Let's Start at the very beginning - PTR:August 17-31 2014 About This Page:

[num1DVCfan]

I just found this, but read through to catch up. I'm glad Wrigley is doing better! I can really understand about the PTO and having to accrue it every month. Luckily our holidays are paid and don't come out of that bucket, but everything else does. I drained mine when I took 12 weeks off for maternity leave, so I'm praying no big mishaps happen in the next 77 days before our trip. you don't need to use your wiggle room!

[lfredsbo]

Glad that things are starting to look up!!! And that Wrigley seems to be feeling better!!!

I have to tell you - I had to laugh about Hermie...............at one point, we had 21 hermit crabs at the same time!!! We started with 2 that we brought back from Cape Cod in one of those small wire cage things...........then kept adding on, eventually graduating to a large aquarium!!! they were interesting to watch and now I am thinking I may have to get a new Hermie!!

[JKnott17]

We do our budget the same way, it's always nice when those 3 payday months come around! Glad you have that money to play with for Disney too.

Hope that nothing major pops up so you don't have to dip into your leftover PTO hours. ixe: Great news about Wrigley too!

[OhToodles!]

Dylan at least hasnt missed 22 days. Just 7 like you.
Glad to hear things are looking better. And happy to hear Wrigley is doing better. Nice to meet Hermie!

[Colexis Mom]

Glad things are turning around. Pixies for no more snow days! DH gets paid bi-monthly as well, so I love those 2 months when we get the "extra" check!

[stardust190]

Sorry about the life roller coaster. It does always seem like the skies all open up at the same times doesn't it? At least your pup is doing better. And you've got some spare vacation time in there. I know I tried to keep 40 hours in my bank when I came back from maternity leave with Mallory. It just didn't happen for me. Meaning I didn't really have enough time for our recent Disney trip, but things work out anyways. I hope they do for you as well. And that you can keep that 40 hours!

[mommapants]

Originally Posted by xwewhisper

So glad things are looking up! 20 hours and an extra "free pay" must be such a sigh of relief for you. Love the Hermie story, how cute!

Well 20 hours is still tight but I feel like I'm in crisis mode so it will have to do.

Originally Posted by Cam22

Glad the finances and time off work are looking doable! for no more unexpected expenses of either.

Your grammar question: If you are referring to a specific person as Mom or Dad, it is acting as a proper noun and should be capitalized. If you are referring to any mom or dad in general, it is acting as a common noun and is not capitalized.

Thanks Cam, that is what I thought but then I second guess myself - OMG school was too long ago.

Originally Posted by lauriep

Glad you can see the light with the budget issues at least. I'd be like you, not wanting to deplete my hours or savings completely. It makes me happy to hear that Wrigley was cheery this morning! You are a good pet owner to give such care not only to the pups, but also to Hermie!

I've often said if I ever get reincarnated I'm coming back as one of my dogs.

Originally Posted by KMB733

Sorry to hear about Wrigley, but glad to hear he is doing better. And also happy to hear that things are looking up for you!

Mee too. It was just a sigh of relief to calculate out my hours and realize this is still do-able.

Originally Posted by num1DVCfan

I just found this, but read through to catch up. I'm glad Wrigley is doing better! I can really understand about the PTO and having to accrue it every month. Luckily our holidays are paid and don't come out of that bucket, but everything else does. I drained mine when I took 12 weeks off for maternity leave, so I'm praying no big mishaps happen in the next 77 days before our trip. you don't need to use your wiggle room!

Ouch - 12 weeks! I took family leave but didn't get paid from work When Evan was born. I took all my vacation and since I got so many hand-me down items (crib, high chair, stroller, chaning table) my family just gave me money as my shower gifts so I was able to stay home with him for the 12 weeks and not have to go back to work at 6 weeks.
Welcome to the TR

Originally Posted by lfredsbo

Glad that things are starting to look up!!! And that Wrigley seems to be feeling better!!!

I have to tell you - I had to laugh about Hermie...............at one point, we had 21 hermit crabs at the same time!!! We started with 2 that we brought back from Cape Cod in one of those small wire cage things...........then kept adding on, eventually graduating to a large aquarium!!! they were interesting to watch and now I am thinking I may have to get a new Hermie!!

OMG 21 - are you crazy. I did read that although they are called hermit crabs they are very social and like to live in groups. But I'm not about to buy anymore.

Originally Posted by JKnott17

We do our budget the same way, it's always nice when those 3 payday months come around! Glad you have that money to play with for Disney too.

Hope that nothing major pops up so you don't have to dip into your leftover PTO hours. ixe: Great news about Wrigley too!

I relly do love those 3rd pays. I just dropped down Wrigley's meds this weekend so hoping he continues to improve. He lloks better but don't know if he will ever be the same as he was before all this.

Originally Posted by OhToodles!

Dylan at least hasnt missed 22 days. Just 7 like you.
Glad to hear things are looking better. And happy to hear Wrigley is doing better. Nice to meet Hermie!

I'd tried to get some pictures of Hermie this weekend but he wasn't being very helpful.

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Glad things are turning around. Pixies for no more snow days! DH gets paid bi-monthly as well, so I love those 2 months when we get the "extra" check!

Extrapay is ALWAYS nice.

Originally Posted by stardust190

Sorry about the life roller coaster. It does always seem like the skies all open up at the same times doesn't it? At least your pup is doing better. And you've got some spare vacation time in there. I know I tried to keep 40 hours in my bank when I came back from maternity leave with Mallory. It just didn't happen for me. Meaning I didn't really have enough time for our recent Disney trip, but things work out anyways. I hope they do for you as well. And that you can keep that 40 hours!

40 hours is just me be protective I guess but you know what it is like if your child comes home sick - I mean all I need it to be home with Evan for 5 days and Poof - all your time is gone.

[mommapants]

PTR Part 6

Well as always, thanks everyone for following along on my boring little journey.
I love reading everyone's TR but just feel like mine are not that interesting, probably because it is just my life and that is just ordinary.

I do like writing PRT because it gets me excited for my trip but also helps me plan out things I need to do before hand as well.

I took some pictures over the weekend, which was a busy one, but haven't downloaded them. Will try tonight as my Mom is planning on taking Evan to see Mr. Peabody and Sherman. That is if he gets 4 or 5 stars on his chart today. I'm hoping he does because I could use a little time at home to get some things done. (When Evan was a baby and he would pee his diaper I used to call him Mr. Peabody. I told him that the other day and he thought it was hysterical)

Evan had a play date with Eric yesterday (after I bought him $100 in baseball equipment) I shouldn't complain. This is his 3rd year playing baseball, he has been using a glove from 5 Below so I finally bought him a good glove. He should be able to use this one through Middle School. Also bought him a real bat as we only have wiffle bats and this year he needs the dreaded cup. He is already complaining it is uncomfortable - I told him try wearing a bra. --Anyway got off track. So he had a play date and I was able to finally go out a buy a new pair of sneakers. I figured I will have lots of time to break them in before August.

Some of you may remember I tore my Achilles tendon about 18 months ago and had surgery to repair it. (read about it here…http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...ml#post4043826) I’m now finding buying shoes is a real chore. I had to get rid of all my heels. If I wear them they do not stretch my calf muscle enough and my leg gets really sore. So I can only wear flats. Problem is most shoes hit directly across my scar so I have that added problem. Plus my one foot and ankle have swollen enough that it is now a half size larger than my other foot.

The sneakers I had while using the boot/cast have really been through the paces and I just needed a new pair. Getting out and trying on shoes with Evan around (and all these new issues) has been a challenge but I was able to find 2 pairs so those along with my beloved Crocs and I should be all set for WDW.

I don’t care how ugly Crocs are – they are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn and will most likely buy 2 more pairs this spring.

Alright so now onto my day 1 plans.


As far as I’m concerned I’m on vacation as soon as I leave work on my last day so Friday, August 15 is when I will begin relaxing.

Saturday will be spent finishing packing and cleaning and either getting the dogs to the kennel or getting the sitter all set up. I’ll plan a pedicure visit as well and we will probably go out to dinner as there won’t be much food in the house and I don’t want to make a ton of dirty dishes that need to be cleaned.

Sunday, August 17 will be the official first day of the trip. For once I have not planned a flight at
stupid o’clock. We are set to leave Philly on South West at 10:40am. This means we will be able to get up about our normal time and have a normal morning routine and eat breakfast and finish up last minute stuff before heading to the airport. Haven’t figured out yet if we are driving and parking, having my sister drive us or getting a transfer.

Parking for 14 days may be about the same about of money as a transfer. Our last trip there was 11 of us and we got a stretch limo to and from the airport. Both boys have stated to me that they hope we get another limo for this trip. Isn’t it amazing the details of the last trip they both liked… basically the trip to the airport.

Since we are staying at SOG that means no magical express so I’m gonna book a transfer (still need to do that, maybe can get the limo here????). Hopefully flights will leave on time and arrive on time and we will heading to the bubble by around 1:45

We will check in to SOG again hopefully room will be ready but going prepared that it will not and then picking up our car. SOG has a rental counter right at the hotel and picking up the car here saves all the airport fees. It was over 200 cheaper getting the car at Shades then it was to pick up at the airport so I figured we could get a transfer from MCO for less than $200. It was the same price to return the car to MCO or to SOG so we will return the car right at the airport and then no transfer needed back to the airport.

Shades of Green now allows you to pre-order your tickets so those should be waiting for us at check in and we won’t have to wait in the ticket counter line. Still debating on which ones to get but really leaning towards Annual passes – we are right on that break even point between AP/MYW

I know for sure that I am getting an annual pass so I can get TIW and it will give us free parking at the theme parks too as Shades guests don’t get free parking. I’m just not sure if getting AP for everyone. With an AP from Shades you get a voucher and need to go to guest services/ticket booth to have it converted and activated. We are gonna head over to AK to the ticket/guest services to take care of that and then have lunch/dinner at Rain Forest Café at 4pm.

Now depending on if everyone gets an annual pass or just Magic Your Way, we may enter AK and try a few things – Safari or may go in just so our AP are active and then hopefully we could book our FP+ for Monday(later that night). I’m hearing active AP holders can book FP+ up to 7 days in advance – not as good as 60 in advance but better than same day. So I’ll see. If I can book them then I’ll probably spend some time on the kindle at RFC to play around, otherwise it will be tonight at the hotel.

The kids love the Rain Forest Café. We have one near us in Atlantic City. The first time I took Evan he was around 2-3 and he did NOT like the rain storms. We went back about a year later and he still hated it. On our last trip to Disney we ate at RFC in DTD on our first day and Evan fell asleep at the table. Last summer we went back to Atlantic City and I was going to take him to the Hard Rock Café for lunch but he said he wanted to back to RFC – he loved it this time so we are heading there for lunch again. I need to join the Landry’s club because we are eating atT-REX too and they give you coupons for your first visit after joining the club.

If we decided to go into the park after dinner we will probably have about an hour so I was thinking about letting the boys explore the Boneyard or try Kilimanjaro Safari or Meet Mickey and Minnie or just explore the Oasis and Discovery Island trails

What would you do??

So from here we will head back to the hotel to swim and unpack and hopefully book FP+ for our first few days of touring. We may hit the ice cream stand in the lobby and hopefully off to bed at our “normal” time so we are not starting our vacation with an already messed up sleeping schedule.

Tonight’s prayer will be thanking the Lord we are finally here and imagining the great times that lay ahead of us.

If we are feeling REALY ambitious we MIGHT try to see Fantasmic! or MSEP but most likely will not.

Today’s Firsts:
First time using SW to MCO we have used Spirit out of Atlantic City for our last 2 trips and I think ValuJet before that.
First time NOT renting a car at MCO
First time at RFC in AK, we have always done DTD before.
First time using FP+ and if available to SOG Magic Bands. Presently they are not available to SOG guests but may open up – here is to hoping anyway.
First time using my tablet (Kindle) to book FP+
First time for Eric to be away from Mommy for 2 weeks


Coming up next: Day 2 plans

[xwewhisper]

Great first day plans! I've heard great things about AK later in the day, so I think the plan to pop over after your meal is great! I much prefer Southwest to Spirit, so hopefully you will enjoy your flight too and have a smooth first day!

[KMB733]

I agree about the crocs, they may be ugly, but they are so comfortable!! Looks like you've got good plans for day one!

[Cam22]

Congrats on getting some new sneakers! You have a full first day planned, and I'm amazed at how many firsts it includes.

[JKnott17]

Great plans for day 1! Definitely get the Landry's card, we have one since there is a RFC close by in our local mall, and it is so worth it. You'll get a $25 reward just for signing up, and the card also gets you immediate seating at RFC and TRex, no need for an ADR. When we showed our card last year to the hostes at TRex she called it the "golden ticket"

[shazza]

First day looks perfect! Good idea to break your sneakers in.

[lauriep]

Glad you've got some shoe options that will work for you. I have a similar scar up the back of my heel from surgery when I was in college. It was years before all the tenderness from that area was completely gone. I only wore sling-back shoes or clogs during that time. If Crocs existed then, I'd have had them in every color, ugly or not!

[Russi01]

Day 1 sounds like a great time.