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

[blestmom]

Wasilla Never heard of it!

Welcome to our happy group!

How's the media frenzy up there?

It's pretty crazy up here right now. There are reporters all over...quite strange. I went to WalMart the other day, and there was a huge t.v. truck there with the satellite, etc. Turns out they were questioning shoppers inside. My son was at football practice (same high school as Governor Palin) and yeah, reporters there, too.

 

[GrammyJudy]

Just a fanny pack with digital small camera, nylon velcro walley with ID, Debit card, a few bucks, KTTW, tickets,comb. I wear transitions glasses so no need for sunglasses. Sunblock in the room in the am so no need for that in Jan.Travel light and enjoy more!!!!!!!!!

 

[Monny2AE]

And what are Dropps?

Dropps are little pouches of laundry detergent. You "drop" them into the washer and the pouch disintregrates. I really like them for travelling. I used to keep any sample detergent packages to take with me, and then along came Dropps.

I always end up doing laundry on vacation. Momma never gets a real vacation...

Oh I wish I had seen these I already bought the little travel bottles of super concentrated detergent. They are cute!

QOTD: To the parks we will take...

2 strollers. One is regular sized Graco with huge storage and reclines for naps for my dd. The other is a really lightweight Combi Urban for my ds- it collapses the size of an umbrella but holds up to 55lbs. It has a strap to throw it over a shoulder and carry it when not in use and we're going to try and figure out a way to strap it to the regular stroller for when he walks so we don't have to carry it or push an empty stroller for long periods of time. H

A backpack stuffed with camera, light snacks, hand sanitizer, chapstick, diapers, wipes, change of clothes for my dd (she's 1), autograph book (we are going to try and make our own to make it special), ponchos, mini first aid kit, mini hairbrush, travel kleenex (basically everything that's in my diaper bag now). I guess this year we'll take lightweight sweatshirts or something? Going to try and keep the backpack as light as possible but it's hard to do with two kids. We usually hang it on the stroller to save our backs anyway.

 

[peach3es]

I honestly have no idea what I carried with me back in 1990. I'm sure the contents of any bag I had then would frighten me now!

We plan to carry one messenger style backpack for our family. I guess I'll take wipes, a brush, extra clothes for the younger 2 kids, first aid kit, moleskin ('cause Unofficial Guide said I have to!), anti-bacterial hand stuff, chapstick, and light jackets if necessary. Oh, and ponchos, because apparently it rains a lot in Florida.

I am enjoying your ideas and suggestions. We want to travel minimally. We'll have small cameras and I'm guessing my mom will carry some kind of purse/small bag. Whatever we have has to go on the rides with us, so it's gotta be smallish.

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

QOTD: This will be our first trip without diapers

I'm taking my Baggallini messenger back with our ponchos, KTTW, cell phones, credit card, drivers license, camera, money, a snack and a bottle of water.

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

QOTD - I've been pondering on this quite a lot lately! Still haven't completely decided! It will either be one small backpack with a few essentials or else nothing! The girls and I all have lanyard wallets that will hold our KTTW cards, fastpasses, bit of cash etc. DH will just use his wallet, as he says he wouldn't be caught dead with a mickey mouse strap around his neck! We will also have our camera bag which can hold a few extra things. Still trying to decide on how much is actually necesary to bring into the parks. We won't be using a stroller at all. I'm leaning toward this.... if we can't carry it in our pockets, then it doesn't come!

 

[trixiequilts]

Hey BlestMom-you just became a DIS Veteran! Congrats! Here's a party for you.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Just a fanny pack with digital small camera, nylon velcro walley with ID, Debit card, a few bucks, KTTW, tickets,comb. I wear transitions glasses so no need for sunglasses. Sunblock in the room in the am so no need for that in Jan.Travel light and enjoy more!!!!!!!!!

WELCOME Grammyjudy!! What are your January dates?

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Answer of the Day ~

We travel very light to the parks. I carry a very small purse/bag type thing, I'll have to see if I have a picture of it. I got it at Target. In it usually goes - camera, credit card, a little cash, KTTW card, our daily itinerary, some kleenex, and band aids. The kids each carry their own Disney fanny pack. DH has always worn a black man fanny pack, but has decided to take a backpack this time. I just got him one of those sling-type (one strap) backpacks at WalMart. So that's where we can store our jackets in January when it warms up in the afternoon!

 

[blestmom]

Wasilla How does it feel to all of a sudden have your town be so famuos?

It feels very, very wierd!

 

[blestmom]

And what are Dropps?

Dropps are little pouches of laundry detergent. You "drop" them into the washer and the pouch disintregrates. I really like them for travelling. I used to keep any sample detergent packages to take with me, and then along came Dropps.

I always end up doing laundry on vacation. Momma never gets a real vacation...

I've never heard of those...and I'm definitely going to need to do laundry with a 2-week trip. Thanks for the tip!

 

[blestmom]

My Father-in-law was stationed in Alaska when he was in the military; He said they camped near Wasilla a few times. He said that one night the bugs were so bad that they (the soldiers) were in Mummy sleeping bags with towels over their faces to keep the bugs off. He swears the bugs were the size of small airplanes! All kidding aside, he said it was a very nice town, similar in size and makeup to where our family is from in New York. Welcome!

That's interesting. I don't really notice many bugs...except the mosquitoes, which are HUGE. But coming from Minnesota originally, they don't seem too bad.

 

[blestmom]

I have a question of the day --
what do y'all take into the parks?

I just take a small camera bag that holds my money, tickets, etc. That's it. (My camera is a bit larger than a point-and-shoot...otherwise, I wouldn't need any bag.) I really don't like lugging stuff around.

 

[blestmom]

Hey BlestMom-you just became a DIS Veteran! Congrats! Here's a party for you.

Ooh...what fun! I hadn't even noticed. I'll have to celebrate today!

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

Hi Snowbirds!
Long time no see

I've been so busy! School starting for DS, my DH has been offered a part time postion teaching at a local technical college at night, on top of his already full time job! He hasn't offically accepted the offer yet though. My grandfather that passed away in July, well his wife passed away exactly 4 weeks later in Aug Went to TN to celebrate my brother's 40th bday...and the list goes on. Seems like you all have been doing well, and have been busy here

Now it seems like my mom and I will be taking a weekend Disney trip alone in November for my mom's bday! I was given a great price, but I've never stayed in a value before. My mom has never stayed onsite before and all she cares about is showering and sleeping Works for me! We got 3 nights at ASMo, with a preffered location I believe, and 2 day base tickets for each of us for $500 Is that a good price to you? So have any of you stayed at ASMo before and how did you like it? I know nothing about values but it's going to be fun planning a trip before our Jan trip

 

[trixiequilts]

Yeah! for another trip Splash!

So sorry you had another loss.

We're glad you're back.

 

[BellaSoleil]

Bella~
Sorry she decided to move to NO!!! But I do like her place!! I love those little gingerbread looking cottage houses!! Are you still planning on bringing the VB Hipster to the parks? I am debating between that and the small backpack. I do have 3 kids!!!! But, even the backpack won't carry our jackets if we have to lug them during the day. I really like the hipster, but.....gotta keep thinking on that one!!!

Yes, I'm still planning on bringing my hipster. I have it in my version of a "Disney tub" all safe and sound for the trip. Next trip, when we bring DD, I'm sure I will have to go to something much bigger, but since it's just me and DH the hipster will work fine.

Thanks for the compliment on DS's house. It almost makes me excited that she's moving.

 

[BellaSoleil]

Welcome GrammyJudy and welcome back Splash!

Splash- I stayed at ASMo on my Senior Trip (10 years ago), but I did love it. The theming is great and it is just an all around fun place to stay. You will really like it.

 

[Wilsonfamily4]

I am thinking about adding the Alice Tea Party for my kids, boy and girl, one of our days. If you have done this do you think it was a good extra? Thought it would be fun to do one of the busy days. We will be there the Jan 1-9 and the first few days will be really busy so we are not spending A LOt of time in the parks. Thought this might be nice to do

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Hi Snowbirds!
Long time no see

I've been so busy! School starting for DS, my DH has been offered a part time postion teaching at a local technical college at night, on top of his already full time job! He hasn't offically accepted the offer yet though. My grandfather that passed away in July, well his wife passed away exactly 4 weeks later in Aug Went to TN to celebrate my brother's 40th bday...and the list goes on. Seems like you all have been doing well, and have been busy here

Now it seems like my mom and I will be taking a weekend Disney trip alone in November for my mom's bday! I was given a great price, but I've never stayed in a value before. My mom has never stayed onsite before and all she cares about is showering and sleeping Works for me! We got 3 nights at ASMo, with a preffered location I believe, and 2 day base tickets for each of us for $500 Is that a good price to you? So have any of you stayed at ASMo before and how did you like it? I know nothing about values but it's going to be fun planning a trip before our Jan trip

Good to hear from you Splash!

Sorry for your loss.

Congrats on the November trip! If I were to stay at a Value I would go with ASMo! You'll have a blast!!