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

[DisMomAmy]

I'm in!!

Poor Mingo... I wouldn't be surprised if he shows up on your doorstep one day. When Tim lost his wallet, they found it a few days later when they did a big cleaning of the floor under RnRC. They mailed it to us right away... at their cost of course.

I had one runner & one wanderer. Alex would bolt anywhere if we didn't keep cose tabs on him. We kept him strapped into a stroller as long as we possibly could. Zach was more of a wanderer, just following anything that interested him. I'm so glad those days are over! Glad you didn't lose Bella when she decided to go shopping!

Looks like you were off to a great start!

 

[frazers mum]

I'm so glad you have the first section up. It sounded like a very stressful morning before you left for the airport. Not a good start to a magical trip! I bet even though the girls didn't have long to undo their presents that they appreciated playing with them when they got home. I love their little travel cases.How sweet. It sounds like Bella had shopping on her mind when she was off on her solo trip to everything pop! Frazer was never that brave. He clung onto my hand for all he was worth when out and about. Even now,at ten years old he still won't be brave enough to go out of my sight when out in public. I kind of wish he had a bit of Bellas confidence

 

[xoktenox]

I'm a couple of days and 7 pages late but I'm here, as always.

Things should quiet down here for a while before we leave for the World in 2 weeks. I will be around as much as I can until then!

 

[Poolrat]

I always put my little blue pouch in the same place in my purse, so not seeing it there immediately, I knew something was very wrong. I guess I tossed it at my purse rather than placed it carefully inside after I got gas. You cannot know how many times I will be checking it next time!!!

I have done the toss, and miss before. Most times when I have to stop suddenly, my purse will roll to the floor and then I have collect everything and hope I got it all.

I will say when we left the house we did not have to go back 3 times like the last trip.

It was funny, because Jill said she thought that little kid looked like Bella, and then she realized it was Bella!

At least she did not dismiss her sighting because John was looking after the girls so it couldn't possibly be her.

Yeah, I just mentioned that I had stayed there twice, and she asked if I wanted something different. Jill has not stayed in Roger Rabbit, so it would have been okay to stay there, but we seem to like 50's, 60's, and 70's better than the computer pool area.

I have in been in the RR building and I agree about the 50's 60's and 70's. Those building just seem easier to navigate to and from. I like going through the food court to fill up my mug. When I stayed in RR it seems like I went around the building more and had to walk out of the way to get a drink.

It sure was a feeling of great relief when she walked in the front door holding up that blue pouch!

I bet it was. I don't even want to think about how it would have gone if you didn't look until you reached the airport.

I guess when you have comfy chairs, you better keep them. We'll have to bring a bunch of them up by the room next time.

Anita and Marc snagged the chairs when Elena and I got there. I just bounced back and forth.

He was testing out his new Christmas toy. He didn't have to worry about Brooklynn. She wasn't going to move. Bella watches TV for a minute, but then she's off to explore.

I think Bella was so comfortable at POP that she knew where she was going. She just didn't let anyone know or get permission. Once she saw Jill chasing her she knew she was busted.

He learned his lesson, I bet.

The funny thing is, he was worried about me taking Brooklynn to WDW in October and losing her, so he had to swallow a little pride for a minute there.

In his defense, sometimes it takes all three of us to corral Bella, especially at bus stops. She darts, so we form a fence on all sides of her with our bodies, strollers, etc.

I have seen that in action. Bella is so tiny that she just weaves between people.

I had one runner & one wanderer. Alex would bolt anywhere if we didn't keep cose tabs on him. We kept him strapped into a stroller as long as we possibly could. Zach was more of a wanderer, just following anything that interested him. I'm so glad those days are over! Glad you didn't lose Bella when she decided to go shopping!

Ihad one wanderer and a runner too. I told my runner to keep up with Bella since I thought if anyone could predict where she was going, it would be him.

On our first trip in '98 we thought we would lose the wanderer, but we lost the runner instead. Just for a minute, but we were so busy trying not to lose the wanderer, and the runner is a rule follower so he stuck with us but took his eye off us for a minute .....

 

[MaryAz]

Page 7???? Thats what I get for going out of town. I am so glad you found your pouch-how scary!! Poor, poor Mingo. I do hope he gets found and sent to Bella. Looks like the trip is off to a good start.

 

[LoveMyTwoPrincesses]

Joining in!

I am so glad that Jill found your pouch. I can just imagine how you felt. My situation was a bit different, but I can relate. I lost my keys on a trip this summer. We were 4 hours from home without a spare key. We were just about to have the car towed to the dealer because they said they couldn't make the kind of key we needed without the car. Just as I was about to make the call, we found the keys! We had been looking for FIVE hours! I have now learned my lesson and have a spare key.

 

[MagicShell]

I'm here. . .finally.

 

[IluvXU]

I remember worrying that morning that you had lost your license. So glad it was found. I sure wish I was arriving at POP. I am pretty sure that the arrival day is the best day ever. Even if you are tired from traveling all the Disney fun is ahead. I always know the mid-day of our trip and have the blues at that point, knowing it is half over! It is funny because POP is your place, I found myself thinking that our night there.... I hope we stay at the new part soon!

 

[MeMom]

Wow, I am here and on page 7!!! Whew, I am late to everything.

Glad your wallet was found MeMom! I remembered reading that on FB. I hate to lose something.

Whew, Bella is fast! Poor John playing with his phone. Thank goodness Jill diverted that disaster.

I was going to comment about how precious Bella was in the introduction photo with the characters when it dawned on me that all the characters was in it. I bet that means you had something special happen at Epcot that day!!! I can't wait to see if I am right.

Yep, we went straight to Character Spot while everyone else marched on to Soarin' and we finally got those coveted 'first place' pictures.

Losing things really aggravates me when it just comes to stuff around the house, but it scared me in a big way that morning, because it was something so omportant and time was ticking!

Yay for a Christmas/NY report! Can't wait to hear all about your adventures, the great shopping, and see those precious little girls that everyone has come to adore!

Our 2009 trip, the first for my husband and 6 year old and my first since high school, we stayed in the jukebox building on the backside. We were there for the week after Thanksgiving, and it was nothing short of a dream trip with all of the Christmas decor and magic. It will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Yikes on the lost pouch, I would have had a nervous breakdown right there!!

So glad Bella was caught in the nick of time! What an independent little lady you have on your hands Jill!

Looking forward to more!
Kelli

I got to see my girls for a couple of hours today. John had taken them to KY to pick Ben up and to give Jill the weekend alone to get some things done and to have some peace and quiet. They stopped here to eat lunch and take a break from the car. I was so glad to see them.

This was our second stay in the jukebox building. Once we were ground floor right at the pool, and that was really nice. In October, we were ground floor right by the computer pool right under Roger Rabbit, but I still like the bowling pin pool better. Really, anything from the Mickey Phone and Big Wheel over to the other side of the resort is okay by me.

I just like being there, though, so I will be happy with what I get if they can't offer anything else.

It makes me smile to know that you had a truly magical trip!

I'm always so terrified of losing something on a trip. I'm completely neurotic about checking to make sure I have everything. I probably check and re-check my bags about 5 times before we go to the airport. And then I check my park bag about a million times during the day to make sure nothing has jumped out.

Seeing those Magical Express pictures just got me all excited I found the whole ME music loop on youtube the other day. This is part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lauATHP1aAg

I'm a little neurotic, too. I check to be sure I have my keys in my hand 2-3 times before I lock the car door. That's why I was getting my driver's license ready that morning. I am glad I was neurotic in time to do something about the following catastrophe!!!

I watch Disney youtube videos at least twice a month.

I'm in!!

Poor Mingo... I wouldn't be surprised if he shows up on your doorstep one day. When Tim lost his wallet, they found it a few days later when they did a big cleaning of the floor under RnRC. They mailed it to us right away... at their cost of course.

I had one runner & one wanderer. Alex would bolt anywhere if we didn't keep cose tabs on him. We kept him strapped into a stroller as long as we possibly could. Zach was more of a wanderer, just following anything that interested him. I'm so glad those days are over! Glad you didn't lose Bella when she decided to go shopping!

Looks like you were off to a great start!

I would have more hope if Mingo had flown off on a ride. All those trees under the Treehouse - who knows if we will ever see him? I am glad Tim's wallet was found.

I'm so glad you have the first section up. It sounded like a very stressful morning before you left for the airport. Not a good start to a magical trip! I bet even though the girls didn't have long to undo their presents that they appreciated playing with them when they got home. I love their little travel cases.How sweet. It sounds like Bella had shopping on her mind when she was off on her solo trip to everything pop! Frazer was never that brave. He clung onto my hand for all he was worth when out and about. Even now,at ten years old he still won't be brave enough to go out of my sight when out in public. I kind of wish he had a bit of Bellas confidence

Brooklynn sticks close by, and she always did. Bella is an explorer, and she doesn't yet comprehend the fear of losing us. It might do her some good to have a good 'scare' one of these days to keep her a little closer. It might be good for her to be in a spot where Jill can see her, but she can't see Jill, and let her get a little humbled about how far she can wander off.

The short time the license was 'lost', I was stressed, but I knew it was somewhere. I knew I had it when I got gas, and I had been nowhere else. I really thought it was in the house, though, and not in the car. I am glad Jill thought to go out there pretty quickly. I was spinning my wheels figuring out how I was going to get to Florida later in the day so that they could go on.

I'm a couple of days and 7 pages late but I'm here, as always.

Things should quiet down here for a while before we leave for the World in 2 weeks. I will be around as much as I can until then!

We are very excited that we will have some more of the DIS famiy down there soon. Several just came back, so we need someone there!

I have done the toss, and miss before. Most times when I have to stop suddenly, my purse will roll to the floor and then I have collect everything and hope I got it all.

I will say when we left the house we did not have to go back 3 times like the last trip.


At least she did not dismiss her sighting because John was looking after the girls so it couldn't possibly be her.

I have in been in the RR building and I agree about the 50's 60's and 70's. Those building just seem easier to navigate to and from. I like going through the food court to fill up my mug. When I stayed in RR it seems like I went around the building more and had to walk out of the way to get a drink.


I bet it was. I don't even want to think about how it would have gone if you didn't look until you reached the airport.

Anita and Marc snagged the chairs when Elena and I got there. I just bounced back and forth.

I think Bella was so comfortable at POP that she knew where she was going. She just didn't let anyone know or get permission. Once she saw Jill chasing her she knew she was busted.

I have seen that in action. Bella is so tiny that she just weaves between people.

I had one wanderer and a runner too. I told my runner to keep up with Bella since I thought if anyone could predict where she was going, it would be him.

On our first trip in '98 we thought we would lose the wanderer, but we lost the runner instead. Just for a minute, but we were so busy trying not to lose the wanderer, and the runner is a rule follower so he stuck with us but took his eye off us for a minute .....

I needed Chris one day when the girls and I were going back to the room and Bella decided to take the stairs instead of the elevator. I was holding a tray of food when that little bolt of lightning took off. I had Brooklynn chase her down until I could get to a place to put the food down. I let her know in no uncertain terms that I was not happy with that! Anita said it would be fun for Bella to stay this summer with Brooklynn and me for the 4th, but Bella has to mature before I can have her alone. She's too fast and too implulsive still. I think when she is five she will have settled down a little and I will be able to take her on a 'big girl' trip, like I did with Brooklynn. If I don't feel like I can, I'll wait until she's 6 or 7. I would not want anything at all to happen to my girl!

The girls do feel comfortable at Pop. They know the way around the whole place. Maybe that made for some overconfidence on Bella's part this time.

I was lucky that Kathy had pulled their two chairs in, and then cast members brought them two more during the day. I was happy to have a great seat, but I would have loved to have had everyone up there with us.

Page 7???? Thats what I get for going out of town. I am so glad you found your pouch-how scary!! Poor, poor Mingo. I do hope he gets found and sent to Bella. Looks like the trip is off to a good start.

Hey there, Mary! I hope Bella and Mingo are reunited, as well.

Joining in!

I am so glad that Jill found your pouch. I can just imagine how you felt. My situation was a bit different, but I can relate. I lost my keys on a trip this summer. We were 4 hours from home without a spare key. We were just about to have the car towed to the dealer because they said they couldn't make the kind of key we needed without the car. Just as I was about to make the call, we found the keys! We had been looking for FIVE hours! I have now learned my lesson and have a spare key.

I just couldn't figure out where in the world they would be other than my purse. I had no idea they had been in the car since the day before. We are still learning lessons even as adults, aren't we?

I'm here. . .finally.

Yay! Glad you are here.

 

[MeMom]

I remember worrying that morning that you had lost your license. So glad it was found. I sure wish I was arriving at POP. I am pretty sure that the arrival day is the best day ever. Even if you are tired from traveling all the Disney fun is ahead. I always know the mid-day of our trip and have the blues at that point, knowing it is half over! It is funny because POP is your place, I found myself thinking that our night there.... I hope we stay at the new part soon!

I was trying to think of what I could come home and get - birth certificate or school ID or whatever could be put together so that I could get a later flight out. I knew the license had to be somewhere in the house, but with all of the people and suitcases and Christmas toys and such, I had no idea where. I didn't think for a second that it was in the car, because I thought I had put it back in my purse, of course.

We like the early flights so that we can get the most of our day. Had it not been Christmas morning, we would have been in WDW by the time we were leaving Huntsville, but the girls needed to have a little bit of a Christmas. They were super excited about the trip, though, and really were more into leaving than they were into their toys. They had Christmas again when they got home and had time to play with their new things.

I like it when we are saying, "We still have lots of days left to do such and such." I don't like it when we have to say, "There are only two days left, so we better get it in!"

 

[Megablocks]

I started my trip report MeMom! Link is in my signature. I'd love to see you and anyone else over there whenever you have a chance!

 

[marDgreen88]

Dang, 8 pages already! Excited to read about your trip!

 

[Poolrat]

I was trying to think of what I could come home and get - birth certificate or school ID or whatever could be put together so that I could get a later flight out. I knew the license had to be somewhere in the house, but with all of the people and suitcases and Christmas toys and such, I had no idea where. I didn't think for a second that it was in the car, because I thought I had put it back in my purse, of course.

AirTran is less forgiving than Southwest. Not sure how that would have played out had you had to go all the way home. Of course then you would have found it on your floorboards, when you got far enough away.

I am so glad Jill thought to look out in the car.

 

[slightly_obsessed]

I had forgotten the crazy start your trip had gotten off too! I'm glad it all worked out though.

I can't blame you for not wanting either of those magazines. I would've passed on them too!

I love the holiday merchandise! I've only been in January and while a lot of the decorations are up for at least part of our trip, I don't remember seeing any of the holiday stuff in the stores.

 

[MeMom]

I started my trip report MeMom! Link is in my signature. I'd love to see you and anyone else over there whenever you have a chance!

I wouldn't miss it!

Dang, 8 pages already! Excited to read about your trip!

It was fun scrolling through the first set of pictures and reliving it.
It made me want to be back, though.

AirTran is less forgiving than Southwest. Not sure how that would have played out had you had to go all the way home. Of course then you would have found it on your floorboards, when you got far enough away.

I am so glad Jill thought to look out in the car.

I would have found it on the floor right after the plane had taken off with the rest of the crew. Then I would have really been sick.

Jill was the hero, for sure. Such a smart girl, she is.

I had forgotten the crazy start your trip had gotten off too! I'm glad it all worked out though.

I can't blame you for not wanting either of those magazines. I would've passed on them too!

I love the holiday merchandise! I've only been in January and while a lot of the decorations are up for at least part of our trip, I don't remember seeing any of the holiday stuff in the stores.

I was feeling a bit 'Home Alone-ish' for a couple of minutes on departure morning.

The holiday stuff is fun to look at. I did a very good job of not spending much money on souvenirs this time, though. I'd love to have a bunch of the big ornaments to load a big, beautiful tree, but I think I have resigned myself to a small tree from here on out. It's much simpler to put it up and then put it away when it is all over.

 

[nowellsl]

It might be good for her to be in a spot where Jill can see her, but she can't see Jill, and let her get a little humbled about how far she can wander off.

That's what I did with Jamie. She used to hide in the cloths racks in stores and wouldn't answer when I called. So I hid where she couldn't see me. I waited until she got good and frantic because she couldn't find me before I came out. She never wandered off again!

 

[declansdad]

MeMom, how was AirTran? We have never flown with them before but are looking at them for after our March cruise.

 

[Kgroo]

Memom, I travel a good bit for business, and I thought that I knew of someone that had lost their ID right before a flight, and that they were still able to fly. So, I looked it up to see what the policy is.

If you lose your ID before boarding a domestic flight, you will still be able to travel on your flight, according to two recent articles siting a TSA source, and the TSA website. According to the articles, you show up for your flight early to allow extra time, and explain your situation to the TSA agent at the security checkpoint. They will have you fill out some paperwork, and then you may be subject to additional interviews and search / screening, but you will probably be on your way in a relatively short time.

It's good to know that all is not lost if it does happen to someone out there

DD is also a runner. She thinks it is a really fun game to run down aisles and hide from me She is still at the age though that if I pretend that I am going to leave her, she comes running. I know that is only going to last so long. I probably need to hide from her once and let her get a little paniced so maybe she will learn a lesson.

 

[MeMom]

That's what I did with Jamie. She used to hide in the cloths racks in stores and wouldn't answer when I called. So I hid where she couldn't see me. I waited until she got good and frantic because she couldn't find me before I came out. She never wandered off again!

I did that with at least one of my kids, but I can't remember the exact circumstance. Possibly Drew. Jill liked shopping. Trent hated shopping. He wouldn't have hidden, though. He would have just found a seat and let me know how bored he was. Yeah, it was probably Drew.

MeMom, how was AirTran? We have never flown with them before but are looking at them for after our March cruise.

We all agree we prefer Southwest. AirTran was not bad, but we're used to more space and no luggage charges on SW. There was very little leg room, I thought.

Memom, I travel a good bit for business, and I thought that I knew of someone that had lost their ID right before a flight, and that they were still able to fly. So, I looked it up to see what the policy is.

If you lose your ID before boarding a domestic flight, you will still be able to travel on your flight, according to two recent articles siting a TSA source, and the TSA website. According to the articles, you show up for your flight early to allow extra time, and explain your situation to the TSA agent at the security checkpoint. They will have you fill out some paperwork, and then you may be subject to additional interviews and search / screening, but you will probably be on your way in a relatively short time.

It's good to know that all is not lost if it does happen to someone out there

DD is also a runner. She thinks it is a really fun game to run down aisles and hide from me She is still at the age though that if I pretend that I am going to leave her, she comes running. I know that is only going to last so long. I probably need to hide from her once and let her get a little paniced so maybe she will learn a lesson.

That is good to know, but I hope to never ever have a scare like that again! I might even have felt better if we were taking SW, since they have my flight history, thinking maybe they could identify me in some way, but this was the first time on AirTran. I am just really, really glad that the license and the credit card were found!

 

[Megablocks]

I'm a little neurotic, too. I check to be sure I have my keys in my hand 2-3 times before I lock the car door. That's why I was getting my driver's license ready that morning. I am glad I was neurotic in time to do something about the following catastrophe!!!

Charles does that, too, but with his house key! Before pulling the door shut behind him, he has to make sure he has the right set of keys at least twice. He and I both have a LOT of little quirks like that and agree that any future children of ours are gonna have a lot, too.