PreTrippie (aka King Charming Takes Hypermommy (and family) on another cruise)

[King Charming]

OK everybody, quiet down and listen up. This individual random chanting thing doesn't seem to be working. We need to get organized, you know, start a movement or something. Just like back in the day when you could sing a bar of Alice's Restaurant to the draft board and walk out, only better! What we should do is walk up to the ticket window (or resort registration), chant "10%" a half dozen times, then walk out. Sure, the first few times they hear it the castmembers will think us a pretty strange lot (well, I am), but eventually it will dawn on them what we've been chanting about. Just think of it, dozens of ordinary folks everyday chanting 10 percent, why they'd think it was some kind of a movement. And they'd be right, it's the 10% in 09 anti spending movement, and you too can be a part of it.

That's right, this new 'DisneyRebates' program will HAVE to bow to the will of the people and give us double digit kickbacks. So if you are near the parks or hotels in the next few weeks be sure to stop by, as often as you like, to do your part. Be sure to bring the whole group (or ramdom strangers) so you can chant - in harmony. We should be and WILL be heard! Since we can't refer to the program's proper name for a couple of months yet, we can call this the start of the 10% in 09 Mickey movement! I'm sure the program executives will catch wind of this pretty quick and make their announcement accordingly. So get over there folks, and help us help you. While you're doing that I'll start on the 10% in 09 MM buttons to pass out.

(PS. It's a good thing Hypermommy isn't around or she'd try to take over this fine organization we have going here. )

 

[anetnmike]

OK everybody, quiet down and listen up. This individual random chanting thing doesn't seem to be working. We need to get organized, you know, start a movement or something. Just like back in the day when you could sing a bar of Alice's Restaurant to the draft board and walk out, only better! What we should do is walk up to the ticket window (or resort registration), chant "10%" a half dozen times, then walk out. Sure, the first few times they hear it the castmembers will think us a pretty strange lot (well, I am), but eventually it will dawn on them what we've been chanting about. Just think of it, dozens of ordinary folks everyday chanting 10 percent, why they'd think it was some kind of a movement. And they'd be right, it's the 10% in 09 anti spending movement, and you too can be a part of it.

That's right, this new 'DisneyRebates' program will HAVE to bow to the will of the people and give us double digit kickbacks. So if you are near the parks or hotels in the next few weeks be sure to stop by, as often as you like, to do your part. Be sure to bring the whole group (or ramdom strangers) so you can chant - in harmony. We should be and WILL be heard! Since we can't refer to the program's proper name for a couple of months yet, we can call this the start of the 10% in 09 Mickey movement! I'm sure the program executives will catch wind of this pretty quick and make their announcement accordingly. So get over there folks, and help us help you. While you're doing that I'll start on the 10% in 09 MM buttons to pass out.

(PS. It's a good thing Hypermommy isn't around or she'd try to take over this fine organization we have going here. )

I have been enjoying your PTR for months!

 

[mrp4352]

Be sure to bring the whole group (or ramdom strangers) so you can chant - in harmony. We should be and WILL be heard!

Maybe we can give this a try at the DisMeet on the cruise! I think you'll find quite a few of us loud-mout... uh, vocally persuasive people there!

 

[Queenofallthings]

I have a funny feeling when Hypermommy gets back.....yup....things are gonna look a whole lot different

 

[King Charming]

As you may have gathered, I've again been having a very good time writing my PTR. While I may have veered off topic a lot lately, I felt duty bound to warn my DIS friends about how Mickey is able to count the cash in your pocket upon entering his domain, and I was the first to unofficially break the news about the DisneyRebates program. This is info you just can't get anywhere else (I wonder why? ), and I want to thank you all for reading. Extra thanks go out to our Moms, who have been busy logging on to thousands of computers to draw the view count over 10K.

Thankfully over two thirds of our wait time has passed, and we are now down to the last 4 months before sailing. So it's time to get fired up!! Deadlines are fast approaching. Less than 45 days until this shindig must be paid for, and less that 30 to make Palo ressies. But we need to be fully paid BEFORE we can make that call. So the real deadline truely is less than 30 days away! (Does anybody have any Disney coupons or a rebate check that could help me out here? ). I expect to pay the majority of the balance next week, then do the final around the 95 day mark. The original plan of using the tax refund to pay for this got sidetracked when DW quit her job, then we got big headed and ran over to big hands house, further setting back the final payment. But I've got it all under control, so a happy ending is on the horizon.

I'm sure that as soon as Hypermommy gets back and things finally settle down those checklists and spreadsheets will begin to appear. Heck, she might even start posting again . I'll be glad to see her kick into the "I'm going cruising" mode again. After all, the anticipation of the trip is almost half the fun, isn't it?

 

[mrp4352]

After all, the anticipation of the trip is almost half the fun, isn't it?

Sadly, we must disagree here... anticipation of the trip is only 1/3 of the fun; 1/3 of the fun is the trip itselfl; but the FINAL 1/3 is the scrapbooking that happens after the trip!

 

[Hypermommy]

Maybe we can give this a try at the DisMeet on the cruise! I think you'll find quite a few of us loud-mout... uh, vocally persuasive people there!

"Vocally persuasive"... I love it!!!!! Yep, that's me... I'm just persuasive.

I have a funny feeling when Hypermommy gets back.....yup....things are gonna look a whole lot different

I wish I could get my head up from the computer long enough to see how things look. I'm dying to get into cruise planning mode but each and every minute of my day is spent coding, looking for projects and looking for contract jobs.

But I've got it all under control, so a happy ending is on the horizon.

You usually do, Dear. You're really quite an amazing man.

But don't tell anyone I said that. Awwww, heck... you can go ahead and tell them. Nobody would believe you anyway.

Sadly, we must disagree here... anticipation of the trip is only 1/3 of the fun; 1/3 of the fun is the trip itselfl; but the FINAL 1/3 is the scrapbooking that happens after the trip!

Amen, amen, amen, amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[King Charming]

Is old white gloves wearing his hat too tight? With less than 100 days till sailing, and a wheel barrow FULL of money left to pay before we make Palo ressies next Sunday, I found out that Mickey issued an All Points Bulletin for my cash . I've gotten Emails from him gently inquiring if I hurt my check writing hand, funny looking inspectors (w/ big feet) checking on the wood stacks, and now he's pestering my friends to find out what happened.

But he already knows! We had a very nice conversation 9 weeks ago at EPCOT (and I have the photo to prove it) when I complained about what amounted to an interest free loan (cruise deposit & payments). That's when he told me about the kick-back program. Well I've done my part (mostly), only now he's acting as if I'm some kind of little brat who wants to eat at the adult table. And he never did send me back my arm. Sure he's had to wait a few months for the final coin, but I really don't see why he's so concerned about my wallet. I HAD hoped to used my rebate check as a payment, so it's HIS fault that the deadline & balance looms large. In an effort to patch things up between us, I decided to throw him some cheese and made another payment today. Not paid in full mind you, but enough to get this overgrown mouse off my back. He will still have to wait until just before the 90 day mark for the rest, unless I decide to skip Palo and pay up at the 75 day cut-off. Let him sweat and snoop to his heart's content, that's how it's gonna be!


(If you are reading this Mic, just kidding, and yes, I would like a free upgrade, thank you.)

 

[Hypermommy]

A little kid who wants to eat at the adult table, huh? Yep... that explains a lot!
/me ducking and running

(and yes sir... I am working)

But it is getting really, really real. I pulled out the documents from the last cruise (shopping list, spreadsheet to estimate costs, etc., etc.). I also need you to pull down that suitcase full of stuff. I think part of tomorrow is going to be spent doing a little shopping at Oriental Trading. Wanna join me KC? I know how you love shopping but you know how I shop if you're not around!

 

[King Charming]

Better late than never, but it got done! Mickey got his full asking price, and I went ahead and paid up despite not being able to find my coupons. The payment will probably get processed with 6-12 hours to spare ahead of the 90 day window, so the timing was just about right. The hardest part is done and I can breathe easier now.

A bit of warning about Sat night; if you hear a bunch of yelling around midnight, forget about it. It will just be DW cussing up a storm about not getting Palo ressies, or her celebrating that she did. The low moaning you may hear all day Sunday will be me if she's unsuccessful as this was the only reason to pay this off before the real deadline.

Oh well, another milestone passed.......

 

[Hypermommy]

Oh, I'll GET the Palo ressies. I dunno how zoned I'll be in front of the computer but I'll get the Palo ressies.

Now it's time for you to get that suitcase down so I can start looking at the fish extender and we need to look at Oriental Trading and we need to look at the packing list and the timeline I sent you last week.... oooooh, now's when the real fun starts!!!

 

[Hypermommy]

Well, I didn't get the Palo ressies. I was on the computer at midnight (which, if you look at the general times of my posts was quite a feat for me). And by the time the site (which was running incredibly slow.... can't beGIN to figure out why) showed me what was available at Palo, there was only dinner ressies available. I checked back yesterday and will continue to do so periodically over the course of the next couple of months but I think I've figured out the problem.

And it's all King Charming's fault.

Now, dear... I dunno if Mickey's upset that you're leaking the rebate program or what, but whatever it is going on between you and the Mouse I wish you'd get it cleared up so I can make those Palo brunch ressies.

 

[King Charming]

Oh sure, I get ALL the blame. Some how paying off the cruise has turned out to be a bad omen. First a dark cloud formed overhead, so big they gave it a name - Claudette! Then Ana, depressed as she is, found out where I live and has decided to come over for the weekend. . Now Palo. I'm not so sure about all this, and thought it was time for a sit down. (As in 'Sit your butt down and explain yourself.')

So I put out some more cheese, and it didn't take old clunky shoes long to come running over. Watching him run is TOTALLY worth the cost of the Brie. (You should try it sometime.) Anyway, after I got him properly lubricated, I finally got around to asking him what's up. I didn't even KNOW he could shoot steam out of his ears!! He was REALLY PO'ed. He said the cashiers eventually got used to the chanting from everybody, and he could deal with that. But what really stuck in his craw was when HE had to hear it day after day. To the point where he's pushing back the release date, eliminating DCL completely from the rebate program, and will try his best to quash the whole deal. I got the impression that he somehow thought I was responsible for this. On and on he ranted, making sure to get my cabin number; I told him 2105, even though we haven't been assigned, (Sorry about that 2105 occupant) because he let slip that he had a couple of surprises for me concerning HIS ship. I tried to mention Palo, but he just shook his head and made that tisk tisk sound. .

Since we are still 75+ days out, I'm thinking I should cancel, then re-book the next day as 'TBD #1-4'. But somehow I fear he might find out, so....

 

[Hypermommy]

Ahhhh, my poor beleagured King Charming. You try so hard in your battles against Mick. Someday you're just going to have to learn to embrace the Mouse. Hey, his koolaid is pretty tasty as evidenced by the fact that so many people enjoy it. Come on, drink the koolaid.... just a sip?

 

[King Charming]

It's amazing how you tend to forget all about the stress and cost leading up to your cruise after you have seen the photos of yourself living it up on the ship. Guilty as charged! I sure wish I could re-live that fantasy I had a year ago that MADE me think that we should not only do it again, but that I could pay for it all . I even wrote a PTR about how I cried every time the budget leaped by hundreds of dollars every month (a lot of hankies). But was I paying attention? Heck no, too darn busy paying Mickey!

During the last few months I've been fretting over the balance due DCL and ignoring all the associated costs. Hey, if giving away fistfuls of money to whatshisname was un-doable I wouldn't have wasted the effort with the rest of it. Thanks to a good summer, I did and now I have to. Now, (que Twilight Zone piano player) I've managed to put myself in the same boat (ha ha) that I was thrust into in Jan 08; the stateroom is paid for, now find the dough for the rest of it.

Thankfully there will be no surprises in the prep this time as DW still has all her lists from last time. Only I'm still not ready! I don't want to face the reality that another grand is still needed just for the essentials- dog boarding (2), tips, pre hotel, gas & food, etc. Gosh, almost forgot the most important item, booze! And then there are the 'nice to have' costs. Yikes! But I'm not complaining (crying buckets, but certainly not complaining). This is a 'We can do this' project/vacation that is getting done. It will just be with a tighter budget and less glamorous photo ops. With the kids paying for their own excursion tickets, and all the booze I can carry/drag on the ship, plus a strict limit in the game room, shopping will be the only thing that could bite me.

With Hyper's summer sabatical drawing to a close, we should begin to shake out of our season long financial slumber. Like a skydiver who has left the plane, I know where I'm headed, and I sure hope I get there according to the plan!

 

[Hypermommy]

You will, you will... the chute just opened.

But don't forget some of the other little costs... fish extender gifts, Secret Mickey gifts (wonder who I'm going to get), Palo, etc.

But definitely bringing our own booze will help a lot!!! I'm bringing a HUGE bottle of vodka as it mixes with anything. And I figure I'll just get lots of smoothies and that'll be my cute little tropical drink.

Oh, but don't forget I need a new DCL "glass". The one I have is all beat up. So I will have to buy one of those cute glasses from the cute young men that come around with all those cute little drinks while we're waiting to get into the stateroom.

Okay... off to get boxes and then come back and work on FE gifts!!! So much to do and so little time!

 

[King Charming]

I felt so bad about Mickey being upset with me, so I invited him over to apologize to him. He asked if he could bring someone, then showed up with Goofy. After a few rounds of cheese, Goofy fessed up to masterminding a 'joke' that went horribly wrong. It was his idea that Mickey pretend to be displeased with me, that I shouldn't cancel the cruise, and could he please make it up to me. After alot of hugs and tears, we agreed that the next time we meet we should share a cheese plate out on our VERANDAH!!!! From an inside room to the upper decks, the Mic sure knows how to upgrade a guy .

 

[Hypermommy]

Oh, go ahead and tell them the real story of how it went down. I liked the part about Minnie fussing at Mickey from the limo. Yep... she's a girl after my own heart.

 

[King Charming]

Oh gosh, you just wouldn't believe the static Mickey is catching from Minnie these days, especially about her boat. Appearently she is the one who checks the bottom line numbers while the Mic is out cheesing it up. And the numbers from our sailing (Nov 14-21) don't seem to be adding up .

Ya see, Mickey was advised that since our cruise has TWO CC stops, he should charge a premium. (Where he got that Goofy idea is anyones guess). But the ship not only didn't sell out, it didn't sell well at all. So rather than hearing 'I told you so' another thousand times, he started offering 'Help shut her up' discounts. First he went to Uncle Sam and gave out coupons for a military discount. Only he botched it good; basing the size of the coupon on your rank, with the lower ranks getting the best deal. Only these are the folks who can least afford it. Seems he forgot that the historically underpaid service members can be frugal by necessity.

His back-up plan isn't working any better as even the neighbors are staying home. Florida resident rates came out at the 90 day mark, with steep reductions! But it's too little too late. Given the fact that the week before Thanksgiving is a dead travel period combined with the cruise price being inflated, other plans were made. All the coupons in the world can't change folk's minds. To hear Minnie carry on about it, all the fourth quarter 09 sailing are less than full, and she aint blaming McDuck either. (Yeah, Scrooge is on the planning committee also.)

Of course, being the good friend that I am, I offered to help out by suggesting TGP3! (The Great Plan #3) . It works like this; Everybody gets free cabin upgrades . No one stays in an interior room! Yes,... thank you,... quiet down,... 'cause it gets BETTER! Free drinks of the day . I told him if these tipsy mess-o-people don't fall off their verandahs they'd stagger over to the re-booking desk and give him ANY price he asked for in 2010. Upon hearing this he upgraded me from a 12 to a 6 . First thing Minnie did was hike the future cruise rates. But I'm cool with that (for now), as yearly passes will be our next financial challenge.

And my fellow cruisers shouldn't worry about everyone being drunk, as I'd be willing to drink their share of the free drinks .

 

[Hypermommy]

That's so kind of you to offer to drink up everyone's DoD.... can't have that going to waste. That'd be alcohol abuse.

Oh, man, this is getting really, really real now. And I have so much left to do. I have to fix up the fish extender (thermobond instead of sewing I believe), make the gifts for the adult FE stuff (and figure out what I can afford to do), order the kid FE gifts, figure out what to give the teenaged FE participants, make up some new magnets (my graphic skills have grown since the last magnets and there are some that I wouldn't want on my door this time), figure out what I'm going to wear and pack (because I'll be doing it the week before so I can head back to Orlando), buy something for the Secret Mickey exchange (think secret santa), make sure the guys have swimsuits that fit, water shoes for the guys, ugh... it just goes on and on and on.

I think I'm going to have to get out the shopping list and the packing list and go over them with KC in the next few days. Thank goodness for Google docs and we can do this long distance.

It's gonna be an interesting cruise, trying to get my family ready for it when they're in Tallahassee and I'm in Orlando. Ahhh, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I'm so very happy to be moving to Orlando I just can't tell ya!!!!!