Toystoryduo’s Journal: Baby Steps are the Key... Celebrate Each Victory!

[postesf]

Hey there! Glad you are feeling a bit better.

We've done the dining plan once and it was great, but DH and I share a lot of meals so I think it's better for us to opt of the dining plan to. All those deserts will get ya too!

Stacie

 

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Wish Sis, glad you are feeling better! Yep, we don't do the DDP very much anymore either. Its just too expensive, especially now that they have nuked the gratuity off the price. We are doing it in October since I want my stepdad to experience some fine dining and after that probably never again. Like you, I don't spend that much to feed my family for a month! There's a lot of good cs at WDW, at DTD and Epcot in particular. Happy Planning!

I hope you have a relaxing, fun weekend. Your story of riding on two flat tires cracked me up! That must have been some workout for you!

 

[traceycooper]

HI Tracy glad your feeling better
i love planning WDW - i'm in full planning mode right now
Never done the dining plan thing!
Have a great weekend

 

[AmyBeth68]

Hi Tracy..

Glad you're feeling back to yourself again!!!

Wow...Disney Planning...one of my all time favorite activities LOL!!!

Sounds like you have a solid plan...and like always...you are one busy girl! Have a great weekend .

 

[toystoryduo]

Thank you so much everyone for stopping by!

I only have a quick minute....My MIL called and wants to take us out to eat and I have to go get ready.

I will try and post more later....Have a good evening!

P.S. If anyone needs help planning their vacations, please let me know. I love to help plan WDW trips even if I'm not doing the travel agent thing anymore!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thats nice your mil is taking you out to dinner! Inlaws do occasionally come in handy . I love to plan WDW trips too, I love helping my friends. They make fun of me but then thank me when they come home! I have a question, is Beaches and Cream really that good? Never been there, thought we might try it one day on our next trip and I know you stay at BC so thought you might have been there. Let me know and have a great weekend!!

 

[MIdanceMom]

Hi Tracy,

I am so glad that you are feeling better. Have fun at dinner tonight.

Take care,
Beth

 

[toystoryduo]

Thanks Amy and Beth.

Today looks to be a good day ahead....We are going to go to the mall and out to lunch. After that, we may do some shopping, and then we'll come home, organize and clean part of the house, and then gather our stuff for taxes. Tomorrow after church, we'll do more organizing and cleaning and tax gathering.

I need to get back on track with my exercise, but it may not happen for a couple of weeks. I'm eating really well though. Why can't I exercise and eat well at the same time?

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

 

[hockeygirl]

Hey Tracy--glad to hear you are feeling better!!!

Disney planning!!! MY favorite thing to do!!! Now, I just need to figure out when my next trip will be first!!

Sounds like you had a busy weekend, hope you got in everything you had planned...you reminded me that I need to start getting my tax documents together!

When you least expect it the eating and exercising will all come together! Keep up the good work!

 

[traceycooper]

Why can't I exercise and eat well at the same time? :

Cos you might spill something down you

Hope you had a great weekend Tracy

I have a queation about the 'kitchen sink' - it says you get coffee & mint ice cream - which i dont like, will they let me have a different flavour instead if i ask?

 

[toystoryduo]

Cos you might spill something down you

Thanks for the laugh, Tracey!!!

 

[toystoryduo]

Morning WISH buddies,

Our weekend went well...We got some cleaning and organizing done and we saved a lot of money at CVS. We didn't do anything about taxes yet. Every year, it's a frantic scramble to find receipts and such and I want to make sure that my DH is involved in organizing this year. My goal is to have them done by the end of February so we still have some time. All in all, it will take about 18-25 hours total to locate, plug the information in, and file our taxes online. Not looking forward to it unless we get a refund!

Disney planning is done for the time being. The trips may need to be tweaked as we go along, but here is what we have so far:

Trip #1: September 2008:

Sunday (14): Arrive, eat dinner with family at Red Lobster

Monday (15): Chef Mickeys for breakfast, Kona Cafe for dinner, Wishes from the Poly Beach (and a Lapu Lapu? )

Tuesday (16): Boma for dinner

Wednesday (17): Chef Mickeys for dinner

Thursday (18) : Cape May Cafe

Friday (19): Le Cellier/ Epcot

Trip Total: $1400 (free dining w/ Bounceback)

We're only planning on being in the parks for 1 day in September. We may/may not hit all 4 parks in December. It just depends on those that we are traveling with.


Trip 2: November/ December 2008

Sun (Nov. 30): Arrive in Florida, Go to the grocery store for things we couldn't bring with us on the drive down, stay at the home, swim, relax for the evening

Mon (Dec 1): Holyland Experience/ Outback for dinner

Tues (Dec 2) MVMCP / Sweet Tomatoes

Wed (Dec 3): ?/ Bahama Breeze, RFC, T-REX, Stay home and eat?

Thurs (Dec 4): MGM (Hollywood Studios....the change will take some getting used to)/ Sci-Fi

Fri/ Sat (Dec 5 & 6): Family Members coming to visit, eat at home all meals

Sun (Dec 7): DH's family leaves for Ohio, we check into BCV, ESPN for dinner

Mon (Dec 8): Swimming at Stormalong Bay (weather permitting), Beaches and Cream for dinner (lunch and breakfast in the room)

Tues (Dec 9) Christmas shopping @ DTD, lunch at Earl's or dinner at RFC

Wed (Dec 10) ?/ Sweet Tomatoes for lunch, Dinner ?

Thurs (Dec 11) Epcot, eat around the world, no Le Cellier this time

Fri (Dec 12) Leave for home

Total Amount: $2,400

I find myself having the hardest time planning December's trip because we won't be using the dining plan. We've gotten accustomed to planning our days around food. Now, we are back to planning our days and adding in food. We decided not to do the dining plan in December due to cost....With tips and the plan itself, it would cost us almost $800. I don't spend that much on groceries in a two month period, yet alone for 5 days of meals. I almost caved in and told my DH we would buy the plan in December last night after sitting at the table for an hour and not having a dining schedule set. He reminded me that we really need to take budget trips this year so we can pay down debt and add to the savings account. The dining plan will still be there once we have some other things paid off and can comfortably spend a bit more on vacations.

With it being so cold here, over 400 schools/daycares in Northeast Ohio canceled classes today. It's about 5 degrees with a windchill of -15 degrees. Since the local schools have off, my DDs are off rom homeschooling today. They are super excited to have an extended weekend.

Today's Plan;

* Finish laundry

* Clean out game closet

* Library?/ Mall?

That's about all from here. Have a great day everyone!

 

[CACruisin']

Why can't I exercise and eat well at the same time?

I feel the same way. When you find the answer, let me know!~

Cos you might spill something down you

Ah! Tracey found the answer

Your trips sound wonderful. You will have a great time without the dining plan - don't worry. It's better for the pocketbook and the waistline too! You can focus your eating out on just your most favorite places.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Tracy,

You might be surprised at how much you like WDW without the DDP. It really allows you a lot of flexibility. I like going to WDW both ways, they both have their advantages. If it doesn't seem as much fun, then you'll know to make that happen for the next trip!

Thats great you are doing well with food. Sometimes we need to get one component worked out then when thats down pat, tackle the other one. So this might just be the best formula for your success! Keep up the good work!

 

[goldcupmom]

You're trips sound AWESOME!!! Can I come?????

You might want to keep an eye on the Entertainment books for Orlando when they come out. Might help out with dining & sometimes there can be deals. I'm currently trying to accumulate enough 'my points' for food gift cards for our trip in July. Also, check out the clear channel radio stations there for half-price food gift certs. I buy our sky venture tickets thru them when they have them. Food is typically get a $50 gift cert for $25 + $3 shipping. I got Bennigans ones from them one year & from a couple of other restaurants last year. Every little bit helps!

Hope you're having a good week!

 

[keenercam]

Tracy -- your trip plans sound wonderful, even if you aren't on the DP. I really do find we ate too much when we were on the DP. So, there is a bright side to everything!
I hope the girls are doing well and enjoyed their day off yesterday.

 

[MIdanceMom]

Hi Tracy,

I'm ready for Spring.

Your trips sound awesome! You'll have a great time DP or no DP.

Take care,
Beth

 

[traceycooper]

Love the holiday plan Tracy,
we dont do the dining plan but i still plan all my meals
sounds cold out their, Keep warm & keep thinking of sunny Florida

 

[toystoryduo]

Thanks everyone!

TOM must be on the way....My emotions have been like a roller coaster the past few days. Of course it doesn't help that the tax thing is looming over my head. Once we get it started, I know it will get done rather quickly. Getting started is the hard part, especially since we may/ may not end up owing this year. I'll probably start gathering the paperwork up today.

Not a whole lot going on here....Homeschooling, cleaning, taxes. Blah!

Hope everyone has a great day!

 

[keenercam]

Tracy -- We all go through phases like that. Sending you huge sweetie! Have a wonderful day. And tell your girls Mommy needs extra cuddles today!