Give me an AP & look what happens - 2 for 1 PTR!! NEW 3/11 p.63 TR Link

[DisMomAmy]

Hi All!! Alex's birthday is this coming Sunday, the 28th. He had a birthday party with some friends at a local bowling alley yesterday. It was the first big friends party he has had. He invited his whole class in kindergarten & first grade, but since then we've kept it small or skipped a party all together. He had a bit of a hard time losing to his friends, but overall he had a GREAT time! I'll post some pictures when I get some time.

Tomorrow the kids have Thanksgiving feasts at school so we've been making some special treats for that - I'll post pictures of that later too.

On Thursday, I'll be hosting Thankgiving with my mom, DMIL, my brother & my nephew. My niece is too much of a teenager so she wants to stay at home... If she were mine, I would make her go, but that's my brother's issue, not mine.

Then on Sunday we'll have a family party for Alex's birthday!

Hope you all have a great week! Working on that Epcot update... hope to have it up soon!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Busy, busy, busy! Alex's party sounds like a lot of fun -- looking forward to the bowling pics! Oh, I can't wait to see what you made for the kids' Thanksgiving feasts.

I am with you -- I would have made the niece come. My nephew is getting to that age where he bails out of family functions at the last minute to go do things with his friends. Charles and I have talked about how that is not going to be an option with our two. Of course, we say that now, but it may be an entirely different story in a couple of years.

 

[carissanboys]

Have I posted on this before?? Now that your TR is over, I'll check in back over here to see how you're doing.

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Birthday, Alex!

 

[Angies1274]

Hi Amy....finally back to catch up.

Your AK and DHS plans look great! I've loved looking at all your flashback pics!!

A little late....but Yay on double digits!!

I hope Alex has a nice birthday!! It sounds like he had a fun party! Noah's birthday and party is Friday. They are predicting freezing rain here. I hope the weather changes or we may have to reschedule everything.

Can't wait to see the birthday pics.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[Happydog]

I think all your plans look great, too!

Birthdays and Thanksgiving. All sorts of fun!

When we go down to Disneyworld next week I am definitely going to do a little santa shopping!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Busy, busy, busy! Alex's party sounds like a lot of fun -- looking forward to the bowling pics! Oh, I can't wait to see what you made for the kids' Thanksgiving feasts.

I am with you -- I would have made the niece come. My nephew is getting to that age where he bails out of family functions at the last minute to go do things with his friends. Charles and I have talked about how that is not going to be an option with our two. Of course, we say that now, but it may be an entirely different story in a couple of years.

It's been a busy week, but we've all made it through! Alex turned 10 yesterday!!

Somehow I managed to forget to take a picture of the Thankgiving treats!

And my niece ended up coming to Thanksgiving!

Have I posted on this before?? Now that your TR is over, I'll check in back over here to see how you're doing.

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Birthday, Alex!

Hi Carissa!! Welcome back! Yes - you've posted here before! It probably doesn't seem like it since this is a 2 for 1 PTR & the first trip is over!

Hi Amy....finally back to catch up.

Your AK and DHS plans look great! I've loved looking at all your flashback pics!!

A little late....but Yay on double digits!!

I hope Alex has a nice birthday!! It sounds like he had a fun party! Noah's birthday and party is Friday. They are predicting freezing rain here. I hope the weather changes or we may have to reschedule everything.

Can't wait to see the birthday pics.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks Angie!! I need to get Epcot posted! I hope Noah has a great party & the weather cooperated! I'll try to get birthday pictures posted soon!

I think all your plans look great, too!

Birthdays and Thanksgiving. All sorts of fun!

When we go down to Disneyworld next week I am definitely going to do a little santa shopping!

I can't believe you're off on another trip!! Thanks for finding the time to check in!!

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Hi Amy! I hope you had a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Late Birthday to Alex!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Hi Amy! I hope you had a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Late Birthday to Alex!

Thanks Missy!! We had a great Thanksgiving & Alex had a great birthday too!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Here's what we've been up to this month...

Of course there has been leaf raking:

Jumping in leaves:

Christmas tree tagging & posing for our family Christmas card:

A bowling birthday party :

Thanksgiving Feasts at school:

Our first snow:

And Alex's 10th birthday:

(That's cat scratch prevention tape on the couch... I have already pulled it off one couch but it's still hanging around on the love seat... it works!)

Hope you are all having a Happy November!! Hope to be back soon with my Epcot update!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Epcot

I absolutely adore Epcot – it’s probably my favorite park! But I think I’m alone in that… so hopefully I haven’t scheduled too much Epcot time for the rest of the family. I plan to add in a bunch of new things this year in my efforts to help them appreciate Epcot more! I was a little sad that we would be missing the Flower & Garden Festival by visiting during our February vacation rather than our April vacation as we have the past two years. But come to find out, because our February vacation runs through the first week of March, we’ll be there when the festival begins!! It will be fun to see if the park transforms overnight or if it is a more gradual change for the festival.

We have three visits scheduled to Epcot – once before the Flower & Garden Festival begins, and twice after:

• Monday 2/28 (full day)
• Thursday 3/3 (evening)
• Saturday 3/5 (morning)

Favorites for Epcot are:

Alex – Nemo, “the countries”, Test Track, Soarin’ and “Ellen’s Energy Ride” (I think he just knows he hasn't been on this attraction.)

Tim – Food

Zach – “snow cones” and “the big circle ball” (ie. Kaki Gori & SSE)

Me – My favorites are definitely the world showcase & Soarin’. I’m also excited that the F&G Festival starts mid-week!!

I guess our new things for this trip will be Universe of Energy, so Alex can check it off his list & a new KP mission or two! I think Alex might enjoy doing one this year too… We’ve done Japan & Germany and I did China with Laura. I believe that leaves us with Mexico, Norway, France & the UK. I’d also like to see the acrobats in China & explore some of the exhibits in Innoventions. I think we’ll visit the Character Connection as well.

Based on that, these are our park goals:

• Soarin’

• Innovations

• Character Connection (at rope drop)

• Test Track

• Nemo

• Universe of Energy

• Spaceship Earth

• World Showcase Countries

• KP Mission (Mexico, Norway, France, UK)

• Acrobats in China

• “Snowcones” in Japan

• Taking in the Flower & Garden Festival

• Illuminations (I’d like to try to sit up the stairs in Canada)

Maybes:
• Journey into Imagination with Figment
• Crush
• Donald’s Boat Ride in Mexico
• O Canada!

Our major touring day will be Monday 2/28. Hopefully it will be a quiet day since it’s not an EMH day & the F&G Festival doesn’t start until Wednesday.

We have a lunch ADR at Teppan Edo (Zach’s pick for the trip).

With such a long to-do list I’m sure some of our goals will carry over to our two other half-days. We’ll plan to stay for Illuminations on Thursday night, 3/3, after our dinner at Les Chefs de France (new for us).

We also have a lunch ADR at Le Cellier on Saturday 3/5.

Continued next post...

 

[DisMomAmy]

Continued from last post...

Now for our walk back in time:

Sadly, we never stepped foot in the WS in 2007…

2009:

Continued next post...

 

[DisMomAmy]

Continued from last post:

2010:

We’ve learned to love Epcot more and more with each visit! We’ve seen so much, yet there is so much more to experience!! As long as I make sure Tim keeps his belly full (and there are so many options at Epcot) we’ll be in good shape! I think Epcot is my favorite park & I’m trying to bring everyone around to my way of thinking!

And with the passing of Thanksgiving & Alex's birthday... we are under 3 months!! (Insert dancing smilies here... I'm at 25 pictures so it won't let me dance!)

 

[Charleston Princess]

Love the Christmas card picture! The boys are so cute in their Santa hats!

Lots of fun Epcot memories! There is always so much to do in that park.

 

[KathyRN137]

The Christmas card picture is sweet, but I love the next one where the boys are cracking up!

Epcot definitely grows on a family as the kids get older.

Happy belated b'day to Alex... wow he's getting to be such a big boy!


Kathy

 

[DisMomAmy]

Love the Christmas card picture! The boys are so cute in their Santa hats!

Lots of fun Epcot memories! There is always so much to do in that park.

Thanks Jackie! I Epcot!

The Christmas card picture is sweet, but I love the next one where the boys are cracking up!

Epcot definitely grows on a family as the kids get older.

Happy belated b'day to Alex... wow he's getting to be such a big boy!


Kathy

Thanks Kathy!! We actually put all three pictures on the Christmas card - one nice one and two of them cracking up! And I posted the wrong "nice" pictures - it's so hard to see them on the screen sometimes. I'll have to go back and fix that - Zach doesn't seem to be looking at the camera in the one I posted.

 

[disneyfan61]

Hi Amy. I have not posted lately but just got caught up.

I love the pics of the kids tagging the tree. They look so happy & look like they are just having a good ol time!!

Your plans look great!! I love Epcot also. Almost as much as MK

It looks like your dining plans are much like ours. We are eating at Teppan Edo for lunch, & LeCellier also. We are also eating at Yak & Yeti, Crystal Palace for breakfast, Mama Melroses for lunch & Chefs De France.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Your awesomely planned trip makes me realize how much I HAVEN'T DONE! I have a loose agenda of our parks on what days...but that's it...I gotta get on the ball!

I think you have a great plan here for converting the entire family to being Epcot-lovers.

 

[mousescrapper]

Hi stranger....

Ok thnx to your handy post links I believe I am all caught up....unless you snuck something in again.....

Epcot goals look great....we definetly needed 3 days to accomplish all our stuff too and we didn't even have as much or dining...

two things to mention:

Illuminations viewing spot...I will show you the "PERFECT" spot next month when were are there...if you are willing to wait it will be worth it!

Masks...not sure if this a pernament change...but instead of the masks and paper ornaments it is just a cut out Duffy Bear

looking forward to more of your plans...and I think that will be so COOL to be in Epcot w/ no F&G and then the next time w/ it...I'd be in awe and the Toy Story theme...I'm jealous

J~

 

[DisMomAmy]

Hi Amy. I have not posted lately but just got caught up.

I love the pics of the kids tagging the tree. They look so happy & look like they are just having a good ol time!!

Your plans look great!! I love Epcot also. Almost as much as MK

It looks like your dining plans are much like ours. We are eating at Teppan Edo for lunch, & LeCellier also. We are also eating at Yak & Yeti, Crystal Palace for breakfast, Mama Melroses for lunch & Chefs De France.

Hi Doreen!! I haven't had as much DIS time as usual lately with the holiday prep... I'm excited to try out some new restaurants and be able to visit some of our favorites too!!

Your awesomely planned trip makes me realize how much I HAVEN'T DONE! I have a loose agenda of our parks on what days...but that's it...I gotta get on the ball!

I think you have a great plan here for converting the entire family to being Epcot-lovers.

HI Brook!! Awesomely planned... I actually feel like I'm behind in planning. Hoping to shift into full Disney planning mode after the holidays.

I'll try my best to convert everyone.

Hi stranger....

Ok thnx to your handy post links I believe I am all caught up....unless you snuck something in again.....

Epcot goals look great....we definetly needed 3 days to accomplish all our stuff too and we didn't even have as much or dining...

two things to mention:

Illuminations viewing spot...I will show you the "PERFECT" spot next month when were are there...if you are willing to wait it will be worth it!

Masks...not sure if this a pernament change...but instead of the masks and paper ornaments it is just a cut out Duffy Bear

looking forward to more of your plans...and I think that will be so COOL to be in Epcot w/ no F&G and then the next time w/ it...I'd be in awe and the Toy Story theme...I'm jealous

J~

Hi Jules!! Can't wait to see the Illuminations viewing area!! Good info on the masks... luckily we did them last time & I'm thinking we'll do passports instead this time... we'll see.

Toy Story theme... I actually didn't know that for some reason! But it sounds REALLY cool!!!

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Sorry I haven't been updating much lately... trying to stay somewhat up to date on the TRs I'm reading. I hope to get my MK post done before Christmas... it's mostly written just need to add a few more pictures.

Hope you are all enjoying the holiday season!! It was a nice chilly 9 degrees here when I drove the boys to school! But still no substantial snow.

 

[carissanboys]

Those pictures of the boys in front of the tree are so cute. Love their smiles!

I think I'm most looking forward to spending some adult only time in Epcot on my upcoming trip. It'll be the first time I can really stop and smell the roses while there.