Whose going back to Disney World? That's right we are!

[Caretames1]

Hello fellow DIS-ney fanatics!
I’ve never done anything like this before, but, I’ve been reading other members PTR’s and TR’s, and thought WHY NOT? I can tell people about my weird family and our strange habits. Kidding! We are quite normal, Mom (Me, 36yrs) Dad (37 yrs), Daughter (17 yrs old) & Daughter (6 yrs old). As soon as I learn to post pics, I will do so.
We live in Central Wisconsin. I am a Production Manager for a large school district’s food service department. I order all foods used in the program, work with the government w/ commodities, manage all foods used & staff practices. And……I get summers off!!! Phinneas and Ferb have nothing on me!
DH is a factory worker for a private label food packaging company, (anyone shop at Aldis? Millville Oats, that’s my DH’s line) He is also a Mobile DJ. He does Weddings, parties, and bars. “Playing today’s hits, and yesterday’s favorites”

DD # 1 is a senior in high school, and a pretty great kid. Honor student, active in Softball, and a speedy driver! Yes, she got her very first speeding ticket last week. $175.00 I may have passed down my lead foot! Hopefully this is a lesson learned, and it won’t be repeated.

DD # 2 is a first grader, and loves school, and is also a pretty great …..(sassy)…kid. Well, I guess I passed that down to. She loves to read and thinks she is a princess

I probably should warn you, I am a crazy planner. Not to the point that I have every minute of the day planned, but I like to know the layout of the “land” so to speak.
Our first trip ever to WDW was January 23-29th 2009. It was AMAZING! We stayed at Port Orleans Riverside. I had never believed I would enjoy something so much. We loved the boat rides to Downtown Disney, so relaxing. I can just sum the whole trip up as magical. We thought that it would be the trip of a lifetime, and wanted to take in as much as possible as we would probably never be back.

We spent to next year reminiscing and listening to others going to WDW. Fast forward to February 2010, we had just gotten our taxes back, and WOW it was enough to blow my hair back. My first thoughts were crazy things like, fixing the bathroom floor, new couch, and silly me; pay off a doctor bill from a surprise gall bladder surgery for me. DH was the one who said” this is enough to go back to Disney”. My head snapped around and from that second on, well…it was ON!

We loved our trip in January, so we decide to repeat the time frame, and add a few more days to include SeaWorld this time.

OK…on to our trip…Finally I know

We will be at WDW from January 21st-30th 2011. We will be staying at Port Orleans Riverside (hopefully in the Alligator bayou area) I booked with a TA in June, with a room only ressie, so I could have a confirm # to use with ADR’s. We plan on using a car service to stop at a grocery store for pop and snacks.
Well, I’ll be back later, apparently dishes need washing, and children need attention.

Carey

 

[Caretames1]

WE GOT FREE DINING!
I was excited to see the new discounts offered Monday. I crunched all the numbers and decided that free dining would save us the most. Never having used the dining plan before, I’m nervous. I will now be researching everything about it. I had most of my ADR’s done on the 180 day mark. I had 5 that are on the dining plan and 2 that weren’t. I added 4 more, and canceled 2 yesterday, so we could take advantage of the DDP fully. I was happily surprised that I got the ones I wanted. Here is my line-up…..

1/21-House of Blues-4:30 pm (we’re paying OOP, DH wants)
1/22-Tusker House w/ Donald-8:00 am
1/23-Garden Grill-4:00pm
1/24-Akershus-9:15 am
1/25-??SeaWorld
1/26-50’s Prime Time-11:00am
1/26-Planet Hollywood-5:00 pm
1/27- Hollywood & Vine (Fantasmic Pkg.)-3:30pm
1/28-Chef Mickeys-7:30 am
1/28- The Plaza-5:25 pm
1/29-The Crystal Palace-8:00 am.

I made sure that we ate in the park we were in. The only thing I’m thinking is where we are to eat for the counter service part of the DDP. I printed off a list of counter service that are included in the DDP, so that will help. I’ve been checking out pics on the Food Porn thread, and WOW we are going to be stuffed!

My younger DD eats like a bird, but hopefully she’ll be able to do justice to some of it. I’ve lost 70 pounds in the last year. I figure with all the walking we will be doing, I should come out even (yeah right)

I am off to figure out how to post pics, and try to get a link in my signature, if anyone can clue me in I’d appreciate it. Wish me luck!

Carey

 

[vickxo]

to post pictures you'll need a photobucket or something like it. upload the photo to photobucket (for instance) and then copy the photos link that says "direct link" and then click the photo of the mountain on the post and paste it into the window that pops up. it sounds harder then it is. hope that helps

 

[Caretames1]

Well, I tried to post some pictures, but alas no luck,I sometimes think I repel technology! Have a nice evening!

 

[vickxo]

are you having trouble with your images showing up? when you entered the link you entered an extra "http" in front to fix the links just get rid of the extra part of the link and it should work for you

take this link: http://i808.photobucket.com/albums/zz7/Carey_Kussmann-Andersen/DSC02826.jpg
and insert it in the box that comes up after you select the picture of the mountain
& make sure to get rid of the http thats already in the box when it pops up
i know this stuff can be a pain.

 

[Caretames1]

Well, I finally did it It only took 3 attemps this morning, with one post being lost due to me having to log back in Anyways...

Here I am with younger DD. I don't like my picture taken, I'm the photograher.

My DH. One of the few with his eyes open. Why he does that...he's weird

Older DD. She hates her picture take, ( something I may have also passed down

Younger DD. She LOVES, loves the camera She such a poser

Today I hope the mailman brings my papers the TA sent me outlining the total details of my trip. I'm also thinking about checking out photopass today. Do you all think it's too soon?

Carey

 

[Caretames1]

THANK-YOU VICKXO

Now to get a link to this thread in my signture line...

Carey

 

[vickxo]

you are very welcome
now you can post and post likes there no tomorrow

now for getting a link to your ptr in your signature, now there maybe another way of doing this, but this is the way i did it.

when your logged in you see they have your user name that says "welcome, ...." and then it says you last visited and all that?
well i click on private messages and it takes you to your control panel page.
on the left under settings and options it says EDIT SIGNATURE, click that
(which i'm sure you know how to do all that already since you have something in your signature, but i figured couldn't hurt to put it anyway )
So you pick a spot in signature and click the picture of the globe with the link and then when the window pops up you paste in the link to this thread
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=37883626 <-- i got it for you right there.
and that should work.

 

[Caretames1]

Vickxo
Thank-you so very much. It's people like you that make this place wonderful.


Carey

 

[vickxo]

you're welcome!
if i know how to do something i'm glad to share.
& i know how much fun being able to do a pre trip report (i'm doing one now ) and trip report is, its a great release, even if you feel like your talking to yourself most of the time and its even better when you know how to post pictures and invite others to follow along, which i will be doing

 

[Caretames1]

Happy Weekend all!
I was going to take my older DD's senior pics today, but rain has changed my plans. We did a few pics yesterday, which of couse she doesn't like. Why, you ask? Oh little things like," my hair looks weird", "is that a zit?" ( hello, I can photoshop it out!) and my favorite-"my eyes look uneven!" Of course, when I tell her she looks beautiful and fine, I get the look

I got my papers outlining the whole WDW trip and the cost. It wasn't bad, and when I apply our Disney reward points it will look even better

I been browsing other threads here. DIS-igners, you're AwESOME I've gotten a few iron-ons for t-shirts that I'm gonna make. I found one that has Thumper and friends and it says," But, I don't want to go home" sooo cute! My younger DD wants to wear it on the last day.

Well, off the do some photo editing. Lord, save me from editing off my DD's head

Carey

 

[Caretames1]

Since we were able to get free dining for our trip, we decided that the best use of some of our Disney Reward Visa points, was to apply them towards our trip pay-off. We received our card in the mail on Thursday, and I passed it along to the TA. We had $637.00 worth of points

This morning I got up at 6:00am (yes, on a Sunday) to watch a disney special in the travel channel. I was joined by DD (6) and we agreed that we should go TODAY!

I did get all of my editing done with my DD's(17) pics, and Yes she still has a head I think they turned out great,and.................so does she

Well, I'm off to read other's TR's and get ready for the Green Bay Packers football game GO PACK!!

Carey

 

[wdwgirl03]

Well, I'm off to read other's TR's and get ready for the Green Bay Packers football game GO PACK!!

Carey

Saw your post on Joanna's TR and had to join in. I love reading other Wisconsinites' PTRs/TRs! GO PACKERS!

Can't wait for more...

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Hi!! I saw you on Sarah's PTR and thought I would follow along too!!!

My Uncle's family has like a billion Disney Visa Rewards points too! They pay the trip deposit using their Visa and then go to the grocery store and buy WDW gift cards with their Disney Visa to get gas points for free tanks of gas plus they get that amount added onto their Disney Visa to get more Disney Dollars to use to pay off dining or whatever else. It is a great system if you ask me! I know the one trip we took with them, they had enough points to pay off their entire trip including dining and still had an extra $100 left and went to Disney Quest with that!!

 

[Caretames1]

[QUOTE=TinkerbellLuvr7;38191195]Hi!! I saw you on Sarah's PTR and thought I would follow along too!!!

My Uncle's family has like a billion Disney Visa Rewards points too! They pay the trip deposit using their Visa and then go to the grocery store and buy WDW gift cards with their Disney Visa to get gas points for free tanks of gas plus they get that amount added onto their Disney Visa to get more Disney Dollars to use to pay off dining or whatever else. It is a great system if you ask me! I know the one trip we took with them, they had enough points to pay off their entire trip including dining and still had an extra $100 left and went to Disney Quest with that!![/QUOTE]

Hi, Thanks for following, this may turn in to lemmings off a cliff, but what the hay We use our Disney Visa for everything we can. Last trip it paid for our dining. I think it's a great program.

Saw your post on Joanna's TR and had to join in. I love reading other Wisconsinites' PTRs/TRs! GO PACKERS!

I was happy to find others from the (loud booming voice) "Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field" Packers Win


Carey

 

[Caretames1]

So, as I was saying the other day, I went to my TA and gave her my Disney Visa reward points card with $637.00 on it.

Well.....I came home from work on Tuesday to a message on the machine. "Carey, Hi this is your friendly neighborhood TA and there is an issue with your rewards card"

I called her back and found out this,, She had called the Walt Disney Company to apply the points and when she went in to print off a new invoice to send us, but the points never apeared as added to the balance!! She called the number on the back of the card, and yes the points were gone with the card now reading 0 points, but there was nothing showing up on Dsiney's end.
So, I called my Visa people and they told me that yes, the rewards card was emptied, and Yes, the points were applied to your trip, it just takes time to show up.

I have just noticed that it is 4 months until trip time It seems to be coming up faster all the time. My DD (6) is getting more and more excited, She gages time by events. For instance; first it is her birthday, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas, THEN Disney.

My older DD(17) is excited, but now we may have a issue with our timing of the trip. It's her senior year and her semester and finals end the day before we leave. I figured she would have an easier time regrouping missing only a few days of a new semester. She is an A student and works very hard to do well.

And yes, before I even say it I know that there are those who don't believe in taking kids out of school for trips, ( and I respect you and your opinion for that) I believe that is our best and only time for my family.

Anyway...She is starting an online AP class that week, and it can not be made up. It (the class) wasn't in the plan even 2 months ago, so now I am hoping with a little extra on her part she will be able do well on the tests after that first week. She is fine with really trying to get updated anything she will be missing. I quess I'm just worrying enough for everyone I will post some of her senior pics that I took next time I post. I have re-familarize myself with photobucket first!

Well, it almost pre-game time for the GREEN BAY PACKERS
Go Pack Go!

Carey

 

[wdwgirl03]

Yay for 4 months! I am like your daughter, I gauge time by other events too. LOL!

Go Packers! I like that smiley, is the guy laughing at the TV because the Packers are going to kick some booty today?!

 

[Caretames1]

Go Packers! I like that smiley, is the guy laughing at the TV because the Packers are going to kick some booty today?!

He laughing because the other team thinks they have a chance

 

[mickeystoontown]

Now how in the world did I miss that you had started this report Carey? I'm so bad about not paying attention.

Let's see what I wanted to comment on.....

I remember back when we planned our first trip to Disney. We thought that it would be a one-time thing. Never ever did we think we'd fall in love and go back 14 more times! So, I know how you felt when you wanted to go back again. Thank you Uncle Sam for giving you a large enough tax refund to get that opportunity!

Woohoo for getting free dining! We started using the dining plan several years ago and love it. It's so nice to know that everything is done and paid for (or in your case....free) before you even step food in Disney World.

We have eaten at quite a few of the restaurants on your list: Garden Grill, 50's Prime Time, Planet Hollywood and the Plaza. We really enjoyed each and every one of them.

You go girl! Losing 70 pounds is quite an accomplishment!

I could spend all day long on the Dis Design boards. There are so many fantabulous ideas over there.

I am sure that I missed something that I wanted to talk about but I can't think of them right now. I look forward to reading more abour your beautiful family and your plans.

 

[Caretames1]

Now how in the world did I miss that you had started this report Carey? Well, I want to thank you, cuz you are mostly the reason I started one I think your TR's are just the neatest. I hope mine can be at least a little like that


We have eaten at quite a few of the restaurants on your list: Garden Grill, 50's Prime Time, Planet Hollywood and the Plaza. We really enjoyed each and every one of them. Good, most of these will be out 1st time. We did CP & CM but for dinner, so really it all new to us!

You go girl! Losing 70 pounds is quite an accomplishment! It's something I'm still working on. I was so sad with the pictures from Disney in 2009. I want better memories and a healthier life to enjoy with my family.


I also went on ebay and saved you as a perfered seller. I holding out for a purse or bag to carry my DLSR camera.[/QUOTE]