Heidi-meetsTCD@TSM

EXACTLY!!!! Our first time at Animal Kingdom was April of 1998. The park was open, but hadnt "officially" opened........we saw that on TV after we returned home. On that trip all that was open, was "its tough to be a bug" (The Bugs Life movie hadnt even come out yet, so we had no idea who Hopper and Flik were!!!) A boat ride, (not sure what it was called, but it was BORING!!!!) I think it closed within the first year. A "Jungle Book" show (I think that was where Tarzan Rocks went later and now where the Nemo show is) Countdown to Extinction wasnt open the day we where there.......we were crush

TCD, So glad you like O'hana. We have always loved it too! On almost every trip, I would always make an ADR at O'hana, Boma and Breakfast at either Chef Mickeys or 1900 Park Faire. The last few trips, I havent been able to get an ADR at O'hana unless I took one at 9:00 or after, which is way too late for us to eat a meal like that! I need to get us back there on our next trip....your photos looked yummy! Heidi

Dave, Add me to the list that has never heard of sponge candy!!! Too bad about the bad meals at the French Quarter.......believe it or not, its one of our favorite places to eat on property!!! We stayed there for a few nights way back in 2001, now we make a point of always eating there at least once per trip. My must have meal is the ribs and my husbands is the pot roast. In the last 11 years, we have probably eaten there at least 20 times and it has been excellent each and every time!!!! Oh and count me as odd, but I always loved going to the Boneyard when the my boys were little!!!! Of cours

Yippee!!!! More trip reporting by TCD!! My Mom and son were at Disney from the 8th-15th and could agree with you about the warm weather you were having!! They werent expecting that in January. Of course, now that they are home they are back to reality............its 12 degrees as I type this!! They also walked by that character meet in Canada. I have a question about that. You mentioned a snow machine. Was it an actual snow machine or one of those "snow/soap bubble machines like what they use at the Osborne Lights? Just curious. Heidi

Dave, Such a great trip report! Such fun everyone is having. My Mom also got yelled at one year for taking photos while exiting thru that back area in the Magic Kingdom. She was so embarrased, she is quite a rule follower and didnt even realize that she as doing anything wrong......course, then I was ticked that they yelled at her...... Ready for the next update! Heidi

I am FINALLY all caught up!!!! Although feeling sad that it is almost over........... You guys sure know how to have a good time!!

Dave, I am so enjoying reading all about your trip!! Your family is wonderful! I just finished watching Gwens video.....WOW.......I LOVED it!!!! I think in another ten years, we will be seeing Gwens name in the credits for being the producer/director of a Hollywood blockbuster!!! She certainly has some talent!! Thanks for sharing it. Heidi

I am all caught up! You guys certainly do have a lot of fun together! Loved reading about your bike ride to the Lodge. That is one of our favorite things to do. We are more a biking family than a golf cart family and have biked that path to the lodge 100's of times! Be waiting to see where you go for NYE. Heidi

I am in......looking forward to more!

Finally all caught up! I always have fun reading your trip reports. Love the Osborne lights! I agree with you that just looking at them can transport you to a different place. Heidi

Jason, So happy to see that you have picked this up again! I loved the mammoth hot spring area (except that terrible sulfur smell!) it just looked so amazing. There were a ton of elk in that same area when we were there too. Looking forward to the next update. Heidi

Great update! Good to see that the hop scotch has been repainted. That has been there forever.I remember playing on that when I was 9-10. I'm 45 now, so its been there a longgggg time. I always think that they will replace that walkway and the hop scotch will be gone like so many other things that are only but a memory at the fort. Looking forward to more on Monday! Heidi

Yes, "it has happened before" I too met TCD at The Hollywood Studios..........in line for TSM. It is funny to look up and see someone that you feel like you "know" because you have read all the trip reports and seen so many photos. I remember when I first saw you, TCD, I looked around for a TCD twin, to make sure it was really you!!!! Once I saw them, I was like, "OMG, I am going to pass the FAMOUS TCD in line!!!!" Pretty exciting!!! Then when you mentioned me in that trip report, I finally joined fortfiends...........hopefully the lady from Oklahoma will too!

Great update. Nice family pic.In that photo, Mrs.TCD and your oldest daughter look a lot alike. I think you should install a tetherball in your yard, so Rocky can play anytime he wants! Love the photos of the Osborne lights. Its one of my favorite things in all of WDW! Heidi

TCD, Was that huge pin trading board at the pin store at Downtown Disney? That must be new in the past year. My boys would have LOVED that! We also love the holiday sandwich.......and pretty much every sandwich at Earl of Sandwich! The new light show on the castle looks great. Heidi

TCD, Great start! We havent been to the Fort for Thanksgiving for the past two years, but had been there for the previous eight. It is my favorite time to be there. I noticed the lanyard to the right of the Thanksgiving Mickey and Minnie.Of course,having been big into the pin trading for many years,I recogonized the two pins in the photo as being "hidden Mickey cast member pins" Love the fort Christmas Tree.I have quite a few photos of it too. Ready for more! Heidi

I made it to the first page!!!!!! Now to go back to read!!!

For some reason my whole comment didnt print........... Reading about the grown men who carry notebooks with plastic sleeves ful of cards, makes me think of the grown men who carry around books loaded with pins.........maybe they are the SAME men!!!! My boys used to be big into the pin trading, we have well over a thousand pins. There used to be a big pin trading event every Friday night at the Contemporary that we always went to when we were down there. I was always shocked when I saw all the grown men (and ladies) with their lanyards and books overflowing with pins. Most of them were quite s

TCD, As always thanks for sharing! I just love your trip reports! Like I said before, you guys certainly pack A LOT into a day!! I almost feel like I just finished a multi day trip! Glad you were able to get the Maximus card. Re

Whew.........all caught up!! Wow, you three can certainly pack A LOT into a one day visit!!!! Very impressive! Love, love, love all of the photos of the new Fantasyland!! Thanks so much for sharing. It will be great to see it in person, but for now, your photos will hold me over. How exciting that you were able to dine in the new BOG restaurant!! Your daughters will certainly have soooooo many fun memories of time spent with you. Heidi

Carol, I havent got caught up yet, but had to make a couple comments. We saw that cute little cabin/camper a few years ago. I thought it was the cutest thing I had ever seen! I LOVE all of the carousel of progress photos that you shared. I have always loved that attraction and it was fun to sit in my living room tonight and see all the different scenes. I noticed that Rick is wearing a Fort Wilderness coat while riding the TTA. I have never seen one like that before. Heidi

We did great! While it sounded like a train circling our house, we never even lost our power. My heart goes out to the poor souls in NY and NJ.........so very sad.

TCD, Great report! Loved reading about your fun trip and seeing all of the photos! Thanks for sharing! Heidi

I know we would love an October Disney visit. Between the Halloween party and the Food and Wine Festival, it would be so much fun. Hopefully, in a few more years, we will be able to be at Disney at that time. Our problem over the years has been that the kids dont have any school breaks in October and its just too expensive to fly down from NH for a long weekend. Our youngest is in 11th grade though, so we wont be tied to school schedules too much longer. Loved the latest update with your early morning at the fort. Course now, I am REALLY missing the fort!!! Heidi

TCD, What a nice surprise to log on today and see a trip report from you!!! The new Fantasyland looks great! Can't wait to check it out. For the past few years, I have been dying to go to the Halloween party. The timing doenst seem to work out for us.....someday though. In the meantime, I can enjoy your photos. Thanks for sharing! Heidi