Pre-Trip Planning - Our 18 night Adventure

[mickeystoontown]

Oh I meant to ask you....did you lose the 15 pounds you wanted to lose?

 

[MelanieC]

Ha - No, I keep losing and gaining that same 3-4 pounds, it's really killing me, lol!

You sound like you got a lot on your plate before you leave. This weekend I hope to get some stuff done because the next weekend we may have to be out of town. DH and I were just saying that we'd be driving right now if it was 2 weeks from now. We'd be trying to make it to NC.

Ahh - I can't wait till that day because then everything is done but relaxing and enjoying!!! Won't be long now

 

[MelanieC]

Also just realized your arriving on the 6th - we were originally leaving the night of 8/5, but changed it to leave home on 8/6 and we moved that night so we are coming home on 8/25 now.

 

[MelanieC]

I got a LOT done this weekend.

DD17 and my stuff are almost packed. I'm waiting on two pairs of shorts to come in from JC Penny's and I need about 3 more shirts and I'll be good. I have almost all my tolietries packed too. I feel soo much better about going now. It's taken a huge burdon off my shoulders knowing I won't be doing this the night before

 

[mickeystoontown]

Sounds like you got a lot of stuff accomplished this weekend. I did too. We had our garage sale. Lacey made $263.00 and I think Hunter made about $15.00. He won't let go of anything to sell it. My niece made just $17.00 but she priced her stuff waaay to high so it didn't sell.

I got the last few things that I needed. Well, with the exception of some new underwear. I refused to ride for 14 to 16 hours with uncomfortable underwear on.

John got a couple pair of new khaki shorts. Hunter got a new shirt and some socks.

Tonight, I plan on taking out all of my shorts and matching them up with the shirts. It's easier to get my stuff ready ahead of time because I don't wear my casual clothes during the week. Not that I wouldn't mind wearing shorts and t-shirts to a law office. Anyway, I have enough plain old shorts and t-shirts to wear on the one weekend we have left before we go.

Lacey said she has her Disney clothes all sorted out but the last time I looked in her room, it certainly didn't look like it. It looked like her suitcases had thrown up all over the place. She just came home for three weeks from missionary college and is going with us to Disney for the first time in two years.

Hunter probably needs a few more pair of underwear and some socks but a trip to Wal Mart can solve that problem.

Whew! Before you know it, both of us will be packing up and heading to Disney! Yippee!

 

[MelanieC]

Yeah - it definately sounds like you got a lot done too. My checklist is slowly getting accomplished. We leave a week from today - YEAH!

During lunch I went and picked up my shorts on order from JC Penny's - bought another pair - shh don't tell DH, lol.

I'd say the only thing I have left to get on my end is - lotion. I got my hair done last night and I'll get a manicure/pedicure on Wednesday night. I also typed up a letter to fax to the room assigners at POP.

I found someone at work to take me to work so DH and the kids can pick me up from here. We are hoping to leave by 4pm on Thursday night. That would give us 8 hours of driving minus stops and traffic (praying Thursday night traffic isn't bad). Hopefully we get to Washington DC after rush hour is over.

OK................HOLD THE PHONE! The strangest thing just happened. I rarely get over to the trip reports board, but I was just over there. I only looked at 3 reports. I finished two but one was super long and I was only partially done. Fast forwarded 45 minutes and I'm here posting on this thread. I decide to pull up your TR listed in your siggy and OMG I recongize these people, lol! I was just reading your TR, its the one I didn't finish. Your DS is close in age to mine - at least it looks by the pictures. He is 11 almost 12.

We are hoping to get in on Friday early enough that we can do a scavenger hunt. DD17 & DH are one team and me and DS11 are a team. Hopefully its not too late when we get in. We also have to stop by Walmart on our way in.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Yeah - it definately sounds like you got a lot done too. My checklist is slowly getting accomplished. We leave a week from today - YEAH!

During lunch I went and picked up my shorts on order from JC Penny's - bought another pair - shh don't tell DH, lol.

I'd say the only thing I have left to get on my end is - lotion. I got my hair done last night and I'll get a manicure/pedicure on Wednesday night. I also typed up a letter to fax to the room assigners at POP.

I found someone at work to take me to work so DH and the kids can pick me up from here. We are hoping to leave by 4pm on Thursday night. That would give us 8 hours of driving minus stops and traffic (praying Thursday night traffic isn't bad). Hopefully we get to Washington DC after rush hour is over.

OK................HOLD THE PHONE! The strangest thing just happened. I rarely get over to the trip reports board, but I was just over there. I only looked at 3 reports. I finished two but one was super long and I was only partially done. Fast forwarded 45 minutes and I'm here posting on this thread. I decide to pull up your TR listed in your siggy and OMG I recongize these people, lol! I was just reading your TR, its the one I didn't finish. Your DS is close in age to mine - at least it looks by the pictures. He is 11 almost 12.

We are hoping to get in on Friday early enough that we can do a scavenger hunt. DD17 & DH are one team and me and DS11 are a team. Hopefully its not too late when we get in. We also have to stop by Walmart on our way in.

Morning!

The two of us are slowly but surely getting everything ready aren't we. I've got to finish up my trip report by Wednesday or it won't be done before we leave that evening. What a coincidence that the report you didn't finish before was mine.

Hope that you guys have a great trip. Please let me know when you start a trip report.

Lisa

 

[MelanieC]

You have a great trip as well.

So our departarture day plans are set.

DH is getting off work around noon. We are going to have all luggage and items placed in living room before we leave for work. I'll get a ride to work. DH and the kids will leave the house at 3:30pm and be at my work by 4pm to pick me up. Originally we were going to eat dinner at home, but now that we are leaving at 3:30pm we will stop somewhere. Hopefully it will be quick because I want to get as much road as possible behind us that night. 4pm-midnight would give us 8 hours minus any stops. Not bad if we don't run into traffic. Philly traffic is bad, but it's nothing compared to DC traffic. Hopfeully we hit it right to miss the Philly, Willmington DE, Baltimore and Washington rush hour traffic. I know we will hit some, but hopefully it's the kind that still moves at a decent pace. I guess if it gets bad at some point that would be a great time to stop and eat dinner.

We have a list on the fridge with don't forget items like our military id's, hotel vouchers, Ez-pass, disney visa rewards card, extra spending money, turn off lights and ceiling fans, etc. We keep adding to this list and a few things are done like stopping the mail. I think tomorrow DH can get a new set of Powerball tickets (because of course if we didn't take care of that our numbers would come up while we are gone, lol).

Yesterday I was able to print out the scavanger hunt papers, put some pens and highlighters aside. We either need to go pick up 2 pingpong balls or put 4 quarters aside for those since I have play ping pong on the Pop Scavenger hunt. I'll post the scavanger hunt below for anyone who is interested. I also remembered to put my posterpedic neck pillow in my suitcase, although I need to remember to take out and put in the front of the car when we need. That thing has served me well when flying and driving on long trips. Sleeping is so much easier when your head isn't bobbing. The kids got it for me for Mother's Day a few years ago and I use it on almost every trip I take.

My big item on my list for this weekend is to download the months of pictures on my camera, recharge it and get it packed. Update my Ipod and put two movies on it. Buy a new Ipod car charger since mine died. I also want to get all my other electronic gadgets packed along with the rechargers (phone chargers, camera chargers, pack my kindle and charger, car DVD player & cords plus DVD's, and blackberry car charger)-the car charger for the blackberry is important so I can DIS while I'm in the passenger seat.

I've also typed up a room request that I plan on faxing over Monday afternoon. I even looked up the building numbers and room numbers that have lake views to make it more specific. Hopefully we get something we want. My most wanted would be 4th floor 60's section facing lake.

I've never been so organized and almost packed and it's a little scary. Sort of like - what am I missing????????? Haha - maybe this is an indication and we will have the best trip ever. All our trips have been awesome, but our first summer trip in July 2005 (which was our first POP stay) was probably one of our best trips ever. For some reason it was just the best, and being our first summer trip I was nervous about the heat and crowds. We were truly enjoying ourselves so much DH actually said - I can get another week off can you? We didn't stay, because we had already been there two weeks...........but man it was the most relaxing fun vacation ever.

 

[MelanieC]

Pop Century Scavenger Hunt:
• At 6pm – Do the Hustle? Go to Food Court. What is it? Take a picture of it.
• How many hidden Mickey's can you find? Take a picture of each one.
• Find a Bunny, Duck and Squirrel. Take pictures of each. (Bonus for other animals)
• How many Laundromats are there – Take a picture in front of each one.
• Take picture at The sign of your birth year and Anniversary at POP.
• What is Classic Hall? Take a picture of it.
• Take a picture of the lake view from the 4th floor of each of the following buildings from both sides of building (bldg 2 & 3 -50's, bldg 4 & 5 – 60's, bldg 6 -70's).
• What is everything Pop? Take a picture of it.
• What year did WDW open? Take a picture in front of the sign.
• Play a game of Twister and take some pictures while playing.
• What is Petals? Take a picture of it with you in the picture.
• Take a picture of the truck with a POP suitcase on it.
• Look for the secret button (80/90's-9000 bldg-3rd floor). Take a picture of it.
• Get a picture with Goofy and his Red Car.
• How many Disney Icons are there – Take pictures of each Disney icon.
• Find Tie-Die Cheesecake and eat a slice – take a picture of each of you eating it.
• Take a picture of you standing in front of OUR room –get the room # in pic.
• Take a picture of the TV in Everything POP.
• How many Icons are there – Take a picture in front of each one.
• How many stairwell icons are there? Take a picture of each.
• Find the Rubik Cube- How many colors? take a picture of it and of you inside of it.
• At the Big Juke Box – How many songs are listed?
• Looking from an upper level on the 50's Bowling Pin Pool –What do you notice?
• Take a picture of yourself in front your birth year in front of the hotel (full year).
• Take a picture of the POP Flag. What other flags are there?
• How many areas are there to order food at Everything Pop-Take a picture of each.
• How many pools are there – Take a picture of each from an upper level balcony.
• Take a picture of the board at the back of each lifeguard stand.
• What are the hours of the pools – Take a picture of the sign with you in front of it.
• How many songs are on the jukebox –take a picture of you in front of it.
• How many beach balls are in each pool? Take a picture of some of them.
• Get someone to take a picture of all of you inside the 70's 0 (Blue & White)
• Take a picture of a decorated window you can find (extra point most decorated)
• Find the clock in a petal (flower) on the wall- take a picture of it.
• Take a picture of a mailbox, payphone & ATM.
• Take a picture of a flower that sprays water.
• Take your picture in front of one of the POP signs behind the bus stops.
• Find the words Rad Salads on sign for Everything POP & take a picture of it.
• How many types of stairwells are there –Take a picture in front of each one.
• Take a picture of a Pac-Man.
• How many places are there to eat or drink at? Take a picture in front of each one.
• Find Legendary Years – What is it – Take a picture of it.
• Take a picture of the package pick-up area.
• Take a picture of the doghouse.
• Find a vending machine with a Castle on it. Take a picture in front of it.
• Find the refillable mugs and take your picture in front of them.
• Find the Lunar Landing Shadow box from July 1969. Take a picture of it.
• Take a picture of the huge Decade Icon of the year you were born in.
• How many shadow boxes are there? Take a picture of your favorites.
• Cross the Generation Gap. What is it? Take a picture of you crossing it.
• Find "Fast Forward". What is it? Take a picture of it.
• Find a game with the sign "Hit the Lizard on the butt" Read the rest-might be gone.
• Find the playground. Take a picture of you doing something on the playground.
• Walk Memory Lane & read the signs. Take a picture of your favorites.
• Find the Ping pong table and play (use .50 to get a ball from gum machine). Take picture and must bring ping pong ball back with you.
• Find the keyboard. Spell your name on it. Take a picture of you doing it. Take a picture of it from the 4th floor.
• Find the "Children's Video Theatre/waiting area" – Take a picture of you in it.
• Walk around Hourglass Lake. Take 5 pictures along the path.
• Take a picture of Wonder Woman.
• Find silver man hole cover on floor (indoors) that says POP (years 1950-1999).
• Take picture of bridge from inside a yo-yo.
• Take picture on POP Century from Legendary Years side of bridge.
• Take a picture of the phone number for POP on the big phone.
• Find a POP directory and take a picture of it.
• Take a picture of "Do the Funky Chicken" You must have it all in the picture.
• Take a picture of the recommended weight of a child on the Big Wheel.
• Find Mr. Potato Head. Take a picture in front of it and of you high fiving Mr.
• Take a picture of the baggage check area.
• Take a picture of a direction sign to Hour Glass Lake.
• Find Play-doh. Take a picture in front of it and of the inside the container.
• Find the powder blue golf cart that is an old fashioned car. Take a picture in it.
• Look for the yellow POP min-bus with Peace signs. Take a picture with it.
• Write down all songs you hear from the different Decades.
• Take a picture of 3 things with 2009 on it in the gift shop.
• Take a picture of something that has your favorite character in the gift shop.
• Get pictures from the 4th floor looking down on the Hippy Dippy Pool.
• Take a picture of your favorite Tatoo.
• Take a picture of your favorite pin.
• How many colors are there for the buildings? Take a picture of each color building.
• Find Roger Rabbit-What do you notice about the picture behind him? Take picture.
• Take a picture of you getting rolled OVER by the barrel with Roger Rabbit.
• Get a picture of you with a silly hat on from the gift shop.
• Take a picture of a Peace Sign, Floppy Disk, mood ring, laptop
• Take a picture of Space Ship Earth from POP – off property
• Take a picture of the Welcome to Disney Arch from POP-off property
• Take a picture of the prettiest flower you can find (prettiest gets extra point)
• Take a picture of the blue Map Cart -has tan maps of the US & Other maps
• Take a picture of your favorite Saying on the buildings.
• Take a picture of a Disney and Magical Express Bus.
• Take a picture of you kicking the Phoose Ball
• Take a picture of yourself in front of the POP Sign at the front of the hotel.
• How many pictures are behind the check-in counter? Take a picture of your favorite.
• Bonus- Can you find hula hoops, blocks and chalk? Take a picture of you playing with each.

 

[MelanieC]

Boy what a busy weekend. I swear I was at so many stores yesterday. I got up and dropped Taryn at a cheer car wash and then headed to Kohls to stock up on some essential's and to see what kind of T-shirts they had. I had a 15% off coupon that was only good for Friday and Saturday so I had been waiting all week to go. The Sonoma T-shirts they had were the best I've tried on all season. It's so frustrating when you find a t-shirt you love and then after a few years they change how they make them and they don't work anymore. First it was Old Navy, and then I found some I loved at Target. Well both no longer make ones I really like. These at Kohls were the best I found all season. Still thicker than I really like them, but better than the too thin ones I found at Old Navy that also bunched where they shouldn't. Then I run over to Old Navy and return all the ones I bought but one (because it was the only one that looked good with one of the shorts I bought). Just made it back to pick up Taryn and we head back to Kohls to pick up the items I didn't buy on the first trip (was waiting till I returned the stuff at Old Navy). Finally back at home, I try on a few things before packing and she says - I think white would look better. So we head back to Old Navy to return the last shirt (thank goodness because I really didn't like how these fit. Off again to Kohls to pick up 2 white t-shirts and a tan one. Once we got home again I realized one of the white ones had a stain - are you kidding me. Back to Kohls one more time and well she told me since I've super close to spending $100 for the day, if I buy one more t-shirt I would get a 2nd $10 free gift card. I decided to buy one more black one. Now I have $20 in gift cards I need to spend starting tomorrow before I go to Disney. Then later Taryn I went to find a car charger for the ipods. We went to 3 stores before finding one at Target.

Today I was able to get all the camera's downloaded to the computer and deleted. I've been charging all the ipods, cameras and phones. I also pulled out a pack of cards, phase 10 and I'd also like to find the yatzee. I told DH that if we brought a few games, if we had some super rainy days or if a Huricane comes through - at least we have a few games to keep up busy.

Tonight I'm going to have the kids pull all the DVD's they want to bring (luckily our portable DVD works in the car and in the rooms at Disney). This makes for a nice distraction in the evening if we want to watch something and nothing is on tv.

I was also able to get the stuff packed for the scavenger hunt (except the quarters).

 

[mickeystoontown]

Boy what a busy weekend. I swear I was at so many stores yesterday. I got up and dropped Taryn at a cheer car wash and then headed to Kohls to stock up on some essential's and to see what kind of T-shirts they had. I had a 15% off coupon that was only good for Friday and Saturday so I had been waiting all week to go. The Sonoma T-shirts they had were the best I've tried on all season. It's so frustrating when you find a t-shirt you love and then after a few years they change how they make them and they don't work anymore. First it was Old Navy, and then I found some I loved at Target. Well both no longer make ones I really like. These at Kohls were the best I found all season. Still thicker than I really like them, but better than the too thin ones I found at Old Navy that also bunched where they shouldn't. Then I run over to Old Navy and return all the ones I bought but one (because it was the only one that looked good with one of the shorts I bought). Just made it back to pick up Taryn and we head back to Kohls to pick up the items I didn't buy on the first trip (was waiting till I returned the stuff at Old Navy). Finally back at home, I try on a few things before packing and she says - I think white would look better. So we head back to Old Navy to return the last shirt (thank goodness because I really didn't like how these fit. Off again to Kohls to pick up 2 white t-shirts and a tan one. Once we got home again I realized one of the white ones had a stain - are you kidding me. Back to Kohls one more time and well she told me since I've super close to spending $100 for the day, if I buy one more t-shirt I would get a 2nd $10 free gift card. I decided to buy one more black one. Now I have $20 in gift cards I need to spend starting tomorrow before I go to Disney. Then later Taryn I went to find a car charger for the ipods. We went to 3 stores before finding one at Target.

Today I was able to get all the camera's downloaded to the computer and deleted. I've been charging all the ipods, cameras and phones. I also pulled out a pack of cards, phase 10 and I'd also like to find the yatzee. I told DH that if we brought a few games, if we had some super rainy days or if a Huricane comes through - at least we have a few games to keep up busy.

Tonight I'm going to have the kids pull all the DVD's they want to bring (luckily our portable DVD works in the car and in the rooms at Disney). This makes for a nice distraction in the evening if we want to watch something and nothing is on tv.

I was also able to get the stuff packed for the scavenger hunt (except the quarters).

Wow! You were a busy bee yesterday. Sounds like pretty much everything worked out in your favor though. Gotta love those Khol's gift cards.

I went to Old Navy this weekend and everything that was on clearance was half off! Too bad, I didn't need more things. I did pick up a few items but they weren't Disney trip items.

I just gave Hunter the DVD/CD holder out of the car and told him to go through it and pick out the movies and music he wanted to take but to leave three pages empty. I stopped by Blockbuster on the way home from Wal Mart today and they had their previously viewed movies for just $5.00. I bought a couple of movies for the kids but haven't given to them yet.

You just reminded me that I need to go through all the cameras and delete all the photos I have already downloaded to the computer.

Keep us updated!

 

[MelanieC]

Lisa - Your leaving today right? I'm so jealous, originally we were leaving then too. But, tomorrow will be here soon enough!

I wanted to get my manicure/pedicure tonight, but hubby told me we may have to sign some papers tonight so I did that last night. I wanted the extra day that it would last since we are gone so long - but at least that is done.

Tonight we are getting Ryan's hair cut, getting him 2 more pair of shorts since he ended up with so many shirts without shorts, putting the ez-pass in Bill's car, getting the kids military ID's, my drivers license and credit cards packed, packing some tylenol just in case. Finding my camera bag - I think I left it in the basement and I keep forgetting to look. I also want to make sure I can't find any more of the small umbrellas we have. I have 2, but I know we used to have 4.

Luckily since I'm getting a ride to work tomorrow I can pack some of my stuff and at least I can cross it off the list.

Things are wrapping up nicely at work too. YEAH! One more sleep and and one more work and off we go. Bill is taking off tomorrow now to sleep in and then take Ryan to Middle School Orientation. He is missing the orientation the day we drive home, so the Assistant Principle is giving him a special orientation of his own.