*****Official February 2015 Thread! Come check in and chat!*****

[Satye1]

We leave in exactly 14 days so I am jealous of your 1 week of work left. As of right now I have 9 days of work left since this Friday is a pro-d day for DS and I always stay home with him on days off. That might change since he has been running a fever since Friday after school so I might have fewer days at work than anticipated. Poor kid but if he was going to get sick, at least he is getting it over with before our trip. Three trips ago he ended up getting a bad cold mid way through our stay and he was pretty miserable. Two trips ago both he and DH ended up either getting a stomach bug or a combination of too much sun and too little water and they were both

I have 7 (yes, seven!) weather apps on my phone and I keep checking the weather in Anaheim and I agree, it looks like the weather is amazing, some even have it going up to the high 20's! Living in Victoria, we always have mild winters compared to the rest of Canada but this one has been quite lovely. We had one day where there was a tiny bit of snow (less than a cm) and a couple of days that got cold (Victoria cold, so negative 4!) but otherwise it has been averaging 9-11C. Heck, my neighbours even have daffodils blooming in their yard!

Hopefully he will get better soon! I have to say that is always my biggest worry as we get closer...we too have experienced it in the past. FLU season is really bad right now, just this week in paper where we live a healthy 35yr old who was imunized died from the FLU. Scary stuff.

Crossing our fingers & toes that no one gets sick prior. I always joke if someones sick I'll catch it...because it always seems to be the case. Have to say I've been extra vigulent to wipe down our grocery carts & not let kids have hot lunch at school to try to minimize our exposure.

 

[Gisele]

Hopefully he will get better soon! I have to say that is always my biggest worry as we get closer...we too have experienced it in the past. FLU season is really bad right now, just this week in paper where we live a healthy 35yr old who was imunized died from the FLU. Scary stuff.

Crossing our fingers & toes that no one gets sick prior. I always joke if someones sick I'll catch it...because it always seems to be the case. Have to say I've been extra vigulent to wipe down our grocery carts & not let kids have hot lunch at school to try to minimize our exposure.

That's a good idea about the hot lunch. Because even though hot lunches are very nice indeed, hot germs ain't! Matter a fact, hot buns are nice, hot cars, hotties, hot chocolate, hot coffee, hot soup, hot mocha latte something, but I repeat, not germs!

 

[Satye1]

That's a good idea about the hot lunch. Because even though hot lunches are very nice indeed, hot germs ain't! Matter a fact, hot buns are nice, hot cars, hotties, hot chocolate, hot coffee, hot soup, hot mocha latte something, but I repeat, not germs!

Our kids school has food servers for the "hot" food items, but then they have a salad bar & veggie station where there are spoons & tongs that the kids themselves use to choose & serve their own items. We're avoiding school hot lunch for this reason lots of little kid hands handling these spoons & tongs as they go through the salad bar & veggie line= lots of germs.

I will say the school is really good about providing hand sanitizer to kids prior...but I would rather pack lunches (healthier too) and take this extra precaution as we get closer to leaving since for us it is quite an expensive trip.

 

[lalasmama]

I have 6.5 days of work left until it's time to go, and only one weekend! So ready!

I ended up packing yesterday... When I get mad/frustrated I tend to do housework. Well, I broke my pointer finger on my dominant hand on Thursday, so I've been frustrated a lot the last few days! So, I decided packing would take my mind off of it. I have 3 shirts in the laundry that need packed, and otherwise, I'm all ready to go!

 

[PoohBearFriends]

I have 6.5 days of work left until it's time to go, and only one weekend! So ready!

I ended up packing yesterday... When I get mad/frustrated I tend to do housework. Well, I broke my pointer finger on my dominant hand on Thursday, so I've been frustrated a lot the last few days! So, I decided packing would take my mind off of it. I have 3 shirts in the laundry that need packed, and otherwise, I'm all ready to go!

3 days left! Packing intensifies. We are going over semester break do kids have concerts and finals before we go. Busy few days!

 

[Gisele]

man like I always say forget about all that packing! matter fact send packing packing! just do wash and wear. you know it's where you wear the same outfit and then you wash it. that's it! matter fact if you ride Splash Mountain, you're already set for the next day!
sure, wet speedos may not be comfortable, or socks, but hey you can't have everything. cuz if you did where would you put it all? matter of fact then you would need to use many a suitcase!

 

[anniebean]

I have 10 long days of work before we leave, and one of those weeks, new hubby will be at conference out of town. Won't be packing until maybe next weekend.

 

[Aladora]

I have 10 long days of work before we leave, and one of those weeks, new hubby will be at conference out of town. Won't be packing until maybe next weekend.

I'm leaving packing until the last minute. We leave Sunday afternoon so I will likely end up packing Sunday morning, possibly Saturday afternoon if I get twitchy!

 

[tygersclaw]

Speaking of packing, I travel to Las Vegas annually for a Disc Jockey convention, and when I do I travel, it is usually alone with DD at her sitter, but, this is my first ever time traveling with her, anywhere. Especially overnight let alone multiple nights

And not only that, our first time flying together.

So, I am not 100% sure what to pack, and as well do not want to overpack (we are going for 5 days of which 3 will be spent in the park) and for her, I am hoping her new Elsa carry-on will be enough for her things, although I have my carry-on as well as a large checked bag which I hope we can fill with souvenirs, as well as a new piece of DJ gear or two.

So, any tips from experienced travelers to DLP of what they would pack for a 5 year old girl?

And another thought, the CDN greenback has tanked in the last week (dropping from $0.85 to just over $0.80 in a week) so I REALLY hope that the CDN $ will regain some ground vs the USD.

How are CDN travelers travel plans being affected by the plummeting CDN $ and what changes to your plans, if any, are you making?

 

[AZMermaid]

I am pre-packing- ha ha! We leave in 13 days. I have planned out the kids outfits and once they go through the wash in the next week, they will be set aside. My son (4) has put a hole in a knee of all of his better pants in the last 3 weeks. So we took a little trip to the consignment store to get him a couple pairs of pants for the trip. He is not wearing them until we go!

I am worried my kids will get sick right before we go too. They don't get sick often, so I think that has me more worried, like it's just going to smack us in the face!

 

[AZMermaid]

So, any tips from experienced travelers to DLP of what they would pack for a 5 year old girl?

I'd watch the weather, but assuming highs of about 70ish, I'd pack pants and a short sleeve shirt for each day plus 1-2 extra outfits. I bring a back up outfit for each kid into the park every day. I have never needed them, but I figure it is good insurance! I think I will stop doing this after 5-6ish though. I'd bring 1-2 sweatshirts or hoodies, maybe one if you plan on buying one.

Is she wearing princess dresses at all? I'd still bring an outfit for that day in case she changes her mind or gets itchy. I would not wear the fancy shoes.

If you have easy access to laundry that you plan on using, I would cut the bottoms in half and rewear them.

 

[AZMermaid]

One tip I have used and really liked was to pack each days outfit together in a gallon size bag. I write the date on each one and then I just throw the bag at kid or Dad and they can get themselves dressed without having to make a giant mess of stuff. For my daughter this also includes special hair things if that applies. It saves some space in the suitcase as well.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Since we're no longer talking closures (as far as I can tell), I thought I'd rejoin the 'party.' Ha!

As far as packing...I personally will be bringing shorts since to me, temps in the 70's and 80's is hot.

For my son, we are bringing shorts and pants. If it's cooler in the morning/evening, we'll have him in pants and switch him to shorts mid-day. He'll be in short-sleeved shirts every day and if it's cooler, a sweatshirt. I'm all about layers since the temps can really change a lot morning to night.

I always think that during the day, it feels much hotter than the forecast states. Probably from all of the cement and sun. And because of this...it makes it seem even colder when the sun goes down.

 

[tygersclaw]

Since we're no longer talking closures (as far as I can tell), I thought I'd rejoin the 'party.' Ha!

Welcome back!! You were missed

 

[ClaraOswald]

Also, if you will be traveling via car at all while in California, you'll want to make sure your daughter has a car seat/booster if she's still small enough to need one.

Oh, and you won't want to check it with the airline because they throw it around way too much. It's better to just use it on the airplane seat.

 

[Aladora]

Also, if you will be traveling via car at all while in California, you'll want to make sure your daughter has a car seat/booster if she's still small enough to need one.

At 5, she will still need a booster seat for sure unless she is a very tall 5 year old. The law is 8 years or 4ft 9.

 

[tygersclaw]

Here is another question. This concerns flying internationally with a minor.

Now it is well known that for the most part, a mother traveling alone with a child will not be questioned about having "Consent for International Travel" notarized permission from the other parent, but has anyone ever been asked if they have it by USA CBS, or CBSA?

I DO have it but, just wondering if anyone ever actually has been questioned when traveling alone with their child?

 

[AZMermaid]

I always think that during the day, it feels much hotter than the forecast states. Probably from all of the cement and sun. And because of this...it makes it seem even colder when the sun goes down.

I agree with this totally! It gets COLD when the sun goes down and standing in the sun gets toasty. Layers are key!

 

[Aladora]

Here is another question. This concerns flying internationally with a minor. Now it is well known that for the most part, a mother traveling alone with a child will not be questioned about having "Consent for International Travel" notarized permission from the other parent, but has anyone ever been asked if they have it by USA CBS, or CBSA? I DO have it but, just wondering if anyone ever actually has been questioned when traveling alone with their child?

On one of our DL trips, DH had to fly to ontario because of a medical emergency with his mother. I had to fly home with our son alone. I got DH to write a letter of consent just in case but I was not asked for one. Always better to have it just in case though!

 

[PoohBearFriends]

Speaking of packing, I travel to Las Vegas annually for a Disc Jockey convention, and when I do I travel, it is usually alone with DD at her sitter, but, this is my first ever time traveling with her, anywhere. Especially overnight let alone multiple nights

And not only that, our first time flying together.

So, I am not 100% sure what to pack, and as well do not want to overpack (we are going for 5 days of which 3 will be spent in the park) and for her, I am hoping her new Elsa carry-on will be enough for her things, although I have my carry-on as well as a large checked bag which I hope we can fill with souvenirs, as well as a new piece of DJ gear or two.

So, any tips from experienced travelers to DLP of what they would pack for a 5 year old girl?

And another thought, the CDN greenback has tanked in the last week (dropping from $0.85 to just over $0.80 in a week) so I REALLY hope that the CDN $ will regain some ground vs the USD.

How are CDN travelers travel plans being affected by the plummeting CDN $ and what changes to your plans, if any, are you making?

For a 5 year old. Princess dresses are a big hit. My girls wore them multiple days at that age. They received a lot of attention for wearing them. Shorts for day and sweatshirt and pants if you go back or stay through evening. 50 degrees is a big drop from the high 70s during the day.

At that age we parked the stroller a lot but had it for the longer trips across the park and for the evening trip to the hotel. What a godsend. It also made it easier to pack sweatshirts, snacks and extra clothes.