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

[tyandskyesmom]

ok...so...my hours were a pretty close...looks like more Fantasmic! showings and Animal Kingdom is open an hour later than i had on most days. A couple of Extra Magic Hours were different. But for th emost part not a lot to change my plans I don't think...however, I have not gotten around to chekcing them out in detail yet...I'm going to start that now...it's lunch time!!!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Ok...so...how do you guys plan?

I keep starting my planning and then stop, trash it, only to start again a different way. One way seems like too much detail, one seems like too little...and varying levels of detail in between!!!

Maybe this is the demon of plannin gtoo early...I've had too much time to think about it and pre-plan and now that I am able to actually plan, I have to put all the pre-planning together in one nice neat order!

What do you all do?

 

[tyandskyesmom]

working on day to day plans...I am on day 4...not going anywhere fast!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Nine more days till ADRs!

I so far I have changed around the first five days some...mostly the same restaurants but different days mostly!

We've had a busy day today. Skye had ballet/tap/jazz classes where she had to tell the teacher her best friend was not going to be there today or next week becasue she was in Disney World. It was a viewing day, the first class of every month. Then we ran to Sam's Club for our Disney Gift Cards...I was behind so we got three. And Tyler bought himself a 19 inch TV for his room with his birthday/Christmas money. Then we went home becasue tyler had football practice at 2pm. And then Skye had a private lesson for gymnastics at 3pm. She had a very productive hour. Her pull over back hip circle on the bars!!!! Almost got her squat on jump to the high bar...and we are closer to figuring out why she is having the timy trouble she is having doing her flip flop....she is soooooooooooooo close!!!! She is now in Silver I and apparently the only thing she will be missing when she is eligible to move to Silver II is a round off flip flop and she almost has that...if she gets it, supposedly she might be able to move right to Gold 1!!!!!!!! That would be so awesome for her! Problem is, she thinks every time she accomplishes something she gets a new leotard...at $25.00 a crack!

So now I am back to the planning...as soon as I get done, I will fill you in!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Seven more days till I get to try my hand at on-line ADR getting!

I have planned up till about half way through the trip. So far, so good! But a good plan does take time and Lou does not understand why I need to plan so much. Really, I don't P-L-A-N but I, like all of you, know the power of going in with a good plan...even if we change it throughout the trip it will be an educated, informed change and we will still be able to make the most of the trip and get what we want out of it. And so I plan!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

There really isn't anything new on the planning front but I am now feeling that wonderful kind of pressure when you are getting down to the wire on your ADRs and you have not completely chosen your venues yet...it's a good feeling though!

In the "win" department (we're big on that around here at work...we ask about everyone's "wins" and then we throw you something we know you're not going to like...that way you feel better when we do what we know we are doing and still score us well on our polls as an "employer of choice")...Sorry, I did not mean to get so off track there...where were we??? Oh ya, a "win"...last night Skye did her pull over, back hip circle on the bars all by herself at gymnastics. According to her Wednesday night coach (who is also who she sees for her private lessons) there are only a couple of other things she needs to perfect and she will be able to move to Silver II...after only one session at Silver I (and we thought she'd be there for a while becaue I thought the bars would be her weakness...silly mom!). AND...she said that really the only thing that they add on in Silver II is a round off flip flop and she has been working that for-EVER...and is a one finger spot away from throwing that!!!! Which means she could possibly skip right over SIlver II and go right to Gold I...I don't know where that little girl gets it from but I am sure glad she got it! And I wish she could share just a tiny bit of it with her brother!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

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I AM SOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!​

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES OPENED BOOKING FOR MY DATE!!!!​

So I went there, not too excited becasue I was actually kind of scared to see the prices. Well, let me tell you...I just booked all of our tickets at $97.00 each way!!!!! I was thinking we would be paying around $1200.00 for tickets but I got 'em all...including booking Lou with the Early Bird Check In both ways!!! Lou is booked seperately because he is coming down six days after us and I always do all the work 24 hours in advance so I figured I'd make it easy on him and then on the way home, his boarding pass will get pulled early so it won't matter so much where our boarding passes are. But for all of our tickets I paid $881.60...around $320.00 less than I expected!!!!

Did I tell you how excited I am?!?!?!?!?!?!?

So now it really seems real! We're going to DISNEY WORLD!!!!​

 

[justakrazymom]

yep..I just booked my oldest and my mom for $408.80 round trip total.. non stop flights!! The train woulda been $528..no brainer there! I am so excited..and we paid off one whole ressie yesterday!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

yep..I just booked my oldest and my mom for $408.80 round trip total.. non stop flights!! The train woulda been $528..no brainer there! I am so excited..and we paid off one whole ressie yesterday!

Yey! I am so excited...it means it is really getting closer!

Nice! I wish I could say that...but I did decide I am going to pay it off earlier...and soon...I actually have the money to pay most of it...well, the last part, the room only for one night, is already paid off! Does that count? And taxes will pay the rest.

Did I say how excited I am? Is that weird?

And ADRs on Monday???? What more could a girl ask for???

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Well, other than the airline tickets yesterday, I did not get much planning done.

Tyler had Arena Football practoce last night from 7pm - 9pm (way too late for 11 and 12 years olds on a Tuesday night in my opinion but no one asked me!) and Lou was working so Skye and I had to take him. So we sat in the car for the first hour and a bit watching Ariel...the one where she is little. Then we went in and talked to a lot of mom's I have not seen is a few months. And Skye hung out with one of the girls from her cheer squad who's brother is on Ty's team. But...it was COLD...and I am always so tired! I am really hoping it is just this cold, stiffling weather and when it gets to be warmer out I will perk up...but I fear it won't. I have ot have some lab work for some hormone levels to monitor some meds I take so maybe that is it...I'll take anything! On a good note though, it has been a little lighter a litter earlier on my ride in to work the past few days...so that's something to look forward to!

Tonight is gymnastics and I think I really need ot run Ty to get Skye a Valentine's Day present becasue she got him one so maybe we'll do that during gymnastics...but it is supposed to be soooo cold so maybe not! But maybe I'll get some more planning in...I'll let you all know!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Well I am planning to make sure I am ready for Monday (ADR day!) and we just watched Princess and the Frog for the first time. To tell you the truth, it did not really thrill me. I mean usually we run out to see them at the show as soon as they come out but this one, for some reason, just did not do that for me.

Well, I am happy to say, I was completely wrong! We loved it...Skye and I cried near the end about Ray.

We did a little shopping today. Tyler and Lou nned some shorts for the summer and thus vacation.

And I have some pics for ya...



Shorts for Lou and Ty. Tyler is now wearing men's sizes so I can shop in the same place for them.



Lou's Animal shirt.



Ty's Mickey shirt. For some reason Skye did not want to get him an Animal shirt.



Another pair of shorts (not for Lou becasue they are not his style) and they both got a Perry shirt.

And this is our funding count down "thermometer"...



We all colored some of it and some was cut and pasted (or taped as the case may be) onto it. It hangs on my bedroom door and we are enjoying watching the red grow.

And here's some miscelaneous pics...



Skye and Daddy



Petey watching the snow storm a week and a half ago...I love that pic for some reason!



Skye discovering her timer on her camera (all of these are from her new camera (Nikon Cookpix).





Ty



Skye dancing.



Self portrait....

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Tyler's birthday cake at my family's Christmas Party.



A rare pic of me with Skye.



See the Mickey barette from the Boutique?



Ty.



Rockin' out on Christmas!



Isn't she pretty? I wish she'd let me do that to her hair more often!

 

[mousetravel]

Love the new pics!! And your "funding thermometer"!!

Well, you only have 6 more months to go!! I am still counting down my days too (4 more months). I still haven't started my PTR for our upcoming trip, but plan to soon. It just seems like there's SO much to do, and yet can't get anything done!!!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Love the new pics!! And your "funding thermometer"!!

Well, you only have 6 more months to go!! I am still counting down my days too (4 more months). I still haven't started my PTR for our upcoming trip, but plan to soon. It just seems like there's SO much to do, and yet can't get anything done!!!

Thanx!

Wow...yours will be here in no time!

I know what you mean...but in my every day life too! I always have so much to do but even on days with best intentions, nothing ever seems to get completed!

I am trying something different for this trip in that we should actually have most of it paid off before going...including most of our spending money. The only thing charged (which is how we usually do t) will be a small amount that we know we have saved back at home so it can be paid off when we get the bill...it will be quite different for us going on vacation and not coeme home to a huge bill! Yea!!!!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Just back from Skye's private for gymnastics. She is soooo close to moving up to the next level...

Tomorrow is ADR day. I am almost done getting my dining plan in order. There have been quite a few changes from the beginning but here is where I stand now.

Part One

* Skye, Ty, and Sherry
* 6 nights All-Star Movies standard room - requested to be near main pool
* 4 day park hoppers with water parks and more (the hopper and more was
a free add on with a PIN I received)
* Quick Service Dining Plan

Part Two

* Skye, Ty, Sherry, and Lou
* 9 nights Caribbean Beach - requested Aruba #51 or Jamaica #45
* 10 day park hoppers
* Deluxe Dining Plan

Part Three

* Skye, Ty, Sherry, and Lou
* 1 night Yacht Club

The biggest change was that I opted to add on the Quick Service Dining Plan onto the first part...which means a few less table service venues. But We would spen less on the dining plan that without it and that was with me being worried about what we were spending all the time. SO it will work out better.

I have decided on all my dining but I will fill you in on that later~

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Well, we've hit it...the official ADR day. At least for the first ten days. And the first thirty minutes of my day was on the Disney on-line reservations site!!!

Well, I was only able to book 8-13-11 thru 8-22-2011 but every dos for the next seven days I will get that little piece of excitement in my day when I sign into the web site and make the next day's ADRs.

So here's what I got so far...

8-13-11 (Sat) Planet Hollywood @ 8:30pm (I wanted 7pm)

8-18-11 (Thurs) T-Rex @ 8:00pm (I wanted 7pm)

8-19-11 (Fri) Whispering Canyon Cafe @ 2:00pm
California Grill @ 7:50pm (I wanted 8pm - and now needs a
cc hold)

8-20-11 (Sat) Hollywood & Vine @ 10:00am
Mama Melrose Fantasmic! package @ 5:00pm (CC hold)

8-21-11 (Sun) Crystal Palace @ 8:05am
Teppan Edo @ 2:00pm
Citricos @ 8:00pm

8-22-11 (Mon) Yak & Yeti @ 11:00am
Boma @ 7:00pm

The only ones I could not get at the times I wanted were Planet Hollywood (I wanted 7pm) but that is one our arrival day and we are planning on going to Blizzard Beach after checking in and eating lunch so that will give us extra time to hang here or come back to our room and nap for a little bit before heading Downtown, T-Rex (I wanted 7pm) which is on our Typhoon Lagoon day so it will just give us more time there or if we decide we are water logged earlier it will give us time to nap or to go Downtown and play at Disney Quest for a while before dinner, and California Grill where I wanted 8pm but had to take ten minutes earlier or not until after 9pm so I can handle ten minute...especially since that may give us a better chance of getting that great table again in the hopes of seeing Wishes from it!

So all in all, I love being able to to on-line ADRs (this is the first time we have gotten to use it). I had heard about people having problems booking the Fantasmic! package on-line but I had no problem at all. Just for a laugh I checked out Cinderella's Royal Table and Le Cellier availablity and I could have gotten anything I wanted...so that makes me happy!

So what do you guys think about my ADRs so far?

 

[tyandskyesmom]

I just learned how to do Chapter Links so I put them in the first post. I prefer readin gthat way sometimes...maybe that will draw more people in???

 

[tyandskyesmom]

SO I had a bit of a problem this morning getting onto the on-line ADR system to work for day 11 so I finally called ans was able to make ADRs for day 11 and 12!!! I got everything I wanted to within five minutes of the time I wanted...so excited!

8-23-11 (Tues) Ohana at 7:55am (wanted 8am)
Le Cellier at 2:00pm
La Hacienda de San Angel at 8pm

8-24-11 (Wed) Tuskerhouse at 10:20am (wanted 10:30am)
Cape May Cafe at 5:50pm (wanted 6pm)

And I was able to pull them all up online too. She said I should be able to do 8-25-11 tomorrow...we'll see!

And now my problem is that the La Hacienda de San Angel says it is one credit on all dining plans EXCEPT the deluxe dining plan??? That cannot possibly be true right? Heather told me they were all one credit and I find it difficult to believe they would exclude it from just one of the plans...would they?

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Ok...so Last night Heather said I shoudl be able to make ADRs for the 25th today. Well, I cannot do it on-line so I took my break and went downstairs (no reception in my office) and called. I sopke to Rick who tried to book my next day and the system would not let him. He said he does not know what Heather did but she should not have been able to make my ADRs for day 11 and 12. He claims that you can only book 180 days from your check-in date and that is it. And said I shoudl not be able to make additional ADRs until my next check-in day is 180 days out (which is Sunday). But that does not make sense to me because what if my first reservation was my only reservation for 14 days (which I believe is the longest you can book one room for at a time)? Then when would I be able ot get ADRs for day 11, 12, 13, and 14??? Becasue there isn't another "check-in" day to count 180 days from. For most of my ADRs I don't think waiting until Sunday is a problem but I am looking to book a dinner in the Castle still and that could be. And I just hate not being able to get the same answer consistantly.

So I guess I'll keep trying!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

So dining is driving me up a wall!

Not that it is creating a problem...just that I am frustrated with how no one knows the same thing twice.

Yesterday morning I called Disney Dining (becasue I could not make any additional ARDs on-line) and Rick told me (after a 30 minute call) that I could not make any further dining plans until Sunday becasue that is when my next room ressie started so I had to wait till 180 days from that one. Which does not make sense.

So I called back yesterday evening and Bobbie said I shoud be able to make tham but by the end of the conversation I couldn't...for the same reason Rick said mostly, but her explanation was slightly less convincing and a tad bit different. I asked how that made sense because then what happens if I had made a 14 day room ressie? If I could only make the first ten days of dining for my 14 day trip, the last four days I would not be able to make???? She was very nice about it but there was nothing she couls do and told me to call back on Sunday.

Well I went on-line this morning and was able to book Brown Derby for August 25 but I could not book the Castle for that evening???? How does that happen...I either cannot book that day yet or I can, right?

Oh, and I played around with the the on-line system and I cuold have booked dinner for the time I wanted at the Castle to swap with California Grill so I am not too worried about having to wait until Sunday for an ADR on the 25th. And then I saw that they want to charge you right away even though you are on the dining plan so I think maybe I'll take my chances waiting until Sunday and I will call in the morning for the Castle ADR. I'd just rather not have my CC billed for something it does not have ot be.

Oh and I added an ADR for Part One of our trip too.

So now I have...

8-15-11 (Mon) Chefs de France @ 1pm

8-25-11 (Thurs) Brown Derby @ 11:30am