Saturday, In the Park - I Think it was the Fourth of July Wrapping it Up 6/26

[micandminforever]

Joining the fun. Sorry I am late.

I need to go back and read the highlights. Wonderful news about reconnecting with your iphone.

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

I seem to have reactivated my iPhone.

I knew you'd cave!

I think we all knew it would.

For real?! I honestly never thought it would be back!

As IF!

 

[cmp1111]

Congrats!

 

[PrincessV]

Joining the fun. Sorry I am late.

I need to go back and read the highlights. Wonderful news about reconnecting with your iphone.

No worries - you'll have plenty of time to catch up... you know these can go on for a long while, lol! Thanks for joining in!

As IF!

In all truth, I wouldn't have, at least not for a long time, had AT&T not come out with better data plans. I even made out well with the deactivation fee - spread over the 3 months it was deactivated, I still paid considerably less per month than I would have on the old plan!

FiPM... Fuzzy iPhone Math.

Congrats!

Thanks CE; it's good to be back in the fold!


Hopefully I'll have a REAL PTR update later today...

 

[Parla]

This just in...


I seem to have reactivated my iPhone.



I'm fairly certain my body was taken over by aliens and I had no choice in the matter.



But the aliens scored me AT&T's now discounted data plan rate AND a nice employee-of-my-employer discount on the voice plan.



The iPhone returneth.

I'm so envious. We've decided not to switch to AT&T so I think we are going to get Droids. I'm sad but glad I don't have to mess with switching companies.

 

[PrincessV]

I'm so envious. We've decided not to switch to AT&T so I think we are going to get Droids. I'm sad but glad I don't have to mess with switching companies.

Don't be sad! I looked long and hard at all the options on the market and the Droid looks fantastic! For me, it was all about cost-saving and, well, I already own the iPhone, so going anywhere else would involve the added cost of a device eerily similar to one I already have. I think you'll be very happy with the Droid!

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

I'm so envious. We've decided not to switch to AT&T so I think we are going to get Droids. I'm sad but glad I don't have to mess with switching companies.

If you're a Verizon customer, you should check out the HTC Incredible. My DH got one and it's pretty much an iPhone, but is able to multi-task.

Personally, they all frustrate me.

 

[OhMari]

Ya for the iPhone. My dh has the Verizone phone, so I let him deal with the AP's. My biggest problem-I can't see it, my eyes are going blury and I'm not going to dig out the 5 pair of reading glasses I own, and I keep loosing.

You rock my world - I can't even imagine doing a tri!

It's a mini tri-athalon. There is one in northern IL, this summer, but I want to do it at WDW-I want the Goofy medal. It's only a quarter mile to swim, 7 miles biking and a 3.2 mile run. There is no sweeping either, they let everyone finish.

 

[PrincessV]

For the record, I meant to get an update in yesterday. But I wasn’t my most inspired. Or. Creative. Wednesday was Leo’s last day of school for the year and part of me apparently thinks it’s on summer break, too.

~YAWN~


Hm… what?

Oh! Sorry ‘bout that.


Okay. With roughly three weeks left before the Big Trip, it’s time to fill you in on the planning, right?

Right.

And I’ll start with resort choices. Get ready for a shocker if you’ve ever followed my ramblings before…


Surprisingly little planning went into the resort picks for this trip.

AND…

Only one change was made!




Are you all okay? No one bumped their heads or threw a shoe or anything right? Because I know. This is pure craziness I’m talking!

But it’s 100% true. ish. True-ish. Or 100%-ish. Take your pick.

Here’s how it all went down…

The primary resort destination was selected by my good friend Tracy, Disneyland_Mama here on the DIS. Or, perhaps more accurately, by Tracy’s husband Andy.

Oh… wait… back this truck up a bit…

I need to do some more introductions, don’t I?!

The Big Trip? Saturday, Not in a Park? Sort of on the 4th of July? It’s a group trip. The same-ish group trip we’ve managed the previous three years. See, a few of us DISers took a gamble, rolled the dice, played the ponies, spun the wheel and met one another – in person! – years ago. Our lives have never been the same. In every wonderful way possible.

That very first meeting led to more meetings, which led to planned trips together, which led to planned activities together, which led to non-Disney gatherings together, which led to more Disney trips together… you get the idea.

These folks are in my life for good.

And sometimes bad.

For them.

Depending on the day I’m having and how many emails with which I consequently spam them.

But that’s how it is with family – you take the good, you take the bad, you take the boring, troublesome, exciting, tear-jerking, heart-warming and, yes, even the smelly. (NOGFCafe)

Yes, these ladies and their kin, once mere Imaginary Internet Friends, are a huge part of my family now. I cherish every moment spent with them. As does Leo. So, to say we’ve been looking forward to this trip is the understatement of the century.

Anyway, you need to know them in order to get the full story of why we’re staying where we are. We are…

V, Lauralee (LL), Tracy (T) and Kate (SharkB8)

Do you see that we’re in Epcot in that picture? Do you also see that we’re half-frozen? Record cold temps this winter. Crazy-cold. Yet we braved it… together. That’s love, baybees.



The girls come with families, too! You’ll learn more about them in the TR, I’m sure, but names are good:

Lauralee comes with: her husband Tony and son Michael (Leo’s age and frequently partner-in-crime for many years now!).

Tracy comes with: her husband Andy, daughter Maddie (Leo’s and Michael’s age and - poor thing - the lone girl!), and son Evan (close enough in age to hang with the “big kids!”).

Kate comes with: her husband Mr. SharkB8, their son Bite 1 (the best-mannered teenager on earth, I’m pretty sure), another son Bite 2 (enough older than Leo, Michael and Maddie to be considered “cool!” but young enough to think hanging with them is fun), and third son Bite 3 (just a year shy of Leo et al – he’s right in there!).

We make a fairly giant but extremely fun group!

So, now that you know who’s coming along on this journey, allow me to explain how it is that our primary resort was chosen by T’s husband, Andy. Sorta.

It’s quite simple, really… T and Andy bought into DVC. At the Kidani Animal Kingdom Villas (AKV), specifically. And after two summers at Saratoga Springs (SSR), Andy really, really wanted to stay at their new Home. I’ve stayed in an AKV studio in Jambo House, but not Kidani. Neither had LL. Since we’re all DVC members, Andy made it pretty easy – we’ll ALL stay at Kidani!

And we got very lucky; when LL’s and my window to book at AKV opened (SSR is Home for us both), we both scored! I did some back and forth adjusting dates and deciding between a studio for more nights or a one-bedroom for fewer nights, but AKV was settled upon.

Even for Kate and the SharkB8’S! Sort of. You’ll see. Technically, they’ll be staying at Shades of Green. But they have the SharkB8mobile and will still be spending lots of time with us at AKV.

In the end, I went with fewer nights and a one-bedroom. Leo and I are both pretty jazzed about that. He’s an only child raised by a single parent; I’m an only child raised by a single parent. We like our space. We share a 1700-square-foot house with Gramma and it often feels cramped. When it comes to resort accommodations, walls make us happy campers. (NOFt.Wilderness) And, Leo gets his very own bathroom, too!


But.

I did have to book fewer nights than I wished. To get the one bedroom. On my DVC points.

What to do?

That’s where the Hilton Bonnet Creek (HBC)came in. And has since gone away. Heh heh.

That fantastic FL resident rate I got in May? I also got it for three nights prior to AKV for the Big Trip. But after staying at HBC in May, I decided to explore other options.

For one thing, HBC doesn’t get EMH privileges. And we’re going during a very busy time.

For another, that 80’s music. And business-y feel. And all the other stuff I mentioned. It was fun, but just not right for the Big Trip.

So I looked at Passholder rates… and got sucked into the vortex that is Disney Reservations. It’s hard to “just look”, TFI.

Long story short – I booked the Yacht Club (YC). No, I won’t say how much. I don’t even want to look at that figure. I’ll just say that it’s a considerable discount off the regular price (which is outrageous and absurd IMNSHO) and has been budgeted for.

And…

Leo and I are pretty stoked about the YC, too! It makes two - TWO! – new resorts for us this trip! We’ve been to the Beach Club Villas, and I stayed at the Beach Club before Leo was born, but never the YC. Yippee!


And there you have it. A split-stay with hardly any drama, theatrics, begging, blacklisting or rampant changes. (NOCinnamon) Another first. For V.


Next: the quest for yummy

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Great update V! Multiple "new" resorts with minimal call backs. I'm impressed. Can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[cmp1111]

Wow, only the one change?

Sounds lovely... Wish I could see all you gorgeous ladies again, too - but I know how close you all are and that you're going to have a wonderful time.

 

[englishrose47]

Wow V I am impressed !!!Makes my humble October plans sound boring !!Of course I basically had a choice of AllStars or Pop and that was no choice for this Popper !!!But the price is right ( hey where have I heard that saying before )Mine is FREE! Yup as in NADDA!!! I know we get hoppers and the DDP too!! My Boss is going too and it is her first ever Disney trip!!!She enjoyed our Lake George trip soooooo much she's game to spend more time with me !! We had a blast in Lake George and I was true to form with amusing her !!That is why she keeps me around she says !! Nothing to do with my work performance just my comedy routine

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

OMG - that photo montage has me all verklempt!


I wanna go back NOWWWWW!!!!


You know what? After staying at BC in January, Andy could have easily been manipulat....errrr coaxed into BCV. Oh well, there's always next time!

 

[Hedy]

You still have three weeks to change.

 

[glennbo123]

See, a few of us DISers took a gamble, rolled the dice, played the ponies, spun the wheel and met one another – in person! – years ago. Our lives have never been the same. In every wonderful way possible.

That very first meeting led to more meetings, which led to planned trips together, which led to planned activities together, which led to non-Disney gatherings together, which led to more Disney trips together… you get the idea.

These folks are in my life for good.

And sometimes bad.

For them.

Oh no...I've begun to make friends on here. I'm meeting some DISers, um, tomorrow as a matter of fact. Am I in jeopardy?...

But that’s how it is with family – you take the good, you take the bad, you take the boring, troublesome, exciting, tear-jerking, heart-warming and, yes, even the smelly. (NOGFCafe)

For a second there I thought we were singing to theme song of "The Facts of Life".

We make a fairly giant but extremely fun group!

Thanks for the "Who's who".

It’s quite simple, really… T and Andy bought into DVC. At the Kidani Animal Kingdom Villas (AKV), specifically. And after two summers at Saratoga Springs (SSR), Andy really, really wanted to stay at their new Home. I’ve stayed in an AKV studio in Jambo House, but not Kidani. Neither had LL. Since we’re all DVC members, Andy made it pretty easy – we’ll ALL stay at Kidani!

I can tell you from personal experience -- you are gonna love it!

 

[jcc0621]

Surprisingly little planning went into the resort picks for this trip.

AND…

Only one change was made!

Who are you and what have you done with V?

Sounds lovely... Wish I could see all you gorgeous ladies again, too - but I know how close you all are and that you're going to have a wonderful time.

Me too. I am thinking we need to plan a Fockerfest 2...2013 anyone

 

[praisehisname]

Two new resorts in the same trip--awesome! I used to be afraid of doing that, because I thought it would be a hassle to move. But it sounds pretty smooth, and for a long(er) trip I'd be willing to do it.

 

[Lauralee131]

Awwww...so fun looking back at those old pictures!!

T - make sure Andy reads that we're all staying at AKV and that it was because HE wanted to...he can NEVER say he never gets a say on anything vacation-related...

We're all looking forward to our annual group trip and it can't come soon enough!! Heck - I enjoy these big trips more than our little trips of just the 3 of us! Shhhh....don't say anything!!

 

[Lauralee131]

This just in...


I seem to have reactivated my iPhone.

I'm fairly certain my body was taken over by aliens and I had no choice in the matter.

But the aliens scored me AT&T's now discounted data plan rate AND a nice employee-of-my-employer discount on the voice plan.



The iPhone returneth.

I think we all knew it would.

First it was the annual "What the fruit is this??" pictures...

This could be the year of the iZombie photos...

LYMI!!!

I still have iPhone envy though...just sayin'...

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

[/SIZE]







First it was the annual "What the fruit is this??" pictures...

This could be the year of the iZombie photos...

LYMI!!!

I still have iPhone envy though...just sayin'...