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

[PirateKate]

It's always so much fun to watch the countdown ticker get lower and lower. Your trip sounds like it will be great. I've always thought deluxe dining would be fun, eating anywhere and not worrying about running out of credits.

 

[tyandskyesmom]

We have made it to 68!!!!

We spent the day at Great America again yesterday (pics to come) witht he Twickets from my mom's work party. It was the kids, my mom, and me. It was a last minute decision becasue we were really waiting for a really nice day so we could enjoy the waterpark and water rides. Well, we got it!!!!

We were able to spend close to five hours swimming and playing in the water. Then we went out tot the car to drop off our wet things and eat linner. We had brought ham sandwiches, Mickey heas shaped PB&J for Skye. Chips, pop, M&Ms, yogurt, cheese heads, and cherries. We flipped the air on and ate in the car and cooled down from our walk out to the car.

When we went back in we hit just about everyting we wated to (marry-go-round, bumper cars, condor (sort of like Astro orbitors and Skye has been afraid of then on the past), Rapids were we got soaked again, the kids rode a few crazy spinny rides, the log ride (where we got soaked again!) twice, some more crazy spinny rides, the kids rode a newish pirate themed maze ride that is basically being hit by water, a couple more spinny rides, the Wizzer (smallish roller coaster), and headed out...park was closed (8pm). We wanted to go to Rainforest but it was closed by then too. We had a great day! But now we are all sunburned...it's that first sunburn of the year that we always get no matter how much sunscreen we seem to use!

But the relavence here???? Well, while Skye was a little winey when she was hungry (we had to wait to find Ty becasue he was off doing something (slides or in the splash zone or something like that) and she was very hungry), I am now re-considering the stroller. I am sooo not wanting to bring it!!! But after the 80ish degree heat yeaterday in Illinois in early June, and being hot and tired and not lugging a back pack or anything that wouldn't fit in pockets, I am wondering if we wouldn't just be more happy being able to bring all the crap that will keep us comfortable in the heat of Orlando at the end of August.

Here's my reasoning...Skye would use it. She does not need to use it but she would if we had it...and that might make her a little happier which makes us all a little happier...and it would keep her little body (at 7 she is not right around 44-45 inches tall and almost 40 pounds) where I know where it is when we are in a crowd. We would also have someplace to put the backpack with our sunscreen, rain ponchos, the mugs from the hotel that we always fill and carry with us until they are done, cameras, and extra clothes on Signature dinner days. And that's just the stuff I will probably be carrying with me whether we bring a stroller or not. But if we bring the stroller, all that is a breeze...plus we do have a Disney water bottle with the fan for cooling off...that I am not lugging without a stroller. We have a Mickey blanket to use on hot seats or the curb for a parade that I am not bringing if we do not have a stroller. And the popcorn bucket (we always buy one and then dump our Dining Plan box of popcorn into it and we also have found it useful for putting ice in and carrying around a counter service dessert or left over food), and glow junk for he kids so I don't have to buy any, and anything else that might me more of a luxury than a necessity.

I am not opposed to finding a spot and parking it and working our way around that area without it so that is not really the issue. I am not opposed to pushing it is a crowd. What is really the thorn in my side, the thing holding me back is the transportation. I don't want to wait for after everyone exits the plane for someone to bring up my stroller. I don't want to store my stroller under the DME bus (they never used to make you but out last couple fo trips the did) and wait until the driver pulls it out (inevitably the last item out) before I can go into check in behind all the other people I could have been in front of. I don't want to have to fold up a stroller to get on a bus and I don't want to have to hold the stroller when I am on the bus.

So I guess my decision is going to be made by which luxury is the one I cannot do without...the extra stuff or the ease and quickness of travel...

And let me just say for the record that we do not travel with stroller any other time. In fact we have a very nice, easy to handle one that I paid a good amount of money for and she hardly used...and it is storred in the garage wrappen in plastic and duck tape...so I am not talking lazy kid here...she is the most willingly active 7 year old I know!

And I was all set that we were not bringing it until yesterday.

What would you do????

 

[PirateKate]

Hmm. Tricky one. Strollers are a pain on Disney transportation. But hauling tons of stuff around isn't much fun either. I think I'd try to cut down the amount of stuff I'd have to carry and leave the stroller at home.

Of course, I can't wait until I can leave the stroller behind, since my boys are so stroller-dependent right now, so my opinion might be biased.

 

[tinkermamaof2]

I would bring or rent a Disney stroller...my girls are much older now but when we took them when they were in grades 2 & 3 we rented a double. The first day we only had a single and my oldest squeezed into it. They were both very fit and active at the time...competitive dancing and competitive tennis...so not lazy either...plus we brought whatever we wanted to the parks as well...we could just put our bag in the stroller. Disney days are long and exciting and your little peanut will probably be tired and drained from the heat..make yourself happy by keeping her happy!!! Not long now and you'll be at Disney!!!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Hmm. Tricky one. Strollers are a pain on Disney transportation. But hauling tons of stuff around isn't much fun either. I think I'd try to cut down the amount of stuff I'd have to carry and leave the stroller at home.

Of course, I can't wait until I can leave the stroller behind, since my boys are so stroller-dependent right now, so my opinion might be biased.

I would bring or rent a Disney stroller...my girls are much older now but when we took them when they were in grades 2 & 3 we rented a double. The first day we only had a single and my oldest squeezed into it. They were both very fit and active at the time...competitive dancing and competitive tennis...so not lazy either...plus we brought whatever we wanted to the parks as well...we could just put our bag in the stroller. Disney days are long and exciting and your little peanut will probably be tired and drained from the heat..make yourself happy by keeping her happy!!! Not long now and you'll be at Disney!!!

I agree with you both and that is my problem! I definately do not want to pay the money to rent though becasue we have an almost brand new stroller at home. She was just done with it faster than i expected.

I think I am leaning towards beinging it. It just seems lie it will make us all that much happier....it'll just be easier, you know. Could we scale back on what we bring...yep. But I am sure we would be missing something along the way.

I will have to se if we still have a rain cover though...and if not, invest in one. We have done both the rain poncho over the top and a cover and the cover is really much nicer...stays on better...keeps all under it drier. And usually the rain ponchos are quite a bit too big for Skye so she will appretiate that. And I will need to pack extra large ziplocks for signature dining clothes that will be kept in the bottom of the stroller on those days...well and for anything else that cannot/should not get wet.

So now I have a little extra planning to do..and you all know I hate that right?

 

[tyandskyesmom]

So now I have another question...

What do I do with my Rebel when it is raining?

Obviously, I do not want to have to lug the big case around all day everyday. But what do I do with the extra lens when I am not using it? I dont want it left in the stroller. I don't want it just rolling around in the backpack.

This will be the first time with it at Disney and possibly the first time we have a possibility of hitting a bit of rain daily. How do I keep it dry? And what if there are oicture to be had in the rain...what to you guys with big cameras do then?

I definately want to lug it. I don't actually mind carrying it with me...although I'll let you know when we return if I changed my mind on that in the heat of August.

Do you have a problem going from indoor air conditioning to the heat/humidity of outside with it?

Anything else I need to knwo...I am a relatively new owner with basically no photography experience...although I am considering taking a class at the local community college just to learn ho to use it the best I can. Even without it though I have been able to get some awesome pictures with it. I will post some of our last few activities when i get a chance.

So anyone with advise please speak up and help me out!

Thanx in advance!!!!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

WOO HOO!!!!

Did you see that?!?!?!

Under 60 days...that means less than two months!!!!!

WOO HOO!!!

 

[PirateKate]

I'm afraid I have no helpful advice on the camera. I have a little camera that fits nicely into my pocket when touring. If it was raining, it would be in my pocket, underneath my poncho, so no worries there.

How exciting to have your trip coming up in under 2 months!!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

I'm afraid I have no helpful advice on the camera. I have a little camera that fits nicely into my pocket when touring. If it was raining, it would be in my pocket, underneath my poncho, so no worries there.

How exciting to have your trip coming up in under 2 months!!

I hear you. That is how we usually travel too...this will be my first trip with my "fancy" camera. Just trying to be prepared though. I'd hate to lug it all the way there and then be too afraid to use it. Skye for a new Nikon point and shoot from Santa so that will be with us too...so it worse came to worse, we could use that in rainy situations but I really would like to be able to enjoy my new camera.

I guess we'll figure it out as we go!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

53 more days and I guess that's all I am able to tell you right now. Nothing new is going on right now. We are busy making packing lists (Skye and I) and starting to think about what clothes we are taking and things like that but it is all very vague right now.

Everyday we have our count down "woo hoo" and then get on with life...which is quite busy still.

 

[mousetravel]

Just getting caught up since we're back from our trip!! I started a TR if you would like to join in!!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2744972

Your trip is getting so close!!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

getting closer...

 

[tyandskyesmom]

50
that's some milestone,
RIGHT?!?!?!?!?!​

And we did not get to 50 on our countdown calendar so we won't be starting yet...I think we got to 22 or something like that...it has been a lot of fun putting it together. I will show you when we start!

I have $1000.00 left to pay on part two and then it's all good!

We cannot wait until we are going to bed crabbing about how early we have to get up the next day to go to the airport...that doesn't happen the night before Disney though does it????

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Wow...we're gotten so far...and let me tell you after allthe little headaches I have had recently and all the disappointments Tyler has had recently, We will all need this nice, long trip away to the Land of Mouse!!!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

46 days and I just sent the e-mail to my travel agent to pay off the rest of my balance on part two!!!

Woo Hoo!!!! I'm done...we'll technically...that bill won't be paid off until we are actually on vacation but it all works the same from this point on.

I feel like I have nothing to do and then I will think of little things that I need to do...like make sure we all have the clothes we need, decide if/how we are downloading pictures from the camera to the lap top every noght or not (I want to but never have before nor have I been good at doing it easily but I know in all that time I will go through the strips I have...so I have to figure it out and prepare!), what do we need for everyday touring in the heat, get the stored stroller down out of the garage and make sure we still have the rain cover...if no, buy one!, etc...).

We did pick up three neck coolers at the Street Fair (a big craft fair) for the trip...that was one of the things on my list of things to do.

So we're getting there...

I feel like I am forgetting something though...but I always feel like that...can you think of anything I have not mentioned?

 

[tyandskyesmom]

We're getting so close!!!

I paid off and received confirmation of payoff yesterday!!!

Now all there is to do is wait...

And I have another question. If I do on-line check-in, can I still request changes be made to our assigned room if it is not what we would like? I understand requests are just that, but I have had to request changes almost every time I have been to Disney. And we are arriving around 10am on a Saturday so I think the desk could be quite crowded at that time...so on-line check-in sounds really foo if it helps speed that along! Plus, it makes it seem like I get to do a little more to get closer to vacation!!!

At All-Star Movies, we have a preferred room booked. But unlike most other people paying for preferred rooms, we do not want Toy Story...did that, love it. This time we want to be near, preferably looking at, the main pool. So that means Fantasia. And I'd like a first floor room also.

At Caribbean Beach , we have a garden view booked and I have requested Jamaica 45 or Aruba 51 bit I would also like a first floor room and preferably a corner for the extra window.

At Yacht Club , for out one night, we have garden view booked with no requests. It probably does not make much of a difference as we are not expecting to be there much. We would like a balcony and preferably a nice view but we plan to spend most of our time at Stormalong Bay and enjoying the boardwalk area...not in our room. I know we did not pay for , nor do I expect an upgrade (we don't have that kind of luck) but are there any rooms that are garden view at Yackt Club that have any kind of a view of the baordwalk or Epcot? In fact, do any Yacht Club rooms have a view of Epcot? Like I said, it probably does not batter all that much but it would just be nice tohave something fun to fall alseep to on our last night in The World!

 

[justakrazymom]

Your soo close... I've decided not to bring my Rebel into the parks.. just my Kodak point and shoot.. i am just not comfy with the thought of chasing 7 other people around and worrying about my 1k camera..LOL

I ended up buying a stroller.. it's not big or fancy and has almost no storage under it..but it will serve the purpose I need it to!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Your soo close... I've decided not to bring my Rebel into the parks.. just my Kodak point and shoot.. i am just not comfy with the thought of chasing 7 other people around and worrying about my 1k camera..LOL

I ended up buying a stroller.. it's not big or fancy and has almost no storage under it..but it will serve the purpose I need it to!

Well, you have a lot more to keep up with than I do!

Skye will have her little camera if I decide not to lug my big one but it really does produce much better pictures even though I don't really know how to use it to it's fullest! I had the chance to play with it for three fireworks shows over the weekend so I think I should be able to get pics I have never been able to get before!

And I think I am happy that I decided to bring the stroller...it will be easier to keep track of little Skye in a crowd or when running from place to place but most importantly, I will have a place for all my junk!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

...and all is paid off, lists of things I need to do before we leave are made, lists of things I need to pack have been made, lists of what I still need to buy before we leave have been made. I have started gathering our little things that I can together in a box. My all important spiral of valuable information is complete. I have told Lou I need the stroller brought out of storage and the suit cases too. Skye and I finished the countdown calendar to start today...

What now????

 

[tyandskyesmom]

So we're at 38 days...

Here's the count down so far...











And this is what we did to get ready while we all have free time on the 4th of July...



These are the keepers...




These are the traders...



Darn it! I rotated those on photobucket...what happened???

So that's my update so far. Lou was supposed to get the stroller down today and the suit cases out. I need to make sure everyone has all the clothes we need. I have a feeling the only one of us who has enough clothes to last the whole 17 days is Skye so I think I will end up doing laundry...which will be a first for me. I really don't want to do it but I think I am going to have to.


So at 38 days I am now waiting on package material and my yellow tags to come in the mail from my online travel agent and get as much ready as I can...it is definately much easier packing in the winter because then I can pack the clothes earlier because we are not using them...unfortunately, we are using our summer clothes now so they cannot be packed away.

Well I knew going into this that it would be a whole different trip!