Trip of New Phases, Friends & 40! Updated 8/31 - As If Goodbye Wasn't Enough! The End

[TyRy]

I actually started writing this a couple of months ago, right before DMIL got sick. I’ll still give you all the details leading up to now, but I needed to add a couple of serious things in first. Going forward, they’ll be the usual miscommunications, arguments, and scary flights

This trip could be the trip of new phases in life. The one we knew was happening was my 40th birthday this year. This trip came to be even before we went on our last trip….it was decided that even though my 40th birthday is in December, DH thought December was too cold. He wants to go swimming and thinks it could be too cold. So we decide to move it to September, so we could use our passes twice. Since DH gets almost no vacation time two trips was what we would have to settle for.

The other new phase was much more unexpected. This will this will be our first Disney trip without my DIL’s. They are partially responsible for my love of Disney, and I think this trip will definitely be hard without them. Many of you know that DMIL was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer a couple of months ago. Unfortunately, she recently lost her battle and passed away just over a week ago. It is way too soon for DFIL to travel back with us. Hopefully, maybe in a year we’ll be able to drag him back and it’ll put a smile on his face.

So the highlights of how this trip came to be:

Invited my parents and a whole bunch of friends. My parents are very excited as they will stay with us this year. They have only been once before and I tell them they don’t even have to go to parks – AKL is relaxing enough.

Called at exactly my 11-month date and had zero problems getting a two-bedroom standard view at Jambo house.

In November, I got the “official” word out to friends. Starts out with a bunch thinking about it, but ends up only two will be able to make it, but yay, one will be with her family which includes my princess loving goddaughter.

All is well and then January rolls around. My little sister announces that she and fiancée of the last 5 years have decided to set a date….less than a month after I get back! We think about it for a couple of weeks and then let my parents know they can back out since they are giving her $$$ for the wedding and probably can’t do both this year. They will think about it.

I also start thinking that a week just isn’t long enough, so maybe we need an extra couple of days at the end of the trip. Hello Member Services, and now we have a one bedroom reserved.

My parents come back in February and decide it’s a good idea if they do not go this time. Of course, I’m bummed, but not going to let the two bedroom go to waste. I phone my evil twin and let her know that she can cancel her room and stay with us. We figured she’s coming alone and all the way from California, we’d like to at least take care of her lodging.

It’s now almost the end of February and I’m just about done moping and I get a call from one of my BFF’s - we’ll call her Red and she tells me that my goddaughters school is starting earlier than thought and so the whole family will be going in two weeks for DGD birthday since they were able to take advantage of the Buy 4 get 3 deal. BUT – the good news is she will still be coming for a long weekend.

April rolls around and the company DH works for has union contracts that expire. He’s not part of the union, but now no one is allowed to go on vacation until it gets settled…anyone else seeing this trip fall apart a bit? But DH is also on a new schedule where he works 4 days and then has 3 off. Hmmmm, since he has Thursday and Friday off, perhaps we should leave earlier. And since he’s always wanted to stay at the CR, and maybe we should book two nights there. Yep, and that’s added to the trip now too.

Our dining window rolls around and I wasn’t sure since we have a split stay if the CM would let us book ten days or not. I must have gotten one of the good ones as I can book ten of the twelve days – ! I had no problem getting anything I wanted, so even at 90 days during free dining it was possible. I even called back a few days later (as online could not find my reservation!) and got a Chef Mickey’s dinner for our first night.

Then just a few weeks ago, I received a pin code…worked well and saved of $$$ off the Contemporary. We then decided since the rate was so good for AKL as well, we would save some points for our next trip with my parents next year and drop the DVC 1 bedroom. So we now have a Savannah view room booked…we’ve never stayed Savannah, so it will be something new. Oh – and the pin code I had received, had my information from over ten years ago when I lived in a different state. Thankfully, DH remembered the address and I was able to use it.

That just about brings you up to date…here’s who will be travelling with us:
Me and DH


I'm the Disney fanatic and DH will say I love planning the trips as much as I do going on them...which is probably true! We became DVC members a couple of years ago and I still can't believe DH gave in on that. DH likes Disney, and I think has resigned himself that we will always be travelling to WDW because of my love for it. This will be the first year (if we both get to go) that we will have actually gone in back to back years. Next step is to try and get there more than once a year!

And for the rest of the party - apologies in advance…all I have with me are wedding photos!
Evil Twin and boyfriend (but I don’t have a picture of him yet!) I met Evil Twin in college and even though she lives clear across the country we are still BFF’s. Her boyfriend loves WDW and has been before…this will be her first trip.


Red – mother of my goddaughter and the matron of honor in my wedding. I’ve known Red since we were little, but didn’t actually like her or become friends with her until my first year in college…just goes to show, some things will work themselves out. And I’m sure at some point, she’ll give herself a new name for this, but that’s all I could come up with.


Next up we will have the never ending debate of flying vs driving!

[Flossbolna]

Hi Tracy! I just decided to check out the PTR board and there as the first thread is your brand new PTR!!

I absolutely understand the need of celebrating turning 40 at WDW, I will do that in two years time!!

I am so sorry that this trip is even more about new phases in life than you bargained for when you started planning! But it is great to hear that you plan to take your DFIL next year, I hope he and your family will be able to experience a lot of magic then!

It sounds like you will travel with a fun group of people who really are dear to your heart! And getting a savanna view and a room at the Cr sound like a great start and ending to your trip. I guess if you decide to be brave and fly, you will need a nice resort to unwind after the stressful traveling! I just hope you will not get sick again!!

[DisneyBride'03]

Hi

I didnt have the heart to post something on your other TR..I started to post and thought wait...your photo and comments is how it should end. Yes, tears here from this reader.
Tracy, I have been thinking of you and Mark this past week. I was debating if I should stop by the Salerno chapel, I mapquested...then felt unsure...my thoughts and prayers were with both of you.
I keep typing stuff, and then deleting...lol...not sure if my sentiments will be read correctly

So....

I know asked moons ago, but what are your dates? THink we are missing each other, we arrive Sept 24 and I leave the 29th, RachelTori, of course, stays longer! lol
WSe have a 2 bdr LV at BLT..then onto Swan, then I have a studio at Kidani ...I am excited to try out 2 new DVC resorts.
Looking forward to your PTR

[TyRy]

Originally Posted by Flossbolna

Hi Tracy! I just decided to check out the PTR board and there as the first thread is your brand new PTR!!

I absolutely understand the need of celebrating turning 40 at WDW, I will do that in two years time!!

I am so sorry that this trip is even more about new phases in life than you bargained for when you started planning! But it is great to hear that you plan to take your DFIL next year, I hope he and your family will be able to experience a lot of magic then!

Flossbolna and thanks for being the first poster! And thank you for your kind words, I really do hope someday DFIL will come back with us as he was the original planner and enjoys Disney. I'm also grateful DH understood why I wanted to go to Disney and thinks we still should.

Originally Posted by Flossbolna

It sounds like you will travel with a fun group of people who really are dear to your heart! And getting a savanna view and a room at the Cr sound like a great start and ending to your trip. I guess if you decide to be brave and fly, you will need a nice resort to unwind after the stressful traveling! I just hope you will not get sick again!!

It really is a good group and they were really supportive during the past couple months. I can't wait to try the CR - DH has always wanted to stay there. I'm glad we love AKL as much as we do, cause I think for some people going from CR to AKL might be a let down. Kind of like it was my first time at AKL after coming from the WL where we could see the top of the castle. I couldn't stand AKL at first , till the magic of it hit me a couple days later Of course, by then it was time to go home.

And if I so much as sneeze on this trip I'm heading right to urgent care...no messing around this time! This also counts as another reason to drive...no one on a plane sneezing or coughing on you!

Originally Posted by DisneyBride'03

Hi

I didnt have the heart to post something on your other TR..I started to post and thought wait...your photo and comments is how it should end. Yes, tears here from this reader.
Tracy, I have been thinking of you and Mark this past week. I was debating if I should stop by the Salerno chapel, I mapquested...then felt unsure...my thoughts and prayers were with both of you.
I keep typing stuff, and then deleting...lol...not sure if my sentiments will be read correctly

First to this PTR. Thank you for all your kind words, thoughts prayers and even the honor last weekend. I can't even tell you how many things I've written and then deleted, it's been a lot. I wasn't even sure if I should start this trippie and or how. Your sentiments have been perfect and I have had the exact same worry about how mine have been coming across

Originally Posted by DisneyBride'03

So....

I know asked moons ago, but what are your dates? THink we are missing each other, we arrive Sept 24 and I leave the 29th, RachelTori, of course, stays longer! lol
WSe have a 2 bdr LV at BLT..then onto Swan, then I have a studio at Kidani ...I am excited to try out 2 new DVC resorts.
Looking forward to your PTR

Yep we miss each other by two days this time around since we leave on the 22nd. Hopefully next year we can get back on track to out end of Sept/beginning of October dates when we usually travel. And I'm so glad to see we are not the only people switching three times on a trip. Although maybe ours should only be counted as 2.5 since we go from CR to a 2 bedroom standard at AKV Jambo to a SV view room.

That of course, all depends on DH being able to go the whole time, which we should know, oh, about the day before we leave!

[Flossbolna]

Originally Posted by TyRy

I'm glad we love AKL as much as we do, cause I think for some people going from CR to AKL might be a let down. Kind of like it was my first time at AKL after coming from the WL where we could see the top of the castle. I couldn't stand AKL at first , till the magic of it hit me a couple days later Of course, by then it was time to go home.

How funny that you couldn't stand AKL in the beginning! But I think going from CR to AKL is the best way any way. While CR is in the middle of things, it still is a very unthemed resort. I think it is really beautiful now after the refurbishment, but still not special in the way of AKL or WL. So I think it would look very plain after many days at AKL!

[Leitadala]

Hi Tracy! I just finished your last TR and I'm so sorry for your loss. My Grandfather passed in April and he's responsible for my (and subsequently DH's) love for all things Disney and this October will be our first trip without him. Luckily my BFF will be going with us and we are all planning on having fun while remembering all the fun we had with him. I know you will have a great time with your friends on your birthday trip and your DMIL will be there in spirit. I look forward to reading more of your PTR!

[TyRy]

Originally Posted by Flossbolna

How funny that you couldn't stand AKL in the beginning!

Trust me....DH never lets me forget it either

Originally Posted by Flossbolna

But I think going from CR to AKL is the best way any way. While CR is in the middle of things, it still is a very unthemed resort. I think it is really beautiful now after the refurbishment, but still not special in the way of AKL or WL. So I think it would look very plain after many days at AKL!

I think I must be one of three people on the planet that actually liked the look of the rooms at the CR before the redo. I agree that they look really nice, but look more New York City than Disney. I miss the crazy 70's look it had before.

Originally Posted by Leitadala

Hi Tracy! I just finished your last TR and I'm so sorry for your loss. My Grandfather passed in April and he's responsible for my (and subsequently DH's) love for all things Disney and this October will be our first trip without him. Luckily my BFF will be going with us and we are all planning on having fun while remembering all the fun we had with him. I know you will have a great time with your friends on your birthday trip and your DMIL will be there in spirit. I look forward to reading more of your PTR!

Hi Leitadala and

I'm sorry to hear about your Grandfather - I know what a tough time that is. I think your attitude (and what lots of others have said) is what we need to take with us on the trip...remembering the fun, but still not letting it make us totally sad.

[TyRy]

48 DAYS

Oops - guess I missed the first day I could do the forty-something dance!

[TyRy]

Some of you may recall my deathly fear of flying…for those that are new, let’s go back in time through our handy dandy flight machine to 2004 :

We flew down with my parents and here’s what I looked like before the flight:




It was also on one of these flights that I scared a flight attendant. She sat in the jump seat across from me and saw me having my silent breakdown. Asked if anything was wrong and DH let her know I was petrified and to just let me be; that I’d be fine once we got in the air. At this point my DDad was having a fit of laughter in the seat in front of me and DH was becoming mortified. The flight attendant tried to give me the speech about safer than driving, blah, blah, blah (which is what I heard ) and DH told her that talking does no good. Nothing will take my mind off of it. I think DH kept his head down the rest of the flight and my DDad laughed the whole way!

Now that we are back in 2009, we are having the eternal debate again about flying vs driving. With rental car rates so high, we were able to rent one up here for just a little less than one in Florida.

Side note: We always rent a car in Florida and if we drive DH likes to use a rental as well instead of the mileage on our cars.

So DH says (which will come back to haunt him) that it would be “fun” to drive again…. That’s all I need – we’ll drive. But then with everything happening, we weren’t sure if we’d even go or if DH would be able to go with his job. I’m not making that drive alone, soooooooooo, I see a decent fare on Southwest and insane Ty took over (remember her, the one who convinced sane Ty she was NOT sick on the last trip!) and book it.

WHAT HAVE I DONE?!

My fun driving trip suddenly had airplane tickets. If DH were posting, he’d say the trip is all about Disney Time and this way gives us more Disney time…we get to stay longer, get there quicker and it’s better overall (for him maybe!) So as of this moment, we have our airfare (fifty bucks less than last year!) and it looks like we are flying….BUT I do have another way to get out of the flights where they will not go to waste…..

[Flossbolna]

I was convinced that you would drive this time!! Whatever got you to purchase plane tickets?? While I totally get the idea that it's all about Disney time, I was so much suffering with you in previous TRs that I was really hoping for you that driving would be the choice of transportation for this special trip!!

But I wonder what ideas you came up with for your tickets!!

[irish dancer]

Aaakk! You left us hanging!! Yikes, I remember your ordeal flying before, will be interested to hear how you work this out. We are total flyers, driving would be an absolute last resort!

[PracPerfPatricia]

Hi Tracy!

I'm in...

It seems like you really have been through a rough series of events...

I remember when you posted on the AKL about your MIL-I know its only been a short time but I do hope that all of you have been able to find some peace...

It's interesting because I wasn't sure how I'd feel about the AKL at first-WL was my favorite as well-it still is DDs although she really loves AKL too...

There is nothing remotely funny about flying...-I'm not sure how I get through it fairly unscathed because if I really start thinking about it hard-it sort of freaks me out also...DH flew a lot for work so I think he just became desensitized...DS actually LAUGHS we we take off-he also adores roller coasters- and will ride anything he is tall enough for...but DD... not only is she really scared she get nauseous too-(basically she has to be medicated-just not too early or I can't get her on the plane... she's a petite thing about 5'4" and maybe 110lbs but still... I almost feel like kissing the ground when we land...I've seen that the pope does that but I'm thinking for totally different reasons...

I'll have to go back and read your past reports...

Looking ahead to more...

[TyRy]

Originally Posted by Flossbolna

I was convinced that you would drive this time!! Whatever got you to purchase plane tickets?? While I totally get the idea that it's all about Disney time, I was so much suffering with you in previous TRs that I was really hoping for you that driving would be the choice of transportation for this special trip!!

But I wonder what ideas you came up with for your tickets!!

Originally Posted by irish dancer

Aaakk! You left us hanging!! Yikes, I remember your ordeal flying before, will be interested to hear how you work this out. We are total flyers, driving would be an absolute last resort!

I keep thinking it would mean almost two whole more days at WDW, since we would arrive by noon on Thursday instead of in the evening and we wouldn't have to leave until a Tuesday instead of a Monday. But I'm still not sure it's worth the "plane" stress

Originally Posted by PracPerfPatricia

Hi Tracy!

I'm in...

It seems like you really have been through a rough series of events...

I remember when you posted on the AKL about your MIL-I know its only been a short time but I do hope that all of you have been able to find some peace...

Thank you so much - we are working on it.

Originally Posted by PracPerfPatricia

There is nothing remotely funny about flying...-I'm not sure how I get through it fairly unscathed because if I really start thinking about it hard-it sort of freaks me out also...DH flew a lot for work so I think he just became desensitized...DS actually LAUGHS we we take off-he also adores roller coasters- and will ride anything he is tall enough for...but DD... not only is she really scared she get nauseous too-(basically she has to be medicated-just not too early or I can't get her on the plane... she's a petite thing about 5'4" and maybe 110lbs but still... I almost feel like kissing the ground when we land...I've seen that the pope does that but I'm thinking for totally different reasons...

I'll have to go back and read your past reports...

Looking ahead to more...

I'm glad you understand about the flying thing. I just completely freak out I now try and take the happy plane pills starting a couple of days before, otherwise they don't work until we land...and I don't need them then

[TyRy]

I knew if I thought long enough and hard enough, I’d come up with a good reason not to use the airfare and drive. I now have that! DH wants to do a “guys” trip next year to Spring Training with my DDad and my DFIL. Since we have Southwest tickets, he could use the $$$ from these flights towards his flights for next year. So it’s like we’ve pre-paid for those already see, isn't that a good plan

I've also managed to get our rental car down under $400 if we drive. The rates this year are insane!

That is my new master plan, which again, all rests on DH being able to go on this trip, which we may not know until right before it...and can I say since I'm such a planner it's making me crazy!

I’m now starting to have those Disney dreams as well – I’m sure lots of you have them too. The ones where you are at the parks and forget your schedules, or completely forgot to go to a park…yep – the crazy types of dreams. DH claims to never have them, and that if I didn’t plan everything out I wouldn’t either. Ummm – yes I would, I would then be stressed that nothing is planned!

I’m also starting to look at our ADR’s and think we may have tried to squeeze too many in this trip. DH said he wanted to eat at a couple of places, so I added those after I made mine. Afterall, as I said last trip, this is the all about me trip and I’m picking where I want to eat since I had almost no picks last trip LOLOL. Here’s what we have planned (in no certain order):

Boma Breakfast
Coral Reef Lunch (DH requested this)
LeCellier Dinner
T-Rex Lunch
Jiko Dinner
Norway Dinner (DH requested this)
1900 Park Fare Dinner
Chef Mickey Dinner
Sci Fi Lunch (may skip this)
CRT Dinner
Chefs De France Dinner
Yachtsmen Dinner
Brown Derby Lunch (DH requested this)
LTT Dinner
Chefs De France Lunch - what can I say - I LOVE their French Onion Soup
Crystal Palace Breakfast
O’Hana Dinner
Trails End Breakfast
Citricos Dinner - Really wanted to their big ribeye again since I didn't really get to eat it last year. Now it looks like it is gone so I may change this.

The only new ones on here are T-Rex, Chef Mickey's, Sci-Fi, 1900 Park Fare and Coral Reef. I basically stuck to my favorites and the ones I thought my friends might enjoy.

Any feedback?

And I'm sure in about two weeks DH is going to be asking me to try and change them all again...just like he usually does

[PracPerfPatricia]

Hey Tracy,

all of those restaurants look good-I've selected some of them for our upcoming trip...

Boma Breakfast
Jiko Dinner
Sci Fi Lunch
Chefs de France dinner

(so I obviously think these are all good choices...give Sci Fi a try for lunch-it gets a lot of mixed reviews but I think its great fun especially at lunch-I usually stick with the burgers and shakes but I love the atmosphere and the sci fi movie clicks are a hoot...)

We ate at Coral Reef for lunch 2 years ago and liked it very much...

WE have had BREAKFAST not Dinner at both 1900 and CRT and enjoyed them for the experiences -the food is good-not great but the whole thing is fun_I think the characters at 1900 are really interesting because you don't see them everywhere-1900 Dinner has Cindy and her Prince and the Stepsisters & their mother-I think that would be very fun...

I used to love LTT when they had the characters but the stopped them and I don't know if they've brought them back...

The Brown Derby was very good when I began my dinner but sadly DD became ill and I left with her... (I'd like to go there with her for her 16th B-day)

I have not tried the others but have read raves about Citricos and Yachtsman...

Good luck getting what you want and I'll be curious to see what you think of them...