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Preparation in Earnest

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Day 425 in preparation to partake in a trip to meet up with Mickey

Tonight I begin to pack in earnest.  I will get busy with the laundry tonight and tomorrow.  And in the meantime, I will lay my suitcase out on the bed and put in the things that I have already put aside for the trip: detergent pods, dryer sheets, sunscreen, sunglasses, swimsuit, cover-up, shampoo, vegetarian chili, and more.

I have a Damascus Road rehearsal tonight, so I won’t get a whole lot done, but it will be a start.

Hair cut and colored?  Check!

Mani-pedi?  On the schedule for tomorrow after work.

It’s getting close (5 days away!!!!) and I am getting ready.  Woo hoo!  Meet you at the Kingdom!

 

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Fastpass+ Frustration!

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Day 424  in my fuming frustration on the way to meeting Mickey (6 days to go)

OK, so here’s the deal.  I got online at 11:00 pm last night (midnight EST) and attempted to select my FastPass+ choices for our December trip to Walt Disney World.  We are staying at Disney’s All Star Sports Resort for three nights.  Now the Disney spiel says that if you are staying on property, then you can book your FastPass+ choices 60 days in advance of your check-in date.  Since today is 60 days from our check-in I went for it.  It would only let me select Fastpass+ choices for two days, instead of three.  Man!  I was so frustrated!  So I called Disney today, and I was told that I had to purchase park tickets in order to book FassPass+.  And the nice lady that I spoke with said, “Im surprised it let you book any days without purchasing tickets!”  Now that is not at all clear on the Disney website.

Here’s what undercovertourist.com has to say about it: “FastPass+ is Disney’s reservation system that allows guests to book advance reservations for experiences and attractions in the park. Guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel can make FastPass+ reservations up to 60 days in advance of check-in for their entire length of stay, while guests staying offsite can make reservations up to 30 days in advance of each day of their theme park visit. “

See? It says nothing about it being tied to ticket purchase.  Sheesh!

Anyway today I ordered our park tickets and now we have Fastpass+ in place for three days.  Here’s what we got:

  1. December 6–Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Fantasmic!
  2. December 7–Living with the Land, Spaceship Earth, Journey Into Imagination with Figment
  3. December 8–The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Whew! Mischief managed.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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December Disney Duties

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Day 423 in planning my way to meeting up with Mickey (7 days to go!!!!!!!)

Today there are two December Disney-trip related duties.

  1. I made a reservation for Mike and I to have breakfast at Boma which is located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Here’s what DIS Dining has to say about it: “Boma – Flavors of Africa is one of the more unique dining experiences found in Walt Disney World, where the spirit of Africa comes alive. It is an open and natural space surrounded by a kraal-style fence made of sticks. This Boma provides a safe and sheltered area in the bush….The focus is on fresh ingredients with an extensive selection of items influenced by the cuisine of over 50 African countries. The wood-burning grill and rotisserie add to the tantalizing aroma. You’ll dine under thatched roofs while viewing the talented chefs in the open kitchen. Spacious and lively, Boma has become one of the more popular resort dining venues. Anticipate the best in African hospitality.”
    We have never been to Animal Kingdom Lodge, but from photos I’ve seen it looks absolutely beautiful.  Since we aren’t going into a park until at least 4:00 pm (Magic Kingdom for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party) one day, we will meander over for breakfast and snoop around the place.  Here’s the breakfast menu: “Breakfast Buffet – Fresh Fruit, African Pastries, Corned Beef Hash, Omelets, Pancakes, French Toast, Bread Pudding, Pap and Chakalaka, Turkey Bobotie, Hand-carved Breakfast Ham, Hand-carved Turkey, Hand-carved Corned Beef.”  Yum!I  have no idea whatsoever what they are, but I absolutely have to try Pap and Chakalaka and Turkey Bobotie.  🙂
  2. Tonight at 11:01 pm I will go online and book our FastPass+ picks for the December trip. Here’s what I hope to get. Day 1: Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, The Great Movie Ride and Fantasmic!  Day 2: Living with the Land, Spaceship Earth and Journey Into Imagination with Figment.  Day 3: Mickey’s PhilharMagic, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade and Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season.

So that’s my scoop for today.  Thanks for reading.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Frantic Freakout

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Day 422 in freaking out on my way to Mickey

We are 8 days from our vacation at Walt Disney World!  Today we received our Magical Express luggage tags for our December trip. I need to fully enjoy this October vacation, before I can think about the December trip. I am a bit overwhelmed. I’ve been thinking about and planning for this trip for 422+ days, and now it is only 8 days away. My mind is a bit blown today. 

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: Happy birthday to Jake, the sweetest son ever!  And happy birthday to Caleb, the dearest godson!

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Packing (NOT Puking)

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Day 421 in trying to keep my stomach settled on my way to meeting Mickey

Nine days, People!  In nine days I go to Walt Disney World!  I Facetimed with Emi today and we just kept getting more and more excited.  A week from Tuesday, Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, I will be sitting in a room with Mike, Jake, Eliza, Emi and James.  That is as good as it gets!  We will be having our Unbirthday Dinner at Olivia’s Cafe at Disney’s Old Key West Resort.

I’ve reached the phase in vacation planning where I just can’t think about it anymore.  It’s time to start doing.  I will get my suitcase out and start packing for the trip today.  I need to find my Disney bag which becomes my purse for the vacation.  I need to think about what I want to pack in my Disney bag and what will be relegated to the suitcase.

And I need to begin this without thinking about the trip too much.  Because I’m also at the phase where I’m so excited about the trip that I feel sick to my stomach.  I always have been that way.  My parents had to stop telling me about trips in advance, because I would get so excited that I got sick.

So, as you can see, I am scattered.  But it’s still coming soon…Meet you at the Kingdom!

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The Final Countdown Begins

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Day 420 in my meandering my way to Mickey

Today I received and email from Disney Destinations.  It is titled, “About your Disney Resort hotel arrival!” Woop woop!  It contains:

  1. Info about the 3-bedroom grand villa that we are staying in at Disney’s Old Key West Resort.
  2. A recreation calendar during our time there.
  3. Info on turning our vacation into a celebration at the resort.
  4. A couple warnings (the monorail is being worked on, Downtown Disney has construction going on)
  5. A reminder about Disney Vacation Club Member perks.
  6. And some transportation reminders.

Gosh, it’s so-o-o-o close now.  A mere 10 days away.  I started planning my packing today.  I’ve put some things aside, so I can find them when I pack in earnest next weekend.  I am so pumped that we will all be there soon!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

Shout out to Trudy, who had a birthday yesterday!  Love you, Sister!  AND Shout out to Emi, who became a British citizen this week.  Congratulations, dear daughter!  Poppa and I couldn’t be more happy for you!

 

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Back on the Wagon

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Day 418 in getting back on track on my way to meeting up with my main mouse Mickey!

I am back on track and moving forward.  I woke up early and walked this morning.  I felt invigorated as I walked to Baby by Justin Bieber (Come on now; don’t be a hater.) and Bang Bang by Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj.  I actually danced part way home to Bang Bang.  🙂

The baked pumpkin last night was delicious!  I highly recommend it, during this pumpkin-y time of year.  Here’s the recipe again: 1 small baking pumpkin; olive oil; sea salt; pumpkin pie spices (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves); brown sugar (I omitted the sugar and it was still scrumptious!).  Cut your pumpkin in half. Scoop out all the seeds and guts.  Cut the pumpkin into 1-inch slices.  Oil both sides lightly. Put on a baking sheet and sprinkle with salt, pumpkin pie spices (and brown sugar). Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes.  (Or a bit longer if you want them really mushy-soft.)  Peel off the skin as you eat it.  SO GOOD!

I’ve had a sugar-free, healthy choices kind of food day today, so I’m feeling pretty content.  And it’s only 12 days until we fly off to Walt Disney World.  I am feeling very blessed and extremely excited!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Doh!

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Day 417 in some bad choices on my way to meeting Mickey (13 days to go)

I succumbed to my dark side today.  On the way to work I pulled into Dunkin Donuts for a dark roast coffee, but I drove out with a Pumpkin Macchiato.  Why did I do it?  I do not know.  I just wanted it and made that choice.

The problem with making one bad choice in the morning is that it makes it all the easier to make more bad choices as the day progresses.  Once I drank that much sugar, I craved more sugar by the end of the work day.  So…when I picked up a salad from Potbelly for Mike and I to share with our baked chicken tonight, I also picked up 2 chocolate brownie cookies.  Then I promptly ate them.  Argh!

So tonight for dinner I am back on the wagon.  I’m trying something new tonight.  I picked up a small baking pumpkin, sliced it into 1-inch slices, sprinkled it with olive oil, then added pumpkin pie spice and sea salt.  The recipe called for brown sugar, too, but I’m going to try it without.  Enough is enough with the sugar already!

Here’s to better choices and a healthier day tomorrow.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Working To Play

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Day 416 in getting ready to meet Mickey (14 days to go)

Today I started the difficult task of working ahead on the job, so I can have as much done as possible before we go to Florida just 2 weeks from today!!  We will be there for eight nights, so with travel days, that makes nine days away from the office. Even though it is really only six “work” days I’m missing, there is a lot of work to get ready before we go.

  1. Work on the November newsletter
  2. Prepare mailings that must go out while I’m away
  3. Get church bulletins ready for two extra Sundays
  4. Get church announcements ready for two extra Sundays
  5. Prepare prayers and lessons for two weeks out
  6. Arrange for some office coverage each day I’m away
  7. And…and…etc…etc…

I did manage to eat well today, and I am sugar-free.  I didn’t get a walk in, because I slept through my alarm.  I will get up early tomorrow and tackle a walk again.  I did walk around more than usual at work today though.  🙂

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: Happy birthday, Dear Kirk (nephew extraordinaire)!  And happy National Coffee Day, Dear Readers!

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The Good and the Not So Good

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Day 415 in making my way to Mickey (15 days to go)

  1. I had to see my oncologist today.  It was my six month check up.  Apparently everything looks good, so I don’t have to go back for another three months.  Yay!
  2. I woke up early today and walked a bit further than last time.  Plus yesterday I did manage to walk home from the farm after we grocery shopped.  The air was soupy with humidity yesterday and today, but I figured it is probably good practice for Florida in October.  I am hoping that it won’t be oppressively hot and humid when we’re there.  Hey, hope springs eternal.
  3. I’ve been reading some reviews today on this year’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.  The reviews are NOT good so far.  Speculation is that Disney is selling more tickets for these special events than they used to, and so the park is overcrowded with long lines for everything.  Man! I am NOT excited at the thought. I hope we can still have some fun there.

PTLA.  Meet you at the Kingdom!