I'm old enough to be a GREAT Aunt? Ah well, take them to Disney!!

[racefanof88]

Well, I am a great Aunt, kinda like a grandma!!! I need to find time to work on my WWHP trip report, you saw the pictures on facebook, but need to put the story with it here LOL. I think I have a day off from Mr Zima tomorrow, so I'll clean my room and take pictures of the stroller. I'm just soooo darn proud of myself for that!!! I know, I'm a dork!! LOL But $80 is SOOOO much cheaper than we woulda paid thru disney or thru orlando stroller rentals. I was looking at OSR at almost $200, and disney almost $300!!! So $80 isn't bad at all, and they can keep the darn thing!! LOL I know Sara will use it, but want the back part there for Andrew if he needs it. Amanda was SOOOO funny, we were on Skype the other night, Sara was fussy and in her pack and play behind the camera, I could see her and all, I guess she kept Amanda up the night before, so Sara wasn't getting any love so to speak LOL I called Sara's name out, she got quiet, looked at me and started Jabbering. It was SOOOOO Cute!!!! Amanda looked at her and said "see this face? This is the face that will save you for a week" and you better believe it. I already told Amanda It'll be hard for me to put that baby down!!! I LOVE babies!!!! Especially when I can spoil them and give them back!!!

You are so funny!! I have been a great Aunt since I was 18.......... One of my great nieces has 2 kids, so that makes me a great, great Aunt.

You are so right about the price of strollers. We used to rent the double stroller for Dallas so we could put all of our stuff in it with him, and we spent a small fortune renting those things.

I love babies, but I get my baby fix every time I come to work . It sure broke me from wanting to have any more.

 

[bouncycat]

Working with babies certainly has it's benefits!!! LOL Yea, I can't wait. Plus Chris is REALLY close to Amanda, and we haven't seen her in like 8 years since right before her grandmother, Chris's mom passed so this will be a HUGE treat!! LOL For ALL of us! Plus we'll get to know her husband, and of course spoil them kids LOL We'll have to get up there and see them more often now. Maybe this year for Thanksgiving we can plan a trip up there to see them, and Chris's brother. I miss going up there, it's just SOOOO pretty!!! They're just outside of Nashville. Anyways, gonna start the first installment of the HP report!! Glad I can make ya laugh girlie, that's what I try to do!

 

[bouncycat]

The long awaited HP pictures!!! YAAAAY!!!! For those that follow me on facebook, you've already seen the pictures, but I'll do a bunch of the story to go with it.

So....we set out in the morning VERY early to get there early, since we knew it would be busy in the Harry Potter part, plus with getting the tickets at the base, we had to exchange them. I got the one day 2 park passes, since I knew universal isn't a full day spent at one park kinda place. So, we get there, HAD to get the most clueless person at the ticket counter, tried to tell me it was gonna be $6.50 to upgrade the tickets!! Uh, NO! So she had to get help, which finally she got. She scanned each ticket I don't know how many times and then gave me the tickets. Thank GOD I was early, I woulda been VERY upset!! So, we get in line for the turnstiles at about 8:30, and were about 5 people back. They opened up at about 8:35....SCORE!!! SOMETHING going right for this day!!

So, we make our way into IOA, and of course follow the stampede to WWHP. Finally get back that way, and I will NEVER understand why people RUN in a theme park!!! I'm in my wheelchair, and people are running over ME!!! GEEZ people, the park isn't going anywhere!!

Anyways, enough of that rant!! LOL SO, we get in the area, and I take this picture.

And first thing we see is the Hogwarts Express!!! HAD to get a picture!! Look at how big my boy is getting!! He's 2 years YOUNGER than Samantha!!!!

We go straight to Dragon Challenge, and do the blue side. The que for this ride was AWESOME. they still run you thru the castle, but it's cleaner, and more modern. They have the theming from the Triwizard Tournament in the Goblet of Fire movie/book. So, we see this also in the que.

and also this inside the castle part of Dragon Challenge.

So we ride, Kim comes off a really funny green in the gills color and vows to never ride again. The ride of course was AWESOME, and they didn't change the ride part of that one much, just the que.

After that we head inside Hogwarts to ride the FJ ride. Let me tell you, this ride was AWESOME!!!! It is the absolute BEST ride EVER!!!! I thought it was strictly a simulator ride, but it's not. It is partly, but just about the time you get used to the simulator part, it moves to real life. Not sure how they did it, but it is completely awesome. The line for this ride is cool too. You walk thru Hogwarts, and see all sorts of neat stuff. The portraits move, just like in the movie

and for Dumbledore's office, they have him on a screen talking to you, the camera didn't pick up that part for some reason.

and here's a picture of an advertisement.

So we get up to the ride, Kim didn't ride this, too green from the DC roller coaster, and of course I'm in my chair, and we get to the stairs. OK. The person working the line said to go straight, then the elevator is to the right. Uh, okay, we didn't see it, so Chris asked. The TM person working got SNIPPY, and said "It's RIGHT there" Pointing to the other side of a railing. Oh...it blends INTO The scenery, if you didn't know what you were looking for, you wouldn't see it, Our bad!! So besides the snooty TM, we get in the elevator, and get on the ride. I didn't know what to expect with this ride, didn't know the seating, just remember people saying if you're really heavy, they couldn't ride. Well, Chris, me Tyler and Sami rode, and you sit 4 in a row, but the rows are like 4 people, then 4 people and so on, in a line. Kinda like a roller coaster, but not one in front of the other, it's side by side. Hard to explain. Anyways, it has shoulder harnesses like an upside-down roller coaster. The set of 4 seats move together. You go from screens with Harry, Ron and Hermione, then real life, then simulator screen, then real life....then the spiders!!! AAAHH!!!! I HATE spiders!!! I tucked my feet, my arms and everything I could into that seat!! Chris was sitting next to me, and laughed his butt off at me. I was screaming, and I'm not usually a screamer, but there was spiders EVERYWHERE!!! Big ones, little ones, and right in your face ones!!! Anyways....after that we took a few pictures of the castle

and then headed out of HP world to the rest of the park. We didn't get into Olivanders, the line was HUGE. We didn't buy much, Kim got Sami a Slytherin scarf, since it was what she wanted, I knew they had the same stuff in the front store, so I figured we'd shop later so we wouldn't have to carry it.

All in all, the HP part is AWESOME, and if you're a HP fan, it's a must see!!

Next up, the rest of IofA!!!!!

 

[jaxdemona33]

Yes I was green all over. I cant do the dragon ride, OMG!!! It made me so sick..

 

[bouncycat]

Yea, you were funny!!! Wish I had a picture of THAT face!!! HAHAHA

 

[jaxdemona33]

Umm yea me, pictures.. hmm nooo !!!!

 

[pinkxray]

I love your pictures. You got some great shots.

I totally forgot that they redid the dragons challenge. I loved that ride back when DH and I went to without Caitlin. Did they paint the dragons or anything or do they look the same?

I can't wait to see all the Harry Potter stuff. The paintings that move look pretty cool. I love the movies and will probably all day looking at all the details.

 

[bouncycat]

The details were AMAZING!!! didn't see anything different with the coasters themselves, just the ques. You have GOT to do the Forbidden Journey ride. It is completely AWESOME!!!!! Best ride EVER!!! Get there early, and wander if you can. it got crowded on us QUICK! But the rest of the park was empty until after lunch. Go figure! It was all just really really neat. They have lots of merchandise from the movie, I got a pink pigmy puff...so cute, and so fluffy!!! My cat likes to sleep with it on my bed!!!! ROFL

 

[bouncycat]

More Shopping!!! I mentioned earlier that I got a stroller, and I was finally able to take pictures!!

So, it was at Once Upon a Child, Kim and I took some stuff to sell, and I was gonna look for a sit and stand, been looking at them new, and just couldn't justify the cost, even tho it would have been just as much to rent one from Orlando Stroller Rentals. So, I found a Joovy sit and stand, in Amanda's favorite color, GREEN!!! it's in pretty good shape considering it's second hand!!

And it was only $80!!! I also found Sara a really cute little outfit with Lilo on it, and it has a little skort with it. Too cute!!!

So.....that's the damage I've done lately!!! LOL Enjoy!!

 

[bouncycat]

Universal part 2 LOL So, I left off in Harry Potter land, after that we left that area, and strolled thru Jurassic Park. Chris wanted to smoke after the crowds in WWHP, so he did that, I went in the shop right there. There was NOBODY around this area!!!

and I took this of Sami and her new scarf!

and this one of Tyler and his new glasses.

So it was too cold to go on the water rides. So after walking thru Jurassic Park, we went into the Comic part. Took a couple of pictures. Tyler found this bomb thing that made bomb sounds, and farting sounds, so of course he had to push it, repeatedly!!! LOL

And Kim and Sami in front of said bomb, you can see Tyler in the background pushing the lever!!

After that, I found a cool marmaduke shot, so Chris posed nicely for it!!

So we went and rode Spiderman, that ride hurts me kinda like Dinosaur ride does at AK. Don't think I'll be doing that ride again! UG! While in line, sitting in my chair, I took a picture of Chris. He was pushing. I took the camera and just kinda took it LOL

After Spiderman, we went and rode Dr Doom. After Dr doom, we exited out in the arcade, so we played some games. They had a crane game with the Snoopy mini plushes in it, and I could NOT get one!! I was soooo mad!!

Next up, we went and ate in the Fantastic 4 cafe by the Hulk. It's pizza and pasta, and if you go to IofA, SKIP THIS PLACE!!! I got the chicken alfredo, and it was bland. So, we ate, and then went to get on the Hulk, but the wait was outrageous!!! So, we decided to check out the store, and hop to the other park. It was about noon at this point. Next up, the Universal side!!!

 

[pinkxray]

The stroller looks like a great find and I love that Lilo outfit. Caitlin went through a huge Lilo and Stitch phase and I could never find her any clothes with Lilo on them.

IOA looks so empty. I know everyone is checking out WWOHP but don't they check out the other parks of the park too?

The food at IOA stinks! I really want to try somewhere on Citywalk next trip, I hate wasting money on bad food.

 

[bouncycat]

The stroller looks like a great find and I love that Lilo outfit. Caitlin went through a huge Lilo and Stitch phase and I could never find her any clothes with Lilo on them.

IOA looks so empty. I know everyone is checking out WWOHP but don't they check out the other parks of the park too?

The food at IOA stinks! I really want to try somewhere on Citywalk next trip, I hate wasting money on bad food.

The rest was empty until right after lunch, then the people came LOL The Universal side was busy too, then the kids started complaining....so we left kinda early. It's great to come and go as you want when you have AP's, but for some reason, when I pay for only a day....I feel like I gotta be there ALL day to get my money's worth. I'm wierd like that I guess!!!

I'm like that with food too!!! HATE bad food. The chicken had the texture of tuna fish, I like tuna fish, but NOT in my CHICKEN alfredo!!! LOL I gotta take pictures of the new shirts Tyler got, and I guess we're going to either MK or AK tomorrow with Chris's GM2 and her 2 kids, they're the same ages as Sara and Andrew, so we'll try out the new stroller!!!! I'll take pictures there too, no worries!!!

 

[bouncycat]

So.....where was I? Oh yea, we left IofA after riding the Cat in the Hat, I LOVE that ride, it's so Disneyesque!! We headed over to the Universal side, and went to the Horror and makeup show. We LOVE that show!!! got a couple pictures waiting for it, they had monster movie memorabilia and stuff, and I wanted to get the kids with their wands.

Tyler with his wand

Chris being silly!!

Sami with her wand!!

and me in my chair!!!

So after the show, Sami decides she's hungry, so they go to eat. Chris and Tyler and I went to starbucks!!

So after all that, we met back up, and headed towards the Mummy ride. We like that ride too!!! After that, we got some more pictures

we next headed towards the Jaws ride, but figured it was too cold to ride, you don't get super wet on that ride, but enough to not want to ride!! LOL So, we played some of the carnival games, and Chris got these!!

Sami's a HUGE Pikachu fan, so she was extremely happy!!!

After that, we decided that MIB and Simpsons lines were too long, I can't ride the simpsons anyways, so we headed towards ET. We rode ET, got the front row!! Don't think I've ever been in the front in that ride, but it was cool. After that, we went to the toon store, to see if they had any snoopy stuff, since I couldn't win a little bean bag thing, and they didn't, but Chris did try on a Woody Woodpecker hat!!!

After that we headed to some shops, and then out. On the way out, we see the Bubba Gump Shrimp guy!!!

and got Tyler playing with the Minion on the moving sidewalk.

And for me......well, I got a Pigmy Puff!!!! This thing is SOOOO cute, and FLUFFY!!!!!! His name is Nermal!!!

Brought him home, and the cat has adopted him!!!! LOL

Anyways, that was our universal trip, great day, little chilly, and lots of fun!!! I like universal, but I don't think we'll be back for a while. It's one of those parks where it's nice to visit once a year or so LOL

 

[pinkxray]

Love the update

The last few times we went to US/IOA we barely spent any time on the US side. I am hoping to spend a little more time over there this time. I have never been on any of the rides in the Dr. Suess section. I was hoping since Caitlin was with us last year I would finally get to check them out, but she wanted nothing to do with them. We ended up riding the Jurassic Park ride 100 times.

I love the stuffed Minion. I hope they are still there when we go.

 

[bouncycat]

The minion is cool. I saw someone with one, and had to have one!! It was at the sledge hammer game, where you gotta ring the bell. Chris got the Pikachu there too.

Guess what I found at World of Disney today???????

A TIGGER PILLOW PET!!!!!!! WOOOOHOOOOOOO

Yes, I bought him, yes I took a picture, will upload those and the ones for the weekend tomorrow morning!! Did some more shopping today, so will put all them up too!!!

 

[bouncycat]

Alright, a few things to for today.....first of all SINGLE DIGITS!!!! and the second, just found out that Chris's nephew will join us on this trip, I asked him before Christmas, and hadn't gotten a reply, so now, he's coming!!! He's 19, and has had a rough year, and we haven't seen him since he was probably Tyler's age, so this is REALLY exciting for us!!!!

 

[pinkxray]

Alright, a few things to for today.....first of all SINGLE DIGITS!!!! and the second, just found out that Chris's nephew will join us on this trip, I asked him before Christmas, and hadn't gotten a reply, so now, he's coming!!! He's 19, and has had a rough year, and we haven't seen him since he was probably Tyler's age, so this is REALLY exciting for us!!!!

SINGLE DIGITS!!!!



Glad to hear about the nephew. Sounds like a fun family reunion. Sounds like he could use the vacation!

 

[bouncycat]

I'm glad he's coming too Pink! So excited!!! He's got the easy part, he gets to fly down!! LOL I got pictures of the Star Wars shirts I got, now just gotta post them. And we spent a saturday over there with Chris's GM2 and her 2 kids, that was fun, found that the stroller works GREAT! I got a parent organizer and a rain cover for it. We went and saw FOLK at AK and came out, it had rained! The seat was wet, so that's when I figured I'd need a rain cover LOL

 

[bouncycat]

All right, gonna update some of the shopping that I've done!!! I have gotten a aparent organizer and a rain cover for the stroller, so that's done. I took inventory of everything I've gotten, and Chris has cut me off with the exception of beach towels!! So, gonna show ya'll our Star Wars shirts!!! I didn't get Sara one, they didn't have any cute girlie ones that small, so maybe that's the day she'll wear her M&M shirt LOL Anyways....the Shirts!!!

Andrew's

Jon's

Tyler's

Amanda's

Mine

and Chris's

I got the boys both one of these mini lighsabre kits, Tyler had a FIT that he couldn't have his right away, but me and Amanda BOTH said it would be something nice for the boys to do together.

Andrew's Yoda backpack, this thing cost a small fortune!!! But, Great Nephews are for sure worth it!!!

And of course my Tigger pillow pet. I totally this thing!!! I have to sleep hugging a pillow to keep my shoulders from drooping, and he works PERFECTLY!!!!!!!!

So, we're in the 80's now, Amanda has made room in the car for Matthew, so he's riding with them, the $ for their tickets is on the way, so should get those this week sometime, taxes are filed, so when that $ comes in, the trip will be paid in full!!!!

 

[bouncycat]

Tyler finally picked out his shirts, I told him he needed 3 more, so we went to Epcot and he found these!!

He also has his SW shirt, and his MINE shirt that we'll take. I had to get him Adult Small sizes!!! My boy is getting TOO big!!!! I also got Amanda a photo album.

They don't get to go all the time, so I figured one with the year on it will be perfect for them. I'm gonna pre-order the photopass here soon too. I think that'll be neat to do with all the characters and such. I also told our agent not to worry about trying to get BLT anymore, since Matthew is coming, the treehouse will be perfect for everyone and sleeping arrangements. We'll just have to make due with the transportation aspect of it all. Anyways, hope everyone has a wonderful long weekend!!!