JVPIII

Also for those wondering that is all mine. Rick has one suit case and thinks I am ridiculous. 

Update 1 day to go:
I am officially packed. Thanks to @SweetPea I have triple checked to make sure I have underwear safely secured. 
 

I definitely overpacked but I like to have choices even when I’m probably going to be wearing only a handful of what I brought. We will see.
Rick wanted to get his vacation started early so instead of working today he worked overnight. I am currently letting him sleep. Parents are coming in about an hour to come pick us up and get this party started. 
 
So far this week I have secured the tickets for our 2 tours we are doing this cruise, I have been talking with Wendy to finalize arrival plans and instructions, and I got notification from Lyft to remind me of our 9:30 am pick up tomorrow to take us to the port.
I also checked us into the hotel last night for tonight’s stay. I didn’t even know this was a thing until Hilton emailed me yesterday. It was useful because I was able to pick our rooms. We will be on the 12th floor so great vantage point for the bay.
Did I mention I’m going on a cruise?

 
 

Update 1 day to go:
I am officially packed. Thanks to @SweetPea I have triple checked to make sure I have underwear safely secured. 
 

I definitely overpacked but I like to have choices even when I’m probably going to be wearing only a handful of what I brought. We will see.
Rick wanted to get his vacation started early so instead of working today he worked overnight. I am currently letting him sleep. Parents are coming in about an hour to come pick us up and get this party started. 
 
So far this week I have secured the tickets for our 2 tours we are doing this cruise, I have been talking with Wendy to finalize arrival plans and instructions, and I got notification from Lyft to remind me of our 9:30 am pick up tomorrow to take us to the port.
I also checked us into the hotel last night for tonight’s stay. I didn’t even know this was a thing until Hilton emailed me yesterday. It was useful because I was able to pick our rooms. We will be on the 12th floor so great vantage point for the bay.
Did I mention I’m going on a cruise?

 
 

Pardon this brief interruption before i fill you in on last night. 
I thought i would be OK with this and it turns out I'm not, right this second. 
This little man right here is Silas (aka Brat 2). He brings me joy every single day. 
Happy Birthday, little buddy!! As i always say ..  you are my sun and my moon and my stars. Your father, on the other hand, hates you. 
(Batman most certainly does not hate him.  It's only a running joke in our house)

We had a great time. I’m glad to say Rick said he will absolutely go again which was the goal of all the pre planning. 
 
I am almost done packing and we will be driving to Miami tomorrow. So excited to get this trip underway!!!!

We had a great time. I’m glad to say Rick said he will absolutely go again which was the goal of all the pre planning. 
 
I am almost done packing and we will be driving to Miami tomorrow. So excited to get this trip underway!!!!

First you guys are super lucky. We had tickets to HHN in 2021, right before our Halloween sailing on Allure in Sky class. It rained us out, so we missed out. We also had a reservation to Arts Homecoming and because it was in 2021 that was cancelled. I eventually got the biscuits and chicken and will get them again when we sail out of PC in January. 
But the best part is just one more day until you can cruise. I personally don't think you schedule is too ambitious, but I am a get-the-most-out-of an experience type of person. I loved Columbus. It is my favorite original production. 

Already checked. Poor Batman

Already checked. Poor Batman

Already checked. Poor Batman

I think this is pretty obvious advice by now, but if your house looks like a tornado went through it (ours did too), please double check you've all packed your underwear 😉... .

Update 3 days to go.
After a couple of changes we have our final schedule before boarding. Changes still may occur due pending show changes and chef table:

 
Wendy did say that it was a no go for Dr. Pepper so we are bringing our own. Wendy said she would get some from crew canteen. We told her we would be appalled if she spent her money on us this way but we’re touched by her generosity and thoughtfulness. On an a more positive note special cake requests seem to be a go so 🤞🏻they turn out. I am sure they will because I have seen some great cakes in the past.
Who wants to help me pack? I feel like my living room is still a mess and I haven’t accomplished anything. It will come together in the end I think 🙏🏻
 
 

Ok, so we last left off with us in Disney springs on Saturday night. After my masterful use of girl math and an excellent dinner we went back to the room and crashed after a day of travel. On Sunday during the day we spent the day hanging around the resort. Here are some of the Halloween decorations at the hotel:





After an afternoon nap we took the resort bus to city walk. Here we go HHN 32

 
So I had 3 goals for this weekend trip.
1. Do everything to make Rick have a great first trip to Halloween horror nights.
2. See all 10 scare houses
3. See the Death Eaters roaming Diagon Alley. 
 
I was mostly successful. We did get to all 10 houses and I witnessed the awesomeness that was the death eaters but I could have done better on the Rick front. I forgot our neck fans and Tylenol. Essential things for Florida heat and walking miles around the park until 1:30 in the morning. We had a great time and Rick said he will definitely come back but we were both sore by the end of the night and definitely the next day. Here are some pics I was able to get through the night.

Death Eaters coming out for the night.

 
Pepperoni Pizza Skull

 
Funnel cake Fries with apple pie filling and sour apple ice cream on top

 

Also before I head off to bed I have to share a great application of “girl math” that I used while at Disney Springs. Don’t know what girl math is? It is delightful and it will save you tons of money. Let me show you:
I had planned to go to The World of Disney store and buy a new Halloween Lounge fly bag which retails at $89. They did not have any at the store. 
I then went to the Lego store and took a $500 Harry Potter set off the shelf and was making my way to checkout when I saw $250 Hocus Pocus set I wanted more.
I put the $500 set back and checked out with $250 set.
Planned spend $589, which is basically $600
Total spend $250.
I actually saved $350.
Please feel free to use Girl Math in your own life.

As stated before we are staying at Cabana Bay Beach resort while we are here. We have a pool facing family suite complete with kitchenette, living room and split bath.

Made the 3 hour drive north to Orlando today for our weekend in Universal. Here is a picture Rick took in the car on the way up.

He is always making a face in pictures so I’m sure you will see more when we get to the actual cruise portion of this blog.
We decided to spend some time in Disney springs this afternoon and at the recommendation of @OCSC Mike we went to dinner at Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming. 10 out of 10 would recommend.
Here is the current menu if you are interested.


Rick had Country fried steak with mash potatoes and macaroni and cheese and I had fried chicken with green beans. Both were very good!

 
Also for those who were not aware Disney Springs does have an Up, Up and Away so you can pretend it is PDCC. 

I agree. We very likely will not get to everything but who knows 🤷🏻‍♂️. We will probably find other things we will want to do also that we want to add once we get on board.

So what you are saying is that you are over the duck situation? 😂 

So what you are saying is that you are over the duck situation? 😂 

I don't want to brag, but how many of you duckers hid ducks in an empty elevator as you threw them over your shoulder like a bride to an unmarried bridesmaid as you exited?
I also hid one on a staircase handrail. No one was there at the time. 
Another in front of 542 people at a plant stand in front of Sorrento's. I'm pretty sure people were watching as i hid it.  I don't care. 
 

That seems like a very ambitious schedule 😁 

Update 3 days to go.
After a couple of changes we have our final schedule before boarding. Changes still may occur due pending show changes and chef table:

 
Wendy did say that it was a no go for Dr. Pepper so we are bringing our own. Wendy said she would get some from crew canteen. We told her we would be appalled if she spent her money on us this way but we’re touched by her generosity and thoughtfulness. On an a more positive note special cake requests seem to be a go so 🤞🏻they turn out. I am sure they will because I have seen some great cakes in the past.
Who wants to help me pack? I feel like my living room is still a mess and I haven’t accomplished anything. It will come together in the end I think 🙏🏻
 
 

Update 3 days to go.
After a couple of changes we have our final schedule before boarding. Changes still may occur due pending show changes and chef table:

 
Wendy did say that it was a no go for Dr. Pepper so we are bringing our own. Wendy said she would get some from crew canteen. We told her we would be appalled if she spent her money on us this way but we’re touched by her generosity and thoughtfulness. On an a more positive note special cake requests seem to be a go so 🤞🏻they turn out. I am sure they will because I have seen some great cakes in the past.
Who wants to help me pack? I feel like my living room is still a mess and I haven’t accomplished anything. It will come together in the end I think 🙏🏻
 
 

I'm not picky enough to go hungry even in no class. 🤣

Update 3 days to go.
After a couple of changes we have our final schedule before boarding. Changes still may occur due pending show changes and chef table:

 
Wendy did say that it was a no go for Dr. Pepper so we are bringing our own. Wendy said she would get some from crew canteen. We told her we would be appalled if she spent her money on us this way but we’re touched by her generosity and thoughtfulness. On an a more positive note special cake requests seem to be a go so 🤞🏻they turn out. I am sure they will because I have seen some great cakes in the past.
Who wants to help me pack? I feel like my living room is still a mess and I haven’t accomplished anything. It will come together in the end I think 🙏🏻