PHXscuba's Club 33 Christmas

[Sherry E]

...DH is strong (and nuts), but this was only a little over a year after back surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back. NOT smart. Thankfully there was no damage.

I will not be mentioning this photo when we go in March.


PHXscuba

PHX -

Okay, I have to admit that I love the idea of this picture^^, and I think it's great that your DH was game to do the reenactment years later! It sounds like he has a good sense of humor! Honestly, back in the days when I took photos of people instead of scenery, that's probably the kind of goofy thing that I would have hoped my friends would do - recreate a pose from years earlier! Then again, I have a warped sense of humor.

But...as a fellow sufferer of the dreaded disc problems in the back (and your DH probably knows the familiar and ominous 'popping' noise when the disc goes haywire upon injury - it's awful!), putting your son on his shoulders and back was probably not a wise idea at all! So, no, don't let him do that again!

So I apologize for keeping everyone in suspense over my next set of photos. Life has a way of getting in the way of Internet playtime!

To really understand this series of photos, you have to know my DH a little better. First, he is someone who loves Disney while he's there, and knows it makes me and the family happy (see my tag for something I said about it awhile back). I usually run a few of the big decisions by him -- where we stay, how many days, character meal? -- but he happily leaves the maneuvering to me.

The other thing you should know about him is that he absolutely LOVES tigers. He and I went to Puerto Vallarta a few years ago and I found a zoo there that would let you play with a baby tiger for an extra $10! He framed a set of these to go with the other tiger decor at our office.

So one of his very few requests for a Disney trip is a picture with Tigger, his (obvious) favorite Disney character.

With DS on our first family trip 12 years ago.

This picture was his screensaver for quite awhile, and our family Christmas card photo for 2009.

One of the main reason we did the Crystal Palace character meal at Disney World was to recreate the same photo (I had it on my phone for reference). Holy cow, can you believe how much my older kids grew in two years?! ... and DD13 has added a couple inches in the last 15 months since!​

Needless to say, a trip to Critter Country for a Tigger photo is on my must-do list for the trip in March!


One more set of pictures to share this week ... I promise I saved the best for last.


PHXscuba

I love all of the photos above - who doesn't love a cute baby tiger? - but I especially love the 2 family photos with Tigger! Those are wonderful - as I've mentioned before, you all are definitely a photogenic, happy, fun-looking bunch of folks!

Was it your DH who went to Catalina last year, with other family members? I recall you telling me that you were not going but someone else in your family was going to the island (to dive, right?). Or was it in 2011 that the trip took place?

 

[PHXscuba]

Sherry: DH, DS16, my father-in-law, and one of my brothers-in-law met and went over to Catalina last July for two days of diving. It's the closest, easiest place to dive from here in AZ. although the water is cold! I stayed in HB and played with my cute little niece!

DH has been to Catalina several times and is going back in mid-June with a group of older Boy Scouts (DS16 and his buddies) to dive at the BSA camp in Emerald Bay (far side of Two Harbors). So they'll see a different side of Catalina. I probably won't go to SoCal that same week -- we wouldn't be with them and it's not a great week for us to visit -- but I might go to Huntington in July, might even take the 3 younger kids over to Catalina.

PHXscuba

 

[PHXscuba]

Ack! I had this whole post done and then the DIS froze and I lost it. Let's try this again ...

My last set of photos is my absolute must-do, smile-or-else, no-foolin' picture every trip.

It all started with this photo:

This is my mother, me, and my little sister. I was 5 years old. For some unexplained reason, I love this photo.

So the first time we took our son to Disneyland, I thought I'd have DH take a picture of us in the treehouse. DS was about the same age I was in the first photo.

And -- without any real intent -- it became tradition, adding a child each trip ...

Now the kids expect it and don't even give me trouble about it.

When we went to Disney World in October 2011, the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse was closed and I couldn't get a picture of the kids there. I am probably the only person who was disappointed to see that on the refurb list!

It is kind of a strange place to take a picture, but it's ours and it's unique. Honestly, these pictures mean more to me than any of our pictures with Mickey or in front of the castle.

I might even get myself in one of the treehouse pictures this trip after I get one with the kids!


Where is YOUR oddball photo spot that you take a picture of or in front of every trip?


PHXscuba

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry: DH, DS16, my father-in-law, and one of my brothers-in-law met and went over to Catalina last July for two days of diving. It's the closest, easiest place to dive from here in AZ. although the water is cold! I stayed in HB and played with my cute little niece!

DH has been to Catalina several times and is going back in mid-June with a group of older Boy Scouts (DS16 and his buddies) to dive at the BSA camp in Emerald Bay (far side of Two Harbors). So they'll see a different side of Catalina. I probably won't go to SoCal that same week -- we wouldn't be with them and it's not a great week for us to visit -- but I might go to Huntington in July, might even take the 3 younger kids over to Catalina.

PHXscuba

That's true - I don't suppose there are too many diving spots in Arizona!

Though I'm not a diver, I have spoken to people on my assorted Catalina visits over the years (people who worked on the Island and people who were just visiting) who told me that the diving there is fantastic and that's why so many people keep coming back to dive every year.

Yes, Two Harbors is a whole different set-up than Avalon - that's for sure! I don't know if Two Harbors is still this way, but there used to be tons of bees or hornets buzzing about on that side of the Island. I guess that your DH and DS16 won't have to worry about all of those bees underwater, though!

If you DO end up heading to Catalina in July when you visit HB, be sure to let me know in case we end up there at the same time. If the Express renews the free birthday boat thingy I am going again in July!

Ack! I had this whole post done and then the DIS froze and I lost it. Let's try this again ...

My last set of photos is my absolute must-do, smile-or-else, no-foolin' picture every trip.

It all started with this photo:

This is my mother, me, and my little sister. I was 5 years old. For some unexplained reason, I love this photo.

So the first time we took our son to Disneyland, I thought I'd have DH take a picture of us in the treehouse. DS was about the same age I was in the first photo.

And -- without any real intent -- it became tradition, adding a child each trip ...

Now the kids expect it and don't even give me trouble about it.

When we went to Disney World in October 2011, the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse was closed and I couldn't get a picture of the kids there. I am probably the only person who was disappointed to see that on the refurb list!

It is kind of a strange place to take a picture, but it's ours and it's unique. Honestly, these pictures mean more to me than any of our pictures with Mickey or in front of the castle.

I might even get myself in one of the treehouse pictures this trip after I get one with the kids!


Where is YOUR oddball photo spot that you take a picture of or in front of every trip?


PHXscuba

Once again, I love the concept of the photos - going back to the same off-the-beaten-path spot on each trip and getting a different family photo. And you're right - it is unique. There may be other folks who take family photos in the Treehouse but I never see them. It's not something that is commonly seen on this board, and that's great! I love to see things that are kind of different and haven't been done a million times! You guys definitely have some good photo ideas!

While I don't personally have one of those "oddball photo spots" to pose in front of on each trip, I do recall that a former client of mine told me that she and her family would pose in front of the Carnation truck on Main Street on every trip when she was a kid. Her dad would take photos of all of the kids in front of the same Carnation truck every year, to sort of chart the growth of the kids as time marched on. I don't know if that's an oddball photo spot, per se, but it's one specific photo spot (that wasn't the Castle or the floral Mickey) that they intentionally kept going to for photos.

 

[PHXscuba]

50 days until our trip!! (I told you I like round numbers!)

It is finally back to beautiful weather this weekend and I sat outside reading for awhile. I have a bunch of stuff looming early next week but I am deliberately playing hooky today and ignoring it all!! Hakuna Matata for me! <--- just because I've always wanted to use a Simba smilie!

PHXscuba

 

[PHXscuba]

OK, consternation time ... DS7 (the birthday boy) and I (the overplanner) had a conversation this morning about what he wants to do on his actual birthday at Disneyland (our first park day).

Now I/we have always functioned under the "it's your birthday all week" plan as they celebrate with friends, family, and relatives who come in or out of town. My oldest two have June birthdays 12 days apart and we often have one family party for both.

But I guess 7 is a little young to understand that a character meal the day after your birthday (mom's original favorite plan) is not the same as ON your birthday. Nope, he wants the meal right on our first park day. I KNOW that despite whatever he tells me now, the kids will want to do rides first thing that morning and not breakfast. I also know they will feel the same about "rides for 2 hours and then brunch." We definitely woudl not get our money's worth even if I could drag them in. So I guess that leaves dinner on the first day, which means we are back to Goofy's Kitchen, the only evening character meal.

It's not that I don't like Goofy's -- we had dinner there when we went in Oct 2009 and everyone liked it. But I was maybe hoping to try something new. And playing with rough numbers, a Goofy's dinner is going to cost me about $40 more than a Surf's Up breakfast.

The things we do for our kids ...

PHXscuba

 

[kaoden39]

I don't envy you these conversations. I understand him and his reasoning, part of it I am sure is his child honesty. I had the same basic conversation with my daughter when we went about a week before her 8th birthday. I explained that Disneyland understood that she wanted a party there but had to have it early.

 

[lsulindy]

OK, consternation time ... DS7 (the birthday boy) and I (the overplanner) had a conversation this morning about what he wants to do on his actual birthday at Disneyland (our first park day).

Now I/we have always functioned under the "it's your birthday all week" plan as they celebrate with friends, family, and relatives who come in or out of town. My oldest two have June birthdays 12 days apart and we often have one family party for both.

But I guess 7 is a little young to understand that a character meal the day after your birthday (mom's original favorite plan) is not the same as ON your birthday. Nope, he wants the meal right on our first park day. I KNOW that despite whatever he tells me now, the kids will want to do rides first thing that morning and not breakfast. I also know they will feel the same about "rides for 2 hours and then brunch." We definitely woudl not get our money's worth even if I could drag them in. So I guess that leaves dinner on the first day, which means we are back to Goofy's Kitchen, the only evening character meal.

It's not that I don't like Goofy's -- we had dinner there when we went in Oct 2009 and everyone liked it. But I was maybe hoping to try something new. And playing with rough numbers, a Goofy's dinner is going to cost me about $40 more than a Surf's Up breakfast.

The things we do for our kids ...

PHXscuba

Having the same dilemma here. We arrive the afternoon of dd's birthday. So, we could do Goofy's that night, but then we wouldn't really have any park time. Got dd to agree to a birthday breakfast the next morning (a non-park day). Made an early reservation so that we could eat before sight-seeing. But, DH wants to do dinner instead. He said that although it costs more we don't eat enough at breakfast, so dinner is more worth it. But, I don't know what time we'll be back from sightseeing. I don't want to rush us sightseeing to get back, but I don't want to make a reservation too late b/c I don't know how the kids will adjust to the time change. argh. decisions.

Have you thought about or looked into the birthday celebration at Plaza Inn? You could do that on his actual birthday and then maybe a breakfast later in the trip. I thought that was a good option for us, but we won't make it from the airport in time. It's between lunch and dinner time at the restaurant.

 

[PHXscuba]

I don't envy you these conversations. I understand him and his reasoning, part of it I am sure is his child honesty. I had the same basic conversation with my daughter when we went about a week before her 8th birthday. I explained that Disneyland understood that she wanted a party there but had to have it early.

MY DS7 has the overplanner gene like me and seriously would probably plan out his whole birthday if I let him. And he doesn't forget anything, so it's not like I can make promises and not keep them later. Luckily he wants to see Carsland first because I want to do DCA that day.

Having the same dilemma here. We arrive the afternoon of dd's birthday. So, we could do Goofy's that night, but then we wouldn't really have any park time. Got dd to agree to a birthday breakfast the next morning (a non-park day). Made an early reservation so that we could eat before sight-seeing. But, DH wants to do dinner instead. He said that although it costs more we don't eat enough at breakfast, so dinner is more worth it. But, I don't know what time we'll be back from sightseeing. I don't want to rush us sightseeing to get back, but I don't want to make a reservation too late b/c I don't know how the kids will adjust to the time change. argh. decisions.

Have you thought about or looked into the birthday celebration at Plaza Inn? You could do that on his actual birthday and then maybe a breakfast later in the trip. I thought that was a good option for us, but we won't make it from the airport in time. It's between lunch and dinner time at the restaurant.

I haven't looked into the Plaza Inn thing. I agree that we would eat better at dinner than breakfast too -- my kids are cold-breakfast people even here at home. I'm just not sure we'd eat $40 better, and it cuts our options way down.

The time-change advantage you have is that your kids will likely be up very early that first full day. If you do dinner, you could make a reservation but call and probably change it if it looks like you will be running late. Dinner is only more "worth it" if you think they won't be too tired to enjoy it after a long day. Your kids would probably be fresher at breakfast to enjoy the character interaction, which is really what you're paying for. Have I confused you enough?

PHXscuba

 

[DizNee Luver]

You know, we've never done a "planned" family shot anywhere.....but then again, my 3 boys were 14-16-18 for their first trip. We added the 4 adopted and it's just never crossed my mind to get a pic of them to show the changes/growth at a specific spot at the parks. I love it!!!

TIGGER!!!!! nuff said.........

 

[PHXscuba]

You know, we've never done a "planned" family shot anywhere.....but then again, my 3 boys were 14-16-18 for their first trip. We added the 4 adopted and it's just never crossed my mind to get a pic of them to show the changes/growth at a specific spot at the parks. I love it!!!

TIGGER!!!!! nuff said.........

You can still do it! Find a favorite picture or two from this trip and decide to do it again next time. Or mention it to your son and his fiance that they could start a tradition of taking a picture the same place every time.

Our pictures weren't really planned in the beginning. We did it once and liked it, so we thought to recreate the same. We all LOVE photos and look at them frequently, so remembering a particular pose or place is easy. I got an iPad for Christmas and one main reason I finally pulled the trigger (other than being able to actually see the Angry Birds I am flinging) was to put all of our photos on it. Can you believe 11.5 GB of just photos? And that's after I culled them some!

I might post a few random corny ones now that I've got the good ones up.

PHXscuba

 

[lsulindy]

MY DS7 has the overplanner gene like me and seriously would probably plan out his whole birthday if I let him. And he doesn't forget anything, so it's not like I can make promises and not keep them later. Luckily he wants to see Carsland first because I want to do DCA that day.

I haven't looked into the Plaza Inn thing. I agree that we would eat better at dinner than breakfast too -- my kids are cold-breakfast people even here at home. I'm just not sure we'd eat $40 better, and it cuts our options way down.

The time-change advantage you have is that your kids will likely be up very early that first full day. If you do dinner, you could make a reservation but call and probably change it if it looks like you will be running late. Dinner is only more "worth it" if you think they won't be too tired to enjoy it after a long day. Your kids would probably be fresher at breakfast to enjoy the character interaction, which is really what you're paying for. Have I confused you enough?

PHXscuba

I completely get what you're saying. That's exactly my line of thinking. My kids are usually up at 6:30-7am. Even if we're up late the night before. A 7am breakfast ressie would be 9am our time. Even if they "sleep late", I'm thinking we'll have no problem getting to an early breakfast easily. On the other hand, if for some crazy reason they do sleep late (which NEVER happens), I don't want to wake them b/c I do want them to adjust to the time change somewhat. The Park doesn't open till 10am many days and if they're up and at 'em at 5am (our 7) I don't know what I'll do with them for 5 HOURS every morning! DH has admitted that he thinks they'll adjust immediately after that first park evening, and it won't be an issue at all. If we switch to dinner, I have no idea what time we'll be back from sightseeing and what time they'll get tired cranky and we won't be good judges of how long it will take us to drive from wherever we are back to Anaheim, so I'd rather just play it by ear rather than be stressing about a dinner reservation.

 

[PHXscuba]

I completely get what you're saying. That's exactly my line of thinking. My kids are usually up at 6:30-7am. Even if we're up late the night before. A 7am breakfast ressie would be 9am our time. Even if they "sleep late", I'm thinking we'll have no problem getting to an early breakfast easily. On the other hand, if for some crazy reason they do sleep late (which NEVER happens), I don't want to wake them b/c I do want them to adjust to the time change somewhat. The Park doesn't open till 10am many days and if they're up and at 'em at 5am (our 7) I don't know what I'll do with them for 5 HOURS every morning! DH has admitted that he thinks they'll adjust immediately after that first park evening, and it won't be an issue at all. If we switch to dinner, I have no idea what time we'll be back from sightseeing and what time they'll get tired cranky and we won't be good judges of how long it will take us to drive from wherever we are back to Anaheim, so I'd rather just play it by ear rather than be stressing about a dinner reservation.

I agree, I'd rather do the breakfast reservation and enjoy it than worry about dragging tired kids to dinner, especially if it's a birthday treat. Maybe 8 a.m. as a compromise? I always backtrack from where I want to be -- to get my family to an 8 a.m. breakfast at a nearby hotel would mean getting up about 6:30 -- and that's with older kids.

Even with 10 a.m. regular park opening, there is EMH every day that can get you in at 9 in one park or the other, which means you want to leave the hotel by 8:15, which means getting up and going earlier than you might think. I'd much rather have kids choose to be up early in order to make rope drop than to rush and be frustrated.

I feel like I'm probably overthinking/overplanning all of this, but it's something I can do right now ... since the park hours STILL aren't out! Today I did call the dog boarding place we use and get a reservation for our Lab to have her own "doggie vacation" while we're gone! She just needs one more shot updated ... that goes on the to-do list too.

PHXscuba

 

[tksbaskets]

I feel like I'm probably overthinking/overplanning all of this, but it's something I can do right now ... since the park hours STILL aren't out! Today I did call the dog boarding place we use and get a reservation for our Lab to have her own "doggie vacation" while we're gone! She just needs one more shot updated ... that goes on the to-do list too.

PHXscuba

Over planning?? Is there such a thing?? I'm the chick that has a table filled out with park hours, where our 'target' park is, magic morning, etc. Planning is 1/2 the fun!

Thanks for sharing your planning phase. Good to know Fido is all set.

 

[Markie Mouse]

Awesome PTR so far. I love your pictures, makes me wish my parents had kept our trip photos so much more. Im from AZ so we would at least go every year when I was a kid. The Tarzan/Swiss Family tree pic idea is so cool. Looking forward the TR, your trip is so much closer than mine, so I'm sure its getting harder for you to wait.

 

[PHXscuba]

Over planning?? Is there such a thing?? I'm the chick that has a table filled out with park hours, where our 'target' park is, magic morning, etc. Planning is 1/2 the fun!

Thanks for sharing your planning phase. Good to know Fido is all set.

I agree that planning is half the fun (or more!) My DH worries that I spend some much time planning that there is no way the trip can live up to what I've built up. Well, so far my planning for vacations has saved us a lot of time and money, even if everything doesn't go perfectly. And I have fun for months, not just one week of travel.

Awesome PTR so far. I love your pictures, makes me wish my parents had kept our trip photos so much more. Im from AZ so we would at least go every year when I was a kid. The Tarzan/Swiss Family tree pic idea is so cool. Looking forward the TR, your trip is so much closer than mine, so I'm sure its getting harder for you to wait.

Hello, Markie Mouse! Welcome aboard!

I still can't believe I have no pictures of me at Disneyland when I was a teenager, considering how many times I went. I may have to raid my parents' albums next time I visit to see what they have that I don't.

My mother was orphaned by age 12 and all she had was one box of unlabeled photos of her parents and extended family -- that's it. So she was meticulous with taking and labeling photos and putting them in albums for us.

The waiting is hard but it is getting close now -- 44 days! How long until your trip?

PHXscuba

 

[PHXscuba]

I caved, I totally, utterly caved in ...

The family said no matching T-shirts like at WDW (check out our Tigger photo on the previous page). But I didn't make any promises about coordinating T-shirts!

Who they're for, left to right: DD13, me, DS7 (in front), DS16, DD10 (in front), and DH.​

I had to go the outlet mall (Arizona Mills for my local readers) today to pick up something for DD13, so this is all her fault! Of course I never go there without stopping into the Disney Store Outlet. They have a great section of parks merchandise plus loads of cheap T-shirts. I walked out of the store with all 6 T-shirts for $55 after using my Disney VISA 10% off!! That $55 would probably buy 2 shirts at DLR!

I figure we'll wear them the first park day -- we take the most photos the first day, it's DS' birthday, and we'll be at Goofy's Kitchen.

I think this is going to be a surprise -- big question is when I should bring them out?

Maybe you can vote on it:

A. Give them the T-shirts the (Friday) night before we leave for CA as we finish packing.

B. Give them the shirts when we get to the PPH on Sunday afternoon (the day before they'll be worn)

C. Wait until they wake up that morning


PHXscuba

p.s. My two favorites are the ones for my daughters -- wish they had them in my size!

 

[tksbaskets]

I vote for 'B'. That way they can plan their outfit the night before

 

[cristyhas3]

I LOVE the shirts! My DD has the glittery Minnie one, too. I'd go with plan B, too.

 

[PHXscuba]

I LOVE the shirts! My DD has the glittery Minnie one, too. I'd go with plan B, too.

The glittery Minnie one was the one that really caught my eye and started me down the path ... bad shirt!

Since we are driving, everyone packing one more T-shirt isn't really a problem. We will also be the ones pulling in a rolling cooler with stuff for the fridge! And since I have been told the PPH parking garage doesn't have an elevator, we will be dropping off ALL the luggage, plus me and the older kids at the front entrance. How very chic of us!

PHXscuba