**October 2016 Check-in!**

[gsrieff]

Historically, yes that tends to be a busy week but this year there are factors that changed the crowd levels. Normally Utah school district has there fall break that week every year but this year it falls on the week after. This dramatically reduces crowd levels.

ive read on a few other threads (after i booked) about Utah school break...my dates are over those two days...is it going to severely effect the crowd level?

I've gone over thanksgiving break where it was so busy you could barely walk, and i had heard they actually closed the gates one of those days because the park was full...will it be anything comparable to that? Or is it more something that just the regular park AP attendees would notice?

 

[AlohaNow]

Now i get to add them all in one at a time to disneygiftcards.com and transfer balances. this is so fun to me.

Yes, we are your people. And we understand.

 

[gsrieff]

Yes, we are your people. And we understand.

I AM WHERE I BELONG..

 

[oktracy]

Family of 4 headed to Disneyland 9/30 - 10/2. Let's hope the stars are aligned....Hoping to catch MHP on Friday night.

 

[gsrieff]

Is anyone in our group trying to lose weight before they go? I started making an effort in the beginning of march.

I am trying to walk 1.5-2 miles at least every other day. I also changed the way i was eating. I have swapped out things for the healthier versions. I am not counting calories, doing points, or even weighing myself. Just trying to be healthier without putting pressure on myself.

Its going well so far! My pants are having a hard time staying up, and people are commenting on my loss!

 

[Kindermouse]

Congrats gsrieff!

I went paleo last year and I lost about 80 pounds and I felt fantastic.

Then I started a new job this year and I was pretty miserable at it. Working a minimum of 10 hours a day plus a 60 mile round trip commute left me with little time or energy to plan meals, shop or cook much. Plus the depression I fell in due to the stressor the job had me stress eating and reaching for sweets to deal. So I have gained back 45 pounds.

I have a new job that starts at the end of July and a break between when I leave my current job and start my new job that's about 2 months. I'm hoping that during this time I can get back on the wagon and then actually feel comfortable taking pictures on our next trip.

 

[nikerbokers]

Is anyone in our group trying to lose weight before they go? I started making an effort in the beginning of march.

I am trying to walk 1.5-2 miles at least every other day. I also changed the way i was eating. I have swapped out things for the healthier versions. I am not counting calories, doing points, or even weighing myself. Just trying to be healthier without putting pressure on myself.

Its going well so far! My pants are having a hard time staying up, and people are commenting on my loss!

I am! I had a baby almost 6 weeks ago. I've lost 26lbs since then but I have another 14lbs to get to my pre pregnancy weight and then another 18 to get to my ultimate goal. By October I would like to lose 20 more lbs than I am today. I'm supposed to be cleared for exercise by my
OB tomorrow so I plan on re starting the 21 Day Fix. Good luck to you! Sounds like you are going to need a new but smaller wardrobe for your trip.

 

[AlohaNow]

Not to turn this into a W.I.S.H. thread or anything……(BTW, fabulous and supportive DISer’s over there on the W.I.S.H. thread!) I started using the little gym at work in October. I get two 15-minute breaks, which I never really took, but now I spend that time exclusively in the gym. I cannot tell you how much better I feel, going from no exercise to just 30 minutes a day. I don’t go home sore from just sitting at the computer all day. I, too, do not keep track of anything, don’t feel that I have to post anything anywhere to keep me accountable. I know from how my clothes fit how I’m doing!

 

[AlohaNow]

Anywho…..as you *are* my people and you fully understand the excitement of planning a Disney trip….

Today the window opened up to book Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) tours at Cal Tech for October. This is something unique (and free) that we have been looking forward to doing on this trip. I was able to book the exact date and time I needed! So psyched! The way it works out is that we will now definitely have three straight park days, Sunday-Tuesday, of uninterrupted Disney magic! Thank you NASA! Now just waiting on park hours and MNSSHP dates to be announced. We are not going to MNSSHP but I’ll need to know when the park closes for the party on what days so I can plan a Blue Bayou dinner for my son’s birthday. We also do not have hoppers, so must make our plan of attack for which days in which park. Just awaiting the schedules so I can slot in the fun! And about two weeks before we leave I will check into available tickets to be in the studio audience for the taping of a TV show on that same JPL tour date. The JPL is about 15 miles from the studios, so I think we’ll be able to make that work time wise.

So fun! Hope everyone is having a great time putting their itineraries together!

 

[lalasmama]

Is anyone in our group trying to lose weight before they go? I started making an effort in the beginning of march.

I am trying to walk 1.5-2 miles at least every other day. I also changed the way i was eating. I have swapped out things for the healthier versions. I am not counting calories, doing points, or even weighing myself. Just trying to be healthier without putting pressure on myself.

Its going well so far! My pants are having a hard time staying up, and people are commenting on my loss!

I'm also trying to lose a little before my trip, though nothing "substantial," only about 20-30 lbs. DH and I gave up soda, we're increasing fresh veggies and fruits instead of other treats. I've also increased my walking significantly. I'm approaching 200# at 5'3", and none of the rides are "difficult" because of my size, but I'd still like to be a bit smaller and more comfortable on some of the rides!

 

[lalasmama]

Can anyone speak about the Halloween parties? I assume there will be at least one when I am there, and DH said that would be my Mothers Day present (written in a card, since tickets aren't available yet). Trying to figure out if it's "worth" it. How much are the crowds thinned during the party? How are the lines? We have dietary restrictions at home (namely, no artificial colors), so I'm not big on bringing home 10 pounds of candy; mainly thinking about it for shorter lines, maybe for meeting villains as I'll be Disneybounding a few villains.

 

[nikerbokers]

Can anyone speak about the Halloween parties? I assume there will be at least one when I am there, and DH said that would be my Mothers Day present (written in a card, since tickets aren't available yet). Trying to figure out if it's "worth" it. How much are the crowds thinned during the party? How are the lines? We have dietary restrictions at home (namely, no artificial colors), so I'm not big on bringing home 10 pounds of candy; mainly thinking about it for shorter lines, maybe for meeting villains as I'll be Disneybounding a few villains.

I definitely find it worth it. You get in 3 hours before the party. Once the non party goers have to leave, we notice we are able to walk on many rides. The trick or treat trails have alternatives to candy like Pirates Booty, Fruit Snacks, Pretzels etc. The fireworks rock. We definitely love it.

To a previous poster, please don't confuse MNSSHP with MHP. MNSSHP is at WDW. You probably know that but I've seen a few people in the past couple years accidentally buy the MNSSHP tix (they release those dates before DL's MHP) and then they are out that money.

 

[AlohaNow]

I guess I did use the wrong term for the DLR party. Ooops. Well, at least my post was that we are not interested in purchasing tickets, so all is good for us! Did not mean to confuse things – thanks for pointing that out!

 

[PixieT78]

Add me (and DH) to the list of people trying to lose a few (well, more than a few) pounds before we head to DL. Planning on working on our walking too. My feet always get so sore walking all day so anything I can do to help that will be a good thing!

We are definitely considering MHP. Especially since we will only be there Tues to Fri afternoon and I believe they didn't do fireworks every night prior to the 60th anniversary so not sure if they will add them. I love me some fireworks

 

[BatBunny]

Add me (and DH) to the list of people trying to lose a few (well, more than a few) pounds before we head to DL. Planning on working on our walking too. My feet always get so sore walking all day so anything I can do to help that will be a good thing!

Same here. We're working hard to get in better shape for our next trip; including our walking regimen; it's no fun being in the park when you're feet are in such pain it's not even funny.

 

[Kindermouse]

Alright, all these post have me convinced to atleast get started even ifim starting small. Today is day on of 1.5 miles of walking and day one of just say no to sugar. I'll buckle down more once I am off work and out of that toxic environment.

To those that have booked your hotels, did you find that you got a better price for October than you have paid at other times in the year. I definitely did at desert inn and suites (90 dollars a night).

 

[lalasmama]

Alright, all these post have me convinced to atleast get started even ifim starting small. Today is day on of 1.5 miles of walking and day one of just say no to sugar. I'll buckle down more once I am off work and out of that toxic environment.

To those that have booked your hotels, did you find that you got a better price for October than you have paid at other times in the year. I definitely did at desert inn and suites (90 dollars a night).

I paid the same for my Oct trip as I did for my Dec trip last time ($120ish/nite). Desert Inn is definitely cheaper the sooner you book. I think I paid $70/night there about 3 years ago!

 

[Kindermouse]

wow 70 a night! i did book pretty far out and, hearing that it helps keep costs down I'm sure glad I did. I like the desert inn but the last time I planed a trip they were more expensive so we went with the tropicana. i was thinking it was the time of year (second week of March) but now im thinking it could have been because I was booking closer to the trip date

 

[nikerbokers]

Alright, all these post have me convinced to atleast get started even ifim starting small. Today is day on of 1.5 miles of walking and day one of just say no to sugar. I'll buckle down more once I am off work and out of that toxic environment.

To those that have booked your hotels, did you find that you got a better price for October than you have paid at other times in the year. I definitely did at desert inn and suites (90 dollars a night).

I also booked DI&S at $99/night for our time there. We usually stay at Tropicana but the rate at Desert was too good to pass up.

 

[gsrieff]

it's no fun being in the park when you're feet are in such pain it's not even funny.

Exactly! oh my, it was so bad last time!!