Plans change, but at least I still get to go! December 2010 PTR

[chwgmjay]

So... those of you that follow me on Facebook know what I've been going through, but I thought I'd post the saga that is currently my life on here.

A little over a month ago, my grandma had a major fall in my grandparents' front yard. They had to call out the first responders and EMTs to get her up and then one of my cousins took her to the ER. As a result, she was put on homebound status and couldn't leave the house except to go to the doctor's, church, and beauty salon appointments. Since then, I've been making bi-weekly trips to help them with grocery shopping, driving them to doctor's appointments, etc. since my Grandpa doesn't get around very well either. Also, Grandma's now been removed from homebound status and is allowed to do more stuff again/isn't feeling quite as bad as she had been.

Last week, while I was driving the 4 hours out to my grandparents' house, I got about 1/2 way there and my 2004 Ford Explorer, affectionately named Sir Drake (the explorer) overheated... big time. He was over 330 degrees and shut himself down to prevent any major damage to the engine... only that didn't happen. I was able, with a mechanic's help, to get him watered/started/moving again. I took Drake into the shop the next day, and they changed his oil and flushed his radiator. I thought he was ok. A couple days later, he would heat up and his check gauge light would come on after driving him for about 7 minutes, but then it would go right out and he drove fine. I figured I better take him in again though just in case.

On Tuesday I took him in, and they tested and found emissions gases in his coolant. I took him in to an engine shop, and they confirmed that he had engine problems. The engine shop said they needed to take the engine apart and would get back to me. They gave me an estimate in the mid-$3000 range.

This morning, they got back to me. Somehow, there was MAJOR warping of several parts of Drake's engine. The new estimate... $4585 to replace his engine.

I *had* planned a trip to Port Orleans Riverside in December... at a passholder room rate with deluxe dining... I had to call and cancel it tonight because I just can't afford replacing the engine in Drake and the trip to Disney World. I was pretty crushed. Once I got off the phone, I noticed that in my disney email account (yes, I have an account just for disney related stuff) I had an email offering special passholder rates on room only reservations. I took a look again, because I just didn't want to give up (and because I already have the airline tickets purchased, etc. part of which was done with Southwest credit that would have expired early next year before I'd have a chance to go back...), and thankfully was able to get Pop Century for $627 for the time we'd be there... not ideal since I've already stayed there, and didn't particularly care for it, but it's better than nothing... and that's less than what I'd already paid on our package, which was paid for with a disney gift card, so I wasn't getting any cash back that could have gone toward getting Drake fixed anyway... so now we're going again, though it'll be a scaled back vacation...

Hopefully nothing else goes wrong in the mean time.

Oh, and to the gang on Facebook for cheering me up these last couple of days. Every time I think about Drake, I get kinda teary eyed, but you guys have been making me think less about it.

 

[mikelan6]

I hope things get better for you!

 

[Gypsybear]

Hang in there...it'll surely get better...

 

[Sphyrna]

Glad you managed to salvage the trip, even in a modified form. Also glad I was able to keep up on FB. I hope everything with Drake works out.

 

[chwgmjay]

Glad you managed to salvage the trip, even in a modified form. Also glad I was able to keep up on FB. I hope everything with Drake works out.

Thanks.

They called this afternoon... apparently the engine didn't come in today, so it'll be Monday before they even get the engine/start working on it.

 

[hematite153]

Glad you salvaged a modified trip. Good luck to Drake!

 

[chwgmjay]

Glad you salvaged a modified trip. Good luck to Drake!

Thanks!

 

[DVCDan36]

I can totally relate to having crap pile up around you when you work so hard to stay ahead. My SO and I planned out September trip last year when I was working and then in April I lost my job. We talked about post-poning it, but he felt that we needed the time away.
This full summer my vehicle was in the shop for a new catilitic converter, brakes, and tires, not to mention all the times that the vehicle was having problems before being correctly diagnosised.
It seems like we are having nothing but problems, his mother sold her property and we are the only ones that are helping her move (plus she broke her ankle), nor has she found a new place to live. He found that the roof that was replaced when we bought the house is leaking and the company that did it is out of business. We have to have get it fixed. His vehicle is running funky now and we are still planning to go.
I was just offered a job and I start the day after labor day. Then that friday I head to Orlando for a week of vacation. I hope the boss understands. I have to speak to him on Monday to set everything. What is that saying, when life offers you grapes, just stamp them on them.

 

[wallyb]

"A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants."

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Vehicle problems, especially costly ones are horrible. However, you really did manage to pull off a fine compromise! You are getting Sir Drake repaired and going to WDW!

Pop isn't so very bad, really. Fun, campy and affordable!

 

[Tony-NJ]

wow - it seems like a lot going on - sorry about the car - but glad you are salvaging the WDW trip after all

 

[chwgmjay]

They called me with the final information on the vehicle... $4,513.08... blech. And I still owe $8500 on it in the 1st place.

 

[DVCDan36]

They called me with the final information on the vehicle... $4,513.08... blech. And I still owe $8500 on it in the 1st place.

Ouch! I think you could use a hug, ! I hope things go better for you.

 

[chwgmjay]

I'm changing this to a PTR/TR thread

I'm at... 86?!?!?! days to go.

So, we all know I'm staying at POP now.

I've been cancelling most of our ADRs, but kept a few of the ones my mom likes/I wanted/etc. I also added some special things that didn't cost too much, but I thought would be neat.

When we went for my birthday, we did the Wishes Dessert Party. It was a surprise, I didn't tell my mom we were doing it until we got there. It was on my birthday, so I just told her I had a special dinner picked out. She had a lot of fun and was really surprised when she found out our dinner was a bunch of desserts.

This time, I booked us the candlelight processional dinner package at Garden Grill (one of the places we wanted to go last time, but ended up too tired to go to) for the night of the 10th, and the yuletide fantasy tour one morning.

We arrive early in the afternoon on the 7th... plans are to pick up the rental car and then head to POP to try to check-in. After that we'll drive to Epcot for the evening with "lunch" from the Electric Umbrella (depending on the time/how hungry we are) and then dinner at Beaches and Cream (because I love it) with a walk around the Yacht and Beach clubs afterwards to see the holiday decor.

Weds morning we'll grab something from everything pop to take back to the room and then head to Epcot. Hopefully we'll be able to find something for lunch there (though we might end up at the MK for lunch), but we have a late dinner at Garden Grove at the Swan (I have a $25 gift certificate for them that I got from a promotion.) After dinner, we'll wander the Swan/Dolphin/Boardwalk to see what they have for holiday decorations.

Thursday morning we have breakfast reservations with TIGGER! at the Crystal Palace. Lunch will probably be from Pecos Bill's and then we have dinner reservations at Liberty Tree Tavern before the MVMCP. Sometime during the day we'll take the monorail to the Contemporary and Grand Floridian to see what they have for Christmas.

Friday is another Everything Pop morning before heading to Epcot for the day. We'll perhaps find lunch at Epcot before our Garden Grill reservations but probably just a snack since our Garden Grill reservations are so early. Then we'll enjoy the Candlelight Processional, and Illuminations viewing passes.

Saturday is Animal Kingdom day. With Pizzafari for breakfast, and Flame Tree for lunch. Whispering Canyon Cafe (one that I enjoyed during our DI classes, but didn't get to go to last time) is for dinner. We'll explore Wilderness Lodge and maybe take a trip to Fort Wilderness afterwards.

Sunday morning we have breakfast reservations at Boma. After breakfast we'll take a look around the AKL area at the decorations. We have plans to spend the rest of the morning at Downtown Disney. Dinner is at Shula's (again, I have a $25 gift certificate) and then the Osborne Family lights at DHS.

Monday breakfast is Kona (cuz I love them) followed by wandering around the Poly to see what they have for decorations. After that it's an MK day, with lunch planned for Cosmic Ray's (my mom likes it???) and dinner at the Crystal Palace! *TIGGER!!!!!*

Tuesday morning is tour day, which means we'll have to be up and fed early before heading to Epcot (it's just listed as Epcot Guest Relations on our Spreadsheet... mom asked what that meant, and I said a friend was dropping something off there that we needed to pick up. LOL.) After the tour we'll do Beaches and Cream for lunch and then DHS for the evening before heading back to pop century for dinner at Everything Pop and packing.

Weds we have to head home. We'll have breakfast at Everything Pop and then drop our luggage off at RAC before heading for the outlet mall. After that, we'll return our car and then it's back to Minneapolis.

That's everything for now. Any thought/suggestions/what did I miss?

 

[Sphyrna]

Looks like it's going to be a great trip!! Making me anxious to go down and see the holiday decorations!!

 

[chwgmjay]

Looks like it's going to be a great trip!! Making me anxious to go down and see the holiday decorations!!

I have "Behind the scenes: Disney holidays" saved on the Tivo and watch it all the time. Sooooo looking forward to the trip.

 

[chwgmjay]

Bleh... mom found out this morning that after 30 years at at&t, she's being laid off. About 37 people in the Minneapolis office found out this morning. There's a possibility that she can transfer to a different job, but they don't know for sure. I don't think that it will affect our trip, but who knows.

 

[Sphyrna]

Awww, sorry to hear that! I was hoping the economy and jobs were turning around but I guess not. My mom got laid off a few months ago.

 

[chwgmjay]

Awww, sorry to hear that! I was hoping the economy and jobs were turning around but I guess not. My mom got laid off a few months ago.

Mom's now considering taking retirement. She said she'd still want to find a new job eventually, but she's been with at&t for over 30 years and is old enough. There was also talk of moving to Florida, but I think it was a joke.

 

[fairlygay]

You have got a great schedule. I think we are going to be at Pop around the same time in Dec. My hubby and I are arriving on the 10th and we are meeting another couple from NY who are arriving on Sat the 11th. We won't be nearly as organized as you and your mom. Have a great trip!