April Foolin’-Family's First Trip (BACK! A glimpse at the TR)

[dreamer17555]

April 1st through the 6th I will be leading my family on our very First Family trip to WDW. Squee!

I guess I should start with introductions. I’m Becca (Hi, Becca!) I am 24 with two adorable children DD- soon to be 6 (Cat) and DS-10 months (James) and then my DH (Matt) who acts like a big kid most of the time.

Me (Becca)- I am a SHAM and go to UNCG where I am getting my teaching degree. I am a Disney lover. I have been to WDW 5 times growing up the most recent being in 2003 with my best friend and I have been to Disneyland more times than I can count, also California Adventure.

DH (Matt)- Has never been to Disney. Ever. Loves all things Pixar. I have watch Finding Nemo and Cars with him more times than I can stand. Good movies but he needs to branch into other Disney pictures. Oh and he loves Lion King, quotes it non stop. “He’s so small and all alone. Can we keep him?”

DD6 (Cat)- In Kindergarten. Loves to dance, and dance, and dance. (If that got tedious you are starting to get a picture of a week at our house) Does Competition Dance and is at class 5 hours a week. Has been Disney brainwashed since I dressed her up as Minnie Mouse at 9 months. Room is a shrine to Ariel but has never been to WDW. This is her first trip.

Cat at her third annual recital in May:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/mom001.jpg

DS-10months (James)- Is not going to go with us. I know I am terrible but it is DD and DH first trip and I just can’t picture it going well. He is staying with my mother who loves to spoil so he should be in good hands. Now that I have stated my piece you my throw rotten eggs my way. :: Puts on helmet and goggles ::

A Few Pictures of the Crew:

Everyone:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/family.jpg

Me, Matt, & Cat
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/family2.jpg

And My Favorite Cat and James
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/family3.jpg

So how did this whole WDW idea come up?

Well I have been daydreaming about a Disney trip for quiet sometime and mentioned this to DH. He was a little hesitant but after seeing something on the Travel Channel about a Disney Cruise thought that would be a good idea. We crunched the numbers and the Cruise was too much this go round but a 6 day/ 5 night stay was not.

I booked the trip in late November and spent Christmas thinking of nothing else. We decided on the Pop Century even though I tried really hard to convince him to stay at the Poly (that extra $1800 really hurt my selling strategy-lol) and I decided to get the Deluxe DDP. Why?! And it sooo much food! And are you guys really fat or something???? No we are not really fat and it is a lot of food but I wanted to do tons of Character meals for DD6 and also a dinner show. I also plan to be wasteful and not eat everything but sample everything. I might not eat all of my dessert but I at least want to try a bite.

So it was settled. Pop century April 1-6 with the Deluxe DDP. I have been giddy ever since I booked it. Oh look out WDW, here we come.

Next Time: My itinerary and ADR’s

[dreamer17555]

So I when I booked this trip I had heard about DDP, something vague like "get it" and so I followed the little vague voice in my head and was just about to click on 'Magic Your way with Dining' when all of a sudden my eye caught sight of the word 'Deluxe'. 'Deluxe' that sounds all cool and impressive. So I read the description and thought:

Do I really need 3 TS a day?

Of Course, not. But you don't really Need a disney trip either.

But it is so much money...

Yes but think, Coral Reef, Tons of Character Meals, a Dinner Show!

Oh yeah... but...

But Nothing. We are getting the 'Deluxe Plan' After all Deluxe sounds so cool!

You have a point.

And so I now have 5 night\ 6 day trip with DxDDP which means each person has 15 lovely Credits to use up. Oh man I started digging through Tour Guides and websites trying to think of all the resturants I had never tried and all the ones I had loved as a child. This took longer and was harder than I had thought. You have to know which parks you will be in which days (better check calendars and EMH's) and also have a game plan on time. I strated slow, adding just a few meals, and then calling back to adjust those ADR's, only to call back and readjust them, and maybe I want to add one more meal and finally I got something that looks like this:


April 1, Tuesday

3:00 Check in at Pop Century

4:30 1900 Park Fare

Here is where I am crossing my fingers for the rumored PPP


April 2, Wednesday

7:00 Chef Mickey’s Breakfast- I am guessing I will need to get a cab for this one, otherwise I would have to drive back to the hotel to take the bus to MK.

9:00 Magic Kingdom (Be at ropes at 8:45)

2:30 Back to Hotel Swim\Nap

4:00 Cat to Neverland Club

Head to Epcot

5:10 Le Cellier


April 3, Thursday

6:30 Wake up

8:00 Magic Kingdom (EMH- at ropes by 7:30am)

11:30 Lunch at Crystal Buffet

After Lunch Head to Epcot

4:00 Leave Epcot for Polynesian

5:15 Aloha Luau Dinner- I heard great things about Hoop Dee Do but Matt said he would prefer the Luau. Le Sigh.

Back to Magic Kingdom

9:00 Spectromagic


April 4, Friday

6:30 Wake up

Be at Animal Kingdom Gates at 7:35

8:05 Tucker House How do you do breakfast before the park opens? Does a CM walk you back or what?

Epcot in afternoon

2:30 Lunch at Living Seas

5:00 Cat to Neverland Club -I know I am sure am dropping my kid off a lot aren't I? But she needs to play with other kids. She is crazy social like that.

9:30 Sci-Fi Drive In- So the food is bad. I loved this place as a kid, it is just so well themed!


Saturday April 5

6:30 Wake up, Small breakfast

8:00 Hollywood Studios (EMH- The morning EMH's are good right? Right???)

11:00 Lunch at Prime Time Café

5:00 Dinner at Mama Melrose

8:30 Fantasmic Show

Pack up


Sunday April 6

Check Out

To Epcot

8:30am Akershus Princess Breakfast

To Magic Kingdom

12:30 Whispering Canyon Café - I heard they don't "perform" at lunch. Anyone know if this is true or not?


So that is my great plan. If Anyone is reading (Hello? Is Anyone out there?)I would love to know what you think.

-Becca-

[GoofyaboutMickey]

12:30 Whispering Canyon Café - [COLOR="Magenta"]I heard they don't "perform" at lunch. Anyone know if this is true or not?


-Becca-



It's true. The lunch is no where near as much fun as the dinner. :rolleyes:

[dreamer17555]

It's true. The lunch is no where near as much fun as the dinner. :rolleyes:

Sigh. Thanks for the info. After hearing that I called up and managed to snag an 1:00 ADR for CRT. I think it will be a great way to end the trip. I am just worried after seeing the Princess at Breakfast that they might look different at lunch? My daughter still believes in Magic but it too smart for her own good. Hmmm...

-Becca-

[Phibbles]

Do I really need 3 TS a day?

April 2, Wednesday
7:00 Chef Mickey’s Breakfast- I am guessing I will need to get a cab for this one, otherwise I would have to drive back to the hotel to take the bus to MK.
5:10 Le Cellier

April 3, Thursday
11:30 Lunch at Crystal Buffet
5:15 Aloha Luau Dinner- I heard great things about Hoop Dee Do but Matt said he would prefer the Luau. Le Sigh.

April 4, Friday
8:05 Tucker House How do you do breakfast before the park opens? Does a CM walk you back or what?
2:30 Lunch at Living Seas
9:30 Sci-Fi Drive In- So the food is bad. I loved this place as a kid, it is just so well themed!

Saturday April 5
11:00 Lunch at Prime Time Café
5:00 Dinner at Mama Melrose
8:30 Fantasmic Show

Sunday April 6
8:30am Akershus Princess Breakfast


Do you need 3 TSs? No, but I would take it, if my wife would let me. :teeth:

For Chef Mickey, I am sure there will be a bus going somewhere that early in the morning. Just take that bus and transfer from it's destination to the hotel. You should be able to do it without paying for a cab. Then after breakfast you can walk to MK.

HDDR is great, but we loved the Luau too. You will be fine.

Are you doing the Fantasmic package on 4/5? I have read it is good idea for VIP seating at the show.

[dreamer17555]

Do you need 3 TSs? No, but I would take it, if my wife would let me. :teeth:

For Chef Mickey, I am sure there will be a bus going somewhere that early in the morning. Just take that bus and transfer from it's destination to the hotel. You should be able to do it without paying for a cab. Then after breakfast you can walk to MK.

HDDR is great, but we loved the Luau too. You will be fine.

Are you doing the Fantasmic package on 4/5? I have read it is good idea for VIP seating at the show.


HDDR sounded okay but DH wanted the Luau so Luau it is. I mean he puts up with me talking non stop about this trip its the least I could do right?

And yes we are doing the Fantasmic Package with Mama Melrose. Really thats the only reason we are doing Mama Melrose. I don't think I could stand another Buffet and I really hate to give up 2TS so... yeah. Its the only meal that really isn't "Special" but it will be fine.

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

So yes I am completely crazy. Feel pity for my DH, trust me, he’s earned it.

So after hearing about the 40% off room pin codes I got to thinking, what if I got one? I mean it would be wasting it to use it on Pop. I had visions in my head of Wilderness Lodge. I have never been there but have always wanted to. I took out my calculator. If I did by some miracle get a code it would only be… carry the one… eep! $700 more. SO I call DH (at work- I told you- pity the poor man)

Me: Honey there are these 40% off codes going around Disney

Him: Okay?

Me: And if I got one, which I don’t have, but if I did, could we stay at the Wilderness Lodge?

Him:…

Me: It’s a Deluxe but I have always wanted to stay there and it is only a quick boat ride to the MK. You like boats! Wait. Do you like boats?

Him: They are okay, I guess…

Me: Well It would save travel time and it is supposed to be really amazing and its only $700 more with the code if I get it.

Then he mentioned something about “if you think that’s best I guess so” and said he really needed to get back to work.

So then I start to freak, what if I don’t get a code? Then how much are we talking? I don’t even dare to calculate that expense when suddenly it hits me I bet we could do a longer trip at Pop for the same price as WL with the fable code that I don’t even have yet.

I start punching in numbers. It’s true. We could. Well WL sounds amazing but two extra nights sounds even better-the catch, DH job. He works retail now, installing computers so taking off that much time…. really hard to do. But like a sign his friend calls about a new job that opened up where he works. M-F, 8 to 5 and his boss has heard about DH and hasn’t listed the job publicly if his resume looks good its pretty much his. We should hear back tomorrow and boy do I need some pixie dust and some prayers. DH would love this job; his current job is killing him. So if you can keep us in your thoughts it would be much appreciated.

Last night I then run the new plan of staying longer past him and then past my mom (she will be watching DS1) Surprisingly they both go for it, though poor DH is very confused about what happened to WL.

Today I couldn’t stand it and decided to go ahead and book the trip out longer; we still have sometime in which to change before our 45day window of evil arrives.

I call CRO and get a very sweet CM who tells me there is a pin attached to my name! Woohoo!:woohoo: Up until March 15th…. Le Sigh:sad2:. She manages to get us another two nights at Pop. Instead of arriving on Tuesday we will come in on Sunday March 30th and stay till Sunday April 6th. But in the process I lose my preferred room. Boo. I really wanted to be in the 60’s and close to the pool but alas no. Still now it is $100 less than I thought so…. It can’t be all bad right?:goodvibes

Up Next: 7 Night on DxDDP- I make even more ADR’s or Becca eats everything but the kitchen sink

[swwake]

OH my goodness! What a beautiful family you are! I haven't read the PTR yet, but I had to comment on how gorgeous all of you are!

[swwake]

Here's your pixiedust: pixie dust and prayers that DH gets the new position. Can't wait to hear.

[dreamer17555]

OH my goodness! What a beautiful family you are! I haven't read the PTR yet, but I had to comment on how gorgeous all of you are!


::Blushes:: Thank you. I really feel blessed to have such great kids. My mom tells me all the time that it isn't fair, that I should have been stuck with children like me ;) Luckily I dodged that bullet.

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

Here's your pixiedust: pixie dust and prayers that DH gets the new position. Can't wait to hear.

Thank so much! I am so nervous. He really wants this job and he really is dying at his current one. Everything he does is wrong- or thats how he feels. He just hates the idea of con-ing people into getting things that they don't need. He is not made for retail.

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

So update time: Matt (DH) has an interview tomorrow! Happy thoughts everyone!


So now it is brand new itinerary time! Yes when you go more days everything gets all topsy turvey! And Also I got to make more ADR’s. Did I mention that I love food? Because I truly do. This is probably why my little weight loss ticker at the bottom isn’t moving steady to 30 but that is another post- probably for tomorrow night.

So yes I am planning a lot of meals. I like food and a lot of Disney restaurants are almost an attraction in themselves. I am also doing very heavily on the character meals because I like the idea of not waiting in line at the park to see them. AC is my friend. That being said any thoughts are very appreciated.

March 30th, Sunday- New Arrival Day! Yea!
3:00 Check in at Pop Century

So here I am thinking what to do? The extra day is like $6 more but I don’t know if I will be able to drag DD6 from Magic Kingdom back to Pop to change and then to the California Grill. So I am leaning more to a swim\rest day. We are driving and I think a lot of people underestimate how much the kids just want to play in the pool. Thoughts?

8:00 California Grill

March 31st, Monday
6:30 Wake up

8:00 1900 Park Fare – To see Mary Poppins and hopefully the Mad Hatter

Magic Kingdom Must See List
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Pirate of the Caribbean
Aladdin’s Magic Carpets
Jungle Cruise

7:30 Whispering Canyon Yes it is latish for DD6 but I think she can handle it and will perk right up at the antics. I am not planning a nap\swim so after dinner is straight back to Pop

April 1st, Tuesday
6:30 Wake up

7:30 'Ohana Character Breakfast

To Magic Kingdom -9:00? Hopefully?

1:30 Back to Pop(Swim\Nap)- And to Change DD6 into her Cinderella Dress I just ordered. Man Disney is already getting so pricey and I’m not even there yet! Of course if a long fabled P&P party finally gets announced we will instead be dressing her as Giselle and I will be spending the next several nights making a Megara costume for me and a Hades costume for DH.

4:30 1900 Park Fare – The Cinderella dinner. I think the step sisters look like so much fun!

9:00 Illuminations in Epcot (8:00 Find Seats)- This is of course if there is no P&P party.

April 2, Wednesday
6:00 Wake Up, put DD6 in her Minnie Sundress for cute photo ops.

7:00 Chef Mickey’s Breakfast (Contemporary Resort)- I am thinking I will need a cab to this. Oh well. It’s the first sitting which means we should make Epcot in enough time to maybe do the rope drop

9:00 Epcot (Be at ropes at 8:45)

Epcot Must See List
Soarin
Spaceship Earth
Innovation
Journey into Imagination
Honey I Shrunk the Audience
The Seas with Nemo and Friends
Turtle Talk with Crush

11:00 Garden Grill- Now I could give this up but I want to see Chip and Dale! I know … you are an adult… blah, blah blah. But they were so much fun when I was a kid!. I’m keeping it. :: sticks out tongue::

4:00 Drop DD6 off at Neverland Club- She will have a blast and so will Mommy and Daddy.

Head to Epcot

5:10 Le Cellier- The food here sounds like heaven:cloud9: and a meal alone! Woo hoo!:cool1:

Then DH and myself are park hopping all over to hit us some thrill rides!

Animal Kingdom (Open till 10:00)
Everest
Dinosaur

Magic Kingdom (Open till 11:00)
Space Mountain
Haunted Mansion
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder Railroad

11:00 Pick up DD6. I think she will be asleep but if not I am sure she will be okay.

April 3, Thursday
6:30 Wake up

8:00 Magic Kingdom (EMH- at ropes by 7:30am)

Magic Kingdom Must See ListWinnie the Pooh
Peter Pan
It’s a Small World
Philharmagic
Buzz Light Year
Monsters Inc.

11:30 Lunch at Crystal Buffet

4:30 Leave Epcot for Polynesian

5:15 Aloha Luau Dinner (last 2 hours-Polynesian)

Back to Magic Kingdom

9:00 Spectromagic (arrive at 8:00 get seats)- yes this is a Long day but I think the Luau will probably get everyone a second wind, if not well I will cry but we can skip Spectro.

April 4, Friday
6:30 Wake up

Be at Animal Kingdom Gates at 7:45

8:05 Tucker House – I love ADR’s before the park opens!

Animal Kingdom Must See List
Kilimanjaro Safaris (20 Mins)
Festival of the Lion King 10:30 11:30, 1:00 (30 Mins)
Finding Nemo the Musical 10:00, 11:30 (30 Mins)
Kali River Rapids ? Not sure about this. How wet do I really want to get?

1:45 Head to Epcot

2:30 Lunch at Living Seas- I have doubts about park hopping for this but I loved it as a child so hopefully Cat (DD6) will too

5:00 Cat to Neverland Club- Take two. I am really banking that she will love it, otherwise this whole plan goes up in smoke.

And DH and I once again do the thrill rides!

Epcot (Open till 8:00)
Test Track
Mission Space?

Hollywood Studios (Open till 10:00)
Tower of Terror
Rockin Rollercoaster

9:30 Sci-Fi Drive In- I know the food is bad. DH wants to try it. He saw it on the Travel Channel.

Saturday April 5
6:30 Wake up

8:00 Hollywood Studios (EMH- at entrance by 7:45)

Hollywood Studios Must See List
Star Tours
Muppet Vision 3-D (17 Mins)
Little Mermaid- (starts at 9:45 run time 17mins)
Great Movie Ride (19 Mins)
Beauty and the Beast- 12:00 1:45, 3:45 (30mins)
Backlot Tour (35 Mins)
High School Musical- 1:00

11:00 Lunch at Prime Time Café

5:00 Dinner at Mama Melrose (Fantasmic Package)

8:30 Fantasmic Show (7:30 Find Seats)

Pack up

Sunday April 6
7:00 Wake Up, Wear Giselle Dress or Cinderella Dress, Check Out

7:50 Head to Epcot

8:30am Akershus Princess Breakfast

Magic Kingdom- hit a few last favorite rides

1:00 Cinderella Royal Table- I think this is a perfect end to the trip, though I am worried about two princess meals in one day. Oh well DD6 will be in heaven.:cloud9:

3:00 Leave


So yup. That is the grand plan. What do we think?

[Phibbles]

Good plans...sounds like a great trip.
:banana:

[becca011906]

Subbing back to ya! :) Another younger mama YIPPY!!! your family is beautiful!!!

[swwake]

You are so organized! I think it sounds like a great plan. I like that you are park-hopping the thrill rides with DH in the evenings. That will make it two trips in one!

And your DD will be so thrilled with all the character meals! I can't wait to hear all about it!

[dreamer17555]

Matt got the job! Woohoo!:woohoo: His new boss was informed of our travel plans and was totally on board. :cool1: So that part of life is great.

On the bad side my Grandfather is in the hospital and not likely to be with us much longer :sad1: I really am trying not to think about it since he lives in Texas and isn't awake or even allowed visitor besides his wife and his children. I feel helpless and have been trying not to focus on it.

Instead I keep playing with my kids and going over my travel plans. I had given up on the idea of a PPP but a CM told me yesterday that a radio was announcing that you could win tickets thru June so I am adjusting plans accordingly and keeping a back up plan in case.

I will post more soon, just wanted to say thank you for all the prayers for DH. You have no idea how much this new job just helped our family. :flower3: -Becca-

[becca011906]

BIG congratulations to your DH!!!! Hope he likes his new job a lot more and is happy! And that's great the the travel plans were good to go to!!! Can't wait to hear more!

[swwake]

Congrats to your DH! That is going to make things easier for you. And I'm sure a burden off your shoulders.

Sorry to hear about your grandfather. My prayers are with your family.

[dreamer17555]

BIG congratulations to your DH!!!! Hope he likes his new job a lot more and is happy! And that's great the the travel plans were good to go to!!! Can't wait to hear more!

He is already on cloud nine:cloud9: His birthday was yesterday and we had several friends get together at Outback and he was cutting jokes and making the whole table crack up. It was great to see him so happy after being so miserable for so long. His old job (he leaves on Friday) can't find anyone to take the position, even though it means almost a 50% pay increase for most of the people there- that's how bad that job is.

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

Congrats to your DH! That is going to make things easier for you. And I'm sure a burden off your shoulders.

Sorry to hear about your grandfather. My prayers are with your family.


Thank you. I am worried about my Grandmother mostly. She is refusing food. I almost feel like if he goes than she will too. They have been together since they were 18. Its sad but honestly he can't breath on his own anymore. I think he might need to move on to a better place.

And DH job is such a relief. It also means he will be home more to spend time with DD6. Since he was working 11-8 and only off Tuesday and Thursdays he never really saw her because of school and dance. So this is such a blessing :cloud9:

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

I posted this in Dining but thought I would love to hear what you guys thought.

I was able to get a Cat 3 seating at HDDR the same night I have ADR's for WC (don't worry I will cancel one). My question is is Cat 3 for HDDR worth 2TS? (we have Cat 2 for the Luau). Is it much better than the "antics" at WC? Which did your family prefer?

I'm a little worried about the offerings at HDDR for my daughter. Do they offer anything else? Mac and cheese would be great . So what do you guys think WC or HDDR?

-Becca-

[Phibbles]

Congrats on the new job.

I would stick with WC. I think doing both Luau and HDDR may be too much.

[sl_underwood]

We will also be at the World April 1-6, though we will be at POR. My kids dont know about the trip but I have a feeling they might be dissapointed with POR, they adore POP! Cant wait to hear more!

[Disney Brat]

Joining in!! Great PTR so far!! Congrats to DH on the job!!! How great! I am so sorry to hear about your Grandfather! I just lost my Aunt two weeks ago to cancer, we couldn't go to be with her, she lives in Wales, and we are in Canada. She has been sick for about 8 months with it. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers!!:grouphug:

[dreamer17555]

Congrats on the new job.

I would stick with WC. I think doing both Luau and HDDR may be too much.

We ended up cancelling WC. I might regret it but it would be nice to see HDDR. The only hance I got I was 8 and fell asleep on the bus ride there. My step dad carried me in and I slept in his lap the whole meal! I must have been exhausted! My Step sister likes to bring it up from time to time because she loves HDDR so much.

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

We will also be at the World April 1-6, though we will be at POR. My kids dont know about the trip but I have a feeling they might be dissapointed with POR, they adore POP! Cant wait to hear more!

I POR sounds nice, just not really in our price range. We should see if any of our ADR's match up so we could say hey.

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

Joining in!! Great PTR so far!! Congrats to DH on the job!!! How great! I am so sorry to hear about your Grandfather! I just lost my Aunt two weeks ago to cancer, we couldn't go to be with her, she lives in Wales, and we are in Canada. She has been sick for about 8 months with it. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers!!:grouphug:

Thank you so much and welcome :welcome: . It is hard not being able to be there. My dad is taking it really hard and I just want to help but there is nothing I can do.

DH is so thrilled with the job. I swear I didn't know the man could smile this much.

-Becca-

[creativeamanda]

Matt got the job! Woohoo!:woohoo: His new boss was informed of our travel plans and was totally on board. :cool1: So that part of life is great.

On the bad side my Grandfather is in the hospital and not likely to be with us much longer :sad1: I really am trying not to think about it since he lives in Texas and isn't awake or even allowed visitor besides his wife and his children. I feel helpless and have been trying not to focus on it. -Becca-

Congrats on the new job for dh, but I just gotta give you this: :hug: :hug: :hug: Okay, three of them. Definitely subbing! Hope things go well for you and just focus on those babies! :)

[dreamer17555]

So we made a decision and HDDR won. Why? Because I want to try it, if it is not my thing oh well but I have only been once (I was 8) and slept! through the whole thing! My Sister Chrissy will bring it up every once in awhile. I guess it was her favorite memory at WDW, enjoying a meal while I was conked out (she says it is because it was the only time I was quiet the entire trip) Isn’t she too sweet?

So WC got cancelled. I hope some other family enjoys it.

So something I have been meaning to add to my pretrip report- the biggest thing I have to do before going to Disney. Drum roll please. (Are we on the edge of our keyboards yet?) Ready?

Lose Weight!

Yes I am in a desperate spot to shed some much need pounds. Here are the sad cold facts: (Why are sad facts always cold anyway? It feels rather warm in here actually!)

I am 24. I am 5’10” inches tall (or as one of Cat’s classmates likes to say “Super Giant Tall for a Girl!”) And I started the New Year off weighing 165. My goal is 135 by our trip which is a lot of weight. I was doing good but back sled last week having the triple celebration of DD’s Birthday, DH birthday, and DH new job all of which merited special meals. Also I tend to stress eat (I think most people do) and the news about my grandfather has had me needing to snack. (I am trying to resist that particular temptation as I type this) But in the same token I know I need to lose the weight. I went shopping for clothes and was so sad I could barely stand it.

So hear is my super duper loss weight plan:

Diet and Exercise!

Yes old fashion but tried and true. I am not doing a specific diet per say, (ie. No Carb, WW, or some Beach diet) I am instead plugging everything I eat into Sparkpeople.com and staying around1200-1400 calories a day. I am also hitting the gym everyday for 30 mins (except for tonight- I screwed up my ankle and it is all swollen. I do not like it when my son drags his toys places that I do not expect toys to be- Ouchie!) Still tomorrow I have plans to do at least something, even if it is a super slow stroll on the treadmill.

Tomorrow I will have DH take a full length picture of me and hopefully in a few weeks you will get to see the pounds melting away- or at least that is the plan!

If anyone else is doing weight loss there is a wonderful thread in the Family Forum that is full of wonderful people being super supportive. Well that is all tonight. I will update again tomorrow.

-Becca-

Up Next: Picture of me (eek!) and my I-am-not-a-scrap booker Autograph Book

[dreamer17555]

Congrats on the new job for dh, but I just gotta give you this: :hug: :hug: :hug: Okay, three of them. Definitely subbing! Hope things go well for you and just focus on those babies! :)

Aww thanks! Really they are totally keeping me sane (well less insane at least) right now. Sometimes I think stuff like this happens so we don't lose focus about what is important.

-Becca-

[swwake]

Congrats on the diet/exercise goals. I am also on Sparkpeople. If you want to look me up, we can be buddies! I tried to look you up but I don't have enough information. My Sparkpeople name is the same as it is here. I don't post alot there, but I do track my weight. I also support my sister, who blogs alot over there. We are both doing South Beach and being successful at it.

Also, I think it's good that you decided on HDDR. I saw it about 11 years ago and wasn't a big fan, but I think part of it was where we sat, we couldn't really see all the goings-on. Based on your history, you have made the right choice. I think y'all will have fun.

[Phibbles]

HDDR is a lot of fun. You will enjoy.

Good luck on the weight loss.

[becca011906]

Good luck on our goal... i have no motivation to loss weight... actully i'd love to lose 10-15 lbs... but atlast i can't turn food away, i can't not eat stuff that tast good, i eat 5 times a day atleast! LOL i'm a small frequent snacker. It was like i had my 3rd while and never got the last 10 lbs off. maybe you'll motivate me!!!

[Disney Brat]

I am sure you will love the HDDR! We have never been, but have heard a lot of good things about it! Congrats on starting to loose weight!! I too am on the weight loss train...before Christmas I had lost 18 lbs, but then Christmas came, and I gained it all back....I swore I wouldn't, but I did....:rolleyes1 So now as of yesterday I have decided to go at it again!! This time I have DH with me....he has a serious beer belly!!! lol:eek: So I wish you good luck on your journey!!!

[sl_underwood]

Thanks guys for directing me to sparkpeople, I have been dieting a year no with little luck. I have friends and family who sabatoge every chance they get. Thanks

[dreamer17555]

Thanks guys for directing me to sparkpeople, I have been dieting a year no with little luck. I have friends and family who sabatoge every chance they get. Thanks

Oh I feel your pain. My DH is like "Are you sure you don't want any pizza?" Grumble Grumble. Still nothing will be as great as walking around Disney without all of that extra weight!

-Becca-

p.s. my screenname on sparkpeople is the same as on here if you want to look me up. I don't blog there much (or any) but still.

[dreamer17555]

I am sure you will love the HDDR! We have never been, but have heard a lot of good things about it! Congrats on starting to loose weight!! I too am on the weight loss train...before Christmas I had lost 18 lbs, but then Christmas came, and I gained it all back....I swore I wouldn't, but I did....:rolleyes1 So now as of yesterday I have decided to go at it again!! This time I have DH with me....he has a serious beer belly!!! lol:eek: So I wish you good luck on your journey!!!

My DH also suffers from Beer Belly. Poor guy. I dragged him out of bed this morning to do a 4 mile walk with me and the baby. He grounched a bit but I reminded him of all the walking at Disney and that helped a bit.

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

Congrats on the diet/exercise goals. I am also on Sparkpeople. If you want to look me up, we can be buddies! I tried to look you up but I don't have enough information. My Sparkpeople name is the same as it is here. I don't post alot there, but I do track my weight. I also support my sister, who blogs alot over there. We are both doing South Beach and being successful at it.

Also, I think it's good that you decided on HDDR. I saw it about 11 years ago and wasn't a big fan, but I think part of it was where we sat, we couldn't really see all the goings-on. Based on your history, you have made the right choice. I think y'all will have fun.


I don't have a Sparkpage yet- I never really use the community though I should. As soon as I create one I will look you up. I just like being able to keep track of everything there. It is so very niffty.

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

HDDR is a lot of fun. You will enjoy.

Good luck on the weight loss.

Thanks! I am so looking forward to HDDR. A friend of mine used to be a Cast member and when I told her that I was deciding between that and WC she got a little offended- what is there to decide about? So that makes me feel so much better with my choice.

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

Good luck on our goal... i have no motivation to loss weight... actully i'd love to lose 10-15 lbs... but atlast i can't turn food away, i can't not eat stuff that tast good, i eat 5 times a day atleast! LOL i'm a small frequent snacker. It was like i had my 3rd while and never got the last 10 lbs off. maybe you'll motivate me!!!

Aww you should join in! I think that even with snacking it is possible to lose wieght, just have to workout (yeah I know I don't like it too!) But just think how great you will look! That is what motivates me.

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

So for those who haven’t heard the Princess Pirate Party finally was extended! I am so thrilled and I also ordered my tickets for April 1st. We have a 4:30 ADR for 1900 Park Fare so I think that will work out perfect. (Plus I promised hubby no more ADR changes.)

I feel bad that I still haven’t posted a full length pic of me or have gotten into the details about my Autograph book but it has been non stop dance around here. Dress rehearsal for competition is Saturday and next Saturday she goes to her first competition of the season. Her main song (or hardest one) is for jazz to Itsy Bitsy (polka dot bikini) and I swear if I never hear that song again it is too soon. Cat has been losing her nerve with her back handspring which could be very dangerous. Jazz is tonight and I am crossing my fingers that she stops second guessing herself and that her costume (just got in!) doesn’t need too many alterations.

So back to the Disney Stuff- the pic and autograph book will have to wait while I get your opinion on dressing up for the Princess Pirate Party. We are having Cat dress up of course and she is being (though she doesn’t know it yet) Giselle. She has begged for that costume and it is safely tucked away in a closet at my mom’s house waiting to surprise her! DH and I were talking about dressing up. I really want to be Megara and DH wants to be Hades but since neither are a Princess or a Pirate I am not sure if it is acceptable. Is there anyway to do a pirate twist on Hades? Hmmm…. Brainstorming… nope got nothing. So what do guys think?

On a side note I dragged DH out of bed to do a 4 mile walk with me this morning and I feel great! Bye Bye fat!

-Becca-

[Phibbles]

So for those who haven’t heard the Princess Pirate Party finally was extended! I am so thrilled and I also ordered my tickets for April 1st. We have a 4:30 ADR for 1900 Park Fare so I think that will work out perfect. (Plus I promised hubby no more ADR changes.)

So back to the Disney Stuff- the pic and autograph book will have to wait while I get your opinion on dressing up for the Princess Pirate Party. We are having Cat dress up of course and she is being (though she doesn’t know it yet) Giselle. She has begged for that costume and it is safely tucked away in a closet at my mom’s house waiting to surprise her! DH and I were talking about dressing up. I really want to be Megara and DH wants to be Hades but since neither are a Princess or a Pirate I am not sure if it is acceptable. Is there anyway to do a pirate twist on Hades? Hmmm…. Brainstorming… nope got nothing. So what do guys think?

I have never done PPP, but I don't think anybody would mind you dressing as non-P&Ps. I read another TR where the DH went dressed as Robin Hood. He technically is neither a P or a P. So I say go with it, have fun.

Worst come to worst, throw an eye patch on. :wizard:

[dreamer17555]

So where we last left off I was doing the dance of joy about the Princess Pirate Party (still dancing- so happy!) and I have yet to decide about if or what costumes I will make for DH and myself as this week has been all about the dance-
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/Picture001-1.jpg
Cat (DD6) has such a goofy face in this pic. Oh well I think it’s cute. She did several others but none with her other hand bent like that.

And I was promising to talk to you guys about my autograph book I have been making. Now I am no scrapbooker. I am originally from Cleveland, OH and girls there were not scrapbooking but down here (NC) it is the biggest thing ever. I am only 23 and all of my friends do it constantly. I have tried to help out on their projects a time or two (I so don’t like being left out!) but when it was suggested I make Cat an autograph book I scoffed. Me? Yeah right! But then I started thinking about it and the idea grew on me. I was originally planning on ordering an Autograph book from WDW and putting stickers of the characters on the opposite page but alas no! I wanted to do the kind with space for pictures! (I am so cruel to me sometimes;) ) Well I couldn’t find a scrapbook that would work (I personally hate those page protectors! I have ruined several things trying to slide things in and out:headache: ) and then I went rummaging on our book shelf and found this:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/Picture009.jpg
It was originally some princess diary that Cat got when she was 4, scribbled all over the pages and it sat forgotten amiss hundreds of other books. I took off the spiral binding and took out the middle pages. Now I could make my own pages and my best friend who works at Office Depot said she would spiral punch and bind them for me (Huggles :hug: BFF).

Below are some of the pages I have done:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/Picture008.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/Picture007.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/Picture003.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/Picture006.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/Picture005.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/Picture004.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/Picture002.jpg

This is a list of all the characters I have done:
Pooh
Mickey
Minnie
Daisy Donald
Cinderella
Anastasia
Lady Termaine
Aurora
Jasmine
Ariel
Fairy Godmother
Belle
Snow White
Mulan

And all I have left to do:
Stitch
Lilo
Pluto
Goofy
Chip
Dale
Alice
Mad Hatter
Tigger
Piglet
Eeyore
Mary Poppins
Prince Charming
Drisella

I will add several blank card stock pages in the back for misc. characters. The ones on the list I am either making a point to see (Captain Jack I am looking at you) or we have character meal with.

So what do we think? I am a newbie at this and thus you can easily see mistakes. Did anyone else ever make their own autograph book? Any tips or pictures? I really would love to see them! Well I am off to clean. Sigh.

-Becca-

[swwake]

I am COMPLETELY impressed! I see not a single mistake. That is going to be the neatest autograph book ever! I haven't seen one like this. Do others make them? Will you be putting photographs of your kids with the characters in the book too?

[dreamer17555]

I am COMPLETELY impressed! I see not a single mistake. That is going to be the neatest autograph book ever! I haven't seen one like this. Do others make them? Will you be putting photographs of your kids with the characters in the book too?

I would assume other people make them. The left page has a space for a 4x6 photo with her and the character. Or in the case of Jack Sparrow me with the character! :rotfl: I have friend who used to be a CM (she was a character- switched a lot but mostly Chip) and she said they all hate :scared1: Autograph books. They would much rather play with the kids. Well I was heartbroken :sad1: but when she brought her daughter over the other day she saw mine and said that it was cool, that the characters love to see pictures of themselves (especially lesser known characters -ie. Anastasia). So I am all better :goodvibes Honestly I just want Cat to keep it and love it. She has been helping me make it and is so excited about it.

-Becca-

[Phibbles]

NOTE TO SELF: do not let DW read Becca's PTR. Then she will want to spend too many nights making similar pages. :rolleyes1

Good job! :banana:

[dddisrunner]

Just finding my way over to your report!:goodvibes I love how organized you are. Your children are beautiful!:cutie: I am sorry to hear about your garndfather, my thoughts and prayers are with you! The HDDR sounds like a lot of fun! I LOVE the scrapbook, you did a terrific job!:thumbsup2

[dreamer17555]

NOTE TO SELF: do not let DW read Becca's PTR. Then she will want to spend too many nights making similar pages. :rolleyes1

Good job! :banana:

LOL. :rotfl: It is highly addictive. DH hates it- though the poor man is trying to be supportive.

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

Just finding my way over to your report!:goodvibes I love how organized you are. Your children are beautiful!:cutie: I am sorry to hear about your garndfather, my thoughts and prayers are with you! The HDDR sounds like a lot of fun! I LOVE the scrapbook, you did a terrific job!:thumbsup2

Welcome! I don't know if I am organized- just obsessed! :rotfl: There is still no good news about my grandfather. Everyone is just bracing themselves. And I hope HDDR is the right choice- otherwise I will hear about it from DH!

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

I’m glad everyone likes my little autograph book. I will post some more pictures later. Also I jumped on the Disney Dollar Bandwagon. Actually my daughter loves the whole idea and it has been over a month- I thought it would wear thin with her and it hasn’t she gets checks for her chores. Every time she gets 20 checks she get $1 (yes I know I am a slave driver.

Her list of chores is as follows:
Help with Laundry (She helps me fold and put away)
Put Away Toys
Pick Up Clothes
Practice Reading
Make Bed (this means before school in the morning)
Brush Teeth (without being reminded)
Do Homework (she doesn’t actually get homework- but I give her workbook pages to do)
Clear\ Put Away Dishes
Wipe Down Table
Practice Dance
Help with Little Brother (playing nicely with him- that sorta thing)

She also gets checks for helping when asked and if I see her doing something unusually kind or she has just been very good. At this rate she should have close to $40 Disney Dollars to spend and I will also probably buy her one thing. Not a ton but enough IMO.

She will be all outfitted for cute Disney clothes\ costumes by the time we go though. Today I bought her these little babies.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/cinderellashoes.jpg
Aren’t they cute? They will go perfect with this Cinderella Costume I ordered for her
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/cinderelladress.jpg
I know they aren’t princess shoes exactly but those shoes hurt. I can’t picture her wanting to walk around in those for even half a day. Oh yeah the Cinderella costume is for the day we leave to wear to the Norway breakfast and then to CRT for lunch.

For the PPP I have this hanging in a closet at my mom’s house
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/giselledress.jpg
She loves Giselle (Not as much as I do but still) and she will be super surprised about it.

Finally I ordered this from the ‘site that must not be named’. I have sequin Minnie ears for her to wear with it and plan on having her wear it the day we have breakfast at Chef Mickey’s. (Seriously can’t you just picture the photo ops?)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/minniedress2.jpg http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/minniedress.jpg

Well that is all for now. Still trucking on the diet thing. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

-Becca-

[becca011906]

Very nice outfits!!! My dd had to get over being giselle b/c i was not shelling out $150 for it off the disneyshopping! LOL do don't tell her!!! J/K the minnie dress now that is presious! I'm secretly hoping dd will pick that out at disney and we'll buy it for the BBB but i'm guessing she'll go all princess like dsister! LOL

[dreamer17555]

Very nice outfits!!! My dd had to get over being giselle b/c i was not shelling out $150 for it off the disneyshopping! LOL do don't tell her!!! J/K the minnie dress now that is presious! I'm secretly hoping dd will pick that out at disney and we'll buy it for the BBB but i'm guessing she'll go all princess like dsister! LOL


I wouldn't spend $150 either. I think that was the Deluxe Costume (which sold out) the one she has (which is still gorgeous) cost $50. I am totally a Giselle lover (check the icon). I have even searched high and low for a fabric with a similar print to the curtain dress so I can make it to wear to PPP with no luck. I hate prints :: Pout :: I was thinking of BBB but honestly DD is so tender headed she cries when she put her own hair in a ponytail for dance. Mostly I think she would scare some other little girl and be miserable. So we are not letting her know about it :rolleyes1

-Becca-

[becca011906]

i guess i totally missed the giselle dress that was less... darn, oh well i know last year we bough dresses to take to the BBB then dd ended up talking daddy into letting her get a dress from the BBB LOL go figure!

[TinkAsh2001]

Just finished reading your pre-trippie so far! Im excited about the p&pp on Aril 1st too. I was on the edge of my seat thinking they werent going to release the dates. My boyfriend isnt going on the trip but we hope to go sometime soon together as he has never been to Disney either. He is in the National Guard and its ahrd to plan stuff and everything.
Are you guys wearing the matching shirts anydays?! We are also staying at POP as I have never stayed on property before. I am excited! Only 44 days left for us!

[dreamer17555]

Just finished reading your pre-trippie so far! Im excited about the p&pp on Aril 1st too. I was on the edge of my seat thinking they werent going to release the dates. My boyfriend isnt going on the trip but we hope to go sometime soon together as he has never been to Disney either. He is in the National Guard and its ahrd to plan stuff and everything.
Are you guys wearing the matching shirts anydays?! We are also staying at POP as I have never stayed on property before. I am excited! Only 44 days left for us!

Hey! I so hope we can meet up at some point. If not the P&P Party than at one of the pools! Do you have a PTR? I would love to see if any of our ADR's are at similar times!

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

So remember when I was daydreaming about a code? Well I think I am having a total love hate relationship with the whole Code thing. A little over two weeks ago I call just to check if there is a code attached to my name. There is! And for my dates! Joy! But the CM (who really did not seem to know what he was doing) keeps saying it is room only. I say okay. The Discount is off the room and I want to add on the dining plan. Nope you can’t get anything but the room. After 30 mins of this I get annoyed and just say forget it. If I had been smarter I would have called back to speak with another CM.

Last week I was thinking about the dumb code and suddenly get the urge to call again because I knew that CM was wrong. I get a wonderfully sweet CM who also let me know (before they were posted) That the PPP were going to be released later that week for during our stay and recommends going on the 1st as it is a weeknight and less people attend those. He says I do have a code, and yes they can add the DxDDP. Yes! But wait… they are all booked out for that code.

So I sighed and just shrugged it off. It would have been nice but what can you do? But Yesterday I got the mail and addressed to DH is something from Disney. Well postal regulations be damned I rip that baby open and yes! 30% off code! I quick dial the phone and the CM is wonderful. I toy around with the idea of upgrading to a better hotel but honestly the only two I would want to stay at (Wilderness Lodge, Poly) would cost us an additional $700 dollars (with the discount) so we stay put and save $250.

Well now with the trip at the 45 day mark I have to succumb to the peer pressure and post my to do list-

~Go to Home Depot for Some Alien Green Mickey Heads
~ Make a Countdown Cart for DD
~ Buy DD new tennis shoes
~ Start taking the whole family on mile long afternoon walks
~Stay away from all sweets (Got to be in a bathing suit soon!)
~Work out double time every night (1 + hours)
~Finish my Autograph Book
~Take said Autograph book to be spiral bound
~Make sure to send another note to DD teacher just to make sure she has everything covered
~Find DD a cute outfit to wear to Animal kingdom and to 1900 PF breakfast (Alice or Mary Poppins)
~Buy or Make mine and DH costumes for PPP

Yeah I have so much to do! Eep! Well I better get cracking.

-Becca-

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Hey Becca! :wave2:
Told you I was going to read yours too!

Love your Pre-trippie! Your family is truly beautiful, I must say! ::yes::
And I have to tell you, it's fun to know we almost have the same age!

It's really sad that we won't get to see each other in WDW, but I hope we'll at least get to read each other's TR when we both get back!

It's so precious reading about your DD and her passion for dance, :lovestruc having lived that for 15 years myself, before illness made me stop. I understand why you let her live her passion... It is important!

My thoughts are with you and your family for the hard times you live with the bad health and maybe last days (hope not) of your grandpa... :hug:Those things are sooo hard. Especially when you can't get there... I wish you all the best that can happen and a lot of courage to get through it.


...Now, even though I support you 100%... I must tell you : come on! You don't need to lose weight?! :rolleyes2 5'10" and 165lbs, well that seems just about right! We don't want to see you disappear dear! :teleport:
Skinny isn't beautiful, now! :sad2: Healthy is! :) But the important thing, it's true, is to feel beautiful and be happy with ourselves... I see you already have lost some weight, so you're on the right track... The best thing is : you're exercising more than dieting, so I'm not too worried! ;)

Oooh, I wanted to tell you... I'm a scrapbooking newbie, and I'm sooo jealous of your autograph book!:eek: I didn't intend on making one (I'll use a hoodie or the likes for autographs), but I just hope I'll do as well as you did for my trip memories scrapbook when I get back!!! I think I'll bookmark the page where you show some examples in my "Disney trip scrapbooking" bookmarks file... And then I'll steal some ideas... :lmao:

Tell DD I tell her to break a leg! (from a pro to another, you know!) :laughing:

See ya! :flower3:

[dreamer17555]

Hey Becca! :wave2:
Told you I was going to read yours too!

Love your Pre-trippie! Your family is truly beautiful, I must say! ::yes::
And I have to tell you, it's fun to know we almost have the same age!

It's really sad that we won't get to see each other in WDW, but I hope we'll at least get to read each other's TR when we both get back!

It's so precious reading about your DD and her passion for dance, :lovestruc having lived that for 15 years myself, before illness made me stop. I understand why you let her live her passion... It is important!

My thoughts are with you and your family for the hard times you live with the bad health and maybe last days (hope not) of your grandpa... :hug:Those things are sooo hard. Especially when you can't get there... I wish you all the best that can happen and a lot of courage to get through it.


...Now, even though I support you 100%... I must tell you : come on! You don't need to lose weight?! :rolleyes2 5'10" and 165lbs, well that seems just about right! We don't want to see you disappear dear! :teleport:
Skinny isn't beautiful, now! :sad2: Healthy is! :) But the important thing, it's true, is to feel beautiful and be happy with ourselves... I see you already have lost some weight, so you're on the right track... The best thing is : you're exercising more than dieting, so I'm not too worried! ;)

Oooh, I wanted to tell you... I'm a scrapbooking newbie, and I'm sooo jealous of your autograph book!:eek: I didn't intend on making one (I'll use a hoodie or the likes for autographs), but I just hope I'll do as well as you did for my trip memories scrapbook when I get back!!! I think I'll bookmark the page where you show some examples in my "Disney trip scrapbooking" bookmarks file... And then I'll steal some ideas... :lmao:

Tell DD I tell her to break a leg! (from a pro to another, you know!) :laughing:

See ya! :flower3:


Hey! Oh I wish we were going the same time- but oh well. DD honestly just about lives for Dance. I don't know where she gets her drive but boy does she have it. Other kids will be playing video games and she is tugging at me asking can we go home so she can practice her routines.:angel: What sorta dance did you do? I wish she would expand into other things (DH and I are threating softball for the summer) but alas no.

I would love to see your scrapbook when you get back. I think this is as close to scrapbooking the trip as I am going to get. I read that the characters love seeing pictures of themselves and it just sorta grew from there.

Oh and I so do too need to lose weight. I will agree 165lbs at 5'10" isn't bad- if I had ANY muscle but I don't so it is. My Step Sister is an inch shorter 180lbs and wears a size to two sizes smaller than me (She is as hard as a rock and so in-shape!). I would be fine with whatever the scale said if I were back in a size 9 (I am almost too sad to say what size I am now). I am just plan out of shape and the working out is really helping me. I did a total of 4 miles last night on the treadmill. Not record breaking but amazing for me. I want to get up to five miles a night but we will see.

-Becca-

[TinkAsh2001]

Ok I had to share my ADR's with you since you asked and I didnt do a PTR.
3/27: Arrival at 9:20am
Dinner ADR @ Garden Grill 7:50pm
3/28: Toss between Animal Kingdom & DTD day
Dinner ADR @ Whispering Canyon Cafe 5:10pm
3/29: Magic Kingdom Day
Breakfast ADR @ CRT 8:05am
3/30: Epcot Day
Dinner ADR @ Le Cellier 6:40pm
3/31: MGM/ Hollywood Studios Day
Lunch ADR @ Sci-Fi Drive In 11:30am
4/1: Either DTD or Animal Kingdom
Pirate & Princess Party
Dinner ADR @ Crystal Palace 4:50pm
4/2: DTD & Resort
Depart at 5:20pm

[dddisrunner]

Just catching back up! I love the outfits! Congrats on the code!:cool1: :rotfl2: cracking up about succombing to the pressure of list making:thumbsup2 Your list looks good!:goodvibes

[princessamie]

Hi there! I just found your trip report! We're going to be there at the same time!!!! March 30-April 6!!! We almost stayed at POP and were actually booked there until I applied a code and had to move to All Star Movies based on availabilty. Guess what?!? We will be a Chef Mickey's at the same time!!! Your ADR is at 7:00 and ours is at 7:30. I'll have to post a picture later so you'll recognize us! I've never posted a pic on here. It will be DH (30) me (28) and DS (2.) I can however tell you that DS will be wearing either red or green mickey crocs! That's all he wears now! He's so excited to be going to Mickey's house for his birthday!!! (He'll be 3 in May but we're celebrating on the trip!) Also, what area of teaching are you thinking of going into? I teach 1st grade special education. I hope things are going well with your family and that they are finding peace even in the current situation.
It's never easy to say goodbye.

[dreamer17555]

Ok I had to share my ADR's with you since you asked and I didnt do a PTR.
3/27: Arrival at 9:20am
Dinner ADR @ Garden Grill 7:50pm
3/28: Toss between Animal Kingdom & DTD day
Dinner ADR @ Whispering Canyon Cafe 5:10pm
3/29: Magic Kingdom Day
Breakfast ADR @ CRT 8:05am
3/30: Epcot Day
Dinner ADR @ Le Cellier 6:40pm
3/31: MGM/ Hollywood Studios Day
Lunch ADR @ Sci-Fi Drive In 11:30am
4/1: Either DTD or Animal Kingdom
Pirate & Princess Party
Dinner ADR @ Crystal Palace 4:50pm
4/2: DTD & Resort
Depart at 5:20pm

:: Pout ::: None of Our ADR's Match up! Not Even close. Oh well. Do you do normally do a swim\nap break in the middle of the day? If so we need to pick a day to meet up at one of the pools.

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

Just catching back up! I love the outfits! Congrats on the code!:cool1: :rotfl2: cracking up about succombing to the pressure of list making:thumbsup2 Your list looks good!:goodvibes

Thanks I was so happy! I just wish we could combine it and get free parkhoppers but best not to be greedy. ;) I am still so behind on that list. Though I did get DD6 5 pins and a lanyard to start her pin trading and found her some cute clothes. I really need to do an update post but I first must get back to cleaning our home as tommorrow my son turns 1 and all the family is coming.

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

Hi there! I just found your trip report! We're going to be there at the same time!!!! March 30-April 6!!! We almost stayed at POP and were actually booked there until I applied a code and had to move to All Star Movies based on availabilty. Guess what?!? We will be a Chef Mickey's at the same time!!! Your ADR is at 7:00 and ours is at 7:30. I'll have to post a picture later so you'll recognize us! I've never posted a pic on here. It will be DH (30) me (28) and DS (2.) I can however tell you that DS will be wearing either red or green mickey crocs! That's all he wears now! He's so excited to be going to Mickey's house for his birthday!!! (He'll be 3 in May but we're celebrating on the trip!) Also, what area of teaching are you thinking of going into? I teach 1st grade special education. I hope things are going well with your family and that they are finding peace even in the current situation.
It's never easy to say goodbye.


Really? That is so cool:banana: You have to say hi if you see us. DD6 will be wearing that Minnie Sundress I posted pictures of. Are you going to the Princess Pirate Party on the 1st? A few of us are trying to plan a meet up.

I am get an elementry education degree. I really want to focus on 2nd grade and below but understand that might not be possible. How do you like teaching? Please tell me you love it. I love being around kids and helping them be the best they can be but I am so nervous about pushy parents and NCLB. I really worry about education in this country. Parents either seem to care less what or if their child is learning or they seem to be micro managing everything :confused3 .

Well I picked up my LGMH and I am getting a copy of my avatar printed so if you see them (or me) please say hello!

-Becca-

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Hi Becca!

Well, I wouldn't want to hijack your PTR!... :blush:
But I'll still answer your question (but I promise to all other readers, next time, it'll be a PM :hippie:) : first of all, I didn't do competition dancing, even though I think I would've loved it. We simply don't have that here (We now have some group competitions, but only 2-3 per year, and sometimes a group wins locally and advances, but can't go to the next round because it's too far away and thus, it would cost too much! For example, there is one USA national competition that comes up here to Montreal, but the final is in Florida... a group I know has qualified at least twice for the finals, but never went, what a shame is that?!?!?).
I did ballet, jazz and modern. :dance3:
If you ask me for a fav. I really can't decide between jazz and ballet. Each have their special sides. I love each for something different. Modern, well, I like but don't love as much.
I started in a local ballet academy where I did an hour a week (only ballet at the time), and then 2 classes and week, and then 3, and then I was the teacher's assistant on top of it all (I was about 11 then). :cool2:
Then I added jazz... And finally I entered the school's troupe (Jazzerne was the name then), in which we did jazz and modern. We eventually did musicals. At one point the troupe split from the ballet academy (and renamed Nova-Step) and after doing some time at both places, I stuck with just the troupe. The troupe director opened her own school and I spent a couple of years there. There weren't enough dance classes for my need, so I also took whatever classes I could : aerobic, step, whatever. I was either dancing or dance/exercising 5 days a week for a total of about 15 to 20 hours a week then... :cheer2:
That's when my EDS really kicked in and my knees abandonned me. :guilty: I had to stop dancin for a couple of years and afterwards, I tried coming back and taking classes either there or at another school (I had moved), and I never was able to. Now, with CFS well... I tried, even with a teacher who's a friend and knows about both my illnesses, but I really can't. :sad1:
I can only do beginner's classes, and it's so funny : the other students just can't believe how good I am! :eek: I always have to explain they're not that bad, it's because I have experience, you know?! :laughing:
But at the same time, it's depressing, since I have the knowledge and talent to do so much more, but just can't. And even with beginner's classes, I have to quit, because I can't do a whole class nor a whole semester (not even half of it!), theres always something : a sprain, I faint, a virus that makes me miss 3 classes in a row or whatever... :rolleyes2

It took me many years to deal with the loss. I was a long time where I couldn't watch dancing, talk about my dancing or even hear musics I had danced to.
Funniest thing is, when I see dancing (on video or live) muscle memory still works... I have spasms! Sometimes, for example, if I'm not careful, I can have the biggest leg twitch when some dancer does a split jump! :rotfl:

I'm curious tho, why wanting to have your DD do something else? :confused3 Dancing is the healthiest! It makes you move, think and emote at the same time! It's a music class, a theater class and a sport all rolled into one! :teacher:
If you want to get her involved in other things, maybe she could be interested in a musical instrument, or in singing or theater? Or in some other art? (like painting). :artist: If you want to put her in a sport, maybe something similar to dance, like gymnastics or synchronized swimming. Or simply swimming, water is freeing...
But you know what I mean.
If the idea is simply getting her to do something else, if she's the slightest bit like me, as long as it's artistic, it's bound to please her... ;)
I know I played the piano and figure skated and would've loved to try gymnastics or synchronized swimming... And later, I sang quite a lot (still do, but much less since I now have trouble breathing). I also did what you could call a major in college in theater (but here, we also have university... Quickly : we have elementary school until around 12y.o, then high school until 16 and if you want, you then go to college for 3 years for a technical degree or 2 years if you go on to university. I went on to university but still did 3 years... because I took too much classes! I even did a professional degree, I guess you would call it, after university!). In fact, now that I think about it, a hobby like photography could be pretty interesting too, unless that other thing you want her to do is a sport of course...

I think I could tell you this : DD gets her drive to dance from this : when you got the passion, dance is simply a way to express yourself... no, it's even more.
When you got the passion, the moment you hear the music and start to move, there's an inner joy that comes from within and radiates and nothing can compare to it. It's like you'll explode if you don't let the music flow through your body and reach out. The music fills your heart makes and you soar above the ground. :goodvibes
When you feel angry, you can put all this madness in movement, make it powerful and be more peaceful afterwards, because the anger is out of you, on the dancefloor. If you feel sad, you can put all your emotion in movement and make it super meaningful and and forget for a while. If you feel happy, you can put it into a choreography and make it extra joyful and peppy. Also, if you feel bad and you're doing a fun, happy choreography and really giving it your all, there's a good chance the adrenalin will help you feel a lot better.

I don't know about your DD, but I could never go directly to bed after a late practice, I was always on such a high! :hyper:The rush of endorphins from the physical effort plus the rush of adrenalin and other brain chemicals from giving my all in something I loved so much was incredible. And it could be from the simplest, but most physically demanding jazz choreography, or from the hardest but slowest ballet class.


As for my scrapbook, I'll make sure to show it to you when it's done... but I have to warn you : it may take a long, long time. First, it's possible (too much, sadly) that I crash :faint: (health-wise) when I get back and be bed-ridden for at least a month, and then I'd have all that's running late, and then I'd have the pics to check out and order and arrange, the TR to write... and I'm always doing many things at once. And since I can't do much in a day... Well, you know. You're warned! But I'll be honored to show it to you!

Oh, and OK, I get it for the weight thing. No more yapping at you! ;) I know what you mean by scale vs sizes... Luckily, it happened to me the other way 'round! :woohoo:I lost one size without losing weight, if I'm reading my scale right! (but, at 5'7", I'm still at 188lbs, or a size 14/16 -depending on make... I still have a long way to go. But that's another story, and you'll have to come on my PTR for that one... if I ever write about it!).

Hey, I was thinking... maybe we will be able to see each other in WDW... :idea: if we match our trips... in 4 years!!! Come on, don't tell me tou're not thinking of going back in 2012?! :rotfl:

[princessamie]

Really? That is so cool:banana: You have to say hi if you see us. DD6 will be wearing that Minnie Sundress I posted pictures of. Are you going to the Princess Pirate Party on the 1st? A few of us are trying to plan a meet up.

I am get an elementry education degree. I really want to focus on 2nd grade and below but understand that might not be possible. How do you like teaching? Please tell me you love it. I love being around kids and helping them be the best they can be but I am so nervous about pushy parents and NCLB. I really worry about education in this country. Parents either seem to care less what or if their child is learning or they seem to be micro managing everything :confused3 .

Well I picked up my LGMH and I am getting a copy of my avatar printed so if you see them (or me) please say hello!

-Becca-

Hi there! I don't have plans to go to PPP on the 1st but I do have a good friend who is going at the same time and is attending with her DH. If I change my mind I'll let you know! At this point I think it may be a little too much for DS2..almost3. We'll see.

About teaching...this is my 7th year and I've taught everything in elementary but 2nd grade. Being a teacher requires lots of flexibility. Luckily I'm a flexible person! I've never experienced pushy parents so much. I teach a low socioeconomic area so I'm thankful for any parent involvement! Probably the hardest thing is long breaks when you worry about the children and who's taking care of them. As for NCLB, I always want my special ed. children (students who are mildly disabled) to know what others know so I don't water things down and try to give them everything other first graders get! I know they may not pass the state test but that's always my goal. I see my primary responsibility though not to be NCLB but to these children. This is truly my ministry. I want to give them love and a sense of importance that so many of them have felt neither of. Okay, now that I've written a book...you'll find teaching very rewarding as long as your not just teaching for all of the vacations! :goodvibes

[dreamer17555]

Well it is more than time for an update no? Well let’s start with the non Disney updates. My son turned 1 this past weekend. I totally let myself have the day off from dieting and working out and had two (gasp!) slices of ice cream cake.

I only have 5 weeks until my trip and understand that there is no way I am going to reach my goal of 135lbs. If I lose 2lbs a week (10lbs total) I will still be at 143lbs which is kinda sad to me but I keep trying to think how much better I will look with those 10lbs off and how much more I will be able to enjoy WDW since I am in better shape. It’s still hard though. I eat between 900-1200 calories (which totally sucks btw) and exercise for an hour every night (I usually burn between 350-400 calories in a workout). I think I might need to step it up but I just don’t know how! This is killing me as is.

Other very important RL stuff yesterday Cat had two of her front teeth pulled. The one had been loose for week and a big tooth popped up behind them! I nearly fainted when I saw that. I was picturing huge braces and all the money going poof but after getting them pulled the dentist said that it was lined up nicely and would move forward on its own. Thank god! My brave girl didn’t cry or fuss. She told me in the car that “My heart said I couldn’t because there was a scared little boy next to me”. I seriously wanted to pull over and smoother her in a big bear hug. The tooth fairy visited (for the first time!) and that little imp left Disney dollars. DD said that is because the Tooth fairy and Tinkerbell are best friends.

I finally caved to the pressure about two big things. The first one is pin trading. I know it is darn expensive but I bought DD 6 pins and a princess lanyard. I might have messed up by getting at least 4 pins that I doubt she will want to trade. I don’t know what I was thinking! Anyway those will be passed along to the Easter bunny for her basket.

The second thing is BBB. I kept thinking it was too much money but after some more thought I really wanted to do it. Problem is I can’t get a res for the MK in the time span I need. I was able to get one for DTD though. I don’t know I think half the fun is getting it done in the Castle. I wanted it done on our last day before lunch at CRT. So what do we think? Should I just deal with the DTD one or skip it all together? I am calling often for cancellations but not holding my breath.

So I picked up a few more outfits for DD to wear. And after toying with the idea of making costumes I finally broke down and just bought them. The Disney Store Elizabeth Swann costume for me and a Pirate costume for DH. Not nearly as cool as Megara but I was already having fits about not wanting to look like a giant purple sausage in her dress.
Anyway here are the pics of DD new outfits. The purple belle one is for MK (I have a purple belle bow to match oh and cute denim capris) the pink leopard is for AK (again matching bows) and the yellow Alice outfit is for 1900 PF breakfast (No bows – well yet!).

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/belle.jpg http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/leopard.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/alice.jpg

-Becca-

[swwake]

Becca - You have done an awesome job on the weight loss so far. Don't worry if you can't get those extra 10lbs off by the trip. However, if you really want to try hard, why not try Phase 1 of South Beach Diet for 2 weeks? I lost 8 lbs in 2 weeks and I'm holding strong at 10 lbs lost total in Phase 2. I have about 1 cheat night a week, or I might be losing more quickly. Also, I'm not fitting exercise in like I should be.

Also, I'm not expert, but just a thought. If you are eating 900 cals a day and burning 400, you are only giving yourself 500 cals for nourishment. Most of us need at least 700 just to sleep, eat and wake (no shopping or other included). So if you are not feeding your body, it might be storing the reserves it has. I love SB, by the way, because there is nothing to count!

I love all the shopping you have done. The outfits are so adorable! As for the BBB, I think it depends if it is something you really want DD to experience or something she can live without, but would be nice. If it's the former, go with the DTD and if the latter, then only do it if you catch a cancellation at the Castle. She will be so cute all done up!

Tell Cat congrats on the being a big girl when her teeth were pulled. That tooth fairy sure is a smarty, isn't she? I think Cat's right - Tink must be her BFF.

[Phibbles]

My wife and I had some good results on the Fat Smash Diet (when I was following it at least). I won't explain it all here, but she lost 8-10 lbs during the Phase I detox and never really felt like she was being starved. :thumbsup2

[dreamer17555]

Becca - You have done an awesome job on the weight loss so far. Don't worry if you can't get those extra 10lbs off by the trip. However, if you really want to try hard, why not try Phase 1 of South Beach Diet for 2 weeks? I lost 8 lbs in 2 weeks and I'm holding strong at 10 lbs lost total in Phase 2. I have about 1 cheat night a week, or I might be losing more quickly. Also, I'm not fitting exercise in like I should be.

Also, I'm not expert, but just a thought. If you are eating 900 cals a day and burning 400, you are only giving yourself 500 cals for nourishment. Most of us need at least 700 just to sleep, eat and wake (no shopping or other included). So if you are not feeding your body, it might be storing the reserves it has. I love SB, by the way, because there is nothing to count!

I love all the shopping you have done. The outfits are so adorable! As for the BBB, I think it depends if it is something you really want DD to experience or something she can live without, but would be nice. If it's the former, go with the DTD and if the latter, then only do it if you catch a cancellation at the Castle. She will be so cute all done up!

Tell Cat congrats on the being a big girl when her teeth were pulled. That tooth fairy sure is a smarty, isn't she? I think Cat's right - Tink must be her BFF.

I tried the South Beach diet once and I was unable to function after 10 days. I am and cutting all that sugar made me so miserably sick. When I told my doctor what I had been doing he looked at me like I had two heads and told me to "knock it off". I really don't mind counting its just it doesn't feel like enough food. And to be honest I always shoot for 900 but I am always closer to 1200 minus 400 calories and that puts me right on target to drop 2lbs a week.

Its something I would like for her do but to go all the way to DTD seems like a waste of time. I think I will keep it for the time being and just call daily for cancellations for the one at MK.

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

My wife and I had some good results on the Fat Smash Diet (when I was following it at least). I won't explain it all here, but she lost 8-10 lbs during the Phase I detox and never really felt like she was being starved. :thumbsup2

Thanks for the suggestion. I googled it and it sounds like something I could stick to!

-Becca-

[TinkAsh2001]

:: Pout ::: None of Our ADR's Match up! Not Even close. Oh well. Do you do normally do a swim\nap break in the middle of the day? If so we need to pick a day to meet up at one of the pools.

-Becca-

OK! I am soooooooooooooo EXCITED! We recieved our offical Trip Documents with our luggage tags today in the mail! I am so happy! Only 30 days until we leave! And yes we will be doing a nap mid day or pool break. We do need to pick a day...What day is your free day and we can make sure to plan around it!

[dddisrunner]

Hi Becca, I'm just catching up. Those outfits are adorable! Sorry to hear that Cat had to get her teeth pulled:sad2: Glad she was so brave! As far as the dieting goes try not to let it stress you out. I would try to add a little something extra exercise wise if you can, like putting small weights in your hands if you are walking or adding some sit ups and pushups. Keeping your body guessing is the best thing.:thumbsup2 As far as feeling full and satisfied try to eat protein for breakfast with something hight in dietary fiber,like 1 egg on a slice of whole grain light bread(weight watchers type) the more dietary fiber you eat the more satisfied you will feel! Good luck losing weight is the hardest thing in the world! Keep up the good work!:goodvibes
Diane

[bluedolph1n]

Love your report so far, and what a great outfits! :goodvibes

[creativeamanda]

THose outfits are adorable, Becca. Just catching up--at home with a sick girl--and I just wanted to comment on them.

[dreamer17555]

So I am a terrible person with the updating. I really am sorry. Cat has had non stop competitions one last weekend in Lenoir, and the weekend before that in Winston, and this weekend she has one in Raleigh! I so want to pull my hair out. And to add to that the weekend before competition started my darling son turned one. Here are a few pics:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/Dance003.jpg http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/Dance001.jpg

And a few of dance so you can have a clue what I am talking about. These are of Itsy Bitsy (Yellow Polka Dot Bikini) Cat is the only little girl with glasses poor lamb:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/Dance006.jpg http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/Dance007.jpg

And all of them:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/Dance004.jpg

Also terribly, today my dryer died. Well it made terrible loud noises and then started smelling of smoke and I pulled the plug. RIP dryer. We went out a found a new one but it will not be delivered until the 24th! Thank good I had all of the laundry caught up (except that one load I was drying) and that my mom’s house in 10mins away. Still it sucks having to shell out more money but I thank my lucky stars that Matt and I live within our means and have a saving so stuff like this isn’t nearly as horrible as it could be.

Now on to Disney. I have been slacking. I still need to do three more characters in my Autograph book (Prince Charming, Drizella, and Eeyore) I am going to try to get them done by Friday at the latest. I had plans to work on it today but was sidetracked by making matching bows for DD’s Alice outfit (yellow and blue bows are so springy) and I finally started to pack. I put all of DD cute new outfits with the bows clipped to them and a tag saying what day to wear it. Insane I know. I also purchased another outfit for DD for the Ohana breakfast. I really wanted to find the white smocked one the Disney Store had last year with Mickey Surfing and Lilo on the hem but alas no (If someone has one in a 7/8 PM and I will happily sell you my soul). So instead I got the blue Mickey and Minnie postcard dress seen here:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/ohana.jpg

Oh yes and I won an Elizabeth Swann dress from the Disney Store on Eaby. XL- it doesn’t fit. Not like I am too heavy, like the waist is not in the right place at all. I blame the whole thing on me being of giant green giant height. If someone wants it PM. I would happily trade it for something. It is doing me no good in my closet. I finally did buy a dress and since it is being made for me it should fit. :: Crosses Fingers :: Here is a pic:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/beccagirl17555/dress.jpg

Well that is all. I will try to post again in a day or so.

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

Hi Becca, I'm just catching up. Those outfits are adorable! Sorry to hear that Cat had to get her teeth pulled:sad2: Glad she was so brave! As far as the dieting goes try not to let it stress you out. I would try to add a little something extra exercise wise if you can, like putting small weights in your hands if you are walking or adding some sit ups and pushups. Keeping your body guessing is the best thing.:thumbsup2 As far as feeling full and satisfied try to eat protein for breakfast with something hight in dietary fiber,like 1 egg on a slice of whole grain light bread(weight watchers type) the more dietary fiber you eat the more satisfied you will feel! Good luck losing weight is the hardest thing in the world! Keep up the good work!:goodvibes
Diane

I took your advice on the weights and while the scale went up my pant size went down. I am happily in a size 9. Woo Hoo!:woohoo:

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

Love your report so far, and what a great outfits! :goodvibes

Thanks!

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

THose outfits are adorable, Becca. Just catching up--at home with a sick girl--and I just wanted to comment on them.

I hope she is all better by now (sick kids are so not fun) and thank you.

-Becca-

[TinkAsh2001]

Hey girl! Are you so ready to go like me?! I am so excited! I have everything bought that I need including 2 new magizines for the plane! Only thing left I need to do is buy some of the glow braclets from the dollar tree for the pirate & princess party. We thought that would be a good thing to have and it will save us some money buying them before we leave!
Did you make an itinery?

[dreamer17555]

Hey girl! Are you so ready to go like me?! I am so excited! I have everything bought that I need including 2 new magizines for the plane! Only thing left I need to do is buy some of the glow braclets from the dollar tree for the pirate & princess party. We thought that would be a good thing to have and it will save us some money buying them before we leave!
Did you make an itinery?


I am steadily getting there, all the clothes have been bought (except maybe another pair of shorts for me) Bows have beeen made. I have glow necklaces and the light up Spinners for the Disney Store, Batteries galore, I am pondering if I need a new memory card- mine is only 1G, And I still need to get ponchos from walmart. But I did buy sunblock and all of that jazz.

Right now I need to make an appointment to have my highlights done. Get some white Strips (Must have blindly white teeth in all those pictures) and get my pale little behind to Mystic Tan so I am sprayed all pretty. There is a lot that goes into gettiong picture ready no?

-Becca-

[creativeamanda]

I'm just ready to read your tr! Hate it about your dryer--that's awful. Dance has been getting busy here, too. Monkey Mouse just asked her instructor if she can go back to dance, so I guess that's that.

[TinkAsh2001]

Well, I was going to get the spray tan and Clint was like you legs wont be the whitest so I guess I shall see! LOL. I will be the tall white legged girl! LOL

[siestakeys04]

:thumbsup2 :thumbsup2 Ok dream17555 you mentioned my home town in your last post.
Winston. I live in NC too it is great to see someone close. I cant wait to read the rest of your PTR and your TR when you come back.
:cool1:

[dddisrunner]

I took your advice on the weights and while the scale went up my pant size went down. I am happily in a size 9. Woo Hoo!:woohoo:

-Becca-

That's terrific!:cool1: I feel your pain with your dryer! Our washing machine broke on Fri. 3/7:sad2: $480 later I have a new one:eek: The pics. of Cat and her friends in their dance outfits are too cute!:goodvibes

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Wow!
You gave me a moment of panic here! :scared:

See, I feel like we have a bond, and I kind of forgot that, sadly, we won't be going at the same time and won't see each other (not this time around at least...).
So when you wrote you started packing, I was like "what? Should I start packing already?" :eek:
I know I'm obsessive, maybe more than some DISers, less than some others... But wow I was starting to think maybe I would be having trouble at crunch time if I didn't start packing now too, KWIM?! :confused3

But then, I realized... phew... You're leaving the house of the mouse before I even leave MY house... :lmao:Breathe, Dan, breathe. :hippie:

And I'm right there with you on the beauty treatments thing... Teeth whitening, tanning lotion (no salon for me), laser hair removal, hair coloring (the other kind of hair), anti-cellulite lotion (working or not?)... :rolleyes:

I'm so jealous of your daughter! Even more now I realize it's group competition she's doing! :dance3:I thought it was individual competition (I didn't know there was group dance competition at that level, I only knew of hip-hop style group competitions for teens-adults). I think I may have been too shy to do individual competition as a kid, but group competitions would have been a dream! More than that : dancing as much as she does... Wow! Please, tell her for me that she's really, really lucky and to live it to the max! :goodvibes

Can't wait to read your TR (but I think, if you start it before I leave, I'll wait after I get back to read it, so no magic will be spoiled!) popcorn::

[dreamer17555]

So I am a terrible person. I have been reading everyone’s PTR- just not commenting, which I know sucks very badly. But at least I have been reading! Anyway we finished up this latest round of dance and don’t have to think about it until after we get back (though that week is both a picture and competition week)

Easter is fast approaching, like way too fast, imo. Today I have to take the baby shopping to make sure I have enough stuff for the bunny to bring. DS1 is proving rather hard to buy for (he has one too many toys already, and we don’t let him eat candy yet). I am going to need to think of something. Any suggestions? I am sure we have DD6 covered. I totally am Disney-ing her basket: Princess Lanyard, Pins, Disney Spinners, and of course Disney Dollars.

Speaking of Disney Dollars it looks like DD6 will have to have another two teeth pulled. I was going to see if we could put it off till after vacation but DD6 wouldn’t hear of it. She wants the tooth fairy to bring her Disney Dollars again. I tried to explain that she would still get money to spend if it happened later but she explained that she only wants to spend her money at Disney. Seriously she has joined the ranks of us lining Mickey’s pockets with gold and she is only 6! I have created a monster- or a Disney freak. I am not sure which.

So I feel like also letting you know that FINALLY my Autograph book is done! Tomorrow I will send it to be spiral bond. I finished the last three pages last night while watching Enchanted (and sadly singing along). It’s pretty and cute and I decided not to add blank pages for other character which I hope isn’t my undoing. I just would rather if she wants to meet someone we don’t have a meal planned with (We are going to see 30 different characters through our meals and also 1 Jack Sparrow at PPP) that instead of signing away that she just interact and “play” with them. It was a tip I was given from a former CM

I am also planning on trying to have my icon attached to my LGMH. I tend to think that we remember each others icons more than our actual pictures for some strange reason. Is this crazy?

Also to make this “the longest post EVER!” I must now inform you that we added another day- well sorta. See we are driving from NC (9 hours). We were planning on driving in Sunday chilling at Pop and then going to CG for Wishes but on an off chance we would want to do a park I added an extra day to our tickets. Well we decided to drive down Saturday instead. It takes the stress off of having to get there. I was a little worried about this blowing our budget (and it does a little bit) but we decided to stay off site on Saturday night (no use wasting all that money for just a bed to crash in). We should get in around 5:00 at the latest and I am thinking about heading over to DTD to get us in a Disney frame of mind. For a minute I thought of adding WCC and paying oop but realized that was crazy since we will be eating at so many TS later. I am thinking Earl of Sandwich should work nicely for dinner without breaking the bank. Whatever we do the rule is clear, everyone to bed early. I don’t care if the sun is still shining I want everyone as well rested as I can get.

Sunday we will check out and then check in at Pop around 9:00. I am not expecting our room to be ready. I just need to collect our KTTW so we can make our way to Epcot. Why Epcot? Because we moved around meals and the one thing that was cramped in was a lunch at Garden Grill. (I need to see Chip and Dale!). It was originally smashed between breakfast at Chef Mickey’s and Dinner at Le Cellier. When I booked it I even told DH we weren’t going there to eat but to see. So moving it instead to Sunday worked brilliantly since now we can eat and see. We grabbed a 12:00 ADR (there were so many times to choose from- do people not like this place?) Sometime around 3:00 we will head back to our room (It should now be all ready for us) unpack, take a swim, a nap ,and start dressing at 6:30 for our CG ADR’s at 8:00. I obviously don’t plan to do much at Epcot besides eat but would love to squeeze in Spaceship Earth.

Well that is all. I am sadly behind on my packing but vow by next Monday to have it all together. Only 10 days before we leave! I am almost to the single digit dance of joy!

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

I'm just ready to read your tr! Hate it about your dryer--that's awful. Dance has been getting busy here, too. Monkey Mouse just asked her instructor if she can go back to dance, so I guess that's that.

LOL! Well Kids will do that. At least you have her costume still!

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

Well, I was going to get the spray tan and Clint was like you legs wont be the whitest so I guess I shall see! LOL. I will be the tall white legged girl! LOL

The tall thing makes it so hard. I told DH I had to get sprayed because if not all you see is long white legs. Its like an Albino Stork. I still have yet to go- I am planning on starting on Friday and going twice after that. I think that should be good enough.

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

:thumbsup2 :thumbsup2 Ok dream17555 you mentioned my home town in your last post.
Winston. I live in NC too it is great to see someone close. I cant wait to read the rest of your PTR and your TR when you come back.
:cool1:

Actually we are in Wallburg. But it is close to Winston! Where are you at? I have just bought a new notebook to make sure I get every detail down of our trip for the TR. How sad is that?

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

That's terrific!:cool1: I feel your pain with your dryer! Our washing machine broke on Fri. 3/7:sad2: $480 later I have a new one:eek: The pics. of Cat and her friends in their dance outfits are too cute!:goodvibes

Well we still dont have the dryer. It won't be delivered until the 24th. I hope they know how badly this throws off my Disney packing plans! ;) The money is one thing (a painful thing but still) but to throw off a Diser's plans is too evil!

-Becca-

[dreamer17555]

Wow!
You gave me a moment of panic here! :scared:

See, I feel like we have a bond, and I kind of forgot that, sadly, we won't be going at the same time and won't see each other (not this time around at least...).
So when you wrote you started packing, I was like "what? Should I start packing already?" :eek:
I know I'm obsessive, maybe more than some DISers, less than some others... But wow I was starting to think maybe I would be having trouble at crunch time if I didn't start packing now too, KWIM?! :confused3

But then, I realized... phew... You're leaving the house of the mouse before I even leave MY house... :lmao:Breathe, Dan, breathe. :hippie:

And I'm right there with you on the beauty treatments thing... Teeth whitening, tanning lotion (no salon for me), laser hair removal, hair coloring (the other kind of hair), anti-cellulite lotion (working or not?)... :rolleyes:

I'm so jealous of your daughter! Even more now I realize it's group competition she's doing! :dance3:I thought it was individual competition (I didn't know there was group dance competition at that level, I only knew of hip-hop style group competitions for teens-adults). I think I may have been too shy to do individual competition as a kid, but group competitions would have been a dream! More than that : dancing as much as she does... Wow! Please, tell her for me that she's really, really lucky and to live it to the max! :goodvibes

Can't wait to read your TR (but I think, if you start it before I leave, I'll wait after I get back to read it, so no magic will be spoiled!) popcorn::


Hey! If you want to PM me your address I will make sure to send you something from the "House of Mouse" Before we leave. Something to get you in a super Disney Mood.

Yeah its group. They really rocked it out this weekend and got Platinum. She was so excited. She wants to do solo but I can't see spending that much money. It is $2500 :scared1: for the year for a solo. I told her when she is 8 we will look into it. I hate to keep her from doing all that she wants to do but I am not going to be one of those mom's that puts their family in debt to keep their kids happy. I mean that is the cost of a budget disney trip!

-Becca-

[swwake]

OK well I have to respond now after reading your post. I feel guilty for reading and not responding. I wanted to say congrats to your DD for "rocking it out" and getting Platinum.

I have GOT to watch Enchanted. I guess I need to buy it. I plan to watch a ton of Disney movies between now and August, to re-familiarize myself with characters and plot-lines.

So sorry that your dryer people don't understand how badly they are interrupting your Disney plans! :rotfl:

Oh how fun - a whole day early!!! Yippee!! Though it would drive me crazy to have to change hotel rooms, but you are saving some cashola there! It's great that you got to fit in both eating and seeing at Garden Grill!

I will check in tomorrow to make sure you are doing your single-digit dance!

[TinkAsh2001]

I asked for Enchanted for Easter. Its my favorite movie I watched it 2 times at the movies!!!
What time is your ADR for dinner at Le Cellier Sunday?! Ours is 6:40pm. We are also doing the Behind The Seeds Tour that day at 1:30pm.
:cheer2: Only 8 more days!:cool1:

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Woohoo, you're leaving in only a week!!! :woohoo:

You must be sooo excited! :hyper: (but it must be a little scary too! Maybe not so much if it's not your first time... We're panicking and it's in only a month!)

I'm very happy for your daughter and her group's result at their last competition! She must've been happy about that! And you must've been proud! :goodvibes

I can't believe how costly solo competition is!!! :eek: Wow! I can easily understand your hesitation! Especially if what she's asking for is to do both, and thus adding the costs and not just an augmentation (like group costs + solo costs instead of solo costs instead of group costs, meaning maybe "only" hundreds $$ more)... Plus, it would mean more practice time, more competitions, etc. Pfff :crazy2:. Like you said : reevaluate later. I understand though, keeping a child from doing what she wants/loves to do must be really hard. But it's not like you're keeping her from dancing at all, you know.

Anyways, I'm going to try and stop postnapping your PTR talking about your kid's dancing... :rotfl2: we'll PM each other if we want to talk about that! ;)

Hope your packing goes well! :thumbsup2

And Happy Easter!:flower3:

[dddisrunner]

Holy Cow 6 days!:cool1: :woohoo: :yay: :woohoo: :cool1: You must be soooooooo excited!:goodvibes

[dreamer17555]

So this is probably my last long post before I leave. (I might pop in a say goodbye though before hitting the road) With the trip now only four days away I am freaking out a bit. But firstly the single digit dance of joy!!!

The Dance of Joy! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfPg5LjGYz8)

Now I feel better!

I have started packing and things should move along faster now that I finally have a dryer! ::: Hugs pretty new dryer ::: I went and got spray tanned and will go back twice more before we leave. Snow white has nothing on me. I also had my highlights done and hair cut and had Cat’s hair cut. Matt is supposed to go after work on Thursday to have his cut. Been doing the teeth strips also but I have totally given up on diet and working out. I am a size 11 and that will be good enough for now.

Today I will be working on packing and house cleaning. Yesterday my BFF took my Autograph book to be spiral bond and I hope nothing bad befalls it. Also I thought it would be nice to have friends over for dinner tonight! Crazy! I don’t have time for this but I extended the invite because we wouldn’t see them for nine whole days! Sometimes I hate me! So I also have that to work with.

I still haven’t done anything with my LGMH. What do you guys do with them? I normally am creative but have lost my edge in all this madness.

Cat has dance tomorrow and Thursday and I am crossing my fingers that my costume is in by then and that it fits! So it is a busy, busy week! Friday of course we will take James to my mom’s house and then pack up the van and get a goodnights rest.

Here is the final itinerary:

March 29th, Saturday
8:00 Leave

5:00 Check in at Quality Inn Maingate West

8:00 Bed


March 30th, Sunday
8:30 Wake Up

9:15 Check Out

10:00 Check in at Pop Century

11:00 Drive to Epcot

12:00 Garden Grill (Request Lower Level)

2:00 Leave Epcot for Room
Unpack
Swim\Nap

6:30 Dress for Dinner (Polo, Dress, Skirt)

8:00 California Grill (Request Window Seat)


March 31st, Monday
6:30 Wake up, Wear Yellow Alice Outfit

Take Cab to Grand Floridian

8:00 1900 Park Fare

9:00 to Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom Must See List
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Aladdin’s Magic Carpets
Jungle Cruise
Minnie’s House

If Break Needed:
Take Bus to Pop at 2:00,
3:45 Take Bus to MK, Boat to Fort Wilderness

5:00 Hoop Dee Do Revue (4:30)

Take Boat to MK, Monorail to Epcot

9:00 Illuminations in Epcot (8:00 Find Seats)


April 1st, Tuesday
6:30 Wake up, Wear Blue Sundress

7:10 Take Cab to Poly

7:30 'Ohana Character Breakfast

Take Monorail to either Magic Kingdom or Epcot (9:00)

12:00 Head back to hotel (Swim\Nap)
Change in Giselle Dress

3:15 Take Bus to MK, Monorail to GF

4:30 1900 Park Fare (Grand Floridian)
Princess Pirate Party


April 2, Wednesday
6:00 Wake Up, Wear Minnie Dress

6:30 Drive to Contemporary

7:00 Chef Mickey’s Breakfast

9:00 Drive to Epcot (Be at ropes at 8:45)

Epcot Must See List
Soarin’
The Seas with Nemo and Friends
Turtle Talk with Crush
Journey into Imagination
Honey I Shrunk the Audience
Innovation
Spaceship Earth

3:30 Drive to Poly

4:00 Cat to Neverland Club

Drive Back to Epcot

5:10 Le Cellier

Take Bus to Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom (Open till 10:00)
Everest
Dinosaur

Take Bus to Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom (Open till 11:00)
Space Mountain
Haunted Mansion
Pirate of the Caribbean
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder Railroad

Pick up Cat from Poly


April 3, Thursday
6:30 Wake up, Cereal Breakfast (Snack Credit) Wear Purple Belle Outfit

7:00 Take bus to Magic Kingdom

8:00 Magic Kingdom (EMH- at ropes by 7:30am)

Magic Kingdom Must See List
Dumbo
Winnie the Pooh
Peter Pan
It’s a Small World
Philharmagic
Barnstormer
Buzz Light Year
Monsters Inc.

11:30 Lunch at Crystal Buffet (Pooh)

2:00 Hotel- Nap\Swim

3:45 Leave for Polynesian via MK

5:15 Aloha Luau Dinner (last 2 hours-Polynesian)

Back to Magic Kingdom

9:00 Spectromagic (arrive at 8:00 get seats)


April 4, Friday
6:30 Wake up

7:15 Drive to Animal Kingdom

8:05 Tucker House (Mickey, Donald)

Animal Kingdom Must See List
Kilimanjaro Safaris (20 Mins)
Festival of the Lion King 10:30 11:30, 1:00 (30 Mins)
Finding Nemo the Musical 10:00, 11:30 (30 Mins)
Kali River Rapids

1:30 Drive to Epcot

Pick Up Fast Passes for Test Track and Mission Space

2:30 Lunch at Living Seas- Request Tank Side

After Lunch Drive to Poly

5:00 Cat to Neverland Club

Drive to Epcot

Epcot (Open till 8:00)
Test Track
Mission Space?

Drive to Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios (Open till 10:00)
Tower of Terror
Rockin Rollercoaster

9:30 Sci-Fi Drive In

Pick up Cat from Poly

Saturday April 5
6:30 Wake up

8:00 Drive to Hollywood Studios (EMH- at entrance by 7:45)

Hollywood Studios Must See List
Star Tours
Muppet Vision 3-D (17 Mins)
Little Mermaid- (starts at 9:45 run time 17mins)
Great Movie Ride (19 Mins)
Beauty and the Beast- 12:00 1:45, 3:45 (30mins)
Backlot Tour (35 Mins)
High School Musical- 1:00

11:00 Lunch at Prime Time Café

2:00 Back to Hotel for Swim\Nap

5:00 Dinner at Mama Melrose

8:30 Fantasmic Show (7:30 Find Seats)

Pack up


Sunday April 6
7:20 Wake Up, Check Out

7:50 Drive to Epcot

8:30am Akershus Princess Breakfast

Monorail to Magic Kingdom

1:00 Cinderella Royal Table

3:00 Monorail back to Epcot, Leave



Alrighty then! I am off to pack! Huggles!

-Becca-

[swwake]

4 Days!!! Yippee!!! You are SO organized!

Question for you - those "wear _____ dress" comments must be for Cat, right? or are they for you?

If I don't get to post again, travel safely, and have the TIME OF YOUR LIFE!!!!

[dreamer17555]

4 Days!!! Yippee!!! You are SO organized!

Question for you - those "wear _____ dress" comments must be for Cat, right? or are they for you?

If I don't get to post again, travel safely, and have the TIME OF YOUR LIFE!!!!

LOL they are totally for her. I even have matching bows clipped to them. Its sad, really. RIght now though she is in her room crying about missing a week of dance :sad2: I don't know what to do with that girl!

-Becca-

[dddisrunner]

Have a wonderful trip! I hope the last few days go smoothly for you! We'll be looking forward to hearing all about it when you return!:thumbsup2

[3princesses+aprince]

I just found your pre trip report, it's great, you have alot of nice outfits for your dd. Can't wait to read your trip report when you get back.
The few days before the trip are always the best. (of course besides the trip itself)

[dreamer17555]

I am so upset. I cannot quit crying. I have was talking in the budget board about the cost of DD6's dance and about her love of it and I don't know why but someone just attacked the hell out of me and I am not sure why.

Here is what they wrote:

You seem rather OCD. Some of what you've posted about your autograph book, menus/schedules and little outfits for your DD to wear at WDW. Add in your posts here about your daughter's schedule/diet and it looks more like you're the one with OCD.


As to the question about whether or not you can afford your daughter's activities - I would say "no". Hell, I'd say "no" to the Disney vacation as well. You don't work and from what you've posted, your husband works in retail or some sales job. You also don't own your own home. A little fiscal responsibility will benefit your kids better in the long run than a vacation or dance lessons. Because it's not just the cost of the lessons, there's the cost of costumes, travel, etc...

Am I really OCD? I wasn't trying to be. This trip is a huge deal for us and I just wanted things to be nice and good and special for her. We have money in savings, money for a down payment on a house, money for retirement and I know I don't work but I am getting my degree. And DH got that great job at HP University. I didn't know that I was being such a bad person. I feel terrible. I can't stop crying. I don't want to be a bad parent. I thought I was doing okay but maybe not. I don't even know anymore.

-Becca

[swwake]

Hang in there Becca. I have to do evaluations of my staff in the next few hours, but I want to post a response. You are a great mom. Wipe those tears dry!! I will post my (positive) thoughts in a bit.

[dddisrunner]

Becca, NO ONE can make you feel bad about yourself unless YOU allow them too!:thumbsup2 There is not one of us here that doesn't try to do better for our children then was done for us, it's just human nature! There is nothing wrong with you wanting your trip to be "perfect" in everyway that you can. As far as dance and a disney trip and finances are concerned, children remember experiences not whether or not the house they live in is owned or rented. Your daughter WILL remember dancing school and she WILL remember this trip. Think about your early childhood memories? Aren't they all wrapped up in the things that you did and places you went and who was with you? Unfortunately on these public boards sometimes people feel as though when you ask for an opinion, instead of politely disagreeing, they feel they have the green light to attack you:scared1: The bottom line is only YOU and your husband know what is best for your family and you are the ones that need to figure that out:thumbsup2 I say put that very hurtful post behind you and focus on creating wonderful family memories that will last a lifetime:goodvibes

[swwake]

Alright, Lady, I'm back! I second everything Diane said. I think it is second nature to Moms to do what is right for their kids, and it is "first nature" to always questions whether you are doing what's best. That is part of being a good mom!!

The fact that you have and take the time to make your kids your priority and elect not to work says alot. I wish I had had the luxury to stay home with my daughter. Being a mom is a job and you should be proud of that. Going to school for another career is just icing on the cake!

I found the other thread. People were not so nice over there (not just that one person). But I did a quick search on that one person's grand total of 52 posts and noticed a trend. This is not a very nice person. And you can't believe everything you read on the internet. He or she says that he/she is a professor. Not a very diplomatic one, I must say.

Someone else over there said something to the effect of "who cares what a bunch of internet people thing about you?" and I agree with that too. It's too bad that when you were brave enough to reach out for advice, you were attacked. and hurt. I feel for you, my friend.

Here's hoping that you have straightened your skirt, chin up, and you are facing the fun tasks at hand of planning to leave on vacation in 3 days - where you can forget about your problems, that mean person, even the DIS for a few days. Don't let this spoil the fun of planning or your trip itself!

:hug:

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Hey dear Becca, :hug:

That stooopid, sooo stooopid poster knows nothing about OCD.
Has a bachelor in psychology I can, first things first, reassure you. No OCD. :thumbsup2
Or this whole board would be. :rotfl:

You're only caring, loving and passionate. And as dddisrunner is saying : wanting this trip to be perfect!

If you'd be OCD, you wouldn't have been saying from the first post "I know this is silly" about picking those outfits! We all know we're being silly about overplanning, making iron-on shirts, mousekeeping envelopes and such, be we all love doing it! It's part of getting excited for the trip, of making the experience that much more magical... :wizard:

I can't believe that poster is a DISer... :confused3 Now, that post is everything but pixie dusted... :sad2:

Honestly, I would report it as offensive. Oh, it's not racism or harrasment, but it is a personal attack.

I totally agree with dddisrunner : what is important is the experiences your kids have right here and now.
I'm right there with you too, Becca, don't worry : experiences up to a point : no need to ruin their chances of a scholarhsip later just to do as much dance as DD would like (not saying it's like that, just an example), or having to live in your car just to go to Paris for a week, or something like that...
But doing what you love and traveling are wonderful experiences for kids and families...

Who's that poster to judge you? :mad: Who's that poster to tell you what to do, when only you and your husband know what's the situation and what you want to do with your life, your budget and your priorities?!

I hope you're feeling better... :flower3:

Think about what lies ahead, thanks to all the work you put into it! princess:

[swwake]

I want to add something. My Mom was a single mom from the time I was 7 years old onward. My dad had input and helped where he could, but it was Mom who made the memories. Mom insisted that we have a family vacation every year, even in the lean years (I think she might have written about this in our PTR). Sometimes that meant just finding places to stay for free (for a 4-hour timeshare seminar, for example).

But if Mom was paying for a vacation, her philosophy was not to sacrifice for the purpose of money (to a point, mind you - we never went so deep into debt that she couldn't work her way out - she knew her limits). Anyway, one thing she taught me was: Don't skimp on your vacation. These are memories that you are making. If you can afford it, and it will make wonderful memories, do it!

I think you're doing it right on the WDW vacation. Your DD is the perfect age. (We took Katie at 5 for a full-blown trip and again at 6 for just AK, and she remembers much more of the second trip). I think you're also doing it right on the dancing. If it's in the budget and supports your DD's self esteem, do it!

[duma]

I am more of a lurker than a poster, but I wanted to say that I admire the grace with which you are handling the nasty remarks on the other board. All I can imagine is that some people must be so unhappy with their "real life" that posting in a cyber life makes them feel braver....and apparently meaner. Whatever decision you make, you should be proud that you made it and that you have the intelligence and maturity to not get dragged into the mean spirited mud flinging that is going on.:)

[TinkAsh2001]

Hey Becca I sent you a PM! We leave tonight at 2am for the airport! I cant believer the time is here!

[swwake]

Becca - just checking in with you this morning. Are you feeling better? I hope that you haven't posted because you are so excited and so very busy with planning to leave TOMORROW!!! (right?)

[swwake]

You leave TOMORROW!!! I am so excited for you! Travel safely!

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

If you read this before you leave tomorrow morning :

Have a wonderful, magical, full of pixie-dust trip!!!

:goodvibesprincess::wizard:

:hug:

[sl_underwood]

:grouphug: Becca, trust me, you dont have OCD. You may have some Disney induced planning insanity but just about everyone on these boards does. I can completely relate to wanting to have the perfect trip. As for the negative posters, ignore them. They dont know you and they have no right to judge you. Have a great trip!

[swwake]

I hope y'all are having a blast! Can't wait to hear all about it. I hope the time is DRAGGING by for you.

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Hi Becca! :wave2:

Wanted to say I'm thiking about you, trying to imagine you and your family going through the parks gates and on Main street... (pretty hard when you've never been... but I'm doing my best!:laughing:).
I really hope you're having a magical time and, as Swwake said : that the trip isn't zooming by too fast! :wizard:

I can't wait to read your TR... after we too, get back though, because I don't want any spoilers!;)

Hope you have safe trip back and aren't too depressed either! :hippie:

P.S. Colombine (my cat, in case you don't remember) says "prrrr"! :cat:

[DisneyDaughter5589]

I have just read through your whole entire trip report and I am sooooo jealous!!! We were there in January and as soon as I got back I had to go to school. What school? UNCG!!! I'm sooo happy to find out there is someone else as "normal" as me here. But back on track I would absolutly jealous for numerous reasons DeluxeDDP, Costumes, and Princess and Pirate party. We went to Garden Grill in January and loved it!
Also I share your daughter's passion for Dancing. I danced for 11years (ish) tap, ballet, jazz, modern, and alittle african. We could never afford "company" or competition but I ALWAYS wanted to do it. Your daughter is truly blessed. But I am not complaining my mom and dad did all they could.
In relation to that poster what they said was so hurtful. Like some of the others have posted these are the memories that last a life time. You do whatever you can to make them perfect and thats all that matters.
I hope your having a great time!
-Ashley

[TinkAsh2001]

I am so sad we didnt get to meet! We got back from DTD at day at 2:30 and we looked around the pool and I didnt see you anywhere :(. I was hoping to see you at the party but no luck! How late did you guys stay?! I was so upset it stormed but we stuck it out and stayed until midnight and it finally stopped!!! Message me when you get back! Hope your trip was great like ours!

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Don't know why, but I was stuck with the 10th as your return date... but at the same time it just didn't sound right so I went to check and realized you're already back!!! :eek:

I hope you had the most wonderful trip and are now safe back home, heads full of happy memories! :cloud9:

Can't wait to hear all about it!
:hyper:

[dreamer17555]

So Yes we are back! Actually we have been back for week. I am so sorry I haven’t been on much. Honestly I was suffering a bit of DLD (Disney Loss Depression). Also we came back in time for a back breaking week. Cat had a week filled with dance practice, dance pictures, a bad spill during a back-handspring at gymnastics (seriously everyone sorta freaked- it looked like she landed on her neck). That bad spill meant a trip to ER (just to be on the safe side- they said she was fine) And believe it or not she was on stage this weekend for another competition and doing another back-handspring! I couldn’t even watch. The studio owners were sitting with me and told me when it was safe to turn around. That child is fearless. One of the other girls that did a back-handspring in the routine took a spill earlier in the year and still won’t try another one.

On top of that was my mom needing surgery on her stomach, my dad coming for a visit, book fair, parent teacher conference, science fair, friends over for dinner and massive cuddle-fests with my DS, James. I can’t even tell you the baby withdrawal everyone suffered at Disney. Cat woke up crying on the fourth night because she missed her baby brother and more than once we thought about packing it up early and heading home. Yes we all had a blast but that baby heartache is a real powerful thing

I will be getting through my PM’s and the posts here and responding to all of them now that I am (mostly) unpacked.

Also my DH has hit the TR bug and will be adding his humorous insights into my upcoming Trip Report. Here is a glimpse of what you can look forwarded to:

~ Join Captain Jack’s Crew (The Princess Pirate Party)
~ We Should Be Fat by Now (A DxDDP Review of 17! TS meals)
~ You Can’t Buy This (A Magical Moment or Two)
~ My Husband the Baby Wrangler (This one you will just have to see)
~ Sharing the Insanity (Meeting a Dis’er or two)
~ The Art of Not Waiting in Line (How we managed to beat the crowds without breaking our backs)

I have tons of stuff and notes galore! We did and didn’t stick to my original plans. We made adjustments as they were needed and I think it made for an amazingly fun trip. I can’t wait to share it with all of you!

-Becca-

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Yay!
Finally you're really back! :banana:

I can't wait to leave and then come back so I can read your TR! :yay:(well, not THAT bad... :rolleyes: If it's true I can't wait to leave, I don't want to come back much in fact! ;))

So fun that DH wants to join in the writing fun! :goodvibes I love joint TRs!

Of course I don't like HIM as much as I like YOU :rolleyes1, but... I allow him to write and entertain us... ha! :rotfl:

Oh, it must have been sooo hard without James! :guilty: I'm freakin' out at the thought of spending almost 3 weeks without my cat... (not your CAT, my CAT, like in kitty!... :lmao: man, I'm on fire tonight! should go write in my PTR instead of wasting funny lines here! hihi).
So, I was saying, seriously, that if I was freakin' out last fall not having my pet for a week, I can only imagine what not being with your own flesh must be... :sad1:

The back handspring moment must have been horrible... :scared1: but you know what, she did a good thing, doing it again soon, the longer she'd have waited, the bigger it would've seemed and the hardest it would've been to do it again. But man... that's not the style of dance I was doin'! :eek: I couldn't do a handstand to save my life, let alone a back handspring!

I'll keep checking in until I leave, unless of course you're only in TR mode... popcorn::

[dreamer17555]

The backhandspring thing. OMG. I saw it and she hit the ground and didn't move, didn't scream, nothing. I thought she was dead. Three coaches came running over and two kids screamed. It was so freaky. I guess the fall knocked the air out of her but she remembered how to tuck her chin not to hurt her neck.

Yeah they are doing "Open" for Itsy Bitsy which is mostly jazz but at one point they have backhandsprings. Its cute. Scary but Cute.

I actually have my first entry done on the TR, Hubby did most of it but here is a pretty link to it:http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1792248

-Becca-

[TinkAsh2001]

That link didnt work for me when I clicked it :(

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Brrr... you must really have freaked out :scared:. I mean, anyone would've, but when it's your baby!

OK, so as for the TR, I'm taking the link and putting it in my subscriptions, but I'm NOT LOOKING AT IT! :cool2:

Won't be until 5 weeks (hum, it's long! :guilty:).

But I really don't want any spoilers... :sad2: I've stopped reading TRs altogether a while ago because it was too much spoilers, and imagine how much spoilers there'll be in yours : you've just been there! It's not even a TR from 2 years ago! :laughing:

So even though I can't wait to read it, I'll have to refrain!

I'll have to live with
Yes we all had a blast but that baby heartache is a real powerful thing
that you told in a previous entry!

.... Happy you had a blast, by the way! :goodvibes

I guess until we meet again on your TR, we'll see each other on my PTR!

So... see ya! :wave2:

[dreamer17555]

That link didnt work for me when I clicked it :(

Sorry! Now Try it.

-Becca-

[brewzoo5]

Just browzing through and saw your post.

I have to agree.... lists are the only way to go. It just makes you feel so much better about not forgetting anything.

Peace of mind....