Suzy and Perla Skip the Lines Again: From roughing it to the lap of luxury

[YodaGirl]

From the photo of Milo tearing down the final tent to us eating lunch inside DHS was 2 hours exactly. That includes packing up the tents, checking out of the Fort, driving to the Dolphin, checking into the Dolphin, unloading the vans, waiting for and riding the slow boat to China, bag check, ticketing, Photopass pictures, walking to lunch. 2 hours. I think that is amazing.

That is pretty amazing. I've tent camped at the Fort a few times, and I don't think that we've ever moved that quickly. Good job!

 

[YensidCamper]

Way to go gang that is some kind of record you set tearing down and getting over to the Dolphin. You are an enjoyable author, I hope Milo is proud and not comparing you to Milton.

Tell Milo I once had a student write in a paper that Milton got married and wrote Paradise Lost, then his wife died and he wrote Paradise Regained. What do you think that student was really saying? What do you think my poor misguided student would have to say about watching Suzy and Milo taking down that tent?

One more question. I think we are buying AP's, right now AAA looks like the best rate, how did you buy yours. We too have the Disney Visa but I have only used the rewards points, is there an advantage to using it in the parks for purchases and meals other than getting reward dollars? Sorry to be so needy. And... yes I work in education too, but I refuse to be too careful about my writing on the disboards. Sometimes I just need to put out a rough draft...

 

[houseful of boys]

It isn't that we don't know how to be classy. On the contrary. Suzy and I can be very classy. Still down to earth, naturally, but we both own a LOT of dress clothes and we know how to wear a nice pair of heels.

Here's the thing. Perla and I grew up with very humble beginnings. Our parents loved to travel so we traveled even with very little money. We've stayed in rustic cabins, tents, the back of a station wagon, flea infested youth hostels, etc. while traveling the country and parts of the world. Somewhere along the way, our situation has improved and we can now afford to occasionally stay at a 4 star resort. I'm even to the point where I almost feel like I could maybe belong there. EXCEPT check in. The whole valet and bellboy thing makes me feel soooooo out of place. For one thing, when you pull up in a minivan after a road trip with 4 kids and a car carrier you can't help but look just a little like the Beverly Hillbillies. And, although we can afford to stay here.....I've never handed a porter a Louis Vuitton. So, it is with much awkwardness that I hand the keys of my trashed van to the valet and my beat up bargain luggage (and lots not forget the plastic bins of food) to the porter.

Don't get me wrong. That is check in. Once we're in and unpacked........I'm quite comfortable!

 

[justakrazymom]

This is why when I hear about women on the 4th or 5th husband I say, "No thanks! Do you know how long it took me to get this man trained? And he's only halfway there. No way I'm starting over with a new model."

Oh my..LMAO.. i say the same thing. We just celebrated our 10th anniversary ( been together 10.5 LOL) and I tell people I'm only doing this once, 10 years is a LOT of time to put into a man and he is NOT fully trained yet..lol

 

[estherhead]

That is pretty amazing. I've tent camped at the Fort a few times, and I don't think that we've ever moved that quickly. Good job!

Just want to make sure, obviously I could have been more clear, it doesn't include packing the stuff INSIDE the tents. I think Suzy and I got started at 7:30 packing up all the stuff and getting ourselves ready. Just the actual packing of the tents. We aren't THAT good.

Way to go gang that is some kind of record you set tearing down and getting over to the Dolphin. You are an enjoyable author, I hope Milo is proud and not comparing you to Milton.

Tell Milo I once had a student write in a paper that Milton got married and wrote Paradise Lost, then his wife died and he wrote Paradise Regained. What do you think that student was really saying? What do you think my poor misguided student would have to say about watching Suzy and Milo taking down that tent?

One more question. I think we are buying AP's, right now AAA looks like the best rate, how did you buy yours. We too have the Disney Visa but I have only used the rewards points, is there an advantage to using it in the parks for purchases and meals other than getting reward dollars? Sorry to be so needy. And... yes I work in education too, but I refuse to be too careful about my writing on the disboards. Sometimes I just need to put out a rough draft...

Too funny that kid's paper. We all bought our AP's when we had packages, just upgrading them. So I'm not sure the cheapest way to buy them when you are just buying them straight up.

Here's the thing. Perla and I grew up with very humble beginnings. Our parents loved to travel so we traveled even with very little money. We've stayed in rustic cabins, tents, the back of a station wagon, flea infested youth hostels, etc. while traveling the country and parts of the world. Somewhere along the way, our situation has improved and we can now afford to occasionally stay at a 4 star resort. I'm even to the point where I almost feel like I could maybe belong there. EXCEPT check in. The whole valet and bellboy thing makes me feel soooooo out of place. For one thing, when you pull up in a minivan after a road trip with 4 kids and a car carrier you can't help but look just a little like the Beverly Hillbillies. And, although we can afford to stay here.....I've never handed a porter a Louis Vuitton. So, it is with much awkwardness that I hand the keys of my trashed van to the valet and my beat up bargain luggage (and lots not forget the plastic bins of food) to the porter.

Don't get me wrong. That is check in. Once we're in and unpacked........I'm quite comfortable!

I was quite concerned from the beginning of this trip about this switch over. Last year I stayed in a very nice Marriott overlooking Manhattan with a group of 13 I was in charge of. It was VERY embarrassing. I did not want a repeat. But... it feels like the huge majority of people at the Dolphin are convention goers, in suits and ties. So we in our matching tees and as Suzy pointed out, bins and coolers of food, just didn't really fit in.

Fortunately for me, Suzy mainly checked us in and then I was focused on Mr. New York City and trying to keep up so I didn't have time to deal with the fact that we were Disney Clampett's. Donald DID notice, though, and from the very beginning felt that the Dolphin was too fancy for us. He never really got over it.

 

[preschoolmom]

That's so how I felt checking in at the Contemporary on our first trip!

We'd been in the car for two days, our kids had thrown up the entire trip (it was just awful).

Checking in was fine - but it WAS awkward with the bellboys, the cart, the bags, the van...

I much preferred toting my own junk to my rooms at Pop Century

Now, once we were settled in at the Contemporary - it was great! But the check in did make me feel... Awkward...

 

[estherhead]

That's so how I felt checking in at the Contemporary on our first trip!

We'd been in the car for two days, our kids had thrown up the entire trip (it was just awful).

Checking in was fine - but it WAS awkward with the bellboys, the cart, the bags, the van...

I much preferred toting my own junk to my rooms at Pop Century

Now, once we were settled in at the Contemporary - it was great! But the check in did make me feel... Awkward...

The first time we were at the Grand Floridian lobby (just to eat, I've never stayed at a Deluxe) we started dancing to the piano music. I assure you, we were the only ones in matching t-shirts AND the only ones dancing. As we were getting onto the monorail at the GF station the family in front of us were clearly VERY wealthy, speaking a foreign language, and wearing designer clothing that was so hoity-toity I'd never seen anything like it.

They say you can tell wealth by the shoes and let me tell you, the guy's shoes alone had to be worth $1,000.00. VERY nice. Pretty sure I was wearing Teva's I bought for $10.00 and the girls were probably in $1.00 Old Navy flip flops. We rode the monorail together too and when we got off Donald said, "We are NEVER staying at the GF. Not even for a romantic trip." Let's face it. I'm just barely a step up from a Wal-Mart girl. Maybe a Sears girl? MAYBE JcPenney's. But the last two pairs of shoes I bought were from Goodwill. And the nicest purse I've ever owned is a Coach bag I bought at a yard sale in a barn for $5.00. And I feel special when I carry it.

Ugh! to the check-in with puke kids. I've SO been there. And that nasty smell that nothing can take out of your vehicle but time passing.

 

[estherhead]

Proof we own suits.



Obviously, we have more recent photos but I'm at work and this was the only one I had already uploaded. Aren't they cute?

 

[YodaGirl]

Just want to make sure, obviously I could have been more clear, it doesn't include packing the stuff INSIDE the tents. I think Suzy and I got started at 7:30 packing up all the stuff and getting ourselves ready. Just the actual packing of the tents. We aren't THAT good.

I don't feel so bad, now.

The first time we were at the Grand Floridian lobby (just to eat, I've never stayed at a Deluxe) we started dancing to the piano music. I assure you, we were the only ones in matching t-shirts AND the only ones dancing. As we were getting onto the monorail at the GF station the family in front of us were clearly VERY wealthy, speaking a foreign language, and wearing designer clothing that was so hoity-toity I'd never seen anything like it.

They say you can tell wealth by the shoes and let me tell you, the guy's shoes alone had to be worth $1,000.00. VERY nice. Pretty sure I was wearing Teva's I bought for $10.00 and the girls were probably in $1.00 Old Navy flip flops. We rode the monorail together too and when we got off Donald said, "We are NEVER staying at the GF. Not even for a romantic trip." Let's face it. I'm just barely a step up from a Wal-Mart girl. Maybe a Sears girl? MAYBE JcPenney's. But the last two pairs of shoes I bought were from Goodwill. And the nicest purse I've ever owned is a Coach bag I bought at a yard sale in a barn for $5.00. And I feel special when I carry it.

Oh, I know the feeling! DH desperately wants to see the inside of the GF, but I'm just not so sure that I even want to step foot in there (okay, I would to see the gingerbread house). Maybe I'm judging, but I've seen some of the people who stay there getting on the monorail. I think that I would feel completely out of place.

 

[sk8jdgca]

I know what you mean-while checking in to the Hyatt in Chicago (the one by the river) My son looked around and said "Mommy I don't think you are dressed properly to stay here"

 

[Queen Mamadala]

as much as i love gawking at fancy hotels, i will never feel like i belong in one! i guess that's why i lust after wilderness lodge rather than some of the swankier resorts--it seems more rustic than swanky and i can deal with rustic.

i do have an ergo but it's a recent splurge and not broken in yet. i'm taking my trusty old homemade carrier--a mei tai in a star wars print that i made when my elder daughter was a baby. a lifesaver in many, many settings! it crosses the back so will probably be hot but the ergo is hot around the waist so either way it'll be hot. i will probably force the older one into the stroller while the baby is in the carrier to try and ward off some of the "can't walk, too tired" sudden sitdowns she is prone to, despite usually being so energetic that she is exhausting just to be around.

i am looking forward to experiencing disney world with big sis but am really curious to see what if anything little sis seems to be observing. besides her toes, of course! hoping for some good pics--i read a post somewhere about mickey once indicating that he had a baby about the age of the poster's (6-7 months) and holding baby for pics despite the protests of his handler! that's probably too much to expect but if we get some genuine smiles out of both kids we'll call it good! (we have first teeth looming closer and closer so we might get our first toothy grins at WDW!)

hoping for more TR tomorrow before i'm thrown into forced radio silence for a week, internetically speaking. no smart phones here.

 

[WalkingintheFog]

.......
It was very cozy. But the trick with camping is it has to be the perfect weather to be enjoyable. And that's hard to schedule out, ya know? So in June when we go back, we're doing rental houses.......

Camping I like it to be perfectly dry for the setup and breakdown of camp, but I love to have a rainy morning! As long as no leaks, nothing finer than a cookout & breakfast listening to the rain on the tent!

lol, It's the "May 24th Weekend"! Regardless of the weather, many NFLD'ers like to head out camping/cabins whatever..... Today it's 5 degrees (~41 F) & raining raining raining!
And my nephew has gone camping with some friends... they were dropped over & hiked in to their site...probably not going to be enjoyable! Sopping wet is more like it!

.........
they were there way before us. Suzy texting me every 2 seconds, "Are you here yet?" By this point Donald was also highly amused by his never turning the right way and the WHOLE way to Dolphin he kept saying at EVERY turn, "Is this it?" Seriously, I was so stressed. And then the Swan is first and he literally as a joke turned in there. So I'm YELLING "NOOOOO!!!!!" and he is laughing his head off at me.

Finally, we were there!!!
.............
!

lol at both Suzy and Donald!

...............
hoping for more TR tomorrow before i'm thrown into forced radio silence for a week, internetically speaking. no smart phones here.

Woo hoo! Enjoy your stay!

 

[chicagoshannon]

I'm so excited for our stay at the Dolphin now. 13 more days! We're just staying 1 night but I can't wait! Do you have any pictures of the room? Is it called an executive suite?

 

[knitster]

Awwww.. did you have fun? Any magical super cool moments?

That would have been so fun if we had seen each other. Sadly we're in Ohio where it rains and there is no magic nor castles. No Disney till June

We had an absolute blast! My family was not on board with being at the parks at rope drop, so we missed so.many. rides and shows because I wasn't willing to spend hours in line. It drove me a little insane because I had planned *so* much. But, even with that annoyance, I still had the time of my life!

I was also able to use one of your tips while we were there. My 5 year old was having an absolute melt down at Animal Kingdom and nothing was helping. Then I looked up and saw an ice cream cart and thought "Ice cream makes everything better, right?! I wise DISer once told you that!" And lo and behold, it *did* make everything better!

 

[ellajeansmom]

Wow, the sidewalk drawing with Chip and Dale must have been so fun! Actually the whole evening sounds fun
You did amazing with breaking camp...I always underestimate how long packing and unpacking will take.
The Dolphin looks beautiful
Oh, and Jean loved the pics of all the characters at AK. She's thinking that may be her "must do" for our AK day - we will make sure we are there by 9:50am
Looking forward to the rest of your day at DHS

 

[estherhead]

I don't feel so bad, now.

Oh, I know the feeling! DH desperately wants to see the inside of the GF, but I'm just not so sure that I even want to step foot in there (okay, I would to see the gingerbread house). Maybe I'm judging, but I've seen some of the people who stay there getting on the monorail. I think that I would feel completely out of place.

There are tourists there in tshirts and jean shorts and we've never been treated any different than any other resort. But just the same. I'm not used to mingling with the rich and famous.

I know what you mean-while checking in to the Hyatt in Chicago (the one by the river) My son looked around and said "Mommy I don't think you are dressed properly to stay here"

Recently I've stayed at nice places in NYC and north of LA and both times I felt a tiny bit out of place. In LA less so as it was just Donald and I and we can pull it off better without the munchkins.

as much as i love gawking at fancy hotels, i will never feel like i belong in one! i guess that's why i lust after wilderness lodge rather than some of the swankier resorts--it seems more rustic than swanky and i can deal with rustic.

i do have an ergo but it's a recent splurge and not broken in yet. i'm taking my trusty old homemade carrier--a mei tai in a star wars print that i made when my elder daughter was a baby. a lifesaver in many, many settings! it crosses the back so will probably be hot but the ergo is hot around the waist so either way it'll be hot. i will probably force the older one into the stroller while the baby is in the carrier to try and ward off some of the "can't walk, too tired" sudden sitdowns she is prone to, despite usually being so energetic that she is exhausting just to be around.

i am looking forward to experiencing disney world with big sis but am really curious to see what if anything little sis seems to be observing. besides her toes, of course! hoping for some good pics--i read a post somewhere about mickey once indicating that he had a baby about the age of the poster's (6-7 months) and holding baby for pics despite the protests of his handler! that's probably too much to expect but if we get some genuine smiles out of both kids we'll call it good! (we have first teeth looming closer and closer so we might get our first toothy grins at WDW!)

hoping for more TR tomorrow before i'm thrown into forced radio silence for a week, internetically speaking. no smart phones here.

If my kids are any indication you'll get more smiles out of the baby. The older kid will be in absolute awe, mouth gaping open at the wonder. I've learned to love the pictures of them pointing more than those of them smiling. That's when I know they REALLY love it.

Camping I like it to be perfectly dry for the setup and breakdown of camp, but I love to have a rainy morning! As long as no leaks, nothing finer than a cookout & breakfast listening to the rain on the tent!

lol, It's the "May 24th Weekend"! Regardless of the weather, many NFLD'ers like to head out camping/cabins whatever..... Today it's 5 degrees (~41 F) & raining raining raining!
And my nephew has gone camping with some friends... they were dropped over & hiked in to their site...probably not going to be enjoyable! Sopping wet is more like it!

Ugh! I just got back from camping at a state park less than an hour from my house. It didn't rain once and was 60 at night, 80 during the day. PERFECT! Around here I guess we're wooses. We cancel if it's gonna be raining or below 50 at any point.

I'm so excited for our stay at the Dolphin now. 13 more days! We're just staying 1 night but I can't wait! Do you have any pictures of the room? Is it called an executive suite?

It is called a 2 bedroom executive suite. Sadly, I don't have that many pictures. I did take some but none of the bathrooms, nor any of my bedroom. I'll get the ones I have up and on here for you in the next few days even though they'll be out of order. They aren't uploaded yet and I'm too tired tonight. But I promise! And an explanation/review.

We had an absolute blast! My family was not on board with being at the parks at rope drop, so we missed so.many. rides and shows because I wasn't willing to spend hours in line. It drove me a little insane because I had planned *so* much. But, even with that annoyance, I still had the time of my life!

I was also able to use one of your tips while we were there. My 5 year old was having an absolute melt down at Animal Kingdom and nothing was helping. Then I looked up and saw an ice cream cart and thought "Ice cream makes everything better, right?! I wise DISer once told you that!" And lo and behold, it *did* make everything better!

Ha, ha! I TOLD you ice cream fixes anything. Lesson learned, right?

Oh well to missing things. If you can't do rope drop and you miss a ton of stuff you know what to do, right? You know what, here's a tip I've never mentioned before. Get ready, TIP TIME!! If you can't do rope drop and you can't stay up late the solution is: plan more trips more often!

Wow, the sidewalk drawing with Chip and Dale must have been so fun! Actually the whole evening sounds fun
You did amazing with breaking camp...I always underestimate how long packing and unpacking will take.
The Dolphin looks beautiful
Oh, and Jean loved the pics of all the characters at AK. She's thinking that may be her "must do" for our AK day - we will make sure we are there by 9:50am
Looking forward to the rest of your day at DHS

Awww, give Jean a Mickey hug and say, "You betcha! Safari Mickey we're comin' for you!"

And yes, it was amazing! It was, however, my second favorite night. My personal favorite night is still coming up!!!

 

[Mommy2BnB]

What is it about taking down a campsite that puts everyone in a bad mood? In looking at your campsite pics, I think we have the exact same tent as you. Do you like it? We haven't had the chance to use it yet.

I would totally feel out of place at the Dolphin check in. Maybe when Publisher's Clearinghouse brings that big check to my house would I feel comfortable there, until then, we'll just have to be happy with Pop.

Love the Goodwill! Yard sales not so much, but if I could find a Coach bag for $5 at one, I would start stopping.

 

[ntikos]

I'm really enjoying reading your TR.

Your pre-trip organization, planning and packing is very impressive - and I love how you set up your camp site!

Looking forward to more stories from your time @ the Dolphin!

 

[YensidCamper]

I have really enjoyed this trip report. I am guessing you guys are already planning a lot for the next trip. I have been using all the tips you have given us here to start on my planning. Once school is out it will be a lot easier to finish the plan! I hope the same is true for you. Can't wait to hear what your favorite night was.

 

[estherhead]

What is it about taking down a campsite that puts everyone in a bad mood? In looking at your campsite pics, I think we have the exact same tent as you. Do you like it? We haven't had the chance to use it yet.

I would totally feel out of place at the Dolphin check in. Maybe when Publisher's Clearinghouse brings that big check to my house would I feel comfortable there, until then, we'll just have to be happy with Pop.

Love the Goodwill! Yard sales not so much, but if I could find a Coach bag for $5 at one, I would start stopping.

We LOVE our tent. Honestly, I don't have a single complaint. Well, one of the poles did break at an odd point and require duct tape. But that is it and it's been no big deal. It's a great size for a family of 5. You can stand in the middle. It seems sturdy. I did spray it three times with water proofing but it has never leaked. It's easy to put up and take down.

I have really enjoyed this trip report. I am guessing you guys are already planning a lot for the next trip. I have been using all the tips you have given us here to start on my planning. Once school is out it will be a lot easier to finish the plan! I hope the same is true for you. Can't wait to hear what your favorite night was.

Yes, we have lots of great plans coming up. And it shocks me every time I look at the date because it is COMING UP! We have a girlfriend, I think I've mentioned, coming with us this time and we have to make her matching t-shirts. I'm planning on starting that right after Memorial Day.

Work is SO busy and this is the last week of school with all that that means and Suzy just bought a new house and will probably sell her current house by the end of this week meaning we'll come home and they will move probably within two weeks. Needless to say it's a little NUTS around here. I just texted Suzy and literally said, "You know, I'm not crazy." I just felt it needed to be said in case she was wondering. When you have to check to make sure your head is still on your neck, it's probably time to say things like, "But I'm NOT really crazy."

I did have one little highlight today and it's been SO busy that reading on here will be the first time Suzy hears of it. I was sitting at my desk involved deeply in work. Well, fine, I was crying a little bit, ok? And my cell phone rings and it's a family friend and I just knew he was gonna ask me to do something at a volunteer thing we have Tuesday night. I almost didn't answer. But then I thought, "Oh heck, what's one more commitment?" So I answered.

And he says, "Are you at work?" And I said yes. And he said, "Could you spare me ten minutes even though you're busy?" Shoot, I thought, it's not gonna be simple. But I said yes and got up and closed my office door. And then he said those magical words,

"I'm sitting here with a young family from China and they have a 6 year old son who would like to see Disney World and meet Mickey Mouse before they go back to Beijing. Can you help us?" It was like angels were singing. He put me on speaker phone and I talked to them and him and the little boy about their budget and priorities. SUCH a cute little family.

Sorry I can't post more TR right now. But soon.