TRIP INTERRUPTED - or V's Summer Vacation(s)

[jcc0621]

Great update V. I can't wait to hear about Lapupalooza 07. This is gonna be goooooood

 

[Disneyolic]

I love short updates and that drag on for-EVER......

 

[blue_river]

I haven't read your previous TR so it was great to read about the cast members.

I don't know the story behind your friend Char but my heart went out to her. She does sound like an amazing lady. I'm glad to hear she's holding up so well.

 

[TEminnie]

I love short updates and that drag on for-EVER......

Really??? I never would have guessed! We're not past lunch right???

I think I'm officially stalking you--cause I keep refreshing it to see where you are.......do you feel like someone's watching you???

 

[Disneyolic]

I think I'm officially stalking you--cause I keep refreshing it to see where you are.......do you feel like someone's watching you???

Everybody sing with me....I always feel like, somebody's watching me!!!

 

[Sleeping*Beauty]

Everybody sing with me....I always feel like, somebody's watching me!!!

And I have no privacy!!

 

[PrincessAlways]

I had no intentions of entering a park on this trip. No parks. Got that? Bad enough I was entering WDW in August, no way was I going to sweat out my last once of hydration at a park, thank you very much. Just Lapupalooza and back home. That’s also how I sold Gramma on coming along. No parks. We might do some swimming. She and Leo could hang in the room while I played with the girls Saturday night. But no parks.

Hardly seems enough, does it?

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. I added Sunday night to the ressie. And booked Biergarten for that night, ‘cause Leo and I really dug it in May and Gramma missed out. Plus, they were out of the wiener salad, (made famous by Melhappyhaunt), on my first visit.

Know something? Biergarten’s in Epcot. That’s a park.

Oops.

Okay, then one park. And that’s it.

Wait… do water parks count? I mean, I said swimming was okay – couldn’t that stretch to, oh, say, Typhoon Lagoon??

Alright, TL on Monday, EP Sunday night, and that’s it.

Of course, Leo was not going to be happy about the lack of MK. Not at all.

No other comment needed!!

Fine. MK Sunday morning, TL Monday, EP Sunday night. And that’s final. By the way, I didn’t tell Gramma about any of this till she was ready to pack.

“Mom? Don’t forget we’re going to Biergarten for dinner Sunday night.”
“We are?”
“Yeah – remember talking about it? And we decided to go to TL Monday before driving home?”
“I don’t remember.”
“Well, that’s because you prefer not to know all the details way in advance.”
“That’s true. Okay, so what clothes do I need?”

Heh heh. I’m learning.

Sometimes, we can be slow learners!!

But us DIS junkies weren’t done yet. Turned out, Sunday was Little Ones Extra Magic Hour at the MK. Opening at 8am. The morning after Laputoxication.

"laputoxicaion"....a new word!!

 

[TEminnie]

I can't wait to hear each of your versions of the meet. And by the way - I am soooo jealous of the meet. DH was so scared we were going to meet up with Dissers the entire trip.

Did I scare him last trip??? Nah---must have been S'late.....

 

[TEminnie]

I'm glad you are posting how this all came together. I think you all had it planned before I started being a "regular" with all of you. And very interesting about the SSR purchase sight unseen....

Yeah-- I was wondering about how the crew got together too--they were already done planning by the time I got met everyone in Feb!

Hey--did I read somewhere in here about pool hopping??? Can't find it now.......should I overlook it?>>>>>>
I THINK NOT!!

(LY/MI)

 

[twob4him]

Your updates are cracking me up....loved how you kept adding things in and snuck it in on grandma! Great job I can't wait to hear more....sounds like a great time!!

 

[MeLaNie9]

I just love your TRs! Thanks for the update with the intros and some more background. Good to see your crew again! I didn't realize that Char (D) and her beautiful baby Harry (BabyB) were going to be along on this one too! I agree that your conversation with Gramma was just genious!!! I can totally use that technique on MIL for upcoming trip! She's already started in with "well, we can't expect to see EVERYTHING"

Good luck with your paper. I recently spent a few weeks studying (cramming) for a recertifying exam (first test I have had to take since having kids) and boy did I find a new appreciation for those who take classes/do homework/study/etc. with children in their lives! It was impossible to get anything accomplished! You seem like a master at juggling it all!

 

[cmp1111]

Now, I didn't know any of that! I love that you snuck in 3 park days!

 

[DisneyJo]

Actually V I'm with CE some of that I didn't know either, can't wait for your views on the next update

 

[LurrrvtheDuck]

BTW if you wait for me to get to that night you'll be waiting a while

Well I'm glad you said it, since I was gonna point that out too.



V, great start! How great that Char and Harry are joining you guys again on your trip.

EMH for little ones after luputoxication?!

 

[puggymom]

YOU TOO HAVE A TIARA AT WORK That's why I felt so connected to you, I have one to, let's people know who they are dealing with

Love the conversation with your Mom. I have all ADR's and a Plan layed out for February and my Mom doesn't have a clue.

Can't wait to hear more details!

 

[PrincessV]

You are such a great writer ~ just keep going please

Awww, thanks so much!

I love how your trip evolved from just Lapu's with the girls to TL, EP , and MK.

I know, right - what happened to "no parks"?!

I'm sorry Leo didn't really get a change to get comfy with me and my kiddos. There's alway next year.

Oh no, I hope you guys didn't feel slighted at all! I think it was more of ... well... shoot. I can't even exaplin without giving away story parts. Okay, just hang in there, k?! LY/MI!!

Ok, here's the scary part. I could have written that exact same paragraph about my relationship with my mother and father for that matter.

OMG - and I kept thinking about you and TE while I was writing that part - BORG!!

Hmmm... I wonder if I could talk Andy into staying in an SSR studio.

NOW you're talkin'!

Very good planning. That conversation is pure genius on your part.

Why thank you!

Great update V. I can't wait to hear about Lapupalooza 07. This is gonna be goooooood

Yeah!! I think it was anyway...

I love short updates and that drag on for-EVER......

Heh, heh.

I haven't read your previous TR so it was great to read about the cast members.

SEE everybody - someone appreciated my efforts to properly introduce the travelers!

"laputoxicaion"....a new word!!

Yep, I think you'll understand a bit more about why Laputoxication is so appropriate as we moce on

Hey--did I read somewhere in here about pool hopping??? Can't find it now.......should I overlook it?>>>>>>

Ummmmm..... no?

Your updates are cracking me up....loved how you kept adding things in and snuck it in on grandma! Great job

Thaks - leaving Gramma in the dark is SOO the way to go!

I can totally use that technique on MIL for upcoming trip! She's already started in with "well, we can't expect to see EVERYTHING"

Definitely, go in with a plan and don't tell her ANYTHING!

Now, I didn't know any of that! I love that you snuck in 3 park days!

Hee, hee, I'm slick like that

Actually V I'm with CE some of that I didn't know either, can't wait for your views on the next update

See, that's what I love about multiple DISers telling about overlapping trips - we all learn something new!

EMH for little ones after luputoxication?!

Uh-huh, tell me about it.

YOU TOO HAVE A TIARA AT WORK That's why I felt so connected to you, I have one to, let's people know who they are dealing with

Only on the DIS could you find another work-tiara-wearing woman!

 

[princessjv]

I tried to post on this here great TR a few days ago and lo and behold...my internet went capooot!

I love how you work the system...um, I mean Grammy, or was that pools oh no, it was probably refillable mugs. You go girl!

I was totally in the dark that you had 'others' taggin along for this adventure. Another go around with your best bud! I hope that no little sweethearts get sick!


Can't wait for more...when you are ready! You go get a great score on that paper of yours!

 

[sorul82?]

Do we strike you as people who don’t ever break a rule or two?

S’late, too, had other plans. Smart ladies.

"Had" other plans. I was stuck in the POR check in line. I got to the lobby promptly at 7:00AM and when I left, the line was past Boatwrights.

 

[boysmom5150]

Hey V
Just catching up as we were away for a few.

WTH??!!changing names on us. I just got to know everyone.
Love the way you do NO PARKS
You are such a great writer, I could read your stuff all day

 

[PrincessV]

Before I get to Lapu day, I need to do a bit more s’plainin. Especially about the title of this TR.


You see, Trip Interrupted isn’t just a catchy title, it’s an accurate description of what this trip turned into.


It’s been a tough year for me. Losses have been suffered, legal battles waged, children (and Gramma) wrangled, threats of imminent layoffs endured. And. On top of all that – there was school. I’m back to the books, trying to finish a degree and, while online formatting has made it possible to “go to class” at my convenience, 3+ years of non-stop studying had taken its toll. This summer was the toughest stretch yet, with six ten-page papers researched and written over the span of two and a half months. By the time I was wrapping up Lapu Fest plans, I was beyond exhausted and in desperate need of a real vacation. Meaning: something longer than 2 nights.


It would have been easy to add a couple more nights to our ressie, save for the fact that I’m already pulling Leo out of school for a week in Dec. I really didn’t want to take him out more than the one day already planned for August.

Also, I had him for Labor Day Weekend this year. I won’t have that time next year. I hated to waste that opportunity…

And Labor Day Weekend happened to fall the weekend after Lapu Fest…

And we live so close, it’s not like it’s difficult to go back and forth…

And there was a room available at a great AP rate at the POLY.





That pretty much sealed the deal for me.




New plan: Aug. 25-27 at SSR with Leo and Gramma, Sept. 1-3 at the Poly, just me and Leo. A total of six WDW days, interrupted by four days of school/work. A Trip Interrupted!



For the record, and I know this will come as something of a shock, I made no ADRs for Phase II of the trip.
You read that right – NO ADRs.
Leo and I were going to wing it.
Fly by the seats of our pants.
Take some chances in life.
Go wherever the breeze may blow us.

In other words, Mickey was sucking my last dollar at the Poly and we needed to eat on the cheap.


_________________________________________________________________


About a week before Lapupabooza weekend, I got the itch. That pesky little itch that says, “V? You know what would make things so much easier? Going over a day early.”

Happens every trip. And it’s almost always a mistake to act on it.

But the itch had some more pearls of wisdom to share:
“V? Lapu Night’s gonna be mighty painful if you wake up at 5am that morning to drive over.”

The itch had a point.

Done. I called WDW reservations four days out and managed to add Aug. 24 at POR at a super low AP rate.

I had to break this to Gramma, who hates, hates, hates split stays.

“Hey Mom? I’ve got great news!”
“Does this have anything to do with Disney?”

Amazing how she picks up on that…

“Yeah – I started thinking that maybe it would be better to drive over on Friday, so we wouldn’t have to get going so early on Sat. I mean, I’ll be up late, and I know you’re not a morning person…”
sigh “Where are we staying?”
“I got us a room at POR – remember how much we loved it there last Dec.?!”
“Oh yeah, it was nice.”


Heh heh. Maybe she’s learning, too.


Okay, so 8/24-27 at POR and SSR with Leo and Gramma, followed by 9/1-9/3 at the Poly with Leo!


_________________________________________________________________


You may, at this point, be wondering where in the heck Char and Harry fit into all of this.

Well, last I’d heard, Char was planning to spend Labor Day Weekend down on Sanibel Island with her boy. They already had plans, so I made mine at WDW.


At some point close to the beginning of September – and I honestly don’t remember now whether this happened before or after Phase I of my trip – I had a feeling I should ask Char about her plans.

Turned out, she never made the Sanibel reservations. They had no plans at all for Labor Day Weekend.

I had a petite woman and a small boy staying in one of WDW’s largest resort rooms.

The decision was so simple, it required no thought at all – I asked if Char and Harry might want to join us and they said yes!

So now the plan was for 8/24-27 at POR and SSR with Gramma and Leo, followed by 9/1-3 with Leo, Char and Harry!

_________________________________________________________________


Did it stop there?



Puh-leeeeeeaaaase.


Remember the itch? I got it again.

And it said, “V? Wouldn’t it make things easier to go over Fri. night?”

I tried to ignore it.

Then it said, “V? If you went over Fri. night, and met Char on Sat., you’d have a little extra time for just you and Leo – you could both probably use that.”

It also said, “V? Do you remember Char telling you that Harry screams ALL the way to WDW?”



Sold.


That Thursday, 8/30, I called and booked POFQ for the next night.


New plan: 8/24-27 at POR and SSR with Leo and Gramma, followed by 8/31 at POFQ with Leo and 9/1-3 at the Poly with Leo, Char and Harry.



And that was FINAL. There would be no further changes. Or would there?

Next: The day we’ve all been waiting for.