4 + 1 = happy memories? I hope so! NEW: Final thoughts!

[Liz]

Well I've been able to get a lot done this weekend towards our trip NEXT SATURDAY! I can't believe I'm saying that. The month of September seemed to be 60 days long as the time dragged by.

A snowstorm this weekend kept me home and focused on my "To Do" list. Don't we all have those as we prepare to leave home? Last night as the weather cleared a bit Laura and I headed to Wal-Mart with our list of things we needed to buy for the trip. A staggering $156 later we left the store!!! Holy Cow!

Its always a horrible thought that someone might be sick on vacation. We had that once when Laura was sick for her entire Make A Wish trip. That was truly hearbreaking. Traveling in winter seems to increase the odds of catching something. I remember last December sitting in the waiting area at the airport and trying to avoid the "coughers" and hoping they weren't sitting by us (not that it would matter as we'd all breathe the same air.) We dodged the bullet and stayed pretty well at Disney last year. I got sick our second week in Florida and had to find a doctor for a bad sinus infection but its okay if you have to be sick at your mom's house.

But in order to be prepared for any event that might occur while at WDW, here's what's in my ziploc bag of medical provisions:

Theraflu
Mucinex
Tylenol
Imodium
Sinus medicine
Cough drops
Thermometer
Thermometer covers

Oh please let us come home with all these things unopened!!!

 

[Liz]

Have you visited the creative geniuses on the DISign board? I highly recommend it if you have TIME and LUCK! Both of which I am running extremely short of now!

I had just two designs made for our trip. One for our Segway tour:

And another for maybe our Magic Kingdom day:

This may be the only place these designs are ever seen because we are now 5 days away from take-off and I haven't gotten the first shirt made! Oh its not for lack of trying. I have the transfer paper and two white shirts and one gray but I can't find FIVE white shirts in the right sizes or FIVE gray shirts or FIVE of ANY color in the right sizes!!! The only store we have in town is a Wal-Mart. Tonight Laura and I ventured into Salt Lake City to go to Michaels. After about 15 minutes we had to turn around due to more . . . say it with me . . . . SNOW.

I figured it wasn't worth killing ourselves over a few shirts. If the weather clears on a night I'm free we'll try again. I think they would be very cute and hope it works out, especially since some wonderful DISers went to the trouble to make them for us.

Oh well, its not like I don't have anything I can be doing tonight at home. Which I better get busy doing right now!

 

[Liz]

I'm in the middle of making shirts tonight which means the weather was good enough to run into Salt Lake last night. We purchased five white tees for the Segway shirts and five red tees for the one with the stick figures. So far we have six successes and one failure (the first one I tried to make on the red tees). But one failure means another trip back to Salt Lake City for a replacement red shirt. Hopefully that's the only reject in the bunch because I have so much to do. Luckily Jeff got home from college tonight (semester and finals are over!) and he can probably run in and get the shirt for me.

I don't know about anyone else but I don't like to go on vacation and leave my house a mess, which it is right now. Especially since people will be coming into our home to take care of what we fondly refer to as "the puppies":

As you can see they aren't the least bit spoiled!

Friday night we're having "Christmas" and opening presents. Thankfully I'm almost ready for that. Dinner is going to be simple to prepare and simple to clean up. I'm thinking pizza. Just taking a few gifts to Florida so the kids can have something to open on real Christmas day.

My "To Do" list looks something like this:

Do laundry
Clean the house
Finish packing
Finish shirts
Deliver Christmas gifts
Work two more days (oh how everything would be so much simplier if I could stay home!)

Back to shirt making! I tried keeping it as a surprise but Laura is in on it now and is my able assistant! Jeff know I'm doing something with shirts and keeps taking a peek as I shoo him away! Hope its all worth it!!!

 

[hddanis]

Stopping in to say hi! Love your puppies, are any puppies really spoiled? I think not. Our poopies (yep, that's what we call them) aren't spoiled at all. They have their own couch in the family room...

I get the nightmares too. I'm already having them and I've still got 42 days left. Mine are about me leaving MY meds at home I've been in and out of the hospital over the past couple of months and the idea of me being without my meds terrifies the daylights out of me.

 

[Liz]

Stopping in to say hi! Love your puppies, are any puppies really spoiled? I think not. Our poopies (yep, that's what we call them) aren't spoiled at all. They have their own couch in the family room...

I get the nightmares too. I'm already having them and I've still got 42 days left. Mine are about me leaving MY meds at home I've been in and out of the hospital over the past couple of months and the idea of me being without my meds terrifies the daylights out of me.

Hi! I'm glad you popped in to say hi! Aren't the puppies/poopies wonderful?!

I hope your health is better now! Sorry to hear you have been sick!!

Have a great day!

 

[Liz]

Last night my husband came home late from Salt Lake. I had him stop at Michaels and pick up a replacement red shirt. Early this morning (about 4:30 AM) when I couldn't sleep I took it out of the bag and threw it in the washing machine then later the dryer. Just now before going to work I went to iron on the last transfer with the Mickey stick people and I looked at the shirt more closely. He got a YOUTH size XL not an ADULT XL. So we are STILL one shirt short and there is NO TIME to go back to SLC and get another one. I'm going to check Wal-Mart and see if they have a red tee. It may not be the exact same shade of red. And if they don't have one then one person will just have to not have a matching shirt. Unfortunately that one person is me!!!

 

[carissanboys]

Hi Liz

Sorry to hear about your t-shirt troubles! I'll bet they turn out great.

I wanted to wish you a fabulous trip and I can't wait to hear all about it once you return. Have a great time!

 

[Liz]

Hi Liz

Sorry to hear about your t-shirt troubles! I'll bet they turn out great.

I wanted to wish you a fabulous trip and I can't wait to hear all about it once you return. Have a great time!

Thanks for the good wishes! I hope everything goes well! I think if we can all stay healthy everything else will take care of itself! I'll have to catch up on your trippie when I get back!

 

[Liz]

Well the day is finally here! We leave for the airport in three hours. My clock was set to get up at 6 AM but I actually got up at 5:15 and was awake long before that. Figured I can sleep on the plane. I likely won't but I could!

Last night I was so exhausted but we had a fun "Christmas" and opened our gifts other than the few things that are going to Florida with us. The kids were thrilled with everything. Both of them got new digital cameras and Jeff got a share of Disney stock which he said is the best gift he has ever gotten in his whole life. I almost got Laura one and wish I had because she wanted one too.

But anyway, last night I felt like I might be getting sick. I think it was just from being so tired. I feel better this morning.

The t-shirt troubles are mostly solved. We got another red one at Wal-Mart and I finished it last night. Its not the same shade of red but who cares at this point. I was going to redo my white Segway one because it has a little bit of burned marks on it from the iron. I did my shirts first so any boo boos could be on them. I ended up being just too tired to redo it and its not that noticeable.

Almost all packed except for the last minute stuff. Still doing a little bit of laundry and straightening up. Can't wait to go and hopefully we don't have any problems with bad weather in St. Louis. Apparently they are having snow today!

We'll be in Disney World till the 23rd but won't be back home till the 31st. Merry Christmas everyone!!!

 

[IluvXU]

Your at WDW- sending good wishes your way!

 

[MARY-IN-OH]

Getting excited to hear everything!!!!! Hope you had a wonderful time!
mary

 

[Liz]

We're home! Happy New Year everybody!!! I'm so tired. We've been up since 2:40 AM Utah time so I don't think I'll still be up in five more hours to ring in the new year!

We had some very good Disney days and some not so good. Will try to update again soon!

 

[Liz]

This has been a hard year for our family so its not with any sadness that 2007 is behind us. I was really hoping this Florida trip would end the year on a positive note.

Let the fun begin!

I usually like to book the earliest flight to Florida available (around 6 AM departure) but its a difficult conversation to ask someone to take us to the airport at 4 AM! The morning of December 15th was somewhat relaxed since we didn't have to leave for the airport till 9 AM.

I still got up early and spent the morning packing our last minute items, DISing and watching the clock. Right on time at 9 AM my sister-in-law showed up for our ride to the airport. It was a cold, cold Utah morning and my SIL's van was freezing! We didn't say anything but huddled a little closer together for warmth in the backseat.

Just as we reached the area of the airport terminal where we were to be dropped off my SIL's van started overheating and losing power. She assured us everything was fine and we should go on. After unloading our luggage we exchanged hugs and waved goodbye as SIL drove away. We took our luggage to the skycaps and all of us had chattering teeth from the biting cold.

Inside the airport the security line was extremely long but moved at a steady pace. Shoes off, liquids bagged, video camera out of its case - it was so much easier in the old days when the greatest concern was whether you remembered to remove keys from your pocket. One of our carry-ons was pulled aside because I hadn't taken out the portable DVD player. I saw a bag that belonged to another flying passenger being opened and several full sized bottles of hair care products were being removed and discarded. What do you suppose happens to all the stuff they confiscate? What a waste if its just thrown away. I hope it is taken to a homeless shelter or something.

Once we found our gate, Paul called his sister to make sure she had gotten home okay and we were horrified to learn she was broken down just outside the airport and was waiting for a tow truck. She was so nice and said all would be fine, there was nothing we needed to worry about. Still we felt so bad for her. She said airport security had stopped by to make sure she was okay. Several days later when we talked to her again we found out the oil pump (I think) had gone out. I don't know what we would have done if the van had broken down between home and the airport. I guess we would have had to call a cab??!! I'm glad it didn't come to that!

Sitting at the airport would anyone guess we were DISers?

Jeff was on the phone with Kels and found out she was in traffic and running late for her flight!

Finally Jeff reported Kels was at the airport and would make her flight. We were also aboard our Southwest flight and headed for our first destination - St. Louis.

Laura and I sat together in a window and middle seat. The aisle seat was occupied by a beautiful and stylish young lady who had the pointest shoes I had ever seen in my life! I couldn't help looking but didn't want to stare but I kept thinking there must be 4" of shoe before her toes started! I am so not up on the current fashions but she looked quite beautiful.

We landed in St. Louis early. I had been monitoring St. Louis weather reports all week and was concerned we would be delayed. Here's what it looked like as we waited on the ground:

We didn't have to change planes, just wait to take off again. Jeff talked to Kels and found out she had made it to Las Vegas and was on her way to Florida.

Additional passengers got on and we were able to take off for Florida! We changed our seating arrangement and I sat by Jeff on the way to Orlando. I could tell I was tired because he was talking about all the things we were going to do at Disney World and while I tried to be as excited as he was, none of it sounded as good as a nap.

Up next: We made it!

 

[MARY-IN-OH]

checkin in, and looking forward to the next installment! Whew! glad Kels made the flight, I was there for a minute!
-mary

 

[carissanboys]

Welcome home!

Great start so far. Can't wait to hear all about the trip

 

[Liz]

Our flight arrived in Orlando at 6:50 PM. Kels flight wouldn't arrive till 8:15 so we left Jeff in the terminal to wait at her gate. They would get her luggage and take Magical Express to our hotel and meet us there. None of us had taken ME before but hoped it would all go smoothly.

Laura, Paul and I retrieved our wet luggage. Yes wet. I hoped the contents were dry because we know how well things dry out in Florida.

We missed having Jeff's help with the luggage but found our way to National. We looked for the Emerald reserve aisle for the full sized cars. A National rep asked if she could point us in the right direction and I showed her my confirmation. She pointed right in front of where she was standing and indicated we could choose any of the cars available. We were gazing at huge, luxurious SUV's, etc. I then noticed the sign said "executive" or something like that. Luckily I new that wasn't what we reserved and we moved over to the full sized aisle. I have no idea why the National rep told us to choose from the executive aisle. We never would have gotten out of the airport with one of those vehicles I'm sure.

As much as I plan and plan I always seem to leave something important behind. It didn't take long to find out what it was on this trip. I made a change to our National reservation just a few days before our departure and threw away the old print out and replaced it with the new one. Only I threw away the $30 OFF COUPON as well and didn't realize it till we stopped at the booth as we exited the airport. The very nice National employee asked for the coupon and said he couldn't locate it in his system. When I couldn't find it he said he would have to charge me $30 more. However, he said he would note in the computer and write on our paperwork that the car was empty when we picked it up so we could return it as empty as we could instead of having to return it full and that would save us most likely more than $30. Wonderful! We were on our way!

We easily found our way to All Star Music! This was our first time to stay here and would only be visiting for one night but I was excited to see it. Paul and Laura sat with the luggage while I checked us in. I was hoping they would let me check in for both rooms and they did. I had requested rooms in the Jazz section but received parking lot view rooms in the Rock & Roll section. It was a little farther from the main building but okay for one night.

When I checked in I asked the CM what the procedure was for having luggage moved to the Wilderness Lodge the next day. He said to call Luggage Assistance from our room and make arrangements for them to pick it up.

We drove around closer to our room and hauled everything to our rooms. We came into the rooms and were excited to find this!

And hidden Mickeys in the carpet!

Got a phone call from Jeff. Kelsee had arrived safely, they had picked up her luggage and found Magical Express. They were sitting alone on the bus waiting to leave the airport. He said while they were waiting for the bus a CM was talking to them and saying how he feels like he is in "prison" working for Disney because they never let him sit down! At first I thought he was talking about the bus driver but he said no, it was someone in the airport who dealt with people waiting for ME. Not a very magical way to begin your vacation to hear a CM complaining like that. I could see that it was going to take a lot longer for them to join us than I had anticipated. It was going to be a super late night!

While we waited I took a couple more pictures in the room:

Jeff called again to say they were on their way. We headed down to the main building to wait for them. Once they arrived there were hugs all around.

None of us had had dinner so we were starving. We ate at the food court, which was tasty especially since we were all so hungry. I can't remember what we all had but it seems like just cheeseburgers and sandwiches of some kind.

We walked through the resort saying we would take pictures in the morning when it was light outside. Its really very pretty there. It was so late though. Jeff and Kelsee arrived at the resort at 10:15, two hours after Kels plane landed. It took a long time to get her luggage and once they were on the bus there was a long wait before it left.

We ordered a wake up call for both rooms and went to bed, excited to move to the Wilderness Lodge in the morning!

Best part about today: We all arrived safely and we love All Star Music

Worst part about today: The time it took for us all to finally be together at the resort

 

[Donald is #1]

Only I threw away the $30 OFF COUPON as well and didn't realize it till we stopped at the booth as we exited the airport. The very nice National employee asked for the coupon and said he couldn't locate it in his system. When I couldn't find it he said he would have to charge me $30 more. However, he said he would note in the computer and write on our paperwork that the car was empty when we picked it up so we could return it as empty as we could instead of having to return it full and that would save us most likely more than $30. Wonderful! We were on our way!

Wow! That was an awesome compromise by the person at the exit booth!

 

[MARY-IN-OH]

Checkin in! Can't wait to hear more!
-mary

 

[carissanboys]

I'm curious what time your wake up call was for! I hope not too early

Can't wait to read more!

 

[Liz]

Your at WDW- sending good wishes your way!

Thanks for stopping by to say hi!