Booked a month off to go to WDW, think that's enough?

[Mindy5767]

Well, after seeing the Utilidor system during the Keys to the Kingdom tour, I kind of got some ideas...

Short update today. It's actually snowing outside right now.


It's amazing, all the little odds and ends you discover that you need to buy for the trip. Most of it is the result of all the electronics we've bought since I started working at Future Shop. Car Lighter jack splitters so we can plug in the Ipod, the GPS, the Laptop, the Nintendo DS, the Sony PSP, the portable DVD player, who knows what else I might be missing! We certainly won't be bored in any of the lines we'll be facing at WDW! Then there are the adapters so we can charge all of this, plus the cameras and camcorders. Batteries, memory cards, mini-dv tapes for my DBiLs camcorder, blank DVDs so we can make backups of pictures and video while we're there, and I'm sure I'm forgetting something else. I may need to hire a porter. DW says that some day I may actually see a live parade without a lens in the way, but she doubts it.


Ok, enough rambling for now, hope you're all doing great and that it isn't snowing where-ever you are.

Snowing!! Its snowing!! It was 82 today in Northern Virginia and a little humid. We're supposed to have thunderstorms tomorrow.

My DH thinks we needa fancy GPS device to be able to find those important things like the Costco and the Winn Dixie. Funny... before GPS's were invented, all we needed was a map and a compass. I have both. Note to self, go to AAA and get new map of Orlando. Old map got wet when the van window got left open in the rain. This trip will have us bringing camera, camcorder, 3 laptops and 3 Ipods and probably the playstation II. And the car adapters and chargers. I think I might leave my Epson Photo printer at home. There will be no time to scrapbook!

On the brighter side. I went to Costco today and got a Roxio studio program that will allow me to take all those .mov files I took of the Spectro Magic Parade and sew them all together into one home movie. Plus we can finally do something with all those Beta tapes not to mention the vinyl and the VHS and the high 8!!

Hopefully, I can figure out how to install and use the program before our trip!!

 

[Shir Kahn]

That's what I've been working on all evening since I got home. I found a copy of Pinnacle Studio Plus that I won as a random prize during a training trip for work and it seems to be doing great for my flash camcorder but my DBiLs mini-dv camcorder is just not working. I can't get the computer to recognize that the camcorder is there other than to pull off a few still images. I might just give in and take it down to a place and have them pull all the files onto a dvd and then buy my DBiL a hard drive camcorder. I've googled, I've read the manual, I've got all the cords I need and still I'm either doing something wrong or it's possibly broken. $300 to save a stress headache, possibly worth it.

 

[Mindy5767]

That's what I've been working on all evening since I got home. I found a copy of Pinnacle Studio Plus that I won as a random prize during a training trip for work and it seems to be doing great for my flash camcorder but my DBiLs mini-dv camcorder is just not working. I can't get the computer to recognize that the camcorder is there other than to pull off a few still images. I might just give in and take it down to a place and have them pull all the files onto a dvd and then buy my DBiL a hard drive camcorder. I've googled, I've read the manual, I've got all the cords I need and still I'm either doing something wrong or it's possibly broken. $300 to save a stress headache, possibly worth it.

We currently have a mini-dv camcorder. I was disappointed when I bought it. I was buying a digital camcorder and thinking that the media was going to be some kind of SD like card. Instead, it is a digital tape!! I HATE tape. So that camcorder now resides with DS17. My Kodak Easyshare 7590 has video mode. The disadvantage is when its in video mode, you can't zoom in and out like with a real camcorder. When I filmed Spectro Magic, I stationed myself on the front porch of the store in Fontierland and got a good spot where I didn't have to zoom in or out. However, every time I had to stop for a second, it finalized it as one file, so one parade now has like 6 or 7 separate files which I will sew together with my new Roxio program provided I can figure it out. I haven't figured out my new USB turntable yet!!

The problem with the digital tape that drives me nuts is previewing what I've got and finding the spot where I left off.

I've never heard of Pinnacle Studio. Is it a Canada thing? As long as I'm asking... I heard they still use Beta in Canada? True or false? well.. I heard that a couple years ago. Beta was always better than VHS. The disadvantage to the new DVR's is that you can't just pop it out and bring it to someone else's house to watch.

 

[Shir Kahn]

I haven't seen a beta tape in oh, well, most of my lifetime!

 

[Mindy5767]

I haven't seen a beta tape in oh, well, most of my lifetime!

Tim,

Under the trip planning forums, under "Doing The Happy Dance" is the official July visitors thread. We've got a big list going of who is eating where and when (all our ADR's) It was last posted on the last page which I "think" is 123. You should list yours there so you can see if any of your ADR's match up with any other Dis'ers on our thread. Mine are on their too.

What do you mean you haven't seen a beta in most your life!! Mine's in the garage in a box. Now that we bought this new nifty Roxio program, we should be able to copy our Beta tapes as well as our VHS's. The box didn't mention Beta, but if we can hook up a VHS or a high 8, I don't see why it would't work. I really am most interested in copying our wedding video. The others are probably mostly repalceable.

I'll look to see if you post on the other thread. NikkilovesWDW is the one who posted everyone's ADR's.

Mindy

 

[Shir Kahn]

Hmm, I'll have to post them tomorrow, I left my WDW planning book at work today! I could paste the list from my PTR but there aren't any times on it.

 

[All7OfUs]

Still here with you, although, I must admit, I don't understand most of the conversation about electronics. I am so happy with my point and shoot, but end up "hoping for the best" with it.

 

[Mindy5767]

Hmm, I'll have to post them tomorrow, I left my WDW planning book at work today! I could paste the list from my PTR but there aren't any times on it.

Did you get em' posted? It turned out they were on page 122 not 123, it was the 2nd to the last page at the time. It is a VERY long post.

Anyway, Happy Victoria Day to our Canadian friends!!

 

[Shir Kahn]

Did you get em' posted? It turned out they were on page 122 not 123, it was the 2nd to the last page at the time. It is a VERY long post.

Anyway, Happy Victoria Day to our Canadian friends!!

Thanks!

Ok, so I just posted our reservations as they stand so far. Still lots of open spots, I'm wondering if there'll be anything left by now! I better get planning.

 

[Mindy5767]

Thanks!

Ok, so I just posted our reservations as they stand so far. Still lots of open spots, I'm wondering if there'll be anything left by now! I better get planning.

I really wouldn't be too worried about openings. We always found something. You can likely get into resort restaurants last minute especially at earlier or later times. We always did. We ate a little later and got in last minute at Spoodles and Olivias and ate earlier (5:00-5:30pm) and had NO problem getting into Shutters without ADR's. We've called dining to change plans because sometimes, we were in a location that was not conducive to making our reservation, and were always able to get in somewhere. Just be open and flexible. Even us picky eaters succeed. We don't eat "country food", pork, shellfish etc. but no problem. Always found something.

 

[Disney Brat]

I found you again!! I was following your last ptr/tr with tons of fantastic photos! Can't wait to see how this one turns out as well. So hello once again from another Winnipegger....how did you like the weather today?? Much better than last weeks snow!!! lol

 

[Shir Kahn]

Hiya Disney Brat! Yeah, the weather is getting pretty nice, although today was a bit of a bad one. Oh well, practice for the summer rain. I'm determined to finish this one and I think I'm going to actually do a lot of the report while I'm actually at WDW. We'll have so much time there this trip that we'll be able to take it a little easier. Doing the trip as it happens will definitely help with memory!

 

[Jeff90]

Hey there Sir Kahn! Plans look good so far! Glad that I had to chance to read up your PTR, now I have to read your TR from last year!

We're planning to be in the MK the same day as you are! 7/10 will be our last day before we fly back home on 7/11........

 

[Kellyh123]

We will be at POP July 27 through August 3rd!
Hope you have a great trip down!

 

[Shir Kahn]

Hey there Sir Kahn! Plans look good so far! Glad that I had to chance to read up your PTR, now I have to read your TR from last year!

We're planning to be in the MK the same day as you are! 7/10 will be our last day before we fly back home on 7/11........

Nice! Are you two rope-droppers? We'll be at MK nice and early, probably be about 10th in line at one of the many early crowd lines. We'll definitely have our Lime Green Mickey Heads visible, so if you're there and see us, come over and say hi! I'll keep an eye out for you two as well.

We will be at POP July 27 through August 3rd!
Hope you have a great trip down!

Thanks! Hope your trip is good as well. I love staying at Pop Century, even though it's a value resort.

 

[Jeff90]

Nice! Are you two rope-droppers? We'll be at MK nice and early, probably be about 10th in line at one of the many early crowd lines. We'll definitely have our Lime Green Mickey Heads visible, so if you're there and see us, come over and say hi! I'll keep an eye out for you two as well. :

We have never rope-dropped.....that could be planned though! MK is open late that night, so I def know we will be there in the evening after dinner at WCC. That would be cool to meet up, I never had a DIS meet before!

 

[Shir Kahn]

Definitely! We're likely to be at the train station platform to watch Wishes, that's the only real definite of our day other than rope-drop. We're going to be with 3 other people that day, so I have no idea where we're going to be other than during Wishes. Any ideas?

 

[Queenofallthings]

Hey neighbour

Ok, so I'm totally caught up now....20 days is a beautiful thing....I still can't believe we're going for 20 days too....until I get the visa bill

Can't wait to read more

 

[purplepeg]

I'm here too. Have you thought about trying Boma for a meal? Both breakfast and dinner are fabulous and you could wander around the resort and get lots of pictures.

I can't wait to hear all about your trip, on and off site.

I need to get Geodoc reading this. You and he are kindred spirits with your electronic gadgets, he geocaches too. Have you done that?

 

[Shir Kahn]

Hey neighbour

Ok, so I'm totally caught up now....20 days is a beautiful thing....I still can't believe we're going for 20 days too....until I get the visa bill

Can't wait to read more

I know, I'm loving the thought of 20 days, except that now, we've actually changed things a bit and we're actually going to be leaving immediately after I'm done work on the 2nd, driving to Minneapolis, driving all day on the 3rd and hopefully making it to WDW in time to see the 4th of July fireworks! So yeah, we're adding another 4 days onto our trip! Nice thing is, we're paying the whole thing with cash, so we won't have any bills waiting for us when we get home!

I'm here too. Have you thought about trying Boma for a meal? Both breakfast and dinner are fabulous and you could wander around the resort and get lots of pictures.

I can't wait to hear all about your trip, on and off site.

I need to get Geodoc reading this. You and he are kindred spirits with your electronic gadgets, he geocaches too. Have you done that?

I had wondered about Boma, but I think we're going to do it next trip instead. We're not doing the dining plan now, so we're keeping the reservations down a bit. We'll be using the Tables in Wonderland 20% off card a lot though! As for geocaching (sp?), I've read about it but I have yet to try it. Sounds like something I would like for sure!

Thanks for following along!