DDA Chapter 5

[lovesdumbo]

We are taking our youngest DD on a cruise in May to celebrate her college graduation. Our oldest DD was not able to go along as they are not in a financial situation that would allow for a vacation, but . . . . . ., SIL's employer takes his employees and their spouses on a cruise each year, come to find out they are booked on the same cruise that we are taking, the would be embarking the day that we would be debarking. Sooo, I let my youngest decide whether or not she wanted to switch dates, the only drawback is DD's MIL is also going, and let's just say she isn't our favorite person.

Anyway, we will be changing dates and going on the cruise with DD, SIL, and Brandon. DH asked him if he was going to Mexico, he said yes, DH asked him what is Mexico, he said I don't know.

Of course it's going to cost more and we have to wait another week for vacation.

Nothing ever goes easy around here

I'm sure you'll have fun! Hope you can avoid DD's MIL.

I am planning 11:00 for breakfast. We are doing counter service and bringing snacks with us. Will have to get milk at a store their

We try to make late breakfast ADR's too. I do like to do an early one at CP so we can walk up a nearly empty Main St but the others I make for as late as we can. It works out great-we have a little snack in the room and then the character meal is more lunch. We usually get better character interaction when we are one of the last sittings and it is often quieter too.

The resort resorts sell milk for $2.99 for 1/2 gallon.

And such a lousy bus system. We had some really bad experiences during this trip. We waited over 30 minutes several different times. The part that bothered us was watching other stops get 3 or 4 buses with absolutely no one in line for them while we never got one bus. I mean come on, all the technology that Disney has and they have a man sitting in a van at the entrance to the bus area for Magic Kingdom. The bus driver stops at the van so that the man can tell them what stop to go to. Is that crazy or what?

I did notice that the bus service wasn't as good in Jan. I had heard (maybe read on the dis???) that they were short handed with bus drivers.

It looks like a rainy day here today, work is going to be a blast, NOT, we have executive company coming in today.

Hope it wasn't too bad!

I don't remember if I posted anything about a surprising conversation I had with Bob on Sunday. We were sitting on the couch watching the Food Network and he looked at me and said, "I am homesick for the Polynesian." He then started reminiscing about all the memories he had stored away from the 4-5 times we have stayed there in the past. His favorite vacation was in 1988 when we took both the girls and stayed on property for the first time and used the old Gold Key Plan (much like the Platinum Plan now, I think). That entire trip (no airfare, because we drove) cost us $3300 and at checkout we had a bill of $56 for incidentals.

I had no idea he loved it there so much! So, I emailed Miss Chanon yesterday and she has switched our reservation for September to the Poly. Bob's reply to my email telling him this was, "I wish we were leaving tomorrow." He has NEVER felt that way about a Disney vacation that I can remember!

Thanks, Chanon!

That is wonderful!!!! Emma would LOVE to stay at the Poly again. (so would I.........)

I got an e-mail this morning from the eBay seller we hadn't heard from - he says the lens is on it's way. Hopefully both will arrive by Thursday or Friday so DH can play with them on Saturday when he is off.

This time change is just brutal. It was nice to drive home last night and not be in the dark, but getting up in the morning is kicking my butt.

How did I miss that you got 2 lenses?

I'm with you on the time change! I got up early yesterday to come to work before the funeral and then I ended up staying late-making for a long day. It was tough getting up this morning.

Good morning everyone!!!! I'm thrilled to report that all 4 of my kids are finally fever free and on their way to school!!! Hooray!!!! Knock wood that Jacob doesn't come down with it! He's the only one who hasn't so far!

Hope everyone stays healthy!

The kids survived an hour without me, but it sounds like they were horsing around

Glad everyone seemed to survive.

Chanon tried very hard to persuade me to book another trip as a surprise.

I refrained!

WHY??? Wouldn't that solve your too many ADR choice problem?

DH is off today. He took DS to the lake to ride his scooter. DH took his cameras.

2 cameras? I don't like the idea of lugging around 1 dSLR....Is he trying to decide which one he likes better?

Hello DDA! Not too much going on here this afternoon. Michael and Danae came over to play this morning and now Terra's watching a movie. I'm starting to scan the BOXES of photos that need to be preserved. Otherwise, we've got a pretty quiet afternoon/evening ahead, which will be nice for once.

I may not be around much tomorrow as Mom, Terra and I are going to a funeral. My uncle's foster son's birth mother passed away over the weekend. As hard as she made their lives growing up, thus the foster care, it's still been pretty hard on Joe, on top of the hard year he's already had. So, since we are the closest of our extended family, mom and I will go for Joe and my uncle.

For Joe & your uncle.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Bernadette - He got the Minolta 70-210mm f4 to use on the Sony, and he also got a 50mm f1.7 to use on the Sony. We ended up getting them both on Buy It Now because we weren't getting anywhere with bidding. The prices weren't any worse than what some of the auctions were closing for, so hopefully both will be "excellent" condition as advertised.
He took both cameras to the lake to prove to me that the Olympus won't sit in a box for the next 50 years.

Tia - Good thoughts to Joe and his family.

DH had to take an online exam for his promotion. He won't know the results until next week. In the meantime he had to re-apply for his current position. There are 16 applicants and 11 slots. Keep in mind that most of these guys have routes they can stay on - DH does not. HOPEFULLY they won't shove him out of his current slot unless it is for him to move into the training program to go to the next level. Otherwise if he failed the exam he will be stuck bidding on whatever route is open (like 4 stores in the 'hood) and he'll have to do that until the next round of interviews for the promotion. He said the convenience store route he went on last week had NINETEEN stops on that ONE day. He said the guy has a total of about 70 stores to cover over a 5 day work week. He does NOT want to be a convenience store driver.

Princess is watching Tarzan on the Disney Channel. I don't think she slept more than about 10 minutes, which could make for an interesting afternoon. I already bathed her and put her in pajamas so we're just going to hang out.

 

[UP Disney]

Jen - I don't have any discounts but if I get anything, I'll let you know.

Vicki - sorry about the bus service. How did you like OKW?

Jury's out on that one. Our first room was 4710. This room is on the end of the building, about 15 feet from the street. We decided to spend about 1/2 hour in the room before going somewhere and are glad we did. This room would not have worked for us. The whole room shaked everytime a bus went by (remember the 15 feet!). I called to see if we could get a different room - mind you I don't think I have ever in my life done this. I'm one that will just live with what I get. I just didn't think we could rest in the room for a week with a bus rumbling by every 15 minutes. Our second room was fantastic. It was 5524. This was right by the walking path to Downtown Disney (which I never took). No rumbling buses, the pool and laundry room right next door, and a dead end street. We really liked this room. However, it was a long way from the front.

In reviewing all the rooms at this resort, we're really concerned about the proximity to the main roads (internal to the resort and external). The road noise was too much for us. Remember I live in the U.P. out in the country.

We will probably stick with Saratoga Springs for our future week-long trips. For our short trips, we'll be trying different resorts.

We are really torn about our June trip. I'm considering seeing if we can change our reservation to Saratoga Springs. If we could get the same general area, we'd be fine because we'll be using the kitchen more and won't need to go to the Hospitality House.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Vicki - Well, that's a bummer! We live on an expressway so I am used to road noise, but waiting 30 minutes for a bus would be a deal killer. And since OKW is the only DVC resort with 2 queen beds instead of the blasted pull-out couch I think we'll just stick to plain hotels.

 

[tinknme]

How exciting Elin! I love the Polynesian & hope someday we can stay there again.

I had no idea he loved it there so much! So, I emailed Miss Chanon yesterday and she has switched our reservation for September to the Poly. Bob's reply to my email telling him this was, "I wish we were leaving tomorrow." He has NEVER felt that way about a Disney vacation that I can remember!

Thanks, Chanon!

 

[MrsHeg]

Jury's out on that one. Our first room was 4710. This room is on the end of the building, about 15 feet from the street. We decided to spend about 1/2 hour in the room before going somewhere and are glad we did. This room would not have worked for us. The whole room shaked everytime a bus went by (remember the 15 feet!). I called to see if we could get a different room - mind you I don't think I have ever in my life done this. I'm one that will just live with what I get. I just didn't think we could rest in the room for a week with a bus rumbling by every 15 minutes. Our second room was fantastic. It was 5524. This was right by the walking path to Downtown Disney (which I never took). No rumbling buses, the pool and laundry room right next door, and a dead end street. We really liked this room. However, it was a long way from the front.

In reviewing all the rooms at this resort, we're really concerned about the proximity to the main roads (internal to the resort and external). The road noise was too much for us. Remember I live in the U.P. out in the country.

We will probably stick with Saratoga Springs for our future week-long trips. For our short trips, we'll be trying different resorts.

We are really torn about our June trip. I'm considering seeing if we can change our reservation to Saratoga Springs. If we could get the same general area, we'd be fine because we'll be using the kitchen more and won't need to go to the Hospitality House.

Please say it isn't so, that's where we will be staying in November. Being far from the HH won't be much of an issue but long bus waits will be.

 

[Tinkaroo]

Chanon tried very hard to persuade me to book another trip as a surprise.

I refrained!

You are much better than me!

I agree with Bernadette - it would solve your TS dilemna! (What did you decide on that, BTW?)

Hello DDA! Not too much going on here this afternoon. Michael and Danae came over to play this morning and now Terra's watching a movie. I'm starting to scan the BOXES of photos that need to be preserved. Otherwise, we've got a pretty quiet afternoon/evening ahead, which will be nice for once.

I may not be around much tomorrow as Mom, Terra and I are going to a funeral. My uncle's foster son's birth mother passed away over the weekend. As hard as she made their lives growing up, thus the foster care, it's still been pretty hard on Joe, on top of the hard year he's already had. So, since we are the closest of our extended family, mom and I will go for Joe and my uncle.

Sounds like a great way to spend the day. for the funeral tomorrow. How sad.

DH had to take an online exam for his promotion. He won't know the results until next week. In the meantime he had to re-apply for his current position. There are 16 applicants and 11 slots. Keep in mind that most of these guys have routes they can stay on - DH does not. HOPEFULLY they won't shove him out of his current slot unless it is for him to move into the training program to go to the next level. Otherwise if he failed the exam he will be stuck bidding on whatever route is open (like 4 stores in the 'hood) and he'll have to do that until the next round of interviews for the promotion. He said the convenience store route he went on last week had NINETEEN stops on that ONE day. He said the guy has a total of about 70 stores to cover over a 5 day work week. He does NOT want to be a convenience store driver.

for the promotion! You guys certainly don't need that emotional yo-yo of possible bad routes again.

Jury's out on that one. Our first room was 4710. This room is on the end of the building, about 15 feet from the street. We decided to spend about 1/2 hour in the room before going somewhere and are glad we did. This room would not have worked for us. The whole room shaked everytime a bus went by (remember the 15 feet!). I called to see if we could get a different room - mind you I don't think I have ever in my life done this. I'm one that will just live with what I get. I just didn't think we could rest in the room for a week with a bus rumbling by every 15 minutes. Our second room was fantastic. It was 5524. This was right by the walking path to Downtown Disney (which I never took). No rumbling buses, the pool and laundry room right next door, and a dead end street. We really liked this room. However, it was a long way from the front.

In reviewing all the rooms at this resort, we're really concerned about the proximity to the main roads (internal to the resort and external). The road noise was too much for us. Remember I live in the U.P. out in the country.

We will probably stick with Saratoga Springs for our future week-long trips. For our short trips, we'll be trying different resorts.

We are really torn about our June trip. I'm considering seeing if we can change our reservation to Saratoga Springs. If we could get the same general area, we'd be fine because we'll be using the kitchen more and won't need to go to the Hospitality House.

That's a bummer to hear, Vicki, but I'm thankful that your 2nd room was a great improvement! Seems like I read somewhere (thought it was on the member site, but can't find it - maybe it was in the latest Disney Files?) that they were instituting some booking categories at OKW, but that was more for proximity to the Hospitality House. However, if you're fine being away from that, maybe they could note your specific requests. for whatever you decide.

This is good info. to have. I've never really driven around OKW much, so I didn't realize the OKW villas could be so close to the road. Seems like most of SSR is set back from the roads by either landscaping, or at the very least there's the buffer of the parking lots. I had a studio facing the parking lot at SSR once, and we didn't hear any noise.

 

[tinknme]

I am the same way with spaghetti sauce, I get heartburn really bad!

I am getting to the point where I can't do red sauce. We were talking about those spicy tacos before, and now I am having issues with spaghetti sauce. I can eat fresh tomatoes just fine, but red suce makes my stomach burn.

 

[UP Disney]

Vicki - Well, that's a bummer! We live on an expressway so I am used to road noise, but waiting 30 minutes for a bus would be a deal killer. And since OKW is the only DVC resort with 2 queen beds instead of the blasted pull-out couch I think we'll just stick to plain hotels.

That's the main reason for our quandry about our June trip. We want the two queen beds. In the future, if the girls come with us, we'll get a 1-bedroom which is a pull-out anyway so Saratoga will work for us. We need the extra space to get away from each other for awhile.

We are pretty sure we are just going to keep OKW for June with a request for the general area we were in last week. We'll just have to prepare ourselves that there will be road noise. The June trip isn't about us -it's about my niece & nephew- so we'll be able to deal with whatever we get. My sister lives close enough to a major road that they'll be used to the road noise as well.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Lindsay - DH will be IRATE if he didn't pass the exam and they tell him he can't continue in the specialist position until the next round of interviews. He told them point blank he feels unprepared for the promotion, but it is an amazing opportunity for him so he felt like he needed to try. Staying in his current position for one more round would certainly give him more time to learn more things and "pad" his resume a bit. But shoving him out on a crummy route where he won't have a chance to learn and see different things would be completely counter-productive. So hopefully they won't do that! It would also be a pay cut, which I have an aversion to.

Vicki - I am sure your June trip will be magical no matter what! Try not to stress about the room too much!

 

[tink2020]

I don't remember if I posted anything about a surprising conversation I had with Bob on Sunday. We were sitting on the couch watching the Food Network and he looked at me and said, "I am homesick for the Polynesian." He then started reminiscing about all the memories he had stored away from the 4-5 times we have stayed there in the past. His favorite vacation was in 1988 when we took both the girls and stayed on property for the first time and used the old Gold Key Plan (much like the Platinum Plan now, I think). That entire trip (no airfare, because we drove) cost us $3300 and at checkout we had a bill of $56 for incidentals.

I had no idea he loved it there so much! So, I emailed Miss Chanon yesterday and she has switched our reservation for September to the Poly. Bob's reply to my email telling him this was, "I wish we were leaving tomorrow." He has NEVER felt that way about a Disney vacation that I can remember!

Thanks, Chanon!

Aww, yay! That should be an extra magical trip!

Good morning everyone!!!! I'm thrilled to report that all 4 of my kids are finally fever free and on their way to school!!! Hooray!!!! Knock wood that Jacob doesn't come down with it! He's the only one who hasn't so far!

I'm heading out this morning to do a ton of errands. Got to return some stuff to the library, then to the grocery store, then to do some birthday stuff. This is the month of birthdays for our family. Alan turns 40 on the 18th, and the twins turn 6 on the 21st. Not to mention Easter. Well, Easter is taken care of, but I've got to get going on the birthday stuff. The twins want "big people" scooters (only 2 wheels as opposed to the 3 wheels they now have), so that should be easy. I'm lost as to what to do for Alan! I know that 40 is big, and he threw me a surprise party, but I just don't know if I'm up to doing that for him. We are having a family barbecue and Easter egg hunt on the 22nd, so I'm thinking of bringing a Costco cake to celebrate the twins and Alan's birthday. What else should I do? If only the twins had been born on Alan's actual birthday! Then I wouldn't have to get him anything ever again! Oh well. I'm up for any suggestions you may have for me!

Hooray!! I'm so glad your household is on the mend!

Kyle wants our twins to be born in June so that, among other obvious reasons, he doesn't have to even share the birthday month with them!

Hello DDA! Not too much going on here this afternoon. Michael and Danae came over to play this morning and now Terra's watching a movie. I'm starting to scan the BOXES of photos that need to be preserved. Otherwise, we've got a pretty quiet afternoon/evening ahead, which will be nice for once.

I may not be around much tomorrow as Mom, Terra and I are going to a funeral. My uncle's foster son's birth mother passed away over the weekend. As hard as she made their lives growing up, thus the foster care, it's still been pretty hard on Joe, on top of the hard year he's already had. So, since we are the closest of our extended family, mom and I will go for Joe and my uncle.

I hope Joe and your uncle find some peace tomorrow. It's nice of you all to go to support them!

 

[UP Disney]

Please say it isn't so, that's where we will be staying in November. Being far from the HH won't be much of an issue but long bus waits will be.

I'll let you know how it is after our June trip. They are supposedly working the bugs out of the system. Let's hope they get them zapped soon!

 

[tinknme]

Elizabeth to dh that he passes the test with flying colors!

Vicki sorry to hear OKW was not what you had hoped for.

 

[tinknme]

Ditto

I hope Joe and your uncle find some peace tomorrow. It's nice of you all to go to support them!

 

[Glynis]

Kyle wants our twins to be born in June so that, among other obvious reasons, he doesn't have to even share the birthday month with them!

I actually went into labor with the twins on March 11 (hey, that's today) and the girls were due on April 23. I was put on medication to stop the contractions and "hotel hospital" until the doctor said it was safe to let labor progress. Alan told me that if I had the girls on his birthday (March 18), I would never have to get him another present ever! That would have been sweet!!!

 

[lovesdumbo]

I'll let you know how it is after our June trip. They are supposedly working the bugs out of the system. Let's hope they get them zapped soon!

Did you think the bus issues were just OKW? I thought they were having problems just about everywhere due to a shortage of drivers.

 

[UP Disney]

Did you think the bus issues were just OKW? I thought they were having problems just about everywhere due to a shortage of drivers.

I did read on the DVC forum that someone had trouble at BWV as well. I haven't made it to the transporation forum yet to see if other resorts were having problems. All I know is that while we waited during our 30-40 minute waits many of the other bus stops were getting 2-3 buses with only a handful of people waiting (and sometimes there was no one at the stops for the 2nd & 3rd buses).

 

[my3princes]

That's the main reason for our quandry about our June trip. We want the two queen beds. In the future, if the girls come with us, we'll get a 1-bedroom which is a pull-out anyway so Saratoga will work for us. We need the extra space to get away from each other for awhile.

We are pretty sure we are just going to keep OKW for June with a request for the general area we were in last week. We'll just have to prepare ourselves that there will be road noise. The June trip isn't about us -it's about my niece & nephew- so we'll be able to deal with whatever we get. My sister lives close enough to a major road that they'll be used to the road noise as well.

Oh I'm sorry to hear that. We love OKW. Of course we were no where near the road and it was very quiet and peaceful. Far removed from everything, but we managed.

I actually went into labor with the twins on March 11 (hey, that's today) and the girls were due on April 23. I was put on medication to stop the contractions and "hotel hospital" until the doctor said it was safe to let labor progress. Alan told me that if I had the girls on his birthday (March 18), I would never have to get him another present ever! That would have been sweet!!!

I went into labor with Colby on November 16th. Chris said I had to have him before the 18th or wait until the 19th as he didn't want to share his birthday. Thankfully for both of us he was born at 2:30 AM on the 17th.


Speaking of Disney transportation woes. I'm wondering if anyone has a AAA Diamond card or two that they can spare. We are driving down as is my brother and we don't have one this year and would REALLY appreciate it if we could borrow a couple. We need them from June 28 - July 18th. Please Please Please.

 

[KMH1]

Our pass expired on 12/31, sorry Deb!

I really don't want Matthew and Noah to share a birthday, but since I'll probably be induced a week early again, that shouldn't be a problem. I'd like a 4th of July baby!

Today was Alyssa's parent-teacher conference. Her teacher used words like "patient" and "tolerant." She must use up all that behavior at school...poor Matty doesn't see that!

My MIL, FIL, and their adopted grandchild are headed to Orlando this weekend. Through a coworker, they have free accomodations , and all along, my MIL has been planning on going to MK for one day. I keep telling her she HAS to go in with a plan, especially since there are early extra magic hours EVERY DAY at MK and the park hours are 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. So yesterday, she decides to book one night at the Poly (3/18), with park tickets and dining for $750!!! Of course, now she has to book an ADR a week out, and she still needs a plan! As jealous as I am of their trip, I'm so glad I'm not going with them!

I hope everyone's week is off to a good start. and to all!

 

[lovespoohbear]

finally caught up. rodeo was AWESOME last night. ill post pictures tomorrow. off to watch BL