EDGAR --- The Crutch That Came on Vacation ..a 9/2014 Trip Report

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I'm bummed you won't be doing Playlist...but DVC! WHOOHOOOO!!!

That is EXACTLY why I won't do the presentation! I know they would talk me into it!

I'm so glad you found the umbrella! AND it rained! It didn't rain for us in February, I guess they turn it off in the winter??

 

[SarahDisney]

Lots of updates - Yay!

I love the Woody and Jessie pics! And the Peter Pan picture too.

The Lady & the Tramp Fountain picture looks great. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed!

Sorry to hear Ohana wasn't as magical ... I hate when the server isn't attentive enough. But I love all the pictures, especially the one of you and Pluto.

I'm so jealous that you got one last Studio Backlot Tour in! I was pretty sad that I missed it. I know it was supposedly a shell of what it originally was, but I still enjoyed it.

Golf cart tour of the resort? So cool!

You bought DVC!! That's so awesome!! I really hope the one-bedroom villa at GF is available - only a little over a month until you find out!

 

[Tinker326]

I am sooooo far behind! But just got caught up!

So many great updates!

Totally bummed to hear about Ohana breakfast- that is my FAVORITE! I hope it was just a one time thing..............

Very funny about Victoria hopping the bus without you. I did that to my mom once in Paris & I was the tour guide with the map. It was her fault though because she told me to run for the subway and so I did thinking she was behind me.. but she gave up halfway deciding she wouldn't make it and so as I turned around on the tube, I saw the doors closing and her on the other side. The funny thing is she had NO idea where to go or what to do...

We obviously survived and I didn't leave my mother in Paris.. and that was a tangent, huh?

And CONGRATS on DVC! So, so exciting!

I wish I could convince Kurt. Won't ever happen regardless of how many trips to Disney I book!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

I'm reading and replying in my head when I don't actually reply, I swear! It's only going to get worse with the holiday weekend, I'm slammed with work!
Anyway, I love your shirts for this day! Some of our favorite shots are in our mickeyhead tie dyes! You made great time! Gotta love rope drop. I heard the same thing about 7DMT. I'm sure we'll ride it once, but I'm probably not going to use a FP for it...not that I can get one anyway, I heard they are hard to get 30 days out and that's when we'll go, when we hit MK during Playlist.
You really got some great shots only using your phone, I'm impressed!

Sorry I’ve been slacking on my replies. Ugh. Bad me! Thank you for the compliments on my shirts. I’m not sure if we’ll just wear the same ones in September or if I will make new ones. I love the blue/green color combo, so we may just stick with these. My Mom has no idea she’ll be getting a shirt! I doubt she’ll wear it, but maybe…..she’s very refined so to speak (who knows where I came from??!!). Thanks for the compliment on my photos. I gave in and just purchased a new point and shoot from Amazon. It should be coming in anytime now. The Nikon CoolPix that I had bought a battery for decided to die completely now. So, this year I’ve managed to kill 2 cameras. Go Me!

I love the Space Mountain picture! And your face in the Buzz Lightyear picture is hysterical. PeopleMover four times ... awesome. I'm sorry to hear you weren't impressed with 7DMT. I guess it's not for everyone - not everyone can be impressed with everything. I love the honey thing on the Winnie the Pooh ride ... it's just so fun to see what the pictures are! I'm glad you had a good time with Anna and Elsa! I hate when the pictures don't come out well, but I'm glad you got one good shot! Sounds like you were having a pretty good day!

Yep, this was a very fun day!!

I am finally catching up with your TR! I will try to keep my response a reasonable length, but I’m not making any promises! I think your iPhone pictures turned out well! The Business Class privileges at Coronado sound nice, and the room, pool, and the rest of the grounds were so pretty! I need to get back to Coronado since that is the first place I took my kids in WDW. It looks like you had a fairly relaxing check in day. I love that you were wearing a tiara and your princess shirt for your first MK day! I’m glad you and your family had such a great time at CRT! Your interaction with Gaston sounds like a hoot! I have to find him next time we are there! It looks like you had a great time at BOG! Your EPCOT day looked like fun, too! I am not surprised that there were people who commented on Victoria holding the ducks! Some people just need to mind their own business! Victoria is turning into a little farm girl with your chickens and the Disney Ducks! And squirrels?!? Pretty cool! As far as your AK day, what are you talking about, you don’t get good safari pictures? That is a great picture of the giraffe! I’m sorry that Peter couldn’t continue on with you in AK that day, but how cool that you got to experience the park by yourself! I think the kids and I need to do the single rider line on EE! Your bathroom selfie is the best! Ten points for creativity! Your rest day looked nice, as did your HS day! You and Victoria are clearly having fun on RnRc! I am with Victoria on the ABC Commissary! Hate it! But you are right that there are not many places to eat a quick service meal in HS. Oh well. Looks like you had a great 2nd day at MK, too! I’m so jealous you got to meet Elsa and Anna! OK, I’m all caught up! Can’t wait to hear more!

You kept that reply nice and short, Erin. Good job!!!

Wow, it sounds like things have been a mess for you lately, Ann. I'm so sorry to hear about everything that's been going on. I hope you get a Christmas miracle and everything works out okay with Peter, his work, and the Playlist refund.

Yep, a total mess, Sarah. Christmas Eve was the topper with my brothers and niece making my Mom cry. You would think they are adults and would know how to act on Christmas Eve. Yep, this is one holiday we won’t forget for a LONG time!! I’m the baby of the family and I’m more mature than they are put together! UGH!!! WORST CHRISTMAS EVER! Anyways, as for Peter, his not swallowing thing turns out to be gastritis which he will take meds for. Apparently his esophagus is inflamed near the beginning of his stomach and they believe it’s caused by gas. (Heck, I could have told them he was gassy!! LOL!) Nothing has changed on his job prospects, but we’ll keep hanging on. I’m becoming really good at handling his grumpiness. As for Playlist ---- nada. They haven’t responded to me at all. It’s very discouraging. Why can’t I just catch a break?

I am really sorry that so much has been going on, Ann! That must be especially tough during the holidays! I hope that everything gets better with Peter’s health. I was sorry to hear about you guys not doing Playlist - because I was really looking forward to hanging out with you - but being out all of that money, too? I don’t blame you for not wanting to be bothered with flying Jet Blue. It really isn’t a discount if you have to pay for bags. I hope that Playlist will give you a refund for the tickets, though! I am going to keep my fingers crossed for a Christmas miracle for you, too!!!

Oh Erin, I’m pretty upset that I won’t get to hang out with you and Karen. I was really looking forward to that. I was really looking forward to AKL, too. But yeah, to be out the plane fare and $350 for Playlist tickets is such a blow. I live paycheck to paycheck and since Peter and I keep our monies separate this is hard to deal with. I wish for a miracle and that they contact me offering the refund. At this point I doubt it will happen. Time to move on I suppose.

You have some great pictures from your MK/HS day! Especially the one with you in front of the Sorcerer Mickey hat (I’m going to miss that!) and under the umbrella! That was too funny that Victoria just hopped on the HS bus without you guys! So, DVC Member, it sounds like you are really happy with your purchase! I’m glad you didn’t take pictures, because then I might be tempted to do a tour, too! It sounds really beautiful, though, and it seems like a good deal for you all. I hope you get GF once February rolls around!

Yes, it was funny when Victoria left without us. Bye Bye girl!!! I’m pretty happy we bought into the DVC I think. I think I’ll be happier when the 10 years roll around and it will be paid off except for the yearly maintenance fees. Then it will be a bargain, but I don’t see us breaking even for a couple of years. I’ll never be able to take advantage of free dining again and you have to purchase everything like tickets separately. Sometimes there’s a special for tickets, but you never know. DVC does allow us to stay in deluxes which we would never have been able to afford before, so that’s one cool thing. So far, when I check availability for September, GF is available so I’ve just got to be patient for another month. Grrrrr. I’m not good at being patient!

I finally had time to get caught up with your report. First off, I hope that Peter's test results have come in and you now have a plan of action (or no plan would be even better since it would mean that everything is A o.k.). Congrats on buying into DVC! I wish that we had thought to do that many years ago. I'm thinking that's probably what we will do in a couple of years.

Hi Lisa!! This time of the year is sooooo busy isn’t it? I’m glad you are all caught up now. I am so very behind on all the TR’s I’ve subscribed to. Hopefully soon I will be able to get to reading everyone’s adventures! Thanks for hanging in there with me.

I'm bummed you won't be doing Playlist...but DVC! WHOOHOOOO!!! That is EXACTLY why I won't do the presentation! I know they would talk me into it! I'm so glad you found the umbrella! AND it rained! It didn't rain for us in February, I guess they turn it off in the winter??

Hey Karen…..believe me, no one is as bummed as I am missing the chance to hang out with you guys at Playlist. I just wish, hope and pray that they give me a refund, but that doesn’t look like it will happen. You would think they could have at least responded with a “no” by now. Just plain rude, I say! The DVC presentation wasn’t hard-sell, though. I think it’s worth it just to go see what it’s like and to listen to the numbers. I never thought we’d actually buy into it. I was so excited to find that darned umbrella!!! Thank you for that!!!

Lots of updates - Yay! I love the Woody and Jessie pics! And the Peter Pan picture too. The Lady & the Tramp Fountain picture looks great. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed! Sorry to hear Ohana wasn't as magical ... I hate when the server isn't attentive enough. But I love all the pictures, especially the one of you and Pluto. I'm so jealous that you got one last Studio Backlot Tour in! I was pretty sad that I missed it. I know it was supposedly a shell of what it originally was, but I still enjoyed it. Golf cart tour of the resort? So cool! You bought DVC!! That's so awesome!! I really hope the one-bedroom villa at GF is available - only a little over a month until you find out!

Thanks Sarah. I have to wait until February 4th to see if GF is available. Mom is soooo excited about it now. She has all kinds of questions and it’s fun to see her excited! I just wish my Dad was around to see her. I know he will be with us in spirit, though.

I am sooooo far behind! But just got caught up! So many great updates! Totally bummed to hear about Ohana breakfast- that is my FAVORITE! I hope it was just a one time thing..............Very funny about Victoria hopping the bus without you. I did that to my mom once in Paris & I was the tour guide with the map. It was her fault though because she told me to run for the subway and so I did thinking she was behind me.. but she gave up halfway deciding she wouldn't make it and so as I turned around on the tube, I saw the doors closing and her on the other side. The funny thing is she had NO idea where to go or what to do... We obviously survived and I didn't leave my mother in Paris.. and that was a tangent, huh? And CONGRATS on DVC! So, so exciting! I wish I could convince Kurt. Won't ever happen regardless of how many trips to Disney I book!

Can you imagine if you hadn’t met up with your Mom? We would have no Drunken Grandma pics and that would just be wrong!! LOL! And I love your tangents. Hey, it wouldn’t be the first time you took over my TR, right? You do realize that you can use DVC points for a Disney Cruise too, right? Just saying……and it really is affordable…..again, just saying!!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Today was choice day and we all know where my family ends up on choice day ----EPCOT! So, we usually spend 3 days in EPCOT during every trip. I don’t mind as I love it! Although I just don’t see how we can top this morning’s activities of a DVC purchase. OMG!!! I still can’t believe we did that! We did all of our usual activities --- Soarin, Living with the Land, Test Track, etc. We made sure to ride Malestrom one last time before it no longer exists and I took lots of pictures! I don’t know if the merchandise in the shop will change, so I made sure to buy Peter a troll. He loves trolls, although I’m not sure why. We had lunch at Seasons and Victoria played with ducks. Here’s a compilation of photos:

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Those shirts are adorable!!

Ah Maelstrom. *sniff* It wasn't my favorite ride but I was sad to see it go. I'm glad you got one last ride and some pics!

I love epcot too...although more for World Showcase and the drinks!

 

[Tinker326]

I also love the shirts. Very cute.

And I will miss Maelstrom. I always enjoyed that ride.

EPCOT is my second favorite park and it always comes in very close to MK. I'd probably say that EPCOT is hubby's favorite park. Even if he refuses to set foot in World Showcase. (kill-joy).

Happy New Year!

 

[SarahDisney]

Epcot is a great pick for choice day ... but it definitely is hard to top buying DVC. You got some great pictures!

I'm glad you got one last ride on Maelstrom and got lots of pictures. And Peter's troll ... okay.

Victoria really loves those ducks!

The anniversary shirts came out great ...but I think Victoria's shirt is my favorite

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Those shirts are adorable!!
Ah Maelstrom. *sniff* It wasn't my favorite ride but I was sad to see it go. I'm glad you got one last ride and some pics! I love epcot too...although more for World Showcase and the drinks!

Thanks. Those were our anniversary shirts. I thought they came out nice and I loved putting Victoria in the middle with her shirt! Yep, I like the World Showcase too!!!

I also love the shirts. Very cute. And I will miss Maelstrom. I always enjoyed that ride. EPCOT is my second favorite park and it always comes in very close to MK. I'd probably say that EPCOT is hubby's favorite park. Even if he refuses to set foot in World Showcase. (kill-joy).
Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you too Nicole..... and to everyone! I can't imagine not going to WS! There's so much to see and experience there. Wow.....kill-joy is right!

Epcot is a great pick for choice day ... but it definitely is hard to top buying DVC. You got some great pictures! I'm glad you got one last ride on Maelstrom and got lots of pictures. And Peter's troll ... okay. Victoria really loves those ducks! The anniversary shirts came out great ...but I think Victoria's shirt is my favorite

Oh my yes, Victoria sure does love her ducks. I'm thinking of buying her at least one pair of ducks this summer. She'll love that!

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

I'm glad you got to ride Maelstrom one last time. I agree with everyone else - your shirts are adorable!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Dinner ADR for this night was 1900 Park Fare with the Tremains, Cinderella and Prince Charming. I don’t really have too many details from this meal as we’ve done it many times before. As always the buffet was excellent. There was some super cute interactions with the table next to us as there was a single man whom the sisters were fighting over. Too funny! I was really hoping to go back to HS but the family was tired. At this point I am not wanting the trip to end and this was going to be our last full day in Disney. But, isn’t this how I always am? Yeah, it is. So, let’s get on with those pictures, ok?



















September 19th ---- Departure Day…….

We are starting this day with our typical last day breakfast at Chef Mickey’s. We were surprised with our own little anniversary cupcake. I thought that was a cute touch. Sorry guys, I really can’t think of much to say as nothing out of the ordinary happened. We sat, we ate, we drank, we finished. Yeah, really not too much to tell. I blame it on the fact that I did not keep a journal! Here are the pictures from breakfast:

Oh look ---- food porn!!














And I don’t know what’s up with Peter in this one:


After breakfast we headed to the monorail to take us back to MK to pick up our bus for Coronado Springs.

 

[Victoriasmom98]

After packing up our stuff at the resort, we dropped off our luggage with luggage services and headed to Downtown Disney one last time. *sniff*. The bus dropped us off at the Marketplace area and we decided to take the boat over to the West Side. On our little boat ride I took lots of pictures of the outside of our new “home” – Saratoga Springs.











Who would have ever thought this would have happened to us. Certainly not me! How funny it was that at the beginning of this trip I took a picture of the “Welcome Home” sign that you can see from the water and now that picture has a whole new meaning. Unbelievable! To celebrate, I purchased this at Pin Traders:



We were getting hungry at this point and had one counter service each so we found Cookes of Dublin and decided to try it out. OMG What a gem this place is!! Peter and I loved it, although we love seafood. Victoria not so much. She did get chicken fingers and fries and I thought they were good. I think she had just had it at this point and grumpy. Grrrr. After lunch we walked around for a bit but really didn’t do much shopping. Let’s face it ---- I was broke! And sad!







And this is ALWAYS something we seem to run into:



See? Even the skies were upset we were leaving!

Afterwards we waited for the Unmagical Express back at the resort. We shopped around to use up our snack credits (we always have a lot at the end of a trip) and just waited. I was sitting on the sidewalk when I saw the bus pull up. It was then that I lost it…..I cried, and cried, and cried. Poor Peter and Victoria. They tried to hug me to make it better, but I was awful! I couldn’t stop myself. Despite EDGAR joining us, it still was a wonderful vacation and I didn’t want to see it end.

And thus, this is the end of the trip report……but, fear not……another trip is in the planning stages right now. As soon as I come up with a pre-trip report, I’ll let you all know!!! Thanks for joining me on this magically wonderful trip!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Ugh, I hate the leaving part! The worst part of the trip. I'm so glad you had a great trip and it was so good that you didn't want it to end!!

 

[SarahDisney]

I love all the pictures from 1900 PF! We did breakfast there and were not impressed by the characters, but it certainly looks like you had a lot of fun with the stepsisters.

Departure day ... so sad.
I love that they gave you an anniversary cupcake at Chef Mickey's - so sweet! And I love all the character pictures, too!

I love all the pictures of Saratoga Springs. From everything I've seen, it really looks like a nice place to call home - I'm sure you'll love staying there (and at all the other DVC resorts, too). The pin is really cute!

I'm glad you had a wonderful vacation, and while it's sad that it ended, at least you came away from this trip with a new home in Florida. But I totally don't blame you for crying ... it's sad to leave Disney!
I'm looking forward to the PTR for the next trip!

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

It looks like you had great character interaction at 1900 PF and Chef Mickey's I can totally understand getting the blues at the end of the trip. After all of that fun and family togetherness, you didn't want it to end! I'm so glad you have another trip coming up and that you'll be using DVC! It must be exciting to know you can almost guarantee that you'll be going to WDW once a year!

 

[Tinker326]

Boo, it's over!

I always get so sad when long awaited vacations end.

But just think of all the wonderful memories you will make as DVC owners!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

and up next......

This One's for You, Mom