love to do that party in the future.

Erika

Hey Erika! So nice to see you again! WOW - you switched FROM the Contemporary? Well, the WL will be sooo nice too! (I don't think you can go wrong with any of the MK resorts), plus that resort just seems so pretty at Christmas time (well, Thanksgiving, but you know what I mean...)...It's so woodsy and cozy feeling! I am excited about the archery thing for Michael - he has become very interested with a bow and arrow lately, so I think he will be pleasantly surprised with it! I'll be sure to let you know how it goes...Good to see you again!

Sara

 

[MiaBella05]

subscribing

 

[mom2mek]

subscribing

Thanks for reading!

Sara

 

[mom2mek]

Ok, on with the itinerary! (I was realizing as I was thinking about these last two days that there won't really be any surprises, per se, after Katie's bday!

Oh well...guess they'll just have to deal with just "being" at Disney!


October 12 - DHS Day! Must be there for rope drop!

Planning this park as far as the shows go, is giving me major heartburn! It's just that this park, all of a sudden, has gone from a park that didn't really require rope drop due to the "major" attractions not being ones my kids would (or could) go on!

Well...Mr. Michael is right on the line for 48" and really wants to ride RNRC (or so he says whenever we happen to talk about Disney...). Add to that the mania that is TOY STORY MANIA along with Star Wars, Indy, PHD, etc, etc...

Anyway, it'll get figured out I guess. We have a dinner ADR at the Sci-Fi on this night. We ate here last time and loved it, so it's on the agenda again this year! Then the early Fantasmic before heading home for the night.

October 13 - Back to the MAGIC KINGDOM! Even though this will technically be our 3rd time at the MK this trip, it will be our first early morning day! We have an early morning, before park-opening, breakfast at the Crystal Palace! My mom loves it here and I'm going to love getting those empty Main St pictures!

There is a party this night at the MK, so we will have to leave early. We have an ADR at O'hana that I'd really like to keep but it's at 5:30 and the park is open until 7:00, so we will just play that by ear...if we are cruising along and having a great time and don't want to leave then we will just grab a hotdog for dinner and keep going. If we are tired (we will be there from 8AM) and are looking forward to a nice, sit-down meal to end our trip, then we will hop to the monorail and enjoy some nice meat-on-a-stick! Michael will really like this place - that kid is all about the meat and bread when it comes to eating!

We could go back to the house after dinner and let the kids swim while we pack, or we could hop over for some shopping at DTD. Don't know yet. Or we could just go out to the Poly beach and lounge around. It would be cool to do a fireworks cruise this night but the MNSSHP fireworks aren't till 9:30 and I just don't think we will still be out by then.

Our flight leaves at 8:45 on Tuesday morning, so we will have to leave the house by 6:30 or so to get back and return the rental cars and get settled. Home by 10:50 AM and turn back into pumpkins.

So that's it as far as itinerary...

Sara

 

[AZMickeyfans]

Ok I was off by a day on almost everything. I'm getting tired and I'm already losing track of my vacation days.

 

[mkluvsmickey]

Your last two days plans sound great too Sara! I'll wait to hear how your DHS day turns out so I can plan mine!

I think you guys will be ready for a nice meal at 'Ohana after being at MK all day - I'ver heard such great things about that place - what a nice way to end the trip!

ONE WEEK!!!!!!

 

[julezdisney]

Great itinerary! I switched my 12th ADR's too- we've got lunch now at 50's @ 12:15 and dinner at Sci-Fi AFTER F! @ 8:45. What time is yours?

 

[MEK]

The cast of this grand adventure:

Me – Sara (33 for a couple more weeks – gasp!) – Wife to Shawn, Mother to Michael, Emily, and Katie (hence my mom2mek name) and lover of all things Disney, as well as all things about planning for Disney!

Gosh - and I thought you were MY mom!

 

[Poohtigeey]

Sounds awesome Sara!! It just occured to me that we never decided on wording for the archery design. If you want me to add it today let me know. I absolutely can do that. I laid out my stuff last night so I just need to put it in the suitcase. I'll have time to work on it if you want. Let me know. I'll be around today. Or you could CALL me!LOL!! (That always cracks me up)

I'm positive you are going to have an awesome trip and I can't wait to hear all about it. I'm secretly jealous, but I'll deal! Eat a Dole Whip for me.

 

[mom2mek]

Your last two days plans sound great too Sara! I'll wait to hear how your DHS day turns out so I can plan mine!

I think you guys will be ready for a nice meal at 'Ohana after being at MK all day - I'ver heard such great things about that place - what a nice way to end the trip!

ONE WEEK!!!!!!

Thanks Michelle! Yeah, I'll let you know how it turns out. We'll probably end up doing like 2 things once we get there before my "plans" fall through and we just wing it! That's how it usually goes anyway. A plan is only a point from which to deviate, right? At least all the research usually pays off once I get OFF the intended plan and I can sometimes improvise! I think we'll probably end up keeping O'hana's too - I've just heard so many good things and the menu is just right up my kids alley (and Shawn's, for that matter). A bunch of meat on a stick, a big open fire pit, it sounds like a man's kind of place, doesn't it?

1 week! I'm in shock!

Great itinerary! I switched my 12th ADR's too- we've got lunch now at 50's @ 12:15 and dinner at Sci-Fi AFTER F! @ 8:45. What time is yours?

Sounds good! That plan sounds much better! We are eating early for dinner at the Sci-Fi at 4:45. I'll be enjoying a Space Invaders Margarita! They are really good and HUGE!!!! Plus it lights up! So fun!

Gosh - and I thought you were MY mom!

Are you my illegitimate DIS child?

Sounds awesome Sara!! It just occured to me that we never decided on wording for the archery design. If you want me to add it today let me know. I absolutely can do that. I laid out my stuff last night so I just need to put it in the suitcase. I'll have time to work on it if you want. Let me know. I'll be around today. Or you could CALL me!LOL!! (That always cracks me up)

I'm positive you are going to have an awesome trip and I can't wait to hear all about it. I'm secretly jealous, but I'll deal! Eat a Dole Whip for me.

Thanks Monica! I will be thinking of you - is there anything you want me to pick up for you and/or send to the kids...I could always drop them a postcard with their favorite character if you'd like...Let me know.

As far as the archery design, how about something like
Michael, come join Daddy and Pop Pop for an afternoon down on the range....or something like that. Then with the Date, Time and Place.
October 11, 2008 @ 2:45 @ Ft WIlderness

I'm really bad at being creative, so any ideas you have would be fine with me. I'd like to try and do it like an invitation since the girls will be getting invitations for the BBB and the Cinderella dinner (haven't done those yet either).

I understand how you feel...believe me...and I will be in your shoes when you guys go (unless I secretly stow myself away in your room)... cause I'm sure it will be a while before Shawn will agree to another "family" trip.



Sara