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

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Have I told you about our Christmas Eve tradition? The kids both get new games every year for Christmas Eve and then we play them that night plus we have new games to enjoy so we don't get tired of our old ones. Board and card games would make really great solstice gifts...

yes! I remember you telling me you guys do this! GREAT tradition! I was still getting new games up until about a year or so ago and then it seemed like they were all "reruns" of games we already have? It's like they can't come up with anything new...so we end up with 4 different versions of Monopoly, Pirates of the Caribbean LIFE, Pokemon Sorry, Regular AND Lord of the Rings Risk, things like that. I wish they would come up with some really unique new game ideas! I did get Dylan Killer Bunnies for Christmas, but we've only played it once, it looks fun, but VERY detailed and confusing at first and if you can't weed through all the rules, etc. then it's hard to get into a game.

Shew! A game-ramble! I swear, I can ramble about anything!

 

[-Hope-]

There's a game store at the mall in Springfield that has TONS of amazing games if you're looking for somthing different. We should go sometime.

 

[exwdwcm]

Love all the boardgames!!

WE love Vegas! you will have a blast. We got married at Mandalay Bay back in 2001. We've been just about every year. DH and I love to gamble- craps mostly. Even if you don't gamble, there is enough to see and do to keep you busy. And there is an Earle of Sandwich at Planet Hollywood!!!! of course i would find something disney related in Las Vegas! I have yet to stay at the MGM, but have stayed about everywhere else. We really love downtown, since the table minimums are lower and we just like playing craps at the 'shoe' (horseshoe). I am headed to Vegas from July 29-August 3rd for work- staying at the ARIA. hoping to try and fly DH out afterwards for a few days for his 40th bday. We will see, flights are just crazy now- i still have AA miles to use and two free AA vouchers, but they always black everything out. darn them.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Love all the boardgames!!

WE love Vegas! you will have a blast. We got married at Mandalay Bay back in 2001. We've been just about every year. DH and I love to gamble- craps mostly. Even if you don't gamble, there is enough to see and do to keep you busy. And there is an Earle of Sandwich at Planet Hollywood!!!! of course i would find something disney related in Las Vegas! I have yet to stay at the MGM, but have stayed about everywhere else. We really love downtown, since the table minimums are lower and we just like playing craps at the 'shoe' (horseshoe). I am headed to Vegas from July 29-August 3rd for work- staying at the ARIA. hoping to try and fly DH out afterwards for a few days for his 40th bday. We will see, flights are just crazy now- i still have AA miles to use and two free AA vouchers, but they always black everything out. darn them.

Ooooh ARIA!!!!! I got a coupon code for them as well (all the discounts I'm getting are for this summer though!) You'll have to tell me all about it since it's the newest thing in Vegas! I've done lots of Vegas planning and reading (DUH, this is me we are talking about!) and I've got a list of things I want to do already and certainly we'll gamble! Rey likes slots, but he plays all sorts of things, he's so excited to show me Vegas.

Mandalay Bay was top on my list of places to stay, they have some awesome looking suites, but I passed only b/c of the distance from everything and being at the end of the strip...

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

All caught up again! I really miss a lot when I go MIA! I'm going to have to stop doing that! LOL! I totally felt your pain when I read about how you almost had to pull from the Disney Fund I've had moments recently like that too when I burst into tears because something that I hadn't dealt with snuck up on me. Times have been tough on a lot of us and I have said to myself plenty of times "I just need to go to Disney!" Cancelling a trip is terrible, which is why I'm getting so many non-refundable things like plane tickets! I'm going this year, darnit! I'm so glad you didn't have to pull from the Disney Fund and you and Rey got that unexpected check!

I really like your Rx sunglasses! I need some too! They are usually SO expensive but you got a great deal! MyPoints really is great. I can't believe all of the gift cards you have! At this rate, I won't get a gift card until next year! I wish Amazon participated too because I'd be able to rack up the points!

As usual, your theme party was awesome. The kids and I both love P&F so this one has to go on my list of theme parties too! I can't wait to see what you and Hope do next. Oh, and I like Savannah's red streak in her hair. Very sassy! I thought it was a clip-on until I saw your board game night pics. You have a lot of great board games! That is a great thing to do for family time!

Vegas, Baby! That sounds like a fun anniversary trip! I went there once and even though I'm not a gambler, my BF (at the time) and I had a blast! We stayed at a resort in Henderson because we were there for a wedding and it was gorgeous! If I take the kids to Vegas for a vacation, I think I'd stay in Henderson again, but if I go on an adult trip, I want to stay on the strip! It just looks like so much fun! Not to mention that you can walk down the sidewalk with your drink!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Hey Erin! I'm glad you are back in DIS-mode! I wish they gave points for Amazon too b/c I shop there more than anywhere! What I usually do now is go and see what it will cost me to go through a store at Mypoints and then compare to Amazon. We have free shipping with them, so the price is hard to beat and I won't spend more just to go through MPs!

I actually did have to pull $100 from the fund this week, I MUST get the AC charged in the car. We're having a horrible heatwave and the front windows on my car a broke, so I can't even roll them down to get air. It's just too hot to drive around with no AC or open windows, so today it's getting fixed. I'm trying to stay positive about the trip, we still have 4 months, so I think we'll be ok. LOTS of petsitting this summer, so I should be able to save the rest of what we need.

We're off to the pool today after dropping the car off! Hope and I were supposed to do Disney Days today, but we got lazy and decided to just go to the pool...HEY, that's DISNEY-ISH...swimming!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Ok, I desperately need some of my DIS friend's opinions! I feel very much in limbo right now, I'm trying to decided if I should shave a day off of our trip. It would save money, but I'm concerned that it would make the trip feel rushed. It would also seal the deal on no MNSSHP (which I'm unsure we were going to be able to afford anyway)

So here's my issues:

We leave on thursday (29th) and drive all day, stay at a motel overnight. Arrive at WDW on Friday, which I did not intend on being a park day. We have an ADR for Rainforest at DTD, planned on grocery shopping for the house, and picking up our race packets for the 5K the following morning. Rey will NOT be with us, just me and the kids. He flies in Sunday evening probably.

Saturday morning Dallas & I run the 5K at AK and then we have a late breakfast/brunch at 10:30 to celebrate at Ohana. I thought we would go to MK for the rest of the day, BUT, it was going to be a very laid back day b/c it's the 40th Anniversary and a Saturday and I think it will be PACKED.

Sunday we do AK and then Rey arrives and we have dinner at House of Blues that night.

Monday is EP
Tuesday is our full MK day
Wednesday is DHS and then we are going to EP for the evening b/c Rey leaves Thursday morning.

So, we were going to stay another day, originally Thursday was going to be our 2nd Epcot day, but Rey will be flying out, he has to get back to work, and I'm just not sure if this day is necessary. It's also MNSSHP that night. We were going to leave out Friday morning to head home, but that doesn't put us home until Saturday.

So a few things. If we shave a day off of the tickets, I'll only save about $60. I'll save a day in food (which will be at least $100) and obviously I won't have to buy MNSSHP tickets. Also, if we arrive home on Friday, I can pick up the dogs (IF they are boarded and I can't find someone to stay here). If we don't arrive home until Saturday with the original plan, I can't pick them up until Monday and will have to pay for that! I know, just the way it works around here though, it's a small vet and they just have someone come in to take the dogs out, etc. but aren't open....

So, if you read all that, you are a saint! I'm totally torn b/c I don't want the trip to feel rushed, but not sure that last day is worth the extra money when Rey will be leaving and money is REALLY tight. I'm thinking I won't be able to afford MNSSHP anyway, so it would totally not be worth it to stay if I can't.

What do you think?????

 

[Victoriasmom98]

So a few things. If we shave a day off of the tickets, I'll only save about $60. I'll save a day in food (which will be at least $100) and obviously I won't have to buy MNSSHP tickets. Also, if we arrive home on Friday, I can pick up the dogs (IF they are boarded and I can't find someone to stay here). If we don't arrive home until Saturday with the original plan, I can't pick them up until Monday and will have to pay for that! I know, just the way it works around here though, it's a small vet and they just have someone come in to take the dogs out, etc. but aren't open....

So, if you read all that, you are a saint! I'm totally torn b/c I don't want the trip to feel rushed, but not sure that last day is worth the extra money when Rey will be leaving and money is REALLY tight. I'm thinking I won't be able to afford MNSSHP anyway, so it would totally not be worth it to stay if I can't.

What do you think?????

First of all, let me thank you for recognizing that yes, I AM a saint as I read your ENTIRE POST....ugh!! what a hardship on me!! Now, I understand about the boarding thing. Our doggie daycare is the same way --- if you can't make pick up between certain hours, you must leave them overnight again and pay for it. I understand this, but still, sometimes you can't make it only by one hour and are charged a whole other day's boarding. I still haven't figured out what I'm doing with Cutie for this weekend..... The savings with the food cost and the MNSSHP tickets is quite substantial! It's not like you'll never go back again......I think you should end your trip one day short!! That's just me.......

 

[Lidian]

Honestly, if it was me in your shoes ...

If I had to board a furbaby that long, was stressing over finances, and couldn't do MNSSHP, I'd go back early. You'll have a full day at EP and a little bit of time on another night.

Finances can really put a stick into a vacation ... and there's no need to stress when you can save a few bucks and still have a GREAT vacation! And it sounds like it will save you over $160 + boarding costs and not having to stress on saving up for party tickets.

Truly, only you can decide what would be best for your vacation. But if my hand was tied to a vote, I'd suggest come back early if finances are really eating at you. You'll have a magical time regardless if you come back a day early or on schedule. I wish you the best of luck in your decision and hope you'll be happy!

 

[MARsMama]

I tend to agree with the others, cutting the trip one day short to keep from strapping yourself financially would be what we'd would choose to do. The stress of worrying about it isn't worth one more day either. You will enjoy your time there however long or short it is, just think of it as getting an extra day head start on your next WDW trip
Of course, that being said, we will be at MNSSHP that night so maybe it won't be worth it to miss another chance of meeting me!

 

[Pixiedust530]

I agree with everyone else. It doesn't seem worth it to be stressed and worried about finances. We have the same issue with our fur babies so I know what you mean....we have 3 to board! UGH!

I can't imagine having to cut our trip short but if it alleviated the financial strain and meant we wouldn't have to cancel, then I would definitely end your trip a day early. It's not like you won't ever go back!

 

[PixieMama]

I agree with the others. If I was in this situation and didn't shave off the extra day, I'd probably spend the entire vacation stressing over how much it was all costing (plus the added expense of boarding the pooch for extra days) And how much fun would that be?

My family's trips to WDW have been 5 days and 5 1/2 days. The first time we had Park Hoppers, but last year (the 5 1/2 days) we didn't... we spent 1 day each at AK and DHS, 2 days at MK, and 1 1/2 days at Epcot. We didn't feel rushed at all, or like we didn't have time to do everything we wanted to do.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Thank you all so much! You really made me feel better about it! I talked to Savannah and she seemed actually pleased (she's complained about even GOING on the trip b/c she's so attached to her animals, it's that bad) about taking a day off. I did go look at the house info and they rent by week, so I don't think we'll save any money there, but we will save on food, boarding, and MNSSHP tickets. It will feel "right" too b/c Rey will be leaving out that day as well.

Thanks for helping me make that decision so much easier!

Now I need to do my touring for each park day!!!!!! WOOT!

 

[Pixiedust530]

Thank you all so much! You really made me feel better about it! I talked to Savannah and she seemed actually pleased (she's complained about even GOING on the trip b/c she's so attached to her animals, it's that bad) about taking a day off. I did go look at the house info and they rent by week, so I don't think we'll save any money there, but we will save on food, boarding, and MNSSHP tickets. It will feel "right" too b/c Rey will be leaving out that day as well.

Thanks for helping me make that decision so much easier!

Now I need to do my touring for each park day!!!!!! WOOT!

I'm glad that everyone is feeling good about the decision. It sounds like it really was the best thing for your family!

I have had so much fun planning my touring for each park day. Not sure if you use touringplans or not, but I am IN LOVE ! I have been using their touring plans as a guide and then customizing my own to accomodate the things we do and don't want to do vs. their plans!

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

Yes, I absolutely love Amazon! It sounds like you have Amazon Prime too. I love that service because the free shipping has more than paid for the price of membership! My son and I are now addicted to the free books on Kindle too. Amazon is awesome.

I guess I missed the debate over shaving off a park day, but I would've just agreed with everyone else about how it sounded like the best option. There is nothing fun about stressing over finances on vacation. I've done that before and it really put a damper on the last few days of what was supposed to be a relaxing trip. So, I'm glad you and your family are happy about your decision! Although, purely for selfish reasons, I was hoping you were going to stay that extra day so that my kids and I could have our very first DISmeet during MNSSHP with you! Since we're all Disney addicts here, I'm sure we'll plan another trip during similar dates one day!

 

[Kari-B]

Glad you made a decision you are all happy with!

 

[Parla]

First, I love board games too. We don't play often anymore though. DS can't handle losing. He's depressed for a good 24 hours every time he loses. It's just not worth it.

I'm glad you made your decision about shaving a day off. My opinion would have been if you weren't doing MNSSHP anyway then save the money and go get the doggies.

My friend told me that moms get Amazon Prime for free. I haven't ordered from there since she told me that though. I need to remember to ask her what link to use next time I'm ordering though. I too wish they did the rewards programs. I guess their prices are just so good they can't afford to offer rewards? I think once they did a 1% with Upromise years ago for a limited time offer.

 

[mousescrapper]

Hi Karen sorry I missed the convo about shaving a day off...but glad you were able to make a decision you feel good about and looking forward to seeing your touring plans! I'm starting to fine tune my park days as well

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Hiya!!

Parla, we have Amazon Prime because we pay for it yearly. It is well worth it, but only b/c I use Amazon a LOT living out here in the boonies where there are very few stores/things available. I think the Mom Prime is ONLY if you are buying baby products, I remember getting an email about it but didn't really read it b/c we already have Prime. Worth looking into!

Scrappy, I'm procrastinating making my park plans, I have no idea why! I'm not normally a procrastinator, I think I've just been so busy with summer stuff going on here that I haven't done it. I need to get to it!

Today was a DISNEY DAY! We did Lilo & Stitch. We had plans to do it poolside at one of my petsitting client's homes. I petsat for them last summer as well, they let me use the pool and it's hard to believe I get paid to sit here:

Yes, I have the best job ever!

Unfortunately, this pic was taken LAST year and they opened the pool right before leaving and then had some issues with algae. I've spent the last 4 days cleaning it and waiting for the pool people to come but it's still not ready to swim in. On top of that, it rained all day. So, they have a guest house that they let use if we want, and this was more like our view today while we had DD inside...

I'm sure you are wondering why I'm showing you anything other than our Disney Day pics, well, I sort of forgot my camera today! But have no fear, Hope took pics and she'll post them in our joint PTR, the link is in my siggy! edited to add the direct link to the pics: Lilo & Stitch Disney Day pics

So, I really need to get on the ball about tshirts! I saw some $3 colored shirts at Big Lots yesterday, but I didn't have my list of what sizes/colors I needed, so I had to walk away. I did get one of the MNSSHP shirts re-designed since we aren't going to MNSSHP now but I loved the DISign and know the girls will love it too. Here it is:

Ok, now I feel better that at least I sufficiently provided pics, even if they weren't from our Lilo & Stitch day! Hey Hope, we didn't decide on next time. I say we do POOLSIDE Disney Day.

 

[-Hope-]

I'm about to post the pics now... and yeah, we definitely need to be poolside next time.