Is it October yet? Rob and Stacy's Excellent Adventures!

[Stacybaeasm]

Oh the excitement of planning a trip to Disney. I love every second of it. And I drive everyone around me nuts with my constant "Guess what? For my Disney vacation..." Sometimes, I even want to slap myself a little. Then I remember that I am going to Disney and start dancing again. Anyway, this year's Disney vacation is a LONG way off - 7 months and 7 days to be precise. And even I know that if I keep talking about it to people around me by July, they may want to kill me. So, I'm starting this pretrip report. I can share my excitement about the trip with people who love Disney as much as I do. And please, for the love of Disney, let this be enough for me so people around me don't start planning ways to kill me BEFORE the trip. If they kill me after, fine.

So, on to the important things like who is going on this trip? I mean, why would you spend the next 7 months following a trip report if you don't know the players involved, right? So, the illustrious (or motely) cast of characters:

Me: Disney princess through and through I am a 37 year old who loves all things Disney and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I developed a huge addiction to Walt Disney World during the 3 years I lived in Florida. Annual passes are wonderful things folks. Moving away hurt my soul a little but now I live for these annual vacations. Last year, I went solo and loved it. This year, however I am being joined by

Rob: A true Disney character if there ever was one. He's a good friend of mine from way way back (I believe he was 15 when we first met. I was much older but that's a story for another time.) He is the perfect person to go to Disney with. He loves it all - rides, shows, parades, characters, oh and the food (also a story for another time.) He is still living in Florida. Last year, he joined me for a couple of days on my solo adventure. This year, he is going to join me for MOST of the trip. I can't wait. And lucky for both of us, his girlfriend (HI Christine ) tolerates his trips with me. She would join us if she could but she is in graduate school so no trip for her!

And that's it. The whole cast. Of course, Rob and I might be enough characters all on our own. Now, there may be some special guest appearances during the trip, but that is all still up in the air. Much like most of the planning at this point. I hope this little blurb is enough to interest you in coming along for the LONG wait until October. I will be dancing with joy everytime good news comes along So come on aboard and make the wait seem shorter.

Up next: Where should we stay?

Updates:
We interrupt this pretrip report...next post.
All I want is a room somewhere...Post 16, page 2
Food, Glorious Food...Post 21, page 2
What park should we play in today?...Post 30, page 2
My beautiful new bag...Post 35, page 3.
And guest starring...Post 37, page 3
Also starring... Post 38, page 3
General musings...Post 61, page 5
A girl has got to shop...Post 62, page 5.
Disney dreaming...Post 68, page 5.
Obsessing over food...Post 74, Page 5.
Goodbye Space Mountain...Post 80, page 6.
Costumes?? Maybe??...Post 84, page 6
Check two more things off the list...Post 86, page 6

 

[Stacybaeasm]

to celebrate the release of MNSSHP dates! I haven't stopped dancing since I read it. Now, I KNOW that dates can still change and possibly be cancelled but I can celebrate right now. There are THREE parties scheduled for the vacation. Right now, we are planning to go to the party on Oct. 12 (Columbus Day). We went to that party last year and had a blast!!!! Plus, if we go on this day, we MIGHT get a guest start to go with us. (Hint, hint Lisa!! )

Now, the decision, do I want to go twice? Rob has to go back to work for Thursday and Friday and there is a party scheduled for Thursday night. I can't decide right now. Part of me LOVES the party and thinks it would be a great thing to experience solo as well as with Rob. Another part wonders if 2 in a week will be too much and spoil some of the magic. Thoughts???

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Hi!!

We are also going in Oct and I was thinking about starting a pretrip report myself. I have never done one before, but I really need something to do to keep me busy. We will be there Oct 10-18th.

I noticed that you have found the dates for MNSSHP, do you have the link? I was just looking for them, this morning with out any luck.

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Start a pre trip. It is keeping me from climbing the walls, although it hasn't accomplished it's goal of pestering my friends. Now, instead of talking to them about everything, I keep pestering them to read and post to this report. I am going to get smacked, but good.

The dates I found were right here on the Dis. On the first page, in the little newsfeed box at the top, MNSHHP dates and MVMCP dates were announced. Let me see if I can find the link and I will post back.

Found it! Here is the link http://www.wdwinfo.com/holidays/halloween.htm

Of course, if I had actually paid attention to your dates, I could have been more helpful. WE are going to be there at the SAME TIME!!! There are parties on Oct. 12, 13, and 15 while we are there.

 

[Vanetta]

The Disney Duo strikes again!

 

[shordiebecka]

sounds fun!!!! Can't wait to read more, like where you decide to stay!

 

[Stacybaeasm]

The Disney Duo strikes again!

You know it!!! 8 days of us getting our Disney mellow on. It would be great if you and Amber can join us although I'm not sure Mickey and the gang are quite ready for that!

sounds fun!!!! Can't wait to read more, like where you decide to stay!

Welcome! I know. I can't wait either. I'll probably post tomorrow about our choices and such. I'd post it all now if I could, but then, what would I do for 7 more months. October is so far away!

 

[DrDeb]

We'll be there too for my DD's 22nd. Bday maybe i'll see you

 

[Stacybaeasm]

We'll be there too for my DD's 22nd. Bday maybe i'll see you

The more the merrier. In all my time, I've never gotten to have a Dismeet. I had one planned last trip wave2: Iluvcrush) but it never worked out.

Astabulah Ohio huh? I used to drive by there frequently when I made my cross country trips from Minnesota out to NY for theatre gigs. I always cracked myself up by trying to say the name so many different ways that I couldn't remember how to pronounce it correctly. (Dear Stacy, sometimes you shouldn't tell stories about how you amuse yourself on roadtrips. )

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Thanks for the link!!

 

[sarab1975]

Now, the decision, do I want to go twice? Rob has to go back to work for Thursday and Friday and there is a party scheduled for Thursday night. I can't decide right now. Part of me LOVES the party and thinks it would be a great thing to experience solo as well as with Rob. Another part wonders if 2 in a week will be too much and spoil some of the magic. Thoughts???

Stacy! Who are you?!? Are you honestly telling me that one going once when twice is an option is a decision that you're willing to make? I don't believe you for a second! (See... I even dressed up like a pirate for the conversation!)

 

[robwthomas]

The whole gang is here. Cindy, welcome. Sarah, always a pleasure. I am so excited for this thing. I may have to go next weekend just to warn WDW of this impending excitement. Oh the joys of living in Florida!

So, bottom line. We're eating at how many sit-down restaurants? Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace, 50's Prime-Time, Eating Nemo... Is that one a restaurant?

 

[Kmango]

I've never been to MNSSHP, can I come?

 

[Stacybaeasm]

The whole gang is here. Cindy, welcome. Sarah, always a pleasure. I am so excited for this thing. I may have to go next weekend just to warn WDW of this impending excitement. Oh the joys of living in Florida!

So, bottom line. We're eating at how many sit-down restaurants? Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace, 50's Prime-Time, Eating Nemo... Is that one a restaurant?

No Rob. Eating Nemo is NOT a restaurant. Of course, neither is "eating a turkey leg AND a foot long chili dog" but that doesn't stop you!

I've never been to MNSSHP, can I come?

Of course you can come to MNSSHP with us!!!

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Stacy! Who are you?!? Are you honestly telling me that one going once when twice is an option is a decision that you're willing to make? I don't believe you for a second! (See... I even dressed up like a pirate for the conversation!)[/QUOTE]

You always get me in trouble. Remember my first vacation? I was happy at DTD and then you say "Why aren't you going to Fantasmic tonight?" Flash forward to me frantically trying to get several buses over to DHS so I could see it. Now you think I should go to the party twice. Wait, you know me better than almost anyone. Maybe I really should go twice.

Oh, and nice pirate costume. I have one very similar to that. I think you gave it to me for my birthday.

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Where to stay for my vacation? This is always the first decision I make, well, after picking the date that it. It took me a long time to get to this point this year, and still it is 7 full months away. Why are you so obsessed with planning so early you ask? Well you see, it went like this.

First they announce the 4/3 deal and I get all kinds of excited and start dreaming about a Disney get away in March or maybe April for my birthday. I spend a lot of time pricing different resorts and dreaming about the trip. Then, my stupid inner Jimminy Cricket speaks up and reminds me that we are in the middle of a recession and I work in theatre - never the most stable of professions to begin with. I pretend to be a grown up, put my dreams of a birthday getaway in a dark closet in my mind, and slam the door.

About a week later, I get the all powerful pin code in an email. A pin code??!! I have always wanted one and I finally got one. So, I do what any sane and logical Disney obsessed person would do, I start my research for this trip. Has the recession gotten better? Nope. Have my finances changed? Nope. But I got a pin code! So, I spent a few days planning and dreaming and scheming until that stupid, bad, utterly too practical inner Jimminy Cricket speaks up again (maybe I should have locked HIM in the closet in my mind instead of my vacation plans.) Could I truly afford this vacation? Yes BUT it meant I couldn't afford to go in October. And I know I'll need to go in October after the season. Plus, I love me some MNSSHP. So, I shoved a second vacation in the closet (it's geting crowded in there) and triple locked the door.

Now I was depressed and missing Disney a lot. So I did what any sane, reasonable, logical Disney obsessed person would do, I started planning my October vacation really early, just to keep the magic alive! And that brings us full circle back to where to stay.

My first choice was Port Orleans French Quarter. That's where I stayed last year and LOVED it. I started pricing and trying different things. What if I added a day to last year's vacation? What if I added park tickets? What if I added the quick service meal plan? And finally, I came up with a firm quote for Oct. 10-18th, room only. I immediately emailed Rob to share my excitement. Rob, being a sane, logical, Disney obsessed person like myself, immediately said "I want to come too!" Ok, come on. The lovely thing about Disney is that 2 adults in a room cost the same as 1 adult. So Rob starts looking at dates and realizes that he can be there for most of the vacation. And we are off and running. Port Orleans French Quarter here we come!!!!

But wait, do you really think it is going to be that easy? Nope. New exciting news is delievered by Rob. Katie, a good friend of both of us, has some DVC points she is willing to rent to us. See, Katie and her family are super Disney obsessed and own like 647 different DVC's. Ok, maybe not THAT many, but still... they have enough points left over to rent to someone. And now the new dreaming, scheming, and planning begins. I have wanted to stay DVC for some time. I keep thinking about buying in, but stupid inner Jimminy Cricket won't let me. So, maybe if I stay there for a vacation or two, even my innner common sense will see the light and let me buy in.

So, back to the research I go and start looking at all the DVC resorts to see what is really out there. After much thought, I come up with a list in order of preference: 1) Wilderness Lodge, 2) Animal Kingdom 3)Old Key West 4)Saratoga Springs. I didn't let myself even consider Beach or Yacht Club or Boardwalk because the vacation dates are during Food and Wine Festival at Epcot so there is no way we are getting in to an Epcot resort. I email Rob with the list and he emails me back with his 1)Wilderness 2)Old Key West 3) Saratoga Springs 4)Animal Kingdom. We reach a decision that we will ask Katie to try to book us into Wilderness Lodge first, then Old Key West, and if it all fails, SAratoga Springs (which is the home resort for these points.)

Then Rob starts thinking and we start talking money. We realize that it will be cheaper all around to do OKW. AFter a little bit of thought (ok, not really all that much) we decide to just go for OKW, save some dough, and live it up! But now we wait. Because we are asking to be booked away from the home resort, Katie can only book us 7 months out. We are now in a holding pattern until March 10. But the plans continue and Rob and I just go on like we are already booked at OKW. If that changes, fine, we'll just make new plans. AFter all, we have a long time until we go anyway.

Up next: Someone better feed Rob

 

[Stacybaeasm]

I don't know if I am super sensitive to Disney right now because of all the dreaming or if Disney is truly everywhere, but I can't get away from the Mouse. First, there are all the commercials for Disney and the Year of Celebrations (and how come Balloons never pop out and fireworks go off when I go grocery shopping?). Last night, I was watching Ace of Cakes on the Food Network and Disney was running a short feature right before commercials where they filmed one of the park photographers around while he shot photos of families (and I cried at their reunion stories.) Tonight, the Food Network Challange was Pixar Cakes based on the movies/rides in Disney. And then, previews for the new Food NEtwork Challange is another Disney challange. Come on Disney. I'm booking already. I promise!!

 

[robwthomas]

I'm breaking in my Mickey Mouse Crocs. They are surprisingly comfortable. It's strange how adding mouse ears to crocs can make them more comfortable. I have do decide... lanyard with pins or super convenient Mickey Mouse belt clip card holder.

And, by the way, I'm sure there's a hundred people on here that eat turkey legs and foot-long chili dogs and beers and cotton candy while watching Fantasmic. Is this little head putting up laundry?

 

[Stacybaeasm]

I'm breaking in my Mickey Mouse Crocs. They are surprisingly comfortable. It's strange how adding mouse ears to crocs can make them more comfortable. I have do decide... lanyard with pins or super convenient Mickey Mouse belt clip card holder.

And, by the way, I'm sure there's a hundred people on here that eat turkey legs and foot-long chili dogs and beers and cotton candy while watching Fantasmic. Is this little head putting up laundry?

Ahh Mickey Crocs. I may have to get a pair this year. At least they would be slightly more fashionable than my current pair. As for lanyard vs. belt clip holder - I don't have either. Remember my lanyard broke last year??? You could get me a belt clip card holder when you work out your AP next weekend though. Just a thought. I mean, my birthday IS next month and all. I'm thinking of getting a monogrammed messenger bag from disneyshopping.com for my birthday and I'll put my pins on that. I think. Maybe??

And by the way, I'm equally as sure that there is NO ONE on here who eats a turkey leg, foot long chili dog, a beer, some cotton candy , some of my nachos and some of my popcorn all in the hour while waiting for Fantasmic. Lurkers - prove me wrong!!!

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Here's Rob and I on day one of last year's vacation. I was going through the old pictures and reminising today.

And of course, Rob with his Dole Whip. YUM! I can't wait to have another of those. Hey, did you hear they got rid of French Toast Loaf? I am so sad. That was on the list of things to be eaten this year. Now what do I put in it's place?