WHAT A DIFFERENCE 6 MOS. MAKES (or how I learned to love MK) COMPLETE-WRAP-UP 12/29

[tinacaplan]

First of all, can I just say that I'm terribly sorry about my pictures. I've been editing them (somewhat) and resizing them, yet when I post them here they look like they haven't been. Anyone know what's up with that?

Please don't think I am insane for being up this early. I promised myself I would get right to work on my music ( I have to do an 8am mass and I am not well prepared - hence the early morning hours), but I saw you updated and had to comment.

I did think you were up a bit early...but certainly not crazy! Eight a.m. mass...that's dedication.

first - yeah for airline tickets. Sorry they are so pricey. You certainly have a lot of choices for nonstop from Hartford. Not so much here in Philly and BWI. And no jet blue. boo!

All I was doing was watching them go up, up, up! And we're lucky: Southwest, Jetblue, and US Airways all fly direct out of Hartford. I would have been willing to go non-direct on the way home, especially if it would have saved us some money, but it wasn't going to make a difference. Travelling that week is just expensive and there isn't really any way around it, unfortunately.

Excellent update. Max is too cute with his mickey bar. What a great morning you had. You got so much done and this was summer. I'm impressed! How was the weather - was it ungodly hot?

Thanks...I think he's pretty cute. Unfortunately, he doesn't often look directly at the camera. I went through a long period where I didn't have a great camera and had stopped taking many pictures, so I think he's out of practice.

We were only able to get so much done because we made rope drop, and the very front at that. It makes all the difference in the world. And with a little kid who wakes up early anyway, it makes sense to us.

It was VERY hot. People kept trying to tell me that it was hotter up in CT than in Florida. Um, no. While I suppoes that it was technically possible, the sun is a lot stronger in Florida, so when you're out in it, its awful. My face was sweating! But it didn't really bother us. We spent the worst of the day in the pool or our air conditioned room. Park commandos we are not. Although maybe we'll be a bit more so in February.

Lunch looks yummy. That place is never open when I am there. I guess I need to go in July. I would really like to try it sometime. I know it won't be open in December.

It was good. A bit better than Taco Bell, in my estimation, which I enjoy occasionally. Loved the toppings bar.

Really fun pictures!!! Loved them! Ok - now I really have to get myself in gear hear.

Thank you... maybe someday I can be half as good as you are with a camera. Course, I'll need a better camera!

Great update. What a fantastic morning you had at the Magic Kingdom. The Mickey Bar photos are awesome!!!

Isn't it much better when the meltdown is the ice cream and not the toddler!

Can't wait to hear more about your trip!

Thanks, Dee. And so true...melted ice cream is much better!

Great update. You sure did get a lot done that morning. I am impressed.

And yay for trying the dole whip

We did get a lot done. Yay for rope drop! Dole whips are amazing and I can't wait to have another one in approximately four months...doesn't seem that long from now when you put it that way.

 

[MEK]

Do you have a mac? Your mac will save both your edited and unedited pictures. It's possible that you are uploading the unedited ones by accident.

I guess the same thing can happen with a pc.

So glad Max had an awesome time at SAB. Sounds wonderful! I love the BC rooms so pretty - very different from the villa rooms.

 

[natebenma]

What a perfect afternoon! Some incredible pool time at SAB, a nap and anticipation of dinner at Cape May. Works for me.

 

[eandesmom]

What a magical magical morning! It really sounds perfect in every way, the whole day so far actually.

I don't know if it's the same Mary Poppins as I saw repeatedly in Epcot last spring but oh, she was amazing with the kids!

Yes, Mickey bars ARE that good. Welcome to the club!

 

[amandaw]

I just realized you did an update yesterday. I've been on the boards, but somehow missed it. Sorry about that - it's been a crazy bad week over here & guess I'm not firing on all cylinders. Anyway, it sounds like y'all really had a nice afternoon back at BC. The pirate ship for the kids sounds like so much. And after 2 hours at SAB, I bet Max was good & ready for a nap! Can't wait to hear about Cape May.

 

[tinacaplan]

Do you have a mac? Your mac will save both your edited and unedited pictures. It's possible that you are uploading the unedited ones by accident.

I guess the same thing can happen with a pc.

So glad Max had an awesome time at SAB. Sounds wonderful! I love the BC rooms so pretty - very different from the villa rooms.

I have a PC. Its weird. It seems to fix itself after awhile. I've also never had this problem before, Strange.

Yep...those Beach Club rooms are beautiful. And so is SAB. I am seriously wondering if we shouldn't just change our reservation there. I think, for sure, if it was summer I would.

But I'm going to be able to see fireworks from my room!

What a perfect afternoon! Some incredible pool time at SAB, a nap and anticipation of dinner at Cape May. Works for me.

It was perfect.

What a magical magical morning! It really sounds perfect in every way, the whole day so far actually.

I don't know if it's the same Mary Poppins as I saw repeatedly in Epcot last spring but oh, she was amazing with the kids!

Yes, Mickey bars ARE that good. Welcome to the club!

It was Cynthia. And the first time, strange as it may sound, that I feel like I really "got" the MK, at least since I was a kid, about a zillion years ago.

The Mickey bar club is a good club to be a part of, for sure.

I just realized you did an update yesterday. I've been on the boards, but somehow missed it. Sorry about that - it's been a crazy bad week over here & guess I'm not firing on all cylinders. Anyway, it sounds like y'all really had a nice afternoon back at BC. The pirate ship for the kids sounds like so much. And after 2 hours at SAB, I bet Max was good & ready for a nap! Can't wait to hear about Cape May.

I hope everything's OK, Amanda. We had a great afternoon at the BC. SAB is amazing, especially for kids. I know the pool at the Contemporary won't compare, but it will be February, so its quite possible we won't even use it. Hope that's not the case, but it could happen. When we went in 2010 in February, it was the second week of the month, and it was not very warm in Florida. Highs never really hit 70. Granted. to us Yankees, it felt like a tropical paradise, but not great pool weather.

 

[Missyrose]

What a great day so far...park fun, awesome SAB time and a bit of relaxation! Heavenly!

Can't wait to hear about your dinner at Cape May.

 

[All7OfUs]

What a wonderful, magical morning! I can see how you fell in love with MK doing all that you had with your little guy! I like how you knew when to call it quits too, and headed back to get some pool time for Max- sounds like an all-around perfect day!

 

[brookelizabeth]

And Magical Express will be taking us to....our TPV room at the Contemporary. I'm going for it! Especially if our trip is going to be a bit shorter, staying at the CR sweetens the whole deal. And if I ever get around to updating this TR, you'll know why I want to be so close to MK.

I personally am SO GLAD you have ended up at the CR!!!!!! It's an amazing resort. I haven't stayed in the Tower, but have done BLT back in Feb. Aweeeeeeeeeesome! You'll love it. Plus, you'll be fulfilling that dream of yours!

Being on the monorail with a stroller = priceless!

I had a chance to see the rooms when I was down there for TA training in August. They are stunning. And the view cannot be beat. The resort is just magical.

W
I wish there was some way for me to truly capture how amazing experiencing this with Max truly was. I really was seeing it for the first time, through Max’s eyes. Our wait was blessedly brief (and we had FPs in hand already for ride two) and before you could say pixie dust, we were sailing away over the lights of London. Max’s sense of wonder and excitement was palpable. We waved as we passed the characters by and made our way through Neverland and back to London.

And again...a ride that six months ago did not interest me all that much suddenly became the most magical experience as the rain, rain, rain came down, down, down and finally...the party! So much fun. Max loved it and again was pointing out his favorite characters and waving and otherewise being enchanted by the whole thing.

It was finally beginning to dawn on me...oh, yes...THIS is what Magic Kingdom is all about. I was falling... A run-in with an English nanny, some pirates and some pixie dust and a trip around a very small world just might seal my fate!

And cue the tears.

Yep. That.is.it! It's the best, isn't it?

I'm grinning like a fool for you.

And I'm super excited about flying Jet Blue. Are they really as amazing as they sound? I've never flown them before; only Southwest, Delta, and Airtran.

I am a tough sell. A very tough customer. And I can honestly say I like jetBlue. So far, several flights with them, have been awesome. Nice snacks, kind stewards, roomy seats, TVs in the back of the seats (awesome for the kid!). Plus, if your price goes down you can get jetBlue credits - just like Southwest! You know that right? Use Yapta.com to track your flight! It's stinkin' slick.

Oh my word! How cute is he?!

And, Henry has the same shirt. And it looks like Max is wearing camo shorts? I like to pair Henry's Star Wars shirt with camo shorts as well....and.....

Mark had a beef burrito, I had the taco salad, and Max had a cheese quesadilla.

This is the exact meal we had here in August. Henry cheese quesadilla, applesauce, cookie. Me, taco salad. Joe burrito.

We liked it too!

Love the swords for the boys!!! I bet those come in very handy. Henry "bought" Joe a lightsaber in August for the sole purpose of them being able to fight together at home.

My happy boy, smiling after a magical morning:

Adorable! Love that Disney smile!

 

[jordanyosh]

peep

 

[tinacaplan]

What a great day so far...park fun, awesome SAB time and a bit of relaxation! Heavenly!

Can't wait to hear about your dinner at Cape May.

It was wonderful...would love to be back there right now!

What a wonderful, magical morning! I can see how you fell in love with MK doing all that you had with your little guy! I like how you knew when to call it quits too, and headed back to get some pool time for Max- sounds like an all-around perfect day!

Oh, yes, Liesa...we're not into pushing it when we're in the parks. Especially not when we had such a lovely resort to go home to.

I personally am SO GLAD you have ended up at the CR!!!!!! It's an amazing resort. I haven't stayed in the Tower, but have done BLT back in Feb. Aweeeeeeeeeesome! You'll love it. Plus, you'll be fulfilling that dream of yours!

Being on the monorail with a stroller = priceless!

I had a chance to see the rooms when I was down there for TA training in August. They are stunning. And the view cannot be beat. The resort is just magical.

I hope I can stick with it! It is very tempting to move to the Beach Club, which I love. Its a LOT cheaper that the CR. I'd even do a garden wing (good luck getting one of those) or a BLV at CR, but they're not available while we're there. So...TPV it is!

And it better be magical...or they should have to refund out money.

And cue the tears.

Yep. That.is.it! It's the best, isn't it?

I'm grinning like a fool for you.

Thanks, Brook. It was amazing. Just the greatest morning and I totally get it now.

I am a tough sell. A very tough customer. And I can honestly say I like jetBlue. So far, several flights with them, have been awesome. Nice snacks, kind stewards, roomy seats, TVs in the back of the seats (awesome for the kid!). Plus, if your price goes down you can get jetBlue credits - just like Southwest! You know that right? Use Yapta.com to track your flight! It's stinkin' slick.

I'm glad...I'll check that website out, too. I'm totally excited for the t.v.s...for my husband, for me, and for Max.

Oh my word! How cute is he?!

And, Henry has the same shirt. And it looks like Max is wearing camo shorts? I like to pair Henry's Star Wars shirt with camo shorts as well....and.....

This is the exact meal we had here in August. Henry cheese quesadilla, applesauce, cookie. Me, taco salad. Joe burrito.

We liked it too!

OK...that's too funny! All of it. I love looking at other people's TR who have little boys and checking out how many of the same t-shirts everyone has. I have a hard time passing up the Disney/Star Wars/Pixar t-shirts at Target when they're five bucks!

And too funny that we had the same meal, too. It was great. Just the right thing and it was there at the right time.

Love the swords for the boys!!! I bet those come in very handy. Henry "bought" Joe a lightsaber in August for the sole purpose of them being able to fight together at home.



Adorable! Love that Disney smile!

Oh, they do...Mark already had two lightsabers from before Max, so they'd be able to stage a seriously EPIC battle.

peep

JORDAN!!!!!! Is that really you, my friend? Really hope you're well.

 

[KatMark]

Sounds like a truly magical morning at the MK!

 

[phineasfan100]

Great TR! Good morning at MK I see. Next time you know not to change those ADRs!

 

[tinacaplan]

....to Disney's newest AP holder!!!! So, when the GP discount for February became available and then stopped on February 20th, I was sad. I suppose that one night discounted would be better than nothing...but seriously...I was poised to pay rack rate at the Contemporary! Was I completely bonkers??? Perhaps...

Then I heard about the fantastic AP rate...40% off...hmmm.... tempting... I was in serious doubt (and still am) that any more discounts for Pres. Week will be offered...plus, Mark has made mention of the possibility of a return in the summer...that would be easier if I had an AP!

I also ran numbers and realized that even if I NEVER used the AP again (which would be a real shame......but it could happen), I'd still save us a ton of money.

I finally called tonight and spoke with a truly lovely CM. She said she'd run the numbers and see what I could get at an AP rate with the dining plan, so I'd keep my package (which I preferred because I've already made a few payments on the current one). As it turned out, the only room available with the AP rate was a king bed room in the garden wing. I was completely OK with this, because, to be honest, I was having a hard time with what I was going to spend anyway.

So, I added the dining plan, picked up an AP...and STILL saved close a thousand dollars. And that's not counting what we'll save with the dining plan.

Just had to share my excitement with people who get it... Oh, and I promise I'll have a real update up this weekend.

 

[natebenma]

WOO-HOO! Your math makes perfect sense to me. Congrats!

 

[PlutosRHM55]

Congratulations on getting an AP! Just remember to use it wisely, though I'm sure you'll get more use out of it than you think.

 

[annmarieda]

How fantastic is that!!! and how much you saved

 

[MEK]

Congrats on being a new AP holder! I love having an AP! I will be getting a new one in December and I intend to get three trips out of it. I seriously don't know why everyone doesn't just get one. If you plan you trips up to 11 months apart its a considerable savings. And a 40% discount makes it so worth it!

 

[amandaw]

Congrats! Your savings sound great!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Congratulations! Gotta love that Disney Math!