MagicBands + Margaritas + Muggles + Minions = TRP. New TR link is up! 10/31

[addictedtothemouse]

It's a compromise. They'd rather pack without a list...but will forget some rather key things, bring too much of something or not enough of another. I'd like them to have presentable clothing packed, that generally matches.

This way they get to pick what they bring, but I have veto power. Occasionally they argue but in general have gotten pretty decent about what they pick and sticking to the list.



Exactly! We hate losing a day in travel plus making the time change is much harder. The red eye forces it, if you can stay up late enough on day 1 you are golden for the trip and because it is day 1...you are usually amped up enough to hold out!

Haha! this reminds me of when I had my youngest pack for herself for the first time, she had ten pairs of underwear and two shirts for a two week trip.

 

[eandesmom]

Haha! this reminds me of when I had my youngest pack for herself for the first time, she had ten pairs of underwear and two shirts for a two week trip.

Classic!!!!!!!!!!! Mine probably would have done the opposite. As it was, convincing them they needed rain jackets, a sweatshirt and jeans was enough of a battle.

 

[KatMark]

I truly get exhausted after I read your preparations and making arrangements before a trip...especially with extended family.

You are a saint for going to the malls the weekend after Christmas. Unfortunately, I have found the lack of customer service to be an ongoing thing at all stores.

Why is it that the lines to the bathroom are always so long when you get off the plane? I seriously think they need two restrooms for women and one for men at each set of gate areas.

Coffee at Starbucks.

you've arrived.


(Sorry I was behind...no internet for two days and much too hard to reply on my phone).

 

[eandesmom]

I truly get exhausted after I read your preparations and making arrangements before a trip...especially with extended family.

You are a saint for going to the malls the weekend after Christmas. Unfortunately, I have found the lack of customer service to be an ongoing thing at all stores.

It was selfish, I wanted it over with and they'd have whined about it and it was the last thing I wanted to do when we got back on that first weekend and they'd have been relentless about it. I agree about customer service, I do 95% of my shopping online for that reason, including kids shoes!

Why is it that the lines to the bathroom are always so long when you get off the plane? I seriously think they need two restrooms for women and one for men at each set of gate areas.

Coffee at Starbucks.

you've arrived.


(Sorry I was behind...no internet for two days and much too hard to reply on my phone).

The bathroom wasn't bad, it was the Starbucks line! After 4 red eyes this was by far the worst we'd ever seen.

I can't stand replying from my phone, plus half the time it doesn't seem to work anyway!

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

aw rats, I am sorry! I really debated, main TR board or this one and the treehouses kind of flipped it to be a DVC report. Really could have gone either way but given how much we did use the villas for their villa-ish purpose...figured I'd put it here.

I am so thrilled you found me!

Don't worry about where you have it posted as the aussies say "no Worries", your loyal reads have still found you.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Don't worry about where you have it posted as the aussies say "no Worries", your loyal reads have still found you.

Mate. No Worries. No flies on you, either.

 

[scottny]

That stinks about the shoes being 2 different sizes.

But you are now going under the arch in the pic so that is always good.

 

[franandaj]

Exactly! We hate losing a day in travel plus making the time change is much harder. The red eye forces it, if you can stay up late enough on day 1 you are golden for the trip and because it is day 1...you are usually amped up enough to hold out!

That's funny! While we understand that we lose a day in travel we wouldn't know what to do with ourselves after a red eye. Fran would be fast asleep in a lobby somewhere completely embarrassed! We fall asleep at normal time when we take a day flight just because the whole airport/flying process wears us out so much we can't do much else besides fall asleep after a meal!

I guess it's because we have to get up so early to catch the plane and usually we don't sleep much the night before. We are usually totally adjusted the second day.

 

[Chilly]

Not a bad start to your trip queues aside, now comes the real fun, don't keep us waiting too long!

 

[glennbo123]

You found that your parents walk a lot slower than the rest of your group? Boy, can I relate!

 

[eandesmom]

Don't worry about where you have it posted as the aussies say "no Worries", your loyal reads have still found you.

Aww, thanks!!!!!

Mate. No Worries. No flies on you, either.

That stinks about the shoes being 2 different sizes.

But you are now going under the arch in the pic so that is always good.

Under the arch is a good thing! He doesn't seem to notice the shoe issue so I guess it isn't one.

That's funny! While we understand that we lose a day in travel we wouldn't know what to do with ourselves after a red eye. Fran would be fast asleep in a lobby somewhere completely embarrassed! We fall asleep at normal time when we take a day flight just because the whole airport/flying process wears us out so much we can't do much else besides fall asleep after a meal!

the airport process can be tiring that is for sure

I guess it's because we have to get up so early to catch the plane and usually we don't sleep much the night before. We are usually totally adjusted the second day.

This is why I don't do early flights. I don't sleep the night before and then am a wreck that day and night. the stress of missing the flight completely messes with me and I am invariably up late packing anyway. night flights are so much better for me. Even if I do an afternoon one, if I land late at night I'm wired and can't sleep. As are the kids. So this works better for us. Funny thing is when Jeff and I do it coming home from Hawaii, we are worthless that day. I guess because it is coming home, versus arriving on vacation.

Not a bad start to your trip queues aside, now comes the real fun, don't keep us waiting too long!

I won't! I have started the update but am also fighting with photopass a bit and that's taken up a little bit of time.

 

[eandesmom]

You found that your parents walk a lot slower than the rest of your group? Boy, can I relate!

And they've slowed down a bit more than we'd realized, especially my mom. She was pretty sick this fall and it took a toll, more than she realized. Jeff is the worst though, he just goes and is NOT good about looking back. Bad enough when it is the rest of us but add in my folks and oh my.

 

[englishrose47]

I am not sure how Carol and I will handle NOT having 8 others with us , we may slow down out of habit. Insist the other uses the bathroom each timeand be counting to 8 a lot !!!

 

[eandesmom]

I am not sure how Carol and I will handle NOT having 8 others with us , we may slow down out of habit. Insist the other uses the bathroom each timeand be counting to 8 a lot !!!

ok that would be a riot!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TinkyCheeks]

Great start to the TR! We found that we were waiting a lot on my parents this past trip, as well. It's kind of difficult, those moments when you are faced with the fact that they aren't as young as they used to be.

I got a laugh out of the mismatched sized shoes!

I think DCL is a brilliant idea. We were amazed at how much alone time we got on the cruise, it was incredible. Lots of great family time to but really something for everyone. So much fun! We've done 2 so far, one with just the E's and done with the E's and Kendall. In fact, we liked them so much we are booked on one without the kids at all Which one are you looking at? Make sure you do Palo one night and brunch as well if you can, YUM! The kids will LOVE it. Do an FE if you can too, The E's had so much fun.



I know young adults like that. Just lost! My mom made us each cook dinner one night a week growing up, I had to iron all the holiday linens, all that kind of stuff. And you know what? My brothers are amazing cooks!

I make the E's do their own laundry I will never forget, my first husband, who I went to college with on our first visit to his parents house. I'd never met them mind you, it's not a big deal kind of visit, we walk in and he asks his mom to iron his shirt for him. I was mortified! I looked at him and said no way. You are 20 years old and you can iron your own shirt. I drug him to the ironing board and taught him right then and there.

She rather liked me after that

Thanks for all the great advice about DCL! I'm definitely hoping to do Palo at least once. A cruise without the kids sounds like fun. Where will you be going? Right now we're waiting on the itinerary, but the hope is for Sept 2015 Caribbean, unsure if we'd like Eastern or Western better. I'd love to try Alaska but DH wants a warmer cruise first.

That's a great story about the ironing! I just told my boys yesterday when they were whining about chores that it's not my job to make their lives as easy as possible. It's my job to train them to be productive adults. That went over well.

 

[OurDogCisco]

I'm in! I'm dying to know how you liked the new FP+ system. We went during Thanksgiving week and had access to both systems. Good start!!

 

[eandesmom]

Great start to the TR! We found that we were waiting a lot on my parents this past trip, as well. It's kind of difficult, those moments when you are faced with the fact that they aren't as young as they used to be.

It is. It was probably harder on me as more often than not my sister was off with the kids and Jeff had never done Disney with them pre-slowdown. Id did reinforce the need for the trip now, versus later for sure.

I got a laugh out of the mismatched sized shoes!

Rolling eyes was my reaction

Thanks for all the great advice about DCL! I'm definitely hoping to do Palo at least once. A cruise without the kids sounds like fun. Where will you be going? Right now we're waiting on the itinerary, but the hope is for Sept 2015 Caribbean, unsure if we'd like Eastern or Western better. I'd love to try Alaska but DH wants a warmer cruise first.

We are booked on a Southern Caribbean in September. The itinerary is amazing!!!

That's a great story about the ironing! I just told my boys yesterday when they were whining about chores that it's not my job to make their lives as easy as possible. It's my job to train them to be productive adults. That went over well.

I tell mine it's not my job to be their friend, or even to ensure they like me. It's my job to be their mom and those things often don't line up.

I'm in! I'm dying to know how you liked the new FP+ system. We went during Thanksgiving week and had access to both systems. Good start!!

I am so happy you are here!

I will have a lot to say about FP+ as we definitely experienced it in many ways as some of us had bands, and some didn't. Paper was still available in some instances, not in others.

 

[annmarieda]

Oh no!!! I will definitely have to work to get caught up now! (so hard to do after getting back from a trip) I knew you started your TR. I thought I had subscribed. Guess not. I can't wait to get caught up and then follow along.

 

[eandesmom]

Oh no!!! I will definitely have to work to get caught up now! (so hard to do after getting back from a trip) I knew you started your TR. I thought I had subscribed. Guess not. I can't wait to get caught up and then follow along.

No worries. You had a trip! And the plague. And insurance nightmares from you know where. You haven't missed a thing really. Intro's, which you can skip since you already know all the backstory and players, and departure day. the rest is chatter. Your timing is good, you may get a call out in my next update

 

[Steppesister]

Your Flight Day is simply dizzying. You are a stud at all the prep and amaze me at your organizational skillz. But I suppose one has to be with that many people involved. KUDOS to a job well done at getting there with...



One kid with two shoes of different sizes!!!





So. TYPICAL. So much like my life.

But, hey, you're there, have coffee and are ready to roll.

I can't even count how many red eye, all-nighter, 9 hour flights we've taken in the last 13 years, so can totally relate to the kids-sleeping-all-over-you routine.

Great chapter, Cynthia!