Another Not-So-Scary PTR!

[Legendofthehawk]

to my Not-So-Scary-Halloween PTR!

This is me!
Your hostess for this grand ride..

My name is Sarah. Geek. Former ESL teacher. Pre-Nursing student. Mother of 2. Wife of 1. Newbie Tribal Dancer extraordinaire! I am currently at the start of a rather brutal A&P summer course, so when I am not buried/drawing science notes or dancing, I am here! Some of my study guides may make an appearance since I try my best to sneak in something disney here and there (yes, even in A&P!)

Included in this PTR are.....

Thing 1:

This is my oldest child, Nathan.. a.k.a. "The Boy". His hobbies include.. ALL things cars, trying to become a human GPS, talking-eleven-billiondy-miles-a-minute, pokemon, gaming and reading. He also loves minions, harry potter and most things in universal studios. ' Here he is standing in cue for Minions at UoA this passed January. He'll be turning 10 in 2 weeks..

Thing 2..

This is youngest, Lily. She just turned 8 and is nearly as tall as her brother! Her love of disney is almost as big as mine. She is just starting to come out of the phase of being princess obsessed. Her favorites princesses seem to rotate, with Elsa, and Aurora often taking turns.




This is my DH.

(he's the one in purple. Not the George Lucas body double! )


This will not be his first time to Disney World (or ours!), but it will be our first time going as a family . This July will make a year that we've been married. We were hoping to visit Japan after I was done with this semester, but after straightening out my Disney Math.. I am not sure that's gonna happen!

This trip is important. The last time the kids and I went to DW was in '11 when my marriage was ending to their bio dad. Their memories of him aren't the best since he wasn't ever super involved and once the divorce went forward, not at all. Disney was the only place that we felt like a real family. He was diagnosed and died of cancer last year.

Interestingly enough, this is the only photo that I have from that trip.

I have been kind of eager but hesitant to come back to the world. The kids I think, if they can remember, will have nothing but good memories. Mine are kind of a mixed bag. Through it all though, I want them to remember no matter what, we are a family.


Edit:

Addition! My best friend Margo and her boyfriend are coming to join us from the 29th-1st!
They'll be staying at POP century.

This is their first time at DW! I am so excited!!!


So... when is this happening?

When: Oct 26 - Nov 1



Halloween and Disney seem to be a match of my two most favoritest things ever! Although now that I am seeing how crazy busy its going to be this year, we might have to try another time. I am also thinking of taking a day to visit Universal studios. As much as it pains me to give up one of our Disney Days, The boy LOVES universal studios.. just as much as we all love butterbeer.

Where: AKL Jambo & Poly!

Most of you know that it's already crazy pants for fall. As in, I rented points 6+ months out and the only thing available was for a split stay for AKL Villas for 3 days for a 1 bedroom or SSR. Never stayed at AKL, so I am excited to go even though we're a little farther from our favorite park! That means I have the remaining 3 days somewhere else, so I defaulted to book at the poly.

Edit: Was able to book at Poly Villa's with code! Wooohooo!



Drat! Look at the time! Time to get back to my studying!

Hope you guys will join me along for this

 

[ariane37]

I'll join you! Busy or not, going over Halloween is awesome We haven't actually been ON Halloween, but have gone 3 or 4x for the Halloween/Fall decor and MNSSHP. Now due to the kids refusing not to grow up, Thanksgiving works better for us with older DS's school so Christmas decor it is

DH and I stayed at AKL Jambo on an adults only trip in January and fell in love with it (also on rented points). I wanted to stay there this Nov. with the boys but we also waited too long and couldn't get what we wanted there. Hope you love it!
Looking forward to reading more

 

[nilla]

Oh my - I love that gif so much! Where did you get it?

 

[Legendofthehawk]

I'll join you! Busy or not, going over Halloween is awesome We haven't actually been ON Halloween, but have gone 3 or 4x for the Halloween/Fall decor and MNSSHP. Now due to the kids refusing not to grow up, Thanksgiving works better for us with older DS's school so Christmas decor it is

DH and I stayed at AKL Jambo on an adults only trip in January and fell in love with it (also on rented points). I wanted to stay there this Nov. with the boys but we also waited too long and couldn't get what we wanted there. Hope you love it!
Looking forward to reading more

Yay!

Halloween is awesome! I love that most of the resorts do something on Halloween, so even if you're not doing the MNSSHP.. you're still doing something!

Thought about going around Thanksgiving next time. Have heard nothing but good things. Have you been to the Christmas party at all?

And keep trying! This morning on the site a bunch of rooms opened up under the room only discount for our dates. They were up for about an hour before they were gone again.. but it could be possible!

Oh my - I love that gif so much! Where did you get it?

Thanks!

I get all of mine from http://giphy.com/search/disney

I am a little addicted.

 

[Legendofthehawk]

Oh man. Can I tell you? Summer A&P is the worst! The worrrssssttttttttt... (alright, it wouldn't be so bad if our teacher wasn't super uber strict on Latin spelling. My A is turning into a high C.. )

I had a test today, but since we each get one pass a semester, I took mine. I am not feeling terribly well. It's the last day of school for my kiddos, and I wanted to spend more time brushing up on my knowledge. It turned out to be a good thing for two reasons! One- my study buddy sent me a message to let me know that half of the test is written, which means? More spelling work. It's only making sure I know how to spell all 206 bones + all their markings, plus joints, plus direction..

Which makes me feel like this...

Second!

While chit chating with my kiddos this morning getting ready for the last day of school, I happened to check Disney's website. I can't get any studying done until they leave for the day, so figured, eh.. I've got a few minutes, why not?

I was surprised to see that the room only discounts for my dates were EVERYWHERE.

Things that had not been opened since I booked this trip were suddenly available. Want to stay at BC in a 1 bedroom? No problem. What about YC?

Like to try out the Grand Floridian at the discounted room rate? Both regular and club level? Be our guest!

But the one that caught my eye was the Poly Villa Deluxe studio... for 370.oo.

I called disney, put that in my cart and proceeded to get all the way to check out. I was so worried that it was going to disappear! In a few minutes the cheerful CM answered, confirmed all of my information and assured me that the offer WAS there.

I immediately switched from our rack rate room at the Poly to stay at a discount room at the villas!

The CM asked me if I was sure I didn't want to stay at the GF club level. It was going to be the same price as I was currently paying... and I DID want to try the GF..

However, a sudden case of save-disney-money-itis (another latin term.. ) came over me, and I told her just to go for the villa! With the extra 400 dollars, I figured that could go for buying the MNSSHP tickets that I'd been looaaattthe to shell out money for.

I sent my best friend a call and text right away, as she is planning to join us on our trip and wanted to stay at the same hotel. Unfortunately, she was at work and couldn't get it to in time.. and an hour later, all the offers were gone or "pulled". Which of course, was the same time that I changed my mind about staying club level GF... lol.

Really though, I was exceeeeeddingly happy about the Villas!

I guess it shows you that it pays to keep checking, because you never know when you are going to get lucky!

 

[Legendofthehawk]

I can't believe it's been so long since my last update!
My son turned 10. I turned 36.

And..... I booked us tickets for Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party on the 31st!


I am also almost done with my summer term of A&P. We have two weeks left to go before we get a break, but this next week is all test. A mini lab practical on monday, exam on Tuesday, Final Lab practical on Wed. Its a little stressful!

Haven't been able to finish up planning Disney as much as I'd like (such as finishing ADR's), but I got a pretty solid start. Hopefully, anything else that I am able to do between now and Oct won't be too bad and I've tried really hard to make some extra accommodations encase my Best friend wants to join us at certain places. She has never been to Disney before and was kinda under the general assumption that all there is to do is is just show up and buy tickets. Which is do able, don't get me wrong. But really, I feel to get the most of a WDW vacation, planning helps. There was a brief crash course that I gave her about how it all worked, where to go, what websites to look at to help her, but I think it all got a bit overwhelming. Or if not over welming, maybe felt like a bit of overkill.

She messaged me the other day letting me know that she didn't know that it was possible to buy tickets just to Epcot for F&W for 1 day, so she was going to see if she could do that. Originally, it was supposed to be Disney for those 3 days which is why she's staying at the POP, to help coordinate with our stay in AKL to have a Disney vacation together... so I am not sure what changed? Maybe she thinks tickets per day are cheaper?

The possibility for only being together for 1 day is a little bumming when the idea was we were supposed to be together for three and I am not sure what this is going to do to our plans.

She's supposed to call me tonight after work so we can try to figure it out. Everything will work out fine in the end.... I just didn't account that group vacations can be a little hard to navigate and plans are always always subject to change.

Sooo much stress though!

 

[ariane37]

I feel you on trying to coordinate plans with friends. Back in 2012 we went with 2 families, by accident sort of. We booked, then one family booked and overlapped 2 days the beginning of our trip. A couple months later other friends booked and were going to be there 6 out of the 10 days we'd be there. It did work out great in the end but was a little nerve-wracking to plan, and that was before FP+! I'm sure it'll work out for you and your friend, and even one day there with her will be cool!

You had asked me a couple posts back if we'd ever done the Christmas party; we've done it twice. It's nice, I'm glad we've done it, but the Halloween party IMO is 1000x better

 

[iheartbelle87]

I'm in! Can't wait to hear all about your adventures, plus I'm super envious... POLY?!

Also... I can totally relate to your school struggles. WAAAYY back in 2007, during my days in nursing school, I took A&P in the summer. It was pure hell, although my professor was great and not a Latin spelling freak However the next summer, I took Micro. Awful. Just awful.

And now I'm in graduate school to in family nurse practitioner program! If you ever find yourself with spare time (Lol!) check out my PTR, I spend half of it declaring my hatred for the research class I'm taking this summer.

Happy Planning!

 

[Legendofthehawk]

I feel you on trying to coordinate plans with friends. Back in 2012 we went with 2 families, by accident sort of. We booked, then one family booked and overlapped 2 days the beginning of our trip. A couple months later other friends booked and were going to be there 6 out of the 10 days we'd be there. It did work out great in the end but was a little nerve-wracking to plan, and that was before FP+! I'm sure it'll work out for you and your friend, and even one day there with her will be cool!

You had asked me a couple posts back if we'd ever done the Christmas party; we've done it twice. It's nice, I'm glad we've done it, but the Halloween party IMO is 1000x better

Yes, I totally agree!

It is awesome that your trip worked out well in the end! I haven't been since FP+, so I can imagine!

I talked to her last night and it turns out that she just thought it might be cheaper. We did the math together (non Disney math) and it turns out to be more expensive by a nice chunk. Not sure why that is, even from Undercover Tourist? I did make sure to ask her what she wanted and reminded her that if she didn't want to do all the days at Disney, it was fine! We'd still have a good time. She does though, so she's gonna stay at Disney for all three days! With a possible two day add on to Universal

Turns out there is also a girl who loves Disney at work that has been helping with her ADR's and getting her MDE in order also. I'll make sure to send something Mickey her way as a thank you.

Really? What do you think is better about Halloween than Christmas?

I've always wanted to go.. just been so afraid of the large crowds!

I'm in! Can't wait to hear all about your adventures, plus I'm super envious... POLY?!

Also... I can totally relate to your school struggles. WAAAYY back in 2007, during my days in nursing school, I took A&P in the summer. It was pure hell, although my professor was great and not a Latin spelling freak However the next summer, I took Micro. Awful. Just awful.

And now I'm in graduate school to in family nurse practitioner program! If you ever find yourself with spare time (Lol!) check out my PTR, I spend half of it declaring my hatred for the research class I'm taking this summer.

Happy Planning!

Yeeess. Poly! We got really lucky this time around as far as the website goes. It is true when they say to keep checking. You never know what is going to come up when. I had been religious with looking day after day for the back to school code on their site to open to any rooms and couldn't find anything. When I had resigned myself to rack rate and checked by chance awhile later, there it was.

hahaha! That's awesome!

Yay for being a NP!!!!

I will do just that. And there can be a nice celebration when classes are over!