Oh, Snap!A Recession!Going anyway...May 09! **5/19-TR LINK!!!

[scooby9932]

Ok, so I made the changes to the ADR's & added one!

I've wanted to do the Grand Floridian Afternoon Tea for years, but just never had the time before. Since we decided against the TL water park on Saturday, we'll have time! It'll also be a chance for us to scope out 1900 Park Fare for our character dinner the following night.

So here is our updated itinerary:

Tuesday, Apr 28
Drive from Home to Lake City - Leave 7 a.m.
Arrive Hotel - Approx 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Apr 29
Arrive Hotel - Approx. 12 p.m.
Check In
Ferry to Magic Kingdom

Thursday, Apr 30
Epcot

Friday, May 1, 2009
Animal Kingdom - til 2:30 p.m.
DTD p.m.
7 p.m. - Captain Jack's

Saturday, May 2, 2009
Disney Hollywood Studios- be there for rope drop
Back to resort for swim/touring/rest
Grand Floridian Afternoon Tea - 4:40 p.m.

Sunday, May 3, 2009
Epcot WS a.m.
Back to Resort for Rest/Swim
Take Monorail to Grand Floridian for Dinner
5:50 p.m. - 1900 Park Fare (Dinner)
Take Monorail to MK from GF
Magic Kingdom - P.M. - Extra Magic Hours Night

Monday, May 4, 2009
Sleep In
EPCOT - World Showcase

Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Magic Kingdom!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Check out Day
Drive to Beach

I'm super excited about the tea! It'll be a special treat for my DD.

 

[autumnpalm]

Oh, I hope you and your DD love the tea. It's one of my favourite traditions with my mom!!

Your schedule looks great! I wonder if we'll be at any of the parks on the same day? I'll have to double check our itinerary!

I hope you're feeling better. I haven't had the flu in a while, but it is so nasty. Just knocks you right out. Get well hugs coming your way!

 

[scooby9932]

Oh, I hope you and your DD love the tea. It's one of my favourite traditions with my mom!!

Your schedule looks great! I wonder if we'll be at any of the parks on the same day? I'll have to double check our itinerary!

I hope you're feeling better. I haven't had the flu in a while, but it is so nasty. Just knocks you right out. Get well hugs coming your way!

Thanks! I'm really excited about the tea. That's so nice you & your DM travel together & have nice traditions. As a mom, I know she must cherish the memories you're making together.

Ooh! We'll definitely have to try to meet up if our schedules can match up! It would be my first DIS meet!

Yeah, the flu is just awful. I'm still feeling pretty bad and will probably cut out early today. I can tell I'm not over it yet. I hound every one around me to get their flu shots (I can't because I'm immunosuppressed, etc.), and they did! But wouldn't you know they got the formula wrong again this year? I think I picked it up from a co-worker. I'm really careful about germs & such, but you can only do so much, ya know? Thanks for the get well hugs!

On a positive note, I guess it's good we get sick now & get it out of the way before our trips, huh?

 

[autumnpalm]

Thanks! I'm really excited about the tea. That's so nice you & your DM travel together & have nice traditions. As a mom, I know she must cherish the memories you're making together.

Ooh! We'll definitely have to try to meet up if our schedules can match up! It would be my first DIS meet!

Yeah, the flu is just awful. I'm still feeling pretty bad and will probably cut out early today. I can tell I'm not over it yet. I hound every one around me to get their flu shots (I can't because I'm immunosuppressed, etc.), and they did! But wouldn't you know they got the formula wrong again this year? I think I picked it up from a co-worker. I'm really careful about germs & such, but you can only do so much, ya know? Thanks for the get well hugs!

On a positive note, I guess it's good we get sick now & get it out of the way before our trips, huh?

We always joke that we are like the Gilmore Girls... she really is my best friend! We go shopping together and to the movies all the time. I just love the time we can spend in Disney together... they're memories I'll cherish forever.

You're right, I would much rather be sick at home than at Disney! At least we're building our immune systems up now!

I've never met anyone from the DIS before either... I can imagine I would have quite the time trying to explain the DIS and the whole idea of PTR to my mom. She is a Disney fan but not QUITE to the extent that I am. She loves the traveling, not the planning. But that works out because I can get kind of bossy with my planning. LOL

 

[SunnieRN]

I'm so enjoying your trip plans!! I've been lurking for awhile, but wanted to tell you how awesome I think your changes are! Tea at the grand floridian sounds like a perfect way to spend your afternoon!!!
I am so glad that you get to do the beach portion of the trip also!! Your daughter will be so pleased I'm sure!!
We would have been there the same time as you, but we had to change to May 13 thru June 1st as we are meeting my son in law on his R&R from Iraq!!! Can't wait, this will be our second time at disney world and his first!!

Looking forward to more of your trip planning!!

 

[scooby9932]

We always joke that we are like the Gilmore Girls... she really is my best friend! We go shopping together and to the movies all the time. I just love the time we can spend in Disney together... they're memories I'll cherish forever.

You're right, I would much rather be sick at home than at Disney! At least we're building our immune systems up now!

I've never met anyone from the DIS before either... I can imagine I would have quite the time trying to explain the DIS and the whole idea of PTR to my mom. She is a Disney fan but not QUITE to the extent that I am. She loves the traveling, not the planning. But that works out because I can get kind of bossy with my planning. LOL

OMG - we ARE the Gilmore Girls! DD & I have joked for years that the writers spied on us & used our lives as material for their show. Only my personality is more like Rory's & DD's is like Lorilei's. We love that show & own every season on DVD & have rewatched them over & over. DD has decided she wants to name her first girl child Lorelei! Big, Big fans. We are definitely not the typical mother/daughter duo!

I wish I could build up immunities! I'm on an immunosuppressant, so I'm super suseptible to any & all germs out there! It's no fun, I'll tell ya. I have become a HUGE germophobe & take many, many precautions - especially at Disney World. I'm sure I'll be reporting on all my OCD tendencies on my TR.

I think my DD has finally accepted my obsession with the DISboards! She even signed up for an ID recently - though she hasn't posted yet. I keep reading stuff out loud to her & she thinks it sounds like a fun board.

I'm so enjoying your trip plans!! I've been lurking for awhile, but wanted to tell you how awesome I think your changes are! Tea at the grand floridian sounds like a perfect way to spend your afternoon!!!
I am so glad that you get to do the beach portion of the trip also!! Your daughter will be so pleased I'm sure!!
We would have been there the same time as you, but we had to change to May 13 thru June 1st as we are meeting my son in law on his R&R from Iraq!!! Can't wait, this will be our second time at disney world and his first!!

Looking forward to more of your trip planning!!

& thanks for de-lurking!

We really are excited about the tea & the beach side-trip! We've been looking at trying to stay at a beach a bit closer to Disney so we'll have 2 full days instead of spending 6.5 hours driving to Destin that 1st day after checking out of our resort. I'm thinking maybe Clearwater, Madeira, or St. Pete's beach. We want the Gulf side since DD really wants to see the clear blue/green waters. We still have a little research to do first. But we're definitely spending some down time at the beach before heading back to our hectic lives!

You must be SO excited about your DSIL's R&R! I have such respect & gratitude for our brave servicemen & women. Disney is the perfect place to celebrate! I hope you guys have a great time!

 

[scooby9932]

So, for Valentine's Day, SP & I slept in a bit & then headed to the mall around 11 a.m.! With all the President's Day sales going on, we figured it would be the perfect time to get our new bathing suits & other spring wear for the trip!

I don't have any pictures yet, but will try to post some soon.

SP ended up getting 2 bathing suits. At 30% off, it was like buying 1. She got the cutest Turquoise & white heart dotted tankini. She also got a more sedate black & yellow bikini. They're really cute!

We then went to Bath & Body Works so I could spend the gift card my DSis got me for Christmas. We bought 5 small hand sanitizers (5 for $5): 1 unscented, 1 Japanese Cherry Blossom, 1 Honeysuckle, 1 Warm Vanilla sugar, and 1 Clean Cotton. We carry these all around WDW so we can be sure to steer clear of the germs. Just check out the thread on people changing their babies on tabletops & benches at restaurants if you want a real good reason to join me in my OCD tendencies! Yech!

I also picked up some Eucalyptus/Spearmint Salt Scrub, and SP got a body butter (don't remember the scent), a Coconut Lime shower gel & matching lotion. I don't know how she does it, but she always manages to use up some of my gift cards! Brat! j/k

Then we headed to Forever 21 & found some great new shirts for SP. I also found a few pairs of sunglasses that look good on me - a style that went away but is now back since the 80's are back! It was like walking through a time warp or something & being 16 again! Now I just need to schedule an eye exam so I can get contact lenses. I went off them during chemo for various reasons, but will try to wear them while at Disney. It's just easier than glasses.

Then we made a stop by Lush & we each got a free hand treatment. We also bought some cuticle cream for me & face masks for each of us. I love LUSH!

When leaving the mall we had an exciting experience! As we were headed out of JC Penney to our car on the top level, a man rushed past us running full out. A few seconds later 2 more men (plain clothes) rush by.

I looked at SP & said, "It looks like he stole something!" We both followed behind a bit & watched as they split up & ran downhill after the man. A lady standing nearby said she thought he'd stolen a shirt as she saw a tag hanging from the back as he ran by. We all three watched as the security team finally caught up to the man & struggled to control him. He had torn off the shirt & tried to ditch it among the parking lot cars, but one of the officers found it. The last we saw they had him handcuffed & on his way inside the store again. Talk about an exciting end to our mall trip!

We left the mall & headed to RUE 21, where SP thought she saw some flip flops that would work for me. I have these amazingly high arches & have a really hard time finding flip flops with staps that are high enough to fit over my arches. Well, no such luck for me. I couldn't even get my toes in them! But SP got 2 pairs - 1 turquoise/white & 1 black/yellow to match her new swimsuits. At $3.99/pr. it was a good deal!

Then we made our way to Wal Mart for daily essentials & SP lucked out again! They had the cutest little Disney nighties/pj's on sale for Valentine's Day. She got a Marie (Aristocats) chemise which is cool & cute.

We got home around 6 p.m. & while I ate a nice dinner with the folks, SP got ready for her date. She went out to eat at a nearby seafood restaurant.
I went to bed early since I still felt rather blah from the flu. All in all, a good day!

 

[scooby9932]

Wow! We are getting close to our vacation! Only a little over 2 months away, now.

Well, surprise, surprise! We have changes to our trip. But not the Disney portion, only the beach portion.

We have changed our return trip to the quick (1.5 hr) drive to Clearwater Beach, FL before heading back home. We will be staying for 2 days, 2 nights (Wed., 5/6 - Fri., 5/8) at the Bilmar Beach Resort on Treasure Island, FL.

The room is a Gulf Front efficiency that includes 2 Queen beds, full bath with separate changing area, a full kitchen with full size fridge, stovetop, microwave, etc., and a balcony overlooking the gulf. Since it's such a short drive from Disney, I hope they'll let us check in early to our room.
I wanted SP to be able to spend some quality time at the beach & maybe also take part in a shell seeking trip out to Shell Key where you can snorkle, go shelling, and take great pictures of the wildlife. SP will be bringing her DSLR this trip to capture some great images for her freelance business. Since the island is a protected sanctuary, there should be some great photo ops along the way! The boat launch out to the key also include dolphin encounters - they say the boat brings them out to play & the dolphins jump along in the wake of the boat. SP LOVES dolphins - so that will be a big hit.

On Friday, May 8, we'll head towards Destin, where we'll spend one more night at a beach resort before heading for home on Saturday, May 9. This will give us Sunday to unpack, rest, and refresh for the workweek ahead. Plus, it's Mother's Day that Sunday & we'll be able to spend the day with my mother.

We're super excited about the beach portion of our trip, and I think that having that to look forward to after Disney will accomplish a couple things:
(1) it will help ease the sadness we always experience at the end of a Disney trip by giving us something new to look forward to, and (2) it will prolong our trip home with some relaxing beach time so we'll arrive home refreshed & ready to go back to work.

 

[autumnpalm]

That's so neat that you and your daughter love GG too. We also own all the DVDs and watch them all the time. I am definitely the most like Rory... although I think Paris might be my favourite character on the show.

I loooooove the sanitizers at Bath and Body Works. They just opened up a store in Canada and I have a bunch of them. I keep them in my purse and on my night table. Especially the anti bacterial lotion ones... I have the grapefruit one and it smells delicious!

The dolphin boat ride sounds amazing. I would just love to add a few beach days to the end of our trip but it just isn't in the cards. What a great way to wind down from all the excitement of Disney.

I hope you're feeling better from the flu by now.

Oh... and I love Lush too!! I'm lucky, there are... 3? stores, I think? in my city so I love going in to smell all the soaps. My favourite things are the bubble bars though.

 

[scooby9932]

That's so neat that you and your daughter love GG too. We also own all the DVDs and watch them all the time. I am definitely the most like Rory... although I think Paris might be my favourite character on the show.

I loooooove the sanitizers at Bath and Body Works. They just opened up a store in Canada and I have a bunch of them. I keep them in my purse and on my night table. Especially the anti bacterial lotion ones... I have the grapefruit one and it smells delicious!

The dolphin boat ride sounds amazing. I would just love to add a few beach days to the end of our trip but it just isn't in the cards. What a great way to wind down from all the excitement of Disney.

I hope you're feeling better from the flu by now.

Oh... and I love Lush too!! I'm lucky, there are... 3? stores, I think? in my city so I love going in to smell all the soaps. My favourite things are the bubble bars though.

GG is the best show ever! I love Paris - she's so funny! Did you know the actress who played Paris actually tried out for the role of Rory & though she wasn't a fit for the Rory character, the producers liked her so much that they created the role of Paris just for her? Imagine what GG would have been like without Paris! My favorite character on the show has to be Luke, though. I just love his surly outer self with the gooey inside.

I'm still recovering from my flu - it has gone into "walking" pneumonia now & I'm on bunches of anitbiotics to try to clear it up. SP now has the flu. She came home from the Dr. yesterday with all kinds of meds to help her get over it faster. In the meantime, I have to stay away from all common areas of the house (sort of quarantined) until she's better. We're communicating with each other by text message!

Bath & Body Works & LUSH are 2 of my favorite stores! SP & I can spend so much time just sniffing & trying out products at these stores. I haven't tried a bubble bar yet - are they super bubbly? I know they sure smell delish!

We're very excited about the beach portion of our trip! I wish you guys could do that, too! After all your snow I bet some sunny beach time would be very appreciated!

 

[autumnpalm]

I had no idea they created the role just for Liza Weil. That's so interesting! I definitely cannot see her playing Rory. I love Luke too... and I am totally a Jess fan. I liked Dean but... ahhh I wish Rory had ended up with Jess.

Ughh I'm sorry you've developed walking pneumonia. I've had that before and it's awful. I hope you and your DD are getting lots of rest!

The bubble bars at Lush are awesome. I don't buy them super often because they are expensive but they make soooo many bubbles and the water gets so soft! My favourite bar is The Comforter because it's bigger and smells so yummy and fruity but I also really like Ma Bar and Bathos.

Sending more healthy thoughts to you and your daughter!!!

 

[scooby9932]

I had no idea they created the role just for Liza Weil. That's so interesting! I definitely cannot see her playing Rory. I love Luke too... and I am totally a Jess fan. I liked Dean but... ahhh I wish Rory had ended up with Jess.

Ughh I'm sorry you've developed walking pneumonia. I've had that before and it's awful. I hope you and your DD are getting lots of rest!

The bubble bars at Lush are awesome. I don't buy them super often because they are expensive but they make soooo many bubbles and the water gets so soft! My favourite bar is The Comforter because it's bigger and smells so yummy and fruity but I also really like Ma Bar and Bathos.

Sending more healthy thoughts to you and your daughter!!!

Ah, Jess...what can I say? I couldn't stand Jess for Rory when she first started seeing him. Later, though, once he grew up & started thinking about his actions & others' feelings, I think he was WAY better for her than Logan ever was. I really liked Dean for Rory, but I think that's because I was coming from a mother's perspective and really wanted her to have someone who cherished her like Dean did. And, I was (notice the past tense! )married to a bad boy, so I know how that can be!

I'll definitely have to try one of the bubble bars! I LOVE taking bubble baths with lots of bubbles, and who wouldn't like the softened skin afterwards? Sounds like just the treat SP & I need to help us feel better.

 

[autumnpalm]

Ah, Jess...what can I say? I couldn't stand Jess for Rory when she first started seeing him. Later, though, once he grew up & started thinking about his actions & others' feelings, I think he was WAY better for her than Logan ever was. I really liked Dean for Rory, but I think that's because I was coming from a mother's perspective and really wanted her to have someone who cherished her like Dean did. And, I was (notice the past tense! )married to a bad boy, so I know how that can be!

I'll definitely have to try one of the bubble bars! I LOVE taking bubble baths with lots of bubbles, and who wouldn't like the softened skin afterwards? Sounds like just the treat SP & I need to help us feel better.

Ughhhhh Logan. Not a fan. I do think Dean treated Rory really well though, which is important.

I always did like Marty though. My mom always wanted him and Rory to end up together but they never did. I thought he was cute. And really sweet!

And I definitely like Luke better than Christopher.

 

[scooby9932]

Ughhhhh Logan. Not a fan. I do think Dean treated Rory really well though, which is important.

I always did like Marty though. My mom always wanted him and Rory to end up together but they never did. I thought he was cute. And really sweet!

And I definitely like Luke better than Christopher.

Marty WAS really cool & sweet...at least until the weird "we don't know each other" thing.

You want to know the freakiest thing about GG being just like DD & me? Christopher looks J-U-S-T like my ex, DD's dad!!! How weird is that? We're not big fans of his either...it was always hard to tell if it was his character or the resemblance to the ex.

 

[Lady Lallie]

I just read your PTR this evening. What a great read! I'm looking forward to reading about more of your planning and your trip too. I think it's so great that you are going with your DD. I would love a mother/daughter trip to Disney with my Mom someday.

I also have to add that I am a HUGE Gilmore Girls fan too. I miss it so much!

 

[SunnieRN]

The new beach plans sound fantastic!! How nice that you will be home to spend Mothers Day with your Mom!!
Your trip is getting closer!! Woo hoo, as that means mine is getting closer also!!
Lookimg forward to more!

 

[scooby9932]

I just read your PTR this evening. What a great read! I'm looking forward to reading about more of your planning and your trip too. I think it's so great that you are going with your DD. I would love a mother/daughter trip to Disney with my Mom someday.

I also have to add that I am a HUGE Gilmore Girls fan too. I miss it so much!

Welcome to my PTR & thanks for joining in! You should definitely plan a trip with your DM! These trips are such great bonding times with my DD. We share memories that sustain us all year long...until the next trip! We have so much fun.

GG fans, unite! Another fan of the late, great Gilmores. Do you have the DVDs? We watch them all the time!

The new beach plans sound fantastic!! How nice that you will be home to spend Mothers Day with your Mom!!
Your trip is getting closer!! Woo hoo, as that means mine is getting closer also!!
Lookimg forward to more!

Isn't it great how close our trips are? Woo Hoo!!

 

[scooby9932]

So, we usually make t-shirts for the trip. I've designed a few for us this year, but still need to get the shirts & print out the designs.

I can't access Photobucket or any other photo sharing site from work due to restrictions - BUT I was able to post the photos on the Disboards photo site!

Since Disney is having their What Will You Celebrate promotion, I made a couple of designs for me:

Cancer Survival Tee Shirt Design

Since my Birthday is May 28, we're celebrating early:
40th Birthday Design

Here are a few I've made for Somer:

There are a couple of Name Designs:
Cindy Name Design

Favorite Characters Name Design

One for Me

Spring has Sprung here in Louisiana. We had a guest in one of our birdhouses - an A-Frame one I made that looks like the ones at KOA campgrounds.
Froggy CloseUp

 

[scooby9932]

Some more picture links!

Here's the catalog picture of my new swimsuit:
New Suit

It finally arrived in yesterday's mail & I got a chance to try it on. Wow! It is the BEST fitting swimsuit I've had since my teenage years! It's really cute & comfy.

A Few Pics I took at the Parks @ Night:
Epcot Fountain at Night

DHS - Hat @ Night

Illuminations!

I went by Hobby Lobby yesterday & picked up a few supplies to make some buttons for our trip. I bought some round wooden circles, pin backs & decoupage glue for some customized buttons. I'll be printing out some designs from the computer & can decoupage them on the circles. I hope they turn out okay.

I also bought some lime green Fimo dough. I'm hoping to make some Lime Green Mickey Heads - possibly as buttons, or maybe key chains. I don't know yet, but thought I'd give it a shot.

I'm going to work on them this weekend & will let you guys know how they turn out.

I've also been pulling together all my information for our binder (or as SP & I call it our "Disney Bible" ). This book is always a lifesaver on the trips!

I leave you with one of SP and her very most favorite character (other than Cinderella, of course):
Figment Love

TTFN!

I

 

[scooby9932]

So, I was browsing through the last 2 year's photos & I saw some that I thought were really cute.

Since I don't have any real Disney updates, I thought I'd share some with you all!

SP at Sunshine Season's with Our Little TagAlong Buddies (2008

SP meets Minnie (2007) - so excited!

SP & Goofy on our Cold May Day (2007):

SP & AK Mickey (2007):

SP gets a tattoo! (2007 )

SP gets a tattoo! (2008)

I found a hat! (2008) - Don't worry, they took the security tag off once I bought it!

We're REALLY excited to be going on Spaceship Earth! Check out SP's manic smile!(2008)

SP in her 2007 HS Graduation Mickey Ears (2007):

And, not Disney related, but here's a pic of my furbaby, Rufus. Isn't he adorable?