Two for One: Double Disney Birthdays! *Meg nonTR upd 9/23* // *Help out Katie! 10/22*

[MeMom]

Monday November 1st: ME won't pick us up until about 3pm, so we have the morning/afternoon to do whatever we want

We have also decided to renew our AP's! After our GAD tickets and the 5-day park hoppers we are buying this trip and the $40 off for renewing its only $168 for an AP! Yay for another year of Disney!

I hope you can maybe meet up with dream*it*do*it and Wigd and Shocker while you are there. I also hope the weather is every bit as good to you as it was to us. It was beautiful!

Good for you getting to renew your AP's! I had to let mine lapse this time, but hope to get a new one in March.

We ended up sleeping in on our last day, getting everything packed, and then hanging out at the pool. It was really a good thing for us, as we usually try to do one more rush through Magic Kingdom. This ended up being a pleasant way to spend the day, and we weren't nearly as tired and the girls weren't exhausted when we headed to the airport.

 

[DisKate]

I hope you can maybe meet up with dream*it*do*it and Wigd and Shocker while you are there. I also hope the weather is every bit as good to you as it was to us. It was beautiful!

Good for you getting to renew your AP's! I had to let mine lapse this time, but hope to get a new one in March.

We ended up sleeping in on our last day, getting everything packed, and then hanging out at the pool. It was really a good thing for us, as we usually try to do one more rush through Magic Kingdom. This ended up being a pleasant way to spend the day, and we weren't nearly as tired and the girls weren't exhausted when we headed to the airport.

I have to admit, I've been bad about keeping up on your report as well as who is going at the same time we are. My schedule has been crazy these first few weeks of the semester.

I'm hoping the weather is awesome for us! Right now it is showing light showers for Thursday morning, which I could deal with.

I'm soooooo glad we get to renew our AP's. We weren't sure we were going to, but after doing the math it just makes sense.

I'm thinking we will probably be at the MK, but we might just start a bit later since we have MNSSHP the night before. I'm not sure I could sleep in, knowing its our last morning at Disney

 

[DisKate]

Hi! So since we are just one short week away I figured it was time to do a bit more planning. Since we are only there for 4.5 days, its a bit more important to me that we have some type of plan in place...so, here it is!

Wednesday October 27th: Leave for airport, arrive at MCO at 7:45pm and head to ASMo

Thursday October 28th: Open EPCOT in the morning, F&WF in the morning/afternoon, another park later in the afternoon, and then either F! or Illuminations (both at 9pm)

Friday October 29th: Open DHS (TSMM!!!!), possibly back to EPCOT for more F&WF, Dinner at Raglan Road (and some shopping!)

Saturday October 30th: Open AK, not sure what we will do this afternoon, Wishes Dessert Party and MSEP this evening (I'm expecting crowds to be horrible at MK this evening since MSEP and Wishes only play once over a 5 day period)

Sunday October 31st: We're not positive what we will do this morning, we may open MK, but since we are there the night before and will be staying that evenign for MNSSHP we may decide to go elsewhere

Monday November 1st: ME won't pick us up until about 3pm, so we have the morning/afternoon to do whatever we want

We have also decided to renew our AP's! After our GAD tickets and the 5-day park hoppers we are buying this trip and the $40 off for renewing its only $168 for an AP! Yay for another year of Disney!

Hi everyone! So since I am in grad school at the moment, two of my classes end this week, one tomorrow and one on Tuesday, meaning that I have a bunch of finals stuff due

So now to my question/help!!!! We planned on doing AK on Saturday 10/30, but last night while looking at the boards (instead of working on my finals stuff ) I found out that that day is Catholic Family and Youth Day at AK, which means the crowds are not going to be something that I want to deal with. Any suggestions on how I should rearrange?

 

[Megablocks]

Can you open AK on Thursday? And do Epcot on Saturday? Or were you trying to avoid Epcot on the weekend because of F&W? Or open MK on Thursday...I'm not great at planning/rearranging b/c I've never really planned on any trips. I did edit the title so hopefully someone better at this can help you out!

 

[DisKate]

Can you open AK on Thursday? And do Epcot on Saturday? Or were you trying to avoid Epcot on the weekend because of F&W? Or open MK on Thursday...I'm not great at planning/rearranging b/c I've never really planned on any trips. I did edit the title so hopefully someone better at this can help you out!

Thanks Megs...We're doing EPCOT on Thursday b/c of F&WF crowds...I asked in a different thread and everyone suggests keeping AK on Saturday and just winging it b/c of park hoppers....

 

[DisKate]

Hi everyone! I'm leaving today! Can't wait! I'll be posting pics and updates on Facebook and Twitter, so feel free to follow along. Meg might be able to do some updating on here, however Charles' grandmother just died about an hour ago, so she will be with him for the rest of the week. Please keep Charles in your prayers. I know that this is going to be hard for him.

 

[Cat0727]

Have a great trip, Katie!

Meg, I'm keeping Charles & his family in my thoughts

 

[Charleston Princess]

Have an absolutely wonderful vacation, Katie!!!

Prayers and hugs, Megs!

 

[Megablocks]

Hi everyone! I'm leaving today! Can't wait! I'll be posting pics and updates on Facebook and Twitter, so feel free to follow along. Meg might be able to do some updating on here, however Charles' grandmother just died about an hour ago, so she will be with him for the rest of the week. Please keep Charles in your prayers. I know that this is going to be hard for him.

Have a great trip, Katie!

Meg, I'm keeping Charles & his family in my thoughts

Have an absolutely wonderful vacation, Katie!!!

Prayers and hugs, Megs!

Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers for Charles and his family, it really does mean a lot. At work today, I got a LOT of people asking me about Charles and his family and asking me to offer their condolences to them, and Katie has been amazing with offering support and just being there to talk to, even despite the craziness of getting ready for Disney and being IN Disney, so Charles and I feel truly blessed to have her and Patrick in our lives. Charles's entire family is close and everyone has been helping everyone else. His grandmother had not been in good health for a couple of years (renal kidney failure and congestive heart failure), but she was taken to the ER a few weeks ago and needed a blood transfusion, so after that, Charles's mom, aunts, and uncles decided that in-home hospice care was the best way to go because it was decided that there was nothing else that could be done for her. I think it came as a relief for her; she told Charles's mom after she found out that she was a little bit sad and she was afraid of missing people, but she hoped that heaven was everything she thought it would be. She lost her husband to ALS in 1983, and she lost one of her sons to cancer six years ago, so everyone is taking comfort in the fact that she's finally with them. She and Charles's aunt were the first people outside of his immediate family that I met after we started dating, because they had been asking when they got to meet the girlfriend. This is literally the first thing she did after being introduced to me...after saying, "MEGHAN! It's so nice to finally meet you!" and embarrassing Charles a little bit...

She was an amazing lady with the best (and loudest ) laugh I've ever heard, and she always made me feel so welcome and accepted into the family. Her wake and funeral are tomorrow and Saturday so if you guys could think of Charles and his family during that time it would be so appreciated. Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers, like I said, it really does mean a lot.

Now, on a lighter note...where is the World is Katie?!

They spent the day at EPCOT and rode Soarin' an unmentionable amount of times, hit up WS, and did a bunch more things that I can't remember because I was so jealous about their riding Soarin' multiple times When she texted me a little after 4 she said they had a few more things to do (I think it included another ride on Soarin'), and then they were heading back to the room to refresh and take a nap. They're watching Fantasmic! tonight I think they are having pretty good luck with crowds (which is why they could ride Soarin' so many times), but it's really hot...when she texted me last she said it was like 91. It's been really warm here, too, so I can't imagine how much hotter it is there!

Have a great weekend, guys!

 

[MeMom]

She was an amazing lady with the best (and loudest ) laugh I've ever heard, and she always made me feel so welcome and accepted into the family. Her wake and funeral are tomorrow and Saturday so if you guys could think of Charles and his family during that time it would be so appreciated. Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers, like I said, it really does mean a lot.

Tell him your DIS friends will definitely be thinking of his family in the days ahead.

Now, on a lighter note...where is the World is Katie?!

They spent the day at EPCOT and rode Soarin' an unmentionable amount of times, hit up WS, and did a bunch more things that I can't remember because I was so jealous about their riding Soarin' multiple times When she texted me a little after 4 she said they had a few more things to do (I think it included another ride on Soarin'), and then they were heading back to the room to refresh and take a nap. They're watching Fantasmic! tonight I think they are having pretty good luck with crowds (which is why they could ride Soarin' so many times), but it's really hot...when she texted me last she said it was like 91. It's been really warm here, too, so I can't imagine how much hotter it is there!

Have a great weekend, guys!

See, I was going to say how happy I was for her, but this riding Soarin' thing a whole bunch of times is kind of getting to me. I mean, I want her to have a good time and all, but since I just had a short, short trip, and rode Soarin' only once, I'm not sure I can handle all this!

I saw her Fantasmic picture when I got here. I'd love to be in the crowd of thousands right now.

We were so lucky with our weather.

 

[Megablocks]

Tell him your DIS friends will definitely be thinking of his family in the days ahead.

I did and he's very appreciative. Thank you so much

See, I was going to say how happy I was for her, but this riding Soarin' thing a whole bunch of times is kind of getting to me. I mean, I want her to have a good time and all, but since I just had a short, short trip, and rode Soarin' only once, I'm not sure I can handle all this!

I saw her Fantasmic picture when I got here. I'd love to be in the crowd of thousands right now.

We were so lucky with our weather.

Right?! I'm so glad you see where I'm coming from!

I'm hoping that the weather stays okay for them, and that it doesn't rain, especially on Sunday for MNSSHP b/c Katie is really excited for that. And I saw the Fantasmic picture, too! I'm going to be really jealous when she's watching Wishes b/c that is hands down my favorite nighttime Disney show.

 

[photographymom517]

Meg -- You, Charles, and his family will all be in my thoughts & prayers during this difficult time! His grandmother sounds like she was truly an amazing woman! Thanks for sharing the story of how you met her! I loved the pic of you & her together!

Please remember during this weekend that you have tons of support here at DIS from all your friends!

Thank you for updating all of us on Katie's trip! I can't believe she got to ride Soarin so many times. When we went in June, you couldn't even find the end of the line! I hope she has a great trip & can't wait to hear about it once she gets back!

91 degrees! I am sooo jealous right now! (more jealous than the fact that she rode Soarin so many times! haha!) Today in PA, the high was around 58 and I believe tomorrow is supposed to be around 50. Needless to say, Trick or Treating is going to be freeeezing because the low temp is around 45

 

[photographymom517]

I'm hoping that the weather stays okay for them, and that it doesn't rain, especially on Sunday for MNSSHP b/c Katie is really excited for that. And I saw the Fantasmic picture, too! I'm going to be really jealous when she's watching Wishes b/c that is hands down my favorite nighttime Disney show.

I just read your reply to MeMom! I completely forgot that Katie is going to THE Halloween Party! I bet its going to be so exciting to be at Disney ON Halloween!!!! (I wish there was a pumpkin smiley or something to post right here.....)

I hope they get good weather as well. I bet they will because usually when it rains in Florida, it rains for 10 minutes and then stops! But hopefully it just won't rain at all. Ooooh...I just checked the weather for WDW and it shows a beautiful weekend! It says Friday 84 partly cloudy, Saturday 83 mostly sunny, and Sunday 87 sunny. It also showed Saturday & Sunday at 0% precipitation! Yippee!!!!

I am jealous that she's going to Fantasmic AND seeing Wishes! I can't wait to see her pictures!!!! I watch both shows on YouTube all the time...they are amazing!!!

 

[Cat0727]

Ohh Meg I nearly teared up looking at the pic of you and Charles' grandma. She sounds like she was such a wonderful woman! She reminds me of my grandma, I miss her

Katie's lucking out with the weather! It dropped more than 20 degrees in the past day over here and the wind makes it worse! She's so lucky she got to ride Soarin all those times.

 

[DisKate]

We're back! Yesterday was crazy for me, I got called into work early and then I started up my next round of classes...finance (again!)

The trip was wonderful! But hot! Last year it was comfortable, this year it was mid 80s to 90 every single day...and it didn't get too cool in the evenings.

I haven't been to Fantasmic in over a year, and I definitely didn't remember it being that crazy! Crowds were ridiculous.

Dinner at Raglan Road was awesome! Our reservation was for 6 and we stretched dinner out until 7:30 when the dancers came out, which made my mom's trip.

The Wishes Dessert Party was amazing! And we had awesome seats, despite the fact that another family decided not to sit at their table, and instead stood in front of us, which started a chain reaction of everyone standing at the railing

MNSSHP was packed! Basically all we did was buy pins, see Mickey&Minnie, watch the fireworks, parade, and villains show. We also got a little bit of candy. It was nice to go on Halloween, but I think if we go at that time again I would choose a party earlier in the week so that we could enjoy it more. Or go with Patrick's suggestion, which was to do two parties Have I mentioned that I love that boy?

The crowds that were supposed to be at AK for Catholic Youth and Family day apparently never got the memo. By 12 the Safari had like a 20min wait, EE was like 10, and Dino was 5. It was not what we were expecting at all.

I didn't take any notes on this trip (not many photos either) and just went with the flow of things, so I will probably just end up posting pics with a few captions. I'm off to meetings today, internship tomorrow, and Simon has to go to the vet on Friday (he's wheezing) but I will try to finish uploading pics from the March/May/June trips and get started on October.

Thanks for following along everyone!

 

[DisKate]

Hi everyone. The last couple of months have been very hectic for me. I finished off my semester on Dec. 23 and my grandmother passed away on Dec. 29th after breaking her hip right after Thanksgiving. It was a long process that had me going home a lot over the past few weeks to help out. I'm hoping to put up new photos over the next couple of weeks. I have a job interview at Babies R Us on Thursday and then on January 23rd we have plans to return to Disney...those darn AP's have been making a ton of noise from the drawer

 

[MeMom]

Seems like from October to now has truly flown by for a lot of people and been full of trials, too, on many different levels. I know you had many friends and family members who surrounded you during the passing of your grandmother. You can treasure memories of time spent with her and smile through your tears, I bet.

Going to Disney World will be such a good thing for you. The change in climate just in itself should make you feel good. That's one of the top things I love about spring trips - the warmth and aliveness of Florida after a cold Tennessee winter.

Good luck with your job situation, if this is the one that fits you best. If not, something better will come along. I need to go get another part-time job to fund my Disney madness. I'm just so spent after all day with 20 second-graders, I don't know how much good I would be for anyone. I already tutor until 5:30 Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I'm down to M-W-F availability. Wednesdays are faculty meeting days, and we never know what time we get to leave. I want to keep my weekends open to see the girls. Wonder if there is a M-sometimesW-F job that would work for me?