A Surprise January 2012 Vacation!!! TRIP REPORT has begun!!

[ash-n-brensmom]

Ferb's department has yet to do their vacation picks, we work for the same employer different departments, and he just found out someone else might put a wrench in our plans for Jan! The thing is he is number two on his shift in seniority and this shouldn't even be an issue, but our employer has made some changes in the past year and they have tightened the control over vacation time, even though it's considered off season.
This is pretty bad news as it would cost us $240 to change our dates at this point because of our air fare. He is trying to find out more info today. They are supposed to do the picks sometime this week...his dept is so unorganized. Anyways, we will have to deal with whatever happens...but this waiting and stressing just sucks!
I'll keep you posted as things unfold.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Awesome news..not only did Ferb get the answer we needed for our vacation, but he finished his vacation picks!! He got the week we needed in Jan, plus the week we needed for Aug to go stay in a cottage with my family. The only issue is a week we needed for his Dsis to come from the UK to Disney with us in Dec. We had to go for Oct instead and I don't know if she will be able to go then. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I am sooooo relieved! Thank you vacation pick gods!!

 

[lledman]

Glad to hear that Ferb got the go ahead for the vacation. My hubby's job is very strict as well and it makes planning very difficult.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Glad to hear that Ferb got the go ahead for the vacation. My hubby's job is very strict as well and it makes planning very difficult.

Thanks...I for sure am relieved! It's weird this year...we've never had any trouble with him getting whatever he wanted. It was always me that had issues because of my lower seniority. As long as he stayed away from holidays it was free and clear for him. So, now back to the fun stuff and last minute changes! I'll update on Wed or Thurs!!

 

[Colleen27]

Yay for having the vacation time settled! I hate that work-related uncertainty, and I know it must be a huge relief to have it all taken care of.

 

[OziJo]

Now back to planning

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Yay for having the vacation time settled! I hate that work-related uncertainty, and I know it must be a huge relief to have it all taken care of.

Thankfully that uncertainty lasted only one day..I think I would have lost it if we had to wait longer!

Now back to planning

 

[LindaBabe]

Just found your trip report and signing on! Sorry we won't be there at the same time.

I surprised ME with a January trip after promising I wouldn't take one due to the cruising. DH said "you'll die without a sun fix in January". I didn't wait for him to change his mind - I booked it!

You guys looked FAB for that wedding - I SO love that dress and would buy one in a heartbeat if only it came in my size.

You mentioned Plaza restaurant . . . you DO know they make homemade potato chips, right? AMAZING!

Have you got a trip report going somewhere on the trip you just took? Love to read it!

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Just found your trip report and signing on! Sorry we won't be there at the same time.

I surprised ME with a January trip after promising I wouldn't take one due to the cruising. DH said "you'll die without a sun fix in January". I didn't wait for him to change his mind - I booked it!

You guys looked FAB for that wedding - I SO love that dress and would buy one in a heartbeat if only it came in my size.

You mentioned Plaza restaurant . . . you DO know they make homemade potato chips, right? AMAZING!

Have you got a trip report going somewhere on the trip you just took? Love to read it!

Welcome! The more the merrier! Thank you for the compliment. I won't lie that I was just a little stressed over that outfit.
We haven't got a TR going for the cruise...mostly because I am focused on this trip, but I may do a quick one with highlights from the cruise, F&W and MNSSHP.
Good for you with the Sun Fix! It does get unbearable here with the dreary winter. Even if it never gets hot while we are there, at least it won't be dark and dismal like Southern Ontario!! Okay, so I saw those homemade chips on the menu, but I haven't tried them yet...are they really good? Just might have to give them a try!

 

[LindaBabe]

Okay, so I saw those homemade chips on the menu, but I haven't tried them yet...are they really good? Just might have to give them a try!

Oh yeah. And I ration myself so had some to take home - and they were good in the several days after, too.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Good morning!
Before I post our Day 6 plans, I wanted to update a few things. If everyone is paying attention, you all know that I offered DSil to meet us in Orlando in Dec next year and she accepted. Well, update...Ferb can't get any time off in Dec at all. He can't even get the original week we had planned for our late 2012 vacation in Nov. So, we had to adjust our plans and move the trip up to Oct. Fine by us...less wait for our next vacation...weather is better for swimming and we can hit up MNSSHP with the girls. Not so much for DSil. She thinks it may be an issue for her boyfriend of 6 months. In case I didn't tell you, she lives in the UK with her two DS's. I checked on line and found out that her boys will be out of school for half-term that week. Sounds perfect to me. Well, she's not sure and she basically invited herself to come to our house in Dec anyways. I work full-time midnights, Ferb will be working, DD's will be in school. Not a good time to invite yourself and your two sons to come and stay. So, Ferb and I are trying to convince her that Oct is a better time to come. I haven't revealed F&W fest yet...I'm saving that as my trump card.

On a more positive note, I was shopping yesterday with my DCousin and we found some cute long sleeve Disney t-shirts at Target for Stitch and Rapunzel. I've gotten almost all of my shopping done including stocking stuffers! I'm not usually this organized, but then I haven't use Amazon in the past either and I got most of it done on line. All on sale, all free shipping! Gotta love it!

Can you tell someone is feeling the Xmas spirit?!?!

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

On to Day 6!!

We hopefully will be feeling very rested this morning, especially Ferb! Because he is doing a different kind of Marathon this morning!!!
Toy Story Midway Mania!! : Does that about describe it?
Everyone had their strategy. We let Ferb "dash" over to get the FP's while Stitch, Rapunzel and I safely make our way over to the standby line. We wait for Ferb and then head on in. This guarantees us at least 2 rides that day. If we feel like we need one more we will grab FP's later. But we usually just do these two rides and make our way through the rest of the park.

After TSMM our plan is to head over to ToT and RRC and let Ferb ride ToT while the girls and I check out the shops and then we take turns riding RRC with Stitch or grab FP's to do that later. It all depends on wait times and FP return times on our TSMM FP's.

We have an ADR at Sci-Fi Dine in Theater for 1:10 that afternoon.

We will probably head over there and if there is time watch Muppets and ride Star Tours, if not we'll do that after lunch.

Dinner will be on the fly....any recommendations? We haven't had the greatest luck there with CS.

The thing that is up in the air that day is characters....we will delay rides for the right characters. We want to fill up our autograph books this year! I think Jan will be a good time of year for it. I have heard that waits aren't too bad. All the crowds should be gone by this time of the week too. Marathon is over, kids are back in school....we'll have to wait and see how this pans out!
There is no Fantasmic for the rest of the month and I hope this means there will be something with all those Characters. I keep reading about it...anyone have an info about this? When and where? I'm assuming it's in the Animation Building? So that's our only unknown for the day.

There are a couple of things we have never done here before...we've always needed a mid day break and trying to fit everything in is impossible. But with park hours from 9-7 we won't want to waste any time with a break. So hopefully we will be able to finally catch Beauty and The Beast and Lights Motors Action. It's all in the timing isn't it?

As I read over my Touring Plan, it looks like we can do everything if we skip characters. We don't need to do everything, we can skip GMR this year and VOTLM. These are things that never change and we will be back in Oct. Sacrifices must be made! The only problem with this TP is they have Fantasmic listed as closed, but they factor it in with the plan.....me thinks the tp is flawed! Good thing we are deviants and don't always follow it to the letter!

So after a run-around day...we will head back to WBC and hopefully get a good night's rest. Tomorrow we have a date with as many characters as we can find...we might be running around in circles all day!

 

[Colleen27]

There is no Fantasmic for the rest of the month and I hope this means there will be something with all those Characters. I keep reading about it...anyone have an info about this? When and where? I'm assuming it's in the Animation Building? So that's our only unknown for the day.

It is in the Animation building in the afternoon, I want to say around 4:45ish. On our last trip we spent about half the day in the Animation building because of all the characters, not just in the late afternoon, but that was during ESPN the Weekend so the characters that are usually at the Hat were in the building instead. Sorcerer Mickey and Pooh & friends are constants there, but we also saw Lotso (now retired), Chip & Dale, Donald & Daisy in Hollywood outfits, Goofy & Max, Minnie Mouse in her Hollywood outfit, Stitch, Mr & Mrs Incredible & Frozone, Rafiki, Capt Hook & Smee, and Mary Poppins & her penguins.

And don't forget - Phineas & Ferb are out for meet & greets at Studios now too. I'm not sure exactly where their set is but from what I've read it is near the exit of MuppetVision, and their line gets long quickly even at slower times of year.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

It is in the Animation building in the afternoon, I want to say around 4:45ish. On our last trip we spent about half the day in the Animation building because of all the characters, not just in the late afternoon, but that was during ESPN the Weekend so the characters that are usually at the Hat were in the building instead. Sorcerer Mickey and Pooh & friends are constants there, but we also saw Lotso (now retired), Chip & Dale, Donald & Daisy in Hollywood outfits, Goofy & Max, Minnie Mouse in her Hollywood outfit, Stitch, Mr & Mrs Incredible & Frozone, Rafiki, Capt Hook & Smee, and Mary Poppins & her penguins.

And don't forget - Phineas & Ferb are out for meet & greets at Studios now too. I'm not sure exactly where their set is but from what I've read it is near the exit of MuppetVision, and their line gets long quickly even at slower times of year.

Thanks! That's exactly what I was looking for!

 

[LindaBabe]

yes, we saw them near the muppet building last week. (I didn't even know who they were)

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

yes, we saw them near the muppet building last week. (I didn't even know who they were)

Oh, don't worry...we'll find Phineas and Ferb...we are huge fans here!

 

[BMC423]

Hey, I've been so busy with work and school I has very little free time for DIS but as the semester is coming to an end here I am. WOW! You guys have been BUSY!!! Congrats on the time share!!! Sound like you and Ferb had a great solo trip!!

Of course I'm subbing

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Hey, I've been so busy with work and school I has very little free time for DIS but as the semester is coming to an end here I am. WOW! You guys have been BUSY!!! Congrats on the time share!!! Sound like you and Ferb had a great solo trip!!

Of course I'm subbing

Hey! I can't believe you found me!! Sounds like you have been VERY busy! School, work, family....you need a break! Maybe a vacation? When are you planning on taking your little guy back?
Things are good here..we had a wonderful time on our adult only trip. But now we can't wait to surprise the girls next month! Thanks for subbing!

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Just wanted to put a little post..I am at work and illegally posting

Anyone happen to notice my countdown?
ONE MONTH!!!

 

[OziJo]

Anyone happen to notice my countdown?
ONE MONTH!!!