The LUCKY Muffin Spoke to Me - Halloween at WDW & Summer 2011 at DLR - 01/09/11

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

I love your resort choice! From the little I've seen of the GC (mostly from the planning DVD ) it looks absolutely beautiful! I can't wait to see your pictures!

I feel like I'm getting to experience a whole new world here! I'm so excited to be learning about DL through your PTR!

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

WOO!!! That's awesome you're booked. We're hoping to rent points for the Grand Californian, too. It reminds me so much of WL. My BFF (who is a DLR junkie) loves the place. I really hope that it works out and we go in June, too. We'll definitely have to plan a meet, then!

 

[stacikristine]

Oh my goodness--I would LOVE to stay at the GF in DLR!! Did I tell you we're planning on going to DLR in a few years? I'll have to ask you ALL about it when we go. I can't wait to read about more of your planning for both trips!

 

[HeatherBelle614]

OK, I'm all caught up......

Kudos for deciding to forgo HP this trip....I agree with your DH...it'll probably still be packed in October. I am debating if I should try to "slip" that in for our trip in July, but I think I'd be pushing my luck....DH is NOT a HP fan!!

I'm envious that you're going back to DL....I secretly hope that my DH will have SUCH a good time at WDW that he'll entertain a WEST COAST vacation....we'll see

You'll have to let me know how HP is if you end up going! We're definitely excited about doing a US/HP trip in a few years! I love the parks and the resorts there, so I'm sure HP will be great, too.

CONGRATS on going to DL!! I've never been! I bet you're going to have a blast though!

Lou Mongello actually just did a podcast about DL (and how it ties into WDW)...I haven't finished listening yet but he has Jim Korkis on it and he found like this eight-page pitch that Roy Disney took to NYC to investors, and they talk about how DL was basically born!! It's the most recent podcast. You HAVE to listen to it if you haven't already. It's magical.

I have to admit that I've never listened to a podcast and don't really know what they are. Help! Do you have to pay for them? Where do I find them?

I'm so excited that you are going to DLR!! I know how much it means to your Mom, so I am glad it's a dream that is finally coming true! I can't wait to hear about all the plans! The Grand Californian looks amazing! I can't wait to see pictures!!

I'm excited, too! But, I'm also excited about meeting new friends at some point next summer once your DH finds out his leave!!

I know I already commented on FB on your choice of resorts, but again, the Grand Californian looks amazing!!!!

I'm seriously considering a trip to Disneyland next year instead of WDW. I don't know if I can bring myself to do it though, but I really want to go there!

I LOVE the Disneyland part of the planning DVD! Do you have the 6 DVD set about the parks? There is an entire DVD of Disneyland and it's amazing! If I knew how to copy DVD's, I'd make you a copy and send it to you if you don't have it already, it is definitely a must see if you're going there! I've already watched it twice since I got the DVD's!

I was really not interested in DLR for a long time, but for some reason, that just changed over the last year. I started reading more and more about it being Walt's park, and reading some TR over on the DLR board really made me want to go!

I've heard about those DVDs, but I haven't purchased the set yet. Where did you buy yours?

I'd love to have more info to watch about DLR since there isn't much on the planning DVD!

Those little old ladies sound so cute! I'm glad you guys had a good time, even though that guy was a jerk! How unnecessary....

I want to go see The Lion King so bad but tickets are still so expensive! Tickets START at $72.50 at that is for the Mezzanine, the very last row again the wall all the way in the back! The next available seats are $128.50 each!

Wow!! I know I commented on your FB already but I'm still blown away that you got villas at the GC!

Tickets to shows are so expensive! The extra charges they add on our ridiculous, and then most places make you pay parking, too. I'd be curious to know how much profit they make off of those shows! (But you know, us suckers will pay for it, so there's really nothing we can complain about!)

When my boyfriend and I are in the kitchen, he does the meat and I do side dishes. We both bake. He's better with cookies and I'm better with cakes.


So true! Last night out at dinner, the waitress was rude to us and I smiled through her rudeness. She looked very upset that I wasn't affected by her rudeness.

My mom definitely taught me long ago to kill 'em with kindness! I think it's a great strategy.

you convinced Dad to go to DLR!

you've set the date!!

you are staying at the GC!!!

you are doing the trip report for us!!!

Lots of dancing and woohoo'ing!!! I'm excited to find out as much as I can about DLR!

I can't wait to hear more about your plans for DL!!!

Thanks!!

I've only eaten dinner at the GC, but from what I saw in an hour it was absolutly gorgeous!!! Congrats on booking it!!!

Where did you eat? I'd love any recs!

I guess I'm just spoiled... The cheap seats here in Chicago are $22.50! I've pretty much decided that I'm going to go, but I want to get my tickets from the theater so I don't have to pay Ticketmaster half the price of the ticket in "convenience charges"

The Ticketmaster charges are what get you! They're so ridiculous! Then, we have one theater that doesn't charge for parking, but most everyone else in Dallas does so you have to add that on there, too.

The Grand Californian is BEAUTIFUL! Can't wait to hear about all of your plans!!
Sorry that usher was so rude to you-- I was a waitress in college for two summers and couldn't help snapping back at customers who were ridiculously rude to me. I never understand why people are mean for no reason!! That was incredibly big of you to be so sweet back at him-- definitely not in my personality lol!

I don't understand rude people, either!

Haha; it depends on the person and the situation, but I try to be as nice as I can be all the time to the rude ones. Of course, I've got my side that likes to argue all the time, but I try to leave that at the firm when I go home at night!

I love your resort choice! From the little I've seen of the GC (mostly from the planning DVD ) it looks absolutely beautiful! I can't wait to see your pictures!

I feel like I'm getting to experience a whole new world here! I'm so excited to be learning about DL through your PTR!

Thanks!! I know I have a lot to learn, so I'll share everything I can!

WOO!!! That's awesome you're booked. We're hoping to rent points for the Grand Californian, too. It reminds me so much of WL. My BFF (who is a DLR junkie) loves the place. I really hope that it works out and we go in June, too. We'll definitely have to plan a meet, then!

Definitely!! I love meeting new DIS friends!

Oh my goodness--I would LOVE to stay at the GF in DLR!! Did I tell you we're planning on going to DLR in a few years? I'll have to ask you ALL about it when we go. I can't wait to read about more of your planning for both trips!

That's so exciting! Hopefully I'll be an expert and can help you out by then!

 

[Nermel9]

I was really not interested in DLR for a long time, but for some reason, that just changed over the last year. I started reading more and more about it being Walt's park, and reading some TR over on the DLR board really made me want to go!

I've heard about those DVDs, but I haven't purchased the set yet. Where did you buy yours?

I'd love to have more info to watch about DLR since there isn't much on the planning DVD!

I was the same way, I really had no serious interest in Disneyland until maybe the last year or so. I always considered maybe going there, just to see where it all began, but I could never bring myself to go there instead of WDW! I became kind of obsessed when my DH and I got engaged last year and we were going to go there for our honeymoon!

I got my DVD's on amazon.com, I think they were $25! They're totally worth it, you get 6 DVD's all about the parks, and while there are a few that have been on the travel channel, the Disneyland one has not, and it's really the best one!

I'm really considering a long weekend trip to DLR next year...in May, maybe, for our first anniversary!

 

[SnackyStacky]

I was the same way, I really had no serious interest in Disneyland until maybe the last year or so. I always considered maybe going there, just to see where it all began, but I could never bring myself to go there instead of WDW! I became kind of obsessed when my DH and I got engaged last year and we were going to go there for our honeymoon!

I got my DVD's on amazon.com, I think they were $25! They're totally worth it, you get 6 DVD's all about the parks, and while there are a few that have been on the travel channel, the Disneyland one has not, and it's really the best one!

I'm really considering a long weekend trip to DLR next year...in May, maybe, for our first anniversary!

Y'all should have a Lucky Muffin Disneyland Meet.

 

[Kellybelly777]

Where did you eat? I'd love any recs!

It's called the Storybook Cafe. They have a huge buffet as well as a regular menu to order off of. We really enjoyed it!!! It was very bright and beautiful and it had some incredible views of California Adventure, and the food was excellent!!!

 

[HeatherBelle614]

I was the same way, I really had no serious interest in Disneyland until maybe the last year or so. I always considered maybe going there, just to see where it all began, but I could never bring myself to go there instead of WDW! I became kind of obsessed when my DH and I got engaged last year and we were going to go there for our honeymoon!

I got my DVD's on amazon.com, I think they were $25! They're totally worth it, you get 6 DVD's all about the parks, and while there are a few that have been on the travel channel, the Disneyland one has not, and it's really the best one!

I'm really considering a long weekend trip to DLR next year...in May, maybe, for our first anniversary!

I definitely want to check out the DVDs!

Joni lovestruc) had told me that her DH had found them at Walmart or one of the other major chain stores; I need to ask her again where she found it so it can just happen to jump in my cart when I go grocery shopping this weekend.

Yup, that DVD totally landed in my cart on its own! It just wanted a home!

Y'all should have a Lucky Muffin Disneyland Meet.

Which is why I think June is a much better month than May, yup!

It's called the Storybook Cafe. They have a huge buffet as well as a regular menu to order off of. We really enjoyed it!!! It was very bright and beautiful and it had some incredible views of California Adventure, and the food was excellent!!!

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it!

Is the dinner a character meal? I know the breakfast is; DH has demanded that we eat there so he can see the bears from Brother Bear. He almost boycotted last year when they took the bears out of AK and replaced them with Thumper & Miss Bunny.

 

[Simba22]

I have to admit that I've never listened to a podcast and don't really know what they are. Help! Do you have to pay for them? Where do I find them?

There is a thread on the main DIS page for Podcasts. They are free! I've listened to a couple...they're fun and it's something to keep you entertained when you're home alone and cleaning the house lol

I was really not interested in DLR for a long time, but for some reason, that just changed over the last year. I started reading more and more about it being Walt's park, and reading some TR over on the DLR board really made me want to go!

I was never interested either but we keep hearing all these great things about it and are slowly changing our minds. We actually really want to go to ComiCon so we are trying to find a way to turn it into one big trip out to Cali. I really should watch the DLR part of the Planning DVD...I've never seen it

Tickets to shows are so expensive! The extra charges they add on our ridiculous, and then most places make you pay parking, too. I'd be curious to know how much profit they make off of those shows! (But you know, us suckers will pay for it, so there's really nothing we can complain about!)

They really are! Luckily, we live within commuting distance to NYC so we can take a train and then just walk to the theater. It's a lot of fun to spend the day in the city but it's just so expensive. Even if we get the cheap tickets, it's still $145 for two tickets, the train is $50 per person round trip so that's another $100...and God forbid we actually want to EAT while we're there. You're already looking at $300 and that doesn't count doing ANY shopping!

My mom definitely taught me long ago to kill 'em with kindness! I think it's a great strategy.

It is a great strategy...I just wish it worked more often. At my job, when people call in and are rude, the nicer you are the worse they get.

my replies are in red I know you knew this already but it wouldn't let me post if i didn't say something after the [/quote]

 

[Nermel9]

I definitely want to check out the DVDs!

Joni () had told me that her DH had found them at Walmart or one of the other major chain stores; I need to ask her again where she found it so it can just happen to jump in my cart when I go grocery shopping this weekend.

Yup, that DVD totally landed in my cart on its own! It just wanted a home!

LOL, that's a good strategy for the DVD's, they mysteriously ended up in your cart somehow!

I remember Joni mentioning where she got hers, but now I don't know where she said they were from! I want to say Sam's Club or BJ's? One of those kinds of places because i remember looking in Costco and they didn't have them. That's why I got them on amazon, it was easier than searching everywhere when I could just order them! I love them soooo much, I'll probably watch one of them tonight...

 

[DisneyFirefly]

What's the name of the DVD's?

 

[Nermel9]

What's the name of the DVD's?

Disney Parks: The Secrets, Stories and Magic Behind the Scenes. There are 6 of them, and they're GREAT!!!

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Disney Parks: The Secrets, Stories and Magic Behind the Scenes. There are 6 of them, and they're GREAT!!!

Thanks! I found the DVDs and bookmarked them so I can buy them at a later date

 

[HeatherBelle614]

Ahem, those DVDs somehow just showed up in our DVD pile at home.

We've only had time to watch one so far, but we really liked it!

 

[HeatherBelle614]

I know I still owe pictures of my new ornaments, but there's a new addition to that story, so I haven't had a chance to get updated pictures yet! I'll do that hopefully tomorrow to share those and some pictures from DH's birthday last Monday!

In the meantime, we have been purchasing a few things here and there for October! We normally buy quite a bit of new stuff for our trips, but we just haven't needed to this time around. We bought so many shirts last December that there are some with tags still on them, so we're just saving those! But, I've done a little bit of shopping here and there!

DH is a huge loofa fan; he won't use anything else. And, every trip, we end up packing up his used loofa, and then re-packing it to bring it home. Or, we go buy a new one that just gets thrown in the trash once we're on our way back to Dallas. Well last night, I found these mini-loofas in the $1 section at Target and thought they were the cutest things!

He'll bring one for the WDW trip, and we'll put the other away for DLR! It was 2 of them for $1, so for 50cents each, I don't feel bad buying a new one and him throwing it away when we leave WDW.

I also found this visor on sale and HAD to have it! (If you look in the middle, there is a hidden Mickey in the stones.)

I'm really nervous about the flight, so we're going to buy a couple movies I haven't seen for the portable DVD player, but I also saw this when we went to Disney on Ice and picked it up for the plane.

Main reason I had to have it?! You don't find much stuff with Stitch in it!

DH found these on sale at his retail job, so he paid under $7.00 for them after his discount. He loves PJ pants and thought these would be great since we'll be there over Halloween.

We actually got this hat for DH for free; the Disney Store gave them away if you brought in recycled bottles on Earth Day this year.

And, I saved the best for last!! We got this surprise in the mail this week from Joni!! I am absolutely in love with this bag and can't wait to use it!

I'm gathering a nice little pile of fun things! If anyone has anything that they HAVE to have when they travel, I'd love any suggestions!

 

[Nermel9]

Ohhh, I love shopping for Disney!!! I don't allow myself to buy anything for Disney (well except major things, like clothes or shoes) until I'm a month away from my trip! I can't buy soap and shampoo and stuff right now and just stare at it for 3 and a half more months, it will drive me crazy!

I love that visor, it's adorable!! And the Jack Skellington pants are so cute, where did you find those? I'd love to get my DH a pair!

And I of course love that bag that Joni got you!

 

[HeatherBelle614]

Ohhh, I love shopping for Disney!!! I don't allow myself to buy anything for Disney (well except major things, like clothes or shoes) until I'm a month away from my trip! I can't buy soap and shampoo and stuff right now and just stare at it for 3 and a half more months, it will drive me crazy!

I love that visor, it's adorable!! And the Jack Skellington pants are so cute, where did you find those? I'd love to get my DH a pair!

And I of course love that bag that Joni got you!

I might already have a basket of toiletries that are crying "Use me...useeee me!!" I try to go over to the (pretty much dead now, unfortunately) freebie thread on the budget board and sign up for the samples. I have a ton of those stocked up for our trip!

Do you guys have Ross there? That's where DH works retail (as one of his many, many jobs.) They just get a bunch of random stuff in that other stores don't sell (including Prada and Gucci, which I still can't afford right now, unfortunately!), but everything is at a sale price. They just got this one pair of pj pants in, but DH is pretty sure they came from Kohl's.

I can let you know if they get any more in! It's all really, really random and sometimes they just get one of something.

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Isn't Disney shopping fun? Great finds!

 

[Nermel9]

I might already have a basket of toiletries that are crying "Use me...useeee me!!" I try to go over to the (pretty much dead now, unfortunately) freebie thread on the budget board and sign up for the samples. I have a ton of those stocked up for our trip!

Do you guys have Ross there? That's where DH works retail (as one of his many, many jobs.) They just get a bunch of random stuff in that other stores don't sell (including Prada and Gucci, which I still can't afford right now, unfortunately!), but everything is at a sale price. They just got this one pair of pj pants in, but DH is pretty sure they came from Kohl's.

I can let you know if they get any more in! It's all really, really random and sometimes they just get one of something.

LOL, see, I can't do that, I'm already anxious enough about my trip, if I had everything ready to go, there's no way I'd get through the next 3 and a half months!! Even yesterday, I was telling my DH I didn't think I could make it til November!

We don't have Ross here, but it sounds kind of like Marshal's or TJ Maxx, do you have those? Those pants do look like something Kohl's would have, maybe I will check there, I'm always in Kohl's!

That would be great if they got more in, but if not, it's ok! I have a feeling with Halloween coming up soon, there will be lots of NBC stuff out!

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

Super cute visor - where'd ya find that?!

Also, where is this infamous Joni who "made" me go out and find that treat back - I want to thank her on The DIS