PRINCESS Palooza 2011! 9/9 Update: Departure Day

[kwitcherkicken99]

That face is PRICELESS!!!!

I didn't realize the Tremaines were allowed to emote anything other than stank-face!

 

[petals]

Your Colorado pics are brill. Some day I hope to see other parts of America if I can drag myself away from Florida

 

[Caretames1]

Have you seen this yet! Last paragraph!

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...ory-of-new-fantasyland-at-magic-kingdom-park/

 

[mom2rtk]

Have you seen this yet! Last paragraph!

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...ory-of-new-fantasyland-at-magic-kingdom-park/

I saw that posted on the FLE thread just a moment ago. I'm SO ready for things to get moving!

 

[francis6306]

Have you seen this yet! Last paragraph!

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...ory-of-new-fantasyland-at-magic-kingdom-park/

EEK!!! That's exciting!!!

 

[Caretames1]

I saw that posted on the FLE thread just a moment ago. I'm SO ready for things to get moving!

I may throw a very unladylike tantrum if it's not open for our trip!

 

[mom2rtk]

Have you ever checked out the living history museum at the entrance to Garden of the Gods? As a kid we camped in CO several times and the time we went to that living history museum was the coolest! We learned so much and I still remember a TON! Granted I'm a history nut so if you or your kids hate history it might not be all that entertaining...but it was AWESOME for anyone with the slightest interest. Even my younger brothers enjoyed it (they were probably 6, 9 and 12 at the time).

Something to try out on your next trip!

We didn't get there (that happens when you speed vacation!) but would love to if we get back one day.

I'm sure glad we got there when we did though. That newest wildfire is right in the area.

Catching up - 1900 Park Fare looks like you had a blast!!! And the Colorado pics are great!! My dad taught (and loved) geography - so we always drove a long way on our vacations to see the countryside, and Colorado was beautiful!! We saw Pike's Peak, Royal Gorge and Cripple Creek (long before they had gambling) But that was over 30 years ago My DH is not a fan of long drives - so when the girls are a bit older (still 11 and 8) I hope to do some "girl" road trips!!

Your photos are awesome! I am still (struggling) learning how to use my camera - I feel safe on auto for "people" shots - I need to go practice on some nonmoving scenery! LOL

I am excited to read about your next trip - my cousin just booked for an October trip to DL to include Cars Land (sp?) I am getting the fever,but with my oldest entering middle school, I am not sure when to book. Am thinking about Christmas break (before Christmas) but probably 2013.

Although we are in Houston, going in October last year spoiled me - I don't know if I can do the summer again And I would love to see the Christmas decorations!!! But I have threatened to go back and meet my cousin WITHOUT OUR FAMILIES in October!! I loved the Halloween Party, Fireworks, Villians show, fall theming and the Haunted Carriage ride was awesome!!

I'm so glad my husband and I both love long driving trips. We're both in agreement that when the school year is over, it's time to pack it all into the car and goooooooo.............. Heck, we even drove half way across the country in 08 when gas hit record highs. Everyone asked what we thought about those gas prices and taking a driving trip. I said it is what it is...... and we only have so many chances to do this sort of thing.

December has definitely spoiled me for going to Disney any other time. If someone offered me a free trip right now I probably wouldn't go...... Or I'd go and just hang at the pool, eat at the resorts, and go to the parks for a couple hours when the sun went down. Very vampire of me, don't you think?

Katie is just entering middle school, so I'm nervous about taking her out. But I have the perspective of having the 2 boys go through middle and high school ahead of her. I know this is awful.... but if a grade or 2 slips (which I don't really think they will) I know they don't really count until high school. And I know this is a marathon, not a sprint. AND........ I know even THESE opportunities will be gone in a few short years.........

Don't feel bad about sometimes using auto on my camera. Heck, mine stayed on auto for ........ oh....... about FIVE years before I moved out of auto. And I got some great shots. Heck, I still put it in program (almost auto) mode when I'm doing meet & greets. I just don't want to miss a shot or the moment fiddling with the camera dials.

That face is PRICELESS!!!!

I didn't realize the Tremaines were allowed to emote anything other than stank-face!

I loved that face too! Heck, what's NOT to love?????

Your Colorado pics are brill. Some day I hope to see other parts of America if I can drag myself away from Florida

Thank you! It's an amazingly beautiful country. The southwest is something everyone on Earth should see at least once. (or in my case...... MANY times!)

 

[mom2rtk]

EEK!!! That's exciting!!!

I know....... and I was just thinking that with the CP packages out this morning, this was the missing link for most folks.

Fingers crossed that the rumor about breakfast will be confirmed (or denied) at the same time!

I may throw a very unladylike tantrum if it's not open for our trip!

LOL! I bet you'll be fine. But if you do throw that fit...... will you do it when Kadence can video it for all of us?

 

[francis6306]

I know....... and I was just thinking that with the CP packages out this morning, this was the missing link for most folks.

Fingers crossed that the rumor about breakfast will be confirmed (or denied) at the same time!

Are they still planning on making this a QS AND TS?

And I was SHOCKED about the CP announcement this morning! I jumped on that not too long ago! (Details in my PTR! ) I'm hoping for some good news about BOG!!!!

 

[Caretames1]

LOL! I bet you'll be fine. But if you do throw that fit...... will you do it when Kadence can video it for all of us?

Nope, can't let her know why I'm laying on the floor kicking and screaming!

 

[mom2rtk]

Nope, can't let her know why I'm laying on the floor kicking and screaming!

You have an answer for everything, don't you?

If I don't get an ADR, I'll post my OWN fit video!

 

[Caretames1]

You have an answer for everything, don't you?

If I don't get an ADR, I'll post my OWN fit video!

I try!


Now that's something I'll want to see!

 

[jenseib]

My Mom was in Denver last week and she was telling me all about her trip...and she went to many of the places you were at on a bus tour.

 

[mom2rtk]

My Mom was in Denver last week and she was telling me all about her trip...and she went to many of the places you were at on a bus tour.

What did she think of the area? Of course, it's a mess there right now with the wildfire going on.

 

[mom2rtk]

12/16 MAGIC KINGDOM:



Getting the girls up was every bit as hard as I expected it to be. Before meeting up the day before, Katie had not seen her friend in quite a while, probably since early October. Our dinner was late and long (and fun!) but to them, hanging out playing, chatting and giggling back at the room was the most fun. So yes, it took quite a while to get them to sleep. Yet somehow we were out the door a little after 7 the next morning.

For those of you who read my 2010 trip report, you might recognize the gown McKenna is wearing. It's the one I made Katie for that trip.


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We had appointments at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at 8:05. Disney had changed park opening from 9 AM to 8 AM that day, so we really couldn't be late. Or we would be heading up Main Street in a sea of people. I really wanted some photos on an empty Main Street and I wasn't sure how that was going to go.

We had great luck with the buses on this trip, but this one morning we had to wait about 15 minutes for a bus to arrive. I'm sure it just seemed worse because time was so tight that day. We got through turnstiles around 7:45 and moments later they let the early entry people enter the park. I took the girls up Main Street for photos while Kim rented a wheelchair and a locker.

McKenna had broken her foot a few weeks prior to the trip and was in a walking boot. So she could get up and walk, but was a little slow, and needed to get off of it as much as possible during the day.


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I stopped at several locations along Main Street and in front of the castle getting photos of the girls. Once we were done at the Boutique, the streets would be flooded with people and the photos just not the same. As it turns out, the photos would be different for other reasons as well, and I'm very glad I got some good shots on the way in!

Half way up Main Street I heard someone calling my name. It was Erika and Jenn from the DISBoards (kwitcherkicken99 and DISNEYaddict4evr)! I knew they would be there that morning, but honestly, I was so tired and so focused on getting my photos, I had completely forgotten! They were on their way to the Crystal Palace. It was great to meet some more DIS friends.




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The crowds are right behind us now, so Katie made a break for it while I stayed with McKenna......



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I made Katie wait up so I could get a couple more shots together........

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Somewhere along the way going up Main Street, I heard the audio from the welcome show. I thought we still had a decent amount of time. But it turns out that day they did the shortened version of the welcome show! YIKES! They were coming! We raced toward the castle. I have awesome shots of the girls in front of the castle with nobody near them. I have awesome shots of them heading up the ramp to the tunnel. Then all of a sudden I have shots of them IN the tunnel....... with hundreds of our new closest friends! It was a great run and we did better than I expected.





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Overall, it went muc better than I could have hoped. I did miss 2 shots that I wish I had taken 1) a quick photo with Erika and Jenn and 2) a shot looking BACK over my shoulder at the crowds closing in on us! It sure was an interesting way to start the day!

 

[mom2rtk]

12/16 Continued:


We had appointments at 8:05 and 8:40 but they were able to seat the girls together right away. McKenna wanted to go with the traditional princess do, but Katie talked her into the POP Diva like the girl had in the Snow White line the other night. Yep. The one with the rainbow color hair extensions. With the gold Belle gowns. I took a deep breath.......and laughed along with them. And I have to say, it did make for some memorable photos after. But I was quite happy to have gotten some good photos "before".


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Can you look at this photo and NOT laugh right along with her? I know I can't. And it's that degree of fun and giggles that made me glad we let them go with the funky do's!



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Oh my......... what HAD we done!

 

[mom2rtk]

12/16 Continued:

Our first stop was the photo studio to immortalize the new do's. The line didn't move though, and we ditched it when we saw the Fairy Godmother outside. I knew it wouldn't be OUR Fairy Godmother. But she'd do in a pinch. Still, it sort of felt like "cheating" to see someone else!


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We got back into the photo studio line, but it still wasn't moving, so we ditched it again when we saw the stepsisters show up outside. They were a ton of fun as always, and we got some really colorful photos!



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Before changing out of the Belle gowns, I wanted photos with the princesses so we headed back down Main Street. Mary Poppins was out in her red coat, so we stopped for a quick photo. I particularly loved that Mary didn't say a word about the girls' funky hairdo's. When she heard we were headed in to see the princesses, she did ask them to give a message to her friend Belle. She wanted them to have Belle remind her friend the Beast about his manners lesson later that day.


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We noticed there was no wait to see Mickey and Minnie so decided to stop in to see the head cheese first. We did wait a moment for them to let us into the room, and were surprised to see Mickey himself come to the door and lead the girls back to his dressing room. Kim had picked up princess fastpasses on our way into the park so we had nearly no wait there either. We saw Mary Poppins, Mickey, Minnie and all 3 princesses in less than half an hour.




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[Caretames1]

Kadence is gonna kill me for looking at this without her! I'll come back later and let have her say.

Love all the pictures, the hairstyle is not my fav, but looks FUN! Sam would have been the child to do that one. Hopefully Kadence won't get any ideas!


Katie's dress looks better than Belles, just saying!


Love the boot & one gold shoe photo!

 

[mom2rtk]

Kadence is gonna kill me for looking at this without her! I'll come back later and let have her say.

Love all the pictures, the hairstyle is not my fav, but looks FUN! Sam would have been the child to do that one. Hopefully Kadence won't get any ideas!


Katie's dress looks better than Belles, just saying!


Love the boot & one gold shoe photo!

Thanks Carey! I have to say I had to swallow REALLY hard to let them do that hairstyle. I do have to say I have nixed that style for our trip this December though. Is that small of me? I still just laugh every time I see this set of photos, but I do wish we had those photos with Belle in a ........ shall we say......... less "creative" style?????????

I'm plotting away though. The dresses are coming along again this year for our trip to Be Our Guest. I think I'll have to get TST fastpasses for photos ahead of dinner. (Yes, I'm being optimistic about it being open AND us getting ADRs!)

 

[mouselovenfamily]

The girls look great!! So funny with the BBB hair!! It's crazy to see all the Christmas photos while we are baking in this crazy heatwave!!!! Bring on the cold weather!!!!!