Our Surprise Adventure of a Lifetime. Lots of Pics Along the Way!

[spoonfulofsugr]

hi! i'm in the same boat as you, kinda - we were going to go in May, but my best friend and i aren't graduating in January so we're just going to wait until October or November for the Food & Wine Festival!

i love your parties! they look so fun. Your crafts are great too! i wish i had the patience and/or creativity to do anything like that!

i'm subscribing, so i'll be back.

Thanks for joining in. I love to see new people here. How was everyones holiday? DH had the flu so ours was just ok but he got me the new iPod touch with Bose headphones. Wow I mean wow. Awesome. I love him so much and hope he feels better soon. He has been throwing up for four days on and off and now my mom and brother are sick. I'll update a little bit later so until then...

 

[spoonfulofsugr]

Happy New Year everyone!

 

[spoonfulofsugr]

Hi everybody! Well last time you heard, DH was sick with the stomach virus. Well, as you know, viruses never keep their hands to themselves and three of us ended up getting it.. my mom, my brother, and me. It was definitely one of the worst stomach viruses I have ever had. So I was sick over the weekend and into the next week. Tuesday, my family went up to PA to see my mom's family and we had a lot of fun. After that, they came down here and hung out some more. We don't get to see them very often so it's always nice when we get to spend some time together. My mom is one of eight kids and she actually has some siblings that I have never even met but I will someday.

Anyway, that brings us to today. I am getting ready to go to church but just so happened to catch a Travel Channel special on the country's best waterparks and it gave me that old feeling. I can't believe our trip is still nine months away! I will die waiting for this trip! The end of this month will bring big things for me. The 20th, school starts again and the 30th is Disney reservation day! I can't wait. Once our trip is booked, it's for real. In April is when we will pay for Discovery Cove (the surprise within the surprise), Universal tickets, La Nouba tickets, and MNSSHP (if we can) tickets. July will bring our plane tickets and September, our trip! At least we have a plan (although I guess we have so many haha) I saw SheaBear at Coldstone this weekend and they are... at Disney right now I think. Can you say JEALOUS?!?! Anyway, I will update later and try to add some pics. Stay tuned for our next Disney night this week... Mulan! Until then, sending a little magic your way.

 

[elt0307]

Ick, sorry to hear everyone got sick over the holidays - that has happened to my family before and it is no fun Glad to hear your holidays were nice otherwise. Random comment but you mentioned visiting family in PA and I think I remember earlier in your PTR that you and DH live in the Philly area? What a coincidence - I live in the Philly area too! Glad to finally meet someone from near me!

Anyway, I hate waiting for vacations too but I'm sure it will be here before you know it. I must have missed that you were going to Discovery Cove and Universal too, you are really making the rounds while you are down there, your two sisters will love it! I'm jealous - I wish I could be planning a Disney vacation!

Can't wait to hear about the Mulan movie night - that is one of my favorite Disney movies

 

[spoonfulofsugr]

Ick, sorry to hear everyone got sick over the holidays - that has happened to my family before and it is no fun Glad to hear your holidays were nice otherwise. Random comment but you mentioned visiting family in PA and I think I remember earlier in your PTR that you and DH live in the Philly area? What a coincidence - I live in the Philly area too! Glad to finally meet someone from near me!

Anyway, I hate waiting for vacations too but I'm sure it will be here before you know it. I must have missed that you were going to Discovery Cove and Universal too, you are really making the rounds while you are down there, your two sisters will love it! I'm jealous - I wish I could be planning a Disney vacation!

Can't wait to hear about the Mulan movie night - that is one of my favorite Disney movies

Welcome! We do consider ourselves in the Philadelphia area but we are really about 10 minutes outside of Atlantic City. It's nice to have someone from the area on my PTR! We are definitely packing our trip full. I keep going back and forth between knowing we won't get to see it all and just taking our time and wanting to see everything in a week. I guess I will have to try and find a good balance between the two and our vacation will turn out great. Mulan night will be coming soon but for now, I will post some pictures of a Disney night I never got to cover. This was our Winnie the Pooh night.

I decorated just by hanging up pictures of the Winnie the Pooh gang on the walls and windows.

On the menu: Chicken tenders with HONEY mustard, caesar salad, and bowtie pasta (like the bow on eeyore's tail)

After dinner, we had soapapillas for dessert. For those of you who don't know what they are, they are basically just fried tortillas with honey, cinnamon, sugar, and whipped cream.. SO YUMMY! And, since it has honey in it, it fit right into our theme!

It was fun. I kept it pretty simple this time but we all love this movie so it was a good time.

On another note, I joined the Disney Movie Club and I can't wait for my first 6 movies to arrive. I got 6 movies for 32 dollars!! P.S. The Little Mermaid, The Little Mermaid 2, Peter Pan, and Peter Pan: Return to Neverland are being put away in the Disney vault at the end of this month so if any of you want to buy them, hurry up!! Who know when they will be back.

Mulan is later this week so stay tuned! It will be a fun one. Until next time.. sending a little magic your way!

 

[Disneychix]

You really should write a book or something with all your cute ideas that go along with the movies you show! Too cute!

When are your dates going to be for September? I really would consider making ADRs. Especially if they offer free dining this year in Sept. You really truly cannot find an ADR at any of the popular places that you all might like. I know the girls are kinda old for this but what about character dining too? You certainly will have to have an ADR for Chef Mickeys or Crystal Palace or CRT. You all look like a fun bunch and I would recommend an ADR for the PrimeTime cafe too!

Good luck with the rest of the planning!

 

[spoonfulofsugr]

You really should write a book or something with all your cute ideas that go along with the movies you show! Too cute!

When are your dates going to be for September? I really would consider making ADRs. Especially if they offer free dining this year in Sept. You really truly cannot find an ADR at any of the popular places that you all might like. I know the girls are kinda old for this but what about character dining too? You certainly will have to have an ADR for Chef Mickeys or Crystal Palace or CRT. You all look like a fun bunch and I would recommend an ADR for the PrimeTime cafe too!

Good luck with the rest of the planning!

Thank you for the wonderful compliments! The pic of your little one is sooo cute! Love the little Tigger costume! Our dates will be 9/21-9/28 I am sure it will be busy dining-wise but I am actually hoping for Free Dining. It would help us out with cost a lot. I will probably go back and forth over ADR's a hundred times but I think I will land firmly planted in ADR Rebellion Territory. I guess I must just be some kind of Disney Vacation Kamikaze. In any case, it will definitely be an adventure! I think the girls would actually really like character dining (heck I do!!) so maybe I will make an ADR for at least one of those meals. Thanks for the advice and the support! Until next time..

 

[Disneychix]

Those are my dates too! Maybe we'll see you around!

Especially if you are on the dining plan (free or paid for) please make ADRs! You will be wasting money by not being able to eat at TS places. We tried to change around some ADRs last year and couldn't get anything! Thankfully I had an OOP breakfast planned that turned into our last FD TS meal.

 

[spoonfulofsugr]

Those are my dates too! Maybe we'll see you around!

That would be crazy if I saw you down there. Maybe we will! I just thought I would stop in and post some pictures from Christmas.

Me and DSis16

The family at Harrah's casino breakfast buffet.

Until next time..

 

[spoonfulofsugr]

Hi all, only one more week until I start school again. I don't think I have mentioned it on here before so, to catch you up, I am currently attending community college with the plans to finish up at Rutgers University. I am majoring in Marine Biology and Psychology. I am taking 19 credits this semester.. EEK! I am also working part time. It is going to be crazy and I am getting really nervous. I am also a little on edge because I have to get A's in all of my classes in order to be eligible for the scholarship I need one I continue on to Rutgers. So, I'm kind of stressing but I know I can do it. I guess this is a good thing because it distracts me from how dang far away our trip is. Anyway, wish me luck! Until next time... sending a little magic your way.

 

[kafitty]

good luck with your classes this semester! i'm only taking 9 credits myself...i'm ALMOST FINALLY DONE!!

it's definitely nice to be busy, as a distraction...i'm right there with you, waiting for this fall! (though, if the economy continues to crash, i may have to wait even longer. )

 

[spoonfulofsugr]

good luck with your classes this semester! i'm only taking 9 credits myself...i'm ALMOST FINALLY DONE!!

it's definitely nice to be busy, as a distraction...i'm right there with you, waiting for this fall! (though, if the economy continues to crash, i may have to wait even longer. )

Thanks for your well wishes. That's so cool for you that you are almost done! What degree will you graduate with? Good luck to you too this semester.

I hope you don't have to push your trip off. I'll be thinking happy thoughts for you that you will get to go this fall.

So, is anyone else totally psyched about Disney making their first 2D animated movie in 5 years?! I just found out today and it looks so cute! It's called "The Princess and the Frog". I think it comes out next Christmas and I can't wait. I love the Pixar movies but nothing is more exciting and fantastical as a classic 2D animated feature! Check it out.. you can see the trailer on the Disney website. Mulan night tomorrow! Until next time..

 

[ScotsMinnie]

Hi! Just read your report and I am loving it. How cool to have this surprise for your sisters. They will have an amazing time i bet.

I saw the advert for Princess and the Frog today when we watched my DDs DVD of Sleeping Beauty. It looks really good but with a re;lease date of 2010 its a long way away.

Can't wait to read more.
Lx

 

[spoonfulofsugr]

Hi! Just read your report and I am loving it. How cool to have this surprise for your sisters. They will have an amazing time i bet.

I saw the advert for Princess and the Frog today when we watched my DDs DVD of Sleeping Beauty. It looks really good but with a re;lease date of 2010 its a long way away.

Can't wait to read more.
Lx

Thanks for joining in on my PTR. I really hope we do have a good time. Every time I think about it... watching Wishes with the girls, going on Expedition Everest for the first time, seeing their faces when we tell them we are going to Discovery Cove... I get all choked up! I am convince I will be crying the whole time haha. I am so jealous you are going sooner than I am!!

 

[Villainess]

I'm joining your PTR. I'm from NJ too a bit more north than you, however - in Monmouth County. My cousin lives in Port Republic and my aunt and uncle live in Tuckerton.

We will be there in Apr-May so we will miss you - flying out of Atlantic city airport, though! I am going to 3rd or 4th or 5th having ADR's. Since Disney introduced the DDP, ADR's can be hard to come by even in the lighter crowd times. We don't plan which park we are going to visit each day but make our ADRs and if dinner is at Le Cellier and we are at DHS, we just take the boat over to Epcot.

 

[Villainess]

Oh, and I am totally borrowing your movie night theme idea! I think my kids would get such a kick out of it and a great way to introduce them to some of the movies they aren't as familiar with yet (Sleeping Beauty, Mary Poppins, Cars, Monster's Inc, Pete's Dragon, and Peter Pan are always on here).

 

[Deffenm]

I just wanted to say I love your posts. I took my Dsis and DBro to WDW for their High School Graduation present, as my parents could never afford it, and we had a blast. I also took my DS3 (at the time). We had so much fun. We never had dinner reservations as they are picky eaters and just ate counter service and we still had a great time. I am now in the process of planning a trip in Nov. for my family. Your ideas for the Disney themed dinners are wonderful and I hope you don't mind me borrowing some of them. It is a long way until Nov. so I thought this would help us get in the mood. We have not told the kids we are going yet not sure if we are going to surprise them or not. Looking forward to hearing about your Mulan dinner.

 

[spoonfulofsugr]

I can't believe it's been almost a full week since Mulan night. I am really dropping the ball here! I have just had a stressful week trying to get things in order for school and the people in the financial aid office are "dirty trashcans full of poop". And that's all I have to say about that. Now, on to the fun stuff. We had Mulan night on Sunday. We picked the girls up and then stopped at our favorite Chinese place to get Chinese take-out. Once we got home, we mandated that everyone eat with chopsticks. This is how it turned out...

Hannah used the unconventional but effective stabbing method.

While Courtney started of with the two handed method and ended up...

ditching the chopsticks all together!

After dinner, we opened up our fortune cookies.


"The suspense is exciting.. hope it lasts." HOW PERFECT!!!


"The days that make us happy, make us wise."


When we were done reading our fortunes, we headed over to the living room and did some oragami while we watched the movie. I don't know how many of you have done oragami but it is DANG hard! They don't give you directions in words.. only stupid pictures with incomprehensible arrow looking things.

It was hard but we finally figured it out and made these cute little boxes!

At the end of the night, each of them got a little Chinese-to-go container that I filled with red paper shreds and tons of candy.

All-in-all it was a good night. DH had never seen the movie but he really liked it. I love how he gets so into these Disney nights now. It was his turn to pick so next Disney night is Aladdin. Stay tuned! Until then...

 

[spoonfulofsugr]

I'm joining your PTR. I'm from NJ too a bit more north than you, however - in Monmouth County. My cousin lives in Port Republic and my aunt and uncle live in Tuckerton.

We will be there in Apr-May so we will miss you - flying out of Atlantic city airport, though! I am going to 3rd or 4th or 5th having ADR's. Since Disney introduced the DDP, ADR's can be hard to come by even in the lighter crowd times. We don't plan which park we are going to visit each day but make our ADRs and if dinner is at Le Cellier and we are at DHS, we just take the boat over to Epcot.

Oh, and I am totally borrowing your movie night theme idea! I think my kids would get such a kick out of it and a great way to introduce them to some of the movies they aren't as familiar with yet (Sleeping Beauty, Mary Poppins, Cars, Monster's Inc, Pete's Dragon, and Peter Pan are always on here).

Welcome, welcome! It's nice to see someone from my neck-of-the-woods. Flying out of the AC airport is fabulous! It's small and you get through security and all that jazz so quick! Not to mention it's only about ten minutes away from my house! And the flight is only two hours long. Seriously, how can you beat that?! Well, maybe if you live ten minutes away from the world itself but you know.. I am glad you will be starting movie nights. They are super fun and I want to hear all about them!

I just wanted to say I love your posts. I took my Dsis and DBro to WDW for their High School Graduation present, as my parents could never afford it, and we had a blast. I also took my DS3 (at the time). We had so much fun. We never had dinner reservations as they are picky eaters and just ate counter service and we still had a great time. I am now in the process of planning a trip in Nov. for my family. Your ideas for the Disney themed dinners are wonderful and I hope you don't mind me borrowing some of them. It is a long way until Nov. so I thought this would help us get in the mood. We have not told the kids we are going yet not sure if we are going to surprise them or not. Looking forward to hearing about your Mulan dinner.

Well, hello... look! It's someone as crazy as me! That's awesome you took your siblings on a trip. I bet it was so fun. In regards to the movie nights... thieve away!

 

[ScotsMinnie]

How lovely. I am feeling the excitment building with your nights! When are you planning to tell them and how? I am terrible at keeping a secret!!!! You are doign so well.