There's a First Time for Everything! A Christmas In November TR

[jenseib]

DH and I really wanted to see The American Adventure, a 30 minute show, but DD was loosing patience with World Showcase, and I didn't think she would sit still that long. It's not a kid's paradise ya know. So I told him to go ahead and watch the show and I would take DD out for a little mother daughter time. I had a special surprise for her anyway and I couldn't wait any longer! So we left DH and told him we would meet back up at the Christmas tree in America in 30 minutes.

I had this little surprise planned months before our trip and DD didn't know anything about it. Anyone know what it might be? I'll give you a hint............... our surprise was waiting for us in this country.

We arrived in Japan and went straight for the gift shop. DD loved all the Hello Kitty merchandise. But come on, that's not what we're here for!

(I am so annoyed with myself because I left the nighttime setting on my camera by mistake when we got into the shop so all my pictures from this are not crisp!!)

Have you figured it out yet?

We were going to do the pick-a-pearl and make matching necklaces! DD was VERY excited!!!

I let DD pick both oysters from the tank. Here's the first one!

Prying the shell open..................... the suspense was killing DD!

Ohhhhh, I see something!

Look, there it is! A 7 1/2 MM pearl! AWESOME!!

Drum roll please! We have a winner!

The CM cleaned them up nicely and placed them inside the necklaces that I bought months ago.

I found cage pendants on eBay in the shape of Cinderella's carriage! I ordered one for both of us. The CM put the pearls inside the cages and we put them on. DD and I both LOVED them. What a WONDERFUL experience this was for us!

I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed doing this with my DD. It was so nice to do something really special with just the two of us. We were so proud of our pretty pearls and she loved that we had matching jewelry. The CMs really make a big deal over the pick-a-pearl. They bang the drums and everyone in the store comes over to watch. It was so much fun!!

We had a wonderful time shopping but we had to get back to the tree to meet DH. On the way, I asked DD if she enjoyed doing the pick-a-pearl and she said , "Yes, but did that lady just kill those oysters?" I was on cloud nine after a very fun mother daughter moment at Disney and she was only thinking about being an animal rights activist for the oysters! Silly girl!

Cont. in next post......................

I love this...I found that link and ordered two! LOL! Now for a chain...what size did you get for your DD? My DD is 5 now...and we most likely won't go till she's 6 again. I don't want it too long for her...and I have no clue on chain sizes. LOL! How much does the actual picking of the pearl cost?

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Awww!! I love the new set of pics!! How exciting that you got chosen by the Dream Squad to get the Mickey ears!! Your DD sounds just like my Ally--she would have wanted something more girly, too!! Your DD ended up picking the same set of ears that we bought for Claire on our last trip!! Soooo cute!!

Aren't our girls spoiled rotten! I couldn't believe she wanted ears that you could buy instead of the dream ears!!! Oh well, she wasn't old enough to understand, I guess! The Minnie ones are cute ears though aren't they? We took them back with us in '09 and she wore them again. They are very girly! I saw the picture of Claire wearing them on your TR...... very cute!

I think your dream shirts were just right, because just to be at Disney is a dream come true.

The pictures with Ariel are wonderful your DD has such a cute expression on her face. Then the picture with the Minnie ears is a perfect father, daughter moment.

Yes it is! The trip itself really was a dream come true. The ears were a nice bonus though!

She was a great Ariel. She had the perfect face for that role.

I adore that picture. I am so glad I was standing there at the right moment. My two favorite people enjoying Disney......... what could be better?

Aww, I love the shirts! Glad you got dream ears. DH got a dream fastpass, but I didn't get anything. We went 3 times that year...twice to disneyland and once to WDW, but nothin'. Guess going 3 times in a year had to be "dream" enough for me! (It was! )

Ohhhh dream fastpasses must have been VERY nice! I would have been happy with that too! And Disney 3 times in one year........... yeas, that is a dream come true!!!

We went to Ohana for breakfast on our last day on our last trip...it is so beautiful! We sat right by the window and had the best view. It may be my new favorite restaurant!

We love it too! I will be trying the breakfast next time.

Are the balloons really $10? We bought one a few years ago, but I didn't remember that. I already promised DS that he could get one next time. That price is CRAZY.

Yes, that balloon was $10!!!!!!!! INSANE!!!! But it lasted for a month at least before it lost air!

Is it just me, or is Ariel a little too naked? Okay, I feel that way about Jasmine too. I think I'm getting old, because I never felt that way back when I was a bikini-wearing teenager...

I totally agree! I am very old fashioned though and I believe in modesty. I wish they would cover her belly with that mesh fabric that looks like skin. And she could have used some larger shells too! I'm with you on Jasmine as well. When we met her at the Princess breakfast, DD asked me why she showed her belly like that! She said it wasn't very lady like. At least I know she has been listening to me!

The christmas decorations are beautiful. We went in January on our honeymoon and saw most of them before they took them down, but I would love to go at Christmas. Not going to swing it any time soon though. It's tough, because DS's birthday is in late November, and then DH's birthday is right before Christmas, and there's Christmas which we celebrate with our extended family and we've claimed New Year's as our "family holiday" for just us, so there's a lot packed into that time frame already. Some day though. I'll keep on dreaming!

Great update!

Well, I can tell you that Nov/Dec is a very hectic time to go on vacation. There is so much to do that time of year and it really takes a lot of extra planning and prep time to work it all out. I think it is worth it though. Maybe one day it will all work out for you to go then. It really is a very special time of year to be at WDW.

replies in red

Your shirts worked! I hope you pointed that out to DH when you won the Dream Ears!

I have always been a sucker for those paper parasols, too!

I doubt it was the shirts, but it didn't matter! I was just tickled pink when they approached us! They could have handed me some prechewed gum and I would have been excited!

Gotta love a drink umbrella! You know you've gone tropical when you get one of those!

What a great night at Tiana's Place Such a wonderful idea!!! LOVE the flashback pics. Your shirts are adorable and YAY for getting chosen by the dream team!!! You are so lucky!!

We were lucky but it is b/c of DH. I've never won anything in my life! I couldn't win a contest if my life depended on it. DH on the other hand, wins everything! He won a raffle one year at his job and got a $2000 big screen tv! It's crazy. I know if his name is the hat, we WILL win something. That's why I told him that he HAD to wear one of those shirts on that trip.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

I love this...I found that link and ordered two! LOL! Now for a chain...what size did you get for your DD? My DD is 5 now...and we most likely won't go till she's 6 again. I don't want it too long for her...and I have no clue on chain sizes. LOL! How much does the actual picking of the pearl cost?

I think you and Claire will love the pick-a-pearl. It was $15.95 per oyster when we were there in November. And I believe they guarantee that you will get a pearl. I know it was just over $30 for us to do it. As for the chains............. I just answered this question for someone else last night, but you haven't gotten that far into the TR yet, so I'll just copy and paste it for you here:


"Each pendant comes with a chain, but there's not much to it. The chain that comes with it is the one in this picture:

I think it is perfectly fine for a young child. You don't want to spend much on a necklace for them anyway since they may break it. But I didn't think it looked good enough for an adult to wear. I put mine on a simple box chain that I already had. The chain that you see in this picture is mine:

You can find a simple silver chain at any department store for a very reasonable price. Even Target sells them and they don't cost much at all. Or do like I did and just use a chain you already have."


You can see how long the chain is on my DD. I don't know the exact length, but it is just right for a young child. My chain was 18 inches which is the standard length that most necklaces come in. You can buy one shorter or longer though. I think the 18 in. is about right though. The pendant seems to fall in just the right place to be seen without your shirt covering it up. If you have any other questions, I'll be glad to help you if I can!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Thanks for the necklace info!! When my kids aren't around I'm going to order them.

I have a little YOMD story. We were going on a cruise (not Disney) in Jan. 2008. So we figured we'd fly to Orlando and drive to Miami. We had one park day. Magic Kingdom the Friday before MLK day. It was kind of rainy/misty on and off all day. Pretty darn crowded too! We rode Pooh and as we walked off we were handed a lanyard with a big badge each. It gave us special Extra Magic Hours!!! We could stay an extra two or three hours after park close!! It was so great - not crowded at all (less than any regular EMH!) and it was our only day! It was like they knew it! They gave a bunch out at the same time, so the people we were with on Pooh were all very happy!

Back to your regularly scheduled flashback...

 

[sharonW]

So glad your still here posting "memories"!
I'm so enjoying it! ...the magic of that happy place
is magnetic!! I can't wait to go back and experience
it all again!!!

 

[MeMom]

We need full blown posters of these for Bella's birthday party!!!
Great pictures.

 

[sugar1967]

So sad to see your TR come to an end Love your pictures, love you tips, love your stories. You have a wonderful family and a very photogenic daughter I wish my girls asked to actually have their pictures taken - these days it takes alot to get a decent picture.

Hoping there is a trip for you again in the near future and another PTR in sight.

 

[MaryAz]

Great pics as always. I really hope you get a trip in 2010.

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Ok so my daughter said I couldn't do it but boy did I prove her wrong (I am numb from the waist down though *** it took me sooooooo long-and I really just read your posts) but I've read from the very start to the very end and loved every word and picture!!!
You scared the bejeepers outta me though when I thought you missed the lights for the 3rd time
Thanks for sharing your trip it really brightened my snowy sunday morning.

 

[jenseib]

And here's where the "bathing suits" come into play for today! I can't even describe to you how good it feels to swim under the warm sun, in a heated pool in November! Heavenly!

DD was one happy girl in her snazzy Ariel bathing suit! She wanted to try out the pop jets first. What kid can resist those!

Notice the little girl in pink behind DD. You'll be seeing her in quite a few of these pictures. They hit it off pretty quickly and played together the whole time. To simplify things, I'll be referring to this sweet little girl as "Pinky" from now on.

DD and Pinky played for a bit in the pop jets and then decided they wanted to get in the big pool. I told Pinky she needed to ask her parents first before walking off. She just ignored me and took off running towards the flower pool. I looked around and didn't see anyone who looked as though they were watching her, so we went on about our business.

What a gorgeous day!

Piggy back rides are so much easier to give in the water.

The lifegaurds threw some balls in the pool which kept the kids entertained.

DD and Pinky playing water volleyball.

Continued in next post............................

Claire was siting on my lap last night looking at these pictures. I said theres our favorite pool..and she said is that "our" hotle, and I said yes....she wondered why you guys were at "OUR" hotel. LOL! Evidently we are the only ones allowed to stay there!

I can't beleive all the kids you attract, but I swear I get that too. My sister and I both! We laways seem to have some random kid come up to us and then just follow us around. We usually ask after awhile where there parents are and that they need to go to them. With the rowdy kids...in my older age of 41 now (yes all down hill for me now) I am no longer nice. I would say to the kids get your butt in here and sit down. I guess after years of attracting wierdos, I am getting bolder. LOL! I even used to attract the wierd guys. The ones that had no hope of ever dating me, seemed to think we'd be perfect. I think I was just too nice. Yeah, thats my problem.

 

[lexmas]

Alright, you inspired me and I made some jambalaya!

Okay, it looks a little greasy there, doesn't it. It's just still cooking there, so the chicken broth is still absorbing. It was delicious though, and DH has already requested it again. So thanks for the idea!

 

[DisneyJo]

Your P&F meal looks fun and wow your hubbie looks different with longer hair, I didn't even think it was him to start with

Your photos, as always, are fantastic and how great you won ears. We won ears on our 2007 trip but nothing during our 14 day 2008 trip. I do always say that I won big that year though as I got chosen for the panel and slept in the castle Just wish my girls could have shared it with me!!!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Your P&F meal looks fun and wow your hubbie looks different with longer hair, I didn't even think it was him to start with

Your photos, as always, are fantastic and how great you won ears. We won ears on our 2007 trip but nothing during our 14 day 2008 trip. I do always say that I won big that year though as I got chosen for the panel and slept in the castle Just wish my girls could have shared it with me!!!

I miss having you on the moms panelI loved the fact that someone this side of the atlantic was there *** we generally do our trips for longer than our american friends. Aw well at least you're still dis'n with the rest of us

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Thanks for the necklace info!! When my kids aren't around I'm going to order them.

I have a little YOMD story. We were going on a cruise (not Disney) in Jan. 2008. So we figured we'd fly to Orlando and drive to Miami. We had one park day. Magic Kingdom the Friday before MLK day. It was kind of rainy/misty on and off all day. Pretty darn crowded too! We rode Pooh and as we walked off we were handed a lanyard with a big badge each. It gave us special Extra Magic Hours!!! We could stay an extra two or three hours after park close!! It was so great - not crowded at all (less than any regular EMH!) and it was our only day! It was like they knew it! They gave a bunch out at the same time, so the people we were with on Pooh were all very happy!

Back to your regularly scheduled flashback...

Ohhhhhhhhhh, that would be awesome! So you basically got private EMHs! I didn't even know that was one of the prizes! I REALLY liked the YOMD promotion. I wish they would do that one again.

So glad your still here posting "memories"!
I'm so enjoying it! ...the magic of that happy place
is magnetic!! I can't wait to go back and experience
it all again!!!

Our '08 trip had 10 park days as well so I've got about 6 more updates to go. After that.................... I don't know what I'm going to do with myself! I know you are excited about going back. You should do a TR so all of us can share in your magical trip as well!

We need full blown posters of these for Bella's birthday party!!!
Great pictures.

Her Pooh party is going to be so cute. I can't wait to see what kind of creative stuff you guys come up with. We just did Chuck E. Cheese for DD's first two years since she wasn't old enough to want anything in particular. In hindsight, I wish I would have had a themed party for those two years. Oh well, I'll have to live vicariously through Bella!

So sad to see your TR come to an end Love your pictures, love you tips, love your stories. You have a wonderful family and a very photogenic daughter I wish my girls asked to actually have their pictures taken - these days it takes alot to get a decent picture.

Hoping there is a trip for you again in the near future and another PTR in sight.

Awww, you are so kind! Thank you very much! My DD is pretty cooperative with the camera right now. I'm sure that will change as she gets older. You know how they get too cool for all that stuff! So I'm enjoying it while it lasts.

I'd love to have PTR and a ticker and a future trip! But it's just not in the cards right now. This will be a transitional year for us with DD being in school all day starting in August and me possibly going back to work. So who knows what mgiht happen. I really want to go on a Disney cruise but I've been afraid to price it out!

Great pics as always. I really hope you get a trip in 2010.

Thank you! Me too! I'm not giving up on the notion! You just never know what life holds for the future!

Ok so my daughter said I couldn't do it but boy did I prove her wrong (I am numb from the waist down though *** it took me sooooooo long-and I really just read your posts) but I've read from the very start to the very end and loved every word and picture!!!
You scared the bejeepers outta me though when I thought you missed the lights for the 3rd time
Thanks for sharing your trip it really brightened my snowy sunday morning.

WOW! You must be a speed reader! I don't think I have ever read a TR from start to finish at one time! I can see how you went numb! Sorry I fooled you on the lights. I just couldn't resist! But I am so glad that you got a little enjoyment from it and it helped pass a long winter day. I know what you mean on that. It has been brutally cold here and this TR has been a lifesaver for me. I am seriously getting cabin fever!

I hope you will stick around for the rest of the flashbacks! There's about 6 more days to go on those!

Claire was siting on my lap last night looking at these pictures. I said theres our favorite pool..and she said is that "our" hotle, and I said yes....she wondered why you guys were at "OUR" hotel. LOL! Evidently we are the only ones allowed to stay there!

I can't beleive all the kids you attract, but I swear I get that too. My sister and I both! We laways seem to have some random kid come up to us and then just follow us around. We usually ask after awhile where there parents are and that they need to go to them. With the rowdy kids...in my older age of 41 now (yes all down hill for me now) I am no longer nice. I would say to the kids get your butt in here and sit down. I guess after years of attracting wierdos, I am getting bolder. LOL! I even used to attract the wierd guys. The ones that had no hope of ever dating me, seemed to think we'd be perfect. I think I was just too nice. Yeah, thats my problem.

Kids are funny aren't they? Yes, I wish Pop was MY hotel too!

So you are a wayward child magnet too? I just had no idea what was going on that week. We didn't experience anything like that in '08. It was rather strange. We all must be some really friendly looking people! I think if we would have had one more episode, I would have probably been more like you and not been so kind about it. I just hate it for the kids though. It's such a shame that no one cared where they were.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Alright, you inspired me and I made some jambalaya!

Okay, it looks a little greasy there, doesn't it. It's just still cooking there, so the chicken broth is still absorbing. It was delicious though, and DH has already requested it again. So thanks for the idea!

Hey that looks really good!!! I am very impressed. I'm always hesitant to try to cook "ethnic" foods from scratch. I can cook anything "southern", but I never feel like I know enough about other types of food to try them out. You must have found a good recipe since everyone liked it. So did you try the turkey sausage? If so, did you guys like it?

Your P&F meal looks fun and wow your hubbie looks different with longer hair, I didn't even think it was him to start with

Your photos, as always, are fantastic and how great you won ears. We won ears on our 2007 trip but nothing during our 14 day 2008 trip. I do always say that I won big that year though as I got chosen for the panel and slept in the castle Just wish my girls could have shared it with me!!!

Well, I haven't gotten a new DH just yet. I'm waiting for him to turn 40 and then I'm trading him in for two 20 year olds! JUST KIDDING!!! But yes, he needs a haircut BAD!! He says it's too cold right now to have it that short! He had just gotten his hair cut the day before we left for Florida so that's why it looked so short in all my pictures. I like it really short though. I am old fashioned and I like a clean cut man!

I would say that you won the dream of ALL dreams! I vividly remember reading your TR and thinking that you had the most amazing experience that I could possibly imagine!!!! I have never read a TR, in all the MANY TRs that I have read, that had such an awesome story. You are really one very lucky girl!!!! I know you would have loved to share it with your daughters though. That's really too bad that they missed out on that.

I miss having you on the moms panelI loved the fact that someone this side of the atlantic was there *** we generally do our trips for longer than our american friends. Aw well at least you're still dis'n with the rest of us

You know I had already had all my questions answered by the time she joined the panel, but I still went on there just to play her video so I could hear her English accent! I LOVE IT!!! Does that make me weird?

 

[sharonW]

Rinky...we are hoping to go back!!! Nothing is in any way firmed
up....its all still up in the air!!! I just keep thinking pixie dust
Fingers crossed for me, please!!

 

[englishrose47]

Loved the idea with the necklaces !! I will have to find 3 for next year !!! That makes the "Pearl" experience so much cheaper and just as FUN!!!! I did not know they would set the pearl in your jewellry!!!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Rinky...we are hoping to go back!!! Nothing is in any way firmed
up....its all still up in the air!!! I just keep thinking pixie dust
Fingers crossed for me, please!!

You will be back! You don't spend this much time on the DIS to just "think" about going back! I know, I'm a Disney addict too! I am CERTAIN that you will be back. So I'll be waiting to see a PTR pop up with your name in the signature!

Loved the idea with the necklaces !! I will have to find 3 for next year !!! That makes the "Pearl" experience so much cheaper and just as FUN!!!! I did not know they would set the pearl in your jewellry!!!

I found out about those on a pick-a-pearl thread here on the DIS. I was SOOOO happy to have found out about it b/c I really wanted to do the PAP, but did not have the money for the expensive settings. So when I saw those pendants, I jumped on it! And you are right, it was just as fun, maybe even moreso b/c I didn't feel guilty about spending too much! But yes, they will set the pearls for you. And one good thing about those carriage pendants is that the pearl just "floats". It isn't mounted in any way so if you wanted to change the setting in 10 years or whatever, you could do that.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

This was our first trip to Hollywood Studios. We all really liked the park, but DH LOVED it. There is a lot of "guy" stuff there. Super Soap Weekend was starting the next day. Disney doesn't do this anymore though. I had no interest in it since I don’t watch soaps, so I made sure we got to HS before this started.

That Christmas Minnie has been on so many adventures with us around the world!

I wish I had some Disney landscapers to come do my yard!

Even if you are too chicken to ride, they will still take your picture in front of ToT!

DH thought the Indiana Jones show was awesome! This is what inspired him to buy that hat that has haunted me ever since!

Speaking of that hat.................. I thought I’d post a picture of the snowman we built last week...........

Do you remember the hat in the show “Frosty the Snowman?” I was so hoping that the wind would carry our hat across town as well. I’d be more than happy to let the magician have it!

OK, back to the show!

There's lots of fighting and things blowing up. It really is a man's paradise.

Then I was tormented by these...................

Yes, those are the Osborne Lights. They were up, but would not be turned on! That was like rubbing salt in the wound!

Our snowman friend again! Can you believe he lasted a year in the Florida heat?!

We ate lunch at the........................

We took the advice of many Disers and stuck with the burgers and fries and it was all very good!

Time for a little 3-D action on Toy Story Mania!

Pathetic!

Continued in next post........................

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

We loved Playhouse Disney! We didn't get to do this on our '09 trip and I regret it. I'm worried that DD will be too old for it by the time we get back!

More hard working mops. I'll take these as well as those landscapers!

We watched and LOVED this show...............

I remember that all day some guy with a rather large head had been sitting in front of me at every show. It started with Indiana Jones. Then at the Little Mermaid, another tall guy with a big head sat in front of me again. Well when we went into the theater, I told DH to find a seat that wasn't behind anyone tall or big headed! We found pretty good seats near the front with a family of five sitting in front of us. They had all three kids on the end, so DD and I sat behind them and we could see fine. All was well until five minutes into the show the father decides, for no apparent reason, to reposition his whole family and sit in front of ME! And his head was twice as big as the other two guys head's had been! My DH was cracking up at me over that! I had a very hard time getting pictures!

We had planned on eating dinner here, but it was closed!

We watched Fantasmic before heading out. We all adored this show. I really wanted to see it again in '09 but I wasn't willing to get into the mobs that I had heard about since they have cut back on the number of performances. Maybe next time.

Coming up in the next flashback are our Animal Kingdom highlights!

Just thought I'd let you know what's left in the flashbacks so you can see if there is something coming up that you are interested in. So here's a list of highlights to come:

Rainforest Cafe (dinner)
Crystal Palace (breakfast)
Grand Floridian Photo Session
1900 Park Fare (dinner)
MVMCP
Sea World
DTD
Meeting THE REAL Santa