Very Merry D23 Holidaze Dec 2009 TR - 7 magical park days! updt 7/1

[MyMuse]

I will be going back to my PTR, promise!

Just wanted to update that what we thought was the home study yesterday wasn't. It was actually the pre-interviewer. She came an hour early, so I wasn't there and was gone by the time I drove over to my sister's house.

So, this first interviewer will call my sister and set up an actual interview. she was positive and said it looks like CJ is in a great environment.

Anyhoo, we went out for some pizza (CJ's fav) - though I had a turkey sandwhich, can't do cheese after CJ completed his homework. Lori went off to her karate class and I babysit for the night.

We walked the dog, sat in for an hour of TV, had some nice conversation, and then off to get ready for bed. Usually, there is a spike in there somewhere (bi-polar/emtional issues), but last night was a great night. He was happy, lively and did really well. No issues with getting ready for bed or taking his medication. I'm hoping this is a sign that he is getting more comfortable with his new life.

And now, tonight, I get a night off and I get to go home to do housework and yardwork!!!

 

[MyMuse]

Whoo-hooo! 70 DAYS!!! ​

And, in other PTR news, I was changing around my car rental today. While, I still think the prices are too high, I changed car rental companies and found the same rate for the now 11 day trip vs. the old 9 day trip!

I much rather stay wirh Budget since I'm a Fastbreak member (and thereby get OUT of the airport faster), but I'm hanging on to the other reservation until their rates come down a bit. I'm hoping it will come down further as time draws nearer.

I cancelled my other reservations with the old trip. I think I'll wait another few days to book my air (because it was will OFFICIAL then) until I know what is going on with CJ.

I'll be summing the trip up then! And my peeps going now are tweeting, so it'll keep my occupied. Come on 60 day mark!

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

I am so glad to hear that CJ is adjusting smoothly! Also - I would like to give you a for hitting 70 today!!! (we're at 72 and I can barely contain myself!!!)

 

[dawnbu40]

It's good to hear that you and CJ had a great night!

YAY! For 70 days

We're at 2 now and I can't believe it's so close!

 

[MyMuse]

I am so glad to hear that CJ is adjusting smoothly! Also - I would like to give you a for hitting 70 today!!! (we're at 72 and I can barely contain myself!!!)

Thank you and thank you!

It's good to hear that you and CJ had a great night!

YAY! For 70 days

We're at 2 now and I can't believe it's so close!

OMGosh!!! Now it's 1 day! How excited are you??? Have a wonderful magical time!!

 

[dawnbu40]

Thanks! We will

 

[disneyaddicted]

It's good to hear that CJ is settling in now, I'm sure he can feel the security and the loving environment that he is in now. Shame his mother hasn't called, but like you said it might be the best thing for now.

 

[MyMuse]

Thanks! We will

Dawn is there NOW!

It's good to hear that CJ is settling in now, I'm sure he can feel the security and the loving environment that he is in now. Shame his mother hasn't called, but like you said it might be the best thing for now.

Thank you.

I really hope so. He was so good last Friday. I forgot to un-silence my cell at work for him to call me when he gets home from school. He left a voicemail and then called my work line and did EXCELLENT! I didn't even know it was him.

 

[MyMuse]

Back to the PTR.....


I'm been following my airfare and it runs about $220 (all taxes/fees included, $198), which is pretty much the best price for now for non-stop to Orlando. It's a bit cheaper to do a lay-over, but ugh, I hate those.

I have gotten this airfare a little cheaper in the past, but it doesn't seem to affect this year. Last night, I see a "sale" on using miles for the flights I can live with. It is 12,500 miles each way (25,000 total) and a $5 fee, which will certainly help the bottom line for this trip.

Now, that said...is it too "expensive" to use miles on a fairly inexpensive airfare?

 

[MyMuse]

Back to the PTR.....


I'm been following my airfare and it runs about $220 (all taxes/fees included, $198), which is pretty much the best price for now for non-stop to Orlando. It's a bit cheaper to do a lay-over, but ugh, I hate those.

I have gotten this airfare a little cheaper in the past, but it doesn't seem to affect this year. Last night, I see a "sale" on using miles for the flights I can live with. It is 12,500 miles each way (25,000 total) and a $5 fee, which will certainly help the bottom line for this trip.

Now, that said...is it too "expensive" to use miles on a fairly inexpensive airfare?

Ok, this morning, my airfare just dropped $30, so I guess I answered my question!!!

 

[MyMuse]

Back to the PTR.....


I'm been following my airfare and it runs about $220 (all taxes/fees included, $198), which is pretty much the best price for now for non-stop to Orlando. It's a bit cheaper to do a lay-over, but ugh, I hate those.

I have gotten this airfare a little cheaper in the past, but it doesn't seem to affect this year. Last night, I see a "sale" on using miles for the flights I can live with. It is 12,500 miles each way (25,000 total) and a $5 fee, which will certainly help the bottom line for this trip.

Now, that said...is it too "expensive" to use miles on a fairly inexpensive airfare?

Ok, this morning, my airfare just dropped $30, so I guess I answered my question!!!

Airfare booked! Now, it is OFFICIAL. ​

 

[MyMuse]

Ok, I updated the front page with the new info, but thought to add it here....
I also changed the title of this PTR to "Very Merry" instead of "Very Mostly-Merry" because I should,even though, I'm not staying on-site, there is too many good things on this trip for it not to be all Merry.

So, onto the updated important info!

When:
-- December 4-10, Orlando
-- December 10-13, Tampa
-- December 13-15, back to Orlando area

Where:
-- Off-site Condo

My Progress:

• Air? FINALLY, I know!

• Park Tickets? 5 Day Hoppers!

• Car? w/preferred parking!

• Condo? Deluxe Villa babeeee!

• ADRs? Whew!

• Touring Plan? sorta....but I gots RideMax

• Dis-Shop? Found a Pratically Perfect Parkbag!! it!!

• Packing?

Now, I have to make a new To Do list:

-- check up on car rates
-- make binder cover
-- touring plans check-ups (RideMax not avail yet)
-- ADRs/Tour check-ups (make sure they are all there)
-- call WDW-Tour to see if I can use AAA discount, since I bought park tickets thru AAA?
-- see if any FL park tickets for my BFF
-- reserve car for morning airport trip; sister will pick me up
-- update my peoples
-- travel alarm clock / luggage tags
-- update budget s/sheet

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

WooHoo for airfare!!!

I gotta make a list of To-Do's too...

 

[MyMuse]

Why, oh Why, must they come out with a 4/3 deal for NOW?

I am just going to torture myself with staying on-site again....

However, nothing really beats a $130 2 bedroom deluxe villa for the week....even though, it's just me.

 

[disneyaddicted]

I will try and be the voice of reason, (I'm not too good at that though)
They will offer that deal again in the future, I think it made them a lot of money so they will bring it back time and again. Your tip is already thought out, the budget is set, why change it again? You are happy with what you have, it will still be great!! You will still have Disney Magic, you have alot of neat stuff planned, you are adding extra days you get to see your God Daughter.

Phew! that was hard, I actually broke out into a sweat. It's hard being the voice of reason. I'm pretty good at Devils advocate, let me know if you need me to play that role, I will do it.

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

<--- is staying outta this one

No, seriously, I agree with Ty - stick with what ya got, sister!

 

[MyMuse]

I'm not lost in space!

I've had a busy last 2 days ...I plan to update tomorrow morning, if I don't have any emergencies before then!

 

[MyMuse]

I will try and be the voice of reason, (I'm not too good at that though)
They will offer that deal again in the future, I think it made them a lot of money so they will bring it back time and again. Your tip is already thought out, the budget is set, why change it again? You are happy with what you have, it will still be great!! You will still have Disney Magic, you have alot of neat stuff planned, you are adding extra days you get to see your God Daughter.

Phew! that was hard, I actually broke out into a sweat. It's hard being the voice of reason. I'm pretty good at Devils advocate, let me know if you need me to play that role, I will do it.

<--- is staying outta this one

No, seriously, I agree with Ty - stick with what ya got, sister!

Thanks guys!

Yup, I'm going to leave it alone. I just love a deal, though this version is different from before since it does not include the $200 gift card (and the value portion is different but I stayed in a moderate).

I do want to go this time next year for the Food & Wine Festival (*crosses fingers*), but I have no idea at this point whether I'll stay on property or just the timeshare again. I been so enjoying all the tweets, pics and vids coming from the Festival!

Here's the thread for the Tweets: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2289826

and I'm at: http://twitter.com/MyMuse18

I'll definitely be tweeting from the parks as well. I still have to learn how to be a tweet expert. I'm getting there.

 

[scoot241]

Thanks guys!

Yup, I'm going to leave it alone. I just love a deal, though this version is different from before since it does not include the $200 gift card (and the value portion is different but I stayed in a moderate).

I do want to go this time next year for the Food & Wine Festival (*crosses fingers*), but I have no idea at this point whether I'll stay on property or just the timeshare again. I been so enjoying all the tweets, pics and vids coming from the Festival!

Here's the thread for the Tweets: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2289826

and I'm at: http://twitter.com/MyMuse18

I'll definitely be tweeting from the parks as well. I still have to learn how to be a tweet expert. I'm getting there.

Glad you started a new Twitter thread. I was thinking of doing the same the other day.

 

[MyMuse]

The last couple of days have been a bit MIA (well, for me ) since it was both CJ days.

I babysit twice a week for my sis to go to karate class. She has been trying to make it to black belt for a couple of years now. However, she wasn't able to go 2 days ago because CJ has a meltdown/tantrum/episode worthy of the best 4 year olds out there.

It wasn't as bad as I've seen it in the past, but it did last a bit over an hour and my sis missed her class. To make a long involved story short, CJ acted out by not wanting to take a shower. As it turns out, his real anxiety was about being left alone in the big picture. Chances are his father (who is verbally abusive) and/or grandmother said something to him to make him anxious and worried about his future. I don't know whether they said a flippant comment & CJ made it bigger because of his disability or whether they just enjoy turning him inside out and leave the fallout to us, but it will stop. He only gets this frantic after he talks with both or either one of them.

My sis and I discussed it; the phone calls with his paternal side will be initated by us, probably twice a week and monitored by being on speaker phone. CJ will no longer have his own cell phone and this should alleviate his anxiety when he expects a call from them. In the past, his mother stopped dealing with the grandmother on her own and would let CJ make arrangements to see his paternal side on his own on his cell phone. She never took any real action to deal with CJ's acting out after he returns home from a visit and/or a phone call from the paternal side.

As a result from this night, I stayed several hours longer than usual to talk it out with my sis and make the above game plan to see if it makes CJ more secure.

The next morning, he was aware on what he did wrong. My sis told me that they had a good productive conversation on how to tell us when he is upset or worried. I hope he will begin to believe and be secure that we will protect and help him, but acting out will not achieve this goal. Whereas, in the past, it did get his mother's negative attention, which was better than none. This is a learning situation for everyone.

In better news....
Last night, was CJ's back to school night at his school. I was initially a little critical of the school, but back to school night was a good one. My sister and I made it very clear to his teachers, occupational therapist and social worker, it was a dawning of a new era and that we are very involved in improving CJ's mental, physical, social, emtional, and academic health and will gladly accept any help/suggestions from them as how to achieve CJ becoming a productive member of society.

My sister is a special education teacher herself, so she knows a great deal, but we needed to know what how his school days are, so we can reflect it at home.

Tonight, I go back to babysit. Hopefully, Lori can get to karate class this time.

Thanks to all of you for being my stress reliever.