Walking on Sunshine : Celebrating Spring at Universal & SeaWorld - an April/May 2016 PTR

Happy Easter! I am so excited that you were blessed with a Universal Character breakfast!! That was so sweet of someone! It just seems like an Epic trip keeps getting....Epic-er.

In our monthly budget, I only allow small amount for clothes and such, but have a much bigger vacation budget! The dryer made me think of that. We are using the same set as when we first moved in to our house about 10 years ago. I think they are from the early '90s. They still work, but we have had to CPR them a few times. I refuse to buy a new set until they completely fall apart! But when it comes to upgrading to "even more space" on Jetblue, I don't bat an eye :rotfl2:

I don't agree with the new undies! I like to use ones I know will stay put! :eek:

Tomorrow we will be in the 20s also! :cheer2:
 
Happy Easter! Sounds like a nice quiet and reflective day for you Gina. The Character breakfast sounds like a blast.

I have seen those red laundry appliances (is yours an LG brand?) and I LOVE THEM! So fashionable!
Ummmm-I have this set-bought 12 years ago when the hand-me-downs (they lasted through college and early marriage years!) finally quit working without some fiddling every load (or at least it felt like that). I STILL love them but front loaders aren't for everyone. The door to the front loader washer needs to be left open until seals dry (no biggie for me as it is separate laundry room). I also use washing soda every few loads to keep it clean. When we bought the set many moons ago the red color was on sale and it would have cost us a couple hundred more for white.
 
We only have the front loader sort here in Uk. I like the top loader sort they have in America, they are so much quicker than ours. Think I used the laundry room 3 or 4 times at Cabana bay.
 
In our monthly budget, I only allow small amount for clothes and such, but have a much bigger vacation budget

Us too... I have a direct deposit that goes to my Chase checking account tied to that Chase Disney debit card. I put all my "extra" there. Sometimes have to dip into it for other emergencies, but it's much easier to save for Disney trips if I never see it in my regular checking account.

Hope the squeak is an easy fix, Gina, so that you can use that money for your October trip instead of appliances! :scared:
 

Happy Easter everyone! ( insert needed rabbit emoji here)

Gina so happy to hear your angel came through your minion breakfast. Good things happen to good people,so I see many good things coming your way. Just from the little I've gotten to know you on the boards :)

Ok corny over I really am excited to hear about this trip you have so many great things lined up It will be the best one yet! Can't wait to live vicariously through you until I can afford to get across the country to Florida. Now with HP at Universal Hollywood,all the other extras you do will have to keep convincing me:rolleyes:
 
Happy Easter! I am so excited that you were blessed with a Universal Character breakfast!! That was so sweet of someone! It just seems like an Epic trip keeps getting....Epic-er.

In our monthly budget, I only allow small amount for clothes and such, but have a much bigger vacation budget! The dryer made me think of that. We are using the same set as when we first moved in to our house about 10 years ago. I think they are from the early '90s. They still work, but we have had to CPR them a few times. I refuse to buy a new set until they completely fall apart! But when it comes to upgrading to "even more space" on Jetblue, I don't bat an eye :rotfl2:

I don't agree with the new undies! I like to use ones I know will stay put! :eek:

Tomorrow we will be in the 20s also! :cheer2:

LOL, we all have to have priorities, my friend. Anyone who has had the pleasure of sitting in those Even More Space seats knows that they are well worth doing CPR on an elderly dryer as long as there's still a breath of life in it to be revived!! ;)

You are right on the Epic-ity (epic-ness?) of this trip: what started out as a fairly basic, being-super-careful-because-of-our-dreadful-Canadian-dollar vacation has evolved into a trip of a lifetime. We are all so humbled and grateful for all the little extras that have been bestowed on us. I am super excited for Sunshine in particular: we are posied to give her some memories that she will carry with her forever! Orlando captured our hearts many, many years ago, and I am hoping that it also becomes somewhere she loves as much as we do.

Happy dance for hitting the 20's! :dancer: I love this part of the countdown, don't you?

Happy Easter! Sounds like a nice quiet and reflective day for you Gina. The Character breakfast sounds like a blast.

Ummmm-I have this set-bought 12 years ago when the hand-me-downs (they lasted through college and early marriage years!) finally quit working without some fiddling every load (or at least it felt like that). I STILL love them but front loaders aren't for everyone. The door to the front loader washer needs to be left open until seals dry (no biggie for me as it is separate laundry room). I also use washing soda every few loads to keep it clean. When we bought the set many moons ago the red color was on sale and it would have cost us a couple hundred more for white.

It really was a nice day :): quiet, but spent with my favourite people (even if for just short times). It was a beautiful day to visit the cemetery, and I know it brought both Mom and I both alot of peace to spend some time at my Dad's grave. We ladies enjoyed a nice lunch out, I took a long and relaxing walk around the neighbourhood after dinner since the weather was so pleasant, and Jake and I have topped off the evening with a little March Madness (he's celebrating Syracuse's victory over Virginia). Tomorrow we all enjoy a day off together (woohoo!), Sunshine comes back from Kitchener, and we will join my bro and his family at my mom's for an Easter feast.

Steve is currently finishing us his very last midnight shift. We will be celebrating when 7 am tomorrow morning rolls around!! :cheer2:

I may go tomorrow morning and check out some laundry pairs at Leons and The Brick, just to see what's available if my dryer does indeed need to be retired in the near future. Thanks for the good info on the front loaders, they are definitely good considerations to keep in mind before I shop. Colour is not important to me at all (my laundry room is in the basement, and fully separated from the recreation room so no one ever sees them but me) but I gotta say, red would be awfully snazzy! ::yes::

We only have the front loader sort here in Uk. I like the top loader sort they have in America, they are so much quicker than ours. Think I used the laundry room 3 or 4 times at Cabana bay.

Top loaders are (generally) less expensive than the front loading models, but energy efficiency is a consideration too.

I had no idea that top loading machines were a north american thing! How interesting!!

Us too... I have a direct deposit that goes to my Chase checking account tied to that Chase Disney debit card. I put all my "extra" there. Sometimes have to dip into it for other emergencies, but it's much easier to save for Disney trips if I never see it in my regular checking account.

Hope the squeak is an easy fix, Gina, so that you can use that money for your October trip instead of appliances! :scared:

Thankfully, all the big stuff for our October trip is fully booked and paid. Flights, accommodations for both weeks, and Discovery Cove are all taken care of, as is our admission to SeaWorld & Aquatica with our annual passes. Some of our dining is also covered already as well......so we can go bare bones from here if its ever necessary. We have full kitchens at both resorts so we can cook in to save some $$ if the budget needs trimming. While we hope to add an MNSSHP and a couple of small things to the plans, if we don't.....we will still have an awesome trip with what is already purchased :goodvibes .

I was just joking with Steve last night......remember his little salary increase that he will receive with his new position? I teased him that it would be allocated to new laundry appliances, and he promptly rolled his eyes in my direction :rotfl:.

Happy Easter everyone! ( insert needed rabbit emoji here)

Gina so happy to hear your angel came through your minion breakfast. Good things happen to good people,so I see many good things coming your way. Just from the little I've gotten to know you on the boards :)

Ok corny over I really am excited to hear about this trip you have so many great things lined up It will be the best one yet! Can't wait to live vicariously through you until I can afford to get across the country to Florida. Now with HP at Universal Hollywood,all the other extras you do will have to keep convincing me:rolleyes:

Aw, thank you Ritchielace :goodvibes . We have been so, so blessed (well beyond anything we deserve) and are unbelievably appreciative. We have all had a lot of fun finding little ways to pay forward that kindness: good deeds have a way of multiplying once someone takes the initiative to get them started. We certainly have no way equalled the generosity that's been bestowed on us thus far, but its a start :).

While you are yearning to get back to Orlando, and we are dreaming of someday visiting all the great attractions on the West Coast. I would love to check out Disneyland, California Adventure, Universal Studios Hollywood, Knotts Berry Farm, and the west coast beaches!! Its definitely on our travel bucket list, and a trip we hope to make sooner rather than later ::yes::. Time for more lottery tickets, maybe? LOL!
 
LOL, thank you my friend, you have made me feel so much better!! :hug: (and a tiny bit less weird.....but yet, I'm totally at peace with my oddities nonetheless . I like to think its part of my charm:rotfl:)

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I have seen those red laundry appliances (is yours an LG brand?) and I LOVE THEM! So fashionable!

LOL, now you're making me yearn for a sparkly new front loading set after all :scratchin :rolleyes:.




I have no idea how it actually came about, but we've been doing it since our very first Disney trip in 2009. 10 Florida vacations (and few non-Florida ones) later, and it seems inconceivable not to be sitting on the plane wearing new undies and socks :cutie:. Which reminds me, I'd better see if Sunshine needs a few new underthings too....I wouldn't want her to feel left out of our bizarre traditions :rotfl2:.

It is the LG washer. It takes some getting used to. It is a little more high maintenance than I'm used to. You have to leave the door open to dry, something my OCD does not like. You have to empty water and drain a water line. And if you don't have the pedestal for it, it's a pain on your back to take clothes out. But it does s good job washing.
 
So Glad I found your PTR. I kept looking and looking on the Orlando forum.
Sounds like you have a ton planned!
 
It is the LG washer. It takes some getting used to. It is a little more high maintenance than I'm used to. You have to leave the door open to dry, something my OCD does not like. You have to empty water and drain a water line. And if you don't have the pedestal for it, it's a pain on your back to take clothes out. But it does s good job washing.

I am off to the furniture store right now....wish me luck!

So Glad I found your PTR. I kept looking and looking on the Orlando forum.
Sounds like you have a ton planned!

Hi ya Callie! Glad you found us :goodvibes.

I don't suppose you are the same Callie who just sent me a friend request yesterday on Facebook? I am still trying to narrow down who that might be! If it's you, I will hit the "add" button :thumbsup2.

Definitely lots planned for this trip.....in fact, I should post our updated itinerary since several things have changed since this thread was started six weeks ago!! Sounds like a good project for when I am trying to recuperate from our Easter indulgences later tonight!!
 
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Speaking of Facebook, if any of my Dis friends want to also be Facebook friends, feel free to PM me for my last name (if you haven't already figured it out) and you can send me a friend request. I tend to post there a little more often than here on the Disboards while we are actually on vacation, so if you want more frequent updates and photos while we are away, Facebook is your best way to get 'em :) .
 
Yup that was me! I should have sent you a message first!
I've always loved your trip reports. I don't post often in them as I'm more of a lurker. Whoops
 
I have started to pick up some of the travel "essentials" ... new undies for everyone (sorry if thats too much information :o), new socks, etc. I don't know why, but nothing says vacation like all new undergarments :). Please tell me someone else out there does the same thing.
I do exactly the opposite. Some of those coasters at Universal are enough to scare the manure out of you. Literally. Who wants to be wearing fresh whities when that happens?:p. <jk!>
 
Happy Easter everyone! ( insert needed rabbit emoji here)
Okay:

Happy Easter to everyone too! It makes for a very quiet productive day at the office, I must say! Most of my client agencies are closed for the day, so I get more time to focus on getting things done!

Over the weekend I ran the numbers from our recent trip, and was very happy with some of the results. Will probably post them here later. With gas running an average of about US$0.45 a litre (about C$0.60) running my big beast was stupid cheap! For the American readers, our gas here is currently running about US$2.90/gallon.
 
I havent posted forever, life has been crazy with selling our home,celebrating lo's first bday,spending 2 weeks in Florida and then puting everything in storage and moving into inlaws all within the same month..it was crazy! But we already had our trip planned so we went for it and had a great time. A HUGE thank you for your trip reports, having all that going on at the same time was extremely stressful and busy with 2 kiddos under 5, but every night I would reward myself with reading a bit of your trip reports and icecream. I hope to jump in more now that things are almost back to normal. Hurry up April 5th!!! I want our own home again!! :) Thanks for the twistee treat recommendation, we went there twice and ordered larges the first time...oops lol. Wanted to let you know all 2016 Entertainment books are on sale for $14 shipped. Not sure if or how many of your dining plans are included in it,but thought I'd pass the deal on to ya :)
 
Gina, I think one of the first things we bonded over back in the August planning group days was the fact that we both were headed out to buy everyone new socks and underwear for our trips. It's pretty much a tradition in this house too!
I'm curious to see if you ended up with a new laundry pair today! Dh and I saw a Samsung at Costco about a month ago that I didn't realize at the time was a stupidly good price ($300 more anywhere else). It's not on their website but I am going to make the trip that way this week (45 minutes away) to see if they still have any by chance. If not, we'll be looking this week.

Sounds like you had a lovely Easter weekend. With it almost over, all that is left is waiting until trip time!!!:cool1:
It's going to go pretty fast. Every weekend is booked from now until then with something or another. Only 32 days to go for us. I start booking fast passes on Thursday!
 
Happy Easter!
Yay for the Universal breakfast! It's very cute.
This is going to be such a great trip :goodvibes
P.S. I love the talk about the new underoos. So funny.
 
I do exactly the opposite. Some of those coasters at Universal are enough to scare the manure out of you. Literally. Who wants to be wearing fresh whities when that happens?:p. <jk!>

Who said ours were white? :rolleyes2 :ssst:
Okay:

Happy Easter to everyone too! It makes for a very quiet productive day at the office, I must say! Most of my client agencies are closed for the day, so I get more time to focus on getting things done!

Over the weekend I ran the numbers from our recent trip, and was very happy with some of the results. Will probably post them here later. With gas running an average of about US$0.45 a litre (about C$0.60) running my big beast was stupid cheap! For the American readers, our gas here is currently running about US$2.90/gallon.

Ooohhh.....very excited about the gas prices!! Its going to be a cheap 10 days of driving in the south!

I've gotta say, I think your booty-shaking bunny is the cutest thing I've seen on the Dis in a while. Is there some sort of emoji upgrade that I'm missing??

I havent posted forever, life has been crazy with selling our home,celebrating lo's first bday,spending 2 weeks in Florida and then puting everything in storage and moving into inlaws all within the same month..it was crazy! But we already had our trip planned so we went for it and had a great time. A HUGE thank you for your trip reports, having all that going on at the same time was extremely stressful and busy with 2 kiddos under 5, but every night I would reward myself with reading a bit of your trip reports and icecream. I hope to jump in more now that things are almost back to normal. Hurry up April 5th!!! I want our own home again!! :) Thanks for the twistee treat recommendation, we went there twice and ordered larges the first time...oops lol. Wanted to let you know all 2016 Entertainment books are on sale for $14 shipped. Not sure if or how many of your dining plans are included in it,but thought I'd pass the deal on to ya :)

I'm glad your back, and even happier that you slipped in a fun vacation between the chaos of life! Isn't Twistee Treat just THE BEST? ::yes:: The boys literally have Sunshine chomping at the bit to have her first Twistee Treat experience....ice cream is her favourite, and theirs is just sooooo good! I am thrilled you enjoyed it as much as we do.

Thanks for the heads up on the Entertainment Book. I think we will probably take a pass on it this year.....it seems to be getting less relevant for us with each new edition....but perhaps that little tidbit of info will be helpful to someone else who is reading along. Depending on your specific vacation plans, they can definitely end up being a good value purchase!

So now we know what bankr63 wears. I think that falls into the TMI category.

what-has-been-heard-cannot-be-unheard.jpg


Gina, I think one of the first things we bonded over back in the August planning group days was the fact that we both were headed out to buy everyone new socks and underwear for our trips. It's pretty much a tradition in this house too!
I'm curious to see if you ended up with a new laundry pair today! Dh and I saw a Samsung at Costco about a month ago that I didn't realize at the time was a stupidly good price ($300 more anywhere else). It's not on their website but I am going to make the trip that way this week (45 minutes away) to see if they still have any by chance. If not, we'll be looking this week.

Sounds like you had a lovely Easter weekend. With it almost over, all that is left is waiting until trip time!!!:cool1:
It's going to go pretty fast. Every weekend is booked from now until then with something or another. Only 32 days to go for us. I start booking fast passes on Thursday!

Nothing purchased today (though I did go and looked at several sets), and the repair guy is scheduled to drop by tomorrow. Assuming its the belt that's the culprit (which is squeaking away downstairs as we speak), the part will be $24.99 and he said he would discount his service call to $40 since he was just here a few weeks ago. We decided, with a potential $65 fix, we'd give the repair route one more try before dropping $1000+ on new fixtures. It's worth a shot.....and if we're back in this same situation in another 3 weeks, its straight to the Brick for us!!

We don't have a Costco anywhere close to here, either.....its an hour to Kingston or an hour or better to Peterborough. I will keep my fingers crossed that you are able to snag a good deal on the Samsung set you saw a while back!!

I just sent you a friend request on FB!

Fantastic! I accepted it earlier tonight! :goodvibes

Happy Easter!
Yay for the Universal breakfast! It's very cute.
This is going to be such a great trip :goodvibes
P.S. I love the talk about the new underoos. So funny.

@bankr63 and @dancin Disney style are finally back.....and I have to admit, I missed their amusing contributions while they were in Orlando. It's nice to have them home and shocking us once again :rotfl:.

We have one more tiny adjustment to the plans that I will make in the morning.....then I think we are finally all set! :thumbsup2 So excited about every single thing on the itinerary!!
 















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