January 2009. . . Calling all Snowbirds ~ Part V

[snykymom]

Thanks so much! I guess I have some shopping to do! Drat!

In case you haven't already gotten the quart bags, they're a lot cheaper in the food storage bag area of the grocery store (with the sandwich bags and plastic wrap) than if you look for the "travel bags" in the drug store.

Funny, DH and I just talked about doing the taxes and filling out the FAFSA form (for college Financial Aid) as soon as we get back from FL as we just got an email reminder from the Federal Government about getting it submitted. Although DD doesn't get much in the way of Financial Aid, she has gotten Federal Work Study each year which has been very helpful. We usually have everything ready to file by Feb. 1st, so hopefully he can get it all organized and filed.

Today we are going off to do some final trip shopping (I am still looking for a new fleece jacket to bring), and then tomorrow and Monday finishing up with the packing. DD comes back home from NY tomorrow (she went back to school for a week to work), I have school Tuesday and Wednesday, will bring DK(Dear Kitty) to Grampa's house on Wednesday after school, and then off to the airport REAL early on Thursday morning for our 6:45 AM flight!

Can't wait to get out of this cold weather!

We also just got the FAFSA reminder. D hasn't gotten much assistance, just a subsidized loan, but now with what the market took out of our savings and what a lousy real estate market has done for my h's practice, we'll see what this year brings!

Hope it warms up in FL for you! I hate the cold now, but I will admit that I'll take it since I got the high 70's to low 80's last week!

all caught up now.



wow first we did beat the weather out. Better yet Chuck called POP while we were driving & they changed our reservations to Fri till Thu. Awesome got to check in Fri night.

Sat DHS YOU HAVE GOT TO DO TOY STORY MANIA!!! Ride it fastpass it but it is awesome!!!

Epcot The KIM POSSIBLE tour is awesome!! Go to a KP terminal & get your mission!! They are fantastic!! We did all 7 in one day. We saw just as many "grownups" doing them as kids.

Crowds sat & sun kinda busy for Jan but it was a weekend. Mon- Wed awesome no waits multiple rides great times. Thu insanely crowded for Jan. We ended up only doing a few rides & leaving early. But it turned out to be a good thing. Drive back frigid & roads closed due to black ice!!

will post more later any ???'s feel free to ask.

Toy Story Mania was such fun! My d was ready to kill me when I woke her to get to DHS - not at rope drop, she refused! - and wouldn't let me forget it. We got FP and then did the 30 minute standby line, which was really only 20 minutes and a lot of fun anyway. Long story short, through the week we rode it 6 times! She finally forgave me. Oh, and I even won once!

Unfortunately, I don't think they had the Kim Possible missions when we were there or I would have made D do it anyway!

I haven't been on the boards for a while since my ear problem was giving me vertigo, which was worsened by the rapid eye movements required on the computer. Finally, the meds kicked in and I'm feeling much better.

But I do have to report a sad tiding - my h just called; my DMIL passed away today. It was not unexpected, but it's still tough. I'll be on occasionally, but again off the boards as we attend to all the details involved, particularly since Jewish law requires burial within 24 hours of death.

Hoping everyone leaving soon , and safe travels!

 

[sarbah77]

Sat DHS YOU HAVE GOT TO DO TOY STORY MANIA!!! Ride it fastpass it but it is awesome!!!

Epcot The KIM POSSIBLE tour is awesome!! Go to a KP terminal & get your mission!! They are fantastic!! We did all 7 in one day. We saw just as many "grownups" doing them as kids.

Crowds sat & sun kinda busy for Jan but it was a weekend. Mon- Wed awesome no waits multiple rides great times. Thu insanely crowded for Jan. We ended up only doing a few rides & leaving early. But it turned out to be a good thing. Drive back frigid & roads closed due to black ice!!

will post more later any ???'s feel free to ask.

Yeah, we totally regretted missing out on the Kim Possible Tour. We saw ALL ages (and I mean ALL) using it and it looked like a blast.

Toy Story Midway Mania was a BLAST but the lines were always VERY long. Either get there first thing and wait or get there early and snag a fastpass!

I'm glad you got home safe'n'sound and I'm sorry we never got to meet up.

I've spent the rest of my day just trying to recover and reacclimate. It's not working out as well as I'd have hoped. I'm also slowly working on my trip report. I'm debating posting it on the DISboards, though if I ever sort through the photos we take, I might consider it. Otherwise, it'll just go on my blog for posterity!

My DH was absolutely insistent that we buy the BIGGEST rice krispie treat they have at MK. If you're en route, stop by the confectionary shop on Main Street. Look behind the registers. We now have one of those. It will go stale before we eat it all!

On the plus side, I've also completely convinced him that next time we NEED to stay at a deluxe resort. *pats self on back* (it helps that we had time to kill and walked from the Contemporary to MK once and from DHS to the Epcot resorts once AND from Epcot to Boardwalk Inn once)

 

[Dancegrl624]

My DH officially thinks I've lost my mind. I've been on the computer for about 4 or 5 hours!!!! I reprinted my menus so I could fit them in a small folder that I have. Then, I printed out some Disney word searches from themouseforless.com and the list of pressed penny machines from presscoins.com. I know I posted about parkpennies.com awhile ago, but it just wasn't working for me today. This other website has a very nice checklist. I just printed out the lists from the 4 parks and DTD. We won't be visiting any resorts so I didn't want to waste paper! The list is 17 pages long!!!! Anyways.....it's probably time I went downstairs to spend some time with him. Later birdies!

 

[trixiequilts]

But I do have to report a sad tiding - my h just called; my DMIL passed away today. It was not unexpected, but it's still tough. I'll be on occasionally, but again off the boards as we attend to all the details involved, particularly since Jewish law requires burial within 24 hours of death.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[distherapy]

my h just called; my DMIL passed away today. It was not unexpected, but it's still tough. I'll be on occasionally, but again off the boards as we attend to all the details involved, particularly since Jewish law requires burial within 24 hours of death.

We'll be thinking of you. I'm so sorry...

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

What's the Kim Possible thing?

 

[Mndisneygirl]

But I do have to report a sad tiding - my h just called; my DMIL passed away today. It was not unexpected, but it's still tough. I'll be on occasionally, but again off the boards as we attend to all the details involved, particularly since Jewish law requires burial within 24 hours of death.

Hoping everyone leaving soon , and safe travels!

So sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

 

[Remmy]

all caught up now.



wow first we did beat the weather out. Better yet Chuck called POP while we were driving & they changed our reservations to Fri till Thu. Awesome got to check in Fri night.

Sat DHS YOU HAVE GOT TO DO TOY STORY MANIA!!! Ride it fastpass it but it is awesome!!!

Epcot The KIM POSSIBLE tour is awesome!! Go to a KP terminal & get your mission!! They are fantastic!! We did all 7 in one day. We saw just as many "grownups" doing them as kids.

Crowds sat & sun kinda busy for Jan but it was a weekend. Mon- Wed awesome no waits multiple rides great times. Thu insanely crowded for Jan. We ended up only doing a few rides & leaving early. But it turned out to be a good thing. Drive back frigid & roads closed due to black ice!!

will post more later any ???'s feel free to ask.

I am happy to read you had a great vacation. I don't understand why Thursday was really crowded but who knows?

I don't mean to be slow but I think I have Disney overload. Where are the KP terminals? Is there sometimes a long wait, is there a line to wait in? Is there one for each country you can play in? How long did it take you to complete your mission?

Thanks Remmy

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Well, my computer woes continue. Our PC is rather messed up. That's where I have Word, and was going to do the envelopes for Mousekeeping. My brother is a little bit of a computer geek and took a look at it tonight. He said, your CPU is clogged up. I don't know why. He tried to clean some stuff out, but it didn't help. He tells me I need an IT expert and probably need more memory. UGH! Well, I may just have to call my neighbor. He is an IT guy. At least the important stuff is all done - my T-shirts for example!!

I wanted to do some journal pages for the girls, but if I don't have time or computer power, that will be fine. They don't know about it, so they can't be disappointed.
I'm off to bed - see you all tomorrow - well except for those that are leaving!!! Have a great trip!

 

[Remmy]

Hi all!

We're back - our flight landed early today and we made it home, despite the weather.

So while it was cool in WDW, especially yesterday, it was miserably cold here in Michigan... glad I was south! DH and I are thinking we might become snowbirds somewhere- anywhere!- every winter!

Short wrap-up:
DH ran this marathon 14 minutes faster than his last one. Can you imagine?

Unfortunately, he missed qualifying for the Boston marathon by (get this!) NINETY FOUR SECONDS. But did I mention the 14 minute improvement?

The parks were WAY WAY more crowded than the same week in 2005.

We were on the DDP - it was a lot of food. The lowlight was Rose & Crown - overrated!, followed by the breakfast platters at any QS location. Spoodles was aiming for rock bottom, but we spoke to the manager and got moved/better waiter, and it was a much better meal. I really enjoyed Boma and Crystal Palace.

The weather was cooler than we'd like BUT it was so much warmer than home.

I never did manage to see Kayte - I think time just got away from me.

I'll have a much longer write-up at some point!

Welcome back. Congratulations to your husband. It is too bad he missed out of Boston by just a hair. I think it is awesome he ran in a marathon!

Thank you for giving a short overall of your vacation. IF you don't mind me asking can I ask what was so bad at Spoodles? We have an ADR there for my MIL as she really wants to try this place. Do you have any advice on where to sit or what to order?

Thank you Remmy

 

[Remmy]

I haven't been on the boards for a while since my ear problem was giving me vertigo, which was worsened by the rapid eye movements required on the computer. Finally, the meds kicked in and I'm feeling much better.

But I do have to report a sad tiding - my h just called; my DMIL passed away today. It was not unexpected, but it's still tough. I'll be on occasionally, but again off the boards as we attend to all the details involved, particularly since Jewish law requires burial within 24 hours of death.

Hoping everyone leaving soon , and safe travels!

My heart goes out to you and your family. I just wanted to let you know I am thinking about you.

Thank you for your good wishes for us leaving soon. Remmy

 

[crzyred]

But I do have to report a sad tiding - my h just called; my DMIL passed away today. It was not unexpected, but it's still tough. I'll be on occasionally, but again off the boards as we attend to all the details involved, particularly since Jewish law requires burial within 24 hours of death.

Hoping everyone leaving soon , and safe travels!

You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[Remmy]

How long is your drive? We're driving from StLouis (UGH!) and it supposedly somewhere between 16 and 20 hours, depending upon which map guide I use and how many times/how long we stop. We're leaving on the 23rd and arriving the 24th.

We have about a 22-24 hour drive depending on the boarder crossing, how long our stops are and driving conditions. We are leaving from close to London, Ontario, Canada. I will take the first part of driving to Windsor to cross the boarder. We will switch there as I am terrified of driving over large bridges, wimpy I know, but it is easier for everyone if he drives from there. DH will then drive through the night and then it is my turn. We hope to hit the mountains (Jellico, Tennessee-I hope I put it in the correct State, please forgive me if I didn't) by morning. I get the happy mountain drive, another fear of mine and hopefully to Orlando by sunset or shortly thereafter.

We are leaving on the 21st around supper time and getting it on the go. Thus no dishes to be left to clean. We hope if we can drive straight through then we will try to find a hotel on the 22nd in the Orlando area. I went online and found that the All Stars still have some preferred rooms available or there are others close by that still have availability. We will then shop the next day go down to West Palm for a free nights stay with DH's Grandparents. They will love seeing the kids. Here is where we pick up the items I ordered online to save paying extra taxes and duty. We then drive back up on Saturday to check in at the POP.

Hopefully all is well with our driving and no big upsets. We have purchased our "Along Interstate 75" book by Dave Hunter who breaks it down mile by mile and has good tips on where to stop for breaks and other good items. Last trip we went with DH's extended family who swore they knew their way. We find out that they only knew to Ohio. Imagine my surprise when I found this out. Anyway we did find our way down there with some unexpected side stops that didn't need to be. That is why we have this book. We traveled down with it the first time we went together and it was a huge help.

I think I have Disney overload and I hope I have packed all we require, have all the information to have a great trip and be able to apply it when down there. This is a trip of firsts-dining plan, photopass, trip with just us and the children (except one night and 2 days MIL is driving up to be with us). I think I am extremely stressed. I am a worry type of person and I can't wait to be able to be in our resort room and take a deep breath and relax knowing we have finally arrived.

Sorry to unload.

I have a few questions for those who are doing trip reports as I have never done one before. How or where do you post a trip report? How do you get the trip report to show in your signature? Do you type it out in a word processing program first then paste it in here as a quote or do you type it all in here? How do you add photos to your trip report?

I am sorry for all the questions but would love to do a trip report but I am challenged when it comes to technology.

Thank you Remmy

 

[Remmy]

Well, my computer woes continue. Our PC is rather messed up. That's where I have Word, and was going to do the envelopes for Mousekeeping. My brother is a little bit of a computer geek and took a look at it tonight. He said, your CPU is clogged up. I don't know why. He tried to clean some stuff out, but it didn't help. He tells me I need an IT expert and probably need more memory. UGH! Well, I may just have to call my neighbor. He is an IT guy. At least the important stuff is all done - my T-shirts for example!!

I wanted to do some journal pages for the girls, but if I don't have time or computer power, that will be fine. They don't know about it, so they can't be disappointed.
I'm off to bed - see you all tomorrow - well except for those that are leaving!!! Have a great trip!

I am so sorry to hear about your computer woes. It can be extremely frustrating to work with a busted PC. You are lucky you have talented people around you that can try to help fix it. As well, I am happy to hear you were able to get most of what you wanted done. I hope your neighbour can help your computer out.

Remmy

 

[KatiebugsMom]

If anyone is at Epcot on Jan 28th.....come on over to the Living Seas around 1-2PM. I got DH the Aqua Seas Tour as a Christmas gift, so he will be swimming with the fish that day.

 

[trixiequilts]

Oh.

My.

Gosh.

My ticker says 2 days!!!

 

[MelXThree]

I can't believe I am on the "list" We leave THIS Week

 

[MelXThree]

What's the Kim Possible thing?

I saw this tonight and thought I was pass it on to you

http://land.allears.net/blogs/guestblog/2009/01/kim_possible_world_showcase_ad.html

 

[MAGGIED]

Finally under one week.... tons to do today.... Birthday party is today.... still have to go get the food, the cake, etc..... hope everyone has a great day...

Remmy.... glad to see you back!!!

 

[dklam]

But I do have to report a sad tiding - my h just called; my DMIL passed away today. It was not unexpected, but it's still tough. I'll be on occasionally, but again off the boards as we attend to all the details involved, particularly since Jewish law requires burial within 24 hours of death.

Very sorry for your loss and you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.