Pre-trip report: Our first game is called "well begun is half done."

AshleyMWC

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Aug 13, 2006
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Welcome to my very first "report" of any kind- dining, trip, or otherwise! I make no guarantees that you will like it, or even read it for that matter, but I have wanted to start one since the first one I read. So, here it begins. Oh, and for the title, I LOVE Mary Poppins!!!!!

A good place to begin seems to be- at the beginning of course :goodvibes

Ok, I'll start with our cast of characters- a small cast, but a solid one nonetheless.

Up first, ME! Hmm, Don't you hate that interview question that they always ask: "Tell us a little bit about yourself."? Well, here is my answer to you guys. My name is Ashley, I am 25 (almost 26), reside in Richmond, VA with my DBF and our two dogs: Noel and Disney. I recently finished my MBA last year, and am currently applying to go back to school to get my Ph.D in hopes of one day teaching on the college level. Hobbies....ummmmm...the Disboards, shopping, organizing (yes, I actually listed that), and I guess anything else fun that comes along. It's been a really really really rough couple years for my family- divorce, illness, financial woes, new jobs- basically you name it- so this vacation feels well deserved ;)

p.s. I really like to write, hence the report, although I don't claim to be good at it. My secret dream is to write a book one day.

I found this online quiz that allegedly tells you which Disney character you are most like. So, I took it, and lo and behold, I am like the main cheese himself- MICKEY!!! Imagine my excitement. Here is the link if anyone else wants to try thier luck

http://www.allthetests.com/redirect.php3?siteid=25570

Up next, DBF. His name is Sam, he is 27, works as a financial analyst, plays the keyboard and saxaphone, and generally speaking, is a laid back guy. He used to be in a band, but they broke up once the rest of the older band members started having kids and such, and now they have a new group called "Silly Bus" which writes and performs kids educational music, with an "updated feel." Shameless Silly Bus plug: www.sillybus.net

Oh, by the way, when I took the quiz for him, he came out to be Pinnochio- which makes me laugh for some reason!

So, that's us, nothing too exciting. Oh, for anyone interested, we have been dating for about 7 years- yes, I am so not kidding! (If you sensed a bit of bitterness in this last comment, you are correct. Propose already- ugh :rolleyes: ) I will try and post some pics of us tonight, once I figure out how.

Ok, we can knock out a couple of Necessary details here I think:

When: November 28-December 4
Where: Wilderness Lodge (first time here!)- more elaboration to come here

A little backgroud to the trip is in order I guess. This trip will mark our third trip with just the two of us. Last year we went for the food and wine festival and LOVED it. The holidays are still my favorite though, and I think Sam tends to agree. Sam first experienced WDW on a school band trip, where they played inside Cosmic Ray's- got to come up through the floor and everything! (We are now always required to eat there of course.) He liked it I guess, but he didn't really "get it" until he went with my family in August 2003- my college graduation present. From then on, the boy has been HOOKED- lest you forget we did name the second dog Disney!

Sam has wanted to stay at the Wilderness Lodge since his eyes first caught sight of the magestic Lodge. I guess it's the Eagle Scout in him. He loves the outdoors, and while I am not so much an "outdoorsy" kind of gal, I aim to please, so WL here we come! We decided on this trip about 4 weeks after returning last year :rotfl: I booked in April (I think) through AAA- WIlderness Lodge, woods view. Ever since Sam found out what concierge was he tought it sounds awesome- I mean really, who doesn't!?!? I told him that I just didn't think we could swing it- at least if he wanted groceries for the rest of the year at least. So, Woods View it was.....or was it??? This is where I leave you until the next installement (which will probably be tonight, but now I must get back to work I guess- there's nothing like writing trip reports on company time) ;)
 
Not that anyone seems to be reading :rotfl2: but I felt the need to "update" my report. Well, I went down to the basement tonight to get some pics to download into photobucket so that a face could be put with this report---and what do I find?!?! Oh yes, a completely flooded basement. Virginia was hit with baout 3-4" of rain today, and our basement apparently soaked up a great deal of that. DBF has a recording studio down there, so we have been drying stuff and moving stuff upstairs ALL NIGHT! Nice surprise 11 days before vacation :sad2: Oh well, such is life. Apparently not as much stuff was ruined as originally thought, but of course the newly laid floor must come out- doh!! I will try and get another installment out tomorrow at work.
 
Hi Ashley! Great job on your first ever report - I'm subscribing to follow along on your adventure!! I just got back from the world (11/3 - 11/11 at POR) and it was great!! Still haven't finished my own trip report :guilty: but working on it.

My best friend and her family are going to be there the same days as you. I'd like to see your plan for days, events, ADRs etc. They are staying in a condo, (not my idea) and need some help with planning.

You're only about a week away!!! :Pinkbounc :cheer2: :cheer2:
 
Waiting for pictures.

Itemize your flood damage. If it don't get covered by insurance, you can use it for a dedutible on your taxes-you have to do the long-form to receive the deduction. The deduction will be under casual loss. You can also keep track of your time and labor it took to clean up the mess. There are some people that won't do it and they hire others to do it for them. We got a flooded basement about 10 years ago and lost everything.
 

Great pre-trip report so far. I am sorry to hear about the flooding.

We will be there the same time as you and we cannot wait. Will be at WL on the 30th for lunch at WCC.
 
Ok, pictures tomorrow. I can't thank everyone enough for responding to my report!!

My mom moved today out of our old house :sad1: into an apartment, so ALL DAY was spent moving stuff- i am beat! Man, vacation needs to be here NOW!! Ok, off to bed for this girl, I'll catch you all tomorrow.

:goodvibes
 
Ok, so still no pics, sorry- hopefully you all will read regardless. I had a bunch of cd's with pics from our last trip, but since we had to move everything out of the basement after the great flood, I can't seem to find them. I will try again tonight, as I should have some free time after DBF's parents leave. So, as I last left you I was in a bit of a WIlderness Lodge room choice dilemma. We booked woods view because it was a good deal with the AAA rate I got, but concierge was still looming in my mind. Ok, fast forward about a month...I caved....I booked concierge :rotfl: Was it THE smartest thing to do budget-wise- NO! Could I actually swing it- YES! Have I ever regretted it? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!

I have decided to keep this a surprise from Sam until we are at the airport. Man, I am about to POP!!! I have nearly blown the surprise about a million times, but hopefully with 4 days left I can hang on. I have planned on making a goodie bag for Sam to give him at the airport, with the concierge upgrade of course being the final goodie :goodvibes So far, I have compiled some Mickey Mouse candy canes, a Guest of Honor Badge with his name engraved, and a monorail t-shirt that was supposed to arrive LAST week but I still haven't gotten it. Apparently it was "misplaced" through the postal system somewhere- ggrrrreeeeaaaattttttt. We'll see, I have requested that another be overnighted to me. Sam LOVES the monorail and I was pumped to find the shirt on ebay for him (and of course I got one for me too)- and while it's not a crisis by any means not to have it, I am still kind of sad :guilty: If it actually comes in, I promise to take a pic of it and post it! Oh, if anyone has any ideas of how I can "give" the concierge upgrade to sam, I am open for thoughts!!

Ok, so that was basically a paragraph of nothing. Hoepfully I can come up with something a bit better from here on out. How about my dining ADR's? I of course of booked, re-booked, booked, and re-booked, about a zillion times, much to the dismay of the IPO office I am sure. SO, here is a rundown of where we are PLANNING on dining- I'm sure we will change once we get there though: Kona Cafe (breakfast and dinner), O'Hana, Artist Point, Boma (dinner), Crystal Palace (breakfast), Le Cellier (dinner, Candlelight Package). We have never tried a bunch of these so i am super excited! Sam and I both love food and cooking- our tv is usually on the Food Network, watching either Iron Chef America, Emeril, or really whatever is on. Sam loves Artist Point, so that was relaly his only request. I have always wanted to try Le Cellier, and I was pumped to be able to get into there on the 29th for the Candlelight Package. John O'Hurley is narrating that night, and Sam loves Seinfeld, so it should be a good time. Please let the weather be nice....it looks good so far, but I probably just jinxed it now, doh!

Hmmm, what else to talk about. OH, the flight down! We are flying Delta, and leaving at 7 AM! Oh my gosh, who is the name fo Pete made the decision to fly down so early?!?! SAM! He's all about maximizing time in the world, which is great and all, but gosh darn it, that's one early flight. We will arrive in Orlando at 9:10 AM (hoepfully) and catch the 'ol Magical Express- our first time using this!Hoepfully adrenaline will wake me up, because this girl is not a pretty sight when I'm hungry and tired :crazy: Anyhoo, let me just say, other than the earliness of the flight, which I have warmed up to (a little), Delta may lead me to an early grave if they don't stop changing my flight times! Ah, I booked 6 months ago, and my return flight has now been changed 5 times, with NO NOTICE in the form of call or email from Delta! How annoying- don't these people know that I am a compulsive planner?!?! :furious: Ok, enough ranting, I feel better--- until the next flight change.

Well, I guess I better do a little work here at work.

Up next: Will the monorail shirts come in? And if they do, will the sizes/colors be right, and will Sam dare let the two of us go in matching shirts to the parks?? Also, find out what "extras" we have in store on this trip!!! (I hear Mickey is hosting a Christmas shindig at MK, perhaps we will be invited!)
 
You're off to a great start Ashley! Can't wait to read more - did the monorail shirts come? Did you find the photo cd's yet??


Hmmm...I have absolutely NO suggestions on what to do to surprise him with concierge...have fun with it though!
 
SO that no one is in suspense any more (and not that anyone probably is :rotfl2: ), I just received an email from the monorail shirt guy, as I refer to him, and.....

Ahhhhhh, no shirts! He is mailing them directly to the WL for me. I guess it's better than nothing- but again, I am a compulsive planner people :furious: I guess it's a good thing I spotted those Mickey candy canes at Walgreens the other day or Sam would be left with only the name badge :lmao:

Still taking suggestions for the "concierge reveal". I had thought about a game of some type, but heck, it's too early in the morning for cranky-pants Sam to be playing a game ;)
 
Just subscribing! This Sam can't wait to hear how your Sam takes the news on the "upgrade surpise"
 
Ok, you guys asked for it, and here we are. A couple pics are from last year and a couple are from 2 years ago. I look....well....the same still, but Sam looks a lot different now. Sorry I don't have any newer pics of him. His once baby face now sports a goatee (sp?)/mustache combo thingy- very PC description, I know. I promise to have updated pics of him in my trip report. So, here they, come, the good, the bad, the ugly....take your pick :lmao:

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Ok, maybe that was a bit overkill, but I am proud that I know how to post pics now :goodvibes
 
Ok everyone, here's is another installment for ya. Perhaps tonight I will give you all a brief run down of our/my itinerary for the trip. I say this with a word of caution, however. You see, for as much as I LOVE planning (almost as much as the trip itself), Sam is a go with the flow kind of guy. I try my darndest to just "go with it" but it's hard :rotfl: So, I secretly have all the days at least somewhat planned out in my head, but I don't tell Sam, and therefore I seem more laid back when i casually suggest that "this morning seems like a great morning for Animal Kingdom." Sneaky you say....of course! And I love it ;) So, here goes:

Tue, Nov 28 (arrival day)- arrive MCO circa 9:15. Check-in 11ish, maybe?!?! Drop luggage in room or wherever, and hit up MGM. This is always our first stop. Tower of Terror is a MUST for Sam- oh, I like it too :) I wold also like to hit One Man's Dream this day. We both just love it, and it seems a fitting way to start vacation. Dinner is up in the air. We have Kona reservations, but I have a feeling we are going to be beat by dinenr time, from beng up at 4AM. Oh, I would love to catch the water parade this night, but no worries if we don't.

Wed, Nov 29: Brekfast at Crystal Palace at 9AM. Hit up a couple rides, then head over to Epcot. DInner at 5PM at Le Cellier (woohoo, first time here!!), and Candlelight Processional to follow!! Yay for John O'Hurley narrating. I do hope that I can look at him and not think of Peterman from Sienfeld, haha.

Thu: Segway Tour at Epcot at 9AM!!!!! Oh, pleeeaasssseeeee no rain this morning!!! :sunny: Free afternoon. MVMCP tonight!!!! Again, rain stay away!
 
Oops, somehow I posted that last part before I was done....here's the rest.

I believe we left off with :

Fri Dec 1: Animal Kingdom day- my favorite park!!!!!!!!! DInner at Artist Point- Sam's favorite restaurant. I would love to hit PI after dinner. we always say we are going to, and NEVER have!!! Anyone been to the Adventurers Club? I want to go, it's good times, yes?

Sat: Back to MGM for whatever we forgot to do before. Dinner at Boma. Another first for us awaits at Boma. I have been dying to stay ak AKL, so this seems a close settlement.

Sun Dec 3: Last full day...noooooooo! Basically a day to hit whatever we missed anywhere. I think we have breakfast at Kona, but I will ahve to verify that in my folder of fun ;)

Mon Dec 4 (departure day): flight leaves at 6:55, so i really will try and just get up and go with the flow this morning.

SO, there's the run down. I hoep to spot some LGMH along the way too!!

So, have I mentioned anywhere that I have also done this concierge upgrade as a gift to myself? You didn't think it was TOTALLY selfless id you? :blush: My birthdy is December 13th, so I say to that, "Happy Birthday to me!" I really really really want to pick up a birthday pin at guest services to wear while I am there- probably around Dec 2 or 3, but I feel kinda guilty that it won't be my actualy birthday. What do you guys think? I would tell people if they ask, but it's only 10 days out from the big day, and I want a Disney birthday gosh darn it! Oh the dilemma....

Well, it is time to sum up tonight- I am beat. Today I had to move my mom's remaining furniture into storage, and poor thing, she couldn' help me! She SEVERELY sprained her ankle this morning loading the truck up :guilty: It's swollen up nice. I ahd to take her to Patient First since its the weekend, adn there were people hacking all over the place. Eeeewwwww, don't these people know I CAN'T get sick now, I am going to Disney World in 2 days!!!!!! I kid you not, I sat in the chair, waiting, with my sweatshirt pulled up over my mouth/nose. Did I look ridiculous? Of course. But Disney World is serious stuff people, sorry :lmao:

What we have learned/pondered in this installment:
To birthday button or not, that is the question?
Will my "secret touring plan" come to fruition?
And will these infamous monorail shirts arrive at the WL? (The monorail shirt man says they were overnighted today!)

More to come tomorrrow I promise. :wave2:
 
I had planned on writing more last night, but of course our internet went out-- and is still down. I will definitely find time at work today though. Ahhhh, tomorrow this time we will be in Disney World!!!! :bitelip:
 
You guys are a very cute couple! Enjoy your trip, you leave in the morning right? Must be packing and packing away! Have a great time, hope he enjoys the concierge suprise! Hey, maybe you'll get the proposal suprise? :thumbsup2

Allyson :)
 
Hello all! Well yes, the time has arrived, we are leaving in the morning at 7AM! AHHHHHH!!! Sorry for the lack of updates, but it has been crazy busy getting stuff done. Packing is done (for me at least), dogs are shipped off to my mom's house, and all that is left for me tonight is to shower, and TRY to fall asleep! :Pinkbounc

Hmmm, today, what have I done? I bought a brand new pair of Crocs because my old blue ones were looking a bit shady. I got my nails done...I know a TRUE necessity if I ever heard one :rotfl2: I worked a full day, much to my dismay. I guess that about covers it- it seems like a lot less on paper, btu I feel like I have run a marathon.

Let's see, how many last minute spaz outs have I had today? 1) Sam was 2.5 hrs late getting home, he didnt have his phone, and of course I thought he was dead in a ditch- he's not, don't worry ;)
2) Almost forgot to go to the bank- remembered 10 minutes before it closed!
3)Came home to dog vomit--mmmm, mmm. I think he was just too excited (no need to mention the vomit to my mom, the dogsitter ;) )

I can't believe, however, that I didn't get my LGMH's laminated!!! I totally forgot, ahhhhhh, what to do? I'll figure something out, don't you all worry though. I WILL be sporting it on my backpack in the parks, no matter what!!!

Wow, this is a terrible installment, I'm sorry guys! Ok, well, I guess this is the last of the pre-trip report...unless I can't sleep tonight, heehee. STay tuned for the good stuff- The Trip Report!!


Oh, p.s., MomofCKJ, I wish soooooo bad he would propose!!! It would be so perfect- but I know that whatever happens (or doesn't ;) ) it will be anawesome trip. And in all honesty, I know he's not going to, but I still hold on to a glimmer of hope--- it IS the place where dreams come true after all :wizard:
 
So you must be back? Are you planning on writing a Trippie?

Allyson
 








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