Confessions of an obsessive planner... Let the countdown begin!!

[-Hope-]

My mom told me yesterday that she wasn't going to cancel their room until August 11 and she's hoping that by then she'll be able to talk my dad into going. Dad says he wants her to go without him but she doesn't want to. She has to turn in planned vacation days 6 months in advance so she went ahead and took that week off and she says if they don't go she'll just spend the week at home getting things done around the house. I have to buy plane tickets in a few weeks but she said she'll just wait and take her chances with last minute fare prices.

Part of me is glad they're still thinking about going but the control freak part of me hates for plans to be up in the air! So today I'm trying to just go with the flow and let this unfold in its own time...

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

ARgh!!!!! That would drive me bonkers as well! When Rey said he wasn't going, I kept asking him over and over and saying "what if you change your mind???" b/c the back and forth and thought of changing stuff last minute drives me nuts. At least your reservations aren't determinate on them, but I guess you'll just have to make your ADR's for 6 and then show up with 4? We made most of ours for 9 and then had 8 last trip, so it's usually not an issue.

If she waits until pretty last minute, those flights will probably be back down to where they will be when released. I'll see you at the lake for walking!

 

[-Hope-]

I LOVE daylight savings time!!

Mom came over this morning to borrow some milk and we decided to start walking a couple of days a week again. We did this last year and when it started getting dark earlier we quit because we just didn't have time after she got home from work. Karen and I already walk two days a week, Monday before our movie and Thursday before homeschool playgroup. Mom and I will walk Wednesday and either Saturday or Sunday. That's four days! And if Karen and I decide to add another day it'll be five. I'm going be running circles around Robbie and the kids at WDW.

 

[DrMomof3]

Good job with the walking! Sorry that your parents aren't making a decision yet. I'd be SO annoyed!

Amanda

 

[-Hope-]

I'm actually okay with their indecision. At first I was frustrated and just wanted to know what was going on but the truth is that there's no reason I NEED to know right now. That was my control issue and if I pushed them to decide now then they for sure wouldn't go and I don't want to be the reason they make that choice. So, I'm just making plans that work for our family of 4 and if they decide to come along that's great- but they'll have to accomodate us instead of the other way around.

Their room reservation is seperate from ours even though we requested adjoining rooms so if they decide to cancel it won't affect us. I'll make the ADR at Park Fare for 6 people and change it later if they decide not to go. They may not have as many cute matching shirts but I honestly don't think they'll care. I also didn't really consider my dad as much in making CS food choices and figured if he decides to come he'll have to either choose something from where we have planned or find something else. In other words since they are the ones leaving things up in the air they'll be the ones that may not have things exactly as they want. They know that and understand that I can't put planning on hold so they're fine with whatever we (well, I) decide.

This is me being zen instead of a control freak.

 

[-Hope-]

Okay, so I'm pretty bored on this lazy, gray, chilly afternoon. I needed something to do and of course I gravitated toward something Disney.

I'm following a PTR about a couple of friends who are doing a scavenger hunt and I thought this might be fun. I don't want anything too elaborate though because I think we are already going to busy enough. However I don't want our entire time at WS to revolve around Kim Possible Missions and I'm afraid my kids are going to want to do this over and over. If I make up a simple scavenger hunt for them it might help keep them interested and distracted from KP!

I had already planned to try to get pictures of them wearing a traditional hat in each country but what else? I want it to be something for us to do together, not a competitive thing, I want it to be challenging enough to be fun but doable enough that it doesn't eat into all of our time. I think one or two things in addition to the hat in each country should do it. Oh, and I would prefer that it be something we can see at any time- not a performer who we might miss and then can't complete the mission. The things don't all have to be WS specific either. Some can be generic things that would be seen at any park but I think it would be most fun to have things like "A picture with the Eifel Tower in the background"

So ideas? What small prize should I have for the kids if they complete the list?

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Psst...I have a scavenger hunt for ASMU!

 

[DrMomof3]

I love the idea of a scavenger hunt but I know that I won't do it! Although I might "borrow" someone else's ideas....

Amanda

 

[-Hope-]

Psst...I have a scavenger hunt for ASMU!

I'd say you've been holding out on me but we talk about Disney SO MUCH that I'm thinking you either thought you told me or you did and I forgot!

At any rate one for the resort would be fun but I really want something for WS to keep the kids interested without having to do 250 KP missions.

I think one thing from each country, a couple of generic things plus the hat pics will be sufficient to keep them happy without the entire WS tour being all about the hunt. I'm headed out the door for a late family dinner but will have to do some research when I get back.

ETA: some of them can be obvious like the Eiffel Tower and some a little more difficult- any ideas from people who've actually been to WS would be appreciated!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Nope, I was holding out on you, attempting to surprise, but honestly...I can't keep surprises!

It was just something I thought would be fun, a photo scavenger hunt.

I was thinking of asking on the main DIS board about the WS scavenger. If I could just get one suggestion for something in each country, I would make a list and we will do this too. Sounds fun!

 

[Charlefours]

Great attitude Hope! That is the point I have come to too--worry about the four of us (including my Dad) and then everyone else can tag along or go off by themselves. : It has taken me awhile to get to this point, but I cannot worry about what experiences everyone else is having because that is beyond my control.

The scavenger hunt sounds like a great idea--what a cute idea to do with older children! Though it could be modified for all ages...

 

[-Hope-]

Nope, I was holding out on you, attempting to surprise, but honestly...I can't keep surprises!

It was just something I thought would be fun, a photo scavenger hunt.

I was thinking of asking on the main DIS board about the WS scavenger. If I could just get one suggestion for something in each country, I would make a list and we will do this too. Sounds fun!

Awww, I spoiled the surprise! I think a photo scavenger hunt will be fun!

I was gone all evening so still haven't had time to look for WS but I'm sure between the two of us we'll figure something out.

Great attitude Hope! That is the point I have come to too--worry about the four of us (including my Dad) and then everyone else can tag along or go off by themselves. : It has taken me awhile to get to this point, but I cannot worry about what experiences everyone else is having because that is beyond my control.

The scavenger hunt sounds like a great idea--what a cute idea to do with older children! Though it could be modified for all ages...

Giving up control over everyone's good time is so hard for me but a few years ago a friend pointed out that it was pretty conceited of me to think I wield that much power. And here I thought I was being a selfless martyr.

When I let go of the control it made everyone's vacations more fun- including mine!

 

[lexmas]

No real ideas for your scavenger hunt, but I love the idea of taking a picture with a hat from each country! Rinkytinkytinky suggested getting a picture with a cast member (in their native dress) from each country in her TR, and I loved that as well!

Guess we'll be taking lots of pictures in WS this trip!

 

[DrMomof3]

We've gone to Disney with my MIL and a different time with my parents. We had issues both times (which were very different issues) but we learned to just go with the flow. My MIL doesn't do morning so she would call us around lunch time and just come find us. My parents wanted to do everything with us but had trouble keeping up (until I insisted that my 71 year old mother with emphysema got an ECV!). Then my parents left early which meant changing several ADRs....
Ultimately it'll be fun no matter what!!!

Amanda

 

[-Hope-]

Another movie day- sort of.

Karen and I got together yesterday for our weekly movie day. This week was Oliver and Company. Despite several emails so the girls could decide what they wanted to see they still didn't watch the movie! It was HARD to plan for this movie so I told Karen since their not going to watch the movies anyway we should just pick what we know will make for good photo ops.

We managed to come up with a few fun things.

Karen found some coloring pages for an activity pack and we had 'pick-pocket' sandwiches...

with 'Big Apple' baked apples.

My meager attempt at decorating consisted of a mobile of a city sky line, Oliver, and Dodger along with a big jar of 'Big Apples'.

We attempted to get some shots of the girls but they were uncooperative- shocking I know.

After that they ran off to play and never got around to watching the movie. Karen and I chatted about lots of stuff- including Disney of course! No walk yesterday. By the time Karen and Savannah got to our house I knew Kya was starving so I went ahead and got lunch on the table. And somehow if we don't walk first it just doesn't seem to happen. Oh well, it's supposed to be a beautiful day Thursday and we have plans to walk then.

 

[BabyEeyore]

Oliver and Company would definitely be a hard movie to decorate around and make food for. Pick Pocket sandwiches is pretty cute, though!!!

 

[lledman]

Loving your PTR so far - I too am an obsessive planner

 

[-Hope-]

Oliver and Company would definitely be a hard movie to decorate around and make food for. Pick Pocket sandwiches is pretty cute, though!!!

An idea blatantly stolen from the DIS.

Loving your PTR so far - I too am an obsessive planner

WELCOME!!! The funny thing about obsessively planning is that I don't want to be cured!

 

[DrMomof3]

Another cute movie theme!

Amanda

 

[crazyforgoofy]

It occurred to me that because both Karen and Hope are photo-taking fiends I have to have a gold-plated guarantee.

Karen and Hope, each of you must complete the following:

I, (fill in the blank with your name, you photo-taking fiend, you) hereby promise and guarantee I will not take photos of M.A. without her knowledge.

I, (fill in the blank with your name, you photo-taking fiend, you) hereby promise and guarantee I will not publish any photos of M.A. without her permission.

If I break the above referenced promises/guarantees M.A. is hereby given my permission to (she may choose one) 1. Give my camera to Goofy and ask him to sit on it; 2. Drop my camera into the moat around 'the Castle'.; 3. Toss my camera out that high window during the drop at Tower of Terror.; 4. Place my camera on the track of Tomorrowland Speedway.; 5 'Accidentally' drop my camera out of the Safari vehicle just as it passes over the hippo pool.

Your signature in blood required here ____________________________________


Thank you very much. I'll be waiting for my signed copies.