One Disney Question per Day-- August Pre-Trip Report

[loribell]

Ditto!

[Rhonda]

Thanks Ladies- that was the push I needed! I am still not feeling great and haven't been doing much lately, not even Disney planning. Struggling with some body inflammation and horrible, persistent heartburn....exhausting I tell ya!! I am just praying that I will be able to eat like a normal person 11 days from now!!!!!!

So......on to the story......My mom has a former step-dad. I never met him, he and my grandma had been divorced prior to my birth. He was around when my mom was a little girl. His name is Dale. A few years ago, my mom and Dale got back in touch and reconnected. Dale worked for WDW for over 20 years and retired from there. He lives in Georgia in the summer but Orlando in the winter and has a "silver pass" which allows him 3 guests per day into a park. The guest gets a physical, 1-day hopper ticket.

So mom and I start talking about seeing the Christmas stuff at WDW. I can take 3 consecutive days off from work, but no more than that. I also cant take any days to extend a vacation time, so no adding a day to Thanksgiving or Christmas break, so it would have to be a short trip. So we look at the calendar and decide on Dec 10-14 (friday-tuesday). We were going to stay with Dale but I decided to call WDW and sure enough I had a free dining pin BUT it expired THAT NIGHT!!! What???? OK book me now!

So, it was my mom, my sister and myself, 4 nights at Pop with free dining. I upgraded us to regular DDP and we only had to buy a 1 day ticket. OMG, it ended up being like $250 each or something crazy. It's amazing how much you can save when you are splitting the cost with others!

My sister is mildly mentally impaired and functions more like an older child, so I knew we would be touring like we had tweens with us. My mom has been to WDW a dozen + times but never with a plan and she has never stayed on-site before so she was really excited to see how I did things! She had also never eaten on property. I had only done QSDP so this was all new to me too. We made ADR's for 50's PTC, Chef Mickey, The Plaza, and Crystal Palace.

We had a great time!! Dale met us every morning and got us into the park. Sometimes he stayed with us, others he didnt. We used our 1-day ticket at MK on the day he went to church so that we weren't interrupting his day. We LOVED LOVED the Christmas stuff and Osborne Lights was absolutely AMAZING!!! I would so love to take my kids to see it someday!

BUT boy was it cold! Wowsers, it was cold! The parades were tough, sitting on the cold pavement. We did MVMCP and after we returned home I discovered the "real feel" that night was like 13 degrees! We rode POTC about 4 times because it was the warmest place in the park. So, would I do it again?? Not so sure. I would rather have 100 degree weather than 20 degree weather. Pop was fine and if I returned without Ace I would stay there again. I liked that it was smaller than CBR but of course AKV was great-IF you can plan 11 months out which we didnt.

So here is my picture report:













Pooh after Pan in the morning:



Frontierland:



The house I am going to move into:



They were putting together the Rapunzel M&G but it wasnt open yet (at least I dont think):











See my coat, hat, scarf, and gloves over my shirt, turtleneck and sweatshirt??





Oh, I forgot my favorite story from the trip. On arrival day we went to DHS. My mom HATES roller coasters but I wanted to ride RnR. She kept saying "yes, I will ride, I have ridden it before" I kept saying, mom are you sure. You dont even like roller coasters. "Yes Im sure" OK..... so as we were getting up to the front she starts saying things like "hmmm, this doesnt look familiar" I keep saying "are you sure you have ridden this before" "yep yep" OK..... Oh. My. Gosh. She SCREAMED through the whole ride and then as it ended said "No, I have never ridden this before" I was laughing SO hard, all through the ride. It was hysterical!! Hey, I gave her a chance!

[Lisa]

Great pictures, Rhonda! How nice that you got to go with your mom and sister - and got that pin code.

[MaddiesMom]

Hahaha! I love the RnR story. :)

Keep it comin'!

[loribell]

Loving the report. My mom wishes she could ride the coasters. The last time was probably about 10 years ago when she insisted she could ride the HULK at IOA!! She has ridden very few things since.

[gorsh]

Oh Rhonda! I am laughing SO hard! ONE, because I totally remember your TGM TR with Aunt Sandee and TWO that story about your mom and RnR is priceless!!!!!

I can't believe even your children are only allowing you to ask one question a day! Well, at least your DH is looking forward to the trip! I was nervous that my DH would be a Disney resistor, but we ended up going a second time only a year after our first and we have been home for a couple weeks already and he is still playing Disney songs on his ipad for all of us to listen to together! He even has even read some of Josh's blogs on his own and asks me what is new on easywdw!

[Rhonda]

Kate, I am jealous!! Actually Mason was invited to go camping with the neighbor while we are gone, and he informed us he would rather go camping
Lori, I am trying to not be one of those moms that cant go on stuff, but my motion sickness gets worse each year.....

[Rhonda]

Well, we are getting there- FINALLY!! 5 days now....oh my, I am getting so antsy!! I havent started packing yet because unlike our June trips, we actually NEED our clothes.
So I thought I would post pics of some of our shirts. I took a leap and made a couple with iron on transfers. Then we had some tie dye made.

Mason's DHS shirt:



Molly and her IOA-WWoHP shirt:



Will trade brother/sister for Fastpass:



And my "90% happy with them" tie dyes: (all of the red is on the back, hence the 90%)



I printed our plans last night, did on-line check in. Plan on laundry and packing on Wed. Going to see The Help with some girlfriends tomorrow and dinner with more girlfriends on Wed. Other than that, it is just waiting, waiting, waiting.........

Our plans?
Friday: Fly out of Grand Rapids Mi, to Detroit, then onto Orlando. Pick up our rental car and head to POR. Depending on arrival time, head to MK for dinner (DH is asking for that.....)

Saturday: RD Epcot. 3/4 day. Lunch at LeCellier. A few evening options.

Sunday: Pre-RD breakfast at Crystal Palace. MK morning. Good nap then MK for EMH until 2:00 or whenever we drop.

Monday: Sleep in. Epcot for dinner at Teppan Edo and Illuminations

Tuesday: Me and Mason to DHS, Ace and Molly to IOA. Not sure about dinner yet. Could do 50's Prime Time or RainForest Cafe or just POR

Wednesday: Magic Kingdom with dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table

Thursday: Animal Kingdom with late breakfast at Tusker House- Meeting some on-line friends in real life

Friday: Hollywood Studios with lunch at Sci Fi Diner. Not sure on evening yet.

Saturday: Not quite sure yet but dinner at Ohana's and finish up with MK for sure. Morning will be MK or packing?

Sunday: head home 11:30 flight so just time to eat and head out.

[loribell]

Shirts look great!! Hope you have a great trip!!

[Lisa]

Oh my goodness, Rhonda - am I reading it right that you're having lunch at Sci-Fi on Friday the 26th? Because I am and it would be awesome to say hi!

[MaddiesMom]

Your shirts are cute! :)

[Rhonda]

Thanks for sticking with me Lori and Hillary!
Lisa- YES, the 26th. I think it is 11:30. Will you be around???

So this trip is looking a bit ominous..........

At the end of July I had some swelling in my right eye, then a week later in my right jaw (upper back tooth). I was on antibiotics and was taking a ton of motrin. Well, duh. That lead to some serious stomach issues. The Dr sent me in for a scope to make sure there were no ulcers or anything. So for the last 2 weeks, my stomach feels horrible. I am trying to baby it, take probiotics, eat yogurt (yuk) and make it better. But wouldn't you know- Friday my tooth flared up again. Go in yesterday and he wants me to have it pulled!! Pulled!! 3 days before we leave for vacation!! OMG!! And he talked about the fact that he would not put me on antibiotics because he thinks I would end up in the hospital.

Soooo I see the oral surgeon at 12:15 today to discuss and maybe pull my tooth (all I can think is "hillbilly" and it puts me into tears). And depending on what I eat, my stomach is still bothering me. I just don't have good vibes about our trip. I ended up not getting the insurance, but I guess worst case scenario is me in the room while the family has a great time.................

So if you can spare any prayers and pixie dust, I would greatly appreciate them!!

[Lisa]

Oh no! It sucks that this is happening to you! Prayers and pixie dust on the way and fingers crossed that you're feeling better soon.

Our ressie is for 11:45 - maybe we can find each other.

[loribell]

Many good vibes being sent your way and tons of pixie dust too!

[Rhonda]

YES Lisa, lets definitely try! Is there a picture posted of you somewhere???

Thanks so much for the good thoughts Lisa and Lori. I am so anxious about my appointment..... I just want it over with so I know what is happening!

[jilly7896]

oh Rhonda, I'm so sorry! I hope things get better and you have a FABULOUS trip!

[Rhonda]

Thanks Jill!!

[gorsh]

Oh no Rhonda! I wonder if your tooth and your stomach are related issues? Feel better!!! Sending pixie dust your way!!!

[Rhonda]

Thanks Kate. That would actually be a good thing!! I hope things settle down now, I still have to pack!

[SS Disney]

Good luck Rhonda! Here is some pixie dust and I'm also looking for a packing fairy to send to you.

I had my wisdom teeth pulled about 3 months ago and was recovered in about 2 days. I'm wishing you the same speedy recovery! Also, I hope Kate is correct and that your stomach feels better too.

We will probably pass each other in the air; my flight arrives around 4 the Sunday you are leaving.

[Lisa]

Hi Rhonda! No, I don't have any pics uploaded and since my computer is being wanky I'm using the laptop which also doesn't have any pictures on it. But that day my mom and I will be wearing matching red t-shirts with white lettering that says "Mom/daughter Disney/birthday weekend 2011". I hope we can find each other!

[MaddiesMom]

Oh no! I hate dental drama. My hubby is at the dentist today too - he has a veneer on his front tooth that we've been limping along. He needs to cut the BS and get a crown put on it, but he's a wimp. LOL

Anyhow, his veneer snapped off last night while eating a burger (those of you that follow me on FB know of my love/lust for Five Guys burgers). So he has to squeeze in a dentist visit today. ACK!

I hope you're feeling better, Rhonda.

[Rhonda]

Thanks SS Disney. I do feel ok today so things are looking up!!

Lisa, I will look for you for sure!!

Hilary- I hate dental stuff too!! Especially major decisions like crowns and such!! But I do LOVE 5 guys too!! We dont have one here, I have only eaten there when we visit my dad in NY.

[discott71]

Hi Rhonda! I'm loving all the pics from your previous trips. When were you at AKV last year? We were there 11/25 - 12/4. It was COLD when we went to MVMCP! I had packed our fleece jackets and gloves and DH thought I was nuts! Yes, he thanked me after..lol!

At any rate, I hope you are feeling better. It stinks that you haven't been feeling well.

Lots of prayers and pixie dust headed your way for a great trip!!

[Rhonda]

Thanks Vicky. We were are AKV in June of last year. It is so beautiful there and we didnt even have a savanah view room! I would love the stay there again!! In Dec, we stayed at Pop from 12/10-14 or something like that. I really had no idea it got that cold there!! I was looking forward to getting out of the Michigan cold-at least there wasnt *real* snow!!

1 more day of putzing around!!! I need a mani-pedi and finish packing but I suspect the day is going to dragggggggggg..........