Waiting patiently (NOT) for our Grand Gathering trip in 4 days!

[janloz]

Sorry, things got crazy last night and then I was traveling for work today so no update. I will get to it tomorrow, got to love working from home.

 

[janloz]

Ok, finally a real update plus photos.

First, here is the member of the family that we are leaving home.

Her name is Jake. Yeah, I know girl dog with male name but when we went to adpot a dog, we had already decided on the name since we were planning to get 2 dogs (Jake and Elwood of Blues Brothers) and there were 2 left a quite brown boy puppy and the cute, jumpy black girl puppy. Well, I fell in love with her and we kept the name. She is now 13 1/2 years old and to this day Dave still says when she gets out of control, "we should have gotten the quite brown puppy" or "I bet that brown puppy doesn't get to do..." She is my first baby and spoiled ROTTEN and since I work at home she is my constant companion. Since she came from the pound, she does not like to be kenneled or even spend the night at the vet (She refuses to eat) so we have arranged for the 20 year old kid who lives next door to stay at the house with her while we are at WDW.

Next are the note cards that I made for everyone in the group. They were pretty easy to make and hopefully will make it easy for everyone to know where/when are ADRs are plus the park hours.

The maps are on the back of the cards with the info. I still have to make the cards for the arrival and departure days since the airlines keep changing our flight times.

And here is some of the "stuff" we will be bringing:

We have :

1. light up lanyards that I got at a tradeshow which Bear will wear in the scary rides just in case. And small light for same reason.
2. Pin Lanyards and pins for trading. I got the 100 pin set from online for about $1 each instead of paying $6 in the park. They each have about 40 pins they will trade since they kept some they really liked.
3. Mini M&M container for pressed pennies with 2 quarters/1penny already set up. I have one for Shark too but just couldn't find it for photo.
4. Birthday pins that we got last trip (wish we had remembered to get one from MGM) , birthday sign for Shark to put on his bag that day, and birthday candles just in case WL doesn't supply them.
5. Epcot holiday book that I found on the creative dis thread. It has the traditions for each country on one side and place for CM or storyteller to sign on other. I printed it on note cards and made into book.
6. Envelopes for Mousekeeping tip for each day, already put $5 in each.

 

[janloz]

Fun Stuff:

1. Fun Pads and Hello Kitty activity book to keep Bear entertained on the plane and while waiting for shows.
2. Hair stuff, sun glasses
3. Ear plugs for Bear, she is really sensitive to loud noises
4. Birthday banner for Shark for window and room
5. Sharpies and feather pen for autograph books
6. Mardi gras beads and glow bracelets for the parks and to share with others.

Sensible stuff:

1. Basket to put on table for keeping stuff contained
2. Dunkin donuts coffee for Dave & Tea for me
3. Quart and Gallon size ziploc bags
4. Command hooks to hang up privacy curtain
5. Antibiotic wipes
6. Gum

I am sure there will be more odds and ends to put in the suitcases, I will add those later.

 

[Mocharilla]

Hey, let me know how those command hooks work!

We're moving into University Apartments next year, and we aren't allowed to hang anything using nails and stuff, and I was wondering if we could use those, but I had no idea if they'd work well or not.

 

[janloz]

Hey, let me know how those command hooks work!

We're moving into University Apartments next year, and we aren't allowed to hang anything using nails and stuff, and I was wondering if we could use those, but I had no idea if they'd work well or not.

I have used them several times and they work great as long as you follow the directions on the package on how to remove them.

 

[Couturier]

I am sooo excited for you!

I have many of the same things planned, but I NEVER thought of those reservation cards! Where did you get the graphic that you have on the back?

Also, where did you find the big m and m tube? I have been looking all over for them for our pennies, and wanted to start eatting them now, since we need so many, lol.

Dana

 

[janloz]

I am sooo excited for you!

I have many of the same things planned, but I NEVER thought of those reservation cards! Where did you get the graphic that you have on the back?

Also, where did you find the big m and m tube? I have been looking all over for them for our pennies, and wanted to start eatting them now, since we need so many, lol.

Dana

PM me your email address and I will send you the park graphics and my files. I actually just copied them from the disney website. Go to the main disneyworld.com site, click on map from top, then specific map you want. Once that park is up, click on printable version and then when that is up right click and then save picture as. Alot of steps but easy once you do it. I used Staples postcard (4/page) and printed on both sides.

I got the M&M tubes at Walmart but just saw them at CVS too.

 

[Couturier]

Thanks! I have the maps saved now!

I am going to have to look better for those m and m tubes!

Dana

 

[janloz]

This time next week we will be on a plane to Disney.

 

[janloz]

Well, we survived the sleepover party this weekend. The boys went to bed at midnight then at 4am I get up to let Jake out and noticed lights on downstairs so I walk down there and one of the boys is playing Wii. I quickly had to censor myself and politely tell them to turn it off and go to sleep. Then at 5:30am, we hear them running up to the kitchen for breakfast, so Dave decides to take this one and not so politely told them to keep it down since we still wanted to sleep as well as Bear and her friend. So they got about 5 1/2 hours of sleep and we sent them home tired. About 2pm, Shark fell asleep on the couch for a while, he could barely keep his eyes open and he has his first basketball game of the season tonight.

Despite all that, I did manage to get some packing done. Bear is almost done, but I will have to go back and weed out some of the stuff since she wanted to take every one of her favorite shirts & pants which stuffed the suitcase. Since it will be cool at night, we need both shorts for the daytime and pants/sweatshirts for at night so that is a lot of clothes.

Now mini rant time: Why does every weather website give me a different forecast? Weather.com is different then orlando sites. Then every day, the forecasts change. How am I supposed to know what to pack??? Ok, rant done.

Shark's suitcase is almost done as well. I did notice that he didn't have nearly as many Disney shirts as Bear or myself. He didn't seem to care but I do have to go by the mall tomorrow for work so I will try to stop in at the Disney store to see if they have any on sale.

All of the stuff from photos above will be placed in 5th suitcase (since we booked in january so get 6 free ) which will hopefully be all used at Disney so we will have extra suitcase to use on way back for all the stuff we purchase there without making our other suitcases over weight.

Tonight I will pack Dave and my suitcases so I can make the final list of last minute things that we need to find/get.

Only 5 days left.....

 

[janloz]

Now, I just realized that I never posted photos of our group, so here you go:

Dave, myself & Bear at her gymnastic meet this summer. (Yes, I am over a foot shorter then DH, luckily the kids seem to have inherited his height!)

From left to right: MIL (NJ), Bear, my mom (Joyce)

Bear and FIL (also Dave)

SIL (Sue) and Shark

So if you see us at the parks THIS weekend or next week, Say "HI!"

 

[mybabesuz]

Sounds like you're Good to Go...

Have a wonderful time...

 

[Mocharilla]

You're getting SO close!!!

 

[Mocharilla]

Have a great (and safe!) trip!!!

 

[tinkerbell610]

Great planning!

We'll be there 12/2-12/6 Pop Preferred. Maybe we'll see each other!

Maddy

 

[janloz]

Hi everyone,

We are back after some flight delays yesterday. I will hopefully be starting the TR today and will post a link here.

 

[Mocharilla]

Yay!! Can't wait!!

Welcome home!! I hope you had a great time!! I'm sure you did.

Flight delays suck.