Wait for it...Weight for it...June 2009 WL **PACKING**

[2BoysMom]

Hey, cool. I'll pop over there. I can't believe I didn't realize you had a PTR.

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

Woo-hoo! Congrats on getting the woods view and upgrading to the DxDDP. That sounds like so much! I bet you're excited...you get to make your ADRs two weeks from Sunday!!!!

Btw, love the new sandals. The turquoise/ blue are my favorite.

 

[Happydog]

HI! SO I just went back and took a closer look at your post for your trip itinerary. I see you have made more edits to it as well! I think we may have some cross over time at the Resort on the 21st or 22nd? I am not sure if we are going to need two days at AK... this is the big question for me. We may end up spending more time at DTD on this second day (it is the 22nd)... Not sure yet, but it looks like either of these two days would work based on your plans... maybe we could try to arrange a "meet up" at the resort?

 

[TxRabbit]

HI! SO I just went back and took a closer look at your post for your trip itinerary. I see you have made more edits to it as well! I think we may have some cross over time at the Resort on the 21st or 22nd? I am not sure if we are going to need two days at AK... this is the big question for me. We may end up spending more time at DTD on this second day (it is the 22nd)... Not sure yet, but it looks like either of these two days would work based on your plans... maybe we could try to arrange a "meet up" at the resort?

I would LOVE to arrange a meet up!

If I remember my own plans right we're doing DTD on the 21st and MK in the evening (possibility anyway...) and the 22nd is our big AK day, but we will definitely be taking an afternoon break on that one!

I think I remember you saying that your boys weren't both strong enough swimmers for you to feel comfortable at the water park, but you will be enjoying the pool? Maybe that would work? The boys could all play together too...

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

I'm about to crack up! I just bought a pair of Merrells too. Mine are slip on clog style Mary Janes with breathable fabric. I LOVE THEM! I think that my crocs have been bumped by them - they are super comfy! I seriously think you will be so happy with them!

Good for you!

 

[AlohaAnnie]

Hiya! popped over to check out your pre-trippie! It sounds great. Your plans are wonderful.

I really like those sandals. Shoes and I have a love/hate relationship. I love them but my feet do not always love them.

It is just sad

DH and I are also, watching our weight. We have been doing pretty good.


Looking forward to hearing more from you.

 

[ChefMickey123]

Did you get my note about the Broadmoor on my pre-trippie.

BTW-yours is shaping up so nice. It is so organized, I have to do a link list like you.

 

[Happydog]

How is the painting?!?! Hope it is coming together!

 

[TxRabbit]

Hi everyone!

It has been a while since I have updated!

I have been reading more than planning these days. I feel like I am in a holding pattern, just waiting for next Sunday when I can call for my ADRS!!!

Spring Break is this week. Finalizing the plans for that has taken precedence over Disney. The horror! Haha. We dont' have any big plans. We will be meeting up with some of Peter's family at a major league basketball game! We got some cheap nosebleed seats, but it should still be a great time. We went to our first game for Bolt's 8th birthday. We were amazed at how much entertainment there is at a basketball game. It's constant.

We are also planning a currently one night overnight camping trip. We got a mini cabin so we should be sleeping in comfort. We are going to rent a canoe. I'm a bit nervous about that, because I have never been on one before. Peter has and he seems to think we'll be okay. It should be fun.

We might combine the camping night with a hotel night in San Antonio. Not sure about that though. Bolt is really interested in seeing the Alamo. We went to college in SA, so we are really familiar with the town. We enjoy the riverwalk area, etc. So we might do that. We'll see.

In other news...I started painting the door jamb to the powder room. It wasn't too bad. I'm doing a good job. But it has been horribly rainy and overcast, and cold, so it isn't good painting weather. So I had to take a break.

I got a book from the library called "One year to an organized life." I like the principles in the book. I'm using it as inspiration to plan a serious organizational effort once and for all in the house. I started with the master bedroom closet. And I have to say. I did a good job for not ripping everything out and putting in all new. Because of our whole, not sure how long we will be in the house position, I worked with what I had, found some great stuff on clearance at Target and now, it's an amazing thing. I'm actually looking around the house for other stuff to put into the closet because there is so much more room!

And the weight report... I stalled on the weight loss for a while because I picked up my dance classes again. I have one of those annoying body types that responses really well to exercise and builds muscle easily. I say annoying because I typically gain weight first when I start exercising. Not a great exercising incentive. I was happy to stall and this weekend, I found I'd lost another 2 pounds! Yay! I am shrinking out of my clothes and am absolutely thrilled about it!

And on the financial front, we were really excited that Peter got a merit raise. His company is doing well, not awesome, but well. So he got a raise that amounts to about $43 more dollars a week. We are pretty pumped about that. It's good news in today's economy.

On the Disney front, I am gathering the fun for our roadtrip. I got some budget DVDs from Target for $4.75! None are Disney. Two Scobby's, two Muppets, and one Tom and Jerry. I am gathering things for surprise bags to be revealed at intervals along our road trips.

ANd I can't remember if I mentioned that yes indeedy, the sister-in-laws wedding will be this summer. August 8. I found amazing round trip airfare for Peter. Bolt and I are going to drive. There is something of a caravan headed up to CO, but I don't want Peter to use his vacation time on it. So he and the groom are actually flying together. I made all the travel arrangements for them. $177 round trip after taxes! I was pumped. That's a great price to fly into Denver.

I am also trying to plan what I want to do about my own birthday which is the 25th of March. The big 37. I don't feel that old. How did that happen?

I'm also plotting and planning for future Disney. I've been looking at renting DVC points. Thanks Happydog!

Anyway, hope everyone is doing well and staying warm. We've had highs in the low 40s for two days now. Three days ago it was 80! Weird.

 

[TxRabbit]

Did you get my note about the Broadmoor on my pre-trippie.

BTW-yours is shaping up so nice. It is so organized, I have to do a link list like you.

I did get your note on the Broadmoor. That's a bit more than I was thinking about spending...

I haven't updated that index in a long time, I need to do that!

I think our plans are shaping up nicely too. I'm pretty excited to hear your report on your trip. We are eating at many of the same places I think.

 

[TxRabbit]

So. It looks like I will be planning three trips!!

The June trip that we all know about.

The September trip that I talked about and have been debating.

And it looks like the June 2010 trip with Peter's sister and kids is an unofficial go! She has commited as much as she can. I know that she is really only interested in going to Disney because of her kids. She really has no interest. She said she HATED Epcot. I guess when she went with her then finance, since divorced hubby, they spent an incredible amount of time in Innovations? She said, "Isn't Epcot the one with all the computers and video games?" I was like, "Um, maybe. I don't remember that so much? " Because we haven't been in the Innovations areas AT ALL!

Anyway. That trip will consist of Peter, Bolt and Myself. I will have to come up with names for my sis-in-law and her DS9 and DD6. She is content to let me plan the whole thing and then present her with possibilities and an itinerary, just so long as I don't plan a commando one. Which I don't. We all know that.

The catch is that we don't know if the other sis-in-law and her then hubby (the one getting married in August) would want to go with us. So, I have to plan for a definite 6, and a possible 8. And with the way that plans change in that family, that 8 could decide to come at the LAST MINUTE, so whatever plans we make need to have that built in flexibility. It'll be a while before I plan that one though. It's just nice to know it's on the horizon for when I get struck with the leaving Disney blues.

The September trip is still questionable to me, but Peter is all over it. I told him about some of the questionable things I've read about the Night of Joy because of it being at DHS. I guess it isn't as nice as when it was at MK. Well, it turns out that MNSSHP is the same night as the first Night of Joy. Peter thinks that sounds like a LOT of fun. Soooooo, maybe one night of MNSSHP and one Night of Joy? That is the question.

It's Spring Break this week. I'm still just WAITING for Sunday!!! when I can make my ADRs.

 

[Happydog]

Oh boy, big deal planning a joint Disney trip?!?! Dare I say GRAND gathering??!!!! Be sure to get matching tee-shirts....

RE the Night Of Joy and "questionable stories" about DHS... that doesn't sound good?!?! Scandal at the happiest place on earth? Say it isn't so!!!!

Going to MNSSHP is right up there with the Christmas trip in my book... so I would definitely do that! They also have a haunted carriage ride at Wilderness that sounds way fun...

We'll have lots to share and update this weekend! Hurray!

 

[Happydog]

Oops! Sorry double post.. So I will send you some dancing smilies...

 

[TxRabbit]

Oh boy, big deal planning a joint Disney trip?!?! Dare I say GRAND gathering??!!!! Be sure to get matching tee-shirts....

RE the Night Of Joy and "questionable stories" about DHS... that doesn't sound good?!?! Scandal at the happiest place on earth? Say it isn't so!!!!

Going to MNSSHP is right up there with the Christmas trip in my book... so I would definitely do that! They also have a haunted carriage ride at Wilderness that sounds way fun...

We'll have lots to share and update this weekend! Hurray!

The deal is that I'm not sure that I could count on the grand gathering even if the one couple said that they wanted to come. Making plans with Peter's family like this will actually be quite nerve wracking because I will be just waiting for the notice that they've changed their minds until we actually check into the hotel.

Plus, we have differing vacation philosophies. And differing personalities. She is very much an introvert, and requires time away from people to recharge. The whole crowd thing will be a huge toll on her. Peter and I, well, we are definitely more extrovert, feeding on the presense of people. Like most, we don't LOVE crowds, but we like company.

Oh! Peter was so funny when he was talking to his sister about the necessity of having a plan, how you just can't wing Disney and expect to have a good time! His family is very unstructured, very unplanned, very go with the flow, very reactive in the way, IMO. Peter is more that way too, but, intelligent man that he is, he understands that you can't be that way at Disney and expect to minimize crowds and wait times and see as much. So, he tells his sister, "Disney is like a huge competition, you and thousands of other people are fighting for the right to ride the ride you want to ride...You gotta get there early, you need to be focused, get the rides in and then you can be like, okay, what else should we do today?"

And about Night of Joy. I've read some horror stories about the CMs in the park. The deal relates to the ease with which you can see the performers. In MK, the stages were in the open, you could work your way up to the stage or you appreciate the music from a distance (think the castle stage) and then move on. I guess at DHS, the Lights, Motor, whatever arena area is a stage. People are lining up hours beforehand to get a seat, and once you in, you are kind of stuck. Not so easy to move around and get to see all the bands playing. It sounds a little rough. The crowds get anxious because they are hearing about limited seating, etc., and the CMs I read about weren't very knowledgeable, nice, or helpful. So, hmm. Makes me rethink how long we would be gone...might want to extend the weekend a bit, you know? I mean that week is Memorial Day Monday, how much real work will they get done on a 4 day week?

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

Ooh, I love San Antonio! I was there for about a week on business and stayed at the Marriott Rivercenter. I loved it! I did a quick tour of the Alamo and really enjoyed it. It's funny how different the street level of San Antonio is from the Riverwalk. It was my one and only trip to Texas and I want to go back!

Congrats to DH and his raise...that's great news!!! Oh, and I'm jealous of your three upcoming trips. That sounds like so much fun! I hope you decide to rent some DVC points. I've always wanted to do that, but never have. Maybe on our next trip...

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

First the shoes, now the trips! So funny - now I'm planning another trip next year too! Well - it would have been three if the airfair for next weekend wasn't so high. Talk about LAST MINUTE!

I hope your ADRs work well when your window opened. I booked the day the new system came online. IT WAS NUTS! BUT I will say, I got some great times. We like early dining with the kids - so outside of messing up with CM's, we did pretty good for ourselves.

 

[Happydog]

Yes, the men suddenly become the Disney Experts... That is funny... I don't know that I would be brave enough to plan a multi-family member trip for the same reason... different personalities, etc. Though my DBIL and us we do just fine, it is when we start getting parents involved!!

RE what I think you mean to call LABOR day weekend (in September?) not Memorial day (in May) I would say depending on when school starts it can be so early in the game that an extra day off school might be okay... When we went in November, we were out for 3 days, and it was just the beginning of the quarter, so no one had really gotten going again... So I would say it should be okay.

 

[TxRabbit]

Ooh, I love San Antonio! I was there for about a week on business and stayed at the Marriott Rivercenter. I loved it! I did a quick tour of the Alamo and really enjoyed it. It's funny how different the street level of San Antonio is from the Riverwalk. It was my one and only trip to Texas and I want to go back!

Congrats to DH and his raise...that's great news!!! Oh, and I'm jealous of your three upcoming trips. That sounds like so much fun! I hope you decide to rent some DVC points. I've always wanted to do that, but never have. Maybe on our next trip...

I really enjoy SA too! Did I mention that is where Peter and I went to school? And where we met? That Marriott area is nice. I haven't stayed in a room there, but the mall, the river, the access in really nice.

The Alamo is kind of funny. It's so small. I always had this impression that it was a larger than life kind of thing. There it is smack in the middle of downtown, totally dwarfed by the surrounding buildings. It was a bit of a disappointment at first. But the Alamo itself was really cool, once I got over the size.

I think DVC is our best bet. I'm thinking that a two-bedroom would be our best bet. Peter and I could be in one, the king bed. Sis and her DD in the queen beds one. We'll stick Bolt and his boy cousin in the living room area. I'm a little nervous about the whole idea of renting points, etc.

First the shoes, now the trips! So funny - now I'm planning another trip next year too! Well - it would have been three if the airfair for next weekend wasn't so high. Talk about LAST MINUTE!

I hope your ADRs work well when your window opened. I booked the day the new system came online. IT WAS NUTS! BUT I will say, I got some great times. We like early dining with the kids - so outside of messing up with CM's, we did pretty good for ourselves.

I am really hoping for improvement on the whole ADR system CM front. It IS hilarious how you start planning multiple trips. When I first mentioned it, it seemed that I was one of the last to get on that band wagon. When are planning for in 2010?

Yes, the men suddenly become the Disney Experts... That is funny... I don't know that I would be brave enough to plan a multi-family member trip for the same reason... different personalities, etc. Though my DBIL and us we do just fine, it is when we start getting parents involved!!

RE what I think you mean to call LABOR day weekend (in September?) not Memorial day (in May) I would say depending on when school starts it can be so early in the game that an extra day off school might be okay... When we went in November, we were out for 3 days, and it was just the beginning of the quarter, so no one had really gotten going again... So I would say it should be okay.

Yeah. The personality differences are pretty . There will just have to be a definite schedule of down time. I am also thinking that the resort choice will be key here. I'm debating between the idea of an easy access resort (like BCV, BWV or even WLV (I think BLT will be too much)) or should we go for a more remote feeling resort (like AKV or SSR?) Would it be better to make it easier to take a break? Or would it be better to have that break feel really like a bigger break, more away from everything? Seriously, my SIL will go internal with negativitiy without that recharge time, not that she would ever be forward with it. She is a conflict avoidance one as well. It would just be that simmering, under the surface ickiness. Must avoid.

 

[TxRabbit]

So I learned something new in my road trip planning researching and I thought I would share incase you didn't know as well.

First, back to the road trip plan. So the idea is that we leave Peter's work around 11. Lunch in the car. Potty breaks. A big one hour planned break at a park for dinner. Continue on to our night's destination in the Florida panhandle.

I am trying to find parks. I'm looking at all the towns on the eastern side of LA along Highway 12, including Hammond and Abita Springs. I love the web for research! Hammond has several possibilities. We just might have to go there because of all the choices. Abita has one park that looks pretty good. They just built a new playground that looks pretty fun. But I can't get a handle on our big the park itself is. And it looks like it doesn't have a public restroom on sight. I'm thinking we need that.

There's a park in Hammond with a Splash Pad! If the weather were typical gulf coast hot, then that could be a blast! Might be a pain to deal with changing clothes, but who cares? Talk about feeling like you were taking a serious break from the road!

I got my own clearance binder like Happydog's, for those of you following her PTR. I won't be taking mine into the parks. But I will be using it to keep all my info together. One area will be dedicated to the road trip. I will print out the park options, the local restaurant locations for each park option, local maps, where the gas stations I like are. I admit. I generally shop at one brand of gasoline. I'm going to print out where the stations are along the way so I know where to fuel up!

Anyway, here's what I learned. For many addresses, you can actually stand on the street in front of the address and get a 360 degree view of that address. You can move up and down the street, etc. It's awesome! You can see the kind of neighborhood your proposed destination is in! It absolutely rocks!

I put in my own address to check it out, totally weird to see my house like that!

Now you know. If you are wondering if that hotel or restaurant for your road trip is in a decent neighborhood (from the looks of things anyway) or that house you are thinking about buying...or whatever...check it out before you go on google maps!

 

[Happydog]

I think DVC is our best bet. I'm thinking that a two-bedroom would be our best bet. Peter and I could be in one, the king bed. Sis and her DD in the queen beds one. We'll stick Bolt and his boy cousin in the living room area. I'm a little nervous about the whole idea of renting points, etc.

Yeah. The personality differences are pretty . There will just have to be a definite schedule of down time. I am also thinking that the resort choice will be key here. I'm debating between the idea of an easy access resort (like BCV, BWV or even WLV (I think BLT will be too much)) or should we go for a more remote feeling resort (like AKV or SSR?) Would it be better to make it easier to take a break? Or would it be better to have that break feel really like a bigger break, more away from everything? Seriously, my SIL will go internal with negativitiy without that recharge time, not that she would ever be forward with it. She is a conflict avoidance one as well. It would just be that simmering, under the surface ickiness. Must avoid.

Oh yes, THAT type. No no, totally hear you.

Okay I can't say much about the Epcot resorts, but that is a plus b/c you can always leave the park and walk back to room... RE AKV or SSR, I liked SSR. But relying on ME could be dicey... if you all have a car, no problem, but that does keep people tied to the same tour unless others are okay taking the bus back... I suspect AKV or SSR would offer more peace and quiet... and doesn't AK have their own busses? I had no problem with renting points. I think it is the way to go. That is how we are going to BCV in Dec. SSR also gets you to DTD easily with a boat or a nice long walk -- in summer maybe not so nice...

BUT you stayed at BC, right? And BW both seem great. I can't wait for our stay... So proxemity is nice to be able to do your own thing, without feeling that you are dragging others into your plans... They might appreciate that?

No help, I realize. But that is a legitimate question to even ask her.