Life’s too short...to never sleep in a treehouse! 8/27 TR is up! Link in siggie

[Happydog]

I hate budgets. That is why I can't stick to one And $300.00.... for drinks. Yep, I would say DH and I are pretty bad in that dept. I think we had a bar bill for that on the 3 night cruise... What can I say. When in Disney, I like to be Lost on Safari... and Grey-Goosed.

Glasses are expensive, I agree! So are contacts. Eitherway it all adds up for sure. Regarding the groceries, we have been able to bring stuff with us, but cross country flights don't allow for that obviously. Fortunately we can drive to get groceries, or bring them in the car on the train. I guess you have to expect that there is a bit of a markup and the delivery cost for Green Grocer, but hey, you get what you want, and you get it hassle free.

Can't wait to see your next updates!

 

[All7OfUs]

Hey Cynthia, just wanted to let you know that I just posted the new thread... HERE . Make you sure you keep it alive while I"m gone the next 2 weeks.

Taxis... I've heard that it's always best to plan on that when going from resort to resort, right?? So, from Jellyrolls/home, HDDR/home, etc... I figure if we split it 3 ways, it shouldn't be too bad.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Finally all caught up.

Love the sandals.

Crossing my fingers on the online glasses for you.

Love the homeless idea.

The ghost stories spook me. I'm calling you if I'm up tonight with nightmares. Course with the time change you probably won't even be in bed yet.

Off to work on my own GG food order.

 

[jenjolt]

I have to agree Disney budgets (or any budget in general) is just depressing! I feel like Money should grow on trees while I'm at Disney, unfortunately I know that is not the way it goes LOL!!!! Your budget looks good, at least you have an pretty good idea of how much you are going to need!!

I need to get on a budget for October ASAP of course we are waiting on moving and getting all those expenses taken care of first and then we'll sit down and make a budget for the year LOL!!!

OOOH I so want to go visit the World of Harry Potter! I might have to take a day out of my October trip and go over there and visit it!

 

[eandesmom]

I hate budgets. That is why I can't stick to one And $300.00.... for drinks. Yep, I would say DH and I are pretty bad in that dept. I think we had a bar bill for that on the 3 night cruise... What can I say. When in Disney, I like to be Lost on Safari... and Grey-Goosed.

Glasses are expensive, I agree! So are contacts. Eitherway it all adds up for sure. Regarding the groceries, we have been able to bring stuff with us, but cross country flights don't allow for that obviously. Fortunately we can drive to get groceries, or bring them in the car on the train. I guess you have to expect that there is a bit of a markup and the delivery cost for Green Grocer, but hey, you get what you want, and you get it hassle free.

Can't wait to see your next updates!

well, we are packing rum and will hit the store on the way to universal for restocking as needed. It will be interesting to see how we do on the budget. It would definitely help if we could just bring stuff, esp at Universal where the room doesn't have a fridge (I may rent one, haven't decided).

The delivery charge is not bad for GG so that's good!

Hey Cynthia, just wanted to let you know that I just posted the new thread... HERE . Make you sure you keep it alive while I"m gone the next 2 weeks.

Taxis... I've heard that it's always best to plan on that when going from resort to resort, right?? So, from Jellyrolls/home, HDDR/home, etc... I figure if we split it 3 ways, it shouldn't be too bad.

two weeks! I'll have withdrawal.

Yes, I have heard the same thing re: resort to resort. Never done it and never had an issue but if you are short on time I would think it would be faster. Our problem is we can't fit in one cab so it's generally not worth the hassle.

Finally all caught up.

Love the sandals.

Crossing my fingers on the online glasses for you.

Love the homeless idea.

The ghost stories spook me. I'm calling you if I'm up tonight with nightmares. Course with the time change you probably won't even be in bed yet.

Off to work on my own GG food order.

Did you get the other family to share your order?

Remember, they are just stories!

Rhe sandals are working out well so far, I've gotten to wear them a couple of times and I really like them!

I have to agree Disney budgets (or any budget in general) is just depressing! I feel like Money should grow on trees while I'm at Disney, unfortunately I know that is not the way it goes LOL!!!! Your budget looks good, at least you have an pretty good idea of how much you are going to need!!

I need to get on a budget for October ASAP of course we are waiting on moving and getting all those expenses taken care of first and then we'll sit down and make a budget for the year LOL!!!

OOOH I so want to go visit the World of Harry Potter! I might have to take a day out of my October trip and go over there and visit it!

It should grow on trees! Special Disney trees! Jeff and I watched the WWOHP sneak preview last night, it didn't really give anything away on the rides but it was still pretty cool and got us excited!

 

[MEK]

Well - I know one way to cut down your $330 drink budget, but it involves Evil "D" and Flagyl, neither of which is very appealing. So drink away!

Between Denny and I and two different hotel reservations and food over Memorial Day weekend (for tournaments) we spend a bundle. It's hard to spend it knowing it could have all gone to a Disney trip!

 

[eandesmom]

Well - I know one way to cut down your $330 drink budget, but it involves Evil "D" and Flagyl, neither of which is very appealing. So drink away!

Between Denny and I and two different hotel reservations and food over Memorial Day weekend (for tournaments) we spend a bundle. It's hard to spend it knowing it could have all gone to a Disney trip!

No thanks! I'll stick to buying too many drinks with umbrellas in them, or drinks in pineapples, or drinks with glow cubes....

UGH on out of town tournament costs. You are right, that's actually worse. I've been there and it is so NOT where you want your vacation $$ going!

I NEED DVC...it will lessen the pain.

2011 I truly hope!

 

[eandesmom]

Day 3 dawned bright and early. We got ready, me running down to get us each a coffee and Jeff overseeing quick showers for all and had the kids pack everything up, although refused to tell them why. Originally we had planned to just grab breakfast on our way out, probably at a Starbucks, but thanks to the in room safe fiasco, we had coupons for free breakfast at the hotel restaurant so intead, we headed down there. Stopping first to get coffees from the espresso bar we then helped ourselves to the buffet, including some made to order omelets. Sit down breakfast 3 days in a row definitely felt like vacation to me. I’m lucky to get out once a quarter for breakfast, let alone 3 days in a row!

Breakfast was not without drama. Evan served himself, and as he is wont to do, overserved himself. He complained that his eggs were cold and we told him tough, he should have eaten them first, and that he had to eat them. We really try to work on portion control if they serve themselves and while you all might think we are mean, it’s SOP around our house and for the most part, works well. You can always have seconds, you just can’t give stuff back, or not eat it.

Evan has a major gag reflex at times and will psych himself out about eating something that he’s convinced himself is bad. And so he decided to exercise some poor judgment, stuffing a lot of eggs in at once to try to get it over with.

You can see where this is going.

At the table.

Right onto his plate.

2 days of Evan over-ordering at restaurants and now this. To say Jeff was not happy is putting it midly. Thankfully the restaurant was nearly empty and we made a hasty retreat out of there. What had started off as exciting and slightly mysterious to the kids, now had a bit of a sour note.

Spring missing from our steps, we went back up to the room, once again fighting for elevator space due to a new convention in, got our bags and headed out. We rolled out to the car and loaded it up and headed to….

Knott’s Berry Farm!

Now for those of you who haven’t done the CA theme park circuit or who aren’t familiar with what this is, here is a bit of history for you. They bill themselves as "America's first theme park" but who knows what they really mean by that!

Walter and Cordelia Knott - Founders of Knott's Berry Farm
The year was 1920 when Walter and Cordelia Knott moved to the then-sleepy community of Buena Park, Calif. to farm 20 acres of rented land. Today, that land is part of 160-acre Knott's Berry Farm, America's first theme park and the 12th most-visited amusement park in the country. And, while the Knott Family no longer owns the venerable attraction, the Knott spirit of hard work and down-home hospitality lives on in new owner Cedar Fair, L.P., who acquired Knott's Berry Farm in December 1997.
The Knotts' first winter on the Farm was unseasonably cold and much of their first crop was ruined by frost. But relying on his ability to make the most of what he had, Walter initiated his practice of selling directly to grocers, thus eliminating costly middlemen, and was able to realize a small profit.

Walter's keen eye for sound enterprise and his dogged determination to succeed were attributes which became evident early in his boyhood years and remained solid through his life and career. His father died when he was six and by the time he was nine, Walter was raising vegetables on vacant lots, selling the produce in the morning before school and delivering newspapers in the evenings to help supplement the family income.
In 1927, Knott bought ten acres of land. The Depression hit a year later and land prices dropped. While maintaining the original payments, Walter bought an additional ten acres at the lower price and spent the last of the family's savings to build an adobe structure that became the Farm's first permanent building.

Ready for occupancy in 1928, the building was 80 feet long and housed a tea-room, berry market and nursery where berry plants were sold. By now, the Knotts had four children - son Russell and daughters Virginia, Toni and Marion - and, working together, they formed a family bond that prevailed throughout the years.

It was not until the 1930s that Walter became associated with the "boysenberry" which would became the family trademark. Nearby, Anaheim Parks Superintendent Rudolph Boysen had experimented with a new strain of berry but the plants kept dying on the vine. Walter took the scraggly plants, nurtured them to health and named the new berry - a cross between a loganberry, red raspberry and blackberry - after its originator. Today, all boysenberries in the world can trace their roots to Knott's Berry Farm.
As another means of staving off Depression hardships, Cordelia began selling jams and jellies made from Walter's berries. These were soon followed by home-baked pies, hot biscuits and sandwiches. Then, on a night in June 1934, Cordelia served eight fried chicken dinners on her wedding china - for the all-inclusive price of 65 cents each - and the world's largest chicken dinner restaurant was born. Today, the Chicken Dinner Restaurant seats more than 900 guests at a time, serves more than 1. 5 million guests each year, and is the largest full-service restaurant that serves chicken as its main course.

The success of the chicken dinners was immediate and by 1940 the restaurant was serving as many as 4,000 dinners on Sunday evenings. To give waiting customers something to do and to pay homage to the pioneering spirit of his grandparents and his love of the Old West, Walter developed Ghost Town, eventually the first of Knott's Berry Farm's six themed areas.
The first structure was the Gold Trails Hotel, which had originally been constructed in Prescott, Ariz. in 1868. Adhering to authenticity, Walter brought in other buildings from deserted ghost towns and Knott's Ghost Town as it exists today emerged. Additions were made as the years passed.
In the 1960s, the Calico Mine Ride and Timber Mountain Log Ride were added and Knott's built its second themed area: Fiesta Village, a tribute to California's early Spanish heritage. The third themed area opened in 1975 - Roaring 20s (rethemed in 1996 into The Boardwalk) - featuring the Corkscrew, the world's first looping coaster.

In 1983, Knott's debuted a first in the amusement park industry with its six-acre Camp Snoopy, the world's first theme park "land" designed specifically for kids. Wild Water Wilderness, a four-acre outdoor river wilderness area featuring the whitewater rafting ride Bigfoot Rapids, was added in 1988, followed by Indian Trails in 1993.

It was also the Knotts' decision to build the country's only brick-by-brick replica of Independence Hall, complete with an exact replica of the Liberty Bell, as a free-admission educational resources for Farm guests and Orange County residents.

Cordelia Knott died in 1974 at the age of 84 and Walter Knott continued to live on the Farm he loved until his death in 1981 - a week before his 92nd birthday. The Knott Family maintained operation of Knott's Berry Farm until its friendly acquisition by Cedar Fair, L.P. in December 1997.
In keeping with Walter and Cordelia's original goals, Knott's Berry Farm continues to combine quality, wholesome family entertainment with nostalgia and history. Cedar Fair is currently expanding Knott's Berry Farm with the most new rides, shows and attractions in the park's history, while maintaining those simpler features that continue to make it "The Theme Park Californians Call Home®."
​

In discussing our days plans with Jordan the night before, despite the very short park hours (10-6) he felt we’d be done by 6 without issue even if we didn’t get there right at park opening. We'd made tentative plans to hook up once we finished up as it was his day off, though he had a very busy day planned and a lot to take care of. Which I won't go into here but for those of you that follow his TR he did give me a heads up at dinner that he was planning for some extended leave so had a lot of details to arrange as you might imagine! Still, we were hopeful we'd be able to hook up at Paradise Pier at the end of the day.

Jordan was absolutely right about it being a non-issue getting there at park opening, which was good, because we didn’t! By the time we got up, got ready, got backed, ate breakfast, lost breakfast, got our stuff, loaded the car and drove to Knott’s probably 11! My first time stamp on a picture is close to noon! I can't even blame that on teens although we did have a lot happening that morning before we got there. Still, it doesn't bode terribly well does it for rope drop in august.

In fact parking took us a good half hour. For whatever reason the directional signage for parking is just horrendous. It only took us 15 minutes to get to the park from the hotel, a good 20 to find the right entrance to the lot and park. The park was DESERTED so we had some very nice parking. We walked up and purchased our tickets. Thanks to some pre-trip homework I knew there was a AAA discount at the gate and requested it, I want to say it was 15% off of all of our tickets and it certainly helped!

Tickets in hand, we wandered in. Jeff and I both reminiscing about our childhood trips and what we remembered from the park. For me it was the log ride, a wells fargo type stagecoach, western shows and of course, the fried chicken dinner and boysenberry pie. Jeff had no such food fond memories but the rest was pretty identical.

Finally, we could see the “K” from inside the park, instead of outside

Getting our maps and getting oriented we realized that the Wild West Show would be starting in about 15 minutes. I’m sure it has an official name but I can’t find it. Then again it may have been called just that!

We had a few minutes and with the park that empty we figured we didn't need to be early so we decided to hit the restroom and then hit the show! Near the restroom we “had” to stop in the saloon and have a sasparilla.

Just because we could. MNNNN good!

Heading to the show, just like the outdoor directional signage, we had similar problems inside the park. We walked in circles actually trying to figure out where the stage was, even though it was actually right under our nose. The stage was cute, it had normal theater seating and then ringing the stage and seating was a circle of covered wagons. Wanting to sit in the shade (as it was quite lovely out, probably the warmest day of the trip) and seeing a mostly empty theater. we snagged ourselves a wagon!

See look Mom, it was right here!

It was a classic stunt show, good guys versus bad, bad guy masquerading as a good one, lots of slapstick and stunts. It was quite well done and we all enjoyed it very much!

It even had the requisite fall into the well trick. Complete with a splash.

This woman came prepared.

We had thought it was a sunbrella but she was right in the line of fire so perhaps not!

Eric seemed to like it!

Thoroughly entertained, spring back in our steps, what would we do next?

 

[glennbo123]

Poor Evan! Poor you guys!

The wild west show looked like fun. That's neat that you got to sit in covered wagons to watch it.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Oh my goodness! I can't believe Evan did that! I can't even imagine what Charles' reaction would be if Connor did something like that. It would not be a good thing.

Until I started reading your trip report, I don't even think I knew Knott's Berry Farm existed, so it was neat to read all the history about it.

Cool wild west show -- especially the part about sitting in the wagons!

Oh, and I don't think I have had a sasparilla since I was little, but I sure do wish I had one right now!

 

[Flossbolna]

I am really enjoying your report on Knotts Berry Farm. This is a park that always intrigued me because I really like its history. I hope you had a chicken meal there and will post some food pictures!

Sorry for the rather not so pleasant breakfast. I can very well understand your rule about portion control. It was the same for me when I grew up: The rule was that we had to eat what we put yourselve on your plate. So we rather should take seconds than overstuffing our plates on the first round. In German we say for what Evan's problem was that his eyes were bigger than his stomach.

 

[eandesmom]

Poor Evan! Poor you guys!

The wild west show looked like fun. That's neat that you got to sit in covered wagons to watch it.

Well it's not the first (or second) time this has happened so the poor Evan ....he knows better. It probably sounds worse than it was, it's more the sheer idiocy of it that got us, completely avoidable.

Oh my goodness! I can't believe Evan did that! I can't even imagine what Charles' reaction would be if Connor did something like that. It would not be a good thing.

Until I started reading your trip report, I don't even think I knew Knott's Berry Farm existed, so it was neat to read all the history about it.

Cool wild west show -- especially the part about sitting in the wagons!

Oh, and I don't think I have had a sasparilla since I was little, but I sure do wish I had one right now!

Yeah, it wasn't good. He knows better. Not the first time this has happened although the first in a long while. It used to happen a lot more, I'd honestly forgotten about it. It could happen on one bite of something he didn't like and I think we both thought he'd moved past that "reaction" and had more self control.

I mean really, if he'd have said "Mom, I really think taking a bite of those cold eggs is going to make me sick" I wouldn't have made him eat them. There would have been different consequences but jeesh! And certainly no one made him stuff what looked like 2 full eggs worth into his mouth at once and I recall telling him to slow down and take smaller bites and have something to drink.

There was a fair amount of "no rollercoasters for you buddy" along the lines of if you are sick, you shouldn't go on thrill rides. And that includes making yourself sick. That sasparilla was SOOOO good! Brought back major childhood memories.

I am really enjoying your report on Knotts Berry Farm. This is a park that always intrigued me because I really like its history. I hope you had a chicken meal there and will post some food pictures!

Sorry for the rather not so pleasant breakfast. I can very well understand your rule about portion control. It was the same for me when I grew up: The rule was that we had to eat what we put yourselve on your plate. So we rather should take seconds than overstuffing our plates on the first round. In German we say for what Evan's problem was that his eyes were bigger than his stomach.

My mom was even more strict. If you served yourself, and didn't eat it all, you got it for the next meal. And the next and the next and the next until it was gone.

Nothing like cold chili for breakfast to teach portion control!

We have the same saying and yes, his eyes are bigger. Jeff says that to him all the time! A recurring theme through the trip as you can see. And shame on us the first 2 times for letting him order things that were too big but we did not make him finish those. In this case, he served himself.

Now, that said, in this case I don't actually think that was the issue. He'd let his eggs get cold, and then that grossed him out, I made him eat them and he stuffed WAYYYY too much in his mouth at once to try to get it over with which made him gag. I don't think it had a thing to do with too much food overall, just a (largely self induced) gag reflex. That he did not try to control or stop.

The incident was limited to that but it was still awful. Left a sour taste in all of our mouths. Very grateful the restaurant was deserted.

Mnnnn fried chicken.....

 

[mickeysmyboy]

I think I'm all caught up!

Your trip to CA sounds so great! I love hearing about the plane ride and puzzles! So exciting! Yes, there is a Long Beach, NY. Yes, it is on Long Island, probably an hour and a half west of my house. But, I guarantee going there would not be as much fun as your trip to CA!

Love your day on the Queen Mary! Sooo cool! It's also very cool that you got to meet Jordan!

 

[Sleepingbooty]

I wish I could remember more about our visits to Knott's when I was a kid. The only thing I remember from our last trip (about 20 years ago) was going on a roller coaster that (I think) went straight up in the air, and then rolled down backwards.

Can't wait to hear a very detailed description of that chicken dinner!

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Sorry to hear Evan was overserved! I know how those types of parental moments can go. KBF looks like a fun place to pass a day. Looking forward to more!

 

[Happydog]

And EGGS of all things. ICK. Oh this will be something you laugh about when he is 18. Something about regurgitation....

So back to fun then with Knotts Berry Farm! I have never been there, but I have heard about it. Glad to get info from you. Don't see us fitting this one in next fall, only Legoland and Disney, but it is a bit of nostalgia I am sure.

Looking forward to the rest of the day.

 

[MEK]

I am sorry for being 3 days late on your update. Sometimes I start to read an update at work, get interrupted, and THINK I finished the whole thing and left a comment! OK - Maybe, just maybe I shouldn't be Dis'ing at work!

Oh well- stellar update. Poor Evan. Brian was (and still is) like that. Foods can gross him out really easily. He is usually better at restaurants, but if one little thing goes awry (Like a tiny piece of fat or a little bone), it ruins the rest of his meal and he spits it out. Its so ridiculous considering he IS 17!

You TR is really making me want to take a trip to Disneyland / Knottsberry famr, ect vacation. I have spent very little time on the West Coast and your TR is peaking my interest.

I have an idea - we should do a house swap. You and your family can come visit the East Coast and we will travel out to the West Coast! What do you think????? You have to admit, its Friday afternoon, I am dis'ing after having happy hour on my deck, and its a creative idea!

 

[eandesmom]

I think I'm all caught up!

Your trip to CA sounds so great! I love hearing about the plane ride and puzzles! So exciting! Yes, there is a Long Beach, NY. Yes, it is on Long Island, probably an hour and a half west of my house. But, I guarantee going there would not be as much fun as your trip to CA!

Love your day on the Queen Mary! Sooo cool! It's also very cool that you got to meet Jordan!

Oh I don't know, they'd be pretty darn excited to go to NY! the QM was very cool, cooler than I expected to be honest and it was such a treat to hang with Jordan!!!

I wish I could remember more about our visits to Knott's when I was a kid. The only thing I remember from our last trip (about 20 years ago) was going on a roller coaster that (I think) went straight up in the air, and then rolled down backwards.

Can't wait to hear a very detailed description of that chicken dinner!

They do have one of those roller coasters. They have some intense roller coasters there!

Sorry to hear Evan was overserved! I know how those types of parental moments can go. KBF looks like a fun place to pass a day. Looking forward to more!

Overserved by himself lol! It was a very fun day. More coming soon.

 

[eandesmom]

And EGGS of all things. ICK. Oh this will be something you laugh about when he is 18. Something about regurgitation....

So back to fun then with Knotts Berry Farm! I have never been there, but I have heard about it. Glad to get info from you. Don't see us fitting this one in next fall, only Legoland and Disney, but it is a bit of nostalgia I am sure.

Looking forward to the rest of the day.

Yes. Eggs. Exactly.

If he ever stops doing it we will laugh. Maybe. Knotts in some ways might be better when your kids are older anyways, there is some cute little kid stuff but a lot of intense rides too.

I am sorry for being 3 days late on your update. Sometimes I start to read an update at work, get interrupted, and THINK I finished the whole thing and left a comment! OK - Maybe, just maybe I shouldn't be Dis'ing at work!

Oh well- stellar update. Poor Evan. Brian was (and still is) like that. Foods can gross him out really easily. He is usually better at restaurants, but if one little thing goes awry (Like a tiny piece of fat or a little bone), it ruins the rest of his meal and he spits it out. Its so ridiculous considering he IS 17!

You TR is really making me want to take a trip to Disneyland / Knottsberry famr, ect vacation. I have spent very little time on the West Coast and your TR is peaking my interest.

I have an idea - we should do a house swap. You and your family can come visit the East Coast and we will travel out to the West Coast! What do you think????? You have to admit, its Friday afternoon, I am dis'ing after having happy hour on my deck, and its a creative idea!

I do the same thing! I will read it and then realize I never commented, terrible.

I love the house swap idea!!!!!!!!!!

That is EXACTLY it with Evan. Exactly. And it's an instantaneous thing, that reflex.

 

[All7OfUs]

Finally!! KBF! Grew up there. In fact, went there about 1 time for every 2 went to DLR.

My favorite was the crafty things you could make- like colored sand in a bottle. Of course, the Corkscrew and Montezuma's Revenge were ridden ad nauseum. Pun intended.

LOVE the rhubarb crisp- but that's coming up, I guess.


Eggs. Right on up there with bananas. Gag me. Omelets are oK, a little, but scrambled?? I'd have happily thrown up just to NOT Have to eat them.