Fireworks, Lights, and really big YoYo's! A New Years Trip Report

[Patriotic_Duck]

Hello Dis'ers! Here it is, my very first attempt at writing a trip report :

I have always wanted to write one of these but I have never had the extra time. Well I still don't have the extra time, but I want to tell my story and share my pictures, so here we go!

This magical trip takes place on New Years Eve and the days leading up to it. I got the Disney itch (again) around September. We hadn't gone in a few months and I had never been for the holidays, so I began planning a surprise budget-friendly trip to WDW.

First let's meet the cast:

ME- I'm Lucky (that's what people call me anyway), I'm 25 years old, a preschool teacher form South Florida. I love football, playing the drums, the Spice Girls, and collecting Vinylmation. My favorite rides are: Thunder Mountain, Journey into Imagination, Carousel of Progress, Dinosaur, and Test Track.

Pookie - (that's what I call her anyway), my roommate and best friend, she reintroduced me to Disney a couple of years ago and I have been hooked ever since! She is a Kindergarten teacher, a mother of two, loves reading and relaxing things, and never says no to Disney =] Her favorite rides are Soarin', Winnie the Pooh, Expedition Everest, and probably the shows at HS.

Peli - His real name is Robert Adam, but we call him Peli. He is Pookie's first born son, 13 (almost 14 ) years old. He is really the best teenage boy that you could want. Very sweet, quiet, and smart. He enjoys imagining new things, playing his new XBOX that he got for Christmas, and anything related to the Apple company. He is a brown belt in Karate and is in an Art Magnet Program at school. His favorite rides are: Test Track, Mission: Space, Rockin' Roller Coaster, and Space Mountain.

Scarlett - Sometimes we call her Sisi, but mostly Scarlett. She is 9 years old, Pookie's only daughter. She loves singing, dancing, playing the drums, stuffed animals(especially Duffy!), and One Direction. Her favorite rides are: Journey Into Imagination(we are figment buddies ), Test Track, Peter Pan, and any Princess show.

Robert - Pookie's ex-husband. We have continued to go to Disney with him for the sake of the children, but this was probably our last trip with him for reasons you will read later. He is a true Disney lover, and a DVC owner. His favorite rides are: Space Mountain, The Haunted Mansion, and Test Track.


Our plan was to stay at Pop Century for 4 days and 3 nights, see the Osbourne Lights at Hollywood Studios, go to the Candlelight Processional at Epcot, and see the New Years fireworks at Magic Kingdom. Would everything go according to plan? Join in and find out!

 

[Patriotic_Duck]

Here we go!

So as I said previously, I got the itch to go around September. I call up Robert to ask about using his DVC to go (that is what we normally do, but I knew he was a little behind on his payments.) I ask him how much he owns thinking "maybe I could help him out a little if that means going to Disney."

Yeah, well he owed ALOT of money. I won't post how much here but definitely not worth trying to help out. It would be better just to pay for a value out of pocket, so I did my research, presented it to him and Pookie, and then I made it happen.

3 nights at Pop Century for New Years&booked! But we would keep it a surprise from the kids, which was hard! We decided not to tell them until Christmas. After they opened all of their presents, I sent them on a scavenger hunt around the house. Finally, they found the surprise envelope!

Reading it:

Realizing we were going to Disney in a few days:

Everything was going according to plan until the night before our trip. Pookie picks me up at work at 5PM and I see her with a troubled look on her face. She tells me that Robert just called and he is short on money, so he is only going to be able to pay for his part of the hotel and for himself to eat. Now usually he also pays for Peli's food, so we were going to have to pay for that.
No big deal though&except&

Our Candlelight Processional Package!

I had booked a Candlelight Processional package at the Rose and Crown for 5:30 on Sunday. Now Robert wouldn't be able to pay for himself or Peli, leaving us on the hook for all 5 CP meals! We wouldn't be able to afford it, I would have to cancel or else my credit card would be charged&but wait&

Don't you have to cancel 48 hours before? I quickly did the math in my head: it's 5 PM on Friday and my reservation is at 5:30 on Sunday. That's 48 and 1/2 hours! I have to call Disney.

We are in the car, my phone is dead, and I can't remember the dining phone number. I start to panic.

After a few seconds, I calm down and try using the internet on Pookie's phone. It's a Straight Talk phone so the browser is a little primitive, but it works! I find the number and call Disney. Thankfully, I was able to cancel my reservation at 5:31 PM, right inside 48 hours.

Crisis avoided.

We would be departing the following morning, with no more worries. Thank goodness!