What are you doing to prepare for your trip?

[Grumpy'sWife4Ever]

Well, we are still almost a year out so I can't really do too much to prepare at this point....ALTHOUGH the kids and I have been socking away all our coins and extra money since our last trip in '06 and now we are getting a lot more serious about it....We declare the year prior to our trips to be a "savings" year, which means no extras, very no-frills birthdays and holidays, minimal fast food, cashing in all our cans and having a big yard sale in the summer. They are totally on board, they love it!!
I have booked our rooms already, and I have started a notebook to write down all the info I need. I have the date and number I need to call for PS at the Blue Bayou, and if I make any more ressies ahead of time I'll write them down as well. I am starting to track down affordable matching shirts for us all, and am beginning to stockpile little "treats" for the long drive down. Oh, and I am trying to find a place to have a fun birthday breakfast for our son who will be turning eleven......
Hey! I guess I have done some stuff already!

 

[Grumpy'sWife4Ever]

I'm a planning addict... we just went in October too... don't think it helped reduce my planning at all...

1. Booked the trip 10 weeks ago through Costco, made payments every other week, and just paid it off--or better said finally put the balance on a credit card--on Friday.

2. Re-did my 5 page spreadsheet from October to incorporate 5 days instead of 4, which rides, which food each day, including park opening and closing times, and the new MM days (instead of EE), special things each day (like EP, fireworks, PoD, PFF, etc...)

3. Made all my PSs... yes, we waste time and do sit down almost every meal, because dd doesn't like typical counter food you find at DL, and I want someone to wait on me!! So practically every meal is a PS place, so I don't have to worry about not getting a seat.

4. Booked our private trans to/from airport... oh yeah, bought plane tix for dd and I from PDX-SNA, and more tix for my mom to come in from PHX, and meet us at SNA at practically the same time... feel kinda bad that I am sending her back in a shared shuttle since she is leaving 2 days before we do...

5. Pre-rented an InMotion dvd player for the plane... never done this before, and also pre-reserved 3 disney movies we don't have at home (came with 3 rentals--or I would have just gotten 2.) Normally I pack all kinds of new toys and workbooks for the 2 hour plane ride (we also go to Phoenix a lot...) but since we are traveling w/out dh, thought I'd try the movie thing out...

6. Already purchased a Cinderella dress, and some new princess tops/bottoms/stuff for Tinkerbell to leave in the room as a surprise each morning....

7. Filled my Vons grocery cart with stuff already, and am just waiting for the two week mark so I can pick my delivery time.

8. Started a packing list, last night I dreamed that I forgot the stroller and our white noise maker...

9. Oh, and I have to read this board like 10x a day...

10. Waiting ever so impatiently to make my F! PS for dessert seating next Thursday...

11. Asked VP for some photos for dd and my mom... and they told me they'd give me one too! : And requested an upper floor room with 2 queen beds... and early check-in since we are getting up at 3 am.

12. Bought a ton of Disney Dollars, so I don't have to carry so much cash, kinda like prepaying for a bunch of stuff too, so the bank account won't take quite such a hit on the actual vacation!

Sheesh... and I still have like 5 weeks to go!!! Oh, and I can't discuss this trip out loud at home, because it is a surprise for dd... going to wake her up the morning of with "You wanna go to Disneyland today?!"



--Lisa

Lisa, you have me daydreaming about a girls only trip with my DD when she gets just a little older! (She is 3, will be 4 when we go as a family) I wonder if my two DS would let me get away with it??

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Well I guess I shouldn't have said that I haven't done anything. We do have our reservations booked at Hojo's (with that wonderful entertainment rate!). We have booked and paid for our one night stay at the DLH. I've gone out and picked up the entertainment book so that we'll have the card.

At this point I'm trying to figure out if we want to do any sit down meals in the park. We're going to Club 33 for dinner one night, so that may be good enough. But I'm thinking a dinner at Goofy's might be nice on our last night there.

 

[Dukland]

American Girl store booked

Booked? Uh-oh....Guess I need to look into that further!! good thing we aren't going until June!

 

[gramto2boys]

wow so booking a room months in advance is important? I am going with a travel agent for my trip, we are staying at the carousel, do I need to call and book my room far in advance?

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Lisa, you have me daydreaming about a girls only trip with my DD when she gets just a little older! (She is 3, will be 4 when we go as a family) I wonder if my two DS would let me get away with it??

When we got back in Oct (when dd was 3) I told dh that I would wait until she was 40 inches to bug him about going back to DL! Then dh decided that he was going to take his dad on a guys only fishing trip to Mexico...
so I said--what about dd and I? So here we go.. she's 4 now, and almost 40 inches... but we are going again! yay!!

--Lisa

 

[mariezp]

wow so booking a room months in advance is important? I am going with a travel agent for my trip, we are staying at the carousel, do I need to call and book my room far in advance?

We always know exactly where we are staying. I have saved $70 a night by booking well in advance. If you are going through a travel agent I am not sure it is quite as important, as I have never used one.

 

[pose2pose]

Oh, I also forgot to mention that I've been doing the treadmill for 30 minutes a day--I started when my trip countdown reached 30 Days--I'm calling it my "30 Days for 30 minutes" and I'm hoping it gets me more physically prepared for 4 days of walking around the parks.

I'm thinking of bringing a pedometer with me and seeing how many miles I walk on a day at Disneyland/DCA.

 

[mariezp]

Anybody doing any shopping for their trip?
Just got a sale update from disneyshopping.com. For anyone interested, they are having a $4.99 T-shirt sale and $5.99 sleepwear sale. Not bad!

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Oh, I also forgot to mention that I've been doing the treadmill for 30 minutes a day--I started when my trip countdown reached 30 Days--I'm calling it my "30 Days for 30 minutes" and I'm hoping it gets me more physically prepared for 4 days of walking around the parks.

I'm thinking of bringing a pedometer with me and seeing how many miles I walk on a day at Disneyland/DCA.

I love this! I was about dead after the 4 days in Oct... but we didn't do the stroller, so I carried 30 lb dd everywhere... I think I'll join you... I don't have a treadmill, but I did get a pilates cd for Christmas that I haven't opened yet!

--Lisa

 

[rentayenta]

What are you doing to prepare for your trip?

I am not doing nearly as much as I do for a Disney trip. We went on a fabulous but spendy 11 day trip to WDW last September so this trip will be less of a production. I am only taking the two younger kids because the oldest and DH will be in Washington D.C. They still both fit into all of the Disney clothes we bought for WDW and will bring their backpacks/purses we got for that trip.

Hotel ressies are made and our plan is set. I still have to buy our Hoppers and make our PS.

 

[Dopey's MIL]

I really started planning this trip in January but already knew last October we were coming back in April. I booked several hotels to decide which one would be best for my family of 10. Narrowed it down to two and finally deciding on BWPPI.

I have Lexi all packed so I don't have to do her any laundry for her to get ready. Last year we took her Cinderella dress but this year we are going more modern Cinderella. A denim skirt and white T with Cinderella appliques. She still wants her tiara though to maintain her princess status.

Lexi tends to change clothes 3 or 4 times a day. She is one of my little daycare kids (the youngest of 6 ages 17 to 5...I've cared for them 16 years now) Last year I gave her a drawer in my dresser this year she needs a closet...but I know exactly what she is going to wear everyday!

G probably won't be taking Jack Sparrow back. He didn't wear it very long because it's quite hot and awkward.I've made Lexi a Minnie Mouse dress so he wants to be Mickey but we're not quite sure yet.

Hotel chosen.

Airline tickets bought.

Lexi packed.

Grocery list in the making.

Transportation from airport, slightly up in the air.

PS done.

Photopass opp list - and other pictures I want that I forgot last time.

Two weeks ago I started a plan to loose 20 pounds before we leave. I've already lost 10 so I'm half way there! Guess that means I get a few new clothes myself...another

I'll never be completely done planning this trip until it's over...in fact, another trip in on the horizon for the fall.

 

[pose2pose]

I love this! I was about dead after the 4 days in Oct... but we didn't do the stroller, so I carried 30 lb dd everywhere... I think I'll join you... I don't have a treadmill, but I did get a pilates cd for Christmas that I haven't opened yet!

--Lisa

Yes, I realized after our 2007 trip that I needed top be in beter shape this year. We'd go to the hotel in the afternoons for a rest and just crash for a couple hours, we were so worn out. Then at night we fell asleep almost immediately.

There should be a Disneyland exercise program!

 

[mystic_path]

I'm thinking of bringing a pedometer with me and seeing how many miles I walk on a day at Disneyland/DCA.

LOL I did this on my last trip, I clocked about 12 miles.

 

[gramto2boys]

I just bid and won light up spinners and light up sword sabers they sell in the park for my boys. the best part, I got both for under 10 dollars with shipping included!! I saved a ton ! God a few more shirts for the kids and will also be getting a pedometer for the parks.
I love EBAY !

 

[DL4my2kids]

right now I read the board and also put everything I can onto my Disney Chase Visa to rack up points. I think November 2009 will be our earliest trip

DH only wants to go every other year.

 

[Jenn1116]

I got the fastpass case from Mouseshoppe to !! I love that thing


cool I want one to , thank you

OH NOOOOOOO why oh why did I have to check out the site????? That was not such a hot There goes my paycheck!!!!

Now I have more to do while I wait for December...

 

[gramto2boys]

OH NOOOOOOO why oh why did I have to check out the site????? That was not such a hot There goes my paycheck!!!!

Now I have more to do while I wait for December...

I know !! I need to get of fthis computer before I go broke

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

I've already booked the hotel, have some money put away for spending/food. I need NEED to make PS's for everywhere we're going to eat and I need to buy a new bag for the park...

Phew..

 

[leazel]

Planning, Planning, Planning...and that's about all. My son and I will be leaving in 10 day's and besides gathering some usefull tips from this website I've been shopping for new clothes, buying cute travel size stuff and just plain being excited about leaving the soggy Pacific NW for some sunshine!



Momma & Drake