Lisalyn

We've been three times with the kids and just on the last trip did I buy myself some pins. The kids have a decent collection. They also did the penny press. We started saving pennies but they haven't decided if they're going to do the penny presses again.

Have you decorated with any Disney stuff? Like, do you have MM dishes or anything like that? I know you get mugs on each trip, right? Is that all you use now or do you have some that go with your dishes, too? I bought a mug that I love - it's the one of Cinderella Castle. I would love to get one for each of us and just use only those but I can never find 4 that I like! It's either they only have three in the collection or they don't have four characters that would do. No offense but I just do not do Eyeore stuff. I just don't know why they make so much ladies clothing with him on them. Plus, the Pooh family of characters just aren't my family.

Unfortunately the guide book prices don't seem to go down. At least, I suppose, until the year is over. But I personally think it's worth the purchase.

I guess I'm not as much of a fanatic as I thought since I don't really collect anything in particular. I saw someone (I wonder if it's the same thread you mentioned) who decorated a room with artwork that looks like it came from the Haunted Mansion. It looked really, really cool. It made me rethink of doing our play/computer room into some type of Disney theme instead of a London theme. I don't know, though, because I haven't been able to find any pictures that I really like yet. Guess I'll wait and see. We still have to paint it first and we're terrible (terrible!) procrastinators! :snore:

I think you would like the Passporter, too. It's different than all the other guides since it's spiral bound making it a breeze to look through but it also closes up, kind-of like a "Trapper Keeper" binder. It's a guide and a planner, too. There are sections where you can write all the places you're going to eat and write the reservation number. But one of the things I liked the best are the planner pockets in the back. You can keep track of your days itinerary, the reservation #'s, thoughts/memories for the day and the pockets can hold photos, keys, receipts, maps or anything you might use them for. Like I said before, I just fell in love with it and knew I'd get one for every trip because I also keep it as a souvenier of our trips.

Do you do the Christmas party? I debated back and forth about the Halloween party but decided in the end, if we can manage it we'll try it at least once. All the feedback I've gotten is that it's great for all ages.

So I bought The Complete Walt Disney World 2010 today! I just couldnt' pass it up, especially with a gift card. And since I asked the girl if they are still sending out coupons (online for Borders), she asked if I was getting the emails, I said no so she let me use the most recent discount for 33% off! Yay! I guess I needed something to hold me over till Dec. Lmao! After seeing how many books you have I didn't feel like a weirdo anymore!! I am so thankful/grateful for this site and friends like you! It feels "normal" to have bought this book now. LOL.....

I don't think I could get my DH to do the Wishes Dessert Party. LOL, although I think I would love it! Maybe someday. I think we may do the Halloween party next year. Have plenty of time to figure it out, lol.

Have you ever used a planning guide? I just pre-ordered the Passporter '11 (it will ship in Dec!). I bought the '09 version for our trip that year and fell in love with it. I pretty much decided I would buy one for every trip. I saw another book I may buy called the Complete Guide to WDW. At least I think that's the title. I don't know. Do I really need 2 books? I like the Passporter because it's a planner not just a guide. Plus I kept it as a souvenier of the trip. What do you think? 2 books, too much?

Are you kidding? I LOVE chocolate. I ate chocolate covered cream puffs for breakfast this morning! Indulging a bit. I love desserts, though. One of the best things about our WDW trip last year was getting all the desserts, lmao! But, I only ate one chocolate dessert the entire time and on the last day at Beaches & Cream. I really wanted to try different stuff and I was not disappointed even once. Oooh, now I'm getting hungry.

Sounds like a great day you had! Very cool, too, that you won for your Flag cake! Do you eat the desserts, too? I have the worst sweet tooth. Really. I'd rather have dessert than dinner, lol. What are you going to use your gift card for?

No, there are a few places, especially at DTD that aren't on the DP. Like Ghiardelli's. Omg, you know I'd go crazy there! Maybe that's not the worst thing for me, lmao!

I wish T-Rex was on the DP, then I wouldn't have any question about where we'd go. But we'll probably do like you did and at least check it out. I have the allears website under my Disney Favorites section, lol. That's how I check out all the menus to decide where we'll eat, I love it, it's so helpful.

We DO have a lot in common! It's funny and cool at the same time. It's fun to find out more and more, too.

I also try to plan the days when the parks aren't supposed to be as crowded. But I think we haven't really seen the parks too packed since we go late in Sept. We haven't taken as much advantage of the EMH as we should. I'm wanting to change that on our next trip.

Like you, we also return to favorite restaurants. Although the next trip is a bit different - Lee, Tristan and Sean have all chosen new places as their one pick! (I plan the whole trip.) My pick and our "Family Favorite" (now who's dorky? We're on the same page, totally, lmao!) are the only two that we've been to before. But it's fun to try new places, especially when one of those will be Via Napoli - I can't wait!

Do you have any suggestions for Downtown Disney? We usually eat at the Earl of Sandwich because we all like it but I may try someplace different. Any thoughts?

Let's not give up hope that maybe someday WDW will have free lodging! Never give up hope!

DH and I have been to Seiverville. We were there for the Bristol Race so we didn't do the tourist thing except to eat out. Gatlinburg is close to Seiverville. We thought it would be cool to go back with the kids but haven't yet. Maybe someday, lol.

Do you do a "routine" at Disney? An example is I have a friend they used to go to the same parks in the same order and eat at all the same restaurants every trip. She wasn't too pleased when they started changing the menus either. We never do the same "plan" twice. And we try to eat at new restaurants on each trip, too.

That's cool, definitely a nice way to go on vacation with free lodging. I guess the odds of WDW offering that are pretty slim, huh? LMAO! I wish!

We go on vacation each year to NJ to visit my dad and the years we don't go to Disney we try to have a short family vacation. Although this year the kids ended up visiting my brother and sister-in-law in FL while my DH and I went to Charleston.

Do you think you will go to Universal to see the Harry Potter park? My DH and I went for one day to Universal on our honeymoon and it wasn't as built up as it is now. I'd like to go since I and Tristan have read all the books and all of us have seen all the movies.

Thank you! I will definitely need the good wishes/karma! I'm nervous already. LOL.

Wow, the Caribbean or Hawaii sound wonderful at Thanksgiving! Do you take all your big trips then? We usually visit family but this year we may just be home. Family drama. It's so difficult to avoid it but I try.

Oops, I almost forgot - I have a job interview! It's at Macy's later this month. I'll defintely keep you posted. Now I just have to worry about bing interviewed again. Ugh, it's been over 15 15 years! And I've always hated job interviews. I wonder if it would hurt my chanced too much if I took a valium beforehand? LMAO, just kidding, sort-of. Too bad I don't have anything like that!!

O.M.G. - I HATE Kyle Busch too! Each race I just want to hear he's blown his engine or gets his car wrecked just enough to end his day! That is way too funny. And like you I'm also not a Kurt B. fan either but don't have the same kind of intensity as I do for his little bro.

$2400 Sound great especically since it includes food! Where is the cruise going? My cousin went last year and they had a blast. We don't really call each other just see each other when we go for a visit and she actually called me to tell me what a wonderful time they had. (She knows about my Disney "affliction", LOL.)

That sounds like a really nice day you had!

You watched the race?!? We were there! Are you a big race fan? If so, who do you root for? In my family we all root for Jeff Gordon then sort of splinter off. Tristan likes Jr., Sean likes Jimmy Johnson, my DH will root for the Hendricks team and I like Tony Stewart. It was fun, but we left before it was over because I think Sean could've fallen asleep on one of our shoulders and we new we'd miss the hour upon hour it would've taken us to get home with the rest of the crowd. So, needless to say I didn't even see who won till we got home! I missed seeing TS win! As Sean would say, "RIP OFF!" LOL

The only place we haven't eaten is Teppan Edo. We had such a good time at GG. The characters were fun and I agree the food was pretty good. I like the fact that they use vegetable they grow on property, I think that's awesome. (This coming from someone who grows NOTHING! LOL) And we also enjoyed 1900 PF. We ate there for breakfast and it was good, it just seems pretty packed in with all the people.

What a wonderful gift from your roomie! Is she your sister, too? That means she's really thinking of you when she shops.

I haven't yet had something censored! I wonder how often that happens or how they do it. Are certain words "flagged" and they just censor it no matter how the word is being used? Pretty darn funny!

You know how offensive the short version of Richard is!! LMAO! Thank goodness you didn't acutally type it I may have actually fainted!

Did you get the photo album from Disney?

Cali Grill is crazy expensive, isn't it? Of course I was a bit shocked when the four of us ate out at Five Guys Burgers & Fries and our bill was over $42! Outback or Longhornes is about as expensive as we eat out normally.

But yeah, we do have free dining and that's a signature place but I think we may do a few signature places this time around.

I think we'll try to do the whole Cali Grill/fireworks, too. You'll have to tell me how amazing it is!

Wow, I'm not taking nearly as many photos as I thought! LOL, last trip it seemed like I was always taking out my camera to take a photo! You've inspired me, I'm going to find different things to get pictures of. I do a photo album, too, the ones you write on the sides. I like those a lot, you can write your memories down along with the pic.

Oh wow, you guys should have a great time at the Princess breakfast, especially with Lindsay wanting to go there for a couple of years. What a memory that will be for the both of you! We may eat at the Cali Grill too. It sounds amazing to see the fireworks from there, is that a special/difficult reservation to get? And do I ask the CM about what time we should have the reservation to be able to do that?

Do you take tons of pictures? I know someone who took over 1600 on their last one and I was like, Whoa!! I thought I took a lot and it was only over 200!

I think you'll enjoy the 60's. The walk to the main building isn't bad at all and the food court was pretty cool. I wonder if they'll do a refurb on the Movies next. Maybe it's not as beat up as the others. You can get a pizza delivered to your room! We've never done that though, have you? We're never back in our room then, LOL. With your trip not far off in the future - what are you most excited about seeing and/or doing?