pooh'smate
Stuck in the Middle
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2005
Joining in. My dd just turned 13 in August and I have all ready been on the receiving end of some of those teenage stink eye. I suspect I will be seeing many more of them in the years to come.
We’re talking a whole mess of introductory crap that most of you will skim right through just so you can post “first” in the replies or promise to come back and read later after you wash your hair or something.
it seemed as though all of Walt Disney World was under construction, so I figured that would make as good a title as any.
and we’re currently at 47 (with Oregon, Washington, and Alaska left to be visited).
How we paid for the trip? By scrimping and saving and taking advantage of a room discount for the summer. And then saving up Disney Visa reward dollars and applying them to the cost of the vacation. And then maxing out the credit card. And then working overtime to pay off the credit card. We also did not get the dining plan. I priced it out for the family just for giggles, and the giggles turned into outright fall-on-the-floor laughter when I saw it would cost our family almost $2,500 just for the dining plan by itself (since 5 of us are considered “adults”). We could take another vacation for that.
Please keep your arms and legs inside the Trip Report at all times
Mine too. Thanks Mark!My hair is incredibly clean now. Thanks.
Sorry Liesa, I would have to disagree with you. CA has Disneyland (small, but still good I've heard). FL has Disneyworld (and some other dark side stuff). Alaska has mosquitos the size of your fist. Washington has M$(hate windows) and the space needle. What's Oregon got (besides you, I mean)? All joking aside, Oregon does have someone special (you), but I wouldn't give it best for last just on that alone. All three have a lot of snow and automatically fall into the not best category (for me). I suppose for Ponzie, Jeff and Darcy (not sure if he's on this thread) and some others, not a big deal, but not best for me. I'm close to Mark...the only 4 I've not been to are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Hawaii.Clearly saving the best for last.
I had a conversation with someone on the bus yesterday about this. They were talking about doing the dining plan and I warned them about cost vs. what you get and told them to search online because there are many places where it's mentioned it's not a good idea. I ran the numbers when I moved our reservations from Swan to Pop because the CM said it was discounted. Even at the discounted price and going to Tiffins (pricey), it still came out $500 more if we'd done the dining plan.Now, that IS funny. Even funnier (in not a good way) that sooooo many people do it without taking the time to do the math. Oddly, those are the same people who vote without facts, so there's that.
Because he said so. Duh!But... why?
Fabulous! I cant wait to read all about it! Great Intro!!!!!
My hubby and I were in WDW the first week in July. The word hot doesn't even begin to describe the temperature, and we're not a slave to a school calendar. We are just glutton for punishment!!!
Enjoying the report, and look forward to more.
Sheesh. Least you could've done is picked up a bit. That's what kids are for.
Oh... that's what kids cause in the first place. Nevermind, then.
Now who would do that?!?!?!?
Good. Maybe then I can finally put a good one together.
ha! not likely.
This does not bode well for my solo trips...
I gave that up. Now I just post a pithy word or two.
Maybe that's my problem.
ugh... well, that sucks.
I'm surprised you had recovered enough to meet me this fall.
Uh huh. Take 'em outta school for a bit!
But the truth is.... it's Julie that's messing that up for you. Just admit it. Then duck.
Whoa! You've been busy.
You and me both.
Ha! I've done two of those. And I'm a stinkin' foreigner!
Told you.
way, way better! massively better! Hugely! Ginormously better!
No. What's not stopping you is that she is not reading this update.
Sorry I missed her. Was looking forward to meeting her.
On second thought.... maybe I don't mind that I missed her.
But you can say that about pretty much anyone. Everyone.
I can vouch for this! I think he did it in under 20, actually. I was pretty stunned, actually.
Meh. Drew is probably just about there.
Who isn't????
Oh, I'm sure he does something to you.
I believe this. He didn't stop once. The other boys turned into exhausted zombies and he just kept right on going.
I don't think that would have any effect on him.
Whoops! Sorry.
<goes back to read>
Of course you do. The reason is because you love it.
Not at Disney you can't.
I don't mind saying.... my brain is getting a bit... fried.
Down to 2-3 now. Feeling kinda burned out now, though.
No idea why not. I'm still using photobucket.
How are you posting your photos, Mark?
We often rent a minivan and find that they are cheaper than some of the other vehicles, then again we travel with enough luggage that we would need to hire a trailer if we didn't get a large vehicle! No room for any kids!
It's amazing to me that I can send them to clean up stuff on the floor and the act of their cleaning somehow results in more stuff on the floor.
Well, hope springs eternal.
Want to borrow a kid?
I don't know if "recovered" is the word. We just mindlessly move from one event on the calendar to the next.
I had no problem taking them out of school when they were younger, but it's harder to do that when it's high school. They seem to miss so much more.
But yes, it's still all Julie's fault.
Well, you live closer.
Oh, she read it. So did the kids. But I gave myself equal treatment, so they can't really say anything.
Yeah, I wish it had worked out. She's a cool kid...
...just don't get on her bad side.
Truth. I was wondering who would take advantage of that setup.
I just got roped into a 3-on-3 soccer tournament for charity at work, and based on our practice--yes, I think he might be able to take me.
He's making all of my hair fall out.
If he had stopped, he would have fallen asleep. So he just keeps going.
True. But we could go a lot of places for that cash.
I can imagine. 16 TR's would be a big info dump.
<starts Rocky theme> You can do it!
I use Google Photos to store them. I pull up the photo, right-click on "copy image address" and then paste it into the TR.
Joining in. My dd just turned 13 in August and I have all ready been on the receiving end of some of those teenage stink eye. I suspect I will be seeing many more of them in the years to come.
My hair is incredibly clean now. Thanks.
It works.
I'd read it anyway, but that one works.
Clearly saving the best for last.
Now, that IS funny. Even funnier (in not a good way) that sooooo many people do it without taking the time to do the math. Oddly, those are the same people who vote without facts, so there's that.
But... why?
Signing up!
Mine too. Thanks Mark!
Sorry Liesa, I would have to disagree with you. CA has Disneyland (small, but still good I've heard). FL has Disneyworld (and some other dark side stuff). Alaska has mosquitos the size of your fist. Washington has M$(hate windows) and the space needle. What's Oregon got (besides you, I mean)? All joking aside, Oregon does have someone special (you), but I wouldn't give it best for last just on that alone. All three have a lot of snow and automatically fall into the not best category (for me). I suppose for Ponzie, Jeff and Darcy (not sure if he's on this thread) and some others, not a big deal, but not best for me. I'm close to Mark...the only 4 I've not been to are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Hawaii.
I had a conversation with someone on the bus yesterday about this. They were talking about doing the dining plan and I warned them about cost vs. what you get and told them to search online because there are many places where it's mentioned it's not a good idea. I ran the numbers when I moved our reservations from Swan to Pop because the CM said it was discounted. Even at the discounted price and going to Tiffins (pricey), it still came out $500 more if we'd done the dining plan.
Because he said so. Duh!
Besides, It's his TR, he gets to make the rules.
Looks like it's gonna be a fun ride! I'm in.
Hilarious intro! Can't wait to read some more.
In!!
Pay no attention to me... I'm just here stalking, I mean reading, your trip report...
It's actually called Disney Springs, but Hope Springs Eternal would've been a better name.
Don't misunderstand me.Blasphemer! It's Downtown Disney.
Don't misunderstand me.
It's called Disney Springs... by those misguided souls in upper management.
True DISers will always call it DTD. And acronymize it that way too.
Yep. We're on the same page.Whew...lucky I didn't call for your crucifixion for your blasphemy.
I thought we'd talked about this, so I was really puzzled when I saw you said it was Disney Springs.
I think I mentioned when we met...I told one of the bus drivers I wanted to go to DTD and he just nodded his head in agreement. I don't think they like the "stupid marketing department thought it would be good name" either.
Acronymize? I kinda like it.
Well that’s just great…This Trip Report Is Under Refurbishment For Your Future Enjoyment
You work for a DOT…Hey there. Sorry about the mess.
Fixed that one for ya’.We’re talking a whole mess ofintroductorycrap…
So…that most of you will skim right through just so you can post “first” in the replies or promise to come back and read later after you wash your hair or something.
Oooooo…I’ve got an idea—how would you like a behind-the-scenes look at how a Trip Report gets put together?
No one…Well, who cares what you think?
Heck, that’s the easy part.Step 1: Come up with a cutesy title.
I beg to differ.I agonized over this for a while and couldn’t come up with anything good
Well, that’s a bit of a given.My family and I visited Walt Disney World in the middle of July, 2018. Because we are idiots.
There’s the harsh truth.and we are also slaves to the school calendar.
Let’s see…Anyway, now when you see photos of the construction during this trip report you can feel free to gently point out how out-of-date they are…
That’d be the bloke at first base.Step 3: Establish the “who”
Bwwwwaaaaahhhaaaahaaaaaaa….accompanied by glamorous headshots showing everyone in their best light in order to present yourselves as the perfect family.
Captain!My name is Mark,
Enviable…My family has been on aninsaneheroic quest to visit all 50 states in the U.S.
And pay close attention to the chapters on Montana, Iowa and Oklahoma.Here’s the current family map of places we’ve visited together. My other trip reports about our travels are linked in my signature, if you have hours of time to kill and want to bore yourself to tears.
Show me any married fell’a for whom this isn’t a true statement, and I’ll show you someone that is delusional (or is simply a compulsive liar).I’m thankful that for 20 years she hasn’t realized that she outclasses me and could have done way better, and hopefully she’ll never have that moment of realization.
There is a fine line between thrill-seeking and stupidity, ya’ know.Of course, that’s not stopping me from posting this photo:
A devastating super-power to have.She is an incredibly strong woman who can destroy anyone with the mere power of her stinkeye.
Of course he is.David is my 14-year-old son. He is smarter than I am.
And the master of Happening.Scotty is our 12-year-old.
Anyone that says that should be boiled in their own pudding.Andrew (or Drew) is our 4-year-old bundle ofterrorjoy. Supposedly he “keeps us young”
Are you going to be running a pool on just how long you were able to pull that one off?And to keep him away from caffeine
About like trying to nail a couple pounds of Jello to a tree, I ‘spect.Yes, that made a total of 13 people to attempt to coordinate for the entire week. That went about as well as you would expect.
Show me a family that ain’t dysfunctional.but we still managed to put the “fun” in dysfunctional.
Especially the ones attached to credit card readers…Nobody likes a skimmer.
Is this even a question?I mean, do you really need a reason to go to Disney World?
‘Cause whatever pride we may have had in our youth has long since been beaten out of us.How we traveled?
By minivan, the stylish choice of middle-class families worldwide.
Blood and Treasure…How we paid for the trip?
Now that one, we do employ.And then saving up Disney Visa reward dollars and applying them to the cost of the vacation.
Given that one is actually paid for overtime…And then working overtime to pay off the credit card.
Unless it’s offered for free, it’s not an option (for us at least)We also did not get the dining plan.
Por favor manténgase alejado de las puertas!Please keep your arms and legs inside the Trip Report at all times
The exciting drive down I-95 to get to Disney World.
Nothing new about that…And we go through some shenanigans