~How TWO trips became...who knows? ~ It's a TRIP! and an upgrade.... 4/22

[All7OfUs]

Stephanie,

If you go to my PTR, there is a long write up about Yee Haw Bob on there with a couple of different links to his very own website and one other that gives all kinds of info about him. It is in the link with our POR top 10s found: HERE

I am really, super uber looking forward to his show! But apparently you have to be into audience participation style entertainment to like it.

 

[maroo]

Houston...

We MAY have a problem...

First...let me explain. Jackson, MS does not get snow. When ONE snowflake falls...even BEFORE one snowflake falls - the stores are mobbed with people buying milk - the schools are closed - the place becomes CRAZY. And with some good reason - because unlike our Northern neighbors - we have very few salt trucks and lots of bridges. We just are unprepared in the case of snow.

So...I have been following the weather - as I often do - and have noticed that for 5 days straight we have "snow" in the forecast for Jackson for Wednesday night and Thursday. I fly out Thursday at noon.

I have no idea how the airport handles snow. I would assume that they stay open - they are an airport - but I am not sure. I need to research that...

Because it looks like we may have a snow event. I am PRAYING it is not an ICE event...because those won't just ruin my vacation - we could get "shut down" for weeks over that.

I guess I may need to get a plan if it looks like I may miss my flight...and my initial thinking is that I would rent a car one way and just fly back...But we will see.

Snow and ice are VERY hard to predict in the South - it just seems pretty widespread on the models and all of the sources are all saying the same thing...it may really snow.

Oh well.

More excitement for the trip, I suppose. We wouldn't want it to be dull now, would we?

 

[StefaniLyn]

Oh No! Not Snow! I really, really, REALLY hope it does not snow, and especially pray that it doesn't get icy on Wednesday and Thursday for you.

DH still recalls the time when he was in grade school in Mississippi and it snowed an inch and shut down school and the entire city for 3 days. Yeah, you could say that MS is not equipped to deal with snow.

If the airports shut down, I definitely think you should go with the one way rental. You'd likely miss out on the plans you have for the first evening, but it's better than missing that, plus another 1/2 or full of travel IF the airport opens back up on Friday.

 

[Sandy321]

Maroo wasnt there snow earlier this year? How did the airport handle it? I've been watching the delays at our airport - we should be good to go for under 2 inches of snow!

I really hope you can make it to AK by 4:00, but I"m a wee bit dubious. So let me get this straight:

3:00 Landing
4:00 AK
5:00 Head to MK
8:00 Head to EPCOT
Illuminations
9:30 back to POR for Yeehaw Bob

Will be tight, but should be do-able.

Are you doing all your food OOP??

there is too much going on in my world - - thanks for your patience with me everyone!

I think we land at 3 too! I guess I should add plans to my trip report - I'm too busy obsessing cant get beyond Saturday - the 9th, the 13.1 miles...

I have your number - maybe I can find you at illuminations!!

 

[jordanyosh]

Here's to hoping it's snow and not ice. Ice seems to be worse.

 

[maroo]

Oh No! Not Snow! I really, really, REALLY hope it does not snow, and especially pray that it doesn't get icy on Wednesday and Thursday for you.

DH still recalls the time when he was in grade school in Mississippi and it snowed an inch and shut down school and the entire city for 3 days. Yeah, you could say that MS is not equipped to deal with snow.

If the airports shut down, I definitely think you should go with the one way rental. You'd likely miss out on the plans you have for the first evening, but it's better than missing that, plus another 1/2 or full of travel IF the airport opens back up on Friday.

I know. It really will mess with my plans greatly if it actually snows. As you know...it is difficult to predict snow in the south...they can think it is coming and it never come OR they can think it won't and suddenly there are two inches on the ground.

I looked into a one way rental........ $870!!! So...uh...no. I won't be doing that.

But the current report shows that it is closer to a 20% chance of snow Wed night and higher chance on Thurs, but the high is supposed to be close to 40...so if it snows that day, it should mostly be rain? I hope.

If we get ANY sleet or ICE - it is all over. They will shut the whole thing down.

Maroo wasnt there snow earlier this year? How did the airport handle it? I've been watching the delays at our airport - we should be good to go for under 2 inches of snow!



there is too much going on in my world - - thanks for your patience with me everyone!

I think we land at 3 too! I guess I should add plans to my trip report - I'm too busy obsessing cant get beyond Saturday - the 9th, the 13.1 miles...

I have your number - maybe I can find you at illuminations!!

We got about half an inch the other day and because it was so warm on the ground, none stuck to the roads. There was never any issue with the roads. It was just pretty.

But this looks like it could be more of a problem...for one thing it is COLD here...lows in the low 20's for a few days...so the ground will be cold and ripe for precip actually freezing.

Our airport is not at all equiped with the deicing things that you guys have up north. Here they may have one or two de-icers.

They literally close school here just at the prospect of snow coming. The roads and such are so unsafe because they just don't have the equipment to go and salt roads and I have never seen a plow in MS.

So...assuming I make it there (and I will hop in my car and DRIVE if I have to!) - I will be there with bells on! And I DO hope you will join me for Illuminations that night! I have a lot of meets scheduled all week long.

Also...I am going to GKTW that Saturday after we eat...and you guys are welcome to come. I probably can't take a whole group without prior approval, but as a former wish family, I can bring a few with me, I think.


And have you noticed how COLD it is going to be down there??? FREEZING!

 

[jenb1023]

Okay, I'm here! After being on the DIS rarely this fall and then according to my login today is the first day I have been on since 12/3, I am back. I am jumping in on all threads with both feet and then on the longer ones I will try to go back and catch up but if not I will just move forward. I miss my DIS friends! I can't believe you just went and you are getting ready to go back! I will send prayers, good thoughts and pixie dust for good weather. I hope you are going to tweet this upcoming trip!

 

[maroo]

Okay, I'm here! After being on the DIS rarely this fall and then according to my login today is the first day I have been on since 12/3, I am back. I am jumping in on all threads with both feet and then on the longer ones I will try to go back and catch up but if not I will just move forward. I miss my DIS friends! I can't believe you just went and you are getting ready to go back! I will send prayers, good thoughts and pixie dust for good weather. I hope you are going to tweet this upcoming trip!

I will be MUCH better at Tweeting this trip...assuming I go.

I was given flak on my last trip for using my iPhone too much... Whatever.

lol

But I am obsessing about the weather...more on that in a sec.

 

[maroo]

I am trying not to obsess about the weather...but figure I will give you an update anyway. Because I am obsessing about the weather.


This is from the National Weather Service. This is the graphic for what the weather conditions could be as I am taking off on my airplane for Orlando.

I know...many of you guys live in the North and you are probably all thinking...what is the big deal? A little snow? It's an airplane. It can handle it.

And I agree...that is what I am trying to tell myself.

But other forecasts (Accuweather, Weather Channel, Weather Underground) are all also forecasting winter weather - and the percent chance seems to increase each time I look at it.

In fact...it is snowing right NOW here in Jackson... Flurries. No accumulation expected. But it came out of nowhere. Not even forecasted at all.

We sent some employees to North Mississippi today and they are reporting "freezing drizzle" - which is so dangerous. That freezing rain ... making a slick sheet of ice on roads and overpasses. Is just plain dangerous.

So...I have a few back up plans...

Plan A - Stick to the plan. Fly out of Jackson around Noon on Thursday. I assume if we just get snow - and not a bunch of it - that this plan will work fine. I will take a half day off work.

Plan B - Drive to Disney on Thursday. This plan will be put in place if we are dismissed from work all day on Thursday because of poor road conditions (therefore I don't have to take ANY time off work - which would be nice overall!). I would drive straight to Orlando and get there later than I would have planned, but still on Thursday at some point. I drive basically South - so the roads should not be too bad.

Plan C - This will be put in place if the weather starts to turn really bad...If we are expecting icy conditions on Wednesday night, for example - and the chances are good (Winter Weather Warnings would be issued at this point) and we would definitely not have work on Thursday. So, I would leave out of here on Wed afternoon and drive part of the way on Wed and the rest of the way on Thursday and end up getting there sooner than planned! I would then avoid all of the weather and power outages in Jackson - which would be a bonus trip all around. Maybe some of my friends should join me.


So...that is what I am thinking. And obsessing about.

And now I gotta go get some work done.

 

[All7OfUs]

Hmmm... YOu know what?? I LOVE that you are a backup- and triple back up plan, kinda gal. That shows some clear thinking, and that's half the battle!

So, I think you have this really all worked out, no matter what happens. You are going to have a great time!

Keep us updated!

 

[maroo]

Here's to hoping it's snow and not ice. Ice seems to be worse.

Very true!

Hmmm... YOu know what?? I LOVE that you are a backup- and triple back up plan, kinda gal. That shows some clear thinking, and that's half the battle!

So, I think you have this really all worked out, no matter what happens. You are going to have a great time!

Keep us updated!

Snow in the South is so hard to predict...I will actually laugh if NOTHING comes. But considering nothing was supposed to come today - 0% of precip...and it is now snowing outside my window......well, ya never know!

It is the ice that I am more concerned about. If it is just a little warmer than they think it will be...Ice could be an issue.

I am also wondering something else...Is there a way to figure out where a plane may be coming FROM to pick us up?

 

[pipersmom]

I don't think there's any way to know where a plane is coming from, to be honest..but on the bright side you seem to have a contingency plan (or two) in place, so try not to worry too much! I know you're going to have a wonderful time!!

 

[If U Had Wings]

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you that the snow never materializes for you. Being from New England, I'm used to the snow, but I was in Georgia one year when they had ice storms. What a mess! To me it seemed like nothing, but then I realized that there were practically no sanders to take care of the problem, and tons of people who had no clue how to drive in the stuff. It was the first time I've ever seen lists of church mass cancellations due to weather. I don't think I've ever seen mass cancelled up here.

 

[jordanyosh]

Well, you are well prepared for what comes your way-that's for sure.

 

[maroo]

It is snowing...like REAL flakes falling from the sky! Totally strange.

Now the National Weather Service is issuing "watches"... whatever...you totally botched the forecast!

We need a snowy smiley! These guys look like they have snow on their heads...

I don't think there's any way to know where a plane is coming from, to be honest..but on the bright side you seem to have a contingency plan (or two) in place, so try not to worry too much! I know you're going to have a wonderful time!!

Bummer.

I am really not "worried"...I don't know how to explain it...I am just obsessively trying to figure it out and be right. I don't mind driving in snow...even ice...I have done it before. And as little as I would have to drive in it this time (and no side streets, really - I live close to the interstate), I am just not worried about being able to drive...I think I am just trying to make the right call and totally obsessing about checking every weather source to see what they say...and NO ONE KNOWS. They are all clueless. As I sit here and watch the snow fall outside my office.

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you that the snow never materializes for you. Being from New England, I'm used to the snow, but I was in Georgia one year when they had ice storms. What a mess! To me it seemed like nothing, but then I realized that there were practically no sanders to take care of the problem, and tons of people who had no clue how to drive in the stuff. It was the first time I've ever seen lists of church mass cancellations due to weather. I don't think I've ever seen mass cancelled up here.

This is exactly right! They don't have sand/salt trucks...no plows. So...when something does materialize...we are just stuck. And people really don't know how to drive in it...which makes it dangerous on the side streets and overpasses.

The more I type the more I think it would be wise to leave Wednesday.

Well, you are well prepared for what comes your way-that's for sure.

Yeah...I suppose so. Now...what do I need from the store? Ha...just kidding!

 

[that's nice]

I'm glad to see you have back up plans just in case. I hope it is going to be icy on Wednesday night for you... that way you can leave on Wednesday and get there nice and early!!!!!

When are you gonna be there in December? My DW said she WILL be in WDW at some point next December. I'm thinking that earlier in the month ie: the 1st week, would be better for us.

 

[maroo]

I'm glad to see you have back up plans just in case. I hope it is going to be icy on Wednesday night for you... that way you can leave on Wednesday and get there nice and early!!!!!

When are you gonna be there in December? My DW said she WILL be in WDW at some point next December. I'm thinking that earlier in the month ie: the 1st week, would be better for us.

Probably the second weekend.

The first week was really busy this year with Pop Warner, discounts and the Christmas Parade Taping crowds...

I LOVED the 3rd week (when we went this year)...That week is when the college and high school students tend to have exams...so the families with older kids are holding off going that week...and lots of people are rushing in after the 18th (ish)...so that week right before is perfect...Christmas, but not massive crowds.

Of course...mine depends on how much vacation I have left this year.

 

[jenb1023]

I will be MUCH better at Tweeting this trip...assuming I go.

I was given flak on my last trip for using my iPhone too much... Whatever.

lol

But I am obsessing about the weather...more on that in a sec.

Yea for more tweeting! Can there be such a thing as too much iPhone?

As for the weather thing, the weatherpeople have no clue. I would check Accuweather late tomorrow - they usually are the closest. Good luck! I am going to be a glass half full kinda girl here and say that at least you have options and can drive if needed. I like the Wednesday option because that means a longer trip but I don't like that option because it means you will have left vacation days for future trips (which means less for me to enjoy reading about).

 

[Sandy321]

You're obsessing about the weather? NOW CHICAGO is to get SNOW Thurs the day we fly out - Chicago may have a lot of de - icers - but honestly if there is a "blizzard" or "snow advisory" OHare shuts DOWN!

BTW Maroo you have my permission if you capture me on your iphone to tweet it!! (as long as it doesnt break your phone and your phone is 'big' enough for my picture dont stand too close...)

Jan '11 Marathon anyone?

 

[StefaniLyn]

I want an iPhone.

Still praying for NO SNOW, although, maybe I should be praying for HUMONGO snow because then you don't have to use a vacation day, right? Lemme know what direction I should be going in here,