A Tale of [family madness in] Two Cities - Final Thoughts & PTR Link!

[k_reile]

brook...now my mom has a question...how about plates, cups, silverware etc in the studios? she was wondering if she should send down paper plates, silverware etc but i told her I would ask you first just to make sure if there were any in there or not?

 

[KathyRN137]

brook...now my mom has a question...how about plates, cups, silverware etc in the studios? she was wondering if she should send down paper plates, silverware etc but i told her I would ask you first just to make sure if there were any in there or not?

I can answer that!

Most studios provide a small supply of:

paper plates and bowls
cups
plastic utensils
paper towels


*bring along some napkins (or plan to acquire some from the parks.)


The one-, two-, and three-bedroom vacation homes provide dishware, flatware, cookware, and cooking utensils.


Kathy

 

[brookelizabeth]

I sat down to do replies earlier today, during Henry's nap and got distracted because my bed was calling my name to come relax in it, allow the sun coming through the window to warm me on this cold winter day, and just read. So I obeyed. I often ignore the siren call of my bed; however, today, I could not resist.

So there I am, reading my book, warming in the sun like a cat. When Joe comes upstairs, he's on the phone. He was talking to ouur bank.

Turns out there is some major problems with someone in Kentucky stealing bank numbers lately. My debit card number got stolen. Over $500 was spent on it.

Thankfully our bank rocks. All the charges were to Wal*Mart or Kroger and 4/5 were over $100. We rarely use our debit card, there is no Kroger here and we even more rarely shop at Wal*Mart. So, their system flagged my account, being the charges were in Kentucky and weird for our normal use. Their system automatically knocked my debit card daily limit down to $5.00. Today Joe and I attempted to use it at a local diner for lunch, it was declined...which prompted Joe to check what was going on. A quick stop at the bank, a few papers signed and my debit card was destroyed and the money returned.

Upon the bank learning we rarely use our debit card they said they were going to use our account as one they will review to hopefully figure out how the numbers were stolen. We do a few things online, like our Netflix account is on our debit card. Perhaps if they see a link between our charges and a few other people's that were affected they can find the source.

It all just felt strange. Someone stole our money. Someone we have never met (nor ever want to!). And went on a spending spree at Wal*Mart and Kroger.

Not to be candid about a serious situation, but if you were to steal money would you hit up Wal*Mart and Kroger? I'd hit up The World of Disney myself! I suppose Wal*Mart and Kroger charges are fairly common, thus making it more difficult to catch this person though....they aren't buying TVs or digital cameras since the charges are all just over $100. Groceries? Books and magazines? Movies? Cheap clothing and shoes? Who knows!

Anyway, just had to babble about my adventure for the day...onto the replies!

Wow, I had no idea Kidani was so gorgeous! I might have to have a DVC chat with the ol' DH! I love the theming and details. The community room is pretty cool and looks like a great way to unwind and decompress from the parks. The gift shop is small and for some weird reason, I like a gift shop to be HUGE when I'm at Disney. It's not even that I always buy something it's more that I want to browse.

Super cute gingerbread houses. When we went in Oct., the Polynesian had a pumpkin contest and it was fun to pick our favorite.

Ok, love the giraffe dialogue! Who knew you spoke giraffe?? Poor little things, they were waiting for something better than boring mulch.

Glad Henry was feeling better after his nap. It is amazing what a nap can do for a child (and a parent!). Being tired and sick is no fun! Poor little guy!

Looking forward to the rest and thanks for the detailed tour of Kidani.

Kidani really is very beautiful, the details are incredible...everywhere you look! It feels like you've truly been transported to somewhere other than Central Florida. Let me know how that DVC talk goes!

I like a bigger gift shop as well. It served its purpose, but compared to the one at Jambo House, it's just teeny.

It really is amazing what a nap can do for a child. He went from crying and feeling cruddy to his normal self that afternoon! I was relieved!

Primetime cafe looks fun, but not for me. I'm too shy. And I wouldn't feel comfy.

I was really nervous about it my first time there, sometimes I am in the mood for that kind of stuff, but not always. They do a really good job of reading the people....but I know that probably isn't even consolation to convince! The trick is to go with a large group with someone who you KNOW will act out. Then you can enjoy it without getting picked on!

The gym looks nice. If I was staying there I might stop a few times.

Thanks for the update. I'm at home with a bad cold and couldn't sleep. It really helped!

I always have good intentions of exercising. But it rarely happens. And NEVER on vacation! I admire people who are so dedicated!

Glad the update came at a good time.

Ha! That reminds me of the Jack-o-Lantern contest they had on display when we were there! Looks like they had fun!

Thanks for the great pictures... the memories have all come flooding back! We never did make it over to the Community Hall not sure why.

The kids did have great weather for swimming, though.

Hope you guys felt better soon. We had a bit of the sickies during our last trip as well.

Kathy

I think I recall you mentioning that Jack-O-Lantern contest in your TR! I wonder if they do that for quite a few of the holidays? I think a cupcake or something for Valentine's day would be fun!

We only stepped into the Community Hall, never did anything. I had the best intentions of doing something there, but nope!

My boys would be all over that pool table in the Community Hall! How very cool that they have that - I had no idea! Now I want DVC even more, and it's never going to happen

Thanks for the beautiful tour of Kidani!!!

Glad Henry was feeling better when he woke up, but so sorry that Joe was having so much trouble with his ears.

You are just going to have to rent points some trip and stay there I think! Then you can be an Honorary DVC member for a bit.

Joe's ears were a bummer, I didn't realize how bad it was because he wasn't saying anything about it, until later in the trip. Once he had the meds he was good to go, so I think it started out as a bad cold and progressively got worse through the trip.

Fabulous tour of Kidani! I love the gingerbread houses!

Denise

Glad you enjoyed it!!

Wonderful walking tour of Kidani. Thanks, Brook!! Love all the gingerbread houses and I think it's great they encourage CMs to do something fun together.

We've flown with ear infections too, and it can be quite a serious thing. We actually had to take our daughter into a clinic in the airport in Germany, and the doc there told us that if it bursts on its own, that she could be needing minor plastic surgery to repair it. He actually recommended that she go into town and have the ear drum pierced so it coudl be a controlled event.

I thought it was a really neat thing too for the CMs to do. I'm sure it's a bit like a "team building" exercise of some sort, but something everyone can enjoy. I hope it something they keep doing at the resorts!

Oh my goodness! That is scary about your DD! Joe's ears started out fine, but progressively got worse as the trip went on - the flight home was horrible for him, he said it felt like someone was jabbing something sharp into his ears during the landing. He was literally pounding his head.

Another great update Brook! Thanks for the tour of Kidani! I truely love it there! It really feels like home!

I's so glad Henry was feeling better after the nap!!

Glad you enjoyed it! Isn't it such a beautiful resort? We loved it!

I was very relieved to have a "normal" Henry back.

Brooke... What a great update to come home to! LOVE the Kidani pictures. Makes me so excited to stay there in July. Thanks for that on this dreary January day.

I hope you will love it there! In July you will be able to take advantage of the awesome pool area. I wish it had been warmer for us to partake!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Hi! Subbing to your TR. I haven't read anything yet except the very first post, but I have read all of your other TRs (yes, as a lurker) and we seem to travel in the same pack of TRs. I've seen you around! I'll be back later to read and catch up!

PS Henry is so cute!

Maggie! Glad you found me and posted!! I hope you enjoy the report! Thank you for the compliment on Henry.

Wow, so many great pictures Brook! I love that you took the time to really explore your resort. We never have done much of that and I need to make a point to do so. They really try and make it feel like "home", don't they? The fact that all of the animals came out of the woodwork for those four little buckets, made me laugh out loud! Poor things!!

After our first stay at AKL back in 2006, and not exploring the resort until the very last few hours, Joe has "gently encouraged" more resort and resort exploring time. So, I've made sure we do that a bit each trip...and the more we build that in, the more I like it! Now, it's part of the adventure! We love to resort hop too and just walk around taking it all in. Each resort is so different, yet so excellently themed, it's amazing!

It was pretty funny to see the animals come out waiting for food, and then to only realize it was truly mulch. Poor guys! That big giraffe hung on with hope for quite a while!

brook--- do the studio villas have dish soap or is that something I am going to have to bring?? Gotta wash those sippy cups you know! LOL!

Oh yes, I KNOW! Yep, the Studios do have a small bottle of dish soap (Palmolive). You are staying DVC right? Not a cash reservation? If so, it will be replaced on your 4th day (towel/trash day), and on your 7th day (full cleaning). If you are a cash ressie, your villa gets cleaned daily...so I imagine they will replace the soap when/if they see it low. Hope that helps!

What a great trip report (as usual)! Love your pics and videos!

Thank you!!! It's really fun to have access to my FILs pics and my SILs too! Makes the updates even longer.

Loved the tour of Kidani! Your poor DH with double ear infection. What a trooper!

I love the beaded lion figurine and the monkey keychain in the store. Those are going on the wishlist!

Looks like just an absolutely lovely resort. I'd love to stay there someday!

Thankfully the ears didn't bother Joe too much through the Disney portion of the trip, he felt like he had a bad cold, but felt fine with the meds. As the trip wore on, he seemed to get worse, but still okay with meds. Then the flight home was the kicker - that did him in.

Aren't those keychains cute? I really wish I would have bought one! I think they were around $7 or so.

Awesome pictures!

Thank you!!!

Too cool that you saw all the animals coming up to the building, because of the man and his bucket of mulch. I cannot wait to stay there!

It was like a special treat to see the animals so close! We were fascinated with them! It's a wonderful resort, I hope you love it! Are you guys planning on staying there for the land stay of PCC 2.0?

should I make a button when I'm there?

you know, YOU KNOW that these pictures are getting me sooooo pysched to stay at Kidani!!!!!!!!!!!!

yuck for being sick at WDW, but it sounds like you were all did okay....

Double ear infection....

Sure! A proto-type for the rest of us. It's only a buck too. Btw, I told Joe of Peep Fest and he is ALL FOR IT.

I'm glad my pics are helping to build the excitement for your stay in EIGHT days!!!!! I hope you enjoy it...I really think you will. It's so unique, beautiful and relaxing.

The double ear infection was not fun. The plane ride home did him in, we think before that it was just a nasty cold....

Poor Joe with his double ear infection, those are the worst!! Love all the pics of the animals waiting for the "mulch" thinking it was food, but great pics because of that!! Loved the tour of kindi, not sure Ill ever get to stay there so thanks for sharing!!

I was very excited about being there with my camera when all the animals came so close! I had just wished I had the video camera as well!

Great pictures of your tour! Poor Joe with his double EI. Those are no fun at all. I love the pictures of the gingerbread houses. How creative! Can't wait to read more

Glad you enjoyed the tour! It was fun to take it all in and get to know the resort a bit better. I assume we'll stay there again, being its our "home", I'm sure there are tons of details I missed!

Ahhhh thank you so much for all the Kidani pictures! I'm so excited to get to stay there in April.

I love that one picture of the pink flower...beautiful! Oh yes, and the "Have a Disney Day" pin.

I hope you love it!

Wasn't the flower beautiful? They have flowers along the fence that leads to the pool, they were so bright! When all the vegetation grows in that resort will be even more beautiful.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Wow, I don't go on the Dis for a few days and you are 6 pages further into your TR! Wonderful update! I really enjoyed all of your pictures and videos.... happy times! I'm sorry you guys were sick... not fun! And Joe having a double ear infection! Yikes! Those hurt!!
How was it being the "tour guide" for everyone?

I know how that is! I haven't been on the DIS much the past few days, I check a couple reports and they are PAGES ahead!

Joe was pretty miserable when we got back to Minnesota. I'm glad he was okay for the trip overall though!

Being tour guide was fun...at first. It got OLD. And tiring! Since my in-laws were newbies they had a ton of questions...about everything. Plus trying to experience it myself, plus experience it with Henry and Joe...this was a good trip, but very different because of that. I am ready for a "just us 3 trip"! But, with all that said, I wouldn't hesitate to bring them, or other people in the future - even newbies! I think I would just plan for some time apart as well so I can recharge some.

Or make Joe be the ringleader like I did toward the end of the trip!

Wow, that place is really beautiful. Sadly we aren't going this year. I was to the dentist yesterday and need a root canal and some other wonderful work, so the cost of that will be about $3000.00! Thats more than we would've spent to go to Disney for 5 nights with Dining and flight. They better sing zipah de do dah to me and dress up as pirates and princesses while doing it to me!

Oh no!!!!!!!!! That is awful! I'm so sorry! HILARIOUS about them singing and dressing up during your root canal though! That visual is too much...would make for a great commercial!

Maybe just maybe you'll randomly come into a slew of money....!

Wow!! Thank you for reliving your tour of Kidani with us!! What beautiful pictures!! The resort looks AMAZING!! And the gingerbread houses were too cute!!

Your welcome! Glad you enjoyed it! I think the resort is beautiful, it feels like you are somewhere else other than WDW. Everywhere you look it's detailed and themed. So, so amazing and pretty!

Poor sickies!!! No fun!! Jack-Jack was pointing to his ears on the flight home, and he was healthy. I can just imagine how it would be if you have an ear infection!

Kidani looks fabulous! Now I'm kicking myself for not taking the time to tour it while we were there. I can definitely see where we are gonna need a 1 bdr in the future, a place to shut the door and let the boys nap or do homework and where the adults can still visit and watch tv etc.


One of these days!!


50s Prime Time sounds like it was a LOT of fun!!! So sorry for the meltdown. Our little guys can't help it sometimes, but I know it's still stressful on Momma!

Andy's room makeover would rock!!!

Great update, as usual, Brook!

Oh, poor Jack-Jack! So far Henry has gone on all our flights oblivious to the popping, etc that the flights can cause. I hope it stays that way!

Joe did really well on the trip itself, but the flight home was miserable. He was pounding his head with his hands on the landings...it was not good. We think he pretty much just had a cold most of the trip, but the changing in air pressure - and of course we didn't have a direct flight on the way home! - really made him sick.

Having a 1 bedroom really is VERY nice with kids. On our SSR stay in January 2009 we would put Henry to sleep in the living room and we could easily stay up later in our bedroom without fear of waking him. It was SLICK. This time he slept in our room since my MIL is an early riser and would be in the living room reading/getting breakfast ready, etc. He was so pooped every night we could have had a dance party and he wouldn't have woken though!

The meltdown was a bit stressful. It made me sorta half pay attention to the meal. But all well. Like you said, it happens with our little guys! I enjoyed what I could!

brook...now my mom has a question...how about plates, cups, silverware etc in the studios? she was wondering if she should send down paper plates, silverware etc but i told her I would ask you first just to make sure if there were any in there or not?

I can answer that!

Most studios provide a small supply of:

paper plates and bowls
cups
plastic utensils
paper towels


*bring along some napkins (or plan to acquire some from the parks.)


The one-, two-, and three-bedroom vacation homes provide dishware, flatware, cookware, and cooking utensils.


Kathy

Yep, Kathy's got it! Thanks! I think there is only 4 of each of the paper ware. And they will replace it on your 4th and 7th day too. I think you can also ask the front desk for more, but I'm not certain if there is a charge. Sending some down, if you are already sending down a box, would be a good idea, just in case.

 

[Lady Lallie]

I work for a bank and stealing debit card numbers is far too frequent for sure. It happens all the time. Where I work, we have a $500 debit card limit per day to prevent large amounts of fraud. A lot of people don't like it but it protects them as well as the bank.

A lot of times the people will hack into somewhere that has your debit card information and take them that way. I'll be interested to see what happens with all of that.

I'm glad everything worked out for you though. It's a scary thing, I had it happen to me a few years ago at a different bank and they were using it atms in Germany and France. Totally not me.

 

[A.Mickey]

Eek! My cards have never been stolen...but our World of Warcraft characters were! I know it is not even close to the same thing....but it just makes you feel so violated. That is awesome that you have a great bank! I hope they catch those theives!

We are going to stay at AKV Savannah view that Thursday night after the cruise. Before the cruise I am not sure where we are staying yet. We might try for BLT at 7 months out for Dec 5th-10th. You talked me in to extending our trip more before the cruise rather than after since it is so close to Christmas.

 

[brookelizabeth]

I work for a bank and stealing debit card numbers is far too frequent for sure. It happens all the time. Where I work, we have a $500 debit card limit per day to prevent large amounts of fraud. A lot of people don't like it but it protects them as well as the bank.

A lot of times the people will hack into somewhere that has your debit card information and take them that way. I'll be interested to see what happens with all of that.

I'm glad everything worked out for you though. It's a scary thing, I had it happen to me a few years ago at a different bank and they were using it atms in Germany and France. Totally not me.

Our bank has a $200 day limit! It's VERY hard to deal with sometimes, but right now I am very grateful for it.

I do hope I hear about what happens with this person! I don't know if I will, but it sure would be interesting.

Germany and France! Wow! I'm sure that one got flagged quickly!

Eek! My cards have never been stolen...but our World of Warcraft characters were! I know it is not even close to the same thing....but it just makes you feel so violated. That is awesome that you have a great bank! I hope they catch those theives!

We are going to stay at AKV Savannah view that Thursday night after the cruise. Before the cruise I am not sure where we are staying yet. We might try for BLT at 7 months out for Dec 5th-10th. You talked me in to extending our trip more before the cruise rather than after since it is so close to Christmas.

It does make you feel violated...it's so strange. Like, do they know anything else about me??!

I think pre-cruise is the way to go due to the high crowds that just get busier and busier closer to Christmas. But, a day or two after is good to, so you can wind down a bit and have a nice time before having to rush off and say good-bye.

We aren't sure we are going to make the cruise at all...we are still in some discussion about it....but the cost of it all, cruise PLUS land stay just isn't working with our budget and wanting to pour extra $$ into the house so it will sell this year. And we don't want to just do a cruise. We haven't withdrawn yet, but it's looking like we will. I'm sort of split about it. After this big busy trip, I sorta just want a chill one with my boys. And the cruise wouldn't be that really, since there would be so many other DISers and things going on. But, on the other hand, I know it will be a TOTAL blast! Plus, we aren't sure we like December in Florida. I like the decorations, but we like it H-O-T. Ah, decisions!!

 

[MHTeacher]

YIKES! Brooke---that's horrible. But at least the bank figured something rotten was in Denmark, before it got any farther!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Wow - that's scary about your debit card! I hope they are able to figure out how the person got your number.

 

[mrsksomeday]

Brook, I can not believe I didn't know this trip report was going on . Thank goodness for your handy dandy links, I am all caught up . I am loving your resort pictures, the place is gorgeous. Looks like your family is having a good time despite the cold issues. Henry is as adorable as ever, he is so precious .

I am so sorry to hear about your debit card, it was great of the bank to flag it. I am looking forward to reading more.

 

[A.Mickey]

We aren't sure we are going to make the cruise at all...we are still in some discussion about it....but the cost of it all, cruise PLUS land stay just isn't working with our budget and wanting to pour extra $$ into the house so it will sell this year. And we don't want to just do a cruise. We haven't withdrawn yet, but it's looking like we will. I'm sort of split about it. After this big busy trip, I sorta just want a chill one with my boys. And the cruise wouldn't be that really, since there would be so many other DISers and things going on. But, on the other hand, I know it will be a TOTAL blast! Plus, we aren't sure we like December in Florida. I like the decorations, but we like it H-O-T. Ah, decisions!!

This literally made my heart sink...... I know I am crazy! But I am and still really looking forward to meeting you! I completely understand where you are coming from though. Yeah the cruise would definitely not be chill. I mean you could make it chill if you didn't wear a lanyard and went incognito! but where is the fun in that? Oh and it might be CHILLy too! I think the cold snap you experienced in December was very rare! Whatever you decide will be a good decision. I know it is a hard one to make! And whatever it is I hope you are still coming to Chicago over the summer and we can hang out for at least for an afternoon!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Oh, Brook! How scary and I can totally understand your pain! As you probably saw on FB last night, I lost my check card sometime between last Saturday when I got gas and last night when I went to pay for Chinese take-out. My heart just stopped. Luckily when I called to report it missing/stolen (I think it must be missing since if someone stole it, wouldn't they have taken the cash that was in my wallet as well? ), no one had used it, but what a pain to deal with all of that. I am with you -- why Walmart and Kroger? There are way better places!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Good grief! I'm so glad your bank put your $ back for you and nipped that in the bud!! I would've been pretty upset. But, it is a tad ridiculous that this genius stole your card to shop at Walmart and Kroeger! Seriously, what a mastermind! Maybe they're kicking themselves now for not getting a slurpee at 7-eleven while they were at it! At least your bank was on the ball with the whole thing and only $500 was stolen.

I totally understand your feelings about acting like a tour guide! We went with my inlaws (they hadn't been in 25 years!) and I felt like I had to be 'on' the whole time. It was bizarre because I really did feel like a tour guide...'now if you look to your right, you'll see Spaceship Earth coming into view'! I definitely enjoy Disney more with just my DH and 3 daughters. Does that make me a bad daughter-in-law? I hope not but I did feel like I wasn't able to enjoy it as much because they wanted to know when/where we eating and what park we going to, what rides we were going on, were we going back to the hotel for naps, and so on. Next time, I'll be able to relax and soak in all the details. Sheesh, we'd paid for the Mickey's Halloween Party for them and they only wanted to stay an hour and half at the most! I guess that's a great excuse to plan another Disney trip then, right?

 

[princess&her4princes]

OH no Brook, just read about your Debit card scare!!! So glad it got cleared up with the bank and they gave you your money back! Makes me think..I use mine all of the time everywhere because I never have cash so our number is ALL over the place!!! I'm with you, if I could go on a shopping spree with someone elses money, I woudn't be at Walmart!! LOL!!

 

[brookelizabeth]

YIKES! Brooke---that's horrible. But at least the bank figured something rotten was in Denmark, before it got any farther!

I am very, very glad they caught it! They tried to call us, but had our old phone number. We got that corrected right away!

Wow - that's scary about your debit card! I hope they are able to figure out how the person got your number.

Me too! Its happening in banks all over the U.S. so strange...!

Brook, I can not believe I didn't know this trip report was going on . Thank goodness for your handy dandy links, I am all caught up . I am loving your resort pictures, the place is gorgeous. Looks like your family is having a good time despite the cold issues. Henry is as adorable as ever, he is so precious .

I am so sorry to hear about your debit card, it was great of the bank to flag it. I am looking forward to reading more.

I'm glad you found me!!! All week we watched the weather channel in the room, and it didn't hit 70 until the 31st, but we still all agreed the 50 degree weather was MUCH better than the -5 Minnesota was having while we were there!

This literally made my heart sink...... I know I am crazy! But I am and still really looking forward to meeting you! I completely understand where you are coming from though. Yeah the cruise would definitely not be chill. I mean you could make it chill if you didn't wear a lanyard and went incognito! but where is the fun in that? Oh and it might be CHILLy too! I think the cold snap you experienced in December was very rare! Whatever you decide will be a good decision. I know it is a hard one to make! And whatever it is I hope you are still coming to Chicago over the summer and we can hang out for at least for an afternoon!

You aren't crazy....that's very sweet! You and your DH are the two people I thought of right away as the "budget/WDW" discussion was had. Then I remembered....we DO plan to go to Chicago/St. Louis this summer...so...I would still get to meet you guys! and our boys can play! Not quite the same as Castaway Cay, but....

It's a very hard decision. The budget, once we figure out the exact numbers, will be the ultimate decision factor. I knew there would be sacrifices when I stopped working and this just might be one of them. I so wish we could afford a small "chill trip" and then the PCC. THAT would be perrrrrrfect for 2010! Even just the cruise and a couple days on land.... Probably not doable. But, I'm not saying anything until we have the exact numbers!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Oh, Brook! How scary and I can totally understand your pain! As you probably saw on FB last night, I lost my check card sometime between last Saturday when I got gas and last night when I went to pay for Chinese take-out. My heart just stopped. Luckily when I called to report it missing/stolen (I think it must be missing since if someone stole it, wouldn't they have taken the cash that was in my wallet as well? ), no one had used it, but what a pain to deal with all of that. I am with you -- why Walmart and Kroger? There are way better places!

Oh gosh! I missed that on Facebook! That is scary! Thankfully no one charged anything on it....! When I worked at a grocery store in college people would leave their cards on the counter all-the-time. Most cashiers would just throw them into the Lost and Found. I never thought that made any sense, unless a person realizes it the second they got home they wouldn't really know where they left it. I remember when work was slow I used to make people (I was sometimes in charge up front) look up phone numbers in our Video Customer database, or in the phone book and try to find these people. Many times they said the card was already canceled, but sometimes we really made their day!! It was kinda fun in a way, I even had one woman hug me!

There are WAY better places to spend money that isn't yours...! Even Target is a step up from Wal*Mart!

Good grief! I'm so glad your bank put your $ back for you and nipped that in the bud!! I would've been pretty upset. But, it is a tad ridiculous that this genius stole your card to shop at Walmart and Kroeger! Seriously, what a mastermind! Maybe they're kicking themselves now for not getting a slurpee at 7-eleven while they were at it! At least your bank was on the ball with the whole thing and only $500 was stolen.

I totally understand your feelings about acting like a tour guide! We went with my inlaws (they hadn't been in 25 years!) and I felt like I had to be 'on' the whole time. It was bizarre because I really did feel like a tour guide...'now if you look to your right, you'll see Spaceship Earth coming into view'! I definitely enjoy Disney more with just my DH and 3 daughters. Does that make me a bad daughter-in-law? I hope not but I did feel like I wasn't able to enjoy it as much because they wanted to know when/where we eating and what park we going to, what rides we were going on, were we going back to the hotel for naps, and so on. Next time, I'll be able to relax and soak in all the details. Sheesh, we'd paid for the Mickey's Halloween Party for them and they only wanted to stay an hour and half at the most! I guess that's a great excuse to plan another Disney trip then, right?

a slurpee!!!!!!!!!!! Hilarious!!

I'm so glad only $500 was stolen. That still is a lot of money, but thankfully didn't make our account go negative - that would have been an even bigger ordeal with the bank I'm sure. I am so grateful for the $200 limit our bank puts on debit cards. It used to make me mad, but now I love it! I'm sure the thief tried to buy bigger things with my card, and when it was declined had to find a new strategy. And probably moved onto the next card when they realized my limit was so teeny!

No, it doesn't make you a bad DIL AT ALL. If it does, then I am a bad one too! Same with my in-laws, those exact questions. And other things like "Why is there such a large crowd over there?" "Uh...Christmas week?" Usually I ended up saying things like "Hmmm....couldn't tell ya, we can go check it out if you'd like!" to which they usually just kept walking to. It got a bit old being "on" - like you said. In NOLA I practically collapsed in exhaustion the last 2 days, as you'll find out!

OH no Brook, just read about your Debit card scare!!! So glad it got cleared up with the bank and they gave you your money back! Makes me think..I use mine all of the time everywhere because I never have cash so our number is ALL over the place!!! I'm with you, if I could go on a shopping spree with someone elses money, I woudn't be at Walmart!! LOL!!

We used to use our debit card all the time, but in the past couple years have become cash people to help keep us on budget. Its harder to spend the green stuff! We might not have even caught the charges on our account if we used it like we used to...

I am sure this is probably something related to online...generally I think it's pretty safe at any store, everything is secure. Joe and I are both computer dorks, so we are good with only using secure websites online, but who knows who is working on the other end of it!

 

[moparop]

Oh my goodness Jill! What a scary feeling! Glad to hear that it's been cleared up and you got the money back.

BTW, Kidani photos are awesome! What a cool resort!

 

[k_reile]

thanks Brook and Kathy for the info on the villas. We are staying there on a cash reservation...so we get mousekeeping everyday! Thank goodness! LOL!

 

[RachelNinja]

Wow, so glad the debit card thing worked out for you guys. Anytime I hear about these things, I get really upset about the way the world is nowadays. Haha, I say that as if I'm so much older and wiser, but I know I'm not. Recently, I clicked a popup about Adobe that I thought was legit, but once that happened, malware appeared all over my computer. Even my desktop wallpaper had this huge sign that said that it was infected. DBF came over and fixed it for me (thankfully that day since I need it to do my lesson plans!), but I get so upset that there are people out there doing these things - being dishonest, causing trouble. It just makes me feel slightly depressed that people could do things that are just morally wrong! There's no gray area for stealing someone's debit card numbers! Anyway, that's just a random thought!

Looking forward to more of your TR! I think it's going to be funny when Henry's like, in his 30s. He's still going to be well-known by all the DISers!!!