Mom and Dad's Dream Trip-34 Yrs in Making-Jun08 SOUVIE PICS PG 51 NEXT TRIP!!???!!!!?

[tink1957]

Another great update, Jen. Sounds like you had an almost perfect HS day except for Pizza Planet. Thanks for keeping us entertained.

 

[MegansMom]

I'll let you know for sure!

Sounds great!!! Look forward to the news!

Great Update! I was at DHS in June and rode Toy Story by myself... For some reason I had incredible luck and got over 200,000 ... I hope I am that good when I go back with DBF in November.
Whenever I get lunch at DHS -- it is alwasy just a turkey leg.. I hate those long lines.. I cannot believe it took you 40 minutes just to get your food.. You really are a very patient Mom.. I probably would have come up with some excuse to leave...

Great score!!! Tom and I can't wait to ride it again, because I think I know now how to better my score!! Can't wait!

I have had to build up my patience quite a bit with Megan's sensory issues, and even though it was torturous standing in that line, I knew it would have been soooooooooo much worse trying to take her out of there. With as hot as it was that day, it was probably a good thing that we were "stuck" in that A/C that long.

Hi Jenn,
I am a lurker pretty much.I will post every now and then,and I followed you over from Leslie's trip report,and have FINALLY gotten caught up on reading your pre- trip report and then the actual trip. I am loving it too. I think I go for the trip report with little kids as I am trying to recapture that magical feeling the little ones get.Both my daughters are grown,one 20 and will be a college senior this year and my youngest is 15.I have enjoyed reading about Megan's enthusiasm while she is at Disney World. My youngest was 4 years old when we first took her,and it is a trip I will never forget,especially when she saw the castle for the very first time.It was my first time also and I remember how I cried when I saw it. My daughter said "Mommy,don't cry,it's bootiful!" I laughed then and said " Yes it is bootiful and it makes me cry happy tears" So then for the rest of the trip,whenever we were having the best time or amazed about something,she would keep looking at me and ask me if I was going to cry happy tears again? LOL..Which of course would get me laughing and starting to cry again. Then one other time,we were watching the night time parade at Magic Kingdom,and she turned to me and said," Mommy,I think I am going to cry happy tears too!" And she had these huge eyes filled with pooled up tears.And the last thing I will always remember about that first trip is when we had to leave she said" Mommy,we shouldn"t leave here because it is going to make us cry sad tears" LOL
It did too! Thankfull we have been blessed to take a few other trips over the years,and now this January she will be going again ,this time with many of her friends from the high school dance team to dance in one of the parades down there. I am so excited for her,and I am also trying to surprise my older daughter with a mother/daughter only trip down there so we can watch my youngest dance in the parade.I am so excited that what at one time made her cry happy tears,she will actually be able to take part in now!


Sorry for highjacking your thread for that..but as you know,when us moms get to talking about our kids,we can go on and on...and this doesn't ever diminish with thier age either...lol,so that's my excuse.

Anyway,just wanted to tell you how much I love reading your trip report and how adorable your sweet little girl is. I wish you many more happy trips to her "happy place" for years to come!

Thank you so much for coming out of lurkdom to share your story with us!!! It was so beautiful, you made me cry!! I am glad that my sharing of our trip has been able to help you relive those speciall moments with your girls! I know we will be still wanting to take her years and years from now!! I hope we can go back soon--I know how much she enjoys it there!!! Thanks for sharing!!! Feel free to share away at any time!

Another great update, Jen. Sounds like you had an almost perfect HS day except for Pizza Planet. Thanks for keeping us entertained.

We really did accomplish quite a bit, and everyone go to see and do things they wanted to do, so I really shouldn't complain too much about lunch, but it was just one of those things!!!

 

[ampc3]

Great update! TSM is soo cool! Our longest wait for food all week was ALSO at TSPP at around 7pm.... took forever!!! I think they only had like 3 people working back there!

RnR is my favorite, all of those rides were a first for me and they all ROCK!!
Can't wait to hear about the rest of your day.. is this Thursday??

 

[tmkinney]

Okay, a little late but I'm hooked! Had to visit the TR of the person who was sooo nice and sent timandlesley the sweet gift! I've spent a big part of the day (at work! ) reading your TR. Unfortunately the pictures are blocked so I'll have to go thru again once I get home! You are so lucky to have a family as addicted to Disney as you are! All I have is my sister-in-law, no one else (especially DH) seems to understand my addiction! Got some great tips from your PTR, I'll be heading to the Dollar Tree soon for our September trip! Looking forward to more!

 

[tmkinney]

Caught up on the pics at home tonight. They are great! Megan is absolutely adorable! I LOVE the pic on the first page of your DH with Megan on his shoulders. Also both girls looked beautiful after their BBB appointment. Love Megan's Snow White dress, she is just a doll!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Thanks for the updated report! I get so excited reading it and thinking about our upcoming trip!

 

[MegansMom]

Great update! TSM is soo cool! Our longest wait for food all week was ALSO at TSPP at around 7pm.... took forever!!! I think they only had like 3 people working back there!

RnR is my favorite, all of those rides were a first for me and they all ROCK!!
Can't wait to hear about the rest of your day.. is this Thursday??

I love the thrill rides at DHS also!!! IT was so nice to be able to check them out again this year---when it is just Tom, Megs, and myself, I have passed on them because Megs was too small and Tom gets horrible motion sickness. It was fun having Kristi to ride them with---what a blast! This is Thursday---do you remember how scorching it was outside that day?!?!?! I can't remember off the top of my head---where were you guys? Were you melting and boiling like us???

Okay, a little late but I'm hooked! Had to visit the TR of the person who was sooo nice and sent timandlesley the sweet gift! I've spent a big part of the day (at work! ) reading your TR. Unfortunately the pictures are blocked so I'll have to go thru again once I get home! You are so lucky to have a family as addicted to Disney as you are! All I have is my sister-in-law, no one else (especially DH) seems to understand my addiction! Got some great tips from your PTR, I'll be heading to the Dollar Tree soon for our September trip! Looking forward to more!

WELCOME!!!! So glad you hopped over to check out the TR!!! I HAD to send Tim and Les something---not only for the fact that it was her bday and Father's day, but they had given me SO much info before we went all about what visiting WDW in June was like, and great tips and advice that saved us so much time and hassle while we were there. I wanted to do something nice for them to thank them for all their help--it made our trip AWESOME! They are great! So sorry there aren't more around you who understand the addiction--please feel free to share and discuss the addiction as much as you need here with me--I'll be the "support" you need!! I am glad I have been able to give you some great tips--hope your shopping works out well for you!!! I SO wish we were going in September with you---that is our favorite time to go so far! How were the crowds when you went last year? What time of the month did you visit? Two years ago we went in the middle of the month---LOVED IT!! Our best trip ever!

Caught up on the pics at home tonight. They are great! Megan is absolutely adorable! I LOVE the pic on the first page of your DH with Megan on his shoulders. Also both girls looked beautiful after their BBB appointment. Love Megan's Snow White dress, she is just a doll!

Thanks for all the compliments! We agree, but what parent wouldn't???? I am glad that you were able to see the pics at home!!

Thanks for the updated report! I get so excited reading it and thinking about our upcoming trip!

Well, you are welcome! I am so glad that it is helping you get excited and ready for your trip!!!

 

[cherbear]

well I am finding myself back here looking for an update....

It is such a joy to read about your trip and I don't want it to end! Can you go back sooner(like tomorrow maybe ) so you can write about it again?

 

[MegansMom]

Well, when I last left you all, we had headed back to the OKW for much needed naps and A/C!! Tom, Megan, and I were back up and over to DHS by 6pm---Mom, Dad, and Kristi had already headed back, so we were just going to meet up with them at our dinner reservations at Mama Melrose's.

On our way back in, we HAD to stop for some great photo ops though!!

Oh how I LOVE a man in uniform!!

Of course Megan wanted to get in on the action:

Tom was somehow holding her up there!

I think this was probably one of Tom's favorite pics of the whole trip--two of his favorite things together!!!

We were still early for our ADR--which wasn't until 7:30pm, so the three of us decided to take in some attractions we hadn't done yet. First we headed over to the Muppet 3D shows--oh how Megan loves those 3D shows!!!

Once we were finished with that, we remembered we still had FP for Star Tours. Since we were so close, we headed right over to ride. Of course we walked right up since we had the FP. As we were waiting at the doors of our vehicle to go in, our doors opened, and who did we see walking out of the vehicle????? YEP, MOM, DAD, AND KRISTI!!!!! We tried to call out to them to get their attention, but they did not hear us, and continued to unboard to Endor!!! OH WELL!!! We know we would be seeing them in minutes anyway! It was so funny to have bumped into them like that--especially since they did not know it! We took our trip to Endor--Megan giggling and holding on for dear life all the way!!!

Afterwards, we decided to start heading over to Mama Melrose's. Along the way, we stopped to take a few pics for Megs:

Oh how she loves Woody and all the Toy Story Gang!!!

And as I was trying to zoom in to take this picture of Megan, another tragedy struck us---it was awful, it SO played out like a slow-motion sequence from a movie. I was leaning over this blockade to take the picture, I started to zoom in to get a closer picture of Megan, and then suddenly, my elbow got bumped, and the camera went flying and tumbling out of my hands to the ground below. I SWEAR, when it happened, it was just like watching it in slow-mo in a film. I even felt myself screaming "OH NOOOOOOOOOO!" in my head in a slow, drawn out voice! As it crashed down on the pavement, I initially breathed a sigh of relief because it did not shatter into a hundred pieces like I had pictured in my mind. But when I picked it up and tried to take another picture or turn it off, nothing happened. The lens could not go back into the camera!!!!! My stomach dropped even more than when riding ToT!!!! I was crushed! It was my Mom's new camera, AND I BROKE IT!!!!! I was feeling SO sick to my stomach at that point! I am known in my family as a klutz, and rightfully so, but it just broke my heart that this had happened!

So we gathered up our stuff, and ambled over to Mama Melrose's. My Mom, Dad, and Kristi were waiting in the lobby when we got there with hugs and kisses, but they could tell in my face that something was wrong. So I retold the tragic story of the camera, and of course, my wonderful mother told me not to worry about it! BUT of course I was devastated about it still!! We still had more trip to enjoy, and were now down to just my tempermental camera that would not take many pictures outside. As I was still wallowing in the concern over the camera, the hostess came and told us our table was ready. I asked about Mike and the kids, and Mom and Dad said that they were going to stay over at OKW and eat there that night. So it would just be the six of us----and SAM, our wonderful, awesome, superb waiter at Mama Melrose's!!! His jubilant manner, quickly helped me get my mind off of the camera saga so I could enjoy my dinner!

I had the wood-grilled Chicken pasta-------------SOOOOOOOO GOOD!!

Tom had some spaghetti dish with sausage and shrimp---it was good too!

Megan had her beloved pizza---which she said was good too!

Kristi had the artisan breads with dip--they were yummy!!

For dessert, I had the cheesecake which was also very scrumptious--but sorry no pic--it was gone before we thought about taking a pic!

After dinner, we decided to head back over to TSM--we still had four FP, and we thought Mom and Dad would like to go on it. The wait was ridiculous--like 120 minutes I believe. So we sent Mom, Dad, Kristi (of course), and Megan on it---Tom and I did not mind waiting it out this time. I tried to take pictures of the Scrabble boards, but it was too dark.

They all had so much fun!! I am so glad that they got to ride it!!! Then we had more FP for ToT, so we headed up there. Kristi and I thought we might be riding alone, but GUESS WHAT!!!!! DAD decided to ride it with us!!! WE WERE SHOCKED!!!! We only had 2 FP, so we went up to the attendant at the gate, and explained our situation, so he gave us one more so we could all ride together!!! Kristi and I were so excited to be going on this with my Dad! We never thought in a million years he would try something like this, but he LOVED it!!! And the best part about the ride, was that we had one of those REALLY extended versions--it dropped us up and down several times, stopped and looked like we were done, but then all of the sudden, the doors snapped closed and we were yanked back up and down another couple times!!! IT was the BEST ride on ToT I have ever had!!! Our picture was great--so great that Kristi bought an 8x10 of it--I will tell you what she did with that later!

We had so much fun telling Mom and Tom all about the ride! By this point, Mom and Megan were looking quite a bit tired, so Mom, Dad, Tom, and Megan decided to head back to OKW, but Kristi and I decided that we wanted to stay for a little longer and hit the stores before the park closed that night. So we said our good byes and gave our hugs, and then we were ready to take in the sights of DHS!! AND WE SHOPPED 'TIL WE DROPPED!!!

Kristi decided that she wanted to get a nice frame for the ToT picture to give to Dad for Father's Day. She got a great frame--light cherry wood with Black Mickey outlines embossed into the corners--very nice!!! They wrapped it all up for her too! Then I found a great WDW mug--right up Dad's alley--for his Father's Day gift from me. It even says "Dad" on the handle. I also got him a special collection of Decaf "Disney" coffees. While I was in this store shopping for Dad, I saw some GREAT Disney kitchen accessories that reminded me of Tim and Lesley (timandlesley on the DIS), and decided that I would send them a Mickey pot holder and kitchen towel (to match their newly redesigned Mickey Kitchen) as a thank you gift/birthday gift for Les/Father's Day gift for Tim for all the help and advice they provided us for this trip that helped to make it AWESOME for us! The CM wrapped it up and said that they would receive it at their hotel within the next day or so! YEAH! Kristi and I continued to bop from one shop to the next--having SO much fun along the way!! We would each pick up stuff here and there--like postcards or souvies--but we were just enjoying looking at all the different things we found in each shop and reliving trips from our past when we were younger! I also found a great collage frame one of my girlfriends from home wanted me to bring back for her, and some more scrapbook accessories!!! I am SO glad we took the time to be two sisters touring through the shops together at one of our favorite places on earth!! It took us right back to all those trips we took together as kids! Here's Kristi goofing off in one of the shops----I SO totally think she should have bought this hat, but she didn't!

As we were goofing off in this store, a lovely CM came to tell us that the park and stores would be closing soon, so we gathered up our purchases and headed out towards the buses---laughing all the way!

Our OKW bus was waiting there patiently for us when we arrived to our station, so we boarded and enjoyed our leisurely ride "home!" When I got into my room, Megs and Tom were already away in dreamland!! I quickly got things ready for the next morning, and then joined them in their dreams!!!

UP NEXT----ANOTHER DAY AT MK!!! Who makes it to the park today??? How do all of Tom's brilliantly laid plans go QUICKLY awry??? How do we recover??? Just when and where will we ever meet our family again??? What suprise is in store for the family tonight??? STAY TUNED!!!!! SO much good stuff to come!

 

[cherbear]

I'm first!!

This was an awesome update!! I just LOVE the pics of Tom and Megs as Stormtroopers!!

Now I want to go in June just so I can get a picture like that!

The meal looked REALLY GOOD! I honestly hadn't considered eating there before, but now it's on my list for a future trip!

Listening to your ToT experience, it makes me wish I could go ride it RIGHT NOW! It's a huge fav of mine!
I can't wait to see the picture! (are we going to see it?? )

How fun that you and Kristi got to shop together! Maybe my younger sister and I can do that some day.

 

[ampc3]

another great installment Jen, I just love how you guys are always running into your families by surprise! What are the chances all the time...

Sounds like fun, all the time you and your sister got to share together..
Love the picture of Megan and the strom troppers...

Actually, we ended up back at DHS thursday pm too for fantasmic...

 

[trixiequilts]

So glad you liked Mama's, we have the Fantasmic! package booked there in January, and have been reading lots of mixed reviews. Sounds like you had a great server, that always helps!

Sorry about the camera thing. That would totally happen to me!

Smart decision not to do TSMM again...you didn't give Tom the chance to beat you! Congrats [still] Reigning Champion of the House!

 

[lindap1]

Ok, now that I have finally gotten caught up. Great TR so far. Hearing about everyones adventures gets me more and more excited about going. Eventhough were not going until fall 2010. When we go DD will be just shy of 4 years old, is that to young? She will be 4 on Dec 26, 2010. We have decided to take her to a park next year (maybe Sesame Place in PA) to see how she handles it. (Yes, I just saw that on John and Kate and I didn't know it existed). I have gotten so many ideas for our trip all ready from everyone on here. I have already decided on staying at CSR.
Looking forward to reading more of your trip. Linda

 

[Charleston Princess]

How horrible about the camera!!!

Aside from that catastrophe you had a lovely evening at DHS! Mama Melrose's looks yummy!!! I love how you and Kristi shut down the park!!! You were so sweet to send a gift over to Tim and Lesley -- I bet it looks awesome in their Mickey kitchen!

 

[micandminforever]

I enjoyed the stormtrooper pictures. It sounds like you and Kristi had a great sister time. I am sure your father enjoyed the picture, the cup, and the coffee.

 

[lmillercrew]

Oh man! That stinks about the camera. I know exactly the sick feeling you must have had It's a good thing your mom was so nice about it. Mom's are great aren't they? I LOVE the picture of Megan as a stormtrooper! Sooo cute! I'm glad you enjoyed your time with your sister. My sister lives in Omaha, a 13 hour car ride away. I wish I lived on the next block over. I love being with my sister and am so happy for you that you got to have that time with Kristi, alone, with no child present. It's nice to be just a sister sometimes.

 

[IluvXU]

Yikes on the camera... that really stinks! I know that is why I can never get a great camera.. mine last less than 2 years, I am too hard on them!

What a fun night closing the parks with your sister and shopping!

It is amazing how often you ran into your family... but never mine

Cute pics of course of Megan!

Excited to hear about the next day!

 

[Lady Lallie]

What a great day for you and your family! Well besides the camera breaking. How devastating! I hope you are going to get a new one before your next trip.
The stormtrooper pictures are so awesome!

 

[MegansMom]

I'm first!!

This was an awesome update!! I just LOVE the pics of Tom and Megs as Stormtroopers!!

Now I want to go in June just so I can get a picture like that!

The meal looked REALLY GOOD! I honestly hadn't considered eating there before, but now it's on my list for a future trip!

Listening to your ToT experience, it makes me wish I could go ride it RIGHT NOW! It's a huge fav of mine!
I can't wait to see the picture! (are we going to see it?? )

How fun that you and Kristi got to shop together! Maybe my younger sister and I can do that some day.

I am so glad you enjoyed the update!! I love those pictures too!! Tom had to hoist Megan up in a strange way to get her head in the shot without seeing him too--and she was really giggling the whole time! LOVE those pics! And now you have another reason to take another trip---like we really need a reason, right????

I love ToT too!!! I wish Tom wouldn't get sick, because he would truly love that ride, but his stomach definitely would not! I will get a picture of that one and the Splash Mtn. one next time I'm at my Mom's--so stay tuned for them!

Kristi and I had so much fun shopping! We felt like we had the parks to ourselves!!! I hope you do get that chance to do the same with your own sis!

another great installment Jen, I just love how you guys are always running into your families by surprise! What are the chances all the time...

Sounds like fun, all the time you and your sister got to share together..
Love the picture of Megan and the strom troppers...

Actually, we ended up back at DHS thursday pm too for fantasmic...

In a place as big as that, it is funny to think how many times we accidentally bumped into each other!! Too funny! Kristi and I had a great time, and got a bunch of fun souvies to go along with it too!

We had to skip Fantasmic because Megan can't handle it--meltsdown when the dragon comes out!

So glad you liked Mama's, we have the Fantasmic! package booked there in January, and have been reading lots of mixed reviews. Sounds like you had a great server, that always helps!

Sorry about the camera thing. That would totally happen to me!

Smart decision not to do TSMM again...you didn't give Tom the chance to beat you! Congrats [still] Reigning Champion of the House!

Mama's really isn't bad! We have eaten there quite a few years in a row, and have never had a bad experience. It isn't our favorite place to go, but still good nevertheless! Sam was a GREAT server!

Tom said he was NOT surprised at all when I dropped the camera--I have to admit, I wasn't either!! I'm a klutz!!!

Of course I did not want to give him a chance at beating me!! Reigning Champ--that's me!

Ok, now that I have finally gotten caught up. Great TR so far. Hearing about everyones adventures gets me more and more excited about going. Eventhough were not going until fall 2010. When we go DD will be just shy of 4 years old, is that to young? She will be 4 on Dec 26, 2010. We have decided to take her to a park next year (maybe Sesame Place in PA) to see how she handles it. (Yes, I just saw that on John and Kate and I didn't know it existed). I have gotten so many ideas for our trip all ready from everyone on here. I have already decided on staying at CSR.
Looking forward to reading more of your trip. Linda

Thanks for the compliments and WELCOME!!! Your DD will be at a GREAT age!!! Megan was only 2--just a week shy of turning 3--the first time we took her, and it was MAGICAL!!! She should be GREAT! Just remember to keep in consideration her needs/routine when planning your daily events. Then everything should be great! CSR is a GREAT resort---one of our favorites!

How horrible about the camera!!!

Aside from that catastrophe you had a lovely evening at DHS! Mama Melrose's looks yummy!!! I love how you and Kristi shut down the park!!! You were so sweet to send a gift over to Tim and Lesley -- I bet it looks awesome in their Mickey kitchen!

I was so upset about that camera---I loved that camera!!! We did still have a GREAT time! Our food was great, and SAM was SPECTACULAR! Kris and I had such a good time! When I saw that stuff, I immediately thought of Lesley's new kitchen, and with her bday right at that time, I couldn't help but sending her a little surprise!

I enjoyed the stormtrooper pictures. It sounds like you and Kristi had a great sister time. I am sure your father enjoyed the picture, the cup, and the coffee.

Dad loved it all!! We still haven't stopped laughing about our ride on ToT!! Dad and I keep teasing Kristi because she has a death grip on both of us! TOO FUNNY!! You'll see it in the picture! My Dad is very particular about his coffee mugs, and he said that it was PERFECT!!!

Oh man! That stinks about the camera. I know exactly the sick feeling you must have had It's a good thing your mom was so nice about it. Mom's are great aren't they? I LOVE the picture of Megan as a stormtrooper! Sooo cute! I'm glad you enjoyed your time with your sister. My sister lives in Omaha, a 13 hour car ride away. I wish I lived on the next block over. I love being with my sister and am so happy for you that you got to have that time with Kristi, alone, with no child present. It's nice to be just a sister sometimes.

I wasn't expecting my Mom to be upset, but boy was I!!!! I love that pic of Megan too---so cute! When Kristi and Justin lived down in Louisville right after they got married while Justin finished med school, we had such a hard time!! AND THAT WAS ONLY AN HOUR AND HALF AWAY!!!! I can't imagine how we would survive 13 hours!!! We were all praying SO hard that Justin would get a residency here at home, or at least close---some of the residency locations were all the way across the country, so we were VERY nervous!! BUT, luckily he got the UofCincinnati residency bringing them back home!

Yikes on the camera... that really stinks! I know that is why I can never get a great camera.. mine last less than 2 years, I am too hard on them!

What a fun night closing the parks with your sister and shopping!

It is amazing how often you ran into your family... but never mine

Cute pics of course of Megan!

Excited to hear about the next day!

I know what you mean about the camera--Tom and I now have to get a new one!!! What kind did you just get?? I know you said you really like it.

We had a blast closing down DHS!!!

I so wish we would have at least run into you guys one time--but no luck!

The next day was great!!! I can't wait to share! Stay tuned!!!

 

[MegansMom]

What a great day for you and your family! Well besides the camera breaking. How devastating! I hope you are going to get a new one before your next trip.
The stormtrooper pictures are so awesome!

I was so bummed about the camera!! Tom and I really need to get a new one--now I have to figure out what to get! I so love that picture of Megan too!