NMAmy's Trip Report with no catchy title--Last installment FINALLY posted - 4/12/09

[dddisrunner]

Great ADR list Amy! That is so funny about Caitlin and the stromtrooper................Eric is still asking me to call Disney to change Star Wars Weekends so we can see them! Aren't kids suppossed to forget things quickly

 

[NMAmy]

tinkgurl, I just wanted to let you know that I'm about halfway through your trip report and I'm loving it! You and your sister are just cute as all get out. When I get caught up, I'll be posting on your thread!

Great ADR list Amy! That is so funny about Caitlin and the stromtrooper................Eric is still asking me to call Disney to change Star Wars Weekends so we can see them! Aren't kids suppossed to forget things quickly

If Eric is anything like Cait, he'll never forget it and he'll always kinda blame you for it. You know how mommies control EVERYTHING, don't you? Poor little guy--I really do feel for him.

 

[tinkgurl]

tinkgurl, I just wanted to let you know that I'm about halfway through your trip report and I'm loving it! You and your sister are just cute as all get out. When I get caught up, I'll be posting on your thread!

Okay great! I'm glad you're joining in!

 

[MickeysMommy]

 

[Maleficent13]

Excellent!!

This is definite incentive for me to check in more often. I got a netbook for Xmas so I can surf from the couch, if not from work.

I haven't stayed at BWV but I've always wanted to. I predict you will love DVC and will then say "Dolphin? What's a Dolphin?"

 

[MickeysMommy]

 

[NMAmy]

Aren't kids suppossed to forget things quickly

Not in my experience. They're kind of like elephants. I figure Caitlin needs some fodder to use in therapy later, KWIM?

Excellent!!

This is definite incentive for me to check in more often. I got a netbook for Xmas so I can surf from the couch, if not from work.

I haven't stayed at BWV but I've always wanted to. I predict you will love DVC and will then say "Dolphin? What's a Dolphin?"

I'm so glad you'll be surfing from the couch, my friend. I've missed my identical twin.

I'm very excited about DVC. Not excited enough to buy in necessarily but excited to have a kitchen and a washer/dryer.

I know, I know, more is coming! Nag, nag, nag.

 

[NMAmy]

Okay, all, sorry I have been such a hopeless slacker. Alex & I had a long weekend with the MLK holiday and we were snowed in for 2.5 days. We snuck out early on Saturday morning as the snow was starting and stocked up on groceries. And we also went to Target so I could get Season Two of The Tudors on dvd. Hey, if I'm going to be snowed in, I want something to watch.

I made great meals that require a lot of prep or cooking time (green chile chicken enchiladas, crock pot pork chops, beef stew with roasted veggies) and I got some much needed cleaning done from after Christmas. You'd think with two weeks off at Christmas that my house would be spotless but you'd be incorrect. I cleaned the extra bedroom, cleaned the pantry, scrubbed the floors--you get the idea. Oh, and I watched The Tudors. So, you can see I didn't have a lot of trip reporting time.

I've always been fascinated with Henry VIII and Elizabeth and all his wives. Hampton Court (one of his palaces) is very close to my SIL's house in England and I love to visit it. Here's a picture from the last trip:

It's a great show but don't watch it with the kids in the room--it IS a Showtime series with all that that entails.

Back to the trip report!

I DID manage to accomplish some trip related stuff this week, too.

1. Arrange a dogsitter/housesitter. Check.

Our usual dogsitter isn't available but his brother happily volunteered to stay with our golden retriever, Sunny. It's an easy gig--she's such a mellow dog. He'll stay at the house with her, bring in the mail, and just generally keep an eye on things.

Here she is--she does not like to establish eye contact with the camera.

2. Garden Grocer. Check.

I registered and placed our order yesterday. Here's what I've ordered:

12 pack Coke (for the girls)
12 pack Diet Coke (for me!)
6 pack of Corona (definitely for me)
Milk
margerine
bread
bottled water (24 pack)
bagels
cream cheese
Fruity Pebbles (for the girls)
eggs
Orange sweet rolls (for Caitlin--hopefully, she'll share)

I think that should keep us going for breakfasts while we're there. Well, obviously, the Corona isn't for breakfast but you know what I mean.

In my suitcase, I'll be taking:

Raisin Bran (for Alex)
peanut butter - small jar
Kraft mac-n-cheese (for Caitlin) And it has to be "shapes" which means Sponge Bob or Spiderman or Shrek. The regular kind just doesn't taste as good. According to Caitlin.
Microwave popcorn
Poptarts
Powdered laundry soap and dryer sheets
Coffee
Tea

Actually, I think part of this is going in Alex's suitcase, as well.

Oh, speaking of suitcases, has anyone seen ours? Because they have disappeared off the face of the planet. I accused Caitlin of taking them and I hurt her feelings. Well, she comes to stay with one suitcase and always takes two suitcases home. It's logical that she would have them, isn't it? I think her dad probably has more luggage than a suitcase store at this point.

I've looked everywhere I can think of--all the closets, under the beds, storage area. Nothing, nada, no red suitcases. So, we'll be luggage shopping this weekend. And you KNOW that once I buy new luggage, the old stuff will suddenly creep out of its hiding place and pretend like it was there all along.

I think I've finally made a decision on our airport arrival night hotel. The prices around the airport aren't that much lower than a value. I'm calling with a code I found on Mousesavers to see if I can get a discounted price. I'll let you know!

We got our Magical Express stuff and travel documents this week which was very exciting. Well, for me, no one else appeared especially thrilled.

Twenty-nine more days! I can officially do the less than 30 day dance now.

Hope you all are doing well!

 

[Hedy]

29 day dance.

Good luck getting your suitcases back...

 

[NMAmy]

29 day dance.

Good luck getting your suitcases back...

I'm resigned to that fact. It's a bummer, too, because one of them was really big and it was my favorite.

 

[tinkgurl]

Oh, speaking of suitcases, has anyone seen ours? Because they have disappeared off the face of the planet.

Ugh, I hate when that happens! Now watch, when you come home with brand new suitcases, then you'll find your old ones. Always happens to me. By the way, my pictures are working again on my TR so you'll have to go read it! I still have to update my last full day.

 

[NMAmy]

Ugh, I hate when that happens! Now watch, when you come home with brand new suitcases, then you'll find your old ones. Always happens to me. By the way, my pictures are working again on my TR so you'll have to go read it! I still have to update my last full day.

I absolutely need to get over there and finish your trip report before it's all done! I've loved it so far. And I'm a huge slacker for reading and not posting, I'm so sorry.

And, yes, I fully expect to find my suitcases sometime next week!

 

[MickeysMommy]

 

[NMAmy]

I have to mail out Caitlin's plane ticket info and the ME vouchers for her and Jen. We had this discussion the other day:

Me: I'm going to send the vouchers so you two can ride on your own and meet us at the Boardwalk. Do you promise not to lose them?

Cait: (BIG SIGH) Mom. I will not lose them.

I didn't bring up the airport incident. When I took her to the airport after Christmas, we had a little issue. We went the night before since she had an early flight. We stayed at the hotel that is in the airport since Cait has a hard time getting up and moving in the morning.

So, she was rushing around, finishing packing, and as we got ready to leave, I handed her her boarding passes and said, "Do you have your driver's license?"

Caitlin: Jeez, Mom, of course I have my driver's license!!

(You know what's coming, don't you?)

So, we lugged her bags upstairs to check in and waited in an enormously long line. Airline employees were walking up and down the line telling everyone, "Please have your boarding pass and ID ready." Caitlin ignored them. I ignored Caitlin because she's 18 and I have to cut the cord sometime, you know? She's an adult and she functions without me checking up on her for a good chunk of the year.

So, we finally get called up to the counter and Cait opens her purse and says, "Oh, no. I left my wallet in the room."

That was me.

On the inside, I was screaming, "I TOLD YOU SO! I TOLD YOU SO!"

On the outside, I calmly said to the counter agent, "Is it ok if I just wait to the side here while she runs back to our room in the hotel?" They agreed and off she went. She did get on the plane just fine but she gave me several new gray hairs. And I don't need anymore.

So--you understand why I might be worried about sending her trip vouchers, don't you?

 

[dddisrunner]

Ugh! The dreaded suitcase situation! We usually borrow from my mom but this year she had the audacity to plan a trip at the same time! So we are actually on the hunt for a good deal on a suitcase!

I have learned that I will never believe my kids when they tell me they have "taken care" of something! That ought to win me mother of the year huh!

Love the castle pics!! Sorry about all of the snow, of course we have had none and my poor kids are dying to play in it!! Sounds like Alex was treated to some pretty fine meals!!

 

[NMAmy]

Ugh! The dreaded suitcase situation! We usually borrow from my mom but this year she had the audacity to plan a trip at the same time! So we are actually on the hunt for a good deal on a suitcase!

Well, your mother has some nerve! I'll give you the lowdown on the great deals I got in an upcoming post, pal.

I have learned that I will never believe my kids when they tell me they have "taken care" of something! That ought to win me mother of the year huh!

I've been out of the running for that award for many years now!

 

[NMAmy]

So last Friday evening, I was heading home from work and I was a little bummed because I'd gotten kind of used to having mail from WDW every other day and I knew all the reservations/paperwork, etc had arrived already. Seeing as how Mickey is always saying he's my pal and Aladdin has been Caitlin's boyfriend since she was 5, I KNOW we're special to WDW so they ought to be sending me a note every day, right?

I was extremely pleasantly suprised to open my mailbox and more mail from Disney! "Welcome NMAmy Party!" A lovely little letter detailing all the attractions that teenagers love, information about BWV's, and a totally inadequate packing list and ADR list. (THREE Adr's? Who just makes three ADR's??) I was really tickled to know they're so excited we're coming to visit. The trend carried on into yesterday when I got my new planning dvd! I'm hoping they can keep this up until we leave.

The quest for luggage has been completed. We started at Target. Alex voted for a $200 set. When I mentioned that I wasn't really thrilled with buying top of the line luggage which my ex will end up with, he saw my point.

There was one set of 6 on clearance for $69. Only problem was--I hated the color. It was this greyish green almost bordering on black. I liked the luggage--just not the color. Alex pointed out that if I didn't like the color, Caitlin might not like it either and perhaps we could actually keep it for awhile, I was sold. When the cashier rang it up, it was actually only $49! I told Alex, "Hey, I'm liking the color even better now."

I was also looking for a tote bag with wheels. I have neck issues and carrying my purse plus a carry on bag just kills me. On Sunday, Kohl's had rolling totes for $17 so we checked it out. The bags were kind of flimsy but I decided to get a red medium sized suitcase instead. I still have the big red one from the other set and for $25, we now have two sets of luggage again. I'm ok with Cait stealing the $25 bag. I'll take the smallest suitcase from the first set and use that to put my purse and everything else for the carryon. I think my luggage issues are all solved now.

Now, I believe I have finally finished planning everything. I called on Saturday night and reserved All Star Sports for our arrival night. All the other values only had preferred rooms available for $20 more. Since we're arriving after midnight and leaving at 11 the next morning, I could care less what our view is and how close we are to the food court. Only problem was, when I went back to check our reservations online, the CM had used my old last name and given Alex that last name, too. I have no idea how she came up with that--I gave her our BWV's reservation to add Cait's flight info and also gave her the name on my credit card to pay for AS Sports and still it came up wrong. She'd misspelled Alex's name, too. So, that necessitated one more call to get that all straightened out. It looks ok online but I'm withholding my joy until I get the paper confirmation.

So--hotel reserved, luggage problems resolved, shuttle bus to the airport reserved--all good! I'm waiting to hear back from Garden Grocer since I never got a confirmation from them.

Hey, guess what? We're going to WDW in 24 days! Now I just have to wait for the weather report so I can decide what to pack. Come on warmer weather!

 

[Hedy]

Hopefully that luggage will last (unless Cait goes away to college, then you are toast).

 

[tinkgurl]

I'm a huge slacker for reading and not posting, I'm so sorry.

Hey, don't be sorry!

 

[tinkgurl]

So, we finally get called up to the counter and Cait opens her purse and says, "Oh, no. I left my wallet in the room."

That was me.

On the inside, I was screaming, "I TOLD YOU SO! I TOLD YOU SO!"

This would've given me a heartattack for sure!