Worrier plans DS's 5th Bday Celebration, DD/DH's first visit, & our 9th ann! Whew!

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Thanks guys.

At first, I think he will be all rolly eyed - whatever. But I think THINK... I'm going to end up with us at the BW. Just us down there for two days - some good ADRs - time of not wiping someone's behind, or begging someone to eat... Just enjoying ourselves and being responsible for oly ourselves. I think he will so fall in love.

I think he'll fall in love for different reasons this trip. Last year, we were for lack of another way to say it "bored" with our beach trip. I think this will be the cure.

I was actually trying to figure out a way to get down there next weekend. I was scheming like you wouldn't believe. "If I drop our CKU ressie - there is $70 found money... okay, so the values are x, tickets are x.... BF gets free standby airline passes...." Let me tell you....My thoughts are so not pure at this point! Does the family REALLY have to know we're in Orlando rather than KY?

SIGH... but I think I'll be waiting until May... UNLESS Disney wants to twist my arm a little. I'm tempted to see just how much arm twisting they can do on a last minute trip.

If I weren't a SAHM, I promise you - I'd be there. If it were MY MONEY - I'd go. Originally - Carlos' big beef was the $. BUT... If I can do that for the same money as our CKU trip - No harm, no foul? RIGHT? RIGHT? right....!

 

[TxRabbit]

You are SO cracking me up!

I'm doing the EXACT same thing. Except that mine is for our Sept trip. We were there, going to do it, then the airfare went from $228 to $308! I was so bummed that I didn't just book the tickets. DH was making fun of me because I keep looking at the fare. He says, what, you gonna wait til it goes up some more? I'm the one that has to reign in the spending. The fare did go back down to $273. So, I'm like this wondering if it really worth the cost for an extended weekend... Regardless, I'm calculating and scheming, trying to get back to Disney again! What is with that? Sometimes I think it's like a sickness.

Must.

Get.

Back.

To.

DISNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYY!!!

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Well, folks, the math isn't looking so good...

The fees for our classes, we can't get back

Her free airline tickets turned out to be 0.02/per mile tickets - averaging about $45-69/pp each way. Not to mention, there is no direct flight from our airport - so we're talking a 2 hour flight turns into at LEAST 4 hours.

Not looking good at this point.


pass the puffs please.

 

[Happydog]

Well, folks, the math isn't looking so good...

The fees for our classes, we can't get back

Her free airline tickets turned out to be 0.02/per mile tickets - averaging about $45-69/pp each way. Not to mention, there is no direct flight from our airport - so we're talking a 2 hour flight turns into at LEAST 4 hours.

Not looking good at this point.


pass the puffs please.

Oh now, TWO trips out of THREE trips sound like pretty good odds to me...

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Oh, you are absolutely right.

I know that I'm a Disney nut, but the draw would be to take her and just do fun things with her. They go to WDW a couple times a year, but stay off property, don't plan, etc. So I was just excited about giving her a fun adult time - doing stuff she wanted to do... making it Magical for her - KWIM? They've never done a TS dinner, etc. etc.

We're going away together anyway, so I'm sure it will be fun. I'm just having a REALLy tough time finding something fun to do there. Oh well. She mentioned a movie, but hat seems so ... typical. It will be okay though.

I just thought if we could do it for the same money it would be a good idea - but it isn't exactly coming out to be apples to apples in cost. More like apples to apples, oranges, grapes, bananas...

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

This morning I packed away some things from DD's party this weekend to use to decorate the hotel room for DS's bday. I'm planning on doing it while he is asleep so he can wake up and see it all first thing.

I've got a couple things to hang up - and I'm going to get some streamers as well - just to make it seem a bit more festive.

This weekend I picked him up a SPUD trooper Mr. Potato head. His dad has Darth Tater in his office, and he's always liked him. I've got a red Power Ranger for him too - so those are two small goodies - and the idea of building his own lightsaber will just floor him. So I think that will make everything just super fun for that day!

I've also got him a small plush Stitch and a Stitch with a slice of cake pin for his lanyard. Oh - and I preordered BOLT, so I got that pin too - just small things for the room, but I'll wrap them quickly once there and he'll have a small party in the room.

My best friend also made him a Jedi Cape out of lightweight fabric so he can wear that if he wants. I think I will let him take that to HS with us.

As for the Cake - Cammie suggested that we just do the free desserts. They seemed really great for her DD, so I think we may do that - and I might buy a special somethign for the room from the bakery at GF since our dinner is the night before there.



Hope that everyone is having a good day - seems like most everyone is planning a trip of their own soon too!

 

[Debbie6221]

So here are the plans to date. We're using the DDP, but I feel like there will be some tweaking for sure...

Saturday 5/2 - arrive at MCO around 1pm
check in @ CSR
check out AKL
dinner @ Boma to meet my Bud
back to get a good night's sleep

Mon 5/3 - AK day
breakfast at Tusker - 8:30
CS Lunch - Pizzafari maybe?
break for afternoon nap
dinner at 1900 Park Fair - 5:00
maybe monorail to EPCOT, maybe back to room to swim?

Tue 5/4 - DS turns 5 - DHS (his request)
Ohana 7:50 breakfast (his request)
head to DHS
Here he wants to visit Char and do TSM, & Jedi Training
lunch at Pizza Planet (his request)
afternoon nap
8 pm dinner at CM
**** Yesterday, he saw T-Rex and is saying he DOESN'T want to eat at CM

Tues 5/5 - MK
CS Breakfast (probably at CSR)
CP lunch at 12
afternoon nap/pool
San Angels/EPCOT dinner at 5

Wed 5/6 - MK
CS Breakfast
CS lunch
afternoon nap
Dinner - Tutto Italia @ 5:30

Thur 5/7 - Epcot
8:30 Princess Breakfast - Norway
CS lunch
afternoon nap
5:30 Ohana

Fri 5/8 - MK (maybe celebrating our "anniv dinner @ MG")
8:30 Crystal Palace
Lunch CS
afternoon nap
5:45 Maya Grill @ CSR (figure that we can get packing done so we can do a park in the am)

Sat 5/9 - ??? MK or ???
8:45 Chef Mickey's

So the ones in red are the ones I am really sure we will need. The others -- I'm trying to figure things out. I'm just not a big fan on all the time that a sit down involves unless they are seeing characters. It is hard for them to sit. That said, I think we got some pretty good ADRs too, so it makes it hard!

YUMMY!!!!!!

 

[CRdisMom]

wow! that is a lot of stuff to surprise him with. I think y'all will have a great time. Last year about this time I had my suitcases out and half of the non-essential stuff packed in them. How about you? It is exciting to get going on the packing and laying out clothes part...

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

wow! that is a lot of stuff to surprise him with. I think y'all will have a great time. Last year about this time I had my suitcases out and half of the non-essential stuff packed in them. How about you? It is exciting to get going on the packing and laying out clothes part...

Nope, I can't get the suitcases going because the kids can get in them. I really have no where to put them that they wouldn't. However, I do have two big bins in our closet that I've been pitching things into. I mostly put together a very organized list - in excel - three columns. 1st column - which bag it will go in, 2nd column - who it is for, 3rd column - what it is. They get checked off as they are packed. I find I don't leave as much behind that way!

But the checklist is getting lengthy as we speak. Reminds me - I need to add the stroller visors on there too...

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

So today, I'm super excited to see our magical express docs in the mail.

I open it up - looking forward to the nice luggage tags we got last year - which are MIA.

Then I read the tickets....
me... check
dh.... check
dd.... check
ds..................nothing
and only 3 bag tags - I requested two each.

So I had to call them and ask to send a ME ticket for DS too, and more luggage tags.

I'm looking forward to planning out our daily things in each park next week. I'm getting a girls weekend this weekend - so it has been on the backburner but I'm looking forward to getting the planning in high gear next week!

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend - with lots of Magic!

PS - Disney Store had Bolt tattoos free today!

 

[Happydog]

Girls weekend? How fun!

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Has anyone ever gotten a bounceback offer in their room? It would be perfect to book our anniversary trip while we are there!

Now I just have to figure out where - I think I'm seriously leaning to the BW area.

 

[Happydog]

We had a bounceback offer at SSR when there this past Nov. But the dates were not a good match for us... Somewhere (I think on the codes/discounts thread, I have seen a "current bounce back offer" thread... that might give you the latest... the free dining isn't bad, and that is running through Oct 3... not sure if that is a better % than the bounceback...

 

[CRdisMom]

check out renting points. Kara mentioned that there is a great deal on them now

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Over the past week we were lucky enough to have the new Magical Express tickets arrive with everyone accounted for!

Then a second package arrived. This one has our vouchers, etc plus four luggage tags so I was a pretty happy girl. There was a voucher for a 30 minute session in the arcade, so that was a sweet little add on too!

Last night I decided I was going to put my ADRs on my calendar on my cell phone - so I'm liking that idea.

I've got to start working on our daily park plans because we leave SOON !

Yesterday was an experiment with our DD. We visited the inlaws and she had no nap. She wasn't a bear, but needed to be in the bed - lights off at 7 pm. Now the interesting experiment was we had a yard sale Saturday (which I made $300 for our Disney trip! ) we were all outside the majority of the day. We were all beat! So we decided we would ALL be taking a nap with Mia on our trip. .

So in my planning - I am thinking of making 3 attractions the goal and everything else is gravy.

The only day I am SERIOUSLY stressing about is DS b-day. We have a 7:50 at Ohana, which means we seriously won't make RD at DHS. He wants to do the Jedi Training, ride TSM, and meet the Power Rangers. I am wondering now if we will still get a doable FP for TSM.

I thought maybe if we get there - one of us head to the Jedi training area and the other run and get FPs for TSM. But then we both want to see the Jedi training. I dunno. See - that day needs work. Especially since we will probably be wanting to leave the park around 1 pm.

I have found an area that i THINK I can start doing a little packing without the kids getting into it. Pretty happy about that - let me tell you!

On my to-do list is to go make color copies of the maps in the Passporter book. I loved them on my last trip - so much more than the ones Disney provides. I love the little time guides for how long travel from this section to that should take!

I've been back and forth on two umbrella strollers or my Joovy Sit & Stand. I think the Sit and Stand is winning right now. I have a rather nice rain cover for it plus it won't tip over!

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

check out renting points. Kara mentioned that there is a great deal on them now

Yes! She and I talked about them. I think that she & Jeff are doign it later this year. I'll let her be the test rat! I just worry about that a bit - KWIM? There are great people out there who are honest, and then there is the opposite as well. I think I am seriously thinking about the BW area. With it just the two of us for two nights, I have A LOT of wiggle room!

We had a bounceback offer at SSR when there this past Nov. But the dates were not a good match for us... Somewhere (I think on the codes/discounts thread, I have seen a "current bounce back offer" thread... that might give you the latest... the free dining isn't bad, and that is running through Oct 3... not sure if that is a better % than the bounceback...

I didn't realize they were that specific! DRAT! I'll probably be way too picky for it to work out for the May 2010 trip! Since it is our 10th, I'd rather keep it close to the date as well - or else DH will FREAK OUT on me!

 

[CRdisMom]

the count down is on! almost to single digits. I'm excited for you.

 

[Happydog]

Oh MY! less than 2 weeks?!??!!

Are you ready?

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Thanks for all the well wishes. Things have been nutty here. I have been TRYING to pack, deal with playdates, school, sports, and a birthday party. I'm just about nuts.

I honestly haven't done that much packing. Just trying to deal with all the daily stuff - which has left me with much less computer time than I would like if you KWIM.

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

We are back! Just wanted to let you know that I started a TR, and promise to keep up with it more than the PTR!

The link is in my signature - hope to see you there!