Our Magically Dysfunctional Gathering

[Lauralee131]

Hello everyone! :wave2: Well, I’ve been a long time “lurker” and haven’t posted hundreds or thousands of times as many of you have…I’m usually too wrapped up in reading everyone else’s stuff to take the time to post my own! :coffee: In fact, since we returned from our last trip to the world in February, I’ve been saying that I’m going to do a TR…more like threatening myself really to sit the heck down and do it! It was a fun, eventful, and pretty dysfunctional trip – oh yeah, and we celebrated my birthday in the middle of it! Everyone on our little Magical Gathering complained about it – said that I planned our trip that way on purpose. Well, DUH…hey – if you are going to elect me to be “Julie Your Cruise Director”, :sail: then dammit, shut the heck up and do what I’m telling ya, WHEN I’m telling ya! And if you’re going to leave it up to me, then I’m going to throw in little self-perks like that – I’m only human. Wouldn’t you? It’s funny how no one really wants to make the plans (“Oh, we don’t care when we go – you decide”) and the all important dining decisions (“I don’t care where or what we eat – you pick”), yet after all the arrangements are made, suddenly EVERYONE wants to throw 2 pennies at me and pelt me in the face with them. They not only rained on my parade, they pretty much peed all over it! I thought I was going to need therapy by the time we came back! So now that we’ve got another trip to my happy place within sight (Dec 2nd thru 9th at Poly), I thought that maybe I’d start a pre-trip report as a way to occupy myself – all thoughts turn to Disney even more so when we’re within 80 or so days from our trip. But, then I thought, I’ll probably be referring to that (allegedly) Magical Gathering that was pretty much for the most part, anything BUT Magical. I’ve never had anyone kill my Disney buzz before. Don’t care to have it happen again either.



You’ve probably all heard it before…”Never invite anyone, especially family, on vacation with you”…But no – we’re different – we’re very close with DH’s brother and his wife, this trip is going to be nothing short of spectacular! Yeah, well Denial is not a river in Egypt…and of course, to this day, DH tells me that as soon as I started mentioning this grand idea of mine that bells and whistles were going off in his head and he knew our trip was doomed. Ok, so tell me people, if your sweet, lovely spouse was planning this magical journey and you had this feeling in the pit of your stomach…wait, not just a bad feeling, not just an “utz” in your gut, but an “apocalyptically” bad feeling about something like this, would you make even the slightest mention of it? Or would you let your better half twist in the wind???


So anyway, this trip was planned with all good intentions on my part. I wanted to sprinkle some pixie dust on the in-laws (BIL/SIL) for their first trip, as well as my own little family – our DS4 was going to be experiencing the magic for the first time as well! I planned and planned, surfed the Dis, read the books…did everything I possibly could to make this trip so magical and so memorable, that even when Alzheimers finally set in and they couldn’t recognize family and friends anymore, they would still remember our little gathering…it was going to be all that and a bag of chips. Now mind you, I have been going to my happy place since it opened…my mom brought me just about every year, at least once a year up until I turned about 16 or 17. I was raised a Disney kid. I STILL AM a Disney kid, and always will be. In fact, at the age of (gulp) 37, I still get verklempt at pretty much just the thought of going to Disney World and when the television commercials come on - forget it – instant blubbering idiot, just add water. The vacation planning video gives me goosebumps and tears all at the same time. Now, before I go any further, I should probably explain WHY I get this way. It’s pretty personal, but pertinent as you’ll see later in my TR, and since I’m sitting in a room all alone right now and can’t see the looks any of you are giving me, I’ll give you a little background on myself. Two months after my 3rd birthday, my father died in a car accident. A rather tragic, horrific one I might add. My mother, now finding herself a 21 year old widow with a 3 year old to support, began the short journey into a lifelong battle with alcoholism. Bless her heart though, she still managed to work 2 to 3 jobs to support us and managed to take me on vacation each year so we could spend some quality time together. When I was 4, my mother married a…monster, for lack of a better word. Pure evil, plain and simple... The abuse started shortly thereafter. And I’m not talking your average verbal abuse, I’m talking the most horrifying abuse you could imagine and this was back in the day when husbands could beat, rape and nearly kills their wives and children over and over again, and police would simply look the other way. Domestic Violence was really an unknown, or should I say unspoken term back then. We tried to get away…several times. We spent the next several years virtually on the run, always getting caught, barely getting away by the skin of our teeth. Now through it all, my mom had to continue working to keep those temporary roof’s over our head so I spent most of my time home alone, a latch key kid as they’re now called. By the age of 6 I was wearing my house key around my neck, coming home from school, locking all the doors, closing all the shades and cooking dinner for myself, etc. But still my mom somehow managed to scrape the money together for a Disney World vacation at least once a year, usually twice back then. Disney World was the best place to hide I guess. For me, it was my chance to be a child. Once we began our walk up Main Street, I was free. I find it hard to explain the feeling I would get, to this day. Maybe it was like a huge weight being lifted off my shoulders…I was able to laugh, smile and spend some quality time with my mom. We didn’t have a care in the world – or at least we pretended not to – for our time there and reality never entered into the picture. So even now, all these years later, just thinking about being there makes me cry. I can go there, be away from all of the realities of my adult world and be a kid again. It is truly the most magical place on earth for me…AHEM…ok, so now that I’ve brought you all down – and you’re probably wondering what in the world possessed you to read this far, let’s put our Kleenex tissues away and get back to present day. :sad2: Come on, shake it off...



Where were we? Ah yes, I just explained to you my sick, morbid version of why Disney World means so much to me. So to share that childlike joy with others is a big deal. I wanted my BIL/SIL to feel like kids again and couldn’t wait to see the magic thru not only their eyes, but my DS’s eyes too.



I have now made it my mission to give everyone an incredible vacation. Whether they like it or not!!:tinker:

[MissMichelle]

WOW..powerful stuff...Great start and I can't wait to read on---December isn't all that far away ;)
....My pre-trip report isn't as noble as yours, but you can check it out in the link below.

[Lauralee131]

Chapter Two

Our Cast



DH, 46…the world’s most incredible carpenter (if you live in the vicinity of Greenville, NC – hire him to build you cabinets or furniture! He’ll blow you away!!) DH, bless his little heart, and I have been together 13 years now. He’s seen me at my best and at my worst. You know that it’s true love when someone holds back your hair while you’re puking and still stays with you after that! :love: I have recruited him over to my dark side – with my twisted sense of humor and love of all things Disney. In fact, can you believe the poor guy was 35 before he first allowed me to bring him to my happy place. I dragged him around like a rag doll – let’s face it, the guy’s 10 years older than me and he wears it well. He’ll do anything I want and allow me to drag him around virtually anywhere, but only to a certain extent. After that he gets pissy and needs a nap. He’ll pretty much try anything once though – gotta give him credit for that. You should have seen him on that first trip – we arrived at night and went directly to the MK and he was like a little kid – he was hooked. Now maybe it’s a macho guy thing, but he won’t admit his love of Disney to anyone, but he’s right there with me at the openings of the new movies and riding every ride in the parks. Especially now that we have our DS, Michael…the little kid in the big man is hard to hide! DH was born in New Jersey and in his early teens moved to Winthrop, MA outside of Boston and lived there for years and years. He came back to NJ to work on a large construction project, where I was already working and we met when a large group of us went to a bar after work. The rest, as they say, is history.



Our DS, Michael, now 5, but 4 at the time of our last trip, is an absolute riot. He is without a doubt, his mother’s son. He’s got a fabulously warped sense of humor, razor sharp wit and incredible good looks. Call me biased, but mark my words, when he gets older, that kid’s gonna get more *** than a toilet seat! Now Michael, having just turned 5 and started kindergarten is a huge fan of all things Disney and had a great time on his first trip to the World. He’s a bit spoiled by friends and relatives, so every once in a while he gets an attitude that’s way bigger than he is and can be tough to deal with at times, but generally he’s a good kid. A bit on the energetic side, you may call him “spirited” – but he loves life, gotta love that about him. I’ll have to insert some pictures so you can see us all.



Me…Hmm…ok, so I’m now (UGH) 37 and you’ve all already learned probably more about me than you care to. BUT here’s some more tidbits…I’m an overgrown Disney World freak, as you all know. I was born and raised in NY – originally from the Bronx but grew up all around Dutchess, Orange and Westchester Counties, NY. I’m a die hard Yankees fan so baseball season in my house is rough. DH is a Red Sox fan. You can imagine the fights at our house in September/October, eh? Anyway THAT little tidbit was left off the application when we met. I specifically asked about sports…he said he didn’t really like baseball, not enough to pay attention as it was boring. He liked football – Great! I’m a huge Giants fan! Ladies, you must have had this happen to you…the man puts on a good show about who he is and what he’s like in the beginning. But then when you’re in love and it’s too late to back out without getting your heart broken, he throws everything on the table – he’s a Red Sox fan (ARGGHHHHH), a Patriots fan (YICK), and he doesn’t really like to drink and go out – he likes to stay in and be a couch potato. OMG - WHO ARE YOU????? :eek: Lies, all lies…keep in mind that we met in a BAR – did I mention that?!? So anyway, he reeled me in and broke me of (most of) my wild ways, but what can I say – I love the big lug. I’m also a HUGE fan of Neil Diamond…go figure right? Everyone thinks I’m nuts, but I just love the man…think he’s still got some kind of sexiness to him even now…And I like to read - big Janet Evanovich fan - love the Stephanie Plum books...who doesn't, really? And I’m FAR, FAR, FAR from being mother of the year, but I do the best I can with no instructions and let’s face it, not the greatest experience to draw from! I never wanted kids, hell – half the time I don’t even like kids! :laughing: But surprise…we got pregnant. My mom, during my teenage years often warned me that some day I’d have a kid that would turn out just like me…I’d show her – I wouldn’t have kids…well I did and so far, she’s been right. DS is, in a nutshell, Mini-Me. It’s been a wild ride so far and I can’t imagine my life without him! I work for one of the largest construction companies in the country and love what I do and the company I work for. I’ve never met a greater group of people in my life and they’ve all become my extended family.



Ok, then there’s DB-I-L – DH’s older brother. Kind of goofy, kind of clumsy, but bless his heart, he tries real hard. We get a long very well, though there’s quite a bit of arguing and name calling that takes place. All done with love though – nothin’ but love! He lives in NJ with DS-I-L, whom I love dearly. From day one she and I have been thick as thieves miss each other terribly as they are in NJ and we were in NH (up until this past May, when my company transferred us to beautiful NC).



So when we had DS, I already began planning our next trip to WDW, but DH said no – we had to wait until he was potty trained…the horror! And not knowing anything about kids, found out that it takes a few years…bummer. I tried potty training early – as soon as Michael started taking his first steps, thinking I’d get 2 birds with one stone – he’ll be walking and be potty trained in no time and I can finally go back to my happy place!! Had I gotten an instruction manual or even a copy of the rules of engagement when I’d had the young lad, I’d have known that potty training was going to commence when he was damn good and ready and not a moment before! So I, thinking machine that I am, figured he just needed a little motivation. I offered cash, cars, trips, and loose women…everything I could think of…he wasn’t having any of it. So flash forward a while and finally, finally, finally – he’s pretty much potty trained and I decided that was it – time to start planning!!!:yay:

[Lauralee131]

Thanks MissMichelle!! Appreciate it!! :goodvibes

[Eeyore's Tiara]

I truly agree that most kids should come with training manuals. It would make things a whole lot easier. :teeth: Can't wait to hear about your trip! :thumbsup2

[Lauralee131]

The Planning Phase of our Little Mis-adventure!



So in talking with my DSIL about our upcoming trip, I say HEY – you guys should come with us – it would be so much fun!!! You’ve never been there…it’ll be awesome!! So the wheels are in motion…I threw it out there – no taking it back now…DH looks at me like he’d like to kill me, yet says nothing. Oh – maybe he’s got gas or he’s constipated or something. That was a weird look on his face. Hmmmm….So, DSIL says she’ll think about it, she’d really like to. Ah…she’s afraid to fly. Now, these poor kids have been on vacation ONCE in the last 20 years, with the exception of trips to our house 4 or 5 times a year. I mean a REAL vacation. What better time than now, right? OH COME ON, I beg…it’ll be FUN. They (ESPECIALLY DSIL) love my DS to death – can’t get enough of him so quality time in a magical place with him would be just heaven, wouldn’t you think? I throw this out there - So it’s June now, let’s try and plan for September to go for Michael’s birthday – wouldn’t he love that? I promise – put your vacation in my hands and I will make sure that you have the time of your life. DSIL, in the meantime, starts talking to everyone and anyone that may or may not have been to WDW and seeking advice from all who would offer it. No, DSIL says, can’t go in September – it’s hurricane season! Can’t go until the end of November and besides, we need to save some money. Great – let’s go for Christmas – always been a dream of mine – to have a Disney Christmas…no – can’t leave her family (she has grown sons, etc.) for the holidays. Ok, January then. Besides, we can celebrate some of our birthdays…both DSIL and DBIL have birthdays in the first 2 weeks of January and mine is the 31st…we settled on the 3rd week. GREAT – we have a plan in progress! Where do you want to stay?? Me, having been there before and having a 4 year old, suggest that we stay at a MK resort, preferably the Contemporary – love that place still after all these years. Now money becomes a factor for DSIL/DBIL so they hem, they haw, they generally drive me crazy. It’s vacation – screw it – splurge!! J I’m a good influence, eh? And I finally decide to put my foot down…I have a requirement – I want to stay at a hotel where I can watch the EWP at night…sounds exciting they say. I tell them I’ve loved it since I was a kid – it’s great, it’s this, it’s that…yada yada yada…Trust me – it’s these little things that you’ll enjoy! Ok, so the money issue is back rearing it’s ugly head back at me. I very politely say, there are plenty of resorts – we don’t have to stay in the same one…NO – we have to have adjoining rooms. We settle on WL – great choice – love it there. OK, we have dates, we have a plan…we have NO VACANCY. Ok, so there’s room at CR or GF – be honest with you – I was hoping they’d cave and say they’d do whatever I wanted. NOT. So again with the hemming and hawing and I finally made a decision. I pushed the trip back a week and booked myself a room at the WL. If you guys can make it, that’d be awesome. I hooked her up with my AAA travel agent, the whole works. Ball’s in their court.



The PS’s



Ok, we’ve got the backbone of our trip set – the dates, the hotel, now comes the fun part…let’s plan the meat of it – the PS’s. I’ve booked the dining plan – sounds great – can’t wait to try it…anything that offers me LOTS of food, for one relatively low daily price – I’m all over it! Sign me up!! I explain to our gang that we really should book some ressie’s as restaurants getting pretty booked and I think there are just some places and things they’ve got to try. Well, I want to do them anyway, so if you come (mind you they have booked anything yet), you’ll love it. I tell them, do some research, pick some places you’d like to try…more hemming and hawing… How much more can I take before I finally just blow up?. :furious: Ok, well how about dinner shows? I hear “Well, so-and-so said they didn’t like the Hoop De Doo, blah blah blah…I spent the next several months with my DSIL telling me how to do Disney because her friends said so. PUH-LEASE – they don’t even stay on site. Give me a break. Ok, fine. Do they mind if maybe we go to the Luau? Screw it – I booked the luau. Much aggravation followed throughout the course of the rest of our trip planning…I finally gave a list to my AAA agent – book these PS’s for me, will ya? I had dinner ressie’s for every other night of our 10 day stay. Already DH was grumbling that I was planning out every moment of our trip. I had become the Disney Nazi. Can you believe that? :confused3 I shrugged it off, thinking he must’ve suffered a blow to the head or something. I call DSIL – one thing I’d really like to do is go to LaNouba. Friends of mine go 2x/year and love it – seen previews of it, I’m really intrigued. I’d like to try it. Well, says DSIL, Anthony and Kim didn’t like it and it’s a lot of money, blah blah blah. Ok, I say – thinking I’m pressuring them to spend more than they have, so I say we’ll skip it too. DH later on is pissed that we’re not going when he gets to see a bit of it on TV. Sorry honey – didn’t want to be a trip nazi and plan out every moment of your vacation! Knowing full well that it’s my birthday during our trip, no one suggests we do something special for me or anything. WHAT?!? It’s ME – I am 32 flavors and then some. Who’s better than me? TWO OF ME…Ok, you’re all telling me you don’t care where we eat (as long as it’s on the approved dining list of DSIL’s friends) and don’t care what times I make arrangements for so if no one has any input, screw all of ya – this night is going to be my choosing. I book my birthday dinner at the Yachtsman followed by an Illuminations cruise on the Breathless that I was somehow able to get. DSIL says that she really wants to do a fireworks cruise – they’ll split the cost of the boat with me. Great – it’s expensive – could use the help. Didn’t realize how much money a 3rd person, even a little one, adds to the cost of a vacation! Splitting the boat would be a great help! Thanks!



We go to DSIL/DBIL’s house for Thanksgiving… :car: a 5 hour ride to NJ turns into a 7-1/2 hour ride with traffic and to add to the stress, we have DS, who’s not in the greatest mood on this particular road trip, our dog, who is 13 years old and diabetic and the vet says we can’t board him or sedate him due to him being on insulin. Great. Our dog – Jack Daniels is his name – is part Chihuahua, part Cockapoo and is NOT AT ALL a good traveler…he yips and yaps and jumps around the entire trip so we try not to take him anywhere. And of course, the sound of his little voice goes right thru you – like little shards of glass stabbing you in the temples with every bark. Along with DH, DS and the dog, we have brought Angel, our beta fish on the ride as we had no one to feed him for us back home. Who ever heard of putting a fish in a cupholder!! Well it can and has, been done! Angel made the long trek to NJ in a spaghetti sauce jar (with holes poked thru the lid) in the front cupholder in my Honda Pilot. Oh and did I mention that it POURED the whole way down there? So anyway, we spend 4 days in NJ with me occasionally bugging DSIL/DBIL to sit down and plan some of this trip – meals, for one thing. Watch the vacation planning video – look interested in this trip for crying out loud! No – never got around to it. Finally I gave up…I’m just going to book what I want, with everyone else in mind and at least it will feel like we have a plan…



Ok, so I plan and I plan upon our trip back home. I booked a :smickey: Fantasmic dinner package at Hollywood & Vine – dontcha they’ll love that show?!?! A lunch at the Sci-Fi – I think that they’ll get a kick out of that, don’t you? Spirit of Aloha for one night – DH really wanted to do that. Dinner at Rainforest Café the day we’re at Animal Kingdom – not really a lot of choices for food at AK, and DS would love the RC. And a dinner at Cape May Café – yummm…a seafood buffet?? I’m there! And of course, my birthday dinner at Yachtsman with a fireworks cruise afterward. And lastly, a character breakfast at Crystal Palace for our last day…So I’m pleased with my dining ideas, thinking everyone’s going to enjoy it. All are in agreement that they’ll just go with what I picked. DSIL’s friends haven’t said that they wouldn’t eat at any of these places, so I guess we’re good. Plans are solid. For us anyway…DSIL and DBIL have yet to book anything…But, they declare, they’re saving change in a coffee can and are pretty sure they’ve got at least one plane ticket paid for. It’s now the first week of December…can our heroine (ME) stand this much longer? It will be worth it in the end I think. A family vacation to remember…click your heels 3 times and say it with me, “There’s no place like Disney World”, “There’s no place like Disney World”… :wave:



Sprinkling the Pixie Dust :tinker:



I discovered Goofydad621’s thread, Paying It Forward”, and PM him to have him send a PC to my DS from Mickey saying “Can’t wait to see you”, etc. and DH got one from the princesses (you should have seen the grin on his face!) and of course, DSIL got one from Mickey that he can’t wait to meet her. DSIL was like a little kid when that PC came…really put her into the spirit of the trip – FINALLY. She books their plane tickets. Brother Bear is playing in my head “Tell everybody I’m on my way…” :jumping1:



I get my Christmas shopping nearly done…I ordered DSIL/DBIL Disney pajamas and have them gift boxed and delivered. DSIL, thinking they’re from Mickey himself, rips them open and calls me to tell me. She’s now very excited. DS can’t contain himself either. Every single day he asks if it’s the day we’re leaving for Disney World and when I say no, not today, he looks at me like I killed his puppy right in front of him or something. I can’t stand the wait either, little man. We’ll be there soon enough, soon enough. I now have an idea for even more magic. I order Mickey Mouse sweatshirts for all of us that say, The “_____” Family’s 2006 Magical Gathering at Walt Disney World”. Notice I left the last name blank. What if DSIL’s all-knowing-Disney-expert friends read this…they’ll call me out on the carpet and who knows what kind of problems they would start :stir: It'd be ugly if DSIL got wind of my advertising what a CRAPPY time it was. We just started speaking again regularly over the summer…why ruin it now. Yes, that’s right – I said we’re speaking again…you’re wondering what happened? And in this TR, we haven’t even left yet. Stick around my friends…you’ll see…Anyway, the sweatshirts were all gift wrapped in Mickey boxes and then I ordered a couple of Pal Mickey’s. Flash forward to a couple of days before our trip – I ship these down with gift messages from Mickey “Welcome! We’re glad you’re here. Enjoy your vacation! Love, Your Pal, Mickey”. These were to be delivered to our hotel and placed in our rooms upon arrival. Slick, eh?



YAYYYY!!! They Did It!!!



They did it, they did it – they booked their trip!!! :woohoo: WOO HOOO!!! Houston, we have lift off…only 3 more weeks to go…think it’s too soon to start packing? Naaaa…I actually started packing a couple of weeks before that…I find it therapeutic…makes me feel like this trip is finally becoming a reality! But, dear readers, here is the question...will my reality check bounce??? Stay tuned...

:banana: :banana: :banana:

[Eeyore's Tiara]

okay, I've stayed tuned, where's the rest? Why were you and you're DSIL fighting? You got to tell us more!

We took friends on our recent vacation, and it's best if I don't talk too much about it. I'm still a little put out by my friends dh. He did everything he could to make us miserable short of coming right out and saying he was doing it. He even made some of the CM's so mad we thought they were going to hit him. I tell you now, I would have sided with the CM's! :rotfl:

Get to writing, I'm waiting to hear more! :thumbsup2

[Lauralee131]

You're right ET...sorry - I've been lax...I keep starting it and then forget to finish it...I've got something I should be able to put up tonight I think...then I'll work on it over the weekend...


Thanks for noticing! Easy to get overshadowed by great trippies (hint, hint!!) ;)
I feel like Sally Field, you like me, you really like me!! :rotfl:

[Lauralee131]

Ok, so I’ve planned and I’ve packed and re-packed and it’s time to finally leave!! We have a 7am flight so we, ok – I decide that we’ll stay the night in a hotel near the airport the night before…we lived and hour and 45 minutes away from the airport and even though I knew I wouldn’t be sleeping the night before, DS and DH would and I knew there’d be all kinds of drama trying to wake them up at 3am to get ready to leave. AND there’s an Olive Garden near the airport! I don’t know what it is about that place…yes, it’s typical chain-restaurant food, but I love it and I don’t get it often and something about the Olive Garden makes me eat…and eat…ok, I’ll admit it – we’re all friends here. I could eat until I throw up…OMG – I’ve become like my dog! :dog: Not a pretty picture, I know…BUT that’s just something I’ll have to work out in therapy I guess!



Anyway, we had a nice dinner, and a good nights’ sleep…well, I couldn’t sleep…too excited – like those 2 little kids the older commercials…”we’re too excited to sleep!”…I laid awake all night…I could practically smell the smells of walking up Main Street (again with the food issues…I’m sensing a pattern here!)…



We got to the airport with plenty of time to spare and I decide to leave my guys and sneak off to…gulp, don’t flame me…have a quick cigarette before we board. Yes, I admit it – I’m a smoker. BUT I’m a very considerate one and definitely don’t smoke around my child and spritz myself afterward so I don’t smell…but, smoking issues will come later…Anywho…I spent several minutes talking to a very nice (and very handsome) purser from Southwest while in “the lounge”…what a way to pass the time…listening to an absolutely adorable Southern man…just dreamy :love: !! Wish I had a picture of him to share!



Pre-boarding starts and somehow we are lucky enough to be the first people on the plane…and who do I see…the handsome Southwest guy! Ahhh…this is going to be a good flight! As we enter the plane, he says hello and takes DS into the cockpit! DH and I are looking at each other thinking, ok, this is cool, but now what do we do. Flight Attendant McDreamy shoos us away…”Go on, find a seat…I’ll bring him back when we’re done with him!”…I could hear DS squealing with delight so off we went. We got our seats and others were now boarding…we couldn’t see up front but figured he must be in good hands….then, all of a sudden McDreamy comes running down the aisle towards us…I’m thinking, “Oh no, DS broke the plane…” But no, “Quick”, he says, “Give me your camera – this is good stuff!!” He grabbed the camera and took off back down the aisle. We got a good giggle out of this and I was so glad I was going to have pictures of this! The plane continued to board and still no sight of our son…minutes went by and still nothing…ok, looks like the plane is just about full…where is he?? Then all of a sudden we hear an announcement…”Ladies and Gentlemen, today your captain will be…and I then I hear DS, in this adorable little 4 year old voice say his name, loud and clear…”Michael Anthony Hartz”…the whole plane was laughing and I hear “And your captain has a very special message today” and then I hear it…something I hope to hear (and see) on the big screen at the Super Bowl someday…”HI MOM”…How cute is that?! A few minutes later our DS was brought back to us as they were closing the door and beginning to prepare for the safety demonstration…DS was just GLOWING…going on and on and on about how cool it was and then proceeded to show us how to fly a plane…apparently he got a mini flying lesson up there…he showed us how to turn left, right, go up and down…TOO CUTE…

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/CaptainMike.jpg

What a great way to start his vacation, eh? Those dear people from Southwest have totally spoiled him and continued to spoil him all the way from New Hampshire to Florida. Well, spoiled him is right….as you’ll see throughout our journey…Michael now had to drive every single ride at Disney World or he’s just not happy…



Hmmm…maybe that WASN’T such a good idea after all…



Well, I have to get ready for work…more later!

[PrincessV]

Terrific start! I'm staying tuned for more... popcorn::

[kcdarr]

Enjoying your report. Can't wait to read more.

[Lauralee131]

01/26/06 – We’ve finally gotten to Florida!



WOOO HOOOOO :woohoo: Here we are!! Sunny Florida! We arrive at the airport and DS just can’t wait to ride the monorail…YAY we’re at Disney!! I tried to explain that we’re not quite there yet and then tried to explain the difference between this monorail and the one he’s seen in the planning video, which played on a non-stop loop at our house for the last several months. And of course, he expects to drive the thing…and isn’t happy when we need to tell him that he can’t…Thanks, Southwest! :rolleyes2



We easily get through the airport, practically skipping our way to the Magical Express counter…But wait…there’s a line…a HUGE, long, snaking line…all kinds of friendly cast members waiving their huge Mickey hands directing traffic…I have got to get one of those hands…They said that only one member per group needed to wait on line so I quickly volunteered and let DH and DS go sit and wait. Amazingly enough, the line moved rather quickly and after I gathered up “da boys”, we headed to the lines for buses…wow – no lines…they sent us immediately outside! Alright!! We’re on our way!! :cool1: The friendly bus driver, who was collecting and stowing our carry-on baggage underneath the bus, was very talkative…and by talkative I mean we heard one and only phrase out of his mouth the entire way to the hotel…”Tips are not included in the Magical Express service”…and for the hearing impaired…there were signs inside the bus that stated that also…Now I’ll tell you a little bit about myself…I tip everybody…I even tried to tip Mr. Southwest McDreamy :love: just for being so kind to my son (he wouldn’t take it – think he suspected that on the back of that $5 was a note that said “CALL ME?”…LOL, I didn’t actually write the note – I’m happily married, TYVM, but I did try to tip him and he wouldn’t accept it. So, being the “happy tipper” that I am, was already going to tip the ME driver, without his constant remind-ears! When we arrived at the Wilderness Lodge, the driver exited the bus and stood outside holding his hand out for tips PRIOR to actually opening up the storage areas and getting everyone’s bags. It actually seemed that he was holding our baggage hostage until each and every last bag owner had tipped him. Now, the “happy tipper” is not so happy…I am now the “unimpressed tipper”…so the ME was not so magical for me, but I don’t care, we tipped the guy and went to check in…



We arrived at the hotel at 10:30 am and I knew full well that our room wouldn’t be ready, but that’s ok…I will gladly spend the time in the parks or wandering the grounds of this beautiful hotel. I checked in with a very friendly Cast Member and not planning on doing a trippie at the time, didn’t make note of her name, so let’s call her Belle. I requested to be Flag Family on the morning of the 31st (my birthday!) and YAY – it was available! Thanks to Dis’ers and Allearsnet, I was highly anticipating this little event, and made sure that even before we got our paperwork that I was on that list…Ok, so we had to get up early, but hey – I don’t sleep much when we’re here anyway! We got all checked in and received the little card with the number to call for when our room was ready. My DSIL/DBIL should be landing at MCO any minute now so we’ve got some time to kill before they arrive…let’s check out the hotel! We changed into shorts and gave our carry-on baggage to Bell Services and outside we went…The grounds really are stunning, by the way. And the lobby is gorgeous. Worth the trip just to check out the Lodge…Anyway, already I feel relaxed as we meander down to check out the pool…but wait…what’s that…the hair on the back of my neck is starting to stand up, and I've got a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach…Hmmm...what could that mean? :confused3


Stay tuned Mousketeers...

Up next....The Out-Laws Arrive...:scared1: :scared1:

[Lauralee131]

Terrific start! I'm staying tuned for more... popcorn::

Thanks PrincessV - I'm not quite up to your/GMax/ET/UMama's standards, but I'm trying! Hmmm...this could turn out to be therapeudic for me...is that even how you spell it? I don't know, but you'll see as I post more why it was so bad! I don't know if I'll EVER, EVER, EVER invite anyone else to the World with us again...;) I don't want to spoil it though...stay tuned for more humility, embarrassment and anger - only available on dysfunction gatherings!!

That's right - we put the FUN into dysFUNctional!! :rotfl2:

Thanks for reading...really appreciate it and I'll try to make it worth your while!

[PrincessV]

Thanks PrincessV - I'm not quite up to your/GMax/ET/UMama's standards, but I'm trying! Hmmm...this could turn out to be therapeudic for me...is that even how you spell it? I don't know, but you'll see as I post more why it was so bad! I don't know if I'll EVER, EVER, EVER invite anyone else to the World with us again...;) I don't want to spoil it though...stay tuned for more humility, embarrassment and anger - only available on dysfunction gatherings!!

That's right - we put the FUN into dysFUNctional!! :rotfl2:

Thanks for reading...really appreciate it and I'll try to make it worth your while!

Oh pshaw, I'm loving your TR already! The more I read of other peoples' adventures with extended family trips, the more okay I am with our tiny little family. Now, when I see those big family groups, looking so cute in their matching outfits, I'll think of the stories told by you and sorul82? and others instead of thinking "Next time, I'm inviting all the aunts and uncles on our trip!" :rotfl:

[sherreis]

Enjoying your TR. Looking forward to reading more. You already have me convinced to look at WL.

[pigletforever]

Don' t leave us hanging. This is a great report.

[disneylizzy]

I am loving your report!! Family drama and WDW, can't wait! (I've had my share.)

Your little guy is adorable. :wizard:

[Lauralee131]

Enjoying your TR. Looking forward to reading more. You already have me convinced to look at WL.

Oh you will love it!! I'm looking forward to visiting it during the holidays this year! If you do stay there, be sure to ask about being the flag family! You won't believe the views from the top of the hotel!!

Thanks for reading!

[OhMari]

Ok, so how much did you tip the ME driver. I am a good tipper too, i tip waitresses 20%, but I try not to eat at sit down meals where I am waited on either.

[Lauralee131]

When last we left our heroine, she was enjoying the bonding time with her DH and DS, exploring all that the beautiful Wilderness Lodge has to offer. :grouphug: Then suddenly the hair on the back of my neck is starting to stand up and my stomach feels funny…I can’t quite put my finger on it…:headache:



Then my cell phone starts ringing…they have arrived at the airport!! :banana: YAY – I’m so excited to see their names on my caller ID…I answer the phone all excited to hear that they’re here when it starts…:furious: ”What the XXXX? - You can’t XXXXXXX wait for us at the XXXXXXX airport!?!?!? Oh that’s real XXXXXXX nice! I don’t know where the XXXX I’m going!!” (I'm doing my best to honor the boards' moderators and the profanity rules here so bear with me! Basically, everywhere you see all the X's, my DSIL used her favorite F-udge word...I'm trying to keep it clean and still relay to you all how hideous this whole experience was!) Ah ha…they have arrived…a little bit of pixie dust dripped, no – melted - down my forehead with the bead of sweat that I developed imagining all of the happy families with little children at the airport around her, listening to her swearing upside down and sideways at me for not sitting in the airport for a couple of hours and waiting for them :sad2: …My DSIL, (ahem) bless her heart, actually expected that we would wait for them, just sitting in the airport, breathlessly anticipating their arrival. Now, I’m all for killing time and people watching, but NOT when I could be at Disney World. And how exactly would you explain that to a 4 year old? Now let’s all remember – for the few of you that may be sympathizing with my SIL – we were taking the ME, it’s not like I took the rental car on her and I am forcing her to take a cab! So anyway, I tell her she needs to go down to the Magical Express desk and the whole time she’s walking thru the airport, she’s yelling into the phone, yelling at her DH and swearing loudly at anyone that will listen that she doesn’t know where she’s going…Did I mention that they are not travelers? They’ve been on one vacation that involved an airplane in the last 20 years…and you can tell…she’s afraid to fly and not big on going into the “unknown”…the whole time we’d tried discussing and planning this trip, her likes and dislikes were based on the opinion of people that had given her theirs. For example, she didn’t want to go to LaNouba because so-and-so’s husband didn’t like it. Oh, well that there settles it then, huh? :rolleyes1



So for the next hour, my phone rang every few minutes with “NOW where the XXXX am I and where do I go now?” Hmmm…I’m just sure that once she gets here and settles in, she’ll relax…Duh Lauralee, she probably never relaxed in her life… And don’t flame me, as this is NOT a general comment directed to everyone, just HER as this is how she is - maybe she’ll leave her Jersey at home (and her cell phone for crying out loud) and have a nice time…



Once again, my cell phone rings for like the 11th time…they’re here!!! We were on the beach with DS playing in the sand and so we set off to the lobby to meet up with the rest of our “Magical Gathering” gang…I now must escort my DSIL to the desk, as apparently she cannot check in alone. She loads up DBIL’s back with all their carry-ons like a pack mule and shoo’s him away and we check in. Now we’re at the same lovely CM, “Belle”, that I had earlier…shortly though, the lovely “Belle” will be replaced by a supervisor to handle the loud, unpleasant lady at the desk :confused3 …Big, heavy sigh…this day is not so magical for me now…I’ll spare you all the embarrassing details, but DSIL made a big commotion over getting connecting rooms (secretly I was hoping that there weren’t any available…call it a hunch…I just knew that it was a bad idea), and over leaving a credit card on her account…we’re finally checked in! Let’s head to the Magic Kingdom!! We’re burning daylight people!! And off we head down to the boat launch…As we get to the boat launch, there are a few others waiting with us…my DSIL is already checking her messages…being a realtor, she’s CONSTANTLY checking her messages – even at midnight…drives me nuts…I insist that she turn her phone off, or at least put it on vibrate so as not to bug me, and others around who are on something called a VACATION and don’t particularly care to hear the sounds of the outside world…I definitely don’t want to hear a cell phone, especially in THIS World!! GRRRRR…:furious:





We’re finally at the MagicKingdom!!





We enter the security checkpoint and she starts again…why do I have to do this, yada yada yada…please, can we just go in now??? I have a headache…never in my life have I had a headache here…We see Pluto off to our left as we start up Main Street and he’s all alone!! Michael’s thrilled and wants to go meet him so off we go…we give DH the camera for a change and DS and I go and stand with Pluto http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/100_0029.jpgand in runs DSIL…oooh…she’s…what is that look on her face??? :eek: OH MY WORD…it’s a SMILE!! She’s in the pictures too now…giggling and laughing and hamming it up for the camera! YAY…see – I told you all that this place was magical! We wander up Main Street a bit and pose for pictures for Photopass – I had already warned everyone…we’re going to get our pictures taken a hundred times if we have to…I’m finally going to be in some vacation photos!! YAY…To my horror…I look like crap in every single one of our 98 Photopass pictures…sigh…We take some pictures in front of the castle…translation – I take some pictures of my guys in front of the castle…
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/100_0040.jpg
DH doesn’t want to take pictures of me and DS…GRRRR…I’ll fix you for that…and head off to do the Carousel. Michael wanted to ride that first…go figure. I think it’s probably because he’s been on one before and needed to ease his way up to Dumbo maybe…


DH and DS head off the entrance for the Carousel ride and I am waiting to take some pictures of them…All of a sudden my SIL starts furiously banging on my arm…WHAT?!?! She points over to a little left and behind us and screams “LOOK” and finally I see what the fuss is about…There goes Kelly Ripa, her hubby (wow is he HOT in person), their kids and her parents…NO ONE notices them, although her hubby Mark (or is it Marc with a C) appears to be posing with a red carpet smile almost hoping to be noticed…well, that was my cue, as Mark/Marc is hotter than Mr. Southwest McDreamy…as we…errr, shall we say “pursued” them, we took a couple of pictures and then I noticed that Kelly had a look on her face that made me feel almost bad for her…I realized that it must be tough to be famous and try to do ordinary things like take your kids to Disney World…so I hung back and called to DSIL – let’s leave them alone…but she was gone…right behind them, snapping pictures like paparazzi following Lindsay Lohan!

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/KellyRipa.jpg

So we had a little excitement that first day with our celebrity sighting…and we rode a few rides and headed back to the hotel to see if our luggage had arrived so we could unpack and have some dinner…It was, and we did…we ordered 3 pizzas and a bunch of sodas for dinner and had it delivered to our room so we could nosh while unpacking…translation – so DH and DS could eat, while I unpacked…DBIL, I come to find out, asks DH to buy the pizza and he’ll pay him back…still waiting by the way, but I digress. As I unpack, they (DH and DBIL) open the connecting room doors so we could all eat our pizza while we unpacked and DS goes next door to spend time with his aunt and uncle…and that’s when I smell it…SMOKE…I go next door and DBIL is laying on his bed, with a plate of pizza and smoking a cigarette while playing with my DS…Needless to say my friends…I FREAKED OUT… Now, don’t get me wrong…I was trying to be nice…I was pretty shocked that they would do this…they (and we) don’t smoke in our house, around our child and now, they’re STINKING up both of our hotel rooms…I could practically feel my blood boiling…So, I went next door and chased DS back to our room with some ridiculous story that something was happening over there and I said to my SIL – you know, this is a non-smoking room? You can get charged another $50 or they’ll move you to a smoking room…and that’s when she lost it…Oh Dear God – I’m on vacation with Sybill!



She started yelling, arms flailing, XXXX this, XXXX-that, XXXX-them, I’m on XXXXXXX vacation, I paid good XXXXXXX money for this trip and I’ll smoke anywhere I want” So now I’m FURIOUS :furious: and I just told her that was fine, she can do what she wants, but I’m keeping the door to our room closed to keep the smoke out. Which, by the way was very difficult to do…I ended up getting extra towels and rolling them up and putting them under the door and burning candles every night…I should have just called the front and complained about it “anonymously”…:rolleyes1 There she was swearing up a blue streak about how she paid good money for this trip and blah blah blah…Oh, so I guess the money that I paid, which was MORE by the way since there were 3 of us, didn’t matter…So with that, I left…locked my side of the door, put all my suitcases in front of it, and sat on our patio with a couple of drinks, reflecting on how my first day had gone…I wanted to cry…Not the magical gathering I’d anticipated so far, and my DH, sensitive to my feelings says, “Yeah, that was a great idea to invite them…” Well thank you for those wise words Mr. Dali Lama…”



Well, I have a few more drinks :drinking1 :drinking1 :drinking1 (yes, I travel with my own Jack Daniels, thank you very much, and after today, let’s face it – I needed it), and head to bed…tomorrow’s another day. I set the wake up call for 6:30 to give us time to slowly wake and go get breakfast before we head back to Magic Kingdom for our first full day!


OFFICAL WAIVER: I hope none of you take offense to the content of my trip report - I know I was offended when it happened to me...I apologize if it upsets anyone!!

[Lauralee131]

Ok, so how much did you tip the ME driver. I am a good tipper too, i tip waitresses 20%, but I try not to eat at sit down meals where I am waited on either.

I normally tip 3 to 4 dollars a bag, more if they're really heavy and I was prepared to give this man $15 - now all we had was a couple of small carry-on bags, but still, a lot of people depend on tips so I try to be as generous as possible...He only got $10, and I felt that was a stretch, but I thought that maybe he needed it pretty badly if he was mentioning it constantly like that...:confused3

[Lauralee131]

Pigletforever and disneylizzy - thanks for reading!! If I can save just one person by putting this out there...:lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

You too OhMari!! Thanks!! I'm really enjoying this - don't know why I didn't do it earlier...it was probably too fresh back then!!

I have to go to St. Louis on Thursday until Sunday so I don't know how much more I'll get done this week, but I'll do my best!! Thanks again everyone!

:wave:

[OhMari]

Your little guy looks like the little boy in "Jerry McGuire".

Your sil sounds a lot like mine, and I only have one, so I never get to compare her to anyone until today. :rotfl:

[pigletforever]

I can sympathize. Wait till you read my report. we are traveling with DS17 ex girlfriends family. Didn't know we were booking the same resort for the same week until it was done. The kids broke up a month ago and to top it off the parents are headed for a divorce. At least we only have 2 meals scheduled with them. haven't figured out what to call my report yet. the mom has yet to make and ADR's and we leave in 11 days. This also makes me want to rethink trip with MIL next fall.

[Lauralee131]

Your little guy looks like the little boy in "Jerry McGuire".

Your sil sounds a lot like mine, and I only have one, so I never get to compare her to anyone until today. :rotfl:

Well, you have my sympathies!!! NEVER, EVER again, I can tell you that!

[Lauralee131]

I can sympathize. Wait till you read my report. we are traveling with DS17 ex girlfriends family. Didn't know we were booking the same resort for the same week until it was done. The kids broke up a month ago and to top it off the parents are headed for a divorce. At least we only have 2 meals scheduled with them. haven't figured out what to call my report yet. the mom has yet to make and ADR's and we leave in 11 days. This also makes me want to rethink trip with MIL next fall.

Wow, Pigletforever...I can not wait for that one!!! popcorn:: The drama just makes my brain sweat...I would almost rather do my trip again!! Just kidding!!

[Lauralee131]

Ah….I rub the sleep out of my eyes, fully refreshed from – WHAT?!?! It’s 4:30?!?!? Oh man, you’ve got to be kidding me…Well, I’m awake…WIDE awake so I’ll make some coffee and sit outside and enjoy the quiet. Ok, yeah well that was fun…NOW WHAT?!?!? I decide to go for a walk. I grab my flip flops, top off my coffee and head out the sliding glass door and who do I find - a family of ducks…the baby was just too cute! Well, the ducks and I took a walk…seriously, everywhere I went the ducks followed me. We played follow the leader for a bit and headed back to our patio. Come to find out that DSIL left all the leftover pizza outside the night before on her patio chair in a giant Ziploc bag. Wasn’t that nice of us to buy tons of pizzas for everyone and give it all away!?



Ahem…anywhooo…while the ducks and I were out for a stroll, some other lovely feathered friends had discovered the pizza on the patio and had eaten half of the Ziploc bag and were tearing the pizza to pieces…I’m thinking ducks and birds in general, are lactose intolerant…want to know why I think this? The lighter it got outside, the better view I had of DSIL’s patio and the “poop-fest” that has occurred there. No respect for the occupants of the hotel room, or the furniture, or anything else for that matter…Remember the saying – the **** hit the fan? (Pardon my French!) Well, that’s what it looked like…like a giant fan blew poop EVERYWHERE – I think there was even some “spackle” on the sliding glass doors!! I won’t gross you all out, but let’s just say that the pizza didn’t sit well with our fine, feathered friends! In light of last night’s ranting and ravings by my DSIL, I found this to be very, very funny…karma at it’s best…She pooped on my Disney World so to speak, and Walt found a way to give it back!! Thank you, sir!!! I vow from here on out to give you all of my family’s money every year JUST BECAUSE that was soooo funny!! :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:



So after I compose myself and finish my coffee, I go inside to try and rally the troops. Wasn’t happening…nothing…no sign of movement and no sign that it would happen anytime soon either. The wake up call came and it was me who answered…not DS as I’d hoped. Guess I wore him out the night before…



For some reason, we didn’t get a stroller yesterday…probably because we thought we’d see how he did…I recall asking him and he didn’t want one…by 9pm, his wagon was draggin’ but he was a trooper…he kept up the best he could and walked the whole way…was not carried once…today we’d try and talk him into it. Ok, I’m now on my second pot, not cup, of coffee…it’s 7:30…I can’t take it anymore…I wake my guys and they get up and moving. While they’re waking up, I go outside on the patio to have a cigarette and there is DSIL…swearing at my ducks! Ah, good morning sunshine. She’s not dressed, my BIL is still sleeping. We’ll never make rope drop…I’ve warned them all about rope drop…apparently it went in one ear and out the other. Either that or she couldn’t hear me over hear swearing like a sailor!



I tried to get her up and moving and she pretty much told me where to go, and then told me not to leave without them…well, I said, you’ve got a half hour…THEN we’re leaving. Surprisingly enough, everyone is up and ready pretty quickly and I’m rushing them all out the door…I hear grumbling amongst the troops…What?! Now you want to eat, too? Did you maybe think about eating earlier??? UGH…ok, FINE – we’ll eat something off a cart when we get there, can we just go?!?! No – they want to sit down and eat breakfast…FINE…eat QUICKLY. We got to Whispering Canyon in time to find a 25 minute wait…think my head is going to just blow right off my shoulders…until – they made me laugh there…Ok, I’ll chill out a bit…we sat down for breakfast and had a really nice time! Really enjoy that restaurant – we’ll have to go back! Finally we pay the check and head out of WCC, DSIL/BIL go right, towards the lobby doors and we head left, to go to the boat…Hmmm…where are you going? Well, where are YOU going? DSIL wants to take the bus…it’s faster…this, from the world traveler herself. I said that I didn’t want to take the bus, I’d rather take the boat. “Well”, she says, so-and-so “says that the buses are faster from this hotel.” Ok, well obviously since it’s now ELEVEN A.M., I’m not in any rush. You can go take the bus I tell her and we’ll take the boat and meet you there. Nope…she wasn’t going by herself (some city girl, eh) but she was going to make everyone on the boat unhappy because of the fact that “So-and-so” said the bus was faster…:furious:



Ok, we get to Magic Kingdom, fairly quickly I think, but nonetheless, we’re there!



We head to Tomorrowland and already the complaining starts…DSIL…wait, from now on we’ll refer to her as Cruella – it suits her I think (Thanks OhMari!)…so now Cruella is complaining about how everywhere you go at Disney World, you have to walk. Can you guys believe that? Now I’d warned her about the amount of walking we’d do. She even bought new sneakers and Teva’s for the trip, so she knew there’d be walking. Maybe she was saying it so that others would be forewarned that they’d do a lot of walking that day?!? That must be it, as it was certainly loud enough for all to hear! The complaining subsided though when there was a shop to go into…she had no problem there. We went to Carousel of Progress, one of my longtime favorites since I was a child…We walked right in, no waiting so everyone was happy. Now imagine this – the theatre was not even 50% full and she goes up front and asks this couple to move so we can all sit together…can’t even tell you how empty the theatre was and she’s asking people to move. Well, the couple gave her this blank stare and shrugged their shoulders…turns out they don’t speak English. Well, that set her off…the last I heard was “Well if you can’t speak the language, then you…”and I walked away and sat about 10 seats away…DS, DH and I enjoyed it, she checked her voicemail throughout it…when we left, she went on and on about how she didn’t like it…Grrr…there she goes, raining on my parade again…



We headed off to the Indy speedway so DS could drive the cars. Cruella is now complaining about the lack of smoking areas instead of the walk…it’s almost refreshing! We decide to send the boys and I’ll go with her to the smoking area as we all know that she can’t go anywhere alone! We sit on the bench at the smoking area by the train stop at Mickey’s Toontown. Again with the cell phone. I tune her out and talk about the cool things that await us…a load of people get off the train and someone must’ve looked at Cruella, because BANG – she was off like a rocket…using all of George Carlin’s favorite words…I was mortified…I told her that no one said anything about her smoking and she went on and on swearing at everyone and purposely blowing her smoke at people walking by…Have you guys ever heard of such behavior? THEN to top it off she now directs her bombs at me – telling me that she left her mother at home and didn’t need me here, etc…Oh – did I mention that my SIL is in her late 50’s? Real mature, eh?



So I left and caught my baby just in time driving his Indy car! I think DH’s neck still hurts from his “wild ride”…

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/100_0049.jpg


Well, I think I’ve had enough “reminiscing” for one evening…hope I’ll be able to sleep! Up next…Frontierland…Wish me luck!



Good night everyone! Thanks for playing our game! :wave2:

[sherreis]

Thanks for the update and looking forward to more. I have a feeling that my SIL is related to yours.
The worst part of your TR, is that I have a feeling that it is going to get even worse yet. Hard to imagine.

[dean556]

your SIL sounds just like mine,I dont think I could bring myself to ever go to the world with her no matter how much she begs

I feel for you!

[Adi12982]

Hello - I'm a fellow Lurker - I am part of another board (GASP) but I love to come here and read what people are saying. . . I just HAD to join after reading the start of your TR! WOW - I am soooo soooo soooo sooo sorry that this is what you had to put up with. I look forward to sympathizing firther with you and reading what else is going to come out of Cruella's mouth!

[casey49781]

Love the report,,,Sorry she was so nasty,,,,

[MousekaMaddi]

u had me at hello............................more please :rotfl: :rotfl2: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

[Lauralee131]

Wow - I have a page 3! I feel like Sally Field on Oscar Night...you like me, you really like me! A few shout-outs: :disrocks:


Sherreis - Thank you! And yes, unfortunately, it's gets worse...

dean556 - Thanks for your sympathy! It's much appreciated!

Adi2982 - Welcome!! Glad you're here! You'll love these boards - so many great people and wonderful stories...

Casey49781 - Thanks so much for reading!

Mouskemaddi - Thank you as well....

I really appreciate all of your comments! I am finding it increasingly more difficult to write this TR and I'm only on day 2! The sad thing is that DSIL and I were extremely close prior to this trip...spoke on the phone just about everyday, shopped till we dropped together at all the major JC Penney sales, etc...it's funny how a vacation can change things....

I leave tomorrow for a business trip for 4 days, but I'll try very hard to keep it going!! Thanks again for all of your support! And for letting me air my dirty laundry!! :laundy:

Remember - friends don't let friends go on vacation with family!! :rotfl2:

[Lauralee131]

Ok Mousketeers, I’m back…and we’re still on Day 2, getting ready to leave Tomorrowland. I feel deflated…not the trip I was hoping for, that’s an understatement. Now, no one wanted to “plan” their trips thru the parks because I, their Disney Nazi, have planned out meals, which has stressed them all out, so we are basically wandering the Magic Kingdom, which actually wasn’t that bad, all things considered…I mean, really, can it get much worse Friends? Ummmm….yeah, it can. We continue wandering and DS and I decide to ride the Tea Cups…love that ride. Just looking at it makes my DH sick, so riding it was not an option. DS on the other hand, LOVES rides…the wilder the better…I can’t wait until he gets taller to do Space Mountain, etc. with me. I use that to try and get him to eat veggies, by the way, and it doesn’t work. Just the sight of even a green spice on his place and his Junior Eating Disorder kicks in and then he can’t eat anything at all. Kind of funny actually…



So we continue wandering and as we pass the Dumbo ride, it appears they’re filming something…they actually have cameras everywhere and a big screen up behind the ride, but we can’t see anything going on “celebrity-wise”, so we keep going, but keep our eyes peeled for the plaid vests, just in case. We head to It’s a Small World…Cruella and…hmmm…we need a name for him, don’t we Friends…how about Horace? Ok, so Cruella decides she doesn’t want to ride and she and Horace will wait for us. She’s complaining about wanting to find a smoking area and having to walk so I tell them that they don’t need sit outside and wait for us, feel free to go off on your own. No, big sigh, we’ll wait…Great. Thanks.



DH, DS and I ride Small World and we came out and there they were…looking very happy – NOT. We wanted to hit Peter Pan, but there was a pretty decent wait…Cruella had a fit and began making a scene that she has to wait for everything in this place and it’s filled with screaming kids…Hmmm…did you NOT think there’d be kids here? At Disney World?!?! :confused3



So off we wander to Liberty Square and to the Hall of Presidents. I really enjoy it and figured it’s a bit more grown up so it may please some of the rest of our traveling party. Oh no, what if we have to wait? The parade had just ended so it was a bit crowded out there. DH goes to park our stroller and I walk over to say something and I turn around and there I am, face to face with Kelly Ripa! (She looks happy, eh?)
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She looked at me and immediately turned her back to me…friendly, eh? She didn’t look happy…her littlest one was not in the best mood, so I could definitely sympathize! So, I ogled her hubby for a minute and then we went in to the HOP. We all enjoyed it and when it was over we reorganized our stroller a bit before moving on. Cruella was now storing all of her things in the stroller – remember, she enjoys the shops and the stroller was getting a bit crowded, so I tried to make room for DS, etc…and then I hear a raise in volume coming out of Cruella…she’s now yelling and swearing at Horace for falling asleep inside the HOP! He’s finally giving it back to her saying he wasn’t sleeping and then, the worst happens…she turns to ME (gulp)…did YOU see him sleeping?? No, I said, I was enjoying the show, not looking to see if Horace was sleeping and besides, I didn’t hear any snoring, so maybe he wasn’t sleeping! Uh oh…Houston, we have a problem…she is now SCREAMING at poor Horace for sleeping and LYING about sleeping…dropping those f-bombs like they were any other word, such as “and” or “if”…and LOUD…With that, she curses him out one more time and walks away…Horace, swearing loudly to himself, but I’m sure not so loudly that SHE could hear him, followed her…So there we our, DS, DH and I looking at each other, both glad they’re gone and wondering if we should go find them? All their crap is now piled in our stroller and they’re gone. Naw, let’s enjoy the quiet for a while! We head to Haunted Mansion, just the 3 of us and had a nice time…Notice the "relieved and relaxed" smile on DH's face...Ahhhhh :goodvibes
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DS really enjoyed it and the little details, the moving face in the headstone, etc really blew his little mind. It was cute.
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It was kind of funny watching DS out of the corner of my eye as he wasn't sure what he just saw here...did it move? Didn't it move? I had a bit of fun with it, I'll admit..."I didn't see anything, what are you talking about?" :lmao: It was fun...
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And we enjoyed each other's company. We meandered towards the park exit, kind of looking for Cruella and Horace so we didn’t get saddled with all their stuff! It’s getting close to dinner time and we’re getting hungry so we make our way towards the exit, slowly giving them one last chance to get their stuff…We stopped at the back of the castle as we were stuck in a bottle neck and took a couple of pictures…Cinderellabration was going on so we had a few minutes to wait. By the time we actually got to where we turned in the stroller, still no sign of Horace and Cruella, so now we’re stuck with all that junk, plus our own. Ah well, it’s a small sacrifice for a peaceful evening! We decided to take the monorail over to the Poly and grab something to eat. We went into Kona, which was like a ghost town and we had a fabulous meal, just the 3 of us and enjoyed each other’s company, agreeing that this afternoon has been the best of our trip so far. We strolled around the Poly for a bit and then made our way back to the WL laden with bags and had a nice relaxing evening for a change. I made out all my Paying it Forward post cards and popped them in the mail…glad to share some Pixie Dust with others…pixiedust: Mouskeeping left us a little towel animal with a thank you note for her tip! Can you believe that? How sweet!

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DS lay in bed, listening to the bedtime stories on TV and DH and I relaxed and yes, I had a few drinks :drinking1 :drinking1 …again! Cruella and Horace were still no where to be seen…it was a good night!! Thank you Vacation Gods...I'm not worthy!! :worship:

Well gang, I have to get ready for work...have a great day everyone!!! And thanks again for reading!!

[Adi12982]

I am really happy to see that you had a better day 2. I am really bothered by the language out of Cruella! My DH and I are soooo careful at WDW (an other places with kids). . . I mean we really shouldn't swear anyhow, and when i have children I do not want them hearing those words. . . so I do not want to be a hypocrite.

I hope your next trip is the magical trip you grew up loving so much!! The worst trip we ever had to WDW was when my mom invited my uncle, his wife and my cousin. . . . that was the only trip my mom wasn't in charge and he (my uncle) was grumpy and didn't want to stay past 5pm ANYWHERE. . . needless to say my mom said never again. Made the mistake in 2002 to invite my BIL (back then DH and I were not married). . . invited him to split costs (I was in High School and financing this trip) and so he could help my DH with carrying my brother onto rides (My brother is in a wheelchair) - what a mistake that was, he basically ONLY paid for his tickets after a HUGE fight at Typhoon Lagoon - he got a free ride on housing, food, etc. The best day we had was the day he decided to sit by because it was raining and my DH, brother and I had a blast!!! Once again, never again! You live and you learn!! Now I will go with my MIL and FIL, my mom and step dad, brother, his GF of two years and DH (and if my grandparents wanted to come them too). . . Like you Disney means sooooo much to me and I do not want anyone putting a damper on my magical trip!

[PrincessV]

OMG - I really don't know whether to laugh or cry! Cruella's behavior is, without a doubt, the worst I've ever heard of in WDW. I'm so sorry your family had to deal with it, and I swear, I just gave a great big sigh of relief on your behalf when Cruelle and Horace took off and left you guys alone!
Unfortunately, I suspect they'll be back soon... :sad2:

[**pixiedust**]

I know that this must have been torture on you, but as an outsider reading it it is so funny! You are a great writer! I can't wait for more!

I just have one question - and PLEASE don't take this the wrong way as I am just curious. Didn't your sister-in-law exhibit any of these traits before you went to WDW? There was nothing that might have tipped you off that she would behave like this? I'm just saying...did she magically turn into a you-know-what when she entered Orlando??? :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[Lauralee131]

I am really happy to see that you had a better day 2. I am really bothered by the language out of Cruella! My DH and I are soooo careful at WDW (an other places with kids). . . I mean we really shouldn't swear anyhow, and when i have children I do not want them hearing those words. . . so I do not want to be a hypocrite.

I hope your next trip is the magical trip you grew up loving so much!! The worst trip we ever had to WDW was when my mom invited my uncle, his wife and my cousin. . . . that was the only trip my mom wasn't in charge and he (my uncle) was grumpy and didn't want to stay past 5pm ANYWHERE. . . needless to say my mom said never again. Made the mistake in 2002 to invite my BIL (back then DH and I were not married). . . invited him to split costs (I was in High School and financing this trip) and so he could help my DH with carrying my brother onto rides (My brother is in a wheelchair) - what a mistake that was, he basically ONLY paid for his tickets after a HUGE fight at Typhoon Lagoon - he got a free ride on housing, food, etc. The best day we had was the day he decided to sit by because it was raining and my DH, brother and I had a blast!!! Once again, never again! You live and you learn!! Now I will go with my MIL and FIL, my mom and step dad, brother, his GF of two years and DH (and if my grandparents wanted to come them too). . . Like you Disney means sooooo much to me and I do not want anyone putting a damper on my magical trip!

Thank you Adi12982 - I was pretty appaled by it either and I'm no saint myself, but boy, of all places to behave like that! And around my son as well - they normally don't act like that so I was just shocked...But you'll see...it continues...:guilty:

[Lauralee131]

OMG - I really don't know whether to laugh or cry! Cruella's behavior is, without a doubt, the worst I've ever heard of in WDW. I'm so sorry your family had to deal with it, and I swear, I just gave a great big sigh of relief on your behalf when Cruelle and Horace took off and left you guys alone!
Unfortunately, I suspect they'll be back soon... :sad2:

Unbelievable, isn't it PrincessV? I have never seen such behavior in the parks, no less out of them...Your "spidey-senses" are correct...they do come back...
It really was awesome when they were gone...the tension was less and even though our load we were carrying was much heavier, I felt a lot lighter!!

It's like one long bad episode of Seinfeld or something...but no - at least they laughed once in a while!! I'll try and write more tonight after I finish packing...

Can't wait for December...going to be soooo much better...I feel like I'm getting a "Do Over"!! :thumbsup2

[Lauralee131]

I know that this must have been torture on you, but as an outsider reading it it is so funny! You are a great writer! I can't wait for more!

I just have one question - and PLEASE don't take this the wrong way as I am just curious. Didn't your sister-in-law exhibit any of these traits before you went to WDW? There was nothing that might have tipped you off that she would behave like this? I'm just saying...did she magically turn into a you-know-what when she entered Orlando??? :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Know what, Pixiedust, we spend lots and lots of time with them throughout the year. She's always been kind of high strung, but because of her profession, she's on the run all the time, but OMG - NOTHING like this Cruella-Does-Disney impersonation she was doing...If she was anything like that, I would never have invited them. And she's never been and she loves my son to pieces and I just thought it would be nice to go on an extended vacation together, plus we were moving down South shortly after that, so the trip was really special...or it was supposed to be anyway. Disney Villians gone wild, I guess!!!

It doesn't improve a whole lot either from here on out...gotta tell ya!! I'll write more as soon as I can!! And thanks for the compliments and thanks for reading!!:thumbsup2

[DisneyMissy318]

I'm in! WOW is all I can say! Can't wait to hear the rest... I hope you guys were able to salvage the trip in the end for your DS's sake! (What a cutie!!)

~M~

[luvpooh]

Wow, I don't know whether to laugh or cry! I'm really enjoying your trip report, sorry it had to be this enjoyable at your expense though!
It is making me reconsider the big family gathering that's being talked about for this coming April, I can tell you that much!
Your son is such a cutie pie!
Hurry back to post more! Don't leave us hanging.

[tammyandtommy]

Totally loving your trip report, it sounds like what it would be like if I asked my family o come with us!

I would have been star struck to see Kelly Ripa there! Gosh I just love that girl, cant miss her and regis in the am :happytv:

[bushdianee]

subbing

[pilgrimage]

I love your sense of humor and writing style.
Congratulations on choosing a healthier approach to life
that was modeled for you. You're a true hero!!!

[Lauralee131]

I'm in! WOW is all I can say! Can't wait to hear the rest... I hope you guys were able to salvage the trip in the end for your DS's sake! (What a cutie!!)

~M~

Thanks Missy - Let's just say that there were a few "salvageable" moments, but we're taking a mulligan and going back in December...just the 3 of us!! Can't wait! :thumbsup2

Thanks for reading and I'll post more as soon as can!

[Lauralee131]

Wow, I don't know whether to laugh or cry! I'm really enjoying your trip report, sorry it had to be this enjoyable at your expense though!
It is making me reconsider the big family gathering that's being talked about for this coming April, I can tell you that much!
Your son is such a cutie pie!
Hurry back to post more! Don't leave us hanging.

Thanks luvpooh - I've found that sometimes you need to laugh to keep from crying!! I'll post more as soon as I can...I'll have a pretty busy few days in St. Louis so I may not get to do more until Sunday night...thanks so much for tuning in on a vacation I would like to have tuned out!! :goodvibes

[Lauralee131]

Totally loving your trip report, it sounds like what it would be like if I asked my family o come with us!

I would have been star struck to see Kelly Ripa there! Gosh I just love that girl, cant miss her and regis in the am :happytv:

Thanks tammyandtommy!! Appreciate your reading my trippie...I really like Kelly Ripa too - I would have liked to have talked to her, but really didn't want to intrude, ya know? Ah well....there's always next time! "Stalk you later, Kelly!!" :goodvibes

[Lauralee131]

I love your sense of humor and writing style.
Congratulations on choosing a healthier approach to life
that was modeled for you. You're a true hero!!!

Very sweet of you, Pilgrimage...thanks so much!! :hug: Appreciate it!! And thanks for reading!

[Lauralee131]

Thanks everyone for reading!! I appreciate it - Misery Loves Company and all that!


I post more of our Mis-Adventures as soon as I can!! Hmmm...this has been very helpful to me...like free therapy!! :crazy:

And remember Mousketeers....friends don't let friends take family members on vacation!!!! :rotfl2:

Come on everyone...you know the words...

Cruella DeVil, Cruella DeVil,
If she doesn't scare you,
No evil thing will.... :eek:

[Nurse_Mommy4]

I like your writing style. :thumbsup2

as I was reading your last installment.....all I kept thinking is....Cruella's coming back....just wait and see; she'll be back. :rolleyes1

[Minniespal]

Enjoying reading ~ Thanx for sharing.

[Lauralee131]

I awoke that morning early, yet again, and yes – again, my guys are still sleeping. I make myself a pot of coffee and go outside to visit my duck friends “Donald and Daisy”…haven’t come up with a name for the baby yet…I’ll think of something. They’re cute though…mom is very attentive to the little one and none of the 3 are scared of me at all…they come and just hang around by my feet…occasionally leaving to go and leave “the morning paper” for Cruella and Horace…this I find very funny…our patio is always clean, theirs…well, it’s a crappy situation for them, let’s just say that.

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Anywhooo…today we’re supposed to go to Animal Kingdom. That was the plan…my plan, because no one else wanted to come up with any ideas, remember? I told them over and over again that we should get there really early and do the safari first, so this should not have been a surprise to anyone. I found out the EE is having a preview for DVC and AP holders…I am now very angry at myself as I just about twisted my brain in knots deciding whether or not to buy an AP, but in the end we got the MYW package with the Dining Plan. Loving the dining plan so far kids, gotta tell ya… I try to rouse the troops a bit around 6:30 and then went outside for a cup-a-joe and my morning nicotine fix. I sit there, enjoying the morning quiet and then I hear it…that unmistakable smoker’s cough of Cruella’s…GULP…well, here goes…go over there, I tell myself…just do it fast like ripping off a band-aid. I walk around my patio to say good morning. I scared her as she didn’t know I was outside. Dang it! I had a free pass there for a minute and I blew it. Nice going, eh? Surprisingly enough, Cruella was in a decent mood. Guess they “kissed and made up”? She said that they ended up going to Downtown Disney and walked around and shopped a bit and got in real late. Apparently all is well in their world again, whatever the heck planet that is!



Now I need to back up a bit, before I go further into our trip. This will explain things further on down the road. Money has been a big concern for Cruella, way back since we began planning this trip. You wouldn’t know it judging by the amount of money she’s spending in every single shop she’s walked by so far…and we all know how many shops there are in Disney World! And since this is her first vacation in 20-odd years, she feels the need to buy everyone, and I mean everyone a gift from Disney World. She’ll hoard her snack credits so she doesn’t have to use cash or burn thru her credits, so when we’re walking thru the parks and we stop to get snacks and drinks, which, with a 4 year old and a Hungry Man, is often, she’ll put on this big show…”Well, I don’t really have the money, but I’ll use our snack credits for dinner tonight and Horace and I will split a bottle of water and a pretzel for lunch”…so of course, I feel bad and I buy them each a bottle of water and a pretzel, or whatever it is we’re getting. Now, I’m all about family and sharing, etc…but nine days of this garbage can really grate on a person’s nerves, ESPECIALLY when after they down the free food I just bought for them, go into the nearest gift shop and buy souvenirs for the UPS man and her hair stylist!! I continue to remind myself not to do this again…why don’t I listen??? Where the heck is Jiminy Cricket when I need him?? So anyway, where this is going, is that Cruella has been saying that she was going to rent a car and go to Wal-Mart and an outlet mall that “So-and-So” (you know, I’m really getting to hate these people) told her to go to so she can get cheap Disney stuff. Now, I ever so gently ask, as we don’t want Mt. Cruella to erupt, why would you spend the money on a rental car, yada yada yada…every day she’s said that she’s going to go and do that tomorrow. GREAT, I think (and sing to myself)…Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I love ya Tomorrow!! You’re only a day away…..”

Will tomorrow EVER come?!?! I’m really looking forward to having a free day. Originally she’d been talking of going to Sea World because “So-and-So” told her that if she went to Florida, she HAD to visit Sea World. I emphatically told her I would not go…I’m not leaving Disney property…simple as that. BUT she is insisting on going to Wal-Mart. So each day I try to plant the thought in her head just to get rid of her for a day, and I make my plans clear, that while she’s doing that, we’re going to Downtown Disney or whatever it was that I said.



So now, remember the above paragraph students, you will be quizzed on it later…Ok? So moving on…



I try and get Cruella motivated to go to Animal Kingdom, want to get there early, blah blah blah…it is now clear to me, that she has no intention of going anywhere early. Nope. Horace is still sleeping and now, it’s show time. I get the preview of all the little chotchki things she bought the last 2 days, along with a big narrative of who each item is for. I finally excuse myself and say I’m going to get ready to go…I hear a low growl behind me but do not turn around to acknowledge it…it’s better that way. I get my boys up and moving and DS, bless his little heart, wants his aunt and uncle…somehow he ends up in their room and I go get him to get him dressed and it was like walking into a bar when I went into their room…like a foggy day and man, did it stink…And the room itself? A pig-sty…Now, I may be a weirdo, but I clean my room each morning before Mousekeeping comes to clean it. DH doesn’t lift a finger, which stresses me out, but I make the beds, rinse out coffee cups, put all of my makeup, etc away, put dirty towels on the edge of tub and leave a cutely decorated envelope with $5 each day and I write a simple thank you note on it. Cruella, come to find out…for the last 2 days has left her “privacy please” sign out so she wouldn’t have to tip…Nice, huh? This infuriates me…her bathroom is disgusting, the table where the coffee maker is, is covered with spilled coffee, sugar and other gooey stuff…and today she decides that she’s going to leave Mousekeeping $2 because she’s out of towels…I try a little psychology on her and mention that I want to finish straightening up my room before we go and then she uses the old “I’m on vacation” line again…I don’t even want to discuss it any more…



As you can probably guess, it’s now much later than I wanted to leave and Cruella insists we wait for them to go to the bus stop…I swear, she walked slower and slower each time just to make me angry…I finally get EVERYONE together and we go up and over to the exit to the bus stop and I hear, “Wait just a second…I just want to look at something”…and she’s gone…where? In the Mercantile, where she visits twice a day religiously…That’s it – I’m not waiting…they’re old enough to find their way to the bus stop and they know where we're heading - let’s go boys! Well, Karma spit on me today, because the bus took forever to get there and by the time it did, Cruella had already caught up with us and don’t think I didn’t get the horns and the hairy eyeball for “ditching” them. If only such a dream world existed, right?



Well, we get to AK and it’s mobbed…EE preview and all that, and we walk into the park amidst complaints of yet another day of walking and waiting in lines. I swear I am going to snap by the end of this trip! I want a photo pass of my family in front of the tree of life and Cruella and Horace hop right in…Yeah, sure – great…and don’t worry – I’ll buy the pictures…I know you don’t have much money…I get one of DS alone too - the Photopass photographer made the mistaking of asking DS to say "cheese", which automatically makes him do this "I'm pooping" face...

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So after the pictures, we’re barely over the bridge and now they want to stop for breakfast…They nickel and dime breakfast, whining just loud enough for me to hear that they’re going to split a bagel and I simply walk away…not falling for that one again. By the time we get to the safari, it’s hot – very hot and most of the animals have gone into hiding…but we had good seats and the few we saw were great. We got to see the new baby elephant and got some good giraffe sightings too...

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We walked the expedition trail – is that what it’s called? You know what I mean, when you get off the ride…? I don't have my park map handy to check my facts. And we wandered on to catch (luckily, because certain people were dragging their feet) the Festival of the Lion King…can’t even tell you how much I enjoyed that…DS sang Hakuna Matata for the rest of our trip…too cute…And, hang on to your hats people – Cruella actually enjoyed it too!!!

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After that, we wandered around a bit – this was actually our first time to AK and doing it with reluctant walkers on a hot day isn’t the most productive way to do Disney. Am I right? Am I right?? We hit a few more areas and again, Cruella is hungry…all that walking on only a half a bagel…well, that won’t get you very far…they insist on walking the entire park looking for a nice, sit down restaurant…I tried explaining…but who listens to me? We end up at McDonalds. I told everyone that we had dinner ressie’s at Rainforest and they shouldn’t fill up. I reminded Cruella that RC isn’t in the Dining Plan and she complained of course, but when I told her that they could go back to the hotel and eat and we'd stay, she was fine with it….YAY!! We did a couple of rides, none of which Cruella and Horace rode…they simply waited for us, following us around (like 2 slow old dogs that complained a lot). We – my boys and me – did Kali and got SOAKED, but it was a hot day so it was great…I had a change of clothes for DS, luckily and decided to skip the ponchos as the few people that were coming off the ride were practically bone dry. Everyone must have been over at EE because we walked right on Kali and could have done so several times in a row…Since Cruella was going to be hanging out – just waiting for us – I asked her to take a picture of us on Kali…sure, sure…no problem. Nope – she forgot…went shopping…bought a beach towel for the mailman or somebody. :confused3 Ah well…such is life…we meander thru the park and catch the Jammin' Jungle Parade and she lightens up a bit and DS is LOVING it…the characters seemed to pay him special attention so it was cute to see.

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Now it rains a bit as the parade ends so we seek shelter and here they go…they’re not walking any more until they have a cigarette…Well, there’s no smoking area right here, let’s go find one…Nope…not good enough…right here is fine. I take my son and we stroll, chatting about how Timon remembered him and came to say Hi to him during the parade. We did end up doing Dinosaur at some point that day, but I can’t remember if it was before or after the parade…It may have been after the McDonalds. The day was a blur of wandering around and shopping. Cruella bought herself a lovely hat, as did I, which I still really like to this day! Dinosaur was a bit of a rough ride and frightened DS a bit, but afterward he loved it. I enjoyed it too, but left there feeling like I needed a chiropractor. Man I hate getting old…:sad2:


I love this park…looking forward to going back and enjoying it…loved seeing the animals and just wandering around…I think we’ll pay a visit to the AKL as well in December…I’d like to see that too. The Tree of Life was mind blowing. The level of detail was incredible and all through the park it’s evident that yet again, Disney has not missed a trick.

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Just once before I die I hope to work on a construction project at a Disney park…I would imagine that it’s probably pretty stressful, with a tight schedule, but to someday be able to say that I worked on something that millions of people will flock to see…that’s job satisfaction!! Can you imagine being a part of the crew that worked on the Tree of Life?

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We went into It’s Tough to be a Bug…what a fabulous show!! Gives all new meaning to 3D…loved it, loved it and screamed like a 5 year old little girl when I thought there was a bug on me!


Oh and we really got to use Pal Mickey today and it amazed me how smart the little guy is…especially as you enter the park where the various birds, etc. are…he was right on the money and I enjoyed hearing him!! Carried him for the rest of our trip. Did I mention that I actually bought him for DS? I told myself that he was just too young to appreciate him!



Ok, off to Rainforest Café we go. Oh boy – a gift shop. The janitor at her son’s old high school is probably next on her gift list…wonder what she’ll buy him!?!?



As we sit and get menu’s, they start…oh, it’s awfully expensive…I suppose we could split something…This crap is getting so old…we need a separate booth just to hold all her shopping bags, but they’re going to split an appetizer for dinner? Fine with me…I’m on vacation and I’m going to eat like it! DS has to go potty so he and I go and take the walk…when we get back, the atmosphere has changed at the table…it’s lighter…Cruella and Horace now have large tropical drinks in front of them…they’re ordering all kinds of appetizers…Now I’m happy for them that they decided to splurge…They deserve it! We deserve it too…I was splurging anyway, but since they’re now splurging and ordering the most expensive of everything on the menu…I don’t have to feel guilty for enjoying a night out. Well, it was a long, leisurely dinner and before we knew it, we were the last people in the place. An employee of RC tells us that there’s a WL bus waiting for us…wow, how’s that for service? The bill comes and it’s nearly $300.00 for the 5 of us…did you all catch that? I said the FIVE OF US…Out comes DH’s Disney Visa and he pays for dinner…Cruella is now in a great mood…a few drinks, an expensive FREE dinner…wouldn’t you be too?? Apparently they cried the blues about this place not being on dining plan and not having any money…must’ve been while I was in the ladies’ room…



We get back to the hotel and before we put DS to bed I tell the others that DS and I are going to the beach to watch the EWP. Each night I’ve wanted to and no on else has, so I am just going to go by myself. I watched it with MY mother years and years ago, and now DS would watch it with me. It was a major deciding factor for me when choosing hotels. I love the EWP…always have and always will. The others grudgingly follow me to the beach and I fill their heads with stories of being a kid and watching it with my mom and how awesome it is and stuff and Cruella hated it…”That’s IT? I don’t know what the big deal is – I’m going back to my room”…I decide that some people just can not be reasoned with and they head back. I stayed behind on the beach for a few, at this point pretty miserable and fighting back tears. I got myself together and went back to the room and I put DS to bed, and the grown ups decide to hang out a bit. I’m going to have a drink…somehow all of the sodas we bought ended up in Cruella and Horace’s fridge…go figure. I get myself a soda, and mix myself a cocktail and I hear “What the XXXX – are you going to be that XXXXing greedy that you can’t share??! Where’s my drink? I want one too?!” Think again Mousketeers…this time, it’s Horace!! The spineless idiot picks NOW, after a $300 free dinner, and in the mood that I am in, to demand that I share MY liquor with him??! Ok, I’ve bought them Mickey Bars, Turkey Legs, Steak and Seafood dinners….Let me think about it…Ummmm….NO…You cannot have any. You want to have a drink?? Go to the bar…Go to Pleasure Island…How about this – just GO AWAY…I don’t know what to tell ya…I don’t have a square to spare…He got mad and stormed into his room...and stayed there.



Tomorrow’s my birthday…We will be the flag family!!! Hooray!! I am really looking forward to this. We received our letter while we were out telling us to be at the front desk by a certain time…Can’t recall exactly what time it was, but it was early. I remind Cruella and Horace about Flag Family and they complain about the early time, but say they’re looking forward to going. Cruella and I take a walk up to the Mercantile because I wanted to pick up something for my mom and Cruella…well, she’d only been in the store once today and who knows, they may have gotten new merchandise in? Well, we’ll have to look and see. I end up buying my mom a charm bracelet and got one for myself too. I really was enjoying picking out our charms…I wear that bracelet constantly to this day. Cruella decides to get some as well…Notice I said SOME…she bought charm bracelets for quite a few people…the receptionist at work, etc. I remind her not to forget the paper boy with a snarky smirk…she doesn’t get it and asks me, “Should I really get him something?”



Yes, sarcasm is just another service I offer!! :rolleyes1 Unfortunately, my art is just lost on some people. Say goodnight Gracie…another day is done.

[pigletforever]

Welcome back. All I can say is you have the patience of a Saint. I would have unloaded ages ago on them.

[Adi12982]

WOW - I want to give you a hug. I do not know how you put up with all of this, OR why you let you DH pay for them AND why you buy them so many things. . . I would not, actually happened once on a trip I went on, we were paying for everything and they got wet on a ride and decided to buy a $60+ outfit, I drew the line there. . . You are a better person than me!

[Lauralee131]

Well, I’m sitting in the Charolotte, NC airport as I’m typing this…seminar has come and gone and I’ve got a 2 hour layover before I get on my last plane home. I never did get to upload my last entry…our seminars turn out to be gigantic 3 day parties, sandwiched between 2 days of sitting in a freezing ballroom from 8am to 5pm and each night I stayed out wayyyy too late and drank wayyyyy too much and to be honest with you all, I probably couldn’t have even figured out how to turn this laptop on if I wanted to! So I sit here in the Budweiser lounge, drowning my sorrow over my Yankees loss in a Jack and Coke and a really bad pre-made pizza…:drinking1 :drinking1 :drinking1



Ok, so where was I? Oh, MY BIRTHDAY!! :bday: YAY!! My boys are actually up early today and I quickly shower and dress as I wanted to be early for our big Flag Family event…I didn’t even bother bugging Cruella and Horace…they knew what time we had to be upstairs in the lobby so I figured they’d be there…I dress DS and I in our Magical Gathering sweatshirts as it’s pretty cold out this morning and we get ready to head up to the lobby. As we’re getting ready to walk out the door, the phone rings…I answer it to hear my mother singing Happy Birthday to me. I immediately got choked up. How sweet of her to call me all the way in Florida for my birthday! What a nice surprise…finally, slightly choked up turned to tears. Maybe because it had been such a bad week so far (for the most part), and partly because hearing her voice while I was back at Disney World brought back a flood of memories. I don’t know, but what I did know was I loved her for it. I chatted with her for a few minutes and she said she’d let me go as she knew we had plans, but wanted to make sure that she got to speak with me. Love you for that, Mommy! Ok, so I gather my head together and up to the lobby we go! Unfortunately I didn’t write down the wonderful CM’s names from this great time, but I appreciated their spending time with us…they were friendly and informative, giving us all kinds of behind the scenes tours and stories of this beautiful hotel…and then we made the big walk up to the roof. It’s windy and chilly, but the view is spectacular…each way you turn you can see the parks and beyond.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/CastleFromRoof.jpg


http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/RaisingFlag.jpg
The castle looked beautiful from up above the trees, and we began the flag flying…we heard the background of each flag and got to hook them on the ropes and raise them…DS loved it and eventually let me help him with one. Notice the rope around his foot (below) - that could've been hairy!

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/100_1542.jpgThey told us, make sure when you go down towards the boat, to stop and take a picture of the flags and you can tell your friends that you raised them…good piece of advice…I probably wouldn’t have thought to do that.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/FlagFamily.jpg
When we were done with the last flag, they took some pictures of us and then when we got back downstairs they gave us a really nice certificate to keep…and guess what? As we got back down to the lobby, there’s Cruella coming out of the Mercantile…uh oh – I think she looks mad…Yep, she definitely looks mad…I got a hard time for leaving without them and pretty much said well, you didn’t seem to crazy about getting up and out so early and we had to be here at a certain time and you didn’t show up…Too bad, how sad…So, I try to get everyone to get moving so we can get out to the MK so I can pick up my birthday button and get a decently early start for a change, but no…Cruella said we need to stop back at the room first…UGH…FINE…just make it quick! We walked into our room to drop off our certificate and stuff and now DH is stalling…I’m getting frustrated…he said that Cruella needed to do something and we had to wait. Uh uh, no way…let’s go – and I’m on my way out the door…he distracts me for a minute and Cruella slithers in thru the patio door all in a panic and says we need to wait for just a few minutes, she’s waiting for something…I can see that she’s anxious and getting mad…Great. Here we go again…with that, a knock on my door comes…Cruella looks excited and tells me to answer it….when I do, a lovely CM is there with a big card and a bunch of balloons and wishes me a happy birthday…I open it up to see a picture of Mickey and the gang and all the characters signed it and wrote little messages on it!! Oh no, here come the water works again!!! Cruella reappears with a box with a postcard taped to it – a birthday present!! YAY!! I hope there isn’t a severed head or a dalmation coat in there or something!! I open it up and it turns out to be the backpack that I’ve been eyeing in the Mercantile all week and haven’t wanted to buy for myself…how sweet…Maybe Sybill has left the building!! I thank her profusely with hugs and kisses and then again try and gather the group to head to the park…NO...they all want to have breakfast now…Fine, I think, she bought me a present and look – it’s nearly 10am and she hasn’t bitten my head off yet, ok, let’s go have a good breakfast…I suggest we head to Chef Mickey’s but they insist on eating at Whispering Canyon…they’re hungry and have to eat right now, before they go anywhere…I had no idea I was being set up…


We were in the middle of eating breakfast when our server announces to whole place that it’s my birthday…a round of applause comes out of our fellow diners, I thank them, and am a little embarrassed…that wasn’t too bad though, I think…but then…he proceeds to tell the entire restaurant that I’m insisting that I’m 29 today and because I lied in, of all places, Walt Disney World, I now have to ride a stick pony around the restaurant singing happy birthday to myself…
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/Embarrassing.jpg
Well, somehow I managed to get the courage…thanks to the applause and cheering and flying napkins, so I do it…well, I try to do it, but I’m so embarrassed and laughing that I probably sounded like Cameron Diaz in the karaoke bar in My Best Friend’s Wedding…
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/HBSongRide.jpg
who knows, but because I didn’t sing it loud enough, I now had to ride the pony all around the lobby, and sing it again, as loud as I possibly could…Oh great – hey look, a whole busload of Magical Express riders is now in the lobby checking in…GULP…well, I managed to do it, still laughing just as hard and as loud as before, but ended up having a great time and got a pony express certificate for my efforts, and finally everyone else sang to ME for a change! We got back to eating breakfast, enjoying the horror of the poor family who asked for ketchup and then DS got to have his little pony ride around the restaurant and then got to take the oath not to go to Universal Studios…cute…good stuff! They picked Cruella to hand out the pony express certificates to the kids and she actually enjoyed it and didn’t kick any of them or yell at them…Guess it’s going to be a good day!:dancer:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/FlagsRaised.jpg



Ok, finally we get to MK, get a stroller and I get my birthday button!! DS and I got our pictures taken with Goofy and everywhere we wandered people wished me a happy birthday…I tried to get everyone together for a photopass shot, but they ditched me and so I got my picture taken alone. The heck with them all! It’s all about me today anyway, right?

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/DisneyPhotoImage17.jpg

We cruised thru MK, doing the jungle cruise, which DS LOVED by the way. He got to sit up front, but darn it – they wouldn’t let him drive…he only pouted for a minute though (Thanks again Mr. Southwest McDreamy).
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/JungleCruise-1.jpg
I still really enjoy that ride and DS loved seeing the animals. He was absolutely amazed that we were able to get that close to them! It’s a classic and a “must-do” if you ask me – I ride this one every time. We did the Tiki Room and although it was cute “under new management”, I think I prefer the old one. We finally got to POTC and DS went bananas…loved it, loved it, can’t tell you how much. He did a little happy dance and sang "Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life For ME!!"
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/ExitStageLeft.jpg


Since we had PS’s at the Yachtsman for dinner and then an Illuminations cruise afterward, we decide to head to Epcot. We got to sit in the front of the monorail, (Cruella and Horace didn’t want to? What’s up with that? Doesn’t everyone want to? Just once?) and Michael proceeded to pout…why? Because he couldn’t drive…silly boy he won’t give up!
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/100_0095.jpg
I had just one thing I insisted on doing at Epcot – don’t care what else we do…I want to ride Soarin’. We go straight there after getting a stroller and there’s a decent sized wait so we grab Fast Passes…The grumbling over waiting in lines and walking are starting to get louder and louder…FINE…we’ll hit it later on…actually it was a good thing, because we really did need to start heading to dinner to make it on time…We get there and get seated right away and proceed to order appetizers…we ordered these scallops that were HUGE…too big and not cooked all the way thru…I nibbled the outside edges and gave up…they didn’t taste as yummy as the menu sounded…Dinner itself was delicious…the drinks were strong and going down fast. Desserts were awesome and gorgeous…it was almost a shame to eat them...and silly me – I forgot to take pictures of them before we dove in. They really were pretty enough to take pictures of! As we proceed to pay our check the waiter comes back and tells us that we don’t have enough TS credits left on our dining plan! WHAT?!?! I insist there must be some mistake and he apologizes and says that he must insist on having a credit card…Tonight’s dinner bill came out to - GULP - $325.00…Yep, $325.00. Know why? Well, a large part of that was my drinks and oh yeah, there was the 2 additional leeches attached to my bill…YEP…once again, they don’t have enough money on them but will pay us back…Great…yeah, I’d appreciate that. We head to the marina for our Illuminations cruise and yep – I paid for that too - $250, but they’d split that with me as well…In my head I kept hearing “I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for 2 filet mignon dinners today”…What happened to splitting a bottle of water and a pretzel?



Anyway, we board the Breathless – gorgeous boat, by the way and the driver, whose name escapes me was awesome…Cruella and Horace sat in the back as there was only 2 of them and 3 of us…we all got blankets for the ride and set off on our lovely “pre-show tour”…now, with the boat engine and all, Cruella and Horace apparently couldn’t hear the guy talking to us…they weren’t missing anything…DH and our tour guide were just shooting the breeze – guy talk – engines, boats in general with the occasional sightseeing jargon thrown in. The F bombs now are FLYING from the back of the boat directly at the driver because Cruella can’t hear…This was her worst case of potty mouth yet, and to make it worse, there were the occasional “HELLLOOOO”, “HELLLOOOO, there are 2 other paying customers on this XXXXXX boat!!” It only got worse from there…the driver sped up a few times to show us what the boat could do and as it turns out, the faster we went, the faster the F bombs flew…because now, she wasn’t just mad, she was cold too…I tried to tune her out, didn't work. Tried to explain to her that she wasn't missing anything - that DH and the boat driver were talking about boats, etc...and that just made her madder....I finally decided that the only way to shut her up would be to somehow get her overboard....but how? Hmmm...wonder how this boat corners at high speeds? I ask the driver to demonstrate and he did!! Cruella is now SHRIEKING, occassionally hitting high notes that only dogs could hear, but she was staying put in that seat and not going anywhere. I feel bad when I realize my plan won't work and ask the driver to slow down, that our DSIL/DBIL are cold. He slows down and circles back around and we're now getting our tour...I end up relaying his comments to our other occupants to try and shut her up. We finally get to our Illuminations viewing location and we're given soda and snacks...By this time, Horace is sound asleep, head all the way back, mouth open, catching flies and snoring...you can just feel the heat coming out of Cruella...Ironic as she's continually complaining that she's cold. Illuminations starts and it's totally worth the $125 for my half of the boat for this viewing location. Even Cruella liked it. The driver dropped us up by International Gateway at the end and we tipped him well - he was really friendly and very good with DS...much like Mr. Southwest McDreamy, he gave Michael a shot at driving the boat...that smile on my child's face was definitely worth $50.
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/IlluminationsFW.jpg

It's EMH at Epcot tonight and we walk around a bit, but DS is absolutely exhausted...we try and talk Cruella and Horace into staying and enjoying the World Showcase, but they didn't want to try getting back alone so they tagged along. Great...Happy Birthday to me...

Oh, and for you regular readers out there...Yep, I got stiffed on the cost of the boat, too...:sad2:

Good night Mousketeers...Thanks for tuning in...More to come!

[sherreis]

Welcome back. I can't believe these people. They're leaving you with some pretty steep bills. You could've had another trip for you with what you've been spending. Loved when you had the boat go faster.

[bekkiz]

You look so happy raising the flag and being on Main Street. I truely hope that there were enough happy moments to offset to evilness that is your SIL.

Thank you for sharing your cautionary tale, and I hope you have a much better time in December (we'll be then too, the 2nd to the 10th!)

[Lauralee131]

Welcome back. All I can say is you have the patience of a Saint. I would have unloaded ages ago on them.

Thanks Pigletforever...it's good to be back! You know you're addicted to the Disboards when you can't even go on a business trip without thinking about what you're missing on the boards! :confused3

I don't know why I didn't just SNAP...but it was hard...they were right in the room next door and my son was around most of the time, he didn't need to see/hear that at Disney World...I figured that things would have gotten even worse and even more uncomfortable and I didn't want him to have those kinds of memories for his very first trip...he loves his aunt dearly and was so thrilled that they were there, I couldn't just ruin that for him.

The sacrifices we make for our childen, eh? :guilty:

[Lauralee131]

WOW - I want to give you a hug. I do not know how you put up with all of this, OR why you let you DH pay for them AND why you buy them so many things. . . I would not, actually happened once on a trip I went on, we were paying for everything and they got wet on a ride and decided to buy a $60+ outfit, I drew the line there. . . You are a better person than me!

Thanks for tuning in again Adi12982! Appreciate the thought! :hug: Well I've definitely learned from my mistakes and it will never happen again, that's for sure! I actually felt bad for them for awhile there...Can you believe that?!?! :confused3

[Lauralee131]

Welcome back. I can't believe these people. They're leaving you with some pretty steep bills. You could've had another trip for you with what you've been spending. Loved when you had the boat go faster.

Thanks Sherri! I was kind of enjoying that moment on the boat too! Wish you could have seen her hanging on for dear life!! It was awesome!! :rotfl2:

[Lauralee131]

You look so happy raising the flag and being on Main Street. I truely hope that there were enough happy moments to offset to evilness that is your SIL.

Thank you for sharing your cautionary tale, and I hope you have a much better time in December (we'll be then too, the 2nd to the 10th!)

Thanks for the kind words, bekkiz! They are very much appreciated. :hug: I'm soooo looking forward to December! We're staying at the Poly (the 2nd to the 9th)...we should look for each other!!

[Nurse_Mommy4]

OMG, the nerve of some people! :confused3

I can't even imagine being stuck with large bills like that, over and over again.
I probably would have lost it.

Can't wait for the rest! :thumbsup2

[DisneyMissy318]

Glad you are back from your trip! Caught up with all of the antics this morning - all I can say is What Nerve your SIL has!

I would have prepared an itemized list and presented to her with attached receipts! If you haven't already - Christmas is just around the corner - you could print it out in Disney Font and wrap it in a present!

Was there a mistake with the TS credits - I think that is my fear! Yikes!

Anxiously awaiting the rest!

~M~
Melissa
Mom2Madi

[sherreis]

Glad you are back from your trip! Caught up with all of the antics this morning - all I can say is What Nerve your SIL has!

I would have prepared an itemized list and presented to her with attached receipts! If you haven't already - Christmas is just around the corner - you could print it out in Disney Font and wrap it in a present!




Love that idea! :rotfl:

[MainStMandy]

OMG your trip report rocks. My ex-husband and I took friends with us a couple years ago...disaster!! I just thought it would be fun to show them Disney the right way...let's just say our vacation habits are a bit different...They took the wrong flight, ended up arriving 12 hours later than they should have, and the wife of my dear friend has sprained her ankle and DIDN'T TELL US TILL SHE GOT THERE!! We wasted our first day getting her a wheelchair...I feel for you!

[aries1980]

I just spent the last hour reading from the start. I dont know how youve done it so far.. very good trip report by the way too, Love to comment more but must go pick uop the dh from work. Will check in aagain, cant wait to see what happens next.

[Lauralee131]

OMG, the nerve of some people! :confused3

I can't even imagine being stuck with large bills like that, over and over again.
I probably would have lost it.

Can't wait for the rest! :thumbsup2

Thanks Nurse_Mommy4...I can't believe that I kept my cool...For a while I felt bad that maybe they didn't have the money or something and maybe I somehow sucked them into going and they couldn't say they couldn't afford it? :confused3 Who knows. But as far as the attitude and the behavior of hers/theirs go? That was simply inexcuseable and unacceptable, especially considering where we were. Who needs to be like that at Disney World of all places?!! I think I finally came to the realization that in the end, they ruined their own trip, which is worse than ruining someone else's...they spent all that money to be miserable. It is what you make of it and they never even gave it a chance to just be happy and enjoy themselves for 9 stinkin' days...their loss...

I can at least laugh about them and try to throw them overboard behind their backs!! :thumbsup2

Thanks for reading...I'll try and get more done ASAP...

[Lauralee131]

Glad you are back from your trip! Caught up with all of the antics this morning - all I can say is What Nerve your SIL has!

I would have prepared an itemized list and presented to her with attached receipts! If you haven't already - Christmas is just around the corner - you could print it out in Disney Font and wrap it in a present!

Was there a mistake with the TS credits - I think that is my fear! Yikes!

Anxiously awaiting the rest!

~M~
Melissa
Mom2Madi

Thanks Missy! You just can't take some people anywhere! LOVE that idea by the way! Had me rolling!! :rotfl2:

Yes, there was a mistake with the TS credits...we called and checked on it when we got back and the front desk was able to the next day and we had plenty to spare. We were so freaked out that I cancelled the Luau, thinking that we were all out of credits, seeing as I'd already had more than enough expensive dinners, if you know what I mean! ;)

Thanks for reading - I'll get some more out as soon as I can!

[Lauralee131]

OMG your trip report rocks. My ex-husband and I took friends with us a couple years ago...disaster!! I just thought it would be fun to show them Disney the right way...let's just say our vacation habits are a bit different...They took the wrong flight, ended up arriving 12 hours later than they should have, and the wife of my dear friend has sprained her ankle and DIDN'T TELL US TILL SHE GOT THERE!! We wasted our first day getting her a wheelchair...I feel for you!

Thanks MainStMandy...good knowing there are others who can sympathise with that whole "Gotta laugh to keep from crying" vibe I had going!!

There's yet even more antics to come as soon as I can get it out...I have a lot of work to catch up on from being away, but will hammer it out as soon as I can.

Thanks again so much for reading!!

[Lauralee131]

I just spent the last hour reading from the start. I dont know how youve done it so far.. very good trip report by the way too, Love to comment more but must go pick uop the dh from work. Will check in aagain, cant wait to see what happens next.

Hey aries! Welcome to my nightmare! Thanks for reading! I appreciate it...misery loves company! :rotfl:

There were a few good times, but we all know that it's the bad ones that always stick in our heads up in the forefront, right! And I guess the drama makes for good reading!

Thanks again for reading...I'll get some more out as soon as I can!

[Eeyore's Tiara]

I leave for a week and come back to all of this! Wow, you've been busy! :thumbsup2

I am truly sympathizing with you about this trip. :sad2: But at least you got to see Kelly Ripa and her dh. :teeth: Why is it that when people are being extremelly difficult, they don't want to go their own way and let you have any peace? It seems like the worse they're wound up the more they refuse to split up for the day. :rolleyes:

My dh was so frustrated he said we were coming back without anyone with us this next year. Hey, did you catch the next year part? I've converted him... :rotfl: He'd never been to Disney before this, but he enjoyed himself when we managed to have alone time. :teeth:

Your TR makes me wonder how you are getting along with your DSIL and DBIL at this point in time. Are you on speaking terms? Are you just going to forgive them the money to salvage whats left of your relationship with them? And did the hotel ever say anything about their smoking in the room?

[DebIreland]

Wow! GREAT report! I love it! Although at times my heart was breaking for you having to put up with that pair. Disney World trips are so precious, it's just horrendous when someone sabotages a second of them. I'm angry on your behalf :furious: How come your hands didn't involuntarily reach to trottle her? lol You are a saint! I was so relieved when you and your two guys got some time to yourselves.

Nope – she forgot…went shopping…bought a beach towel for the mailman or somebody.
:teeth:

I remind her not to forget the paper boy with a snarky smirk…she doesn’t get it and asks me, “Should I really get him something?”
:lmao: Too funny!

Your little boy is so cute - that photo of him sulking on the monorail is just adorable. That's one to blow up to life-size for his 21st birthday! :thumbsup2

Can't wait to hear more. You, your DH and your boy make a lovely looking family. :goodvibes

[krismom]

Awwww- I'm at the end already?! You are seriously making me reconsider ever traveling my husband's family. My family, of course, does Disney right! Anxiously awaiting more...
PS- Just curious, did the Ripa family have a plaid vested tour guide or did they wait in lines like us regular folk? (my respect for her hangs in the balance!)

[DawnA401]

I am really enjoying your report. Maybe next time I could come with u, I would like some free meals too.... :)

[Lauralee131]

:hug: I leave for a week and come back to all of this! Wow, you've been busy! :thumbsup2

I am truly sympathizing with you about this trip. :sad2: But at least you got to see Kelly Ripa and her dh. :teeth: Why is it that when people are being extremelly difficult, they don't want to go their own way and let you have any peace? It seems like the worse they're wound up the more they refuse to split up for the day. :rolleyes:

My dh was so frustrated he said we were coming back without anyone with us this next year. Hey, did you catch the next year part? I've converted him... :rotfl: He'd never been to Disney before this, but he enjoyed himself when we managed to have alone time. :teeth:

Your TR makes me wonder how you are getting along with your DSIL and DBIL at this point in time. Are you on speaking terms? Are you just going to forgive them the money to salvage whats left of your relationship with them? And did the hotel ever say anything about their smoking in the room?

Thanks ET...I've still got a few days left to post and have to get back at it...I tend to get wrapped up every where else on the Disboards and forget all about finishing my TR...going to try and work on it today. Thanks for the sympathy - it is much appreciated! :hug: Nothing some shock therapy and time on the Disboards venting won't fix though! Congrats for converting your DH!! Mine is very much looking forward to going back in December...and just the 3 of us!

We (DSIL/DBIL) are back on speaking terms...how could we not be? We don't have a lot of family and were SOOOO close prior....but, it's not the same. DSIL used to talk on the phone pretty much daily now it's every week to 2 weeks we catch up, but definitely not the same....there's some kind of invisible wall there now. We weren't speaking when we departed the World and didn't for a couple of months afterwards and it was as if the trip never happened. We've never spoken of it since - in fact, I haven't even seen the pictures she took...she hasn't offered and I haven't asked.

And no, the hotel never said anything about their smoking...although I would imagine the people occupying the room after they left probably did!

[Lauralee131]

Your little boy is so cute - that photo of him sulking on the monorail is just adorable. That's one to blow up to life-size for his 21st birthday! :thumbsup2



Thanks Deb! How'd you know I was going to use that sulking shot as future embarrassment?!?! :rotfl:

I have a few that I'm saving for future special occasions...first girlfriend, wedding, etc...

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/THEMONEYSHOT.jpg


And of course some of these pictures will come with parenting advice for him, like:

Never turn your back for a second while your baby is eating...

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/NeverTurnYourBack.jpg

And to panic when you think your child is occupied at the kitchen table and you hear "I look just like Daddy"...again, never turn your back - even for a second...

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/JustLikeDad.jpg

:rotfl2: Ah yes...I'm definitely stashing these away for later!! LOL, but anyway, I'm getting away from myself! Thank you for reading...I don't know why I didn't throttle her either...Several times I considered it...but her behavior was bad enough...I didn't want to sink to her level!!! ;)

[Lauralee131]

Awwww- I'm at the end already?! You are seriously making me reconsider ever traveling my husband's family. My family, of course, does Disney right! Anxiously awaiting more...

DON'T DO IT - SAVE YOURSELF!!!! :rotfl2:




PS- Just curious, did the Ripa family have a plaid vested tour guide or did they wait in lines like us regular folk? (my respect for her hangs in the balance!)

The Ripa family did have a plaid vested tour guide...the guide even pushed the kids' stroller for them...which I had a hard time understanding the need for that...it wasn't like she was signing autographs or being friendly to fans or anything...:rolleyes1

[Lauralee131]

I am really enjoying your report. Maybe next time I could come with u, I would like some free meals too.... :)

Good one, you got me there!!! :rotfl2: I totally deserved that!!

[Lauralee131]

I decided that today was the day I was going to go and tour SSR…I’ve been wanting to buy into DVC for years and I’m going to do it this year. Yessireee…this is the year…right before we left for WDW, we were informed that my job is transferring us to North Carolina…that means we’re going to be selling our house…we have a ton of equity in it and this is our chance!!! Yipppeeeee!!!! The van will pick us up and then drop us off anywhere we want afterwards…maybe we’ll just veg out by the pool today…Hmmm…I think I’ll try and talk Cruella into going to Wal-Mart to buy her Disney souvenirs! Then I hear it…”We’re coming too…maybe we’ll buy one…” I think, ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? You can’t even buy your own food!!! Ok, so I know that they won’t buy one, so why should I care if they come? And then I hear that So-And-So, you all remember So-And-So, right?? Well, So-And-So has a timeshare somewhere in Orlando and of course, it’s the best so Cruella is going to scout out a Disney timeshare just for the heck of it, because if they do buy one, it’s going to be where So-And-So says to buy. Phew…lucking out there!!! I sarcastically ask why then is she slumming with us at the WL when she could be staying at So-And-So’s timeshare…What’s that? Oh – they only have it for a certain week during the year? Oh yes, I say, So-And-So is brilliant…that’s far better than buying a bunch of points that you can use any time of the year…It’s much better to be locked in to the same week each year…spontaneity is so over-rated!! So off we go…we arrive at SSR and are given coffee and donuts, etc. while we look around a bit…I wonder to myself if Cruella will shove some in her purse so she can have yet another free meal later too….hee hee…But she surprises me and doesn’t…but true to form, she criticizes the coffee…even though it’s free, it should taste better she says…WHATEVER…:confused3 It's pretty sad when even FREE isn't good enough...



We meet Bernard, who remembers speaking to me on the phone last year he says. Yeah, sure I think…you probably just searched for my name in the computer or something, but he mentions my “unusual” name and recalls a joke I made about my last name…Wow – is it really possible? :thumbsup2 Ok, I like you already…now where do I sign? We get ready to tour the units and surprisingly, there was absolutely no pressure and no sales pitch. He is pleasant and Cruella reverts to her real estate agent persona and makes sure that he knows she is an agent…even walking to the units, she announces loudly that she’s used to giving these kinds of tours and it’s so unusual to be on the other end…Bernard must not have heard because she scurried up to his side and said it even louder. He was very polite to her but he must’ve sensed that she wasn’t going to buy…his answers were all directed to me and DH and around her. Of course, she totally manipulated the conversations throughout our tour of the units, but I was able to squeak in my few questions. DH and I decide that we’re going to get either a 1 or 2 bedroom and the only issue we now have is that buying at this time will show on our credit report and we’re going to have to get a mortgage in our new location in a few weeks. Bernard assures me that buying into Disney Vacation Club is a private mortgage transaction and I should have no problems and gives me a name/number to call in member finance to have that explained to me in more detail. We return to the office and get some more details and then we’re off to the ice cream parlor and wait for the van to return to pick us up. DS and I enjoy some ice cream while everyone else goes outside for a smoke. Cruella had been complaining that she needed one so I happily said “You go ahead, we’ll be in here”…



We decide to head back to WL when the van comes and I start placing subliminal suggestions that Cruella and Horace should get the rental car today…it’s good weather for shopping…Have you gotten anything for the Avon lady yet? Turns out that was the phrase that worked…they go to the front desk to see about getting a car and the boys and I decide that it’s a good pool day…Cruella comes back excitedly saying that she can rent a car for only $21 and that sealed it. We split up, agreeing to catch up that night for dinner and the boys and I get our suits on and head to the pool. The 3 of us had a great time. What a nice, relaxing day. I went back to the room to get my book so I could lounge around and read and Mousekeeping was just finishing up our room…she grabbed my hand and squeezed so hard and thanked me profusely for tips I’d been leaving and I told her that I appreciated the towel animals she’d left and she said that ours was one of the cleanest rooms she’s had and that some, and she nodded her eyes toward the connecting door to Cruella’s room, were so bad that it made her want to cry. I apologized for that and she again squeezed my hand and thanked me over and over again and said how much she appreciated our leaving her a tip each day…What a nice lady she was…and our room was always spotless with a cute little towel animal each day…


I headed back to the pool and we spent most of the day there…DH was happy as he had a day that I was not “dragging him around like a rag doll”, while the MK was silently calling my name, but I resisted and enjoyed a slow day.



Cruella and Horace came back near 4:00…uh oh…she doesn’t look happy…she looks stressed out…Silently I enjoy this…and ask for more details! Turns out that the rental car didn’t cost $21…it ended up costing over $200…I couldn’t help myself…I burst out laughing…she told me that they took the insurance…HA HA HA you did WHAT?!?! :lmao: See – I told you they don’t travel much! I’m loving this…she’s ranting about the cost of the car, making me feel soooo much better about the cost of those meals…But wait, it gets better…She pulls out her Wal-Mart bags…want to know what she bought?? Huh? Do ya?? She pulls out a vacuum packed brick of coffee, a purse and a sheet of Mickey Mouse stickers that she bought for DS with his name on it…I reduce the urge to burst out laughing…She spent over $200 on a rental to car to go to Wal-Mart for $15.00 worth of stuff…I can’t take it…I need to excuse myself…I go next door to my room and laugh hysterically into a pillow so she can’t hear. And I’ll admit it…I laughed so hard that a little pee came out!! :rotfl2: Can you believe that? They came all the way to Walt Disney World to go to Wal-Mart, which is located every 5 miles in New Jersey, to spend $200 on a rental car :car: to buy COFFEE :jumping1: …I’m LOVING this people!!! I compose myself and go back outside where we discuss our plans for the evening…

A knock at our door and DH opens it to see our Mousekeeper there...she is done with her shift and wanted to come and thank him personally as well for our generosity. Can you believe that? What a sweetheart. For those of you not sure about tipping...believe me, it is appreciated by Mousekeepers!!! I thought that was the nicest thing and I made sure before the end of our trip to tell the front desk about what great service we got and how sweet she was...



DS has been asking to go to “Kids Club”, so we decide to sign him up and then head to DTD…we decide to leave at 5:30 and drop off DS on our way to the bus stop. Surprisingly Cruella is not yet ready so I go to drop off DS at kids club and return to our room to get ready to go…Now I’m mad…really, really mad. I’m paying $10 an hour for the Cub’s Den to sit in my room and wait for Cruella. It’s now after 6:30 and I flip out. That’s it, we’re leaving…you can meet us there…Buh Bye…:wave2: All of a sudden they emerge…funny how threats work…I think they do this on purpose…we get out to the bus stop and catch the DTD bus just in time…Cruella and Horace sit across from us and I decide to work some more subliminal “ditching”…I tell Cruella that this is the perfect night for them to go shopping in DTD and DH and I will head to Pleasure Island. I have my cell phone on me, call me when you get to P.I. and we’ll tell you where to meet us. She said that she thought we’d hit DTD stores with them and I said “Well, if I hadn’t have wasted 2 hours in the hotel waiting for them to get ready while paying for babysitting for DS, I would have, but it’s late and I want to go have a good time. With that, I practically push them off the bus at DTD and you can see the anger on her face…she starts cursing as they get off the bus and I enjoy that moment…it worked, it worked…They stand there on the sidewalk outside our window and I can see her yelling at me…I vaguely hear her favorite 4 letter words and put my hand to my ear, motioning that I can’t hear her and laugh and wave goodbye…DH tells me that was mean…then he hugs me…We head to P.I. and immediately get a couple of drinks upon entering and walk around to decide what to eat for dinner. I love the drinks at P.I. – they’re strong and yummy…we go by the theater where LaNouba is and DH wants to know why we didn’t get tickets for that. I told him that So-And-So didn’t like the show…he growls and we agree that since we’re buying into DVC and will be back soon, that we will go next time. I can see on his face that he’s bummed we’re missing it. We keep drinking and walking and we settle on House of Blues for dinner and there’s a 20 to 30 minute wait so we get a couple of drinks and sit outside...it’s a beautiful night and we enjoy our time together and it passes quickly – soon our table is ready and we head inside.



We enjoy a few more drinks…ok, I do, :drinking1 :drinking1 :drinking1 DH isn’t a big drinker, which works out great for me…permanent designated driver! But anywho…the drinks continue to flow and we have a yummy dinner – try the ribs next time you’re there…they were awesome! After dinner we decided to go and check out the Adventurer’s Club…and what a great decision that was….it was fabulous. We had a great time and again decide to hit this one again next time…It was a really good show, we laughed a lot and once again, Disney has outdone themselves with the details…for example, have you noticed :magnify: the ship in the bottle above the bar? :ssst: I won’t spoil it for those of you who haven’t been, but I highly recommend it and think that it should be seen twice as you’ll spend so much time taking in the surroundings that you may lose a bit of focus during the show. Or maybe it was my buddy Jack Daniels robbing me of my focus. At the end of the show we decided it was time to head back to pick up DS…as much as I would have loved to stay it would have made for a really long night for a little guy. I check my phone – nothing from Cruella and Horace…it was a good night. I had one too many drinks and had the giggles and told DH that he had to go into the Cub’s Den and pick up DS as I couldn’t!! Ok, maybe a little less drinking next time…Naw…it was fun. DS had a great time and was already asking to go back again…Well, OK – if you HAVE TO….how nice to enjoy a grown up night out!!! That’s pretty much all I remember…Tomorrow is MGM day!! YAY!!!!



G’night everyone!!

[sherreis]

I love the part about the rental car! :rotfl:

I would've been fuming if they weren't ready on time while I was paying $10/hr for babysitting. Glad it ended up being a good night for you and your DH. I'm surprised you didn't drink more than you did.

How does Cruella change her personality so abruptly in order to sell houses?

[Lauralee131]

I love the part about the rental car! :rotfl: ?

I KNOW - wasn't that just the BEST!?!? I loved it, loved it, loved it!! :rotfl2: Yes, Virginia - there is a Santa Claus!!



How does Cruella change her personality so abruptly in order to sell houses?

It's amazing, isn't it? I don't know how she does it??? It can't be Pixie Dust, that's for sure...

:teleport: Maybe she transports from one "body-pod" to another...

Things that make you go...."Hmmmmmm"

[ennisb]

Thats has got to be the best bet of shopping I have ever heard. Hey Avon lady I got you a bag of coffee enjoy...

[Alicnwondrln]

your report is great
i cant wait to read more
as for cruella your nicer than I am
i would told her off by now

[Lauralee131]

Thats has got to be the best bet of shopping I have ever heard. Hey Avon lady I got you a bag of coffee enjoy...

:rotfl2: Ya, such a deal for over $200, eh? She must be a heck of a real estate agent!! Hopefully she's not a buyer's agent!!!

[Lauralee131]

your report is great
i cant wait to read more
as for cruella your nicer than I am
i would told her off by now

Thanks for reading...I should have told her off, but them being DH's family - I was kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place...and I would have gone completely ballistic on her and didn't want to sink down to her level...at that point, I just wanted to get thru our vacation and get rid of them...sad, eh? :sad1:

[OhMari]

I started back at the beginning and your TR took almost all day Saturday to read. I've been cleaning, doing laundry and I just pulled my frozen flowers.

No wonder you said this is very therupitic for you, good lord women, you have the heart of a saint.

[MainStMandy]

your report is great
i cant wait to read more
as for cruella your nicer than I am
i would told her off by now

Kel, I laughed so hard when I read this....You and me both!!!

Laurale, good for you!! Having a night off sounds like it made the trip with Cruella a bit easier :)

[Alicnwondrln]

Kel, I laughed so hard when I read this....You and me both!!!

Laurale, good for you!! Having a night off sounds like it made the trip with Cruella a bit easier :)

I know you put in so much work and she wasnt very nice about anything so far but your bday
i would have killed someone for holing me up as much as she did
i would have like :wave2: cya

eta what a sneak sucking up to your DH at rainforest
i would have beed SOO MAD if they cant afford food they shouldnt have gone
pretzels and water i would have bought some and next time at a dinner they complained about food I would have rippe dthose suckers out and been like here ya go
now SHUT IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nurse_Mommy4]

Another great installment (as usual)! :thumbsup2

Looking forward to more! :cool1:

[Lauralee131]

I started back at the beginning and your TR took almost all day Saturday to read. I've been cleaning, doing laundry and I just pulled my frozen flowers.

No wonder you said this is very therupitic for you, good lord women, you have the heart of a saint.

I should get a purple heart for that vacation, huh? Although I finally realized that as bad (and as angry) as I feel for their ruining our vacation, I almost feel bad for them because they couldn't even enjoy Disney World...if you're miserable in Walt Disney World, your "real life" must be pretty pathetic!!! :rotfl2:

Thanks again for continuing to read, OhMari...very much appreciated!!! I'm really lagging in getting it done...I get too wrapped up in everyone else's TR's!! I just spent pretty much all day today reading The Meanest Mama's TR...all SIXTY pages...phew...

[Lauralee131]

Kel, I laughed so hard when I read this....You and me both!!!

Laurale, good for you!! Having a night off sounds like it made the trip with Cruella a bit easier :)

Thanks Mandy...you and Kelly were totally right...I should have just strangled her...Good thing I wasn't drinking Tequila on that trip or I probably would have!!! :drinking:

Yep - having a night off made a huge difference...and I must've turned a corner that day or something...after that afternoon the gloves came off...I wasn't going to let these 2 clowns ruin my family's trip...or any more of it, anyway!

[Lauralee131]

I know you put in so much work and she wasnt very nice about anything so far but your bday
i would have killed someone for holing me up as much as she did
i would have like :wave2: cya

eta what a sneak sucking up to your DH at rainforest
i would have beed SOO MAD if they cant afford food they shouldnt have gone
pretzels and water i would have bought some and next time at a dinner they complained about food I would have rippe dthose suckers out and been like here ya go
now SHUT IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for hanging with me Kelly! You know what killed me was the fact that they were on the dining plan too so you KNOW they could eat every day...I don't know WHAT she was thinking...like she could use her TS credits at a restaurant back in NJ? Who knows...they don't get out much, so maybe they did...

Actually, I clue you in on something...they had credits left on their last day and started an argument with a CM at the front desk...they wanted the money back for the meals they didn't use!! I laughed right in her face when she told me and said, "I forgot - you don't travel much...Good luck with that.." Boy did that make her mad!! :rotfl2:

I'll be posting more details soon!! Thanks again for reading!

[Lauralee131]

Another great installment (as usual)! :thumbsup2

Looking forward to more! :cool1:

Thanks Nurse_Mommy4...I'll be back with more soon!!

[swankybeth]

Great report, looking forward to more. I honestly don't know how the heck you dealt with SIL. I'm getting agita just reading about it! :furious:

[Alicnwondrln]

Thanks for hanging with me Kelly! You know what killed me was the fact that they were on the dining plan too so you KNOW they could eat every day...I don't know WHAT she was thinking...like she could use her TS credits at a restaurant back in NJ? Who knows...they don't get out much, so maybe they did...

Actually, I clue you in on something...they had credits left on their last day and started an argument with a CM at the front desk...they wanted the money back for the meals they didn't use!! I laughed right in her face when she told me and said, "I forgot - you don't travel much...Good luck with that.." Boy did that make her mad!! :rotfl2:

I'll be posting more details soon!! Thanks again for reading!

thats crazy she must be a peice of work
looks like she is missing common sense
wow i cant read to read the rest
:Pinkbounc :rotfl2: :rotfl:

[disneypharm]

I am so sorry that they ruined your family trip. A great TR. Can't wait to read the rest. We had a terrible grand gathering 2 years ago too. NEVER AGAIN. :sad2:

[Lauralee131]

Great report, looking forward to more. I honestly don't know how the heck you dealt with SIL. I'm getting agita just reading about it! :furious:

Thanks Beth...I get agita all over again re-living it! The least I could do is share the love! :rolleyes1

[MainStMandy]

Thanks for hanging with me Kelly! You know what killed me was the fact that they were on the dining plan too so you KNOW they could eat every day...I don't know WHAT she was thinking...like she could use her TS credits at a restaurant back in NJ? Who knows...they don't get out much, so maybe they did...

Actually, I clue you in on something...they had credits left on their last day and started an argument with a CM at the front desk...they wanted the money back for the meals they didn't use!! I laughed right in her face when she told me and said, "I forgot - you don't travel much...Good luck with that.." Boy did that make her mad!! :rotfl2:

I'll be posting more details soon!! Thanks again for reading!
OMG Classic!! Those people help to keep ta's employed!! Can't wait to read more!

[tiggerwannabe]

wow...

Have you ever read DelsWife's original trip report, she also has the sister in law from hell but to her advantage she's not the family member her brother is.

Your writing is wonderful!

I can't wait for more...

so How *did* that DVC decision go?

[rthutchens]

What was the weather like in January? We are planning on going the first week of February and I have no idea what to pack.

[mmmcq]

Lauralee131 you have my sympathy. But your TR just reminds me why I don't ask DH's family to join us.

I'm going to pm you with my story because I don't want to hijack your trip report.....but I know you'll appreciate the details.

[Lauralee131]

I am so sorry that they ruined your family trip. A great TR. Can't wait to read the rest. We had a terrible grand gathering 2 years ago too. NEVER AGAIN. :sad2:

Thanks Disneypharm...I'm glad to know that it's not just me!! :thumbsup2

[Lauralee131]

wow...

Have you ever read DelsWife's original trip report, she also has the sister in law from hell but to her advantage she's not the family member her brother is.

Your writing is wonderful!

I can't wait for more...

so How *did* that DVC decision go?

No - I've never read DelsWife's report, but I'm going to search for it now!! I love that I'm not the only one here that's had their vacation ruined by family members!!

DVC decision is coming up...stay tuned!!! :cool1:

[Lauralee131]

What was the weather like in January? We are planning on going the first week of February and I have no idea what to pack.

The weather was awesome...there were a couple of chilly days, but it warmed up nice in the afternoons...I wore shorts each day but one I think and carried a light jacket for nights...it's hit or miss down there - I'm actually usually there the first week of February and never recall it being overly cold...

Enjoy it!!! :goodvibes

[jw50]

No - I've never read DelsWife's report, but I'm going to search for it now!! I love that I'm not the only one here that's had their vacation ruined by family members!!

DVC decision is coming up...stay tuned!!! :cool1:

www.*************

[Lauralee131]

Today is MGM day! Cruella awakes as a new woman…she’s happy? Why? Doesn’t make sense. My spidey senses aren’t picking anything up…I finally come right out and ask…”Ok, What’s up? :confused3 You’re up early, you’re dressed and actually looking forward to going to MGM…” Ah ha! She comes out with it…she’s on a shopping mission for something she can only get at MGM…So-And-So’s mother collects I Love Lucy stuff and has asked Cruella to get her something while she’s there. She tells me that there’s an I Love Lucy store there and that’s the one place she has to make sure she goes to. An I Love Lucy store, huh? Wow, So-And-So REALLY knows this place well! :rolleyes2 If I had any common sense to me at all, I would have consulted So-And-So before I made my travel plans! :lmao: Tee hee…Anyway, off we go to MGM…DS, DH and I got a quick breakfast at Roarking Forks and surprisingly Cruella and Horace were actually ready to go when we were. I had PS’s for Sci-Fi for lunch and booked us the dining package for Fantasmic, which I was convinced everyone would love. I’m Julie-Your-Cruise-Director here, remember? No one had any input, so I went with my gut and booked the day’s meals. I thought Sci-Fi, although the food isn’t the greatest, would be enjoyable, especially for DS since he loves cars and let’s face it, the place is different. So, in a couple of hours, we’d find out if I was successful in making even the un-happy, happy.



We got to the park fairly early, compared to our last few departures from the hotel and after getting our stroller we cruised up Hollywood Blvd. We no sooner got by Echo Lake when Cruella began her first of many nicotine fits of the day. No wonder we only got to see 4 or 5 things a day…most days were tied up with cigarette and shopping breaks. And of course, she can’t complain about constant walking, while she’s walking so she’s got to come to an abrupt stop, swear up a blue streak, take the time to calm down and then, finally, game on…she can walk again. Good thing there’s no chewing gum sold in the parks…we’d never get anywhere!! :rolleyes1

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/DisneyPhotoImage59.jpg


Ok, so game on…everyone’s finished with their butt breaks and Cruella sent Horace to fetch her some puppies…err, coffee and everyone’s happy. Indiana Jones will be starting soon so I suggest we go see that. Cruella decides that she’s going to go see if she can find the I Love Lucy store and will catch up with us later…Horace is right behind us going to see Indy – he loves the movies…looking forward to the show, but no…Cruella bellows and he must go and hold her purse or something important and manly like that…I wonder how his buddies at work would react when they asked him how he spent his Disney vacation…”Holding my wife’s purse and being her verbal punching bag all week”. :stir:



So DS, DH and I went and saw the Indiana Jones show and we loved it. DH and I have seen it before and DS absolutely loved it. We had great seats and there actually weren’t that many other people in there.

Cruella and Horace were waiting for us when we got out and she didn’t look happy…Yeah, I know – big surprise there…She said “the XXXXXXX I Love Lucy store must’ve XXXXXXX closed because I can’t find the XXXXXXX place anywhere…” You’re right, I said, it must’ve closed, but hey – think of it this way, you actually now know something that So-And-So doesn’t!” You could see it on her face…the look that she was pretty sure that what I had just said was sarcastic, but yet she wasn’t 100% sure…with that I wink at her and simply take off walking…For some reason, we didn’t do Star Tours…I can’t remember why…I took a picture right outside, but for the life of me, I can’t recall why we didn’t go in…We went up through Streets of America and decided to go on the Backlot Tour. That was fun…and I made sure to have Cruella sit on the outside of the tram…I told her that it was so they’d be able to see better…Go ahead, I said, you sit on the outside…we’ve already seen all this stuff so you sit on the outside since it’s your first time…the Karma Gods must’ve been feeling frisky that day because Cruella and Horace got SOAKED when we went through Catastrophe Canyon…I thought it was funny…the people with the small children behind us who had to hear Cruella’s 7 dirty words you can’t say on television were not impressed….:sad2:


We headed down Mickey Avenue to do the Great Movie Ride…and after much grumblings of nicotine needs and potty breaks it seemed like it took almost an hour to get from the Backlot Tour to the Great Movie Ride. Cruella and Horace were still in a snit so at least it was a fairly quiet (if you don’t count F-Bombs) walk. DS really enjoyed the Great Movie Ride. I always do…I know, I know, it’s kind of – what’s the word I’m looking for – kitchy? But I do like it all the same…And I managed to take a picture of my man Neil Diamond’s prints outside! My hands fit perfectly in his, by the way...Neil, if you're reading this...LOVE YOU - CALL ME!!!:wave2:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/100_0228-1.jpg
Say what you want about him…I love him. I don’t know that if I had to pick JUST ONE man for a freebie, that Neil would be on the top of my list, and it's a pretty good sized list, but that man can sing and if you’ve seen him live, you know he’s still got it…I grew up listening to his music and love it to this day. My DS was singing all the words to Sweet Caroline at the age of 3...the boy knows good music and we sing it together often!! Ok, enough of my swooning…

I wanted to hit One Man’s Dream, but no one else did, so there I was…the silent minority. Gosh, can you believe that no one else wanted to see it?? No respect for the man, none at all :sad2: …I'm embarrassed to know them! And now I’m aggravated that I’ve been in the park for half a day and we’ve gone on 2 rides and saw one show and already we had to head for our PS at the Sci-Fi. I made a good choice though as the whole gang enjoyed it. Lunch was delicious. This place is hit-or-miss, but everyone said their food was good (lucky for me) and we had a long, leisurely meal. Our server gave DS a driver’s license and he was over the moon for that. Held on to it all day…too cute! And thanks in part to Mr. Soutwest McDreamy, Michael announced that he could now drive the monorail because he had his special license!



After lunch we doubled back and wandered around for a bit and checked out the Making Of and then did a bit of shopping. We spied Goofy over by the Sorcerer’s hat and DS and I got our photo taken. He went crazy over Goffy all week...can't even tell you how many pictures he and I have taken with the big guy. Notice the look on DS's face...pure adoration! Priceless!

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/100_0192-1.jpg
and then we ended up in a little meet-n-greet with Mickey…Cruella insisted on her own private photo, as did I and then group shots with the boys. Mickey kissed me and I swooned like a teenager and DH actually got mad…how funny was that?!?!

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/DisneyPhotoImage42.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/DisneyPhotoImage39.jpg http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/My3Guys.jpg
We spied Sully from Monsters Inc. but for some reason DS didn’t want to go see him and not far from there was Jo Jo and Goliath and even Donald Duck! He had quite the line though and we overheard that he was leaving soon…I was bummed…he’s so hard to find and then just when I get my big shot, I run out of bullets – he was leaving. So we headed toward TOT. Cruella offered to take DS while Horace, DH and I went on TOT…there was a bit of a wait, but all in all it went pretty quickly. I absolutely LOVE this ride...the special effects are awesome...and the details just amaze me - I see something new each time I'm there. And hey - nice to see someplace that desperately needs dusting MORE than my house!!! :thumbsup2 Horace screamed like a little girl and held on to my arm the whole time…too funny. I wanted to go on again, but Horace had had enough and knew that Cruella would be waiting…OMG – can’t keep her waiting…well, we couldn’t find her for a bit. Turns out the parade had started while we were on the ride so she took DS and managed to get right up front (can you imagine the pushing, shoving and swearing that ensued? I didn’t even want to ask). She said that DS had a blast and a lot of characters paid him a lot of attention and she took a ton of pictures. On a side note, here it is mid-October and she’s never even shown me her pictures. Nice, huh? We haven’t seen them since, but in the past she’s always gotten doubles when she’s gotten her pictures developed and gave me a set. Not this time, nada. Heck, I never even got a thank you, but you all know that already…


Anyway, let’s fast-forward to early evening since I can’t recall where the rest of the day went. It was filled with butt breaks, searches for Lucy and complaints and general unhappiness. We had the Fantasmic dinner package at Hollywood & Vine and it was actually pretty good. I’d been a bit unsure about this place as I’d never eaten there before and I’d read mixed reviews, but it was pretty decent. The service was awesome and the food at the buffet was plentiful.



After dinner we headed to turn in our stroller and then go into the entrance for Fantasmic. Now for those of you who’ve done it, you know it’s a decent walk to get to the amphitheater. Well, Cruella had an absolute FIT walking to the show…she went on a complete rampage about how she’d had enough of walking and waiting in lines and that’s all she’s done since she got here…and then, believe it or not, DH started agreeing with her and that was about all I could take. I snapped…Yes, I know you were all waiting for this. I had my very own flippy fit, right there walking to the show. And it was the kind of flippy fit where you don’t even remember half of it…like you blacked out for portions of your fit. I do remember telling her that she’s ruined my vacation and hurt my feelings constantly in this place that is so special to me and she knew how much walking would be involved before she came and I was sick and tired of hearing her complain and that if she had any thing else to complain about it that she’d better do it somewhere else. I grabbed DS’s hand and said that my son and I were going to go and enjoy the show and that everyone else should go find something else to do because I didn’t want to be around them anymore. TA DA!! I did it – look mom – no hands!! I swear, I cannot remember half of what I said, but it was lengthy and somewhat hysterical. DS and I finished our walk and never looked back. We went and got popcorn and drinks and sat down and shortly thereafter, the rest of the gang showed up and sat with us. And they didn’t say a single word. :tiptoe: :tiptoe: :tiptoe:



The Fantasmic show was fabulous…
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/100_0461.jpg
I took a lot of video and pictures throughout the show, so I feel like I didn't get to see it really, but it's a Must-Do for our December trip. But everyone enjoyed it…they were like new people...smiling and happy. I found it unnerving, but went with it. It was a long day and we headed out after the show and I didn’t say a word to anyone except my son the rest of the evening. I slept like a log that night…


G’Night, Mousketeers…thanks again for reading and hanging in there with me!! More soon... :wave:

Next time...a "Day of Me" at DTD!! :woohoo:

[Lauralee131]

www.************* (http://www.*************/)

Thank you!!! I'm going to go check it out right now!!! :thumbsup2

[Lauralee131]

Lauralee131 you have my sympathy. But your TR just reminds me why I don't ask DH's family to join us.

I'm going to pm you with my story because I don't want to hijack your trip report.....but I know you'll appreciate the details.

Thanks so much mmmcq!! I just read your PM and am sending you :hug: :hug:

I'm going to try and PM you tomorrow as I'm going to get ready for bed shortly, but wanted you to know that I received your message and appreciate your taking the time to share your story with me!!

I couldn't imagine taking that group to WDW...Don't do it...EVER...save yourself!! :crazy2:

I'll be in touch soon!

[MomPlanner22]

$200 for a rental car? For one day? What kind of moron spends $200 for a car for a day unless it's a Rolls Royce taking you to church to get married. You could buy a month of car insurance for that kind of money.

Oh, and she sounds like a bad word that Oh Mari says I can't bleep out but you know what I mean (sorry Oh Mari)!

I am having heart palpitations reading your report. My whole fam damily is going 1 day to MGM in December. It may be more than I can take. They do serve liquor there, right?

I love it though. Your DS is adorable and you are NOT old. You have fabulous hair and look great!

[tiggerwannabe]

Make sure you read the oldest one first!

It is a true classic!

Going back to read your update now :goodvibes:

[mmmcq]

Lauralee131 - thanks for the hugs. As much as I would like to disengage from MIL/FIL completely, they are DH's parents and our children's grandparents. I really, really don't want to go on this trip to a foreign country with 20 other relatives who at this point can't even agree on a date to go. But my absence would classify me as a traitor.

We'll see what happens. In the meantime I'm waiting on those last details of your trip to see where things end. And I'm thrilled to be counting down to a Thanksgiving trip for our family unit only to WDW. The kids don't know we're going yet and we have lots of fun things scheduled - like birthday for my 7 yr old DD. Starts with Chef Mickey, then Bibbidi Boutique, then CRT for lunch with costume and button, then more MK, then dinner at OHana's and then MK wishes cruise. I think that's a pretty packed and happening birthday!!!

Maybe I'll think about a trip report. But I can't compare with Utahmama and Twinkiemama and now you!

[tiggerwannabe]

Excellent addition to your story!

btw...if and when you see your SIL again, so-and-so failed to tell her that the Lucy Store is in fact at Universal Studios :lmao:

[KarlaG4Kids]

Lauralee131, WOW, I just read your entire TR. It is fantastic. I can sure empathize with you. One trip that our family took 5 years ago, we had a DIL that was pg and WICKED during the entire trip. Last month we took 2 grandsons and unfortunately it wasn't the trip of a lifetime that we imagined for them. The younger GS is the child that was carried by DIL on that other trip...I think some of her rubbed off on him while he was en-utero....he wasn't the most pleasant 4 year old to have at WDW! We can hardly wait to return in December (just the 2 of us) and enjoy the things we love. We have had some good experiences with friends and SIL's traveling with us, but it is sure easier on our own. I am anxious to read the final installments of your trip and also looking forward to the report from your December trip. :grouphug:

[Lauralee131]

$200 for a rental car? For one day? What kind of moron spends $200 for a car for a day unless it's a Rolls Royce taking you to church to get married. You could buy a month of car insurance for that kind of money.

Oh, and she sounds like a b***h too!

I am having heart palpitations reading your report. My whole fam damily is going 1 day to MGM in December. It may be more than I can take. They do serve liquor there, right?

I love it though. Your DS is adorable and you are NOT old. You have fabulous hair and look great!

Yep - $200 - how awesome was that?!?! And to top it off, to come back from Wal-Mart with coffee and a purse, etc....ahhhh...I enjoyed that one!!

Hmmmm...you know, I've never found liquor at MGM...you may want to change your plans and go to Epcot instead...:drinking1

Thanks for compliments!! And thanks for reading...I look forward to reading about your trip when you get back...:surfweb:

[Lauralee131]

Make sure you read the oldest one first!

It is a true classic!

Going back to read your update now :goodvibes:

OMG - thanks so much for the link....HOW could I have missed this?!!?! My DH and I got thru the first few installments and were in stitches...I can't wait to read more later today!!! Thanks again so much for sharing!! I am just loving it and so far I've only gotten to their arrival at the hotel!! popcorn:: I'm going to read some more in a few minutes...LOVING IT so far!!! :rotfl:

[Lauralee131]

Excellent addition to your story!

btw...if and when you see your SIL again, so-and-so failed to tell her that the Lucy Store is in fact at Universal Studios :lmao: I know!! I absolutely LOVED that...I thought of mentioning it while we were wandering thru MGM...I could have had another free day! I'd have GLADLY paid for the rental car for a second free day from them...of course, I wouldn't have bought the insurance!! :rotfl2: :rotfl2:

Oh and I forgot to mention this little tidbit early in my report, but So-And-So actually told them that there was a shuttle bus that ran from the WL to Universal and Sea World....I had her thisclose to sitting outside the hotel waiting for it!!!! :lmao:

[Lauralee131]

Lauralee131, WOW, I just read your entire TR. It is fantastic. I can sure empathize with you. One trip that our family took 5 years ago, we had a DIL that was pg and WICKED during the entire trip. Last month we took 2 grandsons and unfortunately it wasn't the trip of a lifetime that we imagined for them. The younger GS is the child that was carried by DIL on that other trip...I think some of her rubbed off on him while he was en-utero....he wasn't the most pleasant 4 year old to have at WDW! We can hardly wait to return in December (just the 2 of us) and enjoy the things we love. We have had some good experiences with friends and SIL's traveling with us, but it is sure easier on our own. I am anxious to read the final installments of your trip and also looking forward to the report from your December trip. :grouphug:

Thank you, thank you!! I appreciate your reading and sticking with me thru the end, which is coming soon!! When in December are you going? We'll be there the 2nd thru the 9th...I love your comments about your DIL rubbing off en-utero...TOO FUNNY!!! :rotfl2:

Thanks again for reading!!! More coming soon!!

[Lauralee131]

Lauralee131 - thanks for the hugs. As much as I would like to disengage from MIL/FIL completely, they are DH's parents and our children's grandparents. I really, really don't want to go on this trip to a foreign country with 20 other relatives who at this point can't even agree on a date to go. But my absence would classify me as a traitor.

We'll see what happens. In the meantime I'm waiting on those last details of your trip to see where things end. And I'm thrilled to be counting down to a Thanksgiving trip for our family unit only to WDW. The kids don't know we're going yet and we have lots of fun things scheduled - like birthday for my 7 yr old DD. Starts with Chef Mickey, then Bibbidi Boutique, then CRT for lunch with costume and button, then more MK, then dinner at OHana's and then MK wishes cruise. I think that's a pretty packed and happening birthday!!!

Maybe I'll think about a trip report. But I can't compare with Utahmama and Twinkiemama and now you!

Well I totally feel for you and wouldn't wish your situation on anyone...been there, done that, bought the t-shirt as you'll see when I email you. I used to think that at the larger sized family gatherings, there was more of a chance of being un-noticed and I would try and blend into the woodwork...no such luck though...the lions always go for smaller, weaker, quieter ones!!

Well your Thanksgiving trip sounds awesome!!! What a magical birthday!! Secretly I want to go to the Boutique and be made a princess for a day!! princess: What a great mom!! I will be expecting to hear ALLLLLLL the details so I can live vicariously through you!!!

And wow - to put me in a league with Utahmama and Twinkiemama...Wow - totally don't deserve that! :worship: They are TR goddesses! But thank you so much...

Where were you when I was still living in NH??? We could have gotten together to commiserate over our families!! Misery loves company and all that!! :grouphug:

Chat at you soon!!! Gotta get ready for work! Have a great day! :wave2:

[Nurse_Mommy4]

Too funny! Your SIL must really like so-and-so alot (hey wonder why she didn't go to disney with them; oh yeah they probably wouldn't have bought her food)!

Glad to hear your going back in December with just the fam! :cool1:

[tiggerwannabe]

You are very welcome!

Im always happy to share

Its almost ironic how smart she thought she was and how very unaware she really was :confused3

I'm glad to see you finding the humor in what must have been a total nightmare...

Side note...I'm pretty sure there are beer carts at MGM, the one I remember sat in front to the left looking at it, of the great movie ride.

[Lauralee131]

You are very welcome!

Im always happy to share

Its almost ironic how smart she thought she was and how very unaware she really was :confused3

I'm glad to see you finding the humor in what must have been a total nightmare...

Side note...I'm pretty sure there are beer carts at MGM, the one I remember sat in front to the left looking at it, of the great movie ride.

Oh my gosh - I missed a beer cart!?!?!? Well, THAT won't happen next time!!! I can guarantee you that!

And - WOW - been spending most of my day reading Delswife's TR...what a riot...made my DSIL look good!! :rotfl2:

[Alicnwondrln]

more please :):):):)

[tiggerwannabe]

Yes. Delswife is that good :)

but please....do not forget the masses who have been so very entertained by your story ...

[Eeyore's Tiara]

:grouphug: I'm still reading and lurking... :teeth:

[KatInHat]

I am anxiously awaiting the next chapter of your trip report.. I'm hooked. I can't wait to hear what happens next. I found your trip report a few nights ago and couldnt stop reading.. my husband woke up at abt 1:30 am.. still on the computer???? he dont understand. You are a great writer/storyteller.. now I know why I will continue to resist my sisters suggestions to invite more people on our trip in January. My sister and I are pretty much alike when it comes to disney but other people just add too much chaos. It's too hard keeping everyone on the same page and no one will ever be satisfied. I hope your next trip is better. Your little boy is absolutely adorable.. It looks like he had the time of his life.

[tammyandtommy]

I just got back from my trip, I had to catch up, and I am sooo glad you had your flippy fit! Sometimes you just gotta let it out. LOL Keep it coming girl!

[Lauralee131]

Thanks everyone...ah yes - my big flippie fit...wish I could remember everything that I said...I'm sure it would have been entertaining to say the least!!! But hey - I felt soooo much better!!

I have to get off my butt and get back to work on my trippie before I have to start my pre-trippie for December! Ok, I'll admit it - I've been slacking...working for a living is really interfering with my Dis'ing :surfweb: and my DH tells me I need to "take a meeting"....Hello, I'm Lauralee131 and I'm a Dis-aholic... :rotfl2:

Ok, I'm going to go and get to work....back with more soon!! Thanks for sticking with me guys!! LYMI!

[KarlaG4Kids]

Ok, I'll admit it - I've been slacking...working for a living is really interfering with my Dis'ing :surfweb: and my DH tells me I need to "take a meeting"....Hello, I'm Lauralee131 and I'm a Dis-aholic... :rotfl2:



WOW. That sure fits me too. I just HATE it when work interferes with my life and especially my Disney life!

[tiggerwannabe]

Thanks everyone...ah yes - my big flippie fit...wish I could remember everything that I said...I'm sure it would have been entertaining to say the least!!! But hey - I felt soooo much better!!

I have to get off my butt and get back to work on my trippie before I have to start my pre-trippie for December! Ok, I'll admit it - I've been slacking...working for a living is really interfering with my Dis'ing :surfweb: and my DH tells me I need to "take a meeting"....Hello, I'm Lauralee131 and I'm a Dis-aholic... :rotfl2:

Ok, I'm going to go and get to work....back with more soon!! Thanks for sticking with me guys!! LYMI!

:thumbsup2 It's official! :cool1: You've been Delsified!

can't wait :hyper:

when do you go? I'm trying to plan a trip for hubby and me for jan..

[Lauralee131]

:thumbsup2 It's official! :cool1: You've been Delsified!

can't wait :hyper:

when do you go? I'm trying to plan a trip for hubby and me for jan..

OMG!! I just noticed...you're from Jersey? I'm from Jersey! Exit 8A! LOL - naw...just lived in Trenton for a few years...

But in noticing you were from Jersey.....GULP...You're NOT....could you be? Naw...YOU aren't So-And-So, ARE YOU!?!?!? :scared:

Anywhooo....

We're going to be there from the 2nd (possibly the 1st instead) thru the 9th...can't wait...getting closer...I may add on a night at the AKL on the first and then the 2nd-9th we're staying at the Poly...

How's your plans coming so far?

[Lauralee131]

Ok, so where were we?? Ah yes…my flippie fit…a long time coming…and it was a big one…so big that I blacked out in the middle of it! That’s when you know you’re REALLY, REALLY mad!! Well, whatever I can’t remember must’ve worked, because I was feeling better, and even better than that, everyone was tippy-toeing around me the next morning. And know what, I was digging it! I couldn’t be digging it any more if I’d had a shovel. I decided that I was going to try and salvage the last couple of days of my trip, even if I had to spend them completely alone to do it!



I took my time waking up, enjoyed my coffee and my ducks and I decided that the weather was just right for Downtown Disney!! That was my plan and I was going to stick to it…Just as I’d mentally firmed up my plans for MY day, DSIL came outside with a cup of coffee and she was like a new person…pleasant, friendly…it was unnerving to be honest with you! I felt the need to look for pods! She was probably trying to make amends as she was asking me what I wanted to do that day and what would my favorite park be to visit and that we should do that one, etc…”What about Epcot? There was that hang glider ride you wanted to go on…we could go do that?” I wasn’t about to cave, although I did have my heart set on riding Soarin. I said, “Well, I’m going to go to Downtown Disney to do a few things, but you guys can go ahead and go to Epcot…I’ve got dinner reservations for over that way tonight, maybe we’ll catch up with you there. I’ve hurt her feelings…I can see that, but yet I feel no sympathy. You made your bed…lie in it. I got kind of an “Um…ok….sure” response, which was odd…here it was 8am and I haven’t heard an F-bomb go off yet…nice, but would it last?



I woke up my guys and got them all ready to go within an hour or so and we caught a bus…yep – we just left…I was feeling great…had a great night’s sleep and it was a beautiful day…As we waited for the bus, I said to DH, inhaling deeply….”MMMMM…smell that? The air is just right for shopping!!” He groaned a bit, but not bad…hmmm…maybe I scared him too? I hadn’t bought much of anything in the way of souvenirs all week so far. I don’t like to buy anything too early…I like to look around and figure out what I want first. Plus, I got a Disney Visa discount at World of Disney, so I was planning on doing the most damage to my cute little card there. On the bus, DH and I discussed DVC…He really liked it as well and was on board so as soon as the bus dropped us off, I was dialing Bernard. I still had a tiny little lingering concern over the whole credit issue…don’t forget that in about 2 months we’re going to have to put our house on the market and buy another one…adding $15k to my debt-to-income ratio was a bit scary. Bernard gave me the phone number for the very nice lady in finance and after I spoke with her, I felt much better about this decision. After all, it IS a good investment. And it’ll almost force us to take at least 1 vacation a year. I could give you at least a half dozen GREAT reasons to go ahead and do it.



The boys were getting antsy, just sitting there at the bus stop waiting on me so finally I decided to give some more thought to it and possibly sleep on it that night and have a decision tomorrow. Let’s go shop!



Well, we barely entered and there were those little fountains in the sidewalk…DS watched other kids playing in them for awhile and finally got up the nerve to go. Once he did though, we couldn’t get him out! It was so cute…I was finally able to sit and just watch my baby have some fun…something I’ve wanted to do, but didn’t really get the chance before. Look at him...pure joy right there...:love: Sheesh...I love that kid! He's so cute I could just bite him!

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/SidwalkFountain.jpg



His first visit to Walt Disney World was overshadowed by his Aunt-Behaving-Badly, soon available on a really bad infomercial near you! So he played for a bit and then we cruised through the stores, browsing and picking up a Knick here, a Knack there…We went into the Christmas store, in search of….well, who am I kidding ? I wasn’t in search of anything special…I just love that store! I did manage to get DS a pair of ears with his name on them…been meaning to do that all week…



We kept cruising in and out of shops, with the boys constantly saying they’d sit outside and wait for me. Now, that’s great, really it is…I enjoy that…no one loudly sighing and huffing behind me in the aisles, no one asking for this and begging for that. BUT, it’s kind of a double edged sword…you know there’s those invisible heat seeking missiles that are being launched at you and then you start getting that nagging feeling that you need to hurry up because they’re waiting…Well, I guessed I’d better get them moving…in the Christmas store they were starting to lose patience and we hadn’t even hit the World of Disney yet…



Oh here’s something I am hesitant to admit, but I thought it was pretty funny…we approached Donald and Daisy and DS says to DH, “Donald looks like Mommy…always mad!” Ouch…I would have preferred that he referenced Cruella, but it was still kind of funny…I guess I deserved that. I’m not the most patient mother out there…I seem to always be rushing him around all the time and I probably always look mad…my own fault…my mom warned me that my face would stick this way someday…well, good one, Mom…you got me there!

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/MikeyDonald.jpg

Ok, let’s hit the toy store…I tell DS since he’s been good he can have a toy of his choosing…he picked out a Transformer and that was it…his mind was made up…and of course, he wanted to open it immediately. No, I said, not until we get back to the hotel…I still wanted to do a couple of things while I had them there, a captive audience if you will, like get DS to create his very own silly Mr. Potato Head and bring him to see the giant Lego creations like the Sea Serpent, but I could tell we weren’t going to get that far…I better throw in something fun…Hmmmm…ok, so we went backwards a bit for a ride on the train…there’s 2 minutes down the drain, then we went and ate lunch at Earl of Sandwich (yummmm). All throughout lunch, DS drove me crazy asking to open his Transformer, DH was asking if we were almost done shopping yet, and then, it hit me…why didn’t I think of this earlier…I cooked up this idea in my head all through lunch…now it was time to actually say it out loud…GULP…ok, here goes…



“You know, if you guys are tired of shopping, you could always go back to hotel and go in the pool or something…” I flinched a bit, waiting for DH to get mad, but HEY – he went for it! He actually said, are you SURE you don’t mind?!?! Are you kidding me? Of course I don’t mind, it’s YOUR vacation too…and with that, off they went. I told them I’d catch up with them later and I enjoyed a nice leisurely day of shopping…all by myself!! :yay:


I did some major damage to my Visa at World of Disney and had it all shipped home and as I made my way back towards the exit I stopped for a chocolate Italian ice…my favorite and sat down and enjoyed the beautiful weather…We had to go home tomorrow night…I wasn’t ready to let go yet…especially in light of how my week had gone. That’s when I did it…Yep – I called Bernard at DVC and said SIGN ME UP!!!
party:

I gave him my credit card number over the phone, yep, my poor, over-used Disney Visa…and took care of my down payment….I bought 7 nights worth of points (182) at Saratoga Springs…enough for a week in a one bedroom during value season, which is when we always go anyway…I was excited!! And I was also going to keep this bit of information to myself, thank you very much! I’ve had enough of mooches and leeches…no thanks, I’m done!

Nothing left to do now, but wait for that "OMG...I just spent HOW MUCH?!?!" anxiety to kick in!! :confused3 I don't know why - happens to me all the time...I get knots in my stomach...I break out into a sweat...it's not pretty...and it should be kicking in any time now.....

[SueOKW]

ah. welcome home! :cool1:

frankly - only a few people on our family know we have DVC and we hardly ever mention we are going to Disney. works out better that way.

what a trip you had.

[KarlaG4Kids]

[/size]
party:

I gave him my credit card number over the phone, yep, my poor, over-used Disney Visa…and took care of my down payment….I bought 7 nights worth of points (182) at Saratoga Springs…enough for a week in a one bedroom during value season, which is when we always go anyway…I was excited!! And I was also going to keep this bit of information to myself, thank you very much! I’ve had enough of mooches and leeches…no thanks, I’m done!

Nothing left to do now, but wait for that "OMG...I just spent HOW MUCH?!?!" anxiety to kick in!! :confused3 I don't know why - happens to me all the time...I get knots in my stomach...I break out into a sweat...it's not pretty...and it should be kicking in any time now.....


I am SO jealous. Congrats on your wonderful purchase. I would love to make that decision...I'm just not there quite yet. I'm sure you will enjoy it year after year!

[Lauralee131]

I took the long way back to the hotel, pouting about having to go home and about feeling like my vacation had been ruined…I had such high hopes for it…my DS’s first trip…it was supposed to be special, filled with magical moments…I was supposed to watch his facial expressions as he took in the World around him…I felt like I blew it…missed it all. I went to the Magic Kingdom and walked through the park, just walked…no rides, no shows…I smelled the smells of popcorn and hot dogs on Main Street and listened to the laughter of children, remembering the times there with my mom and trying to rewind the past week in my head, looking for those facial expressions and magical moments…



I didn’t take this photo of the castle on this day by the way, I took it on my birthday, but is it just me, or is the sky always bluer here??
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/TheSkyisAlwaysBluer.jpg


I made a right and wandered into Tomorrowland. I recalled going on Astro Orbit with DS at night, looking at the park all lit up and hearing DS say simply say “Wow – look!” There’s a little moment right there that’d I have let slip away had I not taken this last walk…and then I went by where we’d met the Incredibles and Buzz Lightyear…



We were in line to meet the Incredibles and Buzz Lightyear walked by and Michael jumped up and down calling, “Buzz!! Buzz!!! Remember me??!!?!?” Buzz turned around and waved to him as he walked and my baby was over the moon. A little background here before I go any further. I’m going to transport you back in time a bit…2 years to be precise…:teleport:



For Michael’s 3rd birthday, 2 very dear friends and co-workers of mine went the extra mile and dressed up as Buzz and Woody for his party. My friend Jim was going to be Buzz and went over the top…he watched the movies, studied his lines, practiced his character’s body language…it was amazing. I bought a Buzz costume from some place in Las Vegas and had it shipped out and the closer we got to party time, the more excited Jim got. He came to me one day with an idea…let’s make badges and deputize the kids as Deputy Space Rangers! That night he went to craft store and made a “prototype”…and it was AWESOME! We then set about making 15 of these things…and Jim was fanatical about them. I’ll have to see if I have a picture of them…they really were great! I hired a lady that worked at Joann’s Fabrics to make a vest for Woody…I’m really not domestic at all. In fact, the only thing I can make is reservations for dinner and vacation plans!! Then Jim took it a step further…he was going to arrive at our house, in costume, on his motorcycle. Because that would be much cooler you know!! Not to be outdone, Woody would do the same…

The day of the party came and I met Jim down the street from our house and helped him get into costume…it was form-fitting, that’s for sure…like putting a sausage in a hot dog casing, but it was great!! I got him all dressed followed him down our road to the neighbor’s driveway and went up the hill to my house. DH was at the ready with his video camera as were all of the other parents and friends and relatives who knew what was coming.
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/DCP_1463.jpg
Buzz drove up the driveway on his motorcycle and Michael was speechless…he kept pointing at Buzz and all he could say over and over again was “You’re BUZZ!! You’re BUZZ! You can fly!!” My good friend had just made the most incredible memories for our DS…and it only got better throughout the day. Woody showed up and made our team complete. Buzz and Woody were awesome and did a great job with the kids and the party was a big success. There’s been a couple of times since then that “Buzz” has called Michael on the phone to tell him to behave, etc…and he has stayed a huge Buzz fan all this time.


http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/DCP_1479.jpg
Transporting you back to the present…
:teleport:

Well, when he saw Buzz walk by at Disney World it was like a big reunion…jumping up and down, “BUZZ!! BUZZ!! Remember me!?!?!” I got all teary-eyed at that point…We had a fun few minutes with the Incredibles – he hugged Mrs. Incredible so sweetly and told her that he loved her…
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/TellingMrsI.jpg

And then Michael RAN over to Buzz’s line…Buzz was awesome and even though he didn’t say a word, he seemed to have a whole conversation with Michael…we had a blast and seemed to have quite a bit of time with him…
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/DisneyPhotoImage5.jpg
after we hammed it up for some photos, Buzz knelt down and Michael hugged the stuffing out of him and let out the loudest, most adorable little sigh and said “I miss you Buzz…You’re the BEST!!” (Sniff, Sniff)
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/Lauralee131/DisneyPhotoImage12.jpg
I cried…that day that it actually happened, and again this day as I was remembering it here where it happened…


Well, that’s about all I’ve got in me for this evening Mousketeers…but thank you again for reading…and thanks for the memories that have re-surfaced this evening…I’m going to go and check on my little Space Ranger now – he’s got a nasty little cold and cough…



More soon!!! G’night everyone!! :wave2:

[Lauralee131]

I am SO jealous. Congrats on your wonderful purchase. I would love to make that decision...I'm just not there quite yet. I'm sure you will enjoy it year after year!

Thanks Karla! I'm really looking forward to 50 years of guaranteed Disney vacations!!

[Lauralee131]

:grouphug: I'm still reading and lurking... :teeth:

Thanks for staying tuned ET!! And for not giving me those angry faces that Cass was giving to Meanest Mama!! They're scary!! :rotfl:

[Lauralee131]

WOW. That sure fits me too. I just HATE it when work interferes with my life and especially my Disney life!

Doesn't it stink? And you should see the looks my DH gives me ... he just doesn't get it...

But then again, maybe if I wasn't hogging the computer and actually let him read some, he'd understand? Hmmmm....NOPE - not sharing.

When exactly are you going? I'm thinking we should be right around that time...I gotta get a ticker again...we'll be there the 1st or 2nd thru 9th...

[Lauralee131]

I am anxiously awaiting the next chapter of your trip report.. I'm hooked. I can't wait to hear what happens next. I found your trip report a few nights ago and couldnt stop reading.. my husband woke up at abt 1:30 am.. still on the computer???? he dont understand. You are a great writer/storyteller.. now I know why I will continue to resist my sisters suggestions to invite more people on our trip in January. My sister and I are pretty much alike when it comes to disney but other people just add too much chaos. It's too hard keeping everyone on the same page and no one will ever be satisfied. I hope your next trip is better. Your little boy is absolutely adorable.. It looks like he had the time of his life.

Thanks Kat!! Yes - continue to resist...at least you and your sister "get it"...I still, for the life of me, don't get why DSIL/DBIL even went on the trip to begin with...they hardly rode any rides and shopped at Wal-Mart for crying out loud...they could've (SHOULD HAVE) stayed home!!!

[Lauralee131]

ah. welcome home! :cool1:

frankly - only a few people on our family know we have DVC and we hardly ever mention we are going to Disney. works out better that way.

what a trip you had.

Thanks Sue!! I haven't even mentioned DVC to very many friends either...I found the first friend I told about buying it wanted to use it...and I was like Umm...No...sorry - We'll be using it...and he said ok, well how about next year...Ummmm...nope...still using it!! :cool1:

[tiggerwannabe]

OMG!! I just noticed...you're from Jersey? I'm from Jersey! Exit 8A! LOL - naw...just lived in Trenton for a few years...

But in noticing you were from Jersey.....GULP...You're NOT....could you be? Naw...YOU aren't So-And-So, ARE YOU!?!?!? :scared:

Anywhooo....

We're going to be there from the 2nd (possibly the 1st instead) thru the 9th...can't wait...getting closer...I may add on a night at the AKL on the first and then the 2nd-9th we're staying at the Poly...

How's your plans coming so far?

Nah...I work with all guys ;)

Exit 7a here :) Lived here all my life...

Awesome! I've done first week of December a few times :thumbsup2

Weather's good, decos are GORGEOUS! I'd say atmosphere is Magical but isn't it always :wizard: oh yeah, and crowds are usually low :ssst:

I've stayed at AKL, :love: Loved It~

Never did Poly tho...can't wait to read all about it :surfweb:

off to read your current installment :moped:

[tiggerwannabe]

It's comin along, thanks for asking...

So far I've gotten a price on a timeshare condo ...

offsite...

I know...but for less than $200 for 4 days I'm not complaining~

hubby has an Aunt in Melbourne, we'll have to visit with her and his dad a few days~

my mission is to get 2 to 3 days on property in between all that, POP is ranked high on my list as of today :scratchin

OMG...I can soooo feel your joy :goodvibes

Fabulous writing in another wonderful installment.

[Lauralee131]

:confused3 Nah...I work with all guys ;)

Me too! Working in construction definitely has its' benefits...I don't feel obligated to buy the guys anything when I go on vacation!! :rotfl2: Think of how much money DSIL could have saved if she worked with a bunch of construction workers!


Awesome! I've done first week of December a few times :thumbsup2

Weather's good, decos are GORGEOUS! I'd say atmosphere is Magical but isn't it always :wizard: oh yeah, and crowds are usually low :ssst:

That's good to hear! I've been hoping it'll be at least a bit warmer than when we usually go around the end of January...We're hoping to hit Typhoon Lagoon this time. I have yet to go to either one of the water parks...can you believe that? I promised DH that I would "allow us" to do relaxing things like checking out Typhoon Lagoon and maybe taking the time to check out some of the other resort grounds, etc. "Well, alright...I'll TRY to relax..." :confused3 I just don't know if it's possible. I tend to not sleep and want to be on the go from sun-up to whenever I can't keep my eyes open anymore...Ok, so this will be the new, improved me! I vow to (try and) relax on my vacation! :hippie: [/QUOTE]


I've stayed at AKL, :love: Loved It~

I'm really excited to see this place...and I'm (trying very hard) to keep it to myself...a little surprise would be nice for the guys. I figure we've got about a 10 hour drive so if I can get them to leave here early in the morning we can get there by maybe 4 or 5 so we'll have time to tour the resort, eat at Boma, etc...maybe even stories by the fire? I'm excited! :simba:


Never did Poly tho...can't wait to read all about it :surfweb:

It's been years since I've stayed at the Poly...has always been a favorite though and I'm looking forward to going back! I'll totally be doing another trippie and will tell ya all about it!!

[tiggerwannabe]

I'm thinkin any trip without tagalongs will be waaaay better than the last...

IMO, you simply have to be flexible...like when you went shopping

I went and grabbed a little incentive for you from my photobucket~

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a42/MousMManiac/WDisneyCruise05_06/CruiseVacaB017.jpg

[PrincessV]

Awwwww, you made me want to go give my little space ranger a hug with that last installment! :goodvibes
Congrats on joining the DVC! My plan is to get my HELOC paid down and then maybe, maybe get in on some DVC action...

[MainStMandy]

Oh great installment!!!

We just sold our DVC....it's almost like when one dies, one is born again, haha :rotfl:

I'm jealous...if you ever need a babysitter...I'm a combo...nanny PLUS tourguide!!

[mmmcq]

Hi Lauralee...... I was gone all day yesterday and all last night and didn't have a second to check DIS. (Actually I was watching Project Runway and Top Chef....my two fav shows because my teens got me hooked.) And while I'm gone you not only file an installment - but you purchase DVC. How did you keep this from us for so long? Congrats.

It's that non-pressurized Disney Sales approach. It gets you every time. They don't try to close the sale and then you do it for them. Worked for us twice! I think it's a spell. And the blue skies over the castle (like in your picture) well that's all inside the bubble. :lmao:

Okay, you have to finish your TR now..... please?

[sherreis]

We've been to exit 8A all the time when SIL lived outside E. Brunswick. They just moved to Lancaster, PA so no more NJT for us!!!!!

Congrats on your DVC purchase. I have a feeling you will definitely get your money's worth on that one. I know my DH would never go for such a purchase - it's taken him years to agree to finally going to DW next month.

Your day at MK was awesome. I teared up reading about Michael and Buzz. I've never interacted with the characters when I've been there before, but, it sure seems that Buzz did a great job.

[Lauralee131]

((Sniff, Sniff))…Ok, sorry – where was I…ah yes…reflecting on my baby’s first trip to Walt Disney World…anywhooooo…



I continued walking through the MK and getting my head back on straight…I went through Fantasyland, Liberty Square…I walked around the MK one last time for this trip and had the events of the past week, both good and bad, racing through my head. And then that’s when I felt it…that oh-so-familiar fluttering in my stomach…Uh oh…here it comes…It’s that “Oh no-I have to go back to reality tomorrow - “utz” that I get in my tummy…I hate that feeling…and then of course, as is typical with me, I started to get a little weepy. So imagine the sight I was…walking through the MK, all alone, eyes all welled up…I can just imagine what others around me were thinking! The “utz” and the weepiness are typical with me the day before I leave and it continues up until I leave, but this one was different…more intense, more “utzy” than ever before…and there was a slight hint of rumbly in my tumbly…Hmmmm…maybe that’s what it is…I need something to nosh on…



But then the right side of my head started tingling and I knew what was coming….any of you folks out there have an “anxiety disorder” as my lovely doctor likes to refer to it?? Well, that’s how it starts for me…the right side of my head starts tingling and then my fingertips…it’s odd, I know…but hey – I’m odd, so it all makes sense, I guess…

:scared:

So there I am at the happiest place on earth with a full-blown anxiety attack coming on. And of course, I didn’t have my “Mother’s Little Helpers” with me. Great. So I proceed to try and walk it off and do some breathing exercises…Luckily, the dole whip stand was within sight, so I grabbed one and sat down for a few minutes…focusing on the sounds around me and tuning out the “noise” inside my own head! :crazy:



I was feeling better and my Dole whip was gone so I decided that I’d had to head back to the hotel soon – we had PS’s at Cape May Café tonight…Gulp…All of us did…:scared:



Breathe….just breathe….



I got back to the hotel and the guys were still in the pool having a good old time…I grabbed a lounge chair and hung out with them for a bit and then Cruella and Horace came out, looking like teenagers in love…



Gotta be honest with you…that kind of weirded me out. But anyway, they were in a good mood…I don’t care HOW they got there…



We all got ready and headed up to the bus stop. I suggest taking the bus to DTD and transferring to the Beach Club…Nope…Cruella growled at that…I was being ridiculous…didn’t know what I was talking about and “they” were not going to spend all night trapped on buses. Their solution was to take the bus to Epcot and walk through the park to get to the restaurant…Ummmm…well, Ok, I guess…obviously you’re well traveled…you would know better…so we sit on the bench and wait for the Epcot bus…



Ooh…here comes one! Is that it?? Ummm…nope – that’s the DTD bus…the whole gang lets out a collective sigh and plops their butts back on the bench…Ooooh…here comes another one…THIS must be it, right?? Nope…MGM….so do you see where I’m going here with this? Well, it took nearly an hour for the Epcot bus to arrive…don’t ask me why…Karma, perhaps…



So the Epcot bus finally comes and Cruella nearly rips the driver’s head off…Oh, Cruella, you’re back! By the time we get to security at Epcot, we have 15 minutes to get to the Beach Club for dinner to make our PS. DH and I decide it’d be faster to get a stroller and we scooped one up, plopped DS into it and off we ran…all through the park and out to the resorts…a couple of times Cruella screeched that she had to stop…butt break, you know…Then of course, we had to turn the stroller in and my poor little guy was tired from a day in the pool and his little legs just couldn’t go very fast. And then, yet another butt break was had. I just kept walking with DS. He was going so slow that it didn’t take very long for the rest to catch up to us. UGH…we finally get over there, out of breath, starving and nearly a half hour late, we meander our way through the construction that’s going on and make our way to the restaurant…there’s several people waiting to be seated and I turn around to my gang and they’re nowhere to be seen…the host said he can’t seat our party until the rest of them show up…where were they? Of course, another butt break. Now, let’s not forget, I’m a smoker too, but I have priorities….Disney first, nicotine later…



They finally show up and we’re shown to our table…something’s not right though…the restaurant is dark…they explain to us that the power is out and they’re trying to get it back on. Our waitress comes and explains that the power’s been out for quite some time but we should go ahead and hit the buffet, but do it quickly as the food’s going and they didn’t know when they’d get the kitchen up and running. Cruella went berserk on the poor girl, but of course headed to the buffet with Horace and DH while DS and I stayed at the table…Cruella and Horace came back with plates heaped with what appeared to be scraps and the bottom of the barrel and ate away. I went up and there was NOTHING, I mean NOTHING left…I chatted with someone for a minute and went back to the table. My boys were starving – I could see it on their faces…Cruella and Horace had eaten everything on their plates and called the waitress over and proceeded to tear her head off now because there was nothing for them to eat and they were leaving. She promptly gave them their check and Cruella flipped out, demanding to see a manager. Now, I could see not wanting to pay if you hadn’t eaten, like us, but they ate and there they are refusing to pay. We should have all just left when they told us there was a problem, but we were hopeful it was a temporary outage.



The manager was nowhere to be found and Cruella went in search of him and then came back in time to catch the waitress and let her have it once more for good measure. Everyone decided to leave. Cruella refused to pay her bill and threatened their lives if they used her table service credit for this. I followed them out and felt so bad for the waitress that I went back in and gave her $10.00. None of the others considered the fact that she probably wasn’t making any money that night and I probably should have given her more, just for dealing with Cruella, but all I had on me was a ten, so I gave it to her. The poor thing looked like she was ready to cry. So off we went, back to Epcot. I suggested we go down by the Boardwalk to eat, but no…back to Epcot we went. My poor little man was so tired, I felt so bad for him. It was EMH at Epcot that night too…no way I was going to be able to get him to stay out much longer. I managed to get him back to Epcot and we were lucky enough to get a stroller back. Off we went in search of food…

[mmmcq]

Thank you for the next installment....but now I'm starving. I can't believe the "last" day you had. :sad1:

[Eeyore's Tiara]

:teeth: Okay, so where in Epcot did you find to eat without ADRs??? The suspense is killing me..... :rotfl: :rotfl:

[Nurse_Mommy4]

:grouphug: OMG, I felt so bad for you guys as I read the latest Cruella episode; you know what though, I knew when they rushed up to the buffet and heaped their plates with food that she had no intention of paying for it.

Some people; what's a person to do? :confused3

[Lauralee131]

:teeth: Okay, so where in Epcot did you find to eat without ADRs??? The suspense is killing me..... :rotfl: :rotfl:

Exactly...No ADR's...right before Illuminations...Hmmmm...I wonder what will happen next!! :happytv: Like a soap opera, isn't it? I really wanted to go to Super Soap Weekend, but I had enough drama in February!!! :lmao:

I'm getting to post the rest of my night at Epcot...stay tuned...you'll see where (and what) we eat!! Are your Spidey senses tingling yet??? :charac4:

[PrincessV]

I'm definitely all-a-tingle.... but that could be the meds... ;)
Maybe somewhere exotic and not as popular? Morrocco? Nine dragons?

Yes, I know I'm not supposed to be reading any more until I write more of my own TR. But it's been a really bad mroning and I needed some laughs!

[Lauralee131]

We started back at the beginning of World Showcase in our quest for food…Mexico. Yep, you heard right. We walked all the way around and started again in Mexico…can you believe that? DH and I love eating in San Angel…well, I love drinking there more than anything…they’ve always made me margaritas that kick my butt…:drinking1 We all go in and Cruella and Horace don’t really want to eat here so we move on…DH and I grab a couple of margaritas each for the walk…they don’t even want to LOOK at Norway - too "foreign" for these expert travelers from New Jersey, I guess…Oh, and the whole week I never even got to ride the Maelstrom this trip. What a couple of buzz-kills those 2 are…:furious:



We go on to China…and surprise, nope they don’t want to eat there either…don’t even want to go in and look around…this is depressing…my “utz” is coming back…and so is that rumbly in my tumbly…I’m Starvin’ Marvin’ and it’s making me cranky…they of course insist on stopping to smoke. Let's not forget my poor little man trapped in the stroller. He's pretty freakin' hungry too...guess small children don't matter to them...Luckily I had snacks on me, but come on...the little guy has been going all day with very little food since he ate lunch...PICK SOMETHING!!! :furious:



Germany…Yummm…I want to eat at Biergarten…uh-uh…no-go for Germany, either. Uh oh – it’s not looking good for the home team…Cruella just took her cigarettes out again…Yep…she’s not walking any further until she has a cigarette…Great, sure…don’t worry – we’re not HUNGRY or anything…



Ooooh – we’re coming up on Italy…I’m practically jumping up and down insisting on eating here…I can’t take it any more…I grab cannoli’s…a gal’s gotta eat, right? Well, Cruella disappeared…anyone want to guess where she was? Anyone? Shopping of course…then they all drag me on…



Ok, so we’re on the last night of our vacation…we’re starving and it’s 8:00…know where we end up eating? :confused3 Want to know what we had? Out of anywhere in the World we could have eaten…Huh, huh? Do you? Well, on our very last night of vacation, we ended up with some nasty, leather-shoe-tasting burgers and Budweiser in the American Adventure…Can you believe it? I'm asking myself the very same question you are all probably yelling at the computer right now....WHY? Why didn't you just take your little family and walk away and go and get a nice dinner and try and salvage the last night of your vacation?? Answer: I don't know...I was a part of this dysfunctional pack of jackals and got dragged around by an invisible chain...I shake my head at MYSELF, for not walking, no - not RUNNING - far, far away and trying to find a decent meal...Needless to say, I was furious:furious: ...not a happy camper and DH was pretty aggravated too...I think at this point ALL of us just wanted to get away from ALL of the rest of us!!



We finish our lousy burgers and finish our stroll around the World Showcase. I now am angry and have a pretty good buzz going and I continue drinking all around the world…:drinking1 we decide to stake out a place for Illuminations and as we approach the Rose & Crown I get the GIANT beer…I figure this ought to hold me for awhile.



We end up over by Showcase Plaza in time for Cruella to do a bit of last minute shopping before the fireworks. She probably forgot to get something for the cable guy. Horace goes in as well…he decided to surprise Cruella and buy her a snow globe she’s been eyeing all week…it was over $100 and she didn’t want to spend the money on herself. He was pretty proud of himself for managing SOMEHOW to get in, pay for it, make shipping arrangements and get out without being seen.



However, she saw him coming and demanded to know where he’d been and what he’d been doing…he of course, didn’t want to tell her and ruin the surprise and made her suspicious and guess what? Full blown argument, right there outside the store and right through all of Illuminations…He finally had to bring her in the store and show her what he bought for her…Then – and you probably can all guess what’s coming next…she got mad at him for spoiling the surprise!!! Another fight that lasted all the way to the bus…I can't take it...get these crazy lunatics away from me! They're freaking me out!!! :scared:



So that, ladies and gentlemen, is how I spent the last full night of my Magically Dysfunctional Gathering…Good bye Epcot…I’ll be back soon…:guilty:



Tomorrow actually – I have to come back in the morning to pick up my Photopass CD and hopefully, FINALLY ride Soarin’ before we head to Crystal Palace for our last big group meal…Looking forward to that…NOT. How do you think tomorrow will go????



Stay tuned Mousketeers, same old trip report, same tired old crap…

[Lauralee131]

I'm definitely all-a-tingle.... but that could be the meds... ;)

Family trip coming up? Pop 'em if you got 'em!!! See...I knew I wasn't the only person who gets "the tingles"...You know, I might actually enjoy them if they covered my entire head and not just one half...I feel like half of Pinhead from the Hellraiser movies!!! And by that time, probably nearly as scary looking!! :scared:




Maybe somewhere exotic and not as popular? Morrocco? Nine dragons?

Good guesses, V...but wrong...You'll see...

Yes, I know I'm not supposed to be reading any more until I write more of my own TR. But it's been a really bad mroning and I needed some laughs! :rotfl: LMAO at you...I can't help it either...and hey - glad to know that you're laughing at me and not with me...errr...isn't it supposed to be the other way around??? Ummm...well, regardless...if my TR saves just one person from taking a family vacation....OR....if my TR makes just one person's bad day look better....:confused3 Ummm....well, glad I could help?

[Lauralee131]

:grouphug: OMG, I felt so bad for you guys as I read the latest Cruella episode; you know what though, I knew when they rushed up to the buffet and heaped their plates with food that she had no intention of paying for it.

Some people; what's a person to do? :confused3

Can you believe them? Can you imagine how they looked to people who didn't know them? OMG - so embarrassing...NEVER AGAIN... :mad: I don't think I'll ever even go to Wal-Mart with her again, if and when we see each other in the future!!!

[Lauralee131]

ET - maybe, just maybe....my vacation would have been better if I had a tiara???

Like you say in your signature? Maybe my problems all could have been solved if I wore a tiara AND took extra meds...

What a sight I'd have been...

A princess high on pixie dust... princess:

You know, it doesn't sound all that bad to me!!! :teeth:

[OhMari]

...if my TR saves just one person from taking a family vacation...

Oh, you have me totally convinced not to ask my in-laws along next April. If they want to go, they can do their own planning, or go they can go with my mother-in-laws (sister). My in-laws know what a Travel Agaent is. The only thing is, it is so hard not to talk about WDW when they are around, I really have to hold my tongue.

[aries1980]

I finally got to the last page and let me tell you I love your trip report and I think you have the patience of a saint. And I must be absolutely crazy because I have a MAGICAL GATHERING OF 25 FAMILY MEMEBERS SO FAR GOING ALL TOGETHER!!! I think I'll be hitting up there drinks all day to sane for that one, because we are all from New Jersey too! :rolleyes1

[Avivasmom]

WOW is all I can say....you have the patience of a SAINT. I would have dumped my SIL if she ever behaved like that with my family. How did you do it? And hold your tongue...I give you so much credit.

Congrats on the DVC!!

[Lauralee131]

I finally got to the last page and let me tell you I love your trip report and I think you have the patience of a saint. And I must be absolutely crazy because I have a MAGICAL GATHERING OF 25 FAMILY MEMEBERS SO FAR GOING ALL TOGETHER!!! I think I'll be hitting up there drinks all day to sane for that one, because we are all from New Jersey too! :rolleyes1


OH MY GOD!!!

Are YOU So-And-So? So-And-So must be lurking on these boards SOMEWHERE...being a Disney expert and all...

Bless your heart...25 New Jersey family members....The one member you should be bringing is Jack...You know Jack, right? Jack Daniels??? :teeth:

Want some of my Mother's Little Helpers????? :lmao: :lmao:

[Eeyore's Tiara]

ET - maybe, just maybe....my vacation would have been better if I had a tiara???

Like you say in your signature? Maybe my problems all could have been solved if I wore a tiara AND took extra meds...

What a sight I'd have been...

A princess high on pixie dust... princess:

You know, it doesn't sound all that bad to me!!! :teeth:

I don't know if the power of a tiara could have helped you in this situation...It's powerful, but you were fighting some mighty powerful evil forces here! Maybe you should have held the tiara out like a cross (like they do with vampires) and threaten to put it on and embaress them all if they don't behave! :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[marivaid]

I've read all 11 pages of your TR tonight and all I could think of while reading was..

OMG.. and I thought my family was bad!!

Cant wait to read the rest.I'm kind of hoping it involves some kind of body bag.

[aries1980]

OH MY GOD!!!

Are YOU So-And-So? So-And-So must be lurking on these boards SOMEWHERE...being a Disney expert and all...

Bless your heart...25 New Jersey family members....The one member you should be bringing is Jack...You know Jack, right? Jack Daniels??? :teeth:

Want some of my Mother's Little Helpers????? :lmao: :lmao:
im going to need a lot of mothers little helpers because not only are we doing a week in disney but we a doing a week on the disney cruise too!!

i dont know what i am thinking!!

[Lauralee131]

im going to need a lot of mothers little helpers because not only are we doing a week in disney but we a doing a week on the disney cruise too!!

i dont know what i am thinking!!

Wow - I don't know whether to nominate you for sainthood or call the men in the little white coats!! Mention my name by the way and you'll get VIP treatment!! :lmao:

I hope the cruise ship is as big as it looks..there's probably a lot of places to hide!!

Actually, DH and I were talking about possibly going on the Disney Cruise next year...I got the video and fell in love with it!! I'm almost jealous of you...

almost...:confused3 Guess I'll find out afterwards, eh?

[Lauralee131]

Ok gang - I've been reading DH all of your wonderful replies...and he's loving them!


BUT he wanted me to make sure that I reminded everyone that...and excuse me while I choke on this...

This magical, family trip was all MY IDEA!!

There...I've said it...you know, they say that the first step to solving a problem is admitting that you have one...:rotfl2:
Funny, that didn't make me feel any better....:confused3

[mmmcq]

Yeah, and you can remind him it was his DS. You were just trying to be nice and share the magic. And oh by the way......who had to deal with most of the grief? Hello? Nice try DH, as I say to my teens when they try to get away with something.

Seems like you both need to adopt new families. Do they have those on the DIS?? Stay off the rent/trade board whatever you do. :rolleyes2

Did you check your email for the boo treat bag instructions yet?

[Lauralee131]

Yeah, and you can remind him it was his DS. You were just trying to be nice and share the magic. And oh by the way......who had to deal with most of the grief? Hello? Nice try DH, as I say to my teens when they try to get away with something.

Seems like you both need to adopt new families. Do they have those on the DIS?? Stay off the rent/trade board whatever you do. :rolleyes2

Did you check your email for the boo treat bag instructions yet?

Hey there...DH is laughing at your reply!!! LOVE the "stay off the rent/trade board!" That was AWESOME!!! :rotfl2: LMAO at that one!

No I haven't checked email yet...I'm going to shortly...I'll email you later, but in the meantime....

:offtopic: I came home from work and Michael ran into the driveway to show me an award he brought home for being student of the week in class and he was so proud...the little guy was just beaming!! So I told him that he deserved the pirate cruise...I came in the house, immediately called and was told all pirate cruises are booked for the whole week...GULP...BUT they had one opening on the Sassagoula Cruise - I think he called it Jester's Court...so I booked it...any experience with that one??

I'll email you later...time to put my little Space Ranger to bed!

[KarlaG4Kids]

Oh Lauralee131. I can so empathize with you. Although my "family trip" experiences weren't quite as bad, we had 2 trips that were real spoilers. I really think the next time your SIL & BIL decide to take a trip to WDW they should take my DIL & Grandson. They have both managed to make our trips miserable, so they would fit right in with your family. Although it isn't Disney we are taking a family (plus extras) :sad2: trip to Mexico for my Daughter's wedding in May. Now I am really worrying. 35-40 people to keep happy in one place. OH MY!

[mmmcq]

Actually, just in case you don't know. The comment about the rent/trade board was "tongue in cheek" and referred to the awful rental scam(s) that has been uncovered this past week on DIS. Most of the trouble seem to point towards one "owner/rentor" with multiple aliases. You don't need any more problematic relatives and this one individual actually makes your DSIL seem almost reasonable. Really - it's that bad. :sad2:

On the "off topic" topic. Zilcho experience with that cruise. Do a post on the attractions thread and someone will let you know. But do check back often. That's the kind of thing that gets cancelled all the time because people change their touring plans, etc.

[Lauralee131]

I really think the next time your SIL & BIL decide to take a trip to WDW they should take my DIL & Grandson. They have both managed to make our trips miserable, so they would fit right in with your family.

Ummmm....gee....thanks! And I didn't get you anything!! :rolleyes:

Maybe you'll get lucky for the wedding! I hope it's a wonderful time for you!

[Lauralee131]

Actually, just in case you don't know. The comment about the rent/trade board was "tongue in cheek" and referred to the awful rental scam(s) that has been uncovered this past week on DIS. Most of the trouble seem to point towards one "owner/rentor" with multiple aliases. You don't need any more problematic relatives and this one individual actually makes your DSIL seem almost reasonable. Really - it's that bad. :sad2:



Wow - I hadn't heard about that...that's sad :worried: What a shame that people would do that...

[sherreis]

I have loved your TR so far. I sure hope when I read about your last morning that you write that Tigger bounced all over Cruella. She sure deserved it.

Does your DS ever talk about all the bad words that come out of Aunt Cruella's mouth?

BTW, congrats on your purchase of DVC.

[Lauralee131]

Thanks Sherri...I'm glad you're enjoying! Thanks for continuing to hang in there with me!

No, actually, whenever DS talks about our trip, Cruella and Horace are NEVER mentioned...it's like they were never there...

Strange, eh?

[kpk89]

Hey Lauralee,
All is clear now. I was confused that your locale is NC but your flight was from NH. Now I get it! (we need a lightbulb smilie -- maybe there is one but I'm too lazy to go look)

Good for you on the DVC -- and also for not telling! You will more than make up for this carpy trip in the years to come. Saratoga is a beautiful resort already, and I'm sure as it gets completed it'll be even better!

[Lauralee131]

Hey Lauralee,
All is clear now. I was confused that your locale is NC but your flight was from NH. Now I get it! (we need a lightbulb smilie -- maybe there is one but I'm too lazy to go look)

Good for you on the DVC -- and also for not telling! You will more than make up for this carpy trip in the years to come. Saratoga is a beautiful resort already, and I'm sure as it gets completed it'll be even better!

Wow - It's the Meanest Mama!! :wave2: Thank you for gracing my TR!! I've loved reading your TR!

It sure was hard keeping that DVC secret! I even hesitated telling my hubby...I think he's capable of cracking under pressure....Cruella would squash him like a bug!!

Can I interest you in a Meanest Sister-In-Law??? Free, gratis, no charge, compliementary, on the house???? Huh? Huh???? :hyper:

[kpk89]

Wow - It's the Meanest Mama!! :wave2: Thank you for gracing my TR!! I've loved reading your TR!


:blush: Thanks! You're sweet.

Can I interest you in a Meanest Sister-In-Law??? Free, gratis, no charge, compliementary, on the house???? Huh? Huh????
Uh, no. I've already got the Brother-in-Law version and am not at all interested in a matched set. Thanks, though. You're sweet.



PS -- MGM has alcohol in the lounge at Prime Time Cafe. Not that I've been there.

[tiggerwannabe]

My "Three things to save any family trip from certain disaster"

Lots of Alcohol (beer, wine, or even mother's little helpers-whatever floats your fancy)

AN OUT~I've been on many trips with close family and have learned to tell when it's time to disappear. I've learned from Delswife how to take "three steps to the left."

and Lots of Alcohol!

~so-and-so, won'tchaplease stand up~
she couldn't possibly be a DISer,
could she?~

Excellent writing again Lauralee!

and yes, there a lotsa places on DCL to get lost when ya really want to ;)

[Lauralee131]

Today is the one day I don’t jump out of bed…I’m awake early as usual, but I just lay in bed…I don’t want to go home. BUT I don’t want to stay here with these jackals anymore either…Then I remembered something…I just bought into DVC!! I can come back…I can get a Vacation Mulligan!! I decide to distract myself from my “last day blues” by picking a date for my next trip while having a cup of coffee outside…I went outside and it was rainy…not pouring, but a little more than just a fine mist, if you know what I mean…Bummer...that mad me even sadder...



Our plane doesn’t leave until 6pm…Magical Express will pick us up at 3:30, so we’ve got some time today, which is nice. Well, we’ve got PS’s at Crystal Palace for lunch…I thought it’d be a nice end to our trip. I packed the night before and just left out what we needed for the day…I want to go to Epcot to pick up my Photopass CD and all week I’ve been wanting to buy a “Leave a Legacy” tile, which we never got to do, so we’ll do that today. I wish you could fit more than 2 people in a picture…DS is small – can’t they squeeze him in? I decided I’d just buy the tile…put our names and the date on it. Hmmm…where should I put for our location…NH? Or NC - we'll be there by the time the tile is done. Or Dysfunction Junction? :confused3



I get the boys up and moving so we can head to Epcot…I would really like to try to get on Soarin’ today…why is Karma keeping me from getting on this ride??!?!?! The ONE ride I insisted I was going on if nothing else this trip…I don’t get it…



The boys dress quickly and I throw a couple of pop-tarts their way for breakfast and call guest services to come get our luggage (big, heavy sigh). I go outside while they’re eating for a quick cigarette and run into Cruella…I hear her before I see her of course, because she’s mad that it’s raining and her plane doesn’t leave until 7:30pm…”Oh, good morning sunshine…” The f-bombs are being launched and it’s not even 9am. Nice. Welcome to the happiest place on Earth. Now please leave…you’re spoiling it for the rest of us! So you all know by now how she is…and some of you can probably hear her inside your own head as you’re reading this…”What the XXXX am I supposed to do all day in the rain?!?” I tell her I have plans, but offer her suggestions on how she can spend her day…take a tour of the lodge…hop a bus and go tour another resort…Better yet…rent a car, be wild and go to Target this time! :stir: We discuss the sheet with ME checkout instructions that were left under our doors. She’s lucky – she’s on one of the airlines that you can actually get checked in from here. Southwest isn’t on that list. But they have Flight Attendant McDreamy so I guess it all balances out in the end…



She went into her room to get ready to leave. She decided that she’d spend the morning at MK since we were all going to end up at the CP anyway, and my guys announced they were ready…it’s raining a bit harder now than it was before so unpack our ponchos from our luggage…guess we’re going to need these today guys. That’s ok…maybe the park will be empty and we can ride Soarin’ over and over again! DH and I discussed just staying at Epcot and not going to the MK so maybe we should cancel the PS for CP. I go out the patio and into Cruella’s room…since they’re going to MK, maybe they’ll want to do a last character meal…although maybe not – there won’t be any puppies to kill and skin for coats or anything…I should offer it at least…she’d seemed pretty excited to go originally. Or maybe it was one of her other personalities? Can’t remember who I was talking to!



Well, I walk into her room and it was like walking into a fraternity house basement…GROSS…it looked like a bomb went off in there…what a filthy mess…and I can’t even tell you how bad it smelled…picture the stink of an overflowing ashtray left for days in a hot muggy room…I was almost afraid to walk in there! Immediately I thought of that poor Mousekeeping lady. She was going to cry when she walked in this room later today…Hell, even I wanted to cry!



Cruella was not her usual “sparkly” self this morning. Nope…she was worse…if you can imagine that. She wanted to go home and wanted to go home now…I said well you can call the airline and see if they can get you on an earlier flight…(and of course I’m thinking – I’ll even help you pack all this crap up!) And…world traveler that she is said…and there’s no way I could even make this up – she said “Oh yeah right, there’s no XXXXXXG way in XXXX that I’m going to buy another plane ticket to leave early! I paid two hundred and fifty XXXXXXG dollars for this one and I’ll be damned if I’m buying another!!” :lmao: :lmao: With that, I had to change the subject or risk peeing in my pants from laughing so hard! Besides, I had to get back to the order of business so we could get out of there...We were wasting daylight! I told her that we had the ressie’s at Crystal Palace still and if she wanted to use them great, otherwise I’ve got to cancel or they’ll charge my credit card…she said that she’d go…I told her we’d catch up with her later and we headed to Epcot…



First thing we got a legacy tile…Tony and I have a brick in the walkway going towards the Contemporary which we’ve yet to actually see in person…yet another thing we didn’t get to do. We wanted to make sure we got the legacy tile now that our little family has expanded. Still disappointed we couldn’t get a picture of the 3 of us, but anywhooo…



We went into the camera shop to get our Photopass CD and they said to come back in about a half hour. Great – I’ll race you boys to Soarin’!!! We got there and wow – there was virtually no line. Thank you Karma!! FINALLY…timing was good too as it was now pouring…we went up the walkway fairly quickly and then came to a stop behind maybe 30 to 35 people…we waited. And waited…and yes, we waited some more…then they made that dreaded announcement…Soarin’ will be closed for at least 2 hours…Bummer…Well, silently I said to myself, “Self, don’t sweat it…DVC baby!!! I can come back any time!!” :banana:



The boys and I left and cruised around a bit, splashing around in puddles and dodging raindrops and headed back to the camera shop. The CM’s in the shop were awesome…they spent quite a bit of time with me, looking at pictures and putting some graphics on them…Totally worth the $99, I think…wish I’d had more of just the 3 of us…there were usually Cruella and Horace in there with us. Cruella probably thought I’d buy the pictures for her too…Beyotch…



We made our way back to WL and decided to grab a last meal at Whispering Canyon. There was a bit of a wait so we went and sat in front of the fireplace to dry out and warm up a bit…Tony and Michael were at the Lincoln log table a little bit later and I was in a rocking chair by the fire, trying not to cry because we had to go home. I saw Cruella and Horace come in…soaked to the bone and ugly…face all twisted like a madwoman…I froze like a deer in headlights…and remained silent. I turned my back to them and pretended not to notice them in the lobby…my pager went off just in time…I went directly to the Lincoln log table to fetch my crew. I turned in the pager and we were waiting for them to gather our menu’s, etc. and I started to cry…Tony laughed at me and said “ALREADY???” Finally we were seated…we had a great lunch – the restaurant was packed and it was a fun crowd…One of the waitresses was walking around with a microphone asking if anyone wanted to say or sing anything and I prodded DS a bit to get up and sing…before I knew it, Michael was walking around the restaurant, trying to catch up with the waitress…when she came back towards our table Michael had been across the room – taking the same route as the pony races he’d done several times that week. I grabbed the waitress and pointed out Michael and said that he wanted to sing…she called his name and was waving and told the crowd that Michael wanted to sing a song…she finally went and picked him up and stood him on a chair and gave him the microphone and he sang his little heart out…I was clapping and bawling like a baby!! DS actually stood up on a chair and sang Hakuna Matata to the entire restaurant…it was awesome…what a great moment. :teeth:



We paid our bill and I told Tony that I was going to go to Roaring Forks to use up the rest of our snack credits on Mickey rice krispy treats and juice boxes for the plane and as we walked down the stairs….BAM…there was Cruella and Horace…staring right at us…looking like she was going to lunge at my throat….she was beside herself that I didn’t call her to join us for lunch…remember the PS she was going to keep at Crystal Palace? Yeah? Well, she didn’t…I thanked her for nothing…she had the nerve to ask me what my problem was – why did I care that she didn’t go…I said, “You know what? I don’t care…It’s one more meal for you on my credit card” and with that I walked outside…I decided to sit on the bench and have a cigarette – we were due to get on the ME bus in about a half hour…Cruella and Horace followed me outside and had the nerve to complain about the trip…I kind of snapped at her that I didn’t want to hear it…told her it was her own problem. The only way people CAN’T enjoy themselves here is if they CHOOSE not to, so it was her problem, not mine. :mad: She told me to go and errrr…ummmm…spend some quality time with myself, shall we say. Fine I said – I’ve been getting screwed all week anyway…I pointed out to her that this was probably the last time we were going to see them for a long time as we were going to be moving to North Carolina soon and she seemed to get sad and then angry all in the span of like 15 seconds…then she told me about how the Disney CM's are idiots because it was too late to check her in from here and now she had to check in at the airport...she didn't actually READ the ME Checkout sheet...she just glanced at it. *******...:rolleyes2 Oh, and I almost forgot...she actually went and argued with the front desk over $16.00 charged to her debit card for something she bought...she was complaining about having $16 lousy dollars charged...you guys don't even want to know what my bill was...UGH



It was time for us to board the ME bus, but it was late…we were watching for it, getting a bit nervous…now it was nearly 20 minutes late and still no sign of it. Cruella is mad…but this time I have no idea what for…we weren’t even speaking…we just sat on opposite benches, virtually ignoring each other. Then she stood up and said to Horace, let’s go check on our luggage and off they went back into the hotel. No sooner did they walk into the lobby did the bus come. The bus driver was totally stressed out…almost yelling at everyone that the bus was running late…DUH…and it was overbooked, so if you wanted a seat, you needed to get on NOW…to make matters worse, bell services had all of our luggage on a cart at their podium and DH had to lug it all down the stairs and bring all 9 bags down to the bus driver. I stood outside the bus for as long as I could looking for Cruella and Horace to say goodbye…they were no where to be seen. For all I knew they were watching from the lobby. I finally decided to get Michael on the bus while Tony finished dealing with the luggage. There were no seats together at all on the bus now and it was just about filled with a bunch of mortgage people who were at the GF for a conference. And none of them would give up their seats…Michael sat in one seat with a lady and I sat in another and Tony was still outside tipping the driver. He came in and ended up going a couple of seats back from us…



Guess who shows up outside the bus…Yep – Cruella…and she’s pissed…big surprise there, I know….well she started screaming at me for getting on the bus and not saying goodbye…I tried to explain out the window what had happened and how they’d left and we couldn’t find them and she just started flinging F-bombs at me at the top of her lungs…I told her we’d catch up with her at the airport and again she told me to go and get jiggy with myself and walked away. At that point I was glad the bus was filled with conference goers and not families…how embarrassing. I tried calling her cell phone but she didn’t answer…as the bus pulled away, I saw her flip me off out of the corner of my eye, still yelling…



And that, my friends, was the last I saw of Cruella…I tried several times that night to call her cell from the airport and she wouldn’t pick up. So finally I stopped calling.



We didn’t talk at all until late April, right before we moved. The vacation has never been spoken of since. I haven’t seen any pictures she took…Nothing. :sad2: All she's done has given new meaning to "Free Disney Dining" pirate:



So there you have it, Mouseketeers…our adventure has (thankfully) come to an end…



DH and I were just discussing the end of this TR and some of the goings-on. A lot of things he didn’t know or notice, so this TR has opened up his eyes as well. I told him how sad I was and about my walk alone through the MK, which I’d never mentioned until now. He feels bad for me I think…He said, well, when we go in December, it’s going to be different.



We’re going to make the next one an awesome trip…December will be OUR magical gathering! :goodvibes


:thanks: Thank you all so much for reading and for your kind words and sharp wit! I've enjoyed it!! And I'm looking forward to doing my next TR...

And thanks to Delswife and tiggerwannabe, I now know to take 3 steps to the left should I ever make the mistake of doing something like this again!! :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

G'night everyone!!! Thanks for coming in today!! Love ya, mean it!!! :grouphug:

M-I-C....See you real soon!!!! :disrocks:

PS - Please forgive any typos - I'm rushing to get this done and it's nearly 1am...YAWN...so bear with me!!

[Lauralee131]

My "Three things to save any family trip from certain disaster"

Lots of Alcohol (beer, wine, or even mother's little helpers-whatever floats your fancy)

AN OUT~I've been on many trips with close family and have learned to tell when it's time to disappear. I've learned from Delswife how to take "three steps to the left."

and Lots of Alcohol!

~so-and-so, won'tchaplease stand up~
she couldn't possibly be a DISer,
could she?~

Excellent writing again Lauralee!

and yes, there a lotsa places on DCL to get lost when ya really want to ;)

Thanks tiggerwannabe...I'm going to print those out, laminate 'em and put 'em in my wallet!!! :goodvibes Words to live by! The whole 3 steps to the left is actually in the ending...that was one of my favorite things from Delswife's TR...

I think I'm going to continue to ask everyone from NJ if they're so-and-so...I just have to know!!!:)

Hey - thanks for that xmas pic from the other night by the way...I'm soooo excited!!!

[Lauralee131]

Oh great installment!!!

We just sold our DVC....it's almost like when one dies, one is born again, haha :rotfl:

I'm jealous...if you ever need a babysitter...I'm a combo...nanny PLUS tourguide!!

Thanks Mandy...I may take you up on that babysitting action! You'll understand if I have an issue with connecting rooms though, right?? :lmao:

You just reminded me of something I left out of my TR...In the beginning of our trip, I asked Cruella if they could babysit DS for a night so DH and I could go out and she goes "Don't get me wrong, I love him to pieces, but I'm on vacation"...

:sad2: Nice, huh?

[Eeyore's Tiara]

I'm first.. :cool1: Thats what I get for staying up late! :teeth: I'm sad to see this trip report end so soon, but I'm glad for your sanity that your trip is behind you. Now how are you doing Thanksgiving and Christmas? Are you going to be one big happy family? I have a large family so I know how interesting it is to get together when theres tension between them... :rotfl: Nothing makes a holiday merrier... :rolleyes:

I'm glad you survived and that your now a DVC member and can go back when you want too. That's great! Thank you for this trip report! :goodvibes

[tammyandtommy]

wow what a finale!

[mmmcq]

Bummer, I was up till 1am, but I had turned my pc off....imagine that? So I missed your grand finale.

I'm glad for you that the TR is over....so you can let go of those horrible memories of the "scenes" at WDW. I'm sad for us, however, because now we have to wait till January possibly for your next trip reports. But instead of tears of sadness....that TR will be filled with tears of joy. pixiedust:

What I don't get is how someone like your DSIL and my MIL can be so unhappy all the time. It takes so much more work to be that miserable. :confused3

Stay in touch.

[Smileybug]

WOW!! I am so glad you and your guys are going back soon!! I hope this next trip is truley the trip of a life time!!! And CONGTRATULATIONS on being DVC owners!!! :banana: I also hope you have adjusted to your new life in N.C.!!

[Nurse_Mommy4]

Thank you so much for sharing your Disney memories with me (us).

You are are truely a patient woman and I hope you are rewarded for having such a good heart with pixie dust :wizard: when you return in December!!! :thumbsup2

[Lauralee131]

I'm first.. :cool1: Thats what I get for staying up late! :teeth:

Oh my gosh - I must've just missed you...I just shut down right around the time you posted...I couldn't even see straight anymore...had to go to bed!

Now how are you doing Thanksgiving and Christmas? Are you going to be one big happy family? I have a large family so I know how interesting it is to get together when theres tension between them... :rotfl: Nothing makes a holiday merrier... :rolleyes:

:scared: Ooooohhhh Noooooooo - the holidays?!?!?!? :eek: I hadn't thought about the holidays!! I think we're going to lay low for the holidays actually...with our trip falling smack in the middle of Thanksgiving and Christmas, we've got a good excuse not to go anywhere...

Plus we haven't been invited anywhere either come to think of it...:confused3

Things that make you go "hmmmmmmm" :scratchin

But thanks for putting that scary thought in my head so early in the morning! :scared1:

[Lauralee131]

Bummer, I was up till 1am, but I had turned my pc off....imagine that? So I missed your grand finale.

I'm glad for you that the TR is over....so you can let go of those horrible memories of the "scenes" at WDW. I'm sad for us, however, because now we have to wait till January possibly for your next trip reports. But instead of tears of sadness....that TR will be filled with tears of joy. pixiedust:

What I don't get is how someone like your DSIL and my MIL can be so unhappy all the time. It takes so much more work to be that miserable. :confused3

Stay in touch.

I don't get it either Michele...some people you just can't reach I guess!! :goodvibes

Almost glad to be done with this TR though...I can go back to lurking on everyone else's!! And seeing someone ELSE's dirty laundry for a change!!!

[Lauralee131]

Thank you so much for sharing your Disney memories with me (us).

You are are truely a patient woman and I hope you are rewarded for having such a good heart with pixie dust :wizard: when you return in December!!! :thumbsup2

Thanks Nurse_Mommy4 for sticking with me all this time!! Nothing's more fun than dragging others down with you!!!:rotfl:

Now I'm REALLY looking forward to December!! Can't wait to do that trippie!! :tinker: Maybe I'll have some really good pixie dust stories instead of mud flinging!! :rotfl2:

[Lauralee131]

WOW!! I am so glad you and your guys are going back soon!! I hope this next trip is truley the trip of a life time!!! And CONGTRATULATIONS on being DVC owners!!! :banana: I also hope you have adjusted to your new life in N.C.!!

Thanks Smileybug!! I appreciate your joining us all on this wild ride!

If nothing else, at least I bought into DVC...now I'm already trying to figure out how to buy more points!!

I love NC, by the way!! This weather down here is much more suited to me than 10 months of COLD WEATHER!!! And I'm within (hopefully) about a 10 hour drive to my happy place!!! :thumbsup2

[Lauralee131]

wow what a finale!

Thanks Tammyandtommy...I'm going to go read YOUR trippie now!! :surfweb: Hope you have some dirty laundry for me!! :laundy: I just shared mine with YOU!!

[tiggerwannabe]

Thank you so much for sharing your Disney memories with me (us).

You are are truely a patient woman and I hope you are rewarded for having such a good heart with pixie dust :wizard: when you return in December!!! :thumbsup2
Ditto and Ditto!

I've literally got tears in my eyes... :sad1:

I'm glad I showed you Delswife, I knew she could help you find the humor within so much pain...you're welcome. ::yes::

Your SIL was unforgiveably wrong-

:wizard: P&PD for a WONDERFUL trip in December. I know it'll be a good time. Your guys are a blessing, you're a lucky lady~

see you on the boards...LYMI~

colleen.

[Pembo]

What a great TR. I always wondered how it would be if we vacationed with family and I'm pretty darn sure it would be a lot of what you experienced! :)

Go and enjoy your trip in December and ride Soarin' FIRST!!! You'll love it.

[Adi12982]

I am so sad that the trip went like this - but December will be EXTRA magical!!! Not only will it just be you three - BUT it will be Christmastime in the kingdom!!

[Lauralee131]

I am so sad that the trip went like this - but December will be EXTRA magical!!! Not only will it just be you three - BUT it will be Christmastime in the kingdom!!

Thank you so much! I'm soooo looking forward to December...I've always wanted to be there for Christmas...I'll be there a little before that, but it will feel like Christmas to me!!! :yay:

[Lauralee131]

What a great TR. I always wondered how it would be if we vacationed with family and I'm pretty darn sure it would be a lot of what you experienced! :)

Go and enjoy your trip in December and ride Soarin' FIRST!!! You'll love it.

Thanks for reading Pembo! I appreciate it! I'm soooo looking forward to riding Soarin'! I just can't wait!!! :goodvibes

[Lauralee131]

Ditto and Ditto!

I've literally got tears in my eyes... :sad1:

I'm glad I showed you Delswife, I knew she could help you find the humor within so much pain...you're welcome. ::yes::

Your SIL was unforgiveably wrong-

:wizard: P&PD for a WONDERFUL trip in December. I know it'll be a good time. Your guys are a blessing, you're a lucky lady~

see you on the boards...LYMI~

colleen.

Thanks for sticking around with me till the bitter end...and I mean BITTER end, Colleen!! I can't wait to share December's adventures with you!! And yes, I am lucky...at times I don't realize it, but I am...

Thanks again for everything...LYMI!!!

[MomPlanner22]

Thanks for sharing your TR and making the rest of us with crazy relatives and not always perfect days feel normal!

My advice on the holidays -- spend it with people you choose to, not people you are obligated to. Going to WDW between Thanksgiving and Christmas is a perfect reason not to travel for either. Besides, it is amazing how the expressway goes both north & south at the same time!

Enjoy your time with your DH and beautiful son and ride Soarin' 'til you can't take it anymore!!!!

[Lauralee131]

Thanks for sharing your TR and making the rest of us with crazy relatives and not always perfect days feel normal!

My advice on the holidays -- spend it with people you choose to, not people you are obligated to. Going to WDW between Thanksgiving and Christmas is a perfect reason not to travel for either. Besides, it is amazing how the expressway goes both north & south at the same time!

Enjoy your time with your DH and beautiful son and ride Soarin' 'til you can't take it anymore!!!!

Thanks MomPlanner22! Yes, the expressway sure does North and South, but apparently no one else knows that! I think I'll keep that little gem to myself - it should actually make for a nice, quiet, peaceful holiday season!! :thumbsup2

[PrincessV]

O
M
G.

Lauralee, I seriously don't know how you got through this without taking off Cruella's head! I've heard of, and seen first-hand, a few really awful WDW experiences, but this absolutely takes the cake. I'm so very glad you bought into the DVC and will get a do-over in a short while!

Painful though it must have been, thank you for sharing your tales with us all. I just know your next TR will be every bit as entertaining and not one bit as frightening! ;) Here's to Dec. and hoping I get to meet you in person while we're there! :drinking1

[Lauralee131]

Thanks V! Appreciate the sweetness! :hug: Yes, here's hoping we get to catch up to each other in December!

I don't know how I didn't strangle Cruella that whole week! Although...I have to admit that I did consider tying her to the tracks on the BTMR! Bwahhhaaaahhhaaaaa!!
At least that's behind me and I can focus on our upcoming HAPPY trip!! I'm STILL trying to get ADR's for December...It's not, GULP, looking good for the home team though!! Looking forward to getting them nailed down (hopefully early this week) and then starting my pre-trip!! I'm so excited - not much longer now!! :woohoo:

DS and even DH were amazed tonight at dinner when I named all the rides/attractions that we didn't even get to while we were there last time...DS is all excited about doing all new things, but said he at least wants to go on BTMR again - that was his fave...

Thanks again for taking this not-so-magical journey with us! :wave2:

[drag n' fly]

Oh my gosh I hope you get to ride Soarin a hundred times in December. I was waiting for the moment....and ooooooooh it came.... THE FLIP. I truly believe you are blessed with an infinite amount of patience........you deserve pixiedust: X 100. WE will all be cheering for you in December...this is the year of a million Lauralee's dreams!

[KarlaG4Kids]

I've been loosing my mind all day trying to read the final installment but my router had real issues and I finally just got it up....I couldn't sleep till I read the end. Bless you for your patience. I know your December trip will be so much more special after suffering through this trip. I wish we were going to be there the same time in December so I could personally meet you, but I believe we will just miss. I'm looking forward to reading all of your next TR's for many years to come. Just don't ever be tempted to invite Cruella back! She doesn't deserve a great SIL like you! Hugs to your family! :grouphug:

[Lauralee131]

I've been loosing my mind all day trying to read the final installment but my router had real issues and I finally just got it up....I couldn't sleep till I read the end. Bless you for your patience. I know your December trip will be so much more special after suffering through this trip. I wish we were going to be there the same time in December so I could personally meet you, but I believe we will just miss. I'm looking forward to reading all of your next TR's for many years to come. Just don't ever be tempted to invite Cruella back! She doesn't deserve a great SIL like you! Hugs to your family! :grouphug:

Thanks for hanging in there with me Karla!! I'm sorry I'll miss you in December! I just reserved the 2nd week in April too!! :jumping1: It's all DH's fault...yesterday he said, and I quote in case he reads this later, "NEXT YEAR we're staying at SSR and all I'm doing is playing golf all week"...all I heard was "NEXT YEAR" and promptly logged in to the DVC site and booked it!! I have yet to actually TELL him that part though...so honey, if you're reading...you said I could!! Didn't you!?!?

We're really getting excited for December Karla!! When will you be there? Thanks so much again for reading and I'm really looking forward to my next trip report!!

Lots of hugs back at ya!!! :grouphug:

[OhMari]

We were wasting daylight! I told her that we had the ressie’s at Crystal Palace still and if she wanted to use them great, otherwise I’ve got to cancel or they’ll charge my credit card…she said that she’d go…I told her we’d catch up with her later and we headed to Epcot

Did they change the policy. I just booked the Crystal palace today and I didn't have to give them my credit card.

Wow, you did a great job with your TR. After a couple of weeks I'll switch it to the completed board.

Ohmari

[Lauralee131]

They took my credit card to reserve and said if I didn't show that they'd charge my card...go figure...

I just made a whole bunch of ADR's for December and they never asked for my credit card, so I don't know...:confused3

[tiggerwannabe]

They took my credit card to reserve and said if I didn't show that they'd charge my card...go figure...

I just made a whole bunch of ADR's for December and they never asked for my credit card, so I don't know...:confused3

There are very few that take your credit card for ressies :scratchin I'm wonderin where your ADR's really were...and if you're lucky, maybe it's a meal you *didn't* really pay for :teeth:

~Love the new countdown timers~

[aries1980]

Wow - I don't know whether to nominate you for sainthood or call the men in the little white coats!! Mention my name by the way and you'll get VIP treatment!! :lmao:

I hope the cruise ship is as big as it looks..there's probably a lot of places to hide!!

Actually, DH and I were talking about possibly going on the Disney Cruise next year...I got the video and fell in love with it!! I'm almost jealous of you...

almost...:confused3 Guess I'll find out afterwards, eh?


MY dh and I did the disney cruise for our honeymoon in 2004 it was wonderful the ship is massive!!! It took two hours of tape to video tour the whole ship. YOu def. should go when all us crazy new jerseyans are on the ship :rotfl:

[Lauralee131]

MY dh and I did the disney cruise for our honeymoon in 2004 it was wonderful the ship is massive!!! It took two hours of tape to video tour the whole ship. YOu def. should go when all us crazy new jerseyans are on the ship :rotfl:

Sounds like fun!! DH and I have been talking about taking a cruise...it's looking better and better!

[tiggerwannabe]

I went on DCL with my Mom this past Christmas...

It's an awesome ride!

My fellow Christmas DIScruisers and I were just talking about doing a 7 day western just after Christmas 2008~I know it's a long way off but 2 years is a good span for me to save up to take the trip...you, on the other hand, could use your DVC towards yours...

This time I'm going with my family (hubby, son, daughter & son's girlfriend), last time I had to leave my hubby and son home, Mom made it a girls only trip. She, my daughter, DD's best friend and I cruised together. Spending a week on the ship in a small cabin with my Mom is *almost* like being with your SIL :rolleyes: Not quite so many F-Bombs tho...but I digress....

~I know you and your guys would absolutely LOVE it~

[Lauralee131]

I went on DCL with my Mom this past Christmas...

It's an awesome ride!

My fellow Christmas DIScruisers and I were just talking about doing a 7 day western just after Christmas 2008~I know it's a long way off but 2 years is a good span for me to save up to take the trip...you, on the other hand, could use your DVC towards yours...

This time I'm going with my family (hubby, son, daughter & son's girlfriend), last time I had to leave my hubby and son home, Mom made it a girls only trip. She, my daughter, DD's best friend and I cruised together. Spending a week on the ship in a small cabin with my Mom is *almost* like being with your SIL :rolleyes: Not quite so many F-Bombs tho...but I digress....

~I know you and your guys would absolutely LOVE it~

Hmmmm....You have my attention!! :scratchin Actually, just like my credit cards, all my DVC points up thru '08 are maxed out!! :rotfl2: My God...the points are like drugs....I have to work more, so I can get more money to buy more points so I can relax more and be able to work harder so I make more money, to buy more points!! :scared: It's scary, Colleen....what if "the DT's" really stands for Disney Trips or Disney Timeshare?? :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

December of 08 sounds like a loverly idea!!! :idea: We'll have to shoot for something like that!

Oh - I started my pre-trip for December too!! And as soon as I finish telling DH about the trip I booked for April, I will have to run the idea of the cruise by him!!!

[Lauralee131]

Oh my gosh I hope you get to ride Soarin a hundred times in December. I was waiting for the moment....and ooooooooh it came.... THE FLIP. I truly believe you are blessed with an infinite amount of patience........you deserve pixiedust: X 100. WE will all be cheering for you in December...this is the year of a million Lauralee's dreams!

Thank you, thank you Drag n' fly....I don't think I responded to you earlier, and if not, I apologize! Appreciate the sprinkling of pixie dust and I'm looking forward to having a great trip report in December!! As a matter of fact, I just started that Pre-Trip this morning!! :goodvibes

[KarlaG4Kids]

Hmmmm....You have my attention!! :scratchin Actually, just like my credit cards, all my DVC points up thru '08 are maxed out!!

December of 08 sounds like a loverly idea!!! :idea: We'll have to shoot for something like that!

Oh - I started my pre-trip for December too!! And as soon as I finish telling DH about the trip I booked for April, I will have to run the idea of the cruise by him!!!


Gosh Lauralee131...you sound just like me. My Disney trips are my habit that I have to support. Forget the alcohol, smokes, drugs or anything else...just give me WDW. I will do most anything to go on that next trip. :love: I get a real high from finding a great deal on the resorts or the airline tickets. :cloud9:

[MainStMandy]

Just finished up and let me say again I am so sorry!! It still amazes me to hear reports like this and that people can actually go to Disney and not have a good time. People just don't understand. I have a woman I work with...ok a girl...she's 19....that laughs hysterically at me regarding anything Disney. Oy!!! And let me tell you, I thought I learned my lesson about taking friends to Disney. Well I didn't. We have a trip planned in Feb with my brother and his girlfriend....guess what? EX GIRLFRIEND NOW!! So Yes, my bf and I have a 2 bedroom villa booked at BWV just for us :rolleyes:

Anyway, I was off on my own tangent. You guys are going to have a blast in December and I can't wait to hear all about it!!

[tiggerwannabe]

Gosh Lauralee131...you sound just like me. My Disney trips are my habit that I have to support. Forget the alcohol, smokes, drugs or anything else...just give me WDW. I will do most anything to go on that next trip. :love: I get a real high from finding a great deal on the resorts or the airline tickets. :cloud9:

::yes:: I totally agree! Check my tag...

Lauralee, I found your pre-trip~very nicely done...

gotta subscribe to it yet.

Only a little more than a month to go! :cool:

side note: we're looking at the December 27th, 2008, DCL 7 day western if you're interested...We've done Christmas on the Eastern and this time around want to do the same but different, hence the NYE Western ;) (The calendar is not official, we (my DISfriends and I) are calculating too far out for the dates to be official just yet.