So Much To Celebrate - LIFE and Sophie Kate!

[MeMom]

every night on vacation SHOULD end with swimming! At least for the little ones

Love the White Ibis picture

Don't love the weather scare but being home 4 hours early, to pack for Disney, is

Swimming does assure that they will fall asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillows!

The nice thing about Disney birds is that they will let you get very, very close to them to take pictures.

Best of luck on the packing, Jill!
I'll be following along on your adventures with your MIL...

They're going to stay near the airport tonight. The in-laws are flying from KY to FL. The drama should start about mid-morning tomorrow.

Or possibly it has already started via texts and phone calls before they ever take off.

Well my extra four hours didn't help me get a jumpstart on packing. I spent most if the time monitoring the weather, preparing the hallway for a warning, and then spending about 30-40 minutes in said hallway with 3 little girls and the dog. There are some poles and trees down and some lost power, but not a major amount of damage. I started packing at 8:15 and here it is 10:15 and I am in bed. Suitcases are packed and by the door. I'm pretty sure it has to be a new record especially factoring in the amount of stuff Sophie needs (diapers, wipes, food, etc.)!

I am sorry I won't get to see Sophie really taking it al in. She was too little last time to know anything, but she'll be a joy this time. Be sure I get lots of pictures.

Found this TR the other day and I am gradually making my way through, I was going to wait to comment until I was caught up but didn't want to get too far behind.

The title of your TR drew me in, about Celebrating LIFE, I bet it was scary to have Jill so sick and not knowing what it was at first. I am a Nurse and I know how quickly things like that can happen and how scary it is. So glad to know she is doing well, and that beautiful baby girl is getting big, just looking at the trip pictures and then the ones at the Zoo (that's where I am at this point).

Love all your great pictures, it was neat to see the ones at night of the new Dumbo and then the Fireworks.

Love all the Epcot and F&G Pics and all the shopping ones to, I am living vicariously through TR's until I can get there next and have been enjoying the shopping ones especially!

We are always so glad to have 'new' people join us on our Disney fun!

Glad you like shopping pictures. I usually take a bunch of them. Flower & Garden Festival was lovely, as always. My pictures don't do justice to the beautiful landscape. Maybe Jill will get some great ones with her new camera.

Glad to hear you are all safe from the storm.

Safe travels to WDW today BrooklynnsMommy!
I hope you, John and the girls have a fantastic time at CBR.
The pool looks so fun and the resort is beautiful.
Enjoy and I wish for everything to go smoothly with your MIL.

Besides...how bad could it be you are at Disney!

....for you Memom as I'm sure you wish you were joining your girls today.

She'll have Disney magic on her side. She can do this! They are staying at Coronado Springs, not CBR. CSR is the only mod she hasn't checked off her list, so she is definitely excited about that part. And of course she will have a blast with the girls and just being away from work.

Trips without them are not the same for me. I hope they will miss me a little. Jill said Bella is sort of freaking out that I am not going.

Wow Jill you did great with packing in that short amount of time!
I hope you have a great time.

Happy Friday!!

I was ready for it to be Friday. This has seemed like a long week.

Have a great trip Jill, we loved CSR! It's our second favorate moderate with POFQ still in first place. Looking forward to following along! I just told Jamie last night it's about time for a long weekend at Disney

If I lived as close as you do, I would be taking long weekend trips far too often, I'm sure, and I'd probably be 'Disney poorer' than I already am!

CSR is pretty. I am glad Jill is getting to check her last mod off the list.

I wouldn't say that; it pretty nice to get to sit and talk with you. I'm sure it would be the same with Jill and the girls.

I told Jill you and I sat down and started talking like we did it on a regular basis. Hope you get to meet Jill and the girls one of these days.

I hope you have a great trip Jill. I know it will have a different feel this time.

They won't have to look back every once in a while to see where I am or what I am taking a picture of.

Have a great time Jill!!!

Yes, we are safe. We did not get any bad storms. The wind blew some with rain and thunder for a little while, but that is all. I think we are all a little skittish due to last April. Have a great weekend everyone!

Storms for us, but no damage in my neighborhood. It was a beautiful day today. Cooler than yesterday, but pretty.

 

[caralyn817]

Have a safe trip Jill! MeMom, I have a question for you. It's been awhile since we have stayed at POP and are debating whether or not to stay there in July when we go. Can you tell me, if all the rooms now have fridge's in them? Thanks a bunch.

 

[Poolrat]

Have a safe trip Jill! MeMom, I have a question for you. It's been awhile since we have stayed at POP and are debating whether or not to stay there in July when we go. Can you tell me, if all the rooms now have fridge's in them? Thanks a bunch.

Chiming in to let you know....


All of the rooms at POP now have a fridge in them.

 

[caralyn817]

Chiming in to let you know....


All of the rooms at POP now have a fridge in them.

Thanks so much! We usually stay with my parents who are DVC members, but we decided to take a trip with just the 3 of us (DH, me, and our daughter). We have narrowed our choices down to POP, Caribbean Beach, and Coronado. We have stayed at POP many time and Coronado a few. I haven't stayed at Caribbean Beach, but DH stayed there during high school on his Senior Trip. I'm so confused and just don't know where to choose.

 

[Poolrat]

Thanks so much! We usually stay with my parents who are DVC members, but we decided to take a trip with just the 3 of us (DH, me, and our daughter). We have narrowed our choices down to POP, Caribbean Beach, and Coronado. We have stayed at POP many time and Coronado a few. I haven't stayed at Caribbean Beach, but DH stayed there during high school on his Senior Trip. I'm so confused and just don't know where to choose.

I have stayed at all three. There are several resort threads dedicated to each and gice you great information.

Biggest difference Price - POP is a value and the other two moderates. Also beds - I know the Coronado has 2 queens and POP has 2 doubles as does CBR accodring to the resort thread. I had heard the moderates were going to queens but I guess not yet for CBR.

POP is pretty compact and with a young child you would have a short walk to the busses.
CSR- is more spread out but bus stops are around the outer edge of the resort so you could be near a bus stop but still far from the main house and resort dining.

CBR is even more spread out but with busses around the edge 5 stops instead of 3 at CSR.

I stayed across the bridge( jamacia I think) and it was a pretty short walk to the main building. Check in is in another building totally ( the Customs House) I think they can golf cart you to the room from there.

Hope that helps and check out the resort threads for more details. Hope you have a great trip. Happy Planning.

 

[rndmr2]

I am caught up now! Loving all the pictures, your grand daughters are so cute!

Loved the MNSSHP pics, I really want to go in the fall next trip and I have the Halloween party on my list. I love the fall decorations at MK, too. I was there in the fall before but it was in 2004 so it's been a long time.

Looks like you had a great Day at HS with just you and Bella.

 

[MeMom]

Have a safe trip Jill! MeMom, I have a question for you. It's been awhile since we have stayed at POP and are debating whether or not to stay there in July when we go. Can you tell me, if all the rooms now have fridge's in them? Thanks a bunch.

Chiming in to let you know....


All of the rooms at POP now have a fridge in them.

What Pat said...and here's a picture to help you tell the size and what it will hold.

Thanks so much! We usually stay with my parents who are DVC members, but we decided to take a trip with just the 3 of us (DH, me, and our daughter). We have narrowed our choices down to POP, Caribbean Beach, and Coronado. We have stayed at POP many time and Coronado a few. I haven't stayed at Caribbean Beach, but DH stayed there during high school on his Senior Trip. I'm so confused and just don't know where to choose.

I like to go for something I have not stayed at before, if the opportunity and/or funds present the opportunity. Always nice to check off a new Disney resort, in my opinion.

I have stayed at all three. There are several resort threads dedicated to each and gice you great information.

Biggest difference Price - POP is a value and the other two moderates. Also beds - I know the Coronado has 2 queens and POP has 2 doubles as does CBR accodring to the resort thread. I had heard the moderates were going to queens but I guess not yet for CBR.

POP is pretty compact and with a young child you would have a short walk to the busses.
CSR- is more spread out but bus stops are around the outer edge of the resort so you could be near a bus stop but still far from the main house and resort dining.

CBR is even more spread out but with busses around the edge 5 stops instead of 3 at CSR.

I stayed across the bridge( jamacia I think) and it was a pretty short walk to the main building. Check in is in another building totally ( the Customs House) I think they can golf cart you to the room from there.

Hope that helps and check out the resort threads for more details. Hope you have a great trip. Happy Planning.

The mods are spread out, and convenience to the food courts is a factor. Thanks for the breakdown, Pat. Those resort boards are a wealth of information.

I am caught up now! Loving all the pictures, your grand daughters are so cute!

Loved the MNSSHP pics, I really want to go in the fall next trip and I have the Halloween party on my list. I love the fall decorations at MK, too. I was there in the fall before but it was in 2004 so it's been a long time.

Looks like you had a great Day at HS with just you and Bella.

I do believe it is time for you to see Magic Kingdom dressed up in fall attire again.

It took me several pictures to realize I had only Bella with me, and then I remembered everyone else hadn't even come. I tend to have more pictures of her, because she is my 'running buddy' while in Disney World, but after a few minutes, I realized I had zero pictures of anyone else, and then I remembered that we had decided to go have some fun while the others were just hanging out at Pop. She's an early bird, like me, so when she gets up, she comes over to my room. Jill brings me her bag of clothes for the day, and after she gets dressed, she and I hang out, or we may take a morning walk or occasionally even head out to a park while the others are sleeping a little longer or facing their day at a little slower pace.

I will miss her this week, knowing when she gets up early, she's going to have to stay quiet and still and wait on the others to get up/ready instead of being able to come over to my room. Those Bella smiles - as she is still opening her sleepy eyes - make my days start off very happily.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Have a great time on your trip Jill!!

 

[MeMom]

Bright and early the next morning, I walked across the bridge to check into Art of Animation.
I had had it with all of the screaming, whining kids and all their chaos, and I needed some alone time.

Okay, rewind. It wasn't bright and early...

and there had been minimal screaming and whining,

and even if there had been,

I would have still loved every minute of it.



The truth is, we were getting one night at Art of Animation because we wanted to stay at it during its opening year.

The line was short.

Or maybe non-existent.

The staff was welcoming.

I got us checked in and then made the walk back to Pop to catch the bus with the others. We were eating with royalty that morning.

** On a side note, if you cross that bridge early in the morning, there are (or at least there were that morning) about 19,000,000 little flying things basking in the warmth of the lights. You should walk as if you are about to cross a marathon finish line and possibly carry a face mask. Or, not knowing this and being prepared with a face mask, you can just blow out and go, "Thu-phooo, thu-phooo, thu-phooo!" until you get across to keep them from flying in your mouth. It was not a pleasant experience, and I thought about just catching an AoA bus and meeting the others at Magic Kingdom to keep from crossing back over to Pop. Believe me, this billy goat gruff didn't need a horrible, mean troll to keep me from hanging around that bridge. The swarm of bugs enjoying the lights was enough to send me quickly on my way.

Anyway, back at the Pop bus stop...

A pretty morning at 'The Grand'.

This display makes me happy.

Lining up on the left to be let in for our castle breakfast.

Good morning, Magic Kingdom!

One of the reasons to like October in Disney World - a beautiful Main Street.

 

[declansdad]

I don't know how you dealt with that crowd at AoA.

You have to love walking down Main Street early in the morning with no crowds.

 

[MeMom]

Quiz Time: What was the name of this bird?

Raise your hand if you are super glad these two got together to create what they did.

If it weren't for them, most of us wouldn't know each other even existed!

I like this picture, because there is so much going on. Claire is not happy about being on the wall. Bella can't understand why she is so upset, because momentarily being allowed to stand on walls is a pretty cool thing, isn't it? Rebecca is trying to figure how many steps it will take her to catch Claire when she tries to jumps down. Mary Beth is clearly ecstatic about being here. Brooklynn is soaking in the instructions about holding Sophie tight. Jill is trying to exude confidence in Brooklynn and give her the 'don't you dare drop my baby' look all at the same time.

From the castle looking back on Main Street.

Jill checking us in.

The lady to the side was thinking she was crazy for having a little baby there, most likely.

This was The Year of the Walls in Magic Kingdom.

Next time, we will eat.



What? You thought we were going to walk into the park and eat breakfast all in one morning? Surely you know me better than that!

You know the drill. You hang out here looking at mosaics and watching the castmembers getting Fantasyland ready for the day. We eat next time!

 

[MeMom]

I don't know how you dealt with that crowd at AoA.

You have to love walking down Main Street early in the morning with no crowds.

Wouldn't it be nice to have about two hours in each park with no one else around just to take pictures?

 

[MeMom]

Have a great time on your trip Jill!!

They are on the plane. She sent a picture of Brooklynn with her notebook. She says she is writing notes for me about the trip. The first one says Just got on the plane. I love that sweet girl! I told her to pick some flowers for me (from the ground, of course) for my Disney flower vase. That will be a free, easy, and special souvenir.

 

[momof2TNboys]

Good morning. I know you are missing your girls, but it will not be long till you go on your summer trip! I hope they have a blast and cannot wait to see pictures. I just love your fall pictures. I cannot wait to go again at that time of year. Yay for eating in the castle! I have not convinced my boys to do that yet. They whine if I mention doing anything with princesses involved lately.
Hope you have a great day! Cleaning and little league baseball for me.

 

[Disneychix]

I was just seeing Jill's pics from the airport and now seeing how little Sophie was in your report makes you think about how quickly time passes! Wow!

Looks like a beautiful mornin in the MK. Toobad about all those bugs. I would have been crawling on the ground or something. I hate bugs, especially in my mouth!

 

[Poolrat]

Another lovely morning.

Ugh on the bugs, I am sure that was not the best company on your early walk over to AoA.

The overnight crew at any resort is usually cheery. Maybe because while the hours are hard the crowds are lower or travelers coming at those hours have simple needs- get in or get out

I am sure dancing princess can fill us in on the goings on at POP overnight.

for a castle breakfast. I may also have a picture from the castle looking at the carousel. Mine was a rope drop picture after a CP breakfast.

I saw that lady looking at Jill and thought the same thing. Jill will have to explain this time that this isn't Sophie's first trip, much like she had to with Bella.


I will wait here and take in the view. Happy Saturday!!!

 

[tinkgurl]

It's a daddy-long legs bird!!

 

[Megablocks]

Caught up again! Your pictures are making me want to go back so badly. I miss it so much!

I finagled a four-day weekend this weekend...we have Monday off from school since it's Patriot's day (a Massachusetts holiday), and since I worked on Good Friday, I had a floating holiday to use up. So I got to use Tuesday as my floating holiday and not use any vacation/personal time. It's also April vacation, so we'll have much fewer kids. I'm hoping for horseback riding one day and maybe going to get my bridesmaid's dress for Katie's wedding!

 

[gopherdame]

Have a great trip Jill. That lady wasn't thinking you were crazy for bringing a baby. She was thinking how does she look so great so soon after having a baby. We ate at the castle a couple years ago and it was so worth it get in early and get pics and just to see the inside of the castle. After eating we went back to the front of the castle to get more pics of Main Street from there. As we were taking them we saw a huge rush of people coming towards us as the gates were now open. We turned right around and headed to Dumbo and we were on the first ride.

 

[Valgoof]

Love the fall decorations on empty Main St!! Someday I will see them in person. .
We made the walk across the bridge in December and luckily it was bug free.
I read that first line and thought, who hacked Memom's account, there is no way she wrote that!
Have a great trip Jill and girls!! I am sure Brooklyn will take excellent notes for you (and all of us).