Now Bring Me That Horizon ~ It Begins P115

[TarzansKat]

Well...I am sure you can make up later...

Well...

:::ahem:::

Yeah...the only bad thing about being a major Dave Ramsey fan...no credit cards. I have no debt...but no CC either...oh well. I will just have to pay with my debit card...but at least there won't be interest. But we get to start on Monday!!!!!

Ah, see, I totally get that. But DH and I use our credit cards like most would use a debit. We have a set budget that we don't go over, and we pay the cards in full every month, totally reaping the rewards from each without any of that nasty interest. I realize this is hard for a lot of people do, but it's always been our mindset. If we can't afford it, we don't buy it.

You will just have to stay tuned...but I don't think that you are going to like them so much... which makes me very sad.

But...oh, oh, it could be the coolest thing EVER!!!! Woo Hoo!!

 

[TarzansKat]

My mother and I were chatting about the trip today.

I know, I know. What else is new?

But I wasn't sure if Chef Mickey's was on 180 or 90 day bookings, and for us, it is the 90 days. I learned that when I called this evening, and was given the happy date that I can actually book all our ADRs. July 1st. Simple, easy to remember.

So I called Mom to let her know and we were chatting about the tentative itinerary as it stands.

And wouldn't you know it, in all our chatting, not only did we discuss how the added cost of hopping is really going to be worth it on this trip, we also discussed our first day activites.

Let's talk about hopping first. I didn't do it on my last trip. But my last trip was eight days. There was plenty of opportunity to revisit parks. This trip is six days. During Food and Wine Festival. Savvy? And you know what? I think I just want that flexibility. I want to be able to go to the Magic Kingdom when it first opens, get on all the rides in Fantastyland, and then head over to Epcot later in the day and eat my way around the World Showcase. You know?

In all seriousness, although it is totally doable not to park hop, it can also be...well, limiting. You get the idea. I just want some flexibility to be able to go to DHS during the day and Epcot at night. Or Animal Kingdom on the last day, then Citrico's, then the Magic Kingdom.

Anyway, we could go on and on. That's the great thing about park hopping. The possibilities!

So let's talk about Mom's great idea.

We were talking about day one, and the idea was one or both of these: The Magic Kingdom, with my traditional Casey's hot dog; Downtown Disney with counter service or T Rex or Rainforest with gift cards.

And as we were chatting, I said, we really need to figure out how to fit in Beaches and Cream.

Because there is a No Way Jose with my name on it, people, and it's begging me to devour it.

"TK..." it whispers in the middle of the night, "Teeeeeeekaaaaaaay....."

It's really starting to wake me up.

Anyhoo, I've always, always wanted to try one. More even than I want to see a Kitchen Sink.

And so Mom, in all her infinite wisdom said, why don't we go there on the first day?

Well, slap me thrice and hand me to...

If you watch the pirate films, we all know how that ends.

That was a great idea! We're still not sure what flight time we'll have. Southwest hasn't released flights through our dates yet, so who knows what time we'll get in.

Now, I'm fully aware that Beaches and Cream doesn't take ressies, and we'll sort of be taking our lives into our hands if DS and I are hungry when we get there and there's a bit of a wait. But I'm not going to worry about that. I am quite sure we can figure something out.

So this is our new idea. And really? Is there any finer way to start your vacation than with ice cream as a meal? Honestly.

Unless Jack Sparrow happened to be feeding me that ice cream...well...

:::ahem:::

Back to reality.

And a great new plan.

Thanks, Mom.

 

[creativeamanda]

I have to laugh, because my intentions for our arrival day are to go to either Beaches and Cream or Ghiradelli's for ice cream. As my first meal at Disney.

A gal after my own heart!

 

[If U Had Wings]

I think ice cream is the perfect way to start a vacation!

 

[maroo]

As I was making my "must do dining list"...I remembered the No Way Jose from a TR I read. With pictures. You see, she got me with the picture.

And, although it has not woken me up at night yet...I do hear it calling my name!! "Maaarrroooooooooooo" see...hear it? Yum!

So...it made the list.

And I will get there first. So I will try to eat ALL of them!

Great idea, by the way!

 

[TarzansKat]

I have to laugh, because my intentions for our arrival day are to go to either Beaches and Cream or Ghiradelli's for ice cream. As my first meal at Disney.

A gal after my own heart!

That is too funny! I can't wait to tell my mom, she'll get a kick out of it. She's fully aware of all my "DIS friends."

I think ice cream is the perfect way to start a vacation!

I mean, really. Other than that whole Jack Sparrow thing.

As I was making my "must do dining list"...I remembered the No Way Jose from a TR I read. With pictures. You see, she got me with the picture.

And, although it has not woken me up at night yet...I do hear it calling my name!! "Maaarrroooooooooooo" see...hear it? Yum!

So...it made the list.

And I will get there first. So I will try to eat ALL of them!

Great idea, by the way!

It's calling your name, too! Well, I'll be!

I can't wait to see the infamous list on your pre-trip report. We do get to see it before you leave, right?

 

[MRYPPNS]

Depending on the timing of things....you could always get some take-out food on the Boardwalk side of Cresent Lake then make your way over to Beaches and Cream for ice cream. That way you aren't straving waiting for a table at B&C.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I think starting off your wonderful birthday vacation with a No Way Jose would be perfect -- it just kind of sets the whole tone of the trip, don't you think?

 

[TarzansKat]

Depending on the timing of things....you could always get some take-out food on the Boardwalk side of Cresent Lake then make your way over to Beaches and Cream for ice cream. That way you aren't straving waiting for a table at B&C.

Heidi, thank you, that's a great idea. You know, I'm sure DS would love to stroll along the Boardwalk, and I'd love for him to be able to blow off some steam. I like to give him an opportunity to run around like a little boy after we've been couped up on a plane, you know?

So the Boardwalk will be excellent!

You know, we've always wanted to rent one of those surrey bikes. Maybe we could do that after we get our ice cream and work some of it off.

I think starting off your wonderful birthday vacation with a No Way Jose would be perfect -- it just kind of sets the whole tone of the trip, don't you think?

I agree. Eating ice cream as my first meal on the trip is definitely part of the whole not growing up theme.

 

[MegansMom]

You are speaking my language---ice cream as a meal!!!! YUMMY!!! We often do that for a fun dinner during the summer---not all the time, just every once and awhile to make us H A P P Y!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Normangirls]

Our whole family enjots the surrey bikes, except my husband and me.

We got a six-seater. DH and me in the front seat, DD12 and my sister in the second seat, and my Mom and Dad in the back seat. In the childrens' seats on the front are DD3 and DD8 (I think they were 1 and 6 at the time).

It's all good, we make the rounds and pass in front of the BC and YC (yeah, that part is downhill). Then the uphill trek begins.

In the end, DH and I end up getting out and PUSHING the darn bike to the top of the hill. My sister is laughing. Everyone walking by is laughing. My parents and kids are REALLY laughing. I'm wishing we could call AAA for a tow. I think I pulled something important, and could barely get out of bed the next morning. Good times.

 

[TarzansKat]

You are speaking my language---ice cream as a meal!!!! YUMMY!!! We often do that for a fun dinner during the summer---not all the time, just every once and awhile to make us H A P P Y!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously! Ice cream for dinner is the perfect way to kick off my I don't wanna grow up trip!

Our whole family enjots the surrey bikes, except my husband and me.

We got a six-seater. DH and me in the front seat, DD12 and my sister in the second seat, and my Mom and Dad in the back seat. In the childrens' seats on the front are DD3 and DD8 (I think they were 1 and 6 at the time).

It's all good, we make the rounds and pass in front of the BC and YC (yeah, that part is downhill). Then the uphill trek begins.

In the end, DH and I end up getting out and PUSHING the darn bike to the top of the hill. My sister is laughing. Everyone walking by is laughing. My parents and kids are REALLY laughing. I'm wishing we could call AAA for a tow. I think I pulled something important, and could barely get out of bed the next morning. Good times.

I see you're relatively new to the DIS, thanks for posting!

And a funny post at that, oh my goodness. I can just picture everyone laughing and not being able to get anywhere.

I heard a story once where one of the captains of the Friendships got on his speaker and started talking to people on a Surrey bike trying to make it up that same hill!

"Come on! You can do it!"

Can you imagine. Not only your family, but the whole dang Friendship boat laughin' at ya!!!

I so know that will be us, and yet, I am still drawn to the experience. All the more reason to keep working out on the bike when I go to the gym.

 

[TarzansKat]

Honestly.

It doesn't get much simpler than that. I'm a woman who loves a bargain. A sale. I rarely, to almost never, pay full price for anything. Anything. Buying a dress for $45 a Target almost killed me.

But it fit like a dang glove. And my mother threatened to disown me if I did, because that's how dang good it looks on. And if Mom says so, well you know. It's true.

Enough about enabling me to get a new dress for spring, let's talk about free dining.

Well, we were all booked up due to our bounceback. Tuesday, Sept 29 - Sunday Oct 4th. Pop Century, Preferred Room, 5 day non hoppers, 2 adults, 1 child. Total price given = $1275.47.

Well, curiousity got the best of me, and I booked it over to the wdw site to see what was availabe. I priced out CBR, I admit it! Tink talked me down, bless her. It's just not right for this trip, but I lust after it all the same. It's where my spinny compass that doesn't point north points.

And, then, to bring myself back to reality I priced out Pop.

Same exact dates, people, everything.

And it came out to $1223.57. Weird. That's $50ish less. For the same thing.

I couldn't figure it out. What was I doing wrong? I waited until DS went to sleep, and I called. And the first CM didn't believe me. It was okay, I get it. It sounds weird. And the second CM I got didn't want to believe me either. I explained it, patiently, several times.

Know what?

TK was right.

For some strange reason, the bounceback offer we were quoted is more than what you can get with the general public code. So guess what we did?

Well, we saved ourselves a little money, and spent a little money. In essence, I decided, since I was already on the phone, we'd add on the hopping to our tickets. It brought our total package price to $1383.32. So, really, a little over $100 more than our original quote. Which felt pretty dang good. Got my FIL's ressie taken care of as well, so he's all set to hoppity hop with us as well.

And I feel SO MUCH BETTER. Not only did I prove something, and save us some money...GO ME!!!!...I also did something that has made me way more excited about this trip, and that's hopping. I remember when it used to be standard. Four parks, one world. You know?

So then, I called my mother. Checked with her, and same issue. So when we called to change her ressie, the second set of CMs didn't believe me either, but eventually they saw I was right as well. And my CM said another sitting next to her said it was some sort of glitch with ressies at the end of September, and he'd had a similar call. Something about straddling the end of value into regular season.

Who can say?

At any rate, I saved three ressies a little over $50 each today.

And it felt pretty darn good.

 

[maroo]

Woo Hoo!!!

You know what they say on the budget board...

Another dollar saved is another dollar for DISNEY!!!

Way to go! There is a lot of fun Free Dining going around!

 

[TarzansKat]

Woo Hoo!!!

You know what they say on the budget board...

Another dollar saved is another dollar for DISNEY!!!

Way to go! There is a lot of fun Free Dining going around!

I know, how inspiring!!!

I never thought I'd be able to save more, due to whatever glitch in original booking, and not feel badly about adding the hopping. Go me!

 

[If U Had Wings]

That's great. Congrats on the great deal!!!!

 

[TarzansKat]

That's great. Congrats on the great deal!!!!

Thanks! And I'm just so excited to be park hopping. I can't wait to share with you all how I've changed up our itinerary. I feel soooo much better about it now.

 

[If U Had Wings]

Thanks! And I'm just so excited to be park hopping. I can't wait to share with you all how I've changed up our itinerary. I feel soooo much better about it now.

Park hopping does just give you so much more flexibility. I usually end up using it only a few times, but really like having it. I'm thinking I may have to cave and add it to my ticket too.

 

[MegansMom]

Hurray for your deals!!!! SCORE!!!

I'm hoping to call and book free dining sometime soon too---we have to get some things worked out with DH's work---please keep your fingers crossed for us!!! This waiting is KILLING ME!!!!!

 

[TarzansKat]

Park hopping does just give you so much more flexibility. I usually end up using it only a few times, but really like having it. I'm thinking I may have to cave and add it to my ticket too.

Just do it!

And call me, "The Enabler."

Hurray for your deals!!!! SCORE!!!

I'm hoping to call and book free dining sometime soon too---we have to get some things worked out with DH's work---please keep your fingers crossed for us!!! This waiting is KILLING ME!!!!!

Oh, hon, I hope that works out for you soon. It's such a pins and needles feeling when you can't book but know you're going to.