The cousins are growing up...finally a trip without diapers! A March 2018 trip with 13

mommaof3boys

Mouseketeer
Joined
Jan 14, 2012
Hi! My name is Katie. I have 4 kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. I've been married to my husband, Peter, for 12 years. We are high school sweethearts and have been together for 20 years. This will be our 3rd trip to Disney as family.

Photo0248FourBySix by Katie Todd, on Flickr

ry=400 by Katie Todd, on Flickr



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The cast for this trip:

Me, Katie, the main planner for our family. I'm a Preschool teacher and love everything Disney. My favorite characters are Minnie, Belle, and Daisy. Favorite rides: Peter Pan, Toy Story Midway Mania, and Mine Train

DH, Peter, he goes along with all of my Disney Plans but doesn't have the same love for Disney World that I do. His favorite character is Donald Duck. Favorite Rides: Soarin and BTMRR

Photo0357FourBySix by Katie Todd, on Flickr

DS1, Trenton, he is 11. This will be his third trip to Disney, the first he was 5, second he was 8, and now he will be going at 11. His favorite characters are Stitch, Goofy, and Woody. Favorite rides: BTMRR, TSMM, and Mine Train

DS 2, Brody, 9 This will be his 3rd trip to the world. He is a Leap Day baby and our first family trip was for his first real birthday at 4. Our second trip he was 7 and this time he will be 10. Favorite Characters: Jack Skellington, Stitch, and Buzz. Favorite Rides: TSMM, KJ Safari, and Peter Pan

DS 3, Ronan, 6 This is also his 3rd trip. Our first trip he was only 6 months old, second trip he was 3.5 and this time he will be 6. Favorite Characters: Figment, Sorcerer Mickey, and Chip and Dale. Favorite Rides: Mine Train, Figment, and Mickey's Phillharmagic

DD, Annabelle, 3. She wasn't born yet for our first trip. Our second trip she was 16 months and this go around she will be 4. Favorite Characters: Belle, Ariel, and Rapunzel. Favorite Rides: IASW, Figment, and Little Mermaid

Also joining us on this trip, my parents, Mimi and Granddad. They have also gone on our other family vacations to the world. My brother's family will also be coming along. They are Brett, Haley, Jackson 8, Avery 6, and Abby 5.

Mimi and Granddad
Photo0380FourBySix by Katie Todd, on Flickr

The whole crew our first trip
Photo0322FourBySix by Katie Todd, on Flickr

The whole crew from our last trip
11075248_10100259753748830_3679561287718062016_n by Katie Todd, on Flickr
The Logistics for the trip:

Dates: March 17-March 24

Hotel: Wyndham Bonnet Creek 4 bedroom Presidential Suite

This my first attempt at a trip report. I will add photos as I figure that out :tongue:
 
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Will be following along. I am also in the planning stages for April 14 - 22, 2018. Contemplating a pre-trip/trip report myself....
 
Bippity Boppity Boutique


Since we are staying offiste, I had to call each day to make dining reservations. Our 180 days started September 20. Our first park day is March 18, we plan to be in MK that day. The only reservation I made for the day is a Bippity Boppity Boutique princess:. The appointment is for 12:55 at the MK location.

I was so excited about this appointment. Our last two trips have been all about the boys. On our last trip, Annabelle was only 16 months. She didn't really like characters and hadn't started liking princesses yet.


A week after making the appointment Annabelle gave herself a home haircut. We had to cut her hair pretty short, so I’m not sure we will keep the appointment. I will wait and see how her hair grows. The joys of a 3 year old :cutie:

21765047_10104317246769831_2653711710596156822_n by Katie Todd, on Flickr

22007325_10104321684666251_3284333831585991925_n by Katie Todd, on Flickr
 
Dining update #1
I wasn't going to book many ADRs. We have a large family, and I find character meals to be really expensive. This trip two of our kids qualify as adults, so that adds even more to our cost. On September 21st, I woke up at 5:30 cst to get ready for work. I decided to check the app and see what was available. I've read so many great things about the Bon Voyage Breakfast. I found a 7:35 time and decided to book it. I'm not sure that we will keep the reservation, but it was one I really want to try. My boys like princesses, and my daughter would absolutely love it! I mean our dog's name is Flynn Rider!

Our Flynn
21616231_10104297259205071_3879254756557738453_n by Katie Remsberg, on Flickr

Our Rapunzel
14590487_10103342047487011_1372183835416383104_n by Katie Remsberg, on Flickr
 
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Dining Update #2
Our third day, March 20, we plan to be at Hollywood Studios. I did not make any dining reservations for this day.

I again woke up at my usual 5:30 am cst and got on the app to book a meal for this day. I really didn't have any difficulty getting the meals or times we wanted. I didn't even log on right when the meals opened.

Day 4, March 21, we will be heading back to Epcot. Our group always plans to do one meal together. Keeping 13 people on the same schedule is hard, so one big meal works for us. We made a breakfast reservation for Ohana. We got a 7:30 am time slot. We have never eaten here, but my kids love Stitch, so we are looking forward to it. We plan to do the meal and then take the monorail over to Epcot.
 
Dining Update #3
Our 5th day, March 22, will be spent in MK. I decided to add a lunch ADR at Be Our Guest. Last trip we had dinner at BOG and ate in the library. We loved this dinner and loved meeting Beast at dinner. To save on cost, we decided to do lunch. I know we won't get to meet Beast but at least we will get to eat in the castle. I'm fine if I only get to eat a cupcake with the grey stuff. Our reservation is for 12:55.
 


Following along! Traveling with a big group would be fun! You have a beautiful family. I hope your DD's hair grows fast :bride: Good luck with the rest of your planning. My sis and I went in March and the weather was great.
 
Following along! Traveling with a big group would be fun! You have a beautiful family. I hope your DD's hair grows fast :bride: Good luck with the rest of your planning. My sis and I went in March and the weather was great.

Thank you! We have always gone in March and have had great weather. This trip should be lots of fun. All of the kids are out of diapers, done with naps, and 40 inches :cheer2:. It will change the way we are able to tour the parks.
 
Lodging
My parents are Wyndham owners, so we always stay at Wyndham Bonnet Creek. We love the pools, splash pad, location, and rooms. We will all stay in a 4 Bedroom Presidential Suite. The 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, full kitchen and laundry can't be beat. Our last trip we had a great firework view.

floor plan for 4 bedroom, image borrowed from google
0c516d00cc8e0929e1941c8ff9f42c27--vacation-resorts-vacation-rentals by Katie Remsberg, on Flickr

14250_10100255596110770_8340196496609790030_n by Katie Remsberg, on Flickr

image borrowed from google
Unknown by Katie Remsberg, on Flickr
The splash pad
11059235_10102215341968901_6519069053793814612_n by Katie Remsberg, on Flickr

Our fireworks view
11083786_10102206059925191_8036146782550904441_n by Katie Remsberg, on Flickr
 
My kids don't know that we are going to Disney in March. I am wanting to give them something to open at Christmas that reveals the trip. I'm thinking of giving them Magicbands and an autograph book. They have never had magic bands and have mentioned many times that they want them if we ever go back to Disney. We did autograph books our first trip but not our second trip. Lately, they've been really into looking at their books from the first trip.
 
Not much going on in the way of planning at this point. I haven't changed any ADR's, yet. :rotfl2:I've made a list of potential FP, but that is still a ways off. Since we will be telling the kids at Christmas, they will get to help choose FP. All of my kids are 40 inches and for the most part pretty brave. I'm excited for my youngest 2 to get to try some more rides.

In non-Disney related news, my kids have all chosen their Halloween costumes. I have two Disney and two non-Disney. My 11 year old is going to be the Mad Hatter, 9 year old Ben 10, 6 year old a Stormtrooper, and 3 year old Poppy from Trolls. I'm a preschool teacher, so my team always dresses in a theme. We are doing Trolls this year. I'm going as Satin and the other teacher is going to be Chenille. Last year we were the Clubhouse gang.

Picture of Annabelle today in her Haunted Mansion Mickey Mouse shirt
22491840_10104370562270141_5969845778592412118_n by Katie Remsberg, on Flickr

A picture of our Early Childhood team last halloween
14907664_10103341439585251_4030902471214707431_n by Katie Remsberg, on Flickr
 
Nothing new to report in Disney news! Still throwing around ideas to reveal our trip at Christmas.

Yesterday was Halloween. It was a cold one here in Kansas. My kids were Mad Hatter, Ben 10, Storm Trooper, and Poppy. They had a lot of fun dressing up for school, trick or treating down our Main Street, and trick or treating our neighborhood.

22852898_10104408611329521_990222562229058582_n by Katie Remsberg, on Flickr

22885859_10104410179736421_5462790045448555980_n by Katie Remsberg, on Flickr

23031675_10104408611324531_5048623081143214525_n by Katie Remsberg, on Flickr

22894019_10104408611339501_5009688075054513917_n by Katie Remsberg, on Flickr
 
75 days until travel begins!
78 days until our first park day!

It's been awhile since I updated this pre-trip report. We did the big reveal to all of the kids on Christmas Eve. Now, I feel like we can really plan! We have always stayed offsite, and my kids have never had magic bands. We wrapped up magic bands for each kid and had them unwrap them at the same time. My 6 year old was a little confused when he unwrapped his. He said, "It's something Disney!?" All of my kids figured the next time we would be going back to Disney would be for our Leap Day baby's next "real" birthday. They were ecstatic to find out we will be going much sooner.

My 4 year old daughter was only 16 months the last time we went. She is so excited to meet all of the princesses. As am I! We haven't done much "girly" Disney.

Here is a picture of all of the cousins after opening their magic bands!

25660310_10104555622862231_8521879403293645079_n by Katie Remsberg, on Flickr
 
We all headed back to work/school today after our Christmas break. The kids were all excited to tell their friends and teachers about their upcoming Disney trip. It's so cold here. I've been dreaming of warmer weather. Looks like Disney is pretty chilly right now, though.

I just read that Toy Story Mania is closing in phases before the opening of Toy Story Land. I really hope it is not closed for our march trip. :worship: It is my kids favorite ride!

I think I'm going to have to cancel Annabelle's BBB appointment. Her hair is just not growing after her home hair cut. She's so upset with herself. She keeps saying that she wants Rapunzel hair and wishes she never cut it :(
 
We bought our park tickets over the weekend :bounce:

Now, we just have to wait for our 30 day window. I'm excited that they changed the fp reservation time to 7 am from midnight. I have to wake up early for work, so this is easier for me.

I'm not holding out any hope to get FOP. I do really want 7 dwarves, though. We had no trouble getting it 30 days out on our last trip, and the ride was newer. Now, when I've been on playing around with fp, there doesn't seem to be any available 30 days out.

I'm starting to get outfits together. I will post in another post what we have so far :cool1:
 
We will not do matchy matchy outfits on our trip. I do want to coordinate the kids on some days. I have started planning some outfits.

My kids are big toy story fans, so Hollywood studios day will be Toy Story Themed
IMG_5562 by Katie Remsberg, on Flickr

One of our magic kingdom or Epcot days they will be Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and Minnie. I still need to get the Goofy shirt

IMG_5561 by Katie Remsberg, on Flickr

I've bought Annabelle a few outfits from a Facebook page. She will wear the Rapunzel dress to the Bon Voyage breakfast. The Magic Kingdom outfit she will wear to Magic Kingdom. I'm not sure about the Belle dress either Magic Kingdom or Epcot.
IMG_5564 by Katie Remsberg, on Flickr
IMG_5563 by Katie Remsberg, on Flickr
IMG_5567 by Katie Remsberg, on Flickr

I need to get or make the boys more shirts. Annabelle needs one more outfit. I really like the "squad goals" shirts I've seen or the "I'm just here for the snacks" type shirts.
 
Just found this report, and started following along. Your pictures are really cute!

I think I'm going to have to cancel Annabelle's BBB appointment. Her hair is just not growing after her home hair cut. She's so upset with herself. She keeps saying that she wants Rapunzel hair and wishes she never cut it :(

I've heard they can do fun things even with short hair.
 

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