Our Annual Summer Trip - Are you going to Disney again? UPDATE-6/27 AND WE'RE OFF!

[DisneyMomx7]

Well one week from today to leave for the airport hotel and no washer! I took a ton of clothes to the cleaners today (even shorts!) but I am waiting impatiently for the repairman to show up tomorrow. You cannot imagine the amount of towels/socks/underwear/swimsuits etc and pile up in 4 days!

We are celebrating ds's 7th birthday this trip. He turns 7 right before we leave so the Sunday before we leave he has his friends party and we will celebrate his family party in Disney. When my kids have a Disney birthday I always order two completely different cakes and don't tell the kids which restaurant the cakes are at. For ds's birthday I have a vanilla 8 inch Finding Nemo themed cake, personalized menu and the diver set for Coral Reef. For the second one we are having a chocolate mickey head cake at Yacht Club Galley. To be honest that second cake is mainly for me! We did the chocolate mickey head cake for dd's 8th birthday and it was one of the best cakes I ever had. I've been dieting for 5 weeks and believe me the thought of that cake has helped me get through the tough spots! I haven't cheated at all because all I think of is eating at Disney. I've lost 15 lbs (5 more than my goal) so I can pig out at Disney. That dining plan is definitely calling to me.

I have a few more surprises planned for my family - Wishes Cruise (we did this a few years ago and really liked it). I made a reservation for the premium boat with music. Last time there was only one price for the pontoon Wishes boat but Disney has learned how to tack on even more charges - pay for the music!

I also placed my order with Disney Florist yesterday. I ordere the kool snacks set with a birthday balloon for ds, the Disney family tote treats for all three kids, the Mickey cheer basket for Dh, and a Mickey cheer basket for the in-laws. $200 later I think all will be surprised! I love planning these little surprises!

I can't wait to start packing! I'm really wishing the days away so we can get moving.

As I told you earlier ds is leaving for Paris on June 30th. We are having the drama of the passport on his end. He applied 13 weeks ago and was told 10-12 weeks. You guessed it - no passport yet! Today is the last day he is willing to wait and if its not here today he's going to have to do the "expedited passport" to a tune of an additional $300! Do you think someone should have realized what an impact all the additional passport requirements who have and hired extra people to deal with the overload? What did I say - always a bump in the road!

SEE YOU REAL SOON!!!!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

YET ANOTHER BUMP IN THE ROAD!

Okay, today the repairman is coming for the washer - so I think I'm back on course. NOT!

We have a couple that cleans our house every other week. According to our schedule they should be hear Friday (June 22) and Friday (July 6). This works out well for me. They'll clean the house really good on Friday and then I'll just do my normal cleaning with a quick good clean on Wednesday before we leave for the aiport. Two of ds's will be home during our vacation (one ds is 24 and the other is 23, third ds will be in Paris!). That way the house will get a good cleaning on July 6th and won't be bad when we come back on the 12th (God willing with sons!). Last night the husband (cleaning team - husband and wife) calls around 8:00 and tells me they are going on vacation for two weeks and won't be back to clean until July 20th! Are you kidding me. FIrst of all I couldn't believe the short notice (this same couple has been cleaning for us for 10 years), second I couldn't believe the timing. I told him I definitely did not want to wait until July 20th so as a compromise they are coming to clean during the day of July 12th. We'll be arriving home on the night of the 12th so that means we should come home to a nice clean house.

However, since they are not coming Friday, the light cleaning I planned to do has now turned into "good" cleaning! Just what I needed. The best laid plans . . .

So now the plans are:

Thursday - wait for repairman and when he leaves do all the laundry that has piled up!

Friday - am - last "Target" run
pm - Spa appointment

Saturday - clean house top to bottom
pack clothes that can go in garment bags

Sunday - ds's birthday party

Monday - pack kids
clean van (3 kids in a van - you can imagine how much accumulated stuff gets left in there)

Tuesday - help DS pack for Paris
grocery shop for the older ds's who are staying home
pack for DH and I
change from regular purse to mini backpack for park
Make sure not to forget APs! (my recurring nightmare!)

Wednesday - leave for the airport in the pm
am - DH to take saved change to the bank
go over house and make sure it is clean
have DH vaccum pool and add chemicals
pack car and leave
make sure ds's have lists for house and pool care

I'm sure there is even more to do than I can think of right now. I can't believe both the washer and the cleaning people decided to take a vacation now!

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

The You've got to be kidding installment!

Well the repairman came at 5:00 tonight (after I waited all day) to tell me the wonderful news that yes it was indeed the seal, and that because the washer is such a new line he didn't stock that part. It will take a week, even with being fed-exed to arrive. Of course in one week we will be in Disney! So with taking into account the delivery and then re-scheduling the repairman it doesn't look like the washer (make that brand new washer) will be running until we get home!

So tomorrow morning we'll be taking an emergency run to the wash and fold and dry cleaners. I feel so bad for my ds's who are going to be left without a washer. I told them to take their clothes to the wash and fold, and to take the heavy things like towels to my mom's. I also told them if they need something done right away to either drop it at my mom's or the same day cleaners.

I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop - the washer, the cleaning people, doesn't everything come in 3's.

I guess I'll just keep hoping someone is reading this . . .

 

[ILMICKEY]

I'm reading!!

Gosh, what a bummer! This is supposed to be a happy time for you. You should call the maker of the machine and tell them you want reimbursed for all the money you spent at the laundry mat.

I'd be flyin off the handle right about now!! If it is that new, it shouldn't be breakin already!!

Thank god you are leaving soon, that should make you feel somewhat better!!

When you get there, you will forget all the problems you are having now!

What washing maching?
What cleaning crew??

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I told DH the same thing about getting reimbursed for all the drycleaning and wash and fold for two weeks! I'm furious at Sears. Even if there was a flaw with the seal, how do you not keep them stocked! We called Monday morning, couldn't get anyone out here until Thursday night, and then they didn't even have the part. If you spend over $2000 for a washer and dryer I think they should give you a little better service. Rant over!

I sent DH with three huge bags to the wash and fold and I'm dropping another load off at the cleaners today. Today is my last minute Target shopping and my spa appointment. I also have to stop at the Disney store for more disney dollars and pick up ds's birthday gift.

Tomorrow I will start packing the garment bags (hanging clothes), assemble the goody bags for ds's birthday party and clean the house completely. Sunday is the birthday party so kind of a wasted Disney prep day. Monday and Tuesday we will be in full swing packing for both the Disney vacation and ds's Paris study abroad. I can imagine how many trips to the cleaners/washers we'll be doing in between. Right now I just can't wait until Wednesday afternoon when we are ready to leave for the airport hotel and this is all behind us. I know eventually we'll be laughing about all of this, but right now its not as funny.

Its hard to believe how short the kids countdown chain has gotten. We were watching the Travel Channel last night with the Disney parks on it and we all had butterflies in our stomach. People keep asking "aren't you bored with Disney" - are you kidding? We love the pre-trip anticipation almost as much as the trip! Planning is half the fun!

SEE YOU REAL SOON!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

4 DAYS TO GO . . .

Well 4 days until we leave for the aiport hotel, 5 more days until Disney. Still no washer, cleaning people or ds's passport but we're making the best of it!

Yesterday I finished my last minute Disney shopping at Target and the Disney store. I had a facial, massage, manicure and pedicure so I'm ready to go! I finished all the last minute goody bag, prizes, etc for ds's birthday party tomorrow.

Today I was able to pack the garmet bags and I can't wait to finish packing hopefully Monday. I did a lot of cleaning this morning so hopefully Wednesday will just be touch up work before we leave.

I sent my first ever resort request fax today. I figured it couldn't hurt. Last year we had the best room at the YC. It was on the first floor (kids loved seeing the ducks) right across from the laundry room (yeah!), very close to the side exit with a lakefront/marina/ Boardwalk view. We had a waterview room booked and it was perfect. My in-laws had a standard view and received a great one. They were facing the wedding gazebo and could see Crescent Lake if the looked sideways. I sent a fax requesting (begging) for rooms in these same areas. 5 people - 2 weeks - even I can't pack enough clothes to get by without laundry and I'm a chronic overpacker. Since we are there in June/July we always end up wearing two outfits a day. I do several loads of laundry and the dry cleaning service at the resorts just love to see us come!

Well we'll see how the fax works out. We're about 50/50 with room requests, and once even received an upgrade. That was on our January 2007 trip - we booked gv at the Poly and got an MK view! I couldn't believe our luck. I'll be extremely happy just to get what we paid for, but in the location we requested. I'll let you know.

I"M SO EXCITED I JUST CAN"T STAND IT!

 

[ILMICKEY]

2 MORE DAYS!!! Can you hardly stand it???

I hope everything is going better for you now!!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

THREE DAYS TO DISNEY (or as the kids say two more days to the Airport Hotel!)

Well today is the big day - packing day! Ziploc bags are ready to go.

Updates - still no washer (making good use of dry cleaners, wash and fold, and thank goodness - my mom!), no cleaning people (I did most of it myself and just have touch ups on Wednesday morning), and still no passport. If the passport isn't here by tomorrow ds has to go to Philadelphia and wait in line to get it. This is such a bummer since he applied for the passport over 13 weeks ago! Always drama, always a bump in the road.

Yesterday was ds's birthday party and thankfully that's all over and I can fully concentrate on Disney now. We counted up the Disney dollars last night (I always take whatever the kids have gotten, birthdays, Christmas, Valentine's Day etc and divide it equally). Kids each have $175 in Disney dollars and DH and I have $900 in Disney dollars!!!!

Today is the day the kids really look forward to (at least the first hour) of helping to get the air out of the ziploc bags. I can't even remember what is what like before I discovered this Disney tip on the boards. I know it definitely makes my life a whole lot easier. Last year one dd wanted to sleep in my in-laws room one night and they were so impressed when I just sent down the ziploc bag with everything to go for the next day.

Tonight I'll make up the mousekeeping envelopes. I'm going through my list now to make sure I haven't forgotten any last minute things to do. I have the kids outfits out that they will wear on the plane. This is the first year they are doing the "crocs" thing and I had to match an outfit to the crocs because they can't wait to wear them.

I've really got butterflies in my stomach thinking that in less than 72 hours we'll be on the plane and on our way to Disney!

SEE YOU REAL SOON!!!!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Well the big day has finally arrived! The suitcases are all packed, ME tags are on, and they are sitting in my living room waiting for DH to put them in the car. This afternoon we leave for Philadelphia (airport hotel) meet up with my in-laws for dinner, then we'll go back to the room, put on a movie for the kids, and hopefully everyone will get some sleep. You know that commercial - I'm too excited to sleep - well that is us, even today! Two dds were both up before 6. They love looking at the luggage waiting to be put in the van!

Another bump in the road - DH has been battling a bad cold for a few days. Of course since he is a man, the cold has taken on epic proportions!

DH is a busy man today - his jobs are: check in with Southwest for the coveted "A" boarding passes. Last time we flew Southwest ds was 4 so we were able to pre-board. This time will be with the "cattle call". Oh well, for $49 per person, each way we're not likely to complain too much.

DH also has to take the rest of the change to the bank to be counted. A few months ago we cashed in $550 and got a Disney gift card. I'm curious to see how much change we accumulated in a few months time. DH must also go to the bank to get some cash, since we never usually carry much cash with us.

DH also has to show ds basic pool care for our inground pool. I have left detailed instructions for the two who are staying home about housekeeping care, but God only knows how much they follow of the "list". Luckily the clenaing people (who were AWOL before the trip) will be here on the 12th, and we come home from Disney the night of the 12th. So hopefully I'll never really know how they live while we're gone! I've seen one ds's dorm room before and let me tell you it was not a pretty sight. Right now the house looks perfect, thanks to me killing myself they last few days, so in my mind that's how it will look the whole time we're gone - who am I kidding?

Still no washer, won't be fixed until we come home, so the boys wil be taking all their laundry to my Mom (thank God for mothers).

The only thing left for me today is to clean out the van. Dh never can figure out how the van gets so messy. Of course he doesn't ride around with three messy kids all the time! I also just have to get the kids showered and shampooed and supervise DH's packing of the car!

Well thanks to anyone who was reading. Can't wait to get this vacation started!

 

[ChrisLei]

Just finished reading your pretrip report! How exciting, today's the big day! Have a wonderful, magical trip!

 

[ILMICKEY]

Hope you are having a FANTASTIC time!!