*~Trading Snow & Slush For Pixie Dust~* Jan PTR - 1/17 - Photo Challenge Complete!

[Colleen27]

Disney Photo Challenge Day 2 - A picture of the character you're most like.

This one is easy - Belle.

Like Belle, I'm a little "odd" and a big-time bookworm. I spent so much of my childhood walking around with my nose stuck in a book that I had teachers tell me that I'd eventually be hit by a truck, something I haven't entirely outgrown... When we moved last, book boxes outnumbered all the others by almost 2 to 1 and even a wall of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves in my office hasn't been enough to let me unpack them all. I also share Belle's desire for adventure, hence my love of traveling and exploring, and her tendency to react from emotion without pausing to think things through (though fortunately there are no hungry wolves in my neck of the woods ).

 

[Colleen27]

Yay! I'm glad to see someone else is doing a photo challenge too! I'm really enjoying it and can't wait to see yours as well! Hey, our paths could briefly pass as we are arriving at POP on the 28th!

I stumbled onto the photo challenge after our last trip and knew I'd have to do it in my next PTR. I'm also trying to use only my own photos, though I already know I'll have to cheat on one of them.

I'll keep an eye out for you at Pop, though the 28th is going to be a long day for us. That's our last park day with an 11pm close at MK that night but we might be at the resort for a while during the day if it is warm enough to swim.

I think I'm going to call in the morning to make the change. The girls are dying to go back there, especially since the Hippy Dippy pool was closed on our last trip. DH doesn't care much about amenities because we spend so little time in our room anyway, and pointed out that we survived double beds just fine on our stays at CBR and POR. DM would appreciate the lower cost since my brother isn't working steadily right now so she's covering more of his trip than she originally anticipated. Plus at Pop you really can't end up too far from a pool; POR has the slide and hot tub but our Dec stay at CBR taught us that in cooler weather we mostly end up sticking to the quiet pool closest to our room rather than making the chilly wet walk back from the feature pool. And if we do run into unusually cold weather the more compact resort will also be a plus for less outdoor distance getting to the food court/mug refills and buses.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

I stumbled onto the photo challenge after our last trip and knew I'd have to do it in my next PTR. I'm also trying to use only my own photos, though I already know I'll have to cheat on one of them.

I'll keep an eye out for you at Pop, though the 28th is going to be a long day for us. That's our last park day with an 11pm close at MK that night but we might be at the resort for a while during the day if it is warm enough to swim.

I think I'm going to call in the morning to make the change. The girls are dying to go back there, especially since the Hippy Dippy pool was closed on our last trip. DH doesn't care much about amenities because we spend so little time in our room anyway, and pointed out that we survived double beds just fine on our stays at CBR and POR. DM would appreciate the lower cost since my brother isn't working steadily right now so she's covering more of his trip than she originally anticipated. Plus at Pop you really can't end up too far from a pool; POR has the slide and hot tub but our Dec stay at CBR taught us that in cooler weather we mostly end up sticking to the quiet pool closest to our room rather than making the chilly wet walk back from the feature pool. And if we do run into unusually cold weather the more compact resort will also be a plus for less outdoor distance getting to the food court/mug refills and buses.

Hey, just checking in and wanted to say that I think you are making a good choice by switching. The weather that time of year is so iffy...and when we were at POR in March you couldn't get near the hot tub it was so busy! Don't blame them, it was more hot tub weather for sure! Saving money is always a good thing, too.

 

[Marshay]

I'm actually a terribly impatient person IRL; I'm pretty laid back as a rule but hate waiting and uncertainty. But the planning and replanning helps to pass the time, and I think in a way I'd be more impatient with a trip we booked 6 months out and stuck to the original plans.

I have heard about the issues with the Seas pavilion and I asked on the YES thread to see if any classes have been cancelled but haven't gotten any response yet. I know that the class was cancelled once back in Oct, the same week they were cancelling Coral Reef reservations too, but I haven't seen any newer reports of cancellations. And they're still booking the class, unlike the tours which are already cancelled and off the schedule for January, so I think at this point maybe it is only the programs that actually go into the water that are being affected. If not, no big deal... When they cancelled the Seas class before they scheduled extra sessions of the Animal Kingdom class to replace it and I know Pocahontas would enjoy that one too.

Oh, good that Disney has a backup all planned if they need it.

I can't wait to hear about the YES program ... that is something my DD6 may like to do in the future. I think she may be a bit young now to do.

 

[Colleen27]

Hey, just checking in and wanted to say that I think you are making a good choice by switching. The weather that time of year is so iffy...and when we were at POR in March you couldn't get near the hot tub it was so busy! Don't blame them, it was more hot tub weather for sure! Saving money is always a good thing, too.

I called and made the change this morning, and I wish I would have had the video camera out for Boo's reaction. She did the cutest little happy dance! I booked a standard room and requested 50s, but I really don't think there's a bad location anywhere at Pop so I'm not worried about getting my request. I just thought it would be a nice little extra bit of if we ended up near Lady again.

Oh, good that Disney has a backup all planned if they need it.

I can't wait to hear about the YES program ... that is something my DD6 may like to do in the future. I think she may be a bit young now to do.

I'm looking forward to the class myself. It is such an interesting program that I'd never heard of until fairly recently, and it sounds really great. I think 6 is a bit too young, but she'll be old enough in no time; there are one or two classes for kids that age but most seem to be for upper elementary through teens.

 

[Colleen27]

See, this is why I started the photo challenge with more than 30 days left on the countdown... Because I knew there would be days I didn't get to it!

Day 3 - A picture of your favorite Disney memory.

This one took some thought. There are so many that it was really hard to pick one! But looking through my albums, this one jumped out at me. This picture itself isn't very good, but the memory is priceless.

My mom's gift for Pocahontas' 6th birthday was a short three night trip to the Beach Club. On the night before her birthday we were at the Pirate and Princess Party and she was chatting with the CM operating the Dumbo ride while we were waiting in line. It was almost midnight and the CM had closed the line for the last ride of the night. So Pocahontas, always an outgoing little thing, was telling the CM all about how the next day was her birthday and how her grandmother brought her all the way from Michigan to celebrate at the Magic Kingdom. We get on the ride and have our go-round, but as we're getting off the CM stops us and tells her to stay on for one last ride "to start her birthday off right". So she got to spend the first few minutes of her birthday flying over an almost-empty Fantasyland.

Of course that was a moment I chose to leave my camera with DM who wasn't riding but I took this picture in the "grounded" Dumbo vehicle to remember the evening by.

 

[Colleen27]

You know it is going to be a good day when you wake up to the two older kids already off to school (thanks DH!) and the baby saying "Mommy, I had a great dream."

Of course I asked her about what, and her response?

"Going to Pop Century to see Mickey!"

Yeah, I think my girl is happy I changed our resort.

Before I get to day 4 of the photo challenge I have yet another detour to share. This past week was the kickoff our our town's Christmas events, which start with the holiday lights parade and Santa himself meeting kids at the gazebo outside of city hall.

The parade is a fun event. Local schools, businesses, and organizations design lighted trailers/floats to parade down main street. Usually Pocahontas is in the parade with her scout troop, but she has been sick this past week so we watched from my nice warm van in a parking lot on the parade route this year.

The antique tractor club is my favorite entry. Funny story about that... We closed on this house on July 1, 2009 . And as we're moving boxes from my van to the house, down the road comes this procession of old tractors, probably 20 or 25 of them, some almost a century old. You can imagine what I thought about our new neighborhood! Well, as it turns out that was the tail end of the 4th of July parade, which uses a church on the next street over as a staging/parking area. So now seeing the old tractors in the parade always makes me smile.

And of course no Christmas parade would be complete without a visit from Santa.

After the parade, Santa takes his seat in the gazebo by city hall to meet with the kids. Boo had to go see him, of course. She asked for an iPad... the look on Santa's face was hilarious! (For the record she is NOT getting an iPad, but I may have convinced her that the LeapPad is an iPad for little girls... )

 

[Colleen27]

Day 4 - A picture of the way you know you're at a Disney park.

Of course my first thought for this one was the welcome arch or the castle, but then something crossed my mind that carries through all the Disney parks that has become such a part of the fun for us. So this is how I know I'm at a Disney park - by the hidden Mickeys!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Loving the pictures! It sounds like Boo is super excited about the change! Savannah LOVES POP, I've often thought that if they tried to surprise-upgrade us, I would have to decline b/c she would be pretty upset to go anywhere else!

 

[Marshay]

I'm looking forward to the class myself. It is such an interesting program that I'd never heard of until fairly recently, and it sounds really great. I think 6 is a bit too young, but she'll be old enough in no time; there are one or two classes for kids that age but most seem to be for upper elementary through teens.

yeah, I saw those 2 classes but agree with you...better to wait.

Years, and I do mean years ago I was able to take a class at WDW, too. It was soooo cool to go underground and see the utilidor...back then, hardly anyone knew about it so it was a b-i-g secret. I took the Entertainment class and it was amazing!

love the parade photos, and the story behind the old tractors!!

 

[Colleen27]

Loving the pictures! It sounds like Boo is super excited about the change! Savannah LOVES POP, I've often thought that if they tried to surprise-upgrade us, I would have to decline b/c she would be pretty upset to go anywhere else!

I'd have to decline too. It is funny, you read all the time on the resorts board that once you stay moderate you don't want to go back to a value, once you stay deluxe you get spoiled for moderates... For us it has been just the opposite. After staying at Pop and enjoying it so much, it has gotten much harder to justify paying higher prices for mods or deluxes!

 

[Marshay]

I'd have to decline too. It is funny, you read all the time on the resorts board that once you stay moderate you don't want to go back to a value, once you stay deluxe you get spoiled for moderates... For us it has been just the opposite. After staying at Pop and enjoying it so much, it has gotten much harder to justify paying higher prices for mods or deluxes!

This is great! Saves you guys money and you get what you love best! I haven't tried pop yet but I've only heard great reviews.

So neat that your DD even dreamt of it!

 

[Colleen27]

Day 5 - A picture of your least favorite attraction.

It would have been easy to say Stitch's Great Escape, but I'm mostly indifferent to that one. I don't enjoy it, but I don't care that it is there either. The one attraction that drives me crazy is the Mad Tea Party, not because it is a bad attraction but because it sits there in Fantasyland, colorful and tempting, but I know that riding it would ruin my day.

 

[Cin]

The teacups do look tempting don't they? And Alice rides them too. I would have issues if I rode them too, so I don't, but I do wish as I watch.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Yep! I can go on them, but I can't spin! Spinning makes me so sick, so I just sit with whoever doesn't want to spin and let the others grab a cup and spin until they're sick!

 

[Colleen27]

So, here I go again... More changes, some more disappointing than others.

First, the good. Pocahontas auditioned for the school production of Alice in Wonderland. She missed the auditions for the 2010 production of Beauty and the Beast because we were at Disney in Dec, and then didn't audition for Mulan the next year because the show was the same week as our Flower & Garden trip. So this was huge for her - she made me promise that this time we wouldn't plan for either of those weeks just so she could try out. I didn't expect her to get a major part, though! We'll hear back today or tomorrow on what she actually got, but she was one of three girls called back for a second night's audition for normal-sized Alice (this is a K-8 production, so they're looking for a younger girl for "small" Alice, an upper elem girl for "normal" Alice, and a middle schooler for "big" Alice). The downside is that one of the things they told the kids at the callback was that those cast in major roles need to commit to not missing practices.

I swear, one of these days we're going to run out of "safe" times of year to vacation altogether, with all these kids and all their activities!

Well, there are two scheduled practices the week we're planning on being gone and Pocahontas was in tears at the idea of choosing between playing Alice and going to Disney. But there is a saving grace... Because of the break that week, practice is Mon & Tues rather than the usual Thurs & Fri, so we could shift our dates by a few days and she wouldn't miss. So that's the not-disappointing change; if we get the call this weekend that she got a major role our dates are going to scoot from 21st-29th to 25th-1st. Four extra days on the countdown is nothing compared to watching Pocahontas in the play!

And now on to the not-so-good. The more disappointing change is one of those things that one just has to deal with when traveling with extended family. My brother needed some dental work and of course his off-and-on construction job doesn't provide insurance, so my mom is covering the cost. So she called to ask me if I'd be okay with scaling back to basic dining to make the trip more affordable for them. I'm not going to put a happy face on that one, it does bother me. I've gotten rather spoiled by all the signature dining and not having any OOP dining costs. But the restaurants will be there when we go back; this might be the only time I manage to pull together a trip that includes my brother. So I am reluctantly looking over the plans with an eye towards dropping the deluxe plan, though I haven't made any changes yet (mainly because I'm waiting until we hear about the play to save myself one trip through the maze of Disney's phone system).

 

[Colleen27]

The teacups do look tempting don't they? And Alice rides them too. I would have issues if I rode them too, so I don't, but I do wish as I watch.

Yep! I can go on them, but I can't spin! Spinning makes me so sick, so I just sit with whoever doesn't want to spin and let the others grab a cup and spin until they're sick!

Nice to know I'm not the only one. My kids think it is hilarious that I'll ride Everest and Tower of Terror (and much more extreme rides at Cedar Point) but won't go on the Tea Cups. Extreme, fast, high, and scary I can do. Spinning not so much.

 

[OziJo]

I swear, one of these days we're going to run out of "safe" times of year to vacation altogether, with all these kids and all their activities!

It's for this reason that we can only go away in Jan, our school summer holidays and the only time of year there are no activities!

I hope she gets the part A main part is worth a few days change. My niece recently played Alice in her school production and it was wonderful to watch. DD1 performed as part of the children's chorus and as dancer in our local Musical Society's Alice a few years ago. Alice is a great production to be involved with.

 

[Marshay]

love the tea cups -- we don't spin a whole lot but yeah, we get quite a few rotations and come off dizzy for a bit!

So glad to hear that Pocahontas may get a part! That is very exciting for her -- I hope she gets the part that she wants. If she doesn't get the Alice part, will they give her another role?

My DD6 was just in her first play over summer -- Rapunzel -- and she was one of the thieves. She loved it so much! So we signed up for the school play and found out she made. We'll miss one practice in January, too.

Sorry to hear about your brother's dental work and having to switch to DDP. But as you said, the signatures restaurants will still be there and if nothing else, you'll enjoy them even more the next time.

I would go so far as to say, why not skip the dining plans altogether for them and just have your mom and brother join you when you can. (I assume you have different rooms so can do DDP/DxDDP on one room and not on the other.) We've found if you skip desserts and drinks and the mug and aren't always ordering the most expensive items from the most expensive restaurants, then it's actually cheaper to pay OOP for meals and the DDP doesn't save.

(However, if you do really enjoy desserts, drinks, mugs, $$ entrees/restaurants, then, as you know, the DDP can save you money...)

Nothing says you have to have all the meals together, so you can still do some Siggies and they can enjoy some CS and save money. Or you can just concentrate on one or two TS to enjoy together.

The last thing you want is your mom and brother not really enjoying the meal b/c they are thinking more about the prices than the meal. They may not say it but they may certainly be thinking it the whole time...

Also, if one of you have an AP, why not get the TIW card...saves you and up to 9 others 20% off at TS dining and the CS in AK and at a few resorts. So that might be a better option. Not sure if you are familiar with that...

Anyway, those were my first thoughts.

Sorry, you have to change things again...

 

[Cin]

Yay for your daughter getting the callback and maybe the part of Alice! I'll bet she is sooo excited (and hopeful).

You know, even though you may not be dining at your favorite sit down restaurants, the bottom line is, you will still be at WDW. Isn't that what it's all about? Even the counter service places have the Disney touch and attention to detail and you might even find a new favorite. You'll get to experience something new at WDW. You'll also find a certain freedom in not having ADR's and making plans around them and most likely gain more park/resort time this way.

Sending you positive vibes and happy thoughts