The "5 Reasons to NOT GO" Versus "5 Reasons TO GO" Surprise Trip - Page 3 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Sounds like you have a great trip planned. I love those Disney Surprise commercials. I'm always telling David when I see those that I can't wait to have kids so we can surprise them with Disney Trips. I love the Pop...but I've never stayed anywhere but Value due to budget reasons. Hopefully you'll enjoy it!
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So, it's starting to get really hard to keep this trip a secret from DS and also not overplan it like always.
We leave on our trip in 2 months and under normal circumstances, I'd actually already have a few things packed for the trip. Okay, I confess, I have opened up the 'Disney Box' in the closet and made in inventory of what we have and what we'll need. Some of DS's favorite Disney shirts have begun to disappear from the laundry and make their way into the 'Disney Box'. SO, a little packing has started to take place.
In the last week, we've learned that DS's Tball season is being delayed due to uniform issues. We had scheduled the trip to take place after his last game of the season. Now, he'll be missing the last 2 games. Also, we learned that his cub scout pack's spring camping trip has been scheduled right in the middle of our trip. We've been asking all year when this trip normally takes place. Everyone always told us late May...around Memorial Day. Nope...it's in the middle of May this year...right in the middle of our trip to WDW. We've been non commital with DS about being able to go. We don't want him to be disappointed, but we also think he'd much rather go to WDW than camping with the cub scouts. Hopefully, we'll be able to make it on the Fall camp out.
I've found it extremely difficut not to think about this trip. I've just returned back from a trip to San Francisco....gasp!....with my MIL! Yes! I know! What was I thinking going on a solo trip with my MIL? Well, you see it was kind of an accident. Way back on Thanksgiving, my MIL made a depressed comment about having to travel to San Franciso on business and not wanting to go alone. Before I knew what my mouth was doing, it responded, "I'll go with you to San Francisco!" After recovering from swallowing my tongue, I tried to gracefully retract my statement, but to no avail. I've stressed about this trip ever since and let's just say it was just as bad as I thought it was going to be. A word of advice for anyone out there who doesn't particularly enjoy their MIL.....it doesn't matter if you've never gotten to go 'there', it doesn't matter if it's all expences paid (supposedly), it doesn't matter if you convince yourself that maybe you just need to give your MIL another chance....JUST SAY
However, I did learn just how much I like to be the "planner" in charge of a trip and also how much I appreciate traveling with my husband and son. And of course, I was reminded of what I have always known. Disney World is one of the greatest places on earth to vacation! Amongst all the stress of traveling and spending time with MIL, I did what I could to enjoy the scenery and make it as good as it could be. After all, every dark cloud has a Disney lining!
I was fortunate enough to make a brief sojourn to the Union Square Disney Store on Stockton St. So, of course I took the opportunity to shop for some surprise goodies for our surprise trip. It's an amazing location and a beautiful store. I only wish I had more time (and money).
Another destination that reminded me fondly of our trips to WDW was China Town. The China Pavilion is one of our favorite shopping destinations in Epcot's World Showcase. One of our standing souvenir purchases is to pick out a couple of distinct pairs of chopsticks. However, I couldn't bring myself to buy any in China Town. Everytime we get take out and pick up our WDW chopsticks, it reminds us of our trips to WDW. I didn't want to have to remember "are these WDW chopsticks or San Francisco chopsticks?" I did, however, make a purchase for DH in China Town that we normally save for our WDW trips. Every trip to WDW, DH picks out a hand painted carnival mask in 'Italy'. Imagine my amazement at finding some very similar masks in China Town for 1/5 the price of what we pay in WDW. After further/closer comparisson to our WDW masks, they aren't quite as thick and definately are not hand painted. Even still, the similarity is remarkable and the mask I selected fits into DH's collection nicely.
Another Disney experience I had on the trip is admittedly a little more of a stretch. In all the times we've been to WDW, our time exploring DTD has always been limited. As a result, we've never had the opportunity to visit Ghiradelli's Ice Cream Shop. Needless to say, I made it a point to try out some of Ghiradelli's offerings in it's original location. Now, although I've perused WDW's Ghiradelli menu on All Ears quite often, I have never been able to lock in on a "I'm definately ordering that!" item. I had heard that there is often quite a line at Ghiradelli's, and I figured I'd have enough time to figure out what to order while in line. When we arrived (after a deliberately light lunch), I was shocked to discover no one in line and hardly anyone in the store at all. I was caught off guard a little bit and had but a minute to select an indulgence. ( under pressure from impatient MIL!) Being a dark chocolate fan (since it's healthier ), I narrowed in on the "Intense Dark" offerings and selected a Mint Bliss. MIL announced a sudden attack of milk not agreeing with her (first I had ever heard of it) and decided to go with a simple Cafe Mo"ch"a. Yep...Mo"ch"a. Not Mocha, but Mo"ch"a! And yes, last time I checked Cafe Mocha is 2/3 milk.
My Mint Bliss was delicious. The dark chocolate fudge was warm and gooey! I found no fault with the Mint Bliss sundae at all....save for the fact, that the peanut butter concoction delivered to the couple sitting near us looked even better. So did the Ghiradelli Brownie I saw on the way out. Long story short, the only problem with Ghiradelli's Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop is that it produces way too many decadent goodies...way more than anyone could hope to consume and still make it all the way back downtown on Cable Car without being sick. It wasn't until I was several miles into an Elliptical workout back at the hotel that I was kicking myself over not ordering some brownies to go! I really could have used one when MIL started in on lecturing me about not needing to spend so much time exercising if I didn't eat so much crappy food! um. Okay then!
So here I am....San Francisco in my review mirror and WDW just starting to come into view. Will I be able to resist my commando planning and touring urges? Only time will tell.
I do have a couple of trip details diverting my attention and driving me crazy today.
A) DS pointed out a picture of himself trying on one of those huge birthday, cake hats on a previous trip. He really, really wants one. My thoughts? It's huge! It's tacky! It's $30! Once we get home, it will go into the abyss that is his closet and never be seen again. On the other hand....this is a surprise birthday trip. Should we surprise him with the hat too? We can order it today with free shipping and use it as a part of our trip reveal or we can have Memories by Betsy get it along with a few other things and have it waiting at POP when we arrive. I CAN'T DECIDE!
B) We've already signed up for Early Bird Check In on SWA for our return flight. We decided to take our chances on our way there. Is that a mistake. MIL got EB Check-in for both legs of our San Fran trip and we were in the last part of the A group on both flights. We've never had a problem getting seats for the 3 of us together in the very back of the plane, but we've not traveled as a family to MCO since they started the EB check-in program. My instincts tell me it will be fine and just take our chances.
Oh! and some good news. DH got a $100 visa gift card for the holidays and had planned on using it to buy some new winter/snow boots. Remember, we live in Phoenix...so the odds of DH using these boots more than once or twice a year is a stretch. More likely, they'll get lost in the closet and sit there waiting for us to take a trip up North. Oh - and they'll sit there next to DH's current winter/snow boots that are in perfectly good condition. Needless to say this has been one of those issues between DH and I where we've made a silent agreement not to argue about it. So, imagine my shock when I asked DH if he had ever ordered his boots and he said "No! I thought we'd save the gift card to use sometime in May !" Whoo hoo! I think he's trying to make up for a bad trip with his mother!
More to come! Thanks for reading!
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Countdown to April/May 2014 Boardwalk Inn.....3 Generations trip with my mom (first trip) and DS9 (fourth trip). DS's gonna show his Gramma the world!
I like following you not planning. Hope you have a great time. We stayed at POP last year and thought it was great. We are doing ASMR this year. I hear you about the hat issue($), but it would be a cool way to reveal the surprise (plus I am getting an image of him wearing it on the plane). The flight attendants would love it!
Great PTR- I'm all caught up!
Love your 5 and 5 list!
Love the idea of surprise- and I vote for the fun, tacky hat as part of the surprise; at least he can get lots of wear out of it all week there!
And, the POLY is my dream resort- I'm jealous!!
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Read all about it in my TR, "Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!" Jill Phil. 4: 13
I hear you about the hat issue($), but it would be a cool way to reveal the surprise (plus I am getting an image of him wearing it on the plane). The flight attendants would love it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by I live with a 'Stitch'!
I vote for the fun, tacky hat as part of the surprise; at least he can get lots of wear out of it all week there!
Okay! Okay! It's 2 votes for the huge, tacky hat! I'm sold! Only a couple hours left to order with free shipping on Park merch....Off to use DH's gift card!
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Countdown to April/May 2014 Boardwalk Inn.....3 Generations trip with my mom (first trip) and DS9 (fourth trip). DS's gonna show his Gramma the world!
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It figures! The huge, tacky hat is no longer on the disneystore.com site. It was just there yesterday. I'll be checking back to see if it suddenly comes back after the free shipping deal ends. They have an ear hat that says "It's My Birthday!" But somehow, I think DS would be dissapointed. We may be using Memories by Betsy again afterall. We used her service on our 2007 trip and had a great experience....however, I was really starting to get excited thinking of using the hat during the reveal. Oh Well.
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Countdown to April/May 2014 Boardwalk Inn.....3 Generations trip with my mom (first trip) and DS9 (fourth trip). DS's gonna show his Gramma the world!
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I love the Pop...but I've never stayed anywhere but Value due to budget reasons. Hopefully you'll enjoy it!
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Also, we learned that his cub scout pack's spring camping trip has been scheduled right in the middle of our trip. We've been asking all year when this trip normally takes place. Everyone always told us late May...around Memorial Day. Nope...it's in the middle of May this year...right in the middle of our trip to WDW. We've been non commital with DS about being able to go. We don't want him to be disappointed, but we also think he'd much rather go to WDW than camping with the cub scouts. Hopefully, we'll be able to make it on the Fall camp out. 
A word of advice for anyone out there who doesn't particularly enjoy their MIL.....it doesn't matter if you've never gotten to go 'there', it doesn't matter if it's all expences paid (supposedly), it doesn't matter if you convince yourself that maybe you just need to give your MIL another chance....JUST SAY 
), I narrowed in on the "Intense Dark" offerings and selected a Mint Bliss. MIL announced a sudden attack of milk not agreeing with her (first I had ever heard of it) and decided to go with a simple Cafe Mo"ch"a. 
Yep...Mo"ch"a. Not Mocha, but Mo"ch"a! And yes, last time I checked Cafe Mocha is 2/3 milk. 
I really could have used one when MIL started in on lecturing me about not needing to spend so much time exercising if I didn't eat so much crappy food! 
um. Okay then!
I think he's trying to make up for a bad trip with his mother!
And sorry about missing a bunch of DS's games and camp outs! 
It'll be here before you know it! 
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