The Family That Runs Together...Vacations Together-A May 2012 PTR *5/12

[Joyciemc]

Your day of relaxing sounds amazing. Via Napoli has been getting so many rave reviews- I am sure it will be a big hit!

 

[amazingact21]

Oh my, you have the perfect day planned!!!

I love that you have 1900 PF booked for breakfast as I'm interested to hear how it is. We loved it for dinner, and as you know are going back next month. I think the characters are different for breakfast though, right?

Relaxing by the pool sounds like a wonderful, wonderful idea!

And though I haven't eaten at Via Napoli, the pics I've seen from there look absolutely wonderful! And I have to comment on the wine--I don't really consider myself a wine drinker as I actually bought my first bottle a couple weeks ago--but my sister has turned me on to Moscato as well! We ate at Olive Garden for her birthday, so when she ordered a bottle, I tried it and really liked it! Anyway, just thought that was cool since I hardly ever see or hear anyone mention Moscato!

I'm pretty sure the characters are different for breakfast. I think it's Alice in Wonderland and Mary Poppins in the morning and the evil stepsisters at night... My mom and aren't Alice in Wonderland fans, so we figure we'll just let them know we don't need pictures...give the kids at other tables more time with them.

Haha, yeah, Moscato is really good. My mom loves going to Olive Garden, because they carry it there.

I love those days where you can just relax and enjoy the pool at your resort. So glad your mom's going to get to enjoy visiting the GF!

They make for great days. Kind of makes you feel like you are really on vacation and lets you rest your tired feet!

Your day of relaxing sounds amazing. Via Napoli has been getting so many rave reviews- I am sure it will be a big hit!

It has been! I figured we'd already tried the first Italian restaurant, we might as well try our luck at the second. I'm certainly looking forward to the meal.

 

[Elleshoodat]

We're eating at Via Napoli this trip, too! I ... can't ... wait. I'd love to try one of the more adventurous pizzas (though NOT the prosciutto and cantaloupe one, LOL), but DH is pretty picky. Boo.

Anyway, your day of eating and playing in the pool sounds awesome. I hear you about being exhausted after returning from Disney, so we're trying to take it slow this trip, too. I'm usually pretty commando, but I won't have a choice with a toddler!

 

[amazingact21]

We're eating at Via Napoli this trip, too! I ... can't ... wait. I'd love to try one of the more adventurous pizzas (though NOT the prosciutto and cantaloupe one, LOL), but DH is pretty picky. Boo.

Anyway, your day of eating and playing in the pool sounds awesome. I hear you about being exhausted after returning from Disney, so we're trying to take it slow this trip, too. I'm usually pretty commando, but I won't have a choice with a toddler!

I'm such a baby when it comes to trying new pizzas, but whenever I have tried them, they've been great. I used to frequent this pizza shop when I was in college and they were known for their potato pizza. It sounds disgusting, but there I times that I crave it.

 

[amazingact21]

I wish I had pictures for this update, but I haven't taken any of what I'm about to talk about. So, I am sorry for the slightly more boring post....


Yesterday was kind of a rough day for me as far as trip planning goes. My mother and I left early to go to an outlet mall about an hour away. I had a list of all these items I wanted to buy and was looking forward to getting some new stuff. Well, that was just not my lucky day, and I ended up only picking up a tank top and a new pair of running shorts.

The plus side to it is I am excited for my run later today. Nothing gets my feet moving more than trying out new activewear. Sounds strange, but at least I know what my motivation is and use it to improve my training.



As my mom and I were shopping yesterday, I got a little overwhelmed with the trip. There's just so many details I am trying to keep straight and times I'm trying to remain current on. Pre-planning has definitely taken up a lot of my time, and for awhile I just felt like I was going overboard.




I was kind of thinking to myself that I should've been a little more easy-going with my plans. Not worried so much about crowd levels and ADRs and show times....


It was not a good Disney day for me...


And it was kind of a shocker for me. I'd never had a day where I wasn't excited to be knee-deep in Disney-planning.



But, today I woke up in a much better mood and shook those thoughts out of my head.


I have created a clothes spreadsheet for my mom and I where we can fill in what outfits we want to wear on each day. It also includes the parks we're going to, a rating of 1 to 5 describing how much activity we'll be doing, and whether or not we're going to nice or casual restaurants.

It's pretty in-depth.


It sounds a little nuts, but you don't know how much it helps me when I'm on the trip. I just pull that spreadsheet out every night and grab the clothes I'll need the following day.

Not to mention, I pack so much less when I write down my clothes ahead of time. I only pack what I absolutely need, and I don't spend all day deciding what to pack and what to leave behind.


Such a time saver...



Here soon I'll have to think about the actual packing aspect of the trip. I'm doing it a little differently this time around, and I am curious to see how it ends up for me.

I plan on packing a small bag for the days that I'm with Alex in our resort room. (Which'll will be from the Wednesday before, May 2nd to that Monday, May 7th.) Then, I'm going to pack another bag and drop it off at my mother's house, and she's going to bring it down with her and keep it in her room until I move over there.


All my toiletries and makeup will stay in one container that I'll carry with me from one room to the other, but I feel like it's senseless to lug around a huge suitcase when I can split the clothes in half.

The main reason for this is because Alex's car is small, and I really don't like fighting the dog crate and the laptop and the camera bag for extra space.

Another reason is because Alex's family looks at me like I'm crazy when I walk into their house with a huge bag that I have to lug up their stairs.

I figure this'll resolve these problems.



Of course, the biggest stresser in doing this is that I am a huge control freak and will most likely worry that my mom will forget the bag at her house.


She won't...she's super organized and prepared, but a girl can still have nightmares.



Other than that, I haven't had much more to do. I am finishing up the rest of my mom's daily itineraries, and I am writing in my travel journal, including the daily schedules, park hours, showtimes, predicted crowd calenders, and tips that I want to remember.

This journal is going to be my Holy Grail on the trip!

I'm also writing down anything I've read or seen hear on the DISboards that I want to remember. For instance, I jotted down the wine I should try at Via Napoli, and the slushie I would probably like at Epcot, and how I need to get to DHS at 8:30 for TSMM.

I even have spaces for my FP times and a slot for the predicted weather on those days.


Okay, okay....I can see why I was burned out yesterday. I'm going a little nuts...





But, I always think I have planned really well before my trips, but when I am there and inside the parks I forget everything! I can't remember what time the park opens and when my ADRs are and what we were supposed to ride that afternoon. I am determined not to do that this time around.


To wrap up, I still have to post my 7th (and last) day plans, which I'm sure will be up soon. It's hard to even think about the end of my trip.

 

[teekathepony]

New workout clothes make me motivated too! Whatever works right?
I always try to plan out my outfits and when I get down there it all goes out the window and I just wake up and put on whatever I want.

 

[MHTeacher]

I don't make a spreadsheet for my clothes, but I do plan what outfits I'll wear. I tend to pack things as outfits...not just shorts and tops. That way I already know what top I plan to wear with what bottom.

I love having my travel binder. In mine, I keep my reservation confirmation, dining confirmations, park hours (including fireworks and parades), crowd calendars, and my personal schedule for which parks on what day.

I put in the dining confirmation #s and the ADR time in my smartphone. That way it's with me in the park at all times.

 

[pinkxray]

I just bought a new running skort and shirt last week. Unlike you, it did not motivate me, in fact I believe it is still in the bag with the tags on.


Your whole post sounds stressful. I always seem to get stressed right before the trip comes with last minute details. Your plans sounds great and you will have your handy dandy journal, don't worry.

 

[MEK]

How exciting that your trip is getting so close!

I actually like the spreadsheet clothing idea. I always pack way too much and this June we have to pay for bags when flying. I would like to stream line things a bit. I have to say though - I find I take up a lot of space just packing my running clothes and they aren't THAT big?

I hear ya on getting new running clothes (and shoes). It is very motivational for me. I am also on a diet now so I think it will be motivation when my stuff isn't quite so tight!

 

[amazingact21]

New workout clothes make me motivated too! Whatever works right?
I always try to plan out my outfits and when I get down there it all goes out the window and I just wake up and put on whatever I want.

I have had bad luck with clothes planning. My first trip, the weather was unusually cold, so most of my outfits didn't work. The next time, I didn't pack enough and ended up having to do laundry. It's going to work this time, though!

I don't make a spreadsheet for my clothes, but I do plan what outfits I'll wear. I tend to pack things as outfits...not just shorts and tops. That way I already know what top I plan to wear with what bottom.

I love having my travel binder. In mine, I keep my reservation confirmation, dining confirmations, park hours (including fireworks and parades), crowd calendars, and my personal schedule for which parks on what day.

I put in the dining confirmation #s and the ADR time in my smartphone. That way it's with me in the park at all times.

Confirmation #s!!! That's such a brilliant idea! I especially like that because then you don't have to worry about the piece of paper that you print out at the time of the reservation! Love it!

I just bought a new running skort and shirt last week. Unlike you, it did not motivate me, in fact I believe it is still in the bag with the tags on.


Your whole post sounds stressful. I always seem to get stressed right before the trip comes with last minute details. Your plans sounds great and you will have your handy dandy journal, don't worry.

Haha...well, sometimes that'll happen. That was a really stressful day for me, but it's gotten better. Now, I'm just thinking about when I can start packing certain items.

How exciting that your trip is getting so close!

I actually like the spreadsheet clothing idea. I always pack way too much and this June we have to pay for bags when flying. I would like to stream line things a bit. I have to say though - I find I take up a lot of space just packing my running clothes and they aren't THAT big?

I hear ya on getting new running clothes (and shoes). It is very motivational for me. I am also on a diet now so I think it will be motivation when my stuff isn't quite so tight!

I couldn't imagine worrying about paying for baggage. I'd be in trouble....

This is the first time I've ever had a pair of shoes that I'm bringing strictly to run in. It's a little crazy to think that I'm not wearing them for any other purpose (like at the park) but I'll get over it.

Good luck on your diet! Having clothes fit better is such a great feeling!

 

[wakica]

Bahahahaha Your last post made me laugh.

First off b/c purchasing 2 items on a shopping trip would be a HUGE success for me. But - I REALLY suck at shopping so nobody should compare to me. LOL

Second b/c while I felt bad that you had a stressful/bad day but then I must say you REALLY DID JUMP RIGHT back INTO IT!!! With 2 feet PLUS maybe one or two of Alex's by the sounds of it.

anyway, I'm glad your out of your funk and things are coming along well. Looking forward to hearing your final day plans but TOTALLY understanding your torment on it as well Last days are SO SAD

 

[amazingact21]

I'm back!



This is the first time I've been able to sign on to the DISboards since Saturday morning, and I was having some major withdrawl issues.


Ironically enough, I managed to get a ton of items crossed off my to-do list...



Hmm, I wonder if there's a connection there????








I wanted to start this update by asking a quick question. Do you think I have fully addicted to my mother yet???

I woke up Saturday morning to that on my facebook. Made me laugh pretty hard. I'm glad to see someone else is freaking out about this trip as much as I am.


Not that Alex isn't excited, but he's got a lot on his plate right now. He has two major exams coming up for work, he's switched to a new section of his job, he's got this all-day motorcycle training class on Thursday, and he's working a new shift. All of that has made it really hard for him to have a lot of time to think about Disney.


My hope is that for the few days he's there, he can take some breaks from studying and just focus on having some fun.





While I was writing down the trip schedules in my travel journal, I realized something not so good. Our Sunday night dinner at Kona was at 6:55pm, meaning we'd probably finish at 8:00pm. The plan was to sit on the Poly beach and watch Wishes, but the fireworks were scheduled for 10:00pm, potentially leaving us waiting around for 2 hours.
I thought it'd be kind of silly to wait for an "all right" view of the fireworks for two hours. With that much time, we could get inside MK.


Of course, that thought alone sent my head spinning. Willingly go inside the Magic Kingdom with only a little bit of time before the nighttime shows?!? We'd end up caught behind MSEP, and people would give us dirty looks and it'd be way stressful.


So, since I realized that mistake, I've been scouring the Dining Reservation page on the Disney site, waiting for a different time to become available. Yesterday, a ten minute earlier time popped up, 6:45. I grabbed it.


Not much better, but ten minutes could make a difference in the end.




My running has been trudging along. I'm doing the 5K in an average of 41 minutes. Not really were I wanted to be, but within that time is a 5 minute warm up walk, which I won't do at the race.

All Alex and I want to achieve is a better overall time than last year. We got a 1:19, so that goal shouldn't be hard to get.



And, my final piece on the "planning news" is that today I'm going to the commissary (military grocery store) to pick up the last bit of groceries we'll need until the trip woohoo and to pick up travel items. Case of water, some breakfast food, carrride snacks.


You guys, it's getting close enough to buy food!!!!

 

[UGAFan0829]

My goodness, girl! I thought I was a planner, but I don't have anything on you!! lol! No wonder you're feeling a little stressed!

Sorry that your shopping trip didn't go so well. That's always how it works for me. Whenever I have the money and am going to actually buy something I can never find anything, but yet when I don't have the money to spend and am just looking I can always find a ton of things.

Wow, I can't believe you're so close! How exciting!!!!

 

[Elleshoodat]

I'm sorry you had a rough day, but it's completely normal to stress about planning at this point. You are so close! You've been planning and planning and planning, and you want everything to go as smoothly as it can. Totally understandable, but even if something doesn't go as planned, you will still be in your Happy Place. (And yes, I'm writing this for my benefit, too! I can never seem to remember this, LOL.)

I plan out what I'm going to wear on what day, too. I don't go the spreadsheet route, but it does make packing easier ... and I pack far less.

 

[20thingamabobs]

Hey! I'm getting so excited because our trips are getting so close! Backing up a little, I LOVE Via Napoli and I hope you enjoy it as well!

Also, that's so exciting that you'll actually get to make it to MK for the fireworks. I love watching them from the Poly beach but you can't beat being in the park!

Have you decided on tshirts for the race yet?

 

[amazingact21]

My goodness, girl! I thought I was a planner, but I don't have anything on you!! lol! No wonder you're feeling a little stressed!

Sorry that your shopping trip didn't go so well. That's always how it works for me. Whenever I have the money and am going to actually buy something I can never find anything, but yet when I don't have the money to spend and am just looking I can always find a ton of things.

Wow, I can't believe you're so close! How exciting!!!!

Since Alex and I are getting annual passes, I'm thinking our next trip will be extremely laid back. I don't think I could plan another trip this in-depth for awhile.

That is how it usually works with shopping....

I'm sorry you had a rough day, but it's completely normal to stress about planning at this point. You are so close! You've been planning and planning and planning, and you want everything to go as smoothly as it can. Totally understandable, but even if something doesn't go as planned, you will still be in your Happy Place. (And yes, I'm writing this for my benefit, too! I can never seem to remember this, LOL.)

I plan out what I'm going to wear on what day, too. I don't go the spreadsheet route, but it does make packing easier ... and I pack far less.

The biggest downside to planning trips so much, is that you have to remind yourself to keep calm when something doesn't go the right way. It can be tough, because your mind races months back when you formed the plan, and you just see it go up in smoke, but that can go away really quickly if you go with the flow....


The reason I have to do a spreadsheet is because I am an extreme visual learner. If I want to remember something, I have to see it written down in an organized fashion. I tried not to write out my clothing list once, and I kept returning to my closet, going, "Do I need this? Have I already grabbed that short?"

Hey! I'm getting so excited because our trips are getting so close! Backing up a little, I LOVE Via Napoli and I hope you enjoy it as well!

Also, that's so exciting that you'll actually get to make it to MK for the fireworks. I love watching them from the Poly beach but you can't beat being in the park!

Have you decided on tshirts for the race yet?

Our trip is only a few weeks away! I can't believe how close it is. I'm getting really excited about the race; I keep remembering how much fun last year's was.


Ugh, we are completely copping out this year on shirts. I just ran out of time, and honestly didn't want another thing to stress me out. So, we're all wearing black running shorts and bright colored shirts. My mom's is yellow, mine is probably pink, and Alex's is green.
What about you? You could totally get away with last year's outfit again. It was very cool!

 

[Joyciemc]

Haha, your mom's facebook post looks very familiar- my friend and I keep doing the same thing about our trip in 19(!!!!!!!!) days. So exciting!!

 

[MHTeacher]

I'm back!
Our Sunday night dinner at Kona was at 6:55pm, meaning we'd probably finish at 8:00pm. The plan was to sit on the Poly beach and watch Wishes, but the fireworks were scheduled for 10:00pm, potentially leaving us waiting around for 2 hours.

You could always shop......

 

[amazingact21]

Haha, your mom's facebook post looks very familiar- my friend and I keep doing the same thing about our trip in 19(!!!!!!!!) days. So exciting!!

Haha, I'm sure our mutual friends think we're crazy, but it's just too exciting not to talk about.

You could always shop......

I like that idea, but whenever I get DH into a Disney store, my checkbook cries a little.

 

[amazingact21]

I know I should be doing one, long update, but small things keep happening that get me so excited for my trip in a few weeks.

Yesterday afternoon I went to the EE5K thread and discovered that the waivers for the race were available to print, and the final race instructions were posted!






Not to mention, unlike like last year, we got our bib numbers!


Mine is...

1158!


Sounds like a good number, to me. Last year, we were 1428, so I'm hoping that a lower number will mean we'll be in earlier wave.


Not that Wave 5 is bad, however...the sooner we finish the race....


The sooner we can ride Everest!




I texted my mom to let her know she could find out how her bib number, and she proceeded to call me to walk her through how to do it. My mother and technology aren't exactly good friends, so I spent about five minutes walking her through the website and the printing process.

As it turns out, her bib number is 35!


Sounds so much smaller in comparison to my 1158.




After printing out the waiver and reading all the final race instructions, the race has become very real to me. It's hard to believe that two weeks from now I'll be leaving to go on this trip I've been waiting for for 10 months. Kind of surreal.