30 days out!

[jhalpin76]

So, I am a little over 30 days away from our trip and can't wait! I have started to sort through our summer clothes to see what we need and buy essentials like a new vera bradley bag (Lizzy!) for the park, clothes for the kids, including the Mickey Shirts - still need star wars shirts for the little one, bathings suits, etc.

I rented my stroller from Magic Strollers and confirmed my building request with WDW.

What else do you do at 30 days out?

[josh]

Totally change your plans?

[Janine]

Start planning your next one?

[jhalpin76]

check and check.

Completely replanned everything at approx. 60 days out when my parents decided to join us. Re-worked everything again at 45 days because I am obsessive. Still working on finalizing our last few days, but I am pretty much set.

Unfortfunately, no set date on the next trip, although I would love for fall of 2012.

[josh]

Hmmmmm I'm drawing a blank

[blyday]

Ummmm.........talk to everyone you bump into about your trip and how excited you are so that you can bounce some ideas off of them.....? You know that random strangers in line at the grocery store want to hear all about it and will have some great insight.

hmmmmmm......nope.....I got nothing!

[4mickeyfreax]

Place my order with Garden Grocer. Make sure all of our touring shoes are well broken-in. Check my flights to see if the price has dropped so I can get a credit. Set-up pet sitter/house sitter--if no sitter, place hold on mail with USPS.

[Linda]

10 days before arrival you can check in online. Once you arrive there is a special line for guests who check in online and everything is waiting for you. This line is usually short and moves quickly.

[USAgooner]

If your my wife you start setting things on the dining room table that need to be packed. The last week before leaving we can't wear clothes that have been washed. We have to make do with something we are not taking.

[4mickeyfreax]

We have to make do with something we are not taking.

LOL!! This sounds familiar:RpS_rolleyes:

[JW73]

If your my wife you start setting things on the dining room table that need to be packed. The last week before leaving we can't wear clothes that have been washed. We have to make do with something we are not taking.

This sounds totally normal to me. :RpS_smile:

[jhalpin76]

Did a little shopping today - glow sticks, swim diapers, sun block, etc. So exciting!

Linda - I am from (edited to take out home town - forgot it's a public form!) - small world!

[nicole]

Did a little shopping today - glow sticks, swim diapers, sun block, etc. So exciting!

glow sticks?
Do I need to add this to my shopping list? :RpS_ohmy:

[roball]

Did a little shopping today - glow sticks, swim diapers, sun block, etc. So exciting!

Linda - I am from Batavia - small world!

My DH grew up in Warsaw, NY and his Aunt lives in Batavia.

[USAgooner]

Glow sticks are a must for us. We go to Wal Mart and buy out all the different colors of the bracelets and necklaces and pull a few out each night we are still at the parks. Much cheaper than the $15 to $20 contraption they sell on the carts before the parade.

[dmandaro]

I like your sense of planning!! We're going in August. I just bought portable fans for the strollers and those froggy bandana / towel things to keep us cool. When my kids were potty training I brought post-it notes with me to cover the automatic flush sensor in the stalls so they didn't get scared in the bathroom (the swim diapers in your earlier post reminded me).

Have a wonderful time!
:RpS_biggrin:

[3Caballeros]

How about getting your 'mousekeeping' tip envelopes ready ? I usually try to write thank you on the outside in both Spanish and English. I have one for every day of the trip. We store them in the room safe and place one on the bathroom mirror before we leave for the day.

[jhalpin76]

Good idea on the envelopes!

I started a list of what to do before we leave and a packing list. I try to add to it as I remember something:

To Do:
Mousekeeping tip envelopes
Print out itinerary and touring plans
charge camera battery
copy ID;s and all important docs.
get dog tag id's for kids shoes with name, cell number
note to school about not taking bus home on Friday 5/6
Fish to friend
dog to kennel
Mail on hold
take out money
turn down water heater
print out show times from Steve Soares
on-line check in to hotel
clean house
laundry
pack
haircuts
Give neighbor a key
take out trash
run dishwasher
charge phones
place garden grocer order
notify schools, daycare
Out of office at work - email and phone
e-mail to staff and co-workers about being out


packing list:
ponchos
retractable sharpie
power strip
camera
camera charger
cord to connect camera to computer
work laptop & sprint card
sunblock
garbage bags
cell phone chargers
passports/ID
Tour Charts printed
Move vacation file to work laptop
DS, games and charger
Disney gift card
Disney visa
purses for park
diaper bag
chapstick
gum
b-day card and decorations for room
swim tube for baby
goggles
pop up hamper
Moleskin, small scissors, med. tape
band aids, neosporin
tylenol, excedrine, benedryl, cold medicine
collapsable hamper
day of the week organizer x2
umbrellas

[3Caballeros]

This is a bit OT - (should I hide ?) but as far as checking in online, my Disney TA told me that she wouldn't really recommend it b/c the lines tend to be longer for it than the regular check-in - plus, you still have to go up to the counter and spend time there anyway. So, we opted not to do online check in for our Dec. trip to BC and, sure enough, we were out and done before the people in front of us who were at the online check in desk.
I'd love to know the advantages of online check in if it's not really a time saver - ?? Anyone PRO online check in ? I'm willing to be swayed :RpS_wink:

[Janine]

Wow, thanks. Don't mind if I steal this, do you.
The only problem is that I'm at 38 days. Now what am I supposed to do to fill my time at 30 days out, if my packing list is already done. :noidea:

[3Caballeros]

Moleskin, small scissors, med. tape
band aids, neosporin
tylenol, excedrine, benedryl, cold medicine

I didn't see BodyGlide on the list. It's a must for our whole family. It's anti-friction goo that goes on like a solid deodorant. It's odorless and works wonders, IMO. Dick's usually carries it or you can get it online in several places. We like drugstore.com but others carry it, too, like REI.
Before we discovered it, my feet would have multiple blisters from all the walking. Not to mention, it's good on any area of the body that may chafe in the heat and humidity.

[nicole]

I may be swaying OT as well but since someone brought up packing list.... :RpS_blushing:
Have you ever heard of someone going at the end of May who didn't pack enough warm clothes? I'm thinking it's hot and humid, much the same as our full summers, so do I really need pants? I can see a light sweater for cooler nights or a/c in restaurants, but Pants and heavy sweaters I'd like to leave out of the suitcase. I have such a bad habit of packing too much stuff. :RpS_rolleyes:

[USAgooner]

Bag Tags??

[Janine]

I'd leave the pants and heavy sweaters at home.

[blyday]

This is a bit OT - (should I hide ?) but as far as checking in online, my Disney TA told me that she wouldn't really recommend it b/c the lines tend to be longer for it than the regular check-in - plus, you still have to go up to the counter and spend time there anyway. So, we opted not to do online check in for our Dec. trip to BC and, sure enough, we were out and done before the people in front of us who were at the online check in desk.
I'd love to know the advantages of online check in if it's not really a time saver - ?? Anyone PRO online check in ? I'm willing to be swayed :RpS_wink:

The advantage is that you are actually not restricted to a line with online check-in so you can actually get into the shorter line!!! If you don't use online check-in and the regular line is longer.....too bad....you can't go over to the shorter line!!! All CMs will help you if you have done online check-in. In addition to that.....if you are arriving before 3 PM.......online check-in actually increases your chances of having a room that is ready when you arrive. Of course, it isn't guaranteed but many more report having the room ready at check-in when they have done the online check-in then those who haven't. Those are the reasons that we use it!!!!

[nicole]

The advantage is that you are actually not restricted to a line with online check-in so you can actually get into the shorter line!!! If you don't use online check-in and the regular line is longer.....too bad....you can't go over to the shorter line!!! All CMs will help you if you have done online check-in. In addition to that.....if you are arriving before 3 PM.......online check-in actually increases your chances of having a room that is ready when you arrive. Of course, it isn't guaranteed but many more report having the room ready at check-in when they have done the online check-in then those who haven't. Those are the reasons that we use it!!!!

Good to know thank you very much, we'll give it a go on our trip. It would be nice to have a room when we arrive, but I'm not counting on it since we'll be there before lunch.

[ellie]

We're now at 20 Days Out!
Been enjoying reading the posts and checking against my lists.

[josh]

19 :RpS_thumbsup:

[jhalpin76]

I just discovered Etsy (why didn't I know about this sooner!) and now have all kinds of Disney things ordered - personalized autograph books, matching tie-dye Mickey shirts for the kids (DH would NEVER wear a matching shirt - that bum!), coordinating star wars shirts for the kids (Princess Leah Minnie, Jedi Mickey and Storm Trooper Donald Duck - how cute is that!). I am completely out of control with my shopping - this trip needs to get here before I go broke or drive my husband insane! I stopped talking about it because I see he gets glassy eyed whenever I bring it up.

My favorite thing lately is when I tell someone we are going on vacation (normally in response to why I can't attend something in May, don't worry, I am not attacking random strangers about it) and they ask where and I tell them Disney, I love listening to the advice that they give me! Some of it cracks me up. I pretend that I know nothing and just take it all in, but some is just so funny.

[Janine]

I get responses like, 'oh, I don't consider that a vacation, it's so tiring' and 'ugh, we waited 2 hours in line, it's so crazy there'.

Regarding driving your family crazy;
Even my mother, who gives me guilt phone calls if I haven't talked to her in a couple days, is avoiding me. When I last saw her, she actually rolled her eyes at me and said 'I know, I know, you have it all worked out so you won't wait in lines.' Everytime I go to tell DH something, he says 'is this about Disney again?' Although he is looking forward to experiencing the results of my mad planning skills (it's really the mad planning skills of this forum, but I'm taking all the credit).

My weekend project is to splatter paint matching t-shirts and bleach out match t-shirts (both with Mickey head). I'm not the crafty type, so we'll see how I do.

I'M 30 DAYS OUT TODAY!!!!!

[Brandie]

I'M 30 DAYS OUT TODAY!!!!!

Yay!

My husband and kids can't stand to listen to me plan. Even my friends, that I'm planning the trip for in August, get a dazed look when I bring up details.