Hitting the "Holiday Road" for Thanksgiving!

[Dallas_Lady]

Hi and welcome to my Pre-Trippie!

Let's start with the basics:

CAST

Me: Giovanna, "Disney Expert" of the family. I do all the trip planning, organizing, obsessing, etc.

DH: Tony, loves WDW but is blissfully ignorant to all the planning. He happily lets me plan everything and reaps the rewards. We have a marriage made in heaven

DD: Alexandra, 2 years old (3 at time of the trip). Loves all things Disney thanks to her mom and dad. She went to WDW for her 1st birthday, and is ready to see the "Cassie" (that's Castle for those who don't speak toddler) again. She will hopefully be potty trained when we go.

DS: John, 6 months (15 months at time of trip). He's the wild card. He just started crawling this week, and it is my hope that he is walking when we go. Babies change so much in the first year, I am not sure how he will handle things. He is a bit of a mama's boy

MIL: Charlotte, Tony's mom and Disney newbie. We never even thought she'd want to go to WDW with us, but she asked if she could come along on our next trip. The kids just love her, and since FIL passed away she spends a lot of time with us. No MIL horror stories here, we get along well. Having her along will present it's own challenges and benefits.

DETAILS (so far)

November 21-28, 2009
Windsor Hills 3 bedroom condo (www.vacationcentralflorida.com)

INTRODUCTION

Whenever I talk about my love for WDW, I always tell this story. My parents have been divorced since I was a baby, and I lived primarily with my grandmother growing up. Both my parents remarried and had kids, and I never really felt like I truly fit in with either of my families- I was always somewhere in between. When I was 17, I went with my father, stepmom and 2 younger brothers to Disneyworld. It was the best trip ever! For the first time I really felt like I belonged, and we had a blast. Every since then I have been in love with WDW and the great feeling it gives me when I am there.

We go to Disney every 2-3 years. Aside from my first trip, we have always stayed onsite at a moderate. However, we are taking the plunge and staying offsite in a condo at Windsor Hills. There are a few reasons for this change:

-Cost is probably the biggest factor. I have my condo booked for about half of what a moderate would cost, and a fraction of what a comparable DVC villa would be.
-We will have a vehicle, so I don't have to worry about transportation
-I really don't want to be crammed in a hotel room all week. This is especially the case with MIL coming along.
-Having a kitchen will make doing quick breakfasts easy

At first I was really nervous about this decision, but I am getting more and more excited. Windsor Hills seems to be really close to WDW, so it shouldn't take too long to get around.

Now, in the spirit of full disclosure, there are a few hurdles that could cause us to postpone our trip. Right now I'm a SAHM, but I'm currently looking for a teaching job for this fall. I don't anticipate not finding one, but you never know. Then, not all districts give you the whole week off for Thanksgiving. If I get a district that doesn't, I will have to take off Mon & Tues, which may be tough for a new teacher to do. So, I am keeping my fingers crossed that everything will fall into place .

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Saving space for helpful links

Child ID Bracelets

Disposable Coffee Cups

My favorite trip report

Windsor Hills Condo

Photopass Pre-Purchase

Road Trip Map

Disney Area Map

 

[mousetravel]

Subscribing!! I remember visiting your website & looking at your pics a while back. Now that I've come across your new PTR, I just realized you had a new baby!!! Your kids are so cute! Can't wait to hear more about your pre planning and then your trip!

 

[Tinkmom75]

Hey, I just saw you on the November 2009 thread and saw you were staying at Windsor Hills. We will be there when you are! So cool.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I know, I suck at Trip Reports But, I'm still here and we're still going.

My favorite guidebook is the Passporter. I love it because not only does it have good, consice information, but it has a great organizational section that helps me keep track of everything. I have bought one for each trip, and I debated buying another one. The information in the book section isn't really new, and since I have both a 2009 Unofficial Guide and a subscription to TGM (which I LOVE!) I just didn't see the need for another guidebook.

So, I decided to make my own Passporter to mimick the organizational section, which is all I wanted anyway. Plus, I'd be able to use it for more than Disney trips- such as our upcoming trip to Atlanta.

Here's what I'll need:
-Small binder (5x8 or so)
-Dividers with pockets for maps, receipts, tickets, etc.
-Pages for making daily itineraries
-Pages for writing general notes

Off to Office Max!

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I love this pack from ScrapMatters.

http://scrapmatters.com/shop/product.php?productid=1479&cat=0&page=1

 

[S'sMom]

I think that you will have a great time at Thanksgiving, and I think that your reasons for staying off property is a great idea. We too are staying off and it was so much cheaper. With 2 kids 10 months (almost 1) and 6 it can be a challenge. Your little one is crawling?? Oh OH! I knew I was in trouble when my little one started How wonderful that your MIL wants to go, I couldnt pay my mom or MIL to come with us to DIsney under any circumstances.

I think that you will find a teaching job with no problem. I also teach in Dallas and they are all looking for someone. You are right.. for the most part most of the districts in the area will have those first two days off for THanksgiving provided staff dev is done, but you know that.

I cant wait to read more

Hi and welcome to my Pre-Trippie!

Let's start with the basics:

CAST

Me: Giovanna, "Disney Expert" of the family. I do all the trip planning, organizing, obsessing, etc.

DH: Tony, loves WDW but is blissfully ignorant to all the planning. He happily lets me plan everything and reaps the rewards. We have a marriage made in heaven

DD: Alexandra, 2 years old (3 at time of the trip). Loves all things Disney thanks to her mom and dad. She went to WDW for her 1st birthday, and is ready to see the "Cassie" (that's Castle for those who don't speak toddler) again. She will hopefully be potty trained when we go.

DS: John, 6 months (15 months at time of trip). He's the wild card. He just started crawling this week, and it is my hope that he is walking when we go. Babies change so much in the first year, I am not sure how he will handle things. He is a bit of a mama's boy

MIL: Charlotte, Tony's mom and Disney newbie. We never even thought she'd want to go to WDW with us, but she asked if she could come along on our next trip. The kids just love her, and since FIL passed away she spends a lot of time with us. No MIL horror stories here, we get along well. Having her along will present it's own challenges and benefits.

DETAILS (so far)

November 21-28, 2009
Windsor Hills 3 bedroom condo (www.vacationcentralflorida.com)

INTRODUCTION

Whenever I talk about my love for WDW, I always tell this story. My parents have been divorced since I was a baby, and I lived primarily with my grandmother growing up. Both my parents remarried and had kids, and I never really felt like I truly fit in with either of my families- I was always somewhere in between. When I was 17, I went with my father, stepmom and 2 younger brothers to Disneyworld. It was the best trip ever! For the first time I really felt like I belonged, and we had a blast. Every since then I have been in love with WDW and the great feeling it gives me when I am there.

We go to Disney every 2-3 years. Aside from my first trip, we have always stayed onsite at a moderate. However, we are taking the plunge and staying offsite in a condo at Windsor Hills. There are a few reasons for this change:

-Cost is probably the biggest factor. I have my condo booked for about half of what a moderate would cost, and a fraction of what a comparable DVC villa would be.
-We will have a vehicle, so I don't have to worry about transportation
-I really don't want to be crammed in a hotel room all week. This is especially the case with MIL coming along.
-Having a kitchen will make doing quick breakfasts easy

At first I was really nervous about this decision, but I am getting more and more excited. Windsor Hills seems to be really close to WDW, so it shouldn't take too long to get around.

Now, in the spirit of full disclosure, there are a few hurdles that could cause us to postpone our trip. Right now I'm a SAHM, but I'm currently looking for a teaching job for this fall. I don't anticipate not finding one, but you never know. Then, not all districts give you the whole week off for Thanksgiving. If I get a district that doesn't, I will have to take off Mon & Tues, which may be tough for a new teacher to do. So, I am keeping my fingers crossed that everything will fall into place .

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Hey, I've got readers! Then I guess I better post more, LOL.

I teach middle and high school science, so I feel pretty confident that I will find a job, even though all I hear about are how districts are cutting budgets. I really want to be close to home, which would be Plano, Allen or Frisco ISD, but those are popular districts, so I may have to expand my search. I live in Plano, and that's my top choice.

 

[S'sMom]

Oh yea, you should be able to find something pretty quick. I also want to be closer to home. I work in the North near North Park Mall, but I live in the South so next year hopefully I can move closer.

Hey, I've got readers! Then I guess I better post more, LOL.

I teach middle and high school science, so I feel pretty confident that I will find a job, even though all I hear about are how districts are cutting budgets. I really want to be close to home, which would be Plano, Allen or Frisco ISD, but those are popular districts, so I may have to expand my search. I live in Plano, and that's my top choice.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

We're having John's 1st birthday party here at our house and the theme is, of course, Mickey Mouse. Though not trip related, it's Disney related so I'm going to keep track of my ideas here. And yes, I know that John's birthday is over 3 months away, but what can I say, I'm a planner

Here's what I'm planning to get for the

These balloons:
http://www.birthdaydirect.com/mickey-mouse-clubhouse-18-in-foil-balloon-p-10417.html

Along with these for the balloon bouquets (well, these colors. I may get solid instead of printed):
http://www.birthdaydirect.com/mickey-mouse-happy-birthday-12-in-printed-latex-balloons-p-4211.html

And get this birthday banner printed:
http://www.birthdayexpress.com/Mick...Birthday-Banner/43896/PersonalizedDetail.aspx

These plates:

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I went to the Disney Store for one thing and ended up finding some good stuff for the party.

These plates were 40% off. I got 4. I can use them as serving plates for the party, and then regular plates for the kids to use afterwards. That's me being green

I got a couple of these for my kids to use now, but they are also 40% off. So I'm thinking of getting more and using them as favors.

 

[S'sMom]

I love those plates and the cute cup, which one did you find them at?

I went to the Disney Store for one thing and ended up finding some good stuff for the party.

These plates were 40% off. I got 4. I can use them as serving plates for the party, and then regular plates for the kids to use afterwards. That's me being green

I got a couple of these for my kids to use now, but they are also 40% off. So I'm thinking of getting more and using them as favors.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I got some at Stonebriar (Frisco) and then I went back and got more at Collin Creek (Plano). 40% off for everything in the "Summertime Fun" series, and they have dishes, cups, serving bowls, pitchers, and more. Some of it's online, but there's more to choose from in the stores.

I've got Mickey & Minnie sets, I'm thinking of going back and getting Nemo.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I've got an interview tomorrow! It's not in my target district, but it's my second choice and the school is only 20 minutes from home. I'm excited and nervous. Wish me luck!

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Well, I didn't get the job I am not to disapointed, there were a few things about the position that I didn't like. But it would have been nice to turn them down instead of being turned down, LOL. Oh well. I'm still keeing the faith that something will come along.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Last week we hit the road in the minivan and drove 832 miles to visit my family in Georgia. I kept a detailed log of how long it took to get there as well as some suggestions for our big road trip in November to WDW. This trip was kind of a "test run" for driving to Orlando.

Day 1- Plano, TX to Birmingham, AL
It was our goal to try to drive all the way to Georgia, but the weather was bad the whole way. It rained all day, which meant the kids didn't get out to play at the rest stops like we'd planned. It also made the driving hard on DH. By the time we got to Bham, we were all tired and decided to call it a night.

6:30am CST- On the road leaving Plano
9:00- Louisiana border
9:10-9:50- Rest & Gas stop
12:15-12:35pm- Mississippi border, rest and food stop
3:10- Alabama border
5:15- Checked into Birmingham Hotel (~650 miles in 11 hours)

Day 2- Birmingham to Peachtree City, GA
8:30am CST- On the road leaving Bham
9:50 CST/10:50 EST- Georgia border
12:30pm- Arrive at Peachtree City, GA (832 miles total)

Day 5- The drive home

We were able to make it all the way home in one shot because the weather on our departure day was MUCH better. In fact, it rained pretty much the whole time we were in Atlanta, only to stop on the day we were leaving. Go figure.

7:44 am EST- Depart, breakfast and gas stops
9:15 EST/8:15 CST- Alabama border
11:00- Mississippi border
11:15- 12:10pm- Gas and lunch stop
2:03- Louisiana border
4:30-5:20- Texas border and rest stop
8:00pm- Arrive in Plano, TX (13.25 hours, 832 miles)

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Final Thoughts

We really don't like arriving at a destination at night. Arriving at home at night is one thing- it's home, it's familiar, all you have to do is plop down your bags and get in your bed. But to arrive at your destination late, especially when visiting family, is not ideal. You have to unpack the vehicle, get set up, you will of course want to talk and visit for a bit before going to sleep. So a 9pm arrival means you won't get to bed before midnight. And when you have been in the car all day with two little ones who are cranky and tired, this is not ideal. This is why we decided to stop in Bham at 5pm instead of driving all the way to Atlanta. We could have gotten there around 8pm (9pm with the time change) but it was best for us to spend the night and arrive bright eyed and bushy tailed the next day.

Crossing time zones is a big deal. It can make your drive an hour longer or shorter. For us, it means the drive there is longer than the the drive home.

Having the kids watch DVDs in the van is what made this trip work. We looked at buying a dual screen DVD player, but a decent one would have been $200-300 and I just wasn't pleased with them. One day, I thought to myself that if I could only power it (because my battery would never last 14 hours) my laptop would be the perfect way for the kids to watch their movies. So, after a search on Amazon.com, I found this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000157TNA/ref=ox_ya_oh_product

For $25 we were able to power the laptop using one of the van's power outlets (it even has one in the second row; I love my minivan) and the kid's could happily watch Mickey Mouse, Dora & Diego, and the Backyardigans to their heart's content. Our van has captain's chairs in the second row (where the kids sit). I set the laptop on top of a cooler so that they could both see it. I should have taken a picture of the set-up, it worked really well.

Planning when and where we want to stop for breaks, gas, etc. is something I want to do in November. On our first day we didn't have a good plan and we had a lot of "so when do you want to stop?" debates. We had a better idea of when to stop on the way home and it made things a lot smoother.

We always, always, always bring too many snacks for our road trip. We pack a ton of food with the idea that we are going to eat sandwiches and save money instead of eating fast food. Yet we always, always, always find a reason to hit a drive thru instead of eating all the food I packed. So, in November I am going to try to convince DH that we do not need two coolers plus a big grocery bag full of food. He probably won't go for it, but I think I'll just not pack it and see if he notices

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Oh, I almost forgot! I made my own Passporter that can be used for whatever trip we are taking. I used it on this trip to Atlanta, and it was a great way to keep track of reservation, maps, phone numbers, etc. It also gave me a place to make notes of what we did each day and tips for next time.

Here is what I was trying to emulate- my favorite planning guide, The Passporter:

Here are my supplies.

And here is the finished product.

 

[reyasmommy]

Final Thoughts

We really don't like arriving at a destination at night. Arriving at home at night is one thing- it's home, it's familiar, all you have to do is plop down your bags and get in your bed. But to arrive at your destination late, especially when visiting family, is not ideal. You have to unpack the vehicle, get set up, you will of course want to talk and visit for a bit before going to sleep. So a 9pm arrival means you won't get to bed before midnight. And when you have been in the car all day with two little ones who are cranky and tired, this is not ideal. This is why we decided to stop in Bham at 5pm instead of driving all the way to Atlanta. We could have gotten there around 8pm (9pm with the time change) but it was best for us to spend the night and arrive bright eyed and bushy tailed the next day.

Crossing time zones is a big deal. It can make your drive an hour longer or shorter. For us, it means the drive there is longer than the the drive home.

Having the kids watch DVDs in the van is what made this trip work. We looked at buying a dual screen DVD player, but a decent one would have been $200-300 and I just wasn't pleased with them. One day, I thought to myself that if I could only power it (because my battery would never last 14 hours) my laptop would be the perfect way for the kids to watch their movies. So, after a search on Amazon.com, I found this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000157TNA/ref=ox_ya_oh_product

For $25 we were able to power the laptop using one of the van's power outlets (it even has one in the second row; I love my minivan) and the kid's could happily watch Mickey Mouse, Dora & Diego, and the Backyardigans to their heart's content. Our van has captain's chairs in the second row (where the kids sit). I set the laptop on top of a cooler so that they could both see it. I should have taken a picture of the set-up, it worked really well.

Planning when and where we want to stop for breaks, gas, etc. is something I want to do in November. On our first day we didn't have a good plan and we had a lot of "so when do you want to stop?" debates. We had a better idea of when to stop on the way home and it made things a lot smoother.

We always, always, always bring too many snacks for our road trip. We pack a ton of food with the idea that we are going to eat sandwiches and save money instead of eating fast food. Yet we always, always, always find a reason to hit a drive thru instead of eating all the food I packed. So, in November I am going to try to convince DH that we do not need two coolers plus a big grocery bag full of food. He probably won't go for it, but I think I'll just not pack it and see if he notices

I know I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my mini van too. I swore I would never ever drive one. Common what's cool about a mini van?!? But it's the best! We've been on several road trips with it and I couldn't be happier. It's great when you have small children, especially because ours has a dvd player built it.

You sound just like me when it comes to packing food, yet still finding yourself in a drive-thru.

Oh, I almost forgot! I made my own Passporter that can be used for whatever trip we are taking. I used it on this trip to Atlanta, and it was a great way to keep track of reservation, maps, phone numbers, etc. It also gave me a place to make notes of what we did each day and tips for next time.

Here is what I was trying to emulate- my favorite planning guide, The Passporter:

Here are my supplies.

And here is the finished product.

LOVE your passporter!

Hope you have a magical trip!

 

[Tinkmom75]

We are driving from Michigan, so it is about a 21 hr drive. I always pack too much food too. In fact I always overpack. DH is already limiting on how much we can pack. He thinks backpacks cause they will fit under the seats . I told him, I would set the stuff out and he can pack it We will have 5 in our vehicle.

Are you going to be in a condo or townhome at Windsor. We will be in a townhome and my Dsis will be in a condo. It looks really nice there.

Edited to add: Whoops I see you will be in a condo.