Giving the Fabutots a Disney Christmas Pre-Trip Report
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LuxeMama · 10-01-2009, 09:34 AM

Hello all!

I was thinking that I could start a pre-trip report and get all of my ideas out as I plan our trip. This will be helpful for me since I've been ill and in the bed with meningitis lately. I'm feeling better, but not at 100%, and the Disney Trip gives me something to look forward to.

Last year, I planned a surprise trip for my husband and kids (who are now 7, 4, and 2). We had a really great time, and received a bounceback offer which was the only way I could cajole my poor little girl with leaving the Disney property. Now, with this trip, I've got kids involved with the planning and they love it. They have watched the planning DVD hundreds of times, take notes and draw little pictures in their "planning notebooks" and even have the Birnbaum's book, "Walt Disney World for Kids" (which I highly recommend for those of you with kids and want them involved with the planning or want to keep them excited).

We were originally going to go in September, but since my DH is currently in Iraq, his leave dates were changed which caused us to move our trip to December. We had everything set, when we were forced to change yet again, so now we will be in the World December 10-14th staying at the Contemporary Bay Lake Tower. Last time we were at the Poly; since we have little ones that love the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, we thought we would stay at one of the monorail resorts again. It was our plan to do MNSSHP again this year, but since we aren't going until December, doing the Christmas party is an absolute must.

I'm a planner by trait and profession-- (I own a wedding planning company) so I like tending to the little details and creating experiences and memories for the entire family. Last time, I made cute little invitations that I slipped under the door each day from a specific character or Mickey himself inviting them to a character meal or themed restaurant. The only thing I'm bummed about is that I initially scored the so-hard to get reservation for Cinderella's Royal Table breakfast but was erroneously told that none of the other princesses would be there...against my better judgment, I canceled and now I can't get a new reservation. We've done Akershus before, so that's my backup, but you know...there's nothing like eating in the castle for a little girl.

I hope to meet more of you by reading your own reports and hope to get your input as I plan this Christmas memory for my own family!

**Colexis Mom** · 10-01-2009, 09:46 AM

Great start!

mike56 · 10-01-2009, 10:09 AM

Thanks for the update.

B.M. · 10-01-2009, 12:39 PM

Great start! I took my kids on a surprise trip last year also (I love surprised), but as yours, they are helping plan this years trip as well. Can't wait to read more.....

emilyandlogansmom · 10-01-2009, 01:41 PM

Sounds good!

I hope you get feeling better soon. 3 young kids and a husband in Iraq...ugh...I can only imagine!

**KMB733** · 10-01-2009, 03:00 PM

Great Start!!!

**chezp** · 10-02-2009, 02:35 AM

Great start!

LuxeMama · 10-04-2009, 02:10 PM

You guys are FABULOUS!

So in between pain pills, long naps, trash TV, and laughing it up with my kids, I found enough energy to begin to make our ADRs online. I was somewhat down and ambivalent about making them since I had to change the date and called in and absolutely NOTHING was available for the new time. You guys know how it is, you wait your 90-180 mark and make your ressies and then have to change it for a week earlier is like death for a WDW planner LOL!

I was able to find a late lunch for Akershus-- my little girl wanted to eat with the pricnesses (and is super eager to eat with Tianna. Any one know if she will be making any other appearances at the meals?) and my little boy wants to eat with Mickey & co. I wanted Chef Mickey's for our last morning, since we are staying at the Contemporary and going to AK on that day, which I don't see as being a long day. I couldn't find one, but got one for the breakfast at Poly, which we've done before, and is close by, so it works. I thought I would try (for grins and giggles) to see if there was anything available for the Royal Table, as this was what my mini me originally wanted so badly. Nothing there. She also wants us to all dress up and go to dinner "in Paris" aka @ Chefs de France. No luck there either. I was able to get a late lunch at 50's Prime Time, which my husband likes. We ate here last year, and he raved about the meatloaf. I wanted to eat there because I heard it was fun with the staff who really get into character. Ours was so-so, but it was still good. My little boy wants to eat at Pizza Planet, and I figured it would be good to do this as a quick dinner as the kids have requested that we wait the 40 days and 40 nights to see Fantasmic.

I thought I'd try again for the Royal Table, because I'm a glutton for punishment, and HOLY CREME BRULEE MARTINIS!!! There was a breakfast available on the day that I wanted it! To say I was thrilled would be the understatement of the millennium. I had to jump on Skype and share my joy with my husband. He suggested I make it a surprise for my daughter, but yeah, it's pretty much shot at this point. Because I spilled the beans

A few questions for those of you who are taking this ride with me and are stopping by: Where would be a good place for us to "dress up" for dinner at Epcot? We won't be too dressed since we plan on enjoy the park after dinner, but enough to indulge my children (hence why my blog readers and industry colleagues have come to know my children as "the fabu-tots" collectively LOL

). I tried the San Angel Inn-- a place we missed on our last trip. I've wanted to try Le Cellier, but thought I would ask some of my Passporters for their suggestions and ideas.

I've been thinking of our days to go like this (please offer your thoughts):

Day 1 Thursday: Drive down (about a 4 hr drive) and possibly attend a show like the Hoop Dee Doo Revue or Mickey's BBQ (if we get there early enough) to kick off our stay.

Day 2 Friday: Epcot :: My kids are little so I know some things will be a bit over their heads, but they are excited about the Kim Possible thing as well as seeing the different countries and activities. There are EMH evening hours, so we may take this day slow, if possible.

Day 3 Saturday: Hollywood Studios :: There are EMH morning hours, and since we are not doing the character breakfast this time, we are going to rush STRAIGHT to the fastpass kiosk to do Toy Story Mania-- something we never did before. My son wants to see Indiana Jones and Star Tours. I'd also like to see the stunt show and take my daughter to see Beauty and the Beast. I am really hoping we can see Fantasmic, but I am not sure if we will make it, truth be told.

Day 4 Sunday: MK :: Decided to visit MK last so that the other parks won't have to compete with the magic of MK. I think since it is my plan to buy tickets for the MVMCP for this night, we can take this day somewhat slow, too. We'll be doing breakfast at the castle (YAY!) and hopefully a trip to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and the Pirate Cave for "make overs". We hope to see some of the kids favorites and just enjoy MK at a slightly slower place since we are coming back later in the evening. Hopefully it won't be too crowded in the evening.

Last Day AK: We'll be doing a Mickey breakfast on this day and then journey over to AK. We missed it last time, and the visit before that, we didn't really stay that long so this is why I picked it for our last day. There's no pressure to really get anything done.

Last time I felt like even things fell in to place, I overplanned a bit. So, I'm hoping that this might be a little looser for us and our little ones. Another thing on my mind is whether or not I will upgrade our dining package. We currently have the free dining which is the 1 TS and 1 CS. We had the deluxe the last time and it felt like it was more suited to our traveling style, since we typically go to all-inclusives and are used to having things included. It was nice to go wherever we wanted for our meals and not have to worry about it.

Well enough blathering from me! Just an update