Magic as Wide as a smile!10/28 Trip Report Link!!!!

[mickeysmyboy]

A brief update for today!

I almost missed this in all the excitement of the surprise!

I'm dancing again today!

50 days until our trip!

Do you know how excited I am!?!

I also made a change today! But not to the October trip! I'm not changing anymore for Oct!

I did change the March trip! I decided that I couldn't, in my right mind, pay cash for the room. We have 2011 points, I just wanted to save them. Why? I'm not sure So, I cancelled Poly and booked a one bedroom at Boardwalk, Boardwalk view! I'm super excited about Boardwalk! The 2 DVC resorts I really wanted to stay at are BLT and Boardwalk! I'm getting both in a matter of 5 months with my home, sweet Kidani, home thrown in the middle!

Brook, I'm so excited to hear about your Boardwalk stay and see your pictures!

Also, an FYI for all of my favorite Dis friends! The private dinner that DH and I are having at GF is very comparable in price to a dinner for 2 at Narcossees or Cali Grill! If anyone is interested in the info for the CM who is my contact I will be saving it forever! She told me to keep it because she isn't planning on going anywhere anytime soon!

 

[jenjolt]

WOW Melissa....what a night you have planned!! I love it and I know your DH is going to be over the moon!!!! Just like everyone said I have goosebumps of excitement for you guys!!!!

I'm going to have to PM you and pick your brain. DH and I are going to be doing a vow renewal October 2012 for our 10 years and with all these wonderful ideas you have had I might need some help from the master!!!!!

LOL to not burning down BLT, I'm sure many people will appreciate that LOL!

WOOT for Boardwalk!! I so can't wait to stay there!!!! I love changes...I may have made some changes this weekend too!!!!!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Unreal! I figured it had to be insanely expensive for a private meal! That makes me very excited for a future "Joe & Brook" trip! Now when that trip will be...who knows!

Yahoo for the Boardwalk!!! I'm sooooo excited about staying there. I wish we had gotten BW view though. BUT, all well! I'm hoping for a view over the river on the end so we can watch the boats go to and from DHS. I can picture sitting on our balcony watching the water....so peaceful. I made no room requests so we'll see.....!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

WOW Melissa....what a night you have planned!! I love it and I know your DH is going to be over the moon!!!! Just like everyone said I have goosebumps of excitement for you guys!!!!

I'm going to have to PM you and pick your brain. DH and I are going to be doing a vow renewal October 2012 for our 10 years and with all these wonderful ideas you have had I might need some help from the master!!!!!

LOL to not burning down BLT, I'm sure many people will appreciate that LOL!

WOOT for Boardwalk!! I so can't wait to stay there!!!! I love changes...I may have made some changes this weekend too!!!!!

I really can't wait! I have this running countdown in my head now, 49 days until we leave, 53 days until we move to BLT and 54 until surprise day!

Why, thank you for calling me a master The actually vow renewal at WDW was just like having a wedding, guests and reception and all! DH wasn't digging that! So, this is my alternative! I'm so happy with the way everything is turning out and it's going to be a wonderful night!

burning down BLT would not be a good thing! DH and I joke from time to time about things that would get a person banned from WDW for life. Pretty sure burning down BLT would be one of them!

I'm so happy about BW! DD is going to burst!!! BURST! I have to make sure that we spend plenty of time on the boardwalk and in the pool! Creepy Clown here we come!

I can't believe you're going to keep me in suspense about the changes you made! I'm going to do my favorite LL thing, PFFFFFFFFFFFFFT

Unreal! I figured it had to be insanely expensive for a private meal! That makes me very excited for a future "Joe & Brook" trip! Now when that trip will be...who knows!

Yahoo for the Boardwalk!!! I'm sooooo excited about staying there. I wish we had gotten BW view though. BUT, all well! I'm hoping for a view over the river on the end so we can watch the boats go to and from DHS. I can picture sitting on our balcony watching the water....so peaceful. I made no room requests so we'll see.....!

The private meal is $95 a person, plus $75 for 2 hours of butler service, plus the cost of drinks! My estimated bill, which Pat at GF emailed me yesterday, is $351.22 including 2 beers for DH and 2 glasses of wine for me! I really, really wish I had our receipts from Narcossees, Cali Grill and Artist Point in 09! We had the Platinum plan, so it was 1 plat. TS service. But I remember nearly falling out of chair when we got the receipt our first night at Narcossees! I also remember thinking that in 1 meal we just about made up the cost of the platinum plan! I actually think the cost for those meals, especially Narcossees and Cali Grill, was closer to $380 or $400! This is definitely a good option!!!

I can't wait to hear all about Boardwalk! From LL and Jen too! Even though their trying to tease me and not tell what change they made over the weekend! I think DD is going to be so excited!!! Poly and Boardwalk seemed to be a tie in her places she wants to stay! A water view sounds lovely!!! I have to go take a look at pictures of Boardwalk! I love looking at resort pictures!

 

[eandesmom]

Oh exciting changes!!!!!!!!!!!

Boardwalk is high on my list, creepy clown and all. We almost stayed there in 08 and it's bumped up pretty high on our list for '12 after this last trip.

I always have a hard time seeing how we could save money on the deluxe DDP, it's just more than we'd eat and those extra costs always seem to be things like wine that aren't on the plan anyways but if you used 2 TS credit's it's an even worse deal. I could see it working well for one night at Narcoosees etc but then you've got the plan for the whole week.

Your own butler. That right there is just plain COOL!

So....your cool plan is about 1/4 of what the vow renewal would have been, right? Well done! And who says you can't renew them to yourselves anyway on the Grand?

 

[Lady Lallie]

How very romantic!!! Your DH is very lucky to have such a wonderful surprise.

 

[If U Had Wings]

All of your new plans sound so wonderful! Your DH is going to be so surprised!

 

[brookelizabeth]

The private meal is $95 a person, plus $75 for 2 hours of butler service, plus the cost of drinks! My estimated bill, which Pat at GF emailed me yesterday, is $351.22 including 2 beers for DH and 2 glasses of wine for me! I really, really wish I had our receipts from Narcossees, Cali Grill and Artist Point in 09! We had the Platinum plan, so it was 1 plat. TS service. But I remember nearly falling out of chair when we got the receipt our first night at Narcossees! I also remember thinking that in 1 meal we just about made up the cost of the platinum plan! I actually think the cost for those meals, especially Narcossees and Cali Grill, was closer to $380 or $400! This is definitely a good option!!!

I can't wait to hear all about Boardwalk! From LL and Jen too! Even though their trying to tease me and not tell what change they made over the weekend! I think DD is going to be so excited!!! Poly and Boardwalk seemed to be a tie in her places she wants to stay! A water view sounds lovely!!! I have to go take a look at pictures of Boardwalk! I love looking at resort pictures!

That really isn't bad AT ALL for a private meal! I'm really, really surprised. I told Joe about this last night and he was excited about it all. So I'm totally stowing away the Grand One/private meal idea. Perhaps for our 10 year anniversary...

I had forgotten you were on the Platinum Plan once! That would be fun too - it includes massages and the like, right?

I'm SO EXCITED about the Boardwalk! I'll be sure to take lots and lots of pictures, and I'll do my best to explain the resort, etc.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Jen's the one teasing not me.

 

[manntra]

We could totally kidnap C!!! I say we lock her up in the little village behind the Maelstrom until it's too late for her to catch her flight!

I remember her saying on another thread that she would really like to explore that little village!!!!

Tracy

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Oh exciting changes!!!!!!!!!!!

Boardwalk is high on my list, creepy clown and all. We almost stayed there in 08 and it's bumped up pretty high on our list for '12 after this last trip.

I always have a hard time seeing how we could save money on the deluxe DDP, it's just more than we'd eat and those extra costs always seem to be things like wine that aren't on the plan anyways but if you used 2 TS credit's it's an even worse deal. I could see it working well for one night at Narcoosees etc but then you've got the plan for the whole week.

Your own butler. That right there is just plain COOL!

So....your cool plan is about 1/4 of what the vow renewal would have been, right? Well done! And who says you can't renew them to yourselves anyway on the Grand?

I'm really excited for Boardwalk! It should be a lot of fun!

We definitely did well on the platinum plan! But we ate at Narcoosees, Cali Grill and Artist Point, all of which are 2 TS on the regular plan. They were also all well over $300! My massage at GF spa was included in the cost, our tickets to Cirque were included and our Keys to the Kingdom tour was discounted! We made out really well and really lived it up!

The butler thing is too darn cool, I have to say!

Once we add in the cost of the special guest it bumps the cost up to over 1/4 but we're still making out really well!

How very romantic!!! Your DH is very lucky to have such a wonderful surprise.

I can't wait!

All of your new plans sound so wonderful! Your DH is going to be so surprised!

He's definitely going to be surprised!

That really isn't bad AT ALL for a private meal! I'm really, really surprised. I told Joe about this last night and he was excited about it all. So I'm totally stowing away the Grand One/private meal idea. Perhaps for our 10 year anniversary...

I had forgotten you were on the Platinum Plan once! That would be fun too - it includes massages and the like, right?

I'm SO EXCITED about the Boardwalk! I'll be sure to take lots and lots of pictures, and I'll do my best to explain the resort, etc.

I didn't think it was bad! The lady at Gifts of a Lifetime and one of the guys I spoke to at WDW both told me that it was going to cost between $800 and $1000 for the dinner alone! They were wrong!

I really enjoyed the platinum package! It included my massage at GF spa, our tickets to Cirque and we got a discount on our Keys to the Kingdom tour!

I can't wait to hear, and see, all about Boardwalk! I don't remember where it was but, I saw a spectacular picture of the BW pool at night! It was beautiful but the glowing eyes of the clown were uber creepy! Naturally, I thought of you!

Jen's the one teasing not me.

ha!!!!

We could totally kidnap C!!! I say we lock her up in the little village behind the Maelstrom until it's too late for her to catch her flight!

I remember her saying on another thread that she would really like to explore that little village!!!!

Tracy

See, we could definitely pull it off! I scope it out a few days before so we're prepared

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Welcome to a hodge-podge, crazy mixed up update!

I have a few things to report on!

First, changes to out Oct trip!
I know you're all so shocked! But really, I just made a few little ADR changes that kinda tweak the trip!

I moved our Saturday morning ADR at Kona to Friday morning! Friday is surprise day and it's supposed to be AK day! I figured we'll play this day by ear because I don't want to over do it and be tired for the surprise. DH is a big fan of breakfast and I'm a big fan of good coffee so Kona is a great choice for us! We'll hit AK for a little bit and then head back to BLT! I may have to play sick to get DH to leave AK to rest

I also cancelled our late Saturday afternoon Plaza ADR and made one at Via Napoli in Epcot for lunch! The menu looks yummy! C, are still leaving on Sat?! Want to to have lunch with us?! Yummy sounding pizza and wine seems like a great last meal at WDW! Just saying

I'm not planning on anymore changes being made! But you know me So, we'll see!

Next, ADR day for March is in just 9 days! So, I made a quick ADR list based on places I know DD likes and wants to eat. I also took a look at park hours and showtimes etc!

So here's, hopefully, how it will all play out

3/9 arrival day & DD's 10th b-day
MK
dinner at Chef Mickey's

3/10 DHS day,
Dinner or late lunch @ Mama Melrose with Fantasmic Package!

3/11 Epcot day

Dinner @ Garden Grill (this is a first and I know DD wants to eat there!)

3/12 AK Day
Tusker House Breakfast!

dinner CS at MK or BW

3/13
MK
Lunch at CP
go home!

4 character meals in 5 days!

I'll be on the computer bright and early on 9/10 to make these babies!

Next, I've been very productive over the past few days!

Monday I went out to run errands! I took some of the $$ I've saved and bought gift cards at the disney store for the trip! I also went to Michaels and got the rose petals and battery operated candles for surprise night!

After my errands I ordered a visa gift card with DH's credit card rewards! I think between the disney gift cards and the visa gift card we should have spending $ more then covered! WOOO HOOO!!!

Yesterday my sinuses where really bothering me so I spent a good amount of time just hanging out on the couch! But, of course, I kept busy! I finished the scrapbook from January! I did it all digitally so I ordered 2 bound books (one for us and one for Jen) from snapfish! I can't wait to see them! I also made a photo movie of all the pictures from January! I'm really happy with the way it came out! I'll share it with you just as soon as I figure out what to do next! It's complete but when I burn it on a DVD it won't play!? I've made several picture movies before but never with imovie (on mac) so I have to figure it out! I can't wait to send both to Jen, John and the kids! Their going to love it!

One last thing before I get to my TR update! Remember I said I wanted to give DH a present on surprise night?! I figured out what to give him! When we got married we didn't get traditional wedding albums! We hired a photographer, who was actually my art teacher in High School, and see gave us all the prints! It was a money saving thing and it was great to get all the prints but it has always bothered DH that we didn't have nice, pretty, traditional wedding albums. So, I'm going to do a digital scrapbook of out wedding pictures and give to him! I think he'll love it!

I spent this morning scanning over 90 pictures! When we got the pictures we separated them into our favorites and the rest. So, I took all the favorites! I don't think I'll use of them but we'll see! I will, of course, share it when it's done!

moving onto a TR update in the next post...

 

[mickeysmyboy]

So, I left off on the TR after DH and I took Ryan to see Playhouse Disney Live On-stage and the rest of the family braved RNRC!

Like I said, DD and DS7 had never been on a real rollercoaster, they’d been on the Barnstormer, BTMRR, and Splash but not a real, fast, upside-down coaster!

Truthfully, on the walk from PHS to RNRC I kept praying in my head that I wouldn’t find one of the kids sick!!!

When we got there we found Jen still waiting for them to come out! I was kinda glad they hadn’t come out yet. That way, if one of my kids were sick I’d be the one to deal with it. Not Jen!


Soon after we met up with Jen the rollercoaster riders returned! DD and DS7 both claimed to love it! DS7 says he doesn’t want to ride it again! DD isn’t sure! LOL!


Soon we were off to Beauty and The Beast! We haven’t seen this show since out first trip with the kids in 05! Not for lack of trying, I just never seemed to fit into our schedule!

I took a lot of pictures! So sit back, relax and enjoy!











































After our wonderful show it time to take Justin to the one store he had been dying to go in! Villains in Vogue! I must admit, I’ve been in there before! It was a cool store!

Justin bought a few things. I can’t remember what but I know they were Jack Skellington related! DH and I will be stopping there in Oct! DS7 has developed a love of NMBC like his cousin!

I also think DH really needs this mug!



We were getting hungry and decided to head toward Star Tours and find lunch along the way!

We ended up at the ABC Commissary. Jen and I ordered, as usual, and waited, and waited some more! It took FOREVER to get our food! FOREVER! It was insane, especially because the place was empty! I think we all had burgers which were pretty good! For some reason we ended up with a crazy amount of French fries! I’m not even sure what the deal was but we had more then we ordered and we could have had an entrée of just fries with what we had! But, the fries were good too! Yummy!

With lunch done we head back out!

I noticed this little guy having a snack on a wall,



Of course my dear family made fun of me for taking a picture of a squirrel! As DH said, “Honey, we have squirrels at home!” But, I took the picture because not only, as you can see, is he eating a banana, but the banana was originally a chocolate covered banana on a stick! When I first saw him the banana was still on the stick and the squirrel was holding it by the stick and eating it like human would! I thought it was quite a sight to see. Apparently, I’m too big of geek for my family! HA! Next time we’ll see you plan the trip to WDW and takes all of them along!

After me being mocked we headed toward Star Tours to catch a flight to Endor! With DH and Ryan sitting this one out we were soon on our way! But would be make it there safely!?

 

[eandesmom]

I noticed this little guy having a snack on a wall,



Of course my dear family made fun of me for taking a picture of a squirrel! As DH said, “Honey, we have squirrels at home!” But, I took the picture because not only, as you can see, is he eating a banana, but the banana was originally a chocolate covered banana on a stick! When I first saw him the banana was still on the stick and the squirrel was holding it by the stick and eating it like human would! I thought it was quite a sight to see. Apparently, I’m too big of geek for my family! HA! Next time we’ll see you plan the trip to WDW and takes all of them along!

After me being mocked we headed toward Star Tours to catch a flight to Endor! With DH and Ryan sitting this one out we were soon on our way! But would be make it there safely!?

Hmmn, are you sure you weren't at SAB taking a picture of the squirrel eating Evan's leftover french fries and the rest of my burger from Hurricane Hannah's that I made the mistake of leaving out on my lounge chair?

If so, I'm sorry Jeff mocked you. He couldn't figure out why there was a crowd in front of my lounge chair.


Great update and yes, John needs that mug. So does Jeff. So does Paul. Sandie almost bought it for him. :

Glad no one got sick and those are some great BAB pics!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Hmmn, are you sure you weren't at SAB taking a picture of the squirrel eating Evan's leftover french fries and the rest of my burger from Hurricane Hannah's that I made the mistake of leaving out on my lounge chair?

If so, I'm sorry Jeff mocked you. He couldn't figure out why there was a crowd in front of my lounge chair.


Great update and yes, John needs that mug. So does Jeff. So does Paul. Sandie almost bought it for him. :

Glad no one got sick and those are some great BAB pics!

You're too funny Cynthia!

What is with the crazy wildlife at WDW! I thought it was just the birds but apparently not! I won't even mention the snake and gator thread I read

Maybe I should buy an bunch of them! I'm so tempted to go get it for DH!

I was very relieved when they came off the ride and no one appeared to have gotten sick!

Thanks for the complement on the BAB pics! I was clicking away like crazy!

 

[eandesmom]

You're too funny Cynthia!

What is with the crazy wildlife at WDW! I thought it was just the birds but apparently not! I won't even mention the snake and gator thread I read

Maybe I should buy an bunch of them! I'm so tempted to go get it for DH!

I was very relieved when they came off the ride and no one appeared to have gotten sick!

Thanks for the complement on the BAB pics! I was clicking away like crazy!

It was so funny, we are in the pool and Jeff is like "why are those people crowded around our stuff?" and then we realize they are taking pictures of a squirrel, on my loungechair (and taking pictures of our stuff at the same time), eating food. It was WIERD and slightly invasive actually.

Not to mention the fact i was a little bummed about the rest of my burger. My fault for being impatient I guess.

We saw a ton of rabbits this trip.

OMG did you read Trish's snake update?

 

[mickeysmyboy]

It was so funny, we are in the pool and Jeff is like "why are those people crowded around our stuff?" and then we realize they are taking pictures of a squirrel, on my loungechair (and taking pictures of our stuff at the same time), eating food. It was WIERD and slightly invasive actually.

Not to mention the fact i was a little bummed about the rest of my burger. My fault for being impatient I guess.

We saw a ton of rabbits this trip.

OMG did you read Trish's snake update?

OMG! That's just crazy! I can told see people taking pictures of your stuff being invasive, it would have creeped me out!

We've seen all sorts of animals. Lots of rabbits, a crazy duck that really wanted to get into our room at Poly and then chased a lady down the beach, a bunch of armadillos, lots of little lizards and yes a few small snakes and a gator!

The snakes were all little skinny garter snakes. Nothing to get to freaked put about. Although, I could have lived without see them!

DD and I saw the gator when we took a cab from DTD to Epcot last Oct. It was in a drainage ditch on the side of the road! The driver even slowed down so we could see it! It was like 6 or 7 feet long and had it mouth wide open!

 

[eandesmom]

OMG! That's just crazy! I can told see people taking pictures of your stuff being invasive, it would have creeped me out!

We've seen all sorts of animals. Lots of rabbits, a crazy duck that really wanted to get into our room at Poly and then chased a lady down the beach, a bunch of armadillos, lots of little lizards and yes a few small snakes and a gator!

The snakes were all little skinny garter snakes. Nothing to get to freaked put about. Although, I could have lived without see them!

DD and I saw the gator when we took a cab from DTD to Epcot last Oct. It was in a drainage ditch on the side of the road! The driver even slowed down so we could see it! It was like 6 or 7 feet long and had it mouth wide open!

Jeff's comment was more like "get a life people, it's a squirrel"

Taylor really really wanted to see a gator on the trip.

Trish (cdlota) and her family saw a 6-9 FOOT long snake by SAB!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Jeff's comment was more like "get a life people, it's a squirrel"

Taylor really really wanted to see a gator on the trip.

Trish (cdlota) and her family saw a 6-9 FOOT long snake by SAB!

Geeze, what's going on at SAB?! Someone (I think it may have been wig'd but I could be wrong) had an encounter with some sort of giant water bug that leaves a REALLY nasty bite! Luckily the lifeguard saw it before it bit her!

6-9 feet would have terrified me!!! YIKES!!!

I did read about a family who was on the ground floor of the garden wing at the Contemporary. The found a HUGE snake behind the curtains! They got a big, fat upgrade! YIKES again! When we stayed on the ground floor of Poly I checked every time we came into the room and again before we went to bed! LOL!

 

[eandesmom]

Geeze, what's going on at SAB?! Someone (I think it may have been wig'd but I could be wrong) had an encounter with some sort of giant water bug that leaves a REALLY nasty bite! Luckily the lifeguard saw it before it bit her!

6-9 feet would have terrified me!!! YIKES!!!

I did read about a family who was on the ground floor of the garden wing at the Contemporary. The found a HUGE snake behind the curtains! They got a big, fat upgrade! YIKES again! When we stayed on the ground floor of Poly I checked every time we came into the room and again before we went to bed! LOL!

dunno but I'm glad she posted about it AFTER I got back! Does make me never want a ground floor room though!