PRINCESS Palooza 2011! 9/9 Update: Departure Day

[mom2rtk]

Glad your back safe girl!! The packing in stages cracks me up!! I pack the night before we leave! Usually start about 7pm!! My travel agent years made me an expert packer on short notice.

My brother lives is Colorado Springs, so pretty! The first time I went to see him I was amazed as I walked out of the grocery store, there was Pikes Peak, just in front of us. My SIL was just walking to the car and I was stopped, just looking at it in wonder. Really??? You see this while running errands?!?!??!! Beautiful and amazing! She was wondering what the big deal was....locals!!!!

So where are the photos???

Well, I did the last minute thing for this trip, so that's something, right?

I thought Colorado Springs was just lovely. I'd be the same way looking out at the mountains while running errands. It's just not the same here in KC, huh? What amazed me there was how close civilization is to all those beautiful sights. I'd love to live in one of those houses so close to Garde of the Gods. I had to be careful framing my shots not to get the houses in them!

I'll get some photos up as soon as I get them downloaded. I'm sort of moving slowly today though...... Not sure I can drag myself of my chair........

 

[DISNEYaddict4evr]

Did you feed the giraffes at the zoo ?

My mom and I had a blast in Colorado Springs a few years ago. My favorite part was driving up into the mountains to go to the dinosaur museum and then onto Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument to see the petrified sequoia tree stumps!

 

[KCmike]

Colorado Springs?

We are headed there in 8 days. Doing a short stop there before we hitch a plane ride to LAX. How was the altitude? Don't want to get that sickness before heading off to my happy place. I've started a trip report down below. If you ever get a chance you could join me.

Would love to know all the info you have on Colorado Springs. We will only have one full day to enjoy it though.

 

[mom2rtk]

Did you feed the giraffes at the zoo ?

My mom and I had a blast in Colorado Springs a few years ago. My favorite part was driving up into the mountains to go to the dinosaur museum and then onto Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument to see the petrified sequoia tree stumps!

We did feed the giraffes! What a great interactive exhibit that is! Our zoo here in KC isn't very good, so it was nice to tour this one. Some of the exhibits seeed a little small, but I guess you get that when you put the zoo on the size of a mountain!

For me the best part was seeing Timmy, my 17 yo son, enjoying himself there. It's been years since he's even been in a zoo.

We didn't do the dinosaur museum or petrifed tree stumps, but those sound very cool too.

Colorado Springs?

We are headed there in 8 days. Doing a short stop there before we hitch a plane ride to LAX. How was the altitude? Don't want to get that sickness before heading off to my happy place. I've started a trip report down below. If you ever get a chance you could join me.

Would love to know all the info you have on Colorado Springs. We will only have one full day to enjoy it though.

I didn't have any altitude issues at all except for a few minuts up at the top of Pikes Peak. But that was my own fault. I hustled from one spot to another with my very heavy backpack full of lenses on my back. I was hustling because it was so bitter cold and windy. Then when I went in I had a really hard time catching my breath. But it passed quickly and nobody else had any problem at all (but they were inside that whole time).

Everyone is different of course, but just stay hydrated and I'm sure you'll be fine.

I'll check out your trip report in a moment. YEAH for being so close to your DL trip!

 

[mom2rtk]

12/15 Continued: 1900 Park Fare


We checked in at the podium and went out into that gorgeous lobby again to wait. I had some questions about Christmas characters possibly appearing at the monorail resorts that weekend, so stopped at the Concierge desk. The CM who helped us loved the gowns and made a point of introducing us to another CM who apparently used to be friends with Drizella. I could totally see her as Drizella and it was fun to chat.

Soon our buzzer went off and we headed back into the restaurant. We were seated in the very back room. In all our times eating at 1900 Park Fare, we've never been banished to the back room. I was a little concerned because I've heard the characters don't get back there much. Well..... not to rear. We were not disappointed. I lost track of how many times the characters came through, especially Anastasia and Drizella. They posed for a photo together with the girls, which surprised me since they usually don't do that where others can see.

I had made the ADR later in the evening hoping we might get a chance at a big group photo at the end of the night. I tried. Drizella tried. Anasatsia tried. I think even Lady Tremaine tried. But to no avail. And while I would have LOVED the photo op..... the experience did not disappoint. I haven't had that much fun at a character meal since.......... well, since the last time we were there with Kim and McKenna in 2008. They sang, they danced, they taught Katie and McKenna how to walk like a stepsister. They took the girls on a walk around the dining room. And when we left, with the girls holding their skirts out in true stepsister fashion, they shouted how proud they were in the girls!

We didn't get back to the room until around 10:00. We had a very long day ahead of us, starting with an early morning. But do you think that got the girls to sleep fast? Not a chance! They giggled and played far later into the night than I liked. I have no idea how late it was before they finally gave in and slept.


First by was the boring old prince.........




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Now Katie's new best friend.......... time to check out the dress!




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Time for a group meeting.......



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An "on the spot" family photo.......



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Time to get to know the family........



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Hi mom!



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Drizella had to check out the lace-up back I had put in the gown for McKenna:



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[mom2rtk]

12/15 Continued:



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We had a ball that night. I don't know any other way to put it. We could have gone home right then and there and been happy with our trip. It was hard to believe that our friends had just arrived and we hadn't even been to the parks together.

 

[mouselovenfamily]

Looks like you had a great time!!!! And great photos!!!

It has to be asked, is Lady Tremaine a dude???

 

[mom2rtk]

Looks like you had a great time!!!! And great photos!!!

It has to be asked, is Lady Tremaine a dude???

Thanks....... and LOL!

No, not a dude....... and oddly enough, she didn't even look like a dude. But I'm afraid I caught her in some bad photos. I honestly think it was just her character shining through!

 

[mouselovenfamily]

Thanks....... and LOL!

No, not a dude....... and oddly enough, she didn't even look like a dude. But I'm afraid I caught her in some bad photos. I honestly think it was just her character shining through!

 

[Caretames1]

OMG, LOVE IT!

Now that was a character interaction! The photos really emit the fun everyone was having, I was smiling and really laughed! Kadence was giggling and saying how much your Katie and her friend looked like the sisters.

The few photo bombs are pretty funny, especially the lady at the table smiling like you're taking her picture!

I bet you just had that proud feeling come over you, that every stitch you made in those dresses and long hours spent were SOOOO worth it!

Oh, and of course the photo were awesome as usual!





btw, I had told you I was going to put some outfits up on my PTR and I finally did. What do you think?

 

[mom2rtk]

OMG, LOVE IT!

Now that was a character interaction! The photos really emit the fun everyone was having, I was smiling and really laughed! Kadence was giggling and saying how much your Katie and her friend looked like the sisters.

The few photo bombs are pretty funny, especially the lady at the table smiling like you're taking her picture!

I bet you just had that proud feeling come over you, that every stitch you made in those dresses and long hours spent were SOOOO worth it!

Oh, and of course the photo were awesome as usual!





btw, I had told you I was going to put some outfits up on my PTR and I finally did. What do you think?

Thanks Carey! I loved the photo bombs too. I at least took comfort that the one lady looking right at me was smiling and not annyoyed mith me following them around the dining room!

And I didn't get the notice on your post with the photos. Those outfits are adorable!

So how are you showing her things on the DIS but she's not seeing your signature? Are you having to be really careful? Or do you have a cover story?

 

[mesaboy2]

I can't decide whether to retire the phrase "those dresses are amazing" or to add it to my Windows cut-and-paste clipboard.

 

[rndmr2]

Great pics of the 1900 Park Faire dinner! That is one Character Dinner I really want to try, it looks awesome! Is the food pretty good? Those step-sisters seem like they would be so much fun! Those dresses were really amazing!

 

[francis6306]

That is just priceless!! I love those pictures!! And seriously, I don't think you could have made dresses to match any better! They are absolutely PERFECT!!

 

[katt789]

Oh my goodness, you definitely got some absolutely incredible photos and experience at 1900!! I love the photo of the girls in the tremaine pose!

That was the same Anastasia we met at dinner in April, and she is just incredible!! Love her! You guys certainly had a great night!

 

[fairestoneofall]

LOVE the 1900 Park Fare pictures! so much fun!!!!

BTW, i saw this posted somewhere recently. i die.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61662119@N08/7352819286/

 

[KCmike]

Awesome Janet. What great memories you caught.

 

[mom2rtk]

I can't decide whether to retire the phrase "those dresses are amazing" or to add it to my Windows cut-and-paste clipboard.

LOL! It's all good! Thanks!

Great pics of the 1900 Park Faire dinner! That is one Character Dinner I really want to try, it looks awesome! Is the food pretty good? Those step-sisters seem like they would be so much fun! Those dresses were really amazing!

Thanks! If you've never done 1900 PF, then definitely put it on your list.

The food is ok, but I honestly don't remember much of it! I remember having a big salad, a few bites of dinner, and some dessert. The rest is a blur! But a fun blur. The steps kept dragging Katie and McKenna off to play.

That is just priceless!! I love those pictures!! And seriously, I don't think you could have made dresses to match any better! They are absolutely PERFECT!!

Thank you! The Drizella is the one I made for Katie in 2010 when we went by ourselves. I added the lace-up back to allow McKenna to fit it last year. This year I'm hoping I can do the same with Anastasia and I'll make a new Drizella for Katie so they can switch roles.

Oh my goodness, you definitely got some absolutely incredible photos and experience at 1900!! I love the photo of the girls in the tremaine pose!

That was the same Anastasia we met at dinner in April, and she is just incredible!! Love her! You guys certainly had a great night!

Thank you! Anastasia was awesome. She was TOTALLY into the experience and added SO much fun. But then so was Drizella. They were both great.

LOVE the 1900 Park Fare pictures! so much fun!!!!

BTW, i saw this posted somewhere recently. i die.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61662119@N08/7352819286/

LOL! That's too funny. Those really are some ugly stepsisters!

And thanks for the kind words.

Awesome Janet. What great memories you caught.

Thanks Mike! We had a great time. And I'm so happy it looks like we'll get one more chance to do this again.

 

[mom2rtk]

Well, I got my first glimpse today of what it might be like next year to drop Timmy off at school. We drove him to Boys State at the University of Central Missouri and left him for the week. It wasn't as hard as I expected, partly because he's mature and responsible enough to handle whatever comes his way. But mostly because it's just a week. I'm guessing when it's time for the real thng, I'll be an absolute mess.

 

[vamassey1]

I really love the pictures of the girls in character.

You can see the fun they are having in the pictures.

We were seating in the back room in 2010 and I was worried too. We had a lot more character interaction in the back. Drizzella had all the kids get up for a game of Drizzella says, they dance around and then she had them all yell. It was great fun for the kids.

I remember dropping Michelle off for Girls State the summer before her senior year. For us it was deja vu. Michelle went to NSU in Natchitoches. Brent was going to college there so we had already made many trips up there. It was our only experience at dropping her off at a college. She's going to LSU and lives at home.