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

[Brave teacher]

Hey Leanne! It sounds like your Christmas was absolutely wonderful! I did wonder on Christmas Eve about how it would go giving your parents the vow renewal. I am so happy they liked it so much.

That DVC AP discount is great. Yeah, we are not renewing ours because it won't work out with the trip plans. Bryan is a resort snob. We have enough points to do multiple trips a year ina studio, but he refuses to use the points for anything less than a 1 bedroom savanah view room at Kidani for the week. That leaves us at once a year. Oh well. Anyway, back to my point, the 3 APs I bought in February for us with the DVC discount is the same price I am paying for 5 day base tickets with the water park option for 4 people. The APs may be a little bit cheaper than the tickets though.

BTW, I cried for Up as well.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I'm so very happy that your parents loved their Christmas surprise. (even though it wasn't a big flatscreen t.v.) I hope that they pick Thanksgiving so you can see all of the Christmas decorations. We've been once at that time of year and would love to go back.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Hello! Leanne
I so happy your mom and dad loved their gift; and that the girls loved their gifts!!! Sounds like a fantastic Christmas!!!

AP's ...a cruise that sounds like a fun adventure and a much better beach view!!! Instead of looking at it as losing a disney day think of all the extra disney adventure you are going to have that you have not done before...not only that sounds like you have a quite a few more disney adventures lined up for the fun year of 2010!

Happy Planning!!!
Connie

 

[my2disneyboys]

Hi Leanne!
Thank you for the beautiful card- the girls are so adorable. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I think I am now FINALLY all caught up on your report. I will be able to post some tips and pictures of the Poly when we go in 4 WEEKS!!!! I am getting so excited. I am going to start updating my trip report more - I have been a slacker.... this staying at home Mom stuff is hard!!!
Hope to hear from you soon!!

 

[ladybugmom]

Yep, she thought it was much better than a TV.. I just bought each girl the JLY dolls. Between my MIL and I they have about 6 outfits a piece along with hair care kits, pets, and accessories. It was an AG/Disney/Zhu Zhu Christmas here. I can honestly say though that there isn't a thing that they haven't played with. I don't mind buying if they will enjoy and use the things they wish for. I saw your pictures on Facebook looks like you had a really nice Christmas as well. Love your princess figurines.

Yes, I agree!! A trip to Disney is MUCH better!! JLY dolls--how fun!! I'm so glad the girls liked everything they received for Christmas!! We had a wonderful Christmas! Brent surprised me with those princess figurines!! And I ended up buying the castle that they sell to display them!! Sooo pretty!!

 

[Charlefours]

Hi Leanne!

I am so glad that your parents loved their gift! It is such a fantastic one--how could you not? Lilian got AG stuff for Christmas too from DGM. She got BB accessories (crib, mobile, highchair, stroller, bathtub, clothes for her doll and herself). Way too much but we are very thankful for it and Lilian is having a ball playing with it. She has gotten way spoiled with all of her great gifts this year!

I am glad your girls seem like they are having a wonderful time with all their goodies too. It is such a rewarding and happy feeling to see DD playing and happy, at least for me.

APs and DVC!! How exciting to be thinking about it. You can always upgrade your tickets to APs before you leave.

 

[MaryAz]

Ah, before the WDW trip, that makes sense. Hmm, Jeff would not be able to go but I think a cruise is doable with just the girls. Like you said, decisions, decisions.

 

[leamom2princesses]

Hey Leanne! It sounds like your Christmas was absolutely wonderful! I did wonder on Christmas Eve about how it would go giving your parents the vow renewal. I am so happy they liked it so much.

That DVC AP discount is great. Yeah, we are not renewing ours because it won't work out with the trip plans. Bryan is a resort snob. We have enough points to do multiple trips a year ina studio, but he refuses to use the points for anything less than a 1 bedroom savanah view room at Kidani for the week. That leaves us at once a year. Oh well. Anyway, back to my point, the 3 APs I bought in February for us with the DVC discount is the same price I am paying for 5 day base tickets with the water park option for 4 people. The APs may be a little bit cheaper than the tickets though.

BTW, I cried for Up as well.

Hiya Megan! It was awesome to see their reaction. I wish I had brought the video camera. Bryan is cracking me up on the resort snob stuff. I would totally do a studio several times vs. one trip if I had DVC. I priced it out and there's about a $100 difference per ticket for us. I only have PH though. I know we are going at least twice so the AP's is the way to go for sure. Haven't decided if I want a premium pass or just a regular AP.

 

[leamom2princesses]

I'm so very happy that your parents loved their Christmas surprise. (even though it wasn't a big flatscreen t.v.) I hope that they pick Thanksgiving so you can see all of the Christmas decorations. We've been once at that time of year and would love to go back.

Thanks Lisa! I was cracking up at my Mom for thinking she was getting a big screen. I told her we could swap the gift if she wanted. She insisted on keeping her DFTVR. I think it would be so great to see WDW decorated for Christmas. I love Christmas so it's a perfect combo for me.

Hello! Leanne
I so happy your mom and dad loved their gift; and that the girls loved their gifts!!! Sounds like a fantastic Christmas!!!

AP's ...a cruise that sounds like a fun adventure and a much better beach view!!! Instead of looking at it as losing a disney day think of all the extra disney adventure you are going to have that you have not done before...not only that sounds like you have a quite a few more disney adventures lined up for the fun year of 2010!

Happy Planning!!!
Connie

We did have a great Christmas. So many great moments to treasure this year. The main reason I'm fretting over it is that if you and Danny do make it the week before I have a pretty good shot of meeting up with you guys if I don't do the cruise. I don't want to go on a cruise and miss some of my DIS friends. Some people would think that is crazy but I may never get another chance.

Hi Leanne!
Thank you for the beautiful card- the girls are so adorable. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I think I am now FINALLY all caught up on your report. I will be able to post some tips and pictures of the Poly when we go in 4 WEEKS!!!! I am getting so excited. I am going to start updating my trip report more - I have been a slacker.... this staying at home Mom stuff is hard!!!
Hope to hear from you soon!!

Thank you for your sweet card also. I'm glad you are back on the DIS. You are so close to your trip. Can't wait to see your pictures of the Poly. I can't imagine how hard your new job is. I'm excited to see some Disney night pics and more planning info. You have an excellent plan so far!

Yes, I agree!! A trip to Disney is MUCH better!! JLY dolls--how fun!! I'm so glad the girls liked everything they received for Christmas!! We had a wonderful Christmas! Brent surprised me with those princess figurines!! And I ended up buying the castle that they sell to display them!! Sooo pretty!!

Both girls are sleeping with the dolls as I type this. They really, really like them. We'll see if it lasts. If it does, I will be more inclined to purchase some of the historical dolls. I just got the JLY to see if they were serious about them. You never know with kids. Brent did do a great job on your Christmas gifts.

 

[leamom2princesses]

Hi Leanne!

I am so glad that your parents loved their gift! It is such a fantastic one--how could you not? Lilian got AG stuff for Christmas too from DGM. She got BB accessories (crib, mobile, highchair, stroller, bathtub, clothes for her doll and herself). Way too much but we are very thankful for it and Lilian is having a ball playing with it. She has gotten way spoiled with all of her great gifts this year!

I am glad your girls seem like they are having a wonderful time with all their goodies too. It is such a rewarding and happy feeling to see DD playing and happy, at least for me.

APs and DVC!! How exciting to be thinking about it. You can always upgrade your tickets to APs before you leave.

Sounds like Lilian had a wonderful Christmas too. Aren't girls so fun??? We are thankful for all of our goodies too. My girls are lucky to have lots of people who love them dearly.

It's very rewarding to see them happy. I keep coming up with new ideas for our upcoming trips. I'm starting to think it's an illness.

 

[leamom2princesses]

Ah, before the WDW trip, that makes sense. Hmm, Jeff would not be able to go but I think a cruise is doable with just the girls. Like you said, decisions, decisions.

I know, we will drive ourselves nutso before May gets here. So many things to think about and consider. I'm also really thinking about the DxDP now. Especially if I can hang on to my contract job for a few more months. The possibilities are endless then....WATCHOUT DISNEY!!

 

[leamom2princesses]

Just wanted to pass along some pics that Joe took with his IPhone at the Opryland Hotel last week when we visited to see the Christmas decorations. We got down there and I went to turn on my camera and it wouldn't turn on...the battery was dead. This is a HUGE place but very worth the 45 minute drive south. Hope you get an idea of how beautiful it is.

This was taken in the Garden Conservatory

The girls and I in the Delta area in front of a beautiful 30ft tall tree.

The white poinsetta tree

The Cascades area

One of the gazebo areas

Ginormous stockings hanging from the ceiling

A red poinsetta tree (these trees are at least 20 ft tall)

the girls in front of the red tree (this is in the Magnolia lobby area)

Everything up to this point was inside the hotel...let's take a look at the decorations outside shall we!

This is the huge nativity scene...there is narration as you walk up to it telling the story of Jesus' birth.

Hope you enjoyed your little tour of Opryland at Christmas. It's an outstanding place to visit.

 

[ladybugmom]

Oh wow!! I LOVE the Opryland Hotel pics!! I have been there MANY times but never during Christmas!! Thanks for sharing--it looks amazing decorated for Christmas!!

 

[my2disneyboys]

I know, we will drive ourselves nutso before May gets here. So many things to think about and consider. I'm also really thinking about the DxDP now. Especially if I can hang on to my contract job for a few more months. The possibilities are endless then....WATCHOUT DISNEY!!

we did it once and now we can't NOT do it!!! So watch out!!! It is really awesome. It really makes it feel like an all inclusive vacation (to us it does anyway). And we love trying out some of the nicer places and you will be right on the monorail so can easily go to GF or CR!!!!!

 

[Bridora]

Those pictures are great! We've never been to the Opryland Hotel, but my BIL loves it.....

 

[MaryAz]

The dx dining plan-you are going deluxe LOL. I don't think we could eat that much food. I do wish the reg dining plan would let you get a app or dessert though.
The lights were beautiful! And those trees-awesome.

 

[Brave teacher]

Awesome lights Leanne!

 

[leamom2princesses]

Oh wow!! I LOVE the Opryland Hotel pics!! I have been there MANY times but never during Christmas!! Thanks for sharing--it looks amazing decorated for Christmas!!

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.

Those pictures are great! We've never been to the Opryland Hotel, but my BIL loves it.....

You should check it out sometime. It's a beautiful place.

Awesome lights Leanne!

Thanks Megan!

 

[leamom2princesses]

we did it once and now we can't NOT do it!!! So watch out!!! It is really awesome. It really makes it feel like an all inclusive vacation (to us it does anyway). And we love trying out some of the nicer places and you will be right on the monorail so can easily go to GF or CR!!!!!

I checked the price difference with Disney when I linked Mary and her family for a GG. It's only $32 more per adult and like $8 per child per day. I think I will probably spend more than that on the breakfasts I planned in addition to our regular meals. I like that it opens the door to more 2 credit meal opportunities. The Safari Celebration will cost two TS and I was looking at having to get rid of at least one meal if we don't upgrade. I would love to upgrade. Just depends on how long the contract work will last. Do you know if you can upgrade once you are on site or do you have to do it before you get to Disney?

The dx dining plan-you are going deluxe LOL. I don't think we could eat that much food. I do wish the reg dining plan would let you get a app or dessert though.
The lights were beautiful! And those trees-awesome.

I'm trying to go Deluxe... I may completely change my mind...you know me. I wish I could choose between an app and a dessert also. In our case one could pick an app to share and the other could pick a dessert to share. That would be a really nice complete meal. Thanks about the trees...you should come out sometime.

 

[Charlefours]

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...