Pre-Trip The wait, who is coming and where are we staying PTR Part 2

Hi! Its me again! I am indeed going on a trip in a few weeks but I also have another trip coming up and I wanted to do a PTR to help organize my thoughts :joyfull:
So here we go!
Is it ever an entire family trip without confusion?
Some of you may remember our last big family trip in November of 2016. It was filled with last minute additions to the trip, at least 3 different resort changes, split stays because of resort changes etc etc.
THIS time I was prepared though. This trip has been in the works for at least 3.5 years (I will explain more on that later). We picked out the dates months and months ago....made sure it worked for everyone who wanted to come...booked rooms way back in July...and I gave EVERYONE involved a deadline for changes to who was coming. This deadline was the day before the 180 day booking window so that dining reservations would be all set..............................but were we all set?

On a random side note I was just looking back at my old TRs and my pictures are gone :cry::cry::cry:
Anyway...

Lets start with why?:
Many moons ago when we were on our Princess Half Marathon trip we dreamed up this vacation. This was before we would fall into the Disney trap and go all the time so we thought we would plan a trip 3 years from then so that we wouldn't be sad :joyfull::joyfull: Funny that we went on 12 trips (and one Disneyland one) between then and now!
Anyway, the plan was we would go back to Disney to celebrate my Mom's 5 Year Cancer Free Anniversary. Technically we can't officially say she is 5 years yet so for now we will be saying 4 years until its true...but 5 years is a huge reason to celebrate cancer free because the risk of relapse drastically falls! So, my Mom always said when/if she makes it to 5 years we HAVE to celebrate in Disney :)
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Well, I think I will stop here for now to organize the pictures I want to use. I will leave you in suspense of the drama :p

Next up: who...and another reason why
 
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Doc Disney

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Balki228 said:
For my daughter (almost 2) we picked up a Disney Misting fan bottle from Kohls with a coupon and gave it to her now to get use to for the trip. Also I am glad I read this because did not even think of the previous suggestions of picture of what wearing that day and the phone number!!
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Thats a great idea! We will definitely look into that!
 
Songbird76

Songbird76

Well-Known Member
Gurt said:
Not that iv ever gone to Disney with kids but some helpful tips I picked up for a friend that travelled with children was plenty of zip lock bags for half eaten snacks, take a picture of what they are wearing in the park, (his kids were really bad for seeing something and running off), also something on them with your phone number so if they did run off a CM could easily contact you and finally glow bracelets for evening times.
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We got cheap clip-on lanyards for our kids on the last trip and wrote their names, our phone numbers, and our resort and room number on them so that if they got lost or something, they could call us. It was funny, because they were on a retractable thread, and when we went to HS, we did a character spot meet with chip and dale, who played with those lanyards and kept pulling them out and letting them reel back in. Quite amusing.
 
Doc Disney

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Songbird76 said:
We got cheap clip-on lanyards for our kids on the last trip and wrote their names, our phone numbers, and our resort and room number on them so that if they got lost or something, they could call us. It was funny, because they were on a retractable thread, and when we went to HS, we did a character spot meet with chip and dale, who played with those lanyards and kept pulling them out and letting them reel back in. Quite amusing.
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I just saw this! That’s so cute! We went with the tattoos because Max will for sure take anything else off :joyfull:
 
DryerLintFan

DryerLintFan

Premium Member
Doc Disney said:
Ok....any things you can think of that we should pack for a toddler that aren't obvious?

@dryerlintfan or anyone else? :joyfull:
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I totally missed this!!

I like the safety conversation!! Just remember that cast members cannot search the kid for information, so you either need to make sure it's uncovered and visible right off the bat or train the kid to show the cast members. The cast members frame the situation as Mommy/daddy got lost and you can help me find them, so the kids stays calm. So it's helpful to frame it that way too. "This tattoo will help find Mommy if Mommy gets lost. If you don't see me, show it to someone with a name tag" (or another Mommy with kids)

Also on safety, teach the two year old your full names. It's really strange hearing then call you by it, but there's 300k other "mommy's" in the park and only one you.

Bring a glow in the dark necklace for your stroller. When it's in stroller parking at night time and all the black strollers look the same in the dark, it will help you find yours quickly.

I'm sure you have snacks and toys covered, but make sure you have something small they can play with in lines. Or be prepared to hand over your phone.

Show the two year old ride videos on YouTube before you go. Get them excited about a couple rides you think they'd really like.

Other than that, just the normal tips you see on the boards. Stay hydrated, follow general sleep schedules, bring noise cancelling headphones for them, etc.
 
Doc Disney

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
LadyBelle said:
Congrats to your Mom!!! My mom had surgery in February to remove a 5mm tumor. Good news is all surrounding tissues and lymph nodes were negative. All she has to do now is take medication for the next 5 years. No chemo or radiation.
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Thats great news! My Mom was pretty lucky as well just needed radiation and the 5 year medication which was good!
 
Doc Disney

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
dryerlintfan said:
I totally missed this!!

I like the safety conversation!! Just remember that cast members cannot search the kid for information, so you either need to make sure it's uncovered and visible right off the bat or train the kid to show the cast members. The cast members frame the situation as Mommy/daddy got lost and you can help me find them, so the kids stays calm. So it's helpful to frame it that way too. "This tattoo will help find Mommy if Mommy gets lost. If you don't see me, show it to someone with a name tag" (or another Mommy with kids)

Also on safety, teach the two year old your full names. It's really strange hearing then call you by it, but there's 300k other "mommy's" in the park and only one you.

Bring a glow in the dark necklace for your stroller. When it's in stroller parking at night time and all the black strollers look the same in the dark, it will help you find yours quickly.

I'm sure you have snacks and toys covered, but make sure you have something small they can play with in lines. Or be prepared to hand over your phone.

Show the two year old ride videos on YouTube before you go. Get them excited about a couple rides you think they'd really like.

Other than that, just the normal tips you see on the boards. Stay hydrated, follow general sleep schedules, bring noise cancelling headphones for them, etc.
Click to expand...

Oh I didnt know that about them not being able to look but that makes total sense!
Thank you so much! These are all great tips!
The nice thing is I have my own YouTube channel so we have actually been showing Max videos from the last time he was in Disney. The only thing that seems to stick is that he wants to go down the water slide :joyfull:
We have also been "training him" for several other things as well. For example, he refuses to ride in a stroller at home but in Disney he will ride in one so he can be "like a king." :joyfull: We also tell him all the time that characters are "big - taller than him, but nice and like to give hugs." We probably sound psychotic :hilarious::hilarious: I have also been warning him that if he doesn't behave on the plane he won't get any special prizes (some small toys we got him). Im most worried about travel because it will be just my sister and him :rolleyes:
We will definitely start training him to say my sisters name!
 

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