PART FIVE!! *December 2012 Roll Call* Holidays, FLE & MVMCP!! A very, merry thread!

[Valgoof]

I have to check a bag because I take coconut water with me. I've got Restless Leg Syndrome and the ONLY thing that makes it go away is coconut water. : So since I have to take it anyway I might as well fill it up.

My obsession with packing my pillow doesn't help either.

So I've got a 24" checked bag, an 18" little rolly carry on and a mostly empty backpack so we can stuff our jackets into it. Not too shabby. Not exactly packing light, but not too shabby.

Oh I didnt think you were checking a bag. Why were you stuffing your liquids in a quart bag? Cant you just put them in your checked bag?

 

[QueenElinor]

I have to check a bag because I take coconut water with me. I've got Restless Leg Syndrome and the ONLY thing that makes it go away is coconut water. : So since I have to take it anyway I might as well fill it up.

My obsession with packing my pillow doesn't help either.

So I've got a 24" checked bag, an 18" little rolly carry on and a mostly empty backpack so we can stuff our jackets into it. Not too shabby. Not exactly packing light, but not too shabby.

Not bad at all! And I understand about the pillow- I have one of those contoured memory-foam pillow that I really miss when I'm gone, but I have my eye on a little travel one. Unfortunately, I am a terrible sleeper on vacation, the pillow is the least of my worries. In fact, I'm always tossing and turning so much my neck doesn't even have a chance to get stiff! So I completely understand about the coconut water- anything that helps you sleep is totally worth it. I wish I had something that would work for me.

 

[Valgoof]

Forecast low here tonight is 10, but it's already 19 degrees and snowing. I think the single digit dance does not mean what the weather service thinks it means!

Brrrr!! You will be ready for Florida warmth!! It is 49 and rainy here right now. Supposed to rain all day tomorrow too, but I dont think I am leaving the house tomorrow. Will probably start packing and work on my grandma's scrapbook Christmas present. I have all the stuff for it, just need the motivation. You would think needing to get it done before I get on the airplane would be sufficient motivation, but not so far. Talk to me Friday night.

 

[QueenElinor]

Brrrr!! You will be ready for Florida warmth!! It is 49 and rainy here right now. Supposed to rain all day tomorrow too, but I dont think I am leaving the house tomorrow. Will probably start packing and work on my grandma's scrapbook Christmas present. I have all the stuff for it, just need the motivation. You would think needing to get it done before I get on the airplane would be sufficient motivation, but not so far. Talk to me Friday night.

LOL! I was doing DD18's graduation scrapbook in the middle of the night before her graduation party. I'm the world's biggest procrastinator- when I was working my assistant always called me "Scarlett" as in "...there's always tomorrow- tomorrow is another day."

That's a really lovely gift for your grandma, though. Very precious- one just can't buy a thing like that. I bet she'll love it!

 

[Lcaemom]

Almost time for bed!!!! Only 8 1/2 hours til it's time to get up!!! I turned in my work laptop so, no more emoticons or multi-quote replies....all communication will now be done by phone. Work is done, nails are done, packing is done, laundry is done, dogs are dropped off at the kennel, dinner is done, we're all showered, made the biggest LGMH ever so, I should be easy to find! The only things left are to attach DME tags and download pics off phone to computer. Can't wait to get there...hoping to meet some of you. Safe travels to all who are coming and going, happy planning to those of you still getting ready, welcome back to those who are home, can't wait to hear about your trip.

 

[geckodani]

Oh I didnt think you were checking a bag. Why were you stuffing your liquids in a quart bag? Cant you just put them in your checked bag?

Because I've had my luggage lost before and ended up spending a small fortune on contact stuff etc. at the border. I also have extremely high maintenance hair product needs (allergic to most, and without something in my uber short hair I look like an angry hedgehog!). I did pack most of it in the checked, so the baggie is no longer bursting at the seams. DH talked me down off my "what if they lose my bag?!?! ledge.

Not bad at all! And I understand about the pillow- I have one of those contoured memory-foam pillow that I really miss when I'm gone, but I have my eye on a little travel one. Unfortunately, I am a terrible sleeper on vacation, the pillow is the least of my worries. In fact, I'm always tossing and turning so much my neck doesn't even have a chance to get stiff! So I completely understand about the coconut water- anything that helps you sleep is totally worth it. I wish I had something that would work for me.

I'm usually a wretched sleeper, but at Disney I'm usually so tired I just pass out. I still want my pillow though.

Yes, I am a spaz.

 

[geckodani]

Almost time for bed!!!! Only 8 1/2 hours til it's time to get up!!! I turned in my work laptop so, no more emoticons or multi-quote replies....all communication will now be done by phone. Work is done, nails are done, packing is done, laundry is done, dogs are dropped off at the kennel, dinner is done, we're all showered, made the biggest LGMH ever so, I should be easy to find! The only things left are to attach DME tags and download pics off phone to computer. Can't wait to get there...hoping to meet some of you. Safe travels to all who are coming and going, happy planning to those of you still getting ready, welcome back to those who are home, can't wait to hear about your trip.

Safe travels and have a BLAST!

 

[Wendimn]

Almost time for bed!!!! Only 8 1/2 hours til it's time to get up!!! I turned in my work laptop so, no more emoticons or multi-quote replies....all communication will now be done by phone. Work is done, nails are done, packing is done, laundry is done, dogs are dropped off at the kennel, dinner is done, we're all showered, made the biggest LGMH ever so, I should be easy to find! The only things left are to attach DME tags and download pics off phone to computer. Can't wait to get there...hoping to meet some of you. Safe travels to all who are coming and going, happy planning to those of you still getting ready, welcome back to those who are home, can't wait to hear about your trip.

You must be freaking out!!!! LOL...can't wait to hear how things go!!!!

 

[QueenElinor]

You know your kids are native Montanans when you ask one of them to put on a real coat before he goes outside, and he looks at you like you're nuts and says, "But mom, it's twenty degrees!"

I got the last of my Disney gift cards today using the $10 off coupon, with my daughter right behind me in line getting another one. I asked the checkout lady if she had seen a lot of those coupons, and she said, "Actually, this is the first time I've seen it. It's a great deal." Maybe I'd better go up there a couple more times before they close tonight!

 

[QueenElinor]

You must be freaking out!!!! LOL...can't wait to hear how things go!!!!

I second this! I really want to find out how he pops the question. At Disney, the options are endless.....

 

[Wendimn]

You know your kids are native Montanans when you ask one of them to put on a real coat before he goes outside, and he looks at you like you're nuts and says, "But mom, it's twenty degrees!"

I got the last of my Disney gift cards today using the $10 off coupon, with my daughter right behind me in line getting another one. I asked the checkout lady if she had seen a lot of those coupons, and she said, "Actually, this is the first time I've seen it. It's a great deal." Maybe I'd better go up there a couple more times before they close tonight!

Haha..we are the same way here in Minnesota... I also bought 2 more giftcards from Target today..really wish I could have printed out more coupons but I did pretty good

 

[lrigylruc]

We are in Disney and it has been an awesome first trip! We had planned to leave at 1 am Thursday morning and checkin around noon, well dh got home from work early wed and had a nice nap. so as we were packing the car wed night the kids were so excited we decided to just leave right then at 7:30pm! We arrived in Disney world at 4am, hit the ihop and them checked in at6 am. We have been at AoA for two nights now and love it! Little mermaid rooms are just beautiful and my kids were perfectly happy to leave MK today after lunch to go back the the mermaid house MK was great this morning an yesterday bit around noon today it just got crazy. Couple thoughts about things I would have liked to know before I went:

Definitely shorts and swimming weather! I was way too hot in jeans, just needed a light sweater in the evening.

Little mermaid is awesome and worth a fast pass. Got two fast passes for dumbo that we never used, just not worth it.

Love the play area in the dumbo line, better than the ride itself. Magic carpets is just like dumbo with no line so we rode that many times. Ditto with the pooh ride, the kids loved the line as much as the ride!

CRT for breakfast was everything we hoped for! Dd was so happy she almost cried. The lobster crab creeps were the highlight of my trip and dh could not stop talking about the stuffed toast. Cute souvenirs and just a magical experience. Plus we got to check off most of the must do MandG in one hour.

The circus meet and greets were ds favorite part, very nice interaction and comfortable shaded waiting.

Getting there for rope drop was definitely worth it. The kids loved the train and the show - we saw every show, and the drewm show three times because the kids got so excited eferytime. We got to walk in to the belle attraction and LM with basically no waiting, and after that first hour it was nearly an hour wait all day.

Wish I had brought a coffee maker as they do not provide the here.

Anything else? Everyone else is sleeping now so we can take advantage of EMH after the electric parade at 9pm. Can't wait, hope the kids can handle it!

 

[PopArtGal]

The snacks link in the first post is not working

 

[sokerfrog]

I have not yet mentioned yesterday's planning snafu when I managed to plan two events for the same night - Tutto Italia+Osborne and the FLE Pin Party. Basically I never wrote the pin party on the spreadsheet and so last week when I nailed down dinner and Osborne, I forgot about it. So at like quarter to 3 DSis reminded me.

The problem with being a Type A planner, is an inability to change directions (unless the change has also been planned for). But I was afraid if we didn't go we'd regret it. DS has only been pin trading for a few days but it seemed like such a special opportunity. So after confirming that I could easily fit Osborne into our AK day, we went. Grabbed a bus from Epcot to the Coronado and we were off.

The experience was intense. We timed it well as they opened an hour early and we were within probably the first hundred people. Im a bad judge of crowds but if you told me there were a thousand people there, I would not be surprised. Very few kids or casual fans. Almost all hardcore traders or ebay sellers. It was intense. I let DS choose 4. Then when we got to the end of the line we added one more.

It's hard to describe just how intense it was. By the time we got done DS10 was nearly in tears and I was totally overwhelmed. We didn't stick around for trading. I emailed DH to make dinner plans and we headed back to Epcot to decompress.

But we got 5 awesome pins. It was totally worth it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tltorrez/8253773234/
Untitled by tltorrez, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tltorrez/8252701537/
Untitled by tltorrez, on Flickr

We went to that yesterday too. We got there around 4:15...then stood in line for 3 hours!! We were totally expecting some pins to be sold out when we got up there, but we got everything we wanted. It was completely crazy in that room!

 

[Rags123]

We're here! We got to AOA a little before 2 PM. The kids wanted to check out the pool so we swam for a while. Then we went to Chef Mickey's for dinner. It was fun! DD and DS loved seeing the characters! Everyone is asleep already except me. Tomorrow is DHS day!

 

[QueenElinor]

What's a good counter service place we can pick up a quick bite for dinner at DHS? Starring Rolls will be closed and the other options just don't look that great.... but I haven't been in a couple of years and can't really remember what's there. I guess there's always Hollywood Scoops, it certainly wouldn't be the first time we had ice cream for dinner!

 

[Canadian Disney Mom]

I need some opinions! On NYE we are going to the Magic/Heat game so we are using out TS credit for lunch. There are really slim pickings and we would prefer not to go into a park. I had Olivia's booked, and now I have House of Blues. I have never been to either. What would you do???

 

[Valgoof]

What's a good counter service place we can pick up a quick bite for dinner at DHS? Starring Rolls will be closed and the other options just don't look that great.... but I haven't been in a couple of years and can't really remember what's there. I guess there's always Hollywood Scoops, it certainly wouldn't be the first time we had ice cream for dinner!

Pizza Planet is basic Disney pizza, but they have a cappucino cupcake that I want to try. We liked our burgers from ABC Commissary last year. Nothing is great, that's for sure.

 

[Canadian Disney Mom]

What's a good counter service place we can pick up a quick bite for dinner at DHS? Starring Rolls will be closed and the other options just don't look that great.... but I haven't been in a couple of years and can't really remember what's there. I guess there's always Hollywood Scoops, it certainly wouldn't be the first time we had ice cream for dinner!

We normally eat at Backlot Express, but its just burgers & etc. DHS is our least favourite park to eat in...

 

[QueenElinor]

Pizza Planet is basic Disney pizza, but they have a cappucino cupcake that I want to try. We liked our burgers from ABC Commissary last year. Nothing is great, that's for sure.

Oh, yeah, I forgot about the cappuccino cupcake! It'll be our first evening in WDW so I don't think anyone will care too much about what we eat, but I do know we'll be pretty hungry by the time we get there so I need a plan. Hungry teenagers are scary.