A very merry unbirthday to you! It's my unbirthday trip! It's Mom's unbirthday too!

[oopsiDAISY]

I don't know how you could keep this a secret!!! You're good. You're really good. I would have spilled the beans in excitement by now. I mean, how can you excitedly talk about your upcoming plans and all when you have to be hush-hush?

We talk about our plans on the phone to each other while we are at work... at night when the kids are in bed already... we QUIETLY chat about it when they are in the next room...we talk about it in the shower...I just know the surprise will be fun, but we probably WON'T do a surprise again, LOL!

 

[Cin]

3 weeks from today we will be in Disneyworld!!! And the much awaited and anticipated Disney mail came today.

It doesn't have our flight information on it though for arrival, only departure. Continental still shows us as booked and everything A-OK. I will have to call them Mon. then and investigate. No big deal.

I love the little luggage tags. I still have last years luggage tag on my suitcases. I feel like a kid sometimes getting excited about silly cheap stuff like that. Keychains, stickers, luggage tags, pedometers, little Disney stuff that fills up my junk drawer but I have to keep. Like the keycard from my last trip.

Just this morning, my husband was changing out his old wallet for his brand new one (Santa got him for Christmas) and he gave me his room key card as a souvenir and for my scrapbook. Awwww, how sweet. I didn't know he had even kept it, that trip was over a year ago!

Yep, yep, in 3 weeks, Mom and I will have one of those precious keys in our hands. I am so excited!

Happy New Year 2012!

 

[FosterA]

Just got caught up and browsed through all those gorgeous photos!!

Congrats on your trip being right around the corner and for getting Disney mail today

 

[Colleen27]

3 weeks from today we will be in Disneyworld!!! And the much awaited and anticipated Disney mail came today.

It doesn't have our flight information on it though for arrival, only departure. Continental still shows us as booked and everything A-OK. I will have to call them Mon. then and investigate. No big deal.

ME seems to be having some issues with that. I have to call them too because we haven't gotten our tags yet, but online they don't have flight times showing for either of our flights and on my mom's reservation they have the ME arrival date wrong. I figure it can wait until the rest of the world goes back to work/school on the 3rd, though. The hold times this past week with other places have been ridiculous so I haven't even tried Disney!

 

[Cin]

ME seems to be having some issues with that. I have to call them too because we haven't gotten our tags yet, but online they don't have flight times showing for either of our flights and on my mom's reservation they have the ME arrival date wrong. I figure it can wait until the rest of the world goes back to work/school on the 3rd, though. The hold times this past week with other places have been ridiculous so I haven't even tried Disney!

They had my arrival date wrong too. But I tacked a day on to the arrival at another resort, so I understand the mix up.

 

[Cin]

Just got caught up and browsed through all those gorgeous photos!!

Congrats on your trip being right around the corner and for getting Disney mail today

I am getting so excited! I can't believe the trip is really just around the corner now.

 

[Cin]

So my travel booklet came in the mail and I am soo excited! But, we had no ME voucher for our arrival. Well we did but it was for the next day and our luggage tags had our second resort printed on them. So how do we get to WDW?

Easy. Use your handy dandy pen and make a handy dandy line through the wrong one and simply write in the correct resort.

Getting that answer was not so easy. I called WDW travel and after several requests and a lot of dead air the stoopid computer finally figured out it couldn't help me and transferred my call to an agent. Finally a real voice!!! A real person! Excitement. Once I finally got Amake (I hope I spelled her name right, it sounded like "A make uh") she was able to look up all my info in a flash and they had it all correct too! She said just present our luggage claim checks from our originating airport to the driver to board ME. As far as the wrong resort and wrong arrival date, she said just draw a line through it and write in the correct one. She was fast, very courteous, and very very helpful. Apparently this happens a lot because she already knew what I was going to ask and had the answers before I got the questions out of my mouth.

Yay for good service! Boo that they printed the stuff wrong causing me stress and worry and having to make the call to check on it to start with.

So now it's off to the mail to send Mom her luggage tags and travel info.

Note to self: Maybe a travel agent would have been easier? But the perfectionist in me says trust no one. Plus I love the planning and stuff. If I ever do a trip again though where we are all traveling from different locations I am going to let an agent handle it. It's a lot more work trying to coordinate everything when you live in different states. I know they say they don't charge a fee, but truthfully, I obtained 2 quotes priour to booking my trip and it was $100 less to book myself through WDW Travel Co. Who says they are free?

Yay!!! 17 more days until my Disney vacation!
So happy I needed a chorus line of dancers.

 

[Cin]

Okay, new thought. How long will it take to check in for our ADR's? When trying to budget time that is an important question. I really don't want to be shown as a no show if I am physically there, but stuck in yet another Disney line.

How long will it take to walk from the bus stop or monorail stop or front door of a resort to the actual restaurant?

I am beginning to appreciate more and more the beauty and simplicity of the quick service dining plan. We only did 1 sit down last time and that was Boma. So this planning around eating thing is new to me and I am not liking it as much as I thought. That is just one more detail that I need to work out and I thought I was finished planning and finally ready to go.

I am looking forward though to visiting the restaurants and different resorts and the overall experience. And the food. I am not expecting too much as far as culinary delights, just good food in a great atmosphere. I do expect good food though and not mediocre food. I don't think that is too much to expect of Disney's dining experience. With that in mind, I will steer far clear of hot dogs, turkey legs, and not quite ripened fruit cups.

Now how to use all those snack credits?

 

[Cin]

Yay!!! So my daughter in law talked to my hubs yesterday and they have gotten the weekend off and are driving over to WDW to meet us! I am so excited.

On their wedding day, Oct 2010. Mustang Island. Beautiful isn't it?

They live in Daytona Beach so it isn't far for them to travel. Of course this means there will possible be ADR changes as I have everything set for 2 and now I want to double that and make that a party of 4.

I am waiting on DD to get back to me and let me know the exact details.
So for now my plans are have them meet us at Pop Century mid afternoon, do a fun photo tour of POP, then over to Downtown Disney to shop and catch some street entertainment. We might just skip this and head straight to the ferry though. Then hop on board the ferry to Riverside for a carriage ride tour (If I can get us one) and dinner at Boatwright's then an evening with YeeHaw Bob. Back to Downtown Disney for ice cream at Ghiardelli's and back home to our resort for rest. Whew! After being up for a 6am flight, I am sure we will be more than ready to get some sleep.

The carriage ride idea I just thought of today and I wasn't going to justify the cost for only 2 of us, but with 4, well it seems much more affordable now and I am really thinking it over. So as soon as I get word back from DD with exact meet up times and details I will try to schedule us a horse drawn carriage ride!!! My treat. I love my family

 

[Cin]

Well, it really isn't a toy, but he is just as excited about it. He got a mandolin today. A guy he works with found it discarded and he retrieved it and gave it to my husband. It had a broken string and the jack was messed up, but my hubs, being a musician, cleaned it up, dusted it off, and fixed it for $8. That was the cost of new strings. It's really nice, a solid body and electric too. Someone had just thrown it away.

It's weird/funny because just last week the receptionist gave him a guitar pick that she found that turned out to a mandolin pick. According to hubs, I wouldn't know the difference they all look the same to me.
(Ignore hubby's studio and carpet lint, tomorrow is cleaning day.)

 

[Cin]

I have been learning to do my own manicures and pedicures instead of paying someone else. Well, I think I finally nailed it, (hee hee, nailed it, get it?) because at the steakhouse a lady told me she loved my nails and asked the name of salon where I had them done. I was proud to say I had painted them myself. DH, who was with me, added in that I had just done them today. And then at the grocery store, another lady remarked how pretty they were and said she liked my nails. I've been waiting for Christmas to be over so I could use this gorgeous purple polish by China Glaze, a color called Flying Dragon (Neon) that I bought a while back. I just love the names they come up with for nail polish. And today was it's debut on my hands. The picture just doesn't capture the true colors, but it turned out really nice. Sorry I tried and can't make the size smaller, well I can make it smaller but when it copies and posts it goes back to giganto hands again. Which is kind of neat because you can see the blue microglitter in the purple polish, but the actual colors look nothing like the pic.

Now I just need to figure out how to do Disney nails. But for now, I am wearing a gorgeous Flying Dragon Neon purple with Rockstar Pink and silver glitter and some rhinestone bling on the ring finger because a girl's gotta have some bling. Wow so they really sparkle. Which is always good. I love pretty sparkles.

 

[Cin]

Okay, so two weeks from right now at this very moment in time, I will be halfway to WDW! I will already be boarded on my transfer flight and getting ready for take off on the last leg.

This is the last thing I will see before I get to Disneyworld!!!

Is it just me? Or does anyone else do this? Maybe I'm just weird like that. LOL. I can't wait.

Did I happen to mention I hate flying? Oh yea, I try to forget that part. I don't like it much, but I do it because it takes me to my favorite vacation destination, the home of Tigger and Tinkerbell and Mickey too. After going through Houston several times in bumper to bumper traffic in a sea of taillights, it isn't really any more white knuckle inducing or nerve wracking.

This is what I am used to :

 

[Cin]

Heads up Jan 2012 DIS'ers, I just cancelled an ADR for 2 at 'Ohana for 01-29-2012. Yes that is a table for two open at 'Ohana! I was able to get a 645 ADR instead so I let the 8 pm one go. Happy dance here

So now, with the earlier seating, we should be finished dining in time to wander over to the beach for the Wishes fireworks and the nightly water pageant. What a wonderful way to end our trip and enjoy our last night in WDW!

 

[Cin]

Okay, so after some thought as to timing as ease of travel to and fro, I made some small adjustments for arrival day.

Raglan Road was moved to our last Saturday evening instead of arrival night. Yay, for getting an ADR for that! By 7:15 the place should be full of song and dance and happy patrons.

DD and son plan on meeting us at our resort mid afternoon, then a photo tour of resort and over to Downtown Disney. We'll catch some street entertainers performing and do a little shopping before boarding the ferry to Riverside resort.

Dinner will be at Boatwright's. I was able to score an ADR for 4 even this close to arrival. I almost went with leaving it at a walk up and playing food roulette, you know, will we have Boatwright's or the food court? But I found one spot available for 5 pm so... score!

Since this is OOP, the food court would haven been a more economical choice. But, hey it's Disney and this is vacation, so why live like we do at home? Isn't that the point of vacation? To NOT live your everyday life?

Horse drawn carriage ride after dinner and resort tour. Catch up with Yee Haw Bob at 8 until we sing ourselves silly and then when we feel hungry, off to Ghiardelli's at Downtown Disney for ice cream.

From there it's a short trip back home and some well needed rest for our first park day!

Maybe we'll see what top ten must do's Stacy has for us on tv. LOL, I'm betting that it's the same program I saw in Oct 2010. Which is still awesome because it means you are LIVING AT DISNEYWORLD!!!!!

12 days before I move to Disneyworld!

 

[Cin]

Okay so here is what I finally came up with for my Disney toenail art. Don't look it feet gross you out. I can't make it smaller sorry, I tried.

Ooh La la Mickey Toes!

 

[Cin]

I think reality hit me as I realized that it is only 9 more days before our trip. I was counting on my days off to get last minute things done. Then work got in the way.

Our schedule came out and YaY! I am officially off my requested days.

But look closer...Ut-Oh... I work all this weekend then scheduled overtime and only 1 day off (Tues) before my vacation starts (Fri). And I work 12.5 -13 hour shifts! So I have 1 day to get all my last minute stuff done, plus the usual day off housework (laundry and such) and still have to return to work 2 more long shifts. I'll be tired and exhausted before I even get to Disneyworld! Waaaaah.

Then talking to Mom a while ago, and she mentioned how nice it was that I was handling everything and she didn't have to do anything or have any worries except how much spending money would she need... that is when reality hit me and I realized all the responsibility I had taken on - and I felt very overwhelmed. I am so used to traveling with my hubby. He handles everything including the money so all I have to do is go, have fun, and he takes care of everything, and now he wasn't going to be there and I panicked in trying to make a list and in trying to remember every detail.

I was used to it as a single parent/mother, but after being married all these years, I forgot what it was like, and I am very rusty but I think it is starting to come back to me. I think I am just trying too hard and getting overwhelmed with it all in worrying about the details.

Well, that and I have a huge test that I have to get re-certified for at work and it's a tough one, the testing alone takes 12 hours of written/clinical skills and then hands on clinical skills which is scheduled after you pass part I and II and I have been trying to study for that as well as plan for Disney, and then spend time with my husband, and work has been hellabusy, hence the scheduled overtime for everyone.

Oh yeah, and then right now I'm waiting on the plumbers to show up. Our drainage water pipes from the house to the city collapsed so I can't really use the bathrooms as the water runs right into the front yard when you flush. Ummm yes, you heard right it is raw sewage right in our front yard, Ewwww gross. But hubby just called and they will be out this afternoon so I wait and wait and try to study for my test some, organize my vacation some, do some housework, and hopefully in there, just some "ME" time and a bubble bath after the plumbers finish! (OH and flush the toilets too, I just can't, when I know it is dumping out on our front flowerbed.)

I am definitely in need of a vacation right now, but WOW, I've soooo much do still, I'm just not ready, and it's only 9 days away!

 

[FosterA]

I've been a bit behind reading your TR, but caught up now.
Wow!!! you will be in Disney in no time flat! yay

I totally get the stress before a trip. I totally freak out even if we just go away for the weekend. soooo much to do. Most of my stress is usually our stupid pets though because it's so much work to kennel them and arrange for someone to check on them, etc etc. Well, I do love our pets and they are not "that" stupid but you know what I mean

anyway...I'm very excited for your trip and know you girls will have a blast. Be sure to tell us all about it when you get back!!

 

[Cin]

I've been a bit behind reading your TR, but caught up now.
Wow!!! you will be in Disney in no time flat! yay

I totally get the stress before a trip. I totally freak out even if we just go away for the weekend. soooo much to do. Most of my stress is usually our stupid pets though because it's so much work to kennel them and arrange for someone to check on them, etc etc. Well, I do love our pets and they are not "that" stupid but you know what I mean

anyway...I'm very excited for your trip and know you girls will have a blast. Be sure to tell us all about it when you get back!!

I know, I just realized I was in single digits! I thought I should be soo excited and I am, but nervous too in the rushed preparation. What if I forget something important? Like clean underwear? I mean, Disney sells a lot of things but I don't recall ever seeing undergarments. Not like I would forget them, but that was just an example.

I get the 'stupid' pets, we have a dog and yes we have to get someone to care for him in our absence. Only he is a really big dog (German Shepherd 90 lbs.) and everyone here has chihuahua's so he scares people. The guy who feeds him does it over the gate. Seriously. And has done so for the past 6 years. We don't board him as he is much happier in his own yard and at home. He tends to not eat and get mopey in the kennel. Oh, and last time he got kennel cough which I was very upset about since he had his shots and everything. So, my hubs rigs up a food pail and hangs it on a rope, and the water hose from the front yard to the back fence so our friend won't even have to enter the yard. Our dog is just a big old happy licky waggy tail dog, but his size is intimidating.

Yay, I am finally in single digits! Which silly me, I didn't even realize until right now.

Oh, and yay! I got my dinner at 'Ohana moved to an earlier slot so we will have time afterward to get settled on the beach for fireworks and the lighted water pageant float thing. (I can't remember what Disney calls it).

 

[Cin]

Well, they aren't really kids, (at 30) but when you're "Mom", they will always be "kids" no matter how many birthdays they have had. Just like I'm sure Mom calls me her "kid" too. I could have gotten some awesome happy kid pics of DS and DD on Dumbo, but well, Fantasyland and Dumbo are under renovation so no cute kids on Dumbo pics. Their first visit ever too, awwwww. And my two are not camera shy. So we will have some fun pics anyway even without Dumbo.

So for our first 3 days, we'll be one big happy family. Then they have to get back to their lives, while Mom and I party on with Mickey and Tigger.

I was able to get my ADR's changed too to a party of four! All except California Grill. But I did try on that one just in case.

I'm really excited now as they have never been to Disneyworld and I feel honored too as they are taking time out of their lives to spend time with me and vacation at that. This means a lot to me as I am only a step mom and Dad won't even be there, just me and the "kids". I feel like Sally Field when she gave her acceptance speech, "you like me, right now, you like me!"

 

[Cin]

3 more days!!!

General and random thoughts: I am so glad I didn't chose to take my trip a few days sooner or we would have encountered the mess that President O and the Obama's visit is going to make.

I am again discouraged at the closing of the bus stop in Downtown Disney on the Christmas store side. Where the dancing brooms with the water pails from Sorcerer's Apprentice are. (or was it from The Sword in the Stone?) That is where everywhere I want to go is!!!

So I need to go hem a pair of jeans (why didn't I do this days ago?!!!) and actually pull out the suitcase and do more than put my little id tag on it.

So far all I have done is put the name ID tag on (which I had to decorate with pink glitter mickey heads and my initials) and toss my old Disney parks rain ponchos and an umbrella on top of it for taking along.

I was going to go shopping today for a new giant sized purse to carry all my stuff in for use on the plane(as a second carry on in a way). Well, I am taking today off from anything outside my front door instead to rest as much as possible for the work days I have left to go. Still have the usual housework and stuff to do on my day off though, boo to that part.

Just fyi: you know I won't be carrying a purse in the parks! I take ID and my room key card and cash for tips only. All in my pocket.

I likely won't be back here for much time except last minute information gathering so I will say Ta Ta for now! And a completed trip report when I return in Feb!

Thanks everyone for helping me plan this trip!

I am getting so excited.

Okay, off to measure and hem up those jeans and get starting packing!