How to make $3600 on your disney vacation! WE DID!! NEW 9/3*The Epilogue, DONE* p. 54

[GeorgiaAristocat]

Horsey -
Another excellent installment. I was THERE for the 626 transformation, as if I was sitting next to you seeing everything.

And you are correct, parenting is not for the faint of heart (or stomach!).

Looking forward to your continuing saga . . . .

 

[Wickedmom75]

Horsegirl Welcome back!!!!! I look forward to reading the rest of your Trip report.

 

[Lisa_Belle]

Great writing, Horsegirl!

Question for you: I want to take DD somewhere to eat in DTD after her Bibbidi boutique. We have a 4:50 ADR at CP that night. What do you recommend? Oh, her appointment is at 9:30, so we could lunch as early as whenever they start serving.

Lisa

 

[horsegirl]

Great writing, Horsegirl!

Question for you: I want to take DD somewhere to eat in DTD after her Bibbidi boutique. We have a 4:50 ADR at CP that night. What do you recommend? Oh, her appointment is at 9:30, so we could lunch as early as whenever they start serving.

Lisa

Thanks for your question, and maybe someone else can chime in...Rainforest Cafe is fun, all the animatronics...but not the greatest food and a bit pricey. I would probably do the Earl of Sandwich and a sundae at Ghirardelli's afterwards....What a special day for you both! Bibbidi Bobbidi sounds like so much fun! I am certain your daughter will feel every bit the princess....

 

[kpk89]

Horsey,
Good to see you back! I too can totally sympathize with a number of things in your report:

1. the FOA with the opinion about 3 kids so close together. Yes, I know there are ways to "manage" that. I "managed" it this way, thank you.

2. The need to de-clutter. I am not a shopper either. Tend to buy only what is necessary and practical, even at Disney.

3. Not buying a bunch of stuff for the kids. They get stressed out with too much stuff. Probably all our toys were Christmas or birthday gifts. Rare is the time we buy something in between. As I told Piper one day (after taking away a lot of toys that were not picked up AGAIN) "you have an imagination. And outside. That's all you REALLY need to have fun. And nobody can take it away.

4. The transformation. ay, yi yi. Been there, done that. Feel your pain. Done the dance. You're a great mom. Many would've yelled and told their child they were ruining vacation.

Keep it coming, girlie!! Trot trot!

 

[KJMAX1]

Purell is a girls best friend!! One day we went to Target and the kids....well they were acting REALLY spirited that day, so we took them to the food thingy to get a drink and popcorn to keep their mouths busy while DH and I shopped. So I am waiting at the table while DH gets the drinks and popcorn, and my kids start sitting down. I take out my mini pocket of antibacterial wipes, and start cleaning the table....The woman next to us with her two kids, just stares at me... I then give the kids a squirt of Purell. She never utters a word, but just gives me that look like I am a paranoid ninny, who is overprotective of her kids. But if she could see how many people sneeze, dont wash after using the bathroom etc, I think she would feel like I do. Did you ever watch that espisode on Dateline or one of those shows that preys on the fears of people like us, where they went to the playground and swabbed the equipment??!?!? OMG! No, I dont wash my money either, although I probably should after they showed what was on it... BTW, I plan on taking Lysol and Purell to WDW!! Heaven only knows when the last time the blankets were cleaned....As for Downtown Disney, we eat ice cream for dinner too sometimes. I figure if I get the kids a banana split at least it has some vitamins! I believe that chocolate sauce has got to be THE best! If any of you out there havent tried some, go get one next time!!

 

[fizz13]

Welcome back Gotta say I love Downtown Disney but only when I have money to burn, otherwise it is one big mall of tease, kinda like Paris Hilton on a sedate day. You show way more restraint than I with the kids and merchandise, in fact my purse is already scared in anticipation of October, but I am loving your parenting, only wish I had the strength to copy

Great installment, great piccie, and it gives me the warm and fuzzies to see you writing again. Yes this board is getting back just the way I like it. Love ya, mean it,
Claire xx

 

[mousebit]

"The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance." - Aristotle

Thanx for coming back and reminding us all why we really plan (overplan) these Disney trips and treasure every magical moment.

Looking forward to more.

 

[Grammyof2]

Horseyponynordicmyfriendgirl - I read this installment twice. I adore your writing, your wit, your everything.

I have read many a TR. Loved many, for different reasons. Yours never fails to move me in some way. There are so many things I could comment on but I could not do justice to your style. I am transformed to the place and time, and it makes me smile.

 

[musicmama]

I think the menfolk should all stake out the parade and fireworks spots, while the women go shopping. Clearly the kids would want to stay with the dads.... Is an hour and a half enough time to get a spot?

I'm telling DH that someone else thinks like I do. He thinks you should just be able to find a spot about 20 minutes or so early. Of course, that was before I made him sit on Main Street for 3 hours (yup 3 hours ) for the MK New Years Eve fireworks in 2004/5 while DD and I went shopping. DD, then 11, refused to wait with DH - said she would have MUCH more fun with me! DH got walked on, walked over, walked around and almost spit on - but he saved us the space. I did bring him back some hot coffee and a pastry. (And DD and I were really only gone for about an hour of that time - we did keep DH company)

 

[horsegirl]

"The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance." - Aristotle

What a beautiful way to describe art.

How is it that the Greeks were able to describe Disney ephemera so perfectly several nearly 2500 years before Walt was even born?

GeorgiaAristocat. How kind of you to observe the 626 conversion and not comment sooner. I am awaiting the day that my children grow up enough to not feel the need to become overstimulated at Disney! What age is that, anyone?

Wickedmom75. Meet Kpk89. How do you two mean and wicked mothers handle the meltdowns at Disney?

KJMAX1- Sounds like you know all too well my plight of germs whilst at Disney and my experience with lots of spirited kiddies! Any other places I missed that I should be employing germ warfare?

Fizz13 and musicmama- Clearly there are many more like you than me, shopping at Disney! I know I am probably in the minority. Well at least with respect to women. Chapter 11 is definitely in the norm with regards to men. Zzub's trippie titles offers further evidence of the gender dicotomy.

Grammyof2- Thank you for the incredibly nice compliment. I think you were reading someone else's trippie though and posted here by accident...

Thanks again to all who post and do not post a reply. I do so appreciate your support...Thanks also to those of you who pm'd me....

 

[huey duey & luey]

I am thoroughly enjoying your trip report. I also completely understand about people being shocked at travelling with 3 toddlers. . You either take them with you places or you will spend your life alone in your house. If I can take mine to the grocery store then wdw is a piece of cake.
Btw you also sound like such a calm mother, who doesn't easily fluster, I think I could use a lesson on that sometimes.
thanks for the great report
Tara

 

[bluejay2006]

Great installment, I can't wait to hear the rest of the report!!

 

[AshClan]

Love the new installment! Love that you are here again! Love you!

Because I like the way that Kimmie did it, I'm copying her itemized list. You hit upon many things that have been on my mind lately:

1. The shopping thing. I, too, feel that I have outgrown it and the need for clutter. Must be our age? Cause you know we're almost twins!

2. The kid-buying binges. Just chatted about this with my sister today. It is so hard, isn't it, to NOT buy the stuff that will make them happy at the moment. Because we want to make them happy! But it soooooo pays off so you can go into a store and NOT have the "iwantiwantiwant" fights.

3. DTD. A ginormous Disney Mall. Never thought of it that way, but you are right! I always felt that DTD is an okay diversion for an hour or two, but other than the Earl of Sandwich, I could take it or leave it. Have never been to Pleasure Island.

4. Finally, Ghiradelli! Well, I am just gonna HAVE to try it in October. Love me a good Hot Fudge Sundae. Thanks for the tip!

I'm so happy you have jumped back in. Looking forward to the rest!!!

 

[Wickedmom75]

What????? There are no meltdowns at Disney or for the matter germs either...... yah back to the real world. With DS8 who has some real sensory issues it is hard and I just breathe and say someday this will get better, but it also helps that he absolutely loves DW so you just kinda grin and bear and then search for a description of yourself on the " Have you ever had a shock board!!" thankfully the disguises Dh and I used must have worked last time

 

[HaleyB]

Well, I am in a place of wanting to simplify my life. Adding to the already overflowing emotional clutter, I am not attracted to a Disney shopping mall. I also am not a ‘shopper’ like many of my female compatriots. I have one bag. A leather satchel. I have perhaps three pairs of sandals, one pair of sneakers, one pair of doc martins, a pair of dress pumps and a few pairs of boots, riding, wellies and winter.

Borg, baby. I am with you on the minimalism thing too. Except I think I will need that to be my second home. Because I have a real problem letting go of things. Long story there, sometime maybe I will tell it. But enough to say we have way too much stuff. Clutter. Noisome things.

Poetry interlude:

I thought the sparrow's note from heaven,
Singing at dawn on the alder bough;
I brought him home in his nest at even;—
He sings the song, but it pleases not now;
For I did not bring home the river and sky;
He sang to my ear; they sang to my eye.
-Each and All, Emerson

I am not a shopper. Sophia is, sort of, given the chance, but me not so much. You have me beat in the shoe department, I think. I have one pair of old brown sandals, two pairs of slides/slip on/I think there is a term for these (Pongo? Chris?) one black one brown, sneakers to work out in, one pair of very basic black pumps, and my newest purchase, dark blue crocs. I do want a pair of cute sandals but unless I get a visit from the shoe fairy I doubt I will get them, this year.

Downtown Disney holds one or two things of interest for me, the Lego store and DisneyQuest. We love DisneyQuest. Max and I like to design our own roller coasters. Sophia and Mr. Silly love the recording booths. I also love old arcade games, and there is skee ball for the kids. Ryan likes that he can IM or email or something from there, or he did last time he went. Now he has a cell phone for that. Anyhow, DQ is big fun. Oh and the raft ride. Big fun.

 

[Lisa_Belle]

"The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance." - Aristotle

Yes, this is why art is protected under the First Amendment's Freedom of Speech. Because art reveals a great deal about the political ideals of the time. Makes you wonder about future students studying the political significance of the Hidden Mickey in relation to George W. Bush.

 

[fan_of_small_world]

It was such a treat to open up my "subscribed threads" and see that you have continued your trip report! I have really been enjoying following along, and now I'm finally posting to tell you so. Your writing style is so descriptive. Like others have said, it is easy to picture what is going on and feel like we're right there with you. I'm planning a trip in the fall and I hope to write a TR upon our return, so I'm taking notes!

Just have to comment on shopping ...I'm not sure it's an age thing. I am a shopper (in my mid-30s) born and bred, and my mom still is too. The only difference is that she is one to keep only what she loves and lose the clutter, while I tend to keep everything! I am learning, though, after moving twice in one year, that less stuff is easier to keep track of. Still, I can't wait to go to DTD...and I'm making sure there is time in our schedule to enjoy it. (Luckily, I will have the excuse of buying Christmas presents for those in my family who love Disney too! I love shopping for others as much, probably more, than shopping for myself.)

I'm a busy mommy, too, so no pressure from me for the next report! LOL We'll be here waiting!

 

[preshi]

Oh be glad you didn't get those swords! My mother, bless her bought one from my older son and it clings and clangs everytime it touches something...it's great for about 5 minutes...then you wish it would disappear!

For me the best part of PI is the Adventurers Club. I could spend ll day and night in there. The players are fantastic and a total riot!

Thanks for another great piece to the trip report puzzle! As always I enjoyed it immensly!


P.S. I am craving a sundae now!!! They used to have one at Disneyland called... Fantasia or something, it was the biggest thing I've ever seen, tons of scoops of ice cream and all the toppings. Alas it was gone when I went back 2 years later! There is no such thing as calories at Disney!

 

[Harmony272]

Horsegirl,
Thanks for posting more of your trippie.