Mentally Preparing: A Focker, A Croc & Waldo hit POFQ! Trip Report Link is UP!

[Disneyland_Mama]

How is one convinced to vacation with family?

How is one suckered into planning and preparing a vacation for 10 people?

And not just any vacation, a DISNEY vacation at that. Now a true DIS-er knows that answer… they volunteer, if not insist, of course!

This is the story of how it happened, why it happened, and what happened.

But first let me give you a little background. Some of you may have read my last trip report, “Where’s Waldo”, if you have not, please, read it, learn it, know it. Well, upon returning from our last Waldo adventure, DH and I decided…. Wait, wait, wait…. Let me be honest. I decided we should return to WDW, as our 6 days in the world was not enough. I know, let’s try a 10-day vacation!
When we returned from our last trip, my Dbro and his family asked all about it and of course, we gave them all the details. That was it, the boys (Dnephs ages 10 &14) didn’t want to go to Hawaii in summer of ’07, they want to go to WDW. We all convinced Dbro to change plans and now we’re all set. All except Waldo and Dmom (the Enabler). Now if you read my first trip report, you will know all about Waldo and his antics. You would know that Waldo wanders, has bad hearing and is a complete know-it-all senior citizen. Ah, my gene pool!
I went crazy having to baby-sit Waldo last year for 6 days, and I was not looking forward to babysitting for 10 days this year. He complained for weeks after our return home about how sore his legs, feet, arms, legs, eyes, etc. were. I truly didn’t think he’d ever want to go back to WDW. However, when he heard we were heading back to "The Mother Land", he wanted to joined us.
Ok, fine, Waldo… BUT, you can go only if you commit to renting an ECV and staying in it. We will rig one with a kill switch so, should you wander, your ECV will stop. Or a homing device or a giant flag with an arrow pointing to Waldo. We may even rig you with an electric collar type contraption and should you wander.... ZAP!
That is HOW it happened.

Up next... introductions all around. Bring on the lunatics!

ETA: There's a lot of funny conversation going on in this pre-TR, so I've added an Index for those who just want the "meat" of the story, if you will. Personally, I like the fluff, it makes everything funnier!

Meet the Focker <scroll down>
Introducing the Ducks
Make DLMama do it
The Family Album
Putting Lover to the test
I've got a Bad Disease
A lesson in Fuzzy Disney Math
Coincidences
My conspiracy theory
Who's entitled to Free Dining?!?
Changes & I've got a headache!
Focked by a stranger
One step closer to the Ledge
An update of sorts
Novella's Part 2
Throw Waldo from the train
One last ditch effort
Hello? Is there any life in there?
The Good, the bad, & the lime!
What's an OCD girl to do?
To buy a new wardrobe or not?
OCD Strikes again!
Funny or sad? You decide.
Swimsuit shopping 101
Completely OT- but funny!
Spreadsheets complete!
ADR Trepidation
Some Brief Announcements....
I'm so confuzzled!
The Ducks cometh...
The Ducks continued...
Dreams granted @ Disneyland
Do they sell muzzles for people?
Banned from Little League games?
A prerequisite of our August trip!
Untitled: post 977
Strike one!
Guess What!?!?!?!
Things are comin' together
Warning: Suicidal/homicidal thoughts..
Confession #10394
My B-Day, Disney Style
Our day at DLR
Disneyland. The Final Frontier.
Artsy Fartsy Craft Corner
Transportation elmination
Time to update the checklist
Fish are friends, not food
An Important Announcement!
Smell That?
Not a broken leg!!
Just a quickie!
It's the Final Countdown!! (insert cool keyboard diddy)
To hair or not to hair...
"Breaking" News
Untitled Post #1496
Untitled Post #1533
Untitled Post #1544
Untitled Post #1580
Untitled Post #1616
Untitled Post #1630
Untitled Post #1634
What's in the details?
14 days you say???

 

[Lauralee131]

It has begun!!!!

And I'm the FIRST baby!!! Can't wait for this wild ride!

I'm expecting lots of and and crazy pineapple-wielding axe murderers!!!

 

[MousekaMaddi]

all buckled in and ready to rumble!!!!Lets go........

 

[sorul82?]

Ooh, me too! How in the heck did I not read your Waldo report?

 

[meeskamouska]

Fockers Unite....love it sooo far....

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

Hello, my name is Tracy, and I am a FOCKER.

For those unfamiliar with the FOCKER thread, let me briefly explain. Sometime ago a thread was started on how to identify fellow DIS-ers whilst in WDW. (That’s for you, Jo) Someone suggested the hand signal from the movie, Meet the Parents. It basically became a huge thread and we now keep track of each other via the FOCKER WATCH list kept to date by my dear friend PrincessV. So, we have a secret signal and special lanyards and a super FOCKER meet in August. Now, Sorul82? has come up with our own little mascots, the Focker Crockers. They are little stuffed Crocs that we pass around to eachother whilst in the world. (Another one for Jo) We keep a travel journal and take photos and post them on the Dis.

Crazy, yes! Fun, absolutely! I am a dork. But I love my Fockers!

Me 34, almost 35!: Tour Guide Tracy and a glutton for punishment.(Thanks Lauralee!) As most of you know, I am a Disneyland-aholic. I hit Dland at least once a week, during the non summer months. I am a stay at home mom, who dreams of DVC and Lapu Lapu’s. Did you know they’re putting DVC at the Grand Californian? I nearly pee’d my pants when I found out. I dream of Disney all Disney all day. I am a dork.

: DH (37 ish) Disneyland Daddy (aka Andy): My man, my rock, my complete opposite and yet, we fit like a glove. He gives in to all my Disney whims and is a great Daddy. He can play Princess Tea Party with DD and move on play trains with DS, all without skipping a beat. I think he is still in the closet about his love for the Mouse, but that’s ok. You see, I know he loves the Mouse, maybe not as much as I do, but there is still love in there. I think he loves that his family loves the Mouse and that is why he loves the Mouse. He's not happy about not being able to golf, again! Bwahaha! No golfing for you!

Am I losing anyone, yet? I'll try to be brief...or not!

DD5: Madison, aka Maddie: My Princess. A pure Disney girl at heart. She is such an all around girl. She loves to do the girly things, dress up, baby dolls, and yet, she can his a pitched baseball and is an amazing gymnist. I often refer to her as Scarlett O’Hara, as she dreams about “tomorrow” a bit too often and can be pretty melodramatic. Everything is a tragedy. Her goldfish died 8 months ago and she stills tears up about it. She had the goldfish for less than a month, and guess who took care of the thing? Yuppers… ME!

DS2: Evan aka EhEh: Evan will turn 3 before we leave for our vacation, so he is no longer “free”. Darn it! This is my “adventurous” child. He is mischievous in every sense of the word. He is a daredevil. DH and I raised him to have no fear and now it’s coming back to bite us in the butt. In his first 2 years of life, he has visited the ER more than 3 times and has had 4 stitches. This child is bumped and bruised all over, I sometimes wonder what people must think. But, he is just as much a sweetheart. He can melt my heart with his big beautiful brown eyes and it makes me forget whatever it is that he has done. He has a great sense of humor and keeps us laughing all the time.

Ddad 71ish aka Waldo: Oh Waldo, oh Waldo… where do I begin. You know what… I’m just going to leave Waldo as Waldo. All you need to know, I’ve already described. You'll learn about Waldo soon enough!

Dmom 71ish aka The Enabler: My mom, she is incredible mom. Now that I am older, she is more like a sister, than a mom. She has raised me and has done her job, and so now our relationship has evolved into a friendship. I am lucky. We are shopaholics and often find ourselves in a little bit of trouble. She hides my purchases in her room for me and I do the same. I call her the enabler, because she never discourages me from purchasing anything, but often helps me find a reason to buy it and another one because the first one was such a good deal. The Enabler deserves the Congretional Medal of Honor. She's been married to Waldo for almost 52 years!

Up Next: Meet the Duck Family... our traveling companions!

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

It has begun!!!!

And I'm the FIRST baby!!! Can't wait for this wild ride!

I'm expecting lots of and and crazy pineapple-wielding axe murderers!!!

Bwahahaha! It's been killing me not start this early.... Waldo and his antics have been HIGH on the funny scale!

all buckled in and ready to rumble!!!!Lets go........

WhooooWeeeeee.... hang on to your hats and glasses, baby!
Thanks for joining!

Ooh, me too! How in the heck did I not read your Waldo report?

S'late, you made it!!!!

Now just FYI, we made our Focker Meet ADR for August 25th for our FOCKER meet, with an extra place, incase you decide to join us!

Fockers Unite....love it sooo far....

Hi Meeskamouska!

Welcome...all are welcome... all welcome... come in to the focking light....

Thanks friends for joining the party!

 

[sorul82?]

Ya'll made a ressie to include me? That is soooo suhweeet! I was going to set my alarm bright and early in the AM so I could be on the phone with Disney first thing. Who am I kidding, I was going to stay up all night holding the phone, ready to dial. Hey look, only 6 more hours!!

 

[Castillo Mom]

Tracy, we've gotta stop meeting like this. It's Lisa, aka Castillo Mom from TGM. Great start to your pre-trip report. Looks like I'm going to have to settle in for some more reading - gotta get the scoop on Waldo!

 

[sorul82?]

Hey Tracy: I started reading your other trippie and it is fun-ny! But, it is missing the post reply button at the bottom. Are completed trip reports now locked or is it just yours and there is something juicy I haven't gotten to yet? I think your dad and my hubby's grandfather are long lost brothers...pun intended!

 

[DisneyJo]

Yeah it's started

whilst in WDW. (That’s for you, Jo)

Do you know it took me ages to work out what you meant, I'm so pleased I'm instilling proper English onto y'all.

He's not happy about not being able to golf, again! Bwahaha! No golfing for you!

Ummmmm my Dh and Lauralee's DH are playing on the morning of Saturday 25th up to you if you tell him or not.

Can't wait for the rest only 5 1/2 months to go

 

[Lauralee131]

Ummmmm my Dh and Lauralee's DH are playing on the morning of Saturday 25th up to you if you tell him or not.

Can't wait for the rest only 5 1/2 months to go

I still can't believe that all of a sudden DH even wants to go to WDW...he's coming over to the dark side...little by little...if I just put that banana peel a little further into his path he can slip right on over with the rest of us.

Sad though ...V and I were going to try and room together that night...that would have been fun...I sent her a PM telling her that now he wants to go. I'm still in shock. I tried the whole, "But honey...you've got guys...You can go to Vegas!?" Then I had to do the whole Eddie Murphy ice cream song..."You love the Mouse...You love the Mouse"...Well, maybe you had to be there for that

But our girl V...hope she's feeling ok...and taking it easy...poor thing...Shout out to ya V!! Miss you...

Well, why don't you ask your DH if he wants to play? You'll score some MAJOR points that can be banked to use at a later time!!!

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

Tracy, we've gotta stop meeting like this. It's Lisa, aka Castillo Mom from TGM. Great start to your pre-trip report. Looks like I'm going to have to settle in for some more reading - gotta get the scoop on Waldo!

Hi Lisa! Welcome! I hit your pre-trippie this morning.... great minds, I tell you! See you on the plane!

Hey Tracy: I started reading your other trippie and it is fun-ny! But, it is missing the post reply button at the bottom. Are completed trip reports now locked or is it just yours and there is something juicy I haven't gotten to yet? I think your dad and my hubby's grandfather are long lost brothers...pun intended!

I think it's locked. As I was reading your trip report, I thought the same thing! Grandpa and Waldo MUST be related!

Yeah it's started
Do you know it took me ages to work out what you meant, I'm so pleased I'm instilling proper English onto y'all.


Ummmmm my Dh and Lauralee's DH are playing on the morning of Saturday 25th up to you if you tell him or not.

Can't wait for the rest only 5 1/2 months to go

Shhh! Don't tell him! If he golfs, then Waldo will want to golf and then both your DH's will hate me!

I still can't believe that all of a sudden DH even wants to go to WDW...he's coming over to the dark side...little by little...if I just put that banana peel a little further into his path he can slip right on over with the rest of us.

Sad though ...V and I were going to try and room together that night...that would have been fun...I sent her a PM telling her that now he wants to go. I'm still in shock. I tried the whole, "But honey...you've got guys...You can go to Vegas!?" Then I had to do the whole Eddie Murphy ice cream song..."You love the Mouse...You love the Mouse"...Well, maybe you had to be there for that

But our girl V...hope she's feeling ok...and taking it easy...poor thing...Shout out to ya V!! Miss you...

Well, why don't you ask your DH if he wants to play? You'll score some MAJOR points that can be banked to use at a later time!!!

Poor V! I sure do miss her! Can I assume Michael is joining you? Maybe we could do some park time together with the kiddies? Or not, I'm not trying to horn in on everyones family time. Or am I? Bwahahahaha!

 

[DisneyJo]

Shhh! Don't tell him! If he golfs, then Waldo will want to golf and then both your DH's will hate me!

Don't tell him my DH is a Pro then either, free lesson. It was so funny I told Lauralee that DH was a pro and she just thought that was how us English talk about a good golfer not that he was actually a Pro.

Can I assume Michael is joining you? Maybe we could do some park time together with the kiddies? Or not, I'm not trying to horn in on everyones family time. Or am I? Bwahahahaha!

I am gradually turning my family, when I said to my eldest Jessica that the 2 dad's may play golf she straight away said ohhhh can we go to a park with Lauralee and Michael then!

 

[T-i-double-g-err]

Hey Tracy

Just jumping on here early...

We're still bummed we're gonna miss the August fock-fest. When did the schools start opening their doors for the year the second week of August?

What's all this with golf? Who goes to WDW to golf? Okay, from my point of view, who goes anywhere to golf. If you have a morning tee time, you are missing PRIME park touring time. Have to keep our priorities straight here. In any case, I can usually hit the ball in right general direction, along with about a foot and a half of turf. Of course, Jo, I can kind of see it if you make your living that way. But, for recreation, give me a nice walk in a park; of course, the way I golf it amounts to the same thing...

I'll have to pass DW a note to point her here as she'll want to read along as well.

 

[Lauralee131]

Shhh! Don't tell him! If he golfs, then Waldo will want to golf and then both your DH's will hate me!

ORRRRRR...they may actually let us have a whole chick trip someday!!

Poor V! I sure do miss her! Can I assume Michael is joining you? Maybe we could do some park time together with the kiddies? Or not, I'm not trying to horn in on everyones family time. Or am I? Bwahahahaha!

I know...I miss her too!!!

Yep - if Dad's coming, Michael's got to come...I just lost my babysitter! But yeah, we can definitely do some park time...that'd be fun!!

Or would it?

I actually think that Michael would enjoy being around some other kids...all this alone time with mom and dad must grate on his nerves! No wonder he's always so anxious to go to "kids clubs"!

 

[Lauralee131]

Don't tell him my DH is a Pro then either, free lesson. It was so funny I told Lauralee that DH was a pro and she just thought that was how us English talk about a good golfer not that he was actually a Pro.

Ok, ok...so now you're just bragging...Do you have those bumper stickers in England that say "My Child is an Honor Student?" Mine says "My Child Kicked Your Honor Student's Butt" Well, I censored the last word...(LY Mari and saving you the trouble!! ) The same goes for golf there girlie!!!

I am gradually turning my family, when I said to my eldest Jessica that the 2 dad's may play golf she straight away said ohhhh can we go to a park with Lauralee and Michael then!

This is really starting to sound like one awesome weekend!!!! Won't that be awesome?!?!?!?!?

Ok, and by the way, I went back and looked at the "clue" picture...I still don't get it!! The bridge one, MAYBE, I could have guessed...what is it with the cannon? I just gotta know now...you can't leave me hanging!

Very nice pictures by the way...you all look so cute! Is London far from you? Oooop...I just hijacked Tracy for a minute...

Ok, we now return you to your regularly scheduled Pre-Trip...

 

[Castillo Mom]

Ok, I've just finished reading your TR from last vacation. I feel like I'm in the twilight zone - so many similarities! Waldo could be my MIL, Monchichi is my sister's favorite childhood toy besides those hideous Cabbage Patch dolls and your nephew bares a striking resemblance to my 17 year old son. And not only are our travel dates for next trip almost the same, you're on the same flight us us in the row directly behind? AND you're a TGMer? Too creepy I say! Are you sure you haven't been stalking me?

Just kiddin'! I wanted to tell you I enjoyed reading you trippie. I could definitely relate to your comparisons between DLR and MK. Oh, and I was going to ask you what limo company you used, but I think I'll pass. Don't want to wind up in a discomobile.

 

[LisaDKG]

Hey Mama!

I've decided that I will live precariously through YOU since I have no trip to plan and would take either DL or WDW gladly. You seem to know BOTH so intimately (seriously? once a week to DL? - that would so be me. if I was living in California and not bloody freezing Canada).

Fock on sistaH!

 

[sorul82?]

Hi Lisa!!!


Tracy,
I'm still reading your other trippie! At least your Waldo didn't leave Epcot!