Starting to PANIC....please help!

[**Tinker*Bell*7**]

OK so here's the deal. I am a compulsive planner. I like to spend months going over books, websites, etc. to plan a great trip. I'm taking my mom to DLR in Oct. She has only been once & that was in 1969 so I want her to have a great trip. I've only been once also (in 2006). Well between working three jobs, going to school full time (taking 18 hrs. of classes), being on a class reunion committee (for a reunion in 5 weeks), a church centennial committee (for an event in 6 weeks that I've somehow gotten stuck doing ALMOST EVERYTHING for ), having a contractor tearing up my house for the past month, & my pregnant sister, her husband and two kids (ages 4 & 1) plus their two cats living in my house for three months (they just left at the beginning of August), my life for the past few months has been totally off-kilter. I should also add that 5 weeks ago I spent the weekend in and out of the emergency room with a double ear infection because no doctor would see me for two weeks & the ER one I saw first not only refused to give me anything for pain but spread the infection to the other ear. . I spent that weekend totally deaf but had to work (I own a small photography business & I was booked for that weekend so I had no choice). There have also been plenty of "favors" to other people to fill up my time including housesitting 100 miles away for a week in July. Anyway, I haven't had time to plan for our trip in 7 weeks. I haven't even had time to look at the new DL guide book I bought!

I've already told my mom that we are both going to stop with the "favors" at least for a while. Our time is almost always booked up helping other people but whenever (and it's rare) that we need help, nobody is ever available to help us out. Not that I'm helping them with the expectation of future help, but come on, if I ask you to return a favor every now and then, it's not too much to ask is it???? Sorry for the totally off the subject rant

Anyway, I need help desperately. We are arriving late on Oct. 17 & plan to go to DL on the 18th. We would like to do a whale-watching trip on the 19th but I haven't been able to arrange reasonably priced transportation. (My mom is terrified of driving in traffic or riding in traffic with me driving so rental car is probably but not definitely out. Took her to Houston last year & rented a car. I'm not sure how she survived the trip because she hates driving in traffic without someone "from the area" driving. ). We would then like to do DCA on the 20th. A tour of Hollywood on the 21st. (I've got one picked out but again need to arrange public transportation, the one we want doesn't do hotel pick-up). DCA again on the 22nd & Halloween party that night. DLR on the 23rd. Then on the 24th we're headed to Vegas for one day

Usually by this time, I've got all the tickets bought and paid for, the meals planned out, the days planned, etc. I'm panicking here because I just haven't had time to do all this. So far I have bought the DLR & Halloween tickets & got the plane tix & hotels booked.

Can anybody offer me any help or advice????
Even just some pixie dust would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

 

[Misskitty3]

What hotel are you staying at?

 

[pinktink83]

This trip will be magical simply b/c you and your mom will get to spend time together! If you end up eating on the fly somewhere b/c you didnt have a restaurant planned for every meal, oh well! Maybe it will turn out to be a fabulous place that you never wouldve tried before! Or maybe it will stink and you'll end up at a Circle K to buy a bag of chips and some popsicles! Either way, it will be a fun memory!

Maybe you'll have one day totally free, no plans...and while driving to the harbour you see the most perfect little antique shop with a charming cafe next door, that you wouldnt have been able to stop at if you were racing to your next activity! Who knows! You'll find something fun to do!

Also, your mom is nuts if she trusts her life with Cali TAXI DRIVERS more than YOU!!!! I thought I'd die in my seat when we had to take a taxi on our last trip out to LA. I finally had to shut my eyes b/c I was about to jump out the window!!! They are the worst drivers I have EVER seen in my life.

 

[davidsprincess]

First : BREATHE

Check out:

graylineanaheim.com

they offer tour packages and they may have ones that you would like to do.

If you want to do any special dinners while at DLR, start making calls for PS.
Mentally start planning on arriving to the gates early and doing some rides, getting fast passes, going back to the hotel for a nap and then back to the parks for fast pass use.

Take it one step at a time. Breathe lots and drink plenty of water. You will be fine.

 

[CalvaryMike]

I highly recommend Capt Dave's Dolphin and Whale Safari (www.dolphinsafari.com) 949-488-2828. I've done a couple of trips with Capt Dave and I've always been completely satisfied.

Oct 19th is a Sunday and if there is any traffic at all, it should be light.

Vegas in a day? Will you be staying overnight? I hope so. By plane, car or bus? Vegas is at least 4 hours one way by car. Oct 24th is a Friday and if you're driving, I hope you're leaving in the morning. The Vegas drive on a Friday afternoon can be long!

We're here for you!

 

[Queenbillabong]

Take a deep breath - seven weeks is plenty of time You have the "bones" of the trip already planned (plan, hotel, Halloween tickets, etc., which days where.....) so it's not as bad as you think!!!

Are you staying on-site? Will you be making use of Magic Mornings (the 18th is a Saturday, so MM day). Fantasmic is cancelled in this time frame, so that's out.

Really you need to figure out where you want to eat, if you want table service meals and then arrange those. We're using the Disneyland Express to get from LAX to the hotel this time because Super Shuttle scared the bejeebers out of me

It will all work out and you'll have a great time!

 

[Brady's Mom]

Another really important thing to remember - JUST SAY NO!! People can only impose on you if you let them. I have learned how to say no to things in just the last 5 years or so, but let me tell you, I am a much happier person. I just learned how to say no, nicely. It has been a really big blessing to my family. It was hard at first, but if I can do it, then anyone can do it. I was always saying yes and it used to drive DH crazy. Now I pick and choose carefully what I say YES to!!

I hope you have a really fabulous trip and that you can really unwind and relax. You are soooo lucky to get to go with your mom. What fun memories you will have!

 

[**Tinker*Bell*7**]

What hotel are you staying at?

Holiday Inn & Suites

 

[**Tinker*Bell*7**]

Vegas in a day? Will you be staying overnight? I hope so. By plane, car or bus? Vegas is at least 4 hours one way by car. Oct 24th is a Friday and if you're driving, I hope you're leaving in the morning. The Vegas drive on a Friday afternoon can be long!

We're here for you!

We'll be staying overnight & heading home the next day. Don't know yet if we're flying (waiting on a ding from SW) or taking a bus. We figured it worked out to be about 4-5 hours either way considering getting to the airport early and all. Just waiting to see which one will offer the best deal. Either way we should be getting to Vegas around noon on Friday. We've never been there but we'd like to go to Madame Toussaud's that afternoon & maybe see a show or gamble a little that night. Then we'll be flying home to MS the next day around noon.

 

[**Tinker*Bell*7**]

Take a deep breath - seven weeks is plenty of time You have the "bones" of the trip already planned (plan, hotel, Halloween tickets, etc., which days where.....) so it's not as bad as you think!!!

Are you staying on-site? Will you be making use of Magic Mornings (the 18th is a Saturday, so MM day). Fantasmic is cancelled in this time frame, so that's out.

Really you need to figure out where you want to eat, if you want table service meals and then arrange those. We're using the Disneyland Express to get from LAX to the hotel this time because Super Shuttle scared the bejeebers out of me

It will all work out and you'll have a great time!

Thanks for your help. We'll be using Super Shuttle but am not sure yet whether we're flying to taking a bus to Vegas so I haven't booked yet since its cheaper to book round trip than one way. I usually use Super Shuttle when I travel & haven't had a bad experience with them even in LA but I did consider Disneyland Express.

 

[Brendella]

If you're taking a tour in Hollywood, stop at the Disney Soda Fountain on Hollywood Blvd. It's right across the street from Mann's Chinese Theater and next door to the El Capitan Theater. (Right in the heart of Hollywood Blvd). Cute place, small diner menu, great sundae's! Enjoy!

 

[**Tinker*Bell*7**]

If you're taking a tour in Hollywood, stop at the Disney Soda Fountain on Hollywood Blvd. It's right across the street from Mann's Chinese Theater and next door to the El Capitan Theater. (Right in the heart of Hollywood Blvd). Cute place, small diner menu, great sundae's! Enjoy!

Thanks. Our tour starts at the Chinese theater. We'll have to check this place out.

 

[daneenm]

No need to worry about reservations (PS). We decided to visit in August and I made reservations at Blue Bayou, Fantasmic Dessert Seating, House of Blues, Steakhouse 55 and Plaza Inn Brunch only 3 weeks before we were to arrive. Got my first preference for time on each one. We visited the second and third week of August when the hotel was full to capacity.

You have plenty of time.

 

[tink2dw]

Try Southwest Air,[not Ding] for your One Way tickets in Oct. they aren't too, bad right now.

Breath, breath, you have done more than you think!

We used Greyline's Disney Express Bus it was a great way to get to LAX from DL!! We didn't get lost and Dh wasn't shouting that the GPS was wrong, because he was lost, whee it was just so relaxing to not worry about how to get to LAX when I had never been there before!

 

[bearette]

I recommend a rental car. Do what my sister and I do when we drive our mom-give her something to read so she is not watching you drive. To help yourself get a rental car with a gps and let it tell you where to go. Gas is expensive here, but by the time you plan all of that stuff you would probably save a lot of money with the rental car.

I took a bus to vegas once and I hated it!!!!!! (Emphasis on hate). If you drive yourself you can stop for lunch and potty brakes when you want. Plus those bus bathroom..yuck! If you can't take the plane rent a car. We get to vegas in 3 hours (if you speed which I don't recommend) but even if you drive slowly you should get there in 4 hours. If you don't leave by noon on a friday prepare to spend the next 6 hours in traffic as everyone is socal leaves for vegas weekends after work.

In vegas: Use tickets for tonight to get tickets to the wax museum half off or in planet hollywood they do research for tv shows. If you meet the criteria they pay you with free tickets to the wax museum for 30-60 minutes of your time. The tickets 4 tonight place also gives food discount coupons for a small fee and same day strip shows. (I got Zumaity and Phantom tickets for 35% off.) They don't sell all the shows, but they should have one you like. Have fun!

 

[dizneekrazee]

You sound a bit like me with all you do. Sometimes I have to stop and remind myself to calm down. Once last year my nursing instructor was watching me insert a catheter in a patient for the first time (sorry, I know thats TMI), and after it was in, she said "ok, now stop, and breathe, and then we will continue".
With all that I do (full time nursing student, 2 jobs, 3 kids, babysitting my sisters 2 year old twins at times, keeping tabs on my brother, helping grandma while her house is being renovated from her kitchen fire, etc, etc, etc) we have always had Disney vacations, and they have always worked out well. Whether you make PS or not, you will find something yummy to eat. Just remember to use FPs where possible, drink plenty of water, take breaks when needed, and decide which shows you want to watch, you will be fine. Oh, and dont forget to try a Dole Whip, I have to try one on my trip too.

I know you will have fun, and you will be there right before me!! I make my PS in the morning!!!!

 

[**Tinker*Bell*7**]

I recommend a rental car. Do what my sister and I do when we drive our mom-give her something to read so she is not watching you drive. To help yourself get a rental car with a gps and let it tell you where to go. Gas is expensive here, but by the time you plan all of that stuff you would probably save a lot of money with the rental car.

I took a bus to vegas once and I hated it!!!!!! (Emphasis on hate). If you drive yourself you can stop for lunch and potty brakes when you want. Plus those bus bathroom..yuck! If you can't take the plane rent a car. We get to vegas in 3 hours (if you speed which I don't recommend) but even if you drive slowly you should get there in 4 hours. If you don't leave by noon on a friday prepare to spend the next 6 hours in traffic as everyone is socal leaves for vegas weekends after work.

In vegas: Use tickets for tonight to get tickets to the wax museum half off or in planet hollywood they do research for tv shows. If you meet the criteria they pay you with free tickets to the wax museum for 30-60 minutes of your time. The tickets 4 tonight place also gives food discount coupons for a small fee and same day strip shows. (I got Zumaity and Phantom tickets for 35% off.) They don't sell all the shows, but they should have one you like. Have fun!

Thanks for your tips. I'll have to check them out.