Soarin from Scotland to Mickey ;-D ~ June 2009

[ScotsMinnie]

I'm sitting here trying to figure out how to word this. So, there is nothing said by the cashier when you leave a store or restaurant? I always make a point of saying it even when I am the customer.


I thought of you yesterday when we were eating at Olive Garden and I was looking at all the food still on my plate and I was full. I remember you mentioned the large portions we have, is the cost of eating out here a lot more than back home for you? And I mean off of the Disney property.

I also loved reading your list of what you love about Disney. I cry during Wishes. I think about how excited everyone else is along with me. Something else I absolutely love and I don't think they have done it every time but pulling into the MK parking lot and I showed my annual pass to the attendant he said "We will let Mickey know you are coming!" It's the little things that make WDW so magical!!!

I suppose they just say thanks or bye. Not quite the same is it? You lot definitely have customer service licked! People here are not unfriendly in stores but its just not something we would say to people. We should though!!

Eating out in the States is surprisingly less expensive than at home in general even with the huge portions! I suppose the exchange rate is not as good for us this year as it was last year so maybe not quite so cheap as it was. Last year we got 2 dollars to a pound but this year we are only getting 1.5. We will get substantially less dollars for the same amount of money for spending this time.

I do love the food in the States though! Its a good variation and the ribs at the Outback are the best I have had!!!!!!!

 

[lmillercrew]

I love be submersed by all things Disney. Theway Disney does a vacation is truly Magical!!! I think of nothing else when I am there!

 

[disneydusted]

I agree about Disney doing vacations right! Especially if you are staying on property... you are just soaked in the magic!
I was thinking about the "Have a nice day" saying... I guess it would seem rude not to say something like that. It is a nice southern saying too. Each place has its own customs and traditions.
Have you gotten all of your clothes planned? My DD and I would plan and plan! This may sound a bit strange but after seeing out Photopass pictures we wished that we had worn brighter colors on certain days. On our day at AK the 4 of us ended up in brown, light blue or white. Our photos are so dull! The pictures are nice but compared to other days we looked kind of boring!

 

[DisneyFreak06]

I thought of you today when I got my new National Geographic Traveler magazine. It had a picture of the "prickly pineapple" house!

 

[Jitzy]

Hello! I just finished reading your pre-trip report. Your plans sound awesome! We will be in WDW June 29-July 6. We are getting so excited!!!!

Jennifer

 

[The Moonk's Mom]

Oh thanks I needed the Wishes fix! I am so ready to go...not really...still sewing...I can't wait to show you how much better I have become...even Katie says it looks better!

Not much longer now!!!!!

 

[MRYPPNS]

I just read your June 2008 TR and now I'm going to start on this one!

 

[ScotsMinnie]

Hi everyone! Been neglecting my Pre trippie recently so thought I should check in and update it!

Firstly I have just completed 2 weeks of my diet and I have lost 6lbs! So pleased as well on my way to being the old skinny me! Just have to keep it going now and not give in to temptation. Running is not going so well as not getting the opportunity to do it very often in daylight hours. But I am managing to go for long walks a bit more with my friend who is also wishing to lose weight. So its all good on that front!

Would you be shocked if I said that I have a case down and it is almost full????!!!!! Its not properly packed (ifkwim?) but I got sick of seeing little bags of holiday things lying everywhere round the house so decided to put them all away. Means now everything is in one place. My shopping has notched up a gear and I have been buying the most gorgeous outfits for the girls. Also been making them bracelets to match their outfits for the evenings and a special Mickey one each for wearing in the day. When I get a chance to take pics I will share them with you! As for me I have ordered some crocs thong sandals (capri???) in brown so hope they fit well. Usually wear trainers at the parks but they are always so hot. Also a little pair of Roxy white flip flops which will be great for wearing to the pool etc. Mum and I have a shopping day planned in Glasgow (a full day shift!) which will see me buying for the new size I am (hopefully one less than I am now!) and a lovely lunch to sustain our activities. So I am waiting for that day to buy my clothes.

We have also decided on our tickets and parks we will be visiting. We are buying 14 day Ultimate Passes for 3 adults and 2 children. This gives us access to all parks (including hopping), water parks etc for 14 consecutive days. I will be renewing the Annual Pass I bought last year. We have worked out that the 14 day ticket price + the parking charge for each day we visit will come to the same as the AP. But obviously we will save on our minigolf, and some shopping and meals with the AP so we should save a bit of money. We have bought the 14 day tickets and I have to call Disney tomorrow to sort out renewing the AP.

We have decided against dong any Universal. DH was going to take DD7 and have some time together doing the rides they enjoy. But as we are trying to be a little more economical this time we have decided that it can wait till our next trip.

We will be doing SeaWorld though. Noone can bear NOT to go!!!!! We really love visiting there and the shows are so spectacular. DD2 is also excited about seeing the Elmo show and would be devastated to miss it.

Talking of DD2 - its her 3rd birthday next week. Can't believe that time has gone by so quickly. She is very excited about her birthday. We are having a joint birthday party with my best friends little boy who is also going to be 3 at the beginning of June. So it will be a happy but quiet birthday - and sadly it looks as though DH will be working away. We will have to wait and see.

Am starting to get a bit concerned about how she is going to take WDW this time too. She seems to be getting more and more hesitant when it comes to things like rides and shows. Even after going last year. We went to a show called the Singing Kettle at the weekend. They do 2 shows a year - one normal one and one Christmas themed one. She has seen them twice already and has all the DVDs. She knows all the songs and was so excited about the show on Sunday. Even waiting to go in she was asking if we could go in yet. When is it starting etc. Then we went in and she brought the house down. Screaming to go home/toilet/bed - she tried them all. Real tears and everything. I tried everything to stop her crying - snacks, playing with my camera etc and nothing worked. When it started she stopped and starting to clap and sing along. Even at the interval she said she loved it and when I said it is starting again soon she asked to go home. Once again when it started she was loving it. Hate to think what she is going to be like at Disney. We were also at a Safari Park about a month ago and there was a little carousel. Now if you have read my previous TR you will know that she loves carousels. She point blank refused to go it saying she was "too tiny"! We will see how she gets on but I hope she is alright in the parks.

Sorry back to planning!!!......... We have also changed our car from an SUV to a 7 seater minivan. Just makes more sense with the boot space. We do have a lot of stuff to lug around. Our first and last day we are also renting a small 2 door ecomony car to help with the luggage! How embarrassing! We worked out that even on the way with minimal cases we would still not fit our cases in a the 7 seater. We are flying British Airways this time and they do not do a Downtown Disney check in like Virgin do. If they did we could have done 2 trips to DTD to drop off the luggage but that is not going to be possible since we have to check in at the airport. Virgin do have some real advantages!!!!!

So thats it so far. Next time I promise I will share some of my beadwork! Hope everyone is well and surviving the panic that is swine flu! (by the way - the first 2 cases of it in the UK were in my town!!!! Not getting worked up about it though. Will see how it progresses.)

Take care!

 

[ScotsMinnie]

Oh thanks I needed the Wishes fix! I am so ready to go...not really...still sewing...I can't wait to show you how much better I have become...even Katie says it looks better!

Not much longer now!!!!!

Would love to see what you have made. I wish I had the time to do some sewing. My Mum has taught me the basics but I would need some serious tuition. My Mum is a dab hand though. Might encourage her to start doing clothes again - she hasn't done clothes for a while - just household things.

I just read your June 2008 TR and now I'm going to start on this one!

 

[ScotsMinnie]

I agree about Disney doing vacations right! Especially if you are staying on property... you are just soaked in the magic!
I was thinking about the "Have a nice day" saying... I guess it would seem rude not to say something like that. It is a nice southern saying too. Each place has its own customs and traditions.
Have you gotten all of your clothes planned? My DD and I would plan and plan! This may sound a bit strange but after seeing out Photopass pictures we wished that we had worn brighter colors on certain days. On our day at AK the 4 of us ended up in brown, light blue or white. Our photos are so dull! The pictures are nice but compared to other days we looked kind of boring!

You sound like me - I do like to plan clothes for me and the girls - DH could not care less and just throws on a tshirt with whatever short are closest! He has bought lots of new ones though too.
I have already bought far too many new clothes for the girls - don't tell DH!!!!!

I thought of you today when I got my new National Geographic Traveler magazine. It had a picture of the "prickly pineapple" house!

How funny!!!!!

Hello! I just finished reading your pre-trip report. Your plans sound awesome! We will be in WDW June 29-July 6. We are getting so excited!!!!

Jennifer

Hi!!!!! Wemay bump into each other when we are there!!!!! Its not long now for either of us!!!

 

[tinkgurl]

We're almost a month away!

 

[disneydusted]

Good job loosing the 6 lbs!!! You are inspiring me!
I wonder why your DD is having trouble before the shows before they start? I hope she will see the magic at Disney and feel comfortable.
Yes, do show your bracelets you are making.
Swine flu.... our local high school has closed indefinately due to a student having it. Some other schools in our state are closed for 2 weeks. We'll see how that all goes. The students are supposed to be staying at home but they are all out and about at the mall or over to friend's houses.

 

[jmskinner]

Good job on losing the pounds.

I don't think it is strange that you have a suitcase full. I do that. Actually, I have one in my closet with all of our WDW stuff.

I hope DD2 (almost 3) gets over her fears. My DS10 has gotten that way.

 

[marsa1969]

Firstly I have just completed 2 weeks of my diet and I have lost 6lbs! So pleased as well on my way to being the old skinny me! Just have to keep it going now and not give in to temptation. Running is not going so well as not getting the opportunity to do it very often in daylight hours. But I am managing to go for long walks a bit more with my friend who is also wishing to lose weight. So its all good on that front!

I've been trying to walk too. The first week DH and I went walking 5 times in one week. Last week it rained cats & dogs every night and we were not able to walk. Need to get back with it, but we have several days with rain chances this week .
I've been listening to swine flu updates on BBC1 on XM radio. Bad stuff!! Thankfully it have not made it to Arkansas yet.

 

[tink1957]

I just discovered your wonderful report today & am enjoying reading about your plans. Congrats on losing 6 lbs., I'm on a low carb diet myself & hoping to lose at least 20 lbs by the time our Sept trip comes around.

We also had the first Swine Flu case in Georgia in the town next to ours, which I visit frequently, scarey stuff.

 

[irky416]

Congrats on the 6 pounds!!

 

[ScotsMinnie]

I just discovered your wonderful report today & am enjoying reading about your plans. Congrats on losing 6 lbs., I'm on a low carb diet myself & hoping to lose at least 20 lbs by the time our Sept trip comes around.

We also had the first Swine Flu case in Georgia in the town next to ours, which I visit frequently, scarey stuff.

Welcome aboard!!!

 

[ScotsMinnie]

Thanks everyone for the good wishes on my weight loss. I lost another lb this week which I was annoyed about as I was so good and did not really cheat at all. At least it is going in the right direction though! That is a total of 7lbs or half a stone in 3 weeks so can't complain. Another 7lbs and I'll be happy. Trousers are already starting to feel loose so obviously working!

Wanted to post some pics of my bracelets that I have been making. Have not got great pics and also have not got pictures of the outfits they are to match but you will get the idea.

This one is for Katie and it is a Mickey theme. Emma has one exactly the same. The big beads are wooden which I hand painted.

This is for Emma to go with a beautiful blue, green with a touch of yellow, skirt. She loves it and I managed to get the beads to match the colours in the pattern exactly.

This is for me! I have a top with all these sorts of colours in so it is to match that.

Another one for me! Just loved the colour of these beads. Will have to buy something to match it!!!

This is for Emma. Love these beads and it should go with quite a few of her evening outfits.

Lots more still to make - not exactly perfect but nice to have some bracelets which are unique and made to match some of our outfits. Keeps me busy too and very relaxing.

Hope you like them.
Lx

 

[DisneyFreak06]

WOW! Those are really beatiful bracelets. It makes them so much more special that you take the time to make them for your family than just buying them.

 

[tinkgurl]

Those bracelets are lovely!