August 2008 Disney Trek PTR

[TCKK]

Okay, here goes. Our first Pre-Trip Report. I've been reading BrooklynnsMommy and MeMom's Trip Report and also declansdad and Pooksma' Pre-Trip Report. You have inspired me to try my hand at a pre-trip report. I think DH is going to help. I'm TCKK and he's Goofy's_Biggest_Fan.

Trip Dates: August 6-16, 2008

Location: Pop Century - We absolutely love Pop Century

Travel: By Car - will stay overnight somewhere in southern Georgia. We're coming from southwest Ohio

Travelers:
T = DH - Tracy, Pastor of the local First Church of God
C = DW that's me - I'm Cathy and work for the local police department for the past 32 years
K = Oldest DD - Kelli age 16 and will be a Junior
K = Youngest DD - Kerri age 13 and will be a 7th Grader

So far, we've made reservations - we received a 40% off code which will work for 6 of our days there and using AAA codes for the other 4. Haven't bought passes or anything yet. Don't plan on using the Dining Program. We just plan to use CS to try to keep expenses down, plus we don't want to have to be at certain places at certain times waiting for our ADR's. Anyway that's the plan right now.

That's all for now. I have to leave in a few minutes. More to follow soon.

 

[TCKK]

Just thought I'd show you who we are. These are from our 2006 Disney Trip

DH

DW

DD

DD

 

[MeMom]

Another Auguster (along with declansdad and pooksma and Nicole786) to get me through the beginning of a new school year! While I'm here bogged down in paperwork and eager-to-learn (NOT!) new students, you guys will be down there basking in the sun! You all will HAVE to give me good reports and pictures. Is your trip going to overlap with either/both of theirs?

I don't know where in Georgia you plan to stop, but when we drive, we stop at Perry. There is a Holiday Inn, a Hampton, and several others right at the exit, and it's a good safe place to stop. When we get up and out the next morning, we have about five hours and fifteen minutes to go before we get to WDW. We get an early start, drive about and hour, and then run through a drive-thru for breakfast. Next thing we know, we're seeing palm trees! We stop at the Ocala Walmart to stock up on goodies that we didn't want to have to load the car with, and in a blink, we're there. It does not feel like five hours at all. Just thought I'd share, in case you haven't decided on a good stopping place.

I look forward to adding this to my list of reports I'm reading. It will be fun watching the planning stages and even more fun hearing about the magic when you return!

 

[TCKK]

Another Auguster (along with declansdad and pooksma and Nicole786) to get me through the beginning of a new school year! While I'm here bogged down in paperwork and eager-to-learn (NOT!) new students, you guys will be down there basking in the sun! You all will HAVE to give me good reports and pictures. Is your trip going to overlap with either/both of theirs?

I don't know where in Georgia you plan to stop, but when we drive, we stop at Perry. There is a Holiday Inn, a Hampton, and several others right at the exit, and it's a good safe place to stop. When we get up and out the next morning, we have about five hours and fifteen minutes to go before we get to WDW. We get an early start, drive about and hour, and then run through a drive-thru for breakfast. Next thing we know, we're seeing palm trees! We stop at the Ocala Walmart to stock up on goodies that we didn't want to have to load the car with, and in a blink, we're there. It does not feel like five hours at all. Just thought I'd share, in case you haven't decided on a good stopping place.

I look forward to adding this to my list of reports I'm reading. It will be fun watching the planning stages and even more fun hearing about the magic when you return!

MeMom thanks for reading. I just finished reading your thread last night. I found it about a week or so ago and had so much fun reading it. In fact, it would get me so excited that I've barely been able to sleep the last few days. My mind has just been thinking about all you said and all the great pictures and all the things you've given me ideas to try. We always make time to go to the resorts on the monorail, but have never gone to any of the others. I think we will this time. I especially want to see WL. Your pictures were great.

I know we overlap with Pooksma and Declansdad, I'm not sure about Nicole786. I haven't found that thread yet. We've already talked on Declansdad and Pooksma's thread about having a Dismeet. I hope we can make it happen.

As for stopping in Georgia, we usually make our first day of driving the long day and try to stop at one of the Valdosta, GA exits. That's our plan this time, but so far we haven't made a reservation for that. I think we've stayed in Perry on our way home before. I'll keep in mind what you said about that exit. We usually don't make reservations on the way home. That way we can get up and leave whenever we want and not be rushed and then just stop when we get tired. Perry probably is about the area we usually stop. Thanks for your info.

I'm on my lunchbreak at work right now, so I guess I probably should eat now. More to come later.

 

[pooksma]

Woohoo I am one of the first

I will look forward to reading more about you and your beautiful family. Nicole and I have looked at the possibility of hooking up at MK the night we go to WC. Its EMH there that night.(Aug.10)

We'll talk more as the time gets closer.

Have a great weekend. Im trying to finish up my LAST paper before we go to visit Declansdad's parents.

 

[TCKK]

pooksmaThanks for reading. Yes, we'd love to be part of that get together too. I have your thread under my favorites so I'll try to keep up with what's going on with you guys too. Have a great weekend at the in-laws.

MeMomI remember on your thread you talking about decorating your door and/or window. Any chance of seeing some photos? We're talking about doing that too and we could use some ideas. In fact if anyone reading this has some photos of that, we'd love to see them.

I know, I know, I've got to end this lunch break and get back to work

 

[TCKK]

Here's a little update

Last week I received an e-mail from DisneyShopping.com with a 25% off code plus they had some of the Disney T-shirts on sale for $4.99. I bought both DD's and myself 4 new T-shirts. We received them on Wednesday and love them. It's really starting to feel like we're going now. Maybe I'll try to post a pic later of these. (who knows maybe DD's will model)

We've got our first ever softball game today. Youngest DD is playing this year for the first time. And today is a tournament to help raise money for a young child that's been in the hospital for several months. I really don't know much about it yet, that's just what DD said. I guess I'll find out shortly. Anyway, I'm taking some of my Disney stuff and if we have time between games, I plan to try to start organizing some of that and also reading one of the info books we have.

The whole family, except youngest DD is dieting right now and trying to lose some weight before we go (plus just plain ol' get healthier). That stinky youngest DD is skinny so she doesn't have to. So far, I've lost 8 lbs in 4 weeks. I'm pleased with that. Oldest DD doesn't need to lose much, but she wants to lose some. So we're having fun with that. lol

 

[TCKK]

For the past couple of weeks we've been watching some of our old Disney Movies.

We've watched: Both "Little Mermaids", "Pocohantas", "Cars", "The Incredibles", "The Fox and the Hound" and now "Toy Story" tonight. Just keeps that magic going a little bit.

 

[Native NYer]

Joining in! I love to see what other people have planned for August. We'll be in WDW at the same time.

 

[TCKK]

Joining in! I love to see what other people have planned for August. We'll be in WDW at the same time.

Hi, thanks for reading, I just added your report to my favorites and will be reading it too. I don't know about you, but I can't wait until August

 

[Native NYer]

Hi, thanks for reading, I just added your report to my favorites and will be reading it too. I don't know about you, but I can't wait until August

Thanks

You'll learn a lot about me in my report

I can't wait until August either!!!

 

[TCKK]

We've got the dog's hotel reservations done (at the kennel ). Now we need to pick where we're staying on the drive down. Valdosta, GA area and then where we'll stay coming back and all accommodations will be taken care of.

Then we'll be able to get on with other things

 

[TCKK]

Here are some of the new Disney T's modeled by my daughters.

Sorry you'll have to wait to see the others when we're at Disney. No way I'm modeling mine. I definitely don't want to make you sick

 

[pooksma]

Too cool! I wanna see yours though!

I bought the Donald shirt that your DD1 is wearing for DH (thats his fav character) in St. Pete's. Good taste. Love the Tinks-she's my fav.

Ill have to take picks when DS isnt home.

 

[MeMom]

Cute shirts. Sweet girls. I will be happy to see them wearing them in the August trip pictures.

The subject of Disney t-shirts are causing quite a stir in Canada, I believe, with some of our friends up there.

I have heard that a certain Ma has been searching out some elusive treasures in a mysterious place called Zazzle!

And a certain Dad has been hiding his checkbook!

Now that you all have been flaunting your new shirt ideas in front of me, I think I may take a trip to Zazzle myself. We've bought things through them before, but it's been a while. It could be time for a return visit.

Don't you just love watching the Disney movies? It is very common for Drew's buddies to come in and out on the weekends and make fun of a certain fifty year old in this house who has Jungle Book or Mary Poppins or Lion King or whatever playing as she is dusting, sweeping, or folding clothes.

For the record, I hate dusting.

 

[TCKK]

Pooksma My DD loves that shirt because it looks like someone just sketched the Donald on it. She's an artist and loves to draw. I've posted a few of the drawings on the Community Board. In fact, I'm trying to get her to draw me a new picture for my office at work. I have "Jiminy Cricket" hanging there now that she drew. Sorry Pooksma I'm not ready to wear mine yet. I've lost 11lbs so I'm closer to wearing them. Maybe I can just take some pictures of the shirts and let you see them that way.

MeMom Yes, I love watching the Disney movies. I'm 50 too (in fact I turned 50 just a couple days after you August 4). I think my DD's think I'm a little silly to be watching them too, but usually they just end up sitting down and watching them with me. I am so up and ready for this trip in August. It's been almost 2 years and I really want to go. Reading your report has helped a lot. I just need that Disney fix, you know? I saw Pooksma report about the shirts from Zazzle. In fact, I went there last night and was checking it out. My oldest DD loves Ariel and we made the cutest shirt online there last night. We didn't order it yet, but I'm thinking about doing that. Maybe as a surprise to give her when we get there. I'll have to think up one for youngest DD too. Hmm, Honey, where's the credit card?

 

[TCKK]

Here are 2 of the drawings my DD has done.

The rose from Beauty and the Beast

Grumpy

 

[pooksma]

Wow! Very impressive!

 

[TCKK]

Thank you. I think she's very talented. By the way I watched your DH's video of Test Track on YouTube. Sure brought back some memories.

 

[pooksma]

Why ty I am sure he will be happy to know that someone has watche dthem other than us