Nine weeks later...we just need a REDO! A January 2013 PTR

[kittylady1972]

TWENTY-ONE 21 DAYS!!
I still can't believe we are three weeks away from ANOTHER Disney trip. That makes FOUR trips within a year for us...that's a record! I just wonder how long we can keep it a suprise from the kids. I really don't want to tell them anything, but my concern is that Nicolas (my 7th grader) will have something major at school that Friday and if we dont' find out ahead of time he can't make it up. He's really struggling just to maintain a "C" average in most of his classes. That SHOULD prevent me from pulling him out of class but it is just a DAY and even then it's not even a full day of class. The marking period actually ends on the 23rd of January, so even if there is stuff o the 25th he has the entire marking period to make it up. That's my justification anyway. Nothing beats time with family in my opinion.

So still no luck on any of our resort waitlists. I think at this point we just may stick with Old Key West and that's not a bad thing. It's the least amount of points for a 2BR unit and it's not like we plan to spend a lot of time there. Sure I'd love for a Boardwalk Resort room to become available but I won't hold out hope for that to happen.

The new Disney website still hasn't allowed me to add my resort reservation. I did get my dining reservations to "stick" there though. Yes I said reservations. Despite my plan to make NO plans...I have some ADRs in the hopper just in case. The include a lunch at 50s Prime Time, an early dinner at The Plaza and a late dinner at Rose & Crown Pub. My reasons for those are as follows: Pot Roast, Yummy sandwiches, Sticky Toffee Pudding for my husband! They are pretty inexpensive if we split some of the food or just get dessert so I figured I'd keep them. They fit in well with my current touring plan.

Yes there's that "plan" word again. I know this is supposed to be a spontaneous trip but there has to be some kind of planning so there it is for you. I still think for the most part it will be a laid back trip but one where we can do many of the things we just missed out on in November due to lack...of a plan! And the crowds in November didn't do us any favors either.

Guess I should return soon to update my November trip report. I got a few more updates done this week but would love to do some more before the end of the week! Goal is to have that TR COMPLETED before we start the next trip!

 

[DMGeurts]

Can't believe you are down to 20 days! WOW!

LOL... I was betting myself that you'd make at least one ADR for this trip.

Loved your update on your other thread!

D~

 

[kittylady1972]

Can't believe you are down to 20 days! WOW!

LOL... I was betting myself that you'd make at least one ADR for this trip.

Loved your update on your other thread!

D~

I KNOW...it is crazy that soon I'll be doing SINGLE DIGIT DANCING!!

Well you just know me way too well. I haven't told anybody else about those ADRs...it's my own dirty little secret!

 

[kittylady1972]

TWENTY 20 DAYS
I still can't believe this trip is so close. I'm really looking forward to the craziness that January has in store for us.

Last night I got an email from my FIL...ok a response to my email about the trip really. He is asking me how much advance notice they will need to rent a scooter for my MIL. I'll admit, I've been concerned about that myself. She seems like she's in pain lately from walking and I think it all stems from a hip replacement she had a few years ago...that did NOT go well. His email was basically saying he wasn't ready to book anything now just in case...but my point is this...in case what? I think he seems to think she'll get better but I don't know that she's taking any steps to get better. I don't know the details but seems to me...we will be renting her a scooter. I have used some off-site place in the past and liked them so I'll probably wait until a few days before we leave and reserve one. I think it will be okay. I don't really want to deal with the scooter thing but I also don't want them to feel like they have to slow down because she doesn't have it.

Anyway I refused to even do any checking on DVC reservation openings today. I don't have high hopes that we'll be staying anywhere else and that's okay because we just MIGHT be using our points for TWO more trips...in 2013. Yes...I said it.

One will most likely be a short adults-only trip during the Food and Wine Festival for DH and I to celebrate our 15-year anniversary.

And the other trip?

Well that just might end up being a trip to DISNEYLAND! I got the idea in my head yesterday about moving our planned trip to Disneyland from January of 2014...to August of 2013. I think we will just need a lot of time there and I don't want to take the kids out of school next January for so long. It would just be easier to plan an August trip. This way we could go as long as we wanted to go (about 10 days) and see all the sights we want to see there which includes SEVERAL other non-Disney parks. Oh and we will take some time to visit some of DH's family that is out there too.

I'm already very excited about planning out THIS next adventure....but no PTR started quite yet. I have enough to keep me busy right now with this PTR and finishing up my other TR!

 

[kittylady1972]

SIXTEEN 16 DAYS
So I had an update yesterday...don't know what happened to it. No biggie since it really wasn't much of an update.

We are still slated to stay at Old Key West for our trip and I think I've decided that is fine with me. It's nice to have the points since I know we'll want to book a few days for the Food and Wine Festival in October and then we may even try to use some of our points for a trip out to California!

Really looking forward to this upcoming trip and can't believe it is so close. Even though we were just there less than 2 months ago, there are still things we really want to do that we haven't done yet.

I think trying to have lunch at Be Our Guest is at the top of my list now. Despite the reports of arriving at 10:30pm and waiting 30-45 minutes for a lunch seating, I still think it would be cool to see the inside of that restaurant. So that's part of the plan.

I also want to see Storytime with Belle since we missed it last time too. It's on my short list.

Spending more time at EPCOT this time is a must. We totally missed the World Showcase during our November trip. Didn't even step one foot beyond Future World. A few visits to La Cava de Tequila are in order this time around.

Plus we want to make time for the kids to do some of the adventure games that they haven't done yet. Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom is one and the newly-themed Phineas and Ferb is the other one. We did one while it was Kim Possible but that was years ago. I think we may split up and do a few adventures this time around.

Those are my must-dos for this trip so we'll see if I can accomplish them. I have done nothing to plan these out. Basically my last week has been spent doing some research and preliminary bookings for AUGUST IN DISNEYLAND!! We had a plan to go to California next January but when I considered all of the extra time we would need there to see all of the things we want to see there, I've changed my mind and decided August would be better. Mostly because the kids have a 2-week break between when their summer camp ends and when school starts, so we might as well do something during that time. It's an expensive trip so I need to start stalking airfares NOW to see if I can get a good deal. We have some frequent flier miles to use but I'd also like to see if we can purchase some of the tickets at a lower price. It might mean splitting up our family for the flights out, but I'm okay with that if it saves us some money.

And before I go, just one more personal post and a big mommy brag here. Over the weekend we attended the middle school science fair for my DS12. Last year as a 6th grader he won 1st place overall in his category...which earned him a Kindle Fire and it was awesome. So of course this year he was hoping to win something again, in a new category with a new project and as a 7th grader. When they announced the winners in his category...his name was not one of those people. He was a bit deflated and disappointed of course. However at the end of the category announcements, they also had THREE overall winners (6th, 7th and 8th grade) for the whole science fair. He ended up taking SECOND PLACE OVERALL...winning him an Ipad Mini this year!

It was really exciting and we are so proud of him, but also nervous for next year. After all, he really has to set the bar high next year because he can only win one higher now...1st place overall. That's a tough one.

 

[kittylady1972]

FOURTEEN 14 DAYS!!!
We leave for our trip in TWO WEEKS! Wow! I still can't fathom that!

I have done nothing in terms of planning for it lately, unless you count checking the DVC website AGAIN to see the availability of the other resorts. Still nothing. The only hope MIGHT be a 2BR Standard room at Kidani which is open for 2 of our four nights...but not the other two. We definitely won't be doing any resort changing for such a short trip so we'll just wait. I remain SLIGHTLY hopeful that some pixie dust will happen and we'll get a reservation at Boardwalk...but honestly don't know how realistic it is to think that.

A week from today my waitlist expires. That gives me a chance to check EVERY SINGLE DAY until my trip beginning next week for ANY availability at the other resorts. I'm just crazy enough to try that. I'd love to get a last minute opening somewhere!

The trip should be fun and the weather looks like it might be pretty mild. I think with the way our weather is here in Maryland right now, there's a good chance it could be swimming weather in Florida! My kids would love some pool time in January, so we'll definitely make sure their swimsuits are packed for that!

 

[kittylady1972]

TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY...I'll be in DISNEY!
Still no change on the room reservation...shocking I know!

Yesterday I tried to come up with a preliminary budget for the trip. If I'm lucky, we can stay under it. We did pretty well with our November trip staying below the budget so I think it can be done. It really needs to since we have so many other expenses right now.

It's not the best time to go to Disney, but really it's the only time we can do it and take advantage of the annual passes for everybody. Yesterday I learned how much it is going to cost to have our gas fireplace repaired...and EEEK!

The fireplace is not a NECESSITY since we have gas heat...but it's a nice thing to have and the fact that it's got a small gas leak is not good. The gas has been turned off for about a week or so since the kids discovered the smell and pointed it out. So it's not danger right now as long as we don't use it.

We were also getting an estimate on replacing our kitchen floor. The vinyl has been coming up for quite some time and I'm ready to be done with it and just put in ceramic tile. I thought it might not be too bad...but yesterday I got the quote and I was way off on my cost estimates there. So that will NOT be done for now, but it's not really a MUST do item. We have many other things that need to be done around the house this spring so we'll probably just save our money for those instead. My floor will have to wait.

We are going to have some carpet done, but it's just one set of steps. That's pretty inexpensive and just would make a difference for us. The steps lead to our basement and right now they are painted and we have had some carpet step pieces glued there. However it really doesn't look that great and we are using our basement a little more these days. So I'm going to have the carpet done but before I do that it means some work on my part. I have some staining and painting to do on the steps. Guess I know what I'll be doing pretty soon!

So with paying off Christmas AND our November trip money is quite tight. I'm trying to make some changes in our spending we have been pretty good lately...eating out a LOT less makes a big difference! I think if we can spend the next few months really tightening the reigns on our spending we'll be in better shape. I am very anxious to start our tax returns and get an idea of what to expect there.

Anyway that's about it for now. Tune in this time NEXT week when I learn about my expired wait list and go crazy trying to see if I can switch our resort at the last minute!

 

[DMGeurts]

I am surprised that nothing has changed... I think I would have caved by now, if I were you. LOL

I know about the house repairs.. We have a few that need to be done this year too.

Glad your gas is off for the fireplace... bad news there. Hopefully you can get it fixed soon.

D~

 

[kittylady1972]

I am surprised that nothing has changed... I think I would have caved by now, if I were you. LOL

I know about the house repairs.. We have a few that need to be done this year too.

Glad your gas is off for the fireplace... bad news there. Hopefully you can get it fixed soon.

D~

Yes I know...but really how much can I change? I'm trying to really allow us to be as spontaneous as possible for this trip and not stick us with ADRs that we MUST make! The few that I have are just placeholders in CASE we stick to the plan to be in that park and want to sit down but I may not even MENTION them to anybody else!

Yes I'm hoping the fireplace can get done at least sooner rather than later, but it's been so mild this winter that it's not even an issue. If it was snowing outside...I might be a bit more upset about not having it because it's just nice to warm up next to it on those bitter cold days. I do think the cats miss curling up on their warm beds in front of it though.

I did just find out this morning that DH got a bonus from work and he's going to use some of that to cover the fireplace repair and a few other big expenses we've had this month. The rest of it he can't decide what to do and though he's said he would apply it towards vacation, I know he'd like to start saving up some money for himself to buy something. What? He really wants to buy a Mustang Convertible someday! This wouldn't even put a dent in that cost but it would be a start.

Of course, I am trying not to mention to him that it would be nice to have that money to apply towards some airline tickets to Los Angeles that I'd like to try to buy next month!

 

[kittylady1972]

TEN 10 MORE DAYS!!!
Have I mentioned lately how I can't believe how fast this time is going leading up to our trip?

Work this week will be crazy busy and I'll be out of the office almost two full days so that should help things go by fast...and get on with our 3-day weekend. And the weekend will be busy as we plan to host ANOTHER football playoffs party and hope that our BALTIMORE RAVENS can pull off another win. I just hope it won't be as stressful as the game this past Saturday. We had a group over for that one as well.

So this weekend brought a few more close calls to blowing our surprise trip for the kids. Two different people mentioned, in front of the kids, about our upcoming trip. I am pretty sure my daughter is VERY suspicious now that we might still be going to Disney even though I told her the trip was cancelled.

The only thing is she does not really know the dates of the trip. In fact, over the weekend she even asked me what were the dates going to be before we cancelled and I played it off and ended up avoiding the question.

I still don't think she's buying it.

NOW the big thing will be trying to get everybody packed...without their knowledge! That's something I have to do this weekend or at least start. It should be easy, as it's not like my kids really keep track of their clothes that well so they won't miss a few outfits. I have to pack clothing for 5 days and right now it looks like the weather in Florida will be on the chilly side. We will still pack swimsuits just in case...but I doubt we'll need them. So mostly it will be long pants, short sleeve shirts and layers of sweatshirts for what looks like will be temps in the high 60s for the most part.

Plus I need to rent a scooter for my MIL who appears to have a bum knee. I am VERY concerned about how well she will be able to keep up with us and really enjoy herself. After all, leaving that scooter outside the rides you still have to walk through some long queues (I'm thinking specifically of that walk through Space Mountain...and Star Tours) but hopefully she will be okay. I'm hoping the low crowds will make it easier to navigate through the parks and we'll have our own car so transporting to and from the parks won't be an issue.

So stay tuned as I try to slowly but surely put away bits of clothing for my kids for the next few days. I figure I'll get some bags out and hide them in my closet and I'll stuff the clothing in there for each of them. That way when I'm ready to pack, I'll just transfer everything into suitcases the morning of our trip!

Oh and did I mention I plan to work for a few hours the morning that we leave? So the kids won't suspect when they realize I'm at work and they get on the bus to go to school.

I can't wait to see how they react when we put them right in the car right off the bus and start our journey!!!

 

[kittylady1972]

SINGLE DIGIT DANCING

Yes we are now at 8 more days until we leave!

The update is that I have booked a scooter for my MIL to use for our trip. I am still worried about the walking she'll have to do with that but hopefully she will be okay.

However what that also means is that I'm really RE-THINKING our stay at Old Key West. Why? Well our last stay was back in November of 2007 and what I recall from that stay...was we had a scooter for my MIL! Our room was on the second floor of OKW and there were NO ELEVATORS which meant we had to haul that scooter up the steps each day and down each day. That was not too fun.

So perhaps we'd be better off booking a stay at a resort that has an elevator. I'm actually thinking maybe Saratoga Springs even though it's a bit higher on the points. However I'm going to wait a few more days just in case one of my waitlists does come through...which means a stay at Boardwalk or Animal Kingdom right now. I honestly don't see that happening. However I am totally not even against checking every day next week for last minute cancellations. Maybe I'll get some pixie dust!

I am having serious concerns about the weather. It's supposed to be COLD here in Maryland next week...which is fine with me. However if any moisture comes into the area it will affect our plans. My thoughts are we hit the road ahead of any storms if they are rolling through...but that means pulling the kids out of school earlier. Also if any of the weather hits overnight and messes up the morning, and the kids get a delay in the school opening...then they will NOT get out early from school which also messes up my plans.

Anyway don't know of the chances of this. I've already slowly starting putting away some of the kids' clothes in my closet without them knowing. I'm hoping to have the clothes ready to be packed already set aside this weekend. That means when they head off to school next Thursday morning, I'll go to work but come home early and pack their stuff. My SIL has agreed to take our dog for us while we are gone which I know the dog will love but so will my SIL since she just put her dog down earlier this month. So it's a win-win situation for her and my nephew to borrow our furry family member for a few days...and it saves us some money!

That's it from here! Tune in next week as I begin stalking the DVC website regularly!

 

[kittylady1972]

8 MORE DAYS (a 2nd BONUS post)
A really quick update since...SURPRISE...I made a minor change today.

I just could not stop thinking about dealing with that scooter at Old Key West and how it would not be as convenient and so I checked the DVC website and found a 2BR available for Saratoga Springs...and decided to take it. I really do like Saratoga Springs. The pools are nice, the eating options there are better than at OKW, and even though it is very spread out with many bus stops, I know we'll mostly be driving and so that's fine. So I called DVC Member Services and made the change!

A quick recap now of how I envision our trip:

THURSDAY: Kids are out of school around 1pm. We'll have the car packed and ready to go so that when they get home we'll just hit the road for the long drive. This should put us through the terrible DC Area/Northern VA area well ahead of traffic. Our hope is to keep trucking along for a good 8-10 hours plus. Goal is to make it at least to Georgia and then find a hotel overnight. According to my DH, he really wants to drive for a MINIMUM of 12 hours so we just might find ourselves stopping in Florida!

FRIDAY:With any luck, we'll be within a 3-4 hour drive of Walt Disney World from our hotel, but it might be more like 2 if my husband has his way. I think he's already planning on a breakfast at Cracker Barrel so I guess we have to make sure we stop near one of those. We will get up and packed and cleaned up and head somewhere for a nice sit-down breakfast. Then it's back in the car for the drive! Hoping to arrive in Walt Disney World close to noon...or earlier. We will head to our resort (now SSR) and see about checkin. If the room is ready, we may unpack but if not...then we have some decisions to make. Originally I was thinking we wouldn't have to do a park this day, but now I am thinking we have those annual passes....so why not? I think we might try to head to Magic Kingdom and head straight for BOG for a lunch there. I keep reading so many good things about their lunch and I'm willing to wait a little bit for a good meal! Then maybe we'll let the kids to the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom adventure there between rides.


SATURDAY:One of the goals for the kids this trip I know is to ride Toy Story Mania since we missed it in November. I think this time we just might try to get that done. So we will wake up and have breakfast in our room. It is an early entry day for Hollywood Studios so I'm thinking we aim to be there close to the 8am opening and that means leaving our hotel NO LATER THAN 7:30am. We are pretty much right across the street from Hollywood Studios really. We'll ride Toy Story Mania, Tower of Terror, Rock N' Roller Coaster and Star Tours and maybe also do a drawing at Animation as well. This should put us into the afternoon timeframe. I am holding a lunch reservation at 50s Prime Time Cafe. I love their pot roast and fried chicken and I know I said no table service...but I couldn't resist. The afternoon/evening is going to be for EPCOT. Hoping we can get a fastpass for Soarin' for an evening ride there sometime. We will just spend the rest of the day exploring EPCOT. I have yet another ADR here for the evening at Rose & Crown for the sole purpose of dessert for my husband...he loves their sticky toffee pudding!

SUNDAY:This is all about the Magic Kingdom day. Breakfast in our room and then hit Magic Kingdom for a full day. We *MIGHT* take a break in the afternoon for dinner outside of the park...not sure. I am holding an ADR at the Plaza for an early dinner here. I love the food there and it's not too expensive.

MONDAY:This is our full day at EPCOT. Breakfast in our room and then hit the park for a full day there. We might try to have a sitdown meal for dinner at one of the restaurants if we can find one that will seat us with NO ADR! I'd love to try Marrakesh again with the whold family. Maybe we'll finish up the park early and then hit the miniature golf course for the evening after we are packed up for the next day.

TUESDAY:Time to leave! We'll have a nice sit-down breakfast somewhere before hitting the road. Hoping to be on the road no later than 8am and we'll be driving all the way home with very few stops. Arrival back home should be between 10pm and 11pm. Next day the kids have school and we are back at work!
​

So that is our plan as it stands. It's really only subject to change at this point if I find different resort accomodations. Part of me is thinking of changing us to a 1BR (for our five) and Studio (for MIL and FIL) and only because I think they might enjoy having some privacy. Don't get me wrong...I know they will be fine with us and in their own bedroom but I also think they just might enjoy having their own private space too. We'll see if something opens up late next week.

 

[kittylady1972]

SIX 6 MORE DAYS!!!

We depart for our trip in six more days and as of now...by this time next week we will be in WALT DISNEY WORLD! I am hoping that a week from today I will be able to talk about the wonderful lunch I just ate at Be Our Guest. I'm going to do my best to keep Twitter updated while there. If you need my name there, let me know!

I'm pretty sure we'll end up at Saratoga Springs for our stay but honestly that's okay. It's actually a nice resort. My only issue is with the bus stops because I have had a history of not remembering which stop to get off the bus when returning from a park. We usually drive to the parks anyway, but sometimes one part of the group leaves (and that might be the case this time if my MIL starts having issues with her knee despite the scooter) and the rest of us hang at the parks. In December 2009 I took the kids alone to MK one night...and we took the bus back to the resort late. I missed our stop. I had sleeping kids I had to wake up and drag off the bus and walk back to our room. I woke up my husband to come get us...but then called him off once we nearly reached the building. Yeah...he wasn't too thrilled as you can imagine!

I get a lot of flack from him for my disregard of children and schedules. I am ALWAYS willing to run everybody down as much as possible. Late night at the parks? YES we can DO IT! Then you deal with tired children the next day when I insist we get up early for rope drop. Somehow he finds this to be a problem??

The kids are getting a little better as they get older. We tend to know when they have had enough. I always agree that I will be the one dealing with them the next day when I decide to run them ragged.

Our trip in November we didn't have too many late nights and honestly the ones that we did have...weren't too bad. The kids seemed to do okay for the most part the next day.

This trip will be SO short that I feel like we should take advantage of later park nights when possible. We just might try to to both MK and EPCOT that first night, since EPCOT has EMH that night. Of course, I won't mention that to my husband right now!

Speaking of my husband, for as much as he likes to complain about my frequent Disney trips, he's certainly not backing down from this one. The other night he was going crazy on Google Maps with driving directions and then looking for hotels for our stop. He is now VERY determined that we cross the Florida border before we stop for the night. He has even spoken of driving until 3:30am and just staying the night in Orlando or Kissimmee. Personally I think that's just too much.

Now he's talked about taking the kids out of school all day on Thursday. I won't do that. They already missed on day in November for vacation...so I'm okay with them missing one more next week, especially a short day. I just *MIGHT* give in and pick them up a bit early on Thursday though, instead of letting them ride the bus home. My plan was they would arrive home at 1:30pm and we'd pack them out and head out. Now I just might pick them up from school around noon and that puts us well on the road closer to 12:30pm. If we drive 12 hours we should be in Florida. We will see what happens.

Then there is the weather. I swear I read online today of the possibility of snow again next week, but maybe I was reading a forecast from earlier this week instead? I can't find it now. If there is any chance of bad weather, I will have no problems trying to hit the road ahead of the weather.

Last night I tried my best to throw my kids off the idea of anything happening next weekend. I'm not sure they are quite aware of the 4-day weekend coming up for them. I told them that maybe NEXT weekend we could do a tour of DC for the day, see some museums, since we haven't done that in a while. They were...well MEH about the idea...but we'll see. I shall continue to try to deflect their attention from any hopes of a trip coming up as much as possible.

We can DO this surprise thing!!!

 

[DMGeurts]

I love hearing about all your plans, and how you are throwing the kids off of the scent! Great job. I admire anyone who can surprise their kids - I am too much of a big mouth for that. LOL

I agree - leaving before the weather hits is a good thing. And I would think that pulling the kids out for part of a day would be OK?

I can't believe your trip is only (now) 5 days away! I would love to follow along with you, but I don't twitter.

D~

 

[tallen429]

I know, it's funny how I can use the line "but just think it will cost us almost NOTHING" with my DH with regards to the AP tickets. Add in a DVC room and it's practically FREE!!!!

I can't wait to post about my resort plans...when I know them for sure!

Keep an eye out for us...and run far AWAY! We'll probably be the ones riding Space Mountain over and over and over again. My DS8 LOVES that ride!

Wow it's getting so close now!!
I'm really getting that "less than one week to go" excitement/adreneline!

That darn AP already has me planning two more trips...LOL!
The cherry on top is that my DH has an international job so we always have a crazy amount of FF miles. FREE FLIGHTS!

eta, my ticker is wrong, fyi. I made it before I added days and never went back and changed it. 6 days!!

 

[shalom]

I think Saratoga Springs sounds lovely. In the abstract I always tended toward Old Key West (because it looks beautiful in pictures and the units are bigger), but when we actually visited both of them, everyone disliked Old Key West and loved Saratoga Springs. For some reason, OKW felt more "frazzled" and Saratoga Springs took the serene prize. A short trip like yours, that sounds good, right?

 

[kittylady1972]

I love hearing about all your plans, and how you are throwing the kids off of the scent! Great job. I admire anyone who can surprise their kids - I am too much of a big mouth for that. LOL

I agree - leaving before the weather hits is a good thing. And I would think that pulling the kids out for part of a day would be OK?

I can't believe your trip is only (now) 5 days away! I would love to follow along with you, but I don't twitter.

D~

Yes it has not been easy keeping up with this surprise thing. I do think we can pull it off, even though I know when we do my daughter will be all "I KNEW it" and the boys will be like "WHAT? Really?" so it will be interesting. Maybe I will record the reactions but it all depends on when they finally realize what is happening. Do I record when they see the car packed up and ask? Do I record when we get in the car and are on the road and I tell them where? Decisions, decisions!

Yeah the schools are pretty good with me taking the kids out...well I should say at least elementary school. My younger two are good students and I am Vice President of the PTO and know the school principal quite well...so taking them out has never been an issue. The middle school...well they haven't complained but I'm sure they are not as happy. And my middle school kid is not a great student by any means. He's smart...but does not apply himself at all. He now has 2 As 2 Ds and the rest C's on his report card...that will come out this week!

Too bad you don't read Twitter, but I will probably do a few Facebook posts and updates as well. Feel free to friend me there and I'll make sure I change my settings so you can see stuff!

 

[kittylady1972]

Wow it's getting so close now!!
I'm really getting that "less than one week to go" excitement/adreneline!

That darn AP already has me planning two more trips...LOL!
The cherry on top is that my DH has an international job so we always have a crazy amount of FF miles. FREE FLIGHTS!

eta, my ticker is wrong, fyi. I made it before I added days and never went back and changed it. 6 days!!

I know...I can't believe I have only THREE MORE SLEEPS at home and then we'll be on the road. Hoping the week goes by quickly but the vacation time goes SLOOOOOWWWWLLY!

My DH also has been doing a lot of travel too. We are hoping to use some of his miles to plan our big summer trip...to DISNEYLAND!!!

 

[kittylady1972]

I think Saratoga Springs sounds lovely. In the abstract I always tended toward Old Key West (because it looks beautiful in pictures and the units are bigger), but when we actually visited both of them, everyone disliked Old Key West and loved Saratoga Springs. For some reason, OKW felt more "frazzled" and Saratoga Springs took the serene prize. A short trip like yours, that sounds good, right?

Yes we've stayed at both before. I really did enjoy Saratoga Springs. Of course, the best stay we had was November 2007 when we stayed in a 3 bedroom villa....huge and lovely! Our last stay there was December of 2009 and it was nice too and we did get to use the pool. Honestly we spend so little time in the room but it is nice to have a few food options and Old Key West just didn't have as much to us. Plus Turf Club at SSR has become a favorite. We don't have a meal planned right now for there but that doesn't mean we may not try to go there anyway!

 

[kittylady1972]

THREE 3 MORE DAYS!!

There are 3 more sleeps at home until our trip begins. I hate for it to get here because I know it will end far too quickly!

Here's hoping we make the best of it.

I need to stop reading dining reviews. It just makes me want to eat at more restaurants and that cuts into PRECIOUS park time. I think we may need the breaks for meals though. Right now those breaks will come at lunch time.

I did online checkin at SSR today. I have to do some checking with the scooter rental place who I emailed last week with our resort change...but did not get a response. I need to make sure we are on track with that.

We have lots of hotel options picked out in GA and FLA for our overnight stay. Hoping we can make it to FLA though as that would make for more theme park time on Friday!

Haven't finished packing up the kids but need to sneakily get that done soon. Might have to make a point to get home early one day from work so I can raid their rooms for clothing.

Actually right now might be a good idea. They are all in the basement playing games and I can sneak up and get some short sleeve shirts out for them for next week.

Yeah....off to do that!