"Where are we staying again??" - My very first, an October 2011 PTR

[ZehnJahren]

Hello!

I'm so excited about my upcoming trip that I just can't help myself from making a PTR.

I've seen so many people do it - and I lurk on dozens upon dozens of PTRs and TRs; I finally am breaking down and starting my own. I'd like people to read and comment, but if this ends up having a readership of one (i.e., me), I guess that'll be fine too. (Who am I kidding - I'll be very offended if it's just me.)

Table of contents is at the bottom of this post, if you like to skip around (like me).

So, I'll begin with the usual cast of characters

This trip will consist of me and me Ma. Here we are!

And here's another one, since DBF said he likes this one better:

Ma and I have always been close, and there have been quite a few times in my life where I am not sure what I would have done without her. She's selfless, humble, smart, funny, honest, a great friend -- you know, just like me.

Seriously, though - there's been a lot going on in our lives. My mom was one of the unfortunate who lost their job before the economy spiraled out of control, and she couldn't get another (ridiculous, since she's always been so trustworthy and stable at her jobs). She's got another one now but not at the same level as she was before - so what better way to pay back some of her built up karma than for me to take her on a WDW vacation??!

But I'm getting away from myself, there will be time for more information later - so here are the details on our trip!

I'm flying to MCO on 10/11, arriving at our resort hotel around midnight. Me Ma has never stayed on property, so it was an absolute must for this trip. She will meet me the next day (10/12) at around 1 p.m., and we're staying at POP CENTURY on an AP discount.

We managed to get in on the hot Southwest deal on flights for her - less than $200 RT!! I, on the other hand, didn't really get a good deal per se, but I am doing two one-way flights because I'm flying into MCO and out of RSW. Why? Well, Ma and I are staying 10/11 through 10/15 at Pop, and on 10/15 DBF will meet me in Orlando; he and I will drive to Ft. Myers for a week at a beautiful beachfront timeshare, and me Ma will head back to her home city.

I'll be buying an AP, so that I can come back for "free" next year when DBF and I come back. Or if I come back for a quick trip. Or if I can manage to get my butt in gear and train for the Princess Half. Or... etc. etc.

We've got a couple of ADRs, but I might just cancel them all and fly by the seat of our pants (common for the two of us!). Right now, we have a 6:30 ADR at Rose and Crown for Ma's arriving night (and EMHs at Epcot), a 10:10 a.m. for Crystal Palace on Thursday (we'll be at MK all day for EMH and MNSSHP), and a 1:15 p.m. for 50's Sci-Fi Diner on Friday (also plan on Epcot this day).

Ma and I also have tickets for MNSSHP on 10/13, which is a first for us both and we're so excited to go!

So, I still have a lot to decide and plan - and really, this is just kind of practice so I can gear up to write a trip report when I get back, so feel free to join us as I plan as much fun into our limited time as I can!!

Table of Contents

A Brief Intro
More of a Brief Intro
Where the name of this PTR came from
Wishes Dessert Party and Tie-Dye Mickey!
OT - Chick-fil-a lovers unite!
Scrambling and planning.
Hoping for a little pixie dust...
It's been a couple of days...
Days 1/2, 1, and 2
Days 3 and 3 1/2
29 Days to Liftoff!
Big news for our trip! ... and a final purchase.
Major Update .... AAAAAAAHHHHHH!

 

[Disneychix]

How awesome of you to treat your mom! You will have a blast!

I am contemplating getting an AP this trip too. My mom and I signed up already for the Princess 1/2 so I know I'll at least be back for a few days in Feb.

Can't wait to hear what sorts of things you have planned. Is your ma a ride person?

 

[bna16]

I'm going with my mom in September...so I will definitely be reading your pre and post trip report. I thought I was the only one on here that went with just my mom...We have that "Gilmore Girls" relationship. Looking forward to hearing more from you!

 

[ZehnJahren]

Oh wow, people! How exciting!

So, here's a little more background for Disneychix (since you asked if my Ma is a ride person): she was never "gung-ho" for rides when I was a kid, but she rode and didn't complain. I always thought it was because she just wanted us to be happy. But over the last few years, I've discovered - she IS a ride person! Any kind of ride! I was so surprised!!

A little more background: she was diagnosed in May with very early stage emphysema. It scared the crap out of me; I couldn't really handle thinking about her sick permanently. I quit smoking 3 years ago out of fear of emphysema and lung cancer, so to hear she's developing emphysema was really hard. They discovered the disease when her blood pressure went completely crazy - and she ended up on blood pressure medicine! So here's the thing: the doc put her on a low dose and told her that if she quit smoking, started exercising, and changed her diet, she could get off the blood pressure medicine. So of COURSE, being the Ma she is, she quit smoking (immediately), started exercising (she lost six pounds!), and started to change her diet. I'm so proud!

Her lung function is dramatically improving; the doc said she couldn't reverse the damage she'd done, but she could heal it - and she is. She has a doc's appt the week before we leave to find out if she'll be allowed to ride rides at WDW - so we're a little nervous! She wants Splash, SM, BTMR; we may end up with IaSW and Peter instead. But we're determined to have fun regardless!

bna16, where are you and your mom staying? When are you going in September? This is a first-time "me and mom" Disney trip, but I really hope it won't be the last.

 

[ZehnJahren]

So, I'm not sure really where to start. How about here:

That's me and Ma at a campground near WDW when I was just a young'n. She's on the right, and I'm the one in front of her talking (like always). I love the look on her face; it's the same one she still gives me when I just won't shut up. Now, however, I give it back to her sometimes when SHE won't shut up. We went to WDW a lot when I was a kid; we drove down with the pop-up camper trailing along behind and a random assortment of family members along for the ride.

Here's me & Pluto on that same trip:

I loved loved loved Pluto! I bought a stuffed Pluto that trip with my own money that I still have (he's been all over the world at this point!); I usually get something Pluto every trip.

If you read my reply to Disneychix, you'll see that some parts of this trip are a little up in the air. If you're reading this through, then you can ignore the next two paragraphs as I give a little more info on my Ma. But if you're relying on chapter links as I myself so often do, then you'll need the background to understand any nervousness about rides that I might start showing as the trip gets closer.

-----------------------------
A little more background: [Mom] was diagnosed in May with very early stage emphysema. It scared the crap out of me; I couldn't really handle thinking about her sick permanently. I quit smoking 3 years ago out of fear of emphysema and lung cancer, so to hear she's developing emphysema was really hard. They discovered the disease when her blood pressure went completely crazy - and she ended up on blood pressure medicine! So here's the thing: the doc put her on a low dose and told her that if she quit smoking, started exercising, and changed her diet, she could get off the blood pressure medicine. So of COURSE, being the Ma she is, she quit smoking (immediately), started exercising (she lost six pounds!), and started to change her diet. I'm so proud!

Her lung function is dramatically improving; the doc said she couldn't reverse the damage she'd done, but she could heal it - and she is. She has a doc's appt the week before we leave to find out if she'll be allowed to ride rides at WDW - so we're a little nervous! She wants Splash, SM, BTMR; we may end up with IaSW and Peter instead. But we're determined to have fun regardless!
-----------------------------

Here's a pic of Ma on her graduation day - yet another time I was so proud of her!

I love that pic, she looks so happy!

 

[ZehnJahren]

So, in the spirit of a "trip about Ma", we're staying on Disney property (POP) and going to MNSSHP (which she really wanted to do). I put in a room request for the 50s section facing the lake - Mom was born in the 50s so I thought that might be fun! I asked for a lake view, 4th floor - maybe we'll have a decent view and not a lot of noise if we're facing the lake.

Here's the thing, and where the name of my PTR came from: Ma doesn't know where we're staying. I didn't tell her at first because I was really hoping I could either find a way to afford Boardwalk / Beach Club for the quick walk to "our" park Epcot, or that I could get a few nights renting DVC points, and then I could change where we were staying. Then I started thinking about moving to a moderate. None of those panned out; I'd rather have the extra money for fun stuff vs. a room we'll barely be in.

So she and I started just ribbing each other, where she'll ask me "where is it we're staying when we go?" and I say "oh Mom, you're so funny, pretending like you forgot." Or she'll say "where are we staying again?" and I'll say "now Ma, I just told you and I'd hate to make you feel senile by continually telling you over and over." Finally, last week, I asked her if she really really wanted to know - she said it's fun not to know. So I ain't telling her.

BUT, I'm collecting 30 pictures of Pop to send her as a countdown for the month before we go - the first 25 are all pretty nondescript, and you can't really tell where they are unless you know what Pop looks like (and we don't, as we've never stayed there - stuff like palm trees or pool chairs or the food court). The last 5 get more and more obvious, up until the last series of four that actually show the Pop sign and front of the building, which I'll send the day I leave (which will be the day before SHE does).

 

[teekathepony]

Sounds like a great trip, I'm jumping in! Love the idea of the pop pictures as a countdown. I adore Pop Century.
Can't wait to hear more!

 

[Disneychix]

I hope your mom gets to go on all the rides she wants to!! Great job she's doing by changing her life!

It's really cute the way you'll be counting down with the POP pictures. If I told my mom that I already told her where we were staying she'd totally believe me! She already knows she's losing her mind!

 

[oboedm]

I love the coutdown idea. I may have to borrow that for my nieces and nephews and work in different pictures of WDW. They already know where we are staying, but now I wish they didn't! =)

 

[ZehnJahren]

Sounds like a great trip, I'm jumping in! Love the idea of the pop pictures as a countdown. I adore Pop Century.
Can't wait to hear more!

I love the coutdown idea. I may have to borrow that for my nieces and nephews and work in different pictures of WDW. They already know where we are staying, but now I wish they didn't! =)

Thanks for the kudos! I am going to be emailing her two pics every day - just to get us both excited (like we could be any more excited) - starting on Monday 9/12. The first pic in each email will be the Pop pics, and the second will be a ride pic - though I won't want to get to the "thrill" rides until we know if she can ride or not. I'd hate to get her (even more) worked up to ride Space Mountain or Splash and then find out the doc won't ok it because of her blood pressure. I'll send an email in the morning with the number of days left in big letters, then put something like "X days until we stay here:" and put the resort pic, then "X days until we see this" or "ride this" or something, and put the other pic. I also considered sending her the short videos I took when DBF and I went back in November/December. But I'm sending these to her work email, and I don't know that she can see them there.

I'm trying to think of more things to do.

I'll also be mailing her the ME docs once I get them (she doesn't seem to be able to believe a bus will just pick her up and take her right to the resort, with no cost) - we live several hundred miles away from one another so it's hard to really get into the Mickey spirit together. If I lived nearby, we'd be watching Little Mermaid and Lion King. As it is now, I won't see her again until she gets to the resort on the 12th of October; I last saw her over 4th of July.

And of course, I sent her a .pdf of our confirmation for MNSSHP about a week ago, right after I bought the tickets (now THAT I couldn't wait for). My brother told me on Saturday that she was so excited she was to be going on vacation (she DESERVES it, big time), and how I was making all the plans and she "didn't have to worry about anything". That's what I like to hear!!

 

[ZehnJahren]

I hope your mom gets to go on all the rides she wants to!! Great job she's doing by changing her life!

It's really cute the way you'll be counting down with the POP pictures. If I told my mom that I already told her where we were staying she'd totally believe me! She already knows she's losing her mind!

She totally IS doing an unbelievable job with changing her life around. She always knew she should quit smoking, and work out - but this eye-opener has stuck with her and she's doing so well. She's even in water aerobics and ZUMBA - I could have fallen over when she told me she was trying that! I'm so proud.

As a side note, I went immediately and read all your TRs and PTRs (always looking for new ones). What great trips! I love TRs and PTRs!

And for everyone else who is commenting here, I'm starting on yours too! - I had just been randomly picking and choosing from the PTR and TR boards before, but now that there are people actually talking to me and I can see they have TRs and PTRs, I'm reading those! I love seeing everyone so happy with their families and enjoying life. Spending time together. Being together with their loved ones. It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside! I wish I'd have done a TR with DBF and my first WDW trip together last year. I just felt like he wouldn't like his photo plastered all over the internet - I should have asked; we had a lot of fun together!

 

[Oliquig]

That is so cool that you are treating your mom! Sending that your mom will be able to go on all the rides.

 

[ZehnJahren]

That is so cool that you are treating your mom! Sending that your mom will be able to go on all the rides.

Thanks so much; we really want to go on the "big girl" rides together!

 

[bna16]

Oh wow, people! How exciting!

So, here's a little more background for Disneychix (since you asked if my Ma is a ride person): she was never "gung-ho" for rides when I was a kid, but she rode and didn't complain. I always thought it was because she just wanted us to be happy. But over the last few years, I've discovered - she IS a ride person! Any kind of ride! I was so surprised!!

A little more background: she was diagnosed in May with very early stage emphysema. It scared the crap out of me; I couldn't really handle thinking about her sick permanently. I quit smoking 3 years ago out of fear of emphysema and lung cancer, so to hear she's developing emphysema was really hard. They discovered the disease when her blood pressure went completely crazy - and she ended up on blood pressure medicine! So here's the thing: the doc put her on a low dose and told her that if she quit smoking, started exercising, and changed her diet, she could get off the blood pressure medicine. So of COURSE, being the Ma she is, she quit smoking (immediately), started exercising (she lost six pounds!), and started to change her diet. I'm so proud!

Her lung function is dramatically improving; the doc said she couldn't reverse the damage she'd done, but she could heal it - and she is. She has a doc's appt the week before we leave to find out if she'll be allowed to ride rides at WDW - so we're a little nervous! She wants Splash, SM, BTMR; we may end up with IaSW and Peter instead. But we're determined to have fun regardless!

bna16, where are you and your mom staying? When are you going in September? This is a first-time "me and mom" Disney trip, but I really hope it won't be the last.

we are staying at the all star sports resort, because we will actually be playing softball in the USSSA Women's Worlds at EWWS starting on the 23rd...we will be arriving on saturday, sept 17th. This is like the 3rd or 4th for me and my mom. We love going together every year, especially since we like to do the same things.

 

[ZehnJahren]

we are staying at the all star sports resort, because we will actually be playing softball in the USSSA Women's Worlds at EWWS starting on the 23rd...we will be arriving on saturday, sept 17th. This is like the 3rd or 4th for me and my mom. We love going together every year, especially since we like to do the same things.

Oh WOW, that is very cool! Did you start going down every year because you were playing softball every year, or was that something that happened after you started going to WDW yearly??

It would be great to have something like that you could do with your mom; my Ma and I's only sport is sitting around gossiping about the family and making snarky comments. I don't think that counts.

 

[Disneychix]

It would be great to have something like that you could do with your mom; my Ma and I's only sport is sitting around gossiping about the family and making snarky comments. I don't think that counts.

That totally counts! My mom and I gossip and talk about all the tv shows we both watch!

We also just signed up for the Princess 1/2 marathon. I think it'll be a me and mom only trip so I'll have to read up on your TR to see how you did!

And please post some thoughts about your trip with your DBF from last year! You know everyone loves to hear about TRs!!

 

[bna16]

Oh WOW, that is very cool! Did you start going down every year because you were playing softball every year, or was that something that happened after you started going to WDW yearly??

It would be great to have something like that you could do with your mom; my Ma and I's only sport is sitting around gossiping about the family and making snarky comments. I don't think that counts.

We go every year because of softball, and we always go to the parks, but stay offsite. This year is the first year (for softball) that we are staying onsite. We got an amazing deal on the resort through USSSA, and an even more amazing deal on our 5day hopper plus water parks and fun!

My mom and me do the same with gossiping about everything. Maybe I should start a pre trip report....

 

[ZehnJahren]

And please post some thoughts about your trip with your DBF from last year! You know everyone loves to hear about TRs!!

I'm thinking about it - maybe he'll let me post just a few.

We go every year because of softball, and we always go to the parks, but stay offsite. This year is the first year (for softball) that we are staying onsite. We got an amazing deal on the resort through USSSA, and an even more amazing deal on our 5day hopper plus water parks and fun!

My mom and me do the same with gossiping about everything. Maybe I should start a pre trip report....

Yes, why not start one? Just to pass the time? That's what I'm doing - also thinking about sending the PTR and the TR to mom after we're all done so I like adding all the details I can. Also, that would be very nice to get a good discount on everything on-site - I went to our work site in hopes of getting a decent discount on tickets, but it didn't really pan out. I think I'll be doing undercover tourist.

 

[ZehnJahren]

56 days til I get on the plane to Mickey!!

Hello again!

So.

On a whim and completely unexpectedly, I realized this afternoon that 1) there was such a thing as a "Tomorrowland Terrace Wishes Dessert Party"; 2) the view for Wishes from there is pretty sweet (I found this out thanks to a map by Robo, of course!); 3) there would be delicious-looking desserts there,and I would be allowed to eat them; 4) I need to book in advance; 5) you can't always get a reservation easily. So I made a rash decision and went to the Disney website - and what do you know, the Friday night of our trip is open for booking this dessert party!

Ok, ok, but how much time will this take out of our night? And, does Ma even want to head back to Magic Kingdom again Friday night after we were just there all day Thursday? A quick email to ask her "just-perhaps-maybe-would-you-by-any-chance-be-at-all-interested-in-going-back-to-MK-on-Friday" came back with a "sure thing; who knows when I'll be back". Well! My decision is made for me! But shhh; it's a surprise. I won't be mentioning this little rendezvous with dessert until, oh, 7 p.m. on Friday night - our ressie is for 8:20, so it's minimal time out of our night and a great way to wrap up our trip! As Mickey would say, "oh boy!"

I also found this cool thread on making a tie-dye mickey head shirt - so I think I will make us some matching ones to wear to MNSSHP!! (Geez, is there ANYTHING you can't find on the DIS??) We wouldn't wear costumes (we aren't costume people, and we'll be traveling with the stuff in our carry-ons only, so very little extra space); but I can totally carry an extra couple of shirts with me. I think it would be a fun project; I may start tomorrow!

Oh yeah, and I took a couple of days off this week because my b-day is Saturday and frankly, I just needed a break. So, I'll be calling WDW tomorrow to give some updated airline info, and perhaps do a super-mini-TR on here from me and DBF's trip last year - since he gave me the go ahead.

 

[bna16]

I'm thinking about it - maybe he'll let me post just a few.



Yes, why not start one? Just to pass the time? That's what I'm doing - also thinking about sending the PTR and the TR to mom after we're all done so I like adding all the details I can. Also, that would be very nice to get a good discount on everything on-site - I went to our work site in hopes of getting a decent discount on tickets, but it didn't really pan out. I think I'll be doing undercover tourist.

we are very lucky...and its all thanks to my mom. what is undercover tourist?