"You're Going WHERE on your 50th Birthday?!?

[princess&her4princes]

You're a busy guy!!!! You made me tired just reading your post.....and made me feel guilty for not being more on the ball with my December pics!! LOL!!

I got that notice for the thing at the Disney store tomorrow a.m.....ever been to it before? Hmm..wonder where I put that.....I better go and look!

Have a nice weekend....are you guys getting hit with Bill like us? Stay safe!!!

 

[joelp]

WDW Day - 26 Update:

Well - a big thunderstorm rolled through here about 5:30 am, and it rained for about an hour - which meant no softball game ...

... and the sun (and humidity) came out ...

But we didn't care, cuz the DD, DW and I were going to the Disney VISA event at our local Disney Store!!

It was nice and Danielle had a lot of fun: there were mini-muffins, Munchkins, cookies, water and juice - and we got a Tink tote bag for a "free gift" ... and the CMs were great, too!!

I was a bit surprised, because there were only about twenty people total there - but they were all fellow members of the "Disney Cult" ...

Danielle made some new friends while coloring and during story-time ...

And then came the Hot Potato game (with a Mickey plush) - but the DD didn't want to play "Because I never win!!" [whine - whine - whine!] But I convinced her to play because "If you don't try, you'll definitely not win!"

And she WON!! The prize? - a $5 Disney Gift Card ... so she was on ...

So we bought a few things on sale - totalling up to $50 so we would get 10% off using the Disney VISA: a couple Classic Princess dolls (Aurora for the DD and Snow White for her cousin, whose birthday is in a couple weeks ...), a Tink bathing suit (for next year, maybe - Size 8), a nightgown, a Fairy Journal, some other little stuff ...

And on the way out of the mall we hit B. Dalton and I picked up a copy of Disney After Dark ($2.99 in the bargain section) for Delani to read on the flight ...

After that - off to Walgreens to get the binders and sheet protectors for the DD's WDW journal/scrapbook ...

And while the DD and DW were off at her friend's Disney Princess Tea Birthday Party ... I went and saw a movie ... "Inglorious *******s" (not rated "G" ... ) [guess you can't use that word on the DIS!! )

Cut the front lawn - and was too tired and sweaty to start on the back ...

A little BBQ (burgers ...)

And now - it's tme for Pinochio!!

 

[lisalonglash]

Sorry about the softball game. Woohooo for the Disney VISA event - sounds like a good time had by all! O/T whine alert - it still bugs me that Canadians can't get a Disney VISA whine over Woohooo for your dd! Great deal on the book - love a good bargain! I hope you all enjoyed Pinocchio

 

[Dizneydaz]

Just found your TR. Haven't read it all yet but wanted to post-I celebrated my 50th at DLR in June. So I totally get it! Also, we are celebrating 2 big "0" birthdays next month-my DD (same name as yours!) will be 10 on 9-19 and my DM will be 70 on the 22nd. I can't think of a better place to spend a birthday!

The PP CD is still only $99.95 if you pre-order. I got a group of people together to do one. And since I'm a DLR APH will be going to DLR before our trip so I can add those to the same CD. I love taking PP pix-makes sure I get in some pictures (usually I'm the one behind the camera).

I don't have to take DD out of school to do WDW (though I totally would!) but she's in year round and gets off this Friday. She's already had 2 months of 5th grade. We leave in only 20 days and will be spending a few days before going to DLR. (Hope the crowds are less by then ).

i'll read the rest of your PTR, especially now that i've subscribed. I'm envious that you're staying at AKL-I love that resort! Nothing better than eating your morning cereal on the balcony while watching, and listening, to the animals having their breakfast.

I didn't know about the DV event. Wonder if they did one here?

 

[joelp]

Sorry about the softball game. Woohooo for the Disney VISA event - sounds like a good time had by all! O/T whine alert - it still bugs me that Canadians can't get a Disney VISA whine over Woohooo for your dd! Great deal on the book - love a good bargain! I hope you all enjoyed Pinocchio

Welcome back!!

Wellll - here it is, a little late, but ...

WDW - Day 25 Update:

I fell asleep watching Pinocchio ... (at 8 pm - pretty bad for a Sarurday night, huh? ) And about 1/2 hour into the movie, the DD - who was cuddling with me on the recliner - looked up and said "Daddy, I wanna go to bed." - So, we still have a movie to watch ...

Yesterday we visited my Mom - and Danielle's cousins Delani and Alana (who will be going to WDW with us) were there, too ...

My Mom goes to Atlantic City a lot, so she gets lots of big time freebies from the casinos - like a free cruise next year!! So she's going to do a Spain, France, Italy cruise with the two older cousins (nice, huh? - they just did Alaska!), and she was trying to find something to do with the younger cousins (Danielle and Nina ...) ...

So I suggested Bippidi Boppidi Boutique (or however you spell it!! ) - and she loved the idea ... so I called down to WDW on the off chance that something would be available for two 5-year old girls on Sep 19 ...

And there was!! But at 2:30 ... which would mess up the afternoon break or mean missing the afternoon parade ... so we passed ...

But I'll keep on checking over the next few weeks ...

Other than that, it was a slow day in the WDW planning/organizing/etc. way of things ...

 

[joelp]

Welcome!! I just "signed onto" your PTR, too ...

Just found your TR. Haven't read it all yet but wanted to post-I celebrated my 50th at DLR in June. So I totally get it! Also, we are celebrating 2 big "0" birthdays next month-my DD (same name as yours!) will be 10 on 9-19 and my DM will be 70 on the 22nd. I can't think of a better place to spend a birthday!

Don't you me same "date" as mine? ...

Are you gonna be in the Magic Kingdom on the 19th?

The PP CD is still only $99.95 if you pre-order.

The $179 price includes the photo book ... but after seeing the price of photobooks on Shutterfly, I may just get the photo CD and then do photo books for all the kids on Shutterfly. They won't be as "nice" as the WDW Photopass/books, but they should still be pretty cool ...

I don't have to take DD out of school to do WDW (though I totally would!) but she's in year round and gets off this Friday. She's already had 2 months of 5th grade. We leave in only 20 days and will be spending a few days before going to DLR. (Hope the crowds are less by then ).

Our DD did camp at Kindercare - where she also did Kindergarten - so she really feels like she's been in school all year, too!!

i'll read the rest of your PTR, especially now that i've subscribed. I'm envious that you're staying at AKL-I love that resort! Nothing better than eating your morning cereal on the balcony while watching, and listening, to the animals having their breakfast.

I'm REALLY hoping we get a "birthday" upgrade to a Savannah View room - but the Pool View rooms are nice, too, and very convenient to The Mara, etc. ... and the pool!!

I didn't know about the DV event. Wonder if they did one here?

I would have thought it would have been a national thing? Maybe they tested it here and plan to expand it to other areas??

Time for work ...

 

[Dizneydaz]

Welcome!! I just "signed onto" your PTR, too ...



I would have thought it would have been a national thing? Maybe they tested it here and plan to expand it to other areas??

Time for work ...

Thanks. No, I meant my DD has the same name as your DD.

Yes, we'll be in MK on the 19th. We have ADRS at CP aat 8:05 a.m.. If we make it it'll be our first early entry meal! Coming for California it's harder to get up early but by then we'll have been there for a week so I think it's doable.

Normally when we go I don't know what days, for sure, we'll be in the parks. We keep our plans kinda flexible. I make many of our ADRS outside the parks so we don't have to go in a park just to have dinner. However, this year to take advantage of the free birthday promotion I know we'll be in the parks on the 19th and 22nd as well.

The photobooks from Shutterfly are really nice. Nicer even than the ones from Snapfish. You should be happy with their quality.

Here's some magic for your Savannah upgrade Last time we stayed at AKL (was it really 5 years ago, wow how time flies) we were there just after the hurricanes had hit the area. While we were checking in some guests interrupted our check in to talk to the CM handling us. After they left the CM explained that they had been there during the hurricane and had become attached to her. She thanked me for waiting so patiently. It was at this time that I asked if there was any chance of getting an upgrade (we had booked parking lot view ). She gave me a wink and said she already had! It's the one and only time I've ever asked for an upgrade. So my advice is when you check in, be super nice and if they don't offer the upgrade, ask, all they can do is say no.

BTW, sorry for the capitalization errors on my reply..I'm still getting used to typing on a laptop-they keys are spread out more than a regular QWERTY and sometimes (apparently) I miss the Shift key!

 

[joelp]

No, I meant my DD has the same name as your DD.
OK - I think I have it figured out ... ... maybe ...

Yes, we'll be in MK on the 19th. We have ADRS at CP aat 8:05 a.m.. If we make it it'll be our first early entry meal!

Definitely get up and get there early!! We did it a couple of years ago and it is soooo cool to have the MK practically to yourself!! But also give yourself some extra time so you can wander around a bit, take lots of pictures, and slowly walk up Main Street to the CP ...

If you get there "late", we'll be sitting by the planter dead center in front of the train station waiting for the "Welcoming Ceremony" ...

However, this year to take advantage of the free birthday promotion I know we'll be in the parks on the 19th and 22nd as well.

We have a 4:30 ADR at 1900 Park Faire on the 19th ... but I'll be back at work on the 22nd ...

The photobooks from Shutterfly are really nice. Nicer even than the ones from Snapfish. You should be happy with their quality.

I've pretty much decided that's what I'm gonna do ...

Here's some magic for your Savannah upgrade Last time we stayed at AKL (was it really 5 years ago, wow how time flies) we were there just after the hurricanes had hit the area. While we were checking in some guests interrupted our check in to talk to the CM handling us. After they left the CM explained that they had been there during the hurricane and had become attached to her. She thanked me for waiting so patiently. It was at this time that I asked if there was any chance of getting an upgrade (we had booked parking lot view ). She gave me a wink and said she already had! It's the one and only time I've ever asked for an upgrade. So my advice is when you check in, be super nice and if they don't offer the upgrade, ask, all they can do is say no.

The only complication is we have two rooms booked ... and a third room is joining us the next day ... So asking for both rooms to be upgraded is a bit much ... But, we'll see what happens ...

OK - time to do today's update:

WDW Day - 25 Update:

First off - did any of you catch the triple play the Phillies 2nd baseman pulled yesterday?!?

I don't get the Phils on the cable channel where I live (why? - I don't know!! ) and I'm not gonna pay to see them on the internet ... ... so the only chance I get to see them is when I visit my Mom (or when they're on ESPN ... )

So my stepfather and I were watching the game - and waiting for Lidge to blow another save (through no fault of his own this time, however ...) when - BANG! - the game was over!!

Only the 15th unassisted triple play ever - they're rarer than Perfect Games (only 16 of them ...) ... very cool!

And - the last time the Phils had an unassisted triple play - I was sitting in the parking lot of some store while Vicki was shopping, listening to the game on the radio ... back in 1992!!

OK - on to WDW stuff ...

Actually, not much to write about ...

I'm continuing to work my way through the WDW Kid's Guide ... and one of the tips I found today was to eat meals at off times ... ... so I'm going to take a look at my MK and AK touring plans and see what changes would be needed to eat lunch at 11:30 instead of 12:30. Since we'll be up and out early, we'll probably be hungry by then anyhow ... and we have early dinners planned for those days, too ... so it makes since (maybe ...)

Also, Jack Spence's blog on the AllEars site has a nice "tour" of Rafiki's Planet Watch - so I'm thinking of trying to fit that in, too (but what do we give up to do it?)

Have any of you paid a visit to Rafiki? Is it worth it? Howl ong does it take?

and - That's All Folks!!

 

[Dizneydaz]

We've done Rafiki's almost everytime we've gone (used to be Conservation Station). The amount of time it takes will depend on what you do, and what may be going on when you're there.

Things you can do there-search for hidden Mickey's on the animal mural wall-there are a lot of them. If there's a CM nearby they can point some out to you.

There's a small petting area. Also twice when we've been there they've brought out an animal. Once time it was Luna, an owl. This was done inside. Another time it was a huge snake, this was out near the petting area. You could touch the snake but not the owl.

As you walk up to Rafiki's there's an area for kids to learn about animals and other stuff.

We've also seen charactrers inside. Pocohontas and Rafiki.

It's also interesting (at least it was to me) on train ride you get to see the back side of part of the Safari-ifyou look closely you might catch a glimpse of the lion on top of his rock.

I would figure about an hour, or so. That's about how long we may spend there.

We have ADRs at Park Fare on the 19th too. 6:15 So if you eat slow we may see you there!

 

[princess&her4princes]

So...how many more DAYS?!!!

 

[joelp]

So...how many more DAYS?!!!

To answer your question ...

WDW Day - 24 Update:

Not much happenin' today ... read some more of the WDW Kid's Guide at work (almost through with the MK section ...) ...

... and I tweaked the Touring Plan to have an earlier lunch (around 11:30) ... which would then have us able to see the "Move it! Shake It! Celebrate It!" Street Party on Main Street at 12:30 (assuming the time for it doesn't change ...) ...

... and then those who wanted an afternoon break could then head back to the AKL for a few hours ...

Any Rennaissance fans out there?? (not the historical period - the band from the 1970's)!!

I just found out they're going on a 40th anniversary tour - they'll be at my favorite theatre - the Keswick in Glenside, PA on Oct 11!!

Unfortunately, we're supposed to meeting some friends who moved to Pittsburgh last year at the Pa Renaissance Faire that weekend!!

So I'm trying to work it out to go to the Faire the following weekend - which will also have a Halloween theme for the kids (as opposed to a Wine Harvest theme ... ).

Usually, we wait until a week before we're planning to go to the Faire and see what the weather report for the weekend is (everything is outdoors, so rain is a major bummer!!) ... but since Oct 10-12 is Columbus Day weekend, I'm not sure we can do that this year ... we'll see what happens ...

Until tomorrow ...

 

[joelp]

THREE WEEKS TO GO!!!









Didn't get a chance to do an update last night - not that I had much to say anyway ...

However, I did get this from Ohana90 on the Dis ... we'll give it to Danielle on the plane ...

Have a great day everyone - back later ...

 

[princess&her4princes]

THREE WEEKS TO GO!!!









Didn't get a chance to do an update last night - not that I had much to say anyway ...

However, I did get this from Ohana90 on the Dis ... we'll give it to Danielle on the plane ...

Have a great day everyone - back later ...

HOW CUTE!!! She is going to be SO excited!!!!! I can't wait to hear all about it!!!

 

[joelp]

WDW Day - 21 Update:

So here is the (slightly) revised touring plan for our day at the MK ...

Arrive around 8:15 and get our spots for the "Welcoming Ceremony" ...

9:00-9:45 Main Street (keeping an eye out for Daisy) and Fantasyland (Peter Pan and Winnie the Pooh)

9:45-11:30 Toonrown/Pixie Hollow (the girls REALLY want to see the Fairies - so that could take most of the morning ...)

11:30 - Lunch (CS - somewhere)

12:30 Main Street - "Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It" Street Party

Optional break (for the weenies ... ) back at the AKL ...

1:00-3:00 Splash Mountain, BTMRR, Hall of Presidents, Haunted Mansion

3:00 Afternoon Parade

then try to do Buzz and Monsters, Inc. ... before jumping on the Monorail to

4:30 Dinner at 1900 Park Faire

6:30 Back to the MK, jump on the RR and take it to Toontown - then walk to Fantasyland for Mickey's Philharmagic and iasm.

8:00 Spectromagic

9:00 Wishes

... and end with some shopping while everyone else stands in line for a bus ...

 

[princess&her4princes]

Sounds like a great day...a full one, but fun!!! Haven't heard much about Move it, Shake it, Celebrate street party, have to keep my eyes peeled for that while we're there, too! Sounds fun!!

I don't know about you, but I really can't believe our trips are SO close!! How did this happen? YAY!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[joelp]

I don't know about you, but I really can't believe our trips are SO close!! How did this happen? YAY!!!!!!!!!!!

You see, we live on this planet - Earth ... that circles a star - The Sun ... and it takes 365 days to ...

Yea - I know!!

And, of course, each day from now until we leave get's a few minutes shorter and shorter and shorter ...

 

[princess&her4princes]

You see, we live on this planet - Earth ... that circles a star - The Sun ... and it takes 365 days to ...

Yea - I know!!

And, of course, each day from now until we leave get's a few minutes shorter and shorter and shorter ...

You're such a comedian!! Seriously, this Summer has FLOWN by, it seemed like we had MONTHS and MONTHS (well, we did...but you know what I mean!) and here we are, weeks away!!! When does DD start school? My oldest starts 1st grade (wow!!) Tuesday, my middle son doesn't start preschool until the 11th, but I just can't believe how fast time goes by.....let's hope our trips don't go by as fast!

 

[joelp]

The DD starts First Grade Wednesday!!

We had orientation at her new school today - very nice, good vibes - nice library and gymnasium.

Unfortunately, her teacher wasn't there ... but we did get to see her classroom ... big ... and looks like there will be a total of 21 kids in the class ...

She also made her first "new school" friend - another new 1st-grade girl ... not in her class, but they've already made plans to meet on the playground!!

And that's it for

WDW Day - 20 Update ...

 

[lisalonglash]

You see, we live on this planet - Earth ... that circles a star - The Sun ... and it takes 365 days to ...

Yea - I know!!

And, of course, each day from now until we leave get's a few minutes shorter and shorter and shorter ...

Bahahahah! You're a card and should be dealt with

I agree - it totally seems like some days literally FLY by!!

 

[joelp]

WDW Day -20 Update Addendum:

Just called WDW - and managed to get ressies for the DD and her 5-year old cousin at Bippidi Boppidi Boutique in the MK on Sept 19 - right before we head over to 1900 Park Faire for dinner with Cindy and her buds ... !!!

[This after having no luck last Sunday ... ]

Grandma's treat - and some "alone" time with the girls ... (assuming I can keep their Moms out of the BBB!!! )

One ressie is at 2:45 and the other at 3:30 - so I'll just keep calling back to see if I can't get them both closer to 3:30 ...

Time to pull a very wrinkled out of the tub ...