The DDA Trouble Free Zone Part 4

[bengalbelle]

Hey DDA! I'm caught up

I just did back to back 12 hour shifts, and have to be in again tonight at 7 .... but I have to help my dad at 9 this morning, so I can't sleep until about 10:30

So what did I do on the way home? Made ADRs for a trip that we may or may not be going on.

Keep your fingers crossed that Kyle can get his first vacation request. If he does, then we're going to Disney in September! I originally wanted to do the last week in September and first in October so we could do MNSSHP, but his weeks off have to fit in his month-block schedule, so that was a no go. So as it stands, if we don't buy DVC this summer we will be at POR September 18th-27th. If we do, we'll be at SSR then (or maybe in October, since free dining won't matter), but doing the same ADRs.

But all of this is contingent upon Kyle getting that vacation time....

How disappointed do you think I'll be if I have to cancel all of this?! But for now, here's dreaming.... all of these are made and confirmed!

Monday: travel, dinner @ Ohana, Spectromagic(?)
Tuesday: MK, dinner @ Crystal Palace, Wishes
Wednesday: MGM, dinner @ 50's Prime Time, Fantasmic
Thursday: relax, DTD< dinner @ Wolfgang Puck
Friday: Epcot, dinner @ coral reef
Saturday: sleep in a bit, Epcot (WS), dinner @ LeCellier, Illuminations
Sunday: AK, dinner @ 1900 Park Fare
Monday: MGM, relax, BW and dinner @ Spoodles
Tuesday: MK, dinner @ Tony's, Wishes
Wednesday: AK or relax, travel

for Kyle.

 

[legalslave]

Gee, you'll be bored staying home by then - you have to CHECK IN by the 30th - it won't be too late.

Looks like the free dining plan is out for us......the timing is just so off!!
It starts the day before our kids start school
the following week is Tarryn's Batmitzvah with her big party which I am busy organizing and trying to get Dj, caterers, entertainment etc etc booked
The week after Aubrey and I are off to Alaska for 2 weeks and then it is The Jewish New year besides the fact that MIL will be here all that time and I could NOT handle WDW with her, she leaves on the 26th and it ends on the 30th.

 

[legalslave]

DH and I have been planning many vacations that we are putting together for the next 9 months and we are discussing the Christmas trip a lot. We have had such great luck renting DVC points in the past (and are doing it again for the October trip) that we are kicking around the idea of doing it yet again for Christmas. We also like the option of having Christmas dinner in our room since nothing we have ever done at WDW has ever felt "right" to us.

OKW is a location we have never tried so we started looking at the accommodations there and like the fact that they are bigger than the other DVC resorts and they have a full-sized dining table. Then I looked at the size of a 1BR villa... it is 1016 square feet. The cottage on our honeymoon was #1016, our first apartment was at 1016 William Street, our room number on our trip to Acapulco was 1016 and I am now posting on page 1016 of the DDA thread. doo doo doo doo

Looks like I need to post a request for points on the DVC Rent board in the near future

I have the same thing with the number 62. Graduated in 1962, married in 1962, lived at 62 South Gate Drive for 30 years, phone number was 462-4662, etc. Keeps popping up in small ways all the time.

 

[itdjbw]

Gee, you'll be bored staying home by then - you have to CHECK IN by the 30th - it won't be too late.

So if we check in by the 30th it will still be valid thru the stay - I thought it ended on the 30th!!! I will have to look if I could swing that I will need the break after MIL leaves

 

[KristineN]

You guys all need to high tail it over to the budget board - they're always coming up with ways to earn cash to pay for trips

but are they legal!!

 

[triplefigs]

You may already have looked at them or planned to, but AllEarsNet had pics of the parade: http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/mk/mnsshp.htm

Also, if you have subscribed to TGM again, he has a photo tour under Activities.

Oh and the DISer who has some of her videos online has a MNSSHP one:
http://www.cassworld.ca/

Thanks for the links, and I do subscribe to TGM. That's how I figured out which days to go to the parks so quickly the other night!

 

[triplefigs]

Hey DDA! I'm caught up

I just did back to back 12 hour shifts, and have to be in again tonight at 7 .... but I have to help my dad at 9 this morning, so I can't sleep until about 10:30

So what did I do on the way home? Made ADRs for a trip that we may or may not be going on.

Keep your fingers crossed that Kyle can get his first vacation request. If he does, then we're going to Disney in September! I originally wanted to do the last week in September and first in October so we could do MNSSHP, but his weeks off have to fit in his month-block schedule, so that was a no go. So as it stands, if we don't buy DVC this summer we will be at POR September 18th-27th. If we do, we'll be at SSR then (or maybe in October, since free dining won't matter), but doing the same ADRs.

But all of this is contingent upon Kyle getting that vacation time....

How disappointed do you think I'll be if I have to cancel all of this?! But for now, here's dreaming.... all of these are made and confirmed!

Monday: travel, dinner @ Ohana, Spectromagic(?)
Tuesday: MK, dinner @ Crystal Palace, Wishes
Wednesday: MGM, dinner @ 50's Prime Time, Fantasmic
Thursday: relax, DTD< dinner @ Wolfgang Puck
Friday: Epcot, dinner @ coral reef
Saturday: sleep in a bit, Epcot (WS), dinner @ LeCellier, Illuminations
Sunday: AK, dinner @ 1900 Park Fare
Monday: MGM, relax, BW and dinner @ Spoodles
Tuesday: MK, dinner @ Tony's, Wishes
Wednesday: AK or relax, travel

Our days overlap! We'll have to try to meet up.

 

[triplefigs]

Great plan. Come on Denise that would be so so so cool for the kids!!!

What an amazing experience and stories they will have to tell at school after you say they were home sick!!!!!!

That's why we've decided to be upfront with the school about the trip. No way my kids will be quiet about Disney!

 

[ellenbenny]

So, Deb, are you volunteering to come up with a theme and then make the costumes since I don't sew at all?

I wouldn't mind helping to sew something, but I'm terrible at coming up with ideas. I used to make halloween costumes for my kids when they were little, from patterns though, not from my imagination...

Let me know if you want me to help out, I don't have any little ones to sew for anymore, so I actually would enjoy it.

Ellen

Here are some pictures:

 

[triplefigs]

I wouldn't mind helping to sew something, but I'm terrible at coming up with ideas. I used to make halloween costumes for my kids when they were little, from patterns though, not from my imagination...

Let me know if you want me to help out, I don't have any little ones to sew for anymore, so I actually would enjoy it.

Ellen

Here are some pictures:

Those are adorable! Maybe with the DDA's help we can get picked for the parade! Where do we need to be to be "seen"? And, the kids have the Hercules costume, red/blue/pink Power Rangers, and Buzz Lightyear costumes from Disney.

Maybe Buzz, Woody, Jesse (BK), Mr and Mrs Potato Head or me as Bo Peep?

 

[itdjbw]

I wouldn't mind helping to sew something, but I'm terrible at coming up with ideas. I used to make halloween costumes for my kids when they were little, from patterns though, not from my imagination...

Let me know if you want me to help out, I don't have any little ones to sew for anymore, so I actually would enjoy it.

Ellen

Here are some pictures:

Great outfits and cute kids, you did a great job on both!!!!

 

[KristineN]

Ellen...

You are VERY talented!!! I always wished I could sew.

 

[Tammi67]

NO! Then I would be the only DDAer in Fredericksburg

Which Payless stores did you try, Tammi? I have three pair of crocs, but would love to try out the knock-offs! We are headed to Richmond next weekend and I can look there if you have scouted out all the local stores...

ETA: This was my 1200th post!

YAY for you Elin.

I haven't been to any of the Paylesses around here. I stopped at one in Alexandria and one in Springfield on my way home from work on Friday. I'm going to try to get over to the mall either today or tomorrow.

 

[weluvdisney]

Hey Everybody!!!! Happy Sunday!!!

We just got back from church and teaching, I am SO happy that I only have 1 more week to go of teaching!!!!

Last night was a blast!!! The party was awesome, everything was so well thought out and organized!! I think that Amy needs to go into party planning!!! The hall that the party was held in was perfect, plenty of room and tables and chairs for everybody!!! Alyssa was adorable, she looked like she had a great time!!!

We had a great time hanging out/ Kate, Steve, and the kids!!! Julia and Nick are absolutely adorable and my kids had a blast hanging out w/ them!!!! They have talked about nothing else since we left last night!!! Dave and Steve seemed to hit it off really well, and I had a blast chatting all night w/ Kate about mostly what else but---DISNEY!!! It is so great to be able to talk to someone else who appreciates Disney as much as I do, we don't have any friends (besides Kevin and Amy) who even remotely share our obsession (I guess I could call it that)!! It is so its nice to be able to share stories w/ someone who can relate!!! Most of our friends feel like Disney is something that they feel obligated to do once for their kids but never want to do again !!!

I SO want to go on the DDA trip in the worst way!!! I have never had a trip away from my kids before and it sounds like it will be a blast!!! I am still working on it though ...

Congratulations to all of you who were lucky enough to be planning trips!!! I love that feeling of the first few weeks after you book, all the planning is SO exciting!!!

I feel really lucky to be able to chat w/ all of you guys and to live vicariously through everybody's trips and other exciting events in your lives!!! I look forward everyday to being able to check in and see how all of my new "friends" are doing!!!

Well this time change is seriously kicking my butt today!!! I guess I need to go and try to get something done!!! I will be around all day though and checking in!!!

Amy, Kevin, Alyssa, Kate, Steve, Julia & Nick thanks again for last night!!! We had a wonderful time and hope to do it again really soon!!!

Julie

 

[triplefigs]

Congrats on 1200 posts Elin! You chatterbox!

 

[UP Disney]

Gorgeous pictures & gorgeous kids.

I wouldn't mind helping to sew something, but I'm terrible at coming up with ideas. I used to make halloween costumes for my kids when they were little, from patterns though, not from my imagination...

Let me know if you want me to help out, I don't have any little ones to sew for anymore, so I actually would enjoy it.

Ellen

Here are some pictures:

 

[Tammi67]

DH and I have been planning many vacations that we are putting together for the next 9 months and we are discussing the Christmas trip a lot. We have had such great luck renting DVC points in the past (and are doing it again for the October trip) that we are kicking around the idea of doing it yet again for Christmas. We also like the option of having Christmas dinner in our room since nothing we have ever done at WDW has ever felt "right" to us.

OKW is a location we have never tried so we started looking at the accommodations there and like the fact that they are bigger than the other DVC resorts and they have a full-sized dining table. Then I looked at the size of a 1BR villa... it is 1016 square feet. The cottage on our honeymoon was #1016, our first apartment was at 1016 William Street, our room number on our trip to Acapulco was 1016 and I am now posting on page 1016 of the DDA thread. doo doo doo doo

Looks like I need to post a request for points on the DVC Rent board in the near future

Don't ride in an elevator today, Elin.

 

[weluvdisney]

I forgot to mention that we didn't have any confrontations w/ the infamous Courtney!!! We did have Amy point her out to us though and I definitely can see her causing some problems!!! She did not look like I expected her to though (isn't it funny how you have as visual in your mind of how someone is going to look a certain way)!!! Kate and I were sure that we could take her on though , so we were a little disappointed when she didn't approach us (especially when we were both on our cookie high )!!!

 

[Tinkaroo]

Hi Lindsay! I'm working on my DVC comparison & benefits information right now. The spreadsheet you sent has been very helpful.

I was teasing my DH earlier and told him the Dec. flight was only $218 a piece. He was shocked it was so low. I asked him if I could purchase it now. He kind of laughed and then said "Get the bills paid and ..." He never finished his sentence. I know that just means I just have to show him we can afford it and I know that we can. I sooooo want DVC. I love Disney and want to return. I know that we can afford it and it only makes sense as much as I'd like to go a couple of times a year. I want to do the MVMCP this year and the MNSSHP next year after listening to all of you talk about it. I also want to do the Wine & Food festival, the half marathon and maybe the full marathon if I can get in shape. So many things to do and see at Disney. By the time, I've done & seen it all once, they'll make additions and changes and we'll have to start all over.

I find myself stopping to consider everytime I want to buy something new or eat out. I am always thinking "Could this money be better spent on my DVC membership?" Most of the time, the answer has been yes.

My DH really wants to do some of the extra things - like the Richard Petty experience you guys were talking about earlier, a fishing excursion, a horse carriage ride, etc. It is so cool that we can do this all from one place.

Sounds like a plan, and like you're coming at it from the right angle! At first when I began broaching it, Jonathan didn't even want to talk about it. (We'd always assumed we'd do it someday - had never looked into the price of it though - but figured we couldn't afford to do it right now.) When I finally convinced him to sit down and hear me out, he was a bit amazed, as was I, to see that our initial investment (I'm sure we'll add-on points in the future) was really not as much as we'd anticipated when the F&F deal was going on. Heck, if we'd bought this time last year, we'd probably be over halfway there to paying the whole thing off with the $$ we spent on accomodations alone this past year!

I think when you want to go multiple times in a year (or if your family is so large that you'd need 2 rooms), DVC is a no-brainer, IMO.

And even though I've been whining about how we probably won't be back until late 2007, I do still have over 50 points of my "freebie" 2005 points to use. As DH said to me as I was crying leaving the MK, "you don't honestly think that we won't be back before then, do you?!"

 

[Tinkaroo]

Hey DDA! I'm caught up

I just did back to back 12 hour shifts, and have to be in again tonight at 7 .... but I have to help my dad at 9 this morning, so I can't sleep until about 10:30

So what did I do on the way home? Made ADRs for a trip that we may or may not be going on.

Keep your fingers crossed that Kyle can get his first vacation request. If he does, then we're going to Disney in September! I originally wanted to do the last week in September and first in October so we could do MNSSHP, but his weeks off have to fit in his month-block schedule, so that was a no go. So as it stands, if we don't buy DVC this summer we will be at POR September 18th-27th. If we do, we'll be at SSR then (or maybe in October, since free dining won't matter), but doing the same ADRs.

But all of this is contingent upon Kyle getting that vacation time....

How disappointed do you think I'll be if I have to cancel all of this?! But for now, here's dreaming.... all of these are made and confirmed!

Monday: travel, dinner @ Ohana, Spectromagic(?)
Tuesday: MK, dinner @ Crystal Palace, Wishes
Wednesday: MGM, dinner @ 50's Prime Time, Fantasmic
Thursday: relax, DTD< dinner @ Wolfgang Puck
Friday: Epcot, dinner @ coral reef
Saturday: sleep in a bit, Epcot (WS), dinner @ LeCellier, Illuminations
Sunday: AK, dinner @ 1900 Park Fare
Monday: MGM, relax, BW and dinner @ Spoodles
Tuesday: MK, dinner @ Tony's, Wishes
Wednesday: AK or relax, travel

Sounds awesome! I'm beginning to think it might be a bit lonely around here in early fall...