August 16, 2011, Disney Dream - Part 3

[kritter]

We were so torn about this as well. My original plan was to rent and get there early. Then, I was going to take the bus and get there early. Now we have a rental and I am just going to get there at our assigned time. I know this means no Palo for us so I am just going to take it all in stride.





A/C is WORKING again! Something had happened with the breaker and we flipped it and are cooling again!

YEAH ABOUT THE AC!!

Great news that the cruise is only a month away! I was up until the wee hours of the morning working on the FEs. I'm done! They are all in a box and await being sent to the DCL
warehouse about 10 days before. I had no problem with this arrangement last October so plan to do it again. And I must admit that just like last year, my box being shipped is a bit larger than the "record box" size. I called DCL and asked about the size of the box and they told me it was fine to use a bigger box. That was all I needed to hear!

@Kristin, Thanks for your email with all of the helpful tips. I did email the car service with the reservation after my phone call just to make sure everything was correct, especially our request for two booster seats. The owner emailed me right back and said all was good. Thanks for your good advice!

@Harry, is Keira's swim team stuff over? Skye and Hope's ended today as they didn't qualify for the divisional meet. At their age they didn't really care as they quickly started to focus on the team's ice cream social/awards banquet that happens next week.

@Jeff, The new play structure in your backyard looks awesome. Skye and Hope are insanely jealous of Sarah's good fortune!

Now it is time to start figuring out how to best use all of the packing cubes that I just got in the mail. Yes, we bought four different colors.

Glad that your all set with the car-service!!
Jeff, would love to see pictures of the play structure!! It sounds AWESOME!!

We're off to Joann's to purchase supplies so I can make a FE for my parents' door. I told them I would make it for them, and we leave in 4 weeks, so I better get started! We're going to reuse the one from our last cruise:

Your FE is very cute!!

I thought we were the only ones who had stuff breaking down!!!

Our house is the place where stuff comes to break!

I had a post last weekend where I noted I had to fix an outdoor hose bib. This week it's the ignitor in our oven and DW mumbled something about the vacuum cleaner not working properly?!?! It is always something!

Harry, the ongoing joke here is that whenever Bruce has to travel for work something breaks!!

 

[kritter]

Today was an Awesome day weather-wise. We extended the patio around our pool. So Bruce and his friend finished up the landscaping today and had to spread some top-soil and plant some grass...Tomorrow, we can put our patio furniture back onto it. The kids said that the backyard now reminds them of Disney World....LOL!!

 

[kritter]

Anyone still looking for private transportation Groupon Orlando has a deal today only::

http://www.groupon.com/deals/sunshi...c4d849d58707609a3ae0bdfcc36d647c856f130d89610

 

[hmansure]

On the way out for another swim meet.... Kristin - why in the world are you up this early on a Sunday AM?!?

 

[Pudo]

Jeff, would love to see pictures of the play structure!! It sounds AWESOME!!

Yes, Sarah is very happy her playset. Especially the slide and 'eagles nest'. It took Missy and I a couple of weekends to complete. Missy is actually very good with tools and instructions. I worked many years for my Dad building custom furniture so I know my way around tools too. I feel bad for those who aren't so familiar. The amount of wood and hardward can be daunting.

 

[Pudo]

Sorry...double post. I shouldn't post pre-coffee.

 

[kritter]

Yes, Sarah is very happy her playset. Especially the slide and 'eagles nest'. It took Missy and I a couple of weekends to complete. She is actually very good with tools and instructions. I worked many years for my Dad building custom furniture so I know my way around tools too. I feel bad for those who aren't so familiar. The amount of wood and hardward can be daunting.

Oh my gosh it is beautiful. Sarah is going to love playing in it for a long time. WOW, good for you that you and Missy were able to put that together. I have heard that they are very complicated to get together. It looks AWESOME!!

 

[Pudo]

Oh my gosh it is beautiful. Sarah is going to love playing in it for a long time. WOW, good for you that you and Missy were able to put that together. I have heard that they are very complicated to get together. It looks AWESOME!!

The photos are there now. I'm going for more coffee...

 

[Pudo]

Oh my gosh it is beautiful. Sarah is going to love playing in it for a long time. WOW, good for you that you and Missy were able to put that together. I have heard that they are very complicated to get together. It looks AWESOME!!

Thank you. Yes, it was very involved, the instruction book was 65 pages long and had 100+ separate steps.

 

[kritter]

On the way out for another swim meet.... Kristin - why in the world are you up this early on a Sunday AM?!?

Good Luck to your swimmers....

I was wondering the same thing. Why, am I up soo early? I have had the worst time sleeping lately. I am either awake in the middle of the night or awake VERY early in the am. Not sure why. But I am soo tired!!

 

[kritter]

Anyone, looking for airfare for April Break, JetBlue is releasing their fares today @ noon!!

 

[kritter]

Thank you. Yes, it was very involved, the instruction book was 65 pages long and had 100+ separate steps.

Ohhh, my gosh!! My brother put one of these together once and it took him 4 loooong weekends to get it together!! He has said never again will he attempt one of these. I would have thought it would have been easy for him to get together since is is a neurosurgeon!!

I just showed the photos to my girls they were saying how fun it looks. They said to tell Sarah they can't wait to meet her. I am sure we will run into you on day # 1 in the concierges lounge!!

 

[jenanderson]

With a month to cruise day (22 days til we leave for FL) I REALLY should be working on my FE gifts. Instead I'm here and watching Food Network!

I've been doing laundry since last night-washing everything that came home from camp-it all smells musty...

Has anyone tried to order packing cubes lately? There's a price difference, even with the 20% off, about $4 difference per set which adds up depending on how many more I may order. Free shipping over $50. Does anyone have a better code?

I bet we all probably have things we should be working on for the trip. I have to admit that having my FE gifts done does make me feel good though.

Did DD have a good time at camp? My DD is finishing her packing for camp today. Her dance team has a pool party this afternoon and then they leave at 7:00 AM tomorrow morning for camp!

Packing cubes have been priced higher...must have been because of all the mass purchases from everyone on the DIS!

Great news that the cruise is only a month away! I was up until the wee hours of the morning working on the FEs. I'm done! They are all in a box and await being sent to the DCL
warehouse about 10 days before. I had no problem with this arrangement last October so plan to do it again. And I must admit that just like last year, my box being shipped is a bit larger than the "record box" size. I called DCL and asked about the size of the box and they told me it was fine to use a bigger box. That was all I needed to hear!

Now it is time to start figuring out how to best use all of the packing cubes that I just got in the mail. Yes, we bought four different colors.

Yeah for completed FE gifts! I thinking shipping them to DCL before the cruise is a great idea!

We bought all 4 colors as well and I just assigned one color to each person in the family. The problem is going to be that I also got 2 of the toiletry kids (not the pack it flat ones though) and they are not the same colors. This is going to mess up my perfect organization!

It sounds like the bus departs the resort around noon, with port arrival around one. I'm really leaning towards the bus at this point and having a relaxing morning at AKL.

Melissa

The idea of a relaxing morning sounds great!

Probably a wise decision. I'm dreading what could be the craziness of early arrival and may decide to board later with our family/friends...Relaxing sounds good!

I am a bit fearful of how crazy the port is going to be in the morning as well. Can't wait to hear what the Aug. 2nd people post about the experience.

I thought we were the only ones who had stuff breaking down!!!

Our house is the place where stuff comes to break!

I had a post last weekend where I noted I had to fix an outdoor hose bib. This week it's the ignitor in our oven and DW mumbled something about the vacuum cleaner not working properly?!?! It is always something!

You have had some issues lately as well. I am hoping for no more big and unexpected bills until AFTER the cruise!

Made a teeny bit of cruise progress today! Started one part of one of my FE gifts, had ds try on his dress clothes, they still fit. Tried on pirate costumes, they still fit!!! Yay!!! First dh says, we're doing pirate stuff again? I said "hell yeah", then we went up to find it all and then he got totally into it!!!
And dh fixed the Mickey ears on the end of my FE dowel rod that my dog chewed off!!!!

This sounds like lots of progress Erika! I think that things not fitting is where I am having the most issues. New casual clothes, new dress clothes, new pirate costumes (still haven't figured this one out yet), etc.

Today was the last dual meet. Had to get up at 5:30, too as we had to drive 75 minutes to get there!

Tim has an extra (non-dual) meet tomorrow (I get to sleep until 6:30!!) and Keira has a mini-meet next Sunday. Tim qualified for Champs, Keira did not so we'll be going another couple of weeks. We then take August off - and the USA season starts after Labor Day. This will be Keira's first season on the "big kid" team as well. To make our lives even more complex we're trying to strong-arm Jake into joining the team, too

Good luck to the kids with all the swimming stuff!

Today was an Awesome day weather-wise. We extended the patio around our pool. So Bruce and his friend finished up the landscaping today and had to spread some top-soil and plant some grass...Tomorrow, we can put our patio furniture back onto it. The kids said that the backyard now reminds them of Disney World....LOL!!

You will have to post a photo of the new patio and landscaping! Sounds like there was a lot of work going on this week!

Yes, Sarah is very happy her playset. Especially the slide and 'eagles nest'. It took Missy and I a couple of weekends to complete. Missy is actually very good with tools and instructions. I worked many years for my Dad building custom furniture so I know my way around tools too. I feel bad for those who aren't so familiar. The amount of wood and hardward can be daunting.

That playset looks great! You guys did a nice job of building it....especially with all those pages of instructions.

 

[DisneyFanForLife89]

Yes, Sarah is very happy her playset. Especially the slide and 'eagles nest'. It took Missy and I a couple of weekends to complete. Missy is actually very good with tools and instructions. I worked many years for my Dad building custom furniture so I know my way around tools too. I feel bad for those who aren't so familiar. The amount of wood and hardward can be daunting.

What a lucky little girl!

 

[MICKEY'S DREAMERS]

Yes, Sarah is very happy her playset. Especially the slide and 'eagles nest'. It took Missy and I a couple of weekends to complete. Missy is actually very good with tools and instructions. I worked many years for my Dad building custom furniture so I know my way around tools too. I feel bad for those who aren't so familiar. The amount of wood and hardward can be daunting.

WOW !! This is absolutely beautiful !!!!
Your girl is so fortunate !!!!
for you and Missy !!!! laura

 

[sdchickie]

Wow! nice swingset, remember the old metal ones that we grew up with? This is much nicer than those.

Kristen, thanks for posting about the groupon. Now I have to decide if it's worth the extra $12 to rent a towncar and get dropped off at the port. It would be a little more cramped because we will have the driver with us (5 instead of 4) and we wouldn't be able to stop and get our booze on the way (but I could get the booze when I'm at the store earlier in the trip with my rental car) hhhmmmm decisions, decisions! What should I do?

 

[gfolchick]

For $12 more I'd book the car to be able to get dropped at port vs having to return a rental and deal with their shuttle. As long as you think your luggage would fit. They may even make the booze stop for you, a lot of car services offer a 30 minute stop.

 

[gfolchick]

I know we've been talking these packing cubes to death...yesterday my mom wanted to order them and her screen was showing 25% off one item, free shipping over $100. My screen showed (and still shows) 20% off and free shipping over $50. Isn't that strange? Now I'm going to end up ordering another set so my mom can get free shipping.
Things we do for our moms

 

[gfolchick]

Anyone, looking for airfare for April Break, JetBlue is releasing their fares today @ noon!!

Crazy expensive out of Bradley for our week to Orlando. They have flights routed through San Juan for $800 (return flight only).

Out of Westchester isn't so bad, around $250... Checked going to Nassua (friends own at Atlantis Harborside) and it was $500+ Guess I'm waiting...

 

[sdchickie]

Now I'm really confused, I've been searching the web for reviews and I've read some good and some definately not so good reviews (forgot to pick someone up). I think I'll just stick with Enterprise, at least then I know who's driving us to the port. Plus with tip and the extra fees it would be more like $40-50 more than renting.