Summer and Serendipity ~ July PTR ~ LINK TO TRIP REPORT!!!

[MickeyNicki]

How dare your bosses call you while you are on a break I feel your pain!

Poor Max and his little accident, poor kid. I think its more traumatic on the mom though...when my niece had a bee sting she had to calm me down

I think it is perfectly normal to do pre-Disney clothes shopping, I live in FL all year and could wear what I already have but oh no, a few weeks before we leave I make Todd go to the outlet malls with me and get new stuff, and of course a few things for him

When we took the kids to WDW we all watched the DIsney movies leading up to the trip and of course, Disney music cranking on the stereo on the ride up. I cannot believe you have not seen the Pirates movies...they are amazing! Get them quick, you will love them!

So no Disney until 2013 huh...thats not that bad really, you have so much to keep you busy. We decided that we are not going to renew our AP's in Oct either...we are going to take a year off and hopefully remodel the kitchen and go back to WDW Oct 2012, and keep my fingers crossed that the new Fantasyland will be open by then.

I hope the next 13 days fly by for you guys...make sure to take a pic of Max in front of the butterfly bush at the BC so I can see how much the little guy has grown in 6 months!

Cannot wait to read all the adventures...are you there yet?

 

[tinacaplan]

How dare your bosses call you while you are on a break I feel your pain!

Yep...definitely the down side of a job where they expect you to be "on-call" pretty much twenty-four seven. Part of the reason I love going away so much!

Poor Max and his little accident, poor kid. I think its more traumatic on the mom though...when my niece had a bee sting she had to calm me down

There was a second there where I caught myself about to freak out when I saw the blood, but I remembered that I had a little boy to take care of and that a Mommy freak out wouldn't be the best reaction.

I think it is perfectly normal to do pre-Disney clothes shopping, I live in FL all year and could wear what I already have but oh no, a few weeks before we leave I make Todd go to the outlet malls with me and get new stuff, and of course a few things for him

When we took the kids to WDW we all watched the DIsney movies leading up to the trip and of course, Disney music cranking on the stereo on the ride up. I cannot believe you have not seen the Pirates movies...they are amazing! Get them quick, you will love them!

So I've been told by many a Dis-er. I'm on it, I swear!

So no Disney until 2013 huh...thats not that bad really, you have so much to keep you busy. We decided that we are not going to renew our AP's in Oct either...we are going to take a year off and hopefully remodel the kitchen and go back to WDW Oct 2012, and keep my fingers crossed that the new Fantasyland will be open by then.

You're still going this October though, right? I know what you mean, though...as much as I might love to spend all of our disposable income at Disneyworld (or travelling for that matter), it does sometimes make more sense to do some other things. And I'm certain that moving out of this house into one we really want to be in will absolutely ease the pain of a year without Disney.

I hope the next 13 days fly by for you guys...make sure to take a pic of Max in front of the butterfly bush at the BC so I can see how much the little guy has grown in 6 months!

Cannot wait to read all the adventures...are you there yet?

Ooo...good idea for a picture! Will do. But don't get too excited. He hasn't grown much. He's a short kid. Whatta are ya gonna do? His parents aren't exactly tall. I had really been hoping he'd make 40" in time for this trip, but its not happening. Another good reason to wait awhile before heading back.

And I can't wait to go!

 

[KatMark]

Excuse me...but aren't yhou on vacation from school, even if you aren't away from home? I'm waiting to see how long it takes my boss, who is gone for two months, to call me while "he" is on vacation.

I can't believe you are less than two weeks away.

 

[Moira222]

Your ticker says 1 week 6 days!!! WOWOWOWOWOW

Now we're just relaxing, swimming, and enjoying the summer while we count down the days to DISNEY!

NICE! now that is the way to count down!

I'm really looking forward to Cali Grill. I have thought about going the childcare route and perhaps might even want to reconsider it...hmm...not sure how Max would feel about it, though.

I think the childcare can be a last minute thing - I never would have expected Katie to ASK to be left there! so maybe he'd surprise you.



Max can be, but he's also very much a boy. He can also get frustrated pretty easily, which we're working on.
Wow does that sound like Katie. We are still working on the best way to relieve that frustration!

My husband still teases me that if I had only held Max in for another hour, he could've had 7/7/07 for his birthdate.
That would have been cool

Then, I got a group text message from our dean (also a close friend) telling us that our principal had sent out an e-mail that we might find helpful. He was just alerting us in case we weren't checking our e-mail. Um...don't you think if we weren't checking our school e-mail it it was because we wanted to be left alone for a little while???? Needless to say that I checked the e-mail right away and there were things in it for me to get all stressed out over! GRR!! Leave me alone!

Thankfully...I'm just thirteen days our from our trip!!!!

GRR to texts alerting you to emails about work on your summer vacation!!



for being so close Tina! I am hoping to not miss your send off.....I have been spread a bit thin online lately.

 

[annmarieda]

Wow, you have been buisy with the updates.


I would be frustrated by your work... I hate it when bosses don't get that you are on vacation.

How scary for you and Max... It sucks when our kids hurt...no matter how big or small, no matter what the cause.

Can't believe how close your next trip is!

 

[tinacaplan]

Excuse me...but aren't yhou on vacation from school, even if you aren't away from home? I'm waiting to see how long it takes my boss, who is gone for two months, to call me while "he" is on vacation.

I can't believe you are less than two weeks away.

Yep...that's life at our school. What are you going to do? The reality is that the more planning I get done now, the less I'll have to do come fall, which means more time to spend with Max once school starts. It just gets frustrating every once in awhile.

Your ticker says 1 week 6 days!!! WOWOWOWOWOW


NICE! now that is the way to count down!
GRR to texts alerting you to emails about work on your summer vacation!!



for being so close Tina! I am hoping to not miss your send off.....I have been spread a bit thin online lately.

Yup...we're definitely getting a LOT closer! Very exciting. I just asked Mark about the kid's club and he said that would make him more nervous than having Max with us, which I understand. He'd actually be more concerned about Max's behavior, but its still good to know its an option.

Wow, you have been buisy with the updates.


I would be frustrated by your work... I hate it when bosses don't get that you are on vacation.

How scary for you and Max... It sucks when our kids hurt...no matter how big or small, no matter what the cause.

Can't believe how close your next trip is!

Busy or just bored? I'm really not bored, its just what I do at night...some people knit...I post updates on the Dis! Plus, TV is all reruns now anyway.

And thanks... I was worried about a concussion, but it turned out he was fine.

Its funny about school. I hesitate to ever even refer to them as my bosses, simply because our staff is so small, we're super close, we socialize quite a bit outside of work hours, etc... which is why it can all get a bit consuming.

Hope you and Zoe are doing well! Thanks for stopping by with all that you have going on.

 

[pinkxray]

Glad to hear Max is okay after his swingset accident.

Less than 2 weeks

We won't be back until at least Oct. 2013 (2014 if DH gets his way) and I can't believe that it will be for Caitlin's 9th birthday. As much as I can't wait to go back, I am not going to wish that time away. It will get here soon enough.

You must be so excited to be moving soon. I'm hoping to get out of our house within about 5 years, but we'll see.

I can't believe you are able to read dining reviews without redoing all of your plans. I had to step away from the dining reviews leading up to our trip so I would stop changing stuff.


Hope you have a great holiday weekend

 

[eandesmom]

I don't think we will be back as a family until 2013 either. Well...a couple of days of 2012 and then 2013 if the big new years fiesta works out (big as in 9-30 people big). I'll need 2 years to mentally prepare Jeff for that.

I really hope Fantasyland is done by then. REALLY hope. I think it's a great reason to wait (as is a big move) and it will fly by.

As far as planning, gosh it really really varies with each trip. In those last couple weeks it's typically less shopping and more list making just to make sure I haven't missed anything. I do a "test" pack of my own stuff about a week out, which really means trying on all my outfits to whittle it down to a more manageable pile otherwise I bring WAY too much stuff for me.

As time goes on though I seem to plan less and less. I swear all I did in May was show up!

Poor Max, I'm glad he's ok but it's not fun to see your little guy banged up.

 

[dizneeat]

Your boss is sending you memos already?

I cannot believe you are less than two weeks out! I love that you "had to" go shopping ...... did the same! And believe it or not, I haven't seen any of the Pirate movies either!

Hope you get to enjoy your vacation before your vacation! And thank you again for the wonderful gift you sent me! It arrived this week (I posted on my pre trip report about it!)

 

[tinacaplan]

Glad to hear Max is okay after his swingset accident.

Thanks...it was a bit scary, but it turned out OK, thankfully.

Now we're down to NINE DAYS!!!! I can't believe its come this quickly.

You make an excellent point, Diane. There are lots of other great things that will happen in that time, no doubt. Max will be a completely different person in two years! He'll be a wise and mature six year-old, after all!

I'm not that excited yet...its still probably a year away. And this is the move that counts, big time, as it will determine where Max starts school. Not sure what town I really want to be in. If we move where I'd love to be, it will put us almost a half hour (and often unpleasant, traffic-filled drive) away from my parents who are awesome about picking up the slack, ferrying Max around, etc. Not that we wouldn't see them, obviously, but they wouldn't be as available. Given the hours I work and that Mark will always have a pretty lengthy commute, I'm not sure how much weight to put on being super close to my parents.

Thanks, you, too! As for the reviews, I'm mainly looking at pictures now. We have one day w/out ADRs and I was going to add one, but Mark and I just talked it over and looked at our plan (AGAIN!) and decided to just be open. Will say again, though, that even as of this morning, availability for places is excellent. The only place I couldn't have gotten was 'Ohana, which I might keep checking on for that night, as its the only place I sorta wish we were going that we aren't.

 

[tinacaplan]

I don't think we will be back as a family until 2013 either. Well...a couple of days of 2012 and then 2013 if the big new years fiesta works out (big as in 9-30 people big). I'll need 2 years to mentally prepare Jeff for that.

That sounds interesting... I want to do Disney the week we're off between Christmas and New Year's Day just once. Probably not for years...when Max is a lot older and the Santa stuff isn't a big deal anymore. I think it would be so much fun. Also, sounds like the stuff of a really good PTR.

I really hope Fantasyland is done by then. REALLY hope. I think it's a great reason to wait (as is a big move) and it will fly by.

Me, too.

As far as planning, gosh it really really varies with each trip. In those last couple weeks it's typically less shopping and more list making just to make sure I haven't missed anything. I do a "test" pack of my own stuff about a week out, which really means trying on all my outfits to whittle it down to a more manageable pile otherwise I bring WAY too much stuff for me.

As time goes on though I seem to plan less and less. I swear all I did in May was show up!

Poor Max, I'm glad he's ok but it's not fun to see your little guy banged up.

I did do your "test" pack and found that I have plenty of room, and a list of coordinated outfits for every activity. Summer clothes for Florida really don't take up much space, unlike packing for the unpredictability of February.

With a four year old, I think planning is still pretty paramount. But, if I were to ever get lucky enough to do a girl's trip like you did...I'd happily just show up, too!

Your boss is sending you memos already?

More like they never stopped!

I cannot believe you are less than two weeks out! I love that you "had to" go shopping ...... did the same! And believe it or not, I haven't seen any of the Pirate movies either!

Hope you get to enjoy your vacation before your vacation! And thank you again for the wonderful gift you sent me! It arrived this week (I posted on my pre trip report about it!)

NINE DAYS! I can't believe it... its funny, this time, though. Unlike in February, when I was just wishing away boring, cold, gray days of teaching in the depths of winter, I feel bad that I'm wishing away beautiful days of summer. Actually, I'm trying to relax just for that reason.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one who hasn't seen the Pirates movies.

I just saw your post in your PTR...I got really behind with that one. And you're welcome.

 

[tinacaplan]

Happy Fourth of July!

and only NINE MORE DAYS!!!! We're down to single digits!!!!!!!! ​

 

[pinkxray]

Whoo- hoo, Single Digits!!!!

 

[KatMark]

for single digits!

 

[disneydreamer21]

Woo-hoo for single digits!!! I'm right there with ya- we leave on the 12th, so only 7 more days for us. I have a question... are you concerned at all about the weather? Not that I'm afraid of a little rain, to be honest, rain is certainly a welcome relief from the heat.... BUT, I certainly don't want it to be overcast and cloudy the ENTIRE trip, pouring down on us! Any tips or suggestions? This is only our second time to visit Orlando, so I'm not an expert as to what "rain" in the forecast means! Is it intermittent showers, or downpours the entire day? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Any rain or shine, it is DISNEY!!! So don't get me wrong, I'm still super excited!!!!

 

[glennbo123]

Single digits!

 

[tinacaplan]

Last time, I tried Cynthia’s (eandesmom) tip to identify my three “must-do’s” each day. This time, I’m having a hard time pinning that down, as we divide our days up among a whole bunch of different things: park hopping, swimming, general relaxing at our resort. So, this time I’ve decided to choose the things I’m the most excited about for each part of the day.

DAY ONE: ARRIVAL DAY

1. Um...get there?
2. Walk into the Beach Club as a guest and find out what room we ended up with. I’m not doing on-line check-in or anything this time...I want the full treatment when I arrive.

Not the greatest picture, I know...

3. Explore the resort.
4. Swim at Storm along Bay
5. Dinner at Via Napoli

6. Strolling through World Showase

While I’d love to make it for Illuminations this night, I don’t think it will happen...but we’ll see!

DAY TWO: MAGIC KINGDOM

1. Walking right down the middle of (a nearly empty) Main Street, U.S.A.

2. Our early morning breakfast at Crystal Palace.

3. Conquering Fantasyland before 11 a.m.

As long as we accomplish this, I’ll feel good walking out Magic Kingdom as the sun rises high in the sky and the maddening crowds arrive. If we choose to stay and do some other things, great. If we choose to head back early, fantastic.

4. Dinner at Cape May.

This is a new one and I’m looking forward to having a delicious TS meal right in my resort!

5. Seeing Illuminations, hopefully for Max’s first time. Regardless, I will see this, my most favorite of shows. No. Matter. What. So, yes, if I have to be a tad selfish and leave Max in Mark’s perfectly capable hands, I will see Illuminations this night.


DAY THREE: ANIMAL KINGDOM

Just a side note here: last year, between a breakfast that was divinely delicious and woulda been worth the money even without characters, the sublime safari, feeling the Disney magic in a BIG way during FOLK, and watching Max have the time of his life in the Boneyard, Animal Kingdom became, quite possibly...GASP!....my number two favorite park. Admittedly, I am hoping that Max enjoys MK more this year, in which case it may return to the number two spot (I know...I must be some kind of Disney heretic not to rank MK as my first (or even second) favorite park.

1. Pre-park opening breakfast at Tusker House. No way I’m not having that bread pudding again!

2. Hitting Rafiki’s Planet Watch.

3. Festival of the Lion King

4. Some serious time at SAB.

5. The Wishes! dessert party...or how I plan on “tricking” Max into sticking around to see the fireworks...I know this kid will not be able to pass up the chance to experience an entire buffet of nothing but desserts.

Phew...that’s going to a busy day!

 

[tinacaplan]

Whoo- hoo, Single Digits!!!!

We're all getting SUPER excited!!!

for single digits!

Thanks, Kathy!

Woo-hoo for single digits!!! I'm right there with ya- we leave on the 12th, so only 7 more days for us. I have a question... are you concerned at all about the weather? Not that I'm afraid of a little rain, to be honest, rain is certainly a welcome relief from the heat.... BUT, I certainly don't want it to be overcast and cloudy the ENTIRE trip, pouring down on us! Any tips or suggestions? This is only our second time to visit Orlando, so I'm not an expert as to what "rain" in the forecast means! Is it intermittent showers, or downpours the entire day? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Any rain or shine, it is DISNEY!!! So don't get me wrong, I'm still super excited!!!!

Where are you staying? Maybe we'll run into eachother! As for the weather... I haven't been in the summer since I was a kid (long itme ago..I'm 35 now) and I remember it raining at least once a day, usually in the late afternoon. It was never a huge issue, nor was it like it is for us in the Norhteast, where a rainy day can mean gray yuckiness all day long. As you get closer, both weather.com and accuweather.com will give much more detailed info for each day so you'll have a sense of what the weather will be like. Expect hot, humid, and occasional rain.

Single digits!

Thanks, Glenn!

 

[NancyLuvsMickey]

Just found your PTR... Better late than never!!!

And I want to say "HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAX!!!

 

[disneydreamer21]

We are staying at the Beach Club!!! It's our first on-site stay, we visited once 4 years ago, off-site. My kids don't know about our trip- it's a BIG SURPRISE! It's sort of a reward due to us starting a business this year, that has done really well. I opened a cupcakery in our hometown in February, and my kids have been real troopers throughout the whole process! I've gone from being a SAHM to a full-time business owner, and it has been quite a change for us all. Needless to say, this vacation is much deserved and much needed. We chose Beach Club due to the amazing pool, and the ability to just sit back and RELAX~ DD is 11, DS is 8, and DS- 5. My mom, DS, and BIL will also be joining us! I'm so excited I could BURST!