PHXscuba's Club 33 Christmas

[kaoden39]

Sounds wonderful!!

 

[PHXscuba]

I had to take DD14 to the mall today -- would school start already so she stops spending $$ on clothes? -- and of course couldn't walk by the Disney Store without going in. They had quite a few cute shirts marked down, but I resisted the urge to buy another. I have so many I left 2 shirts at home during our last trip!! So it's going to take a smokin' deal or the world's cutest shirt for me to buy another this year.

I am going to work up my "to do" list of what I hope to see/do/EAT during my September day. My mother is a wonderful enabler to eat my way through Disneyland with, and unlike my family, she'll actually sit through shows and parades without complaint! And in a week the kiddos go back to school -- going from crazy days and mostly calm evenings to calmer days and crazy evenings!

PHXscuba

 

[PHXscuba]

The kids went back to school today and I promised myself that if I got all of my big stuff done I could come on the DIS for a bit.

Park hours are (as usual) taking forever to post. Most of you know my feelings about that. It's so controlling to let the hours out

one

day

at

a

time



Really? They don't know Thursday if they know Wednesday the same week? Sure they do! Meanwhile, people on the WDW side of the board are freaking out that WDW is a scosh late posting hours for February.

OK, enough ranting on that! I'm pretty sure I can estimate the hours for a weekday, last two weeks of September. Roughly 10-8 in both parks.

I need to talk with my mother. She spent the one day with us in DCA (see pages 24/25), and I was thinking that was all she'd seen since she had an AP 6 or 7 years ago. But I forgot she used the AP she got in March to go with my brother, SIL, and toddler nephew in June! So now I don't know what "new" stuff in Disneyland she's seen!

Although she can go back more easily when she wants because she lives locally, she will probably only go when someone else is around. Paying $16 for parking each time adds up quick. So I'd really like to have things she loves on the "list."

I will be back with my "to do" list for September in the next couple days.

PHXscuba

 

[PHXscuba]

My mother is coming to AZ next week to watch my sister's kids while they go to a wedding in North Carolina, so I will get to talk with her about things she wants to do at Disneyland. She's very easy-going, "whatever you want to do," but I want her to have fun! I am hoping she'll go on Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy with me.

So, subject to my mother's input, here's my "September Bucket List," things I want to do in ONE day in September. Most likely it will be a weekday instead of a Friday unless my mother feels strongly about seeing the fireworks or Fantasmic.

September Bucket List
1. Get a birthday button -- since I'll be there less than a week before my birthday, I am calling it my birthday!

2. Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy ... hopefully with mum in tow

3. Haunted Mansion Holiday

4. Meet Jack Skellington. Anyone know if they post meeting times?

5. Take pictures together -- especially on the treehouse steps (see page 10 of this TR if you're uncertain why)

6. Innoventions Iron Man exhibit -- if it's still open

7. Grizzly River Rapids. I have never been on this because DH hates raft rides!

8. Eat a Dole Whip!

9. Great Moments with Lincoln -- haven't seen it since I was a kid

10. Mickey and the Magical Map show

11. Princess Fantasy Faire -- look around, maybe see one of the shows

12. Star Tours -- I MUST get to Naboo at least once

13. See Carsland neon lighting ceremony

14. Ride Radiator Springs Racers at night

15. Eat at Flo's

16. Snack on everything we can!!!!!

That doesn't sound like too much for one day, right? It's actually only 5 rides, mixed in with shows, exhibits, and eating! I figure if we spend an hour or two at DL in the morning, then hop to DCA for a RSR FP and a few other things, we can go back to Carsland at night.


PHXscuba

 

[kaoden39]

How fun!!

 

[PHXscuba]

Random Dis-ness for the day:

DD14 is listening to her compilation of Disney songs while she is doing homework across the room at the other computer. I told her she could turn it up! She was playing "Be A Man" from Mulan and "Go the Distance" from Hercules, which happen to be two favorites.

I attended a freezer cooking activity this morning and needed a clean apron. So I grabbed DD14's Mickey apron -- the one with a black top, red bottom, and big yellow buttons. Got a few compliments.

I got a Disney VISA brochure today that talked about new effects at the Haunted Mansion Holiday this year -- I'm eager to see what they are. Plus I haven't heard much about the big gingerbread house. I guess I need to read Sherry E's Halloween Superthread more closely!

Hakuna Matata everyone,

PHXscuba

 

[Sherry E]

Random Dis-ness for the day:

DD14 is listening to her compilation of Disney songs while she is doing homework across the room at the other computer. I told her she could turn it up! She was playing "Be A Man" from Mulan and "Go the Distance" from Hercules, which happen to be two favorites.

I attended a freezer cooking activity this morning and needed a clean apron. So I grabbed DD14's Mickey apron -- the one with a black top, red bottom, and big yellow buttons. Got a few compliments.

I got a Disney VISA brochure today that talked about new effects at the Haunted Mansion Holiday this year -- I'm eager to see what they are. Plus I haven't heard much about the big gingerbread house. I guess I need to read Sherry E's Halloween Superthread more closely!

Hakuna Matata everyone,

PHXscuba

I think I have all the HMH-related links from previous years on the first page of the Christmas Superthread (in the Seasonal events section), but the Halloween people stop paying attention so I usually give up on updating certain things in the Halloween Superthread after a certain point! The Christmas thread people are more attentive! (Although I did post those same HMH links in the Halloween thread for another DIS'er last week or so.)

You know, I got that Disney Visa brochure/booklet yesterday and have not even opened it up yet! It's the orange-ish booklet that's about the same size as the Backstage Pass calendar/newsletter, right (when folded)? Mine is still sealed shut. Normally those booklets from Disney Visa don't seem to have anything interesting for me to read. It figures that the one time I put it aside and don't read it they mention something about new effects at HMH! I will now have to go read it! I'm glad I got the email update for your TR and was able to read your post!

The gingerbread house/graveyard is usually very cool, and it seems like the Parks Blog will typically do at least one blog on the house each year -- it was either last year or the year before that they actually did the blog about the gingerbread house's arrival at DL in August (way before it was put up in the ballroom). I would expect that they will do another one this year.

 

[PHXscuba]

I think I have all the HMH-related links from previous years on the first page of the Christmas Superthread (in the Seasonal events section), but the Halloween people stop paying attention so I usually give up on updating certain things in the Halloween Superthread after a certain point! The Christmas thread people are more attentive! (Although I did post those same HMH links in the Halloween thread for another DIS'er last week or so.)

You know, I got that Disney Visa brochure/booklet yesterday and have not even opened it up yet! It's the orange-ish booklet that's about the same size as the Backstage Pass calendar/newsletter, right (when folded)? Mine is still sealed shut. Normally those booklets from Disney Visa don't seem to have anything interesting for me to read. It figures that the one time I put it aside and don't read it they mention something about new effects at HMH! I will now have to go read it! I'm glad I got the email update for your TR and was able to read your post!

The gingerbread house/graveyard is usually very cool, and it seems like the Parks Blog will typically do at least one blog on the house each year -- it was either last year or the year before that they actually did the blog about the gingerbread house's arrival at DL in August (way before it was put up in the ballroom). I would expect that they will do another one this year.

Yes, the brochure is festively orange and half-folded. I only opened it to see if it had any good coupons in the back (nope) but the article about HMH (page 4) caught my eye. It talks about a "new animation effect in the stretching room with shattering stained glass" and a "fly-by visit from Zero" plus the gingerbread house, themed around the 13th year of HMH. Who knows what it will be ... but I will go see it!

OOO -- I just noticed this at the end of the article -- "a decorate-it-yourself Zombie cookie kit at the NBC merchandise cart outside the mansion." Don't know if that means an activity station or a take-home kit with a pre-baked cookie?

PHXscuba

 

[Sherry E]

Yes, the brochure is festively orange and half-folded. I only opened it to see if it had any good coupons in the back (nope) but the article about HMH (page 4) caught my eye. It talks about a "new animation effect in the stretching room with shattering stained glass" and a "fly-by visit from Zero" plus the gingerbread house, themed around the 13th year of HMH. Who knows what it will be ... but I will go see it!

OOO -- I just noticed this at the end of the article -- "a decorate-it-yourself Zombie cookie kit at the NBC merchandise cart outside the mansion." Don't know if that means an activity station or a take-home kit with a pre-baked cookie?

PHXscuba

I just saw the zombie cookie kit thing when I flipped through the pages and wondered what it meant. I know that DLR sells gingerbread cookie kits. I've always thought they should sell cookies or mini-replicas of the little "scary" (but cute) gingerbread men that are usually on the ballroom table, around the gingerbread house/graveyard. I wonder if those scary little guys are the "zombies" and Disney is finally going to market them somehow??

 

[Lynne G]

So excited for your fall trip. We'll be there in 1 week. Wahoo!

Anyway, I can't wait until tomorrow, as guess what the limited time magic is this week? Yep, American Idol, Junior Edition. Lovely to hear all the kids belt it out. Gives me hope as to what next week will be. They way I see it, is, whatever is limited magic will not be a driving force in what we buy or see.

My kids are so happy they are not back to school unitl after Labor Day. DS had to remind DH that his XBox is still available to play 24 hours a day.

We were at the mall, and they had a back to school table show. Guess what DD bought - as eyes were adverted to almost all because it was much younger driven items? Yep, a nice big bow barrett with a Minnie bottle cap in the middle. She's going to put it on her minnie ears. So cute. And, for the first time, she wants a costume to her final BBB appointment (she's be turning 12). Well, she could not decide, so not 1 but 2 costumes bought at the Disney Store. I warned her, by the time we leave, one is going back. I doubt she will wear it for Halloween, and I will be somewhat amazed if she wears it in the parks for the rest of the day after the appointment.

Hope you are having a great end of summer.

 

[PHXscuba]

Lynne: That is so cute that your daughter is getting into her BBB appointment. Hang onto that childhood as long as you can!! What are her costume choices?

Our DS8 is currently mourning the fact that "Wii is for Wii-kends" as we put it; no video games on weekdays during school weeks. Not that we are in the first full week of school the honeymoon is over!

Nice that you have a few more weeks to enjoy summer and your trip. Will you do a trip report when you get back?

PHXscuba

 

[Lynne G]

Hi PHX,

Pocahontas and Jasmine. She's leaning toward Jasmine, but knows it should be hot next Friday, and Jasmine's outfit is baggy pants down to the ankles. Choices!

We are getting ready. We've had a very wet summer so far, so we welcome the sunny (and hot) CA sun. We love touring when it's hot. It's the best time to enjoy all the rides, including the wet ones.

I have never done a trip report. I have only put pictures in the icloud, so I have to join flickr or other, so that I can put pictures in my maybe trip report. I'll need to read how to do it again. I seem to always have intentions that never materialize. I have a new DSL camera, so I will be taking lots of pictures, as I want to see if the pictures look any better than the P and S camera I still have and like.

Glad to hear the kids are slowly transitioning into school.

 

[PHXscuba]

Well, while Lynne finishes packing (yay that you get cool characters for your LTM -- they'll probably bring back the boy band for a third time my week ), I will give you all a mini-update.

The plot thickens ...

I was with my mother this weekend and we discussed our September day at Disneyland. Not surprisingly, she mostly did Fantasyland stuff with my brother's family and 21-month-old nephew. She said she'd be happy doing mostly anything ("as long as it doesn't go upside down") but her one big request has changed my plans a bit.

Mom has never seen Fantasmic!! I have no idea how, but it has been going 20 years without her watching! So I immediately switched our plan from Thursday (no entertainment) to Friday so we can see Fantasmic together! So I have a truly official no-ifs-no-buts-no-coconuts date to go: Friday, Sept. 20!! Just over a month away!

It will be a little more crowded than Thursday but I think it will be worth it. Parks are open much later, Soundsational runs twice, and we can still FP or single-rider the few must-do rides. I think I am going to add Indiana Jones to the list if we have time because they have a new effect with Mara at the beginning.

Her other suggestion: "Let's split all the treats so we can try more things!" I hope I am still that enthusiastic about life in 30 years!

PHXscuba

 

[kaoden39]

Oh it sounds like you guys are going to have a fun day!

 

[PHXscuba]

ONE MONTH!!!

My adorable Mickey desk calendar tells me that my day at Disneyland is in ONE MONTH!!

To do before I go next month:

-- I want to get some better night photos with my little point-and-shoot, so I need to go outside at night and get some pictures and play with my settings. I'm really an auto-everything-on-the-camera type of person. I feel like I have a pretty good eye for what will look good in the frame, but no idea what settings to use to make it better. I do know how to turn off my flash!!

-- I bought a new park bag for DD14 to use on our spring trip that she used only sparingly -- she's not much of a bag person and convinced her little sister to carry/share her things in her mini-backpack. I think I might want to use it but I need to carry it around a few days. If not I have several others to choose from.

-- The calendar is filling in for that weekend and it looks like DH and the teens will be gone all day Saturday ... much too long for me to leave DD11 and DS8 home together alone (they do fine for a couple hours, but it's like two chipmunks bickering!) So I am hopeful my sister-in-law will let them come over that day to hang out with my 10-year-old nephew, while her big kids and husband and mine are gone on the youth activity. I think DS8 will have to miss his soccer game. No such thing as a good weekend to be gone.

-- My fall is clearing up a little and it appears this will probably be my only trip out of town until I (hopefully) go back in December to see/eat/photograph all of the Christmas stuff. It makes it easier to leave when I haven't been gone every third or fourth weekend!

Thanks to all of you who are still reading this despite my wordiness and lack of photos lately! I promise lots of pictures from my visit IN A MONTH!

PHXscuba

(p.s. I promise not to gloat/countdown to my trip every day)

 

[kaoden39]

I am looking forward to your trip too! Gloat away on your countdown! I am in my signature.

 

[PHXscuba]

We'll call this post "PHXscuba Plays Detective," or "Does 2+2=4?"

Way, way back when they first announced the Limited Time Magic idea, we collectively laughed/groaned/ignored it. I really didn't pay much attention to future theme week plans (other than mocking the Boy band idea) for holiday weeks because I knew I wouldn't be there for the 4th of July, etc.

But I just saw a reference to something that intrigued me, and I followed it back to the original LTM press release:

"Why talk like a pirate one day when you could celebrate these scalawags all week long? The adventures of Jack Sparrow come to life like never before during a bicoastal buccaneer bash in which Disneyland and Walt Disney World become pirate-palooza: pirate bands, pirate meet-and-greets and more."

Follow my logic here: International Talk Like a Pirate Day is Sept. 19. Disneyland is doing Pirates League makeovers during September in Big Thunder Ranch, which would be a perfect place to hold pirate-related activities. It would totally make sense to have the pirate week theme that week ... the week I am there!

Now I don't know that I'd stand in a super-long line to see Jack Sparrow (unless it was Johnny Depp under the makeup), but extra pirate music and treats would be fun ... just don't turn the Dapper Dans into pirates too!



Also, I got to have lunch with my Mom again today. She hasn't been on Star Tours since it reopened, nor the Finding Nemo version of the submarines, so I may have to brave the line for the subs for her sake. I think she is more excited about eating her way around Disneyland than the rides. Maybe I will have to do a "snack of the hour" picture series for part of the Trip Report!

PHXscuba

 

[kaoden39]

Argh!! Avast ye mateys!!


That would be a fun week at Disneyland!!



Our youngest daughter Kody was madly in love with old Capt. Jack when the first couple of movies came out. She got the opportunity to get her picture with him. He was great with her awkward 12 year old self.

 

[PHXscuba]

OK, for those who haven't been following my old Trip Report from the Spring with the whole family, or didn't pick up that I am STILL writing because I am going again next month I am going to do a quick who-the-heck-am-I and put all the details in one place. Plus I never pass up a chance to show off my cute kids!

My fabulous AP-bucket-list September trip
Friday Sept. 20​

Participants:

Me -- Disney fan, mother of 4, general manager of DH's business. I work a lot with children and could be described as a goofy oversized kid myself.

My mother -- mom of 3, grandmother of 9 (plus stepmom of 2, step-grandma to 6, and step-great-grandma to 6). Loves travel, her grandkids, and chocolate.

I got my AP for the hotel discount in the spring (saved me $250 just with that), and my mother got one when she joined us for a day (she lives in Orange County). She got in one more day when she went with my brother, his wife, and their toddler son in June, just before her SoCal AP got blacked out.

I originally thought I was dragging my mother along so I had an excuse to justify going, but she is really getting into it. Her only real requests have been many snacks and to see Fantasmic. Done and done!!

My general plans, i.e. part of my "AP bucket list"
1. See (and eat) the Halloween-specific stuff -- Haunted Mansion Holiday, Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy, the "Mickey Pumpkins" everywhere, Jack Skellington.
2. See/ride new things: Grizzly River Rapids, Mickey and the Magical Map, Fantasy Faire, RSR after dark
3. Take my mother on rides/shows that are new to her -- Fantasmic, Nemo subs, Star Tours
4. Eat lots of snacks!
5. Get a birthday button (it's right before my real birthdate)
6. Take pictures of us together, especially one like this one (me at age 5 with red sneakers, plus my mom and little sister):

*******

Staying home this time around (all shots taken in the last couple months):

My husband (in SCUBA gear in Catalina):

My 8-year-old Lego-obsessed son:

My 11-year-old daughter, who does the morning announcements at school in her chirpy little voice:

My 14-year-old daughter, who has gone all Project Runway lately:

My 17-year-old son, who just got his braces off:

The kids have school/band/dance/soccer and DH has had plenty of Disney for the year. I have to be careful not to have too much fun and make my kids jealous. It will likely still be over 100 degrees here in AZ, so I am looking forward to good weather, some quality time with my parents, eating without having to buy everything times six, and a change of pace.

So now everyone is caught up and I will post a few more times as the trip arrives about any details that stick out at me or change. I'm looking forward to seeing what's new this year in the HMH and promise to bring back pictures of everything.

Thanks to any who are still following along!!

PHXscuba

 

[kaoden39]

Your trip sounds great! You and your mom should have a lot of fun!