TKers Take the Fifth!

[Pikester]

Oops! Double Post.

 

[Pikester]

Good morning TKers!

Looking forward to my day off today. I plan to head to Kmart and Walmart to check out what kind of dishes and glassware that they have. I'm starting to not have enough dishes for all of us to eat on.

Had a power outage last night. On the news they said it was a limb that fell on some power lines. We were out for almost an hour starting at 8:30PM. The kids went to bed later then usual but it wasn't long after that the power came back on.

whgrn, I saw the picture of your cake. It looked very yummy! I've been looking at those cupcake shaped cake pans but haven't wanted to spend the money on them.

JOCA, Staying at a Mod sounds like fun! I've never stayed at a Mod but I think either the Caribbean Beach Resort or the Port Orleans Resort sounds good.

Hello DL55, Magikitty and M&N!

 

[MagiKitty]

Good morning! Can't really tell what kind of day its going to be...its still fairly dark out. Ah, the days are getting longer. Its supposed to be gorgeous today. I hope so. I'd like to have the windows open this afternoon.

Pikester, what are you doing to your glassware that you're running out? Strangely enough, the absolute best glasses I have are from the dollar store. They're the big heavy restaurant quality glasses that are indestructible! We don't have a Kmart around here...but I love any reason to go to Target and Walmart!

Ah, Phillies fans I see. While not a huge baseball fan myself, of course I'm rooting for the Yankees to win tonight and to meet your Phillies in the World Series!

I haven't stayed at a moderate. I did stay at the Polynesian once, long ago. Didn't realize it was a deluxe at the time (I was in college and my friend's family took me). New hotel experiences are fun though! Congrats on the trip!

This may be blasphemy, but all the changes and price hikes lately at Disney are just depressing. Parking changed to $14/day when I was there. And not the photopass CD can only be purchased by resort guests. While I do enjoy staying onsite, I wasn't planning on doing it next trip. Now I don't think I'll visit Disney on our next trip at all. I understand that there are increasing costs across the board for everyone, including Disney, but visiting the happiest place on earth is costing more and more everyday...

 

[M&N]

===============SUKIE

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[M&N]

Good Morning to everyone else!

Boy is this slow this morning...I thought it was slow to post all those smilies but when I clocked to post again, it would not come up and I got out and tried again but it took long. Better say everything now in case it won't work!

I expected a lot in my spam box when I got home but the dis notifications were not piling up...I figured it was because I had not visited, it stopped reacting??? I guess it was not just me Wendy.

My friend in Orlando has an answer to your complaint Kitty. Disney has to pay for the free dining, free nights, celebration give-aways somehow. Food prices went up to those not on the food plan. They have to make the money somehow. What's the deal now??? So many days booked gets you so many free? Well, those 'free' days need to be made up somewhere. They are in the making money business even though it is a happy place! I'm sure operating costs have gone up...I don't think the cm's got any big raises! But in the end, it's profit! What did you mean about the Photopass cd? Can't you still get them online early for 99?

 

[D&DDisney]

Good Morning,
I'm home from work today because DS7 is sick.

Seems to be making the rounds through our house, although each of us has had a slightly different version of the flu. Probaby Swine - Should I panic and call the media???? Nope! We will just ride this one out like we do all the other illnesses.
Weather was gorgeous yesterday. Temps got up to 75 here. But today, we're back to 40s and rain. What a crummy cycle.

I have managed to rack up $430 of assorted gift cards so far! That's gonna come in handy when I start feeling guilty about all the money we will be spending. I am also fixin to print some restaurant coupons and look for some more. Also got the Entertainment book on the way. I think I am doing my part to save us a few dollars.

Wow...that's great!!!! We cashed in some of our points from our CC about a week ago. Got about $100 in restaurant gift cards.

I need to put it out there for anyone to join Victoria's Secret PinkNation. The send out email coupons. This month's coupon is good until mid-November. Free panty. I've gotten four so far. I'm putting them in my nieces' stockings. I'm getting more on Friday. Just one per customer, per day. Its been great so far! I think this may be the correct link: https://secure.vspink.com/pink_nation/index.jsp

Thans for the link.
Too funny to think about you stuffing stockings with panties. I bet my DH wished Santa stuffed my stockin with those.

Anyway HI everyone. My trip was good. Saw an aunt in a nursing home. I think she knew Mom when we told her who we were. She didn't talk much but it was great seeing her. She's my dad's oldest sister and was here for us weeks before he died. I walked around Colonial Williamsburg one afternoon alone and the next day had a cousin with me for several hours. It was beautiful weather there. There were special activities going on...reinactors camping out on the palace green. We then went to Raleigh for several days to see one of Mom's sisters and then to another sister who is just about 2 1/2 years older than me. Mom is next to the oldest and she moved out when this sister was a year old. We are close to her now. I did go to visit her at grandma's when I was younger. I would take a bus down. We went to a dinner theater one night and over to the Blue Ridge Parkway one day. They have a Wii and we had great fun with that. I may just have to get one.

Glad to have you back M&N! We missed you.

Good morning everyone!
I am so tired of this cough I have. My chest muscles hurt from coughing so much. I've been sleeping on the couch so that DH can get his beauty sleep and it's not the most comfortable.

D&D, I think I've mentioned before that I always go shopping on Black Friday (Except this year because we are leaving for WDW). But, it's usually more of a "watching people" then it is shopping. I would rather spend more money on an item then have to stand in line for an hour to get a good deal.

You be careful there Pikester! Our flu started out as coughs and a headache.
I do have to say that in all the times I have been shopping on Black Friday, I managed to get everything I wanted w/o hurting anyone or waiting too long. Only a few times where they were out before I got there. Otherwise it has been pretty profitable. Even my DH goes with me. We make a day of it with the kids at grandma's. He won't admit it but loves to snag a good bargain. Other than BF, I am not much of a shopper. I shop like a guy the rest of the year - just go in, get what I need and come out.

We had a thunderstorm last night. One bolt struck real close to us. It made the cat disappear from the bed in a flash. It's cooler now, only going to be in the low 70s today.

Wow...that was close. Glad you're okay.
I wish our "cooler" was the 70s and not 30s and 40s.

!
I've had calls from the school about both kids. DS is tanking in Language Arts, needs to get his act together. DD brought in $60 to give to a girl who she thought would only be her friend if she gave her the $ (misunderstanding). On top of that, she STOLE the money from me!!! Can you say grounded?

Tomorrow I go to NYC for preadmission testing. can't believe knee surgery is only a week away. Not looking forward to it.

My DS11 did that to me about a month ago. Stole $25 from my wallet to give to a friend who was going to charge him $50 for some mysterious pocket watch. Just about sold him to the circus for that one.
Hope all goes well on your trip to NYC.

My stepsister asked me if I want to go to Disney in 2011 for a girls only trip with her mom. I didn't want to say anything until I talked to my husband. He told me to do whatever I want. So, it looks like I"m heading to Disney. Woohoo!!! LOL They want to stay in a moderate resort but I've only ever stayed in the values. Have any of you stayed in a moderate? Any thoughts on which ones are nicest?

My DH and I stayed at a moderate last Dec. for a couples only trip.
Got a good deal at Port Orleans - Riverside for $95 per night. It was a very nice resort. Very quiet and more adult like. Actually enjoyed it more than the Values. I have pics if you want to see them.

This may be blasphemy, but all the changes and price hikes lately at Disney are just depressing. Parking changed to $14/day when I was there. And not the photopass CD can only be purchased by resort guests. While I do enjoy staying onsite, I wasn't planning on doing it next trip. Now I don't think I'll visit Disney on our next trip at all. I understand that there are increasing costs across the board for everyone, including Disney, but visiting the happiest place on earth is costing more and more everyday...

I hear you on the new FEES and price increased. If it were not for the good deal w/ free dining that we got for Dec. I don't think we'd be going back for a while. Really not a good deal any more.

 

[MagiKitty]

The new Photopass policy is that if you have a reservation to stay at a Disney resort, a few weeks before you check-in you get an email about getting a discount of about 30%, which brings it to about $99 still. If you're not staying onsite and if you still want to pre-order, there is no discount, its still $150.

There were also far less Photopass people this trip, I thought. Its also been said that there are no photopass people at the waterparks. Seems that Disney is letting some people go or maybe shifting them to other places?

I know its about profit, but there has to be a point where raising prices is too prohibitive for tourism. I know I won't be participating in Photopass anymore, especially with photoshares being banned on the Dis. I did notice that prices for food went up, and I noticed a lot of people bringing those smallish coolers and bringing their own food. A lot of people were just sitting on benches eating sandwiches.

I think the new promo is if you stay for X amount of days, you get three free. I haven't really checked on it. I know there were different Bounceback promos out this past free dining. Some people were only offered the regular plan if you booked a moderate, and some got the regular plan if you booked a value. There seemed to be lots of different promos around.

If it weren't for free dining, we wouldn't be staying onsite. We like to stay offsite. My AP is expiring in April, and I don't think we'll be going again by then. I'm really getting excited for the opening of Harry at Universal, and Sea World didn't disappoint this trip either. Don't get me wrong, I still love Disney and look forward to visiting again, I just don't know when that will be. A lot more planning and budgeting!

Happy Birthday Sukie! You're having wonderful weather on your special day! Hope you're enjoying and having a great time!

 

[DL55]

M&N Wow, losing weight while on vacation!
JOCAmom When in 2011 are you thinking of? We are planning to go in 2011 also. We are thinking about Fort Wilderness with our pop up. Can't help with the Mods as we've stayed at Deluxes and once at a Value.
Because of the prices at Disney we only go every 3-4 years. Don't like the increases but I have to see Disney once in awhile.

Sukie
D&DDisney Hope everyone recovers quickly.

 

[MagiKitty]

Is anyone going to be at Disney on 12/03-12/04? I know some of us are going down in December so....

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1618795#

They're offering free admission to MK on the day of taping for the Christmas parade. You do have to submit an application, but its worth a try! I do wish I were able to go. I love the Christmas parade.

 

[Pikester]

Hey Magikitty, that looks neat! DH doesn't want to be anywhere near MK during the taping so we are going to be at EP. --You asked me what I was doing to my glassware, the answer is kids! My glasses have slowly gotten broken and my plates have been chipped. I bought two sets of dishes a while ago on clearance for $5 bucks each at Walmart. Together I got a service of 8 and one of the bowls was broken so that gave me 7 of those. I use to have the kids eating off kids plastic plates but I figure at 12, DS is old enough to graduate to an "adult" plate.

My DH came home the other day and mentioned something about the Photopass only being offered at a discount to Disney Guests. We pre-ordered it last year and shared it with my parents. Not sure if we will get it this year or not. I asked my Mom if we could borrow their camera to take with us on our trip and she said that it should be fine. I'm a little worried that my Dad we get a deer and be cranky if he doesn't have his camera to take pictures of it.

D&D, I love a good deal! My Mom and I get so excited when we find an item that we want or like at a great price. I just don't like fighting the mob of people at the cash registers and in the aisles. My Mom and I have come of with a shopping theory. If you get a cart when you first walk into a store you won't find anything that you want but if you skip the cart you not only will find the item you are looking for but you will also find all kinds of good stuff that you weren't looking for.

Mom!

 

[MagiKitty]

Wow, the Dis is slow tonight!

Ah, Pikester...I understand now. I hope Sukie is enjoying her birthday with your families.

I love Black Friday sales! I'm sad that I won't be able to play this year...I'll be back from the Phils the following week. I'm not one of those to be out there at 3am. I mosey out to the mall about 8-ish and see what I can find. We don't have any young kids anymore...so there's no "big item" to get. But I do like the sales and special promotions they usually have.

 

[Sukie]

Hi all. Thanks for all of the Birthday Wishes. It is a sad day too. My mom usually calls me on my Birthday, even if my party is on another day. It started out real early (you all know I get up at 3:00am). After getting ready, my DH gave me my favorite candy (Junior Mints) and a funny card. I usually get to get something while out shopping. At work my friend Tammy and I always go shopping for our birthdays (hers is Monday). We will go out for our annual Sunday "Breakfast Buffet". We eat at a real "fifties diner" Then we head for the outlets. We have to be back in time to watch the "Patriots" and or the races. Also at work we have monthly Birthday Celebrations. It so happens that it was right on my birthday. We had lasagna, salad, and garlic bread at our luncheon. My other friend, Debbie baked me a homemade apple pie. Add a cup of hot tea and it taste so good. (I am eating as I type). It is sweet and with a lot of cinnamon. The crust is flakey and golden brown. Oh, btw I get to have cake and ice cream at Pikesters on Saturday evening.

Thanks again for thinking of me today.

 

[mariezp]

Good evening ladies. It's cold outside here! I spent the majority of the day working around a doctor's appointment. Spent 2 hours at the office just to get an annual checkup! Why bother giving you an appointment if you are going to just have to wait around so long? Let me know if any of you can figure that one out! Came home with 3 prescriptions and $100 less money in my pocket. She gave me one prescription for something to try to help me lose weight. Here's hoping it works... especially since the darn insurance won't pay for it.

Thanks for all the pats on the back on my gift card success. I also got my entertainment book today so I am hoping there will be some good savings in there to add on top of the GCs. I've got a $10 off coupon to print out for Rainforest Cafe already. Still always looking!

M&N, glad to see you back! Glad you had such a nice trip. We have sure missed you around here. Pikester and I have managed to find one day we will be in the same park on the same day. Any chance of you being in Epcot on Dec. 5th?

Pikester, I hope you get rid of your cough and it doesn't get any worse. My DS has been sick off and on for the past couple weeks. I have started plying him with airborne in hopes that it will boost his system. Gotta get everybody in tip top shape before December!

JOCAmom, congratulations on the all girls trip! Bet you will have a blast!

Whgrn, thanks for the recipe. I am going to have to try it out one of these nights. You are some plan ahead cook! I am so impressed. I generally know what I am cooking about 5 minutes before I start cooking! Too bad you are having problems with the offspring.

Kitty, you are right that all the price increases stink! I have heard that the only people who would be getting the Photopass pre-order discount were guests staying on site BUT as I reported in my PTR (just a little shameful advertising) I did manage to snag a e-mail with a link to get a discount and I am not staying onsite. Saved me $50! I have no idea why I was chosen. All I can suggest is to sign up for anything and everything on the Disney sites. I did order a set of the customized maps recently and made my ADRs online but I don't know if that was what did the trick or not.
We will be at the MK on Dec. 3rd. I am rather annoyed that they decided to tape on that day! Oh well. I went ahead and signed up for the free tickets although I really do not want to have to devote 4 hours out of my time to watching whatever they are taping. According to what I read on that particular day it will be performance tapings at Cinderella Castle and in the Main Street USA area. Anyone heard anything about who the performers will be? No doubt no one I would know! Anyway, thought I would sign up for the free ticket. Just might save me from needing to purchase a park hopper so it might be worth it.

D&D, I hope the sicknesses makes their way through your house ASAP! Hey, your $100 in gift cards sounds pretty good too!

Sukie, glad you have had a good birthday day. Now you went and made me hungry though. I bet I gained a pound just reading your description of that pie!

Hi DL55 and anyone else I missed.

 

[M&N]

Birthdays are yummy! Sounds like you have some great traditions Sukie.

Marie, I wish I could be definite about meeting you all but I am at the mercy of my friends and how they plan my time. The only day I know about is the 3rd because we are going to the CP. All I can do is trade cell numbers. I will put a bug in their ear that friends will be there but I just cannot make plans as much as I would want to.

I know we complain about dr but my friend just paid over 300 for her car...her electric window would not go back up! It wasn't even the drivers one you use more! Isn't that awful?

Anyone watch Survivor? I sure could not stand living like that...the rain would drive me crazy!

 

[JOCAmom]

Magikitty, I have to agree with you about Disney pricing. After this possible upcoming girls trip, I don't think we'll be doing any more trips for a while. And if we do, it won't be onsite. There's 6 of us in my family and there really isn't anything budget friendly for larger families. We do love Universal. We went last vacation and had a blast.

Sukie, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Sounds like you had a nice day. Sorry it was also filled with some sadness. {{{hugs}}}

 

[M&N]

I had a scare today. In my spam box was an email from schedule-change. That's all I could see. I do not open emails from people I do not know but...I just felt I had to so held my breath--like that would help! It was a schedule change for my flight! I could not remember the times it was originally. You all have to bear with me...I messed up my flight last year not looking at the little am's and pm's and ended up getting there 11:30 pm! As it turns out, it just was a small difference in the time I got back home. I still leave Orlando at 8. I figured they just got a report from the weather channel saying the winds would be blowing stronger north that day!

 

[M&N]

Something has got to give with prices. People are certainly not getting raises...most are thankful to even have a job. My retirement will not go up. I'll be staying home making scrapbooks of past trips...I certainly have the pics!

 

[M&N]

In case you don't see this:
The boards will be coming down at 10:30pm Eastern time tomorrow, Friday the 23rd, for some upgrades. The shutdown is expected to last several hours.
(geek version- we are migrating to a new LUN on the SAN with more drives in order to improve our IO wait times)

Hope it helps...

 

[JOCAmom]

I saw that about the boards. Does stuff like that happen often here?

I can scrapbook right along with you M&N. I have so many pictures here but just have never gotten around to do anything with them.

 

[MagiKitty]

Good morning ladies! This weather is just crazy. All these fluctuations in temps are bound to get me sick. It was nice and nearly 70 yesterday, today we're barely out of the 50s.

Sukie, sound like you had great birthday!

Marie, you are so right about the futility of appointments. I always try to get the earliest appointment available, the later in the day the more likely they're backed up for something else. And I always try to bring a bag of goodies to keep me occupied while waiting...and waiting...

M&N...just add the airlines to your addresses and the notifications should go to your inbox. I had lots of little changes to my flights too...seems silly to notify me that my flight has moved four minutes from last time. And then when we did fly we were delayed in Atlanta due to weather both ways! You can never win!

Add me to the scrapbooking club! I always have good intentions...I save everything and my scrapbook would be a wonderful keepsake, SHOULD I ever get it done. What do you use? Do you use those sticky squares, or the corner things? Do you do the individual pages that you put in sleeves or do you get a book and put things in directly? My issues is I don't know how many pages I'm going to end up with, so I like the ones that you can add to.

I'm going to visit my niece and nephew tonight. I haven't heard from either one of them and I'd figure I'd make the drive up while it was still nice out. I'll take them out to dinner, wine and dine them, then get down to the nitty gritty. Two 18 years olds in college cannot be up to any good!