Mike' Make Over Madness!

[Mykelogan]

Hi All!!!

Hope everyone had a great day! I know that I did! I have spent the day hiding from the heat, doing laundry (almost done, yay!), and immersing myself in the many sites dedicated to WDW! hehe! When the day started I was beginning to plan a 4-5 day trip and as you can tell from my sig below that has been e-x-t-e-n-d-e-d!!! hehe!! I figured if this is an "anniversary" trip for me, aka my Tenth!, I would need a full week down there! LOL So now i just need to wait til Monday to see if my boss is ok with me adding a day to my time off request and I will be depositing. I am using Dreams Unlimited this time around. I like the idea of having someone to correspond with involved directly with my planning. Speaking of, I have to get an email off to Cathy at Dreams to let her know I want to price another extension... this will be my second I have sent her in the past 48hrs! hehe!

I do want YOUR INPUT one aspect of my trip though, so this is your chance to help me out!!! Right now I am planning to get the Dining plan, what do you all think? I have used it on one trip already and really liked it, of course I was eating for 5 at that time! LOL! The reasons I am planning to use it so far is... 1. I like a nice relaxing sitdown meal after a long day in the parks, 2. I think it will work best with my food plan as I will be able to make sure I have a salad with each night meal and I have made sure that I can find a variety of protein/veggie lunches, 3. I will probably by a ton of water so the snack credits will come in handy.

Any thoughts? I know I will not stay one hundred percent on plan per se at WDW but I do want to make sure I am identifying good meals that do fit my plan so if I get a Dole Whip at some point (A must, I love them more than I loved Coke! LOL) or some treat I really want, I will not feel bad.

Anywho, I need to go get my last load out of the dryer down the hallway! Have a great night all!

Mike

 

[Storygirl]

Hi Mike! I am SO happy you're making your April trip the full week! I am the Princess of Trip Extensions so I wholeheartedly approve. (Oh and my cat is being determinedly cuddly as I type this, too - I love him, but he drives me crazy when he tries to sit on my laptop!).

Dining plan...I would think it's a good idea for the convenience all the way around. Plus you can get everything paid in advance...that's a plus. I've low carbed at WDW two trips and it wasn't nearly as hard as I thought...and with your RM, you'll have an even better time!

Now once you get your vaca approved...time to start planning! Isn't it exciting??

 

[lajones81]

Mike!

I'm glad you enjoyed the list! Please do copy and keep it out for you! I am having a great weekend! I hope you are, too!

Lisa

 

[Mykelogan]

Hi Mike! I am SO happy you're making your April trip the full week! I am the Princess of Trip Extensions so I wholeheartedly approve. (Oh and my cat is being determinedly cuddly as I type this, too - I love him, but he drives me crazy when he tries to sit on my laptop!).

Dining plan...I would think it's a good idea for the convenience all the way around. Plus you can get everything paid in advance...that's a plus. I've low carbed at WDW two trips and it wasn't nearly as hard as I thought...and with your RM, you'll have an even better time!

Now once you get your vaca approved...time to start planning! Isn't it exciting??

Hi Jenn!!

I am glad I have the Princess of Extensions approval!!! I am so psyched to get my planning going!! I have been looking at the CS places in the various parks to determine some good low carby options, of course there are salads all over and then I think of the all beef hot dogs at Casey's with no bun, the cheeseburger at Pinnochio's especially with the mushrooms on the topping bar loaded up hehe, the turkey legs, and many places in World Showcase. There are many more options too! And with my RM I know I will enjoy my sit down meals, I will also probably make Disney happy when I ask for all of my food at once so I can stay within my "power hour" hehe.

Why isn't my boss here today to give me the approval!! I want to deposit now!! LOL hehe!

Mike

 

[Mykelogan]

Mike!

I'm glad you enjoyed the list! Please do copy and keep it out for you! I am having a great weekend! I hope you are, too!

Lisa

Thanks Lisa!!!

 

[pearlieq]

You're making wonderfull progress! Keep up the good work. I think your goals are very reasonable and I know you'll make them! What better way to motivate yourself than a WDW trip!

Your trip sounds so exciting as well! I almost think the planning is at least as much fun as the actual trip! I think the CA plan will adapt pretty well to WDW eating and will allow you to enjoy the highlights without totally losing the plan.

I hope you have a wonderful day today!

 

[Mykelogan]

You're making wonderfull progress! Keep up the good work. I think your goals are very reasonable and I know you'll make them! What better way to motivate yourself than a WDW trip!

Your trip sounds so exciting as well! I almost think the planning is at least as much fun as the actual trip! I think the CA plan will adapt pretty well to WDW eating and will allow you to enjoy the highlights without totally losing the plan.

I hope you have a wonderful day today!

Hi Pearlieq! Thanks for your support! I am definitely in agreement with you, the planning is as much fun! hehe!

Have a good day!
Mike

 

[Mykelogan]

Thought I would weigh in this morning, as I am soo close to a new clippie I am too anxious... well this am I was down another pound! So I am off to update all of my tickers, challenges and my new clippie!!!

After that, I have sooo much work to get done! LOL
Mike

 

[toystoryduo]

You are doing great Mike!!!! Keep up the good work!

So, you are extending your Disney visit, huh? Woohoo! A longer trip to WDW is a very good thing! (Sound a little like Martha Stewart there! )

Hope you have a wonderful week ahead of you! I'm sure you'll be quite busy with school starting soon. Take care, Mike!

 

[Cruise04]

Boy my computer must have really gone down the other night when I was having problems staying on because I posted here and it's not here. Weird. Anyway - congrats on that weight loss man!!!!! You are kickin' some weight's butt!!!! BRAVO!!!!!!

The dining plan - if you think it will be worth it then I think you should do it. We always have at least one sit down/PS meal each day and we eat either breakfast late or lunch early and eat lunch late/dinner early. We rotate around so we get a variety of what we are eating. If we do a PS for breakfast, then we eat a counterservice dinner. If we eat a PS late lunch then we do breakfast at the resort or grab something at the park at counterservice.

Keep up the good work!!!!!

Keep on
Chris

 

[Mykelogan]

Thanks for the support Tracy & Chris!

Just a quick check in here... soooooo crazy busy today... will not back to the DIS until this evening!!!

Time to get more work done!
See you all later!
Stay fabulous!
Mike

 

[keenercam]

Hi, Mike! Your trip plan sounds soo awesome. BTW, DB and his family just stayed at Pop in the 70s building and said they never want to stay anywhere else! They LOVED it. DH and the kids and I visited POP last summer on a non-parks day and had such a great time walking around taking pix with icons! We love sightseeing at other resorts whenever possible. There is nothing in the world like Disney resort theming.

As for the dining plan issue, I tend to differ from the majority opinion here. We have always felt that we don't eat enough meals in the parks to make it worth our while. Sometimes, none of us wants breakfast and we just do fruit instead or maybe we've had a big breakfast and want to skip lunch in favor of a larger earlier dinner. We have often said that we'd surely eat meals we weren't hungry for if we felt we had to "get our money's worth" out of a dining plan. I guess no one knows better than you whether it would be worthwhile or not. I know some people "tout" the ability to pay for it in advance, but I would suggest dumping that same amount of money on a visa debit card (available for free at most banks if you have an account) and then putting that deposit on your room account and think of it as your food budget. Heck, there are days in WDW where I'd want to do fruit for breakfast and salad for lunch and then splurge on dinner (like at LeCellier -- cheese soup, maple salmon, creme brulee). It's a tough decision -- good luck!

I think the planning is almost as much fun as the trip, personally! I always feel just a little "down" when I am a few days before my trip with no details to tend to. By now, my packlist is so refined that I could pack at the last 5 minutes and not forget anything!

 

[eeyore25]

Hi Mike!!!!
I am so happy for you that you are planning a WDW trip in April. You are going to have so much fun!!!! and I just know that you are going to be at your goal....I just know it!

Hope you are having a wonderful day! Keep up the good work. You are truly doing a great job!!

 

[pearlieq]

Busy as it's been, I hope your day has been great!

Keep up the great work!

 

[Mykelogan]

Hi, Mike! Your trip plan sounds soo awesome. BTW, DB and his family just stayed at Pop in the 70s building and said they never want to stay anywhere else! They LOVED it. DH and the kids and I visited POP last summer on a non-parks day and had such a great time walking around taking pix with icons! We love sightseeing at other resorts whenever possible. There is nothing in the world like Disney resort theming.

As for the dining plan issue, I tend to differ from the majority opinion here. We have always felt that we don't eat enough meals in the parks to make it worth our while. Sometimes, none of us wants breakfast and we just do fruit instead or maybe we've had a big breakfast and want to skip lunch in favor of a larger earlier dinner. We have often said that we'd surely eat meals we weren't hungry for if we felt we had to "get our money's worth" out of a dining plan. I guess no one knows better than you whether it would be worthwhile or not. I know some people "tout" the ability to pay for it in advance, but I would suggest dumping that same amount of money on a visa debit card (available for free at most banks if you have an account) and then putting that deposit on your room account and think of it as your food budget. Heck, there are days in WDW where I'd want to do fruit for breakfast and salad for lunch and then splurge on dinner (like at LeCellier -- cheese soup, maple salmon, creme brulee). It's a tough decision -- good luck!

I think the planning is almost as much fun as the trip, personally! I always feel just a little "down" when I am a few days before my trip with no details to tend to. By now, my packlist is so refined that I could pack at the last 5 minutes and not forget anything!

Hi Cam!

Thank you for your advice on the dining plan! I am still not sure but I have a lot to consider! hehe! As for Pop... I can't wait to be back!!! I really do love it there and can't wait to tell the CM at check in that this is my third visit! hehe It made the desk CM so happy when I said I was a repeat visitor last time. Nothing is more refreshing to me than a nice afternoon float in the Hippy Trippy Pool and the occasional splash under the flower jets. hehe.

Oh, I am obsessed with planning as I think we all are! LOL I have been perusing all the WDW books on Amazon the past few nights! LOL I love my passporter but I think I might check out the new edition of the Unofficial Guide to WDW when it is released. I am also hoping they will release the "Imagineers Guide to WDW" soon too!

I hope that you have a great night Cam!
Mike

 

[Mykelogan]

Hi Mike!!!!
I am so happy for you that you are planning a WDW trip in April. You are going to have so much fun!!!! and I just know that you are going to be at your goal....I just know it!

Hope you are having a wonderful day! Keep up the good work. You are truly doing a great job!!

Hi Jamie!

Thanks for coming by & posting! I know I will be at my goal too! I hope that you are having a great day!
Just 251 days til my trip! LOL

Mike

 

[Mykelogan]

Busy as it's been, I hope your day has been great!

Keep up the great work!

Has actually been a pretty good day pearlieq!!
I gave my boss my copy of the Carb addicts Lifespan Plan to look at today. She seems interested. Would be cool to have someone doing the same plan nearby but I am not sure if it really is the plan for her, we'll see! I told her about the DIS WISH today too when were discussion support, etc. It was cool. I told her about the monthly challenges and she thought they sounded cool. I did not want to go too far because I would rather she not get into the idea of posting here herself. Only because I like being able to vent about work and I would rather not have her in on that! hehehehehe!!!

I have a late night of work ahead but I am going to do most of it from home and transfer the files back & forth. I need to be outta here!! hehe!!!

Ok, off to check in on other's journals for a bit and then home I go!

have a great night!
Mike

 

[lillygator]

Hey Mike - planning WDW trips is such fun! Hope you don;t have to spend the whole night working tonight!

 

[Mykelogan]

Hey Mike - planning WDW trips is such fun! Hope you don;t have to spend the whole night working tonight!

Hehe! I hope not too lillygator! We will see though! LOL

 

[Mykelogan]

Ok, I have the tingles...

I just deposited for my trip!!!
YAY!!!!!!


I can't wait for Dreams Unlimited to process my deposit tomorrow so I can get planning!! hehe!!!

I am definitely wired now and ready for a night of work!!! My goal is to quit by 1am... so if I do by 2 I will be happy! LOL

Have a great one all!!
Mike