You know it's time to start a PTR when......Update 1/12 Leaving in 10 hours!!!!!!!!!!

[Lady Lallie]

Pop's an extra 100$. So it's tempting but I think I've about talked myself out of it. We'd get into MCO at 11pm, by the time we got to Pop we'd be pooped! Then have to get up the next morning early, repack whatever we unpacked, get over to AKL, ck in .... cus there's no way I'd want to go to MK before getting AKL settled, I'm weird like that... hopefully get our room... we might get to MK by 1pm? As opposed to 4pm if we keep it the way it is now... with non-stop flights and plenty of sleep the night before...??


So yeah... I think I've ixnayed that idea!! But it was fun to think about and plan in my head while it lasted!!!

Sometimes it's just fun playing it all out in your head to see if it's a good option.

 

[gellybean]

Yes it is!! I keep playing with ideas... and talking myself out of it again!

 

[gellybean]

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! I hope everyone is having a wonderful day full of good food and great company!



I'm sitting at home watching football. Mr. I had to work and Dash is with his Dad. Jack-Jack is down for a nap. So I'm curled up with the newest addition to our little family- Bella our long haired chihuahua puppy. I'm smitten. I must admit. I decided our beagle/dachshund aka doxle puppy Jasper, needed a playmate. And I wanted a smaller dog this time, since Jasper got way bigger than I thought he would, really too big to be an indoor dog. Jasper is spending more and more time in the backyard, much to our fences dismay; he's shredding it! I really wanted a lap dog So far it's working out really well. Bella's a little too young to play with Jasper just yet, but they get along really well and she likes to hide under the sofa and come out and attack him when he's not looking and then dash back under. I'm having fun watching their antics. As are the boys. Jack-Jack has started calling her "Bewwa" which is too stinking cute, even if I am biased.

We are heading to my parents house this weekend for our holiday celebration. The boys, dogs and I are going down tomorrow and Mr. I is joining us Saturday after he gets off work. My mom moved our family Thanksgiving to the weekend after, years ago to accomodate in-law's. It's worked out really well.

So that's why I'm sitting at home on Thanksgiving, curled up with a 7 wk old chihuahua, watching football! It's kinda nice actually!


I figured with my little unexpected quiet time, I should add Day 3 plans !!



Day 3 Itinerary-

Thursday, January 14th:
Sleep til normal work/school time
Breakfast at Mara
Bus to DHS
FPs for TSM
ToT and RnRRC single rider and FPS
Light Lunch at Starring Rolls
Take our time explorin' DHS
Leave for afternoon nap if boys' need it
Return to DHS if time allows
Return to AKL at park close
Boma dinner ressie @ 8:50pm - a first for us!
Bed!

DHS goals:
TSM-missed this last year
ToT multiple times
RnRRC
VoLM
Playhouse Disney
Butterfinger cupcake
StarTours for Dash
Great Movie ride if time allows

Thoughts:

This may be our only DHS day. While we love the park, there are only a few things we feel we have to do. We could sit and soak up the streetmosphere for hours but with two little boys, that's difficult. I don't believe Fantasmic is playing that night but even if it was, we'd skip it. I wasn't a huge fan and would rather get back to the resort at a decent time and get a late dinner at Boma!

I just paid a renewal subscription for TGM. I didn't really listen to him last year, and had quite a few days that were poorly timed. Because of MLK weekend, I felt that it would pay me to see what he has to say about this year. I have a problem that I'm a traditionalist and like to go to the parks in order, that is, the order that I always did them as a child. In order of oldest to newest. So that's hard to deviate from, but I may have to, considering the holiday weekend. I'll let you guys know what he says and if/how it's gonna affect our plans!!




Edit: Ok TGM had some good points, so I'm breaking tradition and going out of order, kinda. We're gonna do two Epcot days in a row and do DHS on Day 4 instead of Day 3. Since we aren't huge Fantasmic fans, we're gonna skip DHS on the day that is Fantasmic because of the crowds. So I'll repost Day 3 plans as a second Epcot day and move these plans to Day 4 in the next update!

 

[Lady Lallie]

I love that you posted your plans for Day 3 and now are going to revamp them. SO something I would do!

 

[gellybean]

I love that you posted your plans for Day 3 and now are going to revamp them. SO something I would do!

I guess that was very LL of me.

Give me time and I'll have V2.0 up

 

[gellybean]

Alrighty...


So after carefully reviewing TGM's plans for our dates, I decided that we were gonna flip flop our 2nd day in Epcot and our DHS day. My original plans had us in DHS on a Fantasmic day, and TGM, rightfully so, advises against this strongly. And since we have no desire to see Fantasmic anyway, why torture ourselves with the crowds?

To sooth my weird hang up about not going into the parks "out of order", we're doing Epcot two days in a row then DHS. Technically still in order.

Something else TGM really made me rethink is getting into the parks early and going back to the hotel for a rest. It's always been a option for me, but nothing definitive. Now, I know some of you are saying well duh! But, I think we are really going to try to get to the parks as close to opening as possible on the days MIL is MIA! And then make the time to get back to the hotel mid afternoon, especially on the parks that don't close 'early'. Regardless if the boys seem tired or not!


Revised:


Day 3 Itinerary-

Thursday, January 14th:
Sleep in, thus eliminating need for midday break
Make our way to Epcot whenever we wake up and get going
Grab breakfast/lunch at Sunshine Seasons
Grab FP for Soarin' if available and head to WS.
Dinner ressie at San Angel Inn 6:30pm
Grab FW rides if walk on
Illuminations ?


Epcot Goals:
TAKE OUR TIME!!



Thoughts:
There are lots of shows and exhibits I've never seen, much less Mr. I and the boys. I want to seek these out !
Illuminations will depend on rather we caught it the night before and how tired the boys (read: Mr. I) are.
Margaritas at San Angel Inn. I don't think I'll be taking the boys into the Ditch aka the Tequila bar. Just not something I really want to explain to Dash. He's off the age where everything is black and white and right now alcohol is BAD. So, taking him into a BAR I think he'd have a stroke.

I had no problem switching my San Angel Inn ressie from Friday to Thursday. Same time and everything.



Day 4 Itinerary-
*copy and pasted from previous update*

Friday, January 15th:
Sleep til normal work/school time
Breakfast at Mara
Bus to DHS as early as we can muster
FPs for TSM
ToT FPs and RnRRC-single rider or FPs w/ baby swap
Light Lunch at Starring Rolls
Take our time explorin' DHS
Leave for afternoon nap/rest. **
Return to DHS if time allows
Return to AKL at park close
Boma dinner ressie @ 8:30pm - a first for us!
Bed!


DHS goals:
TSM-missed this last year
ToT multiple times
RnRC
VoLM
Playhouse Disney
Butterfinger cupcake
StarTours for Dash
Great Movie ride if time allows

Thoughts:

**This is the one early close exception to my newly TGM enforced afternoon rest policy because of the early closing hours and its our only DHS day. It's really gonna depend on how much we get done that morning!


This may be our only DHS day. While we love the park, there are only a few things we feel we have to do. We could sit and soak up the streetmosphere for hours but with two little boys, that's difficult. Again, not a huge fan of Fantasmic so we aren't worried about being in the park on a day it's showing. Changed our Boma ressie to Friday instead of Thurs with no problem. Bumped it up by 20 mins since DHS closes at 7 pm this night. Will give us time to get to the room and refresh/change clothes if we want before dinner!!


Day 3 and Day 4 DONE!!! Love TGM! I knew to avoid EMH park days but didn't really think about how rare Fantasmic is showing = crowded parks those days. So thankfully I was able to rearrange without offending my ocd-ness.

The only yellow day we're looking at, according to TGM, is actually on MLK day. But you'll have to wait and see what our plans are for that day later.

I made customized park maps today and had them mailed. I know the parks pretty well after 25 years and 12 trips but I think the maps will be cool to have as souvies and Dash is learning about maps, so he'll enjoy having OUR own maps made for us!

On a related, unrelated note, I ordered a new bag this afternoon for our trip!!!!

I've been looking at Vera Bradley and Baggallini's for a while. Last year I used a Pottery Barn Kids diaper bag one shoulder strap backback. Loved it! It was great! But it's a little bigger than I'm wanting to carry on this trip and for future trips. It worked well for last year, with Jack-Jack only being 12 mths and needing more stuff. This year I'm hoping to get away with only a few diapers, small pack of wet wipes and one change of clothes. Maybe some infant tylenol, and a few other small items like that. But I won't need to take multiple changes of clothes, baby food, baby snacks, sippy cups etc.

I found on the ebags site, an ebag brand bag comparable to baggallini but a little less expensive, especially with the Black Friday deal and free shipping. It looks a little smaller than the Baggallini messenger bag, but bigger than just the travel shoulder pouch.

Here's a link to the one I ordered:

Handy dandy bag link

I ordered it in the color Chili, that way it's still Disney-ish and girly-ish but not something Mr. I would feel weird carrying! I really like it!!

After the free shipping, I paid less than $50 for it including tax.

Oh and according to TGM we have 47 days to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bout time to make that countdown calendar so Dash can better visualize how much longer we have to go!


Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and that your good times continue into the weekend!!

 

[Lady Lallie]

I think we are turning into clones. I'm trying to order a park bag today too.

I think your plans sounds great. I can't say enough good things about getting to the park at opening and then taking a midday break. I am so less cranky that way and I feel like I get way more attractions done.

 

[gellybean]

I think we are turning into clones.

Maybe I should dye my hair blonde before the trip.
Just saying!


I wanna see a link to the bag you decide on! Seriously ck out ebag brand bags. They have a lot of styles to choose from!

 

[gellybean]

Hey everyone!!! Sitting here watching Disney shows on the Travel Channel!!


Time just keeps on truckin', doesn't it!? Thanksgiving has already passed us by, our Christmas tree is up, ordered most of the presents already--only a few more left on my list--we're getting ready for school holiday parties and then before we know it, Christmas will be here!

Dash had what I think was Fifth disease over Thanksgiving. The only symptoms that he had was the rash, but now Jack-Jack is running fever and overall feels crummy. No rash yet. So I don't know if he's caught what Dash had or has something else?? If he's not better by tomorrow, I'll have to take him to his ped. It's like deja vu though. This was the time last year that he started with the whole Scarlet fever thing that took a month to diagnose. I'm hoping this is just a virus that he'll get over on his own! I guess the bright side is we're getting all our sicknesses out of the way early!

I got our Disney store order in! The t-shirts are all very cute. I was going to wrap the boys' shirts for under the tree but Mister Dash got a butter knife out of the drawer and opened the box before I knew what he was doing! I told him he still had to act surprised when I wrapped them under the tree for Christmas eve family gift exchange. He likes the idea of 'acting' so that should be funny.

I also got my ebag in!! Love it. It's the perfect size. I'm super excited about it. I may have to pack a small supplemental diaper bag for extra diapers, but the bag should work for everything else, and will definitely work for future trips. I have to remind myself I won't be taking a diaper clad toddler to Disney much longer. A joyful thought but a tad bittersweet too. They grow up so fast!

I've found a Masters program that I plan to start the application process after we return from Disney. When I finish, I'll be a Licensed Specialist in School Psych!! I'm excited about it. The timing should work out great too. I should be done about the time Jack-Jack starts Kinder so that should be about perfect to go back to work! And since it'll be in the education field, I'll have the same breaks from school they do!


Enough blabbering about non-Disney stuff eh?

On with the Itinerary!


Day 5 Itinerary-


Saturday, January 16th:
Sleep til normal school/work time
Open day --- come again???? Did I just say open day?!?!
Most likely will hit AK for a short period of time, maybe DHS if we didn't get it covered the day before
Return to resort early afternoon
Chill, relax, explore, swim, sleep etc
Meet MIL in the lobby when she arrives
Hang out with her, visiting and letting Jack-Jack get reacquainted with his grandma
Get ready for our date
Head down a little early, get cocktails at one of the lounges in AK
Dinner ressie at Jiko for 8:55pm-party of 2
Return to the room
Tuck the kids in
Sleep!


IF AK-goals:
Lion King
EE
Nemo
Maybe Safari if time


Thoughts:
AK is our least favorite park. Mr. I didn't enjoy EE as much as I do... so this park isn't a huge priority for us. I love Lion King but we missed it last year so Mr. I doesn't know what he's missing. Nemo, neither of us have seen so that's a new goal. We may head back to DHS if we didn't cover all we wanted to the day before. TGM said MK and Epcot were both no-no's this day, seeing as how MLK weekend will be starting in full swing by Saturday. We don't want to spend a full day in the park, because we'll want to meet up with MIL and as she's only getting a two day ticket, she won't be able to go into a park this day anyway. Hence the date night. Really AK makes the most sense for a half day park! BUT I promised myself I'd stay open and flexible. I'll let y'all know how well that works out for us!



Update to Day 4 plans:

I went ahead and added a lunch ressie for Mama Melrose's for lunch. None of the CS's in DHS really excite me. I made the reservation for 12:15pm and our dinner ressie for Boma is at 8:30pm. Should be plenty of time between the two to get hungry enough for a buffet!!

Up next - DAY 6 Intinerary which just happens to be Mr. I's birthday!!! ​

 

[gellybean]

Just got a note from SIL that she and BIL will be joining us afterall!!
They are staying just two nights, over the weekend, at Coronado Springs, arriving Sat and leaving on Monday. I don't know if they are planning to just go in the park with us on Sunday or what. Hopefully will get more details from her soon. I already added them to the Sunday ressie at Tutto Italia back when I made it, knowing that was the day they would most likely be there all day, so I was right about that! Thinking of moving our Boma breakfast ressie from Tuesday to Monday so we can all have breakfast together before they have to head back home. That would mean cancelling our LTT lunch ressie and getting to MK a little later on Monday but that would be ok! It'll be our second MK day anyway, and the most important thing to me will be Wishes that night! I'm already prepared for massive crowds that day and have a backup plan of watching Wishes from the Poly Beach that night. Oops, I'm giving away furture day plans!!

The really cool thing is Mr. I will get to spend his birthday with his mom and sister! Something he hasn't done in years, since he moved to Texas to marry me! I'm excited for him, that he'll have his whole family with him on his birthday !

Will put up day 6 plans, and possible amend day 5 plays as soon as I hear from SIL!

 

[gellybean]

Got our ME tags in today!!!!

Always makes it seem real when those puppies arrive!!!

Will try to update Day 6 plans soon. Still haven't heard from SIL about their intentions to go into which parks, etc.

Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I'm definitely looking forward to Boma breakfast... but lately I've read some less than favorable opinions of Boma dinner buffet... Have you and Joe eaten there for dinner? Thoughts?

We have eaten dinner there, on our Disneymoon back in 2006, so quite a while ago! If I remember correctly, it was after our first full day there. We enjoyed it, I remember eating a TON of pita bread and hummus and sipping the coffee. But, I also remember it not being our favorite....just our tastes. I've never really read a poor review of it - I'm shocked it's getting less than favorable reviews!!!! What are people saying about it?

I was obviously behind - so I have to say that I'm glad you are feeling better...a month ago. All those sickies better STAY AWAY.

I love how you are paying for the trip with all the "found" money! That is just awesome....and to be paid in full is even better!

Your plans are looking GREAT!!! I like how you can manipulate it a bit, but still feed your OCD.

DHS goals:
Butterfinger cupcake

I LOVE how you put this on the Goals list!!! Is it found at Starring Rolls? It sounds DIVINE.

 

[gellybean]

We have eaten dinner there, on our Disneymoon back in 2006, so quite a while ago! If I remember correctly, it was after our first full day there. We enjoyed it, I remember eating a TON of pita bread and hummus and sipping the coffee. But, I also remember it not being our favorite....just our tastes. I've never really read a poor review of it - I'm shocked it's getting less than favorable reviews!!!! What are people saying about it?


Just that it's too exotic and that the Americanized food offerings aren't anything special. It's on our first to cancel list if that makes any sense. Because we're staying at AKL, depending on how we like Mara, we'll probably keep it if we have the credits, or are starving that night. But if we need the credits, we'll cancel.

I was obviously behind - so I have to say that I'm glad you are feeling better...a month ago. All those sickies better STAY AWAY.

Thanks! We've all been varying forms of sickies! Dash missed two days of school last week with fever, headache, and itcy achy eyes. I'm thinking it was a sinus infection. He got over it on his own. I'm not a huge fan of antibiotics so I try to let the fever do its thing when possible. Thankfully this time, that's all it took. His body took care of it! So he'll be able to make it to school this week, and enjoy all the holiday festivities!

I love how you are paying for the trip with all the "found" money! That is just awesome....and to be paid in full is even better!

HEHE I liked all my found money too!! Can't think of a better thing to do with found money, than to pay for a trip to Disney!

Your plans are looking GREAT!!! I like how you can manipulate it a bit, but still feed your OCD.

Gotta keep momma happy And my boys know it!

I LOVE how you put this on the Goals list!!! Is it found at Starring Rolls? It sounds DIVINE.

It's Starring Rolls yes! I haven't had it yet. But I saw a pic on a Dining Review. OMG! MUST have!!!

 

[gellybean]

Hey everyone!!

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season!! I know we are!

We're down to 30 days!!!!

I'm nearly done with all my Christmas shopping. I have to work on MIL's gift this week and get it ordered--doing a photobook on Shutterfly for her.
Then one more gift to purchase for a nephew and I'm done!! D O N E! Not too bad, if you knew my history. I've been known to put it off til the 23rd of DEC!!! Course that was pre-kids. I'm much better about it now that I have to think about etc.

I got Jack-Jack's birth certificate in the mail. It, along with the ME tags, are tucked safely in my ebag. Did I mention I the ebag? Will post pics soon. The Disney shirts are tucked safely away. Dash has been asking to wear them to school to which the answer has been, and is going to stay, NO! I want to save them for Disney... if for no other reason than STAINS! That boy gets half his lunch on his shirt.

Mr. I spoke to his sister and got a bit more details about their trip. They are driving down on Saturday, from Atlanta, and driving back on Monday. So they us to be doing that to see us for a day! Bless their hearts! So we'll get A - 1 - UNO - SOLO day with them in Epcot. Thankfully that just so happens to be the day I had made a reservation for Tutto Italia for 7. Go me for being Disney-psychic. Who knew!!!!

To Do list updated:
~Finish MIL's gift-have shipped to SIL
~Itemize existing travel size goodies and purchase any needed
~Start packing items not needed between now and then
~Pack customized maps as soon as they arrive
~Finalize and confirm all ADRs
~Tip money
~Print airline confirmations
~Decide about online hotel checkin
~Mail Christmas packages
~Finish countdown chain I started
~Get Mr. I's car into the shop
~Find 17 small gifts for Dash's Christmas party (any ideas?!-has to be
something CHEAP per the school's instructions)


I'm sure I'm forgetting a ton of things from that list... but that's all I have for now.


Here's the Itinerary for Day 6-

Sunday, January 17th:
Sleep til normal wake up time
Eat light breakfast at Mara
Meet BIL and SIL either at hotel or Epcot
FPs for Soarin'
Hit the highlights of FW
Lunch at Sunshine Seasons or around the world snackage
World Showcase
Dinner for 7 at Tutto Italia at 6:30pm
Illuminations for all those interested in staying
Back to hotel, saying bye to SIL and BIL at some point


Must Do's:
Soarin'
Slushie from France


Thoughts:
I know... now many Must Do's this day, but I AM TRYING TO BE FLEXIBLE! This is the one day that BIL and SIL have so I'm gonna try to chill and let them kinda lead the way with some gentle guiding.
Soarin' is a must do though!! MIL loves it and this will be her only day in Epcot. And BIL and SIL haven't been to Epcot since they put Soarin' in. So definitely must do. As far as the slushie goes, it could just as easily end up being a margarita or martini. I just figure with all 7 of us, alcohol will be something I'll need by the end of the day!
I'm really looking forward to Tutto with Mr. I's whole family. The 17th is his birthday, so I'm excited that he gets something special on his day. Italy at Epcot with his whole family is pretty high up there on his special list.

Will get Day 7's plans done soon and will update the To List and start a Packing list!! Plus I may just include our budgets for ADRs tip figuring. Don't know yet... might be a bit nerdie for you all! ​

 

[Lady Lallie]

The plans look great.

Our trips are getting so close!

 

[gellybean]

The plans look great.

Our trips are getting so close!

Thanks!!!

I know they are so close!!! Craziness!!! I always get excited when the ticker switches from months and days to weeks and days!!!

And I'm digging your plans to split stay at POFQ and SSR. Two new resorts will be AWESOME! I stayed at POFQ back when it was just PO and love it. Its my fave moderate by far!!
Beignets! DROOL !!!!!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Thanks!!!

I know they are so close!!! Craziness!!! I always get excited when the ticker switches from months and days to weeks and days!!!

And I'm digging your plans to split stay at POFQ and SSR. Two new resorts will be AWESOME! I stayed at POFQ back when it was just PO and love it. Its my fave moderate by far!!
Beignets! DROOL !!!!!

I'm so excited for Beignets! Yummmmmmmmmmm! They even were in The Princess and the Frog movie and I was dying even more to try them.

 

[gellybean]

I'm so excited for Beignets! Yummmmmmmmmmm! They even were in The Princess and the Frog movie and I was dying even more to try them.

Ooooooo!!! That's pretty awesome POFQ timing with the release of the Princess and Frog!! SWEET!

 

[gellybean]

Got our package vouchers in the mail today!! and our customized maps!!! They look really cool! I'll take pictures and post them soon!


I hit up Target's trial size aisle this afternoon and stocked up! I also picked up a pack of glow in the dark sticks for the boys to play with in the parks.

Took Dash to the doctor to follow up on his fever he had last week, to make sure he didn't have a lingering secondary infection. Turns out he has strep! Go figure. The child never complained of a sore throat, never would have even thought to check for strep had his teacher not told us she'd had some confirmed cases in the class. So there ya go. Just goes to show you that strep can manifest in different ways. Such as fever, with a headache!

So he's gonna miss another day of school tomorrow, til he's been on antibiotics 24 hrs. So that's four days missed this semester. They are allowed 17 absences so Im not worried about the 5 days he'll miss for Disney! Whew.

We went ahead and let Dash open up his 'big' gift from us. We got him a PS3. I had made an agreement with him that if he would work really hard on his reading/sight words that would be his end goal/reward. And he's worked realllllly hard!! His reading has greatly improved. And he knows he's still gonna have to read EVERY day we're in Disney and that he can't slack off now, just because he knows all his First grade sight words.

He opened it and was completely blown away. We had told him we weren't doing any big gifts because of our Disney trip, but we found a great deal on the PS3 and it was really as much of a reward as it was a Christmas gift. So that's why it's from us and not . I didn't want him to open it in front of his cousins at our family's Christmas at my mom's. I'm not a huge fan of opening expensive gifts in front of other family's children, ya know?

We are so blessed and we know it!




Day 7 Itinerary

Monday, January 18th:
Sleep til normal wake up time
Light breakfast in room/Mara
MK fairly early
Catch any rides we missed/want to do again
FPs for BTMRR and Space Mtn for me
Lunch at 11:55am @ LTT
Back to hotel for rest
Back to MK for Wishes
Dinner at 8:55pm @ 'Ohana
Back to AKL
Start packing up
Bed

Must Do's:
Wishes!
Soak it in


Thoughts:
MLK Day- According to TGM Saturday is really the day that gets the most crowds from MLK weekend, so I'm optimistic that it won't be super crowded in MK on Monday. We are purposefully avoiding MK on Sunday, because the EMH hours were until 1am! C R O W D E D! If the crowds are ridiculous and I think that we're gonna have a hard time getting out of the park and over to 'Ohana in time for our dinner ressie, and IF we managed to catch Wishes our first night, then our back up plan is leaving the park before Wishes --if we even go back into the park after afternoon break-- and watching Wishes from the beach at Poly!

We really enjoyed 'Ohana last year, as did MIL, so I'm glad it's our last dinner ressie!

Will be back with pics of all our trip stuff and Day 8-Departure Day Itinerary!​

 

[Lady Lallie]

I need to really look at both of our plans again and see if we overlap anywhere.

Poor Dash with strep. Strep is really awful, hopefully he's feeling better today.