The Pursuit of Disney Magic (June 7-14, 2008) ~ UPDATED 9/30 pg. 191

[Lady Lallie]

The pick a pearl thing sounds awesome. I need to start a Future Trip list, asap!

I love your artistic photograph.

I am very very sad that your trip is coming to an end. Reading about your trip has helped me get through the waiting for my trip.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I'm thinking about doing this as one of my larger splurges. I also REALLY want a kimono. That would be a VERY big purchase. We'll see.

They are so beautiful and I always think of Memoirs of a Geisha when I see them.

I like how she's making sure her henna can be seen!

Of course! That is so my Chelsea Beth!

I just got one of these for a childhood friend whose new hubby is German after looking for a more unique gift on the net.

When I got it out last night to take a picture of it for a later update, Chelsea and I were talking all about how fun it would be at Christmas.

Well, that's it. You obviously need to book another trip so I have more to read.

Another pro to add to my list!

The pick a pearl thing is awesome. My mom purchased it for me as a gift once and I have a beautiful pearl ring as the result. If you're going to splurge, I can think of no finer way.

Chelsea knew she wanted to do it even before we left home -- she hoarded her money all week so she could do it.

 

[Charleston Princess]

The pick a pearl thing sounds awesome. I need to start a Future Trip list, asap!

I love your artistic photograph.

I am very very sad that your trip is coming to an end. Reading about your trip has helped me get through the waiting for my trip.

Yes, you should. I always say I am going to do a Future Trip list and then I don't and probably forget most of everything.

Thanks!

I am sad, too. I really don't want to be done writing about it!

 

[IluvXU]

Another great update.. I am sad it is winding down too, I know that mine is as well. And back to school soon for you- yuck!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Here is my prediction (garnered from reading so many sites): next Sunday will see a price increase in tickets. The following Sunday, August 10, will see the release of 2009 packages.

Really? Hmmm. I have been holding off on buying my tickets and debating an annual pass (e.g. excuse to travel to WDW more often). Maybe I'd better bite the bullet. You are my WDW oracle!

Sorry for missing my regular update day -- I think I am beginning to drag my feet, because I know that I am almost finished with this TR. With no definite trip yet (although I did make a teensy tiny little ADR for October should we decide to head back), I don't want this trip to end.

You've been impressively diligent with the updates and I've enjoyed every single one. I don't want it to end either. Accordingly you MUST dial Disney now and book your October trip. Afterall, you already have the ADR...

I wish I had taken photos, but my hands were full with my daiquiri.

Hey, priorities, I'm totally with you!

Then, we traipsed back to Great Britain. Charles had decided he wanted a soccer jersey. Guess which one he chose? One from the Chelsea football club -- how perfect was that? Chelsea, of course, thought that was the neatest thing ever! I was able to browse through all the English shops that time around.

Nicely played, Jackie, nicely played! The power of suggestion...

(it was becoming apparent that the best way to keep Charles happy in World Showcase was to allow him to drink). They were divine! I think I liked mine better than the daiquiris.

Whatever it takes, my friend, whatever it takes. And darn you for adding another adult beverage to my already long list!!!

At the words "special gift" my children were all about getting a pickle for the tree.

My thoughts exactly! I knew I liked them!

UP NEXT: In Which Our Intrepid Adventurers Laugh a Lot and Make a Shocking Discovery!

A shocking discovery???

It's sad, isn't it? I have two more trip updates, a souvenir update, and a final thoughts update -- that's just four hence the dragging of my feet.

What??? Only 4 more???

October... it's a great time of year... I'm just sayin'...

 

[nessz79]

Teppan Edo is so much fun - looking forward to the update!

 

[willwriteforears]

Chelsea's blue lips are too funny! Great pictures.

And I'm looking forward to the Teppan Edo installment, but sad too since we're only four installments away from the end. I think I'm going to feel bereft once your TR is over.

You know what that means, right?

cough October PTR cough

 

[askelton]

I wish I had taken photos, but my hands were full with my daiquiri.

Glad you had your priorities straight.

We stopped in Japan to listen to the drummers. When Chelsea was nine months old and took her first trip to WDW, she loved the Japanese drummers. I can vividly recall her dancing away in her stroller.

I love listening to them as well.

Isn't there supposed to be a hidden Mickey somewhere in there?

We watched the street performers in Italy for a little bit, and then did a whirlwind tour through Germany -- stopping to buy a pickle ornament for our tree after a CM told us about them.

We have one of these as well but have yet to do the special gift.

At 3:45 we saw the American Adventure show. We had never seen it and really liked it. I thought it was a very truthful and touching portrait of America and the montage sequence made me cry -- I was still a little sniffly as we left the theater and made our way towards Japan for our dinner reservation.

All things American seem to make me teary. I don't know if I get it from my grandfather who was so patriotic or because DH is in the military.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

So sad that your TR is coming to a close. Yours was my first! I can't believe how much I have learned from these

 

[punkin413]

We still had three countries to complete, so back through Morocco where Chelsea decided she wanted a henna tattoo. As we were about to leave, we spotted a little drink kiosk on the Japanese side selling slushies and a drink called the Sultan's Colada. I love Pina Coladas, so the Sultan's Colada (basically a Pina Colada with some almond syrup added) was right up my alley. Charles and I both ordered one (it was becoming apparent that the best way to keep Charles happy in World Showcase was to allow him to drink). They were divine! I think I liked mine better than the daiquiris. Chelsea and Connor got slushies.

mmmmmmmmmm..........i love almond-flavored anything! where exactly did you get this? DH and i got a kaki gori (basically a shaved ice) and some saki at a stand to the left of that huge building in japan with the blue roof. is that where you got it? i'm so getting one of these next time!

Apparently, she still likes dancing to the drummers.

nice blue mouth!!!

Don't you love Chelsea's blue lips?

great minds think alike.

We watched the street performers in Italy for a little bit, and then did a whirlwind tour through Germany -- stopping to buy a pickle ornament for our tree after a CM told us about them. It is a tradition to hide the ornament somewhere on the Christmas tree, and then on Christmas Eve everyone hunts for it. The person who finds it gets a special gift. At the words "special gift" my children were all about getting a pickle for the tree.

we love our pickle ornament!!!! ray's family is of german descent so he's always had a pickle ornament on his tree. so when we bought our first set of christmas ornaments he said he had to have a pickle for the tree and i'm going, "what in the world are you talking about????" that's when i learned about the tradition. it's so unique and fun!

 

[MomofCKJ]

Great pics, your kids are just too cute!

That Colado sounds worthy of being on a Drink To Do list! LOL! I love Coladas too and almond is a fave of mine.

Where is dinner, Teppen Edo or Tokyo Dining? I guess I need to wait till the next installment and find out! Both sound yummy!

As for robes/kimonos my Grumpy brought me back a gorgeous silk robe from his trip to Vietnam. It is reversable and has the most amazing hand embroidery on it. I really do love it!

Love the pickle thing too, it always makes me laugh. I have seen it before and it is just funny, a pickle on a Christmas tree!

Allyson

 

[MRYPPNS]

It's sad, isn't it? I have two more trip updates, a souvenir update, and a final thoughts update -- that's just four hence the dragging of my feet.

Can't you just think of more stuff to tell us to drag it out???? Heck, you can even make it up we won't know.

 

[TarzansKat]

Can't you just think of more stuff to tell us to drag it out???? Heck, you can even make it up we won't know.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Can't you just think of more stuff to tell us to drag it out???? Heck, you can even make it up we won't know.

Great idea! Think of it as a creative writing exercise.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Can't you just think of more stuff to tell us to drag it out???? Heck, you can even make it up we won't know.

I think a recap of past trips would be fantabulous!

 

[KatGarcia]

Sultan's Punch...got it....gotta try that!!!!!!

 

[swwake]

Anoter great update!

I love how Chelsea's teeth and lips match her outfit in the dancing-with-the-drummers shot.

Glad you found a way to get back to UK to shop. And I also think it's cool that Charles selected the Chelsea jersey.

You make me want to spend lots of time perusing the WS slowwwwlly.

I was thinking - wasn't there a time, in the early EPCOT Center years, when the only alcohol available in the park was beer and it was only at UK and Germany or UK and US or something?

I am also sad that your report is winding down; however, the timing is PERFECT for me, as we are less than 2 weeks from our trip!

 

[Nicole786]

Awesome pictures! I love all the drinks! I knew about the pickle thing but thats really cool that you got one! I love little traditions like that, so cute!

 

[Native NYer]

Jackie I'm going to cry. I cannot believe your tr is almost over. I can't believe it's coming close to the end. I don't want it to end. I absolutely love reading about the adventures your family has had getting ready for the trip and on the trip. Now you MUST plan another trip. Let's keep our fingers crossed that packages come out within the next two weeks. Then you can start your ptr!!!

I love the pic of Chelsea and her blue teeth. So cute! Did you get those smoothies at the place in Japan where they can add sake to it? I'm going to assume Chelsea and Connor skipped the sake

I'm glad you were able to browse through the shops in England. Are you going to post a pic of Charles' jersey?

And the Sultan Colada sounds so delish. I've been compiling of list of must-try drinks and restaurants just from your tr.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Another great update.. I am sad it is winding down too, I know that mine is as well. And back to school soon for you- yuck!

I don't want our June trip reports to end!!! I go back to work on Friday -- have to be in a faculty breakfast meeting at 8:00! I have no idea how I am going to get up and functioning that early!

Really? Hmmm. I have been holding off on buying my tickets and debating an annual pass (e.g. excuse to travel to WDW more often). Maybe I'd better bite the bullet. You are my WDW oracle!

Undercover Tourist has an announcement that their prices are going up August 3rd -- I think they usually are the same day as Disney's.

You've been impressively diligent with the updates and I've enjoyed every single one. I don't want it to end either. Accordingly you MUST dial Disney now and book your October trip. Afterall, you already have the ADR...

It helped that I was off for the summer to keep up with the updates. That ADR just seems to mean it's meant to be.

Hey, priorities, I'm totally with you!

Nicely played, Jackie, nicely played! The power of suggestion...

I had to be able to browse through my English shops! It was a must-do by any means necessary!

Whatever it takes, my friend, whatever it takes. And darn you for adding another adult beverage to my already long list!!!

I needed a happy Charles for our last full day! It was such a pleasant discovery to find the Sultan's Colada!

My thoughts exactly! I knew I liked them!

They are very involved with wondering what kind of gift the finder will receive!

A shocking discovery???

And most un-Disney-like -- the worst thing that has ever happened to us at WDW!

What??? Only 4 more???

October... it's a great time of year... I'm just sayin'...

We do love October and it would be so easy to segue into the next PTR with no lapse.

Teppan Edo is so much fun - looking forward to the update!

We loved, loved, loved it!

Chelsea's blue lips are too funny! Great pictures.

And I'm looking forward to the Teppan Edo installment, but sad too since we're only four installments away from the end. I think I'm going to feel bereft once your TR is over.

You know what that means, right?

cough October PTR cough

She was cracking us up because she had no idea how blue they were!

I know I will feel bereft!

And I don't want anybody else to feel bereft...so, yet another reason for October!

Glad you had your priorities straight.
I love listening to them as well.

I do, too -- I love drums!

Isn't there supposed to be a hidden Mickey somewhere in there?

I didn't know that, but now I am totally going to pretend that is why I took the picture!

We have one of these as well but have yet to do the special gift.

We need to figure out what the special gift is going to be.

All things American seem to make me teary. I don't know if I get it from my grandfather who was so patriotic or because DH is in the military.

I am the same way. I think I get it from my dad who was career Navy. I will never forget in 1984 (I was almost ten) when Katarina Witt won the gold medal for Olympic figure skating, and they played the national anthem for East Germany. Afterwards, I told my dad that I thought it might be prettier than the American national anthem (I can't imagine thinking that today) and boy, did the sparks fly at my house.

So sad that your TR is coming to a close. Yours was my first! I can't believe how much I have learned from these

Ahhhh, someone's first TR! I promise there will be more from me (at some point)!

mmmmmmmmmm..........i love almond-flavored anything! where exactly did you get this? DH and i got a kaki gori (basically a shaved ice) and some saki at a stand to the left of that huge building in japan with the blue roof. is that where you got it? i'm so getting one of these next time!

Actually, it was on the Morocco side. As you are leaving Morocco and headed to Japan (just before that little shaded bit with the benches) there is a stand that sells them on the right. If you like almonds, you will really like it.

Kaki Gori sounds good -- adding that to my list (along with the Welsh Dragon and Rose and Crown from you)!

nice blue mouth!!!

great minds think alike.

She died when she saw the pictures because even though we told her it was really blue, she didn't quite believe us.

we love our pickle ornament!!!! ray's family is of german descent so he's always had a pickle ornament on his tree. so when we bought our first set of christmas ornaments he said he had to have a pickle for the tree and i'm going, "what in the world are you talking about????" that's when i learned about the tradition. it's so unique and fun!

I was the same way when I saw them to begin with. Pickle ornaments??? Then, the tall blond German CM told us all about them!

What kind of gift does the finder get? The kids and I are trying to figure that one out.