when you guys go to gatlinburg you have to eat at calhoun's! that was where ray and i had our first date (not that specific one but one in nashville) and i miss it SO MUCH! they only have them in tennessee and i eat there pretty much every time i go home. their ribs are FANTASTIC! ray always buys a bottle of BBQ sauce and charcoal grill seasoning every time we go there. you see "america's best ribs" and you think it's a rib joint but it's not. it's actually a nice restaurant with lots of other stuff too. everything i've ever had there has been really good.
here's the website for the gatlinburg location. go check out the menu!
http://www.calhouns.com/page.asp?id=117
have fun!!!
now i'm off to look at the deals you mentioned on disneyshopping.com!
So did you score any disneyshopping deals?? My next shipment should arrive in a day or so I'm so excited. Thanks for the link, we were looking for places to eat down there so it will be on the list. THANKS!
sounds like a lot of great deals on disneyshopping
Score on the free 7 day pass. That is awesome
Your 3 day weekend sounds like it will be a blast. Have fun
I'm so excited about the ticket, thanks. Yes, our 3 day weekend should be such fun!
Have you ever been to Gatlinburg, Lesley? We have never been, but so many DIS boarders have talked about their trips, that now my wheels are turning. What sorts of things do you do when you are down there?
Yes, we've been many times. Lots of fun things to do there, we love it. We've done lots of things: shopping in town, hiking the trails to see waterfalls, we went to Obergatlinburg and done the activities (water slides, alpine slides, etc.) we've taken the ski lifts up the mountain in downtown Gatlinburg, watched them make fudge in the candy shoppes (and sampled of course), enjoyed the restaraunts there, gone to the aquarium, putt putt golf, go carts, etc. It really is fun.
WOW! That's all really awesome news!!!!
Thanks!
OMG Lesley---how unbelievable about winning the free Universal tickets........do you think having that many passes to that park will change your WDW plans? CONGRATS!!!!
I have been trying to be good and stay away from Disneyshopping since we really won't be going until September---I keep thinking it will be better if I wait to the end of summer and stock up then---but then you keep talking about all your fantastic deals, and I am just going to have to check it out......do you think I will be able to "just look"?!?!??!?!?!?!?! ;o)
I was wondering if I could pick your brain a bit on AKV---since you are now owners---because it is starting to top our lists for where we want to stay in September. We would be renting points for a studio----do you think we should request Jambo House or Kidani Village? Are they going to share transportation or have separate buses? Just wondering about your opinion!!!! TIA
No, we wont let it change our disney plans, but our final day we will spend the day in Universal and just head home late after a day at Universal. Did you get some Disneyshopping things? They had the best deals. We are staying in Jambo house this time and plan on checking out Kidani then hopefully will stay at Kidani next year. I want to make sure everything is up and running (pool, transportation, dining), etc. before we commit to staying there but are so excited about it opening. We hope the pool is open (should be we are told) and we plan on swimming there while we are there.
Ok... do you remember a few months ago when everything was going WRONG for your family?! You are getting paid back for that stressful time... and then some!
Congrats on all of the wonderful things that are blessing your family right now!
Question.. did you win ONE free 7-day pass, or enough for your whole family?
Have a great weekend! If you get a chance, stop by my marathon weekend TR.. I've finally been updating again. I'm trying to finish so I can start a PTR for our Spring Break trip... which is less than two months away!
You are sure right, things have definitely turned around for our family, THANK GOD! I actually got one free 7 day pass for me (mailed here - 1 per household rule) and got another that will be mailed to Tim at my mom's house so we should be able to get 2 free passes out of the deal! Love your TR!!!
Lesley
Lesley---- have you seen the fares from CVG to Orlando- 142 round trip per person.... just to add a twist to your plans to drive
You are the best, I did check them out. I heard on the radio about the drop in rates at CVG to be competetive and couldn't believe the rates. We discussed it and we still plan on driving just due to the amount of time we'll be down there, wanting to bring down some food/drinks/wine to save money and having a vehicle to get to Universal, etc. BUT we are excited about the low airfare rates from CVG to orlando for our November Trip!!!
Lesley

On winning the Universal tickets. Hopefully you will be able to fit in a few days in your plans. My DD really wants to try Universal. I haven't been there since 1996, wasn't as great as Disney but still fun. I would love to go see Blue Man Group though. Looking forward to seeing your Disney shopping finds.
I think we'll just do one day at Universal (our last day) but we'll see what happens when we get down there. I would love to see Blue Man Group too! We haven't been there since our honeymoon in 1998, should be fun to revisit - no Disney for sure but can't wait to experience it.
Lesley
Thanks, we are so excited!
That's awesome about the Universal tickets. Seems like it was meant to be to sneak off to Universal for a couple days. Universal is definitely not Disney but it does have some cool rides.
Gatlinburg sounds fun also. That is great that you can take Mickey along.
I couldn't believe we won them. I agree, no Disney but should be fun. Gatlinburg is lots of fun, can't wait!!!
Oh Boy!! Do ya all think Tim and Lesley will
check this rate out and decide to fly to Orlando??
......or will they still decide to
It was VERY tempting, but I think we're sticking with our original plans to drive, but these deals ROCK for our November couples only trip!
Lesley
Lesley,
Your tshirts are all great, that is so cute that you tour in matching shirts.
Congratulations on wining the Universal Pass

, I won one also

, and am possibly going to WDW at the end of the month. I was disappointed that the pass is only good from 3/1-12/31/09. We fly out of Tampa on the 28th of Feb.

I think I have a Fall or Winter Disney trip in my future, hopefully the pass will be used then.
We have not really had the snow that you have had, can't believe the kids had to miss so many days of school!
Thanks, wait til' you see what I got the other day on sale, the shipment should be here soon, I'll post pics when they arrive. Congrats on your pass! I didn't realize the date restriction but glad it falls into our date window. I know, I'm ready for the snow to end!
Congrats on all your good news! I wanted to mention to you that once you have fulfilled your membership obligation with Disney movie club, you become a VIP. Once you are a VIP, you get a free pin with every order. But you have to ask for it. There is a VIP Pins tab on the side and if you click it you can choose from about 6 or so pins. They are very cute and a nice freebee! I just got the Mickey's 80th birthday pin and it is very cute. Even the shipping is free. Thought you would like to know about that since your kids like to trade pins.
Also once you are a VIP, you will get great offers like 60% off unlimited movies after you buy one at regular price plus free shipping. Two years ago I ordered movies for every kid on my Christmas list and got them for $5-8 each! What a deal!
That is AWESOME, I didn't realize that, thank you so much!
Congrats on the Universal tickets

That's great! I love the tshirts you got on disneyshopping. Isn't that place great? I order things on there every once in a while. They have some great discounts.
Thanks! I got more stuff on Disneyshopping this week can't wait for it to arrive. I love it but miss our local
Disneystore so much, they always had great deals. When we were in Gatlinburg last they had a Disney outlet, hoping they still do!!!!
Lesley
I LOVE your TR's! I am only on page 11, yes, very behind, but I am catching up! I will be at the end in no time at the rate I am going. Congratulations on DVC!

We so want to do it but just have to figure out how to make it work for us.
Glad you found us again, good luck on getting all caught up. If you ever have questions about DVC let me know : )
Okay Laura---spill the beans.....where did you find such an UNBELIEVABLE rate out of CVG---that NEVER happens!
They just announced on local radio that CVG is lowering all airfares by 5-50% to be compative with Dayton, Indy, and Columbus, I'm just glad they did!!!
Congrats on the Universal tickets. I can't wait to read about that, we've never done universal. Some friends told me there were larger coasters there, that we may want to wait until the kids are older and they are getting older now..
You deserve a break from that snow, my Ohio family is tired of it too. Keep thinking warm disney thoughts.
We're actually having a warm spell this week, 71 yesterday

Enjoy it while it lasts, may be 30 next week.
Love the shirts.
Thanks, so excited to try it. I agree, I want a break from the snow!
Lesley