4/29/06 Eastern Magic...We're Going!!!!!

[castlegazer]

Good luck on the show.

OK - people who check in from WDW are either too cool or really need to get out on that lounge chair a little more and order up some more drinks.

Turkey day was fine. Typical stuff. We stayed in our home city for all four days which was wierd. We are always traveling somewhere. It was a time of leaf raking, house cleaning, movie seeing, and basic nothingness that was well needed.

 

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

I am going with the way cool, but I do need more time in the lounge chair. The Queen is running me around like it is our first time here, I keep reminding her that we will come back, but after 9 nights she still hasn't done all she wants so here I am at 7 something this morning checking my e-mail before I head out on another full day of being an animal.

Tom

 

[castlegazer]

I am always exhausted from our trips to WDW. I am a frantic mess too.

Our last trip was for one day - yup one day. Talk about trying to squeeze in too much. Prior to that it was a four day trip - again trying to squeeze in too much.

We usually go to be at the beach - we have always had a condo out in Cocoa Beach - and that is where we vacation and then pop over to WDW for a day or two each trip. The last few years are the first time I actually stayed on property post childhood. I am feeling a big L popping up onto my forehead. I am now addicted to staying on property though. I am in love with the FtW cabins.

My father was a commercial real estate broker - hence how I became involved in commercial real estate - and he invested in Cocoa Beach back in the 70's due to NASA. Smart move until NASA started to falter. He set up trusts for my siblings and myself which included condos there. Thus I have always owned a condo in Cocoa Beach. However, I had to sell mine in college so now we all just say we have one... but its really my sister's now.

 

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

Back to page 1, come on people lets get active.

BowTie, where are you and how are you doing?

Jenlynn, I thought of you when I went to the sCRAP booking store at disney.

PhillyJen, how was your party and of course we still haven't seen HG Pat like you said.

Head Gear Pat, I don't even know why I am acknowledging you, but I need the official Key Lime Martini recipe from you before new years eve.

Pango, you are weak dude, and you drive a grocery getter.

Pangos Queen, hello, you are not going to be on the team.

CastleGazer, I guess we all know where we are staying before the cruise (tell your sister thanks for the condo.)

LSUtigger, need more cowbell.

Doc and Leisa, you need to figure out a way to make it work.

Diver Dan and Lisa, just keep reading and don't worry about posting we will do it for you.

B & R mom, you cancelled playgroup so now you can post.

PotJuicer you are still my friend.

Tom

 

[DisneyJam]

Welcome back TT!!!

It's been a bit hectic in MD lately. We hosted the families for turkey day and have been busy getting all the holiday decorations up. You know the house doesn't look that tall untill you are on an extension ladder looking down.

Oh and get this... We had to rush Madalyn to the ER last week because she had severely bitten her tougue. (courtesy of Teddy of course). It was a nasty looking gash, but no stiches and it has already healed to the point that you can barely see where it was.

We are in the process of booking our Disney trip in June. Looks like we are going to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge June 23 - July 2. Anyone want to join us??

cg - how are those cabins? We also addicted to staying on property and like to try different resorts each time. AKL is the choice for this trip, but we have a hugh list to get through.

pj - hope the show went well!!

 

[castlegazer]

I think the FTW cabins are the best deal on property. You get a full kitchen which is very nice with full fridge - think of the beer stocking - full microwave (not just a tiny one) and a full oven with tons of cabinet space. YOu then have a nice dining area, a living room with a full murphy bed and a back bedroom with a full bed and bunk beds. You can usually get the cabins for about $179 a night during code periods.

You also get a HUGE deck with picnic table and an outdoor grill. You are surrounded by woods - not other people. The cabins are well shrouded in greenery so you can see or hear your neighbors. Its very peaceful and beautiful.

People complain about the pools not being themed but they are nice and very close by. Plus they smell strongly of jasmine - its pretty nice.

My only complaint would be having to take buses internally in FtW. But it can be rectified by renting a golf cart - but that gets expensive at $40 per day.

As for the condo, well, here's a further story: It got completely destroyed in Frances. I mean completely wiped out. Its on thetop floor of the building overlooking the ocean and the pier at Cocoa Beach. The windows blew out and the storm blew in. There was sand in the upper corners of each room and hte wind sand blasted the paint right off the walls in big long sheets. My sister and her husband are there now trying to just clear it out for a complete re-build. So maye by the time 2006 rolls around they will have gotten their insurance checks and finished the construction. But I am not betting on it.

 

[Belle&RellasMom]

I'm Back!!!!!

It seems like it's been forever!!! I don't have a laptop so I didn't have the privilege of posting while on vacation (though I did look over Tom's shoulder while he was posting)...you may say that he had too much time on his hands if he had time to read these boards, but when you are at WDW for 11 nights you have plenty of time to do other things!!! He says that I ran him around like a wild man the whole time, but in reality we only had a few really long days (about three 10 hour days, which is a lot for us ), and the rest of the time it was a few hours in the parks and a few hours at the pool, and a few hours enjoying a good meal! Do you see a problem with that??? Besides, if you are paying to go to and stay at Disney (which we all know isn't cheap), wouldn't you rather "enjoy" Disney than to sit by the pool all day??? Believe me, I am all about down time at the pool but if I thought that we were going to spend our whole vacation relaxing (like Tom wanted to do) then I would have rather gone to a relaxation resort (on the beach somewhere) and not to Disney! Even with an annual pass (so you don't have to go "Commando"), Disney isn't the most relaxing place on earth! The most magical, yes, but not the most relaxing! After 12 trips, you would think that Tom would have known this going into the trip...apparently he didn't!!!

It has been a crazy couple of days since we got home...one soccer game, one Brownie parade, one Brownie field trip, one pizza/drinking party at Doc & Lesia's, one hair appointment (mine...desperately needed) and about 15 loads of laundry!!! Tom's right...I did cancel playgroup (who can really host a playgroup at their house less than three days after an 11 day vacation?), but it's not like I've been sitting on my butt (well, naked in the mirror it looks like it has been sat on quite a bit) all week!

By the way, I got a really cool Mickey ring when I was at WDW (it is cool, isn't it Laura?)...also got the usual stuff...photo album, 2005 calendar, x-mas ornaments, DVC shirts, etc...

Glad to be back (I missed all you guys...potjuicer if you are reading this you su*@)...but also wish I was still there! We had an awesome vacation!!! Hard to believe that we are going back in 114 DAYS!!! I know that we are crazy to be going over Spring Break, but with the whole annual pass thing we can really pick and choose our times to go to the parks...plus we are going to Vero Beach (with our DVC points) for a few days too! Should be another great vacation!!!

 

[Belle&RellasMom]

BTJ...I'm glad to hear that Madalyn is OKAY...believe me, I know how the kid fighting goes...welcome to my world!!! I'm the MOM who can't wait for summer vacation to be over so I can go back to yelling only between the hours of 4 & 8 and not 8 & 8!!!!!

castlegazer...looks like you are a one-woman-show keeping this thread alive!!! I like what Tom said earlier about the place to stay the night before the cruise...it'll save us the hundred bucks that we spent last time to stay at the RonJon!!!

PhillyJen...I hope your jewelry show/party was a HUGE success!!! Your designs are beautiful...very similar to my girlfriend's jewelry (and she is hugely successful!)...I keep trying to pull up your website...when will it be up and running???

 

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

Sad Very Sad

 

[Belle&RellasMom]

Sad that we can't keep this thing on first page???

 

[castlegazer]

Yeah - you all lost your head of steam.

Me, I have nothing more to report. I always get all wound up planning at first and then I lose steam. I try to get everything done right away so that I actually get everything done. Now mind you, I have never planned atrip so far in advance so we will see how this goes - will I pick planning back up again sometime in 2005?

 

[DisneyJam]

Yeah the excitement seems to have died down a bit. What where'd everyone go?? Well hopefully once the busy holiday season passes we will start to see more activity.

We just booked our June Disney trip. And cg... we are sold, we are going to have to try the cabins on our next trip. Looks like that will have to be sometime in 2007 after the cruise. So now the fun can begin with all the planning for this trip. There is a strong possiblity of us driving this time. Thought it would be a nice experience for the kids, plus I can pick up some fireworks in south caroline on the way home for 4th of July.

 

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

Joe,

We had some friends stay in the cabins and they really enjoyed it, but you have made an excellent choice my friend in the Animal Kingdom Lodge. It is probably are second favorite resort behind Beach Club (have to say that after the large investment into the vacation club), in fact we stopped and had lunch there just after Thanksgiving so the girls could see all the animals. I took some great footage of a giraffe that was about 20 feet away eating off a tree, and don't forget to go out by the campfire at night so you can use the night vision goggles to see all the animals.

The first time we stayed there, when we got to our room we went out on the balcony and there weren't any animals out on the savanah. So I closed the slider and we got ready to go exploring the resort, as we were heading out the door Lindsey our oldest saw a giraffe and started running to the balcony. Unfortunately she did not notice that I had close the glass door, and ended up hitting it at a full sprint. After making sure she was O.K.(just in case family services is reading this) I laughed as hard as I ever had, I just wish I would have been video taping it so we would be 10 grand richer.

PhillyJen, you got nothing?

Headgear don't bother.

JenLynn when you are off for 2 weeks you will not have an excuse.

I don't know why I am even ragging on you guys, because all of our friends are lame, but they will come to play once we set sail. You have my word on it.

Tom

 

[castlegazer]

You all must be tippin the ole egg nog too much lately and can't type.

OK - who else loves egg nog. I LOVE it. Its great this year because I don't have to worry, very much that is, about the fat content.

 

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

CastleGazer,

I agree with you they must be sipping something, but since we are 500 DAYS away should we put this into something we can all prepare for ?

A Bushwacker is what I am talking about!!! I know Pango remembers these (HeadGear he did your act on A1A after to many of these, so this is Pangs praying to the porcelain GODS). I think Pangos Queen enjoyed these also, I myself had 6 of them.

After today we will be under the 500 day mark, so it is time for people to pick it up. What happened to all the posters?

PhillyJen
Belle&RellasMom
Mermaid Patty
Pango
Pangos Queen
DisneyJam
JenLynn
CastleGazer
LSUTigger

Are we doing this Cruise Thing or Not People?

Tom

 

[PhillyJen2006]

Hellooooo! Of course my show was a success, why else would I dis(no pun intended) you all for so long! Tom, got your message last night. I know, I am bad. I sold $1000.00 at my first show! Yay Me!!!! And booked a show from in! In fact, I have to go deliver the rest of them tonight and then I only have about 10 more to do before Christmas that weren't part of the show.

So things are crazy! I will check back soon I promise! Julie, the Tuggle girls are absolutely adorable! My Christmas cards were ordered from Shutterfly last week and I still haven't gotten them! So they will probably be turned into New Years Cards.

I don't know if I told you guys but I found the greatest thing. It is a black pirate flag with Martini glasses instead of crossbones! I think we need to fly it from our balcony! I will try to find it again and order it!

Have a great night!

PJ

 

[PhillyJen2006]

http://www.after5catalog.com/product/466.aspx

The martini pirate flag~

 

[castlegazer]

Ooo - that's cool. Great find.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Hey, I thought I posted on this thread the other day.... did I post on the wrong thread or what? I can't find my post now and I KNOW it wasn't back in Nov and I searched the last 2 pages! Strange......

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

nevermind- wrong thread. LOL