PRINCESS Palooza 2011! 9/9 Update: Departure Day

[KCmike]

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.

2013 will be our year of letting the first one go. Not looking forward to it either.

I must have missed it. When are you heading back to WDW? I thought the last time you spoke of it you were going to wait for the fantasyland expansion to be complete?

We are now thinking we might pass on Colorado Springs. I would love to see Garden of the Gods but is it worth the trip down? If we didn't we would just stay in Denver and maybe see (I think it was called) Mt Evans.

 

[mom2rtk]

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.

This was our first time to be in the back room too. I actually think the characters were able to play more because we were back there and there was no management right on top of them. "Drizella says" sounds like a alot of fun! The girls asked the steps to sing, so we got serenaded, and that was a lot of fun too.

I'm really bracing myself for Timmy leaving for school for real. I'll be very curious to see how this week goes for him. It will either put his mind his mind at ease and make that bigger transition much easier..... or put him off completely. I think it will be the first one, but you never know. His roommate was there when we arrived and was already rearranging the room and telling Timmy he should skip orientation....... so I'm a little nervous about that. I had a terrible roommate my first semester away at school and know how that can be.

2013 will be our year of letting the first one go. Not looking forward to it either.

I must have missed it. When are you heading back to WDW? I thought the last time you spoke of it you were going to wait for the fantasyland expansion to be complete?

We are now thinking we might pass on Colorado Springs. I would love to see Garden of the Gods but is it worth the trip down? If we didn't we would just stay in Denver and maybe see (I think it was called) Mt Evans.

Mike, does your daughter have some preliminary ideas of where she'd like to go? I think Timmy's leaning toward Rolla, but we haven't gotten to visit yet. Time has just gotten away from us. And Timmy didn't seem interested in 2 school related trips this summer. I think he'll have to miss a day or 2 of school this fall and visit some schools. I'd sort of like to do it when school is in session and the campuses have some life (and more staff). I think we'll be able to develop more of a plan once we see how this week goes.

I'll try and download some photos today from Garden of the Gods so you can see what it looks like. I'd make he trip from Denver to see it myself. But then, I'm just sort of nutty about big red rocks. Timmy really enjoyed it because there are small trials even his old parents were willing to explore. So he got to run around a bit amid the rocks. Have you ever been to red rock country?

 

[mom2rtk]

Mike, I missed your other question. I actually had planed all along to head back to WDW this year. I only wanted to wait late enough into this year to make sure we hit the BatB and LM sections of the Fantasyland Expansion opening. I'd like to get to DL next year, but don't want to wait until 2014 to go back to WDW. So were booked at the new animation resort in December. I really need to get a ticker added.

 

[mom2rtk]

Is anyone else having trouble subscribing to threads? I've tried to sub to a few this morning but the link isn't working.

 

[mesaboy2]

Is anyone else having trouble subscribing to threads? I've tried to sub to a few this morning but the link isn't working.

I've seen another poster mention they were having trouble too.

 

[mom2rtk]

I've seen another poster mention they were having trouble too.

Well, it helps to know that at least.

Now don't go starting a bunch of fastpass threads I can subscribe to!

 

[shan23877]

Sounds like an amazing night at 1900 Park Fare! The girls' dresses are awesome, I'll bet they had a great time! The stepsisters are such great characters anyway, but I think they're perfect for kids Katie's age.

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[petals]

The step-sisters dresses are so cool!

Your Park Fare experience sounds amazing as well!

 

[Caretames1]

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?

I was told by by another DISer that both times I posted clothes and last update she didn't get a notice either, and then another subbed to my thread but it didn't work as she never seen it come up?

Thanks! I think Kadence gonna look so nice.

The lady is on Facebook, but I've been dealing with her through private messaging only and she's agreed to keep it private. I don't need my sister's blabbing it out to Kadence. I told one of them and I got the look of boredom

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 thing, I'll be an absolute mess.

Hope he enjoys the week. Is that where he is thinking of attending? Sam applied to a school in Minnesota last week! I think she's trying to kill me.

 

[Glennie5]

Looks like you guys had an incredible night! I can see why the characters remember you from trip to trip, you always have the best character interactions. Your pictures tell the whole story - love it.

 

[francis6306]

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.

Awe! My husband applied and interviewed for a Job at NSU last year. They didn't pick him and we ended up moving north to the mid-west. This southern girl wasn't happy about that! But it's working out for us in the end…

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.

I don't even want to think about this sort of thing! I'm hoping both of my girls will just go to whatever college that is employing Corey at the time!

 

[mom2rtk]

Sounds like an amazing night at 1900 Park Fare! The girls' dresses are awesome, I'll bet they had a great time! The stepsisters are such great characters anyway, but I think they're perfect for kids Katie's age.

Can't wait to hear more!

They really are perfect for the girls at this age. So full of sass and silliness!

The step-sisters dresses are so cool!

Your Park Fare experience sounds amazing as well!

Thanks Petals, it really was amazing.

I was told by by another DISer that both times I posted clothes and last update she didn't get a notice either, and then another subbed to my thread but it didn't work as she never seen it come up?

Thanks! I think Kadence gonna look so nice.

The lady is on Facebook, but I've been dealing with her through private messaging only and she's agreed to keep it private. I don't need my sister's blabbing it out to Kadence. I told one of them and I got the look of boredom




Hope he enjoys the week. Is that where he is thinking of attending? Sam applied to a school in Minnesota last week! I think she's trying to kill me.

LOL! I'm feeling for you but I'll definitely keep my fingers crossed. I know you'll breathe a huge sigh of relief to see her back on a path toward something this fall.

I wouldn't know if Timmy is enjoying himself. He hasn't aswered either of my 2 text messages. I'm assuming that's because his schedle is so full. They have reveille at 6:30 every morning and go until almost 10 every night. So I won't be surprised if I don't hear from him at all.

And no, this isn't one of the schools he's thinking of attending.

I'm glad you said something about posting your clothing photos so I didn't miss them. That really makes a trip seem real, doesn't it? I need to get caught back up again so I can make a few things.

Looks like you guys had an incredible night! I can see why the characters remember you from trip to trip, you always have the best character interactions. Your pictures tell the whole story - love it.

Thanks Glennie! We really did have a blast! I smile every time I think about that evening. Just tons of girly fun!

Awe! My husband applied and interviewed for a Job at NSU last year. They didn't pick him and we ended up moving north to the mid-west. This southern girl wasn't happy about that! But it's working out for us in the end…



I don't even want to think about this sort of thing! I'm hoping both of my girls will just go to whatever college that is employing Corey at the time!

There are TONS of benefits to that, not the least of which would be him keeping an eye on them. Drew works for a university so the kids have access to a program of reciprocal tuition agreements within their a group of other small private universities. That's how Robbie is going to school. There are still costs, but once tuition is taken care of.......it's a huge burden lifted. I wouldn't be surprised to see Timmy choose to go to another school in that system that's here in town but requires students live on campus. It could be the best of both worlds for him. But I think his grades and test scores will tempt him with some other offers. Gonna be interesting to see how it all unfolds.

 

[jenseib]

I finally got caught up.

I love your 1900 PF experience. how fun. You got some terrific photos. I am always jealous...I need to travel with you. Even though you didn't get a full group photo, you still got some awesome shots.

BTW... i stil lnever got my living room cleaned. As soon as I emailed you, skip came in and plopped his butt back on the couch and sighed really loudly as i tried to clean ,so I gave up. It's on the to do list again tomorrow.

 

[mom2rtk]

I finally got caught up.

I love your 1900 PF experience. how fun. You got some terrific photos. I am always jealous...I need to travel with you. Even though you didn't get a full group photo, you still got some awesome shots.

BTW... i stil lnever got my living room cleaned. As soon as I emailed you, skip came in and plopped his butt back on the couch and sighed really loudly as i tried to clean ,so I gave up. It's on the to do list again tomorrow.

LOL! You wouldn't have to hint twice to get ME to stop cleaning!

You really should come sometime when we do. We'd have a ball. The place would likely never be the same again!

I was disappointed not to get a group photo, but we had a ton of fun trying. The steps kept coming by encouraging us to ask. But they later whispered to us that they don't get to do that sort of thing much any more. I don't want to get into any more detail since I don't want to get anyone in trouble. But it was still tons of fun.

But never fear.......... the trip's not over yet. Believe it or not, we weren't done with the girls' alter egos yet.

 

[mom2rtk]

Anybody out there waiting for non-Candlelight Processional ADRs in Epcot in December? They JUST loaded them!

Just got my Coral Reef ADR for our Epcot day. That means I can sleep past 4:45 next Tuesday and not fight with all those CP people on the phone lines!

I think we ate there in 1992 when I was 7 weeks pregnant for the first time. I couldn't eat a bite, and don't remember much of anything about that trip....

 

[vamassey1]

Katie should enjoy eating with the fish. I have had a good meal there, an okay meal and a not so good meal. I hope yours is like my first one.

 

[mom2rtk]

Katie should enjoy eating with the fish. I have had a good meal there, an okay meal and a not so good meal. I hope yours is like my first one.

I guess "eating with the fish" is better than "sleeping with the fish"

I've heard the mixed reviews too. I just really wanted to break out of our Epcot routine and try something different this year.

Really though, our ADRs are a MESS until they announce Be Our Guest. I have back-up plans for my back-up plans. But it IS nice to have the Epcot meal wrapped up. That one won't change for BoG.

 

[mouselovenfamily]

We've had really good meals at the Coral Reef, and it's so pretty in there!! Hope you have a great meal!! I do need you to get an ADR at BOG so I can see what it's like!!!!

 

[Caretames1]

I want to eat at Coral Reef, but nobody else does. Someday, I'm just gonna book it and they can either like it or end up in the tanks!


I tell ya, if BOG opens up any spots during our trip I'm good! I have 3 MK days and all 3 evenings are wide open ( I have counter service back-ups in there for now).

 

[mom2rtk]

We've had really good meals at the Coral Reef, and it's so pretty in there!! Hope you have a great meal!! I do need you to get an ADR at BOG so I can see what it's like!!!!

LOL! I'm happy to take one for the team and go!

And rest assured. My credit card is by my keyboard. I'm checking the DIS regularly during the day.... I'm ready to book the minute I get word. And yeah...... I might take one..... or two...... pictures in there! I have my wide angle lens at the ready. You think 10mm is wide enough?

I want to eat at Coral Reef, but nobody else does. Someday, I'm just gonna book it and they can either like it or end up in the tanks!


I tell ya, if BOG opens up any spots during our trip I'm good! I have 3 MK days and all 3 evenings are wide open ( I have counter service back-ups in there for now).

Nah...... you have to get the line right.

Either they like it..... or they'll be SLEEPING with those fishes!

I have continency plans for my contingency plans. And our friends and I have agreed that all other ADRs are expendable for this one. Heck, I'm thinking of actually eating here twice. I'd like to go once with my husband, then once with our girlfriends.