Magic in a Winter Wonder World with 1,648 pictures

[BippityBoo]

YAY!!! Congrats on your trip I always tear up on the Jessie/Emily part What a great idea to have a dinner planned around the movie! Just bought my Toy Story 3 tickets today!!

 

[disney<333]

Oh, I'm excited (and a little jealous) that you're heading back in August!

We're still trying to decide between the last week of summer in mid August or labor day week. There are pros and cons for each. Right now, though, we're leaning towards August.

I'm finally caught up! And now I really want to go shopping at Disney...really, really, really bad!

I hope you get to plan a Sept trip. The prices are really good...hard to pass up, huh?

Hey Nikky,
I could go for some Disney shopping right now, too. Much better then the Publix run I made today.
Yes, the prices are good.

I have a Disney Visa. Ask away!

Thanks, Denise!
Is there an annual fee? My cousin and her DH each got one a few months ago and they each got a 200$ Disney gift card. Did you get one too? I think Disney had to send you a pin code for the gift card? Also, are the discounts at Disney the same as an AP?
Thanks for the help in advance.

YAY!!! Congrats on your trip I always tear up on the Jessie/Emily part What a great idea to have a dinner planned around the movie! Just bought my Toy Story 3 tickets today!!

I'll share pictures of the dinner when we see the movie. It was a ton of fun. Our next couple of nights will be Finding Nemo, DTD, and just a fun summer night.
Are you seeing the movie on Friday? We can't wait to see it. I'd like to purchase our tickets but first I want to make sure Emily is a 100% better and we might see it with the friends we met at the MK.

 

[praisehisname]

Thanks, Denise!
Is there an annual fee? My cousin and her DH each got one a few months ago and they each got a 200$ Disney gift card. Did you get one too? I think Disney had to send you a pin code for the gift card? Also, are the discounts at Disney the same as an AP?
Thanks for the help in advance.

No annual fee. We got ours in 2007, and I don't remember what the promotion was at that time. Also, I'm not sure what the AP discounts are, but we got 10% off at World of Disney. Plus, anything that is charged for your vacation package (deposit, balance, etc.) is interest-free for 6 months.

 

[MeMom]

Oh and about the Disney trip. I was sold on Labor day week until..........

Summer Nightastic started. I went on Youtube and watched MSEP and the fireworks. Oh my god, it was amazing!!! Especially the POTC in the fireworks! Yozers! After that I had to run numbers for the last week of summer. August 16th-21st! All the mods were filled and values all they have is All Star Sports. There is availability at all the resorts just not with free dining. The All Stars scare me! Those rooms look really, really small! I think we would have to get two. Then to seal the deal, Mitch comes out of his office all excited and said "It's back!" I asked him "What's back?" "MSEP! I LOVED that parade!" We have to go this summer to see it!
I never knew it meant that much to him! So, that's where we stand with the trip. If we got in August we'll get 7 day PHs and when there are 3 days left upgrade to the weekday pass and then go for Thanksgiving!
Also, if anyone has a Disney visa I have ?s for you.

I am looking forward to seeing MSEP again, but I am especially excited about these awesome fireworks that I keep hearing about. Dawn says if they are the Princess and Pirates ones that they are incredible!

We've stayed at All Star Sports twice. It was fine. There are definitely more groups of kids there, and they were a little rowdy a couple of times, but it wasn't enough to bother us.

 

[disney<333]

No annual fee. We got ours in 2007, and I don't remember what the promotion was at that time. Also, I'm not sure what the AP discounts are, but we got 10% off at World of Disney. Plus, anything that is charged for your vacation package (deposit, balance, etc.) is interest-free for 6 months.

Thanks for your help, Denise! We got 10% off at WOD with out SPs in November. I'll definitely be getting a Disney visa. Makes sense since we go as often as we do.

I am looking forward to seeing MSEP again, but I am especially excited about these awesome fireworks that I keep hearing about. Dawn says if they are the Princess and Pirates ones that they are incredible!

We've stayed at All Star Sports twice. It was fine. There are definitely more groups of kids there, and they were a little rowdy a couple of times, but it wasn't enough to bother us.

There is some pirates and princesses in it. I wont ruin it for you, though. Do you plan on watching it online first or do you want to be surprised?
I've heard mixed reviews about the All Stars. I've been thinking (I really need to stop thinking and just book already!) that for a summer trip we spend a lot of time in the pool and room. If it were a winter trip when we would be at the parks all day then I would say value is fine. So, we would want a resort with a lot of room space, fun pools, and easy transportation. We have a ton of Star points for Sheraton from when DH travels. We could use those for the Dolphin. That means we would get the room free, we would just have to pay for the food. It would be a little more then doing value with free CS but I think it will be worth it. We don't eat all the food on the DPs anyway.
What do you all think of this?

 

[MeMom]

We have a ton of Star points for Sheraton from when DH travels. We could use those for the Dolphin. That means we would get the room free, we would just have to pay for the food. It would be a little more then doing value with free CS but I think it will be worth it. We don't eat all the food on the DPs anyway.
What do you all think of this?

Free room sounds good. I know the room would be nicer than an All Star, of course. We're frugal, and sometimes a little more than frugal, and because our girls are little and don't care one way or the other about the pool amenities, we'd do an All Star with free CS before we'd do Dolphin, but your kids are older, and they'd probably like Dolphin better. The older Brooklynn gets, the more she likes having a slide at the pool.

Every family is different and every trip is different. We just found out this morning we're going to be able to stay at Saratoga Springs in October for the same price as Pop, so we're excited about getting to try out another new (for us) resort.

Wherever you end up, you'll be in Disney World with your family. That's the real blessing.

I probably will not watch the fireworks on video. I think I'll enjoy seeing the real thing for the first time in Magic Kingdom. When we have to come back home, and I'm craving Disney time, then I can watch them!

 

[disney<333]

We left this place with way too many shopping bags.

Said hello to this nice lady

and some Lego people

The lego tourist with the camera is taking video of us taking pics of him.

Walking past some more Lego creatures

It was finally cold enough for Amy to wear her Chip n Dale shirt.

MeMom will be staying here in Oct.

This is where we ate lunch.

I tried for months to get an ADR but no such luck. DTD was pretty empty so we gave it a try because the girls really wanted to eat here again. We walked in and the restaurant was 95% empty! It was the weirdest thing.
We were seated by the bar but asked if we could be moved to the ice room. Our wish was granted! We ate here in Nov. 08 right after it opened and before they accepted ADRs and it was packed and really loud. We enjoyed the food and my dinosaur loving family loved the restaurant. Today it was very quiet. Well, as quiet as a restaurant that has meteor showers every 20 minutes can be.

Our view at the table.

I think there was just one other family in the entire ice cave.
These pics came out blurry, unfortunately. A lit FYI- If you must get a new camera before a vacation, read the manual.

 

[disney<333]

Mitch took the rest of the restaurant pics.
Our food.

I know it doesn't look very appetizing. It's just the blue from the ice cave.
Emily and I split the ribs and chicken.
Amy ordered the popcorn shrimp of the kids' menu and Mitch had a burger. I can't find the pic of it, though. The portions were huge. Nobody finished it. The chicken was tasted like Walmart chicken. Yes, my family would very well know what store bought chicken taste like. The ribs were good and so were the fries and potatoes. Amy enjoyed her meal and Mitch liked his burger. We would eat here again but first I'd like to try some other places.

 

[praisehisname]

Great pics from DTD and TRex! TRex reminds me of Rainforest Cafe, which I don't really like, so I probably won't try there...

Are you done school now?

 

[disney<333]

Great pics from DTD and TRex! TRex reminds me of Rainforest Cafe, which I don't really like, so I probably won't try there...

Are you done school now?

Thanks so much!
I'm not a big rain forest cafe fan either, but I can take one for the team for trex. Luckily, it was very quiet when we ate there.
Dh will be taking the girls to rainforest for dinner on Monday as part of their father daughters day for father's day. Not sure what else they're doing but I'll have the house to myself to do some last minute packing.
The girls and I got out a week ago. I officially signed out for the summer yesterday. We all go back August, 23rd.

 

[MickeyisBeast]

hey
Love all the T-rex pics!
I love taking pics of/with the LEGO people.. they're cool

 

[disney<333]

Free room sounds good. I know the room would be nicer than an All Star, of course. We're frugal, and sometimes a little more than frugal, and because our girls are little and don't care one way or the other about the pool amenities, we'd do an All Star with free CS before we'd do Dolphin, but your kids are older, and they'd probably like Dolphin better. The older Brooklynn gets, the more she likes having a slide at the pool.

Every family is different and every trip is different. We just found out this morning we're going to be able to stay at Saratoga Springs in October for the same price as Pop, so we're excited about getting to try out another new (for us) resort.

Wherever you end up, you'll be in Disney World with your family. That's the real blessing.

I probably will not watch the fireworks on video. I think I'll enjoy seeing the real thing for the first time in Magic Kingdom. When we have to come back home, and I'm craving Disney time, then I can watch them!

We've stayed at the Dolphin a couple of times and really like it. Plus, we really need as much space as possible in the room. Some of us think it is necessary to pack a morning, afternoon, and an evening outfit! That would be Emily. We'll definitely be at the pool everyday since it will be so hot. Tge girls will like the volleyball net, slide, and activities they have by the pool. The Dolphin just screams summer to me so I think that is where we will end up. We could never eat all that food on the dining plan.
That's great about SSR.
I'm so grateful that we can experience Disney World together as a family and that we are all healthy to travel.
It says Summer Nightastic ends on the 14th and we'll arrive the 16th. I really hope they'll extend it.

hey
Love all the T-rex pics!
I love taking pics of/with the LEGO people.. they're cool

Hey,
Thanks!
You'll be seeing them real soon.

 

[BippityBoo]

We want to try Trex so badly!!! Maybe on check out day? I love the Ice Room...looks so cool----POST PICS OF YOUR NOTEBOOK!!

 

[disney<333]

I'll be starting my new PTR soon (probably in the next week!) but first I need help on the name.
This is what I have so far:
Pixie Dustin' Disney For The Princess' Birthday!
or
Warning! Warning! Obsessive Disney Planner On the Loose!
or
So Much To Celebrate! So Little Time!
or
Can We Survive This Brutal Heat Like Brer Rabbit?
Anybody have any other suggestions?
Which do you like the best?

 

[MickeyisBeast]

I like them all... but the first one's my fav! The third one would be my #2 pick

 

[disney<333]

We want to try Trex so badly!!! Maybe on check out day? I love the Ice Room...looks so cool----POST PICS OF YOUR NOTEBOOK!!

That could work! The portions are huge so you could easily split a few things making it a good OOP meal. That way you get one last touch of Disney and you're all filled up for the drive home.
Patience, my friend. It will be one of the first posts on the new PTR. I already started writing in it.

I like them all... but the first one's my fav! The third one would be my #2 pick

Thanks for the help, Sara! I think I'm going to go with the first one! Be on the look out for it.

 

[BippityBoo]

I like the Warning, Warning title!!!! Anything with obsessive planner in the title...I am subbing

 

[disney<333]

I like the Warning, Warning title!!!! Anything with obsessive planner in the title...I am subbing

Hehe! I got rid of some choices and added new ones. Once I decide on a title I will start.
I am very obsessive when it comes to my planning.

 

[disney<333]

Hey everyone,
We're in NJ. Got in yesterday. We went to Khols with my mom this morning! HUGE sale there! I got some clothes for the Disney trip.
We're going to see TS3 tonight!

 

[MickeyisBeast]

Have fun!
You'll love TS3, it's good