January 2009. . . Calling all Snowbirds ~ Part V

[Disney Mommy 3]

Whatever works for you,right?!!! You are the trip planner!

 

[danceintherain]

So I'm not the only one starting the spreadsheets already?

We missed some things last time that I want to be sure we get to this time so I'm getting much more organized this time around. I vow that we will not stand in the parks looking at a map wondering where to go next wasting precious time. I don't want to be a drill sergeant or anything, just prepared.

I made a spreadsheet for my DH's summer class schedule a few months ago. He took it to his adviser. He told me that she was amazed and thinks I should be a student adviser.
I'm pretty sure it's all my Disney planning that has perfected my excel skills...
None of mine are particularly fancy though, I just play with color and times.

I'm actually rather behind for my trip in July, but I'm trying not to be a drill sergeant this time. I could get away with it with DH, but the rest of my family wouldn't find it charming...

Here's an example.... we'll see if this works...

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=rkWs8zitSz30Y8dJyj2ScwQ

The first worksheet is overall the week at a glance. It's color coded with which park we went to each day, and where we were eating...
The other worksheets are by park with what order we were planning on doing the attractions and which day we were doing them.
I think I may have gone back and changed them for what we actually did...

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

Sister, I have 4 going already. 2 of them are mine and Belle's vacation wardrobe. Can you say OCD????

Oh my Goodness Soleil! I am so glad I wasn't drinking anything when I read this! I would've spit all over the computer screen! I can just imagine the amount of luggage you bring with you!

 

[MAGGIED]

Hi everyone, this is Kazooie01's Husband. She hasn't been on in a while and I just wanted to give you guys a bit of an update.

Joni had malignant melanoma in 2005. Everything was going well until we noticed a lump in her neck about 6 weeks ago. Turns out that the cancer is back. It is in her thyroid, lympnode and lungs. Luckily (fingers crossed) it was caught while everything was still very small. We have seen specialist at Sloan-Kettering in New York City and we think we have a good plan of attack in place. She is scheduled to start Chemo tomorrow. The next six weeks will hopefully show that she is responding well to the therapy.

Joni will kill me for posting this and I hate to bring your day down with our issues, but I know she really enjoys coming on here and talking with you all. And right now our Anniversary trip to WDW and our January trip are two of the things she has to look forward to.

It's a lot to take for a 31 year old Mom of two beautiful children, but she is a fighter and very strong willed person. We know we can beat this and she won't be alone in the battle.

Here’s to fighting the good fight. It only takes faith, trust, and Pixie dust.

Joni and family.... our thoughts and prayers are with you all..... please know that you can come and talk... and we will be here for you.... any time....

 

[Kazooie01]

Hi guys. Thought I'd stop in and say hi before I head off to Chemo this morning. I read what my Husband posted yesterday and I want you all to know that I didn't kill him (none of his injuries are life threatening). Thanks for the well wishes, you guys are awesome!!! I'll try my best to get on here more to give you updates and talk Disney of course! Hope everyone has a great day.

 

[drakes]

Hi guys. Thought I'd stop in and say hi before I head off to Chemo this morning. I read what my Husband posted yesterday and I want you to know that I didn't kill him (none of his injuries are life threatening). Thanks for all the well wishes, you guys are awesome!!! I'll try my best to get on here more to give you updates and talk Disney of course! Hope everyone has a great day.

Try to relax and know we are all thinking of you!

 

[Dancegrl624]

Hi guys. Thought I'd stop in and say hi before I head off to Chemo this morning. I read what my Husband posted yesterday and I want you all to know that I didn't kill him (none of his injuries are life threatening). Thanks for the well wishes, you guys are awesome!!! I'll try my best to get on here more to give you updates and talk Disney of course! Hope everyone has a great day.

So good to hear from you! We've missed you!

 

[Monny2AE]

I made a spreadsheet for my DH's summer class schedule a few months ago. He took it to his adviser. He told me that she was amazed and thinks I should be a student adviser.
I'm pretty sure it's all my Disney planning that has perfected my excel skills...
None of mine are particularly fancy though, I just play with color and times.

I'm actually rather behind for my trip in July, but I'm trying not to be a drill sergeant this time. I could get away with it with DH, but the rest of my family wouldn't find it charming...

Here's an example.... we'll see if this works...

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=rkWs8zitSz30Y8dJyj2ScwQ

The first worksheet is overall the week at a glance. It's color coded with which park we went to each day, and where we were eating...
The other worksheets are by park with what order we were planning on doing the attractions and which day we were doing them.
I think I may have gone back and changed them for what we actually did...

Wow that amazing...way too advanced for me!

Hi guys. Thought I'd stop in and say hi before I head off to Chemo this morning. I read what my Husband posted yesterday and I want you all to know that I didn't kill him (none of his injuries are life threatening). Thanks for the well wishes, you guys are awesome!!! I'll try my best to get on here more to give you updates and talk Disney of course! Hope everyone has a great day.

A friend of mine is in remission and every time she went in for chemo she would tell me it was time for her to put her game face on and kick the big C's butt.
So put your game face on and kick butt!
Hope all goes well and I am definitely praying for you!

 

[Monny2AE]

Wow that amazing...way too advanced for me!

Obviously it IS too advanced for me considering I can't even type a sentence that makes sense. Throw an "is" in that sentence when you read it next time

 

[danceintherain]

Wow that amazing...way too advanced for me!

That one is a bit OCD...for our trip in 2 months I'll be happy as long as I get to do the things that we missed in January (it's not a long list) Other than that I'm just printing out the Unofficial Guide's Cheat Sheets for my family so they can have a general idea of good and bad times to visit certain attractions. We'll see if they follow my advice...

Hi guys. Thought I'd stop in and say hi before I head off to Chemo this morning. I read what my Husband posted yesterday and I want you all to know that I didn't kill him (none of his injuries are life threatening). Thanks for the well wishes, you guys are awesome!!! I'll try my best to get on here more to give you updates and talk Disney of course! Hope everyone has a great day.

I hope you're feeling better soon!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Wow, it's like the old days where you miss a day of DIS, you miss 3 pages!
Joni - prayers and for you. Good luck with the chemo.
Spreadsheets - I will do them again especially because we have more people who will need to know where we're supposed to eat and when. I don't get too fancy with all those cool colors etc. Just basic info. I'll reuse my stuff from last trip including packing list. I saved it all at work too, so if something happens to my home computer I've got backup! (don't tell my work! )
Oh, I forgot - AKL - we may stay there our first night on this trip (without all the relatives) and then go to BLT. We might not get to AK, so this would be a way to see some animals etc. We chose BLT because it's a)new and b) so close to MK where we will spend a lot of time. So I have no transportation experience to offer. Never stayed at POP nor AKL (yet) and ASMovies was so long ago (2000) I don't remember anything but crowded buses.

 

[BellaSoleil]

I have to share my latest blonde moment-

I was in such a hurry to get to get to Sonic for my morning sweet tea, that I nearly left the house with out my dress on. My hair was done, teeth were brushed, accessories in place, Belle was dressed... I'm heading out the door....and then I felt a draft.

Hi guys. Thought I'd stop in and say hi before I head off to Chemo this morning. I read what my Husband posted yesterday and I want you all to know that I didn't kill him (none of his injuries are life threatening). Thanks for the well wishes, you guys are awesome!!! I'll try my best to get on here more to give you updates and talk Disney of course! Hope everyone has a great day.

I'm with the above poster, go kick some butt!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Geez Louis Becca,! I am totally in love with that Spreadsheet!!!! AAAHHHHH, an organizers dream!!! Thanks for sharing it!


Soleil, I have to agree with Kim----how many suitcases DO you pack?
I am such a minimalist-but, I ALWAYS do laundry on vacation. With 5 of us, you just have to. But, I wear jeans/capris more than once before I wash them--if the kids shorts/jeans are good, they can wear them twice. Everything else gets washed the first time.

What brand of luggage do ya'll use? I bought the boys a good suitcase for each of them Christmas before last. I forgot what name it is, but they are really good-got 'em on sale at Dillards(then we took them on a surprise trip!!). Hubby has our biggest suitcase, but me and dd need a good one for us. I really want a carry-on for me that holds a decent amount of stuff. Probably one for her too-between the 2 and my middle sons suitcase, I shouldn't need a larger one for me. I have looked at the Vera Bradley carry-on for me---lots of different compartments in there!! They are a little pricey but, a local lady here has lay-a-way!!!! So, I need to decide.I am either gonna pay it once for a good carry-on, or more every trip for luggage fees. I think I just made that feasible in my own mind! ha!!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I have to share my latest blonde moment-

I was in such a hurry to get to get to Sonic for my morning sweet tea, that I nearly left the house with out my dress on. My hair was done, teeth were brushed, accessories in place, Belle was dressed... I'm heading out the door....and then I felt a draft. :rotf

Girl, I have done that--or had on my robe, or house shoes --noticed IN the car!!! I do notice that things like this didn't happen to me until after children...

 

[BellaSoleil]

I don't pack THAT much.


I think both G and I each had our own suitcase, plus a carry-on each. It was January, so I did pack extra clothes because we weren't sure how the weather would be. It was like packing double. I do the spreadsheet so I won't overpack. When I know what I'm wearing each day, there is not need to add in 5 extra shirts.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I forgot to answer the post about the iPhone and DIS radio.
I found a thread that basically told me to download the app Fstream from itunes and through that I can get DIS radio. Worked like a charm! I think you need wireless if you only have the iPod touch (as I do now), but when i get my iPhone I will be able to use it wherever!!
DH wanted one for his b-day (5/24) but found out that the newest version is coming out in July, so he agreed to wait. The great thing is that when he gets one, I get one! We have to switch to AT&T (we have T-mobile) so we're both going for it. Of course it will double our cell phone bill! Less eating out!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

do the airlines let a kid have a backpack AND a carry-on? haven't done this before, so I am not sure how they look at it. We always just let them have a backpack and then a checked suitcase.

 

[danceintherain]

do the airlines let a kid have a backpack AND a carry-on? haven't done this before, so I am not sure how they look at it. We always just let them have a backpack and then a checked suitcase.

I think it depends on the size of the back pack... technically it's one carry-on and one personal item (briefcase, purse, computer bag, etc) but I think it depends on the airline and the size of the personal item
You have to be able to store one in the overhead compartment and one under the seat in front of you. I've seen some people bring on some pretty huge bags though...

 

[BellaSoleil]

2 months, 2 weeks and 6 days from the weekend packages became available last year.

4 months, 2 weeks and 5 days until the month we can book our ADR’s.

5 months, 2 weeks and 6 days until the month when discounts were revealed last year.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

2 months, 2 weeks and 6 days from the weekend packages became available last year.

4 months, 2 weeks and 5 days until the month we can book our ADR’s.

5 months, 2 weeks and 6 days until the month when discounts came out were revealed last year.

Gee is that all the longer we have to wait???