Who knew choking each other would earn us fastpasses?

[mickeystoontown]

That would be great if you sister could come to Disney with you guys. Hope she manages to "earn" enough time off!

It would be so great if your sister could join you. The trip would do her good. I will keep you all in my prayers for everything to work out.

BTW, DH and I leave the World on the 21st, so we will just miss you. : o (

Oh, Lisa, that is awesome! I really hope that she can earn the time off!!! I think it would be great for all of you to have that time together.

Hopefully everything works out!

Well by now ya'll know it didn't work out that my sister could go but there's always next year.

It would be so great if your sister could join you - she sounds like exactly the type of person I'd like with me at Disney!! Hopefully she can "earn" her time off.

I'm starting to think we Canucks like our meat a little rarer than y'all. You're definitely not the first person to comment on their steak being too rare from Le Cellier. The way you described the first steak that was brought out is exactly how I would like it!

John doesn't mind his steaks being a little on the rare side but I don't like it at all!

Hi there Lisa!

Epcot is my FAVORITE and WS is my favorite place in Epcot! LOVE these updates! Thanks so much for the beautiful pictures...I almost felt like I was there with you.

I'd love to try LeCellier someday. I love steak so the menu is right up my alley! Sorry yours wasn't done to your liking.

I'm so glad you missed the storm...yikes!

The jumping pictures are great!

Hey Missy! I remember that Epcot is your favorite. I would go back to LeCellier for sure but would hope that my steak was a little more done next time.

That would be great if your sister goes with you!! You know...I'll be there in May, but only until the 23rd! Someday our trips will overlap!

That would be wonderful if she could go with you guys and have some fun. I'm sure it would lighten her heart a bit.

I was really hoping she could go too.

I got behind again. When I say behind I mean I was in the dark ages!!!! I always love your TR's!!!!! You guys always crack me up. I hate when the buses are below zero too!

I'm always getting behind in my subscribed threads. I'm glad that I was able to give you a laugh or two.

What exciting news that your sister may be joining you! I know Mama was up in the air about the trip, is she in??? What a great family trip that would be. I can't imagine the antics the three of you would get into together!

I'm really enjoying reading about your tour of World Showcase, you are exploring all of the countries that we have not been to since the kids started coming with us to EPCOT. Haven't been to Italy or Japan (the boys would probably love the gift shop though) or Morocco. I would love to buy spices as souveniers since I often cook pretty exotic food. I love the movie in France, but I haven't seen it in over 15 years.

And the one thing we did with the boys was O Canada! They really liked it. The revamp with Martin Short is a riot. I think you would all like it.

You know you can actually call the phone booths, right?

Phone numbers for booths in United Kingdom (not sure which is which though)

Right Booth 407-827-9861
Left Booth 407-827-9862
Center Booth 407-827-9863

Canada is reportedly 407-827-9884.

I may have to steal your photo of the bread basket at Le Cellier. I don't have one that looks that great. I so would have ordered the coffee rubbed steak. I saw it when I was reviewing the menu, but they didn't have it when we visited. Sorry about your disappointing steak

I'm so glad that you posted the phone numbers for the phone booths. I had totally forgotten that they had actual numbers!

So the Canada show is good? Well then, I'm gonna make sure we do it next trip. I can't believe we haven't done it yet.

Oh, that stinks, Lisa!

Hopefully Mama will still go. I think she needs to be there on Lacey's last "little girl" trip. (That's what I think of it since it will be her last trip before she becomes a married woman.)

Oooh, oooh, oooh, I may be interested in some dresses for my girls!!!! Possibly shirts, too! Are you willing to do both a 9-year-old and a 2-year-old size?

I've decided to try to take some sewing classes in order to use my brand new sewing machine that I got in August for my birthday that is still in the box, but I don't think I'll be ready to start making clothes anytime soon. I guess that's what my DH's family gets for buying me a sewing machine before I know how to sew at all.

When my grandmother died, my aunts asked me if I wanted her sewing machine. She used to make everybody a quilt when they got married and, as she got older, she couldn't do them by hand anymore and used the sewing machine. I started out sewing the backsacks on that sewing machine but it had been sitting up for so long that it didn't sew real good. That's when I bought a new machine. I love it!

I actually have patterns for both size 9 and size 2! I bought a whole lot of new fabric over the last couple of weeks. I'll be working on some of the dresses and I'll post pictures.

Lisa, I'm sorry your sister can't go; but I am sure she thinks that being at Lacey's wedding is much more important. There's always next year. I hope momma still decides to come...I know how much you love having her with you on your trips.

I know! I wanted her to go so badly but I need her help with the wedding very badly since she's the crafty one in the family.

Lisa, I'm sorry your sister is unable to join you guys this go round. Maybe next year!! that would be fun to plan. Lacey's wedding is once in a lifetime and you guys will be at Disney next year (I'm sure) so I don't blame her for the choice.

I don't blame her either. And, I think she might have felt a teensy bit worried that, if she went to Disney with us, her two grandsons would have been jealous.

Sorry your sister can't go. But she can perhaps go next year then.

I do NOT need anything for Claire...yet I'm always looking. LOL! Do you have any listed yet? If not, post some pictures here too. We love to see your stuff.

I have pictures of the backsacks and will be posting them in a little bit. I made three dresses (all the same style and fabric) this weekend. I just have to put the straps on them. I will post pictures of those when I get them done.

about your sister not being able to go to Disney with you. But obviously having her be there for Lacey's big day is the priority.

Do you already have the backsacks listed on ebay? I don't know if you saw the post in my TR "A former pack mule lightens up", but it is all about how one of those cloth cinchsacks totally changed the way I pack for a day at the parks. It has revolutionized how we travel now, breezing right through bag check.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=39385114&postcount=405

Anyhoo- I don't go onto ebay a lot, but I tried serching your user name and I searched backsacks, backpacks and cinch sacks and did not see yours. Can you post a link, or a picture or PM me? I am totally interested in one, maybe a classic Disney design. Not a character and definitely not princesses for my bunch!

Thanks! Dee

I love love love the backsacks/cinch sacks. They are the easiest thing to carry and you can stuff lots of stuff in them. John doesn't even mind carrying one around.

I sold several of the Disney theme backsacks to another Diser this weekend but I do have a few left. I also have quite a few that aren't Disney themed but are really cute. I'll post pictures for ya'll in another post.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Here are pics of the backsacks that I made last week. I took pictures of what the backsack would look like on and then one up close of the design/fabric. We had a towel rolled up in the backsacks when I took a picture and there was lots of room left. I have quite a few different ones that I am working on as well.

 

[BPATSMouse]

It appears that Lacey is a going to have the wedding she wants and still pay attention to the bottom line, great deal on the flowers. Tate my oldest who is only 16 and at least 8 years away from getting married is already talking about how she plans on having a simple and well planned wedding "just like Lacey in that trip report you follow". Good girls (Lacey and Tate) all around. Your sister can go to Disney next time the wedding is can't miss once in a life time.

 

[TinksThree]

I love your backpacks! Have you posted them on e-bay yet? My DD would flip over some of these!

 

[mickeystoontown]

It appears that Lacey is a going to have the wedding she wants and still pay attention to the bottom line, great deal on the flowers. Tate my oldest who is only 16 and at least 8 years away from getting married is already talking about how she plans on having a simple and well planned wedding "just like Lacey in that trip report you follow". Good girls (Lacey and Tate) all around. Your sister can go to Disney next time the wedding is can't miss once in a life time.

Lacey is paying really close attention to what we spend. In the Mission, they took a budgeting class and it has really made her pay attention to the amount of money coming in vs. the amount of money going out.

I can tell that Tate is a wonderful girl! I know it makes you proud to know that you've raised her well.

Lacey has always held a special place in my sister's heart and she wouldn't miss Lacey's wedding for anything. Thank goodness, 'cause she's the crafty/decorative one in our family.

I love your backpacks! Have you posted them on e-bay yet? My DD would flip over some of these!

I haven't posted them on ebay yet. If you'd like one of them, just shoot me a p.m. and I'll fill you in.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I wrote up a bit of an installment at lunch but had to stop when someone came by to install our new EXIT sign. It's short so I don't want to post it yet. However, I thought I'd post a couple of pictures I took when we went wedding shopping this weekend at the wholesale florist.

You can see from the first two pictures that this place is huge:

Now ya'll know me and my picture taking. I usually don't give a flying fig who sees me acting silly and taking pictures. But, there were some really fancy smancy kind of ladies buying flowers and they looked at me like I was nutso whenever I snapped a picture. You can't see the real details of the flowers Lacey picked out but they are a pretty yellow.

Lacey acting silly:

My sister (the one who was considering going with us to Disney) and Lacey:

Like I said earlier, we really lucked up when we went there this weekend. We bought 6 bundles of flowers for just $61.91! This is enough to decorate every reception table and to make two tall arrangements on each side of the sanctuary stage/pulpit. We do have to buy a few twiggy things to add to the ones that we bought but I plan on buying those when our local craft store has their 1/2 off sale.

We all walked away feeling super excited.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Those flowers look beautiful! I really like the style. And SCORE on the price!

How much do you charge for your backsacks? They are adorable!

 

[aprilisis]

Wow! Awesome deal on the flowers!!!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Those flowers look beautiful! I really like the style. And SCORE on the price!

How much do you charge for your backsacks? They are adorable!

I am so glad that Lacey is a laid-back/naturey kind of gal because it sure is keeping the cost of the wedding down.

The backsacks are just $10.00 each plus shipping which is usually pretty cheap since they don't weigh much at all.

Wow! Awesome deal on the flowers!!!

I know! We walked out of the building with a big ole smile on our faces!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Before I post the next installment, I wanted to post a few Epcot/Canada pictures I found on another CD:

 

[mickeystoontown]

You may remember that I said today was supposed to be a "down day"...one where we slept in and did a whole lot of nothing. But, you may also remember how I felt like we had done nothing but wander around our entire Hollywood Studios day.

Before we settled in for the night, an executive decision was made by us all that John, Hunter and I would get up and head to Hollywood Studios early and Mama would stay at the resort and rest up. She told us to take our own sweet time and that she'd be fine. She said she'd probably sleep-in, make a few phone calls to home and maybe even take a stroll around the resort.

This is where my memory gets a little fuzzy. I don't remember what time we left the resort but I do remember that we got to the park right as the turnstiles were opening for Extra Magic Hours. I think what happened was I got Fastpasses for Toy Story Mania. The reason I am thinking this is because we rode it later on in the morning and I am betting you dollars to donuts we didn't just wait in line when we did ride it.

I do remember what we did next.......................we wandered. Yep! After an entire day of wandering at Hollywood Studios a couple of days before, doggone it, we were wandering again! We didn't really want to hoof it all the way over to the other side of the park and ride Rock 'n Rollercoaster because we were too lazy.

We decided to do the Backlot Tour since we hadn't done it on our first Hollywood Studios day. However, when we got there, it wasn't open yet. John and Hunter started talking to the castmember standing at the entrance to the Tour and they said it would be opening in just a few minutes and we could wait if we wanted. Hunter had his magic cards in his pocket and started showing the castmember the trick while we waited. The castmember was amazed and called two other castmembers over so Hunter could dazzle them too. They all were oohing and aahing over the trick.

Soon it was time for the Backlot Tour to open and we were led to the waiting area. One of the castmembers looked at Hunter and said "You're 16 aren't you?" Hunter was like "Uh, no I'm 13." Then the other castmember said "No, you're 16 aren't you?" and he winked. That's when John caught on. John said yep Hunter was 16. Why would John say that our 13 year old was a 16 year old? Because you had to be 16 in order to be one of the volunteers in the part of the tour where you become part of the movie making magic! That's right! Hunter was to be an extra that day!

We were led into the first part of the tour along with a few other families. Hunter went backstage with the castmembers and was suited up in his wet suit. At this point in time, we had no idea what role Hunter had been chosen to play:

Imagine our surprise when the show started and it was announced that Hunter would be the guy who was sitting in the little cabin and would be doused with hundreds of gallons of water! I videoed the entire thing but I can't find it on my CDs. Maybe it's on one of my memory cards. Because I was taking the video, I guess I didn't get any pictures. Once it was over, the castmember said to give everybody a big round of applause and when they said Hunter's name, the other guests were cheering really loudly. It was truly a magical moment. And, this, my friends, is when I was really happy that I had paid almost $30 for a deck of magic cards.

After Hunter was back with us, we continued on the tour and boarded the tram where I took these pictures:

Once we were in the canyon portion of the tour, the recorded castmember (I always liked the "real" castmembers instead of the recorded one.) started the narrative and soon there were explosions and water everywhere!

**Continued in next post

 

[mickeystoontown]

The back of the canyon:

More pictures I took while on the tour:

The tram let us off at the same darn place where Boba's Bounty was located just a few days before. Here's Hunter acting like he was startled by Darth and about to take off running:

Creepy!

Piratey!

I took a picture of these gold coins thinking that I would go back and see if there were any hidden Mickeys anywhere amongst them:

We left the Villains building and I went in search of the nearest potty. Hunter and John, meanwhile, looked around in another shop:

Don't cha just love those t-shirts? They were all so cute and I am not even a Star Wars fan.

***Up next, let's go play on the playground!

 

[aprilisis]

I Love the Star Wars/Muppets shirts!!! I really hope you find the video of hunter in the Backlot Tour show!

 

[ronnmel]

Great deal on the flowers!

You're going to play on the playground?
I want to play on the playground too!

 

[mickeystoontown]

I Love the Star Wars/Muppets shirts!!! I really hope you find the video of hunter in the Backlot Tour show!

I need to go through my memory cards and see if I can find the video. He got totally drenched when the water hit him!

Great deal on the flowers!

You're going to play on the playground?
I want to play on the playground too!

I know! We were so happy that we got the flowers she wanted and at a fantastic price.

You'll be able to play on the playground with us.......just through pictures.

 

[KatMark]

Lisa, I love the backsacks--you did an awesome job.

Great deal on the flowers--and so very pretty.

I love the update. Great photos at the Studios. I love the t-shirts.

 

[MEK]

That darth tater T shirt always cracks me up!

I love all those behind the scene pictures of the Back Lot tour. Its been years since Ive been on the tour, so I hope to go again.

Great for Hunter getting to be an extra. He really got a great cameo!

I love all the cute backpacks you made. Very, very cute!!!!!

Holy Flower warehouse! That place looks amazing. What a great bargain! Awesome!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Lisa, I love the backsacks--you did an awesome job.

Great deal on the flowers--and so very pretty.

I love the update. Great photos at the Studios. I love the t-shirts.

Thank you! I told John that, if I don't sell all of the backsacks, I'm taking them all with us to Disney.

We were so happy that we walked away from the flower warehouse with just what Lacey was looking for at such a good price.

That darth tater T shirt always cracks me up!

I love all those behind the scene pictures of the Back Lot tour. Its been years since Ive been on the tour, so I hope to go again.

Great for Hunter getting to be an extra. He really got a great cameo!

I love all the cute backpacks you made. Very, very cute!!!!!

Holy Flower warehouse! That place looks amazing. What a great bargain! Awesome!

I loved all of the t-shirts too, especially the Darth Tater one.

I had hoped that Mama would get to go on the Backlot Tour. The last time she did the tour, they still had the subdivision that you drove through and saw the Golden Girls' and Ernest's houses.

Thanks for the compliment on the backsacks. I thougth they turned out pretty cute too.

The flower warehouse was amazing. My sister bought three big bunches of greenery and two large bouquets of flowers and her cost was just $14.00. They also had lots of pottery and "themed" kitchen decorations (apples, roosters, etc.) too. For a decorator, it was true heaven.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Great job on the backsacks, and the flowers!
Way to go Hunter on getting selected for being an extra!

 

[Bethislucy]

lol I love the darth tater shirt I may have to get that for my brother if it's still there in Nov.