A Bittersweet Return... Winkler's TR ~ Many Pics! Our time is over!

[robindennis]

Sounds like a great trip!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Great start...can't wait to read more!

 

[hlrababy]

Hey Alicia!!!

I am back and just wanted to check on you and see how your doing!!!

I love the AK pictures and Isabelle is just a doll as always!

 

[Magic2000]

Sounds like you had a great trip! Great pics of Isabelle!

 

[Princesskeyblade]

Reading your TR makes me smile!

 

[becky_AK]

Hello, Happy Monday!

I love your latest installment at AK. The pictures are great & Isabelle's dress is adorable! I agree with Farrah, she was most likely the best dressed kid in all of the parks! She is just too cute.

I seriously just had a good laugh after reading about you stalking Mickey. I could just picture people (mostly Mom's) trying to move through the crowd to get a picture of the one-and-only! No wonder he has body guards LOL

 

[DisMomAmy]

I'm just getting caught up - glad to hear you made it safely. DH was suggesting driving this time since airfare has gone up so much, but I can't even imagine doing that - we live 24+ hours away!

All of the DISgifts are fantastic! I'm so happy that your trip got started in such grand fashion! You guys deserve it!

Can't wait to hear more.

 

[aksunshine]

Hello everyone! How is everything? Life is hectic here! My electric has been down for nearly 80 hours!!!! We had a major wind storm, remenents of Ike on Sunday. Hopefully it will be up soon, most everyone else is.

 

[aksunshine]

Wonderful update! I love all the pictures. You got some really good ones. Love the character ones, and the one of Isabelle twirling just puts a smile on my face.

Isn't that a cute picture! Thanks!

GREAT Safari pics! I love her dress!

Thanks!

You lucky duck............You got to see Jimini!!! I totally missed that part of AK . Oh well, there is always next year. Gives me another excuse to keep going back I guess . Love the pictures and can't wait for more!!!

Hi Alicia! So POR next year huh? Very cool!

I am really enjoying your TR! Isabelle is so pretty. I can't believe how tall she's getting. Love all your pics!

Hi Betsy! I can't begin to thank you enough for the extra help while I was at Disney. Thank you!

I'm really enjoying your trip report so far Alicia. I'm glad you had a good time.

Thanks!

Hey Alicia...love the newest update. The pictures are wonderful once again. Stop stalking Mickey, would ya!!! LOL.

After seeing all the stuff you guys did at Animal Kingdom, I think we might have to go back there. For some reason the only things we have ever done there include the Safari, It's A Bug's Life, The Lion King Show and the ride that is similar to Dumbo. (I know, I know...what is wrong with me???)

I can't believe Taylor let you get away with so little there! Isabelle would throw a tantrum if I told her we could only do AK one day! LOL!

Hi Alicia....I am finally catching up!!!! Wow...what wonderful surprises and such awesome pics! I love all of the outfits! I am really enjoying your trippie!!!

Thanks!

Sooo excited to see your TR!!!
I think I saw your husband and daughter on our last day at the POP having breakfast. Thursday Sep 4th I wanted to stop but didn't want to intrude and after I got our breakfast and came back they were gone : (. I guess I am a true lurker

Really! You should have come by! Matt is so used to it! SERIOUSLY! That was the day I sent him to get breakfast for himself, b/c our milk had expired, so he couldn't have his protein cereal. LOL!

YI love all the pictures. You have such a beautiful family.Isabelle is so cute and her dress just makes her look even more adorable.I loved that dress on her,and it was perfect for AK. I am wondering ,did anyone ever stop and comment about any of her outfits? I would think a cute kid like Isabelle wearing those clothes must have drown alot of attention and questions. I know I would have prbaly asked where you got any of those outfits,had I not known that they were hand made .Anyway,I just want to tell everyone who made all those adorable outfits for Isabelle what a great job they did!

OMG, did they ever! Sorry I forget to mention it, but I'd planned to write about that separtly, since I can't remember everything!

HI Alicia, It was soo nice to talk to you and Matt today. I sure you guys!
Your update was great..Isabelle had to have been the best dressed kid in the parks that week, ya know it LOL!
We never made it over to planet watch...something I have never done..a must do for next year. You know when we all go together at Christmas and all stay at WL That would be soo fun.
Ill talk to ya soon!

Planet Watch is a neat learning experience! We love it!

Hi Alicia! I have followed your reports for the past 8 months, however, I have never quite found the words to tell you how sorry I am for the loss of your beautiful baby boy, Levi thus keeping me from posting. After reading your most recent post I noticed the picture of Isabelle waiting for the elevator...we were at Pop during the same time, in the same building (apparently...we were in room 5459)...unfortunately, we did not run into each other...I so wish we had so I could give you a the big hug I wanted to give you after originally reading Levi's story. Strangely enough, we also do not live all that far apart...I am in Greencastle but grew up in the Linton area (Greene County)...it really is a small world after all Please know I think of you often and you & your family are in my daily prayers...take care, maybe one day I will be able to give you that big hug after all.

Awww, thank you. I wish we had ran into each other!

ok.... now that I've seen pics too... .Looks like a fantastic time!!! I just LOVE that dress!! looks fabulous on her! you all look so cute in the family pic

Thanks Tanya!

 

[aksunshine]

great start!! More please!!

K!!!

I finally got a chance to start reading your new installments and I'm so glad I did! I didn't realize you were going to get a huge basket at check-in. That is THE coolest thing!! Wow! Then, the box in the room and the sweet letter. I am just amazed by all of these wonderful people. By the time I got to the picture of Isabelle twirling in her baby Simba dress, I was crying. Thanks for sharing this trip with us. I can't wait to read more.

Awww, thanks Heather! Isabelle just loves that dress!

Can't wait for more ! I love that SIMBA DRESS!!! Rafiki's planet is so neat isn't it? Well i'll be waiting for more when I get back from a busy weekend birthdays and more birthdays you know how that goes.

Sorry I wasn't here when you probably got back!

Great updates!!! Can't wait for more!

Thanks!

I just found your PTR today, and havn't started the TR part of it yet. I'm sure you guys had a wonderful time. I wanted to post now so I don't lose this thread.

I also wanted to say I am so sorry for the loss of your beautiful son. I can't even begin to imagine what that must be like. I had a lump in my throat reading that. What a strong woman you are!!
All of the outfits that were made for you daughter are amazing!!

Thank you, believe me, I'm not that strong. I have my moments!

Wow i just started reading today and i love it! Im so sorry about Levi. I cant wait for another update! And you daughter is soo cute!

Thank you.

Hello- I thought I'd come out of lurkdom to compliment all of the wonderful outfits and the prettiest model of all, Miss Isabella. I can't imagine all of the emotions that your family must have been going through since the loss of precious Levi. My DH's sister passed away at age 9, after a horrible car accident similar to Levi's. DH was only 3, so he doesn't remember much about that time. However, my In Law's still talk about going to Disney for Christmas after the accident, 32 years later. Disney was a bright spot for them. Now that we have 2 kids of our own, I can't imagine the grief they must have been going through. My prayers are with your family.

I am so sorry. I can't believe the way some people drive. It's insane.

Thank you for being here!

I remember reading about Levi on these boards when you lost him...I cried on that day, and I'm crying now, just having found your trip report. I am subscribing, and will read it all from beginning to end. I can't imagine what this past year has been for you and your family. You are in my thoughts.

It's been rough, thank you. I'm counting down the days to the anniversary of the accident. I hope I can get this done before then.

Your courage is inspiring and I am truly enjoying your trip! Thank you for sharing.

Thanks!

Alicia- You guys had a very busy day there in AK. Looks like everyone was having a good time though which is what's important.

I can't blame you for stalking Mickey-I probably would have done the same thing. The difference would be my pictures would include my DH chasing DS1 while DS1's screaming "DIS!! DIS!!!" at the top of his lungs and DH's giving me "stop taking pictures and get your kids" looks! It's ok to be a stalker sometimes. And, I think you'd have to go to Disney a lot more to be considered a real stalker!

Can't wait to hear about the rest of the trip!

LOL! That is too funny!

HI did you All have fun ? What room were you all in ? We were in rooms 7220
and 7221 at POP.

5357! Sorry we missed you!

Hi Wendy,

I love the tshirts you made for the winklers. I love the design of them. I tried to PM you but that wasn't available under your screenname. Sorry for hijacking your thread Alicia. I can be PM'ed . Thanks very much.


Belinda

It's OK Belinda, I'm glad you liked them! Wendy did an excellent job!

Ok, i'm all caught up now, I even skimmed through your 2007 report!! It took me a few days, but now I can't wait to read the rest of this report.
I've been thinking about you and your family since I started reading this report! I wish you all only the best!!!!

And those packages that were sent on your arrival were amazing!!

Thanks! Glad you are here!

Sounds like a great trip!

Thanks! Now if I could only get through our first full day! LOL!

Great start...can't wait to read more!

Thanks!

Hey Alicia!!!

I am back and just wanted to check on you and see how your doing!!!

I love the AK pictures and Isabelle is just a doll as always!

Thanks!

Sounds like you had a great trip! Great pics of Isabelle!

Thanks you!

Reading your TR makes me smile!

I'm glad!!!!

Hello, Happy Monday!

I love your latest installment at AK. The pictures are great & Isabelle's dress is adorable! I agree with Farrah, she was most likely the best dressed kid in all of the parks! She is just too cute.

I seriously just had a good laugh after reading about you stalking Mickey. I could just picture people (mostly Mom's) trying to move through the crowd to get a picture of the one-and-only! No wonder he has body guards LOL

LOL! I was so embarassed after I thought about it!

I'm just getting caught up - glad to hear you made it safely. DH was suggesting driving this time since airfare has gone up so much, but I can't even imagine doing that - we live 24+ hours away!

All of the DISgifts are fantastic! I'm so happy that your trip got started in such grand fashion! You guys deserve it!

Can't wait to hear more.

Thanks Amy!

 

[aksunshine]

OK, then we pet the goats and sheep. I had a hard moment here. Levi was so cute here last year! He would touch the animals, then pull shyly away and grin! It was so cute. Of course, it didn't help any that Matt pulled out his iPhone and scrolled through last year's pics of Levi to nearly everyone. Including a CM here.

We stopped for lunch at Pizzafari. Matt and I LOVE the Italian Sandwich they have! YUMMY!!!!
Then we walked over to Camp M-M and watched Pocahontas for the last time. Strangely, Isabelle wanted to skip FotLK. So we headed back to DI. Here is a shot of Isabelle and Matt.

This is where I ran into my first Disser!!!! Jennifer! Where are you? I can't remember your Dis name! She spotted Isabelle's dress. More about Jennifer later, promise!!!!
We brave 'It's tough to be a bug' this year, but the fog really flipped Isabelle out, and Matt didn't care for it, so we probably won't go back for many years.
Here is Isabelle waiting to go in.

We walked around DI abit before heading to Dinoland!

Of course, Isabelle's favorite thing here is they playground!

We also braved Dinosaur this year, also won't be doing that again for a LONG time! Isabelle LOVES dinosaurs, so she begged, but she regretted it after!

 

[aksunshine]

We headed back to Pop with time to spare. So, what did Isabelle want to do? Swim! Of course!

Miss Diva

 

[Tanya90210]

Great update... sounds like a fun AK Day

 

[aksunshine]

Dinner tonight was WCC! So after cleaning up, we bussed to MK, and caught a boat to WL.

We had a bit of a wait for our table, so we went looking for "sturdy branches" the health club at WL. Matt ended up getting a complimentary length of stay pass to the gym, which meant I didn't have to listen to him complain about no gym access for the week. He only got to use it one day though.

We got our table and soon Jennifer made her way to say hi again! Here we are!!!!

We had a nice chat before it was time to horse race!!!

Isabelle made 2 passes, it was too funny!

We all had the skillet. Tastey! BTW, Matt would love the recipe for the apple dressing if anyone has it!

On the ride back we got to catch the end of the Electric water parade and part of Wishes!

Then, we hightailed it to our bus, before the line got too long.

I opened the door to a sweet surprise!

I frantically began dialing Beth, wondering where it came from. The best we can figure is Pop sent it. Meanwhile, I had Beth on the phone, walking to the front destk to get a package, and a ran into Tanya!!!! She disappeared before I could find her again, though!

This would be a good time to explain my biggest dilemma. On Frady, I meant to stop at Kinkos to print some posters I designed with Levi's photos on them.Between Isabelle's eye and everything else. I ran out of time. I thought Pop would copy them for me, so I took my USB drive down, but they weren't compatible. So, I called Beth, just to chat, but the posters were brought up. She went to work IMMEDIATELY to remedy my problem! When I returned to our room, I had a message waiting. I had ANOTHER package to pick up. (This is when I ran into Tanya, keep up!) Sealed in an envelope were two posters, designed by Beth, emailed to Betsy, who hand delivered them to Pop for my return. Can you believe it? I'll have to find my window pics to show you. Beth can you post them on here? So everyone can see them better?

I just love my friends here on the Dis! Neither one of these 2 women were going to let anything bad happen on this vactaion if thy could help it! I love you!!!!

 

[hlrababy]

Aww, great update!!!!
I have to see your window decorations!! What a nice surprise walking into your room!

 

[Goofy22]

Great update! It's sounds like you had an awesome trip so far!!! I can't wait to see the pictures of your window!!

 

[livndisney]

LOVE the Snow White dress!!!

It is so funny Isabelle wore that dress to WCC. We originally has ressies that night at WCC as well. Our plans got changed at the last minute.

 

[Tanya90210]

hehe... We made up for not seeing eachother again that night later in the trip

Another wonderful update

 

[jham]

It looks like Mickey & Minnie wanted to get in on The Big Give too! Great update. I love Matt whipping out his pictures of Levi! I hope you had a lot of Kleenex with you!

 

[disneylovinfamily]

Alicia, I love your update! The pics of WCC are so fun. And what a great surprise to come back to in your room. i love the pic of minnie and mickey, SO CUTE!!!!!!! I am lovin the report, can't wait for the next installment.