I love SWW and SW Celebrations...does that mean I am a geek? A PTR of a SW family.

[natebenma]

Hi Melissa-

Sorry to hear you have been feeling sick, I hope you stop feeling so cruddy soon. Yuck on the loss of electricity! I felt so badly hearing the news about the power and I continue to be amazed that in this day and age it can take so long to get everything back up and working!

on your trip being so soon! Sounds like you still have a few things to get through between now and then, though.

Jacob's camp sounds awesome!!!

My Tilt-o-Whirl days are over. Scrambler, too
But I love your description of Jonas when he is riding!

 

[jmskinner]

I hope he gets to the one at the National Mall but there will be such a big group...close to 250 kids and they will have to split up in smaller groups so who knows where they will end up.

So after studying up on SW Celebrations I'm not even sure we are going?? I told my DS that we couldn't fit in Legoland, 2 days of Universal and Celebrations and asked him which one he would cut out of the itinerary. He shocked me by saying Celebrations!! Then he found out Mark Hamill is going to be there and said he wanted to go so he could get his signature....not on a anything Star Wars but on his collectible Joker action figure. I don't know, from what I understand it's going to cost us alot for a Mark Hamill signature.

Have you guys been to Legoland before? I'm a little worried that at 13 my DS will be a little old for it even though he still LOVES Legos and he really wants to go. A friend of mine just got back from Calif. and she said her boys (ages 6,8,10) were a little bored with the rides at Legoland.

Legoland opened right after we moved to VA. Jacob isn't interested in the rides, but the Lego displays. I also think he is looking for something that is discontinued and he won't listen to me when I tell him Legoland won't have it either. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't ride one ride. So if your DS is going for the rides, I would think he would be bored.

The rides at Legoland are very tame. The park is catered to kids and pre-teens. (I haven't been to the water park section.) The lego creations are very impressive! The water ski show is cute. Part of the old Cypress Gardens is still preserved and it's kind of cool to walk under the old Banyon tree. The food is expensive and not that great, we found the pizza buffet to be decent but you need to eat there at opening or be prepared to wait a long time to be seated. There isn't much air conditioning there, and many of the trees are new plants so they don't provide much shade.

The Cypress Gardens portion is the reason I have wanted to go. I kept meaning to go to the park and was so sad when I heard it was becoming Legoland until I heard they were keeping the gardens portion. I see lots of photo opportunities.

Hi Melissa-

Sorry to hear you have been feeling sick, I hope you stop feeling so cruddy soon. Yuck on the loss of electricity! I felt so badly hearing the news about the power and I continue to be amazed that in this day and age it can take so long to get everything back up and working!

on your trip being so soon! Sounds like you still have a few things to get through between now and then, though.

Jacob's camp sounds awesome!!!

My Tilt-o-Whirl days are over. Scrambler, too
But I love your description of Jonas when he is riding!

Jonas was telling me that the local electricity companies were given money to bury all the cables years ago and they didn't do it. They are now looking into it. I remember now why I never wanted big trees. They are pretty to look at, when they are standing properly.

I always loved the Scrambler also. I found it fun to be the one on the inside and I would try not to squash the person on the outside. Wasn't too much fun for them when I slipped and flew into them though.

I will have to get video of Jonas riding the Tilt-o-Whirl, it really is surprising.

 

[jmskinner]

Look what arrived today...







Just wish they would come out with all the details of the different panels and events already.

 

[lovethattink]

Look what arrived today...







Just wish they would come out with all the details of the different panels and events already.

Oh wow!! Congrats on getting the tickets!! Ours didn't arrive yet. How were they shipped? Did you have to sign for them?

 

[jmskinner]

Oh wow!! Congrats on getting the tickets!! Ours didn't arrive yet. How were they shipped? Did you have to sign for them?

Just the postal service and no I did not have to sign for them. Jonas was really concerned when someone had posted a pic of them Saturday night. I only ordered them this month, when did you order yours? Wondered if they mailed them by date ordered or maybe by alphabetical? Hope you get them tomorrow!

 

[lovethattink]

Just the postal service and no I did not have to sign for them. Jonas was really concerned when someone had posted a pic of them Saturday night. I only ordered them this month, when did you order yours? Wondered if they mailed them by date ordered or maybe by alphabetical? Hope you get them tomorrow!

I ordered 3 ofthem in June 2011, because I didn't know when school would start for my oldest and he wasn't sure he wanted to go. A few weeks ago, I added his 4 day ticket to our order.

 

[thumperjr9]

Yay for the Yoda mail

Yikes only 2 1/2 weeks!! I'm excited but still have so much to do to get ready, how about you guys?

 

[lovethattink]

Our tickets arrived yesterday!! The child ticket has R2D2 on it and is very cute.

In looking at the ticket, it doesn't look like there is anything to identify the ticket to the purchaser? So I guess guard it with our lives, lol?

 

[natebenma]

Yay for the Yoda mail

Yoda Mail!



Adorable, it is!

 

[jmskinner]

Yay for the Yoda mail

Yikes only 2 1/2 weeks!! I'm excited but still have so much to do to get ready, how about you guys?

Realized today as I was preordering the Photopass+ that we are exactly 14 days away. Sure hope it does only take 5 days like most have posted since they state you need to order 14 days away and on the 14th day from today we will be on the road long before the mail arrives. Hoping we won't be waiting on the mail man.

I still need to purchase the charger I found online to charge all of our Ipod's and Iphones. More on this later.

Purchasing more clothes today when I get to work at Kohls, tax free weekend. Other than that, think we just need to pack.

Our tickets arrived yesterday!! The child ticket has R2D2 on it and is very cute.

In looking at the ticket, it doesn't look like there is anything to identify the ticket to the purchaser? So I guess guard it with our lives, lol?

So glad your tickets arrived. I noticed that the letter that came with the tickets said no replacements would be made. The childs ticket was cooler than the adult last time too. I probably could have gotten away with a child ticket for Jacob, but I'll be honest.

Yoda Mail!



Adorable, it is!

 

[jmskinner]

In my previous post responding to everyone, I mentioned getting a charger for our Ipods and Iphones. Several months ago I learned of the Isound charger that can charge 5 devices at once. Suppose to be really good for Ipads. Well, we don't have an Ipad yet, but we do have two Iphones and 3 Ipods.

Now, how does this relate to the folks at Celebrations making me ?

The planners for Celebrations haven't released a full schedule. They keep releasing a little info on what all will take place, but no days or times. This week they announced that there would be a Red Carpet Premier of Season 5 The Clone Wars first episode. As soon as I heard that, I knew my boys would want to go. They take Clone Wars very seriously. Make sure to be home every Friday night, supper has already been eaten, and all lights are out.

First I heard this event would take place Friday. That was the day I planned to let Jacob do all he wants to do at WDW. When I first heard about the event, I hoped they would do several showings over the weekend. Nope, one time at 5pm on Friday. Ok, guess we could still go to a park Friday morning. Then I realized, wait a minute. The theater they are holding it is in huge. So that means a long wait to be one of the many wanting to get in. That charger will come in handy while we are trying to entertain ourselves.

I was going to buy it a month ago at the Radio Shack that first showed it to me, but they had just sold out the day before. I was really hoping to spend my money there, since they were very helpful and pointed it out to me.

When I first learned of this scheduling conflict, I really freaked out about our WDW schedule. First, what all does Jacob want to do at WDW. Here is what he wants to do:

DHS: Tattoine Traders and Star Tours
Epcot: Mission: Space and Japan
AK: KRR
MK: Eat at CHH, HM, PoTC, BL

After thinking about this I realized we could do all of this in two evenings. Celebrations is over at 7pm. I sat and looked at my calendar and realized, Tuesday Jonas and I were going to spend the day in the parks, with dinner at Yachtsman. We can save that day on our 4 day passes and spend it at the pool or maybe drive over to Tampa to look at our house. Then spend Wednesday after Legoland or Thursday after Celebrations, at the parks and even go to the parks in the morning on Friday before heading over to Celebrations. PM EMH at MK Friday night, so we will be there. Ok, that works out.

Still wish they would come out with a schedule so we could make our final plans.

Other things I have done for planning...bought a couple of memory cards, a new lens cap for one of my lenses. I lost it several years ago on Star Tours. We were in line when I dropped it. We watched as it bounced just high enough to go over the ledge. I didn't feel it was worth enough to have a CM retreive. Don't know why I hadn't purchased one sooner.

I also purchased a book called Understanding Exposures and have been reading it. Learning to use the Manual setting on my camera. It actually isn't as hard as I always thought it would be.

I think we are going to purchase our tickets at Shades of Green for WDW and Legoland. Jonas is super busy and doesn't really have time to make it over to the Pentagon to get them.

Oh, and the October trip looks to be on, if I can get a Grandma or someone to watch Jacob for us. Only a short trip, arrive on Thursday, go to MNSSHP, Friday we could do the F&WF (we still have one day tickets we had to purchase when we did the Premium dining plan) and then head home Saturday.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

 

[lovethattink]

In my previous post responding to everyone, I mentioned getting a charger for our Ipods and Iphones. Several months ago I learned of the Isound charger that can charge 5 devices at once. Suppose to be really good for Ipads. Well, we don't have an Ipad yet, but we do have two Iphones and 3 Ipods.

Now, how does this relate to the folks at Celebrations making me ?

The planners for Celebrations haven't released a full schedule. They keep releasing a little info on what all will take place, but no days or times. This week they announced that there would be a Red Carpet Premier of Season 5 The Clone Wars first episode. As soon as I heard that, I knew my boys would want to go. They take Clone Wars very seriously. Make sure to be home every Friday night, supper has already been eaten, and all lights are out.

OOoh! My little man would love that too! I think the big boys too. That's our Friday night ritual too. At SWW they said CW was going to have more emphasis on Ventress this season, and now that we "met" Nikka Futterman we're excited for the new season!

First I heard this event would take place Friday. That was the day I planned to let Jacob do all he wants to do at WDW. When I first heard about the event, I hoped they would do several showings over the weekend. Nope, one time at 5pm on Friday. Ok, guess we could still go to a park Friday morning. Then I realized, wait a minute. The theater they are holding it is in huge. So that means a long wait to be one of the many wanting to get in. That charger will come in handy while we are trying to entertain ourselves.

How do the lines work? Is it stand in line and hope you get in?

I was going to buy it a month ago at the Radio Shack that first showed it to me, but they had just sold out the day before. I was really hoping to spend my money there, since they were very helpful and pointed it out to me.

Oh no, missed it by just a day.

When I first learned of this scheduling conflict, I really freaked out about our WDW schedule. First, what all does Jacob want to do at WDW. Here is what he wants to do:

DHS: Tattoine Traders and Star Tours
Epcot: Mission: Space and Japan
AK: KRR
MK: Eat at CHH, HM, PoTC, BL

After thinking about this I realized we could do all of this in two evenings. Celebrations is over at 7pm. I sat and looked at my calendar and realized, Tuesday Jonas and I were going to spend the day in the parks, with dinner at Yachtsman. We can save that day on our 4 day passes and spend it at the pool or maybe drive over to Tampa to look at our house. Then spend Wednesday after Legoland or Thursday after Celebrations, at the parks and even go to the parks in the morning on Friday before heading over to Celebrations. PM EMH at MK Friday night, so we will be there. Ok, that works out.

Whew! Glad it will still work out.

Still wish they would come out with a schedule so we could make our final plans.

Me too!

Other things I have done for planning...bought a couple of memory cards, a new lens cap for one of my lenses. I lost it several years ago on Star Tours. We were in line when I dropped it. We watched as it bounced just high enough to go over the ledge. I didn't feel it was worth enough to have a CM retreive. Don't know why I hadn't purchased one sooner.

I also purchased a book called Understanding Exposures and have been reading it. Learning to use the Manual setting on my camera. It actually isn't as hard as I always thought it would be.

I think we are going to purchase our tickets at Shades of Green for WDW and Legoland. Jonas is super busy and doesn't really have time to make it over to the Pentagon to get them.

Oh, and the October trip looks to be on, if I can get a Grandma or someone to watch Jacob for us. Only a short trip, arrive on Thursday, go to MNSSHP, Friday we could do the F&WF (we still have one day tickets we had to purchase when we did the Premium dining plan) and then head home Saturday.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Sounds like everything is falling into place. I hope you have a good experience driving by your house. When we go back north and drive by our old house it's an odd feeling. There were so many changes done on OUR house. Yet the only thing that bothered us, was that they pulled out all our raspberry bushes.

You're pictures are going to be amazing! I'll only have my phone to take pics. We were hoping to get a new camera for Celebration, but our car is at the garage today and it's a whopping $1800 to fix everything. Yikes!

 

[jmskinner]

Sounds like everything is falling into place. I hope you have a good experience driving by your house. When we go back north and drive by our old house it's an odd feeling. There were so many changes done on OUR house. Yet the only thing that bothered us, was that they pulled out all our raspberry bushes.

You're pictures are going to be amazing! I'll only have my phone to take pics. We were hoping to get a new camera for Celebration, but our car is at the garage today and it's a whopping $1800 to fix everything. Yikes!

Oh dear, I hope we were contagious. Just spent that much on our car too. We bought it two years ago, now on our 3rd set of tires, but this time the place said we needed shocks and struts. I will say, it is the best the car has ridden.

I'm wanting a new camera, but that money tree has never been found.

I believe the line will be a wait and see if you get in type of situation.

Isn't it funny what you get upset about. We still own the house and have it rented, so we just want to drive by and make sure all is well. One of the neighbors is a friend of mine on Facebook and when she posts pics of the kids in her front yard, I can see ours and can tell they are taking care of the yard. I guess that means I am spying.

 

[jmskinner]

lovethattink, just saw a FB post from Celebrations stating the app will have the schedule soon and before the website. Hopefully they mean this weekend.

 

[lovethattink]

lovethattink, just saw a FB post from Celebrations stating the app will have the schedule soon and before the website. Hopefully they mean this weekend.

Ouch on the car bill! It better run just as good if not better for that price!

LOL on the spying.

Oh cool! I didn't download the app. Did you?

I just checked out the website for the first time in a long time. I see we missed the registration for a couple things. Oh well. That Bounty event sounds fun. I sent in a special needs request email, says I should hear back in 3 business days.

 

[jmskinner]

Ouch on the car bill! It better run just as good if not better for that price!

LOL on the spying.

Oh cool! I didn't download the app. Did you?

I just checked out the website for the first time in a long time. I see we missed the registration for a couple things. Oh well. That Bounty event sounds fun. I sent in a special needs request email, says I should hear back in 3 business days.

I had seen the info on the Bounty Hunt, but didn't pay attention to it. My boys would have loved to do it.

I downloaded the app on both of our phones and on Jacob's Ipod as soon as I saw an announcement about it. I think I am more excited than they are.

By the way, part of the schedule is showing on the app now!

 

[lovethattink]

I had to do a search on the app to find the schedule? Isn't it launched from any
of the icons

 

[coldboxer04]

The full schedule is posted in the app now for the panels. So excited GF and I are going to celebration, dress up a few of the days shes doing something everyday most are Mara Jade, then after the con, we are getting annual passes to Disney to do after the con and during couple days after (though still debating it more adrenaline rides at universal and cheaper long run).

Also got my big autograph wants for my poster preordered so ill have hamill,fisher,McDiarmid,Baker to add to my Lucas and Ford and if have the money try and get a few more.

Last Celebration was amazing though only thing was so much to see and do but not enough time and some of the costumes were incredible loved seeing obscure people like Darth Bane and such.

 

[lovethattink]

The full schedule is posted in the app now for the panels. So excited GF and I are going to celebration, dress up a few of the days shes doing something everyday most are Mara Jade, then after the con, we are getting annual passes to Disney to do after the con and during couple days after (though still debating it more adrenaline rides at universal and cheaper long run).

Also got my big autograph wants for my poster preordered so ill have hamill,fisher,McDiarmid,Baker to add to my Lucas and Ford and if have the money try and get a few more.

Last Celebration was amazing though only thing was so much to see and do but not enough time and some of the costumes were incredible loved seeing obscure people like Darth Bane and such.

The full schedule is still not showing on my phone. I still get the check back in the coming months.

Yes, huge difference in price between Disney's AP and Universal's.

Congrats on getting the autograph slots. I missed the sign ups, didn't realize you could preorder autographs, and when I found out I was a day late. Only autograph dh wants is Peter Mayhew. Think it will be possible to ticket for it at the convention?

 

[coldboxer04]

Peter Mayhew should be able to get an autograph for, last celebration i was able to get Mark Hamill just from waiting in line though i waited for a day not many were waiting for him and ended up only waiting an hour....it was longer getting into his panel last time lol.