50 pounds and 5000 bucks to go for Platinum July 2012!

[hpfan100]

great news I got the job at the junior high!!!


Well I guess now my platinum magic is back on.


I'm soooooooooo excited

 

[Alysa]

Oh that's fantastic Amy!!!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So happy for you!

 

[Corrine 1973]

WooHoo, I am doingthe happy dance with you!!

 

[11point5]

YAYYYY!!!!!!! I'm so happy for you!!! Now you get to have your originally planned trip of awesomeness!! And congratulations on the job too

 

[hpfan100]

Oh that's fantastic Amy!!!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So happy for you!

WooHoo, I am doingthe happy dance with you!!

YAYYYY!!!!!!! I'm so happy for you!!! Now you get to have your originally planned trip of awesomeness!! And congratulations on the job too

Thanks my fellow DISers. It's so nice to get these virtual pats on the back!

So it's back to finalizing plans for platinum awesomeness. I'm a bit stressed now because my bf and I are going to Vegas next week so I still need to finish planning that and we are going to Disneyland for his birthday in September. WOW It's going to be a busy year!

 

[hpfan100]

alrighy my platinum plan is booked...here's what I ended up purchasing


3 nights at AKL Savannah view room, platinum plan, 4 day base ticket
total cost: 2158.20 WOW that's a scary number! It's higher than my original estimate because I originally planned to buy a one day ticket and use my old NE hopper tickets from last summer.

Talk about some Disney magic as soon as I booked this package they transferred me straight to an IPO (I think) and she booked my tours, La Nouba and some meals for me...She had great suggestions and was so helpful. I also got transferred to Sammy D's to book my parasailing adventure. They even added celebrating a personal triumph (new job) to my reservation. I'm soooooooooo excited for this trip now.

All that is left to do is book the rest of my meals, spa treatment, ME times and cruise.

On the budget front...I called Geico to cancel my auto insurance and they ran the numbers on their new system and can get me the same coverage for only 410 another 180 dollars in savings.....WOW I can't believe it. Plus I cancelled my home phone service and it will save me about 40 a month not 10...WOWZERS!!!! I love it when a plan comes together!!!

Well off to eat a salad and watch Dr. Who before I suspend my Netflix. I'll be posting some more soon as I finalize plans.

 

[wakica]

wow, i'm so excited to her everything is coming together so well!!! yay!!!

 

[hpfan100]

wow, i'm so excited to her everything is coming together so well!!! yay!!!

thanks

 

[hpfan100]

budget news...
checked southwest's website for flight prices and was able to change my return nonstop flight for a savings of 18 dollars Only 148 with taxes and fees..that's pretty good. Now my flight to MCO I used points so it's free but I can change that to another flight for 1080 less points. I would have to change planes in Nashville instead of Las Vegas but that's ok. It's a longer layover which I hate but I can get some lunch and charge up my phone and Ipad while I wait.

On the weight loss front...I have had no fast food this month so far!!! I have been out to restaurants but I've tried to get salads and light dishes. I'm exercising about 3 days per week which is good but I was hoping to be more consistent and hit 5 a week. I'm down a total of about 11 pounds since I started this journey. Certainly no where near my goal of 50 but hay 11 pounds is 11 pounds. I still have one month to go so I'm hoping to add at least another 5-10 pounds before I leave. *fingers crossed*

Well off to do some vacation planning and exercise before a lunch of rice and beans with vegetables YUMMO!!!

 

[hpfan100]

more budget news...kinda I found a dollar in my car and it's going into the vacation pot.

weight loss...sticking to a good eating plan but weight loss is slow, heading to Vegas today and am nervous about over doing it but I will be sweating and walking since it's going to be about 110 all week Gotta love summer weather

Disney news...got my magical express vouchers yesterday and an email from the IPO people at AKL. I need to fill out some questions and send it off to them so they can get my ressies made.

 

[hpfan100]

well I'm back from Vegas and I'm 5 pounds heavier....ACCCCCCCKKKKK!!! darn buffets and free drinks

well so it's on to the strict dieting plan for the next couple of weeks. UGGG


I got my platinum plan brochure from Disney with luggage tags that are red and have Mickey heads on them. I won't be using the ME for luggage but it's still a pretty cool luggage tag.

I'm working on trip plans this week since I'm back home. First big decision is whether or not to rent a car or just use airport shuttles/car service. It looks like I can take the airport shuttle from Mears to my universal hotel for 19 bucks. To transfer to Disney I could take Mears back to the airport for 11 bucks and then hop on ME for 0 bucks. Or I could hire a car service to pick me up and drop me for about 50 bucks. HMMMM I wonder how long it would take to ride the airport shuttle and the ME? I don't think sitting on shuttles for 2 hours sounds like much fun. I found a car rental for 192.13 if I pick it up on the second day of my trip at a nearby hotel and drop at the airport. that seems like a good price but then there are tolls, gas and such.
UGGG too many choices for one brain today.


OH Yeah...on the budget front I sold some more books and such on half.com and I think I made about 30 dollars. That'll pay the airport shuttle!!!!!

 

[11point5]

I'm loving how all your recent posts have been full of such happy news!! Really hoping things keep going smoothly for you

Just wondering: how come you aren't taking ME from the airport to your resort (and back)?

 

[Corrine 1973]

Sorry that I haven't been here for a couple days. Your trip looks like it is really coming together. Iam thinking that I need to check out half.com. I have sooooo many books, and lets admite it. Once you read a book how likely are you to read it again. Now there are some that I enjoy rereading (I have read all the HP books at least twice) but for most books it is a one time read and then just collecting dust on the shelf.

 

[hpfan100]

I'm loving how all your recent posts have been full of such happy news!! Really hoping things keep going smoothly for you

Just wondering: how come you aren't taking ME from the airport to your resort (and back)?

thanks...I'm so excited to posting happy news too!!!! I'm staying offsite at Holiday near universal for the first part of my trip so no ME to get there. I am confirmed to take ME to the airport to head home but still need to figure out how to transfer between the two hotels....AHH fun times.

Sorry that I haven't been here for a couple days. Your trip looks like it is really coming together. Iam thinking that I need to check out half.com. I have sooooo many books, and lets admite it. Once you read a book how likely are you to read it again. Now there are some that I enjoy rereading (I have read all the HP books at least twice) but for most books it is a one time read and then just collecting dust on the shelf.

My trip is coming together...it's pretty exciting stuff. All these little goodie envelopes are making me sooooo happy. HAlf.com is great...no fees to list and the buyer pays a flat shipping fee that is often more than what is costs to ship media mail. I have been selling lots of my old teaching books and DVDs I don't want. I have a pretty nice collection of books that I would never sell but I have some others that I am ok to wave good bye too.

 

[hpfan100]

well my strict dieting has been in place two days and I'm already down 2.5 pounds...excellent. I've done a good job avoiding the diet cokes and all the temptations in the house so far. I drank about 3 quarts of iced tea yesterday which helped with the pop cravings. The next couple of weeks are going to be tough since I need to fly to a funeral service for extended family on Wednesday and next week I'll be at my parents for July 4th then the week after that I'll be at Disney World!

WOW I can't believe it's that close now...amazing how the time flys

 

[disney-inspired]

Way to go on a) losing weight b) saving money so quickly

I'm going in September and I've sold so much stuff to get there. My iPad (didn't really need it to begin with), my iPhone (mostly an iPod touch since it wasn't unlocked for T-Mobile) and even my real phone HTC sensation because I wanted this trip more than anything else.

I'm trying to raise money through odd jobs (washing cars, babysitting, etc) because I want it SO bad!

Also, I'm starting my walking today. I'm trying to build up my stamina so a) I'll lose weight and be healthier and B) last longer in the parks and not hurt so much at the end of each night/start of each morning

 

[hpfan100]

Way to go on a) losing weight b) saving money so quickly

I'm going in September and I've sold so much stuff to get there. My iPad (didn't really need it to begin with), my iPhone (mostly an iPod touch since it wasn't unlocked for T-Mobile) and even my real phone HTC sensation because I wanted this trip more than anything else.

I'm trying to raise money through odd jobs (washing cars, babysitting, etc) because I want it SO bad!

Also, I'm starting my walking today. I'm trying to build up my stamina so a) I'll lose weight and be healthier and B) last longer in the parks and not hurt so much at the end of each night/start of each morning

Thanks!!! Odd jobs are a great way to make extra money...good for you! I don't think I could sell all my electronics though...I'm quite fond of my ipad and phone. I am a walker too now that is it too hot to run.
I read in Self magazine that you should alternate your days like this:
day 1- low intensity long duration 45-60 minutes
day2- medium intensity medium duration 20-30 minutes
day 3- high intensity intervals short duration 10-20 minutes
day 4 rest

then repeat...It says you can use it with any exercise so I'm trying that with my walking. Yesterday I did the day 1 today will be day 2

 

[hpfan100]

well well well...here we go down to one week to go before I hit up WDW. I leave Wednesday morning early early early morning to head to Orlando. I'll be spending a few days at universal before visiting Potter and friends. Then it's on to WDW.


more budget news...So Gieco calls me and states that they will knock another 50 bucks off my insurance rate. It went from 844 originally to now being 357 for six months of coverage. WOW!!!!!!!!! I also got a customer appreciation gift from my credit union for 40 dollars. Found a car rental from dollar for 148 dollars so I'm renting a car instead of using a car service and shuttles.

weight loss front...no progress I'm still down only about 11 pounds so nothing amazing there...major bummer...need to keep trying though


I checked in online to AKL yesterday and had a conversation with the IPO at the resort and have everything but one meal credit booked. I'm planning to use it for room service but that may change down the road.

 

[wakica]

wow, your leaving already?? That came SO fast!! Great job on more savings!! and sorry that the weight loss didn't quite make it but hey!! 11 pounds lost IS a great achievement So kudos to you!! Go and enjoy your trip

 

[hpfan100]

Here it is the day before I leave....My flight departs at 6:30 am local time... I have to change planes in Nashville with a 2 hour lay over Then I arrive in Orlando at 4:40 pm local time.


My budget total so far:

5000 dollars was not needed after all My budget sits at 3609.08 and that includes a pretty large budget for tips/souv/drinks/MISC. at WDW and US. According to my spreadsheet I was able to earn/raise/collect 2434.23 of it. The bulk of the money raised was from presents, free gift cards from mycokerewards and a large savings from my car insurance. So really out of pocket this trip is costing me 1175.57. Not too shabby for 8 days in Orlando with 3 nights platinum package at AKL.

Weight loss front....still not much progress to report there...really struggled to get momentum going on this. On the good side last year I lost 8 pounds on my vacation to Orlando and I didn't even eat well. So maybe I'll come home smaller than when I arrived.


Thanks to all my fabulous DISers for the support, encouragement and following me on this journey. I'm planning to do a trip report when I return so keep your eyes peeled for it.

Until next time...