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

[RGirl]

Yay for Willow being brave enough to meet Sully!

A monorail with stations in DTD and Tomorrowland? Totally weird.

Buzz at WDW should have guns that come off, that'd make it lots easier! I'm terrible at that game.

I love the picture of Willow running through the empty line!

Is that a new stuffed animal I spy? I was laughing with DH after we packed up 99% of Maddies- I told him that we'd come home with at least 7 new ones after WDW

I love how hard it is for WDW vets to fathom the layout of DLR. It is SO different from what you are used to. Yep - you catch the monorail in the middle of DTD (about a 2-minute walk from our hotel tower), and it drops you off in the middle of Tomorrowland. You actually go through the park turnstiles before you get on the monorail.

OMG - I am SO bad at the Buzz ride. Having removable guns definitely helped. But I still suck at it - I can never tell where I am aiming.

You can blame Mickey for that stuffy. It was part of the birthday present he left in our hotel room for DD. The best part? She already had the exact same one at home! She plays with him ALL the time now though.

 

[shan23877]

I love how hard it is for WDW vets to fathom the layout of DLR. It is SO different from what you are used to. Yep - you catch the monorail in the middle of DTD (about a 2-minute walk from our hotel tower), and it drops you off in the middle of Tomorrowland. You actually go through the park turnstiles before you get on the monorail.

OMG - I am SO bad at the Buzz ride. Having removable guns definitely helped. But I still suck at it - I can never tell where I am aiming.

You can blame Mickey for that stuffy. It was part of the birthday present he left in our hotel room for DD. The best part? She already had the exact same one at home! She plays with him ALL the time now though.

I really can't wrap my mind around the layout. You could walk everywhere? Scanned your ticket before you got on the monorail? This is bizarre!!!

I am so bad at buzz. Last trip I let Maddie turn the car, so I blamed that for my terrible score

Ahhh! It's Mickey's fault. Too funny that she ended up with two. Of course she plays with it now, it's from Mickey!!!

 

[mousetravel]

Love the update! The birthday cake was so cute!!

I love seeing Disneyland and the comparisons to WDW. I would love to visit there someday!

 

[Scribble Kitty]

Saw your post over on the DLR side of the boards and had to come read your trip report. Sounds like you girls had an wonderful time and were able to fully enjoy Disneyland. I've never been to WDW, so it's a little bizzare hearing how different the two are. I don't think I'd feel too comfortable having my fingerprint scanned to enter the park.

Your daughter is such a cutie and that dress looked wonderful on her.

 

[amandaw]

So, the monorail picked you up in DTD & dropped you off in Tomorrowland? Weird. How many monorail stops are there? It almost seems like everything is close enough to not need a monorail.

I would like it if the Buzz guns would come off in WDW. That would definitely help! FYI - if you want to learn how to get better on that ride, look up videos on YouTube. I secretly did this before our last trip last May. On one of our rides, I actually got a perfect score! Ed looked at me with this incredulous face. I ended up telling him where all of the big point targets are & he was also able to get a perfect score on a later ride.

I think I will write up a post at the end of this TR and set out all the differences, pros/cons (as we see them) of both destinations. At the end of the day, I would be thrilled to get to return to either place any time!

I would be very interested to see that pro/con list for both parks. I'm sure they're both great in their own ways.

I just don't know whether I can adjust to that. It is going to be really different. I love the freedom to pick up FPs early in the morning when it's not crowded and be able to use them later when we return after a break - you know, when the parks have gotten crowded. Oh well, I guess once we have to travel during busy times, the park will always be crowded, so it won't matter that much. And then, of course, there are all those rumors about some entirely different system. That should be interesting!

Yeah, I don't like the rumors about the whole new FP system. I'm hoping it doesn't come to fruition. I'm already trying to figure out when the best times to travel will be once Reid starts real school in 2013.

Oh, I would love to have APs!!! Honestly, if we just moved across the state - so that we were in Western Washington with a real airport - I am pretty sure that I would get APs for DLR. We could visit so easily if we just had a decent airport.

Me, too! I could see where DLR would be very doable for y'all if you just lived closer to a good airport.

Awwww - that is soooooo cute! I had to sleep with Lotso for quite some time because, although he was fun during the day, he became too scary to have in the bed at night. He seems to have recently relocated from my room to the play room.

That's funny that she made you have Lotso. I've actually been surprised that Lotso has never scared Reid. He'll come up to me & say, "I'm a hugger" (in a Lotso voice) and give me a big hug. I don't think he understands that Lotso does some really mean things.

 

[RGirl]

Sorry for the absence - work has been crazy, and all my down-time is spent working on job applications, etc.

I will be back Friday night and/or over the weekend to reply and update!

May even manage to finish up this report.

 

[amandaw]

Sorry for the absence - work has been crazy, and all my down-time is spent working on job applications, etc.

I will be back Friday night and/or over the weekend to reply and update!

May even manage to finish up this report.

No worries! Hope you're finding some good jobs (good locations ) to apply for!

 

[pas130]

I love how hard it is for WDW vets to fathom the layout of DLR. It is SO different from what you are used to. Yep - you catch the monorail in the middle of DTD (about a 2-minute walk from our hotel tower), and it drops you off in the middle of Tomorrowland. You actually go through the park turnstiles before you get on the monorail.

OMG - I am SO bad at the Buzz ride. Having removable guns definitely helped. But I still suck at it - I can never tell where I am aiming.

I am absolutely visiting DL via your TR! And I too suck at the Buzz ride

So, the monorail picked you up in DTD & dropped you off in Tomorrowland? Weird. How many monorail stops are there? It almost seems like everything is close enough to not need a monorail.

I would like it if the Buzz guns would come off in WDW. That would definitely help! FYI - if you want to learn how to get better on that ride, look up videos on YouTube. I secretly did this before our last trip last May. On one of our rides, I actually got a perfect score! Ed looked at me with this incredulous face. I ended up telling him where all of the big point targets are & he was also able to get a perfect score on a later ride.



I would be very interested to see that pro/con list for both parks. I'm sure they're both great in their own ways.

Pro/con list...I LOVE me a pro/con list...so now I have to go to Youtube to dazzle the kiddos with my Buzz skills..eh, it won't help me...hopeless

Sorry for the absence - work has been crazy, and all my down-time is spent working on job applications, etc.

I will be back Friday night and/or over the weekend to reply and update!

May even manage to finish up this report.

No apologies...I have been off the DIS for a few days so it was gret to come back to updates...I am super happy

 

[RGirl]

15. More Birthday Fun - It’s Good to Be FIVE! (Third Installment)

When I last left off, we had made our triumphant return to Tomorrowland after a very brief break at the hotel.

We next headed over to Frontierland for a ride on BTMRR in the dark. We encountered our longest wait of the trip here - I think we stood in that line for 15 minutes!




And then we hit the attraction that most differs from the version found at MK - Pirates. Now I remembered Pirates from my childhood as just amazing and fun. And I will admit that when we did Pirates for the first time at WDW in 2010, I was disappointed and thought that it was really amazing how much more exciting these things seem when you are a kid. Well, let me tell you, I didn’t misremember from when I was a kid - the DL version is just so, so, so much better - longer, with big drops, etc. DD loved it and said that she wouldn’t bother going on the Pirates at WDW again. I’m glad that this was the only attraction where the difference was this noticeable. Again, there was no wait.




Next, we decided to try out Winnie the Pooh’s ride.

There was no one there - it was like they were operating the ride just for us. The ride vehicles are totally different here!

I am not sure whether the ride itself was different - some of it was definitely the same, but I couldn’t remember whether there was a big birthday party scene in the WDW version; I’m guessing there is, but I have only done this ride once at MK, so I’m not sure!

(Next Installment Coming Up Soon!)​

 

[RGirl]

I really can't wrap my mind around the layout. You could walk everywhere? Scanned your ticket before you got on the monorail? This is bizarre!!!

I am so bad at buzz. Last trip I let Maddie turn the car, so I blamed that for my terrible score

Ahhh! It's Mickey's fault. Too funny that she ended up with two. Of course she plays with it now, it's from Mickey!!!

Yep - it is so much smaller, and we just loved that. It was awesome to get up in the morning, walk a little ways into DTD, get on the monorail and be dropped off inside DL.

Love the update! The birthday cake was so cute!!

I love seeing Disneyland and the comparisons to WDW. I would love to visit there someday!

Thanks! I hope you get to visit DL someday - we enjoyed it just as much as WDW.

Saw your post over on the DLR side of the boards and had to come read your trip report. Sounds like you girls had an wonderful time and were able to fully enjoy Disneyland. I've never been to WDW, so it's a little bizzare hearing how different the two are. I don't think I'd feel too comfortable having my fingerprint scanned to enter the park.

Your daughter is such a cutie and that dress looked wonderful on her.

Thanks for coming over to take a look at the report! The finger scan thing is so funny - it is just the norm at WDW, so it was bizarre not to have it at DLR. I suppose if I were going from DLR to WDW, I would have the opposite reaction!

 

[RGirl]

So, the monorail picked you up in DTD & dropped you off in Tomorrowland? Weird. How many monorail stops are there? It almost seems like everything is close enough to not need a monorail.

The monorail has only two stops - DTD and Tomorrowland. It carries you from DTD right into the park and drops you off right next to the Nemo ride.

Everything is definitely walkable, but especially with a commando five year old with very short legs, it is a huge plus to save that long walk through DTD and into one of the parks.

I would like it if the Buzz guns would come off in WDW. That would definitely help! FYI - if you want to learn how to get better on that ride, look up videos on YouTube. I secretly did this before our last trip last May. On one of our rides, I actually got a perfect score! Ed looked at me with this incredulous face. I ended up telling him where all of the big point targets are & he was also able to get a perfect score on a later ride.

I love that you YouTubed Buzz!

I would be very interested to see that pro/con list for both parks. I'm sure they're both great in their own ways.

I will definitely try to write up some kind of summary comparing the two destinations. I shouldn't call it a pro/con list - I love both places so much that I hate to think of anything as a con.

Yeah, I don't like the rumors about the whole new FP system. I'm hoping it doesn't come to fruition. I'm already trying to figure out when the best times to travel will be once Reid starts real school in 2013.

I just cannot wrap my head around the new FP/NextGen/whatever system. I think it's all just rumor though, right?

That's funny that she made you have Lotso. I've actually been surprised that Lotso has never scared Reid. He'll come up to me & say, "I'm a hugger" (in a Lotso voice) and give me a big hug. I don't think he understands that Lotso does some really mean things.

DD was very excited to get him (for a long time, it was all she wanted for Christmas). Apparently, his cuddliness turns sinister once the lights go down....

No worries! Hope you're finding some good jobs (good locations ) to apply for!

Thanks! I have an interview on Tuesday for a job in the DC area. I'm actually thinking about canceling it because I don't think even a large income increase would make up for the high cost of living there. I don't want to feel MORE financially stressed! I got a listing for a job in San Antonio this week - I am crossing my fingers hard for that one; the cost of living there looks amazing, it's never cold, etc.

 

[RGirl]

I am absolutely visiting DL via your TR! And I too suck at the Buzz ride


Pro/con list...I LOVE me a pro/con list...so now I have to go to Youtube to dazzle the kiddos with my Buzz skills..eh, it won't help me...hopeless


No apologies...I have been off the DIS for a few days so it was gret to come back to updates...I am super happy

YouTube would not help me either!

Glad we are both back on the board for some Disney fun!

 

[RGirl]

16. More Birthday Fun - It’s Good to Be FIVE! (Fourth Installment)

At this point, our feet were hurting and we were tired, so we decided to hop on the DL RR for a ride around the park. DD wanted to go all the way around to Main Street and walk back over to CA to use our ToT FPs. I was surprised that she could keep going - we had been walking since about 8:30 that morning! Waiting for the train:

But she was willing to walk if it meant ToT. So we made our way back over to CA and then through the park to ToT. Looks like we stopped for some PP pics on the way.

We used our FPs, but it was kind of silly - there was no wait at all. So, of course, we got off and got right back on.

At this point, we were getting really hungry and needed to find some dinner. We took a few pictures as we wandered out of CA.

In DTD, we decided to just hit up the Rainforest Cafe because it might be fun. We got a buzzer and waited. DD was fading fast - her feet hurt, she was tired, etc. Finally, we decided to just skip the fun of the restaurant and eat at the bar. Good thing because DD was about ready to pass out. In fact, I had to leave most of my dinner because she was ready to sleep.

We shared a caesar salad.

DD had chicken strips.

And I had a few bites of the nachos.

DD somehow managed to hoof it the rest of the way back to the hotel. I got her into some jammies, and she was sound asleep within about 60 seconds. I think she had a great birthday!

Up next: 17. Some New Attractions and Some New Characters​

 

[amandaw]

Love the updates! I think Willow had a fantastic birthday! What more could a little girl ask for as a birthday gift?

I have to admit that you kind of have me wanting to go to DLR just to ride Pirates. It's always been one of my absolute favorite rides & I'd love to experience the longer version, especially if it has bigger drops!

Willow was quite the little trooper that day!

The monorail has only two stops - DTD and Tomorrowland. It carries you from DTD right into the park and drops you off right next to the Nemo ride.

Everything is definitely walkable, but especially with a commando five year old with very short legs, it is a huge plus to save that long walk through DTD and into one of the parks.

It's so hard for me to try & wrap my head around the size of DLR. I definitely could see where the monorail would still come in handy there.

I love that you YouTubed Buzz!

Ed & I can get a bit competitive with these kinds of things. I wanted to WOW him with my skill! It was actually someone else on these boards that told me about looking it up on YouTube. Even if it doesn't help improve your aim, at least you know where to aim for the big points!

I will definitely try to write up some kind of summary comparing the two destinations. I shouldn't call it a pro/con list - I love both places so much that I hate to think of anything as a con.

Can't wait to see your comparisons - should be very interesting.

I just cannot wrap my head around the new FP/NextGen/whatever system. I think it's all just rumor though, right?

I hope it's all rumors but I don't know. Next week should supposedly be the beginning of the FP time enforcement. Then, I read somewhere that CM's will be handing out FP's for parades & fireworks as a trial for the NextGen (or whatever it'll be called) system. Also, there's been pictures posted of these big boxes outside of Star Tours & ToT. A lot of people are wondering if it has something to do with a new FP system. But, again, who knows? I don't like all of these possible impending changes with the FP system I know & love so well!

DD was very excited to get him (for a long time, it was all she wanted for Christmas). Apparently, his cuddliness turns sinister once the lights go down....

Well, that is pretty much how is in the movie. All nice in the day & a big meaning at night. But, for some reason, my family loves Lotso. We regularly talk in a Lotso voice over here.

Thanks! I have an interview on Tuesday for a job in the DC area. I'm actually thinking about canceling it because I don't think even a large income increase would make up for the high cost of living there. I don't want to feel MORE financially stressed! I got a listing for a job in San Antonio this week - I am crossing my fingers hard for that one; the cost of living there looks amazing, it's never cold, etc.

Well, if you do keep the interview in DC....best of luck to you! I can't say I blame you for not being stoked to move to DC. I have heard a lot of good things about San Antonio. I have a friend who lives nearby & her family is always going to San Antonio for the weekend to do stuff.

 

[RGirl]

Love the updates! I think Willow had a fantastic birthday! What more could a little girl ask for as a birthday gift?

Yeah, I keep thinking how much I would have loved to have a birthday like that!

I have to admit that you kind of have me wanting to go to DLR just to ride Pirates. It's always been one of my absolute favorite rides & I'd love to experience the longer version, especially if it has bigger drops!

You know, I was thinking tonight about the effect that the documentary had on you. I have a few friends who grew up in the Anaheim area without money - kids who didn't get to go to Disneyland and didn't have much opportunity in any other way. Even now, as grown-ups, they look back on being able to see the DL fireworks from their homes as a happy memory. I guess my point is that kids are living in abject poverty all over this country (and world); the fact that that is also the case outside DL shouldn't ruin the experience any more for you than the fact that there are kids living that way right outside WDW right now. There are kids living that way just around the corner from all of us. Hmm - I am actually getting a little too heavy and depressing for myself right now, so I am going to stop.

Willow was quite the little trooper that day!

You know, I was so proud of her. In October at WDW, we had a stroller and used it every day (as you know). She had grown up so much just in those few months. She never even thought of a stroller while we were at DLR. If anything, she was more commando than I was!

It's so hard for me to try & wrap my head around the size of DLR. I definitely could see where the monorail would still come in handy there.

It is really hard to fathom when you are used to WDW. I think that was my biggest concern going in - it would be too small, not immersive, etc. That first day sold me completely. Yes, it is smaller, and it is a little less immersive (as you will see, WDW wins out in that department hands down), but the convenience and relaxed atmosphere made up for it - very different but equally good.

Ed & I can get a bit competitive with these kinds of things. I wanted to WOW him with my skill! It was actually someone else on these boards that told me about looking it up on YouTube. Even if it doesn't help improve your aim, at least you know where to aim for the big points!

I have to say that one of the main reasons that I have not managed to get married in all these years is my competitive nature so I totally understand!!!

I hope it's all rumors but I don't know. Next week should supposedly be the beginning of the FP time enforcement. Then, I read somewhere that CM's will be handing out FP's for parades & fireworks as a trial for the NextGen (or whatever it'll be called) system. Also, there's been pictures posted of these big boxes outside of Star Tours & ToT. A lot of people are wondering if it has something to do with a new FP system. But, again, who knows? I don't like all of these possible impending changes with the FP system I know & love so well!

I am nervous! I will trust in the DIS board people to figure out how to make things work and educate me. But I am nervous!!!!

Well, that is pretty much how is in the movie. All nice in the day & a big meaning at night. But, for some reason, my family loves Lotso. We regularly talk in a Lotso voice over here.

I should find the 2-second video of DD doing this funny Lotso Huggin' Bear voice. It is hilarious. We love him too. (just not at night....)

Well, if you do keep the interview in DC....best of luck to you! I can't say I blame you for not being stoked to move to DC. I have heard a lot of good things about San Antonio. I have a friend who lives nearby & her family is always going to San Antonio for the weekend to do stuff.

Thanks! I am stressing about what to do. I see that as a red flag. I don't have to hurry to find a job - I have a good job right now and can wait for the right opportunity. I have lived in the DC area twice before - it is wicked expensive. And I know I won't be able to sell my house here (will have to rent), so I will have to be pretty frugal wherever we go. I just can't quite wrap my head around the idea of moving my child and dog to an apartment, and that might be necessary in the DC area. I don't think I can do that. I plan to have a good chat with my brother on Monday - he can help me run the numbers (he's much better at that) - and, if it looks impossible, I will cancel the interview; I don't want to waste anyone's time if I know that I won't take the job if offered. Texas, however, is looking GOOD for us right now. If I get an interview for that job I will be a nervous wreck because I will REALLY want to get an offer!

 

[shan23877]

Sounds like Willow had a fantastic birthday! You guys had a really full day, I can't believe that Willow walked all day! DD wouldn't have lasted 2 hours

Too bad you didn't get to eat much dinner, but the salad looked good!

 

[RGirl]

Sounds like Willow had a fantastic birthday! You guys had a really full day, I can't believe that Willow walked all day! DD wouldn't have lasted 2 hours

Too bad you didn't get to eat much dinner, but the salad looked good!

It really was just an incredible birthday.

And, seriously, if you had asked me last November whether I thought DD could walk from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the parks for 3 days straight, I would have laughed my butt off. But she could and she did. Your DD would probably surprise you too.

You know, we actually had a really nice time at dinner. DD had totally had enough, but it did not result in any whining, screaming, or acting out, which is unusual when over-tired. Although we had to scram before we were done, up until that moment, we had a really nice time together, coloring, talking about our day, etc. It was actually lovely. I was a little sad that DD missed out totally on the Rainforest experience (which I have never experienced myself ), but I'm glad that I decided to throw that out the window and opt for the bar so that we managed to have some dinner and down time together before she totally passed out.

All in all, it was such a fun birthday. I wish we could do that every year!

 

[amandaw]

Yeah, I keep thinking how much I would have loved to have a birthday like that!

No kidding, right?!? If you'd like, you can throw me a birthday party like that....even at DLR! It could be a joint party with Willow next January since my birthday is January 19th!

You know, I was thinking tonight about the effect that the documentary had on you. I have a few friends who grew up in the Anaheim area without money - kids who didn't get to go to Disneyland and didn't have much opportunity in any other way. Even now, as grown-ups, they look back on being able to see the DL fireworks from their homes as a happy memory. I guess my point is that kids are living in abject poverty all over this country (and world); the fact that that is also the case outside DL shouldn't ruin the experience any more for you than the fact that there are kids living that way right outside WDW right now. There are kids living that way just around the corner from all of us. Hmm - I am actually getting a little too heavy and depressing for myself right now, so I am going to stop.

I think it was more the crime than the poverty from the documentary that made me want to stay away from that area. The poverty just really made me so sad for the kids. It just breaks my heart to think of what some kids (all over the US & the world) grow up in.

You know, I was so proud of her. In October at WDW, we had a stroller and used it every day (as you know). She had grown up so much just in those few months. She never even thought of a stroller while we were at DLR. If anything, she was more commando than I was!

She really did great! And she'll probably become more of a commando with each trip! Although, y'all won't have to be commando on the cruise, which will be nice.

It is really hard to fathom when you are used to WDW. I think that was my biggest concern going in - it would be too small, not immersive, etc. That first day sold me completely. Yes, it is smaller, and it is a little less immersive (as you will see, WDW wins out in that department hands down), but the convenience and relaxed atmosphere made up for it - very different but equally good.

I think that would be one of my concerns, too. But, I do like that there are rides that WDW doesn't have. And that the ones that they both have seem to have differences.

I have to say that one of the main reasons that I have not managed to get married in all these years is my competitive nature so I totally understand!!!

That's funny! I do wish I had a picture to show you of Ed's face when I scored a perfect score on Buzz. Priceless! Worth every minute of staying up late to secretly watch/study Buzz videos.

I am nervous! I will trust in the DIS board people to figure out how to make things work and educate me. But I am nervous!!!!

Me too! But, you're right.....the experts here will most definitely be able to fully educate us. So, at least we won't be going in completely blind when/if it happens.

I should find the 2-second video of DD doing this funny Lotso Huggin' Bear voice. It is hilarious. We love him too. (just not at night....)

I bet that is too cute! I'd love to see it if you can find it.

Thanks! I am stressing about what to do. I see that as a red flag. I don't have to hurry to find a job - I have a good job right now and can wait for the right opportunity. I have lived in the DC area twice before - it is wicked expensive. And I know I won't be able to sell my house here (will have to rent), so I will have to be pretty frugal wherever we go. I just can't quite wrap my head around the idea of moving my child and dog to an apartment, and that might be necessary in the DC area. I don't think I can do that. I plan to have a good chat with my brother on Monday - he can help me run the numbers (he's much better at that) - and, if it looks impossible, I will cancel the interview; I don't want to waste anyone's time if I know that I won't take the job if offered. Texas, however, is looking GOOD for us right now. If I get an interview for that job I will be a nervous wreck because I will REALLY want to get an offer!

Don't stress.....let your brother crunch numbers & see what he says. Even if you do go through the interview, it doesn't mean you have to take the job. Could be good practice for future interviews. I'll say some prayers that you get an interview for the Texas job!

 

[RGirl]

No kidding, right?!? If you'd like, you can throw me a birthday party like that....even at DLR! It could be a joint party with Willow next January since my birthday is January 19th!

OMG - you and Willow have the same birthday!!!! I had no idea! Obviously, we are going to have to shoot for a super-duper-birthday-palooza-blow-out-all-the-stops-Disney-trip-of-some-sort-extravaganza!!!!

I think it was more the crime than the poverty from the documentary that made me want to stay away from that area. The poverty just really made me so sad for the kids. It just breaks my heart to think of what some kids (all over the US & the world) grow up in.

Oh, I totally understand. But poverty and crime - they go hand in hand, right? Ugh - it is such a depressing thought especially when you are dosing it out to yourself in connection with the happiest places on earth. I am pretty sure Orlando has a huge crime and poverty rate too, right? Maybe I have that wrong. Regardless, the juxtaposition of wealth and opulence in this country versus abject poverty and crime-ridden neighborhoods is playing out all over.

She really did great! And she'll probably become more of a commando with each trip! Although, y'all won't have to be commando on the cruise, which will be nice.

If she becomes any more commando, I will drop dead. You know, I have actually toyed with the idea of canceling our cruise the last month or so. I don't even know if we still be here then!!! Ugh - I need to figure out what to do. I have until mid-April to make the final payment. I need to figure out what the heck I am doing with our little family. Sometimes being 100% in charge of all decisions for a family is a total nightmare - really scary.

I think that would be one of my concerns, too. But, I do like that there are rides that WDW doesn't have. And that the ones that they both have seem to have differences.

Really, I was so worried the last couple months before we left. Let me tell you a little story. When I put DD to bed every night, we have this little routine about how her princess carriage (her bed that looks like a carriage) will take her off to a world of dreams, and I ask her where her first stop will be that night. For years, it has been "Disney World." Since we got back in January, every single night has been "Disneyland" even if I try to sway her to Disney World or the cruise. She LOVED Disneyland - I actually think she liked it better than WDW.

That's funny! I do wish I had a picture to show you of Ed's face when I scored a perfect score on Buzz. Priceless! Worth every minute of staying up late to secretly watch/study Buzz videos.

I would LOVE to see that picture. I think I could get married if I knew there would be healthy competition like that!

Me too! But, you're right.....the experts here will most definitely be able to fully educate us. So, at least we won't be going in completely blind when/if it happens.

Exactly! These boards are amazing. Sometimes I try to imagine what our first Disney experience would have been like without these boards. Frankly, I just cringe at the thought!

I bet that is too cute! I'd love to see it if you can find it.

I will try to find it. I recently upgraded my iPhone - I think all the videos made the transition, but I'm not sure. It is really a stupid video - like 5 seconds, I think - just shows DD's love of Lotso! hahaha

Don't stress.....let your brother crunch numbers & see what he says. Even if you do go through the interview, it doesn't mean you have to take the job. Could be good practice for future interviews. I'll say some prayers that you get an interview for the Texas job!

Exactly. I know I should take the practice. But I feel guilty to waste someone's time. I know how hard it is to find good attorneys in a government office of counsel. I don't want to mess with anyone. Or burn later bridges. It's a tough call. San Antonio would be SO much better for us. I would be singing from the rooftops if I got that interview - the cost of living there is about $20,000 less a year than here and if I got the job I would be making significantly more money than here. I could feel really secure in my ability to support my family, send my child to college, etc. The big weight around my neck would be eased significantly.

 

[hstrickland]

Finally caught up....again!

I must say that I've never been super interested in going to DL, but after reading and viewing your pictures, I'm sold! The crowds were ridiculously low!!! What in the world?? Now the hotel doesn't look as 'Disney' as WDW's resorts, but the theme park looks great! And I thought that the castle was just fine...not sure what people don't like??? I can't get over Willow's dress! Unbelievable!!! And what made the experience so perfect was the meeting of Mary Poppins! That will be something that she never forgets.

I'm glad your trip went so well! I know you were not as excited about this trip as your WDW trip....but looks like everything is moving along without flaw.

Looking forward to more!
Heather