Hey! Let's take a picture in front of the castle...all 28 of us!! UPDATES 10/26

[Sunset Cliffs]

I just burst out laughing when I read your last update. I feel so bad for you to miss your PP deadline. That is SOOO something that I would do. I can't wait to see the picture. You guys worked hard to get it, & I'm glad someone remembered to buy it. LOL

I've been swamped w/ school too, since I work at a high school. My son is nowhere near ready for school but I have been on a school schedule for 5 years already! I can't imagine what it will be like when he is in school.

 

[mom2mek]

I thought I had commented on your update a while ago, but just re-read it when I saw you had new posts and apparently, I didn't. Forgive me? I'm a little scatterbrained with 2 reports going on at once.

YOur parade pics are fabulous! Your build-up to the picture was great....I totally laughed out loud when I read it. So sorry you missed your deadline, but that's great that the picture IS out there somewhere!

Whoa? 34 people????

Sara

 

[MEK]

 

[MeMom]

I happen to know that she has news.

Now she just needs to come and share it.
It's good.

 

[*dreamit*doit*]

I just burst out laughing when I read your last update. I feel so bad for you to miss your PP deadline. That is SOOO something that I would do. I can't wait to see the picture. You guys worked hard to get it, & I'm glad someone remembered to buy it. LOL

I've been swamped w/ school too, since I work at a high school. My son is nowhere near ready for school but I have been on a school schedule for 5 years already! I can't imagine what it will be like when he is in school.

It makes me laugh, too, that I did that.

School schedule isn't my favorite, but it's not terrible. This week was better than last, when I was completely wiped out! And, that's just as a mom...when the girls are older, if I do, in fact, go back to teaching, then I can only imagine how exhausting that would be! I like summer schedule much more. Disney schedule...now THAT is my favorite.

I thought I had commented on your update a while ago, but just re-read it when I saw you had new posts and apparently, I didn't. Forgive me? I'm a little scatterbrained with 2 reports going on at once.

YOur parade pics are fabulous! Your build-up to the picture was great....I totally laughed out loud when I read it. So sorry you missed your deadline, but that's great that the picture IS out there somewhere!

Whoa? 34 people????

Sara

That's okay! I have a hard time keeping up with my subscriptions and ONE report - if I had two going at once

Yes, my aunt has the picture but she is getting ready for a big trip across the world next week, so I know she's been stressed getting ready for that and so I haven't wanted to be a pest about the picture.

I'll get to work!

I happen to know that she has news.

Now she just needs to come and share it.
It's good.

Yes! I just had to share it with you last night, as you are partially responsible for convincing me that it IS worth it!


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

Psst, did you guys see my new ticker???

Wellllll, that's the news! We are going to MNSSHP! On Halloween!! So excited! I had booked the days on a kickback offer when we were there in June. I was hoping we'd get an offer in our room, so I had scoped out the school calendar before our trip, and had those dates in mind. Miren has Nov. 1st and 2nd off from school...don't know why? I don't remember those days being given off before, but it's a nice surprise, so we'll take it!! I had originally booked CBR, but then we decided we really enjoyed Pop Century in June, so we changed it to there. Well, when the passholder rates came out, they were better so I made that adjustment and saved another $50. We've never done MNSSHP party before, but of course I've heard from everyone how great it is! I really, really wanted to do it...but we just weren't sure if it was worth it, or rather, our bank account wasn't sure if it was worth it. Well, it took some convincing, but I went ahead and bought the tickets yesterday!

Our dates are:

Friday, October 29th-Tuesday, November 2nd

Staying at:

Pop Century

No dining plan this time. We've gotten it the past couple of trips, but over the summer I also got the Tables in Wonderland card since we did a split stay off-property. We're just going to go with that this time. Since it's a shorter trip, I think we'll do mostly quick-service meals AND let's not forget...it will also be F&W!!! I'm really looking forward to that, too! It's a first for us, as well!

Loose plans (that will probably change):

Fri. Oct. 29th - Arrival in the evening, driving after school and work. Depending on the time: DTD. But possibly just dinner somewhere and hang out at Pop. Maybe Boardwalk. Or, depending on the weather: the pool!

Sat. Oct. 30th - AK then over to MK for MSEP (soooo excited it's staying for awhile! Love it!)

Sun. Oct. 31st - DHS then naps then MNSSHP

Mon. Nov. 1st - EPCOT all day!! Meeting Wigd and Shocker at some point this day.

Tues. Nov. 2nd - MK or Epcot (or a little of both ) and then driving home in the evening


And then...promptly upon our return back home, I will start planning our next trip.


Now, I will try to get a small update up here, before I have to get some stuff ready for us to go out tonight. We are celebrating the bday of the DW of one of my cousins, who were with us on this trip. I was just thinking that I'm still not finished here and when we went on the trip, she wasn't pregnant yet - she is due next month! And, another DW of another cousin, who were also on the trip, will be having their baby in 11 days! So, next time we plan a big family trip, there will be even more of us!!

 

[*dreamit*doit*]

Party of 34 ready to get our ride on!! So, where to first??

Well, first...we got FPs for Peter Pan, then we went here, where we took up an entire boat and half of another one.

Can you guess where we went next?

It was red shirt day for the kids. Remember in the beginning I said we had chosen same color shirts for them to wear on park days so we could keep track of them easier, but most of the time they were wearing jackets over them, anyway.

After Philharmagic we went over the Haunted Mansion, here is an idea of the crowds.

HM

After we rode HM, our FP time was open for PP, so we went there.

(Sorry I have such few pictures here, well, actually I have NO pics from any of this, these are all from my cousins' cameras.)

We had done pretty good about staying all together so far, until we thought we'd go over to PofC. Some people needed bathroom breaks and some wanted to grab snacks and such, so we split up and said we would meet at PofC. However, when half of us were there, and after about 20 minutes the others hadn't show up, we started making some phone calls. Turns out, they had been on the search for fried dough, and somehow gotten stuck on the other side of the parade and couldn't cross over.

What should we do?? Should we wait? Should we ride?

 

[mom2mek]

Wow! I can't even imagine how hard that was - herding 16 through the park back 3 years ago for Thanksgiving was hard enough for me (of course no one was willing to split up and do their own thing.) Same color shirt is a fabulous idea - they all look so cute!!

Sara

 

[MEK]

Congrats on the Halloween trip! That's great news! So cool that you can actually drive there after work. AND you are getting to meet Wigd and Shocker. Coolness!

Thanks for the update. Fun pictures! I don't know how you managed to keep track of each other. Love the red shirts - so cute!

 

[*dreamit*doit*]

Wow! I can't even imagine how hard that was - herding 16 through the park back 3 years ago for Thanksgiving was hard enough for me (of course no one was willing to split up and do their own thing.) Same color shirt is a fabulous idea - they all look so cute!!

Sara

As the day went on, the crowds started getting crazy!! Luckily everyone is familiar with the park so we weren't that worried about having to actually walk all together, we all just needed to get there!

Did you see my ticker and other post about our next trip? I thought of you because I remembered reading about when you guys did MNSSHP. I just went back and reread those chapters in your TR, to give myself a preview of what to look forward to.

 

[*dreamit*doit*]

Congrats on the Halloween trip! That's great news! So cool that you can actually drive there after work. AND you are getting to meet Wigd and Shocker. Coolness!

Thanks for the update. Fun pictures! I don't know how you managed to keep track of each other. Love the red shirts - so cute!

Thanks!! We are very excited about all of it!

Your trip is just one week away!! I have to get over to your TR.

 

[*dreamit*doit*]

So did we ride or did we wait?? Um, a little of both. First we waited, a little. Then we decided to ride.

Then we had to wait a little more because by the time we got off, the rest of the group had arrived and gotten in line, so we waited for them to get off. Then, when we were all together again, we did this:

We just sat around and chatted for a bit, discussing what we could do next. You could really feel the crowds now and we soon found out that some friends of my cousins were turned away at the entrance. The park was now at capacity!!! We talked some more and two cousins volunteered to get FPs, so they went to get us some for Buzz Lightyear. I don't remember how long we stayed in front of PofC, but it may have been close to an hour. At this time, also, one of my cousins discovered that her DS3 had a fever, so they decided to go back to the room. The rest of us crossed through the hub and made our way to Tomorrowland, where we did what? Why, hang out some more, of course! The area in front of the stage was not crowded and had some hula hoops that appealed to kids of all ages!

After another round of bathroom breaks, we thought the Carrousel of Progress would be a nice place to take a break. We were starting to fade. The crowds were not really affecting us, though, because we weren't really trying to do much, just happy to be there.

When we got out of CofP we were laughing because it seemed like more than half of the people in the theater (and it was full) had the same idea - nap time! What was hilarious about it was that people were not just napping...but snoring! We would look around and just look at each other and laugh because people were all leaning in their seats and leaning their heads on each other and just snoozing away!!! I think some people in our group may have given their eyelids a break, too. Not me, I like the CofP.

Next up was the TTA (now Peoplemover, again ).

*Continued on next post*

 

[mom2mek]

Oh man! How did I miss that ticker! That is so exciting!! I really want to be able to go back at Halloween one year! It was so much fun! Will you be dressing up? I can't wait to hear all about your plans!!


Great last update! Closed to capacity? Wow! It sounds like you guys were just glad to be there and enjoying eachother's company! Love CoP and TTA!!!

Sara

 

[*dreamit*doit*]

*Continued from previous post*


After a relaxing ride through Tommorowland, our Buzz Lightyear FP time was open.

By this time, we had worked up quite the appetite, so we headed straight to the closest spot: Cosmic Ray's. We ate, and again, just hung around there for awhile. We ate outside, but it was sooo cold and windy, we came back in and were lucky to find that table inside.

Nerea had been extremely cranky while we were eating so Ramon decided he would go for a walk and push her in the stroller a bit. He said his plan was to take her on IASW, but he was back within a few minutes...she had fallen asleep. A couple of the guys also took the boys to the Speedway. We contemplated our next move. Should we stay or should we go?? In the end...............we decided it was time to go. The kids were just exhausted and starting to let us know.

We headed out, but not before getting some pictures of the gorgeous castle.

Miren took this picture. Not bad.

Check out the crowds!

Asleep on the monorail:

Don't let those pictures fool you, those cute girls were not out for the night.

When we arrived back at POR, the kids all got a second wind. The truth is it was still early, I don't remember exactly but somewhere around 8-9. I called to check on my cousin's son. She said he was a little better, but they'd probably leave earlier than they had planned tomorrow. We had a connecting room with one of my cousins who has four kids. Well, Miren jumped into their room when we arrived, so I unlocked the connecting door and told her to come back when she was ready. I could hear them having a blast over there! Meanwhile, Ramon was hanging out with the guys on the stairs, which were right outside our room (not disturbing anybody, all the rooms in that area were ours ). I was trying to put Nerea back to sleep...it.wasn't.working. Miren finally came back to the room and went straight to sleep. Nerea was still awake. I still had to get our clothes, bags, cameras, etc. ready for tomorrow. I went outside to ask Ramon to help me, because I was starting to fall asleep and Nerea still wasn't. He wasn't there. I ask the guys where he is. Beer run. Back inside with Nerea. Not only did I have to get everything ready for the next day, but I was hoping, once she was asleep, I could prop the door open and hang out on the stairs for awhile, too.

Who falls asleep first?? Nerea or me?

 

[wigdoutdismom]

It makes me laugh, too, that I did that.

School schedule isn't my favorite, but it's not terrible. This week was better than last, when I was completely wiped out! And, that's just as a mom...when the girls are older, if I do, in fact, go back to teaching, then I can only imagine how exhausting that would be! I like summer schedule much more. Disney schedule...now THAT is my favorite.




That's okay! I have a hard time keeping up with my subscriptions and ONE report - if I had two going at once

Yes, my aunt has the picture but she is getting ready for a big trip across the world next week, so I know she's been stressed getting ready for that and so I haven't wanted to be a pest about the picture.



I'll get to work!




Yes! I just had to share it with you last night, as you are partially responsible for convincing me that it IS worth it!


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

Psst, did you guys see my new ticker???

Wellllll, that's the news! We are going to MNSSHP! On Halloween!! So excited! I had booked the days on a kickback offer when we were there in June. I was hoping we'd get an offer in our room, so I had scoped out the school calendar before our trip, and had those dates in mind. Miren has Nov. 1st and 2nd off from school...don't know why? I don't remember those days being given off before, but it's a nice surprise, so we'll take it!! I had originally booked CBR, but then we decided we really enjoyed Pop Century in June, so we changed it to there. Well, when the passholder rates came out, they were better so I made that adjustment and saved another $50. We've never done MNSSHP party before, but of course I've heard from everyone how great it is! I really, really wanted to do it...but we just weren't sure if it was worth it, or rather, our bank account wasn't sure if it was worth it. Well, it took some convincing, but I went ahead and bought the tickets yesterday!

Our dates are:

Friday, October 29th-Tuesday, November 2nd

Staying at:

Pop Century

No dining plan this time. We've gotten it the past couple of trips, but over the summer I also got the Tables in Wonderland card since we did a split stay off-property. We're just going to go with that this time. Since it's a shorter trip, I think we'll do mostly quick-service meals AND let's not forget...it will also be F&W!!! I'm really looking forward to that, too! It's a first for us, as well!

Loose plans (that will probably change):

Fri. Oct. 29th - Arrival in the evening, driving after school and work. Depending on the time: DTD. But possibly just dinner somewhere and hang out at Pop. Maybe Boardwalk. Or, depending on the weather: the pool!

Sat. Oct. 30th - AK then over to MK for MSEP (soooo excited it's staying for awhile! Love it!)

Sun. Oct. 31st - DHS then naps then MNSSHP

Mon. Nov. 1st - EPCOT all day!! Meeting Wigd and Shocker at some point this day.

Tues. Nov. 2nd - MK or Epcot (or a little of both ) and then driving home in the evening


And then...promptly upon our return back home, I will start planning our next trip.


Now, I will try to get a small update up here, before I have to get some stuff ready for us to go out tonight. We are celebrating the bday of the DW of one of my cousins, who were with us on this trip. I was just thinking that I'm still not finished here and when we went on the trip, she wasn't pregnant yet - she is due next month! And, another DW of another cousin, who were also on the trip, will be having their baby in 11 days! So, next time we plan a big family trip, there will be even more of us!!

Can't wait to meet you all! We are doing the party on the 1st....
I think we decided on it because we were afraid of crowds on Halloween night. MeMom gave some great advice for the party over on my TR. I know I'm going to follow it!
P.S. The party is sooo much fun!!!

 

[*dreamit*doit*]

Oh man! How did I miss that ticker! That is so exciting!! I really want to be able to go back at Halloween one year! It was so much fun! Will you be dressing up? I can't wait to hear all about your plans!!


Great last update! Closed to capacity? Wow! It sounds like you guys were just glad to be there and enjoying eachother's company! Love CoP and TTA!!!

Sara

Psst, Sara, I think you missed a post. At the bottom of page 11 I posted our plans (for now). The girls will dress up as Idon'tknowwhatyet. I don't think Ramon and I will be dressing up but maybe I'll make tshirts. I've never made them before, though. I asked Jill (BrooklynsMommy) for some pointers before our summer trip because I thought I was going to make some but I never got around to it. Maybe this time.

Can't wait to meet you all! We are doing the party on the 1st....
I think we decided on it because we were afraid of crowds on Halloween night. MeMom gave some great advice for the party over on my TR. I know I'm going to follow it!
P.S. The party is sooo much fun!!!

Can't wait, either!! I debated the 31st vs. the 1st, because I was/am afraid of the crowds, too, but with the girls, I think Halloween night would be the night to go! Otherwise, I'd have to drive them to some random neighborhood in Orlando and let them start knocking on doors!

I need to go check out MeMom's advice!

 

[DisneyMom14]

Awesome updates! Lovin all the pics! It's so nice to see the Christmas lit castle in September! I knew the crowds were getting thick but WOW - full capacity!!! I love all the red shirts. When we've taken our band, we've all done matching colored shirts and it does help.....if you aren't wearing jackets. LOL I'm so excited for you guys to go to the Halloween party!!!! I can't wait to hear about it. I hope you write so that I can know what to expect next year when we, hopefully, get to go!


Wigd - I'm lovin all of your tickers!!!! Really cool that you guys are going to meet over this trip!

 

[Stasieki]

Great update!!!! It looks like you all had a blast. What day was this - just curious since it was capacity crowds.

 

[*dreamit*doit*]

Awesome updates! Lovin all the pics! It's so nice to see the Christmas lit castle in September! I knew the crowds were getting thick but WOW - full capacity!!! I love all the red shirts. When we've taken our band, we've all done matching colored shirts and it does help.....if you aren't wearing jackets. LOL I'm so excited for you guys to go to the Halloween party!!!! I can't wait to hear about it. I hope you write so that I can know what to expect next year when we, hopefully, get to go!


Wigd - I'm lovin all of your tickers!!!! Really cool that you guys are going to meet over this trip!

Yes, the castle decked out for Christmas is a treat in September, isn't it??

I really hope you guys get to go next year for MNSSHP!

Great update!!!! It looks like you all had a blast. What day was this - just curious since it was capacity crowds.

Thanks!! This was Saturday, Dec. 19th.

 

[*dreamit*doit*]

So, remember when I posted our plans for our Halloween trip and said they could possibly change?? Yup, they've changed! But they're all GOOD changes!! Well, the first one is that now, we will be joined by four other families (some cousins and very good friends) for part of the trip. No shocker there, I'm sure. Because of that, our plans have changed for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of our trip, Monday and Tuesday are still pretty much as scheduled, well except maybe Monday morning. The cousins and friends that are joining us, are not all staying for the same days because they were not all able to get tickets for MNSSHP for October 31st, so, two families will be going on Friday, the 29th, and two families will be joining us on Sunday, the 31st.

Now, what that means for us, is that because the two families that will be going to MNSSHP on the 29th will be arriving on the 28th, we have just added another day to our trip and are now arriving on the 28th, as well! See, GOOD changes!! (Now our ticker is a day off ) The cousins that will be joining us, were also on this December trip - we all get along great and the kids adore each other! We are all mutual friends with the friends that will be joining us and the kids are all great friends, too. We are still staying at Pop, and three families will be staying there, as well (we were assigned a Grand Gathering number so our rooms will be together). One family is staying at the Yacht Club.

Now, these changes also mean, less park time because we are the only ones with APs. One family will be purchasing Seasonals for the trip and possibly one other one will, too. We are totally fine with that, there is soooo much to do there, as we all know, we'd rather have more time together with family and friends just having a great time together, no matter what we are doing. We are so blessed and fortunate to be able to go as much as we do, we don't take that for granted, and every experience is unique, so this one will be, too.

So, the new plans are veryyyy loose, but here they are:

Thurs, Oct. 28th: arrive sometime that night, probably just hang out at Pop

Fri, Oct. 29th: we have a breakfast ADR for us and the two other families at WCC (total 14), but we are trying to switch over to 'Ohana (we finally got one for a party of 6, need one now for party of 8)

No real plans after breakfast. Possibilities: pool, Boardwalk (rent surrey bikes), DTD, shopping, resort hopping, ???

We will go to DHS around 3pm when the others get ready to head over to MNSSHP. DHS closes at 7pm so maybe we'll hop on the boat over to Epcot and see if it's not too crazy over there.

Sat, Oct. 30th: we have breakfast ADR's at 'Ohana, but we want to go to AK this day, so that's why we are trying to get that ADR for the day before. Hopefully we can get it and then this day we will go to AK. Otherwise, this day we will do 'Ohana and then do some more pool time, hanging out, etc.

The other two families will be arriving sometime during the day.

We have a dinner ADR for Trail's End at FW for a party of 24. Now, I am going to add 5 more to that, because there is another family of very good friends (also mutual friends to all) who will be staying that weekend at FW and will now be joining us for that dinner. After dinner we want to do the campfire.

Sun, Oct. 31st: No plans. We will hang out and do something fun together. One family, possibly two will be checking out that day and leaving in the early afternoon.

MNSSHP at night for us and the two other families.

Mon, Nov. 1st: The remaining families will be checking out this day, so we may hang out with them some in the morning, but no plans either.

Then it's off to Epcot for some F&W!! And meeting Wigd (aka The Fairy DISmother) and Shocker!

Tues, Nov. 2nd: pack up and check out. Then more MK or Epcot or DHS (depends on what we feel we didn't see much of) or AK (if we didn't make it over there before)

Then, this part is exactly the same as in the original plans: And then...promptly upon our return back home, I will start planning our next trip.


Now about this trip report.....I AM going to finish it, but since it's been soooo long, I think I am just going to post a bunch of pictures and not write much, partly because I am forgetting things and partly because I really want to finish before our next trip. I should get it done in a couple of posts, so I will now be off to work on the next one.

 

[*dreamit*doit*]

Well, I left off with the cliffhanger of who fell asleep first: me or Nerea. If you guessed me, then you know just how exhausting a day at MK can be and how a toddler can get totally re-energized after just a short nap. I do not remember falling asleep, when I woke up the next morning, I was completely startled that it was, in fact, morning. I jumped out of bed and the first thing I thought was, I didn't charge the video camera!!! Well, today was THE day that I wanted to take video. Today we were having a birthday party for my two birthday girls and for their cousin the birthday boy. Where???

Here!

The Neverland Club is the CUTEST place!!! It is such a not-so-secret treasure! It's at the Polynesian (by the bus stop), if you've never been there, stop by just to see it. That's what we did one day in the summer of 2009, and Miren wanted to stay there that night. We had something else planned that day and were at the end of our trip, but I found out that they did birthday parties on the weekends, so the wheels started turning for the December birthday trip. I spoke a few times with a CM named Natalie, who was super helpful, and we got it all set up. We scheduled a basic party package for 10am (2 hours). I was thrilled with everything that was included: pizza for the kids (but it was enough for adults, too, and we ordered some extras), juices for kids (and we brought some soda), ice, plates, napkins, goodie bags, balloons, 3 activities (several to choose from, we chose a craft, tattoos, and limbo), they play a cartoon during eating time, all the toys and video games (no coins required), and the CAKE! We also had our choice of themes and we picked princess and pirate, since it was for my two girls and their boy cousin, another thing that they really worked with me on because the choice was princess OR pirate. There are 2 CMs that do the party and just take care of everything! I really can't say enough about what fun and such a great experience this was; I would do it again in a heartbeat. (They also have a deluxe package, for more money, of course, that includes characters).

This truly was THE highlight of the trip for me. Now, I will let the pictures speak for themselves

You can enter through the window like the Darling nursery

**continued in next post**