Thank you ^Happy you got everything you wanted!
If you do manage to get BOG dinner on 11/22, we may end up bumping into each other! We have a 7:30 ADR that same night
Your boys are too cute! Kids do grow up way too fast
It's an exciting yet sad thing. And that will be cool if we both end up at BOG at the same time! Now I have another reason to keep trying for it that night 
My most favorite thing about that party is the Boo To You Parade. My 2nd favorite thing was the M&G the villains did after their stage show through 2013. While they still had their show in 2014, sadly they stopped the M&G's that year and didn't even add any additional M&G's in the park. We still enjoyed the party in 2014 but really, really missed meeting the villains that were in the show! I know it's been replaced with a Hocus Pocus show and I'd love to see that someday, but I do love me some villains. 
Well that settles it, I can definitely never move to Canada lol! I'd be lost without Kohl's, not just for Disney clothes but just in general. I spend way too much money there overall!
I had such a hard time picking mine and I'm still considering a couple more, except I don't want to take any that I already have off!
I would love to be able to meet all of those villains! We caught characterpalooza last year inside the gate by the Tower of Terror exit and it was a highlight of the trip. I didn't tell my kids what was coming, just told them to have their autograph books ready. When the gates swung open their eyes got huge. Loved being able to meet that many characters, some unavailable elsewhere, that quickly. I'm hoping we can catch it again next week, but we'll see.
Love the Dooney's!!! I purchased the HM tote on our last trip but decided it was too big and sold it. I plan on getting a pouchette this trip. I am in love with the Best of Mickey pattern! Maybe I will need the magic band that matchesI haven't actually used it yet because I love the Princess one so much, but I'll get around to switching them out sometime soon! I had another one first that had all MK rides on it along with the castle, train station, Mickey and Minnie but these 2 are my favorites. So I'll definitely be purchasing a D&B MB
I've never met Genie before
I can't say much for the previous show but I loved the Hocus Pocus, it might be because I grew up watching the movie over and over and over.
Creepy!And finally, I must draw your attention to Dr. Facilier's freakishly long......finger
Have to remember to have Steve check that out ASAP!His finger jumped out at me as soon as I saw the picture LMAO! I assume you know that characterpalooza has moved from the ToT exit now........not sure you'll even read this since you're IN DISNEY right nowYou've got me laughing again with Dr. Facilier's....finger.
, but I do hope you catch it! I didn't tell the boys either the first time we did it; we actually caught it twice on that trip.Thanks! The coolest thing about having a Disney D&B is all the comments you get at home when using it, so I think planning one into your budget is a great idea
I've never met Genie before
I can't say much for the previous show but I loved the Hocus Pocus, it might be because I grew up watching the movie over and over and over.
Super glad you did a post on this! Hope we can do characterpalooza this year!
Isn't it cool how many comments you get when using the bag?? Which one did you get?
in Sept. it's just not the best time for us to go down anymore unfortunately. Doing Club Villain in Jan. was great for meeting some villains but now I believe they ended that last month, too 
They do still do it, try catching it in August! It's really cool. KtP lists the locations and times on his paid site which I haven't subscribed to but I think it's only $6.99. He also asks that those who do subscribe don't post the location and times because the issue in the past, and reason he moved the info to his paid site, was that too many people found out and were demanding it occur (occasionally it doesn't) and then were trampling other guests and being a little pushy-shovey with the characters once they came out. So Disney wants to keep it more on the down-low now I guess.
"I'm only going because my teacher told me to", or "When my 10 year old gave his approval for this trip"
Even though we booked CSR, Steve and I really wanted to rent DVC points again to stay deluxe. We weren't sure where; the two of us stayed a few nights at AKV back in January and I fell in love so that was my first choice. Even though Steve really liked it there his first choice always has been the Epcot area resorts. We've stayed at BWV 4x and except for our trip last Nov., all have been great. You can't beat the location! However I'm not up for another stay there quite yet so his first choice was Beach Club, which would be new to us.
After much deliberation we decided to contact "our guy" and see what was available for our nights at BCV, because after the refurb they'll have something that worked well for us last Nov. that AKV doesn't have:
That's the pull-down Murphy bed at the BW, which was a lifesaver for us! It meant no arguments at night from the boys, Chris fit perfectly and even though we were in a studio they each had their own "space". It really was great to have so BCV won over AKV. We got set with our guy but unfortunately had to waitlist Thanksgiving night; not surprising since this was just 2 weeks ago so like 8 months out! It was decided that at his 7-month window he'd see what else was available and if we chose not to wait it out we could move somewhere for our last 2 nights. Done!
I filled in the boys and Ricky was more than happy with the change. I thought Chris would be since he's let me know CSR wasn't his first choice and he'd commented on not staying in the BW area, but he still wasn't thrilled with the trip in general. Have I mentioned he hates flying? Thinks it takes too long and he gets bored, even with JetBlue's TV. And it's less than a 3 hour flight.! He also doesn't like missing school. Our elementary schools have a half day the Monday before Thanksgiving so he'll only actually miss 1.5 days to Ricky's 2 and they do nothing before the holiday, but he's at the top of his class and hates to make up work.
Before anyone thinks I'm mean for making him miss school, the last 2 years his teachers have given him some work to take with him ONLY because he begs!! In 3rd grade and last year in 4th both teachers told him and I that he's so far ahead he doesn't need to do anything while we're gone, but he kept hounding them for work so they threw some worksheets at him.......yes I'm thankful and proud of how well he does and that he likes school so much. But I'm not thankful when I have to bring him in late or pick him up early for a Dr. appt. and he whines like an Italian mother at her sons funeral about missing schooltime!
The morning after we got our reservation set I went to the school early for PTA stuff. Chris was with me and we happened to see his current teacher in the hall. She and her family stay at BC every August, so I told her we'd be there in Nov. She started jumping up and down, telling Chris how awesome it is. Then she had her 8 year old daughter tell Chris the "best" part of staying there - swimming in Storm Along Bay late at night and then getting ice cream at Beaches and Cream. Sounds good to me! My sourpuss was smiling. I told his teacher he was upset about missing school and she laughed, reminding him how great a student he his and that they do no meaningful work the week of Thanksgiving. Good to hear from a teacher, right?? But it was what Chris needed.
About that time another teacher, Ricky's former 5th grade teacher came down the hall and heard us talking. She's also a friend of mine and will more than likely have Chris in her class next year. His current teacher told this one about Chris's hesitation to go away in Nov. due to missing those 1.5 days and she was like "WHAT?? Why don't you want to go?? You'll miss nothing those days and everyone will wish they were you!"
And with that, he turned to me and said, "Fine, we can go. But I only decided I'll go because my teacher told me to".
Whatever gets you there, kid! Later that day his teacher texted me that during snack he was asking her questions about the Beach Club so I knew we were solid.
Until that evening when I got an email back from "our guy"..........
His finger jumped out at me as soon as I saw the picture LMAO! I assume you know that characterpalooza has moved from the ToT exit now........not sure you'll even read this since you're IN DISNEY right now
And yes, we are here! Already loving it and we haven't even really gotten started yet.
and thank you for not yelling at me for taking them out of school lol! Yes they're hysterical - some of the time 
I guess the most important thing is that when they're in public, other people find them funny and charming. I'd rather they save the sassiness for me!
She was going to be dropping one, knew I was looking for one on that date and coordinated it perfectly with me so I was able to snatch it up. Now I don't have to rely on the TP reservation finder or spend any time checking between now and November! We all greatly appreciate it and I enjoyed chatting with you!
Hello and Thank you for coming by
I agree, the shopping is a big part of getting ready for the trip! At first I was going to hold off buying things since we still have a ways to go, but I just can't help myself lol. I know I want some warmer tops in case it's chilly (last year over Thanksgiving we did need sweatshirts a few nights) so I'll do my best to wait at least until the end of summer to get them! Hope you enjoyed my other trip reports and thanks for reading them! Hot Topic and Kohls are very dangerous stores It stinks having Hot Topic almost right next door to Auntie Anne's pretzels in my mall, because I grab one of them almost every time I'm up there....which means I go in HT every time I'm up there 
Your 'Ohana plan sounds good too, having a snack later in the evening. Have you eaten there before? Because you will be FULL afterwards! So really, being able to walk off all that good 'Ohana food rather than going to bed soon after is a plus! But keep looking for a better time and also a BOG on the day you want; stuff opens up all the time!
, which so far seems to be working out fine.
Yes, renting points can be nerve-wracking and certainly was the first couple times we did it. We were lucky enough to find a guy through someone here on the Dis who we've rented through successfully and we trust. We like renting directly from the owner because generally they rent for less than the rental sites. However there is more risk. Our guy does give us a window for cancelling and also for switching dates which many owners and the rental sites don't give you which is another reason we like him. However for this trip, he didn't have the points for BCV so we've rented from my younger sons' teachers' SIL
