Planning ahead, and friends think I'm crazy!

[MELSMICE]

Okay - I'll admit that I'm an "early planner" also. Do we need a 12-step program for us or something!

I bought sunscreen the day after Xmas from Bath & Body because it was on sale & my DD's love this (so does mom)! We dug around in the bins to find every single one.

I just told them that this week they need to have "the great clothes try on" as we call it for our April trip. Each time I am out now I will search for things on sale to replace those clothes that no longer fit them. I used to buy their things at the end of the seasons for the following year but as they get older it gets harder (too picky now & who knows how much they'll grow). Now I scour the clearance racks for "misfits" here & there that have made it to the clearance rack. Just got 6 items at Abercrombie & Fitch the other day for 14 yr. old DD for under $50!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! & that included two pair of shorts.

Anyway, my point is that you are not planning too early. You are being wise & budget conscience. The money you are saving now will allow you to have more spending money for your trip.

 

[MCazer]

Oh, I forgot one more thing! One year we brought down 2 families with us. When we alll went to our car rental's I passed out Window Flags.

Well, they all laughed at me. Until, after a long day in the parks and you are looking for your rental car among every other rental car. And there they were, 3 flags!

Also, when you have people following your car, who are not familiar with driving around Disney, it sure is alot easier to follow the car with the Flag!

I bring them every trip, and often times the security at the gates comment on how nice it is to see them, especially the time I took my son in December of 2001.

Being from New York, it was especially sentimental.

 

[madge62]

I'll join your ranks, I'm an overplanner too! It's a hobby I guess, trying to have a trip to plan ever few years or so. Not much to do at this point for our trip in December but I've booked our nights at WDW, we're cruising prior for a week on the Mariner out of Port Canaveral and prior to that a few days at Universal (never been, thought we'd try it out). I'll probably book our airfare later this month, cause you can only do it 330 days out and I've found the better deals are found early, especially from where we live.

I don't have a Disney/holiday box, I have a closet! It's where all the "formal" dresses/DH's suit/special cruise clothes that we've used in the past 4 years. I also have several clear totes that hold my special purses, bathing suits, summer clothing, etc. I haven't really started adding sunscreen or stuff like that yet but I will. I like to pick up things here and there so it doesn't become a huge bill at the end, like toothbrushes (like to have new ones on holiday), nail polish remover pads (hey I DID buy those already!), toothpaste, sunscreen, new underwear, all the meds that I always take so I don't have to buy, especially in US funds, and so on and so on. I'm just happy to see there are others out there like me!

 

[I95 to I4]

I start planning the next trip as soon as I get home from the first one. I also start putting things away in the "Disney Drawer". In January I started buying soap and shampoo and sunscreen for our trip in May. DH thinks its a snap to put a trip together!! Well, I guess its like everything else that runs smoothly in the house!! Mom just does it, and everyone thinks it just magically
happens