Squeezing Quarters Til the Eagle Screams..a May 2010 PTR! 4/9 Update!!

[mickeystoontown]

The drive down Mississippi starts at Vicksburg, then we turn down in Jackson and go through Hattiesburg and then hit 98 until we get to Mobile. Not a thing except for gas stations and trees after Hattiesburg.

Thanks for the scooter information. Mama isn't sure if she'll need one or not but I'm going to do research just in case.

 

[captainj]

Hi Dawn, I'm in!

 

[scooby9932]

The drive down Mississippi starts at Vicksburg, then we turn down in Jackson and go through Hattiesburg and then hit 98 until we get to Mobile. Not a thing except for gas stations and trees after Hattiesburg.

Thanks for the scooter information. Mama isn't sure if she'll need one or not but I'm going to do research just in case.

Yep, sounds pretty boring for you, too! At least once we get on I-75 we can be entertained by all the Adult Store signs!

When Somer was little she was just learning to read & of course was reading all the signs along the way. She kept asking what was the adult store? My dad tells her, "It's just a bunch of toys for grown-ups." Oh, boy. So, of course, my 7 year old wants to stop by the toy store! My dad gets this look like a deer caught in headlights & turns to me to solve this little dilemma. I just shrug & give him the "you started it, now you figure out how to fix it" look.

After he stumbles around a bit, my mom, feeling sorry for him & his big mouth, says, "Oh, sweetie. They only sell big kid toys like muddy tractors, farm equipment, and stuff." My lil Miss Priss who didn't like dirt at all says "Oh, never mind, then! Yuck!" We still get a giggle out of this every year when we see the signs.

I'm glad to give any scooter info I can. It's a good idea to research ahead of time! You don't want to pay Disney's rates for the things if you can help it.

Hi Dawn, I'm in!

Glad you could join us!

 

[scrdofbugs]

Hey Dawn!! I was a lurker on your old report. I was excited to read this new one.

 

[scooby9932]

Hey Dawn!! I was a lurker on your old report. I was excited to read this new one.

to my PTR! I'm glad you've come out of lurkdom to join us!

 

[scooby9932]

As they say, it all started with a moose. They don't say that? Ok, well, then I say it. Now to explain...

Ok, so I have been thinking about the dining issue. We're not getting Park Hoppers & we don't like working our schedules around dining times, so we've opted out of the Regular Dining Plan. I am thinking of adding the QS Dining Plan, but am still crunching numbers to see if it's really any cheaper than OOP. Here's where the dilemma comes in.

After seeing so many posts about Le Cellier I decided I just had to eat there this trip. The clincher? You won't believe it. Really. It's silly. But I have a LOVE for all things moose. I think they are so cute! The "Got Moose" t-shirts crack me up. Somer doesn't get what the attraction is, but justs goes along with it when I start in on them. She does shake her head when I say, "Got Moose?" and dissolve into laughter. I know, strange am I.

So, how does a love of moose cause a dining dilemma, you ask? Or not. But I'm going to tell you anyway.

Though I've wanted to try LeCellier in the past, I can't eat red meat (restricted diet) and Somer doesn't eat any meat - only fish & veggies - so we've skipped this one.

BUT - I saw on someone's trip report last week a food porn pic of the Chocolate "Moose" (mousse) dessert served there. Oh, Boy! A MOOSE!!!! And it's Chocolate?!? I'm so there!

At dinner that night I told my folks all about it. They shook their heads & smiled, but they've heard the moose stories before. Then I told Somer & she, knowing me so well, said matter of factly, "Well, then, Mom. We HAVE to go eat there, don't we?" Yes! My girl totally understands me.

So, last night I managed to finagle about 10 minutes of her time before she headed back out to her DBF's house. I had her look over the menu at LeCellier. She saw that they serve salmon & was perfectly content to eat there. I'm not a freshwater fish lover - I like shrimp, crab, lobster, crawfish, and catfish if really thin & fried crisp. I like most sea fish if cooked with herbs and/or sauce. I don't like the fishy taste. So, no salmon. No red meat. I get really tired of chicken. Hmmm... Eureeka! Potato Gnocchi with veggies. Yum! And, of course, chocolate moose for dessert!

We have a plan!

And then Somer drops this bomb on me this morning. "Mom, I really, really want to see Minnie Mouse this trip. I don't care about the other characters, but I love Minnie."

What could I say? Minnie's her favorite "fur" character. The problem is this: I H-A-T-E Toontown. It smells like pee & poo. The parents push & shove. People are rude there. I will not wait for 1-2 hours just to see a character after standing in a long line with these people. Been there. Done that. Ain't going back. Hmmph!

I suggested AK. She wants to see Minnie in her original dress (red polka dot, etc.) & not the ones she wears in AK or elsewhere.

Hmmmm....what could we do? Then the solution hit me! Chef Mickey's!

So, now, what day? What time? How do we work in a resort dinner with the hassle of traveling to get there?

So, I got on the computer this morning & as of now I have 2 ADR's for Chef Mickey's - one for 5:20 pm the day of our arrival and one for 5:20 pm the day we go to MK EMH. Which one should I keep? I'm leaning towards the MK EMH day b/c we'll get more park time that way. I hate to waste a ticket day on just a couple of hours. I'll have to wait until after Somer gets home tonight to see which she thinks.

Oh, AND I've got a date with a moose on Wednesday at 2:35 p.m.!!! I can't wait! I've decided on Cheddar Cheese Soup, Potato Gnocchi, and Chocolate Moose for dessert! It's just so weird to be excited about a meal that is still over 3 months away!

Today's flashback picture:

Somer, Age 8 - in Minnie's House - In ToonTown - my dreaded nemesis! But, boy, she was just so cute! That's my dad in the background. He's so funny. Look at how he's intently viewing the plate shelf. Every museum placard & display, roadside attraction, historical marker - that man will peruse in detail! That must be where I get it from. Anyhoo - sorry for the scan job - my scanner is almost as old as the picture:

 

[bellebookworm9]

Though I've wanted to try LeCellier in the past, I can't eat red meat (restricted diet) and Somer doesn't eat any meat - only fish & veggies - so we've skipped this one.

BUT - I saw on someone's trip report last week a food porn pic of the Chocolate "Moose" (mousse) dessert served there. Oh, Boy! A MOOSE!!!! And it's Chocolate?!? I'm so there!


So, last night I managed to finagle about 10 minutes of her time before she headed back out to her DBF's house. I had her look over the menu at LeCellier. She saw that they serve salmon & was perfectly content to eat there. I'm not a freshwater fish lover - I like shrimp, crab, lobster, crawfish, and catfish if really thin & fried crisp. I like most sea fish if cooked with herbs and/or sauce. I don't like the fishy taste. So, no salmon. No red meat. I get really tired of chicken. Hmmm... Eureeka! Potato Gnocchi with veggies. Yum! And, of course, chocolate moose for dessert!

We have a plan!

And then Somer drops this bomb on me this morning. "Mom, I really, really want to see Minnie Mouse this trip. I don't care about the other characters, but I love Minnie."

Hmmmm....what could we do? Then the solution hit me! Chef Mickey's!

So, now, what day? What time? How do we work in a resort dinner with the hassle of traveling to get there?

So, I got on the computer this morning & as of now I have 2 ADR's for Chef Mickey's - one for 5:20 pm the day of our arrival and one for 5:20 pm the day we go to MK EMH. Which one should I keep? I'm leaning towards the MK EMH day b/c we'll get more park time that way. I hate to waste a ticket day on just a couple of hours. I'll have to wait until after Somer gets home tonight to see which she thinks.

Oh, AND I've got a date with a moose on Wednesday at 2:35 p.m.!!! I can't wait! I've decided on Cheddar Cheese Soup, Potato Gnocchi, and Chocolate Moose for dessert! It's just so weird to be excited about a meal that is still over 3 months away!

So glad you figured out the Le Cellier dilemma! I too am very excited about eating there. Mom and I are planning on sharing most meals that aren't buffets/family style. We want the cheddar cheese soup or tomato stack, the maple barbecue chicken sandwich or shaved prime rib sandwich, and the chocolate moose or maple creme brulee. I hope it's worth all the hype!

Chef Mickey's is a good idea. I agree with your idea to go before the MK EMH. My other suggestion is for meeting Minnie is this: If you don't want to pay for the meal, I'm fairly sure Minnie meets and greets at the character meeting spot in Epcot at Innoventions West. It says "Mickey and friends", but I'm guessing that means Minnie.

I noticed you aren't planning on going to DHS. Do you not like that park?

 

[scooby9932]

So glad you figured out the Le Cellier dilemma! I too am very excited about eating there. Mom and I are planning on sharing most meals that aren't buffets/family style. We want the cheddar cheese soup or tomato stack, the maple barbecue chicken sandwich or shaved prime rib sandwich, and the chocolate moose or maple creme brulee. I hope it's worth all the hype!

Chef Mickey's is a good idea. I agree with your idea to go before the MK EMH. My other suggestion is for meeting Minnie is this: If you don't want to pay for the meal, I'm fairly sure Minnie meets and greets at the character meeting spot in Epcot at Innoventions West. It says "Mickey and friends", but I'm guessing that means Minnie.

I noticed you aren't planning on going to DHS. Do you not like that park?

I'm really excited about LeCellier, too! Since I'll be trying something I don't normally eat, I should enjoy it. That sounds weird when I say it. What I mean is being from South Louisiana, we're not usually all that impressed with food at Disney. We have such good food of every variety readily available here & for much less $$ & Disney just doesn't spice things up quite the same. So, eating something unfamiliar, I won't have any preconceived ideas about how it should taste. And I'm not super picky, so that'll help!

I thought of the greeting spot in Epcot, but had heard that is only for Disney Visa card holders. Is that not the case? If not, I might suggest this to Somer & see if that would work. Thanks for the idea!

Nope, not planning on going to DHS. We aren't getting Park Hoppers this trip - partly to save money & partly because after reviewing our past trips, we realized we never hopped except for the DHS day one time. I also don't really care for that park. Somer only likes the Little Mermaid show & I don't care about any of it except Fantasmic.

The park sort of feels empty to me. I'm sure I'd feel differently if I could ride the harder rides (Rock-n-Rollercoaster or Tower of Terror), but the doctors say no. And I LOVE thrill rides, darn it! Somer, however, does not like anything with drops or inversions. She likes BTMRR & Space Mtn at MK & luckily those I'm allowed to go on. At AK we have to skip EE since I'm not allowed & she won't go on it. *sigh* Oh, well.

If we had Park Hoppers, I would go for rope drop one day just to try Toy Story Mania & let Somer go see the Little Mermaid before going on to Epcot. But, 2 rides/attractions is just not worth a full day's ticket, IMHO. That's the long way of saying, no DHS for us!

 

[bellebookworm9]

I thought of the greeting spot in Epcot, but had heard that is only for Disney Visa card holders. Is that not the case? If not, I might suggest this to Somer & see if that would work. Thanks for the idea!

Nope, not planning on going to DHS. We aren't getting Park Hoppers this trip - partly to save money & partly because after reviewing our past trips, we realized we never hopped except for the DHS day one time. I also don't really care for that park. Somer only likes the Little Mermaid show & I don't care about any of it except Fantasmic.

The park sort of feels empty to me. I'm sure I'd feel differently if I could ride the harder rides (Rock-n-Rollercoaster or Tower of Terror), but the doctors say no. And I LOVE thrill rides, darn it! Somer, however, does not like anything with drops or inversions. She likes BTMRR & Space Mtn at MK & luckily those I'm allowed to go on. At AK we have to skip EE since I'm not allowed & she won't go on it. *sigh* Oh, well.

If we had Park Hoppers, I would go for rope drop one day just to try Toy Story Mania & let Somer go see the Little Mermaid before going on to Epcot. But, 2 rides/attractions is just not worth a full day's ticket, IMHO. That's the long way of saying, no DHS for us!

There are two different areas for the meet and greets according to a thread here on the DIS. There is a regular meet and greet area for everybody. For the people with Visas, they receive a free picture. There is a different special area with a sign for them. So you should be all set for that.

I can see why you don't want to go to the studios. When we went we didn't get to do much, and there is so much we want to do. I love the Beauty and the Beast show (it's my favorite movie), and I also like ToT and RnR. But that's good that you're still able to do BTMRR and Space Mountain!

 

[scooby9932]

There are two different areas for the meet and greets according to a thread here on the DIS. There is a regular meet and greet area for everybody. For the people with Visas, they receive a free picture. There is a different special area with a sign for them. So you should be all set for that.

I can see why you don't want to go to the studios. When we went we didn't get to do much, and there is so much we want to do. I love the Beauty and the Beast show (it's my favorite movie), and I also like ToT and RnR. But that's good that you're still able to do BTMRR and Space Mountain!

That is awesome news! Thanks for the info! I'm definitely going to let Somer know about this. She may still want the dinner, I'm not sure. It would save $, that's for sure!

Oh, yeah! I forgot about Beauty & the Beast - well, I do like that show. Just not enough to use the ticket. I'm hoping to get to go to the Broadway B&TB musical that's coming here in April. I think it would be so much fun!

Yeah, I'm especially glad about BTMRR - I LOVE this ride at night. It's like a whole differnt coaster then. I try to ride it during fireworks one of the nights we're there. It's really cool to see them above you as you fly around the mountain.

 

[bellebookworm9]

Lucky! I'd love to see Beauty and the Beast Broadway version (whether it's on Broadway or just traveling). I'm hoping to see Wicked when it comes to Rochester in May (we saw it in Buffalo in June 2008 and it was fantastic!) I rode BTMRR last trip at night (not while the fireworks were happening.) It was not enjoyable, solely because it was literally about 30 degrees and we were sooooooooo cold.

 

[scooby9932]

Lucky! I'd love to see Beauty and the Beast Broadway version (whether it's on Broadway or just traveling). I'm hoping to see Wicked when it comes to Rochester in May (we saw it in Buffalo in June 2008 and it was fantastic!) I rode BTMRR last trip at night (not while the fireworks were happening.) It was not enjoyable, solely because it was literally about 30 degrees and we were sooooooooo cold.

Hopefully I'll be able to swing it. We love going to plays & musicals & this one would be right up our alley!

I was going to try to get Wicked tickets & a weekend trip to New Orleans for Somer's 21st birthday in March. But when I checked out the ticket prices, I almost choked! I don't think we can afford a $300 price tag for a show. And that's not counting the cost of getting there or hotel, etc. New Orleans is not cheap. I guess we'll just have to wait until it comes locally or something.

Now it's back to the drawing board for birthday ideas. Anyone have any good ideas?

Oh, my! 30 degrees on a coaster IS cold!! I don't think I'd have enjoyed it too much, then. But it's a lot of fun in warmer weather.

 

[scooby9932]

This post is completely Off Topic! It's a life update - not a trip update.

Well, I had a pretty good weekend. It was super busy & rainy, but we got a lot accomplished. It was a Rainbow day on Saturday:

Somer got a new job last week as the daycare supervisor for a fitness center in town. She needed to get CPR certified, so I drove her down to Prairieville early Saturday morning & waited while she took the class. She didn't want to drive as her legs were giving her some problems.

The class was over by 11 a.m., so we headed out to do some shopping. There were a number of things we needed & so off we went. We got her some new pants & shirts for the job. She has to wear black or khaki pants and black tops. Imagine that? She has a closet jam packed with clothes, but no black or khaki pants & only 1 black shirt. Now, if they'd said pink...

So, we hit up Target first to see what they had. We were able to find 2 shirts & a pair of pants. Then we hit the mall. Aerie (her favorite store in the world!) had a sale on yoga pants, so we picked up a black pair of those. She figures she can wear those (athletic wear is ok since it's gym) to work & also to work out in.

I had Somer try on a pair of those Skecher Shape Up shoes - I'm thinking these might help relieve some pressure on her joints when walking. I know they say they're for toning muscles, but they also align your spine so your posture is correct, which I think will help with joint pain & fatigue. I have to do a little more research on them, but she thought they were cute & felt good to walk in. Anyone heard of these or tried them?

This is what they look like:

Then we cruised the mall some more before stopping in the food court for lunch. I had a Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm Toasty! turkey bacon guacamole sub from Quizno's. Yum! I love their subs. Somer had some Raising Cane's chicken fingers. Once fortified, we headed out again just browsing & checking out the shops.

As we were walking along, I was chatting about something & didn't notice that Somer wasn't with me for a few moments. I spied a Brookstone & asked her, "You want to go in here with me & check out the foot massagers? I know my sore dogs could use a cuddle." Imagine my surprise when I turned & it was some stranger standing next to me & not Somer! Don't you hate it when that happens? I'm sure she thought I was nuts! I guess I could have tried to act like I was using a bluetooth thingamajigger, but instead I just mumbled "sorry" to the woman & scurried back the way I came to find Somer.

She had found an Eye Kandy kiosk & was drawn in by all the sparkle! The stuff is a glitter makeup that you apply using a brush dipped "sugar water" & then into a pot of highly pigmented glitter. She was fascinated, of course! A sparkly rainbow of color! Ooooohhh!

She kept saying how fun it would be to use when we go to Disney! Wouldn't you know, I broke down & bought her a kit - on the stipulation that this was to be her Valentine's present! She picked out Cotton Candy (bright pink) eyeshadow & Shock Tart - a bright turquoise blue eyeliner. I wonder why people say she's such a ?

Then we meandered around a bit more. We bought a couple of headbands in Icing & then headed out of the mall.

She wanted to go to Charming Charlie's down the road & get a new purse. If you don't have one - it's an accessory paradise. The store is arranged by color to make finding accessories to match your outfit or taste super easy. We, of course, had to go to each color section. You know - it's just another store-sized rainbow, right? And since it's a lot of jewelry, it happens to sparkle. She was in nirvana!

I found an adorable white eyelet sundress that was marked down to $10 & had her try it on. It fit like a dream & is so cute! She did find a purse, and a watch as well since the daycare doesn't have a clock. Then, laden down with our purchases, we headed back out into the rain.

We walked around the shopping center a bit & then noticed that the rain had finally shifted to a light drizzle. We looked up & saw the most amazing rainbow! It was a full arch & so bright. Several people saw us looking up & stopped to see what we were looking at. Everyone milled around & just soaked up the amazing sight. She got a few pictures on her Blackberry, so I'll have to see if I can get her to forward one to me. It was really spectacular!

After that we went by Wal Mart to get everyday essentials we needed & some groceries. By this time it was 7:30 p.m. & we were both hungry again. We both LOVE Greek/Lebanese food, so we went to Albasha's & enjoyed some chicken schwarma & hummus. Yum!

Sunday was a bit more relaxed. I did some laundry & we watched a couple of movies. Somer went to see her best friend before she headed back to college. I put some finishing touches on a few jewelry pieces that a buyer was interested in. I also filled out a few more planning pages for our Disney trip. Then I hit the bed early to read on my Kindle & get ready for another work week.

All in all, it was a good weekend!

Flashback Pic of the Day:

Happy Birthday to my Grams! She would have been 100 years old today! This is a picture of us when I was 18 and she was 77. I had just rescued that dog - a pekingnese named Gizmo.

 

[SC_TwiMom]

Hey Dawn,
I just stumbled across your trip report and have really enjoyed reading it so far. Can I just say that Gilmore Girls is my all time favorite show! You guys seem like alot of fu Can't wait to read more. Oh! And we will be down there at the same time. We're staying at the contemporary from May1st-6th. I have a pretrip report too,but I just started and I don't know how to link to it. Anyway, I'll be looking out for more posts. Happy Monday!

 

[SC_TwiMom]

Oops, typo. You guys seem like a lot of FUN, not fu

 

[Disneymoon09]

You should definitely work on convincing your DH about a May/June return! The weather in early May is wonderful & the Flower & Garden Festival is gorgeous! They have that good gift card deal going on right now - hint hint!

I am doing really well, thanks! Just frustrated with medical costs, but arent we all?! We hope to start a family soon! And yes, i am moooore then aware of the amazing gift card deal. sigh. i wish i could convince him, however, it seems to be a lost cause!

 

[coteau_chick]

It sure sounds like Saturday was a good day. I love days like that. I enjoyed the update. Thanks for taking the time to write about it.

 

[scooby9932]

Hey Dawn,
I just stumbled across your trip report and have really enjoyed reading it so far. Can I just say that Gilmore Girls is my all time favorite show! You guys seem like alot of fu Can't wait to read more. Oh! And we will be down there at the same time. We're staying at the contemporary from May1st-6th. I have a pretrip report too,but I just started and I don't know how to link to it. Anyway, I'll be looking out for more posts. Happy Monday!

to my PTR! Gilmore Girls rock! We have all the seasons on DVD & watch them over & over.

If you want to know how to add your PTR link to your signature:

• First go to your thread. Highlight & copy the address in your address bar.
• Then, go to User CP in the upper left hand corner of the Dis menu
• On the menu on the Left, Click Edit Signature
• In the edit box, put your cursor where you want the link to be, then click on the Insert Link button (the Earth with a link on it symbol)
• Paste the address into the script prompt that pops up & hit enter
• It will give you a highlighted portion that you type over with the name of your PTR.
• Once done, click on Save Signature.
• You should see the link in your signature now.

Hope that helps! I'll be doing a search in the meantime to find your PTR!

Oops, typo. You guys seem like a lot of FUN, not fu

Thanks for the compliments - we like to think we're fun!

You should definitely work on convincing your DH about a May/June return! The weather in early May is wonderful & the Flower & Garden Festival is gorgeous! They have that good gift card deal going on right now - hint hint!

I am doing really well, thanks! Just frustrated with medical costs, but arent we all?! We hope to start a family soon! And yes, i am moooore then aware of the amazing gift card deal. sigh. i wish i could convince him, however, it seems to be a lost cause!

I'm glad to hear you're doing well. This nasty weather we've been having lately is just so hard on the lungs. Take care of yourself.

Oooh, that's so exciting about the family plans! I wish you all the best!

Well, you could try the old "Let's make one more trip as just a couple" argument! You never know!

It sure sounds like Saturday was a good day. I love days like that. I enjoyed the update. Thanks for taking the time to write about it.

Saturday was a good day. And we got so much accomplished!

 

[scooby9932]

I've been absent the last 2 days, but I'm back to work & consequently, back to a computer! Shhh-don't tell my boss.

I was out sick yesterday. On Monday the oncologist started me on Zometa. It's an infusion that is supposed to help with the bone metastasis that's been causing bumps & lesions on my bones. Due to the mets, the bones are fragile & therefore can break easily or cause spinal compressions. There are 12 bone met sites right now. In my hips, legs, ribs, knees, and shoulders. I have pain daily with the cancer, but manage okay most days with steroids and pain relievers as long as I take it easy & don't overdo. A real challenge for me!

This new drug, however, must have done something to stimulate those sites yesterday because I was in so much pain I couldn't get out of bed for long. I could hardly lift my arms or stand for any length of time. It was seriously painful! I took my serious pain meds, called in to work, and let the loopy makers do their job. Luckily, the pain meds cause me to sleep so I pretty much slept through much of yesterday.

The pain is better today & I was able to hobble into the shower, get dressed & make it to work only 1 hour late. I swear, some days I feel 100 years old.

Anyhoo, now that I'm back to a computer, I can update my PTR.

On to better, more uplifting subjects:

So, every year Somer & I put together a binder of information & work from that to plan our trip. We've been updating information & working on lists of must do's, etc.

Since I'm cash poor, but love to shop, today I'm going to share our list of Must Do Souvenirs! Somer made sure I added to this list as in previous years, I've come home pretty empty handed & she's made out like a bandit with her souvenirs. She told me this year she wants me to make sure I get something for myself & she'll work with me to keep to a budget. With that in mind, we made a wish list:

My List:

• Something small from each of the countries in Epcot - either an art object (knickknack) or piece of jewelry or postcard or toy. I'm not sure yet what I'd like as not all the countries have what I collect (tea ware), but most of them do & they're pricey. So, to make it fun, but moneysmart, I'm still working on this one.
  
  Anyone have any ideas? I want it to be something to keep, so nothing edible.
  
• A pair of Tinkerbell earrings - I'm hoping to find a pair like I saw last year. I kept seeing this one pair that was so pretty, but kept putting off getting it. I regret that I didn't now.
  
• A car antenna topper! If I only come away with 1 thing - this IS IT! I love these things. Last year I looked & looked & couldn't find one I liked. I don't like the ones that aren't Mickey head shaped. Since I still had a car topper from 2 years ago that was in pretty good shape, I decided to not get one.
  
  Well, a couple months later I go to put something in my trunk & notice someone had cut off one of Mickey's ears! Who does stuff like that? Well, I figured a 1 eared Mickey was better than nothing so I left in on. A couple months later, someone had removed my antenna topper altogether! Who would want a 1 eared Mickey antenna topper!?! So now my car just looks naked without one.
  
• One Last Thing - Not really for me, but something I do every year for Somer - a Mother's Day gift for her. It's a tradition that I buy her a gift on Mother's Day as I always tell her I wouldn't be a mother without her. It's traditionally been a piece of jewelry, nothing expensive, but something we pick out together. It's a fun tradition & she cherishes the pieces even if they are a bit time worn. Last year it was a Mickey ring in Sterling Silver.
  
  Here's a pic from last year - taken while chillaxin on the Poly Beach:
  
  
  
  

Somer's List:

• A Pressed Penny Book: We've been collecting these since she was 6 yo. Her old books are full & she needs a new one.
  
• Hello Kitty Item From Japan: Somer's a HUGE Hello Kitty fan! She's been getting stuff since she was 4 & they had a Sanrio store in our local mall. That girl would save up all her pennies & nickels so we could go to the mall & get the $2 grab bag of stuff. Now that she's older, she doesn't keep all her HK stuff out in her room anymore, but she still loves to get a piece of clothing or whatnot from the Hello Kitty store in Japan.
  
• WDW Keychain - her old one broke & she wants to replace it. She says it's her daily reminder of Disney.
  
• Mickey Balloon - Last year she got a Mylar Minnie Mouse balloon & just loved it! This year she wants a Mickey head inside a clear balloon. We're going to try to get this our 1st night there so we can enjoy it all week before passing it on to someone on our way out on checkout day.
  
  Last Year's Balloon:
  
  
  
  
• A Disney Hoodie: Somer collects hoodies. She's cold natured & wears these things year round. Three years ago when we went the 1st week of May there was a weird cold front that came through & we had to buy hoodies to stay warm. Thus started a yearly tradition. Last year we found the cutest one at Disney that even featured Lime Green Mickey Heads among all the pink ones!
  
  You can kindof see it in this pic:
  
  
  
  

.

Anyone have any favorite souvenirs? I love hearing what everyone likes to get plus the happy memories behind souvenirs they have from past trips.

My favorite all time souvenir from a Disney trip is an old oversized T-shirt nightie that I bought on my Senior Trip. It was the 1st trip I ever took without my parents & the 1st item I ever bought with my own money just for fun. It was white with a large Mickey Mouse on the front. It got so soft through the years! The Mickey faded to almost non existence & several holes formed in it. But I wore that thing for about 20 years! Though I can't wear it anymore, I do still have it!

Up Next Time...Daily Trip Plans!

Flashback Pic of the Day:

Me, on my Senior Trip, enjoying a beverage in our hotel room. We stayed offsite somewhere in Kissimmee. After this picture was taken, I remember we all got in our swimsuits & went to the hot tub. Rumor has it that someone called the manager on us for being loud! I so have a hazy recollection of scrambling away giggling like an idiot & slipping on the tiled floor in the hallway. And, no, I wasn't drunk - just being silly!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Oh Dawn, I hate that you were/still are feeling crappy. At least you were able to make it to work today. As if that's a comforting place.

I like the souvie lists. And, I think they are all great idea for being on a budget. Have you ever visited Mickey Mart at Downtown Disney? Everything in there is under $10.00! That's my kinda store.