Don't be a Drag, Just be a Queen June 3-18 (MORE PICS ADDED 6/25!)

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

So, I am trying to determine what needs to be done with my beloved suitcase, Big Red. Big Red sustained a handle injury exiting the car at the airport on our way to Orlando. On the way home the handle was completely ripped off and lost, so that's one problem. Before the handle got lost I was actually thinking of having it repaired. How silly of me. The other problem is, of course, that Big Red cost me $49 in "oversize bag" fees.

Given the fact that DH is always screeching at me not to pack Big Red full because she will be too heavy, and now the handle and the size issues, I fear Big Red is headed to Goodwill.

Seeing how I am about to lose my dear suitcase, I thought it would be wise to buy a blue 25" Delsey bag that was on clearance at Marshall's yesterday. We already have 4 bags about that same size, but you know, I wouldn't want to be caught short. Especially if we fly SW next year. That would mean we could check SIX BAGS for free!!!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I think we're about done here.

Any last comments, question, etc.?

I will e-mail the mods shortly to have the thread moved to the "Complete" forum!

 

[lovesdumbo]

Loved all your (as in DH's) photos.

Glad you were able to get a quick refund on photopass. I found that it was the lobby photos that really made photopass worth the price for me. Those were the only really good photos. Too bad they stopped doing those.

What did you decide to do about Big Red? Do you have the storage space for 5 25" bags? I have trouble putting my 2 large bags away. Do you have bags that nest inside of each other?

Will you be starting a pretrip for next year soon?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Loved all your (as in DH's) photos.

Glad you were able to get a quick refund on photopass. I found that it was the lobby photos that really made photopass worth the price for me. Those were the only really good photos. Too bad they stopped doing those.

What did you decide to do about Big Red? Do you have the storage space for 5 25" bags? I have trouble putting my 2 large bags away. Do you have bags that nest inside of each other?

Will you be starting a pretrip for next year soon?

The carry-ons go under our bed, the big suitcases go in the closets. DH has a suitcase that is a FRACTION smaller than Big Red, so one of the smaller bags nests in there. DH offered to take Big Red to storage, but so far I haven't made a decision.

I won't start my 2012 pre-trip for awhile. I booked 7 nights at Kidani but nothing else will happen for another 4 months. After DH bids for vacation I will start shopping for flights, but there's nothing noteworthy going on now. Just waiting.

How are your plans for August shaping up? All ready to go??

 

[lovesdumbo]

How are your plans for August shaping up? All ready to go??

Plans are coming along nicely. I made lots of ADRs while you were at WDW but because I had waited so long and we are a party of 5 I couldn't get anything for California Grill. I'm OK with that because being a family of 5 we never get a window seat anyways. I also could only get a 9:15am for Crystal Palace so I made the first seating for lunch. But I have since been able to book an 8:05am which I prefer-love walking down a quiet Main St and missing the rope drop rush. The kids also really wanted to so Sci Fi but I could only get one day at 4:00pm. Not a great time-too late for lunch and too early for dinner but I booked it as they really had their heart set on eating there. I have since been able to book an 11:30am lunch on the exact day I originally wanted so that makes me happier.

I haven't started packing or anything yet. Work remains crazy so I'm sure the trip will sneak up on me.

I really need to get on Lizzy to do her summer book reports as we go back to school the week after we get home so I want those done before the trip.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Plans are coming along nicely. I made lots of ADRs while you were at WDW but because I had waited so long and we are a party of 5 I couldn't get anything for California Grill. I'm OK with that because being a family of 5 we never get a window seat anyways. I also could only get a 9:15am for Crystal Palace so I made the first seating for lunch. But I have since been able to book an 8:05am which I prefer-love walking down a quiet Main St and missing the rope drop rush. The kids also really wanted to so Sci Fi but I could only get one day at 4:00pm. Not a great time-too late for lunch and too early for dinner but I booked it as they really had their heart set on eating there. I have since been able to book an 11:30am lunch on the exact day I originally wanted so that makes me happier.

I haven't started packing or anything yet. Work remains crazy so I'm sure the trip will sneak up on me.

I really need to get on Lizzy to do her summer book reports as we go back to school the week after we get home so I want those done before the trip.

I got our Cali Grill ADR REALLY close to the trip. At first there were no times at all, then I got 5:30, then I was able to move it to 7:30. And IPO wasn't able to help with it - I got it just by checking online myself.

Yeah, Sci Fi is sort of "eh". We only went because we were there for Star Wars weekend and we didn't have an ADR for lunch last year - lesson learned.

DS has finally started reading his summer books. He has to finish 2 novels and write an essay. It has been a battle to get him to start reading.

Apparently DH has chosen not to listen to me when I tell him we need to cut back on ridiculous spending, so I think our trip next year may top out at 11 nights instead of 13. We are going to be buying a new car for DH next summer so DS can have DH's car. But since DH refuses to make LOGICAL reductions in spending while we are at home, I guess he will feel the pinch at WDW.

 

[lovesdumbo]

DS has finally started reading his summer books. He has to finish 2 novels and write an essay. It has been a battle to get him to start reading.

Lizzy is really going to struggle with her summer essays. She has to pick one book from a list and do a sort of standard book report-characters, plot, setting...but she also has to do a collage on that book. Then she has to read Schooled and answer the questions below. She is really going to struggle with this one:

BOOK ONE—SCHOOLED—READING RESPONSE
Choose one of the four essential questions to focus on during and after reading Schooled.
Record your observations, reactions, and reflections to the prompts listed below the essential
question choices.
You must answer all of the prompts. READING RESPONSES MUST BE TYPED.

Essential questions—choose ONE:
1. How does our culture (values, beliefs, traditions) in school and at home shape our lives?
2. What makes people conform to others' ideas and behaviors? Does conformity result in
positive or negative consequences?
3. What can "outsiders" show/teach others?
4. How can a writer's use of several narrators enhance the way a story is told?

Prompts—answer ALL THREE:
1. What details (events, description, actions, comments, characters, etc.) relate to this essential
question?
2. Are there any new ideas brought to light by the essential question in any particular section of
the text?
3. What messages or lessons about human nature (behavior) or life emerge in relation to this
essential question?

Apparently DH has chosen not to listen to me when I tell him we need to cut back on ridiculous spending, so I think our trip next year may top out at 11 nights instead of 13. We are going to be buying a new car for DH next summer so DS can have DH's car. But since DH refuses to make LOGICAL reductions in spending while we are at home, I guess he will feel the pinch at WDW.

I'm sure you've tried "reasoning" with him. Does DS really need a car next year? Won't adding him to your insurance be expensive enough.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Because DH's schedule is so wonky, and because I need my car at work with me ALL THE TIME, DS really does need a car. All along I have said he can start driving to school the 2nd semester of his Jr. year, so we can probably wait until December of next year to get a 3rd vehicle. But yes, the insurance hit will be substantial.

I think if I switch one night of the 1 Br. to 2 nights of a studio we can still do 13 nights. But that is contingent on availability. Then there is the issue of vacation bids, airfare, blah blah blah.

I was hoping some of the Fantasyland expansion would be open for our 2012 trip, but it sounds like they are looking at Fall and beyond. I guess we'll look forward to the Tiki Room.

 

[PrincessPaczki]

Hi I loved your trip report. I always enjoy reading them. The AK is a resort that we have never stayed at, and you have given me ensentive to look into it for my family. I didn't realize that the expansion wasn't going to be done until then. I was glad that you had a possitive review of the Y.Steakhouse. It is one of our favorites but lately there have been alot of negative reviews of it. Thanks for the pictures and sharing your vacation with us.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Hi I loved your trip report. I always enjoy reading them. The AK is a resort that we have never stayed at, and you have given me ensentive to look into it for my family. I didn't realize that the expansion wasn't going to be done until then. I was glad that you had a possitive review of the Y.Steakhouse. It is one of our favorites but lately there have been alot of negative reviews of it. Thanks for the pictures and sharing your vacation with us.

Thanks for reading!

The only time I haven't been thrilled with the food at Yachtsman was one year in December right after they had a chef change. We ate there late one night (around 9 PM, which is late for us) and it wasn't quite up to par. Every other time it has been terrific, and the service is ALWAYS top notch!

 

[lovesdumbo]

Because DH's schedule is so wonky, and because I need my car at work with me ALL THE TIME, DS really does need a car. All along I have said he can start driving to school the 2nd semester of his Jr. year, so we can probably wait until December of next year to get a 3rd vehicle. But yes, the insurance hit will be substantial.

I think if I switch one night of the 1 Br. to 2 nights of a studio we can still do 13 nights. But that is contingent on availability. Then there is the issue of vacation bids, airfare, blah blah blah.

I was hoping some of the Fantasyland expansion would be open for our 2012 trip, but it sounds like they are looking at Fall and beyond. I guess we'll look forward to the Tiki Room.

Will DS really be a JR next year??? Seems like last week or maybe last month he was trying to get into that high school. A JR already??? WOW time really does fly huh?

The 2 nights in a studio seems like a reasonable way to get your 13 nights. Hope the vacation bids go well!

I hadn't read fall of 2013 for Fantasyland. Seems like they have already made a lot of progress. I saw photos a few weeks ago and it already looked like so much more was done compared to what I saw in May. So when you go back for DS's High School Graduation it will be done?

 

[Steamboat Marti]

Elizabeth - have you ever had to waitlist and then NOT have the waitlist come through? We're talking about going down but two nights right in the middle of our stay have to be waitlisted. I remember not getting in for a previous trip but Paul remembers always getting in. Any experience?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Will DS really be a JR next year??? Seems like last week or maybe last month he was trying to get into that high school. A JR already??? WOW time really does fly huh?

The 2 nights in a studio seems like a reasonable way to get your 13 nights. Hope the vacation bids go well!

I hadn't read fall of 2013 for Fantasyland. Seems like they have already made a lot of progress. I saw photos a few weeks ago and it already looked like so much more was done compared to what I saw in May. So when you go back for DS's High School Graduation it will be done?

He will be a sophomore in August, so August 2012 he will be a Jr.

I actually REALLY looked at the point charts today and it will be 12 nights, either a 7/5 split or a 6/6 split depending on BWV availability.

Completion for Fantasyland is Fall 2012, with certain attractions not opening until 2013.

Elizabeth - have you ever had to waitlist and then NOT have the waitlist come through? We're talking about going down but two nights right in the middle of our stay have to be waitlisted. I remember not getting in for a previous trip but Paul remembers always getting in. Any experience?

Marti, we have never tried to book anything at the 7 month mark. I don't think we have waitlisted before. Last year when I called at the 11 month mark I couldn't get club level so I just booked a Value 1 Br.
This year I said I would book club level until I hit a night with no availability, and we would do the rest of the trip at Kidani. But I ended up getting all 15 nights club level.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We have decided to just do 8 nights next year, all in a one bedroom savanna view at Kidani. I want to be back in time for the first day of summer school, just in case. If DS doesn't need summer school, that's terrific. He can choose to get some courses out of the way or he can choose to do other stuff, like go to Theater camp or do Driver's Ed or whatever. I just don't want to plan a long vacation then have to cut it short.

 

[DrGaellon]

I want to be back in time for the first day of summer school, just in case. If DS doesn't need summer school, that's terrific.

Is he likely to need summer school? (I was an ubernerd and never came close to needing summer school, and despite my sister's dyslexia, she never had to do summer school either.)

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Is he likely to need summer school? (I was an ubernerd and never came close to needing summer school, and despite my sister's dyslexia, she never had to do summer school either.)

That's the million dollar question. I am hoping he will get teachers who can explain things in a way that will make sense to him. The school also offers tutoring.

I originally thought we would skip 2012, but DH doesn't want to skip a year. The more I thought about it, the more I felt like a shorter trip would be good. I would rather be back home for the first day of summer school and not need it then try to scramble to modify our plans.

 

[Candy30]

Learning! I was the same too! I could do Algerbra I and II but struggled with Geometry and Trig. I hope you get to do a longer trip!