The Battle For My Wallet IV: Return of the ZZUBs (Addendum, p.85; 07/12)

[DisneyWorld Delight]

Our family protocol is that we don’t buy anything on the first day...


...So after we toured the Merc for awhile, my daughter picked out an Aurora Minnie she really wanted. And I told her we’d buy it.

Sounds like another one of the ZZUB hard and fast family "traditions."



The smell. I understand. The water smells to. Of course in real life I'm not really hopping from one boat ride to the next, so I suppose it could be in my head.

 

[New England Eeyore]

Do you think the vaunted Disney smell has some sort of behavior altering agent in it?

Yes, I think it does. I have something in common with you here - I also HATE shopping in the 'real' world but must obsessively scan each and every gift shop I come across in the World (because they may have something you just can't find in any other shop in the World ). And (okay, 2 somethings) I run my family's finances with an iron fist at home (just ask my DH) and I'm all about saving money but once I set foot onto Florida soil I throw all common sense out the window and spend spend spend like there's money to burn.

Interestingly enough, I seem to change roles with my DH on vacation. At home he can walk into any store and find something he wants to buy and I have to exercise the iron fist more often than not. At WDW, he can go entire week without wanting to buy anything and then will ask me "Are you sure you really want that?" when I'm loading up my arms with Mickey memorabilia. Definitely behavior-altering agents in the air.

Glad to see the update! Looking forward to more! I notice how you started the chapter with mention of Chef Mickey's and ended it before you got there. Very sneaky of you! This report is going to be 500 pages and take 3.5 years to write, isn't it?

 

[mikymouse]

I had succumbed, again, to that wallet draining force which emanates from Walt’s World.

Oh, I love going to the gift shops on vacation... to have the children pick out a lovey ..or to have a few small surprises at the way home... or to have a pair of minnie flip flops for the coffee walk in the morning. Disney is the only vacation where we totally lose our common sense and love every minute of it. What do they put in the water???

 

[tiki23]

However, I did compete in the Olympic Speed Boat runs.

My kids are entering the Junior Division trials in a little over two weeks. (If you combine these two does it equal a Speed Boat?) We shall look to the champion for training advice.

But this story would have been funnier if they were staying at the Maingate Travelodge.

Oh, I think it's plenty funny already, but this just about made me fall out of my chair!

We identified all of the things we thought were really cool, things we had to have and things which were totally lame. Like the rocks.

NOOOOO! Say it ain't so! My DH is a rock fan...fanatic...nay, a rock geek. We're going to need an extra suitcase to make the weight limit.

As always, loving your wit and style. Thank you so much!

 

[nicolemarie]

I didn’t know that the family at the geyser was about to leave when I struck up a conversation. I struck up a conversation with them because I’m ZZUB and I do that sometimes.

The NM's like to strike up conversations, too. I think it's a Southern thing. And at Disney we do it even more. At Disney, it's the Southern thing and the excitement. We're uncontainable.

prescient...ubiquitous...gimlets...modicum

These are words I might could define if it were a multiple choice question. TFI.

I already had a belly full of post-anxiety anxiety (the feeling you have right after you’ve come through a crisis and even though everything is all right, your adrenaline is still running from the crisis). I didn’t think I had room enough for post anxiety anxiety and a cupcake.

See, for me, the post-anxiety anxiety is such a relief it leaves me famished. I'd have eaten the cupcake.

Once everyone was neat and pretty, I called down for our car. Yeah. I valet parked it. Best seven ducks a day I spent. I suppose it’s not just the hotel gift shops which assault my wallet. Before the trip, I’m all about saving money, booking a standard room, getting free dining and all that. I do that because I know once we pass under the arch, I’m all about vacation. I lose control of myself and commence recklessly spending on such foolhardy things as another Minnie doll and having someone else park my car.

But a man’s vacation must exceed his budget or what’s a 70 hour work week for?

THIS IS SO TRUE!!! The NM's are fairly disciplined in the money department. Every day of the year that isn't spent at Disney. Stick us on that precious acreage and it all flies out the window. Souvenirs, valet parking, character meals...we go nuts.

And we haven't regretted a dollar of it yet.

Another awesome installment, Zzub. Quite a treat on this rainy morning. Thanks.

 

[jenrose66]

Hi Zzub, I'm really enjoying your trip report, as I have enjoyed all your trip reports. I felt the need to comment a little more in depth on this one because, especially in the first few installments, I have been inspired by your faith. I'm a new mom (Jack is 3 months old) and I have never felt closer to God as I do now that I'm a mother. I talk to God all the time now. Praying for my son's health (we just got back from a short hospital stay for an eye infection), thanking him for my family...just saying hi...all kinds of things. I was never a deeply spiratual person before the birth of my son, but it is now very important to me.

Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. I hope your wife is doing well.

 

[LaLa]

This isn’t a Lodge Duck. This is actually a Dolphin Duck. But he looked very similar to the Lodge Ducks. The Lodge Ducks, by the way, wanted $5 for each picture I took of them. When I refused to pay their “photography fee,” they insisted I delete my pictures. Which I did. Lousy union ducks. Because The Dolphin is not a Disney Resort Hotel, its ducks are non-union. So we could photograph them with abandon. Which I did.

This whole thing had me rolling on the floor. Literally. And figuratively. And although I agree with Ash with the Mary Lou thing, which was hilarious too, this is classic ZZUB.

As the reigning Men’s Water slide Olympic Gold Medalist

Ahem. Doesn't this statement belong on the Nothing But Fiction board?

Move on. Dot com.

Ded.

Deluxenfreude.

It’s the feeling you get when you’re staying at a deluxe hotel and you run into someone who isn’t staying at a deluxe hotel but clearly wishes they were.

Now that I think I'm gonna have to steal. That's good stuff right there, ZZUB. Deluxenfreude. The LaLas felt it every night (well, one night at least) as we watched throngs of people making their way through the front doors of AKL to Boma and looking at the lobby in awe. The thing is, until this year, we were them. So we pointed at 'em and yelled "Guess what? We're staying here and you aren't! How bout them apples?!" I'm kidding. Or am I?

So after we toured the Merc for awhile, my daughter picked out an Aurora Minnie she really wanted. And I told her we’d buy it. She wrapped her still kind of chubby little arms around my neck and covered my face with kisses. Which might explain why I bought it for her in the first place.

Ya think? That was really sweet, Z. And totally priceless.

But a man’s vacation must exceed his budget or what’s a 70 hour work week for?

I think you're onto something with that one.


There was more stuff that I wanted to quote but I exceeded my self imposed number of quotes per post with this one. The Ted Kennedy thing and your translation of your daughter telling you to hold the stickers was hilarious. I was DED. From so many things with this one.

You definitely brought the funny like only you can with this installment, ZZUB.

I think we all realize that you lead a pretty busy life between your work hours and trying to carve out quality time with your girls. And I know writing a trip report can be a job sometimes. Sure, it's fun but it also takes effort and time. So I just want to tell you thanks. Thanks for taking the time to tell your family's story and letting us all live vicariously through yall.

You can do it like no one else, ZZUB.

What I'm really saying is this: You're still da man.

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

In my life: The NEW old smelly van breaks down, I lose a temporary crown, my neighbour loses her dog, I take my kitten to the vet's for a needle and it goes bananas. On me. And I can't find my vampire cape...

Looky!

ZZUB just posted a NEW CHAPTER!

Without properly warning Me(l). TFI.

I've gotta say that you brightened my day. In the same way you brightened Senator Kennedy's, Mary Lou Retton's and many other Disers who've already booked at the Travelodge Maingate, The Swan or Dolphin.

What I'm trying to say is this: Playing on the bridge at Chappaquiddick would've been more fun.

So thanks.

Actually, the Mary Lou Retton thing made me laff SO hard and then, immediately, call my husband and read it to him. After he inquired why I have no life... he laffed, too. Because he has a "thing" for MLR. I find it funny and disturbing because I look NOTHING like Mary Lou Retton. In fact, I resemble LOU RAWLS. RIP. More than Mary Lou Retton.

Moving on. Dotting com.

I can't include any quotes of yours here.

Because I'd have to quote the whole darned thing.

I liked it TWICE. It was that nice.

Carl Farbman!!!!

Deluxenfreud!!!!

Bathroom!!!!

NORM!!!!

So good. All of it.

Tell Schpup that his Daddy "Wocks weawy weawy hard... like Aewosmith wocks! He's wike Stewen Tywer!"

And... because Mel happyhaunt has traditions of HER OWN:



Woll TIDE!

Now. Don't let that go to yer head. It's already too big. As it is.

Cheers, Mel.

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

Another great ZZUB chapter and worth the wait!!



What Mel said, and La, and NM and everyone above them!!!

We always valet park the car. The YAK's are lazy people, especially in the heat. What good is it to stay in a deluxe and not go deluxe all the way!!!

Thanks for the laughs!

 

[offwegotoneverland]

Valet parking and a mug that might not be good till 2042? Your daughter is sure having a fine time getting prizes out of you if this is how your starting off.

Thanks as always for your well written funny sweet reports.

 

[Quinn222]

Zzzub! Great chapter! I can so relate to that whole Merc thing. It sucked a whole lot of money out my wallet last week. And I also ran into Susie Helpershoes (or some relation of hers) in there and thought of you immediately.

 

[princesslibby]

There was like 23+ funny things in this newest installment.

Mary Lou.

Funny,funny stuff.

 

[Crazy Kanga]

Hey, don't make us wait til 2042 next time for an installment!

 

[UtahMama]

I heard through the DIS-grapevine you had posted again.

Word travels fast.

It's the hi-light of our month, ZZub the Dog-Whisperer/duck photographer/wooped daughter spoiler/tale spinner!

 

[Frickles]

Zzub....gosh I could quote many parts of that little diddy you just added, but everyone already has! So Ditto!

You had me laughing out load and shaking my head in wonderment as to how you come up with this stuff. You had me at Mary Lou!!!

Excellent stuff man! At least they taught you how to do something right at Bama.

 

[magicforever]

Hi Zzub, I'm really enjoying your trip report, as I have enjoyed all your trip reports. I felt the need to comment a little more in depth on this one because, especially in the first few installments, I have been inspired by your faith. I'm a new mom (Jack is 3 months old) and I have never felt closer to God as I do now that I'm a mother. I talk to God all the time now. Praying for my son's health (we just got back from a short hospital stay for an eye infection), thanking him for my family...just saying hi...all kinds of things. I was never a deeply spiratual person before the birth of my son, but it is now very important to me.

Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. I hope your wife is doing well.

Not only do you entertain the Dis masses, but you do what we are commissioned to do. God bless you!!!

 

[RNLUVSDISNEY]

You must be related to my husband. Or maybe it's just that Disney odor. Our 6 yo DD came home with exactly 12 new Minnie's in June. Every time she saw another outfit she just looked at Daddy w/ those eyes. We simply call our savings account Disney's money in waiting.

Loving your report. Thanks so much for sharing.

How's the baby doing?? Don't leave us hanging, just a little note to know that everything is still going well---

 

[Alice28]

I've already laughed, cried, nodded my head in a agreement....and we're just at the beginning of your vacation.

Looking forward to reading more-

 

[Flossbolna]

not that it hasn't been mentioned a million times: a truly great report! Thanks for taking the time to write and post this!

 

[Ellester]

Another great installment. I have to assume you are today celebrating the Tide's rousing victory over FIU. And, they didn't even try to beat them up! Roll Tide! I have decided to become a sometime Tide fan if only to combat the incredible amount of Tiger and Dawg paraphenalia I have to wade through here in Columbus, Georgia. My Yellow Jackets won yesterday, but even though Atlanta is 60 miles closer than Athens the Dawgs rather pathetic showing in the "No Longer Called the World's Largest Cocktail Party" made the cover of the Sports page along with those War Darn Eagles.