Trip Report 2 broke guys and the deluxe bday trip!

Yes, yes, I know we just got back. We went in the middle of December, then again for Christmas, then again in the middle of January, and now - our third month in a row…

When: Feb 2-4
Where: All-Star Music, and All-Star Music (you’ll see.)
Who:

Tony

And Brian

Wait, wait - that’s not right. Pretty close, but not right. Let’s try again.

Tony

And Brian

OK but those were reject “blooper” pics from our last TR. Here’s one where we’re overdressed:

That’ll do.

And…Mickey.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

I may go look at room rates now. Shall we do Christmas again?

Hoping you do another Christmas trip.

UPDATE: booked a placeholder via Disney’s own site for Saratoga Springs, 12/24-12/26 for $700 including taxes. There are some fairly impressive sales going on for those dates!

SS was our first stay that was almost at Christmas time, years ago. I brought a tiny tree from home, but it was more the middle of the month. It made me want to do what we did last year ever since.

And SS will be perfect for being blocked out of the parks, with easy boat access to Disney Springs.

I’ll keep my eyes open for other options, but would be very satisfied with this.

They offered a deal at checkout for Florida residents to add three or four day park tickets. That would have brought the total to a little over $1500 (for 3.) I still can’t bring myself to pay for three nights almost what I pay for an AP.

However, I will take a peek at what they are charging for one day at Magic Kingdom for Christmas Day. I seem to remember last year the price went up the longer I waited. And there’s no Florida resident discount for one day.

It may be worth it because I have a feeling we will not get an annual pass next year. Or at least not right away. I think after the holidays, it’s time to start looking to bring some four-legged energy back into this house.

 

[Swissmiss]

I think after the holidays, it’s time to start looking to bring some four-legged energy back into this house.

It makes me happy to know you have reached the stage when you are ok to accept the love of another dog

 

[Tony the Tigger]

That’s a lot.

Although, I guess it’s similar to a very merry Christmas party ticket? And certainly this experience would be equal to that.

I can rationalize anything!

I think this would depend on if I have oodles of points to spare. Currently, I do not. We’ve been blowing through them! We did really well on the birthday trip, though! The only meal we paid for in cash was that last morning at the grand Floridian. (taking a bow.) (pretend wealth.)

And a lot of this depends on Brian‘s job situation. We may end up having to pivot. He received an email of a job offer with a raise. They wanted him to start in a week. He replied to ask if he could give the customary two weeks notice to his current employer, even though they are going out of business in late December or early January. They responded and said their new program sent out that job offer by mistake. What?!

So we can book Vegas around his birthday in early December, we can book Christmas at Disney World, but there’s always a chance he gets a new job before then and schedules might change.

For now, full steam ahead!

 

[Tuvalu]

You’re probably keeping better track of my trips than I, but friendly reminder: there was an extra visit before this trip report began.

You’re right, I did forget about your January vacay.

UPDATE: booked a placeholder via Disney’s own site for Saratoga Springs, 12/24-12/26 for $700 including taxes. There are some fairly impressive sales going on for those dates!

Now you’ll only need

 

[Tony the Tigger]

The only meal we paid for in cash was that last morning at the grand Floridian

Whoops, except Sip, Savor - which was a pay in advance affair, and paying with points was not an option.

Now you’ll only need [one more.]

 

[Tony the Tigger]

A recent post a la the TR of The @Tuvalu reminded me to check for ride photos! I always forget this.

Nailed it!

Nailed it again, in two directions! (We’re in the back row.)

Close up of nailing it…or, in B’s case, napping it?

Caught napping!

Is that Sam Smith in front of us?

On the Bayou:

I’m holding up the sign!

Gonna call that nailing it!!!

Close up with no words:

How did I screenshot these pics without using a second device?

If you use the browser on your phone to view MDE, you can still screenshot everything. #shhhh! #nomoreroomupgradesforTony #reasonnumber31forTonygettingkickedoutofWDW

 

[Tuvalu]

How did I screenshot these pics without using a second device?

If you use the browser on your phone to view MDE, you can still screenshot everything. #shhhh! #nomoreroomupgradesforTony #reasonnumber31forTonygettingkickedoutofWDW

 

[93boomer]

A recent post a la the TR of The @Tuvalu reminded me to check for ride photos! I always forget this.

Nailed it!

View attachment 883001



Nailed it again, in two directions! (We’re in the back row.)

View attachment 883002



Close up of nailing it…or, in B’s case, napping it?

View attachment 883003

Caught napping!

Is that Sam Smith in front of us?

On the Bayou:

View attachment 883004

I’m holding up the sign!

Gonna call that nailing it!!!

Close up with no words:

View attachment 883005

How did I screenshot these pics without using a second device?

If you use the browser on your phone to view MDE, you can still screenshot everything. #shhhh! #nomoreroomupgradesforTony #reasonnumber31forTonygettingkickedoutofWDW

Ps I do that with my photos too. (Runs and hides from the photo police)

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Well, I was hoping to visit @Tuvalu and Em on their recent trip. If you’ve followed Tu’s TR preview, you know that didn’t happen.

I had two tricky tasks to get done simultaneously (and early) in order to have the time to visit. And I did both of those things! So why didn’t I go?

I even almost bought DVC with a special deal offered at The Cabins. I was *this close.*

The deciding factor was it would have tied up resources…resources I would need to open my third store!

That’s right, while Tu and Em were traipsing around WDW, I was signing papers and undertaking the fairly huge task of turning an empty space

into a store in time for Black Friday (hopefully a week and a half before.)

It’s coming along.

But we have a ton to do. Who’s helping? I need a beverage cooler with a glass door on the cheap. Lucked out with the brick slatwall from a store that was closing. (I love it.)

Our AP’s expire around 12/13, I think?

Is this it for our heroes at WDW this year? Will Tuvalu win the…friendly wager?

Well, we still have our Christmas trip booked. And I might need to get on a train after Black Friday weekend. Maybe Brian’s bday will happen…I never booked the Sphere.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Good luck with the new store. That is very exciting!

 

[lindawdw]

Such exciting news Tony! Good luck with your new store when it finally opens!!!

 

[93boomer]

Well, I was hoping to visit @Tuvalu and Em on their recent trip. If you’ve followed Tu’s TR preview, you know that didn’t happen.

I had two tricky tasks to get done simultaneously (and early) in order to have the time to visit. And I did both of those things! So why didn’t I go?

I even almost bought DVC with a special deal offered at The Cabins. I was *this close.*

The deciding factor was it would have tied up resources…resources I would need to open my third store!

That’s right, while Tu and Em were traipsing around WDW, I was signing papers and undertaking the fairly huge task of turning an empty space
View attachment 888865
into a store in time for Black Friday (hopefully a week and a half before.)

It’s coming along.
View attachment 888866

But we have a ton to do. Who’s helping? I need a beverage cooler with a glass door on the cheap. Lucked out with the brick slatwall from a store that was closing. (I love it.)

Our AP’s expire around 12/13, I think?

Is this it for our heroes at WDW this year? Will Tuvalu win the…friendly wager?

Well, we still have our Christmas trip booked. And I might need to get on a train after Black Friday weekend. Maybe Brian’s bday will happen…I never booked the Sphere.

Congrats!! The store will be another amazing record store. Good luck!

 

[riverside]

Congratulations Tony!! I wish you all the best!!

 

[Tuvalu]

 

[Swissmiss]

Yay for the new store! Congrats!

 

[MinnieM123]

Tony, you never cease to amaze us!

Best of luck getting your newest store finished, and ready for the holiday shopping season!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Good luck with the new store. That is very exciting!

Such exciting news Tony! Good luck with your new store when it finally opens!!!

Congrats!! The store will be another amazing record store. Good luck!

Congratulations Tony!! I wish you all the best!!

Yay for the new store! Congrats!

Tony, you never cease to amaze us!

Best of luck getting your newest store finished, and ready for the holiday shopping season!

Thank you for the support, my “core team!”

The last time we did this, I signed the papers on 10/6 and just barely opened on Black Friday that year. One employee and I were there all day on Thanksgiving putting on finishing touches. We barely passed City inspections in time, and I had to trick one of the inspectors: you aren’t allowed to use surge protectors to increase your number of outlets - but I couldn’t afford and didn’t have time for an electrician - so I put (wait for it) Christmas lights in the windows. (You know how Christmas lights have a built in outlet! Shh! Nobody noticed!)

Those lights blew out every few days. We had to keep replacing them until we could get the electrician on it.

This time, we signed the papers on the 12th.

And this is how I keep us “broke.” If I’m not under a hill of debt, I don’t know what to do - so I either take a Disney trip, or open another store.

Maybe Orlando needs one..?

Anyway, I talked with Brian about his birthday, and he doesn’t care either way. I figured since our AP’s expire a couple of weeks later, let’s spend his bday at WDW; and we can go to the Sphere any time, right? Right??

So I know when working on the new store gets to me, I can take a moment to book that WDW trip! And then I can come back here to tell you about it.

Pre-trip:
When: Brian’s birthday, December 3rd-ish, 2-3 nights-ish
Who: who else? Two broke guys
Where:?? All-Star? CBR? Poly?

Aw, heck. You know I’m going to go look now.

 

[Tiggertoo56]

Wishing you all the best for your new store! Wish we weren't the other side of the ocean and able to visit!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Where:?? All-Star? CBR? Poly?

Offsite?

Very few options available. Fairly pricey. Considering I paid $318 for Saratoga Springs actually on Christmas Eve and Day, that’s a pill. Guess I thought of it too late!

I’ll check back to see if anything opens up, but I do have an offsite option.

 

[RememberWhen]

Yay! Congrats on the store and trip planning! Both are pretty exciting. What’s the current Tony/Tuvalu tally? I’m rooting for ya! (If not this year, there’s always next year…)