Saving Dole Whip Float Money (Update 2/27: TR Link Posted!)

[RachelNinja]

Before I introduce the cast of characters, I wanted to explain the title of this PTR. I obviously have enough money to buy a dole whip float from Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom. However, my 11- year old brother sometimes doesn't want to do his chore of unloading the dishwasher. Therefore, I offered him a deal - I'd unload the dishwasher for him for $1. This is a kid who doesn't know the value of a dollar, so the first two times I did it for him, he was eager to skip his chore. Once he knew that I was saving money and he realized my excitement over just a buck while he was so willing to give it away, he was a lot more reluctant. About 2 weeks passed with his choosing to do it himself. Often times he'd take the dollar out, but then he'd change his mind. Today though was a good day (for me at least). He didn't want to spend time working on it, so he paid me! Now I'm up to $3. I'm almost there!

Oh, and for those of you who think that I'm a sister taking advantage of her younger brother ... yeah, I kind of am. Haha. But like I said, he's actually learning not to just give the money away so freely. My mom and I try to teach him that $1 can buy a few items during each week of Extreme Deals at Staples! So I'm teaching him a lesson. In essence, he should be thanking me!

Okay, back to how PTRs typically start ... introduction to the cast!

Rae 1, Howard, Ray 2, Dani

Rachel (25) - That's me!

I'm a teacher by day and ninja by night. I'm about to start my 4th year of teaching middle school ELA and math. As crazy and wacky as some of those kids can get, they sometimes have a crazier and wackier teacher! That's what I love about my job. I can dance and make contorted faces and talk about Disney World all I want (as related to the lesson, of course!). I've been to Disney countless times with my family while growing up, so this will be the first trip that I actually go without them!

Howard (24) - My fiance!

First time I'm writing that as part of the cast introduction (he came along to Florida with my family this past April as my DBF; the trip report link can be found in my signature)! His DIS name is HowWeird although he isn't on very often. Howard is a multimedia/audiovisual technician at his former college. He's a nerd and loves things like Star Wars and Discovery Channel. I love that about him though; he has his interests and loves learning new things! I think that together we make one really smart person. Haha.

Danielle (23): My cousin!

Along with my mom and Howard, I consider Dani one of my closest friends. Since we've both started working, we don't seem to get to talk as often as we used to. We see each other on Sundays at church and during any family gatherings, but that's about it. I know this'll be such a fun trip because we'll get to hang out with each other again! Dani got her degree in screenplay writing. Although she's working at a job unrelated to that, she still uses her God-given talent to write things like the musicals for our coffeehouses at church!

Raymond (21): Dani's boyfriend!

Ray started coming to our church a few years ago, I believe. Since then, he has become our friend and, of course, Dani's boyfriend! I'm very happy about that because I think they work so well together. Plus, Ray can get extremely wacky and start dancing randomly (he even did it this past Sunday at church!). Haha, I like that because then I won't be the only odd one on this trip! Anyway, he's the only one still in school (hehe, he's the baby of our group!), but he will be getting his degree in nursing!

Stay tuned to find out how this trip came to be! Haha, and yes, I purposely chose pics of each of us posing with food!

 

[RachelNinja]

Table of Contents

Cast Introductions
How This Trip Came To Be
Confirmation Email Dancing
Introducing Character Scrambler!
Character Scrambler: Round 1
Character Scrambler: Round 1 Answers
Character Scrambler: Round 2
Character Scrambler: Round 2 Answers
Dole Whip Float Money Secured!
New Disney T-Shirts!
Character Scrambler: Round 3
Character Scrambler: Round 3 Answers
Character Scrambler: Round 4
Character Scrambler: Round 4 Answers
Character Scrambler "Hint"
Anticipating Our 2 ADRs!
Character Scrambler: Round 5
Character Scrambler: Round 6
Character Scrambler: Round 6 Answers
Character Scrambler: Round 7
Character Scrambler: Round 7 Answers
Character Scrambler: Round 8
Character Scrambler: Round 8 Answers
Busy Bee!
Character Scrambler: Round 9
Character Scrambler: Round 9 Answers
Crazy NY Weather!
Character Scrambler: Round 10
Character Scrambler: Round 10 Answers
Character Scrambler: Round 11
Character Scrambler: Round 11 Answers
Character Scrambler: Round 12
Character Scrambler: Round 12 Answers
The "Getting There" Part
Character Scrambler: Round 13
Character Scrambler: Round 13 Answers
Character Scrambler: Round 14
Character Scrambler: Round 14 Answers
Character Scrambler: Round 15
Character Scrambler: Round 15 Answers
Character Scrambler: Round 16
Character Scrambler: Round 16 Answers
Character Scrambler: Round 17
Character Scrambler: Round 17 Answers
Character Scrambler: Round 18
Character Scrambler: Round 18 Answers
Character Scrambler: Round 19 and 20
Character Scrambler: Round 19 and 20 Answers
Character Scrambler: Round 21 and 22
Character Scrambler: Round 21 and 22 Answers
A Third Park?
Expedition Everest Questions
Added Cast!
Vacation Purchases and Other Fun Things
Snacks for Amtrak
Character Scrambler: Round 23 and 24
Character Scrambler: Round 23 and 24 Answers
Character Scrambler: Round 25 and 26
Character Scrambler: Round 25 and 26 Answers
Our 10 Day Countdown!
Less Than 12 Hours To Go!!!

 

[HowWeird]

YESSSSS! Since this is started, do I even have to say how excited I am about this trip? I promise, like I said before, to try not to be behind the camera all the time, though I do plan on taking just as many pictures! I believe the count was over 3,500, so I'll probably take just as many. Just not three of each

You will also be behind the camera for a lot of it too, just because we see things differently! I really can't wait until the serious planning gets going!!

Let's get started!

 

[RachelNinja]

YESSSSS! Since this is started, do I even have to say how excited I am about this trip? I promise, like I said before, to try not to be behind the camera all the time, though I do plan on taking just as many pictures! I believe the count was over 3,500, so I'll probably take just as many. Just not three of each

You will also be behind the camera for a lot of it too, just because we see things differently! I really can't wait until the serious planning gets going!!

Let's get started!

I can tell you're excited because you used a lot of exclamation points! So am I! Haha. I'm so ready to start writing up packing lists and booking tickets. I know the journey to get there is going to be a fun adventure. I'm so glad that this came up, and I'm so glad that I had the summer job so that I could use the extra money on this trip! Now all we have to do is just try to be patient and wait ...

 

[RachelNinja]

How This Trip Came To Be
(with random photos from the internet to make it colorful!)

This past Sunday, I was catching up with Danielle and letting her know what my preliminary plans were for my wedding. Dani, along with her sister, are my bridesmaids. I was excited to fill her in on the idea that Howard and I had about the favors. I don't know that I want to share all of it just yet, but it is an edible one! The favor idea does have a Disney twist to it though that I was explaining. I mentioned again that I wanted to tie in some Disney things into the wedding.

This then led to a conversation about how great Disney is and how much fun it'd be if we could go together next year! Dani already knew that she'd be in Florida to go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter; she's a huge fan! I just casually threw in how we should plan something for the four to us (the two of us plus significant others). It was time for me to leave church, so we couldn't really discuss it that much more although she did tell Ray who gave me the thumbs up from his table where he was eating lunch (or maybe he was just giving me the thumbs up!).

Once I got home, I emailed Howard to let him know what was discussed to see if he was up for it. I then started searching for prices at the value resorts at Disney. We'd get 2 separate rooms (guys in one, girls in the other) and be able to use Magical Express and all the Disney buses and monorails so that we wouldn't have to worry about a car. I was emailing information about staying on property, but I also mentioned my family's timeshare at Orange Lake Country Club. Oh wait, it's not called that anymore; it's now called Holiday Inn Club Vacations - Orange Lake Resort. What a mouthful!

Basically, the cost wouldn't be that different. In fact, it might actually be saved money to stay at the condo since we'd just have to pay for the exchange fee plus the maintenance fee. We would, of course, have to rent a car, but that would mean we'd save money by cooking some meals ourselves or eating outside of WDW. Plus, we're all very into the fact that it's 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room, dining room, and full kitchen!

That one email started an entire email chain between the 4 of us; we're now up to 62 emails! We decided on the date, which is the week in February during Presidents' Week. That means we could be open to anything from Saturday, February 19, to Saturday, February 26.

Well, all we need to do now is hope that the week becomes free! I'm hoping that someone out there doesn't want to use his/her week at OLCC (I think I'll forever call it that) and that he/she banks it so that we'll get that wonderful call to let us know that we've got the week!!! Each time the phone rings, I get excited!

Don't worry. We're not leaving all of this to chance. There are a few other ways that we can stay there through RCI's Extra Vacations program (this doesn't involved our timeshare week). I'm stalking the available spots that are there. If one or two of them are booked, we'll have to reevaluate whether it's wise to wait it out or book what's there.

Either way, the 4 of us are just going to keep on sending emails to make tentative plans. Stay tuned for more plans!

 

[disneybarbie]

subscribing!

Looking forward to reading along

are your cousin and her BF into Disney too?!

Emma x

 

[wdwgirl03]

Woo, I'm here! So are you going to do WWOHP then?!

 

[floridascgirl]

Hi Rachel! I didn't even take the time to read your intro., so after I say hi I'll back track and read it. Isn't it great to have another trip on the horizon? The next thing that you need to do though is get yourself a ticker!

 

[Cat0727]

Hey Rachel, I'm here!

 

[LilAnn]

OOh! I was so excited when i saw that you had a PTR link on your TR! Then when I saw it was for February, I got even more excited....because, we've been throwing around the idea of going in February too! Not sure yet since we have some money saving to do and some other things to figure out. By the way, love all the food themed pics. I now want to go get some Japanese food.....

 

[klacey1]

I'm here!! (First page??)
Will you do WWoHP and WDW? You'll love staying offsite if that's the case

 

[RachelNinja]

subscribing!

Looking forward to reading along

are your cousin and her BF into Disney too?!

Emma x

Woot, glad to have you here! I don't think Danielle and Ray have been in Florida for a while. I actually don't know if Ray's ever been. The last time Dani was there was, I believe, when we went to Animal Kingdom together (we didn't stay together, we just met up that day). That's when we were in junior high! Anyway, they aren't crazy obsessed about Disney. Hehe, I think that's because they haven't been there recently ... and they haven't been there with Howard and me! We're going to be showing them so much of the things we've learned from the ton of reading we've done and from our own experiences! They're REALLY excited!!!

Woo, I'm here! So are you going to do WWOHP then?!

At the moment, Howard and I don't have plans to go to WWOHP. I know, I know ... it's hard to believe, but we're not as crazy about Harry Potter as they are. It'd cost a lot for a one-day ticket, so we're looking to skip it. Haha, I know, you might be by my saying it!

Hi Rachel! I didn't even take the time to read your intro., so after I say hi I'll back track and read it. Isn't it great to have another trip on the horizon? The next thing that you need to do though is get yourself a ticker!

YES, it is so much fun having this in the near future! I thought the next time would be April 2012 for the Disneymoon! This'll be super fun because it's going to be laidback. Plus, I've never gone on vacation with my cousin sans parents before. Haha, it's crazy to think that we're "adults" now.

Ooo, I'll probably get a ticker to add to my blog! Haha, with the new PTR link, I already had to shrink the stuff in my signature!

Hey Rachel, I'm here!

Woohoo! So happy you're here to follow along!

OOh! I was so excited when i saw that you had a PTR link on your TR! Then when I saw it was for February, I got even more excited....because, we've been throwing around the idea of going in February too! Not sure yet since we have some money saving to do and some other things to figure out. By the way, love all the food themed pics. I now want to go get some Japanese food.....

This got me so excited! But would you go during Presidents' Week? With DD being so young, I'd think you'd go during any of the other weeks when there's even fewer people. If you do go then, we should meet up!!! DIS MEET!!!

YUM, Howard and I have plans to get sushi tomorrow! I've been craving something at our favy sushi place called a tiger roll, which is tempura crab stick inside the roll with a slice of raw salmon on the outside with a really yummy sauce. The contrast of the warm and the cool is just so yummy!!!

I'm here!! (First page??)
Will you do WWoHP and WDW? You'll love staying offsite if that's the case

YES! First page!!! Most likely, Howard and I will skip WWOHP. This is a perfect off-site vacation because we're definitely going to be sleeping in the day after park days! We'll have a nice DTD day as well!

 

[RachelNinja]

Confirmation Email Dancing

Wait, 5 people? I thought there were only 4 of you, you might be asking. OoOo, we'll see about that!

In the last update about how this trip came to be, I said that we didn't actually have the place booked. We were hoping for a match for our search, but I was also watching the "Extra Vacations" that I could book just in case. Well, no need to anxiously wait any longer! We got an email from RCI telling us that they found a match and they were holding the vacation for us!

The email was sent to my mom since it is my parents' timeshare, and they have the membership to RCI. Well, this morning my mom said, "Rae, come here." She was on the laptop in the kitchen. I had a flicker of hope, but I also didn't think much of it because she had asked me beforehand how to spell "crooked." Haha, she totally blanked on it, but that's irrelevant. Anyway, I figured she wanted me to proof something for her since I've been doing it often as she writes important emails.

I walked on over and looked at the screen to see that it was an email from RCI! I started giggling hysterically. I scrolled down to see the date, and I was even happier! We got the week of February 20-27, 2011, which is a Sunday-Sunday week! It works out perfectly since we won't even be in Florida until Sunday! We had put in a search for a check-in date of Fri-Sun (18-20th), and I was worried that we'd get one for Friday. That wouldn't work for us because we all have work/school that day.

I just kept laughing and dancing around, and my mom was like, "Stop!" She wasn't doing it in a mean way, she just thinks it's weird (yet funny) when I act so silly! Then she tried to hit me. Jokingly. I think. Haha, I'm kidding. She knew I was beyond thrilled, but I guess she's never been overcome with the need to laugh and dance in the kitchen before!

I immediately raced back to my computer to tell Howard since I was chatting with him at the moment, and I typed up the message in the group email! Danielle and Ray weren't around, so I was anxiously waiting for them to see it, so I had Howard text Dani that she should check her email. He texted her with this: ""please check your email as there is pertinent information regarding the vacation ... "

Haha, he's such a meanie. She checked it and joined in on the writing in bold and in caps! Haha. She called Ray who was at school, and he was thrilled as well! Ahhh, we are obviously extremely excited because even though we knew were going to go some way and some how, having it be definite is the greatest and such a relief!

Now we're looking to book our transportation. How are we getting there? Just wait and see!

 

[peterpanlover96]

I'm here and subbing! How exciting that the four of you are going Your sure to have the best of times, and I'm excited to read more

 

[floridascgirl]

That's great news about RCI, Rachel...so happy for you guys. Speaking of sushi, the Kona Sushi Bar at the Polynesian is really yummy. My mom and I went there this summer and had a fun time. After we ate, we walked around and explored the resort. It on our list of things to do for our family trip in Feb.

 

[loritemp]

This may be the earliest I ever joined a PTR

Cant wait to hear all the plans!! SO excited the accomidations worked out for you.

ANd you all need to stop talking about sushi!!!! I am expecting and can't have sushi till this little man is born in Dec! But my DH has stirct orders to make that my first post-deivery meal

 

[therussells08]

I'm here! I just wanted to sub in really quick and let you know I was on board. I'm going back now to catch up on this and your TR! Happy Friday!

 

[RachelNinja]

I'm here and subbing! How exciting that the four of you are going Your sure to have the best of times, and I'm excited to read more

Woohoo!!! I'm really excited that it's the four of us because we only get to see each other on Sundays. Those days are usually busy too because we're all on worship teams and Dani often has a lot of meetings to attend because she's on the Evangelism Committee. This is a great opportunity for us to just relax!

That's great news about RCI, Rachel...so happy for you guys. Speaking of sushi, the Kona Sushi Bar at the Polynesian is really yummy. My mom and I went there this summer and had a fun time. After we ate, we walked around and explored the resort. It on our list of things to do for our family trip in Feb.

When my mom called to put in the search, the guy said that it was late in the game to be requesting it. I was worried about that, but my mom kept insisting that it was enough time and told me it would most likely come through. Who would've thought that in 1 day (actually less than 24 hours), we would get a match?!? Haha, of course, there were things going on yesterday so mom didn't get the email (we requested a phone call, oh well!). Matt had to get 2 teeth pulled, so she didn't check her email until this morning! Haha, I guess it just built up the anticipation!

Since we have some down time this trip, I am definitely looking forward to exploring some resorts and trying restaurants I've never tried before!

This may be the earliest I ever joined a PTR

Cant wait to hear all the plans!! SO excited the accomidations worked out for you.

ANd you all need to stop talking about sushi!!!! I am expecting and can't have sushi till this little man is born in Dec! But my DH has stirct orders to make that my first post-deivery meal

Oh yay!!! Haha, I do the same thing. I often join PTRs and TRs very late in the game!

Awww, only a few more months for you! I actually started freaking out with Howard a few months ago when we were going through a huge sushi phase. I was like, "Wait, how do I go 9 months without eating sushi? It's 9 months!!!" But I know I'll have to avoid it! I'll probably still be eating California rolls and cooked rolls (our local sushi place has a cooked salmon roll that my mom has tried). I hope that will satisfy me at that time!

When Howard had to go to Vancouver last summer to work for about a month, I was devastated. I missed him so much, and I also was missing sushi really badly! Maybe it was a combination of the two, but I think it was just the craving because at one point I just started crying because I wanted it so much. My mom and I had to go out and get some. So I definitely feel for you!

Okay ... changing the subject! I'll be posting a Disney game in a moment. Maybe that'll help be a distraction!

I'm here! I just wanted to sub in really quick and let you know I was on board. I'm going back now to catch up on this and your TR! Happy Friday!

Happy Friday to you! Glad you're here! I'm going to mention you in my next post!

 

[RachelNinja]

Introducing Character Scrambler!

One of the things I knew I wanted to do when I started my next PTR (I thought I was going to have to wait for my Disneymoon PTR for 2012!) was make a game! Joni has The Waiting Game on her thread that is really fun! Haha, and nerve-wracking! Well, since I finally have a PTR again, I decided that I'd make up a game too - Character Scrambler!

There may or may not be a prize for the winner. I don't really know how this will go. Joni posts hers every Saturday, but I may just post whenever I finish making up the next round. I think it's just a fun way to share some info about the parks, some trivia, and some of my personal opinions of Walt Disney World! You'll see in the example below how it'll work.

Directions
1. Figure out the word or words for each clue.
2. Identify the mystery letter from each clue.
3. Unscramble all the mystery letters to reveal the mystery character, which will be a character in any Disney movie!

See if you can figure this out, and I'll give the answers after it:

Clue #1 (3 words / 5th letter in 1st word): __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Although I love Earl of Sandwich, this is the other restaurant I would like to try at Downtown Disney. Everything from the Half Rotisserie Chicken to the Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf sound so yummy!

Clue #2 (1 word / 11th letter): __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
This part of Magic Kingdom is currently under construction for an elaborate expansion.

Clue #3 (1 word / 4th letter): __ __ __ __ __
Pop Century, All Star Music, All Star Movies, and All Star Sports are all examples of (blank) resorts.

Mystery Letters (scrambled): ___ ___ ___
Mystery Character (unscrambled): ___ ___ ___

Answers

Clue #1: Wolfgang Puck Express = G
Clue #2: Fantasyland = D
Clue #3: Value = U

Mystery Letters (scrambled): GDU
Mystery Character (unscrambled): DUG from UP

Make sense? I hope it does! When you have it figured out, post your answer! Stay tuned for Round #1! For the first one, I'll tell you that I will be posting it tomorrow!

 

[klacey1]

She was on the laptop in the kitchen. I had a flicker of hope, but I also didn't think much of it because she had asked me beforehand how to spell "crooked."

That made me lol. So glad things worked out with the timeshare!!