Just the two of us- WDW May 09 countdown on! **UPDATE Trying to change plans AGAIN!**

[wlwilliams9]

Hey Kara!!

I just realized you had a pre-trippie, where have I been ! You and Rylan are going to have such a great vacay! Here is my 2 cents (what it's worth!) on your plans so far...

Disney with a toddler is the best! DH and I have been to Disney more times than we can count, but when we took Emily for the first time in 2007 (she was 10 mo.), it was a whole new experience for us. This past May was her 2nd trip (22 mo) and it was even better than the 1st. Bring your Kleenex, because you will tear up at some of the reactions Rylan will have!

Do the DDP! If you plan on eating at all of the TS restaurants you've listed, then I bet it will be worth it, but like you said, it's best to do the math. DH and I love the DDP so much, we're doing DxDP this time! (we wanted to eat at 4 restaurants that are 2 TS credits, so it made sense)

Pop and CSR are both great resorts, you wouldn't be dissappointed with either.

Have you concidered the Photopass? We love the Photopass because all of us get to be in the pics. If you are interested, I was thinking about setting up a photopass share. Maybe Brandie would like to join too. It's a great way to get great pics and we share the cost. Anyway, something to think about!!

Hope to here more soon!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Just stopped in to say I am still alive. Finals are next week and I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Since Linda is gone indefinitely, I am dispatching now (and actually got moved to that position since they were hiring for it before anyway AND a pay raise!). No time to mess around online!

On top of all that, we had a serious situation with my sister this past weekend. She was in the hospital with hypothermia and a BAC of 0.38, needless to say she almost died. We think she was drugged.

So yeah, not much time to plan, but I promise to update soon! Thanks for hangin in there with me!

Hi Kara! Don't worry about it.....we are with ya all the way!

First of all, congrats on tthe pay raise!! I know this will keep you very busy, but I think you can handle it just fine.

Secondly, our daily prayers still include Linda. Hopefully, all is going well with her.

Finally, I hate to hear that about your sister....that's terrible! Thank God she is okay.

Anyway, get back to doing everything you can to be successful with your upcoming finals and new promotion. We'll watch for your updates as they come....and if we can be of any help in planning, just let us know!

Alan

 

[kgle]

Hey Kara!!

I just realized you had a pre-trippie, where have I been ! You and Rylan are going to have such a great vacay! Here is my 2 cents (what it's worth!) on your plans so far...

Disney with a toddler is the best! DH and I have been to Disney more times than we can count, but when we took Emily for the first time in 2007 (she was 10 mo.), it was a whole new experience for us. This past May was her 2nd trip (22 mo) and it was even better than the 1st. Bring your Kleenex, because you will tear up at some of the reactions Rylan will have!

Do the DDP! If you plan on eating at all of the TS restaurants you've listed, then I bet it will be worth it, but like you said, it's best to do the math. DH and I love the DDP so much, we're doing DxDP this time! (we wanted to eat at 4 restaurants that are 2 TS credits, so it made sense)

Pop and CSR are both great resorts, you wouldn't be dissappointed with either.

Have you concidered the Photopass? We love the Photopass because all of us get to be in the pics. If you are interested, I was thinking about setting up a photopass share. Maybe Brandie would like to join too. It's a great way to get great pics and we share the cost. Anyway, something to think about!!

Hope to here more soon!

I have tried and tried and tried to convince myself that the DDP is the way to go! But with just me and Rylan and knowing he won't eat enough for it to be worth it, I think I will forgo this time.

I am definitely up for a Photopass share! I actually have been looking for one, because I definitely want to do it. Keep me updated!

Hi Kara! Don't worry about it.....we are with ya all the way!

First of all, congrats on tthe pay raise!! I know this will keep you very busy, but I think you can handle it just fine.

Secondly, our daily prayers still include Linda. Hopefully, all is going well with her.

Finally, I hate to hear that about your sister....that's terrible! Thank God she is okay.

Anyway, get back to doing everything you can to be successful with your upcoming finals and new promotion. We'll watch for your updates as they come....and if we can be of any help in planning, just let us know!

Alan

Thanks Alan Linda is doing much better! She is at home now and just resting away Sis is doing alright now, too. I think she will have to overcome some demons in the long run.

Anyway, finals are over on Wednesday so I will be back to being addicted to DIS then!

 

[kgle]

Woohoo! 2 finals down, 2 more to go! I finished up with my anatomy finals today and ended this semester with a B in the class! I was going for an A to help secure an acceptance letter into the nursing program...but a B will work I didn't deserve an A since I didn't study as much as I should have. Yay for that though! I just have a Med. Term. final and Math final friday. Its almost over!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Awesome! Way to go Kara!! Best wishes with the other two finals.

Alan

 

[BridetobeDisney]

Hey girl! At this time of year I think a lot of us seem to disappear of the face of the earth. Christmas time is hard especially with finals. I would have loved to be in a photopass share with ya'll but I joined one about a month ago and already sent my money. I'm sorry! I hope the rest of your finals go well. A B is awesome! You did great. I made an A and a B. So I'm happy! Can't wait to hear about some more planning. Oh and I'm glad Linda and your sister are ok.

 

[kgle]

Thanks Brandi

Well this semester is finally over. I think I will end up with 3 Bs and a C. The C SHOULD be higher but the course was SO unorganized. I think the distance ed coordinator is going to work with us on our grades. Even if I have 4 straight Bs I will be happy! Glad to have it over with though! I am taking 5 classes next semester but it should hopefully be a LOT easier! I am taking bunches of fluff classes for financial aid purposes.

Anyway, less than a week til Christmas! I am so excited Also means almost 4 months away until our trip! I remembered about spring break for school and about changed my trip to March just to go sooner...but I wasn't for sure that I would have the balance able to be paid 45 days prior to that. So May it still is. I need to learn some patience!

Time to become readdicted! I am also really stoked because CSR is doing major rehabs and the new standard rooms looking AMAZING. I am so glad I changed to that one!

 

[BridetobeDisney]

Oh I want to see pics of the new rooms! Where are the pics?

 

[kgle]

If you go to the resorts board try to find the threads titled CSR rehab or go to the CSR review and picture thread and they are in there near the end of it. Its awesome. The theme doesn't clash anymore lol

 

[kgle]

Wow, I feel like I have so much time on my hands now that school is out for a few weeks! Nearing 4 1/2 months until the trip! I can't believe almost a month and a half has passed since I booked the vacation!

I am still considering lengthening the trip, maybe by just a day. Haven't decided yet. I am also strongly considering flying if I can find really good rates...but I am not sure if that will be more hassle than convenience.

Pros to flying
More time at WDW
Less travel time, and no driving 16+ hours with a 3 year old
If we fly, I can definitely extend the trip to 10 days


Cons to flying
More expensive
Have to rent a car for at least a couple days (but enterprise has good rates)
have to check car seat
have to figure out stroller situation (I guess I could gate check the stroller)
have to worry about lugging everything with me in the airport
can't do it if someone else goes with us (money)

I am not sure what to do. The fact that I can make the trip 9-10 days instead of 7 if we fly is really enticing. REALLY enticing. So far I am seeing flights for a total of $378 (cheapest with NWA) roundtrip for both of us and with Enterprise I could rent a car for 3 days for about $100 (or cheaper if I get my hands on some Entertainment book coupons for a free upgrade or % off). I think the extra days would be nice for down days...and time to visit family, that way we aren't rushed. And if we flew we would HAVE to at least add a day because the day we fly out we probably wouldn't be able to do much if we have to be at the airport by 3pm.

So many choices!

I am bored at work right now. Next weekend is my first whole weekend off in over 4 months! I volunteered to work every weekend in order to have set days off for school and I finally get a weekend off! This weekend was my 7am-2pm weekend both days (boooo) so normally I take a nap after work and sleep til about 5ish. I really want to check out some craft stores though and see the Disney stuff they have!

Christmas is almost here!! I bought Rylan a Handy Manny doll and another HM figurine, then a bunch of Diego stuff, Yo Gabba Gabba, etc! He is going to be so stoked to see it My dad got him a whole freaking train table with trains and everything so he is going to have eyes the size of saucers on Christmas morning when he sees it

 

[kgle]

Ahhh!! I had given up trying to book 2 one way tickets for airlines because it seemed as if they wised up- but if I booked 2 one ways on NWA (who I have my frequent flyer miles through anyway) it would cost almost $70 less!

Damn, but of course they charge to check bags. BOOO.

I could do Airtran but that darn checked baggage fee comes into play again and it would cost me the same to fly southwest and check all my stuff for free.

 

[wlwilliams9]

Being from Michigan and having driven to WDW before, I am a huge fan of flying if you can swing it. That drive is LONG and BORING!!! It's a little shorter for you, but still, LONG and BORING!!! I have been tracking flights using yapta.com. They'll track any changes in fares for you. I've been tracking flights from Detroit to Orlando on NWA and they seem to be offering promo fares on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. I don't know if it's the same out of Indianapolis, but it might be worth tracking for a week or 2.

After Christmas, I'll start setting up our Photopass share. I'm sure we can find a few other people to get the cost down. I'm hoping for 5-7 of us to share. I'll keep ya posted! I'm off to bake cookies!

 

[kgle]

Being from Michigan and having driven to WDW before, I am a huge fan of flying if you can swing it. That drive is LONG and BORING!!! It's a little shorter for you, but still, LONG and BORING!!! I have been tracking flights using yapta.com. They'll track any changes in fares for you. I've been tracking flights from Detroit to Orlando on NWA and they seem to be offering promo fares on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. I don't know if it's the same out of Indianapolis, but it might be worth tracking for a week or 2.

After Christmas, I'll start setting up our Photopass share. I'm sure we can find a few other people to get the cost down. I'm hoping for 5-7 of us to share. I'll keep ya posted! I'm off to bake cookies!

Awesome!! I am also going to try the Ding fares from SW too and see what I can find

Let me know about the photopass share I definitely want to. I might need a little reminder on how it works when you share it with people though! 8 minutes and I go home to my warm bed! Yuck -13 degree weather can bite me.

 

[kgle]

Oh and someone explain to me why I am already trying to plan another trip for the fall of next year Or....spring break 2010 LOL

Darn Disney addiction and I haven't even been there yet!!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Oh and someone explain to me why I am already trying to plan another trip for the fall of next year Or....spring break 2010 LOL

Darn Disney addiction and I haven't even been there yet!!

Sounds like you've gotten hooked the way we have! I'm excited that we are only 4 1/2 months away!

Don't know what to tell you about the fly vs. drive dilema. If you drive, you would have the security of knowing you have a car the entire time without having to rent one. Plus, if gas prices stay down, it might be cheaper to drive. Then again, a long drive with a 3-yr-old....hmm....that's a tough one.

Hey, I might be interested in that photopass sharing idea. I'm not sure how that works.

Alan

 

[wlwilliams9]

Merry Christmas!!!

 

[kgle]

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas to you and everyone else!! Rylan made out like a mad man today!!

 

[kgle]

Sounds like you've gotten hooked the way we have! I'm excited that we are only 4 1/2 months away!

Don't know what to tell you about the fly vs. drive dilema. If you drive, you would have the security of knowing you have a car the entire time without having to rent one. Plus, if gas prices stay down, it might be cheaper to drive. Then again, a long drive with a 3-yr-old....hmm....that's a tough one.

Hey, I might be interested in that photopass sharing idea. I'm not sure how that works.

Alan

I believe that you basically purchase one photopass cd splitting the cost because full price its $125 if you don't buy early (and $99 I think if you DO buy early)...and you all load your photopass codes on there after you come home and you can order all the pictures you want. I think...I still need someone to explain it fully to me! There are a couple of photopass share threads on the budget board. I will head over there to see if there is an explanation.

 

[englishrose47]

I believe that you basically purchase one photopass cd splitting the cost because full price its $125 if you don't buy early (and $99 I think if you DO buy early)...and you all load your photopass codes on there after you come home and you can order all the pictures you want. I think...I still need someone to explain it fully to me! There are a couple of photopass share threads on the budget board. I will head over there to see if there is an explanation.

Check out bertegirl on my May thread she is heading up the one I am in! I am technically challenged so would never head one up!! But I was in one in Feb and loved it !Usually about 5 - 7 people share and the cost is between 25- 30 dollars !!I know each pe4rson gets a date to look and choose and change their PPs and then the leader cuts CDs for the group!!Basically it means you get all your PPs for about what you'd payif you bought a couple of pix and you have the release to make copies as you purchased the CD!!

 

[kgle]

Just a note to myself to keep track.

$220 paid to date.

With a 10 day trip, changing dates to May 9th-19th, $630 left to go to meet my goal of paying half of the trip off before the balance is due. Off to pay more on it tomorrow thanks to Christmas gifts!