OMG mom can't we just go back to the hotel and swim?...lots of pics!!...updated 4/24

[akayek31]

So when we last left you we had returned from MK for EMH. I had May 25 planned as a day off. I was determined to sleep late so when we returned to the room after 3 am I put the DND sign on the door and planned on sleeping until I felt like rolling out of the bed. I am a heavy sleeper so I did not hear a single toilet flush or any noise there was. Well DS had other ideas. He woke me up about noon. I think it was the latest I slept the entire trip. I had coupons for my birthday at many different restaurants. I wanted to try a place I had never been to before. We arrived here at 1:18 pm

I had a coupon for buy one get one free for the buffet. Plus as a added bonus DD was considered a kid here We went in and got salad at the beginning of the buffet. OMG it was good.

I really enjoyed the meal here. The great thing is I am still getting coupons for BOGO but the closest Sweet Tomato is 30 miles away. I am taking DD and DS to the mall for school clothes soon and may end up eating there. I wish we would get one in our town.

After lunch DD wanted to go to Ron Jon to buy a shirt. For some reason DD wanted a lime green shirt. She wanted one when we went to the one in Cocoa Beach in 2008 and could never find one so she was on a mission to get one.

After looking again she did not find the shirt again but got a pink one. Here is where DS has a new meltdown. He had saved his money so far and wanted to spend the bulk of it at the University of Florida. DS decided that he wanted to buy a $25 dollar shirt and a $40 hat here. We argued about it for a little while and I informed him that I would not buy him anything at UF if he spent all his money before then. He stood his ground and I said fine and bought it for him. By the time we got to the car DS decided that UF was more important than what he bought so he asked for the receipt and took the stuff back to the store and returned itl We head back to the resort after this and the kids go swimming and I take a nap. I was still exhausted from the day before. I informed the kids that we needed to leave for dinner at 6:00 for our ADR.

Next up: We meet new friends, tour the resort, and we have dinner among the stars.

 

[dd50]

I have never eaten at Sweet Tomatoes. Will have to give it a try.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Whew girl! I go away for a couple of days and get way behind again. All caught up. The photopass pictures are great. Well, except for the ones that your son was so tired in. But, they weren't bad either.

I have never even heard of the Sweet Tomatoes. That sounds like something that'd be right up my alley.

 

[akayek31]

I have never eaten at Sweet Tomatoes. Will have to give it a try.

You really should it is so good.

Whew girl! I go away for a couple of days and get way behind again. All caught up. The photopass pictures are great. Well, except for the ones that your son was so tired in. But, they weren't bad either.

I have never even heard of the Sweet Tomatoes. That sounds like something that'd be right up my alley.

It was good. Sign up for free emails and when you go to WDW soon you can get coupons for BOGO.

 

[lotus14]

Sweet Tomatoes is my MIL's favorite restaurant. Wish they had them around here! Can't wait to read more!

 

[akayek31]

He will be 3 on Sept 1, so we are going while he still gets in free. My cousin is a CM at Epcot, so she is getting us into the parks and got us a great deal at Pop. We don't have the dining plan either. We decided that Chef Mickey's was a must for him! He was born at 33 weeks and has had a tough time. He has been in and out of the hospital the past 2 years and still dealing with multiple health issues. This trip is all about him and will be the first real family vacation that we have gone on. What was your Disney trip dates again? How long were lines for shows, rides, and for pictures with the characters?


I missed your post yesterday. I am going with the dining plan this time. You are so lucky to have family working there. I told my mom the other night that I was going to move to Orlando and work at Disney one day She said I was crazy lol. My dates were May 22-29. It rained a lot so we didn't have a long wait at most places. The longest wait we had was for Toy Story.

Sweet Tomatoes is my MIL's favorite restaurant. Wish they had them around here! Can't wait to read more!

I do too. I would have to drive 30 miles to get to one. I will update soon

 

[akayek31]

OK so as most people know I have two jobs. I work full time for the state of Georgia. I get paid holidays and leave each month. Now for the other job I work at Cracker Barrel where I have worked for 7 years. I only work there Friday, Saturday, and Sunday every week so I can afford to go to Disney. Well as you can tell by my ticker I booked a trip for DS birthday. Well I put in for the time off 5 MONTHS in advance at Cracker Barrel. Well when I was discussing an issue with the manager yesterday she informed me that I did not have the time off since it was the busiest time of the year. She said that I would lose my money since requests are only requests. OMG its not like I am the only one that works there. I don't even work the week of Christmas. Cracker Barrel closes at 2 pm on Christmas Eve which is Thursday and they are closed on Christmas. So why would it matter if I miss 4 days when I work 7 days a week the rest of the year. So I decided to try to compromise and work the week before Christmas and leave after full time job on December 23 and come back after the new year. Disney changed the dates I have to pay $100 more but at least I will be there for NYE. So I call the HI Sunspree to change my reservation there but this is where I am getting annoyed with the whole situation. HI Sunspree is $140 bucks a night for the 3 days I want to stay. My back up hotel is $100 bucks a night. So basically I have to decide if I go back to the original dates or stay somewhere else. I have been looking on the travel sites all night but can't decide. I really like getting paid weekly at CB but it is not my full time job. But I do make almost $10 an hour there and wouldn't at another place. I am not going to stress over this. Thats why I am seeking the advice from all my DIS friends. Should I keep the same dates or find an alternate hotel for NYE?

 

[akayek31]

So I spoke with my manager at Cracker Barrel again when I picked up my check on Thursday. She agreed with the compromise of me working the weekend before Christmas and said that the weekend after Christmas and NYE will be better for me to go. She liked the idea better when I said I would work Thanksgiving (I don't work Thursdays so I would have been off and my other job is closed that day) So I called Disney again and changed my dates to include NYE so I can be at MK for the fireworks. A friend from CB said that she will be in Orlando that week so we are going to meet up for dinner. She also told me she never drives home to Georgia on NYE or NY day and we were checking out on the 1st so I think we will say another night somewhere else. Also when I got home tonight I had an email from DVC with a pin in it!! It was for 48% off of deluxe villas but it is only up until October so I can't use it I will try to update tomorrow

 

[Queenofallthings]

So I spoke with my manager at Cracker Barrel again when I picked up my check on Thursday. She agreed with the compromise of me working the weekend before Christmas and said that the weekend after Christmas and NYE will be better for me to go. She liked the idea better when I said I would work Thanksgiving (I don't work Thursdays so I would have been off and my other job is closed that day) So I called Disney again and changed my dates to include NYE so I can be at MK for the fireworks. A friend from CB said that she will be in Orlando that week so we are going to meet up for dinner. She also told me she never drives home to Georgia on NYE or NY day and we were checking out on the 1st so I think we will say another night somewhere else. Also when I got home tonight I had an email from DVC with a pin in it!! It was for 48% off of deluxe villas but it is only up until October so I can't use it I will try to update tomorrow

So happy for you that everything worked out. We work all year and make sacrifices so we can vacation at our happy place.....I don't like when people mess with that

Hope it's smooth sailing from here on out........

 

[akayek31]

So happy for you that everything worked out. We work all year and make sacrifices so we can vacation at our happy place.....I don't like when people mess with that

Hope it's smooth sailing from here on out........

Thanks! That's what I said for the first month I was negotiating with my boss. I was going no matter what I just would have had to quit and I have worked at Cracker Barrel for 7 years. I now just have plan it all

 

[micandminforever]

I am glad you are back on track.

The morning of New Years day is usually not that crowded in the parks. I guess everyone sleeps late from the night before. So if you are a early raiser it is great in the parks, in the mornings. Late afternoon the crowds wake up.

 

[akayek31]

When we last left you we had taken the day off and went shopping. We had an ADR at 8:05 in DTD so we set out about 6:15 because I wanted to walk around the resort. This update will mainly be pictures and only some narration.

We meet some new friends along the way...they were everywhere and so cute!

We got to the walkway where all of the signs were...I can't remember what it was called. I took pictures of the ones that were important to me and of course all of the 80's since I am a child of the 80's. I will post my favorites for you

Here is the year I was born along with me

Here is the sign for the year that DS was born along with him

Forrest Gump is one of my favorite movies of all time....you will be amazed by this later in the trip lol and here is the sign if the movie

Here is the sign for the year that DD was born along with her

I am going to continue in next post so I don't reach my picture limit.

 

[akayek31]

Next up: We have dinner among the stars.

 

[akayek31]

I am glad you are back on track.

The morning of New Years day is usually not that crowded in the parks. I guess everyone sleeps late from the night before. So if you are a early raiser it is great in the parks, in the mornings. Late afternoon the crowds wake up.

We are so not early risers lol. I have not had a NYE off since I can remember so I may be one of the ones that sleeps really late. or I may be a party pooper and go to bed after the new year.

 

[micandminforever]

I love your shirt in the 1972 picture.

 

[dd50]

I must be getting old because I do remember that "pong". My boss hooked it up on our computer. The one with the phone modem. How times have changed.

 

[iluveeyore]

Really enjoying your report - I have 3 teenagers, so I can relate to all the melt-downs and primping involved. You are a great Mom, and I'm loving all the pics. Keep it coming!!

 

[akayek31]

I love your shirt in the 1972 picture.

I got it at Cracker Barrel. I love Elvis. I told the kids I wanted to go to Graceland next year.

I must be getting old because I do remember that "pong". My boss hooked it up on our computer. The one with the phone modem. How times have changed.

I remember playing it too. My son has an playstation 2 and a game with old arcade classics on it. Pong was on there but DS and I got into a paperboy showdown lol.

Really enjoying your report - I have 3 teenagers, so I can relate to all the melt-downs and primping involved. You are a great Mom, and I'm loving all the pics. Keep it coming!!

Thanks for reading. You are so nice I have lots and lots of pics to go.




I switched shifts tomorrow due to DS working funky hours and he is going to take my car to work I get off at 3 so I may finish the day out so I can get to Tuesday park which was one we had never been to.

 

[Queenofallthings]

Absolutely wonderful pictures of the resort...we stayed at Pop Century in 2006 and loved it. I love the year signs, your DS and my DD were born the same year

 

[akayek31]

Absolutely wonderful pictures of the resort...we stayed at Pop Century in 2006 and loved it. I love the year signs, your DS and my DD were born the same year

Thanks! I was thinking of the DIS when I took all the pics. I love Pop Century. I have only stayed there once so far but it is a great resort.