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

[Twoboysnmygirl]

TOURING PLANS!! I decided to stop procrastinating and get to it. I think the reason I hadn't wanted to do it is b/c our first day is a little unusual and doesn't flow right (at least for someone like me who likes rope drop!) I went back and forth for a while about how to get around a MK day (Savannah insisted this was our first park day) where we wouldn't arrive at RD, and I decided we would "take it easy", a term I'm still trying to figure out! We have another MK day where we will be there before RD for a Crystal Palace breakfast, so I just have to let go and accept that I will probably do some line waiting on our first day.

Not only are we arriving late, BUT, it's MK's 40th Anniversary and probably not the best park to hit!

So, here's how it goes:

Saturday, October 1st
-Dallas & Karen wake up early and drive to AK for the family 5K fun run!!
-we head back to the house by 8am to shower and wake up the other lazy bums in our clan.
-late Ohana breakfast with Lilo & Stitch at 10:30! We're really looking forward to this, Stitch is one of Savannah's favorite characters, but Leslee's absolute favorite, so I thought it would be fun to have a character meal with them! Here's Savannah in 2009 at AK

-by the time we are finished and take the monorail over to MK, I suspect it will be around noon!
Rey won't be with us yet, he doesn't come in until Sunday, so I went back and forth on what direction to go at this point. I finally made a list of what rides we would do if we went left through Adventureland and then made a list of what rides we would do if we went to the right into Tomorrowland and asked Dylan what he would ride. The others will ride anything, but Dylan is a picky almost 17 year old and won't go on certain things b/c he doesn't like how they feel. Anyway, after looking at which side he would ride more stuff on, I chose Tomorrowland! We'll head for Space FP's and see if there are any left (we've never been on SM!!! WOOT!) Here are a couple shots I took last trip.

The list goes something like this, but who knows? Maybe I'll love the laid back approach so much I'll even do these out of order! *gasp*
FP for SM
Carousel of Progress (never been)
Buzz
Laugh Floor
Stitch (ick...but the girls want to do it and we've never done it)
Astro-Orbiter
Speedway (another ick, maybe the girls will do this alone while we wait)
teacups if we so desire
Space Mountain!

then we'll head over towards Haunted Mansion and Columbia Harbor House where we will have a late lunch/early dinner and ride HM.
Not sure of the time after all that, but hoping to do Hall of Presidents as well and if we feel like it, catch the parade and fireworks!

What do you think? Any "late arrivers" have any suggestions for me? The latest I have ever arrived is 10am, and I was frantic that day (and it was my IL's that made me late!)

 

[-Hope-]

I think your plans look great! I'm starting to get really excited for you.

We were late arrivers on our MK day (11 I think, but it was Wednesday) and had no problems. Eating at a non-meal time helps but you already know that. Beware that in Stitch you aren't allowed to take pictures at all- not even in the introductory part. There are no signs or annoucements but the CM was still quite rude when I tried (it was too dark anyway) to take a pic.

You are going to be tired after running the 5k! But since you're going to get another MK day and be there for RD you should have plenty of time to do whatever you don't get accomplished. When we arrived at 11 we had plenty of time so I think if you are tired or lines are especially long you shouldn't stress about it and just make sure to have time in your second MK day to catch up on anything that didn't work out this first day. I know you and planning for the plan not working will mean more to think about now but less stress later!

 

[MARsMama]

I know it's not a Disney photo, but I just LOVE the first photo you posted of the place where you petsit, it's beautiful

Great new design for the t-shirt We have started our t-shirts, and so far so good

Your plans for MK sounds great. We chose MK for that day as well, and will likely arrive late, probably 10-11am or so. We have no plans made yet, still haven't discussed our 'must-dos' for that park yet

 

[-Hope-]

Sheesh, I just reread my last post and realized I said there were no pictures where I meant to say no signs stating no pictures- which is why I was irritated at the CM for being rude about it.

 

[Parla]

That makes more sense. I thought you were just irritated by how rude she was but then it seemed like you knew you weren't supposed to take pictures so I was confused.

 

[-Hope-]

That makes more sense. I thought you were just irritated by how rude she was but then it seemed like you knew you weren't supposed to take pictures so I was confused.

Yep, I reread it and realized I sounded like one of those people who don't understand why they can't use flash on Peter pan. I went back and changed it.

 

[Kari-B]

Lilo & Stitch party looks fun!!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Totally OT update! Well, actually, I did make a little money that goes into the Disney Fund, so it's still related!

I was invited to show/sell my photography (mostly landscape) at The Ozark Sustainable and Renewable Fair at Onondaga State Park yesterday. (say THAT three times fast!)

I was really honored that they asked me, I have never done a vendor booth, so I thought I would give it a shot! I had a pretty good time and found out that spending my time doing Disney Day's decorating tables, can come in handy!

Hope, being the bestest friend ever, offered to come help me set up! They had a table for me, and I used my backdrop with wire and clips to display my 8x10 prints. (my banner on front of the table was still unrolling, but this was early in the day when we took the shot)

Hope took a shot of yours truly trying hard not to sweat everywhere. It was fairly hot!:

This was how the post cards were displayed on that strange looking flower thing. Then I had them in 6-packs tied with ribbon below.

My photo that got the honorable mention in the photography contest, a notebook, and a calendar with my photos (which sold!):

I had magnets made because I thought kids might like them. They did, although their parents weren't buying much, but I did sell some.

This is my funny pic. In the background is one of my pregnancy shots and it got more compliments and notice than anything displayed yesterday. The strange cup was our concoction. They brought around these ugly cups to all the booths and said that whoever got the most money put in them would get a gift basket for BEST BOOTH. Well, I knew my booth looked the best, so this was a no brainer. BUT, I not only didn't want that heinous thing on my pretty table, it looked like someone just left a drink there and I thought people wouldn't notice it. So we decorated it! We were the only booth that did this, btw. In the end, I won the best booth! I will say, however, that I think it's b/c I have the best friends, they were all putting money in it throughout the day! That's ok, having the bestest friends is a pretty good prize as well!

It was a pretty good experience and I made a little bit of money, but not much. I don't think I would make a habit of doing booths, but I will probably do another sometime this year b/c there were not as many people that attended as they thought and I think I could have sold more if there had been. I have lots of leftover stuff, so doing another show/fair won't cost me anything.

 

[mousescrapper]

sorry the rain dappened the Lilo/Stitch day, but Hope's pixs look fun! my DD Bekah really loves them too, her fondness for Elvis I think grew because of this movie


the touring plans looks good for Day 1) do you subscribe to touring plans? their LINES APP is great for checking times and helping to gage better which lines to stand in...the one thing I'd possibly drop is the Speedway as it seems to always be crowded and the line moves sooooooo S-L-O-W! so really decide there based on the wait...if you/girls do want to do that?


nice job on the photo booth and your best booth win

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

sorry the rain dappened the Lilo/Stitch day, but Hope's pixs look fun! my DD Bekah really loves them too, her fondness for Elvis I think grew because of this movie


the touring plans looks good for Day 1) do you subscribe to touring plans? their LINES APP is great for checking times and helping to gage better which lines to stand in...the one thing I'd possibly drop is the Speedway as it seems to always be crowded and the line moves sooooooo S-L-O-W! so really decide there based on the wait...if you/girls do want to do that?


nice job on the photo booth and your best booth win

Thanks!

I'm unsure on the Speedway, we may save that for our RD day b/c it IS always busy, but less busy in the first hour of the morning. I don't want to go and the boys don't either (Dallas said it was the lamest thing he had ever experienced...too slow for him! ) but the girls will definitely want to go. So, whenever we do go, we'll probably just get a drink and have a seat/rest or even run for some FP's while they ride.

 

[Parla]

Love the booth, hope you're able to make lots of Disney fund money when you sell the leftovers at your next booth.

What did the money in the cups that people voted with get used for?

 

[DrMomof3]

Your booth is beautiful! Your work is really amazing!!!

Amanda

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Love the booth, hope you're able to make lots of Disney fund money when you sell the leftovers at your next booth.

What did the money in the cups that people voted with get used for?

Thanks! I'm pretty sure they used the money for the park. The fair was held at a state park that has a huge cave system, river, camping, etc.

Your booth is beautiful! Your work is really amazing!!!

Amanda

Thanks Amanda!

 

[beebeeryan]

The booth looked awesome, congrats on doing your first one too!!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

The booth looked awesome, congrats on doing your first one too!!!

Thank you!!!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

All I can say is WOW!!! Your booth was beautiful, your work is beautiful and I am sooooo envious of your talent!!!

Your Lilo & Stitch day looked cute as well!!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

All I can say is WOW!!! Your booth was beautiful, your work is beautiful and I am sooooo envious of your talent!!!

Your Lilo & Stitch day looked cute as well!!!

Aw, thank you Ann! That means a lot.

 

[MARsMama]

Your booth looked great and I just love your photographs You have a wonderful talent, the pictures you take are beautiful

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Your booth looked great and I just love your photographs You have a wonderful talent, the pictures you take are beautiful

Thank you!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Ugh, I'm dreading this update.

I'll try to make it short, but likely I'll go into ramble mode. We were due a pretty decent refund from an amended tax return for 2009. I called the IRS 2 weeks ago and it had been accepted, all that needed to happen was they had to mail the check. We need a vehicle badly, and I found a great Dodge Durango for a good price and put 500$ down to hold it. The guy will hold it until this Saturday.

Well, the check didn't show today, so I called the IRS and apparently it's being send THIS friday, but it's not for what they said it would be, it's half the amount. We're not sure why yet, there was a mixup with the state and they might have took it, I'm waiting to find out about that, but basically, I am going to have to choose a vehicle over Disney. All the money I have saved, plus what we're getting, PLUS almost Rey's whole paycheck this week will have to go to purchase the Durango. If not, we risk losing a great deal and having to find something even cheaper, which is way too hard to find. SUV's are expensive.

If it turns out that there was a mistake made and we get the money back eventually, the trip would still happen, but my heart is heavy and I'm feeling like this is another failed trip.

I can't even express how upset I am, really. I keep telling my kids we're going on vacation and something always ruins it. I'm angry and sad at the same time and part of me feels like I should just give up and never try to go back to Disney. It's out of our league, for people who have more money than us.

So, that's what's going on. Looks like I can either stop posting now or do the same heartbreaking routine I did last year of going back and forth with the neverending trip report. I feel like we just weren't meant to get a vacation.

I'm trying to be grateful for what I have, I have a wonderful family, and hopefully we'll be able to scrounge all the money to get the Durango at least. I have my oldest ds turning 17 in a couple weeks and when given the choice of going anywhere out to dinner and choice of what he wanted to do for the night, he decided that he wanted to stay home and bbque, all of us, and then watch movies. I AM lucky, just not in monetary ways.

After all that, the bottom line is that I have no clue if we'll make it or not, everything is in limbo.