PTR: OMG my first DL Trip with DH's Sis and family

[mommaU4]

So I think I have at least decided on the time of year to go on the DW trip....late October 2012. I am still working on the hotel but might wait to decide so that my DS who will be 7 when we go can help pick...he turns 4 in a week and a half.

I tried to talk to my SIL about the trip on her facebook page but I have not recieved a response yet. I am really curious if she has booked her flights yet. We specifically did the airline we did because it is the one they were going to do and now I am worried that she may not be able to get the same flights as us. Hmmm.

October is a great time to be in the parks!

I hope you hear from your SIL soon and it works out.

 

[sahbushka]

Ok, so my nephew came over for a sleepover last night and while my SIL was dropping him off she mentioned that they have purchased their airline tickets and we are on the same flights!!!! Woo Hoo!!!! You should have seen my happy dance, right there on my front porch for all the neighbors to see! I am thrilled that we will all be together the whole time and this solidifys the fact that we are all going...I was worried they may back out. Ok, so now I need to schedule the shuttle and figure out our last night. I will call Hojo again in case something came open and if nothing is available then I will check and see what hotels are near the LAX airport with a shuttle to the airport so we will be right there for our 7am flight. Woo Hoo, let the planning continue!

Sarah

 

[mommaU4]

That's great news Sarah!!

 

[daisy_77]

Hey, just caught up on your PTR! Sounds good so far!


Beth is right, what is a Disney trip without drama?

Yay, SIL booked their flight!

 

[sahbushka]

I got back from my trip to Reno last night and I feel like I have a better idea about traveling with my kids. Even though I didn't take the kids with me this time, I was able to determine that it will be important for me to check luggage. Normally I just carry it all with me but it is akward to carry it through the terminal and with 2 young children....I'm just not doing it. I need to call the airlines and add a couple of checked bags. They are so pricey, though, it drives me crazy. Who came up with the idea of charging for luggage? Who is going to travel with no luggage? Drives me crazy!

Sarah

 

[WA Kay]

I would like to join in too. Your trip sounds like so much fun. I love that you have a great mix of family traveling together. Congrats on the flights all working out. That must have been a huge relief finding out that you are all on the same flights.

Looking forward to reading more. Good luck with your planning.

Kay

 

[sahbushka]

So my planning has completely stalled. There is quite a bit I still need to do, shuttle, last night hotel, bags scheduled to be checked, dining ressies, but I have been so busy it just has not happened...maybe this weekend. I don't think I have too much planned for this weekend.

Sarah

 

[shishigirl]

Just read your ptr and cant wait to read more. I hope everything works out for you in the planning dept! Its so hard to plan when the hours to the park arent up and you want to get everything taken care of. It sounds like you wil have fun with the group you are going with. We had little ones and went with my three sisters and it worked out great to leave the kids with one couple so you get to have your fun too! Good luck!!

 

[sahbushka]

I would like to join in too. Your trip sounds like so much fun. I love that you have a great mix of family traveling together. Congrats on the flights all working out. That must have been a huge relief finding out that you are all on the same flights.

Looking forward to reading more. Good luck with your planning.

Kay

Thanks, yes, I am so glad we are all on the same flight!

I did finally make one dining reservation this weekend. We are going to dine at the Rainforest Cafe the second night of our stay. It is a thursday. We didn't want to make dining plans for the weekend as it will be fall and we want to see all the shows and fireworks, etc. My SIL offered to book the shuttle as she gets home sooner than I do and can get ahold of the company during business hours! I have contacted HOJO and the last night is still not available, so I am still looking at doing a hotel near the airport. I worry about whether the shuttle will still charge us the good round trip rate if we need to be dropped off at a hotel near the airport as opposed to the airport itself. There is still lots to plan and only 3 months left! Woo Hoo! Now if my dd will just learn to walk! We will be all set!

Sarah

 

[sahbushka]

Less than 3 months to go!!!! Woo HOO!!! Can you tell I am excited! I need a day off work so I can finalize my plans!

My dh's company just decided to close his store though they are saying they want to keep him on to mange the web site. We will see. We are still planning on going on the trip. I almost have all the money saved up so we should be ok...we may just skimp a bit on souveniers.

I suppose if my husband is off work next week I could have him do some of the phone calls for me. It's just not the same as doing them myself though.

I need to talk to my sil and see if she made the shuttle reservation. That would at least let me know if we can do the round trip but to a hotel on the return instead of the airport.

Sarah

 

[QueenDoOver]

Hi Sarah!
How fun to read about all of your plans. I'm glad that you are still going to be able to go, despite hubby's job change. Man, I sure hope things pick up around here.
Tracey

 

[sahbushka]

Hi Sarah!
How fun to read about all of your plans. I'm glad that you are still going to be able to go, despite hubby's job change. Man, I sure hope things pick up around here.
Tracey

Thanks Tracey! Yeah, I think my dh is even more excited now! I still haven't finished my plans and it is making me quite nervous. I just haven't had time! I am working during the day m-f and then going to the gym almost every night! I won't have a chance this weekend what with my dd's party and a dear friend's house warming and strawberry picking and a Mama Mia sing a long! Only 2 months and 3 weeks to go! I have never left a trip to this late date! Hopefully it will go well.

Sarah

 

[sahbushka]

So I think I am going to go for it and buy the hopper tickets from the homeschool conference tonight. It will save me around $60! That is a pretty big savings! I have a post into that thread to get a couple questions answered first but hopefully it will be a go!

Sarah

 

[sahbushka]

Well, I didn't find out the answer to my question, but I decided to go for it anyway! I booked 2 5 day park hoppers through the conference thing. Now I just need to find out if they get mailed to me or how I get them. Still need to work on the last night of our stay as well as the transportation though my sil is going to help with that part.

Later,
Sarah

 

[tinkermell]

Hi Sarah!

Just thought I'd check in too!!

So glad that things worked out for all the flights and stuff!

 

[sahbushka]

Well, I found out that you have to pick up the tickets at the conference (which wouldn't be a big deal) but you have to pick them up the 14th or 15th. I don't get in till the 16th so I was able to get a refund - thank you thank you thank you thank you! I will buy the 5 for 3 hoppers tonight and call my sil to schedule a night for them to come over and talk about the trip.

Sarah

 

[sahbushka]

I booked my dh and ds's tickets the other day! Check one thing off the list. I talked to dbil on the 4th and he said one of his co-workers did the same trip we are doing and had no trouble making it from Anaheim to the airport for the 7 am flight on the way home. I am really hoping HOJO's dates open up for our last day...it has been sold out for some time now. I keep checking back but they are still booked. When I talk to them they say it is quite usual for something to open up closer to trip start but it makes me nervous! We will be getting together to talk about pace, ride preferences and food preferences in the next few weeks! Hope it goes ok!

Sarah

 

[sahbushka]

WOOOOOO HOOOOOOO!!! The last date of my trip became available so our hotel is all booked and I am so excited! My SIL is booking the shuttle now that we know about the hotel! They are also coming over to our house this coming week to figure out the rest of the trip. We were going to get together tuesday but I just got scheduled to work a double that day so we will switch it to Monday. Everything is coming together so well! I am pumped!

Sarah

 

[sahbushka]

2 months from today my dd will ride an airplane for the first time and will walk through the gates of Disneyland for the first time (last time she went she was still in my tummy! I was 3 months pregnant.) I can't believe it is getting so close! I am dying to listen to disney music now - I have the music from the rides! I am doing a happy dance inside! Also it looks like there will be a mini meet for a meal at DL with some of the Divas that live nearby or will be at the parks the same dates! I am so excited to see them again! Oh, and my daughter has started walking. We tricked her into it by holding out the remote (which she loves to play with but isn't allowed to play with). Before she knew it she had walked accross the room! Now she has more confidence in herself and I see her taking more and more steps! She will be running before I know it! We are deffinetely taking a stroller on the trip. We may also rent one at the parks for whenever ds4 gets tired and the rest of the time for our bags or what not. I am thinking we should get a locker for our coats...what do you think? And waiting to purchase things till the last day...having the kids look around and decide what they really want first! Except I will probably get ds one of those light up spinny toys the first day because they are just so much fun to play with on the trip! Wooo Hoo!

Sarah

 

[sahbushka]

So I just found out that our flight home on Monday has been changed. We were supposed to leave LAX at 7am now we are leaving there at 5pm! I am so excited! This is soooooo much better for me! I will still be home at a decent hour and we don't have to get up so early in the morning or worry about packing the night before! We can hang out at the pool! It will be great!

Also, I got a better discount on the super shuttle so will be getting an extra 20 off the round trip! Every little bit helps!

My DSIL and her family are coming over tonight to finalize plans. I am making a cake and decorating it Disney style. Last time I was there I got a Mickey Mouse head cookie cutter and I will be using it to imprint on the surface of the cake and then I will trace it with black frosting and fill the inside with yellow stars. I also plan on putting on balloons and tracing the word Disneyland with black frosting! If it turns out I will take a picture and try to post it here!

Everything is just going so well, knock on wood!

Sarah