2 Castles, 2 Send out 2011 & Ring in 2012...12 Days of Christmas

[Dream426]

Thank you so much for the package. I love it!! It came out great. Very creative. My husband liked it also. He was like wow that is really nice...haha

 

[swwake]

I missed the $1400 near disaster post. I hope FedEx will make up for it somehow, but I'm really glad your tickets are safe! I bet your puppy thought it was Christmas! With Sandy just 1 year old, I can imagine she would love for the FedEx Santa Claus to deliver her a fun envelope to shred.

I can't wait for my package!!!

 

[momabaarjo]

I missed the $1400 near disaster post. I hope FedEx will make up for it somehow, but I'm really glad your tickets are safe! I bet your puppy thought it was Christmas! With Sandy just 1 year old, I can imagine she would love for the FedEx Santa Claus to deliver her a fun envelope to shred.

I can't wait for my package!!!

Cami sure thought it was her lucky day...let's hope that uspo doesn't give sandy your package! If gina's arrived today to NY yours should be arriving today!

 

[shocky5]

Near $1400 diaster averted....
I am so mad at fedex right now! I ordered our park tickets last week through undercover tourist and expected them to be here Wednesday. This morning I had not seen them so I clicked on the package tracking and fedex marked them as delivered on Wednesday...left at front door....hmmm. We have a chain link fence in the front yard with 2 dogs...never has any delivery person entered the gate before...must have left them at in laws down the block...normal procedure with ups, fedex, and uspo. So I called jeff and asked him to check with his mom about the tickets...that is a $1400 package! No, they did not deliver to her...OH NO what if they did come in the gate and leave the package???? Remember one of the dogs is still a 10 month chewing machine that is not so little anymore? Shredded in the yard is the package...we had not seen it because of the cold temps and coming in at dark!!!! The package and the paperwork are in shreds!!!!


BUT upon searching dh finds all 5 tickets ( thank goodness there has been no
Wind the last couple of days)...wet but still intact! I think I about had s nervous breakdown waiting for jeff to call!

I took pictures of the tickets with my phone and jeff's...now they are safely tucked into my paperwork binder...AND fedex is about to get an earful!!!!

HOLY COW!!! That's crazy! I'm glad it is all okay!

FedEx did the same thing at my brother's house last summer... had to get his birth certificate to get a passport and they left it on porch, dogs shredded it, he had to get another one and almost didn't get it and would have missed his cruise with family.

 

[shocky5]

I keep wondering how they're not guessing it's a Disney trip with all these blatant clues! But maybe Disney is so entrenched in the kids' culture and life that they wouldn't think anything of it.

I love all the advent activities and gifts!

I was going to ask how you got those current park maps!!

The picture frame as souvenir is a great idea! I might have to steal that! (the idea, not your frame!)

Agree with Susan! Ab been asking any questions lately??

 

[momabaarjo]

100 Things I am Looking Forward to...​

100. Checking into the Royal Pacific Resort
99. Italian Margarita and a Cheeseburger in Paradise at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville
98. Breakfast at Chef Mickey's
97. Experiencing the Osborne Lights
96. Seeing Lightning McQueen and Mater
95. Grinch and Friends Breakfast
94. Tree of Life
93. Mickey's Philharmonic
92. Christmas Trees
91. Tower of Terror
90. Dinner at T-Rex
89. Pressed Penny hunting for the boys
88. Seeing Tink Fly
87. Breakfast at the Crystal Palace
86. Toy Story Mania and its Line/Queue
85. Innoventions
84. Main Street Stroll
83. Dole Whip
82. Pirates of the Caribbean Ride
81. Jedi Training
80. Mickey Bar
79. Miyuki in Japan
78. Tom Sawyer's Island
77. Riding the Monorail
76. Tonga Toast at Kona Cafe
75. Mission Space: Orange Side
74. Strawberry Soup
73. Kidcot Stations in Epcot
72. Shopping for Mickey Ears
71. Dinner at Ohanas
70. Living with the Land
69. A Mug of Butter Beer
68. Animation Studios Drawing Class
67. Karamelle-Kuche
66. Christmas Store Ornament Shopping
65. F!
64. Honeydukes
63. Tough Being a Bug
62. Swiss Family Treehouse
61. Biergarten
60. Soarin
59. Lego Store in DTD
58. Starring Rolls Cupcakes
57. Haunted Mansion
56. Via Napoli
55. Goofy's Candy Co. in DTD
54. Gingerbread House at GF (& other resort Christmas Displays)
53. Kim Possible Missions in Epcot
52. Macy's Holiday Parade at USO
51. Boulangerie Patisserie in France
50. 50's Primetime Cafe
49. POP Century Resort
48. Exploring the Windows in Hogsmeade
47. Ridemakerz
46. Date with dh at Yachtsman
45. Illuminations
44. Dinner at 1900 Park Fare with the Step Sisters
43. Grinchmas at IOA
42. Snorkeling at Discovery Cove
41. Breadpudding
40. Expedition Everest
39. Parades
38. Ghirardelli sundae
37. Night time in the parks
36. Test Track
35. Mickey Pretzels
34. The Sword in the Stone
33. Fish & Chips
32. Feeding the Larakeets
31. Yak & Yeti
30. Discovery Island Trails
29. Sci Fi Diner
28. Spiderman
27. Rice Krispe Treat
26. Walt & Mickey Statue…Roy & Minnie Statue
25. Festival of the Lion King
24. Main Street Bakery Treats
23. Pirate Tutorial
22. Discovery Club Stops in AK
21. The Simpsons Ride
20. Breakfast at Boma
19. Boardwalk Villas
18. Finding my Picture Frame
17. Dinner at NASCAR
16. Tequila Flight
15. Searching for Hidden Mickey’s

15. Searching for Hidden Mickey’s

I bought Ab the Hidden Mickey book and I plan on carrying it in our backpack…boy it that thing starting to feel heavy. I hope that we can pass a little time in line (although Ridemax says we won’t) looking for Hidden Mickey’s. We have had so much fun looking for them in Disney movies that I am sure the hunt will be even more fun at WDW.

 

[petals]

Just a tip for ya. Check your receipts from counter service before you throw them out. Some of them are giving out vouchers to get 20% discount in the main park shops and World of Disney. You have to use it before 12 noon but it's worth it. Saved us so much! I know one of the places that gave them out was main street bakery but we got them in every park.

 

[FosterA]

That is crazy about your tickets So glad that story had a happy ending!

p.s. thanks for the awesome stuff in the mail today! I can totally use it too

 

[petals]

Also just read the post bout your tickets. I think I'd have had a heart attack if anything happened mine. We do collection when we're there though because never want to pay 15 dollars for postage!

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

Oh Tammie! Your package came in the mail this evening. It's 1 in the morning and it was an amazing pick me up for what was a horrible day/evening/night. The post man and you just knew I would need it today. It's so creative! I can't wait for my mom and alexa to see it in the morning!

 

[momabaarjo]

100 Things I am Looking Forward to...​

100. Checking into the Royal Pacific Resort
99. Italian Margarita and a Cheeseburger in Paradise at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville
98. Breakfast at Chef Mickey's
97. Experiencing the Osborne Lights
96. Seeing Lightning McQueen and Mater
95. Grinch and Friends Breakfast
94. Tree of Life
93. Mickey's Philharmonic
92. Christmas Trees
91. Tower of Terror
90. Dinner at T-Rex
89. Pressed Penny hunting for the boys
88. Seeing Tink Fly
87. Breakfast at the Crystal Palace
86. Toy Story Mania and its Line/Queue
85. Innoventions
84. Main Street Stroll
83. Dole Whip
82. Pirates of the Caribbean Ride
81. Jedi Training
80. Mickey Bar
79. Miyuki in Japan
78. Tom Sawyer's Island
77. Riding the Monorail
76. Tonga Toast at Kona Cafe
75. Mission Space: Orange Side
74. Strawberry Soup
73. Kidcot Stations in Epcot
72. Shopping for Mickey Ears
71. Dinner at Ohanas
70. Living with the Land
69. A Mug of Butter Beer
68. Animation Studios Drawing Class
67. Karamelle-Kuche
66. Christmas Store Ornament Shopping
65. F!
64. Honeydukes
63. Tough Being a Bug
62. Swiss Family Treehouse
61. Biergarten
60. Soarin
59. Lego Store in DTD
58. Starring Rolls Cupcakes
57. Haunted Mansion
56. Via Napoli
55. Goofy's Candy Co. in DTD
54. Gingerbread House at GF (& other resort Christmas Displays)
53. Kim Possible Missions in Epcot
52. Macy's Holiday Parade at USO
51. Boulangerie Patisserie in France
50. 50's Primetime Cafe
49. POP Century Resort
48. Exploring the Windows in Hogsmeade
47. Ridemakerz
46. Date with dh at Yachtsman
45. Illuminations
44. Dinner at 1900 Park Fare with the Step Sisters
43. Grinchmas at IOA
42. Snorkeling at Discovery Cove
41. Breadpudding
40. Expedition Everest
39. Parades
38. Ghirardelli sundae
37. Night time in the parks
36. Test Track
35. Mickey Pretzels
34. The Sword in the Stone
33. Fish & Chips
32. Feeding the Larakeets
31. Yak & Yeti
30. Discovery Island Trails
29. Sci Fi Diner
28. Spiderman
27. Rice Krispe Treat
26. Walt & Mickey Statue…Roy & Minnie Statue
25. Festival of the Lion King
24. Main Street Bakery Treats
23. Pirate Tutorial
22. Discovery Club Stops in AK
21. The Simpsons Ride
20. Breakfast at Boma
19. Boardwalk Villas
18. Finding my Picture Frame
17. Dinner at NASCAR
16. Tequila Flight
15. Searching for Hidden Mickey’s
14. Rip Rocket Roller Coaster

14. Rip Rocket Roller Coaster

This has to be one of my all time favorite roller coasters! I think my favorite part is the music blasting in your ears as you move around the track! Last time I did Dwight Yokam’s Guitars and Cadillacs…brought back so many great college memories!

I sure hope I can get someone to ride with me...if not oh well...single rider line works good too!

 

[swwake]

We missed Rip Ride Rockit last year because it was closed for maintenance. We are pretty excited about getting to try it out this year. It stinks that you can't use the hotel Express Pass on it.

 

[momabaarjo]

17 Days Til Christmas​

Advent Calendar Symbol: St. Joseph

Clue: Communicate with family, researcy, shop and play…since this invention swept the globe our lives have really changed.

Location: Computer

Gift: Sling Shot Airplanes/Paper Airplane Package

Task: Make a plane…then fly it and sees whose goes the farthest

Connection: Flight

16 Days Til Christmas​

Advent Calendar Symbol: St. Juan Diego

Clue: What gets wet when drying? (I have to tell you that Goo figured this one out right away…I was amazed!)

Location: Towel Hook

Gift: Harry Potter Scene It Game

Task: Play the Game

Connection: Wizarding World of Harry Potter

15 Days Til Christmas​

Advent Calendar Symbol: Christmas Stocking

Clue: What has a net, but can’t catch bugs or fish? Instead, use a ball and score points

Location: Basketball Hoop (As you can see the chewing machine struck again…sometime within the 10 minutes that I hid the clue the wind must have blown it down and Cami found it…ugh that dog!!!)

Gift: Stuff to make Gingerbread Cookies

Task: Make gingerbread cookies and enjoy Shrek Movie Night

Connection: USO-Shrek Attraction

14 Days Til Christmas​

Advent Calendar Symbol: 3rd Sunday of Advent, Pink Candle

Clue: Take a Break. Can you find a portable resting spot to sit back and relax?

Location: Lawn Chair Stack in the Shed

Gift: Woody, Buzz, and Jessie Characters

Task: Play Toy Story Mania on the Wii

Connection: TSM

 

[momabaarjo]

Dinner & a Movie Night
December 10
Shrek

I have always loved the humor in Shrek…thank goodness that the kids just think it is funny. It had been awhile since I had seen the first Shrek…yep, still a good one! Eddie Murphy has to be all of our favorite character…DON-KEY!


Dinner:

Swamp Gurbs with Stinky Cheese Sauce

I added some green food coloring to the water before I boiled the tortellini so they would turn green and then I made a classic alfredo cheese sauce to top them off.

Happily Ever After Potion

Swamp Cake

I found a fun and easy Pistachio bundt cake recipe and added a little extra food coloring to make it Shrek Green

Activity:

Gingerbread Cookies

I am not making Christmas cookies this year to give to friends…just really do not have the time, but I wanted the kids to be able to decorate some cookies for tradition sake!

​

 

[momabaarjo]

We missed Rip Ride Rockit last year because it was closed for maintenance. We are pretty excited about getting to try it out this year. It stinks that you can't use the hotel Express Pass on it.

I agree that it stinks not to have the Express Pass option...if you don't mind splitting up I would do the single rider line it goes pretty fast and you get to stay in line up until you board. I would like to do this if the kids don't ride with me...but if they decide they want to ride I see a LONG wait because we will not make it to USO park opening...going to still be in HP I am sure!

It took us 2 days to get on this...the rain and thunder kept shutting the ride down...but I finally made it on right before we had to leave...well worth it!

 

[momabaarjo]

Just a tip for ya. Check your receipts from counter service before you throw them out. Some of them are giving out vouchers to get 20% discount in the main park shops and World of Disney. You have to use it before 12 noon but it's worth it. Saved us so much! I know one of the places that gave them out was main street bakery but we got them in every park.

Thanks for the tip...I will have to check my receipts!

That is crazy about your tickets So glad that story had a happy ending!

p.s. thanks for the awesome stuff in the mail today! I can totally use it too

Glad you like it...was hoping that it was not too cheesey!

Also just read the post bout your tickets. I think I'd have had a heart attack if anything happened mine. We do collection when we're there though because never want to pay 15 dollars for postage!

I just did not want to have to mess with trying to pick up the tickets once we got there!!!!

Oh Tammie! Your package came in the mail this evening. It's 1 in the morning and it was an amazing pick me up for what was a horrible day/evening/night. The post man and you just knew I would need it today. It's so creative! I can't wait for my mom and alexa to see it in the morning!

So sorry you had such a bad day, I hope that today was better and I am glad I could provide you a little pick me up! Hope your brother and Alexa enjoy the little treat!

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

So sorry you had such a bad day, I hope that today was better and I am glad I could provide you a little pick me up! Hope your brother and Alexa enjoy the little treat!

Well the mall isn't the mall atm. It's so slow it could be January. Not two weeks before Christmas.

But even mom was impressed. She's kinda thought the whole "internet friends" thing was sorta weird. I showed her what you sent and told her what I'm making for y'all. And she was all "Oh so you all have really gotten to know each other like ALOT the last few months." Now she gets it lol.

 

[swwake]

I agree that it stinks not to have the Express Pass option...if you don't mind splitting up I would do the single rider line it goes pretty fast and you get to stay in line up until you board. I would like to do this if the kids don't ride with me...but if they decide they want to ride I see a LONG wait because we will not make it to USO park opening...going to still be in HP I am sure!

It took us 2 days to get on this...the rain and thunder kept shutting the ride down...but I finally made it on right before we had to leave...well worth it!

Oh, good tip. We may try the single riders line first. I know Haley won't go on RRR, so we will split up for sure. She says the roller coasters give her a headache. I'm hoping she'll at least do Hulk, because it's my favorite roller coaster in the world. Rock N Roller Coaster gives me a headache, but Hulk doesn't.

And we'll be on the same schedule - Harry Potter first. So no way we'll make rope drop for RRR. I am glad you thought it was worth it. That gives me hope that we'll love it and think it's worth any wait.

I loved the advent days. Shrek and the gingerbread cookies - not sure I would have thought of that. I love how you're correlating everything to the trip and they aren't registering it. They are gonna be so surprised!

 

[momabaarjo]

100 Things I am Looking Forward to...​

100. Checking into the Royal Pacific Resort
99. Italian Margarita and a Cheeseburger in Paradise at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville
98. Breakfast at Chef Mickey's
97. Experiencing the Osborne Lights
96. Seeing Lightning McQueen and Mater
95. Grinch and Friends Breakfast
94. Tree of Life
93. Mickey's Philharmonic
92. Christmas Trees
91. Tower of Terror
90. Dinner at T-Rex
89. Pressed Penny hunting for the boys
88. Seeing Tink Fly
87. Breakfast at the Crystal Palace
86. Toy Story Mania and its Line/Queue
85. Innoventions
84. Main Street Stroll
83. Dole Whip
82. Pirates of the Caribbean Ride
81. Jedi Training
80. Mickey Bar
79. Miyuki in Japan
78. Tom Sawyer's Island
77. Riding the Monorail
76. Tonga Toast at Kona Cafe
75. Mission Space: Orange Side
74. Strawberry Soup
73. Kidcot Stations in Epcot
72. Shopping for Mickey Ears
71. Dinner at Ohanas
70. Living with the Land
69. A Mug of Butter Beer
68. Animation Studios Drawing Class
67. Karamelle-Kuche
66. Christmas Store Ornament Shopping
65. F!
64. Honeydukes
63. Tough Being a Bug
62. Swiss Family Treehouse
61. Biergarten
60. Soarin
59. Lego Store in DTD
58. Starring Rolls Cupcakes
57. Haunted Mansion
56. Via Napoli
55. Goofy's Candy Co. in DTD
54. Gingerbread House at GF (& other resort Christmas Displays)
53. Kim Possible Missions in Epcot
52. Macy's Holiday Parade at USO
51. Boulangerie Patisserie in France
50. 50's Primetime Cafe
49. POP Century Resort
48. Exploring the Windows in Hogsmeade
47. Ridemakerz
46. Date with dh at Yachtsman
45. Illuminations
44. Dinner at 1900 Park Fare with the Step Sisters
43. Grinchmas at IOA
42. Snorkeling at Discovery Cove
41. Breadpudding
40. Expedition Everest
39. Parades
38. Ghirardelli sundae
37. Night time in the parks
36. Test Track
35. Mickey Pretzels
34. The Sword in the Stone
33. Fish & Chips
32. Feeding the Larakeets
31. Yak & Yeti
30. Discovery Island Trails
29. Sci Fi Diner
28. Spiderman
27. Rice Krispe Treat
26. Walt & Mickey Statue…Roy & Minnie Statue
25. Festival of the Lion King
24. Main Street Bakery Treats
23. Pirate Tutorial
22. Discovery Club Stops in AK
21. The Simpsons Ride
20. Breakfast at Boma
19. Boardwalk Villas
18. Finding my Picture Frame
17. Dinner at NASCAR
16. Tequila Flight
15. Searching for Hidden Mickey’s
14. Rip Rocket Roller Coaster
13. Lunch at Cinderella’s Royal Table

13. Lunch at Cinderella’s Royal Table

You just can’t go to WDW and visit MK without aweing over Cinderella’s Castle and if this is probably a once in a lifetime trip for our entire family, you also have to eat inside the castle and meet Cinderella personally…even if your dd is not 4 anymore, she is still your princess and your boys while being at the age they are do not smell like prince charming and girls are icky…you still have to eat inside the castle. I can’t wait to take the kids inside and spend a little time feeling like royality…

 

[momabaarjo]

One more thing...well almost...marked off my to-do list!!!! This past week before school, during my lunch, and after school I worked on embellishing our trip shirts in my office...this was the only place where I could lay out the shirts and work on them without the kids seeing them and letting them dry the necessary time...I think they turned out pretty good...I am not done because on the very last shirt my paint bottle "Burped" all over the last shirt and I am waiting for another one to arrive...GRRRR

Before

After