Un-Complicated Disney Planning-Tips #2 , 3, 4,… eh- nevermind.

So I had these big plans of documenting my planning for Orlando. It was going to be informative, well planned… you were all going to think I was an organized genius— and I was going to be sitting back, relaxing because I had nothing left to stress over.

Except- that’s not how things work here.

So every day since I made that adorable Disney count down calendar, I watched my son open up a new door on it and color in a new picture– the trip getting closer and closer- the excitement in his eyes growing more and more… and then suddenly— “Just 2 days til we got to Disney Mommy! Aren’t you excited?”

.. uh …..yea, ……if by excited you mean freaking out and getting gray hairs by the minute thinking about the to-do list… then yes, honey- Mommy is SUPER excited!

Why do I do this? All the time… everything gets put to the last minute.

I also have a bridal shower to go to the day before– you think I’ve even looked at the registry?… and I’m IN the wedding! …. I know… I suck. .. but I don’t mean to suck. I have really good intentions, I just have a constantly growing to do list and children screaming and demanding snacks in the background… and that’s certainly acceptable and understandable– right?

… ok, you’re right… I suck.

Back to Disney– its not that I didn’t do ANY planning- I just have a habbit of setting the bar really high. Here is what I thought I would have had done by now— 2 days before my trip:

  • Packed suitcases- obviously.
  • Matching handmade hairbows to match all of Princess’ outfits (yea this one cracks me up too)
  • House so clean you could eat off the floors
  • Mount Washmore completely tackled, folded and put away
  • Scheduled Posts for both here and for work
  • and a partridge in a pair tree.

Seriously— can you say FAIL?…

Here is what I did get done:

  • 2 HUGE shopping bags full of Disney and Universal licensed character clothes, pajamas and toys– in hopes that I wont have to go broke in the souviner shops… which I will inevitably do anyway. (but seriously- I got a $10 knock off Tinkerbell costume at TJMaxx in lieu of the $40 one in the Disney Store– and $80 on in Disney itself… and a double set of Buzz and Woody PJ’s at Kohl’s for $15 that was retailing in the Disney Store for $30!)
  • 4 pairs of adorable diva sandals for my Princess who will be in a carriage all day
  • dusting and vaccumming (which was probably the biggest accomplishment of the week)
  • and these sites recommended by friends that I have yet to check out -

For all of the in’s and outs of the parks and character breakfasts:

To pre-order diapers and breakfast items for delivery to your hotel

… yea- not quite as insightful as I planned– but hopefully, I’ll learn a few things from the actual experience that I can share with you.

Like-

  • How to keep an 18 month old occupied and avoid being “That Mom” on a 2 1/2 hr plane ride.
  • How to keep your 5 yr old from having melt downs when you refuse to buy 15 oversized buzzlightyear souviner cups or spinny light toys

and

  • How to remain sane survive a trip to Orlando with 2 small children and lots of theme parks– without a single glass of wine.

Warming up for Disney World with Disney On Ice


Back in October at the Bloggers Brunch, I won the super fabulous grand prize, a trip to Orlando Florida!, courtesy of Orlando Travel & Visitors Bureau.

The package includes:

-round trip airfare

-2 nights at the Hyatt

-tickets to Seaworld, Gatorland & Busch Gardens

… but what would a trip to Orlando be without a visit to Mickey & Minnie’s main hub– Disney World!

So we’ll be extending our stay :)

( Stay tuned, as I document all the tips & tricks I find mapping out  our trip)

So, just last week- with perfect timing, my brother in law asked us last week if we’d be interested in box seatst that his company had for Disney on Ice at the Izod Center, here in New Jersey… which we of course jumped on!

We had a super fab time, and are now even more psyched for our upcoming trip… Of course I whrrl’d the experience for all of you interested and thinking about going to the show!

More check-ins at Izod Center
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Giving Back is the New Black

Amongst the every day chaos, the crazy wars, natural disasters and over all depressing-ness that is saturating the news 4 times a day; it seems lately, the Good-deed-do-ers of our society are starting to pop up more and more.

Maybe it is because over all people are just TIRED of hearing the bad stuff, I know I am.
So today I wanted to share the 2 that I thought were the coolest things I’ve heard about… and challenge you all to “Do good, Feel Good”.
“The Lunchnote Promise” (by Oscar Mayer Lunchables)
Remember as a kid your mom would tuck a little note in your lunch box for a fun mid-day surprise, saying “Love you”… “Have a great day, Honey!” … “I’m so proud of you!”….

What do you mean you don’t? .. .. ..

ok, ok, well neither do I ….

However I did have a friend whos mom would often cut out her daughter’s althetic crushes from the local sports section and tape them to her sandwhich with a caption of “I LOVE YOU CHRISTINA” lol … and those have made for stories we are still retelling til this day… Did I mention we were in Highschool?

Point is:
Even if your mom wasn’t June Cleaver, and your dad wasn’t Danny Tanner… admit it- sometimes, you’ve kinda secretly wished they were the head of the PTO and slip you little notes of “Go get em’ Tiger!” -types.

Ok, so maybe not in Highschool, but I’ll tell you what- Christina’s mother’s unconventional notes have made her Legen- (wait for it)- dary!

The REAL point is- Lunch notes, whether sentimental or out right embarassing can make life long memories, and no matter which type of note it is- the over all message is “I Love you”…. and more over, don’t you want to be the star of a “highly acclaimed” blog such as this one in about 15 years? (tee-hee)

Well, Oscar Mayer has come up with a way to bring back the Lunch Note. For every person who takes the lunchnote pledge, Oscar Mayer will donate $5 to Feed America! They also have on their site, a program where you can print out your very own stationary to leave your kids their very own notes taunting them about their h.s. crushes telling them how much you love them.

It’s the simplest do-good deed you can do… so go sign the pledge, taunt your kids and feel good about it! (it takes literally about 5 seconds, but can make memories that last a life time.)
**************
In other Good Deed news, Disney is going to be launching a program in January called

People will be able to go to www.DisneyParks.com to browse the list of volunteer opps through the “Hands On Network” in their area. After their volunteering is done- the volunteers (you) get a free- no-strings attached ticket to The most magical place on earth… Disney! Does it get any better than that?

“It’s a great way to honor guests who are making a positive contribution to their communities,” Disney President and Chief Executive Robert A. Iger said in a statement.
And it is true! …. but Mama didn’t raise no fool.
Disney is luring you into their parks that have been hit by the recession knowing fully that once you get your little tikes in there- its all about “Mommy can I have (fill this in with various over priced snacks and souviner items)
… so, while I think its a great opportunity that will both help you with your next family vacation, and make you leave you all warm and fuzzy from giving back to society– I am also warning you…. make sure you do not enter that park singing “No Tango Dinero”, because as magical as it is- money trees is not yet added to its hat of tricks.

But its for a good cause, I know I plan on doing it… and really who can put a price tag on that warm fuzziness?