I got just what I wanted for Christmas!! Snow and Toy Soldiers! March pix add 5/16/11

[racefanof88]

We are back from the most Magical Place on Earth and now it is time for the TR. Well, we have actually been back for 3 1/2 weeks so the "I had to leave Disney depression" is starting to wear off. Now it is time to begin planning our next trip too .

The Cast Members for this trip are as follows

Me, Dana, the planner of all things Disney.

Dale, my husband of 23 years, he loves Disney, but lets me make all the plans. Secretly he does this so if anything goes wrong he can point the finger at me . I'm on to him though .

Dallas, my youngest Disney buddy. He has been to Disney 15 times, and like me, he wants to start planning our next trip while still at Disney.

This trip took place December 4th through December 10th. We were actually supposed to stay until December 11th, but decided to cut the trip short by one day. It was our first time to be at Disney during the Christmas holiday and we were very excited to be going to see it all.

We spent two nights off property at the Clarion Inn in Lake Buena Vista, NEVER again. It was in a nice area, but we had some issues, I will detail them later . We spent the rest of the trip at Pop Century with no major issues.

Ok need to finish loading pictures and cook some dinner.

Our first day of a magical vacation. updated 1/12/11
Barnstorming sure is fun!! updated 1/19/11
March TR started here. Updated 3/14/2011
Journey begins and first day of March trip part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Dallas and the Alligator

 

[bouncycat]

You can run, but you can't hide!!!!! Found ya!!! Great first post......I know ya'll had fun, I got a couple of pictures to add when it's time So I'll stay tuned!!!!

 

[racefanof88]

You can run, but you can't hide!!!!! Found ya!!! Great first post......I know ya'll had fun, I got a couple of pictures to add when it's time So I'll stay tuned!!!!

Christie is here.

I think I am getting over my post Disney funk and I'm ready to start planning my next trip. I am seriously thinking the second week in March and looking at OKW or BW. Not sure about that yet, depends on many things. If Amanda and Tyler will go we may get two rooms at a value. Decisions, decisions........

 

[bouncycat]

Gotta love decisions!!!! I hope Amanda and Tyler go with you, they haven't gone with you in a while, I'm sure you'll enjoy that!!! I love the planning phase, but sometimes it can be trying. Check my PTR!! LOL I'm glad you're over the disney funk, and into the TR, I heard alot about your trip, but I LOVE hearing more, and again!!! LOL I'm SOOOO Glad to be part of it!!!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

I'm here!!!
I LOVE the pictures you have picked of you guys!!
great start OH!
Connie

 

[racefanof88]

Gotta love decisions!!!! I hope Amanda and Tyler go with you, they haven't gone with you in a while, I'm sure you'll enjoy that!!! I love the planning phase, but sometimes it can be trying. Check my PTR!! LOL I'm glad you're over the disney funk, and into the TR, I heard alot about your trip, but I LOVE hearing more, and again!!! LOL I'm SOOOO Glad to be part of it!!!

Well, I'm thinking the decision has been made....... Amanda does not want to come because she and Matt are going to spend some time at the beach while he is on spring break. Tyler does want to come. I am thinking All Star Sports or CSR with dining plan(the only way I can afford to feed Tyler......), March 5-11. I'm thinking CSR since they have queen sized beds.

I'm so glad you were a part of our vacation too!!! I had a blast !!

I'm here!!!
I LOVE the pictures you have picked of you guys!!
great start OH!
Connie

Connie is here too . Thanks on the pix . The one of me is last Christmas, Dale this Christmas at Epcot and Dallas last Spring. I thought I was going to get an installment in tonight, but I didn't have all my pictures loaded on photobucket .

 

[MaryAz]

Dana, how the heck have ya been? Ok seriously, we miss eachother by DAYS in Sep, Dec and now March-you must be kidding me!!!!! Also love the pics of you guys!!

 

[racefanof88]

Dana, how the heck have ya been? Ok seriously, we miss eachother by DAYS in Sep, Dec and now March-you must be kidding me!!!!! Also love the pics of you guys!!

Mary is in the house. I how been good girl; how about you?? I know our dates just can't seem to mesh. I looked at the week you are going in March and the room rates are much higher and with Tyler going the extra money will be used on his ticket and ddp. It is sad though . Thanks about the pix , you are too sweet!!

 

[Nazran]

Love another Nascar fan! I guess you can call me Racefanof2 or until next year when it is Racefanof22! This could be a breakthrough year for Dale!

 

[bouncycat]

I like your pics too, got both guys smiling!! That's always a toughie!! LOL I thought of CSR this past trip with Syl, for the queen beds. that's funny about affording to feed Tyler with the dining plan, I swear some days that's why I do deluxe, to feed MY Tyler. We feed him lunch, and he gets the adult meals, he scarfs them down and an hour later is hungry!! I can't win!! And I know it's only gonna get worse as he gets older!!

 

[racefanof88]

Sorry I have been MIA again; it has been a long weekend. I had to work Thursday and Friday, and Saturday we spent the biggest part of the day at the vets office. My dachshund, Niko, hurt his back so we had to take him to see the doctor. I ended up playing nurse to the dog all weekend. I had to give him steroid shots every 6 hours. It started out being IV, but he pulled his IV out and the shots became SubQ. Anyway, he is mostly kennel bound for the next 4-6 weeks . At least he is through with the shots.

This is our Niko.

I had to have him back at the vets office this morning for them to check him out. He is doing much better. On Saturday he couldn't even stand on his hind legs; he drug them behind him. Today he is walking on his hind legs again, but he walks like he is drunk. Saturday the doctor was talking possibly sending him to Auburn for surgery if the steroids did not help .

On top of all that; I started feeling bad this morning and now I think I'm coming down with the flu. I'm starting to feel like I did when I had swine flu .

Last Thursday(Jan. 6th) was Dale's birthday and we were going to celebrate it last Saturday, but with Niko being hurt we had to postpone it till next weekend.

Well, not quite the update I wanted to post, but I didn't want to be a bad Diser and not post something .

 

[racefanof88]

Love another Nascar fan! I guess you can call me Racefanof2 or until next year when it is Racefanof22! This could be a breakthrough year for Dale!

Welcome and thanks for reading . It is always nice to have another Nascar fan around . I have had the racefanof88 for a long time, and when I made the name it was for Dale Jarrett.....lol. I guess I would have to be racefanof14 now . My husband is a Kyle Busch fan, but I have to bite my tongue when it comes to him. Kurt is OK though.

I like your pics too, got both guys smiling!! That's always a toughie!! LOL I thought of CSR this past trip with Syl, for the queen beds. that's funny about affording to feed Tyler with the dining plan, I swear some days that's why I do deluxe, to feed MY Tyler. We feed him lunch, and he gets the adult meals, he scarfs them down and an hour later is hungry!! I can't win!! And I know it's only gonna get worse as he gets older!!

Thanks Christie . I can't believe I got Dale smiling either........Grumpy hates his picture taken . I think we are going to go with one of the All Stars. Dale says Sports. I swear if I don't go with the ddp we will be eating at CiCi's every meal......... It does get worse, and Dallas eats as much as Tyler, but at least he doesn't want the most expensive item on the menu .

 

[bouncycat]

HAHA My guys are steak guys...Chris LOVES breakfast, so yea....deluxe is a must with us. Sorry to hear about Niko, I hope he's doing better. My cat has a cyst, they say it should go away on it's own, they think the puppy bit her while playing, didn't break the skin. It has soften quite a bit. So it must be in the air for these darn animals LOL Tell Dale we all said Happy Birthday here!!! His is exactly 10 days before mine!! We're celebrating this weekend, AND next weekend LOL THis weekend my family is coming down and we're BBQin, and next weekend Adam is coming up, and Kim and Sami coming down, and we're going to see Harry Potter world. No worries, I'll take LOTS of pictures!! LOL Anyways, take it easy, and talk to ya later girlfriend!!!

 

[mickeystoontown]

I can not believe that I didn't see that you had started this! I am such a ditz sometimes. I hope that both you and Niko start feeling better soon.

 

[racefanof88]

HAHA My guys are steak guys...Chris LOVES breakfast, so yea....deluxe is a must with us. Sorry to hear about Niko, I hope he's doing better. My cat has a cyst, they say it should go away on it's own, they think the puppy bit her while playing, didn't break the skin. It has soften quite a bit. So it must be in the air for these darn animals LOL Tell Dale we all said Happy Birthday here!!! His is exactly 10 days before mine!! We're celebrating this weekend, AND next weekend LOL THis weekend my family is coming down and we're BBQin, and next weekend Adam is coming up, and Kim and Sami coming down, and we're going to see Harry Potter world. No worries, I'll take LOTS of pictures!! LOL Anyways, take it easy, and talk to ya later girlfriend!!!

I love steaks too, but Dallas isn't a big steak person. Dale will eat them, but would rather have a hamburger, and Tyler is like me. What is it with these dang animals? Last year around this time Niko had pancreatitis . I told Dale that having an animal is just too expensive.

I wish I could be there for your birthday; having a nice juicy steak off the grill sounds soooooo good. I know you are looking forward to spending time with Kim.... It'll all be good though, you will have a good time. Hope you are having a good week!!!!!! TTFN!!

 

[racefanof88]

I can not believe that I didn't see that you had started this! I am such a ditz sometimes. I hope that both you and Niko start feeling better soon.

Lisa is here . You are not a ditz, I haven't been keeping up like I should. Every time I think I'm gonna be a good Diser; something comes along and steals my time...... Thank you (hugs with a mask on) I want to plan my Disney vacation and not feel bad at the same time....

 

[racefanof88]

OK, time for a REAL post on my trip.

As I previously posted we were staying off property for our first two nights at the Clarion Inn. So without further ado here we go.

We pulled out of the driveway at around 4:30am on Saturday December 4th. I had been up since 2:40 because I was just too excited to sleep. While Dale and Dallas slept I got ready, packed our ice chest, made sandwiches and packed the last few items. Dale and Dallas woke up with the alarm clock and got dressed. We were ready to make our way to Disney.

We made a few stops along the way to get gas and breakfast at McDonald's. Dale and Dallas have to have a McGriddle on every trip...... We really made great time and pulled into the parking lot at the Clarion Inn at 1:30pm.

Our room wasn't ready, and we were starving, so we went to CiCi's pizza. There is one next to the hotel so off we went. After eating our pizza we headed over to DHS to meet up with Christie(bouncycat), her husband Chris and their son Tyler. In all of my trips to Disney this was our first trip in December and I was excited to see all the decorations!

We met up with Christie, Chris and Tyler and headed over to TSM. Now I knew we would never get on, but Dallas insisted . Well, of course the line was wrapped around the place so we went back to the GMR and walked right in.

Tyler, Dallas and Dale waiting for the ride vehicle.

Dallas just loves this ride, and I usually say it is a great ride in the summer, but I have to say it is a great ride in the winter too . Afterwords Christie, Chris and Tyler wanted to ride ToT. As they rode we sat and watched people. People watching is one of my favorite things to do at Disney.

Dale looking at a lady that was not dressed weather appropriate . I wanted to get a picture, but I thought it would probably be rude .

Dallas wanted some cotton candy and I needed a coke so I went on a quest.

I told Dallas he looked like he was breathing fire in this pic.....

Some random pictures at the Hollywood Hotel

Dale wanted to ride RR and Christie and her guys were willing to ride with him, but the standby line for it was even longer than for TSM; something like 2 hours . We knew that wouldn't work because we wanted to see the Osbourne lights and it was almost 5:00pm. We decided to hustle over and catch the last tram out for the Backlot Tour.

I thought I took some pictures on the BLT, but if I did I can't find them . Anyway, after the ride we walked over to find a viewing spot for the lights.


Tyler and Dallas playing around.

We found our viewing spot for the lights and waited for the show to start.
Before long it started to snow. Here is one of the many videos I took of the lights. In the video you will see Christie, Chris, Tyler, Dallas and Dale. Just click on the picture below and the video will start.



After the lights we said goodbye to Christie, Chris and Tyler and started trying to make our way out of the park. It was packed and we spent the good part of an hour getting out. I took video of the lights along the way, but I won't bore you with them.

We drove back to the hotel, I had to go to the lobby and get the room key, and we found our room. Now if you remember I told you in the introduction post of this TR I would go into detail about the hotel, well first and foremost I had requested a ground floor room and we were put on the 4th floor; strike one. For those that know me you know that I am terrified of heights and this hotel, as you can see from the picture, has outside doors and walkways. Needless to say I was NOT happy, but I took the room and let it go.

We unloaded as much as we could all carry on our first trip up to the room, but Dale and I had to go back to the car to finish unpacking. We left Dallas in the room with STRICT instructions on answering the door. We made our way carefully down to the car and got the last of our stuff. When we got back to the room Dallas did not answer the door, I knocked and knocked and knocked and then started to panic; the room key WOULD NOT WORK; strike two. Seems as if he decided to shut the bathroom door when he went to use the bathroom and could not hear us at the door .


When we got settled in the room of course we had to order Flipper's pizza; it is a tradition to have Flipper's when we are in Orlando. About 20 minutes after I ordered the pizza my cell phone rang and it was the pizza guy saying I had to come to the lobby and pick up the pizza . I sure wish they had told me that BEFORE I ordered, but I put on my jacket and drove over to the lobby and got our pizza. I once again had to brave the catwalks. Thank goodness the pizza was worth it.

I took a nice hot shower and before I got out Dallas was already asleep. I was totally exhausted too as it was almost midnight and I had been up close to 24 hours. I can promise you I didn't need to be rocked to sleep on this night.

Up next Sunday and Barnstorming.

 

[bouncycat]

YAAAAY!!! Love the update!! That was awesome, them lights were SOOO worth the crowds!! I just wish we coulda rode TSM and RnRC, but that's alright. Still a fun day!! I like the pics of while we were on ToT too, I like to people watch. You'd be surprised on how many people go during the cold weather in shorts and stuff. I always tell Chris that there goes another northerner!! HAHA Not knocking northerners, ya'll are stronger than we are dealing with the cold!!

 

[mickeystoontown]

I sure wish it only took us nine hours to get to Disney so we could go more often.

It's great that you got to meet us with Christie and spend some time with them at HS. It's just too bad the waits were so long! Loved the video. I want to go at Christmas time so badly.

Ummmmm....I would have been freaked out by a 4th floor room at the hotel. I am with you on the heights issues! Were you hugging the walls when you walked to your room. I know I would have.

 

[bouncycat]

I sure wish it only took us nine hours to get to Disney so we could go more often.

It's great that you got to meet us with Christie and spend some time with them at HS. It's just too bad the waits were so long! Loved the video. I want to go at Christmas time so badly.

Ummmmm....I would have been freaked out by a 4th floor room at the hotel. I am with you on the heights issues! Were you hugging the walls when you walked to your room. I know I would have.

It was awesome spending time with them, I LOVE the dismeets!! I'm in the TR later too LOL So stay tuned!!! HAHA The Osborne lights were AMAZING!!! So georgous, and when they came on, it was like you were lost in them. If you get a chance, go see them one year!! Truly a special experience. We took a while getting out of the park also, I wanted to see Fantasmic, since I've never seen it before, but the crowds were just way too much. So we left, and went to eat dinner LOL It was a little chilly that night, I didn't have too many pictures of Dana this night, but I got some of the next one that I spend with her!!