An obsessive planner's 2nd annual Once-in-a-lifetime trip CANCELLED :( 3/22

[-Hope-]

I got a couple purchases for our trip that I want to share.

Last year Robbie carried around our big backpack with all of our stuff but I just didn't want to do that. I'll already have my DSLR so adding a huge bag would just weigh me down even more. So, I ordered a Baggallini.

I was worried about my camera in this bag so I also ordered a neoprene case for my camera. It's a fitted, cushioned, water resistant case that I can put in any bag and my camera will still be protected.

I used these yesterday when we went to the bowling alley (for Jace's birhthday ) and I loved it. The bag held all of my stuff- money, camera, cell phone, keys, a book. There was plenty of room and even room to spare where I could have carried snacks and a couple of water bottles. I stopped by the grocery store as well and also loved that it was comfortably on my back but when I wanted to get something out I could just slide the bag around front and easily access it. I think this is going to be a great park bag.

However it's not big enough for ALL of our stuff. The kids are going to have to be responsible for some of their own things as well. They'll each have their autograph books, snacks and water bottles. I got them simple and lightweight drawstring bags from overstock.com (aqua and blue Puma). These will be perfect because they fold up flat and if they get tired of carrying them around they will fit, along with the autograph books in my bag. I have to give credit to Erin here since she ordered fold-up backpacks for her kids with this idea in mind. Thanks Erin!

And since I clicked through My Points when I ordered their backpacks (and the trampoline they're getting for Easter, shhhh) I'm getting closer to my goal of a Rainforest Cafe gift card when we go to Chicago this summer. I thought about using it for RFC at Disney but decided that since we can do RFC and T-Rex on our other two trips to Chicago and KC that we'll do specifically Disney restaurants on our trip to WDW. I've been doing all of my online shopping through My Points (when it's the best price) plus their other ways to earn points, like reading emails, etc., and have over 5000 points already. I need 6750 each for RFC and T-Rex and I'm also hoping for at least one (hopefully 2) Visa gift cards to take to Disney. Every little bit helps and I'm going to make ALL THREE of these trips happen!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

COOL! I want to see how big the bag is next to something of scale. Maybe you can just bring it tomorrow so I can see it? Is it really thin or does it have some thickness?

 

[-Hope-]

It's pretty thin, not as thick as a regular backpack. I'd compare it to a heavy windbreaker. I'll bring it tomorrow for you to see- not really feeling like going through all the steps necessary to post another pic, lol.

 

[-Hope-]

Oh, to give you an idea about the size in the meantime I put The Post Birthday World in the smaller, front zipper.

 

[ronnmel]

Your Disney day looked like fun!

We too have decided to ditch the huge backpack for a smaller bag.

 

[-Hope-]

Your Disney day looked like fun!

We too have decided to ditch the huge backpack for a smaller bag.

We did have fun, thanks!

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

I feel like a superstar being mentioned in your PTR! I really like the Baggallini! I keep seeing people talking about those. You know, I signed up for My Points probably a year ago but I never did it because I thought it would take too much effort without much payoff, but it looks like you and Karen are racking up the points! I'll have to start doing it too. That is a great way to earn gift cards for your trips!

 

[-Hope-]

I feel like a superstar being mentioned in your PTR! I really like the Baggallini! I keep seeing people talking about those. You know, I signed up for My Points probably a year ago but I never did it because I thought it would take too much effort without much payoff, but it looks like you and Karen are racking up the points! I'll have to start doing it too. That is a great way to earn gift cards for your trips!

You ARE a superstar, lol! I've been using the Baggallini as a purse for the last couple of days just to see how I'm going to like it and so far it's great.

I signed up for My Points (or something similar) a couple of years ago when I first started staying home with the kids and it did seem like a lot of effort at that time but now that I understand it better it works for me. I do a lot of online shopping anyway for sheer convenience so it just makes sense to earn rewards for it. I'm already really close to getting my RFC card and then I can start saving up for something else.

 

[-Hope-]

Itinerary update:

I've pretty much decided to do the 6 day base tickets instead of th 4 day hoppers. They are the same price and the house is going to cost the same no matter what so it just makes sense to extend the magic! So, my new itinerary:

Friday Sept 30: Begin drive to Kissimmee, stop in Tifton, GA for the night

Saturday October 1: Drive to Kissimmee, find house and unpack car. Head to MK for the evening!
CS dinner @ MK

Sunday October 2: Animal Kingdom, including Donald's Safari Breakfast
Back to house to rest/relax and have a light dinner in late afternoon
Evening at DTD

Monday October 3: Epcot, rope drop We'll focus on FW this day (with the exception of a KP Mission with Savannah) and then head into WS if we have the time/energy
Dinner at house

Tuesday October 4: Magic Kindgom, rope drop- This is my favorite park and the plan is to go until we drop or they chase us out of the park when the party starts at 7:00, whichever comes first!

Wednesday October 5:DHS, we won't rush to make rope drop but want to arrive by 9:30ish so we can get FP for TSM
Lunch at Sci-fi
After we finish we'll take the Friendship to Boardwalk to look around for a bit and have a snack
Dinner at house

Thursday October 6:Epcot, we'll sleep in and head to WS (though we'll probably have to ride Soarin' one more time).
Dinner and Illuminations at Rose and Crown- I've read up on it and if we don't get good seating there is an area for patrons to go view Illuminations so it seemed worth it. I wanted something special for our last night and this seemed like a good option.

Friday October 7: Finish packing/load car
DTD for lunch and shopping
Drive to Tifton, GA for the night

Saturday October 8: Drive the rest of the way home

All of our breakfast, with the exception of TH, will be at the house, all of our lunch will be in the parks so I didn't put those down each day. I included dinners because they vary by day.

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Your plans look great, Hope. I would much rather have 2 extra park days than to have the "hopper option". Now are you cooridnating your dinner plans with Karen at all??? I noticed that Kya and Savannah will be doing the KP together, but you didn't mention their family any other time. Yeah, I know you'll see them as you are sharing the house...hee hee!!!

So, what's on the agenda for this upcoming Disney day? Inquiring minds want to know!!!

 

[DrMomof3]

Great job with the itinerary! And I love the new bags. Hmmm. DH loves going to RFC at AK. I never thought about using my points. I'll have to see where I am with that...

Amanda

 

[-Hope-]

Your plans look great, Hope. I would much rather have 2 extra park days than to have the "hopper option". Now are you cooridnating your dinner plans with Karen at all??? I noticed that Kya and Savannah will be doing the KP together, but you didn't mention their family any other time. Yeah, I know you'll see them as you are sharing the house...hee hee!!!

So, what's on the agenda for this upcoming Disney day? Inquiring minds want to know!!!

I think Karen and family will be having dinner at the house on some of the same nights we are. One night for sure we're planning to bbq.

As for the next Disney day... we're only doing them every other week so it won't be until next Monday and I'm going to make you wait.

Great job with the itinerary! And I love the new bags. Hmmm. DH loves going to RFC at AK. I never thought about using my points. I'll have to see where I am with that...

Amanda

Thanks Amanda. If you're doing points anyway you may as well use them at Disney right?

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Uh, that itinerary looks REALLY familiar!

 

[lledman]

Your plans look great. I like how you have down time in there too!!!!

 

[-Hope-]

Uh, that itinerary looks REALLY familiar!

Your plans look great. I like how you have down time in there too!!!!

Thanks! We figured out last year that a bit of downtime is a must- even if it's just taking 10 minutes to grab a drink and sit in the air conditioning of a CS restaurant. No one has fun when we push it too hard.

 

[ronnmel]

I think it was a really smart choice to go from 4 days hopper to 6 days in the park. Much less stressful, and more time to visit everything.

 

[-Hope-]

I think it was a really smart choice to go from 4 days hopper to 6 days in the park. Much less stressful, and more time to visit everything.

Yep, once I realized that I was paying the same for the house for up to a week it seemed like a no brainer. We'll have to come up with the money for a couple of more meals but I balanced that out with cooking more of our own meals at the house (which won't cost any more than if we were at home) so we are spending the same amount of money for two more days in the parks.

 

[Charlefours]

Hi Hope!!

I haven't been on DIS much lately (as you can tell if you are reading my TR) but I saw you started a new PTR so I wanted to say hello! I am so glad you are heading back again.

I saw briefly your dates, and it looks like you are staying at Pop? That is where we are staying too this next trip. Looking forward to catching up (though it may not happen until April )

 

[-Hope-]

Hi Hope!!

I haven't been on DIS much lately (as you can tell if you are reading my TR) but I saw you started a new PTR so I wanted to say hello! I am so glad you are heading back again.

I saw briefly your dates, and it looks like you are staying at Pop? That is where we are staying too this next trip. Looking forward to catching up (though it may not happen until April )

Hi Stephanie! I know all about having to step away from the DIS at times when "real life" gets in the way! Our original plan was to stay at Pop but now it looks like we'll be doing a house share with Karen. More space, private pool, front door parking, full kitchen- should be lovely!

 

[-Hope-]

WOOOOOOT!​

Yesterday I gave Karen my share of the money for the house and she paid it off, including the security deposit! It's so great to have one of the major expenses taken care of, it makes the trip seem more real.

We're goin' to Disney World!
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