Heigh Ho! Heigh Ho! It's Off to Celebrate We Go!--LAST UPDATE!!! PG 62 ENJOY!!!!!!!!!

[Charleston Princess]

YOU DID THE MATH!!!! That is why I love ya Jackie!!! I knew I could count on you to "help" me with my crisis! BTW---Miss Megan shrieked with glee when she pulled her postcard out of the mailbox yesterday!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! That was SO sweet of you to think of her!!! Sending you great big hugs!!!

Of course I did the math -- had to know how many days I had to work with.

You are so very welcome! I am so glad that Megs liked it -- at the time I didn't know you would be headed back so soon, but it was perfect timing, wasn't it? See, we were separated at birth!

 

[MegansMom]

To start this lovely update off, I need to let you know that it will NOT be the only update of the day......much to say and share with all you lovely folks.....so be prepared!

AND NOW, back to the aforementioned CELEBRATIONS!!!

Now, I have told you when we are going (and the crazy muddled-mess that was getting those dates), and I have shared with you where we are staying (although please note that I have the rights to change that at my discretion ) , but I have left you lovely PTR readers hanging about why the CELEBRATIONS!!! "HEIGH HO, HEIGH HO, IT'S OFF TO CELEBRATE WE GO!!!"

Well, our little family has MUCH to be celebrating while at Mickey's House this year......kind of fitting since their theme this year is all about CELEBRATIONS too!!! First of all, this trip is right before and in complete celebration of one of our favorite days of the year---MEGAN'S BIRTHDAY!!! Unfortunately, we won't actually be in the World on that day, but right up to it---her birthday is the 29th! Don't worry though, she is happy to be home for her actual birthday so that she can take treats into her class at school, and meet our family for dinner at the restaurant of her choice---OLIVE GARDEN! (Sidenote: We had a party there last year for my Grandfather's 89th birthday and she LOVED the cake they brought out at the end of the meal. Since then, she has told us over and over again how she wants to go there for her birthday too to eat that CAKE!) So, the entire week we are there, we are celebrating the miraculous, wonderful, amazing event of her birth, and the awe-inspiring achievements and progress she has made since then! This year, my little baby is turning 6! I can seriously hardly believe it!!! She has come so far from her little 2 and a half pound start, and has defied many odds to go from "never being able to walk" to dancing up a storm at her first ballet recital. Yes, we are proud to say the least! So since we have so much to celebrate for her, the week will greatly be tailored to her and every little whim her heart desires.

We also have other wonderful things to celebrate: my 33rd birthday and our 10th wedding anniversary! My birthday is actually on the 4th of September, but I feel like this trip is the BEST present I could have ever received for it! It will bring me immense joy watching all the magic and wonder in my daughter's eyes---can't find a better gift than that....not even at Tiffany's! I am (probably one of the few women on this Earth) that is VERY proud of her age....I feel it is an accomplishment! I know how close I was to never experiencing another birthday, so now I relish them! The wisdom and experience I have gained with each passing year, is far superior to the amount of looks or youth that I may have lost along the way. SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

And lastly, our ANNIVERSARY! Tom and I will officially be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary on July 24th, but we feel this vacation is part of that celebration as well. We are very proud to have made it to this milestone---it seems all too often, couples don't make it this far nowadays---and we are proud of that accomplishment. I know we can both honestly say that we love each other so much more than we did on that very HOT July day when we said "I DO!" He is my best friend, and such a wonderful companion.....I am so blessed! When people started asking us what we were going to do to celebrate this big milestone, we were at a loss.....we feel we celebrate it on a daily basis...what could we possibly do that would seem worthy? When he asked me what I wanted to do, I honestly told him the only thing I wanted to do this year was take Megs back to WDW just the three of us.....and that my dear friends, is what we are doing!!! Yeah we might be two months off, but I know that in our hearts, Tom and I see no better way to celebrate our love for each other that has produced such a wonderfully amazing little girl---our Megs.

So, we are going to be partying like "ROCKSTARS" to celebrate all that we are so grateful, so thankful for.....and I honestly can NOT think of another way any one of us would want to celebrate any of this any differently!!!! SO, IT'S OFF TO CELEBRATE WE GO!!!!


Now, stay tuned, because later today there will be SO MUCH MORE COMING!!!!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

What great thoughts, congratulations on all that you are planning to celebrate!

I'll be watching for the other update

 

[Lady Lallie]

Woo Hoo for celebrating!!

It's funny because my birthday is September 3rd and yours is the 4th. My parents anniversary is July 28th and yours is the 24th...very close again! My parents are celebrating 30 years this year! You are right, those anniversary milestones are rare these days!

I am so happy for you and all of your celebrations!

 

[Charleston Princess]

So many fun things to celebrate, Jen! Don't forget to pick up anniversary and birthday buttons at guest services! You need to wear those at the parks while you party like Rockstars!!!

 

[pooh'smate]

You are going to have a great time CELEBRATING!!!!!!!!!! Your birthday and my dh's are on the same day. Also I too will be 33 but I am exactly 3 weeks earlier than you (my bd is August 14). The birthdays in our house are all within 3 weeks, mine, then dd 8/16 and then my dh 9/4. We too also celebrated our 10th anniversary this year (May 10). Our trip to WDW is to celebrate too.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

YOu have so much to celebrate!

 

[redsox721]

I lurk here and there but loved reading your other TR. It was very heartwarming and moving. Your little girl is amazing, as are you and Tom.

Congratulations on all your CELEBRATIONS! I look forward to reading your PTR and then TR.

We will be celebrating 25 years of marriage on July 1. We celebrated early by going to Disneyland (for a first visit) in early May.

 

[MinnieNurse]

I love your reasons to celebrate. I was a NICU nurse for 6 years and then the manager of a NICU for several years so hearing Megan's success really touches my heart. I am so glad she is healthy and enjoying life to its fullest. It is obvious by your posts that you and DH feel very blessed to have her.

Okay, enough of that: I love to party like a rockstar!!!

 

[MegansMom]

Woo-hoo for more updates! I can't wait to hear about it ALL!!

I have so much to share with you guys, I'm afraid I am going to miss something......so PLEASE ask if there is something you want to know!!!

Of course I did the math -- had to know how many days I had to work with.

You are so very welcome! I am so glad that Megs liked it -- at the time I didn't know you would be headed back so soon, but it was perfect timing, wasn't it? See, we were separated at birth!

I should have known you would do the math....I am sure you are ready with your input too!!! I think I might just have to do the "Resortitis" update next just to hear it all!!!

Separated indeed my dear! I felt SO badly that you left without hearing all about my news! That is why I made sure to tell Wigd to say a special "hi" to you while you were there together!!! Sending you hugs any way I can!

What great thoughts, congratulations on all that you are planning to celebrate!

I'll be watching for the other update

Thanks dearie!! The other update is coming right up!

Woo Hoo for celebrating!!

It's funny because my birthday is September 3rd and yours is the 4th. My parents anniversary is July 28th and yours is the 24th...very close again! My parents are celebrating 30 years this year! You are right, those anniversary milestones are rare these days!

I am so happy for you and all of your celebrations!

I love how we share a birthday...almost!!! Maybe that is why we often have so much in common!!!

We are the first in our group of friends to hit the big 1-0 anniversary...and sadly, we have already lived through three divorces within our group alone! I think my friends are so interested to see what we are doing to know what to expect when they reach their 10th....we don't care, we just want to celebrate our little family of three!

So many fun things to celebrate, Jen! Don't forget to pick up anniversary and birthday buttons at guest services! You need to wear those at the parks while you party like Rockstars!!!

I will be sure to pick up our buttons.....can we get them at the resort when we check in? I was wondering if they can do something special for Megan in our room to start our celebration off right...balloons maybe?? A card??? What do you think???

I can't wait to get this party started!!!!!

You are going to have a great time CELEBRATING!!!!!!!!!! Your birthday and my dh's are on the same day. Also I too will be 33 but I am exactly 3 weeks earlier than you (my bd is August 14). The birthdays in our house are all within 3 weeks, mine, then dd 8/16 and then my dh 9/4. We too also celebrated our 10th anniversary this year (May 10). Our trip to WDW is to celebrate too.

Happy Birthday in advance....isn't 33 a great age to be!!! Send your DH a Happy Birthday hello for me on the 4th---what a great day to be born!

Happy Anniversary as well!!! I am so glad you get to celebrate it also in the Happiest Place on Earth!

YOu have so much to celebrate!

Thank you....I truly am blessed! So while you are there, if you hear a party going on...it will probably be us!

I lurk here and there but loved reading your other TR. It was very heartwarming and moving. Your little girl is amazing, as are you and Tom.

Congratulations on all your CELEBRATIONS! I look forward to reading your PTR and then TR.

We will be celebrating 25 years of marriage on July 1. We celebrated early by going to Disneyland (for a first visit) in early May.

WELCOME BACK!!! I am so honored that you read along last time, and enjoyed it so much to come back! I am so glad to have you here!

Thanks too for the congrats! Congrats to you as well---25 is definitely something worth celebrating....especially at DISNEYLAND!!! I dream of going there someday, just to see where it all began!

I love your reasons to celebrate. I was a NICU nurse for 6 years and then the manager of a NICU for several years so hearing Megan's success really touches my heart. I am so glad she is healthy and enjoying life to its fullest. It is obvious by your posts that you and DH feel very blessed to have her.

Okay, enough of that: I love to party like a rockstar!!!

On behalf of all the parents of the children you took care of over the years, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! Tom and I are still so grateful for the tireless and compassionate hard work of the NICU nurses that took care of Megan. We know that there were way too many times to count when the nurse's quick thinking and jumping into action helped save Megan's life during the rollercoaster weeks we spent in the NICU. We deal with her little side effects here and there, but are so grateful for how well she has done because we know that it could have been SO much worse. We are BLESSED indeed!

OKAY......back to partying like ROCKSTARS!!!!

 

[MegansMom]

Are you ready for Round Two for today?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I told you gang, I have LOTS to share, so these updates may be coming FAST and FURIOUS!!!!

Now, I know I have made several comments alluding to this disease already, but I am suffering from SUCH a bad case, that I thought it deserved its' own update!!!!

As you know already, we are currently staying at All-Star Movies for the complete duration of our stay due to the fact that we are 1.) trying to save some money to put towards our new home and b.) Pop was booked when I called to make our reservation. I don't know how I feel about this right now.

I chose ASMO at that fateful moment when the CM told me POP was booked for one reason: I knew we could stay in a Toy Story themed room. Since this trip is VERY much about Megan's desires and she has LONG been a fan of those movies, I knew she would enjoy staying somewhere that she could see Buzz and Woody smiling at her every morning when she woke up. So I booked us in a Toy Story room----and it better be a Toy Story room by gosh since I paid extra for it----and rested somewhat happy knowing the joy it will bring to Megs.....emphasis on SOMEWHAT!

Once the reservation was made, it did not take long before the resortitis began to creep in.....like maybe an entire hour! I should have known going into this trip that I would be INCREDIBLY susceptible......for many reasons. We have stayed at DVC resorts for our past three trips, and I will admit, I have become somewhat accustomed to living it up large and deluxe. I'm not a high-maintenance gal at all, but we have really enjoyed having a kitchenette, staying at often less-crowded resorts because we were staying DVC, and not having to wait in as long of lines for buses because of all that. I know we can adjust to having a smaller room, double beds, and no refrigerator.......but I am NOT sure how we are going to handle the situation with the buses!!!! My lovely DH is VERY susceptible to motion sickness---even in buses---and really needs to sit and face forward to make it to the parks without getting sick. Not knowing if the ASresorts are going to share buses or not, and not knowing how crowded or not crowded these buses are going to be, does cause a little bit of caution and hesitation amongst us--it has even caused a little concern in my VERY laid back hubby! He has already stated that if there is a problem with having to wait too long to get on a bus or never being able to sit on those buses, that we will be moving to another resort that week! But honestly, I don't even know if I want to take that chance! I have still been checking on POP just in case an opening becomes available....but do I really want to stay at a completely booked POP???? Is that going to be any better than sharing buses at ASMO?????

And to be quite honest, I still have visions of bigger sugarplums dancing in my head. No, even though I loved our stay at BWV and would love to book our dream trip to WL or AKL, I don't mean that deluxe.....but a CSR dream or two has come dancing in my head from time to time. We stayed there for part of our November 2007 trip, and LOVED it......beautiful resort, refrigerator in our room, GREAT bus system, etc., etc., etc., AND they just renovated the rooms!!!! Yes, my lovelies, I keep thinking that maybe I need to call back and switch to CSR. The bus system there is SO nice, and the rooms......look really pretty from the renovations......and I am just killing myself from all this resortitis torture!!!! Would it be that much better than ASMO to put out $400 more for our trip??? Will we really even be at our resort enough to make a difference???? Can you help me out???? Calling in sick to life tomorrow---way too bad a case of RESORTITIS!!!!

Coming Up Next: PTR READER'S CHOICE!!!! Do you want the KC mini-TR, or the Recital breakdown, or the scoop on possible itineraries and ADRs?????? Let me know...you decide!!!

 

[disneylovinfamily]

I vote KC mini trip although the recitial sounds cute to. Who can resist a little hamming it up on stage? But I love mini trippies in trippies. In fact, I just did one in mine too about when we wnet to see thomas the Tank

 

[Lady Lallie]

I think you should upgrade to CSR! I think your little family have a more enjoyable resort experience is well worth it.

I would REALLY like to see the recital pictures.

 

[cherbear]

okay, I made it!! Such a great PTR!!

I had no idea you went through SO much on booking this trip. Glad you finally booked though!!!

Megs is SO SO sweet and I can't wait to see more pics of her on her trip this year! She SO deserves it! YOU and Tom SO deserve it!!!

Here's my input on the Pop thing:

Firstly, when they do promotions like the Free Dining, they reserve so many rooms at EACH resort for that particular promotion. Once that # of rooms has been booked FOR that promotion, that's it. So when they say Pop is "booked" what they mean is that the number of allotted rooms for the Free Dining plan has been booked. So don't fret!

When is the last time you called Pop? DH and I are thinking about doing Free Dining again this year eek:) and when I checked out a couple different weeks yesterday it was still available. So maybe try again! Good luck!

 

[timandlesley]

Have you considered renting points, you can get them for like 11 dollars a point, when my parents came down and stayed at WL Villa's it equalled out to 130 per night!!! Just a though (don't mean to put tha tin your head and confuse you further)
Lesley

 

[pooh'smate]

I think you should upgrade to CSR! I think your little family have a more enjoyable resort experience is well worth it.

I would REALLY like to see the recital pictures.

I was just thinking about this while I read your update. Whay can't you upgade to a mod.? I too want to see the recital pics but I want to read the KC trip too. Did you go to the zoo while you were there?

 

[Charleston Princess]

I do think you can get the buttons at the resort check-in, and I do think you can have the room decorated.

I am going to vote for CSR -- it is a lovely resort -- and the bus situation is what throws me off of the values.

I vote for recital, then Kansas City!

 

[MinnieNurse]

1. I think you should upgrade to CSR. We stayed there in 2006 and loved it, I want to go back now that rooms were renovated.

2. While I loved our stay at Pop, the buses were the worst we have encountered at any resort we have stayed at.

3. I want to see pics of that little punkin at her recital.

 

[kschafer]

If you post another update like your first one please let me know in advance...I used my last kleenex in my office tearing up with all your celebrations!

I can't give much advice about the resorts as I have only stayed at OKW but I think CSR is gorgeous!!! It would be my choice but I can also see the arguement for saving a few bucks for the celebrations (although if there is a risk of having to switch because of the buses, I would save the hassle and just do it now)

I vote for recital first!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

OK, I have a list....
1. I vote for recital to go first.
2. I think Lesley is right, look at renting points, one of my DISchat friends got them for $10 per point last night. If that doesn't work out......
3. Upgrade to CSR