Wishin' & Hopin', Planning & Dreamin': Oct 2013 PTR - 10/20 UPDATE: Link to TR!!

[Pixiedust530]

Great must do's!!! The Monster's laugh floor is surprisingly very good!! Turned into a must do for us!
i didn't see the Philharmonic?!?!

OMG...see this is why I ask for your input! Mickey's Philharmagic was on our list to do last time, but we just weren't able to squeeze it in. It is my favorite 3D show in all of Disney and I think Wayne will LOVE it!

Love the must dos... They are very similar to ours...

However - like Mo - Monster's Inc laugh floor is a must do for us - several times... Try to get a seat with a light in front of it.

D~

Pretty cool to hear good things about Monsters Inc. laugh Floor. I have never really heard much about it...good OR bad! Why do I get the feeling that if I sit in a seat with a light in front of it I will be heckled? Are you setting me up D~? You're just hoping for a laugh when I return and write my TR!

 

[Pixiedust530]

OK...so several of my DIS friends are going back and posting old pics and videos from Disney...so I thought I would join in the fun!

My most recent trip was in 2011 (about 18 months ago) which really isn't that long ago...even though it seems like it was yesterday. BUT...my trip before that was in 2006 with my ex-husband and I was pregnant with Caden. I know no one wants to see pics of me and the ex (and I don't want to post them ) so I guess we are stuck with 2011. I will have to ask my mom and grandma if they have any pics from when I went to Disney as a kid. I did go 4 times as a kid...SURELY someone has pictures SOMEWHERE!

In 2011 I SURPRISED Caden with a trip to Disney. Surprised...as in broke the news 30 minutes before we got in the car to drive 14 hours to Orlando. HERE is the video of the video I made for him and it includes his reaction. I love watching this video...it was so cute.

 

[DMGeurts]

Awww... That is just so cute! I loved it! Thanks for sharing!

D~

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I think your MUST-DO's are just great! You will be AMAZED at how much easier it is with just the two of you! I felt like we had all kinds of time and saw everything we wanted...and were were only there 2 1/2 days! I swear, the kids are what slow ya up!

 

[Chicago Mo]

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​

I loved the video you did!!! YOU MUST tell me how you did it! Mickey voice and all, This is exactly what i would kill to do for the kids next year!!!! amazing job!

There isn't an applaud smilie REALLY?!?!?
But there is this one:

 

[Pixiedust530]

Awww... That is just so cute! I loved it! Thanks for sharing!

D~

Thank you! I totally forgot I had it.

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​

I loved the video you did!!! YOU MUST tell me how you did it! Mickey voice and all, This is exactly what i would kill to do for the kids next year!!!! amazing job!

There isn't an applaud smilie REALLY?!?!?
But there is this one:

You are too sweet Mo. I was so glad that I took the time to surprise him and do it in a special way. He had NO IDEA we were going to Disney. I even managed to pack all of our suitcases and the car without him knowing.

OK...so here's how I did it. You are totally going to laugh at my backwoods, MacGyver skills. I spent hours looking for voice changer software, apps etc. that I could simulate Mickey's voice...NOTHING! Then I stumble upon THIS website. For a short time back in 2010 you could send character calls to your kid. You can't send them anymore, but the site is still accessible and you can "preview" the call once you have made your selections and entered your child's name. The selections I chose were Mickey for the character, "Congratulations" for the occasion, "Being Nice to Family" for personal message and then "Caden" for name (obviously). Once I had my personalization options chosen I previewed the message which allowed me to listen to the entire thing. Here's where it gets fun...I was trying to find a way to download/save/steal the audio, but NOTHING. So...I did what any desperate mom would do...I got out my cell phone and recorded the audio WHILE it was playing from my computer speakers. I had to do it a few times to get a decent quality audio, but all in all it's not bad and you can understand what Mickey is saying. After I had the audio file on my phone I transferred it to my computer and saved is as some type of audio file (.WAV or something similar). Then I grabbed some character images from Google (and my own castle and parade pics) and put together a video (Really more like a photo slideshow with my Mickey audio file overlaid). I also recorded my own voice saying "You're going to Disney World right now!" I burned the video to a DVD, bought Caden new Halloween Mickey PJ's and had it all wrapped up in a Toy Story gift bag. It was sitting on the kitchen table when he got out of the tub that night. He opened the bag (I forgot to video this part ), was excited to get new PJ's but didn't know "who" they were from. I suggested we put in the DVD to see what it was. You saw the rest! It was a somewhat tedious process but worth it in the end.

The video doesn't quite show his excitement...I think he was in a state of shock. He put on his new PJ's and we got in the car and drove 14 hours through the night straight to Disney. Here is a pic of him a little...UM.....EXCITED to leave for our trip!

 

[Chicago Mo]

When i am ready to do this.. I AM BEGGING you to help me... i am having enough issues right now trying to get my home DVD's converted to AVI files... i can ONLY image trying to make a dvd for the surprise... BUT I WANT TOO!
the plans i had for this year i would like to try for next!!!! now i have more time to plan it all out. i too want to drive the 17 hours +

 

[Pixiedust530]

When i am ready to do this.. I AM BEGGING you to help me... i am having enough issues right now trying to get my home DVD's converted to AVI files... i can ONLY image trying to make a dvd for the surprise... BUT I WANT TOO!
the plans i had for this year i would like to try for next!!!! now i have more time to plan it all out. i too want to drive the 17 hours +

OF COURSE I will help you! I am warning you though...I like to think I'm tech savvy...but sometimes I'm really backward in the way I do things. Hopefully, my teaching background will help me to help YOU! Seriously...we will get it done! Time is on our side!

This video of Caden's reaction was shot on a little Sony Bloggie camera (which is super easy to transfer and upload but just okay quality...IMO). I borrowed my ex-husband's mini-DV camcorder and took video of various things on our 2011 trip. The sad part...I don't even know what's on the videos...AND they are STILL on the mini-DV tapes. Apparently I need a Firewire cable (whatever the heck THAT is) and then once I have that I can somehow get the video off the tapes and into digital format. YEAH RIGHT....maybe ONE DAY!

Wayne vowed that we would NEVER drive to Orlando again. Keep in mind...I drove the ENTIRE trip. he didn't get behind the wheel once...until the drive home. Actually he said we would never drive straight through (especially through the night) again. there's NO WAY I am stopping to stay overnight. Once I am on my way I just want to get there. KWIM?!? We are flying in October...WOOHOO...and hopefully flying for any future trips...but you never know!

 

[DMGeurts]

ROFL!!! I love that picture of Caden - Yah - I think he is a little excited... That's a lot like my smile the morning we leave for Disney - so I totally understand the little guy. LOL

Mo - I wish I could help you too - I've never done video conversion - so I wouldn't even know where to begin.

Oh and seriously brilliant about Mickey's voice! Love it!

D~

 

[Pixiedust530]

ROFL!!! I love that picture of Caden - Yah - I think he is a little excited... That's a lot like my smile the morning we leave for Disney - so I totally understand the little guy. LOL

Mo - I wish I could help you too - I've never done video conversion - so I wouldn't even know where to begin.

Oh and seriously brilliant about Mickey's voice! Love it!

D~

Yeah...it's one of my favorites of the trip! I have some other cute ones I will have to post...especially of him with the princesses. I just realized that since I never did write a TR from that trip that I have not shared most of the pics from that trip.

Where's Mo when you need a TR written?!? I totally should have taken her with me in 2011. D, I hear you are pimping out her TR writing services? Are you taking bids or just sending her on various trips? I might need her to tag along in October! I'm sure Wayne won't have a problem running around the World with 2 women instead of 1.

 

[Chicago Mo]

OF COURSE I will help you! I am warning you though...I like to think I'm tech savvy...but sometimes I'm really backward in the way I do things. Hopefully, my teaching background will help me to help YOU! Seriously...we will get it done! Time is on our side!

You have NO idea how happy this makes me!!!


I am SO SO EXCITED!!!

This video of Caden's reaction was shot on a little Sony Bloggie camera (which is super easy to transfer and upload but just okay quality...IMO). I borrowed my ex-husband's mini-DV camcorder and took video of various things on our 2011 trip. The sad part...I don't even know what's on the videos...AND they are STILL on the mini-DV tapes. Apparently I need a Firewire cable (whatever the heck THAT is) and then once I have that I can somehow get the video off the tapes and into digital format. YEAH RIGHT....maybe ONE DAY!

Well I have a ripper... I don't believe it is what i actually need i might have to go searching for a better one.. You saw what little i was able to get up on you tube. I wanted to get a few more completed BUT i left my stupid power cord at work. SO i wasn't able to edit my newest photo shoot run or get the video's done.

Wayne vowed that we would NEVER drive to Orlando again. Keep in mind...I drove the ENTIRE trip. he didn't get behind the wheel once...until the drive home. Actually he said we would never drive straight through (especially through the night) again. there's NO WAY I am stopping to stay overnight. Once I am on my way I just want to get there. KWIM?!? We are flying in October...WOOHOO...and hopefully flying for any future trips...but you never know!

Really?!?!? We will be driving.. ALLLLLLLL the way DOOOOOOOOOOOOWN. i'm excited and nervous at the same time.

Mo - I wish I could help you too - I've never done video conversion - so I wouldn't even know where to begin.

Oh and seriously brilliant about Mickey's voice! Love it!

D~

You help everyday!! Yes the mickey voice is PERFECT!! I am SO excited to do this!

Yeah...it's one of my favorites of the trip! I have some other cute ones I will have to post...especially of him with the princesses. I just realized that since I never did write a TR from that trip that I have not shared most of the pics from that trip.

POST POST!

Where's Mo when you need a TR written?!? I totally should have taken her with me in 2011. D, I hear you are pimping out her TR writing services? Are you taking bids or just sending her on various trips? I might need her to tag along in October! I'm sure Wayne won't have a problem running around the World with 2 women instead of 1.

ME ME ME PICK ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll go and write your report!!!

 

[DMGeurts]

Yeah...it's one of my favorites of the trip! I have some other cute ones I will have to post...especially of him with the princesses. I just realized that since I never did write a TR from that trip that I have not shared most of the pics from that trip.

Where's Mo when you need a TR written?!? I totally should have taken her with me in 2011. D, I hear you are pimping out her TR writing services? Are you taking bids or just sending her on various trips? I might need her to tag along in October! I'm sure Wayne won't have a problem running around the World with 2 women instead of 1.

I will totally let you use her... Just so long as I have her back in time for my next trip.

D~

 

[Pixiedust530]

Just dropping in my own PTR to say hello to everyone! I haven't run off with the circus and forgotten about you...PROMISE!

I did just return from a little trip. The 3 of us (me, Wayne and Caden) went to Morgantown, WV for 5 days to visit Wayne's family. Morgantown is where he is from, but he doesn't get home to visit very often. We were planning to head to St. Louis for a few days this summer...but... long story short... it fell through. So instead...we went to visit family. this is just my second time meeting Wayne's daughter Brandi, her fiance Chris and Wayne's mom, Wilena! We had a wonderful time. I am glad to be home though...sleeping in my own bed. Once I get some pics uploaded to Photobucket I will post them here...probably in the next few days.

In the meantime (per Mo's request) I will post a few pics from our 2011 trip.

Pirate Caden


Wayne, Caden and Mickey (Wayne liked her )


Caden and Belle - This was the 1st princess he met at Akershus in Norway. He had met other characters and was not afraid or shy, but he was a little shy with the princesses. I will post more over the next few days and you will see that he warmed up rather quickly to princesses!

 

[solana131]

Oh that's adorable! I plan to meet lots of princesses this trip. I hope Bradey likes them. We focused on mostly "fuzzy" characters last time. I don't think he has ever met a face character. This should be interesting. Love Belle's dress!

 

[Pixiedust530]

Oh that's adorable! I plan to meet lots of princesses this trip. I hope Bradey likes them. We focused on mostly "fuzzy" characters last time. I don't think he has ever met a face character. This should be interesting. Love Belle's dress!

Caden was just a few months shy of turning 5 when we went in 2011. We did 4 character meals on our trip just so he had the opportunity to meet LOTS of characters without Mommy having to sacrifice valuable park time standing in lime! I'm shameless....I know!

We did Chef Mickey's on our arrival night (meeting Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto, Akershus in Norway at EPCOT (meeting the princesses), Crystal Palace @ Magic Kingdom (meetin Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet) and Tusker House @ Animal Kingdom (meeting Safari Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Daisy, and Donald). Overall, it was AWESOME to meet so many characters and not have to wait in line. Caden really enjoyed the whole experience!

I agree...Belle's dress was beautiful...and she was so sweet and accommodating. We did several pics with her...individual and group! The group photo we only got as a print. I scanned it to my computer...not sure how the quality will turn out. In the picture is Wayne, Me, Caden (all to the left of Belle) and my mom (in the Louisville shirt), grandma and grandpa!

 

[DMGeurts]

I love all the pictures - that family picture with Belle is just amazing - you are all so cute - but little Caden, awwww... He is just adorable!

D~

 

[Pixiedust530]

I love all the pictures - that family picture with Belle is just amazing - you are all so cute - but little Caden, awwww... He is just adorable!

D~

Thank you! I had almost forgotten about the group picture with Belle. It wasn't on our cameras and the photographer at Akershus didn't put it on our Photopass card. We just received the print of the group shot and the print of just Caden and Belle! I had to scan it to my computer last night so i could upload!

I will upload some more pics shortly.

 

[DMGeurts]

I can't wait to see more!

D~

 

[Pixiedust530]

I can't wait to see more!

D~

All you had to do was ask! Here you go!



Caden was still a little unsure about princesses when he met Aurora....BUT THEN...along came Ariel! She got down on his level, hugged him and gave him a little tickle and he was full of giggles. It was too cute!

 

[DMGeurts]

Awww... That is so adorable!

D~