~Snowbird Chat 2~

[Monny2AE]

Hi Birdies! It's been crazy busy around here for some reason and I had less kids last week and this week- go figure!

Yesterday was Emily's 4th birthday! We went to the Adventure Aquarium in Camden NJ (right across the way from Philly). It was a fantastic place! We had such a great time. I'll get some pics up on photobucket hopefully tomorrow and share them with you all.

Well...called and have NO pins attached to my name/account! Danggit!! I was soooo wanting him to say "Why, Yes!!! I see here that you have an awesome PIN..would you like to make a ressie?"...but, alas,,,,no such thing!! So...i will just start making plans in my head and see when the reg discounts come out...if they do!!

Don't be too sad. I haven't had any pins on my name either. I used to get them all the time and now I get nothing. I'm sure some discounts will come out at some point.

OK. So after 3, yes 3 phone calls to Disney Dining and endless hours on my computer, I have finally figured out our vacay plans!!! Here is the itinerary for your viewing pleasure and comments (PLEASE!!!)

Day 5

am emh @ DHS
lunch @ 50s PTC 1230pm
back to Poly for swim time
Epcot 5-9
Illuminations @ 9 (maybe - its not our fave!)

I'm not sure we can be friends anymore after a comment like that. Illuminations is my absolute favorite! tisk tisk.

Kim -- have you checked with WDW for your flights? I was at the end of my rope about the airfare for this trip. We usually pay about $79 for flights. AT has them at $124. They started at $114, then went to $119, then $124. I was starting to regret my decision to wait them out. This morning someone on the September countdown said she called WDW and got her flights cheaper than what the airline website was offering. Anytime I have ever looked at flights on the WDW site when booking a trip they have been exactly the same as AT's prices on their site. But when she posted this I thought I would call and check anyway. And while we didn't get super low rates like usual, we did get a much better price than they have out right now!! Through AT's site it would have been $1077.60 for all 4 of us. I just booked the same exact flights on AT through WDW for $830!!!!!!!!!!!!

Way to go Shelly!!!!

I have been MIA... it is going to be March soon, and my photos are still not downloaded onto my PC

I am feeling like the trip was so far away... and there was so much i wanted to share... when will we find more hours in a day?

I am working on photopass, feeling overhelmed with their website... it takes forever to edit pics

I am wanting to get the order in tonight... as I am thinking they start to expire tomorrow? but that confuses me as well.

Just be sure to order the photopass within 30 days of the first day you logged on and entered a code from one of your cards. I hope you get it all figured out!
P.S. Let me know when you find more hours in the day. I could use some too.

Hi everyone. I hope you all had a great weekend. Poor Madison was sick on Saturday...she must have gotten the same bug that I had the previous Saturday. She was feeling better by Sat night, but woke up dehydrated yesterday. We even bought her Pedialyte to drink on Saturday, but it was pretty gross. Tony went and got her some Gatorade yesterday morning instead. She had to dance yesterday morning in an Irish dancing show, and she was such a little trooper. It was back to school for her today and she was a lot better.

Glad she's feeling better! Hope your house is done with it now.

Way to go on the ADRs Shelly!! Are you going to try Shutters at CBR? Have you been before? The DIS unplugged guys reviewed it and it wasn't pretty. The review itself was hysterical to listen to, but it made me wonder who eats there if that type of thing happened a lot! We never saw too many people in there when we stayed at CBR in 09.

Joanne - hang in there - we'll be happy to see you pictures etc whenever you get around to it. I had a couple of sick and busy days this weekend and would have much rather been here or planning/packing. Nope, just selling GS cookies and laying around feeling cruddy!

I'm really getting excited for our trip, even though I feel lousy and wish I could have more organized and ready! It's going to be a busy week. My parents and brother are going to be heading to FL tomorrow (Sanibel Island) and I'm taking them to the airport early a.m. before work. Work is busy too and I really want to get through my plans on my PTR. Oh, and I probably should start packing before the week is over!

Packing would be a good thing! Get to it little missy! (where's the bossy looking smiley?)

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

I'm not sure we can be friends anymore after a comment like that. Illuminations is my absolute favorite! tisk tisk.

Oh Forgive me please - I am willing to give it another shot - I don't think we had the best vantage point last time! Plus it was REALLY cold that night! Glad Em had a GREAT birthday!!! I love the year of 4 - so much better than 3!!!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

I have an announcement to make..........

WE ARE DRIVING TO DISNEY THIS SUMMER!!!!!!!!

Are we crazy?????????

I think it will be GREAT!!!!!!

What do you think?????

30 hours of driving done over 3 days in a mini van with 2 kids across 7 states!!!!!! WooHoo!!!!

 

[Dancegrl624]

I have an announcement to make..........

WE ARE DRIVING TO DISNEY THIS SUMMER!!!!!!!!

Are we crazy?????????

I think it will be GREAT!!!!!!

What do you think?????

30 hours of driving done over 3 days in a mini van with 2 kids across 7 states!!!!!! WooHoo!!!!

WHOA!!! I could never drive to Florida so I give you a lot of credit. I think from Buffalo it takes about 24 hours or so and I would go CRAZY!!! I don't even like driving to Syracuse and that only takes 2 hours.

 

[jenjolt]

WOW that's going to be a fun drive!! You know me I'd rather drive than fly any day!!! And a cross country drive to boot!! That is going to be a lot of fun!! I can't wait to hear those adventures!!!

Oh a side note, could you guys be in prayer with me about my job situation! Due to massive cuts to the education budget here in TX they are going to have to make some cuts to teachers and since I'm new to the area and one of the last to get hired, I'm on the chopping block. We won't know more until next week but I could use all the prayer I could get right now. With Phillip only working part time since he is part of the ministry, losing my job would be huge. I'm trying to stay positive and rely on the Lord during this time but somedays are easier than others!!

Thanks guys!!

 

[Monny2AE]

Oh Forgive me please - I am willing to give it another shot - I don't think we had the best vantage point last time! Plus it was REALLY cold that night! Glad Em had a GREAT birthday!!! I love the year of 4 - so much better than 3!!!

I hope you give it another try. I just love the underlying message of how far we have come and how we all have the opportunity to make a change in the world. Either way I'll still be friends
I'm really hoping 4 is a less whiney year than 3! We told her that she has to use big girl words all the time now because she's 4...so far it's been working. Hope it lasts!

I have an announcement to make..........

WE ARE DRIVING TO DISNEY THIS SUMMER!!!!!!!!

Are we crazy?????????

I think it will be GREAT!!!!!!

What do you think?????

30 hours of driving done over 3 days in a mini van with 2 kids across 7 states!!!!!! WooHoo!!!!

Stop by and pick me up on the way! I'll join you for the last 16 hours!

WOW that's going to be a fun drive!! You know me I'd rather drive than fly any day!!! And a cross country drive to boot!! That is going to be a lot of fun!! I can't wait to hear those adventures!!!

Oh a side note, could you guys be in prayer with me about my job situation! Due to massive cuts to the education budget here in TX they are going to have to make some cuts to teachers and since I'm new to the area and one of the last to get hired, I'm on the chopping block. We won't know more until next week but I could use all the prayer I could get right now. With Phillip only working part time since he is part of the ministry, losing my job would be huge. I'm trying to stay positive and rely on the Lord during this time but somedays are easier than others!!

Thanks guys!!

I hope everything works out as it should for you, Jen. I think it's terrible that they are cutting funding where it counts the most- our kid's education.
In our district they are cutting 80 positions for next year. Two of my daycare moms are on the chopping block which effects me too. If they lose their jobs, I lose 3 daycare kids which is half my enrollment. It's a trickle effect on the whole community, not just me, and it's really frustrating.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Kim...4 is so much fun!!! How was she at 2? my kids skipped the terrible twos(praise the Lord!!!) but, at 4 they realized they had a bit of an option on minding me. Mind and we are good...don't and you will have consequences! they were not bad--it's just that around that age they start to process the 'choice' factor....which was sad for me,because it's a sign they are not little babys anymore ...But it'll be good...and she is so stinkin' cute, how could she act ugly?!!!
Jen..I am soo sorry and will be praying for you!! My friend just told me about this Sat --she's probably gonna get the cut too...WOW! I could sooooo find other areas to cut $$ from before I took it from teachers!!!Schools are messed up enough right now without taking more money from our teaching depts!!!
Kimmy~ I would NEVER drive that far to Disney!!!! But that's just me....now,...for just a cross country road trip....possibly,,,in a fully contained RV perhaps!! LOL....I have some really bad childhood memories of driving from here to Disney (and other vacations) as a kid and I just couldn't do it. No kidding...it was really bad... I could write a book.....so...it's not my thing of choice. Now...if your kids do okay in a car (which, didn't y'all go across Canada last year?) and you think that your family would like it, I say go for it!!! And remember to stop and take pictures at each state line!!! Hopefully it'll be the best memories you ever made!!!
Shelly...yep, we are gonna go in Nov again...we just fell in love with that! Talked to Mike Sat about skipping the DDP, we think we are gonna try that this time-just need to sit down and run some #s..but I think it'll work out better not doing it.And of course, with the GCs it'll still be pre-paid--except tips. I am still trying to sell him on doing Club Level at the CR tho'...he didn't really light up at that idea. I thought it was BRILLIANT,....of course!!!! We have plenty of time to decide though...and when the 40% off deluxe or free dining option comes out (if it does!!) we always pick 40%, so that will dull the pain a bit.
Totally here, but have any of y'all vacationed in the Bahamas? We are considering a trip there before the end of the school year ..also we would beat the start of hurricane season! We wanted to fly down and spend a few days....rather not cruise....we wanted our days to be there, not onboard. Of course, it may work out that way- at this point we are still tossing it around...just curious if anyones been what your opinions are.....

 

[Dancegrl624]

Totally here, but have any of y'all vacationed in the Bahamas? We are considering a trip there before the end of the school year ..also we would beat the start of hurricane season! We wanted to fly down and spend a few days....rather not cruise....we wanted our days to be there, not onboard. Of course, it may work out that way- at this point we are still tossing it around...just curious if anyones been what your opinions are.....

Haven't been to the Bahamas at all, but my parents and sister have visisted the Caribbean....Aruba, St. Maartan, Dominican Republic....and they loved it! I can look into some properties if you want (yes, I can do other things besides book Disney trips).

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

Yes we do drive west nearly every summer!! Airfare is just too darn expensive from here within Canada! Ken loves driving and the girls are really good!! We usually drive 12-13 hrs to Ken's sister's farm in western MAnitoba!! This trip tho will be different! 3 days of driving in a row - we will take 3 days so as to not kill my poor hubby's back! I am sooo excited!! Need to start planning our route!!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Kim - YAY!!! Driving is NO BIG DEAL. Really. (says the girl who does it all the time!) Of course the price of gas is getting worse and worse by the minute. We rely on the movies in the car, DS games, driving at night (so they sleep). Stopping at the Welcome center for each state and taking pictures is great!

Kim Monny - Happy Birthday to Emily!!! Not to burst the bubble about the whining, but my oldest didn't even start until she was 4 and then it was FULL on! Glad you had a fun day!

Jen - and prayers coming your way for a good outcome with your job situation. Hang in there girl!!

No, I have not started packing yet. I have been getting things done and working through my "to do" list. I'm going to wait to pack until Friday. My cleaning lady comes Thursday so then I can throw suitcases all over the floor.

Shawna - been to the Bahamas 2x but only with the cruise. Be careful - there have been some stories about tourists being robbed etc, mostly in Nassau and mostly cruise tour groups (including Disney). There is a lot of poverty there and they are very reliant on tourism. There was a big fire near the port recently. But there are lots of places to do things like swim with dolphins, stingrays etc. You know you'll have nice warm weather. Although we did get rained on once, it was still 80 degrees and it didn't last long.

 

[snykymom]

I have an announcement to make..........

WE ARE DRIVING TO DISNEY THIS SUMMER!!!!!!!!

Are we crazy?????????

I think it will be GREAT!!!!!!

What do you think?????

30 hours of driving done over 3 days in a mini van with 2 kids across 7 states!!!!!! WooHoo!!!!

My DH isn't a Disney-phile (I know, grounds for divorce!) but has agreed to come with me in October for at least a few days of Food & Wine - and I agreed that he can golf all day and doesn't have to go into any other parks! He's always wanted to take a road trip, so I suggested that we drive down & back - it's only 22 hours from here! It's only the 2 of us in a Prius, but to make him happy . . .

We've bought the Weird Travel books for almost all the states between here and there, and DH wants to plan trips around Guy Fieri's finds in his Drive-Ins, Diners & Dives books - a lot of them are in the south.

With any luck his schedule will permit it! Not sure I'd do it with 2 kids, though!

Good luck!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Hello Snowbirds. It's been crazy busy around here. Airfare, ADR's, soccer, homework, subbing almost everyday. I am so looking forward to summer, then Disney!!!

Happy Birthday to Em! 4 is such a fun age.

I will be praying for you Jen. I am curious to see what is going to happen within our school next year. I have heard that we might cut back one teacher per grade for 2nd-5th grade. And there are about 5 teacher's retiring from those grades, so hopefully that will leave everyone with a job. I'm not really liking the idea of the class sizes going closer to 25 though. I have no idea what is happening in the high school as far as positions and cuts. I guess I don't pay too much attention since my kids aren't that old yet and I don't sub in that building.

Have you decided for sure to drive Kim??? Or are you waiting to check airfare? I had it set in my mind that if we had to pay $1000 for airfare that we would consider driving. Luckily Disney saved me on that!!! I think it's a 19 hour drive from here and I just don't think I can sit still that long!

Shawna -- I hope you get a really good deal for November! We've never been to the Bahamas. We will likely cruise there if/when we do our Disney cruise in 2013.


Have a great day everyone!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

Thanks for all the well wishes and advice everyone!!! I think our trip will be fabulous!!! We are going to start out with one loooong day - probably do at least 13-14 hrs and then the next day will be only around 10 and the last day will be super short, only about 4-5.

The only thing I am nervous about is driving Atlanta!!! I have read so many horror stories about that city! We will be passing through most likely on a Sunday early evening so I hope that time won't be so bad!

We will have to but a new DVD player cause ours bit the dust last summer - it was well used! I think we will invest in a double console system! One for each kids with the ability for them to each watch their own show! That plus their mp3 players, books, car games and a few stops along the way should keep the "are we there yet's" to a minimum!! They are both really good at just looking out the window for a while too!!!

Oh, I booked the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage for Nats birthday this morning!!!

 

[jenjolt]

Thanks for all the well wishes and advice everyone!!! I think our trip will be fabulous!!! We are going to start out with one loooong day - probably do at least 13-14 hrs and then the next day will be only around 10 and the last day will be super short, only about 4-5.

The only thing I am nervous about is driving Atlanta!!! I have read so many horror stories about that city! We will be passing through most likely on a Sunday early evening so I hope that time won't be so bad!

We will have to but a new DVD player cause ours bit the dust last summer - it was well used! I think we will invest in a double console system! One for each kids with the ability for them to each watch their own show! That plus their mp3 players, books, car games and a few stops along the way should keep the "are we there yet's" to a minimum!! They are both really good at just looking out the window for a while too!!!

Oh, I booked the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage for Nats birthday this morning!!!

Having done the Atlanta drive many times, that early on a Sunday should be no issue at all!!!! Just make sure in case their is an accident you fill up before Atlanta!! After that smooth driving south, one of the nicer drives!!!!!

OOOH Pirates and Pals Fireworks is one of the things I really really want to do, I may have to see if there is any availablity for when I'm going...will look into that today!! WOOT WOOT!!! What a great bday surprise!! I know the girls will LOVE it!!

 

[sarbah77]

Hi ladies! I've been totally MIA!

Last Thursday:
-Woke up with a sore back
-Came to work. Where they were painting. Indoors. in a poorly ventilated building. Promptly got a migraine, stomach ache, and asthma attack. Went home until Tuesday

Friday-Monday: still sore back.

Tuesday:
-finally went to see a chiropractor. Ow.
-got an email from Disney, advertising FREE quick-service dining for the dates including our July trip!

Wednesday: woke up to find out our TA had been able to save us $420 with that new discount!

oh yeah! Happy Wednesday!!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I will be on my way to WDW in ONE WEEK!!!! Yikes! So much to do!!

Shelly - I'd be thrilled if class sizes were 25. My 4th grader has 36 and my 2nd grader has 28 in her class. It's getting ridiculous.

Sarah - glad that the TA got you a good deal!!! Hope the back feels better too!

Kim - Atlanta at that time shouldn't be bad. The nice thing is the highway is so big - there's like 6 lanes each way! We've gone through during rush hour and it was BAAAAD, but on the weekend not so bad at all.

 

[Dancegrl624]

I guess I should feel lucky....Madison only has 19 kids in her 3rd grade class. She's never had more than that and they have 4 teachers per grade. She is also in a team taught classroom which is wonderful. There is a main teacher and then a special ed teacher. She works with a small group of students and they don't have to get pulled out of the classroom. They also have a reading specialist that comes to their room and works with kids like Madison who have very advanced reading skills. I love her class this year!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I will be on my way to WDW in ONE WEEK!!!! Yikes! So much to do!!

Shelly - I'd be thrilled if class sizes were 25. My 4th grader has 36 and my 2nd grader has 28 in her class. It's getting ridiculous.

Sarah - glad that the TA got you a good deal!!! Hope the back feels better too!

Kim - Atlanta at that time shouldn't be bad. The nice thing is the highway is so big - there's like 6 lanes each way! We've gone through during rush hour and it was BAAAAD, but on the weekend not so bad at all.

One Week!! I am so excited for you!!!!


The classes are around 20-22 now, but I think once you get above 25 it gets to be a lot to handle and kids who don't keep up start to get over-looked. Do your kids classes have a teacher's aide? Our school has a lot of teacher's aides. They go into the classrooms for reading and math. And then they sometimes pull out kids with lower scores for small group instruction and more one on one time.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

We don't have a lot of aides, but we do have a literacy specialist and in 4th grade they take 1/3 of each of the two classes out to a reading teacher for about 1/2 the day. So it gets smaller for those things. Up until January each 4th grade class had a student teacher too. That was nice. Sarah cried on her last day. Even after school she was crying!

In 2nd grade, there are a lot more volunteer parents to help out, but just two classes of almost 30 kids, and 2/3 are boys. It's a bit crazy! Paige is often a bit on the bored side, so she has to be challenged a bit. We just had her conference, and she's doing awesome!

 

[Pluto_fan]

Hello Snowbirds! As I often do, I've been keeping up with reading the DIS but not posting much. Thank you all for your kind words about our cat.

Sheree--wow! One week! Do the girls still not suspect anything? How fun! I can't wait to hear about it when you get home.

Kim, your three-day drive sounds like it will be a great adventure! Willl you plan to stop at any "interesting sights" along the way ("South of the Border" doesn't count! ), or will you keep moving as much as possible? Please, please, please do a trip report with Ken's comments again!

Jen, please let us know how the job uncertainty turns out. Praying for a positive outcome.

Kim, has Jason started his new job yet?

I hope you all have a happy Disney day!