patchchild
Mouseketeer<br><font color=deeppink>Shorties of th
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2004
- Messages
- 1,036
Cast of Characters
Little John (28): best friend since high school, tolerates us women folk planning yet another disney trip. Keeps pretending he doesnt love it too.
Piglet (29): best friends wife. Disney nut!
Stitch (26): my husband. Since the discovery of Stitch, hes a Disney fanatic as the rest of us. Thank goodness for that little blue troublemaker.
Me (26): desperately in need of this Disney fix. Lover of all things bouncy and sparkly.
Friar Tuck: Little Johns father. Spontaneous addition to the trip but a great man to travel with.
Maid Marion (29): Little Johns sister. Unexpected addition to the trip. Not quite sure yet why shes coming.
Trip Dates: December 1-4, 2005
Little John and Piglet get together with Stitch and I each week for dinner at one or the other of our houses. Weve managed to keep this tradition going strong for the last almost four years. Its been a great way to make sure that no one gets too busy for friends. Little John suggested one night last summer, out of the blue, that maybe visiting Disney in December would be fun since Piglet has always said she wanted to see the holiday decorations. (Sure, its all for Piglet is it? What a sacrifice!) Wed already started planning an August trip on Little John and Piglets DVC points so this was going to be an unexpected bonus.
Piglet and I immediately went to work juggling to see if a long weekend would be possible. Im a teacher so traveling any time during the school year is a mess for me. But a long weekend, maybe I could find some way to swing that. We hopped online and started looking at airfare. Amazing! Song was offering round trip from Boston for less than $200 a person. When we flew last February it was almost double that price. We booked our tickets there that night. Hmm, I guess this means I need to put in for a pair of personal day. Little did I know that the Thursday Id be taking off was one of the schools parent teacher conference days. After lots of juggling, all of my conferences are scheduled for the Wednesday before we leave. Im definitely going to earn this vacation.
Airfare booked, it was time to think about hotels and tickets. For a short trip, we decided to try one of the value resorts. Weve always stayed at moderates and deluxe resorts before so this would be an experiment for all of us. Would little John actually fit on the bed or would he be spending three night with his feet hanging off the end? Keep your fingers crossed for him.
Tickets presented a puzzle. We already knew we were planning a week long trip the following February, six or seven park days. Now, with three more park days needed, what would work out better? A ten day non-expiration, two separate tickets, annual passes? Dining plan or not? Lots of calculations later (thank goodness for Piglet on that one, Im so math phobic. Just dont tell my students that. Theres a reason Im in third grade.) Piglet happily announced that wed all be acquiring 10 day, park hopper, plus tickets with no expiration. Skipping the dining plan for this trip and hoping that DVC comes up with something for its members by the August trip. Great and wonderful, off to Maple Leaf we went and ordered away. Piglet reserved two rooms at Pop Century with her AAA discount, more savings! This trip was running even cheeper that we had thought.
Everyone was happily relaxed at this point. A quick trip, just four friends, months away. There really wasnt anything to do at this point but download trip countdown clocks onto the computers and peruse the Passporters and UGs until we got a little closer. Then, complications set it. (Saw that coming, didnt you. No trip planning ever goes this smoothly.) Little John calls me one day in late September. Would Stitch and I mind too much if his father came too? Now, Little Johns father, Friar Tuck, is a fine man. Sure, we responded, why not? One more person wasnt a big deal and we all had started coming up with some individual plans anyway. No problem at all with that.
A few days later, Little John calls again. Remember how Friar Tuck was going to be joining us? Well, now his sister, Maid Marion had decided she wanted to come too. Hmm, Friar Tuck is a fine traveling companion. Very laid back and happy to go with the flow, but MM? High maintenance would be good words for her. Weve never really gotten along well but since Stitch solved her (major) computer problems as a favor once, shes at least been civil. Right, no one said we all had to stay together for the whole time. Well make it work I guess.
Piglet heads back to the computer for more work. Booking two more rooms with AAA (MM cant possibly share a room with her father for three nights) but the Pop Century is full. Theyll be staying at Sports for the three nights. A little distance can be a wonderful thing. Dining reservations are modified to accommodate for MMs allergies (goodbye Italian food) and plans continue.
And then! (Did you think that would be the only glitch?) Little John comes up with a brilliant idea. Since this is starting to turn into a family trip, how about inviting Stitchs father and two sisters (13 and 15) to come along as well? The more the merrier, right? So much for a nice, quiet, quick trip to enjoy some fun at the start of the holiday season. Many, many phone conversations later we still stay at 6 travelers for December. As much as theyd love to join us, FIL has a case going to court the Monday after the trip and really shouldnt be away that weekend. But maybe theyll join us in August! (...um...our August trip? The nice relaxing one weve tried to begin planning for the last six months? ...um...)
But here we are, less than two weeks out. The airline only canceled our flight without telling us once. Thank goodness for Piglet taking care of all that. The packing has begun, the tickets are in hand, even the ME tags have arrived for our luggage. Piglet, Little John, Friar Tuck and MM have plans for the holiday party at MK the Thursday we arrive. Stitch and I have reservations with a hammock at the Poly to watch the fireworks. Friday at AK and then Epcot for the Candlelight Processional, Saturday at MK and staying for Fireworks, and Sunday at Epcot to eat our way around the world. Lots of packing and last minute organizing to take care of before we can leave but the excitement fills the air. No pirates in the pillow case yet (You know them, the ones that keep you up all night before your trip, reminding you of the lyrics to all the park songs and nagging you about the one more thing you forgot to pack.) but Im expecting them soon.
Thanks for reading!
Little John (28): best friend since high school, tolerates us women folk planning yet another disney trip. Keeps pretending he doesnt love it too.
Piglet (29): best friends wife. Disney nut!
Stitch (26): my husband. Since the discovery of Stitch, hes a Disney fanatic as the rest of us. Thank goodness for that little blue troublemaker.
Me (26): desperately in need of this Disney fix. Lover of all things bouncy and sparkly.
Friar Tuck: Little Johns father. Spontaneous addition to the trip but a great man to travel with.
Maid Marion (29): Little Johns sister. Unexpected addition to the trip. Not quite sure yet why shes coming.
Trip Dates: December 1-4, 2005
Little John and Piglet get together with Stitch and I each week for dinner at one or the other of our houses. Weve managed to keep this tradition going strong for the last almost four years. Its been a great way to make sure that no one gets too busy for friends. Little John suggested one night last summer, out of the blue, that maybe visiting Disney in December would be fun since Piglet has always said she wanted to see the holiday decorations. (Sure, its all for Piglet is it? What a sacrifice!) Wed already started planning an August trip on Little John and Piglets DVC points so this was going to be an unexpected bonus.
Piglet and I immediately went to work juggling to see if a long weekend would be possible. Im a teacher so traveling any time during the school year is a mess for me. But a long weekend, maybe I could find some way to swing that. We hopped online and started looking at airfare. Amazing! Song was offering round trip from Boston for less than $200 a person. When we flew last February it was almost double that price. We booked our tickets there that night. Hmm, I guess this means I need to put in for a pair of personal day. Little did I know that the Thursday Id be taking off was one of the schools parent teacher conference days. After lots of juggling, all of my conferences are scheduled for the Wednesday before we leave. Im definitely going to earn this vacation.
Airfare booked, it was time to think about hotels and tickets. For a short trip, we decided to try one of the value resorts. Weve always stayed at moderates and deluxe resorts before so this would be an experiment for all of us. Would little John actually fit on the bed or would he be spending three night with his feet hanging off the end? Keep your fingers crossed for him.
Tickets presented a puzzle. We already knew we were planning a week long trip the following February, six or seven park days. Now, with three more park days needed, what would work out better? A ten day non-expiration, two separate tickets, annual passes? Dining plan or not? Lots of calculations later (thank goodness for Piglet on that one, Im so math phobic. Just dont tell my students that. Theres a reason Im in third grade.) Piglet happily announced that wed all be acquiring 10 day, park hopper, plus tickets with no expiration. Skipping the dining plan for this trip and hoping that DVC comes up with something for its members by the August trip. Great and wonderful, off to Maple Leaf we went and ordered away. Piglet reserved two rooms at Pop Century with her AAA discount, more savings! This trip was running even cheeper that we had thought.
Everyone was happily relaxed at this point. A quick trip, just four friends, months away. There really wasnt anything to do at this point but download trip countdown clocks onto the computers and peruse the Passporters and UGs until we got a little closer. Then, complications set it. (Saw that coming, didnt you. No trip planning ever goes this smoothly.) Little John calls me one day in late September. Would Stitch and I mind too much if his father came too? Now, Little Johns father, Friar Tuck, is a fine man. Sure, we responded, why not? One more person wasnt a big deal and we all had started coming up with some individual plans anyway. No problem at all with that.
A few days later, Little John calls again. Remember how Friar Tuck was going to be joining us? Well, now his sister, Maid Marion had decided she wanted to come too. Hmm, Friar Tuck is a fine traveling companion. Very laid back and happy to go with the flow, but MM? High maintenance would be good words for her. Weve never really gotten along well but since Stitch solved her (major) computer problems as a favor once, shes at least been civil. Right, no one said we all had to stay together for the whole time. Well make it work I guess.
Piglet heads back to the computer for more work. Booking two more rooms with AAA (MM cant possibly share a room with her father for three nights) but the Pop Century is full. Theyll be staying at Sports for the three nights. A little distance can be a wonderful thing. Dining reservations are modified to accommodate for MMs allergies (goodbye Italian food) and plans continue.
And then! (Did you think that would be the only glitch?) Little John comes up with a brilliant idea. Since this is starting to turn into a family trip, how about inviting Stitchs father and two sisters (13 and 15) to come along as well? The more the merrier, right? So much for a nice, quiet, quick trip to enjoy some fun at the start of the holiday season. Many, many phone conversations later we still stay at 6 travelers for December. As much as theyd love to join us, FIL has a case going to court the Monday after the trip and really shouldnt be away that weekend. But maybe theyll join us in August! (...um...our August trip? The nice relaxing one weve tried to begin planning for the last six months? ...um...)
But here we are, less than two weeks out. The airline only canceled our flight without telling us once. Thank goodness for Piglet taking care of all that. The packing has begun, the tickets are in hand, even the ME tags have arrived for our luggage. Piglet, Little John, Friar Tuck and MM have plans for the holiday party at MK the Thursday we arrive. Stitch and I have reservations with a hammock at the Poly to watch the fireworks. Friday at AK and then Epcot for the Candlelight Processional, Saturday at MK and staying for Fireworks, and Sunday at Epcot to eat our way around the world. Lots of packing and last minute organizing to take care of before we can leave but the excitement fills the air. No pirates in the pillow case yet (You know them, the ones that keep you up all night before your trip, reminding you of the lyrics to all the park songs and nagging you about the one more thing you forgot to pack.) but Im expecting them soon.
Thanks for reading!
