THREE for the Price of One -Farewell to a PTR, for now!

[stayhomemom77]

Okay, I did a bit more research...if you remember when we were chatting on facebook I was jealous that you were doing Christmas AND Halloween with the mouse...and according to other DISers, they DO begin decorating for Halloween at the end of August (so I'm not crazy) but you won't get to enjoy it since you are going at the beginning.

Okay, that's all....

Just a sort of need to prove I'm not crazy...even though I am.

Looking forward to hearing more.

Julie

 

[gellybean]

I'm here!!! WOW I'm jealous of you getting to plan two trips. We did MVMCP a long time ago and we had a great time. As Bay Area CA family we don't get white christmases either so snow on Main Street was a blast.

I'm looking forward to being in on the PTR action.

I think we'll have a great time at MVMCP. Being from Cali, I'm sure you CAN relate to the lack of white Christmases!
Update to the PTR action coming soon!!

I think you'll be fine on your connecting flight. Mom & I flew SW through Houston in May and we had a very short layover too. The gates were very close together, and we even had time to use the restroom before we had to board

Here's hoping. My sister is taking the same flight for our December trip, so let's hope that short connection isn't an issue. That's cool that you guys connect through Hobby too!! Mom just had a connecting flight in Hobby too and she said it was really easy to switch gates there. Woo hoo for time for a non-airplane potty break!

Itineraries sketched out for the December trip and we won't be back in MK after the last VMCP night so it all worked out!!

I'm here.

Sounds like you have two fabulous trips planned so far, can't wait to hear more about them!

I think they are gonna be fabulous! But I'm prolly a tad biased!

I hopped over from your TR. You are so lucky to have two trips planned!! Can't wait to read more.

I feel pretty blessed! That's for sure!
Thanks for joining in!

I know it seems like forever ago, but I'm pretty sure our January trips were in 2010 (your last post says '09).

Less than two months till the Poly! Lucky you! Can't wait to hear more!

OOPS! Fixed it. I guess time does fly when you are planning Disney trips.

Okay, I did a bit more research...if you remember when we were chatting on facebook I was jealous that you were doing Christmas AND Halloween with the mouse...and according to other DISers, they DO begin decorating for Halloween at the end of August (so I'm not crazy) but you won't get to enjoy it since you are going at the beginning.

Okay, that's all....

Just a sort of need to prove I'm not crazy...even though I am.

Looking forward to hearing more.

Julie

I'm really really glad you aren't nuts. I was worried there for a while.

That's cool that they break out the Halloween decorations in August. I still haven't been at Halloween time. It's on my wish list!

 

[gellybean]

So we've had a flurry of PTR activity today!

I've been playing with the Christmas itinerary a bit, old school since TGM still hadn't published the last 10 days and I got most of the days nailed out. TGM has since published the last of December after I sent a little email reminder to his customer service dept.

Mom and I and my sister had been tossing around the idea of flying instead of driving, for at least the last week or so. Ever since my mom didn't use her free ticket for August and she realized she'll have it for December. My mom and I were driving around yesterday after shopping and the boys were playing, not fighting, just playing in the back seat and it was LOUD! I looked at mom and said "WE'RE FLYING!"



So today I checked Southwest and the flight schedules were open thru December. Well it made a huge huge difference in price to fly out and back 2 days earlier, moving the whole trip back by two days. So I talked to my mom and my sister and we are a go. Except somehow in all the talking and playing with schedules, Mom and I ended up flying down a day earlier than my sister and taking the kids down, and then my sister is going to join us later, only missing two days of work. Dash will miss 3 days of school. Much better than 5 days, which is what he's missed the last two years. And with it being so close to Christmas, yes he'll miss his party but they won't be doing a whole lot of new material so close to winter break.

Then I called Disney back and couldn't move the dates back on the original PIN code I used, at least not without bumping to Courtyard bunkbed view. BUT I had just gotten that Monster PIN in. The only catch was it was in hubby's name. No problem they said, since we're in the same household. I got an AMAZING CM, Toni, and she worked and played with all kinds of date options checking for standard or woods view. She was AWESOME! So we're booked the 14th - 17th on the new PIN and the 17th through the 21st on the original PIN code. Couldn't get standard rooms so we're in a courtyard view the first 3 days and kept our woods view for the last four. So we will have to change room views, I'm guessing. Unless they take pity on us. The reservations will be marked connected or however they do it.

We ended up with 7 nights instead of 6 and it was only $30 more to book the extra night because of the first 3 nights going down to the non-holiday rate. YAY for an extra night only being 30$ more!

I LOVE Disney FuZZy math!!!!!!!

Then because we backed our trip up by 3 nights our ADR window was open for a few days of the trip. So we booked a few of those and I need to check some more tomorrow and the next few days. I'm not going to change my ticker cus it'll just make me sad to start over but we're arriving 3 days sooner and leaving 2 days sooner! This way we'll have more time to get ready for Christmas and get back into the family home swing of things before Christmas day!

I did call and add our one way flight #'s for ME to our Poly ressie and fixed FGM up for her Pop ressie and ME return home. While on the phone I put in a building request for Poly - the Samoa Longhouse. It's right by the Volcano pool, right behind the Hawaii Longhouse. But still close to the GCH. Crossing my fingers that we get our request!!

Day 2 August Itinerary:

Sleep LATE!!!

WHAT?! I know. But this is one of our relax and soak up Poly days!

Breakfast/Lunch at Cap'n Cooks

Swim and resort explore. Maybe resort hop at least on the monorail loop. Check out the shops at GF and Contemp. Take a peek at MK from outside the gates.

Afternoon snack of a Dole Whip/ice cream. Does anyone know if Poly has the floats or just the softserve?

Dinner - our first ADR- at 9:30pm at 'Ohana for a party of 5.

Summertastic fireworks start at 10pm so we'll be there for the fireworks

Summer is trucking right along for us. Dash returned from Disneyland with his Dad. He had a great time. Apparently he's now terrified of Tower of Terror and kept calling it Terror of Tower.

He starts swimming lessons next week so he'll be all ready for the Volcano pool. We have a mini vakay with my entire family, all 15 of us, at a beach house in Galveston in middle of July. One of my cousins is getting married. Should be an adventure. And the placement of it right in the middle of summer is gonna make our August trip get here that much sooner, I think.

Hope everyone is enjoying your summer!!!

Will update again this weekend! Got a few projects I need to complete tomorrow! Gotta start a packing list for the beach house trip!

 

[Dugette]

Afternoon snack of a Dole Whip/ice cream. Does anyone know if Poly has the floats or just the softserve?

To the best of my knowledge, they just have the soft-serve. Pineapple, vanilla, or twist. And it's self-serve, so you can make it as big as you want!

 

[Lovemy3babes]

I've been playing with the Christmas itinerary a bit, old school since TGM still hadn't published the last 10 days and I got most of the days nailed out. TGM has since published the last of December after I sent a little email reminder to his customer service dept.

I know TGM's sister recently passed away so I'm sure his life is pretty tough right now. I'm sure he'll soon get back on track.

Great updates!! I think coming home earlier and having more time to get ready for Christmas is a wonderful idea! We went in early December last year and I still felt like I was scrambling. It's a crazy time of year!!

 

[martinolichfamily]

I'm in!
Must get all caught up now!

 

[praisehisname]

I'm here and all caught up!

 

[mom2l&t]

Subscribing....

We are headed to WL this Dec, too! We are coming in the 16th thru the 24th.

We are also from TX and are going to the same MVMCP party as you! Looking forward to sharing the snow with you!

 

[gellybean]

To the best of my knowledge, they just have the soft-serve. Pineapple, vanilla, or twist. And it's self-serve, so you can make it as big as you want!

Thanks for the info Dugette!!

I know TGM's sister recently passed away so I'm sure his life is pretty tough right now. I'm sure he'll soon get back on track.

Great updates!! I think coming home earlier and having more time to get ready for Christmas is a wonderful idea! We went in early December last year and I still felt like I was scrambling. It's a crazy time of year!!

Ohh no!! So sad! I didn't know. I was nice in my letter to the customer svc dept. But definitely understandable why he was behind on his calendars.

I like that we're flying and will be back sooner too! Gonna be crazy but so fun and lots of memories.

I'm in!
Must get all caught up now!

Glad you came over!

I'm here and all caught up!

Yay!! So glad you came over!!

Subscribing....

We are headed to WL this Dec, too! We are coming in the 16th thru the 24th.

We are also from TX and are going to the same MVMCP party as you! Looking forward to sharing the snow with you!

fellow Texan!!!

That's so awesome that you're gonna be at the WL at the same time and the same Christmas party!!

What area of Texas are you in??

 

[gellybean]

So there's a possible glitch in the plans. But then again it wouldn't be a Gellybean PTR without one.

My middle sister (not Edna) is in the hospital. She had surgery on June 8th and when she went back in for her follow up she happened to mention she was hurting through her chest. They immediately sent her to the hospital for chest x-rays and found multiple blood clots in each lung.

They admitted her and administered blood thinners. That was Weds. They are keeping her until they can get her blood levels where they want them and she'll have to stay on thinners for at least 6 mth, follow up with a hemotologist etc, have some genetic tests ran. Which means I'll have to have some genetic tests ran if it comes back as something hereditary.

My mom is naturally, very worried. I don't know if my mom will want to go on vacation in August if my sister is still in a state of flux with health issues. And it's not like I can ask my mom, "So I know my sister's really sick but what about our vacation?" Not cool.

We're kind of in a holding pattern. On the one hand, we'd probably still try to go, our family of 4 I mean. Afterall this trip started out as a trip to see Mr. Incredible's family and we would continue with those plans. We'd love to go to Disney as well, but we would lose Mom's AP discount and her paying 25% of the room. Which means the Poly would probably be out. I called and talked to a CM about the situation and if I could find another discount code for the time we're there, they can modify the reservation. So that's something we'll have to think about and run the Disney fuzzy math on. See if it'll work for us.

I honestly don't know what we'll do. The trip is still on as of now. My sister's condition seems to be not as life threatening as they originally feared and should be manageable. It is 5 weeks from now so there's time to get things in order, I hope. And my sister is married so her husband can help with the kids etc. I just know my mom and she doesn't tend to leave when one of her babies is having health issues.

As of now though... the show must go on and we're still planning on the trip happening!!

Day 3 August Itinerary:

Magic Kingdom all day!!

This is our only planned park day as of now, so we are hoping to make the most of it. TGM has it ranked green for this day so hopefully crowds won't be too bad and we can make the most of our one day.

We're gonna try to be at rope drop and take advantage of the cooler a.m. temps. Small World would normally be the first ride, as per tradiation, but it's closed this trip. I've never been when I didn't ride SW first. It's gonna be strange for me for sure. Trying to get over my superstition that I have to ride it first to get to go back. Sounds silly but it's what we always said from the time I was 6.

We have an ADR for Liberty Tree Tavern at 1:30pm. We wanted to eat lunch here in January but we were there during the CP renovation and LTT was having character dining with their family style meal all day instead of their normal lunch menu so we cancelled it.
I'm looking forward to having a salad for lunch and trying that Ooey Gooey Toffee cake for dessert. Split 5 ways!

We'll return to the hotel and rest and swim, then head back in around 5pm. Finish rides, catch a snack at Casey's and get a good spot for the parade and fireworks. Hopefully close the park down and hop the monorail back to our hotel for a quick commute home!



Christmas trip is still on barring any unforseen life happenings. And life does happen. So as always, we DISers plan knowing that things can always come up!

Thanks for reading along everyone!!

 

[praisehisname]

So sorry to hear about your sister; how scary! I hope it turns out to be nothing hereditary.

 

[Dugette]

Best wishes for your sister! I hope it is not hereditary!

 

[SoonerGirl]

I'm so sorry to hear about your sister, blood clots are so scary! I know they can be a side effect to surgery, do they think that it is more possible that they were caused by that and not some hereditary condition?

 

[gellybean]

So sorry to hear about your sister; how scary! I hope it turns out to be nothing hereditary.

Thanks! I hope it's nothing hereditary too!

Best wishes for your sister! I hope it is not hereditary!

Thank you!

I'm so sorry to hear about your sister, blood clots are so scary! I know they can be a side effect to surgery, do they think that it is more possible that they were caused by that and not some hereditary condition?

Clots are definitely scary.

It was 99% caused from the surgery, for sure. But they want to check and see if there was an underlying genetic cause that makes her more prone to this kind of thing. This was her first surgery ever, so they just want to cover all the bases. I have had surgery and so has my oldest sister, Edna, and we didn't have any issues. So I feel like they are just being overly cautious to make sure there isn't an underlying condition that led her to be more apt to getting clots.




Mini Update:

I think I've worked some more Disney Fuzzy Math and figured out a way to get to go to Disney even if Mom decides she's needed in Texas and can't go.

We're booked with Mom's AP code but the CM said I could call and apply the general public code no problem. So we'd lose about 15% off. Plus Mom's 25% she's paying.

However, if Mom doesn't join us we'll lose our baby sitter. Jack-Jack is too little for child care on site and I don't think I'll fool with an offsite sitter. So we'd have to cancel our Date ADR-location yet to be disclosed . That would save a few pennies right there. Then I figured we could fly out Tuesday instead of Wednesday, staying one less night since again we won't need the extra night for a date night.

So when I ran the numbers that way it's nearly a wash.






I Disney Fuzzy Math.

As of now, Mom's going and the trip plans aren't changing. I just feel better having a contingency plan!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I'm here!

So sorry to hear about your sister! I hope everything with her clears up and it's nothing serious - and nothing hereditary either.

Your plans are looking goooooooooood. Two trips, gotta LOVE that!

I'm kinda weirded that SW is closed too. Henry didn't get to ride in December, and now he won't get to in September either. I'm glad he doesn't realize what he's missing though.

 

[stayhomemom77]

You've still got time. I'll bet in another 2 weeks your sister will be just fine and you're mom will be much more relaxed. I'll keep praying for her.

I LOVE that you have a back up plan...I always do too!

What is the deal with these codes anyway...where/how/why do you get them?? I've heard about them on here a lot but not the specifics. Inquiring minds want (NEED) to know!!

I had a dream last night that we had enough money to go our our Mediterranean cruise next summer AS WELL AS return to Disney the week before Christmas (next year). I told the kids about my dream today but prolly should have kept my mouth shut!! Don't want to get their hopes up but heck, if we can find some of these mysterious CODES...

It still seems like too long of a time to wait. Why can't I be rich??

The trips sound good so far...looking forward to hearing more...

 

[gellybean]

I'm here!

So sorry to hear about your sister! I hope everything with her clears up and it's nothing serious - and nothing hereditary either.

Your plans are looking goooooooooood. Two trips, gotta LOVE that!

I'm kinda weirded that SW is closed too. Henry didn't get to ride in December, and now he won't get to in September either. I'm glad he doesn't realize what he's missing though.

Brook!!!! Glad you made it over!! I know your life right now is crazy busy and exciting! So glad you've found some time to DIS again!!

I am loving the two trips. Having a trip planned for December is making it easier to take it slow and relax for our trip in August!

Small World is such a tradition for us!! It's gonna be weird, for sure!!

And you're right. The boys will be clueless.

You've still got time. I'll bet in another 2 weeks your sister will be just fine and you're mom will be much more relaxed. I'll keep praying for her.

I LOVE that you have a back up plan...I always do too!

What is the deal with these codes anyway...where/how/why do you get them?? I've heard about them on here a lot but not the specifics. Inquiring minds want (NEED) to know!!

I had a dream last night that we had enough money to go our our Mediterranean cruise next summer AS WELL AS return to Disney the week before Christmas (next year). I told the kids about my dream today but prolly should have kept my mouth shut!! Don't want to get their hopes up but heck, if we can find some of these mysterious CODES...

It still seems like too long of a time to wait. Why can't I be rich??

The trips sound good so far...looking forward to hearing more...

That's what I've been telling myself as well. But any potential hiccup, I always feel better to have a back up plan.

The codes are everywhere and no where. The general public code is the special offers that Disney publishes on their website for certain dates. PIN codes get emailed/mailed out to people at random and believe me tons of people have tried to figure out how to get them.

There's a great website called mousesavers . com that will explain a lot. It lists all the general public codes and AP rates and gives their best theories on getting on the elusive PIN code receiving end. I went years and never got one and have gotten 3 or 4 this year. What helps us I think is we're all in the system. My mom, sister, husband, and I. So while I may have only gotten one pin, mom's gotten one, Mr. I got one, etc. I know registering your email on Disney's official website is supposed to help. Some people swear that being signed in and quoting out a trip, saving the offer, and then coming back and cancelling the offer and selecting too expensive is a great way to get one.

There are a ton of threads on the DIS boards about this very topic! GOOD Luck!!

If y'all want to take a Mexican Riveria cruise, kids sail free right now !! Great deal!

I'm digging your dream. Wish I could dream like that!! Mine are always weird and creepy.





Soooo....

Would anyone care to guess where our date ADR is booked ???


Winner gets my undying Disney love and devotion.

 

[praisehisname]

Gotta love that fuzzy Disney math!

I'll guess Narcoossee's for date night. Not really basing it on anything except the fact that we love it there!

 

[Dugette]

I'm tempted to guess that you'd go back to Jiko again for date night, but I think I'll go with the California Grill instead. You did say cancelling it would save money and CA Grill is pricey. Also on the monorail, since you're staying at the Poly.

 

[gellybean]

You guys are good!!

One of the guesses is correct!!!


Update on my sister:

She's out of the hospital!! They actually transported her via ambulance to a larger hospital in Austin (80 miles from where she lives, but where I live) and she was there two additional nights. They got things worked out blood thinner wise, after some drama -- her surgery area started bleeding internally from the thinners so they had to do some minor repairs, then they got her blood levels too thin and had to back off and go back down some on the meds. It was a roller coaster for all of us, but definitely the hardest on my sister. Her levels finally got where they wanted them to be last night at midnight. She was released today with the condition that she has to stay in Austin at Edna's house until she can follow up with a hematologist.

So very good news!!!

She still has a long way to go, with a care plan, blood thinners, shots twice a day, etc but she is out of the critical stage for the foreseeable future!!

Thank you all for your thoughts, and prayers!

I'll be be back tonight or tomorow with Day 4 itinerary.