Look...it's a bird, it's a plane, it's Express Jet

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

What some people go every OTHER month!!! Shoot don't tell my hubby that or he might make me change some of my dates!!! I can't imagine waiting so long to go again - I haven't been since July (okay the end of July) and even my kids are joking with me when I snap at them if it is PMS or DWS....Smarty pants kids of mine!!!

 

Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819

Villains idea is PERFECT! Buy the AP this Christmas, go again in the summer, return in early Dec. before it expires and see the CP next year! See what good things can happen when you have advice from your LP friends? Problem solved. Next!

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

Ok, both of you shut up.

I'm supposed to be putting a new deck on next spring. I know...not nearly as fun as DL, but it has to be done. We also gotta replace the liner in the pool, too. So, that little ditty of a project will run about $4000.

Short of winning the lottery there is no way I can take 3 trips (4 if you count last month) in one year PLUS do the deck and pool.

Nice to know that you two, however, have money to burn.

 

Originally Posted By dzy76

Oh I hear you mollysmom. Wish I had a unlimited travel budget. Or less things to pay for in "real" life.

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

It's called sacrafice...LOL...We had our pool resurfaced a couple of years ago - had to go from gunite to fiberglass, I guess gunite to gunite isn't as good as when they first put gunite in...
The deck will be put in by my two strong teen boys...I think they are charging me a PS3 for the work!!
IF I had to live so far away I would move to an area closed to DL(j/k)...

Hmmm I smell a few dollars burning now - must be getting close to my next trip!!ROTF...

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

Oh, you are just SOOOOOOOOOOOO funny, aren't you, villains?

dzy76 will now be my new friend.

However, we can have a bit of fun with dzy76. Guess who's going to take the TRAIN to DL? Bah-hah-hah!!! I offered to tell the half-wits' horror train stories, but I have yet to be taken up on that offer.

 

Originally Posted By dzy76

Oh Mollysmom I can just imagine the horror stories. I read one site where the train was 8 hours late! I plan on being in the park by then. Good grief. I'm working on my dad. For only $400 more we can fly. I'm thinking it is a bargain (then again it's his money this time). He has some weird thing about it being a bonding experience, talk about blah-hah-hah!!

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

Again - wouldn't it be more fun to bond over the wonderful relaxing/exciting trip you just shared in DL - rather than the angst ridden trip down just dripping with the anticipation of DL...Just trying to help...

Boy Tink - MOLLYSMOM is kind of a fairweathered type - HUH...
ohno I smell more burning - gotta finish planning the next trip....HAHHAHAHAHHAHAHH

Sorry just had to go there!!! ...

 

Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819

Mmmmmmm...it's getting nice and cool here and we just lit a fire in the backyard. It smells good. We used a few hundred dollar bills for kindling. (They smell so much better than newspaper.)
Honestly, get your priorities straight, girls! You just let the house fall apart around you and go to DL like I do! For example: DH keeps getting estimates for the front porch that is caving in, I look at the estimates and say "Sorry" We have DL to think about. The damp basement, he wants to get it waterproofed or some such thing. WHO CARES! It's smelled for 20 years, it can smell for another 20...get me to DL! We desperately need new furniture. That, also interferes with my trip planning. The kids are going to mess up new furniture anyway, so get me to DL! Jeez! Ladies, what is more important here?

 

Originally Posted By dzy76

Oh believe me - I do that too. College education fund? Hey - whats a mom to do? I've got to go to DL. College is too expensive and after all - no one paid mine - so why should I pay someone elses?

We've needed a front porch for almost 20 years on our house - but I've been to DL 7 times since then. lol.

Kitchen remodel? These cabinets have been here since the 50's - why worry about it? They are antiques! I'm going to DL! oh and WDW!

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

I'm not gonna play with you guys today if you can't be nice.

Unlike certain people who will remain nameless, I am a responsible adult, who understands the importance of home maintenance.

Who am I kidding?????????? I went back on-line to see how low I can get today on a christmas trip....I'm down to $1703. Considering that I have $1500 put away for the deck (the deck that won't be built until April), and considering that I will be able to use my tax refund for deck stuff, I could actually spend the money I have stashed and easily save it back up by spring. If I really be tough with myself, I can sock away about $600 a month.

DH says he doesn't care if we go back this christmas...he says it's up to me. He says that, because I am the financial advisor of the family. He knows that I ferrett away money for vacations, and he knows that I stash money away in his checking account that he doesn't know about. He trusts that if I say, "Let's go to Disneyland" that I have the trip already paid for.

While I know that it would be more fiscally responsible to go NEXT christmas, my heart wants to head back THIS christmas. If I were to wait until next year, I could splurge and stay at either the Disneyland Hotel of the Grand. Plus, there would be the whole PAP deal that I could use for our summer vacation as well.

I don't know...DD is fine with going next year. She knows that we could stay longer than 3 days. I'd like to be able to stay longer as well.

If I do this, it will be a surprise for DD and DH. I'd just leave plane tickets on their pillows or something.

I have given myself until the end of the week to decide. The biggest thing for me is the airfare. I gotta get it below $900 or I won't consider going.

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

Started out at $1703......am now down to $1618.92.

Airfare spokane to ontario 834.87
3 day passes 477.00
3 nights anaheim plaza 307.05

I'm pooped.

 

Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819

I'm glad to see you are coming around to our way of thinking!
I have been unsuccessful finding your airpare at that price or less. (However, if you would change your dates to Dec 1-5, you can fly for less than $600 with SWA.)
I will keep trying since you have until Friday to decide.
Trust me, if you go to DL this Christmas, you will have to return next Christmas and the next and the next. It's just something that happens. I took my "one and only" Dec. trip there in 2004 "just to see how pretty it is at Christmas time" b/c "We really can't afford it, but just this once, I'd like to see it and I'll be satisfied". I now have my plans for my 4th Dec. trip in a row all in place.
(I don't go Chrsitmas week, though, the beginning of the month for the CP. It's more affordable, especially when you are not getting any work!)

 

Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819

Where did you find that airfare?
and NO to the Anaheim Plaza! (ask Villains, she'll tell ya!)

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

Express Jet...non-stop, no less. The only crapper, is that we would fly out christmas morning. Oh, well, if this is in the realm of possibility, I gotta do what I gotta do.

I'm not thrilled about the Plaza, either, but again, I gotta do what I gotta do.

That's another reason why maybe waiting for next year would be better. Then, I wouldn't have to "settle" for less than I want JUST to be there at christmas time.

We have all agreed that staying at one of the resort hotels at christmas would be awesome. I'd like to be able to go down a couple of days BEFORE christmas, and stay until a couple of days AFTER. I'd also like to do some special things...all that costs money, and we just spent $5000 on this last trip.

I know I wouldn't be disappointed, but I also know that if I shorted us this year, we would feel the urge to go back next christmas and "do it up right."

Why not just do it right from the start? It makes so much more sense.

I have a hard and fast rule that I don't book our trip until I have the money saved up and in my hand. I refuse to charge up a vacation and then spend 6 months paying it off. I could really go hog wild if I wait one more year.

As much as I hate to say it, I think that's the prudent thing to do, and I should think with my head and not my heart, as the saying goes.

On one hand, I'm kinda bummed, but on the other, I can do SO much more for DD and DH if I have more time to squirrel money away. It makes the idea of going for christmas so much more exciting if I know I can give my family the "christmas to end all christmases."

 

Originally Posted By jbiederstaedt

I live in Spokane as well and we always take the non-stop Alaska/Horizon flight in the morning. It only take around 2.5 hours. We have been looking into the Express Jets airlines for future flights. This Xmas we decided to make it a road trip to DL for 8 days of fun!

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

HELLO>>>>the Anaheim Islander is cheaper and there is no way it could be any worse than that Roach Trap called a Hotel (again open corridors = motel)...Islander has cont breakfast (money saved on food!!) I haven't stayed there yet but I will in Nov and the tripadvisor reports are good on it!!

I did stay at the Raddison Maingate in July and while it's not as nice as the BWPP it is about 100 times better than the Anaheim Plaza Ant Bait Hotel...and it is the same price as the Islander for those nights - but you have to pay to park there...

Okay I just found a great deal for you - no I am not kidding this is how I got a great deal in July...
First go to Raddison book the trip. Then click on their online price guarantee - it tells you how to file the claim - you then fill out the form online that Lastminutetravel.com is advertiseing the same nights for $65.79 per night (yes it is on there sight right now) okay Raddison's deal is if you find an online price for less than they have listed on line the will beat it by 25%...Crazy yes I know but it is still cancellable so if you decide not to go just cancel it if you do go you got your room for way less even with the parking ($10 fee)...

The Raddison sets them selves up for this...Here is the stuff from their site

Did you get the best online rate for your stay at a Radisson hotel or resort?
On Radisson.com, you will get the best rate online - we guarantee it. When you book your reservation on Radisson.com, you can be confident you've gotten the best rate for your next visit.
Make A Reservation

How It Works
If you find a rate on another website that is lower than the best rate on Radisson.com - and the rate is for the same date(s), same room type, same number of guests, at the same hotel and same rate terms or restrictions - let us know and we will honor the lower rate AND discount that rate by 25%.

You see they expect us to just take their word for it and not shop around - but I do...
YOu know I only have so much money to burn!!!

 

Originally Posted By dzy76

I've been to Spokane. Nice area. I'm in Pendleton.

I wouldn't want to drive in the winter. Wouldn't the roads be kind of iffy? I've never even heard of Express Jet.

 

Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819

Hey, jb, do you have room in the car for Mollysmom and her family? lol
I'm afraid MM is bringing me around to her way of thinking, girls. If she has to leave on Christmas am to go home AND stay at the Anaheim Plaza...my vote is to wait for next year. (As if our votes count...
I know people say all the time that the room doesn't matter, it's just a place to sleep and all that jazz, but I found it sort of depressing going back to a room that smelled musty, with no hot water and a tv that didn't work. I would hate to wake up there on Christmas morning, that's for sure! (Even if it IS across the street from DL!)

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

Tink - read again I found her a great deal, and the hotel(yes inclosed corridors) is fine and I would stay there again even...