The Mad Ramblings of an Over-Planner (A Sept 14 trip - Anderson style!)

[GrandCalifornian]

Congrats on getting the free dining upgrade. To change the title, go to the first post, click edit, then advanced. From there you will see the title field and can edit it as much as you wish.

 

[karaokevixen]

My hero! Thanks a ton! (and Thanks! We're really happy about saving a few dollars. lol Are you getting it for your trip?)

 

[GrandCalifornian]

My hero! Thanks a ton! (and Thanks! We're really happy about saving a few dollars. lol Are you getting it for your trip?)

We had free dining already since we booked a bounce back, but by doing so we were able to get it for POR, which the current offer excludes, so we got a perk there. We can't wait!

 

[karaokevixen]

Where I live, there is a small, free admission amusement park close by. How close, you ask? Well, if I decided RIGHT NOW that I wanted to go, I could be standing in line for a ride in about a half hour. That includes the time it would take to get the kids ready, get shoes on, grab the ride tickets, get in the car, drive there, park, and walk into the park. Thirty minutes. Of course, I'm not going there right now, nor will I be there in thirty minutes, as I was just there earlier this afternoon. And that leads me to this post.

It was about 80 degrees here today. The sun was out, the humidity wasn't too bad, but still, it was warm. Our local park offers many shaded areas, and even on a day like today when a lot of people were out enjoying the rides and the weather, you never really wait more than twenty or thirty minutes in line. It's really nice, and there are two world class wooden roller coasters that call this park home.

Today being Mother's Day here in the States, we decided to head over to the "Grove" and enjoy some family time. We got there around 1pm and left just before 4:30. We walked around a bit, rode some rides, had some fun. By the end of those few hours, my youngest was asking to be carried, my older son was obviously tired, and my daughter and I were sweating. (Hubby never seems to be too hot or too cold...damn him. hahaha) As we were walking back toward the parking lot, my husband and I started talking about the need for a stroller at the "World" and whether or not we would bring one with us.

For the record, hubby and I go back and forth being the softie of the parental unit that we are. There are days when he's reached his limit while I'm accommodating, and other times, I'm hard on the kids and he's trying to calm me down and telling me to relax. We really take turns babying the kids. A day at Disney, let alone five or six, will take its toll on US, never mind the kids!!! Hubby says that if we think we'll need/use a stroller, we'll just rent one in the park. (anyone have experience with this?) I know that this can be a good thing, but at the same time, at the end of the night, when we're tired, I'm not sure I want to be carrying around a tired/sleeping almost five year old...

This brings me to something else. I've read a lot on here about taking breaks in the afternoon. At first, I was thinking, "oh heck no!!! We're there and we'll stay all day!!!" After today, though, I'm not so sure... We're getting park hoppers, so that's no big deal. The problem would be convincing hubby that the kids could use a break. He might see that as wasting money on the tickets... I don't see it that way, though. That first day, I think it'll be easier to convince him of a break, as we will be up REALLY early, and the parks are open later than they are on, say, a Sunday. Perhaps a nap when we hit the resort, head to GF for Narcoossee's for dinner and then head to Magic Kingdom for the evening? Who knows...

I still have a lot of time between now and then, but my anxiety kicks my OCD into gear, and before I know it, my head is trying to plan out every last second of this trip. I'm trying really hard not to, but I HATE going into things unprepared and unaware. That is a one way ticket to PanicAttackVille. lol

URGH! I'm over it for tonight. I'm going to take my water and go outside to enjoy my new hammock! (my mother's day gift) To all the moms out there in DIS-land, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!! I hope yours was/is an enjoyable as mine!

 

[karaokevixen]

*continues talking to myself*

THEY CAME!!! No, not those... I got an envelope via FedEx yesterday. Wanna see what was inside???

Darn it... I hit post too soon when I meant to preview! lol Oops... So, what are they, you ask? Why, those are tickets to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party!!! WOO!!!!! I can't wait!!! My kids (and I) are going to LOVE it!!!

On a side note, I bought a sewing machine!!! I've been wanting one for MANY years now, but finally broke down and got one. I blame a LOT of you on here... You know who you are, with your sewing and your creative skills... My first pattern is a dress for me. It isn't finished yet, but it actually resembles a dress!!! YAY! I won't wear it out in public, as the seams and stitching aren't the best, but I'm making a dress!!! Perhaps by the time September rolls around, I can actually make my kids their costumes for the aforementioned party. How cool would that be???

It's 84 degrees outside. I want to go lay in my hammock, but my allergies are really acting up today, my middle child stayed home sick from school, and my hammock was taken down last night because it was SUPPOSED to rain all day today! It did rain a few drops around lunch time, but it's been sunny the rest of the day... Blah! I also have a choir rehearsal tnoight, so I'm hoping my allergy pill kicks in so that I can sing. Concerts in just over two weeks! I can't wait!!! (but I can because these are the final concerts for this one choir. The director is getting up in years and is scaling back her interests.) By way of a bye for now, I leave you with this picture of myself, my DD and my YDS on the Cosmotron at our local amusement park! (it's a little fuzzy because the ride started moving as I was taking it lol)

 

[GrandCalifornian]

Congratulations on the sewing Machine! Melissa was excited to hear it. There are so many neat ideas online that you can copy or even follow their pattern. Don't underestimate the value of Disney shirts as raw material.

Going back to the stroller debate, we are definitely planning on bringing ours for our daughter on her fifth birthday trip. She has been using it less, but we still think it will be worth having. Ironically she enjoys pushing it when she isn't in it. We are used to it and since it is a City Mini it folds and transports very easily. With the rain cover we can park it and leave it for a while, so that will be our plan.

It looks like everything is coming together. Happy planning, and enjoy the obsession!

 

[karaokevixen]

Just a quick update from me today. I'm in that odd, stagnant, middle period of trip planning. It's too late to worry about transportation, when we're going, where we're staying. I've already made my fining reservations and, unless something comes up for Be Our Guest on the day I've planned for us to be at MK, our dining is all set. However, it isn't close enough to the trip to start my main packing lists or do fastpass reservations. So, here I sit...waiting...

My kids are getting excited for the last day of school. They are done for the year in two weeks and then a week after that, we fall into the "under 100 days" range. I've already made a countdown thing for them but I started it at 99 days left. Initially I'd planned to pull it out on their last day of school as a way to tell them, "hey! We're going to Disney World!!!" The school put a monkey wrench in that, though, when they forgave some of the "snow" days. (I put the snow in quotes because there were MANY times they cancelled school for what seemed like the THREAT of snow. I'm all for being careful and ensuring the safety of the kids, but still... Don't get me started. lol)

You know how I bought a sewing machine? Well, I tried to make a dress...but that didn't turn out too well. It was actually a good learning experience for me and I gained confidence from it. Now I have some fabric in the house, bought a few oversized mens shirts on clearance, and have a few plans. The first plan is to never again use a store-bought paper pattern that you pin and cut and piece together like a puzzle...well, at least not until I get better anyway. Today, though, I took one of the shirts, cut it up a bit, took in the sides a few inches each, and made myself a summer shirt! Wanna see???

Isn't that awesome? The pattern I followed was for a no sew shirt, but I did some sewing, obviously, on the seams to take it in, on the knot in the front that makes it a halter, on the straps in the back, and around the arm holes. I think it turned out nice!!! Perhaps I'm not a total lost cause after all!!! lol

Anywho, I'm off to enjoy some quiet time. Today was blah at the start, as my allergies were kicking my butt. Once I got that under control I was able to lay in my hammock and read for a while, but then the clouds rolled in. We were under a severe thunderstorm warning which was then upgraded to a tornado warning. Wanna see the hail???

That's a quarter in the middle of that circle of hail stones... Fortunately none of my windows were broken, but my van has a LOT of dents in the roof. It could have been a LOT worse.

OK. I'm going now. lol Have a magical evening!

 

[PrincessKTBugg85]

Sounds like you and I are a lot alike. I'm a little bit of an over planner as well, lol. I just booked my vacation for early-mid October and I've already changed reservations and plans a million times. It's just me and my husband but we feel like BOG and CRT are rights of passage. I think you have to do them at least once. BTW, your kids are adorable! I'll be following along and can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip!

 

[karaokevixen]

Sounds like you and I are a lot alike. I'm a little bit of an over planner as well, lol. I just booked my vacation for early-mid October and I've already changed reservations and plans a million times. It's just me and my husband but we feel like BOG and CRT are rights of passage. I think you have to do them at least once. BTW, your kids are adorable! I'll be following along and can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip!

Welcome! A vacation for just you and the husband? That's awesome! The ONLY reason my hubby is going is because of the kids. He is *gasp* anti-Disney. I keep saying that he'll have fun. I know he will. And if he doesn't, well, rooms are easier to get for a family of 4 than they are for a family of 5. lol And thanks! I think my kids are adorable, too! lol Then again, I may be biased.

 

[jmskinner]

Hi! Thought I would follow along. We will be there at the same time, we are going 9/22-26.

What night are you going to MNSSHP? I plan to go on the 23rd. Hope to buy tickets next month. I have been 4 times and love it. We hit every trick or treating spot and ride as many rides as possible, but also catch the fireworks and the parade. Make sure you are on Main Street or at the hub in front of the castle for the fireworks. It is the best way to see them and the way Walt wanted fireworks at MK to be seen.

You mentioned your DH being unDisney. On our first trip, after a few days, my DH actually said "Next time we should stay 10 days!" I was worried he wasn't enjoying himself. And the trip coming up, he said "I want to do MNSSHP and F&W again!" Oh, then he through in, "I never did get to see HP at Universal." So we are doing an adults only trip with MNSSHP, F&W, and Universal. That Disney magic can touch upon anyone.

We are trying Narcoose's on our arrival night also. Everything I have read, people love it. Most love California Grill, but we tried it and it was good, but tried Yachtsman Steakhouse on the same trip and loved it more. Everyone has different tastes, so I say if the menu at Narcoose's looks good, give it a try.

I know what you mean about Universal. I figure with our 1 day/2 park tickets for two people, express pass, and transportation, we are looking at $400 and that is using a military discount.

My son never did get to do the Jedi Training. Highly recommend it from what I have seen.

Since you are a planner, have you decided on your must rides and shows?

Planning time to rest is never a bad idea, and neither is winging it a little. Sometimes you just need a break or you are the family that is having a meltdown at the gate. Yea, we've never been that family.

Your top looks great! Sounds easy but I am sure I would have messed it up.

 

[karaokevixen]

It's been a while, but I'm still around. Summer is CRAZY with all three kids home and we've been running like mad. We've also had the kids in swim lessons and I've really taken to running. When I started, I could barely walk at a brisk pace for very long. Now my runs are half walk/half run! I've also signed up for my first 5k and that will take place on 18 October. I can't wait!!!

So the purpose of this post is to share my panic!!!

AAAHHHH!!!!!

See that? That's me panicking. It's getting close! It's getting REAL!!! We're a month and a half from getting our Magic Bands! A month from now, our trip will be paid in full! Oh, and on Monday, our FastPass selection window starts!!!

Let me say that again... On MONDAY I can make our FastPass choices!!!

MONDAY!!! That's TWO DAYS from now!!! Did I mention that I have absolutely ZERO idea as to where to start? My big kids will be TOTALLY up for the roller coasters. My then-almost-5 year old is really into spinning rides. I haven't been to Disney in over 20 years and while I have memories from there, they are vague at best. I'm overwhelmed by the options and, while I know that we won't hit everything in our limited vacation time, I don't want my kids to miss out on anything worthwhile.

HELP!!!

Thanks. lol

 

[ach222]

Hi! Found your PTR and am excited to follow along!

 

[jmskinner]

What FP's did you end up getting? I keep rearranging ours, and it is just us two adults.