The Mighty Morphing Birthday Trip - Thread 1 - COMPLETE (last update 7/30) About This Page:

[mestitch]

Well, I did my deed and finished my outstanding TR's. I mean, I live by the "Let sleeping dogs lie" philosophy, but DH apparently whistles a different tune....one that goes something like "Finish what you started".

SO, now that I can put a checkmark next to that task on my list I can begin my next task.... the pre-trip report for our upcoming trip. Maybe I'll have the whole thing finished, trip parts included, before next summer

Okay, let's begin. In case you don't know who we are I'll introduce us.

WHO WE ARE:
Melissa - Turning 27 when we go on the trip, 6th trip to WDW.

Hi, that's me

I've been a first grade teacher for five years, but starting in August I will be the "technology specialist". I am working on my masters in Library Science with school media certification so this job is a great opportunity for me as I will be teaching in the computer lab part of the day and then spending the rest of my day in the library learning the ropes. I am very excited, and my schedule is going to be so much better for me!

I am a self proclaimed nerd about a lot of things, most especially Disney and Stitch Check out our guest bedroom...


Those are all my Stitch's I've collected over the years. I'm sure it doesn't compare to some Pooh loving and Eeyore loving gals on here, but I'm working on it.

Next we have:
The "DH" Andy - 26 years old, 6th trip with me, 2 as a child

Hey, there's Andy! I made him write up a little something about himself....
He should be posting it shortly

And no, that's not our dog. We're not dog people, we're cat people....

That's Chewy. He's my big baby, and the oldest. I've had him since he was a baby back in 2002. He's very lazy now, that's him yawning by the way, not getting ready to attack. He makes many funny faces and poses like this....He was named by Andy after Chewbacca, however I think we gave him a complex b/c he chews on EVERYTHING!


That little one there is Boo. She's the youngest and the newest. Her name fits her to a Tee, but we didn't name her that for that reason. Andy named her Boo b/c he loves Monster's Inc.


And that's Mittens. She's the middle child, and her attitude is just that. She whines to get outside when we're out there....she had her chance, she bolted through the neighbor's fence, while they were outside, and Andy had to go chasing after her. She lost her privileges after that.

So that's the WHO (just the humans, not the cats), now on to the
WHERE: We'll be staying at POFQ for our first night and then switching to the Wilderness Lodge for the first time. They'll be more to the WHERE later in the report. There's a reason this thing is called the Mighty Morphing Birthday Trip

And finally, WHEN: July 7 - 13, again, more on this later.....

So there's the setup, coming up: Changes in dates, locations, and reasons!

[PrincessSharon]

Yay! Another mestitch TR! So glad to see you've started, Melissa! Can't wait for more!

[Brit_Invader]

Melissa said I had to introduce myself...so here it goes:

My name is Andy and I've been married to Melissa for around four years now despite her affections for Stitch During the day I'm a mailing specialist for Classic Graphics in Charlotte NC. In the evenings I am a husband and a musician who's always writing something. At night I am asleep.

I'm a Beatles fanatic, thus the Sgt. Pepper Tattoo and 2+ days of bootlegs on my iPod. My favorite thing do at Disney is have a Guinness and watch the British Invasion play!

[mestitch]

Changes in dates, locations, and reasons

So, the backstory of this trip. There have been many many changes to this trip since it's conception back in December. We always seem to start planning trips right after one is over. But we have been trying to figure out the best way to get down to the World twice a year without straining ourselves. Last year we did it, but the second trip was completely spur of the moment. We decided that it would be nice to go over my Spring Break and see the Flower and Garden Festival. Then we could have time enough to plan and save for our annual Christmas trip.

Then we find out that my DBIL's wedding would be on April 7th and my Spring Break started April 9th.... what better way to celebrate a wedding than to go back to WDW right after. That's what we did after our wedding...

That's our very first picture together as a married couple at WDW

So it was a great add on to the trip....celebrating a wedding and reliving our honeymoon. Plans were sounding perfect. We'd stay at POFQ from April 9 until April 13.

Then, things happened. What things?? Life... Taxes...the dang IRS! Last year we got bit HARD by the IRS b/c someone in this family... I won't mention names, but it wasn't me, and it wasn't the cats... claimed a 3 on their paperwork when they got their job and we owed the IRS $2000 something bucks!! So, that certain someone had to take care of that paperwork boo boo and we thought things would be okay this year. Boy were we wrong. Andy's raise and my poor pitiful yearly increase bumped us just barely up into the next tax bracket... and we again owed almost $2000 to IRS. Needless to say we now both claim a 0 instead of a 1... and hopefully the house will start to help us.....

Well between having to save and pay for the taxes and save to try and pay off some credit card debt, we didn't know what would happen to this trip.

Then I remembered that when I left SC I left behind 2 and a half years of retirement money. That money has been sitting there since 2005 collecting interest. I contacted the State Dept. and had my money cashed out and sent to me. I mean seriously, it's just 2 and a half years worth, I've started over here anyway... and it had really collected some interest! So we took half of it and paid off our taxes in full and we had enough leftover for our trip. Only thing, April was going to be too close to getting the money. We didn't get the money until like March. So we decided that after last year, nothing could top a birthday at Disney like ANOTHER birthday at Disney. So we had our new dates set... July 8 - July 13. Still at POFQ.

Once I started playing around and looking at the dates of value and regular season in the deluxes, I realized it would only be about $50 more a night to stay at the WL. Well I couldn't turn that down, and we had money leftover with the retirement check so we made change number 2.

So let's review:
Change #1 : Dates... April 9 - 13 to July 8 - 13
Change #2 : Resort... POFQ to WL

Can we possibly make a plan and stick with it??? Or are there more changes in the works?? You'll find out in the next installment

[kimkdmm]

Yay...a new Melissa and Andy trip report!!!!
Hope you guys have an awesome trip...cant wait to read all about it
and see all of your always amazing pictures =)

[MontiMouse]

Making changes must be contagious because I always seem to be making them to our trip plans - the resorts change, the resturants change, days get added ! Glad to hear I am not the only one!

Can't wait to hear more.

[disneydani]

Wow...I think you've set some sort of record here....three TR within 24 hours!

Sounds like wonderful planning and replanning! Can' wait to hear how it all finally falls into place!

danielle

[Colexis Mom]

Great updates Melissa and Andy Can't wait to hear all about the plans

[goofysdtr]

Woo, hoo--another Melissa & Andy trip! Melissa, I love reading your trip reports, & Andy, I love it when you give us "the rest of the story!" Can't wait to hear all about it!

[kathy320]

Melissa.......what a great start to your trip!!!! You shlould win the all time pre-trip and trip reports award!!!!!! Really.......I know I started a TR some time ago but life gets so hectic and I never finished it. I love reading you TR"S and I love ANgie adding in her 2 cents as well......you ladies are quite funny and I love reading about your Disney adventures!!! Keep it coming!! You will love the POFQ!!!!!!!! It is me and my DH's favorite Moderate resort!!! Very small and quaint.

[tkd lisa]

I was looking for this pre-trip report. I'm enjoying hearing how things progressed. And I'll definitely be looking for you since we'll be there the same time.

Can't wait to hear the next change.

[COMinnie]

Yay! Great start!

[Jillybean]

Taxes! Yuck! Hate them! Glad that the SC Retirement Plan could help out and save your Disney trip!

Jill

[travismom]

Making changes can be fun - right??? Looking forward to hearing more...

[mattnkatsmum]

Great start, Melissa. And who needs a retirement plan? I mean, I'm sure there comes a time when one is too old and too jiggered to enjoy Disney...... and what's the point of money then?

I love all the photos of the two of you being kind to small animals. I'm thinking that my own TR should include photos of me being kind to children, so that I will be perceived as Mary Poppins rather than the Cruella de Vil I truly am.

Looking forward to reading about your plans, to see how they compare with ours.