PTR: Our First Family Trip to Meet the MOUSE!! *Finished Mini TR 8/26*

[Mommy2LittleVols]

The Cast:

Definite

* Me (Julia) - Lifelong Disney Lover. Visited WDW on my senior trip back in 2002, and have been trying to make it back ever since.
* DH (Darren) - Not a big Disney fan, but agreed to this trip to make me happy. Has only ever visited Epcot (once, about 10 years ago).
* DS (Dakoda 2 yrs) - LOVES Mickey Mouse Clubhouse!! I'm talking this kid would watch MMC (or Meeska Mooska, as we call it) 24/7 if I would let him. This will be his first WDW trip.
* DD (Sarah 7 months) - Our newest Princess. This will (obviously) be her first WDW trip.
* MIL (Mam) - Loves to travel and really loves the beach. EXCELLENT cook! True Southern woman. (Think Paula Deen or Steel Magnolias) I love her! Been to WDW once, about 30 years ago.
* FIL (Pap) - AKA My Saving Grace. He's a farmer and keeps my DS for me a lot. I don't know what I'd do without him! He's the best Dad/Grandpa in the world! Been to WDW once, about 30 years ago.
* SILs (Kristy & Cynthia) - DH's sister and her wife. These two are a blast to have around! Very fun-loving and dote on our kids. Oh, and did I mention they are armed and dangerous? But only if you're a criminal. They're both FBI agents. Not sure how many times they've been to WDW.
* DNephews (Zach - 15, and Landon - 13) - The Entertainment. Two of the coolest kids you will ever meet. Neither have ever been to WDW, so I am so excited that they will get to join us!


Travel Dates:
Sept. 25 - Oct. 2, 2009 (Free Dining! ) - Me, Darren, Dakoda, Sarah
Sept. 25 - Sept. 29, 2009 - Kristy, Cynthia
Sept. 25 - Sept. 30, 2009 - Mam, Pap, Zach, Landon

Location:
Pop Century Resort!

ADR's:
9/26/09 - Chef Mickey's - 7:00 am
9/26/09 - Tony's Town Square - 12:35 pm
9/27/09 - Biergarten - 12:00 pm
9/27/09 - Teppan Edo - 5:20 pm
9/28/09 - Kona Cafe - 9:10 am
9/28/09 - Fulton's Crab House - 6:30 pm
9/29/09 - Boma - 7:45 am
9/30/09 - The Crystal Palace - 8:15 am
9/30/09 - Liberty Tree Tavern - 11:30 am
10/1/09 - Le Cellier - 1:30 pm
10/1/09 - Chef Mickey's - 6:20 pm

Itinerary:
Day 1: Travel & Disney Studios
Day 2: Magic Kingdom
Day 3: Epcot
Day 4: Animal Kingdom & Downtown Disney
Day 5: Disney Studios
Day 6: Magic Kingdom
Day 7: Morning - Free
Afternoon/Evening - Epcot
Day 8: Travel

Special Plans or Events:
We are planning to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries while we are there.

How this trip came to be:
I guess it all started several months ago when DS suddenly fell in love with "Meeska Mooska." Once I realized that it wasn't just a passing fancy, the wheels started turning. I started mentioning to DH how nice it would be if we could take the kids to WDW so Dakoda could meet Mickey. Then I started dropping hints about the Free Ticket on your Birthday deal. After a few weeks (actually didn't take as long as I was expecting), he agreed that we could go as long as we stuck to a budget.

At first, the plan was to go for DH's birthday (12/6) so we could see the decorations/Osborne Lights and go to MVMCP. Travel dates were going to be 12/4-12/7...which was only going to give us 3 days in the parks since we will be driving down from TN. That wasn't really long enough for me, so I started trying to figure out a way to get in some extra days. Then, lo and behold, FREE DINING was announced!!!! I figured out that it was going to only be a price difference of $72 if we went in September for 6 nights/7 days w/ FD, as opposed to December with 3 nights/3 days w/DDP. DH is always a sucker for a deal, so he agreed! I booked our stay at POP the very same day.

We later decided to invite some of our extended family to join us on our trip, and they are joining us for the first half.

Thanks for reading!

Links to the PTR posts:
Tentative Itinerary
Rough Plan - Day 1
ADR Preferences
Cast Update
ADR Update
Mini Update
Mickey Mail
Planning Tools
All booked!
95 Days Out!!!
ADR's!!!
Let's Talk Numbers
Completely Gratuitous
Updated ADR's
PIN Codes are so bad (but so good!)
Paid In Full and The Countdown Is On!!
LA Mini TR - Part One
LA Mini TR - Part Two
LA Mini TR - Part Three
LA Mini TR - Part Four

[Mommy2LittleVols]

Here are some pics of the crew.

Entire Family, taken last August

Back row, L to R: Paul, Gina, Kristy, Cynthia, Me (and DD ), Darren.
Front row, L to R: Landon, Von and Riley, Donnie and Dakoda, Zach.

My Family of Four, taken on Easter 2009


Darren (DH) and I at a UT Football game in 2006 (only good pic I could find)


Dakoda (DS) at the UT Orange & White game 4/18/09


Sarah (DD) before the O&W game


Riley (DNiece) on Easter 2009

[CherylA]

Gotta love the free dining! Good work getting those kids started on Disney early! Looking forward to hearing more about your plans!

[Mommy2LittleVols]

Originally Posted by CherylA

Gotta love the free dining! Good work getting those kids started on Disney early! Looking forward to hearing more about your plans!

Oh yes, I've been pushing Disney since DS was in the womb. Got started on his movie and character collection before he was born. DD is getting a Disney princess room once she's ready for her own room. I can't wait to start decorating it! Oh, and DH doesn't know it yet, but this trip is only going to be the first of (very) many. Is that a picture of your DDs in your signature? Super cute!!

[shordiebecka]

Sounds like you're going to have a lot of planning to do! That's half the fun anyways can't wait to hear more!

[Mommy2LittleVols]

Originally Posted by shordiebecka

Sounds like you're going to have a lot of planning to do! That's half the fun anyways can't wait to hear more!

Ooohhh yes, I LOVE to plan! I just wish my inlaws would figure out who's going and who isn't so that I can really get started.

[CherylA]

Originally Posted by Mommy2LittleVols

Oh yes, I've been pushing Disney since DS was in the womb. Got started on his movie and character collection before he was born. DD is getting a Disney princess room once she's ready for her own room. I can't wait to start decorating it! Oh, and DH doesn't know it yet, but this trip is only going to be the first of (very) many. Is that a picture of your DDs in your signature? Super cute!!

There truely is no better family vacation. Its great when they're little like your kids and it stays great as they get older. My kids are at the point where they ask for Disney, which is nice because we have excuses to go back! Yup those are my DDs with their faces painted at the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party last year.

[Mommy2LittleVols]

Originally Posted by CherylA

There truely is no better family vacation. Its great when they're little like your kids and it stays great as they get older. My kids are at the point where they ask for Disney, which is nice because we have excuses to go back! Yup those are my DDs with their faces painted at the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party last year.

I didn't realize they did face painting at MNSSHP! How fun! I am so excited that we'll be there for that this time. I'm really hoping that my kiddos love Disney as much as I do. I seem to be the only one in my family so far that really does. Maybe that will change after this trip, though.

[lizet313]

Subscribing

[Cinderelly5507]

I had to pop in and say hi! We're also going for free dining, Sept. 23-30 and staying at Pop! My DD turns 2 next month and loves Mickey Mouse too! She sings the hot dog song all the time! I graduated in 2002 too and we live in TN too! With all that in common, I had to subscribe! Looking forward to your plans. It's nice hearing how other parents handle Disney with such little ones! We're are training them right by getting them started early!

[kschafer]

I found you on the food thread. Sounds like possibly a large group! We went last year with my parents, brothers and their families - 15 in all. It was great fun to experience with all the kiddos together!

Subbing to hear the plans! Your son will LOVE Playhouse Disney at DHS!! It is SO much fun!

[Mommy2LittleVols]

Originally Posted by lizet313

Subscribing

Thanks for reading!

Originally Posted by Cinderelly5507

I had to pop in and say hi! We're also going for free dining, Sept. 23-30 and staying at Pop! My DD turns 2 next month and loves Mickey Mouse too! She sings the hot dog song all the time! I graduated in 2002 too and we live in TN too! With all that in common, I had to subscribe! Looking forward to your plans. It's nice hearing how other parents handle Disney with such little ones! We're are training them right by getting them started early!

Wow! That is crazy how much we have in common! When is your DD's birthday? Dakoda actually isn't 2 yet - his bday is 5/30. What part of TN do you live in? We're close to Knoxville - GO BIG ORANGE! Looks like our dates overlap; I bet we'll run into each other at the resort!

Originally Posted by kschafer

I found you on the food thread. Sounds like possibly a large group! We went last year with my parents, brothers and their families - 15 in all. It was great fun to experience with all the kiddos together!

Subbing to hear the plans! Your son will LOVE Playhouse Disney at DHS!! It is SO much fun!

Oh, I am sooo obsessed with the food thread! DH is always like, "Are you looking at WDW food AGAIN??" Fifteen is a large group! I bet you guys had a blast! I'm really hoping that everyone in our family gets to go. We have a great time when we're all together. I'm glad to hear that you all enjoyed Playhouse Disney! I haven't read much about it on here. We saw Winnie the Pooh Live! in Knoxville last year, and he wasn't all that into it, but I think he was still a little young for it. Plus he wasn't nearly as crazy about Pooh and friends as he is about the Mouse!

[Cinderelly5507]

Originally Posted by Mommy2LittleVols

Wow! That is crazy how much we have in common! When is your DD's birthday? Dakoda actually isn't 2 yet - his bday is 5/30. What part of TN do you live in? We're close to Knoxville - GO BIG ORANGE! Looks like our dates overlap; I bet we'll run into each other at the resort!

My DD turns 2 May 5th! She's having a "Finding Nemo" theme. The girl is obsessed! She got a stuffed Nemo last Sept. after coming off the Nemo ride and has slept with him every night since! I'm so looking forward to Pop! We stayed in ASMu last year, but Pop as frozen cokes and the Goofy water sprinklers that DD will LOVE!! We live in west TN about 1- 1 1/2 hours north of Memphis. We're originally from WV though and moved here last January.

[Mommy2LittleVols]

Originally Posted by Cinderelly5507

My DD turns 2 May 5th! She's having a "Finding Nemo" theme. The girl is obsessed! She got a stuffed Nemo last Sept. after coming off the Nemo ride and has slept with him every night since! I'm so looking forward to Pop! We stayed in ASMu last year, but Pop as frozen cokes and the Goofy water sprinklers that DD will LOVE!! We live in west TN about 1- 1 1/2 hours north of Memphis. We're originally from WV though and moved here last January.

That is too cute about your DD and Nemo! Dakoda is having a (surprise, surprise ) Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme for his birthday party. He sleeps with a MMC pillow and blanket, a stuffed Mickey, and (another odd coincidence) a stuffed Nemo! I'm really looking forward to POP, too! I stayed at AS Sports last time I went. It was okay, but I think I'll like POP more. I love me some frozen Cokes! The Goofy sprinklers were a draw for me with DS, too.

[that's nice]

Alright another PTR i'm subbing to!

My DD watches 'Meeska Mouska' everyday!!!! Her favorite right now is the "Minnie's Rainbow' episode. We have about 20 saved right now on our DVR. I'll be following your PTR.... if you need any suggestions let me know!!!