shhhh Dec '08 & (6/'10) pre-trip twofer

[hollybearsmom]

Happy Mother's Day to Me!!! My present to myself is that I'm writing a pre-trip report on the DISboards! Yippee!

I just can't stand not to talk about Disney all day, every day. I comb through the threads looking for useful tips and information. Then I just have to share it with anyone within earshot. So maybe this is my Mother's Day present to my family. I can talk about our trip all that I want, and they don't have to listen! They will miss the info, they just don't know it yet! And although I talk about the trip non-stop, there is no definate date given to the kids involved, so I am for now, a KOTS wanna be.

I want our trip to be very special but most of all fun! And I don't want to miss a thing. I am an over-planner. My family has two nicknames for me, one is 'the Sarge', and the other is 'the CAD' as in the Cruise Activity Director. I like to plan my plan. Have a plan. And then execute said plan in an orderly, and most definately, timely fashion. My brother says it takes me longer to plan my store list than for him to go to Food Lion, shop, and get home. While I fancy myself as the Fairy Godmother of the trip, you can expect a lot of Eeyore out of me, yes there's gloom, but I will find the blooms!

So, I hope you will follow along with me as I give my family a much deserved Disney break. I welcome suggestions to our plans as I prepare and pester people to get on board my plan for a magical vacation. For now, I am just happy to have started my pre-trip pre-report and I'll be thinking of how to introduce our family next time. And explain why I call it a "Really early pre-trip report".

Happy Mother's Day to everyone celebrating today!
Beth



SERIOUS PLANNING STARTS PG 4 POST #51

 

[OhMari]

Happy's Mother's Day, and plan away. This is what is so great about this board.

 

[Kim321]

Happy Mother's Day Beth! I like your premise (probably because I'm kind of doing the same thing -- writing so that I don't have to keep talking about my excitement)! I look forward to reading about your details!

 

[disneyaddicted]

I am thinking that the Disboards were really invented for those of us who eat, sleep and breathe Disney and drive our loved ones nuts, now we have a place to go where people actually "get it" and we are all considered normal for the most part.

Happy planning!

 

[hollybearsmom]

Thank you all for stopping in to read my report! OhMari - I agree that this board is great! Thanks for being a moderator. Kim - I hope you'll share your best tips with me! And Disneyaddicted - I'm so excited to just think about going, why don't they get it?!?!?!?!

And now, for the really early part...my dad has said that he is taking his kids and grandkids in 2010. Last time our family went, my grandmother and mother were alive, but only one grandchild had been born. This time, only one "old" person, but at least four youngins. (It's over a year away, things could change.) With spouses, that would be 9. He has thought about asking his sister and her kids and their kids if they wanted to go at the same time, but so far as I know, that has not happened yet. With their spouses, up to 19. Give me the chance to plan a Grand Gathering? And he's not sure? What is there to think about? Anyway, that is a long time to wait. So I had the idea of going next fall with friends who have kids and just doing a quick couple of days/long weekend sharing a house or condo. Just because once I started thinking about it, I couldn't wait! So I am planning the most wonderful trip for our family in 2010. Possibly to become a GG, and in the meantime, I am working out all the packing and planning tips on our friends for Fall 2008! And somehow, I have to trick my unsuspecting dh into a trip in 09 just for us. But that plan comes after this trip.

It's a double whammy. Two trips to plan. I can feel the magic already.
Well, it's time to meet the school bus, so the intros will have to wait a day. Thanks for sticking around, Beth

 

[hollybearsmom]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/16208/sort/2/cat/500/page/1

okay that's us.

I'm on the left in the coral. The momma. It seems silly to say that I'm a little nutty about planning since I am writing this for a trip that is more than a year away! Helps explain my nick names a little though, and I am for the most part, called "Sarge". My way or the highway. (And if you are ever in the hospital and need a little patient advocacy, I learned through the school of hard knocks.) I have already printed, yes printed, six different packing lists which I reduced and carry with me at all times, just in case. You never know when you are going to be in Target or Dollar Tree and see one of those most have items! Planning for Disney is like planning a wedding, and if it isn't in my book, it isn't going to happen.

My dh. Another thirty something who loves to say he may be getting older, but will never grow up. The life of the party, he keeps me laughing, and he loves our kids more than I could ever have hoped for in a dad. He works at a home improvement center, not the orange one! And is in the AF reserves. He's likes to golf on days off, and makes a killer pretzel crusted chicken. He will be the one to tell me to relax and put my index cards away, but then 10 minutes later ask me where we are supposed to sit for the parade and does he need to go after a fastpass. He's my Prince. Favorite character: Genie. (((the exits are here, here, here, here, here, and here))) In the photo, he's the one with the goatee.

Our dd. She's 8 now. But almost 13 if you ask her, constantly reminding me she is a pre-tween. She is all Princess. Thankfully, she is still in that stage where she will play Barbies for an afternoon, but wants to watch Bratz and Kim Possible on Saturdays. Crazy over Zac, watches HSM at least twice a week, can't wait for HSM2, and HHSM to come out. She was the first grandchild, and the only one to go to WDW so far. She was 2 1/2, so she doesn't remember much. But loves to look at the pictures and ask questions about the trip. She is the one in the light teal jacket.

And our youngest, a son, one, we call the monster. Picture that child who is a mix of Piglet and Stitch. Chubby cheeks, sparkling dark brown eyes, and his fingers wiggling with the thought of pulling another dresser drawer out onto the floor! Or spin the whole roll of tp out! Or flip his cheerios into daddy's coke, you know the one. The youngest of our family, he wants so bad to be big. He has a heart of gold though, cries whenever anyone else does, and sits by his sister when she gets time out.

Then my husbands' cousins family is who I roped into the trip for next fall.

DHCousin. These 2 guys are trouble together from the word go. Same age, same hometown, same, same, same. He is an active duty Marine, currently overseas. Always doing something outside the house because it might need to be done. He and my dh get into these weekend projects that go for weeks. "Top" is perfectly organized, absolutely obssessive about his garage shelves. Even the mans closet is squared away, not only by color, but by sleeve length as well! For which I forgive him, since he will take me for a ride on his Harley when he is home.

Also appearing, His wife. She's next to my hubby in the photo. Favorite saying: "cool man". She is finishing her degree to be a teacher, is always ready to lend an ear, my scrappin' buddy on those long weekends when the guys are doing guy things. Her idea to use the RV. The Snow White of her domain. She juggles two kids, two dogs, a horse, college, and a deployed husband without breaking a sweat. God bless her!

Their older daughter is just three months younger than mine. More tomboy than diva, she loves soccer and horses. When the girls are together they dress up and sing for us, loudly, we have said we will never be the mommies on AI waving at our daughters on stage. And we are okay with that. They keep us laughing. Their daughter is very confident like her mother, but rambunctious and energetic like her father; she is Tigger. Ready to bounce out the door without keys or shoes, count her in for fun!

And then the baby girl, three months older than my little one. She is all about not getting left behind. There is no door that she will not open, no steps she won't climb, no chair she won't flip over, and noone is going out the door with keys in their hand without her. She is a daredevil and a showstopper. She uses her 'flirty eyes' to full advantage! I'm sure she will grow up to be the Princess who always wears the silly face, but for now she is a little Lilo. Ohana ya'll.

And that's us. The pre-trip people. Yes we are the same ages, married the same amount of time, and our kids are the same ages, both military families, and we are going to spend the week in a confined space at FW. Can you smell the drama? It's a year away plus some, many things will change, but for now, I have a plan...

 

[disneyaddicted]

The plan sounds great. What excitement. Going with a large group sounds like it will be a blast. Looking forward to hearing more.

 

[wilma-bride]

Wow, a huge group - you guys will have a blast

There's only one thing better than having a trip to plan - and that's having two trips to plan Happy planning - looking forward to reading more about what the Sarge has up her sleeve

 

[hollybearsmom]

Good morning! And thank you again for reading my report. We just spent the weekend with Snow White and her two kids. The older one was in a dance recital Saturday, so we drove up to see her and then spent the night. I let her see a peek into my Disney Pre-Trip Planning Notebook. I am very connected to my plans. Not so much anyone else. I take it very personally when they say, well that won't work, or I don't like that idea. People! Trust me, I am on the DISboard, I have the inside information. You will thank me when your trip goes smoothly.
Anyway, she agreed to handle the RV set up/packing and the grocery/hardware list. She gave me the okay to set up the ADR's, the rest of the menu, the reservation for the campgrounds, and our daily plan. phew.
So barring any unforseen deployments of the men, our trip is planned for October 25 - Nov 2, 2008!!! Hooray! It's in writing!
The weekend of July 19th is about the 100 day mark. We will have a picnic that weekend with the Disney theme, give the kids their countdown calendars, and first shirts. Then we will go up to their house on the weekend of Oct 17 - 19th and deliver our suitcases and household items to be packed in the RV. On Friday the 24th, they will leave after school and head south to meet us for dinner, and then we will hit 95 and drive until we get into Jacksonville. Our tentative plan is to go to Wal-Mart, sit outside overnight, shop early, and arrive at the World around noon. I'm so excited!!!!
We will go to Shades of Green to get our tickets, and then go sit in line at FW to check-in.

 

[wilma-bride]

Your plans sound great - I love that you are making countdown calendars and shirts for the kids I am thinking about doing something like that for our family trip next April

 

[hollybearsmom]

Thanks for the sweet comments!

As with all good things, there comes a time, when the dh says, "how much"?
So, I have tried to use every piece of DISknowledge to come up with a budget plan. Please feel free to correct me where I have miscalculated, or offer comments for a better version!!!

So based on 07 prices, the campsite is 456/8 days or 228 per family.
Gas (if it doesn't go too high) is for 650 miles one way, two vehicles, 700-1000, asking for 500 from each family
Our tickets are from SoG, 7day ph, 700 per family
Plus the MNSSHP tickets, another 200 per
Then food, we want to do 2 char. meals, most of the rest at campsite, thinking about 630 per family
Then planning another 200-400 for things like Kids Club/baby sitter one night, horseback riding, etc
And a backup fund for things like flat tyres, ill children, etc. 300 per.
Does that sound feasible? It's just around 3000 for each family---2 adults and 2 kids (although the little ones will be 2).

I'd love it to be less, but I want an all-inclusive pkg, and not be short or still paying off my cc's in three months.

 

[wilma-bride]

I think your budget sounds very reasonable - it costs us a lot of money to go to WDW from the UK but it is worth every penny

Have you included money for souvenirs and gifts?

 

[hollybearsmom]

Thanks Joh, and yes, we plan on using Disney Dollars for the older girls starting this fall. We will give them the DD for rewards, incentives, in their Holiday cards, etc. About one a week. Anywhere we can substitute them for actual cash, so that they will have $50 each of their own to use in the Parks. We are missing school, so the budgeting will help meet their economics assignment. They will keep track of their money in a checkbook register to show where they started, what they bought, and balance it after each purchase. We plan on meeting their savings dollar to dollar so they will have $100 for the week. That is probably more than some families give their kids and less than others, we think that is a reasonable amount. The younger kids, we have planned on about $50 each, which the parents will dole out.

 

[hollybearsmom]

Not about the trip, but, my little monster pulled the Disney album from our last trip out of the cabinet and is "talking" to Mickey! Is there a tissue toting smiley? It's a mommy moment.

 

[hollybearsmom]

Okay, there is so much to learn about the World. I am so excited about the planning that I copy and paste things in to my Disney folder without putting the thread link or the posters name, I am going to stop doing that today! I want to go back and re-read these things. Maybe I missed something critical! I have subfolders already, so my planning notes look like this:
Impt phone #s
Hours
Ticket Prices
Packing Lists
FW info & RV tips
GG Ideas
Esp for the kids
Esp for mommy
Park Plans
Resorts
Dining Notes
For the CM's
Recipes
DISigns/Tees
Websites
I am sure that the Passporter will be on the top of my Christmas wish list. Then I will need to consolidate my notes and organize them. For now, I just print a folder each time we go somewhere and I read them in the car.
Are there topics I need that I forgot? Please alert me, i don't want to leave anything undone!!!!

Are we there yet? I just can't stop wishing I could find a way to go now!

 

[OK GRUMPY]

We LOVE Fort Wilderness!! I have enjoyed reading your pre trip report!

 

[hollybearsmom]

OK Grumpy - thank you for bumping me to a page 2! I hope we like FW. I have about seven different "fav" loops written down from these boards. I hope we get the 1400. It seems like the best for us, what's your fav?

Ok, the dates are set. The budget is in the - still messing with it stage. The little notebook is started. Now what? I mean really, there is so much to plan. I have my advance dates, I think they are right, for calling reservations and my ADR's. Then I have the phone numbers for everything I can think of next to that.
So I guess that means I can start thinking about packing. But maybe I should concentrate on which park which day. Is it possible to really get a handle on this?

And I really should be thinking about my trip to NY next weekend. Grandpa is taking me and my two kids up for four days of sightseeing, shopping, and visiting old friends.
Weather permitting, we may catch the ballgame on Sunday too. But wait, if I think like a Disser, I can justify looking over the packing lists since I need one for that trip! Yeah, that's it, I'll start on the packing list. Now where did I put those.....

Be back soon!

 

[hollybearsmom]

Oh my. One week without a DISboard fix makes one, well, I can't find the words. Let's see what all has happened. Okay, got packed for NY, and while my dad was driving with my brother and his kids to NC to meet the other grandparents (this will be impt in a minute) they discussed the trip to Disney in 2010. Without me! And, my brother decides no way he will take his kids out of school. WHAT!?!?!?!?! I showed him the letters and the school worksheets already made up. Nope, just not gonna do it. Are you kidding? It is so much hotter and so much more expensive in the summer. Not to mention the lines. Please tell me you will re-consider. Nope. June or not at all. Oh great. So I fly off the next morning to NY without the Disney binder because I am pouting. My dad and my two kids and I have a fantastic trip.
--NY report area, skip to the next -- if you don't care about this. Arrived on time thursday to the clearsest weather I have ever landed in there. Rental car was ready, hotel room was ready, map worked. It was great. We drove to Conn to meet friends for dinner. Great day. Friday we went to the Bronx Zoo, gosh was it hot. But not terribly crowded, and we had so much fun. A short shower just before they closed, but all in all, another great day. Dinner and hotel. Saturday was perfectly clear and hot, a friend from Conn met us in Grand Central and off to the ferry to the Statue of Liberty. My daughter was in awe. She just kept saying, she is so beautiful. Tons of pictures taken. Dinner, our show was hilarious. Laugh out Loud funny! Back to the hotel. Sunday was hot again, we slept late then went shopping on 5th ave, just to go to Disney and walk in and out of Tiffany's. Then we hit Central Park and the playground. It started to rain so we ran for the car, dinner, hotel, and start packing. Monday was rainy, and our plane was delayed for hours and hours. Finally home about 10:30p. Up for school tuesday at 6am. It was the best weekend!--

--okay, for everyone else, Tuesday was a lazy day. My daughter went to school, I unpacked one of the four bags. Opened the mail. Set the bills aside. Took a nap. Picked her up from the bus. Went to the church for a youth meeting. And got a phone call. Come home now. See my sister in law had driven up to NC to pick up the kids (mentioned above). She called home at 6p, they were leaving. the trauma hospital called at 7:30p. They told my brother it was a terrific accident with a tree. To come immediately. He works about three hours south of here, they wrecked about four hours north of here. Now took until about 1:30am. See more about it on the coping board.
So I am now camped out at my brothers house. No planner. The computer only when none of them are on it. Nursing, cooking, cleaning, and just being in the way. So now I have to replan the dates and everything. The only plus I see, longer park hours. And we set up a saving plan for the 2008 trip. It started this week. yippeee!

 

[disneyaddicted]

While you were in NY. I was in your neck of the woods. I loved it! I am planning to go back next summer for a week on the Beach.

I agree with you about taking the kids out of school for a trip to Disney. I say avoid the heat and the crowds the best way you can. Our schools actually consider Disney world an educational field trip and the teachers have all their work ready for the kids to take with us. It's a shame your brother won't let his kids miss school. Maybe if he were to call the school and talk to them personally?

 

[hollybearsmom]

June 19 - 27, 2010.
That is the new "possible" date for our trip. Now we have to shift our housing plan and budget. We had a friend-of-a-friend condo thing lined up for Halloween week. And no trick or treating. So I guess we dress up for the meals instead, and then take a change of cooler clothes? Argh. I hate replanning. Do I start a new notebook or just rip out the sections I had for an Oct trip? Sigh.