~ Aug 2013~ Sew what... We've gotta find a way back! Box contents REVEALED 5/23!!

[nowellsl]

The suites at AOA are crazy expensive! I booked a family suite at All Star Music for December, it was much cheaper (around $300 cheaper) for 2 nights! That's with a passholder discount, but I think there's a general discount out now as well.

I don't really like interior hallways either, so I doubt I will ever stay in a suite at AOA!

Can't wait to see your super secret project!!

[sewmess]

I am jealous! Charlotte is just enough north that the trees are turning & y'all were wearing sweatshirts. It's just now cool enough down here to get away with long sleeves.

I love the fall and winter. of course, I also live in Alabama where snow is a treat, not a task.

I haven't been to a craft fair in forever. My DH doesn't do that kind of stuff and Mom doesn't do them anymore. When my dad was alive, they used to be vendors, so I think that kind of wore her out.

Can't wait to get even more jealous of the other places you got to visit.

MM is adorable. T's been a bigger pill than normal: seperation anxiety and DH thinks he's still trying to catch up on all the dog gossip in the neighborhood, so he's wanting to be in the back yard. He's found a place in the fence to wiggle out, so if he's outside, one of us has to be outside too.

[DMGeurts]

Originally Posted by miprender

WOW I love seeing all that thread. I didn't realize he winds his own stuff. How cool to get a behind the scene tour.

Having been at the end of June it is very crowded the closer you get to July but I love being able to stay longer. It helps with the planning

I was thinking that too... I have just heard such nightmarish stories about the tour groups - I have never encountered them, and I am not sure I want to?

Originally Posted by NiniMorris

Our preferred length is 10 days. That gives us 2 full days in each park and 2 days off.

We have gone shorter (not good) but never longer...yet.

Nini

See... and that's what I was thinking... 10 days is the optimal trip... 8 days in the park and 2 days off in the middle... But we all know that a day "off" at WDW isn't really a day off.

Originally Posted by oopsiDAISY

We will definitely be staying at POR again this time!

Awesome!!!

Originally Posted by solana131

Disney is too expensive to not do what you want! Just plan whatever trip is best for you guys and if it works out that we can make it, then that would be wonderful....but I would really hate to see you not have fun because you switched dates for a DISmeet! I probably could be persuaded to take a short trip in June with just my little man..... I love the Hopper option and think it is totally worth the extra $$, so I can easily do a long weekend in June if that works better. Oh, I'm just gonna wait a while before I book to see what works best. We are totally open, I just know I want to go sometime in 2013!

I totally agree with this Suzi. We all need to plan our trips the way we want them, and then squeeze in a meet here and there as we can.

I am totally going to have fun in October - like I said - I will just send the girls home early. And I will stay on a few days longer.

Soooo.... Where are you planning to stay? Are you going to do the Poly again?

I know! Isn't that ridiculous?? I know it's a suite and all, but it is still a VALUE resort....ummm, where's the value? I wish they had made more regular rooms at that cool resort. But I don't think Bradey would appreciate the Little Mermaid theme But like you said, if we are spending that kind of money, I will be at the Poly....as long as it is finished it's refurb, and that's questionable right now. I think I heard last that they were starting the rooms in Jan 2013.

Yah - I about fell out of my chair when my quote came back. It looks like a fun resort - really fun - but Value resort for Deluxe prices? Um - yah - no thanks... I will definately stay at the Poly, I've always wanted to stay there anyways.

What's TG?? I've tried to work it out, but can't do it
And I was checking out TP crowd calendars for this Oct yesterday. It looks like everything is about a 5 other than Columbus Weekend. That shoots up to a 9ish! TP looks much better than UndercoverTourist does for Oct numbers.

Thanksgiving... Nope, we won't be there for Columbus weekend - I am pretty sure that is the weekend before.... Now I better go check... Crap... Columbus day is that week. SHOOT!!!!!

Originally Posted by Chicago Mo

finally! but that was pretty bad... Sorry about that. you made my decision.. We will be going back to Sci-fi... the food there was pretty good and the Cm were great.

Where are these tr's coming from?!?!

They've always been there m'dear.

Originally Posted by EEs*Mommy

GAH! I thought I was about to be caught up caught up!
So apparently squash is super comfy who knew?
Disney in Oct sounds so much more fab than Disney in March!
We are not doing hoppers either well unless we get YES. We always have before but there are changes between having a family of 4 and a family of 8 and park hoppers are one of those changes.

LOL Sorry about that! Yes - squash is super comfy - it's not only good for you... You should give it a try and report back.

I agree - I just can't justify hoppers. We are happy to go, and we are able to make it work with out... We love that break mid-day.

Originally Posted by NiniMorris

LOL...we always do hoppers...because I can.

Seriously, I don't give hubby an option. I just tell him what it will be and then I pay it. If I don't look at the breakdown between hoppers and non hoppers I can pretend it is the only way to go ....right?

Since most of our favorite restaurants are in EPCOT, and we LOVE the EPCOT fireworks, we end up most night there. Truthfully, hubby only goes for the food...


Nini

LOL... I just can't tell my self that it's worth the money... I'm the cheapskate here.

See, and we don't get into Epcot all that much... We have yet to find a restaurant that we LOVE - I am hoping that France is it.

Originally Posted by Chicago Mo

HOLD ON

Did you mention a bag that will hold a DSLR????

Actually - no - LOL - I mentioned possibly doing an insert to go into my existing bags that will hold a DSLR. That way you can use my bags as a bag or a DSLR bag. It wouldn't hold a lot... Just the camera with a lens on it and an extra lens. If you have other small stuff - that will fit, but that's about it. However, this is MONTHS down the road... I have the visual in my head, but I just don't have the time to even work with it for quite some time... Spring 2013 - for sure.

Originally Posted by babynala

Max looks so cute. I think it is going to be a LONG weekend hunting for him.

I agree... I feel so bad. Josh has been so sick with his cold, so he hasn't had any ambition to work with him.

I think we did park hoppers on our first family trip. We barely used them, maybe one day and only to see the fireworks at MK after going to Chef Mickey for dinner. I know they were not as expensive as they are now. I can not justify the cost of the park hopper. We seem to spend most of the day at one park and I think my gang would gripe (the adults), or fall asleep on the way to the next park (the kids and the adults).

And that's how I would feel... There hasn't been any days that I can think of that we've needed to hop... So, I just can't justify the $$. And not to mention the time wasted traveling from park to park... We really loved going at rope drop, staying a few hours, going back to the resort, then going back into the same park in the evening, it worked out very well for us, and it was so relaxing.

On the trips that DH and I have done by ourselves we did do lots of hopping (we had AP or old tickets that included the hoppers) but we only had a few days in the parks and only did certain attractions since we had just been with the kids.

I WISH I could talk DH into going alone with me - I think he would see how wonderful of a place it is, and how I've gone from "commando" to a "leisurely" touring pace, just because, our first couple trips - I never knew if we would ever make it back - so I wanted to see it all and do it all. Now, I know I am going back, so I am much more relaxed and enjoy it more. I wish DH would just give me a chance to show him.

Originally Posted by nowellsl

The suites at AOA are crazy expensive! I booked a family suite at All Star Music for December, it was much cheaper (around $300 cheaper) for 2 nights! That's with a passholder discount, but I think there's a general discount out now as well.

I agree, I just don't see the "value" in it... I guess, my thought is, there are SOOO many families of 5 - so rather than only having one resort with a portion of rooms that will accomodate them (mod or below)... This gives them an option - so I do see the benefit. But, for just the girls and I - yah - there is no value in it... FQ is cheaper by $1K and the same price as Deluxe... Seriously - we'll go deluxe if given the option.

Can't wait to see your super secret project!!

I will be giving out more details about it soon, and I even plan to do some sneak peeks here. Hopefully, after next week, I will have enough to show you all, or very soon after that.

Originally Posted by sewmess

I am jealous! Charlotte is just enough north that the trees are turning & y'all were wearing sweatshirts. It's just now cool enough down here to get away with long sleeves.

I think you might have confused my trips... I can understand why you would - LOL I did kind of group them together. I was in Charlotte in August for the Disboutiquer meet/Fabric Shop Hop... Then I was in Wisconsin last weekend for the Cran Fest - so it was sweatshirt weather.

I love the fall and winter. of course, I also live in Alabama where snow is a treat, not a task.

I wish snow was a treat here. Last year - we had a record year of no snow - it was WONDERFUL!!!! I LOVED IT!!!!! I am pretty sure we will pay for it this year.

I haven't been to a craft fair in forever. My DH doesn't do that kind of stuff and Mom doesn't do them anymore. When my dad was alive, they used to be vendors, so I think that kind of wore her out.

Josh doesn't either - that's why I went with the girls from work. It was so much fun.

I can't imagine being a vendor - LOTS of work. I was watching for bag stands though - I only saw one that was a legitimate home - made stand (the rest were knock offs from China), and unfortunately, she did not appear to be doing well... She seemed really bored. My friend was getting something customized in the booth next to that one, so we were there a good while, and no one stopped. I felt really badly for her, because I KNOW how much work goes into making bags, and how thrilled I am that people like my items - I would feel so horribly let down and discouraged if I brought my bags to a fair and no one even stopped. I don't think I could handle the rejection.

Can't wait to get even more jealous of the other places you got to visit.

Honest, I don't travel all that often... My first ever flight was when I was 28... I've traveled more in the last year than I have traveled in my entire life combined. I just got lucky. I can't imagine that I will continue like this? I'd be really happy with one trip per year to WDW... Well, I guess we do have a couple of family trips coming up... Josh is desperately wanting to take us to D.C. and SD to the Black Hills and Mt. Rushmore... So, maybe I'll be traveling a bit over the next few years?

MM is adorable. T's been a bigger pill than normal: seperation anxiety and DH thinks he's still trying to catch up on all the dog gossip in the neighborhood, so he's wanting to be in the back yard. He's found a place in the fence to wiggle out, so if he's outside, one of us has to be outside too.

LOL They can be crazy, can't they? MM is a super awesome dog all day with me, he wanders from room to room upstairs, taking the time to nap in all of them. But once the girls get home, he is ON and on all night long. LOL It's like he saves up all his energy for them.

I am super excited to get up to my sewing room today - I have a lot to get done and I can't wait to finish it, so I can move on with my Super Secret Project... Josh and I were talking about the SSP last night, he is worried that I am working too hard on it. Sigh. I tend to agree with him a little bit, but I really want to meet my own deadline - and I think that people will be generally excited about it? We'll see, I guess?

I hope everyone has a wonderful day today!

D~

[solana131]

Originally Posted by DMGeurts

I was thinking that too... I have just heard such nightmarish stories about the tour groups - I have never encountered them, and I am not sure I want to?

Are there as many in June?? I had heard if you go early June the crowds are lighter and the tour groups are in July. Any truth to that??? Anyone??

Originally Posted by DMGeurts

Where are you planning to stay? Are you going to do the Poly again?

I looked at it....but I am afraid they would be in the middle of their refurb. Bill really liked Port Orleans (both sides), so that is a possibility too. But I also want to try AoA and AKL. Bill liked WL when we were there in Feb, but I wanted to wait until we go at Christmas time to stay there. So, I am not really sure.

Originally Posted by DMGeurts

Now I better go check... Crap... Columbus day is that week. SHOOT!!!!!

Oh no! Well, we will be fine....you have done Spring Break and I have done July...no sweat

Originally Posted by DMGeurts

I tend to agree with him a little bit, but I really want to meet my own deadline - and I think that people will be generally excited about it? We'll see, I guess?

What?? More doubt?? Of course people will be "generally excited" about it...we are already "generally excited" about it and we don't even know what you're doing

[oopsiDAISY]

Originally Posted by solana131

Disney is too expensive to not do what you want! Just plan whatever trip is best for you guys and if it works out that we can make it, then that would be wonderful....but I would really hate to see you not have fun because you switched dates for a DISmeet!

I agree with Suzi as well. I was very excited to hear that you may go in October. I would be disappointed if you changed it, but it is YOUR vacation, not OURS. It is about you and your girls.

I had a similar conversation with another Disfriend that I did a meet with recently. My family had plans, and if a Dismeet would fit into our plans GREAT; but if not, I wasn't willing to sacrifice what I had planned with my husband and children for a Dismeet. Do what will be best and mean the most for you and your girls, D~!

[DMGeurts]

Sooo... Suzi brought up a very valid point... Columbus Day weekend and prices does pose an interesting twist on our October plans...

I decided to pull up my girls' school calendar for next year, and analize it a bit more closely.

Columbus day falls on October 14th. WDW resort Columbus Day pricing starts on October 11th.

They are out of school.. 1/2 day on October 16, full days on the 17 & 18 and the weekend falls on the 19 & 20.

They are also out of school the following Friday, October 25th for conferences.

So, I have done some pricing option scenerios on the WDW website... Bear with me (is it bear, or bare??? I never got that one)

This is all the same combo... FQ, regular dining plan (hoping for FD though), and 3 days less park tickets than the days we are staying (2 days off and 1 for MNSSHP)

Here's how the prices look:

(7 days) Saturday, October 12-19 = $3566 (This includes Columbus Day wknd) The girls would miss 2.5 days of school.

(9 days) Wednesday, October 16-25th = $4374 (this does not include Columbus Day wknd) The girls would miss 4 days of school. Yikes! $800 more for just 2 days? What is going on here?

(9 days) Friday, October 11-20 = $4427 (Includes Columbus Day wknd, and the following weekend). The girls would miss 3.5 days of school.

(9 days) Sunday, October 13-22 = $4338 (Includes part of Columbus Day wknd) The girls would miss 4.5 days of school - they would have to go back to school for 2 days the day after we return, but would have a 3 day wknd following it to rest)

(7 days) October 13-20 = $3554 (this includes part of Columbus Day wknd) The girls would miss 2.5 days of school.

7 days really should be pleanty for any normal human being... The trouble is that I am not...

Now, if the girls are going to miss 4 days of school (which is really the absolute MAX I would let them miss - and that would be grudgingly)... That does open other dates for us...

(8 Days) November 2-10 = $3918

(8 days) Dec 28-Jan 5 = $4338

Or we do it during summer vacation, and not miss any school at all?

(10 days)August 19-29 = $4694 (summer vacation)

(14 days) August 18- Sept 1 = $6281 (summer vacation)

(14 days WHOA!)June 9-23 = $6656 (summer vacation)

(10 days) June 9-19 = $4950 (summer vacation)

Or, we could do our original planned Spring Break trip...

(10 days) March 6-16 = $5126 (the girls would miss 1 day of school)

(10 days) March 2-12 = $5028 (the girls woud miss 3 days of school)

(9 days) March 3-12 = $4578 (the girls would miss 3 days of school)

(8 days) March 3-11 = $4162 (the girls would miss 3 days of school)



So, do you all understand why I am so perplexed?

My biggest debate with myself is that Alli started high school this year... It has been a HUGE adjustment for her - and she is still adjusting. She is the child where I don't have to hound her to do her homework - she enjoys it and does really well. Victoria - otoh - (and I don't like labeling my girls) We have to hound her incessently to do her homework - sometimes she turns it in and sometimes she doesn't (although, this year, she is doing much better - so far) - most of the time, she will work on it really hard and struggle, and then fail to turn it in on time, so she only gets 50% of the grade, when it would have been perfectly done. So, I can see that next year will probably be a huge problem for her, and I strongly hesitate for her to miss any school when she is still adjusting. I just don't know what to do??? What would you all do?

D~ <--- Who has clearly spent waaaay too much time on this, this morning - and I need to get to work to pay for any of these trips.

[Restrasz]

I vote for March! Still hoping for free dining!

[solana131]

My vote is for either June, Oct, or Nov because those are the months I am considering

But like I said before....do what works for you guys! If it works for me too...we will see you there After talking with Bill last night, he doesn't seem to want to go. So I think he is out of the picture no matter what....which is sad, but makes it cheaper

[Chicago Mo]

November before Thanksgiving is AWESOME..
I do differently because i do not do well is crowds. Especially since my little ones are still single digit age! i figured the beginning of school right now is better taking them out then more in the middle.. I don't know again we are only talking about 3rd grade (next year! )
Why does School have to get in the way of DISNEY!!!

[NiniMorris]

I personally vote for the week after Thanksgiving...which of course is not in your plans....LOL! Low to no crowds, free dining, Christmas decorations, decent weather....


I have never been during the summer. I have been twice in September...the weather is hot and humid and horrible! I can only image how the summer would be. Of course, I can't deal with heat. (due to some of the meds)

We have panned a trip for June...back in 2005. We never made that trip.

Nini

[tatar63]

I would do the March trip for 10 days and 1 day off from school As long as the crowds are not too terribly bad because of Spring Break?
We went 4 years ago between Christmas and New Years....NEVER AGAIN!

Monica

[sewmess]

Originally Posted by DMGeurts

I think you might have confused my trips... I can understand why you would - LOL I did kind of group them together. I was in Charlotte in August for the Disboutiquer meet/Fabric Shop Hop... Then I was in Wisconsin last weekend for the Cran Fest - so it was sweatshirt weather.

Yep, I sure did. Sweatshirt weather was more recent though!


LOL They can be crazy, can't they? MM is a super awesome dog all day with me, he wanders from room to room upstairs, taking the time to nap in all of them. But once the girls get home, he is ON and on all night long. LOL It's like he saves up all his energy for them.

I'm home with T today and he's much more mellow. But I did let him hang out in the yard for a while (I decided the cool weather and sunny day were too good to miss & had my coffee and finished up a book out there instead of sewing. Or writing my TR)

Hope your day in the sewing room went well.

[Pluto0809]

Hmmm.. My 2013 dates are tentatively looking to be October 16th through the 22nd. So any time during those dates would be fine with me.

[cogero]

Well my trip will revolve around the 16th too even if it is just me and jimmy since I will make it a birthday trip.

[DMGeurts]

Originally Posted by solana131

Are there as many in June?? I had heard if you go early June the crowds are lighter and the tour groups are in July. Any truth to that??? Anyone??

Not sure?

Originally Posted by solana131

I looked at it....but I am afraid they would be in the middle of their refurb. Bill really liked Port Orleans (both sides), so that is a possibility too. But I also want to try AoA and AKL. Bill liked WL when we were there in Feb, but I wanted to wait until we go at Christmas time to stay there. So, I am not really sure.

I can see why Bill would want to stay at WL at Christmas - it would just be so beautiful and cozy.

I still want to stay at AKL some day... It never really appealed to me until I started looking into DVC, and really looked at the resort itself - it is gorgous. Even having been there for Boma last March - I saw the beauty, but I didn't get the chance to enjoy it. Even if there is a way we can resort hop sometime, I would love to spend a couple of nights there.

Originally Posted by solana131

Oh no! Well, we will be fine....you have done Spring Break and I have done July...no sweat

For sure! You are very right.

Originally Posted by solana131

What?? More doubt?? Of course people will be "generally excited" about it...we are already "generally excited" about it and we don't even know what you're doing

LOL Thanks Suzi!

Originally Posted by oopsiDAISY

I agree with Suzi as well. I was very excited to hear that you may go in October. I would be disappointed if you changed it, but it is YOUR vacation, not OURS. It is about you and your girls.

I don't want you all to think that I don't want to go in October - that's not it at all. I really WANT to go in October, my biggest concern is the girls (V especially) missing school. I hate to have her miss too many days at the beginning of the school year like that - it's like putting her behind before she even has a chance to get ahead. So, that is the biggest part I am struggling with right now.

But, looking at our schedule and finances - October looks to work out the best for everything. I am just going to have to be extra diligent that she gets some of her home work in advance and turns it in.

Originally Posted by solana131

I had a similar conversation with another Disfriend that I did a meet with recently. My family had plans, and if a Dismeet would fit into our plans GREAT; but if not, I wasn't willing to sacrifice what I had planned with my husband and children for a Dismeet. Do what will be best and mean the most for you and your girls, D~!

This is exactly how I think of it too... Look at all our plans and see if we can make anything work.

Originally Posted by Restrasz

I vote for March! Still hoping for free dining!

I know you do Ruth! It's great to see you! I heard a rumor that FD will be released shortly. Still not sure if I am going in March or October... I'll have to run the #s once FD is released, and I think that will be the determining factor.

Originally Posted by solana131

My vote is for either June, Oct, or Nov because those are the months I am considering

But like I said before....do what works for you guys! If it works for me too...we will see you there After talking with Bill last night, he doesn't seem to want to go. So I think he is out of the picture no matter what....which is sad, but makes it cheaper

I know - that is the only benefit to having the DHs stay home, it's cheaper. I have such a hard time paying for something like this, if they don't enjoy it. I just wish that DH would enjoy it one day...

Originally Posted by Chicago Mo

November before Thanksgiving is AWESOME..
I do differently because i do not do well is crowds. Especially since my little ones are still single digit age! i figured the beginning of school right now is better taking them out then more in the middle.. I don't know again we are only talking about 3rd grade (next year!)
Why does School have to get in the way of DISNEY!!!

I was definately easier pulling the girls out when they were younger. Now they have so much homework and other things they miss, it's darn near impossible to pull them out.

Originally Posted by NiniMorris

I personally vote for the week after Thanksgiving...which of course is not in your plans....LOL! Low to no crowds, free dining, Christmas decorations, decent weather....


I have never been during the summer. I have been twice in September...the weather is hot and humid and horrible! I can only image how the summer would be. Of course, I can't deal with heat. (due to some of the meds)

We have panned a trip for June...back in 2005. We never made that trip.

Nini

LOL Nope - Novemeber didn't even make the list... They don't have any vacation from school after TG.

Even when we were there twice in Oct - the weather was HOT... But it got pretty cool and almost chilly at night - it was very nice.

Originally Posted by tatar63

I would do the March trip for 10 days and 1 day off from school As long as the crowds are not too terribly bad because of Spring Break?
We went 4 years ago between Christmas and New Years....NEVER AGAIN!

Monica

I am just really going to have to crunch some #s once Disney releases FD to the public.

Crowd prediction isn't too bad until later in the week when we are there.

I can't imagine going during Christmas/New Years... Although, I vow to take a trip some time in the beginning of December (someday) so I can enjoy the Christmas decorations... I wish I could talk Josh into going there for our anniversary this year... It would be perfect! But we missed FD - so that's out the window.

Originally Posted by sewmess

Hope your day in the sewing room went well.

It went really well - thanks! I finished the bag I was working on, I also finished the wallet - except final assembly... I am still waiting for my tag order to arrive...

Originally Posted by Pluto0809

Hmmm.. My 2013 dates are tentatively looking to be October 16th through the 22nd. So any time during those dates would be fine with me.

LOL That's good to know. Another potential Dis-meet!

Originally Posted by cogero

Well my trip will revolve around the 16th too even if it is just me and jimmy since I will make it a birthday trip.

Awesome!!! Is that a definite firm yes?

I had a super productive day in my sewing room yesterday... despite my sitting here for hours calculating different trips.

I finished the bag I was working on - it turned out really nice - it's very clean looking, and I love that. I also started/finished the wallet, except for final assembly... Still waiting on my tags to arrive... I ordered them well over a month ago... but the printer dropped the ball for 10 days, and I had to send a reminder... She said she shipped them last week, so they should be here any day. Thankfully - the person who ordered this bag is in no hurry and is fine waiting for the tags to come. So, no tags = no pictures... Sorry...

I also was able to start on my prototype for my GAC holder... That was going really well, but while I was laying awake this morning, I thougth of a better way to do it - so I will be scrapping what I worked on yesterday and starting over.

I had planned to be in my sewing room all day today, but Josh is going hunting in a couple weeks, and he's taking his truck. On the way home from the lake a few weeks ago - we realized he needed new brakes in his truck... So, the nice wife that I am, I am taking his truck to our mechanic today to get his brakes done (and I will have him do his oil too)... Which means my BFF is going to pick me up and we are gonna hang out for a while today. Hopefully the truck won't take long, and I can get something worthwhile done this afternoon.

Josh and I have plans to go out to dinner this weekend with some friends, but we were also invited to a last minute surprise birthday party - which is 3 hours away... So we need to figure out what we are going to do? I hate that. We really should go to the bday party (it's for my foster-dad) but it was so last minute (as in, we just found out on Monday), I don't think it's very nice to back out on our original plans. What to do? We can't do both. But I haven't been home in months, and I feel really guilty about it... But I also have sooo much work to get done at home, and if we stuck to our original plans - I could do that.

And, the dork that I am... I woke up at 3am this morning, and couldn't fall back to sleep... So, I brainstormed some bag ideas, which was good... Finally at 4am, I gave up trying to fall back to sleep, and got up. I know I am going to pay for this later. I think today qualifies as "an extra cup of coffee day".

Maybe, since I am up so early, and I don't have any bag photos to post - I can do another Charlotte update?

I hope you all have a marvelous day today!

D~