"Honey are you awake?" "Mumble Mumble" - 6/17

[thewesterberg]

I am SO ready for the butterflies though! This winter has just been vicious. We got hit with that icy/slushy/snowy/rain junk this past week. I told my husband I was 100% convinced the weather was from satan.

AMEN!

You live in Duluth? (Da-loot!) I Duluth! (in the summer)

I'm sorta near St Cloud, otherwise, in the middle of Nowheresville, MN.

Yup, we're up in Duluth. And Nowheresville... that's where we told our son we'd be heading when he caught on last night that we might be going somewhere! Any tourist spots you'd recommend there???

You are right, I AM gonna try this! Labor Day weekend would be perfect - if that airfare comes down!

Good luck with that! And if you find some cheap airfare, let me know (and I'll do the same for you) You know, it's all about supporting (cough, cough... enabling) each other!

HI! I love your report! Can you believe the weather up here? I makes me want to go NOW! We will be at ASMo Sept 20-27 for FD.

I know, enough with this snow already! It's making me want to wish away the summer so August/September will get here! But you know, there will be a brief moment when we're in super, duper hot, sticky and humid Florida that we'll be wishing for some snow to go roll around in!

 

[thewesterberg]

A monumental occasion occurred today... no changes in ADRs!! I guess that's what happens when you're away from the computer for most of the day! Spent some time at my parent's this afternoon with DS and our dog. They both enjoyed running around outside and sampling some of the fresh maple syrup from the trees my dad had tapped in their backyard. (Clarify - DS enjoyed the maple syrup... the dog did not try it!) All the fresh air did us good after being stuck in the house for the last couple of days.

But Disney planning did occur. But not for this trip.

There's another couple of families at our church that Disney too. In the past year a bunch of us have taken trips and it's always fun to swap stories. After we went last September and another family went in October we got to joking that we should a Disney cruise. Then a year got attached to the joke - 2010. Be careful when you joke of such matters.

It has been moving from joke to reality! Some of the us families did a "practice" run last weekend with a trip to the Wisconsin Dells to see if we could handle being together for an extended period of time. There were 25 of us, 6-7 families with our kids. We had a fabulous time - swimming, laughing, watching our kids play together.

This morning after worship, I got to talking with one of the gals we went to the Dells with about our cruise plans (After I confessed about our surprise decision to do this trip!) and she decided I was in charge since I love planning and finding deals. Okay, I can deal with that! (She may show up here as she's around the DIS and I told her I was writing a PTR )

Now the great debate begins as to what we should do - DCL or something else, just going to the parks, when to go, where to stay, etc. Sounds like a fun challenge to me! Something to keep me occupied!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Yup, we're up in Duluth. And Nowheresville... that's where we told our son we'd be heading when he caught on last night that we might be going somewhere! Any tourist spots you'd recommend there???

How about the roaring town of Darwin, Minnesota? It's a teeeeeeeeeny little town, but boats the Largest Twine Ball. Nice tourist attraction!

Good luck with that! And if you find some cheap airfare, let me know (and I'll do the same for you) You know, it's all about supporting (cough, cough... enabling) each other!

Sounds like a plan! [/quote]

 

[brookelizabeth]

After we went last September and another family went in October we got to joking that we should a Disney cruise. Then a year got attached to the joke - 2010. Be careful when you joke of such matters.

Exactly the same story here-just one family though, not 6-7 !!! Our year attached is 2009. I picked it! And then asked one of the little boys "Do you want to go on a Mickey Boat?" He just sorta stared at me, but his Mom goes, "I do!"

This morning after worship, I got to talking with one of the gals we went to the Dells with about our cruise plans (After I confessed about our surprise decision to do this trip!) and she decided I was in charge since I love planning and finding deals. Okay, I can deal with that! (She may show up here as she's around the DIS and I told her I was writing a PTR )

Awesome! That would be so much fun!!

 

[Lady Lallie]

That is so great about the cruise. I really want to do one, maybe 2009 or 2010, I'm really not sure. We do have a "maybe" trip planned to Disneyland Feb 1 -6, 2009. It's a maybe trip since we aren't quite sure, we really want to go but it depends on airfare and such. We do have the hotel booked but we have time to cancel that if we decided against it. You should do a PTR for the cruise!

 

[Mocharilla]

I'm joining for the ride

We're going to Pop, and are putting in the same room request as you (50's, top floor, Tramp). I want to see the fireworks!

 

[thewesterberg]

I'm joining for the ride

We're going to Pop, and are putting in the same room request as you (50's, top floor, Tramp). I want to see the fireworks!

Howdy! Thanks for stopping in! I see you be there a bit before us... have a great time!! You'll have to let me know if you get your request and how it was.

 

[thewesterberg]

That is so great about the cruise. I really want to do one, maybe 2009 or 2010, I'm really not sure. We do have a "maybe" trip planned to Disneyland Feb 1 -6, 2009. It's a maybe trip since we aren't quite sure, we really want to go but it depends on airfare and such. We do have the hotel booked but we have time to cancel that if we decided against it. You should do a PTR for the cruise!

We're kind of excited about the cruise. We honestly thought that was going to be our next trip, but then I sprung this one on my DH. Good to keep your irons in the fire with the room reservations and hope that airfares work out in your favor!

 

[thewesterberg]

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[thewesterberg]

Okay, I need everybody's opinions. Airfare dropped today (out of MSP) to $202/person plus tax and fees. It works out to $239/person. Do I jump on this or wait???

 

[brookelizabeth]

I think it's a very good rate, esp with gas prices the way they are....but, I have only looked up MSP to Orlando a handful to times, so I'm not super experienced in the trip to know for sure.

I mentioned to my DH about the Value/long weekend/free dining/$240 flight...he told me I was crazy. I want him to go nap and I'll spring it on him again!!!! He laid down for about 10 minutes, but got back up!

Maybe I can do a girlfriends trip...I have a close friend who's DH has NO interest in going to Disney ever. Hmmm....

 

[thewesterberg]

Last year when we went I kept getting travelocity fare watcher updates sent to my inbox - a bad thing because rates kept dropping after we'd bought our tickets! (Out of MSP though, we left from Duluth and those prices never went down below what we bought at. It just would have been more cost effective to drive to MSP when they dropped to the levels that they did) I think it's one of those things that once you buy (if you're going with an airline that doesn't do credits) is to not look again. You'll only beat yourself up! Last year I remember they went below $200 (before tax). But the gas prices/economy/merger all make me wonder if this will be as good as it gets! But then I'm thinking it's only been 4 days since I planned this trip and I have over 100 days left until we leave.

In other words, I'm driving myself crazy!!

I really should get back to work!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Last year when we went I kept getting travelocity fare watcher updates sent to my inbox - a bad thing because rates kept dropping after we'd bought our tickets! (Out of MSP, we left from Duluth) I think it's one of those things that once you buy (if you're going with an airline that doesn't do credits) is to not look again. You'll only beat yourself up! Last year I remember they went below $200 (before tax). But the gas prices/economy/merger all make me wonder if this will be as good as it gets! But then I'm thinking it's only been 4 days since I planned this trip and I have over 100 days left until we leave.

In other words, I'm driving myself crazy!!

I really should get back to work!

I totally understand! I do the same thing. We booked for NYC (out of Chicago b/c we are going to see family in Chicago first), and while we got a decent rate, I'm sure it went below that. I purposely did NOT look again. Maybe I will now though...hoping it's outrageously expensive!

NWA.com guarentees the lowest price - I think there is a 24 hour time window (not 100% sure though), so if you are looking on Travelocity this trip too-check out NWA.com, maybe you'll get an even better deal!

Under $200 is AWESOME though...wow! I should really begin my search for our November trip...

 

[thewesterberg]

I mentioned to my DH about the Value/long weekend/free dining/$240 flight...he told me I was crazy. I want him to go nap and I'll spring it on him again!!!! He laid down for about 10 minutes, but got back up!

He must have known you were up to something. Has he been lurking on the DIS????

Maybe I can do a girlfriends trip...I have a close friend who's DH has NO interest in going to Disney ever. Hmmm....

It is fun going with friends - I've been able to do DL twice this way. We've had a work conference just down the street and both times I went with friends and we spent the day. A blast!

 

[thewesterberg]

I'm going to have to watch what I type here now even more... my DH signed up for his own account on the DIS yesterday! Beware of someone named Bubba_mouse. What a dork! LY/MI, honey!

Back to the airfare debate...We hemmed and hawed last night about airfare. Do we buy? Should we wait? It lingered in the back of my mind all evening. I hope while I was leading a meeting last night I didn't accidentally get too distracted!

DH posted on the transportation board (his first post!), asking MSP travelers if they thought it was a good rate. This morning the post was filled with replies of GRAB IT! So, I went to nwa . com this morning and guess what? The flight home we were hoping for (a 5pm flight), the price had gone way up!! WHY??? So back upstairs this morning I went to wake up DH. What should we do? Pay more or come home early? We decided to do the 1:15pm flight instead and come home earlier. So the purchase has been made. Our trip is officially official!

Since our airfare was a bit more than we were hoping to spend, we decided to drop the idea of a rental car and use Disney Transportation. I hopped on the phone this morning and added Magical Express to our package. And for the first time the CM told me to have a "Magical Trip" I'd been waiting to hear those beautiful words in all the phone calls I've made!

This decision for taking the earlier flight time has thrown a wrench in our other plans though. Those ADRs I thought were set? Yeah, not so much anymore. A 9:30am reservation at Chef Mickey's ain't gonna work no more since we'll have to be boarding the Magical Express bus around 10am. So we have one TS that we're going to have to work in somewhere else. Maybe the day we arrive? My hopes to keep that day relaxed without a set plan may not work anymore. I'll have to look it over and see what I can come up with.

Here ends the saga of this morning!

 

[Disneychix]

I still wouldn't count out a rental car. I made reservations in advance through Alamo last year and as the time keep getting closer the rates dropped dramatically and I was able to change my booking to even cheaper rate. This was maybe 2 weeks before we left!
DH is not a fan of ME. Every year we plan on taking it but then at the last minute we "find" the money for a car. Can't say I've ever regretted making that purchase.

You're trip sounds awesome and I can't believe you made all those great ADRs without any trouble. Have fun!

 

[brookelizabeth]

We soley used Disney transportation and it was excellent. The ME was so nice, just skip baggage claim, get on your bus, relax, watch a little Disney movie and before you know it, you are at your resort! And you can just check your luggage right at your hotel-so, so nice! We checked it in the morning, then went for lunch and about our day, didn't see the bags until we arrived in Minneapolis that night. I REALLY look forward to this feature having a baby on our trip.

The busses were prompt, even at night at closing time. You do have to plan a bit extra when gonig resort-to-resort, but it's really not bad at all. I really enjoyed taking the boats and the monorail!

 

[thewesterberg]

I still wouldn't count out a rental car. I made reservations in advance through Alamo last year and as the time keep getting closer the rates dropped dramatically and I was able to change my booking to even cheaper rate. This was maybe 2 weeks before we left!
DH is not a fan of ME. Every year we plan on taking it but then at the last minute we "find" the money for a car. Can't say I've ever regretted making that purchase.

You're trip sounds awesome and I can't believe you made all those great ADRs without any trouble. Have fun!

We had a car last year and it worked out great (Granted, we were staying off-site so it was necessary). I think this time we're going to give ME a whirl and see how it works for us. I'm a little nervous with how crowded it maybe, but we'll see.

We soley used Disney transportation and it was excellent. The ME was so nice, just skip baggage claim, get on your bus, relax, watch a little Disney movie and before you know it, you are at your resort! And you can just check your luggage right at your hotel-so, so nice! We checked it in the morning, then went for lunch and about our day, didn't see the bags until we arrived in Minneapolis that night. I REALLY look forward to this feature having a baby on our trip.

The busses were prompt, even at night at closing time. You do have to plan a bit extra when gonig resort-to-resort, but it's really not bad at all. I really enjoyed taking the boats and the monorail!

Thanks for letting me know how it worked for you. Were you there during a busier or slower time?

 

[Lady Lallie]

We soley used Disney transportation and it was excellent. The ME was so nice, just skip baggage claim, get on your bus, relax, watch a little Disney movie and before you know it, you are at your resort! And you can just check your luggage right at your hotel-so, so nice! We checked it in the morning, then went for lunch and about our day, didn't see the bags until we arrived in Minneapolis that night. I REALLY look forward to this feature having a baby on our trip.

The busses were prompt, even at night at closing time. You do have to plan a bit extra when gonig resort-to-resort, but it's really not bad at all. I really enjoyed taking the boats and the monorail!

Thanks for the review of the transportation! I have never used the Magical Express and am looking forward to it! What resort did you stay at? I am a little nervous about getting to some of my ADR breakfasts at other resorts.

 

[thewesterberg]

Boy was I glad I bought the airfare this morning. I spent so much time on the computer this morning figuring out if we should go with that airfare, that I never got a chance to read the paper. When I got home later, my DH handed me the front page.
The headline? Northwest merger or not, fares are set to rise
I think that was a sign that I made a good decision!

I dropped the Chef Mickey's ADR and added the Donald breakfast buffet thingy at AK (Why can't I remember the "real" name??) for the morning of our AK day. 8:30 should be pretty good and not put us behind much for the day. We'll have an earlier evening the night before as it's our free day - we'll probably hit a waterpark that. Any suggestions on what's better for a 5 year old boy? He loves water, but not so much waterslides.

Just when I think I have everything set, I think about something and have to make changes! A tweak here, a tweak there!