Faster than Fast...Hitchhikers welcome...the Pretrippie with a complex (10/5-16!) [Archive] - The DIS Discussion Forums

luvthattink

09-14-2008, 05:20 PM

So after reading countless PTR's we've decided to take the plunge. This one will be "Faster than Fast" since its coming up so quickly, any hitchhikers (aka lurkers) PLEASE join us we're lonely. We still have some plans to make so we're up for any advice that you may want to give so here we GOOOOOOOO......

This is going to be a joint effort (at least that's the plan) I've coerced my Dad and my DH (who I don't think has ever been on a message board in his life) to help me out with this, so we can give multiple perspectives in these last days before our trip!

We are VERY close to packing up our pixie dust and heading for our happy place!! :woohoo: Our trip date is October 5th-16th And just today at lunch we were all talking about how excited we were and how soon we will be there!!! THREE WEEKS FROM TODAY!!! YAY!!!:cool1:

So from what I have gathered from reading other PTR's that now is the time where I introduce everyone!! So lets get started.....

Here's our crazy bunch being silly per the request of the ME cast member who we asked to take our picture....he took a "nice" pic too, but this is more fun and probably a better representation of who we are....:rotfl: O and I would just like to say that my Dad...(he's the only one not making a silly face) is really and truly the goofiest in the bunch so I'm not sure why he chose not to participate in the silliness....Dad? wanna shed any light on that one???? O wait...neither is my DH...what's up boys? Honestly its not my kids best attempt at silliness either....o well I tried, we really are a goofy group and have a lot of fun in the process!

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%202007/DisneyWorld1038.jpg

Now for us as individuals.........

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%202007/DisneyWorld1031.jpg
Here is my DH...David (aka PIN FREAK)....He is 34, owns his own plumbing business and quite a cutie. I'm thinking that I should let him introduce himself and I will let him, but for now I'll do it....Let's see I've spent most of our married life trying to get him to love Disney as much as I do! I think that is a lofty goal but I am trying and I think he gets it a little more each time we go. Actually the one way that I have "hooked" him is with the pins. When I tell you (and I have my parents who can vouch for me here) that we can't go 50 ft. in the park without him checking out a cast member's lanyard looking for that elusive CM only pin, I am not exaggerating. In fact my two older boys are getting to be just as bad. But I figure...whatever it takes to make him Disney Happy!

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%202007/DisneyWorld1084.jpg
My Dad....Joe (aka...PopPop)....with his alter-ego! He is truly a fun-loving goofball. Always has been! In fact he channels Goofy so well that every time we see Goofy in and around Disney my kids tell Goofy that their PopPop can talk like him and have made him do it for Goofy!! He loves us and loves Disney so its a good combo.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%202007/DisneyWorld1032.jpg
My Mom...Kathie (aka...MeeMee). Best Mom ever and I could not be more thankful for her. As you can imagine, life with four kids can get a little hectic and chaotic, and she is always there to talk me out of jumping off the roof. ;) She sees a need a tends to it...that's just her! While we (my dh and I) tend to fly by the seat of our pants...(not big planners and are rather last minute, well except for when it comes to Disney)....she is totally Type A...always has her ducks in a row and I often wish I could channel that! She loves my kidlets and would do anything for them. She also loves Disney and we really can't imagine going without my parents...they are just part of the Disney experience for us!

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%202007%202/DSC01759.jpg
Owen...8, will be turning 9 in November....aahhh my baby is almost 9, when did that happen. Ok so this is our first born, he is always and forever, FULL OF ENERGY. Never stops, from the time he wakes up till his head hits the pillow at night. He is a handful, likes to argue (argh) but he is a good kid, VERY smart...sometimes too much for his own good! Took his first trip to Disney at the ripe old age of 22 months (and can I just tell you that was the most magical vacation I have ever had....we all were teary the first time he met Mickey).

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%202007%202/DSC01756.jpg
Cooper...follows closely on the heels of Owen...came 18 months after so he is 7. Coop is a sweetheart, always ready with a hug and an I Love You. He has a tender heart and is a great brother! He is especially fond of his little sister. He is her protector and would do anything for her. He enjoys being silly and is for the most part very easy going. He loves Disney and took his first trip at 4 months.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%202007%202/DSC01757.jpg
Grady....he's 3 but will have his birthday while we are there, so I will soon have a 4 year old. What to say about the Gman??? He is hysterical. He literally can make anyone laugh and loves to do it. He brings sunshine to everyone he meets. He is one happy kid. Loves to eat too! He asks everyday if we are going to Disney today. I can't wait until I can say YES!!! He took his first trip to Disney when he was 7 months old. It was so much fun to watch him taking it all in on our trip last year! I think Disney is best when experiencing it through the eyes of a child. I know it is for me! All that wide-eyed wonder...I can't WAIT!!!

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%202007/DSC01613.jpg
Emmaleeprincess: ....yep 3 boys and a girl! She is definitely taken on the princess role well although I affectionately call her "STINKERBELLE"!!! I can't begin to tell you how much fun I am having with a little girl!!! She loves "Cindrelela" although I have just been informed by her at this very moment that her favorite is Goofy. Go figure! She is a well-rounded little girl, loves getting "wipstick" on and getting "booful" on her fingers and toes (that's what she calls nailpolish) but isn't afraid to mess up that mani/pedi being barefoot while digging under rocks.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%202007/DisneyWorld1027.jpg
then there is me...Aimee...33 but I will also be celebrating my bday in the most magical place on earth!! We fly out on my bday and I couldn't be happier! I am a SAHM and love it. I love volunteering at my kids school, love being a baseball mom, love making memories with my family, love taking pictures and my "mommy outlet" is scrapbooking. I also get out of the house every now and again by selling uppercase living. I am, by my own admission, THE disney FREAK of the family!!! I think I'm the one that HAS to go and everyone else just humors me and goes along. I dream of the day that its my dh's suggestion to plan our next trip!

Next post will be a breakdown of our trip!!! Gotta go cut my Dad's hair, have some pizza, get the kids to bed and do some trip planning while my parents are here.:dance3:

luvthattink

09-14-2008, 06:19 PM

FIXED IT....I THINK...............

ok...my apologies...i have no idea what's up with the pictures. I don't know why they are so huge, I used the link on photobucket that is suppose to be for message boards. I have used it before and posted on here and they have been the right size...any pointers from the TR veterans???

luvthattink

09-14-2008, 11:11 PM

So here is a little background...a little about previous trips and more importantly some details about the one that is so close I can almost taste it (after all we do like our Disney food ;) ).......

Since we have been married we have gone in.....

September 1997 - "Disney"moon:bride: Two weeks at GF, obviously this trip included only my DH and I. I'd love to do a long weekend with just the two of us again!
September 2001 - I think it was about 10 days or so and this time we stayed off site in a condo that we rented. This time we had our first two kiddos, Owen was 22 mos. and Cooper was 4 mos. We also had my parents.
May 2005 - 10 nights at POFQ, rented two room with double beds (or are they queen....can't remember just remember that we won't subject anyone to that again...nothing wrong at all with the resort, loved it, just didn't like how crammed we were) This trip consisted of DH & I, Owen, Cooper and now another kidlet Grady who was 7 mos., my parents and we also decided to take my 18 year old niece. This is when we decided to go to a DVC presentation...we were going to go in 2001, even had a time scheduled but changed our mind...just didn't want to take the time to go...now wishing we would have. Anyway, went to the presentation and came out the proud owners of DVC!
September 2006 - Used 2005 and 2006's points and went on the Disney Cruise, Eastern Caribbean and had the most fantastic time. It was DH, me, Owen, Cooper, Grady and yep we added another one so Emma was along for the ride at just a little over 4 mos. Two adjoining cabins, with a pack n play in each cabin. What a great week, tons of awesome memories.
September 2007 - Roasted in the sweltering heat and humidity for 11 wonderful nights in a two bedroom at BWV with a water view....this was also our first experience with DDP (which after that trip we decided we weren't going to do again because we felt to scheduled), loved the food, but remember I mentioned DH and I tend to be a little last minute, well we decided on our dates, made our ressies and decided to do the DDP well after that 180 window had passed and being inexperienced with it we just told them the different places we wanted to eat and took what they gave us. So we were kinda out of sync with how we usually do the World and running to and fro being led around by where our next ressie was. It was our fault but one learns from their mistakes...or we try to anyway. This trip was DH, me our 4 kiddos (no new ones added :) ) and of course my parents :hug:

So all of that leads us to the HERE & NOW.....which I will do in the next post because this one is already obnoxiously long and probably really boring.:sad2:

luvthattink

09-15-2008, 08:37 PM

First I just have to get this out of my system.......ONLY 19 DAYS!!!!!!:banana:

Ok now that that's out of my system (well kinda) here's our trip in a nutshell.

October 4th we will be leaving our house in good old PA and heading to Baltimore where we will spend the night so that we can get up at the crack of dawn rather than before dawn to head to BWI for our flight.

SUNDAY, 10/5 (my bday.....:bday: )
Departing BWI @ 8:42 a.m.
Arriving MCO @ 10:54 a.m.

As soon as we get off the plane we will make our way to ME so we can hop on that bus that will take us to the magic!!! :drive:

I'm hoping to be pulling into our home resort of Saratoga Springs by 12 p.m. This will be our first time to stay at our home resort and I am excited about it. We have requested a DTD view in Congress Park and I REALLY hope we get it. We love DTD and head over that way quite a bit during our trips so I'm looking forward to staying so close. We really went round and round about where to stay. I was kinda pushing for VWL, I thought my boys would love it there, but in the end we decided SSR was less points so we'd go that route this time and do VWL another. I want to stay in all of them anyway!

We have two plans for what we will do after check-in.....

Plan A....If our room is ready, we will go and get settled in, grab a snack from Artist's Palette and spend a little time at the pool, then head back to the room, get ready and head to DTD for some dinner.

Plan B....If our room isn't ready, we will head to DTD for lunch and to walk around some then head back to get settled in our room, hang at the pool and then just relax in the evening.

Either way I want to kidlets to get to bed at a decent time after getting up so early and we have breakfast ressies on Monday. We were trying to figure out something special to do for my Bday but I think we are just going to scrap that idea, I don't want it to be too crazy trying to fit something in. So maybe we'll just do something at one of the other ressies we have.

Now here's a disclaimer, before I tell you about our days etc. I have to tell you that yes I did join TGM and yes I did consult his little chart...HOWEVER, the chart was not out for what days for what parks were good at our 180 mark:mad: and I had to make ressies....especially for the places that I knew were harder to get into. Once it came out I was in panic mode because we were in like all the wrong parks on all the wrong days :scared1: at least for the first few days....we tried to call and rearrange things but it just wasn't working....SO we'll be winging it!

MONDAY 10/6: AKV

9:10 a.m. Ressie at Tusker House

TUESDAY 10/7: MK

9:40 a.m. Ressie at Chef Mickey's (a fave of ours):love:

WEDNESDAY 10/8:

We're taking the day off....at least most of it. We'll probably head to a park in the evening or something. We do have ressies for lunch at CP and since we're getting 12 day passes, if we decide to keep them we can head over there then head back to swim or whatever catches our fancy.

THURSDAY 10/9: EPCOT

12:00 p.m. Ressies at Tepan Edo...can't wait to see it redone. We have really enjoyed eating there in the past. In fact its my Dad's favorite.

FRIDAY 10/10: MGM

12:40 p.m. Ressies at Sci-Fi I think my boys will love it here!:3dglasses

SATURDAY 10/11:

We will be playing this day by ear...who knows where we might end up. Probably at some point we will end up at the Boardwalk, we love it over there and there are so many yummy restaurants there...Maybe Spoodles this day.

SUNDAY 10/12:

1:10 ressies at CRT!!!! princess: I cannot wait for this!!!! I can't wait to take my little princess here!!! So excited! This will be our first time at CRT! I look forward to next year when she will be able to do BBB before hand and then go! princess:

MONDAY 10/13: MY Gman's BDAY...he'll be 4. party:

We were looking for something fun to do for his bday so after reading Tim & Leslie's TR we decided on........

12:05 p.m. Whispering Canyon Cafe. From the sounds of it we'll have some fun here!!!!

Don't know what park we'll end up in.

We have no other ressies after that. We kind of thought we'd play it by ear but we are open to suggestions. There are a few places we would like to try and any suggestions would be great!!!

Would you do Ohana's or Kona Cafe?
What is your favorite "nice" place to eat?

We're getting a little lonely here.....:sad1:

luvthattink

09-16-2008, 01:33 PM

I think my PTR is getting a complex :scared: or wait is it me??? Maybe I can bribe a few readers with some pics....

Because it is very fall like here and it has put me in the mood for all things fall, pumpkin scented candles, jeans, fall flavored coffee, etc....here are a few pics of Disney in the fall...(first time I had ever seen Disney decorated, or starting to decorate, for any holiday)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%202007/DSC01582.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%202007/DSC01805.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%202007/DSC01580-1.jpg
I want one of these for my front yard...
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%202007/DSC01612.jpg

And if that doesn't work, how bout this cutie eating one of our favorite WDW snacks....
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%202007/DSC01462.jpg

AshleyMWC

09-16-2008, 02:13 PM

luvthattink

09-16-2008, 04:52 PM

I just stumbled across your PTR and I love it!! Your kids are so beautiful, and yoru plans sound awesome. We will be heading down to the World soon after you return, so tell Mickey hello for us!

As for your question regarding Kona or Ohana, I have only ever eaten at Ohana, but we are trying Kona our first night this year. I think they are such different restaurants that it's really just a matter of do you want a calmer dinenr or a crazy one! I love the food and atmosphere at Ohana and I'm sure the kids would too, but Kona's menu looks amazing I think!

As for my favorite "nice" restaurant, I don't know if I can choose just one- but I like Narcoossee's, but we are trying JIKO and either The Wave or Citrico's for the first time this year. Are you planning on bring all the kids to this "nice" place or are you are DH going to try and sneak away for one night?- I guess that would decision would really put "nice" in perspective :rotfl:

Awww, thanks and thanks for posting, I'm not as lonely anymore:hug: ! I think Kona's menu looks fantastic too so maybe we will go with that. I know the kids would probably love the craziness at Ohana's but we are doing crazy at Whispering Canyon. I wish DH and I would have gone to Narcoossee's on our honeymoon, but that was long before the dining plan and we chose to do California Grill instead. I will have to check into Citrico's, heard of it but don't know much about it.

luvthattink

09-16-2008, 08:48 PM

I can hardly stand it....we are at the 18 DAY MARK!!!:woohoo:

So much to do and so little time to do it in. I literally cannot believe that we are so close!

I'm such a horrible decision maker. Just can't make up my mine for fear there is a better choice or I'll make the wrong decision...even on something as simple as a stroller. This in part comes from the fact that every stroller I have had has been cause for frustration...too wide, too heavy, doesn't push right, breaks the first time ya use it! UGH. So I have done my research, mainly on here and reading every review on every stroller site on the internet and I'm pretty sure that I'm getting a Maclaren this time around. I am refusing to take my double stroller. The thing is falling apart and its only 2.5 years old and its heavy and bulky and lugging it on and off the bus is just a huge pain. But more than that my 2 and 3 year old have taken to torturing each other while in it. Whoever is in front is kicking the back of the one that's in front, and whoever is in the front and in the recline position is squishing the fingers of the one in the back that is holding onto the tray. Some things are innocent enough and other is just plain old sibling pestering. So I have decided to take two singles. We have enough adults in our group that pushing two strollers is not an issue. In fact its slightly more freeing as we can go in two different directions if necessary. In the past I have taken the double stroller and then rented a double stroller for the older boys at the World...but since I could rent a compact car for less than a stroller at Disney, my big boys will just have to tough it out, or sneak a turn when one of the little ones want to walk. ANYWAY..I am between two of the Maclarens, the Triumph and the Quest. I'm open to any suggestions from those who haven't bought all the wrong strollers, like me!!

Off to check out Ebay and see what I can find! :earboy2:

luvthattink

09-17-2008, 12:28 PM

First let us start off by saying that we are......
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%202007%202/DisneyWorld1156.jpg

and its once again a nice fall day here but fall looks better in Disney
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%202007%202/DSC01765.jpg

and we would just like to say that hitchhikers (aka lurkers) are welcomed!!
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%202007%202/DSC01763.jpg
(now those are some cute hitchhikers :lovestruc )

Disneychix

09-17-2008, 03:35 PM

luvthattink

09-17-2008, 03:43 PM

Love the cute hitch-hikers!!

Your family is adorable and you do not look old enough (or tired enough) to be the mom of 4!! Happy early birthday!

Ohana's isn't really crazy. They do have a little hula lesson but it's not in your face craziness.
For your nice dinner I would say California Grill as the view is just the best!

YAY...another reader:hug: !!

Thanks soooo much for your sweet words. Funny because I feel exhausted most days
The reassurance for Ohana's is good, we were actually reading a review I'll have to see if I can find the link here on the dis....I think it was in dining under the menu part where they put the review before the menu....O wait I found it....

Ohana is the wildly popular restaurant on the second floor of Disney's Polynesian Resort that does not deserve the reputation it has. The large room overlooks the Seven Seas Lagoon, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and a pool. What was once a view of the Magic Kingdom is now mostly blocked by the large volcano structure poolside. Appetizers are served family style and entrees are served from large skewers. The food quality varies from mediocre to poor. There is relentless Hawaiian 'lounge act' type entertainment that includes singing, ukulele playing, limbo contests and races where children push coconuts around the restaurant, all on hardwood floors. The noise level is extremely loud and the ambience is best described as chaotic:lmao: . 'Ohana has a large and loyal following who obviously see something we don't.

My mom and I were dying laughing :rotfl: because we had just made ressies for the day we arrived...MY BDAY. My mom called back and cancelled. Maybe another night but something slightly less "noisy" for my bday...maybe???

island cricket

09-18-2008, 02:15 PM

luvthattink

09-18-2008, 09:54 PM

Aloha Aimee! your family is beautiful, but i'm sure you hear that all the time! love your mom and dad, how fun to have them be a part of it! I saw you on another thread with chef mickey's and mentioned we'd be there with you. I think it's awesome that you braved a PTR, i'm a weiner and would love to write one but even more, i enjoy reading others. I crack up when i read SAHM ???? whoever coined that phrase needs therapy! I called myself a "domestic engineer" and seriously, i got more oohs and aahs as most couldn't figure out what i did, i guess it sounded as if i spent years at college. Honey... a century at schooling with a masters degree does not prepare you for the "real world", my kids are now 11 & 12 so i work out of the house. I hope to see you there, too much fun meeting another DISer, i'll have our LGMH on staying at POR. don't stop on the PreTR, you've done a fabulous job! i'm really looking forward to the PostTR!

YAY....I'm so excited to know I will be dining with a fellow DISer! Post a pic so I can see you and look for you! You should so do a PTR...I'd love to read it. I really enjoy reading what everyone does and how different everyone's trips to the World can be. Something for everyone! I'm so going to join you in the domestic engineer world....LOVE IT! I need to see a pic of your LGMH...I think I need one! I'm still waiting for the fellas that promised me a little help with this PTR to join in...not sure I should hold my breath on that one!!! So now that I am up to THREE readers...I guess I will continue on!! :goodvibes

luvthattink

09-18-2008, 10:27 PM

ONLY 17 DAYS LEFT!!!!:dance3:

Yep...the time is quickly approaching for us to hop that plane and take in some magic! So we did a little Disney related prepping tonight. My Mom, Dad and I, (with 3 out of the 4 kiddos in tow) headed to Walmart to do some shopping for some stuff to take with us. Here's what we came home with......

587 wet wipes (got the big case with 3 individual bags in it...will prob. only take 2) between bottoms and sticky fingers these are a must.
4 travel size bottles of anti-bacterial gel...big boys are excited that they get to have their own bottle to take
2 Water bottles with fans....one green (Coop's favorite color) one blue (O's favorite color) which they will be in charge of but have been instructed that they WILL be sharing with their little brother and sister...I think I'm going to assign them a sibling each day of our trip to share with...a little psychology maybe? I'm thinking if I tell them that they are in charge of making sure that Emma and Grady don't get too hot that they will relish the "in charge" part enough to not whine about it being "their" water bottle!!! Oh and $2 sure beats the price in the World.
A couple boxes of Fruit Snacks, granola bars, etc.
Toothpaste (so none of their teeth fall out with all the sugar intake)
Immodium (won't go too much into detail here except to say there's a whole lot of eatin' going on while on the DDP and one can never be too prepare :rotfl2: )
And last but not least...one of the most important purchases of the evening.....Crayola Model Magic....I cannot tell you what a lifesaver this was on our trip last year. It kept our kids totally occupied at all of our table service meals and we all had fun playing with it. Its awesome...last year we bought it at the Crayola Factory in a pouch that had like 6 or 8 smaller foil packets of neon colored model magic. We just tossed it in ziploc bags and threw it in the diaper bag and that was that! If you haven't used it, its great because unlike play-doh, it doesn't break apart and get everywhere!
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%202007/DSC01267.jpg

There is still more to get for Disney, although not too much more. Next post I think I'll do what's on my mental checklist (because much to my Mother's dismay, since she's a Type-A list maker....my checklist is in my head and not written down, basically because I'd probably lose the piece of paper I wrote it on anyway! lol)

island cricket

09-18-2008, 11:20 PM

YAY....I'm so excited to know I will be dining with a fellow DISer! Post a pic so I can see you and look for you! You should so do a PTR...I'd love to read it. I really enjoy reading what everyone does and how different everyone's trips to the World can be. Something for everyone! I'm so going to join you in the domestic engineer world....LOVE IT! I need to see a pic of your LGMH...I think I need one! I'm still waiting for the fellas that promised me a little help with this PTR to join in...not sure I should hold my breath on that one!!! So now that I am up to THREE readers...I guess I will continue on!! :goodvibes

yikes, i gotta find a pic of me first, i'm usually behind the camera..hmmm, i'll look, if not, i'll have the kids take one of me so i can send it. do you have LGMHs? i can mail some to you if you want, let me know, i have some, i can pop them in mail tomorrow, pm me your info or i can send them right to the resort, just let me know your last name so they can hold it... yeah!!:cool1:

jcc19480

09-20-2008, 07:47 AM

Okay....it's time for me to post a quick note on your thread and since this is my first time, it will probably be brief until I figure what's going on.popcorn::

I can't believe that we begin our next journey to Disney in just two short weeks. Now that the weather is getting cooler here, I'm getting even more excited to head South...especially now that the hurricanes have moved one!:banana:

Thanks for all the hard work, research, planning, and phone calls that you've done in preparation for our trip. I still need to get another battery for my video camera before we leave. The one that came with the camera is small and will only last a couple of hours. Hoping to find a larger capacity one that will provide longer recording time. Probably will stop at Sam's Club and pick up some additional video tapes.

Did you make a decision regarding the Stroller dilemma? You can log into my Consumer Reports online and do some research if you need to. I can email you the link with my logon and password. Let me know.

luvthattink

09-20-2008, 10:24 AM

yikes, i gotta find a pic of me first, i'm usually behind the camera..hmmm, i'll look, if not, i'll have the kids take one of me so i can send it. do you have LGMHs? i can mail some to you if you want, let me know, i have some, i can pop them in mail tomorrow, pm me your info or i can send them right to the resort, just let me know your last name so they can hold it... yeah!!:cool1:

Well I will be waiting for that pic ;) and you have a PM!

luvthattink

09-20-2008, 10:28 AM

jcc19480

09-20-2008, 03:23 PM

Hey Pork...thanks for updating my profile and adding a signature. I am really looking forward to eating at Japan in Epcot. Missed eating there last year and all the fun the kids will have "watching" their food being cooked.

Disneychix

09-20-2008, 03:34 PM

luvthattink

09-20-2008, 06:49 PM

Hi Dad!

What's a "pork"?

HAHAHA...:rotfl: "Pork" is actually my nickname that ONLY my Dad is allowed to call me. When I was little apparently I liked Lambchop (Shari Lewis had a show with a sock-type puppet named Lambchop) apparently my dad thought the puppet's name was Porkchop and by the time he realized it...it was too late apparently the name had stuck :confused3 . So its his term of endearment for me!

Now that we have that cleared up...lol...

jcc19480

09-21-2008, 03:08 PM

So....how does a Dad and Granddad prepare for another trip to Disney. Well, one of the most obvious things that he does is get out of the way of two agressive women (daughter and wife) who are already in commando mode as they "spy out" the territory, research on the internet, write everything down in their new PassPorter books, and chart out the "attack plan" with reservations and day-by-day strategies! In reality, if they didn't do this we would hit the ground in total anarchy! So ladies....thanks so much for all the hard work!
:thanks:

PassPorter Disney books are great. Not only are they loaded with information but also provide lots of space for entering your own information as you plan your trip and while you're there. PassPorter even has pockets for your receipts, confimations, etc. The PassPorter website contains a lot of updated information and a number of e-books.
:surfweb:

I've also been practicing my "Pop-Pop" duties. One of the most important is practicing my Goofy voice so that I can match wits with all of the fake Goofy's at Character meals. My wonderful grandkids are always telling the mute Goofy, at the Character meals, that their Pop-Pop can talk like him. And of course, the intense pressure that I feel from my adoring grandkid fans, causes me to break out in the best Goofy voice that I have. I'm really fortunate since the "Character Meal Goofy" is mute and not allowed to talk or laugh at my impression. Well...you'll have to excuse me...my voice coach is due here shortly and I need to finish practicing!

luvthattink

09-22-2008, 01:58 PM

Before I get to any other posts I thought I would post about my husband's Disney pin addiction. He will not mind as he is fully aware of this addiction and is actually quite proud of it. It started in Sept. 2001, if I remember correctly it was because I saw a cute little piglet pin (at the time I really liked Pooh, but this piglet pin was pretty tiny and really cute) on a lanyard that was hanging around the neck of a mannequin. I wanted to see if I could buy it and found out that I had to buy another pin and trade for it. So then my DH started asking all kinds of questions about it and the cast member was explaining about limited edition pins, cast member only lanyard pins, etc. So innocently enough, this is how the obsession started. Here is a pic of the pin that started it all

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%20pins/IMG_7253.jpg

See that cute little piglet pin...who knew something so small could start an obsession so big that has my husband chasing down CM's in parades!!! :lmao:

So the other night I found all of our lanyards since this pin business started and took a picture for you to see...now grant it...I know there are serious pin enthusiasts who have thousands of these and we are no where near the volume as said enthusiasts but it won't be long if this continues. Which I'm not saying I would mind because then maybe we would go back to the World more than once a year:thumbsup2 , say for a pin trading event maybe......I don't care how I get there and am willing to admit that I would prey on DH's vulnerability when it comes to pins....:rotfl: The funny thing is if you knew my DH you would NEVER in a million years imagine this weakness for pins!

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%20pins/IMG_7358.jpg

Seriously though it has become a fun family tradition when we go to Disney to hunt down those special CM only pins or Hidden Mickey pins, etc. My big boys are already talking about the pins they want to collect or look for on this trip. I must admit we do have fun in it the only bad part is that those lanyards can get heavy!!

Now as I mentioned, and as you can see I got out all of our pins and DH and I sat down and went through all of them and decided to pick ones that we didn't care about or had duplicates of (we bought so many of the starter sets or the boxed pin sets since they are cheaper for trading) to take back with us so we already had a collection of pins ready for trading. We have about 30 or so and when we were done sorting through and reminiscing about certain ones, my DH said..."Well that should get us through the first day or two".

Well I gotta go get the boys from school and take them to the orthodontist. I'll post some picks of few of my favorite pins later!

jcc19480

09-22-2008, 03:12 PM

Now...to be perfectly honest....we have to clarify something about DH mentioned above. The REAL motivation for buying all these pins is to, and I quote, "finance my kids' college education!" So this is really an INVESTMENT according to DH.

So kids....your are now able to choose any Ivy League College based on the number of pins that Dad has purchased over the last few years!:worship: I think your Dad is a Prince of a guy!

luvthattink

09-22-2008, 09:47 PM

I'm not a huge fan of Monday's in general but today I would like to hit the delete button on....someone stole my cell phone in Target today!!!! UGH. Not really what I needed. I was only there to return something...not even to shop. Totally stinks. However....Disney is only 13 DAYS AWAY!!!!
So I will just concentrate on that and be thankful that it wasn't my whole purse or something!

Crossed another item off my to do list this morning.....STROLLERS. Yep, finally decided on the ones that I wanted....

Emma's.....
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%20pins/26a6_1.gif

Grady's
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%20pins/cb80_1.jpg

I've been going back and forth on this one. Finally went to Babies R Us again yesterday to try to decide once and for all and am glad that I did and feel pretty confident with my decision. Even tried them with my big boys in it because I KNOW that at some point they will need a little break from all the walking. Found the ones that i bought on ebay and they will be arriving in about 3 days!

Thought I'd throw in a couple of pictures from a fall festival that we went to on Saturday...pics of cute kids are always good...right???!!!!

I can pretty much forget about getting a picture where everyone is looking and no one is doing anything silly!!! Just isn't going to happen!!
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/MV%20Autumn%20Days/IMG_7281.jpg
Heartbreakers...
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/MV%20Autumn%20Days/IMG_7294.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/MV%20Autumn%20Days/IMG_7296.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/MV%20Autumn%20Days/IMG_7301.jpg
Isn't she lovely....Isn't she wonderful....:rolleyes1
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/MV%20Autumn%20Days/IMG_7274.jpg

Just some pretty fall things....
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/MV%20Autumn%20Days/IMG_7282.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/MV%20Autumn%20Days/IMG_7284.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/MV%20Autumn%20Days/IMG_7285.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/MV%20Autumn%20Days/IMG_7286.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/MV%20Autumn%20Days/IMG_7289.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/MV%20Autumn%20Days/IMG_7292.jpg

island cricket

09-22-2008, 11:06 PM

luvthattink

09-23-2008, 10:00 PM

Aloha Aimee! so your LGMH are in the mail, they should get to you this weekend, i think i threw a few other colors in there as well, can't remember. so did you say your ADR at Cmickey is a dinner?

GGGGGGGGGreat pics btw!

THANK YOU!!!!:thanks: I can't wait to get them....our ressie for CM's is 9:40 a.m.....a breakfast one. Is yours a dinner???

island cricket

09-24-2008, 02:52 AM

shucks... we are dinner ressie.. guess we'll have to catch up somewhere else:thumbsup2

luvthattink

09-24-2008, 09:59 AM

shucks... we are dinner ressie.. guess we'll have to catch up somewhere else:thumbsup2

Ok...first of all I'm still waiting for that picture, and second of all I'm still waiting for you to start YOUR PTR so that I can see all your ressies and see if we have anything close!!! I'm bummed about CM's I thought I would see you there!!!

luvthattink

09-25-2008, 11:02 PM

YAYAYAYAYAY...We're in SINGLE DIGITS BABY!!!:cool1: :dance3: :banana: :woohoo:

I can hardly believe we are a little bit over a week away from our trip. Everyone is excited, stressing a little and in the Disney spirit. DH is on Ebay as I type looking at...what else but...DISNEY PINS. Tonight around the dinner table I asked the kids what place they were most excited to eat at but I never did get an answer because we got a little off track when I was going through and telling them all of the places that we are eating. I got to Cinderella's Royal Table and my 8 (going on 18) year old son roled his eyes and told me he WAS NOT looking forward to a girlie princess place to eat :rolleyes: he perked up quite a bit when I told him that he got a sword...hmmm, maybe its not so bad after all! He also scrunched his nose up when I mentioned Tepan Edo (which he had no clue what he was scrunching his nose at, just likes to be disagreeable at times) but then I told him what it was and he said "O Yeah....I liked that place" We didn't get to finish because we got off track just talking and explaining all the places we were going to eat at and I had to hurry to get dressed to get out to do an Uppercase Living show and David was heading to a men's Bible study at our church. I guess I'll find out tomorrow where everyone is most excited to eat while we are gone.

My mom and I were going to do a yard sale this weekend but the weather just isn't going to cooperate so we're gonna do it when we get back from Disney...we may need the extra cash more then than before since we'll be PIN poor from DH's addiction while we're there:lmao:

As I'm sitting here typing DH is typing his VERY FIRST MB POST EVER!!! I can't wait to see what he writes, he yelled at me when I looked over at his computer tell me "don't read it"....doesn't he realize that as soon as he submits it i'll be able to read it anyway?????:teacher:

So now that there is no yard sale this weekend I wonder what we'll do...at least it gives us more time to do some more preparation stuff...my DM and I need to sit and compare lists and see what is crossed off, can be crossed of and still needs done, bought, etc. the countdown is SERIOUSLY ON!!! :hyper: :dancer: :jumping1:

ok...must get some sleep...guess I'll have to read DH's post tomorrow!

DisPinFreak

09-25-2008, 11:54 PM

ok..i just got done spending the past hr. posting my first post and got erased..quite ticked.

Will try again..I promised my loml...(love of my life..aka wife..for the abreviation freaks out there) that i would post on the dis boards so here i go.
as my name states ..i am a pin freak...I admit it and am proud of it. even more proud now that the kiddos are now becoming pin freaks too.

It started in 2001 trip after the "little piglet" pin my loml saw.. mind you..she doesn't even care for piglet...she's a tink kind of girl. Once i heard a worker mention to me and someone else that a "limited edition" Walt and Mickey pin is sooooooooooooooo rare and will be worth 3k..yes..$3k in 3 yrs. I was hooked. "investment" for my kids future.....(can see my loml and f.i.l smiling and laughin now). I hunted theses pins down like captain jack sparrow and got 4 or 5 of them...(you can see them on the Mrs. pictures) (Walt and mickey standing side by side in front of castle)....if you would like, will sell for 3k each..PLEASE..haha

After that time...i was hooked and have probably spent enough to pay for tuition by now..haha I do love getting them and most importantly finding them on employees etc... "thrill of the hunt"... even if i don't hunt for real....would rather just buy a good steak than hunt for one...ANYWHOOO

My problem with these pins is the whole "sets"...for example....license plates (missing 2)..dollar bills...tickets...monorails (missing 2)..buses (gott em all)....letters....mind you all of these i just mentioned i got last year in less than 6 days. Since i was good and for the first 4 or 5 days didn't even look @ pins....made up time quickly..huh!..hehe

NOW, its the fast pass ones ..the surfboards..i still want, ANY golfing ones....resorts...tink for the loml...star wars for Owen (oldest son) and for Cooper...and now MORE tink for the little princess Emmalee...."MY Cinderella".
We have fun finding them and CAN'T WAIT to start.

As I am writing this i am watching sets of 50 and 60 on ebay and will be buying them before we go solely for the purpose of trading them for the ones we really want! 60 to $100.00....getting smarter and spending 1.50 to $2.00 for each trading pin rather than the price it cost me to buy kids clothing or a Tshirt for a tiny metal "made in China"..as everything else is...pin for $12.95 at the world. i am getting smarter and also know 60 pins for trading means...60 new "found this one" memories coming our way...hehe

I REALLY wish i didn't lose my last post since it was 6 paragraphs long but here it is anyways.....im a proud pin freak and can't wait to go and start the madness all over again. I LOVE the memories they bring for all of us and the constant teases my mother and father in law have for me..in a loving way. Can't wait and will let you know how it goes.

So all you pin freak....stare @ employees lanyards..."OOOOH look @ that one"...."I need that one"...."give me another mickey head pin to trade them"...."do we have that one"...."this is an investment" whack jobs out there....THANK YOU and welcome..welcome to the pin freak club...come one come all.....and if you have the surfboards, locker doors, fastpass, or the 2 missing license plates or monorails....i have 2 words for ya.."WANNA TRADE"..haha

Did i also mention I am a Golf fanatic and Ebayaholic....great mix huh...yet a plumbing contractor by trade....must be too much glue sniffing or "black gold"..hehe

Well loml and f.i.l here it is and can see your smiles and laughter as you read this..... and YES...they're "investments"..for my kids future.....RIGHT!!!!!
BRING ON DISNEY>>>>>>>CAN"T WAIT!!!!!

Alysa

09-26-2008, 08:31 AM

luvthattink

09-26-2008, 02:39 PM

Hey! Your family is gorgeous! We are going to be at SSR at the same time as you! And we are taking my "Goofy" dad too! Cute stroller... Sounds like a great trip! How is your packing going? I thought I might start this weekend. Hope you have a wonderful birthday!

Hi Alysa:hug: another reader...YAY.....going over to check out your pre-trippie to get your details (I think I saw a link in your siggy line!) Well know actual packing has taken place but I'm going to definitely get started very soon. Next week has a whole lot of craziness in it. Not too much on my part but DH apparently has a crazy busy week of work, being a business owner he has to make sure all his ducks are in a row before heading out and he has a whole bunch of new stuff starting up which is awesome but hectic right before we leave! It can't be quite as bad as our trip in 2005 when he was gone for 4 days for a golf trip the week we left. He got home on Wed. night and we left Friday morning...crazy I tell ya, just crazy. Had to pack EVERYONE by myself. Looking like it may play out a little like that again this time. I'm usually the one that packs all the clothes (except for his) anyway, but at least when he's around he can keep the kidlets in line so I can get things done! TOTALLY not complaining though because after all I am packing for DISNEY!!!!!:mickeyjum

Alysa

09-26-2008, 03:27 PM

Oh, DH is not allowed to pack anything at our house!
;)

AZMickeyfans

09-26-2008, 03:42 PM

luvthattink

09-26-2008, 04:22 PM

Ok so I think I'm beginning to regret not doing Chef Mickey's on our day of arrival. We did this in 2005 and then in 2006 we did it for breakfast the very next day. I feel like we are kind of floundering our first day. We will be there at a decent time with most of the day to take advantage of and I'm getting nervous that we are going to wander aimlessly through it without a plan. Then I'll be frustrated that we have wasted the day and that day is my bday too! Hmmm what to do....SUGGESTIONS PLEASE!!!!

Soon these little feet will be back on Main Street, USA!!!!!!!!
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%202007/DSC01799.jpg

We'll be hanging with royalty!!
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%202007/DSC01600.jpg

Dining in a Castle!!
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%202007/DSC01035.jpg

And of course being the passionate scrapbooker/memory keeper that I am trying to capture that ever allusive great family photo...will I ever get one of everyone looking??? PLEASE FAMILY OF MINE....JUST ONE GOOD PHOTO!!
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/studioA/disney%202007/DisneyWorld1185.jpg

Alysa

09-26-2008, 04:38 PM

luvthattink

09-26-2008, 10:59 PM

hey! I followed you over from Alysa's PTR! I will be there the same time as you too! I dont believe our days overlap although at this point my plans are completely up in the air! :lmao:

You have a beautiful family! Cant wait to read more! Not much longer now and we'll all be hanging out with Mickey!!!!:cool1: :cool1:

Shawna

Hi Shawna :hug: thanks for joining us!!! So cool that you are going to be there the same time as us...hope that we'll get to meet at some point. Heading over to have a little lookie at your pretrippie!

luvthattink

09-26-2008, 11:03 PM

When do you arrive? Are there no spots at Chef Mickey? If not, you could always try Liberty Tree Tavern or maybe dinner at the Castle? Kids do love "traditions" though. My 11 year old nephew knows that when we go to Disney, we eat a Disney the first night...
:rolleyes:
Great photos - good luck on getting the family shot! Can't wait to see it!

Well our plane is to land at 10:54 so I'm hoping to be at SSR no later than 12. I need to call Disney and see if they have anything but when we called about 2 months or so ago to try to switch some ressies so that we could get our park days lined up with TGM the only thing they had during our entire trip was a really late dinner so we didn't switch. Will check again and probably keep checking as I know they get cancellations! We already have the Castle booked for the following Sunday. So I guess we'll just have to see!!

jcc19480

09-27-2008, 12:50 PM

:yay: The countdown to our trip is only one week away. I bought a spare battery for my video camera and eight new blank digital video tapes. Want to get them labeled before we leave so that I can just pop them out of the container and insert into the camera.

:thumbsup2 Love my new digital video camera which also can take still photos and store them on an SD card right on the camera. Who needs to carry two?

luvthattink

09-27-2008, 06:27 PM

Just got home from buying a new phone since my phone was stolen on Monday. Actually got a sweet deal, much better than DH & I expected. So I am not the proud new owner of a Pink Blackberry Curve! YAY!!! :cool1:

So a week from today we will be settling down for the night (at least the kiddos will) in our hotel in Baltimore in preparation for our early wake up call. So that we catch the shuttle to take us to the airport for our 8:42 flight!!! I CAN'T STAND HOW EXCITED I AM....Everyone is excited. DH has bid and won his pins on ebay for trading which he has commented and I quote "This should get us through the first few days!"

Still trying to figure out what we will do our first day, hoping my Mom and Dad will come over tomorrow for a planning session and we can try to nail that down. We can really just use any excuse to get together and talk about Disney!

Friends are over and we're going to play some cards so later tonight or tomorrow I will post. I want to do a post on what everyone is most looking forward to on this trip!

jcc19480

09-27-2008, 09:56 PM

You said in your last post, "So I am not the proud new owner of a Pink Blackberry Curve!" I trust that you meant, "So I am now the proud new owner of a Pink Blackberry Curve!" If so, congrats!:thumbsup2

Alysa

09-28-2008, 09:02 AM

luvthattink

09-28-2008, 10:14 PM

This happened to me this week with my fancy pants ipod that played movies. Someone broke into my car. :headache: I really liked having it for long plane rides for the kids. So DH said because my cell phone contract is up in November that I can go out and get an IPHONE!!!
I am SO excited!

Well that works out nicely. Still stinks to have something like that happen! We're with Verizon so they don't have the iPhone, that's ok though since DH got me an iTouch this past spring.

Do you believe how close we are to leaving???? This time next week we will both be enjoying the world and I will be a year older:scared1:

luvthattink

09-29-2008, 01:40 PM

ONLY 6 DAYS LEFT!!!!:jumping1:

The craziness and the madness that is inevitable right before a Disney trip has TOTALLY set in. I am starting to get that overwhelmed feeling of "so much to do and so very little time to do it in". Things like....

1. Packing
2. Cleaning
3. more packing
4. more cleaning

Got lots of good mail today...Grady's stroller finally came (was starting to get a little nervous), the pins that DH got off of ebay to trade came today, also a Goofy golfing shirt that DH also got from ebay as well as a blackberry for him. So very good mail stuff today!

Have so many things that I can't forget, really need to get everything together in one place!!! Need to collect thoughts, need to take a chill pill and know that it will all come together as it always does. STINK...forgot about the toddler beds from A Baby's Best Friend...off to check that off my (mental) list!!!

Alysa

09-29-2008, 01:56 PM

luvthattink

09-30-2008, 02:41 PM

ABBF - good choice, they were great!

What I want to know is, how when we plan so compulsively, can we still be in such a tizzy the last 10 days before the trip? I have SO MUCH TO DO!!!!!!

Can you believe that after all this time, you are now less than a week away!?!

Here at our house I my have to chew my ears off. My daughter has been listening to Disney Princess Christmas Album since she got home from school - THREE HOURS AGO! Pitty me.

Yep...we used ABBF for the first time last year and it couldn't have worked any better. We got Grady a toddler bed last year and used the packnplay Disney had for Emma. This year we are renting two toddler beds. Emma, sadly enough, is too big for a pack n play anymore and while I could put them on the pull out couch in the living area I think they will sleep better being in separate beds and in a room rather than in the living area where there is bound to be early morning or late night things happening.

I feel for you with the Disney Prince Christmas music. Although I've been driving my family crazy with my disney ringtones...LOL!!!

AZMickeyfans

09-30-2008, 03:47 PM

ABBF - good choice, they were great!

What I want to know is, how when we plan so compulsively, can we still be in such a tizzy the last 10 days before the trip? I have SO MUCH TO DO!!!!!!

.

Amen to that Sista! What is wrong with us???? I'm going nuts over here! :rotfl2: :rotfl2: :rotfl2: :rotfl2:

Alysa

09-30-2008, 03:50 PM

Amen to that Sista! What is wrong with us???? I'm going nuts over here!

You crack me up! :rotfl:

luvthattink

09-30-2008, 09:14 PM

So I'm having another one of "THOSE DAYS", seems I've been having quite a few of those lately. Today had a little issue while I was at school and had to run home to take care of it and then run back (I volunteer in my kids classes from 9-1 on Tuesdays and had to run home about half way through). Then I got back to school and was approached by the Assistant Principal who told me that one of my sons was going to be bringing home a pink slip:scared1: for fighting on the playground. She was reassuring telling me that he was provoked and retaliated. Apparently a kid had been calling him names and not being nice in general and then that kid proceed to tackle Coop and he wouldn't let him up so Coop punched him. :confused3 :scared1: First I will say that Cooper is one of the kindest and most gentle kids that I know. He really is, honestly and truly, not just being a biased mom here. So when she said it was Cooper, I was utterly and completely shocked. When I told DH about it he said
"Good for him, I'm glad he stuck up for himself"....:sad2: So we will take this and learn from it. I think I just feel so bad for him knowing how upset he was about it (he was crying when he was talking to his teacher about it, the teacher wasn't there, just the lunch/recess aides) because it is just so NOT HIM!!!
Anyway, after I was done at school I headed to my 1:30 hair apt. and when I sat down in her chair she says...so, we're just getting a cut today. :confused: I looked at her with a rather befuddled look on my face (can't she see the roots????:eek: They're only about 3 inches in width!!!!) and said "Um, no, that's not what I made the apt. for". Long story short I made the apt. (or so I thought) for color, highlights and a cut and apparently they only scheduled me for a cut. She tells me in a no big deal kind of tone that "I can just come back tomorrow".:furious: If only it were that easy, I wouldn't have these roots!!! I politely told her that was easier said than done since I have two little ones at home and have to get a babysitter and now I have to get another one for another day :headache: . I spared her the "Don't you realize that I am leaving for Disney in 5 days and I have 8 trillion things to do by then" speech! So we shall see when I can work this into the schedule!

I did check a few things off of my list today......

Cut the boys hair DONE
Make ressies for the bday dinner on the day of our arrival DONE

So we are going to eat at the Captain's Club at the Yacht Club on Sunday at 5:30...anyone ever eat there? At least this is the plan for now, menu sounded pretty good and frankly our pickings were super slim. We shall see...I think I will still call between now and then and even the day we get down there to see if Chef Mickey's or 1900 Park Fare or Kona Cafe open up at all.

My to do list is enormous but totally doable (at least that's what I keep telling myself). I am off to download some movies/shows onto my ipod for the kidlets for the plane ride!!!:surfweb:

luvthattink

10-01-2008, 11:07 PM

FOUR FRENZIED DAYS LEFT!!!!

Have I mentioned that I'm crazy excited????? :cool1: :banana: :cheer2: :woohoo: :yay: :dance3: :dancer: party:

Get the picture?????!!!! :rotfl:

Got some things crossed off my list today (it is still a mental list, I started a real one but I think I lost it already:rotfl2: )

Got several Mickey/Donald/Goofy cartoons as well as a few Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episodes downloaded onto my ipod. Need to put a few on David's ipod.

Got all of the Owen & Coop's tshirts packed (literally expertly folded and put in the actual suitcase) as well as most of their shorts. Pulled most of Grady's stuff out of his drawers and closets and they are in a pile on the floor awaiting folding and packing. Have a pile of all the essential type things stacked together, ready to be packed.

Got some laundry done.

Made a new hair apt. for tomorrow at 1:15 and then it will be home to pack some more, I'm hoping to get the rest packed between tomorrow and friday morning and afternoon because if it is nice on Friday night we are going to go to the high school football game because its my kids' elementary school's night at the football game complete with pregame bonfire. The kids will love it.

Added another thing to my to do list...Getting Grady some new sneakers. Hoping to cross this off my list tomorrow too!

So my mental list looks something like this (and some of this is *honey-do stuff included)

Grady sneakers
buy gum
buy disposable cameras for boys
pack Grady
pack Emma
pack me
*pack DH
put stuff on DH's ipod
*pack essentials (dh is good at fitting things and distributing weight)
*clean bird cage
make sure all disney stuff (passporter, ME tags, etc.) are in one place
clean
get stuff done for Uppercase Living (have two shows to get closed, some hostess packs to send out etc.)
Bank run for deposits and getting cash or traveler's checks (must ask DH which he wants)

I'm sure there is more that i'm totally forgetting!

luvthattink

10-02-2008, 02:50 PM

THREE, 3, TRES.....that's it that's all that's left!!!!

I hear the bus pulling up so this will be quick. Got some important things checked off my list, hair and nails!! Some laundry too. As soon as the boys walk in we will be doing homework as well as some of the work they will be missing while we are away and then I will be packing, packing, packing. I'm hoping to get about 85-90% of it done this afternoon and evening. Tomorrow I have to take David's phone and get it switched over to his new Blackberry, make a trip to the bank and clean. Then there is the football game tomorrow night and then Saturday sometime we will be heading down to Baltimore! :cool1:

luvthattink

10-02-2008, 07:53 PM

I mentioned in one of my posts that DH was away for work Tues and Wed. Wed. morning on the way to the job site an accident happened right in front of him and my brother (who works for DH). There was a four year old little girl who was not in a car seat who my brother carried out of the back of the minivan where there was a bunch of furniture. If you click on the link below there are pictures and one of them is of a group of guys who are holding the minivan up on its side to keep it from rolling and DH (in blue) and DB (in green) are among those men.
http://www.tnonline.com/node/367023

Alysa

10-02-2008, 08:24 PM

Ooooooo - She wasn't in her car seat? I would not want to be that woman's husband right now. Thank goodness no one was killed!

luvthattink

10-03-2008, 03:37 PM

Ooooooo - She wasn't in her car seat? I would not want to be that woman's husband right now. Thank goodness no one was killed!

Nope, she wasn't in a car seat.:sad1: Both her and her dad were very fortunate!!!

luvthattink

10-03-2008, 03:39 PM

TWO DAY!!!!!!!!

But who's counting???? ME, that's who, and everyone else in my family!!! Last minute things are bought!! Now off to finish packing!!! update later!

Alysa

10-04-2008, 12:30 AM

How exciting!!!!!!!!!
I just love the thrill of the pre-trip - how are you doing, all set?

jcc19480

10-04-2008, 05:53 PM

Arrived at our hotel, which is three miles from BWI Airport. Went to :thumbsup2 Chick Fil A for a bite and then over to the Arundel Mall. Some of the kiddos are tucked and waiting for tomorrow morning to come. Wake-up call at 6 a.m., Airport Shuttle at 7 a.m. and Flight leaves at 8:50 a.m. Scheduled to land at MCO at 10:59....which almost never happens! Kiddos are really excited, as are the big kids! :woohoo:

:happytv: Watching the Phillies vs. Brewers playoff game...go Phils!!!

luvthattink

10-04-2008, 08:05 PM

As my Dad said we are all settled into our hotel rooms. I have a feeling my parents may be having better luck with the big boys going to sleep than DH and I are getting the little ones off to dream land. Can't really say as I blame them, I'm not sure how well I'm going to sleep. You know the feeling of knowing you HAVE to sleep and the more you think about it the worse it is. But in a few minutes, I'm going to give it my best try!!

Dad already gave you the run down on our flight and how excited we all are. If I can get a connection at the airport, might try to do a little post from there...we'll see! Otherwise the next time you hear from me it will be FROM WALT DISNEY WORLD...can I get an O YEAH!!!!:banana: :dance3: :woohoo: :cool1: :dancer: party: :jumping1:

luvthattink

10-04-2008, 08:08 PM

How exciting!!!!!!!!!
I just love the thrill of the pre-trip - how are you doing, all set?

Hey there...when do you leave?

Alysa

10-04-2008, 09:19 PM

Wednesday night/Thursday morning at 3am. :scared1:
Putting the finishing touches on our costumes today. The kids are soooo excited! Packing tomorrow!

jcc19480

10-06-2008, 09:30 PM

:wizard: Started our first full day at Disney at the Animal Kingdom with the Character Breakfast at the Tusker House. Kids got to rub shoulders with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Donald Duck. Food could have been better but the kids had fun.

Did some shows - A Bug's Life, Finding Nemo and Lion King. Did the Safari, which was awesome. Had a giraffe eating from a tree right next to our bus...could have reached out and touched him! Saw lots of animals for our early morning trip.

:dance3: ::MickeyMo All the kids got their faces painted but only two made it thru the whole day (it was quite hot and humid) with their painted faces intact. While it last it looked awesome. I'll try to post some pictures.

:umbrella: As the afternoon wore on, the skies began to look very threating. We ALWAYS get caught in a downpour when at Animal Kingdom. David and I brought the kids back to the Resort and Kathie & Aimee went to the Lion King Show. When we arrived back at the Resort with the kiddos...it was pouring and we got wet....but the kids didn't seem to mind it. Kathie and Aimee made it thru the show and to the bus without it raining...not sure they'll get to our room without getting wet.

After much discussion regarding dinner, we ended up taking the bus from Saratoga Springs to Downtown Disney and then picked up a bus to Animal Kingdom. Atmosphere was great but the food wasn't. On our way out, we saw another restaurant serving an awesome looking buffet with five soups, all kinds of salads, etc.:smickey:

Heading to Chef Mickey's in the morning and then Magic Kingdom!

jcc19480

10-07-2008, 08:19 PM

Today started off okay as we headed to Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort for our Character Breakfast and the food was delicious. :confused3 :sick: Apparently Aimee had been sick during the night and woke up not feeling well. After Breakfast, we came back to our Suite and Aimee laid down while David took the boys to the big Swimming Pool. Emma also went down for a nap. I was able to log into my business email and do a little business while on vacation.

David just got back from the Pool with Owen in hand but Cooper and Grady were no where to be found. Apparently they took off so they could be first to the elevator and hold it for their Dad but when they got there someone asked them which floor they needed and they got on the elevator. A little panic took place until everyone was reunited and a lesson on obedience and not entering an elevator with a stranger took place.:hug:

Oh...forgot to tell you, in the meantime a huge rain storm started and is still pouring down. Glad we didn't make it to Magic Kingdom as we had originally planned!

Went to Downtown Disney and used one of our Counter Service credits with the Disney Dining Plan. Ate at one of our favorite places, the Earl of Sandwich. Kathie and I had salads, which were delicious, David had a hot sandwich and the kiddos had pizzas. Aimee still wasn't feeling well and only nibbled a little bit.

If Aimee feels better tomorrow (Wednesday), we'll head to the Magic Kingdom for the day, which we had planned to do today. pirate:

Alysa

10-07-2008, 08:31 PM

Hope Aimee feels better!
How long are these monsoons lasting, by the way?

jcc19480

10-10-2008, 12:14 AM

Okay...it's late and this is my second attempt at writing about Day Four. I was almost completely done writing on my first attempt when I accidently closed the browser page and couldn't get it back!!! So here we go with an abbreviated version.

Got up this morning and was feeling much better but now the stomach ailment was passed on to a third person. First it was Aimee, then me and on Thursday it was Kathie's turn. She woke up not feeling well but went decided to go to EPCOT with us, trying to tough it out. Before leaving for EPCOT I did a little work from our room, applying for an FCC license for one of my new customers in Harrisburg.

We got to EPCOT around 11:00 a.m. and were headed to Japan to eat at Teppan Edo, which is my favorite restaurant at Disney. We made one stop at a Disney Pin cart...David, Aimee and boys are absolute Disney Pin fanatics! While they were busy bartering for pins, Kathie disappeared only to be found with a Security Guard slumped down behind a Disney vendor cart. Apparently she started to feel nauseous and lighted-headed and after borrowing a plastic Disney bag from the cast member at the cart, she emptied some of her stomach contents. The security guy was really nice and got her a cup with Sprite and cautioned us to stay hydrated.

From there we made our way over to Teppan Edo for our 12 p.m. reservation. The Japanese girls who waited on us were extremely nice and very polite. The chef who cooked at our table was the best! He was very entertaining and paid a lot of attention to the kiddos...which made their day. Oh...and the food was so delicious! Steak & Chicken with freshly cooked veggies. Instead of the typical onion ring "volcano" that they do at this type of oriental restaurant, he did an onion ring "choo-choo train", accompanied by the clanging bell as he kept hitting his spatula on the metal grill....wow, the kiddos sure loved that! Kathie was feeling so badly that she barely touched any of her food, so thankfully there were enough "vultures" at her table, that her plate was licked clean before we left. As for me, I finally humbled myself and asked for chopsticks with "training wheels"....you know, the kind they make by folding up paper, sticking it between the sticks and then wrapping a rubber band around it?

From there we made our way over to Test Track which is a thrill ride that zips through banked curves at 65 mph. I was sitting next to little three year-old Grady, who had his arms raised high throughout the whole ride while Pop-Pop was hanging on for dear life! Then we went to the Universe of Energy which is a very long program about evolution and energy which really dragged on but was saved by the good humor of Ellen Degeneres, who video hosted the ride.

Now it was time for Spaceship Earth, which had no line and we went right on the ride. This ride was closed for refurb when we were there last year, so it was great to be on it again. While the kiddos played around on all of the electronic stuff at the end of the ride, I took Kathie over to the First Aid station so that she could lay down for a bit. While she was sleeping, the rest of us made our way to Inoventions where the kiddos could again play around with new and old technologies. From there we headed to Club Cool where you can taste Coke products from around the world....Japan, Morroco, Israel, Mexico, Germany, China, and Italy. Very unique tastes from the different countries and some of them were downright gross!

After sipping the flavors of the world, we went over to pick up the "sicky of the day" and made our way to Mexico and rode the boat ride before going to the Electric Umbrella for something to eat. After we finished eating, it started to rain and we decided to catch our bus and head back to the resort. Got here just in time to save the Phillies from defeat! When I turned on the TV, they were losing 2-0 but I must have brought them luck because Victorino, Utley and Burrell powered them to a 3-2 victory! Go Phils!!!!

Well, if the pattern continues, it should be David's turn to have the stomach ailment tomorrow....but I've got a feeling that Kathie's stomach ailment is going to last longer than a day. By the way....the rains have been coming on a regular basis about once a day but it hasn't drastically changed our schedules.

jcc19480

10-11-2008, 12:49 AM

Well....miracle of miracles....finally had a normal, healthy day at Disney World. Stomach ailments are gone and the illness chain has been broken! Hopefully, we are all back to normal and can completely enjoy the rest of our time in Florida.

We slept in a little bit this morning and then headed over to Disney Hollywood Studios for the day. We were told by a friend that we needed to go directly to Toy Story and get Fast Passes...Ruth Peters, thanks for that excellent advice. When we got there around 11 a.m., the lines were huge at Toy Story and the Fast Passes were for 4:15-5:15...glad we didn't get there any later!

Since we were already in that area, we went to the 3D Muppet Adventure. Wow...the kiddos sure enjoyed that one...and so did the adults! After the Show, we made our way over to the Sci-Fi Dine-In, which is a simulated old-time Drive-In Movie Theater playing vintage Science Fiction trailers like "The Attack of the 50 Foot Woman", "Aliens From Outer Space", and so on....sure am glad that costuming and special effects have improved since those days. Anyway, back to the Restaurant....instead of sitting at tables or in booths, your dining areas were big old simulated cars with the old-fashioned Drive-In Theater speakers mounted next to your "car." Since this venue was considered a Table Service Meal on our Dining Plan, I expected better quality food but I guess you're really paying for the atmosphere more than the quality of food. My cheesburger was okay but surely didn't compare to the cheeseburger I had at the Turf Club at Saratoga Springs Resort.

After lunch with our Fast Passes in hand, we headed over to the Star Tours flight simulator ride. I only went so that I could video Grady's face when he went on the "big-boy" ride. We got into the right (front row) and got out my video camera just as the ride cast member looked right at me and said, "No video taping is allowed on this ride." Too bad, cause Grady was so stinking cute as we bumped our way thru the Universe!

Now it was time for the DHS new Block Party (Parade) and we got our spot picked out and waited for the Block Party to come to us. We could see it in the distance and hear it thru the speakers, which caused even more excitement as we anticipated the Block Party coming to us! So we patiently waited...but it wasn't long before the patient waiting began turning into impatient waiting. Listen....it's coming....it's getting closer....it's here....hey stop, don't just keep going past us....whoa....where are you going? It's our Block and we want a Block Party....just like the one you had over there! Come to find out, there was an equipment malfunction after the first Block Party and in reality, the parade was cancelled...but they forgot to tell us!

When the "Parade" was over, David & I took the big boys (Owen & Cooper), while Kathie and Aimee took Grady and Emma and we headed in different directions for the next couple of hours. The big boys headed over to the Indiana Jones Stunt Show....the boys absolutely loved all the action, explosions and gunfire! Playhouse Disney was the destination for the little ones and they had a blast dancing and singing with some of their favorite stars.

The second stop by the Big Boys was at Jedi Training...it was time to learn how to be a Jedi warrior and stand up against the powers of darkness! Even though Owen and Cooper weren't among the ten kids chosen to go up on stage (we got there a little late), they learned valuable lessons by watching the movements and regimen to fight. Wait...Oh no....can it be? Yes, it's Darth Vadar! And he's going to "fight" the ten student Jedi's one at a time! Man, Cooper and Owen loved it and continued to practice the Jedi moves that they learned by watching the other kids on stage.

After this, the family re-united and we headed over to present our Fast Passes at the Toy Story. Wow...what a ride! The big and little "kids" enjoyed this one which required you to wear 3D glasses. I was on the ride with Grady and although he didn't get many points, he really enjoyed pulling that cord and launching all kids of projectiles at the different arcade sites. This was well worth waiting for but you need to get your Fast Pass right away.

Our final park event of the day, after a quick stop at the Hollywood Studios Tour, was the special presentation called Fantasmic! Here we experienced the fun, fancy and fears of everybody's favorite heroic Mouse as he battles the forces that turn his vibrant dreams into a vivid nightmare. Mickey faced off against Disney villains in a lavish spectacular of dancing water, dramatic music, breathtaking animation, lasers, fireworks and surprises.

We caught a bus back to the Resort and stopped for dinner at the Artist's Pallett foodcourt....mmmm, good food. As I write the final words for today's post, Aimee & David are still at the Pool with Owen and Cooper...and it's 1:45 a.m. in the morning! Yo...it's vacation! Who needs watches?