Epic Mickey - 10 day girls trip - Aug/Sept! *Updated 8/25 - 7 hours!!*

[Becc1]

We leave 2 weeks from tomorrow!!

We have been collecting grocery items to take down with us - so that our grocery trip will be less exhausting - and so that we might find the things we like for better prices.

We have all kinds of non-perishables set aside. And I have even cooked a few meals (baked Ziti and chicken tacos) that are frozen and ready to go with us.

On Sunday we are having the families of the girls that are coming with us over for a cookout. I have a list of things for them to be sure to pack - and then we need for them to do things like medical release forms (just in case).

Here are some of the things from our list: sunscreen for 2 weeks, goggles, hat/sunglasses, water shoes, clothes/toiletries, $$, backpack to take to the parks, snacks for the parks, dozen bottles of water, wii games, things to do in the car, pins/lanyards.

Also, a week from Sunday, my oldest daughter leaves for camp. So she'll be gone that whole week before we leave. She comes home on Friday - and we leave on Saturday. I am thinking that we will pack her for both camp and Disney at the same time.

My other quandary of late is our AP upgrade. We have 7 day tickets that we are going to use to upgrade - but I can't do that online or from home. I am kinda bummed about the price increase before I swap over to my APs!

So...can you think of anything else we might need the girls to bring? Any suggestions for a freezes easily meal that I can make before we go?

I somehow missed this post

I think you are doing great on the packing so far. One thing I read someone did and wish I had done was make banana nut bread and pumpkin bread and freeze it and bring it for a quick and easy breakfast. One thing I was pleasantly surprised was when we had our villa a few years ago was that when we went to Walmart for groceries, they were around the same price as ours is here. We had brought all of our non perishables so we only needed to get a few things but definately made a mental note that if we ever go off property again we will not bring so much stuff from home!

 

[beebeeryan]

Love the underwater camera idea, I think I'll see if they still have those disposable ones they used to sell maybe, I'd be too scared I think to try those cases they sell for my point&shoot. Do they even still have those disposables? They were film though, not digital.

 

[Kat in GA]

Love the cupcakes! And I love those tees you guys made as well. I am really not very crafty either unless I have very specific instructions,

I'm really going to look into a waterproof camera now, we are going to the beach next month and that would be great to have there!

I somehow missed this post

I think you are doing great on the packing so far. One thing I read someone did and wish I had done was make banana nut bread and pumpkin bread and freeze it and bring it for a quick and easy breakfast. One thing I was pleasantly surprised was when we had our villa a few years ago was that when we went to Walmart for groceries, they were around the same price as ours is here. We had brought all of our non perishables so we only needed to get a few things but definately made a mental note that if we ever go off property again we will not bring so much stuff from home!

I have been really pleased by the photos it takes. And sometimes it's just easier to pick that one up vs my big camera. All the pictures of the tshirts were taken with it. But, the pictures of the cupcakes I had to take with my big camera because the ps wouldn't focus on them - or I couldn't hold it steady enough

And for all the food we are bringing - we are taking two cars, so room is not an issue - but I like doing it so that groceries aren't such a big hit when we get down there. We can buy a little each week or when things are on sale, and it's not such a big deal.

 

[Kat in GA]

Love the underwater camera idea, I think I'll see if they still have those disposable ones they used to sell maybe, I'd be too scared I think to try those cases they sell for my point&shoot. Do they even still have those disposables? They were film though, not digital.

I used those disposables last time we were at the beach. My problem is that when I used them in the pool - the sunscreen fogged up the lense - so everything was too blurry. The first picture might be fine - but the rest...yuck. And I was really disappointed in the quality when we took them snorkeling with us. We have an old Olympus ps with an huge underwater housing - but it's rather unwieldy!

 

[DrMomof3]

I've been thinking about getting an underwater camera, too. Those pics turned out well!!! What did you ge?

Amanda

 

[Kat in GA]

I've been thinking about getting an underwater camera, too. Those pics turned out well!!! What did you ge?

Amanda

Welcome Amanda! Thanks for joining in

I got the fuji xp10 -- it gets better reviews than the newer version - and it was on sale for only $99. I have been thrilled with it so far!

 

[beebeeryan]

I was just looking on Amazon and found a Kodak one for around $70...I think I may go that route instead of the disposables...I can't stand going back to having to have them developed and not knowing what I'm gonna get. LOL Just can't do it! I'll have to look at the Fuji. I'd love to be able to take pics on some of the water rides and if it rains not worry about the camera too. And of course in the pool.

Your house now looks like mine did when we went to Cape Cod last summer, I started packing food and stuff weeks ahead of time, just slowly adding things to the boxes spread out all over my dining room table and floor. We were in a rental house so had to bring EVERYTHING. Saves money in the end though.

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

When will you be there for Thanksgiving?? I am thinking about driving down on the afternoon of Thursday the 17th of Nov - and drive home on the 21st or 22nd. I have no idea where we might stay - with points - or using my agent discount or with my aunt.



EOS is fabulous - don't let my 10 year old convince you otherwise!

We will be there November 20-28. The first two nights are at Boardwalk Villas and the rest is at Saratoga Springs. I am really hoping DH can get off on the 19th as we may head down a day early!

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

Great job with getting started packing! I have my lists made and I do have the suitcases out. However, it will be next week before it gets started. I do plan to do a lot better than years past and start earlier in the week.

Love the cupcakes. I think they are really cute!

 

[Kat in GA]

I was just looking on Amazon and found a Kodak one for around $70...I think I may go that route instead of the disposables...I can't stand going back to having to have them developed and not knowing what I'm gonna get. LOL Just can't do it! I'll have to look at the Fuji. I'd love to be able to take pics on some of the water rides and if it rains not worry about the camera too. And of course in the pool.

Your house now looks like mine did when we went to Cape Cod last summer, I started packing food and stuff weeks ahead of time, just slowly adding things to the boxes spread out all over my dining room table and floor. We were in a rental house so had to bring EVERYTHING. Saves money in the end though.

How were the reviews on the Kodak one? We have not had good experiences with their cameras - the girls have both had easyshares. Do look at the fuji - and then see if you can find a deal! I think that it will pay for itself rather quickly as those disposables are $10 each - and then you have to have them developed. With a digital you can keep them on your computer forever and never have to print - or just print what you want! (or just share what you want - and with the disposable, if you want to share, then you have to pay for a cd, too)

Yes, my dining room is completely overrun with stuff for our trip. I am glad that I am married to an engineer who can figure out how to fit it all in the vans. Maybe I should start playing tetris in preparation!

 

[Kat in GA]

We will be there November 20-28. The first two nights are at Boardwalk Villas and the rest is at Saratoga Springs. I am really hoping DH can get off on the 19th as we may head down a day early!

Here's hoping for an early arrival! Is it difficult to deal with a split stay? I have thought about doing that - and packing different luggage for each part!

Great job with getting started packing! I have my lists made and I do have the suitcases out. However, it will be next week before it gets started. I do plan to do a lot better than years past and start earlier in the week.

Love the cupcakes. I think they are really cute!

My daughter goes to camp next week - and comes home hours before we have to leave - so we will be packing for both at the same time - probably at the end of this week. Because of all of our craziness - I have to get started early! We also have someone coming to stay at the house for the two weeks that we are gone - so I have prep work to do for that too. Ack - it's all coming up so soon!

Thanks for the kudos on the cupcakes. Once my daughter told the other kids that they looked like frownie faces - they all teased me about it! But, they did keep eating them! I cheated on Atkins yesterday and I am trying to get back on board today - but those cupcakes are mocking me. I wonder if my girls would mind if I had them eat cupcakes after each meal today?

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

Here's hoping for an early arrival! Is it difficult to deal with a split stay? I have thought about doing that - and packing different luggage for each part!



My daughter goes to camp next week - and comes home hours before we have to leave - so we will be packing for both at the same time - probably at the end of this week. Because of all of our craziness - I have to get started early! We also have someone coming to stay at the house for the two weeks that we are gone - so I have prep work to do for that too. Ack - it's all coming up so soon!

Thanks for the kudos on the cupcakes. Once my daughter told the other kids that they looked like frownie faces - they all teased me about it! But, they did keep eating them! I cheated on Atkins yesterday and I am trying to get back on board today - but those cupcakes are mocking me. I wonder if my girls would mind if I had them eat cupcakes after each meal today?

Too funny! I know if they minded, my Jeremy wouldn't. He woke up yesterday morning and asked for chocolate ice cream for breakfast! Silly child!


Jeremy heads to day camp next week for scouts. Tom is one of the leaders so he will be with him. My week will be full of washing the same outfit, over and over and over. They wear swimming trunks for the lake and the tshirt is the camp shirt. Oh well, it will make the nights go faster until Friday, the 24th when we leave!!!!!

 

[Kat in GA]

Well…day three of touring and early mornings was starting to take its toll. I had a hard time dealing with the snooze button on my phone – but I finally managed to drag myself out of bed. To the shower. And to get the girls going.

We finally got on our way, and just went through the McDonald’s drive through for breakfast. We arrived at Sea World just a few minutes before opening. We had no trouble scanning our ticket for our second day. I was concerned because everything I read said that we had to get a different ticket for the second day – but at the ticket booth on Wednesday, they said no. I was hoping that they were correct – and the were!

The girls had a plan for today: to ride roller coasters. Over. And over again. And Madalyn was trying to convince Katie to try Kracken. Katie was not interested because she does not like to go upside down. But Madalyn was trying really hard to get her to try it! And to go see the Shamu show again – just to get soaked. The girls even brought swim suits to wear under their clothes – and a change of clothes. They were prepared.

On our way to Manta, we had to stop for a picture in front of the flamingos.

The girls rode Manta – in the front row.

And then they rode again – this time splitting up – with Katie in front and Madalyn in the last row. I kept trying to take pictures of them on the coaster. I am not sure why.

Can you see them? Squint real hard. Yeah. Me either!

Madalyn convinced Katie to try the back row with her – and they declared that much better. And faster than the front.

We started walking over to Shamu stadium about an hour before the first show. It’s a good thing that we got there so early – the stadium had filled way before the show started. But when we did get there – all the whales were hanging out in the pool right in front of our section of stadium.

And there was one who was most interested in the crowds. She would stick out her tongue. She would spit water over the edge. And was just in general hamming it up for the throngs taking her picture.

I got some cool shots of the whales – with this first one being my favorite.

And then it was time to get soaked. And what the girls were waiting for. But it didn’t quite happen. Even looking at this picture – where it looks like they might have been inundated. They weren’t.

They hardly got wet at all. I don’t know if they were too close. Or not quite in the right spot. Or if they do more splashing on the other side of the aquarium. Or at the evening show. Or something. But it wasn’t even close to the volume of water that went out on our first day.

The girls decided that it didn’t matter. They could ride Atlantis a bunch more times and get quite wet.

Before we headed back over to that side of the park, we had to go over and check out the Wild Arctic ride. I went to wait for the girls at the end of the simulation so that we could see the rest of the arctic exhibits.

We saw the polar bear asleep. It’s really dark in here – and my camera did not want to take any usable pictures. And I am not competent enough to figure out my settings to get enough light so you could even see the polar bear asleep.

Then we went to check out the belugas. Oh my. Oh my. There are 2 males. And one female in that tank. And that female was relentlessly pursued. By two very happy males. Really happy males. My girls said that they were too young to watch and that we needed to move on! I have no pictures. Can I have an amen?

To clear that out of our minds, the girls saw characters that would aid that pursuit – and they insisted on the need to get some pictures:

Elmo and Cookie monster definitely take your mind off of randy belugas!

 

[beebeeryan]

OH wow, the whale show pictures are amazing!!! Too funny on the Belugas. Maybe they need a privacy curtain or something for when they get that way in the middle of the day, hello!!!! I'd love to go to Seaworld just for that really, the rides don't do anything for me, hate going upside down.

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

You have some very brave girls! There is no way I could ride that.

Love the pictures of the whales and the flamingos. Very pretty.

 

[Kat in GA]

OH wow, the whale show pictures are amazing!!! Too funny on the Belugas. Maybe they need a privacy curtain or something for when they get that way in the middle of the day, hello!!!! I'd love to go to Seaworld just for that really, the rides don't do anything for me, hate going upside down.

Thanks -- I think they turned out quite nicely. I still just love the one of the whale horizontal in the air - way cool! And the belugas - oh my - still oh my!! I really didn't need to see that. And what was so funny is the girls were like - ummm -- is that what I think it is?? They caught on rather quickly A privacy curtain would be a great idea

You have some very brave girls! There is no way I could ride that.

Love the pictures of the whales and the flamingos. Very pretty.

They do love their roller coasters. I love them too - but my hips said no. One day my hips will say yes!

 

[petals]

I think last time I was there the noe of the Beluga's were being naughty as well!
Love the shamu pics!

 

[Kat in GA]

I think last time I was there the noe of the Beluga's were being naughty as well!
Love the shamu pics!

Thanks!!

We have a great aquarium in Atlanta - with a fabulous Beluga exhibit (actually much better than what you see at Sea World) - and I guess we have gone at times when they were...ummm...less...ummm...stimulated?

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

Thanks!!

We have a great aquarium in Atlanta - with a fabulous Beluga exhibit (actually much better than what you see at Sea World) - and I guess we have gone at times when they were...ummm...less...ummm...stimulated?

Love the belugas at the Atlanta aquarium. That was my favorite part when we went two years ago! I could have watched them for hours.

 

[Kat in GA]

Love the belugas at the Atlanta aquarium. That was my favorite part when we went two years ago! I could have watched them for hours.

I can't tell you how often I have said that exact same thing. It's so peaceful in there - even with the masses. We haven't gone since they added the dolphins - not sure that I can justify the increase in price!