A Disney-addicted mom: 2nd annual August trip and Marathon Weekend *Update 10/7*

[klacey1]

Sounds like a fun weekend! I love the Baltimore Aquarium-- have fun!
Too funny about Jessica-- definitely created a Disney monster! Love it!

 

[DrMomof3]

My brother and his family live in Owings Mills MD so we spend quite a bit of time down that way in the summer. We love the Inner Harbor area. There's so much fun stuff to see and do. Baltimore is definitely one of my favorite cities to visit! I love going to ball games at Camden Yard too, only we go to see the Red Sox... Can we still be friends?

Absolutely. My DH is another story, however....

Sounds like a fun weekend! I love the Baltimore Aquarium-- have fun!
Too funny about Jessica-- definitely created a Disney monster! Love it!

Jessica is a Disney monster!!!

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

A sure sign of Disney addiction? I bought a new guidebook. I never had a Passporter book so I bought one. I don't think it has as much info as the Unofficial Guide but I like the pockets and stuff at the back. And it's nice to have a different viewpoint.

Last weekend we did a movie night. Tom DVRed the new Suite Life movie on the Disney Channel. We made fish sticks and tilapia for dinner and had a movie night. The movie wasn't only so-so but it was fun for the whole family.

Tomorrow I'm running another 1/2 marathon. I feel like a trained more than I did for Disney but it's a hilly course so I'm nervous. I'm in one of the back corrals which was a weird reality check for me. I felt like my time at Disney wasn't bad but now I realize that I should be working a bit more on my speed. I know, I know.....

I want to try to pre-pay for the rest of our trip because we may be buying our house soon. (I feel like the house buying process has been endless!) I want to not worry about paying for the trip. The airfare is paid for and the deposit. We need to buy new APs which is pretty expensive so I might start buying them one at a time. And I want to pay off the hotel room ahead of time. I know some people say that's a waste because the money could be earning interest but it's better for me to pay for everything up front. Plus, we have to buy Zachary an AP. Ah the joys of him turning 3..... I am also considering the possibility that we need to downgrade our hotel. I think we can save money by taking advantage of the kitchen in the villa (plus the washer and dryer!!!) but I'm willing to downgrade if it means a trip to Disney! We got a 40% discount on the room and I love having the extra space. We could always cancel V&A to save $$$$....

Speaking of Zachary.... We returned to the pediatric neurologist who now agrees that Zachary has mild Cerebral Palsy (CP). While it's not a diagnosis that anyone wants to hear, I feel better knowing that he has a diagnosis. And we know that his prognosis is very good. We had our meeting with the school district special ed people (CPSE meeting, for those who know what I'm talking about) and he'll qualify for PT and OT. He's continuing in Early Intervention until the fall and then he'll start getting his services through CPSE. Our district is known for taking away services so we were happy with the outcome. He's still very far behind but it's all subtle - if you didn't know, you wouldn't know. And his 3rd birthday is less than a month away!!!!

Amanda

 

[natebenma]

Thanks for the update and good luck on the run today!!!

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

Good luck in the half today!! Can't wait to hear how it went.

 

[DrMomof3]

Thanks for the update and good luck on the run today!!!

Thanks Dee!

Good luck in the half today!! Can't wait to hear how it went.

It was great!

Yesterday I ran my 2nd half marathon. It was the More Magazine Women's Half in Central Park (NYC). It was awesome!

I woke upna 5am (although I sleep poorly the night before) and got dressed. I was pretty worried about what to wear! I wore a long-sleeved tech shirt with a fleece over it and then my capris with a built in skirt. I was cold before the start but ok for the rest. I tied the fleece around my waist right before starting.

I was pretty far back at the start. I thought a time of 2:44:15 at Disney was pretty good but I was basically in the last corral before the walkers. 7500 women ran this race!

Disney is a flat course. Central Park...not so much. There's a killer hill that you do twice (the race is 2+ laps in the park. Yikes! I felt like I was better trained this time and my goal was 12 min miles. I'm happy to report that I achieved this! I finished in 2:36:41. I went from 12:31 min per mile to 11:58 min per mile in about 3 months!!!

I feel very, very sore today but I'm happy. The next race that I'm planning is a benefit for Westchester Medical Center on October 9th. It's a local half marathon that benefits a local hospital (not my hospital!). I'm hoping Tom will run the 1/4 marathon that day.

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

Jessica was home sick a few days last week so I bought Tangled - which the kids have watched 3 times already! Tonight Jessica announced that Rapunzel is AT Disney World and wasn't I excited to learn that!!! I'm hoping she'll pick a Rapunzel outfit at Bibbidi Bobbidi....

Amanda

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

That's some great progress!! Imagine if it had been a flat course! I hate running hills in the worst way but living in the Northeast, as you know, it's impossible to avoid.

I just saw Tangled for the fist time the other day and LOVED it!

 

[natebenma]

Yesterday I ran my 2nd half marathon.

I felt like I was better trained this time and my goal was 12 min miles. I'm happy to report that I achieved this! I finished in 2:36:41. I went from 12:31 min per mile to 11:58 min per mile in about 3 months!!!

Fantastic, Amanda!!! Congratulations!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Great job Amanda!!! That's a REALLY great improvement on time! I've lost time in the last month with being sick and having a thigh injury, I'm having to go much slower b/c my body is not as ready as my mind!

 

[klacey1]

Great job at the race, Amanda!! That's a terrific time! Aww, we liked Tangled, too! I think The Princess and the Frog was a bit better, but I think Rapunzel is cute for little girls to admire!

 

[DrMomof3]

That's some great progress!! Imagine if it had been a flat course! I hate running hills in the worst way but living in the Northeast, as you know, it's impossible to avoid.

I just saw Tangled for the fist time the other day and LOVED it!

I don't know that my time could have been much better, even on a flatter course. I probably walked 5 extra minutes that I normally would have run but I walk pretty fast!

Fantastic, Amanda!!! Congratulations!

Thanks Dee!

Great job Amanda!!! That's a REALLY great improvement on time! I've lost time in the last month with being sick and having a thigh injury, I'm having to go much slower b/c my body is not as ready as my mind!

I've lost a week or 2 of training due to minor injuries. It's really frustrating! Feel better!!!

Great job at the race, Amanda!! That's a terrific time! Aww, we liked Tangled, too! I think The Princess and the Frog was a bit better, but I think Rapunzel is cute for little girls to admire!

Thank you! My kids definitely like Tangled better than The Princess and the Frog. I love the jazz music on Princess and the Frog!

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

So we have some financial considerations that have come up (we're likely buying our house!!!! and we owe some $$$ in taxes) and I probably need to cut the budget for our trip a bit. The first thing to go is dinner at V&A. I'm not cancelling quite yet - I'm going to see how cash flow is over the next month or 2 - but I think it's unlikely that we'll keep that reservation. Much as I LOVE the idea of doing the Queen Victoria room experience, it'll probably have to wait a few years. Like I said, I'm not cancelling quite yet but I need to start thinking about alternatives.
Where should we go for an adult-only dinner on date night at Disney??? We're staying at BLT so California Grill is an option but we've eaten there twice. We've also eaten at Narcoosee's. Should we try Citricos? Take a cab over to Jiko? Head over to Bistro de Paris in Epcot? (We ate there once, too). We could go to Yachtsman or Bluezoo again. Other ideas???
Ideally I'll like someplace romantic and "grown up" since we'll be enjoying freedom from the kids.

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

I really don't want to cut CRT or Bibbidi Bobbidi for Jessica. She has classic middle child syndrome and I think it'll be really special for her. I've also priced other hotel room options but we got such a great discount on the one bedroom at BLT that it's hard to match that. Believe it or not a regular hotel room is only a little less expensive and we'll lose the kitchen and washer/dryer. Staying off-site isn't an option (my DH will never agree to that!). I honestly think we'll feel crowded at POR with 5 in a room plus 2 strollers!!! The cabins aren't much cheaper and I think we'd want at least a golf cart if not also a car. The golf cart rentals are so expensive that it eats away any savings! I also need to buy APs for everyone. Jessica and Nathaniel will be renewals but Tom, Zachary, and I will need new APs. Yikes!!! At least the airfare is purchased already...
For meals we like to eat dinner out each night (except I'll make Mickey mac n cheese for the kids on the night Tom and I go out). I've only made one lunch ADR and I'll probably make a few more. The kids can share meals and we'll take left-overs home. I can also get gift cards for Rainforest from My Points so that would probably be free.

Amanda

 

[klacey1]

I'd say cutting V+A is probably the way to go. Like you said, you can go back in the next few years. It'll still be there!
Yatschman is a good signature for an adult's night out, especially if you're a steak fan. You could always walk around the Boardwalk or World Showcase when you're done, too.

 

[natebenma]

Congrats on the house news! I know this has been a long ordeal for you!

Sorry I can't offer you any suggestions for a romantic meal. When Mark and I visited Disney before the kids we were too poor (and cheap) to eat anywhere too fancy. And now when we travel with the boys, we skip anything that is too nice!

But the good news is, you have a lot of wonderful choices! I like the sound of Jiko- exotic and romantic. What about Saana?

 

[DrMomof3]

I'd say cutting V+A is probably the way to go. Like you said, you can go back in the next few years. It'll still be there!
Yatschman is a good signature for an adult's night out, especially if you're a steak fan. You could always walk around the Boardwalk or World Showcase when you're done, too.

We ate at Yachtsman for Tom's birthday last year and really enjoyed it. Good suggestion!!

Congrats on the house news! I know this has been a long ordeal for you!

Sorry I can't offer you any suggestions for a romantic meal. When Mark and I visited Disney before the kids we were too poor (and cheap) to eat anywhere too fancy. And now when we travel with the boys, we skip anything that is too nice!

But the good news is, you have a lot of wonderful choices! I like the sound of Jiko- exotic and romantic. What about Saana?

The problem with Sanaa is that I hate Indian food. I cannot eat anything with curry in it and I actually prefer to avoid even walking into an Indian restaurant because I don't like the smell. I don't care for Tandoori chicken. Basically all I could eat is bread! I'm not a picky eater but this is my one food hurdle!

I've asked around and I think I would be ok eating at Jiko. It seems like there are option that don't include curry or other Indian spices so I think I could find food that I enjoy eating. I'm also dying to see AKL! My DH was enthusiastic about Jiko so we might try that.

The house situation has been long and involved but things are looking good! We need to get approved for a mortgage - which isn't the given it would have been 5 years ago. Our negotiations have gone well and it's likely we will bu the house that we currently live in. It's nice to not move!

Amanda

 

[-Hope-]

Hey Amanda, I've been avoiding the dis (sulking really) since cancelling our October trip. Karen helped me get over it by devising a plan for a girls trip for her 40th b-day in a couple of years. Obsessive planner that I am (and because I missed the dis) I decided to start planning that trip and I have a link for the PTR in my sig. So, I'm back now and all caught up.

It's great that you are getting early interventions for Zachary. I used to be a SpEd teacher and it's really amazing what a difference early interventions can make. I'm sure the news was difficult but it seems like you guys have things under control and that's so important.

Congrats on buying the house!

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

Have you ever considered Artist Point for a romantic dinner? The atmosphere there seems romantic to me. Just another suggestion to throw in the mix!

I know what you mean about the smell of curry. It turns my stomach and I can't do Indian food either. Blech

Oh yeah, I turned my TR into a TR/PTR for my fall trip. Stop by and let me know what you think!!

 

[DrMomof3]

Hey Amanda, I've been avoiding the dis (sulking really) since cancelling our October trip. Karen helped me get over it by devising a plan for a girls trip for her 40th b-day in a couple of years. Obsessive planner that I am (and because I missed the dis) I decided to start planning that trip and I have a link for the PTR in my sig. So, I'm back now and all caught up.

It's great that you are getting early interventions for Zachary. I used to be a SpEd teacher and it's really amazing what a difference early interventions can make. I'm sure the news was difficult but it seems like you guys have things under control and that's so important.

Congrats on buying the house!

I don't blame you for sulking. I would be sulking too!
It's never fun to hear that your child has a problem. We're very lucky with Zachary that his delays are relatively minor and are all motor-related. His little brain seems to work really well! He's also such a lovable little guy. He has a great personality and people are just drawn to him.

Have you ever considered Artist Point for a romantic dinner? The atmosphere there seems romantic to me. Just another suggestion to throw in the mix!

I know what you mean about the smell of curry. It turns my stomach and I can't do Indian food either. Blech

Oh yeah, I turned my TR into a TR/PTR for my fall trip. Stop by and let me know what you think!!

I'm happy to get caught up with you. It took me long enough. I've heard mixed reviews of the food at Artist Point which is why I hadn't really considered it. Hmmm....

Amanda