I may lose my job but at least I have a PTR! Live update from POFQ

[Disneychix]

Hi! My name is Ro, I have a dog and a wife and a family, I work in a button factory one day my boss came up to me and said "hey Ro are ya busy?" I said "heck no!"... (anyone else remember that song originally about Joe?)

Anyway I am doing my first attempt at a PTR. I've been Miss Lurky Lou (well, not THE Lurkyloo, she's on the wedding boards!) on the TR boards but I do occasionally come out of hiding.

My family is going to WDW during Free Dining 2008. Although we did book our trip as bounceback free dining from last September. "Honey, we can book NOW for next year and get FREE DINING again!" Here comes out my carefully made spreadsheet of pricing and dates as I rush off to the POP pool on our last morning. OK, so maybe I had done a little research and KNEW there would be an offer for bounceback dining in 2008! DH doesn't need to know he was only asked his opinion as a nicety! He thinks it was his idea!

Let me introduce this year's cast:

Rosie (me): Soon to be 30 as in 45 days soon! (Praying and hoping DH has planned a B-Day surprise trip for me to WDW but am also hoping he doesn't because, come on, WHO would have PLANNED it???? I will never give up my TP hat!) I am a currently working PT since I had DS 1 year ago. I am a WDW nut. If they could make it a religion I would be the Pope (Popette?) of WDW. But I do know how to slow down and smell the roses. I am the type who doesn't rush rush rush as I know there will always be other trips!

Pat, Paddy, Patrick, DaDa, Paddy-Rick, Dad(DH): (I'm big on nicknames. Just warning you now!) Upper 30's, hard-worker, rockstar! NOT and original member of the WDW religion but he's starting to drink the juice! He was at WDW as a kid but never went back until he met me. We've gone every year since (8years now). He mostly tells me I'm nuts for wanting to go to WDW for every vacation but I figure it's saving him $$ becuase he might have to take me to the REAL state of Hawaii instead of just the Poly! One more tidbit on Pat- He'd rather be at the ESPN club than ANY park. Men.

Brady, Bradycakes, Buggy, Bugaboo, Bradster, Peanut (DS): This is my little angel. He's seriously the happiest kid in the world! DS was born at 29 weeks (11 weeks early). He spent 6 weeks in the NICU and it was the scariest time I believe I'll ever face in my life. He is now 15 months and is PERFECT. He's still catching up in many ways but he doesn't have any lingering health problems. AND he's really cute to boot!

Linda, Grammy, Momma, Grandma (DM): When I first started hearing about Free Dining Bounceback last year I immediately asked my DM if she would want to go with us. We left Brady with his grandparents last year. This year we wanted to take him but knew we'd want help and someone to watch him if we wanted ALONE time. Insert Grammy into the trip! My mother LOVES rides and LOVES us so of course she wanted to come!

sorry about the bridesmaid pic- it was the only one I could find with Grammy! (and please don't look at the baby-weight! )

There's the cast. Particulars up next...

 

[Disneychix]

Let's talk about the Title of my PTR. I usually do all my 'research' on the DIS at work. I wait around a lot at work for reports to run and whatnot. So I figure while I'm waiting I'll 'research'. If they ever find out about all my 'research' I'll surely be fired! Well, actually that part's NOT funny!

When I went off in search of the perfect place to call for bounceback dining last year at the PC I had all my 'research' with me. I made a spreadsheet to sort all my resort picks and dates out. I wanted to go as late in September as I could. 2 reasons: 1) DSIL is getting married 9/13 and we will be using some vacation time, 2) I wanted to try and be there for at least one night of F&WF. So my hopeful dates were 9/24-9/28.

The resorts pick was a little harder to narrow down. We stayed at the PC for the first time in 2007. In 2006 we were supposed to stay at the WL but we had to cancel our trip b/c I was pregnant (I don't DO hot, humid and pregnant well!) and DH had to go to a conference for work. In 2007 we just didn't have the funds to plan for WL again. So PC it was. As DH and I were pulling up to the PC we both kept saying things like:
"ok, you can turn back and go to the WL now!"
"When's the surprise coming?"
"Boy, we're really doing PC hun?"
"Really though, you upgraded us right?"
We actually played this game right into the check-in line! Guess what? We really liked PC!! I had faxed a request for a King bed room as we have one at home and we've grown quite fond of all the sleeping space. We didn't originally get a King room but I made DH ask and low and behold- WE GOT IT! We were in the 80's building on the 4th floor overlooking the computer pool. (maybe it was 90's, not sure) It wasn't exactly quiet there but it was NOT loud. (we live on a dead end street so we are used to quiet and it didn't bother us at all)

So as much as we liked the PC I was ready to upgrade us for 2008! Momma Linda was getting her own room because DH firmly explained he Doesn't sleep with his MIL on vacation (ooo, sounds naughty, sorry!). So I was trying for 2 rooms at POFQ. We really wanted 2 rooms at WL but just couldn't justify all the $$ while DS is so young. Maybe when he's older and can swim and pay his own way .

I called and the WDW Gods shined down on me. I booked 2 rooms at POFQ for my dates with Bounceback Free Dining! I'm the woman! And I did all this before DH woke up that morning!

 

[LISAMWDW]

I'm in!

Your baby is so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[misscmac]

Subscribing and looking forward to reading more! Brady is adorable

 

[Disneychix]

I'm in!

Your baby is so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah! My first subscribber!

Subscribing and looking forward to reading more! Brady is adorable

I got another one! Woo Hoo!

Thanks for thinking Brady's cute! I happen to agree!

 

[Fam of 4]

subscribing.

I love these reports!

 

[Disneychix]

subscribing.

I love these reports!

Oh wow Susan, you leave in only 9 days! I'm totally jealous!

 

[Fam of 4]

I know, I am so stinking excited!!!!

 

[Disneychix]

"Let's start at the very begining, a very good place start"

I was converted into a Disney nut by an old BF (please don't tell DH cause it may ruin the magic for him. Maybe he thinks I starting loving it since I met him! ). My grandparents live in FL six months a year and we used to visit them each and EVERY Easter vacation. They live in Tampa so we usually took day trips to see Mickey. One year my mother took us on the Big Red Boat. We (my mother sister and I) were supposed to do Land and Sea but we actually cried that we wouldn't be seeing my grandparents at the old folks park and went there instead I'm not sure what was wrong with me!
I met the old BF when I was in high school. His family were complete diehards! I drove over from Tampa one year to visit them for the day. That was the start of the WDW Love NOT the BF love!! I went 2 more times with his family over the years and was hooked.
Maybe I'll insert some old pictures. I'll have to dig them up when DH isn't around!
When the love affair was over with BF I quickly met another boy who I would drag to the world. (wow, why does everyone keep letting me plan WDW vacations??) He enjoyed US and IOA more...we broke up!
I met Paddy-Rick and we went on our first vacation together. Of course we went to FL! However, we stayed with our friend who was a CM at the time and only did Epcot (to drink around the world) and AK (can't remember why there, I think that's the park he worked and he snuck us in!) So that wasn't truely a WDW vacation!
Cue the next year (same BF, yeah me!) we plan another trip to visit CM friend and this time visit MGM and PI only. Well this whole 2 day trip isn't gonna cut it for me! So I plan on getting 1 week out of Paddy next time!

Now I think we're at 2004 maybe? We start to plan a vacation and automatically I say DISNEY, 1 WEEK! Paddy says, "Are we ever going anywhere else?" Rosie says, "Stick with me baby and we'll NEVER go anywhere else!" (could've been why I kept going through bfs!) So we plan 1 week staying offsight as we were doing US and IOA also. It was near my b-day and Paddy surprised me with 1 night at the Dolphin as our last night! The Dolphin was the BEST! We had a Tower room (or 'fin' room) and we watched Illuminations and Fantasmic fireworks from the room. We went walking around the BW. It was sooo fun!
It was about this time when I was getting the itch to get married. Never the one to shy away from getting what she wants I must've tried to ask Paddy to marry me about 5 times that night. He wore a ring on his right hand and I kept trying to take it off and propose to him as we walked along the lake by the Yacht club! He was very annoyed by this and kept telling me I was ruining everything and that the girl couldn't ask the guy!
Well we didn't get engaged that night or that trip but we did about 6 months later. And guess what???
I started planning my WDW wedding!!!!

 

[wannabprincess]

I'm In

 

[Disneychix]

I'm In

Hi! Welcome!

Ok, so last night I dreamed that I was in the AK and my whole family was there and I suddenly realized we missed both our ADRs for Chef Mickey's dinner and CP breakfast AND AK was not on the itinerary for that day! I was looking around and started to cry and I was wondering why on earth we were in the AK!

Scary nightmare, glad I woke up!

 

[Disneychix]

So there I was, finally engaged and starting to plan my wedding. DH did not want a HUGE wedding (ok, intimate wedding!), DH does not have a ton of family (ok, not too many people to travel with), My parents are retired and can easily travel (travelling is OK), My sister lives out of town and would have to travel anyway (sister travels home or to WDW no diff!).

So the ideas were really flowing through my mind. I would LOVE to get married in WDW! I sat my mother down and told her the plan and had all my books and materials ready for her questions. It really looked like we could do this. However, we also wanted a reception back home because many members of our family simply couldn't come. We wanted an intimate wedding but WDW at the time only allowed 15 people and we had like 20 coming. We just couldn't afford the BIG WEDDING at WDW plus a reception at home.

Cue the WDW Gods again (see I really am the Popette of WDW) They do weddings at the Swan! And you can invite as many people as you want! And you get to stay in the most beautiful Dolphin resort again!

And so it was booked. My dream wedding at the Swan with dinner at Ohana's afterward. 25 people ended up going to Fl with us. We felt very honored!

Just Married

In the Swan Lobby

Just married in the MK!
Why am I telling all this background? Well, you see, every year DH asks me why we go to WDW EVERY year. "Isn't every few years good enough?" You'd think the man that got MARRIED in WDW would've gotten a clue from that alone that this place would be very very important in our lives. It's a break from reality (that I take everyday during my "research" time! ) that is just needed.
Paddy just doesn't get "excited" about vacations. We even went to DL and LA and not hardly a WHOO HOO! came out of him. He likes to relax and eat and drink on vacations. So I plan A LOT of time for him to accomplish those things. That is why the FREE DINING is so great for us. We really enjoy eating well and this gives us a chance to eat some good meals and save some $$ for DRINKS (for Paddy) and PRESENTS (mostly for me!).

I know I'm starting to rub off on him though. I don't do camping at all. The FW cabins are too much nature for me. DH says we have to stay there with Brady. He's already planning when DS will be old enough to ride the golf carts around FW! (why did I have to have a boy, if I had a girl I'd be planning spa treatments at the GF!) But ya know what? At least he's excited about something and that means at least one more trip I get to plan!

 

[PrincessSarah314]

Well we didn't get engaged that night or that trip but we did about 6 months later. And guess what???
I started planning my WDW wedding!!!!

A Disney Bride! I'm so jealous! Can't wait for you to post those pictures!

 

[Disneychix]

A Disney Bride! I'm so jealous! Can't wait for you to post those pictures!

Thanks! Just updated my post with some pics. Silly me couldn't remember my Photobucket password that I just set up yesterday! oops!

 

[misscmac]

Gorgeous pictues - glad you got to have your Disney wedding. We can't do a Disney wedding, but I was promised a Vow Renewal by DF We'll see if that happens!

 

[Disneychix]

Gorgeous pictues - glad you got to have your Disney wedding. We can't do a Disney wedding, but I was promised a Vow Renewal by DF We'll see if that happens!

A vow renewal would be a blast! When are the 1st vows taking place?

 

[misscmac]

A vow renewal would be a blast! When are the 1st vows taking place?

Haha, they will be June 19, 2009 - still over a year until the first vows so I don't see us renewing them anytime soon, but a girl can dream, right?

 

[wannabprincess]

Married in WDW. I'm sooo jealous. I didn't get the fever until about 4 years ago, but a vow renewel sounds really good. I'm coming up on 10 years; wow I'm thinkin now.

 

[jmskinner]

Subscribing, really enjoying your PTR!

 

[Disneychix]

Well yesterday at work I read Heatherlynn444's "Please Don't Get sick again" TR. I figured I would write a little from home today so no chance of getting fired!

I realized I never mentioned the details of our upcoming Free Dining September 2008 Trip with Brady and Grammy. (wow that was a mouthful)

We are going to the POFQ from 9/22-9/28. Origianally booked last Sept from 9/24-9/27 somewhere along the way we changed it to the 28th return so we could hit up the F&WF. Then, thanks to the nice US gov't we added ANOTHER 2 days since we were getting that nice economic stimulus refund. Who am I not to put my $$ back into the economy??

I have not booked our airfare yet. I'm getting a bit worried but I won't freak until early June. I still have faith that even with the rising jetfuel and airlines costs we'll still get some type of deal on SW. OK, I'm not freaking...YET!

DH and my Mom are not excited yet for this trip. My mother just agrees with everything I say:
"Mom what about the new Italian Restaurant in Epcot for dinner?"
"Sure dear sounds great."
"Mom what about adding 2 more nights and changing from 2 day to 7 day parkhoppers?"
"Whatever you think is best. Just tell me how much I owe."
"Mom what about not getting plane tickets and hitching all the way to FL?"
"That'll make great stories to remember forever."

Ok, so the last one I made up! But seriously, she's not shown emotion over anything I've suggested. I think she wants to share our vacation and be with her grandkid but she deosn't want to be the nosey, complaining MIL to my DH. Which is good but it's HER vacation too!

As a side note I got some great finds at the Disney Store over the weekend. I'll try to post pics later!