~Snowbird Chat~

[danceintherain]

We went to Big River Grille in January and loved it and are going again next time! And they don't take ADR's. So no real planning needed, you can just go whenever you are good and ready!

Thanks! Maybe it will be a no ADR day!

 

[drakes]

I have been off the boards and missed out as well.... today we went and got DD her back to school shoes and clothes, she has grown so much! there were some great deals.
So now we wait to see how many students are in her class, who her teacher is and if they placed her in a split class ( here they will have half grade 5 and half grade 6 or 4) So far dd has never been in a split class and we both have been happy about that.
Usually there are 20-24 children per class and one homeroom teacher.

DD also needs ortho work, she goes for xrays and final determining of her needs in 2 weeks. We too cannot beleive the price and we know it will only get worse.

All this talk about resorts has me doubting again! I was never interested in Pop, in fact did not like it or the looks of it. And that is where I have booked. However we have decided or I have been told Oct 2010 will see us at the Poly.

This then leads me to, the park passes I get for Jan 2010 can be put towards an AP? or not? If I decide during my trip that we want the AP do they credit you this? Does anyone know - I will also call to confirm.

getting back to resorts , we have done value and we did deluxe, both were nice, we did not relax more at the deluxe, it was in out thoughts, but we were much more into the parks and the shopping. I also found the usable room space equivalent , the hallway and the sink area was definitel larger, but there was 4 of us at that time. We did not use the fridge. I DID love being in a hotel with a lobby versus the motel spread out building of the value and moderates!
Anyhow I am rambling. As it is just dd and I a value will be just fine for size, we don;t need the fridge, I stopped drinking coffee so don;t need the coffeemaker, and I am actually looking forward to the Hippy Dippy Pool.

Again - I ramble

thanks for listening

 

[danceintherain]

I have been off the boards and missed out as well.... today we went and got DD her back to school shoes and clothes, she has grown so much! there were some great deals.
So now we wait to see how many students are in her class, who her teacher is and if they placed her in a split class ( here they will have half grade 5 and half grade 6 or 4) So far dd has never been in a split class and we both have been happy about that.
Usually there are 20-24 children per class and one homeroom teacher.

DD also needs ortho work, she goes for xrays and final determining of her needs in 2 weeks. We too cannot beleive the price and we know it will only get worse.

All this talk about resorts has me doubting again! I was never interested in Pop, in fact did not like it or the looks of it. And that is where I have booked. However we have decided or I have been told Oct 2010 will see us at the Poly.

This then leads me to, the park passes I get for Jan 2010 can be put towards an AP? or not? If I decide during my trip that we want the AP do they credit you this? Does anyone know - I will also call to confirm.

getting back to resorts , we have done value and we did deluxe, both were nice, we did not relax more at the deluxe, it was in out thoughts, but we were much more into the parks and the shopping. I also found the usable room space equivalent , the hallway and the sink area was definitel larger, but there was 4 of us at that time. We did not use the fridge. I DID love being in a hotel with a lobby versus the motel spread out building of the value and moderates!
Anyhow I am rambling. As it is just dd and I a value will be just fine for size, we don;t need the fridge, I stopped drinking coffee so don;t need the coffeemaker, and I am actually looking forward to the Hippy Dippy Pool.

Again - I ramble

thanks for listening

It's ok. I've been reconsidering my choice as well. I actually just found out today that the Values don't have ceiling fans, which could really influence our decision. I always wondered why people cared that the ACs were motion activated, but I guess if you have no circulation the rooms can get stuffy.
We'll probably stay at POP, but who knows.

You can definitely upgrade your tickets to APs as long as it is within 14 days of first use, which means you would have to do it during the first trip.
This may also qualify you for an AP discount at the Poly for the October trip. Technically, if you're planning on getting APs anyways you could get APs for the first trip, and potentially get an AP discount for that trip too. (it may require a trip to guest services before check-in) That's what we did in January, and ended up saving almost $100/night at AKL.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Drakes~ Good to hear from you!!! I know the cost of 'teeth work' is astronomical!!!!

We do Deluxe for the proximity really... and I agree with Becca...I am a ceiling fan girl!! I gotta have some kinda air moving all the time...last time we stayed at the BC we got a box fan! It was wonderful, as we use them at home to block outside noises. Oh...these ADRs don't even want to have to deal with them!!!!

 

[snykymom]

All this talk about resorts has me doubting again! I was never interested in Pop, in fact did not like it or the looks of it. And that is where I have booked. However we have decided or I have been told Oct 2010 will see us at the Poly.

This then leads me to, the park passes I get for Jan 2010 can be put towards an AP? or not? If I decide during my trip that we want the AP do they credit you this? Does anyone know - I will also call to confirm.

You can upgrade your January tickets to an AP, but as noted above, you will have to do that within 14 days of their first use. There's no real benefit in waiting, though, since the AP will be back-dated to the first day you used the ticket you're upgrading. And once you have an AP, you can get the Tables in Wonderland card, which will give you 20% off at most TS restaurants (including ones like Bistro de Paris and V&A which don't take the DDP) and at the food court at POP and a couple of other places. And it includes adult beverages. We discovered that the TIW was a much better "fit" for us than any of the dining plans. We love appetizers, so the DP wasn't good; we love desserts, but never can eat appetizers & desserts at the same meal, so the DxDP wasn't good. But the TIW gave us our discount on all of that and we just decided how we wanted to eat.

I'm going back in 10 days banana with an AP discount of $149/night for a pool view room at AKL - I don't think I ever could have afforded that without the AP! I got an AP discount on my MNSSHP tickets and on my KTTK tour. And I've booked a visit in December (still tentative - we'll see) for CSR for $89/night.

So there are a lot of good AP discounts out there!

 

[letthewookiewin]

Hello Snowbirds!

Just found out this week that DS10 needs braces. We kind of knew this was coming, but I guess we just didn't expect it so soon. He went for a full ortho exam/evaluation this morning. He did very well considering he has been freaking out ever since Tuesday when he found out he needed braces. He doesn't deal well with any discomfort. Plus he heard them discussing the price with me and he said - that costs as much as a trip to Disney!!

Oh well, I'm sure lots of people have been through this and we will get through it too. It just seems like it is going to be a long drawn out process.

I had braces in high school. My mouth was so small he said I could either have 9 teeth pulled or have my upper pallet widened. Since I didn't want all the teeth pulled I went for the widening. I don't know what my ortho did wrong, but I still have a small whole in the roof of my mouth from it. Just make sure when he gets them he pays attention to the "do not eat" list. I didn't and I was in pain from it.

I would LOVE to stay on the Boardwalk, but it's a bit out of our price range. I was toying with the idea of the Boardwalk Inn for a while, but I just can't justify it. If we go Deluxe, it will most likely be the Wilderness Lodge, which I would really LOVE, but we still probably shouldn't spend the money..

I would love to stay at the Boardwalk someday. The pool looks really cool to me. However, I showed my DH a pic of the pool and he said that "that is the one Disney resort we will never ever stay at." For some reason the clown slide really freaks him out.

Good luck! You'll do great!

Thanks

Well I took the test on Thursday and I did good enough on all of it to not be able to take a remedial, except for algebra. I've been dealing with this sinus/ allergy thing, so I didn't study for the algebra at all. I only missed not having to take a remedial class by 10 points. Luckily I can go back and take it again, so I won't have to waste the time and money on the remedial class. I am starting with some class called Devry (name of the school) that is an online class. The person who registered me said that if you can breath, you can basically get an A in it. Then next Saturday I go to my first at school class. It's an English class, which I didn't want to take until I got used to being in school again. I didn't want to take 2 classes this session, but I had to in order to finacial aid. This school is a more accelerated semester. The semester itself is 16 weeks that is broken up into session A and session B. Each session is 8 weeks long. I am starting school at session B, so I had to take 2 classes this time.
My DH is being very very evil. He said that as soon as I graduate and get a job, we can buy into DVC. Then we can start taking several small WDW trips a year. He said that depending on how much he is making at the time, we might be able to use half it not more of my salary for WDW trips. I tell you, the man is pure evil!! He has found the one thing that will make me want to give up being a stay at home mom and is using it against me like crazy.

 

[danceintherain]

I would love to stay at the Boardwalk someday. The pool looks really cool to me. However, I showed my DH a pic of the pool and he said that "that is the one Disney resort we will never ever stay at." For some reason the clown slide really freaks him out.

My DH is being very very evil. He said that as soon as I graduate and get a job, we can buy into DVC. Then we can start taking several small WDW trips a year. He said that depending on how much he is making at the time, we might be able to use half it not more of my salary for WDW trips. I tell you, the man is pure evil!! He has found the one thing that will make me want to give up being a stay at home mom and is using it against me like crazy.

Hey, at least that's motivation!
When I was finishing up my classes last semester, I was very frustrated with my last few papers. My Mom told me that if I finished them and turned them in she'd give me a $50 Gift Card for each one.
It may have gotten me to work a little harder...she never did give me the Gift Cards though.

 

[drakes]

It's ok. I've been reconsidering my choice as well. I actually just found out today that the Values don't have ceiling fans, which could really influence our decision. I always wondered why people cared that the ACs were motion activated, but I guess if you have no circulation the rooms can get stuffy.
We'll probably stay at POP, but who knows.

You can definitely upgrade your tickets to APs as long as it is within 14 days of first use, which means you would have to do it during the first trip.
This may also qualify you for an AP discount at the Poly for the October trip. Technically, if you're planning on getting APs anyways you could get APs for the first trip, and potentially get an AP discount for that trip too. (it may require a trip to guest services before check-in) That's what we did in January, and ended up saving almost $100/night at AKL.

Thank you for this information - I have read some travellers go to Guest Services prior to check in at DTD? does this mean you don't book a package and room only? So that you have the AP before you check in- We have a package so the park passes are already wrapped up in the deal.

Thanks again this is very useful information!

 

[drakes]

You can upgrade your January tickets to an AP, but as noted above, you will have to do that within 14 days of their first use. There's no real benefit in waiting, though, since the AP will be back-dated to the first day you used the ticket you're upgrading. And once you have an AP, you can get the Tables in Wonderland card, which will give you 20% off at most TS restaurants (including ones like Bistro de Paris and V&A which don't take the DDP) and at the food court at POP and a couple of other places. And it includes adult beverages. We discovered that the TIW was a much better "fit" for us than any of the dining plans. We love appetizers, so the DP wasn't good; we love desserts, but never can eat appetizers & desserts at the same meal, so the DxDP wasn't good. But the TIW gave us our discount on all of that and we just decided how we wanted to eat.

I'm going back in 10 days banana with an AP discount of $149/night for a pool view room at AKL - I don't think I ever could have afforded that without the AP! I got an AP discount on my MNSSHP tickets and on my KTTK tour. And I've booked a visit in December (still tentative - we'll see) for CSR for $89/night.

So there are a lot of good AP discounts out there!

I am liking this AP idea even more! I agree with you on the dining plan - not one of them suits our family. We went deluxe in January and ended up each trying something different for the appetizer and dessert and then shared. This was great as it let us try more ! Some appetizer could have been my meal. We however enjoy the food at Disney and like the option of having the 3 meals "prepaid" . We did the regular dining/basic? in 2007 and it was great as well, BUT that was when appetizer , tip etc was included. This was also my first trip back since Epcot opened!!!So I had no idea the food at the parks - We also went value at ASMo and ate breakfast at the food court every morning ( except our one CP ressie), we then CS for lunch and TS for dinner. I am trying to remember what CS we ate at the first trip - We ate mostly TS in 2009 on the deluxe .

Anyhow again I am rambling!
I do appreciate this information - DD wants to stay AKL - but that's not in the cards for me in Jan unless a great code comes out, $149 - I would definitely go for that ! Mind you she doesn't even know about this trip and she only knows Oct is a maybe.

 

[letthewookiewin]

Hey, at least that's motivation!
When I was finishing up my classes last semester, I was very frustrated with my last few papers. My Mom told me that if I finished them and turned them in she'd give me a $50 Gift Card for each one.
It may have gotten me to work a little harder...she never did give me the Gift Cards though.

Yeah it's working so far. I didn't want to go to school, but then he told me that and I was motivated to go. Also, my DH used a tragedy at my high school to remind me that if something happened to him I wouldn't have any way to support our boys. Last week my high school was supposed to have a football scrimmage with a nearby town that was canceled for some reason. Since it was two of the senior cheerleaders, that were also cross country track runners, were going on a run through town. Just as they passed under an awning of a gym, the awning fell and killed one of them and severely injured the other one. It happened on the 2nd day of their senior year. It just made us think that if something happened to my DH, I wouldn't be able to support our DS and I would have to try and work and go back to school then.
...and I know it's not good to do this, but DH said that as long as I keep my grades up, I can max out my financial aid and get money back. That money can then be used for Disney trips while I'm in school. (Which means we can go once a year for the next several years.) Like I said I know we have to pay it back, and it's not good to do it, but it is a thought.

 

[snykymom]

Thank you for this information - I have read some travellers go to Guest Services prior to check in at DTD? does this mean you don't book a package and room only? So that you have the AP before you check in- We have a package so the park passes are already wrapped up in the deal.

Thanks again this is very useful information!

If you are using those tickets to upgrade to the AP, remember to ask the Concierge to take them off your KTTW card before upgrading, so that you don't ruin your dining credits. You can do the upgrade at any Guest Services; I did mine at MK.

The other thing to remember is that you can book a room with an AP rate without actually having an AP or a voucher yet. I had tickets from UT and a room with an AP rate. I checked in, went to MK, used the ticket and upgraded it then. No one ever asked to see the AP. The worst that would happen is that they'd tell you to come back with it.

You might want to run the numbers when the AP rates for your time frame come out; you may do better than the package you have now.

 

[danceintherain]

Thank you for this information - I have read some travellers go to Guest Services prior to check in at DTD? does this mean you don't book a package and room only? So that you have the AP before you check in- We have a package so the park passes are already wrapped up in the deal.

Thanks again this is very useful information!

We hopped the first bus that came after Magical Express dropped us off, and ended up getting my AP at Epcot. It was a bit of a hassle though, so unless the AP rate is that much greater than the package deal, or you're driving, I wouldn't recommend it.

You can always decide to change to an AP rate instead of a package deal after the deals are released as long as you're still outside your 45 day mark.

Oh, another thing about the upgrading to an AP, when you check-in at your resort, have the CM put your tickets on separate media from your KTTW card. I don't think it matters as much if you don't do the Dining Plan, but if you do, and you try to change your tickets while they are on your KTTW card, it can screw up your Dining.

Yeah it's working so far. I didn't want to go to school, but then he told me that and I was motivated to go. Also, my DH used a tragedy at my high school to remind me that if something happened to him I wouldn't have any way to support our boys. Last week my high school was supposed to have a football scrimmage with a nearby town that was canceled for some reason. Since it was two of the senior cheerleaders, that were also cross country track runners, were going on a run through town. Just as they passed under an awning of a gym, the awning fell and killed one of them and severely injured the other one. It happened on the 2nd day of their senior year. It just made us think that if something happened to my DH, I wouldn't be able to support our DS and I would have to try and work and go back to school then.
...and I know it's not good to do this, but DH said that as long as I keep my grades up, I can max out my financial aid and get money back. That money can then be used for Disney trips while I'm in school. (Which means we can go once a year for the next several years.) Like I said I know we have to pay it back, and it's not good to do it, but it is a thought.

...We pretty much did this for our Honeymoon. DH's loans are going to be paid back by the government, because he signed on an extra year in the Army, so we probably would have taken the money out anyways.

That said, I would only recommend it if you get a REALLY good interest rate. Yes, school loans tend to have decent interest rates, but be careful.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Hello all!! Hope you are having a Blessed Sunday and enjoying some free time or family time!

I have to make my ADRs in just a little over a week as you know! And I have been reading things on allllll the food places just in case I forgot something or whatever. So, a foodie question for ya'll...has anyone done or know anyone who has done the new thing at AK? It's the picnic in the park thing? If I read it correctly, it's 1 CS for each of us...just like a regular CS place would be. Is that right? Also, is the food pretty good? I like the idea, because we usually go to AK in the morning so 2 of us can do EE and the kids like the dinosaur stuff....that would be fun for something diff for lunch. If the weather is good!! and if it is CS I won't have to make ressies and can see how the weather will be that day. I know I can read the food threads,,,, but I wanted to check with ya'll to and see if you had 1st hand knowledge. I trust my snowbirdies!!

In other news in our household....we are talking about rebuilding and moving again! I am excited! We have that other subdivision and have toyed with the idea of moving over there. It's bigger and we can walk more....and till it fills up, more room for the kids. But, our thing is, we might do 2 lots this time so the kids have a bigger yard. We looooove our pool and back yard, but we need room not in the play part to put a small shed for mowers, dirt bikes, stuff like that. Also, he wants to build a full 2 story this time. All the kids want their rooms upstairs.....I think we may put a room downstairs that is more like a library, and our school room. Of course, all this may just be a pipe dream!!!! But, it will be fun to look at house plans again that are NOT for somebody else!!!! We may go over there this evening and look at the lots and see what would be good for us!!

Of course, he is sooooo busy right now, I don't know when he would have time to build just for us!!!!!

 

[danceintherain]

If you are using those tickets to upgrade to the AP, remember to ask the Concierge to take them off your KTTW card before upgrading, so that you don't ruin your dining credits. You can do the upgrade at any Guest Services; I did mine at MK.

The other thing to remember is that you can book a room with an AP rate without actually having an AP or a voucher yet. I had tickets from UT and a room with an AP rate. I checked in, went to MK, used the ticket and upgraded it then. No one ever asked to see the AP. The worst that would happen is that they'd tell you to come back with it.

You might want to run the numbers when the AP rates for your time frame come out; you may do better than the package you have now.

Haha... I responded almost exactly the same before reading this!

Hello all!! Hope you are having a Blessed Sunday and enjoying some free time or family time!

I have to make my ADRs in just a little over a week as you know!

Of course, he is sooooo busy right now, I don't know when he would have time to build just for us!!!!!

I should be scheduling ADRs soon as well. I'm thinking I'll just go ahead and book, then cancel before 45 days if we change our mind. I want to have the Dining Plan booked beforehand, so they don't charge my credit card for Hoopdeedoo. I'm also debating about whether or not I should buy a subscription to one of the planning sites, or if I should just trust my own judgment. I've been thinking RideMax might be fun to try, or Tour Guide Mike. Touring Plans is the cheapest, but that's what I had last year, and I want to see if the other places are better...

Congrats about thinking about building! I would love to build a house, but that's not going to be for a VERY long time.

 

[letthewookiewin]

We hopped the first bus that came after Magical Express dropped us off, and ended up getting my AP at Epcot. It was a bit of a hassle though, so unless the AP rate is that much greater than the package deal, or you're driving, I wouldn't recommend it.

You can always decide to change to an AP rate instead of a package deal after the deals are released as long as you're still outside your 45 day mark.

Oh, another thing about the upgrading to an AP, when you check-in at your resort, have the CM put your tickets on separate media from your KTTW card. I don't think it matters as much if you don't do the Dining Plan, but if you do, and you try to change your tickets while they are on your KTTW card, it can screw up your Dining.




...We pretty much did this for our Honeymoon. DH's loans are going to be paid back by the government, because he signed on an extra year in the Army, so we probably would have taken the money out anyways.

That said, I would only recommend it if you get a REALLY good interest rate. Yes, school loans tend to have decent interest rates, but be careful.

Well I am only doing federal loans, so I'm not sure what the interest rate on those. My DH says it is better than what we could get with a private loan. He did try and explain it all to me, but he used to be an underwriter. The amont of detail he was going into made me have the deer in the headlights look.

Hello all!! Hope you are having a Blessed Sunday and enjoying some free time or family time!

I have to make my ADRs in just a little over a week as you know! And I have been reading things on allllll the food places just in case I forgot something or whatever. So, a foodie question for ya'll...has anyone done or know anyone who has done the new thing at AK? It's the picnic in the park thing? If I read it correctly, it's 1 CS for each of us...just like a regular CS place would be. Is that right? Also, is the food pretty good? I like the idea, because we usually go to AK in the morning so 2 of us can do EE and the kids like the dinosaur stuff....that would be fun for something diff for lunch. If the weather is good!! and if it is CS I won't have to make ressies and can see how the weather will be that day. I know I can read the food threads,,,, but I wanted to check with ya'll to and see if you had 1st hand knowledge. I trust my snowbirdies!!

In other news in our household....we are talking about rebuilding and moving again! I am excited! We have that other subdivision and have toyed with the idea of moving over there. It's bigger and we can walk more....and till it fills up, more room for the kids. But, our thing is, we might do 2 lots this time so the kids have a bigger yard. We looooove our pool and back yard, but we need room not in the play part to put a small shed for mowers, dirt bikes, stuff like that. Also, he wants to build a full 2 story this time. All the kids want their rooms upstairs.....I think we may put a room downstairs that is more like a library, and our school room. Of course, all this may just be a pipe dream!!!! But, it will be fun to look at house plans again that are NOT for somebody else!!!! We may go over there this evening and look at the lots and see what would be good for us!!

Of course, he is sooooo busy right now, I don't know when he would have time to build just for us!!!!!

How fun!! I love to look at house plans and model homes. Actually I even love going into Home Depot and just wandering around. My DH teases me about it, but I just love the smell of the place. That would be so cool to have a library/school room. I hope you guys can build it and your DH has time to build it soon.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Becca, I signed up for TGM and have really liked it! I have read lots of little things that make sense that you forget about, or just didn't think of. It's really a good deal I think....waiting now for Disney to release those darn park hours!! I wanted to wait and see his best park times before I do ADRs..but, I may at least do Le Cellier and then see what happens for the rest. I know he has good touring plans... I have looked at some of the sample ones and they are really good.

 

[sarbah77]

...my husband leaves for his conference tomorrow. He has neither thought about packing nor found a suitcase yet. It's nearly 8pm ET. I'm not 100% sure what he's waiting for! Guys!!

(I think it's finally hit home that he's leaving without me for 10 of the next 14 days. Probably brought on by the tears I shed the other night when it really hit ME that he was going on our annual Atlanta trip and I... was going to work. Yeah.)

On the upside, 18 days until Disney!!

Did I tell you ladies about my adventures in ordering that thing for under my giant knee brace? Well, when the package arrived, it contained this:


Eight of them. (I ordered these!) I emailed the company and asked them if it was some kind of strange joke. They got me the right item a few days later and picked up the coffee mugs!

But ... coffee mugs? Instead of sleeves? They must have some sort of warehouse that they share because the coffee mugs were from another company entirely!!

I've been chatting with some people who have had a similar surgery to me. Go ahead and laugh, but I just found out that I'll have a full long leg brace as I recover. I thought I'd have... I don't know, something smaller? My husband thought I'd have a lower leg cast (since i'll have a broken bone) and I guess I thought I'd have a lower leg brace of some sort. Now I have to figure out what I can wear with that sucker!! Skirts for work will be just fine, but when I'm home recovering... I don't think I have anything that would go over that. I guess I should go check out some cheap athletic stuff at Target?

 

[Monny2AE]

Kim- good for you for going back to school!

Sarah- that's too funny you got mugs instead! how strange! Old Navy has their sweats on sale for $10 right now- I may have done some shopping for myself this weekend and happened to notice . They might work for you

Shawna- your house plans/dreams sound great Hope it happens for you!

I had a nice weekend. We started finishing in half of our garage for my day care to have a separate entrance and a kitchenette. It will make my downstairs completely day care- except for the laundry room and it will be nice to have the upstairs just for our family again. Extra little ones sure does wear your house down lots faster. Plus our licensing rules here are strict and I will be very happy to be able to keep my deodorant in my medicine cabinet again
I'm trying to keep my mind off the fact that my baby gets on the school bus for the first time tomorrow I actually cried coming home from the grocery store today. I bought some things for him to pack for lunch and it made me realize that we'd had lunch together just about every single day since he was born! Silly I know, but this is a big change for me. He could care less- he's bouncing with excitement.

 

[jenjolt]

I love all the perks that come with having an AP...of course if I didn't have the AP I wouldn't have gone as much as I have the last year and of course with the 3 month extension I will be renewing it come January!!! I love the discounts, I'm hoping with my AP that we will get an amazing deal either the $89/night at a mod or 59/night value in January...I got that deal at Pop last year YAY!!!!

I also love my TIW card and look forward to using it in January!! I'm on the deluxe dining again for this next trip so I won't be using it then, but I won't be on a plan in January and that card really does save you some money!

I'm also a fan of TGM I love his touring plans and have never been lead astray with his Least Crowded Park options!!

Good luck tomorrow Kim!! I wish you a good day and hope your son has a great first day of school!!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Sarah- how weird was that!!! ha!!! I wonder what the deal is with men and packing...my hubby is an over packer to the extreme!!! He goes over the weight limit EVERY time!! I have probably told ya'll this, but a few years ago,(when it was a total surprise trip, kids didn't know till on route to airport) I was gonna pack for dh. I had started sneaking clothes into suitcases and just needed to work on ours. Well, I told him to just stack his clothes on the floor by our bed and he could watch a movie with them while I packed it. WELL you would not have believe the stackS(plural) of clothes. We were only going for like 5 or 6 days that time.... I counted 14 t-shirts because I just had to know for sure how many were down there. 14!!!!! Can you believe that!!!! so, I made him like 6 or 7 sets of clothes, threw in 2 t-shirts extra and night clothes.....Would you believe how freaked out he was when we got to the resort!!! Where are all my clothes? I tell you...from now on, he packs his own junk. When we go in Dec/Jan, you just would be amazed how many items he thinks he needs. Even tho we could buy anything and I always do wash. I don't get it.
Kim~ I am sorry you are sad.... I know how you feel. His excitement will make you a little less upset...if he was crying and hanging on you it would be worse!!! I hope your construction job is smooth!!!! Oh, I mentioned something about the lots we are thinking about earlier & he just said. HHmmmm. like he doesn't know what I am talking about. AAARRRRRGGGHHHHH!!!