Prelude to a WDW Dream...Sept. 08 *NEW 9/9 Post 350*

[MouseTriper]

Dh just asked me last night if I was really going to bother writing another trip report as he was sure that everyone must be sick of hearing about WDW trips already! I tried to explain that those that visited the DIS boards were here because we wanted to talk Disney. To that he replied that he as sure nobody wanted to hear about someone else's trip. I then tried to explain about the whole Trip Reports forum. He persisted in wanting to know why anyone would care about our boring vacations. Whatever, boring my patootie! That man is Disney spoiled and he doesn't even have the good sense to know it!

BORING???? OH MY GOODNESS JAY...he has no clue really, does he??? Your trips are the FARTHEST from boring as boring can be. Oh wow!!!! Doesn't he know he has the best thing ever....YOU, the EXPERT WDW PLANNER?????!!!!!!! He should be kissing your feet for all the planning and excitement you build into your trips!!!! LOL.

That was the problem!! I tried to pick the setting to shoot low light shots. Evidently I shouldn't have done that when I was running around snapping shots behind moving targets. Laughing....I have totally done the same thing at times. I have come to the conclusion that at times like that the best thing to use is the auto mode. Hahaha.

I love that photo as well. Surprisingly some of my favorite shots of the boys are all of them piled up on a couch, bed or bench. I just love seeing them all together.
Awww I hear ya, they look so cute all together! I can not wait to see all the pictures of the 4 of them together at WDW!!!! Oh and don't worry, I am still working on the photo challenge list for you. This is gonna be so much fun!!!!! Hehehehe

UPDATE TOMORROW-Plans for our "off days" start to take a bit of shape...

Oops...my responses are in red above....can't wait to hear about your plans for your "off days"!!!!

 

[LindaBabe]

Dh just asked me last night if I was really going to bother writing another trip report as he was sure that everyone must be sick of hearing about WDW trips already! I tried to explain that those that visited the DIS boards were here because we wanted to talk Disney. To that he replied that he as sure nobody wanted to hear about someone else's trip. I then tried to explain about the whole Trip Reports forum. He persisted in wanting to know why anyone would care about our boring vacations. Whatever, boring my patootie! That man is Disney spoiled and he doesn't even have the good sense to know it!

Geez! He LOOKED like an intelligent man!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Geez! He LOOKED like an intelligent man!

 

[MouseTriper]

Geez! He LOOKED like an intelligent man!

Now that IS funny...hahahahahaha!!!

 

[CJsMom]

Dh just asked me last night if I was really going to bother writing another trip report as he was sure that everyone must be sick of hearing about WDW trips already! I tried to explain that those that visited the DIS boards were here because we wanted to talk Disney. To that he replied that he as sure nobody wanted to hear about someone else's trip. I then tried to explain about the whole Trip Reports forum. He persisted in wanting to know why anyone would care about our boring vacations. Whatever, boring my patootie! That man is Disney spoiled and he doesn't even have the good sense to know it!

They REALLY don't get it, do they?

 

[disneydusted]

Hi Jay... we've been away and I am back on the boards and I loved your minitrip!! All that I can say is cute, cute, cute!! Your boys are all so adorable... I have to agree with everyone else that Aladin is looking so much older!
You know it is rather strange that I feel like I know you and your family through your postings, wouldn't you be surprised to have someone come up to you and recognize you?? Has that happen at Disney? I would think that would be a likely place.
While we were down in NC we made a trip over to Raleigh to see the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Science museum, pretty amazing.... I loved your museum pictures, especially the architecture.
Tell your husband he is super lucky to have such a great Disney planner wife!!

 

[Illini4ever]

Hey Jay, you can bop your DH on the head for the boring comment! Your vacations and trip reports are definitely not boring! Heck, I'm not even going to Disney World and I'm so excited thinking about your upcoming trip.

I wrote a trip report from our last Disney vacation, but I only sent it to my friends and family through e-mail. My DH would help me post the pictures, the whole time muttering about how nuts I am. They just don't "get it". My DH provided much comical relief throughout my reports so maybe he didn't appreciate that aspect of it either.


I can't believe how close your trip is! I bet the boys are starting to get really excited. I hope your family has a wonderful time! I can't wait to read all about it when you get back!

 

[jaycns]

Geez! He LOOKED like an intelligent man!

Don't judge a book by it's cover!

They REALLY don't get it, do they?

HA...ummm...nope. Thus the nickname I gave him of "Disney Grump". I will still admit to loving him...but that man is a piece of work! Disney trips being boring.

Hi Jay... we've been away and I am back on the boards and I loved your minitrip!! All that I can say is cute, cute, cute!! Your boys are all so adorable... I have to agree with everyone else that Aladin is looking so much older!
You know it is rather strange that I feel like I know you and your family through your postings, wouldn't you be surprised to have someone come up to you and recognize you?? Has that happen at Disney? I would think that would be a likely place.
While we were down in NC we made a trip over to Raleigh to see the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Science museum, pretty amazing.... I loved your museum pictures, especially the architecture.
Tell your husband he is super lucky to have such a great Disney planner wife!!

It has happened. First I saw LindaBabe (well, she saw me) and although we had tried to make plans before my trip and I knew she was going to be there, with my dad getting sick right before our last trip...well, I just didn't think I would get to see her at all. I felt like a DIS star when she knew who we were. Later in the week, I was approached by another DISer but I sort of biffed that meeting. I thought she was asking me if I was some sort of CM at AKL (like a computer programmer or something, I thought she said "R-I-S"). It didn't dawn on me she had said D-I-S cause I always think "Dis" in my head when I think of the boards, not D-I-S.

I have seen other DISers and talked to them after seeing lime green Mickey heads but I have always sought them out and not the other way around.

Oh the Dead Sea Scrolls! I wish I had the chance to see those, the historical, religious and cultural significance of that exhibit is just astounding. We really enjoy seeing new things and exploring new places. I hope we are raising our boys to continue to love museums, parks, zoos, etc as adults. And of course, we (read that one as me) hopes they carry on the love for all things Disney.

Hey Jay, you can bop your DH on the head for the boring comment! Your vacations and trip reports are definitely not boring! Heck, I'm not even going to Disney World and I'm so excited thinking about your upcoming trip.

I wrote a trip report from our last Disney vacation, but I only sent it to my friends and family through e-mail. My DH would help me post the pictures, the whole time muttering about how nuts I am. They just don't "get it". My DH provided much comical relief throughout my reports so maybe he didn't appreciate that aspect of it either.


I can't believe how close your trip is! I bet the boys are starting to get really excited. I hope your family has a wonderful time! I can't wait to read all about it when you get back!

HA, comical relief, my dh provides that in spades (and I don't even think he realizes he is doing it).

We are all starting to get really excited. We have a countdown envelope going right now. It's a big manila envelope with the dates/days left written on it from now until the trip. Each day we put a sticker over that day's date and then the boys take a turn pulling out Mickey head paint chips (thank you Home Depot ) that have a specific activity, treat, etc written on the back. So far we have pulled two days worth...the first day the activity was to sing a Disney song. Once Stitch did (he is the one who pulled the first one)he burst out in ZipeeeeeeeeeDdooooooooooooodahhhhhhhhhhhhh. Once he did, he was awarded a Disney pin to trade at the parks.

Today Goofy pulled another Mickey head out and so we all played Disney Monopoly. Along with the game, Goofy got to pick out a Disney treat at the grocery store. He chose Disney brand string cheese.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Don't judge a book by it's cover!
We are all starting to get really excited. We have a countdown envelope going right now. It's a big manila envelope with the dates/days left written on it from now until the trip. Each day we put a sticker over that day's date and then the boys take a turn pulling out Mickey head paint chips (thank you Home Depot ) that have a specific activity, treat, etc written on the back. So far we have pulled two days worth...the first day the activity was to sing a Disney song. Once Stitch did (he is the one who pulled the first one)he burst out in ZipeeeeeeeeeDdooooooooooooodahhhhhhhhhhhhh. Once he did, he was awarded a Disney pin to trade at the parks.

Today Goofy pulled another Mickey head out and so we all played Disney Monopoly. Along with the game, Goofy got to pick out a Disney treat at the grocery store. He chose Disney brand string cheese.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring!

What a wonderful idea to get your family excited for your upcoming trip!! You are so creative - where's my notebook, I need to write this down!

 

[disneydusted]

Very fun that you have met people at the parks that recognized you. I can't believe that you guys are getting into the final countdown days! I am so jealous!
We had a countdown link chain that had a LGMH every 3rd day that our kids could open a wrapped pin to trade at the parks. Thanks to eBay and the cheap pins that you can get there! That made the time go quickly and suddenly it was the end of the chain and off to Disney! Such a magical time!!! Can't wait to hear everything, won't be too much longer!

 

[MouseTriper]

:
We are all starting to get really excited. We have a countdown envelope going right now. It's a big manila envelope with the dates/days left written on it from now until the trip. Each day we put a sticker over that day's date and then the boys take a turn pulling out Mickey head paint chips (thank you Home Depot ) that have a specific activity, treat, etc written on the back. So far we have pulled two days worth...the first day the activity was to sing a Disney song. Once Stitch did (he is the one who pulled the first one)he burst out in ZipeeeeeeeeeDdooooooooooooodahhhhhhhhhhhhh. Once he did, he was awarded a Disney pin to trade at the parks.

Today Goofy pulled another Mickey head out and so we all played Disney Monopoly. Along with the game, Goofy got to pick out a Disney treat at the grocery store. He chose Disney brand string cheese.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring!

That is an awesome idea Jay.....I agree you are so creative!!!!

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

WOW Jay your trip is getting so close. I cant wait to hear all the final details. We had some troubles in our family too and I have not been around much to read the trip reports. I hope everyone is doing well. 2 weeks and you will be on vacation

 

[jaycns]

Well, maybe not the best laid plans ever, but my best try at getting them right.

I have an entire spa day scheduled for our first day at sea. I am thinking now I will need to switch that around. My problem is that I absolutely adore having a sit down lunch while on the cruise. I really enjoy eating in a fancy smancy place wearing shorts and a t-shirt and being one of the only guests there. It was just a fun meal on both of our last cruises. The fact that we have a Palo brunch planned for our second day at sea leaves me with no time to partake of the sit down lunch if I am in the spa the entire day. SO...I think I should switch and do my pedicure on land. I am thinking the GF might be the best place. I could go ahead and do it the morning of our special day there...in fact, it might help contain my nerves (read BIG MOUTH that will be too excited to keep a secret) until it is time for the luncheon to begin. If I do that, I will be able to start off the day in the spa with dh for an early morning treatment then head back to the room and still have time to spend the rest of the morning with the boys before having a fun family lunch together. After that, I could head back to the spa for the rest of my spa day.

The only problem with that is that I am planning on having Goofy and Stitch take part in the kids' cooking class at the GF. So we would be there for that at about 10:00 AM. I wonder if we could eat a huge breakfast before that and make it though until the luncheon starts at 3:00?! I would really hate to spoil our appetites by having a small lunch after they got done with that and I got done with my pedicure. I am sort of confused as to how to plan the morning of what has become my very own day of dreams. I don't want to over plan the morning either as we will be going hard until midnight at MNSSHP (thank goodness my baby knows how to sleep in the stroller! ).

Hmmm...I need to ponder on this a bit. Also, I am hoping to find the September movie schedule for Fort Wilderness. I saw posts that it would be updated on September 1 but as of yet no luck (and I waited a whole hour and four minutes before I started getting antsy ). The closer the dates get and the smaller the planning details get, the more antsy I get in planning it all. I just want to be there already!

One of the only things keeping me from going crazy is the fact that I am too busy to do so. I am also very much enjoying reading SoonerGirl's trip report. She posted a link a few posts ago...all I can say is you should follow it! I am totally caught up in her trip report!! It's definitely a keeper! So, if you are looking for a really good trip report read, head on over to hers!

Another planning detail I am trying to firm up is our free time. I want to be able to go with the flow, but I also want to make sure I don't overlook anything that could turn out to be a whole lot of fun. It's time for me to start printing off the many tips and "secrets" I am finding here on the DIS. I am going to need a three ring binder by the time I get done! I think planning obsession is putting my fanatic reading and re-reading mildly!

As the vacation draws ever closer I will be counting on you guys to help me stay quiet about the surprises (I am about to burst...but I am keeping my mouth firmly sealed), help me work out the last minute kinks and keep me at least half sane until it's time to leave!

 

[starrzone]

Well, maybe not the best laid plans ever, but my best try at getting them right.

I have an entire spa day scheduled for our first day at sea. I am thinking now I will need to switch that around. My problem is that I absolutely adore having a sit down lunch while on the cruise. I really enjoy eating in a fancy smancy place wearing shorts and a t-shirt and being one of the only guests there. It was just a fun meal on both of our last cruises. The fact that we have a Palo brunch planned for our second day at sea leaves me with no time to partake of the sit down lunch if I am in the spa the entire day. SO...I think I should switch and do my pedicure on land. I am thinking the GF might be the best place. I could go ahead and do it the morning of our special day there...in fact, it might help contain my nerves (read BIG MOUTH that will be too excited to keep a secret) until it is time for the luncheon to begin. I must admit, when I read this I thought "Gosh, maybe she should book an entire spa morning/afternoon from opening- 3:00 so she won't be tempted to spill the beans!". I surprises too; I can barely keep Christmas presents a secret from the gift "getter"! If I do that, I will be able to start off the day in the spa with dh for an early morning treatment then head back to the room and still have time to spend the rest of the morning with the boys before having a fun family lunch together. After that, I could head back to the spa for the rest of my spa day.

You guys are going to have SO much fun! We'll be here to help you keep your excitement in check, so keep on "letting the excitement out"! Your trip is getting SO close!

 

[SoonerGirl]

The only problem with that is that I am planning on having Goofy and Stitch take part in the kids' cooking class at the GF. So we would be there for that at about 10:00 AM. I wonder if we could eat a huge breakfast before that and make it though until the luncheon starts at 3:00?! I would really hate to spoil our appetites by having a small lunch after they got done with that and I got done with my pedicure.

I think the big breakfast early, followed by the cooking class is a good idea. You could always grab a small snack to keep you from getting too hungry before your big luncheon. And the pedicure sounds like a perfect way to relax/keep your mouth shut until it's time for your big surprise

Hmmm...I need to ponder on this a bit. Also, I am hoping to find the September movie schedule for Fort Wilderness. I saw posts that it would be updated on September 1 but as of yet no luck (and I waited a whole hour and four minutes before I started getting antsy ).

This cracked me up - you sound just like me! It's supposed to be posted today - where is it???!!!

One of the only things keeping me from going crazy is the fact that I am too busy to do so. I am also very much enjoying reading SoonerGirl's trip report. She posted a link a few posts ago...all I can say is you should follow it! I am totally caught up in her trip report!! It's definitely a keeper! So, if you are looking for a really good trip report read, head on over to hers!

Awwwww, you're so sweet!

I don't blame you for starting to get really excited! Heck, I'm excited and it's not even my trip! Whenever you need to talk about it, just come here, we'll listen and help you keep your secrets!

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Sounds like you have worked it out pretty well. You cant spill the beans now. We will do our best to keep you quiet. It wont be long now Jay!!!

 

[Figment's Friend]

You better not reveal the secrets! I don't know how you keep your mouth shut, I don't think I could. I can't wait to see how this pans out! I can't believe you leave in just under two weeks....update soon, Jay, we miss you!

 

[jaycns]

I do promise that I have kept my mouth shut! I am so proud of myself!!

For those still here, I found some old WDW pictures to share. These are pictures from my first trip to WDW! Sorry for the poor quality, the pictures themselves are not the finest...combined with my horrible scanner and you don't get great quality.

I was 4 years old and it was 1978. I don't remember much about the trip...but I do remember my Mickey Mouse pin, ears and that yellow sundress. I remember wearing them, holding a Mickey ears balloon (the kind with the black ears inside of the clear outer balloon) in one hand and my dad's hand in the other and skipping down Main Street. Ahhh....

Hope you enjoyed my little skip down memory lane.

 

[Figment's Friend]

I love old park photos! Thanks for sharing these! The one with you and Mickey at the end is so adorable

(DM hasn't been well enough to read and comment, but she says HELLO and will be back soon! )

 

[MouseTriper]

Oh Jay...you look adorable in those old photos!!!! And hey guess what, your kids DO resemble you too!!! I can see it!!!!