A Very Lurkyloo Christmas is FINISHED! New 3/16: Last Day of the Trip!

[lurkyloo]

Ooo great pics! Its nice to be able to live vicariously through someone else since our next trip is so far away... I hope we get a chance to get out to Disneyland in the next few years!

Oooh - I hope you do too! I also hope to have much vicarious living for you over the next few weeks...

Wow, awesome pics! I've never been to Disneyland, but my baby sis just moved to L.A., so I'm bound to get there sooner or later. Can't wait!

Yes! You totally should hit her up for free room and board so you can go!

OOOOEEEEEEOOOOOOO!
Did you catch a ghostly orb on the pirate skeleton's face? Where are the ghost hunters when you need them?

I visited DL many, many moons ago. It is so different now. Has it changed all that much or is it because I'm ol........ an adult? The shot of the carousel horse is wonderful!

Don't worry - it has changed A LOT! Besides the physical removal and installation of rides and restaurants and things, I think there's just a different feel to the place, at least since when I was a kid, but it's still fun. Just different!

Carrie, thanks for sharing all the DL pics! I've been so behind on the DIS lately. It was fun to come back and see all your pics.

Andrea - What beautiful babies!

Welcome back! I hope to have more fun pix for you soon!

Love the pictures! I am still surprised at all the different things are between DL and WDW even though the rides have the same name. I really need to get out there soon.

Yes! DH and I tried to keep track of all the differences on our first day in the MK, but it was way too hard.

I love the pics How's the job hunting going? Or are you just waiting to see what comes along? I hope the right company finds you

Thanks! Things are going great - I have been keeping super-busy with PassPorter projects, which is much more fulfilling than my day job ever was!

When I make it to DL with my family it will be a requirement that Carrie goes as tour guide and Patrick the official photgrapher. Excellent new pics.

Say, maybe we should set ourselves up as the TourGuideMikes of the West Coast!

There is something about a well designed retail display that just warms my shopaholic little heart!

Yay for being a month away!!! How exciting!!!!

Totally - and I love a well designed retail display myself!

More great pics -- you're making me want to plan a DL trip!!! You're getting so close to your trip now -- very exciting!

Yes! The real reason I post all these Disneyland pix is to get more of you all to come to me!

I love that you can take so many Disneyland trips.

I might be able to take a few week end trips to WDW if my plans to move to FL materialize.

Ooh - now that would be cool! Are you moving for work or just a change of scenery?

I love the pictures of Disneyland! We're going for the first time and I'm so excited!

Congrats! When are you going?

 

[lurkyloo]

So let's see what I can report... I've been making small tweaks to our ADRs to try and get our 2-person ADRs expanded to 4 people for the meals that Nathan & Jensey will be joining us... And I booked a rental car last week and then re-booked it yesterday for $20 less... And a pal sent me some report that says almost all sunscreens have toxic chemicals and don't actually work so I got all freaked out and ordered organic sunscreen for our trip

...And I spent most of today twisting my brain into knots trying to figure out how to save the most money on park admission. Boy were we spoiled by those free wedding Annual Passes (plus being Disneyland APs) - I cannot believe how expensive WDW tickets are! And the discounts from the various ticket sellers are so paltry...

I finally figured out that the cheapest way to get 8-day park hopper tickets is to buy 6-day park hopper tickets from Undercover Tourist using Mousesavers' special newsletter-only prices and then, once we're at Disney, pay about $6/ticket to upgrade them to 8-day ticket - b/c for some reason UT gives twice as big a discount on 6 days as on 8 days.

Anyway - sorry there's nothing too exciting going on so far. I hope to have some mini trip reports for you in the next few weeks, though. We're going to the Walt Disney Family Museum next week and back to Disneyland for my birthday!

 

[annnewjerz]

So let's see what I can report... I've been making small tweaks to our ADRs to try and get our 2-person ADRs expanded to 4 people for the meals that Nathan & Jensey will be joining us... And I booked a rental car last week and then re-booked it yesterday for $20 less... And a pal sent me some report that says almost all sunscreens have toxic chemicals and don't actually work so I got all freaked out and ordered organic sunscreen for our trip

...And I spent most of today twisting my brain into knots trying to figure out how to save the most money on park admission. Boy were we spoiled by those free wedding Annual Passes (plus being Disneyland APs) - I cannot believe how expensive WDW tickets are! And the discounts from the various ticket sellers are so paltry...

I finally figured out that the cheapest way to get 8-day park hopper tickets is to buy 6-day park hopper tickets from Undercover Tourist using Mousesavers' special newsletter-only prices and then, once we're at Disney, pay about $6/ticket to upgrade them to 8-day ticket - b/c for some reason UT gives twice as big a discount on 6 days as on 8 days.

Anyway - sorry there's nothing too exciting going on so far. I hope to have some mini trip reports for you in the next few weeks, though. We're going to the Walt Disney Family Museum next week and back to Disneyland for my birthday!

I sooooo know how you feel about the fact that our trips are all in a month. I'm starting to freak a bit. Combine that with the fact that I'm planning a New Year's Eve trip to Boston for a 4 day weekend and it's Stress City over here!

How have you been doing with rearranging ADRs for 4 instead of 2? I rebooked our Cali Grill reservation since we'll be doing MVMCP on 12/15 and was only able to get a 9:20pm on our other MK night. I've been trying to get an earlier time, but so far no luck.

We use "Mexitan" biodegradable sunscreen when we go to Mexico because of the reefs, etc. and it works great. It's a little different feeling than regular sunscreen when you put it on, but works just the same.

Good luck with everything, can't wait to hear more about the trip before you leave.

 

[onelilspark]

Congrats! When are you going?

March 2010...I'm in planning mode, or better yet, gather all the information I can mode

I know what you mean about tickets. You get everything gathered at a good price then it comes to tickets and it's just so difficult to get a decent discount!

 

[Disneygrl36]

Andrea.....I will be sure & let you know about HHI. We have stayed there once before but it was just for one night.

Carrie
Wow time is passing so fast........it will be here before you know it.
Can't wait to hear all about your newest adventures.

 

[beatlesblonde]

So let's see what I can report... I've been making small tweaks to our ADRs to try and get our 2-person ADRs expanded to 4 people for the meals that Nathan & Jensey will be joining us... And I booked a rental car last week and then re-booked it yesterday for $20 less... And a pal sent me some report that says almost all sunscreens have toxic chemicals and don't actually work so I got all freaked out and ordered organic sunscreen for our trip

...And I spent most of today twisting my brain into knots trying to figure out how to save the most money on park admission. Boy were we spoiled by those free wedding Annual Passes (plus being Disneyland APs) - I cannot believe how expensive WDW tickets are! And the discounts from the various ticket sellers are so paltry...

I finally figured out that the cheapest way to get 8-day park hopper tickets is to buy 6-day park hopper tickets from Undercover Tourist using Mousesavers' special newsletter-only prices and then, once we're at Disney, pay about $6/ticket to upgrade them to 8-day ticket - b/c for some reason UT gives twice as big a discount on 6 days as on 8 days.

Anyway - sorry there's nothing too exciting going on so far. I hope to have some mini trip reports for you in the next few weeks, though. We're going to the Walt Disney Family Museum next week and back to Disneyland for my birthday!

Yeah it's almost time to Carrie & Patrick to grace us with their presence.

I know how you feel about park admission, we're so gonna feel spoiled with our APs. I don't know what your plans are exactly for the night you arrive but we did plan you and Patrick into our DP with the guest count including the Illuminations viewing fee. I emailed my planner to find out what the protocol is since you guys get in so late if you can't get there on time. I do hope you two can make it!

 

[Lorelei528]

Hi!!! I know I don't post here on your PTR all that much, but I do enjoy reading it!

I just wanted to say I'm soo excited for you and can't believe you're only 1 month away!! Whoo hoo!

Are AP's for WDW that much more than getting the whole 6day/8 day MYWPH tix? Just wondering....I think the "make it pay/work" is 9 or 10 days?

Also, just to add some pressure....I simply cannot wait for this TR!!!! I'm so happy for you going during the holiday season I can't wait to hear and see all about it from the eyes (and hand) of Lurkyloo! It's going to be awesome I just know it!!

 

[PopArtGal]

I would work there. I am looking into getting a job at the Orange County schoolboard. They have been very helpful so far.

 

[Donald'sGirl]

WOOHOO only 1 more month!!! Good luck trying to get your ADR's from 2 to 4. I am still looking for the one I want for 11 but I am getting closer to it. Hopefully the final decision will be coming soon.

Anyway can't wait to hear about your mini TR's until then..

 

[A-T-G]

Time is flying by! Have fun at the Museum! DH & I really enjoyed it. We signed up as members, right away! There was so much to see, we really need to go back! Just remember that there is no photography at all allowed in the museum - so Patrick can't bring his awesome camera (phooey!).

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I am sooooo excited about your trip!! I already am impatient to read all about it .

Also, don't forget to try online for parties of 5 and 6. They won't show availability online if you're looking for a group of 4 and they have tables that fit 5 or 6 (I learned this when I couldn't find availability for my party of 2 in August at Ohana's but in the same search tried for a table of four and there was availability). Many restaurants have larger tables or those big round tables and it's not fair that your group shouldn't be able to go to a restaurant you want to just because you have 1-2 people less than another group. Of course, the restaurant just wants every seat in the place filled (but they didn't even question it when I checked in with just the two of us). Just thought I would suggest this in case you haven't tried .

 

[PryncessChrysty]

Anyway - sorry there's nothing too exciting going on so far. I hope to have some mini trip reports for you in the next few weeks, though. We're going to the Walt Disney Family Museum next week and back to Disneyland for my birthday!

I can't wait to read your review on the WDF Museum. We're thinking about planning a trip up there early next year (can you believe DH2B has lived in CA since he was a kid & has never been to San Francisco?!?!).

 

[PopArtGal]

I so wish I could say I'm going in one month!

 

[aharbin88]

I finally figured out that the cheapest way to get 8-day park hopper tickets is to buy 6-day park hopper tickets from Undercover Tourist using Mousesavers' special newsletter-only prices and then, once we're at Disney, pay about $6/ticket to upgrade them to 8-day ticket - b/c for some reason UT gives twice as big a discount on 6 days as on 8 days.

Anyway - sorry there's nothing too exciting going on so far. I hope to have some mini trip reports for you in the next few weeks, though. We're going to the Walt Disney Family Museum next week and back to Disneyland for my birthday!

It's only $6 extra to go from a 6 day to an 8 day ticket? Wow.

Have fun at the museum! It sounds fabulous!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

By the way, thanks for the tip about the tickets! I had no idea to work out the numbers like that. We always get our tickets through the mousesavers link with undercovertourist (it says allow something crazy like 2-3 weeks for delivery but I got ours in 4 days if you're planning on having them mailed). I bought 10 day non-expiry ones from them before our 2008 trip (about $475 each) and added the plusses on when we got to WDW. It was only $80 total for both tickets which I think is a lot cheaper then getting the plusses on the tickets when we bought them (I tried to figure it out while we were there but I couldn't remember how much the tickets were with the plusses through Undercovertourist and forgot to check when we got home). Of course, I remembered to add the plusses AFTER we had already paid $$$ to go to DisneyQuest for a few hours

 

[DisneyBrideToni]

I have been such a slacker with all my subscribed threads but I have caught up! Now I can't wait for your trip so you can come back and start a TR!

 

[Happydog]

Hey, Carrie -- because I know you have plans for your Christmas trip, I am just checking to see if you had heard about the Lights of Winter display at Epcot? I just read a thread under "park strategies" that this display has been pulled this year. Disney is citing "obsolete technology" I am going for the first time and I was looking forward to this one! It is matched with the Tree Lighting ceremony -- neither will occur this year. You probably already know, but I didn't see any mention on your PTR the past few posts...

 

[lazydoxy66]

Carrie -
The 1 month mark is always so special. Do you have a countdown calendar?
24 days left for me and the BFF!

 

[AGPrincess]

I'm finally almost up-to-date on your PTR! Reading through it, I had the following thoughts:

1. I want some cake. really badly.
2. I want to go to Disneyland...at Halloweentime. Those pics were great!
3. I can't wait to read about your trip!! (and see some Roots photos...I lurk on their blog all the time! )

 

[aharbin88]

Hey, Carrie -- because I know you have plans for your Christmas trip, I am just checking to see if you had heard about the Lights of Winter display at Epcot? I just read a thread under "park strategies" that this display has been pulled this year. Disney is citing "obsolete technology" I am going for the first time and I was looking forward to this one! It is matched with the Tree Lighting ceremony -- neither will occur this year. You probably already know, but I didn't see any mention on your PTR the past few posts...

Is the Lights of Winter display the lighted arch leading to the WS at EPCOT? I think I read about that on your PTR. Or maybe it was here.