~A XMAS STORY~decorations, crowds, pixies..AND A BLOODY NOSE~ACTUAL UPDATE 11/9 p190

[punkin413]

update on my neighbor.....

she e-mailed me her ADRs yesterday. here's what she had:

wednesday: hollywood & vine dinner
thursday: CP breakfast / garden grill dinner
friday: CP breakfast (again) / tony's dinner
saturday: tusker house breakfast / narcoosee's dinner

i tried to redo her schedule to make those ADRs work and there was no way. plus she wanted a princess meal. so i called last night and here's what i ended up getting her:

wednesday: kona cafe dinner
thursday: norway akershus lunch / tony's dinner
friday: kept the CP breakfast / 50's primetime cafe dinner
saturday: i kept the same because this worked for her schedule

there wasn't a lot to choose from! basically the CM just had to tell me what she had available each day because there were only a few!

her itinerary is:

wednesday: arrival / DHS day / epcot evening
thursday: epcot day / MK evening
friday: MK day / DHS evening
saturday: AK day / MK evening
sunday: DTD before they leave

so it's all good now! i hope she has fun. i know her little girl will appreciate the akershus lunch. i know the food there gets mixed reviews but i think the princesses were more important than the food for them at least for one meal.

It's CMs like these that make a trip really nice!

Good eye! I love finding those.

He sounds just like Layne Staley!

i totally agree!

i actually didn't see that mickey until i was looking through our pictures.

sure he sounds like layne staley.....and i sound like aretha franklin.

Too funny!!! I love how his little girl comes in and looks up at him with bewilderment in her eyes. Like "what the heck is my dad doing?"
It is truly amazing how kids can sleep through t.v and loud music in the background. I could never do it.
The only thing that I can tell you about your neighbor is, is maybe she vacations differently than you do. Maybe she likes to be stressed out. All you can do is what she allows you to do, and that's it. I think that a lot of people don't understand the dining plan and that you have to make ressies WAY in advance. I still think that a lot of folks don't even know that you have to MAKE ressies for table service meals. The reservation people should explain that to people when they call and book their trips with dining plans. Good luck with that!
Anna should have a craft show on HGTV!

i know - i saw evelyn do that and thought the same thing! i thought lex was so cute snoozing in the bed while we were all having fun.

You are so sweet to help your neighbor! I don't think she realizes how important planning is. She'll realize when she finds she just can't walk into any restaurant she wants and won't be seated.

thanks! i love helping people with disney vacations. i think in another life i was a travel agent.

Another great update! The pictures all came out so good, Sci-Fi's such a fun place! I loved the video too!

And don't let the neighbor situation bother you. It's great that you can help her, but it's not worth getting stressed over. I'm sure she'll come around eventually when she has some time!

thanks! thanks! read above for an update about my neighbor.

great update and pics.

loved the married pics.

the guys enjoying the restaurant pic was hysterical also.

Now remember not everyone is a Disney person.

I will not allow photopass shares on my site. I see as stealing from Disney personally. But that is just me.

Can't wait for more.

thanks! i love those married pics, too! i see your point on the photopass. but i also see the other side of it. i spent lots of money at disney this year and i don't feel that me getting a discount on a photopass CD is a big deal. AND i know that lots of people that would not otherwise buy the CD for $100 are getting a CD through a share and that means, when you look at the big picture, more CDs are likely being ordered than if these shares didn't exist because all these people in shares WOULDN'T be buying one for the full price. so actually disney is probably profiting off of it anyway. but i can also see what you're saying.

I can't imagine trying to plan a Disney trip with no internet! This is my first trip and I am totally obsessed. I just can't wait to try to make my adr's. I don't know what I would do if we got there and didn't have any. This is a little off Disney but I was thinking of getting my fiance, Mike Rock Band for Valentines Day. Is is totally awesome? And I am so jealous that you got to see The Killers. Someday I will go. I see that you had to wait a long time too.

i know! there's nothing wrong with not having internet - it would just be so difficult to try to plan anything like this. but if you've never known any different than maybe it's not a big deal.

and yes, rock band is totally awesome. you guys will love it. i'm not a video game person and i really love it!

Good Sci-Fi pictures. Brooklynn got light up cubes, too, and we got a couple of those same cups. We've been there twice. The atmosphere is fun and it's something different, especially for kids.

Luke probably should get used to women wanting to hug him. He's a cutie, so that's going to happen to him a lot, I think.

I hope you can get your friend situated enough that she can have a good trip. Sounds like maybe she needs one.

That's a sweet video of the little guy sound asleep on the bed in spite all of the activity going on around him.

thanks! yeah, i think that about luke, too. anna's gonna have a lot to deal with in a few years!!!

lex asleep on the bed was so cute. i really had no idea he was asleep in there. i thought he was watching peter pan!

Love your updates! My family has thought I lost my mind as I have been planning this trip since we booked it back in August. All of my frustration trying to get through to book ADR's for 3 months and my crazy excitement when I finally got through and got every ADR I wanted, and then I let them in on some of the people I have met on DIS. Now they know that it is not just me!! Anyway, I think I have planned the best I can but the one thing I can't seem to find anything on is what attractions to avoid at certain times or which parks are busiest on which days. Unfortunately we are there the week prior to Easter, but are actually leaving WDW on April 9th which is probably a good thing as it is right before Easter weekend. Do you have any advice on this? The only day I can't fudge is the the 8th as that is DD's birthday and she has planned that whole day out.

thanks! congrats on your upcoming trip! i would recommend either tourguidemike.com or touringplans.com. those are the two that i've heard good things about. i think you have to pay for both but it's not a lot and from what i've heard it's worth it. i like tourguidemike but i think i may try touringplans next time because tourguidemike is hard to navigate sometimes. and if you're not an early riser (and i'm not!) his plans really don't work that well for you.

Well, if she can I hope she waits until she goes into labor. I think all this inducing being done now is not always necessary. No one really lets people just 'have' babies any more. If it's a medical reason, fine but if it's just b/c your Dr. won't be there the next week or you are miserable and tired of being pregnant then I think it should wait. It's all about 'convenience' now. I would just like to know what happened to what's best for the baby, not yourself. Not to mention they can always be off about your due date one way or the other. Will get off my soap-box now...I could talk forever about it. And sorry if I offended anyone....not my intentions

with maddie she went into labor 6 weeks early. so i know she won't be lasting until her due date. i have a feeling april 2nd is not even going to be an issue because she's already having contractions and they're watching her VERY closely right now. keep her in your prayers.

funny!
That's prob exactly how Matt would be!

YUMMY!!!! I need to have one of those....might try and make that this summer

it was so good!!!!

you know this picture cracks me up!

it just fits us.

 

[tinkgurl]

i tried to redo her schedule to make those ADRs work and there was no way. plus she wanted a princess meal. so i called last night and here's what i ended up getting her:

wednesday: kona cafe dinner
thursday: norway akershus lunch / tony's dinner
friday: kept the CP breakfast / 50's primetime cafe dinner
saturday: i kept the same because this worked for her schedule

Looks great to me! I hope she has a good time.

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

I can't believe I haven't read this trip report sooner! I'm catching up right now!

 

[DisneyLaura]

Ok I have to come clean with my fellow DISers. I too have gone to Disney and have not planned. We just ate whereever, I did make ressie's for Chef Mickey's though but that was before I knew about the DIS boards. Now being on the boards for awhile I wouldn't think of even trying to do Disney they I did almost 5 years ago. We're going to Disney in Nov and I'm already putting things in my head where we should eat, now I have to wait until 90 days out to make ressie's but I will have it all on paper before then, so I'm prepared. Some people just don't understand but we all know better, don't we

Dawn - thanks for the video's, John does sound just like him. Thanks for sharing. Oh and Chris looks like he's having a lot of fun too

 

[ArielSRL]

I posted this in a PM to you, Dawn, but then I thought, more people may be interested:

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This sale ends on Feb. 13.

For more information and to buy tickets, click below:
http://www.travelzoo.com/Newsflash.asp?530635

 

[scottny]

thanks! i love those married pics, too! i see your point on the photopass. but i also see the other side of it. i spent lots of money at disney this year and i don't feel that me getting a discount on a photopass CD is a big deal. AND i know that lots of people that would not otherwise buy the CD for $100 are getting a CD through a share and that means, when you look at the big picture, more CDs are likely being ordered than if these shares didn't exist because all these people in shares WOULDN'T be buying one for the full price. so actually disney is probably profiting off of it anyway. but i can also see what you're saying.

so be it. we disagree and move on. I just see at one of the reasons prices keep going up.

The savings are nice. I have read way too many threads where the shares have gone so wrong I guess.

Ok waiting for next update.

 

[kschafer]

I think all this inducing being done now is not always necessary. No one really lets people just 'have' babies any more. If it's a medical reason, fine but if it's just b/c your Dr. won't be there the next week or you are miserable and tired of being pregnant then I think it should wait. It's all about 'convenience' now. I would just like to know what happened to what's best for the baby, not yourself.

Spoken like a woman who has never been 8 months pregnant in the dog-heat of the summer!

Just teasing you Erica! I was finally induced with my first at 4 days overdue because my blood pressure was rising fast and he was showing NO signs of leaving soon. My second was a scheduled C-section and he decided to arrive 1 1/2 weeks early. Little unpredictable buggers!

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

Spoken like a woman who has never been 8 months pregnant in the dog-heat of the summer!

Just teasing you Erica! I was finally induced with my first at 4 days overdue because my blood pressure was rising fast and he was showing NO signs of leaving soon. My second was a scheduled C-section and he decided to arrive 1 1/2 weeks early. Little unpredictable buggers!

Oh girl, I feel your pain! Jake was due September 13 and that whole summer was MISERABLE! Especially August! My doctor did not want to schedule me for an induction until I was 2 weeks overdue, so finally she went ahead and scheduled one for September 24th and wouldn't you know? He decided to make his arrival on the 23rd! Definitely unpredictable!

 

[ArielSRL]

Haven't caught up yet and have to finish my work so I can go home, but great update so far!

Had to say the new guy I am dating just moved here in November, so we plan to it the Aquarium one of these days - I've never been. IKEA - bought quite a bit of my apt furniture there. I was downtown an hour before the Olympic bombing. My camera - Kodak - has a night setting and it does the same thing, has to stay steady, so I am considering getting a Gorillapod...heard they are great, will wrap around railings and such so you don't have to have a flat surface to put it on.

Okay...will finish reading another day.

 

[kschafer]

Oh girl, I feel your pain! Jake was due September 13 and that whole summer was MISERABLE! Especially August! My doctor did not want to schedule me for an induction until I was 2 weeks overdue, so finally she went ahead and scheduled one for September 24th and wouldn't you know? He decided to make his arrival on the 23rd! Definitely unpredictable!

TWO WEEKS I about kissed my OB when he suggested it at only 4 days overdue.

My second was born Sep 17 and August was terrible!! We have AC in our house but it is an old system and doesn't cool the upstairs very well. One night I was exhausted and in tears because I was so hot and miserable when I went to bed. My darling hubby went out to the store and bought and installed a window AC in our bedroom. He did all this without waking me up. I didn't even notice until I got up in the middle of the night (preggo lady bladder ), and walked out into the hallway and realized how much cooler it was in our room. He was Husband of the Year for me!

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

TWO WEEKS I about kissed my OB when he suggested it at only 4 days overdue.

My second was born Sep 17 and August was terrible!! We have AC in our house but it is an old system and doesn't cool the upstairs very well. One night I was exhausted and in tears because I was so hot and miserable when I went to bed. My darling hubby went out to the store and bought and installed a window AC in our bedroom. He did all this without waking me up. I didn't even notice until I got up in the middle of the night (preggo lady bladder ), and walked out into the hallway and realized how much cooler it was in our room. He was Husband of the Year for me!

Haha, I remember telling Jake that I didn't sign up for 10 months of pregnancy, so he's lucky he came when he did!

What a sweet hubby you have! Being pregnant in the summer heat = no bueno. I don't think I wanna do that again!

 

[MeMom]

One night I was exhausted and in tears because I was so hot and miserable when I went to bed. My darling hubby went out to the store and bought and installed a window AC in our bedroom. He did all this without waking me up. I didn't even notice until I got up in the middle of the night (preggo lady bladder ), and walked out into the hallway and realized how much cooler it was in our room. He was Husband of the Year for me!

What a sweet guy! I think he is a keeper!

He doesn't have single older brother, does he?

 

[alan_renfroe]

Damn! Where have I been? I have just now found your trip report and it is AWESOME!!! I've still been reading the Vandy girls thread, but I didn't know about this one! Subscribing....of course.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Good job on the planning for your neighbor, Dawn! It's a good thing she finally let you help. I don't know how some people can just show up and expect to know what to do. Those are the people who come back and say "never again" because of the long lines, etc. I was just reading a thread on TGM about a band group booked with a clueless tour company - feel really bad for those people, they're getting really ripped off, but won't listen to the gal who's trying to tell them.

WARNING: Shameless PTR plug here - My March 09 PTR is in my siggie - please come and join us!

 

[kschafer]

What a sweet guy! I think he is a keeper!

He doesn't have single older brother, does he?

Yeah, he drives me crazy sometimes but I think I will hang onto him Sorry MeMom, 3 brothers, none are single, and even if they were, trust me...you don't want them. Greg is NOTHING like them (thank goodness)

 

[timandlesley]

I read your most recent post and forgot to reply right away , sorry about that .
We love Sci Fi too, if you do as you said: stick to the basics. Those shakes you and Ray got looked yummy! The pics of you guys in the car (make out photo's and you and Ray killing eachother - too funny )
Can't wait for more!
Those Disneyshopping buys were great, good deals! She's lucky to have an aunt to spoil her!
Lesley

 

[mansionterror]

thanks! i bet your DS would love it, too! i do see it i think! are you talking about the mickey on the metal side step thing next to luke?

Yep, that is it. I love all those special touches and think it is neat when I actually spot a hidden mickey. I have the hardest time finding them.

 

[punkin413]

hey, guys! sorry i haven't been around much lately. i have a cracked wisdom tooth that i've been dealing with and i have a rush transcript i've got to work on this weekend. so i can't update until i'm done with that. (don't worry, erica - i have an appointment with an oral surgeon on march 5th so it's being taken care of! ) anyway, i just had to share this with you all. i can't believe someone i went to high school with is riding in a parade with mickey mouse. I'M SO JEALOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.disunplugged.com/2009/02/12/american-idol-parade-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/

 

[MeMom]

hey, guys! sorry i haven't been around much lately. i have a cracked wisdom tooth that i've been dealing with and i have a rush transcript i've got to work on this weekend. so i can't update until i'm done with that. (don't worry, erica - i have an appointment with an oral surgeon on march 5th so it's being taken care of! )

Tooth pain will bring you down.

I hope you have a nice Valentine's Day tomorrow in spite of it.

 

[Camster0307]

Hey Dawn - I know I've been MIA for awhile but I was committed to catching up tonite.......

Loved the baby clothes. God I was such a sucker for those things! I miss those days soooo much!

Great pix from SciFi. I really enjoy that place. I know it gets a bad rap around here but the atomosphere is so much fun and the food is decent enough; and those shakes...............YUM!

You are such a good friend to your neighbor. People like that make me crazy! They just don't get it; and worse, then they come back from Disney complaining about how bad it was. I feel like telling those people: "Well, maybe if you PLANNED properly, you would have had a better trip!" I hope all goes well with your friends'!

Sorry about the tooth problems. Hope you're feeling better soon!