The flawed product of a deranged mind II

[JKMJ441724]

I can't wait. I'm too excited.

I had planned to take a stab at writing another trip report. However, I did not plan on starting it so soon. But this is as healthy an outlet as any for me to raise awareness for my Disney addiction. I have a chance to give voice (ahem, font) to my whims and fancies and have complete strangers be excited for me. Where are you people - let's see some excitement!

So here goes.

By the time we take this trip, it will have been seventeen months since I have visited the Mouse. It will have been 25 months since my children have been to the World.

Yes. My husband and I took a trip to WDW without our children. Let the flames begin. I have on my fire-resistant pajamas and a stash of marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate bars. We went for our tenth anniversary. This was the only time we have ever been away from our children.

It was a blast. For us. Not so much for the children.

A few years ago, before we went on our second Disney Cruise, we had made a one day pit stop at the Magic Kingdom. My sister, my DisSis if you will, had taught us all the value of renting DVC points. She was a certified Disney Junkie. We made fun of her, both behind her back and to her face. But she knew from whence she spoke. We stayed at Old Key West for about $80.

I thought this resort rocked. The room was awesome. It was bigger than the rooms I was accustomed to staying in for other trips. We had a porch that was right on a fairway. The buildings were beautiful and the pool was incredible. It was only the second time I had stayed on Disney property and the first had been years earlier.

The next year, I received an email offer from my DisneyRewardsVisaPeople (see you don't just have people for tax purposes - I have Disney People). Disney was offering free dining. I happened to be at my sister's house when I checked my email, so I read it her. She instantly started salivating and told me that was a gooo-oood deal. Don't tell my husband, but she and I decided right then and there that it was back to Disney. Of course I let him feel like he was ultimately in on the decision, but the truth of the matter is, he wasn't.

We stayed at Pop Century that year. Certainly not a DVC deluxe resort, but hey, we ate well. And we were on property. Boy that marketing ploy worked on this family. I would never again want to stay off property and I was convinced that the dining package was well worth the money. It was an investment.

The year after that was my 10th anniversary and Babe and I wanted to take a trip without the kids. Go somewhere just with the two of us. We thought about Vegas and a cruise, but in our minds we just kept coming back to WDW. We decided to rent points again. We were able to stay at Saratoga Springs from Sunday through Thursday for $480. If we had booked the exact same room through Disney for those same nights, it would have cost $1,400.00. What a bargain.

After that trip, we were not planning on going back to Disney for a few years. Goodness, we had been on a Disney vacation for four straight years. We did take a year off between our first Disney cruise and our second Disney cruise. You see, we picked up a little souvenir on the first cruise and I was out of work for eight weeks taking care of him.

So, you can imagine my surprise when one summer night after our anniversary trip, Babe said that he wanted to take the kids back to WDW. I ever so casually mention that if we are going to continue with our current trend of going to WDW every year or even every couple of years, we should consider becoming DVC members. You can imagine my even greater surprise when he agreed that we should check into just that.

I can tell you, my imaginary friends, that I had been looking at DVC resales for about a year at the time this conversation took place. I would look just in passing, as a hobby really; just something to pass the time - and cause me to drool all over my keyboard. I figured our family of four would only need about 50 points. We could manage quite nicely in a studio. But if we wanted more, I figured that we would bank and borrow points and only go once every three years. 150 points would be plenty. Shocker number three - Babe thought we should go ahead and get 100 points. Goodness, gracious, was the man trying to give me a heart attack? From the time we officially decided to buy some points until the time our bid had been accepted was about 72 hours.

So there you have it, we are now committed to taking a Disney vacation every year until 2054.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Where are you people - let's see some excitement!

Looky, looky who found Hook-y.



All that excitement is for you. And not for the super-fabulous baked potato I just consumed for lunch.

I have on my fire-resistant pajamas and a stash of marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate bars.

Mmmm, s'moooooores.

You see, we picked up a little souvenir on the first cruise and I was out of work for eight weeks taking care of him.

It's the gift that keeps on giving.

So there you have it, we are now committed to taking a Disney vacation every year until 2054.

I'm officially, insanely jealous.

I didn't realize until today that you had a pre-trippie going! Hello?! No shameless plug on my thread?! What is WRONG with you?

Houston, we have a problem.

 

[JKMJ441724]

Looky, looky who found Hook-y.



All that excitement is for you. And not for the super-fabulous baked potato I just consumed for lunch.

:

Nikki - I'm so happy that you jumped over here. That was a hootenanny calling your name.

It's the gift that keeps on giving.

And taking and taking and taking.... Boy those boys are expensive.

I didn't realize until today that you had a pre-trippie going! Hello?! No shameless plug on my thread?! What is WRONG with you?

Houston, we have a problem.

I promise to immediately rectify the situation - being as you don't mind the hi-jack.

Seriously, glad to have you here. Here is a shamless plug for your report on my report - jump over and read it people. It's frigging hilarious.

Also, for any lurkers out there on this one - here is the shamless plug to get you chime in!!

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

That was a hootenanny calling your name.

For some reason I imagine a hootenanny to sound like an owl.

Seriously, glad to have you here. Here is a shamless plug for your report on my report - jump over and read it people. It's frigging hilarious.

Seriously, come on over. You don't even need to bring me a gift or anything! LOL

Shameless plugs are never beneath me.

Also, for any lurkers out there on this one - here is the shamless plug to get you chime in!!

Seriously, people. It's a hootenanny. You should totally start posting. We know you're reading.
...
Listen to me. WE know you're reading. Like this is my PTR too.

 

[JKMJ441724]

For some reason I imagine a hootenanny to sound like an owl.

At my house it sounds like two kids under seven riding tricycles indoors having an Indy-type race 'round (right round, baby, right round like a record player, right 'round, 'round, 'round) my kitchen/dining room/living room.

Seriously, come on over. You don't even need to bring me a gift or anything! LOL

But if you do decide to bring something, lime-green crocs, size 6 1/2 would be a nice choice!!!

Seriously, people. It's a hootenanny. You should totally start posting. We know you're reading.
...
Listen to me. WE know you're reading. Like this is my PTR too.

I would gladly share this space with you. Rent is negotiable, but includes all utilities.

 

[JKMJ441724]

So here’s the cast, our motley crew.

Me - 35 year old mother of two. I work full time at a job outside our home. This fills me with guilt that I spend over 40 hours a week with my work family and too often my real family gets my second best. That is why my vacation is so important. I get to wake up and spend the whole day with the ones I love the most. Making memories to last a lifetime.

Babe - my husband of 11 years. Human GPS and impeccable dresser. In fact his dressing habits are sure to be the subject of a chapter or two in this report. He takes forever to get ready. I don’t understand it. He is also a workaholic. Even when he’s not at his job. At home, he is always washing cars or mowing the grass or vacuuming the carpets. He is an excellent spouse. I’ve had people tell me that they wish they had a husband like him. He came well trained. I do the cooking and the laundry and handle most of the kids’ needs, he handles everything else. In the 13 ½ years we have been together, I can count on one hand the number of times I have washed my car and on two hands the number of times I have filled up my own gas tank.

DD6 - almost seven years old. She has spent her last few birthdays at Disney or on a Disney ship. She has come to expect going to Disney for her birthday. She was shocked this year to learn that we were going after her birthday. You see, she is in school now and we have to go around their so-called schedule. Dang rules. She is my princess. She generally does what I ask, when I ask. She is quiet and reserved, wonderfully artistic. She loves to color and very often feels a song coming on that she just can’t ignore and will belt it out no matter where she finds herself. When she was younger, she was infatuated with Belle (from Beauty and the Beast) and would tell everyone that her name was Belle. Then one day we read Atlantis. In it Kida said what her full name is (I can’t remember what it was and can’t be bothered to go get the book and find out. Then she said “but my friends call me Kida.” After that book, our girl called herself BelleKida. So that is probably what she will be called throughout this report.

DS4 - my son that I love as much as the air I breathe. He is ALL boy. Can’t sit still for a second. He’s so cute, when he asks me for drink (or anything) he will wave his hands in anticipation. Not wildly wave, but in the most endearing way. He likes to build stuff - and tear it down - and play with trucks and action figures. He’s a momma’s boy. He loves me and that makes my heart melt. It also makes me give in to his tantrums on occasion. Even though he frequently torments his sister, he worships her. He wants to play with her and can’t grasp the concept that she just doesn’t want him bothering her.

DisSis - My Disney Homey. She is the sinister force behind us buying DVC. Every time I make a payment on it, I think of her - and sometimes not in a good way. We work about 3 blocks from each other and carpool four days each week. She is the one who introduced me to the Dis and the trip reports of ZZUB and La-La. She was the driving force behind both of our Disney Cruises. I’m the one who talked us all into going to Disney for our trip two years ago - the free dining dragged me in. She had talked for a while about getting DVC points. So when I told her that we were really considering it, of course we had her blessings.

DBIL - He’s my sister’s husband and such a good man. Plus, he’s handy to have around the house. The man can fix just about anything! He’s not a Disney person. Apparently, they did not discuss that before the wedding. Oh wait, they did too because they went on a land and sea Disney package for their honeymoon. I guess he just did not realize the full extent of her feelings - for DISNEY.

DNephew5 - almost six years old. Likes video games. On our last trip he was tall enough to ride a lot of the rides but was a touch skiddish. I hope that he will be up for more this trip.

DNiece0 - She will turn one year old just a few days before we leave on this trip. I am so excited to be there for her first trip to Disney. She is already a princess. And our own little miracle baby.

Dmom - What can I say? It’s our mom and all that implies. She and our step-father have come with us on both Disney Cruises and our trip a couple of years ago to the World. It is my belief that they had a good time. She keeps my kids so I can work. I plan to be completely debt free in about nine years and then I am going to quit my job. Babe, of course, will have to keep working. He carries our health insurance.

Dstepdad - One of the best step-dads EVER. He has been married to our mother for close to twenty years. He is a wonderful man. Never questioned having to help pay for our college tuition (we paid for part) or weddings. I even had both him and my real father walk me down the aisle on my wedding day. I have that much respect for him. He has one daughter and two “real” grandsons. There has never been a day pass where I wondered if he loves my mother’s children and grandchildren as much as his own. The answer is unequivocally yes.

And that’s the ten of us.
That's the waaay weee became the Disneeeey Bunch! Da, duh, dun, da.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

She is the sinister force behind us buying DVC.

I have that "Dark Side" music from Star Wars going on in my head right now - dun dun dun dun-duhdun, dun-duhdun.

I'm not sure what will prove scarier - that I just took the time to really consider how that should be typed out or if you end up knowing EXACTLY what I'm talking about.

There has never been a day pass where I wondered if he loves my mother’s children and grandchildren as much as his own. The answer is unequivocally yes.

Awww. Bringing on the sap. I love it.

 

[JKMJ441724]

I have that "Dark Side" music from Star Wars going on in my head right now - dun dun dun dun-duhdun, dun-duhdun.

I'm not sure what will prove scarier - that I just took the time to really consider how that should be typed out or if you end up knowing EXACTLY what I'm talking about.

We could be soul sisters because I totally get it. I have seen all SIX movies and I'm pretty sure that some baseball player uses it when he comes to bat, or some football team uses it every time they take the field....

 

[JKMJ441724]

One of the reasons that so many of us love WDW is that it gives us the time to reconnect with our family and friends. We get to see the light shine in the eyes of our children, every day for a week. Usually several times each day.

In the real world, those moments are all too rare.

But I had one this morning. About about 2:00 a.m. In the real world.

My very-nearly-four-year-old son had his first official teeball practice. We made the mistake of telling him six weeks ago that we had signed him up to play this year. So every day for the past 42 days he has asked when he gets to play ball. He doesn't understand the phrase "when the season starts." So we had to come up with something that he could wrap his 3 year old brain around. We told him that his baseball shirt was not ready, that they were making one especially for him.

It was with much delight that I told him yesterday morning that his shirt was ready. He was estatic, popped out of bed like daisies in the snow (that's a quote from Mulan) to start his day. I told him that as soon as Daddy got home from work, it was off to the ball fields.

He had a blast. Hit the ball. Ran the bases. Slid into every base like a major league slugger. His pants were filthy.

My little slugger was tuckered. He fell asleep in the car on the way home.

At 2:00 this morning, he bumps and bangs his way down the darkened hallway into my room. He's thirsty.

I get him a drink. He sucks it back like a camel. As he put the cup down he said, "I had a good day today, Mommy."


Sigh.

 

[JKMJ441724]

The Disboards are all about sharing our experiences; passing on words to the wise; learning from other's mistakes.

So here is little nugget of wisdom for those of you who may be driving to the World or in the world. And I have to say, it has me laughing my patooty off this morning.

I have a friend of a friend of a friend who was arrested last week. And since I have a close contact at the criminal court clerk's office, a favor was asked of me. My friend wanted me to call my contact and get the affidavit of arrest.

Apparently, it all started with a fairly simple speeding ticket, which led to a no show in court, which led to a suspended license and a bench warrant. Well, the friend of my friend's friend was picked up by our city's finest and hauled to the pokey. Whereupon he was asked if he had any paraphanalia or other such substances on his person. He denied any such materials. Therein he was advised that if any such material was then found on him, he would be charged with bringing contraband into the jail - not just possession of drugs.
The fool still did not say anything. Lo, and behold, they find cocaine in his pockets and he sits in his cell, awaiting a bond hearing, charged with a felony.

The moral of the story: If you are going to do drugs, don't drive fast.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

 

[stagemomx3]

I'm here reading, and you've given me much hope that my drooling over the DVC resales is not just daydreaming!

 

[JKMJ441724]

I'm here reading, and you've given me much hope that my drooling over the DVC resales is not just daydreaming!

I'm so glad you are here. And Welcome Home. That's just a taste of what could be yours if you buy DVC!!!

I'm so excited about our DVC although every month when I make my payment, I cringe a little bit. Sometimes, Babe says we should not have bought it, then I remind him that he wanted to double the number of points I thought we should get. So the moral to that story is, book a vacation using your points sooner than 13 months from the date you buy the points. It's hard to pay on it that long without getting ANY use out of it. I know it is going to be worth it!!

Money - spend all you want, I'll make more.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

One of the reasons that so many of us love WDW is that it gives us the time to reconnect with our family and friends.

One of the other reasons is because it's the only place on the planet where this has no calories:

I saw this on the food port thread this week and simply cannot get it out of my head.

At 2:00 this morning, he bumps and bangs his way down the darkened hallway into my room. He's thirsty.

I get him a drink. He sucks it back like a camel. As, he puts the cup down he said, "I had a good day today, Mommy."


Sigh.

I don't know you (although we're soul sisters). I don't know your kids. But I DO know that this is so darn cute I said, "AWWWWW," out loud when I read it.

The Disboards are all about sharing our experiences; passing on words to the wise; learning from other's mistakes.

Just say no to Crocs.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

The comedic timing of this line was right on.

Oh...and:

IWANTDVCRIGHTNOW! I WANT IT! I WANT IT! I WANT IT! :foot stomp:

::sigh::

Hissy fit, over.

 

[JKMJ441724]

One of the other reasons is because it's the only place on the planet where this has no calories:

Great. Now I have that stuck in my head and can't get rid of it. But that may not be a bad thing.

What would be a bad thing is this:

Oh, Mickey. You're so fine.
You're so fine, you blow my mind.
Hey, Mickey.

Great. Now I have that stuck in my head, too.

I don't know you (although we're soul sisters). I don't know your kids. But I DO know that this is so darn cute I said, "AWWWWW," out loud when I read it.

I KNOW! It almost made tears come to my eyes and made my heart melt just a little bit. Those are the moments I live for. Where you just know you did SOMETHING right.

Just say no to Crocs.

Ditto.

The comedic timing of this line was right on.

I am still LMAO about that whole situation. What a stupidhead.

IWANTDVCRIGHTNOW! I WANT IT! I WANT IT! I WANT IT! :foot stomp:
Hissy fit, over.

I thought that was what I was going to have to do to get mine. Man, you don't know what you can get until you ask.
Although, I really don't know who you would have to ask. Not sure what you and BF's financial arrangements are.

So here's my own little piece of peer pressure. DO IT! You'll thank me later.

 

[JKMJ441724]

So anyway….
We bought our DVC points in October of last year and this will be our first trip using our own points. We have our one hundred points from 2007, which we banked, and our full allotment of 2008 points. Instead of getting a two bedroom for ourselves, we decided to rent part of our points (huh, there’s no such thing as a free lunch) to my mother and sister and we would all get studios. My DisSis and I discussed and ultimately rejected getting a two bedroom and sharing it. It will sleep up to eight people but the men in our lives say there are certain things (read body functions/eliminations) that they prefer to do in the privacy of their own “home.”

Doing something for the first time is usually exciting. Except of course, speeding tickets and work-related injuries: the first time you are allowed to go on vacation with a friend; buying your first home; telling your husband for the first time that he is going to be a father.

I was very excited on St. Patty’s Day (check that out Tinkerbellerella - soul sisters, I say) when I was able to call DVC Member Services and book our trip. My DisSis and I had been counting down the days until our seven month window since Babe and I bought the DVC months ago. We had planned to stay at Board Walk Villas. The reasons for choosing BWV were multiple. The first of which was the proximity to several attractions including DTD and the water parks. We also liked the idea of being so close to Epcot. We wanted to be able to just walk home if the children needed a break or if we wanted to hop in the pool. The pool - that is a reason unto itself. It's phenomenal.

But then I saw a thread about BWV in October. The thread basically said that we had about as much of a chance as a snowball in H E double hockey sticks of getting one studio for our time period, fahgetabout three studio rooms. We sat down and put the DVCs in order from our first choice to the last.

This is how the conversation with Member Services went:

Me: I’d like a reservation for three studios at BWV checking in on October 12th and checking out on the 17th.
Member Services: hysterical laughter followed by Thanks. I needed a good laugh.
Me: I’d like a reservation for three studios at Beach Club Villas, please, for those same dates.
Member Services: Seriously?
Me: OK, how ‘bout VWL?
Member Services: I can accommodate you for the 15th and the 17th.
Me: We are not even spending the night on the 17th. [A heavy sigh.] My 4th choice is Animal Kingdom Villas.
Member Services: There are no value rooms or standard view rooms. However, we do have the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th available in a savannah view room. I can list you with a cash pay for the 12th and waitlist you for that day on points. We are available at Saratoga Springs and Old Key West for all dates. You could always book a two bedroom at Board Walk and a studio somewhere else and keep checking back to see if your studio comes available at the Boardwalk.
Me: I’ll have to call you back.

So, I called my DisSis and reviewed my conversation with member services and we weighed our options. I told her to come to my office at lunchtime and we would make our final decisions. She called her husband and I called Babe.

We liked the BWV for its ambiance, the atmosphere, the location - all at a great price. Only 9 points per night. So, we were a little bummed at the jump to 12 points times five nights times three families for a stay at Animal Kingdom Villas.

Those two sentences call for a flashback.

Ten years ago, Babe and I were building our home. My dad and brother are electricians by trade and did all of the electrical work for free on our home. Babe and I just had to buy the supplies.

Babe and I also thought we had money back then. I guess we did - it was BC after all - before children. Babe and I also had four season tickets to our local SEC football team. A huge game was coming up and I was actually looking forward to going. Babe had been talking about “we” and “us” doing many things in conjunction with the game.

As a thank you to my brother and dad, Babe asked them to join “us” as our guests to the game. They agreed. I was glad to have them on board. “What do you mean,” he said to me, “that you are glad they are coming with us?” “I mean exactly what I said, Honey. It will be great going to the game with them.” “Oh, I had no idea that you wanted to go to the game, Wife. My dad is going with me. And your dad and brother are using the other two tickets.”

What the heck? Are you kidding me? I guess you are just going to have to tell your dad that he can’t go. I can’t believe you did that. Boy, did he learn a lesson. He had strict instructions that from that moment on “we” and “us” will always mean Babe and ME. If he is talking about anyone other than Babe and ME he is to use actual names.

Just for the record, my boss had four season tickets as well (much better seats than our tickets) and he was not going to that game. He gave me his four tickets and I took my DBFF and we scalped the other two tickets. Forty yard line, Baaybee.

Now, that incident is a long-standing running joke between my boss and me. He is prone to say “we” need to do such and such - when clearly he means that I need to do it and not him. From time to time when he gives “us” too much to do, I will tell him to leave Babe and his dad out it. And then he will realize that he has been piling on the work and back off a bit.

Back to the present.

Babe was all for AKV. Really, what did he care? It wasn’t going to cost us any extra cash, just dip into the reserve of points. Big deal. I thought it would be cool to look out over the fake moonlight on the Savannah and see some nice animals. That's a nice giraffe. I like that giraffe.

My DisSis came to my office at lunch and said that her husband was for saving the money. Which was fine with “us.” And by “us,” I meant Babe and Me. My mom was for saving the money, too. The more I thought about it in terms of the Big Picture, I did not think that it made practical sense to spend an extra $450 just for us to be able to look out over some animals. Animal Kingdom isn’t even our favorite park, for crying out loud.

We passed over Saratoga Springs for the simple reason that in all likelihood, that’s where we will be staying next year. We plan to go at some point to see all of the Christmas lights and know that we will need our eleven month window to do that.

Old Key West was the winner by default. We’ve stayed there for one night in the past. That was the very first time we rented someone else’s points. We did not spend a lot of time at the resort, but what I saw of it, I liked.

Welcome Home!

 

[JKMJ441724]

Is this thing ON?

Just checking.

If anyone is checking in right now - The History Channel is about to have DISNEY on. Modern Marvels, starts at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Go watch!

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Doing something for the first time is usually exciting. Except of course, speeding tickets and work-related injuries

Also, the day after learning that vodka and orange juice goes down smooth.

I was very excited on St. Patty’s Day (check that out Tinkerbellerella - soul sisters, I say) when I was able to call DVC Member Services and book our trip.

Ok. Seriously. Between you and TarzansKat, we now have ourselves a trio. We're like the better looking half of The Brady Bunch. However, I think you get to be Marsha. TK's Jan. I'm going to have to be Cindy. Oh, I mean, Thindy.

Me: I’d like a reservation for three studios at BWV checking in on October 12th and checking out on the 17th.
Member Services: hysterical laughter followed by Thanks. I needed a good laugh.
Me: I’d like a reservation for three studios at Beach Club Villas, please, for those same dates.
Member Services: Seriously?
Me: OK, how ‘bout VWL?
Member Services: I can accommodate you for the 15th and the 17th.
Me: We are not even spending the night on the 17th. [A heavy sigh.] My 4th choice is Animal Kingdom Villas.
Member Services: There are no value rooms or standard view rooms. However, we do have the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th available in a savannah view room. I can list you with a cash pay for the 12th and waitlist you for that day on points.

This was funny. In that un-funny, Disney-painful way.

Welcome Home!

I like it when they say that regardless of what resort you're walking into. It allows me to pretend I'm a DVC owner. You know, at POP Century.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

If anyone is checking in right now - The History Channel is about to have DISNEY on. Modern Marvels, starts at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Go watch!

This is on my DVR to watch. We (meaning I, with BF humoring me and occasionally walking out of the room) watched the Samantha Brown thing too.

 

[JKMJ441724]

Also, the day after learning that vodka and orange juice goes down smooth.

Jose Quervo is NOT a friend of mine.

Ok. Seriously. Between you and TarzansKat, we now have ourselves a trio.

I'll take that over the Girls Next Door.

I hope your Babe and you made time to watch Modern Marvels. It was quite entertaining. Obviously pretty old. It ended with EE.

 

[JKMJ441724]

Why do we continue to go to WDW? It is completely addictive. Our first cruise is when the bug really bit me. The cast members were so attentive and polite. We lacked for nothing. The environment just made everyone happy. And happiness led to smiles and good feelings. And apparently good feelings lead to babies, because we picked up our little souvenir, our son, on that first trip.

But at Disney, the magic is built right in to your vacation. If I were constantly surrounded by people who only wanted the best for me and would go out of their way to help me, I would not yearn for that week each year that I get to put my job behind me and just bask in the glow of my family.

In my moments when I am away from my kids, for whatever reason, I daydream about taking them to WDW and sharing the experience of Carousel of Progress - a ride that I remember going on with my mother years ago. It is still her favorite attraction in the park. I frequently can be spotted in my office, carrying my purple Tinkerbelle coffee mug, singing “There’s a great big, beautiful tomorrow…” Knowing that this was one of Walt’s own projects makes it that much more special.

If we are piled up on the couch watching a movie, I think about the four of us squishing into one car on the TTA. When we go for a walk down our street, I think of us on Main Street USA, at dusk with the lights spilling out of the shops onto the sidewalk. It’s all good at WDW. I am making memories and that are worth so much more than making money.

So, we (and by “we” I mean my DisSis and me) are still trying to make our plans. I keep checking with my discount airline for their October flights and prices. I have even emailed them twice for the schedule. They STILL don’t have it available. You see, if the flights are available at the right times, for the low prices, we are going to fly. But we do live close enough to the World to drive, should we need to. If they have a Saturday morning flight, we are going to fly down then. When I flew down last May, by the time we got our bags and rental car, checked into our hotel, it was after 2:00 p.m. before we were able to get to the Magic Kingdom.

If we should be lucky enough to fly this year, we will probably do things differently. Instead of spending half a day at a park (on one of the busiest days of the year), we will probably spend some time at DTD. Or make our way over to the Boardwalk - rumor has it that they let people in the back gate of Epicot for Illuminations.

But…
If flights have gotten exorbitant, we will be driving. The ten of us will be piling into only two SUVs. And we will be leaving immediately as soon as our children get out of school. We will drive as far as we can before becoming a road hazard. Hopefully, we will make it all the way to Orlando. Then we will get up bright and early and spend our entire Saturday at some Disney Park. We still don’t know which one. We have hurried up to wait on TGM. He still does not have his least crowded park days for October listed on his website. Hurry, Man! We have ADRs to make!