Heading back to Princess Josie's Castle-An AKV May 22-29 PTR-TR Started 6/3!

[leamom2princesses]

The Opryland Hotel is beyond gorgeous at Christmas time! I have been there once, a long time ago in high school!

Decisions, decisions to make...

Princess L would love it. My girls wanted to go on the boat ride so bad but we just didn't have time.

I'm silly on all the decisions, aren't I? I just can't help myself from changing things up and looking for new experiences. I'm in love with the mouse what can I say.

 

[kaysmommie]

Sounds like you had a great Christmas . glad to hear your mom loved the gift. Yay on going back to Disney twice this year! I'm sure you will love the Christmas decorations they are breathtaking. Happy your girls liked their AG dolls and Zhu Zhu pets. Oh you will love the Safari GG Celebration dinner. We did that and the Fireworks cruise October 2008 with our friends and it was excellent. Would do it again if we did another grand gathering. I loved your pics from Opryland hotel, so beautiful at Christmas. Thanks for sharing. We didn't make it there this year. My kids love going there and riding the boat and we usually do the Ice display and slides too.

Nichole

 

[englishrose47]

Glad you had a good Christmas !! I will be in Disney in 36 days !!!!!!!!!

 

[racefanof88]

The Opryland pictures are really good. My cell doesn't take pictures anywhere near that good. What is the Safari Celebration? I have not heard of that one. We couldn't use the dxddp because Dale and Dallas are so picky, even though I think it would be great.

 

[ladybugmom]

You should come over sometime and see it in person. You and your family would love it. The girls went crazy over the animals hanging down in their regal holiday gear. There's great shopping right next door too! Just a tip we discovered this year....If you park at Opry Mills there's a shuttle that runs every 30 min over to the hotel (it's free). Beats the $18/vehicle hotel parking fee when you're just planning on being at the hotel a few hours.

Oooh--thanks for the tip!! I knew that there was a shuttle b/c I used it once when Brent was there for business and I wanted to go shopping--I took it from the hotel across the street. But I never thought of taking it from Opry Mills to the Opryland Hotel!! GREAT idea!!

 

[wlwilliams9]

Hey Leanne!! Phew, I had a lot of catching up to do!! I've been slacking on the DIS lately, but with a year before our trip, there isn't much updating to do!

I'm so happy your parents loved their gift! How exciting! Next year, you and your brother will have to go in together and get them a big screen TV! I'm glad you all had a wonderful Christmas. Thanks for the Christmas card , the girls are adorable!

Can't wait to find out if you add on the cruise! We plan on doing a week at Disney and then a week long Disney cruise in 2012 for our 10 year anniversary.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Hey! Leanne

the lights and resort at Opryland Hotel look awesome!!! I love poinsettia trees; I have always wanted to do one of those instead of a real tree and than plant them in the yard. I think Danny would have a heart attack if I bought ALL those poinsettias maybe when Ashton gets a little older, now!

Have a great day! tomorrow...
Connie

 

[leamom2princesses]

Sounds like you had a great Christmas . glad to hear your mom loved the gift. Yay on going back to Disney twice this year! I'm sure you will love the Christmas decorations they are breathtaking. Happy your girls liked their AG dolls and Zhu Zhu pets. Oh you will love the Safari GG Celebration dinner. We did that and the Fireworks cruise October 2008 with our friends and it was excellent. Would do it again if we did another grand gathering. I loved your pics from Opryland hotel, so beautiful at Christmas. Thanks for sharing. We didn't make it there this year. My kids love going there and riding the boat and we usually do the Ice display and slides too.

Nichole

We didn't do ICE this year. We ran out of time. Thanks for the feedback on the Safari Celebration. I'm really excited about it. I know the girls are going to love it for sure. How did your Christmas go? I hope things are getting a little better.

 

[leamom2princesses]

Glad you had a good Christmas !! I will be in Disney in 36 days !!!!!!!!!

Thanks Rosie! Did you have to rub it in????

The Opryland pictures are really good. My cell doesn't take pictures anywhere near that good. What is the Safari Celebration? I have not heard of that one. We couldn't use the dxddp because Dale and Dallas are so picky, even though I think it would be great.

Joe has an I-Phone. Apparently once I kill this blackberry, work is giving me an I-Phone. I can't wait. This is my fourth blackberry. The first three died within 6 months(I am exceptionally hard on phones), this one of course is going to hang in there. The Safari Celebration is a dinner after the park closes at Tusker House. You get a private safari, then dinner, then characters and then interaction with some animals according to the CM I spoke with. Lucky for me, my clan will eat just about anything. I just upgraded us last night. I will post our new plans later tonight.

Oooh--thanks for the tip!! I knew that there was a shuttle b/c I used it once when Brent was there for business and I wanted to go shopping--I took it from the hotel across the street. But I never thought of taking it from Opry Mills to the Opryland Hotel!! GREAT idea!!

The shuttle bus picks up at 15 and 45 after the hour right in front of Chili's. It drops you off at the Cascades area of the hotel. It was a really nice bus too-I hate to say it but much nicer than the WDW busses.

 

[MaryAz]

Updates, cliffhangers...... Don't leave us hanging for to long.

 

[leamom2princesses]

Hey Leanne!! Phew, I had a lot of catching up to do!! I've been slacking on the DIS lately, but with a year before our trip, there isn't much updating to do!

I'm so happy your parents loved their gift! How exciting! Next year, you and your brother will have to go in together and get them a big screen TV! I'm glad you all had a wonderful Christmas. Thanks for the Christmas card , the girls are adorable!

Can't wait to find out if you add on the cruise! We plan on doing a week at Disney and then a week long Disney cruise in 2012 for our 10 year anniversary.

Hiya Wendy! Glad to see you're back. Your Christmas card was really nice also. It's funny to see how much our girls have changed since we first started chatting on the DIS a year ago.

I think we will probably have to get them a flat screen next year. It would be really funny. My aunt is having a big time telling everyone about the flat screen my Mom didn't get.

I'm still playing with the cruise idea. I should know in about 2 weeks how long my contract assignment is going to last. If it holds out until May like they predicted in the beginning I will definitely book it. Your 10 year anniversary trip idea sounds wonderful.

It won't be long until we get to meet Miss Eva! Be sure to keep those feet up and keep us updated.

 

[leamom2princesses]

Hey! Leanne

the lights and resort at Opryland Hotel look awesome!!! I love poinsettia trees; I have always wanted to do one of those instead of a real tree and than plant them in the yard. I think Danny would have a heart attack if I bought ALL those poinsettias maybe when Ashton gets a little older, now!

Have a great day! tomorrow...
Connie

The hotel is beautiful year round but they really do it up for Christmas. If you go for making a poinsettia tree you must take a pic of Danny's face when he sees all of those Poinsettia's. Joe would flip out too.

Hope you have a great day also!!!

Leanne

 

[leamom2princesses]

Updates, cliffhangers...... Don't leave us hanging for to long.

I'll try to get back on tonight. Joe is taking me to dinner tonight...going to my new favorite place the Riviera Maya Grille. Yummmmmmmmm.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Hey! Leanne
had to go back and reread alittle....
is the safari celebration the safari only open to deluxe resort guest?!? I remember hearing about the morning safari for deluxe resort guest...or can anyone book this?!?anyway sounds like a lot of fun!!!

Oh! and I missed your comment about Danny and I in May...darling you need to plan your cruise...you and I WILL meet one day even if I have to drive to TN and have you meet me there! Everytime I start to bring up WDW in May something either breaks (our ice maker broke over the weekend/he was grumbling about our central unit he still has not fixed...) I have our prices w/ and w/o Gwendolyn & Joe . I will not be able to confirm our plans weather I can convince him for May or if it's going to be Nov until I see what our taxes bring the second week of Feb.

I started to book the week of May room only yesterday and thought better of it...if Joe goes and we go in May we do not need to book a pkg (he is able to get a military discount again--but, do I save money with them going that is the question Danny keeps asking...) I need the spreadsheet next week when I have a few days off from Chloe... the other big thing he keeps bringing up is this little problem of I agreed to going to the before another disney trip : why did I do that?!?

HAVE A GREAT AND FUN NEW YEAR CELEBRATION!!!
Connie

 

[leamom2princesses]

Hey! Leanne
had to go back and reread alittle....
is the safari celebration the safari only open to deluxe resort guest?!? I remember hearing about the morning safari for deluxe resort guest...or can anyone book this?!?anyway sounds like a lot of fun!!!

Oh! and I missed your comment about Danny and I in May...darling you need to plan your cruise...you and I WILL meet one day even if I have to drive to TN and have you meet me there! Everytime I start to bring up WDW in May something either breaks (our ice maker broke over the weekend/he was grumbling about our central unit he still has not fixed...) I have our prices w/ and w/o Gwendolyn & Joe . I will not be able to confirm our plans weather I can convince him for May or if it's going to be Nov until I see what our taxes bring the second week of Feb.

I started to book the week of May room only yesterday and thought better of it...if Joe goes and we go in May we do not need to book a pkg (he is able to get a military discount again--but, do I save money with them going that is the question Danny keeps asking...) I need the spreadsheet next week when I have a few days off from Chloe... the other big thing he keeps bringing up is this little problem of I agreed to going to the before another disney trip : why did I do that?!?

HAVE A GREAT AND FUN NEW YEAR CELEBRATION!!!
Connie

Pricing is everything on a Disney vacay. If it weren't for the pin code, we wouldn't be staying at the Poly. I would probably go for AKL or WL but not the Poly. The prices are ridiculous. As for the cruise, I am playing it by ear.

The Safari Celebration is something special for Grand Gatherings. I used my pin and linked Mary and her family to our reservation. She got to use my pin because of it. As a Grand Gathering we have access to events only open to GG's. I haven't researched all of the options yet. The CM pretty much sold me on the Safari Celebration as AK is second only to MK in my family.

I have my fingers crossed that you are able to work something out in May. We'd love to meet. I'm sure Ashton and Josie could create some mischief together.

 

[leamom2princesses]

Here is the new DxDP plan:

5/22 Arrive at Poly
Family Choice
8pm Spirit of Aloha Luau

5/23 AK day
8:05am Tusker House (may cancel this one because of the Safari Celebration)
6:30pm Safari Celebration
EMH at MK

5/24 MK day
8:15am BBB
9:30am CRT
6:15pm 1900 PF

5/25 DHS day
8am Hollywood & Vine
5:30pm Ohana

5/26 MK/EP
8:05am Crystal Palace
5:50pm Coral Reef

5/27 Beach day
6pm Yachtsman Steakhouse

5/28 DHS/EPCOT
7:30am Cape May Cafe
6:30pm WCC

5/29 Family Choice
8:20am Ohana
12:50pm Teppan Edo
Fly back to Nashville in the evening

 

[MaryAz]

Yay for the DDP!! Your new plans look great! All that yummy stuff!!

 

[racefanof88]

Love the new plans. Congrats on the dxddp. I mentioned to Mary about a GG breakfast they have at Tony's. Since there will be so many of us there I thought it might be nice to get together and do something like that. I also looked at the Magical fireworks voyage. I think it would be fun for all of us to have a big gathering. I counted and I came up with 18-25 of us. Just an idea we can toss around if you like.

This is the information I pulled up.

Good Morning Gathering

A breakfast event at Tony's Town Square Restaurant. Guests are escorted from the front gate of the Magic Kingdom and served by Tony and other Disney characters. Included is some one-on-one time with Mickey Mouse and reserved seats to experience Mickey's PhilHarmagic after breakfast. The Good Morning Gathering experience is available on selected mornings at the Magic Kingdom. Adults (10 and older) $39.99, children (ages 3-9) $19.99.

Magical Fireworks Voyage

This dessert party is hosted by Captain Hook and Smee and is followed by a cruise of the Seven Seas Lagoon to view the fireworks and Electrical Water Pageant. The evening concludes with a telling of the Peter Pan story, and Peter Pan greets your group upon return. The Magical Fireworks Voyage experience is available seasonally on selected evenings on the Seven Seas Lagoon near the Magic Kingdom. Adults (10 and older) $34.99, children (ages 3-9) $19.99.

 

[leamom2princesses]

I'm game if there are those that want to link to the grand gathering I have going with Mary and her family. It doesn't change a thing other than that we are travelling as a group in Disney's eyes. All plans, hotels, tickets remain the same. It opens lots of new GG only opportunities. Let me know what you think. I will hunt up our gathering number and PM it. You have a pin already so you won't need that either.

 

[racefanof88]

I'm game if there are those that want to link to the grand gathering I have going with Mary and her family. It doesn't change a thing other than that we are travelling as a group in Disney's eyes. All plans, hotels, tickets remain the same. It opens lots of new GG only opportunities. Let me know what you think. I will hunt up our gathering number and PM it. You have a pin already so you won't need that either.

Sounds good to me. I will mention it to Becky and Lisa. I only counted 5 families, but I could be wrong. I counted you, Mary, Lisa, Becky and me. Did I leave a family out? I hope not. I think it would be fun to do the breakfast or the voyage. Which would you like the best? The only draw back I see to the voyage is there are no potty's on the boat and with little ones that may create a problem. They only have each of these two events on certain days. I think the breakfast is on Saturdays and Wednesdays and the voyage on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.