~How TWO trips became...who knows? ~ It's a TRIP! and an upgrade.... 4/22

[maroo]

That was so funny about the mentos. I didn't know it would really work. I'm gonna have to keep a couple of my coupons and buy some.

I had no idea either! Evidently the kids have all seen it before. But I was totally shocked!

 

[maroo]

Back to the Magic Meets trip!

We have a surprise guest. An addition. A fluffy addition!

This is Muffin!

My dog, Muffin. She is sorta like my child. You see, I am single with no kids. So it is just Muffin and me! So, when I go out of town, she usually stays with my friend Cindy or at Lauren's house.

But during Magic Meets, Cindy is out of town...and with Lauren's grandparents staying at their house and a BUNCH of people going in and out of their house all the time...Plus the addition of a new cat to their household...we decided that it would be best if I made other arrangements for Muffin.

Now, I am a nice person. But I am also a snob. Especially when it comes to Muffin.

She has stayed in a kennel before. Several times. But she always comes back with fleas. And tends to bark for no reason for a few days after she gets back. I like for Muffin to bark - but only when there is a good reason!
So she has not spent the night away from me at all for the past couple of years - unless she was at Cindy's or Lauren's.

After some checking around, I decided - She is coming with me!



Now all of you guys are thinking I am totally crazy, right?!? Well, maybe I am. But I have thought this through.

First - the hotel allows pets. I noticed that when I was booking the hotel.
Second - the airline allows pets, too. In the cabin. At my feet.
Third - For this trip, I will mainly be at the hotel. All of the meetings are either in the hotel or right next door, so I will be able to check on her often, so she won't be afraid I left her in a strange place. Fourth - Even Hershey Park - which is on the agenda possibly for Sunday - has a kennel service. Muffin would be fine there for the few hours that I am enjoying Hershey Park.

But the most important thing....was if Jen would be ok with that. You see Jen (jenb1023 - did I get that right?!?!) is my Mouse Meets buddy. She is a DISboutiquer. This means she makes Disney clothes. And we have plans to hang out and she will be giving me a ride to Hershey Park and back to the airport. So it was a no-go if Jen sounded uncomfortable with that. But Jen was actually excited that I am bringing Muffin!

Jen is awesome, by the way! She has been very helpful to me as I try to make plans for this weekend! It has worked out very well. Jen helps with The Big Give, which is something we do for Make a Wish families. We make the kids and siblings and parents custom clothes and send pixie dust to make their Wish Trip just that more magical!

So I figure if all of that worked out, that it was certainly going to be fun to have Muffin tag along!

Who can say no to this face??

Muffin is a great dog, good travel buddy! She won't have any trouble with the traveling and will LOVE to meet all of the people she will see along the way.


Now, since I am a snob - Muffin has to travel in style! So check this out...

It even has a sun roof!

And it was made especially for airline traveling!


So Muffin is going on a road trip! No...and AIR Trip! How cool is THAT?!?!

 

[MeMom]

First of all, "Hi, Kay!"

I have a really good longtime friend named Kay, too. We met each other working at McDonald's as teenagers and have been friends for about a hundred years now. She and some of her kids have even been on Disney trips with us several times.

Anyway, that has nothing to do with you, right?
It's just that her name is Kay, too, so I thought you might know her.


Please stick around. Not everyone around here is as strange as I am.

On to the Mentos.
If you do that in a third-grade classroom, it is called a Science experiment. The kids love it, and they get a grade for just writing down their predictions and observations.
It's a for teacher and students.

Thanks for sharing your Fourth of July fun!


Okay, so I had to come back and add, since we were typing over each other, your baby is precious!

 

[maroo]

First of all, "Hi, Kay!"

I have a really good longtime friend named Kay, too. We met each other working at McDonald's as teenagers and have been friends for about a hundred years now. She and some of her kids have even been on Disney trips with us several times.

Anyway, that has nothing to do with you, right?
It's just that her name is Kay, too, so I thought you might know her.


Please stick around. Not everyone around here is as strange as I am.

On to the Mentos.
If you do that in a third-grade classroom, it is called a Science experiment. The kids love it, and they get a grade for just writing down their predictions and observations.
It's a for teacher and students.

Thanks for sharing your Fourth of July fun!

Awesome!!! Are you a teacher? That is an awesome idea!!!

Is their prediction that it will blow up?

I hope you saw the update. We posted at the same time!

 

[MeMom]

Awesome!!! Are you a teacher? That is an awesome idea!!!

Is their prediction that it will blow up?

I hope you saw the update. We posted at the same time!

Go back and see. Look at the end.

 

[maroo]

Go back and see. Look at the end.

aw!!! Thank you!! I love her to pieces!

 

[TarzansKat]

Aw, Muffin. So. Stinkin'. Cute. I couldn't say no to that face, that's for dang sure.

 

[jenb1023]

I am so glad everyone knows about our special guest! The adorable Muffin! I saw a picture of her before but these are just too darling - and I love her carrying case. That is great that she can fly in the cabin with you! Mary is so nice she asked me first but of course I don't mind Muffin joining us Magic Meets weekend.

Since I guess I am officially a part of this PTR now (yes jenb1023 is right BTW - lol!), I am going to hijack for a few moments and add my comments to your update. Hope you don't mind!

Here is a photo of two playmates that can't wait to play with Muffin.

Jordan is my almost 6-year-old DD and Mickey is our 1 1/2 year old Goldendoodle who is the nicest and most patient dog on the planet (as you can see he tolerates DD dressing him up).

Mary introduced me as a DisBoutiquer and a member of the Big Give team. I do make Disney iron-on t-shirts and sweatshirts and have scrapbooked some autograph books for the Big Give's wish kids. I just made my first two dresses over the weekend so I don't think I qualify as a Disboutiquer yet (those guys are so talented!) more of a Boutiquer lurker/follower but thanks for the compliments. Just in case I haven't hijacked enough. . .here are pics of my autograph books and my first dress (which I am very proud of!).

I am so looking forward to Magic Meets and having someone to share my Disney obsession with and to meeting Mary and Muffin!

 

[maroo]

Aw, Muffin. So. Stinkin'. Cute. I couldn't say no to that face, that's for dang sure.

Thanks!!

And...uh...your lobbying skills are being requested on my other pre-trippie, by the way!

I am so glad everyone knows about our special guest! The adorable Muffin! I saw a picture of her before but these are just too darling - and I love her carrying case. That is great that she can fly in the cabin with you! Mary is so nice she asked me first but of course I don't mind Muffin joining us Magic Meets weekend.

Since I guess I am officially a part of this PTR now (yes jenb1023 is right BTW - lol!), I am going to hijack for a few moments and add my comments to your update. Hope you don't mind!

I certainly don't mind!! Anytime! You are officially part of this trip report and feel free to update or put in any pictures, thoughts, whatever you would like!

Here is a photo of two playmates that can't wait to play with Muffin.

Jordan is my almost 6-year-old DD and Mickey is our 1 1/2 year old Goldendoodle who is the nicest and most patient dog on the planet (as you can see he tolerates DD dressing him up).

Oh my gosh! Jordan is precious! And Mickey - Now what a GREAT DISer you are! You named your dog Mickey! - Mickey seems very sweet! Looks like he is wearing a custom!

Mary introduced me as a DisBoutiquer and a member of the Big Give team. I do make Disney iron-on t-shirts and sweatshirts and have scrapbooked some autograph books for the Big Give's wish kids. I just made my first two dresses over the weekend so I don't think I qualify as a Disboutiquer yet (those guys are so talented!) more of a Boutiquer lurker/follower but thanks for the compliments. Just in case I haven't hijacked enough. . .here are pics of my autograph books and my first dress (which I am very proud of!).

I am so looking forward to Magic Meets and having someone to share my Disney obsession with and to meeting Mary and Muffin!
[/SIZE][/COLOR]

You most certainly qualify as a DISboutiquer! Now, neither of us have reached a level of some of those very talented folks...but you are making clothes and sending them to sweet children and parents...so you are, officially, a DISboutiquer!

I love the autograph books AND the dress is awesome! Is it for Mya?? (It would be too big for Mya, though, I guess? ) Which is why I only IRON stuff for the kids.

I can absolutely not wait to meet you guys!!!!! It is going to be a great weekend.

 

[MKBekka]

WOW, Muffin is SO cute. Cool that you are taking her with you, but aren't you going just a little overboard? Not that I think that's a bad thing, accually a dog like Muffin deserves it!

I have always wanted to do that with the diet coke, but my DD will not let us. Do you know how many Mentos they got in before the bottle rejected them?

 

[jenb1023]

Mickey is wearing a Jordan custom! She is a boutiquer already! The dress is for Jordan. So many talented ladies made outfits for Mya so I just sent the autograph book. I sent the same type of book to the Belfontis (Maddie and Olivia) and they really liked them and got a good response on them at the parks so I am thinking that will be my Big Give thing from now on. I have not been happy with my last few iron-ons and I am not nearly ready to sew for anyone else yet.

 

[maroo]

Mickey is wearing a Jordan custom! She is a boutiquer already! The dress is for Jordan. So many talented ladies made outfits for Mya so I just sent the autograph book. I sent the same type of book to the Belfontis (Maddie and Olivia) and they really liked them and got a good response on them at the parks so I am thinking that will be my Big Give thing from now on. I have not been happy with my last few iron-ons and I am not nearly ready to sew for anyone else yet.

You know...I was not thrilled with my last iron ons either...but I think it was something I did wrong and am hoping to fix it with my next batch. They didn't look bad...just some water spots that I didn't like on there. No one else will probably even see them? They were for Mya. Hope she isn't reading this!

WOW, Muffin is SO cute. Cool that you are taking her with you, but aren't you going just a little overboard? Not that I think that's a bad thing, accually a dog like Muffin deserves it!

I have always wanted to do that with the diet coke, but my DD will not let us. Do you know how many Mentos they got in before the bottle rejected them?

HA HA HA! Overboard? With Muffin? Never.

I know that the kids had 8 Mentos in their hands. And they were told to put them in the coke bottle really fast. It was over in less than a second, I believe.

My camera can take action shots (where it takes more than one shot at once) and that is how I captured it.

Now, there you go, one of my photography secrets.

 

[maroo]

First... Think DECEMBER! (I am trying to give you guys some clues before you read these crazy posts...) Even with the color GREEN - for Christmas!

Overview of trip (so you don't have to check the cheat sheet):
Dates: December 10-20
Cast: Maroo only Dec 10-15; Rachel and family joining Dec 15-20
Resorts: POP and AKL - and I have resortitis!
Purpose: DAP (DIS-A-Palooza) and Rachel's conference


I need some serious help. I have spent the past 2 hours (at WORK, which means I am going to have to stay late today to actually finish what I am working on right now) trying to think through this trip.

I am honestly not sure how to even explain my problem...

Tickets: I am an AP holder (which I am almost regretting?) and now have THREE reservations for Free Dining. Which means I am going to get 3 ONE Day MYW tickets when I check in each time. I inquired today to make sure I can actually turn all three tickets in toward my AP for next year (which would be around a $225 value) and found out that I can NOT do that. I have to use only one ticket toward my AP. Which is going to leave me 2 $75 tickets just hanging out and not being used toward anything?


Part 1 of the TRIP - The DAP:
To fully understand the issue I am having, you will need to be updated about the first half of my trip...so here is the update.

The purpose of the first half of the trip is to meet other DISers, podcasters and online friends in the Disney Community. This will actually include more than just DISers. Here is the tenative plan so far...I can ASSURE you this WILL CHANGE.

Thursday: Fly to Disney, get there VERY late, check into POP. Do I rent a car? Take ME? All questions to be answered later.

Friday: Disney Institute (I have no details on this - it is sponsored by the DISboards, includes seminars about Disney - may be a half day or all day event?) AND MVMCP (#1 - maybe). I have a MVMCP meet scheduled for this night with a different group of friends from another website. Heresy, I know.

Saturday: Possibly up VERY early to volunteer with some DISers at GKTW - I assume this will involve meeting somewhere to carpool together and help with breakfast...so this will be a seriously early morning. Followed by a Kim Possible "meet" in Epcot with more podcasters (not DISers). Then there is a party that evening - no details yet - but it will be a BIG party sometime on Saturday evening/night. Then I have another "meet" at Jellyrolls at 9:30 or so.

Are you tired yet?

Sunday: The DIS podcast team is having a LIVE taping of the show and have invited us to attend. No idea when this will take place. Sunday evening: MVMCP (#2 - maybe) Another group is meeting at MVMCP. I also have the option of going to GKTW that Sunday evening to help/volunteer/meet some Wish Families at the "Candyland Party" which is a fun party on a very cool life size version of the Candyland game. But I can't do both this and MVMCP.


Monday: sleep in. Ya think? No other plans yet for today.


Tuesday: Check out of POP. Check into AKL. Rachel and half of the family will arrive today. Late lunch at Le Cellier followed by Candlelight Processional.


Rest of the schedule to follow....


So...what is the question? You are probably asking the question, "Is she crazy?!" And that answer is a resounding YES!!

I am just wondering...do I even go for Free Dining for the first part of my trip? I don't plan many ADR's - if any? Most of my meals will be counter service? And it will cost me an extra $75 of a ticket I may never use?

Then I am toying with really wanting to RELAX on Monday. And really wondering if it would be worth it to add a day to the AKL ressie and check in on Monday. This has its advantages, in that I could get my stuff moved and settled and make sure the room has the special things Rachel will require. This will make Tuesday a little less stressful and I could spend a good bit of Monday and Tuesday AM really relaxing, sitting on the balcony, completely chilling...

But...if I do that, I have the cost of the AKL room (which is considerable) AND...the bigger drawback...is that I would "start over" my ressie a day earlier and then have almost NO HOPE of getting that Le Cellier ressie that I really want for Tuesday. It would mean waiting an extra 4 days before calling for that ADR.

Are you still there? Are you still reading this?



Help!!!!!!!

I think I need a spreadsheet.

 

[that's nice]

OK here is my idea.

I say go for the $75 and get the free dining.

Once your AP room rate is known that $75 might turn out to be $200 or more, in which case i'd skip FD and pay OOP for your meals. I think when getting FD you can ask for the QS plan. Or i think you can might even be able to use a TS as a CS. Don't quote me on this part, I may be wrong.

You are staying at Pop for 5 nights. That would be 10 meals and 5 snacks. So 10 meals X $10 each average is $100 plus your 5 snacks. So for $75 you are getting a 1 day pass and $115 worth of food. Is the 1 day tix transferrable? Can you sell it to someone you know? Maybe you can donate it (tax deduction). Or save it to you next AP renewal.

I say stay at POP and get your Le Cellier ressie! If you try to book it and you aren't able to get it then move to AKL a day early!!!!!!!!

 

[jenb1023]

I am no help on all of that ticket stuff. But, couldn't you make your Le Cellier ADR and then switch to an extra AKL night after that? ADRs are tied to your phone number so you would not lose it by switching ressie numbers.

 

[TarzansKat]

Just a quick question. Who told you that you couldn't put more than one ticket in your name towards the annual pass? It doesn't sound right to me. I'm almost positive Mom and Nana have done multiple tickets towards their passes. New policy, perhaps?

I would look at it like this. Take advantage of the ticket and get the free dining. You're paying $75 to have all your meals covered. Those tickets don't expire. So every time you need to renew an annual pass, even if they won't let you do more than one ticket, you can use that ticket at some point, right?

 

[that's nice]

Taken from Cheshire Figment

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1452684

Upgrading Tickets to Annual Passes
An upgrade to an Annual Pass or Premium Annual Pass follows basically the same rules as any other upgrade of MYW tickets.

Note that any upgrade requires a cash (or cash equivalent) payment and can only be done on a one to one basis. You cannot combine the value of more than one ticket. In other words, if you had a six day base ticket and a one day base, you could not add the value of both to end up with an AP, even with additional payment. If, however, you have three tickets and are paying to upgrade each of them, this can be done on one transaction.


That was one thing I did know. LOL

 

[that's nice]

I am no help on all of that ticket stuff. But, couldn't you make your Le Cellier ADR and then switch to an extra AKL night after that? ADRs are tied to your phone number so you would not lose it by switching ressie numbers.

Great idea!

 

[All7OfUs]

Can I just admit right here and now, in front of everyone here, that I'm soooooooo confuuused!

Maybe I just need to read this several more times, and then I'd get it??

Let me just say, I am so glad that you're going to be the number cruncher for our trip next year; I know I'd totally botch it!!!

One question.... I heard tix are going up this August. Should we buy our tix now or wait. If we get free dining then don't we have to buy the one tix anyway?

Hijack over, sorry about that!

Onto your stuff.... My vote (ha, like this is some sort of democracy thing) is to go with the live Candyland game. That sounds like a blast.

 

[maroo]

OK here is my idea.

I say go for the $75 and get the free dining.

Once your AP room rate is known that $75 might turn out to be $200 or more, in which case i'd skip FD and pay OOP for your meals. I think when getting FD you can ask for the QS plan. Or i think you can might even be able to use a TS as a CS. Don't quote me on this part, I may be wrong.

You are staying at Pop for 5 nights. That would be 10 meals and 5 snacks. So 10 meals X $10 each average is $100 plus your 5 snacks. So for $75 you are getting a 1 day pass and $115 worth of food. Is the 1 day tix transferrable? Can you sell it to someone you know? Maybe you can donate it (tax deduction). Or save it to you next AP renewal.

I say stay at POP and get your Le Cellier ressie! If you try to book it and you aren't able to get it then move to AKL a day early!!!!!!!!

This is true. I may be shooting myself in the foot to pay for my meals just so that I don't have a useless ticket left over after the trip. I may end up spending more on food than the $75 ticket. Another thing I need to put in my spreadsheet. I need to figure out where I am going to eat and how much it may cost.

I am no help on all of that ticket stuff. But, couldn't you make your Le Cellier ADR and then switch to an extra AKL night after that? ADRs are tied to your phone number so you would not lose it by switching ressie numbers.

Wow. Now that is something I have never thought about doing. Actually...it may work out that way anyway...because I just may not have enough information to make a decision before I actually call for my ADR's.

Just a quick question. Who told you that you couldn't put more than one ticket in your name towards the annual pass? It doesn't sound right to me. I'm almost positive Mom and Nana have done multiple tickets towards their passes. New policy, perhaps?

Well, I decided to call yesterday and see if I could get a consistent answer from Disney. I did not get a consistent answer on the DISboards, who usually know.

I talked to no less than 6 CM's who all told me different things....YES, No, Never, Yes, but only for FD tickets, No, and Yes - on occasion - depending on who you are talking to. Now that was a great answer.

The real answer came from the Ticketing CM, who told me that exceptions are made for those tickets that are required to be purchased with a FD package, but it depends on who is at the desk at the time they are presented.

So my plan, regardless of how many tickets I end up with (it looks like I will have 3) is to present them at the booth like I am just sure they will apply all three to my AP (when I get a new one in Sept) and then just try to talk my way into getting them to do it if they say no. If they do say no, then I will just hang on to them. They never expire if they are not used...so I can use them for years to come.

I would look at it like this. Take advantage of the ticket and get the free dining. You're paying $75 to have all your meals covered. Those tickets don't expire. So every time you need to renew an annual pass, even if they won't let you do more than one ticket, you can use that ticket at some point, right?

This is very true! Now I just need to see if I will even eat $75 worth of food...depends on how many days I stay at the POP and what I am doing during those days, I think.

Taken from Cheshire Figment

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1452684

Upgrading Tickets to Annual Passes
An upgrade to an Annual Pass or Premium Annual Pass follows basically the same rules as any other upgrade of MYW tickets.

Note that any upgrade requires a cash (or cash equivalent) payment and can only be done on a one to one basis. You cannot combine the value of more than one ticket. In other words, if you had a six day base ticket and a one day base, you could not add the value of both to end up with an AP, even with additional payment. If, however, you have three tickets and are paying to upgrade each of them, this can be done on one transaction.


That was one thing I did know. LOL

This is awesome. I spent some time reading and re-reading those FAQ yesterday before I called Disney. I love the DIS!

Can I just admit right here and now, in front of everyone here, that I'm soooooooo confuuused!

Maybe I just need to read this several more times, and then I'd get it??

Let me just say, I am so glad that you're going to be the number cruncher for our trip next year; I know I'd totally botch it!!!

One question.... I heard tix are going up this August. Should we buy our tix now or wait. If we get free dining then don't we have to buy the one tix anyway?

Hijack over, sorry about that!

Onto your stuff.... My vote (ha, like this is some sort of democracy thing) is to go with the live Candyland game. That sounds like a blast.

The tickets are only going up about 5%, from what I understand. And you are right...I think we will hopefully enjoy some FD next year and will be forced to buy (for me yet another) $75ish ticket.

So I think we should hold off on getting you guys any tickets. We may also run into a 4/3 deal and that would come with tickets...

Unfortunately, I just don't know WHAT to do...I am totally trying to work a puzzle without all of the pieces!

I think I am going to have to...wait. Don't these people know I am a planner!??! I can't plan without details, people, details!