Our "Do we really have to wait 'til March?" PTR

[wvnative]

Goodness. What a slacker I am!

Life as I know it is finally back on track though. We had a minor derail in early December when my Mamaw passed. Then mom got new kittens who ended up sick so my step dad couldn't come over to work on the bathroom remodel for fear of my cats getting sick. Now school is back in session so I'm uber busy with all that assigned reading. I honestly think that they all think they are my only class. There aren't enough hours in a day. lol We've also had to add a quickie wedding into the mix for March. See what happens when you get reconnected with your estranged family. haha

So, here's where we stand tripwise. It is the shining star on the horizon after all. lol We've added a day to the beginning of our trip to attend the quickie Vegas wedding of a cousin. That room, at the hotel of her choosing, is booked and paid for and I think we'll take them to Rainforest for dinner that night. As for DLR, we currently have reservations at both the HOJO and DI&S. It's beginning to look like HOJO will not be offering up our dates for EC rates. That's o.k. I'm sure the kid(s) will enjoy the shorter walk at the end of the night. I know I will. lol Speaking of kids, we've officially extended the invite to two of my kid's friends. One traveled with us time before last. The other, has never been so it should be fun to see it all through her eyes. I just wish it wasn't all hidden behind walls. lol Oh well, whatcha gonna do? We'll leave Vegas as early as I can get them motivated. That should be interesting. lol

I've bought our park tickets. Got those in my email on Thursday. The kid has nailed down our dining choices (since one of her friends is super picky) and I got our PS's made on Thursday too. I've researched a rental car, since there is no chance either my sister's BF or my step dad will get the repairs made to mine before then, so that I can be prepared should my step dad say it's not safe to drive that far. It's nothing major but I'd rather err on the side of caution. I picked up the first of the "in car" snacks during this week's grocery trip. As previously mentioned, we plan to take my cousin and her new DH to Rainforest Cafe. I told her to take a look at their website this morning and will pick up a gift card for that at our local one later this week.

All in all, it's falling into place nicely. I believe our countdown at home was at 45 days til DLR this morning!

 

[goofycathy]

I'm on board!

 

[Belle Ella]

I'm still on board!!

 

[wvnative]

Well, I'm glad at least you two are still on board. At least I'm not just talking to myself. hahaha

The kid was giving me grief at the grocery store the other day because we still have 6 weeks to go and I was already buying snacks. hehe. O.k. it was mini Quakes. They were on sale and as long as I don't get to craving the caramel ones too bad they'll last until our trip just fine. I bought gatorade too, but we've already gotten into that. lol Oh, and a big box of white cheddar cheezits. Those things should last for just about forever. It all goes in a Disney shopping bag so it's not in our regular pantry tempting us. Out of sight, out of mind ya know?

 

[goofycathy]

Your doing better than I am and I have just over a month before I leave....I have a big list of stuff I still need to get but havent gotten around to it, I guess I am lazy!?!?! lol oh well! I was trying to get my best friend to come with us but she just cant swing it financially and I am so bummed out!

Have fun getting ready and share any tips that you find that make getting ready easier!

 

[wvnative]

I know what you mean. I have no problems getting the kid's friends to go but I don't think I could pay my sister to. lol Oh well, the kids are fun at least. haha

Tips, hmmm... I keep lists upon lists. I also pick up some food for the trip with each big grocery trip as of about 45 days out. I just make a list of the stuff I need and add an item or two to my grocery list. Like I said, I put it in a special bag where we don't see it. Plus, that way I can just put that bag in the car when we pack the trunk. I do laundry on the weekends so I'll pack the weekend before. That way, I don't wear the stuff I want to pack before the trip. Stuff that always goes (ie my backpack, the power strip, and a nightlight) all stay in my suitcase.

The getting ready to go part is usually pretty easy for me as I tend to be overly organized. This year may be different though since I'm organizing the volunteers at the quilt show the weekend before we leave. That takes 2.5 days away from my process. haha It's the getting the best price part that takes me a while.


I did check room rates again today and I managed to save another $10 on my DI&S reservation because they dropped the weekend rate from $109 to $99. Hey, $10 is $10. That's my earhat or ornament this trip.

 

[wvnative]

oh-my-gosh... the HOJO posted a bunch of Feb dates and a few new ones for March too. Even better, they were in the teens! Of course, they ended the day before we get there. lol Oh well. I'm still holding out hope. lol

While enjoying a delicious lunch of chicken parmesan the other day, we picked up our Rainforest gift card so that's all set. Next on my list is the Visa card with gas money on it. I'll probably do that on my way home today. I'm still trying to decide how I want to do the rest of the food budget but I think since it's a mix of places, I'll probably have to do a mix of things. I was going to order a gift card for Ralph Brennans but I'm sure as soon as I do that, the girls will decide they don't want to eat there afterall. lol Teenagers can be very fickle especially when there's a picky eater in the bunch. lol

 

[wvnative]

She finally found a dress!!! WOOHOO. My cousin, who is getting married in Vegas, finally found a dress after hours spent shopping online by both of us. Yay! Mark that chore off my list. lol So she's got the new. I can take care of blue. So we just need borrowed and old. Mom's gonna check her family heirlooms and she if she has something that will work.

The gas card is bought, as are the cards for breakfast in Vegas and dinner on the way home. I'll stop after class today for the Visa gift card for the food. I also found another cute pair of tennis shoes that I think I can make work for the trip. I'd still like to have a black pair though. I dislike wearing my white tennis shoes, no matter how cute they are, with my black t shirts and black belt. lol

Shoot. I even found out where the Walgreens is there close to the hotel in Vegas so we can print out the wedding pics. Although, I may just put them on their laptop if they bring it or burn them to a CD depending on how many I take. Then she can print what they want.

It's all coming together! YAY!

 

[wvnative]

How about past trip pics showing all but one of our cast of characters this trip?

The nice thing about taking a camera that really zooms in. You can catch them slightly off guard. lol This is "the kid" aka my DD on the right and the BFF on the left. Ironically, she'd just closed her phone from reading my repsonse to her text asking where I was and they had both just looked up as the barge stopped to see. lol

And... me. Looky who I found!

I don't have any pics of our first timer yet as she has never traveled with us before and I don't think she's ever actually been to the house for anything I'd take pics of.

Also to be included in our preDisney portion of out trip are my cousin and her fiance as we will be making a slight detour to attend their Vegas wedding the day before DLR. I'd post thier pics, but neither of them have a picture without their kids that I can snag so...

 

[wvnative]

Today is our 30 day mark.

 

[Belle Ella]

Did you see the HOJO added the 20th and 21st for the Ent. rate yesterday

 

[wvnative]

You're so sweet keeping an eye on things for us. lol

I did. I already called and talked to Kim to update my reservation for the 20th. We leave on the 21st so that day doesn't help me. haha I also called and cancelled my DI&S reservation. He didn't seem real happy when my response to "why are you cancelling" was "because I found a better rate".

I was trying to see if I could move my trip to the front of that week to take advantage of more EC rates, but it just doesn't work. I've got the quilt show until about 4 pm that Saturday and then I have to be in Vegas on Wed around 2. That only gives us 3 days and it's just not enough darnit! hehe

 

[Belle Ella]

Well, 1 day at the Ent. rate is better than non, right? I still have like ... ages before the dates for July come out.

 

[wvnative]

That was my thought too.

I feel your pain. I have been waiting since September for our dates to pop up. Here we sit, 28 days out and I now have 1 date. haha With any luck they'll update again soon and more of mine will be there. I only have 3 for goodness sake. lol

 

[wvnative]

I'm beginning to think the excitement is already getting to me. I usually start the not sleeping well thing about two weeks out. Here we are at 23 days (I think) and I've already been not sleeping well for a couple of weeks now. It makes 5 am seem really early. haha

So, I popped in the Disney store yesterday afternoon for a gift card and they had new shopping bags. Apparently I now have an addiction to those as I have a slew of them in my trunk an I just had to buy two more. I got a really cute purple Tink one and a blue one with the New Alice characters on it. It's really cool! It's funny. I won't pay more than buck for a store one, but I'll happily pay more than twice that for one with a Disney character on it.

HI. My name is Denise and I am addictive to Disney. lol

 

[Belle Ella]

We all share your pain, Denise! We're here for you

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who can't help buying the shopping bags! I don't have too many, because I have somehow managed to stop myself from buying some every time I go into the store, but it doesn't stop me from pining after them! My favorite is my Snow White one that I got when it was released on Blu Ray last year.

 

[wvnative]

I have that one too Jazz. She is my fav afterall lol

I did mention that I'm a quilter right? I can't tell you how many I have made because I found THE most adorable fabric. haha

 

[Belle Ella]

I have that one too Jazz. She is my fav afterall lol

I did mention that I'm a quilter right? I can't tell you how many I have made because I found THE most adorable fabric. haha

I like your taste Snow White will always have a special place in my heart. I'm sure we've discussed this before, lol.

I didn't know that. Cool beans, dude. My grandmother quilts and I still ahve the baby blanket she made me (although it's more than a little frayed around the ages from when I left it over the floor heater, but that's another story altogether). I wish I was any good at making anything with my hands. Be it quilts or anything else.

 

[wvnative]

Well if nothing else, you're fabulous behind the lens.

I decided a long time ago that quilting was therapy, both retail (hello fabric addiction...lol) and relaxation.

Now I just need to find a long enough break in my homework to get a quilt finished. It's a wedding gift for the cousin who's getting married in Vegas in 21 days. Hopefuly this weekend. I don't have much assembly let on the top.

Can you believe I have to actually go to the mall for an assignment tonight? Geez. lol Marketing.

 

[goofycathy]

I'm beginning to think the excitement is already getting to me. I usually start the not sleeping well thing about two weeks out. Here we are at 23 days (I think) and I've already been not sleeping well for a couple of weeks now. It makes 5 am seem really early. haha

So, I popped in the Disney store yesterday afternoon for a gift card and they had new shopping bags. Apparently I now have an addiction to those as I have a slew of them in my trunk an I just had to buy two more. I got a really cute purple Tink one and a blue one with the New Alice characters on it. It's really cool! It's funny. I won't pay more than buck for a store one, but I'll happily pay more than twice that for one with a Disney character on it.

HI. My name is Denise and I am addictive to Disney. lol

I have the purple tinkerbell one too....
When I was in Calif I went to the Disney store to buy my DD8 birthday present and used that as a gift bag...soooo I guess technically its hers