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

[patman2011]

hey, i am really enjoying reading your pretrip report too, our first trip as family is in aug, so all the info i can get , i will gladly use. keep it coming!!!

 

[NMAmy]

ILMickey--Early December is a great time to go. Now that DD's in high school, we can't do it anymore so I'm looking forward to her graduating! Oh, I almost forgot--did you get the icky weather today? Freezing rain and gloominess up here in Lansing. I am SO ready for vacation.

Heather--I'm going to check out your pictures from Australia Zoo. Now that's a trip I'd love to make!

patman--I don't know how useful my info will be but I'm happy to share it! Welcome!

And to all my peeps--I'll post a long segment tomorrow because I still have a lot of plans to share. Busy day today plus, I believe I have a sinus infection. I'm off to Immediate Care after work in hopes of scoring some antibiotics. I've been taking out all my grumpiness on the CB today and I'll save the niceness for you guys!

 

[ILMICKEY]

Yes I noticed. I am getting sick of crappy weather. We had thunderstorms to go along with our rain/snow mix yesterday. I just keep telling myself it is Michigans way of preparing for spring!! You bring back the warm for us

 

[bunnysmum]

Hey, add me to your peeps list would ya? I'm in!

Sheesh, really big Stitch is ginormous! If you and he wear the same size clothes, though, maybe it'd work out okay. You know, you could have him wear several layers IN the suitcase....

Or you could just buy the little guy his own seat on the plane. That'd be cool. Also expensive. But then you'd get double airline snacks. So it'd even out.

You're not even on the plane, and I'm loving it already! This is a good sign!

I'm planning for a January 2008 trip, but it's a little tentative right now. I'm hoping they'll give me the time off work!

 

[NMAmy]

Hey, add me to your peeps list would ya? I'm in!

Sheesh, really big Stitch is ginormous! If you and he wear the same size clothes, though, maybe it'd work out okay. You know, you could have him wear several layers IN the suitcase....

Oh, heavens, we CANNOT let Caitlin know this idea. Now that I think about it, he probably COULD wear my clothes! And you are definitely added to my peeps list! Props to MickeysMommy for helping me to be so hip! (Did you like the "props" reference, MM?)

bunnysmum, you know I've been loving your trip report so I'm really glad to have you reading mine! Not only have I not gotten on the plane yet, I'm 22 days away from it. When I get back, it'll probably be...we went here, we did this, blah, blah, blah. I hope we have an interesting trip...but not TOO interesting, if you know what I mean.

A trip in January sounds great! Bunny is at such a great age to take to WDW.

 

[NMAmy]

Okay, I'm back and feeling a little perkier thanks to the wonders of antibiotics. I'd rather have this now than in 3 weeks, though.

Due to ice covered roads this morning, I rode the bus again--all the time thinking, "EXACTLY 3 weeks from today, I'll be on my way!" Everyone here is gone for Spring Break so I'm a bit sad. But I know how to plan these things--I work spring break when it's dead around here and then go on vacation when the faculty and students are back and it's busy.

OK--back to business--I'm up to Monday, March 26 in my plans. I think my plans may end up being longer than my actual trip report.

To Do List:
Switch resorts mid-visit. This is NOT something I really had hoped to experience at WDW. Our beloved Dolphin/Swan had NO openings for Monday and Tuesday. I'd mentioned trying a new hotel in the beginning stages and Cait threw a hissy fit. I'd wanted to try the Contemporary which she hates with a passion. I have no idea why, she's never stayed there. She accused me of waiting too long on purpose so she'd have to stay at the Contemporary. All part of my evil plan. Except the only rooms available at the Contemporary when I checked were like $2000 a night. So, we're trying the Wilderness Lodge for TWO nights in the middle of our trip, then BACK to the Dolphin. Crazy? Umm....yes, I believe it is. But much less expensive with the government rate at the Dolphin so we'll stay there all the days we can.

I was also THRILLED to discover that the WL pool will be under construction for our entire visit. So, I paid more for a courtyard view of contstruction. Duh. I refuse to worry about it, though. I'm looking forward to trying the WL.

So, the plan is to get up early, pack up again, get our luggage on it's way to WL while we head to the MK. I'm thinking of trying to squeeze the Ohana breakfast in that day. Note to self--Call and check on an ADR this weekend. We could go to the MK later.

To Do List at MK:

-See the Hall of Presidents-we've always been too busy rushing off to one of the mountains to stop and take a nap here.
-Watch Wishes (but NOT from the bus pickup area!) That's the only way I've seen them because I hate getting stuck in the crowd. It would have been great but the monorail stopped right in our line of sight. Fabulous for the monorail folks--not so great for us. Oh, and I heard ALL about it since I had talked up watching from the bus loading area to Caitlin.
-Try Snow White's Scarey Adventures. Because when Cait was little it was TOO scarey. And when she was old enough to not be scared she had no interest.
-Go on Peter Pan--ok, I have done this before but not in a few years because the line was always too long. This time, I'm waiting, I don't care how long it takes because I LOVE this ride.
-Try to catch the new Monster's Inc thing if it's open.

We have an ADR for Whispering Canyon that night. One of our favorites but last time, our server was training a new CM so the shenanigans were kind of disappointing. I'm hoping for a more exciting visit this time around. We've had some really fun times there in the past. Except poor DH has trouble hearing in there with all the background noise so he's always kind of oblivious to the fun.

My favorite was the kid next to us who was having a birthday. They brought him cake and gathered around singing Happy Birthday, then all the servers whipped out a fork and they ate the entire cake. The look on that poor boy's face was priceless! They did bring him another piece so all was well.

Also on my to do list:
-The Electrical Water Pageant Probably not on Monday if I'm going to watch Wishes but definitely Monday or Tuesday. We've never stayed at one of the MK resorts so I really want to check it out.

I'm wishing the time would fly by faster. Poor DH has not been on a real vacation since December 2004 and he really needs one. I mean, he went to England for his mam's funeral in November 2005 but that was not the fun-filled experience you might think. We've taken a few days here and there and done local stuff but this is the first REAL vacation in all that time.

Thanks for staying with me! I'll post some more plans and some pics this weekend.

 

[Maleficent13]

I can't wait to hear how you like the Wilderness Lodge; I've always found it so peaceful but never stayed there. I'd like to try it.

That poor boy with the birthday cake at WCC.

 

[NMAmy]

I can't wait to hear how you like the Wilderness Lodge; I've always found it so peaceful but never stayed there. I'd like to try it.

That poor boy with the birthday cake at WCC.

Hello, my snarky little peep. I can't wait to find out about WL, either. I was leaning toward the GF but the price was just so much better at WL. When I was trying to talk Cait into the Contemporary, I told her, "Well, Alex & I will just stay there when you don't want to come along with us anymore." She got quite indignant and told me she was ALWAYS coming with us and bringing her future husband and my future grandchildren along. Oh, yeah, I think I'm paying.

WL seems so peaceful but I'm hoping I don't miss being in the middle of things like we are at the Dolphin. We'll see. I'm openminded.

 

[NMAmy]

19 days to go! I'm going to be unbearable to be around that last week.

I was still feeling puny this weekend so didn't get any of our prior trip's pictures loaded. But, I did get to thinking you all might enjoy seeing a picture of the park tickets from this year. I love 'em--they're so much better than last year's which had icons from new attractions like Cinderellabration and Lights, Stars, Motorcars--I had that one which seems like foreshadowing now.

This is going to be Cait's ticket:

She loves Tink almost as much as Stitch. Sorry the quality isn't that great--it's difficult to take a good picture of something the size of a credit card!

This will be Jenn's:

DH requested this one--I REALLY wanted this one but he makes so few requests that I didn't have the heart to argue with him. Oh, well, I'll still have it to put in the scrapbook.

And this one will be mine. It's kind of appropriate since I do scream at the sight of every mouse but Mickey and Minnie.

Plans for Tuesday, 3/27:

Try to get the girls up for early entry at Epcot. I have a lunch reservation set up for Le Cellier. I was shocked to have absolutely no problem setting up this ADR only 45 days in advance. I almost didn't ask for it but I'm glad I did. In fact, every time around noon was open so I had a pretty good choice. Oddly, Cait is the one who requested Le Cellier. I think she's in love with the chocolate moose dessert. As am I.

To Do List at Epcot:

See some of the movies in the countries. I've never seen one of them. Ever. It's so sad.
Ride Maelstrom. Again, never done it!

I'm sure we'll find some time to squeeze in Soarin' and Figment. Soarin' is new since the last time DH went so he's never been and I know he'll love it.

Talked to Cait last night and she broke my heart by saying that for spring break next year, she'd like to go to Cancun. First of all, she'll only be 17. Second of all, she wants to go with her friends. As if. Her dad would have a hissy fit. Not to mention me. She started to argue with me about it and that's when I told her I wasn't going to get an argument now about a hypothetical trip one year in the future. Surprisingly, she agreed that it was kind of silly.

Subject Change--Does anybody else spend a fortune just getting ready to go on a trip? I had to buy all new luggage because Cait tends to come back from her dad's with just one suitcase and then go back there with two. Slowly, all my suitcases have migrated to New Mexico. So, I had to buy a whole new set. I found some on sale at Penney's, then discovered my mom and I had bought the same set. They're red--should stick out a bit on the luggage carousel which is really my main criteria for luggage color. DH put the kibosh on the hot pink ones.

Then, I went to the eye doctor for an exam and new contacts on Saturday. Turns out I have to move on into the twenty-first century. They no longer make regular soft contacts--only disposable which I hate. So, now I'm adjusting to a new kind. More money spent in preparation. Really, what's the use of going to WDW if I can't see anything, right?

I also went to Target and got more stuff for the trip. A set of Princess crayons each for Cait and Jenn. Last time, I ended up spending TWELVE DOLLARS for a set of crayons at WDW. Even though Cait is 16, she likes to get the WDW coloring books and color in the room. Heck, she even likes to color at home from time to time. She had a bunch of kids over last year and it got real quiet down in the basement. I rushed downstairs thinking I'd be breaking up a makeout session and was brought up short by the sight of 4 girls and 2 guys (all 16-17) studiously coloring and watching a movie. Took the wind right out of my sails, they did!

I also bought new socks for Cait and I (although she is sure it will be too warm for socks, I'm thinking she might enjoy some at night). Socks are one thing I cannot keep her in--she takes them to New Mexico with her and all her step-sisters appropriate them. So, I'm constantly buying her new socks. It could be worse so I don't complain about it--much. Only here among friends.

I need new sneakers, too. Oh, and probably new shorts. I gained 10 lbs over the winter which is freaking me out and only a couple pairs of shorts still fit. I've been trying to lose that 10 lbs for the last month now and the scale has not budged. I'm starving myself and walking religiously on the dreadmill but nothing. Until I got sick last week. And stopped walking. And ate anything I wanted. And laid around on the couch watching Big Love on On Demand. Then the scale miraculously went down 2 lbs! I think I have found my new workout routine!

Love to all my peeps! I'll write some more later!

 

[bunnysmum]

Well, when you release your hot new weight-loss book, I'll be first in line for an autographed copy! Your plan sounds like it would WORK for me.

I think you made an excellent choice in the Wilderness Lodge. Not that I speak from experience....just from my own selfish desires! That's where I'm hoping we can stay next January. Kay made it sound so awesome, didn't she? That place has always captured me.

She had a bunch of kids over last year and it got real quiet down in the basement. I rushed downstairs thinking I'd be breaking up a makeout session and was brought up short by the sight of 4 girls and 2 guys (all 16-17) studiously coloring and watching a movie. Took the wind right out of my sails, they did!

Hee hee! This is awesome! I love it. I hope Bunny makes Caitlin her role model in this regard. She's off to a good start in that she LOVES to color, write, draw. Every time we go shopping, we have to pick up a package of paper (shhh...don't tell the environmentalists! We DO RECYCLE, however.)

This story reminded me of the time I was in high school and my sister, and a friend of ours were being driven home from school by another friend of ours. For some reason, the three of us decided that cookies and milk would be an awesome afterschool snack, so we ran into our teeny tiny town's only store and scored some. Then we sat outside my friend's house in the truck having a few cookies and drinking milk out of little Dixie cups until she'd had her filll. (Were we nerds or what?) The next day, she told us that her step-mom had been all over her, "What were you kids doing out there in that truck? I SAW you drinking out there! What were you drinking?" So my friend told her, very sweetly, "MILK!", which of course she didn't believe, even though it was true!

 

[Maleficent13]

Hello, my snarky little peep.

New week, new snarkiness. But not here...never on the trip report board. This is my DISboard happy place.

She got quite indignant and told me she was ALWAYS coming with us and bringing her future husband and my future grandchildren along. Oh, yeah, I think I'm paying.

 

[NMAmy]

Well, when you release your hot new weight-loss book, I'll be first in line for an autographed copy! Your plan sounds like it would WORK for me.

I'm telling you, pal, I could make a fortune on this one! And my mom made me a loaf of banana bread last night so I'm just continuing with my new diet plan.

I think you made an excellent choice in the Wilderness Lodge. Not that I speak from experience....just from my own selfish desires! That's where I'm hoping we can stay next January. Kay made it sound so awesome, didn't she? That place has always captured me.

I hope so--I've been wanting to branch out from the Dolphin and try something new so I'm really looking forward to it! And this way, I'm just kind of easing Caitlin into it--it's just for a couple of days.

I SAW you drinking out there! What were you drinking?" So my friend told her, very sweetly, "MILK!", which of course she didn't believe, even though it was true!

You know, you're thinking the worst of your teens and then it's kind of anticlimactic when they're not doing what you think they're doing! I'm not complaining, mind you, but I had to make up a cover story when I went down to break it up. "Um....well, hi. Did anyone want anything to drink or a snack?" Thanks for reading! I'm still waiting to be called to the witness stand in your TR!

 

[NMAmy]

New week, new snarkiness. But not here...never on the trip report board. This is my DISboard happy place.

I SO wanted to be snarky over something I read today but I controlled myself. Hard to believe, ain't it?

This is my happy place, too!

 

[TeddyToo]

Hi to NAmy and all Your pre-trip report as well as Bunnysmom have made my days off sick pass much more enjoyably. Your comment on the hot pink luggage made me giggle. I have a hot pink brief case that apparently bothered my DH enough that I got a gorgeous black leather one for Christmas. I'll never tell him, but it decorates my office nicely while the hot pink still goes with me everywhere

 

[hjd0411]

"To Do List at MK:

-See the Hall of Presidents-we've always been too busy rushing off to one of the mountains to stop and take a nap here. "

Hi Amy - I absolutely loved this when I went in 2002. I just love the way Disney does all of this. Please make sure you see it - I look forward to hearing how you like it.
OT -
Thanks for looking at my photos. It was my first time to Australia Zoo, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope to go back soon. When you come over you will have to let me know!!!

Thanks
Heather

 

[NMAmy]

Hi to NAmy and all Your pre-trip report as well as Bunnysmom have made my days off sick pass much more enjoyably. Your comment on the hot pink luggage made me giggle. I have a hot pink brief case that apparently bothered my DH enough that I got a gorgeous black leather one for Christmas. I'll never tell him, but it decorates my office nicely while the hot pink still goes with me everywhere

Hello and welcome, TeddyToo! So happy to have a new reader and I hope you're feeling better! It is quite an honor to be put in the same league with bunnysmum. She's one of my favorite trip report writers.

I love that the hot pink brief case is still going everywhere with you! DH is usually manly enough that carrying a girlie item doesn't really bother him--we outnumber him and he is very gentlemanly and refuses to let us carry something unless his hands are totally full. So, I was a bit shocked that he put his foot down on the hot pink suitcases but I guess everyone has a limit.

Thanks for reading!

 

[NMAmy]

"To Do List at MK:

-See the Hall of Presidents-we've always been too busy rushing off to one of the mountains to stop and take a nap here. "

Hi Amy - I absolutely loved this when I went in 2002. I just love the way Disney does all of this. Please make sure you see it - I look forward to hearing how you like it.
OT -
Thanks for looking at my photos. It was my first time to Australia Zoo, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope to go back soon. When you come over you will have to let me know!!!

Thanks
Heather

Hi, again, Heather! I do remember seeing the Hall of Presidents when I was a kid but, well, let's face it, that was a long time ago and I believe I was just trying to blow an A or B ticket. Now that I'm older, I believe I will be much more appreciative. Or well rested. One or the other. It'll be good for DH to learn more about American History--they didn't really teach that in England when he was growing up.

I will definitely let you know if I ever make it down under. And I am SO happy that I finally discovered the use of this upside down smilie!

 

[NMAmy]

16 days to go!

I was going to post a picture of Caitlin and an even bigger Stitch from WDW but I'm having trouble with the size so hopefully soon!

I will post a picture of our beloved dog, Sunny.

There she is--pretty but not very bright. We love her anyway. (Note to bunnysmum--notice that Sunny never looks directly at the camera either. My digital is just too slow to catch her!) DH and I didn't really want another dog but when we bought the house, Cait reminded me that I had PROMISED that we could get a dog and, well, she wore me down. We got her from the Humane Society about 2 years ago--she's part golden retriever and part something no one can figure out. She looks all golden, she's just a bit smaller than most.

Why am I suddenly yammering on about my dog? I've been torn over what to do with her while we're gone. Luckily, I have a co-worker with a college aged son who has begun housesitting and taking care of animals while folks go on vacation. He's very responsible and he's tickled to pieces about watching Sunny. Seems that most of the dogs he's been watching have been....ummm...denied entrance to kennels and that's why they have to stay at home. The last one was deaf, missing a leg, and had bitten 3 people. So, the idea of a puppyish, loves everybody dog seems like a walk in the park! Plus, it won't cost any more than the kennel AND I have someone to take care of the mail, newspapers, trash and occupy the home.

Cait, as teenage girls tend to do, freaked out a bit. After all, this isn't about Sunny being comfortable but, somehow, someway, all about Cait. Who'd have thunk it?

Our conversation:

Cait: He'll have parties while you're gone.
Me: Umm...no, he won't. He's looking for references so he can earn more money doing this for other people. Grandma lives 10 minutes away and will be checking up on him. Not to mention his mother.
Cait: He can't sleep in my room.
Me: What? That wonderful haven that people keep offering me thousands of dollars to stay in? What college age boy could resist sleeping in a room with junk everywhere and posters of guys all over the walls and ceiling? And the overflowing closet? That just SCREAMS peace and tranquility.

Ok, that's what I was thinking. What I really said was, "Duh. Like he'd want to sleep in your room."

So, on top of everything else, I have to get my house shipshape before I have live-in company. I've gotten a bit lazy on the vacuuming and dusting over the winter in some of our seldom used rooms. I found dust bunnies behind the couch that I at first mistook for more dogs. Ah...the wonders of a REALLY hairy golden. We could knit several more dogs out of her discarded hair. They'd probably be less needy. Perhaps I should consider this as a business opportunity for my retirement years.

Plans for Wednesday, 3/28-

Back to the Dolphin! All this moving back and forth between resorts just means I'll have 3 times the stressing over rooms. WHAT was I thinking? Ok, time to look on the bright side--this gives me THREE opportunities to get a GREAT room! I've actually never gotten a bad room at the Dolphin. I love the upgrades they give when you're a Starwood Preferred Guest. Get that? I'm "preferred."

So, check out of WL, get the luggage transferred to the Dolphin (oh, yay, more stressing), then off to MGM. I don't have my notes but I believe it is NOT EE that day. Although I could be wrong. I DO know that we have a lunch ADR at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theatre. We love this place. It reminds us of that tv show, "Mystery Science Theatre 3000." I'm always a little taken aback by the people watching very studiously and intently. Aren't they aware that you're supposed to talk and mock the clips? I had a woman shush me there once! Come on, it's not Schindler's List, lady! It's a trailer for a movie even more low budget than The Creature from the Black Lagoon!

Once again, I have no clue what we'll do for the rest of the day. I'm hoping to make it back to MGM one evening for Fantasmic.

To Do List:
Fantasmic. Never seen it. We saw it at Disneyland several years ago. But I love the fact that at DL, when we saw it anyway, you just kind of crowded in and watched when it started. No waiting in line for hours. But I'm determined to do it this time!

We will NOT be doing the Backlot Tour this time. It was on my to-do list 2 years ago, I bullied everyone onto it and it was extremely lame. After waiting in a ridiculously long line, the beginning part of the show wasn't working so we just shuffled through to wait in another long line to board the trams. And they had cut down on the area to build the dreaded Lights, Stars, Motorcars area. What a letdown.

Sorry to end this so abruptly but I'll be back later to write some more! Take care, my peeps!

 

[Kay7979]

Here I am reporting in as promised!

I still have to read completely through more slowly, but I skimmed through earlier this morning, particularly to find your "stunt show" episode, and really enjoyed it. I just wanted to let you know I was here.

 

[wdw_girl_18]

I love your pre-trip report! Great Job so far