Trip--October, 2010-the big 4-0!! - Updated 4/5 - Baby Boy is Born! About This Page:

[KimandMark]

I haven't been around the boards in ages (seriously, like 4 years?). Between job and life changes I didn't have much time for cruising the boards and planning Disney like I used to. Not that I didn't do Disney--I certainly did, several times, I just didn't write trip reports and pretty much relied on my stock pile of information from years past.

The quick version of the last four years: bigger/better job with more responsibility, divorce, Disney trip, discovering I hate the bigger/better job, dating (god, that's a nightmare!), meeting Mr. J, Disney trip/Marathon, getting even bigger/better job, moving from NY to Detroit (I know, who moves to Michigan to work!!??), Switzerland trip, Disney Trip, Ireland, Ironman, Italy, Disney Trip again, job keeps getting better (although perhaps not as big), Long Course Triathlon Nationals...that brings us to now. Four trips coming up: Texas for the Lonestar Triathlon, Washington, DC for a wedding, Italy with Mr. J (cause he loves it!!) and the insane trip this pre-trip report is about.

Why is it insane?

1. 40. This is my birthday trip. I'll be 40. I've actually had to get used to it already, because triathlon events categorize atheletes by age and to make it simple, your age is considered to be how old you will be on the last day of the year. So since January 1, USATriathlon has considered me a 40 year old. That doesn't make it better. Anyway, back to 40. A long time ago, when I had no money I decided that on my 40th birthday I would eat at Victoria and Alberts. Well, its here. And while its still expensive, I can now make the splurge and with careful planning not worry about next months bills.

2. USATriathlon Long Course Nationals/Tri Club Nationals are being held on October 2. That's the weekend I chose to start my birthday trip. I hadn't planned on going again. See, last year I qualified for World Championships, but opted not to join Team USA and go to Germany because Mr. J and I had already planned a trip to Italy that conflicted. Really, I didn't feel bad. Team USA makes you pay to transport your bike, buy the sweatsuit, use the team hotel, etc and its becomes insanely expensive. Not to mention that I qualified by the skin of my teeth and would basically be going to Germany to get my a$$ handed to me. Flashforward to this winter's newletter from USAT. Nationals are at Myrtle Beach. Its the only qualifier for Worlds. And Worlds? In Las Vegas!! That means if I qualify I can totally go!!! Then I realize that October 2 is the first day of the Disney trip. No worries...here's the skinny: I fly to SC on Friday AM, rent a car to Myrtle Beach--all my equipment etc will be in a team van already on site, race on Saturday AM, barring really bad bike wrecks, I'll drive back the airport, fly to MCO at 4PM ish, Mr. J will fly in to MCO that evening as well, we get our car, and into BWV by 8PM. Late dinner at Jiko is likely. See, totally fine. I do feel really bad for whoever gets to sit next to me on the plane though, I won't have time to shower and I might still be in my race shorts...

3. In case I didn't mention it, I'll be turning 40.


Last fall Mr. J and I went for a free dining weekend and hit the Food and Wine Festival. Being foodies and winos, this was a great weekend!! We upgraded to the deluxe meal plan so we could do all signature restaurants (you pay $25ish more--but with the base plan free, its a bargain!) and used the snack credits for the FWF booths. We had dinners at Jiko, Yachtsman, and Citricos. We ate just about everything in Epcot. We drank untold amounts of wine (markup anyone?). We went to some seminars. In short, we had a great time and decided to return to do it again.

We are fortunate to have two Disney Visa's that are used for personal and business expenses. Mr. J can often charge 5-8k a month to his visa when working with multiple customers (he works on very expensive heavy equipment and when something needs fixing, he pays for it and bills them...) so our Disney points have really racked up in the last two years, making a return to FWF and dinner at V&As very reasonable.

First task--rent me some DVC points for BWV. After last year's stay at ASM we decided that while its inexpensive, the travel to Epcot would be easier from BWV. By renting points for standard view studio we paid only a bit more than ASM would cost and we would be able to walk (okay, stumble) back to our room after a tour of the world and its wine. and beer. and those really yummy frozen vodka things....

Knowing that the 11 month window for BWV would mean DVCers snapping up standard view studios I contacted some folks I'd rented from previously and managed to snag one. We rented the points upfront in November and it now feels like we never even paid for it! I love planning ahead. At the same time, I had a trip I had to cancel and ended up with a credit good for one year with Airtran, so the multilegged journey I had planned use that credit. While I know that one way tickets/multi leg flights are expensive, that I'd paid for that ticket 6 months earlier made the pain much less!

While waiting for my 180 day window for ressies at V&As, I started training again. After Nationals I had two months off (that included the Oct FWF trip...), gained some weight, and slept a lot. But in January it all started again. Biking indoors on the trainer, running indoors on the treadmill, getting up at 4AM to get it all done--all with any eye towards October's race. The first stop on that plan is Texas for the Lonestar 70.3 race, a long course tri that will be windy and hot but a good test. Its only three weeks away and I'm back down to the right weight, my speed is looking good, and I'm running well. But the best thing this week was making my ressie on Monday. I called the dedicated line, spoke with a fabulous CM, and am now booked for my 40th birthday dinner on October 3 at 8:30. Given that its the day after a huge race I can look forward to two more things: I'll be super hungry and I'll fit in what ever dress I choose to wear.

So now its back to sit tight for awhile. I didn't make other ressies, I know we want to eat at Jiko, but am not sure if Saturday or Monday is better. We are talking about day to day plans, like should we go to a waterpark on sunday and FWF on monday? Our tickets are gone from previous trips, so we also aren't sure if we should get the 10 day again, with no expiration and park hopping or just buy what we need for this trip. And plane tickets. Got to get the plane tickets. I'm waiting until June to start looking, they schedules aren't very solid this far ahead and I've got to make sure I can catch the flights.

In any case, I'm very excited and find myself returning to the boards to read about everyone's plans and its a little like it used to be for me. When we make some additional decisions, I'll be back to post!!