MR BACK's Back!

[kadaten]

Itinerary looks good except for the teacups. Nope don't like spinning things. But I am a Space Ranger-yep 999,999!!! the champ!!

Ok...then we better let Danny do your planning! He's not a spinner either. Me, I just LOVE it! Kids ride the teacups with me, but after that one time Abbie talked him into it, he said no more. Rode the AstroOrbiter a couple weeks ago (first time for all of us). He was SO GREEN by the time we were done...poor guy!

And, that's actually good news! He doesn't have mommy brain and remembers all the good tips and suggestions!

 

[castlegazer]

CMom - that's a great picture and soo great for you son!

Jimmy Carter was my college professor. He is an amazing man.

 

[cheeringmom]

Hey guys, dilema here....doing some research on hotels the first week of Oct. cheapest-gotta go that way- is the values at $655- but... I can rent a condo in kissemee or orlando -which ever place is closer -for $265- thru the military. Is parking free for passholders? I am also debating that. So much to think about. I really need some advice. Never have driven around the area. Always stayed on site. Not sure if it would be worth it with the gas prices. Help!

 

[geffric]

Morning..

Cheeringmom do you have the test results back yet? What about price at Shades of Green ? Yes AP holders get free parking. The driving around is not that bad, depends on where the condo is? Some are just outside WDW gates. Plus it helps with the food costs as you get to do the grocery store and eat in a bit.

 

[ibouncetoo]

cheeringmom,having done the condo bit (time share "Celebration World Resort" great location VERY near AKL) and actually done the drivng myself (after many trips of PixieMagic being the driver) it's very doable. Plus, you can hit the outlet malls! Hey, a gallon of gas still costs less than a fancy Starbucks coffee, and with the right vehicle you can go 30 miles on it. Also parking at TTC, Epcot or MGM, you can still use Disney to hop easily to three parks during your day (monorail/frendship boats). We also found the car convenient when we were going from our condo to a resort for dinner, as you know resort to resort transportation can be a pain. All the resorts allow diners to park there....I think you get a 3 hr pass, though the GF was a pain....I think we used valet there as their regular lot was a hike. Definately consider this option.

Also, are you looking at DTD hotels? You can often get good deals with priceline or bidding for travel AND don't Swan and Dolphin have military rates? I'd definately check then out.....I love their location AND their beds!

 

[cadburysmom]

lets see if this works.....

Cheeringmom What a great pic! ...and your son is soooo darn handsome no wonder he's such a good runner, being constantly chased by love-struck teenage girls will do that for a fella
Oh, and my son is totally envious of your "Space Ranger" skills...he's hoping you'll meet us in Feb and share your high-scoring secrets!

CMom - that's a great picture and soo great for you son!

Jimmy Carter was my college professor. He is an amazing man.

Castlegazer Cool...did you go to Emory in Atlanta? I've enjoyed him at speeches and fundraisers and think he would be a wonderful professor

Kadaten Better luck hitting the parks this weekend...hopefully your two cute ones have learned their lesson and will be the perfect angels this time

 

[kadaten]

Hey guys, dilema here....doing some research on hotels the first week of Oct. cheapest-gotta go that way- is the values at $655- but... I can rent a condo in kissemee or orlando -which ever place is closer -for $265- thru the military. Is parking free for passholders? I am also debating that. So much to think about. I really need some advice. Never have driven around the area. Always stayed on site. Not sure if it would be worth it with the gas prices. Help!

Yeah, with the F&W festival October is hard to get ressies anymore, especially at decent prices. Are you talking this year or next? SOG might be an option for NEXT year, but personally, I don't find them to be a great value any more. Still have great rooms, but now that we're in the most expensive bracket, it's not saving much money.

Parking is free for AP holders, but not FL seasonal. Which do you have?

Kissimme is closer than Orlando, definitely When looking at location, stuff along Hwy. 192 is very convenient....can't remember the other road. A lot of places will call themselves "Main Gate" and they usually are right there... Driving is not bad at all. Disney has lots of good signage....just as long as you remember what road your place is off of, you'll be alright!

That AFVC is a great deal, isn't it! If there are any Marriotts on the list, they're usually excellent properties. Avoid the Wyndham Palms at all costs! Not sure if it's on the list, but if it is, run FAR, FAR away!!! Others, there is a timeshare newsgroup where you can look them up, but it costs to join. If you want to read reviews, it might be worth the fee. I think it's only $15 or so for a year. It's www.tug2.net

 

[ohanafamily]

Hi Everyone!!!

Anything Happening???

 

[ohanafamily]

ok, I am stuck at the security desk, and...

I'm BORED !!!!!

Where is Oddball when you need her???

 

[cheeringmom]

Hey Guys

Ibounce and Kadaten. THANK YOU both for the super advice. I did check into DD hotels and no real deals to be made. I am scared of priceline. I know I will get a crappy room or will screw up somewhere!!It will just be me and my 5 yr old so I don't need anything fancy. But now Sam is mad and wants me to wait until her winter break, soooo I don't know what to do. Kadaten, have you ever used the AFVC? and I hear ya sister on the SOG. We are in the higher bracket and hate paying the price when I can stay elsewhere for a lot cheaper.

Don't have the passes yet and that is another reason to look for a deal on a room. This trip will cost us a fortune having to get passes also. Not sure if I should get the FL seasonal or reg. pass. I hate the summers down there so not going in the summer is no problem but i really need to look at the school calander and compare dates. I wish I won the lotto and non e of this would make a difference!! again, thanks for the advice.

hahaha CADSMOM, my son hates that pic. He said he looks like he has a Pinnochio nose!! and tell Jordin, no secrets on Buzz. Just aim high and far!!

off to get some stuff done while the house is still asleep. Look at the time! ugh

 

[ibouncetoo]

I understand your delima cheeringmom. I just found out I won't have a Nov mortgage payment so my brain suddenly went "WDW for my birthday!!!" But it's not enough $ to cover a 'real' WDW vacation and I don't want to draw on other $$ because I want to cruise in '06. So, I'll just save that $$ for cruising, and take my final week vacation to do a major household purge/clean/organize.

At least, as of TODAY, that's what I think I'll do *****


*****EDITED A FEW HOURS LATER: Yeah, till I got of the phone with geffric!! and she taunted me with shared meals at Cape May, Boma and Ohana and getting to see the lovely cadburysmom again. ARGGGG!****

 

[kadaten]

Hey Guys

Ibounce and Kadaten. THANK YOU both for the super advice. I did check into DD hotels and no real deals to be made. I am scared of priceline. I know I will get a crappy room or will screw up somewhere!!It will just be me and my 5 yr old so I don't need anything fancy. But now Sam is mad and wants me to wait until her winter break, soooo I don't know what to do. Kadaten, have you ever used the AFVC? and I hear ya sister on the SOG. We are in the higher bracket and hate paying the price when I can stay elsewhere for a lot cheaper.

Don't have the passes yet and that is another reason to look for a deal on a room. This trip will cost us a fortune having to get passes also. Not sure if I should get the FL seasonal or reg. pass. I hate the summers down there so not going in the summer is no problem but i really need to look at the school calander and compare dates. I wish I won the lotto and non e of this would make a difference!! again, thanks for the advice.

hahaha CADSMOM, my son hates that pic. He said he looks like he has a Pinnochio nose!! and tell Jordin, no secrets on Buzz. Just aim high and far!!

off to get some stuff done while the house is still asleep. Look at the time! ugh

I hear you on the passes. Luckily ours are spread out since we got ours in April on househunting leave, Abbie's in early July when we moved here, and Walt's in early August after he turned 3. But we're already in for $1037 in passes this year (2 FLAP adults, 1 kid FLAP, 1 kid seasonal FLAP...SOG prices). But since we'll be there after the blackout date starts, we'll have to upgrade Walt's in December....so even more $$.

I've never done the AFVC but my BIL/SIL did when they were living in England. They stayed at some neat little place in Scotland and loved it. They said the whole process was pretty easy and they had no complaints. You really can't beat the price! If you don't find anything in the $265/week section, make sure you check their other section....in-season, or something like that. It has a lot of the more popular areas in it, and there are lots of Orlando accomodations on that side, too. Not as good a deal as the $265, but a break over the regular prices.

Have you thought about renting DVC points? That might be an option. I've never done that either, but lots have and speak highly of the experience.

 

[ohanafamily]

Cheeringmom, when are you planning on going????

We still have room at Ohana on Monday night...

 

[Lewski709]

Hello all. I was able to view Castlegazers digi scrap. Nice work girlie!

All this talk of car seats, the only thing I need is an infant seat. I sold mine last year, with some other items in the garage sale. Little did I know.................

Great work on cheeringmoms sons running! Keep up the good work and trophy winnings.

 

[geffric]

let's see, last year, i was able to help Ibouncetoo celebrate her b'day in Chitown, so it would be consistant for her to celebrate at WDW at the F&W festival with me and Geoff and Chocolatesista...


Hi ho... we have been over busy all weekend and this week doesn't look any better...Friday - geoff had CC paractice, eric had football practice then off to the HS Homecoming game.. saturday was Boy Scouts clean up of the forest perserve, and then to build a house for a game for the next Boy Scout weekend..The today it was on to Eric football game in the city which took us hours to get to and back.. then off to sell popcorn and then the boys were off to a patrol meeting. In the mean time I have to do laundry, make soup and get ready for the holidays... Monday night is services, Tues the same but i am making dinner for the family so get back, clean up and do the last minute cooking. Wednesday, eric has practice 5- 7 , Geoff has practice from 3:00 - 5:00, and geoff has a Philmont meeting at 7:30 at the Boy Scout Council. Thursday Geoff has a meet, Eric has practice , Then thay both have to be a boy scouts for the loading of the equipment for the weekend. Friday, Geoff has practice and a meet on Saturday, then off to join DH and eric at the boy scout camp out, They are leaving late Saturday night as Eric has a football game at 11:00 and Geoff has to be at aschool at 6:00 am so he can work at the Chicago marathon..

oh well... talk to ya later..

 

[kadaten]

geffric
I think someone needs a personal assistant! Or at least someone's KIDS needs a personal assistant! Wow, girlfriend! You are definitely deserving your November trip. Tell me it isn't always like that?!?

 

[ibouncetoo]

let's see, last year, i was able to help Ibouncetoo celebrate her b'day in Chitown, so it would be consistant for her to celebrate at WDW at the F&W festival with me and Geoff and Chocolatesista...

Twist my arm just a little more.






OK, OK, OK.......where shall I have dinner Thursday night? Must be a resort or DTD location....you've already got three of my favorites booked for Fri-Sun.
Maybe just a sandwich or salad at Earl of Sandwich and some shopping? Hmmmm must sleep on it.

Good night

 

[geffric]

geffric
Tell me it isn't always like that?!?

yep once your kids get to the "activity years" and they both do different things, all you do is run them here, there, and everywhere, car pool and go to games and help on the various committees. The leisure days of going to the zoo disappear.

ibouncetoo think about a No Way Jose or a Dole whip.. BTW do you know how much are segway tours??

Where 's Castlegazer?

 

[castlegazer]

Castlegazer Cool...did you go to Emory in Atlanta? I've enjoyed him at speeches and fundraisers and think he would be a wonderful professor

YES! You get the prize!

All this talk of car seats, the only thing I need is an infant seat. I sold mine last year, with some other items in the garage sale. Little did I know.................

This is why I am scared to give too many of my baby clothes away - let alone the big stuff like car seats.

Hi GUYS!!!! I am back from yet another Princess weekend. We were up in Boothbay Harbor Maine for a small wedding at an Inn overlooking the harbor - It was gorgeous, COLD as anything, but gorgeous! The kids and I were on our own for much of it because my husband was in the wedding party. We went out to dinner to a lobster shack alone, watched sunsets, and basically managed to hold it together with just the two wee ones and me. This was no small feet I tell you - I am not that good as a single Mom. Getting them dressed for the wedding was enough to give me grey hair. But all in all, it was a lovely weekend, beautiful weather during the days, and gorgeous scenery.

CMom - I am all about driving around Orlando. I do it for work and for vacation and its super easy - that is compared to driving up here. There are excellent maps available everywhere (even on-line there are some really awesome virtual maps) and it is sooo much easier, in my opinion, to stay in a condo. Even if you pay for parking, its really not that much, and you probably won't even burn through a full tank of gas during your whole stay - so it will be less than $50 of gas - that does not even come close to what you will be saving. I say DO IT!

Only recently have I begun staying on property. I like life outside the parks. I am a huge fan of Orlando and all it has to offer. I love going up to International Drive and no trip is complete without a stop at City Walk for me. We amost always spend most of our trips out at the beach in Cocoa Beach.

If I can do it you can too.

 

[castlegazer]

Where 's Castlegazer?

Thanks for thinking of me! I was just off galavanting.