WHOSE Luckier than me?! The January TR!&March PTR!**LINK TO NEW TR IS UP!!**

[mickeysmyboy]

Those photos turned out great! I like WL as the backdrop. I've looked at the Family Photosession thread and I'm never impressed with the ones from GF. It is such a beautiful hotel but the photos there all seem to be overexposed and too bright. Your photos are beautiful! The one of you and Ryan is my absolute favorite!

Thanks! I was really happy with the way they came out! I had read on here that it's kind of hit and miss! But, our photographer was great and did a really good job. He really seemed to know what he was doing. I've seen the GF pics too and didn't like them either. I had thought about doing the shoot last trip at GF with the whole family, MIL, FIL, SIL and BIL included, but decided not to because I didn't really like pics I saw!

Great photographs....Don't know much about the photopass but now will have to learn about it! I think the family photo with your husband and lake behind is my favorite. Great family photo! I can't wait for our trip! This will be my wife's first time at Disney. She has no idea what a magical place it is. ( I haven't been in 12 years) I have been obsessed with planing this time.......just want to make sure my wife has the best time. Look forward to your Epcot trip report....taking notes!!!

Thanks! Photopass is great, IMO! Sometimes it's hit and miss. But, in my experience most the photographers, who aren't professional photographers, really get into their job and do a good job!!!

Your count down until your trip will fly by!! But, the countdown is part of the fun too and, of course, around here obession with planning is part of the territory!! LOL!! I have disney planning OCD! No joke!! Your so sweet to want to give your wife a magical vacation!!

Epcot update coming later today!!

Those are great photos. I love them all.

Aww, thanks Pam!! I'm sooo happy with the way the came out!

Wow I'm really impressed with your photopass pictures, they came out soooo good!! If you would have went before Christmas I would say you should definitely use one of them as your Christmas card because your whole family just looks really good and really happy!

I hope that the rains don't ruin your Epcot day!!

School's going alright, thanks for asking. Just have to get back into the swing of coming home and not being able to jump right on the DIS or relax and watch TV like I had been the past semester when I wasn't in school. Now I have the dreaded homework

Thanks! I thought about using one for next years christmas card but with the way the kiddos grow they'll look completely different by then! Of course, we could go back in the fall...

That rain was like a deluge from god! I can't even imagine how the bus driver could see it was raining so hard!!

I can imagine that it takes a little time to get used to be back in school after taking a semester off! Especially now getting your masters! I would imagine it's a lot more work! I'm sure your vacation will be a nice break! Good luck!

Just love those pictures!!!!!!!

Thanks!

Side note, everyone pray for the weather today!! My brownies and a few other troops are going ice skating at an outdoor rink this afternoon after school! It's supposed to be 53 degrees today and it might rain off and on!! I'm going to be bummed if we can't go!!! I think the girls will have a great time!!!

EPCOT update coming soon...​

 

[Villainess]

Rain, rain, go away!

 

[xoktenox]

Side note, everyone pray for the weather today!! My brownies and a few other troops are going ice skating at an outdoor rink this afternoon after school! It's supposed to be 53 degrees today and it might rain off and on!! I'm going to be bummed if we can't go!!! I think the girls will have a great time!!!

EPCOT update coming soon...​

Good luck with the weather today, I'm in Oakdale at school and it hasn't started to rain yet, hopefully it will hold off for you guys. The weather man this morning said that it isn't supposed to start until tonight so you guys might be ok!

 

[vdarrell]

Loved all the pictures.
I really love the one of you and DH.
But of course all the kiddos are adorable and the pictures are priceless.


I still have you displayed on the fridge with the picture Christmas card you sent me.

Not if but when we go back to Disney we will definetly look into the having the picture package.

I really need to get out of this Ohio weather last week we had snow and ice storms today we have tornado and wind warnings out. Flights are dropping and we DO have that 40% off offer

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Rain, rain, go away!

It didn't rain but it was too warm! The rink was closed because at one point yesterday it was 67 degrees!!!! We're going to try again in 2 weeks. We played outside at the school instead. The girls got a lot of cabin fever engery out and had a lot of fun!

Good luck with the weather today, I'm in Oakdale at school and it hasn't started to rain yet, hopefully it will hold off for you guys. The weather man this morning said that it isn't supposed to start until tonight so you guys might be ok!

No rain, but too warm! I can't complain about warmth!! It's been so freakin cold it felt so good not to wear a jacket for part of the day!

Loved all the pictures.
I really love the one of you and DH.
But of course all the kiddos are adorable and the pictures are priceless.


I still have you displayed on the fridge with the picture Christmas card you sent me.

Not if but when we go back to Disney we will definetly look into the having the picture package.

I really need to get out of this Ohio weather last week we had snow and ice storms today we have tornado and wind warnings out. Flights are dropping and we DO have that 40% off offer

Aww thanks! I'm really happy with the way they came out! I've been thinking about doing just DH and I next month at poly. But we'll see.

You should get out of the Ohio winter next month, say around the 23rd - 27th

Hope your feeling well!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

A short update!

I was going to do my epcot update yesterday but the day kind of got away from me!

So, I'm off to clean a little and then I'll be back! Promise!! ​

 

[Corey3368]

A short update!

I was going to do my epcot update yesterday but the day kind of got away from me!

So, I'm off to clean a little and then I'll be back! Promise!! ​

Can't wait! I'll have the popcorn ready!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Can't wait! I'll have the popcorn ready!

Yummy! can I have some!?! I'm trying to decide whats for lunch!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Day 5 part 2!

We got off the bus at Epcot at it was still raining but not as hard. We took shelter under the bus stop awning and put on our ponchos and put the rain cover on Ryan's stroller. 2 things, !st I bought the 89 cent ponchos in the camping section at Target. They were terrible! Awful! Must ponchos are like wearing a plastic bag, these were worse! They blew around, would stay on. UGH! 2nd, Ryan hated the rain cover! He kept trying to kicking it off!

We ventured into the park as fast as we could in plastic bags & in the rain.

We picked up our stroller and went on our way.

Originally we were going to WS, but in the rain we changed our plans. We headed to Innoventions East. They had somethings in there that DH was interested in seeing.

The kids played the game were you put together an emergency kit and had a lot of fun doing it! DD and DH did the whole recycling area game.





Johnny didn't go play the game and I couldn't take the stroller throw so me and my boys hung out a bit! They had an area with seats! Johnny played with the lego figures he had in his pocket and wore my new mickey antenna thingys.



Then we went a did a few other things inside. The kiddos thought the area were you tested products was fun.


Johnny trying to break a TV! LOL!

DH and DD really wanted see the interactive movie about storms, Johnny was hungry. DH and DD went to the movie and I took the boys into the electric umbrella to get Johnny something.

We waited forever!!! OMG crazy amount of time and people were starting to get annoyed! After about 30 minutes we finally got DS's chicken nuggets and went outside! I had stopped raining!! Yippee!! We sat on the wall Johnny ate!


No pictures please!

Luckily while we waited Ryan had some oreos and fell asleep!



After Johnny's lunch and the movie finished we decided to head to WS!

Along the way we stopped at and took a look at the christmas decorations!





Then on to Mexico!





I love the Mexico Pavilion!! It's so pretty!





We went on the ride which the kiddos always love and then did a little browsing!


This plate was so pretty and neat!


I love the wood carvings!!


Especially this one! I love sunflowers! But it was a lot of $!

Then it was back outside!



We got to see Donald!





After Mexico it was onto Norway!

DH and Johnny decided to ride the Maelstrom. DD, the baby and I waited outside and found a bench near the water. DD and Ryan played catch with a stuffed animal that kept them occupied for the whole time DD and Johnny were gone!

When they got off the Maelstrom we talked about what to do next. The problem was after the rain came through it got really windy and really cold. Really, really windy and really, really cold. There was no way that we would make it to dinner and through Illuminations dressed the way we were. I offered to take Ryan back to the hotel and get a change of clothes. DH thought we should all go together.

So we headed back to WL!

Be back in a bit with more!​

 

[FairyGodmotherJen]

I love your photo session pictures! We're going with a (really) large group in 2010 and I'm thinking about getting it and splitting the costs. I figure, even if we have to pay for two (or three) sessions to get us all done at once, it would be worth it.

Great updates - looking forward to more!

 

[pamouselover]

What a cute picture your DS sleeping. Did you see the price on those wood carvings? I like them too.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

I love your photo session pictures! We're going with a (really) large group in 2010 and I'm thinking about getting it and splitting the costs. I figure, even if we have to pay for two (or three) sessions to get us all done at once, it would be worth it.

Great updates - looking forward to more!

It's definitely worth it! I paided $70 for the shoot. I had already preordered the CD for $100 but no matter what I would have paid more at Sears or some place. Now I have them on CD and can get any prints anyway I want!

What a cute picture your DS sleeping. Did you see the price on those wood carvings? I like them too.

He got really good at falling asleep in shows and in the stroller!! I did see the price of the wood carvings, that's why I don't own that sunflower! It was like $50! No thanks!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Day 5 part 3!!

We headed back to WL and did a quick change into pant & sweatshirts and grabbed our jackets!

I swear we were at WL for maybe 10 minutes total!

Then it was back to Epcot! We headed toward WS because we had an ADR!! But first we stopped to get a quick picture taken!



In my experience with photopass I have to say that most of the photographers do a pretty good job. This one, not so much! It's definitely not the best picture of us but I really like those neat fuzzy, lite, white ball thingys!

Anyway, then it was on to Norway to Akershus! Our ADR was for 6:05. We checked in at about 5:40 because we were there and figured why not.The kid at the check-in podium was kind of a bit gruff with me and said "We seat you early if we can, otherwise you'll have to wait until 6:05." Okey Dokey kid! No big deal I wasn't trying to get in early or anything we were there and that's why we checked in. So we waited a little while. We got called in at about 6. It seems to me that they seat in groups. Not sure if this is true. For example there's a 6:05 group and another group a little later, and another a little later. They didn't all anyone the whole 20 minutes we waited. We were the second family to be called at 6 and a bunch more followed behind us. When we got in the restaurant there was barely anyone in there!

Upon entering the kiddos got their picture taken with Belle! I tryed to get Ryan in the picture too but he wasn't having any part of Belle!



We were seated and ordered drinks! DH and I both got Carlsberg beer which turns out to be very good! It was new to us!

We enjoyed the appeitizer buffet and ordered our dinners! DH got Lamb stew, I got braised pork shank and the kiddos got hot dogs!

DH LOVED his lamb stew!!! My pork shanks was yucky! It would have been good if they hadn't poured an entire shaker of pepper over it! It was completely over powering!! Oh my! I should have thought to go back over to the buffet!

But the food wasn't what we came for really anyway !

We were there for PRINCESSES!

Where we were seated we ended up being the third table they came to which worked out very well!


First we saw Aurora!

Then Jasmine who was very interactive!







I posted a picture of Johnny trying to kiss Sleeping Beauty on our first trip in 05 shortly before we left for this trip. Well, Jasmine won his heart this time! He was totally digging Jasmine! She played with his Star Wars toy and asked him all sorts of questions of about it! When she left I asked him if he liked Jasmine. He gave me his embarassed smile and nodded yes

Then we got to meet Ariel for the very first time!



And then, last but not least, Cinderella!



After the princesses it was time for dessert!! Yummy! Your server brings you a plate of goodies!

Flourless Chocolate Cake, which was good but a little rich for my taste.
Something that I can't recall &
Schoolbread! The school bread was gooood!! Yummy! I'm not a coconut person but even with the coconut on top I like it!!

After dinner we headed over to go to Spaceship Earth, which was a walk on! I love that ride!

After our ride through the past, present and future it was time to get a spot for Illuminations!! ​

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Happy Valentines Day everyone!!

I'll be back later with an Illuminations update!!​

 

[Corey3368]

Happy Valentines Day everyone!!

I'll be back later with an Illuminations update!!​

Thanks! Happy Valentines Day to you and your family. My wife loved seeing all your photos of the princesses. I was telling my wife I was digging Jasmine like your son was.

 

[pamouselover]

Happy Valentines Day! I am trying to get my trip report posted, and catch up with everyone.Looks like you had a nice time at Akershus. I dont blame your DS, she is a pretty Jasmine.

 

[faerieprincess]

Melissa i have just caught up on your trip report!

Your WL photo session pictures were very, very nice. It looks like you had a good time and you can see how much your family loves each other

Can't wait to hear about the rest of the trip!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Thanks! Happy Valentines Day to you and your family. My wife loved seeing all your photos of the princesses. I was telling my wife I was digging Jasmine like your son was.

Don't get yourself into trouble with your wife on Valentines Day liking Jamine too much!! If I had only captured that embrassed smile in a picture! He was so cute!

Happy Valentines Day! I am trying to get my trip report posted, and catch up with everyone.Looks like you had a nice time at Akershus. I dont blame your DS, she is a pretty Jasmine.

We did have a nice time at Akhershus! We'll definitely do it again in the future!! She definitely was a pretty Jasmine!

Melissa i have just caught up on your trip report!

Your WL photo session pictures were very, very nice. It looks like you had a good time and you can see how much your family loves each other

Can't wait to hear about the rest of the trip!

I can't believe you already had time to catch up! I'm so happy with the way the photos came out!!! I got a bunch of prints and did a whole wall of those photos! I should take a picture of it and post it!

We definitely do love each other a lot! That's one of the reasons we enjoy going to WDW so much! It's good, fun family time with no outside stuff to worry about! Just us and the magic!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Day 5 part 4!

So we head over from Spaceship Earth to get a spot for Illuminations!

Last trip we were a Magical Gathering so we attended the Illuminations dinner and dessert thingy at the Odyssey Center (over were the baby care center is). We got to watch Illuminations from a special reserved area. The reserved area was behind the shop that is to the left as you get to area were you get to the entrance of World Showcase, if that makes any sense.

This time we were able to get a spot behind the shop on the right! We were right up against the fence!!

It was the same view as last time just on the other side! Sweet!

We had about 45 minutes to wait so we just hung out! At one point DD and I went on a snack hunt for her and her brother. I think we ended up with popcorn and a pretzel. I also got DH and I each a beer. Yummy!

DH enjoyed the wait talking to a super nice man who was up from Puerto Rico. His mom worked in Epcot! She was the cashier at on the kiosk stands in WS! They talked about NYC, because they both used to live there. They talked about the Gaints. etc, etc! He was sitting there by himself waiting for his wife and daughter to return from a shopping trip in WS. They came back with about 1 minute left in Illuminations! LOL!

We also enjoyed talking to a very couple and there son who were from RI! Their son, who was 6, was totally into DD! It was sooo cute!!

Then it was time for Illuminations!

Last trip I recorded the entire thing so this time I wanted to take pictures! If anyone wants to see the video from last trip let me know and I'll post the link!

On with Illuminations!

























I love Illuminations! Not as much as Wishes, but a whole lot! I love the beginning when the narrator talks and he blows like blowing a candle out and the drums start! Oh my goodness it give me chills to even think about it!!

After Illuminations we slowy strolled toward the exit stopping for a potty break along the way.

When we got to bathroom there were tons of people, of course. I truly didn't think we'd make it on the first bus. But we did! It was packed!! I love the bus driver who was driving!! I was holding Ryan when we got on the bus. He picked up his walkie talkie thingy and said 'If you see a lady carrying a baby get on the bus, please give her your seat." I would have stood with him but I could have kissed the driver! Thank you nice bus driver!

Back to WL we went and straight to bed!

Some of us had an early morning the next morning and we were in for a fun day!! ​

 

[faerieprincess]

YaY! another update. Your photos from IllumiNations turned out pretty spectacularly!!!!