Having a GRAND time - The Official GF Chat Thread PART 2

[Lives4Disney]

These guys were great....they saw Lucy's bday button and called her over and played "Happy Birthday" and made folks sing. She was so embarrassed but it was really nice of them.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Josie and I were waiting for the Adventures In Cooking to begin...

Here's inside the Mouseketeer Clubhouse....VERY SMALL....

 

[Lives4Disney]

After I dropped Jojo off, I met DH and Lucy at Grand FL Cafe for a late bfast - which was YUMMY but they were soooo SLooooooooowwwwwwwwwww...

Lucy took this pic of me and my cupcake....

Lucy laughing her butt off at the guy yelling my age thru the restaurant.

AFTER the bfast it was time to pick up the CHEF....

Here they are lined up, ready to come in and serve their treats...

 

[mandymommy4]

OK I have one question, Where is baby Jose? Did you leave the poor guy home to fend for himself? Please tell me there are some Jose pictures coming!

 

[Lives4Disney]

OK I have one question, Where is baby Jose? Did you leave the poor guy home to fend for himself? Please tell me there are some Jose pictures coming!

welll.....it was just so flippin hot we didn't need any more baggage...that kid stayed in our room the whole time unfortunately.

WE really tried to lighten our carry loads.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Here's the little amigo. We just didn't want to deal with any more kids whining and moaning about the heat.

OH...and here is me with my "TANGLED SWEATER"!!! Believe me..I am the most unphotogenic person (God I hope I dont' look like that in real life..and Jo or Lu took about 8 pics of me with this stupid sweater on and this is the only one that I think is OK to even post publicly. )

 

[m&pForever]

Wow these pics are great!! Show them all I really enjoy seeing everything!


First Lovemy2boys and now you!!

I'm so in the mood to be there!!!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Epcot on my bday!!! It was ABBA TIME!!!!

Notice the DRESSES... Remember I told ya all that Jojo LOVED the girls' outfits....

OMG...and here we go...the older crowd REALLY LOVED These guys.... They knew all the moves and followed along...It was more amusing watching these old peeps have fun and jam out than watching the band.

Everybody down our row was cracking up. It was hysterical how they really got into this band. Kinda makes me feel OLD!

That's it for now!!! I have to go back to life here!!

Talk to ya later,

Chan

 

[goofygal531]

Mare, uh I thought you were flying back on Thanksgiving Day....ok..I would go with Miguel's suggestions of 3 pm. That is during rush hr type traffic so he is being sensible.

Sorry to confuse everyone, this year we're going Monday to Monday LAST year we did Thursday to Thursday departing WDW on Thanksgiving. This year we'll be there for Thanksgiving and all the Xmas festivities beginning that Friday. Miguel from SE Limo said he'll pick us up at 3pm for our 5:45 pm flight at the TTC. He said there's a limo/taxi area. If anyone's done this can you please tell me where exactly is the limo pick up area.

Candlelight Processional is better in the dark from what I have read. It makes more of an impact.

I was reading about the CP in the DIS holiday section. They have a You Tube video of it. I showed it to DH and he wasn't interested. He'd rather do something else while in WDW. He said it reminded him of the ending of the Radio City Christmas Spectaular (which we've seen more times than we'd like). So there goes that idea... Oh, and my little one would never sit for it. Did I mention he's a monster! He gives the phrase "here comes trouble" a new meaning!!

You will have luck with low crowds for a day or two....they start piling in Tues night and tons on Wednesday....peeps don't leave until Sunday. Maybe you will have luck Sunday?? It's tough to say. Honestly our most uncrowded times have been late in the eves at MK. We stay til close but you can't do that with your little ones. If you're an early bird you will most likely have luck too though! We have not gone park crazy on our holiday visits...mmostly about the special holiday stuff and having fun outside the parks. It's a totally different type of trip.

This June we did the early bird thing at the parks, and even though DH complained I set the wake up call for 6am, we got to see everything and leave the parks by 11am and relax at the pool then go back in the early evening. My boys can last until about 7pm in the parks then we head back to the room. I requested a full balcony at the YC, but I read that they are limited. I know we have no chance of seeing fireworks from the room, but to sit outside and have some quite time is nice. I really didn't care for the step-out balcony we had at the BC. I really hope we get the full balcony.

I would love to follow the same type of schedule we just did in June. I'm just not sure of the weather in Nov? I have to pull out my pictures. Is it 80 degrees every afternoon? I remember the evenings got really cool. All the photos of the Osborne Lights the boys are bundled up in jackets, sweats with blankets! We really got to enjoy the GF most out of any resort due to all our pool time. I would love to experience that at the YC, especially with it's cool pool!

BUMMER...I loved the characters at LTT!!!!!! That sucks. Garden Grille was not a favorite, but LTT WAS!!! I AM MAD.

I know, LTT is my new favorite character meal! I got it for Nov but as of Jan it will no longer be a character dinner. The ADR lady told me they're in the process of revamping the character meals. That's all she heard, nothing further. I told her I'd love for them to follow through with that rumor of a "Boys and Beyond" Buzz Lightyear breakfast. There needs to be some kind of meal for boys. I also missed out on the villians dinner at 1900 Park Fare years ago. That sounded fun and different.

Mare - I have been to Vegas many many times!! I am sure we are going to see shows I just haven't figured anything ok yet.

So have we, but haven't been there in the past 4 years. Where are you staying?

Mare, to be really honest, I think your boys may find the Candlelight Processional really boring. We took DD when she was 3, and she was mesmerized for 20 minutes, then she sat on my lap and put her head on my shoulder for the rest, but she was freakishly well behaved at that age. It's nothing I did. I promise! I enjoyed it, as did my mother, but my gut feeling tells me you may want to skip it with the 2 little ones.

He would never last!



Hey, anyone have this bag?

http://www.ebags.com/ameribag/metro_geneva_backpack_sling/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=18554

I realize I need a sling. With a large tote bag, the more cr@p I carry. This one has some style to it.

Also, anyone every use the lockers at the park? I'm thinking of dropping off our totebag of jackets/sweats in a locker when we spend the entire day at a park. I'm trying to pack lighter and lighter, and I think this might work.

You going to think I'm nuts, but I already have a little list of things I must pick up this trip! I MUST hit Basin for some bath bombs!! (how did I miss this store after staying at the GF for 10 days?) I need my annual WDW calendar What else?? Oooh, I need a piece of GF Gingerbread!!!

Chan, love your pics!! I haven't been taking as many photos as I'd like due to pushing the stroller!! I love the airport photos, but with my family I would never had the time to take out my camera! I'm going try to take more photos this trip!!

We have 2 large expandable suitcases for the four of us. This time, I'm also going to bring the rolling duffle bag for our extra WDW stuff coming home with us

 

[mandymommy4]

Here's the little amigo. We just didn't want to deal with any more kids whining and moaning about the heat.

OH...and here is me with my "TANGLED SWEATER"!!! Believe me..I am the most unphotogenic person (God I hope I dont' look like that in real life..and Jo or Lu took about 8 pics of me with this stupid sweater on and this is the only one that I think is OK to even post publicly. )

Theres our baby Jose! I could have brought my kids to keep him coampnay, they love baby's! Yeah, right! You know I am just suite and RPC hooking!

Lovely tangled sweater, "DAHLING" !

 

[twinmum]

Channing - thanks for posting all those amazing pictures. Your suite was gorgeous! I loved the family pix as well, your kids are gorgeous - and even the pix of the unhappy teen (mostly) were great!

Thanks for taking the time to share. I am trying to post pictures for our pre-trip for Nov - it took me an age just to upload and now I have to resize and THEN post! Hopefully I'll get some pictures of the family up on these boards before we leave for our trip!

Alison

 

[Lives4Disney]

Mandy Dahling...I only wore the sweater this way for our dinner at Narcoosees...LOL...after that it became tangled around my hips instead...I am much more comfortable that way...but with Bif and Bunny at the GF, I felt the need to look top drawer.

Thanks, Allison! I am having fun looking at them all...this is my first time seeing them & it's bringing back memories.

I can post a few more now that my kids are happy.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Here are a few mics night views from our balcony....

These are from the MK boat dock!

Just a misc. Grand pic from the 5th floor...

 

[Lives4Disney]

Here's the "pick a pearl" in Japan in Epcot. Of course, lucky Jojo got twins AGAIN...Lucy chose a pink pearl. Earlier in the trip Jojo got a jumbo pearl and Lucy got a silver pearl. These were some they "SAID" would be for ME....LOL...well when it came down to it, Jojo got all crabby and couldn't part with her twins...so after spending a LONG time at the counter trying to choose a setting - of which they had NONE for 3 pearls (well they did have ONE, but it was ugly and expensive gold) I said FORGET IT. Put them all in the backpack and we will deal with having them set next trip. The kids have so many pearl pendants, rings, etc...so they were going to choose pearls for me to make into a ring or pendant...I don't care much anyway.

The MICKEY HEAD with the pearls.....you'd think they'd have a Mickey head setting......

 

[Lives4Disney]

GF guests that were staying there for the 20th anniversary received these nice little notes and original GF keys attached with ribbons.

GF CMs received this commemorative little GF magazine/scrapbook....

Check out those rates...

OK..I am done for a bit...but I have so much more to post..including pics of the Alice in Wonderland Tea Party!!!

Chan

 

[goofygal531]

Chan: Can you tell me more about the "Pick a Pearl", I've passed it so many times, but always seen it was crowded with kids. This trip I might have my DS4 do it. Can they set the pearl into something right there? Do you walk away with a piece of jewelry? I know he would love to pick the pearl and make me something.

I saw Mickey three stone diamond studs earrings in that Lacy Lady store at the GF where you bought your flip flops. DH thought they were cute (they were VERY small) and asked how much they were. They were $1,350! He said that's about the price of one of my new diamond studs! Can you imagine! Seriously, I thought she was going to say like $300 or something. They were TINY!!! I forgot how much the Mickey pearls were, but DH thought they were cute. Seriously, we need to have a daughter! He loves buying stuff like that!! He actually showed me the infant tutu onesie in M. Merchant that said "princess" on it. I was like "yeah, we don't have a girl, get over it!" The man loves to shop!!

I'm getting excited thinking of all these extra little things to do.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Mare,,,,the pick a pearl is a must do at least once every trip.

It costs $15 for your ticket to choose an oyster. YOu get handed a number and it only take minutes for your turn to come up - no matter how crowded...most are just gapers anyway. YES, you will walk out with a piece of jewelry. THey have limited settings, but some are pretty..some are tacky. LOL...they have inexpensive to costly sterling settings, white and yellow gold. They also sell the chains to put the pendants on. I usually make sure I have a chain because I already own a bunch anyway..no need to buy another.

Once you choose your setting, it takes about 20 to 30 minutes to have it done. You can just come back anytime after that to pickit up with your receipt.

You need a girl.

 

[goofygal531]

Oh how fun!!! Wait until I tell DH that he and DS4 can make jewelry!!! They will love this!! I'll make sure to pack a silver chain, I have a few.

We haven't been in the Japan pavillion since, well..... since DH bought his Iron Chef Kitchen Stadium t-shirt there in 2003!!

This trip we're really going to explore Epcot in depth. It's been years!

That ride in Norway, anyone know if DS1 can sit on my lap??? I know they have "drops". I don't remember what it was like.

Oooh, little ones up from his nap and the whole neighborhood can hear him screaming! Gotta go!

Mare

 

[vbarry]

Mare~ I am playing a little phone tag with Miquel myself. Explain this TTC thing to me. How are you getting your luggage if he is picking you up at the TTC??

We have always used ME but since this is Christmas there is no way I am waiting two hours to get on a ME bus. They will drop us off at GF and we will be at Beach Club Villas on the day we leave. Our flight leaves about 5:3o0 pm

 

[WishesQueen]

Channing - You look great in a Tangled Sweater and I am looking forward to doing pick a pearl with Natalie.

I am happy to Jose, I was concerned for the little guy!!

Mare - I just bought myself an Abercrombie Messanger Bag. Very comfortable and it fits lots of stuff, besides Natalie likes it so much hopefully she'll take it from me here and there!