Been There, Done That, and Yes, We’re Going Back! New 5/8- I'm back!

[All7OfUs]

Welcome back, Barbara!!! Great to hear you got a hefty dose of Pixie Dust on your trip! I can't imagine what kind of drama you had at the Dolphin, but it sure sounds interesting!

 

[disney<333]

Here is the link to the trip report.
I hope that you all will join in.
Tales of Pixie Dust!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Happy New Year! I am super jealous of your impromptu trip to WDW AND the fact that you are going back in just twelve days!

 

[disney<333]

We're doing a little booty shaking right now for 2 reasons. 1. Emily made All County Band on flute. We're super proud of her.
2. We only have one week until we're in WDW. The countdown went by very fast doing some counting while in WDW.
I did call this morning and down grade us from the Wilderness Lodge to Port Orleans Riverside. We've never stayed here but we visited it last week and loved it. We'll only be there for 2 nights. Last week's trip stole some of the budget for this trip. I also canceled the Chef Mickey's breakfast since we ate there last week.
In other trip news: We get to go for a week in August! Our dates will either be the 12th-19th or 13-20th. DH just found out that the convention for his job is at the Yacht and Beach Club August 18th-19th and we get to stay there for free for those 2 nights.
I'm hoping free dining will be released again and we'll stay at CBR for the first 5 nights or if not we'll stay at the Dolphin for the 5 nights. Amy's birthday is the 12th.
I did chop a night off of March though because since we're going in August we'll need APs, which we'll start in AUG, so we're using the 4 day tickets I got last week in March instead of upgrading to the Seasonal Pass.
Now I just need your help choosing ADRs for August.
Hope you all had a great first week of 2011. I know I felt like I ran a marathon today after school. This was a LONG week.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Congratulations to Emily for making All County! That is an awesome achievement!

Gotta love those fast countdowns and great news about the August trip!

 

[mousescrapper]

Congrats again! love all the fun trips coming up

 

[brookelizabeth]

Oh wow! I can't believe you went down for a "quick NYE trip" spur of the moment! I'm so jealous.

And all these new trips too!

Heading over to the TR, looking forward to hearing about the pixie dust, I didn't see it on FB!

 

[brookelizabeth]

And a BIG CONGRATS to Emily!

 

[disney<333]

When I say she, I don't mean myself I mean this annoying lady right here-

I think we all know her by now.

The one who always likes to mess with dates.

Would make a great lawyer- always proving her point, and doing a great job at it, by the way.

Yep, you guessed it. Mrs. Date Changer came by for a visit.
Story time!
As you already know, I had booked a 6 night trip in March during the course of Spring Break. I wouldn't have to miss a day of work and the girls wouldn't miss any school. After these 2 wonderful January trips we decided it would be necessary to chop a night off at the end. After these 2 trips, I fell behind in my jobs even though I had off from work it was still hard to get back in get into the groove of things again. I spent the my entire teacher planning day on Monday getting way ahead! March is super busy for me always because I'm always putting the finishing touches on my annual boat show I do at my school. This year I have two schools making it even busier. I started to think to myself "Do I really have time for this trip?"
Mrs. Date Changer decided it's been awhile so she came by on Sunday. Just like DQ, Mrs. DC is never invited but always invites herself over at the most inoppurtune times. She reminded me of the busyness of March and then told me I could still have a March trip but maybe just push it back a bit. She suggested the 30th-4th. My boat show would be over, report cards would be turned in the day before, it would be nice to run away to my happy place AND we have a long weekend. I do have those 4 day MYW tickets to use. I told DC I would get back to her. Besides, Mitch is waiting to see if he has to go to India in March. His company might be buying another company and if they do and they probably are he will have to go India in March for 2 weeks making Disney a no go for March but rather April. That is why I have no ticker and I'm resistent to delete my beautiful January ticker.
Then for August, I mentioned that DH has a convention at the Yacht and Beach Club and we get to stay there for free! I was going to add 5 nights to that at another resort and get APs. Most of the new FL was supposed to be open by then and we want to have APs the year it all opens. We're only doing one more year of APs until Emily starts college. Disney released new exciting information last week about the expansion, making me even more excited about it, but they said that it won't be opening to 2013. So our APs would be expired by then and we wouldn't be able to go. So now we won't be able to get APs until the middle of next year.
The new plan is: a 5 night trip in March/April/maybe even beginning of May, The August trip at Yacht Club for 2 nights with now 3 nights at a different resort, CBR? We'll get the Water Parks AP, and then APs maybe summer 2012 and go as pieces of the new FL open.



What do you all think of the new Fantasy Land information? I'm super excited about it! The only thing I'm a little unsure about is the new SW rollercoaster. That kind makes me sicks and a roller coater in the middle of FL just sort of takes away the innocence and magic of FL, if you ask me. FL is supposed be magical. As you walk through the castle you are supposed to be greeted by Dumbo and it's just magical for kids and parents. Now you are going to walk through and see ANOTHER castle and another roller coaster. To me, it's not Fantasy Land anymore. Don't get me wrong! I'm still excited about the expansion.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Ms. Date Changer can be such a pain. I like the new plans for your trips, though.

I am super excited about the new Fantasyland, but I will miss Snow White's Scary Adventures. I always enjoyed riding it because it reminded me of my childhood and being terrified of the Evil Queen.

 

[mousescrapper]

I have never been visited by this Mrs. Date Changer you have lots going on...

and just have to wait and see on all this new stuff...but for Matt the removal of SWA is like losing an ol friend he is most disappointed and it better still be open come Oct or yikes

 

[longing2Batdisney]

The only thing I don't like about the new FL is that they are gearing it to little girls. I know they keep saying for the boys, for the boys....

but, boys are not going to be interested in more princess stuff!
I have not heard more about Pixie Hollow, lately...but, why not have Never Land instead of Pixie Hollow or a combination of both and what about a Car's Land like in DL. Yes, Ashton will enjoy the new Little Mermaid ride and the Snow White mine ride but the atmosphere to me sounds "girly". I realize having a boy that my disney days are getting very limited! unlike my friends who have girls of the same age. they on the other hand are just really getting into it. When my sweet innocent little boy starts school next year I know Mickey, Tigger, Woody, Buzz, and friends will soon be replaced by Spider man and such. I just wish Disney would work harder to help keep little boys as iinterested as little girls.

BUT, I cannot wait to see the new expansion and I plan to do at Christmas. that will be our next trip after this one coming up. I am already planning a 2013 Disney adventure. (none in 2012).

Have a great weekend! Barbara

 

[brookelizabeth]

Oy! Ms. Date Changer. We all know her. However, your new plans do sound great-and sound like they will work best for you all!

I am very excited about the new Fantasyland!! The rollercoaster isn't going to be a fast one/strong one - it's more like a "dark ride with a kick". I have read a few things on it and a Disney official said the speed is between Barnstormer and Big Thunder. It is suspected the height restriction will be 36"--which is about that of a 2 year old. Hopefully they theme it beautifully so when you walk through the Castle you don't encounter a giant mountain or the like.... I never thought about that.

I also am VERY HAPPY they tamed down the princess stuff. It's a bit sad that Pixie Hollow got removed since it's so popular, hopefully they move it to another park for all those little girls. But, the addition of the Mine Train ride is a great one that is not overly princess IMO. I look forward to exploring Belle's village and I'm looking forward to seeing the Storybook Circusland too, I wonder if they will put more in there than just Dumbo and the Barnstormer (Goofini)....I hope so!

 

[disney<333]

Sorry for getting you behind on everyone's reports. I've just been super busy. This is the first time DH and I have both worked full time jobs since having kids. Plus, since this semester began, I have to type all of my lesson plans on the computer on this table application along with Benchmarks, FCAT standards, and BIG IDEA. That has been taking all of my computer time away.
This weekend was the first weekend in FOREVER that we've had nice enough beach weather. So, we took advantage, as did the rest of the state of Florida. Also, we were celebrating 6 months until our trip to Disney. We don't know if we'll be staying at the Yacht Club or the Beach Club. It doesn't really matter to me, anyway.
It was a very Disney day.
For lunch, we ate at this counter service place that offered burgers and hot dogs. It was decorated like Pico's, complete with toppings bar. We used our CS strategy that we have for Disney; one kid and parent orders and the other two get condoments and a table. Also, they had a triple burger, I decided to see if the buy extra buns rule on the Boards applies here, too, and it did!
This is where it gets scary. The hot dogs tasted like Casey's. For a moment, I closed my eyes and pretended that I was in the Magic Kingdom.
Sorry, but no food porn. My family only allows me to take food porn pictures at Disney and at home.
When we were done eating, we went back to the car, got our stuff, and headed out to the beach.
Hello, my pretty.

The water was a bit too chilly for us so we didn't go in.

Emily, who just got her braces off last week.

E took this picture but I'm posting it because I think it's cool.

When we were done at the beach it was almost 5:00.
Back when we lived in Orlando, we would vacation at this beach and stay at this hotel called "Villas By The Sea." They closed it a few years ago to make condos. Yesterday, they had models open so we had to go and investigate. Kind of like a DVC tour.
This place way to DIE for! I could easily see myself spending my weekend here. I was beginning to fantasize, but I came back to reality when I saw the price tag, one million dollars! I can only dream, right?
This would be one of my views:

And these two, sweet girls would stand here.

We had plans to go to the mall after to go to JCP and the Disney Store but it was too late.
When I came home from our Beach Club day I made ADRs. I managed to snag the following:
August 18, 2011- Chef Mickey's 10:00. I booked POP for the night of the 17th but the convention might pay for this night at the resort since the first event is at 1:00 PM.
August 19, 2011- 'Ohana at 5:15
August 20, 2011 Cape May Cafe for breakfast at 10:00. Amy chose this as her birthday meal. I was surprised but I think it's a great choice.
The plan for August:
17th- Arrive at either POP or BC/YC, go to DTD
18th- Chef Mickey's brunch. Switch resorts if we have to. Spend the afternoon at Storm Along Bay. Evening will be spent on the BW, mini golf, Kitchen Sink dinner, movies on the beach, Illuminations, etc.
19th- Not sure about the morning. Afternoon at Storm Along Bay. Dinner at 'Ohana. Ride the monorail, activities at FW, and Wishes!
20th- Check out day. The only thing I have planned is Amy's Cape May B-fast.
It was great having today off!

 

[brookelizabeth]

What a wonderful day at the beach! I so look forward to weather that is warm enough for the beach...on Saturday! And what beautiful views...I cannot wait to see PALM TREES!

You snagged some great ADRs and your plans are lookin' great! Cape May is an awesome place to celebrate a birthday!

 

[disney<333]

What a wonderful day at the beach! I so look forward to weather that is warm enough for the beach...on Saturday! And what beautiful views...I cannot wait to see PALM TREES!

You snagged some great ADRs and your plans are lookin' great! Cape May is an awesome place to celebrate a birthday!

Saturday?!? WOW, your trip has really sneaked up! I'm so excited for you. We've had great weather lately.
Your review of Cape May made it a must.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Barbara, sounds like a wonderful beach day! great pictures and Emily! what a beautiful smile.

Plans for your upcoming Aug trip sound great, how fun that you guys will be staying at the YC or BC.

 

[All7OfUs]

HI Barbara! WOW! Emily looks just fabulous with her braces off!! What a beautiful difference!!!

OK, I really like that pic through the shades. Very tres chic!

I wish I could have a beach (warm and sunny anyway) day!! If I were to go to my beach today, I'd see snow!! I can't WAIT for summer!!

 

[mousescrapper]

lovely beach day...would love to just pack up and see Palm trees

good eats planned for your August trip too! very fun

 

[Charleston Princess]

What a great day at the beach!!! I am so jealous you are around palm trees all the time!

Hurray for Emily getting her braces off -- Chelsea is in the homestretch. Three more payments, and she gets hers off sometime between August and November.