How Many Trips Can I Milk?~A PTR

[BrittBritt]

Okay, so I'm pretty new at all things Dis, but I am still going to try my hand at a PTR...Bear with me...

My DH and I have been throwing around the idea of going back to Disney for awhile now. (Really, I was just throwing the idea around , and my DH was trying to dodge it.)

We had a Florida Resident Annual Seasonal Pass two years ago, and I am ashamed to say that we didn't do it justice. Even though we live less than two hours away, were we there every weekend? No. Did we even once make an ADR? Never. Did we even see Illuminations or Spectromagic? Nope. We were terrible card-carrying members of the happiest place on Earth. (Please don't throw me off the Dis. I plead insanity and ignorance. )

SO...after letting our passes expire and starting to get that feeling of missing WDW again, I planted the seed that maybe it would be nice to go back. I was met with some hostile opposition, but, undeterred, I carried on.

My powers of persuasion have been carefully honed over the past 8 years that DH and I have been together. Not only was I able to secure a chance of going back, but I also shockingly scored the o.k. for ANNUAL PASSES!!! Not Seasonal Annual, the same as we had before but couldn't get much use out of since I teach, and evidently the S/A passes are made for all other professions except teachers..but the holy grail of Disney, true Annual Passes.

Originally we weren't going to go until Oct. (to celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary). BUT, we were discussing our options yesterday when DH asked, "Why don't we go during my time off in July?" He didn't have to ask me twice. I was on the phone the next second booking our trip.

WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY!!!
July 21st-25th @ POP Century
This calls for some dancing bananas!

Before I forget, let me introduce us:

Me (DW) 25 ---I am a middle school Lang. Arts teacher. It's a tough job and a tough age, but I love it. (It has, however, caused me to completely rethink wanting children of my own. Babies are adorable and all, but in every baby's life, the age of twelve looms in the not-so-distant future, and twelve ain't so pretty! Before you give me these , know that I'm sure my mind will change as I get older. I am just not ready yet!)

DH 28 ::cop: --- He's a SWAT officer for a terrible municipality. I say terrible because there's no other word to describe what goes on in this third-world nation disguised as a U.S. city. Unspeakable... Anyway, DH loves his job and seems to subscribe to the belief that the more dangerous the activity, the more fun it is. Yes, his job will be the death of me. Thank God for Kevlar and Tasers.

Even though I am a newbie, I know you people on the Dis like pics, so here are some from our wedding in '05.

Is it just me, or are these pictures enormous? Sorry, once again I plead ignorance. Hey, I'm a newbie...What, did you expect a fabulously written PTR with perfectly sized pictures? HA!

Now, I haven't really explained my title... You see, once I knew my DH had caved about the APs, I started thinking of ways to maximize my trips to the World.
So far, I have my mom on board for an Oct. trip. I'm taking my DSis (8) on a surprise trip in Dec., and I really want to do a solo trip in the spring. (Don't know how that will go over with DH!) I am so excited to have the APs, that I'm even thinking of asking my DMIL to go!
Really, for the next year, I am willing to go on any trip with any people!

If you have read through this entire ridiculous rant, thank you.

Next Post: Our Disney history aka How did we manage to waste the Annual/Seasonal passes we had before?

Table of Contents:
Hmmm...Do you think this thing called Tonga Toast will be good?...pg. 1...post 6
Daily Vocabulary Lesson---Inconspicuous...pg. 2...post 17
Caution---No Dieting Ahead...pg. 2...post 21
Crocs!...pg. 3...post 34
Hookers and Hitchhikers...pg. 4...post 48
Doin' the Happy Dance!...pg. 5...post 65
May I Trade in My Mike for Tour Guide Mike?...pg. 5...post 71
Red Alert: Sick Teacher Discovers Fantastic News...pg. 6...post 85
ADR U Kidding Me?...pg. 7...post 94
Tipping and Touring...pg. 8...post 106
Just wondering...pg. 9...post 123
Spring Break Road Trip Extravaganza...pg. 9...post 133
Aliens Have Invaded DH's Body!...pg. 10...post 141
Backpedaling, Bombshells, and Babies!!!...pg. 10...post 146
Really, Who Writes These Things?...pg. 11...post 157
So This Is How An Addict Feels...pg. 12...post 175
Kingdom Keepers Review #2...pg. 13...post 192
I Read The Secret, and I Still Learned Nothing...pg. 14...post 200
Sounds Like Someone Could Use a Little Disney...pg. 15...post 218
Dashed Dreams of Disney on Ice...pg. 16...post 232
Shhh! Don't Tell DH I Spent All His Money!...pg. 16...post 236
And the Award Goes To...pg. 18...post 268
Disney: The Next Member of the U.N.?...pg. 19...post 280

 

[stagemomx3]

My DH and I have been throwing around the idea of going back to Disney for awhile now. (Really, I was just throwing the idea around , and my DH was trying to dodge it.)

.

Babies are adorable and all, but in every baby's life, the age of twelve looms in the not-so-distant future, and twelve ain't so pretty!

I work in a middle school with 6th graders every day, plus I have a twelve year old daughter.

That right there is enough reason to keep reading your trip report! I'm more than willing to vicariously live through you as you milk as many trips as you can out of your annual pass.

I think I hear some Mission Impossible theme music playing.

 

[BrittBritt]

I think I hear some Mission Impossible theme music playing.

Oh yes, I am in serious Disney planning mode. Disney will regret allowing me a year's worth of entrances.

Thanks for reading!

 

[Saturn23]

Hi! I saw the link in your signature when you posted in my TR. That's so cool that you get annual passes. Sounds like you're going to put them to good use. That's sweet that you're going to take your little sister, so much fun!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Great start to your PTR -- I am so glad you started one!

I always say that it is a really good thing that I had my children before I started teaching middle school, because I am not sure if I would have been able to find a name that didn't have bad associations with it !

Yay! Annual Passes! My dream! Now I can live vicariously through your many trips!

I love Pop -- you'll have so much fun! Can't wait to read more of your pre-trippie!

 

[BrittBritt]

A little of our Disney history:

Both DH and I are Florida babies, so Disney isn't completely new for us. Even though we attended the same high school, we didn't really meet until college. (I actually knew who he was in high school and wasn't impressed! ) Our first few vacations together were trips to Disney. We would just go for a couple of days and stay in a really cheap hotel since we had NO MONEY. (I like how we went to Disney---the place most likely to bleed you dry---when we were strapped for cash... ) I have zero pics from any of these trips. In fact, I don't even think we brought a camera. I definitely know there was no effort put into planning for any of these trips. I'm pretty sure we didn't even know park hours.

After college, we started going a little more regularly. Our first on-site stay was at POR in Mar. of '03. We absolutely loved it there! We stayed in the Mansions and took the boat to DTD. We loved waking up to all the little bunnies running around. Still though, we were without plans or pictures. We stayed at POR a couple more times---including one untimely stay in the AB section where I tripped and rode the stairs on my backside *ahem* from the second floor to the first. (No, I am not overly clumsy. It had just rained, and I was wearing some non-Dis flip flops that had no traction whatsoever. I am checking into Crocs as I type so there will be no stair scares on this trip.)

Finally, we were married and the good life could begin...right???
WRONG!
Cursed as we are, we received a lovely hurricane as a wedding gift from good old Mother Nature. This gift went by the name of Wilma, and she was one unwelcome guest.

Thankfully, Wilma stalled out over the Yucatan for a few days and at least bought us time to get hitched. She blew out our power, stranded our guests, and otherwise put a damper on our wedding memories. So, where does a newlywed couple go when they have no power (yes, that means no A/C in FL. ) and time off from work due to school closures?
That's right---Disney!!! (More specifically, AKL)

This was the trip where we bought our Seasonal APs. This was also, sadly, another ill planned trip. Can you believe that even though we stayed at AKL, we never ate at Boma, Jiko's, etc...? We ate at ONE TS meal that entire trip, and it embarrasses me to admit it was at Sci-Fi Dine In. I know, I know, I was terribly misinformed.

All was not terrible on that trip however. My DStepMom is a TA and managed to work her magic on that trip. She got us upgraded to a Savannah view AND she got us access to the CL even though we weren't staying there. She rocks!

During our year of Seasonal APs, we really only went two more times and just for quick 2-day trips. On one of those trips we stayed at the Poly. (By now I shouldn't even need to tell you---We didn't eat at O'hanas or Kona Cafe, and no, we didn't take pics.)
We did, however, order in breakfast one morning, and I was intrigued by a menu listing called Tonga Toast. Now, I love french toast, and I love sugar, and so this seemed to be a meal made just for me. Well, it was love at first bite. I ate the entire serving myself and didn't even offer DH a bite. (Sharing is for people who are still dating, and thus still care what their partner thinks of them...)

Must have more Tonga Toast...

I'm trying to wrap this up...Sorry, I'm long-winded.
Our final stay was at the CBR. We stayed here during the last couple of days of our Seasonal APs and went to the MNSSHP and had a BLAST!


Knowing that I've done Disney so wrong for all these years, I am determined to make up for my past mistakes. This trip I will take pics, I will eat at great places, I will wear LGMH, I will decorate my hotel room window/door, and I may even wear funny footwear! Thanks for coming along for the ride.

Since I had no Disney vacation photos, I'll leave you with pics from last summer's trip to Alaska. Hey, it's something...

Next post: The Secret HD Mission with my DSis

 

[BrittBritt]

Hi! I saw the link in your signature when you posted in my TR. That's so cool that you get annual passes. Sounds like you're going to put them to good use. That's sweet that you're going to take your little sister, so much fun!

Yes, the best part about taking my sis is that I can spoil her rotten and not feel guilty about it at all. The plan is to give her the trip as a gift on Christmas morning. We'll be leaving the next day---so she won't be able to drive us too nuts about it. I need to find a really creative way to tell her about the gift, so I'm definitely reading anything I can on these boards to give me ideas.

Great start to your PTR -- I am so glad you started one!

I always say that it is a really good thing that I had my children before I started teaching middle school, because I am not sure if I would have been able to find a name that didn't have bad associations with it !

Yay! Annual Passes! My dream! Now I can live vicariously through your many trips!

I love Pop -- you'll have so much fun! Can't wait to read more of your pre-trippie!

Yes, so far here are some of the names that have been ruined: Ryan, Eric, Jessica, Blair.
By the time we ever decide to have children, we'll be needing to get creative with the names. Eunice maybe?

 

[winkers]

What gets me through alot of days with my 12 yr old dd is knowing that one day she'll have a 12 yr old of her own!

I'm enjoying your report. And yes, you have alot to make up for all the wrongs you've done to disney obsessivieness!

Now I'm worried you're going to correct my spelling and grammar with a red pen!

 

[stagemomx3]

Yes, so far here are some of the names that have been ruined: Ryan, Eric, Jessica, Blair.
By the time we ever decide to have children, we'll be needing to get creative with the names. Eunice maybe?

Names ruined for life for me by years in early education- Jason & Andrew

 

[Charleston Princess]

Yes, so far here are some of the names that have been ruined: Ryan, Eric, Jessica, Blair.
By the time we ever decide to have children, we'll be needing to get creative with the names. Eunice maybe?

Eunice -- that is definitely a name I have never encountered -- that is a definite possibility!

What gets me through alot of days with my 12 yr old dd is knowing that one day she'll have a 12 yr old of her own!

My mom used to say that to me all the time and I now I totally get it!

Names ruined for life for me by years in early education- Jason & Andrew

Names ruined for me (just this week): Jacob and Chris!

 

[Charleston Princess]

BrittBritt,

Awesomely cool pics of Alaska! (That's my inner middle school child)

Isn't it amazing that we used to go to Disney with no trip plans??? Whatever were we thinking???

Can't wait to read more!

 

[BrittBritt]

BrittBritt,

Awesomely cool pics of Alaska! (That's my inner middle school child)

Isn't it amazing that we used to go to Disney with no trip plans??? Whatever were we thinking???

Can't wait to read more!

The Alaska trip was AMAZING, but it wasn't Disney!

Clearly, I have a lot to make up for...this trip is planning overload.
I will update tonight, and I have some hysterical pics of my little sis "stealing" LGMH from HD! Too cute...

Thanks for reading!

 

[BrittBritt]

Names ruined for life for me by years in early education- Jason & Andrew

Oh yes, how could I have forgotten Jason?
They're always terrible!

 

[BrittBritt]

What gets me through alot of days with my 12 yr old dd is knowing that one day she'll have a 12 yr old of her own!

I'm enjoying your report. And yes, you have alot to make up for all the wrongs you've done to disney obsessivieness!

Now I'm worried you're going to correct my spelling and grammar with a red pen!

Ahhh yes, revenge is sweet. (It is yet another reason why I am not jumping the gun to have children early. I remember myself at that age! Awful...)

No worries about red pen corrections, I save all of my evil English teacher punishments for the children.

 

[BeeBopp]

I'm all caught up...Great report so far! Subscribing

 

[BrittBritt]

I'm all caught up...Great report so far! Subscribing

 

[BrittBritt]

I have the urge to recap my upcoming 'trips' so far...

To review:
DH & I...July 21st-25th @ POP
DM & I...October 24th-25th @ POFQ
DSis & I...December 26th-29th @ ??? (Surprise Trip )

The common denominator of all those trips looks good to me!!!

After reading these boards and realizing how terribly I'd failed in all things Disney in my previous trips, I decided that I'd go all out for my new ones. My first mission at hand was to nab some of those LGMHPC from HD that I'd been reading so much about. Well, I didn't want to go alone, and I certainly wasn't going to ask my DH. (He is not so understanding of my newfound obsession.)

After running down my short list of people who might be tricked into accompanying me, I settled on my DSis Faith. (If you want to get technical, Faith is my half-sis, but that title doesn't do justice to our relationship. In my mind, she's my full sister through and through, and I absolutely love her to pieces!)

I chose Faith because I knew she'd go, and I was secretly planning to use some of the LGMHs for our Dec. trip. I figured I'd get the pics of her now and be able to add them to the slideshow I'll make later.

Being 8, and an only child in a somewhat "quiet" house, Faith jumped at the chance to go on "errands" to Home Depot with Sissy. (Errands *ahem* that's what I called them. To try and explain the truth to my dad was just not going to happen---at least not before the Mickey's were acquired.)

Here's a pic of her in the car before she'd received the mission instructions:

So, here's the conversation from the front seat of the car once we pulled into the Home Depot parking lot:

Me: "Faith, we aren't really going to be buying anything here today. Instead, Sissy needs your help to "borrow" some things for Mike (DH)."

(Side note: Since Faith doesn't know we're going on a trip, I simply told her we were getting these for my July trip with DH. She must think I'm a cruel tease... )

Faith: "Ummm, okay."

Me: "Now, we're going to be spending some time in front of the paint display, and I'm going to need you to act inconspicuously."

Faith: "Huh?"

Me: "Pretend like you're just looking at the paint chips as normally as you can."

Faith: "Got it. But Sissy, why are we bringing the camera into Home Depot?"

Me:


Her excitement doesn't truly come through in this pic. She was out of her mind hyper...

As we walked through the automatic doors of the store, Faith YELLED out, "Sissy, you think anyone will catch us stealing?!"
It was at this point that we walked back outside and reviewed the vocabulary word of the day before proceeding.

The site of the crime...

The Mickey's are within our reach! At this point, Faith stopped me and asked for the legal status of what we were doing...seriously.


MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Notice Faith's Crocs? They'd be better if they weren't Miami Dolphins . Terrible waste of a team...


Spy the enormous quantity we "borrowed"? OCD Faith had them counted and color-sorted before we even left the lot. I am almost embarrassed to admit the real number we took, but the Dis is kinda like a confessional, right?

142!!!

Honestly, we had a blast. This will be something we'll never forget. I can't even tell you how much we giggled our way through that store. Clearly, with the camera and the out of control laughter, we were anything BUT inconspicuous.

Now, what have I done with all of my Mickey's? So far, I've made garland/streamer to hang around the hotel windows. I figure I can use this at all 3 of my stays.

It doesn't look that long in the picture, but it's just shy of 6 feet!

My dog, Botox, doesn't seem very amused by the whole process...

I think I was cutting into some of her 23.5 hours of daily nap time!

That's about all I've got for tonight.

Next up: Crocs to call my own?

 

[stagemomx3]

As we walked through the automatic doors of the store, Faith YELLED out, "Sissy, you think anyone will catch us stealing?!"
It was at this point that we walked back outside and reviewed the vocabulary word of the day before proceeding.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

What a great photo! Faith is adorable!

Notice Faith's Crocs? They'd be better if they weren't Miami Dolphins . Terrible waste of a team...

My daughter Daisy's favorite football team is the Miami Dolphins. Why? Well because of the little dolphin wearing a helmet is so cut.

Spy the enormous quantity we "borrowed"? OCD Faith had them counted and color-sorted before we even left the lot.

AAAHHH she's a natural Diser!

Clearly, with the camera and the out of control laughter, we were anything BUT inconspicuous.

Clearly, but what a great memory you made with your sister! YOU ROCK!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Faith is just adorable! Her excitement in the pics cracked me up! And her comment about "stealing"! That was priceless! In fact, DS is on the computer next to me and when I started giggling he wanted to know what was so funny!

142!!! Wow! I felt daring just picking up 20 the other day! Obviously I need to brush up on my "borrowing" skills!

Love the garland! What a cool idea! Is that just regular curling ribbon that you used? I might have to steal that idea!

 

[BrittBritt]

Faith is just adorable! Her excitement in the pics cracked me up! And her comment about "stealing"! That was priceless! In fact, DS is on the computer next to me and when I started giggling he wanted to know what was so funny!

142!!! Wow! I felt daring just picking up 20 the other day! Obviously I need to brush up on my "borrowing" skills!

Love the garland! What a cool idea! Is that just regular curling ribbon that you used? I might have to steal that idea!

Yes, it's actually pretty sad, but we developed a technique as we were "borrowing" so many. On the side of the display there are little booklets full of Disney room painting ideas. We used one of those booklets to shield our rather large paint chip pile from the view of any sales associates. Clearly no one cared. As I said, we were rather obvious, and nobody even gave us a second look.
The ribbon isn't curling/gift wrap ribbon. It's just regular cloth ribbon that I had left over from making a diaper cake. It worked well just double knotting the strand before I'd put each Mickey head on. I used a small hole punch though. Steal away...Lord knows that's what I've been doing here!