NMAmy's To Do List - 4/26-Update-Page 21-The End

[NMAmy]

April 8-For those of you just starting this report--if you'd like to skip directly to the actual TR, here are the page numbers of each installment thus far:

If you want a good laugh, you might want to read the story of my mishap at Lights, Stars, Motorcars on this page, Post #7. (You are totally allowed to laugh at my expense! Don't feel bad.)
Chapter 1-Getting There-Page 9, Post #134
Chapter 2-Checking In-Page 10, Post #139
Chapter 3-Dinner in Morocco-Page 10, Post #141

I hope you enjoy this!


Hello and welcome to my trip report! Well, the pre-trip report. Because I'm too antsy to wait until after we get back to start. And I'm hoping you all can keep me amused until we leave. No pressure. It's only 25 days until our actual trip.

Now isn't this the perfect excuse for a Disney trip:

How pitiful is THAT? Sorry it's kind of a bad picture but just take my word for it, it's bad. Not only is my Mickey antenna topper covered with salt and ick, he's lost an ear. I MUST get a new one. And, dd just got her driver's license. And her dad bought her a car. Which, of course, needs its own antenna topper. What kind of a mom would I be to let my child drive an antenna topper-less car? Please don't call CPS on me, I'm planning on redeeming myself.

Cast of Characters:

Me--Amy I'm 43 and brainwashed my husband and child so they love Disney as much as I do. Well, close. They do think I'm a freak for planning so much but they're very appreciative when we get there. You know, when we have an ADR and everyone else is being turned away. THEN they think I'm a freaking genius. But they do roll their eyes when I ask them where they feel like eating in 45 days.

DH-Alex. 54. Yeah, we're old. But we're still fun. I promise. I always feel sorry for posters whose DH's are not that into WDW. DH took DD and I for the first time in 2000. He had no desire to go but was sweet enough to give me the go ahead because he knew how much DD and I loved it. Once he got there, he was hooked. He told me the other day, "I love going to Disney World because I don't have to plan a THING. You plan everything and I just show up and do what I'm told." He's really the perfect travelling companion because he does just show up and does what he's told. No hysterics. No freak outs. He's the best. He just does whatever we tell him to do. We've never gotten into an argument at WDW.

DD-Caitlin. She's 16. Remember those hysterics and freak outs I was just talking about? That's her. We usually have one major blow out while we're at WDW. (So, keep reading--when we get back I'll tell you all about it! Heck, I may even replay some of our prior arguments in this pre-trippie somewhere. It'll be like a little bit of Jerry Springer just for you!) She's living in New Mexico right now with her dad so we're both looking forward to spending spring break together. She's living there because she really prefers her school to the one in Michigan. I hate it. She hates being away from me. We've both learned to deal with it. And it does make her more appreciative of me as a mom so that's good. And we usually talk at least once a day. Thank heavens for cell phones. Oh, yeah, and she's a big Stitch freak. I'll explain more later. (ooh...foreshadowing...)

DD's friend, Jen. She's 16, too. Here's the weird part...I've never met this child so I know nothing about her except her mom seems really nice. I talked to her on the phone and we've emailed back and forth. DD was originally going to ask a friend who lives here in Michigan but she couldn't come so dd asked if she could bring Jen. She assures me I'll like her.

And if you think planning a regular trip is difficult--imagine trying to pull together one where everyone is coming from somewhere different! DH and I are coming from Michigan--the girls are flying in from Albuquerque. Not to mention getting my ex to cooperate with taking the girls to Albuquerque. So--here's the plan!

DH and I will fly out of Detroit on Friday, 3/23. We're leaving earlier in the day then the girls. In fact, if all goes well, we'll arrive before they even get on their plane. I wanted it set up so if weather delayed us or something, we could rearrange the girls' flight. So, you know, two 16 yo girls wouldn't be sitting around in Orlando waiting on me.

However, this means that DH and I have about 9 hours before the girls arrive. Since we're staying at the Dolphin, no ME. Hmm...turns out renting a car will cost more than just using Tiffany twice. And DH and I don't have to navigate an unknown city. Which, oddly enough, is the only time we DO argue. So, it's win/win.

Here's the plan--we arrive, have our fancy man with my name on a sign waiting for me at baggage claim (am I SUCH a nerd for LOVING this? I feel like a movie star. Or someone important. Which I'm not.), have our driver (I'll call him Jeeves for now) take us to the grocery store, then the Dolphin, check in, then head over to Epcot. I made an ADR for the Restaurant Marrakesh. One place Caitlin has never wanted to go. A little mini-date for DH and I before the 16 yo's arrive.

Then Jeeves will pick me up again at 8:30ish so I can wait at the airport for the girls. And turn around and take me back to the Dolphin again afterward.

Oh, and my to-do list? I've decided since dd will have her friend along (and they'll probably want to ditch us from time to time), I have a to-do list of things I've NEVER done at WDW that I'm going to try to accomplish. You'll be surprised by some of the things I haven't done on our last 4 trips to WDW. Here's a partial list.

To Do:
1. Make the grocery stop. One of those things I've always planned but never actually done. We usually arrive too late or we arrive early but I was up late the night before and then I was tired or I didn't feel good or I just wanted to get to WDW already. So--I'm making a list of snacks for the girls and for me.

2. Eat at Restaurant Marrakesh. Because, you know, the kid didn't want to eat there. DH does. And I haven't even told him about the belly dancers yet.

This list is very long so I'll just give you a bit to start out with. I'll be back and with more of the list and the scoop on Stitch.

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy this trip as much as I plan on enjoying it!

 

[Maleficent13]

I can't wait to read the trip report. Hopefully, Caitlin won't try to kill you by pushing you down the stairs again!

 

[NMAmy]

I can't wait to read the trip report. Hopefully, Caitlin won't try to kill you by pushing you down the stairs again!

Oh, hey, don't go ruining it! I'm going to tell that story again. I might as well get SOME mileage out of it--it was the pits when it happened but it makes for a really good story.

 

[MickeysMommy]

Oh, girl, you crack me up. Tell Cait I met Stitch! Loved him...hint, he's in AK if you can't find him!

Can't wait to hear the rest.

 

[NMAmy]

Oh, girl, you crack me up. Tell Cait I met Stitch! Loved him...hint, he's in AK if you can't find him!

Can't wait to hear the rest.

Oh, that reminds me! I have a great picture of Cait and Stitch from our last visit. I'll add it when I get home. He was the only character she'd wait in line to see. I'm hoping to slide a breakfast at Ohana in somewhere so we can see both him and Lilo.

Thanks for reading, you two. I knew I could count on my girlies. I was afraid I'd write a report and nobody would read it. That would just be sad.

 

[NMAmy]

The Tale of the Really Big Stitch

Last year when we went to WDW, DH was unable to come along so it was just DD, her friend, and I. Cait had blown all her spending money when she fell in love with a really big Stitch at the World of Disney store. I couldn't even imagine how we'd get the dumb thing home. Cait immediately got on her cell phone to call DH.

DH is her stepdad and, well, basically she can wrap him around her little finger. She called him and explained how wonderful this Stitch was. DH asked her how she planned to get him home. She swore that Stitch would be her carry on luggage and I wouldn't have to mess with him at all. Suddenly, she hands the phone to me and I hear DH saying his favorite phrase when he's fixing to buy something for Caitlin, "Buy the Stitch and take it out of my allowance."

So...fast foward to this trip. DD is living with her dad and Stitch is living with me. He's a poor substitute although he does get in less trouble than she does. I haven't had to ground him once.

We're discussing the upcoming trip and Cait says, "Oh, don't forget to bring Stitch."
Me: "Your backpack Stitch?"
Cait: "No, the really big Stitch."
Me: "Are you out of your everlovin' mind?"
Cait: "Let me talk to Alex."

I handed the phone to Alex saying loudly, "You are NOT to agree to take the really big Stitch with us on the airplane." Hey, he knows I'm the only one who knows anything about our reservations so he has to suck up to me. At least until we get there.

Seriously. My flight is on Spirit who changed their rules two days after I purchased my tickets so I can now only take one suitcase and she wants me to fill said suitcase with Stitch? I reminded her that I might actually like some clothes to wear at WDW. I mean, come on, I'm old, I can't run around in a bikini anymore.

Here is a picture of the really big Stitch:

For perspective, he's leaning against Cait's bed.

Every conversation we have had since involves Cait begging me to bring the really big Stitch. .

All this talk about Stitch made me want to see the movie again so I rented it last weekend. DH had never seen it and he enjoyed it. But, he made the comment at the end, "Ahh...THAT'S why she loves Stitch so much." You know that part of the movie, "This is my family. It's little and it's broken but it's good." Sometimes he's so smart.

So, I have an alternative plan. Also the last time we were at WDW and AFTER the Stitch purchase, she found another Stitch who was a more reasonable size but sang and danced. I saw it at Mouse Gears so I'm hoping it's still there. I'll buy it as a welcome to WDW gift for Cait and I've got Cait checking with Jen as to her favorite character so I can pick something up for her as well.

To Do List:

3. Find time to go to Mouse Gears either before or after Restaurant Marrakesh and look for singing and dancing Stitch. Am I crazy? Hey, I only have to put up with it for a week--then she'll be taking it back to her dad's house. It's diabolical really.

 

[NMAmy]

More to add to my to-do list!

Here are my very tentative plans so far. First day is an attempt at early entry at MGM on 3/24.

The girls will be on New Mexico time and, let's face it, they're teenagers so I have my concerns about them getting up early. My conversation with Cait about getting up early:

Me: You have to get up early if you want to win a night in the Cinderella Suite.
Cait: You and Alex can go early and we'll join you later at the castle once you win.
Alex: Sure, we'll wave to you from the windows. You're not coming the castle unless you go to the parks early with us, though.

It will be the week before the big Easter week spree. I'm hoping it won't be as bad but the fact that the MK is open until midnight on that first Saturday freaks me out a bit. I've told Cait that she and Jen may need to get up early to beat some of the crowds. The kid's been there during Christmas week--she knows if you snooze, you lose during the busy season.

SO--we'll try early entry at MGM (even if Alex & I are the only ones that make it) and have lunch at the 50's Primetime. I'm sure the girls will be able to make it at least for lunch. Okay, I'm hoping they will.

The rest of the day is up in the air. I've learned my lesson with this crew. Make one TS ADR and plan only part of the day. We don't do well with planning every ride and every minute of the day.

My To-Do List at MGM:

Go to the Man and His Dream thing. I've never been--isn't that sad. Actually, the things on my list are things I've never done. I'm sure we'll do lots of old favorites, too, but I want to try some new stuff.

See the Ariel show.
See Beauty and the Beast.

Stay far away from Lights, Action, Motorcars. This is where I almost died last year.

Alex wasn't along on that trip. It was Cait, her friend, and I. Cait was being a pill as only a 15 yo girl can be. We'd been bickering for most of the afternoon. She really wanted to see this show so we climbed a zillion stairs and were very close to the top. What kind of a nincompoop puts stairs up to the sky with no handrails? Obviously someone who has never met me.

I have issues with stairs. I have personally fallen down the stairs in my very own home no less than 3 times. And, they don't go way up to the sky. Just the second floor. I've told everyone I know that if I die falling down the stairs, do NOT blame DH.

So, we're climbing and climbing. I catch up to Cait and tell her to pick a row and sit down. She turns around quickly to give me a smart alecky comment and catches me with her backpack. Ok, partially my fault, I was standing too close to her.

I fell down three or four of those wide risers, managing to avoid everyone standing below me by trying to plan my rolling so I wouldn't take anyone with me. It was truly spectacular. Seriously, they should have played it up on the big movie screen there. It was way more dangerous than driving that pretend go backwards car.

Meanwhile, I'm screaming for Caitlin because I'm afraid she is disappearing into the 10,000 other people who are there. She thinks I'm yelling her name accusingly as in, "Caitlin is the one who pushed me down the stairs to my death. Arrest her now!" When I finally stopped rolling, poor Cait is standing over me, with tears pouring down her face. I was fine, just bruised, but she thought she'd killed Mommy. She cried for the entire show. To cheer her up, I let her take a zillion pictures with my digital camera (which I don't usually allow her to use.) We both survived, although I am never going back to that place again. The good news was that she didn't fuss at me again for the entire trip. Good to know--just takes a near-death experience to make her behave!

After we don't go to Lights, Action, Motorcars, we'll just go wherever the mood takes us. I have no doubt that Caitlin will try to talk us into eating dinner at Picabu's in the Dolphin. We haven't been since the remodel from Tubbi's which is her very favorite restaurant anywhere. She's a huge fan of the grilled cheese.

 

[MickeysMommy]

OMG, Amy! I am giggling my head off and actually were right there with you when you fell! You kill me.

I have a Mickey the size of the Stitch that Cait has. He's in the attic - my Mickey doesn't like the life size one - another surprise from SO.

I can't wait to read more!

Love,
One of your "Peeps"

 

[NMAmy]

OMG, Amy! I am giggling my head off and actually were right there with you when you fell! You kill me.

I have a Mickey the size of the Stitch that Cait has. He's in the attic - my Mickey doesn't like the life size one - another surprise from SO.

I can't wait to read more!

Love,
One of your "Peeps"

So Mickey doesn't like his namesake? Silly cat.

I'm so glad that I have one of my peeps here to read this! I don't think anyone else is reading this. How's your planning going, kiddo?

 

[hjd0411]

Hi Amy - yes there is someone else reading! I am at work, waiting for my last plane to land, then I can go home. It's 1110pm here, and I am tired!!

But your pre trip report has started well. Your falling down the stairs story is very funny - but at the time I'm sure it wasn't. Glad to hear you had no ill effects from it!!

Look forward to hearing more.

Heather

 

[NMAmy]

Hi Amy - yes there is someone else reading! I am at work, waiting for my last plane to land, then I can go home. It's 1110pm here, and I am tired!!

But your pre trip report has started well. Your falling down the stairs story is very funny - but at the time I'm sure it wasn't. Glad to hear you had no ill effects from it!!

Look forward to hearing more.

Heather

Thank you, thank you, Heather! Wow, I have a reader down under. Have a great evening, Heather. It's great to hear from you!

 

[MickeysMommy]

Amy ~ You now have 3 peeps!

Planning is going - I can't figure out where to eat though. But, I do have 8 months to hash it out

 

[NMAmy]

Amy ~ You now have 3 peeps!

Planning is going - I can't figure out where to eat though. But, I do have 8 months to hash it out

Woo hoo! Three peeps! Life is good.

I'm still trying to figure out where I can work in the Brown Derby per your recommendation. Heck, I'm still trying to figure out where to work in Ohana for breakfast.

 

[NMAmy]

Ok, let's see...our next day will be Sunday, 3/25. My plan is for us to try the Animal Kingdom that morning. Luckily, Caitlin is now more into the AK since the addition of Expedition Everest. We rode this a bunch of times last year during the soft opening and loved it. Used to be, she'd pull the old, "Mommy, I don't feel good" thing whenever it was time to go to AK. Of course, she felt better later in the day so we'd end up at MGM or MK. She has a habit of not feeling well at the World Showcase in Epcot, too. BUT since we have the friend along AND Alex, as well, we can split up and I can actually see something besides the thrill rides!

So--Animal Kingdom in the morning.

To Do List for AK:

The Gorilla Trail.
The Maharajah Jungle Trek.
The Nemo Show.

I'm really looking forward to this! Last time I tried the jungle trek, there was a huge line just to get in. Of course, that was around Christmas time so hopefully, this will be better. And, of course, EE and Dinosaur and Primevel Hurl. And the Safari. Busy day! We'll probably go more than once.

We'll head back to the hotel around lunchtime and either rest or head wherever the mood takes us. If Cait has any say, it'll be DTD. The girl loves to shop.

Dinner is scheduled for the Biergarten. This is another of Cait's favorites--she loves the spatzle. I used to live in Germany and I love the food and the atmosphere. It reminds me of the town I used to live in--we had a biergarten right next door to our apartment. Handy, eh? And, well, of course, the beer.

On our last visit at the Biergarten, we were seated with a lovely older couple and the girls had a blast chatting with them. They were a lot of fun. However, it's such a crapshoot as to who you end up with. On a previous visit, we were seated with the family from heck.

The mother was NOT amused by the seating arrangements. We were already at the table. The waitress brings them to our table and the woman turns and says, "Who are these people?" The server explained the seating and the woman turned to her husband as he arrived and said, oh so snottily, "Well, honey, meet the people we're joining for dinner." She was rude to us and to the server for the entire meal. Anytime one of her children would speak to us, she'd hiss, "Do NOT talk to strangers." Sheesh. I have a kid of my own, I'm not really looking for any more, thanks. The whole Biergarten seating thing is an elaborate scheme I've come up with to possibly kidnap children when I'm trapped at an inside seat against the railing and have to hop over my family and yours to get out. I'm not bitter or anything. I'm just never sitting with THAT woman again!

23 more days to go! My car is in the shop today and I had to take the bus. As I was waiting for the bus, I was thinking, "In 23 days, I'll be getting on the bus to go to the airport in Detroit. In 24 days, I'll be getting ready to go to MGM." I wish my fellow passengers were as fun as WDW guests, though. It was hard to fool myself once I was actually ON the bus.

 

[Maleficent13]

Suddenly, she hands the phone to me and I hear DH saying his favorite phrase when he's fixing to buy something for Caitlin, "Buy the Stitch and take it out of my allowance."

this is my favorite line so far.

psst...new sig!

 

[ILMICKEY]

Hello,
I am also reading along. I have 10 months to do my planning. You can never plan too early right?? I live in Hillsdale, Michigan. Have you heard of it? Kids can be rotten, but when mom is hurt, their whole world falls apart. I cut my finger, pretty bad, with a knife. I think my teenage son thought I was dying. I was more worried about him being upset than I was blood spewing all over the floor. They won't admit it, but they love us!!

 

[NMAmy]

this is my favorite line so far.

psst...new sig!

LOVE the new siggie! I feel very special and important.

Yeah, I knew you'd like Alex's line. He tells me this anytime Caitlin wants something I don't think she needs but he thinks she does. Like I give him an allowance. As if.

 

[NMAmy]

Hello,
I am also reading along. I have 10 months to do my planning. You can never plan too early right?? I live in Hillsdale, Michigan. Have you heard of it? Kids can be rotten, but when mom is hurt, their whole world falls apart. I cut my finger, pretty bad, with a knife. I think my teenage son thought I was dying. I was more worried about him being upset than I was blood spewing all over the floor. They won't admit it, but they love us!!

Hello and welcome, ILMICKEY! Are you going for Christmas? If so, it's beautiful that time of year.

You're from Hillsdale? Sure, I've heard of it. I believe I've even been there before. I live near Lansing.

That's the truth about teenagers! They like to pretend that they don't care anymore but deep down, they do. Sometimes it's WAY deep down but it's in there somewhere.

Thanks so much for reading and replying!

 

[ILMICKEY]

Yes, we are starting our trip the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I have heard that is the best time to go. We were there for Christmas 2 years ago. It was fantastic. Perfect weather and little crowds. Hopefully we will get some warm weather here. Lookin good today!!

 

[hjd0411]

Thank you, thank you, Heather! Wow, I have a reader down under. Have a great evening, Heather. It's great to hear from you!

Thanks for the welcome Amy!! I'm enjoying reading your pre trip - I love to hear others plans, where I can gain info for my trip! Even though I have been twice before, I think this time is my most researched trip yet.
Look forward to hearing more, and then of course, your actual trip report!!

Heather