"Reach for the sky!" We're finally getting there in JAN 2012!!!TR LINK PG 69!

[Victoriasmom98]

OMG!! I can't believe that about your shoes. Can you send them back? I hope!!! and you walked home barefoot??? Just how warm is it there? Lord knows I wouldn't be able to do that here. Sorry you're having difficulties with the shoes. It's just not fair.!!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

OMG!! I can't believe that about your shoes. Can you send them back? I hope!!! and you walked home barefoot??? Just how warm is it there? Lord knows I wouldn't be able to do that here. Sorry you're having difficulties with the shoes. It's just not fair.!!!

had socks on and it's 50 here today, so it felt warm after all this cold weather! I'm sure the shoe is great for some people, it had lots of room and should have been great, but it just didn't work for me. I took them off b/c I didn't want to scratch them up so that I could return them! I think Amazon will take them back, it's worth a try!

 

[dismagiclover]

That is a bummer about the shoes. Amazon should take them back. Hopefully you can find a pair that will work for you. I just wear a standard Brooks stability shoe so I'm not any help, but I'll send a little pixie dust your way

 

[-Hope-]

That stinks about the shoes- I have really high arches too so I completely understand. I hope you can find something that works.

I also wanted to tell you that I looked at my PTR and last year FD for September came out May 3rd.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

That stinks about the shoes- I have really high arches too so I completely understand. I hope you can find something that works.

I also wanted to tell you that I looked at my PTR and last year FD for September came out May 3rd.

May 3rd! I can't wait that long to know!

BTW, I tried to call you today.

 

[-Hope-]

May 3rd! I can't wait that long to know!

BTW, I tried to call you today.

I think I left my phone in the car. I'll call you tomorrow- I thought about seeing if we could come over for the afternoon but I'm afraid the ice may prevent that!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Ah!!!!! I keep wanting to post an update, but I can't even focus on one thing to post about!

Ok, breathe Karen...start at the beginning...

We are getting a nice tax return that will get us totally caught up from our horrible 2010 disaster year, so I'll have money to put down on the trip and then the saving will begin!!! I really think we can make the trip happen!

Of course this means that I have to start crunching numbers, making comparison charts, and waffling on how to save the most money!

I spent a few hours this morning going through EVERY.SINGLE.RESTAURANT. that we would eat at and guessing what each of us would eat and adding it all up!

Needless to say, I'm no closer to knowing what to do! First off, it's Disney's fault b/c I can't properly plan if they don't release offers like Free Dining or Homeschool Day tickets. I can't even properly pick our week if they don't do this!

The absolute cheapest trip would be free dining staying at POR the last few days of Sept. and first few days of October. BUT, if they have homeschool days later in October then my friends will need to go later in the month and we could get those tickets and stay offsite in a house. BUT, it would mean less TS meals, which Rey and the boys really enjoy. Actually, I do as well b/c usually they will find me something special and vegan to eat as opposed to the stuff at CS places that I can't eat a lot of!

OH and I got MORE new shoes (sent the others back) and they fit REALLY well! I won't know until Monday when I take them to the gym to try them out if they feel right running, but I think we have a winner!

AND, if we change our dates to later in Oct. then I'll miss the 5K! It won't be the end of the world, I'm really mostly looking forward to the Princess 1/2 marathon in Feb. 2012, but still...

I really can't stand posting without photos, so I will have to start posting a favorite from our 2009 trip in each post! Oh and when Hope and I do some Disney days, I'll post those pics too!

Our last night at WDW in 2009 we arrived VERY late to Epcot (if you really want to read about that fiasco, you'll have to go back to the TR!) In any case, although slightly annoyed at missing the whole day at Epcot, the sight of the sun setting while we walked around enjoying Food & Wine put me right back in my happy place (ok, a few drinks helped as well!)

If anyone has any opinions on onsite with free dining (IF offered...if it's not, it's way cheaper to stay offsite for us) or offsite, give it to me! We loved staying offsite in a house, BUT, my oldest son really doesn't like to stay all day and he'll have his license and have to drive back alone to the house when he wants to leave and I'm not sure he'll want to do that in a "strange place"??

 

[dismagiclover]

Sounds like you have tons of decisions, but I always think it's fun to hash through all the possibilities. I'm glad you got some shoes that work! My fingers are crossed they'll work well when you run. I wouldn't feel too bad about missing the 5K if it works out that way. The Disney 5Ks are super expensive. Plus it's easy to find local 5Ks to run.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Sounds like you have tons of decisions, but I always think it's fun to hash through all the possibilities. I'm glad you got some shoes that work! My fingers are crossed they'll work well when you run. I wouldn't feel too bad about missing the 5K if it works out that way. The Disney 5Ks are super expensive. Plus it's easy to find local 5Ks to run.

I agree, and even though I know I would LOVE doing a 5K there, it will add to my expenses and I may feel differently by then. I will be doing at least one if not two 5Ks in my area this spring/summer, so I probably won't be as upset about it.

 

[carissanboys]

Yay for finding a better fitting pair of shoes!

We have stayed off property and on and there were pros and cons with both. When we stayed off property, we rented a place at Windsor Hills. The drive on the back roads was so quick and easy to get to WDW that it really wasn't much of an issue.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Yay for finding a better fitting pair of shoes!

We have stayed off property and on and there were pros and cons with both. When we stayed off property, we rented a place at Windsor Hills. The drive on the back roads was so quick and easy to get to WDW that it really wasn't much of an issue.

At this point, it seems to be space VS. food & convenience when it comes of on or offsite. We'll be cramped at POR, but we'll get to do the TS meals that my family really wants to do and my oldest that seems to get tired of the parks mid-day can take a bus back without anyone having to take him back to the house (this really ate up our time in 2009). This morning I'm leaning more on onsite b/c Rey and the boys have never even stayed onsite and I think it would be fun (even if it is cramped) but I'm sure I'll lean back the other way a few times more!

 

[carissanboys]

At this point, it seems to be space VS. food & convenience when it comes of on or offsite. We'll be cramped at POR, but we'll get to do the TS meals that my family really wants to do and my oldest that seems to get tired of the parks mid-day can take a bus back without anyone having to take him back to the house (this really ate up our time in 2009). This morning I'm leaning more on onsite b/c Rey and the boys have never even stayed onsite and I think it would be fun (even if it is cramped) but I'm sure I'll lean back the other way a few times more!

Our family of 5 stayed at POR last time we took a family trip there and we loved it. We didn't find it cramped, but my kids were/are younger than yours so two boy sharing a bed wasn't a big deal. The grounds at POR are so relaxing!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Our family of 5 stayed at POR last time we took a family trip there and we loved it. We didn't find it cramped, but my kids were/are younger than yours so two boy sharing a bed wasn't a big deal. The grounds at POR are so relaxing!

It looks SO relaxing and pretty, lots of trees...sigh...AND, they are refurbing starting in April, adding queen beds! (no idea how the trundle will fit into that equation???) We were planning on bringing a twin air mattress as well b/c my 15 year old said he would not sleep with his 16 yr old brother.

I'm sure it will be fine, I was amazed at how little Rey wanted to be at the house in 2009...he had said he didn't want to go commando on his first vacation ever, but then when we got there his whole attitude changed. He was often heard saying that we were at Disney and he wanted to see Disney, not sit around a house, he could do that any day! Now I've got him naming off which restaurants are at which parks or resorts...I seem to convert everyone I come in contact with, isn't that right HOPE?!?!?

Actually, it's Disney that does it, but I'll take credit when I can!

 

[-Hope-]

I seem to convert everyone I come in contact with, isn't that right HOPE?!?!?

Actually, it's Disney that does it, but I'll take credit when I can!

Nope, it's all you. You're an evil genius.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

and my biggest challenge is yet to come! I'm going to make it my personal endeavor to convert MIKE! For those of you reading, our friend Summer and her husband Mike are planning to go in the fall as well with their 4 children (one of which is yet to be born yet!) Summer's husband, Mike, went to WDW at 17, with no plan, naturally, and is a naysayer. He's your typical grump about WDW, and it's my mission to change that!

So, I'm hitting him where it hurts the most...his stomach! Mike has a Gluten allergy and this morning I bombarded Summer with tons of info in email about how great they are with gluten free meals at WDW. Since he already has a hard time finding gluten free foods, I figure this is my way in. Show him how WDW will accommodate his diet, and he'll be converted! I REALLY AM an evil-disney-genius!!!! Bwahahahaaaaaa!

oh and Summer, don't read that to him, he won't fall so easily into my trap if you tell him my plans!

 

[-Hope-]

Ooooh, good plan!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I know, I know, who wants to read about shoes again??? My 2nd pair of shoes came and I love them! Great cushion and I ran with them yesterday and went a little farther than normal, so I'm glad to have resolved that!

Here they are, YES, I realize they look very similar to the others, but they are not...and I'm compelled to post photos in every update, so you get to look at these too! I actually think the other ones were a little "prettier", but I'm not going for looks, I'm going for fit!

Hope came over yesterday and we had a Disney planning day...although EVERY day is a Disney planning day when Hope & I get together! We fell right back into our Disney chat, it's amazing to me that it's been well over a year since we started planning a Disney trip (we didn't end up getting to go last year) but yet we still find TONS to talk about! It's even funnier that we bring our WDW binders anytime we hang out together! Yesterday was about dates and touring!

Called the Homeschool Days program and pumped the guy for info and it looks like Homeschool Days will be at the beginning of October, but we don't have exact dates. This means that my plans for Sept. 29th-Oct. 6th should work and Hope's trip and mine will overlap!!

Now, we just need Free Dining and we're set! Either way, I think we will stay onsite, we'll get the homeschool tickets if we can't get free dining! Here's where we'll be staying and they are actually refurbing starting in April, it would be REALLY cool to get a new room with queen beds!!! (I'm not holding my breath tho) Port Orleans Riverside! These are not my photos, but you can better believe I'll have a ton! They are from a great site called portorleans.org

I admit, when I started looking at resorts a year or so ago, I wasn't really happy that the only mod that would fit us was POR. We live in a rural area, and it's very "countryish" in style, something I don't particularly care for. The decor of the INSIDE of Alligator Bayou is about as far from my taste as possible, BUT, I'm a nature girl and I LOVE the look of the outside of POR. We don't spend much time in the room anyway, and I'm looking forward to a more lush experience than Pop Century (which is great in a lot of other ways!) and a more relaxing vacation feel that I think POR will provide. It's also THE cheapest option for us onsite b/c at a value we would pay more to get 2 rooms or a suite!

Oy, I'm rambling...sorry, I'm almost done!...

Last, but not least, we had our taxes the other day and I'm please to announce that I will actually have a chunk of money to put down on the trip!!! This makes it a true reality for me and I think we can pay it off little by little and we'll actually make this happen this year!!

 

[dismagiclover]

for shoes that fit!!!!! I love new running shoes!!! for the nice tax return!!! I've never stayed at POR, but it looks like a lovely resort.

 

[-Hope-]

Those pics make me wish we could stay on-site!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Those pics make me wish we could stay on-site!

Well...

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