Occupying yourself

[WdwforLife]

What does everyone else to in the months preceding a WDW vacation?

I myself listen to WDW music and ambience. I cruise Disneyworld.com. I watch old home movies. I look over old scrapbooks. I spend time on WDW boards O

I also start my list of things to do/buy/pack before I go. I look over it every now and then and refine it, add to it, improve upon it. But I wonder...is there more?! What else can I be doing??? Tell me your suggestions!!!

 

[BellesFavoriteBook]

I make lists of what I need to put in my personal carry on, in the park bag, snacks to buy / bring, things to pack in suitcase, etc. I also figure out if I want to buy another movie or two for my iPod. I haven't been to Disney World since I was 17 (that was my 1st trip in 1996) so I can't remember a WHOLE lot about the first trip.

I also will make / am making / have made a list of things I need to buy (I am buying packing cubes to help organize my clothes, for example). I watched Beauty and the Beast last night. Not sure what else.......closer to May I'll download pictures I have on my camera so I can have my camera card be fresh and ready for the trip.

 

[WdwforLife]

Yes! Of course. A Disney movie a day keeps the impatience away.

Where are you staying? WHo are you going with? Excited much?

 

[Melissa]

I work on my Tinkerbelle gifts for dd. I do notes for each day with little surprises. So making the notes and looking for Disney stuff at Dollar Tree and Target, amuses me enough to help the last couple months pass.

 

[tami82]

Every vacation we go on i have a list. This is great as i never forgot a thing. I started last spring & summer buying stuff for Disney such as trading pins, lanyard water bottle holders, dresses for my two daughters, stuff for their goodie bags, mouse ears, portable fans, etc...... so i dont have to buy these things at the parks and they have been paid for well ahead of time which i am so glad that i did.
I guess you can just keep going over your lists to improve them. I know there are things this trip that i will be bringing that i didnt on other trips.

You can start to shop for what you will be wearing (that is what i have been doing - i have found some very lightweight tops that i have put aside). You can put these clothes aside and start putting together outfits - maybe put aside a spot in your closet. I usually start packing around 1 month before going away and i find this is the best way to do it. I have the suitcases I use in sight so i could put away things that i will need for the trip (things i have extra of and wont be using before then). My kids have tons of clothes so i can always put together outfits for them ahead of time as well since they have other stuff to wear in the mean time.

I also have a hard cosmetic case which i put every medicine under the sun in there and actually keep some of the meds in the case year round. We do go away a few times a year and this eliminates me having to pack the medicines every time. Make a list of things you may need and buy these when you go shopping. Alot of these things can also be packed well ahead of time. You dont want to be making any emergency stops to the drug store when you can plan this ahead of time and have everything at your fingertips. Its a great feeling to know you are prepared for anything that may come up.

Its great to do this as I am not rushed, I am not running around like a nut at the last moment, and I dont stress myself out as the bulk of it is done beforehand the week or days before we leave. Give it a try.

 

[WdwforLife]

I usually start packing around 1 month before going away and i find this is the best way to do it.

Ha! I knew I wasn't the only one. Well, I mean, I only start packing a week before. But I always have everything done and packed at least 2 days before 'cause I do all of my laundry then and pack everything else I need. People say I'm crazy but I could never wrap my head around how most people just put it off until the very last minute.

But yes. I love revising my lists. And I also make nifty envelopes for mousekeeping. It's also a tradition for me to buy a brand new pair of sneaks before I go each year. So I always look forward to that!

 

[WdwforLife]

Man, I'm gonna start to get all sentimental here but, well, I'm still young: 23, but a part of me can not wait for the day when I can do all these things with my kids, y'know? 'Cause like, I know by the time they get to be like 14 they might be all like "Geez. Dad, come on. Disney World is for losers." Maybe but then again maybe not. However, until then, they'll be totally entranced by every WDW and they'll get just as excited as me! I can't wait 'til I can share that

 

[BellesFavoriteBook]

Yes! Of course. A Disney movie a day keeps the impatience away.

Where are you staying? WHo are you going with? Excited much?

Were you asking me?

I am going with my sister and brother in law, who went the first time we went, back in 1996. This time, they have children, so it'll be 6 of us. I am very excited. I even bought a few special disney goodies for the kids for the plane trip. We're stay onsite at Beach Club Villa. In 1996, we stayed offsite at a condo owned by a neighbor's parents.

Animal Kingdom wasn't open yet when we went before, so that'll be exciting. I'll be getting more Princess autographs this time (Sleeping Beauty and Belle especially). And I am determined to find my beloved favorite animal sidekick MEEKO! I'll need Pooh's autograph this time cause last time I only got my picture with him and forgot his autograph.

I also obsessively search eBay for Disney merchandise to "watch" to see if I can get a chance to buy.

 

[happymommy]

I don't have that problem this coming trip (a week from today!). I just booked a week ago!!!!!!!!!

Yikes...

Usually, I make lists of things we'll like to have in the room. I pack a box of snacks and such to ship ahead of time (that way when we do our quick grocery stop I just can get juice, water, milk, and wine). It saves time - I hate to grocery shop with my kids asking for stuff, so I can tell them it's in the box already (DH isn't coming this trip).

It's fun to plan the trip!

 

[WdwforLife]

Were you asking me?

Yes. I was asking you

 

[Emme]

Man, I'm gonna start to get all sentimental here but, well, I'm still young: 23, but a part of me can not wait for the day when I can do all these things with my kids, y'know? 'Cause like, I know by the time they get to be like 14 they might be all like "Geez. Dad, come on. Disney World is for losers." Maybe but then again maybe not. However, until then, they'll be totally entranced by every WDW and they'll get just as excited as me! I can't wait 'til I can share that

Not to be OT but I just have to reply...
I have a son and I was afraid of the same thing when he hit the teens...I was 23 when he was born (your age) and now he is 20 and guess what? He has NEVER missed a WDW trip with us...never. He actually would be upset if we went without him...lol. Believe me if you make memories special and treasure them, children (and adults) will usually always want to revisit them...

 

[WdwforLife]

Not to be OT but I just have to reply...
I have a son and I was afraid of the same thing when he hit the teens...I was 23 when he was born (your age) and now he is 20 and guess what? He has NEVER missed a WDW trip with us...never. He actually would be upset if we went without him...lol. Believe me if you make memories special and treasure them, children (and adults) will usually always want to revisit them...

I'm actually really looking forward to a family, especially to share WDW with. I'm 23, I think I've just reached that age. It's weird.

But I vowed not to be that person that brings my infant son or daughter to WDW. The ones that carry them around in a baby harness in the blistering heat. No. I think four is a good age to wait to bring them on their first vacation. I'm sure other people have had wonderful successful WDW vacations with their 2 or 3 year old. But I just don't know if I'd want to risk it.

Is it wrong I'd want to drop the little bugger(s) off at Grandmom's for the week while the misses and I enjoy some Mickey fun???

 

[WdwforLife]

Also, what are some other things I can put on my "To Do" list before WDW?!

 

[bouncycat]

I too am wondering what I should be doing at this point! got 2 months to go, I guess I can start making my lists....I'm a LIST FREAK!!! HAHA and it's almost time for a trip to the dollar store....better make a list first!!! HAHA

 

[WdwforLife]

I too am wondering what I should be doing at this point! got 2 months to go, I guess I can start making my lists....I'm a LIST FREAK!!! HAHA and it's almost time for a trip to the dollar store....better make a list first!!! HAHA

I'm worse than you. I have FIVE months to go and I'm already making lists! But...better safe than sorry I always say. Besides, sites like these help keep me sane. And they keep me out of my girlfriend's hair

But I loooooovvvee getting prepared! I love making lists and revising them and slowly crossing stuff off! Last year I made neat-o Mousekeeping envelopes!

I loves to be prepared!!!

 

[WdwforLife]

Speaking of occupying myself, I'm off to buy the new Pinnochio DVD!

 

[bouncycat]

Yea, maybe you are worse then me!!! I've been fighting the urge back to start packing already!!! UG, I just wanna GO already!! Gotta tell my parents that we're actually staying at a resort in May, they think we're just going over for the day!! That'll happen this weekend, I can hear my dad now...."so how much is THIS gonna cost me?" He's always worried about the cost!! LOL

 

[Emme]

While your busy packing, list making, and shopping online listen to Live365...
Either mousehouseradio or Park Hopper Radio. Both offer music from the parks and the attractions...gets you sooo in the mood .

http://www.live365.com/stations/ian07042003
http://www.live365.com/stations/parkhopperradio

 

[WdwforLife]

While your busy packing, list making, and shopping online listen to Live365...
Either mousehouseradio or Park Hopper Radio. Both offer music from the parks and the attractions...gets you sooo in the mood .

I totally used to listen to these stations all the time! Then I sort of forgot about them for a while but now I'll give them a whirl again. But yeah, they really do help a lot!

 

[CANDYTLEW]

I cruise the Disney forums and try to find new tips for this trip. I always seem to find a new thing to do or try each year. I also start packing about 1.5 to 2 months ahead of time, so that I am not stuck ironing everything all at one time. I read every book about Disney that I can get. But I must admit I do all of this (except packing) all the time anyway, even if the trip is not close.