Is 304 Days Too Soon to Start Planning??? (with chapter links!!!)

[tyandskyesmom]

Actually, we put the tree up and the lights on with the red garland with gold stars on the night before...here's some pics taken that night...












And we actually put the ornaments on the tree on Thanksgiving morning while munching on these and drinking hot chocolate out of our Disney mugs!!!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

 

[tyandskyesmom]

...but it is Disney related so it's all good!

















And the old dog isn't as into it as she usually is...



And that evening...

 

[tyandskyesmom]

...the end all of the cheerleading season!

We stayed the weekend at The Hampton Inn in Hoffman Estates. It was a nice hoetl except that Leo at the front desk was not all that friendly or helpful after people started complaining. And the main problem...the pool humidifier broke the day before we all arrived. And no one bothered to alert any guests to this problem prior to check-in. A lot of our team...we had three teams there...moved to another nearby hotel but we stayed (Lou hates water remember so not a big deal to him) and a lot of other people were staying and showing up the next night.


Our room...








Our decorated door...which we intended to do and were ready for but one of the things the hotel was going to do to try to make-up for no pool was a door decorating contest...now mind you, the competition was over Sunday night and everyone was checking out Sunday morning...on Sunday one of the girls went to ask when they were going to announce who won the door contest and then said later that evening...well...DUH...everyone would be gone by then...


The kids "working-out" in the "gym"...






Lou hanging out with his buds...


Skye and her base, Jenni...

 

[tyandskyesmom]

The next day was the first day of competition...





Tyler and Mikey...


Skye and Maddy...they were just watching becasue they did not compete until the next day but out Widgets (Tyler's age) and Juniors competed ...




The bow our head coach's mom made for us...

 

[tyandskyesmom]

This was our day. The Widgets had made it through to today too...but not the juniors. We did not go on until almost last...so it was a long day!





This is most of our team...


Tyler and Kristen, his "girlfriend"...










Here's us coaches finally going out on the floor...

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Skye's basket toss!!!






On the floor a little while later waiting for awards!






In the end, this was another really awesome experience for those little girls! Remember, our team was kg, 1st, and 2nd grades...so 5, 6, and 7 year olds. And we started off with 29 girls...only 9 of which had ever cheered before. So to make it this far was great. Did it stink that we only received a participation trophy" Well, ya, it did...and let me tell you why. We scored a 72.76 which was .70 points higher than the competition we qualified at. We are a second grade large division competitor...and THE ONLY second grade large competitor who even qualified to go to State! But becasue we were the only ones, we had to score in the range of the average scores for all the other teams competing at all levels for each place. Let me tell you, I do not think any second grade teams (the medium three or the small three who becasue there was someone to compete against only had to get the best score of the three) scored as high as we did. Some of the eighth grade teams were scoring in the high 80s though. So we left without placing. About two weeks later we found out that the average thrid place score was a 73...so we were .24 points away froma third place (to no one!)...it was rough! But all that being said, since they were the only ones to make it that far at their second grade large level, they are still THE BEST IN THE STATE at that level!!!! And the experience is something those little girls will have with them forever. by the time they went on most other squads were done and in the stands watching. The place was packed. The crowd was loud. A lot of people never get to experience that in their whole lives...let alone at the age of 5, 6, and 7!!!! Those girls did awesome that day!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

The night we got home from State was when St Nicholas comes and fills the kid's stockings...







Here's that Mickey snowman cookie cutter...

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Ok...so...I get home yesterday and there are no kids in the house...they are across the street at my parent's house. I get a call from my mom saying she needs Lou and I to come over. I asked "Why". She said "Becasue I do.". So we went.

First we were shown Tyler's birthday present...a microscope. Then we were told that since our anniversary was coming up IN JUNE they got our gift just a little early...we walk into the living room and there is this huge plain box with a smaller box on top of it. I don't know what it is?!?!?!? But knowing my dad, probably something expensive.

Well, we are now the proud owners of a 3D HD LCD (PFE, DRT, XRT and any other letters you can put together!!!!) flat screen TV and I blue ray player (we used the PS3 prior to this)...and I know nothing about it!!! I mean NOTHING...owning one of those has not even ever crossed my mind! The kids are excited. And I think Lou is wondering why they are trying to butter him up. I mean our anniversary is not until mid-June and it will be 16 years so it is not like some huge milestone or anything...are major TVs the gift for 16 (you know, like gold, silver, etc)? It also came with two 3d movies and four pairs of 3D glasses.

So this completely caught us off guard. Not that it is not great, just completely unexpected! My mom is usually pretty stingy with big money especially for no good reason...I mean it wasn't like our main TV (which is too large for us to move anywhere else so we now need to sell it) was dying or anything. And I don't think any of us has ever even expressed the desire for one...it was just like totally out of the blue.

So now this weekend we not only have to get the Christmas tree down and put away, do something special for Tyler's birthday, put together the kid's desks they got from Santa, and re-arrange and clean their rooms so they fit but now we need to re-arrange the living room to work in the new TV...and watch some cool 3D movies.

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Well...holidays are over...hope everyone had great ones!

It was rough getting up and out this morning, especially for the kids! Now we have to get back to the regular daily grind...work/school. gymnastics two times a week, dance two times a week, open gym one or two times over the weekend and a private lesson here and there...arena football starts up at the end of January and baseball has Sunday practices starting soon.

I spent some time this morning looking at meal times at the venues I plan to go to.

Our ADR day is Valentine's Day...so I gotta get ready.

I got a couple of e-mails from my travel agent this weekend about discounts released but she said my booked travel is still a better deal...so we're keeping it! And I may start to pay it off too because I don't think anything better is going to come along.

I just have to keep my eyes open for airfare. Southeast is only booking till August 12...the day before we leave. I was kind of hoping threy would release till the 13th so I could space out buying each leg of the trip and possibly use any credits from the hopefully lower priced flight to Orlando that I would hopefully get after booking it for the return trip...but alas, they will release my whole trip at one time. I have (and still sort of are)considered driving but it would be me and the kids alone on the way down...and I just don't know that I am comfortable with that. Air fare has just been so not cheap from Chicago to anywhere except for places that it woudl take me less time to drive to! I hope some good fares are relased when they finally open it up...but I think the days of $79 fares to or from Chicago/Orlando are gone...

 

[tyandskyesmom]

We're....getting....closer....

So, I wanted to be able to count down form 200 days but that only leaves us 20 more days to get the countdown claendar done...and with what i plan to do, I don't think that's happening! So I guess we'll work our way backwards and there the countdown meets the current date is where we'll start...I still would like ot at least hit the 100 day mark though!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Hey all!

Any plans for the weekend?

Besides dance today and tomorrow morning...and signing Tyler up for baseball tomorrow morning...we have nothing!

I am hoping to get some of our countdown calendar done...and to get pictures of it loaded to show you guys.

We do also need to go through the kids' books becasue we are book hounds...just love that feeling of a library...but we are running out of room in their rooms...shelving units are taking up too much room...so some must go.

I am having this problem though...I dont' feel like doing anything but I don't feel like doing nothing either! Is it just becasue after all the crazy in December, it has slowed down so much??? I'm just like...BLAH!

We are getting closer to vacation though and that is a good thing!

Lou actually suprised me the other day when he said "When we go to Disney I want to look for adult slippers." I know that does not seem like much to you guys but when you live with Lou, any unprompted Disney talk is wonderful and exciting! Of course, he thinks I'm crazy but you guys understand!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

So over the weekend the kids and I stopped in at Barnes & Noble and picked up a few books...we love 'em!

Guess what one of the ones Skye picked out was?

"Who was Walt Disney" in little kid format...not exactly 6 year old level but she ready really well so a little more advanced than that. She read the first couple of pages last night about when he was a kid and was a class clown and one day found a field mouse and put a sting around it's neck like a leash and walked it into class...she said it was the first Mickey Mouse.

We were also cleaning out things in their room and she had a ton, and I do mean ton of underware that she still wears but are really too small so I finally convinced her to part with them...they were all Disney ones...princesses, Jojo, Tink, etc...and you know what she said..."Ok, but I'll never give up Mickey Mouse!"

And then we were going through books, becasue we just have too many...and a lot that we do not and will not read anymore...and she still has a Birnbaum's guide from probably 2000 that she wrote all over as a toddler and she will not let me get rid of it...do you think if I offered to buy her a new one it would get her to toss the old torn up yucky one? It's not even a kid's one!!!

I certainly have created a little Disney Freak haven't I????

 

[DisneyJonesGirl]

OMG your lil girl skyler is a complete doll! she's adorable! and the fact thats she's so itty butty makes her that much more cute! lol They're stockings look like mine ((my grandma made mine iv'e had it since birth)) lol

 

[tyandskyesmom]

OMG your lil girl skyler is a complete doll! she's adorable! and the fact thats she's so itty butty makes her that much more cute! lol They're stockings look like mine ((my grandma made mine iv'e had it since birth)) lol

Yea! Another poster!!!!

Thank you! She is something else, that's for sure!

We were are Sam's Club over the weekend and she had on a black tu-tu with different colored polka-dots, black leggins, black boots, a black t-shirt that says "My brother has the best sister ever" in the same colors as the polka-dots and her fake black leather biker jacket with her hair in six little ponies in the front tied bakc with the same coloerd elastics as the polka-dots and then into a high pony with a blue Mickey head elastic. She was sitting in the cart (to pooped to walk after dancing for an hour and a half I guess) and the lady handing out yogurt samples asked her if it was her birthday. She told her no and looked confused. So the lady said "Because you look so cute...are you this cute everyday???" and Skye gave her a huge smile and said "yep!"...and Tyler said "Story of my life!"...

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Ok...so...I made the mistake of showing the kids pictures of the pirate rooms at Caribbean Beach.

Tyler really wants one. I really want to be closer to the main pool and food court with the ability to experience most of the benefits of being there.

However, they did look incredibly cool ...and if they were located in other parts of the resort, I would not hesitate paying the extra per night for one...it is really the distance that I don't like. We like to be in the middle of everything and to be able to enjoy the whole resort...I think last time we were at Caribbean Beach we did not even know there was a bridge to cross got get to other parts of the resort (we were in a building very near Old Port Royale...and are now much more Disney savy about planning and research!

Let me explain...We fill our mugs in the morning while heading out, even if we are not eating there. We also fill them in the evening when we come back form the parks. Now, I know we can always get on and off the bus at the stop closest to that area but then we have to walk all the way to our rooms.
And we like ti usually go open to close so that makes for a late night walk that all of us may not appreciate...and the less crabbing makes for a happier momma which makes for a better vacation!!!

We also do not usually swim a ton but I think that is mostly becasue we usually go when it is cooler out...so it is not such a draw. I have a feeling this time, being our first August trip, we may be heading back to the hotel for some swimming and relaxing mid day and I am not paying to stay at a moderate hotel to use the quite pool! So that means going to our room, changing and then walking to the main pool and then back. When we stayed there when I was pregnant with Skye, we took a surry ride around there and I sure seem to remember it being a really long way!!!

I know, I know...we will be walking so much already that we probably will not even notice but the thought of all that unnecessary walking is something I just cannot get past...especially paying to do all that extra walking!

So my questions are...

1.) are the pirate rooms worth it...in extra money and extra walking?

2.) how far (distance/time) from the pirate rooms to the main area?

3.) do you think we would have the option of upgrading to a pirate room at check-in? I'd rather do it at check-in if we're going to do it because then I can decide how we feel after our first six days with just me and the kids with the weather and walking and crowds and know how important the proximity to the main area is.

Anyone with pirate room experience, please HELP me decide what to do!!!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

So Sam's Club is selling the DIsney Gift Cards for $100.00 and a $100.00 gift card and a $10.00 Disney Store gift card bonus.

And while I was contemplating getting the gift cards as a way to save money to cover our out of pocket dining, drinks, tips, and spending money I also wanted ot purchase them with my Disney Visa so I could get the points on them...which we will have a few hundred dollars of by the time we go...and Sam's does not accept that card.

Is there anywhere else you guys may have seen that is selling them with the bonus Disney Store card? I mean I am really getting it for the trip but who couldn't use a little extra trip to the Disney store for extras for the trip for free?

 

[tyandskyesmom]

So I am thinking of extending our stay by one day...cannot decide if I should keep it a secret (which would kill me but would be so much fun).

I a thinking about adding a night at Contemporary Tower Magic Kingdom view for our last night.

My thinking is this...

it gives me the ability to spread out our dining over another day and that would loosen things up a little. It would give us more opportunity to use snack credits. It would give us a day to relax and swim and watch fireworks from our balcony and watch the castle turn colors as we fell asleep. The Contemporary is the one resort I keep coming back to as my "I want to try that someday" favorite...I mean I'd love to try them all but on the short list after Animal Kingdom Lodge which is our reigning favorite but is also the only deluxe we have stayed at so far is Contremporary, Grand Floridian and Yacht or Beach Club.

My change of plans would be to check out of Caribbean Beach and go to breakfast at Chef Mickey's, check in to our new room at the Contemporary and do whtever we want (we will also have one day of passes left if we want to use them for a little while. We could lunch at The Wave and then do whatever we want. We would dine at California Grill early and then do whatever we wanted...but to include fireworks and EWP from our room...also, Magic Kingdom should be open late that night (judging from last year's hours) so we could do that if we wanted to. Then we'd get a late flight out so we'd have all day to swim and hang out at the resort...with no ADRs (unless we want them)...

I have e-mailed my travel agent to check prices (I think there was a room only discount out there)...


What would you do????

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Should I go for Yacht or Beach Club???

My thought on this is that the kids would love the pool. It will be August so the hottest we have ever been there for probably...and maybe ever will be. So that will lead to much enjoyment in that area. Lou does not swim but he would like the Boardwalk area and being near ESPN and such. Plus I would not be so concerner with view here so the room would be cheaper. I could rearrange here too to have breakfast on the 28th at Cape May, Lunch at one of the Epcot venues, and dinner at Yachtsman Steakhouse.

But it is not The Contemporary. And that is my dream hotel...ahead of Yacht and Beach Clubs...not that I wouldn't enjoy my self...it is just different in my mind. But is is probably a little bit more relaxing...if that's what we're going for. And we can stay at the Contemporary any season...the draw of the Yacht and Beach Clubs is that pool...so it just kinda seems to fit at that time of the year...decisions, decisions!

What do you all think???​

​

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Ok...so I had my travel agent check prices for Contemporary Tower Magic Kingdom View and Yacht and/or Beach Club for that extra last day.

Contemporary is almost $100.00 more...which at this point is a non-issue.

I told her I did not know what the difference would be betweenYacht and Beach Club are other than the decor and we like them both. But hse said all rooms at yacht Club have full balconies but only every other floor at Beach Club does.

So.....I told her to put a hold on....

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YACHT CLUB!!!
​

I decided on the Yacht Club as opposed to the Contemporary becasue of the weather thing. I really do not know what our future holds as far as vacations but I do know our preferred time to travel at this point in time is fall and winter. So weather is a bit colder then and Skye loves to swim but hates ot be cold. After 15 nights of sweating our butts off, I think Storm Along Bay may be just what we need! And I htink that there will be other opportunities to stay at the Contemporary where the draw is not the pool but the view and proximity to the Magic Kingdom. Believe me, it was a hard decision but a win-win situation so all's good!!!!

So now it is kind of like we are stepping up through our tour...we are starting with six nights at All Star Movies - moving to none nights at Caribbean Beach - and ending up with one night at Yacht Club.

And I think I may need to rethink my touring and dining...and you all know how I hate that right???

But since we are paying for a deluxe, I'd like to spend a lot of the 28th and 29th at that deluxe...so back to the drawing board!

Now the question is to tell or not to tell. Obviously, I'd have ot tell Lou right. I mean he'd need the extra day off (which will shock him becasue I never tell him to take more time off expecially if it will be without pay which this probably will be) but I guess I could just tell him to take off so he can recoup from the trip and such. But the kids...they are the hard ones. They are my partners and my best discussers of all things Disney! Can I actually keep this from them? Dining wise, I might be able to...the main change there being no Yachtsman Steakhouse until the last night and they have never been there so that probably will not think about it. And I could just let then think we checked out luggage for the airort at Caribbean Beach that morning on our way to breakfast at Cape May and after we could say we are going to show Lou the hotels and look around...and end I could ditch them somehow and go check in and lure them towards our room and just pull out the key when we get there. So it could be a complete surprise for them...I think...I just don't know if I could keep a secret that long!!!!!!