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

[Dancegrl624]

What age would you say that guide is for? I'm hoping my DD is old enough to get her own guide next year. She will be 6. She can read very well for 6 but I would still like it to have a lot of pictures to help.

The Guide to the Magic book is incredible! We bought it for our DD last year when she was 6 and it was perfect. We plan on buying her another one for our Sept trip. Since it's just the 3 of us, she would pull it out while my DH or I was riding something she couldn't or wouldn't ride. There are journal pages in the back and there's a sticker for every single attraction. I highly recommend it.

 

[Native NYer]

I need to order the Guide to the Magic this weekend!

 

[DisMomAmy]

We love the Guide to the Magic too! We got one for each of our boys last year and a new one for DS9 this year. DS6 (5 last year) didn't use it much so he could re-use his this year (which we forgot to pack so he'll have it for next year...) but DS9 used it so much last year that he needed a new one for this year's trip. He filled in the pages and stickers every night.

 

[SunnieRN]

Thirteenth birthdays are SO special!! I hope your Disney wishes come true, but am certain that Chelsea will have a most wonderful birthday, regardless!!! Love your Veras! I got three mini hipsters, for me, daughter and dear friend, for our trip in a few weeks!

Looking forward to more trip planning and decisions!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Oh you ladies had an awesome time!!

We did have a great time together!

Agreed.

Connor wants a Disney trip, but since it is for Chelsea's b-day, I think I may have to resign myself to Hilton Head.

how fun! I've always wanted to try Pappasito's I've heard how great it is! Hey let me know the next time you have an ATL dis meet, didn't realize how many are here! )

The beach will be fun,and you all will get back to Disney sooner than later I'm sure! Joey got the first kingdom keeper book for Easter.

Pappasito's is very yummy, and Pappadeaux's -- its sister restaurant is right next door. I will definitely let you know the next time we meet up!

Has Joey started Kingdom Keepers yet? We all love that series at our house.

I'm sure that Chelsea thinks a beach vacation sounds just peachy! It certainly doesn't sound like she is going to cave either.

Hilton Head is going to be fun.
Just start working on that October trip...

I just know you had a super fun lunch yesterday!

Well, I have a bit more news on that front...the summer trip that is...

We had a great time at lunch! It was neat to meet everyone!

Jackie, oh my goodness, Chelsea is getting more beautiful and grown up by the minute! Although I am sad for you that you have no Disney parks this summer, I do admire a girl who stands up for herself!!!

I am excited that you got to have a Dismeet! Sounds like you had a great time!!!

Chelsea can certainly stand up for herself, and I know it will stand her in good stead in later years.

She is growing up so quickly! When I look at the pictures from last summer, I am amazed at how much she has changed in just one year.

Joining in on you PTR and am COMPLETELY understanding the changing of mind and vacation spots! It's hard to decide where to stay and IF financially it's going to work. SO happy that you have decided on the Hilton Head. It'll be nice to read all about it, as I don't know much. You and your daughter share the same dream hotel as I do. One day we'll get there.
Thank you for chaptering (if there is such a word) your PTR. It was so much easier for me to catch up on the report.
Enjoy your weekend!

Welcome!!! I am so glad you came over! I know Hilton Head will be a nice vacation -- I am just kind of bummed that we will be missing the Main Street Electrical Parade.

but she was so cute when she said it! she really is an adorable girl and very well-mannered. good job, jackie!

Ah, thanks, Dawn! Chelsea is always fun to take places.

definitely! you, heather and i are only about an hour away from each other. we need to figure out a halfway point and do this more often!

Agreed!!! We should make plans for something fun -- there are always fun things around Atlanta!

we missed you but totally understand. hope you had a good time at the party for your BIL!

We did -- there was lots of laughing and more good food -- it was kind of the theme for last Saturday.

What a nice DIS meet.

It was a wonderful lunch with friends!

What a fun lunch! The picture is great and I'm telling you, Chelsea is just getting prettier every day! I agree with MeMom - she's getting tallllllll. Will you identify who's who in the pic for us?

Pappasito's always has so much food - we always end up bringing home the leftovers.

Thank you! Chelsea is getting tall, but she seemed a bit taller with her wedge shoes on that she was wearing. She is always looking for a chance to wear them because I won't let her wear them to school.

Sounds like you and Chelsea had a wonderful lunch with the DIS gang.

Doesn't Chelsea know you'd be at the beach.......................Carribbean Beach, that is!

We did have a great time! Chelsea wants to boogie board in the ocean -- I don't know if Caribbean Beach would be the same to her.

 

[Charleston Princess]

What a great DIS meet you guys had!

I'm glad to hear Chelsea is happy with the decision for the summer trip and I know once you go you will be too. After July, I don't know when our next trip to Disney will be either so I can mourn with you

We did have a great time with everyone! Once I am there, I know I will have fun, but right now, I am in a "pouting" phase. LOL!

Looks like a fun meet-up! And this restaurant sounds yummy, where is it? I don't think I've ever heard of it before.

Thanks! Pappasito's is on Windy Hill Road. It's very easy to get to since it is right off I-75. They have a sister restaurant called Pappadeaux's that serves Cajun food, and it is equally good.

What a lovely lunch you ladies had!


Kathy

We had a great time laughing and visiting with everyone!

Glad you guys had such a great time!!!! That picture is so awesome of all of you!!!!! You are going to have a great summer vacation at Hilton Head!

Thanks! I was quite pleased with the pictures since I usually end up looking like Quasimodo in most of them. LOL! Hilton Head is bound to be fun -- I just worry about being bored -- there is only so much beach I can take.

That's awesome that you all got to have lunch together!

I was so pleased that we were all able to meet up!

What a great DIS meet! It sounds like you all had a great time together.

We did! We did!

How much fun that you were able to meet everyone like that! I think that would be a great way to spend an afternoon! It looks like everyone had a nice time! So beach vacation it is, right? The way you wrote it, I was half thinking you were still reconsidering! No matter, maybe that F & W festival trip will become your annual fix?!!!

We had a blast meeting up with everyone! Beach vacation it is -- almost for sure at this point. I still have until June 3rd to make a final decision, but I think we will end up at Hilton Head. Food and Wine would be a nice compensation for not going this summer.

What a fun lunch! Had you met any of them before? I've read parts of Punkin's TR in prep for our visit to GA and SC (which was awesome!) but have only seen the names of the others. Looks like it was a great ladies lunch!

It was the first time we had met everyone, but Dawn had met Heather, MeMom, and Jill before.

Hurray for a fun lunch. Great pic of all of you!

Thank you, Mary!

What a fun dismeet!

I can't believe how old Chelsea looks...she looks closer to 14 than 12.

It's all that make-up she piles on, I think. LOL! I am having a hard time believing I will have a thirteen-year-old in just two months.

 

[Charleston Princess]

what a great DIS meet! Chelsea looks adorable, it's fun to see them change actually, what a lovely little lady! And it was nice to see you with your hair down ...not as in let loose down, as in non-pulled back down lol!

Thanks! Unfortunately, Chelsea is going through that phase where she doesn't think she is pretty, but I know one day she will look back and think, "Hey, I was pretty cute!"

I almost always wear my hair pulled up in a ponytail, but I decided to leave it down since it was a special occasion and all. LOL!

I need to read those, just finished up Peter and the Starcatchers and as soon as Eric finishes the first Kingdom Keepers...it's mine!

Enjoy!!! I read a ton of books in April between spring break and state testing, but May I have been kind of in a book slump. Nothing is really grabbing my attention for long.

What a lovely picture of you ladies, so cool you were able to get together. Funny seeing so many familiar Diser's in the same photo. Glad you had a good time!
Lesley

Thanks, Lesley! It was great to finally meet up with everyone and enjoy a delicious lunch and visit.

I LOVE that you all were able to meet up!!!! What a fun day you all must have had indeed!!!!! I can't believe being around that many DISers didn't make Chelsea want to change her mind!!!!! Silly girl!!!

We did have a blast! Time really flew by during lunch! Well, Chelsea is quite stubborn.

Hi Jackie!! I'm all caught up with your PTR!! How fun that you got to have lunch with other DISers!! And now you're not going to Disney?! (I know--it's been awhile for me--I'm out of the loop)

Hi, Becky! No, as it stands now, we will be headed to Hilton Head and staying at the Disney resort there. It will be something new and different, but still Disney! I am hoping that Charles and I can go to Food and Wine again for our anniversary.

Hi Jackie!
Hope you're having a great Monday.
Have you gotten Guide to the Magic for your kids? I'm trying to figure out if it would be worth ordering for my nephew. I'm not so impressed with the Birnbaum's DW for Kids book.

Well, it was a Monday, but now it's the weekend, so I am in a much better mood. LOL!

We did have the Guide to the Magic a couple of summers ago. It is a great book with lots of things for the kids to do in it (and stickers for all the rides/attractions they do). My only thing is that it was too big to bring into the parks with us, but Chelsea and Connor liked filling it all out in the hotel room at night.

What a fun DIS Meet!!! Chelsea is just adorable.

You are going to have a great time on your vacation!!! I am so anxious to read about it

Thanks! I am so ready for a vacation, but it is still two months away. I don't want to wish my summer away, but I am ready for an escape!

Love the picture. Sounds like you had a great time. I can't wait till I can read your beach report. I think that is where we are going to go next. Well after our August trip.

Thanks! We have been to Hilton Head several times before but have never stayed at the Disney resort before. I am looking forward to trying it out.

ok WOW I was wayyyy behind. But now I'm back and hopefully for good because I'm finally done with school for the summer!! So I can focus more my time to the dis again!

Hurray for being done with school for the summer!

Thanks for the Zoo pics! I absolutely love animals and zoo's and I haven't been in about 2 years and I REALLY need to go.

It was the perfect way to kick off our spring break.

I love looking at old pictures from past trips- whether they are from disney or not. Even though I have more recent trips and pictures, my favorite pictures to look at still are when DH and I went to WDW in Jan. 2005. This was my first time returning to disney since I was in 4th grade, and this was DH first time ever in FL that he could remember. idk what it is about that trip-we didn't have the dining plan, we didn't dine at a lot of places actually, it was a short trip, it was our first time flying.. and horrible time at that.. but that trip is just sooo magical! My mom also has pics from the WDW trip.. and maybe someday I will borrow them and upload a few!

It's so fun to look back at the pictures and remember the past trips.

I COMPLETELY understand your feelings on the trip change. If I could, I would go to disney every year- and because right now I'm still in school, and with DH's job he only get 6 1/2 days off for vaca a year- it kind of makes it hard to take more than one trip. Actually yesterday morning, we took a little walk and I ended up taking this new backpack I got- which is a small compact, shoulder bag- which I plan to use for work as well.. and Austin said- this would be a perfect bag for disney, and then we started talking about disney.. and he said "We're not going to go to disney every year, there are other places I want to go to". And I argued that once we are both done with school and everything that we will be able to take more than 1 vaca a year. But then after I thought.. I am being kind of selfish.. I mean DH loves WDW, but for the last like 4 years- we have only went to disney for our "big" vacations.. and I can't expect him to go to disney every year if we can't afford to go one 2. Plus, I REALLY want to go to other places too.. Georgia, S.Carolina, Tennessee, other cities in FL, and other countries.. so I really need to be flexible. I think my problem is- is that I could go to disney many times in one year, and only going one year to disney is not enough for me. So when someone says "you can't go every year- maybe every other year" that seems like a huge sacrifice! BUT I never thought of Disney's other vaca ideas.. and the Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort would be perfect because its in S.Carolina, on the beach, and has a little feel of disney!

Yes, sadly, "some" people want to go other places than Disney. I only agreed to Hilton Head if we could stay at the Disney resort there -- I am looking forward to trying it out.

What a lovely group of Dis ladies we have here. Wonderful picture, even with the partially hidden MeMom. So typical.... LOL!!!

You know MeMom had to try and hide.

I think Chelsea was probably thinking 'silly girls' about us most if the meal. We were a bunch of grown women laughing hysterically. She was probably praying that none of her friends walked in.

Oh, she's used to "silly girls" laughing hysterically! She loves to lurk when I have friends over for girls' nights.

Plus, Heather and Dawn were trying to steal her shoes!

Oh, she was tickled pink about the fact that Heather and Dawn liked her shoes! She loves it when others like her clothes and shoes.

 

[Charleston Princess]

If she only knew how many others would have gladly traded her places to have a chance to sit in on THAT DISmeet!!!! Jackie, I am sure if you start telling her how envious so many of us are of her right now, she would SURELY change her thinking!!!! I am so glad that so many of you were able to meet up! I am sure there was MUCH fun to be had...with that crew for sure!

Chelsea had a lot of fun at the lunch meet as did I! It really was such a blast!

Chelsea loved it that others liked her shoes! She's my fashion girl for sure.

What age would you say that guide is for? I'm hoping my DD is old enough to get her own guide next year. She will be 6. She can read very well for 6 but I would still like it to have a lot of pictures to help.

There are lots of pictures, so I think she would be the perfect age for it.

Jackie - how did you go about making a reservation at Hilton Head? If you're not DVC and doing a cash ressie, do you have to call?
TIA

I did it online. If you go to http://www.disneybeachresorts.com, you can make cash reservations for both Hilton Head and Vero Beach.

such a nice way to spend a Sat afternoon I agree...what fun to have a little Disney magic close to home...

It was a lovely way to spend our Saturday afternoon!

The Guide to the Magic book is incredible! We bought it for our DD last year when she was 6 and it was perfect. We plan on buying her another one for our Sept trip. Since it's just the 3 of us, she would pull it out while my DH or I was riding something she couldn't or wouldn't ride. There are journal pages in the back and there's a sticker for every single attraction. I highly recommend it.

It is great! We just didn't like the big size of it -- it made it too bulky to carry with us.

I need to order the Guide to the Magic this weekend!

Have fun with it!!!

We love the Guide to the Magic too! We got one for each of our boys last year and a new one for DS9 this year. DS6 (5 last year) didn't use it much so he could re-use his this year (which we forgot to pack so he'll have it for next year...) but DS9 used it so much last year that he needed a new one for this year's trip. He filled in the pages and stickers every night.

That's what Chelsea and Connor liked to do with it!

Thirteenth birthdays are SO special!! I hope your Disney wishes come true, but am certain that Chelsea will have a most wonderful birthday, regardless!!! Love your Veras! I got three mini hipsters, for me, daughter and dear friend, for our trip in a few weeks!

Looking forward to more trip planning and decisions!!

Thanks and welcome!!! I am looking forward to planning a special celebration for Chelsea while we are at Hilton Head!

Which Vera patterns did you get?

 

[Charleston Princess]

Not much to update this weekend, but I do have some odds and ends to share.

Chelsea announced in the car on the way to school the other day that she would be fine if we decided to go to Disney this summer. Now before everyone begins posting dancing bananas, I don't think I am going to take her up on the offer.

Why, you say???

Well, because when she said it, it was in one of those resigned voices. I could tell she wasn't saying it because she wanted to go, but because she was saying it to make me happy. Also, after questioning her about it, it turns out that she wants to go because according to the Disney Blog site, Disney Parks are releasing sets of those silly bands that the kids are all wearing on their wrists, but when they take them off, morph into shapes and animals. Well, she wants some Disney ones, but if they are as hard to find as the regular ones are around town, it would be a shame if we got down there and couldn't find any.

So, I started thinking about why I want to go so badly to Disney this summer -- aside from the obvious reasons. It comes down to me wanting to see the Main Street Electrical Parade and eating at all the places where we have made reservations. I know those restaurants will still be there on the next trip, and while I do want to see the MSEP really, really, really badly, I don't know if it is worth the heat and the crowds to try and do it. Those of you that have read my trip reports in the past, know how my family (namely Charles) is in the heat. It could have the ingredients of a disastrous trip.

On the other side of the coin is the Hilton Head trip. My main worry about that is just how much beach time I can really stand. I like the beach, but what if we are bored after a couple of days??? I am used to having lots of things to do on vacation. I would hate it if we ran out of things to do. I am just hoping we find plenty of things to do while we are there. I think some of my future posts will be about the activities we are planning while we are there. I hope I am worrying needlessly about the boredom factor. What sort of updates about trip plans would everyone like to read?

In other news, we are down to two weeks of school! Hurray! Hurray! I found out I am going to have to move classrooms for next year which I hate to do, but at least I have a job. With all the cuts that have been happening, I count myself very lucky!

Hope everyone has a great weekend and a wonderful Mother's Day!

 

[IluvXU]

I had no idea those bracelets are such the thing... the girls have a pack, but are too little to care!

I am interested in all the fun you have planned at HH. I bet they have tons of resort activities too.

Two weeks... I am jealous!

Moving rooms is no fun, but the cuts in teaching everywhere make us realize we are lucky I guess to still be employed.


Happy Mothers Day!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Zach has just discovered those bracelets recently... I saw a girl this week who had about 50 on each arm!

I'm sure you guys will find plenty to do at HH!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Jackie, I have seen those bracelets around here. So I have a good idea what they are....
Shall I keep an eye out for you while we are down there?
I'd be more than happy to grab some up if I see them.
Just let me know...

 

[Hedy]

I like Chelsea's logic.

 

[Native NYer]

I love how Chelsea wants to go to Disney to shop!
I've seen those bracelets here. The technology teacher and school nurse give them out for birthdays.
If you don't get to Disney this summer (there's still time to change your mind ) I'd be happy to ship some to you in August.

 

[Lady Lallie]

I feel so uncool, I have no idea what bracelets you are talking about.

I understand you not wanting to take Chelsea up on her offer. It's hard decision to make because I wouldn't want to deal with the crazy crowds or hot hot hot weather either. Been there, done that.

I'm like you though, the Beach vacation doesn't always appeal to me because I'm not one that can sit in the sand and be happy for an entire week. I need to have plans and things to do, that is more relaxing for me. Weird but true.

I think it's a good idea to research some activities, there has got to be lots of fun stuff to do around there.

 

[andrews1ma]

Those silly bracelets are now banned from my son's 5th grade class, in fact I think they are banned from the entire school...period! Ohh but Andrew would be sooooo tempted to go back to Disney just to score a pack of those babies. He went out with my neighbor and her kids last night to Target, and they stopped at Hallmark where he then borrowed the mom's phone to ask if he could borrow $10 from her to buy to packs of those silly bands because apparently they got in some rare ones...this is insane! I wish I would have invented those little suckers...I'd be rich! I am sure Andrew would love to trade with Chelsea, he has tons of doubles!

Anyhow in regards to HH I was looking into the Disney resort and wondering if this resort is located on the beach, or some type of bay. When I was reading about the resort it seemed to be a little bit away from the beach, or maybe on it's own beach. We really want to do that , hopefully this summer. Andrew and DH like to fish and apparently there is fishing on the resort. I cant wait to hear about your HH trip. Oh and I hear ya on the heat in Disney thing, that is definitely a recipe for misery!

I am heading to go see Wicked in about an hour, and I promise to start my trip report soon, laundry is done...but I still have no title, I may just call it " The wonderful trip report with no title" trip report!

 

[Dancegrl624]

I have no idea what bracelets you're talking about. Where can you find them??

I'd love to hear about little things you have planned for your beach trip. I'm like you...I'm afraid I'd be bored after a few days. I like having things to do.

 

[999ghostslover]

Silly Bands are really a Georgia, Florida, Alabama thing. Although they have been catching on this spring in other places. I "believe" they were invented in Alabama. I asked my mom to get some for DDs Christmas stocking around Thanksgiving. She lives in SC. She likes to have a little project to obsess over. Every store she went into had never heard of them. Whereas stores here were posting banners out front saying "Sillybands are being stocked this Saturday" and people would line up. They are cute but stupid. The slap bracelets or pogs of this generation. At least they are cheap!

 

[manntra]

Hi Jackie!! What a wonderful dismeet you had for MP!! I am sure that MP was wonderful too...that is one of my favorite movies!
I met so many nice disers on my trip. Everyone is just as they are on the boards and it was like seeing long lost friends
I think I saw those bracelets in one of the stores last week....there was nary a store I missed are they thin almost like a livestrong but much thinner and with a snap If so then I just don't get the appeal

Tracy

 

[ampc3]

I think for some reason the silly bands are more popular right now in the south, my sister's son in the midwest and friends of our from Canada had no idea what they were..

The beach if nothing else will be soo relaxing.. Disney isn't going anywhere and I'm sure it will be sooner than later for you anyway I know can't believe we only have 2 weeks left! Not looking forward to next year with all the class size increases...