POP CENTURY ... LAST WEEK of SEPT. 07 MEET

[karensokool]

Our plans are rolling right along. In fact, I have nothing left to do except figure out how I'm going to suprise my kids. DH and I had a discussion about this last night. "Let's just tell them now", he said in a very cavalier manner. "WHAT?!", I shot back, "I have kept this secret for 4 months now. Do you know what an achievement that is?!!...DO You?!" "OK," he replied evenly, "What's the plan then?" "i don't know," I said "Let me ponder it". So I've been pondering it today and here's what I have come up with.

First, some background...I am a SAHM from April through October. From November through March I work a lot of hours at a Ski resort in the SnowTubing dept. It is a short season here in Pa but very intense. By the end of it I am missing my kids soooo much. So, about 4 years ago I instituted "Super Family Fun Day". This is a normal school day when I wake the kids up at normal school time and say "Guess What?...SUPER FAMILY FUN DAY!!!" we all squeal and then proceed to do something fabulous like visit a museum, go toy shopping, go to a movie and lunch, or some other event that I've planned in advance. I do it twice a year, right before and right after Ski/Tubing season.

I have to wake the kids up that morning at 3:00am for the 1.5 hour drive to the airport to make our 6:30 am flight. So I thought I'd do the traditional "Guess What?!....Super Family Fun Week and a half!"

So now that I've solved that problem....what else can I obsess on and overplan for our vacation?

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

karensokool, even an education nut like myself applauds your SUPER FAMILY FUN DAY. Into each life a bit of rainbow must fall. I think you have the perfect idea for how to surprise them on this trip IF you can get your hubby to keep the secret.

keliblue, you and I know that it is the things that we do not schedule that turn out to be the hit of the trip, do we not??

SG/Linda

 

[keliblue]

*******************************************ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS

karensokool, even an education nut like myself applauds your SUPER FAMILY FUN DAY. Into each life a bit of rainbow must fall. I think you have the perfect idea for how to surprise them on this trip IF you can get your hubby to keep the secret.

*******************************************ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS keliblue, you and I know that it is the things that we do not schedule that turn out to be the hit of the trip, do we not??
*******************************************ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS
SG/Linda

You know it !! Especially on those HOT Sept. days .. Touring plans went out the window and we spent the afternoons at Blizzard or Typhoon . There is nothing like floating around on a tube and getting out just long enough to grab another Pina Colada...

Like my DH always says "Baby, we don't Skinny Dip.. WE CHUNKY DUNK"

 

[aksunshine]

Definitely take a closer look at the Unofficial Guide...*if* we need to use them, he has sample touring plans in his book for all the parks that tell you the best way to hit the rides in a particular order to avoid standing around in long lines all day, he also has a ton of other touring plans on his website and I think I paid like $7.95 or something to have access to all the plans for a year.

I would call Coral Reef back, if they haven't called you back yet. That is so neat that they do that there! Too bad Coral Reef was on definite must NOT on my list because I do not like seafood at all

My plans are going OK, thanks for asking! Still trying to get all the girls outfits together and I did end up getting some of the princess snack bags that Alicia mentioned(thanks Alicia). Next on my list is to get our T-shirts or wahtever we're doing for MNSSHP!

I think I am going to subscribe to touring plans. Its soo cheap and I may get some useful info out of it. Oh I talked to the guy at coral reef and they are all booked up on divers the day were are going BUTthey are going to make us personalized menus so DH will be suprised-This TS is for him because I too HATE seafood but DH LOVES it.

*******************************************ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS

You know it !! Especially on those HOT Sept. days .. Touring plans went out the window and we spent the afternoons at Blizzard or Typhoon . There is nothing like floating around on a tube and getting out just long enough to grab another Pina Colada...

Like my DH always says "Baby, we don't Skinny Dip.. WE CHUNKY DUNK"

I still LOVE the Chunky Dunk thind! Cute "puppy"!!

From what I've heard, Coral Reef has Fabulous NY Strips. Highly comparable to steakhouse steaks. I love seafood, but these steaks get so much rave, I may get one!

Glad you found the bags.

My newest planning dilema...Dinner theatre. Read Pre- trippie for more info!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Baby, we don't Skinny Dip.. WE CHUNKY DUNK"

Keliblue, I take that one step further. I do not swim at all and mostly cause I am required to file an environmental impact statement before doning a swimsuit.

I may actually wear a pair of shorts this trip and dunk my legs into the pool, which will be a first for me.

You know it is the things that do not go as planned that we remember, and mostly fondly. Even the bad things. Disaster plus time equals funny.

Slightly Goofy

 

[eeyore45]

I want to join in, but I have nothing to say!!

I've also kept the secret... dd 10 - and it is tremendous help to hide it from her when I'm also planning a Jan trip - just dh and me... (just me? just I... just dh and me!!)

anyway... the problem I'm having is dd was scared for life on our last trip home from Disney - United flight 11 hours, sitting on the tarmec, no food, no water, and she got sick, several times... because of it tho, I got free vouchers to try United again - and then I discovered, they EXPIRE w/in a year (I cant use them for the Jan trip...) So I planned the Sept free dining trip!!!

but I think I'm going to have to drug her to get her on the plane!! Poor kid, I hate that she fears the plane!! so we're keeping it a secret - and I hate the most I cant ask her any input!! She'll have to trust me - but she'll never forget her 11th birthday in DISNEY!!

OH andKarensocool I highly encourage Family Fun Days in that manner!! ;

slightly Goofy Love your list!! Esp the going back again - I took that one literally - poor dh...

 

[DisneyMom5]

You secret keepers are GOOD!!! Wow.

I couldn't a keep WDW trip a secret for anything! I am such an obsessive planner that I talk about it till my whole family is like "Enough mom!" LOL

Not to mention we've been planning this for over a year. And it involves relatives. And other kids. So we need to discuss amongst ourselves.

Though now that it's getting closer my kids were doing the fake sobbing and gasping over the online Disney pics. Sniffle, Sob, Waaaaaaaaahhhh!!!!!!
Need...to...go...back..........LOL

Their soooo my children.

 

[mickeymouseclubhouse]

Here are some rules that will save you time and energy.

Whatever park has EMH go to that park the day after.

Get there early or stay late so that you will not be competing against as many people and can go on more things in less time.

If parades are not your thing go on the more popular rides then.

Watch the parades from the less popular spots so that you do not end up spending hours holding seats instead of doing what you want.

Zig, instead of zag, as everyone else is doing. When a major attraction is letting out the crowd will head toward the closest big deal. Go left instead of right and there is almost always a lesser line.

Read the DIS daily and write down the best tips and organize them in a fashion to where you will remember them.

If you miss something, and you will, just go back -again and again until you see it all. Has not happened to us yet but then we have only been going for twenty years or so.

Slightly Goofy

All great tips from you more seasoned Dissers! Thanks so much!!!

That's why I love these boards so much! I just couldn't imagine finally getting to go to WDW for the first time after all these years and then spending my whole day wandering around aimlessly and standing in long lines all day to get on three rides, kwim? Our day is not planned down to the hour, just which park and dining ressies with a few special events we want to make sure we don't miss like LOEMH. The rest of the time I am just going to be in such awe that I am really at WDW, nothing else will matter!

 

[mickeymouseclubhouse]

I love those of you that are keeping secrets! That is so What an awesome surpirse for your dc!

I'm with Disneymom5, I can't keep a secret about anything, much less something this big. I just want to scream it from the rooftops...
I'm going to Disney!
but then again I may be more excited than even the kids

 

[aksunshine]

Ugh! Is anyone else totally bummed about clothes shopping? I've been going for about two weeks now and EVERYTHING looks aweful!

 

[BabyPiglet]

I love those of you that are keeping secrets! That is so What an awesome surpirse for your dc!

I'm with Disneymom5, I can't keep a secret about anything, much less something this big. I just want to scream it from the rooftops...
I'm going to Disney!
but then again I may be more excited than even the kids

Yeah, we're surprising my dad with a birthday cake at Chef Mickeys. We were planning on doing the diver and everything but I just keep forgetting.

This trip I'm trying to make all about my dads birthday.

<3

 

[mickeymouseclubhouse]

Yeah, we're surprising my dad with a birthday cake at Chef Mickeys. We were planning on doing the diver and everything but I just keep forgetting.

This trip I'm trying to make all about my dads birthday.

<3

Aww, Jenny that's so sweet! You must be Daddy's little girl
I know my two are!

 

[heath-and-javens-mom]

That's really cool... maybe some pixie dust will float your way regarding the divers!! Personalized menu's..... sweet!

If not... thats okay, Im happy with just a small suprise fore DH-afterall he paid for this trip, he should get something right?

Good to hear it! , the price is right and I have found them to be useful, and we may just loosely follow them anyway, even if there are no lines
I'm sorry all their divers are booked the day you are going but the personalized menus are still a nice surprise for your dh!

I signed up today and hope to get some reading up on it done in the near future! thanks

Ok...yeah... it was "All Ears". Use code AEN0717T

oh man, i already signed up Thanks fot the promo code though, Im sure others will use it

Here are some rules that will save you time and energy.

Whatever park has EMH go to that park the day after.

Get there early or stay late so that you will not be competing against as many people and can go on more things in less time.

If parades are not your thing go on the more popular rides then.

Watch the parades from the less popular spots so that you do not end up spending hours holding seats instead of doing what you want.

Zig, instead of zag, as everyone else is doing. When a major attraction is letting out the crowd will head toward the closest big deal. Go left instead of right and there is almost always a lesser line.

Read the DIS daily and write down the best tips and organize them in a fashion to where you will remember them.

If you miss something, and you will, just go back -again and again until you see it all. Has not happened to us yet but then we have only been going for twenty years or so.

Slightly Goofy

What a life saver you are! -thanks for sharing your tips!

You secret keepers are GOOD!!! Wow.

I couldn't a keep WDW trip a secret for anything! I am such an obsessive planner that I talk about it till my whole family is like "Enough mom!" LOL
Not to mention we've been planning this for over a year. And it involves relatives. And other kids. So we need to discuss amongst ourselves.

Though now that it's getting closer my kids were doing the fake sobbing and gasping over the online Disney pics. Sniffle, Sob, Waaaaaaaaahhhh!!!!!!
Need...to...go...back..........LOL

Their soooo my children.

This is sooo me! No way could I keep this a secret!

All great tips from you more seasoned Dissers! Thanks so much!!!

That's why I love these boards so much! I just couldn't imagine finally getting to go to WDW for the first time after all these years and then spending my whole day wandering around aimlessly and standing in long lines all day to get on three rides, kwim? Our day is not planned down to the hour, just which park and dining ressies with a few special events we want to make sure we don't miss like LOEMH. The rest of the time I am just going to be in such awe that I am really at WDW, nothing else will matter!

Thats what I am afraid of...the last 2 trips we have took to disney we have done this exactly-----I just want to have a better plan this time.

Ugh! Is anyone else totally bummed about clothes shopping? I've been going for about two weeks now and EVERYTHING looks aweful!

absolutly! Im with you on this! I am to the point that I am just going to have to refuse to look in any mirrors, and stay away from all cameras!
No, seriously It does suck to not be able to buy the clothes you like because they dont come in your size. I have been dealing with it too many years!

 

[karensokool]

Here's a funny story about Super Family Fun Day...When my kids go back to school the next day, I have to send a note explaining their absence. Here in Pa., the state requires it and you can geta big fat fine if you forget just a few times. Anyway, in order for it to be an "excused" absence they have to be sick or there has to be an emergency of some sort. But I'm unwilling to lie in the note and say that my kids are sick when they aren't. It sets a bad example for them and it feels wrong to me. Plus, I don't like the administration telling me when I can and cannot have access to my kids. Anyway...to get to the point...I always send a note which says "Dear Mrs. (insert current teacher's name), please excuse Bailey's absence yesterday. It was Super Family Fun Day." The teachers get such a kick out of it and they'll usually make a funny and supportive comment. The administration, however, always deems it "unexcused". What can you do? One day, I envision myself in court contesting a fine and explaining the virtue of Super Family Fun Day to a judge Won't that be a kick?

 

[karensokool]

Ugh! Is anyone else totally bummed about clothes shopping? I've been going for about two weeks now and EVERYTHING looks aweful!

yeah I know how that is! I've got a good deal of "Flub". Lately though, I've come to the conclusion that I'm pretty fabulous (Flub, notwithstanding). Sometimes when I'm looking in the mirror, assessing my flaws, I have to tell myself "Wrinkle here...wrinkle there...but I'm still a cutie". Somedays it's hard believe it though...you have to have a strong "illusion-ation"!

 

[minnieandme]

Our plans are rolling right along. In fact, I have nothing left to do except figure out how I'm going to suprise my kids. DH and I had a discussion about this last night. "Let's just tell them now", he said in a very cavalier manner. "WHAT?!", I shot back, "I have kept this secret for 4 months now. Do you know what an achievement that is?!!...DO You?!" "OK," he replied evenly, "What's the plan then?" "i don't know," I said "Let me ponder it". So I've been pondering it today and here's what I have come up with.

First, some background...I am a SAHM from April through October. From November through March I work a lot of hours at a Ski resort in the SnowTubing dept. It is a short season here in Pa but very intense. By the end of it I am missing my kids soooo much. So, about 4 years ago I instituted "Super Family Fun Day". This is a normal school day when I wake the kids up at normal school time and say "Guess What?...SUPER FAMILY FUN DAY!!!" we all squeal and then proceed to do something fabulous like visit a museum, go toy shopping, go to a movie and lunch, or some other event that I've planned in advance. I do it twice a year, right before and right after Ski/Tubing season.

I have to wake the kids up that morning at 3:00am for the 1.5 hour drive to the airport to make our 6:30 am flight. So I thought I'd do the traditional "Guess What?!....Super Family Fun Week and a half!"
So now that I've solved that problem....what else can I obsess on and overplan for our vacation?

That sounds great!! How do you go about packing their clothes and stuff? Do you pack everything while they're at school or when their sleep? I don't know how you can keep the secret so long. I would've lost it a long time ago

 

[DisneyMom5]

Here's a funny story about Super Family Fun Day...When my kids go back to school the next day, I have to send a note explaining their absence. Here in Pa., the state requires it and you can geta big fat fine if you forget just a few times. Anyway, in order for it to be an "excused" absence they have to be sick or there has to be an emergency of some sort. But I'm unwilling to lie in the note and say that my kids are sick when they aren't. It sets a bad example for them and it feels wrong to me. Plus, I don't like the administration telling me when I can and cannot have access to my kids. Anyway...to get to the point...I always send a note which says "Dear Mrs. (insert current teacher's name), please excuse Bailey's absence yesterday. It was Super Family Fun Day." The teachers get such a kick out of it and they'll usually make a funny and supportive comment. The administration, however, always deems it "unexcused". What can you do? One day, I envision myself in court contesting a fine and explaining the virtue of Super Family Fun Day to a judge Won't that be a kick?

I know Homeschooling isn't for everyone, but that's one of the perks of homeschooling that I don't have to follow someone else's schedule.
Or explain why we went to the movies the first day of the public school calendar. Or go to Disney in Sept. (or January/Feb.).
I use a year round schedule so we have more flexibility to take time off when we need or want to.

Sounds like the homeschoolers won't be the only ones there in Sept. this time! LOL

My niece and nephew will only be in school 9 days before they take a week off. My SIL decided they are still young enough to get away with it, and that free dining was worth it.

Oh well, I know everyone is not in favor of both homeschooling and/ or pulling kids out of school to travel, but sometimes doing things differently works.

 

[heath-and-javens-mom]

Sounds like the homeschoolers won't be the only ones there in Sept. this time! LOL

My niece and nephew will only be in school 9 days before they take a week off. My SIL decided they are still young enough to get away with it, and that free dining was worth it.

Oh well, I know everyone is not in favor of both homeschooling and/ or pulling kids out of school to travel, but sometimes doing things differently works.

Im taking my son, who will be entering 2nd grade, out of school...I think he will only be in school like 3 weeks before I take him out for a 11 day trip!
I would LOVE to home school. The only downfall is that then I would Never get a break

 

[DisneyMom5]

Im taking my son, who will be entering 2nd grade, out of school...I think he will only be in school like 3 weeks before I take him out for a 11 day trip!
I would LOVE to home school. The only downfall is that then I would Never get a break

Pshaw...Breaks are overrated! LOL
I would be at a loss to entertain the 4yo while the older one was in school.
I guess it's what you are used to, right?

It's sort of a lifestyle thing...once you're into it you can't remember what it was like to not be into it. I sent my oldest to all day K at a private school. I can't remember what it was like to have her gone all day, and what I did with the two younger ones all day. DD is 13 now. Time really flies. sniff

 

[heath-and-javens-mom]

Oh no,,,, my 4 year old goes to a pre school..Its only a half day but it helps, when there both gone I can get arrends run, and cleaning etc. My husband and I have seriously thought about home schooling eventually. I just think that they could get a better education at home and I wont have to worry about guns in school, My youngest getting teased about his cleft lip, etc. However, I wonder how they would deal with not going to school dances, meeting new friends, etc. Is there a web site I can visit to get more info on home school-you can PM me if you want. Thanks