Nov 2009 Family Reunion in Disney with pics! Final Update 3/22/10

[twob4him]

Hello Everyone!!! I am just going to jump right in and start this trip report…cause otherwise I will be staring at a blank page forever wondering what to write about. Before I introduce myself I want to let you know that I am not all that funny. Sorry. I just didn’t inherit the gene…but…I can find corny Disney jokes and fun trivia on the internet so I will intersperse both throughout the trip report and hopefully stay on track enough to keep you all reading along. Oh and I have lots of pictures to share too…I took some, my friends and family took some….Disney took some! Oh goody. I loves me some pictures!

So time for the first joke already:

THE TOP TEN SIGNS YOU HAVE AN UNHEALTHY DISNEY OBSESSION

10. You know how many hairs are on the leg of the drunken pirate sitting on the bridge.

9. You have more Disney movies than Blockbuster.

8. Your favorite song is "Zippity-Doo-Dah".

7. When you hear people talking about "the underprivileged", you assume they are referring to those who have to stay off-site.

6. You refer to Wal-Mart and McDonald's employees as "cast members".

5. You've added spires and turrets to the roof of your house.

4. You tried to pay your electric bill with Disney Dollars.

3. Your children's names are Ariel and Alladin.

2. You pray that nobody will ever discover your dirty little secret: That you sneak out of bed in the middle of the night, logon to the internet, and drool over online pictures of WDW.

1. You're reading this.

And I have one to add…When you go out to dinner with your kids, they ask if this is a character dinner! ( I do truly get this one!)


Introductions:
Well, there’s me…I am Cathy…I found the Disboards about a year before our June 2007 trip while doing research. Then two weeks before that trip I found the Disboutiquers ( a sewing thread on the disboards) and I was hooked. They are a fabulous group of ladies and gentleman who sew Disney things and lots of other things too. I call them my sewing thread buddies. I have met many of them and they are just as fabulous in real life too! I am also a Tour Guide Miker…I follow his advice cause it makes sense and for me…it worked! Oh and in real life I am a teacher! A science teacher to be exact…high school. It’s challenging and exhausting but I do love it. Ok well that’s enough about me….



I am married to my hubby…Edmund…who hates all things Disney. I know, I know, I know…..how did that happen??? I have been trying to convert him but so far no go. Fortunately he does enjoy FL so when we go to Disney, I go to the parks and he does other stuff! So that works out fine with me! He is a great dad and hubby and we live a quiet life in southern NJ.



My oldest daughter is 11 yrs. Her name is Sarah…which appropriately means princess. She is a fabulous sweet kind girl…kinda quiet…and she loves Disney. She is a wonderful role model and big sister, loves school and likes to hang with friends, dance, (used to ride horses but hasn’t been doing that lately) and participate in all kinds of activities. And believe it or not…does NOT have a cell phone or email account.





Next up is Devon (like the horseshow) who just turned 6 yrs. She is fun and bossy and loves to direct things…loves kindergarten too…well behaved unless she is tired and then watch out!! LOL. She loves to play and is very creative. She is a very good sister and seems much older than her age. She is very afraid of character meetings but loves everything else about Disney. She also dances and loves to play dress-up and is my girly-girl. She is an excellent snuggler too!




Finally, my youngest is 4 (almost 5). Her name is Brooklyn (like the bridge)! She is an interesting person to describe. She is attuned to everything, sharp as a tack…and loves to be the baby of the family. She is a worry wart…which is funny cause I am not at all. She loves to play with her sisters and loves pre-school …though it took her awhile to adjust to it. She too loves to dance and was very excited to go to Disney. She was only 2 ½ when we went last. She loves characters and hugging them so she couldn’t wait to see them again. Plus she was finally tall enough for the rides.




So that’s our little family!



Now onto the plans for the trip!!.

But first, this would be a good place for our first trivia question…(I’ll answer after I share our plans)
1. What was Walt Disney World originally called?
2. Who made the name change and why?

Planning our trip: (since I didn’t do a pre-trip report…lol)
Last Thanksgiving while family was visiting, we asked if everyone wanted to meet in 2009 in Disney. We were thinking of renting a house in Windsor Hills. Everyone agreed so our family reunion was on! My friend and her girls planned their trip to coincide with ours and my disboutique friend, Minnie Too (Marlo), had a trip the same week as us. Plus my hubby’s friends planned a trip that overlapped ours and then there are lots of friends in FL we linked up with as well. So all in all…it was an Extravaganza in Disney! Lots of meetings and fun I tell ya!!

So the planning began in earnest. My friend, Leanne, suggested Nov as being a great time to visit since the weather was a bit cooler and we would have less crowds. Since we teach our only choices are Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter or to bake in the summer heat. So we picked Teacher Convention week. Lol!

Then we had to plan out our days and schedules and all the usual mayhem and foolishness. I was obsessed…ok…I admit it. But one of the best sites I found (besides the disboards) was Tour Guide Mike. No, I am not employed by him to say this. I also liked The Mouse for Less and various other books and sites. So with the planning complete…. I awaited the 90 day window to make a few dining reservations and the eagerly awaited call to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Last visit, Brook was too young so the girls had to wait till this trip to go. They were dying to go. Long story short, I got my dining reservations no problemo but the Disney computers were down for a few days when I needed them to be working so I could make the BBB appointment. After an email to Disney execs though, they graciously called me back with an appointment time for all three girls for the day and time I needed. Yaaaa Disney for fulfilling that dream!!!

So the 465 days till our Disney vacation finally wound down to a week before. My hubby and youngest got sick with ear infections and my middle had a terrible cough. I turned up with bronchitis and a touch of the flu. But, Praise the Lord, we were all well by go-time!!!! Yeesh…that was stressful.

Oh ya… I forgot to tell you one thing…I started sewing outfits in Feb 2009 for our Nov 2009 trip. I finished the last one about a week before we left! I started packing everything two weeks before…here are some pics of that. I put everything in labeled zip-lock bags with the child’s name and date of wear. Very handy and it all fit in a carry-on! I overpacked on other stuff though. But live and learn.

Organizing


Ironing


Labeling


Zip-locking...get out all the air!


And toss in suitcase!!!


All packed and ready to go!!!




OK answer to the trivia question coming up….
1. Disney World
2. Roy Disney changed it to honor his brother Walt.

(I bet you already knew that huh?)


So there you go…our introductions and the plan! Up next…Getting to Disney!


Click on these links below to go directly to updates:

The weekend - Part 1

The weekend - Part 2

Mommy's Arrival

Magic Kingdom Day Part 1

Magic Kingdom Day 1 Continued....scroll down page 5...there are lots of posts!

Magic Kingdom Part 2: The Background

Magic Kingdom Day Two Morning...scroll down to post #96

Magic Kingdom Day Two - The Rest of the Day - Scroll down to Post #117 thru 119

Epcot - Early morning - Scroll down to post #130

http://www.disboards.com/showthread....n to Post #134


The Rest of Our Epcot Day - scroll down the page to post #146


Hollywood Studios Morning - Scroll down to post #158

Hollywood Studios....the rest of the day!



Final park day and heading home!

[billwendy]

So far so GREAT!! I didnt know your DH was a Disney Hater!!!!!!!

[revrob]

WOO HOO! Am I the first?

Girl, your organizational skills... well, you may need to be medicated!

BUT, I didn't see the color coded matrix of fun? Where was that?

[PrincessLeighsDaddy]

Great start Cathy! You are very organized!

[twob4him]

Originally Posted by billwendy

So far so GREAT!! I didnt know your DH was a Disney Hater!!!!!!!

Sad to say Wendy but its true...and you know how hard it is to "change" a man's mind...oh well...as you will see later...he enjoyed Disney despite himself!! Thanks for following along!!!

Originally Posted by revrob

WOO HOO! Am I the first?

Girl, your organizational skills... well, you may need to be medicated!

BUT, I didn't see the color coded matrix of fun? Where was that?

I did have one with me...6 pages....laminated...in color...by the minute. But I didn't get a pic of it..hmmm...maybe I will do that.... Thanks for reading along!!!!

[twob4him]

Originally Posted by PrincessLeighsDaddy

Great start Cathy! You are very organized!

Hi Ya Tom!!!!So glad to hear from you! I was thinking about you earlier today! I hope all is well! Thanks for following along on the adventure!!!

[Tnkrbelle565]

I'm in (subbing and now going back to read )

[jessica52877]

I'm here!

[disneymomof1]

I'm in, now to start reading !!

[minnie2]

Of course I am here!!!!

Ok Admit it Edmund is starting to come around but I won't give too much away

Your list of you know you are a Disney fan if is hysterical!
3 ok my kids aren't named after Disney characters but my dog is! does that count?
7 is true for my kids they don't realize how lucky they are!!!
2. Well it isn't a secret and I proudly say I LOVE Disboards!
Oh and I have one to add to your list. When you ask your kids if they wan to go to the park they ask what rides do they have. then are disappointed when it is just swings and slides. (true story too!)

[kimmylaj]

what a great start . i would much rather have your fabulous sewing gene than a funny gene. but i think that list is great i do refer to walmart employees as cast members . i too am married to a disney hater.
what boardwalk are you at in your pic? we usually end up at seaside, pt pleasant and once in a while wildwood. that one didnt look familiar to me.

[twob4him]

Originally Posted by Tnkrbelle565

I'm in (subbing and now going back to read )

Hi Kristine!!! Everyone....Kristine is in charge of half of my pics so I am really glad she is here too!!! She wrote a fabulous pre-trippy which I enjoyed and surprised her daughter quite well with a trip to Disney a few weeks before I went. Her trip report is right here....http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2323601 Seee free advertising!

Originally Posted by jessica52877

I'm here!

Hi Jess!!! Glad you're here! Jess can sew like nobody's business!!!! Very impressive!!!

Originally Posted by disneymomof1

I'm in, now to start reading !!

HI Lisa!!! Glad you're here!!! Hope you survived all of this rain and wind!

Originally Posted by minnie2

Of course I am here!!!!

Ok Admit it Edmund is starting to come around but I won't give too much away

Your list of you know you are a Disney fan if is hysterical!
3 ok my kids aren't named after Disney characters but my dog is! does that count?
7 is true for my kids they don't realize how lucky they are!!!
2. Well it isn't a secret and I proudly say I LOVE Disboards!
Oh and I have one to add to your list. When you ask your kids if they wan to go to the park they ask what rides do they have. then are disappointed when it is just swings and slides. (true story too!)

Well, its not exactly my list....cept the last one...lol about the kids and the park! DH cracks me up...he got on a metal detecting thread and is now posting pics of his finds today...lol...its a "disboards" for metal detectors... I know you would appreciate what I am going thru...he was going on and on about how many hits he got.... I may need to steal some of your pics or better yet maybe you can add to the chapters when I get to them...feel free to post away!!!!

Originally Posted by kimmylaj

what a great start . i would much rather have your fabulous sewing gene than a funny gene. but i think that list is great i do refer to walmart employees as cast members . i too am married to a disney hater.
what boardwalk are you at in your pic? we usually end up at seaside, pt pleasant and once in a while wildwood. that one didnt look familiar to me.

I am definately not a fabulous sewer....but thanks so much for thinking nice things though!!! I am a good copier of simple things!!! There should be something in the list about calling lines "queues"...I think thats how Disney spells it? So how do you get to Disney married to a Disney hater? That pic was from the Wildwood boardwalk and the water all over the front of my shirt is from Brooklyn washing her hands a few minutes before the pic....she splashed water everywhere!!!! Thanks for coming along Kim!!!

[jessica52877]

Originally Posted by twob4him

Hi Jess!!! Glad you're here! Jess can sew like nobody's business!!!! Very impressive!!!


I am definately not a fabulous sewer....but thanks so much for thinking nice things though!!!

Thanks! That comment really made my night!

And you are a fabulous sewer!! I also have to say that I had the pleasure of meeting Cathy in real life in February and you are a complete sweetheart!!

[ireland_nicole]

I'm so in!!

I have three more to add to the reasons:
1. You refer to reservations for anything as ADR's.
2. you (and your kids) find hidden mickeys everywhere (like my computer cord- perfect HM!)
3. when you mention that you're going on the ferry, the kids start looking for Tinkerbell! (also a true story)

I'm loving your report so far! Can't wait to read more!

[twob4him]

Originally Posted by jessica52877

Thanks! That comment really made my night!

And you are a fabulous sewer!! I also have to say that I had the pleasure of meeting Cathy in real life in February and you are a complete sweetheart!!

and look there we all are in your siggy!!! cool!!!

Originally Posted by ireland_nicole

I'm so in!!

I have three more to add to the reasons:
1. You refer to reservations for anything as ADR's.
2. you (and your kids) find hidden mickeys everywhere (like my computer cord- perfect HM!)
3. when you mention that you're going on the ferry, the kids start looking for Tinkerbell! (also a true story)

I'm loving your report so far! Can't wait to read more!

Those are more great additions!! Hey we should make up our own list!!!! We saw a hidden mickey puddle going down the ramp in Epcot from the monorail....there were too many people behind me for me to stop and take a pic of it! Glad you are here!!!!