PTR to CBR -- an August 2012 Adventure

[Tink-erin-belle]

It’s about time for me to catch up on your PTR, huh? Where to start? I like your Mr. and Mrs. Potato Heads! I need some of those! I really want to get the Disney parts next time we go down there. What a great find for only $1, you bargain hunter you! You tie dye shirts are so cool! That is a neat way to make them. The addition to your house is coming along nicely! I like the little stone feet. Peter is doing a great job. I see Peter prefers cheesecake to birthday cake, huh? Sounds like my son. I love your touring cards! That is a fantastic idea! I’m pretty sure I’ll be stealing that

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Hi everyone!! Well, I did it. I made a MAJOR Disney planning faux pas…. It all started when I was reading someone’s trip report regarding Garden Grove at Disney’s Swan resort. They have character dinners with Goofy and Pluto and on Friday nights they have a seafood buffet. Now if anyone knows me, they know I LOVE seafood and so does Peter. I also read that they had accepted Restaurant.com gift cars. OMG. So, I read more about it and fell in love with the place. I had enough Coke reward points to get a gift card of $150. Perfect. A free meal! What could be better, right? I went ahead and called Disney reservations and cancelled our August 18th ressie for Planet Hollywood and made one for Garden Grove. It was THEN that I decided to check with restaurant.com to make sure they are still participating with GG. Well, guess what folks……GARDEN GROVE NO LONGER ACCEPTS RESTAURANT.COM CARDS!!!! WHAT??!!! NO, NO, NO… I quickly called reservations back and tried to get our Planet Hollywood ressie back. It was no longer available! I just cancelled it. What the heck??! Victoria must go to Planet Hollywood every year, so I was able to get a lunch time ressie for our day off. Phew, but now where were we going to eat on arrival day? It had to be in DTD so I started reading menus. I decided on Paradiso37. It would be perfect to get a table on the water. This might work out for the best! Can you believe I didn’t bother to get all the details before I started canceling and reserving things?!!! Ugh! Lesson learned!

It’s been pretty busy around here lately. Victoria is now officially a high school freshman! I cannot believe it! The ceremony was very nice and she looked very pretty. She even went to the dance that was held afterwards. She doesn’t usually attend the dances. Last night they had her friend’s birthday party at the Marriott here in town. Can you imagine 5 14 year olds in a hotel room? The pool? The hottub? Oh, Kali’s mom was there with them, but still. Poor hotel! She had an awesome time and wants to do the same thing for her birthday next February. Hey, it sounds good to me! This evening she is meeting a bunch of her friends at the park and then she’s going to sleep at Autumn’s. I’m glad she is finally being a little more sociable. I hate seeing her in this house day after day with just her laptop.

Peter, Victoria, me and my Mom

I just saved my family over 7,000 points from Southwest’s rapid rewards program! See, they had their 72 hour sale and I was able to get our flights home for about 2500 points less per person than I had originally booked them for. I was sooo excited. The only icky thing is that this flight comes in about 2 hours later. We should be back home by midnight and Victoria starts school the next day. But, the points savings is too awesome to not take advantage of. Also this is a NON STOP flight. So, we have nonstops for both departure and arrival!! Yay us! I just know I am going to love it!

I’ve done a couple Disney-related things lately. I’ve made some hair bows and I also did my nails up and may possibly go with this idea for Disney. We’ll see.

Last weekend, just for fun, we went for a ride on Saturday and rode all the way to the Canadian border --- YEP. Just because we could! Peter and I don’t have our passports, so we couldn’t cross, but that was so cool just to drive up there! I had never been to the border, so I just wanted to go. Granted it’s just a series of buildings with fences, but it was cool, nonetheless. On the way back home we saw 2 moose. So awesome. Other animal happenings around here have been our trapping. We have an irritating squirrel issue so we’ve been setting up the have a heart trap to catch them and release them up the road about 4 miles. So far we’ve caught 4 and think there’s only about 1 or 2 more to relocate. I do have to share a picture of a surprise captive…….

Well, that’s about all for now. Hope I’m not boring everyone to death!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

I'm here!! The addition looks great!! Love the foot stones for the patio. The shirt looks amazing! And I did the same thing with my ADR/ressie# cards to hang on my lanyard. great minds think alike!!

Welcome. Happy to have you along. OMG!! I so love those feet stones! Yes, I must admit...we have great minds!!!

It’s about time for me to catch up on your PTR, huh? Where to start? I like your Mr. and Mrs. Potato Heads! I need some of those! I really want to get the Disney parts next time we go down there. What a great find for only $1, you bargain hunter you! You tie dye shirts are so cool! That is a neat way to make them. The addition to your house is coming along nicely! I like the little stone feet. Peter is doing a great job. I see Peter prefers cheesecake to birthday cake, huh? Sounds like my son. I love your touring cards! That is a fantastic idea! I’m pretty sure I’ll be stealing that

I'm sorry, who are you again?! Erin who? I'm afraid I don't remember you....hahahahahahaha OH, I'm just kidding! I know you've been busy with the new job and I really hope that is going well for you! Yes, I love my potato pair! I can't wait to go through the Disney pieces for them. It should be fun! Thanks for the compliment on my shirts. I had fun doing them. Yes, Peter likes cheesecake better than batter cake. Whatever, I guess. Give me cake and frosting baby! Like I said, I love to have my cards attached to my bag. It's so much easier to know what's coming and having the confirmation numbers right there for me. My friend at work called them "the Redneck blackberry"! I could have punched her!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Well, another day, another overlooked detail for me. Can you believe it? I thought I was a super planner, after all, but I guess not. I was just reminded today of my due date for my final Disney payment. TWO PAY PERIODS CLOSER THAN I THOUGHT!!! See, we originally had planned for a September trip so I still had that date in my spread sheet. Grrr..... Now, I have to pay it off on June 27th rather than July 27th! So, I have done some creative accounting (and by that I mean robbing Peter (not my husband) to pay Paul). Good thing some of my bills are paid ahead and they won't mind not receiving a payment for two weeks. But, I will have July to make them up, so it will all work out. I think.

Speaking of money issues, I also ended up with a screw in one of my tires on Saturday. Peter had to buy me a tire as there is no way I had money to pay for that. Apparently the tires that go on my vehicle are not cheap. Well, I guess that depends on your definition of cheap, but to me a tire costing $170 is not cheap! Anyone remember when you could get all season radials for $50? Yeah, I remember. I guess that is not happening anymore, huh?

Good Disney news.....yesterday I was able to upgrade to the Photopass Plus pre order. I am in a Photopass share and the person running it said if I wanted the plus, she would give me the information and I could take advantage of it. (Thanks Jane! Luv Ya!) So, the share itself costs $19 and then I paid an additional $70 for the plus part. For our family, it is a tremendous deal as I always purchase the photos from the rides and character meals. It just makes sense! I probably will just go ahead and buy the whole darned thing myself next year. Not that I don't like shares, because I do, but I feel bad in case someone else wanted to do the plus. Who knows, maybe next year Karen and Erin could be part of my share if they go in late August/early September!!!

In other news, this weekend I'm having some girlfriends over for a Pampered Chef party/Pool party. After all, I have to show off my new patio, right? This will be the first time in the pool for the year. We are supposed to have some really hot 90 degree weather for the next few days so that, with the pool's solar cover should make the pool nice. We'll see!!!

 

[Tinker326]

Sorry to hear about the last minute rush of $$ and then tires. That always seems to happen doesn't it. We just got back from going on the Dream & literally two days before we were due to leave... our air went out. FOR GOOD. It was 20 years old, so overdue to go kaput...but boy- we were NOT prepared to cover our vacation incentials AND a new air conditioner!!!

That PLUS thing sounds great! I have not done a photopass in so long but next time we go for a full week, I'll have to look into that. I always want ot buy the ride pictures because they are SOOOOOO funny.... but dont' want to pay the price. Plus, I want it all on CD because I digital scrapbook and not paper (so I don't really want the printed out picture). That PLUS would be PERFECT!

You guys are so close! Yhea!!!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

53 MORE DAYS!!!!

 

[Angies1274]

Congrats to Victoria!!

Love the hair bows!! So cute!

Yay for 53 days!!!

 

[lbuzz52]

Well, another day, another overlooked detail for me. Can you believe it? I thought I was a super planner, after all, but I guess not. I was just reminded today of my due date for my final Disney payment. TWO PAY PERIODS CLOSER THAN I THOUGHT!!! See, we originally had planned for a September trip so I still had that date in my spread sheet. Grrr..... Now, I have to pay it off on June 27th rather than July 27th! So, I have done some creative accounting (and by that I mean robbing Peter (not my husband) to pay Paul). Good thing some of my bills are paid ahead and they won't mind not receiving a payment for two weeks. But, I will have July to make them up, so it will all work out. I think.

Speaking of money issues, I also ended up with a screw in one of my tires on Saturday. Peter had to buy me a tire as there is no way I had money to pay for that. Apparently the tires that go on my vehicle are not cheap. Well, I guess that depends on your definition of cheap, but to me a tire costing $170 is not cheap! Anyone remember when you could get all season radials for $50? Yeah, I remember. I guess that is not happening anymore, huh?

Good Disney news.....yesterday I was able to upgrade to the Photopass Plus pre order. I am in a Photopass share and the person running it said if I wanted the plus, she would give me the information and I could take advantage of it. (Thanks Jane! Luv Ya!) So, the share itself costs $19 and then I paid an additional $70 for the plus part. For our family, it is a tremendous deal as I always purchase the photos from the rides and character meals. It just makes sense! I probably will just go ahead and buy the whole darned thing myself next year. Not that I don't like shares, because I do, but I feel bad in case someone else wanted to do the plus. Who knows, maybe next year Karen and Erin could be part of my share if they go in late August/early September!!!

In other news, this weekend I'm having some girlfriends over for a Pampered Chef party/Pool party. After all, I have to show off my new patio, right? This will be the first time in the pool for the year. We are supposed to have some really hot 90 degree weather for the next few days so that, with the pool's solar cover should make the pool nice. We'll see!!!

i love the last tie dye tee!

how does the share work with the plus? my group said no plus is possible.

yeah for 53 days!i wish i was going back to CBR.

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Hi all!!

Well, we are paid in full!! PAID IN FULL, I say…..Can I get a woo hoo!!!!??? OH Yeah……

And did I also mention we are at 46 DAYS!!!!! Yep!!!

So if I have any changes or cancellations (BITE MY TONGUE!!!) today would be the day to do it! Nope, I’m pretty sure my plans are set in stone! I’ve been picking up clothes here and there for myself and Victoria. Right now our Wal-Mart has a clearance rack of $3 items including shorts and tee’s. I’ve gotten a couple of shirts for Victoria and 3 pairs of shorts for me. I am psyched as I didn’t have many shorts to bring on this trip. I need to stop now as I have enough I believe. I plan on doing laundry mid-trip so I plan on 6 of everything --- shirts, shorts, socks, underwear, etc. Speaking of underwear, I’ve got to pick up some new stuff for me. Ugh! Spending money never ends, does it?

I have yet to post my daily plans……Here are my official ADR’s for the trip:

8/17 Paradiso37 @6:15pm
8/18 Tusker House @8:05PM
8/19 1900 Park Fare @5:35pm
8/20 Akershus @8:05am
8/21 Sci Fi Diner @5:10pm
8/22 Planet Hollywood @1pm
8/23 Whispering Canyon Café @5:15pm
8/24 50’s Prime Time Café @5:10pm
8/26 O’hana’s @8am
8/27 Garden Grill @5:15pm
8/28 Chef Mickey’s @8:10am

I’ve subbed to the August 2012 thread and everyone is just getting so excited over there. It’s awesome! We have questions of the day and everyone is just so friendly. It’s nice to be part of a group like that. Thanks Team August! One more thing I want to attempt to make for the trip is a rain poncho made out of Disney bags! I’ve kept all my Disney bags from my trips (who can throw out Disney bags ---- am I right??) and I saw online that someone has made a poncho out of bags, so I want to try. How cool would that be, huh? We’ll see if I can do it. I’ll probably burn right through the plastic knowing me as it does involve an iron! If I ever attempt it and/or complete it, I will definitely post a pic of it.

Lauren asked about having a photopass plus during a share. Well Lauren, no one else in my particular share was interested in the plus, so I just asked the leader (thanks Jane) if I could take advantage of it and she agreed. She gave me the necessary information to order it, so I did. I got the voucher last week. During our first night there I will have to go to DTD and exchange it for the actual card. It works just like the normal shares, I will just have those additional pictures that I normally purchase anyways. To me it was a HUGE savings!!! I paid a total of $90 for something that is normally $200, so I’m quite happy. $90 is definitely worth it to me. I just hope I remember to exchange my voucher on arrival day after dinner. I can’t see how I would forget, but who knows. I should write it on my cards. There, while I was thinking about it, I just put a big orange dot on my card with “photopass exchange” on it. That should do it!

I’ve decided not to take my big camera to Disney. I’m going to have my camcorder and my little GE handheld point and shoot. I am trying to limit what I bring in the park while still having everything we need. Last year I forgot the ponchos in the hotel room and we sure could have used them when we were in Epcot. They are already packed in my park bag now. Last year I had a big backpack and I felt like a pack mule most of the time. This year it’s time to downsize! The big things for us to have are Tylenol, sinus meds, snacks for low blood sugar periods, ponchos, extra batteries and our trading pins. Of course a wallet with money/cards. This year, since it will be August, I’m also bringing a cooling neck wrap in case I get too hot. We’ll see. Victoria is planning on carrying the misting fan we had last year. We should be fine. You know, you always worry about needing something, but 9 times out of 10 you don’t ever need it. I just hate ending up buying something in the parks at those prices when I could have brought it with me.

Verizon Wireless has changed their phone plans now. Everything is shared. I’ve been using my Motorola Razor for about 6 or so years now and I’ve decided it’s time for an upgrade to a smart phone. Need to put those Disney apps somewhere, right? And of course, if I get a new phone, Victoria wants a new phone, but she is paying for hers, so we are both getting an iphone. The cheapest ones!!! Mine will only be $69 as I have a $30 credit towards a new phone (I think Verizon is getting tired of us people that refuse to upgrade our phones). I will have to wait since I had to pay for Disney this last payperiod. It’s only 9 days away until next pay period, so I can wait. Victoria on the other hand is chomping at the bit to get hers. She is such a techno geek. Anything electronic she just loves…..that and ONE DIRECTION. If anyone has teenage daughters out there, you know who I mean. Just take a look at those teenybopper magazines in the grocery stores….Ugh!

Another big happening at my house is my purchase on Saturday of 3 baby chickens!!! (I cannot believe there are no chicken smillies!!! ) I have never had chickens before and really wanted some. Don’t ask me why I wanted them, I just did --- it’s not for the eggs or meat….I just wanted chickens! So, the Tractor Supply store near our house was having the poultry swap and I made Peter stop. I didn’t even know what I was getting, I just picked them out according to how cute they are. I did look online at backyardchicken.com (yes, that’s a REAL website ) and found out I have 2 partridge cochens and one silver lace cochens. Good to know, huh? We have no idea if they are boys or girls, but we are hoping they are all girls so we could at least get some eggs out of them. So, I’ve spent most of the day Sunday cuddling my new babies. Yes, I know, chickens are not cuddling animals, but while they’re babies I’m going to try to handle them as much as possible so they won’t be mean when they are older. Crazy, I know. Speaking of my animals, I gave my long-haired guinea pig a haircut yesterday. She gets very matted underneath, so keeping her trim makes her feel better.

Well, that's today's update. Talk to you all soon!!!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

You are so cute! Chicken pets!

YAY on paying off the trip!!!!!!!!! That's such a good feeling. Your ADR's look great and it looks like you are really getting everything in order! I'm glad you found a nice group, I'm in the November 2012 group and love it!

Oh yes, I know about One Direction! Savannah LOVE LOVE LOVES them, she made me memorize their names.

 

[beachmama3]

Hi, following you over from the August board!! We will be in Disney the same week!

Love your tie-dyed shirts, so cute! Also, congrats to your daughter! I teach at a middle school and it is sad to see the 8th graders move to the HS!

Very cool about the iPhones too--just upgraded my husband to one- he had a total old school flip phone. I have a Droid but will def be upgrading to the iphone in the fall! Lots of awesome Disney apps

Looking forward to reading about your trip!

 

[beachmama3]

Hi all!!

Well, we are paid in full!! PAID IN FULL, I say…..Can I get a woo hoo!!!!??? OH Yeah……

I will be able to say that this week! Great feeling!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Hi, following you over from the August board!! We will be in Disney the same week!

Love your tye-die shirts, so cute! Also, congrats to your daughter! I teach at a middle school and it is sad to see the 8th graders move to the HS!

Very cool about the iPhones too--just upgraded my husband to one- he had a total old school flip phone. I have a Droid but will def be upgrading to the iphone in the fall! Lots of awesome Disney apps

Looking forward to reading about your trip!

Hi Beachmama!!!! Welcome aboard!! Thank you for the compliment on my tie-dyes. I have fun doing stuff like that. OMG --- I am anxious about Victoria heading to high school, but fortunately the middle school and high school were the same building, so it won't be unfamiliar to her. My concern is that we have to get her school stuff BEFORE Disney since we get home hours before she starts. Not that she'll need a ton of stuff her first day, and I think she's using the same book bag, so I'll just make sure she has pens/pencils and a couple notebooks. It must be awesome to be a teacher. I thought of doing that once, but went into the business area instead. Silly me!

Now you've just got to tell me where you are staying (duh me --- it's in your signature! )and if any of our days match up because I would love to say hi!!!! And yes, it's such an awesome feeling to be paid in full!!!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

You are so cute! Chicken pets!

YAY on paying off the trip!!!!!!!!! That's such a good feeling. Your ADR's look great and it looks like you are really getting everything in order! I'm glad you found a nice group, I'm in the November 2012 group and love it!

Oh yes, I know about One Direction! Savannah LOVE LOVE LOVES them, she made me memorize their names.

Yes, I love me my chicken pets!!!!

Just remember --- that's what makes you beautiful!!!

 

[JDailey]

YAY for paying off the trip....that is always a good feeling. Well, maybe not a good feeling for your wallet but, for knowing you are one step closer to going to the happiest place ever!!

I am having my Disney withdraws from being back a few weeks. We had a great time despite the RAIN!! It rained on us almost everyday I am talking down poor!!! It rained on us last time in October so, I was hoping it wouldn't this time but no such luck. Oh well, we still had a great time.....I am ready to go back now!

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

I can't wait to hear how you like Paradiso 37. LOVE the Disney hair bows! Too cute! That's great news with the PhotoPass Plus! I hope it works out well because I want to get it next year too! Yeah, once we settle on dates for next year, I'm open to doing a share! A poncho out of Disney bags? Now, that's something I have to see! That could be really cool Awesome deal on the iPhone! There are so many cool Disney apps for smartphones. I have an Android and, sadly, they're aren't as many Disney apps for us. It almost makes me want to go Team iPhone! My kids are due for upgrades on their phones in December, and they both want iPhones so I can just put the apps I want on their phones! Speaking of my kids, I'm thankful that True isn't into One Direction! I really can't handle her going nuts over ANOTHER boy band! Then again, I might not be in the clear yet because it took her a while to catch Bieber Fever I have to admit, I'm jealous of your chickens! In VA, we're only permitted to have chickens if we have a certain amount of acreage. I know this because I fell in love with black chickens (Silkies). They have black "meat" (that sounds gross when I'm talking about a pet) and fluffy white feathers (other colors too, but I like the white ones best because they look like chicks to me) and they are cute as can be! Sometimes I wonder if anyone would really know if I put some in my back yard I have a fence!

 

[mickeystoontown]

to paying off the trip!

 

[Darragh]

53 MORE DAYS!!!!

LOL! Not excited or anything, are you? We're at 85 days, 9 hours, 14 mins!!!! (and no, I'm not excited either!)

 

[Angies1274]

Yay for paying off your trip!!! That's such a great feeling!!


Your ADR's look really good! You picked lots of great places!!

 

[netnurse31]

I'm here following along. Just read all your previous posts. Congrats on being paid in full. Our date, July 29th, is sneaking up very quickly. If nothing breaks down in the house I am ready to make final payment. It's such a great feeling isn't it?