tiggerbell
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2003
- Messages
- 2,721
I decided in January, just back from a LARGE family trip, that it was time to go it alone. Recently divorced, it felt necessary to go to my happy place as often as possible.
So the plan was hatched: Just me, December 10th-17th, renting a 1 bedroom condo at Cypress Pointe from my boss (same place we stayed in January 2005). 6-day ticket, airfare, and rental car all need to be purchased.
That evening, I announced my intentions to my 2 teenage daughters, and was met with:
16-year-old: Whatever. You leaving the car keys?
14-year-old: Alone? We cant have that! Ill pay for my own ticket and airfare and go with you! And we can ask my best friend to come, and shell pay her own way, too!
So the 2nd plan was hatched: 3 of us, December 10th-17th, renting a 2 bedroom condo at Cypress Pointe from my boss (same place we stayed in January 2005). 6-day tickets, airfare, and rental car all need to be purchased. We start an itinerary using index cards taped to the kitchen wall its a thing of beauty!
It had meals, it had park days, and it had special events. We all started saving change and the girls were going to work the city summer youth program to earn their keep.
In March, my sister, Rhonda, starts talking about taking my niece, Lauren, next May (2006) for her 5th birthday. I want to go too. So does my other sisters husband (Judi & Ron respectively). Have I lost you yet?
So the 3rd plan was hatched: 3 of us, December 10th-17th, canceling a 2 bedroom condo at Cypress Pointe from my boss (same place we stayed in January 2005). 6-day tickets for the girls, an Annual Pass for me, airfare, and rental car all need to be purchased. A room at the Pop Century with the AP discount needs to be booked. THEN: Rhonda, Ron, Lauren, and myself, April 29th-May 8th, bringing Rons 24 trailer down to Ft. Wilderness. Reservation made, will already have my AP, chip in for gas.
Fast forward to May: the friend decides she doesnt want to go. More exact she doesnt want to work over the summer and wants to spend the change shes gathered at Hot Topic! Ugh! OK, fine. You were a picky eater anyway.
So the 4th plan was hatched: 2 of us, December 10th-17th, canceling a 2 bedroom condo at Cypress Pointe from my boss (same place we stayed in January, 2005). 6-day tickets for the girl, an Annual Pass for me, airfare, and rental car all need to be purchased. A room at the Pop Century with the AP discount needs to be booked. THEN: Rhonda, Ron, Lauren, and myself, April 29th-May 8th, bringing Rons 24 trailer down to Ft. Wilderness. Reservation made, will already have my AP, chip in for gas.
Now its June. Guess what? Yup. So the 5th plan was hatched: The child bailed on me (she too wants to shop!) So I asked Rhonda if I could join her and 2 ladies she works with in September. We are leaving September 2nd, driving down, staying at the Pop Century for 7 nights, 6 day MYM passes, and FREE dining plan! THEN: Rhonda, Ron, Lauren, and myself, April 29th-May 8th, NOT bringing Rons 24 trailer down to Ft. Wilderness, probably gonna rent a trailer or cabin. Need to change reservation, need to buy 6-day pass, chip in for gas.
August 20, 2005: 14 year old regretting her decision. Too late now honey. But I would have really loved the Mother/Daughter trip. What to do? 16th birthday present? Cool. December 2006 it is! Shell be old enough for some tours! (Change 6-day pass in May, 2006, for Annual Pass)...writing that in PENCIL!
Oh, btw, no trailer... Ft. Wilderness Cabin in May, 2006. Went on a weeklong trip to Wisconsin with the trailer... someone will die before we get it to Florida! Im not made to go 50mph on a highway!
OK gonna focus on September trip for the rest of this. We leave in 13 days. Packing list? DONE.
Outfits picked out? DONE (I know, what am I a 5 year old? 
Too much time on my hands). Itinerary planned? DONE. 
Check this out:
CAST: Jaime (me): 37, Disney freak
Rhonda (sister): 55, Disney freak
Ruth: works with Rhonda
Sandy: used to work with Rhonda & Ruth
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2nd: Rhonda and I live 6 houses apart, shes driving, Ill be standing over her bed at 4:00am (thats gonna be the first picture in the scrapbook!)
Leave Rhondas at 4:40, pick up Ruth in Chicago at 5:00, pick up Sandy in Monee at 6:00 and stop for the night in Perry, GA.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD: Finish drive, make it to Pop Century around 3:00 or 4:00. Check in and head to Magic Kingdom (assuming we can get Rhonda away from the hotel shes never seen it). I know, the MK on a Saturday? But were only doing 1-½ days there, and no park hopping, so this is our only ½ day free). DINING PLAN: 1 CS, 1 Snack
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH: Kona Cafe for breakfast (Rhonda MUST have her Tonga!), monorail GF and CR (Ruth, or was it Sandy has never seen either), head over to EPCOT for the rest of the day. DINING PLAN: pay for Kona, 1 Snack, 1 TS (Italy for dinner)
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH: Animal Kingdom in the morning, Boardwalk late in the day. DINING PLAN: Tusker House or Flame Tree (1 CS), Beaches & Cream for dinner (1 TS), 1 Snack
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH: the 3 of them are going to Universal
(I would NEVER!), Im taking the Backstage Tour the LONG one! Meet up at DTD for the evening. DINING PLAN: they will pay at Universal (yes, evil wording intended), I get lunch at Mama Melroses (1st time), dinner at DTD (Wolfgang Pucks Express or Earl of Sandwich Im voting for Earl!) 1 CS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH: Full day at MGM Studios. DINING PLAN: 1 TS at Prime Time for lunch, 2 TS at Brown Derby for dinner, and 1 Snack
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH: Full day at Magic Kingdom. DINING PLAN: Main Street Bakery for breakfast (pay for), 2 CS during the day (Pecos Bills and Pinocchio Haus?), 1 Snack
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH: Full day at EPCOT. DINING PLAN: Breakfast at either Pop or French Quarter (pay for), lunch at an EPCOT counter service (TBA) (1 CS), and dinner at LeCellier (2 TS).
SATURDAY, SEPTEBER 10TH: I dont want to talk about it... we have to leave. DINING PLAN: Breakfast at Pop (1 CS), finish any snack credits in the food court (water or fruit for the road).
Kinda feels like Ive already gone on the trip, ya know?
So the plan was hatched: Just me, December 10th-17th, renting a 1 bedroom condo at Cypress Pointe from my boss (same place we stayed in January 2005). 6-day ticket, airfare, and rental car all need to be purchased.
That evening, I announced my intentions to my 2 teenage daughters, and was met with:
16-year-old: Whatever. You leaving the car keys?
14-year-old: Alone? We cant have that! Ill pay for my own ticket and airfare and go with you! And we can ask my best friend to come, and shell pay her own way, too!
So the 2nd plan was hatched: 3 of us, December 10th-17th, renting a 2 bedroom condo at Cypress Pointe from my boss (same place we stayed in January 2005). 6-day tickets, airfare, and rental car all need to be purchased. We start an itinerary using index cards taped to the kitchen wall its a thing of beauty!
It had meals, it had park days, and it had special events. We all started saving change and the girls were going to work the city summer youth program to earn their keep.
In March, my sister, Rhonda, starts talking about taking my niece, Lauren, next May (2006) for her 5th birthday. I want to go too. So does my other sisters husband (Judi & Ron respectively). Have I lost you yet?
So the 3rd plan was hatched: 3 of us, December 10th-17th, canceling a 2 bedroom condo at Cypress Pointe from my boss (same place we stayed in January 2005). 6-day tickets for the girls, an Annual Pass for me, airfare, and rental car all need to be purchased. A room at the Pop Century with the AP discount needs to be booked. THEN: Rhonda, Ron, Lauren, and myself, April 29th-May 8th, bringing Rons 24 trailer down to Ft. Wilderness. Reservation made, will already have my AP, chip in for gas.
Fast forward to May: the friend decides she doesnt want to go. More exact she doesnt want to work over the summer and wants to spend the change shes gathered at Hot Topic! Ugh! OK, fine. You were a picky eater anyway.
So the 4th plan was hatched: 2 of us, December 10th-17th, canceling a 2 bedroom condo at Cypress Pointe from my boss (same place we stayed in January, 2005). 6-day tickets for the girl, an Annual Pass for me, airfare, and rental car all need to be purchased. A room at the Pop Century with the AP discount needs to be booked. THEN: Rhonda, Ron, Lauren, and myself, April 29th-May 8th, bringing Rons 24 trailer down to Ft. Wilderness. Reservation made, will already have my AP, chip in for gas.
Now its June. Guess what? Yup. So the 5th plan was hatched: The child bailed on me (she too wants to shop!) So I asked Rhonda if I could join her and 2 ladies she works with in September. We are leaving September 2nd, driving down, staying at the Pop Century for 7 nights, 6 day MYM passes, and FREE dining plan! THEN: Rhonda, Ron, Lauren, and myself, April 29th-May 8th, NOT bringing Rons 24 trailer down to Ft. Wilderness, probably gonna rent a trailer or cabin. Need to change reservation, need to buy 6-day pass, chip in for gas.
August 20, 2005: 14 year old regretting her decision. Too late now honey. But I would have really loved the Mother/Daughter trip. What to do? 16th birthday present? Cool. December 2006 it is! Shell be old enough for some tours! (Change 6-day pass in May, 2006, for Annual Pass)...writing that in PENCIL!
Oh, btw, no trailer... Ft. Wilderness Cabin in May, 2006. Went on a weeklong trip to Wisconsin with the trailer... someone will die before we get it to Florida! Im not made to go 50mph on a highway!
OK gonna focus on September trip for the rest of this. We leave in 13 days. Packing list? DONE.
Outfits picked out? DONE (I know, what am I a 5 year old? Too much time on my hands). Itinerary planned? DONE. Check this out:CAST: Jaime (me): 37, Disney freak
Rhonda (sister): 55, Disney freak
Ruth: works with Rhonda
Sandy: used to work with Rhonda & Ruth
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2nd: Rhonda and I live 6 houses apart, shes driving, Ill be standing over her bed at 4:00am (thats gonna be the first picture in the scrapbook!)
Leave Rhondas at 4:40, pick up Ruth in Chicago at 5:00, pick up Sandy in Monee at 6:00 and stop for the night in Perry, GA.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD: Finish drive, make it to Pop Century around 3:00 or 4:00. Check in and head to Magic Kingdom (assuming we can get Rhonda away from the hotel shes never seen it). I know, the MK on a Saturday? But were only doing 1-½ days there, and no park hopping, so this is our only ½ day free). DINING PLAN: 1 CS, 1 Snack
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH: Kona Cafe for breakfast (Rhonda MUST have her Tonga!), monorail GF and CR (Ruth, or was it Sandy has never seen either), head over to EPCOT for the rest of the day. DINING PLAN: pay for Kona, 1 Snack, 1 TS (Italy for dinner)
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH: Animal Kingdom in the morning, Boardwalk late in the day. DINING PLAN: Tusker House or Flame Tree (1 CS), Beaches & Cream for dinner (1 TS), 1 Snack
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH: the 3 of them are going to Universal
(I would NEVER!), Im taking the Backstage Tour the LONG one! Meet up at DTD for the evening. DINING PLAN: they will pay at Universal (yes, evil wording intended), I get lunch at Mama Melroses (1st time), dinner at DTD (Wolfgang Pucks Express or Earl of Sandwich Im voting for Earl!) 1 CSWEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH: Full day at MGM Studios. DINING PLAN: 1 TS at Prime Time for lunch, 2 TS at Brown Derby for dinner, and 1 Snack
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH: Full day at Magic Kingdom. DINING PLAN: Main Street Bakery for breakfast (pay for), 2 CS during the day (Pecos Bills and Pinocchio Haus?), 1 Snack
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH: Full day at EPCOT. DINING PLAN: Breakfast at either Pop or French Quarter (pay for), lunch at an EPCOT counter service (TBA) (1 CS), and dinner at LeCellier (2 TS).
SATURDAY, SEPTEBER 10TH: I dont want to talk about it... we have to leave. DINING PLAN: Breakfast at Pop (1 CS), finish any snack credits in the food court (water or fruit for the road).
Kinda feels like Ive already gone on the trip, ya know?
)
