TRIP CANCELLED...The "we're not reeeeally planning a trip" pre-trip report...

[ChefDisneyLu]

Love the Pre TR...Thanks for sharing!

Just a suggestion for the extra TS meals. on your CS day pop your head into some TS restaurants and see if you can get in, espically at "off" times. They may have had some same day cancellations and you can just walk in!

Can't wait for the rest....

Lisa

 

[rottiemom]

Maybe you were like me, I thought I was imagining things at first.

I swear, it could have been neon & had flashing lights & I still would have missed it. I should have just acted like I was playing dumb ("yeah, I saw the ticker") instead of...well...the reality .

Love the Pre TR...Thanks for sharing!

Just a suggestion for the extra TS meals. on your CS day pop your head into some TS restaurants and see if you can get in, espically at "off" times. They may have had some same day cancellations and you can just walk in!

Hi ChefDisneyLu,
Thanks for stopping in & checking my PTR out! Doing the walk in is a really good idea. Actually it's an excellent idea. Maybe we can manage a quick lunch at the Coral Reef as a walk in?

Clever, clever!

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

So far the fun has been limited to those people lucky enough to watch me "skate" . The other day I was cleaning the front of the fridge & trying to figure out why there were all of these fingerprints high up on one edge...then I realized that they were from me grabbing onto the fridge as I rolled past .


I do like the online reservation option. It leaves me free to play with times & to revise my plans without having to suffer from performance anxiety like I do on the phone . I still can't decide what to do for those extra meals, though.


There is! Diiiii...now I have to see if I can schedule a trip for 2010?! How awesome. And with free dining as well. Fingers crossed that the trip goes smoothly & efforlessly with now cancellations or bankruptcy!

What a dope I am! I was looking at her sig for a new link, maybe? Any changes? And I totally missed the whonkin' big, full color ticker RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME .

That's OK, I'll forgive you - just don't let it happen again!!!!! Maybe I should have done it with neon, but I thought I was doing well with the fireworks! Thanks for the offer of cake!

Maybe you were like me, I thought I was imagining things at first.

All true!!!!!! I can't quite believe now either, but I know it's true as I've started to have my usual 'booking a holiday jitters' and am worrying about £ - I'm with you now Nina.

Di x

 

[rottiemom]

Maybe I should have done it with neon, but I thought I was doing well with the fireworks!

You probably would have needed to use actual fireworks in order to catch my attention. Especially in the mornings. But how totally cool for you guys! How did you manage to snag free dining? Was it an offer for the UK for 2010? So far in advance?

As expected, I mentioned your 2010 trip to my better half who said "well we could always postpone our trip for this fall until next year". Word for word what I expected .

I can't quite believe now either, but I know it's true as I've started to have my usual 'booking a holiday jitters' and am worrying about £ - I'm with you now Nina.

I'll hold your hand . You can do it! If I could manage to scrape together the funds with our finances (or lack of) the way that they are I'm sure that you can manage to save it all with money left over for Nightmare Before Christmas swag .

But, where is my head?

Di's going on another WDW trip!!!

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

You probably would have needed to use actual fireworks in order to catch my attention. Especially in the mornings. But how totally cool for you guys! How did you manage to snag free dining? Was it an offer for the UK for 2010? So far in advance?

As expected, I mentioned your 2010 trip to my better half who said "well we could always postpone our trip for this fall until next year". Word for word what I expected .




I'll hold your hand . You can do it! If I could manage to scrape together the funds with our finances (or lack of) the way that they are I'm sure that you can manage to save it all with money left over for Nightmare Before Christmas swag .

But, where is my head?

Di's going on another WDW trip!!!

they offer the free dining for next year up until New Year, then it will be another offer. But it was just the Quick service dining plan that was free for the moderate resorts - we had to pay extra to upgrade to the 'usual' one. it wasn't available at all for the values.

If you do another trip next year we could have a DIS meet!!!!! (note I said another trip, I don't know about you, but I don't think I would be able to postpone once I'd booked - and don't postpone on our behalf!!!!)

I got my confirmation invoice in today from Disney - it's official!!!!

Di x

 

[rottiemom]

they offer the free dining for next year up until New Year, then it will be another offer. But it was just the Quick service dining plan that was free for the moderate resorts - we had to pay extra to upgrade to the 'usual' one. it wasn't available at all for the values.

Plus, and now you're spoiled from staying in a moderate so you'd never want to stay in a value like the rest of us rabble making rum & coke slushies & hanging out by the pool ,

If you do another trip next year we could have a DIS meet!!!!! (note I said another trip, I don't know about you, but I don't think I would be able to postpone once I'd booked - and don't postpone on our behalf!!!!)

It would be only fair if we scheduled a trip to meet up in 2010 since we're so much closer to WDW than you are. I doubt that I could sell my better half on it but a gal can always try.

I got my confirmation invoice in today from Disney - it's official!!!!

 

[rottiemom]

Though I did pick up some new glasses and a pair of suns so that I can look dazzling in my TR photos . My prescription had changed a tiny bit so it was time to get some new ones. I think that there are a grand total of 2 pictures of me from the last trip since I'm always the one with the camera so it'll be interesting to see if I actually show up on film this year.

Meanwhile it's been nothing but rain every single day which is putting a huge crimp in my pre-WDW walking tolerance plan. A gal can only skate around the house so many times, ya know!

 

[rottiemom]

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the country of Scotland for inventing the fried Mars bar. Brilliant bunch, those Scots.

This is how we celebrated Independence day at my house this year. I spent the morning painting the solar system in my son's playroom (this eventually took all 3 days of the long weekend with my son critiquing the process the whole time), we later grilled tequila marinated, bacon wrapped shrimp & Serbian cevacipi (kind of like kebabs) then rounded out the night by making deep fried oreos and mars bars (they call them Milky Ways here in the US). These are sin, pure and simple.

Some neighborhood idiots (surprisingly enough NOT the ones across the street) decided to set off bottle rockets at 2AM. Nothing like being awakened to the shrieks of missiles and 75 pounds of rottweiler trying to crawl under your pillow .

 

[jmskinner]

Oh, your poor baby. Mine did ok with fireworks. My neighbor kept fussing at his dog because it kept running back in the garage.

Don't you just love those little paint projects that turn into long term projects. My DMIL came to help pain the house one week, she spent the whole week doing the extra bath. She did one of those sponge paint jobs with all these different colors. Matched what I had in the bathroom, but I am sure the next owners quickly covered it up.

 

[rottiemom]

Even though I've been away you guys can still make me smile .

The new title pretty much says it all. We're going to have to cancel the trip. I am so horribly upset about this and I don't know how I'm going to tell William. The reasons are purely financial (at least they're not health related) and to make it even worse my hard saved trip money won't even eliminate the financial issue...it'll just be a drop in the bucket. Ugh.

There's an old saying that if you can throw money at a problem in order to make it go away then it's not really a problem and I'm trying to cling onto the fact that this is temporary & fixable but it sure doesn't make me feel any better about this.

I'm just sick over it.

My better half says that we can plan for fall 2010 but I can't even get excited about that. This trip was pretty much a done deal and it's gotten snatched right out of my hands. sigh.

I had been afraid that something like this would happen. That's why I held off on booking the plane tickets & getting the MNSSHP tickets. carp.

Don't you just love those little paint projects that turn into long term projects. My DMIL came to help pain the house one week, she spent the whole week doing the extra bath. She did one of those sponge paint jobs with all these different colors. Matched what I had in the bathroom, but I am sure the next owners quickly covered it up.

You know, this post is nearly a month old and I'm STILL working on William's playroom! It's looking very cool and WIlliam and I are now at the point where we're sticking up glittery, glow in the dark stars all over the walls. Sadly, I think that the ceiling is going to need some too. But when it's done I'll post pics. Maybe this PTR will morph into a PTR for 2010. I just need to get past the knots in my stomach before I can even think about looking forward.

Ugh! Being a grown up STINKS!

 

[robinb]

Ah, Rottiemom {{hugs}}. You made the right decision for your family. I had to cancel a trip to WDW in late August for our trip to Montreal. I just had to cancel the Montreal trip this week because my mom has surgery on Friday .

 

[jmskinner]

I'm so sorry that you had to cancel. I hate to hear that. I do hope you get to go next fall. Hey, make it October and we can all meet up with Di and her family in 2010.

 

[rottiemom]

Ah, Rottiemom {{hugs}}. You made the right decision for your family. I had to cancel a trip to WDW in late August for our trip to Montreal. I just had to cancel the Montreal trip this week because my mom has surgery on Friday .

I'm so sorry that you had to cancel. I hate to hear that. I do hope you get to go next fall. Hey, make it October and we can all meet up with Di and her family in 2010.

Guys, thank you SO much...your messages really, really help .

They change nothing but they still help me feel better .

Robin, I hope that your mom is going to be OK!

And JM, the potential for a meet up with you & Di next October is what I'd love to aim for. If I have to be a grownup & cancel this trip I'm going to be childish and indulge myself in 2010!

Actually, believe it or not my husband suggested that. I'd love to meet you guys.

Thanks again .

 

[MrsSpratt]

Sigh.

I know what you are going through, and it sucks.

I was planning on a trip for Fall 2010 - plenty of time to save, right? Well, not if we are going to get out of debt before we have kids.

So - congratulations for being responsible. (Hollow victory, isn't it. BEING A GROWN UP SUCKETH SOMETIMES.)

Still cheersing with a glowtini toward you -

Mrs. (Old school gothy goth) Spratt.

ps - has the Hubby sold any non-english bikes yet? One of my girlfriends has a rule for her husband - only ONE non-working car at a time!

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Oh Nina, what a shame! But it sounds like you're doing the right thing. When money's tight you have to cut back, and luxuries like a holiday are often the first things to go - much as you need them! Personally I think they should be free on the NHS - they are very much like healthcare! Recharge and restore! Think I should mention it to my bosses!

Hopefully things will be better for you soon - and next October, all being well, I shall put you in my itinery along with Melissa!

You're so right - being a grown up sucks big time!

Di x

PS, can't personally take credit for inventing deep fried mars bars, but give us Scots some batter and a frying pan we'll deep fry anything for you! No wonder we're top of the European league tables for heart attacks and strokes! Takes a lot of hard work and dedication to achieve those sorts of figures!

 

[rottiemom]

Sigh.

I know what you are going through, and it sucks.

I was planning on a trip for Fall 2010 - plenty of time to save, right? Well, not if we are going to get out of debt before we have kids.

Well I'm so glad that you managed to find me anyway .

Not to be an enabler but you might want to consider trying to take that trip anyway, before you have kids. Because your world changes once they arive. We refer to events as BC (before child) and AC in order to keep track. Plus the little menaces aren't always cooperative about arriving when you want them to.

But yes, we can start our own cancelled trip support group (bleah).

So - congratulations for being responsible. (Hollow victory, isn't it. BEING A GROWN UP SUCKETH SOMETIMES.)

I really don't like this wole "responsibility" thing!

Still cheersing with a glowtini toward you -

Glowtinis all around!

Mrs. (Old school gothy goth) Spratt.

Let's hear it for the darkity dark ones!

Just think about how all of those years of sunscreen & white makeup have saved your skin. Go ahead, call me Morticia...who's laughing now?

ps - has the Hubby sold any non-english bikes yet? One of my girlfriends has a rule for her husband - only ONE non-working car at a time!

Not a single nibble. Nobody's buying project bikes right now it seems. At least not our project bikes. I'm thinking about contacting one of those "we buy your non running bikes" people to see how much we'd get for them.

Oh Nina, what a shame! But it sounds like you're doing the right thing. When money's tight you have to cut back, and luxuries like a holiday are often the first things to go - much as you need them! Personally I think they should be free on the NHS - they are very much like healthcare! Recharge and restore! Think I should mention it to my bosses!

Hopefully things will be better for you soon - and next October, all being well, I shall put you in my itinery along with Melissa!

You're so right - being a grown up sucks big time!

Di, I think that you're a genius and that holidays should totally be covered by insurance! I mean, seriously, they cover preventative things like an annual physical & mammograms so why not something like a modest annual vacation?
That would prevent a whole host of things!

Gotta say that I didn't think that I'd ever see myself using again. You guys are true miracle workers. I still have to make "THE call" , though, (which will likely be tomorrow morning) but I never expected to actually be getting a bit cheerier about all of this.

Once I get this financial hole plugged, though, October 2010 is going to be my new mantra .

PS, can't personally take credit for inventing deep fried mars bars, but give us Scots some batter and a frying pan we'll deep fry anything for you! No wonder we're top of the European league tables for heart attacks and strokes! Takes a lot of hard work and dedication to achieve those sorts of figures!

It's something to be proud of...and I'm sure that America can match you clogged artery for blocked passage.

Back to grim reality. I haven't told William about the trip being cancelled...I mean, why upset him from now? And I've been thinking that maybe we can manage a small trip, an accessible by car trip that won't be nearly as expensive as WDW. As long as there's a water park my little guy will be happy. So I've started batting some ideas around & need to do some resarch. We're in NY so maybe Hershey Park in PA or Busch Gardens in VA? I need to look at prices, tickets, etc. It would have to be beyond budget, though, which may not be possible for either.

We'll see...but meanwhile I appreciate all of your messages more than you realize.

 

[rottiemom]

So I officially axed the trip on Friday. While the woman that I spoke with couldn't have been nicer (as seems to be par for the course when it comes to WDW) I was still on hold for about 15 minutes listening to happy Disney music . I know that it can't be helped but the last thing that I want to hear is "I'm walkin' right down the middle of Main St USA!" when the reason for my call is that I'm not going to be anywhere NEAR Main St USA.

Anyway, I've started planning a short trip to Williamsburg VA to take the sting out of all of this and I started a thread on the budget board to maybe help with the planning. The response has been hugely helpful & totally positive. Busch Gardens/Water Country sound like great parks and I've gotten a bunch of tips. Plus we can drive there rather than flying (I hate to fly). And the best part is that with the current specials it looks like we can manage a 4 day/3 night trip for ~500$ all told. So about 1/4 of the cost of the WDW trip. A reasonable amount.

Researching this trip, paired with the responses to my budget board thread, have really helped to get me past the knots in my stomach & the anger/frustration/sadness over having to be a grown up & cancel our WDW trip. And the BG/WC trip is sounding more & more fun. But I know that if it wasn't for my having to cancel the WDW trip I never would have thought of the trip to Williamsburg.

So in this case, when life gave me lemons I turned them into sour mix & made a glowtini. Maybe I'll bring some glow cubes with me to VA ?

 

[rottiemom]

not Disney vacay. We've hit our first snag, which is that the vet can't board Amberini that weekend. I'm hoping for a cancellation & will check back with them daily over the next few days but meanwhile I'm looking into dog friendly hotels. It's true I'll worry about my girl alone in the hotel room all day but we've travelled with her before & she's very good. She's not a barker & stays in her travel crate all day & sleeps. I'll just leave the "do not disturb" sign on & tell the front desk not to have the room cleaned during our stay. Nobody wants to be surprised by a 75lb rottweiler!

I realize that I have to get my rump in gear & start getting things together since we'll be leaving next week! It seems really strange that after months of WDW planning & knowing that I had until late September before that trip I now have to scurry & round everything up. This trip is providing a pretty good band aid, all things considered, and it's looking more & more affordable. I really NEED this vacation & it's helping to know that we're just an 8 hour car ride away from home in case something happens back in NY.

 

[jmskinner]

Sorry for the snag. La Quinta is a pet friendly hotel that is very reasonable price wise. When we moved from TX to Florida that is where we stayed on the drive. Stayed at two different ones with 3 dogs, but I just realized we didn't leave the dogs by themselves. Something else you might look into is a doggy daycare near Busch Gardens, or do they have a kennel you could leave the furbaby at while in the park?

Also, it has been 7 years since I was at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, but it is a very nice park. Just went to the one here in Tampa and really enjoyed it.

Hope it all works out and you have a great vaca!

 

[rottiemom]

Sorry for the snag. La Quinta is a pet friendly hotel that is very reasonable price wise. When we moved from TX to Florida that is where we stayed on the drive. Stayed at two different ones with 3 dogs, but I just realized we didn't leave the dogs by themselves. Something else you might look into is a doggy daycare near Busch Gardens, or do they have a kennel you could leave the furbaby at while in the park?

Hi JM!

BG does have a kennel but I don't know if my neurotic rottie would fare very well in it. We used to travel with her quite a bit (in the days before child) so she's familiar with the "crate/hotel room/my people are coming back" routine . I've booked a room & confirmed that the hotel accepts pets so we're golden. I know that Amber-ini will be delighted with the whole car ride & getting to be with us rather than being left behind at the vet. It's so cute how excited she gets when she realizes that SHE gets to go in the car .

So we leave this Friday! The weather forecast for the area this weekend is 90 degrees and thunderstorms . But I refuse to worry about the weather. This trip was able to pull me up & out of the dumps over my having to be a grownup & cancel our WDW trip due to the bills. And it also helped to kick my brain loose in order to help come up with some solutions towards dealing with the bills that we do have. So cancelling the WDW trip was not only the right thing but a good thing at this point in time.

Still, I'm really gonna miss Free Dining .

I have to say that the DIS has still been a lifesaver. I've gotten a ton of tips & great advice from the BG/Williamsburg thread so if anyone ever needs some good info:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2250488

Also, it'll be interesting to do a comparison/contrast between this trip & our WDW trip last year. My better half is already grumping about the lack of hotel to park shuttle (because we got spooooooooiled at WDW ).

So we're OK.