January 2009. . . Calling all Snowbirds ~ Part V

[figmentfan0724]

he said the area he is at is not near the city. He said he is in a hotel by the highway and the only thing niear them is a walmart

 

[Mndisneygirl]

He must be down near I-494 in Richfield.

About 10 minutes east of that on 494 is Mall of America and the airport. Some hotels have shuttle service to MOA. He should try to get over there. At least it would be something to do! He could buy you a present at one of the million stores (there's an apple store - it could be research!), go on rides, see a movie, eat at a good restaurant...
I hope he's not too bored that he thinks MN has nothing to offer, there's really a lot to see and do. You just need transportation, because there's not a lot of public transportation. There is a light rail that goes from MOA to downtown Mpls.

 

[figmentfan0724]

hes not bored, i guess its just hard cause he comes home tomorrow and they are cramming a lot of information in a couple of days. i talked to him during their lunch and he siad they are goin to some sports bar tonight

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Well that's good! Sometimes those corporate trainings are pretty rough! I'm sure both of you will be glad to have him back home.
I just re-read my post. I should work for the MN chamber of commerce!! I remember in college in Massachusetts I was always talking about MN. I'm sure I was a little homesick and partly because all those easterners didn't know ANYTHING about MN. I saw it as my duty to inform them that we don't all live on farms!

BTW - when is your wedding? I'm sure you have posted about it before but...

 

[figmentfan0724]

yes i can't wait to have him home. Kevin and I are getting married in July of next year..

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Congrats!
a disney wedding perhaps?

 

[BellaSoleil]

Thanks everyone for the advice! I really think a value resort would be great for us. I have a feeling Belle will go nuts over the larger than life adornments.

I am well aware of the differences in value and deluxe and I do love being spoiled in a deluxe, but I just can't justify spending that amount two years in a row. It wouldn't break the bank for us, but we could do alot of other things with the extra money. Especially since I'm hoping to be in a new house this Christmas.

This seems like the place to ask for a little help in making a decision. Please...I really, really need help to make a darn decision once and for all!!!

We originally said we'd stay 10 nights at BWV in a 2-bedroom. I changed everyone's mind down to 8 nights, thinking 10 was too long and that our kids would get bored with us (two boys, 21 and 23). So we've rented points and got everything booked for 8 nights.

Now I want to add 5 nights! LOL

The way I figure it, this could be the last time the boys actually want to travel with us (ok, so I said this the last time...but really....THIS may be the last time...) Plus, once I started looking at a touring schedule, and getting all those attractions in that I've always missed because the boys didn't want to do them....I really need 13 days!

Now the question is ... where? Here are some of the scenarios going through my head:

1. 5 nights at CSR before the BWV. We'd need two rooms. We've stayed here before and really enjoyed it (but our hearts belong to BWV!)
2. We could rent points and stay at BLT in two studios for about the same price as the CSR. Love the idea of a monorail resort!
3. We could rent points and try AKL, club level, if we stayed 4 nights after the BWV, for a $200 savings; or 5 nights before the BWV for a couple hundred more

Option #2 and #3 sound great, except we know this is a set price. If we go with option #1, there is always the possibility that disney will offer a discount at some point, thereby dropping the price, perhaps by as much as 30%.

I seem to be of the opinion that disney doesn't announce January deals until November or so, which is way too late to leave booking flights from Canada. I'd love a 4/3 deal, but heck, I can't wait until January to book flights!

And while all of this is driving me crazy, there is a little part of me that is reminding me to ... suck it up princess....every one should be so lucky to have these problems!!

Anyway, if anyone would care to throw any suggestions in, I'd love to hear them. The bottom line is, we need two rooms, max another 5 nights with a max of $1600-$1700 in the budget for the rooms. What would you do?!

Will you adopt me?

I'm with everyone else that says BLT!!!! It's brand new and on the monorail line. I think it would be such a neat experience.

 

[figmentfan0724]

Congrats!
a disney wedding perhaps?

I wish we could have a disney wedding. with the size of our families its just not affordable. we are goin to have an at home disney themed wedding with a disneymoon to follow!

 

[MAGGIED]

I wish we could have a disney wedding. with the size of our families its just not affordable. we are goin to have an at home disney themed wedding with a disneymoon to follow!

Did you see the mini mouse cake that was on the boards the last couple of days.... I will see if I can find it... might make a cute shower cake if your doing a disney themed wedding...

 

[figmentfan0724]

if its the minnie mouse cake on the budget board, i totally saw it and loved it....

 

[MAGGIED]

if its the minnie mouse cake on the budget board, i totally saw it and loved it....

Yeah... here it is... so cute... I am trying to come up with a reason to make it...

 

[figmentfan0724]

i am thinking about taking a cake decorating class at Hobby Lobby so maybe i will make it soon, but i am not that talented

 

[Mndisneygirl]

That is TOO CUTE!!!
Who needs a reason to make that? Well, I suppose you'd need a few people to help eat it!
I'm not nearly skilled enough, but I would love to be able to make that cake. It's adorable. Did they post instructions?

 

[figmentfan0724]

if i remember correctly she didnt' have directions with it

 

[BellaSoleil]

What a precious cake! I wish I was that talented.

 

[MAGGIED]

if i remember correctly she didnt' have directions with it

she did... and here is the link to the cake she copied...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/theswee...7603839918298/

The bottom is 2 layers from a 10 inch round 2 inch high pan. The middle layer is a 8 inch round 3 inch high pan. The top layer I used a saucepan since I didn't have a small enough pan. Then I put a small bowl on top of that layer to get the rounded effect. The ears are cardboard with fondant over them and toothpicks holding them in. The entire cake is covered with fondant, you can get a 5lb pack at Michael's for around $10 with a coupon. The fondant is a pain, you have to knead it well, then drop some icing coloring into it to get the black and the pink colors and roll it out thin. I used red for pink, not too much. We had various round objects we used for the polka dots mickey head and ears (a cookie cutter would work great, but didn't have one!). All of the decorations are "glued" to the cake with a paintbrush and a little bit of water on the backside of each decoration. It holds like glue. I didn't make the ribbon, my sister did so I'm not sure how she did that!

 

[PEANUT1]

Hey Andrea! Good to hear from you!

I think the BC would be the best choice for us, but sometimes I still think about the Poly!

thanks!! I still lurk here from time to time...just don't post as much. When my trip gets closer I will be here all the time! I have 2 other non disney trips to do first.

 

[BellaSoleil]

When all else fails, ask the 2 year old. Belle chose POP by a show of emotions. She pumped her fist in the air and said "YEAH!" when I showed her the pool. She was so excited!

 

[Dancegrl624]

Good morning everyone! I haven't been on in a few days and I actually had a few pages to catch up on! Just like the good ole days. I brought up going on a cruise to my DH the other day (not a Disney cruise, unfortunately) because of the great deals some cruise lines are offering. I said we could do a cruise instead of WDW again. He said he'd rather go back to WDW! Hooray! Of course I'd rather go to WDW, but I was trying to get him to agree to a vacation. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[MAGGIED]

Meghan... sometimes we just need to make them think it was their idea!!!!