Tomi-Rocket

Your hubby works for ASA?? We do training for ASA - well Jim MacMillan does from our office. he's a level III. Your hubby should know what that is LOL And woohooo to the 3:45 a.m. work time. I know you are PSYCHED ha ha ha!

NOOO OMG - I leave Saturday morning. Dang girl you are revving up faster then i am LOL Went to hook up my new GPS, don't need it - just wanted it lol - and well crap. You have to plug it into a lighter plug IN your car WHILE it's running to charge it LOL makes sense huh??? that's ok. we can do that.

Thanks so much for the kind words. I'll be thinking about you too and writing down things to mention to you when I get back...I write down everything on little pads per day so I can create Lindsay's "book" lol

Have a beautiful Thanksgiving...enjoy the food (it's yummy trust me!) and we'll talk when I get back!! Lisa

How do your family enjoy DC? We've been a few times (haven't gone in a while, though) and we always find new things to do. And how's Alabama? We just had family come back from Selma for an Air Force reunion trip.

To be honest, I don't really regret taking all of these trips to WDW. Despite constantly using our one vacation a year going there, it's all worth it in the end.When we come home, we always have something to talk about and look forward to our next trip.We were considering going to one of those resorts in the Caribbean, but for a week there's not a lot of memory-making you can do besides sit on the beach. We've tried a cruise once, which was fun, but most of my favorite vacations are those at WDW. (Perhaps besides our Cali trips. Those were a blast.) To sum it up, as your kids get older I guess they may want to try new places, but make sure to make it out to WDW a few more times if your family really enjoys it. But when you try new vacation spots, who knows what'll happen?

3 days and a wake up LOL yep! wooohoo! Yes I'm beyond excited but it is still "inside" me because I have so much flipping work to do before I leave LOL work work I mean. I'm swamped! ha ha! BUT on a positive note...is making the days go by zoommmmmm LOL

This year HAS gone so fast i can't believe it! I feel like the older I get, the faster the time goes and I don't think I like that You are still young so you don't feel that yet (yes you are young because you are younger then me LMAO!)

Tomorrow is our work Thanksgiving Lunch. Company supplies all the fowl and pork. Everyone brings in a side or dessert...Christmas they take us somewhere nice. Should be fun!

I can relate to your excitement. In a way visiting WDW is like running a race. It's challenging, requires a lot of preparation, surely isn't easy, but the end result pays off in more ways than you can imagine.

That must have been fun! When you went as a group and bought meals, would you all pool your money to pay or buy individually? I've always wondered about that. Have you and your family been to other places besides WDW on vacation, and if so, where?

Well if you went over Christmas you'd need 10 days - actually 12. 3 for each park because it's so packed LOL (jk) BUT Christmas week is a MESS and I'm sure you know that....but it would be awesome too! Just plan it right. I keep begging Linds to go over Christmas - NOPE won't budge LMAO! Gotta be with her "Aunt Sandy" so she gives me Thanksgiving ha ha ha!

Don't feel bad about money and presents. Most of my shopping will be within the week of Christmas because of rent and such. I'm sure you two are going through the same thing and freaking out about money, when you'll have it, etc. etc. Unfortunately it's the lay of the land today! I hate the paycheck to paycheck crap but there is nothing I can do about it so I roll with it.. I used to wish they would find Lindsay's father but hey, can't get milk out of a cow if it's dried up so why bother LOL

Work SUCKED today....only 4 more days! Hurry up! lol

Thanks! Nothing is definite, though. We may just end getting the park hoppers for our vacation in August (which could save some money) but in the meantime everything is in flux. Lucky Tristan! His orchestra trip sounds like a great time, though personally I'm not one that likes to do theme parks in large groups. Do you have a preference about the amount of people you travel with?

Since I'm the most Disney-involved in my family, I don't necessarily do the planning but rather suggest new places to eat and new things to try. I decide which theme parks we do on different days as well as when to go to restaurants. However, things like which restaurants to eat at are decided by all of us together. That said, like you I do love planning. I don't think I'd enjoy it as much if it wasn't WDW. :lol:

don't feel bad. I know what you mean about Christmas. It always seems like I get pd & it's gone too. Which sucks! Linds knows the Disney trip is her big gift-Sandy & I usually split something big for her to open on Xmas. Last year it was the Wii - this year it will be a computer. Not a new one LOL We go to a place off 41 where they refurb hard drives (for instance I got mine there 3 yrs ago for $100 & it's still going strong!) & they usually have flat screen monitors for under $100....so for about $200 she gets a decent computer. I get her some other stuff & Sandy some stuff & that's it.

YES if you can take a trip over Christmas (or Thanksgiving) do it because the holiday stuff as far as Osborne Lights starts around 11/8 - we've seen them 3 times and are in awe every time! Even if they don't change, we wouldn't know it because there is just so much too it.

Publix I think is a great way to go!! Like you said, you won't be overwhelmed and everyone gets a great dinner!

Some bit of good news coming out from my neck of the woods...a family member of mine won park hoppers for Disney in a school gift auction. Nothing's definite yet, but there is a sliver of a chance I may be going to WDW twice next year.

Yeah it's buffet so we are ready to get jiggy with it at Biergarten! lol Have never eaten there so definitely looking forward to it!

OHHH Osborne Lights....go to youtube and plus in osborne lights at disney world and watch a couple videos. Absolutely hands down one of the MAIN reasons we do WDW over the Holidays - awesome and jaw dropping! Over 5 million "dancing" lights that cover the Streets of America, 30 snow machines...I can't even describe it its so beautiful and OMG go watch and come back in awhile and tell me what you think LOL IT'S AWESOME - you have got to experience it one of these times

you are TOO funny (love 3 snaps in the Z)

Lindsay actually saw somebody from school in MK day last year-I said go say hi! She says .NO I don't even like her - I THOUGHT you were friends - NO! 12 yr old girls (any tweenie age) I've decided are impossible to read thoughts or try & figure out.

Weather is to be wonderful while we are there - around 80. Don't worry about 80 degrees except AK day. That park gets hotter then the others. Probably the way it is set up & all the flora & such... So just so know you where we will be each day...here goes!
Saturday is the drive down
Sunday is Epcot (it will be DEAD - most stuff walk on)
Monday MK BUT only till 630 - then head to the Contemporary for Cali Grill and fireworks!
Tuesday is AK
Wednesday DHS and Osborne Lights - woohoo
Thursday Epcot (PACKED!!! LOL) Thanksgiving at Biergarten
Friday DHS and more Osborne Lights ha ha
Saturday a.m. - CRT IN the castle - woohoo again
by 11 a.m. we'll be on the way home....insert sad face here LOL

huh? hush your mouth!!!! LOL NEVER too many Disney t's ha ha! In fact, I think I need to embellish a bit on some of those babies while at WDW in oh say NINE DAYS! lol (yes I know - I'm bad!!!0 Everyone at work is making fun of me now because I'm starting to dork out BIG time lol One of my bosses is actually going to be there but he is coming in with his grandson and wife the day we leave....we'll be gone by 1130 or so the morning of the 27th ( longgg drive home!) and he'll be coming into the Swan and Dolphin. I keep trying to talk him into MVMCP but haven't gotten him to budget yet. He shelled out close to $500 for 2 day base tickets for the 3 of them LOL

Hmm, not bad restaurant choices. I really want to try Rose and Crown and Le Cellier, but we'll see how that works out. How's GF Cafe? We've never eaten there. Get ready to get blown away at Via Napoli!

My mouth is watering just thinking about it! Maybe I'll have to head on over to the Kona Cafe, too. After all, it's just a monorail ride away!

I've never seen Jerry Springer's show, but it sounds trashy. Are you into late-night TV at all? I DVR'd Conan's new show, it looks hilarious!

I DO try and sneak something for her she wants for Christmas but it's hard because she is usually right up my butt! LMAO! But I do try. There are times I run to the food court and she stays in the room - those are the times I can peruse without little eyeballs around and of course they will ship for you so that is good!

You can try the Disney Store online now! The do park merchandise also plus have sales items and clearance items and such. That's where I get her T's from One downfall buying T's now for a trip a year from now - peeps grow! LOL Just something like food for thought for you.

Thanks so much for the well wishes. Drive will be great, weather will be greater, crowds will be low (well, Sunday Monday and Tuesday anYways LOL) food is always yummy and special time is special!

Did you decide if you are going to cook for Thanksgiving or do Publix? Or maybe go out?

The people in those shows tend to stay in the NJ/NY area, for better or worse. Even worse, grade schoolers and young adults are even emulating that sort of style. It's sickening.

What'd you have at the Kona Cafe? It seems like a quality restaurant. What's your rough list of restaurants you're looking at for next year? Even if they're not definite, what's your wishlist?

To be honest, I don't really check the refurbishments list. Since I read WDWMagic a lot, I keep a mental note of everything, so I don't really check lists. Sorry about the delay in responding again.

Oh I drive straight through LOL Gotta get there and park my car for 8 days. It is my cars vacation too so it hurries me LMAO! Besides it is pretty much a 7 hour drive down..it's coming home that kills me but we make the best of it!

I am semi organized ha ha! Still weeding through stuff and putting stuff off. Still need to get another pair of jeans and Lindsay's disposable cameras...along with her gum and snacks. the WIPEOUT dsi game will have to wait another month. I'll just give it to her for Christmas since we have the gameboy, her dsi with "other" games, the new garmin and the car dvd player - if that doesn't keep her busy, nothing will LOL

YES under 2 weeks - 12 days woohooo! Thanks so much for the well wishes! Great weather would be cool (looks like low to mid 70's - need to keep the rain away) Crowds I'm pretty much screwed after Wednesday but I know that anyways LOL

I think Touring Plans was like $7.95 when I first subscribed 2 years ago, then you just renew it each year at whatever rate you paid or something like that LOVE it - has everything from dining to blogs to articles & once you paid the subscription fee (which is good for a year..sometimes 14 months!) you can see the crowd calendar out foreverrr & ever a year or 2 in advance! I think if you don't pay NOW you can only see a couple weeks. You used to be able to see at least a month. I DO love that website & recommend it! Does the plans & such - wonderful tool!

YES hurry up 12 days- dragged out suitcases today, lanyards & pins, autograph books & pens, lindsay's "car" bag for her stuff for the ride down, our respective key to the world around the neck card holders (ha ha!) my 2 room keys from 2 years ago in case we get a hair up our butts & decide to hit a park Saturday night (usually don't after the long drive - swim and take it easy in anticipation of 8 miles a day for 8 days LMAO!)

So sorry you are not feeling well. There seems to be alot of that going on! Maybe it's the drastic change in the weather...and then again it's supposed to be mid 70's come Tuesday or Wednesday so pretty much everyone I know will be fine, sick, fine and then sick again LOL

I have my touring plans. I actually subscribe to touringplans.com - GREAT site. They have so many variations of plans based on your dates and such. I did the one day adult holiday plans and ran them for whatever park I was in for whatever day. They appear to be pretty aggressive given the crowd numbers anticipated but I'll kind of use them as a guide and hope for the best. Could be scarey! LOL

Isn't it weird how when you meet a fellow Jerseyan, there's always some sort of bond? True about that Jersey Shore show...apparently that's how the world sees us! One of my friend's relatives is at the Air Force Academy now, and it's so bad that they won't even tell people that they're Italian (they're from NJ, too).

Hmm, I'm not much of a spinach fan unfortunately. But it seems like the Greeks like to cross foods in the food pyramid!

I've never eaten at Ohana before (though I've heard Kona Cafe is very good). I read the menu for Ohana (http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=25) and it seems like a lot of meet and skewer dishes, but to be safe, I wouldn't eat there if I didn't like eating stuff with egg in it.

We do love San Angel Inn, but if it goes down for refurb like it has been rumored, we may want to try the new one they built. Let's hope you can decide by March 21st! :D

OH I never did order the Passporter. I'm going to buy a year old one off of ebay when I get back just to peruse it and see what it has inside - I'm bad! lol

Well I get up early because I'm one of those freaks that can't wake up unless I take a shower in the morning LOL So I get up, shower, put the face on and when I'm close to being fully clothed, wake up Linds - usually around 730-745 I'm waking her so we can get to the buses within 30 minutes after that...I like getting to the parks when they open. Not necessarily for rope drop although we have done that a couple times...but right when the gates are opening to run for the bestest rides!!! LOL I hate crowds (yes I know - doesn't make sense me and disney lol) but even with crowds there...my mood stays pretty grounded. Probably cause it's my happy place

LOL Really? Our next WDW vacation is almost a daily talking point for us. We mapped out which restaurants we wanted to visit...we're thinking 'Ohana, California Grill (maybe), Via Napoli, and maybe one of the Mexico's.