The Return of the Asian-Feb 2010. 4/14-LINK TO PART 2-pg 249

[*Seanaci*]

Carissa, I don't think its safe to say "getting behind" on this thread!!

(Although I'm getting there, too!)

Sheesh! Its so hard to keep up around here!

(Whoops. Better not say that either... not around this crowd!)


Kathy

Yes...there are quite a few words that we have to be careful of posting.

The only reason I can finally keep up to speed on this thread (updates and banter/comments in between) is thanks to my new phone which has web access.

we might have to come up with a crib sheet of things NOT to say....

Lol. That's a great idea.

Yes we know that "UP" is a for of Altitude and we know what Jordan says that causes !!! And when he has been "UP" do not get "BEHIND "him!!!!

Good one, Rosie.

I am at my church conference. Making a deposit. People are asking me about the dis. Have stories to tell

Church conference...fun fun.

Can't wait to hear the stories. Lol.

Do I dare ask what sort of DEPOSIT!!!!!

I am heartily ashamed to say I thought the very same thing...


Kathy

I will heartily agree with this...I thought the exact same thing, Kathy. But, I guess it can't be helped when we all spend so much time hanging out on this thread talking about poofs, farts, deposits, etc.

 

[DisneyDerek]

Hey Derek, do you have any places for a Grand Canyon trip that you'd recommend? I'm thinking of doing that next year. Actually, I wanted to see about trading DVC into RCI for it, but with 5 in our family I'd have to go to a 2-bedroom unit, and that's more points than I want to use, so would probably just go on cash.

Unfortunately, I haven't been to the Grand Canyon yet (except as a baby so I'm told by my parents) so I don't have any advice except to check out www.tugs2.net which is another discussion board but for time share owners. I've found great insights on that board and folks there are way too knowledgeable about the details of what the management companies spend the maintenance fees on. They're as addicted to time share news are as this board is to Disney.

I'll also look around but I haven't searched on Interval much (since Starwood is associated with them and not RCI). But I would recommend against trading DVC points as you pointed out due to the high trade out cost (DVC is probably worth more than what you'd be trading for) and you can probably find some good cash discounts (e.g., I've seen 1 bedroom weekly stays at Marriott Resorts in Palm Springs for $799 a week which is way cheaper than the nightly rates that you can book with Expedia, Priceline, etc.). Sorry I couldn't help out much.

Derek

 

[glennbo123]

Unfortunately, I haven't been to the Grand Canyon yet (except as a baby so I'm told by my parents) so I don't have any advice except to check out www.tugs2.net which is another discussion board but for time share owners. I've found great insights on that board and folks there are way too knowledgeable about the details of what the management companies spend the maintenance fees on. They're as addicted to time share news are as this board is to Disney.

I'll also look around but I haven't searched on Interval much (since Starwood is associated with them and not RCI). But I would recommend against trading DVC points as you pointed out due to the high trade out cost (DVC is probably worth more than what you'd be trading for) and you can probably find some good cash discounts (e.g., I've seen 1 bedroom weekly stays at Marriott Resorts in Palm Springs for $799 a week which is way cheaper than the nightly rates that you can book with Expedia, Priceline, etc.). Sorry I couldn't help out much.

Derek

Thanks Derek. I'll check out that website. Is that where you saw the discounted Palm Springs Marriott deal?

 

[DisneyDerek]

Thanks Derek. I'll check out that website. Is that where you saw the discounted Palm Springs Marriott deal?

Glenn,
I actually saw the discounted Palm Springs deal on Interval (and in their book) during one of the rare times I logged on.

Here's a link to one of the discussions threads on Grand Canyon stays. You might need to register as a guest member to see/join the discussion threads (I didn't pay to be a regular Tug member). Some seemed to advocate Scottsdale which is a 5 hour drive from the Grand Canyon. If you're looking in that area, I would recommend the Westin Kierland Villas (WKV) which is where we typically stay.

 

[GreatBiscuit]

I am at my church conference. Making a deposit. People are asking me about the dis. Have stories to tell

Well there you go. I stopped by the bank myslef and decided to do a little DisBoarding. Hope the conference goes well. I can only imagine the stories being told.

 

[DisneyDerek]

Well there you go. I stopped by the bank myslef and decided to do a little DisBoarding. Hope the conference goes well. I can only imagine the stories being told.

Jordan better hope that his youth group doesn't become DiSers or Peeps or his worlds will collide

 

[eandesmom]

Do I dare ask what sort of DEPOSIT!!!!!

I am heartily ashamed to say I thought the very same thing...


Kathy

Unfortunately I think it means exactly what you're afraid it means.

yes...I'm quite sure it does!

Hey Derek, do you have any places for a Grand Canyon trip that you'd recommend? I'm thinking of doing that next year. Actually, I wanted to see about trading DVC into RCI for it, but with 5 in our family I'd have to go to a 2-bedroom unit, and that's more points than I want to use, so would probably just go on cash.

Not to hijack but...we did the big GC road trip 2 years ago, we camped but we did check out the options, what are you looking at?

Well there you go. I stopped by the bank myslef and decided to do a little DisBoarding. Hope the conference goes well. I can only imagine the stories being told.

UGH! more deposits...

Jordan better hope that his youth group doesn't become DiSers or Peeps or his worlds will collide

This is why my sister (youth group leader) refuses to be on FB.

 

[DisneyDerek]

Glenn,
I actually saw the discounted Palm Springs deal on Interval (and in their book) during one of the rare times I logged on.

Here's a link to one of the discussions threads on Grand Canyon stays. You might need to register as a guest member to see/join the discussion threads (I didn't pay to be a regular Tug member). Some seemed to advocate Scottsdale which is a 5 hour drive from the Grand Canyon. If you're looking in that area, I would recommend the Westin Kierland Villas (WKV) which is where we typically stay.

Glenn, another good site for Grand Canyon lodging is www.thecanyon.com/ which lists hotels in Las Vegas, Sedona and Scottsdale/Phoenix which seem to be the 3 locations often recommended on the Tug2 threads. One resort that caught my eye from the photos in Sedona was the Junipine Resort which had a 90% recommend rating on Trip Advisor. But it may not be your particular taste (it's billed as a creekside report and I saw a nightly rate of $210 on Trip Advisor).

I checked Interval and most of the hotels that came up for Sedona were (1) Sedona Summit (2) The Ridge (3) Marriott Canyon Villas at Desert Ridge (Phoenix). I need to check on pricing because the Marriott Canyon Villas were listed at $726 (I believe is a weekly rate because it's too high for a nightly rate) for Interval members or $103.71 for an average nightly rate which is consistent with what I've seen for Palm Springs but I can't tell what the actual price is unless I actually book the reservation.

So I guess it all depends on how close you want to stay by the Canyon, what price point you're limited to and whether a 2 bedroom lockoff is required (I didn't see many timeshares around the Canyon from my cursory research).

Derek

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Jordan better hope that his youth group doesn't become DiSers or Peeps or his worlds will collide

Now that WOULD be bad! I remember once when my worlds collided. A fellow doesn't ever fully recover from that sort of thing.

 

[GreatBiscuit]

yes...I'm quite sure it does!



Not to hijack but...we did the big GC road trip 2 years ago, we camped but we did check out the options, what are you looking at?



UGH! more deposits...



This is why my sister (youth group leader) refuses to be on FB.

Sorry Cynthia! You know how it is. You give us Blackberries and downtime and well, this is pretty much what you get!

 

[DisneyDerek]

Sorry Cynthia! You know how it is. You give us Blackberries and downtime and well, this is pretty much what you get!

Yeah, sorry about hijacking this thread, but since Jordan's family to me, I didn't think twice, especially since he's not here to defend it.

But for one last comment about GC.....we just received our 2010 DVC Vacation Planner a few days ago (too bad we already blew our points at BLT in Feb so it's just a nice coffee table book now), but Adventures by Disney lists an American Southwest package for 8 days and 7 nights for 383 points per adult and 347 per child during "Value season" and more points for regular and peak seasons. We've found that the trade out value isn't necessarily a great deal when we trade out DVC points for past DCL trips and we usually pay part points and part cash. But that's another option to consider.

 

[jordanyosh]

On a break. Making another deposit. I don't mind hijacking ever on my thread except maybe a hacker. Okay break almost over. Gotta run. (Not got the runs). Really no word is truly safe to say......

 

[GreatBiscuit]

On a break. Making another deposit. I don't mind hijacking ever on my thread except maybe a hacker. Okay break almost over. Gotta run. (Not got the runs). Really no word is truly safe to say......

Gotta watch that camp food. Hope the rest of your retreat goes well!

 

[glennbo123]

Not to hijack but...we did the big GC road trip 2 years ago, we camped but we did check out the options, what are you looking at?

Completely up in the air right now. I was thinking Sedona when I went on the RCI site to look into a trade, but then found out that we'd be required to get a 2 bedroom, so I'm back to square 1.

Glenn, another good site for Grand Canyon lodging is www.thecanyon.com/ which lists hotels in Las Vegas, Sedona and Scottsdale/Phoenix which seem to be the 3 locations often recommended on the Tug2 threads. One resort that caught my eye from the photos in Sedona was the Junipine Resort which had a 90% recommend rating on Trip Advisor. But it may not be your particular taste (it's billed as a creekside report and I saw a nightly rate of $210 on Trip Advisor).

I checked Interval and most of the hotels that came up for Sedona were (1) Sedona Summit (2) The Ridge (3) Marriott Canyon Villas at Desert Ridge (Phoenix). I need to check on pricing because the Marriott Canyon Villas were listed at $726 (I believe is a weekly rate because it's too high for a nightly rate) for Interval members or $103.71 for an average nightly rate which is consistent with what I've seen for Palm Springs but I can't tell what the actual price is unless I actually book the reservation.

So I guess it all depends on how close you want to stay by the Canyon, what price point you're limited to and whether a 2 bedroom lockoff is required (I didn't see many timeshares around the Canyon from my cursory research).

Derek

Thanks for the links! I'll check them out.

Yeah, sorry about hijacking this thread, but since Jordan's family to me, I didn't think twice, especially since he's not here to defend it.

But for one last comment about GC.....we just received our 2010 DVC Vacation Planner a few days ago (too bad we already blew our points at BLT in Feb so it's just a nice coffee table book now), but Adventures by Disney lists an American Southwest package for 8 days and 7 nights for 383 points per adult and 347 per child during "Value season" and more points for regular and peak seasons. We've found that the trade out value isn't necessarily a great deal when we trade out DVC points for past DCL trips and we usually pay part points and part cash. But that's another option to consider.

Adv. by Disney would be awesome, but is waaaay out of reach points-wise.

On a break. Making another deposit. I don't mind hijacking ever on my thread except maybe a hacker. Okay break almost over. Gotta run. (Not got the runs). Really no word is truly safe to say......

I didn't think you'd mind a quick hijack. Thanks!

 

[punkin413]

jordan - just had to share this with you. i got up this morning and checked facebook and my friend anna (not the one you know but another one), who is asian and married to a white guy, posted a picture of their 7mo son, alex, in his walker looking behind him. she put this caption with the picture:

Seven months old and he knows how to back up his Jeep... Looks like the infamous "Asian driver" gene is recessive. Hooray!

 

[Blueyed Girl]

Actually, I didn't let on that I was so dead tired from our flight that when Wendy said we were going to have visitors, I was going to look for a closet to hide in and take a nap. Fortunately, I enjoyed meeting you all and bonded with your DH.

Maybe a fair trade off is letting the dads go to ESPN Zone after the kids are asleep and the wives are well rested from their spa day.


Sorry I missed the birthday wishes for your DS. If you Skype, we'll have to get on sometime...the kids have gotten the hang of it since I Skype with some other friends and there's nothing better (next to being there in person) than seeing someone that you're talking to, especially if they're in another state!

ESPN after the kids are asleep and after our Spa day sounds like a fair trade!

I've never Skyped but keep hearing about it. We need to check it out. We used to do the simple web cam on yahoo IM while DH is at work. But it got to where it was unrealiable and then DH's laptop sort of went downhill. We need to start that up again. I'm going to check it out now.....

Derek, I know those glory days seem like a million miles away right now, so take this from someone who's looking at those days from the flip side of parenthood.....Drink in everything your living now.
These days with your babies will be the days you look back on and wish you had back in a nano second! Take as many pictures as possible because you'll never have to many, even if you shot off a 100 already.
And always remember....these days of babies won't be around for ever, in fact....they will be over before you know it, it just doesn't seem like it right now and I totally understand that feeling. Stealing some time with your honey every once and a while will help with this.
My oldest baby is about to graduate this June, and I can't believe (and yes I know everyone says this, but until you live it you won't get it) it's all happened so dang fast! < allowing self to cry about it for the first time> If I can still see the screen to type....and then having a ten year old who's body decided to go into hyper over drive and not stay my baby girl....I don't have anymore babies to hold onto. DRINK IT IN Derek, before long you'll be at my end of raising kiddos and thinking back and saying to yourself..."These were the glory days and I didn't get enough of it.....I just didn't get enough." In this season of my life I think a lot about the song by Stevie Nicks (or for you younger ones Dixie Chicks)...Land Slide

I took my love and I took it down
I climbed a mountain and I turned around
And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills
The Landslide brought it down

Oh mirror in the sky, what is love?
Can the child within my heart rise above?
Can I sail through the changing ocean tides
Can I handle the seasons of my life?
Mmm mmm I don’t know
Mmm mmm

Well I’ve been ‘fraid of changing ‘cause I
Built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Children get older, I’m getting older too

Soo (Interlude)

I’ve been ‘fraid of changing ‘cause I
I built my life around you
But time makes you bolder, children get older
I’m getting older too
I’m getting older too......

You'll navigate these waters with raising babies just fine Derek, I have no doubt.

Along those lines... "Let them be little" by Billy Dean

I can remember when you fit in the palm of my hand
Felt so good in it, no bigger than a minute
How it amazes me, you're changing with every blink
Faster than a flower blooms they grow up all too soon

So let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

I've never felt so much in one little tender touch
I live for those kisses, prayers and your wishes
Now that you're teaching me things only a child can see
Every night while we're on our knees all I ask is please

Let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

So innocent, a precious soul, you turn around
It's time to let them go

So let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

Let them be little

I love both of these songs!!!! Thanks to both of you for posting these. This is what DH and I try to remind ourselves and each other of all the time.

When DS was a baby I kept having the Aerosmith song in my head "I don't want to close my eyes". I did one of our picture slideshows to this song when he was a baby. This song has sort of become like our little family song.

I could stay awake just to hear you breathing,
Watch you smile while you are sleeping,
While you're far away and dreaming,
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender,
I could stay lost in this moment forever,
When every moment spent with you is a moment I treasure,

(Chorus)
I don't wanna close my eyes,
I don't wanna fall asleep,
Cause I'd miss you babe,
And I don't wanna miss a thing,
Cause even when I dream of you,
The sweetest dream would never do,
I'd still miss you babe,
And I don't wanna miss a thing.

Lying close to you,
feeling your heart beating,
And I'm wondering what you're dreaming,
Wondering if it's me you're seeing,
And then I kiss your eyes,
And thank God we're together,
I just wanna stay with you in this moment forever,
Forever and ever.

(Chorus)

And I don't wanna miss one smile,
I don't wanna miss one kiss,
I just wanna be with you,
Right here with you, just like this,
Well I just wanna hold you close,
And feel your heart so close to mine,
And just stay here in this moment,
For all the rest of time
Yeah (yeah) yeah (yeah) yeah

(Chorus repeated 2 times)

Don't wanna close my eyes
Don't wanna fall asleep, yeah
I don't wanna miss a thing

 

[DisneyDerek]

ESPN after the kids are asleep and after our Spa day sounds like a fair trade!

I've never Skyped but keep hearing about it. We need to check it out. We used to do the simple web cam on yahoo IM while DH is at work. But it got to where it was unrealiable and then DH's laptop sort of went downhill. We need to start that up again. I'm going to check it out now.....

Sounds like a plan for our next Peepfest (2012?)...the boys will take the early shift and the girls can take the late one.

As for Skyping, I sent you a private message via Jordan's Peeps so we can connect.

Take care,
Derek

 

[jordanyosh]

Okay I am back, but wiped out. Conferences always wipe me out. I MAY post later, if not, mos def tomorrow....

Stories AND a few pix to share tomorrow.....

 

[KathyRN137]

Nighty-Night, Jordan! Pleasant dreams!


Jack Spence's blog contained a WDW restroom Quiz this week... I think you would enjoy it! See how many restroom signs you can name!

http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2010/03/detailed_quiz_1.html



Kathy

 

[*Seanaci*]

Okay I am back, but wiped out. Conferences always wipe me out. I MAY post later, if not, mos def tomorrow....

Stories AND a few pix to share tomorrow.....

Welcome back.

Can't wait to hear stories and see pictures.