Girls Trip Take 2 - Labor Day Weekend 2021, Christmas 2021 and July 2024 Trips

[vamassey1]

Got back to the DIS just in time to be here for the end of your Christmas report!

Welcome Back! I know you have been busy accomplishing something great.

I'm so happy you were able to experience the CP! It's such an incredible show and one of the highlights of the holidays at WDW.

CP was the best! I would do it every trip if I could.

 

[vamassey1]

We hit our 60-day mark for our January trip on Wednesday. I have good news and bad news. I am happy to say we have finally broken through to Dennis and he is now wanting to try new places to eat along with still wanting some old.

I stayed up until 11 pm on Tuesday night in hopes of getting Savor the Savanna for our Animal Kingdom Day. I wanted to give this to Dennis as a Christmas gift. AK is his favorite park and he's all about the food this trip. I wasn't sure if they were released at 12:00 am eastern time and if it would work like regular ADRs for the arrival day +10 days. Guess what? They were released at 12 EST, and I could go the 10 days out! Sadly, I didn't get it for the Monday I wanted, but I did get the Tuesday. I'm okay with switching up those days.

I went to sleep after that and set the alarm for 4:45 am so I could hopefully get the rest of my ADR wishes.

I was successful in getting Hoop Dee Doo Review for our no park day on Wednesday. I booked Category 1 for the first show. The original plan was to do a late breakfast at Topolino's and early dinner at HDDR. We had done a late breakfast at Topolino's in July with an early dinner at Beaches and worked out really well. Didn't work out this time around. There were NO ADRs for Topolino's for our entire week because it's going to be closed for 2 weeks! No Topolino's for us and the worst part is I had already put together the cutest Daisy outfit. It's not a normal Daisy outfit and will only work for Topolino's. Oh well. We did look at doing breakfast at Primo Piatto at the Riviera as a backup. Their breakfast menu looks so much better than any of the other resort breakfasts. I am looking forward to trying it.

I got the rest of the ADRs I wanted with no issues. We have a new to us place for our Resort arrival day. We're finally going try Boathouse for dinner. Danielle has been and loves it, but it's new for us. We have Trattoria al Forno for our Studios Day. Dennis was the one who suggested getting dinner somewhere on the Boardwalk. Danielle and I had dinner here in April and enjoyed it, plus Dennis wants an excuse to use a boat. He does like using all the different forms of transportation while we're in the bubble. We don't plan on doing Fantasmic this trip since we did it big in July. We have a lunch at Dennis' favorite Skipper Canteen for our MK day. He has been requesting this for every trip. We're headed back to Akershus to eat breakfast with the Princesses on our Epcot day. Danielle has been back since Covid, but we haven't. I can already taste the potato casserole. That rounds our ADRs for now.

I have my quick Jollywood trip coming up next month. Danielle did request we try the Jazzy Holidays at The Brown Derby during the party, so I got an ADR for that. We want to enter the park early so we're not in line for too long and I have a $25 birthday credit with Landry so that equates to us going to AK for lunch and eating at Yak & Yeti. Don't you just love that fuzzy Disney Math? We'll pop into AK to see some of the Christmas decorations and grab some lunch. We'll go back to her apartment to change and get fancy for the party but plan to make it back before the official entry time. I really wish I had time to pop into MK, but it was AK or MK and AK is actually closer for us.

On the Homefront, I'm desperately trying to get my Christmas decorations up. Danielle really wants to see the house decorated when she comes home for Thanksgiving. Wish me luck.

 

[missjackiemcg]

Congratulations on getting your ADRs done!! It's always such a relief to have things mostly booked and then just tweak as needed when the trip gets closer. Sounds like you did pretty well despite the couple of kinks! Savor the Savannah does sound terrific! We've eaten out at the same building on our Wild Africa Treks twice, and it is SO peaceful and lovely just being there watching the animals. I'd like to do the StS version sometime.

Good luck getting all Christmasy at home before Danielle comes home! I'm sure you'll get it done!

 

[vamassey1]

Congratulations on getting your ADRs done!! It's always such a relief to have things mostly booked and then just tweak as needed when the trip gets closer. Sounds like you did pretty well despite the couple of kinks! Savor the Savannah does sound terrific! We've eaten out at the same building on our Wild Africa Treks twice, and it is SO peaceful and lovely just being there watching the animals. I'd like to do the StS version sometime.

Thank you! It does feel like an accomplishment once it's done. I really want to do the Africa Trek too. That's on the list for the future.

Good luck getting all Christmasy at home before Danielle comes home! I'm sure you'll get it done!

I'm just not moving as fast as I would like to this year.

 

[pkondz]

I am happy to say we have finally broken through to Dennis and he is now wanting to try new places to eat along with still wanting some old.

Tis a Christmas miracle!

Sadly, I didn't get it for the Monday I wanted, but I did get the Tuesday. I'm okay with switching up those days.

But you got it.

I was successful in getting Hoop Dee Doo Review

Love the Doo.

There were NO ADRs for Topolino's for our entire week because it's going to be closed for 2 weeks! No Topolino's for us and the worst part is I had already put together the cutest Daisy outfit.

Well shoot!

got the rest of the ADRs I wanted with no issues.

On the Homefront, I'm desperately trying to get my Christmas decorations up. Danielle really wants to see the house decorated when she comes home for Thanksgiving. Wish me luck.

Good luck!

 

[disneyAndi14]

I’m so excited you got the Savor the Savannah tour! You two will love it!
It looks like Jollywood has improved quite a bit this year. I watched a few videos and the entertainment and food looks really good plus the epic dance party with Pixar characters!
I would love to meet Santa Duffy!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Your trip plans are all sounding wonderful. Delighted for you that Denis is broadening his culinary horizons. Makes it more fun when you get to try new places. Trattoria is one of my family’s favourites. Good luck with the Christmas decorating

 

[vamassey1]

Tis a Christmas miracle!

It really is!

But you got it.

Yes, I was successful!

Love the Doo.

Good luck!

Thanks, I'm going to need it.

 

[vamassey1]

I’m so excited you got the Savor the Savannah tour! You two will love it!

I think we will. Thank you for all the information on the tour and inspiring me to try it.

It looks like Jollywood has improved quite a bit this year. I watched a few videos and the entertainment and food looks really good plus the epic dance party with Pixar characters!
I would love to meet Santa Duffy!

I'm getting really excited for Jollywood. Everything I have seen has been positive.

 

[vamassey1]

Your trip plans are all sounding wonderful. Delighted for you that Denis is broadening his culinary horizons. Makes it more fun when you get to try new places. Trattoria is one of my family’s favourites.

I really like trying new places. Danielle and I enjoyed Trattoria so we're happy he's willing to try it too..

Good luck with the Christmas decorating

Thank you!! It just seems so overwhelming this year.

 

[Steppesister]

I think I shared the story of our meal at Via Napoli but I might not have. When the waitress was giving us our water glasses, one exploded and the bottom of the glass fell out. No one was hurt by glass but Danielle was drenched.

OH my heck!! What a story! They treated you well and made it right, so kudos to them for that!

The boys really enjoyed staying in the Cars area and playing in the water.

I adore this area of AoA. Such a well-themed area.

As we passed through the UK I snapped this photo of the Christmas Tea Set. I just think it's so cute.

I can't wait to find all of t these little Christmas-y hidden gems on my trip in a couple of weeks!

We kept going until we made it to France and entered the new area where Ratatouille is. It really is a beautiful addition to the park.

It really is. They did such a lovely job over there.

After Remy's I made a point of trying to find some more Olafs. We found Olaf in the maze in France.

Yep, this is on my list too. Although, I think I will skip paying for the map this time.

Dennis has always enjoyed the music groups in Canada going back to Off Kilter, man I really miss them.

Me too!!! booooooo hooooo for d/c'ing Off Kilter!

I can not tell you how much our family enjoyed this performance and now want to do it over and over. It wasn't as much of a hit with N, he fell asleep. We loved the music, the hymns and the whole magical presentation of the birth of Christ. This will truly bring the spirit of Christmas to your soul.

he is now wanting to try new places to eat along with still wanting some old.

I have my quick Jollywood trip coming up next month. Danielle did request we try the Jazzy Holidays at The Brown Derby during the party, so I got an ADR for that.

 

[PittypatBR]

Hooray for having Danielle home for the holiday! I know you will have a blast with her at Jollywood, too. Good jobs on the ADR's. That is always a nervous time! Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[vamassey1]

I haven't disappeared, just got really busy. Thanksgiving went great but it was a lot. We were all so happy to have Danielle here. I think she had a great visit. She is with us again. We did Dennis' family Christmas this past weekend and Houston. This was the first time I had all 3 kids together in a while and the first time this many members for Dennis' Mom side together since they were kids.
I'm trying to shift gears and get ready to fly with Danielle to Orlando tomorrow night. Just a quick trip for me to go to Jollywood with Danielle and then fly back on Thursday.
I still have so much to do for Christmas and time is running out. We're also going to do our Christmas Cookies for the kids on Sunday after church. We haven't done this really big since 2021.
I hope everyone else's holiday has been going well.
Thanksgiving.

The girls before the LSU game.

At the game.

Louisiana Renaissance Festival.




Dominic's 3rd Birthday Party.

 

[pkondz]

I haven't disappeared, just got really busy.

Who's this?

Thanksgiving went great but it was a lot.

Ha. I think that could apply to most people in the US.

We were all so happy to have Danielle here.

I'm trying to shift gears and get ready to fly with Danielle to Orlando tomorrow night.

Oh, you poor thing. Having to go to Disney.

Just a quick trip for me to go to Jollywood with Danielle and then fly back on Thursday.

Even a quick trip to Disney is a good trip.

You have a lovely family.

Are those Oysters Rockefeller?

Cool! I've never been on a camel.

Beautiful dress. Love the pose too.

Love Michelle's costume!

Hey! Where's your costume???

 

[missjackiemcg]

Looks like you've all been enjoying some incredible family time!! How nice to be able to be together in Houston, too. I'm just trying to survive til Friday, here in Kindergarten! Christmas Break is SO close!!!! LOL

 

[piglet1979]

Looks like you guys had a great time. Have fun at Jollywood this week!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Fabulous photos of you all. Great you had all of your kids together at the reunion. Have a blast at Jollywood. Enjoy time with your girl

 

[vamassey1]

Oh, you poor thing. Having to go to Disney.

I know, it's just so hard.

Even a quick trip to Disney is a good trip.

I agree.

You have a lovely family.

Thank you!

Are those Oysters Rockefeller?

No, just charbroiled. They were selling them outside the stadium.

Cool! I've never been on a camel.

Me either.

Beautiful dress. Love the pose too.

Thank you! I think she looks great too.

Love Michelle's costume!

Thank you! She had fun dressing up.

Hey! Where's your costume???

Not this time. We know one of the owners of the festival and I told her I wanted to help next year but she would have to dress me.

 

[vamassey1]

Looks like you've all been enjoying some incredible family time!! How nice to be able to be together in Houston, too

We have been really blessed to have so much family time together.

. I'm just trying to survive til Friday, here in Kindergarten! Christmas Break is SO close!!!! LOL

I know you're counting down that Christmas Break. Hang in there, I know you can do it.

 

[vamassey1]

Looks like you guys had a great time. Have fun at Jollywood this week!

I'm really looking forward to going!