How to Pass the Time?

[Welsh]

I'm sure this subject has been driven into the ground but I wasn't sure how to search it, i.e., what terminology to use.

How do YOU pass the time before your trip? I mean once most of the planning is finished. All my reservations are made (save for those we can't make until closer to trip time) and I have a pretty good idea of how we will tour the parks, but the wait is really getting to me. It's only 2 months and 2 weeks, but it's starting to feel like forever. Every work day is agony!

Okay, so I'm being dramatic, but my question remains the same. What do you do to pass the time and make the wait more bearable?

 

[Samrain]

I check this message board as well as a few others and go to the library to read some of the old Disney guidebooks from back in the day.

I like to look up trivia fun facts or interesting things about WDW that we love and make a list (physical or mental) of the little fun things that we need to scope out one our next visit.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I just made a list of all the things I have to do around the house before we go. That took about an 30 minutes.

Like Samrain, I'm thinking that I want to look for disboard threads about fun different stuff to do or look for. That'll take me a long time and probably won't be done with it before we leave next Friday.

I'm still messing with my Epcot tour plan too.

And I'm re-reading parts of my Passporter to try and set a few more things more firmly in my mind.

I'll be making some sort of mousekeeping envelope this weekend. I don't do door decorations, they take too long to put up but maybe that's something you want to do?

 

[Reese]

There is a wonderful thread on Family Theme nights. I plan one of those a week and that way I can put all my planning energy into something each week and it seems to make the time go by quicker. We've done Alice in Wonderland and made Mad Hatter Hats. We had a tea party and I made a cake that looked like the Mad Hatter's hat. For Lilo and Stich we made grass skirts. Our meal was the O'Hana's breakfast platters complete with pinapple bread (my DS made-found the recipe on allears). We've also done several other ones.

 

[jpkkld]

I read these boards! And a few others too... I have a MINI binder that I'm working on (it's an index card binder - the pages are 3 1/2 x 5). Initially I intended it to be a cost-saving reminder book, but then we found more $$, so the book has expanded. I have included the standard stuff, like a few menus, and details of our ADRs, notes on some of the rides (which ones to skip, mainly, and why our time will be best spent elsewhere), touring plans for MK and AK, some ideas as to which shops to try first and which souvenirs we may want to buy while there, where the playgrounds are, times for all the shows and parades (okay, I'll add that just one week before we go!), all sorts of stuff. I also have LOTS of notes on "extras" - where the nice shady benches are, where the good spots are for watching parades and fireworks, which row to sit in for Festival of the Lion King, some fun ideas to do at our resort, where to buy fruit in the parks, which beers to sample at Epcot... Just all these little tidbits. It's specifically geared to MY family, so it may have limited value to anyone else. And because it's so specific, it's not something I was able to simply download from someone else. After more than a month of collecting these tidbits, I am STILL finding more and more stuff!

My next stop: the photography board. I want to get GOOD shots of the fireworks and parades this time!

Once we tell our dd4, I'll spend my time looking at pics and videos online with her, to prepare her for all the stimulation. I hear YouTube has lots of good stuff.

Have fun!
-Kristin

 

[WdwforLife]

I'll be making some sort of mousekeeping envelope this weekend.

You can have my mousekeeping design if you want. As long as you have a printer, you can print this design on any small envelope you want! Take a look:

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/5921/picture1qcm.png

 

[ms_minnie]

Love the envelopes! I'm saving the design for my next trip Doing pre-stuffed tip envelopes was one of the best tips I ever got for WDW. We usually print characters out on the envelopes but we're always nervous they won't take them - love the clean look of "Mousekeeping" in the Disney font!

 

[WdwforLife]

Love the envelopes! I'm saving the design for my next trip Doing pre-stuffed tip envelopes was one of the best tips I ever got for WDW. We usually print characters out on the envelopes but we're always nervous they won't take them - love the clean look of "Mousekeeping" in the Disney font!

Would you like the original PDF file instead of a grainy picture file?

 

[DVCGeek]

Would you like the original PDF file instead of a grainy picture file?

That would be cool if it's an open offer!

 

[WdwforLife]

That would be cool if it's an open offer!

It sure is! If you want you can private message me your email and I'll shoot it right over.

 

[summerlandjeff]

How about "pre-packing"?

Sounds crazy but about a month or two before we leave DW, DD and I make a list of the basics we need ie: toothpaste, deodorant, razors, ladies stuff... and go to the local Wal-Mart and buy the small sizes of each product. Each of us has a heavy duty zip-loc freezer bag to put our stuff in. We don't pack our regular home use items because when the trip is over we simply throw away the small size stuff. Usually these items are used up in a week anyway, and its one less thing to bring back!

Next, DW gathers together our clothes, lays them out in a spare room to make the final pack easier. She also runs a few items to the dry cleaners (sport coat, dinner wear, etc) and hangs them in the room. This way there are no frantic, last minute packing problems.

Then with any items you don't have to worry about getting wrinkled (sox, undies, bathing suit) we put in one of those "shrink" bags to save space.

The night before our trip, packing is a snap!

 

[DISEXAD]

we print out menus
and decide what we want to order

 

[akayek31]

I have been reading other people's TR and dining reviews and changing my mind on everything I have already planned. I had days and parks planned until I noticed we would never see Fantasmic. Now I have to redo it all

 

[Bearvet]

Take a look at the Creative DISigns forum on this site. Lots of creative people with great designs for things to make for your trip. Customized T-shirts, autograph books, EPCOT Passports, Journal pages and more! It is fun to do and you'll get a ton of compliments when you wear/use them in the parks.

We made the spiral Mickey head shirts which were easy enough for children to do. These were our favorites! (Basically take a flour/water mixture and put in a ketchup-type squirt bottle. Use this to make your design. When it dries, use fabric spray paint to cover area using 2-3 different colors. When paint dries, peel off hardened flour mixture and you have an amazing design.)

This is a lot of fun and very easy - even if you don't think you're creative.

 

[thumbelina115]

I'm getting impatient with only 2 weeks to go! (I know the time will go by quickly but I'm ready to go NOW!)

I have made detailed lists of things that need to get done before we leave. I tend to be a last minute-er and then have 198,897 things to do the day of departure. Not fun! I also own my own business so much of my time has been calling in the substitutes to cover me while I'm gone.

We printed menus and thought about how to spend our days at the parks (eating, obviously!) And then what rides NOT to do after stuffing ourselves silly....

I'm also enjoying this board and everyones advice on how not to look at the clock every 30 seconds to see if it's time to go yet!