::The Newlyweds Return-A *Birthday* Celebration and *MNSSHP!* TR FINISHED! ::

[Philadisney]

That cow picture is funny I have never been to MNSSHP so its neat to see all your pics. Seems it would be worth going just to see all the crazy costumes people come up with!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Great pictures!!!! I'm totally jealous now!! We went to MNSSHP 2 years ago and had a blast!!!

 

[Hillary12.8.07]

Yep thats def one of the best parades I ever saw!

I think that seems to be the concensus among everyone, how awesome the parade is. I need to go check out YOUR TR!

Oooooh! I just love MNSSHP. We never miss it. Definitely the best parade and getting on the rides is so quick and easy. Looks like you guys have quite a nice time.

ETA: I think the cow's name is Clarabelle

Yes, we never waited more than MAYBE 5-10 minutes for anything, SO cool. YES, that's her name. I knew it was something belle. Thanks!

That cow picture is funny I have never been to MNSSHP so its neat to see all your pics. Seems it would be worth going just to see all the crazy costumes people come up with!

she was hysterical. I love cows anyway. She had some moves! And yes, the costumes were so cool, I wish I was as creative as some of those people. We saw a couple dressed up as the muppets, the guy was the Swedish Chef, it was SO AWESOME, DH about died, he is obsessed w/the Muppets. Def. an idea for next year!

Great pictures!!!! I'm totally jealous now!! We went to MNSSHP 2 years ago and had a blast!!!

It is so much fun. We're really hoping to swing a trip in late Sept/early Oct next year to go again right before our APs expire. I HAVE to go back.

Thanks for reading!!

 

[Hillary12.8.07]

MNSSHP Part Four!

After the parade, we started walking towards the Haunted Mansion again!

We saw a sign for a candy area down near the Riverboat, so we walked down there, and saw this guy!

Yikes! He was crazy looking, but really cool. Everyone was stopping to take pictures of him! We got our candy and were on our way!

We were still talking about how much we LOVED the parade, and might have to possibly stop and see it again, depending on what we were doing at the time.

So we HAD to ride Haunted Mansion. It's pretty much all of our favorite, plus it was a Halloween party, we had to. So we went on that, not too long of a wait. VERY fun. I loved that all the Cast Members were super spooky dressed up. It was just awesome!! I think we might have gotten right back in line and ridden it again...

Then we headed back towards Fantasyland. I saw the super awesome picture setup by IASM w/Cinderella's carriage and all, but it had a super long line right then. So even though it's kinda lame, we had to ride It's a Small World, just because. And even though I have tons, I had to take pictures...

We decided to go ahead and ride the stuff back there bc the lines were super short! Peter Pan, and Snow White I think we did then. We needed a restroom break, and saw this dance party going on back by the restrooms next to Ariel's Grotto...

so cute!! All the kids were having a blast, and all the CMs in the area were walking around dancing and stuff. I loved it.

It was getting close to time for the fireworks, so we walked around to the front to find a spot. I normally HATE being in the middle of the huge crowds right on Main St..thats why on our honeymoon DH and I found a little place off the bride to Tommorland. But oddly enough, it really wasn't that bad. My mom and I found a place to sit on the sidewalk and the boys leaned up against the fence. We were on the right side of the main hub, GREAT view. We just sat and relaxed some, and watched all the awesome costumes. I think my favorite one of the whole night was three girls dressed as the fairies from Sleeping Beauty. One was in pink, one green and one blue (I think?) Anyway...they were simple homemade costumes, but it was so obvious what they were, it was just SO cute.

anyway. I took tons of pictures...

I won't bore you w/them all, bc seriously I took a ton. I'm very happy w/my camera though, I think those are the best castle and then fireworks pictures it's ever taken! I don't know how I did it though! haha.

Soon it was getting time for the fireworks, I was SO EXCITED!! I had been waiting for this show for months!!

Oh man, it was even better than I could have imagined!! The colors, and the music, it was just all amaaazing. Def. by far my very favorite fireworks show. I love Wishes, don't get me wrong, but I just loved this so much more. And DH is not a fan of Wishes, but he really enjoyed it too. Which is saying alot, coming from him. I was so sad when it was over!!! agh! My mom and I were going on and on about it, and how we HAD to come back next year just for the parade and fireworks!!!!

So after the fireworks we went back towards Fantasyland to finish riding stuff. We went on Pooh, bc my brother hadn't even ridden it and it's just fun.

Then to Mickey's Philarmagic, again, my brother had never seen it, and we all love it.

I took this of the back of the castle. So pretty...

After Philarmagic, we had pretty much done most everything we wanted to. And, it was right about the time for the next parade, and my mom suggested we go watch again. Um, OK!!!

I'm not going to bore you again w/more pictures (but you know I took a ton again!), but I did get this really good of one my favorites!!

Haunted Mansion!

It's so good, bc we found the BEST place to watch the parade. We were right in front of the Hall of Presidents, across from the Liberty Bell. Its where the floats kinda come around that circle so we had a straight on view of them. awesome awesoe. We will def. be doing that again!!

Of course we loved the parade just as much the second time. I could tell the boys (my dad and brother ) were getting a little bored. This is prob their least favorite park, and we had been doing stuff they don't enjoy as much. Plus it was getting late, close to 11, and even though we had said we'd stay the whole time, we were TIRED, and plus we knew we all had a loooong drive home the next day. So, we decided to ride Haunted Mansion one more time ( since we were so close of course), and then head out.

I always hate leaving, but I was pooped, and knowing I'd be back soon helped a whole lot!!

We walked through the stores on Main Street some before we left. I got a Halloween pin, bc I have a lanyard and collect them but I dont wear it or really trade. I just have some for the resorts we've stayed at, and some I just like. We got something else too, I dont remember what? My Mickey votives maybe? I dunno. oh well.

I took these as we walked out...

We headed out to get on a boat back to the campground. I think we waited maybe 10-15 minutes, not a horribly long time. But as soon as we got on and sat down, our tiredness caught up. I curled up in the seat next to DH and was pretty much out by the time we got back. We dragged ourselves back to the camper and were in bed pretty quick.









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[Hillary12.8.07]

Monday December 6, 2008

Today was mom's birthday!!!! Actually, before we went to bed the night before we decorated so she'd wake up to find it. We did it pretty quickly, and tried to be quiet in the dark so she wouldn't hear us moving around down there. Some of the decorations!

We had these signs hung all over the place

We also hung a Happy Birthday sign up on the wall

This is some of her stuff...

a friend gave her the orange roses and she had brought them w/her. Some cards, and then DH and I gave her some Brighton jewelry and a jacket. She loved it all of course, she thought the decorations were hilarious. And she started tearing up quite a bit too, just because having her whole family there was all she really wanted, and we'd had SUCH a good time.

Sappiness aside, I was getting sad to leave. It's never fun. DH and I took showers and got ready, and put all of our stuff in our car to take home. We still hadn't gotten a picture album yet, so we decided to ride our bikes down to the store and get the one I wanted. It matches the scrapbook one I had gotten for our honeymoon.

this is both of them..

We also picked up a can of Mickey coffee...which is already gone of course but we're using it to store more coffee in and keep it out on the kitchen counter!

When we got back everyone was pretty much ready to go. My brother decided to ride w/my parents and spend some more time w/them, so we got the dog in our backseat!!

We followed them out of the campground, and over to the Hess station near MK. We all filled up on gas, and were on our way. I was getting pretty sad...not just to be leaving, but just bc we'd had such a great trip. It had been such a long time since we'd had a big family vacation like that, and we'd just had SO MUCH FUN.


This is what we saw most of the ride...

backseat...

and out the front...

Pretty Jake!

We stopped at a station/McDonald's somewhere...I think bw St. Augustine and Jacksonville to use the restrooms and get some lunch. DH had chicken I think, and I just had a salad. We had bags FULL of candy we were snacking on during the ride home...

OH I just remembered why DH's bag was so full. Before we left the party the night before, we walked over through Toontown to go down the Alice trick or treat path. Well when we got to the last candy stop there, the guy took DH's bag, and exchanged it w/one that was FULL of candy. Like, about to bust. it was crazy!


So anyway...I slept most of the way, and read some of Twilight...hey, I work in a middle school, I got sucked in...

We stopped one more time in Statesboro, GA to walk around and use the restrooms, and were home around 6 or so. Our wonderful trip was over.

Next up-final thoughts and new plans!!



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[OhioDisneyLover]

Oh no, it's near the end of your TR. I am having so much fun reading. Can't wait to hear final thoughts and new plans.

 

[Hillary12.8.07]

Oh no, it's near the end of your TR. I am having so much fun reading. Can't wait to hear final thoughts and new plans.

I'm sad too. BUT, I have a trip coming up VERY soon to write about!! I'm glad you're enjoying it, thanks so much for reading!!!!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

I'm sad to see it end too!! I hope your going to do TR for your anniversary trip!! I have to live through others for the next 39 days!

 

[Hillary12.8.07]

I'm sad to see it end too!! I hope your going to do TR for your anniversary trip!! I have to live through others for the next 39 days!

It is sad. I've had so much fun writing this and reliving the memories. But there is more Newleywed fun coming, lol!

39 days is not that long! Will be here before you know it!!!

 

[Hillary12.8.07]

Final thoughts
This truly was a trip of a lifetime for my family. Like many families we have been through some hard times and this trip really meant a lot to all of us. Even though it was a short trip, we all had an amazing time and it was just a good time for our family to get away and enjoy each other. And it just brought back so many memories which was awesome too. Like I said, Disney was always our family vacation place, we grew up going there, had Annual Passes for years and so many happy memories from my childhood were there. It’s hard growing up sometimes, and not being a kid and having that same family dynamic anymore, especially after getting married and starting our own life. But I just loved that we were able to go, my immediate family plus my new husband, and all of us just have the best time of our lives!! There were so many nostalgic memories from staying at Ft. Wilderness as well, the place of so many of our very early trips. I will never forget this trip, and am glad I was able to share it with all of you!!!


Fort Wilderness
Obviously I cannot say enough wonderful things about the campground! I know the whole outdoorsy thing is not everyone’s cup of tea, but we just love it. And we hardly rough it…you’ve seen the camper! But I’m amazed by all the families staying in tents and small pop up trailers who are just having the best time! That’s another thing you gotta love about Disney…theres something for every family and budget out there! We love being out in the open, in our own camper, with all the outdoor vacation activities there. The atmosphere is wonderful, and is just DISNEY to us. Don’t get me wrong, I love staying in some of the resorts, but I also just love staying at the campground w/my family. I think it’s one of the best places for families onsite, all the activities. Even if you’re not staying there, just to visit and walk around. It’s beautiful.


Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
One word, AMAZING. Probably my new favorite thing to do at Disney. I’m not a huge fan of the Christmas party, but I will return anytime I can for Halloween. The parade was just awesome, the fireworks the best I’ve ever seen, and the atmosphere was just so much fun. I obviously cannot say enough good things about it. If you get a chance to go, DO IT. This time of year was just perfect too…the weather, crowds, decorations, all of it. It’s giving Christmas, which has always been my favorite, a run for it’s money!!!

OUR NEW PLANS!
New PTR coming soon! We are headed back in just 17 days!!! I will post more details in the PTR, but we are staying 8 nights!!! Longer than even our honeymoon. We will be at three different resorts, and with our Annual Passes I cannot wait to have the flexibility to have a more relaxed, no rushing trip. Not that we do that too much anyway!!! And after that we have more trips planned for 2009, in both February and June!! And hopefully Sept/Oct again. So stay tuned, you’ll be hearing more from me very soon!!

Thanks everyone for reading!!!







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[Philadisney]

I was sad that your TR was over but now I see that you will have another one in just a few weeks! WOW I have to say I am envious that you get to go back so soon, and for 8 days!! I can't wait to read all about it and hear which resorts you are staying at!

 

[Hillary12.8.07]

I was sad that your TR was over but now I see that you will have another one in just a few weeks! WOW I have to say I am envious that you get to go back so soon, and for 8 days!! I can't wait to read all about it and hear which resorts you are staying at!

This TR was so fun to write, and I'm sad that it's all finished but I can't say that I'm not excited to be going so soon!!! I was trying to hurry and finish so that I can get a PTR going soon. I will prob have it up sometime this week!! Thanks for following along!

 

[Hillary12.8.07]

The Pre-Trip Report has begun!!!


Our First Anniversary TR!

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I really enjoyed reading your trip report. We have never stayed at FW, only visited, so I have to live through your experiences. Can't wait for the next TR and I'm on my way over there now.

 

[Hillary12.8.07]

I really enjoyed reading your trip report. We have never stayed at FW, only visited, so I have to live through your experiences. Can't wait for the next TR and I'm on my way over there now.

Thanks so much for reading and sticking with me!!! I'm glad I was able to share FW with everyone!!! Thanks again!!