Top Secret Pixie Dust! A Surprise 13th Birthday PTR! NEW! TRIP REPORT LINK PAGE 220!

[yinyanggirls]

GF pics make me want to start planning for a trip now. You will have an amazing time. Diana pics were neat. My mom was always fascinated with the royals, maybe it's a family history thing as she has traced all of our lines back to the beginning of time LOL. It was always fun to know that real princesses did exist. What fun to go with your daughter!

 

[Happy Elf]

Sounds like you had a fabulous day. It looks like a neat exhibit.

 

[TarzansKat]

I, much like you, am in awe of that wedding dress. Truly, truly amazing. What a great exhibit and how wonderful to share it with your daughter.

 

[addictedtothemouse]

GF pics make me want to start planning for a trip now. You will have an amazing time. Diana pics were neat. My mom was always fascinated with the royals, maybe it's a family history thing as she has traced all of our lines back to the beginning of time LOL. It was always fun to know that real princesses did exist. What fun to go with your daughter!

This sounds like my mom. She's our family genealogost.

 

[yinyanggirls]

This sounds like my mom. She's our family genealogost.

I think my mom got bored when she finished our lines, so she started learning about all the royals. Of course, a true genealogist will tell you that it's never really done. She did find out that we are related to "Old King Cole", but he wasn't really a King.

 

[Charleston Princess]

That was one heck of a wedding dress!!! I guess I had forgotten how gorgeous it was!

I spent forever looking at it and walking around it. It was hard for me to leave.

You weren't kidding about pricey souvenirs!!! I am so cheap that I would have gone into shock!!

I was in shock. I kept wondering where the $4 magnets were.

Sounds like a great morning! A little girl time is always fun. Glad to hear you had a good time.

Girl time is great, and this weekend it is Connor's turn for some mom/son time.

OH........... I had to come back and add that your "French" horns sound delicious!

I wish I still had one. LOL!

Thanks for sharing. I'm so glad you had a good time. I can't get over how much fabric there was on her wedding dress. Wow! What a fairy tale that wedding was. But I guess her life was far from a fairy tale, huh? So sad.

My mom was telling me that a woman handmade all the lace on her wedding dress.

It is so sad that the rest of Diana's marriage wasn't as magical as her wedding.

Thanks for sharing it! So what did Chelsea think of it all? As I recall she asked who Princess Diana was? She bought a souvenir mug so I am guessing she liked it??

Chelsea did enjoy it. She was all teary-eyed in the funeral section.

Wow, very nice. Now I feel bad. The exhibit is 15 mins away from my house and I still have not visited!!

My vision isn't the best without my glasses, but did I see where that mug cost $25.00?

Now, talk me into going Jackie!!

Oh, you must go! Madi would like seeing that dress, and it is here until June!

Yes, the souvenirs were outrageously priced -- there was a plate that was $200!

Jackie,

Since the weather is awful here in Georgia, I have something that might cheer you up during this winter's month.

Imagine waking up at the GF and seeing this view while sipping on coffee...

Big comfy beds...

After a long day in the parks, imagine sitting out here...(excuse Madi-Gosh she was little)

Now your turn, do me! Make me happy. Lol

Love them all!!! I don't think I can possibly top that!!!

Wow! That looks like an amazing exhibit! Wonder if it's coming anywhere near me, maybe Dallas? I'll have to google it!

Is Dallas near you? My FIL lives in Arlington!

That looks absolutely amazing! I am so glad you got to see it.

The souvenirs at the Harry Potter exhibit were super expensive, too! I saw some things I wanted, like a really cute t-shirt, but even the t-shirt was around $40. Charles made some crack about how the souvenir shop was an exhibit, too, because you couldn't buy anything, just look.

I felt the same way about the Diana shop -- that I should just think of it as an exhibit!

That wedding dress is beautiful! I love the train. And the tiara is amazing.
Glad you and Chelsea had good day at the exhibit.

It was such an amazing exhibit.

The King Tut exhibit with be at the Discovery Times Square Exhibition Center. I plan on taking my class as well.

Right now, the Leonardo da Vinci Workshop is there. I'm planning on visiting that before it closes and King Tut opens.

The da Vinci exhibit would be neat to see.

Oh my gosh, how cool! That must of been so amazing to see! I love the dress!
Chelsea is growing into such a pretty young lady! Do you have any recent pictures of Connor and Chelsea to share?

Thank you! I do have some recent pics -- I should do an update with them.

So glad you had some family time doing something you very much enjoyed today. I, too, watched to wedding, and a few years and a lot of chaos later, I watched those boys walk behind their mother at the funeral. So very sad. I think the boys will do a lot of good things for others in her honor.

I think so, too!

Can you picture yourself sitting out on that balcony this summer?
So awesome!

I can, I can! (Although I will admit, I was thinking about switching resorts earlier in the week. Somedays the price of the Grand even with the code is mind-boggling to me. )

Hello
I'm joining in on you PTR
We'll be staying at the Grand Floridian in July this year also, except we'll be there July 6th-13th. We'll miss ya'll by a couple of days.

Welcome! Are you as excited as I am about staying there???

 

[Charleston Princess]

I'm jealous for 2 reasons.

1. You got to see that wonderful exhibit with your family.

2. You were outside without winter coats. I have 2 feet of snow outside my door.

Thanks for sharing.

If it makes you feel any better it was 25 this morning. We are all wearing coats now.

Jackie, it looks like a fabulous exhibit! I don't blame you one bit for getting misty when you saw the wedding gown. I would have been a mess! What a wonderful way to spend some time with your parents and Chelsea. I love your purchases!

We had a great time. Charles was not suitably impressed with our new Christmas ornament though.

[Charles and Connor playing online games.....:rotfl2

Their favorite way to bond.

Wow! Sounds like you had a wonderful time at the exhibit!

I laughed when you said Chelsea rolled her eye at no texting!! Ahh teenagers!

When I told her to put away her phone, she said, "I'm not going to take pictures. I am just texting." I had to tell her that the guards wouldn't realize that.

Those really were some pricey souvies! Holy Moly! They're beautiful though and it's great that you got something to remember the day!

I really wanted a magnet and a few postcards. Oh well. I do like what we came home with though.

Wow! That DRESS!!!! And TRAIN!!! It must have been absolutely breathtaking to see in person...thank you so much for sharing your pictures! Love your ornament too!
Thanks for sharing the sun too!

Tracy

I absolutely caught my breath when I rounded the corner and saw the dress!

Oh very much enjoyed your update! Very nice to hear about it. Of course I do agree those are very costly things there -- but beautiful... the ornament is really precious! I guess you will be keeping those bags...

You know me too well. I love the bags almost as much as the ornament and the mug.

Sounds like a great way to introduce your daughter to a slice of history that really is memorable for many. What a neat opportunity. I felt the same way when I went to the museum exhibit in London -- but very special to see such personal belongings, notes, etc. Very big reminders that she was soooo young when she got married.

She really was -- she had just turned 20. You could really see how young she was in the wedding footage they had playing.

what a fun day you all had!!

We really did!!!

What a lovely afternoon! I can't imagine seeing the dress up close. Wow.

I LOVE that you wore your pearls!

It was an incredible experience!

You know I had to theme my jewelry to the outing.

Wow... that wedding gown... amazing! I remember watching the whole thing on TV. Seems like ages ago...


I don't know which souvie I like better! I'm a sucker for special Christmas tree ornaments, so I definitely approve of your choice!


Kathy

It does seem like ages ago. Hard to believe it was almost 30 years ago! Yikes!

I definitely wanted something that would remind me of seeing the dress.

What a wonderful day you had! I really like the ornament!

Thank you! We had a lot of fun!

WOW!! The Diana exhibit looks incredible!!! Thanks for sharing your experience with us! That wedding gown is AMAZING! And I love your souvenirs!!

It was so gorgeous! All the beading and lacework were so beautiful.

 

[MeMom]

I can, I can! (Although I will admit, I was thinking about switching resorts earlier in the week. Somedays the price of the Grand even with the code is mind-boggling to me. )

and

I am not bit surprised at your thinking. I'm on a tight budget right now, so even going value for ten nights is a lot of money.

A lot of money.

If you decide to change resorts scared1: and ), I'd still consider keeping the last night or two at Grand Floridian for Chelsea as a surprise. I don't think you'd be sorry if you switched to another resort (Beach Club! ) for part of the time, but I do think you'd regret not doing the Grand for her for at least a night or two.

 

[SoonerGirl]

Yes, the souvenirs were outrageously priced -- there was a plate that was $200!

Gee, Jackie, why didn't you pick one of those up??

Is Dallas near you? My FIL lives in Arlington!

It's not too far, 2 1/2 - 3 hrs south of here, depending upon who is driving
Don is in Dallas probably a couple of times a month for work. It's really not a bad drive at all.
Do you guys ever make it to Arlington to visit him? You know there is a Six Flags there

 

[Charleston Princess]

The exhibit sounds like it was so beautiful! What a great mother/daughter outing

And I LOVE that mug...its looks positively royal!

I like the mug Chelsea chose, too!

What a breathtaking exhibit!! I'm so glad that you had a great morning and a great trip to see it!! Your souvenirs are just gorgeous! Chelsea chose well on the mug!!!

I sort of wish all I had to do was give grades like Very good, well done, needs more work LOL!! Would make my weekends more fun instead of grading LOL!!

I wish we gave grades like that, too! Just think how quickly we would do report card grades!

Crap - why didn't I read your update yesterday when I would have seen all pictures? Your day sounds lovely. It would have been so wonderful to see all that cool stuff.

I remember when I was a little kid, my mom would always take me to the Philadelphia Art Museum and I would stare and stare at Grace Kelly's wedding dress. I thought it was so fascinating. I can only imagine seeing Diana's dress.

When I read about how you saw Grace Kelly's wedding gown, I rushed right over to the Philadelphia Art Museum's website. Do you know it is not currently on display??? I can see the picture online, but now I want to see it in person.

so glad you got to see this! i'm sure it was very memorable for you, your mom and chelsea. that train.....wow!!! and i have to agree with you - $25 for a coffee mug? that's worse than disney prices!

That was the exact comparison that I made -- you know the souvenir prices are outrageous when they make Disney prices look like a bargain.

the first year we ate there we both got a mojitocossee. it was like a mojito with pineapple juice, maybe? and then the second year i got a raspberry mojito (VERY yummy!) and ray got a cucumber collins. mine was awesome and his was....interesting. great if you love cucumbers!

The raspberry mojito is the one I was thinking of -- after the week I have been having, I could really use one.

Those pictures are amazing, Jackie! I am so jealous that you were able to see all of that. Sounds like it was well done.

I love your souvenir and Chelsea's mug looks so classy!

It was such a neat experience! I'll never forget seeing the dress.

That exhibit looks awesome. The wedding gown was just gorgeous!

In person, it was absolutely beautiful.

I'm so pleased you enjoyed the exhibition and how nice you could share it with Chelsea too

English report cards still stay stuff like good, very good it's only in the last year or two that they start putting grades on, it makes it very hard to actually know how the kids are doing

It seems so objective! I wouldn't know what to do without actual grades on Chelsea and Connor's report cards.

Thought you may like to know that (sorry it's slightly comlicated) my sisters FIL has just sold his London flat to Chelsy, Prince Harry's girlfriend and apparently he's moved in too. Get this though they asked for some furniture to be left so Prince Harry is now sleeping in the same bed my sister has

That is so cool!!!

Thank you for explaining the exhibit so well, considering you couldn't take pictures. I got misty-eyed just reading about you seeing her wedding dress. That had to have been such an awe-inspiring thing to see!

Denise

It was so neat to see the wedding dress!

What a life!

I love the souvenirs you both chose.

I know it. I would love to have jewels like that to wear to dinner. Although they might clash with the chicken nuggets we eat on a regular basis.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Looks like you had a great time at the Diana exhibit! I would love the jewels and the dresses - sigh...... Can you imagine having a train that long on your wedding dress? It's gorgeous, but I just have visions of it getting stuck in the car, in the door at the church, etc. Or maybe that's just what a klutzy person like me would do.

Oh, I lack any gracefulness, so I would manage to wrap that train all around myself. LOL!

Sounds like you all had a wonderful time. I would love to see all of it myself!

We had a lovely morning.

What a special day for you girls! I would love to see that exhibit up close! I don't know which I like better, the souvies or the bags?

I feel the same way -- I was quite excited about the elegant bags our souvenirs were placed in.

wow!! that exhibit looks awesome!! everything looks so beautiful!

The exhibit was really fun!

Sounds like you two had a great time.

We did, we did!

Sounds like it was an amazing day. That dress is so stunning.

I kept circling it and circling the dress -- the workmanship on it was amazing. What surprised me the most was it said Diana's mom paid 1900 pounds for it. That seems a bit of a bargain.

Well of course I did

Your description and those pictures of the exhibit made me tear up a bit. What a sad loss it was when she passed away. Her dress's train is just amazing!! Wow. I too am a fan of bringing souvies home for cheap. Good picks!

Thank you! Yes, I really am feeling the lack of a new magnet on my fridge, but I do like my wedding shoe ornament.

GF pics make me want to start planning for a trip now. You will have an amazing time. Diana pics were neat. My mom was always fascinated with the royals, maybe it's a family history thing as she has traced all of our lines back to the beginning of time LOL. It was always fun to know that real princesses did exist. What fun to go with your daughter!

Diana as a real life princess was part of her fascination to me. I thought that was so neat.

My dad and mom went through a family tree kick at one point.

 

[brookelizabeth]

$25 for a mug?! And an ornament?! Wowsers! I guess they expected only royalty would be attending the exhibit? However, it does sound, and look like, a fantastic event! That picture of the wedding dress made my jaw drop....wow. Just stunning.

I just read your update about the Grand as well....what a wonderful stay this will be! Chelsea is just going to flip! And, I think you guys will fit in just fine!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Sounds like you had a fabulous day. It looks like a neat exhibit.

The exhibit was very well done, and we had a great time.

I, much like you, am in awe of that wedding dress. Truly, truly amazing. What a great exhibit and how wonderful to share it with your daughter.

We had such a good time!

This sounds like my mom. She's our family genealogost.

Must be a phase that people go through.

I think my mom got bored when she finished our lines, so she started learning about all the royals. Of course, a true genealogist will tell you that it's never really done. She did find out that we are related to "Old King Cole", but he wasn't really a King.

I didn't even know Old King Cole was a real person. I learn the neatest things on the DIS.

and

I am not bit surprised at your thinking. I'm on a tight budget right now, so even going value for ten nights is a lot of money.

A lot of money.

If you decide to change resorts scared1: and ), I'd still consider keeping the last night or two at Grand Floridian for Chelsea as a surprise. I don't think you'd be sorry if you switched to another resort (Beach Club! ) for part of the time, but I do think you'd regret not doing the Grand for her for at least a night or two.

I am hoping once I do my taxes, I will feel differently. It seems like February always finds me questioning the cost of our Disney trips. I do really want to stay at the Grand Floridian though -- I think it would be an unforgettable experience.

Gee, Jackie, why didn't you pick one of those up??

It's not too far, 2 1/2 - 3 hrs south of here, depending upon who is driving
Don is in Dallas probably a couple of times a month for work. It's really not a bad drive at all.
Do you guys ever make it to Arlington to visit him? You know there is a Six Flags there

We have visited Arlington before, but we have never made it to Six Flags. I am such a Disney snob that even venturing to Universal seems like we would be slumming it (I know deep down that isn't really the case). We have driven by the Six Flags several times though.

 

[Charleston Princess]

$25 for a mug?! And an ornament?! Wowsers! I guess they expected only royalty would be attending the exhibit? However, it does sound, and look like, a fantastic event! That picture of the wedding dress made my jaw drop....wow. Just stunning.

It was a great exhibit -- I just wish the souvenirs had been more in my price range.

I just read your update about the Grand as well....what a wonderful stay this will be! Chelsea is just going to flip! And, I think you guys will fit in just fine!!!

As long as I can justify the expense in my mind, I think we will fit in okay.

 

[JenAusty]

The Princess Diana Exhibit seems amazing. Thanks for sharing that. I love her dress- and the very long train. I am a huge fan of long trains.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

We have visited Arlington before, but we have never made it to Six Flags. I am such a Disney snob that even venturing to Universal seems like we would be slumming it (I know deep down that isn't really the case). We have driven by the Six Flags several times though.

I'm so glad you said that! I was just wondering if any one else feels like I do about amusement parks. Perhaps it's because I'm not a thrill ride junkie, but I couldn't care less about other parks besides Disney. We used to go to the one at the Mall of America but now it's all Nickelodeon themed, there's less for young kids and more expensive.

 

[LISAMWDW]

Gorgeous suvee's you both picked out! Sounds like it was an awesome trip! I love Princess Di!

I wonder if my husband has a business trip to Atlanta so I can tag along?

 

[yinyanggirls]

According to my mom, Cole was a tapestry salesman and made a comfortable living. The people nicknamed him "Old King Cole" in jest. I love hearing the stories but hate doing the research part of family history.

 

[SoonerGirl]

We have visited Arlington before, but we have never made it to Six Flags. I am such a Disney snob that even venturing to Universal seems like we would be slumming it (I know deep down that isn't really the case). We have driven by the Six Flags several times though.

Oh, I don't like going to Six Flags either - all other theme parks do seem dirty and icky in comparison to Disney parks! Justin has gone once with the youth group at church, Jared has never been, although they have asked a few times, I just can't bring myself to go. We haven't done Universal yet either - I just hate to waste precious Disney time going off site to one of those 'other' places

 

[Charleston Princess]

The Princess Diana Exhibit seems amazing. Thanks for sharing that. I love her dress- and the very long train. I am a huge fan of long trains.

I am a huge fan of wedding dresses in general!

I'm so glad you said that! I was just wondering if any one else feels like I do about amusement parks. Perhaps it's because I'm not a thrill ride junkie, but I couldn't care less about other parks besides Disney. We used to go to the one at the Mall of America but now it's all Nickelodeon themed, there's less for young kids and more expensive.

Oh, I am so not into other theme parks. They just don't have the sparkle that Disney parks have.

Gorgeous suvee's you both picked out! Sounds like it was an awesome trip! I love Princess Di!

I wonder if my husband has a business trip to Atlanta so I can tag along?

If he doesn't, you should make him schedule one.

According to my mom, Cole was a tapestry salesman and made a comfortable living. The people nicknamed him "Old King Cole" in jest. I love hearing the stories but hate doing the research part of family history.

Very neat! I am the same way -- the research part is tedious, but I love all the stories!

Oh, I don't like going to Six Flags either - all other theme parks do seem dirty and icky in comparison to Disney parks! Justin has gone once with the youth group at church, Jared has never been, although they have asked a few times, I just can't bring myself to go. We haven't done Universal yet either - I just hate to waste precious Disney time going off site to one of those 'other' places

My kids have never been to the Six Flags here in Atlanta although they have asked to go. I just can't bring myself to take them -- we used to take our sixth graders when I first started teaching, and it just wasn't that much fun. As for Universal, I am the same way -- I just don't want to waste my Disney time. That may have to change with the addition of the Harry Potter land -- Connor is a huge HP fan.