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

[A&Bmama]

Hellllooooo?????? Where have you been????????? I have been waiting to get an update, but alas there is none. I thought maybe I just wasn't getting the emails. I guess you are too busy for all your DIS friends. That's ok, we still like you!! You know I am just kidding with all this, right?

I'm baaaccckkk.

I started back to work for the season. The bad thing about my industry is the season starts at full throttle then tapers off as time goes by. I am so spoiled by my long winters at home that when I go back to work I am so wiped out at the end of week all I want to do is sit in my PJs drinking tea.

I might be busy but I havn't forgotten my DIS friends. I hope to update in the next week if life allows. And yes, I knew you were kidding.

All I really want is to know how you are doing,

Great

and where you have been.

At work, at home, at the grocery store. rinse, repeat.

and possibly, what you made for dinner last night since I haven't been hearing about any food here on your TR.

We had the "Working Mom special"...I ordered a pizza.



So enough about me. What have you been up to? How is the bun in oven? Any plans for a new trip? What did you have for dinner last night?

 

[A&Bmama]

I miss you too!! I hope everything is going okay for you!! ( and that you are still enjoying the sweet tea!!) Really though, I hope you are okay and we hear more from you soon!!

Everything is fine. Just haven't had as much free time as I am used to.

Your June trip is coming soon! Are you all ready for it?

 

[A&Bmama]

Since I spent the last 2 days reading your TR instead of working, I had to say HI

Love your report so far. Your family is beautiful. I'm so sorry about your Dad, and in awe of your ability to get right back to the world after everything was handled.

Can't wait to hear more!!

Yep! What they said!!! I just found your report yesterday and I was hooked right from the start!

So sorry to hear about your dad but it's so nice to hear the happy ending! I'm planning a therapeutic Disney trip of sorts coming up in June. I can't wait for the next installment!

By the way it's so funny hearing about the different alcohol laws out there! Being from Louisiana - we probably have some of the most liberal alcohol laws in the world I'm sure!!! You can buy anything from Beer and Wine to Vodka to Tequila in our grocery stores and gas stations!!!! And don't EVEN get me started on the DRIVE THROUGH daiquiri shops!!! Ha ha! No joke!

I'm right there along with those who are reading your TR instead of working.... but your report is amazing! I am sorry for your loss. I lost my Dad 7 years ago, so I can feel for you.

Would it be ok for me to mention your TR in my PTR?? I think some of my Dis friends would really like it.

What a coincidence, you guys are reading from work...and I'm replying from work. Ahhh, it's good to have a fun diversion every now and then.

Love your report so far. Your family is beautiful. I'm so sorry about your Dad, and in awe of your ability to get right back to the world after everything was handled.

Can't wait to hear more!!

Thank you so much! I hope to write a new installment soon.

: And don't EVEN get me started on the DRIVE THROUGH daiquiri shops!!! Ha ha! No joke!

Even though you said "no joke" I had to google it to believe it! Seriously, how can that be legal?

Would it be ok for me to mention your TR in my PTR?? I think some of my Dis friends would really like it.

No problem! I'd be honoured.

 

[michellem1118]

I started reading your TR back in January, when you first started it, but somehow I either didn't subscribe or got unsubscribed somehow, so I'd missed a lot. I got all caught up last night, though. I'm so sorry your original vacation was cut short, and for such a tragic reason, but I'm so glad you were able to get back down there so quickly - both to fulfill the promise to your children, but even more, because it sounds like it was healing for your soul.

I'm here now, waiting patiently for the next update.

 

[gatormommy07]

Everything is fine. Just haven't had as much free time as I am used to.

Your June trip is coming soon! Are you all ready for it?

I am so excited!!! I cannot wait, we are now offically calling it our second honeymoon, it is going to be so awesome!! 40 days away!!

Still can't wait to read about your DHS day!

DH is currently writing a TR about out Nov. '09 trip,but his is on WDWmagic dot com if you are interested it is " A REALLY overdue Thanksgiving '09 TR", by urbandonovan. that may be motivation enough for me to write one on here about our upcoming trip!

 

[mamamelody]

Wow! Just stumbled onto your TR today. Amazing so far!

So sorry about your dad. Glad you managed to get back and finish your trip!

 

[chrisw127]

Wow. Great TR. I just spent the whole day sneaking peeks at it in between chasing the kids around. You're a great writer!

Sorry to hear about your father. Glad you were able to go again and have a wonderful time.

 

[WannabeAriel]

Even though you said "no joke" I had to google it to believe it! Seriously, how can that be legal?

Apparently it doesn't violate the open container laws until the straw is inserted??? What can I say... we do things a little differently down here!!!

 

[smithpack]

I'm baaaccckkk.

I started back to work for the season. The bad thing about my industry is the season starts at full throttle then tapers off as time goes by. I am so spoiled by my long winters at home that when I go back to work I am so wiped out at the end of week all I want to do is sit in my PJs drinking tea.

I might be busy but I havn't forgotten my DIS friends. I hope to update in the next week if life allows. And yes, I knew you were kidding.

Well that really stinks!!Hopefully this weekend you will be on the computer, while in your PJs, and drinking tea.

At work, at home, at the grocery store. rinse, repeat.

I understand. You forgot cooking, cleaning, and running kids around too, or have you just not been doing any of that?

So enough about me. What have you been up to? How is the bun in oven? Any plans for a new trip? What did you have for dinner last night?

Bun is doing good, and I can't believe how much the oven has grown so quickly. You definitely grow faster with each additional kid. As far as the next trip, we will probably go sometime next year. Wish it was sooner, but we almost have this van paid off. Let's see, last night my husband grilled steaks while I did the sides-potatoes, corn on the cob, and some bread. It was good while it lasted because I think tonight I am going to go with frozen pizza's. We have been to the pool for the past two hours, and I just don't have the time to cook right now.

 

[sherylcin]

I have so enjoyed reading your TR! I have LOL for real several times and love your writing style........and then...........I just read the installment about "The Call". I am so sorry about your Dad. It's the call we dread receiving our whole adult lives and to have it come while on vacation, well.....it's just something in the back of my mind every time we travel as I have elderly parents myself.

I look forward to reading the rest of your report to the end. Thanks for being willing to share!

 

[sherylcin]

Just read the installment about Goofy's Candy. What a great idea!
I'm going to try that with my grandkids while we count down to our next big trip!

Still love your writing style and am happy that you were able to go back so soon and with another great deal!

 

[BellaBaby]

I found your TR about a week or so ago. I have laughed and cried. So sorry about your dad. I lost my father about 25 yrs ago when I was 17. Its never easy. Hope your doing better. And so glad you were able to make it back!!

I have to tell you, you are an awesome writer!! There were times I did feel as if I were reading a novel!! Looking forward to more soon!!

And I have to add my name to the list of people who said they thought only rich people took airplanes and went to Disney as a kid. I think we took 2 trips growing up and they were just driving to nearby states. My kids don't know how good they have it!! I guess we just always want more for our kids!! My DH wouldn't admit it at first, but he loves it almost as much as I do!! Something about watchig the joy in your kids' eyes means so much. Also, when we found Windsor Hills, we stay in a 3 bedroom townhouse with our own splash pool and that is the clincher for him, he loves it!! I'd love to stay on property, but for the cost and since there are 5 of us, this just makes more sense for us. I don't think DH would have the patience to stay in a hotel room w/ 3 small kids for a week!! So WH keeps him happy and keeps us going back!!

I would love to try AKL or the Poly for a couple of days added on tho, he'd probably go for that as long as there was a roomier option while were there as well.

Love your title too!! Really drew me in, as I am a true blue bargain hunter!!

 

[A&Bmama]

I started reading your TR back in January, when you first started it, but somehow I either didn't subscribe or got unsubscribed somehow, so I'd missed a lot. I got all caught up last night, though. I'm so sorry your original vacation was cut short, and for such a tragic reason, but I'm so glad you were able to get back down there so quickly - both to fulfill the promise to your children, but even more, because it sounds like it was healing for your soul.

I'm here now, waiting patiently for the next update.

I'm glad you found it again. Thanks for reading.

I am really glad we did go back. There was a lot of angst in that decision for me but it turned out to be the right one. I was truly amazed by how I was able to forget about everything for awhile.

I am so excited!!! I cannot wait, we are now offically calling it our second honeymoon, it is going to be so awesome!! 40 days away!!

Still can't wait to read about your DHS day!

DH is currently writing a TR about out Nov. '09 trip,but his is on WDWmagic dot com if you are interested it is " A REALLY overdue Thanksgiving '09 TR", by urbandonovan. that may be motivation enough for me to write one on here about our upcoming trip!

I am going to check it out when I get a chance!

Wow! Just stumbled onto your TR today. Amazing so far!

So sorry about your dad. Glad you managed to get back and finish your trip!

Thanks for reading! I appreciate you dropping a line to let me know you are here.

Wow. Great TR. I just spent the whole day sneaking peeks at it in between chasing the kids around. You're a great writer!

Sorry to hear about your father. Glad you were able to go again and have a wonderful time.

Thanks so much for the compliment. It was great to finish the trip. Writing about it makes me want to go again. I guess that is no surprise to anyone on the disboards though!

Apparently it doesn't violate the open container laws until the straw is inserted??? What can I say... we do things a little differently down here!!!

I'm sure no one ever inserts the straw... Wow.

Really though I have heard about men that my husband works with that live an hour or so away from work. Some of them pour beer into a Tim Hortons cup (local coffee shop chain) and drink it on the way home.

I guess if they are going to do it, they are going to do it no matter where they pick-up the alcohol.

 

[A&Bmama]

I have so enjoyed reading your TR! I have LOL for real several times and love your writing style........and then...........I just read the installment about "The Call". I am so sorry about your Dad. It's the call we dread receiving our whole adult lives and to have it come while on vacation, well.....it's just something in the back of my mind every time we travel as I have elderly parents myself.

I look forward to reading the rest of your report to the end. Thanks for being willing to share!

Thanks for reading. It was really a shock.

Just read the installment about Goofy's Candy. What a great idea!
I'm going to try that with my grandkids while we count down to our next big trip!

Still love your writing style and am happy that you were able to go back so soon and with another great deal!

Our at home Goofy's candy shop was a lot of fun. But I have to say it was messy. I love to cook (most of the time) but I am sloppy.

I'm still going to do again sometime though

I found your TR about a week or so ago. I have laughed and cried. So sorry about your dad. I lost my father about 25 yrs ago when I was 17. Its never easy. Hope your doing better. And so glad you were able to make it back!!

I have to tell you, you are an awesome writer!! There were times I did feel as if I were reading a novel!! Looking forward to more soon!!

And I have to add my name to the list of people who said they thought only rich people took airplanes and went to Disney as a kid. I think we took 2 trips growing up and they were just driving to nearby states. My kids don't know how good they have it!! I guess we just always want more for our kids!! My DH wouldn't admit it at first, but he loves it almost as much as I do!! Something about watchig the joy in your kids' eyes means so much. Also, when we found Windsor Hills, we stay in a 3 bedroom townhouse with our own splash pool and that is the clincher for him, he loves it!! I'd love to stay on property, but for the cost and since there are 5 of us, this just makes more sense for us. I don't think DH would have the patience to stay in a hotel room w/ 3 small kids for a week!! So WH keeps him happy and keeps us going back!!

I would love to try AKL or the Poly for a couple of days added on tho, he'd probably go for that as long as there was a roomier option while were there as well.

Love your title too!! Really drew me in, as I am a true blue bargain hunter!!

Thanks for reading! I want to do a proper reply to your post but I am running out to take DD to see a movie. I will do a proper reply soon though

 

[A&Bmama]

We are back from the movie. I finally took DD to see Alice in Wonderland. We loved it. DD wants a sword now...

I found your TR about a week or so ago. I have laughed and cried. So sorry about your dad. I lost my father about 25 yrs ago when I was 17. Its never easy. Hope your doing better. And so glad you were able to make it back!!

I can't imagine losing a parent that young. Fortunately I didn't have to find out what it is like. My Mom lost her dad at 13. So sad.

You're right it is never easy. I am doing much better these days. It is over a year since he passed now so I have been through all of the firsts. First holiday meal without him, first time his Birthday came around, first anniversary of his death. The first Christmas Eve was especially hard. He was always as excited as child on Christmas Eve. It was contagious. It was hard to go to Mom's, walk through the door and know he wouldn't be in his chair having a drink and watching the toy train go around under the tree.

I have to tell you, you are an awesome writer!! There were times I did feel as if I were reading a novel!! Looking forward to more soon!!

Thank you so much. I am glad you are enjoying it. Every time I start the next installment I think I can't write it so that it will be interesting to read. I try not to reread my writing because I am my own worst critic. Good to know others arent nearly as hard on me as I am on myself.

And I have to add my name to the list of people who said they thought only rich people took airplanes and went to Disney as a kid. I think we took 2 trips growing up and they were just driving to nearby states. My kids don't know how good they have it!! I guess we just always want more for our kids!! My DH wouldn't admit it at first, but he loves it almost as much as I do!! Something about watchig the joy in your kids' eyes means so much. Also, when we found Windsor Hills, we stay in a 3 bedroom townhouse with our own splash pool and that is the clincher for him, he loves it!! I'd love to stay on property, but for the cost and since there are 5 of us, this just makes more sense for us. I don't think DH would have the patience to stay in a hotel room w/ 3 small kids for a week!! So WH keeps him happy and keeps us going back!!

We keep raising the bar. Our kids will say the same thing about their own kids.

I would love to stay onsite again at least once but I wouldn't hesitate to stay offsite either, especially if we were travelling with a larger group. I really think that Disney has to break the 4 person 2 bed mold they have going on at their resorts. I know they have some other options but they are SOOOO much more expensive that it is more cost effective to book 2 rooms most of the time.

I have heard a lot of good things about Windsor Hills. I agree with your husband, it would be hard to stay in a hotel room with 3 small children.

I would love to try AKL or the Poly for a couple of days added on tho, he'd probably go for that as long as there was a roomier option while were there as well.

AKL was great. We loved it there but we spent so much time in the parks we never really did get to enjoy it as much as I would have liked. Staying for a day or two and spending the majority of your time at a less expensive place might be a great way to experience the best of both worlds.

Love your title too!! Really drew me in, as I am a true blue bargain hunter!!

Thanks. There is nothing like the thrill of a bargain. I would so love to find something like this again but I think I was incredibly lucky to even find something like that once. It was truly like winning a lottery.

 

[A&Bmama]

Day 4, April 4th

Buzz, buzz, buzz. Nooooooooooooooo, it can’t be the alarm. Please, it’s too early. Please, I need to sleep.

I force myself to my feet. With no lunch ADR we will be taking lunch to the park today so I have to get a move on. Then of course, we have the TSM stampede to deal with.

If TSM is a must for DH I am determined to mitigate any negative impact it might have on our day. We will arrive at the park hideously early, run with the bulls, er, I mean..guests. We will either ride or pick-up FPs, depending on which line seems shorter. If it seems do-able we will ride and get FPs.

We manage to get everything and everyone ready in good time. We arrive in the DHS parking lot at 8:10. Not the 8:00 on the dot I had been aiming for but not too shabby. I look around, not too many cars here yet. That’s a good sign. My plan is working!

We get to the entrance and there is no one there…

Boy we are early!

Then I see them…

CMs at the turnstiles.

I have made a fatal error.

Today is morning extra magic hours…

There is no one lined up because they are already in the parks.

My careful avoidance of EMH parks got messed up when we skipped our park visit yesterday.

What to do? TSMM is non-negotiable. How many are already in line ahead of us? What if the FP return time is already up to some ungodly hour?

My mind is racing. How do I recover from this gaff? Go to another park that has no EMHs? Come back tomorrow?

No, DHS is a favorite of ours, and we are already here. I will suck-it-up, and make the most of the day despite the fact that it is EMHs.

Can I stand here and calmly watch as throngs of happy “on-site guests” enter ahead of me?

DH says, “Our tickets are on our old KTTW cards, won’t it let us in?”

“Our dates aren’t valid though.” I reply. “I know they added the never expire option for us when we left, but I don’t think it is still valid for extra magic hours.”

“What do you want to do? Just stand here watching everyone enter until 9?” DH asks.

“What else can we do?” I say. “I have no intention of embarrassing myself by trying to sneak in early?”

“Well I’m not just going to stand here.” DH replies. With that he heads off to the turnstiles. DS watches him go for a second and then decides to follow him.

DD and I watch as they slide their cards through the card reader and…enter the park!

Holy Moly! It worked.

DD and I hurry to the turnstiles to follow them.

I go first. I try to appear nonchalant, nothing to see here folks. I am just a happy on-site guest about to use my mouse given EMH privileges. I smile at the CM and say good morning, but my cheating heart is racing and my palms are sweaty. I slide my card into the reader and wait for the sirens, wait for the flashing lights, wait for the humiliation of being carted away like the fraud that I am. And then…nothing…I am in! DD follows.

Forgive me Dis’ers for I have sinned…


We scurry away from the turnstiles as quickly as possible anxious to put distance between us and the scene of the crime. I am tempted to look back to see if anyone is watching us. I fight the urge and catch up to DH and DS. We make our way to TSM and get FPs. With our obligatory ride on TSM secured we head to TOT and RnRC. TOT is a 10 minute wait but is really a walk on. We have a great ride. I am screaming as we drop and the pendant on my necklace flies into my open mouth!

Next up is a ride on RnRc. This ride is so freakin awesome! I would love to ride this over and over again. But there are other guests waiting so we have to exit. We try TOT again, still a walk on, still fun. Back to RnRC we have to wait about 10 minutes this time. We exit and what do we do? Ride TOT for the third time!

We get in line. There is a short wait this time. In a couple of minutes we are in the boiler room waiting for our turn on the elevator. DD is standing beside one of the brick columns that are along the walkway. Suddenly, grabs my hands and tells me she lost her flip-flop. I am confused. Why doesn’t she just grab it and put it back on? Then she shows me…

There is about 1 ½ inch space between the brick column and the walkway. She was holding the flip-flop flat against the column with the heel part inserted down into the space between column and walkway. The ball of her foot was bent so that her toes were still in the thong part and were flat against the column, but the rest of her foot was bent back so that it was standing barefoot against the concrete walkway. Then as the crowd moved forward she pulled her foot straight back instead of up and back. Her toes came out of the flip-flop and it slipped down the crack.

Oh well, they were old, dirt stained and worn anyway. No big loss right?

She is near tears.

Luckily I put a pair of sneakers and socks in the park bag for her. I was worried that the old worn out flip-flops would make her feet sore and that she would need better footwear before the day was through.

She is not comforted by this.

She wants her flip-flop back.

She begins to cry.

I tell her we will buy another pair of flip-flops, hoping a little retail therapy will solve this problem.

She tells me she loves those flip-flops. Nothing else will do.

She is crying harder but trying to hold it in. It is pitiful to watch.

Well meaning guests behind us mistakenly think she is scared of the ride and are trying to calm her nerves by telling her what to expect.

I tell them what our real problem is.

We all are looking around the boiler room. We discuss the layout.

The walkways are actually elevated above the real floor by 3 feet or so. There is a gate into this space from the platform where the bellhops are ushering guests into elevators. If someone went into this area they could duck under the walkway and grab the flip-flop.

My mind flashes to what the CM who retrieves the flip-flop will think when they see the old, cruddy, stained and paint splattered flip flop. Surely they will think we are crazy people to actually want it back.

Time to pick my poison; embarrassment or upset child…

Before we are to board our elevator I tell the CM what happened. He is bewildered about what to do for a moment. Then he tells us to get on the ride and to wait in the exit area.

We ride but DD is too worried about her flip-flop to enjoy it. I am too worried about DD to enjoy it.

We wait. After about 10 minutes or so another CM comes see us and asks us to tell him where we lost the flip flop. He can’t picture it from my explanation so he takes me back to the boiler room in the chicken exit elevator. I show them where it is. He and another CM discuss it for a moment. They are not allowed into that area. Maintenance personnel are the only ones authorized to enter. They call maintenance and escort me back out of the boiler room.

We wait some more. Finally a bell hop steps out of the chicken exit elevator. He is holding his hands behind his back. He is trying to maintain character, trying to look a little menacing and scary but he breaks into a big smile as he presents DD with the beloved flip-flop.

She thanks him shyly. I thank him profusely.

Phew, crisis averted.

Now to get on with our day,

Our fastpass window is open so we grab some RnRC FPs.

We decide to go to Star Tours. There is very little wait. Star Wars is just not my thing and all I have to say about Star Tours is I am very thankful the ride is not too long. If it were I might have spilled some protein.

We didn’t do the backlot tour last time so we decide to head there next. I really enjoyed this. I thought it was entertaining and different. I liked that it takes a bit of time. As much as I love the thrill rides they are over so quickly. Even with FPs you spend about twice as much time waiting as you do riding.

The next big item on our to do list is Lights, Motors, Action! It is still a bit too early though, maybe we should find a spot to have our packed lunch first. We discuss it a bit longer and decide that head over to LMA and eat lunch in the seats as we wait for the show to start.

I spot a cart selling churros. We have never had them before. The things look huge! I buy 2 for us to share for dessert. We head over to the entrance and have to wait for 15 minutes or so for them to let us into the stands. We can hear the cars practicing.

Once we have our seats we have our lunch and churros. It was a great decision. It makes the wait go by so quickly. Once we are done I break out the churros. They are good but I expected them to have more flavour.

Then the show starts. What an awesome show it is! DH and DS especially enjoyed this but DD and I thought it was pretty great too. We are in awe of the skill of those drivers! It definitely lands itself in the must do category for future trips.

After we are done we decide to ride TSM with our fastpasses. I have to say I enjoyed this much more this time. I guess it is because it took me a few minutes to get the hang of it the last time.

DD and I want to go to see Narnia again. We want to enjoy it knowing that we are not dragging people who don’t want to be there along with us. It was nice to be able to look at the props and costumes at our leisure.

Once we are done here we are at a bit of a loss about what to do next. We knocked off everything on our must do list in great time. We wander over to TSM. It has a 60 minute standby time. We can’t think of anything else we would rather be doing at this moment so we decide to go for it.

They weren’t lying. It took an hour, but we didn’t care. We stood in line talking of the things we have seen on our trips, discussing what had been our favorites vs. what we wouldn’t waste time on again.

It was actually kind of nice having to wait for this ride. Dare I say even a little refreshing after the commando pace we had been setting. I am glad, however, that this wait was a one off. I know we don’t have the patience to wait that long for every attraction.

When we are done we decide that we will head over to RnRC to use our FPs. The walking is starting to tire us. We enjoy the ride but after we decide our day is complete and head back to the hotel for some down time.

Up Next: A&Bmama sleeps in

 

[BellaBaby]

Another awesome installment--loved it!!

How great that you were able to use the extra magic hours--after all, I believe you deserved them, it wasn't your fault your last trip was cut short. You have been through enough.

We have not seen LMA yet, but next time for sure. Which will be in under 3 weeks!! I just booked a very last minute trip for 6/5. We have never done this last minute before, but I got an email from an owner at WH recently who had a week open and he was offering an insanely low rate for the week. I had a hard time hitting the enter button too, but financially we're doing well right now and so it works out perfect. And no, I'm not an owner at WH, we just think it's a great value.

 

[floydfamily4]

Glad you're back! Great installment - can't wait for the next one

 

[Dugette]

Yea for a new installment! That's awesome that you were able to get in for EMH. It would have been a shame to have to stand there waiting for that long. Glad they were able to find your DD's flip flop! You guys really covered the big 3 (and then some)! And you get to sleep in tomorrow, awesome!

 

[smithpack]

Wow!! I think I would have been excited for my mom to offer to get me a new pair of shoes!! That is so funny that she wanted her old flip flop.

Awesome that you got in for extra magic hour, you cheater. Just kidding, you deserved it after all you had been through. My DH would have been the one who would have wanted to wait so as not to be dishonest, and I would have been the one dragging him through the turnstiles. I love how you described it with the sirens and all. I know you hear it a lot, but you are such a good writer. Does it make you nervous every time you write an installment that you will have to live up to your previous installments? I remember a couple of people telling me I was funny, and I kept thinking that they were going to hate my next installment because it may not be as entertaining as the previous one.

I love the LMA show as well. I didn't think it would be as entertaining for me, but it was awesome. I am glad that you got so much done that you got to go back and relax!! I love getting everything done in the mornings!!