Mom needed a break...no laundry, no hubby, no kids...sorta!! A SOLO TR..updated 11/15

[ILuvCrush]

Oh my goodness. Those are possibly the best fireworks pictures i've ever seen! i'm in awe!

And shame on you Paula, saying you're not funny or a good writer in your OP. You are wonderful to read and i'm SO enjoying reading your TR! i'm only on page 4 so far. Very belated happy birthday!

Awww you're so sweet!!
Thanks for coming over!! It was a neat trip!

Paula

 

[tiggerfan6]

Thank you for doing your trip report! I love it! I also did the KTTK tour with my aunt in 02 and I am glad to hear that its about the same as when you went. The only thing new is the earpiece and the group size was bigger. I loved eating at CH, Our tour guide was good too, I wished I had brought my camera, I want to do it again sometime. I would love to go by self sometime... good for you
Erica

 

[MEK]

Here's a shout out to Paula -

I AM READY FOR A NEW INSTALLMENT!!!!!!! Let's get to it girlfriend!

 

[ILuvCrush]

Well I don't have an actual update for the trip... BUT I do have some trip related bragging to do

Yesterday I got my photopass pics in the mail
I only ordered 3... the ones the photopass photogs took with my camera were as good or better than the ones they took with theirs!! However I couldn't get these ones with mine!! Please forgive the quality... the real ones are better, but i had to redneck these since my scanner is junk!

OK this is my fav pic from the week...of me anyway

memories of MNSSHP!!

Now this is far from the best pic of me... but was too cool having Stitch in it, I couldn't resist!

I also wanted to brag... I actually got my ENTIRE scrapbook completed this weekend I went the lazy route... and did a Creative Memories Picfolio Milestones album, instead of a traditional scrapbook... but since it was alot of scenery pics and nothing bigger than a 4x6, I tried it. It was quick and easy...AND I liked how it came out!! I think I may use them for other vacations.... but they won't replace my regular scrapbooks

Here's a couple pics... yeah they're bad, but I felt I needed some proof of my diligence. I'm amazed I managed to stay off the boards long enough to do it

 

[faerieprincess]

Ohhh Paula i love your scrapbook pages. i'd be tempted to do something like that if only because my absolute need for symmetry would be much easier to accomodate!!!

ETA: i have finally finished reading and am all caught up, and will join the rest of the gang eagerly awaiting an update!

 

[MEK]

Paula -

Great pic/scrapbook! Ok - I will forgive you for not doing another installment. I see you were hard at work on your creative memories of the trip. Tell us more about the process. I really like that!

p.s. Love the time change right now - woke up super early and have time for a quick trip to the DIS!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Paula,

I'm jealous...you got your scrapbook pages done already! I've been back since September 21st and all I've done so far is organize my days.

Sophia

 

[ILuvCrush]

Ohhh Paula i love your scrapbook pages. i'd be tempted to do something like that if only because my absolute need for symmetry would be much easier to accomodate!!!

ETA: i have finally finished reading and am all caught up, and will join the rest of the gang eagerly awaiting an update!

Paula -

Great pic/scrapbook! Ok - I will forgive you for not doing another installment. I see you were hard at work on your creative memories of the trip. Tell us more about the process. I really like that!

p.s. Love the time change right now - woke up super early and have time for a quick trip to the DIS!

Paula,

I'm jealous...you got your scrapbook pages done already! I've been back since September 21st and all I've done so far is organize my days.

Sophia

Thanks everybody!!! Picfolio is the way to go There's pockets for your pics + you can buy 'kits' that include papers that match your theme and fit in the pockets without any cutting!! So I got a Mickey Vacation Kit, a book, and my pens... and off I went! I did add a few of my own halloween papers and mickey stickers, but it was nice not needing to get out 472 pounds of carp to do it

I still haven't started the scrapbooks from the All Girls Trip from Feb In fact, I haven't even printed the pictures yet So I have plenty more to get accomplished!! My 2006 trip ended up as 2 albums and 180 pages.... the traditional scrapbook route.... needless to say, I was scrapped out after that...and had been dragging my feet for the repeat performance for the Girls trip


The time change is killing me I work all 3rd shift... I was off last night, but couldn't keep my eyes open come 10:00!! Now today, i'm up at 4:30 It would be fine, except I go back to work 2nite, and if I don't manage a nap today, I'll be up a creek!!

Paula

 

[princess&her4princes]

Morning Paula!!

LOVE the scrapbook album!! I am SO FAR BEHIND on my albums that is exactly what I need to catch up!! Can you just order them from CM website or do you have a rep with them that you use? I need to look into this......my poor first born (who will be 6 on Friday!!) just has 4 pages done in his scrapbook and the rest are in regular albums and I've had two babies since!!! Uh oh!! Love the pics, they turned out great!! Looking foward to the next installment. Hope you can get some rest today!!!!

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

Woah! Those are some SKILLZ!

How did you get your scrapbook like that?

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I love your photopass pictures! And your scrapbook looks incredible. I've wanted to start scrapbooking but am daunted by everything it entails. Maybe this kind of book would be a good way for me to start?

 

[ILuvCrush]

I love your photopass pictures! And your scrapbook looks incredible. I've wanted to start scrapbooking but am daunted by everything it entails. Maybe this kind of book would be a good way for me to start?

Thanks!! I've never had even 1 photopass pic with Tink or Stitch or anything in it... I was pretty excited!!! My mom loves the Tink one... I know that she's planning to ASK for it in november... she hasn't told me that...I just KNOW HER!!

Its touted as a "scrapbook for people who don't/can't/won't scrapbook"
Definately a good place to start

 

[If U Had Wings]

The scrapbook pages look great. I may have to look into getting some of those picfolios for my older stuff so I can get caught up.

 

[lmillercrew]

Yay for easy scrapbook pages!! Your last 2 book endevour sounds like my last Disney scrapbook. I had two too. I did a simple Mexico album and have yet to start my Disney Oct 07 album. I still have to do Hawaii and I'm not even sure how to go about doing that. I have an expander file FULL of articles, cards, bills, etc of Harvey's shark incident plus all of the normal pictures that were taken. I still haven't developed my pics from either trip. Plus, I have a Mexico trip from this year to do and make Christmas cards. AAGGHHH!!!!
I so glad you did a long update this time. Although, now I have to go and do my wifely duties. rotfl2: I said duty. (doodie) ) Makes me laugh every time. I know, I'm a little off.
Sorry about the time change. You never think about those people that work third shift when those time change things happen. I just know I'm excited that I get an extra hour of sleep. I hope you get a nap today!

 

[ILuvCrush]

Suprise Suprise!!! A new installment this morning! I wasn't really planning to but I'm in a Disney frame of mind.... not a laundry state of mind... which honestly, is the one I should be in

This is my 4th day... I've FINALLY gotten into the swing of the solo trip, thanks to an AWESOME day on Wednesday. Even better, I felt all kinds of human again... still a little stuffy, but no big deal...WooHoo!!

I had a big day planned at DHS... yes I CAN do it... DHS not MGM! I was committed to rope drop...cause I had to try TSM. I didn't want to wait in a huge line. Lines don't bother me too much, but I like standing in them w/ someone to talk to ...thus a 90 min wait in line for TSM didn't appeal to me!

My wake up call went off at 7am... it had generic-non-Disney music. BOOOO!! I can wake up to generic music at home... even Demi is better than that! I managed to shower, get myself together... realized I forgot my cellphone (I was to call Stacybeasm for a possible meet today)....went back and got it, filled my mug, grabbed a rice krispy treat for bfast..... AND made it to the busses by 8:10 Whew!

I was about 12th or so back from the turnstiles and chatted with a nice family from Louisiana. They let us in and I became part of the human wave surging down the street to the "ROPE". Now this is odd... at 9:00 the rope dropped..... No opening show...nothing! I'm not a big fan of the DHS opening show or anything, I just thought it was odd that they didn't do it...or anything

Well, the rope's dropped, so me and what feels like 1/2 the population of Florida head off toward TSM!! I'll tell you what, the Dumbo Dash has NOTHING on that madness!! OMG I can't imagine what that stampeede would look like during a BUSY time!! During my pretrip research I had read on the DIS that the general concensus was to ride TSM standby and get FP afterward for a 2nd ride. Standby WAS a walk on

It is a great ride! My kiddos and even DH & DS would love it I didn't do real great...I'm not a videogame person. I got a score of 75K something and a little bunny prize. The ring toss did me in... I just couldn't get the hang of that one! Would I wait 90min to get on????
*&%$^% NO!!! It's very cool...but almost nothing is worth that kind of wait in my book. I was off TSM by 9:16. By now the line to get a FP had to be 20min long! It stretched all the way to One Man's Dream.

Next stop was R&RC... singles line. The regular line had a 30min wait time posted. There was nothing on the SRL sign I double checked that it was even open...then I walked in. I was thru the recording studio and into the 'loading area' in less than 3min.... I SO LOVE the single rider lines

I ended up riding with a gal who was also a single rider... but didn't know about the special line, so she waited in the regular one. She was really nervous. What a RUSH!! I hadn't rode it for almost 2 yrs and had forgotten just how great it is! My seat mate didn't share my enthusiasm. She looked shell shocked and asked "is it PLEASE over now!!!" I felt so bad for her, but laughed with her anyway I offered to ride ToT with her, since she planned to ride it alone too... but after R&RC she didn't want to try it. My new friend went to calm her nerves with a cigarette ... I went and got a FP for just me for ToT!!

It was now around 10.... character greeting time..... You all remember who I was on a mission to find.... don't you?????

Prince Caspian

How dreamy That silly Susan, what was she thinking. You're not gonna find THAT on THIS side of Narnia......

I headed to the Narnia exhibit. After fighting my way thru the TSM FP distrubution line that was blocking the enterance I scoped out my competiton... I mean I looked to see how long the meet and greet line was There was NO ONE THERE!! So I walked in. My dear prince has his own private meet and greet area... so it's just me and him (well and the photopass guy and character handler.... but who cares about them)

Ooooohhh he is quite the smooth talker... "hello princess, I've been waiting so long to meet you!!! From where do you hail??? You're a very beautiful princess, I'm so glad you made the time to give me an audience...."
AHhhhhhh where's the "jelly smiley" I need one!!!! He held my hands and looked dreamily into my eyes. Yep he made this chubby, middling aged gal feel like I was a giddy 16 again.... AND he was cute!!

So after my wonderful audience with the prince... I went in to see the Narnia exhibit. I saw the first one... so I didn't expect much, well, I didn't expect anything at all really! It was me and like a dozen other people. Narnia is well down on most peoples to do lists... rightfully so. If I hadn't seen how bad the first version of this attraction was, I'd have been disappointed. However, in comparison, this one is like a million times better. Aslan's How is very neat and the effects are quite cool as well.

I exited and popped right into One Man's Dream. This was also on my to do list. I'm glad I did it the day after my KTTK tour!! It would have been interesting anyway, but it was neat to see so much that we actually had TALKED about yesterday during the tour! I took a really long time walking thru the exhibits, and reading everything... I was probably in there for at least 45min! I loved looking at the models and pictures. I'm still kicking myself for not taking a picture of the Castle model for Disneyland Paris.... I can't wait to see that one in person, it is gorgeous! I also made sure to watch the film. I enjoyed it, but they really need to update the sound... I had a hard time understanding it.

OMD exited right next to the Animation Studio. So I did that next. I liked the first part, but the cast member narrator mumbled so bad, I could barely understand her... what is up with me and my hearing today
Afterward, i skipped the meet and greet with Mickey... I've seen him twice already... and qued up for the drawing class. It was my first time, and WOW it was so fun!! Definately on the list for future trips... the kids will love it too. We drew Pluto... and miine even sorta looked like Pluto when I was done!!

It was time to use my ToT FP... so I headed that way next. I waited, oh, 1 minute...maybe. Then I was into the Library. I got to sit in the front row. I never did that before... I was a bit scared but I lived to tell the tale!! It was a great time.

by the time I got off ToT.. it was almost noon... I was hungry, AND I needed to call Stacybeasm!!

How will our meet go?? Stay Tuned!!

Paula

 

[ILuvCrush]

Yay for easy scrapbook pages!! Your last 2 book endevour sounds like my last Disney scrapbook. I had two too. I did a simple Mexico album and have yet to start my Disney Oct 07 album. I still have to do Hawaii and I'm not even sure how to go about doing that. I have an expander file FULL of articles, cards, bills, etc of Harvey's shark incident plus all of the normal pictures that were taken. I still haven't developed my pics from either trip. Plus, I have a Mexico trip from this year to do and make Christmas cards. AAGGHHH!!!!
I so glad you did a long update this time. Although, now I have to go and do my wifely duties. rotfl2: I said duty. (doodie) ) Makes me laugh every time. I know, I'm a little off.
Sorry about the time change. You never think about those people that work third shift when those time change things happen. I just know I'm excited that I get an extra hour of sleep. I hope you get a nap today!

I need to start Xmas cards soon too Otherwise, I'll end up buying them instead...like last year. Sounds like Harvey's shark attack is a book in itself!! I noticed you Hawaii ticker is gone did you decide not to face the sharks after all????

 

[pamjb]

Paula,

I am loving your trip report. While I haven't gotten up enough gumption to go solo, I have gone on a Ladies Only F&W fest trip. WDW is a whole different place when you are traveling without children and/or husbands.

The gift card on the stretchy bracelet ARE reloadable. I got one for our F&W fest trip. It was great to use at the kiosks. They work just like the Disney gift cards. I like this method better than charging to my room. Also helps to "theoretically" budget.

 

[Lady Lallie]

What a great update! I love DHS. I have never gone on ToT though. It scares me. DH wants me to try it at least once but I couldn't bring myself to do it this past trip.

 

[jenjolt]

Hey Paula!!

First of all I have to admit I loved your scrapbook!! I'm a huge Creative Memories Scrapbooker and I have two trips in one album and I have already started planning for my January trip. I never thought of doing the Picfolio route since I love to do the original scrapbook although it will take me probably a year to finish it LOL Oh well relive my trip each time!!

Sounds like you had an amazing day at DHS! I must admit I haven't seen Narnia 2 yet so I might have to do that before my trip so I don't sound like a complete idiot when I go!!!

Thanks for a great update!!!

 

[jblrn2b]

After spending one busy weekend btween football, lacrosse, a husband, an eight yr old and a moody 14yr (yesterday- he's usually okay), I am ready to join you. I have sat here for the last hour and sum ready your TR - boy am I jealous. I haven't cleaned or done laundry. Thanks for cheering me up!!!!!!!!!