How to Meet Friends and Alienate Children - *Updated 8/10* About This Page:

[Caldercup]

WARNING: This was a no-kids trip and is, therefore, a slightly more *adult* experience, resulting in a slightly more *adult* trip report. The "snark" is quite a bit stronger than in my other family-oriented trip reports -- although nothing innapropriate or too outrageous -- so be prepared. I think this might be another "put down your drink before reading" report.

Yep, I'm doing it -- I'm "crossing the streams!!"

Despite the best of intentions to first finish my LeeNee-palooza TR in the WDW forum, I have to finally cry "uncle" and get something down here for the DLR Girls Only trip -- seeing as how I leave this Saturday... (but I promise, promise, promise to finish up that report concurrently with this one once I get back.)

So, after my trip to DLR last year (DisneyWHAT - Oh, DisneyLAND!!) to join my husband on his get-an-award-for-designing-an-attraction adventure, I never really thought I'd get a chance for a return trip to the Land that Walt Built.

I should've known "the moms" would get Karen and me together again for another wizzbang trip.

When mention was made of a girls only trip to DLR, I was sitting on enough AirTran credits to not only fly to SFO, but to upgrade those tickets to First Class! <<sigh>> "Yippee" turned to "Yucky" when I discovered that AirTran only flies through Atlanta to get to CA and they only do red eyes from SFO to PHL. Not being the world's best flyer, I was breaking out in the heebeejeebees every time I thought about those flights.

In November, my husband's company did a little good/good/bad thing with me. They hired me for a contract job that would pay me a tidy sum. Then they hired me for another contract job that would pay me another tidy sum. Then, the new attraction's schedule kept slipping and it looked like some of the script writing/recording duties (from a previous contract) would conflict with the trip . So, my involvement with the DLR Girls Only Trip looked iffy...

Then, after my Grand Gathering at WDW in December finished up, I headed straight into Christmas and then head first into a very stressful time for all of my jobs -- which pushed me into an exacerbation of my Multiple Sclerosis. Zoiks! I lost my ability to speak clearly and was forced onto a course of the dreaded steriods.

Any normal person would say, "Woah, take it easy. I don't think you should be flying solo cross country at this point."

Well, I'm not normal...

If it involves Disney and Karen (and a gaggle of other terrific people whom I adore wholeheartedly!!), I'm going... and to heck with the consequences. Plus, I really think it helped me pull out of the attack and do everything in my power to retain my strength and stamina. I was diligent about going to the YMCA for water aerobics and I'm feeling pretty darned good -- I don't think I'll need a "steel fastpass" to get around!

And what should my guardian angel (my late mom) do for me, but arrange for an offer I couldn't refuse. USAirways wanted me to maintain my frequent flyer account and offered a MasterCard that would rake in the FF points. Since I needed a MasterCard anyway to use at Sams Club, it was a no brainer. Plus, my DH had points that would also expire. So, I signed up for the MasterCard and then popped on USAirway's site and, after much wrangling and frustration, I bought a R/T flight to SFO for $265 and then had hubby upgrade one leg to 1st class with his FF miles. Done and done! Then I called to upgrade the other leg with my FF miles and -- oh NO -- they had given away the only FF seat in 1st class for the flight out!! I called and called and called over the next couple of weeks with no luck. (Which started messing with sleep patterns and gave me tons of anxiety every night when I tried to fall asleep.) Finally, last week I managed to snag a seat in 1st class with my FF miles. Yipppeeee!

My gal pal JoanW has made me promise to do a little special photo moment for ya'll -- and I've already set aside all necessary props for this event. Oh, if only I had a gnome!!

[Caldercup]

So, you might be wondering why the TR title includes "alienating children"

Well, March 1st (the midpoint of the trip) is my son's 11th birthday.

<<shocked inhalation >>

Before you yank away my Mother of the Year Award, please know that I have Calder's permission to be away on his birthday. (After all, I suffered through 52 hours of labor in 1996, so he owes me ... just a little bit!) Plus, he's counting on the fact that I'll be feeling guilty and I'll be close to a Lego store... so, it'll work out in his favor.

Okay, now for more details. (the few that I've retained)

I'm flying out on the 24th and staying with my sister and her family (that's LeeCee, Jeff, Miri and Noah -- who you can "meet" by reading my LeeNee-palooza TR) for a day and a half. I have appropriate Disney-themed gifts for my niece and nephew that have been lingering at my house, hoping for the magical day when I actually get to a post office!)

Then, on the 25th, like a dime bag in a drug deal, I'll be handed off to Karen in some seedy parking lot somewhere in the Bay Area. (I have gifts for them too -- Tastykakes for the former Pennsylvanian, Mr. Weiss, and a couple of surprises for Karen and Zack!)

On the 26th, I get to see Stanford's campus while Karen does a quick spin through work before we head down the coast towards Anaheim. After we talk ourselves hoarse on the drive, we'll stop somewhere within an hour or so of Disney or LA and find a not-too-expensive place to crash.

The morning of the 27th, we'll be picking up Dawn (DawnDenise) at the airport and shuttling our stuff to DLR. Then, Karen will be doing other heroic things in her car to help people get back and forth to the airport. The details are fuzzy for me...

Actually, details are fuzzy for me from here on out. When in the presence of the Queen of the Spreadsheets, I tend not to retain any planning information. I mean, really, what's the point?! I just have to follow in Karen's wake and try to keep up with her death marches, bottomless margaritas, magical moments, and general hilarity.

I do know that I get to spend lots o' time with my buddy, the Queen of the FastPass herself, Sharon (PrincessSharon) since we strong-armed her into being our roomie at the Grand Californian! I'm hoping for some awesome trips on the DLR TOT and for her to push me onto California Screamin' --

Of the ladies (and one gent) who are attending this large West Coast PP meet, I have been blessed to have met many of them:

Karen (obviously -- we've been on a zillion vacations in the past 20 months)
Sharon (who I met for the first time this past December)
Dawn (who I met at Mousefest 2005)
Terri (DrDolphin - who I met at Mousefest 2005 and have also had lunch with on a trip of hers to Phila)
Crystal (Crystalloubear - who I met at Terri's lunch and again a few weeks ago at the Easton PP meet. Plus I got to meet her hubby and I'm looking forward to the sight of him in a dress as he does his bagman duties for us ladies!)
Sarah & her adorable daughter (DopeyGirl - who I met at Mousefest 2005)
Robin (RobinKay6573 - who I met at Mousefest 2005 -- let's hope that B'rer Bear doesn't startle her this trip!)

All other attendees are "friends I haven't met yet"... and I'm really looking forward to it.

I know we're doing the Walk In Walt's Footsteps tour and I'm really excited for that. I did a little arts & crafts and designed a t-shirt for all of us to wear (except Karen, who's not into matchy matchy... and flat-out refuses -- j/k! But don't expect her to wear a tour shirt. We'll just point and laugh at her... point and laugh!)



and the back:


I hope our tour guide survives us all -- or can get a word in edge-wise!

I purchased my DLR tickets the other day with the "Everyone Plays for the Kids Price" offer. It's only a 5-day ticket, but I'm hoping I can add on a day, since I'd like to be in a park Tuesday through Sunday... but... perhaps my bar bill will preclude such extravagance...

Also, we are still hoping for a last minute AP room rate (Karen's an AP holder), but it's not looking good so far. If it doesn't work out, we'll try for the Disney Visa offer, which will give me back $150 that I can apply to my expenses and, hopefully, appease my pinchpenny DH.

We are set to drive back on Sunday the 4th and I have a flight out Monday at 1PM. Karen will drop me at the airport on her way to work and I'll while away the time at SFO before my lap-of-luxury return flight.

So, that's it for me for the moment, but I'm sure I'll think of other things to add over the next day or so. (My pre-Disney insomnia is due to rear its ugly head soon, so I'm sure I'll be doing a middle-of-the-night posting any day now.)

Eileen

[TroianRae]

Can't wait to read ALL about it!!!!!

[crystalloubear]

Can't wait to see you again!

[NanaTink]

I can't wait to read all of the stellar trip reports from this group!
Have a wonderful time!!!!

[WDWfan]

Eileen - I don't know about this. You know what happens when the "streams cross". Acutally, I'm glad that you started. I love these dueling TRs! I had so much fun reading the ones from last fall's group at WDW.

I'm so glad you're feeling better and won't need that "steel fastpass". Although I would have like to have seen Karen try to keep up with you on one. Have a wonderful trip! We'll be waiting for all of the juicy details when you get back.

[Caldercup]

Originally Posted by WDWfan

I'm so glad you're feeling better and won't need that "steel fastpass". Although I would have like to have seen Karen try to keep up with you on one.

I'm tempted by the same mental image!! But that girl is TALL and her stride is super duper long. I bet she could outpace a "steel fastpass" without breaking a sweat -- and, knowing her, she checked it out at DLR a couple of weekends ago and is confident that she can still stay three steps ahead of an ECV!

Eileen

[Colexis Mom]

I hope you guys have a great trip Eileen I can't wait to hear all about it

[zacksmom_1993]

Originally Posted by Caldercup

I'm tempted by the same mental image!! But that girl is TALL and her stride is super duper long. I bet she could outpace a "steel fastpass" without breaking a sweat -- and, knowing her, she checked it out at DLR a couple of weekends ago and is confident that she can still stay three steps ahead of an ECV!

Eileen

Have you not seen the Seinfeld slow speed chase? I could totally take that thing! I was thinking of trying to rig one (for all you Nascar fans, remove the restrictor plates) to use as a pace car / wake spreader. But, oh well! Can't wait to see you Eileen!

PS. How do you know you watch too much Sportscenter? When you've never seen a Nascar race in your life, but you still use the phrase "remove the restrictor plates" in conversation.

[DawnDenise]

Can't wait to see you again Eileen! I so need to get started on my trip report. Bad Dawn!

I'm hoping I can add on a day, since I'd like to be in a park Tuesday through Sunday... but... perhaps my bar bill will preclude such extravagance...

Ain't it the truth??

[goofysdtr]

Sounds like tons of fun! Can't wait to hear all about it!

[simbarel]

"Steel fastpass." That's what my brother called it when they took my sil's mother, he LOVED it.

Tastycakes must be some mid-Atlantic thing, Gnome Joan is always recommending them to me as the optimum in pregnancy nutrition, but here we're just stuck with Hostess and Ring Dings and Little Debbies. That's so nice and heroic of you and Karen to be picking everyone up and driving them all around, I'm sure people appreciate that. Your shirt images are gorgeous, and I too getting creative with credit cards and FF points for free flights and upgrades. But for the most part---make sure you take it easy, young lady! And have funnnnn!

[simbarel]

Oh! And I missed my nephew's 11th birthday last October and you're soooooo lucky to have such an understanding son. My brother and sil made me feel thisbig (<--tiny, insignificant piece of mouse turd) for missing his birthday, it pretty much ruined my planning experience. Some people! Turns out, my nephew totally survived. Lego them up and they're always fine.

[ilovedisney0_0]

Sounds like a fabulous time, and flying first class no less!

[Caldercup]

Originally Posted by simbarel

Tastycakes must be some mid-Atlantic thing, Gnome Joan is always recommending them to me as the optimum in pregnancy nutrition

I don't know how anyone can survive without Tastykakes. Hostess can't hold a candle to their fresh, deliciousness!! Yummmm... krimpets.

I'll have pack them deep in my suitcase. Otherwise, if my DSis gets a whiff of them, they'll be gone before you can say "don't touch them!"

Eileen