Commencing Operation Christmas Miracle Trip 2010: PTR

[disneyfan55]

Thanks for reading! I'm having a lot of fun writing it! (I delude myself into thinking that other people will think I am as amusing as I think I am..... )

Yes, it's fun to read. The pretrip is always full of hope and dreams-I don't plan that much for WDW. We kind of go with the flow, but when the dining was added (first time for us was 2007) everything seemed and I guess was much more structured. This trip we have TIW and while it, too, has some structure around reservations, we aren't doing one each day. I really preplanned for all of our cross country trips (binder with dividers for each day and all). We've done that 6 times and I wish we can do so again!

 

[jenseib]

I know EXACTLY what you mean about there never being a "good" time to leave the cows. My DH would say exactly the same thing! Fortunately, he's a big kid at heart and loves to play so he NEEDS me in his life to convince him to come out and play with us!

Skip's playing is tractorpulling. He thinks thats how everyone likes to play. Poor fool! LOL!

Thanks for reading! I'm having a lot of fun writing it! (I delude myself into thinking that other people will think I am as amusing as I think I am..... )

I love your writing! keep it coming!

 

[2kids2luv]

I followed you over from the Dec trip boards. We're staying at AKL - pool view the first week in Dec. I love your plans so far and am jealous of conceige level and then savannah view. It's wonderful that you have everything on your wish list. Keeping fingers crossed for CP. I really enjoy how you convince hubby to go along with your plans. I'll have to keep this in mind for future reference.

 

[PoppyGirl]

Yes, it's fun to read. The pretrip is always full of hope and dreams-I don't plan that much for WDW. We kind of go with the flow, but when the dining was added (first time for us was 2007) everything seemed and I guess was much more structured. This trip we have TIW and while it, too, has some structure around reservations, we aren't doing one each day. I really preplanned for all of our cross country trips (binder with dividers for each day and all). We've done that 6 times and I wish we can do so again!

That's true! It is full of hopes and dreams. For me, the planning is such a part of the fun of a disney trip.

Did you drive cross country? We took an RV trip this summer with our friends in CA....I might be able to do it if it was just our family, but I don't think I'd do it again with other people! It's my dream though to take a LONG vacation and go across country! I can't imagine how much planning that would take...I have a HUGE notebook just for Disney!

Skip's playing is tractorpulling. He thinks thats how everyone likes to play. Poor fool! LOL!

I love your writing! keep it coming!

Do YOU enjoy the tractor pulling? I've seen it at the fair before but never got into it. Hmmm....I guess DH's "playing" is pretty much anything with the kids. He likes to take them fishing or hiking or biking or swimming, or just go out in the yard and mess around. He doesn't get much time to do those things, but he likes them.

I followed you over from the Dec trip boards. We're staying at AKL - pool view the first week in Dec. I love your plans so far and am jealous of conceige level and then savannah view. It's wonderful that you have everything on your wish list. Keeping fingers crossed for CP. I really enjoy how you convince hubby to go along with your plans. I'll have to keep this in mind for future reference.

Ack! I'm being followed again! Thanks for reading my PTR. It's a dream come true for me for us to be able to stay at AKL. I think I sort of felt like we needed to do it soon because DS will be entering middle school next year and it might be harder to get away...and plus he'll start not wanting to hang out with the "parental units" quite so much. I feel totally spoiled and totally blessed to have everything we are getting on this trip. Yes, if we manage to get LeCellier for CP, it'll be a perfect plan....probably not a perfect trip....you know how it goes! But at least the plans will be perfect! My DH is a good man! I didn't appreciate him nearly enough for a very long time and now I see that he really is a wonderful person and I'm pretty lucky that he's willing to put up with my craziness.

 

[disneyfan55]

That's true! It is full of hopes and dreams. For me, the planning is such a part of the fun of a disney trip.

Did you drive cross country? We took an RV trip this summer with our friends in CA....I might be able to do it if it was just our family, but I don't think I'd do it again with other people! It's my dream though to take a LONG vacation and go across country! I can't imagine how much planning that would take...I have a HUGE notebook just for Disney!

Yes we drove from central NJ. We went 3 times in the 80s with 2 children. We visited MANY National Parks, historice sites and museums. We drove 700-800 miles per day until the Rockies and then slowed down. Two of the trips included DL! The last 3 trips were in 2003,2004 and 2005. the last one included a week at a dude ranch in Montana. It was really neat-something I always wanted to do.

Anyway, YES much planning-routes/sites/places to stay and visit. Actually with the internet the last 3 trips were easier to plan - at least to obtain all the info. I emailed each state we would be driving through for any info plus all the major areas that we would be staying. I also got a lot of info from the National Parks. I had a divider for each day with the info/coupons/route in each day. It is a lot of fun to plan!! Any questions-just ask!!

 

[jenseib]

I do enjoy tractorpulling to some extent. I don't want to watch it all day long. I do like his class (the mini's) They are a bit exciting and I know most of the pullers, so it's interesting to see how each does. I like the hanging out in the pits more than watching other classes. It can be fun. Claire loves it too.

My mom actually mentioned to me today, that it won't be long and Claire will want to take a friend to Disney with us, as we will become boring. LOL!

 

[PoppyGirl]

Part the Tenth..... Day 5 Daily Details: A Very Christmasy Day at EPCOT.

I'm very excited because day 5 begins with something I've wanted to do every trip to WDW but have never done.....breakfast at Chef Mickey's! Well be getting up early and taking a taxi from AKL to the Contemporary (why you ask? Well because a. it's faster b. it's easier c. it's waaaayyyy early and d. we'll be hungry!) Our ressies are for 7:00am. Why so early? So we can have a leisurely breakfast and still make it to EPCOT for opening so that we can push and shove ...I mean make our way graciously to Soarin' along with all the other commando park goers.

After breakfast we'll take the monorail (how fun is that?) to EPCOT. Someday I'd like to stay in a monorail resort....I think that would be fun.

We affectionately refer to this as "The Big Golfball"

After we've gotten fast passes for Soarin' and ridden it once (because it IS my favorite ride in all of WDW), we'll probably head over to Test Track. Love the SPEED!

No matter how many times I see this, it still makes me laugh!

DS will have to ride Mission Space. I don't know who will ride it with him because nothing at WDW has ever made me sick...except Mission Space! I'm hoping DH will man up and ride it with him! We always ride Journey Into Imagination with Figment. Yes, we know it's totally cheesy, but we're sort of like that! And then we'll spend some time playing around in the photo lab (I read somewhere that some things had been taken out??) and we like to get a funny picture of the family there in the lab to go in the front of the scrapbook. This time I'll remember to dress us in coordinating outfits because last time we totally clashed! offtopic: Actually as an aside, I'm planning on coordinating all our outfits for this trip. I'll be packing in days instead of each person having their own suitcase. This is the brilliant idea I came up with after vacation this summer. So I'll pack each of us an outfit for day one and put them in together. I hate when the scrapbook photos clash!)

Ok, so moving on....Lunch (hopefully--as of this moment I'm still waiting on the AKL IPO to let me know if they were able to book my request) will be at LeCellier for the Candlelight Processional, first showing. Steven Curtis Chapman will be the narrator. (WOOT!) I LOVE his music. I think our family will enjoy this. We all like music...and Christmas....and candlelight.

Whenever time allows, we'll spend a few hours in World Showcase. I think the kids may want to try out the Kim Possible Adventure this time. We usually do the Kidcot stops too and last time DS got a passport and really enjoyed getting it stamped in each country.

DD and DH have not yet tried Club Cool...and "The Beverly". Here are the photos of DS trying it last summer:

Dinner will be at Sunshine Seasons (so many fun choices and if we're still full from LeCellier, we can get snacks instead!) and then we'll stay for Illuminations. I've seen it before but my family has not.

Thus concludes our Christmasy day at EPCOT!

 

[PoppyGirl]

The Final Frontier

Or...the last hoop to jump through!

We are chopping sileage at the farm next week. So what, you say. Well, once the chopping is done, then it's time for me to appeal to DH's little brother and business partner to take over the farmwork in December when we go to Disney. It's the last hurdle before we know with 100% certainty that we are going! I'm hoping that we can get the OK from him by the time we are at 99 days so I can surpise the kids with the news! It will be our 2nd vacation this year so I've been exceptionally sweet to him lately (making it harder to say "no" to me).

In all seriousness, I think it's going to be fine. We just wanted to wait until our summer vacation was "history" and the hardest part of the farm work was done before we mention another trip to him! Wish us luck!!!

 

[jenseib]

I think instead of asking BIL...ask my DH about going and use some of your charm! LOL!

 

[Daddy_of_Princesses]

The Final Frontier

Or...the last hoop to jump through!

We are chopping sileage at the farm next week. So what, you say. Well, once the chopping is done, then it's time for me to appeal to DH's little brother and business partner to take over the farmwork in December when we go to Disney. It's the last hurdle before we know with 100% certainty that we are going! I'm hoping that we can get the OK from him by the time we are at 99 days so I can surpise the kids with the news! It will be our 2nd vacation this year so I've been exceptionally sweet to him lately (making it harder to say "no" to me).

In all seriousness, I think it's going to be fine. We just wanted to wait until our summer vacation was "history" and the hardest part of the farm work was done before we mention another trip to him! Wish us luck!!!

Can you just drop it in to casual conversation?
You know something like.

So, how about that weather. Glad we got that rain, we really needed it. Yea, it's hot, but you know, it isn't the heat that bothers me, it's the humidity. We are going to need you to take care of the farm for a week in December when we go to Disney. It's supposed to be nice this weekend, but the weather is going to get hot again at the start of the week.

See, he wouldn't even notice.

 

[PoppyGirl]

I think instead of asking BIL...ask my DH about going and use some of your charm! LOL!

Hey Skip....how would you like to make Jen REALLY, REALLY happy? She's a great wife, isn't she? Gave you Claire, right??? (How's that for a start?)

Can you just drop it in to casual conversation?
You know something like.

So, how about that weather. Glad we got that rain, we really needed it. Yea, it's hot, but you know, it isn't the heat that bothers me, it's the humidity. We are going to need you to take care of the farm for a week in December when we go to Disney. It's supposed to be nice this weekend, but the weather is going to get hot again at the start of the week.

See, he wouldn't even notice.

Sounds good! I might add in something like "wow...you guys did a great job getting all the chopping done. It's almost like one of you could leave and no one would notice!" When we went on vacation this summer, he said it was great because DH wasn't there and it was "very peaceful" so I'm thinking that maybe he sort of likes it when we go away. DMIL....not so much. She panics when DH is away.

 

[PoppyGirl]

I didn't feel like doing any of the stuff I was supposed to do today...stuff like laundry and cleaning the house and taking the dog to the park. I felt like SHOPPING. So that's what I did! And SCORE! I had to go to the Disney Store (of COURSE) and found coordinating t-shirts for all of us.

I had already ordered these from Disneystore.com and had them personalized for our trip. (Lime green, of COURSE!)
Front:

Back: (Can anyone see the mistake I made?? I owe it all to "SWISS CHEESE BRAIN")

And then I found a really cute outfit for DD--perfect for our stay at AKL! I hope she likes it. Zebras are her favorite. I'm going to wait a bit to give it to her. It's still too hot to wear it anyway. The pants have 3 small gold buttons at the bottom of each leg. I don't know how well you can see that from the photo.

For some reason every time I take photos in this room of the house. the color is all wrong! I think I need to adjust the WB on my camera. Hopefully you can get the idea anyway.


AND....while I was out shopping I got an e-mail from the AKL IPO saying that they had booked my CP package for LeCellier for 12/12 at 1:45pm. WOOT! Perfect!!! Yay for Steven Curtis Chapman. On the way home I heard some of his music on the radio.

 

[Daddy_of_Princesses]

Sounds good! I might add in something like "wow...you guys did a great job getting all the chopping done. It's almost like one of you could leave and no one would notice!" When we went on vacation this summer, he said it was great because DH wasn't there and it was "very peaceful" so I'm thinking that maybe he sort of likes it when we go away. DMIL....not so much. She panics when DH is away. [/FONT]

There you go. Just kind of slip it in. If they don't object to it, then you can say that their lack of response constituted acceptance of the statement, thus creating a verbal contract.

 

[PoppyGirl]

There you go. Just kind of slip it in. If they don't object to it, then you can say that their lack of response constituted acceptance of the statement, thus creating a verbal contract.

"Are you a lawyer?" (she asks suspiciously)

 

[jenseib]

Hey Skip....how would you like to make Jen REALLY, REALLY happy? She's a great wife, isn't she? Gave you Claire, right??? (How's that for a start?)



Sounds good! I might add in something like "wow...you guys did a great job getting all the chopping done. It's almost like one of you could leave and no one would notice!" When we went on vacation this summer, he said it was great because DH wasn't there and it was "very peaceful" so I'm thinking that maybe he sort of likes it when we go away. DMIL....not so much. She panics when DH is away.

That sounds liek a great plan! LOL!
We are starting chopping today!

Love your shirts. I almost ordered those lime green ones a bit ago, but I think they were missing one size or something. I can't remember why I didn't now. I do see the mistake, but it's not that big of a deal.

 

[Daddy_of_Princesses]

"Are you a lawyer?" (she asks suspiciously)

I'm not a lawyer, and I don't even play one on tv. I am in the middle of implementing a new contract versioning tracking system for a department where I work, so I guess reading all the legal mumbo jumbo is wearing off on me.

PS. I noticed the slight error on one of those shirts. Copy and Paste is your friend, be sure to use him.

 

[PoppyGirl]

I'm not a lawyer, and I don't even play one on tv. I am in the middle of implementing a new contract versioning tracking system for a department where I work, so I guess reading all the legal mumbo jumbo is wearing off on me.

PS. I noticed the slight error on one of those shirts. Copy and Paste is your friend, be sure to use him.

Yes, along with the UNDO button! Undo! Undo! Use it ALL the time at the office!

 

[Daddy_of_Princesses]

Yes, along with the UNDO button! Undo! Undo! Use it ALL the time at the office!

I love the UNDO button. It's how I know so much about Microsoft Office products. I am constantly helping people figure out how to do stuff. If I don't know, I just start clicking on things that I think should work. People get quite upset and tell me to be careful. I tell them, I can't break anything. There is the undo button, and if that fails, I can close without saving. Bunch of chickens.

 

[jenseib]

Really? An undo button? Where. I need to know that!

 

[Daddy_of_Princesses]

Really? An undo button? Where. I need to know that!

It only works in Microsft Office products like Word, Excel... I have one of those Staples Easy buttons, but mine must be defective. On tv they hit it and amazing stuff happens, mine just says "That was easy" but my problems are still here.

Stupid button.