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

[coffeehousemom]

Afternoon fellow Snowbirders, wow all the food talk is driving me crazy!! I really miss east coast & southern food. Count me in on the road trip bring on the beignets, BBQ, grits, Jiffy cornbread, philly cheesesteaks I will furnish the drinks!

We've had about 2 & 1/2 inches of rain here DH & I drove through most of it going Minnesota yesterday not too bad flooding here thankfully.

 

[debbieandroo]

Our electricity came back on sometime after DD and I were down for bed. It was off almost all day. It was really windy and misty all day, too, but last night it was calm. We have a few trees down, but nothing too serious.

The only one that we have ever really had problems with was Rita. We are very blessed!

However- It's hilarious to see how people get so carried away here and stock up on $1,000 worth of groceries, flash lights and such......

Hey -- glad you all are okay - hope our Texas snowbirds are faring well.

You're right about the craziness when abnormal weather comes along - in Memphis, we've had a huge rush to get gas and food - all week! All this for hurricane that really didn't even pass through - we only got a little rain, nothing like the folks in Chicago and Detroit got.

 

[Remmy]

Wow! I love all this talk of great food that can be found in every region. We will be traveling down I-75 to WDW so any good suggestions on where to stop for some great food would be appreciated. We too are worried about weather but we have taken an extra day off just in case either way. It doesn't hurt to be one day early at WDW does it?

I hope everyone is safe and had a good weekend. Up here we experienced much downpour from off shoots of Ike and warmer weather. I am not complaining. Today there was beautiful sunshine and warmth.

I have not set up a photobucket account as of yet. It is on my list of to dos. It seems strange that my lists grow as the time counts down. I am up to two bins already and there is no toiletries or any clothing other than 2 t-shirts for each adult and the rest are shirts for DChildren, no bottoms packed yet I must remember that, bottoms are important too. I hope it all fits in tiny SUV. I am packing ponchos, activities for the kids that hopefully all won't be coming back with us, and still need to pack all the snacks and drinks. I told DH I need to buy those mini-gloves and he asked why. He said we are Canuks and don't need mini-gloves. I still remember how chilly it became at night and am worried for the kiddos.

I will soon be sorting through my large binder of notes and condense them into checklists. Checklists on what to pack, what to see, what to eat, etc. I have already started writing down all our ADRs in 4 different places. I am a bit compulsive in my planning. I want to make certain all goes well at Disney since this our first time planning everything.

Thank you to everyone and all your posts. I enjoy reading them all and do feel part of a family. Wishing everyone health and happiness--Remmy

 

[MAGGIED]

I am a little compulsive to when it comes to planning... I just started a new spreadsheet today with dates, time. confirmation #'s etc....

 

[trixiequilts]

I am a little compulsive to when it comes to planning... I just started a new spreadsheet today with dates, time. confirmation #'s etc....

I don't think there's anything wrong with that! I can't decide which of my 3 spreadsheet versions I like better!

 

[distherapy]

I am a little compulsive to when it comes to planning... I just started a new spreadsheet today with dates, time. confirmation #'s etc....

You should have seen me whip out my index cards this year - I kept a card per day in my Passporter - complete with my "dream schedule" of rides to ride and ADRs and confirmation numbers/times. I haven't gone so far as to laminate, but this year, I may give in...

 

[sherry7]

......I am packing ponchos, activities for the kids that hopefully all won't be coming back with us.....

You're not planning on bringing all of your kids back home with you?

 

[sherry7]

Afternoon fellow Snowbirders, wow all the food talk is driving me crazy!! I really miss east coast & southern food. Count me in on the road trip bring on the beignets, BBQ, grits, Jiffy cornbread, philly cheesesteaks I will furnish the drinks!

We've had about 2 & 1/2 inches of rain here DH & I drove through most of it going Minnesota yesterday not too bad flooding here thankfully.

Yeah, but you're in Wisconsin, which means you are close to the land of the illustrious Italian Beef sandwich (Chicago). That's the BEST food ever, and you can't get them anywhere else outside of that region.

 

[nala87]

Yeah, but you're in Wisconsin, which means you are close to the land of the illustrious Italian Beef sandwich (Chicago). That's the BEST food ever, and you can't get them anywhere else outside of that region.

ITA and I don't even eat meat! Buena Beef makes the best Italian Beef w/ Portillos coming in second. I love how soggy the bread gets! Yum!
Bella, I'm glad you and your family made it though the storm!
The wind came in Central Indiana with wind gusts up to 60 mph and no rain! Our power kept going on and off every 20 minutes or so, but that may just be due to bad wiring. We haven't had a good shower in over a month, just sprinkles for like 30 minutes.

 

[sarbah77]

I am a little compulsive to when it comes to planning... I just started a new spreadsheet today with dates, time. confirmation #'s etc....

I love my spreadsheets! I use them to keep track of EVERYTHING for every vacation.

One trip, there were four of us in one hotel room, each paying our own way. I used that sucker to keep track of EVERYTHING we all spent.

The first thing I did for Disney was enter in the hours each park was open, including EMHs to make a decision on which park to go to on which day... then I plugged in each ADR, with the confirmation number. When it gets closer, I'll be sure to put in the airline information, confirmation number and and and.

I actually have a vacation next week that I don't have a spreadsheet for. Uhoh - I better get moving!

ITA and I don't even eat meat! Buena Beef makes the best Italian Beef w/ Portillos coming in second. I love how soggy the bread gets! Yum!

Ooo. Portillos. Every time we go towards Chicago, I ALWAYS get Portillos. There's nothing like it here!

 

[sherry7]

........ITA and I don't even eat meat! Buena Beef makes the best Italian Beef w/ Portillos coming in second. I love how soggy the bread gets! Yum!.........

.......Ooo. Portillos. Every time we go towards Chicago, I ALWAYS get Portillos. There's nothing like it here!.......

You guys are making me drool! I've been craving an Italian Beef like crazy, and other than making a trip to Chicago to get one, it's a hopeless cause. Hey, it's only a few hundred miles, lol.

My favorite beef place was a little hole-in-the-wall place called Novi's, on Ogden Ave in Berwyn.

There's a chain restaurant called Giordano's, which is mainly a Chicagoland thing, but they have a couple of restaurants in Orlando too. I looked at the menu online, and sure 'nuff, they have Italian Beef. Maybe I can get my fix in January.

 

[Monny2AE]

I am up to two bins already and there is no toiletries or any clothing other than 2 t-shirts for each adult and the rest are shirts for DChildren, no bottoms packed yet I must remember that, bottoms are important too. I hope it all fits in tiny SUV. I am packing ponchos, activities for the kids that hopefully all won't be coming back with us, and still need to pack all the snacks and drinks. I told DH I need to buy those mini-gloves and he asked why. He said we are Canuks and don't need mini-gloves. I still remember how chilly it became at night and am worried for the kiddos.

I will soon be sorting through my large binder of notes and condense them into checklists. Checklists on what to pack, what to see, what to eat, etc. I have already started writing down all our ADRs in 4 different places. I am a bit compulsive in my planning. I want to make certain all goes well at Disney since this our first time planning everything. Remmy

bottoms are important too! Made me giggle as all that I have in my bin are shirts too.

I think I've gone crazy with my checklists too but being organized keeps me happy so that's all that matters!

We (Me, my Sister, and our Mom) went to the Disney outlets in Lancaster over the weeknd. Not bad. T shirts were $5 each which we cleaned up on. The only hard part was trying to figure out who was going to get which ones so we don't all match. I got a few things for the kids for Christmas. And my favorite find were plush zippered backpacks shaped like Pooh and Mickey on clearance for $7. I'm going to use those to hold all the surprise goodies for the car ride and they are soft so they can double as a little pillow too. They also gave bounceback cards for $25 for each $50 you spend so we pulled all of our purchases together and now have 2 $25 cards to go back with at the end of the month (they are only good for the end of Sept/beginning of Oct.) It felt great to cross some stuff off of my Christmas list!

 

[trixiequilts]

bottoms are important too! Made me giggle as all that I have in my bin are shirts too.

I think I've gone crazy with my checklists too but being organized keeps me happy so that's all that matters!

We (Me, my Sister, and our Mom) went to the Disney outlets in Lancaster over the weeknd. Not bad. T shirts were $5 each which we cleaned up on. The only hard part was trying to figure out who was going to get which ones so we don't all match. I got a few things for the kids for Christmas. And my favorite find were plush zippered backpacks shaped like Pooh and Mickey on clearance for $7. I'm going to use those to hold all the surprise goodies for the car ride and they are soft so they can double as a little pillow too. They also gave bounceback cards for $25 for each $50 you spend so we pulled all of our purchases together and now have 2 $25 cards to go back with at the end of the month (they are only good for the end of Sept/beginning of Oct.) It felt great to cross some stuff off of my Christmas list!

Wow! You did great! I'm very jealous. I should find out if there's an outlet anywhere around me.

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

Good Morning, Snowbirds!

Hope everyone is well this morning and that all affected by Ike are safe and drying out.

It's is supposed to be a beautiful day here in the Harrisburg Area. I think I might actually don a pair of jeans I'm excited that fall is around the corner because that means that winter is not long after . . . WHICH MEANS Disney is not far after that!

I started making some small purchases for the trip yesterday. There's not much that we will need, really. I starting getting some toiletries for packing. I also got DS a Disney Color Wonder for the airplane. I ended up giving it to him, though I can't help it! I get too excited. I'll pick something up closer time. I don't think we'll be getting tub of Disney things together. There is no way I'll be able to fit all of that stuff in our suitcase.

Any way . . . Just wanted to say good morning!

 

[peach3es]

You're not planning on bringing all of your kids back home with you?

Hi, Snowbirds! I guess you are all awake and off and running for your day! I spent the day doing some mundane business at the Dept. of Transportation. And discussed our language program and where we're headed as far as Arabic goes. Fun times.

Now to tool around Tourguide Mike and get a little scrapbooking done...that will calm my nerves and make me happy.

Hope you are all well!

 

[sarbah77]

There's a chain restaurant called Giordano's, which is mainly a Chicagoland thing, but they have a couple of restaurants in Orlando too. I looked at the menu online, and sure 'nuff, they have Italian Beef. Maybe I can get my fix in January.

I've been to Giordano's! When I'm in Atlanta next week, we're going with a group of people to a restaurant called something like "Nancy's Chicago Style Pizza". Because I like to go to a different part of the country and eat foods close to home? Nah, because we're going with some friends.

I am looking forward to fried dough/funnel cakes when I get to Disney, though...!

 

[BellaSoleil]

Wow! We're still talking food!

I am a little compulsive to when it comes to planning... I just started a new spreadsheet today with dates, time. confirmation #'s etc....

I am probably safe saying that we all have something like this. That's why we are Disser's!

 

[Wilsonfamily4]

I am probably safe saying that we all have something like this. That's why we are Disser's!

yep!

 

[MAGGIED]

My DH thought I was crazy the other day ... I was walking around the house cussing at Tourguide Mike because I had sent in for my renewal code and hadn't received it ... I was stressing because I couldn't start picking my days of where to go... every half and hour I was back checking my email... I did this for 1 1/2 days... he thought I was losing it... then my son says "Mom... if you just would have read a little farther down Mike says to......" stress was over.. . I rejoined TGM and was able to pick my days of what park to visit, then plan our dining accordingly, then call for reservations, get it in the spreadsheet, print out the menus to put in the passporter folders... it was all good....

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

Good Monday Afternoon Snowbirds! I wasn't around much this weekend! We had a very busy couple of days! Trying to catch up on household stuff and pack away our summer clothes, pull out the fall & winter stuff, figure out who needs new boots and snowpants etc! Hope everyone had a great weekend! Have you all been chatting about FOOD all weekend?

How about a question of the day? What will be the first thing you do once you are "settled in" to your resort? Our plan is to explore! I want to walk around and see the beauty of POFQ and see the pool and the playground and the food court and........ EVERYTHING!