Why Not Just Queue Up Another Disney Trip? Link to New TR 6/24 p136!

[MEK]

What a GREAT team picture! Congratulations on a job well done..

Thanks Kathy! I know you appreciate how important it is when kids play team sports. Nick really wants to coach soccer someday so this is a big deal for him.

And congrats again on the new bed.

At my age having a new comfy bed is really a big deal!

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

How are you feeling? I'm ready for a new update from you!



I hope you get a chance to. How far of a drive is it for you? There is really SO much to do there and with Busch Gardens being there you just can't go wrong. Not Disney, but still fun!
over.

I have finally caught up here at the office (Shhhh!!!) so an update is coming later this afternoon! Williamsburg is 10 hours from us. I almost added it to a DC trip once but didn't. Would love to go there for a long weekend plus a few days in VA Beach.

 

[jenjolt]

Coming out of lurkdom to say congrats to Nick!!

You'll have to tell me more about your sleep number, I think they look awesome!!!

Can't wait to see you in a few more days!! Just have to get through a pd conference LOL

 

[Poolrat]

Congrats to Nick and the team!!1
YAY for a new bed- Hope that helps- I just got new pillows.
So close to that trip- hope the treehouse is a blast.

 

[MEK]

I have finally caught up here at the office (Shhhh!!!) so an update is coming later this afternoon! Williamsburg is 10 hours from us. I almost added it to a DC trip once but didn't. Would love to go there for a long weekend plus a few days in VA Beach.

Yeah for an update!

10 hours is a bit of a drive, but doable. It really is a cool vacation destination and VA beach is right around the corner from Williamsburg, which makes its an even more diverse vacation!

Coming out of lurkdom to say congrats to Nick!!

Awww - Thanks Jen! Glad you came out of lurkdom. I feel like I haven't seen you around here in forever!

You'll have to tell me more about your sleep number, I think they look awesome!!!

We decided to have it delivered after we get home so we can get the full 30 day trial. Plus, we don't really want Brian breaking in our new bed while we are away.

Can't wait to see you in a few more days!! Just have to get through a pd conference LOL

So you have a conference at the end of the school year? I hope you had an awesome year. I bet you worked hard and did a great job.

So excited for Disney being just around the corner!

Congrats to Nick and the team!!

Thanks Pat - they were all pretty excited and they are looking forward to their end of the season party which is next Friday night!

YAY for a new bed- Hope that helps- I just got new pillows.

Anything has to be better than the mattress we have right now. It is really a mess. It was fine for a long time but suddenly lost all its support and now - ugh!

So close to that trip- hope the treehouse is a blast.

I hope so too. I can't wait to see the treehouse up close and personal. I'm really looking forward to our stay there.

 

[MEK]

Hey friends - I have my final update planned for tomorrow! Can't believe I am finally bringing this TR to a close!

 

[MEK]

The Rest of the Queue!

So this is it - The final Update for this TR! Finally, right?

But first, a few life things.

One Week Until We Leave I feel like I have a million and one things to do. I hope to get a lot done today, but we'll see.

I am flunking DIS planning 101 because I just learned a few things about the Treehouse Villas that I didn't know. First, there are only 2 bathrooms. Seriously? I did NOT know that. I just assumed there would be three since there are 3 in the AK and BLT 2 BR villas. Oh well. I guess I am going to have to share my wonderful MBR bathroom.

Second - there is technically only one parking space per treehouse villa again! We will have two cars. When we check in I am going to have to ask for a villa near the walking path over to SSR, because that is where we will have to a leave a car. Normally I do not mind walking, but I hate walking any further than I have to in the heat. Oh well.

Here at home I have been busy with work, soccer, having Brian home for the summer. Plus, I had some of my prescriptions stolen this week. It was an inside job because they also used my DEA number (except they added an extra digit). It was clearly an inside job. Someone with access to my scripts and DEA. I was alerted by two different pharmacies because they recognized that two scripts were probably forged. The thieves tried to get scripts for over $2000 worth of Percocet. There's still several other scripts out there floating around and possibly filled. There is a huge prescription drug abuse problem going on right now that most people aren't aware of. Things are particularly bad here in Delaware. I am sick because I guard my scripts with my life and I am very OCD about accounting for them. Fortunately, I have been working with a great new HR person and a wonderful investigator for the state of Delaware.

Moving On -

So What Else is in My Queue?????????

Here Goes.....

1. August 2012 - Denny, Nick, and I are headed to Bethany Beach for a week with P (from the HHI trip) and her family. I am looking forward to this vacation simply because it should be so relaxing. The rental house is nothing special, but it is in a complex on one of the inland bays so I am hoping to try kayaking again

We may actually go with a tour outfitter and go down to Assateague for a kayaking tour. That way we can see the ponies!

I found a winery near the beach that I would like to try and I even found a brewpub tour. Of course, we will do the usual pool and beach things and I may even bring my bike. I'm looking forward to cooking out and eating out. Should be a fun time!


2. October 2012 Food & Wine

As you can see from my ticker I also have a girl's trip planned for F&W. I am definitely looking forward to this!

My roommate is Cynthia (far left), but I hope to see some of these other ladies as well

I have 7 nights planned. My first night I will be staying here:

I have one night booked AKL standard view studio. I've stayed at Kidani, but not at the main lodge.

My next 3 nights are here:

VWL studio

My last 3 nights are here:

BWV pool/garden view


I know what you are probably thinking - 3 Resorts????? In my defense I will say - IT WAS AN ACCIDENT! Cynthia and I had 6 nights at VWL but we waitlisted the last 3 at BWV. We really didn't think it would come through, considering it was a weekend during F&W. In the meantime I booked my flights and decided to arrive a day early. Hence, I booked AKL for one night. On the very day that I decided I should drop the BWV waitlist - It came through! Sheesh - So I did waitlist the first night at VWL so we could potentially have 4 nights there. We could also waitlist at AKL for everything (and have a better chance of it coming through) but we both decided we really want to stay at VWL. Totally confused now? I hope not!

So what meals do we have planned? We have Flying Fish, citricos, HBD Les Chefs among others. We also have a DIS meat planned with Tina which we are looking forward to. We are hoping to meet with quite a few other DISers and still have tentative plans for a big DIS meet on October 18th!!!!!!!

We will also be attending this party

I've gotten a lot better at using my camera in low light so I hope to take some new parade and party pictures. Most of mine are terribly blurry!

4. Spring 2013

I know this is hard to believe, but after the F&W 2012 trip I am going to take a little break from Disney World. My intention is to not return for a year. Do you think I can go that long?????? I am really not sure, but I am going to try.

But Spring of 2013 will take Denny and I back to HHI!

I don't know exactly when we will go, but I think probably March or anytime in advance of the Easter/spring break rush. I am thinking a studio in the main lodge.

I know Denny will love it here and I want to go back to Charleston and Savannah!

4. Summer 2013

Originally we were thinking OBX, but Nick told us he doesn't want to travel with us anymore. Well, OK then. So it will be his last summer before college and if he doesn't want to vacation with us then we will probably wait until the end of the summer and head back to Williamsburg or Virginia Beach for a long post summer weekend. So Summer 2013 is completely up in the air!

5. October 2013

By October of 2013 Denny and I should not have any children living in the house. We will officially be empty nesters - or will we? With Nick away at college, I personally think this is a great time to take our first Disney cruise.

I'm stealing these pictures from pinkocto's TR. I hope she won't mind since she just got back from a wonderful 5 night cruise on the Dream!

I haven't quite nailed down our dates. I was actually thinking it might be fun to go over late October (Denny's BD is Halloween) and then go to WDW for the changeover to the Christmas season.

So that's the Queue!

And this is my last official update!

Thanks to everyone who followed my TR!

I hope to keep this TR open until I return from the June trip and then I will post a link to my new TR!

Here are a few more of Nick's prom pics taken with my real camera

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Awww I'm sorry to see this massive awesome trip(s) report come to an end! (Well, at least, in another month! )

Your future plans sound awesome! I am interested to see how you enjoy your triple-split-stay! You're definitely staying at some fabulous places!

I'm sorry to hear about what happened with your prescriptions! How upsetting, I hope it is all resolved soon!

(I just realized I commented on your post backwards...not sure why! )

 

[dawnbu40]

Thanks for another great Tr!

for one week! I hope you all have an amazing time!

Lucky you for so many more trips in the works! Your F&W trip sounds great! Our fall trip includes 3 different resorts too! I'm hoping it goes smoothly for both of us

 

[Pinkocto]

I'm so sorry about the whole prescription mess, what is wrong with people

I love all your plans! I will indeed be curious if you can go a year between WDW trips.

Very odd that there are only 2 bathrooms with the capacity to hold so many people. That's going to make shower time tricky.

Wonderful TR! Thanks so much for sharing all your adventures. I look forward to hearing about the next one

You're welcome to use any pictures, no problem at all

 

[MEK]

Awww I'm sorry to see this massive awesome trip(s) report come to an end! (Well, at least, in another month! )

I never thought I would drag out this TR this long. We leave in a week (my ticker is so wrong! ) It will be nice to have the next week to catch up on all my neglected TRs before I leave.

And - yes - I promise to start the next TR promptly even if I have to space out the updates!

Your future plans sound awesome! I am interested to see how you enjoy your triple-split-stay! You're definitely staying at some fabulous places!

I'm not looking forward to the triple stay. I'm looking forward to each of the resorts - just not moving. I totally did not think about what implications arriving one day early would have on my waitlist. I hope, somehow, that the first night comes through at VWL even though I really want to stay in the main lodge of AKL!

I'm sorry to hear about what happened with your prescriptions! How upsetting, I hope it is all resolved soon!

Thanks! I feel more disturbed with myself for letting them get in someone elses hands but there is a reason for that that I won't go into. Not entirely my own fault. More a system problem.

(I just realized I commented on your post backwards...not sure why! )

Hah - I do that ALL the time. It's my ADD!

Thanks for another great Tr!

Your welcome and Thank You for being such a loyal reader!

for one week! I hope you all have an amazing time!

I'm sure it will have its ups and downs, it's just a matter of how many. No matter what, it should make for interesting reading.

Lucky you for so many more trips in the works! Your F&W trip sounds great! Our fall trip includes 3 different resorts too! I'm hoping it goes smoothly for both of us

I know you guys have been changing your resorts left and right so I kind-of forget where you are staying now. I think its so cool that you are a TA and you have access to so much variety. I know some people don't like to change resorts, but I love trying new things!

Your trip is before mine, so you'll have to let me know how it all works out.

I'm so sorry about the whole prescription mess, what is wrong with people

It's really bad judgment or greed or desperation. I have to say that the day I found out (got faxed copies of the forged scripts) I felt literally exhausted. It was so mentally fatiguing. Fortunately I had the tools to get to the right resources to report the whole incident. It helps to know where to go to have competent people to investigate. And kudos to the pharmacists who spotted the frauds.

I love all your plans! I will indeed be curious if you can go a year between WDW trips.

I am really going to try simply because it is starting to get expensive and my AP will expire after the F&W trip. I think HHI will give me enough Disney and I am very excited to take Denny there to visit. It's an awesome place - something to consider with all your extra Disney points!!!!!

Very odd that there are only 2 bathrooms with the capacity to hold so many people. That's going to make shower time tricky.

I know. Fortunately kids don't take long in the shower. I was seriously shocked that there were only two BRs. I'm glad I know now so I won't be totally surprised when we arrive.

Wonderful TR! Thanks so much for sharing all your adventures. I look forward to hearing about the next one

Thanks! And thanks so much for following along!

You're welcome to use any pictures, no problem at all

Thank you! Your pictures are fab and I know I will be rereading your TR and asking you all kinds of questions when I start planning in earnest for our cruise.

 

[Poolrat]

Great wrap up and look to the future.

I am looking forward to Oct too- Not that I am NOT looking forward to July but the cooler weather and F&W is always a treat.

I hope your treehouse stay is all you hope to it to be. Glad you found out the bathroom situation before arriving.

 

[Roxychica7]

Holy crap girl you have some terrific trips planned!! We stayed in BB a few weekends ago for one of my dads bike tournaments and it was awesome! So peaceful! Have you ever been to Sea Level in the Grotto's shopping center before you get to Bethany? They have the most amazing stuff in there! From furniture to wine glasses, pictures, wire work, and their prices are really good! Just an awesome store!

Man..Disney cruise, HHI...crazy! Let me know when you head back to VA Beach/Williamsburg and I'll see if we are in the area visiting Blake's family..I am always in the mood to get an "excuse" to get out

 

[amazingact21]

I know you have a June trip coming up really soon, so they'll be more posts, but I'm a little sad that this TR is coming to an end. I really enjoyed seeing the different Disney resorts and HHI.

A year long hiatus from Disney sounds really hard, but taking a Disney cruise will be so much fun. Fall is a great time to go, in my opinion.

 

[MEK]

Great wrap up and look to the future.

I am looking forward to Oct too- Not that I am NOT looking forward to July but the cooler weather and F&W is always a treat.

Thanks!

And I hear ya on the cooler weather. The older I get the less I like to play outside in the heat. I need perfect 75 degree weather!

I hope your treehouse stay is all you hope to it to be. Glad you found out the bathroom situation before arriving.

We will definitely be at maximum occupancy! Maybe we need to bring a porta-potty. Seriously, one of my friends has one that collapsable that she brings to football tailgates. Don't even ask!

Holy crap girl you have some terrific trips planned!! We stayed in BB a few weekends ago for one of my dads bike tournaments and it was awesome! So peaceful! Have you ever been to Sea Level in the Grotto's shopping center before you get to Bethany? They have the most amazing stuff in there! From furniture to wine glasses, pictures, wire work, and their prices are really good! Just an awesome store!

You know - just a couple days ago I was feeling a little guilty because I have been able to travel so much, but I got over that fast!

I don't go to the Delaware beaches much anymore, so thanks for the heads-up on the Sea Level store. I will make a point of stopping in there in August. I love a unique store with great prices. Sounds perfect!

Man..Disney cruise, HHI...crazy! Let me know when you head back to VA Beach/Williamsburg and I'll see if we are in the area visiting Blake's family..I am always in the mood to get an "excuse" to get out

If we do hit Wiliamsburg again it will likely be the last week of August in 2013, right after everyone leaves for school. I love that week. BG is still open and the crowds are LOW, LOW, LOW! I considered buying an annual pass to the colonial district when I was there in April but I knew we probably wouldn't get there again in the next calendar year (unless we skip HHI).

I know you have a June trip coming up really soon, so they'll be more posts, but I'm a little sad that this TR is coming to an end. I really enjoyed seeing the different Disney resorts and HHI.

Thanks! So glad you enjoyed this TR and I'm glad you liked the format. I like to write about other traveling experiences because I think traveling in general is so much fun and I love seeing other parts of the country through other people's TRs.

A year long hiatus from Disney sounds really hard, but taking a Disney cruise will be so much fun. Fall is a great time to go, in my opinion.

I am glad that starting in 2013 we should be really unrestricted in when we travel. We've had so many years of working around kid's schedules that it will be nice to go whenever we please. I am looking forward to our first Disney cruise.

 

[KatMark]

MaryEllen, the plans sound great, and I love the other trips planned (don't forget to hook up with Mary and the girls and be on the look out for Nicki and Todd (my best friend here on the DIS) as she'll be there too.

Love the prom photos.

 

[MEK]

MaryEllen, the plans sound great, and I love the other trips planned (don't forget to hook up with Mary and the girls and be on the look out for Nicki and Todd (my best friend here on the DIS) as she'll be there too.

I definitely wold like to meet Mary and the girls, although Mary joked with me that I really only want to meet the girls. So NOT true, but I am dying to see those cute little faces in person. I have gotten more enjoyment from seeing their pictures!

I did not know that Nicki and Todd were going to be there as well. I'll have to invite them to the October 18th DIS meet. I am still now sure of the exact time, but it will be afternoon in Epcot at the R&C.

Love the prom photos.

Thanks! Nick's GF is so cute. I love taking pictures of her.

 

[eandesmom]

I haven't heard any bad endorsements about the bed so I'm sure we'll love it. I would love to wake up a little less and night and sometimes I just feel so stiff when I do wake up. Hope that changes.

The only thing we've found is that ours is very sensitive to humidity/temperature in our room and so during certain seasons where it's kind of up and down, we do have to check our numbers and adjust them more than usual. Not a biggie though and it's really due to the fact that we keep our room door closed (to keep the cats out) and that drops the temp more than the rest of the house. took us a little while to figure out that is what was happening though.

I've always slept well but sleep far better now, often not waking at all or just once. Jeff sleeps a TON better, he'd be up multiple times and it's gone down. On the stiffness, it's a little funny, before we'd wake up super sore and tight from bad sleep and it would impact the day. After we first got the bed I'd wake up a bit stiff but for different reasons. Namely never moving during the night! Incredibly well rested but I did need to stretch a bit at first, it's leveled out now so just a slight amount of normal morning stretch for both of us.

Proud Mommy Moment.......

Here are the Vipers - We were finalists, not champions, but they played a good game and it will look good on Nick's player profile.

Nick is in the front row, 2nd from the left!

YAY Vipers!!! Very Very cool and congrats Nick! Does he have his eye on anywhere he'd like to go (and play)?

I feel like I've had a crash course in player/team profiles, rankings and all that in the last 2 weeks. It's been nuts! Such a change in level. Kind of funny to have been there, left, and now jump back in. the other girls have gradually moved up towards this but for us...huge adjustment. Having K write a bio, contact coaches prior to tournaments, etc. Guess that's what happens if you jump from a team ranked in the 700's to one in the top 100. LOL! Huge change. So glad this is as far as she will go, the ECNL stuff looks crazy intense to me, I can't imagine.

That's so exciting. I've been watching my phone all day as I get tournament updates from Kendall's tournament this weekend. Fingers crossed they win tonight so they move forward. Of course NO news on how her ankle is or if she's getting playing time or anything!

I've been also watching my phone and email all day to see if we got in to the July tournament, it's making me literally crazy, the not knowing! Supposedly emails went out yesterday so our coach should know and I can't help but suspect he's waiting to tell us until after this tournament! UGH. Tournament hasn't posted the list of accepted teams yet either, probably won't till sometime next week.

The Rest of the Queue!


I am flunking DIS planning 101 because I just learned a few things about the Treehouse Villas that I didn't know. First, there are only 2 bathrooms. Seriously? I did NOT know that. I just assumed there would be three since there are 3 in the AK and BLT 2 BR villas. Oh well. I guess I am going to have to share my wonderful MBR bathroom.

Second - there is technically only one parking space per treehouse villa again! We will have two cars. When we check in I am going to have to ask for a villa near the walking path over to SSR, because that is where we will have to a leave a car. Normally I do not mind walking, but I hate walking any further than I have to in the heat. Oh well.

I did know about the car situation, that's a major drag but somehow thought there was a powder room in addition to the 2 baths? Ugh. We almost never get a car but at THV it's possible we might.

I know what you are probably thinking - 3 Resorts????? In my defense I will say - IT WAS AN ACCIDENT! Cynthia and I had 6 nights at VWL but we waitlisted the last 3 at BWV. We really didn't think it would come through, considering it was a weekend during F&W. In the meantime I booked my flights and decided to arrive a day early. Hence, I booked AKL for one night. On the very day that I decided I should drop the BWV waitlist - It came through! Sheesh - So I did waitlist the first night at VWL so we could potentially have 4 nights there. We could also waitlist at AKL for everything (and have a better chance of it coming through) but we both decided we really want to stay at VWL. Totally confused now? I hope not!

I'm totally confused.

My challenge is I really can only do 6 nights tops, 4 vacation days. Work wise, 17-22 works better IF I can take a red eye so get in the morning of the 17th..then I don't lose a day. Problem is that the red eye schedules have changed which makes the 16th a much better flying option as it's a non stop, but I lose that whole day to travel which is a bummer of a way to use up a vacation day. Which puts me at the 16th-22nd and 5 vacation days from work.

And then means a 1/3/2 split for me. UGH!

Part of the problem is that we now have a trip to Whistler with Jeff's dad and stepmom over labor day. They've booked a full week at the condo but K has to be back for school mid week so I'm not sure if we are going to bring her back and go back up, or not. If not then I have enough vacation time but if we are...I'll go negative on the fall trip. So I need to figure it out and book my darn flights. Almost booked this week but keep getting hung up on the 1/3/2. LOL! 3/3 sounds so much better but...we changed our ADR's and I really like how it flows right now and don't want to have to change anything!.

High maintenance aren't I.

Good news is that now that Jeff is doing "his" boys trip with his dad, leaving me to deal with flying the rest of us to FL on our own...he can't complain about 5 versus 6 nights depending on what I end up doing.

 

[glennbo123]

Congrats to Nick's soccer team...they look like they were enjoying themselves in the photo.

Bummer about your Rx being stolen. I don't know what you could have done to prevent it, but hopefully they'll catch them.

Wow, you've got a lot of nice plans in the queue. They all sound great!

 

[eandesmom]

Bummer about your Rx being stolen. I don't know what you could have done to prevent it, but hopefully they'll catch them.

I meant to comment on that, was that at work? How awful!!