Jenn's Dec Pre-trip

[Jenn1116]

Finally, December is around the corner!!!! Almost...

Well gosh I've been waiting since March!!!!!

I got back from a February trip with DD 4 and my two friends and their DD's 4 and 5. I had been bummed cuz Dad's been outta work for almost a year at that point. Finally took a labor job at Costco. And Ma's been working nonstop (putting extra time in eves and weekends). So I come up with the brilliant idea to take them to DL for the holidays as an anniversary gift presented to them in June. After all, I could get the ent rate at Hojos and save $40 per ticket by getting e-tickets. And I’ve been feeling guilty. They took me and dd in 06 for dd’s first trip but I was selfish and asked to invite along my friend and her dd. They didn’t have much fun on that trip and didn’t spend much time with us. So I wanted to make it up to them.

Good idea? Bad idea? Am I going to do it? Is it a stupid waste of the pitiful savings I have? Should this money go to DD's college fund?

I just couldn't stop myself!!!!

I've almost never been so nervous in my LIFE as when I gave my parents the big box containing e-tickets, and custom shirts (thanks to help from designers on the DIS) and a Mickey Coffee mug, all wrapped neatly in shiny black paper with a big red bow. I was soooooo worried Ma would look at my like I’m loony and tell me no way – I know she hates the idea of her kids spending money on her. So I held my breath. Oh the relief and joy that washed over me when their eyes got wide and giant grins spread across their faces!!

I gave them a choice of 2 sets of dates, Nov 18–21 or Dec 3–7, both of which I booked previously at Hojos. They decidedly picked Dec. And I finally put the ticker in my sig.

Here’s the cast of characters: me27, dd5, Dad and Ma (50’s)

I’ve spent months now asking questions and collecting information. 33 pages of info to be exact. The last two months I’ve been nailing down the specifics and laying out a plan.

Here’s what I have:

Wednesday
Arrive late morning/ early afternoon
Best time to see fireworks and parade since it is mid-week and will be less crowded.
Lunch: Carnation Café PS: 2:00pm
City Hall regarding Lilly Belle
Silhouettes on Main Street
Fantasyland
PFF ends at 6:00
Christmas Parade: 6:30
Fireworks: 745
Dinner: Rainforest Café PS: 8:15pm

Thursday
Breakfast: fruit, oatmeal, and coffee
This is the best day to use our Magic Morning (early entry). If we get in a lot of Fantasyland on Wednesday then we can hit Space Mountain, Finding Nemo and Buzz's Astro Blasters. The park opens at 9am so early entry is 8am.
PFF 9:30am
Toontown 10am – Meet n Greet Fab 5 (Hit IASW on the way)
Ranch to see Santa and decorate cookies
Upgrade to AP for Kayla and me (Yay! Discounts!)
Lunch: Billy Hill and Hillbillies
Adventureland, New Orleans and Critter Country (Must get a Tigger Tail)
Christmas Parade 6:30pm
Dinner: French Market if it’s not too cold (AP Discount?)
Fireworks: 7:45pm
DL closes at 8 pm.

Friday
Breakfast: Lilo and Stitch 8am (AAA or AP Discount)
The schedule says the park opens at 10am but they let people in at 9:30 and only Soarin' is open. They block off the rest of the park and a line forms for the new Toy Story Mania. A cast member then walks the line to the ride at 10am.
Lunch: ? (Must get a corn dog)
Playhouse Disney: 10:30 11:30 12:30 2:15 3:15 4:15
The Pixar Play Parade: 5:15
Dinner: ? DCA closes at 9pm. DL closes at 12am
Fantasmic: 10:30pm. (possibly ride Jungle Cruise on the way, POTC and HM after)

Saturday
DL is open 8am - 12am. *Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (BTMRR) is now Open*
Breakfast: Blue Ribbon Bakery
Adventureland – FP and ride BTMRR, FP and ride Indy, Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer Island
Lunch: ?
Snack: Blue Bayou 3pm
Christmas Parade: 1:15 3:15
Jedi Training Academy: 10:30 11:35 12:40 2:25 3:30 4:35
Dinner: ?
Fantasmic: 9:00 10:30
Fireworks: 9:25

Sunday
DL opens at 8am –Minnie and Friend’s Breakfast at 8am (AAA or AP discount)
Drive home

I’ve put in the entertainment schedule for each day but we won’t likely repeat anything. I’m also waiting on more Candlelight info as it is not available on the Disney website yet. I’m not blowing money on the dinner and seating, but would like to watch it if possible on Sat.

PSs have been arranged.

I feel like I’m tapping my fingers just ticking down the minutes… What else is there to do?

 

[davidsprincess]

That is so sweet of you to be doing this for your parents! I cried when I read this . You must have a very special relationship with them and I am sure that this trip is one that they will remember for years. It is an absoulte labour of love. Your DD will have lots of fun with her grandparents as well. I can't wait to read more!
Thanks for sharing this with us all!

 

[mommaU4]

I remember the plan to surprise your parents!!! I can't wait to read more about it.

 

[Jenn1116]

Exactly one month to go!!!!! OMG OMG OMG

Is it too early to not be able to sleep? Sheesh!

So last weekend me, DD and my friend's family all crowded into JC Penney Portrait Studio and had our Halloween pics done. Why is this relevent, you ask. Well, I was Smee, DD a pirate, friend was Pan, her DD4 was Wendy, DD1 was Tink and grandma was Hook. The pictures turned out fabulous! And have me really geared up for my trip.

After Trick-or-Treating Friday night, grandma and grandpa surprised DD with the new Tink movie, which we watched Saturday. I'm kind of relunctant about the whole Tink thing Disney is doing. It just doesn't seem right to me. Tink isn't supposed to talk. Or be available for Meet N Greet for that matter. I wasn't very impressed with Tink in her movie as far her character. It just wasn't sassy enough IMHO. And the talking bit... well my friend eased my concern by pointing out that we just couldn't understand her in Peter Pan because it was from a human point of view, but in Tink's movie, we are actually taken into Pixie Hallow so thats why we are able to understand her (and the other fairies). And I guess the Meet N Greet is like walking into Pixie Hallow so we become small like the pixies right? So it's ok isn't it?

Anyhow, chatter on the board indicates long lines to meet Tink, which hadn't even occurred to me... stupid stupid stupid. So now I've got to take another look at the schedule and figure out the best way to make room for it without messing uo plans for MM and Toontown. (sigh)

On the bright side... I already started packing!!!

 

[Jenn1116]

22 days to go... and I get some bad news...

On Friday night, I was driving home and my car broke down. I found out Saturday that it was the timeing belt, missing teeth, and there is damage to the valves. And there could be more...

So far I'm out $600 to pay for the man hours to look at the stupid thing. (sigh)

 

[Jenn1116]

So I need a new engine and there's some trouble with the warranty...

And I'm completely obessesive in my reading right now. I haven't had the urge to read like this since high school. I found a series I'm in love with and it has me completely distracted from the trip.

DD's birthday is this coming weekend too so I have a lot to do to get ready for the party. The books are even distacting me from that! What's wrong with me???

The movie of the first book is coming out this month so I'm hoping that will break my little fantasy world. Really I'm too old to be crazy like this. And I really want to go back to being excited about this trip.

On the bright side, mom seems to still be really excited. I hope I can wrap myself in the magic before my mood ruins everything. It's hard, though, with the financial burden of the car to worry about. I guess I've had it easy for too long.

Looks like I could really use this vacation right now!

 

[Jenn1116]

SIX days to go!!!

I've regained my excitement.

I can't believe our trip is right around the corner. I'm still trying to figure out how to pack. It looks like the weather will be nice, which normally wouldn't be a problem except that I had planned and packed for chilly weather. I was even hoping for rain. Now I'm scrambling to locate appropriately themed short-sleeve shirts.

I'm kind of excited and kind of not about meet n greet with Tink. I guess I'm mostly worried about how time consuming it will be. I'd like to get DD into the Jedi Academy. I dunno if she'll be into it though.

Just this morning we were watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade and I swear every other commercial was Disney. DD got all excited and asked me when we can go again... No, she doesn't know!!!! I love surprises!

I couldn't hide my grin buit I told her "I dunno... not for a long time. It costs a lot of money." Good thing she's not old enough to notice my poor lying skills. Won't be long before I can't keep anything from her!

I plan to spend our long weekend watching Disney movies. Fortunately she won't notice anything odd about that either. I bought Sleeping Beauty when it was re-released but I'm holding on to it until Christmas. I'm kind of peeved because I bought it last time it was released on DVD but I haven't seen it since I moved out of a house I was sharing with a roommate 2 years ago. It'd be great to watch this weekend with the reopening of the castle and all. I suppose I could just open it but money is so tight this year. especially with the car (argh) and the gifts are not exactly numerous. I can wait a few more weeks right?

Anyhoo, we're going to get a tree this weekend and do all the christmas decorating. It'll be a small flocked tree so no need to worry about watering it while we're gone. It'll be nice to have everything done so we don't have to do it when we get back.

I also have to get DD's birthday pics to walmart so I can empty the memory card before the trip. I usually put all the pics on my computer then save them to s disc but for some reason I'm having troubling getting the pics onto a disc now. Technology and I don't get along.

Speaking of which... how in the world do you change the title of the thread?

 

[Jenn1116]

OMG We'll be loading ourselves into the car in just 15 and a half hours! And here I am at work!!!!! Ugh!!!

I knew I'd be super busy today in order to prepare for the days I'll be gone, but I zipped right through everything first thing. Now I just have left-over stuff that I've been putting off, and can and will put off until I get back. So tedious. Ok, if I'm honest, I'll probably get it all done this afternoon... I'm boring, what can I say?

I wish I had a book to escape into so I can forget my excitement for just a little while, at least through lunch.

BTW I still need help changing the thread title... anyone?

 

[travelmel]

So I need a new engine and there's some trouble with the warranty...

And I'm completely obessesive in my reading right now. I haven't had the urge to read like this since high school. I found a series I'm in love with and it has me completely distracted from the trip.

DD's birthday is this coming weekend too so I have a lot to do to get ready for the party. The books are even distacting me from that! What's wrong with me???

The movie of the first book is coming out this month so I'm hoping that will break my little fantasy world. Really I'm too old to be crazy like this. And I really want to go back to being excited about this trip.

On the bright side, mom seems to still be really excited. I hope I can wrap myself in the magic before my mood ruins everything. It's hard, though, with the financial burden of the car to worry about. I guess I've had it easy for too long.

Looks like I could really use this vacation right now!

Uh oh!!! I know what you were reading! Poor thing, all alone here (I mean in Twilight OCD)! I just found your TR.. HI, HI, HI!

Exactly one month to go!!!!! OMG OMG OMG

Is it too early to not be able to sleep? Sheesh!

So last weekend me, DD and my friend's family all crowded into JC Penney Portrait Studio and had our Halloween pics done. Why is this relevent, you ask. Well, I was Smee, DD a pirate, friend was Pan, her DD4 was Wendy, DD1 was Tink and grandma was Hook. The pictures turned out fabulous! And have me really geared up for my trip.

Don't worry I'll teach you how to post pics and change the title of your TR if you have't learned yet.

SIX days to go!!!

I've regained my excitement.

OMG We'll be loading ourselves into the car in just 15 and a half hours!

Have a great trip!!!

To change the thread title
1. Go to the first post of your TR
2. Click Edit
3. Click "Go Advanced"
5. In the small window above the regular window it says "Title" Change the title there and click save. If that doesn't work, let me know!

WOO HOO! Looking forward to your TR and your Twilight musings!

 

[travelmel]

Oh... for a book to get lost in... I recommend Midnight Sun (was that you asking about it on the Twilight thread??) or The Host by Stephanie Meyer. Good stuff!