"It all started with a whopping price error ” 10/24 The Perfect Storm of Opportunity

[gatormommy07]

Absolutely! I made it according to your recipe. I have had 3 glasses so far. I had to cut myself off there or I would never sleep tonight. Thanks for the recipe!

I am so glad you like it, I know about cutting my self off, it will keep me awake if I have it too late!!

 

[A&Bmama]

Day 1, April Fools day.

That dang alarm goes of too darn early in the morning. I stumble to the kitchen and make a pot of coffee. In a stupor I stare at the pot until it is half full. I can wait no longer and pour myself a steaming cup of strong coffee. Once I drink it and feel human again I go and wake the others so we can get ready for the day. Our goal is to be out the door by 8:00 for 9:00 rope drop.

We scurry around making sure we have our bags packed and tickets in hand. We packed a lunch today. I have $315 on Disney gift cards left over from our last trip my goal is to come as close a possible to not parting with any cash in the parks. We will our “picnic” for lunch and will have dinner at Sunshine Season.

We leave by 8:15. Not too shabby. This trip is different. Last trip I got up, brushed teeth, showered, blow dried and flat ironed my hair then applied makeup. My clothes were carefully pressed. I wanted to look and feel my best. I did my best to make sure everyone else followed suit.

This time the morning routine was, brush teeth, shower, slick wet hair back in ponytail, skip makeup and put on whatever clothes I felt like. In fact, on 3 of our 4 park days I wore the same pants because I liked them, they were comfy, and park tickets fit conveniently and securely in one of the pockets. Don’t worry, we had a washer and dryer at our disposal so while I might have been offensive to the eyes, I smelled lovely and fresh.

If looks weren’t my first priority, having fun was certainly was. I do, however, regret not having DS get his hair cut. With everything that was going on at home we didn’t manage to get him out for a cut so he is pretty shaggy looking in the pictures. I didn’t know I could have gotten his hair cut at MK until after this trip. That would have been perfect…Oh well, live and learn.

I brought our first visit buttons and DS’s Birthday button with us. I think of this trip as resumption of our first visit rather than our second visit. Others might disagree. I figured if any pixie dust were to fall on us as a result of these buttons that we were a deserving family so why not? Surprisingly DS agreed to wear his birthday button.

We find our way to Epcot and make our way into the park. We are about 4 rows behind the rope but at long last I can verify that there is indeed a rope! When we entered we headed to the left we are going to make a mad dash to test track.

The rope is dropped and we are off.

Going through the queue. See my ponytail.

Random people exiting TT.


Verdict: Awsome! We pick-up fast passes for later.
We debate for a few moments whether we should check out the wait time for Soarin, or go to Mission Space. Mission space won. I think the said it was 10 minutes but it was really a walk on. We did the wimp version. DH can’t take spinning rides and I didn’t want to risk any protein spills spoiling our day! MS was a fun little diversion but not an attraction that I would wait in any kind of a line for.

Now was the time to head over to Soarin. If you remember when we were at Epcot there was reluctance to zigzag all the way over to the other side of the park. I was finally going to see how far of a walk it is to “the other side”. I didn’t time it but it wasn’t more than 5 minutes. Not enough distance to dissuade me from walking it.

When we arrive at the land we see that the wait for Soarin is only about 15 minutes. We figure that if we ride stand by our FP window will be open when we are done then we can grab a FP for a second ride later, so that is what we do. Soarin is just as good as we remembered it.

Once we have exited the ride and picked-up our back pocket fastpasses we decide to ride living with the land. It is a pleasant diversion.

I think this is about the time we picked up our Kim Possible mission tickets. It is only about 10:30 and we have the headliners out of the way plus FPs for later. We decide to go to Space Ship Earth. There is actually a little wait here but not much, at most 10 minutes. While in line there is a nice father with his family who spots our first visit buttons. He decides to give us inside tips on how to make the most of our vacation. I play along as if I hadn’t heard any of this before and thank him for all of his help. It is wonderful that a stranger would take time out to try to help us get the most enjoyment from our vacation. I am grateful for his helpful spirit. I will get the chance to pay back some of his kindness later in our trip.

I don't know where DH is but the rest of us are here. Maybe his pic had already disappeared.

We took a few photos. I dont think you can tell in these photos but DD has a pink streak in her hair. Remember this, it is important later on today.

DS thrilled as usual about getting his picture taken.

DD never says no to a photo op!

A princess and her carriage.

Two beauties and a beast.


After we complete our ride we are in a bit of a quandary. It is still a little too early for the world showcase. Besides, I am raring to go, a leisurely stroll through the WS isn’t what I want to do right now. Then inspiration strikes. We bought park hopper tickets and so far we have hopped a total of zero times. Maybe we should make use of our privileges and scoot over to MK on the monorail. I spring this idea on the rest of my crew and they agree that that is what we should do.

We get in line for the monorail.

It seems like no time at all before we arrive at MK

I remember what we did but not the exact order so I am going to tell this story to the best of my ability. It may, or may not be the truth, but it resembles the truth. It’s the best I can offer almost a year later.

First up is a stand by, FP combo at Splash/Big Thunder Mountain. We will check out the stand-by time for each. Grab a fastpass for the one that has the longest time and then get in the stand by line for the other. Splash won the FP honour so we grabbed them then scooted over to get in line at Big Thunder.

If you remember, last time I gave BTMRR a pass because I was worried about it hurting my shoulder. This trip I have a devil may care attitude. I only get to live this life once and I don’t want to spend anymore time on the Disney sidelines. The only ride I am sitting out of is Space Mountain. Nothing else is off limits!

Here we are ramping up for our ride.

Is this to be the last shot of me with my shoulder still intact?

I think DD is worried about me.

Verdict: Loved it! Shoulder: no worse for wear.

Next we wander over to Pirates of the Caribbean. I don’t ponder which side to take this time. I don’t care it one is a little longer! I go left. The wait time is really reasonable, only about 10 or 15 minutes.

I think what we did next was grab a FP for the Jungle Cruise. This is the only attraction on our must do list that we missed last time. We covered MK pretty thoroughly the first time. With FPs secured we decide a trip through the Haunted Mansion would be in order so we head that way.

Tombstones and another picture of the back of my head

Verdict: Still cool as all get out!

We meander our way back toward Splash taking thi picture along the way.

Splash is great especially since we didn’t get splashed… Ponchos helped with that.

The only thing left on our list to do is the Jungle Cruise. We still have a little time to kill before our fastpass window opens up. There is one thing I missed last time that I still haven’t tried, a dole whip! We head over to Aloha Isle and I get in line. No one else is interested in getting one. While I am eating my Dole whip DD and DH decide to take a tour of the Swiss Family Tree House.

Verdict of the Dole Whip: I could take it or leave it. I should have known better. I love fresh pineapple but I don’t care for pineapple juice, canned pineapple or anything pineapple flavoured.

I think the verdict of Swiss Family Tree House was it’s a cute way to kill some time, but only do it if you are killing time.

Our FP window for Jungle Cruise is open now so we head over. The cruise fun, the jokes are funny since they are new to us.

I have to sneak shots of DS whenever I can.

The Skipper decides she needs another skipper to help her and chooses the “little girl in the back with the pink streak in her hair!!” I don’t know if DD was chosen because she spotted the first visit button or because DD’s pink streak was easily identifiable. We were so happy she was chosen. Now she had a little unique Disney experience that she could tell BFF and Friend about.

I hate to admit it. I know it is petty. The other girls had a few trips to Disney before DD had her first. They were the knowledgeable ones on the first trip while DD was the beginner. Now she had the opportunity to be the kid who was “one up” for a moment.

I think this is our only Castle shot

We ended our MK visit on a high note and are now hopping back to Epcot to continue touring there.

Up Next: Another Special Experience

 

[miprender]

Wow I love the pictures of that resort. We had found a nice resort to stay at for our trip last April but after I booked it I just couldn't stay off site just yet.

We are now a family of 5 and my youngest DS2 will be 3 next year so our options at Disney will be quite limited. A 3 bed suite sounds wonderful.

Edit: You posted at the same time... so I just read your newest update. I agree on the Dole Whips. I had read so much about it that I was dying to try it. It wasn't what I thought it would be. I love pineapple too... but I don't really know what I was thinking it would taste like.

 

[MEK]

Wowsa - You are just speeding through the parks. It appears that TGM or whoever you used certainly didn't lead you astray. Starting at Epcot was a smart move. How many FP's do you have now? Too many for me to count! I wish I could see your pictures, but I am reading from work.

Your condo sounds lovely and the price is certainly right!

Personally, though, I think our grocery stores have far too many choices. I find it confusing sometimes, but I am glad you are enjoying it. Now liquor stores - I them. I love looking at all the different bottles of spirits available for consumption. With my attraction to liquor stores you would think I was a fall down drunk!

Really enjoying your TR!

 

[A&Bmama]

Wow I love the pictures of that resort. We had found a nice resort to stay at for our trip last April but after I booked it I just couldn't stay off site just yet.

We are now a family of 5 and my youngest DS2 will be 3 next year so our options at Disney will be quite limited. A 3 bed suite sounds wonderful.

Edit: You posted at the same time... so I just read your newest update. I agree on the Dole Whips. I had read so much about it that I was dying to try it. It wasn't what I thought it would be. I love pineapple too... but I don't really know what I was thinking it would taste like.

You can't beat the value of staying offsite, especially if you have more than 4, or people who can't/won't share a bed. I swore I would never stay onsite again, but as time goes by I find myself softening and wishing for another onsite visit.

When we were onsite guests I felt more like the parks were my personal neighborhood playground. As an offsite guest, I felt like we were visiting a neighborhood that we were welcome to enjoy but that we didn't quite belong there.

Disney knows how to get you to shell out far more cash for far less space and amenities. Best part is they get you to do it with a smile on your face. Ahhh that's the Disney Magic!!

Wowsa - You are just speeding through the parks. It appears that TGM or whoever you used certainly didn't lead you astray. Starting at Epcot was a smart move. How many FP's do you have now? Too many for me to count! I wish I could see your pictures, but I am reading from work.

Your condo sounds lovely and the price is certainly right!

Personally, though, I think our grocery stores have far too many choices. I find it confusing sometimes, but I am glad you are enjoying it. Now liquor stores - I them. I love looking at all the different bottles of spirits available for consumption. With my attraction to liquor stores you would think I was a fall down drunk!

Really enjoying your TR!

We used some of the fastpasses along the way but when we arrive at Epcot we have FPs for TT, Soarin, and Kim Possible.

I love shopping at the liquor store too!! I love how all of the bottles are arranged so neatly, so orderly. I love the different colours and shapes of the bottles, all the pretty lables. I love the exotic and sophisticated names of some of the wines. What I don't like is alcohol... Don't get me wrong, I have a drink on occassion, but that's about it. I picked-up 4 pink grapefruit wine coolers to have in the house before Christmas in case the mood struck me. DH looked at me funny and asked if I didn't think I should get more than 4, I told him we could always buy more if I burned through those quickly. I still have 2 of them left...

I'm glad you keep reading. It helps keep me motivated to write this when I know I have some regular followers!

 

[Costumesaremylife]

Keep up the good work. I'm happy to be reading the upside of this trip report.

 

[LuvEeyore]

Just joined this thread...love your trip report. Sorry about your loss in the first portion. Loosing a parent when you are not home is difficult. I was living three hours away from my parents when my Dad died with 21 kids sleeping in my basement for a ski retreat. I heard he was sick at 3:30 am and he was dead by 4:30 a.m. When the pastor's phone-mine rings at 3:30 a.m. all the adults on the ski weekend knows that someone is really sick or dead and out the door the pastor will go. Little did we guess that the death was my father.
It seems that so far you have found the second trip a good experience. I can't wait to hear the rest.

 

[A&Bmama]

Keep up the good work. I'm happy to be reading the upside of this trip report.

Thanks! This part goes much smoother that the first time round. I'm glad you dropped a line to let me know that you are reading.

Just joined this thread...love your trip report. Sorry about your loss in the first portion. Loosing a parent when you are not home is difficult. I was living three hours away from my parents when my Dad died with 21 kids sleeping in my basement for a ski retreat. I heard he was sick at 3:30 am and he was dead by 4:30 a.m. When the pastor's phone-mine rings at 3:30 a.m. all the adults on the ski weekend knows that someone is really sick or dead and out the door the pastor will go. Little did we guess that the death was my father.
It seems that so far you have found the second trip a good experience. I can't wait to hear the rest.

I'm sorry to hear about your Dad. When someone passes so suddenly like that it really shakes you up. It surprised me how much it changed how I thought about things, how you can't take things for granted and assume there will be a tomorrow.

I promise there are no more shocks like that to come in this TR.

Thanks so much for reading.

 

[Dugette]

Wow, super productive morning and good use of the park-hopper! You got in a ton of the big attractions already! And very cool that your daughter had a magical moment on the Jungle Cruise. Can't wait to hear about the rest of your day!

 

[relcx4]

I just spent a major part of my evening reading your entire trip report and boy was it time well spent. I've laughed, I've cried, and I've laughed again. Thank you for opening yourself up so freely and sharing your experiences. I am truly sorry for the loss of your Dad. I am sure it was him sending you that rainbow.

Thanks again for sharing your experiences, I've have enjoyed reading your report and am now patiently waiting for the rest.

Rebecca

 

[A&Bmama]

Wow, super productive morning and good use of the park-hopper! You got in a ton of the big attractions already! And very cool that your daughter had a magical moment on the Jungle Cruise. Can't wait to hear about the rest of your day!

It was a really good day. Crowds were low so we were able to accomplish a lot. It also helped that we used the FPs and were willing to do some extra walking in order to collect them.

I just spent a major part of my evening reading your entire trip report and boy was it time well spent. I've laughed, I've cried, and I've laughed again. Thank you for opening yourself up so freely and sharing your experiences. I am truly sorry for the loss of your Dad. I am sure it was him sending you that rainbow.

Thanks again for sharing your experiences, I've have enjoyed reading your report and am now patiently waiting for the rest.

Rebecca

I'm glad you are enjoying it! Thanks so much reading and taking the time to post a comment. It helps me so much to know that there are people who following the report.

 

[chartle]

It was a really good day. Crowds were low so we were able to accomplish a lot. It also helped that we used the FPs and were willing to do some extra walking in order to collect them.

One thing I am missing, have you posted the time line of your trips.

I kind of thought that you first trip was in the past the way you started it. When you posted about your second trip I thought it was a trip from this year, but now I see references to April 1.

So could you bring me up to speed. thanks

 

[A&Bmama]

One thing I am missing, have you posted the time line of your trips.

I kind of thought that you first trip was in the past the way you started it. When you posted about your second trip I thought it was a trip from this year, but now I see references to April 1.

So could you bring me up to speed. thanks

I did post the dates but it kind of gets buried in all of the other details. Here is a quick recap for you and others who might be a bit confused at this point.

The first trip was booked as 1 week, Feb 24 to Mar 3, 2009. We found out my father had passed the evening of Feb 27th and left the next morning. We had 3 park days the first trip and visited, in order, MK, Epcot and DH Studios.

We went back March 31 to April 7, 2009. Just a month later, which is why there was so much angst for me when deciding if we should go or not.

We have 4 days of park ticket left. I am currently writing our first park visit which was April 1st. The plan is to spend one day in each of the 4 parks consecutively, leaving the last 2 full days of the trip to spend relaxing and shopping etc., but you know what the say about the best laid plans...

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I came to the trip report section to start writing my TR for a trip I took 3 weeks ago. I got (more than) a little distracted with your title and have spent the last few hours reading your trip report in its entirety.

From the first post, I was hooked. There is so much I would love to comment on, but I didn't take notes and now I'm forgetting.

Reading the first portion of your TR, I too was agitated with the group touring. That also drives me BATTY. I have done a few "group trips", but they were even larger gatherings (one trip, I think I counted hanging out with 48 people in a weekend! ) My conclusion for large group trips is to have some portions of the trip where you meet as a whole (or larger groups) and some portions of the trip where you enjoy the trip solo/in small groups of no more than about 4 people.

The cliff hanger with the phone message light - I did not have a good feeling about it. I am grateful I was reading it all at once and did not have to wait more than 5 minutes to find out what it was. I am so sorry for your loss. Your writing is so honest and you have a way of writing that makes me feel like I am right there with you. I could feel the tension as I read that post, and I was hurting for you and your family.

I am so glad the second part of this trip is off to such a different start for you. Judging from the hints you've dropped, I have a good feeling about the rest and I can't want for the next installment! The signs you have gotten have made me tingle, even the message when you finally hit the enter button to buy the plane tickets. I know the rainstorms of which you speak - we get that really hard rain here too. I also did not know it could rain so hard until I saw it for myself. But the rainbow ending at your hotel? WOW!

And I think a picture of it would not do it justice. I think it is good that your family holds the memory only in your heads. It is for your family to have to yourselves as a special memory; it was not meant for all of us to see.

 

[dreams4disney]

I am so very sorry about your Father. I have enjoyed your trip report and it is the only one I have read past the first page. I can not wait for the rest of it. I am so happy that your daughter had some Disney Magic! I hope you all have and I can't wait to find out!

 

[smithpack]

Once again, I never got any email updates that you there have been new posts to your thread. That is really starting to aggrevate me. I need to go back and make sure I have is set to email me with the new notifications.

I loved your hotel!! It was beautiful. You probably mentioned this in your TR, but how much was it for 6 nights? I can't believe how much you all got done so far and your still on your first day!! I am glad you got to experience it with just your family. It is nice that DD doesn't have to feel the snubbiness of her friends this time around.

I also can't believe you can take or leave a dole whip! I love those things and still crave one. I was so excited because I found some pineapple sherbet last night at the grocery store, and I am going to add some pineapple juice to it. Of course, it will never be the same. Oh well, to each their own. I will just eat one for you the next time I go.

Can't wait to hear more! I will just have to keep checking for updates!

 

[LuvEeyore]

Patiently awaiting for more. I love the first day. Pixie dust does help. On our trip to Disneyland in 2008 we got to ride in the Lilly Belle. Was the best even though it was 94 degrees, no fans or ac infact the windows were closed. We were all dripping sweat when we got off but it was great. Glad your daughter experienced pixie dust.
Lee

 

[A&Bmama]

I came to the trip report section to start writing my TR for a trip I took 3 weeks ago. I got (more than) a little distracted with your title and have spent the last few hours reading your trip report in its entirety.

From the first post, I was hooked. There is so much I would love to comment on, but I didn't take notes and now I'm forgetting. :

I'm glad you are here! Sorry I distrated you from your own TR, I'll be watching for it.

Reading the first portion of your TR, I too was agitated with the group touring. That also drives me BATTY. I have done a few "group trips", but they were even larger gatherings (one trip, I think I counted hanging out with 48 people in a weekend! ) My conclusion for large group trips is to have some portions of the trip where you meet as a whole (or larger groups) and some portions of the trip where you enjoy the trip solo/in small groups of no more than about 4 people. :

There were a lot of good points to travelling with a group but it did become cumbersome at times.

I did look forward to being able to do whatever we wanted whenever we wanted on the second trip. We got an incredible amount of stuff covered in the 4 days. I do have to say we missed haveing company though.

I would travel with a group again but I do think, as you say, you have to have a blend of group time.

The cliff hanger with the phone message light - I did not have a good feeling about it. I am grateful I was reading it all at once and did not have to wait more than 5 minutes to find out what it was. I am so sorry for your loss. Your writing is so honest and you have a way of writing that makes me feel like I am right there with you. I could feel the tension as I read that post, and I was hurting for you and your family. :

Thanks so much for your kind words.

When I first booked the initial trip and found the DIS I read a few trip reports. I had intended to write one of my own when we returned. I thought the price error and the fact that we were first timers might make for interesting reading. Of course, once that trip ended the way it did I buried any thought of writing a TR for a long time.

In January I thought about writing the TR again. I was a little intimidate to start it, I wasn't sure if I could write about the subject with the dignity it deserves. I considered glossing over the "non disney" portion and just give the basic facts but that just seemed cold.

I am so glad the second part of this trip is off to such a different start for you. Judging from the hints you've dropped, I have a good feeling about the rest and I can't want for the next installment! The signs you have gotten have made me tingle, even the message when you finally hit the enter button to buy the plane tickets. I know the rainstorms of which you speak - we get that really hard rain here too. I also did not know it could rain so hard until I saw it for myself. But the rainbow ending at your hotel? WOW! :

And I think a picture of it would not do it justice. I think it is good that your family holds the memory only in your heads. It is for your family to have to yourselves as a special memory; it was not meant for all of us to see.

The rainbow is a really special memory. I still wish I got a decent picture though.

 

[A&Bmama]

I am so very sorry about your Father. I have enjoyed your trip report and it is the only one I have read past the first page. I can not wait for the rest of it. I am so happy that your daughter had some Disney Magic! I hope you all have and I can't wait to find out!

Thanks! I can't believe that mine is the only one you read. That's high praise indeed.

Keep reading, a little more magic is to come in the next installment.

 

[A&Bmama]

Hey, you're back! An update is never complete without a comment from Smithpack!! Hope everything is going well. Good luck with the appointment tomorrow.

I loved your hotel!! It was beautiful. You probably mentioned this in your TR, but how much was it for 6 nights? I can't believe how much you all got done so far and your still on your first day!! I am glad you got to experience it with just your family. It is nice that DD doesn't have to feel the snubbiness of her friends this time around.

It was a package deal from expedia. $1100 CAD for the hotel and full size rental car for the week. When I try to break it down and allow for exchange which was poor at the time, I think I paid a bit better than $100 USD per night. It was a grand opening special.

I also can't believe you can take or leave a dole whip! I love those things and still crave one. I was so excited because I found some pineapple sherbet last night at the grocery store, and I am going to add some pineapple juice to it. Of course, it will never be the same. Oh well, to each their own. I will just eat one for you the next time I go.

Can't wait to hear more! I will just have to keep checking for updates!

In truth I would be much more likely to leave the dole whip rather than take it. I can't beleive I didn't love it as much as everyone else does but as I said I'm not a huge fan anything other than fresh pineapple. Oh well, more for you right?

Another thing everyone rave about is zebra domes. I have to say I absolultely love, love, loved zebra domes. Dole whips just not my cup of tea.