Another August Adventure: Fun, Family, Friends and Firsts - COMPLETED 11/2 with Final Thoughts! - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Another August Adventure: Fun, Family, Friends and Firsts - COMPLETED 11/2 with Final Thoughts!
Ok, it wasn't like I was planning to totally skip WDW this year but after our wonderful August trip last year my DD17 Jasmine (AKA Pochantas on our past trips) mentioned trying something else for our annual summer vacation.
I was ok with this, figured I could fit in a long WDW weekend somewhere which would apease DD9 Angel (AKA Tinkerbell) and still give DD17 a different vacation.
So we discussed Jamaica, and then there was the idea of doing a Disney cruise, which meant we could fit in a few days at WDW, we even thought of hitting California.
I played with some numbers and came up with some doable options and presented them to Jasmine who then came back with "you know mom we never got to do a water park last trip", and "I really want to try Raglan Road, do you think we could fit those in if we do the cruise?" Then she did not know if she wanted to do only a 3 or 4 day cruise so she felt that maybe a longer cruise would be better for her graduation trip.
Then she started thinking about Jamaica, but after looking at the websites of some of the resorts I had looked into she just wasn't too excited. When I asked her why she said "well they look like fun but I don't know if I really want to lay on a beach for a week".
I told her to think about the options and let me know what she decided...and can you all guess what she chose?
She decided she wanted to head back to WDW, do the water parks, try Disney Quest and eat at some of the places that we never got to try on some of our previous trips.
Well she got no arguement from me or her sister so we started to look at dates. Jookiba was planning on going in August and I really wanted to get to spend some time with her, since our last overlapping trip did not leave us much time to visit so after looking at the work schedule it looked like I could be there for at least four days of her trip which put me in a good mood.
Until my boss decided he was taking his family to Scotland and the UK during the time I planned my vacation so you know who won here...
So no Jookiba this trip (but we have our February trip to look forward to so I knew I would get to see her soon) and I sat down again with the calendar. Last year the first MNNSHP was on the first Friday of September so I figured maybe they would do it then again. So I decided on August 27th through September 4th. Figuring if the party was on the 3rd we could then have a lazy day on the 4th before our usual evening flight.
With the Labor Day holiday that would give me 10 days for only one week of PTO as we only work 4 hours on Friday so I figured I could fly out Friday afternoon, and not have to go back to work until the Tuesday after Labor Day.
I normally like a few more days to relax before school starts (which starts on the 8th of September here) but after talking to the girls they were ok with having the weekend at home so I called my wonderful TA Mary over at AAA to get some prices.
So we were waiting on MNNSHP party dates (which of course came out and was the week after so no MNNSHP for us this year but 2011 is going to happen )and also holding our breath for free dining but I kept myself busy as one of the ladies at my job was planning her kids first WDW trip, or they asked me to help plan it.
They went the last week of May and returned just as Free Dining was announced. She called me upstairs to tell me all about how much they loved the trip and to give me some fudge that they had brought me. She asked me if I had booked my trip yet, I told her I was going to book it any day as Free Dining was just announced...
And then she said well her husband was so impressed with the work I put in to making their first trip so magical so the deposit on my trip was on them I told her that they did not have to do that, I helped her with her trip because I just enjoy planning but after an hour going back and forth I finally relented, she said it was something they really wanted to do for me and the kids.
Since we knew there would be no MNNSHP when we were there I decided to move the trip up by a day, leaving on the 26th and coming home on Friday the 3rd instead, figuring having the whole weekend home would make my trip even feel longer as it would give me three full days to relax and unwind before heading back to work.
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Great start! I just love reading your trip reports! It sounds like there were some bumps in the planning road, but that it all seems to have worked out. So nice of your friend to pay your deposit! I wish I had friends like that !! Can't wait to hear about all the rest of your plans! It will help keep me occupied as I stop trying to change things for my July adventure!
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I'm so excited to see you've started your PTR!! I always enjoy 'tagging along' with your family and sharing in your adventures. Maybe one day, we'll actually be at WDW at the same time...
Sorry you all are going to miss MNSSHP this year. But I know when you do make it, you all are going to LOVE it!
And... I wish someone would ask me to help plan their trip! What a great friend to appreciate your planning skills.
Hmmm...who could the two extra people be joining in with your fun this year???
Great start! I just love reading your trip reports! It sounds like there were some bumps in the planning road, but that it all seems to have worked out. So nice of your friend to pay your deposit! I wish I had friends like that !! Can't wait to hear about all the rest of your plans! It will help keep me occupied as I stop trying to change things for my July adventure!
I was really shocked with the woman paying my deposit, in all honesty just having them come back telling me what a wonderful trip they had was payment enough (well plus that delicious fudge) but I was really touched by their gesture, it definitely was some "Mickey magic" touching us even before we made it through the gates.
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Originally Posted by chezp
Great start! So sorry MNSSHP didn't work out for you guys this year though.
I was upset a bit but it just leaves us something to look forward to next year, as we really have a lot of new things or things we have not done in a while so I think the trip will be packed full of fun even without the MNNSHP.
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Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great start Meg!
Thanks Marnie, will be back with more soon
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Originally Posted by tammyd_rn
Great start sorry to hear you will be missing out on MNSSHP!
I was a bit dissappointed, we loved the MVMCP and really wanted to experience the Halloween party but we already are planning to do a trip next year so we can do the party and the F&WF, plus a man at my job has offered to let me use some of his points....so the plan is we will enjoy our first trip in one of the Epcot Resorts so definitely something to look forward too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nimros
I'm so excited to see you've started your PTR!! I always enjoy 'tagging along' with your family and sharing in your adventures. Maybe one day, we'll actually be at WDW at the same time...
Sorry you all are going to miss MNSSHP this year. But I know when you do make it, you all are going to LOVE it!
And... I wish someone would ask me to help plan their trip! What a great friend to appreciate your planning skills.
Hmmm...who could the two extra people be joining in with your fun this year???
I know, our trips keep missing each other by a few weeks, one day it will happen. I am sure the girls would have a blast together.
I should have another update done soon introducing our travel guests, one is not totally new
Sorry your original plans fell through, Meg, but you picked GREAT replacement dates. How nice of your coworker to pay your deposit. I would've been happy with the fudge, too!
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
Thanks Cam, I am so enjoying reading your June adventures as well.
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Originally Posted by Jessie092408
Your plans look good so far! (I mean, the dates you're going and everything.) I'm going Sept. 12-26th, so it looks like I'll just miss you!
Thanks. I was really worried about going in August but we had such a great time last year and it is just so hard to take the older one out of school anymore so it works out well, a great way to end the summer.
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Originally Posted by Luvsun
Great start Meg!
Your plans look great! I am sorry you miss MNSSHP! But you will have so much fun!
Thanks, at first I was dissapointed but we are really looking forward to the trip even without MNSSHP, and it leaves something for next year
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Originally Posted by nalexander
Great start. We will be there at the same time. I was hoping to do MNSSHP as well, but we have done it the last two years.
Maybe we will get to say hi
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Originally Posted by PrincessSharon
Sorry your original plans fell through, Meg, but you picked GREAT replacement dates. How nice of your coworker to pay your deposit. I would've been happy with the fudge, too!
It was such a surprise about the deposit, I really did not want to take it but she was so excited about doing it. She is really a wonderful person to work with, and her girls are so adorable, I was so happy that they had such a magical first trip.
It always seems that my first dates never stick, but I do agree my replacement dates are not bad I will get the chance to visit with some great Passporters
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Originally Posted by Grammy Grumpy
Great start, what nice people to provide your deposit! But I also love to help people who are planning a trip (first or otherwise!).
Planning their trip was so much fun, I have actually planned a few co-workers trips, the joke around the office is bring me fudge and I will take care of all your planning needs. She really went above and beyond but I had such a thrill since it was their first trip...and when they came back with such great memories it made it all the more special.
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(but we have our February trip to look forward to so I knew I would get to see her soon) and I sat down again with the calendar. Last year the first MNNSHP was on the first Friday of September so I figured maybe they would do it then again. So I decided on August 27th through September 4th. Figuring if the party was on the 3rd we could then have a lazy day on the 4th before our usual evening flight.
)and also holding our breath for free dining but I kept myself busy as one of the ladies at my job was planning her kids first WDW trip, or they asked me to help plan it. 
I told her that they did not have to do that, I helped her with her trip because I just enjoy planning but after an hour going back and forth I finally relented, she said it was something they really wanted to do for me and the kids.
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!! Can't wait to hear about all the rest of your plans! It will help keep me occupied as I stop trying to change things for my July adventure!
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So sorry MNSSHP didn't work out for you guys this year though. 
I always enjoy 'tagging along' with your family and sharing in your adventures. Maybe one day, we'll actually be at WDW at the same time...
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