Great trip report! I have loved following along. It has been really nice to read a report that was updated on a regular schedule. It made my morning ride on the commuter train more enjoyable.
I'm looking forward to your new PTR. You have interesting reports.
Thank you so much for following along - I've truly enjoyed reading your comments through out my report. I hope you will continue to read along once I start my PTR... I usually post my ramblings every morning - and most times it's Disney related.
We always leave early, too. We like to have a nice sit down breakfast and then head on out. There was one time when I went to WDW with my sisters to run the Disney half marathon and we had evening flights home. It was the most miserable day, ever. The weather had turned cold and rainy and instead of a nice, warm resort room we had a cold and unpleasant lobby instead. The Polynesian lobby is not warm when it is cold in January. We will never again schedule an evening flight.
I agree totally - it's so much easier to get up and travel. I've debated on having a TS meal the morning we leave - but since FQ doesn't have a sit down restaurant - I think I would get too flustered having to travel to another resort the day we leave, and worry about making it back on time.
I have really enjoyed your trip report, your daily updates and the photos of your bags.
Thank you for taking the time to share all of this with us.
Cathy
Thanks so much for following along Cathy. I hope you'll continue to read when I start my PTR... After all - planning is half the fun of a trip, right?
The last day of the trip is always so sad! However, it looks like even on ME you had one last bit of Pixiedust with getting to ride with Erin!
I have really enjoyed following along and reading all about your amazing trip. I'm looking forward to the next PTR too! Can't wait. Did I miss you announce your next trip or are you keeping us all in suspense over here!
Of course I haven't announced it yet... Must give everyone a reason to check in every now and then, right? LOL I am glad you enjoyed my TR... I am very anxious to read yours!
Another one bites the dust. so glad you have another trip to plan! Can't wait to see the Now and Thens- that is always so much fun!
Thanks Oopsi... I am very excited to start my next PTR... I've been working on my "intro" in my spare time... This is going to be an interesting one - that's for sure.
Wow, you even managed a DISmeet on the ME back to the airport.
Yes - this one was totally accidental - but very much needed. It was so great to see Erin one last time.
That was very nice of Erin to save you guys seats.
I totally agree!
When I went to WDW in January with my brother I took the ME back to the airport with them but we were on two different airlines. They got off at the first stop and I got off at the second stop. We met up at security but I could have just gotten off the bus with them, walked across the airport to check my bags (there was a problem and I couldn't check my bags at the hotel
)and walk back and it probably still would have been faster then taking the bus all the way around to the next stop. The ride from the first stop to the second stop seemed to take forever! And that security line in MCO is always soooo long.
That does make sense, however - as it is, since we always fly Sun Country - we always have to trek across the entire airport with all of our luggage, I am not sure if the other drop off would be any closer or not? I should research that.
As for grocery shopping, it does seem that the necessities cost the most - and never any coupons for those items. I have friend that buys milk when it is on sale and then freezes it (I think you have to dump some out so it has room to expand).
Interesting about the milk... We have had milk freeze before (on accident) and we always end up throwing it out because it tastes funny... but this is because the girls are SUPER picky about their milk... we can't even buy it in the plastic jugs anymore, because they dont' like the taste the jug leaves.
I can't tell the difference, but they can. Sigh. I do buy butter though in advance when it's on sale... We go through so much butter it's crazy!
Looking forward to the now-and-then shots.
Thank you - I am a bit nervous about doing them, my now n' then folder on Photobucket is a mess - hopefully I can get it all figured out. LOL
I was thinking about doing a mini TR but I'm not sure I will get a chance. Still need to edit all my PP pictures (note, the new site seems to be a little easier for adding borders) and we didn't take as many as we usually do but I'm still glad we got it for the ones that we do have and for the ride photos. I'll probably just end up sharing some pictures somewhere on the web.
I would love it if you would do one, but if you decide not to - you are always welcome to share your photos in any of my PTR/TRs (which ever I am doing at the time) - I would love to see... Otherwise - FB is good too.
So sad your thread is over! I am new to DIS, so started out as a stalker with no comments. I really looked forward to knowing I could start my day with a little bit of Disney by reading your report. Great job and thanks for letting us join in!
Welcome!!! I am glad you stopped by to say hello - and I am happy to have had you following along. I hope you will continue to follow as I start my new PTR - as planning is half the fun of going to WDW in the first place.
That was nice you met up with Erin on ME so the disney downs weren't as bad.
Yes - it was so nice to have Erin there for that last ride.
Glad all your luggage showed up at your destination.
Me too! LOL
I look forward to seeing your then & nows.
I am a bit sad that I don't have as many this time as I did last time - but it's still fun to look back.
thanks for sharing your journey with us. Hopefully, next time we will meet up.
You are very welcome! Thanks for following along... I hope to meet up with you and your family some day too.
So sad your trip report is coming to an end. But! I'm looking forward to your new PTR!!!!!
Me too! I am very excited to get started on planning it.
I have one more day to finish up on my tr. We like to leave later in the day, just so we can get in one more day of magic before we head back to the grindstone.
Looking forward to hearing about your last day too.
I will also be starting a new ptr and will probably have some changes to my ticker when I do.
YAY!!!! I have been anxiously awaiting to hear from you about this!!!
I love your stockings - love the colors and the fabrics you chose. I think having matching stockings for the entire family is a wonderful tradition to have.
Thanks!!! It's been interesting making them - that's for sure. I am so worried that everyoe won't like the colors I chose for them.
My Christmas collections include snowmen and nativity sets. I even have one snowman nativity set!
The only "Christmas" stuff I collect is my Dept 56 Snow Village... Oh and the girls and I set up our American Girl dolls during the holidays in their respective holiday outfits - we love doing that... It's like seeing Christmas through the years. Lots of fun!
This is the first time I have read any trips reports since I starting on the DIS. I have to say I picked a good one and can't wait for your next trip report. It was enjoyable to follow along. Thanks for taking the time to post this.
Welcome! And thank you - I am so glad you enjoyed following along! I will be starting my PTR soon, and you are very welcome to continue following along over there.
I really enjoyed your report and hearing out your terrific girls. You are such a talented sewer too. Your resort has helped me pass the time till our trip. I will watch for your next adventure to be written about.
Thanks so much! I am so happy you enjoyed my TR - I really enjoy writing them... It's all part of the "trip process" and it's so much fun! I will be starting my PTR soon - And I would love it if you'd join me there too!
Hi D~! I'm so glad that I have followed along with your TR. What captured my attention when I first subscribed was that this was a mother/daughters trip and I'm always interested in those. However, what I came to find along the way was a woman who is not only extremely gifted and talented with a passion for Disney but someone who is a great mom, true friend, and sweet lady who, of course, would have a friend on every bus and in every park!!
Wow Brenda... I am just speechless. Thank you very much.
I read along with every day to see if we were in the same places at the same time and to simply compare notes. I'm sure I would have noticed you guys because of your fabulous bags, cute headgear, and warm smiles but it wasn't meant to be. Like you said, maybe next time.
Well, some day - for as many Dismeets as we both have under our belts, I am sure we are destined to meet eventually... So... When are your next trips?
I'm still looking forward to your then and now posts and of course what your 2014 plans may be.
Great job!!
Thanks! I will be starting my PTR - hopefully with in the next week... So there will be more detailed plans then.
So sad we've come to the end of the trip. Super excited about see the now and then and a new PTR!!
The stockings look great what a special gift!
Thanks Tracy! I am looking forward to sharing the now n' thens & starting a new PTR! It's always so bitter sweet to see how much the girls have changed over the years. I hope you'll continue to follow along when I make the move over to the PTR section!
The stockings look great!!
Fun updates. Sad that you had to leave though.
Thanks Sandra... No worries - the girls and I will be back!
Ditto the sad about the end of the trip report and Hi to another Nativity Set collector. I've been collecting since I was about 8 and always get kind of funny looks when I say that I collect Nativities (or Creche's as I usually call them)
Well, made it home with all the luggage, hurrah! And hang in there with Alli's "rebellion" My niece went vegetarian for a while. I think it was about a week, but she's WAY too much of a carnivore for more than that. Like you say, at least it's not drugs. Or a chopper riding boyfriend.
Have a great weekend!
Thanks Ruth... LOL - excatly my thoughts, I'd much rather have her be a vegetarian than the alternative. She is doing so great with it - I am very proud of her... There are days when Josh grills where it must be incredibly hard for her to stick to her convictions.
I hope you have a great weekend too.
AWESOME trip report D. Thank you for letting me tag along! I so enjoyed reading your reports in the evening. Thank you for sharing yourself and your girls with us.
Thank you so much for following along... I'll probably be starting my PTR around the time you leave for your trip - so make sure you look for it when you get back. And if you decide to do a TR for your trip - please let me k now.
**********************************************************
Well, we had a fun day yesterday...
I wish I could tell you all about it, because it's quite exciting. But - unfortunately - you are going to have to wait... As a good chunk of it has to do with the start of my PTR. But no worries - you'll find out soon enough.
Allison and I did go to the MOA though... Victoria stayed home. Alli was able to exchange her jeans again, and thankfully she found something she liked much better to replace them with.
I even brought home a pair for myself... Finally. Not the Levis that I keep leaving behind at Kohls, but a pair of American Eagle size 14 jeans... I was elated when I tried them on and they FIT... They were on sale and I had a nice discount code to top it off - so I figured it was meant to be.
I also purchased 2 pair for Victoria at Hollister - they were having a nice sale, as well... And at this point in time, she needed jeans more than I did - and since I got a pair, well, it was only fair that she did too.
Yah - I know - sometimes my rational is a bit skewed.
Afterwards, Alli and I went out for lunch at Jimmy Johns - our favorite place in the world to eat.
She has been avoiding it because of her vegetarianism, but I've been urging her to try their Veggie sub, so she finally tried it yesterday and liked it a lot. Which makes me happy because we can still all eat there together.
Then we hit Target for a few misc. items...
We hit Goodwill to try and find a leather jacket for her Halloween costume - but no luck.
I did look pretty intently at a sewing machine that was there - but in the end, I left if behind. A) I didn't have room for the extra sewing table it came in. B) It wasn't a Rocketeer, and I've already decided that if I purchase another machine, I need it to be a Rocketeer or a 401a - absolutely nothing else can come home with me. So, it stayed at Goodwill - besides, they had it marked for $24.99 and that's more than I would pay for a machine. LOL Yes, I know = Tightwad.
Then we came home... Alli and I watched Monster House... Well Alli watched it - I took a nap.
Leftovers for Dinner.
Then we all watched the first two episodes in Season 3 of Downton Abbey. Even though we all know what happens, I am still enjoying it. I just LOVE that show!
Today... Well, our plans involve the start of my PTR - so I can't tell you anything about it... But it will be fun!
I hope you all have a wonderful day!
D~