"Having a GRAND time - The Official GF Chat Thread"

[vbarry]

YAY for Clinton!!!! I am happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I heard it here first!!!!!

Well, my washing machine just bit the dust today. It made a horrid noise and kind of crapped out. It's done. DH can fix anything and he's fixed it a couple times before but now it's a goner. It's almost 10 yrs old. Just spent a fortune on new frontloaders......I feel ill. I hate spending money on that kind of junk. All evening we just did online shopping for washers and driers....I wound up with Kenmore Elite blah blah....nice super size ones with tons of buttons and options but still....NOT what I wanted to spend money on, haha (So happy Mother's Day to me...there goes my hopeful getaway ). I haven't had Kenmore since our last house, but they were good to me then. I have had GE Profile here and I HATE our appliances. The fridge died last year so they are slowly fading out. It's pretty pathetic though because in my mind I am going ka - ching....ka - ching....there's my YC stay ....there's my October GF stay ..... DH says NO it's not, but I feel it.

Anyway...I missed most of AI, but I did see the guy at the end and I think he did an awesome job with that song...I LOVE Andrew Lloyd Webber's music. What happened with Brooke?? I caught the judge's comments but not her performance.

Hi Channing- We just bought the Kenmore Elite frontloaders in November. I love them! Lots of buttons that I still do not know how to use. I did purchase the Sears protection plan because of those buttons. My dd3 loves to go in and push them all of the time. I do seem to get my laundry done A LOT faster.

Hope everyone has a nice day. It is going to be 80 degrees here!

 

[vbarry]

Did you see her room decorating themes? We are doing the Cinderella one... Peggy has been so great in emails. I haven't ever used her before but so far she has been way on top of things. She emailed me pics of everything that will be in Savannah's gift box for her birthday just to make sure I approved.
Its really sweet as daddy won't be there for her special party soooo daddy himself wrote the message that will go on the basket!!! ITS SOOOO SWEET...I will have to see if I can find it on my saved messages but it went something like "To my little princess. I hope you have the most magical birthday ever. I am sorry I am not there to share it with you but I will meet you in my dreams so save me a piece of your cake..."

Something like that but the way he said it was cute.. the way I just wrote it ..well it sounds creepy

Yes- I saw them. You will have to post some pictures. It sounds like Savannah is going to have a magical Birthday (even without daddy). What a sweet message. Pretty good for a guy!

Peggy emailed me back right away. She is also going to do our stockings. She even informed me that I am not the only crazy person ordering a tree in April. I was beginning to wonder!

 

[praline3001]

Mare~ The heck with my trip... I am going to tag along with your family that week

Channing I too am a HUGE Andrew Lloyd Webber fan! My eldest son is too, one of the few things we have in common. I saw POTO right before Katrina hit... I had 3rd row and was just amazed!!!!! We are in general big broadway fans ...at least my oldest DS and I, the rest would rather monster truck jams


Have any of you seen that movie Neverwas? We do Netflix... I love netflix!! Anyway I saw it last night and it was REALLY good... I highly recommend it.
It made me think about what Channing said yesterday about those who would defend Disney with their dying breath

All that talk about those VIP tour guides for dummies and I am seriously rethinking them
I have talked to the lady in charge a few times and I am really liking what I hear.
Its a lot more than them just running and getting you fast passes.... they also know when to blend into the park (so as not to be wierd for familys who dont want a stranger following them) or they can entertain you all day.

Hey Mare... care to up your trip any and do a VIP tour?

Well I can't wait to see what Peggy sets up. So far she has returned all my emails very promptly. She sent me pics of ideas of things for the basket and the prices. She is also going our of her way to get me a sugar free cake so I can partake in Savannah's birthday cake too! This is a big thing for me... I really didn't want her to eat her cake alone and i can't eat sugar as it makes me violently ill!

The GF bakery... I had a bad experience with them.... well I had several bad experiences with them over 1 cake!
Ask Kelly, it was a nightmare and then they STILL messed up the order. That is why I decided to go with Peggy this time... I wasn't trusted the bakery for a sugar free cake!


Shel~ not sure if you have seent he video I posted of myself a while back... I thought you might like to see it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPane09nbaM

 

[vbarry]

The lady I spoke with yesterday at the Private Guide office was super, super sweet and helped me out a lot. She told me she could get the girls seated with me in a show and then run the guys over for rides etc. I was just worried about how 1 guide would be for our different ages in our 2 families but I think it is going to be fine. She actually said she would not get a guide for the days we are at Epcot. I stated that was fine since we will be staying at BCV and can go in and out of Epcot and not feel like we have to do it all in one day. We are doing MK and either the Studios or AK...have not decided which yet.

I am actually pretty excited about this (all but the price) but I just changed a few things around that I was going to do on our trip and feel much better.

I figure this is going to save me a lot of time so I can spend more time relaxing at the resort and actually enjoying our trip. I have never been at Xmas but everyone says is is just awful. I took my oldest out of school this year and just do not want to do it for awhile so that means vacations over holidays and summers.

 

[praline3001]

Vbarry~ I hear you about the crowds... thats why I am rethinking it. I am not a big one for crowds and June is pretty full of them. As I am going to be there with Savannah and nobody else... I will be honest I am worried about losing her in the crowds she can be a bit of a ding bat but aren't all little girls?

I also don't want to spend every waking minute in the parks! With her being Ride crazy she will be upset if I dont stand in line for 2 hours to ride peter pan
I can think of better things to do with my 2 hours

If I do go ahead and book it, I will book it for our MK day and DHS day. We have a private safari tour booked for AK and thats good enough for me
The only bad thing is the VIP tour thing is going to cut down on my room serivce oh to win the lottery right before we go
I figure it will save us time and aggrivation with the crowds. A big bonus but not sure if its worth giving up a couple of my private dining plans

Have any of you ever used an Ameribag? I am thinking of getting one for the parks. I need something bigger than a baglinni but I dont want a big old heavy back pack. These seem like they don't hurt your back as much. I am debating it, what do you girls think?
http://www.ebags.com/ameribag/dna_medium_sling_pack/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=92972

 

[vbarry]

I was also worried about how it would feel to travel with someone else but I am sure they have seen it all! I think my girls will actually act a little better with a stranger along. (maybe it will cut the meltdowns in the parks to 1/2!) My oldest dd is the queen of the gift shop. We have to go in every single one and she thinks she needs something in every one. When I say no of course then I get the normal response " SCREAM, YELL, CRY etc" I created a monster. She was the only one for 4 years so for those years she got pretty much everything she wanted. Then the youngest came along and things have changed and she is not a big fan of the word "NO!" She is, however, very shy so with a guide along she will have to be well behaved

I have read a few reviews and it seems that people take to these guides rather well.

If you decide to do it...please let me know how it goes.

 

[praline3001]

OHHH GOODNESS I think I have read it all on the Dis now

over on another thread some Diss'ers are talking about how they scrapbook their planning book? Whats a planning book? Its an entire book they make up of their planning of their trip

A scrapbook of ADRS?!?! hmmmm.... am I the only one that finds this ODD?!
Dont get me wrong.. I do keep all of my ADRS but I program them into my cell phone ... that way if there is a problem I have them in front of me.... but to carry an entire scrapbook style book around the parks for the day? 12 pages of snacks and where to get said snacks? I say just look at the menu

Is getting the "right" snack that important?
I can see having a plan or itinerary for those who have NEVER been to Disney but ...well I dont know... that seems like going WAY over the top.
I guess if a person is looking so hard at their planning book they just might miss the magic? Am I the only strange person that feels this way?

 

[praline3001]

I was also worried about how it would feel to travel with someone else but I am sure they have seen it all! I think my girls will actually act a little better with a stranger along. (maybe it will cut the meltdowns in the parks to 1/2!) My oldest dd is the queen of the gift shop. We have to go in every single one and she thinks she needs something in every one. When I say no of course then I get the normal response " SCREAM, YELL, CRY etc" I created a monster. She was the only one for 4 years so for those years she got pretty much everything she wanted. Then the youngest came along and things have changed and she is not a big fan of the word "NO!" She is, however, very shy so with a guide along she will have to be well behaved

I have read a few reviews and it seems that people take to these guides rather well.

If you decide to do it...please let me know how it goes.

The lady on the phone was great and full of info for me. She explained that they are used to blending into the background and know when to do so. They also can tell if the family is on the verge of a melt down and can perk everyone up.... I like the idea of using backstage areas to get around the park.... especially with the crowds. Its going to be 9's while we are there and with the heat ... well i was getting to the point where I was dreading the park time on our trip
I know the reason for going to Disney is to have the mother daughter time. My daughter is at an age where she still believes in fairies and princesses. I know this won't last much longer however. I want this trip to be extra special but I dont want to lose it due to all the other nutcases in the park
Savannah is really an angel and I am not worried about her behavior in the least.... she is a bit of a space cadet and tends to wander off in search of who knows what
I am more worried about the other people in the park!!! I mean seriously I dont want someone banging into us while reading their disney planning scrapbook!!! Keep your eyes on the road lady!

 

[praline3001]

a powerpoint presentation of the pre planning part of your trip?!?!

Okay, the Dis made my day... I can smile the rest of my day knowing I am NOT that Disney crazy!!!

 

[WishesQueen]

Good Morning Everyone!!

My goodness its hard keeping up with all these posts. I was gone one day an I had 4 pages to read. Honestly I skimmed!!!

Praline After all these months of reading your posts and getting to know your personality I wouldn't think that you would have a hard time with a VIP tour. I don't even what to call them a stranger, becuase I have a feeling after about 10 minutes you would feel like she was your friend and the same the other way for her. Your daughter seems like she would just eat it all up too! Like I said I skimmed the posts and maybe you could just give it a try for a short time (a few hours or one day - a MK day).

Shelli I love the baskets, actually the ones you sent for your older boys are the ones that I want to send for my kids too. They don't share well with each other either!!!

Triplefigs Have a great time, I am looking so forward to hearing all about your trip!!

Goofygal Please keep my informed on the TC WDW specials. I need dates and times so I can Tivo. Disney on Dime - I gotta see this. My DH laughes at that commercial all the time!! But I also would love to see the other one you mentioned.

OK!! I think thats all I got from my quick skim!!! Keep your fingers crossed I call for my first Cabana day tomorrow!!!

 

[PrincessPaczki]

Brook - you are so funny. I have never heard of making a scrapbook for the planning stages of your trip either. How exciting, just your daughter and yourself on a Disney trip. I looked at the Ameribag and I love it. I am thinking of ordering it in Olive. Thanks for that info.

 

[Fishy&2guppies]

Good morning, another warm day here, the high here today is going to be in the high 70's. Finally spring is here.

I love my front end loaders also, the laundry does seem to take less time, and I think the whites actually do look brighter. My husband now does the laundry because he loves the machines, he calls them his girls. Whatever, as long as I don't have to do it.

I do have to share this, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Grey Goose Slushies you get at France in Epcot. I went and bought one of the Margaritaville drink blenders from Williams and Sonoma this week. It makes perfect Grey Goose Slushies. You just put in the Grey Goose and Sweet and Sour mix. The machine knows how much ice to shave and how much to blend it to make the perfect frozen drink. All you do is push the button. We made those and margarita's last weekend, now 3 of my neighbors went and bought themselves machines also, because they loved mine so much.

 

[irisbud]

geeze, a planning scrapbook? that sounds like way toomuch work! i program my stuff into my centro and go. I carry enough stuff without adding a scrapbook to the mix! to each their own...

my dad and I did the segway tour through epcot we really had a lot of fun and I would highly reccomend it. I thought it was well worth the money

 

[praline3001]

Brook - you are so funny. I have never heard of making a scrapbook for the planning stages of your trip either. How exciting, just your daughter and yourself on a Disney trip. I looked at the Ameribag and I love it. I am thinking of ordering it in Olive. Thanks for that info.

I am serious though... how many of us experienced the magic of Disney with something we had planned out?
The magic comes from stuff we didn't plan for... the little surprises. Last time I was there I did see a lady with a passpotter ...her nose in the book and she was walking down main street! How sad is that?! She was so busy reading her notes she total missed THE WALK down main street... that magical walk to the castle.

Its kind of sad if you ask me. I live for the surprises i get at Disney. I love that you can turn a corner and have something extra magical happen that you didn't plan for.
I cant believe people get so wrapped up in their trip that they completely miss the best part of Disney!!!


I guess I get irked when the same type of people come back from Disney complaining about this or that... or that they didnt find it magical enough! well duhhhhhh with your nose in your notes the entire week its easy to miss the magic!

 

[princessesrule4]

Anyway...I missed most of AI, but I did see the guy at the end and I think he did an awesome job with that song...I LOVE Andrew Lloyd Webber's music. What happened with Brooke?? I caught the judge's comments but not her performance.

Wasn't David Cook awesome? He can sing anything and that proves it!

Poor Brooke started the first line of the song, then forgot the lyrics so she had to ask the orchestra to stop so she could start over!
I felt so bad for her. Paula said she should have kept going and faked it since it was Live TV , but Simon and Randy thought she did the right thing by stopping and starting over, even though she had to stop the whole orchestra!
I thought everyone did well and I actually hate to see someone go because they are all talented!

I have to say that David Archuleta has a great voice but he's lost me a little because all of his songs sound the same. I still think he'll be in the top 2 with David Cook because people love him and he is precious! I would have liked him to sing "Think of Me" more like it was written, I guess!

 

[praline3001]

::::stepping away from Channing:::: she is kind of scary this morning!!!

Quick someone throw her a chocolate dipped strawberry from private dining!!!!!! I think her diet is making her scary!


:::ducking and running for cover::::

 

[vbarry]

The lady on the phone was great and full of info for me. She explained that they are used to blending into the background and know when to do so. They also can tell if the family is on the verge of a melt down and can perk everyone up.... I like the idea of using backstage areas to get around the park.... especially with the crowds. Its going to be 9's while we are there and with the heat ... well i was getting to the point where I was dreading the park time on our trip
I know the reason for going to Disney is to have the mother daughter time. My daughter is at an age where she still believes in fairies and princesses. I know this won't last much longer however. I want this trip to be extra special but I dont want to lose it due to all the other nutcases in the park
Savannah is really an angel and I am not worried about her behavior in the least.... she is a bit of a space cadet and tends to wander off in search of who knows what
I am more worried about the other people in the park!!! I mean seriously I dont want someone banging into us while reading their disney planning scrapbook!!! Keep your eyes on the road lady!

Did they tell you what time they wanted to start each day?? The lady told me that if the park opened at 8 that they wanted to be there at 8. I get up early at home but we are not rope drop people on vacation.

 

[Lives4Disney]

::::stepping away from Channing:::: she is kind of scary this morning!!!

Quick someone throw her a chocolate dipped strawberry from private dining!!!!!! I think her diet is making her scary!


:::ducking and running for cover::::

NO!! Don't throw me any food - I might BITE!

Could you be talking about that other thread??? I have basically had it with somebody's persnickity nitpicky attitude. I am just so not up for that. I am here for fun. I should just ignore it because I type, retype and it doesn't come thru like I want to just say shut the **** up and go away. I am so done with that. Staying away from there for the rest of the day.

I am also torked about my stupid W/D. I feel liek I was pressured to buy something QUICK and I don't know what I bought, haha....I have to clean out my laundry room - that's where everything seems to collect and it's a MESS. I have laundry baskets FULL, winter coats sopping wet (I was washing them to put away for summer) and they are sopping because the stinking washer died and won't spin the water out of them.

I am feeling like it's the end of my July trip or I will have to cut off my RPC stay & just do YC (I know, what a brat but it was seriously my diet motivation and I needed something to cling to). Dh says no it's not over and done, but he got a crappy raise and a crappy "bonus" (this happened yesterday, too! ) so I am feeling nasty & crabby today.

I cannot imagine scrap booking anything - let alone - my planning. I think get a life, haha, but here I am at the computer dorking around for hours. To each their own.

I think it's great if you guys do the VIP thing. I have my own ideas in my head about how it would be, but if you guys try it and love it I might have to give it a go, too. Lindsay gave a great account. I know they'd be the best of Disney CMs, so they would be great.

That is a shame about Brooke forgetting the line. Wow. How tough. Bummer.

David Cook! He was great. I agree....I LOVE that song, "Think of Me", David A sang, but I didn't even realize it was IT until the end of it.

Oh well....carry on ....I am cooling down.

 

[triplefigs]

We are eating at Narcoosee's on Monday night. Any suggestions for the best foods for me (love seafood), DH (HATES it), and the kids (one adventurous and 2 picky)?

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

Planning scrapbook? I almost did that, but it was a Powerpoint and yes, it had some pictures...but I have an excuse...I have a high functioning Autustic son and he NEEDS something to tell him what is going to happen every day. (Well, he did last time, this time he'll be fine...once he's done something once it is no longer an issue.)

Channing- sorry about your Washer, but you will end up loving the front loader...it even makes my teenage sons want to do laundry (neat trick!)

Brooke- Your video is great! You look like a new person, like a different person. I so know what you mean about getting your life back...living your life. It is an amazing, life changing, thing. And you look positively tiny!!!

WishesQueen- There is another motivation in the snack packs...ds14 is way too cool to want a Disney lunch bag, so he'll eat all the junk and I'll get a cooler bag.

Sheli