ABC's of Trip Planning (Oct 10-20), Vol. 2- Z is for: Zippidee Doo Dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[franandaj]

I just thought of something. You haven't said anything about the My Disney Experience App on your phone. After the talk of Smart Phones and Uber, I'm assuming you have one. It's so much easier to set it up at home and install any updates on your own WiFi instead of relying on hotel WiFi.
I know you have your little paper cards to help you out with schedules and stuff, but the app can tell you about closures and such.
I had a situation on the Naked Jim trip where we had already been on Expedition Everest but I got an email that my FP+ was unable for use as the ride was down. Even though we left the park, I was able to keep checking the app all night and the ride never came back up. If you have a fp+ or just want to go standby on a line, you can determine wait times or if the ride is up without having to walk all the way across a park.

 

[afwdwfan]

So we did what any reasonable Disneyphiles with half a brain would do and will be adding another park day to our tickets upon arrival. According to Brook, that should only be about $15 pp. I can live with that. Yes, a day off to leisurely rest, sleep in, go to DTD, or whatever would have been nice, but spending time coastering with Mik will be even better.

This.

Every single time.

This is why I never have an off day, aside from that afternoon before my conference.

I always think it would be nice to have a down day, but then you think of the time and expense it takes to get there and realize that for only $15 you can spend another day riding Thunder Mountain 5 or 6 more times... it's a no brainer.

Pack my couple of single serving small bottles for Letters U and Y Challenge drinks. (Does that make any of you want to change your answers?)

You must be desperate to get the entire alphabet if you're taking bottles of urine and yak milk to drink.

 

[franandaj]

This is why I never have an off day, aside from that afternoon before my conference.

I always think it would be nice to have a down day, but then you think of the time and expense it takes to get there and realize that for only $15 you can spend another day riding Thunder Mountain 5 or 6 more times... it's a no brainer.

You guys are all younger and in so much better health than me, I've learned that if I don't plan for down time, it will inevitably "happen" and then we miss out on something special. I envy you all for being able to pull this off.

I'm glad you will have an extra day of fun with Mikki.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

One goat sold!!!

$100 in the pocket for the trip!

Yay!! But who is going to trim the lawn now???

So we did what any reasonable Disneyphiles with half a brain would do and will be adding another park day to our tickets upon arrival. According to Brook, that should only be about $15 pp. I can live with that. Yes, a day off to leisurely rest, sleep in, go to DTD, or whatever would have been nice, but spending time coastering with Mik will be even better.

This.

Every single time.

This is why I never have an off day, aside from that afternoon before my conference.

I always think it would be nice to have a down day, but then you think of the time and expense it takes to get there and realize that for only $15 you can spend another day riding Thunder Mountain 5 or 6 more times... it's a no brainer.

I agree. You're only there for so long. Might as well make the most of it.

You guys are all younger and in so much better health than me, I've learned that if I don't plan for down time, it will inevitably "happen" and then we miss out on something special. I envy you all for being able to pull this off.

That's understandable. I think it also makes a difference when you're a passholder/frequent visitor vs. only getting to WDW once every few years. For the latter, it's much more about maximizing the value of the time you get there.

 

[Steppesister]

Goat buyerOkay self remember this is Liesa , could have been a CAMEL Can't believe how close our meet is getting , I posted on my thread , yes I did for once !! I just so wish I cold sleep better and not b so tired in the evening that all I want to do is lay down and watch TV till I fall asleep

We do have a way of coming up with wild and crazy shenanigans.

I have the day off tomorrow and between my hair and nail appts. I will visit everyone's thread. Might be the last go around I can muster with all I still have left to do.

To be honest, I haven't been sleeping worth a toot either. I tossed and turned ALL night long after I got a cortisone injection in my butt bone yesterday. That HURT!!! And that ain't no lie. I was up most of the night, and then had to take a mega dose of Ibuprofen today, but now it's feeling a bit better and I think it's really going to help with sitting through the flight and drive to Seattle.

Just wait until you get down to those Disney beds...you'll sleep like a baby! We just ordered a new mattress at home that we are hoping comes close so we quit waking up more sore and less rested than when we go to sleep.

I got one too, and it helped a VERY little. Of course, I can't know for sure if it was the new mattress or just the release of all that School stress. I'm SO glad yours is doing you some good! It's awful to wake up in pain and stiff. Trust me, I know.

I just thought of something. You haven't said anything about the My Disney Experience App on your phone. After the talk of Smart Phones and Uber, I'm assuming you have one. It's so much easier to set it up at home and install any updates on your own WiFi instead of relying on hotel WiFi.
I know you have your little paper cards to help you out with schedules and stuff, but the app can tell you about closures and such.
I had a situation on the Naked Jim trip where we had already been on Expedition Everest but I got an email that my FP+ was unable for use as the ride was down. Even though we left the park, I was able to keep checking the app all night and the ride never came back up. If you have a fp+ or just want to go standby on a line, you can determine wait times or if the ride is up without having to walk all the way across a park.

I do have the app, but haven't played with it a ton. I probably will in the airports. I just installed a new update on my phone, and am going to go buy a battery pack thingy for while I"m in the parks. I also have Uber and may actually use that for a trip or two. For sure I'll be using MDE app for closures and wait times! NO way around that anymore. Thanks for the tip! I had no idea they sent out notices. That's cool!

 

[Steppesister]

This.

Every single time.

This is why I never have an off day, aside from that afternoon before my conference.

I always think it would be nice to have a down day, but then you think of the time and expense it takes to get there and realize that for only $15 you can spend another day riding Thunder Mountain 5 or 6 more times... it's a no brainer.

I agree, except for a really long trip, I think it'd be more helpful in the long run. Sleeping in ONE morning and going to bed early to re-charge might give someone who's been burning both ends of the candle for so long enough gumph to carry on.

You must be desperate to get the entire alphabet if you're taking bottles of urine and yak milk to drink.

The Y is a very obvious choice. The U not so much. Either way, they equal 2 more off the list. Forced, but still...

You guys are all younger and in so much better health than me, I've learned that if I don't plan for down time, it will inevitably "happen" and then we miss out on something special. I envy you all for being able to pull this off.

I'm glad you will have an extra day of fun with Mikki.

I"m starting to feel it too, Alison; I"m hoping I can keep up with these kids of mine now.

I agree. You're only there for so long. Might as well make the most of it.

YEP! I agree!

That's understandable. I think it also makes a difference when you're a passholder/frequent visitor vs. only getting to WDW once every few years. For the latter, it's much more about maximizing the value of the time you get there.

THIS! I think, and it's coming up in the update, I may go AP this time. More ruminating soon....

 

[Steppesister]

Mere Days...

Got off a bit early and was able to scratch off a fair bit of "stuff". Seriously, People, we're down to mere days, or in terms of "free and available" time NOT devoted to work, non-business time, family dinner time, etc... it's MERE HOURS!!!!!!

Today, I cranked out some serious errand running including getting Anara's ribbon for her MNSSHP costume, getting my window decoration twinkly lights (went with orange and purple; it IS Halloween afterall), picked up some prescriptions, invited my DFIL over for dinner and to see the new floor, and a couple of other things. But tomorrow is wide open for: printing off everyone's Trip Itineraries and Mike and Mikki's traveling cheat sheets, getting my hair and pedi done, packing the new clothes that finally came, and truly, TRULY finalizing my packing. The lists are made, but I'm kinda like Santa; need to check them twice. As a side note, my Mickey nail decals are scheduled to arrive tomorrow... will they make it before my appointment at 4:00????????

Random stuff:

For those of you who didn't know, I've been struggling with a PITA. And it's not even my kids. Seriously. Like for 6 months, my fanartny has been REALLY hurting and had gotten to the point where I could really not drive without taking a break for more than 30 minutes. I could barely sit. At all. I did not fall, there was no apparent or memorable trauma to my tailbone, but it was to the point that I could not live with it anymore. So I went to a spine and pain specialist a few weeks ago. She adjusted me and that brought absolutely no relief. I bought a donut to try, but that too brought zero relief to my hind end. Yesterday, when I went, I explained that I had to endure a 4 hour drive to Seattle, and then 10 hours of flight time/sitting in airports. This was just not going to happen without my arriving with NO sleep (shush, you're right, I STILL may not get any sleep, pain free, or not) and in a LOT of pain. This is a burning, stabbing sort of pain, that is almost completely relieved with standing. That is not an option. And the thought of riding a roller coaster almost makes bile rise in my throat.

Given that, my doc thought it'd be a good idea to go ahead and try the steroid injection. I thought sitting hurt. This, Friends, was the kind of pain that remembled childbirth. Or stepping on a Lego at 3 AM. Or gulping a "tepid latte" that actually arrived boiling. After choosing the needle that said "saber" on the packaging and making it red hot with her little needle-heating flame thrower, dipping it in acid, and attaching a rotating mini propeller, she stabbed the joint between my tailbone and lowest vertebra 4 times with lidocaine. Too bad there is nothing to numb the area for the numbing juice. Then she injected the steroid which resembled Elmer's Glue.

I got exactly 4 minutes of sleep last night because my A-bone was throbbing from being skewered more times than an O'hana dinner. If I wasn't in excruciating pain, I was having night sweats from the trauma of someone pulling my pants down and carving out my kidneys. Luckily, I work where the Ibuprofen floweth like fountains of honeydew for the hurting. Slammed those babies til there was no tomorrow, and I think, (Oh God, please...) my kidneys, what little I have left, will forgive me. By the time I got off work at 2:00, I was feeling pretty good, and can even say that my tushy is feeling about 75% better as far as the original pain goes. Until today, I literally cringed and had to raise my bum off the car seat every time I anticipated a bump. Most people thought my smooth disco moves were a gleeful response to the BeeGees on my oldies station; oh how wrong they were. I'm sitting here typing, and have only shifted a couple of times. Things are looking up!

Now, onto equally serious stuff...

I'm sitting on pins and needles. But for an entirely different reason than my derriere having an attitude. It's even because of a guy. In fact, he's breaking many a heart tonight, I"m sure. This jerk's name is Matthew. This dude needs to, in my opinion, get lost at sea and never return. Ever. Until he decides to do that, I'm left to wonder if our flight will be affected in any way. I'm *pretty* sure sitting here right now, that we'll JUST miss this one by the skin of our teeth and he'll be causing more than enough grief in N. or S. Carolina or Georgia. Sorry 'bout that y'all, but this is a rather important flight and I'd rather him have made his way up there by oh... say, Saturday. I absolutely DON'T mind rain, even a lot of it, while we're there, but to miss a flight, would just really, REALLY suck. Meantime, I just sit here and refresh my browser. Over and over, and over.

Lastly, and almost as important, I went and tried to get my brows threaded today, and my regular place has closed! I don't trust my eyebrows to just anyone. What if they slipped?! Then again, I can't just show up to Disney and have 4 gazillion photos taken of me and have my brows looking like 2 bison took up residence above my eyes. I *HATE* having my photo taken as it is! I'm going to now have to trust this delicate job to some hacker who cares about my face as much as they care about their next bowl of ramen. Which could be a lot, but it's a crap shoot.

So, tomorrow I'll have one last day to hit up everyone's threads and say hello. I know I"m going to get hopelessly behind while gone, and I do apologize for that, but it's for a good reason. I mean everyone has to do their fair share at keeping Disney in business. And of course, there are TRs to be written.

2 more updates to go....

 

[Chrystmasangel]

I just wanted to take a few minutes to post. My hands are really swollen again so only 2-3 replies to posts and they start to hurt so I have to stop.

First off @franandaj I just wanted to thank you for all you shared. The time you have taken to help me is so appreciated. I plan on speaking to my RA specialist about Actemera. 6 years of relief...I have almost given up hope on even a few months of relief, I would be over the moon with a couple years let alone 6 years. This would make the idea of getting a port a lot less frightful!

For those of you who didn't know, I've been struggling with a PITA. And it's not even my kids. Seriously. Like for 6 months, my fanartny has been REALLY hurting and had gotten to the point where I could really not drive without taking a break for more than 30 minutes. I could barely sit. At all. I did not fall, there was no apparent or memorable trauma to my tailbone, but it was to the point that I could not live with it anymore. So I went to a spine and pain specialist a few weeks ago. She adjusted me and that brought absolutely no relief. I bought a donut to try, but that too brought zero relief to my hind end. Yesterday, when I went, I explained that I had to endure a 4 hour drive to Seattle, and then 10 hours of flight time/sitting in airports. This was just not going to happen without my arriving with NO sleep (shush, you're right, I STILL may not get any sleep, pain free, or not) and in a LOT of pain. This is a burning, stabbing sort of pain, that is almost completely relieved with standing. That is not an option. And the thought of riding a roller coaster almost makes bile rise in my throat.

Given that, my doc thought it'd be a good idea to go ahead and try the steroid injection. I thought sitting hurt. This, Friends, was the kind of pain that remembled childbirth. Or stepping on a Lego at 3 AM. Or gulping a "tepid latte" that actually arrived boiling. After choosing the needle that said "saber" on the packaging and making it red hot with her little needle-heating flame thrower, dipping it in acid, and attaching a rotating mini propeller, she stabbed the joint between my tailbone and lowest vertebra 4 times with lidocaine. Too bad there is nothing to numb the area for the numbing juice. Then she injected the steroid which resembled Elmer's Glue.

I got exactly 4 minutes of sleep last night because my A-bone was throbbing from being skewered more times than an O'hana dinner. If I wasn't in excruciating pain, I was having night sweats from the trauma of someone pulling my pants down and carving out my kidneys. Luckily, I work where the Ibuprofen floweth like fountains of honeydew for the hurting. Slammed those babies til there was no tomorrow, and I think, (Oh God, please...) my kidneys, what little I have left, will forgive me. By the time I got off work at 2:00, I was feeling pretty good, and can even say that my tushy is feeling about 75% better as far as the original pain goes. Until today, I literally cringed and had to raise my bum off the car seat every time I anticipated a bump. Most people thought my smooth disco moves were a gleeful response to the BeeGees on my oldies station; oh how wrong they were. I'm sitting here typing, and have only shifted a couple of times. Things are looking up!

This sucks!!!! I hope it helps you even more. I have had the injections in my back. My experience has been that for the first day or two after the injection I have hurt so bad that I question why I did it in the first place, but then it slowly gets better. I would have relief for about 2-3 weeks and then slowly the pain would creep back in. It has been 6 or 7 years since I have had to have them (no issues with my back since I lost 150 lbs *knock on wood*) so can't remember exactly. I hope these shots kick in and really help for your trip.

I'm sitting on pins and needles. But for an entirely different reason than my derriere having an attitude. It's even because of a guy. In fact, he's breaking many a heart tonight, I"m sure. This jerk's name is Matthew. This dude needs to, in my opinion, get lost at sea and never return. Ever. Until he decides to do that, I'm left to wonder if our flight will be affected in any way. I'm *pretty* sure sitting here right now, that we'll JUST miss this one by the skin of our teeth and he'll be causing more than enough grief in N. or S. Carolina or Georgia. Sorry 'bout that y'all, but this is a rather important flight and I'd rather him have made his way up there by oh... say, Saturday. I absolutely DON'T mind rain, even a lot of it, while we're there, but to miss a flight, would just really, REALLY suck. Meantime, I just sit here and refresh my browser. Over and over, and over.

July 2012 we had to deal with the aftermath of a hag named Debby! Tropical storms were aplenty during our entire trip. HOWEVER one of my fondest memories EVER at Disney was during this trip. During a down pour at the Magic Kingdom, myself, DD, and our good friends DD were swimming across the hub heading to Tomorrowland (DH, DS, good friend, and good friends DS were lamo and went back to the resort hours ago...no duck waddling for them!). We were seriously the ONLY people to be seen any where in the Magic Kingdom. It was such an odd feeling. We looked all the way down main street and there was no one. When we ran into a CM standing at the corner of the path to Tomorrowland we asked him what he was doing standing out in this mess, he said "waiting for the fireworks to start". We just couldn't even believe our ears... it was raining cats and dogs and they were having fireworks. He had to be messing with us so I just laughed and said "Nice one, you almost had me for a minute" and he said "I'm not kidding... rain or shine, the fireworks will always be set off." So we stood alone, on main street, and had a private showing of the Wishes Fireworks.

Lastly, and almost as important, I went and tried to get my brows threaded today, and my regular place has closed! .

This is just something that can't be put off! no siry bob! true story...DH was walking into Walmart one day and this lady at the hair salon was standing at the door and said to my husband "Hey, were having a special on brows today, you want to come in and I can get those caterpillars taken care of on your forehead?" He was so offended by that lady and then when I just burst out laughing at him... well, he wasn't much happier.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

5 DAYS!!!!!! This is the time when it is either or

Glad your tush is doing better. That would have made for a miserable flight.
I have had the hot poker treatment on my knee, I know what you are talking about. I just saw the doc last week finally. Well, I see her every dsy, but I had her see me. anyway, we decided that the shot didn't help much so skipped thst. Got my MRI. apparently my meniscus looks like a chopped salad on all sides and I have no cartilage left, along with a huge Baker's cyst. On second thought maybe the shot worked well. I have an appt. On Thursday. My only concern is getting Sx soon enough to walk at DL, which is why I finally got this rolling.

I have threatened my fam with having to line my wheelchair up with the strollers because I won't drive a scooter, I would most certainly run over small children and unsuspecting characters. I am not so happy about the cash outlay. Fridge for the rental in oregon, along with broken dishwasher rack, with all of this is really squeezing my Disney wallet. I'm starting to pray it will rain money.

 

[pkondz]

it's MERE HOURS!!!!!!

Whoa. Soooooon.

getting my window decoration twinkly lights (went with orange and purple; it IS Halloween afterall),

Sounds legit.
Also explains not bringing your Christmas lights.

picked up some prescriptions,

You mean scripts?

The lists are made, but I'm kinda like Santa; need to check them twice.

I can't wait to see what you're getting me!!!

As a side note, my Mickey nail decals are scheduled to arrive tomorrow... will they make it before my appointment at 4:00????????

Fingers crossed.... you can't do that after the nails are done. At least not right away.

For those of you who didn't know, I've been struggling with a PITA. And it's not even my kids. Seriously. Like for 6 months, my fanartny has been REALLY hurting and had gotten to the point where I could really not drive without taking a break for more than 30 minutes.

I did know. Didn't realize it'd gotten quite that bad.

So I went to a spine and pain specialist a few weeks ago. She adjusted me and that brought absolutely no relief.

Well.... crap.

This is a burning, stabbing sort of pain, that is almost completely relieved with standing. That is not an option. And the thought of riding a roller coaster almost makes bile rise in my throat.

Oh, man. That is not good at all.
Really sorry to hear that.

Given that, my doc thought it'd be a good idea to go ahead and try the steroid injection. I thought sitting hurt. This, Friends, was the kind of pain that remembled childbirth.

So fairly mild?
I remember when we had our kids. I hardly felt a thing.

Or stepping on a Lego at 3 AM.

OH MY GOD!!!!!!

Or gulping a "tepid latte" that actually arrived boiling.

Whups! Yeah, that's always fun.

After choosing the needle that said "saber" on the packaging and making it red hot with her little needle-heating flame thrower, dipping it in acid, and attaching a rotating mini propeller,

At least she was thorough. No stoning left unturned, so to speak.

I got exactly 4 minutes of sleep last night because my A-bone was throbbing from being skewered more times than an O'hana dinner.

Again, sorry to hear all that. Poor Liesa!
Me no like hearing one of my mermaids is not happy.

By the time I got off work at 2:00, I was feeling pretty good, and can even say that my tushy is feeling about 75% better as far as the original pain goes.

Thank goodness! Here's hoping it lasts!

Until today, I literally cringed and had to raise my bum off the car seat every time I anticipated a bump. Most people thought my smooth disco moves were a gleeful response to the BeeGees on my oldies station; oh how wrong they were. I'm sitting here typing, and have only shifted a couple of times. Things are looking up!

Perhaps one should be disinclined to talk about one's hiney and then use the phrase "looking up".
Just a thought.

I'm sitting on pins and needles.

Yes, you mentioned that.

It's even because of a guy.

I thought we were going to keep that between you and I?

This jerk's name is Matthew.

Oh... Him.
Yeah, I've been nervously (for you) watching that too.

I'm *pretty* sure sitting here right now, that we'll JUST miss this one by the skin of our teeth

I think so too. Right now, it's looking like you're probably right, that you'll just miss it.

Lastly, and almost as important, I went and tried to get my brows threaded today

Of course I know exactly what that is.
I'm educated, you know.

I'm going to now have to trust this delicate job to some hacker who cares about my face as much as they care about their next bowl of ramen.

Don't underestimate the power of ramen.

 

[Steppesister]

Y is for: You Only Pack Once (Unless You're Going to Disney) and Young Master Tate​

Today's the day!!!! Everything comes back out of the suitcase, re-checked, then re-packed. Santa has NOTHIN' on me! He only checks list twice. Clearly, he lacks the necessary personality trait of UNnecessarily obsessing over every little detail. Then again, I don't have time to sit around stewing about Category 4 hurricanes threatening to impede my 2-years-in-the-making vacation.

In the quiet of the day, a rare day in which I have the entire house all to myself with no distracting chatter or the call of dishes or laundry (I was up at 7:00 so I could make the house as distraction-free as possible), I am able to put some serious effort into taking care of any remaining details. After making some phone calls about some snafus I've run into with getting some prescriptions filled and hauling wood for the cozy woodstove fire I've got going, it was time for this:



Here's another view in case you need it. (Which you don't, but I'm going to give it to you anyway.)



That is 12 days worth of clothes and approximately the same amount of outfits. Some days I'll change into fancier clothes for a nice dinner out after a pool break. Got my PJs (shorts and a T-shirt), my bag of jewelry (for SURE going in my carry-on!), a big Judy hat (@glennbo123), and everything else. The only thing missing now to throw in is an extension cord for my lights. I found an ancient one here in the house, but I can't risk a fire; it's not the grounded type. So I'll have to go out to my pigsty of a garage and find one out there. Or just go buy a new, short one while I'm out today.

The carry-on has a change of clothes, part of my toiletries, our MBs, my book, headphones, my water bottle, my TR notebook, and a bunch of other crap. Well, not literally crap, but ya know, stuff I think I'll probably need, but never use, and therefore crap that I'll have to lug all over the place and eventually throw out. The Park Bag is pre-packed and in the carry-on, so all I'll have to do when we get to our room (pretty sure it'll be ready) is unpack a bit, put up all of our window and door decorations, check the park bag (I just have to), and set out to get some resort photos while the kids do whatever they want.

I wanted to share a little close-up of my park bag's tag (say that 3 times fast):



It's identical to the one I had for my last trip, except my screen name has (obviously) changed. Still DISLime Green with a purple bow. If you see me in the parks, SAY HI!!!!

When it was all said and done an hour later, this is what I got:



The kids will be packing on Saturday, and I think a little bit of my overflow will go into their bag(s). I AM a tad concerned that having the strands of lights is going to trigger an open bag search. I've had things pilfered before (hence putting my jewelry in my carry-on) and a search could jeopardize its safe arrival. So naturally, I'll put those in the kids' bags.

Camera is packed, battery charged, SD cards (all 10) are cleared and formatted, but I screwed up on the lens cap tethers I bought. The cap that came with my new lens doesn't have an attachment hole, so I'm thinking I'll have my hubs drill one for me tonight so I can get a strap put on it. Otherwise, I'm going to try superglue. The last thing I want is a scratch on a new $500 lens. Almost as much as I don't want my flight delayed, or worse, cancelled, due to a hurricane.

I am not the only one who is ready and possibly quite overdue for a nice, long trip to DisneyWorld! Tater O'Patty is getting in on the action too! Tate has been very, VERY busy the last couple of years learning how to be a nurse. Imagine that!?!




There really wasn't much time for Tater to sneak away with so many exams and Clinicals, but he's the ever-Disney-lovin' Potato and can't wait to get there and have some fun! Unfortunately, Tate had a little accident in which he somehow lost his ear, so we'll be visiting his Motherland where he can get outfitted with some new body parts and a few new duds. For those of you just getting acquainted with Tate, he is a bit of a fashionista and when the mood strikes, he can be a bit free-spirited in his/her manner of dress. Skirts and Minnie bows are not an entirely uncommon sight on TateyPants. But even moreso, he has an uncanny knack for bringing the life to the party. You might very well find him flirting with the ladies around World Showcase, climbing the branches in the Swiss Family Treehouse, or having a sword fight in Adventureland. Either way, he is also packed and ready to go with his camera to take lots of selfies!



Here he is all ready to ride PP, maraud like a pirate, and eat cream cheese pretzels.



Now, TaterCakes has a little favor to ask of you all. See those little bottles? He and I took a little field trip into the store a while back to see what we could find in the way of something that starts with U and with Y. For Letter Y we actually came up with 2 options. So, one will be for the end of the trip when it's Letter Y's "turn" and the other will be for saving $7 on Alaska Airlines. Since, I've come to my senses and determined that taking an Ambien is a really stupid idea on a flight, I asked Tate if he'd share a little of his booze with me. But we couldn't decide which one to open. Your choices are: Whiskey and Coke or a Mule with Ginger Vodka. Both are delicious and will serve their purposes. Your votes will determine which drink we will toast the kick-off of our trip with!!!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Nice assortment of duds for your adventure! Looks like you are not planning on doing any laundry. Well done! I vote the Mule with Ginger vodka. It may settle your tummy a bit should you encounter turbulence. What's the problem with Ambien? Jim takes a Xanax and a beer before we take off. It allowed him to sleep like a baby while stuck on the plane for 2 hrs before takeoff at PDX our last trip home. Of course he would not be a good candidate for sitting in the Exit row. I'm praying Mr. Matthew will lose speed and go away already.

 

[DonnaBeeGood]

.

 

[pkondz]

Santa has NOTHIN' on me! He only checks list twice. Clearly, he lacks the necessary personality trait of UNnecessarily obsessing over every little detail.

But then, clearly his bag is much smaller.

Whoa! So... off to Krapistan again, huh?

Odd. It looks even more intimidating from this angle.

The only thing missing now to throw in is an extension cord for my lights.

PUT IT ON THE LIST!
Otherwise it'll get forgotten for sure.

my water bottle

Empty, right? Otherwise you'll just have to empty it when you get to security.

park bag's tag (say that 3 times fast):

I did! I always do, every time I read that.

I wonder how many (if any) time's you'll get a "Hi" from that?
I know that in two trips, I didn't get a single hint of recognition. So I stopped carrying one.
Hopefully you'll have better luck.

I AM a tad concerned that having the strands of lights is going to trigger an open bag search. I've had things pilfered before (hence putting my jewelry in my carry-on) and a search could jeopardize its safe arrival. So naturally, I'll put those in the kids' bags.

"Mom! Mom! They're taking me for a strip and cavity search! Mom! Because of your stupid lights! Mom!"

"Have fun! Meet me at the gate when you're done!"

SD cards (all 10)

but I screwed up on the lens cap tethers I bought. The cap that came with my new lens doesn't have an attachment hole, so I'm thinking I'll have my hubs drill one for me tonight so I can get a strap put on it. Otherwise, I'm going to try superglue. The last thing I want is a scratch on a new $500 lens.

I've never done the tether thing. And yet people swear by it.
Guess I've just gotten in the habit of always putting it in the same pocket.

The last thing I want is a scratch on a new $500 lens.

Wait. Please tell me you have a UV or Skylight filter on your lenses???

Tater O'Patty is getting in on the action too! Tate has been very, VERY busy the last couple of years learning how to be a nurse. Imagine that!?!

Huh. And it looks like he didn't have any trouble. Guess it wasn't that hard, huh?

and eat cream cheese pretzels.

Good luck! Let me know if you find any!

Whiskey and Coke or a Mule with Ginger Vodka.

I have no idea what a Mule drink is. And I'm way too tired to Google. So that gets my vote.

 

[Steppesister]

I too, am just done tonight. Too tired to continue on after my long and VERY productive day. Hair and pedi are done, took Zach to his eye appt, printed off pocket itineraries for each family member (will take them to get laminated tomorrow), went through my STUFF from Brook (YAY!!! Guess what arrived today?!?!), cleaned a bit, packed for the last time, and camped on here for a while. Time to hit the hay and do the best I can with sleeping. I have always, as long as I can remember, struggled with insomnia before traveling.

 

[glennbo123]

a big Judy hat (@glennbo123)

Just to be clear, the adjective is describing the hat, not Judy, correct?

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Crossing my fingers for you that things work out with the storm and your flights!

 

[OregonMomToWDW]

Sounds as if everything is coming together. Now just waiting to see what Matthew does. I hope you are able to have a wonderful trip. I am not a ginger flavor fan, so whiskey and coke would be my choice.

 

[franandaj]

Tate is pretty cute, I'm looking forward to his adventures!

I never spreassigned my clothes out on the bed like that, but somehow that doesn't look like 12 days of clothes to me. I guess you are smaller than me, so your clothes don't take up as much room.

Good job on having it all together.

I think you should be good on Matthew by the time you leave. I hope there is no aftermath at Disney, but I suspect it will be near the Carolinas by the time you leave.

I have no idea which booze you should drink. I've never had a Moscow Mule and I'm not a big whisky fan, so I'd play eenie meenie miney moe.

I hope you survive worrying throughout these next few days.

 

[afwdwfan]

Here I go offering to give you a kick in the butt and then you're complaining about a pain in the butt. I hope you're feeling better a couple of days after the injections.

Matthew sucks. Hopefully your travel plans aren't affected.

I've had things pilfered before (hence putting my jewelry in my carry-on) and a search could jeopardize its safe arrival. So naturally, I'll put those in the kids' bags.

Your choices are: Whiskey and Coke or a Mule with Ginger Vodka. Both are delicious and will serve their purposes. Your votes will determine which drink we will toast the kick-off of our trip with!!!

I still say you didn't need to pack anything, just get a Yuengling. But if I had to pick one, I'm not a big fan of ginger. Whiskey all the way.