I learn something every trip. Next time, we'll do a resort pool/dinner only day. I just love DVC. I guess we did that at AoA but we were tired and didn't arrive until early evening so we missed that coveted pool time.
We used the THV grill twice. I don't know how to vacation anymore without a full kitchen.Even if we don't cook, I love the space. Did you stay in the THV? How did you like them?
Thank you. I feel okay as long as I'm laying/sitting down. The minute I get up, I feel loopy.
I should be packing as we're going to Southern Utah for a soccer tournament tomorrow. Its about a 5 hour drive. DH is at the FD then going to Santa Barbara for an Abercrombie shoot. This is not the best weekend to be a solo parent.
I feel ya on the cold and snowy and sunless and frozen. This is the longest winter ever.
I think the THV are so comfortable. I know people say that SSR as a whole doesn't feel like Disney but I never forget we're at Disney. I'm was well aware the entire trip. I am on every trip.Have a safe drive! What's with this "Abercrombie Shoot" in Santa Barbara?
It's been fun. Joshua team tied all three of their games, which is nearly impossible, and didn't make it to the semi-finals. They played so well and were so crushed. The last game was 1-0 us and they held them off. With 30 seconds left we thought we'd won. We had won. The refs didn't blow the final whistle. Another full minute went by, still winning. After 3 extra minutes, the other team scored, the refs blew the whistle, and that's what disqualified the boys from the finals. We had to win this game, not tie. I told Joshua it's the game. Sometimes you're the dog and sometimes you're the hydrant and right now, it's hydrant time. 
He ended up taken it pretty well. You're so very sweet. It was a very rough two weeks but I'm feeling better. Thank you for thinking of me. 
Kelly was great and bought them on sale so we didn't pay near what we would have had DH bought it. I'd throw out anything opened too.
After 3 days away from home with 2 more to go, 2 kids, 2 different, tournaments, and no DH to help, I'm ready for a BIG nap.I love Gabby's suit
Not judging, just somewhere in a past life, I must have either lived through the Great Depression or some other tragic event. I have no history in my childhood that would make me so thrifty other than the fact that in college I rang up my CC debt so high that I learned the value of a dollar in my first job out of college. But even before then, I really tried to be thrifty. The idea of not getting the value out of such and expensive piece of meat would have driven me from the pool to cook it and make sure that someone ate it! 
I think relaxing was a good call in your issue management section. 
I have my own set and I'll just work with them!
Sounds like a great day. I would have been in physical pain to leave the tri tip. You didn't even get it on special for $1.99 a pound and pack it in your suitcase!
But that's good, it sounds like for you there are different issues to confront!
Looking forward to the next update when you get back from your soccer thing.
Hilarious! We needed to relax far more than to cook that meat. She did get it very cheap so it wasn't a tough call. I think the Bloody Mary's made it an easy decision. Everyone was just so chill and enjoying each other to break to cook. Michael really wanted a break too. Our brats and dogs were fabulous and hit the spot. Not a gorgeous Tri tip for sure but the kids were all happy and everyone ate. If I recall we also grilled a few leftover burgers too. Definitely not a shortage of food.
I'd love to try the BWV one day. They were on my list for this trip but I got out voted.
DH is working for A&F this week as the paramedic on a photo shoot. It sounds much more glamourous than it is.
I hear you about the gym and, UGH. I've been kind of lame there lately, I've been going but have been in a rut and have got to up it a little. So I did. Now I'm sore. Which is pathetic as I barely upped it. The good sore but still.
The colors and vibe were so laid back. All it needed was Jimmy Buffet playing in the background.Those are my kind of prices! though at those prices they don't have quite enough fabric on them for me anymore
Good for you! I'm going to CA in 16 days so I'm going to hit it hard during this next 2 weeks. I've been eating non stop since my last trip and forget about being super healthy during soccer tournaments. There's so much waiting around and driving.
Yikes! I'm still hoping for a CA/AZ spilt for Spring Break even if we did just one day at Disney/DCA. We'd stay with my friend as there is no way we'd get the GCV this close.
I agree, it's a pain to post from the phone. AKL is gorgeous. It's stunning actually. I could spend a week there, if its warm, and not go to a single park.
Tickets going up again?
But I hear you on the broke part. It's impossible to do it all and unfortunately our wants come in second. That's where we are with our anniversary trip. We really a huge trip for our 20th but with Gabby's car, camp for 2, Chloe's week in AZ, Joshua's bar mitzvah, and that little things called food and a mortgage our anniversary trips looks like it won't be much more than a fabulous weekend away. And you've got NYE. I think you're doing pretty darn good as far as trips go. 
I'm not up to date with the whole FP+ thing. What is it? Do you always insure your DVC trips? You're better than my DVC rep when it comes to info from points to cruises. You really should have been a travel agent.
That 30% increase was killer.
I had no idea you could buy DVC trip insurance.
You're selling me on the DVC insurance. I need to look into it more.
It's regular trip insurance too?
$89 total? Really? It's so worth it. So if you borrowed points, what happens to them if you end up canceling? Do they go back into the use year like they would without insurance?
Wow! You really do your homework.
There are pre-exisiting conditions? I love your dorkiness!
I only bought one UY for that trip though, I just wanted to cover flights, I didn't really expect anything to happen. I wanted to insure the cruise but cost wise, didn't go there and thankfully, didn't need it. I kind of figured since I had DVC stays on both sides, and it was only a 4 nighter, I was covered for delays and left it at that. Aulani is insured simply as a leftover from the summer trip even though I didn't own those points when I bought that insurance, it's still the UY I insured so they are covered. Which I thought was darn cool.
Ugh, who really knows yet. Lots of rumors, speculations and testing here and there. Basically the ability to reserve fast passes up to 60 days in advance. the actual logistics of it though, who knows. Some things discussed are
- 3 of them per day but only at one park (no hopping)
- will still have regular FP that you [pick up at the park
- will phase out regular FP that you pick up at the park
- different levels of resort stays may get more, or less of them
- fireworks/parade seatings or even dining may be available with FP+
- AP holders may bet 20 per quarter (that one torques me. In theory if it is 3 per day based on your ticket, the rest of my family could end up with more than I do for our NYE trip!)
But in reality no one knows. It was rolling out Feb, then March, the April and who knows. It's tied to the whole RFID room key thing and the magic band thing and really, no one has a clue other than the random blogs of folks who have been randomly picked for testing. So I'm trying not to overreact. But the timing for it is likely why the price increase may happen earlier than usual on tickets.
I actually called them about that question. What if I didn't want to make a claim on my points, just on flights, rental car, etc for a cancelled trip, all the non refundable stuff. Could I? They seemed to think I could. I also asked what would happen to the points if I did make a claim, but the points were still "good", would they actually pay on them? And if they did, would they then "take" them away? They weren't really sure.
In reality it's not really linked. The travel insurance folks aren't MS so can't go in and take my points. I don't think.
A travel agent would be fun. Pretty sure it wouldn't pay as well as what I do though, sadly. I could definitely see doing it as a retirement gig though! I've only had one DVC trip so yes, I guess I've always insured them.
It is regular trip insurance (you can download the policy from the members site) and it actually covers up to 8 people I think! Anyone staying/traveling on your points.
For a 7 night cruise though, I do think I want to insure it. I'm not sure what our regular insurance covers for evac and need to look into it. AAA was the best deal I found and would cover the flights so I will probably go that route. I didn't insure Alaska as I figured it was in the states and knew my regular insurance would cover whatever much as if we were in FL or Denver.
And who will have access to said *perk*? What if you're a non planner? Do you really think they'll have that many tiers to FP? What if you own DVC or have an AP? Does that weigh in? Makes me want to skip WDW until they figure it out almost. Thats going to be an amazing trip. I'm so envious (in a good way).
kaoden39 said:
I think I'll like it more with Carsland though. It's be super hard to not go into Disneyland....
