2016 - Jennifer's January Jaunt! Pre-Trip Report

[Trixie15]

Time is Standing Still​

I would never wish time away as it slips by so fast anyway, but it just seems like time is passing and passing, and yet the trip isn't getting any closer!

Life has been crazy; four kids makes things extra chaotic between school and activities and friends and stuff. Add in 50+ hour work weeks and a newly broken arm for my son and I have to admit that I'm pretty stressed out these days. I feel like a Game of Thrones junkie but I can feel winter and its holiday season looming above me.

I need this trip in the worst way!

Maybe if I have a running total it will help seem like the time is passing.

38 days until FP+!
98 days until Disney!

Next: [URL="http://www.disboards.com/threads/2016-jennifers-january-jaunt.3450948/page-2#post-54602417"]Monday Weight Loss Progress - 10/19/15[/URL]

 

[kcpinwdw]

dropping to double digits though!!! that's great!

 

[Trixie15]

My Weight Loss Journey
***Monday Progress Report 10/19/15***
​

I've had a miserable couple of weeks when it comes to making good food choices. I need to find my focus on this again because when I try, the weight comes off pretty easily. I think that I will have a much more comfortable flight and trip in general if I'm not as heavy as I am right now. I haven't weighed and I don't plan to until next Monday, because at this point I'm sure I've gained weight back.

The thing that makes me upset is that if THIS TRIP isn't enough motivation for me to make some changes, what will be? How can this not be enough for me? I'm finding that I am frustrated with myself about this on a pretty regular basis.

But I can't go back in time and erase the last two weeks. All I can do is move forward from here and try again. So, since it's Monday, it's a good day to get back on the wagon and do the things I need to do to help me be successful. Purchase and have on hand healthy things from the store. Make a plan at the very least for each day so that I'm not wondering what I'll be eating later and then giving up and eating whatever. Have a plan in place for days that I am at work. Make it happen!


Next: [URL="http://www.disboards.com/threads/2016-jennifers-january-jaunt.3450948/page-2#post-54608599"]Reconsidering the Dining Plan[/URL]

 

[Trixie15]

Reconsidering the Dining Plan​

I've been working on how best to use the dining plan for quite a while now. I actually only added it because it was discounted with the Stay, Play, Dine promotion. Plus I used a new Disney Visa and got a $200 statement credit which I was telling myself further discounted the dining plan.

The truth is that I'm having a difficult time making the plan work for me. When I was first envisioning this trip, it was going to be a commando trip done in a very leisurely way. Now, when planning, I feel like I'm basing everything around the next meal and I'm finding it difficult! Plus there are things around WDW that I'd like to try that either aren't on the plan at all or would be a terrible use of a credit if they are (chicken waffle sandwiches at Sleepy Hollow - I'm looking at you!)

The changes to the plan could help (subbing snack item for drink and/or dessert at QS or using a QS credit for 3 snacks), or it will be a massive waste of food and money since I just can't see myself eating that much at each meal. I'm a big woman but it truly isn't because of portion sizes - I'm not a big portion eater.

Trying to plan these days and spending a ton of time poring over menus and spreadsheets and trying to figure out if it's worth it for me, a single diner on a solo trip ... I'm really thinking of canceling the plan. I think it will be much more relaxed to just pay out of pocket and get what I would truly actually eat without trying to morph my eating style to someone else's vision.

The real appealing part of the dining plan is the 'all-inclusive' feel that it gives the trip. But it doesn't actually work out that way and the plans that I'm making right now actually involve meals that I have to pay for out of pocket in addition to what I've already paid for the dining plan, and it includes meals at places where I'm not all that interested in eating just to use up the right type of credits.

I'm about 85% sure that I want to cancel the dining plan, which I'm sure is going to be interesting since it's part of a package. I'm guessing they'll have to cancel my current reservation and make a different one. Which is fine.

I did call yesterday and get that extra day added to the end of my stay, so WOO HOO for that!!

Next: Upheaval, Chaos, Overhaul!

 

[sunshinemelody]

Following along! Your PTR is so incredibly relaxing. I'm super excited for you!

I hope that your ankle is a heck of a lot better come January and that your weight loss journey is a success (it seems like it is so far!). I get emotional about people and their situations, so I'm going to leave before I start getting teary-eyed. #sap

 

[kcpinwdw]

I can't go back in time and erase the last two weeks. All I can do is move forward from here and try again.

Good attitude! You are doing great!

The real appealing part of the dining plan is the 'all-inclusive' feel that it gives the trip.

We don't use the dining plan yet so I cant give any good advice. My kids eat practically nothing in terms of portions so it wouldn't really work for us. I think feel tied down too much to ADRs is not good though, I would imagine the best benefit of a solo trip is all the flexibility! Why don't you price out room only deals with tickets, find out what you are saving, and then put all or some of the $$ on a gift card? Than you can still feel that things are prepaid. After all, you still have to sign the check even on the dining plan.

 

[Trixie15]

Following along! Your PTR is so incredibly relaxing. I'm super excited for you!

I hope that your ankle is a heck of a lot better come January and that your weight loss journey is a success (it seems like it is so far!). I get emotional about people and their situations, so I'm going to leave before I start getting teary-eyed. #sap

@sunshinemelody Thank you for following along! I'm a huge sap; my kids like to tease me about tearing up at every little thing. The first time I saw Wishes I cried openly, lol.

 

[Trixie15]

Good attitude! You are doing great!

We don't use the dining plan yet so I cant give any good advice. My kids eat practically nothing in terms of portions so it wouldn't really work for us. I think feel tied down too much to ADRs is not good though, I would imagine the best benefit of a solo trip is all the flexibility! Why don't you price out room only deals with tickets, find out what you are saving, and then put all or some of the $$ on a gift card? Than you can still feel that things are prepaid. After all, you still have to sign the check even on the dining plan.

I do intend to keep some of my ADR's because there are sit-down restaurants at which I'd love to eat. Just the idea of being told I 'have to' eat at a certain number of TS and a certain number of QS - I'm rebelling against that on what is supposed to be a very flexible trip, like you said.

I've been doing a lot of pricing and contemplating and planning when it comes to this and I'm pretty sure that I'm going to nix the dining plan. Just the thought of canceling it feels pretty freeing - there has to be something to that.

 

[Trixie15]

Im hoping she'll be tall enough for soarin but it will be close!

Did you see that Soarin' is going to be closed in January? I'm so disappointed!

 

[kcpinwdw]

Did you see that Soarin' is going to be closed in January? I'm so disappointed!

I know!!! But we had a pediatrician appt the other day and without shoes on she was 38.25", so I am thinking it would be quite the stretch for Jan anyway. Now at least I wont have to worry about it. I just absolutely love that ride, but the film was in ROUGH SHAPE when I rode last month, lots of burned out spots and distracting floaters. It will be good to go digital.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Happily following along. I am enjoying reading about your Disney plans and your weight loss journey. Sorry about your son's broken arm. I hope he is doing better. I remember when my son broke his arm many years ago. It was not an easy time.

I have toyed with the idea of a solo trip for about a year now. I'm a mom/grandmom and just have an itch to go solo. Sure, I'd rather go with the family, but people can't always get away when I can. My grown DD and I just got back from Disney almost three weeks ago and I'm pining away for all things Disney. Sure, buying the Mickey head soap dispenser at Target felt good, but sometimes I feel like I need to plan something I can really sink my teeth into, like a Via Napoli pizza! When I found your pre-trip report, I was delighted!

Anyhow, I like how you have everything planned out so well. I will also put in my vote for nixing the dining plan for all the reasons you already stated.

I am really looking forward to hearing all about your plans. It sounds like a fun and well deserved trip!

 

[Trixie15]

@tinkerbellmagic!! Thanks for following along! You should plan a solo trip. Admittedly this is my first so I have no experience to speak of, but the idea of it is just so lovely ... and so liberating!!

 

[Trixie15]

Upheaval, Chaos, Overhaul?​

I feel like my trip is in a state of upheaval.

I did call and cancel the dining plan - and I felt an instant sense of relief that it was gone so I know I made the right choice about that. It frees up a lot of time/energy that was being used for scheduling food, some of which I honestly did not want and I definitely do not need. As it is, I'm worried because not only do I have to fit in the seat on the way TO Disney, I also have to fit in the seat on the way HOME! So, less will be more for me and if I'm eating for the sake of filling up credits, well - that's not a good idea. So now I can do more eating as needed instead of as planned. Changing it, though, has made me question all of my ADR's, and to be honest I have my head in the sand about doing that although I need to just get all my paperwork out and just do it.

The other thing that is causing me chaos is that I took advantage of a couple of deals for Universal Studios. I bought 2 day tickets and got a 3rd day for free, and then also got a $30 statement credit for using my American Express card. Which is all fine and dandy except when I went to the crowd calendar pages on the Undercover Tourist site, I found out that the weekend that I was planning to go to Universal was the weekend that they have the Harry Potter Celebration event! I really know nothing about this at all, but I can only imagine that the crowds for that weekend will be higher because of the event. So now I'm questioning ALL of my park plans, trying to decide which 2 or 3 days I want to spend at Universal (if I don't use the third day it isn't a loss since the ticket was free). The kicker is that the crowds at WDW are also predicted to be high that weekend so there isn't really an advantage one way or the other that I can see.

I was surprised to see that Universal crowds are listed as moderate for most of my stay, actually. I wonder if moderate crowds at US are the same as moderate crowds at WDW?

Anyway, I feel like I need to overhaul my whole trip and I've been just putting it off and not really thinking about it because when I do think about it, I feel really overwhelmed. Ugh.

Advice is always welcomed!


Next: New Plans Are Getting There, Slowly But Surely...

 

[Trixie15]

New Plans Are Getting There, Slowly But Surely...​

I'm so frustrated with myself. When I bought my tickets for Universal, I used my American Express card because there is an offer right now where if you spend $150 at Undercover Tourist, you get $30 back. Well, it turns out I added the offer to my husband's card and used MY card to buy the tickets. There's really no recourse - I was on the phone with Amex for an hour trying to get them to fix it for me and they were very firm with the fact that there was nothing they could do. I called Undercover Tourist and my only recourse is to send the tickets back for a refund and repurchase them. There's a 5% fee to do refunds and it's just not worth the hassle at this point. But I'm mad at myself for making such a dumb mistake.

Anyway, I've finally decided that I'm going to go to Universal for the first couple of days. I rented a car directly from the airport (eliminating the stress of first-time use of Disney transportation from the airport!) and will go straight to Universal after that. Then I'm thinking that I'll go to Universal on Monday and maybe half of Tuesday as well.

I need to get my papers out and rework my Disney days now. I had a Boma ADR that I really wanted on Sunday but there are other days I could add it instead, or pick something new - that's always fun, too. It just seems daunting but I need to do it. I'm hoping to be able to get some done on my downtime at work tonight.

Actually, that ADR is at 9:00 p.m. - it might be the perfect way to end a long travel day/half day at Universal. Maybe I'll keep it!


Next: Updated Day One Plans - 1/24/16

 

[Trixie15]

Updated Day One Plans
Sunday, January 24, 2016​

So, as I've been talking about the last couple of days, my plans have changed a bit. Of course I've got the first 3 days outlined here on my pre-trip report and none of them are even close to correct now.

I didn't want to erase the original posts so I thought I'd just update instead. Hopefully it won't be too confusing!

Arrival day! I'll be leaving frigid temps in the midwest and arriving in (hopefully) sunny Orlando at 10:45 a.m.. I've got a rental car reserved through Dollar rental at 11. I hope it is easy to use! Hopefully I won't have any issues using online check-in for Pop and getting assigned a room (and getting the text for it) even though I don't plan to actually show up at Pop till about 10:30 p.m.. I'd love to have a room available early on in case I'm too tired to stay late at the park and need to rest before dinner.

Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure
Park Hours: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. / 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

12:30 p.m. - Lunch - maybe Thunder Falls Terrace?
1 - 7 p.m. -- Islands of Adventure (except Hogsmeade - saving it for later).
I think I want to start in the Lost Continent area and work my way counterclockwise through the park.
If for some reason it doesn't take as long as this, I can go into the other park and walk around there as well.

7 p.m. - Blue Man Group

9 p.m. - Head 'home' to Pop

9 p.m. - Dinner - Boma (ADR) Cancelled
​

Things I'm still debating about Universal Studios: Will I want to buy their version of Photo Pass? Maybe - I can't decide. What about their refillable cup? Again - maybe. Also considering their Express Pass. By the time you add all these things it's getting expensive! I wish I knew what to expect in the way of crowds at Universal parks in January.


Next: Updated Day Two Plans - 1/25/16

 

[Trixie15]

Oh, and just for the record:

32 days until FP+!
92 days until Disney!

 

[Trixie15]

Updated Day Two Plans
Monday, January 25, 2016​

Another updated day; my original day two plans won't work anymore because I will be spending day two at Universal Studios!

Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure
Park Hours: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. / 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

7 a.m. - breakfast at resort
8:30 a.m. - arrive at Universal
9 a.m. - 7 p.m. - explore all of the Harry Potter stuff
I'd like to eat at the Three Broomsticks and maybe the Leaky Cauldron.
I want to try the hot butterbeer if it's available.
I want to get an interactive wand.
I want to use the tester seats and not care what people think, and hopefully be able to ride some of the good rides.

7 p.m. - two options: head back to Pop or head to Downtown Disney for a bit

9:45 p.m. - Dinner ADR 'Ohana
​

Not the most exciting update in the world. I'm not familiar with Universal at all so it's harder for me to have a very detailed plan. But I've been looking forward to exploring the Harry Potter areas here for years, ever since I saw the first pictures posted online after it was built. I'm really hoping to get a feel for Universal because I think the kids would love it; it would make a nice addition to a future family trip.

Next: Anxiety - I Really Need To Get It Together!

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Updated Day Two Plans
Monday, January 25, 2016​

Another updated day; my original day two plans won't work anymore because I will be spending day two at Universal Studios!

Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure
Park Hours: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. / 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

7 a.m. - breakfast at resort
8:30 a.m. - arrive at Universal
9 a.m. - 7 p.m. - explore all of the Harry Potter stuff
I'd like to eat at the Three Broomsticks and maybe the Leaky Cauldron.
I want to try the hot butterbeer if it's available.
I want to get an interactive wand.
I want to use the tester seats and not care what people think, and hopefully be able to ride some of the good rides.

7 p.m. - two options: head back to Pop or head to Downtown Disney for a bit
​

Not the most exciting update in the world. I'm not familiar with Universal at all so it's harder for me to have a very detailed plan. But I've been looking forward to exploring the Harry Potter areas here for years, ever since I saw the first pictures posted online after it was built. I'm really hoping to get a feel for Universal because I think the kids would love it; it would make a nice addition to a future family trip.

 

[ariane37]

Joining in! DH and I are going (without the kids!!) in Jan. but unfortunately we miss you by a few days as we leave the 20th. Wow, a nice LONG solo trip! I think it sounds great One of these days I'll go solo, but so dark I've only managed a solo morning at MK lol.
I wish you the best of luck with your weight loss. I'm at a fairly healthy weight right now, although nothing is where it was when I was in my 30's and it's a constant struggle for me. And I hate eating healthy.......it's not easy so don't beat yourself up when you have a day or week when you don't do "good". It's a process, right?
Definitely a good idea dropping the DP! Much more freedom. One of the reasons we stopped getting it is that I like getting snacks around the parks but felt I HAD to get dessert at lunch/dinner since it came with the meals, so I missed out on alot of stuff I wanted to try. also older DS and I often just want an appetizer and dessert when we do TS but would get an entree when on DP since we'd already paid for it. I say keep all the ADR's you want, eat what you want and where you want!
Lol at adding Universal, what the hell just do it all We took our boys there for the first time this past Aug. and they loved it.

 

[Trixie15]

Anxiety - I Really Need To Get It Together!​

I'm in such a funk and for some reason it includes or is maybe even caused by my Disney trip! I can't exactly put my finger on what is wrong except that moving my Universal Studios part of the trip to the beginning instead of having it where I'd originally intended, which is the weekend in the middle of my trip, is bugging me. But it is what it is - I've rented a car and everything to make Universal work at the beginning of my trip. I'm not changing it again.

I need to get it together and figure the rest out because my FP+ window is approaching soon! There are days that I don't even have my parks planned yet and I need to know that information at the very least.

Truthfully I'm having issues losing weight (can't get it together!) and I'm also terrified that even if I lose weight before I go it won't be enough to fit in the airplane seats, or that I'll have to watch every single bite I put in my mouth while I'm there so that coming home isn't an issue, too. I hate having to be so constantly aware of food and am already making plans in my head about how I'm going to have to portion out the meals and stuff so that I don't actually gain weight while on the trip. I feel like I'm thinking about this issue way too much and it's bringing me down about the whole trip.

I've also been having nightmares about falling again while there. At least last time my family was there to take care of me and get me to first aid, and I had people to bounce ideas off of and just be there with me. If I hurt myself on a solo trip ... well that's a scary thought. Every time I think about riding Expedition Everest I get a little panicky (I fell right outside the gift shop there.) I'm worried that my ankle will start hurting a lot and I won't be able to really enjoy myself even though it will have been a year since I fell (it's still not the same as it was before the fall.)

I really just need to calm myself down, plan this trip, and (like Elsa says) let it go!

21 days until FP+!
81 days until Disney!

Next: Updated Day Three Plans - 1/26/16