One Happy Dog Family Lands it for Halloween -- 12/29 final post and MVMCP link!!!

Happydog

DIS Veteran
Joined
Mar 10, 2007
It is FALL! The weather has finally cooperated! :yay: Fall is this east-coast DISer favorite time of year, well, I guess any time is my favorite time of year if it happens in Disney World, but this time, the season has changed and the location has changed! Welcome to a Happy Dog DISNEYLAND PTR! :goodvibes

As I said, with the onset of cooler temps it is time in our house to drag out the fall decorations and more importantly, time to pull out the movies inspired by the season… SO that includes a few Peanuts classics, like The Great Pumpkin and the Thanksgiving special -- BUT the most important DVD in our house for the next month IS:


The Nightmare before Christmas …

Can I tell you how much we love this movie??!! We watched it for the first time this year tonight! :yay: And so, perhaps it was the crisp fall air today and all the gourds and mums I bought, but all I know is that I am ready to plan my fall trip to DISNEYLAND!

Well, I have been planning it, a little here and there, the basics are done - resort, dining plans, tickets, that sort of thing - but I have yet to plan our Disney touring… I will say, I BOUGHT a book… :laughing: But I have not even opened it… :rolleyes1

SO, welcome to the latest Happy Dog and Family Disney Extravaganza, WEST COAST style!

We are LANDING it on October 29th… Between now and then I will share all the planning for our fall trip, as well as a few detours I have recently made... Who's who, our itinerary, and MORE, coming up! I hope you will come out to play!!
 
Here for all the fall fun and Disneyland trip planning! (Fall is my favorite time of year, too!) Love, love, love The Nightmare Before Christmas! I think it is time for us to pull out our copy of it, too! :goodvibes There is nothing like singing the Oogie Boogie song to get a person in the mood for Halloween! :laughing:
 
Hard to find you over here.... but for sure want to read along!

Hi!!! WELCOME!!! So glad to see two of my favorite DIS pals here to join me!
Yes, I had to figure out WHERE to post a DISNEYLAND PTR!!! I figured I better do it correctly, though, and stick it over here.... Hopefully the link will work! It is in my signature, too! Glad to have you along. How is school and YOUR school? Classes going alright?

Here for all the fall fun and Disneyland trip planning! (Fall is my favorite time of year, too!) Love, love, love The Nightmare Before Christmas! I think it is time for us to pull out our copy of it, too! :goodvibes There is nothing like singing the Oogie Boogie song to get a person in the mood for Halloween! :laughing:

I know! I remember reading that on facebook! We finally have weather that merits calling it "fall"!!!! I resisted buying mums for the longest time...

I so get why Tim Burton's movie was inspired by the window decorations going from Halloween to Christmas. Already in TARGET they have one aisle that is Christmas right encroaching on the Halloween territory. CAN you believe that??!! :sad2: I tell you, we have the movie and we watch it every weekend, and then we have a few CD versions too, which we listen to in the car... is it a bad thing if my kids can sing the whole song including the musical interludes??? :rotfl:

I'll be back tomorrow with a proper update (I have lots of photos, including two boys thrilled by a package they got in the mail!!) ;)
 


Hi!!! WELCOME!!! So glad to see two of my favorite DIS pals here to join me!
Yes, I had to figure out WHERE to post a DISNEYLAND PTR!!! I figured I better do it correctly, though, and stick it over here.... Hopefully the link will work! It is in my signature, too! Glad to have you along. How is school and YOUR school? Classes going alright?

The link was kinda cut off... but I found it by searching.

Teaching is an adventure this year. As I told a good friend and former co-worker (at a new school) today I have not cried in a few weeks, it has been a hard start for me. We have a new assistant, a new principal, new job share partner (who taught older kids for her entire career so she was well shocked, and was just treading water for the first month) and a wild class. I finally feel in control and like I am able to teach, but of all my years this has been the most emotionally exhausting. Plus having a first grader at home is shocking... way harder to deal with her all day school than K last year.

I am taking one class too- good memory, online an admin class that is okay, but takes time. My DIS time has been cut, and it has been for the most part read breeze through only.
 
The link was kinda cut off... but I found it by searching.

Teaching is an adventure this year. As I told a good friend and former co-worker (at a new school) today I have not cried in a few weeks, it has been a hard start for me. We have a new assistant, a new principal, new job share partner (who taught older kids for her entire career so she was well shocked, and was just treading water for the first month) and a wild class. I finally feel in control and like I am able to teach, but of all my years this has been the most emotionally exhausting. Plus having a first grader at home is shocking... way harder to deal with her all day school than K last year.

I am taking one class too- good memory, online an admin class that is okay, but takes time. My DIS time has been cut, and it has been for the most part read breeze through only.

Oh goodness Laura, I had no idea this was going on! I wish you would have let me know! I don't know what I could have done but at least I would have listened and understood...
So sorry it has been such a difficult time for you!:hug:
 


Hi there!! I'm so excited b/c I just randomly read your Christmas TR from last year and I was browsing the DL section, saw "Happydog" and thought, my goodness what's Happydog doing all the way out here in the DL boonies?? I've been reading all of the Christmas WDW TRs I can find b/c my family and I are going to WDW this Christmas for the first time ever! :santa: I'm looking forward to reading about your DL adventure! :woohoo:
 
I know! I remember reading that on facebook! We finally have weather that merits calling it "fall"!!!! I resisted buying mums for the longest time...

It has been quite fall-like here this weekend, too -- long sleeves and jeans for the first time.

I so get why Tim Burton's movie was inspired by the window decorations going from Halloween to Christmas. Already in TARGET they have one aisle that is Christmas right encroaching on the Halloween territory. CAN you believe that??!! :sad2: I tell you, we have the movie and we watch it every weekend, and then we have a few CD versions too, which we listen to in the car... is it a bad thing if my kids can sing the whole song including the musical interludes??? :rotfl:

:lmao: Don't worry -- my kids knew all the words to all the songs at an early age, too. The music is just too catchy to resist playing it in the car.

I'll be back tomorrow with a proper update (I have lots of photos, including two boys thrilled by a package they got in the mail!!) ;)

Hurray! :yay:

Teaching is an adventure this year. As I told a good friend and former co-worker (at a new school) today I have not cried in a few weeks, it has been a hard start for me. We have a new assistant, a new principal, new job share partner (who taught older kids for her entire career so she was well shocked, and was just treading water for the first month) and a wild class. I finally feel in control and like I am able to teach, but of all my years this has been the most emotionally exhausting. Plus having a first grader at home is shocking... way harder to deal with her all day school than K last year.

Oh, Laura, I am so sorry you have had a rough start! :hug: I did, too. It took me almost the entire first nine weeks to feel like I had my act together! I know only too well what you mean about it being an emotionally exhausting start to the year.
 
Climbing aboard. Can't wait to hear all your DL fun! Would you believe I've never seen Nightmare before Christmas? I will have to add it to my list. I have heard amazing things about the Haunted Mansion overlay in California... promise to take LOTS of pictures!!
 
I'm so excited about your trip! I really want to get to Disneyland soon so this will be a great education for me. :thumbsup2
 
Climbing aboard. Can't wait to hear all your DL fun! Would you believe I've never seen Nightmare before Christmas? I will have to add it to my list. I have heard amazing things about the Haunted Mansion overlay in California... promise to take LOTS of pictures!!

OH of course I will!!! I have been scouring the Disneyland Halloween thread! SOOOOO exciting. I will take lots of pictures.

Hope you have a great time over in DisneyWORLD in just a few few days!!! Is it almost time for the single digit count down??!! WOOT! :yay:
 
I'm here!! WOOT WOOT!!!! Yes I want tons of pictures of the Haunted Mansion LOL!! Maybe I should send you a stick "me" and you can take me on the ride with you LOL!!!!

Can't wait to hear more!!

OT: I'm with Laura and Jackie, but the whole new school thing, getting settled into a new routine the first 6 weeks has come and gone and I still feel I have days where its the first day of school all over again! I'm hoping at some point I will have that feeling of control over ALL my classes, But things are getting better!
 
You all are too sweet! Only teachers get it! Things are getting into a routine and my kids, especially my real stinker is getting a lot better. Back to the fun planning Happy Dog... Doug has been to Disneyland for conferences, I sure hope he has another one again soon (he is in San Diego in Nov, close but no go for me this time).
 
It is FALL! The weather has finally cooperated! :yay: Fall is this east-coast DISer favorite time of year, well, I guess any time is my favorite time of year if it happens in Disney World, but this time, the season has changed and the location has changed! Welcome to a Happy Dog DISNEYLAND PTR! :goodvibes

As I said, with the onset of cooler temps it is time in our house to drag out the fall decorations and more importantly, time to pull out the movies inspired by the season… SO that includes a few Peanuts classics, like The Great Pumpkin and the Thanksgiving special -- BUT the most important DVD in our house for the next month IS:


The Nightmare before Christmas …

Can I tell you how much we love this movie??!! We watched it for the first time this year tonight! :yay: And so, perhaps it was the crisp fall air today and all the gourds and mums I bought, but all I know is that I am ready to plan my fall trip to DISNEYLAND!



I'm excited to be able to read a good report on Disneyland. Jill may possibly get to go out there at some point when John travels for business. That would be very cool. :thumbsup2

I have seen tiny bits and pieces of Nightmare Before Christmas. Maybe I should take the time to watch it in full. I have a teacher friend who is nuts about it, so I could borrow her movie. Whenever I go to Disney World in October, she always wants me to be on the lookout for new Jack Skellington things.
 
I'm in! This will be the first PTR for Disneyland I have read!!! Excited to hear all about it!

Nice to see so many teachers on here too. I am in my first year of teaching and my class are a serious handful. Does it ever get any easier????
 
So before I begin the back story on this trip, let me quickly introduce myself and my family – I will keep this quick! WHO is Happy Dog??!! :upsidedow Just one more Self-Proclaimed Disney Lover -- like there aren't any of THOSE people on the DISboard... :rolleyes1 If you get a chance and want to hear more about my family and how I made it onto the DISboards, and how I have gotten completely sucked into Disney and the World, well all you have to do is pick any of my PTRs or TRs! :surfweb: There is plenty to share there! But for this trip, let the intros begin!

First, My DH and ME – Here is a photo of us on our summer trip to WDW…

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Is it a BAD thing that I cropped my uncooperative kids out of the photo??!! :laughing:

Speaking of kids… Here they are…

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Our DS5 and DS8 are two little boys who really enjoy Disneyworld, especially all of the rides that include fast dips and turns! Sadly, this does NOT include the tea cups anymore BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.... :sad: BUT they are big fans of Winnie the Pooh and Peter Pan ... GO Figure??!! :confused3 But thank goodness! :goodvibes At least they still have Fantasyland in them for a few more years… I have to say I am so glad that they never seem to tire of our trips to Disney World, and last year we went on several!

Here are the three boys this past June, at Chef’s de France with Remy…

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And all of us on Christmas Morning in the Magic Kingdom… One Holiday I will never forget :santa: ... I can't wait to do this again some year soon :cloud9:...

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As a family, we have been lucky to go to WDW during the summer and during different holiday seasons, and I have to say there is nothing more magical than Disney for a family vacation at any time of year. We have had amazing memories each and every time. :lovestruc There really is something for everyone. I have learned a lot about touring the World, and I am curious to see how I manage Disneyland.

Going to Disneyland this Halloween was not in our plans originally. This fall, we wanted to visit our friends in San Diego, and we were able to get a great exchange at the Four Seasons resort in San Diego – the property is never available and when it was, for a great week, we jumped. I made it clear to my husband that I could not possibly go to California WITHOUT going to Disneyland, and so he compromised, giving us two days in the park. I sweetened the deal with our GAD vouchers and that helped!:thumbsup2

So the plan is as follows:

We fly from the east coast, Dulles Airport, on the afternoon of the 29th, arrive in LAX, drive to Disney, and check in to the Grand Californian for two nights. We will not go to the parks that first night, instead probably grabbing something to eat there in DTD, and then head to bed! We plan to exchange our GAD vouchers for two day park hoppers.

Here is the basic outline for the time we will be there. I have lots of ideas on how to fill the time, where to eat lunch, etc! The important stuff!!! :laughing: But here is what I know is in place…

Friday October 29th

Fly in to LAX
Check into the Grand Californian Villas
Dinner = TBA
BED!

Saturday October 30th

Rope drop for California Adventure!
Disneyland (?)
World of Color Dining Package @ the Wine Country Trattoria - second show

Sunday October 31st HALLOWEEN!!!

Check out of the GCV
(probably in the AM since we will still be on East coast time!)
Rope drop for Disneyland!
Dinner at the Blue Bayou @ 6pm
Park closes early for the Halloween party 7pm
Back to California Adventure/DTD for treats (?)
Head down to the Four Seasons in San Diego! LATE! :faint:

We really debated attending the Halloween party. :scratchin It was one of those things where we had to decide would we really get the use out of the expense… Since we were going to drive down to check into the Four Seasons that evening, it didn’t make sense to spend the money. Our kids barely made it through MNSSHP last year, and since they have experienced something similar already, we decided to save our $$ for the next leg of our vacation, which includes LegoLand, and other fun places. :yay:

So in the end, we will have two full days of Disneyland and California Adventure fun. I am really excited for this trip!:yay: What we do at each park, and how we spend the time is still being planned out... I have found some OUTSTANDING pages and threads here on the Disneyland pages, and I have my Unofficial Guide to Disneyland as well... :surfweb: I have been busy! We have not told the kids anything as of yet, and it will probably be a surprise. I KNOW LEGOLAND will also be a huge source of excitement and fun for all!
So as we count down to CA, I will take the time to share some other bits and pieces since my last TR... Namely my trip to Oregon and Scotland (since so many asked!) and the various trip planning along the way! I have some photos already! And I have already done some shopping... :rolleyes1

STAY TUNED!!!


 
Wine Country and Blue Bayou are two places that would be on my list so I am very happy that I will get to experience them virtually! Not to mention hearing what you think of the Grand Californian!

I was only in Disneyland for a half a day after some business meeting ended unexpectedly early so I am hardly an expert. But if I can offer any advice, I'd say "read up." I thought being so familiar with WDW I'd be all set. Perhaps it is my lack of direction but I got "lost" a few times. :rolleyes1

Their Downtown Disney is so fun you will have no trouble filling your first night without venturing into the parks! :thumbsup2
 
I had a feeling you would be starting something tonight! So glad I was right!

I sort of surprised myself!!! :laughing: WigD!!!! I miss you! I know we are going to have equal amounts of Disney fun over Halloween! We have to figure something out, like a phone call on the same ride, or text a pic from our phone, SOMETHING!!!! :lmao:

The link was kinda cut off... but I found it by searching.

Teaching is an adventure this year. As I told a good friend and former co-worker (at a new school) today I have not cried in a few weeks, it has been a hard start for me. We have a new assistant, a new principal, new job share partner (who taught older kids for her entire career so she was well shocked, and was just treading water for the first month) and a wild class. I finally feel in control and like I am able to teach, but of all my years this has been the most emotionally exhausting. Plus having a first grader at home is shocking... way harder to deal with her all day school than K last year.

I am taking one class too- good memory, online an admin class that is okay, but takes time. My DIS time has been cut, and it has been for the most part read breeze through only.

Oh WOW. I totally feel your pain. Nolyn started Kindergarten, is having a lot of fuss with his left-handedness, I think, and Griffin is busy with accelerated everything, and I am worried he is such a day dreamer... AND work this fall for whatever reason, really kicked me on my rear end this year, too... I get you on the exhausting bit. Hang in there!!!

Well even a mental break on the DIS away from everything else is good at times! So keep popping in!!!! :hug:

Hi there!! I'm so excited b/c I just randomly read your Christmas TR from last year and I was browsing the DL section, saw "Happydog" and thought, my goodness what's Happydog doing all the way out here in the DL boonies?? I've been reading all of the Christmas WDW TRs I can find b/c my family and I are going to WDW this Christmas for the first time ever! :santa: I'm looking forward to reading about your DL adventure! :woohoo:


Oh! WELCOME!!!! COME ON OVER!!! CHRISTMAS??!! :santa: YAY!!!!! :yay: That was byfar one of the best trips we ever had. Everyone in my family agrees... Christmas is magical in Disneyworld!!! I am so excited for you!!!

It DOES feel like I am in the boonies!! :lmao: The Disneyland thread and the Cruiseline thread!!! Totally different! But I have been over here checking everything out!! :thumbsup2 Lots of great info!!

:lmao: Don't worry -- my kids knew all the words to all the songs at an early age, too. The music is just too catchy to resist playing it in the car.

Totally funny, right?? Tim Burton music... what will their teachers say??!! :rotfl:

I'm so excited about your trip! I really want to get to Disneyland soon so this will be a great education for me. :thumbsup2

Oh, well, it is for me TOO!!! :laughing: Glad you are here, LL!!!!!! :goodvibes

I'm here!! WOOT WOOT!!!! Yes I want tons of pictures of the Haunted Mansion LOL!! Maybe I should send you a stick "me" and you can take me on the ride with you LOL!!!!


YAY!!! JEN!!!!!
DO it!! DO it!!! Better yet, I will do it!!! I can print your picture!!! :rotfl2: WATCH Me.... Don't say I didn't warn you.... :rolleyes1

OT: I'm with Laura and Jackie, but the whole new school thing, getting settled into a new routine the first 6 weeks has come and gone and I still feel I have days where its the first day of school all over again! I'm hoping at some point I will have that feeling of control over ALL my classes, But things are getting better!

Oh I think we ALL get that... I agree something about this year was definitely different for me, too! But I feel like I am getting above it finally.
 

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