Sun, Shopping, Sand, Surf, Sweat & Shamu: A Splashin Summertime Sabbatical at SVR!

[pigletto]

Wooohoooo!!!! You are so close Gina. For us, the last week is no longer about waiting impatiently, but more about scrambling to get ready no matter how much we prepared ahead of time. There are simply things that can't be done until the last minute. It's going to fly by!!
We too update socks and underwear for trips!. In fact, I just moved the suitcases out of my closet to the downstairs closet and one of the inside pockets had new socks and underwear in it that I apparently didn't even open on the last trip. I'm a slight over packer.
I forgot to ask you, is Jake going away for college or living at home? Dd and I have been discussing university for the last few days because this will be the year she applies. I've started thinking of this upcoming trip of ours as our last big family trip while she lives at home. Kind of bittersweet, but I am excited for her, and let's be honest, this kid will find a way to come on any trip I plan. She's got the travel bug like her mama.

 

[Lynne G]

Yep, my home is known for cheesesteaks. With or without - means cheese wiz. Jersey is known for its tomato. I live over the bridge from where the Fab Four lives. The whole tri- state Philadelphia area is famous for food. My favorite tasty cakes are the butterscotch krimpets and the Tandy cakes. They are peanut and chocolate.


Wow, a week to go. so close.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I love reading your trip reports. I think our next visit will be offsite and doing the other parks, not Disney. I was really nervous about that, but reading this and your other offsite/other parks reviews has really gotten me excited!

Thank you!

I think you will be really pleased with all the other great things to do (and parks to visit) in Orlando outside of Disney. We keep going back....this will be our 6th trip....and we're STILL finding new and fun things to do!

Wooohoooo!!!! You are so close Gina. For us, the last week is no longer about waiting impatiently, but more about scrambling to get ready no matter how much we prepared ahead of time. There are simply things that can't be done until the last minute. It's going to fly by!!
We too update socks and underwear for trips!. In fact, I just moved the suitcases out of my closet to the downstairs closet and one of the inside pockets had new socks and underwear in it that I apparently didn't even open on the last trip. I'm a slight over packer.
I forgot to ask you, is Jake going away for college or living at home? Dd and I have been discussing university for the last few days because this will be the year she applies. I've started thinking of this upcoming trip of ours as our last big family trip while she lives at home. Kind of bittersweet, but I am excited for her, and let's be honest, this kid will find a way to come on any trip I plan. She's got the travel bug like her mama.

Jake will be living at home. I am really glad he has opted NOT to do a "victory lap" and move straight to college (many of his friends are returning for "one more year"....mostly to play sports). He received early acceptance to all 5 colleges and programs to which he applied, but was awarded a full academic scholarship to our local college for his preferred course, Community & Justice Services....and let's be honest, money talks. With his tuition paid for the first year, and no residence expenses, he will graduate debt free (no student loans ) and have a good chunk of money remaining in his RESP to take him on to even higher learning. And this particular college offers the opportunity to transition after graduation to a degree program with any one of 9 different affiliate universities, which is a nice option if he's really keen to go further. By staying local, he was able to get his own car, he is able to keep his awesome job at the Y, and Mom continues to make him amazing meals and wash his clothes. Yep, he's got it made . And yep, I am happy to have him around for a couple of more years!!

I think your DD will find it fairly easy to hop in on the family trips, even when she's in Uni. With reading weeks in the fall and winter, an extended Christmas break, and l-o-n-g summers, there's some good opportunities for family travel. With all the stresses of school, she will need those getaways as much as you will! And they will become wonderful times to reconnect .

My favorite tasty cakes are the butterscotch krimpets and the Tandy cakes. They are peanut and chocolate.

So I checked them out on the internet. They look similar to Hostess Twinkies and Cupcakes. Am I right?

http://hostesscakes.com/Products

(I assume our southern neighbours have those products, but in case you don't, that's why I provided the link)

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I have seen Jake in t-shirts that my grandsons would love, I never did find the Nike one that said There is no I in team, although I still look for it.

dennise......guess what we found today?



Its a men's large. Would it fit any of your grandsons? I think Jake has worn it max 4 times...its literally like brand new. PM me if you want it....I will drop it in the mail to you this week if it will fit one of your boys . Compliments of Jake!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Happy Sunday everyone! Its another sunshiny one out there today . Not terribly hot (which doesn't even surprise me at this point!) and certainly not humid, but lovely nonetheless. (Our local forecast says a high of 18 degrees Celcius for this Thursday.....for our American neighbours, that's a whopping 64 F ..... and its the middle of August ) .

Cleaning and laundry day today (don't I have such BIG plans for a weekend?). Much as I detest cleaning day on the whole, this one excites me a little because I plan to break out the luggage after the house has been made spotless. The packing official begins later this afternoon!



Exactly one week from right now, we'll be in the air, and I'll be eating Blue Chips for breakfast with this view:



All of a sudden, time feels like its really speeding up .

 

[dancin Disney style]

Sounds like Jake's career path is similar to my oldest, Ashley. She went to college for the Police Foundations program and now is finishing her BA in Criminal Justice.

Get ready most kids now are doing both college and university. We paid for college and then Ashley got a scholarship for her first year of university and now she pays for it herself. She is very luck to have a very well paying PT job and other than gas has no living expenses. So there will be no student debt for her when she finishes in April. I would really have liked to pay for the second go but if I had there would be very little left over for her sister. My younger one will be the one who wants to go as far away from home as possible. She's already asking about american schools. She asked about Juliard in NYC.....foreign student tuition is $50K/year .....my answer to that was

I agree with you, that at the end of high school you really are happy to have them stay home for a few more years but a time does arrive when you really want them to go.

 

[grantclaire]

Won't be long now Gina! My DW also wants the house cleaned before we leave, who wants to come back to housework! She usually has a too to list for me as well! I think it is a Canadian tradition to try foods in the US that we do not get back home, I am thinking of all the different flavors of Oreo cookies! Talking about kids and college, my oldest DD went a local community college and lived at home, the second DD could have gone to any University in Ontario, some offered free tuition, she chose University of Alberta in Edmonton, had to be most furthest away! loved it so much she stayed for the summer working and taking courses. She was always are most independent! So you never know.

 

[ZehnJahren]

You HAVE to have the clean house for when you get back! Plus it makes packing that much easier.

Wow, 64 F. We are having a cool (too cool for me) summer in Chicago and I'm hating it; 64 F would send me right over the edge to someplace warmer! Well I guess it kind of is in your situation, as you'll be someplace warmer in less than a week!

 

[Lynne G]

House cleaning is progressing this week end and next. I too do not want to do much when I get home. Laundry has 3 loads in already. We always seem to have wash in the summer.

Yep, Hostess is a competitor of Tasty Cakes. I like Tastycakes better than Hostess. The chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing by Tasty I like better.

Wow, just think, next week end you will be airborne!

Have a great Sunday!

 

[Mysteria]

You are getting so close now! Glad time is going fast for you. It drags on for me the closer it gets.

You guys are cleaning to go south and I'm cleaning to go north. Off to see the family in Toronto tomorrow night for 10 days!

 

[dancin Disney style]

I normally would do the super cleaning before departure but since the kids are staying home I don't have to. They WILL be left with a to do list for my return

 

[Portugal1000]

We'll be back in Orlando tomorrow. This is our last night at st petes beach. It's been great but so hot. Looking forward to bonnet creek and all that space. We have a one bedroom suite at tradewinds but just doesn't compare. Apart from the view here of course. Stunning. We have so many parks booked but after 4 days of doing very little we can't wait. Hope the next week goes quickly for you and very slowly for us! We have 18 nights in Orlando.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Sounds like Jake's career path is similar to my oldest, Ashley. She went to college for the Police Foundations program and now is finishing her BA in Criminal Justice.

Get ready most kids now are doing both college and university.

That's what his high school's guidance department said as well. University gives them the book smarts and college provides the more hands-on experience. Employers are looking for a combination of both, so many kids end up doing both in order to find good jobs. With TWO post-secondary educations a possibility, all of a sudden, having just one child isn't such a bad thing!!!

Won't be long now Gina! My DW also wants the house cleaned before we leave, who wants to come back to housework! She usually has a too to list for me as well! I think it is a Canadian tradition to try foods in the US that we do not get back home, I am thinking of all the different flavors of Oreo cookies! Talking about kids and college, my oldest DD went a local community college and lived at home, the second DD could have gone to any University in Ontario, some offered free tuition, she chose University of Alberta in Edmonton, had to be most furthest away! loved it so much she stayed for the summer working and taking courses. She was always are most independent! So you never know.

I am so glad to hear that other women want the house in tip-top shape before travelling. I have made my Steve read all the responses so he knows I'm not the only one who feels the need to deep clean before each trip. Sometimes I think he wonders if I haven't gone a little off the deep end .

Funny you mention Edmonton. I have a friend who lives there (she has a son who went to school with Jake for many years), and she offered Jake room and board if he wanted to attend the university there. He almost considered it.....he LOVES Edmonton....but the long and arduous winters eventually helped him decide to stay closer to home. Thank the Lord!

Wow, 64 F. We are having a cool (too cool for me) summer in Chicago and I'm hating it; 64 F would send me right over the edge to someplace warmer! Well I guess it kind of is in your situation, as you'll be someplace warmer in less than a week!

Our poor bodies are going to go into complete shock. From zero humidity to 90% humidity ..... thank heavens for lots of pool time!

House cleaning is progressing this week end and next. I too do not want to do much when I get home. Laundry has 3 loads in already. We always seem to have wash in the summer.

Yep, Hostess is a competitor of Tasty Cakes. I like Tastycakes better than Hostess. The chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing by Tasty I like better.

Wow, just think, next week end you will be airborne!

Have a great Sunday!

Your time is slipping in fast, too!! Do you do all the family packing, or do your kiddos pitch in?

I hear ya on the laundry . Where the heck does it all come from? I mean, we only have 3 people in the house and I can easily do a full load of laundry every day, sometimes more.

You are getting so close now! Glad time is going fast for you. It drags on for me the closer it gets.

You guys are cleaning to go south and I'm cleaning to go north. Off to see the family in Toronto tomorrow night for 10 days!

Oh, fun! You hitting any of the Toronto tourist spots? Like the CN Tower, Zoo, Science Centre, Ripleys Aquarium, Hockey Hall of Fame, Canada's Wonderland, or the ROM? The CNE is starting soon, too.....if I weren't going south, I would totally be there! So much fun .

I normally would do the super cleaning before departure but since the kids are staying home I don't have to. They WILL be left with a to do list for my return

You mean Mom. First, you abandon those poor kiddos for a week in the sun. Then you make 'em work while you're gone. Slave driver!!

We'll be back in Orlando tomorrow. This is our last night at st petes beach. It's been great but so hot. Looking forward to bonnet creek and all that space. We have a one bedroom suite at tradewinds but just doesn't compare. Apart from the view here of course. Stunning. We have so many parks booked but after 4 days of doing very little we can't wait. Hope the next week goes quickly for you and very slowly for us! We have 18 nights in Orlando.

I am glad you have enjoyed St. Pete's! 18 nights in Orlando, I am soooo jealous. Someday I'm going to do a 3 or 4 week super-trip, similar to yours where there's a beach component and an Orlando Fun component. That sounds like the perfect balance.

I have heard a few folks on the August Disers Facebook page mentioning the super-oppressive heat. Here's hoping things moderate a tad before we get there. We here in the chilly north have definitely not experienced our customary summer melt-down to get us ready for the smothering south.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Slave driver nothing!!!!! My kids don't lift a finger. Mom and dad do all the cooking, cleaning and laundry. They have it made.....in fact, things are so good here I want me as a mom too.

It should be interesting to find out what sort of argument takes place between the two of them over a little cleaning at the end of the week. I would imagine that DD#1 will vacuum and DD#2 will watch.

In reality, they are both good girls and are excited about being on their own for a week. They told us at dinner tonight that we should go the night before and stay near the airport. Do I smell a house party?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Well, the suitcases are all out and the packing has officially begun. Got quite a bit accomplished today (mostly non-clothing items....toiletries, beach towels, ponchos, cameras, medications, that kind of thing) and will work on packing clothes for each of us tomorrow evening after work.

I also made a change to our rental vehicle plans. We originally had a midsize SUV rented through National, knowing that we wanted something with more space than a full-size car. We had hoped that we'd snag a deal on a standard SUV like we did for last summer (Steve loved that Jeep Grand Cherokee!), but with a week to go and prices still beyond sky high ($1000+ for the two week period), the chances were looking mighty slim.

We had considered a minivan rental, but again, right from the start......prices have been absolutely ridiculous. Who pays $1200 for two weeks in a Dodge Grand Caravan???

Our midsize SUV was $477 USD (using the now-defunct KLM code, which National said they would continue to honour for any confirmed reservations). With the exchange and conversion fees, we were looking at a final price of about $525 Canadian, assuming our dollar doesn't drop too much lower by the end of the month.

On a tip from the August car rental thread on the transportation board, I read that Hotwire was coming up with some great prices on minivans......so I thought I'd check and see what the rates were for our particular dates. To my surprise, the total price Canadian was $497......a small savings vs. our SUV rental, but definitely more space. I agonized for quite some time over whether to make the switch (not knowing which rental agency we would end up with made me edgy at best) but I took a leap of faith this afternoon and went ahead and booked the minivan via Hotwire. Much to my delight (or shall I say relief? ) we ended up with Alamo.....which we have used on each trip in the past (with the exception of one) and have always been very pleased with. So despite all my fretting, we still get to pick our vehicle which makes my Steve-o a very happy guy. (I will note, though, that he was all for the Hotwire rental regardless....he thinks the extra space in the minivan will be a godsend, and the small savings was just a bonus).

Tomorrow, I will cancel the National rental and put the Hotwire confirmation in our travel binder. And now I can stop watching prices....which will be nice as these last few days before we leave get busier and busier.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Slave driver nothing!!!!! My kids don't lift a finger. Mom and dad do all the cooking, cleaning and laundry. They have it made.....in fact, things are so good here I want me as a mom too.

It should be interesting to find out what sort of argument takes place between the two of them over a little cleaning at the end of the week. I would imagine that DD#1 will vacuum and DD#2 will watch.

In reality, they are both good girls and are excited about being on their own for a week. They told us at dinner tonight that we should go the night before and stay near the airport. Do I smell a house party?

Ha! That sounds like our house!!! I'd like to crow that I didn't have it as easy as Jake when I was growing up, but alas....I did. And my Momma still treats me special, even though I'm all grown up (this week, she sent me home with a dozen chocolate chip muffins and a batch of her homemade butter tarts.....I rarely leave her house without a little something special that she's baked, knitted or otherwise crafted for me). I am betting your girls appreciate all your efforts (I know Jake does....and he's darn good at telling me so pretty regularly). And they've had a great role model for when they become moms themselves .

I think your young ladies are AWESOME for being able to handle a week on their own. No way I would have stayed with my sister at that age.....heck, I wouldn't spend a week with her now .

So.......you gonna get that park and fly? Do you really think there's a party in the works?

 

[Mysteria]

Oh, fun! You hitting any of the Toronto tourist spots? Like the CN Tower, Zoo, Science Centre, Ripleys Aquarium, Hockey Hall of Fame, Canada's Wonderland, or the ROM? The CNE is starting soon, too.....if I weren't going south, I would totally be there! So much fun .

We will hit a couple for sure I grew up there so I'm letting DH and niece decide. They are only there for half the time I am though. Niece picked the zoo (she loves pandas) and DH picked Hockey Hall of Fame. Yes, this Canadian girl got her American DH so into hockey it's now his favorite sport!

I would love to see the Aquarium since it wasn't there when I moved.

That's a fantastic deal on the mini-van! I always fret too much about those deals. I really need to get over that.

 

[crazyfordisney2000]

I'm pretty much all packed, it was a busy busy weekend!! I can't believe how close we are Gina!!!!

Oh, and my ticker is wrong because we added a day at the beginning, but I can't be bothered to change it!

 

[pigletto]

Well, the suitcases are all out and the packing has officially begun. Got quite a bit accomplished today (mostly non-clothing items....toiletries, beach towels, ponchos, cameras, medications, that kind of thing) and will work on packing clothes for each of us tomorrow evening after work.

I also made a change to our rental vehicle plans. We originally had a midsize SUV rented through National, knowing that we wanted something with more space than a full-size car. We had hoped that we'd snag a deal on a standard SUV like we did for last summer (Steve loved that Jeep Grand Cherokee!), but with a week to go and prices still beyond sky high ($1000+ for the two week period), the chances were looking mighty slim.

We had considered a minivan rental, but again, right from the start......prices have been absolutely ridiculous. Who pays $1200 for two weeks in a Dodge Grand Caravan???

Our midsize SUV was $477 USD (using the now-defunct KLM code, which National said they would continue to honour for any confirmed reservations). With the exchange and conversion fees, we were looking at a final price of about $525 Canadian, assuming our dollar doesn't drop too much lower by the end of the month.

On a tip from the August car rental thread on the transportation board, I read that Hotwire was coming up with some great prices on minivans......so I thought I'd check and see what the rates were for our particular dates. To my surprise, the total price Canadian was $497......a small savings vs. our SUV rental, but definitely more space. I agonized for quite some time over whether to make the switch (not knowing which rental agency we would end up with made me edgy at best) but I took a leap of faith this afternoon and went ahead and booked the minivan via Hotwire. Much to my delight (or shall I say relief? ) we ended up with Alamo.....which we have used on each trip in the past (with the exception of one) and have always been very pleased with. So despite all my fretting, we still get to pick our vehicle which makes my Steve-o a very happy guy. (I will note, though, that he was all for the Hotwire rental regardless....he thinks the extra space in the minivan will be a godsend, and the small savings was just a bonus).

Tomorrow, I will cancel the National rental and put the Hotwire confirmation in our travel binder. And now I can stop watching prices....which will be nice as these last few days before we leave get busier and busier.

Good Job Gina. We've done priceline or hotwire rentals a few times through the "name your own price" option and it's always gone off without a hitch. I think we got Budget one time and Alamo another. I do think Dh had to go to the counter (kids and I took Magical Express because they like it). But it's really no different than any counter.. just say "no thanks" to the upsell if they try one, and you are good to go.
I think with the four of you this time you will be happy with a van. On our May 2012 trip when the inlaws came I got a van on Expedia with Alamo for $225 for 9 days. It would appear prices like that are long gone.

Add us to the list of those who do a deep clean before we leave. Coming home after a trip is hard enough.. who wants to come home to a giant mess?

Plus, we went on a cruise the day after Christmas in 2007. We worked up until the last minute and had all the holiday stuff and parties to attend , so our house was a disaster. It looked like Christmas had thrown up in here when we left.
Well, didn't we get broken into while we were away? We got home and had to call the police. How embarrassed was I calling the police to come over while my living room was still full of wrapping paper and boxes and laundry?
So lesson learned.. everything.. and I mean everything gets the once over before we go away. Just makes it easier to settle in when we return.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I'm snooping around right now to see what park and fly deals I can find. The Days Inn is $119...not bad considering parking at the airport is $60.

I don't really think the girls will have a party. The rule has always been no friends in the house when we are not home. Now that has gotten a little looser this summer. The younger one has had a couple of sleep overs during the week but I know her friends VERY well and their parents too.

Last night they were having a discussion about what they would eat while we were gone. They were dividing up who would make what. I've offered to make a few things and leave them in the freezer but so far they have only requested a quiche. I'll come up with a few others and all they will have to do is remember to take it out of the freezer in the morning. At one point I heard the words 'dinner party' which gave me a good laugh. I can just picture it....chicken fingers and fries with a pizza appetizer. Jello and whip cream in a can for dessert.