Yo Ho Yo Ho off to Disney these pirates go -ssshhhh it's a secret

[piratemamaof3]

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Well my turn for a PTR. At the very least it will be a good place for me to keep organized and type out my thoughts. I am driving my DH and my parents crazy w/ this trip and we aren't going until May.

Let me start w/ the some history.

I went to Disney once as a child (around 12) w/ my family and extended family of cousins, Aunts, Uncles and stayed at FW when they had trailers. Had a ball.

DH and I went BC (before children) once. Back during the birthday celebration so DH has yet to see the castle not look like a Birthday cake.

Then in 02 The older 2 boys (then only 2 and 4), me and my parents had one day in the Magic Kingdom.

We were putting off going until the boys got a little older so they would really remember it. In talking to someone we origionally were going to go to Orange Lake and listen to the speal for lodging and a place w/ a kitchen. In doing research we decided to go on our own and stay back on property.

We will be traveling May 3-10 w/ my parents, DH and the 3 boys. will be 9 (barely), 7 (turning 8 the next month after the trip) and 4 (will be 5 a few days after we get back). Staying at pop. Thankfully DH really loves my parents and we all get along great. Plus I was starting to fret about one kid alway riding alone so this works that out for me now.

Nosey 9 yr old over heard us on the phone w/ orange lake and started asking if we are going to Disney. They know we are going but that's about it. I informed them that unlike when we go to our local Amusement park for the day Disney takes a lot more time to plan. We just tell them that we are going but don't know when yet it depends on a lot of stuff like their daddy's job when he can get off work and a lot of other things. That's all they know. Every so often I try to ask general info of them to help w/ my ideas.

What will we celebrate? Family. This may as well be considered the boys first trip. My parents have not been to Epcot since we went in the 80's and never to DHS or AK. The AK will be new to DH and me also.

phew, that's a lot of info to start and I will be posting more, prob. today to get caught up.

Welcome to the Pirate's journey. (BTW in some ways my mom will be the only "pirate" on the trip b/c I fancy myself a pirate any way)

 

[piratemamaof3]

Well back again. Said it wouldn't be long.

First the surprise part. Here is our current plan. My parents live about 1 1/2 hrs away from us and we are going down there Sat. to spend the night, we are flying out of an airport near them. We are thinking about telling the boys that my parents are going on a trip so we have to take them to the airport (we have done that before) and can always explain the extra luggage that they need to borrow it for their trip.) In other words still working on the details of our "little white lie".

Our flight takes off at 6:50 am, back track 1 hr for check in and 30 min travel time. (thankfully no traffic at that hour) so we are out of the house aroud 5 am. Grab the boys and throw them in the car half asleep. In other words let them sleep in sweats or "basketball" type pants. Wouldn't be the first time. Get to the airport and from that point not sure. LOL Last night DH told me to leave that part up to him.

I am putting tog. a bag of tricks for the airplane for them. the MP3 players, Disney t-shirt, and Mickey airline tickets (thanks DISers), personalized maps...

We are staying at Pop. Looked like a lot of fun for the boys.

More later on our plans, ADR and more headaches and over analizing.

 

[jenjolt]

I'm subbing!! Can't wait to hear about all your details and see how the surprise goes for the boys!!

Your trip sounds like a lot of fun!!!

 

[piratemamaof3]

welcome to our journey Jenjolt.

Today was the day I could call to mke my ADR's. Woo hoo. After asking my Dh's opinion of dining options who informed that "it isn't that I didn't care but I just didn't care" In other words you do what you want, make the plans. Just remember we are tying to go to have fun and not run according to a strict schedule like the boys would in school. Mom (who is a planner also) tells me that "its your vacation and they will do what ever we want" and we don't have to eat at the same place as each other. Well maybe not for our counter but might be easier for our Table service. Aaarrrggghhh. I just wanted some one's opinion. So I made my mind up about some and you can give me your opinion. Every one here has one. Any ideas would be greatly helpful.

So I called today and this is what I have so far. I am still trying to fill in the gaps. We have enough days to revisit 3 parks. At this point we might see what we liked to eat on the first visit and then try to get an ADR while we are there. Yes we are crazy.

Sun May 3rd arrive and eat lunch at Pop food court while we check in. Go to Epcot. ADR for 5:20 dinner at Coral Reef. We have to split into 2 tables.

Mon the 4th 7:20 breakfast w/ Chef Mickey then off to Magic Kingdom

Tue 5th off to Animal Kingdom. Was thinking dinner at Planet Hollywood but they can't put all 7 of us tog. I have to decide if I want to split again or try for a walk up. Would that even be a possibility?

Wed 6th DHS and 11:30 lunch at Sci-Fi split tables again.

Thur 7th. back to Epcot and 11:30 lunch at Le Cellier. Hurray we all get to sit tog. on this one.

Fri 8th. Back to MK? Was thinking a late meal at The Plaze (make to help us get a spot for the Dreams parade) Really have no idea.

Sat 9th back to DHS? Have no idea where to eat our meal here.

Plans are really soft right now on the meals but I will be darn shure I get all my TS credits in. LOL So any suggestions you might have for meals would help.

 

[jenjolt]

I hear the Plaza is wonderful...great reviews! I would love to end up eating there sometime in the future!!

As far as DHS...that's a hard call...but for atmosphere maybe 50's PTC!! I ate there and it was delish and I really enjoyed my waiter you guys would have fun there!

 

[piratemamaof3]

Thanks for the suggestions. i have mixed feelings about about trying the 50s's PTC looking at the menu.

Well called Dining today and added a little more.

Tues we are eating a late dinner at Planet Hollywood at 7:15. that's really late w/ little ones. But we plan to go to DTD and shop so it might be enought to keep them busy looking around. This still might change.

Plaza couldn't get us in for lunch at The Plaza on Friday. I have time to keep calling back to try. Maybe I will call tomorrow and try for early dinner.

Decided on Mama Melrose for Lunch at DHS on Saturday, our last day there.

All subject to change once more specific info is given to us about hours, wishes... Why o why can't Disney give us some hours/days for this stuff?? Don't they know there are some planners out here that wait for this stuff???

 

[DWFan4Life]

Wow, this must be a great and fun trip. Looking forward to read more from you after the trip.

Have a nice and safe trip for all of you.

 

[englishrose47]

Coming over to follow your plans !! Sound good so far!!

 

[piratemamaof3]

welcome abord the SS Crazy Feel free to call me Annie Bonnie (one of the few girl pirates) Any way.....


Start early, never finish....

I am one of those people where I get really excited about something and get a great start then interest fades and I find myself finishing last minute. For example last June I started trying to decide what I wanted my Christmas cards to look like and was going to start making them early so I wouldn't be doing them last minute last year. Wrong! things got in my way and next thing it's Nov. and no cards. So guess what?? I didn't send any out. I found a cute quick card to make and handed them out to family when they got my gift. So now to Disney. I am planning early and every thing and so far so good but it's still 3 mo away. I want to use my Circut (any one want to buy one? I got a new one I can't get rid of) to make cut outs of Mickey and friends to put in a sketch journal for the boys for autograph books. I need to make 3 of every thing but guess what?? I started a while ago and have a lot of samples and only thing I have 3 of is the name Pluto. I decided to set it out on my unused dining room table so I can, hopefully, make one here one there. I really need to get motived to get going on this. now!

Packing I am a little better about. (more on that later.) Maybe b/c it has to be a last minute thing. I can start a list and add to it when ever I think of things and don't have to pack until right before. Usually when we go on a trip I have the boys help pack so they can pick out the stuff they want to wear (and they are old enough to do it) but this time I have to do it my self so they don't notice that I packed a lot more than just enough for 2 days. Plus all the special shirts I am hoping to make them.

It's all just so much to keep track of, plus the secret... hope I make it and don't drive every one crazy.

 

[piratemamaof3]

well trying again has paid off. I called yesterday and got the Plaza at 2:00 just like I wanted w/o a problem. Woo hoo!

The prob. w/ planning so far ahead is that every thing changes. The UG info chaged some of the parks to visit/avoid (I had already factored in Fantasmic on my own). Plus I am sure that it will change again and again and again. How am I supposed to plan w/ all these changes? To be prepared yet flexable when you have to have a ADR or you may not get to use your TScredits.

I also got creative w/ my autograph book and got some more cuts made. Still the simple ones but that way I can get more done at a time. I will post some picst soon.

I am trying little ways to save money for the trip. those painless ways. I don't usually have cash around but am trying to get a little out from time to time and then put the pocket change in the change jar and take some of those ones and put them in a seperate place so I don't see them. I really need to have a yard sale and sadly have next to no luck selling on craigslist any of my stuff.

 

[3princesses+aprince]

You're trip report caught my eye, because your title starts off just like mine YoHo YoHo......
We're going in May also, from May 12-19! We're staying at All Star Movies, too bad our dates didn't overlap!

 

[piratemamaof3]

yeah I noticed that after I did mine. It really more for me b/c I fancy myself a pirate. My DS's are more like Jedi's or Army men but that's just not as cool to me. :rotfl
It would have been fun if we over lapped. I will try to be sure to leave the park in good condition after I let loose my whirlwinds loose int he world.

 

[jenjolt]

Hello...what great updates!!! I'm so like that...get all gung-ho plan mostly everything and then I'm like wait I still have 3 months and I have a procrastination problem LOL!! I so can relate to the Christmas Cards...but I actually did it this year YAY!! 50 cards made and mailed out...may never happen again LOL

I would love a Cricut..buy my hubby would kill me!! I'm a huge scrapbooker...I've been thinking of designing my own journal for this trip! I'm seriously considering making it..I'd better get on it now!!

Well can't wait to hear more! So glad you go the Plaza and Mama's is so good you'll really like it!

 

[piratemamaof3]

The problem w/ my circut is that it's the first generation aka "baby bug" or "personal electronic cutter" and every one wants the newer bigger one. I understand that so now I can't return it to Michaels b/c they don't sell those and I can't return it to walmart w/o receipt b/c of the cost. I would be happy w/ a store gift card I need to buy printer ink, and iron on transfers so they would keep the money in the store. sigh.... maybe I can get it sold at a yard sale I want it gone!!!! (if you change your mind I'll sell it to ya really cheep )

Congrats on the cards. I found a great web sight last yr right around Christmas and really got into better organization and notebooks. You guys should see the size of my Disney notebook. but every thing is in one place at least. Well on this sight we are to designate the 25th of each month at Rudolph day and do something to prepare for Christmas. Last year I bought a box of all inclusive Christmas cards (they are blank but have the the cut out and sticker you just put it tog.) so that is one of my chores each Rudy day. This year they are getting done and sent out.

Thought I would post a few picts of the fellow travelers.
DH he owes me this trip b/c last spring he sent me to St. Louis for the wknd to visit friends and as soon as I was on the plane he was in the mororcycle shop buying a bike. He decided about 6 mo. later it wasn't big enough so now he want to get it a new paint job and give it to me (pearl white w/ an inset immage of a pirate flag, sadly I have found a design I do like) and get himself a new on. I have to admit though the more he talks about it the more I like it even though I have only ridden on his bike a few times.

This is my dad and oldest he is 9 almost 10. They are making sasauge balls for Christmas, it's become a tradition for them to make them a lot.

These are my younger 2. They are just alike and it should be something w/ these tornados running around. They will be 7 and 4 (he will have a birthday right after we get back). Well they are alike but the 7 yr old wants to ride everything thing. At our local amustment park he isn't tall enough to ride the stuff his older brother does and it drives him crazy. He will be thrilled to ride all the big stuff at the World. Now when I ask the 4 yr old about riding any thing he says "no thanks". He will be fine on the basic stuff and will need some encouragain on the older stuff. Maybe he will do better if one of my parents take him

this is mom.(and part of one of her sisters) She is where I get my planning form and dad is where I get my procrastintion from. Thankfully DH and the kids really get along well w/ her. She is wonderful, rides the rides and as a teach has patience w/ the kids (at least some what. ) she likes being able to teach DS9, the one more interested in learning.

 

[piratemamaof3]

While I was posting pictures I thought I would put some picts of the autograph book progress. In some pictures there are 2 cut outs on the same page. That is just so I didn't have to take so many pictures. and none of these are attached yet. I don't know every one we will see there and only have cutouts for Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Pluto,Chip and Dale. I found a DISigner that does autograph page and found ones w/ Mickey in the Epcot country costumes. I am going to print those and use this same book for the Epcot passport b/c it has plenty of pages.

 

[piratemamaof3]

Well... haven't added more b/c not much to add for a while.

On a OT note I figured out a way to get my umbrella style clothes rack to go up in the back yard. I didn't have the holder set in concrete yet but my dryer is on the fritz and with it so nice out side I wanted to hang my clothes out side.

On to Disney. Other then DH telling me to chill out about over planning I have tried to do that. Before this trip and the DIS I used to go to another message board but had really cut back on my time there but now I am back on line. I really need to do something non disney productive. LOL

I got to looking at my scheduled day and decided to make a change. I didn't have us going to the MK on our last day and I really wanted that to be the plan. So I called at 7am this morning to see if I could make ADR. Basically wanted to switch. I had MK on Fri and DHS on Sat. And I was able to get both w/o any trouble at the times I wanted. yeah! So our first and last full days will be at the castle.

I am trying to buy stuff I need a little at a time. It makes it less painful. High on my need list is some really comfy walking shoes.
I have gotten my lanyard and a set of the retractable badge clips for pants and badge pockets. I am going to get Tylen of the wonderful DISigners to make a set of id badges for the boys for them to clip on their pants w/ contact info. I know they will not want to wear the lanyards the whole time. and some other little odds and ends.

Some big things I need are printer ink, iron on transfers, shirts, lanyards and the pins to go on the lanyards. I need to get more made for the autograph books and buy some retractable sharpies.

I need some nice weather next month for a yard sale to get rid of a lot of stuff and get some cash for the trip. Sadly I never have any luck on craigslist.

 

[jenjolt]

I totally agree with the buying a little bit at a time philosophy!! I do that with Disney Gift cards and by the time the trip is here I have enough gift cards and plenty to pay off my entire trip!!! It's great and the best part is come the month I actually go I don't have a huge cc bill to pay and my hubby is saved from a coronary LOL!! YAY

 

[3princesses+aprince]

I just realized your 3 boys are the same ages as my 3 girls. They are adorable.

I love the pages in the autograph books.. Awesome!

 

[piratemamaof3]

Well finally posted my ADR's here and got some great ideas and suggestions. Finally got DH to give me an openion and we looked over some more menu's. So here is our newest eating plan.

Sun -Epcot- Coral Reef Dinner (stayed the same)
Mon - Magic Kingdom-breakfast w/ Mickey (stayed the same)
Tues - Animal Kingdom- Tusker house, late breakfast w/ Donald
Wed- DHS -lunch Sci Fi
Thur-Epcot -Lunch at Le Cellier
Fri - DHS all counter Service
Sat- MK- Lunch at The Plaza (2:00)
Dinner at Crystal Palace (6:45)

I am happier w/ this one. Gives us a little more balance I think. 2 breakfast, 3 lunch, 2 dinners. 3 buffets. Thought about changing one more to dinner but the only one w/ a different menu was Le Cellier and I like some of the sandwich options for lunch for us.

Now, wonder how long tha will stay this way? As long as the "parks to visit" don't change too much we should be good.

I have done more work on the autograph books. Maybe I will post somemore. Some how the kids don't seem to wonder why I am making 3 of every thing and only Disney stuff. Guess it's a good thing that I tend to do stuff like this any way. Maybe I need to consider taking a quick break to work on my Easter Cards.

Still need to get to those shirts but I have time. I am waiting till the end of the month till we get the "comission" check and have a little extra cash to do that.

 

[piratemamaof3]

Got some Mickey Mail yesterday our personalized maps came in. They are bigger than I thought but really neat. Into the notebook they go and try to keep them hidden from the boys. I am going to order a second set from my parents this wknd I think and hop they get here before we go. I should be ok. If not it will be a good post trip souvinear I guess.

I am trying to think of what to put into the boys back packs for the flight. I guess we will check them at the hotel when we get there and check in so we don't have to lug them around the park. I have a small mickey mouse, incredibles small coloring book (need crayons), one set of maps, their shirt for day 1, MP3 player (maybe. I need to upload some disney songs) snacks. The flight is about 2 hrs long and since it's the first flight the oldest 2 will remember and first for the youngest they will be excited but I still need some distractions.