When YOu Wish Upon a Star... Hey That's ME!!!!..updated with pictures

[starann]

Seeing I have never done this before, but I used to enjoy writing (that was when I had time for it), I think I might like to start a trip report...so here goes nothing.........................


When: Oct 17, 2008...leaving Hellertown, Pa, arrving at WDW 10/18, leaving WDW 10/26 for home.

Where: All Star Movies....3 rooms

Who: DH Randy (age 34):firefight
ME!!! Star (yes, that is my REAL name, hence the title of my PJ) (age 28) :laundy:
Cheyenne, our niece, who we have custody of and are rasing (13) :stitch:
Cody (4.5) :earsboy:
Shane (3.5) :earsboy:
MIL Sandy (67)...her 1st Trip to WDW
FIL Sam (68)...his 1st trip to WDW...well not really, he had been in Epcot for a confrence but never had any desire to see anything!!!!!


A little backround on us

DH and I met online, moved intogether, had son #1, got engaged, started planning wedding, got preg with son #2, had son #2, got married, had DN come live with us (I had custody of her once before when she was 6 and I was single...this time she will not be leaving us until she goes off to college)

I had been to WDW a few times growing up, the last time when I was 18 with my family. DH had NEVER been to WDW, had no desire to see some 'overpriced, overgrown rodent.' He had often told me I could bring the kids, but he was not going to ever set foot at WDW. He had grown up without ever seeing MM ::MickeyMo and was no worse for the ware.

Fast Forward...my Bama passed away (her and I were VERY close and DH and I cared for her when she got sick, even having her move in with us so I could take care of her) and after her estate was settled by Dad announced that he wanted to take us to WDW with the $ my Bama had left him. We went on a FREE trip with my dad (a total of 12 of us) and my DH fell in love with the magic of it all.

He fell in love with it so much that he wanted his parents to see the magic of it...through their only granchildrens eyes (DH had a sister who passed away at 40, 2 years ago, who thankfully never had children).

Laptop battery is going dead...more to come later

[starann]

DH fell in love with the Magic of WDW and couldn't stop talking about going back....with his parents. The past year we have saved and saved, I have worked more OT and did more Fantasia Parties than I care to remember, all in the name of Disney.

We took our tax return, the Bush $ and paid for the trip.....there was some $ left over so his parents paid that last week (we got our $00.00 receipt!!!!!)

DH cousin is a AAA travel agent, so we booked through her, 8 days MYW Park Hoppers, 3 Preferred rooms at ASMo. I made our ADRs as soon as EMH came out for Oct.

I am not usually a planner (quite the opposite actually), but I have gotten every Disney planning book, joined a few sites (this one included) and have planned the heck out of this vacation. I have even gone as far as going to allears and getting the menus of the places we have ADRs at, copying and pasting them into a word document and sending it to my inlaws. I have made sure to leave a 'free' day (which now is not so free anymore, more about that later) since our last trip was soooo exausting.


We will be leaving home on Fri around 2 or 3 pm, when our oldest gets out of school, my plan is to have the car loaded with everyones stuff, car seats, toys, and DVD player hooked up, all packed and ready to leave as soon as she gets home. Drive til 6 or so (depending on traffic), stop for dinner, get back on the road and stop again at 10 or 11 to change the kids into pjs and drive straight through to FL, stopping in the morning for breakfast, and arriving at WDW by 10 or 11. I was hoping that my inlaws would be here (they live outside of Philly) and all ready to go, but hubby informed me that he wants to then drive to pick them up, load them in and leave.:headache: I was really hoping to be on the road at 2, driving to WDW, but his thought is that we have to 'pass' them (not really, it is out of our way) to get to I95, so why not stop and pick them up......ummmm because it will take another 2 hours to load them in and get back on the road. UGH! Hopefully I can get him to see the idea that we will then have to repack the car and waste more time. Dh wants to get there closer to check-in, but maybe if I remind him we can get there, see some of the park, then check in, he might be motivated to having his parents come up here.



These are our ADRs

Sat 10/18
Dinner at Wispering Canyon at 7:10

Sun 10/19
Lunch at Hollywood and Vine at 12:15

Mon 10/20
Dinner LTT at 4:30

Tues 10/21
Dinner at Tony's at 5:05

Wed 10/22
Nothing booked....was our 'free' day, but now we have plans

Thurs 10/23
Breakfast at Chef Mickeys at 7:30....what was i thinking!

Fri 10/24
Dinner at Germany at 5:30

Sat 10/25
Dinner at Mickeys BYBBQ at 6pm


I am thinking of adding Ohana in there somewhere....which meal is better there? Our oldest LOVES Stitch (in fact her B-day cake yesterday had Stitch) and I think she would like it, who am I kidding, she would LOVE it! Does the Poly have a lot of Stitch gift items?


2 months EXACTLY today.........I get more and more excited as each day passes, my boys ask every day if it is time to go to Mickey's House. Chey got $175 in DD for her b-day yesterday, so she is a bit excited about all the Stitch stuff she can buy!

Gonig out for a Girls day with Cheyenne for her 13th B-day....and getting her 2nd hole as a B-day present!

[starann]

I get to go into work late today, so I thought I'd post some updates......

About 2 weeks ago I was on the DIS Boards (like I am everyday, multiple times a day, there really should be a warning about how addictive this place is) and DH was reading one of the many WDW books I have. He yelled into me "I want to go to Disney NOW!" So I get the bright idea to watch our home movies from our trip 2 years ago. The boys were so excited, they kept saying "I wanna see Shamu" The thought it was the GREATEST thing to see themselves on our tv.

It was a really nice night, I finally filled the frame we got there 2 years ago with picts from our trip...it only took 2 years! However my dh got the bright idea that he wanted to go to Sea World now. He called his cousin and for the 7 of us, it will be about $500!!!! for 1 day!!!!! OMG! We talked about it, and decided that if I work Labor day at the hospital it should get us pretty close (it would be 8 hours of OT, on holiday pay), so we are going to do it. So now our free day is SeaWorld day!

I decided that I wanted us to do Ohana b'fast. Our oldest LOVES Stitch and I think this would be a GREAT. DH decided he wanted to do Fantasmic, however he knows all of our TS are used up and he didn't want to pay anything extra (which is a total crock since he told me on this trip he wants to not have to worry about $$, that he just wants to spend it, which is why I've been working my tail feather off with the OT). Last night we decided that we will cancel Mickey's BYBBQ. We did it once before and it's not something I think is worth 2 TS and I don't think m inlaws will be thrilled with it. So this weekend I have to call to see if I can cancel MBYBBQ, add a Fantasmic dinner package and Ohana b'fast.

[starann]

I'm in a rotten mood today, a really rotten mood today, I'm in a snitch, I'm in a stew, there's nothing more I can to do then sit around the house and brew.... I"M IN A ROTTEN MOOD!!!!!!

One can wonder how someone going to WDW is less than 2 months is in a such a bad mood....sadly the answer is Disney and their need ot increase the price of something 300%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:m ad:

I'll back up to Mothers Day. I told my hubby I wanted family portraits done. We hadn't had them done since it was just us and Cody, when he was 4 or 5 months old.....and he's almost 5 now! We have since added 2 more people to our family, Shane who will be 4 in Feb and Cheyenne, my niece who just turned 13 last weekend. So Mother's Day I wake up and I am presented with a 101 Dalmatians card from the kids, a candle and a promise of family pictures the following weekend. YAY!!!!

The following weekend....
Shane ends up getting the potty seat stuck on his head (he is 3.....and while it was scarey then we laugh about it now!) and is the proud owner of some pretty bad bruises.

The week after that......
While at daycare, Cody got clocked in the head by a toy, and now had a nice cut on his face.

The it was time for crew cuts, and there went my family picts.:headache:

Upon soaking up everything Disney I could, I found out about the photo sessions and the pre-ordered cd's....YAY what special pictures I would have now, family portraits done in Disney!!!!! :yay:

I started looking online for matching clothes for the family, asked my inlaws if they would like to join us for some of the picts.....I got soooo excited to add this bit of magic to our trip.

UNTIL TODAY......now the price is going up (alot) and they are taking away the ability to enhance them so the great deal has become a huge letdown. If you booked by today, you would still be locked into the current price, however you can only book 30 days out....we are WAY over 30 days out.:headache:

So now photosessions as I can't justify $200 for family photos with the fast pass with no enhancements and no 'real' photos.....you get the cd, but then have to pay to have prints made.

Hi, my name is Star......and my middle name is Murphy!

[starann]

I'm over my bad mood...well not really, but realize there is not a thing I can do that will change it, so I shouldn't let it get me too down.

I have spent a good part of my Sunday being non-productive (around the house) but I got a bunch of phone calls and Disney plans made!!! YAY!

I mapped out EMH with our ADR's and made out a tentative game plan for our trip. I think I've mentioned that I am not a planner....not to the degree that I have planned this trip, but I don't want to miss anything, yet I don't want it to seem over planned, resulting in a vacation after my vacation!

Here are our NEW ADR's

Sat
Wispering Canyons dinner

Sun
Hollywood and Vine chara lunch

Mon
LTT Dinner

Tues
Italy Epcot dinner

Wed
Seaworld

Thurs
Chef Mickey b'fast

Fri
Germany dinner

Sat
O'hana b'fast
Fantasmic Dinner at Hollywood and vine


Ok...now I REALLY have to get some work done around the house.

[starann]

This weekend I did a whole bunch of nothing around the house! A much needed break from all the OT and Fantasia parties. But I also didn't do hardly any house work:confused3 Hubby wasn't too happy, but oh well, the house work will be there this weekend as well. Hubby took the boys to see Clone Wars, which he thought was stupid, but the boys liked.

I did get a bunch of Disney stuff done and organized. From my previous post I changed some ADRs, made a pencil game plan for our days at Disney, allowing us to take advantage of EMH. I felt so accomplished! I try to make all my Disney calls on the weekends from my cell phone, when the minutes are FREE, therefore I don't have to pay long distance from the home phone (alwayd the bargain shopper!). When we were down 2 years ago we did the fly by the seat of our pants method and missed A LOT (Spectromagic, Wishes, Illumination, AK Parade) and wasted a lot of time playing the "What should we do tomorrow?" game. So having the game plan made out really helped. I gives us 1 full day in HS and an evening for Fantasmic, 2 half days in AK, and a bunch of other days in Epcot and MK.

Tonight I went through our Change for Disney Jar, picking out all the 1983 and older pennies (as advised by the DIS boards!;) ) for Pressed Pennies. I'm not sure the kids will want to do this, although knowing my boys and how much they love $$$, I'm sure they will. If not, we have pennies to put into our Change for the Shore (next years vacation). The rest of the change will be taken to a CoinStar machine, turned in for a e-certificate for Disneyshopping.com then I will order a Disney GC. Hopefully I can do it!

I then made a list of 'extra' money we may have.....a $25 AMEX Gift Card I got for Xmas, the rest of a VISA GC (around $27), a Walmart GC I found in my purse :banana:

I also turned in some MyPoints for a $25 Cracker Barrell GC. I also have a return at the Disney Store. I had gotten Cheyenne a Mickey purse to keep all of her stuff (i-pod, book, DS, cell phone) together in the car. I went to the Disney Store last week and the thing was about $7 cheaper! Since I have to go to TDS anyway, I'll buy a new one, and return the one I paid more for (since it is past the price gaurentee). $7 is $7!!!! I may look into selling some old gold if I actually get my act together.

We aslo have a savings account that has a nice chunk of change in it (from saving and putting $ away each week), as well as a paypal account that has about $220 from some ebay stuff.

WE are going down to WDW with only this $ that we have saved and put away, as well as any DD and GC we have. The Cracker Barrell and others will be used for meals on the drive down.

Then I have the yard sale as well.....as if I wasn't busy enough I have a Fantasia Open House Hostess Event at my house the weekend before the yard sale....all to make $ for Disney. Hopefully it will make my 1 month, 22 days go that much faster?

More to come tomorrow....or maybe I will get cleaning done.......:rotfl2: :rotfl: :rotfl2: :rotfl: :rotfl2: :rotfl:

[starann]

DISCLAIMER: I have taken a narcotic pain pill and it is starting to kick in, so there will be typos!

I called into work sick today. I started with BAD back pain (a common thing for me) last night, took a pain pill, went ot sleep and wouldn't you know, I woke up with the same pain, although it felt bunches better. There was no way I was going to be able to do my job. I am a visiting nurse which mean I go into people's homes to give them care. I never know what I am walking into, as I do the inital visits which are often long (about 2 hours) and can travel an average of an hour or more a day. And since sitting (standing or laying for that matter) seems to make this pain worse there was no way my sore butt was going to work.

So what did I do......surfed the DIS boards. DANGEROUS! I am now more obsessed then I was before!

I was over on the DISign boards and got some GREAT ideas for the trip, including a Kids Journal for the boys. I am so excited to get this done, I think it will make a GREAT memento for the boys. Once we get it all done after our trip, I will get it laminated so they will have a book they can't destroy (that can't destroy that easily)

I wasted most of the day on DIS, reading others TR, PJ and tips. Then I went into the attic to get some more stuff together for the yard sale...another 3 LARGE boxes! YAY! Although I didn;t hide it that well, cause Shane found some counting bears and now he wants them (you should have seen the face he made when I told him we were selling them!!!).

I then went to the chiro to see if he could help any with my back....He did help, but now I am worse than I was last night....My left leg is going numb, and getting cold (not to touch, it just feels cold inside). I've had this happen before and it usually passes, but I worry about our trip...what if it happend down there? I will give acall into my Neurologist to see what she can do for me if it still bothers me tomorrow.


Oh, a question...how do I get my PJ into my sig line?

Lorcet has kicked in and now I need to 1. throw up....2. go to bed!

Night night!

[starann]

I wish I could say my back was ALL BETTER, but it's not. It IS better, just not all better!

I've got a busy few weekends a head of me. Tomorrow will be bridal dress shopping for my friend, Erin's, wedding. Sun I NEED to get some yard sale things priced and sorted. Monday I am working OT from 7a-3p which should pay for our Sea World tickets, which we got tonight!!!! The benefit of having your cousin be your travel agent!

Next weekend we have a picnic Sat and then I go to AC with my mom for a Fantasia confrence.

Busy, busy!

I had a really bad day at work today, so hubby told me to find a sitter for the kids, and he took me out...to the mall. You have to know my hubby to understand how BIG this is....he HATES shopping, and hates malls even more! It was a nice night out to talk and shop, a trip to Barnes and Noble and dinner. We stopped in the Disney Store to get some more DD with some change jar cash.

I have so much planned, done, and finalized that I am at a bit of a stand still and it's driving me MAD!!!!!!:scared1: I just wish it would get here already, I have no idea of how I will survive 1month and 19 days....or 49 days as hubby says!

Today was another of those eye opening days for me. I went out to see a patient. She is in her 40's and has stage 4 ovarian cancer. I have seen her in the hospital as a patient, as well as her homecare nurse. She has such a positive attitude and is so pleasant to be around that you can't help but to really like her. Sadly her and her husband were never able to have children, which is a shame, cause they would have made GREAT parents.
I noticed that she had a cap on, and as we got talking I mentioned to her about I see her hair is thinning. She mentioned how when ehr dh got home from work, they were going to shave the few clumps that were left off. With that she broke down and started crying.....and with that, I started tearing up with her and crying for/with her. She told me how in the last few days reality set in and it hit her....she has cancer. My heart broke for her. Made me grateful for all the things I complain about.


Well off to bed to read my new book!!!! Tomorrow will be an early day with a trip to Woodbridge NJ for dress shopping!

[addictedtothemouse]

Hey Starann,

Man are you busy! I know what you mean about everything being done and waiting for time to pass so you can be at Disney.:laughing: I hope your back starts feeling better for your trip. And here's some pixie dust pixiedust: so you stay pain free on your trip.

My mom and I ate at whispering canyon cafe on our last trip. Your little ones will have a blast.:goodvibes

I've planned a trip with my girls next spring and am working tons of OT to pay for it. The other day I came home a couple of hours early and DD(11) said, "Hey! What are you doing home? You're supposed to be at work earning Disney money!":lmao: :lmao: :rotfl2:

When I took the girls 2 years ago I didn't plan anything except our ADRs and we missed ALOT. With my mom I planned everything that was a must for her and me and we saw all that we wanted to and then some. Planning is good IMHO.

[starann]

Hey Starann,

Man are you busy! I know what you mean about everything being done and waiting for time to pass so you can be at Disney.:laughing: I hope your back starts feeling better for your trip. And here's some pixie dust pixiedust: so you stay pain free on your trip.

My mom and I ate at whispering canyon cafe on our last trip. Your little ones will have a blast.:goodvibes

I've planned a trip with my girls next spring and am working tons of OT to pay for it. The other day I came home a couple of hours early and DD(11) said, "Hey! What are you doing home? You're supposed to be at work earning Disney money!":lmao: :lmao: :rotfl2:

When I took the girls 2 years ago I didn't plan anything except our ADRs and we missed ALOT. With my mom I planned everything that was a must for her and me and we saw all that we wanted to and then some. Planning is good IMHO.


Thanks so much for the concern. My back does feel better than yesterday, so here's hopnig tomorrow is even better than that! I work monday, and as much as I would LOVE a 4 day work week, I keep thinking Time and a half (cause it is OT as I am taking a 'holiday' for monday, but because I do per diem work at the hospital) on holiday (more time and a half) pay......Hopefully that will get me through the day.


We didn't plan 2 years ago either and we miss bunches, so this time I planned everything...well not really.....so we don't miss any of the parades and fireworks. I just hope I didn't plan too much and I come home needing a vacation after my vacation! LOL!

[starann]

Here are some picts of my and the family......

http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff336/starann98/41507018.jpg

Me and DH

http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff336/starann98/IMG_0571.jpg
The kids and I

http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff336/starann98/IMG_0414.jpg
Hubby and Shane, 1st trip for both to WDW

http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff336/starann98/IMG_0144.jpg
Shane LOVED his Mickey Icecream

http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff336/starann98/IMG_0557.jpg
Cody Getting REady for the Parks

http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff336/starann98/IMG_0189.jpg
Chey and her pal, Mickey



NOW some more recent picts


http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff336/starann98/Summer08028.jpg
the boys last month

http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff336/starann98/Summer08052.jpg
Chey at her family b-day party



Ok now I am off to check out the boards!

[addictedtothemouse]

As my one cousin says "I'm keeping my eye on the dollar sign.":lmao: :lmao:
I know what you mean about needing a vacation after vacation. When I went with my mom I was so exhausted that by day five I was ready to head home for a rest. I told her she would be back but she insisted that there was too much to see to take it slow.:rotfl2:
I hope tomorrow goes smoothly for you. :goodvibes
And your family looks great and so happy.:)

[starann]

Wow, I can't believe how fast time is passing by.....yet it still seems like 34 days is toooooo long to wait for WDW!

Fall always seems to be a busy time of the year for us (thinking about it, anytime is busy for us).. Chey started back to school on the 25th and seems to be enjoying being back. She signed up for Fall Ball....a fall practice for Lacrosee which she will be playing again in the Spring. The boys are no separated in pre-school and pre-K and are getting into 'learning' which is so cute! We have back to school night for them the 24th of this month and then on the 25 we have back to school night for Chey. That is, if the teachers are back from striking.....they are supposed to go on strike on Monday.

Sadly, my mom and I didn't get to have a girls weekend in AC...a few days before my Granddaddy went into the hospital with a brain bleed. He is ok now, but my mom had to go to NC to be with him. I still went and took my hubby cousin, but we only went for the day. We won some prizes and they announced the trip for next year...Vegas, which I am bound and determined to win!!! So mom and Iwill have a Girls Vacation next year!

I also got called off on Labor day...there went all the extra $$$ for Seaworld. I did work last weekend for a few hours though...still not the same.

I have started to send out the invites for my Fantasia Open house that I am having at home the end of the month. I hope to have a decent party which would mean more $$ for Disney!!!!!


Not much to report on the trip though :confused3 Everything is booked...even the rental, which if I didn't post before, DH convinced my inlaws to come up here so we can leave earlier!!!!!!:yay: :banana: I did order some stuff from disneyshopping.com...a towel for 2.99, a lunch box for each of the boys, a few pairs of pj's for the boys, a shirt for me, and a Stitch pin for Chey (as a suprise, which reminds me, it hasn't come yet). I picked up some shorts at JCP for dh as well as some swimming trunks...better yet, they were on SALE!!!!!


My house is a disaster...I have yard sale stuff scattered through out, the playroom looks like a cyclone went through it. Today I went Walmart and got labels for pricing so tomorrow will be more yard sale stuff and getting the invites ready to go to the post office on Monday.

Off to spend some time with the boys!

[starann]

As you can tell in my title, I LOVE to shop! My hubby does not enjoy this past time as much as me (well actually, he HATES shopping and the $$ I spend). I have slowly been making purchaces and putting them away in the attic so the kids (and hubby) don't see it.

Usually it is stuff I find on sale (like the Color WOnder princess set and Pixar coloring books I found in Target this week) for the hotel room or on the car ride down.

I have been putting some new movies away (as they come out so they are brand new and may hold their attention longer), matching t-shirts for the family, electronic hand held games, a few new DS games for Chey. In fact I don't think I paid full price for anything!!!!:banana: :banana:

WE have 1 month and 1 day to go. I know the next few weeks are going to whiz by and I will feel rushed and tense by the time vacation comes and nothing is ready! That is usually how it happens for me, I'm running around the last minute like a chicken with my head cut off!

This weekend will start with a dr appt and meeting with the bosses at work (I have started to hate my job and have a meeting to discuss this with them). Sunday will be a Fantasia party.
Next week will be Parent's night at the boy's school then the next night, Parent's night at Chey's school Finishing up the weekend with a Fantasia Open HOuse at my house ( a fun night in with games and prizes and hopefully make some $ for our trip in Oct).
Then October is here and I need to get some packing done as well as a yard sale (again, extra money for WDW) then it's time to LEAVE!!!!!


So while everything is getting so close, it is still far enough away that I can't wait to get there. I'm also getting a little feeling of being overwhelmed just because of all the things we have going on the weeks leading up to leaving. Don't get me wrong, I am so excited about going, beyond happy.:love: I know we probably won't be going back for awhile :guilty: so I guess I am trying to make sure we see/do/feel everything. Looking back, I wish we would have booked additional days, oh well..I am happy with what I got.

ok, I have to put the little ones to bed.....more later this week...including picts of all my goodies!

[starann]

:yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay:

Can you tell I am excited?! LOL! It's so close....well 29 days away, but that is a lot closer then 6 months! Or even 1 months....or even 1 month, cause we are under that now!

Ok...back to cleaning, after all I need a clean house before we leave, so when we come home, it is still clean (which would be a record of clean, as the boys have become little cyclones who will destroy anything in their paths!

[sherreis]

Popping in to say hi. Saw your link to your PTR in one of your posts. You are quite a busy lady! And, I know you're special because you're a nurse (me too).

Your boys are adorable and Cheyenne is lucky to have such a special aunt in her life.

I'm jealous - you've gotten your documents and I haven't. We leave on Oct 15th.

Just one comment about your travelling - are you going to be on 95 around Baltimore/D.C. rush hours?????

[starann]

HECK NO!!! My FIL is a former truck driver (he then went into hazmat and retired form there) and knows many, many roads. He has a way to get us around DC at rush hour.

It was part of the deal for DH having them drive to us, to save time (this way the car will be loaded and ready to go with everyone once Chey gets home from school at 2:30, rather then leave at 2:30, then drive to Philly to pick up the inlaws).......FIL gets to handle the navigation of it, which is fine by me as I won't be driving in the begining, and I can't drive at night!!!! LEss driving time for me!!!!

What kind of nursing do you do?

[sherreis]

My specialty used to be Labor and Delivery but now I do Case Management. A bit of a difference cause now I deal with everything through the spectrum. The nice part is that I work from home - some extra DIS time occasionally ;) -especially, now, while I'm busy planning our next trip.

[addictedtothemouse]

WE have 1 month and 1 day to go. I know the next few weeks are going to whiz by and I will feel rushed and tense by the time vacation comes and nothing is ready! That is usually how it happens for me, I'm running around the last minute like a chicken with my head cut off!
:rotfl2: :rotfl2: I thought it was just me. No matter when I start getting ready for a trip or how many lists I make I'm never ready when I need to be. I'm always the last to go to bed and the first to get up because there's always "something" I have left to do.
I'm so excited for you.:banana: Less than 1 month. I have 11 weeks until DH and I go for a way late honeymoon. (6 1/2 years late):rotfl: And 7 1/2 months until I take our girls back for their second trip:yay:

[starann]

So tonight was the night of my BIG Fantasia Open House..the night I have planned for for months, a night for showing people the new products, booking parties, just a fun night.

Well that was what I thought! I sent out over 50 invites...can you guess how many people RSVP'd that they were coming? 10, plus 3 other reps and about 5 maybes. Guess how many showed up....go on guess.....................











4, plus the other 3 reps.....yup my BIG day, which I cooked (a lot of food) and cleaned for had 4 people show up. So needless to say, I am a bit miffed at people who I thought were my friends. I feel like the kids who got picked last for dodgeball, the little girl who had a Birthday Party in which no one showed up. Some people I called and they had excuses, of course, others didn't answer, and some I didn't bother to call at all. I will be bitter for a few days, but it isn't my nature to hold on to it for too long, which is maybe why things like this keep happening to me.

I did make some money and maybe have a new rep (a gal I went to HS with came, it was so nice to see her after 10 years) to sign up, but I am still dissapointed.....I busted my behind to make a big thing of this...got raffle tickets for games, but ended up not needing them as we played some games but nothing that we needed the raffle tickets for. Not to mention that I paid $$ for the food, and then DH took the kids to the movies (which as we all know, is expensive theses days). At least my house is clean!

I just feel deflated and let down....once again. It seems to be a pattern in my life...a bunch of dissapointment. I know I have plenty to be happy and thankful for and I am grateful and happy for those things, but right now I am having a bit of a pity party because I just don't seem important to those I find important. It's been a bad 7 days and this was the perfect way to end it. It started last Sat with my father sending me some VERY nasty news and has gotten worse and worse from there.

Thankfully vacation is 19 days away!!!!! YAY! It's hard to get excited for it (although I am) as I am so afraid something will come along and that will get canceled and I will be let down again.


When it rains it pours, and right now I am in the middle of a monsoon.

[sherreis]

has gotten worse and worse from there.

Thankfully vacation is 19 days away!!!!! YAY! It's hard to get excited for it (although I am) as I am so afraid something will come along and that will get canceled and I will be let down again.


When it rains it pours, and right now I am in the middle of a monsoon.

I'm so sorry that you didn't get the attendance you were planning on and had worked so hard for. Does make for a bad day - actually a few bad days.

I know how you feel about the possible doom. It seems that is how our life goes. We leave in 18 days and I am so excited and trying to not let anything else get in the way of that. Just start focusing on your trip and that, hopefully, will get you in a good mood.

[starann]

Sherris....thanks for the support! It seems like that old saying...if it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all!

I am more than excited for our vacation, but gaurded as well. We got trip insurance, just in case (FIL and I both have health issues), with the thought, if I got it, we wouldn't use it, if we didn't get it we would have needed it! Things healthwise have been good with me, all the specialists have moved my appts to every 3 months (rather than every month) and I have been doing ok.

Off to bed now.....tomorrow DH is taking the kids to see a Firetruck show or something, so I will have the day and house to myself!!!!!!! YAY!

[rosiep]

Star! :hug: :hug:

You have the most beautiful family!
I'm sorry you were disappointed by your friends yesterday...especially since you worked so hard...but I truly believe that good things will come your way and I know you are going to have a great time at Disney. It looks like you and I will both be at Epcot on Friday. I'll make sure you have my cell # so we can meet up and share hugs.

-R

[starann]

Rosie, it would be the highlight of my trip to meet you!!!!

We are getting so close to our trips, I can't wait!

[stephbillalec]

Hey Star!! You're as addicted to the disboards as me! :thumbsup2 But just like MOA, you're more of a poster than me.
You're going to *love* WCC. Did you book Ohana??? A, M & B loved that one the best.
Sorry about the party...if I were closer to PA, I would have come. One never can have enough Fantasia products, hehe.

[starann]

Steph.....addicted does not even come close!!! Yes we have O'hana booked for B'fast , as Chey LOVES Stitch. LOL about the Fantasia stuff!

Thanks for stopping by to say "HI"!

[stephbillalec]

Star, we had a late booking at Ohana. Kind of a late breakfast/early lunch. We pretty much had the place to ourselves! We had soooo much character interaction. Stitch was so stinkin cute with Blake. I have a picture of him feeding Blake a sausage link in my living room and it makes me smile every time I see it! You guys are going to have sooooooo much fun. Wish I was going back! No plans in the works either, sniff, sniff. I've got to get on Bill about that! :lmao:

[addictedtothemouse]

I'm so sorry about your Fantasia party:sad2: Some people don't have a clue. I think I'd rather hear a straight out no than a yes and not have you show up. At least that way you know.
On to brighter things....IT'S GETTING CLOSE:cool1: :cool1: :cool1: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[jkCT]

Just wanted to say hello :wave2: and I'm here reading along...I'm the quiet one of the group...

[StormTigger]

DH had NEVER been to WDW, had no desire to see some 'overpriced, overgrown rodent.' He had often told me I could bring the kids, but he was not going to ever set foot at WDW. He had grown up without ever seeing MM ::MickeyMo and was no worse for the ware.
...

He fell in love with it so much that he wanted his parents to see the magic of it...

Okay.. 1st off I love when that happens!!!

Starann - I just tuned in to your Pre-trippie, and I just wanna say a couple things... You have a beautiful family and ... - U NEED A VACATION! Wow! You are a nurse - which in my book means u r one of the blessed few and deserve every good thing that happens your way, then to read all you do and are doing to prep for this trip - if anything cancels your trip I think I'm going to cry!

I know you are going to have a great trip and these last couple days are going to fly by, just remember one thing - BREATHE! :laughing:

[starann]

I'm so sorry about your Fantasia party:sad2: Some people don't have a clue. I think I'd rather hear a straight out no than a yes and not have you show up. At least that way you know.
On to brighter things....IT'S GETTING CLOSE:cool1: :cool1: :cool1: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:


YES it is getting close!!! SO CLOSE!!! Thankfully, it's been a rough week. See my next update.

Just wanted to say hello :wave2: and I'm here reading along...I'm the quiet one of the group...

Well hello, quiet one, thanks for reading!


Okay.. 1st off I love when that happens!!!

Starann - I just tuned in to your Pre-trippie, and I just wanna say a couple things... You have a beautiful family and ... - U NEED A VACATION! Wow! You are a nurse - which in my book means u r one of the blessed few and deserve every good thing that happens your way, then to read all you do and are doing to prep for this trip - if anything cancels your trip I think I'm going to cry!

I know you are going to have a great trip and these last couple days are going to fly by, just remember one thing - BREATHE! :laughing:

Aww thank you....I DO need a vacation. Breathing is getting hard.... Thanks for reading.

[starann]

AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

It's been a rough week, to say the least. Today brought me the question of wether or not to press charges against my father for making a serious threat against my husband. Bummer, right.

I won't get into the whole story here, as the DIS boards are not the place for it, and if I told it, many would find it unbelievable. Just a dysfunctional family, but sadly the 'fun' is no longer in it.

We almost did cancel our vacation last weekend due to issues with my father (even though he is not going with us), but thankfully my mom was able to help us out with money (which we will pay back at income tax time) and our trip is good to go.:banana: Cause after today I need something to look forward to.




So on a happier note.........16 days!!!!!!!!!!! WOW. Now the stress of packing comes into my mind here and there as I haven't started any packing, although I have gotten a bunch of stuff (ziploc baggies for the boys clothes, bathing suits for dh and the boys, stuff for the car ride), but I haven't even broken out the suitcases.

This weekend is our yard sale!!! Hopefully we have a good turn out $ wise and I get rid of a lot of junk, although the ghost of our junk comes back in 3 fold.

Septembers commission check for Fantasia will be about $300-400! Wahoo, Disney $......Oh, I also sold some old gold jewlery to USGB (chains and charms and such from an ex) for $136!!!!! YAHOOO:cool1:

It's now been over a year since our last vacation and in that year a lot of stress, a lot of good things, but a lot of family and friend drama. The good side of this (cause I'm always about the silver lining) is that my hubby and I are closer than we have been (there were some rough spots that even I wondered how it was going to work, but things like the situation with my dad come along and we grow together from it, rather than apart).


OK, hubby just turned off the light, so I guess this means I must go to bed!

[addictedtothemouse]

Wow, you've had a rough week.:sad2:
:hug: :hug: are sent to you. I had to distance myself from my dad. I see him once a year for about 2 hours. (That's all I can stand.) Luckily I get along great with my Dfil.
In the mean time focus on Disney:woohoo:

[starann]

Wow, to think, at this time in 2 weeks we will be in WDW!!! ACtually at WCC for our 7ish dinner ressie!!!! YAY!:cool1:

It's been a rough week, but today was actually nice! We had our yard sale, only made about $60 becuase of the weather (it rained on and off) so we covered the tables and will try again tomorrow, hoping for better weather!

A friend from HS (acutally elementary on up) came to sell some of her junk, and it was nice to get caught up with her as I haven't seen her since graduation, many years ago.

LAter in the afternoon we got talking with a neighbor, which was nice. Then we call came inside and took a nap!

I was talking with a friend a few minutes ago and realized I better start getting stuff from my list....things like sunscreen, more video tapes, batteries and so on. I better get to work!

Next weekend we have a b-day aprty to go to on Sunday, but other than that we will be packing and doing laundry (a lot of laundry) and cleaning (again, a lot of cleaning as my mom will be house/pet sitting).


Oh, I also wanted to tell you about our friends, I use that term, but really they have become more like Family. Joe and Sue live in the Outer Banks year round, both are retired. They have a son who is my age, but he has no intrest in children, so our kids are psuedo grandchildren for them. We have been down to their house in OBX a few times, they don't charge us, won't let us give them money for groceries and make sure we have a real vacation (as in, I don;t have to do dishes or anything more than keep up with the mess the boys make). Joe was diagnosed with throat cancer a few months ago, had chemo and radiaiton and is doing ok, but has had a few road bumps along the way.

Well Friday in the mail we get a card from Sue, with a note about how special vacation is and how great it will be to be in WDW, and a check for $150!!!! $50 for each of the kids. I almost cried when we got this, not becuase of how great it will be for the kids to buy something with it, but because of how wonderful and thoughtful these people are. They oculd have sent $10 for each of the kids and I would have had the same reactions. Our own family didn;t even do anyhting like this...in fact with how things are with my dad right now (again it's a long story, but he did things to get us to cancel our trip just to make us miserable) it means so much that people who have no realtion to us are giving us some Magic:wizard: I'm getting teary just htinking about it!

We plan to let the kids get something special with the money Uncle Joe and Aunt Sue sent, take their picture and send it to them once we get back, along with a thank you note.

Which reminds me, I have to make a post card list! YIKES, even more to do.

We have the yard sale money, some scattered gift cards and remaining balances on VISA gift cards, as well as a check from Fantasia last month, around $350, as well as another $350 in our paypal account. So it seems as if Dad's attempt to squash our vacation was squashed! Hah take that!

[mickeysmyboy]

Wow! That is super sweet that they sent $ for the kiddos I hope they get something great with it!

Can't wait to read more! Hope all the packing and last minute things are going well!

[sherreis]

Don't stress about the packing. A lot of people don't pack for a vacation until the night before. Sometimes, I think, because we're reading so much here we start comparing ourselves to everyone else. We leave a week tomorrow and I haven't started packing and won't be packing until Sunday. I figure by then I can easily say it's time to pack up all the shorts since the boys haven't worn them in over a week due to the weather. Also, it's the only time they're out of the house for a good chunk of time to give me the privacy to pack and hide the suitcases.

That was so nice about your friends sending the kids spending money. I'm sure they'll have it spent in their heads thousands of times. I'm sorry about the rough time with your family - it makes vacation so much more special when you get there.

Yard sales - I never understand how people makes tons of money at them. I always make $50-$100 which is not worth my time. I'd rather just gather everything up and take it to the local mission and get the tax deductions. Good job selling the gold! That's what funding our trip. I sold all my junk gold laying in the jewelry box.

Enjoy the time before your trip and getting ready. Oh - and thanks for the reminder about the post card list.

[addictedtothemouse]

Sometimes "family" are those who aren't related to you by blood. Your friends sound like awesome adopted grandparents.
I can never start packing until 2-3 days before we leave and usually am up half of the night just before we leave finishing up.:confused3 I do, however, try to make sure I have a list of everything I want to pack so I don't forget anything.
It's getting closer and closer.:goodvibes :goodvibes

[starann]

OK just a quick post to say......................

SINGLE DIDGETS!!!!!!:banana: :dance3: :cool1:


ok, back to work for me!

[addictedtothemouse]

Single digits!!!!!:cool1: :cool1: :cool1: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :dance3: :dance3: :dance3:
You lucky, lucky girl.:hug:

[sherreis]

Single digits!!!! :cool1: It gets so exciting.

[starann]

..............we will be pulling away from our house, heading to Mickey's House (as the kids call it). Chey just got home from school, so this is the time we will be leaving!

YIKES....looks like I will have a busy weekend! I will try to take some picts of all the junk we are bringing (and that I have to pack!). I also have to clean, clean, clean this weekend. Although I know me, and I will end up slacking on the DIS most of the time, then be a real witch next week cause nothing is done!

[sherreis]

..............we will be pulling away from our house, heading to Mickey's House (as the kids call it). Chey just got home from school, so this is the time we will be leaving!

YIKES....looks like I will have a busy weekend! I will try to take some picts of all the junk we are bringing (and that I have to pack!). I also have to clean, clean, clean this weekend. Although I know me, and I will end up slacking on the DIS most of the time, then be a real witch next week cause nothing is done!

Why is it our houses are cleaner when we're leaving for vacation than when we're at home?

[starann]

The only time my house stays clean, is when I'm on vacation!!!

[sherreis]

The only time my house stays clean, is when I'm on vacation!!!

Amen sista! Same here. My boys don't know what the meaning of clean is.

[mickeysmyboy]

The only time my house stays clean, is when I'm on vacation!!!

:lmao: Isn't that the truth!! Only 6 more days!! You guys must be so excited!!

[starann]

:lmao: Isn't that the truth!! Only 6 more days!! You guys must be so excited!!

Now if only dh and I would stop fighting, I would be. The recent family drama that has been going on with my dad has taken a toll on me and I have been cranky because of it.


On a happier note....I started packing today!!!! Not much, but I started! We have also been doing the backlog of laundry in our basement so I have more clothes to pack. DH took the air conditioners out of the windows (we live in a house that is 108yrs old, so no central air) and down to the basement while I cleaned our room (which was a disaster!) Afterall Mom is coming to house/critter sit while we are gone, so she has to have a clean room to sleep in. Chey is currently cleaning her room (in case mom wants to sleep in there as she is not used to sleeping with dogs). Later he will take the boys for haircuts while I go to Target (I have to get a b-day gift for a party we have tomorrow). I also have to go grocery shopping as we have NO food in the house....we are even out of peanut butter, which in our house is a national emergency!:rotfl:

Soon the boys will be going down for a nap and I will be going up in the attic to get more stuff packed!


Well enough slacking for me, back to packing and cleaning!

[rosiep]

OMG!! I can't believe how close we are!!

I made a calendar with things to do for my countdown....banking, laundry etc...luckily DH is staying home so housecleaning isn't one of them :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

[starann]

I woke up this morning to find my 4yo in bed with me......guess who is sick?!?!?! I was planning on bringing the neubulizer with us, but to have to use it now??!?! UGH! He is barking, and it's the 'early' bark, which means tonight I will get NO sleep as we will probably be in the ER.

I'm coughing up technicolored mucous and our 13 yo hates us........But we are going to WDW in 4 days!!!!!!

I, of course, didn't get done all that had to get done this weekend, so that means I will be a busy busy girl this week......I need a vacation....yesterday!

[mickeysmyboy]

I woke up this morning to find my 4yo in bed with me......guess who is sick?!?!?! I was planning on bringing the neubulizer with us, but to have to use it now??!?! UGH! He is barking, and it's the 'early' bark, which means tonight I will get NO sleep as we will probably be in the ER.

I'm coughing up technicolored mucous and our 13 yo hates us........But we are going to WDW in 4 days!!!!!!

I, of course, didn't get done all that had to get done this weekend, so that means I will be a busy busy girl this week......I need a vacation....yesterday!

Yikes!! I hope your little guy and you get better ASAP!! I know how terrible sick at WDW can be!

4 more days!!!! :cool1:

[sherreis]

OMG!! I can't believe how close we are!!

I made a calendar with things to do for my countdown....banking, laundry etc...luckily DH is staying home so housecleaning isn't one of them :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

When I first saw this I read baking, laundry. And, I was thinking, "Wow, what a woman - baking a few days before leaving to WDW..." Banking makes more sense though. Banks are closed today so we made sure to go on Saturday morning. How wonderful of your DH to clean. That makes it a little easier for you, I hope.

I woke up this morning to find my 4yo in bed with me......guess who is sick?!?!?! I was planning on bringing the neubulizer with us, but to have to use it now??!?! UGH! He is barking, and it's the 'early' bark, which means tonight I will get NO sleep as we will probably be in the ER.

I'm coughing up technicolored mucous and our 13 yo hates us........But we are going to WDW in 4 days!!!!!!

I, of course, didn't get done all that had to get done this weekend, so that means I will be a busy busy girl this week......I need a vacation....yesterday!

I'm so sorry -- lousy timing. Better today than in a few days. Hope you don't need the E.R. Don't forget to take care of YOU too. Us nurses are bad that you know - we're so busy taking care of everyone else. Vitamin C for everyone!!!!

[rosiep]

[QUOTE=sherreis;28130192]When I first saw this I read baking, laundry. And, I was thinking, "Wow, what a woman - baking a few days before leaving to WDW..." Banking makes more sense though. Banks are closed today so we made sure to go on Saturday morning. How wonderful of your DH to clean. That makes it a little easier for you, I hope.

QUOTE]

I bake too! I brought a plate of fresh cookies over to my neighbor on Saturday night. Yesterday I was trying to figure out what to do with the left over coconut I had (macaroons baby...)

I tend to go a little nuts before vacation...kinda like the nesting instinct people get when they're pregnant...I want everything to be in perfect order.


Star: :hug: Come on honey..just take deep breathes. And remember if the task at hand seems too big..just break it down into to managable portions.
I do hope you son feels better. Everyone seems to be feeling ill these days. I have been taking vitamin c, and airborne all week to try to ward off this cold I feel creeping behind me. :scared1:

[sherreis]

Star - just wanted to wish you guys to have a great trip. Just remember what doesn't get done is OK and if you forget something you're not going to an uncivilized country. Leave your problems at home! (sorry, that doesn't include a DH or a pouty child - couldn't resist - that's how it would be at my house )

[addictedtothemouse]

I'm coughing up technicolored mucous and our 13 yo hates us........But we are going to WDW in 4 days!!!!!!
It must be the age, I'm currently not the favorite person of my 14 yo.:rotfl:
I hope you all start feeling better. With 3 of the five of us having asthma we take our nebulizer everywhere.

[mickeysmyboy]

Star, I hope all is well with you guys and you and DS are feeling better! Your getting soooo close!!!

[starann]

Today my youngest had his follow up appt with the pediatric orthopedic surgeon. I took a half day from work, got him all excited for his dr appt. We go and they informed me that his appt was YESTERDAY. UGH! So we rescheduled for 11/11 (the dr comes to this area once a month from St. Christophers, so another specialist was in the office today).

I canceled his physical therapy appt for tonight....I have entirely too much to do. My DH says, "You are depriving our child of medical treatment cause you are lazy?" I said "He'll get more than enough 'physical therapy in Disney!" :rotfl2:

I got the BIG suitcase (the one that can hold a human body) to start packing my stuff, finished the boys and started doing some 'family' things. That lasted all of an hour before I got bored and came to 'play' on the computer. I started printing some journal pages....which are TOO CUTE. Until I ran out of ink! Sigh. Sometimes I wonder if anything will come easy!

I called my MIL to see if she has started packing (and to give her a weather update), made an appt to get my van inspected while we are gone (thankfully we can leave it there until we get back, but I'm hoping they don't call us with the total bill until we've been there a few days....I know it will be a doozy and don't want it to ruin our vacation. :scared1:

My 13yo's mood is better today, but it has been a rough few days. I'm really hoping that vacation will bring us all closer together as a family....that or it will kill us, one by one (reminds me of a movie, idenity, anyone see it, that was one that you really didn't guess the ending).

My husband is tried of my 'disney corniness' But I just want to be on vacation!

Oh, I've also been cleaning...an endless battle in my house....oh well, at least it is making me feel like I am doing something for our trip, cause lord knows I have to keep busy!

Ok, off to do some more trip stuff, then to bed....I have my last day of work tomorrow for a week and a half:woohoo: and have a meeting at 8am:headache: But then I'm on vacation!!!! :dance3:

[mickeysmyboy]

Today my youngest had his follow up appt with the pediatric orthopedic surgeon. I took a half day from work, got him all excited for his dr appt. We go and they informed me that his appt was YESTERDAY. UGH! So we rescheduled for 11/11 (the dr comes to this area once a month from St. Christophers, so another specialist was in the office today).

I canceled his physical therapy appt for tonight....I have entirely too much to do. My DH says, "You are depriving our child of medical treatment cause you are lazy?" I said "He'll get more than enough 'physical therapy in Disney!" :rotfl2:

I got the BIG suitcase (the one that can hold a human body) to start packing my stuff, finished the boys and started doing some 'family' things. That lasted all of an hour before I got bored and came to 'play' on the computer. I started printing some journal pages....which are TOO CUTE. Until I ran out of ink! Sigh. Sometimes I wonder if anything will come easy!

I called my MIL to see if she has started packing (and to give her a weather update), made an appt to get my van inspected while we are gone (thankfully we can leave it there until we get back, but I'm hoping they don't call us with the total bill until we've been there a few days....I know it will be a doozy and don't want it to ruin our vacation. :scared1:

My 13yo's mood is better today, but it has been a rough few days. I'm really hoping that vacation will bring us all closer together as a family....that or it will kill us, one by one (reminds me of a movie, idenity, anyone see it, that was one that you really didn't guess the ending).

My husband is tried of my 'disney corniness' But I just want to be on vacation!

Oh, I've also been cleaning...an endless battle in my house....oh well, at least it is making me feel like I am doing something for our trip, cause lord knows I have to keep busy!

Ok, off to do some more trip stuff, then to bed....I have my last day of work tomorrow for a week and a half:woohoo: and have a meeting at 8am:headache: But then I'm on vacation!!!! :dance3:

I hope you guys are well!! It maybe good that the bag is big enough for a body cause if my DH said I was lazy he'd definitely need a body bag!

[addictedtothemouse]

Less than 24 hours and you'll be on the road!!!!:cool1: :cool1: :cool1: :dance3: :dance3: :dance3: :yay: :yay: :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2:

[starann]

Going to get the rental van.

Then we are OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jkCT]

You're probably on your way already...but I just wanted to say have fun!

[starann]

We are back...exausted but back!

I will hope to work on a trip report in the next few days. We got home at 5:30am this morning (we left Sun at noon, so we made GREAT! time back to PA), unloaded my inlaws and the kids, said BYE to the inlaws and crawled into bed until 9:30. Then it was time to take the rental care back, pick up my car, eat some lunch and go grocery shopping. I have since been downloading picts (about 860 of them!), loading them onto myspace and winkflash and somewhere in there I cooked dinner.

Tomorrow we both took off again to get more done, but the kids have school, and I have unpacking to do!

So stay tuned to find out.........

How long did it take us to get there?
Did my in laws have a good time?
We lost WHO for HOW long.......
Did Cody ride the Tower of Terror?
Who hid under the tables to get away from the characters?
What 'extra' places did we eat?
Who threw a hissy fit and walked away from the group?
Did Star get to meet up with RosieP?
When do the boys want to go back to Mickey's House?
Will I ever be crazy enough to go with them again?


For now, I am off to bed!

[sherreis]

Welcome home! Looking forward to hearing all the answers to those questions. Meanwhile, have fun unpacking - I still haven't unpacked and we got home last Tuesday night.

[smarsha4455]

Welcome back. I have been catching up on you pretirp and looking forward to your trip report! I hope you all had a wonderful time!

[addictedtothemouse]

WELCOME HOME
Can't wait to read all about your trip.:cloud9: I hope it was as relaxing as you needed it to be.

[starann]

I swear, I will start a TR...soon. It seems as if one day is just as busy as the other and my house is a mess. Of course today I have to go to NY for a suprise 60th B-day party, then a 1yo b-day party tomorrow!!! UGH. All I want to do is relax like I was on vacation. Oh well!

[starann]

It’s been a few weeks since our trip, so I guess I better get crackin with my trip report. To tell you the truth, my heart just hasn’t been in it. I’ve had the “I’ve just get back from Disney and it will be a long time till I go back blues.” Add that in with the fact that the trip wasn’t all I had anticipated it to be, I’m in a funk. I have been trying to convince dh of going back for my b-day in March (since they have the new deal out) and he has so far stood to his firm ‘no.’ In fact he said it will be at least 5 years till we go back, which had me in tears. I am over it now, knowing Disney will be there for many years to come and we need a new roof!




On to my trip report

Friday morning I took Chey to school, then I took the boys to daycare, and I hightailed it to my hair appt…after all a gals gotta look good for the plethora of pictures!:lovestruc I finished up just before noon and headed home. The inlaws were due to come around noon and my mom was on her way with her stuff (she was house/critter sitting). Once I got home I was running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off (just like I knew would happen!). The inlaws arrived and FIL, DH and I went to pick up the rental van. Got that no problem, then headed to drop my car off at the shop to get inspected and work done while we were gone. We got home and it was a mad dash to pack!!!!

My husband started to wonder if it would have been easier to put wheels on our house! :laughing: We got it all packed up, bags stuffed under the seats, blankets on our laps, every nook and cranny filled! Chey got home from school, did her bathroom stuff and we were off…opps, not yet, we had to get the boys from daycare! I went in and woke up Shane with “Who wants to go see Mickey?” His eyes opened wide and said “me!” Then it was downstairs to get Cody…he was already awake. Out to the car and in car seat and now we were off at 3pm! Well until we got to the turnpike…Hubby wanted to top off the tank and I realized that I hadn’t eaten all day. Thankfully we stopped at Wawa and I was able to get little sandwich. NOW we were off.:cool1: :cool1:

I was the 1st to drive since I can’t see at night. My FIL is a retired truck driver and knew a ‘great way’ to get us around DC rush hour traffic…a little road called 301. If anyone ever suggests you take this road, politely thank them and go on I-95, no matter the time of day. 301 was nothing but traffic lights every 300 yards which are all conspired to turn red as anyone approaches them!!!!!! Not nice for a gals knees either! Hubby snored in the back, and FIL dozed next to me until about 6pm when I got tired (as did my knees) and asked FIL to take over.

I hopped in the back seat and started to supervise the boys. We had a portable DVD player with us so I put a movie on for the boys, however they started fighting over who got to hold the player and kept pulling out the power cord….so much for the movie! It was around this time I started to wonder (out loud) when we were going to stop and eat at Cracker Barrel….I LOVE ME SOME CB! Hubby plugged it into the GPS and told me 10pm! :scared1: WHAT!?!?!?! They close around then, right? We were about an hour and a half away from CB. I knew we should have stopped at the last one, but NOOOOOOOOOO, the guys wanted to keep driving.

Up next.....do we make it to Cracker Barrel for Dinner, Breakfast?
What time to we actually get to Disney?

[addictedtothemouse]

Yay! You're back. :hug: I was starting to worry. Great start to the TR.

[sherreis]

Glad to see you started your TR. Post-Disney depression is definitely no fun and I hope your DH changes his mind before 5 yrs is up. Sounds like you were off to a rocky start.

[mickeysmyboy]

Your off to a great start Star!! I hate those after disney blues! I hope your DH changes his mind!! The new deal saved me a boat load of money on our January trip! Can't wait to hear more!! I hope you got some Cracker Barrel!!

[starann]

Jumping back a few weeks before our trip. I spent a weekend ironing out our plans (that’s the only kind of ironing I do). This was (and I say WAS) my plan for our trip.......................

18th Arrive before lunch, check in if we could, go to MK for the 3pm parade then take the boat over to WL for our ADR at 7:10 at WCC Go back to the room and CRASH

19th Wake up late and head over to DHS, get FP for TSM and do a few rides before lunch at HWV Chara at 12:15 and see the parade at 3

20th EMH at AK head over to MK for 4:30 dinner at LTT, see wishes and Spectromagic

21th Epcot for an AMH and Italy for dinner at 4:30

22 Seaworld

23rd Chef Mickey at 7:30 then over to MK, then maybe the pool or DTD

24th AK then over to Epcot for 5:30 dinner at Germany and Illuminations at 9 TRY to see the parade at 4 at AK

25th Ohana at 8:15 then over to DHS for 3:50 Fantasmic dinner package at HWV

26th Load up the car, check out and go to a park we all wanted to go back to then leave around 5pm

I left some flexability that AK and MK would be switched on the 23 and 24 if need be.......


I posted this so you all could see what I had in mind for our trip.......

[starann]

I nodded off for a bit and awoke when the van started slowing down and then came to a stop. YAY Cracker Barrel…………………………………………….WHAT!!!! This is NOT CB?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!? No, I was told, we would not make it to CB so we stopped at the Country Skillet, a truck stop that my FIL insisted was decent. Now, maybe 15 years ago when he still drove truck it was, but this places was a DUMP.:scared1: And now we had to not only eat here, but use the facilities and change the kids into PJs.:scared1: :scared1: EWWWW. We ate 1st. I ordered the buffet as did FIL, DH ordered b’fast, Chey a burger, the boys chicken tenders and a hamburger and I don’t remember what MIL ate. I go up to the buffet to get some of the food, at least that is what I think it was. Things were pretty empty, with hard, crunchy leftovers being the only things I could find. :crazy2: I asked the waitress if they would be putting more out and she assured me they would. A few minutes later she comes over to say that it’s almost 10 and they were not going to be putting anything else out, in fact I better get what I want cause they would be taking everything down. This would have NEVER happened at CB!!!!! UGH!:headache:

We finish our meal and head over to use the potty. It was not the cleanest bathroom I have ever seen, so we emptied out bladders and got outta there. The kids would sleep in their clothes, there was no way I would change them in there.

So on the road again, DH and FIL continued to take turns since it was dark out and everyone else nestled down for some sleep. Of course us adults got little sleep since there was little room. We stopped a few times for gas and my FIL had my MIL move to the back so I could get some ‘real’ sleep across the seat since the sun would be up soon and I would be driving. I was hoping we’d stop for b’fast, but DH said we had poptarts, to eat those!

I start driving and continue to as we entered Orlando. I thought DH had plugged the resort address into the GPS so I followed the directions as they came out to me. We passed SeaWorld, and all the other Disney signs, everyone (well, me and the kids and dh) getting excited!!!! I pull off the highway as the BITB (witch in the box as we call it) instructs me to…..this is when DH informs me NOT to follow BITB cause he didn’t program in our resort address, just a general Disney address. UGH!!!! After getting on and off the highway again, we start seeing the proper signs and pull into ASMo at 11am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:cool1: :cool1: :cool1: :banana: :banana: :banana:
YAY We're here!!!!

Up Next: Do things go according to plans?:lmao:
Did everyone LOVE WCC?

[rosiep]

You're a far better woman than I! No Cracker Barrel and you had to eat PopTarts cold???? Ick!

[sherreis]

PopTarts for breakfast in the car... I would've put my foot down at this point that everyone needed to get out and stretch legs for awhile. Sorry to hear you didn't get much sleep. Makes for an awful start to a vacation- looking forward to hearing how your first Disney day goes.

[mickeysmyboy]

Star, I must agree with the others! You deserve an award or something!!! No Cracker Barrel, a icky truck stop and cold pop tarts!! Sound like your drive down was not too much fun!! I hope the rest of the trip was better!

[addictedtothemouse]

Sounds like the kind of trips my DH try to pull off when we first get together. Until I said NO MORE!:mad: I will have hot meals even if it's just fast food and I won't drive more than 15 hours without stopping at a hotel. (That was after we drove straight through from OK to PA, a 24 hour drive.) Now I have total control of all trips.;)
You're a saint for putting up with them.:angel: