Secret Green Club - whatever number thread

[pixie dust 112]

Hey look that was way quicker than my TR from 2006!

 

[dwheatl]

Thanks for sharing that, PD. Sounds like a great trip.

 

[dgbg100106]

I'm here. Sending hugs to Kat, Brandi, and anyone else who needs one.

Thanks...

 

[dgbg100106]

Thanks for sharing that, PD. Sounds like a great trip.

It does sound like you both had a wonderful time!

 

[Piglets Mommy]

Been busy here. Made it through the 1 year date of Bill's death. Not much sleep for 3 weeks. Kids fine during the day, but had a hard time at night without any distractions. Then under the weather. Moving on now & kids are a bit better, I think.

glad you are coming along Brandi!

HI, PD, Heather & Kristi!!

Hi Kat!

I'm here. Sending hugs to Kat, Brandi, and anyone else who needs one.

Right back at ya!

Kristi ~ Glad Rick has started work!

Brandi ~ glad the pain is going away!

Kat ~ about a zillion hugs coming your way! I can't believe it's been a year already. I don;t know how you get through the day. I guess we just gotta do what ya gotta do when you have kids!

Heather ~ totally agree, it's the getting there that is tough and expensive for us up here in the Northeast!

Our trip was short but really nice and we really did fit everything in! Don;t know if I told all of you, but we actually have the cheapest resort rates at Disney this year. We had told our kids that we weren't going to Disney this year as I gave up one of my jobs this year. It's a HUGE hit on our income, but I just couldn't work for the new boss. We're going to be poorer, but I don't regret the decision as I seriously question the ethical standards of the new boss, and I can sleep better at night not being involved with that particular administration so it's all good....anyway back to the WDW story... I have to say the girls were very understanding and said that they love going to Disney, but they recognized that they have been incredibly fortunate to go as many times as they have. Well a day or 2 after I told them we weren't going, a friend who has DVC called me. They had 230 points that they were going to lose in August if not used. She offered the points to me if I would just pay the maintenance for the year's points!!! For that we had her book 8 nights in a studio at Old Key West for DH and the girls who are still in HS over Easter Break and another 4 nights in a Studio at AKL for LizzY and I last week.

I have to say we took AKL by default because with such a late reservation that was the only DVC that had 4 night available for a studio....OMG We loved it totally relaxing resort. To be continued.....

That sounds awesome! Glad you could work that out with your friend! Sounds like it worked great for both of you!

Parks were a bit crowded the Sunday (It was Martin Luther King weekend) but they were empty for the next 3 days. We wanted to do a 4 parks in one day thing. So we scheduled that for Monday. The rule was we needed to do at least 2 rides at each park. Well we easily did that and I think we did about a total of 20 rides altogether rather than only 8! We had breakfast at Animal Kingdom and lunch at EPCOT. We easily got all the parks done, and though we did earlu EMHs we did not need the evening EMHs. As a matter of fact we even had time to go back to the resort and then go to DDT for Dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express!

The highlight of the trip was our last night there. We scheduled the wishes dessert party at Tomorrowland Terrace. It is a great party that gives you a nice place to sit and relax to watch the fireworks without fighting the crowds. Anyway we were all standing by the railing and the fireworks started. I suddenly heard cheering which was weird becasue it was the beginning of the show. It turns out that the guy at the table next to us had just proposed to his girlfriend! He had photopass photographers there to take pictures. She said yes and the waitresses immediately gave them just engaged pins to wear! They also put special desserts on their table. Chocolate covered strawberries decorated as groomsmen and bridesmaids! (They had friends with them!) Also another dessert platter with a bride and groom chocolate covered strawberries surrounded by candies that were designed to look like the Magic Kingdom! It was amazing. I wish I was one of those obnoxious people who would ask them if it was ok to take pictures!

Oh that is so awesome!

Hey look that was way quicker than my TR from 2006!

It was, but there was no Day 6

 

[2girlsmom]

Pd that is SO awesome on the deal with the DVC! Sounds like a great trip too, but yeah, I miss day 6 drama... It is amazing to me how much you can get done in the parks when 1)it is slow season and 2)you know where you are going/what you are doing. I had the same feeling when the kids and I went in October, and at Universal on Sunday too. I had always thought December was slow season, and the lines were okay, but now that I have seen the REAL low lines, I am realizing that early December isn't all that slow! Of course, we haven't been during a REALLY busy season, either, and I have NO desire to see the parks during the Christmas to New Years week, for example, I saw pics on the news, and that was enough for me!

Yes, I agree, it is the getting there that is the big deal, I love that about living down here, being able to drive up for the day is SO awesome, especially since from Omaha it was always $300+ per person to fly down, gotta love the difference. Also love AP's, though it is a different mindset and one we are still working on. I keep telling everyone that with AP's we can go whenever, so we DON'T have to get everything in and we DON'T need souvenirs every time. Meagan is still complaining that she didn't get a souvenir on Sunday at Universal (even though they already have shirts, teddy bears, etc from Universal), and I couldn't talk Rick or the kids into quitting after IOA on Sunday at 3:30ish, they INSISTED we needed to go hit at least a few majors at USF as well, which meant we were there till closing of course and still missed at least one that Catie wanted to ride. But I can't wait to take Rick in 2 weeks up to Disney, now that he is working he is seeing how wonderful it is to be here. I think he was really stressed by not having a job, both for finances and feeling less useful in the household, ya know?

Oh, more good news, my inlaws have "set a date" to come down to visit and bring Rick's truck, so we won't be a one car family too much longer. They are planning to leave Omaha on or about 2/14, which should get them here on or about 2/17, so just over 3 weeks. We rented a car last week and this so we could get a handle on the process with Rick working, etc. It will be hard giving that up even for a short time, as will mean I drop Rick off an hour before he has to be there in order to make it to work on time. So we will be happy to have Rick's truck here soon.

 

[2girlsmom]

Hi, Kat, Heather, Danielle, Brandi!

Brandi glad your foot is starting to improve!

Kat, Can't believe it has been a year. So glad the kids are doing all right, all things considered.

Danielle, if I win the disney day contest, we are coming your way.... Catie has us entering every day and says we would HAVE to come to DL if we won!

 

[pixie dust 112]

LizzY and I agreed that a 4 day trip was plenty of time to do all the rides and shows that we wanted to...but not nearly enough time to eat all the different things we wanted!

 

[2girlsmom]

Hi, all. We're back home and to work after a fun weekend at Disney. We drove up Friday night and did get to Magic Kingdom in time to spend almost 4 hours there, so got in a number of rides that night, then Saturday morning we had breakfast at Kona (we had my sister and brother in law join us there) which was awesome. We actually took the walking path from TTC to Poly, so got to see more of the resort, it is so gorgeous! We all agreed that we would love to stay there one of these days. After breakfast we took the monorail to Magic Kingdom and got space mountain, buzz, winnie the pooh, etc. in before heading to Epcot for our Le Cellier adr. This was Rick's first time back in the Canada area at all, he loved the gardens, etc back there, and wow, the food was great! Meag had a side order Mac & Cheese for her meal, and ate 2/3 of it, which for her is a HUGE meal. Catie ordered the sausage app, chicken caesar entree and choc moose dessert off the prix fixe. I had the mushroom filet (delicious) and Rick had the Strip Steak, along with an app of the cheese soup and then we got a creme brulee for a second dessert for all to share. Loved the pretzel bread and that steak was wonderful. We then decided that we would rather focus on future world for the rest of the day, so we headed back over and took Rick to meet Figment for the first time, rode Nemo, Spaceship Earth, Rick and Catie did Sum of all Fears and green side of Mision Space, while Meag and I did Nemo and spent about an hour in the sea pavilion. Then Rick rode Orange Mission Space, and we had fast passed Soarin for 6:30pm, at 4 we got fast passes for Test Track for 7pm start, so we then headed back to the hotel so the kids could swim, etc. We ended up getting back to Epcot right at 7, went to Soarin first, but the line for concourse 1 shut down, so it took till right at 8 before we got on Soarin, and then 8:30 for Test Track. By the time we got off Test Track, they were getting ready to start Illuminations, so we headed towards the exit and car, watching some of the fireworks as we went. Yesterday we were at HS at 8:30 (9am scheduled open) and they did soft open at 8:30, so we fast passed then rode TSMM, had breakfast at Writers Stop, did Star Tours, then back over to use the fast passes on TSMM, over to RnR and ToT (which had 30 minute waits, so we skipped), then left @ 11:30 and headed to AK, where I spent an hour in the Boneyard with Meag while Rick and Catie did Dinosaur twice, after which we grabbed FP to Primevil Whirl and then had lunch. After eating we rode PW, walked over to Everest, which the kids chickened out on, so rick rode single rider, then went over to the Safari. We left the park @ 3pm and headed for home. We stayed at Seralago, and we thought the hotel was fairly well maintained for an older hotel, we had a family suite, so the kids had a set of bunks plus a junior bed in their section, we had a king. The beds were fairly old and not the best beds, but not the worst I have slept on either. The pool area was nice (there were 2), and their food court was decent sized, we never ate there, so don't know how the food was. It was $55 per night, and was definitely worth it for the price, but if I could afford to stay elsewhere, I would probably opt to be on site or in someplace a little bit newer/nicer, though it was definitely clean, and that's always my #1 issue.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

Hi, all. We're back home and to work after a fun weekend at Disney. We drove up Friday night and did get to Magic Kingdom in time to spend almost 4 hours there, so got in a number of rides that night, then Saturday morning we had breakfast at Kona (we had my sister and brother in law join us there) which was awesome. We actually took the walking path from TTC to Poly, so got to see more of the resort, it is so gorgeous! We all agreed that we would love to stay there one of these days. After breakfast we took the monorail to Magic Kingdom and got space mountain, buzz, winnie the pooh, etc. in before heading to Epcot for our Le Cellier adr. This was Rick's first time back in the Canada area at all, he loved the gardens, etc back there, and wow, the food was great! Meag had a side order Mac & Cheese for her meal, and ate 2/3 of it, which for her is a HUGE meal. Catie ordered the sausage app, chicken caesar entree and choc moose dessert off the prix fixe. I had the mushroom filet (delicious) and Rick had the Strip Steak, along with an app of the cheese soup and then we got a creme brulee for a second dessert for all to share. Loved the pretzel bread and that steak was wonderful. We then decided that we would rather focus on future world for the rest of the day, so we headed back over and took Rick to meet Figment for the first time, rode Nemo, Spaceship Earth, Rick and Catie did Sum of all Fears and green side of Mision Space, while Meag and I did Nemo and spent about an hour in the sea pavilion. Then Rick rode Orange Mission Space, and we had fast passed Soarin for 6:30pm, at 4 we got fast passes for Test Track for 7pm start, so we then headed back to the hotel so the kids could swim, etc. We ended up getting back to Epcot right at 7, went to Soarin first, but the line for concourse 1 shut down, so it took till right at 8 before we got on Soarin, and then 8:30 for Test Track. By the time we got off Test Track, they were getting ready to start Illuminations, so we headed towards the exit and car, watching some of the fireworks as we went. Yesterday we were at HS at 8:30 (9am scheduled open) and they did soft open at 8:30, so we fast passed then rode TSMM, had breakfast at Writers Stop, did Star Tours, then back over to use the fast passes on TSMM, over to RnR and ToT (which had 30 minute waits, so we skipped), then left @ 11:30 and headed to AK, where I spent an hour in the Boneyard with Meag while Rick and Catie did Dinosaur twice, after which we grabbed FP to Primevil Whirl and then had lunch. After eating we rode PW, walked over to Everest, which the kids chickened out on, so rick rode single rider, then went over to the Safari. We left the park @ 3pm and headed for home. We stayed at Seralago, and we thought the hotel was fairly well maintained for an older hotel, we had a family suite, so the kids had a set of bunks plus a junior bed in their section, we had a king. The beds were fairly old and not the best beds, but not the worst I have slept on either. The pool area was nice (there were 2), and their food court was decent sized, we never ate there, so don't know how the food was. It was $55 per night, and was definitely worth it for the price, but if I could afford to stay elsewhere, I would probably opt to be on site or in someplace a little bit newer/nicer, though it was definitely clean, and that's always my #1 issue.

Sounds like a great weekend! You really got a lot done! I think Kona and LeCellier are now my 2 favorite restaurants in WDW, (ok....anywhere) so I have food envy! Serlago sounds great....$55 for a family suite is great! For us, I'm not sure if it would offset the cost of a rental car (we have always just used ME) but the kids want to try Universal and Sea world too next time, so we'd need a car anyway.

 

[katlas&kids]

New Dooney & Bourke's

http://www.disneyeveryday.com/:hug:

 

[bigsis1970]

Hi gang I feel like Eli Manning cause I won a trip to Disney from my
Work!! they award 350-400 throughout the company and it's a
Working trip but lots of fun and free time according to others who
Have gone before!!!! So this means I'll be in Disney April 7 to 14
With my DD for softball and the April 29 to May 2 !!!

 

[pixie dust 112]

Hi gang I feel like Eli Manning cause I won a trip to Disney from my
Work!! they award 350-400 throughout the company and it's a
Working trip but lots of fun and free time according to others who
Have gone before!!!! So this means I'll be in Disney April 7 to 14
With my DD for softball and the April 29 to May 2 !!!

Very, very cool! Congratulations!!!!!

 

[dwheatl]

Very exciting, Michelle. Congrats!

 

[bigsis1970]

Very, very cool! Congratulations!!!!!

Very exciting, Michelle. Congrats!

Thanks ladies!!!!!

 

[2girlsmom]

Sounds like a great weekend! You really got a lot done! I think Kona and LeCellier are now my 2 favorite restaurants in WDW, (ok....anywhere) so I have food envy! Serlago sounds great....$55 for a family suite is great! For us, I'm not sure if it would offset the cost of a rental car (we have always just used ME) but the kids want to try Universal and Sea world too next time, so we'd need a car anyway.

Heather, I love having a car in Disney now, love that you can get the trams RIGHT to the entrance instead of the busses taking you where the drop off is a trek from the park. Seralago wasn't bad, by which I mean to say roughly comparable in room to a value hotel with the exception that it had the family suite. But I would check, the holiday inn maingate rooms are interior corridor and might be a little smaller but the beds are WAY more comfy and they also have family suites, the kids and I stayed there in October, and I think it was $65 a night there. Also, there is a Ramada on the other side of world drive (also on 192) that has family suites and also has an indoor pool. We are really fond of the family suite concept, as the girls have hit that age where they generally do NOT want to share a bed. We're not sure where we are staying next month when we are up there with my friend from Iowa, or when we go up for Meag's birthday, we keep trying new places, and Meag really wants to stay onsite if we can, and since she loves All Star Music, I may try to swing that for her. I think in May when we are there for Catie's birthday (and Memorial day) we are going to rent a vacation townhouse/condo. They always have a 3 day minimum, so most weekends they don't work well for us, but will be fine that one, and I can get a 2 bed condo for 87 in the same housing addition my sister's house is in, or can go to one a little further away on 27 (says 12 minutes from disney, so not THAT far) and get a 3 bedroom 3 bath townhouse at a resort area that has a waterpark with lazy river, water slides, etc included at the resort.

 

[2girlsmom]

Hi gang I feel like Eli Manning cause I won a trip to Disney from my
Work!! they award 350-400 throughout the company and it's a
Working trip but lots of fun and free time according to others who
Have gone before!!!! So this means I'll be in Disney April 7 to 14
With my DD for softball and the April 29 to May 2 !!!

Congrats, that's wonderful! We'll have to try and coordinate a meet during one of those!

 

[dgbg100106]

New Dooney & Bourke's

http://www.disneyeveryday.com/:hug:

Nice....

 

[dgbg100106]

Hi gang I feel like Eli Manning cause I won a trip to Disney from my
Work!! they award 350-400 throughout the company and it's a
Working trip but lots of fun and free time according to others who
Have gone before!!!! So this means I'll be in Disney April 7 to 14
With my DD for softball and the April 29 to May 2 !!!

Congrats, that is great...

 

[dgbg100106]

We are back.... 12 wonderful, beautiful days in the Caribbean was a much needed break in my recovery, I was so tired of looking at these same walls.

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying themselves...