9 days 2 resorts FREE Dining Christmas Lights & a bouncing Tigger who stole my heart

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!
The kids are sitting on their new bean bag chairs watching Speed Racer, playing with all the Lego people pieces Santa put in their stocking! Drew didn't even look up and casually said, "I love you mom, this is the best Christmas ever, ever, ever." He's too sweet!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Jenny~ Where did you get your bean bags? i am hunting some and the only cute/good ones I can find are from Pottery Barn Kids...but they are kinda pricey....just curious!!! If they are gonna last for 100 years, I don't mind paying it, but would love to find a better deal if I can!!!!!

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

Jenny~ Where did you get your bean bags? i am hunting some and the only cute/good ones I can find are from Pottery Barn Kids...but they are kinda pricey....just curious!!! If they are gonna last for 100 years, I don't mind paying it, but would love to find a better deal if I can!!!!!

Initially I found them at Garden Ridge on sale for $15. Found a sitter, went up there (it's about 30 minutes away), had those and a cart full of stuff, only to find out they didn't take checks! WHAT??? So we walked down the strip mall and wandered in Gordman's and found them there for $20. I wanted them last year and Walmart had some, but I waited until the last minute and only found one (and called every Walmart within an hr radius and NO ONE had anymore), and with my boys, one's not gonna cut it! So I think I got these the weekend of Thanksgiving. Yeah, Pottery Barn was a bit more than a wanted to spend!

 

[DisMomAmy]

I have seen those Mickey soccer ornaments at DL too - let me know if you want me to pick those up for you this weekend. - Sea

Thanks so much for the offer!! That was really nice of you, but obviously I got way behind again...

Now back to page 17 to get caught up...

 

[DisMomAmy]

Hi Shelly!! All caught up again! I really enjoyed seeing the Osborne lights & MK all decorated for Christmas. Sorry the gingerbread house wasn't finished... I watched that Disney Christmas special and saw what it looked like all finished - it was neat to see the work in progress in your pictures.

I'm glad you finally got to ride HM & that DS10 rode ToT!! I'm hoping to get Zach to ride ToT again this time - he rode it in 2007, which was a mistake - then he wanted no part of it this past trip. We'll see...

Can't wait to read more now that I'm caught up!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Great MK Trip reports Shelly!

This pic is really great!


Merry Christmas everyone!

Sea

Great pictures Shelly! Isn't it great to see that castle and all the beautiful decorations?? Oh, I loved it!

Merry Christmas Shelley! I hope that you and your beautiful family have a wonderful holiday.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!
The kids are sitting on their new bean bag chairs watching Speed Racer, playing with all the Lego people pieces Santa put in their stocking! Drew didn't even look up and casually said, "I love you mom, this is the best Christmas ever, ever, ever." He's too sweet!

Thanks everyone! I'm so glad you are enjoying the report & pics. Lots more to come!

We had a very nice Christmas. The boys were very excited about the Wii. At one point DS10 said -- this day really couldn't get much better!! (after playing the Wii for several hours) And then last night before bed DS8 said -- this was a really nice Christmas. I think we were all afraid it would be a let down since last Christmas was the big Disney surprise!

Of course we watched the Disney parade yesterday morning. Then we had family over and ate way too much food! But had a great time!

I hope everyone had a wondeful Christmas as well!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Hi Shelly!! All caught up again! I really enjoyed seeing the Osborne lights & MK all decorated for Christmas. Sorry the gingerbread house wasn't finished... I watched that Disney Christmas special and saw what it looked like all finished - it was neat to see the work in progress in your pictures.

I'm glad you finally got to ride HM & that DS10 rode ToT!! I'm hoping to get Zach to ride ToT again this time - he rode it in 2007, which was a mistake - then he wanted no part of it this past trip. We'll see...

Can't wait to read more now that I'm caught up!

Hey Amy! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

Glad you are all caught up and liked the Christmas lights/decoration pics!

I'm hoping to get DS8 to ride TOT, but he's just not interested. He just doesn't care all that much for rides that are high and fast.

 

[praisehisname]

Getting caught up again...

So glad you finally got to ride HM, and that you liked it!

Loved your pics from the Swiss Family Treehouse!

The boys look liked they really enjoyed the Carousel.

I LOVE the orange-ish shot of the castle! Your photopass family pics look great!

Hope your Christmas was wonderful!

 

[JoBird]

Shelly--
Wonderful update. Oh how I love Wishes. It's so pretty. It looked like a lot of people around.
We love Pooh-- once, the day after Christmas-- the kids' first time at WDW, we stood in line for 2 hours for that dang ride. Yeah- it wasn't worth it. Now we go in the mornings or when there is no line but no other time. Belle likes to bounce with Tigger.

Glad your Christmas with the Wii worked out well. I know the boys will enjoy that so much.

Looking forward to the rest of the story-- as they say.

I've been reading along today too - but didn't have any witty comments like Jo!!
No, I was at work and in court so I couldn't type much.

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Shelly!! (and all of your loyal readers too! (that means you Jo!))

Aww- bless your heart- you're so sweet. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas as well. I'd like to read your TR too-- please post a link if you can.

Jo

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Some Christmas pictures!

 

[scaetal]

hope to see disney at christmas, sometime! it sounds fantastic.\

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Getting caught up again...

So glad you finally got to ride HM, and that you liked it!

Loved your pics from the Swiss Family Treehouse!

The boys look liked they really enjoyed the Carousel.

I LOVE the orange-ish shot of the castle! Your photopass family pics look great!

Hope your Christmas was wonderful!

Thanks! Glad you got a chance to get caught up. I am really enjoying your Epcot day in your TR!

Shelly--
Wonderful update. Oh how I love Wishes. It's so pretty. It looked like a lot of people around.
We love Pooh-- once, the day after Christmas-- the kids' first time at WDW, we stood in line for 2 hours for that dang ride. Yeah- it wasn't worth it. Now we go in the mornings or when there is no line but no other time. Belle likes to bounce with Tigger.

Glad your Christmas with the Wii worked out well. I know the boys will enjoy that so much.

Looking forward to the rest of the story-- as they say.

Jo

Thanks JO!

2 hours for Pooh!! Nope, that wouldn't be worth it. That's why we usually head straight for Fantasyland at park opening, those rides are fun and cute, but we are definitely not going to wait in huge lines later in the day for them!

MK wasn't crowded that day but got crowded that evening. But it didn't seem to make the lines any longer. I guess everyone was just crammed in there by the castle for Spectro & Wishes.

DS8 got Toy Story Mania for the Wii from my Dad! We played it for about an hour last night. It's the only game I've played on the Wii so far!

hope to see disney at christmas, sometime! it sounds fantastic.\

Welcome to the DIS and to my TR! I hope you get to Disney at Christmas time!

 

[rusafee1183]

I'm here - I haven't been Dis'ing very much the past week. But I *finally* saw all the pictures and the MK looks fab decked out for Christmas!

I don't think I remember a GF story. . .

I posted this in my TR after our honeymoon..... and I guess it's not *that* big of a deal... it may have just been one of those things were I encountered a lot of nasty people and just associated it with that resort.

When we went to Narcussi's we were walking through the grounds of the GF and a father and son were laughing and playing around and I think playing 'it tag' on the grass. Bob and I saw them and thought it was just so cute that they were having so much fun at WDW doing just that. They were surrounded by all of these amazing things to do and they were just enjoying it tag.

Well, after watching them for a minute or so we kept walking and passed another family walking towards us away from the restaurant and the mother looked at that family scoffed, turned to her children and said 'Well, I'm so glad that they spent so much time and money manicuring the lawns'

I was absolutely shocked. And then when we went to dinner the family behind us were so rude to their waitress, like snapping their fingers and things like that. The father was SO RUDE that when I accidentally bumped his seat with mine, he pushed his out as far as he could and crossed his legs in front of him so there was barely even enough room for me to pull my chair out and sit comfortably.

Everyone that we encountered there was rude and pompous and for me, it's just the last place in WDW that I would ever want to stay.

Great MK Trip reports Shelly!

This pic is really great!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Sea

I agree! This pic is my favorite!!! So beautiful! And the ones with you and your DH in front of the castle is very sweet too.

 

[praisehisname]

This is a fantastic picture!

 

[Jane-in-PA]

Great updates, Shelly! Absolutely beautiful pictures of the castle and your family. Aren't you so happy that you decided to go when the Christmas decorations were up? It's a balancing act of crowds and holidays, but I think you timed it just right. Christmas night, after we got home from my DSis and DBIL's house, I curled up on the sofa in my new Christmas pj pants and channel surfed. I came across a Disney special about how they decorate for the holidays. It's probably been on several times already, but I had never seen it before. I loved it! It made me wish I could go during the holidays at least one time.

I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas! Judging by the pictures, Christmas morning was a big hit. I think your DS8 is looking so much like you-especially in the pic where DS10 is holding up the Wii game. And I also think that he looks - don't get angry - so grown up! You have 2 very handsome young men.

I hope all your TR readers had a Merry Christmas!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Hey girl! Isnt that Wii the best thing! LOL...we haven't even opened the TSMM yet!! I have bowled with them but so far that's it....they are hooked! I am loving my camera..took some pics outside last night just to see how they would turn out and they were awesome!! I love all your pics, but the one with you and the boys is so beautiful!!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I'm here - I haven't been Dis'ing very much the past week. But I *finally* saw all the pictures and the MK looks fab decked out for Christmas!



I posted this in my TR after our honeymoon..... and I guess it's not *that* big of a deal... it may have just been one of those things were I encountered a lot of nasty people and just associated it with that resort.

When we went to Narcussi's we were walking through the grounds of the GF and a father and son were laughing and playing around and I think playing 'it tag' on the grass. Bob and I saw them and thought it was just so cute that they were having so much fun at WDW doing just that. They were surrounded by all of these amazing things to do and they were just enjoying it tag.

Well, after watching them for a minute or so we kept walking and passed another family walking towards us away from the restaurant and the mother looked at that family scoffed, turned to her children and said 'Well, I'm so glad that they spent so much time and money manicuring the lawns'

I was absolutely shocked. And then when we went to dinner the family behind us were so rude to their waitress, like snapping their fingers and things like that. The father was SO RUDE that when I accidentally bumped his seat with mine, he pushed his out as far as he could and crossed his legs in front of him so there was barely even enough room for me to pull my chair out and sit comfortably.

Everyone that we encountered there was rude and pompous and for me, it's just the last place in WDW that I would ever want to stay.

I totally don't remember that story and I read your TR everyday. Getting old I guess. Sorry you ran into so many rude people!

I agree! This pic is my favorite!!! So beautiful! And the ones with you and your DH in front of the castle is very sweet too.

Thanks!

This is a fantastic picture!

Thank you!

Great updates, Shelly! Absolutely beautiful pictures of the castle and your family. Aren't you so happy that you decided to go when the Christmas decorations were up? It's a balancing act of crowds and holidays, but I think you timed it just right. Christmas night, after we got home from my DSis and DBIL's house, I curled up on the sofa in my new Christmas pj pants and channel surfed. I came across a Disney special about how they decorate for the holidays. It's probably been on several times already, but I had never seen it before. I loved it! It made me wish I could go during the holidays at least one time.

Thanks! Yes, I am very happy we bumped up our January trip up to November! (Although I am a little sad right now because it's over and last year at this time we had it all to look forward to. ) We got to see so many wonderful things!

I have seen that Disney holiday special. It's very neat! I really really hope you can get to Disney during the holidays soon. I recommend mid-November!!

I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas! Judging by the pictures, Christmas morning was a big hit. I think your DS8 is looking so much like you-especially in the pic where DS10 is holding up the Wii game. And I also think that he looks - don't get angry - so grown up! You have 2 very handsome young men.

I hope all your TR readers had a Merry Christmas!

We had a very nice Christmas! Yep, DS8 got his round face from me!! I know, my babies are growing up. It's sad to think that this was probably the last Christmas that DS10 "believes". And I'm not even sure that he does. You don't know how many times I have heard - "none of my friends believe in Santa". I'm just trying to hold onto it as long as I can because the boys are so close in age that once it's out it will be out for both of them.

Hey girl! Isnt that Wii the best thing! LOL...we haven't even opened the TSMM yet!! I have bowled with them but so far that's it....they are hooked! I am loving my camera..took some pics outside last night just to see how they would turn out and they were awesome!! I love all your pics, but the one with you and the boys is so beautiful!!!

The Wii is so much fun! You've got to get your Toy Story Mania game opened!!

Glad you are enjoying your new camera. I had a feeling you would!

 

[rusafee1183]

LOL. You're not old. That story is from my 'MAYers thread' TR from our 1st trip. It was like 1 1/2 years ago. But, still.... people you're in Disney! The happiest place on earth! Get over yourselves.

I can't wait to hear about Piano Bob!!! I loved him when we stayed at POR. I have a video of (my) Bob (and all the other men in the room)laying on his back and rolling around. I can't remember why AT ALL. I just remember it being really ridiculous and we sat in the bar and watched him play for a few hours at least.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

LOL. You're not old. That story is from my 'MAYers thread' TR from our 1st trip. It was like 1 1/2 years ago. But, still.... people you're in Disney! The happiest place on earth! Get over yourselves.

I can't wait to hear about Piano Bob!!! I loved him when we stayed at POR. I have a video of (my) Bob (and all the other men in the room)laying on his back and rolling around. I can't remember why AT ALL. I just remember it being really ridiculous and we sat in the bar and watched him play for a few hours at least.

Piano Bob will be the next update!! I have a video too!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Wednesday November 11th continued ~


Okay, so when I left off Wishes had just ended. We made a mad dart for the buses. MK is the only place that POR & POFQ don't share buses. (Although you might hear differently on these boards, this was the case for us when we stayed at POFQ in 2007 and this time at POR) We got to the POR bus stop and there were 2 buses sitting there. We had never seen this before. One was in the regular spot and the other was right next to it and pulled up slightly further. Apparently they had just loaded both of them and they both pulled away. We were now maybe the 3rd family in the line. But the line was growing fast. We looked back and it was all filled up within a few minutes. In about 10 minutes 2 more POR buses pulled up, and parked the same way. A CM walked over and we were motioned to the bus on the outside. They were loading the wheelchairs/scooters onto the other bus. Our bus filled up and we pulled away and were back to POR in no time! I really wish they'd do something similar at Epcot. It doesn't seem to matter what time of day we are leaving Epcot, or what resort we are staying at, we always have the longest waits there. . . Usually 20-30 minutes.

So when we got back to POR is was probably 8:30-8:45. With using the first/main bus stop it was shorter to cut through the Gift Shop each time rather than going to through the lobby. Which was fine, except the kids had to stop every time to "look" at stuff! So as we were taking our nightly look at stuff in the gift shop we could hear lots of noise coming from the River Roost Lounge. I knew it had to be Piano Bob! And I just knew that DS10 would love him! So we headed over. There wasn't a seat to be found in the place. So we just stood and watched for a bit. Pretty soon Piano Bob points to us and says - the family there by the post, where are you from? DH says - Pittsburgh! And Piano Bob says -- anyone else here from Pittsburgh? And the crowd erupts into yells and cheers! A few minutes later he says the same thing to another family, who say they are from Connecticut. And the crowd yells and cheers that they are all from Connecticut too!

About every third song or so he called the children to call come up and help in his act. DS10 was in his glory!! He just loves to perform and be the center of attention. DS8 reluctantly went up front with him. They both had fun, but after about the second trip to the stage DS8 had enough and was ready to go back to the room! DS10 on the other hand could have stayed there for hours!! I think we stayed for about 30 minutes or so.

At one point in their march around the room Piano Bob yells to the kids - get those knees up!! So DS10 did just that!

It was a lot of fun and a nice surprise to end our already wonderful day! And even though it was in a bar all the adults were very well behaved and very mindful that there were kids everywhere.

I took a little video of one of the songs ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZpRsBofUWY&feature=channel


Up Next: Breakfast at Kona Cafe and a fun filled, but chilly day at Epcot!