A Gem of a trip-quality, clarity, color and "Cut that out!" completed 8/4

[stagemomx3]

The Wonderland Tea Party and a Pirate Cruise, lucky kids!

 

[Nemo32]

Great pics! Looks like a great itinerary.

 

[purplepeg]

we are at MK on the 20th as well. I'll keep my eye out for you.

 

[krismom]

I don't know how to do a direct quote but this:
"This is where the adults had a breakdown. DH and I fought. It wasn't pretty and it wasn't quiet. DH attacked my Disney planning and my scheduling. I attacked back by buying the kids the glow in the dark thingies and accusing him of being a cheapskate. My Dad took the high road and excused himself to go back to the Hotel."
...is the funniest paragraph I've read in any tip report!

I noticed your kids used the cool neck band thingys- did they work well? did they cause a rash at all? I bought some for our trip next week and am hoping they help a bit-

looking forward to reading more

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Today I picked up DS9 from the Dance camp. He is finished! The parents got to watch one of the classes. Since I still haven't recharged my batteries my friend took pictures on her camera. I'll try and post some soon.

I can tell you that it was the most wonderful heart warming hour I've spent in a long time. Watching DS9 dance and most of all laugh and joke with other boys that share the same interests as him was enough to make my gizzards giggle with relief. He has finally found his safe place. A place where he can be himself and still excel.

He is too young to make it into their full time program. He will have to try out again next year and then we shall see. I was thinking I wouldn't let him go to school there because I would miss him so much. However after seeing him there today I realize what I would be denying him. It reminded me of the classic saying "if you love something let it free...." I have a whole year to decide and of course he still has to audition again.

Anyhow, on to Disney stuff.

krismom- Welcome! I'm glad you got some enjoyment out of the "Illuminations incident". I'm still not able to laugh about it yet. Yes, we loved our neck coolers. I've subscribed to many a thread about them and found that there are different types of neck coolers. Some get "slimy" when wet. Nanny bought them for us from a fancy travel gadget store called "Tilley's Endurables" and we LOOOOVE ours. They take about two weeks to dry up. I highly recommend hanging them on a clothespin to speed up the drying process.

Purplepeg-August 20th is DS5 b-day. I have made the kids personalized t-shirts for the day. I'm still working on them. Who knew that if you used a electric blue transfer picture on an electric blue shirt that nothing would show up? So when I have finished them I will post pics so you will know what we will be wearing.

Nemo32- I choose my days around TGM green days. Then they announced there is no spectro while I am there due to a bridge closure. So the days I choose might not be so green anymore. TGM has redone his busy days but I'm afraid to look.

stagemomX3- DS5 wanted the pirate cruise and the other two wanted the tea party. So we decided to just do both. Thanks Nanny! She's picked up the tab for them (as well as the cirque).

Tnkrbelle565- I am getting close. I've been so busy with hosting my friends that I really haven't been able to pay much attention to Disney stuff.

For you non Canadians it is a Civic Holiday this weekend. We have Monday off work so it's off to the cottage I go. The t-shirts will have to wait until next week.

 

[lazydoxy66]

Have fun this weekend.
Do post pics of your DS9 and the shirts, please!!

 

[Nemo32]

I've never used TGM, even though I've been advised to. I've always had no problem with lines, so I'm sure if you just stick to a plan it won't matter if his days have changed.

 

[Wannabe Belle]

Just checking in and loving what I see!!!!

Wonderful PTR. Waiting for more!!

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Last we left Nanny had had a bad fall. We made it into a cab and Nanny managed to not bleed all over the back of the not-so-patient and empathetic cab drivers' back seat and we found ourselves back at the hotel. Looking back I wonder whether this was a Disney endorsed driver or not. We didn't have much time to recover back at the hotel.

I had to gather up the men and the kids at the pool and we caught the 4:15 bus to MK and Chef Mickey's. This was by far the best dinner experience we had the whole trip. DS4 was a little cranky at first. Here is a picture of him cuddling into DH.

But he soon recovered.

All trip DH had wanted to line up to see the characters and I kept saying to him but we will be eating with them soon and wouldn't let him. The kids had gotten more comfortable with character interactions since our first horrendous experience with Mary Poppins and the other princesses. So they knew what to expect, they weren't tired out from being at the parks and it was a 5:00 pm ADR so they weren't really hungry yet. It was the perfect formula for a great dinner. I have tons of happy pictures from today. I shall post a few of them.

I shall start with Donald as he took quite some time to interact with us.

The napkin twirl

The big guy himself!

After dinner since we were taking the monorail anyway I wanted to stop off at the Poly and the GF to do a quick peek around. We got off at the Poly and pressed some pennies. Did I mention we were collecting pressed pennies? The kids loved it and it has to be one of the cheapest souvenirs out there.

Just about everyone had to go to the bathroom at the Poly. Apparently my families digestive systems didn't enjoy the interaction with Chef Mickey's. DH noticed that even the toilet paper at the Poly was nicer than at the Allstar Music. I guess that's another difference between a value and a deluxe.

So it was getting late at this point as some members of my family took a long time examining the Poly's toilet paper (cough) and when we went to get back on the monorail we were the only family there. The plan was to stop at the GF look around but hopefully skip the toilet paper examination.

When the monorail pulled up a family got out of the front car and we were the only ones on the platform waiting to get on. My heart started to beat faster. I knew what this could mean. I had never even mentioned it to my kids because we were hardly using the monorail this trip and really what were the chances? The CM on duty at the Poly station approached me. My family had already started entering another car on the monorail. He asked if we would like to ride in the front with the driver. What a silly question. Of course we did. Well, I did anyway. My kids looked a little lost for a moment but since we didn't have more than a moment to think about it I shoved them (yes, I really did do a shove-I believe it was because I was so caught up in the excitement and they really weren't, at least not yet) into the front car. DH tried to enter in with us but since they only allow four up front he had to move back with Nanny and Poppa.

The kids got excited once they realized what was happening. It is so cool up front. I wish I could say we had a personable driver but he appeared to have missed his daily dose of Mickey magic juice this morning. We managed to drum up some excitement all ourselves. In the separation with DH I forgot to say that we were going to skip visiting the GF now. I was a bit worried DH, Nanny and Poppa would get off at the GF and we would get separated. Luckily they figured it out. The kids all got their licenses from our non-verbal, no eye contact driver. They were more pumped about the experience than the piece of paper. They don't realize how lucky they are and think they'll get to ride up front again this next trip. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Here we are in the driver's car.

We got to bed at a decent time and while the kids slept I went over the plan for MGM with DH for the next day. I even made a few changes to it just for him. See how flexible I was being? (Ahem).

Here is the link for our MGM day. Sadly it is the only MGM day we will ever have as next trip we will be visiting the Disney Studios. http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=26838621&postcount=128

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Great update!

 

[purplepeg]

Glad you guys enjoyed Chef Mickeys. Who knew about the toilet paper? What a great thing for your kids to be able to ride at the front. Too bad you didn't get a great driver. I was so surprised you didn't let your husband go up front with the kids and you enjoy the time with Nanny and Poppa

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I was so surprised you didn't let your husband go up front with the kids and you enjoy the time with Nanny and Poppa

It all happened so fast DH didn't really realize what was going on. He did say that if we get picked to ride in the front again that he would like to accompany the kids. I suppose I could be nice and let him. We'll just have to wait and see.

 

[purplepeg]

It all happened so fast DH didn't really realize what was going on. He did say that if we get picked to ride in the front again that he would like to accompany the kids. I suppose I could be nice and let him. We'll just have to wait and see.

I guess that all depends on whether he goes with the plans or not this time

 

[lazydoxy66]

The kids were having a great time!! Wow, about the monorail.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I guess that all depends on whether he goes with the plans or not this time

Anyone in a betting mood? Should I set up a poll? Will DH follow plans this year or not.

I'm off to Wonderland tomorrow (technically today but since I haven't been to bed yet I'm still calling it tomorrow). It a theme park north of Toronto. It's mostly rollercoaster (like my kids just looove those not) and water slides (let me tell you sometime about our trips to great wolf lodge. I'd call it how to spend all day in a water park without getting your suit wet). Plus it is supposed to thunderstorm. Not seeming very positive am I? Perhaps it's time for bed after all.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Quick shout out to my dear friend Rainbowgirl.

I know she is following along and I want to tell you I'm thinking of you.

Big Hugs to you!

And of course your favorite the rainbow!

 

[Nemo32]

"checking out the toilet paper." At least the character meal was good and successful.

I love love love the monorail, esp. riding up front. GREAT VIEW.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Just came back from a DH's sisters wedding. It was beautiful. DD7 was one of the flower girls. Here are a few pics.

DD at the hairdressers

I love this one because you can see DH's sister, the new husband and his parents in the background.

One of the few taken of me since I am usually the photographer.

No those beers were not all consummed by DH.

DH dancing with his Mom.

Be back with an update soon!

 

[stagemomx3]

Great wedding pictures. You look beautiful!

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Thanks Michelle!

I actually splurged and got my hair done for the wedding too since I had to be there with DD anyway. I rarely get it straightened and spent most of the evening with my fingers in it feeling how soft and silky it was.

It will be one big frizzy wavy mess in Disney though. So expect lots of ponytail pictures. That is if I'm actually in any of them. Usually I'm the photographer and since I can't get my computer to pre-order a photo CD (even tried to get help from their order desk-but alas no help for me!) there may not be many actual photos of me.

Speaking of photos. I HATE my camera. It is fuji finepix 3800. Most pictures are fuzzy and the delay between what the screen freezes and the actual photo is too long. I miss tons of shots-unless of course I can get my subjects to be absolutely still. It is soooooo frustrating.