January 2009. . . Calling all Snowbirds ~ Part I !!!

[BellaSoleil]

Any ideas??? Anyone???

Bella...Shelly...don't let me down!

SSTI- sounds very official.

 

[sharadoc]

I'm gonna have to tell you what I tell my kids - I can't understand you when you whine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You want some cheese with that w(h)ine???

My acceptance speech:

I wouldn't be here in the Top 10 if it wasn't for the love and support of ALL of the Snowbirds!! I won't name them because I know I'll forget someone, but I just need to specially thank Shelly! Without her, none of us would be what we are today:

CRAZY, OUT OF CONTROL SNOWBIRDS WHO DON'T KNOW HOW (OR WANT)TO SHUT UP!!!!!

Music plays, Sharon gets dragged away from the microphone crying with joy

 

[trixiequilts]

That was so funny, Sharon! I've always wanted to do an acceptance speech...never won anything, though.

 

[trixiequilts]

You need to have a top-secret informant-type nickname, hmm...

Hmm. . . Gillettes is our Secret Snowbird Target Informer!!!

SSTI- sounds very official.

See, I knew you two wouldn't let me down! Gillettes is our awesome SSTI!

Thanks, Gillettes!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

QOTD - This will be MY 4th trip to disney! For my DH and DD's it will be their FIRST TIME! Let's see if I can remember the details........

1st trip - October 1988 - I was 12! We stayed at a maingate motel somewhere on I-Drive! We did MK for one day and then Epcot for 2 days and then went to the beach @ St. Pete's near Tampa for 5 days!

2nd Trip - March 1991 - I was almost 15! This was a extended family trip back before they did GG's! My family (me, sis, M& D) and my aunt, uncle (Dads bro) and 2 little cousins who were at the time 5&8. We stayed at CBR! I am not positive but I think we were in the Jamaica section! We did MK for 1.5 days, Epcot for 2 days, and MGM studios for a day! I am pretty sure we also did Typhoon Lagoon for a day! Then we went back down to the beach again at St. Pete's and did Busch Gardens!

3rd Trip - March 1994 - I was 17 and this time my sister and I each were allowed to bring a friend! We flew right into Orlando this time (other times we flew into Tampa) and stayed for 12 funfilled nights at the Embassy Suites in LBV. We did 1 day at MK, 2 days at Epcot, 1 day at MGM 1 day at Universal, did a day at the beach @ Daytona drove down to Tampa for the day to do Busch Gardens and did a day at the pool and at FW to rent bikes. We also did a day at WetnWild! Super fun trip!

So what am I looking forward to the most for this up and coming trip? EVERYTHING! Let me see if I can break it down a bit!

1. Sharing the magic with my OWN family!
2. Watching the wonder and exitement on my little girls faces as they meet their fave characters!
3.Staying @ POFQ - I have dreamed of staying there since our second trip and saw it being built!
4. Eating @ Disney! All other trips we ate in our rooms or else somewhere off site! I think the only Disney food I have eaten is an egg roll from the chinese CS place and a mickey ice cream bar! Oh yeah our first trip we ate at the Odessy Restaurant in Epcot - I think there were Characters! I seem to remember Mickey in a silver space suit?
5. Riding the monrail! I know it seems silly - but I have never been on the Monorail before! I want to ride up front with the driver! My kids would love it too!
6. Animal Kingdom! The only park I have not yet experienced! I am so excited to explore this one with my two animal lovin kids!

There is definitely a lot more that I am excited about but I think I will save that for another time!

BTW, I am giving a little bit of thought to starting a PTR once I hit double digits! Not sure yet? I am not a super writer so I am very nervous! What do you all think?

 

[jenjolt]

BTW, I am giving a little bit of thought to starting a PTR once I hit double digits! Not sure yet? I am not a super writer so I am very nervous! What do you all think?

I say go for it!!! I love reading those pre-trip reports and trip reports!!!

 

[jenjolt]

Quick question...at what point will we need to get a new thread?? I have heard mumblings of this in other posts???

 

[laurainsem]

I'd LOVE to make it to DL someday!! But DS9 says that the (less than 2 hours) plane ride to WDW is "TOO LONG", so I'm thinking the plane ride to CA is out of the question for now.

Someday!

DL was great as a kid, especially with our shorter visits (usually no more than 2 days). I haven't been back since they put in California Adventure. That'd be very cool to see, but honestly I am much more excited over WDW!

One of the really sad things though about WDW is they changed the Tiki Tiki room! This was always one of our favorites at DL and I just can't stand the thought of not having it the same when we go to WDW. My sisters and I have already agreed not to damage our memories by checking out the new one. Gilbert Gottfried's voice is more than I can bare. We'll just remember it as it was when we were kids and skip that part!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Quick question...at what point will we need to get a new thread?? I have heard mumblings of this in other posts???

I will start "Part II" once we hit 250 pages! Which will be shortly!!

The DIS closes out threads at 250 pages to keep things running faster.

 

[trixiequilts]

[
BTW, I am giving a little bit of thought to starting a PTR once I hit double digits! Not sure yet? I am not a super writer so I am very nervous! What do you all think?

I think you should do it! I'll be there with bells on! Maybe I can even convince the entire Top Ten to come. (But I have to check with Number One first, because I'm just second in command.)

Just let us know where and when!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

My acceptance speech:

I wouldn't be here in the Top 10 if it wasn't for the love and support of ALL of the Snowbirds!! I won't name them because I know I'll forget someone, but I just need to specially thank Shelly! Without her, none of us would be what we are today:

CRAZY, OUT OF CONTROL SNOWBIRDS WHO DON'T KNOW HOW (OR WANT)TO SHUT UP!!!!!

Music plays, Sharon gets dragged away from the microphone crying with joy

 

[peach3es]

Basking in my fourth-rank glory, I forgot to answer the QOTD!

This is my 2nd trip. I went once with my high school band when I was in 10th grade in 1991. This is Scot's 3rd trip. He visited his Aunt Donna in Kissimmee when he was 3. He remembers it vividly. He was on the same high school bad trip with me.

For my Mom, I think it's her 2nd trip. She took a trip with my Aunt and my sister when I was a junior in high school and I had something importantthat I couldn't miss at school. I had just gone to Disney less than a year prior so we all decided I'd just skip it. I'm still bummed about that!

But it's our kids' first trip ever! And we all think it will be our last trip for a good long while. Mom is paying because we could never afford it with airfare for all of us, etc. And we're only in the US for a short period of time every 4 years, so it doesn't seem likely that we'll get there every 4 years. So, Mom's going all out and we're staying on site, doing the dining plan, and staying longer than we intended when we first started talking about it.

Mom said once we're there we may as well stay longer! Our kids finish the 2nd marking period here before we travel to the US and don't begin in school until after our trip, so we figured we could afford the extra time away!

I'm really hoping this is a magical trip for our kids and a memory that they will treasure of time spent with their Mo-mo for years to come! And I'm pretty darn excited too. Disney brings out the kid in me!

 

[trixiequilts]

Disney brings out the kid in me!

Were you a trouble-maker when you were a kid???

 

[sharadoc]

My AOTD to the QOTD: I honestly can't remember every single trip, so these are estimates.

DH and I started going in 1986 (he was my DBF then ). We went in August, supposed to be for one week, we extended to almost 2. It was the greatest trip. I had never been there before. MK was open until midnight every night, so there was two electrical parades, with fireworks in between. Stayed out until midnight every night. Stayed in the Knight's Inn on 192, fabulous purple velvet bedspread, cheesy as could be.

Got married in 1987. Didn't go then (thought about it, went to Hawaii instead).

1988-1992, one trip per year, staying in places like Holiday Inn, etc. for $59 a night. Car rentals for $49 a week, unlimited mileage. Watched GF be built, CBR open, then Dixie Landing and POR; saw MGM open.

1992 - conference for work at Yacht Club. Oh my gosh - staying on-site. Wonderful. Got a room for $129 a night convention rate, could extend for unlimited days, stayed for 3 more days. DH came on spouse fee. Went to Norway for private dinner upstairs, had Mickey and Minnie in formal wear at our closing night dinner. Vowed never again to stay offsite.

At least 5 times 1992-1995 at Port Orleans (French Quarter).

DS born May 1995.

All Star Music 1996 long weekend without DS.

Expected to go back around 1999, instead bought a house and started trying to have another baby. Took until January 2001 for DD.

Waited until DD was ready and not scared of everything, so we're FINALLY GOING BACK .

I can't believe it took so long. We think this is either our 13th or 14th trip, could be 15th.

 

[peach3es]

Were you a trouble-maker when you were a kid???

Moi? Now really...where are you getting your information?

 

[snykymom]

QOTD: This will be my ninth trip, d's fourth. And since we've established (I think - I've lost track!) that I'm the oldest among the Snowbirds, my first trip was probably the earliest - 1973, just 2 years after MK opened.

I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with my d - it gets so hard once they move out!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

I think you should do it! I'll be there with bells on! Maybe I can even convince the entire Top Ten to come. (But I have to check with Number One first, because I'm just second in command.)

Just let us know where and when!

Thanks Trixie! Your support means a great deal to me! Just knowing that my snowbird friends will be there to cheer me on is giving me a boost of confidence already! I think I will do it! I will probably start it somewheres around the middle of October! Now to come up with a catchy title! I have been musing on this for a while! I don't want to reveal it just yet.... have to think onit some more!

 

[Pluto_fan]

Not that I need to be spending any more time DISing than I already do, but how many of you Snowbirds have PTRs?
I've also thought about starting one...but since joining this thread it's all I can do to keep up here...

 

[CrystalCastle]

Good morning snowbirds!

Just wanted to drop in and say "Hi" and try to get caught up! My weekends are 3 days long so I get really far behind. I hope you are all well and having a wonderful day!

 

[jenjolt]

Not that I need to be spending any more time DISing than I already do, but how many of you Snowbirds have PTRs?
I've also thought about starting one...but since joining this thread it's all I can do to keep up here...

BellaSoleil has a really hilarious PTR with quite the cute spin on it as she updates it with her newest shopping purchases!!

I have thought about one, but I don't think mine would be entertaining, and I say that with all honesty..LOL!!