Can't Believe It!

I can't believe we are only 2 days away from leaving! What else can I NOT believe? I haven't even started PACKING!?!?! I think I just don't know what to pack or something...or I don't want to do it too early maybe? I dunno, but I am starting today for sure. I can't pack for the kids until the very last minute because they only have a couple of pairs of pants! lol. They are getting a ton of new clothes for Christmas, and I really wish that we could let them have it all now because it would make packing so much easier for them!

I have continued to stay on top of the laundry and house cleaning, so I don't have that to do. All the presents are wrapped and the Christmas shopping done except for the "family" gift which we can do later.

We are excited and ready for some time away. I am not sure if I will post again or not. Probably will. ha.

TEN DAYS!

Today is the ten day countdown mark! From here on out we are in single digits! YAY!
It is also the day we can do our online check-in. It supposedly makes checking in quicker and easier when you arrive. And any chance I get to REPEAT my room request (KING BED PLEASE!!!!) I will take it!
I can't believe the trip is almost here! Katie and Noah are also still very excited about "Christmas Camp" at Meme and Grandpa's house. All is well..the tree is decorated...the shopping mostly done (all the major gifts and most of the stocking stuffers) so in the words of Spongebob: "I'm ready, I'm ready...I'm ready ready ready ready!"

19 Days!

We are now to our "teen" digits countdown! I can't believe it! Yesterday we purchased our Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets!!!!! THAT was SO exciting, because until that point it had really just been a just in case we have enough money kind of thing for the trip! 19 days! We will leave on Wednesday night and drive part way, then wake up Thursday morning for a VERY long first day.... So excited!

Travel Documents Arrived!

These are our travel documents that came in the mail today! What an unexpected surprise! I guess time has just flown by the past couple of weeks because we are now down to 26 days until our trip! I can't believe it!!!!
The booklet that is sitting up has our confirmation details in it...our reservations, and vouchers for some things like video game time in the resort arcade, a $15 credit at Planet Hollywood, etc.
The other booklets just have details and tips for our trip. The cutest little luggage tags were included also!
I guess I really have to start putting things together around here! We've got Christmas shopping to get done, Christmas party tickets to buy, and school to finish up!

PAID IN FULL!

After all the planning and all the worry about canceling...

Today, our trip is PAID IN FULL!!!!!!!

YAY!!!!!!

48 days to go!
(which means we have that long to get our Christmas shopping done as well!)

I am SOOOOOOOOO happy!

I had made $385 out of the $490 we needed. So we only had to add $105 extra to make the payoff. That was easy since I am working this weekend and will easily make up for it! I am so grateful to my friend, Laura, who told me about the job at The Pumpkin Patch, and for my mother-in-law who has kept the kids on the weekday mornings so that I could take the job. What an incredibly timed blessing!
In 48 days, Corey and I will be celebrating 10 years of being together at the Happiest Place on Earth! And, Katie and Noah will be enjoying "Christmas Camp at Meme and Grandpa's House!" ha ha...that's what I have decided to call it anyway!

October Excitement

With only 63 days until our trip, I am very excited and nervous! I started my job at the Pumpkin Patch Farm last week. It put a nice little dent in the payoff amount we need, but I will be so relieved when the day has come and gone and we know FOR SURE we are going!
(after that point it would cost us money to cancel, so wouldn't be worth it since the overall cost of the trip isn't that much to begin with.)

Friday, October 23rd is the day that we have to pay off the balance of our trip. At that time we will be 47 days from going on our trip. Counting down for this trip is fun, one of the best parts. It is also a countdown, of sorts, until Christmas! When we get HOME from our trip it will be only 10 days until Christmas.

Anyway, I just wanted to post something on here because I am truly excited and anticipating THE payoff day! Only $380 to go!

Dining Day!

I was up bright and early this morning to get our Advance Dining Reservations for our December Anniversary Trip!
I was disappointed at first because I couldn't get exactly what I wanted on the days I wanted, but I decided to switch around a couple of days so it is going to work out for the best!

So, here is the final itinerary!

Day One: Arrive and Check-In at Pop Century Resort


Evening: Dinner at The Crystal Palace.
This is a character meal with Pooh and Friends, but I have been told you do not have to interact if you don't want! lol. We chose it more for the food because the MENU looks delicious! And since it is a buffet, we can store up lots of energy for...

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party!

Day Two:
This is where I made adjustments. We were going to spend all day at Epcot with extra magic hours in the evening (open till 12:30am!) but I could not get the dining reservation I wanted for Epcot on this day. SO, I decided to just switch it around and instead we are going to do Disney's Hollywood Studios this day. I think it will work out great because all the advice says to avoid the parks with extra magic hours anyway...

Our lunch this day will be at Captain's Grille at the Yacht Club Resort. It is a short boat ride away from Hollywood Studios, so that will be something fun to do! The MENU here looks great also! Seafood and more!

I also made an end of the night reservation at the Sci-Fi Dine in Theater.
Doesn't it look FUN?!
We will probably just grab a snack/appetizer here.
We wanted to experience it more than anything!

Day Three:
We will spend this entire day experiencing Christmas at
Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure!
They have a "mini" Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
(with actual balloons from the parade!) and a Christmas Grinch Show. I can't wait!

Both of those parks close relatively early, so we will head over for a late dinner at Boma.
This was at the top of my list! I loved it last time we went and can't wait to do it again!
The MENU is exotic and delicious!

Last Day:
Our last day we will spend at Epcot.
I worked our day at Epcot around the availability of dining at Le Cellier (in the Canada area). It is boasted as THE best place to dine at Disney World, so I hope it does not disappoint! The MENU definitely sounds great!
I actually ate at this restaurant MANY years ago when I went to Epcot with my family, but that was a long time ago and before the Disney Dining Plan and making reservations!
Instead of posting a photo of the restaurant, I found this photo of a dessert offered there.
Doesn't it look yummy?! (and cute!)

Besides these reserved meals, we also have a Counter Service meal and a snack each day included with our FREE dining plan! From looking at the menus, it seems we will spend about $60 in tips out of pocket. Oh, plus whatever we spend on our out of pocket late night snack at Sci-Fi Dine In. NOT BAD for FOUR days worth of food at Disney World for two people!