The Great DO OVER

[Happy 2 B Me]

I am looking forward to meeting you and your mom at the Diva adventure this Feb. I am so sorry for all you and your family have been through this last year. We are on a fixed income so I totally understand the feeling when money issues pop their ugly heads.

I admire the fact you have not let your girls lives change over all this. Each time your husband was hired some place I got so excited for you. Times are so different from when I was younger let alone my husband. Strange to think the normal is having 5+ different jobs in your work life. In my day -- probably same as your parents. We started work some place and retired from same place and with a pension. Boy are those days gone.

I worry every day that son-in-law might get laid off. I know he is good worker and knows a lot about his job, but I still worry.

Even though I would be the new Kid on the block for your visit to Portland I am looking forward to the zoo get together. You mom appears to be a kick. Would be nice to meet someone near my age.

I am very glad you are starting to get into the "turn around" mode.



Patty

 

[kelmac284]

Thanks Patty!

Yeah surprisingly my parents have actually always done their own thing. When I was little my dad raced cars and my mom owned her own drapery making business that she ran out of our home. Then later on they owned an antique business and then finally their own real estate company which they still own and have now for about 30 years. I don't know if you know much about owning your own business but it is ALWAYS tough and lots of sacrifices have to be made to keep the business going. ESP now since the economy is so bad. BOTH my parents are agents and actually my dad has not really worked full time in years. He has a lot of health issues and will be 69 this year so he pretty much just helps my mom out. In fact he lost his dear brother almost a year ago and that really was hard on him. His brother was only 10 months older than him and his only REAL brother (he has several half and steps) but it affected him very deeply. Anyway my mom runs the business and is a workaholic LOL but she liks it to though.

They have a vacation home up in Truckee and one in Puerto Vallarta Mexico that they try to get to a few times a year but they also work a LOT!

My husband is a journeyman tile setter and I don't know if it was unclear but when I say he gets laid off I mean from the same job. In construction when there is no work they get laid off for days or weeks or in this case months at a time but then go back to the same job. So he has been at this same shop for over 10 years but IN that time we have not only NOT gotten a raise in over 6 years but taken a 10/hr pay CUT and now all these layoffs. So yeah it has been REALLY stressful.

Anyway it has been tough but we are used to it unfortunately and we are dealing.

I am just glad that we were able to make this work because as I said things have just been SO stressful that I really need the getaway.

And that is great that you will be able to join us at the zoo. I don't know all the details yet but I will let you know as it gets closer.

 

[kelmac284]

FINALLY tomorrow I will be making my dinning ressies!

I could have made them starting on Wed but decided to wait till the last day so I could make them all at once. I have gone over and over them and hope I don't regret making more but I know we are still on a really tight budget so for now this is going to be what it has to be and if we get lucky and get more of that back money in I may make a few more between now and then. THat is the one nice difference between DW and DL is that you can pretty much make ressies up till the day and get in!!

Anyway this is what our schedule is looking like as of now:

Sunday we will get up bright and early and drive down. Not sure exactly when we will get there but we will check in to the PP and I have told them that we are celebrating both Shane and I's birthdays. His is May 29th and mine is June 3rd so a few weeks late but that is the soonest we can make it because of school so it will be fun. I have heard many times about baskets and such so I arranged for a coffee basket for shane to be in the room as well as a little surprise for the girls as well. A kind of welcome to DL thing. I hope it is good and that it all works out!!

Anyway then depending on how tired we are and such we will decide on whether we want to go into the parks, go to DTD or just to the pool and NO plans for dinner that night but we will just wing it.

Then Monday we plan to go to DL and our only ps that day is lunch at CC. We will just wing breakfast and dinner.

Tuesday is MM and we will head into DL for that and then hop over to DCA to get there first thing and hopefully head straight to Little Mermaid and then check out whatever else is new. We have no plans for any special meals this day and will probably just eat mostly counter service or perhaps head into DTD. We are thinking about PCH grill for dinner but I have to find out if we need a ressie for that.

Then on Wed we plan to go into DCA to get a WOC fast pass and then head back in to DL for the remainder of the day. We plan to do the BBQ for lunch and no plans for dinner.

Then THurs we plan to do MM again and then depending on our friends schedule we will spend as much time at DL until they are ready for us and then we will head down to visit with them for the remainder of the day.

Then on Friday back to DL and dinner at Cafe Orleans

Then Sat we plan on eating at Surf's up before we head home.

The things we KNOW we want to see and do is of course LM, ST and see the new parade and the fireworks. Anything else that might be new as well as check out Electronica if it is still available, the memories show and whatever else that is new since we were last there.

So I am very excited to get the ressies made as that is one more step closer to our journey.

I am still a bit bummed that our SD part of our trip was cancelled as I haven't been down there in several years but it just didn't work out this time and hopefully we will at least get to spend one day at the beach with our friends. Hopefully in the next few years we will make it back to SD to see the zoo and seaworld etc.

And if we DO end up going to my parents place in Mexico next year the girls will get LOTS of beach time!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Kelly I'd go ahead a make a ressie at PCH Grill.....just to be on the safe side. We've always made them, but the restaurant is rarely full......but going during the summer time & with the 2 rides opening up, crowds might be bigger than normal. (there hours are pretty limited for dinner as well)

 

[kelmac284]

Thanks Laurie.

I did that.

All the ressies are made for now and if anything changes between now and then I may add a few more since we only have like 1 a day and some days none so who knows. I know that I would like to eat at CC one day for breakfast and she said we can do walk up for that so we will play that by ear. Not sure if they are open during MM but again I am just going to see how everything goes. I just don't know WHAT to expect as far as crowds and the new rides so I am just going to have to see when we get there.

Glad that is done though and I will admit I am ANXIOUS!!

 

[reyasmommy]

I'm so happy that you'll be able to go on your trip now! Reading through your posts we sound a LOT alike and I completely understand how you feel. We were originally going on our trip this June, but due to a MAJOR pay cut my husband received and the unexpected death of someone VERY close to me, we had to cancel. I actually have yet to cancel my hotel and car rental reservations because I was hoping a miracle would happen and we would still be able to go. But it's just NOT going to happen. We have decided to go this October now.

We really shouldn't be going at all. Our money could be used towards other things that are more important. But I feel like I need something to look forward to and I need something to keep my mind off of all the stressful things that are going on in my life right now.

And we all know, once you step through those gates all of your troubles melt away. ((And I really, really, really need that))

I'm looking forward to reading more. Hope you plan on posting some pictures.

 

[DizNee Luver]

YAY for setting your Dining Ressies!!

 

[smile4stamps]

Hi Kelly!

I thought I would stop in on your PTR and see how you are doing! I'm glad you are able to get a Do OVER trip. I did not read your Christmas TR but it sounds like you really need this trip!

I am also staying at the PPH but only the first part of my trip so I will be checking out before you arrive

I have yet to make dining ressies... Hopefully there will still be pleanty of options for me when I figure out when/where we want to eat!

 

[kelmac284]

Hi Paula good to see you!! I assume you saw our itinerary and I am glad your friend is able to come for the first part of your trip!!

I know what you mean about feeling funny about being alone and I know you may feel weird about "tagging" along with our family but you are MORE than welcome! I know you would probably feel more comfortable if it was just me or me and some other gals but I can assure you that my dh gets along great with people and he has met up with the other divas before. You are more than welcome to hang with us for as much or as little as you feel comfortable. Like I said Michelle might be coming for part of the trip as well so it might be a little better with more people too.

Anyway we can talk as time gets closer and I can pm you my cell and you can call or text me as well.

That is what we do on the diva trips is they give out the cells and then people call or text people to get in touch.

Take care and look forward to reading your report as well!!

 

[kelmac284]

Just thought I would pop on here since I haven't been on here in over a month to say that we are below thirty days now!! We only have about 3 weeks left till we leave and I cannot WAIT!!! Luckily the kids have a LOT going on at school to keep us occupied so hopefully these next three weeks will fly by!

The girls have 2 field trips this week and then this weekend is memorial day and Shane's b-day. It is def bittersweet thinking about this weekend. This time last year I had my surgery the Friday before memorial day and I found out my uncle Ed was in the hospital and then he DIED that Sunday! So we spent memorial day at my relatives getting together with everyone that had gathered and the following weekend which was MY birthday was spent at his memorial service. So pretty somber! I can't believe it has been a year since he passed! Anyway this is def a better time this year.

We are planning to go to pirates for Shane's birthday and then have a bbq at mom and dads. Last year poor Shane really didn't get any kind of birthday because we had to have some cake on the Thursday before my surgery because I knew I would not be feeling well and then everything that happened with Ed. And then I got no kind of birthday either because the following week everything was about his memorial service. Don't know that we are doing anything on my ACTUAL birthday this year which is Friday the 3rd BUT the following Friday the 10th mom bought tickets for her, myself and the girls to go see Mary Poppins which is the day they get out of school so I am excited about that!! And then that Sunday we leave!!!

So lots to look forward to!

Not sure if I will write much again before I leave but hopefully the NEXT time I write will be with my report!

 

[kelmac284]

Well we are back from our trip and had a GREAT time!!

Some of the highlights were I did an in-room celebration for the kids and that was a BIG hit. Pretty spendy but it was SO worth it! Don't know that I would ever do it again but might do some baskets in the future because it was SO fun to have a surprise waiting!

It was also Shane and I's birthdays the week before so PP went all out giving us buttons, balloons and the rice krispy treats and we got chocolates every night of our stay which we never got at GC when we stayed last year or at DLH either.

We got to see WOC again and were right up front this time! Got to ride the new star tours but we all felt a bit motion sick so only did it once. Staying on property was a REAL bonus because we were able to do the hotel guest only previews of Little Mermaid two different days and LOVE this ride! Very cute! Would NOT have wanted to wait in the regular line. Also got the special fast passes and didn't even need to use them for the new rides but was happy to have them on our last day to do some last rides!

Got to see the fireworks and the memories show both of which were great!

Had some great meals and also spent a day at the beach visiting with friends.

Not sure if I will have time or can even remember what all we did to do a full trip report as I have to go back to work today and have a lot going on but we had a GREAT trip! We probably won't make it in Oct but are thinking about going with some friends over veteran's day as the girls have a 4 day weekend.

I will try to get back on in the next week or so and add more and some pics!

 

[DizNee Luver]

It was fun to follow along on FB.......I'm looking forward to seeing more pics!!! I'm so glad this trip was SO MUCH BETTER than your Christmas trip!!!

I was tempted to do the in room celebration but they aren't able to make any changes to what's offered & some of the items I didn't really want...but hope you took lots of pics of this!!

The baskets are a real nice surprise to get....just wish they weren't so darned expensive!!

I'm glad you also got a good view for the WoC show.....it's just amazing!!

MMMMMMMMMMMMM..........Disney Resort chocolates...... We had them on our beds everyday too.....we also got a pair of rubber duckies on our first night!!

 

[kelmac284]

Hi Laurie!

I have ALWAYS heard about the baskets/celebrations and had wanted to try it but when I called vacation planning was pretty dissapointed with the selections. I have read on the Dis and seen some pictures of baskets and what I REALLY wanted was to kind of have a basket made to order. I have read on here that you can do that but at least the person I talked to at VP didn't seem to know what I was talking about. Most of the baskets for kids seemed for "little" kids. I wanted a "graduation" basket for Katy with the graduations ears maybe a Tshirt, some candy, some jewelry like a necklace and earrings and maybe a fun water bottle or fan etc. But they didn't even HAVE a grad basket.

Then I was going to just do a fun basket for Shelby with a Tink theme and have them put in a bunch of tink themed items like a shirt, jewelry, coloring book etc. But again nothing! So since they said they couldn't do it I did the clebration.

It was WAY better than it sounded on the phone. We got an album, a frame, an autgraph book and pen that mickey signed for the girls. I FINALLY have a vinylmation We got a really cool banner that was over our door. A bunch of balloons. The girls got 5 stuffed animals to share. A bunch of candy, some popcorn, some playing cards. Gosh I am probably forgetting something but it was WELL worth it and SO fun! It was pretty spendy like I said and doubt I would ever do it again but it was really fun to do once. But I wish they could do personalized baskets becuase I WOULD do that again if I could get that.

And yes WOC was SO much better since we could actually SEE it this time!! And we had good seats for the fireworks and enjoyed the memories show. And really loved everything that PP did for us for our birthdays.

All in all it was really great. If I ever get caught up and am not so dang tired I will try and post more pics.