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

[Spartangirl]

Hey Michelle! Joining in..........great report so far! Did you enjoy your stay at POFQ? That's the moderate that I've always wanted to try! We couldn't swing our usual X-Mas/New Years trip this year, but it would have been fun to meet up with you and your family.......can't wait to hear more about your adventures!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Finished with page 3.
POFQ....
We stayed there in 2007.
Loved it!
Your photos brought back such great memories!
I usually faithfully take food porn pictures but not so much this trip. I really enjoyed looking at your food though and seeing your reviews.
Even though the beignets are messy Jared did a great job eating them!
Now that I have, ahem, officially subscribed....
I can't wait to read more!

Maybe we'll have to have our DIS meet in OK City over Spring Break, unless I get to go to Disney that is....

 

[rgrutland]

Okay, not to hijack this thread, BUT I have to ask...what does "food porn" mean?? I'm a new DIS addict and still learning the lingo, but this onne has me stumped!!

 

[SoonerGirl]

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.

There were so many disers there that week! And I didn't meet up with any of them

Glad you came over! Just don't expect to be too entertained, I'm afraid I lack your wit

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

I was wondering what happened to you! You were first then just disappeared, I had just decided that you didn't like me anymore

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

Definitely freaky! We ate in there several times and I was kinda creeped out every single time!

I loved Epcot at Christmas, but totally missed not being able to see the Lights of Winter. I wish they would have waited just one more year to get rid of them!

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?

You did??!! Did you find anything good?

Writing the report is making me want to go back right away too! I'm going back the beginning of May, so I don't have too long to wait. It's a mother/daughter trip and I'm feeling pretty guilty about not including the kids - I may have to plan another trip.......I just have to figure out how to get it past the Grump

I'm loving your report so far!

Thanks & Welcome!!

Hey Michelle! Joining in..........great report so far! Did you enjoy your stay at POFQ? That's the moderate that I've always wanted to try! We couldn't swing our usual X-Mas/New Years trip this year, but it would have been fun to meet up with you and your family.......can't wait to hear more about your adventures!

Hi Lynne! It's so funny, I haven't talked to you in months, but I thought about you last night while I was watching the Alamo Bowl (Sorry about the outcome there.....) and now, here you are!!

I really liked POFQ, it's so much more compact than the other moderates. And the live entertainment at the Scat Cat Bar is great too. In fact, I liked it so much that I'm considering changing my May ressie from CSR to POFQ.

Finished with page 3.
POFQ....
We stayed there in 2007.
Loved it!
Your photos brought back such great memories!
I usually faithfully take food porn pictures but not so much this trip. I really enjoyed looking at your food though and seeing your reviews.
Even though the beignets are messy Jared did a great job eating them!
Now that I have, ahem, officially subscribed....
I can't wait to read more!

Maybe we'll have to have our DIS meet in OK City over Spring Break, unless I get to go to Disney that is....

Somehow I have a feeling that a Disney trip is in your near future

 

[SoonerGirl]

Okay, not to hijack this thread, BUT I have to ask...what does "food porn" mean?? I'm a new DIS addict and still learning the lingo, but this onne has me stumped!!

Sorry about that! It's just a silly way of referring to pictures of food.

 

[Spartangirl]

Hi Lynne! It's so funny, I haven't talked to you in months, but I thought about you last night while I was watching the Alamo Bowl (Sorry about the outcome there.....) and now, here you are!!

Yeah......I kind of had a 6 month hiatus from the DIS , but I'm back! The Alamo bowl was not too pretty, but I was imagining it to be a lot worse with 14 of our players suspended.

 

[rgrutland]

Sorry about that! It's just a silly way of referring to pictures of food.

HAHA!! Too Funny!!
Now I get it!! Thanks for filling me in...and lovin' your TR! I love how you call your husband the Disney Grump! I have one of those! I always tell him that he doesn't need to come along with us to FL in January if he would rather stay at home...needless to say, he is happy to partake! But I get the same thing - can't we go ANYWHERE else? I don't even think the kids love it as much as I do
Oh well, I know they will be lovin' it when we get there in just 3 weeks!

Can't wait for your next installment...these trip reports that I have discovered have had me attached to my computer over the past few days...

 

[SoonerGirl]

Yeah......I kind of had a 6 month hiatus from the DIS , but I'm back! The Alamo bowl was not too pretty, but I was imagining it to be a lot worse with 14 of our players suspended.

I heard about that! But it kinda got overshadowed by all the craziness going on at Tech. I don't think I've ever watched a football game with so much drama involved!

HAHA!! Too Funny!!
Now I get it!! Thanks for filling me in...and lovin' your TR! I love how you call your husband the Disney Grump! I have one of those! I always tell him that he doesn't need to come along with us to FL in January if he would rather stay at home...needless to say, he is happy to partake! But I get the same thing - can't we go ANYWHERE else? I don't even think the kids love it as much as I do
Oh well, I know they will be lovin' it when we get there in just 3 weeks!

Can't wait for your next installment...these trip reports that I have discovered have had me attached to my computer over the past few days...

I'm pretty sure I love Disney more than my kids do too, the oldest especially is starting to want to visit other places. Of course, he thinks we should get two vacations a year, one to Disney and one to someplace else. If only we could win that powerball jackpot, we'd be able to do that!

Trip reports are so addictive - I'd be afraid to add up the hours that I'm on here glued to the reports board! Are you going to write a report after your trip?

I've got an update typed up and ready to go, just need to add pics, so it should be up shortly

 

[SoonerGirl]

We left off with us heading to the bus stop to catch a bus to Epcot. There was a bus there waiting as we walked up to the stop and guess what? It was going to Epcot! Woo Hoo – that’s twice today we haven’t had to wait on a bus!

I needed to go straight to Guest Services and pick up my AP, so Don and the boys took the bags through bag check and the security guard by the exit gates that are right next to Guest Services let me in through the exit. I had a short wait in line, but soon I had it – my coveted AP!! I was so excited, and even more excited that it was good for 15 months instead of 12. Wonder how many trips to Disney I can get in before March of 2011…..

The boys met me at Guest Services and to the turnstiles we went. After a year of planning and waiting and dreaming about this trip we were about to enter our first park! The boys and I were pumped (the Grump, ehhh, he was indifferent). Of course I wanted to stop and take some pics as soon as we got inside, but the boys were having none of it – we HAD to get over to The Land and see if we could still get a FP for Soarin’. I did manage to snap one shot before the sighs started and I had to put the camera away.

We went directly to Soarin’ and were able to score FPs for later that night. That taken care of, we headed over to ride Living with The Land. The posted wait time was 20 minutes, but I think we waited less than 15. I took this as we were leaving the building

Next up

We rode Nemo, about a 5 minute wait. Anyone else love the queue for this ride? I think it’s so well done. After Nemo we went over to wait for the next Turtle Talk. Here’s Jared playing the interactive games they have in the waiting area.

Love the light fixtures on the way into the theater

This is always such a fun show. My boys won’t go sit down front anymore, they think they’re too old, but they enjoy the show none the less.

After Turtle Talk we let Bruce eat the children

Then we went upstairs to see the aquariums. Can you believe we’ve never gone up there?! They had a big area blocked off where the ground was very wet, I guess the tank was leaking a little.

The coral is so pretty.

The boys were antsy at this point to head over to Test Track, so out we went. Stopping only for the obligatory pic in front of the fountain

I don’t remember what the wait for TT was, but I know it was longer than I was willing to stand in line for. We still had a bit of time before we could get another FP, so the boys headed over to ride Mission: Space, orange side of course. This makes me so I skipped it. The posted wait time was 30 minutes, but it changed to 50 just a few minutes after the boys got in line. Soooooo, I had about an hour to kill.

I walked around Mouse Gears for a bit, but didn’t really feel like shopping. (This has only happened maybe 3 times in my entire life – so, it was a big deal!) I checked the time and realized that we could get TT FPs now, so I went over and got those, took a few pictures

Then found a nice short wall next to the MS dump shop. I settled into a spot in the sun as it was a bit chilly out, and closed my eyes. Yep, I took a short nap and just enjoyed the warmth of the sun. Before I knew it Don texted me that they were finished. I met them in the dump shop and the boys tried on a few hats

Then we decided to go hit up Spaceship Earth. Our wait for this really wasn’t bad, maybe 20 minutes. I rode with Justin and let him determine our future. Here we are

After that the boys played one of the games in the dump area.

They were helping provide energy for a city. They had a good time with it. Then we went over to Innoventions East. This was a first for us, we’ve never taken the time to go in here, but Don & Justin were pumped about trying the Sum of all Thrills. So, in we went. For some reason Jared didn’t want to try it, which is odd because he is normally my risk taker, but I guess he just wasn’t in the mood. Don & Justin had about a 20 minute wait for their ride, so Jared and I went over and did the Waste Management thing (yes, that’s exactly what it’s called – Waste Management thing ). We recycled a bunch of trash and built a golf course! We finished just in time to watch Don & Justin on their ride. I tried to take a couple of pictures but I’m still learning how to use this camera and couldn’t come up with the right settings, so they’re all blurry.

They said they made their ride a jet and did as many inversions as the computer would let them do, and made it as fast as it would go. The result of making the ride as fast as it can go is that it doesn’t last very long! They were finished in no time, but said it was a blast.

Up Next: It's almost dinner time - where would we go???

 

[Native NYer]

Joining in and going back to read

 

[KatMark]

Sorry I've been missing...my computer is being fixed and I have to wait until oldest son is home for me to use his laptop.

Love the latest update. I especially like the kids trying on the hats (if you glance at my TR listed in my signature, you will see that DH LOVES to try on silly hats).

As for your youngest, I promise he will "grow up." At 21, mine still give me days that I want to pull out my hair, but in the last two years, I've seen him grow up a lot (could have something to do with him losing his grandpa last year who practically lived with us for all of youngest son's life). But it does get better...and they certainly don't let you have a "boring" day in the process. Hang in there.

 

[burly]

Very nice so far. I'm in.

 

[wsushocker]

I walked around Mouse Gears for a bit, but didn’t really feel like shopping. (This has only happened maybe 3 times in my entire life – so, it was a big deal!)

Omigod, Wigd, did you read this? Do you think you could make this happen once?

 

[ladybugmom]

GREAT updates!!! Those beignets look yummy!! I instantly thought of The Princess and the Frog when you mentioned them. I'm not one to ride Mission Space either--DH has to ride that one alone--not my cup of tea! Can't wait to hear more!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

After Turtle Talk we let Bruce eat the children

I walked around Mouse Gears for a bit, but didn’t really feel like shopping. (This has only happened maybe 3 times in my entire life – so, it was a big deal!)

Well, it was the first day of the trip! You had plenty of time to get your shopping groove on!

This is a great picture of the monorail and SSE!

Up Next: It's almost dinner time - where would we go???

Can't wait to find out!!!

 

[disneydusted]

Hummmm, where are you going to eat??? I am guessing Germany! Don't have any rational for that guess, just a guess! Looks like you had a good weather day in Epcot.

 

[rgrutland]

I heard about that! But it kinda got overshadowed by all the craziness going on at Tech. I don't think I've ever watched a football game with so much drama involved!



I'm pretty sure I love Disney more than my kids do too, the oldest especially is starting to want to visit other places. Of course, he thinks we should get two vacations a year, one to Disney and one to someplace else. If only we could win that powerball jackpot, we'd be able to do that!

Trip reports are so addictive - I'd be afraid to add up the hours that I'm on here glued to the reports board! Are you going to write a report after your trip?

I've got an update typed up and ready to go, just need to add pics, so it should be up shortly

I would like to report & I might, but I work from home and my time is going to start getting less & less so I don't know if I will be able to!! I could report, but the hard part would be responding to everyones posts & that's 1/2 the fun! We'll see...I am already addicted so I might not have a choice!!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Loved the Mickey cookies!!! (Betty Crocker approves )

And 50 minutes for Mission Space????????????? I am so glad we do our Christmas trips early!!! But HOORAY for scoring Soarin' and TT FP's!!!

Can't wait for more!

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

Loved your Epcot update. I love Epcot. Ok, I love all Disney. But there is something about Epcot that has it all for me. Visiting other countries, seeing our own. The rides. Oh yes, the rides. Love them all. Your boys are so cute. It is a hard age. Wanting to be older but not being able to resist doing silly things still.

Ginny

 

[RachelNinja]

Haha, it was so cute how you said that the "sighs started" and you had to put your camera way. My family probably didn't understand why I wanted to take so many pictures of things when they're not in the pics themselves, but I think they're getting used to it. The other day I was joking with DBF about how he's going to be taking a million pictures, and I'll be dragging him and saying, "We haven't even been on the ride yet!" Haha, he said he'd be finishing his memory card before then. So hopefully we get a ton of pics when we're there in April. It helps with reliving the magic once you get home! Don't they understand?!?

I've never been upstairs to see the aquariums either! I'm so excited to go! I've seen pictures of manatees and the hidden Mickey rocks in the water. I really want to see it for myself.

I think Sum of All Thrills is so cool! It's such a great idea! Of course, I'm not into thrill rides, so I would make mine very simple, and I don't know if there would be a point in waiting for that! Haha. How did that work? I've seen the videos of it, but are there a bunch of stations to design your ride or just two? I'm curious to know if you have to wait for people to design AND ride or if they take whoever is finished designing first.

Looking forward to more as usual! I like your trip report style. Pictures along with the details and commentary!