Knocking off items from the Disney Bucket List - Brief Intermission & More TR 9/8

[brookelizabeth]

That is going to be such a great time! I can picture the kids with their eyes popping out of their heads at those devine desserts!

I really think you made a very smart move-no wrangling kids, everyone will be happy and full of sweets! I was surprised at the low cost, I wish it was still going on during our trip!

 

[thewesterberg]

In my planning, these are the things I'll be able to knock off my Disney Bucket List:

Watching Wishes from the Poly beach
Watching the Electric Water parade
Cirque du Soleil
Illuminations cruise
Candlelight Processional
Osborne Lights
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
HalloWishes
Participate in the Expedition Everest Challenge
Food and Wine Fest
Try Zebra Domes
Stay at Animal Kingdom Villas
Being an Annual Pass Holder


Now for those of you that know the calendar, you may be thinking "How is she planning on knocking off MNSSHP, HalloWishes, Expedition Everest Challenge, and Food and Wine Fest????? Those things aren't happening in August! And what's with the 2 smiley faces at AKV???"




Because................















There's a Bonus Trip Planned!!!!!!






What's this all about? Well, I've since reading about last year's Expedition Everest Challenge, I've wanted to participate in it. For those of you not familiar with it, they close up AK one evening and you run a 5K race through the park. Then you do an obstacle course in the parking lot, then you head back into the park and solve clues. And you can do it as a team or solo.

So a bit ago, Northwest Airlines was running another fare sale. Round trip between MSP and MCO for $98.

SAY WHAT?!!!

I put the cheap airfare news in my Facebook status, because if I couldn't enjoy it, someone else might like to. It's all about empowering others to realize their Disney dreams, right?

Later that day I was talking to a friend (let's call her CA) that's had a stressful year - work has been HUGE and her mom was diagnosed with cancer. She mentioned that she saw my update and I said I was wishing I could use it to do this race I was longing to do.

Tell me more she says.

I oblige. Encourage me to talk about Disney and I start spewing.


Then she says: "I'll go if you want to go."










Within moments I received an e-mail with her frequent flier number and all her info and permission to book whatever I wanted and to just tell her the price and she'd send me a check. She's serious.



DH and I talked it over. "CA has had a stressful year. As a good friend, I need to help her have some fun in her life and she needs something to look forward to. Please let me be a good friend!" And I received his blessing. (and I think only because he wants to take a trip out to Moab this spring and this was his way of cinching the deal!)


So totally out of character for me, I booked this trip for CA and I on a whim! Less than a month after going with my family and friends, I'll be heading back to the world for 5 nights with a friend to participate in the Expedition Everest Challenge as a team!




We fly out of MSP late on Wednesday, September 23rd and get into MCO around 11:30pm. We're staying 3 nights at AKV in a value studio on points I rented from someone here on the DIS and we're waitlisted on the other 2 nights. In the mean time I was able to book a regular room at AKL for $189 a night (that's the race rate with tax!)



I debated long and hard about where to stay... It was super cheap to stay at ASSp ($64/night) and there was a good rate at POR, and then the great rate at AKL (The 3 hotels that the buses run to for the race). I crunched numbers like crazy, contemplating every option (doing split stays, staying at a different resort and using taxis, etc, etc.) There was lots of little scraps of paper and spreadsheets. However, the allure of staying at AKV/L was a strong pull. Renting points was just a tad more than staying at ASSp. Was there any choice???! DH says I'm turning into a Deluxe snob and I haven't even stayed at one yet!!


Then I started looking at WDW's calendar. There's a lot going on while we're there! MNSSHP on Friday night and Food & Wine Fest starts that weekend. Oh, and the race too!


With the race we receive a one day park pass that's good for EPCOT, DHS, and AK. There's also a party at AK after the race. So I'm trying to figure out park days and ticket options (we can buy cheap park tickets using the race discount).


I'm thinking I may end up getting an annual pass because it'll end up costing the same to buy an 8 day pass for the August trip + getting the discount ticket for 3 days for the Sept trip. Plus, then I can have my own annual pass... something else to knock off the bucket list!! Then I can give CA my day pass to use so she'll only have to buy a 2-day pass.

Here's what I'm thinking we'll do:
Wednesday - arrive super duper late
Thursday - DHS
Friday - MK/MNSSHP
Saturday - pick up race packet, hang out at DTD, EEC, after party at AK
Sunday - EPCOT/Food & Wine Fest
Monday - Pick a park before we have to head out - Maybe AK to hit the things that aren't open during the after party???


Of course, it's all subject to change. Would we be better off going to a different park besides MK before MNSSHP? The things to debate and mull over....

So much to plan, so much fun to be had!

 

[thewesterberg]

That is going to be such a great time! I can picture the kids with their eyes popping out of their heads at those devine desserts!

I really think you made a very smart move-no wrangling kids, everyone will be happy and full of sweets! I was surprised at the low cost, I wish it was still going on during our trip!

Yup, we'll sugar them up before bed time. Sounds like a smart plan, doesn't it?!

 

[thewesterberg]

I received this in an e-mail from DH:

It is Disney Math time.


It is 6 weeks until we go that equals: 42 days.



Out of those 6 weeks there are 30 working days and you can’t count them so that leaves: 12 days



You can’t count today because it has already started so that leaves: 11 days



6 of the remaining days are Sundays and they are days of rest so they don’t count that leaves: 5 days



I will be out of town for 4 days so they don’t count that leaves: 1 day



And we are traveling to the cities on August 18th so that day is part of the trip and it doesn’t count so that takes care of that last day so we must be leaving today, I better get my shorts and mouse ears on.


I think he might be anxious to go, do you think???

 

[Flossbolna]

Oh that is sooo exciting!!! I read about the Everest Challenge and would so love to do that!! I hope you will do a TR on that! With the AP you might even be able to get a discount on AKL that is better than the race discount??

Regarding MK and MNSSHP: As far as I know you can enter the park at 4 pm for your party with your party ticket. So I am not sure, you really want to use a full day admission for MK on that day...

 

[brookelizabeth]

YAY! LOVE THE BONUS TRIP!!! $98. Serrrrrrrrrrrriously.

I love your hubby's Disney Math!

There is an AP rate out, $139 a night (Standard view) for AKL! I don't know if you need the actual pass to book that - or just a voucher? But, I'm guessing if you upgrade your current tickets to an AP in September you will still be able to apply the code to your EE 5K race trip and save more money!

 

[thewesterberg]

Eek... I disappeared from this thread for a month! Oops!

But there's a good reason... 11 of those days I was traveling with kids from my youth group. Our church is a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and this year was the national youth gathering, held in New Orleans. We traveled with 450 youth and adults from Northeastern Minnesota on 10 buses to Peoria, IL, Memphis, and then New Orleans.

In Peoria (2 nights) and Memphis (3 nights) we worked with local organizations to do different work in the community. And while in Memphis we also did a Justice Immersion Day, and toured the city and learned of it's history (we visited Slavehaven (a stop on the underground railroad, the Staxx museum (former recording studio), and various other points of interest). We also visited the National Civil Rights Museum (built around the hotel where Martin Luther King was assassinated), where one of my youth struck up a conversation with a gentleman about how their feet were sore while we were waiting for our turn to view a movie. The gentleman then said "I was on the balcony." Trevor was at first confused, thinking the man meant he had been on the balcony that day and it's actually closed to visitors. But, no, he meant he was on the balcony the day King was shot. Ended up it was Rev Billy Kyles. (here's a link to a Times article).

The shared a wonderful conversation that ended with Rev. Kyles parting words, which my student wrote this about: "What he said next has been one of the most thought provoking experiences of this journey and my entire life. Rev. Kyles said to me that he was 33, and Martin was only 39 when he was assassinated. He then asked me, "What are you going to have accomplished by the time you are 40?" Wow. That's a lot of a high school senior to mull over, but what an awesome challenge.

After our time in Memphis we moved on to New Orleans, where we met up with 38,000 youth and adults. This gathering is the largest convention that's been held in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina. The entire group was split up into 3 groups, and for 3 days in a row one-third of the group (over 12,000 people each day!!) went into the community to serve in a variety of different ways. Some groups built houses, others cleared trails, others did a health fair. My group visited a cultural arts center where some people painted, some cleaned up in the neighborhood by weeding and doing landscaping, and others interacted with kids that attended the center's day camp.

Our evenings ended with all 38,000 gathered in the Super Dome to hear speakers, bands, and worship. A very, very moving experience! It was a privilege to work alongside people in New Orleans as they keep moving forward in the recovery efforts all these years later.

After the 24 hour bus ride home, I collapsed for a few days with my only amount of energy going towards hanging out with Junior and surfing the DIS (and not commenting on anything - took too much energy)! It's time for us to get ready for our trip, which is now 10 days away!!

I made one more dress for one of the girls on the trip...

And we got all 15 Mickey Tye Dye shirts made! You'll see all of us Disney Hippie Freaks coming when we wear them the same day!! Everyone from the 2 year old to the 50 year old will be sporting one! Here's 4 of them...

Also, Nana surprised all us girls with a wonderful gift. She's really into beading and she made all of us girls (9 of us) a set of bracelets that represent each of the parks, all the princesses, Mickey & Minnie... they're so beautiful and so much care was put into picking out the perfect beads. I won't received them until the trip and I'll be sure to post pictures at that point. They'll be a very special treasure to remember the trip by.

In the non-crafty department trip preparations have continued to move along. Our We Go Shop order was sent in. And today I checked in online for our reservation. There was one weird thing. It said our Package Type: Pirate - Water View. Hmmmm.... we're staying at AKV. I don't believe pirates have anything to do with the giraffes. Very odd.

Part of the online check-in is agreeing to some stuff. You have to scroll through to check the box "I agree". I was scanning it as I went through and this part of the online check-in agreement cracked me up: "Neither I nor any member of my party occupying any resort accommodation have/has any intention of making, and will never make, this resort accommodation a legal domicile or principal dwelling. My/our legal domicile is and shall forever be outside the Walt Disney World Resort."



I wonder how they define "intent"....... I had to sort of lie about the not having any intent part...




It was a major bummer to realize that my legal domicile is and shall forever be outside the Walt Disney World Resort. Just plain depressing.



So that got us thinking... how many points would it take to stay at AKV for a year. DH used a point calculator to figure it out...

6,389 points for a Savannah View Studio

12,735 points for a 1 bedroom Savannah view

And so we could invite friends and family... 33,476 points for a Grand Villa


Now to come up with some spare change to get those points purchased...

 

[thewesterberg]

Here's what else is been going on in our community...

An Extreme Makeover Home is being built in Superior, WI (Superior and Duluth make up the Twin Ports). Unfortunately we didn't get our interest to volunteer in soon enough (I was on the New Orleans trip and it filled up instantly) but the site is still open to spectators. We headed over there this past Thursday to see the house, take some pictures and to see if we could see anyone famous (Ty, Paige, Paul, and Eduardo are the people working on the house).

Here's a picture of DH & I that DS took:

Another shot of the back of the house:

A picture of where the creative stuff is being made:

I can't wait to see how they use the canoes and birch logs in the house.

Under the tent they were filming:

We thought it was Eduardo in there, so we used the zoom and our guess was confirmed when we got home and could actually view the picture large enough on the computer to see it was really him!

This afternoon at 2pm the contractor was turning the keys for the house over to the designers. We tried going over after church this morning to see the progress, but they closed the site due to all the rain we got last night (had turned the area into a muddy mess, I guess.)

On our way home (around 12:30pm) we saw the "Move That Bus" bus driving through Superior with a police escort. Tomorrow at 2pm is the reveal to the family. The family went to Hawaii with the new DVC resort there (lucky ducks!). It would be fun to be there for the reveal, but I'm guessing it'll be nuts. Thankfully the family lives out in the country and there's a GIGANTIC field next to the house so there's lots of room for cars to park so it's an easy location to visit.

This house is suppose to be the season premiere, 2 hour show, that will be on in September. Can't wait to watch!!

 

[thewesterberg]

The ticker is at 9 days which means it's time for the

SINGLE DIGIT DANCE!


We couldn't let this momentous occasion pass us by without acknowledging it, so I planned a special evening for me, DH, and DS.


First up, for dinner we had a Mickey Pizza. Now when DH heard Mickey Pizza, he gave me a "huh?!" No honey, we're not having mouse on our pizza. Try a pizza in the shape of a Mickey head!


So DS I got to work...

First, the dough

Spreading the sauce

Adding the cheese and pepperoni

Prior to baking

And the final product

When I asked DH if he thought I was nuts for making a pizza like this, he said "No, only if you take pictures of it.'







I didn't dare post these on my Facebook account. Some of my friends already tease me about my love of Disney and joke about having me committed. This would seal the deal I believe. But it seems safe here. With others that "get it".


We enjoyed the pizza while watching the planning video (the part with the cell phones, which DS requested), talked about which rides we'll go on (DS wants his first ride to be on BTMRR ) and just plain getting excited. DS and I even danced a little in the midst of our excitement!

To end the evening, we played a couple of rounds of Disney's Think Fast Trivia on the Wii.

It was great evening of celebrating! And now we're into playing the "What I'll be doing next week at this time..." Game. At this time next week, I'll be hopefully finishing up packing so we can get the bags in the car in the morning. DH has to work next Tuesday and won't be able to leave until 4:30. However, my job is flexible and our other friends are leaving for Minneapolis around noon. DS and I decided to ride down with them so we can enjoy a little time shopping at Mall of America and just hanging out in general!


It's getting so close!!!!

 

[MeMom]

Your pizza craziness is safe here. Not only safe, but celebrated. Yay fro Mickey pizza!

I love to play 'This time next week...'. It's an awesome game!

You've got some good things on your Bucket List. It will be fun doing them, marking them off, and then maybe even starting a new bucket list.

Congratulations on the bonus trip, too!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Wow! That sounds like an AMAZING trip to New Orleans! That is really, really cool about meeting Rev Billy Kyles. It sounds like he truly affected that teens life for the good.

The dress and the shirts look really great! You are so stinkin' talented! The bracelets sound beautiful-I look forward to the pics.

I've heard of that "Pirate-Water View" before...but I thought I read about it on a CBR thread which DOES make sense because of their Pirate Pool. :scratchchin: I bet if you search for it here on the DIS someone knows the answer!

I wonder how they define "intent"....... I had to sort of lie about the not having any intent part...

LOVE IT!


How cool on the Extreme Makeover Home! And the people got sent to Hawaii! jealoussssssssss....I had no idea there was even enough of the Hawaii resort built to have someone stay there?

I like your green shirt!

HAPPY SINGLE DIGITS!!!!!

I love the Mickey Pizza! I might have to borrow that idea when we hit the single digits.

I'm so excited for you! I can't wait to hear all about it when you get back!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Just found your PTR and noticed you guys are single digit dancing...we just got to that today! Looks like we'll be in Disney at the same time.

I think the Mickey pizza is awesome!

 

[thewesterberg]

Your pizza craziness is safe here. Not only safe, but celebrated. Yay fro Mickey pizza!

Thank you for the support (or enabling)... Good to know I don't have to defend myself around here!

I love to play 'This time next week...'. It's an awesome game!

Yes it is!! Next week I'll be trying to fall asleep at this time (and probably not being too successful due to the excitement!) since we'll have to leave the hotel about 5am

You've got some good things on your Bucket List. It will be fun doing them, marking them off, and then maybe even starting a new bucket list.

It'll be a never ending list, always something new to explore!

Congratulations on the bonus trip, too!

Thanks!!!

Wow! That sounds like an AMAZING trip to New Orleans! That is really, really cool about meeting Rev Billy Kyles. It sounds like he truly affected that teens life for the good.

It was amazing hearing him tell me about it! And tonight I learned that one of our college students that was down there volunteering had a conversation in a hotel elevator with a stranger who ended up being Brad Pitt!! She didn't know until after the fact!!

The dress and the shirts look really great! You are so stinkin' talented! The bracelets sound beautiful-I look forward to the pics.

Thank you - it's fun to do. And the bracelets... oh, they are so cool! I had to relinquish them after trying them on and it was so, so hard.

I've heard of that "Pirate-Water View" before...but I thought I read about it on a CBR thread which DOES make sense because of their Pirate Pool. :scratchchin: I bet if you search for it here on the DIS someone knows the answer!

The whole CBR thing crossed my mind too. So I called DVC today to see what was going on and it's not showing up on their end. Weird, weird, weird. Nothing against CBR, but I'm wanting to stay at AKV!!



LOVE IT!

How cool on the Extreme Makeover Home! And the people got sent to Hawaii! jealoussssssssss....I had no idea there was even enough of the Hawaii resort built to have someone stay there?

It was fun to take a peek and see what it was like, even though we were there maybe a half hour. I wasn't sure about the Hawaiian DVC thing either, but that's what the press release said they were going.

I like your green shirt!

Thank you! On the back is a little tiny peace symbol on the back that says "And also with you". I got it in New Orleans at the Gathering. It's from a company called Old Lutheran that's based out of Moorhead. They have great t-shirts with a Lutheran humorous twist to them. One I have says "Martin Luther is My Homeboy." The one DH is wearing in that picture says Lutheran Stud (with a board underneath it). Another one of my favorites says My Pastor Can Beat Your Pastor to a Pulpit. Okay that's probably way more than anyone cared to hear about that t-shirt...

HAPPY SINGLE DIGITS!!!!!

I love the Mickey Pizza! I might have to borrow that idea when we hit the single digits.

Go for it! It was a little hard to cut the pizza up - DH was teasing me about slicing Mickey up into pieces.

Just found your PTR and noticed you guys are single digit dancing...we just got to that today! Looks like we'll be in Disney at the same time.

Awesome!! Getting excited??? I'm on my way to check out your PTR! Then I'll know who to be looking out for!

I think the Mickey pizza is awesome!

Thanks!!

 

[dulluth]

Hey, I know this is my trip too, but I am so impressed with us!! I am getting even more excited (if that is even possible) as I read!!!

 

[thewesterberg]

Hey, I know this is my trip too, but I am so impressed with us!! I am getting even more excited (if that is even possible) as I read!!!

Hey there!!! I'm so glad you made yourself known!! But on the other hand...Oh, Oh - now I have to watch what I write since you'll be around

Readers, this is Laverne. She's awesome!! (and I'm not just saying it because she's reading - she really is!!)

 

[kmbech]

Wow! We are going to be crazy busy and having lots of fun together! As I read (and I could have missed it) was our song...have you forgotten Hannah? I live with The Enforcer and I still don't know the song...I've got just a few days left to learn it. I can't wait to see everyone on Tuesday night for supper and then just try to sleep afterwards!

 

[thewesterberg]

Wow! We are going to be crazy busy and having lots of fun together! As I read (and I could have missed it) was our song...have you forgotten Hannah? I live with The Enforcer and I still don't know the song...I've got just a few days left to learn it. I can't wait to see everyone on Tuesday night for supper and then just try to sleep afterwards!

And here's Shirley!! I'm honored that your first DIS post is on our PTR!! to the PTR and to the DIS!

Okay, so what she's talking about...

We were inspired by the Wolfs Dance Orlando video (it's an awesome video put together by a fellow DISer. If you haven't watched it, check it out.. it'll make you smile!) We had a hard time deciding on a song, but came up with It's All Right Here by Hannah Montana. Laverne's DH has offered to put the video together. Now it's our job to learn the words to the song before the trip... and Shirley's daughter is the ENFORCER to make sure we all have it down pat. I'm scared. Very scared. The words clip right along at a good pace, but I'm trying. I'm playing it at work and in the car. But she's tough! I'll see if I can post a picture of her in her ENFORCER gear.

 

[thewesterberg]

It's almost go time! We're down to just a few more days - and if you do the fuzzy math (can't count today, the weekend doesn't count, and neither does the day we leave for Minneapolis) we've only got 1 day to go!!

So Chief and Junior are huge Phineas and Ferb fans. Junior has a Perry the Platypus plush that often comes along when we are at Chief's house. They talk episodes. But unfortunately the Phineas and Ferb gear is lacking (come on Disney - you've got a hit! We'll buy the stuff). I decided they needed some shirts for Disney so with a little photoshop-type magic, this is the final product:

and on the back, small up by the neck:

Also, Junior and I talked about character autographs - we hardly look at the autograph book so something that he could see more often would be special. We're going the pillowcase route so every night he can rest his head on a special pillow and have magical dreams. So this is what will be on the front, in the center of the pillowcase.

And now that you all know his name, I'm just going to call him Noah from here on out!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Is that a Perry the Platypus Pin?...ds would go crazy for that...

Sadly we weren't able to acquire Perry but we did get the stuffed Phineas and Ferb at the Disney Store...on the sale rack nonetheless...poor P & F ...

WE are going to be at the AKL at the same time... (or at least part of it...)you guys shouldn't be hard to spot-the large party with the tie dye tees--btw-I did that for the 4 of us on our last trip...

I love the Mickey Pizza and of course you have to take a photo...

Disney + Deals =

What an awesome opportunity in New Orleans-I know a lot of groups are still going down after Katrina and will be for a long while...but how awesome to meet someone who knew MLK...that probably made a huge impression now and they'll carry that as they get older...

So are you crazy with planning/packing??? I am...

 

[thewesterberg]

Is that a Perry the Platypus Pin?...ds would go crazy for that...

No, it's not (it's a clip art Perry with a clip art hat thrown on top) but HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE to have as a pin!! I would want one!

Sadly we weren't able to acquire Perry but we did get the stuffed Phineas and Ferb at the Disney Store...on the sale rack nonetheless...poor P & F ...

That's so sad!

WE are going to be at the AKL at the same time... (or at least part of it...)you guys shouldn't be hard to spot-the large party with the tie dye tees--btw-I did that for the 4 of us on our last trip...

Yeah, we'll be seen a mile away! Plus, I'll have a LGMH on our backpack. Say Hi if you see us!!

I love the Mickey Pizza and of course you have to take a photo...

Exactly! You get it!!

What an awesome opportunity in New Orleans-I know a lot of groups are still going down after Katrina and will be for a long while...but how awesome to meet someone who knew MLK...that probably made a huge impression now and they'll carry that as they get older...

It was an amazing opportunity all around. I've been working on a video of the pictures and videos I took on the trip to give the kids so that the memories can live on (hope they show it to their kids when they're "old" like me)

So are you crazy with planning/packing??? I am...

Tonight I hope to get some stuff actually IN the suitcase instead of ON TOP OF the suitcase! It'll seem more real!