Scarlett & The Fam Damily Take On The World! TRIP REPORT: Final Thoughts and COMPLETE!!! Updated 11/19 About This Page:

[Disney_Scarlett]

Scarlett and The Fam Damily Take On The World!


Dates: Saturday, September 16, 2006 – Saturday, September 23, 2006


Cast:

Scarlett, 23: a.k.a., me, a.k.a. “Cooey” to my nieces [no, I do not know how that one got started…it sounds so similar to Scarlett, yes? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]]. recent college grad (Go Tarheels! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/thewave.gif[/img]), Disney fanatic, 9th trip to the World

Gwen, “50-something” (something = 7 [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] yes, you’re welcome, Mama): a.k.a. Mama, a.k.a. Nanoo to the grandbabies. My mother (and Krista’s) and the original Disney nut of the family. 11th trip to the World

Krista, 35: a.k.a. Sista Krista and “Mama” to her two girls. One of my 3 older sisters [and because of our age difference, a second-Mama to me…because doesn’t everyone want one of those? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]], Krista is trying diligently to surpass me in her Disney-ness and is probably succeeding, but I won’t ever admit it (if I DID admit, I’d credit her edge to the fact she has kids and therefore has an added invested interest…but I mean, I’m not. Admitting it, that is [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] ). I believe this is something like her 11th trip to the World.

Jeff, 38: a.k.a. uh, Jeff (no cutesy nicknames for this manly man) and “Daddy” to his two girls (okay, so that’s cute [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] ). Krista’s better half and a very cooperative Disney Dad (“I’m along for the ride, schnookims!”). His military background appeals to me, his park commando sister-in-law, greatly. This is Jeff’s 9th trip the world with Krista – if he took any trips pre-Krista, I don’t know about them and don’t care to, because I’m sure they were not properly done. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Mackenzie, 7: a.k.a. Kenz: Krista and Jeff’s oldest daughter and my oldest darlin’ niece. Mackenzie is on her 8th WDW trip (out of 7 years on this planet, not too shabby) and is a princess in every definition of the word. One of the sweetest and most cooperative children you’ll ever meet, she’s a fabulous kid to park tour with! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img]

Maeve, 5: a.k.a. “Moo”: Krista and Jeff’s youngest daughter and my youngest darlin’ niece. This will be Maeve's 6th trip to the world. Maeve comes in a very small package (due to some gastrointestinal problems she had as a baby but is fully recovered from now). She is one of the tee-tiniest 5 year olds you’ll ever see but don’t judge a book by its cover and all that. Maeve has opinions and you will hear them! Sometimes deceptively shy around strangers, Maeve is full of fun, sass and mischief! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]



Hi everyone! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] My name is Scarlett - I’m 23 years old, a recent college grad (Whoooo UNC! Go Tarheels!) and I’m going to Walt Disney World!!! I’m sure I don’t have to tell you all this…but I’m super excited!!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] Since most of you don’t know anything about me (I’m new around these parts [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] ), this trip report will also serve as an introduction to myself and my family as well…especially the pre-trip part. Therefore, it’s very long (I know this before I even start writing) so please excuse. I talk a lot in general anyway, so I’m sure it will continue to be very long. Just a warning in case you want to put down your drink…not a la Eileen and Karen, “I’m gonna laugh so hard I may ruin the keyboard when I snort Diet Coke out my nose” style, but Scarlett style, i.e., “I’m very sleepy and bored and I better move this drink before my nodding-off head knocks it over onto the keyboard.” [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/snore.gif[/img] See the difference?

This trip has been in the works for a relatively short time, at least in comparison to how long we usually plan for (approximately a year). It usually takes a big fat year for us to plan a trip. For starters, I have a big family. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] The cast of this current trip is only a fragment of the chaos that is my entire family. My mom (Gwen a.k.a. Mama) is an only child and apparently wanted to make up for that by helping to spawn one of the biggest and most complicated families ever. I’m the youngest of her four girls (Donna, Krista, Mary Clayton, and me), and having lost my daddy as a little girl, she (and we) later married into another great and crazy family. As a result, I also have a step-sister and step-brother (Beverly and Todd, both older than me) and a wonderful step-dad (Mike, a.k.a. Dad), who is the youngest of three siblings. HIS dad (my step-grandpa) is the oldest of thirteen. THIRTEEN kids. Way to quadruple our family size in one happy day, Mama.

Of course, our family began to grow even larger when the kids started to marry (sometimes, ahem, multiple times…) and have kids - now I have several brother-in-laws (and a few ex-in-laws, fiancés, and boyfriends thrown in there too - we have more than a couple of worn out jokes about that in our family: for example, in this family, you have to stick around for a minimum of 5 years before we’ll bother to remember your name…our turnover rate is faster than Fastpass…etc. Hey, if you can’t laugh about it, then uh, get out of the kitchen, or whatever that saying is…and also, probably stay away from my family in general, because we laugh about everything, at least half of which is inappropriate. Which may bring us back to our whole population-of-ex’s-that-unfortunately-do-not-live-in-Texas problem, but I digress). Anyway, I also have two nephews (Ryan and Joseph), two nieces (Mackenzie and Maeve), and a step nephew and niece (Bryce and Jordan). So much for being the youngest. Hey, but I’m still my Mama’s baby (and the only single one too, over the age of 10…I have to say 10 because even Ryan, age 11, has a girlfriend…gah)!

Anyway, TMI, I’m sure. My point is, if my family is so complicated that I take up 2 pages to list names, imagine how it is when trying to plan a vacation. We’ve always dreamed about taking a vacation when everyone could go (a group that we have named “Mama ‘n ‘em” because with everyone getting married and remarried, we only have about 67 different last names between us…Mama ‘n ‘em works much better than the Liles-Weaver-Holt-Thorpe-Reyes-Overman-Miller-Pilkey-Paschal party…no, I’m not joking and that’s just the immediate family). A great big Mama ‘n ‘em trip would be a Magical Gathering at it’s best, and probably, worst. We know from planning our frequent family get-togethers that that means about…uh, a lot of people. Well, let’s minus my grandparental figures (no way we’ll convince them to go hang out in the Florida heat, especially in a theme park…what, when Judge Judy is on TV?). So we’re down to…uh, still a lot. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/ukid.gif[/img]

That’s (uh) a lot of people’s schedules, finances, preferences and, in general, lives to deal with. We take a big Mama ‘n Em week-long beach trip every year, but that’s easier to plan, because of our close proximity to the beach (2.5 hours) that allows people to drift in and out during the week as their schedules allow. While we realistically know that we will probably never be able to get together a WDW trip where EVERYONE could go, we’re still trying to give that a whirl…it’s always in the back of our minds.

However, to pass the time until that day comes…what else is there to do besides plan OTHER trips to Disney?!?! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] Whenever and with whomever we can drag. Basically each trip starts out as an open invitation and therefore, the possibility of a Mama ‘n ‘Em trip and ends with a select few that are able to travel. So there have been many fragmented-family/friends trips taken. And even though those aren’t Big Fat Gatherings of the Mama ‘n ‘Em Persuasion (I typed Big Fat Mama ‘n ‘Em Gatherings first but then saw the problem with that: it implies my Mama is big ‘n fat so let’s stay AWAY from that one [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/ukid.gif[/img] )...we usually still require a year or so to plan. Let’s try and not plan a trip over the birthday of some family member who, for whatever reason, cannot accompany us to Disney…that’s just asking for trouble (“Hi, I won’t be around for your birthday…I’m going to Disney World instead…yes, without you…hello? Hello?”). And really, who these days doesn’t have a busy and hectic schedule?

Krista, Jeff and the girls have been many times over the last few years (and each time that I’m unable to go with, I get more and more jealous). Jeff is retired from the Army, and now works for the US Department of Defense as a civilian and is also the captain of an Army Reserve unit. Therefore, he has been overseas a lot during the kids’ lives. Each time he returns after an extended period of time, they usually take a nice long Disney trip to celebrate, with Jeff’s parents sometimes joining them. They like to travel in the off-season, due to prices, crowds and temperatures and the girls are young enough that they don’t mind pulling them out of school. Who can blame them? Uh, ME. Until recently, I’ve been a full-time college student, a.k.a. a person who cannot travel unless it’s during the summer or over Christmas/Spring break. Krista and Jeff went in June a couple of years ago so that myself and Mary Clayton could tag along (sister who is a music teacher and also cannot vacation during the fall/spring), but that’s the last time I’ve done Disney with them…and I’m overdue for a trip with my darlin’ nieces, and oh yeah, Krista and Jeff too, I guess. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]


Last fall, we tentatively planned a trip for this summer, after my graduation…early June. Most everyone had signed onto go! Of course, conflicts arose. Jeff had drill in June. Krista’s out for June. How about July? Mary Clayton, my next oldest sister, signed on to teach at the summer migrant kids program at her school for all of July (it pays really well, and you know, she gets to help kids ‘n stuff too). Mary Clayton is definitely at least tied with Krista and myself when it comes to her Disney-ness. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] Her first year teaching music, it was all Disney music, all year long (still don’t know how she pulled that one off). Her house, her room at school, her car, her life is Disneyfied. So…to take a trip without her or Krista would probably not be a good idea. We’ll wait until maybe Christmas break and try to go when they can go, too.

As I’m sure you can tell by now, we’ve got a pretty close-knit fam. And while most of us have moved out of Siler City [our teeny hometown where my family has lived for, oh I don’t know, 200 years, literally] at some point or another - whether for college or work or whatnot - we pretty much have stayed in this area. Siler City doesn’t have a lot of career opportunities, but it’s in the center of the state, so you’re talking a 25-45 minute commute to most of NC’s “big cities,” which is what most of us do. Even when I moved to Chapel Hill for college, it’s only 35 minutes from my hometown…close enough to scoot home for a night but far enough to be out from under my Mama’s watchful eye…know what I mean?

So when Krista and Jeff announced they’d be moving to Illinois in July, we were pretty devastated [When I heard the news, it was almost comical though…I was standing out side of the Dean E Smith Center, a.k.a. the Dean Dome, getting ready to walk in and watch Roy’s Boys show the NC State Wolfpack how to play basketball….my mom calls and is bawling too hard to tell me what’s wrong…I’m thinking someone’s died. Finally, she tells me Krista is moving, to which I responded with relief, oh that’s all? Then it hit me…Krista’s moving. Bummer [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] ]. Jeff was being offered a big promotion in Illinois. The move was only temporary – probably about 2 to 3 years – before he’d be able to transfer back down to NC at much higher position in his career. But still. I’ve been an integral part of the girls’ lives as their favorite aunt (or so I told myself) for their whole lives…this was not fun. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/pout.gif[/img] I gave Krista props for being a supportive wife, but I knew she was very upset as well. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zcry.gif[/img]

Okay here comes the part of the story where I stop the useless background info and start the stuff that’s relevant to THIS trip...

[My mom would like to interject here, “Scarlett, no one needs all this information. All you had to say was, “I have a big family. One of my sisters moved. We’re meeting up with her in Disney World. I’m happy.” True. But where’s the fun in that? This woman acts as if she has not known me for 23 years. Anyway, I hope all that will save some future explanation, for both this report and hopefully many more [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]]

[Disney_Scarlett]

Enter some pixies [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] …no, there wasn’t anything we could do to prevent them from moving up north. In fact, Jeff moved in March to start work and Krista postponed her and the girls’ move until late June, so they could finish school and have their dance recitals, etc. But, in late May, the best thing that could happen happened. Krista announced that her and Jeff and the girls had decided to go to Disney World in September on the FREE DINING plan. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] And I announced I was going with. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] I had graduated; no more restrictive school schedule. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/thewave.gif[/img] Krista decided that free dining was a good enough reason to pull the girls out of school for a week (in her defense, Mackenzie is in 2nd grade and reads at a 5th grade level…or higher. We’re not really worried about her falling behind. And Maeve is in kindergarten, so to quote Krista, true, she may miss a week of coloring, but hopefully she’ll recover [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] kidding out there to all you fantastic kindergarten teachers!). Also, with Krista moving, Mary Clayton couldn’t get too upset that I was taking advantage of this opportunity when she was stuck at work teaching…it was FREE DINING and I wanted to spend time with my newly-turned-Yankee sister and family! What better place to do this other than in DISNEY? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/thewave.gif[/img]

Of course, Krista was delighted that I had invited myself along (that’s her story and she’s sticking to it). We…yes, now this was a “we” trip…now really wanted others to go too. Most could not due to work, but Mama and Dad were available. Mama was all for it…Disney and getting to see her long lost (okay, 2-long-months lost) daughter? Yes, please! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Dad was a little hesitant. He’s a great Disney Dad. He gets REALLY into the Disney spirit when he’s in the parks…skipping around, wearing mouse ears, talking in Goofy or Donald voices, and purchasing toys meant for kids (like those light up spinner things) and enjoying them way more than most kids ever do [and he’s a manly man if there ever was one, so it’s a hoot]. However, he’s on the path to semi-retirement and is starting a new job himself, and didn’t feel so comfortable taking off for a week immediately. He sort of pooh-ed around with his decision, and we had to make a booking, so we finally booked a trip that included him. He could cancel later, as long as it was 45 days out, since we had a package.

Ah, yes, the package. I called and gleefully (probably way over the top gleefully) booked the Magic Your Way Plus Dining Package for 7 nights. And all that dining? Free! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] Krista and Jeff had already booked a room at Pop Century, so I was right behind them booking a room and requesting an adjoining room to theirs. This will be something new for us – we are almost exclusively Port Orleans – Riverside dwellers…but it’ll be nice to save a little moola and I’m sure we’ll like it just fine! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]

Mama, Dad and I decided on 6 day Magic Your Way tickets with the Park Hopper option added to it. Krista and Jeff had purchased the 5 day ticket without the Park Hopper. Jeff receives 4 free Sea World passes a year through his job, so they were planning on taking advantage of that one day. They decided against the Park Hopper because they felt that the minimum of park hopping they did with the kiddies, the better. Mama and I have always had park-hoppers, and also decided that with our extra day, we would probably use the park hop right much. AND, we wanted to make sure we were able to try all the World Showcase restaurants we wanted on our Free Dining Plan….so Park Hopper it was. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Another reason why Krista and Jeff decided against the park hopper was because on our last day, they would actually get to park hop without having the hopper, because…it’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/jack.gif[/img] In September. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img] Uh, that’s okay. If I’m this excited about Halloween in August (and June and July before this) I know I will be in September. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] Anyway, that day, they can go to one park and spend the morning and then use their MNSSHP tickets to get in the Magic Kingdom late that afternoon. Score.


Up next...makin' those ADRs! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Disney_Scarlett]

Krista and I then got together and made a tentative itinerary so we could reserve all those lovely ADRs for our SEVEN FREE table service credits. We knew we wanted to spend most of our time together as a group, but also knew that Mama, Dad and I wanted to try some restaurants the girls weren’t too interested in, and Krista wanted to book several character meals. While we [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] characters, we know the food isn’t usually the main attraction there, and we wanted to make sure to get the most bang out of our non-existent-‘cause-it’s-free buck. Krista and I came up with the plan of planning to eat a counter service meal together each day and then booking several sit-down meals for the big group. After reviewing everyone’s list of “like-to-try restaurants” we decided on Coral Reef, 1900 Park Fare (breakfast) and Mama Melrose’s for the Fantasmic Dinner Package as the meals we would eat as a group. Krista got on the phone and immediately reserved those for our group. Our times are a little weird for those meals – Coral Reef and Mama Melrose’s are supposed to be for dinner, but our ADRs are at 4:20 and 4:10, respectively. I imagine our group size and the Fantasmic Dinner package accounted for part of that.

Then Krista and I went to our separate corners to make our ADRs that were “non-group.” My posse was doing Tony’s Town Square for dinner (while Krista’s gang was doing Chef Mickey’s), Kona Café for dinner (while Krista’s was doing Spoodles at the Boardwalk), Le Cellier for dinner (while Krista’s was doing O’hana), and San Angel Inn for lunch (while Krista’s was doing the Liberty Tree Tavern during MNSSHP).

Now let’s talk transportation. There wasn’t a question that Mama, Dad and I would drive. It’s about 10 hours from here, and Dad likes to leave super early (~3:00 am) and drive through the night. With breaks and stops, we get there at about 3:00 pm, check in time. In fact, it’s been years since we’ve flown. Krista and Jeff however, would have a much longer drive. They were still pretty much planning on driving though, when they got DING!ed and grabbed a really cheap rate. I got DING!ed too…for $49 each way from Raleigh-Durham (40 minutes from Siler City). Check with the parental units? Interested in flying? It’d cost us about $150 in gas to drive, and $117 (including taxes) per person to fly. Well…Dad was really starting to back out of the trip now. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] His new job (which was supposed to be a less stressful alternative to his old job…) was keeping him busy and he didn’t want to take off work. I had no interest in driving down if he wasn’t going, at least not straight through the night like a madman, which is what he does. Dad, I need to know if you’re not going before this DING! fare expires. So, the night before it expired, he finally says, no I better bow out this time. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/sorry.gif[/img]

Mama and I were disappointed, but secretly, not as disappointed as I think he thought we were. One, this meant that we would fly. THAT meant we would be much less tired when arriving in Orlando (even though I sleep the entire way, riding still makes me tired…I don’t know how to explain that one, and when I try, Dad gets mad, because he’s like, try DRIVING, and I say, no thanks)…AND we would arrive earlier! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] We’d leave Raleigh-Durham at 10:25 am and arrive refreshed and fabulous to Orlando at 12:00 noon. Even better…we get MORE TIME IN WDW! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/thewave.gif[/img] Instead of packing up and leaving Orlando by car at 10:00 am as planned, our flight doesn’t leave MCO until…7:00 pm. Allowing us all morning and part of the afternoon in WDW before Disney’s Magical Express so graciously picks us up to whisk us (as much as a Motorfleet bus can whisk) back to the airport. We’ll arrive…well, probably not refreshed and fab due to the preceding day in the parks…but at least we can’t blame a 10+ hour car ride…anyway, arrive, in some state, to RDU at 8:25 pm.

So this was a good thing. Also, we had been wondering what to do with our very needy Pekingese puppy, Quincy, while we were gone. He is really a lot to ask anyone to keep for a week (he’s very spoiled) but no one liked the idea of boarding him either. Now Dad can cater to all his needs and demands in the comfort of his (Quincy’s) own home while we made magical memories in Orlando with the peace of mind that our most important male family member (Quincy) was happy.

And, another plus (I swear we love Dad, it’s not all pluses! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] ) was that we could branch out a little more in our dining choices. Dad really likes the Kona Café and the San Angel Inn and wanted to go back to those places. Also, he really doesn’t like any food that is too exotic (anything Asian is out [he actually doesn’t know if he likes Chinese or not…he insists he doesn’t, even though he’d never tried it until we forced him to, and then, he ordered the funkiest thing on the menu and was like, "SEE, I don’t like it"…Seasame chicken man! Pepper steak. Rice. You can’t go wrong with a lot of choices, but he refuses to try again [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] ). Now Mama and I could drop Kona (we love it too, but are ready to try new things, especially when it’s FREE) and add on something that we could never drag Dad to.

So, I booked the flights ($117/person) and still got the departure/arrival times that I wanted each way, even though the DING! fare was about the expire. I also called Disney and booked Disney’s Magical Express (FREE!), and changed our package reservation to 2 people instead of 3, and added another day onto our tickets, making it a 7-day Park Hopping Magic Your Way ticket. Guess how much it cost for me to add on that 7th day? (Y’all probably already know, but humor me)…$1.50 each. That’s not a typo, one dollar and fifty cents. That’s SO TOTALLY WORTH the fact that we can enjoy another half day in the parks before flying out! For some reason, before I called, I had calculated it costing $3.00 per person, which naturally, Mama and I said “SWEET” to that (okay, I said that, she said something like, “wonderful”). When I discovered it was half that amount, a whopping $1.50, I told my mother in a pretend-dejected voice, “It wasn’t $3.00 to add the extra day.” [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/pout.gif[/img] She said, “Well how much is it?” I sighed loudly, and said, “ONE DOLLAR AND FIFTY CENTS!” [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] She laughed and said, “I think I can scrape that together.” [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]


Up next: Making a few changes...and remember, change is hard sometimes...[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/dizzy.gif[/img]

[mattnkatsmum]

Wow. What a great start [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I can't wait to hear all about your trip.

[Eeyoresmom]

Great start, Scarlett!

[iamgrumpy]

Great start I can't wait to hear all about this trip!

[disneydani]

Sounds like you and your family are a blast and are sure to have a great trip! Looking forward to more... [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[WDWfan]

Scarlett - Great start! I can't wait to read more. I'm really enjoying hearing about your family. It sounds like You're all a fun group. Keep the TR comin'!

[Nala]

Great start! It's nice to know I am not the only person who likes to get the most bang for their "non buck" on the free dining plan!

Can't wait for more.

[zacksmom_1993]

Oh Scarlett, welcome to the snark loving family! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grouphug.gif[/img] I haven't laughed this hard since I read the Television without Pity recap of the ANTM episode where they modeled on the elephants. You know, the one where Jade said that she loved elephants because they were members of the dinosaur family? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img] Anyway, I'm willing to excuse the fact that you're a Tarheals fan (I can't forgive anyone who's ever eliminated Stanford in the N-C-Two-A's,) because you are gosh darn hillarious! High-Lar-I-Ous as I like to say! Can't wait for more!

[DawnDenise]

FANTASTIC start Scarlett!!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] You have some spectacular plans!! Looking forward to more!!

[DrDolphin]

Way funny start!!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] your sense of humor!!! Hurry back with more [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]

[luvnwdwgal]

Great start Scarlett! I feel like I know your whole family! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] We'll be down there the same time! Looking forward to more!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Disney_Scarlett]

Thanks for all the nice comments! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/thanx.gif[/img] I'm glad y'all are enjoying hearing about my "fam damily"...I enjoy being in it (most of the time). [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]


Nala: I'm glad you understand about the "non buck"...I was feeling a little kooky, as you'll soon see...


Karen: I [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] TwoP!!! And ANTM. Don't even get me started...my friends call me Snarky McSnarkenson. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]


More coming up shortly!

[Disney_Scarlett]

Now came the time to change the ADRs from 3 persons to 2, and also replace Kona with something else...I had a bit of a time with this. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img] For one, the first ADR I asked to alter was our 6:30 pm Tony’s Town Square. I was told, however, that by dropping it down to 2 people, I would lose my ADR all together – they didn’t have any 2-person ADR’s left, and I couldn’t keep my 3-person because that table was only meant to seat 3-to-4 people. But…couldn’t Mama and I just sit at that table? No big deal to me, I sit at 4-person tables in other restaurants all the time when there are just 2 people dining. No, said the CM (who was missing her Disney Magic that morning) – we can’t allow you to do that. Hmmm. I paused, and said, well never mind then, I will not change the ADR, leave it as it is. Then I preceded to alter the rest of our ADRs and didn’t have any problems changing those to 2 people. I got the distinct feeling that the CM wanted to chastise me – “Don’t even try to check in for that 3 person ADR at Tony’s with just two people, missy!” [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/shameonyou.gif[/img] – but said nothing…I secretly wanted her to say something, so I could sing-song back, “Yoooou caaaan’t proooove it…” [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

I hung up and pondered this – I really didn’t want to miss out on Tony’s…mainly because when we were picking our restaurants, that was my choice (Lady & The Tramp is my favorite!). I called back and made an ADR for Tony’s that same day for lunch instead. That would mean we would miss having a Counter Service meal with Krista that day (they were doing Chef Mickey’s that evening). But I still didn’t cancel our 3-person Tony’s. I am thinking that we might get there and decide that eating with Krista and Company for lunch on our first full park day is more important that eating at Tony’s and decide to eat Counter Service for lunch with them instead (or depending on Maeve's 'tude that day, we may be literally running for Tony's [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] ). If it's the former, then we’ll go and try to use our 3 person ADR that evening at Tony’s. If they are going to be a real hard-hiney about "no less than 3 people at this table", I made a back-up ADR at The Plaza for ten minutes later, just so we wouldn’t miss out on our TS meal that day.

Okay, so ONE, if you’re confused, you’re following along beautifully because so am I. TWO, go ahead and throw the tomatoes now – I know I have 3 ADR’s (one lunch and 2 dinner) that day and am only planning on using one of them. HOWEVER, I will be calling and canceling the ones I don’t use AS SOON AS I realize I which I won’t be using. Pinky swear. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] This may be as early as a few days before or as late as a few minutes before, but hopefully someone, even if it’s an unsuspecting walk-up, will get our tables.

I was able to reduce our person-number for all the other ADR’s with no problem. I did try and reschedule Le Cellier all together. I was thinking that the night I had it planned on, we may be pooped from Animal Kingdom all day and not feel like trekking over to World Showcase for dinner at 8:00 pm. But of course, you all know the words to this song – "no times available" – not even for lunch on our last day [Krista had made a change herself – instead of doing the MNSSHP Liberty Tree Tavern meal Friday evening, she dropped that and made a lunchtime ADR for Le Cellier that afternoon. I think this was partly Jeff’s influence in wanting a non-character pro-steak type of meal, and Krista said she didn’t want the girls to feel rushed that evening – her ADR had been for 7:10, right when the party starts and if the girls were enjoying themselves at that moment, she didn’t want to have to rush them off to any sort of “appointment,” even one in the character meal category. They have three other character meals planned that week – I think they will survive! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]] Anyway, I even tried to add Mama and me to their lunchtime Le Cellier ADR, but no luck. I was expecting this, however, and decided that we’d stick with what it seems we were lucky to have in the first place – our 8:00 Wednesday evening ADR at Le Cellier.

I did drop Kona Café, as promised, and added Le Chefs de France (no way Dad would’ve gone for French, even Disneyfied French! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] ). Mama really enjoys French food, so I think she will like this. The only table service restaurant we’ll be eating at that we have tried before is San Angel Inn (and that’s always our fav) – so I’m really excited about trying all these new places! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/thewave.gif[/img]

I don’t know about y’all, but I found arranging the ADR’s as the most challenging part of my planning. When you’re trying to be flexible while at the same time make at least one concrete reservation, it gets a little crazy! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/dizzy.gif[/img] I don’t think we’ve ever taken a trip where we had a table service meal everysingleday, and it was hard trying to come up with an itinerary that both Krista and I agreed on in order to make dinner plans. Also, we didn’t even book this trip until after the 180 day mark – which meant we had to act quickly to get certain ADRs - pretty much before I had a chance to even glance at park hours, show times and TGM advice on least-crowded days for which parks. It all worked out in the end, and of course, I’m a planner, so it’s fun, but I felt like I was spending A LOT of time thinking about food and how to maximize our dining credits …and I’ve definitely made plenty of calls to Disney Dining! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/phone.gif[/img]

I even felt some (self-imposed) pressure from the Free Dining Plan. I kept taking deep breaths and telling myself “it’s free…if I don’t use a credit, it’s okay, because you didn’t pay for it.” But then the devil on my shoulder was saying, “it’s free…if you don’t use your credits properly, you’ll end up paying for something out of pocket…the point of free dining was to get. Food. For. FREE. WASN'T IT? Make it happen!” I’m really not that “tight" with my money (as we say down here), but when someone offers up free stuff, I can’t wait to figure out how to get the most for my non-buck. Must be my former poor college student role rearing its ugly head...I may have been known at one point to change shirts and wear a hat in order to go through the "free pizza" lines on campus more than once without being recognized (you know, when some campus service/club is giving out free food when you sign up for Career Services or College Republicans/Young Democrats or Campus Crusade or University Feminists...they all have one thing in common: free food. And at some point or another I'm sure I hit all of them up for it. Gimme gimme.) Ahem. Anyway. Past life. Move on.

Oh, and right after we made the decision to go, I found my first post-graduation big-girl job, so that definitely helps out with the whole “paying for this” deal. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Now we had all the time sensitive issues taken care of. Our package was booked and paid for, and our ADRs were made (By the way, for my ticket and part of our hotel room [I graciously offered to pay for half of the room now that I’m gainfully employed] it cost me $538. Not too darn shabby! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] ). The next thing I did was call and ordered MNSSHP tickets for Mama and me. After tax and such, these were about $40 a piece and worth every penny, I’m sure! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]


Up next...even MORE planning, if that's possible...and also a really cool Surprise! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]