The Moore Family's March Vacation: A Pre-Trip Report

Southern_Tink · Feb 10, 2011

How our trip came to be:
Andrew and I knew we wanted to go back to WDW with Connor right after our trip in 2009. It is starting to become an annual thing for us, and I’m not complaining! We had originally planned for September 2010, Andy’s parents and my dad showed an interest in going with us, but Don is a teacher and wanted to go when school was on break so he wouldn’t have to take vacation time. So, the planning began…

The When, Where, Dining and Such
Our trip is planned for Don’s Spring Break, March 20th-25th, 2011. Sunday through Friday. We’ve never gone in March and at first my husband and I were terrified of going that time of year, with what we’ve heard about crowds and wait times. Since this is Don and Terri’s first time at WDW we don’t want them to see it as this overcrowded place with wait times of 120 min. per ride. But, we’ve pre-warned them that this will be a busy time of year and they don’t seem to mind. The good thing is Easter is almost a month after our vacation so we’re hoping most Spring Breaks will be around Easter, instead of in March. Whatever the case, we are going to Disney and crowds and wait times will not spoil our fun!

While planning our trip Southwest announced they would be coming to GSP and would have flights to MCO. We will be one of the first flights so we were able to get tickets at a great rate (I think) of $77/person with taxes, fees, etc. Up until that point we were planning on driving, using a family member’s van. We have only flown to Disney once before and that was in the early ‘90s. However, everyone agreed they would rather fly for an hour rather than have an 8 hour car ride. That’s everyone, except for me! I am terrified of flying. This fear really didn’t start until after I had Connor. I’ve flown to Europe before and to Mexico twice with no problem before I had Connor, but for some reason I’ve been scared of flying ever since I’ve had him. I went to Vegas a couple of years ago and had to actually take medicine to calm my nerves. I don’t panic and cause a scene, so don’t worry if you happen to be on my flight! It’s just an internal struggle where I battle not being in control and I hate the feeling of taking off and landing. Ugh, I’m getting myself scared just typing about it. But, I took one for the team and agreed to fly. I just need to take some Valium before we take off!

My dad lives in Charlotte, so he will be driving down to our place in Clemson the night before we leave. My in-laws live in Greenville, so Sunday morning we will be picking them up on our way to the airport. We will be departing at 10:10am and should be landing at MCO at 11:35. Disney’s Magical Express will be picking us up. This is the only part about flying I’m excited about. We’ve never been on the Magical Express and I’m really excited, since it’s a Disney 1st for all of us.

We will have two rooms at All-Star Sports. We always stay at Values, for our family it makes the most sense. We’ve stayed at all of the All-Stars but we’ve never been to Pop. We were thinking of staying there this year, but we let Andrew’s parent’s choose because it’s their 1st trip. Don played baseball in college and has coached several teams so it was no surprise when they chose Sports and we’ve requested the baseball section. We stayed there in 2009 and we had no complaints, so hopefully they’ll like it.

We will be on the Plus Dining Plan. Some people like the dining plan, some people don’t. For our family it makes sense and is convenient in our eyes. Each adult picked one Table Service to eat at (since there are 5 adults going and we will be at the parks for 5 days w/hoppers). Don chose Rose and Crown, I chose ‘Ohana, Andrew chose Coral Reef, my dad chose Le Ceiller and Terri chose Chef Mickey’s. We’ve never eaten at any of these restaurants, with the exception of Le Ceiller. That restaurant is a must on all of our trips, along with Pecos Bill’s for Andrew and I. They are both a tradition for us. Other than those two places we like to choose restaurants we’ve never been to on each new trip, with the hope of one day eventually eating at all restaurants on property. It may be a bit ambitious but you gotta have goals! Lol

I think that wraps up most of our details. We are looking forward to this trip for so many reasons, especially because this is my in-laws first vacation to Walt Disney World. My hope is that they will see why we love it so much, and will fall in love with it as well. At our 30 day mark I plan on making a Top 30 list of what we are most looking forward to, so stay tuned. Any tips, advice, etc would be greatly appreciated!

HollyBelle · Feb 10, 2011

Yay! I'm so excited for you, Lesley! Our trips slightly overlap... maybe we'll cross paths while we're there! Seems funny considering we live in the same small town. I can only imagine how much fun it'll be to introduce your in-laws to Disney. There's no way they won't like it. You've got a secret weapon, seeing as how they get to experience it through your son's eyes.

Of the All-Stars, I would probably say that Sports is my favorite. We last stayed there in May 2008 and the room renovations are nice.

And I've just got to say... your restaurant choice for the win! :animwink:

Southern_Tink · Feb 11, 2011

HollyBelle said:
Yay! I'm so excited for you, Lesley! Our trips slightly overlap... maybe we'll cross paths while we're there! Seems funny considering we live in the same small town. I can only imagine how much fun it'll be to introduce your in-laws to Disney. There's no way they won't like it. You've got a secret weapon, seeing as how they get to experience it through your son's eyes.

Of the All-Stars, I would probably say that Sports is my favorite. We last stayed there in May 2008 and the room renovations are nice.

And I've just got to say... your restaurant choice for the win! :animwink:

Thanks, Holly! I'm excited about your trip as well and cannot wait to read your report! Hopefully, we will cross paths...I wonder how often we actually have here in our small town without even realizing it??? My husband and I think my in-laws will enjoy it, how can you not like Disney? Connor going with them will be a big plus too.

I've been trying to get into 'Ohana for our past 2 trips and FINALLY got it for this one. Ever since I started reading your Trip Reports and seen your pics from there, I've been dying to try it. Plus, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Poly and I think my in-laws will enjoy checking it out.

Now, if only I could get these blasted pictures to work! :veryconfu

HollyBelle · Feb 11, 2011

Do you have your photos hosted on an online website? Like, flickr, photobucket, etc? That's the first step. Once you have them hosted there you want to find the "image location" code. If you use firefox, you can likely right click the image and click on "copy image location," but I believe in internet explorer you have to click on "show image location" and then you have to highlight the code and copy it. Once you find it and copy it, go back to the wdwmagic textbox... there you want to click on the little square yellow icon (a mountain and sun image) and paste the html location code. It should then show up in your textbox.

I hope this helps! If not, maybe someone else can explain it better.

MaxsDad · Feb 11, 2011

Sounds like you have a great trip planned. I hope it goes well for your family.

Sounds like we have some things in common (see Avatar, and location).

I have gone back and forth over flying out of GSP and using Magical Express. Yes, it is quick and easy. Allegiant used to fly to MCO with low fares, but now it will be SW. For one, my wife has never flown, and I think she would be more nerveous than you described, and may very well run off before they can close the door. Secondly, I really like having my car there and the freedom that comes with it. She says one day she will try flying, but I don't want to force the issue.

CountyDownTiger · Feb 11, 2011

southern_tink is a true hottie.

Southern_Tink · Feb 12, 2011

CountyDownTiger said:
southern_tink is a true hottie.

Looks like my husband has made his first post! Welcome aboard, dear!

DisneyPrincess5 · Feb 12, 2011

Ooo how exciting!
Wow $77 per ticket?! I wish we could get a deal like that!
What a fun idea for each of you to pick a dining spot!!

Hope you have a wonderful trip.

stefan74 · Feb 12, 2011

Your trip report is fantastic so far. My mom and I will be there March 3-11 and we cannot wait. Can't wait to read more from you.

Southern_Tink · Feb 12, 2011

HollyBelle said:
Do you have your photos hosted on an online website? Like, flickr, photobucket, etc? That's the first step. Once you have them hosted there you want to find the "image location" code. If you use firefox, you can likely right click the image and click on "copy image location," but I believe in internet explorer you have to click on "show image location" and then you have to highlight the code and copy it. Once you find it and copy it, go back to the wdwmagic textbox... there you want to click on the little square yellow icon (a mountain and sun image) and paste the html location code. It should then show up in your textbox.

I hope this helps! If not, maybe someone else can explain it better.

Thanks Holly! My husband used your advice and got it figured out for me! So, now I'm good to go! Thank you very much!

MaxsDad said:
Sounds like you have a great trip planned. I hope it goes well for your family.

Sounds like we have some things in common (see Avatar, and location).

I have gone back and forth over flying out of GSP and using Magical Express. Yes, it is quick and easy. Allegiant used to fly to MCO with low fares, but now it will be SW. For one, my wife has never flown, and I think she would be more nerveous than you described, and may very well run off before they can close the door. Secondly, I really like having my car there and the freedom that comes with it. She says one day she will try flying, but I don't want to force the issue.

We do have some things in common. I didn't go to Clemson, I actually went to "Harvard on the Hill" if you know what I'm referring to and my husband went to Anderson but, we've lived here forever it feels like! Flying is more of a timing thing for us this trip. We want my in-laws to get as much park time in as possible so flying was the best option and you just can't beat that price. However, my husband and I agreed to drive next time. There are just some traditions that we have when driving to WDW that we'll miss this time around and with my fear of flying...I don't think we'll do it very often!

DisneyPrincess5 said:
Ooo how exciting!
Wow $77 per ticket?! I wish we could get a deal like that!
What a fun idea for each of you to pick a dining spot!!

Hope you have a wonderful trip.

It was a price we could not pass up. I've heard good things about Southwest on these boards, so fingers crossed it will be a good flight! We thought it'd be fun to have each of us pick out a place to eat. That way we each get a say in where we dine and we will be trying new places so I'm really looking forward to it!

stefan74 said:
Your trip report is fantastic so far. My mom and I will be there March 3-11 and we cannot wait. Can't wait to read more from you.

You'll have to write a Trip Report! I love reading everyone else's. I can't tell you how much I've learned by reading all of the great reports on here and it's fun to follow along on someone else trip and see how they enjoy my favortie vacation spot. I hope you have a wonderful trip!

DisneyPrincess5 · Feb 13, 2011

Southern_Tink said:
It was a price we could not pass up. I've heard good things about Southwest on these boards, so fingers crossed it will be a good flight! We thought it'd be fun to have each of us pick out a place to eat. That way we each get a say in where we dine and we will be trying new places so I'm really looking forward to it!

We usually take SW and have always been very pleased with them!

Southern_Tink · Feb 17, 2011

Since we’ve been planning our upcoming trip people have asked us what we are most looking forward to doing, what shows we look forward to seeing the most, etc. So, here you have it…Our Top 30 list (in honor of our 30 more sleeps mark, which is today!) This list is not in any particular order it’s just at random, as there is no way we could possibly decide what we enjoy the most on our Disney trips…We love it all!

#30- Pecos Bill’s
We are not huge fans of red meat, but there is something about Pecos Bill’s that just makes us gravitate to it, burgers and all! We think Pecos Bill’s is more about nostalgia for us, although we have always loved the food. One night in 2008, Andrew and I found ourselves sharing a burger there while watching the parade behind us. We’ll never forget the parade illuminating the humid air with a brilliant glow and filling it with a pulse of music and revelry. All was right with the world. Pecos Bill’s became “our place” that night. The following year, in 2009 we found ourselves in the same situation. We never plan to eat at Pecos Bill’s, it has simply become second nature to us. We always eat there at night, split a burger and watch the parade go by. It’s simple and sweet to us and man does it make us crave a burger just thinking about it!

#29- My Insolence
In 2008, we were casually ambling through one of the shops in the French pavilion in Epcot, my husband stopped in his tracks and started laughing. “Lesley,” he said. “Look at this.” A perfume, which to this day we have never smelled, remains one of our best memories of Walt Disney World. It’s hard to say exactly why “My Insolence” made us laugh so hard. Perhaps it was just how silly and pretentious that name was for a fragrance. Perhaps we were just making ourselves feel better on the eve of our departure from the most magical place on earth. Regardless, anytime we return, we always look for – and find – My Insolence, and take a photo. And we laugh.

My Insolence by qtley428

#28- Rides, Rides, Rides
If we listed all of the rides we were looking forward to going on, this list would be much longer than a Top 30, so we’ll just group them all in number 28. From the mystery and history of Spaceship Earth, to the vintage appeal of Carousel of Progress, to the impeccable theming of Expedition Everest (disco yeti anyone?), to the synergy of music and motion found in Rock’n Rollercoaster – Walt Disney World differs from all other vacation destinations because it doesn’t just off rides. It offers experiences.

Our Future by qtley428

#27-Cast Members
Walt Disney World is the most popular vacation spot in the world because it’s the best at everything it does. The attractions are the most memorable. The scale is the most grand. And the service? Superior. They’re friendly, they’re helpful, and they not only make you happy you’re there – they convince you they are too.

Main Street by qtley428

#26-Food
If Walt Disney World is a sensory exploration, then it would be a shame to neglect one of its strongest assets. While some may think of eating at a table service restaurant as unnecessary during a WDW vacation, we think it only makes sense to enjoy the pleasures of the delectable dining options it has to offer. Disney World is about sight, smell, touch, and the way the combination thereof makes your heart go pitter-patter. To us, tantalizing your taste buds is part and parcel of the Disney experience. The atmosphere and details at so many of the restaurants are worth going back to see, let alone the food! We are eating at four restaurants that are “new” to us and we’re so excited to try these places out. We’re also looking forward to some yummy snacks like popcorn, Mickey Bars and a Grand Marnier Orange Slush. Yum-o!

Duck by qtley428

#25-Cinderella Castle
We do not feel like we’ve arrived at Walt Disney World until we’ve laid eyes on this stunning beauty. Our mouths, almost involuntarily, curve into smiles the moment we walk up to it. There is a feeling we get that cannot be explained whenever we see it. More than just an important icon on the Disney World landscape, it’s a testament to my childhood – every glance brings with it memories I’ve shared here with my father, my husband, and my son.

Great Pic by qtley428

Southern_Tink · Feb 17, 2011

#24 – Smells
Come on. You know you love it, too. Walt Disney World is all about sensory overload. Feeling the force of gravity on the intense rides. Tasting the gourmet food. Basking in the Florida sun. But what about the smell? Whether it be Pirates of the Caribbean, Spaceship Earth, or Main Street at Magic Kingdom, there’s a smell that instantly taps into every memory you’ve ever had at this breathtaking place, all at once. It seems you can find any scent in specialty candles nowadays. If other Disney World regulars are anything like us, then there’s a fortune to be made in WDW-scented plug-ins, candles and air fresheners.

#23- Shopping
Ok, so a knee-jerk reaction might be to assume this is strictly a female endeavor. But when you need a break from the Florida heat and the hustle and bustle of the rides, there’s something therapeutic for everyone in strolling through a quieter, air-conditioned shop. There’s a myriad of options for shoppers at Walt Disney World, and those options represent to us an attraction in and of itself. We never even end up buying much of anything, but it doesn’t matter. Whether it’s just window shopping or going to a store to buy our son candy or a souvenir, shopping helps you soak up everything this wonderful place has to offer.

#22- Disney’s Magical Experience
While the majority of our party headed south this year consider themselves to be Disney veterans of some sort, the DME is something none of us have ever done. We shouldn’t be tired or too stressed after taking a one-hour flight in lieu of 10-hour drive, so the bus ride from Orlando to the most magical place on earth should be a pleasant one. The Disney promotional films being played on the ride there will only heighten the anticipation, as we head down the home stretch.

#21- Shows
There’s nothing quite like the variety of entertainment options at Disney World. Philharmagic and Muppet Vision 3-D are staples for the Moore Family, and we’re looking forward to taking Connor to Beauty and the Beast – a show I’ve not seen since I was a child, and Andrew has never seen at all.

American Idol by qtley428

#20- Main Street, USA
Isn’t it fascinating how walking through certain parts of Walt Disney World trigger an automatic physiological response? Similar to how catching a whiff of the cologne your sweetheart wore on your first date can remind you of how it felt to fall in love, taking your first steps onto Main Street upon a return trip induces a unique physical sensation. The sweet smell rising from the confectionary tickles your nose. The whimsical music makes us light on our feet, while the entire setting makes us feel as if the stresses of the 21st century have no place in this timeless spot.

Mainstreet by qtley428

Southern_Tink · Feb 17, 2011

#19- World Showcase
[FONT=&quot]How many middle class families have the budget to visit Morocco, England, Japan, Mexico, Norway and Germany in one vacation? Well, more than one might think. Epcot’s World Showcase represents to us a chance to tickle our adult fancies. The authenticity of the respective countries’ shops, restaurants and attractions turn our trip to Disney World into more than just a vacation about cartoons – it’s a chance to take in the wonder of this planet in a way we’d never be able to otherwise.

DSCF3977 by qtley428

[/FONT] #18- Flower and Garden Festival
This festival will give us a tremendous amount of wonderful photo opportunities, especially my mother-in-law on her very first trip to WDW. The “Flower Power” concert will provide some live entertainment into the mix, though I’m disappointed Davy Jones won’t be there until May. My mother-in-law loves flowers and gardening, and this should be a welcome addition to our vacation.

#17- Making An Entrance
As moving as a first trip to Walt Disney World is, there’s something to be said about what it feels like to return. We love how it feels when we first walk through the turnstiles at each respective park for the first time on a trip. It’s like running into an old friend you haven’t seen in a year or two. When you’re familiar with the wonders of WDW, it makes your entrance there that much more of a momentous occasion.

100_0156 by qtley428

#16- Connor Returns
Our precious little boy last went to Disney World in 2009, when he was all of two years old. This year, he’s four, and stands at 41 inches tall, so now he’s not only old enough to better appreciate all the rides and thrills, but he’s also tall enough to ride many rides he was too small to enjoy his last trip. We’re looking forward to seeing him ride Test Track, Dinosaur and Soarin’, in particular.

3D by qtley428

#15- Our Resort
My father-in-law is a huge sports fan, especially when it comes to baseball. Needless to say, when we left the decision on where to stay up to Don and Terri, we weren’t at all surprised that they picked All-Star Sports, with a request for the baseball building. With fantastic theming and an unbeatable proximity to that nifty baseball diamond pool, we’re excited about calling that our Disney home for the week.

Helmet 2 by qtley428
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Southern_Tink · Feb 17, 2011

#14- Monorail
To us, it’s about more than just convenience. We can’t tell you how many memories we have of ending a fantastic day on the Monorail. Tired, worn out, and in desperate need of some food and sleep, we’ve taken more than our fair share of collective sighs while sinking into the seats of a monorail car during our Disney trips. You never realize how exhausted – and how much fun you’ve had – until you’re reflecting on your day while the train whisks you away from Epcot or Magic Kingdom.

DSCF3864 by qtley428

#13- Fireworks
Walt Disney World knows how to finish with a literal bang. The various fireworks shows are fantastic, but “Wishes” at Magic Kingdom takes the cake for us. The neon glow of the displays far overhead illuminates the castle, the faces of the children in the crowd and the entire kingdom. We are so looking forward to seeing our family huddled together, gazing up at the sky after a magical day together.

#12- Parades
We’ve never been huge fans of all the parades, but it’s something we commit ourselves to watching at least once during the week, especially Spectromagic at Magic Kingdom. If nothing else, parades give everything around us a festive ambiance. It’s a great way to see characters, and an even better opportunity to benefit from short wait times on rides.

Parade by qtley428

#11- WDW Archway
Whether you drive through this iconic archway in your own car, a rental or DME, Walt Disney World resort’s entrance lets all passersby know they’ve entered a place like no other. Once the DME passes these signs reality as our family knows it will freeze for 5 days and we will instead be in a perfect world where dreams come true.

Welcome Home! by qtley428

#10- Pins
This is a new adventure for us and we are looking forward to becoming a part of the pin trading community. Connor and I have both have a pin each that were souvenir gifts from my mom’s last trip, so those are not tradable to us. But, I plan on buying a bulk lot from Ebay before our trip that we will trade. I have not decided what pins I am interested in trading or collecting yet, but I am excited to the opportunities pin trading may give us such as meeting new people and having conversations with CMs.

Southern_Tink · Feb 17, 2011

#9- Pressed Pennies
We don’t collect pressed pennies per say, but I try to bring a little loose change on each trip and let Connor make a penny when we see a machine. I later use them in our scrapbook. They are a fun little memento that Connor’s little hands help create and I think its neat to look back and see which part of WDW our pennies were pressed in.

#8- The Pool
In 2009 we stayed at All-Star Sports and only used one of the 2 pools-The Grand Slam. We loved the pool’s small size and baseball diamond shape. Connor enjoyed Goofy squirting fountains of water and would swim right underneath his statue. We didn’t step foot in the Surfboard Bay pool, it was just too crowded and overwhelming for our tastes. We are looking forward to the privacy The Grand Slam pool provided and the theming really made us feel like we were in the center of a baseball game.

Swimming by qtley428

#7- Characters
Meeting characters has become a fun part of our vacations. We don’t prefer face characters or costumed characters over the other, we enjoy any interaction as it comes available. We’ve met several on each trip and have a fair amount of pictures, but this trip Connor will have his first autograph book! I am so excited for him because he really liked meeting the characters in ’09 and I think he’ll enjoy having a book full of his favorite characters signatures.

Salute by qtley428

#6- Creative Queues
One of the things that sets Disney World’s attractions apart from those at any other theme park are the queues. You don’t just stand outside and wait idly for a brief ride. You’re immersed in the theme of the attraction. We particularly enjoy the queues at Expedition Everest, Toy Story Mania, Test Track and Tower of Terror, where the areas in which you stand in line are just as important to the experience as the ride themselves.

DSCF3934 by qtley428

#5- Extra Magic Hours
A great perk of staying on property is EMH. For us, the thrill isn’t just getting an extra few hours of park time – it’s the ability to experience Disney in different ways. Riding Astro Orbiter at 1 a.m. isn’t the same as riding it at 12 p.m. Getting up at the crack of dawn to look at animals at Animal Kingdom during early EMH is a completely different feeling to us than doing so at a normal time. Speaking of animals….

Southern_Tink · Feb 17, 2011

#4 In the jungle, the mighty jungle
It’s strange. Animal Kingdom is our least favorite park, but there are pockets of DAK that are probably the best themed areas in all of Walt Disney World. We take Connor to the zoo quite a bit, and he’s fascinated by animals. Needless to say, we’re thrilled at the thought of all of us packing into the safari bus and looking around in wonder at awesome sights of nature.

sleepy baby by qtley428

#3 – Photos
I’m a scrapbooker. Andrew is a journalist. It’s Don and Terri’s first trip to the most magical place on earth. The question isn’t whether or not we’ll be taking a boatload of pictures – it’s whether or not the three cameras we’ll be taking on the trip will have enough memory.

#2 – No expiration passes
Can you really ever get enough Disney? We’ve decided that just one trip probably isn’t enough for us, so we’re going to upgrade our five-day passes to 10-day no-expiration passes that we plan on using on a five day “Disneymoon,” hopefully later this year or early next year. Knowing that we’ll be making a return trip to WDW will make that usually gloomy last day not nearly as painful.

#1 Making memories with our family
Andrew and I are all about family. We count ourselves as blessed that we live in fairly close proximity to both sides of our family, and enjoy close relationships with them. Andrew’s parents are both 57 years old, and have never been to Walt Disney World. We’re not only excited about watching Connor experience the magic, but also seeing Mr. Connor’s grandparents see what all the fuss is about. It’s all incredible to think about. Three years ago, my husband had never been to WDW. Today, he’s as addicted as I am, about to go on his third trip and planning his fourth. Our son is only four and will have gone twice in his life already. My father, a grizzled Disney veteran at this point, will be along for the ride. Next Month, we’ll be living it up in our favorite place in the world, with some of our favorite people in the world. We know there are memories waiting to be made. We can hardly wait.

Midway Mania by qtley428

HollyBelle · Feb 17, 2011

FABULOUS countdown, Lesley! I found myself nodding along in agreement with so many of your "favorite things." I like your writing style, as well. Good stuff!

It won't be long now and we'll be there! :sohappy:

PeoplemoverTTA · Feb 17, 2011

I am loving your pre-trip report - can't wait to read all about your trip! You have an adorable family, and it sounds like you're ready to have a great time

The Moore Family's March Vacation: A Pre-Trip Report

Southern_Tink

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HollyBelle

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Southern_Tink

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HollyBelle

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MaxsDad

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CountyDownTiger

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Southern_Tink

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DisneyPrincess5

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stefan74

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Southern_Tink

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DisneyPrincess5

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Southern_Tink

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Southern_Tink

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Southern_Tink

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Southern_Tink

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Southern_Tink

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Southern_Tink

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HollyBelle

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PeoplemoverTTA

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