Now Bring Me That Horizon ~ It Begins P115

[maroo]

I know this was a LONG time ago...

But I will want to hear all about that Trip Binder!!

 

[TarzansKat]

I know this was a LONG time ago...

But I will want to hear all about that Trip Binder!!

Aw, dang. I'm sorry.

The Trip Binder - Of Our Famed Pirate's Life for Three

On the cover, A Pirate's Life for Three
A FANTASTIC pic of Jack Sparrow, and the following -

We Set Sail - September Fourteenth - September Twenty-First In The Year Two Thousand and Eight

Destination - Walt Disney World
The Wilderness Lodge Resort

Objective - Family Fun and Revelry of a Pirate Sort

Cast of Characters - (Wouldn't you love to know our real names? )

Words to Live By on a Pirate's Life For Three -

"The only rules that really matter are these: what a man can do and what a man can't do."

"I think we've all arrived at a very special place. Spiritually, ecuminically, grammatically."

"This is either madness or brilliance. It's amazing how often those two traits coincide."

"We are very much alike, you and I, I and you...us."

"One word love: curiousity. You long for freedom. You long to do what you want to do because you want it. To act on selfish impulse. You want to see what it's like. One day you won't be able to resist."

Then we had the interior. I got a zippered pouch from WalMart around back to school time (typically August) for such a great price, it should have been a sin. I stored my mousekeeping tips, MNSSHP party tickets and other important items in there on the way down, and while there, I threw receipts in as well.

I had 6 tabbed dividers to separate my info.

The first was Reservation Information. This contained all our flight information and resort information in regard to confirmation numbers and payments.

The second was Budget Info / Packing Lists. Pretty self-explanatory. I kept a few different spreadsheets of our budget as it related to various aspects of the trip. I had an overall trip budget, and then one broken down into what I guessed our tips would come to at our table service restaurants since we weren't on the dining plan.

The third was Resort Information. This was where I stored any and every little tidbit I learned on the boards of from my friends / family about the Wilderness Lodge. I had lists of where you could see MK fireworks from, what time the Electric Water Pageant went by, how much laundry cost, everything that was of interest to me went on this list. And this was INVALUABLE down there, because no matter who you are, it's a lot of information, and if you're like me, you're bound to forget something. If you've got a trip binder, you've got a really easy way to look it up.

The fourth was Parks Information. In here, I had a master spreadsheet of all the park hours, and maps of each park, where I handwrote our must do's. I then circled the numbers that corresponded on the map. You can get these on the main disney website. I also had a list of all the rides that had height requirements, so it would be easy for us to know what DS could and could not go on.

The fifth was ADR Information. Pretty self-explanatory as well. A spreadsheet containing our ADR info by date, time, and confirmation number.

The final tab was miscellaneous info. You're going to laugh when I tell you this, but this is where I kept my spreadsheet of possible vacations for 2009. No joke. Mom and I had discussed the possibility of free dining bounceback, and thanks to the DIS boards, I knew that it existed before I even left. Therefore, I had a spreadsheet of possible dates, and guesstimated the cost. This is where I kept my notes comparing mods to values, and all the possibilities I could dream up for 2009. As you know now, I obviously booked, but I wanted that info ready for me so I could know whether or not the quote being given to me by the CM was accurate.

So, there you have it my dear. My happy little trip binder.

I so need to get crackin' on one for this year.

 

[maroo]

Yes, sister! You better get crackin!

I need to do a binder now. But I guess I should figure out what my next trip is first, huh!!!

Well, I am working on that.

Lisa decided, for sure, that she is not going to Disney this year. Lots of reasons....but it means my trip dates won't overlap yours anymore. Unless you do some surprise trip in December or January...when I will also be in the World.

I will have dates soon...for my next trip. I am waiting on a friend of mine to let me know which weekend she wants to go...and then I will start a pre-trippie! I guess I could go ahead and start one... hmm...

 

[Charleston Princess]

Ummm...yes, TK...you are only six months away from your trip...you must have a binder STAT!!!

 

[TarzansKat]

Lisa decided, for sure, that she is not going to Disney this year. Lots of reasons....but it means my trip dates won't overlap yours anymore. Unless you do some surprise trip in December or January...when I will also be in the World.

I will have dates soon...for my next trip. I am waiting on a friend of mine to let me know which weekend she wants to go...and then I will start a pre-trippie! I guess I could go ahead and start one... hmm...

Well, I am glad to hear that you are going and sorry to hear that I won't get to meet you. I was very much looking forward to a little Maroo in person time.

Then again, you never know what tricks we have up our sleeves in the TK household, and although I don't plan a trip in December or January, who can say?

Ummm...yes, TK...you are only six months away from your trip...you must have a binder STAT!!!

You know, I don't even remember how far out I made my last one. I just know there's a whole bunch of info about this trip floating around in my head that needs to go somewhere so I can stop hearing "the voices."

In all seriousness, that's why I've had such a hard time updating. There's so much to say!

 

[TarzansKat]

Okay, so I'm not copping out on the whole pirate thing. We are totally Sparrow obsessed, as you all know.

I mean, just look at him.

:::SIGH::::





Tink and I totally have phrase to describe the look on the good captain's face in this photo. Unfortunately, it's not DIS friendly.

I'm sure your imaginations can do a little fill in.

Seriously.

Anyway, back to the pre trip report. I feel like I have so much to tell you all, and not enough space to do it in! You know what I mean? I feel like I've got at least 3-4 updates worth of information, and I want to pace myself.

I mean we have a little over 6 months here.

So today we'll just deal in abstract thought, or the inner workings of TK's mind.

Right about now, I bet you're thinking, boy oh boy, what ever did I subscribe to this for? This girl's a nutter!

That could be true, but I promise, at the very least, it's interesting.

Since this particular trip is honor of my thirtieth birthday (it's getting easier to say, I swear ), I've been thinking about what that means.

What turning thirty means, and all of that.

We won't go into it all. But it occured to me that I picked something very interesting for us to dress as for MNSSHP.

And if you all recall, that's characters from Peter Pan.

Most of whom, will never be growing up.

Sound familiar?

I mean, talk about the subconscious mind at work here! TK picks a large group of Disney characters for her family to dress is that just so happens to never ever wanna grow up, yup!

Is that too funny or what?

And I have a special love of the film Peter Pan. When I was eight years old, I got to see it in the theater for the first time. That same day, I ended up being rushed to the hospital with acute appendicitis and having my first operation.

But I saw the whole film. My parents tease that I didn't want to leave the movie, but honestly, I think it was so wonderful, and so distracting, and that pain pretty much builds slowly so that you don't realize how bad it is, I probably chalked it up to a stomachache and watched Peter fly off to Neverland.

Neverland.

:::sigh:::

Where I really don't ever have to grow up. Where I'll always be a child at heart.

And so, dear friends, that's why, even though this trip is celebrating a birthday that I've learned to embrace, and although I may be a responsible adult, I'm telling you right now, I'm never growing up. I'll never forget my inner child.

"Second star to the right, and straight on 'till morning..."

"You can fly..."

That song still makes me cry. All that childhood innocence, faith, trust, and a little bit of pixie dust, and YOU CAN FLY!!!!

So not only are we finding our horizon a la Captain Sparrow, we're pirates of a different sort. And children who will never group up. Lost boys and fairies and beautiful Indian princesses.

We're celebrating not just a birthday, but what it is to be young, regardless of what age you are. To be young of spirit, young of heart, young of mind. To never, ever let the child in you die. And although 30 is about moving forward for me, and a lot about allowing less bs in my life, it's also about keeping that spirit alive.

About putting on Disney music at night, and singing and dancing with my son and my husband.

About playing with Playdoh when DS asks me to, about racing racecars, and playing all sorts of pretend.

Because, to quote another Pan film of sorts, "We have a few special years with our children, when they're the ones that want us around. After that you're going to be running after them for a bit of attention. It's so fast Peter. It's a few years, and it's over."

I always think of that. When I'm too tired to want to play racecars or run around with the energy of a four year old. Right now, my son wants me around. When I got home from the gym tonight, he said, "Mama, I'm so glad you came home!" And I got a big ole hug.

It's already gone by so fast.

And I cling to all my memories, and I can't wait to make new ones.

"To live... to live would be an awfully big adventure."

 

[creativeamanda]

I love that last line. I think Disney just reminds us to continue being young at heart. . .even if it kills us, lol!

 

[maroo]

Now see...

THAT is why I love me some TK trip reports (and pre-trip reports)...

Nuff said.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Where I really don't ever have to grow up. Where I'll always be a child at heart.

This is what is embodied lock, stock, and barrel by Walt Disney World for me. The place where I can still be completely a kid.

"To live... to live would be an awfully big adventure."

Oh, have I ever told you just how much I love the live-action Peter Pan? Love, love, love it -- and I cry all the way through it because it is all about not growing up and growing up at the same time.

Beautiful update, TK!

 

[TarzansKat]

I love that last line. I think Disney just reminds us to continue being young at heart. . .even if it kills us, lol!

I love that line. There are some great lines in Hook, and that is by far one of the best.

Now see...

THAT is why I love me some TK trip reports (and pre-trip reports)...

Nuff said.

Aw, shucks.

It had been a while since I'd wrote something more profound, I felt it was due.

And I was totally amused with myself that I picked something so blatantly obvious without realizing it.

 

[TarzansKat]

This is what is embodied lock, stock, and barrel by Walt Disney World for me. The place where I can still be completely a kid.

Me, too.

I just hope it's not totally embarassing to my 20 something son when I'm still jumping up and down over going on Pirates of the Caribbean.

Oh, heck, he'll probably be jumping up and down with me, bless him.

Oh, have I ever told you just how much I love the live-action Peter Pan? Love, love, love it -- and I cry all the way through it because it is all about not growing up and growing up at the same time.

Beautiful update, TK!

Thank you, so much! I love the message in that film, I really do.

 

[If U Had Wings]

Me, too.

I just hope it's not totally embarassing to my 20 something son when I'm still jumping up and down over going on Pirates of the Caribbean.

Oh, heck, he'll probably be jumping up and down with me, bless him.

He will definitely be jumping up and down with you. (And then with your grandkids too! )

I just love the message of Peter Pan. One of my all time favorites! The perfect Disney message.

 

[TarzansKat]

He will definitely be jumping up and down with you. (And then with your grandkids too! )

Now that's a nice thought.

 

[creativeamanda]

Well, ya know, I almost didn't get to that point in the post. I was too busy looking at Jack Sparrow to actually look at the PTR post itself.

Does your husband know about your obsession? LOL.

 

[maroo]

So...

Will you be changing your ressie to get this Free Dining?

 

[MegansMom]

LOVE the new theme---so perfectly TK, and just plainly, SO PERFECT!!!! Got a little teary eyed I did!!!

 

[TarzansKat]

Well, ya know, I almost didn't get to that point in the post. I was too busy looking at Jack Sparrow to actually look at the PTR post itself.

Does your husband know about your obsession? LOL.

Good lord, dearie. My husband dresses like Jack Sparrow for MNSSHP.

How's that for feeding the obsession?

Seriously, we joke that I have my own personal Jack Sparrow. And I do. I am SO lucky. My DH fits the bill perfectly, and looks...well...for lack of a better word, pretty darn hot dressed as Jack. We have a fairly authentic cosutme, some of our own making, and some purchased on Ebay, so it's a big departure for us not to do that this year.

He'll just have to be a Captain of a different sort....Hook.

So...

Will you be changing your ressie to get this Free Dining?

Hi, hon! I already have free dining. I booked a bounceback dining promo when I was there last September, so I was able to already get it.

What is the new promo now, I see the Disney Visa just released it?

LOVE the new theme---so perfectly TK, and just plainly, SO PERFECT!!!! Got a little teary eyed I did!!!

Thank you, hon!

 

[maroo]

He'll just have to be a Captain of a different sort....Hook.

Oh yeah!! I was so wrapped up in HRH being Peter Pan that I did not even THINK about Captn Hook! How perfect is that!!!!!!

Hi, hon! I already have free dining. I booked a bounceback dining promo when I was there last September, so I was able to already get it.

What is the new promo now, I see the Disney Visa just released it?

Disney Visa folks have a 2-day head start. It is basically free regular dining with the full price purchase of any room. So...4 people can stay in a POP standard room at $82 a night and all eat for free. I am all about some of that!!!

I am hoping that Visa holders don't take the last POP standard room available for my new dates! I can't wait to tell the world about my new trip being planned!!!! TR is starting soon...maybe even today?

 

[TarzansKat]

Oh yeah!! I was so wrapped up in HRH being Peter Pan that I did not even THINK about Captn Hook! How perfect is that!!!!!!

I think he'll be quite dashing. Of course, I'll have to pretend to detest him all evening, since I'll be Wendy.

Unfortunately, I have a soft spot for pirates.

Disney Visa folks have a 2-day head start. It is basically free regular dining with the full price purchase of any room. So...4 people can stay in a POP standard room at $82 a night and all eat for free. I am all about some of that!!!

I am hoping that Visa holders don't take the last POP standard room available for my new dates! I can't wait to tell the world about my new trip being planned!!!! TR is starting soon...maybe even today?

Usually the Visa folks get a head start. Free dining is fantastic, I can't speak highly enough of it. Although, it has turned me into a table service junkie! Now what dates are you thinking of?

 

[maroo]

I think he'll be quite dashing. Of course, I'll have to pretend to detest him all evening, since I'll be Wendy.

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

Usually the Visa folks get a head start. Free dining is fantastic, I can't speak highly enough of it. Although, it has turned me into a table service junkie!

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!!!!!

Now what dates are you thinking of?

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!!