Back to Where It Began - 10th Anniversary Trip Report-Dec 2007 - Pics Added 4/7

[ncseric]

Thanks, Denise. I don't think anyone has fused the Lego world with the Disney world yet. I'm still trying to figure out how to make mouse ears out of the Lego pieces I have. I came pretty close, but they need some more work.

 

[ncseric]

We've got all our ADRs made now, so here's the summary of what we're planning to eat:

12/7 - Friday
Dinner @ MGM - CS - Pizza Planet or Studio Catering Company

12/8 - Saturday
Lunch @ MK - CS - Pecos Bill's, Cosmic Rays, or Columbia Harbor House
Dinner @ Epcot - Le Cellier - We have to try to switch to the Candelight Processional package, so DW is calling first thing on Monday to get that changed.

12/9 - Sunday
Lunch @ MK - CS - Sunshine Seasons or somewhere in World Showcase
Dinner - Ohana

12/10 - Monday
Lunch @ AK - CS - Flame Tree BBQ or Tusker House, but I think TH will be closed by then. If nothing there sounds good, we'll go to DTD and eat there.
Dinner - Boma

12/11 - Tuesday - DisneySchadenFreude day
Breakfast - Crystal Palace - It's our only buffet/character meal, but it lets us see the empty park, which should be a treat.

 

[ncseric]

One of the things we were particularly proud of for our last trip was the fact that the entire trip was paid for before we went. We're on track to do that this time, as well.

Without going into too much detail (what? here? too much detail? no.), I have a couple different jobs. I work full-time as a software developer for a company in town, and that gives me a salary and all my benefits. That money goes straight to normal monthly expenses, with very little room for Disney fun.

I also have a web hosting company that more than pays for itself and is paying down its own debt from expansion. Adding a dozen servers in a year costs a lot of money and while consumer debt is generally considered a bad thing, debt in business is a different story. Without the ability to take on debt, the business can't grow. Besides paying down the business debt, we're able to take some of the money from the business to pay down personal debt that we took on a few years ago when my contract job ended abruptly right before Thanksgiving.

So where is the fun money coming from? My part-time job as an EMT with a local ambulance company, as well as a twice-yearly expense allowance from the fire department I volunteer with. I enjoy being an EMT, possibly more than the day job, simply because instead of sitting at a desk, you're out doing something. When we're busy (more often than not), the 8 or 12 hour shift goes by pretty quickly. I work mostly Friday nights, but I also work special events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. All the money from being an EMT at these places becomes our vacation fund.

As of today, including some money we've gotten from Disney VISA Rewards, we're more than 2/3rds of the way to paying for:

- Airfare
- Park annual passes (we're going again in October 08)
- Disney Dining Plan
- Car rental, less a $100 AmEx gift certificate
- Behind the Magic of Trains tour for me
- MVMCP tickets

I'm sure there will be some other expenses and/or Christmas shopping that will come out of other funds, but since everything is paid in advance, I won't feel guilty about taking a vacation while trying to pay down debt. Of course, all that extra money could be thrown against the debt instead, but we need to have some fun too.

 

[ncseric]

I haven't updated this pre-tripe for a while, mainly because there wasn't anything to talk about. You can only shuffle the Disney schedule so much before you get a little tired of the preliminaries. I set up a countdown clock here:

http://www.northcomp.com/countdown.asp

Every so often, I'll go out and see how much longer I have to wait to go.

 

[TheDISneyFamily]

Hi Eric! I'm all caught up again! (I posted here before with my other screen name mlill!) Thank you very much for making my own countdown! You're the best! I can't wait to read about your trip to AKV... we might stay there next year.

Happy Planning!
-Michelle

P.S. I'm telling you, you guys must be JUST like us... computers... Legos... trains... Disney...

 

[ncseric]

Thanks, Michelle. DW is waiting until the countdown gets down around 60 so she can put up the Mickey heads all over the house as another countdown.

 

[ncseric]

60 days to go... DW is probably hunting down her Mickey heads as we speak.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

49 days till we go to disneyland.

 

[ncseric]

I've been trying to ignore the trip so I don't end up changing the plans we have, although I think we've pretty much settled on everything now. We've got enough flexibility in our schedule to do what we want to, without having to worry about the kids throwing a fit about missing something.

 

[ncsjodi]

Okay, Eric may think the plans are all set, but I'm starting to wonder about one of our ADRs. I keep reading bad reviews of Ohana, which have me worried. Then, I'm reading some really great ones of Kona for dinner. We'd like to stay close to the MK that night since we're going to the MVMCP, but I'm seriously considering calling to see if we can switch from Ohana to Kona for dinner. What does everyone think? Any opinions?

Jodi

BTW, only 43 days to go! And I only have Mickey Heads up to 36, so I'll be able to start our countdown next week!

 

[ncsjodi]

Well, I can start our official countdown tomorrow! I've got Mickey Heads up to 36, so I'll spend my morning alone (while DD3 is at preschool) putting them up all over the kitchen! Actually, I'll probably put them on the inside of the pantry door like we did last time. They really don't go with my decor!

Also, we called WDW Dining today. They didn't have anything available for dinner at Kona on Sunday night but we did change our final breakfast to Kona from the Crystal Palace. The lure of Tonga Toast was just too overwhelming for me.

I realized tonight that we do have one problem with our schedule. We've got MVMCP scheduled for Sunday night -- during the Colts game!!!! I guess I'll have to use Eric's Blackberry to check the score throughout the game! Hopefully we'll still be undefeated in December!!

Hope everyone had a happy and safe Halloween! Don't eat too much of your kids' candy!

 

[Sheldon J. Plankton]

When do we leave?

 

[TheDISneyFamily]

Well, I can start our official countdown tomorrow! I've got Mickey Heads up to 36, so I'll spend my morning alone (while DD3 is at preschool) putting them up all over the kitchen! Actually, I'll probably put them on the inside of the pantry door like we did last time. They really don't go with my decor!

Also, we called WDW Dining today. They didn't have anything available for dinner at Kona on Sunday night but we did change our final breakfast to Kona from the Crystal Palace. The lure of Tonga Toast was just too overwhelming for me.

I realized tonight that we do have one problem with our schedule. We've got MVMCP scheduled for Sunday night -- during the Colts game!!!! I guess I'll have to use Eric's Blackberry to check the score throughout the game! Hopefully we'll still be undefeated in December!!

Hope everyone had a happy and safe Halloween! Don't eat too much of your kids' candy!

Hi Jodi & Eric!
Happy Final Countdown!!! Your trip will be here before you know it!!! Just when it starts to get really cold and nasty here, you'll be off to warm, sunny Florida!

Don't give up on the reservation roulette. There are cancellations all the time, so you may still get to change some ADRs if you feel like it. Be warned: the Tonga Toast is very sweet & filling! It's sooo good. Conner is the only one who can finish the whole thing. (15 year old bottomless pit) Where are you going for dinner on the MVMCP night since you didn't get to switch? Are you going into the party early, or are you waiting until 7pm? Sorry about the game being on that night!

Have a great day!
-Michelle

 

[ncsjodi]

Hi Michelle,

Thanks for stopping by!

We still eating at Ohana the night of our MVMCP. We've got an ADR at 5pm and we'll just head over to the Magic Kingdom after we eat. It says on wdwinfo.com that the regular Wishes is being held at 6pm and I'm hoping we'll be able to see it from Ohana.

Sometime on Sunday we may try to get together with Buzz (Montana Disney Fan) as well, since he will be there. We're talking about meeting up for some beer and Off Kilter entertainment in Canada.

I'm not too worried about the game that night. It's against Baltimore and we will hopefully already have clinched home field advantage in the playoffs. Today's game is more important to us Colts fans!

Jodi

 

[ncseric]

When do we leave?

I'm getting your shipping container ready as we speak. Hope you don't mind cargo class.

 

[ncsjodi]

I finally got a picture of our countdown door to show everyone. We're down to 32 days now, but the pic shows the countdown at 36.

I'm starting to think about what to pack... May have to bring the suitcases up soon.

The weather forecast for Indy for the rest of the week is highs in the 40s! I can't wait to get to Florida!

 

[ncseric]

I'm starting to think about what to pack... May have to bring the suitcases up soon.

Who are you kidding... we'll pack the night before, as usual.

 

[oybolshoi]

I'm getting your shipping container ready as we speak. Hope you don't mind cargo class.

He's traveled in worse than that before.

 

[Mrs. Bee]

just subscribing.

 

[ncsjodi]

just subscribing.

Welcome, Mrs. Bee! Glad to have you with us!