It's My Birthday and I'll Go to Disney if I Want To! **NEW 6/23 p.8 Sick and Sicker**

[Wonders10]

We want to do it ALL in NYC, too !! I am thinking it will be a few years from now, though. She is 14 now and I want her to be able to "appreciate" what it has to offer besides all the cool shoe stores. She wants to be a designer; fashion, interior, whatever. She is really into Art History so she is leaning towards majoring in that so she can studay abroad.

Brandon got me the Serendipity3 frozen hot chocolate kit for a stocking stuffer, and I would wait 2 hours for the "real" thing, too I want to eat there as well, it's all about the food with me, too. Their website sells a few things from there if you didn't pick anything up on your trip, but you probably already knew that.

Can't wait to hear more plans for your trip in June. I think I'm going to surprise Caylin with tea at the GF for our trip in Sept., she knows about the trip, so I have to plan a few surprises for it.

Oh I forgot, we went to the Museum of Natural History as well and got very lost in Central Park. Must have walked in there for over an hour trying to cut across only to come out the same way we came in .

I did the GF Tea with my mom and then 3 yr old niece. It was a lot of fun! I'm not big into the tea sandwiches (some were ok, its just not my type of food), but the tea and desserts would be enough for me. Definitely look into it!

 

[dizchick]

Hi Shannon...I'm still loving your trip report! I think planning is half the fun!
That's awesome that we were both down there on CP at the same time. I worked at Animal Kingdom in Merchandise, but also I worked at Epcot during the Food and Wine Festival in the main merchandise tent next to Mexico (I'm not sure if they still have this tent or not during the festival). I absolutely loved being on the CP! I still keep in touch w/ my roommates from down there! Were you in Vista or Chatham...I was in Chatham.

 

[mlill]

Hi Shannon! Great start to your TR! Congrats on booking your resort - I think I had that CM when I booked my October trip a few weeks ago. Kinda reminded me of that turtle in the Comcast commercials...

Can't wait to read more!

Take care,
Michelle

 

[Wonders10]

Hi Shannon...I'm still loving your trip report! I think planning is half the fun!
That's awesome that we were both down there on CP at the same time. I worked at Animal Kingdom in Merchandise, but also I worked at Epcot during the Food and Wine Festival in the main merchandise tent next to Mexico (I'm not sure if they still have this tent or not during the festival). I absolutely loved being on the CP! I still keep in touch w/ my roommates from down there! Were you in Vista or Chatham...I was in Chatham.

Planning is definitely one of the best parts for me. Sometimes I feel a little let down when it is all over. But not for too long! I was at Vista and I have also kept in tough with 2 of my roommates. I have seen one of them since then, but I'm working really hard at convincing them they need to come to Orlando and visit me! One of my other roomies worked Food and Wine at the food booths. I loved it too. I am constantly wishing I could go back in time and keep re-doing those 7 months!

Hi Shannon! Great start to your TR! Congrats on booking your resort - I think I had that CM when I booked my October trip a few weeks ago. Kinda reminded me of that turtle in the Comcast commercials...

Can't wait to read more!

Take care,
Michelle

Wow I'm so excited you're reading my TR! I have been reading your Christmas TR and it. Thanks for stopping by!

I have been super busy this weekend and not really up for updating. BUT I have a few things to get posted this week. So don't go away just yet!

 

[Wonders10]

Thursday March 8, 2007:

I forgot to mention my baby. My furbaby that is. A standard poodle. Unfortunately she isn’t allowed to come to WDW with us and share in all the fun. I bet she would really love it though! I could just see her - paws in the air, ears flapping in the wind on Thunder Mountain. Enjoying a steak dinner at Le Cellier...ruf medium rare please ruf.

So Phoebe gets to go on her own little vacation to a Pet Lodge where she can play with other dogs (i.e. chase and bark at them), swim in the “pool” (more like put one paw in and run the other way - aren't poodles "water dogs"?) and sleep in air conditioned comfort (not that we don't have AC at home, but you know what I mean). I totally trust them and don’t have any doubts that she is safe and happy while we are away. BUT I do miss her and think of her a lot. Especially when she gives that sad look as she is being escorted to her room for the weekend. This makes me feel reeeeaaallllyyy guilty for leaving her:

But then I try to remember all the craziness that I will not have to deal with for a few days. Like this:

This was almost our Christmas Card a couple years ago.

So I will be making those ressies for her shortly. And only feel a little bit guilty about it.

Thanks for staying with me!

 

[PrincessV]

Oh my, that face! They really know how to work the guilt, no?! What a beautiful dog - I've always wanted a standard poodle.

 

[dance2874]

Great pre-trip report so far! I love reading about everyone trips and planning. I totally planned to write a trip report on our trip in Sept but I didnt take very good notes of what we did. I think it would be more of a fictional story then truth at this point.

 

[Wonders10]

Oh my, that face! They really know how to work the guilt, no?! What a beautiful dog - I've always wanted a standard poodle.

Thanks! Yes she knows when to turn it on alright. She may weigh 50 lbs but she acts like a little 5 lb baby!

Great pre-trip report so far! I love reading about everyone trips and planning. I totally planned to write a trip report on our trip in Sept but I didnt take very good notes of what we did. I think it would be more of a fictional story then truth at this point.

Thanks for reading my trippie! I love reading others' TR's too, but writing your own is definitely different. The hardest part will be taking good notes and pics while there to make writing the actual TR easier. That and me getting over the Disney Blues and feeling up to writing it. I usually can't be around anything Disney for at least a week once I get back to reality because I just get so "homesick".

I'll try to post a mini-planning update tomorrow night after class!

 

[duncanssweetie]

Shannon, I love your doggy !!! Ours are going on vacation while we are gone too.

 

[Wonders10]

Shannon, I love your doggy !!! Ours are going on vacation while we are gone too.

Thanks - I think she is a cutie too!

Also, I just remembered a NYC store that you have to go to when you go with your DD. If you go to Serendipity, there is a HUGE candy shop called Dylan's Candy Bar. It's 2 or 3 stories of pure candy goodness. I actually think parts of the new Willy Wonka were filmed there or something like that. Anyway, it is just a very short walk down from Serendipity so you should check it out even if you only like sweets a little.

 

[Wonders10]

Friday March 9, 2007:

My mom and I aren’t too jazzed about the dessert options at Le Cellier. We like our chocolate and nothing on the menu has chocolate in it that I could see.

Do they give the birthday girl a special dessert? Is it the sicky-sweet cupcake that my niece had at the Crystal Palace? Now I am a girl that could live off candy and cake and even this cupcake was too much for me.

Anywho, now I’m going to look at the special birthday cakes that you can order and decide if it is worth it….



Whew – I have looked through that giant birthday cake thread and I am thoroughly confused.

The problem is that the cakes feed so many and it is just the 2 of us. I know I could spread the pixie dust and offer cake to my dining neighbors, but they may not take me up on it. Also, how would we get it back to the resort for midnight munchies? Do you think they would box it up for us? And the cheap 6-inch cake? How is that? A lot of posters seem to think it’s not so great and tastes frozen. I don’t need gourmet, but I do not want to eat ice crystals with my cake thank you very much.

So many questions and decisions to be made. I guess I will have to just call Le Cellier and see what they have to say. Maybe they will think of something that I haven’t thought of yet. I may call and talk with them, but I probably won’t order anything until it gets closer to the actual trip.

Thanks for staying with me!

 

[Wonders10]

Saturday March 10, 2007:

My mom is no help at all in planning WDW trips. I was showing her some pictures of the food at Le Cellier in the hopes of getting her really excited. Well she definitely seems excited about this dinner. But…

“Mom, do you want to do a Fireworks cruise?”
“No, waste of money” (I sort of agree but I would really love to do one someday)



“How about any special tours?”
“nope”



“How about anything that I always talk you out of doing because I don’t want to do it?”
“No I’ve tried almost everything I wanted to do”



“Okay, what park do you want to go to (besides Epcot for dinner)?”
“I don’t really care. Whichever.”



I’ll tell you what though. She is wearing that birthday button if I have to glue it to her forehead! (That's her forehead after I glue the button to it )

2 updates in a row! I know not much, but I have been sooooooo busy. But still, thanks for reading!

 

[duncanssweetie]

Thanks - I think she is a cutie too!

Also, I just remembered a NYC store that you have to go to when you go with your DD. If you go to Serendipity, there is a HUGE candy shop called Dylan's Candy Bar. It's 2 or 3 stories of pure candy goodness. I actually think parts of the new Willy Wonka were filmed there or something like that. Anyway, it is just a very short walk down from Serendipity so you should check it out even if you only like sweets a little.

I know the candy store you are talkng about. It was featured on a Food Network show. I think Ralph Lauren's daughter owns it. We are definitly going to check it out. I would love to take her dinner at Tavern on the Green. A friend of mine from HS has some "connections" and told me that she could get us reservations along with a carriage ride through the park. She's getting a surprise trip this Summer. Check out my trip report for a little hint as to where it will be. She is going to FLIP

 

[Wonders10]

Sunday March 11, 2007:

My mom and I attended a christening today. It was for my DSIL’s sister’s daughter.

Go ahead and re-read if you need to. I’ll wait.

Maybe this will help. My DB’s DSIL’s daughter. Is that more clear?

Either way, we spent time with DB and family, and the Disney Birthday Weekend came up. DB said that they will be out of town and would we like to move the trip to September so that the kids can go?

Ummm, no.
We sort of booked it because you were going to be out of town.

Truth be told. I am no dummy. And neither is my mom. DB thinks that if mom and I go now, he will lose out on his one weekend or so a year that we take the kids away from him and the Mrs. for a few days.

Clearly he does not realize that we would be more than willing to go in June and again with them in September.

But he has never gotten our love of the Mouse. It has gotten better over the years like I mentioned earlier, but he still doesn’t get it. And he probably never will. C’est la vie.

So any way you slice it, it will officially be just mom and I on this trip.

The bad part of this is that I really do miss having my niece and nephew with us. It truly is magical sharing Disney with a child.

The good part is that we can eat wherever we want – and when we want, we get places 10x faster, we can stay out later, we can go on all the “big” rides that we always skip when the kids are around, and we don’t have to pack the eagle eyes.

So forget the kids...I'm going to Disney World!



***Just read that the Haunted Mansion will be closed during our trip! This is my most favorite ride! Rats!***

 

[DisneyJo]

My mom and I attended a christening today. It was for my DSIL’s sister’s daughter.

Go ahead and re-read if you need to. I’ll wait.

Maybe this will help. My DB’s DSIL’s daughter. Is that more clear?

Oh much better

The good part is that we can eat wherever we want – and when we want, we get places 10x faster, we can stay out later, we can go on all the “big” rides that we always skip when the kids are around, and we don’t have to pack the eagle eyes.

You could do Adventurers club and Adult things, not that I've ever done any

***Just read that the Haunted Mansion will be closed during our trip! This is my most favorite ride! Rats!***

Never mind it means you'll definately have to do another trip

 

[Wonders10]

Monday March 12, 2007:

I’ve been going on and on and I realized I never formally introduced the cast. So here it goes:

Me: Shannon, age 26 (will be 27 end of May). Professional Student. Better be finished with her Masters Degree by next April or she will go insane. Has loved Disney since her first real trip that she could remember which was when she was about 12 or 13. Stayed at the Grosvenor near Downtown Disney and had a great time. Has continued to go to WDW every year since then, sometimes 2 or 3 times a year. Favorite resort is the Poly but 2nd favorite resort is POR. It’d probably be easier to name all the resorts I have NOT stayed at: GF, Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, Yacht and Beach Club, and Animal Kingdom Lodge. I think that’s it, but I could be missing one. I don’t have a favorite character really. But for some reason I get really excited when I see Chip and Dale (not the Chippendales ) so if I had to pick a favorite, I’d pick them. Favorite rides are Haunted Mansion, Soarin’, Rock-N-Roller Coaster, Everest, POC, Soarin’, and all the rides that every other non-Disney obsessed people hate like the People Mover (TTA), Spaceship Earth, or Mexico’s River of 70’s-themed time.

Mom: Going to be 60! I’m sure she is loving that I keep sharing that with everyone. Works for a police department and has done so for about 28 years or so. She’s not a police officer though (Dad and DB were/are though). She works in administration. She is a divorced, single mom of 2 since I was just a baby and did a great job if I do say so myself. Always puts others needs or wants before her own. Too generous and kind for words, really. Like me, has no favorite character, but when probed she will say Goofy. Not sure why really, but that’s what she said. Has accompanied me on just about all of my WDW adventures. Definitely loves it and enjoys it, but not as enamored or obsessed with it as I am. That’s ok though. She is obsessed enough to go with me every year. Favorite rides include Tower of Terror (#1 all time fave), Rock-N-Roller Coaster, Everest, Buzz Lightyear, TTA, and Soarin’.

Phoebe: 3 years old. Loves balls, shoes, massages and belly rubs, blankets, laps, walks, Pirate’s Booty, kids, adults, senior citizens, riding in the car, strawberries, peanut butter on saltines, toilet paper, barking at nothing outside the window, playing hide and seek, playing Tag, Wendy’s Hamburgers, and Ritter’s vanilla frozen custard. Does not love time outs, being left alone for the day, going to the groomers. (Even though she is not going on the trip with us, I mention her because I feel like I talk about her a lot. Just want you all to be in the know!)

So there is the crew! Hope you will keep reading now that you have clearer pictures of us

Thanks for reading and sticking with me!

 

[DisneyJo]

Shannon you are so pretty and your Mum is too and what can I say about your baby!!!!!

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

Another Gemini jumping on board! I'm June 6th, though! My MIL was June 9th, she's since passed, though.

I do hope you complete this trip report, as I am really enjoying this read. You and your mom are "hot chicks" and your furbaby is adorable!

Personally, I really enjoy the planning stages of the trip. Nothing like changing your ADR's 6 times before you leave, eh?

Can't wait to read more!

 

[sunlver]

I am enjoying your pre trip report We are going again in Mid June with the 3 kids. I would love to live in Florida and be only 3 hours away.

My parents live in South Florida now(Coconut creek)and they are not the Disney lovers I am. I honestly do not know where or whom I got it from. Lucky for my kids though, I do have the Disney lover in me, and in turn they get to benefit from it

Looking forward to reading more about your trip.

 

[daisy_77]

I am just getting caught up!
I love your little poodle, Phoebe! What a doll!

I am enjoying your Pretrippie! I look forward to more!