The Crazy Life of a New Floridian & Ongoing TRs

[jmskinner]

Merry Christmas to all of you!

(Oh, and I was at Epcot just last night and forgot to get that shot once it got dark. )

 

[DisneyJen]

Merry Christmas to all of you!

(Oh, and I was at Epcot just last night and forgot to get that shot once it got dark. )

We went to Epcot last night after dining al fresco at Spoodles. We stopped in France for a Grand Mariner Slushie and a stroll around the lagoon. Thought of all my DIS pals

 

[podsnel]

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas yesterday!! I just wanted to say that, Kara, I DO remember the castle as a cake for the 25th- it was our first visit with kids, Sean was 3 1/2 and Tyler was 5 mos. old. And all I kept thinking was "I want to take pictures in front of the castle!! Not a CAKE!!"

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas yesterday!! I just wanted to say that, Kara, I DO remember the castle as a cake for the 25th- it was our first visit with kids, Sean was 3 1/2 and Tyler was 5 mos. old. And all I kept thinking was "I want to take pictures in front of the castle!! Not a CAKE!!"

Us too! It was our first visit, and I was SO disappointed not to see the castle! When were you there? Ours was May 1997 and my boys were 12 and 13!

 

[podsnel]

Us too! It was our first visit, and I was SO disappointed not to see the castle! When were you there? Ours was May 1997 and my boys were 12 and 13!

We were there in November- we got there the Thurs or Friday before Thanksgiving and left on Tuesday before Thanksgiving- it was dead empty in the parks when we arrived, and by the last day it took over an hour for us to walk with the double stroller from the parade start point to the MK exit- it was PACKED!!! And no, I do NOT miss the double stroller experience at WDW!! Everytime we're on WDW bus now and see some poor, young family sclepping a double stroller, we are soooooo happy it's not us!

 

[karajeboo]

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year! I'm uploading some pics to photobucket to share and then I'll get back to our regularly scheduled programming (trip report!)!

Ally came down with a nasty staph infection on Christmas Eve - we thought it was chicken pox until I took her to Dr once we got home. So we've been fighting that and it's finally getting better.

Jen - thank you soooo much for checking in with us - LIVE from WDW! Loved the pics!

 

[karajeboo]

Just a few Christmas pix:

Our house decorated.....

This takes an extension ladder to decorate - and the lights burned out on one tree long before Christmas - needless to say, I didn't want to risk breaking anything, as in bones! So it didn't get fixed this year!

Note the lighted palm trees!

Ally helping me decorate gingerbread men for her class party....

Our community Christmas carnival, with horse drawn carriage rides and Santa!

Dinner with Santa, along with our neighbors.... Just like a Disney character meal!

Then, once we got to Ohio, Santa came to visit! The local fire dept does this every year the Sunday before Christmas. Just drop off a little gift along with some info about your child, and they give you a big window when Santa will come and deliver the gift. It's very cute!

Then, after Santa left, we all gathered in the family room and saw an elf sitting on the lampshade! There was a book under the lamp titled "The Elf on the Shelf." So my sister read it to the kids. In a nutshell, this elf appears before Christmas and each night he leaves to report back to Santa. Then he reappears someplace different the next morning. He cannot be touched though or he loses his magic. The first night Ally woke me at 5am to tell me that she heard his bells as he was coming back!

The elf the second morning....

My sis reading to the kids while Grandpa supervises.....

Ally watching the elf on the lampshade....

 

[CRdisMom]

love the pictures. Buckey was cute walking thru

 

[soontobewed07]

Love it! So cute. Ally is too funny. I just love her expressions

 

[karajeboo]

OK, time for Spectro, in the "freezing" FL cold! I'll just let the pictures tell the story here....

Up next, our chilly day at DHS and trying a few NEW things!

 

[karajeboo]

love the pictures. Buckey was cute walking thru

He's always the center of attention! We were all pleasantly surprised that he got along so well with my parents two dogs - a dalmation/lab mix and a jack russell. Not one rumble the whole week!

Love it! So cute. Ally is too funny. I just love her expressions

Thanks Jillian! She is very expressive. Right now she's playing Webkins online with her cousins. She's got the webcam going and everything! I usually limit her computer time but since I have to work, and she can't go to Kids Club, I feel bad with her here at home, so I let her stay on all day and play. At least I know my sister is monitoring what they're doing, plus I wander by periodically.

 

[DizzyErin]

Oh Kara i looove Spectromagic to me that means i am truly in WDW so thankyou for those pics

 

[karajeboo]

OK, that last post was so boring - imagine, ME not commenting on any of the pictures! So enough of that!

The next morning we got up and about froze! Ally and I both wore capris with tshirts and sweaters/sweatshirt over that. I almost wore a jacket too, but Jeff convinced me to leave it in the car.

So we loaded up the car, and hopped the bus to DHS.

As we sat at the bus stop and watched MK buses come and go, and AK buses come and go, and Epcot buses come and go, even DTD buses come and go, we were getting a little nervous. After all, this was Super Soap weekend, and we were thinking it might be a bit crowded.

FINALLY our chariot pulled up and we were off. Well, our family is always a little off, in case you hadn't noticed, but now we were really off!

The first thing Ally wanted to do was ride Rock n Roller Coaster because she was finally tall enough for it. Now the last time I rode it was in 2006 when Jeff and I had to use the baby swap and I rode it with some hulk (not hunk!) of a guy who freaked me out the whole ride. And that takeoff took my breath away (not the hulk who was not a hunk) and I swear I didn't breathe the entire ride.

So I volunteered to make the dash to get FPs for TSM.

I was so nervous letting Ally ride RnR - she is so petite for her age. But she's an adrenaline junkie so I knew there was no way to stop her. I even texted Jeff to "remind" him to hang on to her.

Like he could really hold on to her if she went flying. All I knew for sure is that her hair would hold up fine. She left her princess 'do in the night before and it hadn't moved.

So as they turned to head to RnR, I made my way to TSM. Or so I thought. And I got lost. And then loster. And then Jeff called me to tell me that RnR was shut down, and I STILL hadn't found TSM!

Now I know this is a new attraction, but I've been by here a million times. OK, maybe not a million, but at least 72,849 times!!!!! For some reason this is the only park that does this to me.

So I did my best husband/father/boyfriend/bachelor/grandfather/brother/boynextdoor/cuteguysitsnexttomeinchemistryclass/nephew/uncle/averagejoe/joesixpack/joetheplumber impression. I avoided any CM who could direct me to TSM. Cause that might be like asking for directions. And I would NOT ask for directions.

Cause I'm a Disney pro. A legend in my own mind. A know-it-all DISer. And I do NOT ask for directions while at Disney.

So before you know it, I see Jeff and Ally walking towards me, and then I see it! The holy grail! It's Toy Story Mania! And I have to get there and get our FPs before Jeff and Ally see me. Or they will KNOW! They will KNOW that I got lost! Oh the shame!!!!!!

Just then, I hear, "Mommyyyyyyyyy!" I look the other way. I duck behind a trash can. I do my best OJ and leap over park benches and small children, and there it is!!!!!! Right - over - there!

But then it happened. A tug on my shirt. The child would not let go, and when I turned around I see the love of my life, so sad that RnR was not open. I look up and see the other love of my life, with THAT smirk on his face, as he says, "ya got lost, huh?"

"Lost? No way, I just stopped for a muffin on my way."

AARRGGHH!!!!! Busted!

Once we got our FPs, we just roamed around the park awhile. I think I enjoy this park more and more each time I'm here. Except for layout, which tends to "hide" attractions....

So we actually did go get muffins at this point, and just sat outside and people watched for awhile. Then we made our way back to RnR which was still closed.

So we rode ToT and laughed ourselve silly on that. Once we left, Jeff and Ally made their way once more to RnR which had just opened up. They were out in about 10 minutes, and Ally had her rockstar pose going on!!!!

She absolutely loved it! Jeff said she was mad because the harness was too tight and it didn't allow her to come up off her seat!!!

I was scouting out the HSM3 area while they were riding, and grabbed us a spot in line. Since the soap stars were arranged under the hat, the HSM3 show was moved to the Fantasmic area.

And it was amazing how orderly everone walked up the path, as opposed to the HSM2 show we saw under the hat back in May.

I think my bones are STILL healing from that adventure.

This was a great, high energy production! I sang the whole way through. I mean, I must have heard someone singing, cause surely I wouldn't know all the songs.... how silly!

Ally really wanted to ride RnR again, and was begging me to go along. I told her I would, because I would do anything for this child. Even die. And that's what I thought might happen on this roller coaster.

Have I told you how I hate the takeoff? I cannot catch my breath! But I would hold my breath for the full 25 minutes of this ride. OK, maybe not that long, but when you're holding your breath NOT BY CHOICE it sure feels that long! For this child I vowed to do that.

Oh no! It's not running again. Golly gee whillakers! Darn! I was so looking forward to it! Maybe next time.

Whew!

So off we went to not die on some crazy roller coaster.

Now, did I also mention how cold it was this day? So Jeff chooses to eat lunch at the Studio Catering Company. Mmmm, hmmmm.

Ever been here?

It's OUTSIDE dining!

And the ceiling fans were on!!!!!

That is the fastest I have ever shoveled a chili cheese dog down my throat! But hey, it was yummy!

And I was fascinated by the mother daughter team at the next table. Reapplying their makeup. Adjusting their painted on jeans. And their stilletos. They seriously looked like they were on a man hunt, not a day at an amusement park. Craziness!

Once we inhaled our lunch, laughed at the nympho nuts next to us, we were off to see some Indiana Jones. Jeff and I hadn't seen this since our honeymoon in 1998. Which meant that Ally had never seen it.

And she was basically bored to tears. So much for that.

We skipped some of the biggies this time - the Cars stunt show, Little Mermaid, Star Tours, and tried to do some new things. Like the big hit, Indy. Ho hum!

We finally made it to TSM, and Jeff laughed as we walked up to it. And he just had to say, "Hmm, I didn't have any trouble getting here." Men!

After hitting a few more attractions, Jeff and Ally were off to ride RnR one more time and I volunteered to scout out a spot for Block Party Bash.

I was very excited for this for two reasons: 1) We'd never seen this before and 2) It saved me from certain death on RnR AGAIN!!!!

Up next, brace yourselves, I've got TONS of pics of BPB!!!!!

 

[podsnel]

Happy New Year, Kara! Thanks for sharing the Christmas pics, your house looks beautiful!! I'm so glad Ally's doing better, That must not have been much fun for any of you. And great pics of spectro magic!!

 

[askelton]

And yes, I remembered the wine key.

I may keep one in my cosmetic bag at all times.

Beautiful!

Cute!

She absolutely loved it! Jeff said she was mad because the harness was too tight and it didn't allow her to come up off her seat!!!

Good for her!

 

[DizzyErin]

Loving the pics as always Kara

Ally would get on great with Chloe, we could send them together on RnR although i have to say it is a huge fave of mine

Any ideas how long the HSM3 show is scheduled to be on?? We're not going for a year but i know the girls would loove it!!

We loved BPB but not as much as The stars in motor cars parade, that was defo my 2nd fave to Spectromagic

Also i have to agree with Ally about the Indy show, i looove the movies and was looking forward to the show the first time we took CJ (5) and she yawned all the way through it, as did we all actually, so we have never done it again hahahahaha i'd much rather to ToT or RnR

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Kara, loved your Christmas decorations! Your house is so homey! I need you to come here and help me! I think I'm in a rut.

Loved the spectro pics. How fun for Ally to be a big girl so she can ride the big rides! It's so fun to have a little adrenaline junkie! My niece was like that last Summer - age 7 too!

I am very worried that I'll get lost while racing to get a FP for TSM, too! I mean I'm supposed to be a DIS expert, and DH will be counting on me.

 

[karajeboo]

Happy New Year, Kara! Thanks for sharing the Christmas pics, your house looks beautiful!! I'm so glad Ally's doing better, That must not have been much fun for any of you. And great pics of spectro magic!!

Happy New Year to you too, Ellen! Ally is sooooo much better- the sores are healing up great, hopefully no scarring!

I may keep one in my cosmetic bag at all times.

A bag is not complete without a wine key!

Loving the pics as always Kara

Ally would get on great with Chloe, we could send them together on RnR although i have to say it is a huge fave of mine

Any ideas how long the HSM3 show is scheduled to be on?? We're not going for a year but i know the girls would loove it!!

We loved BPB but not as much as The stars in motor cars parade, that was defo my 2nd fave to Spectromagic

Also i have to agree with Ally about the Indy show, i looove the movies and was looking forward to the show the first time we took CJ (5) and she yawned all the way through it, as did we all actually, so we have never done it again hahahahaha i'd much rather to ToT or RnR

I always liked the Indy show, but I just don't think it was the fave of a 7 yr old girl! As for the HSM3 show, I would guess it would go on for awhile. Hopefully it will still be there, or maybe by then they will change it to a montage of all the HSM movies, by the time you go!

Ally loves to hang out with the big kids! Maybe I'll try to meet up with you when you're in WDW next year! Heck, I try to meet all my DISbuds it seems! Jeff is about to shoot me - all the time I'm telling him, "We need to go on such and such a date so I can meet so and so" - he just rolls his eyes as usual!

Kara, loved your Christmas decorations! Your house is so homey! I need you to come here and help me! I think I'm in a rut.

Loved the spectro pics. How fun for Ally to be a big girl so she can ride the big rides! It's so fun to have a little adrenaline junkie! My niece was like that last Summer - age 7 too!

I am very worried that I'll get lost while racing to get a FP for TSM, too! I mean I'm supposed to be a DIS expert, and DH will be counting on me.

I love decorating for Christmas! When we were house hunting, I kept saying, "our tree could go there" and "oh, wouldn't that staircase be beautiful with garland?" Again, Jeff's response?

Just make sure you don't get lost when heading to TSM - grab your map first and study it secretly! Pick a quiet reading spot - The Disney maps always end up in our bathroom....

 

[podsnel]

Hey there- your PM box is full!!

 

[karajeboo]

Ellen - I just emptied it out! Or email me!!!!