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

[tyandskyesmom]

Why is the time moving so slowly?!?!?!

I know, it will be here in no time and then I will be wondering where all the time went. And I don't really want the time to speed up becasue while I cannot wait for Tyler to be out of that cruddy school I don't want to see him at JUNIOR HIGH!!!!! How'd he get that old????

So I think I am going to do the extra day at Yacht Club...what the heack, right? At that point whats a nother couple hundred dollars, right? Ya, right!

I did not tell Lou. I mentioned it as a possibility to Tyler. Nothing to Skye. She was in the gym at the time.

I have not had the time to re-plan days and meals yet though so I still have that to look forward to. I wish Disney would release hours like 7 or 8 months in advance so those of us that plan to make ADRs at 180 days are able to plan for it easier. Usually I use the previous year's schedule for general planning and it is usually pretty accurate but I have heard that lately, it has not been quite as similar. So I am going to have ot wing it and know my options.

Here's to re-planning fun!!!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

WOW...no one...ok, so I'm talking to myself again...

Well last night Skye brings out books to read before bed. We read Lady and the Tramp, The Fox and the Hound (which has always made me cry since it was Tyler's flavor of the week at least three times when he was little!), Lion King, and half of Toy Story before she started falling asleep.

I asked Lou about how many days off he was going to have by the time vacation came around. His reply..."I don't know." To which I said that I need to know becasue he may need six days rather than five and he said "then I'll just take six." Nothing else. Not the least bit curious. Tht is why I come here...but apparently no one wants to talk to me about it here either...

But I think I have re-worked my touring/dining plans to include that last day and they seem more relaxed with just that one extra night. I have not worked out all of it yet but I do feel better about it because I was feeling a little rushed in the other one...this way we have a bit more breathing room. And I have worked in the Disney Quest evening and the ability to see the night time parade and Wishes from inside the Magic Kingdom. I'll post it as soon as I am sure I have everything worked out to the best of my abilities so I can see of there are any suggestions prior to my ADR day...VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!

 

[justakrazymom]

Ill talk to ya..LOL..no one really talks to me on mine..but that;s ok.. its still WAYYY early so I'm not hurt..LOLmaybe

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Hey!!!

I just noticed my ticker does not say "7" anymore!!!!





​

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Ill talk to ya..LOL..no one really talks to me on mine..but that;s ok.. its still WAYYY early so I'm not hurt..LOLmaybe

Hi again!

I know it is a long way away...but I don't like to think abou that! I am down to under seven mounths now though! Such small things can make me happy sometimes!

I guess it's ok. I have not had any major dilemas or anything that I have neede dhelp with so I guess I'm ok here!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

WOW...what a long weekend and I still got nothing done!

We had my mom's side of the family's Christmas party on Saturday. It is about an hour away for mus in Crystal Lake. So Skye had dance for an hour and a half in the morning then we had to run, run, run before the party. We left the house ay 9:30am and did not get back until after 9pm.

We did stop at Sam's Club in our travels and I bought our first $100.00 Disney Gift card with a $10.00 Disney Store gift card free. I forgot to see if the Walmart next door carries these also because I'd prefer to get them there if the do becasue that is then one more Disney Visa dollar for each one...and while I'm getting them anyway, I may as get as much out of them as I can! I am hoping to be able to buy ine every time I get paid which will give us about $1200.00 in gift cards to use at Disney and $120.00 to spend at the Disney Store before we go...which is always fun! Together with the approx $500.00 in Disney Visa dollars to use, our tips, extra meals OOP to cover Tyler's meals at a few of the fancier places and some of Skye's meals when she runs out of kid's credits, alcoholic beverages that Lou will want sometimes and I may be tempted by, out dining for part 1 and 3 of our trip and maybe even some souvinears.

Sunday was the Titan awards Banquet for the 2010 season. Lots of drama and lots of problems...it always is. I don't know why banquet halls in our area do not seem to be able to handle a banquet???? It was supposed to be over by 4pm but we did not get home until after 6pm and had to stop and grab dinner at Taco Bell becasue we were still hungry!!! Tyler's team got their participation trophies (which are huge and I do not know what he is going to put it!) and they got Super Bowl rings...the boys really thought that was cool! Lou got one too because he is a board member but was a bit upset that he did not get a coach plaque with the team picture on it becasue he was a coach during the season whenever he was not working (which is the way a lot of them do it) but they only listed their 5 coaches that are all buds. Same sh@#, different day, different person (it is usually me getting the shaft form them!). So he left around 4:30pm to go to work not very happy. But he won't say anything to anyone becasue that's who he is.

So we got home and ate and watched the last Hannah Montana Forever...Skye had a tear in her eye at the end! I don't know what our house will do without Hannah Montana in our house! I guess there is always re-runs!

Now the kids are at home in bed and I am at work waiting for the ride home in the snow and ice that is supposedly coming by rush hour...fun times in Chicagoland in the winter!!!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Just sent the e-mail to my travel agent to book the last night at Yacht Club.

Talked to Lou about it over the weekend. He did not seem to care! Usually, I get "How can we afford that" and things like that...nothing. In fact, he did not seem thrilled at all! This is a man who has not had a real vacation in over three years while the rest of us have. You would think he would be extatic!!! Nothing...

But the kids and I are thrilled!!! Every time someone mentions how long till we're there or we see a Disney memories commercial we all have to say "woo-hoo" and whomever does not say it fast enough, the rest of us say "well, I guess _____ is not going then." and then that person gives a resounding "WOO-HOO"...so we're all good!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

We're almost at the 200 day mark...and out countdown I wanted to do from the 200 day is no where near done...so it will be less than a 200 day countdown.

I was thinking abou tthings I need to get/find before the trip this morning.

I want to get the kids each a batch of 100 pins off of ebay for trading. We for one batch before our April trip that was only eight night and they were through those pretty quickly. And gettin ghtem and opening up the package to see what we got was like Christmas at my house! I would also like to get Skye (and maybe me!) a carriage for a pearl and a chain. Those look so pretty in pictures and she always wants to pick a pearl but we have a few at home that we don't know what to do with so we usually tell her no...I'd like to be able to tell her yes this year.

I also need to figure out window decorations. The last few times we have gone have been near a holiday (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter/spring) so we have done the appropriate wondow lights and decorations. This time, we're not really that close to any decorating holiday. I guess we could do red, white, and blue and a summer theme at ASMo. I think we might have palm tree lights from Skye's luau birthday party that could work at Caribbean beach...but I don't remember if it was palm trees or Tiki lights. We could just go with a tropical theme or a pirate theme for Caribbean Beach. I don't think we'll bother at Yacht Club becasue we are only there for one night. I guess I just need to keep my eye out for ideas...got any???

Skye is also planning her "Golden Birthday" and does not know what to do. Her birthday is April 7 and she will be seven. I told he rto go with black, red, and yellow and Mickey as a theme but she does not want to ... Mickey parties mean "baby" apparently and she is f-a-r from that! So she canno tthink of what she wants to theme her party after. Any suggestions for a seven year old's golden birthday?

 

[tyandskyesmom]

UUUUGGGGHHHH!!!!

I just had this all typed up and when I clicked to preview, it disappeared!!!! Just gos to show you how my day is going so far!!!

So I think this is pretty much the gist of what I had written...

Today has not been my day so far!

Skye has been coughing and sneezing for the past few days so I have been giving her Mucinex expectorant/decongestant for a couple of days. We this morning she gets up and is snotting all over and says her throat hurts. then she says her belly hurts too. She does not have a fever but her glands are a little swollen so I give her more Mucinex and kid's motrin (she is old enough for two but too small for that - she fits into the 1 1/2 range so I have to break one of them in half and you all know that never works out very well!!!). So I told her to go lay down in my room.

Then I go to leave the house and walk into the dark kitchen and run into the dog laying in the middle of the floor on something squishy. She does sleep with three blankets but they don't feel like that. I turn on the light because I cannot find my jacket and guess where it is???? Come on, guess...

Yep, under the dog! I was so mad...and not only did it now smell like Smelly dog but she had licked herself on it and if was soaking wet!!! EEEWWW...gross!

So I go upstairs to get the fake leather coat my parents gave me for Christmas. It won't be warm enough but I have a pretty big sweater on and it will block the wind so I should be ok. But I happen to glance into Tyler's room at the top of the stairs and it is a mess. Now some of it is the mess we left two weeks ago while cleaning and we just have not been able to get back to it yet but it also looks like his drawers threw up in there!!! So that adds to my anger. So I go yell at him in the shower.

All of this between 6am and 6:20am...ugh!

I get to work, not too frozen, and sit down to get going and what do I have waiting for me????


An e-mail form my travel agent!!!! With AUGUST PARK HOURS!!!!!!!! So the day is looking up at least!

 

[TeaForTulips]

Your extra day surprise sounds great! I think you made a fun choice!

I'm sorry your day is starting off rough. How fun for park hours! I cannot wait for September hours to come out.

Your Christmas tree was too cute and the cheerleading pictures are adorable! I was a cheerleader at that age and we never made it off the football field!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Your extra day surprise sounds great! I think you made a fun choice!

I'm sorry your day is starting off rough. How fun for park hours! I cannot wait for September hours to come out.

Your Christmas tree was too cute and the cheerleading pictures are adorable! I was a cheerleader at that age and we never made it off the football field!

Thanx for the tree and cheer compliment!

The extra day isn't a suprise anymore...I told...it is just not as much fun for me if I don't tell. The kids are excited but Lou doesn't seem phased...

I was looking at the hours she sent though and there are a lot of them that are not filled in so I am assuming she got the hours and just did not fill them in fully. I tried to go on Disney's web site to verify and they don't have them up yet. So, I guess I am still sort of waiting...???

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Almost down to under 200!!!!!

So I was thinking about maybe adding on a fishing excursion on the last morning for Lou and Tyler. Anyone know current pricing? Anyone want to split one...I believe it can hold up to 5 and Skye and I really won't be interested so would have room for three more...any takers?

 

[tyandskyesmom]

We hit 200!!!! ​

Yea, yippee, yahoo!!!! In normal, everyday life that does not sound too impressive but in Disney countdown days it sounds AWESOME!!!!

Still waiting on the rest of the park hours and parade/evening show times to release so I can start working on realistic ADR plans and alternate lans just in case.

Also still waiting on Southwest to release fares for our dates...but I am not really in a hurry for that.

Our friends are traveling to the World is a little less than 2 weeks and they just got all of their travel documents yesterday. Soooo, jealous!!! But they are only going for 8 nights and not all of them are Disney fans like we are. They are traveling with 5 adults, an 11 year old, an almost 8 year old, and a turning 4 year old on the trip. It has been a while since any of them have gone so it will be prety much new for them. The dad and the 11 year old - last visit was when his sister was a baby - (he is one of Tyler's best friends) are golfing instead of Animal Kingdom becasue Dad (he is one of Lou's best friends) does not like Animal Kingdom. The almost 8 year old - last visit was when she was a baby - could love it if she will let go of the being too cool thing for a little while (she is one of Skye's best friends) and the gonna be 4 year old wants BUZZ...and as a third child knows what he wants and tells you...so he could go either way. The other adults are the Dad's mom (staying with them in 2 rooms at All-Star Movies) and the neighbors (staying at Coronado Springs). I hope they have good weather and crowds and they all just let loose and have fun. They are also going to Universal for two days.

I have, have, have to get out countdown calendar finished...but I know it will not be a 200 day calendar. I also need to get a pic of our savings counter to show you guys...it is really cute! I should have a little bit of time tonight to do some of it becasue no one has anything to do tonight...so maybe I'll make some progress!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

We're out of the 200s!!!!!!​

 

[justakrazymom]

Very cool ( and jealous)

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Very cool ( and jealous)

Hey, you're not far behind me!!!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

I don't have much new trip info but I am anxiously awaiting the rest of the park hours and showtimes for parades and nighttime shows.

My ADR day to start is Valentine's Day! And even though I have a pretty good idea what I want and when, park hours could change that...particularly if my guesses are wrong...so it would be nice to have time to work it all out.

We are all still sick...well all of us except Lou...he hardly ever gets sick and if he does it is not as bad as the rest of us. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired!!!

Hope you all are doing better than we are!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

And still no more hours!!!

Our friends are supposed to leave for The World on Wednesday afternoon. Well, with the weather they are calling for, they are trying to see if they can get on a flight out of Chicago tomorrow and then get a room added on to the front of their reservation. They are hoping to get out at the beginning of the snow storm rather than wiating until the exact part the weather people are calling for the worst. Plus they have a stop (no plane change) somewhere crazy on the east coast before heading to Orlando...so that probably doesn't help any!

On our trip front, I have not really made any progress but we did get a lot of the things that I feel like I am neglecting if I play with vacation things done...like cleaning/organizing/sorting of the kid's rooms. Needed to be done...much cleaner now!

Plus I am feeling so BLAH lately...it has to be the weather! Just makes me not want to do anything. Even when I leave work in the evening feeling productive, by the time I get home, NADA!!!!

Skye and I did update the "saving thermometer" but I have yet to get you guys a picture of that...it turned out really cute!

Arena football practice and baseball practice started this weekend and Skye started back with private lessons for gymnastics...and even over the lay off, she did not lose anything...she is still almost doing that flip flop...probably helped that her best bud was in there just before her and got the round off flip flop . She started well after Skye but she is a year older and more muscular than Skye. Skye does them prettier and more correctly that she does but she does them all by herself...Skyler doesn't. So it's a trade off...Skye is excited for her but I also think she doesn't want her to get to far ahead...so that will make her work harder.

So here I sit at 194 days (14 days until ADR day) without park schedules. You can get up until Auguat 9th on the Disney web site but that's it! I want to be able to play with my ADRs before ADR day so I hope that hurry up!!!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Ok, so now our firends are leaving out tomorrow afternoon. Still have that stop in VA but they should get out before it gets too bad. The travel agent arranged the extra night at ASMo for them and contacted DME for the change. How's that for a silver lining? Snow storm in Illinois = extra day in Florida...can't beat that!!!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

In ten more days I can start making ADRs...it's like the next big planning step, right???

I came in thins morning after being off for three days for the wonderful winter storm we had and guess what was there? The rest of the park hours from my travel agent!!!! So now I can verify that I am doing the best dining plan I can.

Our friends finally got to The World last night around 11pm...ugh! What a nightmare....that is my biggest fear flying during hurricaine season...being delayed at home...I'm ok with flights being cancelled or delayed coming home (so I am stuck in Orlando) but I don't want it to happen on my way into Orlando!

Over the time off, Skye and I got our stuff organized and continued working on our countdown calendar...I think we got three done. They are pretty cool. I am hoping to be able to use them after...but since I have not told you what we are doing yet, I cannot really tell you what I would be using them for after...soon, I promise!