The Food Coma Tour 2007 Trip Report UPDATED 3/20 About This Page:

[disneyquilter]

The Food Coma Tour 2007 Pre-trip Report

I thought with 33 days left until our trip, it would be a great time to start our Pre-Trip Report. So here we go...off to Neverland...or should I say, Walt Disney World...

<font color="red"><u>Cast of Characters</font></u>
<font color="blue">[b]Me (Christine, disneyquilter) age 30--2nd trip to WDW and total Disney addict &amp; obsessive WDW planner

Kevin (DH) age 30--2nd trip to WDW and he is Disney addict #2

Cynthia (DD #1) age 9--2nd trip to WDW and total Disney addict #3, not to mention is a total fan of Uncle Walt

Kimmy (DD #2) age 7--2nd trip to WDW and huge Disney addict #4

MIL, Mom, &amp; Grandma age forty-something--1st trip to WDW, Disney addict #5.

FIL, Dad &amp; “Papa” age 50--1st trip to WDW, needed a lot of convincing to go but the closer the trip gets, he gets more excited [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] I am hoping he will change his mind on how much he likes Disney once he gets there.

<font color="red"><u>The Rocky Road to the Happiest Place on Earth…</font></u>

This trip originated from the moment of our return from our first trip to Walt Disney World in August of 2005. I was sitting on the plane, dreaming of the next 2 years. I was sad because it was over, but like a kid looking forward to Christmas, I was excited over what the next 2 years would bring in my obsessive planning adventures.

Little did I know it would be sooner then later that we would return 18 short months later to my happy place.

Christmastime 2005…ok, for the past 4 months DH, myself and the girls couldn’t stop talking about that first Walt Disney World trip. Every time we would see my in-laws we would speak excitedly about where we went to eat, what we saw, how we couldn’t wait to return in 2 years. My MIL had enough, she said, next time you guys go maybe Franz &amp; I will go with you. I said that was a great idea!! I was so jazzed, my kids were jazzed…DH said, I better not hear you say “Why did I think this was a good idea!” (he was mock-groaning as he was dramatically portraying me).

<font color="red">Six Months Later…</font>

“Why did I think this was a good idea!?!” I groaned 6 months later. DH looked at me and said, “Yep, I told you so”…I knew he was laughing on the inside.

Now, I want to put it out there right now that I love my in-laws. I really do. I ADORE them. They are so great and I love them dearly, but sometimes they can aggravate me. This was one of those times. We had spoken and planned and waited for the new rates to come out, etc., etc., etc. I was getting ready to book the trip. It was June. I had already put down my $200 for our trip and I was so jazzed that my MIL was going to put her $200 down…then I got the call.

I could tell my MIL was upset by the tone in her voice. She quickly explained they would have to wait until my FIL got a new job since the one he had been at for years upon years was probably going to lay him off in the next 2 quarters. I start to panic a little. My MIL had been especially looking forward to this trip for 6 months and NOW my FIL was going to drop the bomb that they couldn’t go? I mean, it wasn’t his fault but REALLY. Talk about horrible timing. A few weeks of encouragement and a new job later, she had FINALLY put their money down. The “are you, or aren’t you going?” conversation finally succumbed to “Yes, we are going”. YIPEE!!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] I was doing the Tigger dance around my living room when I found out. Thank goodness that hurdle was over! PHEW!!

Needless to say, it has been a little uneventful since then (thank goodness), until now…

Up Next: 2 Pertinent People FLAKE OUT!!!

[Colexis Mom]

Great start Christine [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] I hope there's not more trouble ahead [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img]

[momtolexi]

Hmmmm....don't like the sounds of the next post! I hope it improves soon.

[WDWJAMBA]

Great start, Christine![img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] Here's hoping FLAKING OUT has to do with a snowstorm and not missing out on your trip! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[disneydani]

What would a TR be without a few hurdles to overcome?!?
Sounds like you are off to a good start....

[DrDolphin]

Great start - hurry back with more!!

[rebecca c.]

Don't leave us hanging..... Hurry back with more! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zread.gif[/img]

[bsblady01]

I hope that you na dyour family have a greta time at the world.

[PrincessSharon]

Great start! Looking forward to more.

[disneyquilter]

<u>[b]<font color="red">2 Pertinent People FLAKE OUT!!!</u></font>

<font color="blue">Like I said, the past few months have been unusually uneventful. So I have filled any free time I might have had with WDW “stuff”.

What “stuff” you may ask…I have planned, planned, and planned some more. To make the time between even bearable I have subscribed to the DISboards, the PassPorter forum, and TourGuideMike.com. I have read numerous trip reports, my PassPorter 2007 (cover-to-cover), and any blog pertinent to WDW in general. I am an avid reader of AllEarsNet.com, my PassPorter weekly newsletters, and I have thoroughly perused Eileen’s (Cauldercup) Mouse House web site (Thanks Eileen!!) PHEW!!

Am I obsessive? Probably. I have made my ADR list into an Excel Spreadsheet, I have detailed outlines as to what we want to accomplish while we are there. I have made endless notes from my fellow PassPorters previous trips…what to do, what to avoid, where to definitely eat and where to get a good stake out for the Jammin’ Jungle parade at 4PM at Animal Kingdom.

I am trying to give everyone an idea of what I am as a WDW trip planner. I have not ruled out one single thing…from who my animals will stay with to my ADR’s, I have not left one stone unturned.

…and then I get FLAKE OUT #1!!!

Some background first: A friend of ours has been separated from her DH for 6 years. They are not divorced, just separated. In a nutshell, they got back together 3 months ago.

I am telling you all this because she was my house/pet sitter for our trip and 2 weeks ago she dropped the bomb and said she couldn’t do it because she was watching HIS dogs while he was out of town on business. Now, I am not trying to sound selfish or anything, but when I commit to house/pet sitting for someone I do it, no matter what might come up. I mean I love my friend and I love her DH and I am so glad they worked things out after SIX years of being seperated BUT what's a girl to do now?? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/help.gif[/img]

YIKES!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] I am up a creek without a paddle now. I have 2 dogs and 2 cats. The cats I am not too concerned about. They are pretty self-sufficient and take care of themselves. If they have food and water and an occassional pet on the head, they're fine.

But the dogs…OH! NO! I have a 14-month-old German Shepherd puppy that loves to chew on quilts &amp; comforters and is the biggest baby when you put him in cold weather (he is such a Southern CA dog). So I have made a couple phone calls, and (please shed some pixie dust my way), my uncle who is in Holland right now spending time with family for New Years’ will (hopefully—if he says yes) be the one to do the job. Again, please keep [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/luck.gif[/img] pixies coming our way because if he can’t do it, I have to board my dogs (which they BOTH came from the pound and I really want to dodge that bullet if I could) and they would be miserable.

FLAKE OUT #2

…came about when I was speaking with my mother 3 weeks ago. Our flight is leaving Ontario at 6AM on Wednesday January 31, 2007. My mother informed me she was not aware that it was in the middle of the week (we leave on a Wednesday), and that she can’t take us to the airport. DOH! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/foreheadslap.gif[/img] First no pet/house sitter, now no ride to the airport.

The 2nd flake-out is not so bad, considering I can get a shuttle to take us. We just didn’t think we would have to dish out more money for a one-way ride. Oh well, what do you do, right? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

So, I have booked a stretch limo to take us to the airport that morning. DH &amp; I thought the kids would love it! And it would be a great surprise to their sleepy eyes so early in the morning (they are picking us up at 3:30AM).

Now that I am reflecting, I guess these 2 flake-outs weren’t so bad. Just a few bumps in the road. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] </font>


<u><font color="red">Up Next: How Much Are We Eating On This Trip?!! </u></font> [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

[DrDolphin]

Great update - sorry about the Flake out - hope the puppy situation works out.

[mom to 3 princesses and 1 prince]

We are traveling with my in-laws next month. We had a bit of trouble getting my FIL to commit to a date, but the planning has gone well since. My MIL even told me last night how impressed she is with my planning and organization! Little does she know how fun it is!

Enjoy your trip. Looking forward to reading about it!

[mattnkatsmum]

Can't wait to read more - our trips will overlap by a day or so. Hope you sort the puppy situation out.

[ariel14]

Hope the puppy situation works out! More pls!

[WDWJAMBA]

I understand completely about not wanting to board your pet if at all possible. Our dog would always stress out when he had to go.
What a great idea getting the stretch limo! It turns the sticky prospect of getting to the airport into part of the magic! Great idea! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Hope you have a wonderful trip!