A Mother-Daughter Trip! Now with BONUS BIRTHDAY Trip! (Final Thoughts Coming Soon!)

[RGirl]

Reid tells on himself, also! It makes it harder for me to be mad at him.

So funny, aren't they? Of course, the things that Willow thinks she's not supposed to do I usually don't care about. But I love that she tells on herself.

 

[RGirl]

30. Shopping Around the World
When we last left off, we were headed into the WS to do some shopping - one of DD's favorite things (much to the dismay of my wallet)!!!

We headed into Mexico first where DD found a necklace for one of her favorite former “teachers.”

Next stop was China where DD and I both found presents for friends at home. DD also somehow managed to pick up another present for herself.

We stopped at the Africo Outpost for a strawberry slush for DD and a bracelet for me - I love the jewelry that is made in Uganda out of recycled Disney paper.

We wandered around Italy for a bit but didn’t find anything we were particularly interested in.

But we had a great time in Japan!

This was definitely our favorite shopping venue. And DD found her most treasured souvenir of the trip - a Hello Kitty “um-bree-ella.” She has since made great use of this to act out the entire Mary Poppins movie.

We made it to Morocco in time to get in line for Jasmine and Aladdin. DD was very excited. We got in line about 20 minutes before the characters were set to arrive, and there were already quite a few people in front of us. It was another great line though. There was this big dad behind us with his two little girls - he was so funny standing in this princess line while his wife and her friend were off enjoying the F&W offerings.

Finally, we spotted Jasmine and Aladdin arriving! And just as they arrived, this woman comes out of nowhere with her DD all dressed up in a Jasmine costume and tries to get her picture done with the characters. A CM immediately explained to her that there was a line. Then the woman walked over to the front of the line and started talking to the family there. And suddenly, she was in line in front of them! I turned to the dad behind us and said, “Did she somehow just manage to cut the entire line?” He was staring mouth agape at this woman. Just then, Aladdin skipped over, grabbed the cast member by the arm, and skipped backstage with her. This big, gruff-looking dad suddenly belts out in glee, “Aladdin saw her!! Aladdin saw her!!!” I was rolling - it was so funny. Within a minute, the CM and Aladdin reemerged and the woman was told to go to the back of the line. Instead, she grabbed her DD and dragged her away. The poor child was crying and probably embarrassed.

After all the commotion, DD had a great time with Jasmine and Aladdin.

After that meet, we were ready to head back to our resort for a little rest. On the way out, DD got a PP pic with her new umbrella.

Up next: 31. Are They Really Going to Epcot Again? Why, Yes, Yes, We Are!

 

[amandaw]

What a fun shopping trip!

The nerve of that woman just getting in front of the line. So glad that Aladdin was there to save the day!

 

[RGirl]

What a fun shopping trip!

The nerve of that woman just getting in front of the line. So glad that Aladdin was there to save the day!

Oh my goodness! That man behind us was so funny!!!! He was nice all along, but he had this very "guy" thing going on - trying to be a little tough while waiting in line with his "princesses," a little grumpy that his wife was off enjoying F&W. And then, he was just gleeful with his, "Aladdin saw her! Aladdin saw her!" I nearly peed myself!!!

I have NO idea what the woman was thinking! I mean, I get the people who don't have a clue what is going on and run over excited to see a character, but this woman KNEW there was a line. She was just too important to wait, I guess? I felt SO bad for her daughter! But also so glad that Aladdin laid down the law!

 

[shan23877]

I think our DDs would get along great. Shopping for herself is one of Maddie's favorite things!

So glad that they made the rude woman wait her turn, but her poor little girl! I really don't understand people sometimes...

And God help the mommy who forgets the 'brella when it's raining. Our Tink one needs to be with us if there's even the chance of a drizzle.

 

[RGirl]

I think our DDs would get along great. Shopping for herself is one of Maddie's favorite things!

So glad that they made the rude woman wait her turn, but her poor little girl! I really don't understand people sometimes...

And God help the mommy who forgets the 'brella when it's raining. Our Tink one needs to be with us if there's even the chance of a drizzle.

Our girls would be fast friends - little shoppers!!!!

DD was THRILLED that it was raining on our last day at Disneyland this month - she got to take her um-bree-ella!

 

[pas130]

Totally have to hit up that store !!! All my DDs are HUGE HK fans

 

[RGirl]

Hey there! Sorry I haven't updated in a few days. I seem to have brought back a bug from California, so I'm kind of dragging right now. I need to get a few updates written so that I can get them up more quickly. I really want to share DL with all of you! It's so hard to write the last few WDW updates though because that means the trip will really be over. I will get things moving along again very soon though!

Totally have to hit up that store !!! All my DDs are HUGE HK fans

They had a TON of stuff!!!

 

[amandaw]

Hey there! Sorry I haven't updated in a few days. I seem to have brought back a bug from California, so I'm kind of dragging right now. I need to get a few updates written so that I can get them up more quickly. I really want to share DL with all of you! It's so hard to write the last few WDW updates though because that means the trip will really be over. I will get things moving along again very soon though!


They had a TON of stuff!!!

No worries....will be here ready for your next update when you are! Hope you get to feeling better soon!

 

[pas130]

Hey there! Sorry I haven't updated in a few days. I seem to have brought back a bug from California, so I'm kind of dragging right now. I need to get a few updates written so that I can get them up more quickly. I really want to share DL with all of you! It's so hard to write the last few WDW updates though because that means the trip will really be over. I will get things moving along again very soon though!


They had a TON of stuff!!!

I hope you are feeling better (and the birthday girl didn't get the bug too)

 

[librarymouse]

Mitsukoshi is awesome! I went for the first time on our trip last week and I loved it...the Japanese candy, lucky cats and Hello Kitty stuff is all so cute!

 

[RGirl]

No worries....will be here ready for your next update when you are! Hope you get to feeling better soon!

Thanks! Planning to get some updates done this weekend! (After the mini-birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese, of course.... :roll eyes

I hope you are feeling better (and the birthday girl didn't get the bug too)

Thanks!! DD seems to have avoided it. Very excited to continue celebrating the birthday that wouldn't quit...

Mitsukoshi is awesome! I went for the first time on our trip last week and I loved it...the Japanese candy, lucky cats and Hello Kitty stuff is all so cute!

Isn't it great! How was your trip????????

 

[pas130]

Thanks! Planning to get some updates done this weekend! (After the mini-birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese, of course.... :roll eyes


Thanks!! DD seems to have avoided it. Very excited to continue celebrating the birthday that wouldn't quit...

I can't wait for the update. Glad you are feeling better

 

[RGirl]

31. Are They Really Going to Epcot Again? Why, Yes, Yes, We Are!

After getting cleaned up and enjoying a little down time, we decided to head back to Epcot at about 6:00 - we had FPs to use!

We enjoyed another ride on Soarin’.

And then did Living with the Land at DD’s request - she loves this ride.

And then we decided to try something new for us - the Epcot Character Spot. The wait time was 30 minutes, but we decided to get in line anyway. You see, we still hadn’t met one of our absolute favorite characters - Pluto - and one of the silliest characters - Goofy!

DD was pretty tired, so she really enjoyed just watching the cartoons quietly while in line.

Up first, was Mickey.

Then our beloved Pluto! Who did not disappoint. He put the autograph book on his nose (as usual) and then started thumbing through to find the right page (although I think we had originally had it marked with the pen) - as you can imagine, that is not easy to do with paws. The handler tried to help him, but he waved her off. The PP guy tried to help, but he waved him off. One of them said, “tick, tock,” but he waved them off again. Finally, the handler said, “Pluto, are you looking at all the autographs????” Pluto nodded emphatically and then let the CM find the right page. He was great!

[Cont. in next post because of picture overload.]
​

 

[RGirl]

[Continued from previous post....]

Minnie was lovely.

Donald was hilarious. After DD’s turn, he had to take a quick break “to get some cheesecake.” When he returned, DD was meeting Goofy. Before meeting with the people waiting to see him next, Donald stuck his beak around the wall to look at Goofy and DD and then turned around and wiggled his butt at them.

Goofy was a lot of fun too - he always is!

When we were leaving the Character Spot, we came around the corner and found Brer Bear! He was huge!!!

After the characters, we took another spin on TT, which was super-fun in the dark.

And then hit up the Gran Fiesta Tour in Mexico.

At this point, we realized that it was getting late, and we decided to head out before the fireworks started as DD had made it clear that her choice for the next day was DHS, and she wanted to hit it hard! We zipped on out of Epcot, grabbed hotdogs on the boardwalk to eat back at the villa, and called it a night!​

 

[amandaw]

Sounds like an absolutely perfect night!

Fun rides & fun characters....it really just doesn't get any better than that!

The pictures with the characters are just absolutely adorable!

 

[RGirl]

Sounds like an absolutely perfect night!

Fun rides & fun characters....it really just doesn't get any better than that!

The pictures with the characters are just absolutely adorable!

Thanks Amanda! It was a lovely night. I wish we were there right now. *sigh* I am having one of those wish-I-had-a-trip-to-plan nights.

 

[amandaw]

Thanks Amanda! It was a lovely night. I wish we were there right now. *sigh* I am having one of those wish-I-had-a-trip-to-plan nights.

I've been there & know how that feels! I hate not having a trip planned. Our next trip is in December & I'm already trying to decide when our next trip after that will be!

By the looks of your ticker....y'all are doing the Alaskan cruise soon, right? That should be really fun. Although, not as much "planning" to do, I know. Have y'all done a Disney cruise before?

 

[RGirl]

I've been there & know how that feels! I hate not having a trip planned. Our next trip is in December & I'm already trying to decide when our next trip after that will be!

By the looks of your ticker....y'all are doing the Alaskan cruise soon, right? That should be really fun. Although, not as much "planning" to do, I know. Have y'all done a Disney cruise before?

Yep - we do have the cruise in July. But there is NO planning. I hate that! I am starting to realize that I get at least as much fun from the planning as from the actual trip. It kind of keeps me going - I have something fun to work on every evening. I have GOT to get my boss to set a date for her second trip so that I can start planning it for her!

Do you know where you are staying in December? It will be amazing to be there with the Christmas decorations! Have you done that before?

This is our first cruise - Disney or other. I am excited but also a little cautious - it will be so different from our usual Disney holiday that I am fearful we won't have as much fun. I definitely want to do one of the Caribbean cruises in the future (providing that we enjoy this one), but I have always wanted to see Alaska, and the fact that we don't have to fly (we can just drive to Seattle the day before) and spend all that $$$ on airfare makes this very do-able for this year!

 

[amandaw]

Yep - we do have the cruise in July. But there is NO planning. I hate that! I am starting to realize that I get at least as much fun from the planning as from the actual trip. It kind of keeps me going - I have something fun to work on every evening. I have GOT to get my boss to set a date for her second trip so that I can start planning it for her!

Do you know where you are staying in December? It will be amazing to be there with the Christmas decorations! Have you done that before?

This is our first cruise - Disney or other. I am excited but also a little cautious - it will be so different from our usual Disney holiday that I am fearful we won't have as much fun. I definitely want to do one of the Caribbean cruises in the future (providing that we enjoy this one), but I have always wanted to see Alaska, and the fact that we don't have to fly (we can just drive to Seattle the day before) and spend all that $$$ on airfare makes this very do-able for this year!

As of right now, we are staying at POP in December. We were going to stay in one of the deluxes but at the beginning of January, we put a purchase agreement on a house that's being built. So, I decided to save money & book POP because there's a lot of things we'll need & want for the new house. But, I'm hoping to change from POP into a DVC property. We own a timeshare with Hilton. And through RCI, we can trade our Hilton time into DVC. So, I'm really hoping that something in DVC will come available with our dates.

I have to agree - the planning of the trip is almost as much fun as the trip itself. I've been occupying myself by helping 3 friends plan their trips to Disney. My best friend from high school leaves in 2 weeks, 1 other leaves in April and the other is going in June. I don't know what I'll do once they're all back! I have worked, re-worked & re-worked our possible itinerary & ADRs until I'm blue in the face. Although, I'm sure I'll be looking over them again before my ADR-making date in June.

I really think y'all are going to enjoy the cruise. We did our 1st Disney cruise this past May & loved it!!! My husband & I had only done 1 cruise before that & HATED it! He swore he would never step foot on a boat again. Well, all I can say is that our vacation we're planning for next year is a 7 night cruise on the Fantasy! There is so much to do on the boats & you still get the Disney magic through their wonderful service & of course all the characters on board. Reid absolutely loved the kids club & never wanted to leave! My only complaint about the cruise is indeed the lack of planning you get to do for it!