Joy in the World, A Christmastime TR of sorts. Lots of pics.

[heaven2dc]

Thank you SO much for all the hard work you put into this TR! We all appreciate it and love the pics

I think it was fantastic your MIL got to come on this trip too (altho I know you missed your hubby ) I would love to post a TR (I started a pre-trip for my 01/31/08 visit with DBFF but never finished - could never figure out how to get pics downloaded from camera and still can't )

I am so hoping to buy into DVC in the next couple of months (love BWV's esp after our boardwalk view in December) and I still get goosebumps that you won DVC membership! We are planning a family vacation sometime the end of this year and hope to have a DVC "home" to come home to

 

[morgtroy]

Thank you SO much for all the hard work you put into this TR! We all appreciate it and love the pics

I think it was fantastic your MIL got to come on this trip too (altho I know you missed your hubby ) I would love to post a TR (I started a pre-trip for my 01/31/08 visit with DBFF but never finished - could never figure out how to get pics downloaded from camera and still can't )

I am so hoping to buy into DVC in the next couple of months (love BWV's esp after our boardwalk view in December) and I still get goosebumps that you won DVC membership! We are planning a family vacation sometime the end of this year and hope to have a DVC "home" to come home to

Thanks, that's sweet of you to say. I've really enjoyed reading alot of Dis'ers TR's. There are some really creative writers on the Dis and fun to read.

It was very nice to have my MIL along. I hope we didn't wear her out too much. She really did some neat rides I was proud of her, that's how I hope to be when I get a little older, still go and do things. My mom has problems with her knee and she doesn't get excited about things like that. My MIL was a big help with the kids, I'm a paranoid parent and don't like them out of my sight. I was thrilled half to see the family restrooms so I could wait for my DS without sending him in the men's room alone.

Good luck on the DVC purchase. You'll have to let me know if you buy in and where your "home" is. I'm looking forward to seeing the AKL rooms. Believe me, I still have goosebumps too over the prize. Completely unbelievable.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Those PP pics are WONDERFUL!!! I love the mother/daughter ones in the pink Minnie shirts! So cute. That is great that you have such a good relationship with your MIL to bring her along on vacation. That must be very nice. And your DD looks like she really was having fun in all your pictures. I hope my DD will still like Disney when she is 10. Some kids seem to think they are too cool for Disney when they get around that age.

So how many more times can you go back to WDW with the prize that you won?

 

[morgtroy]

So today when I looked back at the photopass pics I realized the really good ones with Santa at Downtown disney were not on there. So I checked and there were a few more that I felt were worth sharing. We were lucky and got a lot of photopass pics this trip.

 

[luckylady]

Great pictures.

 

[morgtroy]

Well, I guess this is it. The end of my TR. It's been fun re-living the trip. We had a great time. The trip was worth it just to see the castle in lights. All of us just kept saying, that is amazing, that's so gorgeous, and on and on.

Great things this trip:
1. The CASTLE
2. Staying DVC for the first time. Very nice.
3. All the beautiful Christmas decorations in all the parks and resorts. Amazing
4. The looks on my kids faces during the fireworks, when they were talking with Mickey and Santa, and watching the Osborne Lights and singing along some with the choir for the candlelight processional. (Even though they are getting older. The magic is still there. )
5. The Osborne Lights. WOW!!! The music, lights and the snow. WOW!
6. The Candlelight processional. So Spiritual and moving.
7. Our new favorite ride..Toy Story Mania.
8. The parade, fireworks and shows at MVMCP. NOT the crowds
10. The block party bash parade. Kids LOVED it. A real
11. I almost forgot, the animation class. Big hit, we had to do it twice.
12. Getting to do it with MamMaw, some great memories for the kids and me.
13. The kids doing pin trading for the first time.
14. For me, all the things on this list and seeing Sorcerer Mickey and Santa Goofy. (really all characters in Christmas outfits.)
15. Riding RNRRC and what my daughter said at the end.
16. Riding TOT for the first time with my son. INTENSE.
17. Again, the HUGE blessing of getting to go at all on this trip, thanks to the prize. I'm so thankful/grateful and undeserving. I'm still on
18. All the pictures so I can remember them forever.
19. My new friend Michelle that's a DVC member and been so helpful to me
with tips and stuff. Thanks Michele, you Rock!

And of course all of you I've met on the Dis doing this TR.



Things we missed or will have to catch next time:

1. Meeting the Fairies, didn't want to bad enough for the wait, too long.
2. Seeing more of the decorations at some of the other resorts
3. Belle in her holiday dress. We missed getting the pic with her. Line too long.
4. A tinkerbell slushy. Something we wanted to try, but wasn't hot enough to remind us to get one. Didn't get our usual ice cream on Main St. either.
5. Riding Expedition Everest. We had the Fastpasses, were heading that way and the monsoon came. So we missed it.

Since we didn't do the dining plan, we mainly had counter service meals, other than the Kona Cafe and Crystal Palace.
Of course both of those were good. The Kona didn't have as many selections as I expected, but food was good. The bread and macadamia butter were SUPER.
At Crystal Palace breakfast the potato casserole was my favorite.

Counter services we ate at were
Peco's Bills
Cosmic Rays
Flame Tree BBQ
Pizza Planet
La Catina in Mexico
All were good, no complaints.

I send you all loads of pixie dust and magic for all your upcoming Disney Trips, I for one, can't wait to read about them. Be sure to send me links to any TR's you guys start.
I'll be here

 

[disneydusted]

I can't believe it's over!! You guys looked like you had such a great time in all of your pictures. I am super impressed with your MIL! She must have tons of energy.
Your Photopass pcitures are wonderful! I loved all of the interaction that was captured with your kids and the different characters. The photo of you and your daughter wearing matching pink shirts (Donald in the background) in Epcot is sweet.... The DHS photo of your daughter with the HSM pompom near her face is sweet too!.... The first one of your son and Santa is cute.... the other one I like is of you three with a Goofy statue sitting on a bench. Where is that? Thanks for sharing your Christmas trip with all of us! I hope you have a great year!!

 

[tmkinney]

Great TR! I love all of the photopass Christmas borders, the pics were really good. Love all the characters in their different outfits, especially Minnie in the pj's and her Santa dress. I see another scrapbook coming... Speaking of, have you seen where Smuckers/Jif is giving a free Disney scrapbook with two proofs of purchase? Here is the link, it looks to be an 8x8 album, looks really cute though. I sent mine off yesterday. (Although I don't know why, I have 3 Disney scrapbooks at home I haven't even started!! )

http://www.smuckers.com/promotions/disney/default.aspx

I thought about entering the contest that goes with it, but by the time you pay taxes on a trip for 10 people, you could just pay for a trip yourself!

Anyway, didn't mean to get

It was nice seeing all the Christmas decorations/activities. Thanks for posting!

 

[morgtroy]

I can't believe it's over!! You guys looked like you had such a great time in all of your pictures. I am super impressed with your MIL! She must have tons of energy.
Your Photopass pcitures are wonderful! I loved all of the interaction that was captured with your kids and the different characters. The photo of you and your daughter wearing matching pink shirts (Donald in the background) in Epcot is sweet.... The DHS photo of your daughter with the HSM pompom near her face is sweet too!.... The first one of your son and Santa is cute.... the other one I like is of you three with a Goofy statue sitting on a bench. Where is that? Thanks for sharing your Christmas trip with all of us! I hope you have a great year!!

Thanks, I love doing photopass, all the cute borders. I do like how the photopass people catch the expressions and when they first walk up and stuff. The Goofy statue is on a bench in front of expo hall just as you enter in MK on the right. It talks too. I haven't seen a photopass photographer there on other trips but we were leaving the park a little after lunch that day and there was one there. You may already know, but there are "sets/props" inside Expo hall to have your pics made with. That's where the white bench and background are that a lot of people have the BBB pics made at . We did that last year with my DD, It's cute.
Thanks for following along. Best Wishes

Great TR! I love all of the photopass Christmas borders, the pics were really good. Love all the characters in their different outfits, especially Minnie in the pj's and her Santa dress. I see another scrapbook coming... Speaking of, have you seen where Smuckers/Jif is giving a free Disney scrapbook with two proofs of purchase? Here is the link, it looks to be an 8x8 album, looks really cute though. I sent mine off yesterday. (Although I don't know why, I have 3 Disney scrapbooks at home I haven't even started!! )

http://www.smuckers.com/promotions/disney/default.aspx

I thought about entering the contest that goes with it, but by the time you pay taxes on a trip for 10 people, you could just pay for a trip yourself!

Anyway, didn't mean to get

It was nice seeing all the Christmas decorations/activities. Thanks for posting!

Thanks for the link, I haven't heard about that, I'll get it in the mail. "While supplies last..." We have those mega jars of Jif at our house I get from Sam's.

Yes, I didn't know if I was up for another scrapbook, but I just love all the pics, I think I'll have to These great pics can't just live on a disk somewhere, they have to be put in a book I can look through. I haven't seen a lot of Disney Christmas stuff, but that's ok, I'll make the picture the main thing and not put a lot of extras on it. I need to catch up the kids school and sports books before I even start this. I actually did scrap a little over Christmas. You know I have that little album I put our Christmas card for each year in. I caught it up. It's so, so sweet. Remember the pic of DD for DS's first Christmas, her leaning down to him in the carrier in front of the tree. It has to be one of my all time favorite pics, almost made me cry at how big they are now. But that little album I really like, one pic a year, really shows how much they change. (Easy album to do, now that I have it up to date )

I think I've already made this comment here, but I have a new admiration all the people on here that have done and keep doing TRs. They sure are fun to read.

 

[tmkinney]

Thanks for the link, I haven't heard about that, I'll get it in the mail. "While supplies last..." We have those mega jars of Jif at our house I get from Sam's.

Yes, I didn't know if I was up for another scrapbook, but I just love all the pics, I think I'll have to These great pics can't just live on a disk somewhere, they have to be put in a book I can look through. I haven't seen a lot of Disney Christmas stuff, but that's ok, I'll make the picture the main thing and not put a lot of extras on it. I need to catch up the kids school and sports books before I even start this. I actually did scrap a little over Christmas. You know I have that little album I put our Christmas card for each year in. I caught it up. It's so, so sweet. Remember the pic of DD for DS's first Christmas, her leaning down to him in the carrier in front of the tree. It has to be one of my all time favorite pics, almost made me cry at how big they are now. But that little album I really like, one pic a year, really shows how much they change. (Easy album to do, now that I have it up to date )

I think I've already made this comment here, but I have a new admiration all the people on here that have done and keep doing TRs. They sure are fun to read.

Yes, I love the pic of the kids that you are talking about, it is one of my favorite of them too. I bought one of those 8x8 Christmas scrapbooks from Hobby Lobby this year after Christmas for 70% off so I think I may do one of those with the cards too. It's funny, my favorite Christmas pic of Rachel and Hunter is her first Christmas too, the one I took over at your house. I figure pretty much all I have to do is stick the picture in and maybe add some stickers, I'm hoping starting that may get me back in mode to scrapbook, we'll see.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Ohh I love all your photopass pictures!!! And the borders are all adorable! That reminds me I need to order our photopass pictures before I forget and they expire...

 

[morgtroy]

Yes, I love the pic of the kids that you are talking about, it is one of my favorite of them too. I bought one of those 8x8 Christmas scrapbooks from Hobby Lobby this year after Christmas for 70% off so I think I may do one of those with the cards too. It's funny, my favorite Christmas pic of Rachel and Hunter is her first Christmas too, the one I took over at your house. I figure pretty much all I have to do is stick the picture in and maybe add some stickers, I'm hoping starting that may get me back in mode to scrapbook, we'll see.

I got a 8x8 Christmas scrapbook there too. I thought I might use it for Disney, but I'm not sure yet. Don't know if I can fit all the pics in an 8 x 8. I have so much trouble narrowing down disney pics. The one I got has this argile like pattern on the front. Red and green. That was the only style left when I got it, but I didn't get it until last Sat. Yes, a Christmas card book is great because it is easy. I love that pic of Rachel and Hunter too. It's sad...
I think that's one reason I like scrapping Disney trips, there is an end to it. The everyday events and stuff are never ending and I always feel so far behind on all that stuff. Because I am. I'll have plenty to do when the kids are grown and I'm not running to practices and ball games.

 

[morgtroy]

Ohh I love all your photopass pictures!!! And the borders are all adorable! That reminds me I need to order our photopass pictures before I forget and they expire...

Thank you so much! You better run and get those ordered The borders are what makes photopass that much better.

 

[morgtroy]

Those PP pics are WONDERFUL!!! I love the mother/daughter ones in the pink Minnie shirts! So cute. That is great that you have such a good relationship with your MIL to bring her along on vacation. That must be very nice. And your DD looks like she really was having fun in all your pictures. I hope my DD will still like Disney when she is 10. Some kids seem to think they are too cool for Disney when they get around that age.

So how many more times can you go back to WDW with the prize that you won?

I'm sorry, I realized I didn't answer you on this post...
Thanks so much for the sweet comments. Of course, I hate the pictures of me. But I love the ones of the kids. Yes, my DD was having a blast. She and I have always been joined at the hip. Now that she's getting older I think we're becoming more friends. Of course I still have to be the mama a lot of times and hand out the rules, but we have our close talks and times. It will kill me if she turns into the teenager that won't want me around at ALL. And she's always been a princess..diva. Loved dressing up, was a lot of the disney characters for halloween through the years. One of my favorites was when she was Belle, and the year she was Jessie and my son was Woody. Too cute. She used to be obsessed with Belle. Had a disney princess room. Don't get me wrong, she wouldn't pick that Minnie shirt as the first thing she'd want to wear to school now that she's order , but she's like me, doesn't matter how old you are, you can be a kid at Disney.

The prize is 225pts per year for 3 years. The Dec. trip was 88 pts. I didn't know a lot about DVC before this, but each room has a point value per night and weekday nights uses less points than weekend nights. Also, low travel times of year use less points than their busier times. So it really depends on how you choose to spend them. My DVC friend Michelle really knows how to spend them well and get the most bang for the buck. She goes several times a year and has been a DVC owner for many years. With normal DVC it's my understanding you can bank points for the next year or borrow points from the next year, but with my prize it's use or loose.
Again, there are no words for how blessed I feel by this, very humbled by it, just sheer shock. I'm telling you it took me months to actually believe it, convince myself it was real and let myself get excited about it. The people from the contest were so, so nice, wonderful to work with and helped me understand better. The prize is the room, we have to pay for park tickets and dining if we want to do the dining plan. So how many times you go also depends on how much you want to spend for park tickets and food. We didn't do the dining plan in Dec. because I was trying to go as cheap as possible. And we did it really cheap. You can also choose the kinds of rooms, a studio (lowest pts), one bedroom or 2 bedroom. So if you can't go several times a year you could splurge and get the nicer rooms to use up your points in one visit. Getting the time off work or getting the kids out of school is something to think about with trying to go several times, along with paying for tickets and food. Sorry to go on and on, but hard to explain in a short post.

 

[Jenvenza]

I just read most of your TR and I am going to finish it up tomorrow!! Loving it so far though!!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

I'm sorry, I realized I didn't answer you on this post...
Thanks so much for the sweet comments. Of course, I hate the pictures of me. But I love the ones of the kids. Yes, my DD was having a blast. She and I have always been joined at the hip. Now that she's getting older I think we're becoming more friends. Of course I still have to be the mama a lot of times and hand out the rules, but we have our close talks and times. It will kill me if she turns into the teenager that won't want me around at ALL. And she's always been a princess..diva. Loved dressing up, was a lot of the disney characters for halloween through the years. One of my favorites was when she was Belle, and the year she was Jessie and my son was Woody. Too cute. She used to be obsessed with Belle. Had a disney princess room. Don't get me wrong, she wouldn't pick that Minnie shirt as the first thing she'd want to wear to school now that she's order , but she's like me, doesn't matter how old you are, you can be a kid at Disney.

The prize is 225pts per year for 3 years. The Dec. trip was 88 pts. I didn't know a lot about DVC before this, but each room has a point value per night and weekday nights uses less points than weekend nights. Also, low travel times of year use less points than their busier times. So it really depends on how you choose to spend them. My DVC friend Michelle really knows how to spend them well and get the most bang for the buck. She goes several times a year and has been a DVC owner for many years. With normal DVC it's my understanding you can bank points for the next year or borrow points from the next year, but with my prize it's use or loose.
Again, there are no words for how blessed I feel by this, very humbled by it, just sheer shock. I'm telling you it took me months to actually believe it, convince myself it was real and let myself get excited about it. The people from the contest were so, so nice, wonderful to work with and helped me understand better. The prize is the room, we have to pay for park tickets and dining if we want to do the dining plan. So how many times you go also depends on how much you want to spend for park tickets and food. We didn't do the dining plan in Dec. because I was trying to go as cheap as possible. And we did it really cheap. You can also choose the kinds of rooms, a studio (lowest pts), one bedroom or 2 bedroom. So if you can't go several times a year you could splurge and get the nicer rooms to use up your points in one visit. Getting the time off work or getting the kids out of school is something to think about with trying to go several times, along with paying for tickets and food. Sorry to go on and on, but hard to explain in a short post.

Well that all sounds wonderful! I have entered a few sweepstakes or contests here or there, but no luck. I know the chances are very slim. But I am glad you got to go b/c I really enjoyed reading all about it. Now we will all be expecting to hear from you after all your trips!

I just finished reading a trip report by DisneyJo who also sort of won a trip by being chosen as a Disney Mom Panel member. Hers was fabulous too. Disney really is the place where dreams come true

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

I love the Photopass pictures! You did get a lot. So did you find your Santa pics or all some still missing? You were right...the Fairy borders were so cute! I used them around our Tink pics too that we did on Main Street. I love the holiday borders! The more the merrier! I enjoyed your TR. Pics were great and it was fun to read! Looking forward to the next one!

 

[morgtroy]

I just read most of your TR and I am going to finish it up tomorrow!! Loving it so far though!!

Thanks for reading and by the way you have an adorable little girl and you made a great Snow White...

Well that all sounds wonderful! I have entered a few sweepstakes or contests here or there, but no luck. I know the chances are very slim. But I am glad you got to go b/c I really enjoyed reading all about it. Now we will all be expecting to hear from you after all your trips!

I just finished reading a trip report by DisneyJo who also sort of won a trip by being chosen as a Disney Mom Panel member. Hers was fabulous too. Disney really is the place where dreams come true

I rarely enter anything like that, I'm always afraid that will mean 5000 telemarketers will be calling my house or sending me emails. Only if I feel they are really reputable. You can always read the rules, if it includes $ for taxes on the prize, from what my tax guy said, you can feel better that you're dealing with an upscale contest.

I know mousesavers has a contests page they post any contests they know are going on and they say at the top they've known of x number of people winning certain prizes.
Thanks for following along and for sending me the link to you TR.

I love the Photopass pictures! You did get a lot. So did you find your Santa pics or all some still missing? You were right...the Fairy borders were so cute! I used them around our Tink pics too that we did on Main Street. I love the holiday borders! The more the merrier! I enjoyed your TR. Pics were great and it was fun to read! Looking forward to the next one!

Yes, the Santa pics I posted were the ones I was speaking of, that I originally didn't have. I love your Fairy pics. Maybe we'll see them next time, the borders are too cute. Thanks for reading and I'm still onboard your TR. Good luck with your computer.

 

[kimmylaj]

well i am late, it seems to be a trend for me. anywho i loved your tr, great pics, we went in nov 07 we too found the mvmcp really overcrowded, and said we wouldnt pay again, yet after our trip this august and tropical storm fay we have decide to go in nov 09. and yes we are going to get party tickets anyway, we have decided to prioritize, we are going to skip the twas the night before christmas show, meeting any characters whose holiday clothing only consists of hats or scarves (i.e pooh, tigger, donald) we will get minnie and mickey in holiday garb, see the show in front of the castle and catch the second parade, the first was insanity. again thanks for sharing especially the hotel pics, because we didnt make the rounds on the last trip but want to try to get a few this time. beautiful trip. ps i have to leave my hubby home in nov too.

 

[morgtroy]

well i am late, it seems to be a trend for me. anywho i loved your tr, great pics, we went in nov 07 we too found the mvmcp really overcrowded, and said we wouldnt pay again, yet after our trip this august and tropical storm fay we have decide to go in nov 09. and yes we are going to get party tickets anyway, we have decided to prioritize, we are going to skip the twas the night before christmas show, meeting any characters whose holiday clothing only consists of hats or scarves (i.e pooh, tigger, donald) we will get minnie and mickey in holiday garb, see the show in front of the castle and catch the second parade, the first was insanity. again thanks for sharing especially the hotel pics, because we didnt make the rounds on the last trip but want to try to get a few this time. beautiful trip. ps i have to leave my hubby home in nov too.

Thanks for reading. Yes, if you go into the party with a prioritized plan you will do better. I did, mine was that we'd concentrate on the Christmas party stuff and not the rides. I'd skip Twas the night before Christmas too, if you've seen it before. You do kill some time there, in line waiting for the theatre to open and then for the show. It is cute, but if you've seen it.

I hope you have a great trip in Nov. the decorations are so beautiful really puts you in the Christmas spirit.
I wonder if they're adding any special trim to the castle this year for the celebration promotion? We went in 2005 during the happiest celebration on earth and they had all the gold trim on the castle, it was so, so pretty.