January 2009. . . Calling all Snowbirds ~ Part I !!!

[peach3es]

Can I classify as a snowbird if I'm traveling from the panhandle of Florida to Orlando in January??? LOL

And another scrapbooker YAY!! I love to scrapbook and suffice to say my Disney ones are always the first ones done LOL! I'm actually going to have to buy a new book for this next trip! I finally finished our Alaska album (lived there 3 years...that explains the move to Florida) and am working on our Florida album (only 3 years behind LOL) Sorry I'm rambling now LOL! I'll stop!!

Jen

Of course you are snowbird. Or at least a wanna be!

I can't wait to have Disney pictures to scrap! I've been saving up Disney embellishments and papers! It will be fun!

Alaska to Florida. Why did you move? I moved from PA to the Middle East. That's a pretty big move too!

 

[CrystalCastle]

Good morning snowbirds!

This trip can't get here fast enough for me! I'm already looking at the possibility of going again in Jan 2010! This was supposed to be a one time thing. We'll see about that!

I hope you are all having a great day!! I'll check back in later on.

 

[jenjolt]

I got my Disney maps in the mail yesterday!!!!!

Did anyone else get theirs??? I remember us all talking about it either last week or the week before, I was surprised they came so fast!

I've been reading back through old posts, how do you get the Disney Maps?? I would love to send away for mine early so I can start planning out my trip plans!

Thanks in advance!

 

[jenjolt]

Of course you are snowbird. Or at least a wanna be!

I can't wait to have Disney pictures to scrap! I've been saving up Disney embellishments and papers! It will be fun!

Alaska to Florida. Why did you move? I moved from PA to the Middle East. That's a pretty big move too!

My husband decided it was time to get out of the military and after shoveling about 180inches of snow (in one winter) I asked to be moved somewhere where they don't even know what snow is, and that is how we ended up in Florida. And the sad thing is I miss it now LOL!!!!

About an hour away from where I live we have a huge scrapbook outlet I plan to visit soon and start picking out all the little things to add my own Disney magic to my pages!!

 

[laurainsem]

I've been reading back through old posts, how do you get the Disney Maps?? I would love to send away for mine early so I can start planning out my trip plans!

Thanks in advance!

Hey Jen, Just go to http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/index and up at the top you will see a link to "my Disney vacation". You can design custom maps there and they will send them to you in a couple of weeks, no charge! I got mine a few weeks ago and absolutely love them.

 

[sharadoc]

Hello Grumpy! Thanks for making me insecure! I was already paranoid enough about my punctual errors.
(Hopefully I spelled that correctly!) <------- That's probably not a proper sentence, either.

Well, it was certainly on time !

Your punctuation was good, too.

Now, you all know that post wasn't directed to any of my Snowbird peeps Just those "other" folks on the DIS.

 

[peach3es]

I've been reading back through old posts, how do you get the Disney Maps?? I would love to send away for mine early so I can start planning out my trip plans!

Thanks in advance!

You visit the DisneyWorld site and click on maps. I think you have to have an account with them. Then, you'll see the option to create your own custom map, and when logged in you'll have to option to rder your free maps.

 

[coffeehousemom]

Jenjolt I think that if you lived in Alaska for any amount of time you qualify as a TRUE snowbirder!! Anytime you ge missing snow just let us know we can send you pics of it if nothing else. Or roadtrip on up here!!

 

[trixiequilts]

You visit the DisneyWorld site and click on maps. I think you have to have an account with them. Then, you'll see the option to create your own custom map, and when logged in you'll have to option to rder your free maps.

Girl, when do you sleep??? What is the time difference over there?

 

[coffeehousemom]

yes peach3es inquiring minds want to know? when do you sleep? you have to be what 14 hours ahead of us?

 

[jenjolt]

You guys are amazing, thanks for the quick replies. I will head straight over and make my maps. Come December I just may take you guys up on the offer to send me pictures of snow!! Somedays I miss it, other times like in the middle of an ice storm in Kansas, I'm so glad to be in the Sunshine state!

Yes, we must know...when do you sleep???? Not that I mind the companionship on my planning periods at school!

 

[peach3es]

Girl, when do you sleep??? What is the time difference over there?

Sleep? What's that?

I'm 7 hours ahead of EST. So, right now it's 10pm and I'm just about ready to head to bed. I've been tooling around TourGuide Mike's, but I'm tired and should hit the hay. It's an early morning for me because I do the elliptical trainer before school/work.

Good night, Snowbirds!!!!

 

[Pluto_fan]

I love the Fairy Godmailer idea! We're arriving on January 19, so if anyone would like a postcard mailed to them on or after that date, I'd be happy to help. I promise, I'm not a stalker or anything!

So, I'm getting the feeling that I'm the only one who hasn't made ADRs for January yet. We're not doing DDP (couldn't even if we wanted to, since we're at SOG, but with a 10-year-old who's not a huge eater it wouldn't be a good deal for us). We'll probably only do a few table service meals. I've already picked Boma for my birthday dinner, but I've made up a list of other restaurants we might like and I'm going to poll my family this weekend. Hmm, maybe I should print out some menus, too... (Hey, is there a smilie that indicates "yum!"? That's what we really need! It would have gotten quite a workout the other day when there was the discussion about cheesesteaks and all...)

 

[trixiequilts]

I used to feel that way about the boys in the band Hanson. My sisters and I could tell you where they were at any given moment.

Kind of the old school version of the Jonas Brothers, huh?

 

[BellaSoleil]

Kind of the old school version of the Jonas Brothers, huh?

Yes, but WAY better!!!! (And not so metro....)

 

[trixiequilts]

Yes, but WAY better!!!! (And not so metro....)

You're cracking me up today!

 

[sharadoc]

I love the Fairy Godmailer idea! We're arriving on January 19, so if anyone would like a postcard mailed to them on or after that date, I'd be happy to help. I promise, I'm not a stalker or anything!

So, I'm getting the feeling that I'm the only one who hasn't made ADRs for January yet. We're not doing DDP (couldn't even if we wanted to, since we're at SOG, but with a 10-year-old who's not a huge eater it wouldn't be a good deal for us). We'll probably only do a few table service meals. I've already picked Boma for my birthday dinner, but I've made up a list of other restaurants we might like and I'm going to poll my family this weekend. Hmm, maybe I should print out some menus, too... (Hey, is there a smilie that indicates "yum!"? That's what we really need! It would have gotten quite a workout the other day when there was the discussion about cheesesteaks and all...)

Hi Pluto_fan,

Nope, you're not alone. I haven't done a single ADR. We're going for 10 days, so I'm not sure if I want to plan out too much. I'm over-thinking it, I guess.

Here's how I'm organizing my thoughts - I went through EVERY menu and printed out the ones that I liked - both TS and CS. I have a binder that is separated into sections by theme parks and resorts. In a sub-section of the main sections, I have all the menus. My DH and I will decide on which ones we definitely want to hit, and which would be "nice".

I think I want to make a few ADRs, though. Since we'll be there during Chinese New Year, and my DD is a HUGE Mulan Fan, I think we'll make an ADR for Nine Dragons on 1/26. We want to do a couple of breakfasts, but late, like 10-10:30, so I'm thinking an ADR won't be necessary, unless they pull out a free dining promotion during that time.

So, basically I've planned like crazy, then haven't done anything about making any decisions. Just planning - perpetual planning - on and on planning.

 

[jenjolt]

Hi Pluto_fan,

Here's how I'm organizing my thoughts - I went through EVERY menu and printed out the ones that I liked - both TS and CS. I have a binder that is separated into sections by theme parks and resorts. In a sub-section of the main sections, I have all the menus. My DH and I will decide on which ones we definitely want to hit, and which would be "nice".

So, basically I've planned like crazy, then haven't done anything about making any decisions. Just planning - perpetual planning - on and on planning.

Thank goodness there is someone else out there that plans like I do. I thought it might be a bit excessive that I have a binder organized by budget, itinerary, resort information, and then the parks. LOL!! Thank goodness for disney fanatics who I can be an oddball with LOL!!

I have booked my ADRs YAY!!! I'm still a bit shy about dining alone but I figure its DISNEY and you only live once! The only way I will do a DP is if Disney offers free dining when they release the January deals! I asked the CM on the phone and they said to be paying attention toward mid- to late October for Disney to release their codes for that time.

 

[sharadoc]

Thank goodness there is someone else out there that plans like I do. I thought it might be a bit excessive that I have a binder organized by budget, itinerary, resort information, and then the parks. LOL!! Thank goodness for disney fanatics who I can be an oddball with LOL!!

I have booked my ADRs YAY!!! I'm still a bit shy about dining alone but I figure its DISNEY and you only live once! The only way I will do a DP is if Disney offers free dining when they release the January deals! I asked the CM on the phone and they said to be paying attention toward mid- to late October for Disney to release their codes for that time.

Oh, believe me, we are SO not alone. I know there are people who are into even more over-planning. I actually have TWO binders - one for the trip/drive down and one for Disney World. I haven't taken pictures of my bin, but maybe I'll try to do the binders to post here! Plus I have a Passporter, Birnbaum's Guide, Kid's Guide and one other one (can't remember which) to read, too. Marked things with a Sharpie, too

I heard there was a solo traveler section of the board - I bet they have lots of great suggestions for dining alone. I did see something about the California Grill being great for dining alone - there's a bar to sit at that many solo travellers like to go to. I think the Wave is like that too.

 

[laurainsem]

Okay okay my dear snowbirds,

I keep hearing talk of Tour Guide Mike. As a first time WDW visitor, do you think his services are worth 20 bucks?