So list checking did work out... both times. 3/7/10 - FINISHED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PNO4TE]

Bob and I are going home from our F&W Festival trip tomorrow. The only good thing about going home is that I get to work on the next two trips! I can't believe how soon they will be here!!

 

[PNO4TE]

I can't believe you have to finish your F&W trip & Girls trip before you get to the family trip

F&W is almost done, Chelle And the Girls trip will be barely more than a blink of an eye with not much time to report on it.

December is one of my busiest months because all my classes and private students have recitals. There are 19 scheduled between December 14-17.

 

[PNO4TE]

Sunday afternoon Bob and I discussed our drive down and decided to leave after he gets off work on Friday, the 18th. He will leave a little early so we ought to be on the road by 3:00 at the latest. I have made reservations in Fayetteville, NC which is about 4 1/2 hours from us. That will leave us with a drive of only about 8 1/2 hours on Saturday. That is doable!

For the return trip, I am very torn... I absolutely refuse to leave WDW until Sunday, the 27th. With Kristin not even arriving until the 24th I want to make certain we have a little more time together than we usually get. She cannot take Monday, the 28th off. So we have to have her back home by noon that day.

My thoughts are to drive a long time on Sunday and then get up early on Monday morning to finish up the trip. I am betting traffic on I-95 will be horrible on the 27th. Everyone will be headed home after the holiday. What to do, what to do...

If only airfare and car rentals would suddenly drop in price, we would all fly. But they are both outrageous and don't seem to be going down. I think the prices are higher now than they have been in all the years we have been traveling to WDW for Christmas. That is 13 years. I wonder why, during this economic disaster, these two industries are raising prices instead of making certain that their products are being used?!?

I suppose Kristin could have the option of flying home by herself on Sunday. I will have to approach that later on today!

 

[PNO4TE]

I just looked at my ticker and I will be back in WDW in 50 days!!

 

[PNO4TE]

Kristin and I were talking about our bluezoo reservation. We are seriously thinking of canceling for moral reasons!

But it is truly something we are considering. I read an article about Mr. English's behavior concerning the cancelation of his wedding. We don't know the whole "real" story, but regardless... jilting the bride while everyone was sitting waiting and then leaving her with a $12,000 bill that was supposed to have been paid is not nice. Maybe she did something to deserve having the wedding called off, but their guests did not and his odd behavior leading up to and following the fiasco just has us considering finding another place to eat.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

I totally support your desire to take a moral stance on what sounds like incredibly boorish behavior...but will you be able to get another reservation at this point?

We wouldn't want you out in the cold...

 

[PNO4TE]

I totally support your desire to take a moral stance on what sounds like incredibly boorish behavior...but will you be able to get another reservation at this point?

We wouldn't want you out in the cold...

There are, of course, two sides to every story. Both of them behaved abominably in my opinion. Before I cancel anything I will see what might be available somewhere else.

 

[PNO4TE]

We talked a lot today about how much time we spend eating at WDW! With Kristin only being there for three days she asked if we could change things up a little bit... so we did today.

And then we changed them again on 10/31!

12/19 - Yak & Yeti for lunch with Diana at 2:00

12/20 - nothing new needed - Biergarten for dinner at 5:30 followed by Candlelight Processional at 8:15 with Laura, her DH and Diana

12/21 - Tutto Italia for lunch at 12:30 (thanks, Diana!!)

12/22 - Kathrin arrives about 6:00 p.m.... dinner plans in the planning stages!

12/23 - Coral Reef for lunch at 3:30 /Cirque du Soleil at 9:00

12/24 - canceled Raglan Road for lunch & kept Narcoossee's at 9:05 for dinner

12/25 - Boma at 10:00 for breakfast & canceled Todd English's bluezooTM at 7:00 and added Raglan Road at 9:00 for dinner

12/26 - Gardenview Lounge for Tea at 2:00

12/27 - canceled Fresh and added Kouzzina for breakfast at 9:25

 

[PNO4TE]

How did I miss the fact that we are under 60 days until our Christmas trip??

I am waaaaaay too busy at work. I have more important things to do, like trip planning!

 

[eandesmom]

Great changes! I think RR will be so Christmassy it will be perfect on the 25th and fun that you added Kouzzina for breakfast since you liked it so much on your F&W trip!

 

[MrsHeg]

There has been talk amongst the many DIS friends that are going to be at the World the first weekend in December (my 48 hour trip) about doing a group shot in the Studios before we eat lunch at Mama Melrose. There was a discussion about ToT.

I will photoshop myself into that shot before I would sit in that ride!! Maybe we can get a shot of all of us at Star Tours or Muppets or in front of the HAT or something less terrifying!

Less terrifying but certainly not as much fun!

I guess the Hat will have to do!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

I'm really glad that you were able to get something to replace BlueZoo...

 

[PNO4TE]

Great changes! I think RR will be so Christmassy it will be perfect on the 25th and fun that you added Kouzzina for breakfast since you liked it so much on your F&W trip!

We thought Raglan Road would be fun that night too, and Bob and I are looking forward to see what the girls think of Kouzzina. We know they will like the sangria.

Less terrifying but certainly not as much fun!

I guess the Hat will have to do!

Or I can stand in front of ToT and take photo of you all as you drop.

I'm really glad that you were able to get something to replace BlueZoo...

Thanks, Patricia. We are happier overall now too.

 

[PNO4TE]

After much talking and thought we made some decisions and changes to our travel to and from WDW.

1. Bob and I won't leave until early on Saturday, December 19. I made reservations for us at the oceanfront Courtyard Inn Jacksonville Beach for that night. Even with their breakfast deal (which also includes 2 glasses of wine at their oceanfront bar) it was comparably priced to the night at POFQ. And we get to see the beach!

2. Kristin agreed that it doesn't make much sense to try to get home late on Sunday evening when all she will do is sleep in the car, anyway. So, I found a great rate at the Doubletree in Rocky Mount, NC. We have a suite booked for the three of us and it is about 10 hours from WDW and only 3 hours from home. We will get up early Monday morning and get her home in time to go to work at noon.

This looks good to us today. We will see how it looks in another day or two!

 

[ChelleinNC]

Your changes sound good

 

[PNO4TE]

Your changes sound good

Thanks, Michelle!

 

[RachelTori]

Hi, Elin! I am hoping we will be a part of your TR!!!

I can't believe how close it is to the Holidays already!

Now that I've finally subscribed to your thread, maybe I can keep up with it!! (where does the time go?!!! )

See ya real soon!

 

[John's Mom]

A day at the beach in December!

 

[Flossbolna]

I like the idea of the night at the beach! Sounds like your plans are really coming together!

 

[PNO4TE]

Oh, the tangled webs that have been woven here in Virginia in the past 24 hours!

I just bought Bob a one way airline ticket on Christmas Eve morning to fly with Kristin. I am going to make the drive alone! I will drive about 8 hours on Friday and the other 4 on Saturday!!

He just doesn't love it like I do. I figure we can cancel the first 5 nights of the girls' room and save tons of money doing that. If Kathrin comes early she can stay with me! If she doesn't come early I will have an extra CP ticket to give to "someone" as a Christmas present. (Don't you tell her yet, Laura! Does her tiny companion need a ticket too??)

I have more work to do on this trip again. What am I thinking?!?!?