Just starting to plan -- any advice

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Registered: 10-12-2005
Just starting to plan -- any advice
4
Mon, 05-15-2006 - 10:54am

We want to start planning a FL disney vacation for this Christmas. It will be DH, Myself and DD who will be 5, and also DMIL. There are a lot of issues with this besides the joy of experiencing Disney with DD. MIL has co-opted the family Christmas. She visited at Christmas time because that was the only time, as a teacher, she could get off to spend with her only grandchild. Then she retired and I thought I would get a reprieve but I was informed that it had become "a tradition" and she had to spend Chrismas with us. Well last year was hell for me. MIL is high maintenance, has a totally incompatable child rearing philosophy and is jealous of both me and DD. But I can live with this if we can transfer the cooking and cleaning responsibility to someone else. And Fl disney has the added benefit of being close to my brother so I can spend part of the holidays with my family for the first time in five years. And DD really wants to go to disney. And we really want to take her there. This is what we want to include:
Hotel accomodations near Disney with a suite for us three and a separate room for MIL. We will proably stay 3-4 nights.
Princess time -- 5 year old girl
Jungle safari time -- DD is big on animals and a devoted lion king fan.
Places to eat for all of us and MIL if she doesn't like
Possible activities for MIL- Note she is not going to want to do any extensive walking. She will probably spend a good bit of time watching TV in her room.
Seasonal events if available
But we are in early planning stages so any other ideas would be appriciated.

TIA
B

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 05-15-2006 - 1:01pm

I have 2 Princesses of my own so I will give my princess advice. I know lots of people would recommend the castle meal for Princess time but we liked the Epcot one SO much. We ate breakfast with Jasmine, Aurora, Belle and maybe Snow White? I don;t remember for sure my notes say breakfast with 5 princesses so I am missing someone I know Cinderella was not there. It was good food lots of Princess time my daughters LOVED it. We also did Dinner at 1900 Park fare with Cinderella The Fairy GodMother Prince Charming and Suzy and Perla (Cinderella girl mice) and Goofy. No he is not a princess but he must feel like Royalty. (1900 Park fare also Does Breakfast with Alice in Wonderland and Mary Poppins not Princesses but girly) Dinner was a good Buffet even my Youngest (we'll call him Prince Ryan for now since he isn;t included in the princess talk) found alot to eat)


You can see Belle tell a Story by the Castle The times are posted by the doorway, We found Snow White for pictures by a Wishing Well (I hope that was WDW we did go to DisneyLAND once and I get my castles confused)


We saw Pocohontis at MGM Belle again at Epcot Jasmine by the Magic Carpets in Magic Kingdom and In Epcot.


I also can not PERSONALLY recomend Getting your princess a makeover at Bibbidi Bobbidy Botique (like Club LIbby Lu) as we have not done it yet BUT we do have reservations for it on this trip) It has awesome reviews.


 

amberglittery.gif picture by nickyglomski

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Mon, 05-15-2006 - 2:38pm

I can totally identify with the in-laws issue! I don't have a MIL (she passed away before I even met DH), but have a "beaut" of a sister-in-law. Last time they visited our house, I left the house to run errands and she totally rearranged my kitchen (cabinets, droors, you name it!). It took me a year to find everything.

I cannot give any advice about off-site accomodations - I actually need some for that myself! But I can second Amber's opinion about the Princess breakfast at Norway in Epcot. WE did that one 3 years ago and it was really great. We saw Aurora/Sleeping Beauty, Mulan, Belle and Mary Poppins. The breakfast was pretty good...there was plenty to eat.

Probably my favorite things at Animal Kingdom were "Festival of the Lion King" (awesome show) and the Jungle Trek in Asia.

Good luck with your planning. It will be fun!

Tracie

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 05-15-2006 - 5:34pm

More princess stuff to add to Amber's (and I may repeat, so sorry in advance).

There's a special princess meet & greet tent in Toontown. Cinderella's usually there with friends.

Snow White meets & greets in Fantasyland, usually with Dopey...quite possible at the wishing well, but we've seen her in the old Skyway loading docks close to Liberty Square.

Ariel can be seen in her Grotto in Fantasyland.

Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) we've seen at Epcot (International Gateway between England and France) and on Main St. in the morning at MK.

Beauty & the Beast Live on Stage and the Little Mermaid shows at MGM.

Pocahontas has a show at Animal Kingdom.

If you consider Mulan in the princess category, she can be found in China.

HTH

Alysha


Avatar for carolejd
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Registered: 01-13-1999
Mon, 05-15-2006 - 5:57pm

I second all the princessy stuff, we've done most of it with our own little princess (now 8)lol!

As for seasonal activities there will be all the Christmas decorations for one thing which are supposed to be spectacular with different themes/ trees etc at each resort as well as the parks. There will also be the special Christmas party nights in Magic Kingdom, you have to buy tickets for this separate from the park entry, but it should be a blast.

Might I also congratulate you on a clever way to start a new "tradition"? get some space away from your MIL and visit your own family at the same time - you are one smart cookie!

Have fun planning

Carole

Carole