That Pirate Stole My Tiara: The Pre-Trip Report

[2xcited2sleep]

Oy. I hope everything works out. I'm sure it will. And when you're ready, I can't wait to hear about your trip! Those were some good teasers!!

Good luck w/ everything!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Glad to see you posting!

Sad that real life is such a mess right now....



And ok, am I the only one of us who just went for Free Dining and did NOT get a bounceback offer????



.

You could be like me and book the bounceback offer and then CANCEL it because obviously you were momentarily insane.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I hope everything works out in the real world, Tink!

Add me to your legions of fans looking forward to the TR!

 

[If U Had Wings]

I'll be thinking all kinds of good thoughts for you to get everything in real life back under control. Hang in there!

And ok, am I the only one of us who just went for Free Dining and did NOT get a bounceback offer????
.

Nope. I didn't get one either. I thought I was the only one.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Zzub posted on my TR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



I feel like the little green aliens in Toy Story: "I have been chosen!...."



Oh, and I guess I should tell you that he started a new trip report too.

I know! Believe me, I was tempted to catch up on his report before starting my own. Except I think there would be some DISers after me with pitchforks and torches...

Ok, you must have been having a knock-down good time down there in the World, cuz we got like, what....two "live" reports??

As the week went on and we got more tired and events at home loomed, it seriously impinged on my "live update" time. Believe me. I'm probably more disappointed about it then you!

Welcome Back and a BIG thank you for Liam's postcard! So cute

You're very welcome! Happy to share some pixie dust!

Welcome home! Ready to go back????????

That's rhetorical, right?

Honey, I'm so sorry that re-entry to reality was so carpy. You'll most definitely be in my prayers for a swift resolution to this mess.

Thanks sis. And I have a cute little "Stitch as Yoda" action figure inspiring me with the Force as we speak.

And I can't wait to read about the trip. In great, laborious detail. Savvy?

Is there any other way???

I think I let out a squeal of glee when I read that you had multiple light fixture pictures. I can not wait. Seriously. I am excited.

I will be looking up the lapu lapu receipe online to have on hand in case I need to come to the rescue. I will also practice adminstering an IV, incase you are too tired/stressed/whatever to drink.

Ok. These two made me laugh out loud. LOUDLY. And HARD!

Add me to your legions of fans looking forward to the TR!

Wait. There are legions? Am I Rome? AWESOME. Get out your togas, people!

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcomes home and the best wishes. I'm happy to report that things have taken a better turn on the house front and we'll be able to settle in. We may take a look at how we're feeling in about 4 months and decide if we want to seriously stay. If not, the plan is to move again in March/April/May (we're only month-to-month tenants) but at least we have a plan for now. A heading, if you will.

Finally...

And ok, am I the only one of us who just went for Free Dining and did NOT get a bounceback offer????

Nope. I didn't get one either. I thought I was the only one.

Ok. Your gal Tink totally did some recon on this whole issue while she was down there and here is the deal:

When we arrived in our room there was a flyer on the Bounceback offer (though it wasn't technically called Bounceback, I don't think, on the flyer). I didn't call right away on that first day because I knew I had until checkout. Well, the flyer "mysteriously" disappeared (a.k.a. Mousekeeping took it to regions unknown and never returned it) on our second day. I was a little concerned about that and by the time I'd committed to wanting to book it on our second to last day, I headed to the Front Desk.

First things first, you didn't need to have the flier. Really, you just needed to have known they were offering it and called to book it before checkout. What I'm unsure of (and didn't think to ask) was whether you already had to be booked with the Free Dining plan for the current trip. My guess is no, but don't quote me on that.

Second, the Front Desk said that it was common that the fliers disappeared. Makes me wonder if there were multiple complaints from people "in the know" (NODISers). The gentleman apologized profusely and offered to get me on the phone with reservations right then and there. I thanked him and said I'd call when I got back to the room.

Third, I actually needed to be transferred to a special Disney reservationist to make the reservation. Not any old person could do it.

So, in the end, I booked AND the flier magically reappeared in our room on the desk on the day we checked out. I swiped it and, if I have the chance, will image it for all y'all. For those of you who didn't technically ever "get" the offer and would like to take advantage of it, my advice is this, call Disney reservations and state your case, if they tell you no, ask for the next person up in management. This obviously wasn't a rare scenario and they, potentially, lost out on a lot of revenue for next year. They might swing the offer your way!

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

Welcome back Tink

 

[If U Had Wings]

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcomes home and the best wishes. I'm happy to report that things have taken a better turn on the house front and we'll be able to settle in. We may take a look at how we're feeling in about 4 months and decide if we want to seriously stay. If not, the plan is to move again in March/April/May (we're only month-to-month tenants) but at least we have a plan for now. A heading, if you will.

Finally...

That's sounding a bit stressful! Hope everything works out, I know you were looking forward to the place so much. How was your poor BF handling it all without you while you were away?

Ok. Your gal Tink totally did some recon on this whole issue while she was down there and here is the deal:

When we arrived in our room there was a flyer on the Bounceback offer (though it wasn't technically called Bounceback, I don't think, on the flyer). I didn't call right away on that first day because I knew I had until checkout. Well, the flyer "mysteriously" disappeared (a.k.a. Mousekeeping took it to regions unknown and never returned it) on our second day. I was a little concerned about that and by the time I'd committed to wanting to book it on our second to last day, I headed to the Front Desk.

First things first, you didn't need to have the flier. Really, you just needed to have known they were offering it and called to book it before checkout. What I'm unsure of (and didn't think to ask) was whether you already had to be booked with the Free Dining plan for the current trip. My guess is no, but don't quote me on that.

Second, the Front Desk said that it was common that the fliers disappeared. Makes me wonder if there were multiple complaints from people "in the know" (NODISers). The gentleman apologized profusely and offered to get me on the phone with reservations right then and there. I thanked him and said I'd call when I got back to the room.

Third, I actually needed to be transferred to a special Disney reservationist to make the reservation. Not any old person could do it.

So, in the end, I booked AND the flier magically reappeared in our room on the desk on the day we checked out. I swiped it and, if I have the chance, will image it for all y'all. For those of you who didn't technically ever "get" the offer and would like to take advantage of it, my advice is this, call Disney reservations and state your case, if they tell you no, ask for the next person up in management. This obviously wasn't a rare scenario and they, potentially, lost out on a lot of revenue for next year. They might swing the offer your way!

Thanks for this. I had no idea about the bounceback or I would have asked. Since I was there right at the begining of free dining I thought there was a possibility they weren't doing it this year.

I'm kind of looking forward to doing a December trip now, although the missing MNSSHP does eat at me a bit. Everyone keeps convincing me that the Christmas decorations are "must sees". With this being a solo trip I'm thinking I'll be better off without the DP, especially as it's a split stay. Plus my brother and SIL usually go to Disney the first week of December for my sil's work conference. No dining plan would give me a bit more opportunity to maybe meet up with them one day. Decisions, decisions!

Can't wait to hear where you booked for bounceback!

 

[Sarilas]

Welcome back, Tink!

First of all, I hope all that's causing chaos in your life sees itself out the door ASAP. Second, I'm looking forward to your TR with baited breath!

 

[Bashful in TN]

Welcome back! Looking forward to reading all about your trip.

 

[PrincessV]

OMG, reality really does bite! I'm so sorry Tink. Hope everything works out easily for you!

 

[askelton]

Third, I actually needed to be transferred to a special Disney reservationist to make the reservation. Not any old person could do it.

Makes you feel special doesn't it? Although when I called, the nice lady said, "Miss Angela, you've been here 12 times. Is that right?" If you say so, and of course, Disney knows what's what. But she wasn't able to help me with the one night I wanted for our anniversary. But it sounds like you had much better luck!

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

HI there!!!



Welcome to my trip report (TR)!

Apparently, in Georgia at least, ( JACKIE!) I have legions of fans.
LEGIONS!

And they are all waiting, with bated breath, for this TR.

Well.

I just looked up "bated" in the dictionary to double-check because I wanted to make sure my LEGIONS weren't passing out due to lack of oxygen and I'm disappointed to report I mustn't have any LEGIONS left. They're all unconscious due to holding their breath. For the past 3 days. Since I've arrived home from vacation. And done everything but start this TR. Sorry guys. Let's make a deal (NODoorNumberThree): I'll commence Trip(e) Report writing if you commence breathing.



And so it begins...

At the beginning.
Naturally.
With my pre-trip report (PTR). I know a good number of you will have wandered over here from there so welcome back! Or here! Or...whatever. However, if you're the pre-trip-report-readin' type and were previously unacquainted with said report, it can be found here.

Otherwise, here are the essentials before we get on to the meat* of this report:

Cast of Characters:

Me a.k.a. Tinkerbellarella a.k.a. Tink a.k.a. Nik a.k.a. TarzanKat's (TK's) long-lost-sister a.k.a. the Travel Agent of this trip:
I'll keep the summary of "who" I am short and sweet. If you want something more indepth, I refer you back to the PTR. I'm a Disney addict and have been since the ripe old age of 7. This marked my 10th trip to the World and this was a MUCH needed vacation. Work had 126% burnt me out, I was suffering from the "Fifth Year Without A Disney Trip" disease, and I'm turning 29 in 12 very short days and not happy about it (however for the duration of this trip, except when purchasing adult beverages, I was about 9 years old). One other thing that you should know since it rears it's head fairly often during the trip is that my boyfriend (BF) -who was not on this trip by choice, by the way, Mr. "I Don't Like Disney" - was moving us from our old apartment into a new (to us, considering it was built in 1868) house while I was away.

Missy a.k.a. "Jennifer" (I'll explain the Jennifer thing later in the report):
Missy and I have been bestest friends since the early years of high school. So, you know, 4-EVA (or so my Algebra notebook says). She's been to Disney a few different times, the most recent being about two years ago, though we'd never been together. She'd had a VERY rough year and was probably in need of relaxation even more than me. Which is saying something. Believe me! She's sweet and funny and sassy and was just as excited about eating on this trip as I was. Suffice it to say we would get along famously. At least at dinner.

What:
7 day Park Hopper Passes
Free Dinning!!! (Standard not Deluxe)
MNSSHP tickets for 9/23/08

When:
Saturday, 9/20/08 thru Friday, 9/26/08 (Disney) and Friday, 9/26/08 thru 9/28/08 (Tampa)

Where:
Guam.
Kidding.
Walt Disney World, of course! Staying for 6 glorious nights at the Polynesian. We then stayed for another two nights with Missy's sister and family in Tampa.

Why:
It's Disney.
And if you need a better explanation than that then apparently you got lost on the Internet.
Welcome to the DISboards. We like Disney. Here's your obligatory refillable mug.

UP NEXT: Dream Squad? Pssht. The secret to the being treated like royalty for your WHOLE Disney vacation. (And it's not what you think.)

*Please note, vegetarians are still welcome.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As the Chapters pile up, you'll find individual links for each one here. See, I like you people! I like that you want to read my report! I want to make it easy for you!
Intro - well...you just read it, silly!!!
Chp. 1: No. We Don't Get To Disney In This Chapter.
Chp. 2: How to Have the Most Magical Disney Vacation Ever: Just Add Vomit
Chp. 3: Neverending Halllwayyyyyy. Ohoh-ohoh-ohoh.
Chp. 4: This is the dinner that never ends...yes it goes on and on my frieeeends...
Chp. 5: I'll Have A Grande Decaf Non-Fat Coffee Walk, with a Side of 1,300 Pictures
Chp. 6: The Key to Epcot (is the Key to the World)
A Brief Pictorial Interruption Brought To You By Today's Playoff Game: GO EAGLES!
Chp 7: No Canadian Bathrooms Were Harmed in the Making of this Chapter!
Chp. 8: Drinkin’ ‘Round the World (Showcase)

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Um.

What was that?

You wanted me to start writing a trip report?

Huh.

Go figure.

Rather, go here.

See y'all there!

 

[pooh'smate]

I am so excited for your tr. I started on your ptr but then lost access to the Dis for awhile , talk about withdrawel. I never did catch up so here I am.

 

[Lady Lallie]

I'm here! I'm here!!

I am so super duper excited to read about your trip.

 

[MRYPPNS]

Do you think you can get this thing done by October 25th???? At least the good parts??

TINK POWER!!!

 

[Princesskeyblade]

I am here!!!! I can't wait to read more!!!

 

[Mean Queen]

Hey! You came to my neck of the woods! I am looking forward to a detailed report of everything, especially MNSSHP.

 

[ZZUB]

That's it?! I read the entire first chapter in the span of time it took to enjoy my post-lunch belch. And not even one mention of me! It's like I wasn't even a part of this trip at all!

Do you mind if I offer some editing suggestions? Here's how your Trip Report should have begun:

Thank God for ZZUB! To this day, I don't know how I would have managed the 5 years between trips if it wasn't for him and his brilliant writing!! The wit, the sarcasm, the schmaltz, the not-so-veiled lifting of lines straight out of my favorite movies and tv shows. The cake!!!!!

It is because of ZZUB that I planned another trip to Disney World. To try to capture some of the magic and joy that he and his family have found there. If I wasn't already punch-drunk in love with Barack Obama, I would plaster the front of my home with placards which read:

ZZUB is our hope!!!*

All kidding aside, I'm really looking forward to your Trip Report. I always enjoy your posts on my thread and I'm confident your antics will be fun to read about.



*Scarily enough, I pass a house on my way home each night that has a sign which reads "Obama is my hope." Imagine that person's surprise when (if Obama should win), he can't actually do half of the things she imagines he can.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Your Georgia Legions are here!!!

I am so touched that I rated a mention in the opening TR post!

I am so excited to read all about all the fun you had!!!