My better late than never TR

[kschafer]

really great picture of the rhino! i've never seen one that close to the safari jeep before. cool!

it seems like there's not a lot to do at AK but you can never do all of it! like you said - another reason to return! that's what i kept telling anna while we were there last week!

Yeah, that guy was only about 5 feet away, that was pretty cool!

Oh, I'll be returning, hopefully in 2010.

I can't wait to read all about your christmas trip Hopefully that will be my 2011 trip (for my 40th b-day in December)

Oh I love the update and all the pictures! And now I'm hungry for a dipped banana!

I am not a banana fan so they have never appealed to me. I think he only ate about half of it

I started my TR so you'll have to come over and join so you can see if you're in any of the pictures! On June 19th, we were at MGM and then ate at the Poly for dinner.

You are so right! WDW in June is SO nice! We usually go in July and June was completely different! Yes the days were hot, but they weren't as hot as July. And the nights were great! I even had a long sleeve shirt on some nights it was chilly!

I'll have to pop over to your TR. I am working through charleston prinesses TR now. She was in MK the same day as us so I will be looking closely to see if I made it into any of her pics

OK, I was never that cool! It was nice when the HEAT of the day died down and the cool breezes began.

Fun day at AK despite the rain.

The Potato Head parade sounds like a really neat thing for your boys. My DD has never wanted to make a Mr. Potatoe Head. She did the My Little Pony box instead. She had a blast picking out all the different pieces. Most of them were Princess costumes, very cute. We stuffed that box as full as we could...

Hope you are enjoying your time off.

My little pony would be really cute for a girl. I thought the potato parade was a great way to occupy some of the kids who were obviously going nowhere until the rain died down. I wondered if they do that frequently in the summer when afternoon showers are practically an everyday event.

Break will be nice. I have to say I am surprised that as I sit here with the TV on that there are school announcements for tomorrow running (we had a blizzard warning yesterday and today and are under a wind chill warning tonight: -30 to -40 degrees tonight! ) I didn't realize there were schools who were still in session this week.

 

[kschafer]

What a fun update! Sounds like you guys had a nice time just hanging out and being a family! Isn't it nice not to worry about having to get everything done and just saunter around doing what you feel like?

I'm glad you're enjoying your holiday break!

As the trip went on, we realaxed more and enjoyed ourselves more without the pressures of commando touring!

I hope you will get a chance to enjoy your "break" too!

Great update! Love the potato heads! We have filled boxes on our last 2 trips. I like to play with them as much as DD.

I must admit, I love the potato head, maybe more than my boys!

I've often thought about working summers at Disney World, but I wonder where I'd live? Did the CM happen to say?

What is it doing to your mind to have snow and cold outside while you're writing about warm summer days?

It makes me want to go back right now!

I love Daniel's look of anticipation on the safari. You can just see the 'what's ahead?' look on his face.

Sorry, I didn't ask about her living arrangements. I think it would be fun but honestly, I wouldn't be able to stand the heat although I would take some of it now, the high temp today was 1 I'm actually enjoying thinking about the Florida heat in all of this nasty winter weather!

Daniel saw me working on my TR today and saw those pics and told me he wants to go back again. That's my boy!

 

[tinkgurl]

OK, I was never that cool! It was nice when the HEAT of the day died down and the cool breezes began.

Oops. I forgot to mention...I'm ALWAYS cold! So you're the one who's normal and I'm just weird.

 

[Happy Elf]

Daniel saw me working on my TR today and saw those pics and told me he wants to go back again. That's my boy!

You raised him right!

 

[sunny_stace]

Hehe! I thought of you today! When I was on my way over here the radio station was having a contest to win Disney on Ice tickets! I got excited and scared the dog! I was like, "Hey!! Katie went to that! I want to go now too!!! Let me win!!" but I couldn't get to my phone.

 

[kschafer]

Oops. I forgot to mention...I'm ALWAYS cold! So you're the one who's normal and I'm just weird.

I must admit, I complain about the heat in the summer and the cold in the winter. Where can I go that it is 70 in the day and 60 at night with rain only when I am inside? That would be perfect

You raised him right!

I'm working on both of them. I figure if I get them as obsessed as me, it will be 3-1 against DH

Hehe! I thought of you today! When I was on my way over here the radio station was having a contest to win Disney on Ice tickets! I got excited and scared the dog! I was like, "Hey!! Katie went to that! I want to go now too!!! Let me win!!" but I couldn't get to my phone.

Keep trying! It was a great show

 

[k_reile]

MeMom, you have such a following!

Van shopping was less than thrillng yesterday I'm sorry to say. I had an '07 grand caravan that I bought only last summer. We were able to get all the features we wanted and I LOVED it. For '08, they redesigned the body and changed some of the features and I just don't think it's as nice as what I had (and they got rid of my pretty blue color )

Unless someone finds another pretty '07 with low miles for us (but who would trade that in?), we will be getting a new '08. The deals are decent on them this time of year because the '09's are all on the lots and dealers are cutting prices on the '08's to get rid of them.

The Disney trip really was a dream come true. I was a special memory for everyone! Coming up you will see how that pool plays into our Disney plans...stay tuned



I'm sure it was the adrenaline. When my hubby took me to the emergency room to get checked out, my blood pressure was sky high!

I was worried about mixing the vicodin with alcohol so I did skip the wine and eventually fell asleep.

Butterflies, funny! Were they less scary than other animals?

Everytime I have woken up the last 2 nights I start reliving the accident and crying because I am so sad that it happened but so happy nobody else was hurt. It's a bit on an emotional roller coaster. We were out of town van shopping yesterday and DH asked me to drive part of the way home, it was a little scary to get behind the wheel again.


Stay tuned...the start of day 2 will be coming up later today, our first Disney day

Just found your report from Memom's and am only getting to day 2..but I had to comment here. We just bought the 08 Chrysler Town and COuntry version(I think it is the limited) used. We got all the features we wanted (and more---there are 3 tv's in there ) We love it...it is soo nice getting Caleb in and out of it...much better than the Grand Prix we had before. We were a little unsure of the new body style but we got used to it...we got it in the red color. My inlaws liked our van so much they got the same on in White.

 

[k_reile]

A few random pics for a rainy Thursday morning (at least it's not snow...yet)

Patrick's 2nd grade picture. Can you tell how proud he is to be missing those teeth?

A halloween picture

We had thunderstorms yesterday morning and the boys decided to snuggle together

And finally, the new van

I hope some of you are having better weather than we are. We started today around 50 degrees and rain. Temps are supposed to drop as the day goes on and we will have snow by tomorrow. YUCK

That is practically our van...only a chrysler....red color and everything.

 

[MeMom]

Wishing you and your guys a very happy holiday!

 

[CanadianWDWfan]

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

[ILuvCrush]

Merry Christmas!!!!



I hope treated everyone really well!!


Paula

 

[kschafer]

That is practically our van...only a chrysler....red color and everything.

I have really adjusted to this van and like it a lot now. Wait until Caleb is old enough to hop in on his own and buckle up It's a great milestone to not have to carry them anymore!

Wishing you and your guys a very happy holiday!

You too MeMom! I thought of you this morning while doing my after-christmas shopping! Sound strange? Well, they had boxes with 4 packages of Ghirardelli brownie mix for 1/2 price!! Want one?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Thanks! You too!! I hope santa was good to you!

Merry Christmas!!!!



I hope treated everyone really well!!

Paula

Thanks Paula, he did. I can't complain much except there was no Disney trip under the tree

***************************************************************************************

I gotta say, 2008 was great if for no other reason than I found the Dis and have made so many terrific friends
thanks friends!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Well based on your TR title, I'm guessing that you really DO think it's better late than never?? I think I started out as a lurker b/c I remember the retro pics of your family vacations and also the scary van roll-over but then somehow I lost you. I'm back and all caught up!

What a great trip! I love that you got to relive so many great childhood moments and things you always wanted to do like the balloon and of course going to Epcot with a boy.

Sorry you had two days of stomach bug. That clearly was not part of the plan!!

Your rental house for the first week looks so nice. Would you do that again or would you try to be on property?

Before I forget... LOVE the story of your Pooh scavenger hunt and engagement. So cute!

I'm sure there was more I wanted to comment on but it's escaping me now. I really enjoyed catching up on your visit this morning. It looks like you all had such a great time!

 

[kschafer]

Just found your report from Memom's and am only getting to day 2..but I had to comment here.

By the way, I forgot to say WELCOME

Well based on your TR title, I'm guessing that you really DO think it's better late than never?? I think I started out as a lurker b/c I remember the retro pics of your family vacations and also the scary van roll-over but then somehow I lost you. I'm back and all caught up!

What a great trip! I love that you got to relive so many great childhood moments and things you always wanted to do like the balloon and of course going to Epcot with a boy.

Sorry you had two days of stomach bug. That clearly was not part of the plan!!

Your rental house for the first week looks so nice. Would you do that again or would you try to be on property?

Before I forget... LOVE the story of your Pooh scavenger hunt and engagement. So cute!

I'm sure there was more I wanted to comment on but it's escaping me now. I really enjoyed catching up on your visit this morning. It looks like you all had such a great time!

Welcome back Christine! Glad to have you along.

Yep, a lot of this trip was building up in my dreams for a long time. Luckily I won't have to wait 20 years before going back again! Hopefully, I won't have to deal with the stomach bug next time!

The rental house was wonderful when we were 1 large group. We had room for the kids to run, play and be loud while the adults had room to sit together and chat. Plus, the pool just out the back door was wonderful. However, for just the 4 of us, I was glad we stayed onsite, it's just too convenient.

Yeah, DH used to be terribly romantic. Now, not so much Honestly, I think he believed he was giving me a wonderful christmas present (a beautiful pair of emerald-cut emerald earrings) and normally, I would have been thrilled but with my wanting to go back to WDW so badly, I would rather have had the money put toward the trip.

************************************************************

I'm working on a new update for later this weekend. Stay tuned!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Yeah, DH used to be terribly romantic. Now, not so much Honestly, I think he believed he was giving me a wonderful christmas present (a beautiful pair of emerald-cut emerald earrings) and normally, I would have been thrilled but with my wanting to go back to WDW so badly, I would rather have had the money put toward the trip.

************************************************************

I'm working on a new update for later this weekend. Stay tuned!

Well, he tried. And think of how great your ears will look whilst strolling along the world showcase promenade with one of those glowy drinks you had!

Wahoo for an update later this weekend!

 

[kschafer]

Well, he tried. And think of how great your ears will look whilst strolling along the world showcase promenade with one of those glowy drinks you had!

Wahoo for an update later this weekend!

I know, I sound ungrateful and I really should appreciate that he got them for me because I actually had told him about them after stopping to get my rings cleaned a couple weeks ago. YES my husband listened to me, remembered my description of them and went and got them for me for christmas. As long as he used the Disney visa to pay for it and I get the rewards to spend on drinks during gnomefest, I am good!!

Did someone say UPDATE?!?!

 

[kschafer]

Day 12 – Friday, June 20

OK so today was to be our final Epcot day with most of our time focused on WS. We had given the boys the Epcot passports before we left and they were (well, OK…Patrick was) very excited about finally getting to fill them out. On par with the last few days, we were really slowing down (as was our picture taking) and decided to sleep in. We had hoped to take the boat service to DTD but they didn’t start running until the afternoon so we drove there at opening time (10 or 11 maybe?) and headed straight to WPE for a late breakfast. I had the breakfast pizza that was amazing!! Check it out...

We stopped at Goofy’s candy company to get some yummy treats (pretzel rods dipped in dark chocolate, rolled in pecans and drizzled with caramel ). Then we wandered around and took pictures, checked out the stores and bought only postcards. Oh yes, and Greg found BBB and was grateful we have boys! Wandering Pics…

After leaving DTD we made our way to Epcot and hit club cool. I forgot to warn Greg about Beverly and he drank it down before I realized he had done it bummer, no pics. We stopped to get a photopass

And we got the soarin’ enhancement. I was so glad this turned out good because it was the only one we got (we had a tink one taken but it didn’t show up on our CD )

Next, we went to Mouse Gears and spent a bunch of money. Finally, we headed to Mexico.

The boys began their quest to visit all 11 countries and fill out their passports and mask. This was a really nice way to get the kids excited about exploring the pavilions as they searched for the kidcot stops. In the meantime, mom and dad got in a little exploring themselves. Greg really liked China.

The boys liked the trains in Germany.

At around 3:30, I wanted to get over to innoventions for the Disney Visa Meet and Greet. We decided to take the boat instead of walking. It was a very long trip because as soon as we boarded, we stopped. They were pulling out the fireworks barges for the evenings show. This was pretty interesting to watch but I was nervous about getting to innoventions before 4:00. I had heard that the line can be long and we had 4:30 ADR’s but happily we got there with a few minutes to spare and ZERO line, we walked right in! It was Minnie and Goofy, I was really bummed that Mickey wasn’t there too.

Oh yes, I had to add Mickey to the picture

Afterwards we headed to LeCellier!! I had been anticipating this meal for months!! Well…the bad, I thought the cheese soup had too strong of a beer flavor and I didn’t care for the risotto with the mushroom filet. The good, I liked the breadsticks (although, despite the fact that the pretzel breadsticks get so much attention, I honestly liked the multi-grain ones best), I had a yummy apple slush drink and the chocolate “moose” is not only adorable but delicious. BUT the filet was the most amazing steak I have EVER had. It was cooked perfectly and was melt in your mouth amazing!

To top off my delicious dinner, when we were ready to leave, it was POURING outside but somebody had kindly moved our stroller under the covered entrance so it stayed nice and dry (thank you Disney service!! ). the boys continued with the second half of their passports while I explored the waterfall in Canada.

Eventually we made our way around to America to complete our trip around the world and the boys passports

At this point, Greg and I plotted a plan. We decided to skip Illuminations, head out to beat the crowds and ride the monorail to MK and ask to ride up front. But first we had to pick up our free picture from the meet and greet and our purchases earlier in the day. If I had known then how long the picture would take, we would have skipped it!! It took over 30 minutes in line and Illuminations was starting by the time we were done The boys were completely done so we headed “home” for the night.

When we arrived to OKW, there was a birthday surprise for Patrick, balloons and a card from Pluto!! Patrick’s birthday was actually the following week but we had told him we would “celebrate” on our last Disney day. Thanks to the Dis, I knew that we could request the balloons at no charge, thanks again Disney service!!

Next: our final Disney day

 

[Happy Elf]

Sounds like a fun day despite the rain. Did the boys enjoy the passports around the world? I was thinking of getting them for Hannah (She will be 4) for the trip in June. Looks like they had a good time.

 

[kschafer]

Sounds like a fun day despite the rain. Did the boys enjoy the passports around the world? I was thinking of getting them for Hannah (She will be 4) for the trip in June. Looks like they had a good time.

I would say if she has an outgoing personality, it's a great activity. The boys did not complain about WS at all because you kind of have to just wander around to find the stops and it gives Mom and Dad a chance to see things too. (I forgot to mention that they also collected pressed pennies from each country too, more searching)

Patrick loved it and still looks through the book to see what people wrote in it. Daniel on the other hand is terribly shy so although he played along, he didn't really get into as much because he wouldn't talk to the CM's at each stop.

 

[punkin413]

And we got the soarin’ enhancement. I was so glad this turned out good because it was the only one we got (we had a tink one taken but it didn’t show up on our CD )

i wish we could've gotten this! but it was pouring when we were outside of soarin and i didn't see any photopass photographers out there. i'm assuming that's where you get that done. oh, and the missing tink seems to be a problem lately. that happened to a person on our photopass share too!

When we arrived to OKW, there was a birthday surprise for Patrick, balloons and a card from Pluto!! Patrick’s birthday was actually the following week but we had told him we would “celebrate” on our last Disney day. Thanks to the Dis, I knew that we could request the balloons at no charge, thanks again Disney service!!

this is so cool! they did this for ray and i too for our anniversary in 2007 and 2008. i think we got aladdin the first year and cinderella the second. so sweet! did pluto misspell patrick's name?