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

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Read through your entire PTR, loved it! Looking forward to hearing all about your trip! It's nice you are getting a mother/daughter trip. Are your sons as big as Disney fans as you and Savannah? It's so much fun when the kids are into the planning as much as you are.

My sons are pretty big fans for 17 & 18 year olds! They appreciate Disney's customer service, details, and FOOD more than anything! Rey asked them if they would rather go to Germany or Disney and one of them said he would like either and my oldest said he would rather do Disney! Bwahaha! Converted!

So...we're cooking up another trip in 2014! It will be our last before the boys start college. It really started out as a short trip for me to run the Princess 1/2 in Feb. 2014, but the whole family has decided to come, so we'll make 5 nights out of it! More on that later!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

WOOT! Look at that ticker! 2 DAYS!

I have to laugh b/c these days are just dragging and 2 days sounds like a lot right now! I'm DYING for some sunshine. I have been loading up on my vitamin D, but my seasonal issues are magnifying right now and 2 days sounds like an eternity until I can get some of that Florida sun!

Ok, so for my 2 day countdown, I'm posting my 2nd favorite shot. Ok, not really my favorite shot, but it's the memory attached to it. I have taken lots of amazing photos, but this one is special b/c it captured the MOMENT. (and actually there are a number of shots, maybe I will post a few of them!)

Some of you have read this in my TR, so you'll be getting a repeat, but then it will be just like in real life when I repeat myself and my friends have to listen to the same stories over and over again, nodding like they have never heard it! Besides, I always tell my stories a little different each time, so it's not a total repeat!

It was just a year ago that we were all at Disney and I had spent a lot of the trip fretting over whether everyone else was having a good time. Any type of complain or unhappiness was MY fault. I had a little mini-meltdown (it's not Disney without a meltdown! LOL) at DTD that evening. I was over it, and we had done some shopping, but my feet were hurting so I went out and sat on a bench by the fountains and was feeling a little blah.

While I was sitting there with the twinkle lights and the magical DTD music, there was a little kid playing in the fountains. My heart did that little wish that we had been able to afford Disney when the kids were little so that I could have experienced Disney from their little kid eyes. It's magical still, but sometimes when I see little bitty girls with princess dresses, my heart longs to have shared that with Savannah when she was little. Our first trip she was just weeks from 8 and already knew the characters weren't "real" and wasn't into the princesses anymore.

So, as I'm sitting there enjoying but wishing, Savannah & Leslee (her friend that came with us) came running out of the store. Their eyes lit up when they saw the fountain. They asked if they could PLAY in it...of COURSE they could! My heart nearly burst. This very magic is why I will always come back to Disney. You don't HAVE to be a little bitty girl to feel the magic and play like you have no cares in the world. I pulled out my camera to capture that moment and it didn't matter if she was 11 or 3, it was magical! I will never forget it.

They were soaked to the bone when they finished and loving it!

totally soaked...

 

[Victoriasmom98]

What a wonderful memory!!! And you captured it so nicely! So, a Disney trip in 2014!! You did it, Karen!! You converted your entire family now! Let the planning begin!!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

What a wonderful memory!!! And you captured it so nicely! So, a Disney trip in 2014!! You did it, Karen!! You converted your entire family now! Let the planning begin!!!

Yep! Converted them all! I just think it's funny, I actually had to tell Rey NO when he suggested we go THIS FALL and next February! We can't afford it, and I found myself astounded that I have converted him so completely that I'm having to tell HIM no!

I also had to tell him no to a full week next February b/c we are going to stay at a MOD (we'll need 2 rooms!) and someone has to be the voice of reason now...just never thought it would be me!

 

[Tinker326]

So...we're cooking up another trip in 2014! It will be our last before the boys start college. It really started out as a short trip for me to run the Princess 1/2 in Feb. 2014, but the whole family has decided to come, so we'll make 5 nights out of it! More on that later!

I. Love. It.

I have decided (as there is no other reason) that the mouse slips crack into their water at Disney....that keeps bringing people back for more & more & more...

It's like I get paid & blindly hand over my paycheck to Mickey. 'Here you go - thanks for letting me give you it.. because $12 is TOTALLY reasonably for a pin...and rack rate at a deluxe is ONLY $400- what a steal'.

I WILL make a PTR for November as soon as my busy season at work is over. I have to re-train from 0 to run Wine & Dine. I was up to 5K just fine last August but then we headed to China to get our little girl and all that stress/upheavel landed me at not exercising since I boarded that plane. Now that things are falling into place AND busy season is over- I'm starting to re-train. First back to 5K then from there to 10K.. from there to the final stretch of 13.1 miles. This is me just thinking about it....

Happy 2 day mark. TWO DAYS!! Wow.

So exciting

-Nicole

 

[Alysa]

someone has to be the voice of reason now...just never thought it would be me!

 

[Tinker326]

Ok, not to totally take your trip report off topic.. but I finally created a PTR (because it's better than doing work on Superbowl Sunday). Can you (or anyone) pretty please tell me how to link chapters within the TR? I figured out how to put in my signautre..but the chapter thing..just ain't working...


I promise after this I will keep all posts related to the most important thing here...and that is take-off in 2 days!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Ok, not to totally take your trip report off topic.. but I finally created a PTR (because it's better than doing work on Superbowl Sunday). Can you (or anyone) pretty please tell me how to link chapters within the TR? I figured out how to put in my signautre..but the chapter thing..just ain't working...


I promise after this I will keep all posts related to the most important thing here...and that is take-off in 2 days!

Ok, it's so much harder to type out than do, but I will try!

First, you go to the post you made and on the top right corner you will see a number (it's the post number). If you click on it, it will take you to the ACTUAL URL of that post. Just copy or cut that address out of your browser and close it out.

Then, go to the post you are going to put your table of content. Modify it and click on the icon above the box that has the little Earth/link symbol on it. It will ask for your URL, PASTE it in the box.

THEN, in the area where it has brackets it will now have the URL. It will be highlighted and that part you can type whatever you want, that is what will show up for the link.

Hope this makes sense! I'm going over to sub to your PTR!!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I. Love. It.

I have decided (as there is no other reason) that the mouse slips crack into their water at Disney....that keeps bringing people back for more & more & more...

It's like I get paid & blindly hand over my paycheck to Mickey. 'Here you go - thanks for letting me give you it.. because $12 is TOTALLY reasonably for a pin...and rack rate at a deluxe is ONLY $400- what a steal'.

I WILL make a PTR for November as soon as my busy season at work is over. I have to re-train from 0 to run Wine & Dine. I was up to 5K just fine last August but then we headed to China to get our little girl and all that stress/upheavel landed me at not exercising since I boarded that plane. Now that things are falling into place AND busy season is over- I'm starting to re-train. First back to 5K then from there to 10K.. from there to the final stretch of 13.1 miles. This is me just thinking about it....

Happy 2 day mark. TWO DAYS!! Wow.

So exciting

-Nicole

Nicole! I didn't know your daughter was from China! My niece is from China, my sister adopted her when she was 7 months old. She's graduating high school this year! Time flies.

Yes, Disney puts something in the water, I'm sure of it!

 

[Tinker326]

Yea! It worked just fine! THANK YOU for sharing the tip!

And those China babies sure are special. Our girl has changed our lives- we are so blessed! I'm sure your sister feels the same about her baby (who's no longer a baby!)

 

[WDWaddictt]

I just stopped to say have a great vacation! Safe travels!!

We love Tusker House...never been for lunch though. Enjoy!!

I love those moments that make you say this is why I go to Disney and keep going back!! We have had a couple so far this trip!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Yea! It worked just fine! THANK YOU for sharing the tip!

And those China babies sure are special. Our girl has changed our lives- we are so blessed! I'm sure your sister feels the same about her baby (who's no longer a baby!)

Yay! Glad you could make sense of that!

I just stopped to say have a great vacation! Safe travels!!

We love Tusker House...never been for lunch though. Enjoy!!

I love those moments that make you say this is why I go to Disney and keep going back!! We have had a couple so far this trip!

Yay!!!! I'm so happy to hear that!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

We're going to Disney World TOMORROW!!!!!!!!

Nope, still not real! I'll be posting from the airport that it doesn't feel real too.

I have some petsits to do today still, I'm totally packed! Savannah has a couple things that are still getting washed and packed up, but other than toothbrushes and phone chargers, I think we're ready!

So, I have 1 more picture to share! This picture means a lot to me because it symbolizes what Disney DOES.

Savannah was a VERY shy child. I actually explain to most people that she was selectively MUTE when she was younger. She would not speak to or in front of anyone outside of our family most of the time. It would take her a very long time to warm up to people, even when she had met them before, but this lasted for quite a few years. She also could not stay with anyone other than my mom, and even that was rare. When we went to WDW the first trip, she was just a few weeks shy of 8 and was still not normally able to speak with people in stores, even her friend's parents.

That first trip was so magical because I watched her world open up. WDW had a magic that took all that away for her. I saw her responding to CM's, hugging characters, and talking to strangers on the bus! This was unheard of! This was a girl that couldn't even shake her head yes or no when a waitress asked if she wanted soda.

On our 2nd trip, I captured this in a photo. Her interaction with Thumper was priceless, he DANCED with her, something she would never ever ever even fathom in the real world doing with a "stranger" and she lit up and came alive! This picture just represents how WDW was a safe place for my shy girl to be herself and not have to be afraid.

She has grown out of many of those issues now, I knew she would, but let her do it on HER time, not mine. I was shocked the other day when she took a 20$ bill into the gas station BY HERSELF and got change for me. 2 years ago even she wouldn't have been able to do this. She still has some phobia over "strangers" and cries if we have to go to a Dr. or dentist, but I know that will pass in time as well. WDW is just one of those special places where all of that melts away and she is FREE from her fear.

and we're going there TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I may post here or there from the airport or whatever, but when I'm on my phone I cannot do colored font or smileys, so they will be short and sweet posts if any! I'll be all over FB though for those of you that are friends with me there!!

 

[Tinker326]

Awww, that is such an sweet story. Disney is amazing ,isn't it?!?

Have an amazing, wonderful, bestest trip ever!!! I can not wait to hear all about it & see the amazing pictures.

Go forth & conquer the 'World' with your sweet daughter!

Sending lots of pixie dust your way- although I'm sure you won't need it as Disney will rain it down on you!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Awww, that is such an sweet story. Disney is amazing ,isn't it?!?

Have an amazing, wonderful, bestest trip ever!!! I can not wait to hear all about it & see the amazing pictures.

Go forth & conquer the 'World' with your sweet daughter!

Sending lots of pixie dust your way- although I'm sure you won't need it as Disney will rain it down on you!

Thank you Nicole!! I cannot believe it's here already! Can't wait for tomorrow, but then I want time to slow down so I can savor every single moment with my girlie.

 

[Victoriasmom98]

I love, love, love that story!! Now if only I could get some Pixie Dust for my little princess.....ugh....

I wanted to make sure to be able to wish you and Savanah an ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL TRIP!!! May the weather be perfect and may pixie dust rain down upon you!!! I cannot wait to see all the wonderful pics that you will be taking!!! Enjoy, Enjoy, Enjoy!!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I love, love, love that story!! Now if only I could get some Pixie Dust for my little princess.....ugh....

I wanted to make sure to be able to wish you and Savanah an ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL TRIP!!! May the weather be perfect and may pixie dust rain down upon you!!! I cannot wait to see all the wonderful pics that you will be taking!!! Enjoy, Enjoy, Enjoy!!!

Thank you Ann! I'm soaking up all this pre-pixie dust, a girl can never have enough, right?!?!

Sending some to your Princess as well!

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

Whoops! I missed a few days because my kids weren’t at home this weekend, so I was doing my lazy thing I love your journals, Karen! They are very cute! I’m glad to hear that you two are doing Tusker House for lunch. That should be fun! Wait, what? You’re going to Disney in 2014? That is wonderful! I’m sorry to hear about putting off Germany, but I am happy that your boys and your hubbby are converted Disney addicts now Your story about the water fountain was really touching. Your story about Thumper was really sweet and that is one of my favorite pictures that you have posted because you can see the pure happiness on Savannah’s face. I had no idea that she and Coy were so similar, but it is good to see that kids can and do grow out of these issues Disney is definitely a safe place for kids to explore and learn. Oh, and as someone else said, there is crack in the water, for sure!

One day! I can hardly believe it! I hope you have a magical, fun, safe, happy trip!

 

[PISCESANGEL]

That picture is absolutely precious!!

I just wanted to stop by and wish you and your girl the most wonderful, magical trip. Just remember to 'stop and smell the roses' and enjoy each other. I know it will be wonderful- can't wait to hear all about it when you get back!!

Carla

 

[Pixiedust530]

I can't believe it's practically here...YOUR TRIP IS HERE! You leave tomorrow!

The story about Savannah is priceless. It truly represents everything that is so wonderful and magical about WDW!!! For those who don't know,haven't been or have never read stories like yours....they truly have NO IDEA what a spectacular place it is to visit. When I am at WDW I don't have any worries!

Wishing you safe travels and a fun and memory-filled mother/daughter trip. I'm looking forward to reading about your trip when you return!