Magical Memories in the Making ... A Pre-TR! TR LINK UP!

[ariel1025]

So, this is one of those posts that most of you won't really care about. Ya know, the "To Do" post However, posting it on here keeps all my thoughts in one place and keeps my Hubby from getting in trouble because he forgot what I told him needs done

1. Change my name on my passport <-- Is it completely pathetic that this has been on my list since our cruise last year
2. Get James his passport (or passport card)
3. Book hotel
4. Book Palo dinner reservation
5. Book Flounder's Reef nursery time
6. Book Castaway Cay excursion(s)
7. Book Nassau excursion
8. Book Key West excursion
9. Book Palo brunch reservation
10.Make invitations for Mother's day gift (to be disclosed at a later date )
11.Order supplies to make the aforementioned invitations
12.Buy supplies to make "thank you" bags from James to grandparents and Daddy
* Filtered water bottles (any suggestions - brita? bobble? other?)
* Cruise pins
* Theater sized candy
* ????
13.Make cards to go into thank you bags
14.Make Christmas gifts to coordinate with vacation (to be disclosed at a later date )
15.Order supplies to go with aforementioned Christmas gifts
16.Buy medium-large size suitcase
17.Book transportation from hotel to port
18.Book transportation from port to airport
19.Book flights
20.Buy park tickets
21.Book meals for time at WDW

Ok, so that list will get drastically longer as the trip gets closer and that's already 2.3 items that needs to get crossed off each month. YIKES! Before little James I would have thought "easy peasy" now .... yeah, I'm trying to figure out where to find the time

And just because I don't like to have a post without pictures here's one of my faves of the little guy from this past week

 

[o4me2playn]

So, this is one of those posts that most of you won't really care about. Ya know, the "To Do" post However, posting it on here keeps all my thoughts in one place and keeps my Hubby from getting in trouble because he forgot what I told him needs done

1. Change my name on my passport <-- Is it completely pathetic that this has been on my list since our cruise last year
2. Get James his passport (or passport card)
3. Book hotel
4. Book Palo dinner reservation
5. Book Flounder's Reef nursery time
6. Book Castaway Cay excursion(s)
7. Book Nassau excursion
8. Book Key West excursion
9. Book Palo brunch reservation
10.Make invitations for Mother's day gift (to be disclosed at a later date )
11.Order supplies to make the aforementioned invitations
12.Buy supplies to make "thank you" bags from James to grandparents and Daddy
* Filtered water bottles (any suggestions - brita? bobble? other?)
* Cruise pins
* Theater sized candy
* ????
13.Make cards to go into thank you bags
14.Make Christmas gifts to coordinate with vacation (to be disclosed at a later date )
15.Order supplies to go with aforementioned Christmas gifts
16.Buy medium-large size suitcase
17.Book transportation from hotel to port
18.Book transportation from port to airport
19.Book flights
20.Buy park tickets
21.Book meals for time at WDW

Ok, so that list will get drastically longer as the trip gets closer and that's already 2.3 items that needs to get crossed off each month. YIKES! Before little James I would have thought "easy peasy" now .... yeah, I'm trying to figure out where to find the time

And just because I don't like to have a post without pictures here's one of my faves of the little guy from this past week

I LOVE the lists - helps me to make sure that I don't forget anything on my own list! HA!

BTW - your little guy is REALLY a cutie!

 

[Toria]

Joining in on your PTR. Your baby is so adorable,enjoy every minute because they grow so fast.

 

[jenifred]

I just finished your last report. So glad I get to see more pictures of James! Love the nickname Cinco, really cute. We are getting our DS's first haircut in the MK too in August. I love the idea. You can buy a package for the first haircut which includes a set of ears and a certificate. Looking forward to reading more!!!

 

[ariel1025]

I LOVE the lists - helps me to make sure that I don't forget anything on my own list! HA!

BTW - your little guy is REALLY a cutie!

I'm that way too - glad to know I'm not the only one who (maybe, just slightly, a little bit over) plans

Joining in on your PTR. Your baby is so adorable,enjoy every minute because they grow so fast.

Thank you so very much

I just finished your last report. So glad I get to see more pictures of James! Love the nickname Cinco, really cute. We are getting our DS's first haircut in the MK too in August. I love the idea. You can buy a package for the first haircut which includes a set of ears and a certificate. Looking forward to reading more!!!

Aww, that's awesome! How old is your Son?

 

[ariel1025]

So, as part of our parents Christmas gifts this year we are borrowing some DVC points to cover each of their hotel rooms before the cruise. Both parents have already said they better not see any other gifts headed their way with our names on them. Ummmm .... yeah right!

However, in keeping with the vacation spirit we have decided to do two things:

1. Purchase the (basic) meal plan for them

Because I don't want to just tell them about this and want them to actually have something to open I am making a box that includes the following:

* A dining plan brochure (printed out from the website)
* A list of the days and meals we need to reserve
* Menus of our favorite restaurants (yep, we are being slightly selfish here )
* A little index card that has them fill in their top 2 choices for each meal (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

We are actually doing this for a couple of reasons - One because it is refundable if either of them have to opt out of the trip for some reason . But, also, because that way we don't have to deal with the "we will pay, no we will pay, no we got it ...." discussions at each meal. Or, likewise, so nobody feels like they need to pay for the next meal because somebody else paid for the last one

2. We are making "vacation stockings" for each parent

These are going to be exactly what they sound like - Christmas stockings filled with vacation stuff. So far we have come up with the following items:

* Customized map of Magic Kingdom (ordered from WDW site)
* A brochure of the hotel we are going to stay at (that I'm making)
* A DCL vacation planning DVD (to get everyone excited! Ordered from DCL site)
* A laminated packing list (my parents are known for way, way, way underpacking and his for way, way, way overpacking!)
* A lanyard
* A pin (just to get them started)
* Seabands (all 4 of them are worried sick about ... well, getting sick and these worked wonders for me on our last cruise)
* Luggage tag

And, that's all we've come up with so far. Anybody else have any other ideas? We want to keep them small, relatively inexpensive or DIY items.

I don't want to play ON the blanket, I want to play IN the blanket

 

[mousetravel]

I LOVE your Christmas ideas!!!!!

Maybe you could add:
post it notes
highlighter
ziploc bags (these come in handy for Everything!!)
chapstick
travel size stuff, like deodorant, shanmpoo, sunblock, etc
hand sanitizer
flashlight

 

[ariel1025]

I LOVE your Christmas ideas!!!!!

Maybe you could add:
post it notes
highlighter
ziploc bags (these come in handy for Everything!!)
chapstick
travel size stuff, like deodorant, shanmpoo, sunblock, etc
hand sanitizer
flashlight

Oooh, I like the travel item idea. I could utilize the "bear" necessities packet idea that I see used on the wedding boards so often

 

[ariel1025]

Alright, so one of the biggest factors of a vacation for us is where we stay. Right now we are at a standstill between two options.

1. Animal Kingdom Lodge - Jambo

* We are currently booked here in value size studios
* This option allows us to use 100% points for our ENTIRE vacation
* This room type does not guarantee a Savannah view
* This does give me a great opportunity to finally try the infamous Boma breakfast
* The only transportation option is the buses which saddens me slightly for all the "first timers"

2. Bay Lake Towers

* We cannot attempt to get a reservation here until mid-October due to the DVC rulings with home resort priority
* This option requires us to buy one time points which would cost $225
* We could only "afford" to get a standard view (no beautiful lake or MK view for us)
* This gives us all the available transportation options (bus, boat, monorail and walkway to MK)


I know it seems like a no brainer - stay where there are no additional costs involved. Buuuuuut, we really like the location factor for Bay Lake. What to do, what to do .....

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

I love all of the Christmas gift ideas! The stocking sounds so cute. I can't wait to see how it turns out! Here's my hotel vote: BLT! I think if there was a huge price difference, I'd say AKL, but for the difference in price that you mentioned, I think being so close to the MK will be worth it. I've read that the Contemporary is the best place to stay with little kids, since it makes getting to the MK so easy. Either resort will be amazing though!

 

[SoonerGirl]

I agree with SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE, I'd go with BLT, especially since MK is the only park you are visiting

I love your ideas for the Christmas gifts!

 

[ariel1025]

I love all of the Christmas gift ideas! The stocking sounds so cute. I can't wait to see how it turns out! Here's my hotel vote: BLT! I think if there was a huge price difference, I'd say AKL, but for the difference in price that you mentioned, I think being so close to the MK will be worth it. I've read that the Contemporary is the best place to stay with little kids, since it makes getting to the MK so easy. Either resort will be amazing though!

I agree with SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE, I'd go with BLT, especially since MK is the only park you are visiting

I love your ideas for the Christmas gifts!

Ladies, trust me, these arguments have been tossed around many times I will definitely let you know when we make our decision!

 

[ariel1025]

So, I went back and forth several times on whether to post this or not. For a while I was leaning towards not because I wasn't sure it was really Disney related enough. But then, I realized I was just coming up with excuses so I didn't feel a sense of guilt if I didn't follow through. So without further ado I bring you my 101 in 1001 ... for any who haven't heard of this it's a list of 101 things you want to accomplish in 1001 days

101 in 1001
Start Date: August 1, 2011
End Date: April 27, 2014
In Process Complete​

Daily
1. Take a picture of James every day (0/1001)
2. Do the photography 365 (0/365)

Weekly
1. Do some sort of exercise for @ least 30 mins; 3 times per week for a month (0/12)
2. Cook dinner for a week (0/7)
3. Cook dinner for 2 weeks (0/14)
4. Cook dinner for 3 weeks (0/21)
5. Start doing weekly meal plans and completely stick to them for a week (0/7)
6. Start doing weekly meal plans and completely stick to them for 2 weeks (0/14)
7. Start doing weekly meal plans and completely stick to them for 3 weeks (0/21)
8. Call parents once a week (0/143)
9. Do not go out to eat more than once a week for 3 consecutive months (0/12)
10. Buy a key to the pool and use it once a week
11. Go a week without a Soda pop (0/7)
12. Buy fresh flowers for the house once a week (0/143)

Monthly
1. Cook dinner for a month (0/31)
2. Read 1 new book each month (0/33)
3. Create a budget for a month and completely stick to it (0/31)
4. Start doing weekly meal plans and completely stick to them for a month (0/31)
5. Put at least $25 per payday in James’s savings account (0/71)
6. Spend one Saturday a month with no computer usage (0/33)
7. Send a postcard each month to a random friend or family member “just because” (0/33)
8. Do one “touristy” thing in NM once a quarter (0/11)
9. Have a date night twice a month (0/66)
10. Make a recipe from a cookbook 3 times a month (0/99)
11. Have a family fun weekend twice a month (0/66)
12. Keep $500 in savings account for 3 consecutive months (0/3)
13. Pamper myself with a splurge once a month (i.e. massage, pedicure, manicure etc) (0/33)


Annually
1. Take family pictures once a year (0/4)
2. Clean out closet once a year and donate unwanted to charity (0/4)
3. Take a weekend getaway once a year (0/4)

Just Get It Done
1. Start weight watchers and stick to it until goal weight is lost and maintained
2. Lose 7” on waist (starting 37”) (0/7)
3. Lose 17 pounds (starting 127) (0/17)
4. Finish James’ nursery
5. Write Grandma S a handwritten letter
6. Write Grandma P a handwritten letter
7. Clean out/organize garage
8. Landscape backyard
9. Donate $500 to a charity (0/500)
10. Do a charity walk
11. Decorate kitchen
12. Decorate dining room
13. Decorate living room
14. Decorate master bedroom
15. Decorate guest bedroom
16. Decorate guest/James’ bathroom (Toy Story!)
17. Decorate master bathroom
18. Take a photography class
19. Take James to Disneyland
20. Take James to Disneyworld
21. Take James to Kansas to meet my family
22. Water babies class with James
23. Gymboree class with James
24. Summer reading program @ library with James
25. Make James 1 month album
26. Make James 2 month album
27. Makes James 3 month album
28. Make James 4 month album
29. Make James 5 month album
30. Make James 6 month album
31. Make James 7 month album
32. Make James 8 month album
33. Make James 9 month album
34. Make James 10 month album
35. Make James 11 month album
36. Make James 1 year album
37. Make James 2 year album
38. Make James 3 year album
39. Make 2011 album
40. Make 2010 album
41. Make 2009 album
42. Make 2008 album
43. Make wedding album
44. Make honeymoon album
45. Make 2007 album
46. Make 2006 album
47. Make 2005 album
48. Make 2004 album
49. Make 2003 album
50. Make 2012 album
51. Make 2013 album
52. Have at least $500 in savings account (0/500)
53. Open a savings account for James
54. Visit 3 states with James (0/3)
55. Pay off Discover credit card
56. Pay off Orchard Bank credit card
57. Pay off Best Buy credit card
58. Pay off Sallie Mae student loans
59. Stay at every DVC hotel (BLT, VWL, AKL-J, AKL-K, THV, SS, OKW, BWV, BCV, GCL, AUL, VB, HH)
60. Buy our house
61. Start trying for another baby
62. Buy an underwater camera
63. Create my photography website
64. Promote my photography website
65. Enter a photography contest
66. Change name on my passport
67. Make our wedding video
68. Create a will
69. Buy a laptop good for photography
70. Host Thanksgiving at our house
71. Buy 5 cookbooks (0/5)

If I did the math right (which there is a slight possibility I did not you basically have to complete 1.5 things a week to stay on track and spread it out evenly. So, I will try to post at the end of each week my progress ... the end of each month at the very least. I hope ya'll will help keep me motivated to complete this Sadly, I am known for starting projects and never getting them done

 

[o4me2playn]

So, I went back and forth several times on whether to post this or not. For a while I was leaning towards not because I wasn't sure it was really Disney related enough. But then, I realized I was just coming up with excuses so I didn't feel a sense of guilt if I didn't follow through. So without further ado I bring you my 101 in 1001 ... for any who haven't heard of this it's a list of 101 things you want to accomplish in 1001 days

101 in 1001
Start Date: August 1, 2011
End Date: April 27, 2014
In Process Complete​

Daily
1. Take a picture of James every day (0/1001)
2. Do the photography 365 (0/365)

Weekly
1. Do some sort of exercise for @ least 30 mins; 3 times per week for a month (0/12)
2. Cook dinner for a week (0/7)
3. Cook dinner for 2 weeks (0/14)
4. Cook dinner for 3 weeks (0/21)
5. Start doing weekly meal plans and completely stick to them for a week (0/7)
6. Start doing weekly meal plans and completely stick to them for 2 weeks (0/14)
7. Start doing weekly meal plans and completely stick to them for 3 weeks (0/21)
8. Call parents once a week (0/143)
9. Do not go out to eat more than once a week for 3 consecutive months (0/12)
10. Buy a key to the pool and use it once a week
11. Go a week without a Soda pop (0/7)
12. Buy fresh flowers for the house once a week (0/143)

Monthly
1. Cook dinner for a month (0/31)
2. Read 1 new book each month (0/33)
3. Create a budget for a month and completely stick to it (0/31)
4. Start doing weekly meal plans and completely stick to them for a month (0/31)
5. Put at least $25 per payday in James’s savings account (0/71)
6. Spend one Saturday a month with no computer usage (0/33)
7. Send a postcard each month to a random friend or family member “just because” (0/33)
8. Do one “touristy” thing in NM once a quarter (0/11)
9. Have a date night twice a month (0/66)
10. Make a recipe from a cookbook 3 times a month (0/99)
11. Have a family fun weekend twice a month (0/66)
12. Keep $500 in savings account for 3 consecutive months (0/3)
13. Pamper myself with a splurge once a month (i.e. massage, pedicure, manicure etc) (0/33)


Annually
1. Take family pictures once a year (0/4)
2. Clean out closet once a year and donate unwanted to charity (0/4)
3. Take a weekend getaway once a year (0/4)

Just Get It Done
1. Start weight watchers and stick to it until goal weight is lost and maintained
2. Lose 7” on waist (starting 37”) (0/7)
3. Lose 17 pounds (starting 127) (0/17)
4. Finish James’ nursery
5. Write Grandma S a handwritten letter
6. Write Grandma P a handwritten letter
7. Clean out/organize garage
8. Landscape backyard
9. Donate $500 to a charity (0/500)
10. Do a charity walk
11. Decorate kitchen
12. Decorate dining room
13. Decorate living room
14. Decorate master bedroom
15. Decorate guest bedroom
16. Decorate guest/James’ bathroom (Toy Story!)
17. Decorate master bathroom
18. Take a photography class
19. Take James to Disneyland
20. Take James to Disneyworld
21. Take James to Kansas to meet my family
22. Water babies class with James
23. Gymboree class with James
24. Summer reading program @ library with James
25. Make James 1 month album
26. Make James 2 month album
27. Makes James 3 month album
28. Make James 4 month album
29. Make James 5 month album
30. Make James 6 month album
31. Make James 7 month album
32. Make James 8 month album
33. Make James 9 month album
34. Make James 10 month album
35. Make James 11 month album
36. Make James 1 year album
37. Make James 2 year album
38. Make James 3 year album
39. Make 2011 album
40. Make 2010 album
41. Make 2009 album
42. Make 2008 album
43. Make wedding album
44. Make honeymoon album
45. Make 2007 album
46. Make 2006 album
47. Make 2005 album
48. Make 2004 album
49. Make 2003 album
50. Make 2012 album
51. Make 2013 album
52. Have at least $500 in savings account (0/500)
53. Open a savings account for James
54. Visit 3 states with James (0/3)
55. Pay off Discover credit card
56. Pay off Orchard Bank credit card
57. Pay off Best Buy credit card
58. Pay off Sallie Mae student loans
59. Stay at every DVC hotel (BLT, VWL, AKL-J, AKL-K, THV, SS, OKW, BWV, BCV, GCL, AUL, VB, HH)
60. Buy our house
61. Start trying for another baby
62. Buy an underwater camera
63. Create my photography website
64. Promote my photography website
65. Enter a photography contest
66. Change name on my passport
67. Make our wedding video
68. Create a will
69. Buy a laptop good for photography
70. Host Thanksgiving at our house
71. Buy 5 cookbooks (0/5)

If I did the math right (which there is a slight possibility I did not you basically have to complete 1.5 things a week to stay on track and spread it out evenly. So, I will try to post at the end of each week my progress ... the end of each month at the very least. I hope ya'll will help keep me motivated to complete this Sadly, I am known for starting projects and never getting them done

WOW!! I LOVE this list also! Quite a items I could put on a list of my own..HA!

 

[jenifred]

Aww, that's awesome! How old is your Son?

Just turned 1 last week. Good luck to the barber...he wiggles!

 

[ariel1025]

WOW!! I LOVE this list also! Quite a items I could put on a list of my own..HA!

I love the concept - now it's sticking to it

Just turned 1 last week. Good luck to the barber...he wiggles!

Yeah, mine is a wiggle worm at 6 months - I can only image him at 1 and walking YIKES!

 

[ariel1025]

Hotel Update: We are leaving things as they are for now for a couple of reasons:

1. We don't really have a choice because we can't book at BLT until October

2. Even though the extra cost isn't that much I am striving to be much smarter with my money. Hence the reason there are so many "pay off this debt or that debt" in my 101 in 1001.

So, for now, we are going to stay put at AKL - Jambo. And, really, there is no reason to be sad over this However, because I really want to stay at Bay Lake I have challenged myself with the reward being switching our reservation .... IF I can stick to the budget that we created for the next 2 months we will splurge on the switch

Anyway, moving on to my personal favorite topic ... food

As I stated previously we are going to be gifting our parents the meal plan and then giving them super cute index cards to list their top options for each meal. I also might have mentioned how we are slightly selfish and only giving them the options of our favorite or "desperately want to try" places

As of now these are the options we are going to include:

Breakfast

* Boma (only if we do in fact end up staying at AKL)
* Chef Mickeys
* 1900 Park Fare
* Kona Cafe
* Whispering Canyon Cafe
* Cinderella's Royal Table
* Crystal Palace

Out of these options we have only actually eaten at CRT, Kona Cafe and I ate at Chef Mickeys (back in 1998).

Would love feedback on these or any that you think should be added.

Lunch

No options listed since this will be quick service due to using the basic dining plan. However, I will include all the options in their packet just to peak their interest

Dinner

* Cape May Cafe
* 'Ohana
* Whispering Canyon Cafe
* Liberty Tree Tavern
* Tony's Town Square

We have previously eaten at 'Ohana and WCC.

For breakfast and dinner we will ask them to list their top 3 choices for each. Our hope is that there are some overlapping options between the 4 of them and we end up eating at somebody's option at each meal while we are there

 

[my2disneyboys]

I was just bored at work and was dreaming of our cruise that is going to be in Feb 2012 and I came across your pre trip report! When I saw your pictures, I said to myself, "I know them!!!" but then I remembered I know you from your trip reports!! So excited to hear all about your upcoming trip!! And CONGRATULATIONS on that adorable baby boy!!!!!!!!!

 

[ariel1025]

I was just bored at work and was dreaming of our cruise that is going to be in Feb 2012 and I came across your pre trip report! When I saw your pictures, I said to myself, "I know them!!!" but then I remembered I know you from your trip reports!! So excited to hear all about your upcoming trip!! And CONGRATULATIONS on that adorable baby boy!!!!!!!!!

Yay, so glad you found me What cruise are you taking in February? Isn't so funny how Dis people become familiar faces even when you've never met them

 

[ariel1025]

Ok, first an update on my 101 in 1001 and then I will get to the Disney stuff I am only going to list the items in which I've made progress on to keep this post from being a mile and a half long

101 in 1001
Start Date: August 1, 2011
End Date: April 27, 2014
​

Daily
1. Take a picture of James every day (10/1001)

Weekly

2. Cook dinner for a week (2/7) <-- I've done really good with starting this and then without fail somebody calls and invites us to dinner. And, ya know, it would be rude to say no
8. Call parents once a week (1/143)
12. Buy fresh flowers for the house once a week (1/143) <-- It's so refreshing to have some vibrant colors strewn about our house!

Monthly

3. Create a budget for a month and completely stick to it (0/31) <-- We created our August budget ... now, let's see how well we do
5. Put at least $25 per payday in James’s savings account (1/71)
7. Send a postcard each month to a random friend or family member “just because” (0/33) <-- Bought the postcard, now I need to choose someone and send it!



Annually

Just Get It Done

3. Lose 17 pounds (starting 127) (3/17)
7. Clean out/organize garage <-- Started last weekend
13. Decorate living room <-- Started, will post pics when it's finished
25. Make James 1 month album <-- Started


So, I feel pretty good about my progress so far. It's crazy how putting something into a list suddenly motivates me to get stuff done faster

Now, onto the Disney stuff. There are a couple of changes that I need to share with you.

1. As of now, Candi's parents are no longer coming with us. I wish I could say I'm surprised by this, but it isn't the first time they've backed out of a trip with us. It makes me sad because I really want them to enjoy this time in James' life; but at the same time if they don't want to be there then I can't change that.

2. My Dad found out about the dining plan and I'm having a really hard time coming up with excuses for him not to add it to his reservation. So, my brilliant Christmas plan may not work out so well now.

3. Candi suggested we add a day after the cruise at WDW so we are not either a) rushing to the airport or b) spending hours at the airport because we couldn't time our flight right after the cruise. Really? Who can argue with that?

4. We now have enough points to stay at BLT fully on points ... see #1 as the reasoning why. However; if we keep our reservation at AKL then we could use those points for our hotel after the cruise instead ... hmmmm, decisions, decisions

And now I leave you with a few of my favorite of the daily pics of James I've been taking.