I LOVE Disneyland * PTR * July 2010* Come along with me....

[StEpHandMiKe<3Disney]

all Disney lovers!!!!! I would love for you to follow along with my first PTR ever!!!! I'm very excited to share my upcoming DLR vacation with ya'll. I would love any suggestions you have to make my DH and I's vacation more special. We are WDW vets but have only visited DLR once so we're newbies there. Let me introduce you to the cast:

My DH Mike!!!!

Mike and I met in middle school, starting dating junior year in high school in 1999 and have been together ever since. We tied the knot in May of 2007, and of course our honeymoon was celebrated at WDW! We didn't even know that we shared the same love for Disney until 2004 when we took our first trip to WDW. Since then, we have taken a Disney trip every year. My sig says it all!!!!

This is me Stephanie

I'm 28 yrs old and am currently a housewife. I was previously a personal shopper at a luxury retailer, which I loved, but I do also enjoy being at home and spending more time with my DH. I love photography and scrapbooking. I've really enjoyed looking at everyone's great photos on the dis as well.

Here are some photos from our previous Disney trips. Get to know us! It's funny how we change over the years....
WDW 2004

Mike and I at Whispering Canyon at the Wilderness Lodge

Meeting Goofy at EPCOT

This was my first, and last time riding Mission Space. I did not like it at all!!!!! I'm on the phone with my mom telling her how much I didn't like it, LOL.

Meeting Buzz in Tomorrowland

Here are some pictures from our 2006 WDW trip... (the proposal trip)

This photo was taken right before Mike proposed.

Mike proposing! I had no idea he was going to do this. I was so happy that he had a photopass castmember taking our photo.

Meeting Mickey

Piglet is one of my favorite characters. We seek him out every trip.

Mike and I always take this photo before It's Tough to be a Bug!

Pics from our Honeymoon trip, May 2007...

There was EMH the Sunday we arrived so we took advantage of that.

Sort of a rare character sighting at WDW

I'm not sure why DH isn't smiling

I love meeting Mike and Sulley

Our 2008 trip was to celebrate our 1st Anniversary......

We had to run to Ariel's Grotto when we arrived bc it was closing the next day and Ariel is my favorite Princess!!!

We love eating at the Crystal Palace

Mike ordered flowers and a cake for me for our Anniversary

I love this photo of us in front of the Tree of Life

Outside the gates of the MK

Having a good time with Goofy

So now it's our first trip to Disneyland in Aug of 2008.......
(continuing in next post)

 

[StEpHandMiKe<3Disney]

Disneyland Aug 2008

In front of Sleepy Beauty Castle

Having fun in Toontown

On BTMRR

Meeting The Incredibles

Love Sulley

Mike with his cheesy smile

WDW 2009 trip was to celebrate our 2nd Anniversary. I always cut my hair before our trip and my girl must of had a bad day that day bc she cut my hair way too short! It was tragedy before our trip but of course I forgot all about it once we arrived.

My first time meeting Tink

Our infamous bug photo

First time meeting Ariel in her Princess dress

Last but not least is our 2010 trip that we took in Feb. We tried a new month to see if we liked it a little cooler. I prefer the heat

Meeting Mickey and Minnie

We took this photo on TOT

I also created this video of our 2010 trip. I'm working on videos from other trips and am going to create one for our Disneyland trip when we get back. I'm going to use the song "Celebrate You!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2tGAJ_g8fY&feature=email

As you may notice, our clothing typically coordinates with each other. NOT MATCHING!!!!!!!! This is all part of the planning process. My friends think I'm crazy, but they aren't scrapbookers. I do this so that the colors with work when I scrapbook the photos. I'll include the planning of the clothing in my PTR. I am a huge planner and spend time everyday planning our trip. The other items I'll discuss are itinerary, dining and the budget. Thanks so much for following along and I hope we can all share the great things we know about Disneyland, because I could really use it! Jump in anytime if you have any suggestions.

 

[StEpHandMiKe<3Disney]

For those of you that aren't familiar with scrapbooking, here are some pages that I did of our 2008 Disneyland trip. All my clothes planning is for this

 

[DizNee Luver]

When are you going in July & where will you be staying???

We're going to be at Disneyland July 26 thru Aug 3, staying at the HoJo!!

Love the pics & super love the scrapbook pages.....I'm really behind on mine....still need to finish most of the 2008 trip...haven't started the 2009 trip(s) & now will have the 2010 trip to do. Hopefully with my twins starting preschool this fall, I'll have a couple hours to myself to bring the stuff out & get to work!!!

 

[StEpHandMiKe<3Disney]

When are you going in July & where will you be staying???

We're going to be at Disneyland July 26 thru Aug 3, staying at the HoJo!!

Love the pics & super love the scrapbook pages.....I'm really behind on mine....still need to finish most of the 2008 trip...haven't started the 2009 trip(s) & now will have the 2010 trip to do. Hopefully with my twins starting preschool this fall, I'll have a couple hours to myself to bring the stuff out & get to work!!!

We will be there July 20-25, also staying at HOJO. Have you stayed there before? We just love it there. Too bad we are leaving the day before you go =( I have decided to work on all years together so none of them are complete. It seems like I just keep adding another trip, like you, LOL. The hardest thing is finding time to do it. My girlfriends and I get together once a month and scrapbook all day. I usually can get 10-11 pages done if I plan accordingly. I'm going to go take a peek at your PTR =) Thanks for coming along with me =)

 

[Karenann*]

Hello Hello from Wenatchee!! Already have seen those great scrapbook pages but haven't commented because I just discovered them in the middle of the night the other day! Always something new on Dis to discover and for me it will be the scrap booking pages because I'm a wanna be! Love your pics thru the years. I'll be in DL 7/3-7/12 and just miss you! Have a great ride...looking forward to your plans!

 

[DizNee Luver]

We've never stayed at the HoJo before but are very excited about going after reading all the rave reviews on the DIS!! We'll get there around dinner time on the 25th.......so bummer, you'll be gone by then. I always find it fun to run into other DISers while there!!

 

[StEpHandMiKe<3Disney]

Hello Hello from Wenatchee!! Already have seen those great scrapbook pages but haven't commented because I just discovered them in the middle of the night the other day! Always something new on Dis to discover and for me it will be the scrap booking pages because I'm a wanna be! Love your pics thru the years. I'll be in DL 7/3-7/12 and just miss you! Have a great ride...looking forward to your plans!

Thanks for coming aboard!!!

 

[StEpHandMiKe<3Disney]

We've never stayed at the HoJo before but are very excited about going after reading all the rave reviews on the DIS!! We'll get there around dinner time on the 25th.......so bummer, you'll be gone by then. I always find it fun to run into other DISers while there!!

I know, I've never met any Dissers!!!!! Did you get the entertainment rate for HOJO?

 

[StEpHandMiKe<3Disney]

Clothing: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=36726701&posted=1#post36726701

Itinerary: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=36726836&posted=1#post36726836

*Updated Clothing Choices**** June 15, 2010******

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=37028349&posted=1#post37028349

*Updated Dining****** June 15, 2010******

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=37028442&posted=1#post37028442

 

[StEpHandMiKe<3Disney]

So here is what I have so far... I always buy new clothes for Mike and I. So I need an outfit for arrival day, MK, DCA, Universal and Sat which is a parks day. I'm thinking I'll find my clothes first and then work on Mike's. For our WDW trip in Feb, we found all of his stuff first and I had the hardest time trying to find what to wear. Ok so today I bought these yellow box flip flops...I figured black and white would have me covered..

This outfit is pretty much set in stone but I'm not sure when to wear it. I'm thinking DCA...

I'm not sure if I'm loving this outfit...

And there's this shirt...

So these are the shorts that I have: hot pink, coral, yellow and purple...

Then I found these great plaid shorts that I do love so now I'm stumped...

This is all I have so far. I feel like I have a bunch of loose ends and no outfits! Let me know what you think

 

[StEpHandMiKe<3Disney]

7/20

Arrival Day:

Flight leaves San Antonio 7:40 am and arrives in Burbank at 9:45 am.

This day will be our run around day. We want to go to some beaches, see Hollywood, Griffith Observatory and eat somewhere cool that we would only find in L.A. (Suggestions welcome )

Depending on what time we get to HOJO, if DL is open till 12:00 am, I'm guessing we won't be able to wait till the next day and we'll have to hop on over there. (What time is Pixie Hollow typically open till?)

7/21

Since the hours are not posted and times are up in the air...
We'll be at rope drop at MK, spend the morning to early afternoon there, go back to HOJO to rest and play in the pool, get dressed and go back to MK. Have PS ate Carnation Cafe at 7:00 and then we'll watch fireworks and fantasmic.

7/22

DCA day! We'll also be there at rope drop and probably get a fastpass for Soarin' and run to TTMM. I think we will go to MK first since they might open at 8 and DCA not till 10:00. We'll go back to hotel early afternoon, rest and play, then back to MK for PS at Blue Bayou. Depending how World of Color works, we'll have to work that into the schedule.

7/23

Universal Studios- have no idea what the plan is I've heard it won't take us all day so maybe we will go to MK that night too. No idea where we are eating that night. Suggestions near Universal???

7/24

I think we will utilize this day as the MM day. Sat is a MM day right? Is that what ya'll would do? We'll just use this day to do whatever we didn't get to do yet and whatever we want to repeat. Our PS is a Cafe Orleans that night.

7/25

We have not booked our return flight yet bc we are looking for a deal. Hope this doesn't come back and bite us in the butt. This is what we have so far

 

[DizNee Luver]

7/20

Arrival Day:

Flight leaves San Antonio 7:40 am and arrives in Burbank at 9:45 am.

This day will be our run around day. We want to go to some beaches, see Hollywood, Griffith Observatory and eat somewhere cool that we would only find in L.A. (Suggestions welcome )

Depending on what time we get to HOJO, if DL is open till 12:00 am, I'm guessing we won't be able to wait till the next day and we'll have to hop on over there. (What time is Pixie Hollow typically open till?)

7/21

Since the hours are not posted and times are up in the air...
We'll be at rope drop at MK, spend the morning to early afternoon there, go back to HOJO to rest and play in the pool, get dressed and go back to MK. Have PS ate Carnation Cafe at 7:00 and then we'll watch fireworks and fantasmic.

7/22

DCA day! We'll also be there at rope drop and probably get a fastpass for Soarin' and run to TTMM. I think we will go to MK first since they might open at 8 and DCA not till 10:00. We'll go back to hotel early afternoon, rest and play, then back to MK for PS at Blue Bayou. Depending how World of Color works, we'll have to work that into the schedule.

7/23

Universal Studios- have no idea what the plan is I've heard it won't take us all day so maybe we will go to MK that night too. No idea where we are eating that night. Suggestions near Universal???

7/24

I think we will utilize this day as the MM day. Sat is a MM day right? Is that what ya'll would do? We'll just use this day to do whatever we didn't get to do yet and whatever we want to repeat. Our PS is a Cafe Orleans that night.

7/25

We have not booked our return flight yet bc we are looking for a deal. Hope this doesn't come back and bite us in the butt. This is what we have so far

We booked thru Disney Travel.....was too chicken to wait & see if an Entertainment Rate would come up.

Since you'll be down in Hollywood, have you ever been to the Disney Soda Fountain?? or Pink's Hot Dogs?? We're planning on checking both out on our Hollywood day.....we're also checking out the Farmer's Market & there are a ton of restaurants there as well.

Pixie Hollow when we were there (with park closing at Midnight)....closed at 8pm. They don't run during the fireworks & re-open.

The park hours typically during the summer is 8am-Midnight.

The last I heard on the World of Color, you will want to run thru the DCA gates at opening & head up to Grizzly River Run & get your "Show Pass"....the fastpass machines will be set up for the show until the passes are gone & then will revert back to GRR FP's.

I was told to make sure & check out the Universal CityWalk....but we ended up canceling our Universal Studios day trip. Never been to either, but I did see they had a Hard Rock Cafe at the CityWalk....and we love them!!

Yes Magic Morning is available on Saturday. We usually use ours the first day we're there, but it didn't work out for our upcoming trip so we'll be using ours on a Sunday. Too me, it makes sense to use it on the busy weekend to get some good time in Fantasyland.

Love, love, love Cafe Orleans!!

Sounds like a great plan!! Hopefully you'll get a good deal on your return flight....finger's crossed!

 

[disneymom727]

OH my goodness, I am only to the part where you talk about coordinating your outfits for pictures and scrapbooking and such and already I think you could be my best friend I don't scrap but I most definitely plan outfits for each member of my family so we'll all coordinate. I'm big on plaid for my kids so that can be a challenge sometimes I'm looking forward to reading more! Keep it coming!!!

 

[StEpHandMiKe<3Disney]

OH my goodness, I am only to the part where you talk about coordinating your outfits for pictures and scrapbooking and such and already I think you could be my best friend I don't scrap but I most definitely plan outfits for each member of my family so we'll all coordinate. I'm big on plaid for my kids so that can be a challenge sometimes I'm looking forward to reading more! Keep it coming!!!

I'm so glad you're with me! I have bought a few more outfits that I need to post and I'll need help so keep checking back. I'm excited you do the same thing as me

 

[Belle Ella]

OK, really! I know I've been to your PTR before because I remember seeing your photos (you and your DH are so adorable together!!!) and your scrapbooking (you're making me want to give it a go even more!!!) and yet somehow I haven't posted here yet. Well, consider me signed on

7/20

Arrival Day:

Flight leaves San Antonio 7:40 am and arrives in Burbank at 9:45 am.

This day will be our run around day. We want to go to some beaches, see Hollywood, Griffith Observatory and eat somewhere cool that we would only find in L.A. (Suggestions welcome )

Depending on what time we get to HOJO, if DL is open till 12:00 am, I'm guessing we won't be able to wait till the next day and we'll have to hop on over there. (What time is Pixie Hollow typically open till?)

Since you'll be down in Hollywood, have you ever been to the Disney Soda Fountain?? or Pink's Hot Dogs?? We're planning on checking both out on our Hollywood day.....we're also checking out the Farmer's Market & there are a ton of restaurants there as well.

This was the first thing that popped into my head if you are interested in adding in another Disney-themed stop. It's right next to the El Capitan Theatre and across from Grauman's Chinese Theatre so add in the footprint forecourt and the stars on Hollywood Blvd. and there's a lot to see there. Not to mention you can get a delicious sundae! Here's a small peek into my afternoon there from back in September (we were 1 week shy of seeing Snow White at the El Capitan, I was heartbroken -- I love Snow White!!) if you wanted to get a better idea of what's there.

 

[StEpHandMiKe<3Disney]

OK, really! I know I've been to your PTR before because I remember seeing your photos (you and your DH are so adorable together!!!) and your scrapbooking (you're making me want to give it a go even more!!!) and yet somehow I haven't posted here yet. Well, consider me signed on





This was the first thing that popped into my head if you are interested in adding in another Disney-themed stop. It's right next to the El Capitan Theatre and across from Grauman's Chinese Theatre so add in the footprint forecourt and the stars on Hollywood Blvd. and there's a lot to see there. Not to mention you can get a delicious sundae! Here's a small peek into my afternoon there from back in September (we were 1 week shy of seeing Snow White at the El Capitan, I was heartbroken -- I love Snow White!!) if you wanted to get a better idea of what's there.

I so want to go there! It looks awesome!

 

[StEpHandMiKe<3Disney]

So I have all the outfits together, but don't know what day I want to where what. I typically try to not duplicate what colors I wore the previous time to each park but I always gravitate to the same colors Here is what I have so far....

I found this cute little jumper at Target this morning for $19.99! I want thinking of wearing this arrival day.

Not sure what day to wear this one, Mike will wear a white Tommy Bahama shirt

My shorts have a stripe of yellow in them. You can't really see from the photo. Mike's shirt is a bright yellow too. It looks a little washed out in the photo

I love this outfit

Mike's shirt is a chocolate brown. I love this shirt but I'm still stressing about it bc it isn't v-neck and I always where v-neck.

The days that I need to decide are arrival day, Day 1 MK, Day 2 DCA, Day 3 Universal and Day 4 is MM at MK and DCA.

Let me know what ya'll think. I'm keeping the same Yellow Box sandals except I might wear black wedges with the jumper.

 

[StEpHandMiKe<3Disney]

Since the WOC Dining Packages were announced, I got on the phone and changes our ressies. I of course want the WOC dining. We choose WCT for Wed July 21 @7:10. I originally made the ressie for 7:00, but later received a call to change it. Mike and I are having a hard time deciding if we should change to AG bc people's experiences at WCT overall have not been good We kept the ressies for Blue Bayou and Cafe Orleans and dropped Carnation Cafe. I'm not sure what we will eat on Friday when we are at Universal. I know they have City Walk, any suggestions?????

 

[Belle Ella]

Since the WOC Dining Packages were announced, I got on the phone and changes our ressies. I of course want the WOC dining. We choose WCT for Wed July 21 @7:10. I originally made the ressie for 7:00, but later received a call to change it. Mike and I are having a hard time deciding if we should change to AG bc people's experiences at WCT overall have not been good We kept the ressies for Blue Bayou and Cafe Orleans and dropped Carnation Cafe. I'm not sure what we will eat on Friday when we are at Universal. I know they have City Walk, any suggestions?????

Hm. Something to keep in mind about WCT is that it just reopened after a remodel, so throwing in the WOC craziness I think it may be reasonable to think that they are just going through a little bump in the road. When or if that may be smoothed out is anyone's guess. But until the re-opening and WOC dining packages started I don't honestly remember ever hearing a lot of negative talk about WCT. But I've also never eaten there, lol. When they called you to change your PS time, what did that end up working out to be? My general understanding is that the earlier your meal, the better.

I'm not much help on dining outside of DLR however!