Combo PTR & TR w/a side of Scrapbooking: I'm Back! TR link posted!

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

Such sweet pictures! He looks so excited! Last year when we took our Drew to Kindergarten, he did ok (although for the longest time he kept saying he didn't NEED to go to Kindergarten, that he was fine at "baby school"-that's what my husband used to call daycare), but I was tearing up in the gym waiting for the bell to ring. I definately wasn't the only one crying though!! They had tissues throughout the gym!! 1st grade wasn't so bad. Now, I don't know how I'll be when I send keaton to school...probably more scared for the teachers than for him or myself!!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Love that Wall-E Stuff!!! And how cute they are going across the street to the bus!!! Sweet memories girl!!!

 

[Monny2AE]

Aw, your first day of school pics are so cute! I remember sending them off to the first day of kindergarten. Is your school all day or half day kindergarten? When DS10 started school it was all day where we lived. I hated that. So did he! Then we moved to our current school district and it was half day when DS7 went. Much better. Much easier putting my baby on the bus when I knew he would be home in 3 hours!

My kids go back next Tuesday. But they get to meet their teachers this week.

I wish it were half day- I don't know why they ever went to full day. And K is now what 1st grade was for me as a kid. Sometimes I wonder if we're pushing our kids too fast but that's another topic for another day.

I made him chocolate chip cookies as an afternoon snack. Ok so they were break and bake- still yummy though!

Love that Wall-E Stuff!!! And how cute they are going across the street to the bus!!! Sweet memories girl!!!

Sweet memories indeed! I'm hoping to scrapbook it soon!

 

[Monny2AE]

Back to Work!!! I’ve listed my “Must Not Be Missed” stuff for Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

Now I need to get my list going for Animal Kingdom- which should take oh, about a second!
We saw and did everything we wanted to at AK.
The only thing I’d really like to try this time around is the picnic in the park lunch. It sounds really yummy and a nice change of pace.

And perhaps I can actually enjoy the parade with my family this time around. See, last time we found a spot for the parade and DH sat with the kids while I ran to grab some snacks and drinks. I walked across a bridge, waited in line for the grub and just then the parade started. As I started walking back, I’m told I can’t because they close the bridge for the parade. I ended up watching the parade by a popcorn kiosk while DH and the kids watched it from the other side of the bridge- hungry. But, being the good hubby that he is, he made sure to take lots of pics for me!

Here are our pics from our day at AK! It’s the only park we can accomplish in a day.

LO Credits: Polaroid My Memories Suite

LO Credits: Polaroid My Memories Suite

LO Credits: Clubhouse Mini by Andrea

LO Credits: Boom Boom by Ziggle Designs

LO Credits: Polaroid My Memories Suite

LO Credits: Clubhouse Mini by Andrea

LO Credits: Polaroid My Memories Suite

LO Credits: Polaroid My Memories Suite

 

[Monny2AE]

I'm having a sad Disney planning day today.

I was talking to DH last night- who of course is not as big of a Disney fan as I am- and he's concerned about pennies we are spending on the home renovations that we are doing and there not be enough pennies leftover for Disney.
We finished phase one this weekend...removing a garage door and replacing it with a door and window.

This is all for me to have a separate entrance, kitchenette and more area for my home day care. I'm feeling rather like a selfish 3 year old right now- I want my renovations AND my Disney trip!

I wish I knew if Disney was releasing the 4/3 or something just as good for our trip. I think with the economy that they will, but the not knowing is driving me up the wall since our trip is really depending on it at this point.

For those that don't know me well- I am a hard headed and determined person when it comes to things I am passionate about- Disney included!

So I am continuing to plan this trip in hopes that Disney will pull through with something to help me out. I'm okay with making some changes like staying at a value rather than a moderate to make it happen but DH is a resort snob and likes his CBR. We'll just have to wait and see I guess....

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I'm confident they are going to offer something great for January! They have to. The economy still stinks and they have some pretty great offers out for the remainder of this year. I don't see why they wouldn't offer something for the beginning of next year.

Good luck!

 

[jenjolt]

First of all I love your Animal Kingdom layouts...really you're going to have to give me lessons!!!

Secondly loved your DS's first day of school outfit and that backpack is way too cute!!!

I have no doubt that Disney will release a great deal for the beginning of the year especially since it is a value season and they want people in the park!! So I will be crossing my fingers and toes with you that you will get both your rennovations and your trip!!

 

[Monny2AE]

Thanks! I'm crossing my fingers too. They have to offer something. I've decided I'm going even if it means we stay Value- my resort snob hubby will just have to deal without his precious mini fridge. We'll have a cooler that will do just fine.

 

[danceintherain]

I'm sure they'll offer something good! I can't imagine that a ton of people will suddenly decide to vacation during the beginning of next year, when they haven't made that decision during normal vacation times this year.

Also, your AK pictures are adorable! Your kids are so cute!

 

[My2Qtz0205]

I don't know how I've missed this PTR, as I love scrapbooking, too! I am a traditional sb'er, though.

My son has that same Wall-E lunchbox, but he has a plain orange backpack from Pottery Barn that I'm hoping will last him through elementary school!

I hope everything works out so that you can have your home renovation and your Disney, too!

I'll have to look into that Picnic in the Park.

 

[Monny2AE]

I don't know how I've missed this PTR, as I love scrapbooking, too! I am a traditional sb'er, though.

My son has that same Wall-E lunchbox, but he has a plain orange backpack from Pottery Barn that I'm hoping will last him through elementary school!

I hope everything works out so that you can have your home renovation and your Disney, too!

I'll have to look into that Picnic in the Park.

Hi fellow scrapbooker! Thanks for saying hello!

 

[Monny2AE]

I still need to work on my Must Do list for MK but I'm hungry so I'm going to get planning the food part of the trip first.

First decision I need to make is to get the QSDDP or just pay OOP for our food. We had the QSDDP last trip and it was nice to know it was paid for ahead of time.
We want to be a little more relaxed this trip and not have somewhere to be every day so we are going to plan 1 possibly 2 ADR's.

Our past trips we have always gone here

LO Credits: My 4 Princesses Designs- Pooh and Friends


and here

Chef Mickey's was a little disappointing last trip. Even with ressie's we waited a long time for our table. They forgot it was DH's birthday and I had to remind them that I'd noted that on the ressie and that I'd requested the little bday centerpiece. They brought him a cupcake and didn't even mutter happy birthday to him. I didn't expect them to go overboard for a grown man but geez! They were really busy but I was really surprised at the lack of magic from the servers. The characters were wonderful though. Mickey was hilarious and fed DD some of DH's cupcake.

This time my plans are to get Le Cellier on the 27th for DH's birthday dinner.
And if the budget allows, we are possibly going to have breakfast at Ohana's one morning.
I'm hoping with it not being free dining and because I only have 1-2 ADR's to make that I'll be lucky enough to get Le Cellier that day. Plus my ADR day is 2 days before the 180 opens back up to the public .

 

[Colleen27]

De-lurking to comment on the ADRs; a CM that has been pretty reliable in the past mentioned that he thinks the change back to 180 might be coming sooner than announced, based on overtime schedules for CMs starting 9/27. I'm hoping the overtime is because that's when the 4/3 will be announced, personally, but I'm still waiting on his answer to that bit of speculation and I'm planning on having my ADR list in hand by 9/26 just in case.

 

[Monny2AE]

De-lurking to comment on the ADRs; a CM that has been pretty reliable in the past mentioned that he thinks the change back to 180 might be coming sooner than announced, based on overtime schedules for CMs starting 9/27. I'm hoping the overtime is because that's when the 4/3 will be announced, personally, but I'm still waiting on his answer to that bit of speculation and I'm planning on having my ADR list in hand by 9/26 just in case.

oooh that's the juiciest gossip I've heard all day! If I get Le Cellier I'll be a happy camper! Thanks for the heads up! Please share if you hear anything about the 4/3 ahead of it being released!!!!

 

[jenjolt]

Oh I loved your layouts!! What fun both Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey's looked!! Your kids looked like they had so much fun!! Sorry the service at Chef Mickey's wasn't top notch this go around!!!!

Good luck with your decision! I'm a big fan of the dining plan because like you I like knowing everything is paid for ahead of time!!

 

[danceintherain]

If I get Le Cellier I'll be a happy camper!

I was actually quite surprised at the availability of Le Cellier today. The earliest time I could find for Logan's actual birthday was 9:05pm, so I didn't end up keeping that one, but I found more availability for the end of the trip. I really wanted it for his birthday, but I decided we wanted to eat earlier.
We are going to do Ohana on his birthday instead, and Le Cellier on our last night.

I know you can't very well change his birthday, but you might find better availability if it's later in the trip.

 

[Colleen27]

oooh that's the juiciest gossip I've heard all day! If I get Le Cellier I'll be a happy camper! Thanks for the heads up! Please share if you hear anything about the 4/3 ahead of it being released!!!!

Okay, this is the conversation from the other board (Rumors board):

CM:

I will advise if I find out more info but they have just added required extra hours to everyone's schedules starting 27 Sept and the week of 27 Oct is open for vacation in most communities!

Me:

Out of curiousity, is this specific to WDW-Dine or is it CRO? Because the buzz on a few other forums is that the 4/3 deal will be back starting 9/27, right after the current free dining promo ends, and I could see the response to that requiring some overtime at the main 407-WDisney line.

CM:

It's all communities including dine which wouldn't have anything to do with 4/3.....have heard there is a HUGE campaign dropping on 9/27 maybe today there will be new info for us

Sounds promising to me!

The poster I'm quoting is a CM who has been reliable in past "preview" information. He posted on the dining boards about the return to 180 well before it was announced and has been ahead of the public information on a few other things as well, so when he posts about something coming up, I tend to listen.

Less than two weeks until we see what is in store!

 

[Monny2AE]

Oh I loved your layouts!! What fun both Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey's looked!! Your kids looked like they had so much fun!! Sorry the service at Chef Mickey's wasn't top notch this go around!!!!

Good luck with your decision! I'm a big fan of the dining plan because like you I like knowing everything is paid for ahead of time!!

Thanks for the scrapbook comments, Jen Your layouts don't look too shabby either Scrapbooking Disney pics is my favorite! I'm so far behind in everything else but I made sure to get those Disney pics done!

 

[Monny2AE]

I was actually quite surprised at the availability of Le Cellier today. The earliest time I could find for Logan's actual birthday was 9:05pm, so I didn't end up keeping that one, but I found more availability for the end of the trip. I really wanted it for his birthday, but I decided we wanted to eat earlier.
We are going to do Ohana on his birthday instead, and Le Cellier on our last night.

I know you can't very well change his birthday, but you might find better availability if it's later in the trip.

Yikes 9:05 No way would my kids do well with a late ressie like that!
I'm hoping to get ressies for his actual bday. I prefer dinner but will take lunch or another day if that's all they have. I'll copy your plan and do Ohana's on his bday for breakfast if not.

 

[Monny2AE]

Okay, this is the conversation from the other board (Rumors board):

CM:

Me:

CM:

Sounds promising to me!

The poster I'm quoting is a CM who has been reliable in past "preview" information. He posted on the dining boards about the return to 180 well before it was announced and has been ahead of the public information on a few other things as well, so when he posts about something coming up, I tend to listen.

Less than two weeks until we see what is in store!

Thanks Colleen! I've got to get my tushy over to the rumors board more often!
My bday is Sept. 30th so an announcement on the 27th would be a SWEET birthday gift from Mickey