Hakuna Kidani, What a Turtleful Phrase!

[Poolrat]

I am so glad some of your burdens have been lifted.

Great job on the evaluation. You deserved the great score you got.!!!


I am looking forward to the NYE trip.

 

[MeMom]

Congrats on the evaluation, well done!

Thanks. I am so glad it's over.

Glad to hear your eval went well. I completely understand how you feel. I had a drop by unannounced visit last week. Glad to hear the Dec trip will happen even if you have to tweak it some. So excited to hear that Sophie started walking too! Have a great week!

It's going to be a shoestring budget trip, but I think I can do it. It's good that I nixed October and March. Hopefully by summer, things will be much better.

We're going on a field trip tomorrow, so that will help break up our week.

Oh my word, you have me wishing for another holiday season visit. The parks are always magical but in December, 100x more so!!

The kids activities at the AKL are quite impressive!

Can't help but confess I am giggling over Trent's pelican confrontation. Sorry, Trent!

Congrats on the positive evaulation outcome. Of course it couldn't have gone any other way!

I am excited to see Disney Christmas decor again. This may be the last year for Osborne Lights to be in Hollywood Studios, so I want to be sure to get last pictures of those. I have new things on my picture-taking list, too, so if I do nothing but take pictures the whole time, I'll be quite happy!

Go over to KatMark's trip report and look at that gang of pelicans. Picture their ancestors hounding my three little kids for food. Picture Jill being somewhat afraid, Trent being terrified, and Drew just looking at them like they were stupid. That's pretty much how it played out. Except for me offering for them to hold a bucket of fish to add to the aggressiveness of the pelicans - at which point Trent left terrified and went into livid, asking me if I was trying to get them killed! It is in my top ten memories of my kids' childhood years.

Thanks for the good thoughts on the evaluation.

Awwww, Bella looks so cute being still! It's amazing when you get pictures of the kiddos being still, especially the ones that move around constantly!

The activities look really cool. We didn't get the opportunity to take the boys there, but I'm sure they would have enjoyed it.

Congrats on your evaluation score!

She's a mover and shaker, for sure. She's a sweet, happy, lively girl.

Maybe you can take the boys on a future trip. The activities were simple, but fun.

So glad you are feeling better about your December trip! I LOVE seeing the pics of the Christmas trees as I do not know when I will be able to see them in person. I really cannot take vacation that time of year but someday I really want to see them in person!

We'll bombard you with pictures on FB.

Okay... you have convinced me. I NEED to go to Disneyland at Christmas. My DD's have been begging to go for their 19th & 21st birthday presents. I have been reluctant with having to pay tuition & plane trips home, plus Christmas presents. The entire family but me has birthdays from right before Thanksgiving to right after Christmas so it gets very expensive at this time of the year. I know I can't get AP's since it is just me (and reluctant DH) with girls gone, and it is SO expensive for just a one-day hopper. BUT, since you posted those Disney Christmas pictures, I just know that I have to go so I can soak in the holiday Disney style. My DD's should be thanking you! My DH & I are meeting friends in DTD the day after Thanksgiving, so I will get a little Disney fix (and an Earl fix too)!

SO glad and happy for you that evaluation turned out good! Thank goodness we don't have to get evaluated as substitutes. I get nervous enough when the principal and superintendent just wander through!

Love the pictures of the flamingo & pelican feeding session. See Disney is an educational experience! Like you, I would love to do that with the kids as my job. How much fun, Disney and teaching!

Have a great week!

It's nice to have DTD for a quick fix. Trent just went to Florida to do a Tough Mudder, and the little brat snuck over to DTD to eat at Earl's....ad he was brave/stupid enough to send pictures of his sandwich to Jill! She has officially disowned him.

I won't be surprised when the time comes that subs have some kind of evaluation system other than just the teachers' reviews.

Well Memom I am right there with you in the "can't afford Disney" boat. We haven't been since last Dec. and won't be going back until next Dec.

I'm glad your evaluation is over, I knew it would go well. I hope you have a great week.

I'm going to be scaling way back on my Disney trips.

Your Christmas pictures have me even more excited for our trip in 28 days. This year we are going to AK which we missed last December to see the decorations and the parade.

Thank you for sharing.

I'm interested to see where, if anywhere, they are going to put the cool character trees that were at Camp Minnie Mickey.

Great news on getting to go in Dec and the eval!!! Loved all the AKV pics-so excited our wait list came through for Dec. Disney during the holidays is extra magical!!!

There's nothing like Disney World at Christmas. I'll be taking a million pictures, because we probably won't do Christmas again for about three years.

I am so glad some of your burdens have been lifted.

Great job on the evaluation. You deserved the great score you got.!!!


I am looking forward to the NYE trip.

Life is feeling better in November than it did in October. There are still a couple of not so great things going on, but it's definitely better.

I don't know if I deserved the score, but I was sure happy to get it.

 

[marDgreen88]

I got behind again, but I'm enjoying all your pictures as usual! Congrats on the pregnancy in the family as well!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[MeMom]

I got behind again, but I'm enjoying all your pictures as usual! Congrats on the pregnancy in the family as well!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Glad you got to stop in. Things have been slow for a couple of months, as life has been busy, but I'm picking it up a little now.



**********************************************


If you are looking for a resort to have an experience at, one that would be good for a 'no park' trip or just for some 'no park' days, Animal Kingdom Lodge would be an excellent choice. There are many things to do here.



After the morning activities, we had breakfast.





I wish I could have one of these in my backyard.



Cast members playing music and dancing.



Zawadi is one of the best gift shops on property, in my opinion.













Notice Jaha and Jamil Went Down the Hill. That's fun.







Not as fun to look at, but aren't we happy these shelves are stocked with things we might need?



Cute to look at, but maybe not the most delicious snack ever.





Little shopper girl.







Bella turned into an elephant for a moment.

 

[MeMom]

This is where Jill talked at length with a CM about these.

 

[GoofyFan1515]

In case I haven't said it before, congrats to Trent and Brandi (and of course MeMom) on new Hadley! And for Sophie taking her first real steps!!!

I know you don't feel like you did the best job on your eval, but having higher standards than what you think necessary is why you do such a great job for your students! So glad it is behind you, and your AP thought you did such a wonderful job! Knowing that she was engrossed in the topic is always high praise from a colleague!

The girls look like they had a wonderful time learning about the Mingoes and the Pelicans. You are right, that would be a wonderful job to have at Disney, and seems like it would be right up your alley. There is so much to do at Jambo and Kidani to maybe spend a whole trip there just exploring the resort and enjoying the animals. Lots of really good restaurants, and the gift shops are amazing!

So glad you are going to make the December trip after all!!!

 

[MeMom]

In case I haven't said it before, congrats to Trent and Brandi (and of course MeMom) on new Hadley! And for Sophie taking her first real steps!!!

I know you don't feel like you did the best job on your eval, but having higher standards than what you think necessary is why you do such a great job for your students! So glad it is behind you, and your AP thought you did such a wonderful job! Knowing that she was engrossed in the topic is always high praise from a colleague!

The girls look like they had a wonderful time learning about the Mingoes and the Pelicans. You are right, that would be a wonderful job to have at Disney, and seems like it would be right up your alley. There is so much to do at Jambo and Kidani to maybe spend a whole trip there just exploring the resort and enjoying the animals. Lots of really good restaurants, and the gift shops are amazing!

So glad you are going to make the December trip after all!!!

AKL would be great for a trip that you knew would include some non-park days, especially with kids. They have crafts and face painting, too, which is always a hit with our girls.

Looking forward to Hadley's arrival will have to be what gets me through the winter this year, since I have no Disney trip planned. Maybe this will be the spring we finally are 'forced' to either a weekend trip to a) check out Dollywood or b) go to St. Louis Zoo. Although both of those seem fun, neither of them would fill the need for warmth like Florida would. Plan C would be the Gulfarium and a couple of nights in the Florida Panhandle, which would be fairly easy to do from Huntsville. Hopefully, we will do one of these three, so that there will be some reward for surviving the winter.

I can't express how happy I am about being able to go in December. I am getting some extra unexpected work tomorrow night that will add a few dollars to my Disney fund, so that's nice. Little by little, it is falling into place.




*******************************************


On the bus.



Who has seen Monsters University? I think adults can appreciate it more than kids, since adults get all the college references. I thought it was very cute, and I look forward to watching it again (and again and again) with the girls.

We took the five minute ride to Animal Kingdom.



Remember, this was a




trip, so we were soaking up what little we could by visiting the gift shop right outside the entrance to AK.





It's always fun to look at all the goodies Goofy has to offer.



Sweet little hat model.



It was painful not to be able to go in, but it was also going to be painful to go in in a different way. I still had my AP, and I thought about going in to get the Safari Mickey and Minnie I wanted for my classroom, but my foot was not cooperating on this trip, so I passed it up. The only place that I had seen them was back in Harambe, and I really wasn't able to walk that far at that time. Another DISer checked for me a short time later and reported that they were only carrying the Pooh characters in safari gear. I don't know if they have Mickey and Minnie any more, but I went ahead and got them on ebay, so I'm good now.

 

[MeMom]

We browsed around in Rainforest Cafe.



















This is what I purchased. They are now in the rainforest section of my classroom.



Cool books.









Can't wait to be back here and get to go in!

 

[eandesmom]

I need to take a whole year off of Disney trips, but I think my happiness/fortitude level would decrease so much that I would be ineffective in anything I did all year long if I didn't have a Disney trip to look forward to. It really does keep me going to have a trip to look forward to. Cancelling March has already put a huge damper in the way I am facing the winter, and it hasn't even started! I can do, I will do it, and I have to do it, though. It looks like the December trip is going to happen, with a few tweaks in the plans. I will absorb all the magic I can to get me through until July. After I put most of my income tax refund on my credit card, I will be feeling a bit better. I need to take some income tax money and fix my bathroom. I need new subflooring and vinyl, and I need a new tub and surround. Luckily, the bathroom is very small, so the floor part shouldn't be a huge amount. The tub and tile, though, are costly, even though I will get something on the cheaper side of things. Having a house is a blessing, but there's also a cost that comes with that blessing.

Oh! I missed that the December trip was at risk. I have been so gone these past 2 months that I have missed much of the chatter, both the good and the bad. Long breaks are SO hard. It will have been over 14 months for me when we land on the 29th and that is a long long long time. You can do it, you will do it, and you will focus on whatever is after March that might help you get through the winter even if it is a year away. Money is no fun that is for sure. I would much rather prepay for all our December food now with gift cards as I'd planned but instead need new tires and brakes.

I am thrilled that things seem to be looking up though, Trent and Brandi's news, a lovely and well deserved evaluation, Jill's amazing grace in her recent incident at work.

I do want to meet up in December, I do not have my arms around any planned meets or the like quite yet other than a couple of conversations here and there so pretty please, keep me in the loop! I know the boys, Evan in particular, would be enchanted by the girls.

All of your AKL and AKV pictures are making me wish we were staying there, or even visiting it this trip, I do not think we will get to see it at all which makes me quite sad at the moment. We will get our park time but the resort itself I do not think so this trip. The activity looked like a lot of fun for the big girls and for first steps!

 

[DetTigsGal]

After being away from the Dis for so long, I find it interesting that I ckd in today. Oh, memom, Brendan and I looked at every stuffed animal in AK looking for those safari friends!! We were so disappointed we couldn't help you. (Although, it was July 4, we stopped to get a patriotic cupcake and something to drink to make us feel better in our failure!!)
We are finally 12 months from our next visit!! After taking a year off, we will be back for our annual Thanksgiving trip in 2014...
Best wishes.

 

[gopherdame]

Hi from hot, sunny Florida. It snowed in Minnesota right after we left. Just thought I'd let you know we went to Epcot yesterday and the turnstiles are gone. They have things to touch your magic bands to now. We have our annual passes that had to be scanned into a handheld device. The CM told me we could exchange them for cards if we wanted, but we didn't have to. It was really quick but we had to show our id too. We went right to Soarin' to get fast passes. Our return time was 10:15. We hopped in the standby line that said 10 minutes, but probably hadn't been updated as it took closer to 25. I was happy to see that the film was cleaned up and most of the black spots were gone. When we got off the standby time said 50 minutes. We rode Living with the Land, had a snack and went again with our fast passes. By now the lines were long and it took almost 20 minutes. When we got off fast passes were still available and it was almost 11. I was kind of worried with all the talk on the boards about magic bands and fast passes being gone, so I was relieved we got to ride it twice. We left early as it was so hot and muggy we felt worn out. We figured with this long trip there will be more days here that won't be so hot. Our car said 91 when we got in, but cooled down to 84 as we drove.

 

[MeMom]

Oh! I missed that the December trip was at risk. I have been so gone these past 2 months that I have missed much of the chatter, both the good and the bad. Long breaks are SO hard. It will have been over 14 months for me when we land on the 29th and that is a long long long time. You can do it, you will do it, and you will focus on whatever is after March that might help you get through the winter even if it is a year away. Money is no fun that is for sure. I would much rather prepay for all our December food now with gift cards as I'd planned but instead need new tires and brakes.

I am thrilled that things seem to be looking up though, Trent and Brandi's news, a lovely and well deserved evaluation, Jill's amazing grace in her recent incident at work.

I do want to meet up in December, I do not have my arms around any planned meets or the like quite yet other than a couple of conversations here and there so pretty please, keep me in the loop! I know the boys, Evan in particular, would be enchanted by the girls.

All of your AKL and AKV pictures are making me wish we were staying there, or even visiting it this trip, I do not think we will get to see it at all which makes me quite sad at the moment. We will get our park time but the resort itself I do not think so this trip. The activity looked like a lot of fun for the big girls and for first steps!

Glad you got to stop in for a minute. My DIS time has been reduced by massive amounts. I am pretty much peeking in on other reports at this point, too, but I very much enjoy seeing the pictures in big doses when I have the free time to get caught up.

There is going to be a meet with Anita and Marc and Jennifer H's gang on January 2nd. Will that work for you? I'm guessing it will be at Epcot, because we have a Via lunch scheduled there. We may meet at the open stage there in the center of Italy.

After being away from the Dis for so long, I find it interesting that I ckd in today. Oh, memom, Brendan and I looked at every stuffed animal in AK looking for those safari friends!! We were so disappointed we couldn't help you. (Although, it was July 4, we stopped to get a patriotic cupcake and something to drink to make us feel better in our failure!!)
We are finally 12 months from our next visit!! After taking a year off, we will be back for our annual Thanksgiving trip in 2014...
Best wishes.

I am so glad you chimed in! Right off the top of my head, as I was writing the update, I couldn't remember who it was that was looking for the safari friends. As soon as you spoke up, I was like, "Oh yeah!" and remembered it was you. Thanks so much for looking. I ended up getting them on ebay, and they are sitting on a shelf near my desk. With their help, I pretty much think of Animal Kingdom every day.

My hoped-for three trips for 2014 - March, July, and October - has now been whittled to two. I hope those two hold strong, but I have admittedly been spoiled in a big way, because six months between trips seem soooooo looooong! The year I went six times ----- yeah, that was good stuff! Ideally, I'd like four, I'm happy with three, but I'll settle for one or two.



************************************************


A few more Christmas pictures to get me through the day. I will do my school day and then work until 10:00 tonight, so I need some Disney happiness to pump me up for the day.

Hollywood Studios





Grand Floridian







I miss this tree.



At Pop Century





At Poly





Magic Kingdom







All Star Sports



And to end, a blast from the past -
when Mickey's Toontown house was decorated for the holidays.

 

[MeMom]

Hi from hot, sunny Florida. It snowed in Minnesota right after we left. Just thought I'd let you know we went to Epcot yesterday and the turnstiles are gone. They have things to touch your magic bands to now. We have our annual passes that had to be scanned into a handheld device. The CM told me we could exchange them for cards if we wanted, but we didn't have to. It was really quick but we had to show our id too. We went right to Soarin' to get fast passes. Our return time was 10:15. We hopped in the standby line that said 10 minutes, but probably hadn't been updated as it took closer to 25. I was happy to see that the film was cleaned up and most of the black spots were gone. When we got off the standby time said 50 minutes. We rode Living with the Land, had a snack and went again with our fast passes. By now the lines were long and it took almost 20 minutes. When we got off fast passes were still available and it was almost 11. I was kind of worried with all the talk on the boards about magic bands and fast passes being gone, so I was relieved we got to ride it twice. We left early as it was so hot and muggy we felt worn out. We figured with this long trip there will be more days here that won't be so hot. Our car said 91 when we got in, but cooled down to 84 as we drove.

I'm so glad to hear Soarin' has been cleaned up. It really had some significant splotches on it last time I rode it.

Our day is going to be 'okay', as it will be 60 and sunny, but it is going to be cold tonight. There is certainly not any hot and muggy going on right now for us.

I think I will be putting my band on my backpack somehow. I really don't like things on my wrist.

Have a fun day in our happy place!!!

 

[RachelNinja]

I'm probably one of the few who actually didn't enjoy WDW during Christmas. I knew about the crowds, but I guess I just wasn't prepared for how packed it would be! It was also extremely cold last year, and we had to wear layers upon layers for the morning and night hours. It probably didn't help that I ended up getting a really bad cold that ruined the last few days of our trip. I was already exhausted at the beginning of it because we left the night of my last day of work before the holiday break. Maybe what I need is another go at Christmas in WDW to really judge, haha!

 

[GoofyFan1515]

It's always fun to look at all the goodies Goofy has to offer.

So true!!!

We browsed around in Rainforest Cafe.

Oh yes, love this shirt!

That is just tooooooo cute!!!

A few more Christmas pictures to get me through the day. I will do my school day and then work until 10:00 tonight, so I need some Disney happiness to pump me up for the day.

Hollywood Studios

This shot of DHS always makes the park feel so UNChristmas-y to me, with the palm trees and the basic decorations on the light poles. Of course, once it gets dark out and the Osborne Lights are in their full glory, and they add the "snow" and the music, it is hard to feel any MORE in the Christmas spirit!!!

I might have to see if I can find these and add to my collection!

I miss this tree.


Magic Kingdom





And to end, a blast from the past - when Mickey's Toontown house was decorated for the holidays.

Thanks for all these memories! I can't wait to get back during the Christmas holidays and experience even more Disney magic!!!

Hope your long day goes quickly and smoothly!

 

[DWGal210]

Yay, I'm so glad to hear I'll see you in December! That's awesome! Can't wait!!

I LOVE your Christmas pictures. Even though crowds are high, the holidays are probably my favorite time at Disney. I could walk around all day just looking at decorations. I think I am going to drag Noah along with me at least part of a day this trip, and do just that.

 

[eandesmom]

Glad you got to stop in for a minute. My DIS time has been reduced by massive amounts. I am pretty much peeking in on other reports at this point, too, but I very much enjoy seeing the pictures in big doses when I have the free time to get caught up.

There is going to be a meet with Anita and Marc and Jennifer H's gang on January 2nd. Will that work for you? I'm guessing it will be at Epcot, because we have a Via lunch scheduled there. We may meet at the open stage there in the center of Italy.

Well rats, that will not. We will be at Universal all day on the 2nd, I have a strong suspicion it will be a 7am-10pm kind of outing. Jennifer and I chatted about hooking up on the 3rd, our plans are pretty loose that day. BIL would like to do a waterpark but I'm not hopeful about the weather chances on that.

 

[MagicShell]

Really nice pictures. I LOVE those Christmas dishes! The All-Star Sports tree is really cute too. That is my football loving son's favorite resort. Aww, Mickey's House. I must say though that I like the Circus theme even better.

 

[MeMom]

I'm probably one of the few who actually didn't enjoy WDW during Christmas. I knew about the crowds, but I guess I just wasn't prepared for how packed it would be! It was also extremely cold last year, and we had to wear layers upon layers for the morning and night hours. It probably didn't help that I ended up getting a really bad cold that ruined the last few days of our trip. I was already exhausted at the beginning of it because we left the night of my last day of work before the holiday break. Maybe what I need is another go at Christmas in WDW to really judge, haha!

Crowded, for sure. We go in knowing full well that there will be times and places that things will be wall-to-wall people. We just plan ahead and avoid those times and places and go for a lot of the atmosphere. We have been there at Christmas when the weather was good enough for swimming, and we have been there when it has been soooo ! I hope you will get a re-do on a Christmas trip when you are feeling well so that you can enjoy it more. Having said that, I am fine with having a Christmas trip only every few years. I don't think I'd want to do it every year.

So true!!!

Oh yes, love this shirt!

That is just tooooooo cute!!!

This shot of DHS always makes the park feel so UNChristmas-y to me, with the palm trees and the basic decorations on the light poles. Of course, once it gets dark out and the Osborne Lights are in their full glory, and they add the "snow" and the music, it is hard to feel any MORE in the Christmas spirit!!!

I might have to see if I can find these and add to my collection!



Thanks for all these memories! I can't wait to get back during the Christmas holidays and experience even more Disney magic!!!

Hope your long day goes quickly and smoothly!

It was a long day, but I made it, and now I have more Disney money in my pocket.

Rumor has it that Osborne Lights may be moving to Epcot after this year, so if this is the last year for them to be in Hollywood, I'm glad we're getting to see them and get last pictures.

Yay, I'm so glad to hear I'll see you in December! That's awesome! Can't wait!!

I LOVE your Christmas pictures. Even though crowds are high, the holidays are probably my favorite time at Disney. I could walk around all day just looking at decorations. I think I am going to drag Noah along with me at least part of a day this trip, and do just that.

I want Brandi to see as many resorts as we can get her to. I want to see every resort's Christmas tree. That is my goal. I will be probably be doing some early morning and late night solo jaunts to accomplish that. I'll let you know as the plans unfold, if you want to hit some of those with me.

Well rats, that will not. We will be at Universal all day on the 2nd, I have a strong suspicion it will be a 7am-10pm kind of outing. Jennifer and I chatted about hooking up on the 3rd, our plans are pretty loose that day. BIL would like to do a waterpark but I'm not hopeful about the weather chances on that.

I'm not sure when Marc and Anita are leaving. We'll be there on the 3rd, so we'll try to work something out for that day.

Really nice pictures. I LOVE those Christmas dishes! The All-Star Sports tree is really cute too. That is my football loving son's favorite resort. Aww, Mickey's House. I must say though that I like the Circus theme even better.

I have not been over to visit the All Star resorts in a long while, so this is going to be the trip I am going to do it. Having the Christmas decorations will be the extra motivation to do it. I have stayed at Sports twice - in Surf's Up and in the Tennis building. I have stayed at Music twice - Jazz and Broadway. I have stayed at Movies once - Mighty Ducks. I'd like to stay in the Toy Story section someday with the girls. I think they'd enjoy it.

Too bad we couldn't have Toontown and Storybook Circus, huh?

 

[DetTigsGal]

You know, I didn't mind the crowds last Christmas. Now mind you, we had just been there for Thanksgiving, so our circumstances are different. I had nothing that I absolutely had to
do and in the end, ended up doing just about everything! If it was my first trip or my only trip in a bunch of years, it would be a different story.

One of the reasons I enjoy going at T'giving, is the fact that it is all decorated for Christmas. Memom, please breathe in the gingerbread for me at the Grand Floridian! Thank you!!