7 Days at Disney & the MANY Lessons We Learned Along the Way! My Jan 2010 TR

[Pluto_fan]

Aw, so sad it's over!
What a great trip report, though, Kim! Thanks for sharing your experiences, great pictures, and lessons learned!

 

[Monny2AE]

Sucky driving!! I know what it's like and it's really hard when they can't clear the roads.

Cute pics of the kids in the car though!

Can't wait for the photopass pictures!!
Thank goodness, because we don't want this to end on a bad travel note!

It was definitely an experience driving through all of that.

So sad to see your trip come to an end. I know lots of people drive to Disney, but I just wouldn't be able to do it. I haven't taken a car to Disney since I was 5 yrs old. We flew for the first time when I was 9yo, and my mom vowed that we would never drive to WDW ever again. Ever since then, we have always flown down.

I can't believe the snowy roads down in those Southern states! I know it doesn't look like much, but when combined with ice....I would have been a nervous wreck! My DH is a great winter driver too, but he still makes me nervous.

Those Mickey head rice krispie treats look super yummy. We always pick up a few of them with our leftover snack credits too. Do you think they would let me on the plane with some cinnamon rolls from the MK Bakery????

DH is a great driver in snow but it was getting dark and icy so even he admitted he was nervous.
If they don't let you on the plane with them, I'd be gobbling them down right then and there so they don't go to waste! I haven't heard of any terror alerts involving cinnamon rolls so you might be safe.

I start getting all whiney about 2 days before we leave...I try not to, but gosh, I just can't help it!!!!! Love all your pics!!! I forgot to post when you said it, but I hope your FIL is doing okay with his chemo...we are praying for your family~!!

Thanks for the prayers Shawna. He's tolerating the chemo okay for now. He just started getting nauseated yesterday. I'm hoping he's well enough for us to visit this weekend.

I'm so sad for you!!

The last day at Disney is the WORST!!! It all starts with the "envelope of shame" hanging on your door. From then on the whole day pretty much has a dark cloud over it, no matter how sunny it may actually be!

I'm glad you were able to make the most of your last day at MK. Love the "up the nose" shot! I have a few of those of my son too! Boys!!

What a nightmare you had driving home.

Looking forward to your photopass pics!

*envelope of shame* What a great name for it! I thought of your DS when I was posting Andrew's snow shot.

So sad your trip is over, I've really enjoyed reading along. I'm still keeping your family in my thoughts every single day, and hoping for the best.

The last day is always so sad. Those snacks sure look good though!

I love the scrapbooking page! Are you going to keep posting those and drag this out a little longer? We'd love if you did!

Glad there are still photopass pictures left!

Thank you for your prayers. It means a lot to have so many wonderful people praying for him.
I workeda little more on the Disney scrapbook last night. I'm still going through all the photopass pics.

I loved reading your trip report. My daughters are 11 and 14 and we go back in June and they cant wait to see Tink. I showed them your pics with your daughter and Tink. She was not yet there when we went last.

I had to laugh out loud when I read you awoke in NC and just knew that the roads would be plowed...ha. We probably on have one plow per state. Down here in the South if we even get snow flurries we close the schools, the roads, and you cant find a loaf of bread for about a 200 mile radius. I enjoyed seeing your big snow pictures. I wish we could experience that. I hope you feel better soon. Thanks again for sharing your trip.

Please keep us posted on your FIL. Prayers from Alabama are with you.

The south is definitely not used to winter weather that's for sure! When we left the hotel on Sunday morning people were just standing by their cars trying to figure out how to get the snow off them. It was strange that such a little snow panicked everyone. At home that would have been cleared immediately. Thanks for the prayers from Alabama!!!

A good ending for a GREAT trip!!!

It's funny that you would say that you never want to drive again...cause that is our plan for our next trip!!! We so very badly want to drive! Crazy, I KNOW, to want to spend 3 days in a car on the way to WDW when we could do it in a few hours by air!!! I just want to do it once so I can say that we have done it and have the experience under our belts!

Can't wait to see all your photopass pics!

We've driven 3X now. 2004, 2009, 2010. I think that's enough under our belt. Time to start flying.

I found your trip report yesterday and I just finished reading it. It's the first one I read through all the way! Can you tell it got me hooked? lol. Great job and the pics were great. Looking forward to seeing your photo pass pics.

Better late than never! Thanks for stopping by!

Aw, so sad it's over!
What a great trip report, though, Kim! Thanks for sharing your experiences, great pictures, and lessons learned!

I still may have one more final lesson learned up my sleeve.

 

[Monny2AE]

My baby is 6 today!!!!!

I asked him what he would like to do on Saturday to celebrate and he of course replied that he wants to go back to Disney World. I told him to go talk to Daddy about that one.

Here he is at school today. We took in some cookies for him to share with his class.

 

[Dancegrl624]

Happy Birthday Andrew!! ​

I hope that he has a fabulous birthday. We have a peanut/tree nut/coconut allergy in Madison's class so we can't bring in homemade treats for birthdays. Plus, the school is encouraging healthy snacks, so I think we brought in bags of goldfish crackers. I know, real exciting. I used to love bringing in my mom's homemade cookies or cupcakes for my birthday (we would always celebrate it on the last day of school since it's June 24th).

 

[Monny2AE]

Happy Birthday Andrew!! ​

I hope that he has a fabulous birthday. We have a peanut/tree nut/coconut allergy in Madison's class so we can't bring in homemade treats for birthdays. Plus, the school is encouraging healthy snacks, so I think we brought in bags of goldfish crackers. I know, real exciting. I used to love bringing in my mom's homemade cookies or cupcakes for my birthday (we would always celebrate it on the last day of school since it's June 24th).

We can't do homemade either. It's a bummer. Any treats have to be store bought and in the original sealed package. He has a classmate with a peanut allergy so I made sure to get some cookies that he could have too.
Andrew wanted to make homemade sugar cookies and use the cookie cutters. I promised him we can make them this weekend.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Happy 6th Birthday Andrew!!!!!

Hope you have an awesome birthday!!! Kim---aren't their birthdays just so bittersweet? My little angel will be 7 on Easter Sunday this year!! I can't believe she is not a baby anymore!!!

 

[Dancegrl624]

We can't do homemade either. It's a bummer. Any treats have to be store bought and in the original sealed package. He has a classmate with a peanut allergy so I made sure to get some cookies that he could have too.
Andrew wanted to make homemade sugar cookies and use the cookie cutters. I promised him we can make them this weekend.

I signed up to bring cookies for the Christmas party and it took me forever! I had to read every single package to make sure it didn't contain traces of any kind of nut. At least he'll still get some homemade cookies this weekend.

Shawna-I can't believe your DD's birthday is Sunday! When we met you guys last year (can you belive that?!) she was only 5!!! Time goes by WAY too quickly.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Happy Birthday Andrew!!

 

[Monny2AE]

Happy 6th Birthday Andrew!!!!!

Hope you have an awesome birthday!!! Kim---aren't their birthdays just so bittersweet? My little angel will be 7 on Easter Sunday this year!! I can't believe she is not a baby anymore!!!

Thanks for the birthday wishes! She will always be your baby. My mom still jokes that I'm still her baby. I'm 31. Happy birthday to Gracie!!!!

I signed up to bring cookies for the Christmas party and it took me forever! I had to read every single package to make sure it didn't contain traces of any kind of nut. At least he'll still get some homemade cookies this weekend.

Shawna-I can't believe your DD's birthday is Sunday! When we met you guys last year (can you belive that?!) she was only 5!!! Time goes by WAY too quickly.

I cheated and asked one of my daycare kids moms. His sister has a peanut allergy and she's my go to gal when I need a peanut free food.

Happy Birthday Andrew!!

Thanks! He had a wonderful day!

 

[Monny2AE]

Okay here goes! I hope this works! I bought an external hard drive since my laptop likes to crash unexpectedly lately. You would not want to be around me if I lost all my scrapbook layouts and photos! Anyway, it came with software to make cute little slideshow movies so I gave it a try for the first time and made one with my photopass pics. There weren't many songs to choose from so I picked the best one that it came with. Hope you enjoy it !!!!

LINK REMOVED

And to go along with my little movie....




My final lessons from this trip!





The BIG LESSONS I learned from this trip…

• Always know where the potty is at all times. A newly potty trained pre-schooler will have to go at the most inopportune times: at the top of Swiss Family Tree House, just as you get to the front of the line at Peter Pan, while stuck on POTC. Get out the map and study it before leaving.

• Remember to take time to “smell the roses“ - or rather, take time to enjoy the Mickey ice cream as it melts all over your face, take your shoes off and splash in the water spurting up from the ground at Ariel’s Grotto, feel the wind in your face while riding Dumbo, dance a little on Main Street, ride Haunted Mansion a dozen times just because you want to, stand on Main Street taking in the smells and sounds while admiring the castle. And say a little thank you to Walt for following his dreams and using his imagination.

• Remember to put down the camera once in a while to witness the true joy on your son’s face as he bravely takes on Darth Vader or the huge smile on your daughter’s face as she meets a real live princess for the first time. Magic...pure magic that only happens at Disney.

• Life is short and my children are only young once. So for all of those that turn their noses up and tell me it’s a waste of money and that they will be too young to remember any of it when I say I’m taking my 5 and 2 yr olds to Disney, phooey on you. I will remember it and even though they may not remember the details, they will forever remember the moments of pure joy. I don't know how many moments of pure joy God gives us in our lifetime so remember to enjoy them as they come! (Plus I’m a scrapper, remember, so we can relive it with the turn of a page. )

• Oh yeah… and fly, don’t drive. Whatever you do DON’T drive!!!!!

 

[Monny2AE]

I just wanted to say thank to to everyone who followed along on my TR!!!
I'm sad it's over but have enjoyed sharing all my Disney memories with all of you!

We are planning our next trip to the World in May 2011!!!!!
I think I'll wait a little while before starting a PTR.





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And a very special thank you for all the prayers for my father in law. At the moment, he is struggling with being sick from the chemo and is deciding whether or not to continue with it. We don't know what God has in store for him but we are spending as much time with him as possible and supporting him as best we can. Your prayers for our strength and his comfort are sincerely appreciated. ​

 

[lexmas]

I really have loved reading your trip report, every single second! I love your final thoughts. So sweet. It is true, those moments are imprinted in their hearts, even if eventually they slip from their little minds. I'm sure what is happening with your FIL is weighing on your mind as you reflect on the wonderful times as well. I know that ever since my Dad died I've been of a "life is short so I want to enjoy it as much as I can" mentality! Which isn't too bad, after all. We will continue to keep you in our thoughts and prayers!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Loved the slide show!! Very cute! Nice job.

Thanks so much for sharing your Disney adventure with all of us. I really enjoyed it.

And you are so right about not listening to people who imply that Disney is a waste of money or that the kids won't remember it. These are definitely lasting memories that they will carry with them their entire lives, even though they may forget a few details. You will always remember the details and have your beautiful pictures forever! My DS10 just had to write an essay at school. He wrote his on WDW. It was so wonderful it made me cry. It just reassured me that Disney is worth every cent!

Prayers still being said for your FIL and your entire family.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Kim~ I agree 100% about taking your babies no matter what the naysayers try to tell you. I have flack from people every year...but I keep going!! I just think they are missing out and can't judge me! They are not the mom to my kids so they don't make the memories I do, or appreciate what I do in & about each of my kids!!! That's why God gave these 3 to me!!!!
We are remembering to pray for you FIL...we'll be praying for him to find the direction the Lord wants him to take! Keep us posted!!!

 

[jns]

Thank you so much for sharing r trip with us
had a really enjoyable afternoon read it

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Ditto to what you said and what everyone else has said. It's memories being made for you and the kids. My kids swear they remember things from their first trip when looking through the scrapbooks (they were under 3!).

I have really enjoyed your TR and getting to know your family even better! Super cute slide show and pictures too!!

Your FIL is still in my prayers as well. Best wishes to you all as you go through this struggle.

I better go and finish my TR last thoughts and get my PTR started.
I'm glad you have plans for your next trip!

 

[Monny2AE]

I really have loved reading your trip report, every single second! I love your final thoughts. So sweet. It is true, those moments are imprinted in their hearts, even if eventually they slip from their little minds. I'm sure what is happening with your FIL is weighing on your mind as you reflect on the wonderful times as well. I know that ever since my Dad died I've been of a "life is short so I want to enjoy it as much as I can" mentality! Which isn't too bad, after all. We will continue to keep you in our thoughts and prayers!

I think we are definitely having the *life is short* mentality lately, especially my DH. I couldn't believe it when he brought up going back to Disney the other day! I think he's going to need a break once this stressful time is over.

Loved the slide show!! Very cute! Nice job.

Thanks so much for sharing your Disney adventure with all of us. I really enjoyed it.

And you are so right about not listening to people who imply that Disney is a waste of money or that the kids won't remember it. These are definitely lasting memories that they will carry with them their entire lives, even though they may forget a few details. You will always remember the details and have your beautiful pictures forever! My DS10 just had to write an essay at school. He wrote his on WDW. It was so wonderful it made me cry. It just reassured me that Disney is worth every cent!

Prayers still being said for your FIL and your entire family.

Awwww Make sure you keep that essay! So sweet! I guess you can't put a price on a week's worth of family quality time!

Kim~ I agree 100% about taking your babies no matter what the naysayers try to tell you. I have flack from people every year...but I keep going!! I just think they are missing out and can't judge me! They are not the mom to my kids so they don't make the memories I do, or appreciate what I do in & about each of my kids!!! That's why God gave these 3 to me!!!!
We are remembering to pray for you FIL...we'll be praying for him to find the direction the Lord wants him to take! Keep us posted!!!

Most of our flack comes from family- people that have never gone to Disney so they have no idea what it is like! Doesn't bother me any. I'll be sure to send them a postcard from our next trip.

Thank you so much for sharing r trip with us
had a really enjoyable afternoon read it

I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for following along!

Ditto to what you said and what everyone else has said. It's memories being made for you and the kids. My kids swear they remember things from their first trip when looking through the scrapbooks (they were under 3!).

I have really enjoyed your TR and getting to know your family even better! Super cute slide show and pictures too!!

Your FIL is still in my prayers as well. Best wishes to you all as you go through this struggle.

I better go and finish my TR last thoughts and get my PTR started.
I'm glad you have plans for your next trip!

You're getting so close! Give me a minute to catch up on your TR before you start the PTR!!!

 

[Monny2AE]

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[Dancegrl624]

What a cute slideshow! I really enjoyed it. I definately echo what everyone else has said about bringing your kids to WDW. It doesn't matter how old kids are. Pictures last forever and they will always have something to look back on. Yesterday in art class, Madison had a substitute teacher. They were allowed to draw whatever they wanted. What did my child draw?? A huge picture of Pop Century and the icon from each park! It is soo cute! I really don't care what other people think or say when it comes to MY vacations. Last time I checked, other people aren't paying for my trip.

 

[Charlefours]

Holy smokes--that is one very large rice krispy treat. Andrew took a great picture of the three of you! : Good to know about DTD being less crowded in the morning.

Glad to read there was no code V on the way back up==what a relief. I am oddly looking forward to driving--ask me next fall if I still felt that way. Scary weather to drive in--I do not blame you for stopping. DH is really good at driving in bad weather but it makes me feel uncomfortable to say the least.

scrapbooking: I am looking forward to getting going in it after my classes are over in three weeks! At least until they begin again in June. I am eyeing some of Kellybell's things too. I want to try my hand at digital as well as traditional pages. Love the page!! I want to see more pages!!

Happy birthday to Andrew!!!
I will definitely be memorizing where the potties are--

We are driving--I priced out flying and it is just so expensive. DH told me to stop looking. So I have to break that lesson learned.

Thanks for doing this awesome TR--I have learned a lot and I am so sad it is over!! (Feel free to pop over to my PTR if you want to share scrapbooking tips and suggestions with me and help me plan my daughter's first trip. )