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

[TxRabbit]

I admit it. I am reward oriented!

Some people are goal oriented. Not me. I find that I need to set a goal and then figure out the reward for achieving the goal. THEN I am motivated to get busy to reach my goal.

This year, 2009, is THE year for my family to reach two elusive goals. They are interrelated. Like most, we have financial and weight oriented goals. Financially we are focusing on reducing our debt, which means we are really focusing on NOT spending. Especially on food. Especially eating out food. The problem is that I still buy groceries. Which would go bad, and then get thrown away. So food becomes doubly expensive. And closely related to this is the weight issue.

DH and I achieved a tremendous weightloss 3 years ago. Then we moved. I got unhappy about some things. We didn't exercise. We ate out. You see where this leads. So all that progress 3 years ago was lost.

But we've turned a corner this year. This has become the year of NO EXCUSES. It's time to face up to the things that need to be done and quit griping about it, and just get it done!

So. We have financial goals and weight goals. And we have a big wonderful Disney vacation planned to crown our achievements.

May 6, 2008 is THE DEADLINE. Because that is when the balance is due. And I tell you. If we have not achieved our to date goals by that date, there will be NO Disney trip. This is serious business here! Serious consequences! I am MOTIVATED to get the job done!

Be forewarned. I'm a talker. I can carry on quite a good conversation with voicemail, which I have proven time and again. I am striving to have there be some entertainment and educational value in the PTR. I will try to keep my fingers in check and not make super long posts every time.

I apologize right now for the length of this one, but the intro has to give some background and introductions right?

So, on to the introductions...

I love it when people characterize themselves by Disney characters, so I attempted to do the same for my family.

I'm Rabbit. From Winnie the Pooh. I love order. And I generally try to keep everything organized. I haven't quite succeeded yet, but it IS my goal. I also try to boss people around, which is a tendency that is actually appreciated when we need to know what to do at WDW! I also love to garden. I'm turning 37 in March. I worked while my DH was going to graduate school. Once he started working, I stayed at home to become a fulltime homemaker. DH and I will be honoring our 12th anniversary on this trip. Our actual anniversary is a week later, but then we couldn't get the 4/3 deal. My favorite thing about Disney is the escape. My family takes center stage and I can leave all other responsibilities at home.

DH is Peter. And not in a bad way AT ALL. He has a youthful spirit and a zest for life. He's social. He's a fighter. He's a protector and a leader. He's adventurous. He's bummed that he has to work to earn money, but he continues to do so and sees value in me being at home. He just turned 36. Last April he made a career shift, for the better, I might add. But now he commutes 61 miles to work. We don't think this is sustainable, but we love our neighborhood and DS's school. So what to do? We wait. Until it becomes clear what to do. And I am grateful. DH deals in project management, so his idea of a vacation is not having to make any decisions. He is thrilled that I want to plan it ALL. He just doesn't want me to STRESS over the planning, because that is the antithesis of vacation to him.

DS is Bolt. Coming up with a boy character that seems appropriate was really HARD! He is in second grade and just turned 8. He's still at that age where spending time with Mom and Dad (especially Dad) is preferable to anyone else. He loves playacting, coming up with stories and acting it out. He loves dressing up to play a part. He did inherit his mom's caution gene. He doesn't place himself into physical danger. However, he's aggressive on the soccer field. One grandma calls him a bulldog. He's incredibly smart and funny. He has timing to his one liners and has since he was 2. He is worth his weight in entertainment value alone. He's a joy to be around. He is currently "into" gaming, video games that is.

So that's the crew.

I'll have to post our actual PLANS in a separate post.

Thanks for reading!
__________________________________________________________________________________

Because I talk/type A LOT, I have added the following Table of Contents to make it easier to actually read the meat of this report! These posts either directly pertain to planning for our trip, working on the weightloss goal, or are mini-trip reports, a walk down memory lane with lots of pics!

The actual plans
Weight for it
Dining in Disney
Zumba! Zumba! Zumba!
Akershus Royal Banquet
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT PEOPLE!
Do you carry a bag? If yes, which one?
Favorite Crock Pot Recipe
Random MK Memory
Animal Kingdom Day
Contemplating the idea of vacation
What about the REAL first day
OT-All about SAB
Fast Track One Day Detox
About nutrition...
First morning in the world
Results of Fast Track One Day Detox
The BIG Touring Plan
I just have to share...
Time for another MK memory
In other news
Romaine Lettuce Wraps Recipe
Fairy Godmother
Chipotle Potato Salad Recipe
My Snack List Wants
Mmmmmm Lettuce Wraps Pictures
The Weight Report 2/23
Spring Break
Kitchen Reno Pictures
Some Actual Disney Planning: Road Trip Plans
Hopeful ADR Plans
Night of Joy
September Plans
Room Change
Shoes!
My Sadly Neglected PTR
From One Trip to Three?
??????
6.14.09 The Nitty Gritty of Packing
6.15.09 My new park bag...
6.15.09 Online Check-in
6.16.09 Credit Card Info
6.16.09 If you use a PDA...
6.16.09 Autograph book idea
6.17.09 Free Wifi Access

 

[TxRabbit]

I'm sure you have figured out that we are staying at the Wilderness Lodge!

We'll be there June 20-27.

Two reasons for our dates. 1. The 4/3 deal. 2. I don't want to wish away my summer, which is what seemed to happen the year we went in August.

We will be driving this year. Simple economics dictate the drive. Airfare is just too expensive. The longest road trip that we have done to date is Fort Worth, TX to Estes Park, CO. I'd have to check my mileage, but I think this one will be slightly longer. Mapquest puts WL at 1000.69 miles from my address.

Right now we are signed up for the DDPQS. I'm not sure if that is what we will keep. On our previous trips, we did the DDP. Appetizers and tips were included. It was a good deal. And the structure that the meal times added to the day were beneficial. This year. Mmmm. Not sure. I'm thinking I may want some more freedom in my schedule.

However, I KNOW that one TS meal we HAVE to have is Donald's Safari breakfast. We have to see Donald this trip. We just HAVE to. And this is definitely the meal for us.

I'll have to analyze the DDP options once my plans begin to take shape.

Thanks for reading. Please join in!

 

[TeaForTulips]

subbing!

your goals are the same as mine this year! i wish you good luck on them! im sure things will work out perfectly for your trip!

cant wait to hear more!

 

[TxRabbit]

subbing!

your goals are the same as mine this year! i wish you good luck on them! im sure things will work out perfectly for your trip!

cant wait to hear more!

Hi Tarah!

Yay! Someone to chat with! Thanks for the good wishes. I'm hoping that this PTR will help keep us on track. Accountability is good. Reporting is good.

For right now, we are in the midst of a simple 30 day challenge. No eating out for 30 days. Some people may find that easy to do. For me it is a struggle. I love Love LOVE to cook. I hate Hate HATE to clean. We have been eating out so often for so long, it is taking a bit to reprogram DS8 to realize that dinners need to be PLANNED. You can't just eat whatever you want every night because you might have seen a commercial and now you really want pizza! LOL.

The 30 days should be good on the waistline and the pocketbook.

I saw that you are headed out on your own trip in April. I read your PTR. I totally relate the frustration over NO HOURS! What's the deal? I think it is because the ADR window changed to 90 days. All I know is that the planner in me in being stiffled and frustrated because I don't have any park hours!! Park hours! Where are you?!?

 

[tinkgurl]

I'm in. I'll be getting there June 22nd!

 

[TeaForTulips]

Hi Tarah!

Yay! Someone to chat with! Thanks for the good wishes. I'm hoping that this PTR will help keep us on track. Accountability is good. Reporting is good.

For right now, we are in the midst of a simple 30 day challenge. No eating out for 30 days. Some people may find that easy to do. For me it is a struggle. I love Love LOVE to cook. I hate Hate HATE to clean. We have been eating out so often for so long, it is taking a bit to reprogram DS8 to realize that dinners need to be PLANNED. You can't just eat whatever you want every night because you might have seen a commercial and now you really want pizza! LOL.

The 30 days should be good on the waistline and the pocketbook.

I saw that you are headed out on your own trip in April. I read your PTR. I totally relate the frustration over NO HOURS! What's the deal? I think it is because the ADR window changed to 90 days. All I know is that the planner in me in being stiffled and frustrated because I don't have any park hours!! Park hours! Where are you?!?

I understand your 30 day challenge ... that would def be hard to do. I dont think we eat out too often, but I guess that really depends on your definition of eating out often. We prolly eat out once a week on average.. maybe twice some weeks, none others. I love to cook too and Santa brought us some amazing new kitchen things (new pots and pans, knives, etc) so that makes it better too. Its the time it takes that I hate. Lately anytime I want to do/buy something I tell myself... that could be going to my disney fund. Sometimes it works... sometimes not. This past Monday we did end up at Chilis because I didnt want to cook. This week though my girlfriend and I decided it was time to buckle down and get serious.. I have a desk job and have gone up one size each year for three years. I def want to feel comfortable about Disney and get down to a healthier size... My mom is the same way. She was concerned about squeezing into rides.. I dont think any of us will have a problem with it, but still its just one of those things I want to take care of.

I am in Shreveport, so you're only a few hours from me.

 

[TxRabbit]

I'm in. I'll be getting there June 22nd!

Welcome!! I jumped over and started reading your TR. I haven't made it all the way through yet! Are you going back to OKW or WLV? Or are you trying something new? Any insider info you'd like to share about WL, please fire away. I have never been.

How fun to be there at the same time!

 

[tinkgurl]

Welcome!! I jumped over and started reading your TR. I haven't made it all the way through yet! Are you going back to OKW or WLV? Or are you trying something new? Any insider info you'd like to share about WL, please fire away. I have never been.

How fun to be there at the same time!

The pictures should be back working tomorrow (Friday) hopefully. I accidently went over my bandwidth on photobucket or whatever. So please keep checking every day until they work because I'd love for you to see them!

We will be going back to OKW. We just fell in love with the place. The rooms are bigger than the villas at WL, the layout of the place is wonderful, and there's something peaceful and relaxing about the place.

Are you staying in the regular rooms at WL or the villas?

Some WL info?.... I can't remember exactly what time, but at least every hour the geyser goes off at WL. It's back behind the pool. Taking the bus to the MK is faster than the boat! But, if you have the time, ride the boat both to the MK and then back to WL at night- it's gorgeous! And as your leaving the WL dock, look at the main building-it's supposed to look like a bear face! You have to use your imagination of course, but it's so cool! Oh and the totem pole over by the WL gift shop...rub the bear's nose for good luck!

 

[TxRabbit]

I understand your 30 day challenge ... that would def be hard to do. I dont think we eat out too often, but I guess that really depends on your definition of eating out often. We prolly eat out once a week on average.. maybe twice some weeks, none others. I love to cook too and Santa brought us some amazing new kitchen things (new pots and pans, knives, etc) so that makes it better too. Its the time it takes that I hate. Lately anytime I want to do/buy something I tell myself... that could be going to my disney fund. Sometimes it works... sometimes not. This past Monday we did end up at Chilis because I didnt want to cook. This week though my girlfriend and I decided it was time to buckle down and get serious.. I have a desk job and have gone up one size each year for three years. I def want to feel comfortable about Disney and get down to a healthier size... My mom is the same way. She was concerned about squeezing into rides.. I dont think any of us will have a problem with it, but still its just one of those things I want to take care of.

I am in Shreveport, so you're only a few hours from me.

Eating out often...let's see. My family has been know to do nothing but eat restaurant, including fast food and donuts!, ALL WEEKEND long. Many excuses from my quarter, like the kitchen is too dirty, I forgot to defrost something, I need to go to the grocery store, etc etc, leads to DH picking something up on the way home from work. Or us deciding to meet him somewhere. And when it is all said and done, we might as well have been at WDW for all the eating out!

What I have found to be the biggest help is to have at least one or two things available that are basically no cook meals. I used to have a complex about prepared food. That wasn't good enough for my family, it's not healthy, etc. but then I realized how much we were eating out, and then prepared food found it's place in my fridge. My fav quick meal is from Buitoni. The fresh four cheese tortellinis or raviolis and their pasta sauce. It's not exactly cheap. But it is cheaper than eating out. They taste awesome and they last in the fridge. Even when I don't feel like cooking, I can manage to boil water. If you have a bagged salad around too, then life is really good.

If you have a crock pot, I would definitely recommend the book "Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook." They studied wet slow cooking methods around the globe and made the recipes fit for a crock pot. The teriyaki chicken in there is THE best.

As much as I want to lose weight, I want to be healthy. I want to feel comfortable in my bathing suit at the pool. I want to be able to do all the walking that WDW demands without getting totally pooped out. It definitely sounds like we have similar goals!

 

[TxRabbit]

Are you staying in the regular rooms at WL or the villas?

We are in the WL rooms. WL is my second resort change, so I think that I finally landed on where we will be staying!

We went to WDW twice in 2007. The first time was during DSs spring break in kindergarten. DH was in environmental consulting at the time and his schedule was completely dominated by client needs. We couldn't ever make long term plans comfortably.

In February, DH and I decided to go on a real vacation for Spring Break, in early March, because he realized he could. I was so happy to find these boards before that trip! Such a sort time to plan! I managed to find decent airfare on off days at off times and we made a 5 day trip to WDW. It was more like a 3 day trip because of our flight times...but still. It was our first family vacation and we had an absolute BLAST. At first, we couldn't imagine how people could spend 7, 10, 14 days in WDW. But we totally got it on that trip! We were hooked and we couldn't wait to get back.

So, we didn't wait.

We had stayed at AKL but didn't really get to enjoy the resort much. So we decided to stay there again. We were one of the ressies that was affected by the construction, so we were switched to Beach Club.

I'd love to share more about our other trips...but not right now. I AM trying to get to my point. I told you I talk a LOT!

We didn't make it to WDW last year. I consolidated our credit card debt. The balance hadn't looked so bad spread out the way it was! I got a 0% rate and we started a savings plan to try to get it paid off. No vacation for us in 2008.

So, with budgeting on the brain, I was looking at the value and moderate resorts. DS was actually really excited about staying at All Star Sports. His interest in sports has just exploded in the past several months. But I admit. It didn't really appeal to me.

I saw the new pirate rooms at CBR and I thought that would be fun. My family and I had a *thing* about pirates for a while. I booked that room. But when DS saw the pictures, he wasn't too jazzed about it. The more I researched about where the rooms were located in relation to everything, the less excited I was.

So I switched our ressie to CSR and queen sized beds.

At first, I was excited. I was ready to try the Pepper Market, etc. But I was bumming over the no balcony situation.

You see, every evening, after DS goes to bed, DH and I sit on the balcony. We enjoy some adult libation, adult conversation, and each other in a relaxed wonderful place. It's our alone time on vacation. And that wasn't happening at CSR.

So, I checked out AKL and WL, because they are the cheapest deluxes. Having never stayed at WL, I was excited to try it. And they had some inexpensive room catagories available. It wasn't THAT much more than CSR.

But when I went to change the ressie, they only had a more expensive room catagory available. Bunkbed courtyard view. I booked it still thinking that I might still be able to downgrade our room catagory.

I think DS will get a kick out of the bunk bed though.

So now I am trying to piece together what it will be like to stay at WL. I always get more excited as I plan the vacation and picture what we will do when. Thanks for the tips about WL! I need all the help I can get! Especially since there STILL are no hours!

 

[TeaForTulips]

Thanks for the tip! I will def look into the book and the pasta! My crockpot recently bit the dust, but I will be getting a new one soon Im sure...

 

[TxRabbit]

While it may be boring to many, I MUST bring up the weight issue. I really hope that this PTR will chronicle my weight loss as the days, weeks, and months pass. After all, this trip is supposed to be a reward for a job well done in that department.

I don't have a definite 5 month strategy. Like our 30 day restaurant challenge, we have a 30 day let's just get more active agenda.

DH gave me one of the BEST gifts he has ever given me for Christmas! A new dance studio opened up two exits down the highway. DH got us unlimited dance classes for January! So we have been learning West Coast Swing and Beginning Ballroom. It has been such a good time. I LOVE it. I love dance.

I never really had dance lessons. I was able to take dance in highschool in stead of regular P.E. It was a big production. There with various levels, and you had to try out for it, and we had a big spring show with costumes, lighting, etc etc. And in college I was on the dance team. We would put on a performance at half time for football and basketball. DH and I took a swing class at the college when he was in grad school, which was over 13 years ago. So it's been a long, LONG time for me to be involved in dance.

And I get to spend some nice time with DH.

Anyway, they also have a bellydancing class that is during the day. I just came from there actually. So much fun. The instructor brought scarves for everyone in the class, because you just can't bellydance without a scarf. She even had jingly ones like I always see at the Renaissance Festival. I always wanted one, but couldn't justify the expense. Well, the instructor had some she was selling from her stay in Morocco. She was there for 4 1/2 years. Only $20!!!

So we have gotten off our bums in the evenings by hitting dance class. And really having a good time too.

I think we will do the classes in February too. They are starting 3 new exercise dance classes. One is zumba, which I have just started seeing on the web. Another in samba and other similar dances that they do in a fitness way. And another is hip hop. I am TOTALLY excited for this.

I can do this. Head on out to the gym and hop on a machine? Not so much. Go to dance class and shake your booty?!?! I'm all over it.

So here are the most recent photos of my family and I. We were all dressed up and heading out to see the Nutcracker.

And here is what I looked like when we had lost so much weight. I had lost almost 40 pounds and DH had lost about 25. This is what I want to look like again.

Coming up next...
Dining plans...

 

[TeaForTulips]

you look gorgeous in that red dress! i understand wanting to lose weight for sure, but i must tell you i think you look fabulous as you are now!

dancing classes sound like a fun way to get up and do something! good job for that find!

 

[TxRabbit]

you look gorgeous in that red dress! i understand wanting to lose weight for sure, but i must tell you i think you look fabulous as you are now!

dancing classes sound like a fun way to get up and do something! good job for that find!

Thank you for the compliment! No matter what weight you are, a girl's gotta do what she can to look good! and FEEL good. I WAS pretty pumped to find that dress.

 

[tinkgurl]

Wow! You are one hot mama in that red dress and shoes!

And a great idea since you and DH like to sit out on the balcony at night...ask for a woods view room. They seem so secluded and quiet and away from everything so it'll seem like it's just you 2 there!

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

I know exactly how it is about losing the weight and then gaining it back. It's hard to stay motivated. It's also so easy to slip into bad habits about eating out and snacking on junk food for convenience sake. It's a never ending battle for me.

I don't want to wish away my summer, which is what seemed to happen the year we went in August.

I completely understand, as that's what I feel like I'm doing right now. We go the last week of August.

 

[TxRabbit]

Wow! You are one hot mama in that red dress and shoes!

And a great idea since you and DH like to sit out on the balcony at night...ask for a woods view room. They seem so secluded and quiet and away from everything so it'll seem like it's just you 2 there!

Hot mama indeed! DH certainly thinks so! And I'm grateful for it. I never hear anything negative about the way I look from him.

That reminds me of a commercial I saw just one time. A young mom was talking about something, and right at the end she calls her self a hot momma. It's just her voice. It's a total crack up. But I've never seen it again.

I know exactly how it is about losing the weight and then gaining it back. It's hard to stay motivated. It's also so easy to slip into bad habits about eating out and snacking on junk food for convenience sake. It's a never ending battle for me.

I completely understand, as that's what I feel like I'm doing right now. We go the last week of August.

:
It is something that I have battled my whole life. It is so frustrating. My tendency has been to go full steam, make good progress, and then slowly not be able to maintain that level of activity. We have moved A LOT too. And that hasn't helped at all. At one point, we were averaging moving every 13 months. A few interstate moves in there too. People would ask me if DH was military. Moving is especially hard.

That's why we are trying to incorporate sustainable change. Like the dancing lessons. I actually enjoy them. I look forward to them. I usually NEVER look forward to exercise.

We went the last week in August too! Well, we went the last week before school started. The week right BEFORE free dining started. *sigh* I spent so much time dreaming and planning Disney, I didn't really get summer started until August. It was a good time, but I'll be happy to have some recovery time after our WDW vacation this year. I think the week we get back DH will have a short work week with Independence Day. It'll help to ease back into the groove of real life.

 

[tinkgurl]

That reminds me of a commercial I saw just one time. A young mom was talking about something, and right at the end she calls her self a hot momma. It's just her voice. It's a total crack up. But I've never seen it again.

Aw I don't remember that commercial.

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

:
It is something that I have battled my whole life. It is so frustrating. My tendency has been to go full steam, make good progress, and then slowly not be able to maintain that level of activity. We have moved A LOT too. And that hasn't helped at all. At one point, we were averaging moving every 13 months. A few interstate moves in there too. People would ask me if DH was military. Moving is especially hard.

That's why we are trying to incorporate sustainable change. Like the dancing lessons. I actually enjoy them. I look forward to them. I usually NEVER look forward to exercise.

We went the last week in August too! Well, we went the last week before school started. The week right BEFORE free dining started. *sigh* I spent so much time dreaming and planning Disney, I didn't really get summer started until August. It was a good time, but I'll be happy to have some recovery time after our WDW vacation this year. I think the week we get back DH will have a short work week with Independence Day. It'll help to ease back into the groove of real life.

I did the same thing last year! I was obsessed w/ counting calories and I never faltered. I lost about 20 lbs, and then stopped worrying about b/c we were getting ready to move and the drive-thru was just so much easier than cooking! We were lucky to stay in the same town though (thank goodness). Moving stinks!!!!!! Glad to hear you're back on track.

I wish I could find an exercise format I looked forward to. I recently got an iPod and that made working out at the YMCA better...then it broke.

I look forward to hearing which time of year you enjoyed better - June or August. I agree...having a recovery time to cope with post Disney depression is always a good thing!

 

[TxRabbit]

The dining decision has yet to be finalized. DDP QS or DDP Basic?

I don't mind figuring out ADRs and have a set schedule. It adds some structure to the planning. It's nice to plan the breaks for meals. My problem is that we like to eat at off times. I don't like a late dinner. One of our favorite times to eat is between 3:30 and 4:00! The problem is that most of the TS are CLOSED at those times. OR, we like to eat around 10:30 to 11:00 and that is the change over from breakfast to lunch. So that could be awkward.

And I am struggling with having food take too much of a priority on this trip. I don't want to be focused so much on where we eat. I have to figure it out though because DS8 is somewhat picky. Or rather, he does fine in most restaurants, except that Disney kid menus are generally dumbed down food, repetitive and not too tasty. So I need to know my way around all the restaurants to steer us in the happy food direction.

So, rather than starting with the plan and then working my schedule to fit the plan, I am going to start with my schedule. Where do I want to eat and when? Then I will do some math to see which plan is best for what we really want to do.

As I mentioned before, we HAVE to do Donald's Safari breakfast. Donald is one of the characters that we have not met yet. I want to do one of two plans with Donald's, either get an 8:00 AM ADR on a regular park day, and get in early OR get a 9:50 AM ADR on an am EMH day. I'm not really sure that I want to go to a buffet first thing in the morning. And THEN go ride EE. On a full stomach? We have never ridden EE before. DS was just a tad too short the last time we went, so we are all really excited to do it this trip!

We have a lot of fun at character meals. And because we all love pictures, I'll include a couple of my favs:

These are from Cape May Cafe:

These are from Crystal Palace on a P&P night (I think DH looks AWESOME!):

My pirate face wasn't NEARLY as good:

This was a different time at CP:

These are from CRT. It was the highlight of our first trip:
Snow White kissed DS but I wasn't ready for the camera. So she gave him another kiss on his other cheek. DS was in heaven for the rest of the day.

Belle grabbed a sword and had a sword fight with DS:

Good memories at character meals. Ahhh.