(UPDT: 2/21) Losing The Glass Slippers to RUN like a Princess! Serial-PTRer report!

[-Hope-]

These plans look fabulous! Just the perfect balance of fun and relaxation.

 

[Tinker326]

Oh Karen (and Lisa) what an awesome story. That totally made me smile. What a wonderful gift......... it's so nice to be reminded that GOOD THINGS DO HAPPEN in a world where we are bombarded with bad! So awesome!

Karen- my 1/2 portion is at Beach Club Villas in November. Let me know what you want me to scout out & take pictures of for you!!! I will also gladly check out the drink specials at Stormalong Bay- all in the name of you- of course....

Great plans so far! And love the pictures, as always!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

These plans look fabulous! Just the perfect balance of fun and relaxation.

Oh Karen (and Lisa) what an awesome story. That totally made me smile. What a wonderful gift......... it's so nice to be reminded that GOOD THINGS DO HAPPEN in a world where we are bombarded with bad! So awesome!

Karen- my 1/2 portion is at Beach Club Villas in November. Let me know what you want me to scout out & take pictures of for you!!! I will also gladly check out the drink specials at Stormalong Bay- all in the name of you- of course....

Great plans so far! And love the pictures, as always!

YES PLEASE scout out the drinks! Actually, that really is a good idea. As for photos, I'm dying to see the view from the BACKside and the FRONTside of the BCV! I know the front is the pool and canal, I have seen a lot of those shots, but I have no clue what the backside of the resort looks like looking towards the woods/epcot area. I'm unsure what side I want to request, so you could try to get that shot for me! Now I'm even more excited (if that is at all possible) that you'll be there before me to scout the place out!

 

[lisaviolet]

I will also gladly check out the drink specials at Stormalong Bay- all in the name of you- of course....
!

I like this woman.

Priceless.

YES PLEASE scout out the drinks! Actually, that really is a good idea. As for photos, I'm dying to see the view from the BACKside and the FRONTside of the BCV! I know the front is the pool and canal, I have seen a lot of those shots, but I have no clue what the backside of the resort looks like looking towards the woods/epcot area. I'm unsure what side I want to request, so you could try to get that shot for me! Now I'm even more excited (if that is at all possible) that you'll be there before me to scout the place out!

I'll try to find you some pictures Karen. Oh, I so wish I could come and cheer you on. kdsfjladskfjldskfjkldsfjladskfj. That's my frustration, you like it?

Okay, going to catch up on your plans. We could never ever vacation together. I HAVE NO PLANS.

 

[lisaviolet]

GOOD THINGS DO HAPPEN

Oh I have a great quote around this - where, where, where - hmmmm.

I thought it was from a book but I think it's from TV.

I'll be back, I'll try to find it.

 

[lisaviolet]

Oh Lord, it's Grey's Anatomy. Where's Kelly when you need her, Karen.

Here it is about how we view *bad things* and *good things*:

They hit you out of nowhere. When bad things come, they come suddenly without warning. We rarely get to see the catastrophe coming. No matter how well we try to prepare for it.
&
We do our very best but sometimes its just not good enough. We buckle our seat belts, we wear a helmet, we stick to the lighted paths. We try to be safe. We try so hard to protect ourselves but it doesnt make a damn bit of difference cause when the bad things come, they come out of nowhere. The bad things come suddenly with no warning but we forget, that sometimes thats how the good things come too.


BUT WE FORGET THAT SOMETIMES THAT'S HOW GOOD THINGS COME TOO!

 

[lisaviolet]

I could hardly read the plans because I so busy GASPING over pictures I've already seen.

OMG, you are TOO talented.

The first Karen - just love that shot. Is it HDR?

And the second - how could THAT not be from Disney themselves? My God, you are just too talented. Oh wait, didn't I just say that? Why yes I did and will continue FOREVER and EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Oh Lord, it's Grey's Anatomy. Where's Kelly when you need here, Karen.

Here it is about how we view *bad things* and *good things*:

They hit you out of nowhere. When bad things come, they come suddenly without warning. We rarely get to see the catastrophe coming. No matter how well we try to prepare for it.
…
We do our very best but sometimes it’s just not good enough. We buckle our seat belts, we wear a helmet, we stick to the lighted paths. We try to be safe. We try so hard to protect ourselves but it doesn’t make a damn bit of difference cause when the bad things come, they come out of nowhere. The bad things come suddenly with no warning but we forget, that sometimes that’s how the good things come too.


BUT WE FORGET THAT SOMETIMES THAT'S HOW GOOD THINGS COME TOO!

Grey's Anatomy!

Good things DO come and I keep thinking when I'm running about how many good things have come to me in my life. Sure, bad things as well, but I think we have to focus on the good and more good will come to us.

Lisa

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I could hardly read the plans because I so busy GASPING over pictures I've already seen.

OMG, you are TOO talented.

The first Karen - just love that shot. Is it HDR?

And the second - how could THAT not be from Disney themselves? My God, you are just too talented. Oh wait, didn't I just say that? Why yes I did and will continue FOREVER and EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nope, not HDR, just the contrast that makes it look that way. You are so great for my photographer's ego. Seriously, my biggest fan.

The only shots I did HDR on were some of the ones from my trip with Rey...AKL lobby. Such a pain to take, you have to take three of everything! Too much memory for me!

 

[annmarieda]

Fun plans!!! So exciting to be planning to wake that early for the race!! I am jealous

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Fun plans!!! So exciting to be planning to wake that early for the race!! I am jealous

It's funny because that's NOT much of a departure from my normal wakeup time!

 

[lisaviolet]

The only shots I did HDR on were some of the ones from my trip with Rey...AKL lobby.

You know what I call HDR to annoy someone who loves it?

HATING DELIGHTFUL REALITY!

It's funny because that's NOT much of a departure from my normal wakeup time!

That's so wrong. SO wrong.

And you're up right now!? Morning people, you kill me.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

You know what I call HDR to annoy someone who loves it?

HATING DELIGHTFUL REALITY!



That's so wrong. SO wrong.

And you're up right now!? Morning people, you kill me.

This is LATE for me Lisa! I woke up at 5am and thought... "wow, slept in!"

I'm perky in the morning too, drives everyone up the wall!

 

[Tinker326]

YES PLEASE scout out the drinks! Actually, that really is a good idea. As for photos, I'm dying to see the view from the BACKside and the FRONTside of the BCV! I know the front is the pool and canal, I have seen a lot of those shots, but I have no clue what the backside of the resort looks like looking towards the woods/epcot area. I'm unsure what side I want to request, so you could try to get that shot for me! Now I'm even more excited (if that is at all possible) that you'll be there before me to scout the place out!

So...you want me to take the backside of BCV. No problem- I'll cover the 'butt' of BVC for you! Along with the drinks (as that is my Sunday plan anyways!!!!)

 

[lisaviolet]

This is LATE for me Lisa! I woke up at 5am and thought... "wow, slept in!"

I'm perky in the morning too, drives everyone up the wall!

Oh Lord!

So...you want me to take the backside of BCV. No problem- I'll cover the 'butt' of BVC for you! Along with the drinks (as that is my Sunday plan anyways!!!!)

___________________________

Karen, here's two pool/canal views I've had. I've had the woods/Epcot as well, and the coveted top floor, and I never took any pictures of it. To me it's not a big deal but to each their own. I would bet that despite my "no big deal" thoughts it's probably the most requested location.

I like the first view the most. However, the second one was a fantastic location - close to the elevator. You can do a lot of walking at BCV because it's behind and has long halls. To me, it's no big deal at all, nothing, but just a head's up. It's always faster to cut through the poor area there to get to the canal rooms at the end of the building near the parking lot.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Lisa, I'm so torn with what to request!! (I know in the end it won't matter, but still)

I think the pool/canal view is really pretty but the woods sound nice too? I haven't seen ANY pictures of the wooded view though, which makes me think maybe it's not as pretty so no one bothers? I think I will request a high floor b/c I'm drawn to the higher view photos when I look at ANY of the views, so I think that's my main thing. Being close to the elevator on that 2nd view sounds nice and being closer to BC and SAB (LOL...NOT SOB!) would be good!

First World problems here!

 

[lisaviolet]

Lisa, I'm so torn with what to request!! (I know in the end it won't matter, but still)

I think the pool/canal view is really pretty but the woods sound nice too? I haven't seen ANY pictures of the wooded view though, which makes me think maybe it's not as pretty so no one bothers? I think I will request a high floor b/c I'm drawn to the higher view photos when I look at ANY of the views, so I think that's my main thing. Being close to the elevator on that 2nd view sounds nice and being closer to BC and SAB (LOL...NOT SOB!) would be good!

First World problems here!

No rush. I will try to find you a woods view - they won't call it Epcot view since people complained early on - somewhere.

The courtyard view is peaceful as well but not as nice as pool/canal. The lovely about BCV is that there are many common rooms. One fantastic one at BC heading over to BCV - with tables right across from the small CS ( BC Marketplace). And two rooms at BCV. They are lovely. Can't wait for you to see them.

I have never been on the disboards so much in my entire life - even with our thread.

But the lovely is that I'm keeping up here!

And with Alison's PR - she's fantastic. I've read her for years. I'm going to link you. Yes I know you want one more TR to follow!

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3104038

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

No rush. I will try to find you a woods view - they won't call it Epcot view since people complained early on - somewhere.

The courtyard view is peaceful as well but not as nice as pool/canal. The lovely about BCV is that there are many common rooms. One fantastic one at BC heading over to BCV - with tables right across from the small CS ( BC Marketplace). And two rooms at BCV. They are lovely. Can't wait for you to see them.

I have never been on the disboards so much in my entire life - even with our thread.

But the lovely is that I'm keeping up here!

And with Alison's PR - she's fantastic. I've read her for years. I'm going to link you. Yes I know you want one more TR to follow!

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3104038

I found a few woods view shots here and there, I think on the Balcony View thread. Meh. It's ok, but I think I am really liking the pool/canal view.

I'm unsure how requests work, but I was thinking something like "high floor (this is my FIRST request and most important), pool/water view(2nd in order), and then close to BC as my 3rd. Something like that. I'm sure I'll love wherever we are and if I get one or two of those requests, that will be great!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

This update is properly named: NAILED IT! Read more to find out why. I also thought of calling it "Monster disaster" but nailed it fit the bill better.

Also, some suggestions needed, that will be at the bottom of this post.

Tuesday Eleanor came over and although we didn't have an "official" Disney Day planned, it was raining and the girls decided to make Monster's Inc cookies and cupcakes. We had picked up these two kits at Aldi the previous week and they were excited to make them. Savannah has been baking a LOT lately, she's really gotten very good at making cookies. Well...normally. Ahem. (keep reading)

It didn't start off great when after carefully reading the directions, they realized that the cookies only made 12 cookies total and the cupcakes only 8! Really? I don't know, that just seemed like very little but onward and upward!

BTW, you'll have to forgive my photography skills in these shots. It was a rainy dark day and the girls were moving around so some of them are blurry.

They worked painstakingly to make exactly 12 cookies, since that's what the directions said. They mentioned that they were a bit greasy.

They worked on mixing the icing while the cookies baked and we were all pretty skeptical when the cookies were done. The didn't look like the cookies on the package! How does this happen when they give you the mix and just have you add egg and butter?

They mixed and made the 8 cupcakes, those came out looking pretty normal so they moved on to painting the edible toppers for the cookies. Somehow we decided that painting them before putting them on was a good idea...

They came out really cute!

until we went to peel them off the plastic and put them on the iced cookies. Then the edible sugar reacted with the wet edible paint (DUH!) and stuck, ripping them when we tried to peel them off! The girls laughed mostly, I think Savannah eventually threw something across the room. It was frustrating, but in a funny way...they were just cookies, after all!

Monsters with no faces!!

Next came the swirly icing. Whoever designed this clearly wasn't thinking. They give you one pastry bag and want you to put green AND blue icing in it so it swirls when it comes out??? The girls eventually decided on putting a piece of cardboard down the middle to get the icing in so it was split. Then the mess began. Even though they followed the directions, the icing was way too runny. LOL

Uh...yeah.

It really was hilarious, we had fun with it and cursed whoever thought this "kids activity" was well thought out. They were scared to try them!

It was a lot of fun and a good way to waste 3 hours on a rainy afternoon. Eating them...not so great! The cookies were more like biscuits (I HEARD...you couldn't pay me to waste calories on those things! They looked awful! LOL) DYLAN (my 19 year old that will eat ANYTHING) spit it out after one bite!!! The cupcakes were ok but the icing was deemed GROSS and not eaten. Unfortunately, both the girls ended up with stomach aches, so not-so-funny part of our fun day. Short lived though, but all of the cookies and cupcakes went right into the trash! It felt like a huge waste, but so is eating something gross just b/c it's there, right?


Ok, I have another fun update as well, we went to Six Flags yesterday, but first some suggestions?

We'll be in the 190s next Tuesday and I want to do another Disney Day, but this one I want to give the girls some information about parks, rides, & the trip. Savannah says that Eleanor has no clue what we're doing, where we're going, or what is at the parks. I want to give them info but not overwhelm them, any ideas for how/what I can do??? Help!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Double Updates! (read the post before this if you missed it!) I'm on a roll for this first day of August! Can you believe it's August? It's August 1st, a special day around here, it's my sons Birthday! Dallas is my middle child, and he's 18 today!! I cannot believe it, honestly. He's my amazing running partner and an incredible guy, but I'm sure you don't need to hear me gush for pages! He let me take his picture this morning and even smiled a bit!

Yesterday we went to Six Flags! We went with my BFF, Hope, her daughter, Kya, and another friend of the girls, Leslee. (ok, horrible grammar, but you get it) I had SUPERLOW expectations to be honest. I love Disney and there's a reason I haven't been to Six Flags since my boys were little, even though it's only an hour away.

We got there at Rope drop Hey, it may not be Disney, but the rules still apply!

Right off the bat I was more relaxed than at Disney because I just didn't care what we saw or did. I figured there was no need to hurry and we had fun watching the girls try on hats and superhero capes.

The superhero stuff was everywhere and it was a big hit! The girls all bought capes for 5-8$ and they wore them most of the day. It was so cute.

My little daredevil isn't much of a daredevil at places outside of Disney! Savannah wasn't interested in going on any of the big coasters, I guess they just looked more intimidating than Disney! No matter, they went on plenty of rides, even "Kali" (which she continued to call Thunder River, even today!)

We did go on a coaster that was similar to Primeval Whirl, where 4 people sit together, that was fun! We also went on the Mine Train, which was very disappointing to Savannah as Big Thunder is one of our favorites and this was more like a kiddie mine train.

Carousel! Capes and all!

I don't remember what this thing was called, but they got SOAKED to the bone and went twice in a row, walked right on. Wonder why it was a walkon when you are dripping afterwards!

It was a really fun day, Savannah loved that they played current pop music, which I thought was funny b/c that is what I liked least! Even though I like current music, in Disney I like that the music takes me away...it's not current and not "normal" music, if that makes sense! We both disliked the chipped paint and slightly rundown look in certain places. I thought it was interesting she even noticed that, I wouldn't have when I was a kid!

It wasn't horrible looking, I actually really enjoyed the atmosphere, it was fun and upbeat and enjoyable for all!

After our fill of rides, we went to the car to get our swim stuff and hit the waterpark! I left my camera in the car, but I did get a shot of the wave pool with my phone. (is it wrong that the first thing I thought about was the POLY POOL when I saw the volcano thing??? LOL)

We floated around the lazy river and the girls did their own thing. It was a great way to end the day after walking/standing in the park all morning!

Overall, we had a fantastic time, and I hope all my joking about Disney being better didn't make Hope feel like I didn't have fun! Disney IS better, but Disney is better than just about anything, in my book, it doesn't mean that I don't go anywhere or do anything ever just b/c I'm not at Disney.

I hope we can go back every summer, I'm sure Savannah will want to now that she knows it's there and she enjoyed it. Maybe I can even get her on some of the coasters next time!