Free Dining Designing!

[Chicago Mo]

We had a great trip! Charlotte was thrilled to meet Cinderella. Traveling with my mom and MIL was not so much fun for me or DH but we got through it. We weren't able to accompish nearly what I wanted to but luckily we go often enough that it isn't a big deal. I'll fill in the details next week.

In 48 hours I should be back in Orlando, if not quite to Disney property yet, for our Food and Wine Festival Girls Weekend! We are all so excited!

I was going to include a quick run down of our plans but I have some work I need to get done so maybe later today.

have a great time and can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[disneychic2]

You are already a better person than I am. I would have told my MIL it was too late to add her. But then, I have the worlds' BEST MIL!!!

I'm glad Charlotte's trip was a good one, even though you didn't get as much done as planned. Do we ever?? And I am really hoping your girls trip went well this past weekend. Hope to hear more about both soon.

How is the new job going? Sounds like you're settling in. Hope it is all you hoped it would be. And so glad you're out of that other environment!

Have a great day!

 

[lovedonaldduck]

Girls weekend was good, although slightly more drama than we are used to dealing with. I'll fill you guys in on all the details soon.

The job is going great. We spent the last 2 days in leadership meetings working on strategic planning which was awesome. I wish I was getting up to speed faster but I know it will come with time.

We went down for girls weekend on Thursday and DH had an interview that morning (the same company from a couple of months back). Friday afternoon he calls me as we are leaving Epcot for the day to tell me he got an offer! He will be making almost 30% more doing something he is much more interested in that will also be better hours. He got word yesterday that he passed the background check so he is turning in his resignation letter today. His last day will be right before our Disney trip and he'll start the new job the Monday after our trip.

We have been so fortunate with a lot of good news coming our way lately. We are truly blessed! Thank you all for sharing in my stress and our recent good fortune. I love having my DIS friends to share with.

 

[Chicago Mo]

OM GOODNESS!!!! This is just fantastic!!! I am SO SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!

 

[disneychic2]

That is GREAT news about hubbie's new job!! Congrats to him! Love that he'll be off for vacation and come back to that new job.

Glad you're getting used to your new job. It always feels like it takes forever to adjust and then suddenly it seems everything clicks and you finally feel like you've "arrived". Hope that happens soon for you.

Okay, so tell us about the girls weekend drama………


Also, you need to get on board with the EPIC Dis meet being planned for 2016. I'm hoping you can come play with us for at least a couple of days while we're all there. If you don't, we'll just have to come to your house for dinner. All 350 of us. Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration…but really, have you seen the EPIC ptr D~ started??? Don't make me sic Mo on you! She has this amazing mind meld ability that has you doing things you had no intention of doing. She has mad skills!! (Love you Mo!!)

Ok, from my ramblings, looks like I need to get to bed. Don't know how it got to be 2AM already!! Hope you have a great day!

 

[lovedonaldduck]

Thank you all for continuing to follow along, even though I am so sporadic with my posting.

DH got some more good news, because he works in law enforcement, it's a huge liability for them to keep him working after he gives his notice, so he was asked to take leave for his last 2 weeks rather than working them. He has over 300 hours of vacation time on the books and they'll only pay out 240 hours when he leaves, so this works out perfectly. He has to go in on his last day to turn in uniforms, guns, and his truck but for now he gets to be a stay at home dad! He's been taking the girls to school in the morning which makes my mornings much easier.

So, I think I'm going to finish this up as a PTR for our November trip, with some PTR info for a March trip and then, once we are back, I will start a TR and cover the November trip, the girls weekend trip, and Charlotte's birthday trip - probably in reverse order of when they happened.

I'm going to start with my to do list:

• 
  Create daily itinerary Word docs (we like to hang these on the fridge so everyone knows what to expect)
  Find name tags for daily surprises for the girls
  Invites for meals - I may have waited too long on this
  Tip envelopes - thinking of skipping (yet again) since we will be using Tables in Wonderland for most meals so the tip will be included
  Email my mom Epcot passports to print
  Buy new shoes for the girls (this weekend)
  New tennis shoes for me? (this weekend)
  Obsessively check the weather forecast so I know what to pack - seriously, this week in Jacksonville our highs are ranging from 64-88, that's a little bit all over the place!
  Tie down plans for our last full day - I'm not sure what we'll do on this day and my FP+ and dining reservations reflect my indecision

I think that may be everything, but it's probably not. Obviously, I'll still need to actually pack but there's plenty of time for that.

I'll try to update tomorrow with any progress I make on the list above, plus I'll lay out our high level plans.

 

[disneychic2]

Sounds like you have your plans well in hand. I love lists!!

Wow! That's great hubby can stay at home with the girls. Not sure I get why he'd be a liability, but whatever works. That's a LOT of hours of vacation/leave stored up!

Can't wait to read your TR! This current trip has just sort of snuck up. I'm still wondering where October went??? I hope your plans all work out and you have an amazing time!

 

[lovedonaldduck]

Thanks Lois! Just one problem with my list - I'm not checking anything off of it yet I've been busy at work and had a hair appointment last night so I haven't had time to accomplish much. Not sure when I'm going to fit it all in -

Today I am leaving work early for Charlotte's 3 year check up, then we are taking the girls trick or treating with friends.
Tomorrow there will be family shoe shopping - Peyton and I need new tennis shoes for Disney, the girls need new dress shoes, and Bennie needs new work shoes. I am supposed to take the girls to a play date and also to my parents' house - although I think we may have to skip the play date. Bennie's work people are taking him out for dinner and drinks.
Sunday I have a yoga class with my girl friends. I may actually end up with some free time on Sunday, although there will be laundry and house cleaning.
Monday-Friday will be work.
Next Saturday will be packing!!!!
Sunday we are off!

The deal with DH working is that by nature, it's a unpredictable and dangerous job. They don't want him to get hurt while he's on his way out the door because they don't want to get stuck with paying worker's comp or anything else.

I have been so busy this month - which I knew ahead of time - but it has flown by! I feel like our plans are pretty well in place, it's just a matter of getting things organized and tying up those last minute fun details. If I get nothing else done before we go, it will be fine.

 

[Chicago Mo]

​

Happy Halloween!!!

 

[lovedonaldduck]

We had a great weekend! Took the girls trick or treating with some friends, went out to lunch and shoe shopped, Peyton had her first sleepover (a friend came to our house), we saw my parents, and I went to my yoga class.

Unfortunately, almost nothing Disney related was accomplished - this morning I did pull my 6 favorite Disney T-shirts and long sleeve shirts to the side of my closet. I'll be obsessing about the weather all week and then I'll probably just end up packing a little bit of everything - shorts, jeans, T-shirts, long sleeve shirts, sweatshirts.

Off to get lots of work done so I can leave my boss in good shape for next week. Hope everyone has a great day!

 

[lovedonaldduck]

I need some help on a non Disney surprise. They are opening an American Girl store in Orlando in a couple of weeks. Originally I had planned on getting each of the girls a doll for Christmas this year, but since we'll finally have a store kinda close, DH and I decided to take the girls before Christmas and let them pick out their own dolls. Then, for Christmas, they'll get some accessories for their dolls.

Here's what I need help with - I'd like to surprise the girls with the trip down to the American Girl store and I'm not sure the best way to go about it. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Chicago Mo]

Sorry, i cannot help with a surprise trip to a scary frightening doll store.

D~ might be better as she has a weird obsession with these instruments of the devil...

 

[lovedonaldduck]

So here are the high level plans -

I'm hoping to leave between 8-9 Sunday morning
Check into POR and drop Cooper off at Best Friends Pet Care
Hopefully, our rooms will be ready so we can unpack and then grab some lunch before heading to DHS.
Hoping to get to DHS around 2:30
Dinner at Mama Melrose at 6
Osborne Lights
Maybe stay for our first Fantasmic! if everyone is up to it

Monday
Epcot day!
We will ride a few of the smaller Future World rides first thing and then head back to World Showcase to enjoy Food & Wine. We have afternoon FP+ for Soarin and Test Track (Peyton prefers Soarin but everyone else prefers Test Track so my dad will take Peyton on Soarin and then my mom, DH, and I will do Test Track)

Tuesday
Rope drop at AK
Leave around lunch time
4:45 dinner at Raglan Road

Wednesday
Rope drop at MK
Finally get to ride SDMT!
Leave around 2
Dinner at Boatwright's at 5:10 (has anyone eaten here? thoughts?)

Thursday
10am family portraits at Beach Club
I have no idea how we'll spend the rest of this day!
Currently I have FP+ for SDMT and BOG for lunch, but I also have an ADR for La Hacienda de San Angel for 4:45 (won't work with BOG lunch at 1:40)
It would also be nice to just spend the day at Epcot since we'll be starting out at Beach Club, but I don't know if we can make it all the way through dinner. Suggestions?

Friday
Check out, pick up Cooper and head home

Saturday and Sunday
Back to yoga classes and tons of laundry for me!

 

[DMGeurts]

Your plans look great!

Yay for riding SDMT for the first time! It's a fun ride - just don't have your expecatations too high.

Love that you are staying at POR... It's my second choice.

I have never eaten at Boatrights, but I have heard pretty good things about it. It's a quiet place, and you can almost always get seated - I've heard their food is pretty tasty too. You'll have to let us know.

You guys will have a blast! I am sure of it... If you ride EE - scream a little for me - M'kay?

D~

 

[sewdisney]

Have a SUPER time. It looks like you have some great plans in place. Enjoy!

 

[Chicago Mo]

Ohh a Photoshoot?!?! CANNOT wait to see them!

All your plans look fantastic! Agree with D 7DMT is a great fun ride. not a thrilling ride. FUN!

I hope Cooper has a great vacation too!!!

Have every packed? or are you going to be like me and pack the same day you leave?!?!

 

[disneychic2]

Sorry, i cannot help with a surprise trip to a scary frightening doll store.

D~ might be better as she has a weird obsession with these instruments of the devil...

I'm no help with the surprise trip either. Unless when you get to the store, you tell them you are there so they can make a "wish list" for purchasing later. If the store is in a mall or somewhere where you can take them away and have DH actually buy the dolls they choose and surprise them with not having to wait to get them. At the end of the day, they will be thrilled to get a new doll!!

Your plans sound really good! I've never eaten at Boatrights, but have heard good things about it. For that photo shoot day, I would definitely ditch the dinner ADR and go back to MK to ride mine train and eat lunch at BOG!! No contest for me! Must spend last day at MK!! You may have picked up on the fact I am passionate about MK as well as BOG…

I cannot believe your trip is almost here!!!!! I hope you have great weather and lots of pixie dust!!!You've done a great job planning and now you get to enjoy. So, ENJOY!!!

 

[lovedonaldduck]

Nothing is packed and I probably have 10 loads of laundry waiting for me at home. I didn't get home for the night until 8 last night - when DH picked Peyton up at school, we found out she was sick. Luckily, one of my best friends is a nurse practioner, so I ran home, grabbed the girls and took them to her house. Peyton has strep and she's pretty sure Charlotte is on her way to getting it too. They are both on antibiotics now and Peyton is home resting - since Charlotte wasn't officially sick and has already started her medicine we sent her to school for a half day so DH can get the yard cut and other things he can't do if he is the only one home with both girls.

Tonight I have to get a pedicure - my nails are in bad shape. Tomorrow morning, DH is taking my car for an oil change. When he gets home we are running down to the outlet mall - I need capris and work clothes (probably skipping the work clothes tomorrow though) also, Peyton and I both need shoes. When we get home I will be doing laundry and packing like a mad woman. Then I have to go to my friends house for her annual party - probably be gone at least 4:30-8:30. We are going to try to leave by 8am on Sunday.

The next 2 days are going to be a complete blur. Plus I am swamped at work and my boss is out!

See you ladies soon!

 

[disneychic2]

I'm loving the pics on FB!! I hope you are continuing to have a wonderful time. I look forward to getting a complete report when you get back. Hope the weather is good for you guys and the girls are feeling fine by now!

 

[disneychic2]

How are you doing? I'll bet things are hectic after getting back, with new jobs all around and getting ready for the holidays. Just wanted to let you know I was thinking of you. Have a great week!