The DDA Trouble Free Zone Part 4

[ReAnSt]

I would LOVE that! I really miss both Tapestry and Dreamfinder.

Here's my take on the Oct vs Dec thing.... I do love Disney in Dec but the weather can be iffy and you've got to worry about flight delays due to snow here both coming and going and what if we get a huge storm here and come home to a driveway full of snow?

I miss both Tapestry and Dreamfinder as well. EPCOT is so lacking a parade, no matter what the case they should get a parade for mine and EPCOT's joint 25th Birthday celebration. I am expecting an announcement when they do the official opening in May of Expedition Everest as to what is next to come.

I remember coming home to about 3 feet of snow in my driveway from WDW. I was in sixth grade, it was January of 1994. We actually left in between snow storms. We were down in Florida and missed snowstorms and an earthquake and multiple tremors. You read right an earthquake in Pennsylvania.

We had a layover in Atlanta, GA. There were other people there whose flights to Pittsburgh and New York were cancelled just about all flights north were cancelled, except our flight to Philadelphia. We are the last flight to land at the Philadelphia airport, they were considering redirecting us elsewhere but to where???

We get on the ground and the trucks are literally plowing our way to the gate. The only reason we even attempt to drive home is because we have a transportation service waiting for us, otherwise we would have stayed in Philadelphia.

It took us about 6 hours to get from the Philadelphia airport to my house. It normally takes less than 2 hours. Lots of slip, sliding, seeing vehicles spinning out of control, tractor trailers getting stuck. It was quite scary. We were almost home and we had to turn around and detour because there was a major water main break due to the earthquake and the cold.

We get home and we have about 3 feet of snow in our driveway. The van service had to stay on the road. We had to drag all of our luggage and belongings through the snow. We ended up not having school for an entire week due to a state of emergency. The airports were closed for a few days. Boy do I wish we would have got stuck in Florida.

It was quite an adventure to the end of our trip.

Becky

 

[Steffy]

Linzybrooke
SueRS
Home Amy and Kevin (Amy - did ya try a Dole Whip???)

While I'm at it:

glad to see you are joining us Kristine - I will have my camera for proof everybody!!!

Seems like Steve is on a roll Kate - he's a keeper!

Steffy - how's the ankle feeling?

Deb - long time no see!

Glynis - come out come out where ever you are!

To everybody I missed (because I always do) - Hi! Howareya???

My best defense is to pretend that the ankle has run away with the condo...... That probably makes no sense. Basically the ankle is going to be a problem for months, just like the condo........boo hoo

 

[ReAnSt]

My best defense is to pretend that the ankle has run away with the condo...... That probably makes no sense. Basically the ankle is going to be a problem for months, just like the condo........boo hoo

Last year at this time I was down for the count with an ankle injury. It was no fun and it still bugs me from time to time.

Becky

 

[julia & nicks mom]

we are such an easy group -

posting a recipe is obviously the best way to win us over!!!

 

[triplefigs]

we are such an easy group -

posting a recipe is obviously the best way to win us over!!!

Or make me a cute shirt for my kiddos!

 

[Steffy]

We were on page 838 when we left, so I have some catching up to do!!!

Of course, Alyssa's birthday party is this Saturday, and we have a ton of things to do yet, so it might take me awhile...and Kevin's not allowed to post pictures until he finishes his "to do" list!!!

Our trip was amazing! While the weather varied (the hottest day was 78, the coolest day 65), we were lucky enough to have NO rain...just one cloudy day.

The photopass CD is the best deal ever, because Alyssa was a photo magnet, and we had over 300 pictures taken in six days (mostly of Alyssa hugging characters).

Kevin got to ride Everest. I did not eat a Dole Whip (sorry Marti!).

Alyssa's absolute favorite attraction was the carrousel (aka the "horsies")...I think we rode that about 6-7 times.

Though it was spring break, crowds were manageable. The only extra magic hours we took advantage of was an evening at AK, but we were at 9 a.m. park openings every day.

We saw every parade and Wishes, but skipped Illuminations and Fantasmic (respecting Alyssa's mood/schedule).

Alyssa's birthday autograph book was a huge success...lots of characters took the extra time to write "Happy Birthday," especially when I mentioned this was her birthday trip (it was written on every page, but they didn't always see it). We got close to 60 autographs, but I was surprised that some of our favorites weren't out and about (Meeko, White Rabbit, and Genie, to name a few).

Kevin's mouse head/name t-shirt design earned us lots of attention, but absolutely no one commented on his other design. Kate's (slightly modified) Little Squirt design got lots of response too, as did Alyssa's two birthday shirts.

My Nile crocs were a huge disappointment. Kevin claims I didn't break them in properly, but how can you really prepare for all that WDW walking?!! Anyway, I actually got blisters! But maybe that has something to do with how I walk or my pregnancy? I don't know, but after the first two days, I packed them away.

We rented a minivan and that was awesome. We stayed in the 90's section of Pop, 1st floor, so commuting was a breeze. Mousekeeping left Alyssa 3 towel animals on our first day and Pop also gave her a balloon bouquet with a birthday card from Cinderella (at check in, the CM asked Kevin her favorite character). The only drawback of Pop this time around was we had the LOUDEST next door neighbors...and they were there the entire time we were, so we had seven nights of their loudness. Alyssa slept through their talking/child screaming, but they bothered the heck out of me.

We only had four ADRs (lunch at LTT (yummy!), breakfast at Ohana (Stitch was extremely rushed and we had to wait in line to meet Lilo...they gave Alyssa a birthday certificate and breakfast was tasty), breakfast at 1900 Park Fare (they gave Alyssa a birthday crown, placemat, and cupcake, the food was awesome and the characters were very attentive), and lunch at Garden Grill (they gave Alyssa a whole birthday cake and birthday card signed by all the characters and the characters came around twice and the food was pretty good).

Last night, we also spontaneously ate at 1900 Park Fare, this time for dinner, since we were at the GF inquiring about the gift shop hours to make sure we got our photopass CD before we left. That's our favorite dinner buffet, but Cinderella, Prince Charming, Perla and Suzy were all in a hurry...Fairy Godmother was more attentive in the lobby. And they gave Alyssa another crown, placemat, and cupcake.

We ate lots of counter service: Cosmic Rays, Columbia Harbor House, Pinocchio's Village Haus (Figaro Fries are so yummy!!!), Tusker House, Flame Tree BBQ, Toy Story Pizza Planet, and another one of our favorites, Beaches and Cream!

Okay, that's all I can think of right now, plus Alyssa's show is almost over and Kevin's at City Council, so I need to get this little girl to bed!

Wish me luck with all the birthday "tasks" I have left to do: frost cookies, bake cake, prepare games and treat bags....ACK! So much to do!!!

I promise I'll get caught up as soon as my family leaves this weekend. By the way, my brother's girlfriend had her baby this past weekend, so I'm an aunt to another beautiful niece!

Amy

P.S. Thank you Julie for transferring our reward dollars!!!

Welcome home!!! So glad you had a great trip. Happy Birthday to Alyssa

I must sleep. Nite all..

 

[julia & nicks mom]

Becky -

yesterday you posted the WDW opened on October 1 and I was so confused - b/c I know that WDW officially opened on October 25 (I know this b/c it is Julia's BD and it seems so appropriate to me that she was born then!!)

Anyway I did a little research and it turns out that apparently soft openings have been a part of Disney since the beginning - they opened the park on October 1st to work out all the kinks and then on October 25 - they officially dedicated the park and that is when Roy Disney was there and they had a huge press event -

Disney actually considers Oct 25 the officially opening day of WDW -

 

[julia & nicks mom]

Saturday morning Steve asked Nick what he wanted to do -

Nick looked at Steve and said "Go Buzz ride!" Steve started laughing and said "Sorry buddy, we can't do that"

Nick put on his cutest face - clasped his hands together and said "Pease Daddy go Disney World - PEASE!!!"

I was ready to go - Steve showed restraint - but he did seem to seriously consider it!!!

 

[ReAnSt]

Becky -

yesterday you posted the WDW opened on October 1 and I was so confused - b/c I know that WDW officially opened on October 25 (I know this b/c it is Julia's BD and it seems so appropriate to me that she was born then!!)

Anyway I did a little research and it turns out that apparently soft openings have been a part of Disney since the beginning - they opened the park on October 1st to work out all the kinks and then on October 25 - they officially dedicated the park and that is when Roy Disney was there and they had a huge press event -

Disney actually considers Oct 25 the officially opening day of WDW -

Sorry didn't mean to cause any confusion. I knew the official opening was October 25, 1971, just posted the day the park opened. The October 25th is actually my cousin's Birthday and my Grandparents anniversary.

I didn't ever really think about it being a soft opening but I guess after the issues at the official opening of Disneyland they had to be better prepared.

Details from Wikipedia
Disneyland Park was opened to the public on Monday, July 18, 1955. However. a special "International Press Preview" event was held on Sunday, July 17, 1955, which was only open to invited guests and the media. The Special Sunday events, including the dedication were televised nationwide and anchored by three of Walt Disney's friends from Hollywood: Art Linkletter, Bob Cummings, and Ronald Reagan.

The event did not go smoothly. The park was overcrowded as the by-invitation-only affair was plagued with counterfeit tickets. All major roads nearby were congested. The summer temperature was over 110 degrees Fahrenheit, and a plumbers' strike left many of the park's drinking fountains dry. The asphalt that had been poured just the night before was so soft that ladies' high-heeled shoes sank in. Vendors ran out of food. A gas leak in Fantasyland caused Adventureland, Frontierland, and Fantasyland to close for the afternoon. Parents were throwing their children over the shoulders of crowds to get them onto rides such as the Dumbo Flying Elephants.

The park got such bad press for the event day that Walt Disney invited members of the press back for a private "second day" to experience the true Disneyland, after which Walt held a party in the Disneyland Hotel for them. Walt and his 1955 executives forever referred to the first day as "Black Sunday," although July 17 is currently acknowledged by Disney as the official opening day. On July 17 every year, cast members wear pin badges stating how many years it has been since July 17, 1955. For example, in 2004 they wore the slogan "The magic began 49 years ago today". But for the first ten years or so, Disney did officially state that opening day was on July 18th, including in the park's own publications.

On Monday, July 18, crowds started to gather in line as early as 2 a.m., and the first person to buy a ticket and enter the park was David MacPherson. Walt Disney decided to have a photo taken with two children, Michael Schwartner and Christine Vess instead, and the photo of the three always carries a caption along the lines of "Walt Disney with the first two guests of Disneyland." MacPherson, Schwartner and Vess all received lifetime passes to every single Disney-owned park in the world.

Becky

ETA: Details of Black Sunday at Disneyland

 

[bethbuchall]

Marti, Krisitne and Tammi

You will all need to have a birthday drink for me when you arrive! It's so funny seeing countdown timers to my birthday.

Beth

 

[Tammi67]

We just found out tonight that we're going to be Grandparents!! Our oldest (DH's son, my Stepson) and his wife, that got married this past June, are expecting in late November. I'm so excited, even if I do think I am too young to be a Grandma! I told DDIL I can't wait to take our Grandchild to Disney. She asked, "can I come too?" Oh, I suppose I will have to share!

Congratulations, Ellen, to you and your family. You must be so excited. It's never to early to start planning that trip!

 

[Tammi67]

Marti, Krisitne and Tammi

That is too cute!! Can I use it?

 

[Tammi67]

It would save us about $220 from B'ham, but with all the construction on I-20, I don't think it's worth it. And my in-laws live in B'ham, so that's another reason NOT to go there (they'd want to go to the airport with us-NOT!)

Money saved flying out of B'ham - $220

NOT seeing the in-laws - PRICELESS

 

[Tammi67]

Go in Oct with AP's and maybe you'll find a great SW fare to sneak in a quick Dec trip too.

That's what I'm hoping for this year. We've been the past 2 Decembers and I'm afraid I will go through withdrawals if I don't get my Disney Christmas fix.

 

[Tammi67]

It would be more fun if I could post in real time instead of in the morning when all you late nighters are still sleeping....

 

[rosiejo]

We were on page 838 when we left, so I have some catching up to do!!! ...

Welcome home Amy Kevin and Alyssa - and Matthew!

Sounds like you had an amazing trip - bet you're glad you made the decision to go now

Make sure you rest up a bit before the big party on Saturday - don't want you coming down with anything after your trip.

 

[rosiejo]

Amy - you wore me out just reading your trip report!!

I am so jealous = sounds like you had a great trip report

although I would like to point out to you that if you had paid attention to me before you left - you would have known that you can order the photopass cd when you get home now!!

but I thought you could only get the additions to the pictures at WDW?

 

[rosiejo]

Hey Marti...

In all of my WDW trips...I have NEVER had a dole whip!!!

Kristine

Me neither...

 

[rosiejo]

HCTIB, Hold that up to a mirror...

tut tut - now now play nicely children we don't want Baloo to get now do we?



Those waffle fries looked mighty tasty mind... might have to go try some in November...

 

[rosiejo]

Marti, Krisitne and Tammi

Kate - could you post this in the large size? It would make a cute... "I'm so tired but I don't want to go home" travelling home from Disney shirt