WE'RE BACK! TR LINK! TThe Evil Spell Has Been Broken! A Special Mother/Daughter PTR

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Yahoo, just booked the dessert party for Feb 8th for my DH's birthday surprise. Hope you enjoy ours on the 7th!

Whooohooo! I knew you would still be able to get it! How funny we are going one night apart from each other!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Now you know, Karen, I just HAD to go to Pintrest and find the streamer instructions, don't you??!!

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

Whoop whoop! Paid in full! I’m so happy for you and Savannah! I’d love to hear about your solstice traditions. That was a beautiful picture! Are those both of your dogs in the New Years picture? Does Sapphire have one blue eye and one brown eye? When I was a kid, we had a dog who had the same thing! He was a Lab/Samoyed and he also had one white paw, so we called him “Uno”. Is that a Boxer in the background? OK, cake vodka, Bailey’s and ice cream sounds amazing! Ahh! I am so jealous of you for getting to go to the dessert party! But I am mostly happy for you What a great surprise for Savannah! I must do that on our trip! We are all about the desserts! It’s nice that you can pretty much wing it once you’re in the parks. I personally can’t wait to be in the Dumbo queue this year! I really like how they have it set up. That idea was genius! As far as TSM, I would definitely grab a FP and then ride standby. If you wait until after your first ride, you may get stuck in a really long line for FPs that might run out Hey, there’s nothing wrong with being laid back (especially in the offseason) but there is nothing laid back about TSM I actually like your loose plans. I think it is good that you have a general idea of where you are going, but you don’t have it laid out ride by ride. Your park days look amazing and I hope you and Savannah have a wonderful trip.

Um, I have a bone to pick with you. These are not “forks”:

These are Dinglehoppers! What a nice movie night! I agree, the streamers add a special touch! I am loving the utensil candelabra and the sand dollar cookies! Oh, and the green pepper octopus! Too cute!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Whoop whoop! Paid in full! I’m so happy for you and Savannah! I’d love to hear about your solstice traditions. That was a beautiful picture! Are those both of your dogs in the New Years picture? Does Sapphire have one blue eye and one brown eye? When I was a kid, we had a dog who had the same thing! He was a Lab/Samoyed and he also had one white paw, so we called him “Uno”. Is that a Boxer in the background? OK, cake vodka, Bailey’s and ice cream sounds amazing! Ahh! I am so jealous of you for getting to go to the dessert party! But I am mostly happy for you What a great surprise for Savannah! I must do that on our trip! We are all about the desserts! It’s nice that you can pretty much wing it once you’re in the parks. I personally can’t wait to be in the Dumbo queue this year! I really like how they have it set up. That idea was genius! As far as TSM, I would definitely grab a FP and then ride standby. If you wait until after your first ride, you may get stuck in a really long line for FPs that might run out Hey, there’s nothing wrong with being laid back (especially in the offseason) but there is nothing laid back about TSM I actually like your loose plans. I think it is good that you have a general idea of where you are going, but you don’t have it laid out ride by ride. Your park days look amazing and I hope you and Savannah have a wonderful trip.

Um, I have a bone to pick with you. These are not “forks”:


These are Dinglehoppers! What a nice movie night! I agree, the streamers add a special touch! I am loving the utensil candelabra and the sand dollar cookies! Oh, and the green pepper octopus! Too cute!

Dinglehoppers! I totally forgot! I haven't seen LM in a really long time! The shame of calling them forks!

We have a few Solstice traditions that we do every year. I ALWAYS take a Solstice walk, usually very early in the morning, just as the sun is coming up. We also get a living tree and usually (although not this year since our solstice tree was so tiny) keep it outside and on Solstice we decorate it with birdseed pinecones, popcorn, and cranberries for the birds & critters outside.

Yes, Sapphire is half Blue Heeler and they have blue eyes, so she has one blue and one brown. The Boxer behind her is ours as well, his name is Max...but we often call him DUMBO.

I'm very excited about the Dessert party...I cannot believe I have kept it a secret from her! It's some sort of miracle b/c I'm usually a huge blabbermouth about all things Disney! I'm sure you are shocked by this.

Well...the plans seem to be getting a little more formed as we get closer. I did write out a list of what order we could do things in each park but I won't stick to it if we decide to wing it. I just know that no matter how you plan, things usually go differently, so I'm keeping my options open. Let's just say that!

I'm also slightly concerned that they will start up FP+ a week or a day before our trip and then everyone will be scrambling to get their 3 FPs a day and so I have been planning that out in my head as well.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

23 days! We had a nice quiet day at home today, had some ice last night, which luckily didn't coat the streets b/c I had to petsit this morning...but it coated everything else and made for a nice day to stay home and do Disney stuff!

I snapped a shot as the sun was setting of my deck, you can see the ice on the railing...my dogs had fun with that today!

So, I finally got our shirts done! So, here's the dealio with the shirts. Every trip I make a TON of shirts. OMG, I lost count when there were 8 of us on the trip when my IL's came. I think I made at LEAST 5 shirts for each of us, more for some of us, so it was over 40 shirts.

It was great, we all matched in pictures, etc. and they were a fun souvenir, but we rarely wear them at home...ok, almost never. The transfers are really good quality, but after lots of washes, even the best transfers don't hold up that well. So...(I know, I can make any story long, can't I?) we end up with all these shirts sitting in the Disney box that don't get worn. Stay with me here, I really do have a point!

So, when Savannah & I started talking about our shirts and headed to Kohls to see what kind of tshirts they had this time of year. We found these really cheap, comfy, cute v-neck tshirts in an assortment of colors! Yay! When we tried them on, Savannah started talking about how she would love to wear these every day and I realized that it was a little silly to put transfers on all these shirts when we really could use some new tshirts and we wouldn't wear them more than once or so if we put designs on them. So, we decided to just do ONE shirt and then bought matching colored shirts for the rest of the trip that we won't put anything on.

Savannah picked our Crystal Palace/MK day shirts to make, so that's what we did! Here they are:

Here they are with the rest of our shirts that we're just wearing plain. They are a little bit bizarre colors when you sit them all next to each other, but they didn't have a huge selection of colors this time of year and I think they are cute alone (not next to all the other colors). So, we'll be twinkies each day but not have decorated shirts!

Shew! All that for just a story about only having 1 transfer shirt! No wonder my TRs are so long!

We also did some Disney chatting/planning today! Savannah dropped a bomb on me, telling me that we MUST go to MK on our last evening, even if it's just to ride one thing. So now our last day is AK until about 2ish, then straight to DTD, then back to the resort for dinner, THEN MK until it closes at 8pm and then to Epcot for EMH from 9-11! I know, it's insane and I'll be shocked if we pull it off, but that's what she wants to do!

 

[WDWaddictt]

Lol...you don't talk to much you just explain the story very well!

I understand what you mean though about making shirts and then never wearing them again and feeling like such a waste. We made shirts at camp a couple of years and I have never worn them since.

I do like your shirts though...very cute!

I had a friend make shirts for us to help with our surprise. I will post them on my PTR as soon as I get them.

Our trips are coming up soon!! Yahoo!! You must be so excited to spend some special time with your daughter, even if you have a busy day going all over, it still will be fun.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Lol...you don't talk to much you just explain the story very well!

I understand what you mean though about making shirts and then never wearing them again and feeling like such a waste. We made shirts at camp a couple of years and I have never worn them since.

I do like your shirts though...very cute!

I had a friend make shirts for us to help with our surprise. I will post them on my PTR as soon as I get them.

Our trips are coming up soon!! Yahoo!! You must be so excited to spend some special time with your daughter, even if you have a busy day going all over, it still will be fun.

Oooh, can't wait to see your shirts!

OMG, so this morning I read on a Feb. FB group that the hours are starting to get extended in Feb. I go to check and MK is now open until 10pm on Friday the 8th (our last night that Savannah INSISTS we go to MK)

Sooooo....revamped the whole touring plan/park days! I crack myself up. MK adds TWO HOURS and I have to change 2 whole DAYS of plans!

Actually, it just works so much better this way, we'll do AK on our 2nd park day and DHS on our last day b/c we don't have as much to do there. Then there will be more time for DTD and MK our last night!

I guess I'll just go back and change my plans, I'm certainly not going to make a big post about them, I doubt anyone cares.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

22 days and itinerary changes!

Ack! Well, I thought I would just go back and edit my days, but I realize I did them all separate with pictures and everythign, so just for my own sanity, I'm putting my changes all here in one post.

Basically what happened: Savannah finally got interested in our touring and INSISTED that we go to MK on our last night (Friday, Feb. 8th). I understand, I like to begin and end each trip this way too, but thought for only a 3-park-day-trip that this would be difficult, at best.

Wellll.......this morning I read that MK has started extending some hours for Feb. I went to check and sure enough, that Friday MK is now open until 10pm instead of 8pm. It's just 2 hours, but it changes a LOT for us! I started looking over my plans and realized that if we want to fit in 2 parks AND DTD on our last day, why not do the park that we have the least amount of things to do that day? That would be DHS for us, not AK like originally planned. AK is a fuller day for us, so I made sure Josh recommended it (he does) and switched our AK and DHS days. So this is the outline now:

Tuesday, Feb. 5th-
Arrival day (evening)
Explore resort/AoA as well
eat late dinner/swim

Wednesday, Feb. 6th-
CP breakfast 8:10
MK rope drop!
lunch BOG
back to resort swim/rest
Hop to Epcot
dinner at Epcot
Illuminations possibly

Thursday, Feb. 7th-
AK rope drop!
Late afternoon break
Hop to MK
few rides
Wishes Dessert Party 7pm!

Friday, Feb. 8th-
DHS Rope Drop!
finish around lunch
resort to swim/rest
DTD afternoon
early dinner at Wolfgang Puck
5-5:30(ADR for 5:30...try to get in early) Rainforest Cafe for dessert
Back to PoP to drop of souvies we bought
Head to MK for our last night! Ride whatever we want, stay until 10pm close.

We *could* hop over to Epcot for one last spin on TT, EMH until 11pm, but I think by the time we got there, we wouldn't even have 30 minutes, so we'll have to play this by ear.

Ok, so no more changes...right? Sure.

 

[Victoriasmom98]

That darned Disney!!! Having to extend its hours just to make you rearrange your whole trip!! The NERVE!!

I'm glad it's all working out well for you! Sounds like a full trip!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

That darned Disney!!! Having to extend its hours just to make you rearrange your whole trip!! The NERVE!!

I'm glad it's all working out well for you! Sounds like a full trip!

I know, right?!?! I told Savannah she had Disney Magical Powers b/c just 1 day after she announced that we HAD to go to MK on our last night...they extended the hours so we could!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

3 weeks from today!!!!!!!

I just have to say that I'm overly giddy about this trip, I feel like I'm more excited about this trip than ANY we have taken in the past, although I'm sure that's just b/c THIS is the trip that is upcoming. I'm SO excited to spend this time alone with my girl.

I'm also struck by how very lucky we are. We have not had a financially stable past and even now we have issues sometimes, but WDW has been a priority in my life (I know that sounds silly) and so I have found a way to make it happen.

Because it's been a struggle sometimes to get there, it makes me realize how very lucky we are. There are so many people that can never share that experience with their family b/c let's face it, WDW is expensive! Something about not only getting to go back AGAIN, but getting to do it with just Savannah, makes me feel like I've won the lottery or something! It's just so special that we get to do this and that we both WANT to do it together. That's the true gem... my daughter is excited to spend time alone with me and that is priceless!

Ok, enough mush! Gotta add a photo, naturally! This is from our 2009 trip!

 

[danielle79]

So very excited for you Karen! I have been reading all along and being a lurker I love the thought of spending one on one time with my girls at Disney, has not happened but I love the thought! I loved your anniversary TR with Rey, how nice and relaxing! We got to stay at AKL about ten years ago when we only had one child and we loved it. We are starting to kind of plan a Feb 2014 trip and I am getting excited already, my husband was asking questions and we were discussing options last night! He usually would not do this with over a year to go! I can't get actual pricing for a bit and of course I am hoping for some kind of discount! Last time we went end of Jan 2011-early Feb 2011 and we got a 30% off at moderate resorts, hoping for something like that again!!! Have never done the dining plan and I don't know if we would like it, don't like to make reservations 6 months in advance for something that maybe that day I don't feel like having!

 

[Tinker326]

Aww, Karen- that's such a sweet post! You and Savannah are going to have such a magical time together. Being in your favorite place with your favorite girl, doesn't get much better than that!

Disney is such a magical place to me too- people don't understand why the draw is there to keep going back.. they just don't get it! But to me, it's the place where my little girl, at 3, dressed in her Cinderella finest, patiently waited her turn for her hero- Cinderella - to come to her table at the Grand Floridian.... and when she did, she ran up to her & hugged her and asked her to please dance with her... and I sat and watched my baby dance with a real princess (in her eyes) and her whole world lit up... and I cried.... because I knew that memory would always stay with me..and it has...and I also laugh becasue she was so upset that mommy didn't get her outfit right by not buying her gloves that she totally told on me to Cindrella.

After that magical moment- we made Disney a priority too & I've added countless moments to my brain like the one above. And they stay in my heart forever... Disney is indeed magical.

I am so looking forward to our fall trip- it will be our youngest DD's first. Adopted from China this summer... already in love with Minnie Mouse & Princesses- I can't wait to see the magic through her eyes!!!

Yes. Disney.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

So very excited for you Karen! I have been reading all along and being a lurker I love the thought of spending one on one time with my girls at Disney, has not happened but I love the thought! I loved your anniversary TR with Rey, how nice and relaxing! We got to stay at AKL about ten years ago when we only had one child and we loved it. We are starting to kind of plan a Feb 2014 trip and I am getting excited already, my husband was asking questions and we were discussing options last night! He usually would not do this with over a year to go! I can't get actual pricing for a bit and of course I am hoping for some kind of discount! Last time we went end of Jan 2011-early Feb 2011 and we got a 30% off at moderate resorts, hoping for something like that again!!! Have never done the dining plan and I don't know if we would like it, don't like to make reservations 6 months in advance for something that maybe that day I don't feel like having!

No lurking allowed from you! I always try to comfort myself when I don't get many responses, that there must be some lurkers out there reading at least! That's what I tell myself, anyway!

How exciting! I know I'm nutso, but I'm thinking Feb. 2014 as well! Yep, I said I didn't have a trip planned, but I just don't think I can handle not having one, so I'm thinking of just a couple days and running the Princess 1/2 marathon. Yep...I will even run 13 miles to be able to plan a trip! I have actually wanted to run the Princess for a couple years now but have had injuries that kept me from it. This might be the perfect excuse to plan another trip. If you do a PTR, please post the link for me so I can follow your planning and live vicariously through you!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Aww, Karen- that's such a sweet post! You and Savannah are going to have such a magical time together. Being in your favorite place with your favorite girl, doesn't get much better than that!

Disney is such a magical place to me too- people don't understand why the draw is there to keep going back.. they just don't get it! But to me, it's the place where my little girl, at 3, dressed in her Cinderella finest, patiently waited her turn for her hero- Cinderella - to come to her table at the Grand Floridian.... and when she did, she ran up to her & hugged her and asked her to please dance with her... and I sat and watched my baby dance with a real princess (in her eyes) and her whole world lit up... and I cried.... because I knew that memory would always stay with me..and it has...and I also laugh becasue she was so upset that mommy didn't get her outfit right by not buying her gloves that she totally told on me to Cindrella.

After that magical moment- we made Disney a priority too & I've added countless moments to my brain like the one above. And they stay in my heart forever... Disney is indeed magical.

I am so looking forward to our fall trip- it will be our youngest DD's first. Adopted from China this summer... already in love with Minnie Mouse & Princesses- I can't wait to see the magic through her eyes!!!

Yes. Disney.

Ah, that made me tear up! That's what I LOVE about the DIS...people that understand! There's just no way to describe how precious seeing PURE JOY in your child's face can be.

 

[PISCESANGEL]

I totally agree and understand being most excited for 'this' trip! I am feeling the same about getting this time with just my 2 kids. I know you and Savannah are going to have a great time, and it will make for some great memories.

I also know what you mean about us being fortunate. I know many people who cannot afford to go, so they just rule it out. But I also make it a priority because it means more to me than just a 'vacation.' I'm sure you know what I mean.

Happy 3 weeks and counting!
Carla

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I totally agree and understand being most excited for 'this' trip! I am feeling the same about getting this time with just my 2 kids. I know you and Savannah are going to have a great time, and it will make for some great memories.

I also know what you mean about us being fortunate. I know many people who cannot afford to go, so they just rule it out. But I also make it a priority because it means more to me than just a 'vacation.' I'm sure you know what I mean.

Happy 3 weeks and counting!
Carla

Thanks Carla! AND...only 6 days for you?!?!??!

 

[PISCESANGEL]

Yes, 6 days!!! I am so close, and SO ready now!!! My DD and I are having lunch Friday to discuss 'final' details. I cannot wait- it is finally feeling real.

Carla

 

[jodi90]

Hi Karen,

Just wanted to let you know that I'm loving your PTR and I've loved all your TRs. I can't wait to see how your trip goes.

I also wanted to say thanks!! I read on your PTR that you had booked the Wishes Dessert Party and that got me thinking about booking that for my trip at the end of February. I was slacking and not paying attention and hadn't noticed that the dates had opened. I've now got it booked for our group of 8

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Yes, 6 days!!! I am so close, and SO ready now!!! My DD and I are having lunch Friday to discuss 'final' details. I cannot wait- it is finally feeling real.

Carla

5 days now!!!! I'm excited for you!

Hi Karen,

Just wanted to let you know that I'm loving your PTR and I've loved all your TRs. I can't wait to see how your trip goes.

I also wanted to say thanks!! I read on your PTR that you had booked the Wishes Dessert Party and that got me thinking about booking that for my trip at the end of February. I was slacking and not paying attention and hadn't noticed that the dates had opened. I've now got it booked for our group of 8

That's GREAT! I'm pretty excited about it, it will be something new and special for us. I have still continued to keep it a secret, so I'm pretty proud of myself!