"Mom, this is like a whole new Disney!" New 7/30 - pg 43 - Final Thoughts & PTR Link

[DisMomAmy]

Once you have that airfare, you just have to go!!!

Congrats on booking air. Wish I could go this fall.....I just got a pin code for 40% off all resorts.....

Have you started planning Feb/March 2011 yet?

Hopefully the pin code means there will be more where that one came from! No planning yet for 2011... Airfare isn't out yet & probably won't be until August or so. Park hours & ADRs won't be until August... Timeshare (hopefully Sheraton Vistana Resort again) won't be until December... I'll focus on the fall trip for now then I'll get to jump on the February trip in August. How about you?

Sorry I'm late, but I'm here now.

Hi Jordan!! So glad to see you! Hope you are doing OK!

yay Amy! Congrats on booking your trip! i wish airfare from hawaii was that low...I would go more often!! Can't wait to hear your plans for that trip!

I bet it costs an arm & a leg from Hawaii! But you have your next trip in the works already...

Oh my goodness....booking the airfare is the best part! Then you KNOW you're going! I'm so excited for you!

No turning back now!

I love hearing about trip plans so YES post away!! That price coming home seems a little high. Hopefully they will go down.

Has it been hot enough for you?? I really love the heat but it seems too much & too soon. I am anxious to uncover our pool but they are still working on our house so hopefully by next weekend we will be back to normal

It agree it does seem high... but if it goes down we'll just re-book and get a credit. I know it isn't a school vacation week, which is what I am used to, but based on past experience, the Sunday return flights don't usually go down. We'll see if that remains true for non-school vacation weeks.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Yay on the airfare!! I got my September flight booked as well. Your birthday is the 24th? That's my husband's birthday as well. Very neat! Please share your planning details, I'd love to see them!

Congrats to you on your airfare!! That's funny that we have the same birthday... I haven't met too many people who share the day with me.

Congrats on booking airfare... it's really real now!


Kathy

Hello Amy! I am so dreadfully behind everywhere, but wanted to stop by and say hi. I hope to get caught up soon.

No worries... I'm behind everywhere too... I'm trying to catch up on one every once in a while, but then I get behind again! I can't wait for school to get out!

airfare makes it so real!



great H&V update and neat that they recognized your voluntEAR buttons that way!

The VoluntEAR recognition was fun!

Apparently I was in my own little world when we went to ride R-N-R that morning because I didn't even notice any work being done or that the guitar was covered up!!! I didn't have my camera so I wasn't looking around taking pictures like usual. My dad and I jetted over there and my eyes were on the back of the CM's head we were following! I do remember looking at a little booth that was selling knick knacks, but I had NO IDEA the guitar was covered up until I just saw that on your TR!

Congrats on the airfare being booked!! So exciting!!

That is funny! I don't know how you could have missed it!

 

[DisMomAmy]

First of all… I’m sad to report that a week and a half ago, Zach’s remaining pet mouse, Umu, died. We have no idea how but we only had him a week before it happened. He was sad. I decided to do a little research and discovered that we were given some inaccurate information about gerbils when we originally inquired about getting a pair. The guy at the pet store told us they had live alone and that mice would be better for children to handle than gerbils. Well it turns out, gerbils live longer if they are with another gerbil and they are great pets for kids. So later that day, we headed to a different pet store and ended up with Misha & Jessica. Zach let Alex name Jessica. He named her after one of the million dollar winners on Deal or No Deal. Misha is another Go-Gos name!

So far Misha & Jessica seem to be very happy. They are very, very cute too! They have built a little nest out of a chewed up toilet paper tube & sleep in it together all the time. We also bought a “play pen” that we put on the floor and let them run around in. Zach is really enjoying them. Let’s hope they live a little longer than the mice did… I promise, we did feed them & give them water.

I also received our Photopass CD earlier this week! Here are the few pictures from our DHS day:

Up next: I promise an update or two this weekend!

 

[Lovemy3babes]

Look at your smiling faces in those Photopass pictures! You all are beaming! Congrats on the new little critters.

 

[KathyRN137]

Aww, so sorry about the mice... I hope the gerbils work out better!

Love the PP Pix! Grandma looks like she's having a blast, doesn't she?


Kathy

 

[jenniferkeala808]

Awww, so sorry to hear about UMU!! i'm loving your photopass pics! They're soooo cute!! Can't wait for more!

 

[mrsksomeday]

Great photopass pictures!! They are great.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Look at your smiling faces in those Photopass pictures! You all are beaming! Congrats on the new little critters.

It was a wonderful morning!

Aww, so sorry about the mice... I hope the gerbils work out better!

Love the PP Pix! Grandma looks like she's having a blast, doesn't she?


Kathy

I think Gramma had a wonderful time!! So far so good with the gerbils!

Awww, so sorry to hear about UMU!! i'm loving your photopass pics! They're soooo cute!! Can't wait for more!

More great PP pictures to come! Just not until day 2.

Great photopass pictures!! They are great.

Thanks Tracy!! Only four more days until your ADRs!!

 

[DisMomAmy]

After a short break (and a poop from Alex – the first of only two over the ten days! Sorry for TMI) we headed out to Epcot.

It was around 4:00. I had really wanted to see Sergio, the juggler in Italy but it didn't seem to be a priority for everyone else so I let it go. He wouldn't be there on Friday so we would miss him... Instead of running to try to catch Sergio, the kids wanted to take a ride on SSE before heading to Japan for dinner. I rode with Zach in one car. Tim sat in the back seat of the same car Alex & Gramma rode in. As always, the kids enjoyed the last part of the ride:

We played the SSE video games (and sent a postcard home) before heading out. We started heading toward the WS and grabbed a FP for a Kim Possible mission. It told us to go to Norway at 5:15. It was probably between 4:45 & 5:00 and our ADR was at 5:10 so we needed to boogie! I'm not sure, but I think we managed to take these pictures along the way:

We didn’t wait very long at all & were seated with a party of 4, which put 9 at our table! It was a tight squeeze! The five chairs across the long side of the table were pretty much touching each other. Nancy sat on the end with Alex & his Star Wars guys. Zach, Tim & I sat in the middle with two people from their party. We were in a very back room that seemed pretty dark. I give the atmosphere a C but the food was an A+ just like last time. Nancy picked up the tab for this meal. Somehow this is the only picture I took during the meal... maybe it's because we were sitting with other people??

After heading out we stopped at Kaki Gori to get the kids some dessert then we started heading toward Norway for a KP mission. I also wanted the boys to start their masks. There was a KP station somewhere between Japan & Germany that we stopped at to see if they would issue our Kimummunicator or if we had to go all the way to Norway. Luckily the CM was happy to help us. I also told him that we had previously done Japan so any other country would be great. He started us in Germany. I won’t spoil it, but Zach had a great time doing his mission.

Alex & I went in and started masks for both of the boys and Alex colored his a little bit before we caught back up with everyone else.

(I can't remember exactly when Alex got the tatoo, but it was definitely earlier in the day at DHS... I think it was when we were at the drawing class & Tim took Alex to ride RnRC. Zach had the same one...)

I was able to catch the end of the mission with Zach. We decided to save the Kimmunicator for later in case we wanted to do another mission. I stuck it in the stroller pocket & forgot about it. (More on this later...)

Continued next post...

 

[DisMomAmy]

We stopped in China and found the Kidcot station. I loved doing the masks because I saw parts of the countries that I’d never seen before, even if it was brief. In China the CM stamped their masks with the China stamp and their zodiac stamp. The CM also wrote their names on the back of their masks in Chinese.

Next was Norway. First we took care of the masks then rode Maelstrom. Alex had to sit this one our last year when he needed a little time out.

Zach & his friend the troll... I reminded him that he tried to bite the trolls toenails last year, so he decided to do a reinactment with his fingernails!

Our last country of the night was Mexico.

We took care of the masks and rode the boat ride. It was cute – this was the first time I had seen it since it was rehabbed.

I also took these shots of the Cantina rehab:

It was now 8:15 so we started looking for a spot to watch Illuminations. We found a nice area past Mexico sort of near the Odyssey Center. We weren’t right up against the fence but across the walkway so we had a decent view of the fireworks, just not a great view of the things right on the water. I took Zach to the bathroom at the Odyssey Center then Tim went looking for snacks. When Tim got back Alex needed to go to the bathroom but had had an accident. So I grabbed the spare undies and we sought out the companion restroom at the Odyssey Center. It’s actually inside the first aid area. The CMs inside there were very nice.

When we got back I discovered that we still had the Kimmunicator. I figured we’d exit via the Odyssey Center walkway when we left so I decided to run back to the KP FP area near Future World. I gave the kids their glow sticks (and some extras to share with the family next to us) then ran off.

Zach & his glow sticks:

Unfortunately there was no drop box there… the CMs were gone for the day too. So I took the Kimmunicator and headed back to the group. Illuminations started shortly after.

Zach, on Tim's shoulders, wearing his headphones:

After the show we headed out via the Odyssey Center walkway. We walked past a CM and I attempted to give him the Kimmunicator but he said to return it at Guest Relations, which is exactly what we ended up doing. We then returned the stroller and dragged the tired boys out of the park. Zach fell asleep on the way “home”. When we got home we were all quick to get to bed. Zach in with Nancy & Alex on the air mattress.

Daily recap:

Awesome morning at DHS riding all of our favorites followed by an awesome evening at Epcot! Dinner at Zach's restaurant of choice, Teppan Edo, Kim Possible, WS masks & Illuminations!

Up next: Disney Day 2, Animal Kingdom!

 

[KathyRN137]

I love the Germany Pavillion... its so pretty! We did our KP mission there, too! I'm sure you weren't the first person to forget about the kimmunicator... nor the last!

Dinner at Teppan Edo sounds like it was a hit once more... too bad you were squished in there! Nice score on the Illuminations spot, too.

What a fun-filled, exhausting day!! Looking forward to more...


Kathy

 

[Charleston Princess]

Ah, sorry to hear about Umu, but Misha and Jessica are super cute! I laughed when I read that Alex named Jessica after a winner on Deal or No Deal. He really does like that show, doesn't he?

The PP pictures from DHS are adorable! You all look like you are having such a good time!

Dinner at Teppan Edo, a Kim Possible mission, strolling around World Showcase, and Illuminations sound like such a lovely way to spend the evening!

 

[mousescrapper]

First of all… I’m sad to report that a week and a half ago, Zach’s remaining pet mouse, Umu, died.

sorry about the other mouse...hope the new little guys do well

LOVE this picture

great updates...sounds like you guys are having a wonderful time

J~

 

[KathyRN137]

Today I booked my airfare for my girls weekend getaway with Laura!!

So here's what we have planned so far:
Thursday, 9/30 arriving in Orlando at 10:20am (6 days after my birthday!!)
Staying three nights at POR - standard room
Sunday, 10/3 departing Orlando at 7:20pm - I assume our ME bus will be around 4 or 4:30??

Amy, since I *hope* to be there the same weekend, I've been doing some research... I didn't realize the Wine-and-Dine Half Marathon was that weekend!

It shouldn't impact the parks too much, but it's also the first weekend for the Epcot F&WF, so you may want to check out the events schedule!

http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/endurance/wine-and-dine-half-marathon/


Kathy

 

[DisMomAmy]

Amy, since I *hope* to be there the same weekend, I've been doing some research... I didn't realize the Wine-and-Dine Half Marathon was that weekend!

It shouldn't impact the parks too much, but it's also the first weekend for the Epcot F&WF, so you may want to check out the events schedule!

http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/endurance/wine-and-dine-half-marathon/


Kathy

Thanks for the info Kathy!! I just stumbled across the half marathon info in the last couple days myself! I think we're going to plan to avoid Epcot on Saturday anyways and have Saturday be a DTD, POR, sleep in, flexible day with a possible park visit in the evening. Maybe MK? I posted our itinerary on your PTR and I'll get it posted here shortly!

Other replies coming up soon...

 

[disneyfan61]

Sorry about Umu. But the gerbils are so cute!! Too funny about the name Jessica Do they make a lot of noise at night??? My 17 yr old mentioned getting one instead of another fish but not sure how noisy they are at night??

Love the pic of you at HS also!! Great pic
Looks like you had a great day & night at Epcot. We had dinner at Teppan Edo for the first time this trip & it was good but did not realize they cook with very little seeds. Due to my Colitis I cannot have seeds!!! I tried to wipe them off as best I could & ate some of my chicken but not all of it. Had a lot of rice. We enjoyed it & they gave us dessert to go because we were so full from eating earlier which I will talk about in my TR.

Illuminations aahh my fav

 

[DisMomAmy]

I love the Germany Pavillion... its so pretty! We did our KP mission there, too! I'm sure you weren't the first person to forget about the kimmunicator... nor the last!

Dinner at Teppan Edo sounds like it was a hit once more... too bad you were squished in there! Nice score on the Illuminations spot, too.

What a fun-filled, exhausting day!! Looking forward to more...


Kathy

It was a really nice evening at Epcot! I still love Teppan Edo - even though we were squished and we felt like they stuck us out back!

Germany is so pretty!

Ah, sorry to hear about Umu, but Misha and Jessica are super cute! I laughed when I read that Alex named Jessica after a winner on Deal or No Deal. He really does like that show, doesn't he?

The PP pictures from DHS are adorable! You all look like you are having such a good time!

Dinner at Teppan Edo, a Kim Possible mission, strolling around World Showcase, and Illuminations sound like such a lovely way to spend the evening!

The kids & Nancy had never seen Illuminations... Tim & I probably hadn't seen it since our trip in 1997! Was it even called Illuminations then?

And yes, Alex loves Deal or No Deal!

LOVE this picture

great updates...sounds like you guys are having a wonderful time

J~

Hope you're having fun in Atlanta!! Thanks for finding some time to stop by!

Sorry about Umu. But the gerbils are so cute!! Too funny about the name Jessica Do they make a lot of noise at night??? My 17 yr old mentioned getting one instead of another fish but not sure how noisy they are at night??

Love the pic of you at HS also!! Great pic
Looks like you had a great day & night at Epcot. We had dinner at Teppan Edo for the first time this trip & it was good but did not realize they cook with very little seeds. Due to my Colitis I cannot have seeds!!! I tried to wipe them off as best I could & ate some of my chicken but not all of it. Had a lot of rice. We enjoyed it & they gave us dessert to go because we were so full from eating earlier which I will talk about in my TR.

Illuminations aahh my fav

The gerbils are actually pretty quiet at night! I've read that they aren't nocturnal which makes them good pets. The lady at the good pet store told us they can be a little nocturnal, but not as bad as other little animals. So far they haven't kept Zach awake... and when he had the mice, he did have me take the cage out of his room a couple nights because they were keeping him up! They also smell great compared to the mice! I didn't realize how bad they smelled until we got the gerbils & you can't smell that at all. I guess it's because they don't drink a lot since they are dessert animals. So they don't pee much. And their little poops are dry pellets that don't smell.

I can totally understand your seed problem at Teppan Edo. I'm not a big fan of seeds so I was trying to pick them out too and it wasn't easy! I bet they could cook a portion without the seeds if you knew ahead of time to ask.

Hope you are enjoying this beautiful NH weekend!!

 

[DisMomAmy]

I need some suggestions... I love a good breakfast while on vacation!

What kinds of things can you get for breakfast at the POR food court?

If we want to have a TS breakfast, where should Laura & I eat breakfast that isn't too difficult to get to from POR?

I'm thinking of trying to schedule it for our non-park morning. Or maybe early on our MK day?

 

[MRYPPNS]

I need some suggestions... I love a good breakfast while on vacation!

What kinds of things can you get for breakfast at the POR food court?

If we want to have a TS breakfast, where should Laura & I eat breakfast that isn't too difficult to get to from POR?

I'm thinking of trying to schedule it for our non-park morning. Or maybe early on our MK day?

I'll suggest the GF Cafe for breakfast....I had a great meal there in October and it's food I think you would like. I've heard the Boma buffet breakfast is outstanding (we are trying it in 2011).

At the food courts for breakfast I like to get the egg/cheese/bacon cossinant sandwiches (sometimes they need a few seconds in the microwave by the time you get it and pay).

 

[DisMomAmy]

I'll suggest the GF Cafe for breakfast....I had a great meal there in October and it's food I think you would like. I've heard the Boma buffet breakfast is outstanding (we are trying it in 2011).

At the food courts for breakfast I like to get the egg/cheese/bacon cossinant sandwiches (sometimes they need a few seconds in the microwave by the time you get it and pay).

Thanks Heidi!! I knew I could count on you for a suggestion! And good tip about microwaving the breakfast sandwiches!