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

[distherapy]

And because I can't resist - I must post again so I get my 300th post on snowbirds!

 

[jenjolt]

And because I can't resist - I must post again so I get my 300th post on snowbirds!

arty: arty: arty: CONGRATULATIONS!!!! arty: arty: arty:

 

[jenjolt]

Hello snowbirds... I am back from the doctors and it appears I am not crazy after all..... so it is looking good for the surgery.... but right now I am heading up to my DD college to bring her some sweaters (only an hour drive)... can't wait to see her... I miss her soooooooooo much!!!.. Have a great evening.....

What the doctor said you weren't crazy..you didn't mention the snowbirds did you LOL!!

I'm glad that everything is working out for your surgery. Have a safe trip to visit your daughter!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

And because I can't resist - I must post again so I get my 300th post on snowbirds!

PARTY 300 POSTS!!!

Way to Go DIStherapy! Gosh it sure seems we have had a lot of 300 post parties this week!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Holy Cow!!! How many pages did you girls do today??? I can see I am going to be bumped out of my Top 10 spot!!! Also, I should be under the 4 month mark today!!!!

I had lots to do today and woke up with a headache so, I am way behind what I had planned. I did take the kids to the mall. Got them a few things for cooler weather. Some of the stuff the boys got I may have to return. Ya know how they reaaaaally want something then when you get home and try it on again it just doesn't work? I got the feeling that is gonna happen with some of their pants. YIKES!!! Dd had gymnastics today (cheer bears isn't that cute?). So I am about to be off again!!!

Welcome to all who joined in my absence today
Looooove all the photos!!!!!

Ill try to check in later-ya'll will probably be past page 20 when I get home this evening!!!!!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Forgot to mention---all you croc lovers. Have you seen the new boots? They are really cute. They have the same liner as the mammoth crocs, but the part over the foot is all enclosed. I loooooved the pearly pink pair!! Of course they didn't have my size!! I have really small feet. I usually wear a 6, but my flip-flop crocs are a 4. So.... the 6s were a bit big. I may just have to go back with a thicker pair of sox. Maybe they will have more to choose from next time I go back---these had just came in. (Dillards)

 

[ForAandA]

WOW! Trying to read through all of the pages, lol. This is such a grea list. Thanks so much for putting it together. The only teeny, tiny, little issue is that we will be at WL from January 17-24. Just a FYI

January Snowbirds!

Backinoz ~ Dec 23-Jan 14 ASMo/Offsite/POP
Uconn01001 ~ Dec 28-Jan 3 WL
Towers5 ~ Dec 28-Jan 10 POP
Ccfmioa ~ Dec 30-Jan 8 ASMo
Mindy5648 ~ Dec 31-Jan ??? POP
Disneysuncat ~ Dec 31-Jan 11 WL
Maplemouse ~ Jan 1-5 ???
Tink1978 ~ Jan 1-7 POFQ
Laumau ~ Jan 1-7 WL
Momofbcs ~ Jan 1-7 POP
Amytbme ~ Jan 1-8 CBR
Wilsonfamilyof4 ~ Jan 1-9 SSR
4girls2sets ~ Jan 2-9 SOG
My3guysinne ~ Jan 2-9 POR
Parmtoo ~ Jan 2-9 FWCabins
Nala87 ~ Jan 3-9 POR
Bellasoleil ~ Jan 3-9 WL
Mari360 ~ Jan 3-10 Offsite Orange Lake
Miabellarose ~ Jan 3-11 ASMu
Amreli ~ Jan 3-11 ASMu
Disneyprince18 ~ Jan 3-11 AKL
Snykymom ~ Jan 3-11 POP/CSR
Wuzefelix ~ Jan 3-15 POP
Peanut1 ~ Jan 4-10 AKL
Simzac ~ Jan 4-10 OKW
Missmagnolia ~ Jan 4-12 ???
Danceintherain ~ Jan 4-13 AKL
Tigerlovinggrandma ~ Jan 4-20 POFQ
Sunshine43 ~ Jan 5-13 CSR
Ehm1129 ~ Jan 5-16 ASMo
Mickey'sothergf ~ Jan 6-12 POP
Kaos928 ~ Jan 6-12 POP/POR
Epcotisaverb ~ Jan 6-12 POP
Mindyluvsmickey ~ Jan 6-13 Poly
Bellangel ~ Jan 7-??? ???
Rhonda7011 ~ Jan 7-14 BWV/BC
Crzyred ~ Jan 7-15 ASMu
Missy2217 ~ Jan 7-15 SSR
Peach3es ~ Jan 8-16 POP
Nvrenoughdisney ~ Jan 8-16 SSR
Rockonthemoon ~ Jan 8-18 ???
Aussieangel ~ Jan 8-20 WL
Rosiep ~ Jan 9-15 CSR
Crystalcastle ~ Jan 9-15 POP
2Disneygirls ~ Jan 9-17 ASMo
Sarbah77 ~ Jan 9-17 POR
Helenk ~ Jan 10-14 GF
Mfinn126 ~ Jan 10-16 ASMu
Ginaginabobina ~ Jan 10-16 POR
Coffehousemom ~ Jan 10-17 ASMo
Amberleigh ~ Jan. 10-17 WL
Ginaluvsdisney ~ Jan 10-18 POFQ
Sarilas ~ Jan 10-18 ASMu
Gillettes ~ Jan 10-19 POFQ
Figmentfan0724 ~ Jan 11-15 ???
Ethansmommy ~ Jan 11-16 WL
Skjj2009 ~ Jan 11-16 GF
Ebmouse ~ Jan 11-19 ???
Lovemy2boys ~ Jan 11-21 AKL
Eve700 ~ Jan 12-???
Serendipity ~ Jan 12-19 AKL
Fla4fun ~ Jan 12-23 BCV
Luv2scrap ~ Jan 13-20 POP
Adais ~ Jan 13-21 AKL
Swittner ~ Jan 14-18 POFQ
Southtexasmom ~ Jan 14-19 OKW
Disneyag08 ~ Jan 15-20 Poly
Jenjolt ~ Jan 15-20 POP
Clori ~ Jan 16-22 POP
Tropigal ~ Jan 16-23 Offsite Orange Lake
Kiteri ~ Jan 16-24 FW
Mommy2emmamaddie ~ Jan 16-25 ???
Sherry7 ~ Jan 16-25 ???
Drakes ~ Jan 16-26 ASMo
Manaliz ~ Jan 16-25 POP
Sixisenough ~ Jan 17-24 AKL
Hrsmom ~ Jan 17-24 BWV
Disneyspaz ~ Jan 17-24 SSR
Mzeeyore ~ Jan 17-24 Offsite
Jennywren ~ Jan 17-24 POP
Foraanda ~ Jan 7-15 WL
Jenkh ~ Jan 17-31 BWV/AKV
Spokanemom ~ Jan 17-31 Offsite/POP/CBR
Splashmtncrew ~ Jan 18-24 WL
Steffali ~ Jan 18-25 ???
Amaley01 ~ Jan 18-28 CSR
GPA1015 ~ Jan 18-30 POP
Tinkbyday ~ Jan 19-24 YC
Wdwmaiselfamilywdw ~ Jan 19-25 POR
Pluto_fan ~ Jan 19-25 SOG
Laurainsem ~ Jan 19-27 POP
Northerndisneygirl ~ Jan 19-29 POFQ
Tybrilinja ~ Jan 19-29 ???
Sharadoc ~ Jan 19-30 ASMu
Dundeehunter ~ Jan 20-26 POP
Melxthree ~ Jan 20-27 WL
Katiebugsmom ~ Jan 20-29 OKW
Heimlichfan ~ Jan 21-25 OKW
Doryandnemo ~ Jan 21-27 ???
Grammyjudy ~ Jan 21-27 POP
Momof2disneyboys ~ Jan 21-27 CBR
Trixiequilts ~ Jan 21-28 AKL
Minniemom09 ~ Jan 21-28 POFQ
Jnykly ~ Jan 21-28 Poly
Kazooie01 ~ Jan 21-28 ASMo
Disneygroders ~ Jan 22-25 POFQ
Fire14 ~ Jan 22-26 POP
MickeyNicki ~ Jan 22-26 Poly
Dklam ~ Jan 22-26 POR
Distherapy ~ Jan 22-27 WL
Momathome ~ Jan 22-28 POP
Cinderellamom123 ~ Jan 22-Feb 1 Cabins
Eacatwork ~ Jan 23-26 ???
Rfrank9504 ~ Jan 23-26 POFQ
Holleetigerlilly ~ Jan 23-27 POP
Debbieandroo ~ Jan 23-28 ASMu
Petuniamilz ~ Jan 23-30 Offsite
Chime ~ Jan 23-30 CBR
Carrousel35 ~ Jan 23-30 POFQ
2tinks2pirates ~ Jan 23-30 ASMu
Mamaoftriplets ~ Jan 23-30 PO
3amigos ~ Jan 23-Feb 1st ???
Ppan77 ~ Jan 24-29 Poly
Waltdisneyworlders ~ Jan 24-30 CBR
Billysmommy ~ Jan 24-31 BWV
Gourmetgirl ~ Jan 24-31 WL
Cheshireqt ~ Jan 24-31 ???
Brobrosmom ~ Jan 24-31 ASMu
Monny2AE ~ Jan 24-31 ASMo
Rmzlvacationers ~ Jan 24-31 ASMo
Canluvpooh ~ Jan 24-31 AKV
Phairest1 ~ Jan 24-31 POP
Anonymousegirl ~ Jan 24-31 GF/BC
Dancegrl624 ~ Jan 24-31 Offsite
Jensen ~ Jan 24-31 ASMu
Disneymommy3 ~ Jan 24-Feb 1 Poly
Reneedisney ~ Jan 24-Feb 1 BC
Remmy ~ Jan 24-Feb 6 POP
Susieq76 ~ Jan 25-30 ASMu
Aleciajab ~ Jan 25-31 ???
Maggied ~ Jan 25-31 CBR
Tinkerbellfan50265 ~ Jan 25-Feb 1 VWL
Wish2btink ~ Jan 25-Feb 1 POR
Mkhead ~ Jan 25-Feb 1 POP
Natalie89 ~ Jan 25-Feb ? AKL
Eeyore ~ Jan 26-29 POFQ
Star2500 ~ Jan 26 - Feb 1 CR
Bettydisney ~ Jan 26-Feb 5 Offsite
Blestmom ~ Jan 26-Feb 10 POP
Meggybear17 ~ Jan 27-Feb 3 POP
Tammythetwinsmom ~ Jan 29-30 SSR
Ajohn1990 ~ Jan ??? AKV or VWL
Pamouselover ~ Jan ???
Jaksil ~ Feb ??? WL/AKL
Trissy ~ Feb 1-9 CBR
Misty89 ~ Feb 5-12 Offsite

 

[ForAandA]

This is a seriously chatty group. Checking in while I am between clients. It takes forever for my blackberry to load the pages so I haven't read everything.

I'll check back tonoght after work.

Have a great day everyone.

I'm in the same boat The blackberry takes forever. I made the mistake of getting e-mail alerts on this thread The e-mails are non stop! Awesome

 

[Monny2AE]

Geez Sharadoc- You weren't kidding when you warned me! You've got to post a pic of your binders. I'm in awe! All hail the binder queen!!! I bet I could beat you for the WDW secret tubs award though I just added to it last night! Someone has to stop me- I'm obsessed. Every time I see something Disney that's cheap, it gets added to my stash.

We really like Movies. The food court can get a little busy at times, especially around breakfast. But, other than that, we'd stay there again. We decided to "splurge" this visit on the CBR, mostly for the pool for our son who is SO into pirates right now!!! He did like the pool at Movies, too.

We stayed at CBR the last two times we went and loved it. This time we are trying to stay on a budget and my son is such a huge Toy Story fan it just seemed fitting that ASMo would be our pick.

 

[danceintherain]

Are you reading that horribly huge maroon Campbell and Reece Biology book or do you get special ones!! I remember the day of the large and I mean Large Biology books...sorry someone said Biology and my eyes lit up.

I have no idea what advice to get give you Soleil!! If you aren't completely satisfied though maybe you should make the change and find something that will excite you for your last night!!

The Biology books ARE huge, plus we had to drop $35 on a "Lab Manual" which is just as thick. I can't carry my laptop and my Biology books in my backpack together, because they're too heavy and it hurts my shoulders immediately.

Ok I have a serious question that I would like some feedback on. DD9 wants to start posting & reading the teen site here at DIS. We let both kids go on line when we are in the room with them. They only go to Build A Bear, Webkinz, Nick jr , Disney & club penguin. They only play games there we have never let them chat or anything else. Would you let her go on that board? Not trying to be over protective( I don't need to try I AM) but I makes be nervous about the thought of her "talking" to people on line. So what do my fellow snowbirds think?

I agree that I wouldn't let her do it, except in a very monitored environment. Things on here can go very sour, very quickly. All the "no flames" messages are representative of that. I haven't spent any time on the Teen Board, but most of the time teens are harsher than adults. When I was a teenager I frequented some boards, and people got really really mean. I just think it could turn out badly. People are more assertive when they're online...and they don't usually think about what they're typing. Some people just don't care if they hurt the feelings of others, because they're really removed from the situation. Being a kid is hard enough without cyber-cruelty.
Maybe you could just let her sit and post with you occasionally, though I guess we're not her age...


I'm a Dr. Pepper addict too!
I switched to Caffeine Free though, so I wouldn't have the withdrawals. Now, if I drink even a 20oz Caffeinated Dr. Pepper afternoon, I can't sleep at night. I don't drink coffee either...

At this rate we're going to fill another 250 pages in less than a month.

 

[dundeehunter]

I know in my heart what I want to do...but my hubby is a bear...so I have a question for you snowbirds please. I have booked Pop Jan 20-26. I have NO airline booked YET. AirTran has a 3 day sale that ends tonight. Now that Disney has announced "what's your celebration?", my DD's 13th b-day is the day AFTER we get home. (We are celebrating my DD's 10th b-day but her b-day is in March). #1 question: Do you think I will find airfare cheaper than $100 one way non-stop from Milwaukee to Orlando ... #2, do I add on one night to our trip so that we can truly celebrate my daughter's 13th at the park and get the "fun card"? One night added onto our trip is $222 for all 4 of us? Now the Bear of a husband first said, "I am NOT spending another day in WDW". He has now calmed down and said, "I don't care...but with a huff in his voice. I want to just book the extra day, book the flight and continue to plan this wonderful vacation. (Even though it's not my 1st time in Disney)

Also, am I crazy that I want to take a day off of work and drive to Milwaukee where the Disney Celebration is coming to town Oct 1...and hang out in a Farmers Market and see what the buzz is? Has everyone been going to the website and entering the daily sweepstakes?

Sorry, I just want to have my hubby be totally okay with this trip...and I would really like to know what type of discount, if any will be for January to make him feel much better about this vacation.

Thanks for listening to me ramble!

 

[danceintherain]

I forgot to post my planning strategies.
At the moment I have MULTIPLE Excel Spreadsheets. By multiple I mean I have months worth of spreadsheets that I've changed. It was part of my narrowing down process, because I had to figure out what I would be satisfied with. Every time there was a large change, like when I decided 7 days wasn't enough, and it needed to be a 10 day trip, I started a new spreadsheet. Then when I subscribed to UG I made a new one, which is the one I'm working with right now.
Around June, before my ADR scheduling time I printed out some "instructions" for my fiance for contacting the travel agent and such things (there's something about the groom is supposed to plan the honeymoon HA!). However, I ended up deciding that adding an additional person into the mix was ridiculous, so I took the reins back. I still have his "Disney Planning Guide" as I call it, which includes an out of date schedule (my printer is out of Cyan ink, and won't print in color at all) The reservation information, maps, and Dining Plan info that my TA sent me, flight information and a spreadsheet of our ADRs. The cover has pictures of Dumbo slouched on a tree branch (relaxation), Toy Story characters getting ready to attack (Parks:Commando Style), Minnie kissing Mickey all over (romance), and Genie (magic). I wanted a picture of Simba eating a grub for food, but I couldn't find one. In the pocket of the binder I also have a sheet with our Honeymoon Registry number on it. Originally the whole thing was going to be divided by parks and other inf, but I didn't buy enough dividers. Eventually, I'm going to perfect it, but I have to buy more ink cartridges.

My current spreadsheet includes tabs for:
- Crowd Levels (what the UG says for the days I'll be there)
- Schedule (a beautiful color coordinated description of when we are "scheduled" to be in each park, including projected crowd level, hours, and EMH. This also has listed our ADRs)
- Cost (an itemized list of costs for accommodations, food, tickets etc. It also has approximations for potential discounts with DP and without)
- Meals (list of all ADRs and Ressie#s, including projected costs for each meal based on what I think we would order at each place)

I also have previous spreadsheets for food, where I looked at all the menus for all the restaurants in order to determine which ADRs we wanted, and whether or not the Dining Plans would be cost effective for us.

 

[danceintherain]

Sorry, I just want to have my hubby be totally okay with this trip...and I would really like to know what type of discount, if any will be for January to make him feel much better about this vacation.

Could you possibly cut off a day at the beginning of the trip, then add one onto the end? This way you won't be spending money on an extra night, but you'd also get the benefit of something cool on your daughter's birthday.

 

[dundeehunter]

Flight schedules are best Tuesday to Tuesday, both non-stop. Flying to MCO the 1st non-stop of the morning and flying back last non-stop of the day. If I fly out on a Wednesday, flight to Florida is $179 per person one way. So, I told my bear of a hubby that it's more cost effective if we stay 8 days, 7 nights. Which, for the flights, it is. I'm just wondering if flights will be cheaper. Too bad the 3 hour drive to Chicago isn't as bad as it is in a snowstorm. non-stop flights from Chicago to Florida are $89 each way.... I did that drive 2 years ago..never again! Drove 3 hours in a snowstorm to fly 2 hours and 43 minutes.

 

[danceintherain]

Hmm... I kind of doubt the prices will get better between now and then. They might though.

Have you tried kayak.com? It searches multiple airlines ,then takes you directly to the airline's website to buy your tickets instead of tacking on its own fees.

 

[danceintherain]

Nevermind, I checked... it's pulling up AirTran as the least expensive.

 

[dundeehunter]

I'm booking and not looking back! I will deal with my bear later in the evening. AirTran is the most inexpensive, they have hotel airline check-in and we have flown with them before. As far as adding another day to our trip, We will also be around WDW to celebrate the Chinese New Year on the 26th and my DD's 13th birthday on the 27th! Let's hope this new Celebration that WDW is offering is LOTS of FUN!!!

Now, is anyone crazy like me and want to come to Milwaukee to stalk out the Farmer's Market on Oct 1 to see what I can win from the Disney representative for their Tour?

 

[danceintherain]

Haha... I would come, except I don't think I can rationalize leaving in the middle of the week, and missing school. Unfortunately, they're not even coming to Kansas City. Otherwise, I would soo be there.

 

[eeyore7360]

Hello again fellow snowbirds! I have made my ADRs. We are on the DxDP and EPCOT is our favorite park, so we are going to eat our way around the World Showcase. This is going to be a relaxing vacation so we are doing 2 TS a day.
Jan 26 Teppan Edo / Hoop Dee Doo
Jan 27 Le Cellier / Restaraunt Marrakesh
Jan 28 Chefs de France / Rose and Crown
Jan 29 Boma for Bfast and then travel over to the Wonder for a 3 day cruise!

 

[danceintherain]

Eating around the world at EPCOT was my original plan, but then I changed my mind after I realized I wanted to eat everywhere else too...

Congrats on making your ADRs!