Going Outside My Comfort Zone

[Beth D]

an iceland of crud here.

This totally describes OH right now! Our school is making it up in June. I think they are planning "blizzard bags" for next year.

Skip just has to be Mr. Negative, doesn't he? You will have fun regardless!

Have fun at DL! Can't wait to read that TR! I'm glad your cruise plans are coming together!

Single digit dance! We fly out in one week! I am so ready for warm!

 

[mom2rtk]

OKW sounds great!

I'm really anxious now to hear if Skip becomes a DCL convert.

 

[jenseib]

Jen,
I am on board. You will love DL and DCA!! Enjoy your trip and I look forward to hearing more about your plans. I hope you will post some teasers on FB.
Lee

I will be posting on facebook for sure!!!

This totally describes OH right now! Our school is making it up in June. I think they are planning "blizzard bags" for next year.

Skip just has to be Mr. Negative, doesn't he? You will have fun regardless!

Have fun at DL! Can't wait to read that TR! I'm glad your cruise plans are coming together!

Single digit dance! We fly out in one week! I am so ready for warm!

We have been doing Blizzard bags and I guess those count as a make up day from the way it sounds, which makes me happy...but there is a lot of work in them.
I know he will have fun...he just likes to be a party pooper and I think he enjoys annoying me any time he can.

OKW sounds great!

I'm really anxious now to hear if Skip becomes a DCL convert.

Me too! I am sure he will have fun...it's more of will he admit it?

 

[mom2rtk]

When you're at DL, watch out for Pirates!




Purely Disneyland by mom2rtk, on Flickr

 

[Camonkeygirl]

Jen, your trips are sounding fun. I wanna cruise again.

Can you take lots of photos at Old Key West? We are staying in the DVC Studios for the first time in September

 

[mom2rtk]

Happy Valentine's Day Jen!

and ..........

Happy Birthday!

 

[mom2rtk]

Only 8 days to go. While avoiding the pirates, I hope you find some princesses on your trip. Don't forget to stop in and see the lady in charge out west.





Princess Aurora by mom2rtk, on Flickr

 

[jenseib]

When you're at DL, watch out for Pirates!




Purely Disneyland by mom2rtk, on Flickr

I hope I run into pirates!!!!

What do you think of photopas for just adults? I will be there for 5-6 park days, but of course many are half days or just evenings. I know it's cheaper there, but I haven't looked at the price yet. I am just not sure if it would be worth it for us. I am not sure if "T" is a photopass kind of gal. I'll have to ask. But I could ask others who are going if they are interested in a share.

I don't expect to really do much in the way of character meets, but it would be nice to have a few in front of the castle. I know they have less opportunities for photos there as well.

Jen, your trips are sounding fun. I wanna cruise again.

Can you take lots of photos at Old Key West? We are staying in the DVC Studios for the first time in September

I sure will.....but with this being a LONG trip (13 days I believe) and that being my last night...it may take a year before I post them. Now I may work on them earlier and post them on facebook though. With both trips so close I will be working mostly on the DL trip pictures first and get those posted...mostly because working on 2 TR's is just too crazy for me to do.

Happy Valentine's Day Jen!

and ..........

Happy Birthday!

Thanks so much. It was a GOOD day!!!!

 

[mom2rtk]

I hope I run into pirates!!!!

What do you think of photopas for just adults? I will be there for 5-6 park days, but of course many are half days or just evenings. I know it's cheaper there, but I haven't looked at the price yet. I am just not sure if it would be worth it for us. I am not sure if "T" is a photopass kind of gal. I'll have to ask. But I could ask others who are going if they are interested in a share.

I don't expect to really do much in the way of character meets, but it would be !!!

Our Photopass+ was $70. It really doesn't take many individual pictures to get to that point. Not sure if that's changed since then. I'm assuming they have swapped over to Memory Maker now too?

For us it was a slam dunk bargain. We came home with prints in hand from 5 character meals. So it paid for itself really fast.

You really will be surprised by how few PP photographers you find compared to WDW. Or maybe it will be different for you since I was there in early December. Most nights there wasn't even one out in front of the castle after dark. When we were there, someone told me they were only doing that on weekends. When I got back someone else said they found one at night.

But I just can't imagine you wanting at least a few classic shots with DLR borders (especially Carsland..... don't forget the night shots on Route 66!), so I bet when you do the math you'll decide to do it.

Does your roommate have any interest in sharing one?

Thanks so much. It was a GOOD day!!!!

So glad you had a great day! Can't wait for more updates on all the exciting things coming up in your life!

 

[jenseib]

Things really are taking shape and I couldn't be more thrilled.

I am squaring away a few more details for the DL trip.

Paige told me the other night that her and her BF will not be able to take me to the airport the morning of the trip. Shane has to work that morning and honestly I wouldn't trust her to find her way home after she dropped me off. She is really bad with directions and she has called me more than 1 time when she was lost in Toledo.

So I thought maybe my Dad could. But I really feel bad about making people get up at 3 AM to take me. So in the end I booked a hotel stay at the Courtyard near the airport the night before.

But I came up with a plan! Mom and Dad....and Claire could all drive me there and stay the night with me. It has a nice looking pool and Claire could do some swimming and we could eat dinner and just have an early night. Dad then can run me over to the airport around 5ish AM. If for some reason he can't come along (He does snow Plow, but we are supposed to be getting warmer this next week), The airport does offer a shuttle to the airport and I can take that over so I don't have to get Claire and my Mom both up to run me over.
Though chances are are that Claire will wake up and say good bye to me.

This is where we will be staying and I basically got it for around 50% off the price listed, so I don't feel bad about putting out the money so much.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/dtwca-courtyard-detroit-metro-airport-romulus/

Claire is being wishy washy about this whole trip. I talked about it a bit in general, but I didn't directly tell her, so the other day I sat down and really told her and she teared up.
She is doing better, but still gets tears. It's more so because she is a big chicken and is afraid to spend the night with anyone other than Skip or I. This started a few years ago and then she got over it for a while and then last summer it started again.

Skip plans to keep her overnight at the house each night and his mom who lives next door will be walking over each morning and helping her get ready for school. He said that since we don't charge Paige rent, she will be in charge of giving Claire baths. LOL! He will take her to school and pick her up and then have her stay with his Mom till he is done working and bring her home. This has made Claire happy. I will have to prepack her snacks for each day and she will just be in charge of putting them in her bookbag each day. I will also buy lunchables for her lunches and juice boxes and they will just need to put those in her lunch box each day as well.

I am glad things are finally coming together there and actually surprised that Skip is taking on so much responsibitly.

Now for the March trip!

Things are really shaping up there as well.
Yesterday I was on a roll!

The very first thing I booked...as I finally got the official "OK" was this!




The Disney Magic for March 28th!!!!! It's just a 3 night cruise...but I am so excited.
And Skip seems a bit excited as well. He even asked last night why he didn't care for the last cruise he had gone on. And my answer was "who knows?" LOL Seriously, he had a great time....but after thinking about it he came up with a few reasons. He wasn't impressed with eating with others, though we only did it one night of the cruise. I have already requested we sit at a table of our own for DCL. He also said he wasn't impressed with the crew trying to get people involved in stupid pool games. And I admit, they did have some stupid pool games...but that was 11 years ago. Things have changed on all lines in that regards, though many still do have some dumb games...but Disney is different. Claire assured him there would be no stupid pool games!
He is worried about having a set time for dining and going to the dining rooms. He really likes to be more free, but we told him he would enjoy the dining rooms and we change every night (and Claire pointed out we keep the same wait staff) and the food was pretty good too. Then he worried about what he would do when he gets hungry...you know in case the buffet is closed. LOL. We told him they had many options out on deck (Claire stressed how easy it is to get ice-cream) and also that their was room service.

He also said he doesn't remember much about going to shows on our cruise. The only one he remembers is with Jay Jay Walker, (who was a guest on our NCL cruise and was pretty funny). We actually saw him twice I believe, with one being him on a panal for a game show type thing. I don't remember much about the shows from that trip either, but I know we did take in more than one.
Claire again told him how great the shows are on the Disney ships.
I think we have calmed him down a bit now and he is ready to except his fate.....his girls love cruising and he needs to get onboard with that!

I also ordered our park tickets finally. I wasn't sure how many days I wanted, but I think I have narrowed it down to 5 park days at WDW and I got hoppers. Claire and I also have a Sea World Day planned, but I got those tickets for free, so I have had those for a month or so.

I also ordered the Legoland tickets! Yay! That will be something new and fun to do. (and we went and saw the lego movie last night!)

I have also added Memory maker to my account. I am mixed on this, but it doesn't hurt to try it out. I hope it doesn't glitch, as I plan to have my cousin (whose trip overlaps mine) be part of it as well.

And finally I booked an excursion for Nassau. Claire wants to snorkel in the worst way and she wants to do it with her Dad. I booked a basic one and it should be done around 1:15ish. Skip mentioned going to Atlantis (which I new he would) so I told him we could catch a taxi after the snorkeling and go over there for a bit and tour the aquarium.





I also booked his flight down (which cost 3 times as much as it did a few weeks ago when I told him we should book it) and our flights back, which also went up in price, but not horribly!

Things are finally coming around and I feel much less anxiety. (till he gets the bill. LOL)

I can't believe how close both trips are now. I have 8 days till I leave for DL and under 5 weeks till I leave for WDW! Now I need to start putting my planner together and make sure everything will work out smoothly!

 

[jenseib]

Our Photopass+ was $70. It really doesn't take many individual pictures to get to that point. Not sure if that's changed since then. I'm assuming they have swapped over to Memory Maker now too?

For us it was a slam dunk bargain. We came home with prints in hand from 5 character meals. So it paid for itself really fast.

You really will be surprised by how few PP photographers you find compared to WDW. Or maybe it will be different for you since I was there in early December. Most nights there wasn't even one out in front of the castle after dark. When we were there, someone told me they were only doing that on weekends. When I got back someone else said they found one at night.

But I just can't imagine you wanting at least a few classic shots with DLR borders (especially Carsland..... don't forget the night shots on Route 66!), so I bet when you do the math you'll decide to do it.

Does your roommate have any interest in sharing one?





So glad you had a great day! Can't wait for more updates on all the exciting things coming up in your life!

I'll check it out and see. We don't have any character meals planned, though I think we will possibly do one with the conference, but that will be set up differently most likely.

Ok I am thinking I will buy it. LOL

 

[dolphingirl47]

I am glad that things are coming along nicely. I would definitely recommend Photopass for a single adult at Disneyland. I have plenty of experience with this. I would normally say pre-order Photopass+ as the pre-order price for this is the same as the normal Photopass CD, but I don't think you have 14 days left. As far as the normal Photopass CD is concerned, it costs the same if you pre-order it, buy the pack in the park or order it after the event. So you could wait to see how many photos you got before committing yourself. Sometimes they offer a value pack in the parks where you get a gallery CD with all kinds of neat stock photos and the voucher for the Photopass CD for the same price as just the Photopass CD. With that, shipping is also free.

I am glad that you got the Magic booked. I can so understand that Claire wants to go snorkelling. We finally planned out our excursions for May and lets just say snorkelling is a recurrent theme. I also like the idea of going to the Atlantis. We never have been to the one in Nassau, but love the one in Dubai. 5 days at Walt Disney World plus a day at Seaworld and Legoland sounds heavenly.

Corinna

 

[mom2rtk]

Too funny that Skip wants you to remind him why he didn't enjoy cruising last time!

What an amazing variety of experiences you are about to have!

And yeah that Claire will get to snorkel with her dad.

I do like your plan of staying the night near the hotel with Claire and your parents before your DL trip. I think that really sounds like the best balance.

 

[littlenellbell]

Your plans sound awesome so far! When Brandon and I went to Mexico without the kids we did the same thing and got an airport hotel the night before. My mom came and stayed with us and the kids, so they could go swimming. It was fun for them and they didn't feel as bad for us leaving.
Sounds like Skip is starting to come around! Claire must really have him wrapped around her little finger to convince him to go! Lol

 

[jenseib]

Only 8 days to go. While avoiding the pirates, I hope you find some princesses on your trip. Don't forget to stop in and see the lady in charge out west.





Princess Aurora by mom2rtk, on Flickr

Somehow I totally missed this one, but I saw the picture on Flickr! LOL

I hope to see her wandering around offering a tour of her place.

I am glad that things are coming along nicely. I would definitely recommend Photopass for a single adult at Disneyland. I have plenty of experience with this. I would normally say pre-order Photopass+ as the pre-order price for this is the same as the normal Photopass CD, but I don't think you have 14 days left. As far as the normal Photopass CD is concerned, it costs the same if you pre-order it, buy the pack in the park or order it after the event. So you could wait to see how many photos you got before committing yourself. Sometimes they offer a value pack in the parks where you get a gallery CD with all kinds of neat stock photos and the voucher for the Photopass CD for the same price as just the Photopass CD. With that, shipping is also free.

I am glad that you got the Magic booked. I can so understand that Claire wants to go snorkelling. We finally planned out our excursions for May and lets just say snorkelling is a recurrent theme. I also like the idea of going to the Atlantis. We never have been to the one in Nassau, but love the one in Dubai. 5 days at Walt Disney World plus a day at Seaworld and Legoland sounds heavenly.

Corinna

I think we'll see how many pictures we get and then possibly order it when we get home. I really don't have a desire for the plus version anyways.
I am excited to snorkel again. Skip and I went snorkeling way back when we took the NCL cruise and he enjoyed it, and Claire's first time was after the Stingrays, so this will be her first time doing it off a boat.
I think we will have a good time! Claire is really excited about this trip now that Skip is openly onboard about it all. Everytime we go anywhere in the car now she wants me to tell her the trip day by day and what we will be doing. I have done it a few times already now and she still keeps asking. I told her last night that it really didn't change since earlier today. But she just enjoys knowing whats going to happpen and all the places we are going. I think I might have a little planner in the family!

Too funny that Skip wants you to remind him why he didn't enjoy cruising last time!

What an amazing variety of experiences you are about to have!

And yeah that Claire will get to snorkel with her dad.

I do like your plan of staying the night near the hotel with Claire and your parents before your DL trip. I think that really sounds like the best balance.

See....I have told you over and over I just didn't understand why he thinks he had a bad time. Some of his complaints I can see, but they really didn't lead to a bad time, just mostly experiences he didn't care for and we can avoid doing those type of things, and it was only a handful compared to all the good things we did. He even remembered more things we did that I forgot about and they were fun!

Your plans sound awesome so far! When Brandon and I went to Mexico without the kids we did the same thing and got an airport hotel the night before. My mom came and stayed with us and the kids, so they could go swimming. It was fun for them and they didn't feel as bad for us leaving.
Sounds like Skip is starting to come around! Claire must really have him wrapped around her little finger to convince him to go! Lol

I think this is a really good idea too. She has said to me a few times.."the next time you go on an airplane I am coming with you" and I told her she is right because about 3 weeks after I get back we both are going on one!
But when I told her that she could go swimming that night, she was excited. She loves to swim and she is all about staying at hotels too. Even when we get one close to home for just a nights stay she loves it. I will be sure to call her every day too and of course bring her home a little something.
And yes, Claire does have him wrapped around her finger! He always wanted a child and he has treated her like a little princess from day 1!

 

[jenseib]

I am doing a little happy dance today! In one week from right now I will be in the air!!! wooohooo!!!

Friday was my birthday and yesterday we went out to dinner with my family to celebrate it, along with my sister Amanda's b-day which is Monday. Dinner was nice and then we went back to my sister Gail's house after for gifts and cake.
I got some nice gifts. I got an amazon gift card, which is one of my favorite places to shop online. I also got some Disney gift cards and some money to be used for my trips! And use them I will!!! My sister Gail also got me some photo albums, which always excites me. I still have to put all the pictures from our 2012 trip in an album yet, plus the Williamsburg trip. I don't print ALL the pictures I take, but I print my favorites and most of the ones that have either Claire or I (or other family members) in them. So yeah, there still is quite a few I print. Now I can finally work on getting them in order. I have done a few scrap books in the past, but I just have too many pictures to do so and the ones I made I really took a long time at doing and even though I like them, I just don't have the time to do that much work and put that much money in them.

Today I will talk about the DL trip a bit.
Going back as a reminder, we will drive to Detroit on Sat afternoon/evening and spend the night at a hotel and relax and let Claire swim. Sunday I fly out very early and I have a connecting flight in Denver. I only have a 40 minute layover so I sure hope everything goes smoothly. I have been told that the Southwest Terminal is all in one place and it is fairly easy to switch planes there, so wish me luck!
I arrive at LAX and Stacy will pick me up and we will hang out for the day, with her taking me to DL hotel later that afternoon/early evening. I will then meet up with my roommate and we are thinking of possibly heading to DL. This depends more on when we can pick up our tickets and a few other things. But if we can, we figured why not enjoy an evening in the parks, since DCA is open till 10 and DL is open till 11.

Our plan for Monday is to go to the parks again. I believe DCA has early entry that day and yes.....our plan is to head to Carsland. I am so excited to see this in person! All the pictures I have seen of this so far look fabulous. I am not a super big fan of the cars movies....they are OK, but not ones I need to see over and over....but I really like the things that have come from this movie. I really thought the way they did the Cars area at AoA was fabulous too.

My roommate has many places she wants to eat at and I looked through a few food porn type threads and decided I needed to eat at many of the places she suggested as well. LOL.
Today I will let her lead the way and eat where ever and whenever we "need" to. I know Flos is at the top of her list, so I am sure this will probably be a day to enjoy food there.

We do not have any meetings this day, so this will be my day to start to familiarize myself with the parks. We have a full day to do what we want to do and I sure hope to get on many of the rides. Sadly there are a lot of refurbishments going on while we are there, but I will just have to make the best of it and enjoy what is open and all the different things California has to offer!
We will be spening this night again at the DL hotel. We will be making the switch to the conference hotel on Tuesday.

 

[mom2rtk]

Only 7 days to go and I'm so glad you got a hotel booked for your departure night.

I just hope this family isn't staying down the hall from you.........





The Family Down the Hall by mom2rtk, on Flickr

 

[dolphingirl47]

That sounds a fantastic day.

Corinna

 

[mom2rtk]

Only 6 days to go.....until you are in a "Whole New World!"




A Whole New World by mom2rtk, on Flickr

 

[jenseib]

Only 7 days to go and I'm so glad you got a hotel booked for your departure night.

I just hope this family isn't staying down the hall from you.........





The Family Down the Hall by mom2rtk, on Flickr

That would be pretty scary! LOL

That sounds a fantastic day.

Corinna

Things are coming together.

Only 6 days to go.....until you are in a "Whole New World!"




A Whole New World by mom2rtk, on Flickr

I hope to see this show!!!!
I really love your countdown for my trip too. I have so may things going on...I need to email you my latest drama!!!