My family thinks I'm crazy..but I know you all won't! Back and my TR is started!

[SV24]

Quote- "My friends couldn't understand why anyone would be making dinner ressies over a 100 days inadvance...But looking through these posts I am reassured that I am not the only one out there doing it "
Hahaha! You are not alone. We made our dinner reservations FAR in advance last year and did it again this year. Although I'm sure it's not 100% necessary to make reservations in advance at all, it eases my mind. I can't imagine waiting in long restaurant lines when there's so much to see!!! Where's everyone eating this year? I picked Yak & Yeti, Boatwright's & Tutto Italia. I hope I made good choices. I very much enjoyed Marrakesh last year!!! Yum!

 

[sahm2two]

Haha... that's me too! I think my dh is looking forward to disney just so I'll stop talking to him about it!
And I keep checking back to see if I can get an ADR for 'Ohanas.... should've booked it when someone 1st told me about it!

 

[AKL LOVER]

that dream is hysterical!! i have the majrit of those symptoms except substitute DD and DBF lol

and my dreams consist of my daughter going to see her father and coming back at least 3 inches taller (hence she meets the 40" mark) and i am ecstatic... so i wake up and unfortunately she did not grow over night... wahhhhhh

I am so relieved to know that my dream makes the people on here laugh. If I ever admitted to anyone in the "real" world that I had a dream like that, I think I might be spending some time in a very padded room!

I don't know about anyone else but ADR's have taken over my life, I have become obsessed with getting the perfect ressie, and being only just over a month out makes it really hard.....

I can completely relate to the husband and Disney planning, mine works away from home and when he is here it's all I talk about..... My friends couldn't understand why anyone would be making dinner ressies over a 100 days inadvance...But looking through these posts I am reassured that I am not the only one out there doing it

I am right now trying to rework my schedule so that I can join everyone in France on the 7th for a wonderful cocktail and put faces to screen names. I haven't decided if we'll meet as a family or I'll be there alone.....

It would be great if you were able to meet up with us on the 7th!! I am looking forward to our meet for 2 reasons: OGM slushies and putting faces to names.

And you are most defnitely not the only one booking ADR's so far in advanced. When I booked our trip back in October, the CM said, "your past the 180 day window, do you want me to put you through to dining to book some ADRs?" I was freaking out b/c I wasn't booking my ADR's on the 180 day mark like I have for our past trips. Silly me! But, even so, I got everything I wanted

Haha... that's me too! I think my dh is looking forward to disney just so I'll stop talking to him about it!
And I keep checking back to see if I can get an ADR for 'Ohanas.... should've booked it when someone 1st told me about it!

Have you tried calling Disney Dining to book Ohana? I decied a month or 2 ago that I just had to add this ADR in. So much that I was willing to move around ADRs for the entire week, just to fit it in one night. I couldn't find any availability on any of the nights we were there though. I looked day after day, I was stalking Ohana ADRs on line--BIG TIME. But then I called randomly to book kids club time for my kids one night. While on the phone I had the CM check for Ohana availability and low and behold she had a 5 pm dinner time on my first choice night! So I'm not sure how true this is, but my feeling is that not all available tables/times are offered up on line. Call and see--maybe you can get something!! Good luck.

 

[AKL LOVER]

Since I have officially entered my freakishly-obsessive-planning mode, I have had a ton of things that I need to get done/want to get done/have gotten done. So I figured that it was about time I got an offical to-do list together. And what better place to make it, then on my PTR


Here goes...

• reserve rental stroller--done!
• finish our schedule spreadsheet
• make an EMH and park hours spreadsheet--done!
• make a spreadsheet with our ADR #s
• make countdown calendar--done! will post pics tonight
• decide what kind of autograph book we're going to do this year
• pre-order photopass
• start my Disney box--done!
• make and laminate LGMHs
• dig out the kids ID tags
• email allergy sheet for DS to Disney since I'm not going to make any more ADR changes (hopefully! )
• finish last year's scrapbook
• exchange a t-shirt I ordered from the Disney store
• play around with the video of DS's bday taken on our new Playsport
• ask neighbor to feed the cat while we are gone

So there it is. Doesn't seem like a whole lot, but when you factor in that I only have 40 days to go, well, YIKES!! I have plenty to keep me busy until our trip.


OK--who wants to tell me what I've forgotten on my list??

 

[mrssmith06]

• 
  Pack Bags!

 

[Joyciemc]

• 
  Pack Bags!

Haha! Nothing too important

I don't see anything else obviously missing... but then, I don't have a list at all. Can I steal some of yours?

Why do you have so much to do in the next 40 days and I feel like I have nothing but time on my hands? Am I a slacker or what?

 

[AKL LOVER]

So this weekend I woke up at 5 am on Saturday morning. DH was getting up to head to work and I just couldn't go back to sleep. So I got up, made a cup of coffee and began to debate what I was going to do with my hour and half of free time til the kids woke up. Well, I was feeling crafty, so what else should I do on a Saturday morning at 5 am, but make my countdown calendar???

When the kids woke up and saw all my scrapbooking stuff spread out, it became arts and craft time for them too. I gave them some pictures from our past trips to use.


Here is what DS made:

And here is DD's:

I think she might be quite the scrapbooker in the next couple of years!





And without further ado, here is our official family countdown calendar (complete with our offical number of days left!):

And here is what it looks like set up in our kitchen area where we can easily view it and daydream about our impending bliss.

This picture was taken after we flipped the calendar right before bedtime (hence why the first pic was 40 and the second is 39).



And of course I thought of a couple of more things to add to my to-do list. Great. But I'm too tired to add them now, so I'll have to put that on my to-do list for tomorrow!!

 

[mrssmith06]

Wow that is an awesome countdown calendar! Good job!!!

 

[poisonapple_PRINCESS]

Love your countdown calendar!

 

[fadingjamie]

I LOVE your countdown! I just might have to steal that idea to have yet another countdown going

 

[AKL LOVER]

Wow that is an awesome countdown calendar! Good job!!!

Love your countdown calendar!

I LOVE your countdown! I just might have to steal that idea to have yet another countdown going

Thank you guys for the compliments! I'm pretty pleased with the way it turned out. Originially I was going to do a big poster with Mickey heads, but I decided I really wanted something that was easy to store so we could reuse it year after year--this one fit the bill My only difficulty was with getting the stickers to stick to the board I used--it has a texture to it and they are being difficult. I finally used a glue stick and then laid heavy books on top of it for 24 hours. So far, they appear to be sticking, but I'll have to see how it holds up!

 

[AKL LOVER]

So while driving home from work yesterday I thought of a few more things for my to-do list. I added them to the end

Here we go (again!)...

• reserve rental stroller--done!
• finish our schedule spreadsheet
• make an EMH and park hours spreadsheet--done!
• make a spreadsheet with our ADR #s
• make countdown calendar--done! will post pics tonight
• decide what kind of autograph book we're going to do this year
• pre-order photopass
• start my Disney box--done!
• make and laminate LGMHs
• dig out the kids ID tags
• email allergy sheet for DS to Disney since I'm not going to make any more ADR changes (hopefully! )
• finish last year's scrapbook
• exchange a t-shirt I ordered from the Disney store
• play around with the video of DS's bday taken on our new Playsport
• ask neighbor to feed the cat while we are gone
• order gift cards 'from Mickey' for the kid's Easter baskets
• order Disney Visa rewards card
• pack

Anything else I've forgotten??

 

[AKL LOVER]

• 
  Pack Bags!

I had thought of that, but decided that I was going to make myself a day-before-we-leave-for-Disney to-do list and packing would be the #1 item on that list!

Can you tell that I like making to-do lists??

Haha! Nothing too important

I don't see anything else obviously missing... but then, I don't have a list at all. Can I steal some of yours?

Why do you have so much to do in the next 40 days and I feel like I have nothing but time on my hands? Am I a slacker or what?

Tell you what--your welcome to steal some of mine if your going to share your to-do list on your PTR so I can steal some of yours! Because I'm sure once you sit and think of it, you will come up with plenty that you need to get done!!

 

[hurleysweety]

• finish last year's scrapbook

YES! I'm not the only one!

 

[AKL LOVER]

YES! I'm not the only one!

Guilty as charged!

 

[pinkxray]

I need to make a to do list too. It never seems like there is anything left to do until you make that list and all the sudden you realize you trip is a little closer than you thought.

Love the countdown calendar.

DD did an awesome job on the scrapbook pages.

 

[AKL LOVER]

I need to make a to do list too. It never seems like there is anything left to do until you make that list and all the sudden you realize you trip is a little closer than you thought.

Love the countdown calendar.

DD did an awesome job on the scrapbook pages.

Isn't that always what happens?? And not only do you realize that the trip is a little closer, but you usually realize that you have a lot more to do than you originally thought!!

DD was excited to see that I shared pics of her pages and even more excited to hear that people liked them She says 'thank you!'

 

[AKL LOVER]

Who's been a busy bee...

anyone??

anyone??


Well even if you haven't, I have! In fact, I've checked a couple of things off on my to-do list already. I just LOVE checking things off of a list, don't you? I think that's one of the reasons I like making to-do lists so much!

So here are the new items checked off...

• finish our schedule spreadsheet--done!
• dig out the kids ID tags and put them in the Disney box--done!
• email allergy sheet for DS to Disney since I'm not going to make any more ADR changes (hopefully! ) --done!
• order Disney Visa rewards card--done!

I'd say that crossing off 4 things from my Disney to-do list, on top of all the other things I've been getting done at home and work, is a pretty darn good!

Boy, these next few weeks are really going to fly by. I've got to remember to sit back and enjoy the pre-Disney anticipation!

 

[Moira222]

UGH. I still have not played around with my video! I completely understand how the mom chores and DIS time don't always mix. After I put the kids to bed, If I make it on the DIS then I have the best intentions of getting off and doing other things, but next thing I know, it's bed time. Opps. I really need to get on that vieo though. Posting a clip of that on here would be another good trip report update!

oh I am behind -- have I not read your tr since 3/14? geez!

that's a good idea to post a clip. I will have to see if i can figure that out too!

Since I have officially entered my freakishly-obsessive-planning mode, I have had a ton of things that I need to get done/want to get done/have gotten done. So I figured that it was about time I got an offical to-do list together. And what better place to make it, then on my PTR

Here goes...

• reserve rental stroller--done!
• finish our schedule spreadsheet
• make an EMH and park hours spreadsheet--done!
• make a spreadsheet with our ADR #s
• make countdown calendar--done! will post pics tonight
• decide what kind of autograph book we're going to do this year
• pre-order photopass
• start my Disney box--done!
• make and laminate LGMHs
• dig out the kids ID tags
• email allergy sheet for DS to Disney since I'm not going to make any more ADR changes (hopefully! )
• finish last year's scrapbook
• exchange a t-shirt I ordered from the Disney store
• play around with the video of DS's bday taken on our new Playsport
• ask neighbor to feed the cat while we are gone
• order gift cards 'from Mickey' for the kid's Easter baskets
• order Disney Visa rewards card
• pack

So there it is. Doesn't seem like a whole lot, but when you factor in that I only have 40 days to go, well, YIKES!! I have plenty to keep me busy until our trip.


OK--who wants to tell me what I've forgotten on my list??

Who's been a busy bee...

anyone??

anyone??


Well even if you haven't, I have! In fact, I've checked a couple of things off on my to-do list already. I just LOVE checking things off of a list, don't you? I think that's one of the reasons I like making to-do lists so much!

So here are the new items checked off...

• finish our schedule spreadsheet--done!
• dig out the kids ID tags and put them in the Disney box--done!
• email allergy sheet for DS to Disney since I'm not going to make any more ADR changes (hopefully! ) --done!
• order Disney Visa rewards card--done!

I'd say that crossing off 4 things from my Disney to-do list, on top of all the other things I've been getting done at home and work, is a pretty darn good!

Boy, these next few weeks are really going to fly by. I've got to remember to sit back and enjoy the pre-Disney anticipation!

Oh here's a few things...

--if you did your emh spread sheet a while back double check it.
--what is an lgmh??
--LOVE the mickey gift cards for Easter..I may have to borrow that one
--how much time to you have to give to get the Disney Visa rewards card? I am trying to earn as many dollars as I can but want to make sure I order in time to receive it before we go!
--if no one is checking on your house, did you stop the mail (oh guess the neighbor will when they feed the cat??

----------these are related to things on my to do list so maybe the don't apply to you------------
--I still have finish 2007 scrapbook on my list
--are you doing an autograph book?
--penny presses at WDW? I filled a mini M&M tube with a stack of 2 quarters + a penny, 2 quarters + a penny, etc etc.
--are you ordering grocery deliver when you get there??
--mini touring guide for your day pack at the parks?

--at least you don't have to cook fo ryour cat before you go. Our dog has allergies and I will have to prepare and freeze 4 cups a food a day x 10 days before we go. UGH!!

You are making good progress!

I LOVE LOVE your countdown calendar. very nice!

 

[AKL LOVER]

Oh here's a few things...

--if you did your emh spread sheet a while back double check it.
--what is an lgmh??
--LOVE the mickey gift cards for Easter..I may have to borrow that one
--how much time to you have to give to get the Disney Visa rewards card? I am trying to earn as many dollars as I can but want to make sure I order in time to receive it before we go!
--if no one is checking on your house, did you stop the mail (oh guess the neighbor will when they feed the cat??

----------these are related to things on my to do list so maybe the don't apply to you------------
--I still have finish 2007 scrapbook on my list
--are you doing an autograph book?
--penny presses at WDW? I filled a mini M&M tube with a stack of 2 quarters + a penny, 2 quarters + a penny, etc etc.
--are you ordering grocery deliver when you get there??
--mini touring guide for your day pack at the parks?

--at least you don't have to cook fo ryour cat before you go. Our dog has allergies and I will have to prepare and freeze 4 cups a food a day x 10 days before we go. UGH!!

You are making good progress!

I LOVE LOVE your countdown calendar. very nice!

I did double check EMH hours recently, but knowing my luck they will change them or add to them before our trip, then I'll have to change and reprint my stuff!

LGMH = lime green mickey head; it's what DIS members wear in the parks to identify that they are a member of the boards. You can get the Mickey head from the paint sample section at Home Depto--the color is Alien green. I glued 2 back to back to make them double sided. After I laminate them I'm going to attach them to a key ring or something to hang from my backpack and the stroller. I'm hoping that some people will see them and say hi!

When you order a Disney card on line you can make it say who it's too, who it's from, and put a personalized message with it (for FREE!!). I'm going to put their spending money on a gift card for each of them and make it say, See you real soon! Love, Mickey. I'm thinking they'll get a kick out of it

I'm also accruing rewards points and will do so right up until our trip. Right now I just called and ordered a rewards gift card. I had to put $20 on (which is the minimum). The CM said it would take about 8 days to arrive. Then once you have the card you can call and add more of your rewards points at any point--even while you are on the trip. The points transfer via the phone or website is practically instant (according to the CM I talked to).

Yes, our neighbors will get the mail for us too. Luckily, they're nice like that

We are going to do autograph books, but I'm still trying to decide what kind/how. Not sure if I'm going to do them the same as before or go with something different.

I think I'm just going to pull the touring plans out of the back of my Unofficial guide.

Also, I'm thinking of making a planning journal. I've got stuff to start that and I think I'm feeling crafty again this weekend...great...I got 4 things crossed off my to-do list and now I'm going to add more!

No penny presses, no grocery delivery, no pet with allergies to cook for!

Whew...this was a long post!!