This time, I walk!!!

[Valgoof]

Glad you found the Dec thread again! It is a fun group. We are all so excited!!

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Welcome Valgoof!

Yeah, I found the new thread... but I'm not so sure I'll ever catch up! Already closing to 250 pages in about 2 weeks?!

Well... we'll see... haha

I subscribed to most PTRs, but that's a LOT... and only 3 weeks to go...

Wait... THREE WEEKS TO GO!!!

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Well... just like last time (2008), Mama has been having ideas of maximizing our annual passes by going back before the end of the year.
Problem in 2008 was... well, lack of cash, among other things... also the fact that our trip, with the wheelchair and our bad experience at POFQ being less than magical, neither of us was aching to go back that bad... hard to believe but it's true!
Let's say, if I had bugged her to go back, I'm guessing we might've. But I didn't.

Also... last time she had the idea to maximize the APs while we were there... and then we got the bounce back offer... but she wanted to go to the Contemporary... I didn't really know about renting DVC points back then (and the BLT was under construction!), and even with the bounceback offer, it was too much money for us... and wheelchair and bad buses experience with last minute planning... well we didn't go.

Now... Mama has pretty much decided already that she wants to go back.
We have talked about going during the Halloween season to see the decorations and attend MNSSHP, and I want to go during Food&Wine because altough I don't drink alcohol, I love to try foods from all over! Mama... not so much.

There might be one MAJOR difference that trip... DAD might join us. He doesn't even know yet.
Fact is, we have been planning this trip for a year now without even asking if he wanted to join. We knew he wouldn't. He ruined Mama's fun in the 70s when they went together, ranting about the great capitalist festival Disney was and about how crowdy it was and so on and so forth.
And him being alcoholic, we always try not to do stuff together, sadly. (let's just say eating out is not something we enjoy much).

But... Mama is feeling guilty that so much money goes into this and he doesn't enjoy it (even though most of that money comes from her own savings and mine, and he does have quite a bit of money on HIS side that don't go into the family budget at all... and Dad never said a word. She's just good at feeling guilty).

When I won the first part of the panda contest and we learned I might spend most of the fall traveling, and might be in China for 3 weeks just prior to our Disney trip, and we were worried I might not be in shape to go right after coming back, Dad offered to go with Mama in my place.
I was in shock. I told him "I thought you hated all things Disney? Would you really be able to handle that?" And he kinda shrugged and said he didn't think it looked that bad and it was better than loosing the money or Mama not being able to go.

Mama was in shock as well when I told her... and did NOT like the idea.

But knowing he might be thinking of going got both of us thinking...
I caught myself wondering how it would be to be in the World all together... would it be hell, or would the magic operate and we would have a great time? Would Dad ruin Disney for us? Would we end up on our separate ways all the time, Dad in a bar in DTD or splurging, being "one of those" in Epcot, while we keep to our plan and hope not to run into him?
Honestly... that's our fear...
but we decided on 2 things :
-We will wait until THIS trip is over before we make any decisions... anyways, even if we want to rent in BLT again, we will be at 9-10 months, which should be plenty for early October...
-We will ask Dad what he would like to do : join us... or not. But we will (or I will in any case) emphasize that he has to decide then and there... I mean, we might give him a few days, but he can't just change his mind the week before we leave... unless he pays for all the extra changes or something... (you know... nothing is ever impossible, or almost nothing).

I say the "no change rule" because, mainly, my parents are almost at the separate bedroom stage, and nothing less than a king size bed is thinkable for them... so, if Dad comes, we need either a suite with 2 queen size beds and a pull-out sleeper sofa (or similar layout... maybe a rented vacation home), or a king size bed and another bed. While if we go just me and Mama, a studio like we have right now with one queen-size bed and the sleeper-sofa, or any regular room with 2 double-beds is OK. If we book through DVC points we can't change the ressie.
Plus... after the 180-days, ADRs are made. I'm sure we can change them from 3 guests to just 2... but probably not the other way around...

I'm not sure how I feel about Dad coming or not.
Sometimes I have fun with him... when he is sober, it's most of the time. But he's rarely sober.
He could decide to be careful and work hard on not ruining the trip.
Or it could be hell, which, with it being F&W, worries me.
As I said, we would then just split up... but then why go there and why go as a family?
I COULD always tell him bluntly about F&W and that I don't want him ruining the trip or Disney for us. But... it's really not how we roll and it just wouldn't work. Doesn't mean it would make it worse, just that What I say just has no effect. what I say just has no effect.

One good point of having him come would be he would pay his share and more. Which could mean the difference between going or not. Or doing some things we want to do but might not afford...
Then again, he's not always the same guy. Sometimes he will splurge and be mr. Generous and want to give us the vacation of a lifetime and want us to enjoy all we want and so on... other times if he feels grumpy he'll just go on about how everything is overpriced, how we don't need to do this and that and instead of saying, for example "why don't you take that 100$ and have some fun today!" he'll critique all purchases you make that day.
If only we could know in advance.
ADR : Advance Dad Reservation.

Oh, and there would be another good point of Dad coming... he would want to share the driving, and in a (sad) weird way with him being there Mama doesn't put her foot down nor isn't as a diva... so she would endure being driven in the dark... so we would be on the road for less time and save money (2 days instead of 3)

So... all that to say, I HOPE HOPE HOPE when I come back I'll have double duty, TR for this December trip and PTR for another one in 2013...
And to make sure we can make a quick decision right when we come back, I already made a very tentative schedule and budget together.
No parks or ADR ideas at all, not even a compared resort sheet, because we'll decide after being there... but a "best week" to be there and more or less how many days (to include MNSSHP and F&W, low crowds and lowest possible prices)... which happens to be first week of October.
We're thinking only 8-10 days and no Universal. Even if Dad comes, unless he surprises us... he's not into Harry Potter and even if he likes rides... not so much so that he would want to go there just for that. Let's just say that if he comes, it'll be not to be left out once again, to join in on the fun... to because he WANTS to do something in particular. I already see myself asking dozens of "do you want to...?" and get "why not?" as an answer.
I budgeted for a 2 bedroom at BLT for now... and we'll see.

Of course we won't get any bounce back offer (anyway, I guess not) since we are only renting the points (well... maybe? The last time the offer was in the room... and the ressie is in our name... so maybe? But could we use it renting points again? Guess not, would have to check)
We couldn't use any free dining plan or such, because we have the AP... or maybe we could, but would have to buy at least one-day park tickets for me and Mama... we would have to check how much money that would cost (and I know there are never free dining for DVC).

So... I did part of the job... and depending on how we feel in about 6 weeks, hopefully I'll have the rest of the job to do!

 

[swwake]

IMO, you should prioritize the following on your Yuletide tour:

- Wilderness Lodge
- Ft Wilderness
(these are both MUST Sees)
- Grand Floridian - gingerbread house

BW and BC are ok, but if you miss them, you wouldn't have missed a whole lot.

You'll get to see AKL when you do your Boma. The tree is fantastic.

Don't worry about Poly - not really much there to see.

Interesting that Dad may join next year. I think it's great, as I believe family time and making memories of a lifetime is one of the best parts of life. I know you're nervous about it changing the dynamic, but you know Disney. You can have your space when you need it.

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

IMO, you should prioritize the following on your Yuletide tour:

- Wilderness Lodge
- Ft Wilderness
(these are both MUST Sees)
- Grand Floridian - gingerbread house

BW and BC are ok, but if you miss them, you wouldn't have missed a whole lot.

You'll get to see AKL when you do your Boma. The tree is fantastic.

Don't worry about Poly - not really much there to see.

Interesting that Dad may join next year. I think it's great, as I believe family time and making memories of a lifetime is one of the best parts of life. I know you're nervous about it changing the dynamic, but you know Disney. You can have your space when you need it.

I was keeping Wilderness for late in the day to be able to see it at night!!!
I saw a picture of the decorations all lit up and it looked soooo magical And enjoyed on the wagon horse ride instead of walking is a plus...

As you said, we will see the decorations at AKL when we'll go there to eat at Boma... same for Poly (meals at both 'Ohana and Kona Café) and GF (High afternoon tea!). I wouldn't miss GF decorations for anything!

As for dad joining... well he doesn't even know yet!
We'll see... it will all depend on how we feel as the trip winds down, if we get a bounceback offer or if not, if I get AP discount... and then, if he wants to come!

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

IN THE TEENS!!!
19 days!

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

In EXACTLY 3 week we will be driving into Florida, to spend our last evening "on the road" in Jacksonville!!!

I only have one small update : I am just back from Costco!

Why is it so exciting?
If I remind you that going there means sitting in a car (straight, not reclining) for about 90min total, and walking while pushing a cart (ok, we kept it almost empty most of the time, but still) for another 90min, and then unpacking everything and walking around the house, NOW are you excited???
I know Mama and I are!

Of course we asked Dad to come with us (to Costco!), so I wouldn't have to lift anything heavy and he helped us unload too... but just a week ago I still had trouble standing straight!

I also had to go to an appointment this morning, and was able to drive there by myself... it's about 20min each way... and it was the first time I could drive by myself since I fell ill about a month ago!

So, overall, a great day! Very encouraging for the trip, still 18 days away!

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Getting closer!!!

Today I ran some errands and some of those were for the trip!
Most importantly : I bought walking shoes!

I had thought I's just use my Converses... but thise week I noticed my heels hurt just after standing for a few hours... I can't have that happen!!!

And since I have no other running shoes and my hiking boots are a bit much... I shelled out a 100$ for good shoes.

I like the purple on the shoelaces!

And just now I'm taking a breather, because I organized my "not-current" clothes... I have a wicker basket and a plastic bin and both were full of clothes, but mixed up between "I-don't-like-very-much", "don't-fit" and "out-of-season"... So I finally put the "don't-fit" all together in the wicker basket... and the rest in the plastic bin... and turns out I really don't have lots of shorts... I have a few I need to try before I put them in the suitcase... and I may need to buy a few in Florida... Don't get me wrong, I love to shop... but that's not the shopping I was going for.

Of course, while doing that I kinda started on the suitcases!
I have to refrain myself, or I would make the suitcases right now and not have much to wear until we leave!

I must say, I'm not sure how much to bring... how often will we do laundry? Of course I won't bring 23 sets of clothes, I wouldn't even if I had enough (which I don't)... but do I bring clothes for a week or just for 3-4 days?
I really don't know. Probablly what fits in the suitcase!

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

In exactly 2 weeks we're on the road to DISNEY!

And so I'm now reading TRs and PTRs while listening to Disney music!

That's it. I had nothing else to report.

 

[swwake]

Time is flying!!!

I give you permission to start packing now. Maybe shoes you won't wear til Disney, summer-y clothes, and toiletries you don't need right now.

 

[swwake]

Where are you, AnnieD?! I hope planning and getting excited.

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Where are you, AnnieD?! I hope planning and getting excited.

I'm here!
It's weird, I had checked this morning to see if I had replies... and it said I didn't! But you replied to me a few days ago, I see! What's up with that?!

I indeed started packing this week, and I just NEED to talk to you all about this iPhone app I'm using. It's just amazing for all of us OCD about planning and lists! It's called Packing Pro (it's not free, can't remember... around 4$ I think) and after trying many others, it's the best and by a long shot!
Fully customizable (you can even change the color of icons!), you can be as detailed as you want... for example, I can list "3 pairs of socks for Mama in the small suitcase".
You have categories, sub-categories, can associate items with people and bags (but it can be "car", "plastic bin" whatever you want), you can even add weight if you're flying and you want to be sure! C-R-A-Z-Y!

I'm not going totally OCD (I'm not listing Mama's stuff, I'm not splitting my socks by bag...) but it does work better than just an Excel spreadsheet!
And you can make more than one list, and use a list as a template...
So I made this list, and a second one to check daily before we leave the room!

Right now the packing is very loose. Items are put in suitcases or bags, separated and in their general area... so we know what is missing, what we need to wash, so on. But the true packing (rolling clothes, making sure NOTHING is missing, ticking off items from the list) won't happen until 1-2 days before we leave... That's how I roll.

Only a few hours before the single digits dance!

Still reading TRs and perusing the food porn thread... and a bit worried because I'm not getting healthy fast enough.
I still think I'm going to be OK. But I might need more naps as I thought. Or I might crash harder when I come back (if it's only that, it's ok). I often have a little (very little) fever in the afternoons, I have tender lymphnodes the day after I do something (like on Monday I cleaned the spa... been very exchausted since).

Hopefully the adrenalin and happiness of being in the World will give me a boost!

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

Here we are, finally : SINGLE DIGITS DANCE!!!

 

[swwake]

Here we are, finally : SINGLE DIGITS DANCE!!!

Hooray for SDD!!

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

SDD... is it just me or does that sound like an illness?

Soooo... anyways...

I was just wondering... can you have stuff mailed to your resort TOO EARLY?

A few weeks ago I bought something on eBay from the US, there was a PayPal snafu and I would not have gotten it in time if it was shipped here in Quebec... so instead we decided to have it shipped directly to my resort (altough I had such a bad experience with resort mail back in 2008... but we were at POFQ who don't have a great customer service reputation)...
The package was shipped 2 weeks ago... it probably got there a few days later... I'm worried... will they put my package in the trash or something?!
Or will they check and see I'm registered to go soon?

...same thing that freakin' Body Glide I want... it seems impossible to find here in Quebec, I've done all the sports stores locally and they either don't have any or don't even know what it is... I don't have time to have it shipped here... plus it costs so much more here in Canada!
If I could buy it on Amazon.com and have it shipped to the resort... it would be great! ...but then again, I'm worried that we'll get there too late after the package! (and maybe it's not even possible to have Amazon.com ship there while having a Canadian credit card...)

Argh.

On another note... I baked Xmas cookies yesterday! I think I said previously that I usually bake a LOT for Xmas... and this year with the pneumonia and being away so long just before the holidays it just won't be possible... but I still wanted to bake a little... Thank god for the freezer!

And today I put out the first of the exterior Xmas decorations! At first we thought we wouldn't put any out... and would only make the Xmas tree once we got back... and maybe not at all, if I was too tired from the trip (Mama would not make it if it weren't for me)...
But I realized it's not THAT early and we could put it already... one of our neighbours has already put all their outside lights (and are even lighting them!) and I have a friend who already put up her tree... and she doesn't even have a good reason except being a big holiday fan

So... they inspired me. It would make me sad to come back from an all decked up World to a no-lights, no-tree home... and I have a week left with not too-much to do.
I don't want to tire myself too much, but I can do a little bit... and I have to, or I'll go crazy!

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

ONE WEEEK! We leave in one week baby!
And by that I mean EXACTLY. It's 8am, and we plan to leave the driveway at that time!

We get a bit of packing loosely done each day (that'll need to be reorganized and packed correctly on Friday...). I also plan on packing the car Friday evening so as to not spend energy or time Saturday morning... I'll need all my energy to drive.

Yesterday I tried to paint some Mickey nails... I'm better than I thought I would! ...but the nail polish I put underneath isn't a good one, too much glitter (the big kind), so the mickey heads just don't stick... that's what tests are for!
I decided I would start with lightning "scars" for my first week of driving/Universal... the nails won't last until Disney anyways... I'll redo them before I head to Disney! ...oooh, makes me realize I had forgot to put remover in my luggage!

I just received an email from Universal to remind me I'm heading there, with some info about the hotel and perks of being resort guest... and I'm happy to learn the Xmas decorations will be on!
Sadly... the Macy's parade still only starts Dec. 1st. I really wish we could've managed to see it.
Hey, I'll watch it on TV this Thursday, as I always do!

One weeek, one weeeeek, one WEEEEEEEEK!

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

4 days to go!

Packing is going along, about halfway done (but still not packed right)...
I looked at the Orlando weather predictions and it's not looking good... well not for me anyways. I was so happy last week when it said it should be around 70F or below... now it's more about "near 80F" with high humidity index, feeling like 85F or even 90F+!!! When the weather is like this here in the summer, I have to stay inside...
In 2008 when I was in WDW in May, I had a BP drop even while sitting in the wheelchair!
Such weather is NOT good for me.
If it's pretty dry and breezy, chilly for Floridians, I'll be able to walk and feel great! ...if it's hot and humid, I might have to take the scooter and get in the resort in the afternoon and so on. I don't want that!!! I hope mother nature changes her mind... and either makes it lower temps or dryer so a 75F doesn't become 85F...

All that to say that, on top of being worried, I had to change some packing plan... because I only planned to bring 2 pairs of shorts. I know, I'm going to Florida... but since the weather only predicted lower temps and I ONLY have 2 pairs of shorts that fit... (a new med made me gain a LOT of weight in the last few months... can't wait for the effect to wear off in a few months so I can start being myself again...).
At first I thought IF the weather was hotter than predicted, I would buy myself a pair of shorts or 2 in Disney and it would make a fun souvenir.
...but now that the hot weather is more a sure thing... well... So I ordered 2 more pairs through Old Navy yesterday.
Yup, ORDERED. Online. Because I had a online-only discount that covered the super-fast 2 days shipping and it would save the 45min drive to the store (I live in the boonies, remember?). Plus, I had no way to be sure there would be any shorts in the store. Winter is almost here, so shorts are a rare thing in our stores... But there were a few in the online store. (and by few, I mean I snatched the LAST pair in my size in one model and had to select another model for my second one... in which I could only choose one color because in the others all the other sizes were gone... and most other models were only available in one size... like size 2!).
So... I ordered and selected rush-shipping, which saved me a ton of time and gas, and energy. And the coupon I had covered that cost, yay!

I woke up today with an Old Navy email saying they had a delay and my item wouldn't ship right away... couldn't tell me when. That's just great!
I replied that if they couldn't garantee delivery for this Friday, they could go ahead and cancel my order.

...I might have to buy some shorts in Disney after all.

That being said, I'm ticking a lot off my to-do list!
I printed our driving directions (we'll bring our old GPS but last year it hindered us more than anything, it's buggy... so we don't plan on using it... and with the iPhone GPS only working with internet connection, thanks to impossible roaming charges, there's no way).

I printed my detailed spreadhseet and a general version to leave to my dad (not sure he'll really look at it, but hey).

I made copies of all important documents (personal IDs, travel insurance, passports, credit cards, annual pass, MVMCP tix, etc) to safe keep and give one copy to Dad in case we really get in trouble.
I always figure it's one area where I'd rather overdo it... and where, probably, overdoing it assures you you'll never need it.

I'm now making tips cards (not envelopes, as we'll pay with the KTTWC and using the TIW card gratuity will be added anyways... so it will be a way to make sure our servers know we really appreciated the service... leave that instead of actual tip.
I'm also printing a few Mousekeeping envelopes... I know it's not actually a tipped position, and especially at the DVC resorts it's not everyday... but we will give a little bit and I like using those envelopes for it.
I'll also print a few CM thank you cards, in case we encounter particularly nice CMs, a few ID cards and a couple with our medical info on it... get all bases covered.

I love to do DISigns, but this year since I'm late and still tired, I am going with mostly ready-to-print from others DISers in the creative DISigns community, or ones I already had from 2008.

I also need to finish decorating for the holidays! The house is done, only my part of the house is left. With my mini-tree.
And baking a few cookies. I hope I am able to finish all I want.

Between all this we are finishing the laundry. My goal is to have almost zero dirty clothes lying around when we leave on Saturday, and to change my bed sheets on Friday evening so I have a clean bed when I come back.

If I had the energy, I would dust and vacuum too, but I know it would be too much. I could hope Dad would do it... but I'm not counting on it.

Off to laundry and baking!

 

[swwake]

3 days! Wow! Don't try to do too much before you leave. You need your energy!

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

That's right folks, we're now counting down HOURS!!!

Susan... trying not to do too much...



OK, no, honestly, I AM trying, very hard. I am really pacing myself, and not doing everything at once, and making sure I spread everything across every day until we leave.

But it is hard!
And I do want to make sure things get done before I leave, because knowing my body, I can be sure I will crash when I get home.
Everyone likes to come back to a clean home, with freshly changed bed and clean clothes (except the ones you bring back, of course) and so on... and since we cannot count on Dad to do that, we need to do it ourselves.
I am feeling better and hyper so I can't leave Mama to do it all...
And knowing I won't be able to do much when I come back (cross fingers that I'm wrong) and it will be so close to Xmas... well I'd rather have things done.

Today to pace myself I did a little bit and then would rest watching the Macy's Thanksgiving parade, and then do some more.

To make everything just perfect, I got a migraine... I was able to work through it (with meds) for a while... but I had to take more meds and eventually rest because it was getting worst.

So far, I baked about 250 cookies (yesterday bakes over 50 gingerbread and frosted them, today over 150 Xmas cookies with cherries).
I'm very happy I was feeling healthy enough to bake a few cookies before leaving and decided to do so, because they are YUMMY and it will be wonderful to have them to give away this Xmas, AND to have to eat!

I also almost finished packing (meaning : totally, cleanly, superexpialidociously) the main, clothes-suitcases yesterday. I'll do the medical-hygiene bag tomorrow.

Either later tonight or tomorrow I'll decorate my part of the house...

I almost finished the laundry (did 3 small loads today!). Changing the bed sheets will be tomorrow...

I did my "spa day" earlier. Exfoliated my whole body, washed my hair (it's so long and thick I don't wash it every day) and used a deep conditioner, did some wax hair removal, a very fast pedicure (no nail polish there)...
So tomorrow I'll only have my fingernail polish to do!

That's pretty much it!

I'm repeating myself, I know... I'm just so excited!

 

[AnnieDan_Artlover]

A friend of me and Mama's is just back from the World... well in fact she, her hubby and 3 y.o. son spend about a week in Florida and only 1 day in Magic Kingdom

She had come to me before leaving, knowing I was the Disney guru.
I had given her tips and a few ideas (it was her son's bday!) and it's so funny : She had told me he didn't like Mickey Mouse "because of his big ears" (son's words), of course he didn't want to have anything to do with princesses... he wasn't a Disney buff AT ALL... Our friend was saying she definitely needed to teach him about his classics... He only was into Toy Story. That is IT!

So of course I had pointed them in the direction of Hollywood Studios, where he could ride Toy Story Mania, eat at Toy Story Pizza Planet (am I getting that name right? My migraine is making me all weird), and meet the Toy Story gang and the Incredibles too (which were about the only other characters he liked).

But then here's the story as it happened : they got to WDW, son saw the castle... and that was IT. He wanted nothing to do about anywhere else, he HAD to go there! Walt's genius, at work.
He didn't care anymore that castles weren't his thing and that he didn't like princesses!

So Magic Kingdom it was. But hey, lo and behold, they met Buzz and Woody!

What about our quest?
Well... turns out our friend decided to buy an autograph book (I had suggested that)... but they forgot it in the World!!! (and of course, not being a DISer... and in fact, being a very disorganized girl... she didn't think of putting ID info inside said book)

So... she hesitantly (pushed by hubby) asked us if we would mind getting a few autographs for her son.
Of course not!

It will be fun! It might make for some interaction with the characters, while explaining why I want that dedication!

Mama thought it could be cool to get postcards with the right characters on them (we NEED Buzz, Woody and Mickey)... but I figure, we're bound to meet more than those, like when eating at CP... so why not get the autograph book and fill it as much as possible?!

I wouldn't have done it for myself... but knowing it will make this boy happy, it will be so much fun!