PRINCESS Palooza 2011! 9/9 Update: Departure Day

[mom2rtk]

I am still thinking about going in Dec and taking both girls this time. Now that I have done a trip with each child individually I can start again. My son would like to take another trip with just him and I but the girls want to go together. Hubby is pretty good about going but one trip a year suits him just fine. What I would really like to do is go in Oct for MNSSHP but I think it is a little soon after just being there is Aug so Dec would spread it out a bit better. If Julia thought she would see Katie again she would vote for Dec for sure!

An all girls trip sounds perfect! But then you've probably figured out by now that's how I feel!

It is your choice about missing school. We have an absence section that says "absent: Family approved". It doesn't excuse it, but it explains it. I usually don't mind if parents take their children. Especially to Disney! I encourage them to help their child (or if the child is old enough, as I've taught other grades) write a journal, or make it a visual scrapbook, and bring it in to share with the class. Sometimes the parents send e-mails too and we get to read and learn about what the missing child is doing. Don't stress over it too much, it's only a week!

I am the opposite of you... I LOVE the heat! I enjoy it much more than the cold. That's why I need to get back to DL... to experience it when I'm warm. I think that's why I only took 4500 or so pictures... I was too cold to take more! That many parties would be lovely though, because then you have the time to do everything that you want to do... see the characters, shows and parades, ride some rides when the parades are on etc. It's wonderful.

I'm really not worried about Katie missing school for a week. My issue really is when that week is. In middle school their grades are cumulative over the course of the entire semester. And that week would hit her at the very end of the first semester when they are likely to have some testing going on. I've never had trouble with the schools for taking kids out. I even took Timmy out for a week in High School. I just need to decide about taking that particular week.

So you're a heat lover. Hmmmm.... sorry, but we can't be friends. I just think there's something in my makeup that makes me heat intolerant. I've been that way from a very young age. I marvel at the folks who are able to do Disney in the summer. Heck, I don't even like the BEACH in the summer!

I've been looking at lens for a while, but right now it comes down to money for Disney or extras like lens and an ipad (I would love both, but pick Disney each time) Maybe someday...


I will pm you my email. I'm really interested in a shirt for MVMCP.


She said you made the costume so that means you're not the real evil Queen. She's a smart one!

LOL! Tell Kadence she's a little too smart for her own good! But then I reckon you know that already!

I hear you on the lens thing. Everything loses when it comes down to X .......... or more days at Disney.

Okay, firstly, I'm SO sorry I haven't commented in awhile. I won't go into the whole why thing because it's basically the same thing as with any person who goes MIA on the DIS (School, Life, Activities, etc.), but I'm back now and ready to leave a nice little comment for ya...

Boy, if anyone can understand that........ it's me. This time of year is crazy when you have school age kids. Glad you're back with us!

Sorry you didn't get a great spot to take your photos of the Magic, Memories and You! You just seem to be out of luck with that show on this trip. Good thing you have so many more nights of that show to get some amazing shots So sweet of your daughter to comfort you too.

Yeah, that was really sweet. It made missing the show worth it.

Great pictures of Katie with Rosetta and Tink! I just love how you just always have a costume "up your sleeve" for her for basically every M&G. It really looks great in the photos and how the characters seem to enjoy interacting with you two so much.

Thanks! That was a great character meet. A nice little silver lining to missing the MMY show and fireworks. And one of the real benefits of doing more than one party.

Again, absolutely love your photos of the Christmas decorum, so very pretty!

Can't wait to read more!

Thanks! I'll try to get to another update soon!

Trying to get caught up over here...

Your scrapbooks pages are beautiful! You did a great job on those. I've got a whole room full of scrapbooking stuff that I haven't touched in years.

It's really hard toget started when you've been away from it for a while. But once you get past the first one...... they get much easier. I promise!

I totally agree about party days at MK! They are FABULOUS!!!

OK, but don't tell anyone. We want to keep it just between us, right?

Glad to hear you liked LTT. We are thinking of eating there on our next trip.

It really is good. I liked the family style dinner, so you can try a little of everything, but we've had lunch there before and it's all really good.

Famous last words huh? I might know a little something about that.

The whole Flynn story made me teary. I know I'm a dork. I could just feel the magic my heart while reading about it! Makes me want to be there right now so bad! That sort of stuff is what gets us all back year after year.

Wasn't it awesome! It was a lot of fun to be able to help spread some pixie dust.

Love your Evil Queen costume! I would totally wear that! I really want that 7 dwarfs picture too! They are only out at the parties right? Katie's Snow White gown is beautiful. I really like the blue/white combo!

OK, I'm hoping that little emoticon guy is laughing WITH me and not AT me! And thanks for the nice comments on Snow. I was copying the gown on a winter Snow White doll I bought on Ebay.

Again nice photos. Dinner at Liberty Inn can set you back a pretty penny. We finally at there last summer and for a party of five I almost asked if I could wash the dishes instead of pay that hefty bill. Good food though.

Mike, we go when we can get free dining. So LTT was on the plan. Dinner at ANY table service meal at Disney without the dining plan will give you heart palpitations. We paid OOP at Chef Mickey for 3 adults (since Katie is a Disney dining adult now) and that was enough to upset my stomach. So for 5?

So happy to see you posting your pages with the report. I think it adds to the story.

Love your costumes. You both look great! I just loved the story with Flynn. The pictures really do show the story so well. I'm sure he loved seeing how much he is loved by the fans.

Thanks as always Vanessa! I really have loved hearing all the stories about the much beloved Flynn. I hope Disney understand what a gem they have in him.

I feel like I'm within striking distance of finishing scrapping this trip. I'm on the second to the last page. I did a couple more yesterday. I'm gonna have to throw a party or something when it's finally done. I'm embarrassed to admit I'll probably fill 3 albums. Anyone have some room to store them for me?

I always feel weird posting on these threads I feel like such a creeper, but your costumes are gorgeous as usual. Sounds like you had a lot of fun on this trip and I'm loving the pictures.

No weirdness necessary. Just pop in and say hi every now and then and all is good!

 

[mom2rtk]

yay, my favorite part of the trip report has come to fruition!!! Thank you so so much for doing that, it gave Layla even more magic seeing all the photos (which I now need copies of, lol) and getting the note from her Flynn. And when we saw him a couple weeks later (the day we arrived, 12/28) he told us it was the best Christmas gift he'd received.

Awwwww...... I'm so glad we got to be part of Layla's crush on Flynn!

Nope, not the same Flynn....your Flynn is commonly seen as the Snow Prince on stage and in parades though. He was the Snow Prince for the Christmas parades this past year. My sister is in LOVE with that guy, lol.

I knew he looked familiar! I'll have to go though my photos now and find him in the parade!

OMG what drama have I missed? Sorry I am hijacking your trip report though, lol.
And all this talk of "my Flynn" - well, you ladies will all need to deal with my daughter. I don't think she's gonna share, especially since she's carried on a secret behind the scenes romance with him. haha!

Drop me a line by email and I'll fill you in. And send you some photos!

And I tried to fend them all off for you. I'm glad you're finally here to take up the fight yourself!

 

[jenseib]

I started reading yesterday and t hen finally finished today...and I had a list of questions...that I no longer remember.

Oh well. I am sure I will reread this TR closer to my trip and then remember what I wanted to ask.

So you are thinking of Nov. ay? Well I think this is the perfect year to take that dream trip of yours...you know ..the one where you do the 2 parties in one trips...halloween and Xmas......I know a couple of gals who would love to see you then.

I am really party stupid. I may be asking lots of questions.
So my plan is to enter the MNSSHP at 4 with our ticket. Do they give me a bracelet then?

 

[mom2rtk]

I started reading yesterday and t hen finally finished today...and I had a list of questions...that I no longer remember.

Oh well. I am sure I will reread this TR closer to my trip and then remember what I wanted to ask.

So you are thinking of Nov. ay? Well I think this is the perfect year to take that dream trip of yours...you know ..the one where you do the 2 parties in one trips...halloween and Xmas......I know a couple of gals who would love to see you then.

I am really party stupid. I may be asking lots of questions.
So my plan is to enter the MNSSHP at 4 with our ticket. Do they give me a bracelet then?

Well, I can tell you that today I am less likely to do November than I was yesterday. At the big presentation this morning they said Be Our Guest and the Little Mermaid ride would be open "Holidays 2012". That's cutting it a little close. I'm guessing they've padded that by quite a bit to allow for any delays, but I really don't want to take a chance on missing any of it. The "dream trip" might have to wait just a bit longer.......

When they start letting people in with party tickets at 4 PM, they put your wristband on right then and there. I actually entered at the front gate with a party ticket for the first time since we did the Pirate and Princess party all those years ago. Every other time since (2 Halloween parties and 7 Christmas parties) I've been in the park and just gotten my wristband at the station they had set up.

 

[mom2rtk]

We had a great day yesterday. I got an email telling me Timmy had been selected to attend the American Legion's Boys State this summer. 4 boys from his school were selected. It's a leadership conference, a great experience and a great item to add to his college resume. Of course, it's nice that it comes with many scholarship opportunities.

I just love moments like these!

 

[jenseib]

Yay Timmy!!!

I still think that Be Our Guest will open in Oct...I just have a feeling. BUT, even if it is open when I go. with my luck I won't see the ADR's opening up right away and still not be able to get it. LOL!
I really wish they would post a menu for it.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yay Timmy!!!

I still think that Be Our Guest will open in Oct...I just have a feeling. BUT, even if it is open when I go. with my luck I won't see the ADR's opening up right away and still not be able to get it. LOL!
I really wish they would post a menu for it.

Thanks Jen!

I have a hunch it will be open in October too. But I want to stack the deck in my favor. I really want to head west to DL in 2013..... but that requires that I see this phase of the FLE.

And we all have to promise to alert each other when the word goes out. I bet we can crash the Disney system...... not that it's that hard to do!

 

[jenseib]

Thanks Jen!

I have a hunch it will be open in October too. But I want to stack the deck in my favor. I really want to head west to DL in 2013..... but that requires that I see this phase of the FLE.

And we all have to promise to alert each other when the word goes out. I bet we can crash the Disney system...... not that it's that hard to do!

I agree. I just read that someone said a "CM" told someone that free dining for Oct -Dec is supposed to be released in a couple of weeks...that seems really early to me though

 

[Glennie5]

I was just catching Julia up on your pictures from MVMCP (she LOVED them) and we compared them to the Princes and Princesses pictures that we got that night. We went during Wishes and didn't see the same one's you did. Sleeping Beauties Prince looked like he was about 12 yrs old and they were kind of... you know unexciting. Our Snow White and Prince and Rapunzel and Flynn were amazing. Julia had so much fun with them. I have no idea how to post pictures on here but if I can figure it out I'll put them up.

 

[vamassey1]

We had a great day yesterday. I got an email telling me Timmy had been selected to attend the American Legion's Boys State this summer. 4 boys from his school were selected. It's a leadership conference, a great experience and a great item to add to his college resume. Of course, it's nice that it comes with many scholarship opportunities.

I just love moments like these!

Congrats to Timmy! Michelle did Girls state and had a blast.

 

[mom2rtk]

I agree. I just read that someone said a "CM" told someone that free dining for Oct -Dec is supposed to be released in a couple of weeks...that seems really early to me though

I saw that too. I'll believe it when I see it, but that's just sort of my approach to everything. I guess the Sept FD deal will expire at that time, and I'll cross my fingers that it's 1st quarter FD that shows up next. But I also remember the same hopes last year. I had been about 50/50 on whether I thought they'd do FD with the FLE opening. But they are so non-committal on their dates for opening the new stuff, I can see them needing to offer something just to get some reservations on the books.

I did ask Timmy what he remembered from the experience middle school exams as I consider taking Katie out so close to the end of the semester. He rolled his eyes and told me to do it. I do recall everyone trying to scare the kids about 6th grade, but it not being that big a deal.

I was just catching Julia up on your pictures from MVMCP (she LOVED them) and we compared them to the Princes and Princesses pictures that we got that night. We went during Wishes and didn't see the same one's you did. Sleeping Beauties Prince looked like he was about 12 yrs old and they were kind of... you know unexciting. Our Snow White and Prince and Rapunzel and Flynn were amazing. Julia had so much fun with them. I have no idea how to post pictures on here but if I can figure it out I'll put them up.

Wow! Maybe they swapped out while the others took breaks. Did you have the same Flynn? Maybe we were way luckier than we even thought! In retrospect, I can't believe how lucky we were to find the right one. I smile every time I think about it. It's fun to be in the role of helping sprinkle pixie dust!

Congrats to Timmy! Michelle did Girls state and had a blast.

Thanks Vanessa! I'm excited for Timmy to have this experience. And I'm glad Michelle did. Did she take pictures so you could scrapbook it? I'm expecting absolutely nothing back from Timmy. Probably not many stories either. He is a man of few words!

I did just read today that he needs to bring a suit or a coat and tie. I guess we better get shopping.

What year is Michelle in college this year?

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I'm caught up with the TR but behind on commenting.

All I'm gonna say is to the ONE room that night.

We had a date with Jack Sparrow and wasted SO.MUCH.TIME. in the princess line.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm caught up with the TR but behind on commenting.

All I'm gonna say is to the ONE room that night.

We had a date with Jack Sparrow and wasted SO.MUCH.TIME. in the princess line.

Yeah. Sort of irritating that it wasn't sold out, was indeed seen as a "low-ish" attandance night (although it certainly didn't feel like it) but that the line was insanely slow because they went with one room........

I'm hoping to catch back up on your TR tomorrow. I keep getting pulled away. Between Timmy's tennis, and Katie being sick most of the week..... it's been even crazy by our standards. I went ahead and brought Katie is for a throat culture this morning, but it was negative, so I guess we're just waiting out a virus.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

No bueno, senora...

There is a cold bug going around and it's just starting. And luckily it's not another round of strep. My 5th grade teacher has it and has been miserable the past two days.

Hopefully Katie gets through it quick.

How IS Timmy's tennis going???

 

[Caretames1]

I know a couple of gals who would love to see you then.

I'm one of those Gals! Jen, we need a good bribe.....I mean treat!

I am really party stupid. I may be asking lots of questions.
So my plan is to enter the MNSSHP at 4 with our ticket. Do they give me a bracelet then?

We got our MNSSHP band right before entering MK, they had a station set up right before the tunnel to go in. We entered at 4.

I agree. I just read that someone said a "CM" told someone that free dining for Oct -Dec is supposed to be released in a couple of weeks...that seems really early to me though

Would that be great! I won't get my hopes up thought. I do hope Be our Guest opens soon for ADR's though!



Yay for Timmy! A lot of hard work must have gone into that, congrats!

 

[mom2rtk]

No bueno, senora...

There is a cold bug going around and it's just starting. And luckily it's not another round of strep. My 5th grade teacher has it and has been miserable the past two days.

Hopefully Katie gets through it quick.

How IS Timmy's tennis going???

Thanks Jenn. I sure hope Katie is on the down side of THIS bug. And that somehow miraculously everyone else can escape it. I was really thinking strep since the whole thing started with vomiting last Sunday night. But apparently not. That happened once and she was over that part pretty quickly, but then the respiratory stuff sarted. Now she's coughing like crazy.

It has been a lot of fun to watch Timmy develop over the tennis season. He doesn't win a LOT of matches, but has won a few and I think that's enough to encourage him. He really seems to be having a lot of fun and making lots of new friends. I really thought he'd miss that if he wasn't part of a team. He already told me he plans to play his senior year.

I'm still plodding along with photographing tennis. I'm wishing I had a different lens. I've been using my 50-150, but sometimes that 50 is too long depending on where he's at. When I get a moment I'll post a few more shots.

I'm one of those Gals! Jen, we need a good bribe.....I mean treat!

Hey....... I can be bought! Especially if there's a Mickey bar involved! LOL! Maybe not after yesterday's timeline announcement though. I still think your odds of the new stuff being open are very high. But it's something I want to be able to count on.


We got our MNSSHP band right before entering MK, they had a station set up right before the tunnel to go in. We entered at 4.





Would that be great! I won't get my hopes up thought. I do hope Be our Guest opens soon for ADR's though!

You'll know it HERE! I keep pretty plugged into the other boards here so I can find out as quickly as possible. I'll be posting here while I'm on hold for ADR's I bet!

Yay for Timmy! A lot of hard work must have gone into that, congrats!

Thanks Carey! The best part was watching his reaction when I told him the news!

 

[scrapbookersdis]

Amazing photographic skills and needlework, as usual.

What is your favorite technique for attaching flippable photos (with journaling on the back) on your scrapbook pages? Do you use a photo pocket?

Looking forward to the next installment!

Sharla

 

[mom2rtk]

Amazing photographic skills and needlework, as usual.

What is your favorite technique for attaching flippable photos (with journaling on the back) on your scrapbook pages? Do you use a photo pocket?

Looking forward to the next installment!

Sharla

Many thanks Sharla!

I used to attach my flip up pages with cute metal hinges. But now I mostly just use a narrow piece of textured cardstock scored down the middle and covered by the journling printout.

I have used photo pockets, but not on any of these pages.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

I still think that Be Our Guest will open in Oct...I just have a feeling.

I just read that someone said a "CM" told someone that free dining for Oct -Dec is supposed to be released in a couple of weeks...that seems really early to me though

First off, congrats to your son! That is wonderful news. I know you are so proud of him.

I sure hope those FD rumors are true but I think that would be the earliest that it has ever been released. I'm not so sure about that one. I hope I hear about it before it happens though!

Also, I want to know about the Be Our Guest opening. I would LOVE to get an ADR there. I bet they are going to go in a matter of minutes! Please do post if you ladies hear anything definite.

 

[nannye]

Question for you, I remember you and katie went to the perfectly princess tea party. I am thinking about buying one of their dolls for V and a cinderella outfit for it. My other option is getting an American Girl Doll and then getting a cinderella outfit made for it. V has 2 baby dolls, but she does not have a "big girl" doll if you know what I mean. Just wondering what you think of the quality of the Princess Tea Party doll versus an American Girl Doll - Trying to decide what the better choice is.

Thanks for the advice!
Erin