PTR for the planning obsessed....Updated 11/5 We're home now.

[cjhinch]

I am going to add another thing in here that I forgot in the first post, your ds is absolutely adorable!! Gosh, I miss those first couple of years! I can't wait to hear how he reacts this time to Disney!

 

[cjhinch]

Ok, one more post! I am all caught up on your PTR!

I loved your mini trip reports, especially the one from your 1984 trip. I was 12 in 1984, and dressed almost exactly like you did. What the heck were we thinking with those painters caps? I wish my parents had been able to take me to Disney when I was a kid, but we never made it further south than Myrtle Beach, SC. Oh well, hasn't stopped my love of Disney from starting when I was 30!!

You are really good with the budgets! Even though I am an accountant by trade, I am not much good with the budgets. We just sort of wing it, and see where we are when it is all over!

I will be keeping up with your plans, I am enjoying them so far!

 

[MRYPPNS]

Ok, this is entirely surreal....

Are you my long, lost twin?? Seriously, My Birthday is 3/3, I worked in Accounting for 7 years before becoming a SAHM, My DH also as a BS in Biology (he is now a CRNA, but still), and I acted like our upcoming trip was totally mythically as well, until the day DH finally caved in and let me start planning for real. :lol:

I thought all of this was pretty cool, then I got to your dogs. We had a yellow lab named Bailey also! We had to have her put to sleep last year, it was so upsetting to our family.

Ok, I just thought those coincidences were pretty cool! Now, I will continue reading your report!

That is pretty cool. Just wait until you get to my budget stuff the accountant in you will love it! Too bad my DH won't go for the GF like yours! Sorry about your Bailey dog....we're playing a waiting game with ours.

I am going to add another thing in here that I forgot in the first post, your ds is absolutely adorable!! Gosh, I miss those first couple of years! I can't wait to hear how he reacts this time to Disney!

Thank you very much. He's a charmer....takes me forever to get thru the grocery store with all the old ladies talking to him!

 

[MRYPPNS]

In the summer of 1988 I had the chance to go to California with a friend for 2 weeks, I was 15. My friend’s aunt had invited her to stay with them and allowed her to bring a friend. I was the second choice friend but I really didn't care. It was the 80’s, I was a teenager and I was going back to Cali. (Thanks LL for giving us a theme song for the vacation).
We stayed at the aunt, uncle & cousin’s house in Rancho Palos Verdes, which is south of LA. They had a pool and it overlooked the ocean. I remember that every morning we thought it was going to rain when we looked out towards the ocean until we were told that was smog….not rain clouds….yuck.
My friend’s cousin was about our age, maybe a year or 2 older….he was odd. I don’t know how else to put it. Odd. I didn’t know how much his oddness was due to his personality or his mother. I remember one night the Aunt picked up KFC for us for dinner as the adults were going out for the night. We girls were in the pool and the Aunt told my friend that dinner was here, they were heading out and can she please pull the meat off the bone for the cousin. Huh??? She didn’t and the cousin managed just fine.
We did a lot of stuff that vacation….the family showed us a good time….or at least dropped us off for a good time.
In no particular order we were dropped off at the Beverly Center Mall….it had an indoor ice skating rink. Being two New England girls we thought that was cool and went skating.
They dropped us off at Universal Studios Hollywood which was cool.

And we took a tour bus to Knott’s Berry Farm. Too bad the bus didn’t come back that night to pick the group up. The Bus driver walked off the job. So two 15 year olds had to take a cab at 1am. That was an adventure let me tell you!

We had lunch at the original Johnny Rockets (I think on Melrose Ave.)

We walked around Hollywood and saw the sidewalk Stars.

And here’s where I get really confuzzled. Almost the whole trip we were there the cousin kept to himself in his room. He had a childhood friend that lived in the neighborhood…Kurt was his name….Kurt would come down and hang out with us girls and came with us a couple trips out. Kurt and the cousin didn’t really hang out. Anyways…who remember Disney’s KIDS Incorporated??? The cousin knew the boy “star” of the show (I think it his name was Ryan Lambert). I have the impression that the Cousin knew Ryan only because he was a huge fan of the show. I know that they talked on the phone. And I do know that we went to a taping of Kids Inc. We were extras in the soda shop sitting at a table while one of the “kids” did a performance. I have no idea to this day if we made it into the show because I didn’t have the Disney Channel back then.
I think we met Fergie….back when she was still Stacy Ferguson. And during the lunch break we got to have craft services for lunch and hang out in the back lot. There we meet Jason Idontknowlastname, he was the older brother on the Wonder Years. I don’t understand why we got to do this because none of the other extras did. (Unfortunately I’m no longer in contact with the Friend I went with so I can’t ask her).
I get even more confuzzled when I think about the next story I’m about to tell. One night we went to a party in LA….but it wasn’t just any party. Somehow….the cousin was on the invite list for these young Hollywood parties called Alfie’s Soda Pop Club. I remember reading about them in Tiger Beat at the time. They were exclusive parties that were invite only. They moved around to different locations all the time to keep them secret I guess. The one we went to was on Sunset Strip on the Penthouse floor of a hotel. The only “stars” that we meet that night was the kid that played Mike Webber on GH (any old GH fans out there remember him from the 80’s?) and he was the son in Over the Top with Sly Stallone. We chatted with him for a few minutes…he told us that no one was at the party that night because there was a big party for Scott Grimesthat night. (Who by the way my mother loved when he was on Community Auditions in Boston…remember that show?) And on the way out we shared the elevator with Punky Brewster and the girl that played her friend Cherry on the show. We said nothing to them because we were trying to be cool! It was a very strange night.

Disneyland. We all went but split up immediately and had a time/place to meet at the end of the night. I know that my friend and I did a lot that day at Disneyland and we perfected our method of sharing snacks and trading off who paid for them. So we got to try twice as many goodies because of this. I had my first Churro at Disneyland. YUM-O!
I don’t have that many pictures from Disneyland but I know why…..and I’ll tell you in a bit.

Here I am with the wandering characters! No line just jump in for a hug and a picture.

OK, here are the two reasons why there are hardly any pictures and memories of rides from this day.

We meet two local boys from Riverside. Darren the dark hair boy was with my friend and I got the cute blonde surfer dude named Jeremy. We hung out with them for most of the afternoon. Ahhhhh…..to be 15 again…
(oh....he wasn't really in a wheelchair....they were just fooling around with the rentals)

Our meeting place was Videopolis. {Jordan must have stories about this place from back in the day} It was a dance club in Disneyland. It had video screens all over the place and VJ’s played music videos. Here’s a bit of triava for you. Now I don’t know if this is still there but at Pleasure Island in DTD as you walked up from the main ticket booth from the parking lot there used to be a DJ booth that played videos on a big screen. This was a little sign that said Videopolis East. That was a little nod to the old Videopolis at Dinseyland.

We danced for a bit and all went home. I don’t remember many details but I know that I bought a Mickey Mouse sweater shirt. I know that POTC is way better at Disneyland. And the Castle at Magic Kingdom wins hands down over Disneyland’s. And I know that I want to go back to Disneyland Cailfornia someday….

 

[Charleston Princess]

Wild and crazy times in the late 1980s!!! What a blast you must have had!

Are those two Swatch watches that you are sporting on your arm??? I totally did that!!!

I don't remember Kids Inc. because my parents didn't believe in spending the money for cable. That was neat that you saw so many stars while you were there.

Great trip down memory lane!

 

[jordanyosh]

Wendy lives in the same area as the "cousin"

So funny..I worked as a manager at DL in 1988........I was at the Plaza Inn that summer as well as many other restaurants in our complex....

Videopolis.....we had kids that would go there every night. We called them Vidiots.

After work in summer of 86, we would go there and dance. It was fun and we would make fun of all the tourists....

the 80's....what great memories you had....

Jason Hervey is the guy from the Wonder Years.....

 

[stagemomx3]

I went to Disneyland summer 88, I remember Videopolis! My friend and I were also two teenage girls who managed to meet up with two teenage boys and spend the day together at Disneyland.

 

[MRYPPNS]

Are those two Swatch watches that you are sporting on your arm??? I totally did that!!!

Great trip down memory lane!

I was wondering if anyone would catch my Swatches! I still have them someplace....1 men size and 1 ladies....I even had the plastic guards for them. Did you have an Esprit (sp??) book bag too?

Wendy lives in the same area as the "cousin"

So funny..I worked as a manager at DL in 1988........I was at the Plaza Inn that summer as well as many other restaurants in our complex....

Videopolis.....we had kids that would go there every night. We called them Vidiots.

After work in summer of 86, we would go there and dance. It was fun and we would make fun of all the tourists....

the 80's....what great memories you had....

Jason Hervey is the guy from the Wonder Years.....

Hi Jordan! I knew you would have known/gone to Videoplois! I grew up in a tourist town so we used to do the same stuff with our "vistors". {I did know Wendy lived in that area...it's on her sidebar thinging}

 

[jordanyosh]

They're having 80s flashback on one of the radio stations here

Salt n Pepa is on right now...."Push It"

Videopolis was the source of lots of fun and laughs.....

 

[Charleston Princess]

I was wondering if anyone would catch my Swatches! I still have them someplace....1 men size and 1 ladies....I even had the plastic guards for them. Did you have an Esprit (sp??) book bag too?

I had completely forgotten about the plastic guards!!!

No, Esprit bag for me...

They're having 80s flashback on one of the radio stations here

Salt n Pepa is on right now...."Push It"

I love that song, and I think I still know all the lyrics!

 

[willwriteforears]

I remember Kids Incorporated! Sorta. Honestly, I have stronger memories of the new Mickey Mouse Club, but I recall the name of Kids Inc. and think I remember what the logo looks like...

Or maybe not, because I had pink in my mind.

But I can at least vouch that the show, in fact, did exist.

 

[jordanyosh]

I love that song, and I think I still know all the lyrics!

Ooh baby baby Ooh baby baby....

 

[TarzansKat]

Wow! Holy 80s flashback, Batman! I'm still amazed at all the stuff you did, but in a totally good way. I suddenly feel the overwhelming urge to go scrunch my two pair of socks, one white, the other color coordinating to my outfit.

 

[DisMomAmy]

I totally remember Mike Webber from GH - I was a big fan - watched every day until I went back to work after Alex was born. Up until then I taped it every day and watched it every night. It finally became too time consuming...

I found a few pics:

He was also the rice krispies kid:

 

[MRYPPNS]

I went to Disneyland summer 88, I remember Videopolis! My friend and I were also two teenage girls who managed to meet up with two teenage boys and spend the day together at Disneyland.

There weren't named Darren and Jeremy were they?

I remember Kids Incorporated! Sorta. Honestly, I have stronger memories of the new Mickey Mouse Club, but I recall the name of Kids Inc. and think I remember what the logo looks like...

Or maybe not, because I had pink in my mind.

But I can at least vouch that the show, in fact, did exist.

I never got to see the New MMC because our cable company didn't carry it Boo Hoo

Wow! Holy 80s flashback, Batman! I'm still amazed at all the stuff you did, but in a totally good way. I suddenly feel the overwhelming urge to go scrunch my two pair of socks, one white, the other color coordinating to my outfit.

I was amazed that we went for 2 weeks. We even went down to the beach a couple times...where you can actually play in the water for more then 10 minutes until here.

I totally remember Mike Webber from GH - I was a big fan - watched every day until I went back to work after Alex was born. Up until then I taped it every day and watched it every night. It finally became too time consuming...

I found a few pics:

He was also the rice krispies kid:

I watched GH when I was 5 yo 'til I went to college. Then I had a period of time years ago that I would watch it at night on Soapnet. I discovered that you only have to watch a soap on Mondays and Thursdays. I don't watch any now.
Thanks for finding those pictures of Mike Webber.

 

[cjhinch]

Wow, what amazing 80's flashbacks! Sounds like you had a great time!

I totally had the Swatch watches (with the guard), no ESPRIT backback, but plenty of ESPRIT clothes! We LOVED Kids Incorporated at our house, but I don't remember it being on the Disney channel......I'm not sure what channel we got it on!

 

[mousescrapper]

Posted by Scrappie-Do
MRYPPNS in red


Thanks for all the suggestions and advise

Your very welecome...hopefully some my thoughts for you will happen while reading along in my TR too....sure to share lots in the regard of traveling w/ an 18 mo old.



OK and for all the crazy 80's flashbacks now!

I was 14 in '88 and in 1989 flew ATA I believe to LA as a suprise w/ my Grandmother to visit family there the day after Christmas. I will have to dig our some megga embarrising pictures to share...but I will. I didn't get to DL that time, but had gone there w/ my family a few yrs earlier...need to ask my Mom...pretty sure I was in Jr. High or going in.

Ok and was life just so laxed back then, we'd let 2 15 yr olds wander the streets of LA and Hollywood alone till 1 am? Holy smokes girl...how times have changed.

J-

 

[MRYPPNS]

We LOVED Kids Incorporated at our house, but I don't remember it being on the Disney channel......I'm not sure what channel we got it on!

I think Kids Inc started on NBC or some other network...got canceled and Disney picked it up.

Ok and was life just so laxed back then, we'd let 2 15 yr olds wander the streets of LA and Hollywood alone till 1 am? Holy smokes girl...how times have changed.

J-

We were only at the theme parks at night by ourselves.....believe me were were plenty scared on that cab ride back to the house.

 

[MRYPPNS]

I'm in love with my new park bag.

The LL Bean shoulder bag I had for the last trip really didn't cut it. It wasn't big enough as a carry on and it was hard to find things inside it. So I've been searching for a new bag. I knew I wanted a messenger style bag that would fit my wide screen laptop (great for watching movies on the plane and hotel room).

Let me introduce my new Crocs bag in lime/grey.

I got it from shoebuy.com for $25 (with a coupon code SAVE10)

That's my binder in front so you can see the size

There are two compartment, the bigger one is padded. There is an outside pocket on the back. And there is another zippered pocket inside. The inside lining is ugly but the outter lime color is not over-powering (it's DH approved )

And the front zippered part as little pockets

There are 3 holes in the front of the bag for those little jibzties (sp?) things. I'll have to buy some at Disney!

 

[cjhinch]

Love the bag! I am on the lookout for a new bag for us to carry in the parks. Are you using that bag in the parks as well?