That's it, moved to FL to be closer to Mickey! Update 2/4 Kidnapped at WDW 10/03/09

[jmskinner]

I just had to tell this one. A friend of mine from my old job back in Texas emailed me to say that the W2 were finally mailed out on Friday, but everyone in the office ended up with theirs and then a copy of someone else's. Even the two owners ended up with someone else's copy. So, I did get mine and sure enough, there was someone else's in there. So much for confidentiality. Now everyone knows what the others make, and you have their confidential information. Oh, and to make matters worse, one of the ex-employees has been arrested for identity theft of his own mother!

Just another reason I am glad to be out of the office.

Hope to have another update Friday night. With Battlestart Galactica back on I am a BG widower again. Oh, and hope to go back to the world on Friday also. Jacob doesn't have school due to the state fair so I thought the parks might be slow. Trying to decide if I let him choose what to do, or was thinking of seeing if we could hit all four parks and do our favorite rides.

Still not too happy with the schools here. They get Friday off, next week they get out at noon on Wednesday so the teachers can work, and then the following Monday they are out again. I guess it could be worse, I overheard one lady talking about how a friend of hers just moved somewhere in this state and that school district gets out at Noon every Wednesday. I just don't understand how they expect kids to get an education. Home schooling is looking better and better.

 

[scottny]

Thank you. By the way, I love all your pics next to your trees in your sig. I need to go check out your TR!

Thank you. It is on the last day now.

 

[jmskinner]

Thank you. It is on the last day now.

I read it yesterday, sounds like you had a great time except for Biff getting sick. Memories.

 

[DisnLuvr]

Don't tell the military, they think we moved to Florida because we had orders. Even though the big trip is over and has been reported on, I have decided to keep this going since I plan on making many day trips. So, this is now my official TR and MTR (mini TR). Would love to have more join us, so I have posted links to all of the chapters to make it easier. I have separated between the true TR and the MTR's. Sorry, some have moving info and if you want to read about the entire move and all of the drama, you will have to read the whole thing, but it has been an amazing adventure!

The Official TR
Chapter 1 House Hunting
Chapter 2 House Hunting Done, Now our 1st day at WDW!
Day 2 Part 1 SWW!
Day 2 Part 2 More SWW and TL!
Day 3 Fathers Day at Epcot
Update on the move, but includes Photopass pics up to Day 3
Day 3 Part 2, More Epcot, WCC
Day 3 Part 3, Magic Kingdom!
Day 4 Chef Mickey's and AK EMH
Day 5 POFQ Pool and Epcot
Day 6 AK and DHS for Fantasmic!
Day 7 Magic Kingdom
Day 7 Part 2, More Magic Kingdom
Day 8 We say goodbye to Kara; a little DTD and DHS
The worse day, going home!
Going home part 2!

The MTR Reports!
First Daytrip to MK at Florida Residents
Augut 30th Epcot, Ponchos On, Ponchos Off!
Our 1st overnight trip as FL residents, Ch 1 The road to WDW!
Ch2 MNSSHP
Ch 3 The rest of MNSSHP
Ch4 DHS
ASMu Pool, PH, and Bounce Back
MTR of Typhoon Lagoon 10/18/08
11/01/08 MTR of MK
MTR of MK Part 2
I got to see Night Ranger,but not before the adults have a meltdown TR!
Egmont Island
Pirate Adventure Dinner Theatre

Christmas 2008 MTR's with the parents!
Christmas Eve 2008 at Epcot with my parents!
Ch 1 of DHS on 12/27/08
Ch 2 of DHS on 12/27/08
Ch 3 of DHS on 12/27/08
AK on 12/28/08 Ch 1
AK on 12/28/08 CH 2

Back in March 0f 2008 we learned we would be moving to Tampa. I got very excited , "we will be an hour away from WDW!". So, my TR to WDW will not only include details of our trip to WDW, but our adventures of looking for a home in Florida.

The cast:

Me, Melissa a 39 year old crazy woman who became obsessed with WDW after just one trip. My first trip was in 2006, yup didn't make it until I was 36 years old. I am a 13 year military wife with one son, Jacob, who is 10. Previously I was an insurance agent, but now I am a stay at home Mom.

Next, is JS, my 38 year old husband. He is 5 months younger than me and never lets me forget it. He has 15 years in the military, 5 more to go! He is a Sci-Fi geek, plays Guild Wars on the computer, paints Warhammer miniatures,loves Star Wars! Oh, and he loves his Mustang.

Our son, Jacob, 10 years old and a 4th grader. He loves Star Wars and Transformers. Also Bionicles and computer games. He wasn't real excited about moving. He has ADHD and Sensory Processing Disorder, so on top of being very hyper, he hates change. This past summer he was diagnosed with Anxiety also. He will be my companion on most day trips, whether he likes it or not.

Another member of this crazy cast, probably the least crazy of us all is my step-daughter Kara. She is now 16 years old, a licensed driver on the roads. We hardly ever get to see her, so when she said she would like to join us at WDW, we got very excited.

I know, I didn't include a picture of myself. I can't find any I like, so here is a group photo.

Now, I know it sounds to plan a trip house hunting, followed by a week at WDW, but since Kara will probably have to get a job once she starts driving, we figured this may be our only chance to have her join us, so we emptied the bank account and went for it.

Did we find a house, you will just have to wait until the next posting.
Melissa

Great pictures ....... I can see how much excited you are ... Good Experience You seem to be having.

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

I just had to tell this one. A friend of mine from my old job back in Texas emailed me to say that the W2 were finally mailed out on Friday, but everyone in the office ended up with theirs and then a copy of someone else's. Even the two owners ended up with someone else's copy. So, I did get mine and sure enough, there was someone else's in there. So much for confidentiality. Now everyone knows what the others make, and you have their confidential information. Oh, and to make matters worse, one of the ex-employees has been arrested for identity theft of his own mother!

Just another reason I am glad to be out of the office.

Sounds very much like my work!!! I always say they couldn't organise a p**s up in a brewery!

Hope to have another update Friday night. With Battlestart Galactica back on I am a BG widower again. Oh, and hope to go back to the world on Friday also. Jacob doesn't have school due to the state fair so I thought the parks might be slow. Trying to decide if I let him choose what to do, or was thinking of seeing if we could hit all four parks and do our favorite rides.

I know just how you feel - currently I am a Top Gear (a car show)widow - it is on constantly! Worst of all DS is now also obsessed with it! If not Top Gear it's Ice Road Truckers or Deadliest Catch.

Still not too happy with the schools here. They get Friday off, next week they get out at noon on Wednesday so the teachers can work, and then the following Monday they are out again. I guess it could be worse, I overheard one lady talking about how a friend of hers just moved somewhere in this state and that school district gets out at Noon every Wednesday. I just don't understand how they expect kids to get an education. Home schooling is looking better and better.

Yet if you want to take them out of school for a couple of days - I bet they're not happy!

My two have been off school the past 2 days as they caught a vomiting bug that has been going around. Generous as always - they have also passed it on to us!

Di x

 

[jmskinner]

Great pictures ....... I can see how much excited you are ... Good Experience You seem to be having.

Thank you. I am enjoying Florida and getting to go to WDW so much. We were there tonight and a CM asked how often we went to the parks and my response was, "Not Enough!"

Sounds very much like my work!!! I always say they couldn't organise a p**s up in a brewery!

I know just how you feel - currently I am a Top Gear (a car show)widow - it is on constantly! Worst of all DS is now also obsessed with it! If not Top Gear it's Ice Road Truckers or Deadliest Catch.

Yet if you want to take them out of school for a couple of days - I bet they're not happy!

My two have been off school the past 2 days as they caught a vomiting bug that has been going around. Generous as always - they have also passed it on to us!

Di x

Sorry to hear your office is disorganized.

Grumpy watches Top Gear. Oh, we love Top Gear. I started a thread on it out on the community boards this past week. Ok, I'll be honest, I like to look at Richard, but all three of those men just crack me up. The way they film the show is just amazing. I also watch Ice Road Truckers and Deadliest Catch. I watch entirely too much TV. We have been joking about getting a second DVR because if we record two shows, then we can't watch something else at the same time. Isn't it sad that we want to watch three shows at once.

Well, I hope Thing 1 and Thing 2 get well soon, and also you and Grumpy. On the way home tonight my ears started bothering me, which is normally the first sign of getting sick and the throat is a little scratchy, and then when I call home, JS tells me how his throat hurts. I am sure it is from these temperature changes.

I will start the next update in the next post. It will probably be short because Jacob has decided he really likes this new game of his dads and wants to play it all night. Not going to happen. Oh, and I had to drag him off of it this morning so I could go to WDW!

 

[jmskinner]

So, my parents had one more ticket day left. We had to use it. They had decided to leave on Tuesday instead of Thursday, so we had to use that last ticket. Now Mom originally had told me she did not want to go to MK, but then said they might as well. So, off we went. Now I remember thinking, "What day is it the guide book specifically says don't go to MK on?" Well, I now know it is MONDAY! and what day did we go on, MONDAY! So, I don't know if it would have been any better on any other day that week, because MK was having EMH every morning, which meant it opened at 7:00am!

So, we headed out and I think we got there about 11:00 or so. So we pull up to the gate to get into the parking lot. The CM looks at my AP and says, "Parking lot is full, you will have to park at Epcot, take this to them." And it was this little card allowing us to park at Epcot. So, we go to Epcot and they give us another little card to place in the windshield, which they never give you anything to park. They also gave us this card:

No one ever asked us for it, so I kept it. I guess they were hoping people would decide to stay at Epcot instead of going to MK, but not us. We were determined. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid.

Almost forgot, we ride the tram to the monorail at Epcot and as we are pulling in, I can't find my mothers ticket. I remember having to take one out of my lanyard to get the AP out for parking. So, we watch everyone get off the tram and we head back to the parking lot. I am freaking out. I had taken pics of the ticket so I would have the number, but it was now downloaded on the computer at home and deleted from my camera. Luckily it had fallen in the floorboard of the truck. So back on the tram to the monorail again. This day really wasn't going so well.

Here is the Epcot parking lot from the monorail:

Here is Jacob and Mom walking up to the monorail, notice the DS in Jacob's hand.

We finally made it to MK and here is a picture of the tree:

And of course Main Street:

The man in the Harley t-shirt is my stepdad. That is all he ever wears. He probably has 200 of the things.

On to Adventureland for PoTC, check out the people:

This is what greeted us at PoTC:

Ok folks, I have been there July 4th week, never have I seen Pirates look like this. The most I had waited was at the door there where the sign reads: "Yo!Ho! Yo! Ho! It's a pirates life for me!" I just kept apologizing to my parents, but they had stood in lines before, so no complaining. We finally get on the ride. My Mom kept worrying about getting wet.

From there Jacob wanted to look at merchandise, I thought I would head over to Splash Mountain and see about FP's. Well, I got stopped by this:

Then I thought, "hey, when the parade stops, we can probably just walk on to Splash". Call the parents and tell them to head my way. I see them coming and then I see them turn and go in the restaurant there on the corner. I go hunt them down and finally find them, get back in the crowd of people watching the parade. Finally the parade ends and we are off. You could barely put one foot in front of the other. Now, FP's for Splash were for 8:00pm, I didn't know if we were staying that late, but the standby sign said it was a 40 minute wait. I looked at the line and no way was it a 40 minute wait. We get in line. Well then all the people that had FP's that had let their time slip by during the parade came. I bet we watched 200 people go in front of us. Now, we practically walked up to the actual building before all these people started passing us. This is what the line ended up looking like (all of these people were behind us):

So then my stepdad starts getting grumpy. He normally is not a grumpy person, but watching all of these people go by him was starting to tick him off in a big way. I have to admit, I have noticed most lines are so long because of the FP line. If not that many people have FP's the standby line moves really quick, when there are a lot of FP's, the standby stands still.

Well, unlike most rides where they will normally let a group of FP riders go and then a few standby the CM working this line let every single FP rider go without a wait.

We finally got to ride and it was so much fun because my Mom kept expecting the big plunge and to get wet, so every time she would duck. And of course I took pics on my favorite ride:

After Splash Mountain we decided on HM. I had not eaten and by this time it was pushing 2:00. So I grabbed a quick hot dog, can you believe no line.

So, on the way to HM I notice this big long line. As I make the turn towards HM, I realize it is the HM line and there is a CM holding a sign that reads, "HM line begins here." As people got in line, he moved back to allow more in. This was all the way around just across from the Liberty Tree Tavern. So we hop in line and my stepdad starts talking to this nice man in front of us from Lousiana and he was Cajun. I was having the hardest time understanding him. While in line I took this photo:

And this is after we had been in line about 10 minutes:

As I said it started down across from LTT, and then went through the horse carriage area where you ended up down by the river, back up and then through the que at HM. It was crazy. Took a picture of the gate going in, never had time to take this photo before:

My parents enjoyed HM, after we finally made it on.

I'm going to end this right here. I am tired (hopefully this makes sense) and Jacob's wants on the computer. I start my photography class tomorrow, so hopefully my pics will improve.

So, do you think after waiting in three long lines we gave up and went home?

 

[carissanboys]

You're making me a bit nervous! We'll be going to MK on a Monday because that's what day my birthday is on and I want to spend my birthday at MK. Hopefully it won't be too bad. (we can always leave in the afternoon and go back for Wishes later.)

Have fun with your photography course!

 

[jmskinner]

You're making me a bit nervous! We'll be going to MK on a Monday because that's what day my birthday is on and I want to spend my birthday at MK. Hopefully it won't be too bad. (we can always leave in the afternoon and go back for Wishes later.)

Have fun with your photography course!

I'm sure it won't be that busy. I'll have to try to check it out on a normal Monday and see how it is. That whole week was just crazy. I have read here on the Dis that New Years Eve there were almost 5 hour waits for Soarin', never heard how long the wait was for the rides at MK.

I hope I do enjoy the class. I think I over did it yesterday and don't feel that well today. Have a great weekend and I sure hope your DH gets word on Monday.

 

[scottny]

great update and pics.

I experienced a line like that at POTC once. I forget if it was July or January.

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Wow!! MK was busy busy busy!!!!
I would have thought it would have been a bit quieter this time of year Was there anything going on to make it busier?
At least you hadn't lost your ticket!!!

Di x

 

[irky416]

Believe it or not, I just read every single post I had missed. I enjoyed your updates. You new camera takes some really good pictures!!

Your mom sounds like fun. Looking at your pictures, I don't think I will ever go the week after Christmas. Those lines and all the people looked crazy! It seems like you guys had a great time anyway.

 

[jmskinner]

great update and pics.

I experienced a line like that at POTC once. I forget if it was July or January.

We were there two years ago when it opened after the refurb and the line wasn't like this day. Sorry you had to experience that.

Wow!! MK was busy busy busy!!!!
I would have thought it would have been a bit quieter this time of year Was there anything going on to make it busier?
At least you hadn't lost your ticket!!!

Di x

I guess a lot of people figure they will take the whole family for Christmas and over here a lot of people take the week between Christmas and New Years off. But, there were a lot of people from other countries there also. Seemed like more than normal. If I remember correctly, it seems like we even saw of the tour groups with the teenage kids.

Yes, I was very glad I didn't lose that ticket. I would have just bought her another myself.

Believe it or not, I just read every single post I had missed. I enjoyed your updates. You new camera takes some really good pictures!!

Your mom sounds like fun. Looking at your pictures, I don't think I will ever go the week after Christmas. Those lines and all the people looked crazy! It seems like you guys had a great time anyway.

Glad life gave you a break and let you do some Dis'ing. I've missed ya! I'm enjoying the camera. Have another class this weekend, so hopefully they will get better.

I don't know that I will ever attempt the week after Christmas again, even though we live so close. It really was bad. We did have fun though. The funny thing was, even with those lines being so long, people weren't upset. They just went with the flow. I'm sure the fact is was in the 70's helped.

So, hope all are well. I will probably update again tomorrow night. Oh, and I signed up for the Annual Passholder Kim Possible event on Feb 28, so guess we will be at Epcot on that day.

Another update coming soon!

 

[jmskinner]

Sorry folks. I got to playing around on Facebook, found my long lost cousin who I had not heard from in 4 years and uploaded some more pics to Photobucket and just realized it is almost 11:00pm. It doesn't help that I made my first White Russian and really enjoyed it. The only problem, alcohol puts me to sleep.

But, got my photopass CD, so I will at least post some pics from it and will hopefully update this in the morning before I head off to my class.

Check out my hair, it was STRAIGHT when I went into the park, see what KRR does to you.

This picture cracks me up. Almost all of us have our hands in our lap. My stepdad has this look on his face, "did I really wait in line for 30 minutes for this, where is the action?" Poor Jacob looks scared as usual. I am such a bad Mom for making him go on this thing.

 

[jmskinner]

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Ok, I only have 3 pics to finish my TR with my folks up. So, shouldn't take too long. Most of my pics didn't come out to well.

So, we got off of HM and it was now dark. We headed towards Tomorrowland. While walking by Mickey's Philharmagic, it showed a 20 minute wait. So asked the parents if they want to do that and they did. Well, there are two CM's standing there and they tell us to go in the FP line. We headed that way and then real quick I went back to check and they sent the people after us the same way. We walk right in, get our glasses and are in the waiting room. Waited maybe 10 minutes and the doors opened up. I couldn't believe no line for this show, it is one of my top 2 3D shows in the parks. ITTBAB is probably my favorite.

So after the movie we stopped for ice cream there in Tomorrowland and found a bench to sit on. While sitting there I realized there was a mother speaking with a CM who had obviously lost her child. She didn't speak english very well and I felt so bad for her. I noticed several different CM's then walking around looking. I'm sure the found the child.

I wanted my folks to ride Buzz, but it had a 45 minute wait, but thought TTA might be a good choice instead so we rode that. They were glad to sit. I think it was a 20 minute wait.

Then there was no line for this one:

Now, Jacob really wants to be on the screen for this one. I told him since we are one of the last to get into the theatre, probably not a chance. We were in the very back. Well, of course, someone in the row in front of us gets picked. Oh well, we can keep trying. The folks had a good laugh.

Then we decided to leave. Well, it was almost time for Spectromagic and the folks said they might as well stay to watch it. Now, there was no room along the rope area by this time, but we saw several people leaning againt the window areas there on main street. We found one window and chose it as our spot. We watch this CM keep running people off that have stopped in the walkway etc. We have Jacob standing on one of the ledges underneath the window. A CM tells him to get down, which is understandable. After we have been there over 10 minutes, the CM we have been watching walk by us for 10 minutes decides all of us in the windows have to leave. Now remember folks, the windows are tucked in, so we were not in the walkway. I even asked her why after this long she is asking us to leave when she has seen us there all this time. Well, none of the other people would leave. So my parents said not to. I am feeling so guilty. I love WDW CM and I know what they have to put up with, but if we left someone else would just take the spot. In fact, during the parade one large group came up next to us and stood there in the walkway. The CM didn't even bother at that point.

Here is a pic of where we wereI apologize for them being so big, I even went back and resized and they are still posting big.)

Once the parade started, my stepdad put Jacob back in the window. Whenver a CM would come by, they would do this:

Sorry no pics of the parade, but we were so far back I couldn't get a good one and when I used my flash I got pics of the people in front of us watching the parade.

Finally the parade was over. My stepdad wanted some Disney dollars. One thing I haven't mentioned about the man is he is a collector. He still has Disney Dollars from the 70's. So he got some Dollars and we were off.

I didn't realize they had a spot for Santa:

I think he was gone for the night.

Jacob actually wanted some popcorn, so we grabbed some on the way out, along with frozen lemonade for me and Dale. Then got in line for the monorail. The line was already out to the exit of the park, the ramp was full. So, we finished our popcorn and worked on the frozen lemonade. Remember, we had to park at Epcot so walked over to switch to the other monorail. I'm working on that frozen lemonade when a CM asks if I have enough to share, when I say I don't he tells me I have to throw it out. I am still feeling guilty about not obeying the CM during the parade. So I ask I can't keep it even if I put the lid on it. Everyone is laughing at me now because they all know he is joking with me. I'm such a goober at times.

So then he tells me my shoe is untied. Well, I know it isn't because my shoes don't have strings, but the capri's I had on do, so I pop off, "no they aren't, but my pants are?" He gave me this really funny look. I then asked if we were even. Finally the monorail showed up and we got to go home.

Got home, said "goodbye" to Mom and Dale as they were leaving the next morning. Hopefully they will be back soon.

Next update will be the other set of parents. I think I will call it, "My day at Epcot with two DMIL's". Can you figure that one out?

 

[irky416]

That's a really cute picture!

So, we got off of HM and it was now dark. We headed towards Tomorrowland. While walking by Mickey's Philharmagic, it showed a 20 minute wait. So asked the parents if they want to do that and they did. Well, there are two CM's standing there and they tell us to go in the FP line. We headed that way and then real quick I went back to check and they sent the people after us the same way. We walk right in, get our glasses and are in the waiting room. Waited maybe 10 minutes and the doors opened up. I couldn't believe no line for this show, it is one of my top 2 3D shows in the parks. ITTBAB is probably my favorite.

I love Philharmagic, too! ITTBAB is my 2nd fav!

Sorry, you got yelled at by a CM. I would have felt guilty about staying also, but would have done the same thing as you guys!

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Hi Melissa,

Enjoyed the updates! I'm sure you're right about the lost child, they're very on the ball with that situation.
And I agree with Irky - I would have done the same thing at the parade - but then felt very guilty afterwards as well!

Di x

 

[Maroon]

At 6:15am the phone rings and I hear Stitch in my ear.

 

[jmskinner]

That's a really cute picture!



I love Philharmagic, too! ITTBAB is my 2nd fav!

Sorry, you got yelled at by a CM. I would have felt guilty about staying also, but would have done the same thing as you guys!

Hi Melissa,

Enjoyed the updates! I'm sure you're right about the lost child, they're very on the ball with that situation.
And I agree with Irky - I would have done the same thing at the parade - but then felt very guilty afterwards as well!

Di x

Yea, I'm not the only one.

At 6:15am the phone rings and I hear Stitch in my ear.

 

[jmskinner]

Ok, Jacob is on the PC, so I finally picked up JS's laptop and thought I would Dis for a little while, but check email first. Well, I see this email from Universal Studios. I open it and it is thanking me for participating in their free ticket giveaway during the Superbowl and asking me to fill out a survey. It goes on to say that for filling it out I would be entered to win two tickets just like the one I won.

I had to read it three times. I hadn't heard that I won a ticket. So I ask JS if I had gotten any emails from Universal. "Yeah, I think you got one yesterday." I look, and look. Two weeks ago I got an email saying my free two-park ticket good for 7 days will be mailed to me.