Did we really just buy DVC at BLT? Taking MIL in Dec! Acronyms abound!

[Tinker_Tam]

I am still here! Summer is just winding down here and there are tons of things to do! Will be sticking around!

 

[exwdwcm]

Thanks for posting up all!! I know i am still loved!

Weather here has been so nice the past few days. We went for 30 days (not straight) with 100 plus temps here in Dallas. pretty miserable. Every few days you would hear a new story of another child left in a hot car. So so sad. we even hit a new record overnight low- it only got down to like 83 overnight even. 110 one day on my car. Now we are enjoying 70s in the am and only up to 90 something in the heat of the day. I hope it stays and doesn't go back to the triple digits. Not sure why i live here. lol--oh yeah, my family! oh and job- to afford to go to disney again and again!

only 2 weeks until our disneyland trip- i plan to start packing some this weekend. My mom, cousin and sisters and I are getting really excited. I will definitely do a TR on that and try and post up here some pics.Plus you can follow me on facebook- Michelle Easler Peters- if you are not already my friend. I will definitely post up pics and updates from my iphone. I do have the DIS app too- so i can post from my phone while there too-so stay tuned!

I'll outline our trip plans in the next post. sort of a mini PTR within a PTR. Is that even legal? ?????????

Your day 2 plans sound great! I love the Osbourne lights in fact thanks to your pictures one of our resort nights I am going to head over there by myself and get some good video. The kids get bored when I wanna hang out there

Great job on the CLP! I got busy signals for 40 min then was on hold for 33 min. I got a good ressie but you will have to go to my PTR for that info

Why haven't you made your way over to the DISmeet thread yet? There is also a facebook group

lol at the kids getting bored, well at least you can take your time and get some really good footage. go a little later towards closing and it won't be so crowded. so glad you got a good ressie!!! I am going to go check out the PTR to see the update there

I'm definitely still here!!!! I'm SO glad that your CP ressie!!!! I really wanted to go to the show, but DH wasn't really interested, and all of our nights were already booked! Thanks again for the LeCellier offer, I just wish it would have worked out for us! I'll cross my fingers that the little man will be all tuckered out from so much fun that he will sleep for you guys!!

yeah, i wanted to go last december, but none of the family was really interested in it. We walked by it one night and could hear it. But DH wanted to do it this time for his mom. He isn't big on shows, so if Pooh acts up, I will just send the two of them out while MIL and I enjoy it! lol

You haven't lost me! I am all caught up, your day 2 sounds awesome! I cannot wait to start thnking and planning my days, I love reading everyone else's as inspiration! And I already mentioned on December thread, but wanna say again, YAY on CP dinner package! Worked out well!

Hi Tara!! thanks!!

I'm still here too!

I just noticed I am down to double digits in my days count!

WOO HOO!!! I just hit 99 i think yesterday or something! won't be long now.

Congrats on getting that CLP dining package! Le Cellier + Jodi Benson.. amazing!

We're not doing the CP this year, I went last year with my sister on our trip & we enjoyed it, but it's not really DF's thing.. while we're there we might catch a glimpse of Whoopi Goldburg or Steven Curtis Chapman if we're strolling through World Showcase one evening

Emma

i doubt we will go again to CP for a few years, especially since we want to do October next year. so now is the time to get it in! Yeah, definitely just walk by, you can hear it from the fountain area there in front of the american pavilion. If you have a good camera, you can zoom in enough to see the narrator too!

I'm here. I was without the internet for 5 days. Didn't want to be online too much during working hours.

Good to hear you got your cp ressies. We won't be doing the CP thing. I don't think my kids would like it much.

ouch on the no internet- how did we ever survive before!? Yeah, i don't see it being a big kid pleaser, probably more like torture!

I am still here! Summer is just winding down here and there are tons of things to do! Will be sticking around!

has school started back in your area! hope you enjoy these last few days of summer!

 

[moparop]

Sounds like a great first full day! In our experience, they let you into the park for the CP ressies at right around 8:00. When you have the 8:05 ressie, it doesn't give you much time at all for exploring unfortunately. We also missed rope drop even with asking for the check early. The kids had wanted to see Eeyore so we waited and waited then finally gave up at 9:10. We still had very few lines.

How lucky you are to have a child with such a flexible sleeping and eating time. We have no such luck here. We can push things to 9:00, but any later and forget it!

Good job on snagging LC and the CP package!! Your MIL will love no doubt! We are not going in to watch, but I am hoping to watch/listen for a bit on our Illuminations night.

 

[PoppyGirl]

I'm still here too! I read all the e-mails that come to me...and then catch up on the boards when I can! I love the pic of your one bedroom kitchen! So cute!

 

[Tinker_Tam]

has school started back in your area! hope you enjoy these last few days of summer!

No, not yet. Gavin is 2 and Brenda is 4. She will be going to Preschool for 2 hours a day, 3 days a week. They won't start till the end of Sept. One of my husband's jobs revolves around Penn State's schedule and they started to move in last week. It makes everything a little crazy here. He works a ton of overtime and getting around gets tougher as everyone seems to want to be where I want to be. Not to mention all the crazy parents who invade to get their kiddo's set up in their dorms and apartments. As I have learned in the past, you have to have everything you need ready before the step foot in to Central PA. Things are like that for about 2 weeks to a month and then they settle a little...but just a little.

 

[exwdwcm]

A PTR within a PTR.................is that LEGAL?

So for all you other obsessive compulsive planners and commandos like myself......thought you might enjoy seeing our plans for our quick disneyland trip. I know, it is like crack, you can't get enough of the planning! I can't either and now that we are DVC, i have officially given into my addiction (no more group counseling!) and will always have a trip to plan!

So this trip came to be last year, when I read how great the first D23 expo was. I am a D23 member, or should say, was. I did enjoy the publication, but couldn't attend any of the events and don't feel it is worth re-investing in when i can buy or borrow the pub separate anyhow. So my sister Wendy and I, the biggest disney nuts of the family decided it would be fun to attend the next D23 expo. Little did we know, they wouldn't have one this year. We tentatively planned a trip in September and were awaiting the D23 dates, when surprise- they weren't having one. BOO! But, hey, we were already sort of planning a DL trip- we might as well still go right? I mean, we don't take much convincing!

We had planned it as a trip for just us and maybe my mom if she was interested- then our younger sister (the least disney-fied of the bunch) wanted to join- then we invited my cousin Nancy too- who is like a second mom to us and mom's BF. So that was it- this would be a girls only trip- NO KIDS!!! We picked the dates to coincide with my bday- Sept 10-13th. My bday is Sept 10th btw- in case you want to send flowers, gifts or cake! j/k, but you can if you really want.

So we booked. Of course, being fabulous and experienced WDW planners, we felt great, until we looked at the refurb schedule and saw our beloved HM would be down for the holiday switch. UGH!!! just goes to show that WDW expert does not equal DL expert. Major FAIL! then we learn TSM is going to be down as well. FAIL again! Mom was looking forward to riding it since she missed it on our trip to WDW last December. Star Tours is also down- no biggie there. But we really wanted to see the DL version of the HM. oh well. WE will see if my family lets me ever plan their trip again after this.

So that's it- 5 lovely ladies, sans kiddos, spending basically 3.5 days and 3 nights in Disneyland. We have the first direct flight out of DFW to LAX (cheapest we could do was LAX, LB and OC were too pricey OR not direct). We are renting a car at LAX. We are staying off site to save fundage. We are booked at the Anaheim REsidence Inn Maingate, not far from the parks. It is walking distance, but probably a good mile or more. We prefer having the flexibility of a rental car though. We have a one bedroom suite- with two double beds and then a pull out in the living room. A few of us snore, so this was a good solution. The hotel looks really nice for the price too.

WE are also planning to take it slow this trip- really stop and smell the roses. this goes against every commando bone in my body, but I have been wanting to do this for a while. Plus, we sort of HAVE to. Mom is slowly losing her sight and has a hard time getting around and tires easily due to a brain tumor she had (benign, but did damage- removed her pitutary gland completely). My cousin Nancy is a breast cancer survivor and has the worst immune system of anyone we know- she always is coming down with something- always fighting pink eye, sinus infections, colds, and just ruptured her ear drum this week. right now she has pink eye, the ear problem and strep. It's always something. She spent half of our Dec WDW trip in her room sick. So we are hoping she can stay well- or at least bring her large drug cabinet with her! Then there is Mandy, the youngest sister who is pregnant. She is 6 months now. So she will be going a bit slower too. Then there is Wendy and I- the healthy ones right now and the two disney commando nuts and fast walkers. This will be very hard for us to slow down. But given all of our group's ailments, we will have to stop and smell the roses, or stop and people watch for a bit and have a snack! We might have to rent a wheelchair for my mom at some point, usually she has a stroller to push which makes it easier for her to walk around (and somewhat see or let people know she is coming). So we will play that by ear.

We are very excited to have booked the Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour as well.

we have very early flight out of DFW, so we plan a slumber party at my house with dinner the night before and hopefully getting to bed early! We have some great meals booked too. So here are our plans! I'd love any DL tips you have- we haven't been since 1988 or 89 i think. So it's been a LONG time.


Friday, September 10

3am wake up!!!! Rise and shine

3:45am depart home!
4:15am arrive airport
5:50am flight boards
6:20am flight departs dfw
7:30am flight arrives LAX, get rental car, bags
8:15am head to Disneyland (35 miles)
9:15am arrive Anaheim
10am Disney’s California Adventure opens
11:30am lunch at Pilots or pacific wharf café (fast food)
2pm check in hotel, rest (or downtown Disney!)
5:30pm dinner at Steakhouse 55 at DL hotel
7:30pm to Disneyland (open until midnight)
10:30pm Fantasmic
12am park closes

Saturday, September 11

7:30am wake up!
8:30am arrive DL for tour
9am Walk in Walt’s Footsteps Tour
1pm Tour complete- break in room?
3pm downtown Disney shopping
6pm to Disneyland
7pm dinner at Blue Bayou
9pm/10:30pm Fantasmic (if missed before)
12am DL closes

Sunday, September 12

6:45am wake up!
7:45am arrive DL
8am-9am Magic Morning DL
1pm lunch Carnation Cafe
1:30pm DCA afternoon
7:10pm dinner at Ariel’s Grotto for dining package
9:30pm line up for WOC!
10:15pm World of Color

Monday, September 13

8:30am Storyteller’s breakfast at Grand Californian
10am parks open (see whatever we want)
1:15pm head to airport
2:00pm arrive airport, return car
3:40pm flight boards
4:10pm flight departs
9:30pm arrive DFW

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[disneybarbie]

WOW that sounds like a great trip to Disneyland! Girls only too - my trip to wdw with my sister last year was soo much fun!

I am yet to visit DL.. and as a through-and-through Disney fan, I really feel I should have been there by now!!
I'm going to suggest to DF that we have a West Coast 'road trip' vacation (including DL!) .. maybe in 2012.. for a first year wedding anniversary trip?! !!


Emma x

 

[eecteacher82]

I say your PTR within a PTR is totally legal! After all, I am doing a TR within my PTR!!! Your plans sounds great! I went to DL in 04 when I was out in California, but I went with a non Disney lover and we only ended up staying about 6 hours. I was totally unhappy and I cannot wait to get back out to the west coast and hit up DL!

 

[Tinker_Tam]

I am all for hearing about any trip that involves Disney! Love hearing everyone's plans!

 

[taramoz]

OMG, I love it! Please update after DL, we loved DL earlier this year. Your plans look great, I am jealous! Enjoy!

 

[exwdwcm]

WOW that sounds like a great trip to Disneyland! Girls only too - my trip to wdw with my sister last year was soo much fun!

I am yet to visit DL.. and as a through-and-through Disney fan, I really feel I should have been there by now!!
I'm going to suggest to DF that we have a West Coast 'road trip' vacation (including DL!) .. maybe in 2012.. for a first year wedding anniversary trip?! !!


Emma x

yes, we are so looking forward to it- we are all very close, so this should be fun (or trouble!) lol! yes, you need to plan a DL trip!!! plus there is so much to see and do around that area too- if you are going to come all that way, might as well stay a while and have a great west coast tour, right?

I say your PTR within a PTR is totally legal! After all, I am doing a TR within my PTR!!! Your plans sounds great! I went to DL in 04 when I was out in California, but I went with a non Disney lover and we only ended up staying about 6 hours. I was totally unhappy and I cannot wait to get back out to the west coast and hit up DL!

don't you hate it when a non-disney person takes all the wind out of your sails? luckily my mom and sister are BIG disney nuts. my cousin is pretty disney-ified too. my youngest sister enjoys it as well but just isn't crazy like us.

I am all for hearing about any trip that involves Disney! Love hearing everyone's plans!

lol! alright- it's legal then!

OMG, I love it! Please update after DL, we loved DL earlier this year. Your plans look great, I am jealous! Enjoy!

I definitely will post a mini TR in here for you guys when we return and i plan to update on FB too- i saw a few of you friended me on FB, so hopefully you can see my pics and updates when we go.

10 days and counting!

 

[PoppyGirl]

One of my very best friends treated me to a night at the DL hotel for both our birthdays and we spent 2 days at DL and CA in February. It was AWESOME! We had the best time together. She kept saying to me "We can do WHATEVER we want to do!!!" with such absolute delight. It was really fun. Usually we have our kids with us and try to do everything the kids like.

Your DL plan sounds great!!! You should be going against traffic too at that time of the morning so hopefully it won't take long to get to DL from LAX. And Blue Bayou is so good! I the Monte Cristo sandwich! YUM!

We had reservations at Ariel's grotto this summer on our DL trip for WOC, but decided at the last minute to skip it. I've heard nothing but great things about WOC so I hope you enjoy it! I'll have to do it next time.

 

[mom-n-michaela]

A PTR within a PTR.................is that LEGAL?


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How AWESOME to do a girls-only trip!! I would LOVE that! You are going to have so much fun And yeah I don't know anyone who minds a little *extra* Disney on the DISboards!!! Definitely legal

 

[exwdwcm]

One of my very best friends treated me to a night at the DL hotel for both our birthdays and we spent 2 days at DL and CA in February. It was AWESOME! We had the best time together. She kept saying to me "We can do WHATEVER we want to do!!!" with such absolute delight. It was really fun. Usually we have our kids with us and try to do everything the kids like.

Your DL plan sounds great!!! You should be going against traffic too at that time of the morning so hopefully it won't take long to get to DL from LAX. And Blue Bayou is so good! I the Monte Cristo sandwich! YUM!

We had reservations at Ariel's grotto this summer on our DL trip for WOC, but decided at the last minute to skip it. I've heard nothing but great things about WOC so I hope you enjoy it! I'll have to do it next time.

lol, isn't it funny!? as much as I will miss my little boy and love him and DH to death, i am really looking forward to the flexibility and independence! In fact, my mom, sisters and cousin and I had lunch on Monday together- no kids and we were like wow, this is awesome and we will get 3.5 days of that!!!

great on traffic, i wasn't sure if we were going against or not, so i am hoping we can make it in an hour or so. we will see. i am definitely doing the monte cristo at BB!!! keep your eye out for lots of food porn!

The meal at Ariel's looks pretty good too for our WOC package, so we are excited. i think we are going to opt for the handicap seating for mom for it though, i hope the view there is decent. she simply can't stand that long nor can my cousin. plus, she needs to be close to see with her vision loss.

How AWESOME to do a girls-only trip!! I would LOVE that! You are going to have so much fun And yeah I don't know anyone who minds a little *extra* Disney on the DISboards!!! Definitely legal

woo hoo- another vote for legal!!

 

[exwdwcm]

So the countdown is on- just TWO DAYS!!!!! Working today and tomorrow, then we are heading out on Friday am, bright and early for our girls only disneyland adventure. I know, not the same as WDW (which will always be first in my heart), but we are excited to experience something new. none of us have been since the late 90s and in fact, it was like 88 or 89 when i last went, right when i was a freshman in HS i think.

My mom and cousin Nancy are coming over tomorrow night to stay the night with me. We have to be up super early to catch our 6am flight. so just easier to all leave together. My sister lives a few blocks away and my other sister will stay with her.

I'll be posting a ton of pics on FB and update this report sometime next week when we return. I do have eticket (the DIS app), so i can get on here and give quick updates, but posting a pic is a hassle sometimes on the mobile. anyhow- we can't wait. so here is a little more about us:

Mom- just turned 60. Had major brain surgery last year, lost most of her vision due to the brain tumor (benign) and can no longer drive. She uses a cane to walk sometimes and has zero peripheral vision (don't walk up from behind/beside her, she can't see you!). legally blind in one eye completely. She is retired, mom of 3 girls and wonderful, considerate and giving!!

Nancy- mom's cousin- our cousin. She is mom's age and best friend (their mom's were sisters, both since passed) works for the school district, single, but mom to lots of pets! She sort of is our 'second mom' since she has no kids of her own. She is a breast cancer survivor, but still struggles with a horrible immune system and gets sick often and tires easily.

Me- well you know me, i am me, what else is there to say!? lol- i am the oldest of the 3 girls though.

Wendy- middle sister, huge disney nut as well- paralegal, mom of 2. she is the fun, loud, comedian in the family, always making us laugh. She talks a LOT! lol

Mandy- the baby sister- so-so disney, not super crazy about it, but enjoys it. special ed teacher, about 25 weeks pregnant with her first child (will be sitting out some rides). She is the fashionista of the family, always with the hippest clothes and decor.

So that is our gang......a preggo, a cancer survivor, an almost blind woman, a comedian and me. Should be interesting to say the least.

here's one of mom and us girls and then one of Nancy too! she is rarely in the pictures, she is always the one taking them.

Nancy and her nephew at WDW in Dec

 

[taramoz]

Yay for your DL trip! Looks like a fun crew, have a blast, I am sooo jealous.

 

[moparop]

Sounds like the group will be great fun! Can't wait to see photos and hear the after trip stories!

 

[Tinkermom76]

I can't wait to hear about your DL trip. I have never been there and know absolutely nothing about it. Maybe one day I will get there

 

[exwdwcm]

Well we are home- got in late last night. had a great time, but extremely tired. hoping to post my quick DL trip report shortly and some pics- probably over the next few days, so stay tuned. It involves a cheese sauce incident on a tram, ending up in cast member parking and see Naveen Andrews from Lost!

Yay for your DL trip! Looks like a fun crew, have a blast, I am sooo jealous.

thanks, it was a magical time!

Sounds like the group will be great fun! Can't wait to see photos and hear the after trip stories!

coming soon!

I can't wait to hear about your DL trip. I have never been there and know absolutely nothing about it. Maybe one day I will get there

it was quite different from the world, but yet the same in some ways. the world definitely still holds the #1 spot in my heart.

 

[Tinkermom76]

YAY you are home!!! Can't wait to hear about your trip even though you have left little teasers on facebook, I wanna hear the whole thing!