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

Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819

Dalmatians!

 

Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819

(I only asked that last question because I have never been that close to 101 before. Does it count if I cheated?)

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

That was awful villainy of you to swoop in and take the dalmations...Maybe we should change you to Cruella...LOL My plane leaves at one. DD will finally know at 10:30 when I pick her up from school!! She wears Disneyland/store close nearly everyday so she didn't catch on when I gave her a Disneyland Shirt and Store skort today....
I am both excited and stressed about this trip, I am just going to do whatever I want with DD and if friend can't swing it, too bad!! Now I sound mean and I don't like that either...
Too make things more exciting friend told X she's tired of him and she's looking for a new place to live - maybe we can "accidently" leave her cell in my car when we leave!!

Well I should go hope you all have a fun weekend - DS is tagging along and will have his laptop - so during down time I will try and leave little trip reports...

Thanks for all your support and for all the fun...Behave without me...

 

Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819

I'm really confused now...DS is going...I thought it was only DM and DD on this trip?! Then, I find out about the friend and her daughter yesterday...I think I just don't pay close enough attention. (or is it b/c you go on so MANY trips to DL? I just can't keep up! lol) I'm glad he's bringing his laptop so you can stay in touch! (I have a horrible time typing on my son's laptop. I've probably left posts while we're away that are nothing but gobbledygook. ~I know MsMom will come in here and leave a comment, now!
I can't wait to hear about the surprise and I hope you put it on Youtube for us to see!

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

tink...yes, it counts if you cheat on the 101 deal. It's a dirt bag low life thing to do, but it counts.

Darn, I missed giving villains one more hug yesterday. Plus, she had a problem and needed some smart alec advise.

Between you and me, tink...I would have somehow found the nicest way possible to go without the friend. I'm toying with a weekend trip alone with my daughter to celebrate her 13th birthday which is the 5th, and I wouldn't want anyone else along. A "mom/daughter" trip is a special thing. I'm sure villains and her friend will have a nice time together, but it isn't going to be the same now.

So....you're a camping weenie...figures.

63 days, how exciting. If I pull off my weekend jaunt with DD I have to make the decision by tomorrow. Then, I can set my countdown at 14 days. It would be really stupid from a financial standpoint, but it would definately be a birthday to remember.

villains wasn't serious about behaving with out her, was she? This is our chance to talk smack about her. You go first.

 

Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819

MollysMom, I am waiting to hear about your decision.....

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

Well.....here's the latest. I have 3 options for a surprise for DD.

1) Disneyland, of course. Go down friday, come back sunday. Fly into LAX, stay at the Radisson on Harbor, 2-day hoppers, Disney shuttle. Total cost $1163.30 plus spending $

2) Seattle. Go over friday, come back sunday. Stay at the Inn at the Market, wander Pike's Market to DD's delight, catch the aquarium, take a ferry ride, etc. Total cost $765.96 plus spending $

3) San Diego Zoo/Balboa Park. Fly down thursday evening, fly back saturday evening. Stay at the Balboa Park Inn, check out the zoo, and the museums in Balboa Park. Total cost $920.98 plus spending $


I can actually get Disneyland down to $870, but it's flying at THE crummiest times, and staying in a crummy hotel. I've said it before...I will only make so many concessions. I already hate having to fly into LAX.

I can get non-stop to San Diego, so we would have more time there to play. We can easily handle the zoo and the park with all day friday, and 1/2 day saturday.

DD loves Seattle. Being so close, we can actually go quite often. She could spend 8 hours alone at the Curiosity Shop on the wharf. We have always said how we'd like to stay at the Inn.

3 choices, 3 decent trips. I'm leaning towards San Diego. I know...hard to believe. We girls LOVE Seattle, but we really CAN go whenever we want, so it's not THAT big of a deal. Besides, in october, you can pretty much count on getting drenched.

We'd have a blast in Disneyland, but I HATE HATE HATE LAX. However, it was the only affordable option. We have to leave Anaheim before the $%*& crack of dawn to catch our flight home, though. A lot of time in a short trip will be wasted on a shuttle and because I can't get a non-stop flight that works.

San Diego...flight times are perfect and non-stop. The Balboa Park Inn is right at the edge of the park, and within 10 minutes of walking to the zoo. We have minimal time lost in the air or on a shuttle, so most of our time can be spent hanging out exploring museums or sniffin' elephant dung.

She would also be thrilled with staying home and having a "no holds barred-no boys allowed-money is no object-let's be girls-spa/shopping spree day with dinner and a movie to cap it all off.

I'm sooooooooooooooooo confused.

 

Originally Posted By mater4

Wow! I am glad not to be in your position. I would choose San Diego but go to SeaWorld if DL is too complicated. We had the same problem a month ago and went to Monterey instead of DL. What hotels are you looking at for the DL trip?

 

Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819

I like the San Diego option, too, or the stay at home option. (I can't even believe I'm saying this! UGH!!! No DL?) The LAX flight sounds like a lot of trouble and Seattle getting soaked sounds like kind of a drag, too. But, staying home and buying whatever you want???? Sounds like heaven to me!

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

How about San Francisco? There is lots of fun to be had in SF...

Having fun - Ditched friend for a while today so that helped...Then she was ill and came to room and slept - left me with her Daughter - explained to her how it was going to be and did what DD wanted...
They are at park now and my DD is going to bed soon..

DS18 paid his own way here mostly because he is in a long distance relationship (as much as an 18 and 17 yr olds living 5 hours apart can have) so he came down and his GF was in the park yesterday and will be tomorrow - so it's like he's not here anyway...

Halloween decs are great!!

 

Originally Posted By rtjl72

oh villians- how sad! you are not rooming with an enthusiast. sick and in bed? this person must have the bubonic plague or something like that! i would have to be next to dead before not being at the park! i know by reading your posts you will be immune to such a malady. hang in there and keep thinking and doing FUN and DISNEY!

 

Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819

I love that DS has a gf near DL! How cool is that? Another reason to keep going back! (I know you need another reason, everyone does!) Did they meet at DL? I always think how cute it is when I see teenage couples in the parks, I wonder if they know how lucky they are to go on dates together at DL. So many of us couldn't!
How is the hotel? I hope it's wonderful, but not too wonderful that you can't stay anywhere but there from now on. (B/c you might not be able to go as often!) How is the pool? We try to peek into the Neverland pool whenever we visit, but it's hard to see much.
I hope your friend got better and that you're having a great time! Take lots of photos for us!

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

Mornin'

Well, I went ahead and booked the flights to San Diego for the weekend of the 12th. We will actually fly out on thursday the 11th, and will head home late saturday. We'll have all day friday, and most of saturday to see the zoo and Balboa Park. I'm sure we won't see everything there is to see in the park, but we'll put a good dent in it. I got non-stop flights with Express Jet, so we'll be there in 2.5 hours. I'll be picking her up at school that thursday, and head right to the airport. She thinks we're going to Seattle, so once she figures it out, she should be pretty excited.

We're staying at the Balboa Park Inn in the Victoria's Secret (the Queen, not the bra) Room. The hotel is right at Balboa Park, and according to Expedia, it will take us the grand total of 4 minutes to walk to the zoo. I'm going to try and get us a reservation at Prado for dinner.

It's not DL, but I'm sure we'll have a great time.

Is villains back yet????? We need the hotel review!!! Too bad about the friend getting ill.

Tink, I forgot to put your departure day down on my calendar...when you leaving?

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

Okay, I am back...Let's just say the trip went from bad to worse then to absolutely wonderful back to how could you be so selfish!!


Okay lets start with DS and his GF met in Hawaii last spring break - both were there with their high schools competing in the Choir competitions...My DS's choir won (hahaha - j/k). Well they met the first day and have been on the phone with each other ever since. The offically started dating in July when we went to Dl and she met up with us (she live in Simi Valley). Since then she has been up here twice and DS has traveled down there once on his own (train/bus) and then last weekend...They spend all day together and then go their separate ways at bedtime!!

Next...okay friend (term used loosely at this point) got in big fight with HD(her daughters dad who she is divorced from but lives with again) right before we left over some pain killers she got for dental work. Complained he thinks she has a drug problem - now I do too!! Just sad!! This set the mood for most of the trip!!
HD is a thrill seeker and a bit taller than my DD so she can ride everything - which is fine because DD isn't interested in all of it yet!! Did the My Disneyland Birthday (which is when friend decided she was ill and left) we did some of the rides and had dinner...We were tired from the exciting day with Ariel's Grotto and the MDLBD and all...Also Sat was an early entry day so we got ice cream - HD didn't want any ice cream and said my mom will just bring me back to the park anyway (fine with me at that point)...woke friend up when we came in and of HD was pouty and wanted to go back to the park - so they did - definately fine with me. DD took a bath and all three of us (DS too) were asleep before 10!! They got back around 12 (park closed at 11) and I shot friend dirty look when they were too noisy!!
Sat got up and got me and DD ready for early entry - ready by 6:45, should have left with DS and GF(she got there at 6:30) and just went over but only one charge slip (for my credit card protection) for the room so had to wait for them...left room around 7:15 met up with DS and GF (couldn't get in with room key) at the gates and something friend said to DS and he ignored set friend off in a tizzy - so I went and got DD another bday badge and went on my merry way. DS caught up with me in bakery and said friend was loosing it and he thinks she's on something - oh boy not talk wanting to have now!! SO DS and GF take DD to Nemo (where HD said she want to go and ride) - got my mocha and met them in line (less than 20 min wait)!! We rode PP and Alice and DS went back to finish packing so we could switch hotels...Guess what friend was back in room with HD (watching TV) laying down again! Told DS they were out til after 1 and she was tired! okay I was already packed so I start to head back about 10:20 (check out is 11). Friend tells me at 10:55 she's all packed (but hadn't called bellman for some reason) and is going to dash over to DCA for screamin fast passes before 11:10 GK ressies!?!? whatever. The bellman gets there at 11:05 and as we are getting the bags picked up we find HD's hasn't packed everything and we are scrambling and shoving things in her bags!! Go down for breakfast, check in at GK - do the pictures with pluto stall as long as we can and at 11:35 DD and I sit down and DS waits for friend and shows her where we were!
She proceded to barely eat - HD isn't any better - but she is able to down 3 bloody Mary's at $8.50 a pop...I remind her that there breakfast is $50 for the 2 of them and collect my money (don't want her to owe me any more money!!) Our pict come to the table (so cute) my DD did one by herself and DS and GF did there own - well HD was upset because she wasn't in them(well you didn't show up when they were being done)...I suggested they go do them right then - so they did. Of course she doesn't have any extra money (but she could afford the drinks)! Well we went up to the picture area to look at our picts again (had told pict girl we wanted to think about it) I decided I was going to get mine and asked if I could trade 2 of the smaller ones of DD for 2 of the small ones of DS and GF - lady was very nice and just gave me the 2 small ones - well all three sets of picts were together since we were all at the same table so HD started whining about not getting any - so after being so nice about DS and GF's pict this lady still gave me on of HD and her - but HD still complained to the lady that she wanted the one of just her too!! I couldn't believe it!!
Now we were done with breakfast and it was about 1:30 and I knew I needed to check into the BWPPI across the street - so I said we should just do it while we were still over there rather than come all the way back to the DLH later to get our bags - Well the girls had wanted to swim the whole 3 days already - so I suggested I would move the stuff and friend could watch the girls in the pool - nope - friend said she didn't want to waste time in the pool and after getting sick in the hotel bathroom (should have ate in stead of drank breakfast) and while I was in the bathroom with DD changing her she left and went back to DCA!! DS and GF said they would watch crushed DD in the pool for an hour and meet up with me at the DCA entrance (nice boy)...I went over and checked in but our room wouldn't be ready until 3 so filled out the paperwork and headed back to parks - met up with DD, DS, and GF and went to see Aladdin. As we went into Aladdin I called friend and told her that I had moved everything and that it was all taken care of - she just said oh that's great! Now I am beyond let's just say mad! I am thinking this is DD trip and even though she thought it was great her best friend (not after this trip) was there - she is sad at DL and that is not right - I tell her forget them and let's have our own fun like we did in the morning! DS left the park and went to BW with the keys to get food out of the car (he couldn't get keys because his last name is different so they didn't have him on the room - I know smart mommy)...Friend calls me back as we are coming out of Aladdin and says she has to leave to go visit her ailing father - so she needs the keys for the car - tell her DS is over at the BW and she can contact him and have him put my stuff in the room when she picks up the room keys!! Call DS and tell him she is on her way and he needs to meet up with me within 45 min(not call but see me - still smart mommy)....Friend leaves (takes HD too)the hotel around 3:30 calling me to tell me we can meet up for dinner about 7 if I want - sure I say flatly - so on sat other than the breakfast we havn't seen them much and it looks like we won't see them for a while if at all to come!! DD and I have great fun - ride everything she wants - and just hang out together! DS and GF have left the park and went to CityWalk with some of her friends so DD and I are completely on our own!! I call friend around 7:30 to see what's going on for dinner (not wanting to be rude) they are still with her dad and don't know when they will be back but they already ate anyway(hello the phone works both ways) DD and I decide to ride pirates again and head over aslo deciding to go back and eat at pizza port after that - we ride pirates and realize fantasmic is starting soon so it takes us about half an hour to get anywhere near pizza port and they are out of Pizza!?!? We head back over to the Plaza Inn for some chicken instead and end up with a table outside with fireworks view - woohoo!


WIll finish later - have to pick up DD from school her ears are bothering her!!

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

Oh, Lord, villains...this trip sounds pretty nasty for the most part. I'm glad you and DD found some time alone in the park, but it's sure hard to shake off a bad start sometimes.

The sad part about it all? Usually someone like the friend has NO idea what-so-ever that they have upset you or put a glitch in your vacation.

At least having to put up with the half-wits was rather humorous for the most part.

I guess the best course of action here is to just start your next vacation countdown in earnest.

I hope your DD's ears are ok.

Hugs and mudslides to you. XXOXOXOOXOXO

 

Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819

First of all MollysMom, your trip plans sound wonderful, but we all know which Victoria's Secret room you are staying in, we weren't born yesterday, you know! Can you put your trip countdown on LP, just so you can see the big "9" days left when you log on? (I just love that feature!) I am down to 57, which is not as good as Villain's 15 and she just got back! Our leaving date is 11/28. We have an evening flight this time, no 5 in the AM for us anymore! Instead, I'll be tired from arriving at 11PM, which will be 2 am for me and I'll have to drive, not knowing where I'm going while tired AND not be able to find a place to eat that is open after 11.~Let's face it, I'm never satisfied unless I have something to complain about! lol

Villains, I am so upset by some of the things that happened to you while you were on your trip. I didn't realize you were only staying at the DL Hotel for a couple of days and then moving to the BWPPI. That sounded hard to me, how you had to move everyone else's things after you were sure to be organized and have your things ready. I read your report right beofre going to bed last night and I had a dream that I was staying at Hojo's with a girl from work that I don't like. lol I was so glad when I woke up and realized it was only a dream.

I love the story about your son and his gf. Will he be going on your Oct. trip so he can see her again? That is cute how they stayed in touch and all. How romantic!

I'm looking forwar5d to hearing the rest of the story and hope it's all good stuff! (How was the American Girl store?)

 

Originally Posted By mater4

Villans, Sorry to hear about the bad moments of your trip. There is nothing worse than someone who tries to ruin your DL day with their bad attitude. I hope that the good times outweighed the bad. I predict there will be no more vacations with this friend.

 

Originally Posted By mater4

Mollysmom, You picked a good trip. Have a great time with your DD. Like Tink819 said we know which VS room your in. For goodness sake you have a pole for your DL countdown (which I will need to borrow in 50 days.)LOL! Does the pole come out for your next trip or just DL?

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

mater4...the pole can be used for any happy occasion. Sometimes, the fact that I can haul my big rear out of bed in the morning is occasion enough. You know, I wonder if my pole could make it through airport security? Victoria's Secret room...stripper pole...it fits.

Ok, mater4, when EXACTLY are you leaving? The pole will be in the mail, but you gotta share either pictures or video with the rest of us. I also have to put you down on my calendar here at work so I can be sure to give you a hearty, tearful and jealous "Bon Voyage".

tink...geez, are you always such a whiner? You're going to Disneyland!!! I put you on my calendar so I won't forget.

Ok, I get the driving part, that's for sure, but the rest..poo poo to you. There's gotta be a yucky McDonalds along the route to swing in and grab something. Ours are open until midnight, and probably are there, too. There's always the old stand-by, Chinese food. Our restaurants here are open until 3:00 am...nothing like a big plate of garden chow mein after closing down a bar...or Denny's breakfast, that will work, too.

Try and catch a little nap on the plane, and then get a good night sleep as best you can. I'd be too excited to sleep myself, but you want to be bright eyed and rarin' to go come morning.

We need villains back here to tell us the rest of her story, and that she's over the trauma of her last trip. Plus, I'd like to know that her DD is ok. You know what, guys? The ONLY thing that makes her crummy trip no more than a crummy memory, is that in 15 days she'll be back there - friendless - and can have the great time she deserves.

Well, DD is a tad bit upset with me. She wanted a HUGE blowout for her birthday this friday, but I told her that I had made other plans for her birthday next weekend. I told her that I would cancel the plans I had made and give her the blowout if she wanted me to. Well, she wanted to know what I had planned, and THEN she'd let me know.
Nice try, stinker. She'll be groveling and kissing up to me once she realizes where we are. That will be nice.

If I had been a little earlier in my planning, I could have done a "Camp-out at the Zoo". We could have spent the night at the zoo and slept in a tent, and had boat loads of fun. Unfortunately, that weekend is all sold out. Poo poo to me. How cool would it be to spend the night IN the zoo? I can't even imagine.

There is a deal called, "The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park" that goes on during the time we are there. Kind of an outdoor haunted house thing. It's not sleeping with the critters, but it would probably be fun. I'll bet that those museums in the park look pretty creepy at night.

I checked the menu at Prado. I don't think DD would like anything there, so it looks like we'll eat at Albert's inside the zoo. It's well spoken of, and the cuisine appears to be more kid friendly.

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

Okay here goes the rest of the story...

Okay DD and I spent the rest of the evening walking around - she was getting tired and since she had swam and done EE I suggested we call it a night - she was fine with that and said she was having the best time with just me and wished friend and HD hadn't come on the trip, I agreed with her - back to BWPPI for a bath and bed!! DS and GF called and said they were on their way back and I told them to stop by the BW on their way back to the park...They got back at about 11:30 and decided to just kick back with me until GF curfew. DD was asleep by 11:30 also so I decided I would iron her clothes for the American Girls store and make sure our stuff was all ready for the plane - Got my Shampoo and condition out of my bag to have it for the morning and friend had used all of it!! She later told me she and HD had to "borrow some because she forgot to pack hers" Hello - now I am in my room it's 11:30 and friend is still not back with the car so there is nothing I can do about it!! So it's off to bed for me - not happy but nothing I can do about it. I am asleep by about 12:30 and still no friend - she wakes us up on her way in about 1:15(oh yeah not only that she had gone through our bags and "borrowed" DD new disneyland sweatshirt and DS rams sweatshirt and spilled stuff all over them) !! Finally it's quiet again about 2:00...At 7:30 her alarm goes off as she and HD decided since they missed so much time in the park the night before they were going to the park in the morning and would be back to pack the rest of there stuff at 10:30.
We were suppose to leave for the American Girls Store between 10:30-11:00.
Well we were awake by then, so I quickly showered using the BW shampoo and told DD to get ready so we could go to the park too - why should we sit around and wait for them to get back - we should be having fun too....On our way out at 9:45 I loaded all our duffle bags and her huge suitcase into the car and left her the keys with a note to call me!!
DD and I had a blast we went into DCA and got a Malibu Frappe to share and a muffin - then we rode Soarin' (hiding Frappe in DD backpack) then finished the Frappe and headed over to one last ride on TOT!! It's so funny because DD is very petite (9yrs 50" 48lbs) so everytime we ride the TOT women ask her if she's ever riden the ride and how it is - we also usually end up riding in the same elevator with them and they all laugh at themselves screaming in the picts and DD is grinning ear to ear with her hands way up in the air!!
Okay so now it's 10:30 friend should be at BW calling me - we decide to shop a little while we wait!! At 11:57 (Sprint time) I call her and she says she is just getting ready to cross the street and she'll see us in a minute - hello check out is at 11:00 - tell her nope we are in the park and I have already packed my stuff and her big bag - so we should be good to go as soon as she grabs he bathroom stuff...
Well almost an hour goes by and friend has decided to pack up all the soda's and stuff you can't take on a plane and make an ice chest in the car so we don't waste it (I am sure the House Keeping staff would have used them up). So instead of calling me (she never answered her phone the 3 times I called in the hour) - she waits until they are entering DCA to call me - it's now 12:10!! So we meet them at guest services where I was calling AGDS to get the directions (no hollywood now because we need to be at the burbank airport by 3:00)! Friend tells me she hadn't expected to need to put so much gas in the car (I didn't use it) so she doesn't have the money for HD to get an American Girl Doll now - I ask what it is she wants to do about it (no I wasn't go to offer anymore money)...HD was originally so excited about the doll, but now was saying she never really wanted one anyway and she just wanted a BAB and a hairwrap!! I said we don't have time to hang out and do all that and make it to the store - the solution I would have to go to the store on my own and come back for her???!!! Whatever I grabbed the keys and took off with DD in shock that HD would do that to her (they were suppose to be best friends and BFF's don't do that to each other - all I could do was say don't worry about it everything will work out)!!

So we get in the car - once we find where she moved it to - and leave! YOu can guess my mood at this point!! Phone rings it is DS and GF as they have just seen friend and HD in the park and want to know what's up - tell them and he is just fuming - It takes us 25 minutes to get just to Beach Blvd due to traffic - I get off the freeway and have to explain to DD there is no way for us to get to the AGDS in LA and back by 2:15 at this point and we will have to do the store in Nov...
She is crying at this point and it disbelief that HD could be so mean and selfish when the whole point of the trip was for DD b-day!! I agree and am tempted to just tell them to get themselves to the airport - but my DD reminds me that would be mean too(but she wishes it would be okay - such a good girl) We are back at DTD and park there since we will only be there an hour or so - DS calls and asks where we are and he and GF say they will take us to the store - but DD and I are over it by then and are getting out of the car and going to grab some food and a BAB! I start to let my daughter out of the car and realize friend has put an open bottle of rum in the backseat (thank goodness I didn't have any reason for a cop to look in my car)!! Put the rum in the trunk and head in -
We don't call friend as we are angry and don't want to see them and just do our own things - we have a great time!! Call friend at 2 and tell her she should already be looking to meet up with us - she finally does with shopping bags from the park!?!? That's the end of it for me -