All I Want For Christmas Is an Okapi, a Dinosaur, a Herd of Elephants and ...

[micandminforever]

Your next trip plans sound great. Thats what I love about Disney. It does not matter how many times you visit there is always new things to discover and do.

 

[thedonduck]

We are beginning to formulate plans for our trip. There are so many things we want to get in. We have some DIS meets planned; one to see Yehaa Bob for the first time. Epcot has Brave games and a play area for kids, so I want to check that out. We want to see Brave at the eat-in movie theater. Tom Sawyer Island/Fort Langhorn is reopening after a refurb on June 30, so I'd like to boat over and see that. We want to ride the riverboat, because the girls have not done that. We want to do the Behind the Seeds Tour. Animal Kingdom is having a Sundown Celebration in the evenings up to the 30th. We want to check out Art of Animation. We're trying out several new restaurants. There will be much to see and do this time!

We are really excited to check out the Sundown Celebration. I'm hoping we can make it there some time this week. I'm hoping to convince my DH that it would be a great "dinner". We shall see! Can't believe your trip is less than 2 weeks away.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Hey Memom - how many days is your trip this time? Is this the one that you and Brooklynn staying longer?
It sounds like you are all going to have a lot of fun (like usual!)
I get so confused with all these DISers trips to keep track of! And I'm not even going at the same time!

 

[DWGal210]

You're so close to your trip!! Yay for 2 weeks!!

In the dessert choices, write me down for carrot cake. YUM - my absolute favorite!! I'm trying to get healthy & eat less sweets so the virtual cake is tiding me over!

Sounds like you have all sorts of fun plans for your trip!!

 

[Poolrat]

If you get a moist one, it is good. The base layer is red velvet cake. I have had several that had a dry cake base, and those are not a bit exciting.

I agree- need to look them over before you get one. Most times you can get a good one.

I was sorry Jill had not gone with us, since we got the cowboy, but she got some good character time with Bella. I hope there are Photopass pictures of that.

There are. If Jill is too busy, I can probably upload some if you want.

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We are beginning to formulate plans for our trip. There are so many things we want to get in. We have some DIS meets planned; one to see Yehaa Bob for the first time. Epcot has Brave games and a play area for kids, so I want to check that out. We want to see Brave at the eat-in movie theater. Tom Sawyer Island/Fort Langhorn is reopening after a refurb on June 30, so I'd like to boat over and see that. We want to ride the riverboat, because the girls have not done that. We want to do the Behind the Seeds Tour. Animal Kingdom is having a Sundown Celebration in the evenings up to the 30th. We want to check out Art of Animation. We're trying out several new restaurants. There will be much to see and do this time!

Some good plans. Look like I will miss the Sundwon Celebration but maybe like the Taste of Africa????

Getting excited.

 

[Megablocks]

We are beginning to formulate plans for our trip. There are so many things we want to get in. We have some DIS meets planned; one to see Yehaa Bob for the first time. Epcot has Brave games and a play area for kids, so I want to check that out. We want to see Brave at the eat-in movie theater. Tom Sawyer Island/Fort Langhorn is reopening after a refurb on June 30, so I'd like to boat over and see that. We want to ride the riverboat, because the girls have not done that. We want to do the Behind the Seeds Tour. Animal Kingdom is having a Sundown Celebration in the evenings up to the 30th. We want to check out Art of Animation. We're trying out several new restaurants. There will be much to see and do this time!

Sounds AWESOME! I'm so excited for you guys!

 

[MeMom]

Your next trip plans sound great. Thats what I love about Disney. It does not matter how many times you visit there is always new things to discover and do.

I thought of something else we talked about, too. We're thinking about doing that buffet lunch that Poolrat was talking about at Coronado Springs. John hasn't been to CSR, and we think we will all like the food.

We are really excited to check out the Sundown Celebration. I'm hoping we can make it there some time this week. I'm hoping to convince my DH that it would be a great "dinner". We shall see! Can't believe your trip is less than 2 weeks away.

If you do, please report back on your findings!

And if you want to share pictures, feel free.

Hey Memom - how many days is your trip this time? Is this the one that you and Brooklynn staying longer?
It sounds like you are all going to have a lot of fun (like usual!)
I get so confused with all these DISers trips to keep track of! And I'm not even going at the same time!

Yes, we are all going down the morning of June 23rd. Jill, John, and Bella will come home on the 1st, and Brooklynn and I will stay until the 5th.

I am the same way - I can't remember who is coming and going. Sometimes, I know we completely forget to meet up with people.

You're so close to your trip!! Yay for 2 weeks!!

In the dessert choices, write me down for carrot cake. YUM - my absolute favorite!! I'm trying to get healthy & eat less sweets so the virtual cake is tiding me over!

Sounds like you have all sorts of fun plans for your trip!!

Virtual cake would not work for me. Since school has been out, I've been munching all day long on the days I have been home! It's a good thing they don't have that 'Ohana bread pudding at Pop, because that is one of my favorite desserts ever. I would be a huge (huger) cow after a long stay!

I agree- need to look them over before you get one. Most times you can get a good one.

There are. If Jill is too busy, I can probably upload some if you want.

Some good plans. Look like I will miss the Sundwon Celebration but maybe like the Taste of Africa????

Getting excited.

I'm thinking like Taste of Africa, too. There are going to be games and dancing and special kids' activities. I want to be sure to check this out early in the trip. Since it's in that window of the afternoon that gets a lot of rain, I don't want to wait until too late in the trip and then end up getting rained out of ever getting to do it.

I am going to go check on the Photopass pictures. Jill is out shopping, but she says she thinks they might be loaded. If not, feel free to do it if you have time. She has her hands full packing for four.

Sounds AWESOME! I'm so excited for you guys!

I am starting to feel it now. With the workshops over, I can concentrate on camp stuff and the trip. When Trent gets back from Colorado, I will take over the suitcase he took and really get started packing more seriously.

 

[MeMom]

I found some Photopass fun.

Let's not get too crazy, now! Time to push away.

Going back in time to some other Photopass pictures.

I don't know why I don't have any pictures of this visit.

Checking out the flowers in her hair.

So sweet.

And then the ones Jill got while we were in GMR.

She loves her Minnie!

Look what Bella can do all by herself!

 

[MaryAz]

We are beginning to formulate plans for our trip. There are so many things we want to get in. We have some DIS meets planned; one to see Yehaa Bob for the first time. Epcot has Brave games and a play area for kids, so I want to check that out. We want to see Brave at the eat-in movie theater. Tom Sawyer Island/Fort Langhorn is reopening after a refurb on June 30, so I'd like to boat over and see that. We want to ride the riverboat, because the girls have not done that. We want to do the Behind the Seeds Tour. Animal Kingdom is having a Sundown Celebration in the evenings up to the 30th. We want to check out Art of Animation. We're trying out several new restaurants. There will be much to see and do this time!

I am excited to see Bob-he looks like a hoot!! Brave games and play area sounds fun-though i wonder if Ms Avery will be to big? Where is the eat-in movie theatre?? We also want to see that. We also want to do Behind the Seeds. I will totally have to check out the Sundown celebrations-sounds awesome. I have only made one ADR ha ha-need to finalize my plans. Thanks for all the great info.

 

[jenjolt]

I love your plans and I'm so looking forward to sharing in some of those plans with you!! Enjoy your dinner plans tomorrow !!

Love the pictures of the girls especially the last one with Bella with Tigger..simply adorable those grandbabies of yours!!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

I need to get some info about the Sundown Celebration. Maybe it's like Taste of Africa that we met Jill at a couple of years ago....
I think you stayed back at the resort with Bella?

 

[Happy Elf]

I am all caught up....it was a big job over 100 pages to go through! Didn't realize I had been away from the DIS that long! Loved your Chef Mickey party with the golf, what fun! I love seeing all the stuffed animals coming home....reminds me of a little red-head I know! I think Hannah and Brooklynn could have some fun shopping together!

I am looking forward to the pictures from your summer trip. I will have to live vicariously this summer! I am scheming for a trip in October 2013. Our school went to a "balanced calendar" so we will have a two week break in October , but we start school July 31 . The kids are begging to go this summer...if only we had a money tree in our yard!

 

[micandminforever]

Bella did a great job with the characters all by herself. The pictures are adorable, and I love that smile.

 

[MagicShell]

Loved the Photopass picture of Bella with Minnie Mouse. She is a pro now, doesn't even have to have big sister.

I didn't miss the family news did I?

 

[Megablocks]

Those pictures are absolutely adorable, I love that Bella has gotten so brave and actually went with the characters by herself!

 

[marDgreen88]

How nice that you all have so many new options for this trip! The Brave Highland Games look like a lot of fun! All of those photos are adorable.

 

[MeMom]

I am excited to see Bob-he looks like a hoot!! Brave games and play area sounds fun-though i wonder if Ms Avery will be to big? Where is the eat-in movie theatre?? We also want to see that. We also want to do Behind the Seeds. I will totally have to check out the Sundown celebrations-sounds awesome. I have only made one ADR ha ha-need to finalize my plans. Thanks for all the great info.

The dine-in theater is a new thing in DTD. We may/may not get to it. Bella is not great at sitting in movies, so I may stay back and do something else with her. However, since I'd like to see the movie and have the experience, at least in part, we may go ahead and start out doing it, and then if she gets antsy, I can leave with her and go walk around DTD while the others finish. Truthfully, I am not good about sitting and watching an entire movie without moving, either, so that may be a good way to do things for both of us.

I love your plans and I'm so looking forward to sharing in some of those plans with you!! Enjoy your dinner plans tomorrow !!

Love the pictures of the girls especially the last one with Bella with Tigger..simply adorable those grandbabies of yours!!

Bella is one of those lucky people who is so photogenic, I think. She doesn't often take a bad picture, whereas with me, it takes me a thousand to get one good one.

Not sure where we are eating tonight. I'm guessing they will want to be quick about it so that they can get to sleep.

I need to get some info about the Sundown Celebration. Maybe it's like Taste of Africa that we met Jill at a couple of years ago....
I think you stayed back at the resort with Bella?

That's what I am figuring. Check out all ears.

I am all caught up....it was a big job over 100 pages to go through! Didn't realize I had been away from the DIS that long! Loved your Chef Mickey party with the golf, what fun! I love seeing all the stuffed animals coming home....reminds me of a little red-head I know! I think Hannah and Brooklynn could have some fun shopping together!

I am looking forward to the pictures from your summer trip. I will have to live vicariously this summer! I am scheming for a trip in October 2013. Our school went to a "balanced calendar" so we will have a two week break in October , but we start school July 31 . The kids are begging to go this summer...if only we had a money tree in our yard!

Always happy to see you get to come and spend some time with us, friend!

We're on a more balanced calendar, too, starting this year. We get one week in October, two weeks in the spring, and a longer Christmas break. It makes for a lot shorter summer, though!

If you get a money tree, can I get a branch of it occasionally?

Bella did a great job with the characters all by herself. The pictures are adorable, and I love that smile.

She does have a sweet smile. Jill was proud that she made those visits all by herself.

Loved the Photopass picture of Bella with Minnie Mouse. She is a pro now, doesn't even have to have big sister.

I didn't miss the family news did I?

What news? New baby news? I don't remember when you've last been able to check in.

Brooklynn liked characters from the beginning, and Bella did not. Maybe she'll be a good helper in convincing Sophie that it's safe to visit with these friends.

Those pictures are absolutely adorable, I love that Bella has gotten so brave and actually went with the characters by herself!

She's a big girl now!

How nice that you all have so many new options for this trip! The Brave Highland Games look like a lot of fun! All of those photos are adorable.

And I want to hear some of the Epcot concert series one night. There is a Bee Gees tribute band while we are there. I am sure I will come up with some other things to do, if I get the chance to think about it.

 

[MeMom]

Back at Pop, it was time to get into 'leaving mode'. We had had a wonderful holiday, and we had been able to stay more than a week, so we could not complain. The main reason it was hard to leave was because there would be no spring trip. Six months until we were able to come again seemed like a very long time. Going back to school and work the next day would not be too fun, either, but that's how we pay for the trips, so it had to be done.

No more getting on buses to go to parks for us.

The girls made some last minute jewelry purchases.

One last tie-dyed cheesecake.

I do remember feeling slightly sad when I took this picture.

Goodbye, pretty Christmas tree!
We have friends on our way to see you soon.
I know they will have magical days here, too.

Goodbye, Hippy Dippy Pool!

My job, as we get ready to leave, is to watch the girls while Jill and John double check all the suitcases and put last minute items in. On most trips, we spend some time swimming before we leave for the airport, but it was a little cool on this day, so we skipped that.

Little Disney friends are made here as families check in and check out.

I am betting some of them will cross paths on future trips as they are 'growing up Disney' - and probably never know it.

Someday I need to remember to ask how these pictures were chosen to be displayed. I wonder if they were the children of original cast members.

A Hidden Mickey in the bubbles.

We are at the goodbye benches now,
under the goodbye awning,
waiting for the goodybe bus.

The flags were waving goodbye to us and hello to others.

Goodbye, bus stop.

On UnMagical Express now.

In the seat in front of me...

Somebody is getting a gift basket.

I was trying to get a glimpse of Art of Animation.

When you drive through this gate...

the world changes very quickly.

The bright colors, the wonderful aromas, the peppy music....

vanish.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I think Disney does that stark contrast on the other side of the gate on purpose, so we cry a little harder when we leave. After all, it makes us want to hurry back that much faster...

 

[MeMom]

Absorbing what Disney magic we still can, we focus on the movie during our ride.

Did everybody have a nice vacation?

Pegasus was wearing Brooklynn's necklace.

We usually take one very short swing through the airport Disney Store.

This counter has some rare autographs on it.

Disney transportation toys that came home with us.

I usually manage to keep the camera out until all the way back to the home airport, but this time I put it away for good. It had been a wonderful trip, but it was over, and I was tired. The plane ride home was uneventful, as we like our plane rides to be.

Looking back, we will have fond memories of the trip - for Bella warming up to the characters, the girls getting their pictures made with the Fab Five all together, beautiful holiday decorations, NYE fireworks and time with friends, Trent and Jarvis getting to come for a few days, and just for Disney magic, in general. I cannot say enough how much we love this place for so many different reasons. I know that we could go to Six Flags, Dollywood, Holiday World, etc. and have wonderful family times together for a lot cheaper, but I am convinced it would be more of an event than an experience, as Disney time is. One day, we may get tired of going to Disney World. Get really sick of it. We may decide never to go again. But for now, we go because we love it. If we did not, we certainly would not be paying the money we do to get there and be there. We are so happy for the friendships we have made and continue to make through being a part of the Disney experience. We are always glad to have you join us on our trip reports, as we enjoy following along on yours.

We have twelve days until we return. During that time, I plan to put up some highlights of the October trip that Brooklynn and I took with our friends, Kay and Brianna. I will start on that later today or maybe tomorrow, depending on what this day holds. Have a Magical Monday, all!