*Just*The*Two*Of*Us Pretrip

[pumpkinfish]

Packing.
So we began our packing the other night. But to give you an idea of what kind of packers we are, here is the statement that flew out of DH’s mouth: “Hey baby…you do realize this is the first time we have started packing this early before a trip, right?”
Ok, now let’s back this train up again. Excuse me?! Why do men think that the toilet-paper fairy comes in the middle of the night and replaces the empty toilet-paper roll? If they don’t see it happen in front of their eyes, they assume it’s “magic”. So because my DH all of a sudden witnesses me completing my packing, must mean I have never began packing this early before a trip ever before. *Insert large eye roll here*. Of course, THIS year I got on the ball and told DH yesterday to get to his packing. No way was I going to be hunting him down last minute to finish putting his share of boxers in his suitcase. So maybe because he wasn’t running around trying to kill people on his 360, he was more in-tune with the packing process that had taken over our home.
Usually when we pack for our WDW trips, we each take our one carry-on suitcase. DH also gets the backpack and I get my purse. 4 items, that’s it. Well, seriously, flip-flops capris, and tanks don’t take up too much room! Egads, did pumpkinfish just say she wears flip-flops in the parks?!? The insanity!! Yes, at this point feel free to yell at me like you are my mother for not wearing comfortable walking shoes around the Disney parks. I do not like Crocs (that just ain’t my style, although I think the cute Mickey ones are adorable and might be coming home with me if I can spot them in DTD) and typically sneakers are not good with the wet/humid weather that transpires over central Florida during our vacation days. Anywho, I do much better just walking around in my flips. I do have my sport-sandals with Velcro I wear when needed. So because we don’t take too much to WDW we only need those two small carryon suitcases.
Let me tell you, our trip to Cali is a completely different story! It’s amazing how traveling through 3 different time zones can make you pack like the world is going to end! For this trip, we are taking same said carry-on suitcases, a large black suitcase to share, same said backpack, and an extra carry-on bag. We will check the large black suitcase along with my carry-on suitcase. So we jumped from 2 to 4 suitcases by traveling opposite coasts! Well, this time we are packing to layer, and I am personally bringing more long-sleeve and sweatshirts to DL than when heading to WDW. Also, I am bringing two pairs of sneakers (along with a few pairs of flips!) and a warmer jacket. So that makes for more bulk, hence more suitcases. Add to it the fact we will be buying souvies out the ying-yang and maybe we should add another bag?! LOL. So there is the packing fiasco. It actually feels good to be done this early. DH was at least right about that. Usually we aren’t done until 4 hours before our flight leaves!
Just one more brief note about how DH packs. He always assumes. When heading to NY for the weekend to visit family and friends, we will be near DC and he will say “Hey, did you grab my toothbrush/deodorant/toothpaste?”. Of course he knows I will. The morning we leave, he places everything (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant) back in its’ appropriate spot on the counter or in the cabinet. See, after I get done using each one of my items, it goes right into my toiletries bag, that way I don’t forget it. Why can’t he do the same with his? Argh! It’s just a pet-peeve of mine. One of these trips I am purposely not going to grab it for him. Or maybe I will. I would hate to kiss him with stinky breath!

 

[pumpkinfish]

LOL! I am getting excited about your trip!!! I can't wait to hear all about it. Just 4 more sleeps!

So have you decided on any restaurants ADRs? We have already paid for our Lilo and Stitch breakfast, and I think we are also going to make ADRs for Goofy's Kitchen for my birthday dinner and Blue Bayou for our first night.

And was it you that mentioned going on the Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour or was that someone else? I am debating it instead of Knott's Berry Farm. I read some recent reviews that KBF is going downhill... dirty, bad service, etc.

Anyways, talk to ya soon!

We have Minnie's breakfast at Plaza Inn for Monday (we are celebrating my b-day this day!!) along with Blue Bayou that day too. Pretty much every morning will be spent at Carnation Cafe to eat Mickey waffles and bacon (yum-yum!). Tuesday evening will be at Naples, and then Thursday we have ESPN and Storyteller's at GCH. Friday is the House of Blues for dinner.
I wanted to take it easy with the planning of the meals. When DH's fam gets there Wednesday I have no idea what they will have planned. They usually wing it and eat somewhere in DTD (hence why I went heavy with the DTD eateries last half of trip).

Yesterday I did make the ressies for our tours and will have a report out later today about that

 

[princess@heart]

We have Minnie's breakfast at Plaza Inn for Monday (we are celebrating my b-day this day!!) along with Blue Bayou that day too. Pretty much every morning will be spent at Carnation Cafe to eat Mickey waffles and bacon (yum-yum!). Tuesday evening will be at Naples, and then Thursday we have ESPN and Storyteller's at GCH. Friday is the House of Blues for dinner.
I wanted to take it easy with the planning of the meals. When DH's fam gets there Wednesday I have no idea what they will have planned. They usually wing it and eat somewhere in DTD (hence why I went heavy with the DTD eateries last half of trip).

Yesterday I did make the ressies for our tours and will have a report out later today about that

Sounds good! I can't wait to hear about Blue Bayou and Carnation Cafe.

Are you taking the Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour? I am trying to convince Vern to do that, but he hates tours. So I told him I wanted to do it on my birthday. "Pleeeaasse?"

 

[princess@heart]

See, after I get done using each one of my items, it goes right into my toiletries bag, that way I don’t forget it. Why can’t he do the same with his? Argh! It’s just a pet-peeve of mine. One of these trips I am purposely not going to grab it for him. Or maybe I will. I would hate to kiss him with stinky breath!

LOL!!! I'm thinking we need a smiley with "hhhhhhaaalitosis"!

Vern is kinda the opposite. I pack all my clothes and he does all the toiletries and his clothes. He once tried packing my toothpaste, toothbrush, brush, and deodorant before I got a chance to use them in the morning! That's my pet peeve. He's afraid we'll forget something.

 

[lexmas]

subbing!

DH and I are WDW vets going to DL with our then 11 month old in October...and I'm already too excited to sleep! (Or maybe it's the 3 month old...that must be why he wakes up every 2 hours all night...he's too excited to sleep!)

Can't wait to hear about your trip!

 

[AJA55]

4 time zone….4 bags… sounds about right to me. Can’t wait to hear what tours your taking. I think we’ll do a tour on July 4th.

 

[pumpkinfish]

How many days? TWO! It’s funny because I might even say ONE depending on how you count down. Of course you never count “today”. That leaves just counting Fri. Sometimes I don’t even count the day we leave because it is that day already! So we have 1 or 2 days left depending on how you look at it.
How does one pass the time when they are anxiously awaiting their Disney trip? We already watched our planning DVD. Very nice! I shed a few tears of happiness…and I think DH might have as well . I like how the new layout flows, but I do miss how funny the old one was. Plus, I don’t think it would be that helpful to first time visitors. Maybe it’s just me though *shrugs*.
How else does one pass the time? By skimming the pages upon pages of threads on the DIS of course! DH came and sat next to me last night to join in my reading. He gave out one of those loud *SIGHS*. This prompted me to ask what was wrong. Of course he said “Nothing”. The he asked if there were any more pictures to look at. So we went treasure hunting through everyone’s vacation pictures. We found the Photopass pictures thread. That was fun! Next was the Character pictures thread. It’s funny; I told DH how familiar the pictures looked as we scrolled around. The thread had been started back in 2004 and recently was revived. As we looked through the pictures, we came across some I had posted a few years ago! We laughed at how young we looked, and looked through more of the picture posts.
After finally deciding to review some trip report pictures, we came to a conclusion. You can always tell when a picture has been taken- either in the beginning or at the end of a trip! The expressions on the adult faces always have this enthusiasm when you see the beginning pictures. The ones taken towards the end of reports show people who are still happy, but…full If you understand what I am trying to say. So DH and I sat there last night going through trying to figure it out. THEN we got tired of looking at everyone elses pics and concentrated on our own. It was great going back through the ones from October 2005 during Hurricane Wilma. I never have been so nervous to fly as the morning we were to leave. Disney took great care of everyone and had many of the characters mingling about. Also, since Magical Express was not running due to the weather conditions, they had small vans taking us to the airport. The wind forced the rain to come down in sheets sideways and gave me unique ideas for pictures!
*sigh* I digress…
DH and I continued to look and reminisce and think. Anticipation at this point consumes us. It is in every breath, every thought, and every look. DH didn’t want to go to bed last night because he wasn’t tired. Well duh! Your adrenaline is pumping wondering about the upcoming trip. He is such a kid sometimes- and that is not always a good thing. I do love seeing him excited and bouncing off the walls, but when we still have 4 more days of work to get through…he makes it more difficult. I am already more hyper because this is a new experience for me. As obsessive as I am, I am trying very hard not to allow the planning to consume me. I want to approach this trip with an open mind and open opinions. The only planning I have completed outside of the normal plane tickets, park hoppers, and hotel is making some dining ressies. I don’t want to fall into the trap of comparing DL to WDW. I understand they are both separate experiences and I want to leave it at that.
At night we lay in bed imagining ourselves walking down Main Street. The only thing that lets me relax and sleep is fooling my brain into thinking we are going to WDW. Then I can picture every step I take and not let my mind “wander” and wonder what it is like. There is a nice comfort level feeling the cushion of knowing. That’s why we are able to relax at WDW. We don’t rush. We walk where we want and eat where we want. We ride what and when we want. We chill…no rush.
Maybe that’s why the anticipation is so high for us right now. DH is excited about riding Indy again. I am excited since I have never been on it and that is all DH raves about. We are also ready for Mr. Toad and going “nowhere in particular” since it has been a while for both of us, and it is such a classic!
The other day I made our tour ressies. I know, I know… ahead of schedule. I really did try to fly by the seat of my pants and wait until this Friday to make the tour ressies. But things were so slow at work and I wanted it off my mind. So that is another thing I have planned out for us. But I swear no more! I am cut off! The plan is to do the Welcome to DL tour on Sunday morning and then the Walk in Walt’s Footsteps on Tuesday morning. We have AAA and it saved us a few bucks. Altogether it is about $140 for two of us for both tours. Since we thrive on that hidden knowledge I know we will enjoy ourselves. Plus it breaks up the monotony of the park days.
As of today I still haven’t heard from my family in LA so I don’t know if we will be meeting up with them. I certainly hope so since I know I won’t see them for a few years after this opportunity. Plus I don’t want my father to hound me for not trying to meet up with them
DH’s father and brother are still scheduled to arrive late Tuesday night and will be meeting up with us Wednesday morning. DH is really looking forward to this male-bonding time. I hope I can deal with the abundance of testosterone. So if any fellow DISers are going to be passing through next week, PLEASE seek me out so we can go eat ice cream or shop or other girly things that increase estrogen levels.
Well kids, that will be all from me today. I need to clean the bathroom as part of the checklist of things to take care of before we leave!

 

[Poohbear85]

I'm so excited for you, i cant' wait for you to go on your trip so you can come back and tell me all about it. Just one more day!
Have tons and tons of fun! and i'll be awaiting your return

 

[pumpkinfish]

Alright gang, D-Day has arrived! We are set to leave for the airport in about 1/2 hour! I am showered with freshly straightened hair and my walking shoes on! Who is ready to ride some rides?! WE ARE! Ride the rides of AirTran that is, until we end up in LA around 11:30 AM. All in all we have about 7 hours in airtime so it is the longest I have been in a plane in a VERY long time. It's AG (all good)
Ok, so DH just came out of the bathroom: "Baby, I was just looking at myself in the mirror and I have one very important question" (this is where I interject) "Yes baby, I still love you" (teehee...then he asks) "Huh? No baby, seriously. Just like at the MK in WDW, can you get your haircut at the babershop?"
Awww....poor guy wants to get his haircut! LOL, what a sweetie! He said that's one thing he always wanted to do and hasn't yet- who knew?! When you have been married almost 7 years, nothing surprises you really...well this one did! But then again, that's my DH for ya!
So in 12 hours, we will be at Disneyland! Hopefully on our 2nd go around of Indy with a fastpass to BTMRR or maybe Mr. Toad? I dunno. Pray for our safe flights and for good weather.

LOOK OUT CALI, HERE WE COME! ​

 

[pumpkinfish]

Just updating this report to say I have began my trip report in a new thread : http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1378809
Thanks for reading!

 

[Iluvcruising]

More More,

Enjoyed your pre trip report, and this one

Thanks