A Giraffe meets the Beach - A Hoilday Lights Extra - Updated 12/23

[TyRy]

Right around the middle of July, two nice things happened.

The first was the biggest one - my newest niece was born…she and my sister were both great. I can’t wait to take her on her first trip!!

And a week or so later, DFIL pulls me aside and says he thinks he’s going to go to Disney with us. He wasn’t positive, but said it sounded like fun. Here's my DFIL -

If you’ve read my other TR’s you know he and my DMIL used to go to Disney a few times a year even if it was just for a day or two. They had also been on every trip with us, and took me on my first two trips. Then in 2009, we lost DMIL to a very rare heart cancer…from her initial diagnosis to her passing was only about two months. Stunned everyone. So if DFIL does go, it will be a very big step for him.

It also helps he is pretty good friends with my parents and even went on a trip to Spring Training last year with DH and my dad. I really really hope he does come, as he actually does love Disney and is an absolute blast to be with. He's not positive he's going, but I really really hope he does come with.

I had already made all my ADR’s for five in the hopes that he would make it, and if he didn’t, I knew it would be easier to go down to four than go up to five, so no worries there.

I also want to say it was around this time that the Eat to the Beat concerts was announced…and YES - one of my favorite bands will be there when we are. Night Ranger will be there for three nights…I have to be able to see them one of the times. I was/am a huge 80’s “hair metal” fan. This was me in 1989 – I’m in the middle.

Yes - that was a whole lotta Aqua Net!

I’ve loved Night Ranger since they were playing small clubs in the early/mid 80’s and have seen them a bunch of times. But would love to see them again!!! My dad and DFIL would also enjoy seeing them. So the trip is semi-coming together.

Now I just have to hope for a discount for DFIL and a better one for us for our BCV stay!

 

[John's Mom]

Your niece is just adorable!

Here's hoping that your DFIL joins you at WDW!

Kathy

 

[__disneygirl]

Congrats on the new niece, those are beautiful pics!!

 

[TyRy]

Your niece is just adorable!

Here's hoping that your DFIL joins you at WDW!

Kathy

I'm still really hoping, but he hasn't said anything in a while now and has nothing booked. I'm guessing it may be 50-50 now.

Congrats on the new niece, those are beautiful pics!!

Thank you..she's been great. Who knows..she may even show up again later.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Your ADRs look TASTY! You saw my note about Cape May not having the donut holes, right? I was really hoping they would be there for you! They were at the Wishes Dessert Party and Joe happily chowed down at least 6 of them. I thought of you the instant I saw them!

I hope your DFIL decides to come! It's great news that he's even thinking about it!!!

I was born in '79 so I wasn't really a true 80's child, but my sister WAS. I remember that hair, and she would sneak out and spray hers pink in the areas it was sprayed up the highest. and with that of course came 80's music...which I still love! It would be awesome to see Night Ranger!!!

 

[Trinity524]

Right around the middle of July, two nice things happened.

The first was the biggest one - my newest niece was born…she and my sister were both great. I can’t wait to take her on her first trip!!

And a week or so later, DFIL pulls me aside and says he thinks he’s going to go to Disney with us. He wasn’t positive, but said it sounded like fun. Here's my DFIL -

If you’ve read my other TR’s you know he and my DMIL used to go to Disney a few times a year even if it was just for a day or two. They had also been on every trip with us, and took me on my first two trips. Then in 2009, we lost DMIL to a very rare heart cancer…from her initial diagnosis to her passing was only about two months. Stunned everyone. So if DFIL does go, it will be a very big step for him.

It also helps he is pretty good friends with my parents and even went on a trip to Spring Training last year with DH and my dad. I really really hope he does come, as he actually does love Disney and is an absolute blast to be with. He's not positive he's going, but I really really hope he does come with.

I had already made all my ADR’s for five in the hopes that he would make it, and if he didn’t, I knew it would be easier to go down to four than go up to five, so no worries there.

I also want to say it was around this time that the Eat to the Beat concerts was announced…and YES - one of my favorite bands will be there when we are. Night Ranger will be there for three nights…I have to be able to see them one of the times. I was/am a huge 80’s “hair metal” fan. This was me in 1989 – I’m in the middle.

Yes - that was a whole lotta Aqua Net!

I’ve loved Night Ranger since they were playing small clubs in the early/mid 80’s and have seen them a bunch of times. But would love to see them again!!! My dad and DFIL would also enjoy seeing them. So the trip is semi-coming together.

Now I just have to hope for a discount for DFIL and a better one for us for our BCV stay!

I love this picture! Nobody light a match! Def along for the ride!

 

[TyRy]

Your ADRs look TASTY! You saw my note about Cape May not having the donut holes, right? I was really hoping they would be there for you! They were at the Wishes Dessert Party and Joe happily chowed down at least 6 of them. I thought of you the instant I saw them!

Oh well - looks like no magical donut holes for us this trip!

I hope your DFIL decides to come! It's great news that he's even thinking about it!!!

I know - I haven't heard anything lately, so I'm getting a bit worried he may back out of the trip. It may just not yet be time for him, which I understand.

I was born in '79 so I wasn't really a true 80's child, but my sister WAS. I remember that hair, and she would sneak out and spray hers pink in the areas it was sprayed up the highest. and with that of course came 80's music...which I still love! It would be awesome to see Night Ranger!!!

My sister is just a year younger than you and loves all the 80's music and knows a ton about the 80's thanks to her two older sisters. Her first concert was in 88 - Poison and Warrant.

I love this picture! Nobody light a match! Def along for the ride!

Trinity! Trust me - that's what we were thinking when we were out and about that night! I think if I let me hair just go in Florida, that would happen naturally to it still.

 

[TyRy]

So almost exactly a month ago, discounts were FINALLY released for when we were going to WDW. We had actually received a PIN code a cople of months before for free dining, nope didn’t want it. Then we got the Monster pin code that was floating about. Nope – our dates at BC were blocked out. Arrghhh – it was looking like it was either going to be a DVC or AAA discount and nothing better.

BUT then all the rumors of discounts being released finally happened. After waiting an hour on the phone, and having to leave for work, I was starting to lose hope. When I got into work, the phones still had a long wait. Uh-oh – I need that discount. So I went online and booked a new stay. We were lucky enough to snag a 40% discount if we stayed in the BC portion and not the villas. That discount helped us decide that we would stay in a regular room vs a studio since they did not have any studios available. While I was looking forward to trying DVC out there, this will still give us an idea if we’d eventually like to add on at BC.

I did call later that afternoon to cancel my original reservation and apologized for double booking, but got a very understanding CM. They cancelled my previous reservation and within a couple of days I had my original deposit refunded.

Fast forward to the next day - after weeks of checking the AP discounts thread for October, I skipped this morning after checking about one minute after six and seeing nothing was out. Around noon I started playing on the Disboards and suddenly saw that they AP thread had exploded. OH NO. I actually managed to get a live human pretty quick this time (I hate the voice prompts – it never gets my last name right!) But for some reason after entering my reservation number, it went right to a human.

I asked about switching to the AP code and they asked if I happen to have it. Thankfully, the AP site worked right away for me (first time in weeks) and I was able to grab the code. They entered it and we saved another $26.00. I’ll take it. Even better – they did have a studio available at BCV, so I grabbed that! YAY – got just what we (ok I) wanted.

I have to say the only thing I’m worried about is I know the BC rooms have had a lovely makeover, but the BC Villas do not look like they were given the same treatment. Hopefully we will not be disappointed.

Up next – The itinerary for a “relaxing” trip.

 

[If U Had Wings]

Congrats on the discount and getting what you wanted. That's fantastic!

 

[brookelizabeth]

So you saved even more and ended up where you wanted?!?! SCORE! Many people swear by the BC, so the rooms have gotta be pretty decent, right? I hope you love it!

 

[TyRy]

Congrats on the discount and getting what you wanted. That's fantastic!

I was so happy even with the first day of discounts. We were going and staying at BC either way, but it certainly helped to save the $$$.

So you saved even more and ended up where you wanted?!?! SCORE! Many people swear by the BC, so the rooms have gotta be pretty decent, right? I hope you love it!

I'm thinking DH will not know any better since he is always at least a year behind any thread I send him to look at. The BC rooms are so nice and bright, whereas the villas still have the darker blue linens and such. I'm hoping it gives more of a theme to the villas. I'm one of those crazy people who did not mind the old crazy colors of the Contemporary's rooms before they redid them.

 

[TyRy]

Happy Dance Time -

1 MONTH - 28 DAYS - until I'm back HOME!!

Seems like it took forever to get into the "20's." I remember being so happy just to get into the 200's and 100's. I have a bad feeling this month is just going to DRAG!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I hope it FLIES on by for you!

I don't even want to take a guess on what the countdown will be from our expected dates in March. I hate counting down from in the 200 and 100s!!

 

[TyRy]

I know I promised the itinerary for a “relaxing” vacation would be up next, but we’ve had possibly a MAJOR (and unhappy ) change in our plans.

DH got an email yesterday from his company stating all requests for vacation after October 15th are now on hold – see where this is going. With his schedule, his first requested day of vacation was after the 15th. So now who knows if he is even going to be able to go on this trip. He's confident all will work out, but I'm not.

To say I’m unhappy would be an understatement. I’m not sure what I’ll do about the beginning and end of the trip. My parents have their plane & Disney tickets, so I’ll definitely be going with them. But I still have a couple of dilemmas:

We all know my absolute LOVE of flying and now I’ll be forced to fly by myself. Perhaps if I just don’t sleep between now and then I’ll sleep on the plane. But – now do I fly in the same day as them or start this trip solo? I’m not much of a solo person and I’ll have to see how much money it would be to change my ticket to just fly in on Sunday and change the rental car if I cancel Beach Club.

My parents are also flying home on Saturday and we were staying until Monday. If I cancel the last two nights on AKV, my points will go into holding and I doubt we’d use them…wasting a bunch of points. Again, this would require changing airfare and rental car and I know new rental car ressies are astronomical for our week.

Yep – this update is all doom and gloom as I’m running on about three hours of sleep.

I’m really really hoping this will work itself out, but stuff usually does not go in my favor so I won’t hold my breath.

Thanks for letting me vent and I’ll update again as soon as I know anything.

 

[irish dancer]

Oh no! What a huge bummer. We just cancelled our surprise Tgving trip so I know a bit how you feel. I'll think positive thoughts for you that this all works out in your favor. Is it possible you'd have a friend that could go with you?

 

[dgbg100106]

Oh no! What a huge bummer. We just cancelled our surprise Tgving trip so I know a bit how you feel. I'll think positive thoughts for you that this all works out in your favor. Is it possible you'd have a friend that could go with you?

I agree, and am sorry to hear about the work putting a stop to vacation requests.... Hopefully you can find a friend to go with you, that would be fun!

 

[John's Mom]

Hope this helps!

 

[If U Had Wings]

Hope everything works out for you. That really stinks so close to your trip.

 

[TyRy]

Oh no! What a huge bummer. We just cancelled our surprise Tgving trip so I know a bit how you feel. I'll think positive thoughts for you that this all works out in your favor.

I'm so sorry you had to cancel your trip...I hope everything is ok with you guys!

Is it possible you'd have a friend that could go with you?

Thanks - his work can just be nutty sometimes - I always feel bad about complaining about my work (which he refers to as Romper Room ) compared to his.

I agree, and am sorry to hear about the work putting a stop to vacation requests....

Hopefully you can find a friend to go with you, that would be fun!

That was my thought as well - it's just tough being so close to the trip. Although I had a bunch of my work buddies offer to go .

Hope this helps!

Thanks John's Mom- I need it!

Hope everything works out for you. That really stinks so close to your trip.

Thank you - that's what kills me it is so close to the trip.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Oh no!!!!!! That is not good news! What a hassle having to try to figure out all these alternate plans on a "what if" sorta deal...ugh. His time better get approved - and SOON!!!