April 21, 2007 -- Western Magic -- anyone?

[Hudson5&Lennon3]

I became obsessed with getting a good deal on the flights. I was stalking the SW site and message boards to see when they would be releasing the new dates. The day they released the dates I kept refreshing my screen every minute. A student walked into my office (yup, I work in the office at an elementary school ) the moment the flights were released. I basically said, "honey, I can't deal with you right now you'll have to wait." That's how I got such a good rate. I went upstairs to tell my friend the rates had been released and in that 5 minutes the rates had already started to go up. My hobby is definitely planning vacations and getting good deals!

I don't think I'll do short-term vacation planning again. Three months is definitely not enough time...especially now that I know how to save on lots of different aspects of the trip! I wish we wouldn't have let AAA book our flights. She originally had us scheduled to fly into Orlando just shortly before the last DCL bus left. (We have since changed to flying in on Friday and reserving a town car, though--only after reading it here.) I wish I had found DIS a LONG time ago!


So I just got off the phone with the passport agency. After 45 minutes and $135, we are hoping to get them before we leave. Hudson's and Lennon's are in Seattle, and he sent a message to process them ASAP. DH's & mine are in Colorado, but I have to pay $60 each for expediting them plus $15 for overnight shipping (I hope they ship them together--otherwise another $15), even though Nebraska and Colorado are bordering states! UGH! It makes no sense. I guess I should be glad I didn't have to pay to expedite all four.

Is anyone with younger kids going to bring your own life jackets for the Goofy pool and the beaches? We can't decide if we want to take ours or not--they take up a lot of space. I saw on the main board that someone was suggesting water muscles (arm floaties), so we might do that instead. The boys are really only used to wading pools, so they might be intimidated by the ocean. I'm curious about the Mickey slide, too. In the PassPorter, it says you have to be 4 y/o and 32" tall, but Lennon is 3 1/2 and 39". Is he going to be deprived of the slide?

 

[curlybop]

Okay Amanda and Amy...here we go with the similarities again! LOVE DVR, multiple shows to watch/record at the same time, wasting time in front of TV & computer. That's me in a nutshell! (Does that mean I'm a nut if I'm in a nutshell? )

I could spend all day online, no joke! OK, I'll tell on myself now - we have a desktop computer at home, but I rarely used it, since it was in my office at the other end of the house. Right after Christmas I started looking in our family room and thinking - hmmmmm......yes, I moved the computer in there. The tower is under a side table, and I have a student desk for the monitor. Purchased a wireless keyboard & mouse to go with it, so now I can sit on the couch, watch TV, and goof off on the computer. I found a beautiful tablecloth after Christmas for 75% off, and draped the desk in it, so it looks like a regular table. The only thing I didn't move was the scanner/printer, because I rarely use it anyway. When we have people over I just take the monitor off the desk, slide under the table also, and put the desk away. It's easy to hide, and I didn't have to buy a laptop.

I basically said, "honey, I can't deal with you right now you'll have to wait." That's how I got such a good rate.

I could definitely see myself in that. I'd come to work, get organized, and check flight info every single day. At home on the weekends, first chance I'd get, I would do the same. One Friday morning I came in to work, checked as part of my daily routine, and finally the rates dropped drastically. Voice mail went on, door shut for just a few minutes - I had flights to book! I'm just glad I can get away with it at work. Once it was done then I was back to actually working - but really, really excited. Sometimes you just have to grab it while you can, no matter who is standing around! If you're not bleeding or the building is on fire, then wait just a couple of minutes......

 

[curlybop]

Can you believe that my DH did not have a TV in his home till he was 18!!

Wow!! We had one, but it picked up 4 stations on a good day. Love those antennas. Same with DH's family. Once we married and got our satellite, both sets of parents did the same. Go figure! They waited until we were gone for the good stuff.

 

[Hudson5&Lennon3]

now I can sit on the couch, watch TV, and goof off on the computer.

Sounds like you've got a great setup! It's great that you can hide it, too! I think I said before that we designed our house around being able to watch TV. Our kitchen has a built-in desk so we can watch the TV in either the living room or the kitchen while surfing. My office computer in the basement is facing out the French doors so I can keep my eye on the TV...I mean, the kids.

 

[koby]

I just realized 2 weeks ago that our passports and birth certificates were not where I thought they were. DH has his (he keeps it in his briefcase..he's a bit anal). We were flooded and our neighborhood had to be evacuated last Mother's Day. Our house was in disarray for weeks. I now think in all of that chaos some of our documents were inadvertently thrown out. I almost had a nervous breakdown when I went to pull them out and they weren't there. I sent away for our birth certificates (they came in 3 days) and I still have my old expired passport. Since we are taking separate excursions, the joke at our house is if you miss the boat we'll meet back up in NH. It'll be each man for himself trying to get home!

 

[curlybop]

My office computer in the basement is facing out the French doors so I can keep my eye on the TV...I mean, the kids.

That's hilarious. When I had it in my office, DH always said "Oh, you can close the door and work in peace." Are you laughing now? I can't count the times I'd get interrupted. Plus sometimes it would be too quiet - or I'm waiting on something to download (we still have sloooooow dial up at home). Atleast now I can sort of multi-task. Can you call TV watching & surfing a task though?

 

[alikat99]

I'm planning an extended trip to Wal-Mart today or tomorrow (I think of you, Amy, and your tag! Yes, I've been putting it off because I don't want to go!), so I'll probably look and see if I can find anything simple there. We have some pirate tattoos from potty training last summer, so I'll probably bring those along and maybe eye patches, but nothing too extravagant.

Don't ya just love that tag!!! I got it because on my 2005 DVC cruise, there were these blinking flip-flops that everyone was finding at Walmart. I wanted to get some, but I kept putting off going to Walmart because I can't stand walking in there. I have a Target just 5 minutes from my house, and Walmart is only 15 minutes away. But, it's the busiest Walmart in the State (or maybe it's the largest in the SE US), and it's just chaos in there, and no one is ever helpful. Thus, the Walmart tag!!

 

[alikat99]

Is anyone with younger kids going to bring your own life jackets for the Goofy pool and the beaches? We can't decide if we want to take ours or not--they take up a lot of space. I saw on the main board that someone was suggesting water muscles (arm floaties), so we might do that instead. The boys are really only used to wading pools, so they might be intimidated by the ocean. I'm curious about the Mickey slide, too. In the PassPorter, it says you have to be 4 y/o and 32" tall, but Lennon is 3 1/2 and 39". Is he going to be deprived of the slide?

Emily doesn't really need a life jacket anymore since she took swim lessons all summer, but we did bring Madison's on our last cruise. But, we did a double dip at Castaway Cay and on the 2nd day, she didn't even put it on. We ended up just pulling our chairs up to the water's edge and the girls just played in the waist deep water and in the sand making castles. And, as far as the slide, I think that Lennon should be able to go on. I think that the biggest thing is the height and I'm sure that the age is more because of scared kids.

 

[alikat99]

Wow!! We had one, but it picked up 4 stations on a good day. Love those antennas. Same with DH's family. Once we married and got our satellite, both sets of parents did the same. Go figure! They waited until we were gone for the good stuff.

We didn't have cable when I was growing up, so all we had was the antennas too. Boy, did my world open up when I got my first apartment and got cable!!!

 

[Hudson5&Lennon3]

Can you call TV watching & surfing a task though?

ABSOLUTELY!

Don't ya just love that tag!!! I got it because on my 2005 DVC cruise, there were these blinking flip-flops that everyone was finding at Walmart. I wanted to get some, but I kept putting off going to Walmart because I can't stand walking in there. I have a Target just 5 minutes from my house, and Walmart is only 15 minutes away. But, it's the busiest Walmart in the State (or maybe it's the largest in the SE US), and it's just chaos in there, and no one is ever helpful. Thus, the Walmart tag!!

So are we going to see these blinking flip-flops in 16 days? (I'm expecting to see them now after how long it just took me to do this rainbow effect! )
Unfortunately, the closest Target is 45+ minutes away. I like Target much better than Wal-Mart, too, but WM tends to be less expensive. There's been talk of Target coming just down the road from us, but that was 1-2 years ago, and nothing has even been said about it again. We just recently converted from one regular Wal-Mart to two Super Wal-Marts. Lots of people were saying how we didn't need two, but I think it's great because the old store got so nasty with the amount of people in there all day and night, and it was sooo overcrowded in there. I still feel dirty just walking into WM (even though they are new!), but I think its just from being in the old store too many times. I try to hold out as long as I can, but I usually make a giant trip once a month (where they proceed to take all my money ). Now Sam's Club, on the other hand, seems to be our weekly Sunday hangout --again, taking all my money.

Thanks for your input about swimming. I'm sure if we take the life jackets, they won't wear them, so I think I'll save the space for something else and just try to find water muscles (at WM, of course). Lennon will probably be scared of the slide anyway, but I would like him to have the chance to go. DH dunked him the one and only time he went down the slide last summer, so he was scared after that.

 

[alikat99]

Thankfully, the Mickey slide doesn't end into the actual pool. It just has about an inch or two of water at the bottom. So, if he's scared about that, no need to be.

 

[ohMom]

hey who's thinking about CRUISE FOOD??????

any family with the APL rotation will enjoy dinner and a show on Saturday April 21 -- just a short 16 days from tonight.............

did someone mention shrimp??

and oh yea, DESSERT!!!

**DISclaimer -- you'll find these delectable dishes on the Till We Meet Again menu which is NOT Animator's regular menu but rather the last dinner onboard


look at that adorable couple, aren't they sooo in love

HEY! what is there for adults to do after dinner you ask??? we'll be sure to check it out

 

[curlybop]

Yay Molli!! I just love photos. I need those chairs in Animators for my basement though. They would be so awesome!

We're not bringing life jackets. DD can't swim yet, but she never gets into deep water without us anyway. I think she'll be fine in the Mickey pool since it's shallow. I need the space to bring home stuff anyway.

I'm cracking up about the Wal-mart stuff. I try to avoid it at all costs. The nearest Target is an hour away. But I try to get groceries at either Aldi's or Kroger, depending on the sales. Our WM is OK I guess, but it's always crowded, and you nearly get run over by buggies unless you go around 7am during the week. If we had a Target close by, I'd never darken WM doors again!

 

[B&B Mom]

Well here it goes....I'm not much for posting, but do enjoy lurking.

Sounds like everyone has done a good job getting things packed for the cruise. I don't have much done yet, but plan on getting most of it done this weekend. I'm having trouble trying to make sure we have all the right clothes for the parks and cruise. My list is getting longer all the time.


We are flying out on Sunday April 15 so hopefully if I forget anything I'll have a chance to pick it up before heading to Port Canaveral.

Looking forward to meeting everyone!

 

[mickymania]

CRYING HERE SNOWING - thought it was only 2-4 inches. More like 10-12 inches.:

Our last cruise was in April as well. When we left, it was snowing -- they even had to de-ice the plane. The upside was it made landing four hours later in Orlando that much sweeter. It's kind of fun to leave everyone else behind in the snow knowing you will be in 80+ degree weather.

Amy - I love your Walmart tag. I think that I have made my last trip to Walmart, but you know that it will probably not last. I got a bunch of travel size stuff, pillowcases with sharpies, batteries, all into individual ziploc bags. I just hate going to Walmart........

 

[cnj]

Hi guys! My name is Jenni, and it will be me, my DH (Casey), and my 2 children DD7 and DS3. We are so excited to be going on this cruise. I was a bit leery of posting here, because we really just want to spend this cruise with each other and also it is kind of nice to have anonymity when your child is throwing a fit and you just want to crawl under a rock (like last night when we were shopping for drapes). I just thought how it wouldn't be fair that I know who all of you are and you wouldn't know me. If I see you I will say hi. You guys all seem so nice. I have so much housework to do right now, and so much to plan. We are flying in on the 18th for the first time on Southwest. I just could not pass up the great rate we got, but I am so nervous about the seating.

Talk to you later,

Jenni

 

[alikat99]

Hi guys! My name is Jenni, and it will be me, my DH (Casey), and my 2 children DD7 and DS3. We are so excited to be going on this cruise. I was a bit leery of posting here, because we really just want to spend this cruise with each other and also it is kind of nice to have anonymity when your child is throwing a fit and you just want to crawl under a rock (like last night when we were shopping for drapes). I just thought how it wouldn't be fair that I know who all of you are and you wouldn't know me. If I see you I will say hi. You guys all seem so nice. I have so much housework to do right now, and so much to plan. We are flying in on the 18th for the first time on Southwest. I just could not pass up the great rate we got, but I am so nervous about the seating.

Talk to you later,

Jenni

Hi Jenni - I'm glad that you came out of hiding. You have NO worries about anonymity about childhood tantrums because my girls are FAMOUS for them!! Trust me, you are not alone. Heck, my 5yr old had a complete melt down in the middle of the busy atrium, during photos before dinner, over her shoe. She was screaming SO loud that I had to climb up to flights of stairs, with her under my arm (think football, and she was 4 at the time) to the 5th floor where our room was to calm her down. I was mortified, but thankfully, those that saw me gave me their sympathies that they knew "exactly" what I was going through!!!

Anyway, please say HI, and you are under NO obligation to hang out with DISers. It's just a way to "know" some people when you're on deck, or at a game show, etc.

 

[alikat99]

Well here it goes....I'm not much for posting, but do enjoy lurking.

Sounds like everyone has done a good job getting things packed for the cruise. I don't have much done yet, but plan on getting most of it done this weekend. I'm having trouble trying to make sure we have all the right clothes for the parks and cruise. My list is getting longer all the time.


We are flying out on Sunday April 15 so hopefully if I forget anything I'll have a chance to pick it up before heading to Port Canaveral.

Looking forward to meeting everyone!

Welcome to the group, B&B Mom!! Don't be a stranger and jump right in. We all plan on having a good time on our vacations!!!

 

[ctc917]

Hi guys! My name is Jenni, and it will be me, my DH (Casey), and my 2 children DD7 and DS3. We are so excited to be going on this cruise. I was a bit leery of posting here, because we really just want to spend this cruise with each other and also it is kind of nice to have anonymity when your child is throwing a fit and you just want to crawl under a rock (like last night when we were shopping for drapes). I just thought how it wouldn't be fair that I know who all of you are and you wouldn't know me. If I see you I will say hi. You guys all seem so nice. I have so much housework to do right now, and so much to plan. We are flying in on the 18th for the first time on Southwest. I just could not pass up the great rate we got, but I am so nervous about the seating.

Talk to you later,

Jenni

Hi Jenni

Don't worry about flying Southwest we have been flying with them for a while and sometimes you just can't beat the price. In case you don't know you should go on line to the Southwest web site and print your board pass 24 hrs before your flight, you are looking to get a "A" boarding pass, they load the plane by A B C. Since you have young children you can do the pre-boarding, but I have heard that sometimes they don't let the familes with small children pre-board because the whole plane is filled with families with small children so thats why I always try to go on line and get my "A" boarding pass because if that happens then I still get to board first. If you have any questions please feel free to ask and if you already knew all this sorry to go on and on.

Cheryl

PS-Corryn: I think I got it..doing the quotes that is...thanks for the advice.
Molli I received the e-mail you sent me with the list, thanks. I forgot to give you my kids ages- Nick is 14 and Spencer is 3 1/2

 

[sarahste]

I'm interested in Captain Marvin's stingray snorkeling tour -- as opposed to the Disney excursion -- primarily because we'd like to take our 3-year-old (we've been to the stingray sandbar twice before, so we have a good idea what it is like).

Anyway, what are the details? Can we go too? Is there still room on the trip booked by those posting here? I've checked out the Web site and will call tomorrow, but I didn't know whether I could get more info here beforehand.

Thanks!

-- Sarah