Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights

Here we are at the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Hollywood Studios. It was amazing to stand on the Streets of America and watch the lights dance to music. We have never seen so many lights and it really got us in the Christmas spirit.

Characters in their Christmas outfits!!

We met several characters in their Christmas outfits!
Enjoy.

The park was amazing all decorated for Christmas.
We loved all of the different lights, trees, and decorations at each park and resort we visited.

2008 trip- new characters!!!

We met a few new characters on our Thanksgiving trip!!

We found Meeko at Animal Kingdom.

The boys were excited to find a new character!

In honor of our trip. Here is a fun Disney quiz. I will post the answers in a few days from Disney World!!! Leave a commment if you know any of the answers!!

1-Which of the following was not a Mouseketeer?
A. Christina Aguilera
B. Annette Funicello
C. Ryan Gosling
D. Britney Spears
E. Justin Timberlake

2. How many people are credited for providing the voice of Mickey Mouse in the past 80 years?

A. 1;
B. 3;
C. 5;
D. 8;
E. 15

3. Mickey Mouse's first appearance was in Plane Crazy on May 15, 1928. The Walt Disney Company considers today Mickey's birthday, commemorating the release of what cartoon?

A. The Barn Dance
B. The Opry House
C. The Gallopin' Gaucho
D. Mickey's Follies
E. Steamboat Willie

4. Walt Disney created Mickey Mouse to replace which animated character?

A. Felix the Cat
B. Dog the Bounty Hunter
C. Minnie the Moocher
D. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
E. Captain Pete

5. Whom did Walt Disney give credit for the inspiration for Mickey's personality?

A. Charlie Chaplin
B. Woodrow Wilson
C. Shoeless Joe Jackson
D. Hoagy Carmichael
E. Stan Laurel

6 What country banned Mickey Mouse in 1935 out of fear he would frighten children?
A. Russia
B. China
C. Brazil
D. Romania
E. Sweden

7. On March 28, 1929, what happened to Mickey for the first time?

A. He met Minnie
B. He asked Minnie out
C. He kissed Minnie
D. He danced with Minnie
E. He wore gloves

8. The first piece of Mickey Mouse merchandise appeared in 1929. It was:

A. A lunchbox
B. A beanie cap with large ears
C. A school writing tablet
D. Suspenders
E. A video game

9. In 1932, Walt Disney received a special Academy Award for creating Mickey Mouse. How many Oscars has Mickey won?

A. 0;
B. 1;
C. 2;
D. 3;
E. 5

10 What name did Walt Disney originally intend to give Mickey, before his wife Lillian convinced him otherwise?

A. Max Mouse
B. Mortimer Mouse
C. Mister Mouse
D. Robbie the Rat
E. Manny Mouse

Leaving for the WORLD in 5 days!!!

I can hardly believe that it is finally here! We are leaving for Disney World in 5 short days! I started packing this weekend. It seems I have to pack for several seasons: t-shirts, pants, shorts, capris, sweatshirts, and jackets. We have never been in November, but everyone says that it can be fairly warm during the day and get pretty chilly at night watching the fireworks.

We have new tires on the van and I took it this weekend to get an oil change. I think we are ready. Last night I got the fish feeders to put in our big aquarium while we are gone.

Now, if I can make through this week at school. I am a teacher and everyone is so excited about the upcoming Fall/Thanksgiving break. We have the entire week off of school! YIPPEE!

Oh- we put up our two Christmas trees this weekend and decorated the house!! It will be so nice to come home to the house decorated. I didn't want to wait until we get back on December 1st. Our tradition is to put everything up Thanksgiving weekend. Since we won't be home... we decided to do it a week early. The kids were so excited and loved putting all of "their" ornaments on the tree! The boys have a Disney Christmas tree upstairs. It has all of thier ornaments and the tree downstairs is all glass ornaments and white lights. Now that the boys are older... it is so nice to be able to put out the nice decorations!

I can't wait to post about our trip.

Here is our agenda for the big Turkey Day WDW trip!!
The best news is that my mom decided to go to WDW with us!! She is flying down on Saturday and leaving Friday morning. So, she will be with us Thanksgiving Day!! I am so excited. I know that she will miss dad during the week. But, our boys are sure going to be excited that Nana is going to Disney. The things that are listed on the "agenda" are things that we don't want to miss. They are new things to our group.

Again, we are trying to come up with ideas on how to surprise the kids.
Any suggestions out there?? PLEASE leave a comment. PLEASE!

Only 79 days left until our trip. WOW!

Disney Trip – Thanksgiving 2008

Saturday, November 22nd
arrival day, Wal-Mart, check-in at Cypress Pointe
B eaches –n- Cream??? (kitchen sink)

Sunday, November 23rd
Animal Kingdom rope drop (8:00 a.m.)
10:20 Tusker House – Donald’s Breakfast
Face Painting in AK & Nemo show
EPCOT 2:40 Le Cellier (Canada)
Passport & a few countries
?? 9:00 Illuminations

Monday, November 24th
MGM Opening (9:00)
Tower of Terror, characters, Jedi in Training show, Toy Story Mania
11:45 50’s Prime Time Café
3:00 Block Party Bash
??? (7:00) Movies at Fort Wilderness/campfire OR
??? photoshoot at Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Saratoga Springs, Beach Club, or Wilderness Lodge

Tuesday, November 25th
Magic Kingdom
8:15 Crystal Palace
Pirates Show
4:15 Ohana’s dinner (Polynesian Hotel)
5:45-6:00 castle lighting
8 pm Spectrolight Magic Parade
9 pm Wishes fireworks

Wednesday, November 26th
7:50 Cape Mickey May Breakfast @ Yacht Club
(arrive @ 9 a.m.) 9:30-11:30 Pirate Albatross Cruise for all 3 boys
4:05 Hollywood & Vine Fantasmic! Dinner show package
Fantasmic! First show @ 6:30


Thursday, November 27th Thanksgiving Day
9:30 Boma Breakfast (Animal Kingdom Lodge)
Enjoy Animal Kingdom Lodge
Downtown Disney Shopping
6:00 Thanksgiving at the Fort (Fort Wilderness) Mickey’s Backyard BBQ


Friday, November 28th
8:00 Magic Kingdom rope drop Epcot Storytellers/Passports
China movie/ Maelstrom boat ride
Candlelight Processional Package
4:00 Garden Grill
6:45 Candlelight Processional
9:00 Illuminations (if we didn’t do it earlier in the week)


Saturday, November 29th Nick’s 5th birthday
8:10 Chef Mickey’s
Animal Kingdom 3:45 Jamin’ Jungle Christmas Parade
Check in to All Star Movies resort!!
6:00 1900 Park Fare @ Grand Floridian (try to get there a little earlier)
After dinner get to Hollywood Studios immediately for Osborne Lights

Sunday, November 30th
sleep late/relax – enjoy All Star Resorts (take photos)
resort hop to see decorations
1:00 Whispering Canyon Café @ Wilderness Lodge
4:00 enter Magic Kingdom for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Monday, December 1st
sleep late/check out
drive home!!!!!!!!!!!
BOO-HOO!!

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari

WOW! This weekend we went to Santa Claus, Indiana and enjoyed 2 full days at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari Waterpark.

The waterpark is AMAZING - voted number 2 waterpark in the WORLD!
Holiday World is broken up into lands: Santa Claus, Halloween, Thankgiving, Forth of July, and even Holidog kiddie section! Too fun.

We met 2 new characters!! We met Holidog & of course Santa Claus. You can't go to Santa Claus, Indiana and not meet the big man!!

Check out our 2 new characters.