Give me an AP & look what happens - 2 for 1 PTR!! NEW 3/11 p.63 TR Link

[DisMomAmy]

Good news about the golf clubs!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Four days? Really? What a wonderful thought to start off your week!!!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Oh goodness. I didn't think about it as "vacation starts THIS week!" That makes me dance in my chair!!!

I am loving those 80 degree days, YES!!

Great news about the clubs too.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Four days? Really? What a wonderful thought to start off your week!!!

Yup... but now it's THREE!!

Oh goodness. I didn't think about it as "vacation starts THIS week!" That makes me dance in my chair!!!

I am loving those 80 degree days, YES!!

Great news about the clubs too.

Totally this week!! The weather keeps looking better & better!! Today it's showing a few cooler days next week, but it's too far out to take it seriously.

 

[DisMomAmy]

I can’t believe it… Only THREE more days to go!!

And I’ve had my first crazy vacation dream…
Somehow our flight out of Manchester was cancelled or we were bumped but I ended up in Mobile, Alabama (??) with Zachary. I don’t know where Tim & Alex were... I think a different flight. But the airport was a gas station convenience store. Maybe the same ghetto gas station that brookelizabeth visited on her last trip to the Kennedy Space Center. (I did read that story yesterday & this place could definitely be classified as a ghetto gas station.) There were always one or two “attendants” behind the counter, but every time I went up to check on the status of things, they were different people. After asking many times when our flight would be leaving, I was told it would be a two day layover! I tried to get our luggage, but they wouldn’t give it to me. I was crying and screaming at them because I just wanted our stuff so we could drive to Orlando.

It ended there when Alex woke me up to ask if school was cancelled… we got about an inch of snow last night so NO, fortunately school was not cancelled.

Of course we have to take another look at the fabulous weather:

Accuweather… Looking good with some cooler weather toward the end of next week.
Thursday 2/24: 78/59 Nice with sunshine
Friday 2/25: 80/60 Partial sunshine
Saturday 2/26: 79/59 Pleasant with partial sunshine
Sunday 2/27: 78/58 Sunshine & patchy clouds
Monday 2/28: 79/61 Mostly sunny & not as warm
Tuesday 3/1: 87/64 Mostly sunny & very warm
Wednesday 3/2: 87/51 Sunny & very warm
Thursday 3/3: 68/50 Sunny & colder
Friday 3/4: 69/47 Sunny
Saturday 3/5: 68/52 Mostly sunny
Sunday 3/6: 68/52 Rain at times (.01” predicted)
I don’t know how happy Tim will be to see 87!


I thought I’d update you on my to do list:
Before Jan trip:
• Work on the boys' “rules”/Self Help cards – DONE
• Organize trading pins - DONE
• Get ink for printer - DONE
• Start working on kids ID cards – DONE
• Buy Earplanes for the boys - DONE

4 weeks to go: (1/24 – 2/2)
• Get new sharpies for autographs – DONE
• Coordinate pet care - DONE
• Work on packing lists – DONE
• Start grocery list (for villa) - DONE
• Work on touring plans - DONE
• Organize ipods/ipad - music, videos, games – moved to 2 week list
• Make emergency phone number & travel info list for neighbor/moms-DONE
• Inventory batteries – buy more rechargeables if needed? - DONE
• Buy more Ziploc bags - DONE
New:
Buy new markers for boys – DONE
Buy glow sticks - DONE

3 weeks to go: (2/3 – 2/9)
• Put menus in phone - DONE - have a menu app
• Put ADRs in phone - DONE
• Put Touring Plans in phone - DONE
• Let schools know about kids 2/24 & 2/25 – DONE
• Start matching outfits and putting in Ziplocs – DONE
• Organize/label toiletries - DONE
• Watch the “Stranger Danger” DVD – DONE
• Submit Diamond Lane form - DONE
• Roll coins from change jar - DONE


2 weeks to go: (2/10 – 2/16)
• Buy snacks for travel day - DONE
• Buy extra cat food & litter - DONE
• Pull apart Disney binder and take only what’s needed - DONE
• Start packing into suitcases – DONE
• Get money organized - DONE
• Get my glasses/sunglasses adjusted at Lenscrafters – OK – don’t need to
• Make list of addresses for postcards/get postcard stamps –may not do any
• Make list of DISers at Disney & put in phone - DONE
• Find/redo DIS tag – have tags from Julie/made new LGMH
• Organize DVDs & kids games –
• Organize ipods/ipad - music, videos, games – DH started putting DVDs into iPad
New:
Pre-order Photopass CD - DONE
Pack copy of auto insurance - DONE

Last week: (2/17 – 2/23)
• Pedicure - DONE
• Chiropractor – Tuesday 3:30
• Haircuts – boys Friday, me Tuesday, Tim Tues or Wed
• Print entertainment schedules from Steve Soares site or put key times in phone - DONE
• Get Quarters & pennies for pressed pennies - DONE
• Park hours in phone – DONE – have an app
• TGM viewing spots in phone - DONE from last year
• Check weather – DONE, over & over again!
• Remind school about kids missing days - DONE
• Final laundry/packing - DONE
• Print grocery list - DONE
• Charge everything
• Southwest online check-in
• Clean house/change sheets
• Finalize rental car (cancel one) - DONE
• Pay Bills/check online banking
• Program addresses into GPS - DONE
• Clean Frog Tank
• Stop Mail & Paper – DONE

So basically I’m down to:
• Organize DVDs & kids games –
• Organize ipods/ipad - music, videos, games – DH started putting DVDs into iPad
• Chiropractor – Tuesday 3:30
• Haircuts – boys Friday, me Tuesday, Tim Tues or Wed
• Charge everything
• Southwest online check-in
• Clean house/change sheets
• Pay Bills/check online banking
• Clean Frog Tank
I need to clip the cat’s nails too… and of course finish packing!


We’ve decided to go with Alamo for the rental car. I’ve already gone online & entered all of our info so we can just jump on the shuttle, the ride is only about 5 minutes & choose our car. I’ve read a few reviews on how quick & simple the process is so I’m feeling pretty comfortable with the decision.

Today I plan to get as much work done as I can. Then I’m going to double check all of the suitcases and put post-it notes on them with what’s missing to make it easier to add those last minute items. Zach has karate after school, I have a meeting tonight & a very busy day tomorrow with the PTO Green Eggs & Ham lunch at school. I also have an appointment to get my hair cut in the morning. After school we’ll visit the chiropractor & I’ll take Zach to karate. Luckily basketball finished on Saturday (with a GREAT nail biter of a game) so we don’t have to deal with practice Tuesday night. Wednesday will be all of the last minute crazy stuff – finishing up last minute work (which won’t be too much if I get most of it done today), checking in for our flight with Southwest, cleaning the house & hopefully getting to bed early. When I told Alex we would be leaving at 5am, he told me he would have to go to bed at 7:00! We’ll see about that…

 

[DznyFanAmy]

We’ve decided to go with Alamo for the rental car. I’ve already gone online & entered all of our info so we can just jump on the shuttle, the ride is only about 5 minutes & choose our car. I’ve read a few reviews on how quick & simple the process is so I’m feeling pretty comfortable with the decision.

Amy,

I'm a lurker here on your report, but wanted to let you know that Alamo is ON the property of the airport and no shuttle is needed!! Hope that helps a little! Looking forward to reading all about your trip!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Amy,

I'm a lurker here on your report, but wanted to let you know that Alamo is ON the property of the airport and no shuttle is needed!! Hope that helps a little! Looking forward to reading all about your trip!

Thanks so much for the info!! That's great news!! In my research I saw a post on some website from November 2010 that said they were on property now, but that was the only thing I found so I didn't give it much credit. Apparently it was true!! I'm glad we decided to go with Alamo. Thanks for saying Hi!!

 

[MRYPPNS]

Looks like you are just about ready!

Crazy dream.

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Looks more like a "TO DONE" list than a "TO DO" list! YAY!

I have vacation dreams like that all the time...too funny.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Amy,

I'm a lurker here on your report, but wanted to let you know that Alamo is ON the property of the airport and no shuttle is needed!! Hope that helps a little! Looking forward to reading all about your trip!

You know I'm flying into Tampa, right? Just double checking before I get too excited...

 

[DisMomAmy]

Looks like you are just about ready!

Crazy dream.

I think we are pretty much ready to go! Even Tim is getting excited!

Yes - crazy dream... But I like the one you had in January better.

Looks more like a "TO DONE" list than a "TO DO" list! YAY!

I have vacation dreams like that all the time...too funny.

To done list!

I'm hoping I get some better sleep over the next couple nights.

 

[DznyFanAmy]

Thanks so much for the info!! That's great news!! In my research I saw a post on some website from November 2010 that said they were on property now, but that was the only thing I found so I didn't give it much credit. Apparently it was true!! I'm glad we decided to go with Alamo. Thanks for saying Hi!!

No problem! Glad I could help! Alamo is owned by National and they are side by side inside and outside the airport! Just head to the Ground Transportation area and make your way across to the rental car places, they're all marked!! We rent from Alamo alot as I tend to find the best discounts and the last couple times there have been free upgrades of minivans sitting in the fullsize row!

 

[DznyFanAmy]

You know I'm flying into Tampa, right? Just double checking before I get too excited...

UGH, no, I forgot that you were flying into Tampa!! But according to Tampa Airport website it says it's onsite!!

http://www.tampaairport.com/ground_transportation/rental_car_services.asp

 

[DisMomAmy]

No problem! Glad I could help! Alamo is owned by National and they are side by side inside and outside the airport! Just head to the Ground Transportation area and make your way across to the rental car places, they're all marked!! We rent from Alamo alot as I tend to find the best discounts and the last couple times there have been free upgrades of minivans sitting in the fullsize row!

We love Alamo & always use them at MCO, which is why we were willing to go off-site to use them.

UGH, no, I forgot that you were flying into Tampa!! But according to Tampa Airport website it says it's onsite!!

http://www.tampaairport.com/ground_transportation/rental_car_services.asp

Very cool!! I had checked the airport website a while back and Alamo was still listed as off-site. Looks like it's updated!! Thanks again!! It would be nice if Alamo updated their paperwork though... everything on our documents says we have to catch a shuttle.

 

[brookelizabeth]

I laughed out loud at Ghetto Gas getting into your dream!

Your to do list is looking great! I hope you are able to get a lot done today! I'm whittling down my list as well today.

Wednesday 3/2: 87/51 Sunny & very warm
Thursday 3/3: 68/50 Sunny & colder

Okay, 87 to 68?!?! That's a bit drastic!! And 60's aren't allowed at ALL, so they better scoot on up into the 70s or 80s!

 

[DisMomAmy]

I laughed out loud at Ghetto Gas getting into your dream!

Your to do list is looking great! I hope you are able to get a lot done today! I'm whittling down my list as well today.



Okay, 87 to 68?!?! That's a bit drastic!! And 60's aren't allowed at ALL, so they better scoot on up into the 70s or 80s!

I knew you'd get a kick out of the ghetto gas station/airport! One part of the dream had me looking for a styrofoam cooler... I'm not a fan of using styrofoam but I think we're going to buy one to transport cold groceries from Jeff's house to Orlando & maybe not have to do more shopping. So in the dream I figured while I was at the gas station/airport I'd get that off my shopping list! But there was only one & it was full of pieces of broken styrofoam from another cooler, plus a bunch of dirt! It was up on a top shelf... I think I climbed up to get it only to discover how gross it was.

I agree that's a bit of a swing in the weather overnight! But I've noticed that the forecast is all wacky beyond a week out so I'm not going to worry about it yet. All of the weather for the next 7 days looks GREAT!

 

[KathyRN137]

Oooh, you are so close now!! Can you just feel that Florida sunshine??

So exciting!!


Kathy

 

[brookelizabeth]

I knew you'd get a kick out of the ghetto gas station/airport! One part of the dream had me looking for a styrofoam cooler... I'm not a fan of using styrofoam but I think we're going to buy one to transport cold groceries from Jeff's house to Orlando & maybe not have to do more shopping. So in the dream I figured while I was at the gas station/airport I'd get that off my shopping list! But there was only one & it was full of pieces of broken styrofoam from another cooler, plus a bunch of dirt! It was up on a top shelf... I think I climbed up to get it only to discover how gross it was.

I agree that's a bit of a swing in the weather overnight! But I've noticed that the forecast is all wacky beyond a week out so I'm not going to worry about it yet. All of the weather for the next 7 days looks GREAT!

that is hilarious! I certainly hope you find a cooler that isn't dirty and that you don't have to climb up the shelves to get it!

I'm not going to stress over the weather either, whatever happens, happens - we'll be in Disney! I'm sure it will change like the previous days have too!

 

[mrsksomeday]

I hope you guys have a magical pixie dust filled trip!

 

[Charleston Princess]

When the crazy vacation dreams start you know it really is close to your trip!