No Matter How Long the Winter, Spring is Sure to Follow – A Flower & Garden PTR

[jenseib]

We don't take breaks either. And we love the late nights. I know one year I think we lasted till about 1:30. It was so much fun. This is the one time that it's great that Claire is a night owl.

 

[Colleen27]

Under 40 days to go, so of course I've started packing and shopping for our trip. Some of the goodies I've gotten so far:

For Pocahontas -

Boo's autograph book -

The only two pages, aside from the cover, that I had any part in designing (added characters to Donatalie's blanks) -

Departure day outfits, to be worn over white turtlenecks and jeans. These were actually made for our last trip but after letting the hem down on Boo's they still fit nicely -

Outfits for one of our Epcot days, again re-purposed from our last trip. Had to add a ruffle to Boo's for extra length, but Pocahontas' fits nicely as-is. I haven't decided if I'm going to make matching leggings or just use the pink leggings the girls already have -

And just some gratuitous cuteness, this skirt was a test-run of a pattern I'm using for the girls other Epcot day outfits. I'm working on a coordinating top now for Boo to wear when she goes to Sesame Street Live next month with DM. (Please ignore the background, as we're currently in the process of patching and painting the dining/play/craft room) -

 

[jenseib]

Those outfits are great! I wish I had talent like that.

 

[Colleen27]

Those outfits are great! I wish I had talent like that.

At this point in the learning curve, it is more persistence than talent! I stick to relatively easy patterns and still make and correct more than my share of stupid mistakes.

This year, I was so fed up after making Pocahontas her Halloween costume, working without a pattern because she wanted to be something so off the beaten track that I couldn't even find one to buy (well, I could have ordered one from Japan via eBay, but $$$$$ and I doubt I'd have gotten it in time anyway). So on Black Friday I found a great deal on matching Christmas dresses and bought them instead of tackling another big sewing project right away!

But the costume did come out cute. (Bonus points to anyone who actually knows who she's dressed as! Not Disney related at all.)

Funny moment the other day - Pocahontas doesn't know about my PTR or the nickname I've given her here. Out of nowhere, she told me that she wants to be Pocahontas for Halloween this year so I should start looking for a pattern now. So I guess the name fits.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

WOW!! Those are amazing!! You are quite the crafty girl!! Love that Pocahontas is in touch with her "real" self!

 

[jenseib]

Is she Sailor moon?

 

[Colleen27]

Is she Sailor moon?

Yep! All of about 5 people recognized her on Halloween, every one of them much closer to my age than hers. But I have all of the American series and a couple seasons of the Japanese on DVD along with a bunch of the manga (some in English, some not), and she is a big fan. I had to decorate her birthday cake myself this past summer because she wanted Sailor Moon and that just isn't something you can order from the grocery store.

 

[Colleen27]

Our Magical Express packet arrived!

36 days and counting, not much longer to wait!

 

[jenseib]

 

[Colleen27]

So last I left off with the plans, we were staying in the MK as late as humanly possible to enjoy the 2am park closing.

That makes my DHS day even more of a pain than usual to plan! In fact, I've kind of been avoiding thinking about it.

I know I'll probably still end up awake early. My body doesn't seem to be programmed to sleep past 9am unless I'm sick, and the force of habit usually has me up even earlier than that. But everyone else... that's another story.

I have no idea how DM will handle the really late night. She might throw in the towel before we do and head back to Pop at a decent hour, maybe even taking Boo with her. Or she might tough it out with us.

I know Boo will sleep in. She just loves to sleep, anywhere, any time. She's an odd duck that way - she doesn't get cranky when she's tired, but she falls asleep in the oddest places, like on Haunted Mansion or under the dining room table when I'm sewing. But because of that, I also know she'll be good to go whenever the rest of us are ready and she'll just nap in the stroller if she needs it.

It is Pocahontas I'm most concerned with. She will gladly sleep until noon even without the help of a late night and can be a bit of a snot when she's tired. Ever see the Snickers commercials with the guys who turn into divas when they're hungry? That's Pocahontas when she's tired!

So right now, my thinking is that I'll strap Boo in the stroller when I get up and head over to DHS just to collect some Fastpasses. I'll have to take everyone's tickets, but that's no big deal since we'll have our cell phones with us. DM can just call when they're getting on the bus and I'll meet them at the gate. I think that's about the only way we're going to be able to catch TSM.

I do want everyone to the park by 11ish because we have an 11:30 ADR at Brown Derby.

Beyond that, I'm not planning this day. We'll collect fastpasses as we can and make the shows more of a priority than the rides for the bulk of the day. Beauty and the Beast and Playhouse Disney are the must-dos, because they're the only attractions on our must-see list that aren't open for evening EMH. And I want to be at the Animation building for the characters in the late afternoon, so that'll be our last attraction before dinner.

We're not going to take a break with such a late start, but we do have a nice, quiet(ish) dinner at Flying Fish booked for 5:45.

After that, it'll be back to the park for some evening EMH fun. Aside from Beauty and the Beast and Playhouse Disney, everything we'd like to do or see at DHS is open for the evening hours so we'll see what we can fit in then. The PHD dance party is the only must-do for the evening hours, along with using up any leftover fastpasses from earlier.

Oh, and we have to get a carrot cake cookie. This is the third trip that thing has been on my must-try snack list, and on the last two I just never seemed to get there. This time I will have my cookie!!

 

[blessedmom4]

Subbing in, I was hooked when I saw those amazing outfits! You are incredibly talented and your daughters are gorgeous. The plans sound like LOTS of fun! Thirty Six days...that is wonderful!

 

[Colleen27]

Subbing in, I was hooked when I saw those amazing outfits! You are incredibly talented and your daughters are gorgeous. The plans sound like LOTS of fun! Thirty Six days...that is wonderful!

I've been following your PTR too! Your girls are so precious, and all of your children sound like remarkable individuals. I don't "meet" many other 4H families on the DIS - Pocahontas is involved with a gardening group through 4H and entered the county fair for the first time this past year.

By the way, don't worry too much about whether you can swim in October - average highs for that time of year are mid-upper 80s, and speaking from personal experience, the first part of October feels every bit as much like summer as August in Orlando!

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Our Magical Express packet arrived!

36 days and counting, not much longer to wait!

Yay!! We just got ours the other day too!!! LOVE IT!!

 

[amandaluvsgoofy]

Hi there!
Joining in! Your girls are precious!!! I can't wait to take my little Emma for her 5th birthday (in 4 years, haha!).
We're trying to plan a trip for this August and are shooting for VWL. What did you like/dislike about it?
I love the days where you don't have to plan much, helps the stress level of everyone.
Can't wait to read more!

 

[jenseib]

DHS is always hard to plan. We usually use it as a sleep in day if possilbe too.
One thing about the fastpasses though. You will only be able to get them for those tickets that have gone through the gate scanner...so I've been told. If it hasn't been scanned as a ticket for that park that day I hear the FP machines won't accept them. So that plan might not work out for you.

 

[ChildAtHeart82]

Yeah you'll only be able to get fastpasses for tickets that have been used to enter the park that day. This happened to a guy in front of me at Soarin. The machines won't spit out a valid fastpass. Sorry.

I agree with you on how tough DHS is to plan for.

 

[Colleen27]

Hi there!
Joining in! Your girls are precious!!! I can't wait to take my little Emma for her 5th birthday (in 4 years, haha!).
We're trying to plan a trip for this August and are shooting for VWL. What did you like/dislike about it?
I love the days where you don't have to plan much, helps the stress level of everyone.
Can't wait to read more!

We had the most lovely room at Wilderness Lodge, I just loved the view from our patio - we looked right out onto Bay Lake. And there were so many animals! We had a cardinal and rabbits come right next to the patio, and while waiting for the bus we even saw a fox in the tall grass at the edge of the trees.

Our view:

The resort itself is absolutely stunning, but a lot of the beauty was kind of lost on us because we don't spend much time in the lobby at all. Roaring Forks, the resort quick service, is kind of tiny and the options are limited. We're kind of spoiled by the moderate food courts, though; we had the same minor complaint about the QS at the Beach Club.

The feature pool is nice, if a bit on the small side (I'd imagine it could get to be pretty crowded in warmer months), and the kids really liked the slide. I loved the hot tub but didn't do much swimming because I get cold a lot easier than my kids. The quiet pool, by the villas, was really quiet when we were there, and on one warm morning I did go over there to swim laps before everyone else woke up. I had the whole pool to myself.

I loved the idea of the boat to the MK but in January the reality wasn't quite as nice as the idea, you know? It was a nice ride when it was daytime and warm, but early mornings or late at night we ended up on the bus anyway rather than spend our travel time outdoors. At a warmer time of year that amenity would have been more useful.

But really, the only reason the Lodge ranks sort of low on our list of favorites is that we go to similarly themed resorts (and real log cabins) elsewhere so the wilderness/woodland theme just isn't all that attractive to us. It was a nice stay at a lovely resort but just not the right "fit" for us, if that makes any sense.

DHS is always hard to plan. We usually use it as a sleep in day if possilbe too.
One thing about the fastpasses though. You will only be able to get them for those tickets that have gone through the gate scanner...so I've been told. If it hasn't been scanned as a ticket for that park that day I hear the FP machines won't accept them. So that plan might not work out for you.

Yeah you'll only be able to get fastpasses for tickets that have been used to enter the park that day. This happened to a guy in front of me at Soarin. The machines won't spit out a valid fastpass. Sorry.

I agree with you on how tough DHS is to plan for.

Well, darn. Back to the drawing board on that one, I guess. Maybe I'll just pop over there whenever we get to the park to see if by some chance there are still fastpasses available, and if not we'll see how the standby lines are looking at the very end of the night. I'd really like to catch it, but if not there's always next year.

 

[Colleen27]

Oh, I'm having such a DUH moment! I didn't even think about my new phone in all my pondering of my DHS plans!

I just got a not-quite-smart but web-enabled/multi-function phone (after 10+ years with a just-phone cellphone), so I can just check the TouringPlans.com Lines site to see how TSM is looking and whether or not there are fastpasses available. In my defense, I've only had the phone a week and I'm still not used to being able to check weather and stuff from it yet.

 

[blessedmom4]

I've been following your PTR too! Your girls are so precious, and all of your children sound like remarkable individuals. I don't "meet" many other 4H families on the DIS - Pocahontas is involved with a gardening group through 4H and entered the county fair for the first time this past year.

By the way, don't worry too much about whether you can swim in October - average highs for that time of year are mid-upper 80s, and speaking from personal experience, the first part of October feels every bit as much like summer as August in Orlando!

You are so sweet Thank you! We LOVE 4H and it always makes me laugh when people say...I didn't know it was still around...I like to show them it is alive and well! I know Pocahontas has a good time with that, good for her! My girls did the dog show at the county fair this year for the first time as well, it was a lot of fun and they LOVED the ribbons!

Thank you for the info on swimming, Lisa REALLY wants to hit the pools and if the water isn't super warm, Mom can't do it...That is a job left for Dad to endure... Looking forward to reading more if this old computer will ONLY cooperate!

 

[Colleen27]

Something strange to look forward to...

DH asked me today what I'm most looking forward to about our trip, and after the usual conversation about rides and flowers and such, something a little odd popped into my head (probably because I was up half the night with a sick DS). I'm really looking forward to a Disney trip with no "protein spills".

Now for some lucky people I suppose that's just a given, but not for me. I've been to Disney World five times in my life.

On two of them, I was pregnant and dealing with morning sickness, which for me is more like all day sickness.

On another, I had such a caffeine-withdrawal migraine that I ended up tossing cookies in a trash can on the walk back to our room one night (yes, I was that much of an addict - not any more, though! One of my more successful New Years resolutions was kicking my 2ltr/day Diet Mt Dew habit).

And on our last trip, DS fell victim to the creeping crud that was going around, and in the course of taking care of him I of course picked it up too.

So there's my odd little goal for this trip - I'd like trip #6 to be the second one I get through with no protein spills. Since morning sickness and caffeine withdrawal are out of the picture now, I've just got to steer clear of any late winter nasties and I'll be in the clear!