Deluxe Digs, Delish Dining, & DISers:A Perfectly Pampered Trip for 2(Upt:8/12 pg.42)

[Lady Lallie]

Paula,, those are gorgeous pages!!

 

[jenjolt]

Hey my dear!!!! Life is now back in line, so I have finally been able to come back to the DIS!!!!! Of course, I looked you up RIGHT AWAY!!!!! Enjoying everything so far!!! Can't wait for more!!!!

Can I just tell you how sad---like in tears sad--I was that I was rushing around and so busy before I left that I didn't get a chance to exchange cell numbers with you!?!?!?!?! It literally made my stomach hurt knowing that the only way I could possibly bump into you all on the 27th was by sheer chance!!!!! I hope you all know that I was thinking of you all and scanning the crowd ALL NIGHT LONG to see if I could find you!!!!! Sending you a HUGE long distance hug!!!!

JEN!!! I'm so glad you are back, you have been sorely missed!! I definitely need to get over and read your update!! YAY for starting your TR!!!

I know I realized during dinner that night I didn't have your phone number and was like OH NO!! How did that happen??? LOL!! Can't wait to hear all about your trip!!!!!!

WOW!!! Your pages are great and your photos are BEAUTIFUL!!! Can't wait to see your TR!!!!!

Paula has done a great job!!!! Aren't her pictures amazing!!! She has been teaching me a lot about digital scrapbooking and I'm really excited to dabble in it!!!! Thanks for stopping by!!!

 

[ILuvCrush]

WOW!!! Your pages are great and your photos are BEAUTIFUL!!! Can't wait to see your TR!!!!!

Thanks So Much!! hehehe this IS my TR...LOL!! I may or may not do a TR for my November trippie. Not sure how pic heavy it will be as I want to just enjoy the moment! And not have a camera glued to my face the whole time!

love the pages, what kind of printer are you useing mine is not as vibrent colors. and I need a new one so am going to make sure I get the right one
Kitty

Thanks Kitty!! I don't print my pages at home. I upload them to cmphotocenter.com They print pages for me and sent them to my house. I get all my photos printed thru there. The color is very good I can't buy a printer that will do anywhere as well! I think Walmart does them too...but I have little luck with my local one, because they always refuse to print my pictures. They refure to print anything they think looks like a professional picture...I can never seem to get them to understand that they are MINE!!

Paula,, those are gorgeous pages!!

Thanks LL!! I'm glad U like them!

Jen...i think we need another update... soon.....I leave in 20 days!!!

P

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Wow...Lovely scrapbook pages...

Jen or Paula----Coming from someone who has been meaning to begin scrapbooking for a while........

What are the advantages/disadvantages of each way-do most people pick one or the other or do they do both...(Does Creative Memories do both?)


Hmmm...love some trippie...

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Paula, those pictures are amazing and I love how the pages look. I'm seriously going to look into that myself..... it certainly kicks all your vacation photos up a notch doesn't it! Thanks for the preview!

 

[ILuvCrush]

Wow...Lovely scrapbook pages...

Jen or Paula----Coming from someone who has been meaning to begin scrapbooking for a while........

What are the advantages/disadvantages of each way-do most people pick one or the other or do they do both...(Does Creative Memories do both?)


Hmmm...love some trippie...

CM does both. I was always a paper girl...I just started digi-scrapping earlier in the year. I like both ways... the digital is less mess, because everything is in your computer, but that said.. it does take up a good bit of space! I have a full 16GB thumbdrive filled with backup copies of all my papersand embellies alone! So I have all that plus the actual program and my pages/books I've done on my hard drive. Fortunately my laptop is for my 'fun' use...andI bought the biggest HD and memory I could find...just for photo storage and scrapping!

Paper is fun... there's always crops around to take your stuff and go to. Sorta like the new version of a 'quilting bee' so it's much more social.

I'd go whichever way you feel more comfortable with ...someone who doesn't like/feel comfy using a computer for more than basic stuff...prolly should skip the digi to start off.... on the other hand, if you have limited space at home or time(it takes a while to drag out all your supplies!) digi may be the way to go!

There's a whole Dis-Board on scrapbooking with lots of info in the stickies... And another whole seperate board thats just really getting going called mousescrappers.com there's great Disney LO overthere too!


I too would LOVE to see an update...

Paula, those pictures are amazing and I love how the pages look. I'm seriously going to look into that myself..... it certainly kicks all your vacation photos up a notch doesn't it! Thanks for the preview!

Thanks so Much! When you take a thousand + of pics ina single trip...you gotta do something with them

Paula

 

[floridascgirl]

I'll answer this one... cause Jen and I use the same progam!!

We both use Storybook Creator Plus from Creative Memories. it is very easy to use and the best thing is there are CM consultants all over the country. They have workshops and will even come to your house to help you get started (for no/little charge) ! You can go to the CM website and search for a consultant in your area (PS I used to be a consultant myself... but am not anymore due to time constraints, so don't mistake this is self promotion ... but I still think they have the very best products available!!)

Here is a couple LOs I did with a few pics from this trip.
the papers and embellies are all from kit designs by Kellybell.

Caution.... 'photo spoilers' ahead!!!

Paula

Beautiful pages, Paula. I will read up on Creative Memories for sure. Thanks for the info.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I'm going to have to check out the CM software. Your pages look great, P (except for the photo of me )

So excited to hear about this trip from both of you as well as the upcoming trips you each have planned! That has to be the best way to get through Disney depression - start planning the next one!

 

[Happydog]

Great scrapbooking -- digital??!! COOL! I love the whole look of it -- very professional! I look forward to seeing more, and am looking forward to MORE updates, like Paula said ... she leaves in 20 days....

 

[ILuvCrush]

I'm going to have to check out the CM software. Your pages look great, P (except for the photo of me )

So excited to hear about this trip from both of you as well as the upcoming trips you each have planned! That has to be the best way to get through Disney depression - start planning the next one!

awww thats a really cute pic of you!!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Darn! How am I so late?! Now I have to go back and catch up...

 

[Lady Lallie]

I'm going to have to check out the CM software. Your pages look great, P (except for the photo of me )

That is a CUTE picture of you! I love it.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Woo hoo! All caught up!!

Now, what to comment on?!

1st off, if there is a fall 2010 reunion tour, please let me know. I'd love to do disney sans the kiddos and DH but with some fun disers!

LOL, Jen your too funny rushing out of school!! Beating the school buses must have felt sooo good!! Freedom!!

I love the rental car! You must have felt evem more excited to be driving around in that baby!!

Paula, Yippeee for trips in 5 months!! Jen's right, after all the craziness with trips cancelled and trees falling on cars you total deserve it!!

I LOVE your digital scrapbook pages!! I LOVE digital scrapping! I don't think I'll ever go away from paper completely but I really love digital too.

How do you like the CM software?! I do mine using photo impact and photoshop element (I just got element and am still learning how it use it) I look at the CM software online every now and then and wonder if it's worth it when I have 2 other programs

Can't wait for more!!

 

[jenjolt]

Chapter 2: WOW…When They Say Deluxe…they mean Deluxe and I Committed a Terrible Crime.

First of all I would like to wish our very lovely Paula a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY today!!!!! I hope she had a great day filled with much love!!! So as you can see Paula has been very busy working away on her digital scrapbooking! I’m still working on getting all my elements organized correctly and recreate my two page layouts for you all to see, so soon I will post those!!! I’m officially down 30lbs now on my weight loss! I have to admit I have been struggling a bit since getting back home but I have recently rededicated myself to my weight loss and my workout regiment so hopefully I will continue to see results and be a lot healthier in January when you see me next!!!

Well the last time we talked I was on the road at about 4:30am with the Broadway channel blaring and me heading south on 1-75 towards Orlando. Stanley, my wonderful GPS, informed me that I should arrive at SSR about 7:00ish which would give enough time to check in and head over to DHS in time for EMH. As I was driving the becoming quite familiar drive to Orlando I noticed the wonderful exit sign for Disney that I pass every single time because Stanley insists that the fastest way to Disney is through downtown Orlando. However I have decided that next time I’m going to take that exit and make Stanley do some recalculating, because it finally dawned on me the reason I don’t have the famous welcome sign is because I go the back way into Disney pass DTD, well and of course I’m driving and photo taking and driving don’t mix very well.

Before I knew it I was pulling into SSR and I heard those wonderful words, “Welcome Home.” I took a moment to ask the security guard for directions to the check in desk and then it was just me driving through SSR with the sun rising, my first impression of the resort was complete awe. This resort is beautiful. After having to make a u-turn, yeah I got a little lost LOL, I finally pulled into the Carriage House to check in!!! Okay so I fail at the whole resort picture thing LOL, I’m glad Paula showed up a few days later to help with that, because I really was just all about checking in and getting myself to the parks!!! However I have resolved on my next trip I’m taking pictures from the moment I arrive to capture it all!! Until this trip I had never stayed anywhere else but a value on property, well except for Shades of Green, so I was definitely excited to compare!! WOW, let me tell you if I wasn’t completely sold on DVC before stepping out of my car, well stepping into the lobby did it for me. When they say deluxe they mean deluxe!! The lobby was amazing and I was quickly greeted. Because of the early hour there was no one at the online check in desk, so the regular check in CM helped me and got me all checked in! I quickly settled my dining plan bill, got my KTTW card, got directions to where I would be staying (of course my room wasn’t ready, it was 7am I wasn’t expecting miracles LOL), and collected my birthday pin!!

With some time to spare I decided to take a quick break to the restroom to freshen up and explore the gift shop area of SSR. Once again I was amazed with their bathrooms (although I have to tell you later in the report where Paula and I found the BEST bathroom on property). And without going into too much detail I found another blaring difference between Values and Deluxes, the toilet paper! I know, seriously I was shocked, I heard this before on the DIS and I couldn’t believe, really I choose not to believe it, no way was the toilet paper different…but it is…trust me on this one…the tp is definitely higher quality at a deluxe. I have to say I am actually interested in finding out what type of tp quality will be awaiting me at POFQ in January LOL!!! Well after feeling the need to Twitter about this, it was time to check out the lay of the land and head over to DHS! I walked through and enjoyed the eye candy of gift shop and made a mental note of all the souvenirs I wanted (oh and did I buy souvenirs LOL). Then taking a quick peek at my watch, I knew it was time to head to DHS!

Awww…nothing beats pulling into the parking of your first park and I’m a huge DHS fan! I think after MK (and only because of the Haunted Mansion) this is my favorite park. Although I do love me some EPCOT and AK, okay who am I kidding I love them all but I really do enjoy DHS. Since January I have just found a lot to love about this place! I had a very small mental list of the things I wanted to do and with that I headed to the bag check, where once again the people there were greatly amused at meeting Nobby. I grabbed camera and got ready to take some shots of DHS!

For EMH mornings they don’t do the usual rope drop instead you just crowd towards the front with everyone else. This time I used a tip I had heard about on the DIS about walking through the shops so I did and I ended up a lot closer to the front. I really didn’t feel to bad about this because I was all by myself. Soon the clock struck 8:00am and the herds…oh I mean the people…all headed to TSM!

Don’t you just love that sign!! I am totally in love with the theme at Pixar Place…so very very well done in my opinion.

Now I have a confession to make, the story I am about to tell, I truly did not mean to deceive the system, really I didn’t, I blame it on the lack of sleep and Disney induced fog for being in my happy place. So don’t hold this against me I promise I had good intentions…really I did LOL!!!!

As many of you know because you have been there and done that. The line to get a TSM fastpass is a little crazy. Of course I’m notorious for choosing the FP that doesn’t work. Well guess what, I got in line and waited behind a machine that just would not work. Well the CMs in charge decided to shut down the machine and ask all of us to get into another line. I was okay with this, it’s their job, what you going to do, well the person in front of me, not so happy and was like can’t you just comp us fast passes and close off the line behind the lady behind me (that was me!). Well the CM didn’t look too thrilled with this idea, but went ahead and closed the line behind me and then proceeded to ask the people how many fastpasses they needed. Well considering my plan was to get a FP and then come back to get one for Paula later when my window opened up so she and I could ride together when she arrived later in the day, I asked the CM for 2 FP. I was happy and then I decided to skip the standby and go explore a bit. So with those two FPs in my hand, I headed over to one of my favorite most favorite rides in the entire park, the Great Movie Ride. While it wouldn’t open until 9:00am like the rest of the park, I decided to take a moment and really take some different shots of the outside of the ride.

It was as I was heading towards Star Tours and Muppets 3D, when a sudden thought hit me like a brick wall and I stopped dead in my tracks right next to the Academy statues.

(Look I even took a picture so I could remember the moment my heinous crime was revealed to me)

Paula wasn’t arriving until Monday, I had in my daze and lack of sleep confused my itineraries….I felt guilty as sin. I now had in my possession 2 FPs for TSM and they were like a scarlet letter on my soul. I contemplated going back to the CM and forfeiting my FPs but then I wasn’t sure exactly what I was going to say, so instead I called Paula and confessed my crime to her. At that moment I felt like a very dishonorable DISer and deserved all the scorn in the world. I told Paula it was because I really really wished she was arriving that day instead of on Monday. After being reassured that the Disney gods weren’t going to strike me down with lightning bolts, I decided to wait and share the TSM FPs with Christine who I would be meeting for lunch, I figured that would be one step closer to atonement. There you have it my great crime, I felt horrible for awhile, but Nobby insisted that I perk up, no harm no foul and that he really wanted a ride to Endor…so away we went…to hitch ourselves a ride on Star Tours.

Stay Tuned for Next Time….
Will we ever make it to Endor?
What are you doing here?? A very special Nobby meet.
A Net Full of Jello…cracks me up every time!!!!
Oh and a lot more pictures LOL

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Too funny! I had a picture in my head of Hades from Hercules throwing bolts down at you.

Kudos to you for 30lbs lost girl! Way to go!

Deluxe TP eh?

 

[Happydog]

Well, Jen, let me say that I am glad you can use the DisBoards and your TR as a means for therapy when you stray from the path... Wait, getting an extra FP for a fellow friend, even though she isn't there, is straying from the path??!!! Well, not the DIS path!!! Especially since you reconciled the extra pass with another DISer!! That has to be worth Pixie Dust Points!!!!

Your photos are great, glad you and Nobby had an excellent trip on Star Tours!!! So this seems very dejavu.... you said you repeated this standing in line for TSM FPs on Monday??? WOW... because I am just saying I saw someone in line for TSM FPs on Monday, who looked a LOT like you...

Can't wait to hear how the rest of the day/night shaped up!!!

 

[faerieprincess]

Yay, great update! i love your crime of passion - because, really, who doesn't get carried away with Disney magic?

Happy birthday Paula!!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

I'd say that you had some fabulous luck with the fast passes!

 

[MaryAz]

Congrats on the weight loss-that is awesome! I think it is soo cute that you were all worried about the FP.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Looks like a fun morning at DHS! I definitely don't think you committed a sin with the FP. I was so excited and grateful that you had one for me!

It's such a weird feeling on a TR when you know what happens next b/c you were there. I kinda like it!

Looking forward to more!