**A Disney Salute! June 2011 Military Discount/Anniversary PTR!** Update 6/23 Pg 12

[TanzUnited99]

Yay on getting John to agree to go to Disney World again even if you did have to put on 'that face' and agree to go to KSC!

It took me long enough to persuade for a first trip - don't know how I'm going to manage a 2nd!

 

[therussells08]

Try something new?!? Uh, pick a restaurant you've never eaten at before! That's new!!!

Haha. I hope it never gets to the point when one of us doesn't want to go to Disney! Howard and I do want to try different things (you know, different like Disneyland and all!), but hopefully it'll be a mutual decision when that time comes! So happy John agreed!

That's how I felt when he said that! I was shocked. That was so un-John! I blame it on the fact that he had just gotten his Disney fix, because now he's dying to go just as much as me!

Gotta love that DVD!!!!!

More details PLEASE!!!

I am about to post some shopping pictures, and I will be posting ADRs and a schedule very soon!

LOL...I get that same speech all the time from Brandon, wanting to go somewhere different, and I have the same bratty reaction! He keeps telling me we're not going next year, but I REALLY want to go in May for our 2nd anniversary, which is why I keep bringing it up every once in a while, to see how he reacts to it, and telling him we should buy AP's if we are going to go back in May...and if I have an AP in my hand...there will be another trip after May!

I think that's a great idea, going to Orlando early and going to the Kennedy Space Center!

I love the planning DVD! In fact...I might just watch it later...

I like your plan about the APs! That sounds like a great idea! This was the first time I got that speech from John, and I didn't like it!

I'm pretty excited about KSC! We've never been, so it should be cool!

I've heard bad things about military leaves not really be solid. Good luck with that.

Now to the more important point. New rule! No posting on the PTR without making a post on the TR in between. I've seen too many TRs get abandoned and it's a very sad thing.

On our first trip in May 2007 we had to change our dates about a dozen times. Luckily Disney was really nice about it and they didn't charge us any penalty fees!

I followed your rule! Don't worry, I will not abandon my TR. It's so much fun to write!

I dread the day that Miguel ever says he'd rather go somewhere other than Disney! I do want us to vacation other places together, but I just have to go to Disney at least once a year. Thankfully, he seems to love Disney just as much as me, so so far, so good! I love how you very cleverly convinced John to go to Disney after all!

I am the same way. I want to visit other places, but everytime I get a chance for a vacation I always want to use it on Disney! John loves Disney so much too, so I think his suggestion was just temporary insanity!

Yay on getting John to agree to go to Disney World again even if you did have to put on 'that face' and agree to go to KSC!

It took me long enough to persuade for a first trip - don't know how I'm going to manage a 2nd!

I'm sure that after your first trip you will have no trouble persuading for a second! It's so magical, everyone falls in love with it!

 

[therussells08]

Hi everyone! I know you are all probably ready to strangle me because I haven't posted much trip info yet, but I promise it's coming soon! For now I want to tell you about my exciting new Disney purchases!

My birthday is this coming Sunday (April 10) but unfortunately John will not be home. He had to leave on Tuesday for some training and he won't be back until next Tuesday. He felt pretty bad about missing my birthday, so last Saturday he took me shopping in Raleigh, which is about two hours from our home. There is this really great mall there with a Disney Store, so needless to say I had a blast!

This was the day before we booked our trip, so I was already completely in Disney mode. It was so exciting to go to the Disney Store, because the one that used to be in our local mall closed.

I like to try to wear a Disney shirt everyday of our vacation, so I was on the lookout for some cute new shirts. I saw that they had organic t-shirts for 2/$24, so I got two of those.

Next I found a really cute notebook that I wanted to use as my next trip journal. I almost didn't get it because it was kind of expensive ($9.50) but I really loved it, and John talked me into it!

That was all I got at the Disney Store, but later we went to Barnes and Noble and Best Buy and I got a few more things. I decided instead of making a huge trip binder like I did this past trip I want to do something smaller, so John picked something out for me.

If you've never used one of the Passporter Disney Planners before I highly recommend them! They are filled with info on WDW, and have a really great planner in the back with pockets galore! I love it!

At Best Buy I got one last Disney birthday present. I was so excited about it!

If you haven't seen Tangled yet, SEE IT NOW! It is honestly one of the best Disney movies I have ever seen. I love it! It is absolutely hilarious and heart warming and everything a Disney movie should be!

Well, that's all my Disney shopping for now! I will be buying some more things as the trip gets closer, but this stuff was a nice start!

Up Next: ADRs and our daily schedule!

 

[RachelNinja]

Every time you post a picture of a new shirt or other Disney goodies that you buy, I get the urge to go to the Disney store. I know a lot of people post it, but for some reason, YOU make me want to go! I just realized Howard and I haven't been there in SO LONG! I think that's where we need to go on Saturday!!! Haha, THANKS, Joni!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

those are great buys! I loved Tangled too! My friend and I both agreed that we liked the music better in Princess/Frog but loved the storyline of Tangled! I have no idea where the closest Disney Store is from me I've heard there's one somewhere in Kentucky maybe?!

 

[Cat0727]

I'm here, finally! I love everything you bought. I am one of those who needs to see Tangled, I don't know what's been taking me so long.

 

[TanzUnited99]

Happy Birthday for Sunday - hope you have a good weekend! I love all the purchases - that Winnie the Pooh shirt is awesome! I like the way it has Eeyore on it as well as Pooh

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

Happy birthday!!! How sweet of John to take you shopping! You got some great things! I haven't seen Tangled yet, but after your comments about it I feel like I definitely need to see it.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

I love that Pooh and Eeyore shirt! I also love the journal you got I bought one that's a similar kind, but has a different cover. There's a pic in my PTR if you wanna see it

 

[laashley]

I made it over. First off, Happy Birthday!!!!

How exciting to be planning a trip so soon! Most of our trips have been planned a few months out. Don't stress! Can't wait to see what you have planned so far.

I do have a question for you. Have you checked if it is cheaper to do the dining plan or to just pay OOP? I decided this past trip that if we go again just dh and I we won't do the DDP because we would have come out cheaper OOP. It is good to have the meals paid for beforehand though.

 

[therussells08]

Every time you post a picture of a new shirt or other Disney goodies that you buy, I get the urge to go to the Disney store. I know a lot of people post it, but for some reason, YOU make me want to go! I just realized Howard and I haven't been there in SO LONG! I think that's where we need to go on Saturday!!! Haha, THANKS, Joni!

I'm sorry! I'm a bad influence! If it makes you feel any better, the video of Howard opening his first Vinylmation from your TR has made me start to obsess over collecting them!

those are great buys! I loved Tangled too! My friend and I both agreed that we liked the music better in Princess/Frog but loved the storyline of Tangled! I have no idea where the closest Disney Store is from me I've heard there's one somewhere in Kentucky maybe?!

I agree with you; the music in Princess/Frog is better, but I LOVE the story and the characters from Tangled so much!

I'm here, finally! I love everything you bought. I am one of those who needs to see Tangled, I don't know what's been taking me so long.

I'm glad you're here! You have to see Tangled ASAP! It is soooo good!

Happy Birthday for Sunday - hope you have a good weekend! I love all the purchases - that Winnie the Pooh shirt is awesome! I like the way it has Eeyore on it as well as Pooh

Thank you! I had a great weekend!

Happy birthday!!! How sweet of John to take you shopping! You got some great things! I haven't seen Tangled yet, but after your comments about it I feel like I definitely need to see it.

Thank you! You HAVE to see Tangled! It is great!

I love that Pooh and Eeyore shirt! I also love the journal you got I bought one that's a similar kind, but has a different cover. There's a pic in my PTR if you wanna see it

Thank you! I am going to go check out your journal! I was hoping I would be able to find a Haunted Mansion bag like the one you found, but I didn't have any luck!

I made it over. First off, Happy Birthday!!!!

How exciting to be planning a trip so soon! Most of our trips have been planned a few months out. Don't stress! Can't wait to see what you have planned so far.

I do have a question for you. Have you checked if it is cheaper to do the dining plan or to just pay OOP? I decided this past trip that if we go again just dh and I we won't do the DDP because we would have come out cheaper OOP. It is good to have the meals paid for beforehand though.

And thank you for the birthday wishes!

I am really excited that our trip is so soon! It is really nice to not have to wait nine months like I did for our last trip!

I actually haven't checked, but I probably should. I usually just book it because it's so much easier, but you're right, I might come our cheaper OOP!

 

[therussells08]

Hi everyone! I hope you are all having a great week. I wanted to post an update to tell you about the very magical birthday weekend I had!

On Friday at work I was treated like a queen. My coworkers bought me lunch from my favorite Japanese restaurant, our super sweet maintenance man bought me cream horns from our local bakery, and five of the sweetest students on the planet bought me an AMAZING flower arrangement!

I got home from work Friday afternoon to find a Disney gift card in the mail from my in laws and my niece! What a great surprise!

Then, on Saturday, I got the best gift of all! My sister and my best friend took me to Raleigh NC (about an hour and a half away) to meet my FAVORITE artist, Jim Shore! If you don’t know who Jim Shore is, he is a wonderful folk artist who creates all kinds of beautiful art, but he is most famous for his figurines. He has a license with Disney, and I am absolutely obsessed with his Disney figurines and his angels!

It was such a great experience. I was the first person in line to meet him, and his agent told him it was my birthday. He immediately stopped to pose for pictures with me.

Then he proceeded to sign my figurines! I had brought three figurines from home and I bought three more there. Two of them were my birthday gifts from my parents, and one was a gift from myself!

One of the figurines I brought from home was Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Here he is signing her:

One of the figurines I picked out for my birthday was an angel that was designed for the military. I told Jim Shore about my husband being in the Army and he was so nice about it. He told me about a dozen times to thank him for his service, and he explained to me that all the money he makes from his military angel goes straight to military families. How cool!

As I was leaving he told me he was “really glad he met me” and that just made my day! I couldn’t believe I had actually met the artist that designed the beautiful figurines that decorate my home!

When I got home I took some pictures to show you all of my wonderful birthday memories!

Here’s all of my signed figurines in front of my pretty flowers:

Here are my three new figurines:

One of the signatures:

I thought the birthday Mickey was so fitting for the occasion! Here is one more picture of him, posed with my flowers!

What a wonderful, magical, Disney filled birthday! Now I am less than two months away from our trip!

Up Next: I will FINALLY post ADRs!

 

[stephielela]

I was just at the Disney store today and it was all I could do to resist the 2/$24 shirts!! I did get Jack 2/$24 pj's, but it's his birthday week (his birthday was yesterday) so I guess that's ok.

I just got Tangled too, and I loved it!! Even Jack liked it, and I was worried because I had heard it was more of a "girl" movie... but luckily it was a hit!

What a wonderful birthday!! It sounds like you had a great time!

 

[Nermel9]

Huh, I thought I commented on your last update, but I guess not! I love the shirts you got!! I just got some shirts from the Disney Store as well, and I was thinking of getting that Pooh one, but I ended up getting something different! I really have to update my PTR soon!

I finally saw Tangled, just this past weekend! It was amazing, I wanted to watch it again as soon as it ended! I wasn't sure I'd like it as much as I did, but it was great! Now I want to meet Rapunzel on my trip!

Yay, I'm so happy you got to meet Jim Shore, I know how much you love him! He sounds like he was so nice, and all of your figurines are so beautiful! I really need to start buying some of those, but I can never decide which one to get! So glad you had such a great birthday! I meant to text you, but I was kind of sick all weekend and forgot, but at least I remembered on FB!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Looks like you had a great birthday!!!!!!! I love all the new buys too and presents of course!

 

[Parla]

Wow! What an awesome birthday present. Of course we all know how much you love Jim Shore so we know how much it meant to meet him. He sounds like a really great person too. Maybe I need to start collecting...

 

[TanzUnited99]

Yay on having a magical weekend!! Sounds great!

How nice to be treated like a queen at work - love the flowers you were given!

Love all the figurines and how cool that you got to meet Jim Shore!! I remember you mentioning him on your TR and how much you liked his work so that must have been a great day.

Looking forward to the ADRs

 

[Cat0727]

What a wonderful birthday weekend you had

Jim Shore sounded so sweet! His figurines are lovely.

Edit: Ok, I just found his website and I see so many Disney ones I want! Ahh!

 

[Tracy161]

Joining!!! Can't believe I missed the start of your PTR! Happy Belated Birthday Joni!!! I'm so happy for you that you got to meet Jim Shore - what an amazing experience that must have been for you!

I'm thrilled to hear that you and John are heading back to Disney... and so soon! Glad that you were able to convince him to go, and it'll be nice to see some new places and attractions too (I guess... )

Can't wait to read more!

 

[therussells08]

I was just at the Disney store today and it was all I could do to resist the 2/$24 shirts!! I did get Jack 2/$24 pj's, but it's his birthday week (his birthday was yesterday) so I guess that's ok.

I just got Tangled too, and I loved it!! Even Jack liked it, and I was worried because I had heard it was more of a "girl" movie... but luckily it was a hit!

What a wonderful birthday!! It sounds like you had a great time!

I am almost glad we don't have a Disney Store near me, because I don't think I would be very good at resisting the temptation at all!

Tangled is so wonderful! John loved it, and so did my sister's boyfriend. I guess it's for girls and guys!

It was definitely a great birthday!

Huh, I thought I commented on your last update, but I guess not! I love the shirts you got!! I just got some shirts from the Disney Store as well, and I was thinking of getting that Pooh one, but I ended up getting something different! I really have to update my PTR soon!

I finally saw Tangled, just this past weekend! It was amazing, I wanted to watch it again as soon as it ended! I wasn't sure I'd like it as much as I did, but it was great! Now I want to meet Rapunzel on my trip!

Yay, I'm so happy you got to meet Jim Shore, I know how much you love him! He sounds like he was so nice, and all of your figurines are so beautiful! I really need to start buying some of those, but I can never decide which one to get! So glad you had such a great birthday! I meant to text you, but I was kind of sick all weekend and forgot, but at least I remembered on FB!

Thanks! I really like the shirts you chose too. There are so many great choices at the Disney Store!

I know what you mean, I really want to Meet Flynn Rider! Or should I say, Eugene!

It was so great meeting Jim Shore! I think you would love collecting his stuff. He has so many beautiful pieces, and most of them are really affordable!

Looks like you had a great birthday!!!!!!! I love all the new buys too and presents of course!

Thanks! It was a great day!

Wow! What an awesome birthday present. Of course we all know how much you love Jim Shore so we know how much it meant to meet him. He sounds like a really great person too. Maybe I need to start collecting...

He was a great person! He was so friendly and he really took the time to talk to me. It was so special!

Yay on having a magical weekend!! Sounds great!

How nice to be treated like a queen at work - love the flowers you were given!

Love all the figurines and how cool that you got to meet Jim Shore!! I remember you mentioning him on your TR and how much you liked his work so that must have been a great day.

Looking forward to the ADRs

I couldn't believe how nice everyone was to me at work, and I especially couldn't believe that my sweet students spent all that money on flowers!

Thank you! I am a huge fan, so it was wonderful!

What a wonderful birthday weekend you had

Jim Shore sounded so sweet! His figurines are lovely.

Edit: Ok, I just found his website and I see so many Disney ones I want! Ahh!

It was a fabulous birthday weekend for sure!

He was really sweet!

I know, right?! He has so many amazing Disney figurines! It's so hard to pick one!

Joining!!! Can't believe I missed the start of your PTR! Happy Belated Birthday Joni!!! I'm so happy for you that you got to meet Jim Shore - what an amazing experience that must have been for you!

I'm thrilled to hear that you and John are heading back to Disney... and so soon! Glad that you were able to convince him to go, and it'll be nice to see some new places and attractions too (I guess... )

Can't wait to read more!

I'm glad you're here! Thank you for the birthday wishes!

I can't believe we're going so soon! I still have so much to plan! Yeah about those new places...those plans might be changing. I will have to discuss that in a future update...