Third Time's the Charm (or "Those motorcycle trips really taught me how to pack!")

[rottiemom]

The second trip to WDW is kind of like having a second child. You've already got a bunch of the stuff from the first one so it's not like you have to go out and buy a bunch of things, right?

Anyone ever do the grownup thing, like cancel a vacation in order to save money? And if you did, did you have that big pile of money lying around that you had "saved"?

We planned a trip for 2009- cancelled. We made other (less expensive) plans, had a great time, everything was OK.

Didn't even consider 2010 because finances were still bleak. Didn't take a vacation at all, in fact, because the money just wan't there. That's life, deal with it, things will change.

Then the cat took a trip to the vet. 1200.00 scared1 later the cat was fine. That money came from somewhere...don't ask me where because we certainly didn't have that big pile of "saved" lying around.

But then I started thinking...the cat was a priority and we managed to scrape that money up.

So this year I'm making our vacation a priority. I need to go away before I have to be forcibly taken away. And I wanted fun, and everything in a nice neat package so I wouldn't have to worry about it. We went to WDW in September of 2008 and had a blast. Free dining, MNSSHP, busses to take us everywhere, no worrying about how to get where and where did we leave the car.

So, after second guessing myself and letting offer after pin code expire I booked a trip for the Memories/Free Dining package. I had planned to go with photopass anyway and the photo book will force me to actually do something with the pictures rather than leave them sitting on the CD .

I haven't booked our flights yet...and ADRS are the first thing on my list. I also haven't told our son yet. He's going to flip .

Now, if you've read this far (bless you) you need to understand that our usual vacation involves motorcycles and tents and hundreds of miles of bugs and road tar. WDW in 2008 was the first time that I had taken a plane in years. And slept in a hotel room rather than a tent. So airline baggage fees don't trouble me because I am one skilled packer. I can fit a week's worth of gear into a tank bag and tail pack and STILL have room enough for a spare pair of boots. Not that I'll need boots for WDW in August. Well, maybe rain boots .

So it's the three of us. Me, my better half and our 7 year old son. We have the aforementioned cat (Gremlin) and a neurotic little rescued rottie named Amber. If I could pack her in my carry on and bring her along I would but instead I booked her a suite at the vet before I would press "reserve now" for our trip.

Oh, and we're staying at POP. We stayed there in 2008 and loved it. We also bought up to the DDP because I am just dying to go back to Boma and Coral Reef.

So there it is, in a nutshell. More to come as it happens. I had to keep myself away from the DIS for those past two years because it was just too depressing but it's nice to see that the people are still awesome. The info that I gathered on the DIS and the people here helped to make our first trip a blast. Here's hoping that Disney magic strikes twice .

 

[rottiemom]

Cool, it looks like this is going to be a big bunch of me talking to myself...just like any other day.

Well, today the trip is officially carved in stone because I booked our flights!

My little guy still doesn't know about it. ADRs are proving to be painful. I did manage to get Coral Reef for our first day but am at a loss for the other days. I'd like to try Ohana for dinner some night but reservations are nonexistant for the entire trip. I'm sure that if I book meals for the rest of the trip Ohana will open right up .

Well me, it's been nice talkin' to myself. More tomorrow. Tonight I'll raid the closet where I've got my "in case of Disney" box and see what I need to start setting aside for our trip.

 

[disneysmyhappyplace]

So glad you are getting to go back to the world! When are you going? Your ADR's are probably hard to come by as others had a 180 day jump on you, but no worries you will still find wonderful places to eat! Hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[rottiemom]

Hi, happyplace!

I'm glad that we're going back, too . I think that secretly my husband is, too. And my son, of course, will be ecstatic.

We're going from the very start of the "memories" offer. I had really wanted to go the week before but for some reason we had gotten a free dining pin that was good through 8/13, then the memories offer that started the 28th. There was NOTHING for the week of the 22nd. The week before school starts for us isn't my preferred time (actually I prefer September and MNNSHP ) but we're going and that's what counts.

The ADRs are proving to be a challenge as I knew they would be with the FD promo from last year, plus my trying to book ADRS so "late" but I'm not too worried. There's always next trip, right?

Meanwhile, I checked out my magic box last night. As a combination things my mother taught me/packing for motorcycle trips my magic box is actually four boxes of free samples and gifts with purchase that I've saved in case of travel. Whenever I come across any of these things I tuck them into one of those boxes (broken down by category).

Most of the usual suspects like shampoo and travel size face cream but I want to share a few things that I picked up from the DIS and my bike travel experience in case anybody else is reading this:

Disposable dry washcloths for babies. I like to carry a couple in my purse in case of a clean up emergency. They don't dry out like wipes can and they last forever. Just add water, they've already got the soap added and the soap will last awhile. I carry them in a ziploc.

One laundry detergent gelpac (like Tide or Method) or better yet, a Purex 3 in 1 sheet . I grabbed a box of these off of the clearance rack in anticipation of last year's trip not to be. Even a five day trip could result in a dire need to do laundry if you factor my son intot he equation (aske me how I know) and those things take up next to no room. Packed in a ziploc, of course.

Actually, that's a biggie. Anything that could potentially leak and ruin stuff or could potentially get ruined by being leaked on gets packed inside of it's own ziploc. On the bike it was so you wouldn't have to worry about your luggage if you got caught in the rain and it worked like a charm. The bags could be soaked but everything inside would be safe and dry. Of course, on the bike, I'd also pack my clothing inside of plastic bags as well. I won't be going that far for this trip via plane .

One thing that we did last trip was to bring a small coffee maker. One of those that brews directly into two travel mugs. That was a lifesaver as I am one of those people that needs a cup of coffee in order to be able to make a cup of coffee. We'd brew up some coffee first thing, shower and get ready and be ready to hit the parks. Unfortunately the coffee maker has gone MIA so I need to find a replacement pre trip. I've seen similar ones for around 20.00 so I shouldn't have a problem.

More later. Thanks for visiting!

 

[disneysmyhappyplace]

I was surprised by the current offer it is so short! We booked our free dining package last year and it did include the week of the 20th, which is when we are going. I think you will find that the week you are going is much less crowded! Most of the southern schools are back in session. I pack like you! I love the Purex laundry soap they are so easy to pack! Sounds like you are all set for your trip! I can't wait to start packing and get back down there! My kids are now realizing that it is coming soon and are getting very excited! Keep trying on those ADR's people cancel all the time and things open up! I just had to change ours around and was able to make changes without hassle so there are still good places to eat out there! Have fun!

 

[rottiemom]

I should have booked the trip last year when FD wenth through the end of October (I think?) but I waffled and second guessed myself so here I am. But we're GOING and that's the important part .

 

[rottiemom]

Not much to report since I've been busy working as much as possible in order to make as much as possible (which really isn't very much ). No luck scoring ADRs either but I've only been halfheartedly trying since I haven't worked out my attack plan yet for our trip. I really hope that the crowds are low in late August.

In the meantime the humid, oppressive weather here in NY has been great practice for me getting ready to tromp all over WDW in August! My nightly walks have been a big treat. I do around 2 miles per night and they're much more challenging when it feels like you're trying to breathe wet cotton .

 

[rottiemom]

Just brushing the dust off of this for my own amusement. I've been lax with planning and unable to visit the DIS since June BUT the trip is still on and we're down tot he single digits until we leave.

I picked up a new coffee maker to replace the one that we left behind at WDW (thinking that we'd never be going back...I know...). I still have a pile of stuff to do and no time to do it in, still have to get everything ready for packing, etc. And not a minute's peace to do it it. Plus I still have one last ADR to make!

But we're going.

 

[rottiemom]

Well, at least the staging for the packing. This weekend I started going over my list and lining things up. Believe me, I need a week for this so that it gives me some time for things to float to the top of my brain.

I test drove the coffee maker and it works so it's good to go. It's the brew directly into two travel mugs kind so I don't have to worry about carafes or any breakage. Bringing along a sample pack of dishwashing liquid to keep everything clean.

Also, part of my need to start this early is so that I can begin the great laundry adventure, making sure everything is clean (and found) before packing. This will be tricky because the men in the house are still hitting the local pool. Inevitable it looks like I'll still be doing at least one load of laundry the day before we leave.

More to follow...