LAH LAH's Dec '10 PTR & WDW Trivia Extravaganza! *new 1/2/11*

LAH LAH

1244.22 Miles from the Magic
Joined
Jan 18, 2008
Messages
949
Hello! I am Melissa (LAH LAH) and it's nice to meet you...

So, it all started one year, one month, and 2 weeks ago. I couldn't sleep. When I can't sleep I come here and bum around. Somehow dreaming about going back to the World helps. Helps what you ask? It helps all sorts of things. I find stuff on the budget board on sale I didn't need but still purchase, I read about others and their extravagant vacations and wonder where I would stay if I was that rich, and look for all sorts of deals and tips.

Well, that night (in 2009) I went to the transportation board (I never go there) and stumbled across $25 coupons for Airtran...so that sent me straight to Airtran to price out some dates for December and they were only $62. Hmmmmm...that seemed like such a good deal. I have wanted to visit the World in all it's Christmas glory but just wasn't sure if it was a possibility for us.

"Us" is the three of us. Me , Michael, and Elsa:

*click on one of us to get to know us better*

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Reading the first post from my January 2009 trip report might help you to get to know us better.

So was this the start of us going back to our happy place? I hardly need an excuse to plan a Disney vacation, but to execute it is something entirely different. I knew we had the airfare on our side. How could we possibly pass up $47 tickets? Could you? Would you? Wouldn't you want to bless others with this deal? Even if they weren't thinking about a Disney vacation anytime soon? Especially because you kinda pressured them to go last time? (Do you see where this is going? I am talking about Meems and Peeps...had you read the first post of my January trip report you would know this :laughing:)

So I fashioned a very informative email to them and hoped for the best. I must admit the response was not what I was expecting. It wasn't exactly a yes...and hardly a no!!!!!

Look at these two. Wouldn't you want them to join you on a trip? Well I know I do!

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I promised my father that if they give me a straight "no" that I wouldn't badger them. I promised I would let it go. He chuckled and said "somehow I don't believe you". The nerve!!!! :snooty: Well...I can't blame him too much. Sometimes when I get my heart set on something I can't help myself. I guess being pressured into Disney isn't the worst thing to happen. But a promise is a promise. I wouldn't pressure. Really...I wouldn't!


Next up: Who can we get to join us?

or

Go straight to the WDW TRIVIA EXTRAVAGANZA!
 
When I read that they released 2009 FD to the Disney Visa holders I did a little happy dance! My insides were shaking...could we possibly be so lucky as to be able to afford going back to our happiest of happy places? We don't do Disney big, but we happily don't even know what we are missing. If we can't pay cash we don't go, so the deals are our best avenue for returning...and FD and the airfare were a huge help!

I called my mom with the news and she said "call your dad". If my mom and I had our way we would be at Disney more often. My dad is the voice of reason...and the big budgeter. I say who needs Dave Ramsey when you have my dad! He has helped all three of his children understand the reality of financial freedom so it is hard to get too irritated when he doesn't blindly jump on my bandwagon. :upsidedow

They decided to wait until things settled down before making a decision on whether or not to join us. I suppose I can understand my dad's position. My sister was getting married at Hilton Head Island in South Carolina in less than 2 weeks. Waiting until the final wedding numbers were in was probably in their best interest.

Apparently Disney in December 2009 was in our best interest because we were booked for the 10th-16th!!! Michael and Elsa didn't know it yet. This wouldn't be a "Surprise! We are leaving for a week at Disney in an hour" kind of trip like last time. I was now just looking for a fun way to share the good news with my two favorite people in this world!

So we were off to my little sister's wedding!


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After a week of vacationing and then the wedding itself, we traveled the 12 hours with my parents back to their house where the kids and I were to pick up our JEEP and drive the final 4 hours home. We didn't quite make it. I ended up having emergency back surgery right there, right then. The day after I was released from the hospital I cried as I called AAA to cancel our 2009 DISNEY trip. :sad1:

But...the story does not end there!

Next up: Where do we go from here?
 
From the time I cancelled that 2009 Disney trip our lives were turned upside down:

We spent 1 month at my parents house while I was waiting for the OK to be able to ride the 4 hours back home.

I lost my job as the business I worked for went under.

I spent 5 months fully restricted from lifting and bending during a very looooong recovery

In February 2010 we welcomed 2 wonderful foster brothers into our home. 3 months and 17 months old. They are still here
:lovestruc

All the while wishing and hoping and continuing to visit the budget boards here in hopes that a trip might be possible again.

I am happy to anounce we are returning to our happiest of happy places!

2009
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2008
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2007
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:banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:

I just booked our 2010 December FREE DINING Disney trip...and get this, our dates are exactly the same as what we had booked last year! I only recognized this when I pulled up my poor neglected 2009 trip report!

:dance3::dance3::dance3:


So I guess for me this will be my place to brainstorm, get excited, and do a lot of this: :yay:

I hope you choose to join me!

Next up: We are so excited!
 

Oh my gosh, am I first?! :banana:

Ok, I was a bit confused, kept looking to see that this was a NEW PTR, Dec 2009?! Now it all makes sense!!

Can't wait to hear all the details!!!
 
Oh my gosh, am I first?! :banana:

Ok, I was a bit confused, kept looking to see that this was a NEW PTR, Dec 2009?! Now it all makes sense!!

Can't wait to hear all the details!!!


You are 1st! :dance3:

I am so excited we are returning!
 
Woohooo...I love your title...can't wait to follow along as you plan!!
 
Joining inpopcorn::. Congrats on the wonderful disney news:cheer2: My brother and sister don't know that we are going to Disney for Christmas either. We haven't figured out if we are going to tell them two days before, the night before we leave, or just let them notice when we pull into Disney:confused3.
 
i'm in! glad you are getting to go back!

Joining inpopcorn::. Congrats on the wonderful disney news:cheer2: My brother and sister don't know that we are going to Disney for Christmas either. We haven't figured out if we are going to tell them two days before, the night before we leave, or just let them notice when we pull into Disney:confused3.

Woohooo...I love your title...can't wait to follow along as you plan!!

So exciting...I have followers! :banana:

:scared1: Wait...now this means I have to deliver a somewhat entertaining pre-trippy. The pressure is on. :laughing:
 
One of my 1st post-op questions to my neurosurgeon regarding lifetime restrictions was "Can I still go to Disney?" and he did not disappoint! Turns out the Tea Cups are out and so are Thunder Mountain and Dinosaur...but everything else is a green light for me.

Phew...really dodged a bullet there. :rotfl: As long as I can still do Space Mountain, Expedition Everest, Carousel of Progress, Splash Mountain, Pirates of the Carribean, Hall of Presidents, Living with the Lands, Spaceship Earth, Buzz Lightyear, IASW, Mission: Space, Soarin', Kilimanjaro Safari, Rockin' Rollercoaster, Tower of Terror, Star Tours, Toy Story, One Man's Dream, The Movie Ride, all of Fantasy Land, all of Adventure Land, all the shows, all the parades, all of the fireworks, and eat all of the snacks I should be good to go.

2008
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We won't be taking Baby C and Baby E with us. They have been here for 7 months and are really a part of our family, but I am not foolish enough to think I can handle a 10 month old, a 2 year old, and Michael and Elsa on my own. :scared1: The boys will go to respite for the week and we will miss them immensely. There is always the chance with foster care for those kids to become a permanent addition to your family. If this were the case this trip might be the last time we have a chance to do Disney with just the three of us in our thankfully-the-kids-are-old-enough-to-be-independent kind of way.


BUDGET BUDGET BUDGET BUDGET BUDGET BUDGET​

We only do Disney if we can pay for it with cash. This means we end up looking for fun inexpensive or free stuff to do. During our last trip we all picked a pearl and really enjoyed that. I think I might be spending the next 3 months looking for those small out of the way things that this cheap family will appreciate! Any ideas or directions you can point us to for the fun nearly free stuff would be great!

Next up: We have a plan!
 
I'm in! I'm in! You have had quite a year! :hug: I am so happy for you that you are going to be able to make it this year.

My mom, dad and myself are suprising my two youngest this year. They will find out the day that we leave. :santa:

I can't wait to read more!

Trish
 
I'm in! I'm in! You have had quite a year! :hug: I am so happy for you that you are going to be able to make it this year.

My mom, dad and myself are suprising my two youngest this year. They will find out the day that we leave. :santa:

I can't wait to read more!

Trish


Our last trip was a surprise trip and the kids were blown away! How exciting for your two youngest! I need to head on over and check out your pretrippy...
 
Our last trip was a surprise trip and the kids were blown away! How exciting for your two youngest! I need to head on over and check out your pretrippy...


I just read your last trip report and loved it! You and your children are adorable!

I can't wait to keep up with your planning....and our dates are going to overlap. We are going to be at Disney from Dec. 4th to the 13th.

Trish
 
I just read your last trip report and loved it! You and your children are adorable!

I can't wait to keep up with your planning....and our dates are going to overlap. We are going to be at Disney from Dec. 4th to the 13th.

Trish

I didn't realize so many of my photos were missing from my previous Trip Report. I just spent longer than I should have to put them all back in. :rotfl:

Be looking for me with my Lime Green Mickey head hanging from my purse!
 
WE HAVE A PLAN!

We spent some time this morning mapping out what we want our 5 ticket days to look like. This isn't perfect, but we are sidestepping all of the MVMCP nights!

December 11th MAGIC KINGDOM! 9am - 1am (last day of Pop Warner)
*I don't know a lot about Pop Warner...I hope we aren't disappointed*

December 12th HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS! 9am - 12am (utilizing Magic Hours)

December 13th MAGIC KINGDOM! 9am - 1am (utilizing Magic Hours)
*would have preferred to have done this MK day on our final day...but MVMCP interfers*

December 14th ANIMAL KINGDOM! 9am - 3pm (the rest of this day will be spent swimming at our resort...if warm enough...and resort hopping to peek around)

December 15th EPCOT! 9am - 9:30pm

:dance3: :dance3: :dance3: :dance3: :dance3: :dance3: :dance3:

I love having a plan!

2008
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2009
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2008
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Next up: If you show me your bucket list I'll show you mine!
 
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I can't show you the babies (confidentiality and all that) but here we are (minus me).

The task today, after getting our daily game plan, was to write out our DISNEY DECEMBER 2010 BUCKET LISTS!

Melissa:

Try a Dole Whip
Go to Tom Sawyers Island
Going one full day with out losing my patience with the kids while in the parks
See the Osborne Lights!
See the updated Hall of Presidents
Beat Michael at Toy Story Mania
Walk through the Castle
Captain EO!
Stay for the "Kiss Goodnight"


Elsa:

See Indiana Jones 2 times
Doing Monster Inc. 5 times
Going to one huge Disney Store and look around for a while and look for my special gift
Playing on Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground
Kali River Rapids
Meet Sully and get a picture
One time get my hair all dressed up like a princess...just not a dress
Captain EO!
Enjoy a water park
Spend the night in Cinderella's Castle
Night time ride on Tower of Terror
Stay for all of EMH


Michael:

Do the Kim Possible cell phone thing
Watch the Circle of Life
Stay at All-Star Music
Captain EO!


And this is what my side table looks like now:

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Next up: It's time for a countdown project...
 
love the bucket list idea! think I will do that with my family! although, I am not sure there is a whole lot we haven't done.. only things we haven't really done, idk if we can afford :rotfl2:

great idea though!
 
love the bucket list idea! think I will do that with my family! although, I am not sure there is a whole lot we haven't done.. only things we haven't really done, idk if we can afford :rotfl2:

great idea though!

I love the picture of your kids in that hammock! :lovestruc
 












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