The Disney Grump & Family Take on the World-Our '09 Christmas w/ the Mouse, COMPLETE

[skiingwife]

Just wanted to let you know I'm reading your report and love it. I have 3 boys and we went to the World the past 4 Christmas (except one year we spent totally at Universal). We couldn't go this year so I'm going to live vicariously through you!
Melissa

 

[RachelNinja]

I love the popcorn buckets! I had looked at them several times and never bought them, just thought they were something that I didn't need to waste money on. But when I decided to do the countdown party it was apparent that I needed them.

I got little bits of trivia from all over. I bought a book that was full of little details, like the meaning behind numbers or names on certain props in different attractions, some of it I got from just googling "Walt Disney World Trivia", and I also filled in with just some question & answer type stuff that I stole from our Disney Trival Pursuit game It took awhile to come up with the list and make the strips, but we had a really good time with it.

Haha, I love that. It's apparent that I will also need them when I have my kiddies! Thankfully, I don't think my DBF would disagree with me

Ooo, the trivia sounds fun! Haha, can I be part of your family

We made our way over to the food court. It is decorated like a float warehouse, so if large heads looming over you make you nervous – don’t eat here.

Here’s what we all ate for lunch (these will be the only food porn pics in this report – I just couldn’t get past feeling weird pulling out the camera to take pictures of food, sorry!)

Haha, I thought that about the large heads before I read what you said because I saw the pictures! I would probably flip out and refuse to step in there. They'd have to bring my beignets out to me

I always tell myself that I'll take a ton of food pictures. I say, "I'm on vacation; no one's around that I know so who cares what they think of me!" Then I get in the situation, and I feel kind of awkward ... haha. I'm getting better though and taking a lot more food pictures just because I love having the photos after. My DBF's camera can be set to a high ISO setting so it can still take good pictures when there's not that much light AND without a flash. That way it can be done discreetly!

 

[RachelNinja]

Oh right, and with the food pictures, we used to take pictures of each other WITH the food so that it wouldn't look so strange either! That's how we get pics of the restaurant too ... pretend to focus on the other person but make sure to get background!

 

[Lcaemom]

Great report!!! I love your 100 day party! All of your pictures are great...you are a great story teller...did you keep a journal to remember all of your details? Looking so forward to reading more!

 

[princess&her4princes]

Hey girl!
I'm here....going back to read...I've been MIA, so hope that your trip and holidays were wonderful!! Subbing!

 

[tinawv]

Looking forward to readin more about your trip. I have always wanted to take a trip over Christmas week, and anxiously waiting to hear how your trip went during this time of year. Your boys are adorable.

 

[princess&her4princes]

Just finished reading.....loving it so far! And so glad I can live vicariously through you this year since we didn't get to go this year!! Sounds like you're off to a great start so far!

A few things I wanted to comment on....yay you for losing weight and needing new jeans! I'm literally laughing outload when i read about your boys (who are beautiful by the way!) and the way the act, as you know, with three of them myself, I completely understand but you're making me nervous to know that the always act this way, since your boys are that much older than mine! LOL!! And YUM! Jareds dessert looked delish!!!!! Looking forward to hearing more!!!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Just wanted to let you know I'm reading your report and love it. I have 3 boys and we went to the World the past 4 Christmas (except one year we spent totally at Universal). We couldn't go this year so I'm going to live vicariously through you!
Melissa

Hi there &

Wow, you've gone the last 4 years? I'd love to make it a tradition here, but somehow I don't think the Disney Grump will go for it

We haven't made it over to Universal yet, I know the boys would love it because they love thrill rides. But, me being the selfish person that I am, won't give up any of my Disney time for it

Haha, I love that. It's apparent that I will also need them when I have my kiddies! Thankfully, I don't think my DBF would disagree with me

Ooo, the trivia sounds fun! Haha, can I be part of your family

Sure, the more the merrier

Haha, I thought that about the large heads before I read what you said because I saw the pictures! I would probably flip out and refuse to step in there. They'd have to bring my beignets out to me

They were pretty creepy! The beignets were worth going in for though.

I always tell myself that I'll take a ton of food pictures. I say, "I'm on vacation; no one's around that I know so who cares what they think of me!" Then I get in the situation, and I feel kind of awkward ... haha. I'm getting better though and taking a lot more food pictures just because I love having the photos after. My DBF's camera can be set to a high ISO setting so it can still take good pictures when there's not that much light AND without a flash. That way it can be done discreetly

Oh right, and with the food pictures, we used to take pictures of each other WITH the food so that it wouldn't look so strange either! That's how we get pics of the restaurant too ... pretend to focus on the other person but make sure to get background!

I really had planned on taking them this time because I love reading others trip reports that have pictures of food in them, but I just felt odd doing it. I'll have to remember your tricks for next time!

Great report!!! I love your 100 day party! All of your pictures are great...you are a great story teller...did you keep a journal to remember all of your details? Looking so forward to reading more!

Hey there! Glad you found me. I did try to write some stuff down at the end of each day so that I wouldn't forget the details. Some days I did a better job than others.......

Hey girl!
I'm here....going back to read...I've been MIA, so hope that your trip and holidays were wonderful!! Subbing!

Hi Kristen!! I'm so glad to see you on here and posting. Hopefully your family left all the sicknesses behind in 2009!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Looking forward to readin more about your trip. I have always wanted to take a trip over Christmas week, and anxiously waiting to hear how your trip went during this time of year. Your boys are adorable.

Hello there, and thanks for joining in! If the crowds don't bother you, Christmas is a great time to be in WDW. Thanks for the compliment on my boys, I tend to think they're pretty cute myself - no bias or anything

Just finished reading.....loving it so far! And so glad I can live vicariously through you this year since we didn't get to go this year!! Sounds like you're off to a great start so far!

A few things I wanted to comment on....yay you for losing weight and needing new jeans! I'm literally laughing outload when i read about your boys (who are beautiful by the way!) and the way the act, as you know, with three of them myself, I completely understand but you're making me nervous to know that the always act this way, since your boys are that much older than mine! LOL!! And YUM! Jareds dessert looked delish!!!!! Looking forward to hearing more!!!

Thanks for the congrats on the weight loss, I've still about another 20-25 lbs to lose, but I'm headed in the right direction!

About the boys, I'm afraid they will act the way they do FOREVER......

 

[flafan]

subscribing - loving your report and looking forward to more

 

[disneydusted]

Hi Michelle... I have seen you posting on Jay's TR's and thought I would follow along with this TR you are writing.
Your new family photo made me think that mine is getting pretty old! I think I need to post a new one.
Our son is in 8th grade this year too, interesting age, right?
Looking forward to hearing about your adventures!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Ah, beautiful Port Orleans French Quarter -- we stayed there in 2007 and 2008 and just loved it both times. Those big heads in the food court though -- not so much.

Love the pics of Jared after he ate his beignets -- I always look like that, too, afterwards. Powdered sugar just gets everywhere.

 

[Happydog]

Okay I feel exactly the same way about food porn pics!!!! It is too weird taking pics of food at least for me, but I am grateful to all who do!!!! Dh would refuse to go to Disney if I did it -- so I guess it is a small price to pay!

Oh your boys are very handsome, and seem like great kids despite their budding monster sides (HA! -- they have those at 7 and 4 too....so I am fully aware. I was just hoping that this went away!!!!) They all have great smiles on their faces.

Okay Port Orleans FQ looks lovely... I would make this my next Moderate stay I think... only been to Carribean Beach and we liked that plenty! So funny that we were there the same days, I am sorry we didn't realize this before we all left!!!

OH well, we can enjoy our different takes on the same things!!!!

Love the powdered sugar encrusted smile, too...

 

[Liberator]

I like reading all those Trips to WDW, and this one seems so perfect until now. All you on here are so excited about going to Disney World. Here in Germany no one would order Pizza or make Popcorn because there are only 100 days left to get to Disney World! I like those ideas and you children will love you for that!

I am looking forward to get to WDW again one day.

Greetings from Germany
Chris

 

[SoonerGirl]

subscribing - loving your report and looking forward to more

Thanks &

Hi Michelle... I have seen you posting on Jay's TR's and thought I would follow along with this TR you are writing.
Your new family photo made me think that mine is getting pretty old! I think I need to post a new one.
Our son is in 8th grade this year too, interesting age, right?
Looking forward to hearing about your adventures!!

Hi there Thanks for coming over!

Yeah, I figured it was time for a new photo, the other one was a year & a half old. I'll probably replace this one when I get my photopass pics, but for now it'll work.

So you have an 8th grade boy too? They sure are a lot of fun Really they aren't so bad, Justin & his friends crack me up most of the time. But they do have their moments where you want to strangle them as well

Ah, beautiful Port Orleans French Quarter -- we stayed there in 2007 and 2008 and just loved it both times. Those big heads in the food court though -- not so much.

Love the pics of Jared after he ate his beignets -- I always look like that, too, afterwards. Powdered sugar just gets everywhere.

He started laughing once as he was about to take a bite and powdered sugar got dusted all over everything at our table - it was pretty funny.

I enjoyed POFQ, this was the first time we had stayed here, my last three stays have been at OKW, CBR & CSR so I loved the smallness of it! In fact, my mom & I are booked at CSR in May and I'm seriously thinking of switching to POFQ

Okay I feel exactly the same way about food porn pics!!!! It is too weird taking pics of food at least for me, but I am grateful to all who do!!!! Dh would refuse to go to Disney if I did it -- so I guess it is a small price to pay!

Oh your boys are very handsome, and seem like great kids despite their budding monster sides (HA! -- they have those at 7 and 4 too....so I am fully aware. I was just hoping that this went away!!!!) They all have great smiles on their faces.

Okay Port Orleans FQ looks lovely... I would make this my next Moderate stay I think... only been to Carribean Beach and we liked that plenty! So funny that we were there the same days, I am sorry we didn't realize this before we all left!!!

OH well, we can enjoy our different takes on the same things!!!!

Love the powdered sugar encrusted smile, too...

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who won't take pictures of food! I feel like I let my DIS friends down by not doing it, but I just can't I'm really glad that there are people who do though, because I love looking at everyone else's pics!

I think boys of all ages have those little monsters living inside them - it's part of their genetic makeup

I like reading all those Trips to WDW, and this one seems so perfect until now. All you on here are so excited about going to Disney World. Here in Germany no one would order Pizza or make Popcorn because there are only 100 days left to get to Disney World! I like those ideas and you children will love you for that!

I am looking forward to get to WDW again one day.

Greetings from Germany
Chris

Hi there & welcome! I spent a couple of months in Germany when I was a kid. My dad was stationed there with the Air Force. It was a wonderful summer!

I never would have thought of doing a 100 days til Disney party either before I became addicted to the disboards! They feed the sickness

 

[Dizneydawn]

Hi girl! I am all caught up! We originally were staying there too before Dan got his job and it was cheaper to move to CBR. Too bad we did not meet up when we were there! argh!

Next time!

Love all the pics!

I also totally get it about the boys. Treyner and Baylor are like that 24/7.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

I forgot to subscribe.....
I need to catch up!
Back to read.

 

[marsa1969]

The Mardi Gras decorations are really neat - freaky, but neat! Totally ready to see Epcot at Christmas.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Just finished page 2.
Your pre-trip activities and trip start to Dallas has me wanting to go back soooo bad!
I can feel the excitement!
The boys are stoked!
Did I mention we checked flights from Dallas for Spring Break?

 

[praisehisname]

I'm loving your report so far!