Do I Dare Start a Pre-Trip Report?? Eeeek!

suzannecstarr

Earning My Ears
Joined
May 5, 2010
Messages
69
Apparently I do.

The girl's at school; the boy is asleep, what the heck, right?
I should mention this is my first, so bear with me.

How about some introductions...

My name is Suzanne (obvs).I always use my real full name (gasp!) as my user name online. I do this for two reasons. 1- I can remember it. 2- it forces me to check myself and own my posts. Using my real name I must remain truthful and respectful. Not that I necessarily wouldn't be otherwise, but it keeps me from being too opinionated or judgmental (at least in print). ;)
Someday I hope to be a college professor and I know my students will discover my web presence. I can't have anything come back to bite me.

Anyway, I am a full-time student. I attent a very large university in western NY. I am a history major with a focus on American labor. I am also very interested in post-communist Eastern Europe. My PhD will be in American History.

I have an amazing husband whom we'll call "Sugar Boo". He just left the Army. He was injured in Afghanistan was subsequently released from his current contract. His service, in addition to providing for our family, allowed me to attend school full-time without working. This is the most amazing gift I could ever receive. He is my hero in so many ways. He just started a six-year architecture program and is adjusting well to civilian life. The nature of his release from the military allows us to remain eligible for Disney's military promotions and pricing. :thumbsup2

Next is my princess who is "not three, three and a half!". We'll call her "Lady Bird", one of my many pet names for her. She learned to swim recently and is so excited to do "standing jumps" at the volcano pool.

Finally we have "Baby J". Baby J was born in Sept. My aunt tells me he wont remember his first Disney trip, but I know he will. ;)

Supporting cast and pics to come!
 
Yay! Welcome!

This whole thing is merely an exercise in self-indulgence. I have nothing left to do for our trip, so I figure this will keep me occupied. It is always nice to have company.

Speaking of company, we will be traveling with some other family and friends on this trip. We are bringing my mother (60) and my niece, Belle (12). Our BFFs Tuck and Adam will be meeting us there. I made all of our reservations at once because I got a 40% off PIN!!!

How about some pics? I hope this works...

me and my boo
DSC_6949.jpg
 

I hope its ok that I do this in many shorter posts as opposed to few long ones. I'm not sure of the protocol. I get interrupted a lot. Also I put my back out for the first time today. I never knew what it was like, just that I cook for mom when it happens to her. Well it sucks! I'm in terrible pain. DH is packing up his supplies (he is also an artist and amateur toy maker) and we're going to watch enchanted while I wait for my pain killers to kick in.:lovestruc
More to come in the am, when (hopefully) my back feels better.
 
...and we're back!

The Details:

May 17-23
Polynesian
Basic Dining Plan
Military Passes + 1 day base ticket

We're flying SW because I go with them whenever possible. I love checking two bags free. I love the non-stop flights to MCO. I love the rewards program. I love pre-boarding with the kids. I love that they're the most unionized carrier in the U.S. I just love southwest!

I always buy our tickets and then check once a week to see if fares have dropped. They always do. Then I switch my tickets to others on the same flights (for free!!!!) and get credits for the difference. We always have sw credits so we never pay full price. Until January of this year, you could use anyone's credits so we used to get whole tickets paid for with leftover credits. Now you have to use them towards a ticket for the same person that you originally booked for. Still though, can't beat the no fee changes. Actually, since I bought the tickets before the cut off for the new rule, Lady Bird's ticket was paid for in full with my old credits. Sugar Boo's was a reward flight. Yay for savings!

Our first resort choice was POFQ. But then! I (finally) got a PIN. Two actually. DH and I both got them separately. Since POFQ is always excluded from the pinned offers, and we had a certain resort budget set, aaaand it was 40% off, we decided on GF. Then Poly. Then GF. Then I asked on the boards. Then I asked my mom. Then I called Disney and discovered that they only had theme park view available at GF for our dates (not in our budget). So we decided (for real this time) on Poly. Tuck (BFF) has stayed at Poly before but none of the rest of us have. Plus, she didn't even know it was a mono resort :eek: so she must not have explored it thoroughly.

I don't remember the name of the CM I got on the phone but he was soooo helpful. I mean, they're always nice, but he went through pictures on allears.net with me and was so very patient. If I hadn't been all a'flutter with excitement I would have thought to get his name to send an email. I really appreciate when someone goes above and beyond. I feel like so many customer service people treat us (the general public) like crap that it has become the rule rather than the exception. Its so nice when someone is, well, nice.
 
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Hello, what a great start. I so wish I would get a PIN to be able to afford to stay somewhere other than the Value resorts. Not that their's anything wrong with the Value's, it just would be nice to stay somewhere else.

Can't wait to hear all about your plans.

Jaime
 

I use my real name online for the same reason. I don't want to hide behind an alias. Your daughter is a doll! She's about a year older than my little princess :goodvibes We watched Enchanted for the first time a few weeks ago (it came on ABC) and I know I'll be buying it on DVD. Great movie! We're planning on going to the Spirit of Aloha Dinner show, but we're staying at Wilderness Lodge on our first trip to the World. The Polynesian is just a little out of our budget.
 














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