1 yr Anniv.@ the Land of Make Believe! May09! PTR-UPDATE-We're Home =( 5/27

[Charleston Princess]

Yeay for starting your PTR!!!

I love the new hair color -- it's very pretty!

 

[JenAusty]

Were actually going for 23 nights so they will have a bit more to read . We went in May last year and it was a great time to go. The weather was great, the crowds were really low and the Flower Festival at Epcot is really pretty. I cannot wait to go

Whoa.. I would love that!! You are super lucky! That is one of my dreams.. but with my schedule and my dh's.. the only way that will happen is when we retire.. unless its in the summer. and my dh builds up vaca days.! Maybe someday... But it was funny because the other day DH and I were talking and he said "you really think we need to go for that long- were probably going to get bored" me-"hahahaha-did you just say we will get bored at disney world?!!" After talking it out.. it was like "you're right" but we've never been 8 days.. soo it seems long to us! I know I could go longer.. but we will see how it goes!

Hi Jen!
May is a great time to go! I love the flower and garden expo!
I realy like your hair!

I was actually really excited to go in May. 1) because its closer than June.. hehe and 2) because it won't be as busy as June. Even though we were going like the first/second week.. in the middle of May- some kids are still in school and stuff. So I'm really excited. Is the flower and garden expo- during the 18th-25th? I've never been to any of the celebrations besides Christmas stuff. Ohh and thanks about my hair.. its slowly growing on me.

I think the dark hair is so cute! You have a great complexion to pull it off. But I totally get what you mean about feeling washed out. I change my hair color a lot (I mean A LOT), and it's always easier to go from dark to light and feel like you look good (healthy). Going light to dark makes me feel pallid and sickly for a time till I get used to it, but I do love having dark hair (which I do have now)...

But I digress. Have fun at the comedy club!

I also love having dark hair because its not so much stress on your hair.. all the bleaching and stuff takes a toll. Plus, you can usually go longer without redoing it.. which keeps your hair healthy and its cheaper. Last night I went to the party and 2 of my best friends were super tan.. especially the bday girl.. and I look all pale next to them.. when I post you will see. But thats ok.. everyone liked my hair!

I think your dark hair looks great!! I have been thinking going darker for some time now.

Thank you! It's slowly growing on me.. its also lighting up a little bit and looking more natural.. give it about a week and I'll prob. love it on me. It always takes me sooooo long to dye my hair dark. I've done it tons of times.. and I know I will like it.. but no matter how bad I want to dye it dark- its always hard to let go of the blonde. Usually I'm blondish shades in summer and darker in winter.. but it changes!

Hi! I love the new color!! It makes your eyes just pop! You're lucky you can pull off all these different colors. I'm a natural blonde, too, and I died my hair years ago like a darker strawberry blonde and it turned PINK! Yes, PINK! I almost died! It was the first time doing it myself and I freaked, needless to say, after many calls to the dye company, I found a light blonde and went back to my natural color. Fast forward YEARS and now that I've had children, my hair has gotten SO dark! Borderline brown and wish I had the guts to do something different but I"m afraid and can't afford to have a salon do it....so here I sit! So good for you!!!!

Btw, figured out my title siggie too...we're so cool! lol! Thanks for the help!!

Thanks! I also think that to about my eyes.. I think once I start getting tan.. it will help to. Yeah, my hair also gets darker as I get older.. I actually like it were its at now.. but I don't want it to go any darker.. I'm a dark blonde naturally. I've also had many messups with hair dye. One time I tried to go back to my natural color and I picked out an ash blonde shade.. and it gave my hair a tint of green.. and the stylist said that you should never buy an
"ash" color and do it yourself.

Yeay for starting your PTR!!!

I love the new hair color -- it's very pretty!

Yeah- I know! I feel soo behind.. usually I start months before... but slowly.. it will come along. The good thing.. is that a lot of it is planned already.. just not posted yet. So I'm not as far behind as I seem! hehe

 

[JenAusty]

I just wanted to write real quick and tell you about a new song I heard. It's called "Never Neverland" by Scott Alan. You should look it up. If you search on youtube.com- its mostly sang by girls, and a few guys. The version I like best is actually by a guy and at first I thought it was Scott Alan singing.. but I don't think it is.. I think he is just a song writer.. but then I heard somewhere that he was like 9 yrs old. Soo idk.. but when I went to his myspace page http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=43057053, he wasn't 9 yrs old. and I clicked on "Never Neverland" to listen to it and it was a girl singing it. The same one I listened to on youtube.. and then there are many other songs on his page- sang by girls.. so I'm guessing he is a song writer. Anyways, its a cute song. Here's the version I liked best.. (sang by male)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdGkPxUftu0 It says its sang by Scott Alan.. if it is, then he should be the singer.. not the girl..

The version that is on his website is sang by Stephanie J. Block.. I think she is the officially the singer for it. I don't like it at all. I actually like it sang by Melanie Brook better! Here is a link to hers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9ZffFXMxqI

and the version by Michelle Payne (Is my fav so far) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRqBrRa5EzM


Ok, hope you enjoy!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I'll have to check out your links when I get home -- youtube is blocked at school .

 

[tinkgurl]

Hey girl! I just wanted to let you know that I'm here! I promise to read everything tonight. I'm at our college computer lab working on a paper so I don't have time right now-but be ready for my comments later!

 

[tinkgurl]

Okay I read it all! First of all: you are gorgeous! Don't let that mishap with your hair bring you down. You look great with dark hair too! Second: your wedding pictures are so great! Love the flip-flops! Very comfy for dancing all night so good idea! You and Austin are a great match. Can't wait for more!!!!

 

[JenAusty]

I'll have to check out your links when I get home -- youtube is blocked at school .

No rush! I just wanted to share the cute song! And thats weird that your school blocks youtube.. and so sad.

Hey girl! I just wanted to let you know that I'm here! I promise to read everything tonight. I'm at our college computer lab working on a paper so I don't have time right now-but be ready for my comments later!

YAY! I look forward to your comments!

Okay I read it all! First of all: you are gorgeous! Don't let that mishap with your hair bring you down. You look great with dark hair too! Second: your wedding pictures are so great! Love the flip-flops! Very comfy for dancing all night so good idea! You and Austin are a great match. Can't wait for more!!!!

Thanks- about everything you said! My hair, my DH and I.. thank you! I bought those flip-flops especially for my wedding. They said Just Married on the bottom.. so it imprinted on the sand and stuff and on the tongs- it said just married. They were simple but cute and very comfortable. I'm not a heal wearing kind of girl.. so it worked!! I had to wear heals for the ceremony but after it was all about comfort!

 

[xoktenox]

Hey I'm joining in!!

First off I want to say, stick with the blonde hair! Not that I think the brown looks bad on you at all, I actually thinks it makes your eyes look really pretty, but us blondes gotta stick together! I'm partial to blonde hair haha Anyway, you and your DH are ADORABLE together, no matter what color hair
I totally LOVEEEE your tattoo too, I have 5 but none as cute as that one!

Can't wait to hear more about your trip!

 

[JenAusty]

Hey I'm joining in!!

First off I want to say, stick with the blonde hair! Not that I think the brown looks bad on you at all, I actually thinks it makes your eyes look really pretty, but us blondes gotta stick together! I'm partial to blonde hair haha Anyway, you and your DH are ADORABLE together, no matter what color hair
I totally LOVEEEE your tattoo too, I have 5 but none as cute as that one!

Can't wait to hear more about your trip!

YAY! Welcome!! Don't worry all be back to blonde in no time. It's like it can't be summer without blonde hair.. its weird but thats how I feel. I know I'll at least have blonde highlights. and I 100% support Blondes!!

 

[ariel2007]

Whoa.. I would love that!! You are super lucky! That is one of my dreams.. but with my schedule and my dh's.. the only way that will happen is when we retire.. unless its in the summer. and my dh builds up vaca days.! Maybe someday... But it was funny because the other day DH and I were talking and he said "you really think we need to go for that long- were probably going to get bored" me-"hahahaha-did you just say we will get bored at disney world?!!" After talking it out.. it was like "you're right" but we've never been 8 days.. soo it seems long to us! I know I could go longer.. but we will see how it goes!

OMG I could never get bored at Disney, however long I was there. We went last year for 24 days and were still really not ready to leave, and the same the year before when we were there for a month. Then again we don't spend all that time in Disney, we go to the other parks too. And since it costs a bit, and takes so long to get there, we have to make it worth it

 

[tinkgurl]

I love your tattoo! I have two, I don't know if you saw mine in my TR.

 

[JenAusty]

I just wanted to let you guys know- I plan to make an update today.. sometime between classes or at least by tomorrow morning. I think we have finalized out dining.. which was VERY hard for me. We had to leave out a few of my MUST do's. But we might fit them in.. if were extra hungry one day.. but i'm not making resses. I'm also pretty mad that we can make reservations until 80 days now. I have to wait til Feb. something.. what happen to the good ol 180 days! Last time I talked to disney- they said it was because they were make updates and such.. but when I talked to disney the other day.. she said that was the new policy. I mean i understand.. but I feel like i'm behind in my planning..hehe Anywho.. update soon!

 

[tinkgurl]

I think we have finalized out dining.. which was VERY hard for me. We had to leave out a few of my MUST do's.

That would've been hard for me too!

I'm also pretty mad that we can make reservations until 80 days now. I have to wait til Feb. something.. what happen to the good ol 180 days!

I miss the 180 days too!

 

[xoktenox]

I can't wait to hear about your dining plans!!

 

[JenAusty]

I love your tattoo! I have two, I don't know if you saw mine in my TR.

thanks! I plan on changing it a little bit but I like it. Umm.. I remember the one.. but idk about the other one. What are they? I remember the "live,love laugh" one.

I can't wait to hear about your dining plans!!

I'm posting them right now.. yippy!

 

[princess&her4princes]

I just wanted to let you guys know- I plan to make an update today.. sometime between classes or at least by tomorrow morning. I think we have finalized out dining.. which was VERY hard for me. We had to leave out a few of my MUST do's. But we might fit them in.. if were extra hungry one day.. but i'm not making resses. I'm also pretty mad that we can make reservations until 80 days now. I have to wait til Feb. something.. what happen to the good ol 180 days! Last time I talked to disney- they said it was because they were make updates and such.. but when I talked to disney the other day.. she said that was the new policy. I mean i understand.. but I feel like i'm behind in my planning..hehe Anywho.. update soon!

Can't wait to hear all about your dining plans!! I know, it stinks we have to wait for 90 days!!

 

[JenAusty]

Finally- a more detailed update about our trip!

My DH and I are going for our 1 year anniversary. It's actually our 7 year anniversary but we got married last year! Still exciting!

We first decided that although we could afford to do a moderate hotel because of the buy4/get 3 deal. We decided instead to just stay in the value resorts. We don't need much room because its just us and actually we really like the value resorts. Plus, we don't spend much time at the resorts at all. We sleep there, occasionally swim, and eat at the food courts on the way out. So its kind of like a cost that isn't needed. And with me being a overfull time student.. and him supporting me.. we aren't exactly rich.. This time we are going in May, so the weather is probably going to be a lot better for the waterparks, then are usually Jan. hehe My DH loves waterparks, so he said we have to at least go to one of them.. of course he chooses Blizzard Beach.. which has the more thrill rides/slides.. I'm a chicken and big waterslides freak me out.. especially the ones with drops. But I will go and enjoy what I can!

We also had to debate what value resort to stay at. Our fav. is ASMo, and even this time DH said.. "lets just stay at the same one", "I like that one" and I had to tell him that we need to branch out and try others. I eventually would like to stay at most of the resorts throughout time. We decided to stay at Pop Century. Mostly, because its the newest one and I've heard a lot of good things about the food court. Which, is the main thing we use at the hotel.

We are going Monday, May 18th, 2009-Monday, May 25th, 2009. Idk if you noticed but we are returning on memorial day. Yes that was planned.. and yes it was more expensive. Originally we planned to stay in the first or second week of June. But then my DH had to have tests, which took all day and he wasn't allowed to go back to work because he would be drowsy- so he had to use a vaca day. Which screwed up my entire plans because I had it do we left on a sat. and returned on a sat. which gave him 1 whole day to recoop before going back to work. It also gave us 8 full days and cheaper flight- that was both nonstop. grr.

So we realized that he gets Memorial Day off, and that would still be able to give us 8 days.. well 7 nights.. and pretty much like 7 1/2 days maybe. Because DH would have to work, get out early and then we would fly out that day.. with hopefully time to eat or do something. So I started searching for flights.. and they were either 4pm or 7pm.. nothing like 5om which is what I needed.. unless I wanted 3 stops!! and SCREW THAT!
So the only way that we could fly out by 4pm is if DH got out at 2pm.. so we drive 45 mins and get there by 3pm and flight by 4pm. BUT his work has this gay rule that he can't get out before 2:30pm.. if he does they charge him half a sick day or vaca day. He only gets 5 sick days a year.. pathetic! (and this is why he is changing jobs in the next year) So that wouldn't work. So after searching I realized that the cheapest flight was leaving at 7pm and we arrive at Orlando at 11:40pm. Sucky- I know! So then I thought, well we could always fly out in the morning and get a nonstop flight at 7am, for the same price. But I decided i would rahter fly out the night before, yay we have 1 stop, but last time we flew we both got really bad headahces, and my right ear was about to explode. So if we are sick at all, then we can relax and go to bed.. and sleep it off- to start fresh in the morning. We will get a god nights sleep.. well the best we can being at disney and all excited!!
Also, with flying out the night before- this gave us 7 nights total- and guess what that means?!! 7 days of dining.. because it goes by nights- so we have all our days covered with food.. instead of having 1 day not. Exciting! In a way I feel like I kind of tricked disney.. hehe or maybe i'm weird.. idk.

Anywho, Are departing flight leaves at 7:05pm-arrives 7:53pm (1 stop- 48 minute layover), then departs at 9pm- arrives at MCO 11:40pm. We are using the Magical Express, and disney said our luggage will be there within 2 hours. Our flight home- Departs 7:55pm (nonstop!!!) and arrives home at 10:32pm.

One thing that ALSO makes me excited about arriving there at night is because the ME actually closes at 11pm.. but if your flight arrives later they will stay open.. so I was thinking.. it prob. won't be busy and it won't be a long wait!! How long does it usually take approx anyways?

Ok heres are schedule as of now:
Mon. 18th- Arrive at 11:40pm.. hope on ME and go to Pop Century.. our room better be ready DANG IT! hehe just kidding.. but wouldn't that be funny if it wasn't. We actually wanted to grab some food or something when we arrived.. but I'm sure there are no placed open passed 11pm. Are there?!!

Tues. 19th- Animal Kingdom DAY! (Austy picked this- I asked him what day he wanted to go to first and he said AK is his fav.)
Lunch: Flame Tree BBQ (QS)
Dinner: Boma @ AKL (TS)(we were thinking late dinner.. like 7-8pm. So we can have a FULL day at AK cause we aren't returning the rest of our trip.)

Wed. 20th- MAGIC KINGDOM DAY! (My FAV!!!)
Lunch: Pinocchio Village Haus (QS)(this is a all time fav. and tradition- every time)
Dinner:Cape May Cafe @ Beach Club Resort (TS) We are excited about the clambake! (thinking 4pmish)

Thurs. 21st- Epcot Day (My 2nd fav.)
Lunch: Sunshine Seasons (QS)
Dinner: Coral Reef (TS) Are favorite table service place. Also a tradition.
(We want this dinner scheduled as soon as they reopen for dinner.. I think its 4 or 4:30pm..but last time we did this.. we got to pick our seat.. right next to aquarium.. It was awesome!

Fri. 22nd- Hollywood Studios/Waterpark Day (HS is our least fav. and we don't do a whole lot there. .this year we are trying more. So we only gave it a half a day.) The waterpark will prob. be blizzard beach.
We are going to go to waterpark first, then
Lunch: Toy Story Pizza (QS) (This is all DH.. when I mentioned places to eat.. he said "he's always wanted to eat here.." so we are! But i'm excited because tinkgirl likes this place a lot to. So it reassured me! I told her I was worried it was going to be screamin kids everywhere..
Dinner: Dinner Show Option- Fantasmic Dinner Package- Mama Melrose Ristorante Italiano. (TS) I'm actually pretty excited about this because I love pasta and pretty much all Italian food.. but we actually weren't looking at this place at all.. but we wanted to see fantasmic and wanted the dinner show to guarantee seats.. soo we liked this place best.

Sat. 23rd- Relax (sorta)/FREE DAY!
We plan on definetly going shopping and Disney Quest! ..but other than that whatever we want..
Breakfast: Crystal Palace (TS) (this was an extremely hard decision but all the comments and sources won me over)
Lunch: Wolfgang Puck Express (QS)
Late Dinner: House of Blues (TS) This is also for DH, he wants to go when they are playing music. He is a BIG music person.. guitar player..

Sun. 24th- Magic Kingdom AGAIN! (LAST FULL DAY!!! )
Lunch: Cosmic Rays (QS)
Dinner: Biergarten at Epcot (TS) (6:30ish)

Mon. 25th- Epcot- (final day!
Early Lunch: Yorkshire Fish & Chips (QS) We love fish & Chips
Early Dinner: Marrakesh (2pm) (PAY)
Depart WDW approx. 4pm.. I'm guessing. Our flight isn't until 7:55 but DE said they usually pick you up about 3 hours early.. soo that is even earlier.

Here are some restaurants i can think of that we had to get rid of.. but we might do if we are feelign extra hungry one day!

Sci-fi Dine Inn Theater
Maya Grill @ Coronado
Planet Hollywood (We get a gift cert. there we might as well use it)
Yak & Yeti
Tuskerhouse
Ragland Road
Big River Grill
Trails End
Fultons Crab House
Backlot Express
LeCellier Steakhouse
San Angel Inn

Also, we wanted to go to Cirque Di Soleil.. but guess what? They aren't performing at all during out stay! ***! We wanted to go sooo bad! AND I just found out Space Mountain will be closed while we are there!! When I told DH he said "What the heck- thats stupid- we mise well not even go" me"haha" Austy-"So you're telling me I'm trading Space Mountain with It's a Small World?" hehehehe (Last time we went Small World was closed) ME: YES! HAHA

 

[ariel2007]

Great plan, sounds like you are going to have lots of fun. That really sucks about La Nouba, I would be so annoyed if it wasn't on when we are there. We go every trip and still love it, have you seen it before? Sorry you had to drop so many meal choices but you still have some great ones. We are do Cape May too, and have done Boma and HOB (great) and Marrakesh (not so great) before, but not the others.

 

[princess&her4princes]

Great update Jen!! Lots of great choices and plans! Now, when do you get to call in your dining? I forget (sorry!)? You guys will have so much fun! Word to the wise....we ate at Pizza Planet, no screaming children while we were there (not even our own!!) but they have great outdoor seating, so take advantage of that. And we ate at Coral Reef in December at 4:40 and hate two wait until at least 6:30 before they sat us!!!!!!! Make an early ressie for sure!! And I think you're right, when we were there in Decmeber Everything Pop closed at 11....not sure you'll be able to grab something to eat there or not...maybe during your layover??

 

[tinkgurl]

Umm.. I remember the one.. but idk about the other one. What are they? I remember the "live,love laugh" one.

Yep there's that one and then my Tinkerbell one. It's on my 1st page with the introductions.