Our Magical Mulligan Trip!!

[tiggerwannabe]

You really are not alone here...

My mind is just like yours when we go to WDW except my hubby leaves everything to me

He's gotten to the point where he only wants to know when to schedule his vacation...I make all hotel ressies, all ADR's and all travel arrangements. I usually make our trips 7 to 10 days long right off the bat, I did extend the one Christmas trip with my Mom by 2 days by booking us at CSR because of an awesome code...I went on a DCL cruise with Mom this past Christmas and for the price she wanted to book us at a port hotel I found a code that got us into AKL for ALOT less....actually, by the time she paid for the room I think it wound up being free ( for real )

IOW...plan away my friend, your family will thank you when this is all over with and will be happily looking forward to the next

 

[PrincessV]

I knew it, I KNEW you'd add one more night to the beginning!! Sounds like DH is at the point of "whatever, just let her roll with it". Kudos to you!

About the "Weather According to V", please don't let this freak you out at all! Really, when I say the coldest days of Dec., we're talking like days in the low 70's, with the occasional 60's. But the pools are heated to 82! Plus, I went to Paris last Nov. and got all the bitter cold I need for a few years, so I also am requesting a not-so-cold trip to WDW this year

 

[Lauralee131]

I knew it, I KNEW you'd add one more night to the beginning!! Sounds like DH is at the point of "whatever, just let her roll with it". Kudos to you!

About the "Weather According to V", please don't let this freak you out at all! Really, when I say the coldest days of Dec., we're talking like days in the low 70's, with the occasional 60's. But the pools are heated to 82! Plus, I went to Paris last Nov. and got all the bitter cold I need for a few years, so I also am requesting a not-so-cold trip to WDW this year

Thank you my friend! I wish you could see me bowing! Ok, I feel a bit better about the weather now...thanks! I'm sooo excited...the next couple of weeks are going to be TORTURE!!

 

[Lauralee131]

You really are not alone here...

My mind is just like yours when we go to WDW except my hubby leaves everything to me

He's gotten to the point where he only wants to know when to schedule his vacation...I make all hotel ressies, all ADR's and all travel arrangements. I usually make our trips 7 to 10 days long right off the bat, I did extend the one Christmas trip with my Mom by 2 days by booking us at CSR because of an awesome code...I went on a DCL cruise with Mom this past Christmas and for the price she wanted to book us at a port hotel I found a code that got us into AKL for ALOT less....actually, by the time she paid for the room I think it wound up being free ( for real )

You are a code genius!! I'm looking to you next time I'm out of points and need a cheap stay!!

 

[Lauralee131]

Great pre trip report. You will have a much better time. From what I understand they are still doing the Disney Visa Pictures in EPCOT. It is not on the chase rewards site, but others have said they got their picture. Ireally hope so, since my DS, DBIL are bringing my nephews for their first trip.

YAY!! Thanks for the good news!!

 

[Lauralee131]

We were at WDW in October -

and yes they did the Disney Visa pic !

Thanks!!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

You are a code genius!! I'm looking to you next time I'm out of points and need a cheap stay!!

I'm here to help, anytime...

Ever go to Mousesavers.com?



Besides the DIS and Disneyworld, I have tons of websites I could list for you- the above, wdwig and passporter are at the top of my list~

There's a DIS meet every summer for the last 3 years I've been helping organize, most of the Disney authors I read (Passporter, WDWIG, DisneyTrivia, MousePlanet among others) attend-it's *very* informative~

again...this is how I fill *my* busy head-I'm actually organizing a trip right now for next May

I should start a pre-trip report

My friend and I are taking our daughters to Cali next year. We're flying in to San Francisco, hitting Disneyland, Universal, Sea World and the San Diego Zoo while we're out there. We just solidified the dates tonight

 

[Lauralee131]

I'm here to help, anytime...

Ever go to Mousesavers.com?



Besides the DIS and Disneyworld, I have tons of websites I could list for you- the above, wdwig and passporter are at the top of my list~

There's a DIS meet every summer for the last 3 years I've been helping organize, most of the Disney authors I read (Passporter, WDWIG, DisneyTrivia, MousePlanet among others) attend-it's *very* informative~

again...this is how I fill *my* busy head-I'm actually organizing a trip right now for next May

I should start a pre-trip report

My friend and I are taking our daughters to Cali next year. We're flying in to San Francisco, hitting Disneyland, Universal, Sea World and the San Diego Zoo while we're out there. We just solidified the dates tonight

Oh yeah - I'm all over Mousesavers, Mouseplanet, Allearsnet, etc...love em all!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Oh yeah - I'm all over Mousesavers, Mouseplanet, Allearsnet, etc...love em all!

 

[PrincessV]

Lauralee, you're slacking. Seriously, no changes? No ADR additions? No more days added on?
Okay, I'll go back to reading Mel Happyhaunt's last trip, but I'll be back!

 

[Lauralee131]

Lauralee, you're slacking. Seriously, no changes? No ADR additions? No more days added on?
Okay, I'll go back to reading Mel Happyhaunt's last trip, but I'll be back!

Ah ha...slacker I am certainly not! I have been just about passing out cold at night the past few days, but aha...I've been busy on my lunch hours! Can't wait until my St. Louis office gets my North Carolina jobsite's phone bill and finds it loaded with Orlando's area code!!!

I've been busy.

My reservation info, I believe, has me tagged as a trouble maker.

They're (or at least a man named Benedict) aren't so friendly anymore.

They no longer wish me a magical day.

I think my "confirmation number or 10 digit phone number" is now blacklisted.

Maybe they have caller ID...

Ok, Ok, I'll do a quick post and bring you up to speed!!

 

[Lauralee131]

Ah yes...when last we left off, our heroine magically suckered her DH into one extra night at yet another Disney resort hotel so she could go on a sleigh ride...

And then, she suckered DH into leaving a day early...less stress, she said. Ok fine, he said.

I have worn him down. Worn him out. Broken his spirit. Bwahahahahahahha!!

The past few days I've been staring at my Disney calendar like it's one of those 3D things in the Sunday comics...I keep staring at, bringing it close to my nose and slowly moving it away waiting for something magical to appear. Ummm...all it did was give me a headache.

Something was gnawing away at me though...I needed to change SOMETHING...but what? AH HA and guess what? I now had an extra day to consider...I decide to try and get a 7:30 PS for WCC or CM's prior to our sleigh ride. Ummmm....no thank you Lauralee, but thank you for playing reservation roulette. You spun the barrel and pulled the trigger...Nothing. Just when I get my big shot I run out of bullets!!

Ok, thank you...I'll figure something out...

You're welcome, Lauralee. Have a nice day.

WHAT??!!? What did you say? Where's my "Have a magical day??" Hmmm...maybe I caught the wrong CM...

That's ok, I'll try back...Gotta check for the pirate cruises again today...see if there are any cancellations...Nope...but thanks for playing...have a nice day.

I finally decide that maybe a food court somewhere will be our last Disney meal. Fast, simple...just crazy enough to work...

The more I examine my Disney calendar, random thoughts appeared in my head. Would we really make it Chef Mickey's for a 7:20am meal? Um, probably not. Ok, I'll cancel that.

Then I focus on my 2 big expensive dinners...and grown up nights out...Since I'm now using rewards, or part of them anyway, to pay for an extra night, I begin to wonder for a moment if we really NEED to spend that kind of money. YEP, we sure do...a couple of date nights could be just what we need...we've had a few tense months lately. A couple of date nights could do us some good...

Ok, dinner it is. Now what about AFTER dinner? The night of the 8th (Friday) we have ADR's at Artist Point and then afterward I want to go to Epcot for EMH...but our other night we have an ADR for Shula's and then I want to walk to MGM (or maybe a boat?) for EMH...

Hmmmm...now I have an even more annoying thing nagging at my brain. We have to dress up for Shula's. How do we get dressed up and then walk through a park and ride the rides? I don't really want to waste time going back to the Poly to change and head back out...time is money and all that.

Ok, I go back to Allears and surf the menu's again. I call Disney Dining, yes again. And cancel CM's and Shula's. I make an ADR for Brown Derby. I can't recall if I have eaten there before. Doesn't matter...

DH hasn't. I know that for sure so at least it'll be new for him. I almost contemplated going back to Mama Melrose, which I had before I cancelled and booked Shula's, before I cancelled and booked Brown Derby. Back to the restaurant board. Doesn't sound too appealing...sounds like Mama Melrose has gone down hill. Think we'll keep Brown Derby.

Thank you Lauralee. Can I do anything ELSE for you?

No thank you.

Ok then, have a good day.

Ok, so we've gone from "Have a magical day" to "Have a great day" to "Have a nice day" to "Have a good day"....each CM a little less enthusiastic and friendly than Miss Phyllis Ray-of-sunshine.

I am telling you...there's something up. They have something on me, somewhere. Kind of like the notes in your medical file that you're not allowed to see...it's probably going on my permanent Disney record. Indecisive. Uncooperative. They've probably got all kinds of adjectives in my file.

So I call back the next day...this time I get Benedict. To date, the worst, unfriendliest CM I've encountered...I cancelled Brown Derby and booked Flying Fish....still no pirate cruises, by the way...

Anywho...Benedict did not even wish me a crappy day. Thank you for calling. Do you need anything else today? No? Ok, goodbye.

That's it...I believe I've been blackballed...

Tomorrow I will call again. Just to see who I get and how they treat me...

I'm suffering from low self-esteem...it's Friday night...

I know, a Jack and Coke will perk me right up!!!

Later gators!!

 

[PrincessV]

HA, HA, I knew you weren't slacking - I was just using reverse psychology to get a new post from you! AND. You just made it - I'm about to sign off for "What Not to Wear".

Ooo, ooo, ooo (yes, like Horshack) - I'm pretty sure I've gotten Benedict, too! He's the one who entered my need for guaranteed non-smoking rooms. That were never entered in the system. I just found out.

BTW, we really DO have permanent records with The Mouse. I know. 'Cause I asked last time I called to change ADR's. I made some comment about being classified as a "troublemaker" and she cliked a few keys, paused, then said, "Oh no, we've seen much worse than yours!" I really wasn't sure that was a good thing.

OK, so you need something better than fast-food for your last night. Have you tried calling at 10:01am? I read somewhere that's when ADR cancellations drop off and you have the best chance of getting something.

If that doesn't work, how about something less popular, still yummy, and in the MK area: Kona? GF Cafe? Narcoosee's? We simply cannot let you end the trip at Roaring Fork!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

At it again huh?

You're officially "a piece a work"

 

[Lauralee131]

At it again huh?

You're officially "a piece a work"

Thank you, thank you very much! Don't forget to tip your waitress I'm here all week!!!

 

[Lauralee131]

HA, HA, I knew you weren't slacking - I was just using reverse psychology to get a new post from you! AND. You just made it - I'm about to sign off for "What Not to Wear".

Ooo, ooo, ooo (yes, like Horshack) - I'm pretty sure I've gotten Benedict, too! He's the one who entered my need for guaranteed non-smoking rooms. That were never entered in the system. I just found out.

BTW, we really DO have permanent records with The Mouse. I know. 'Cause I asked last time I called to change ADR's. I made some comment about being classified as a "troublemaker" and she cliked a few keys, paused, then said, "Oh no, we've seen much worse than yours!" I really wasn't sure that was a good thing.

OK, so you need something better than fast-food for your last night. Have you tried calling at 10:01am? I read somewhere that's when ADR cancellations drop off and you have the best chance of getting something.

If that doesn't work, how about something less popular, still yummy, and in the MK area: Kona? GF Cafe? Narcoosee's? We simply cannot let you end the trip at Roaring Fork!

See everyone?? This is why I love this woman! She is my Dis-aholic enabler! V not only DOESN'T tell me I have a problem, she helps feed my habit!! Actually, I thought about asking for Narcoosee's...and now I can't remember why I didn't.

I'll have to try the 10:01am thing...maybe Monday...my boss is taking a vacation day...perfect day for Dialing for Dining!

I like Kona...never tried GF Cafe...Hmmmm....well, back to looking for those hidden images in my calendar!!

 

[Lauralee131]

So as of right now, I'm on my (gasp) 4th cup of coffee...dog had me up at 4:30! I've printed out my Mousekeeping envelopes, downloaded my Disney fonts on to my desktop (I have them on my laptop, not sure why I don't have them on the desktop), and printed little messages on each envelope, you know, like "Thanks for making our holidays more magical", yada yada yada...So that's done and out of the way.

Set up all the bills that need to be paid for the month of December. Gotta love that Bill Pay feature on Bank of America's website.
Checked the 15 day forecast...so far so good...

Need to clean the house this weekend so that next weekend all I have to do is pack and (hopefully) get our Xmas lights hung up outside so we don't have to do it when we get back.

Got our matching Dork family Mickey Christmas sweaters for MVMCP...DH thinks I'm insane. I'll have that family picture I have always wanted...if it kills them! Really, really would like a nice, Christmassy family picture for our xmas cards this year...cheesy maybe. But it's stuck in my head now. Nothing we can do but go with it.

Need to round up quarters and pennies...DS loved the pressed pennies last time so I'll bring him some change to get some more.

Bought my little 4-load bottle of Tide at Target...guess I should get a roll of quarters in case I decide to do laundry. I did do some laundry in February and it was nice not to have a mountain of it when we came home...may be worth it to do a bit on one of our off days...

Have to pull out the pin lanyards and Pal Mickey. Wondering if we even bring our PM this time...it was kinda fun to have him last time though...guess it couldn't hurt.

Ah yes and need to put in a "Hold Mail" notice to the post office before I forget!

Loaded up on snacks, juice boxes, cereal and water for our "Food Suitcase!". The thing I love about the food suitcase...it's multipurpose...carries our goodies to WDW and after we eat everything I can pack it full of the souveniers/xmas gifts I'm going to have to get home SOMEHOW...Sometimes I'm so smart, I even scare myself!

Need to do a little xmas shopping on line before we go...boxes from Disneyshopping.com are arriving daily now...DH is not happy. But they have been having some MAD sales and the DVC discount on top of that and the free shipping...you just CANT not buy!!!

Going to try and hit some dollar stores and Toys R Us this week for little stocking stuffers to smuggle to the Poly to have magically appear in DS's stocking each morning. Somehow I think I saw the little character Matchbox cars that they sell in the parks at TRU? Not sure why I think that...I'll have to go scope it out.

I need a doggy-downer to combat the effects of the 5th cup of coffee I just sucked down while typing this post...have a bad case of the zoomies...hate that.

Guess I'll go do something...even if it's wrong!!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Piece of work is a good thing my friend!

Gf cafe is nice...

We had a couple breakfasts there when I stayed there with my girlfriend. Never had dinner there tho. Its not a buffet, its full table service.

Narcossis I hear is pretty but the food reviews I've seen weren't very good.

1900 park fare has a nice buffet and the character interaction is good. The gf cafe is like 1900 sans pooh

You come down off that coffee high yet?

 

[Lauralee131]

You come down off that coffee high yet?

Just a few minutes ago!! I've torn apart and cleaned most of my house! I've dusted, cleaned 3 bathrooms, done 5 loads of laundry - and folded and put away, started pulling out some clothes for our trip, vacuumed and spent the last hour playing with Michael.

I'm spent...need a nap...oh great, now I have to cook dinner! YIKES!! Better put on a pot of coffee!!!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

I hope you had a good evening...

Not much longer now and you'll actually be embarking on this magical mulligan...

I'm happy for you that you and your guys get this doover...

Wdw is uber magical at christmastime. I'm sending you some prayers and pixiedust for great weather and smooth sailing...