Our first trip to Disney at Christmas - the plan so far

[Becx N Gav]

LOVE the countdown - you are my kind of Disney nut!
Can't wait to see it when it is all done!

It's coming along I've numbered all the stars and I was just looking through some clip art to find a larger star for # 1 Not sure if the printer is working, I need to go check it but DH is on Guitar Hero 3 and I don't want to walk in front of the TV

I've covered the card bit now so it's a case of sticking on the stars (hopefully they'll fit) and waiting til 100 days out to start the countdown - DH still doesn't get what I'm making Bless him, he loves me despite my scrapping tendancies

Not too sure what crafty thing to do next, I just finished a jigsaw last night (thought it would take me weeks ) guess I could go look for a frame - I couldn't bare to take it apart

 

[Alysa]

Oh my sister and I know all about Guitar Hero widows!
Thank goodness DH only gets to play it at my brother in laws house!

 

[Becx N Gav]

Looks like a great start, I think I will make DD one out of poster board so we can put it up in her room. I need to go to Home depot and steal me some LGMH to make some tags and such. We should be to page 4 soon.....

Oh how I wish we had a Home Depot Or even if I knew last year I could have aquired a few of those little fellas

Hoping the pages keep coming, hoping I can think of stuff to bore/entertain you loyal people with

I'm still dealing with months ... "Only 4 months to go!!" doesn't sound that far off ...

At 10 weeks - I plan to start thinking in weeks ... (and panicking [sp?], of course, cuz with only 10 weeks to go, I will have sooooo much to do .... )

Then - when we tell the DD on her birthday and give her the countdown chain ... ... I'll start thinking "days!!!!!"

It's not as long as you think honest It certainly goes quick when you aren't thinking about it
Yeah when it gets to weeks it does go so fast, I hate to wish my life away but you have to have something to look forward to

I hope your DD gets very excited when she gets the countdown chain, I wish my parents could have done that sort of thing for me, oh well I'll have to make up for it now

 

[Becx N Gav]

Oh my sister and I know all about Guitar Hero widows!
Thank goodness DH only gets to play it at my brother in laws house!

Ah, well slight problem I love it as much as he does (although I can only do medium, he's working through hard ) I love the way it's rationed tho for your DH
I can't wait for GH4, it'll have drums and singing too

I tend to get widowed when he's on Mario Kart But I can't complain, he lets me play HSM sing along and Hannah Montana World Tour
Fair is fair.

Thanks for posting BTW, welcome to the snail I call my PTR!

 

[2BusyPlanning]

See? The link in your siggie really works! Found you!

I love all of your countdown creations and decorations! Very cute... makes me think I have to get to work on mine!

 

[lazydoxy66]

I wandered over from 2BP's PTR. Your itinerary looks fabulous as do all your decorations. You are a cute couple.
I've said this before. If you run out of things to talk about, post some pics. I've never been to England. So even the everyday stuff is fun to look at!! You'll find that most of the PTRs and TRs tend to take a detour once in a while.

Do you know anyone well enough over here to give them your address so they could send you some Mickey Heads in the mail?

 

[bellasmommy0]

You need to post more pics of your calender, as I am sure you have gotten farther along on it by now!! And your pre-trippie is growing...you are already on page 4!!

 

[Becx N Gav]

See? The link in your siggie really works! Found you!

I love all of your countdown creations and decorations! Very cute... makes me think I have to get to work on mine!

Yey! Glad you've joined - the pressure is mounting

Thanks, I love making stuff like that. I've now finished the countdown, but I think it might need some tinsel? I'll go and dig some out, try it with and without.

I wandered over from 2BP's PTR. Your itinerary looks fabulous as do all your decorations. You are a cute couple.
I've said this before. If you run out of things to talk about, post some pics. I've never been to England. So even the everyday stuff is fun to look at!! You'll find that most of the PTRs and TRs tend to take a detour once in a while.

Do you know anyone well enough over here to give them your address so they could send you some Mickey Heads in the mail?

Yey thanks for stopping by
I will have to go out in the garden and take some pics (unfortunately it slopes upwards so we don't get any views - and it's totally overgrown at the moment - we were out there earlier and this Robin kept flying past and chirping, also we found a toad and loads of slugs )

Funny you should mention the Mickey heads, Lurkyloo sent me a package of choccie which arrived yesterday, and she got her DH to get me some Mickey heads My collection has started

You need to post more pics of your calender, as I am sure you have gotten farther along on it by now!! And your pre-trippie is growing...you are already on page 4!!

More pics coming up, been quite busy the last few days and wasn't at all well yesterday Feeling a bit brighter and creative today. Me feels some crafting coming on

Thanks to all readers BTW. And yey to page 4 Only 3 and a bit months to go

 

[Becx N Gav]

So here is our list of must dos - in the spread sheet I've grouped them into rides / shows & parades / food / others and highlighted them accordingly.

So for MK

Town Square Exposition Hall
Swiss Family Tree House
Jungle Cruise
Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room
POTC
Splash Mountain
Hall of Presidents - although this will be closed
BTM
Tom Sawyers Island
Country Bear Jamboree
Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
Mickey's Philharmagic
Haunted Mansion
Buzz Lightyear
Spectromagic parade
Wishes
Share A Dream Come True parade
Sleepy Hollow - Funnel cake
Peco Bill (burgers)
Character meet & greets
Pin shop - Liberty Square
Photopass photographers
Tink's treasure shop

For Epcot

FW Innoventions East & West
Universe of Energy
Wonders of Life Pavillion
Test Track (FP only) - DH will not wait to go on this so we've agreed to get a FP or not bother.
Living Seas (Nemo & Crush)
Living with the Land
Norway - Maelstrom
China - Reflections of China
USA Pav - American adventure
France - Impressions de France
Illuminations
Character meet & greets
Club Cool
Check Leave a Legacy - we did this in 2006 but forgot to write down the ref number for last year, didn't really have time anyway.
WS Mexico - Marge&Ritas
Germany - beer & look round
Italy - go into main area
Japan - look round (after eating?)
Morocco - beer & look round
UK - Beer & music & shops yeh! - DH wrote this on the spreadsheet, can you tell?
Canada - look round
Photopass photographers
Character meet & greets
Passport - we're gonna go round and on the suggestion of the Podcast we'll get them to write our names in the different languages/alphabets

For DHS

Tower of Terror
Backlot Tour - have never done this and want to compare it to DLRP.
Magic of Disney Animation - I drew Mickey last year and can't wait to do another
Toy Story Midway Mania
Sounds Dangerous (Drew Carey)
Fantasmic
Block Party Bash
Beauty & the Beast
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Character meet & greets
Narnia
Pixar Place
Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set
Photopass photographers
Osbourne Family Xmas Lights
New York Street Set

For AK

Dinosaur
Primeval Whirl
It's Tough to be a Bug
Kali River Rapids
The Maharajah Jungle Trek
Pangani Forest Exploration Trail
Expedition Everest
Finding Nemo Show
Parade
Photopass photographers
Character meet & greets
Mickey Head Ice cream - from anywhere really, but AK tends to be the warmest park

So not too much (over 2 weeks anyway). I'm quite excited as we haven't done all of those things before, I love how WDW can be totally different each time you go

 

[Becx N Gav]

I found some older pics of our back and front garden.

These were taken Feb 2007, I love the way the snowflakes look

Look at the trees at the top of the garden, we got rid of those bad boys last year

This one shows how deep the snow was

These were taken in 2006, there was a green house there (right in front of the kitchen window) but it looked ugly and we didn't use it

 

[Becx N Gav]

Here are some pics during the cutting down of the monsters, they must have been about 30/40 feet!

You can see the pile on the left, it took about a year to get rid of it all - I wish we had hired a chipper!

And here is the top when we'd cleared it, we used a lot of the branches and the remaining stumps (we didn't dig them out) to form a hedge, so far it's withstood the wind!

Trouble was when all that 'dead' looking land got a bit of sunshine it went wild. A loads of sunflowers, poppies and weeds came through!

 

[Becx N Gav]

I took some photos of our snowglobe collection, I've been meaning to post them on a Disney collecions thread but kept forgetting
So here's what we've collected over the last 4 years

Well these aren't snowglobes but we have a shelf of potatoes

Sorry they're a bit dark, I used the camcorder rather than my camera.

 

[joelp]

So here is our list of must dos - in the spread sheet I've grouped them into rides / shows & parades / food / others and highlighted them accordingly.

So for MK

Town Square Exposition Hall
Swiss Family Tree House
Jungle Cruise
Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room
POTC
Splash Mountain
Hall of Presidents - although this will be closed
BTM
Tom Sawyers Island
Country Bear Jamboree
Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
Mickey's Philharmagic
Haunted Mansion
Buzz Lightyear
Spectromagic parade
Wishes
Share A Dream Come True parade
Sleepy Hollow - Funnel cake
Peco Bill (burgers)
Character meet & greets
Pin shop - Liberty Square
Photopass photographers
Tink's treasure shop

Don't forget to grab a treat at the Main Street Bakery and the Ice Cream Parlour!! And Dole Whips for everyone!!!

What? - no iasm? (trust me - it's less "mind-numbing" than Tiki Room ... )

There's apparently going to be a new Tinkerbell/Fairies meet 'n' greet in Toontown!!

And what about the Monsters Inc. Laugh Factory!?! - my DW was one of their "victims" our last trip ...


For Epcot

FW Innoventions East & West
Universe of Energy
Wonders of Life Pavillion
Test Track (FP only) - DH will not wait to go on this so we've agreed to get a FP or not bother.
Living Seas (Nemo & Crush)
Living with the Land
Norway - Maelstrom
China - Reflections of China
USA Pav - American adventure
France - Impressions de France
Illuminations
Character meet & greets
Club Cool
Check Leave a Legacy - we did this in 2006 but forgot to write down the ref number for last year, didn't really have time anyway.
WS Mexico - Marge&Ritas
Germany - beer & look round
Italy - go into main area
Japan - look round (after eating?)
Morocco - beer & look round
UK - Beer & music & shops yeh! - DH wrote this on the spreadsheet, can you tell?
Canada - look round
Photopass photographers
Character meet & greets
Passport - we're gonna go round and on the suggestion of the Podcast we'll get them to write our names in the different languages/alphabets

I'm pretty sure the Wonders of Life Pavilion is no more ...

And Canada has a new film ... And you forgot Soarin'!!!!

Most of the countries will have a special holiday storyteller ...

And you definitely want to avoid the patisserie in France!! ... (not!!)


For DHS

Tower of Terror
Backlot Tour - have never done this and want to compare it to DLRP.
Magic of Disney Animation - I drew Mickey last year and can't wait to do another
Toy Story Midway Mania
Sounds Dangerous (Drew Carey)
Fantasmic
Block Party Bash
Beauty & the Beast
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Character meet & greets
Narnia
Pixar Place
Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set
Photopass photographers
Osbourne Family Xmas Lights
New York Street Set

Make sure you DH takes a picture of you stuck in the "Shrunk" play set!!


Disney - One Man's Dream is also pretty cool ...

And what out for those DHS "starlets" - one may try to run off with your DH ...


fFor AK

Dinosaur
Primeval Whirl
It's Tough to be a Bug
Kali River Rapids
The Maharajah Jungle Trek
Pangani Forest Exploration Trail
Expedition Everest
Finding Nemo Show
Parade
Photopass photographers
Character meet & greets
Mickey Head Ice cream - from anywhere really, but AK tends to be the warmest park

Did you forget Festival of the Lion King and KS?

Mickey Bars are a must - I prescribe at least one a day - preferably two ...

So not too much (over 2 weeks anyway). I'm quite excited as we haven't done all of those things before, I love how WDW can be totally different each time you go

With two weeks, you may want to think about hitting Sea World, too ... or taking a day trip to Capa Canavarel ...

Or - just sitting around the AKL eating Mickey Bars ...

 

[joelp]

How long do you think the globes would last around a 4-year old??

I picked up a Tinker Bell globe/music "box" for my DD as a Christmas present (to be ...) a few months back - it was only $10 at the Disney Outlet (Big Sale - a REALLY BIG sale!!)

That will be her first (now I just have to find a place where we can put it ...)

 

[lazydoxy66]

Funny you should mention the Mickey heads, Lurkyloo sent me a package of choccie which arrived yesterday, and she got her DH to get me some Mickey heads My collection has started

That's excellent!!!

Wow! Snow looks just the same here in Indiana! I know, not funny. We get a lot of sunfloweres here. I think they are from the bird feeders.
Your place looks peaceful. I just want to pull up a lawn chair and sip on some iced tea or a beer.
Thanks for the pics. Keep them coming!

 

[Alysa]

The snow globes are BEAUTIFUL!
My daughter collects them too - Santa brings one for her every Christmas...

 

[Becx N Gav]

With two weeks, you may want to think about hitting Sea World, too ... or taking a day trip to Capa Canavarel ...

Or - just sitting around the AKL eating Mickey Bars ...

Thanks for all your suggestions, generally the rides/shows we haven't got down are not top of the list - we did them the last couple of years and want to try some new things but if have time we'll do whatever we can. I will defo have a Dole Whip for Bawb (despite not liking pineapple that much). I'm hoping to be more hungry this time round (should be cooler) as in the heat I never fancy eating much, there are so many sweet treats I need to try (for research purposes )

As we are getting AP's we want to spend as much time as posible using them, one year we'll go to Vero Beach and maybe do some other things in Orlando - we just want to do so much at Disney still, seems silly to go elsewhere (I even resent - a little - having to stop for groceries/Christmas tree, going to a mall when I could be at Disney )

How long do you think the globes would last around a 4-year old??

I picked up a Tinker Bell globe/music "box" for my DD as a Christmas present (to be ...) a few months back - it was only $10 at the Disney Outlet (Big Sale - a REALLY BIG sale!!)

That will be her first (now I just have to find a place where we can put it ...)

I'm thinking about 2 mins before they loose their ears Funny you should say that a friend of mine has a little one - 2-3 I think - and we invited them over hoping we could be in the garden and wouldn't have to move them all upstairs Luckily her Mum took care of him so no moving required - it rained.

Wow a snowglobe for $10 Wish we had those sort of reductions here, unfortunately the shipping cost on Disneyshopping.com pushes the price up considerably, then you have to pay duty on top I just love all the stuff they do, if I had my way we'd have the furniture and everything Maybe one day.

Oh and I suggest having the snow globe on a high shelf

That's excellent!!!

Wow! Snow looks just the same here in Indiana! I know, not funny. We get a lot of sunfloweres here. I think they are from the bird feeders.
Your place looks peaceful. I just want to pull up a lawn chair and sip on some iced tea or a beer.
Thanks for the pics. Keep them coming!

LOL, that's actually nice looking snow, I hate it on the roads when it goes all slushy and looks grey

I think our sunflowers came from the birds too We get loads, they're so cool to watch. We even had a jay - they usually live in woods and eat acorns (bit like Eeyore) but will go after a peanut if they get the chance

The garden may look peaceful but there is a big roundabout and 2 lane carriage way just over the fence, you get used to it but we often hear peoples horns and sirens (ambulances, police cars etc) If we get nice enough weather (still waiting for summer here ) we have the MP3 player and speakers And of course a little alcoholic bevvie

The snow globes are BEAUTIFUL!
My daughter collects them too - Santa brings one for her every Christmas...

Thanks It's amazing how fast our collection grew, we've run out of space now so I'll have to start collecting something smaller

That reminds me, on the shopping list I want to get a pin collection folder thingy - it'll be nice to have them all in one place and be able to look at them more easily

 

[Becx N Gav]

Sorry to keep you all in suspense! Here is the countdown I've made before the final touch

Next I was trying to decide which tinsel to use (I got some cheap a few years ago and rarely use them to decorate)

First there is pink

Purple

Or blue?

I went for pink as it matched the candy canes

So far we're down 2 days (99 to go - but I've marked that off already )

I love this Mickey punch I got a few years ago

 

[bellasmommy0]

Very cute!! And YEAH!!! you are marking off days!!

 

[lazydoxy66]

Wonderful! I was going to say pink for the same reason!