My First "argh" Planning Moment

It started last night around 10:30 - when I wondered, "hmmm....where are we sitting on the plane?" and so I checked. And found that they had me in 21C, Quinn in 21F, and Mike in 12E - read that again - Mike is in row twelve, we are in row twenty-one - and Quinn is NOT sitting next to anyone he knows. WTF? And of course I checked this at 10:30, right before I was about to go to bed. Big Mistake! First, I emailed Amy, "Where are you sitting? Can you believe this? What should I do?" Then, I went over to the disboards and posted my dilemma on the transportation portion of the discussion boards. Then, I tried to go to bed with positive thoughts, "Well, someone will trade seats with me - who wants to sit next to a 3 year old?" And Mike shot that down, "They don't have to switch with you, nothing is going to make them." Uh yeah, thanks Mike. So, I tried to fall asleep, which didn't really happen, and then I woke up around 2am with a horrible feeling in my tummy that didn't go away until an hour or so later and some Tums. This morning I called Disney, who I used as a travel agent, and was told, yup, those are your seats - and they said all I could do was show up early and check in and say we'd like to be together. And since I was at work all day - and don't have any "planning periods" I had to wait 'til lunch to check out what the wise people over at the disboards were saying - and then I got lots of good info. from someone over there. I came home ready to call United and tell them that it was WRONG that they had put a 3-year old by himself and see what they could do to fix it. If they were willing to do nothing, then I would ask to be upgraded to Economy Plus and then choose my seats with the 3 of us in a row (we didn't buy a seat for Liam). But, when I called United I spoke to a very nice lady who was laughing at the thought of a 3 year old sitting by himself as she said, "Oh, do not worry about this. I will add this note, 'traveling as family' and when you get your boarding passes they will do everything they can to seat you together. The airline attendants do NOT want a 3 year old sitting by himself - because he'll be running all over and possibly screaming or crying. They have seats open to use to move people around as needed." I talked with her about upgrading to economy plus - and she said I could do that - but to go through the website to view what seats are available and how much it would cost. There are lots of E+ seats available - and lots of 3 seats available together - and it would cost us $150 - which is exactly how much I saved by downgrading our parkhopper tickets to base tickets. So, I don't have to upgrade my tickets - I just have to remind them when we check in that we need to sit together. BUT, I can upgrade my tickets - get 5 more inches of space - and choose the seats.

10 day countdown: Things left to do...

1. Sunday: Make a list of what I still need to buy
2. Monday: Call the car service to request pick up
3. Tuesday: Confirm requests with Carribean Beach
4. Wednesday: One week to go! Try to get Joe's hair cut.
5. Thursday: Watch the fan's guide to WDW on travel channel!
6. Friday: Start the laundry and packing up
7. Saturday: Charge the camera batteries
8. Sunday: Mickey delivers a special package to Emily and Joe
9. Monday: Call to confirm the car pick up
10. Tuesday: Finish up the packing

Flashback - 54 Days Ago.

Why I Can't Wait...

Yeah yeah yeah - all that stuff Amy said. The kid's faces, the excitement, first words, etc. But really - I'm so looking forward to the food! We've booked our packages with the Disney Dining Plan - which means we've already paid for each of us (me, Mike, and Quinn) to have one table service meal with dessert, one quick service meal, and one snack per day. With access to the menus and reservations made my mouth is already watering. After looking at some of the menus I'm really looking forward to:

1. The Chocolate Wave from Coral Reef in Epcot

2. Chocolate Confusion from the Big River Pub on the Boardwalk

3. Mickey Cheese Ravioli and Marinara Sauce at Chef Mickey's

4. Garlic Redskin Smashed Potatoes at The Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom

5. Cheese-filled Danish at Tusker House in Animal Kingdom

6. Fish and Chips at the Rose and Crown Pub in Epcot (I enjoyed these so much while there on our honeymoon Mike and I went back to Epcot 3 times just to eat there!)

That and I always love the snacks I treat myself to at ballgames, the zoo, carnivals, anywhere I go I seem to find a good excuse to have a special treat. While in Disney World my excuses will include - 1. I've been doing so much walking. 2. I won't be able to come here again for at least two years. So...here's a list of the snacks I'm looking forward to (some of which I'll eat on site and others that I will save):

1. Mickey Mouse Rice Krispie Treat

2. Dole Whip (some sort of pineapple thing at MK)

3. soft pretzel (I would get that anywhere)

4. frozen coke

5. nachos (I'd get those anywhere)

6. a nice old fashioned ice cream cone

7. cinnamon roll

8. funnel cake

And I heard of a drink called The Gray Goose that's available at Epcot - something about lemonaide - it includes some type of alcohol. This will be on my list as well - and my excuse for that one is that we're visiting Epcot on Day 4 of our "vacation" with the kiddos and I will, by that point, have truly earned a nice adult drink.

Why I can't wait...

Most people think Disney is about the kids, true Disney fans love it just as much as kids...here is what I am looking most forward to about going with my kids.

1. Seeing their faces when they meet Mickey for the first time.
2. Watching them be overwhelmed by the enormity of The World.
3. Watching Emily's excitment build and burst out of her when we get there.
4. Joe saying "Mickey"--or at least I'm secretly hoping!
5. The fact that being at Disney means that everyone working there treats my kids like they are the most special kids at the most special place on Earth.
6. Watching them sleep after a long, unforgetable day in the parks.

Twenty

20 more days. That is all.

Walking Shoes

Three years ago I made a committment to walk about 32 miles in two days for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. During the training process for that it was highly recommended that I go to the Running Company in Naperville and have them find me a good pair of shoes for my feet and walking style. And so I did. And I loved it there - they looked at my old gym shoes for wear, watched me walk on a treadmill, looked at how my feet are when I stand, had me walk around and asked if there were any "hotspots" that I felt, taught me about lacing my shoes, and so much more. I walked out of there with a new pair of "running" shoes that felt so good to put on. I walked that charity walk and didn't get any blisters - I saw so many people at all the first aid stations treating some really nasty looking blisters. I remember when I was in that store I was very upfront with the fact that I do not run. And they were so friendly and said they get a lot of business from people doing charity walks or people going on vacations that will require lots of walking! ding! ding! ding!

This Saturday I had an entire "Me Day" planned - a massage, shopping at the Running Company, and then finally dinner with some friends. Mother Nature decided to make my "Me Day" a very rainy day, but regardless I accomplished all that I set out to. Sort of. After trying on about 7 different shoes and sizes and widths the lady at the Running Company and I decided that I needed basically the same shoe I walked in with (just the latest version). New Balance 768 - size 9.5, narrow. Except, they didn't have the narrow in stock and she really didn't want me to just take the regular, because, "look, see how tight I have the laces, and the shoes are still sliding back and forth." So - she said she'd order me a pair Monday morning. Tuesday morning I got a call from the Running Company and I couldn't believe my shoes were in. Well, they weren't. And they wouldn't be in in about a week as previously thought. Apparently the 768s are very popular and completely sold out - New Balance has some On A Ship. I was told my shoes would finally make it to the store no sooner than Oct. 8th. We leave Oct. 8th. I told the guy I might be coming in this weekend to find another pair that would work, but was so dissappointed. But then I searched online and ended up at Zappos - and found my shoes! And ordered one of the last three pairs left on there! God Bless the Internet - but now I have to call the store and tell them, thank you so much, but I won't be coming in to look for different shoes!

To Drive Or Not To Drive?

I've been wondering lately about how to get to the airport. The plan is that I'm going to take a half day of work, then come home and pack up the car, then Mike and I will go and get the kids from the sitter's house and head to the airport. But - how fun and exciting would it be for Quinn if we showed up with a Limo? AND - then we don't have to worry about parking and trying to figure out how to get our bags to the airport. OR - I could have Mike drop me and the boys and the bags at the curb and he can go park the car. AND - would I need a carseat for Liam in a limo? It seems like a limo or cab is not going to be the best way to go. I suppose the other option is to ask someone to drop us off, but I never really like asking people for favors. hmmm....decisions, decisions. And of course if I ask Mike he'll give me the standard, "I don't know."

It's In the Bag! (almost)

I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my new Bagalinni Messanger Bag - to be use at Disney World - of course! Everyone over at the disboards highly recommends this bag for use in the parks. Amy went ahead and got hers weeks ago and tried it out - filling it with diapers, wipes, clipboards, and a few other items. I'm hoping I only have to use this and just leave some ziplock baggies of extra clothes in the bottom of the stroller! I've never even heard of Bagalinni bags before, but apparently they're pretty good. And my internet "twin" Sue wasn't too surprised to learn I ordered orange - because she has the same bag/same color! Of course! She also offered to loan me her carryon Bagalinni - I just might take her up on the offer after I check out what kind of bags we have in the basement for that purpose.

A bit of Disney history...

After seeing how many times I've actually been to Disney (I think it's 7, this trip will be 8--but I could be missing a few), you might think--geez either that girl's obsessed or was spoiled as a child. It's actually the latter--BUT that's what happens when you are the oldest grandchild!

As we are getting ready for our trip I dug up some photos to show Emily from a trip when I was in grade school (I think 1984). She says I look like a boy, and actually as we were running to our plane--I do recall the flight attendant calling to tell them to hold the plane for a mom and TWO sons (pixie haircut--thanks Dorothy Hamill). Enough about 80's fashion and back to Disney. Here's what I found...

Always a classic

Cathy--we were 'that' family back then, riding on the monorail


Me and my brother


The pooh costume seems to change over the years...

This was the first time we visited after EPCOT opened. I was obsessed with having the acronym memorized-Experimental Protype Community of Tomorrow. I guess in the mid 90's it was changed from EPCOT center to simply Epcot--just a bit of useless Disney Trivia

Here we are in Germany

How I Taught My 3-year Old to Read Double Digit Numbers

As I started putting this countdown chain together I was cursing the idea (hi Amy!). But then I realized the staples work a lot faster than a glue stick - duh! And in no time at all we had our countdown chain for Disney with 70 days to go!

Ahhh - now it's off the floor. 60 more days!

Oh...to his knees. 50 more days!

Getting shorter.... 40 more days!

Mike took a look the other day and said, "Oh no! It's getting shorter! Is it really that close?"

Uh, yes it is!

30 more days, baby!

Every morning Quinn remembers to take a link off his chain (if not the morning then he'll remember at dinner). We started showing him how to "read" the numbers at some point in the 60s. It was funny, because when he got to 60 he said, "sixty-zero". Not quite, we're still working on that. When we got to 30 (a few days ago) he said, "thirty-zero more days!" Well, it actually sounded like "forty-zero", but only because when a 3 year old almost 4 year old says "thirty" chances are it's going to sound pretty close to "forty". I once had two 4 year olds arguing in my class.

Boy 1 - "It's forty (30) - not forty (40)."

Boy 2 - "That's what I said. 'forty (40)'"

Boy 1 - "No, you said forty (40)."

Boy 2 - "No I didn't. It's forty (30)."

I don't remember what they were talking about, but looking back I should have just taken one away and said, "there. Now it's twenty-nine, right?"

About Amy

Favorite Disney Movie - Sleeping Beauty
Favorite Disney Character - Minnie Mouse
Favorite Disney World Park - Magic Kingdom -- it's a classic!
Number of Times at WDW - at least 7 (1996 1994 1992 1985 1983 1979 1977)
How often do you want to visit WDW - I would love to go every year!
Favorite WDW Ride - Peter Pan's Flight and I also love Carousel of Progress
Family - husband (33) me (33) Emily (5) Joe (1)
Anything else you need to know?

About Cathy

Favorite Disney Movie - Beauty and the Beast
Favorite Disney Character - Goofy
Favorite Disney World Park - Last time I was there on my honeymoon - I totally fell in love with Epcot and the Fish 'n' Chips from England. Yum! (We also had a blast in Downtown Disney.)
Number of Times at WDW - 3
How often do you want to visit WDW - Every year would be nice, but every 2 or 3 years seems more doable. Plus - there's more to life (gasp!) than Disney World!
Favorite WDW Ride - I really loved Rock 'n' Roller Coaster.
Family - husband (33 years old), Quinn (almost 4), and Liam (16 months) Oh and me (almost 31)
Anything else you need to know?

A Package From The Mouse

(reposted from the Tub)

Alright. So my friend Amy and I have truly been going a little Disney crazy. We've got our dinner reservations made, days planned out (as to which parks we'll be visiting), some outfits planned for the kiddos, treats for goody bags purchased, and so much more. We've been working on letters for the kids to get every morning with a little goody bag - telling them what's going on that day. She made some really cool looking autograph clipboards - go see! And she made some stroller tags! Oh yeah - she is the more creative one out of the two of us - and actually most of the ideas of what we're making/doing start with her - I just sort of adapt them a bit or add to 'em.


Quinn and I wrote Mickey Mouse a letter the other day - letting him know we were going to come and see him in October and that we were so excited. So Quinn went out to check the mail today and found a package from Mickey Mouse. (I have a really cute video of him doing this, but alas, can not share it with the world, because our address is as clear as day on there - and although I realize this whole blogging thing requires some sort of leap of faith - I'm not about to jump that high.)

What's in here?

I see something.

Ohhh....look at this.

A letter from Mickey Mouse! Read it mommy!
(actually - it looks kind of like this - I changed my mind and printed it on 8.5x11 paper and that allowed me to change the layout a bit, but the words, they are the same)

Ohhhh...a camera. Mickey Mouse sent me a camera! Say Cheese Mommy.

Uh yeah, a $60 camera that was on sale at the Disney Store for $17. Shit, if I paid $60 for that piece of crap we'd be packing it up and sending it back to Mickey. But anyway, Quinn loves it and it'll hopefully keep him busy in the airport and on the airplane. We're going to have to tell him he can't bring it with to the parks - no way I'm lugging around that.

We're Totally Going to Be THAT Family

Yup - I've convinced Mike to allow me to make him wear a t-shirt for one of our five days in Disney World.

from left to right

Daddy, Liam, Mommy, and Quinn

I love that they're all different colors, but with the same pose.

Cute, right?

So Here It Is

My friend and I have been family our family vacations to Disney World. I've talked about it a little bit at the Tub, but with only 34 more days left I don't think my regular readers would like it very much if every single one of my posts from now until then focuses on Disney. Plus, my husband is getting sick and tired of me asking him questions or for his opinion on things. Apparently, what types of shoes to get the kids is one of the only things he doesn't have an opinion on. That and everything else related to the trip. I tend to get the old stand by, "I don't know," when I ask for his thoughts. But trust me, when it comes to anything else - my husband has no trouble making his opinions known (and also claiming them to be fact).

So here it is - my Disney Daze. Expect dilemmas, questions, lists, stories, photos, and maybe some fun facts!