I just booked my grandparents' room (POR 9/19-9/23-my mom insists it's not worth it if they aren't there for at least 3 days of parks...my dad insists they are never going to see us b/c my brother and I aren't going to want to be with my grandparents the whole time...they are both a little right, but not completely)...
while I was looking for rates and such for my grandparents (knew we weren't doing a package for them b/c they're Florida Residents and they won't eat enough to make dining worth it for them when we can get discounted tickets and rooms) I came upon the Military Salute offer.
"MOM!" I called...and then began to explain.
In the end I save my parents about $400 (between savings on their tickets and my grandparents'-my mom is paying for everything for my grandparents).
So my brother gets the Birthday GC, and I just saved my mom $400. How come none of these things work out to be for ME?! Humph.
If you don't know about the military deal it's basically that Active Duty and RETIRED military personel with ID Cards can get a FREE 5 day pass that includes Park Hopping and Water Parks, Fun, and More. In addition they can buy up to 5 more 5 day basic passes for $99. The Park Hopping and WPFAM can be added to that pass for $25/option. My dad is retired Air Force (and we specifically asked about Retired b/c Sea World's miltiary thing is only for active duty), so when we called to get my grandparents' room we changed my parents to a 1 day basic pass (so they could keep their free dining-plus they needed 6 day tickets and this pass is a 5 day so it works out perfect, they just can't Park Hop on one of the days). Now the rest of my dad's ticket is free, and my mom's is $125-150 (depending on whether she just gets park hopping or gets both options). In addition, my grandparents will also get the tickets with Park Hopping. It was going to cost $170 for a 3-day FL Resident Park Hopper, so she is saving $300 on her tickets and my dad's plus $50 on each of my grandparents tickets.
Aren't I wonderful?
Now technically my dad can buy 2 more of those tickets, but we have 8 day Park Hopper/WPFAM tickets and there is no way I'm changing them to 3 day and getting another ticket and all that hassle. Especially b/c with the price of adding the PH/WPFAM to a 3 day ticket, we wouldn't save much anyway. I'd rather have my tickets when I check in and be ready to head out.
But it's good for my parents.
Anyway, how 'bout some pictures. I was saving these because I'm working on something similar for the boys and I wanted to show you all at once, but it's taking me a while to get theirs done and I don't want to wait any longer so here you go.
What I made is a book (it's 6x6) for me to record my favorite memory of the day every night when we get back to the room. I found this travel paper I LOVED at Archivers and I thought it would be fun to have a "Disney" book that doesn't have any Disney on it. That's right. There's not a single little Mickey head on here (doesn't mean there won't be by the time I'm done filling it in). There is enough room for the 9 days of my trip, plus an intenerary on the first two pages, two pages in the middle for just pictures, and four pages at the end for Overall Favorites from the trip. I've got a photo sleeve inserted between each of the trip days so I can add a photo of my favorite thing to each days journaling.
I know, I know. You're thinking "how will you pick just ONE favorite thing?"
It will be hard, but you've got to remember (and so do I) that this isn't the extent of my scrapbooking or journaling about this trip. This is just a book that is specifically for daily favorites (and a book that will be done except for printing a couple of pictures by the time I come home! Which is a big deal because I never seem to finish any of my albums).
I so much loved
how my book turned out, that I decided to make one for each of the boys. Theirs WILL be Disney themed (I'm waiting for some paper I ordered to get here-even though I already have a ton) and personalized. I even have a couple packs of stickers to give them when I give them the boys that they can add wherever they want. But it will be the same thing. A place to write their favorite memory from each day and then we can fill in pictures later (they each have cameras they are bringing-3 MP which should be big enough for 4x6 pictures-plus I will, of course, be taking pictures). Then their books will also have 2 pages in the middle for little pictures and 4 pages at the end for overall favorites (I think I'm going to do categories like My Favorite Ride, My Favorite Food, My Favorite Character, My Favorite Park etc). I will let them fill it in each day as I'm filling mine in (I'm sure I'll have to help Christian, but that's okay. It will still be in his writing and his words).
Aren't they going to be INCREDIBLE? I'm so excited.
So I'll show you the boys' when they are finished, but without further ado, here's mine:
FRONT COVER
INSIDE COVER (the calendar is for the itenarary) and DESCRIPTION PAGE:
DAYS 1 and 2*
DAYS 3 and 4*
DAY 5 and an extra page (maybe mid-trip thoughts? not sure)*
MIDDLE SECTION FOR SMALL PHOTOS (probably 2x3)
DAYS 6 and 7*
DAYS 8 and 9*
END OF TRIP THOUGHS AND FAVORITES*
LAST PAGE and INSIDE BACK COVER (overall trip thoughts)
BACK COVER
All put together (except I think I'm going to add some ribbon to the rings, but I have to find what I want first)
*There is a photo sleeve between the pages marked with an (*) for a total of 6 sleeves (12 pictures).
So there you go. I really need to get busy on the boys' though. I've got the front page of Cole's done, but that's it and nothing except the words cut out for the front page of Will's and Christian's. I'll probably work on it tomorrow.
I'm going to go read some TRs and some UG and then maybe actually go to sleep. I'll be back tomorrow!
while I was looking for rates and such for my grandparents (knew we weren't doing a package for them b/c they're Florida Residents and they won't eat enough to make dining worth it for them when we can get discounted tickets and rooms) I came upon the Military Salute offer.
"MOM!" I called...and then began to explain.
In the end I save my parents about $400 (between savings on their tickets and my grandparents'-my mom is paying for everything for my grandparents).
So my brother gets the Birthday GC, and I just saved my mom $400. How come none of these things work out to be for ME?! Humph.
If you don't know about the military deal it's basically that Active Duty and RETIRED military personel with ID Cards can get a FREE 5 day pass that includes Park Hopping and Water Parks, Fun, and More. In addition they can buy up to 5 more 5 day basic passes for $99. The Park Hopping and WPFAM can be added to that pass for $25/option. My dad is retired Air Force (and we specifically asked about Retired b/c Sea World's miltiary thing is only for active duty), so when we called to get my grandparents' room we changed my parents to a 1 day basic pass (so they could keep their free dining-plus they needed 6 day tickets and this pass is a 5 day so it works out perfect, they just can't Park Hop on one of the days). Now the rest of my dad's ticket is free, and my mom's is $125-150 (depending on whether she just gets park hopping or gets both options). In addition, my grandparents will also get the tickets with Park Hopping. It was going to cost $170 for a 3-day FL Resident Park Hopper, so she is saving $300 on her tickets and my dad's plus $50 on each of my grandparents tickets.
Aren't I wonderful?
Now technically my dad can buy 2 more of those tickets, but we have 8 day Park Hopper/WPFAM tickets and there is no way I'm changing them to 3 day and getting another ticket and all that hassle. Especially b/c with the price of adding the PH/WPFAM to a 3 day ticket, we wouldn't save much anyway. I'd rather have my tickets when I check in and be ready to head out.
But it's good for my parents.
Anyway, how 'bout some pictures. I was saving these because I'm working on something similar for the boys and I wanted to show you all at once, but it's taking me a while to get theirs done and I don't want to wait any longer so here you go.
What I made is a book (it's 6x6) for me to record my favorite memory of the day every night when we get back to the room. I found this travel paper I LOVED at Archivers and I thought it would be fun to have a "Disney" book that doesn't have any Disney on it. That's right. There's not a single little Mickey head on here (doesn't mean there won't be by the time I'm done filling it in). There is enough room for the 9 days of my trip, plus an intenerary on the first two pages, two pages in the middle for just pictures, and four pages at the end for Overall Favorites from the trip. I've got a photo sleeve inserted between each of the trip days so I can add a photo of my favorite thing to each days journaling.
I know, I know. You're thinking "how will you pick just ONE favorite thing?"
It will be hard, but you've got to remember (and so do I) that this isn't the extent of my scrapbooking or journaling about this trip. This is just a book that is specifically for daily favorites (and a book that will be done except for printing a couple of pictures by the time I come home! Which is a big deal because I never seem to finish any of my albums).I so much loved
how my book turned out, that I decided to make one for each of the boys. Theirs WILL be Disney themed (I'm waiting for some paper I ordered to get here-even though I already have a ton) and personalized. I even have a couple packs of stickers to give them when I give them the boys that they can add wherever they want. But it will be the same thing. A place to write their favorite memory from each day and then we can fill in pictures later (they each have cameras they are bringing-3 MP which should be big enough for 4x6 pictures-plus I will, of course, be taking pictures). Then their books will also have 2 pages in the middle for little pictures and 4 pages at the end for overall favorites (I think I'm going to do categories like My Favorite Ride, My Favorite Food, My Favorite Character, My Favorite Park etc). I will let them fill it in each day as I'm filling mine in (I'm sure I'll have to help Christian, but that's okay. It will still be in his writing and his words). Aren't they going to be INCREDIBLE? I'm so excited.
So I'll show you the boys' when they are finished, but without further ado, here's mine:
FRONT COVER
INSIDE COVER (the calendar is for the itenarary) and DESCRIPTION PAGE:
DAYS 1 and 2*
DAYS 3 and 4*
DAY 5 and an extra page (maybe mid-trip thoughts? not sure)*
MIDDLE SECTION FOR SMALL PHOTOS (probably 2x3)
DAYS 6 and 7*
DAYS 8 and 9*
END OF TRIP THOUGHS AND FAVORITES*
LAST PAGE and INSIDE BACK COVER (overall trip thoughts)
BACK COVER
All put together (except I think I'm going to add some ribbon to the rings, but I have to find what I want first)
*There is a photo sleeve between the pages marked with an (*) for a total of 6 sleeves (12 pictures).
So there you go. I really need to get busy on the boys' though. I've got the front page of Cole's done, but that's it and nothing except the words cut out for the front page of Will's and Christian's. I'll probably work on it tomorrow.
I'm going to go read some TRs and some UG and then maybe actually go to sleep. I'll be back tomorrow!
Congrats on the savings and your grandparents being booked 
. That is such a great idea to have it all prepared and work on it while you are there so you can have a finished product by the time you get home.
Next, my DS 7 has a pair of black Mickey 
And lastly the UG is giving you 4, 5, and 6's for your dates
Just be smart and don't head straight to Carousel of Progess at rope drop.
Can you imagine? I wonder if anyone ever does that? Anyway, can't wait for more.
it's great to have you here! Told ya we have a lot in common. Our boys would have the BEST time playing together (as long as there were enough lightsabers to go around!).
I didn't realize there was a hotel discount too. We got the FL Resident discount which was, I think, 36% or something so I'm not changing their reservation again. I've saved her enough money...and she didn't even say thank you (though she is still talking about it and mentioned today something about my brother and I getting the other two tickets...I think I already explained that it would just not work for me and my brother won't go through the hassle even if it would save him a little. Oh well). 
My parents and grandparents will probably ask for adjoining rooms. 
