It’s Not Christmas Till We Visit The Mouse! Dec. 2006

[PrincessV]

In an effort to aid new readers, (am I being overly optimistic??), below, you will find a guide to the various installments of this report. I make no guarantees of accuracy, but assure you my intent is only of the highest calibre. These may or may not someday link to the actual installments. Again, I may be being overly optimistic.

PRE-TRIP REPORTING:
Background: you are here, just keep reading.
Introductions, Part 1: keep scrolling, it's on Pg. 1, too.
Introductions, Part 2: Pg. 2, #17
Introductions, Part 3: Pg. 2, #24
Planning, Step 1 - The Hotel: Pg. 3, #36
Planning, Step 2: The Food? Not so fast: Pg. 4, #52
Breaking News Alert: Pg. 5, #72
Planning, Step 3: What to do, what to do….. : Pg. 6, #86
Planning, Step 4: A Pre-Trip Mission (or the TR within the TR): Pg. 7, #97
Planning, Step 5: Bringing It All Together (Or, Revisions, Revisions, Revisions) : Pg. 8, #117
Planning, Step 6: Packing and Final Preparations : Pg. 9, #132

THE TRIP REPORT BEGINS:
Everybody neat and pretty? On with the show! : Pg. 11, #154
Paradise By the Glow Cube's Light: Pg. 12, #168
Where Fantasies Become Real: Pg.13, #188
Jungle Cruise, Part Deux: Pg. 15, #223
Wild Animals... And Guests, Too!: Pg. 16, #239
Survival of the Fittest, or Dinner at Boma: Pg. 19, #273
Mommy, what's that smell?!?!: Pg. 20, #292
I See Lime Green People!: Pg. 22, #326
A Break From the Action: Pg. 23, #331
Time to PARTY!: Pg. 25, #365
Do a Little Dance, Make a Robot, Get Down Tonight: Pg. 27, #399
All Good Things Must Come to an End. But Not Yet: Pg. 29, #425
The Reamins fo the Day: Pg. 31, #459

ASIDE: As I'm listing these installments, it occurs to me it's an awfully long list for a TR that, up until today, hadn't really begun. Please accept my asurances that these are all really short reads and you shall not be inconvenienced in your DISing at all. Thank you for your support.


To paraphrase the Grateful Dead, One trip report done and another begun and I wonder how many words… I’ve just finished up my final thoughts of a quick, September weekend at The World (that took 10 pages to tell ) and it’s time to fully focus on our great big December adventure! Which I’ve been planning since May, but this should come as no surprise to any DISer worth his ears, right?

Is it time for the background story? Cue lights and backward time-travel effects……..

I touched on this a bit in my first report, but I think it’s even more a part of this report. WDW was a huge part of my former marriage – it was not a particularly happy marriage, but Disney was our “happy place” and we went often to escape life and blow off steam. Our first Christmas together was spent at Epcot and we returned to The World to kick off the holidays every year after that, each trip a bit longer in duration and each hotel a bit nicer than the year before. (Yes, we were even “off-site” people for several years.) When we decided to add a child to our family, we knew Holidays Disney-Style would be a tradition we’d continue with him and our DS made his first December trek in 2002. Shortly after that trip, not-so-DH walked out in a most un-Disney way and we divorced six months later. I was still reeling by the time December rolled around again, and wasn’t at all sure I could handle a trip to WDW, though I very much wanted to continue the tradition for my DS. My mother, never a Disney fan, encouraged me to go and even offered to join us. My best friend since sixth grade and her family joined us, as well, and that trip was some of the best therapy I received! And I’ve returned for Holidays Disney-Style in 2004 and 2005 with my DS and DM.

Hindsight is 20/20, you know, and in retrospect, not-so-DH leaving was the best thing that could have happened to me. After nine years of trying to be someone else for him, I’ve finally found myself again and am really living life rather than merely existing. All of this to say that WDW is still my happy place and, amazingly, holds no sorrowful memories at all. Thank you Mickey!

So it is now October, and the holidays are within sight. Plans have been made, (Yes, of course I’ll be detailing those in a future installment. Heck, I just shared all this personal background information with a group of strangers – you don’t really think I’ll gloss over any trip details, do you?!), time requested off from work and we’re in the home stretch.

If I haven’t lost you yet, good reader, please join me as I unveil… da da da dum de dum…. The Pre-Trip Planning report! (coming soon to a trip report board near you)

 

[Lauralee131]

To paraphrase the Grateful Dead, One trip report done and another begun and I wonder how many words… I’ve just finished up my final thoughts of a quick, September weekend at The World (that took 10 pages to tell ) and it’s time to fully focus on our great big December adventure! Which I’ve been planning since May, but this should come as no surprise to any DISer worth his ears, right?

Is it time for the background story? Cue lights and backward time-travel effects……..

I touched on this a bit in my first report, but I think it’s even more a part of this report. WDW was a huge part of my former marriage – it was not a particularly happy marriage, but Disney was our “happy place” and we went often to escape life and blow off steam. Our first Christmas together was spent at Epcot and we returned to The World to kick off the holidays every year after that, each trip a bit longer in duration and each hotel a bit nicer than the year before. (Yes, we were even “off-site” people for several years.) When we decided to add a child to our family, we knew Holidays Disney-Style would be a tradition we’d continue with him and our DS made his first December trek in 2002. Shortly after that trip, not-so-DH walked out in a most un-Disney way and we divorced six months later. I was still reeling by the time December rolled around again, and wasn’t at all sure I could handle a trip to WDW, though I very much wanted to continue the tradition for my DS. My mother, never a Disney fan, encouraged me to go and even offered to join us. My best friend since sixth grade and her family joined us, as well, and that trip was some of the best therapy I received! And I’ve returned for Holidays Disney-Style in 2004 and 2005 with my DS and DM.

Hindsight is 20/20, you know, and in retrospect, not-so-DH leaving was the best thing that could have happened to me. After nine years of trying to be someone else for him, I’ve finally found myself again and am really living life rather than merely existing. All of this to say that WDW is still my happy place and, amazingly, holds no sorrowful memories at all. Thank you Mickey!

So it is now October, and the holidays are within sight. Plans have been made, (Yes, of course I’ll be detailing those in a future installment. Heck, I just shared all this personal background information with a group of strangers – you don’t really think I’ll gloss over any trip details, do you?!), time requested off from work and we’re in the home stretch.

If I haven’t lost you yet, good reader, please join me as I unveil… da da da dum de dum…. The Pre-Trip Planning report! (coming soon to a trip report board near you)

YAY!!! You're back! And I'm the first!! Here's some hugs for sharing your story with us...I look forward to reading your future pre-trip report as you had me hooked with Where's the Lime? Hopefully I'll see you in December!! Then at least we'd be guaranteed at least ONE lime sighting!!!

 

[lexmelinda]

V....may I call you that?...just finished "Where's the Lime?" and loved it. Glad Leo is loving the coasters and thanks for the tips. Followed the link to the pre-trip. Thanks for sharing....Disney World as therapy?!....I like it and agree with you. Can't wait to hear more about your planning for the Dec. trip. I'm already plotting/planning/figuring out a way to afford a trip for next September but will have to live vicariously through my DIS friends til then......

 

[Jacky]

Signing up so I won't miss anything. LOL. We will be there 12/12 thru 12/17. Hope there is at least a little overlap.

So glad you are doing well and are learning to be yourself again. I have been divorced myself, so I know of what you speak.

My ex couldn't keep his pants on---(except around me) but thats another story

Jacky

 

[PrincessV]

YAY!!! You're back! And I'm the first!! Here's some hugs for sharing your story with us...I look forward to reading your future pre-trip report as you had me hooked with Where's the Lime? Hopefully I'll see you in December!! Then at least we'd be guaranteed at least ONE lime sighting!!!

Awww, thank you! No better way to start than with hugs!
Yes, I'm thinking my previous plan of waering some lime and hoping a DISer finds me, or I find them, in a crowd of 40,000 may not be all that effective. My NEW plan is to post the itinerary plenty of time ahead and see if maybe I'll be in the same place at the same time as some DIS folks! There are already a couple lists going - one for the first week pf Dec. and one for ADR's. Let me see if I can find their links and pass them along...

 

[PrincessV]

V....may I call you that?...just finished "Where's the Lime?" and loved it. Glad Leo is loving the coasters and thanks for the tips. Followed the link to the pre-trip. Thanks for sharing....Disney World as therapy?!....I like it and agree with you. Can't wait to hear more about your planning for the Dec. trip. I'm already plotting/planning/figuring out a way to afford a trip for next September but will have to live vicariously through my DIS friends til then......

Absolutely, please feel free to call me V! Yep, I've often referred to my day-trips as "Mouse Therapy"! Unfortunately, since I started back with schooling, the day trips are almost non-existent anymore. But now I've got DIS Therapy
Thanks for signing up for what may or may not be a fun TR!

 

[PrincessV]

Signing up so I won't miss anything. LOL. We will be there 12/12 thru 12/17. Hope there is at least a little overlap.

So glad you are doing well and are learning to be yourself again. I have been divorced myself, so I know of what you speak.

My ex couldn't keep his pants on---(except around me) but thats another story

Jacky

LOL! I hear ya' - nothing like a good divorce to clear the cobwebs from your mind, right?!

I'm sorry to say we'll have departed by the time your trip starts. But the upside is my real TR should be started before you go! Thanks for signing up!

 

[Lauralee131]

Awww, thank you! No better way to start than with hugs!
Yes, I'm thinking my previous plan of waering some lime and hoping a DISer finds me, or I find them, in a crowd of 40,000 may not be all that effective. My NEW plan is to post the itinerary plenty of time ahead and see if maybe I'll be in the same place at the same time as some DIS folks! There are already a couple lists going - one for the first week pf Dec. and one for ADR's. Let me see if I can find their links and pass them along...

Have you made any ADR's yet? I haven't - shame on me! The only things I've booked so far are the MVMCP for the 5th and LaNouba for the 6th - Maybe we should try and meet up somewhere fun...I'm sure the boys would love to play together and they're only a year apart right, is Leo 4? Michael just turned 5 about a month ago...

Hmmm...I haven't seen the ADR thread anywhere before...I'll do a search this evening. I have seen the first week of December list...I'll keep looking...Chat at ya later!!

 

[OhMari]

Your ending is funny

The Pre-Trip Planning report! (coming soon to a trip report board near you)

Now I'm going to go find your TR that is completed. I've seen, it but I haven't read it yet.

 

[PrincessV]

Your ending is funny

Now I'm going to go find your TR that is completed. I've seen, it but I haven't read it yet.

Thanks! "Coming soon" can generally be translated into "you'll see more when I get around to writing it, but I sorta, kinda have an idea as to what it'll be about." For everyone's future reference

 

[PrincessV]

Have you made any ADR's yet? I haven't - shame on me! The only things I've booked so far are the MVMCP for the 5th and LaNouba for the 6th - Maybe we should try and meet up somewhere fun...I'm sure the boys would love to play together and they're only a year apart right, is Leo 4? Michael just turned 5 about a month ago...

Hmmm...I haven't seen the ADR thread anywhere before...I'll do a search this evening. I have seen the first week of December list...I'll keep looking...Chat at ya later!!

I've got my ADR's and, in fact made some new ones just a couple days ago, so there are still openings! Here's the link to Dec. ADR's: Who's Eating Where in Dec.? Mine are probably all worng, since I jsut changd 'em.
Let's see if we'll be anywhere at the same time - I'll have an itinerary posted soonish!

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

Ohhhh weeeeee! Another report from sweet PrincessV!
Looky there..... I rhymed!

Ok, I'm all ears, sitting on pins and needles waiting for the next installment. You don't go until Dec, so this will keep me busy through the holidays and then some!

Looking forward to your many adventures with Little Leo! Pre-schoolers can be unpredictable, eh?

 

[PrincessV]

Ohhhh weeeeee! Another report from sweet PrincessV!
Looky there..... I rhymed!

Ok, I'm all ears, sitting on pins and needles waiting for the next installment. You don't go until Dec, so this will keep me busy through the holidays and then some!

Looking forward to your many adventures with Little Leo! Pre-schoolers can be unpredictable, eh?

Yay! Thanks for joining me in yet another crazy adventure! I missed you already

Sure, pre-schoolers are unpredictable, but Mothers are a whole other ball of wax! I guarantee this will be fun - and if it isn't, I'll just make stuff up to be fun! (In case anyone took that seriously - NEVER! I'm a journalist, for goodness sakes. Facts only. Okay, maybe an infinitessinal amount of embellishment...)

 

[PrincessV]

Sorry - the Planning phase is coming, but I think we really must introduce the characters first, so as to fully understand the method behind the madness that is my planning.

First up: PrincessV - that's me! I looooove the winter holidays! The Christmas carols, midnight masses and living nativities; the menorahs, latkes and dreidels; the pagan-ish trees, wreaths, and lights - I LOVE the holidays! If you haven't guessed, I've got my toes in many different customs, and that's the way I like it. I wasn't raised in any religion, so Christmas was pretty much about the tree, presents, and watching my Mom spar with her Grandma for three days. My Dad's family is Italian Catholic, as are several close friends, so I got to experience the pagentry and customs of the religious side of the holidays growing up, too. My best friend since 6th grade is Jewish, as is my step mother and her family, so I sometimes get to celebrate with them, as well. LOVE all of them! Right up until Dec. 25th. That's when the rampant consumerism and emphasis on over-indulging finally gets to me and I want to sulk for a week. But this trip will be over looong before then. And I never feel like the holidays have really started until we've visited The Mouse for the Disney version of the holidays. Which, of course, is why we're here. On this trip report. Waiting for me to say something witty, or at least get on with the story.

Bygones. Who's next?

 

[lexmelinda]

rampant consumerism and emphasis on over-indulging

That's what we call "wretched excess" here at our house....as in, "How was your Christmas?"...."Wretched excess. Thanks for asking."

 

[PrincessV]

That's what we call "wretched excess" here at our house....as in, "How was your Christmas?"...."Wretched excess. Thanks for asking."

I love that! Perfectly explanatory

 

[PrincessV]

DS4 – who has adopted the alias of Leo for his portrayal in the DISboards. Leo’s still learning about all the holidays have to offer, so I’ll base his introduction on last year. He definitely loooves the lights, hates Mommy’s singing of carols. Especially in the car. Mommy's singing, I mean, not the lights. Lights in the car are OK. A big fan of making and consuming cookies, but not big on traditional dinner items such as turkey or potatoes. (Neither am I, actually, which is why we’ll be celebrating our Italian roots this year with a giant Christmas LASAGNA.) Definitely not into shopping for gifts to give, but very much enjoyed opening the ones he got. Go figure. Thinks having a tree in the house for 4 weeks is beyond cool. Leo’s never seen snow and thinks the soap bubbles at MGM are the real deal. Flame away – Leo knows Santa as a pretend character in stories, jut like Thomas, Clifford and Little Einsteins. He gets excited to see him anyway. Go figure. Leo also knows that an integral part of our holidays is that several night trip to The Mouse. Which is why we’re here, writing and reading this TR! Next…

 

[sharkB8HooHaHa]

V, you are speedy! I've been back 3 weeks and have barely left the driveway in my TR and you are on to your next trip. I am in awe. I, too, am a winter holiday kind of gal. And I'd take bubbles in MGM over real snow ANY DAY!

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

Yippeeee!! I'm first, I'm first!!

Ok, what was I going to "say"????

All I have to say is "MMmmmmmm!! Christmas Lasagna...can I come over?

Wait a second, you mean the bubbles at MGM aren't the real deal?


Doh!!!! I'm NOT first!!

 

[Eeyore's Tiara]

Hey Princess V I was looking for someone elses pretrip and found yours. I didn't know you had started one over here. I can't wait to see what happens on this trip!

I do have a question for some of those going in December. Is something special going on the first week of December? I noticed a lot of people going at that time....