I'd Walk a Mile for a Cupcake- an SSR Quickie! 4/4-4/7/11 FINISHED!! 6/29

[hmillerbarilla]

Joining in... I love your TRs and want to hear it all!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I wish you had been down there, too- Someday I hope we ARE there together!!

I REALLY like being the PTA president! I'm having a great time- everyone has been extremely supportive, and extremely nice to me- and I get a thank-you from someone fairly often, so I am glad I took the job. It's very busy this week, though, with budget presentations, a PTA meeting tonight, etc- tomorrow morning I'm hosting the council here, so I have alot of work to do today. No updates until tomorrow or Wednesday, too many other reports to write! Let me know when we can have lunch- I would LOVE to see you!! Have you been to the Lion King? I haven't and REALLY want to go- DVC is still getting discounted tickets, and it makes me NUTS I haven't been!!! Did you hear EOS is opening in Times Sq? We should go THERE for lunch!!



I'm so happy you think so!! I promise LOADS of photos!!!



I hope they have them over there for you!



I found out yesterday that they had NO PRACTICE last week...NONE. Can you imagine what a lunatic I would be if I had left him home for NOTHING!!!!???!!!! Soooo glad he came with us!

I'm not sure about that- I'm sure you could, at the very least, call MS and tell them and then they could add the DME at that point so it would be in the system for the bus- not sure how much control those CMs have at the DME desk, or how much access they have to the ressies- the DME is really Mears, isn't it?

You must be getting SOOO excited for your trip!! I wish I could have booked that cruise- love the sea days, LOVE San Fran, and would LOVE to see Vancouver!!

NO PRACTICE? Good thing you took Tyler
I wish you were on this one, Too!

I know the answer to that: ME is not allowed to take walk-up customers. When Disney first established ME it was allowed, but the other transportation providers were really upset and there was some lengthy discussion between all parties which ended with MCO still letting ME operate from their building but with the restriction that only guests with reservation are allowed to take it.

Of course, I don't know how a CM might react if you find yourself stranded at the airport. Or possibly you could call CRO or MS from your mobile and add ME to your reservation before walking over to the ME check-in desk



I guess, it might never hurt to just get a ME reservation for your arrival date just to have it as an option, there isn't a penalty for no-shows.

Thanks, having a ressiee just in case is a good idea

 

[podsnel]

How fun! I love that you got to surprise your one son! We loved EOS when we went in Dec- my husband fully intended to get the holiday sammie when we went back to DTD, but it didn't end up happening. Can't wait to read more about your trip with your boys!

Thanks! I had originally wanted to surprise them both, but that didn't work out. Maybe another time....

Great TR so far and I'm looking forward to reading more. SSR looks lovely. We've never been there but, it definitely looks like a resort to try in my book.
Sharon

Hi Sharon! SSR is a nice resort- it gets knocked alot, which is a shame, but to each their own, I guess. Thanks for following my TR!

I'm here Ellen!!!! And waiting for the video of Tyler.....

I'll post that next- I had a very busy PTA couple of days-and of COURSE I am SO GLAD you are here!!

Joining in!
Your pictures look fantastic! Loving the TR so far!!

Hi and thank-you! I only used my Canon water camera- only took 15 pics with my DSLR this time- I just wanted to focus on my kids and not carry around the big camera- so I'm glad the pics are ok! But I DID take alot with my smaller camera, so there's LOTS more to come!!

I just saw that you had started a new TR.

Hoppiing on board for the ride!

AWESOME!! Thanks for coming along!

I am here and very much looking forward to your TR! What a great start.

Hi Katherina! Thanks for being here!

i can imagine the surprise on his face....it will be the teenage "uhhhhh Thanks?"...Look. Can't wait to see the photos to get me more pumped for May. Good luck to everyone in your house this last week before TAX deadline. I drove by my old office yesterday and saw all the CPAs working. ugh

Yea- this is not a fun week for Pods OR us...but he got SOOOO much done in the past two days, he was able to take last night off and watch the Yankee game. The end is almost here....I can see the light at the end of the tunnel......

 

[podsnel]

As promised, here is ALL the excitement of Tyler's Disney surprise...not exactly that magical of a moment, but what can we expect from a 13 year old boy??

CLICK TO PLAY

 

[podsnel]

I'm in! We love EOS! I feel like it is a hidden gem at Disney. I have had the turkey and stuffing one before and it is really good, but my favorite is the Original.

Hi Pinkpixie! I would love to try ALL those sammies on that EOS board, but I always have that Original one- just LOVE it!! Thanks for reading along!

Here I am Ellen...all ready to hear all about your little trip with the boys!

SSR looks really nice to me! That's one of the few Disney hotels us non-DVC folks can snag consistently and at a reasonable oop cost. Not that we have yet, mind you. I totally need you to have a few words with Ron next month. Nothing at Disney impresses him anymore- (except.. and I quote "MAYBE, maybe AKL with Savannah view..MAYBE"). Yes, he is very sick in the head. Sigh. We are struggling to decide where we will stay in July but will probably just leave it up to Capt. Kirk and Priceline to decide for us again, however...

You are killing me with the Bailey's shake and the EOS pics. To paraphrase Sarah: "Look! Ice cream in a drink! It's for me. Can I?"

lovelovelove EOS! Original Roast Beef for us too. Or more accurately we each get an Italian and then we split an Original. Oink. But for real we get out of that place cheaper than Mickey D's. Crazy.

Was it hot enough for ya this week? I'm pretty sure some records were set. Whew!

I can't believe you never stay on property! It's SOOO much fun- and it makes the whole Disney experience complete- although I know there is a TON of competition out there off property, and some great places can be had. It's just....when you stay at a Disney resort, you are completely submerged in the whole Disney thing. Did you see Kara's response to you? She in the Queen of Upgrades, it's crazy!

We only had one hot day- the day we left. It was cooler the other three days- definitely needed a jacket at night. But what a switch on Thursday!!!

Can't wait to see you!!!

I'm enjoying reading your tr, I thought most of the Jersey schools were off the week before or after Easter but I guess I was wrong. My older ds is autistic as well he also goes to a school out of district and has the same week as us this year. We are you going in Nov during the teachers convention is that when you are going? We hav'nt gone at that time since 2004. Looking forward to reading more! Linda

Hi there! Usually, they are- either the week before or after- but this year, with Passover & Easter so late, everything kind of scattered. Breaks are all over the place. My DS16 goes to TCI in Verona, they are off next week. And yes, we are going NJ week, that's when we always go- this year we arrive Nov 9 and leave Nov 14- staying at BCV. Where/when are you going?

aww so excited for your mother son trip. cant wait to hear more!

Hey Drea!!! Thanks for coming along!!!

I know the answer to that: ME is not allowed to take walk-up customers. When Disney first established ME it was allowed, but the other transportation providers were really upset and there was some lengthy discussion between all parties which ended with MCO still letting ME operate from their building but with the restriction that only guests with reservation are allowed to take it.

Of course, I don't know how a CM might react if you find yourself stranded at the airport. Or possibly you could call CRO or MS from your mobile and add ME to your reservation before walking over to the ME check-in desk.

I guess, it might never hurt to just get a ME reservation for your arrival date just to have it as an option, there isn't a penalty for no-shows.

That's a good idea- to book it just in case. You ALWAYS have great advice, Katherina!

 

[DizneyDreams]

I love watching those Disney Surprise reactions on Youtube, I always tend to get a little misty-eyed. How cool of a surprise would that be!!!

Boys tend to show their excitement differently though it seems hehe.

 

[15isto2]

He did seem quite surprised and happy to me

 

[MAGICFOR2]

That's funny, Ellen! He could hardly contain his excitement!

 

[kid-at-heart]

Hi Ellen,
In reply to your post from "over there", "Mickey's Not So Scar...", we are going to Disney twice this summer. Sarah and I are going from June 26th until July 1st. The class she is attending is "Wild by Nature" and I am really looking forward to it. Sarah is also but she is still unaware of how cool it is going to be. Then we are taking a family trip in August (12-20) to celebrate Rob's birthday (my excuse to get to go again). During the August trip Sarah is signed up for another "YES" class, "Ocean Discoveries". Rob wants to accompany her to that class so I guess I will sleep-in or something.

 

[bluejasmine]

Enjoying the TR! DH and I spent our honeymoon at SSR back in 08! Ahh the memories..LOL

 

[MEK]

Tyler was so ecstatic he was speechless Teenage boys. They are all the same! I am so glad he was able to join you, because, you're right, next year the fun starts. The - you can't miss any school until you graduate - fun!

Yeah to the springs! I hoped you liked SSR. I think the furniture needs an update, but I really do love the complex. It's so pretty.

I can't wait to read all about your trip.

My VWL contract finally passed and I made my first reservation for December. We are actually going to take Nick out of school for a couple days, so its basically a 4 day weekend. Better than nothing. Darn school interferes with everything.

 

[CRdisMom]

yah--what he said...what a great quote!

 

[tinytreasures]

I love the way his eyes about popped out of his head when you told him

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Awww that was cute! He's such a 13 year old boy! But a good 13-year old boy! At least he didn't react like the kid who thought they were going to Dick's house....
My favorite is how excited you were when you told him!

 

[nenner1]

Sorry, El, don't mean to hijack your thread BUT.....

Jen, when we lived in Jacksonville, we would head down for weekend stays and ALL BUT ONCE we got upgraded. We booked AKL el cheapo room for $199 one weekend, and got bumped up to a savannah view..... once we even booked ASMo and got upgraded to CSR!!! Then at CSR we got upgraded to a preferred location. Talk about a TOTAL upgrade!

Also, we booked some stays on expedia - imagine Contemporary for $179/night! I think because we were only there one or two nights, WDW figured it was cheaper to upgrade us than someone who would be there for a week. Same with the expedia rates.......

OK, now back to Ellens TR.....

Wow- so you book Disney properties on Expedia and get rates like that?!?!? I'll have to check that out. And then upgraded on top of it! How awesome!!!

I'm still paying for the one time like 5 years ago we got a PIN for pretty much any Deluxe for $199/nt (inc. AKL/Savannah view- which is what Ron wanted) but I overruled him b/c I had always wanted to stay @ the Contemporary..and this was before the reno and it was butt ugly back then. It had scary early 90's looking bright & bold urban patterns on the bedspreads and draperies! Of course no upgrades for us...we had a Garden Wing Parking Lot view willy. LOL!

Hopefully you can rub some of your upgrade luck on us. We've never gotten one, not on land or sea.

I can't believeyou never stay on property! It's SOOO much fun- and it makes the whole Disney experience complete- although I know there is a TON of competition out there off property, and some great places can be had. It's just....when you stay at a Disney resort, you are completely submerged in the whole Disney thing. Did you see Kara's response to you? She in the Queen of Upgrades, it's crazy!

Yep, lol. Well, we don't *never* stay on property (that sounds unbelievably grammatically incorrect!)... We have stayed @ the Contemporary (pre-renovation see above ) , CSR (which we loved), and Pop (which we enjoyed but we can't all fit in just one of those rooms anymore...double beds- ick!). I am totally cool with trying out each and every resort. The ones I am most interested in are BC/YC, AKV/Kidani/ of course BLT, and the retroist in me wants to try the Poly since I didn't learn my lesson @ CR. I just have to deal with Mr. I'd-rather-be-on-a-cruise...

We only had one hot day- the day we left. It was cooler the other three days- definitely needed a jacket at night. But what a switch on Thursday!!!

Can't wait to see you!!!

Jacket?!?! You silly goose! I've been in shorts since December!
It was horrid hot at DHS last weekend I'm hoping I don't melt in May!!!
Can't wait to see you either!!!! Just a few weeks now, where does time go?

 

[karajeboo]

OMG I am cracking up at Tyler's reaction! And then listening to Timmy in the backseat made me laugh even harder!!! I guess I'm sooooo not used to boys, young TEENAGE boys, at that, cause little girls just go nuts!

BTW, what was Tyler looking at in his lap? Was he texting?

 

[RNBelle]

Is there two different threads to this or am I crazy?

 

[jerseygirl81]

Hi there! We are going 11/10-11/15, I'm not sure where we are staying yet I've changed my mind several times already. My ds19 attends the Developmental Learning Center in New Providence. We went through the guardianship process it was'nt the easiest thing emotionally speaking, but easier than what we face next year when my ds graduates he will be 20 in June. I have a friend at work who has dvc ownership at SSR and loves it. I added Earl of Sandwich to our list for restaurants in November. I'm looking forward to reading more about your trip. Linda

 

[Mysteria]

Love the reaction! Really he was all happy dancing on the inside.

 

[OhMari]

I went home on Sunday, and you were there the next day. I did come back Wednesday though with dh for his convention. we were over at the Ritz again, poor poor me.

I know you had great weather, and the days later, started getting too hot.