BostonToOrlando
New Member
What are some things you do leading up to a trip?
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Things you do leading up to trip
- Thread starter BostonToOrlando
- Start date
Ben_since_1971
Well-Known Member
If you stay on property, there should be a flyer in the room enticing you to book your next trip while you are on this trip. They offer various discounts (similar to the room only discounts when they run those promotions) with the caveat the offer is only good for the duration of your stay. So if you wait until you get home to book, it's too late. It's a nice way for Disney to lock in some capacity. I look on it as a nice way to lock in a 30% discount for my next stay at CBR.
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Mamaof2QTs
Member
Now you tell me!! We were just at the wilderness lodge in May and we were already planning our October trip!
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graphite1326
Well-Known Member
Wow. That's pretty much what I do. With the exception of Mary Poppins.
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polynesiangirl
Well-Known Member
- make a packing list 3+ months in advance, then do nothing with it until way later than I should;
- have a nervous breakdown 2-3 weeks out about how I am too busy to prepare and am stressed about leaving work and OMG Why am I going on a trip with my kids when they're so little and crazy;
- obsessively check the number of days left while at work, wish for time machine;
...I'm kind of all over the place. Right now I would give anything to make the next two weeks disappear.
- have a nervous breakdown 2-3 weeks out about how I am too busy to prepare and am stressed about leaving work and OMG Why am I going on a trip with my kids when they're so little and crazy;
- obsessively check the number of days left while at work, wish for time machine;
...I'm kind of all over the place. Right now I would give anything to make the next two weeks disappear.
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JennSmith
Well-Known Member
I got an envelope in the mail on Friday that had a breakdown of our package, the extra discount vouchers, and luggage tags. I was not expecting this at all so it was a super nice surprise!! So we filled out the luggage tags...even though we really don't need them since we're driving. What the heck though - one more thing for us to do and that was exciting 
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KikoKea
Well-Known Member
Using EMH and park hours calendar, I usually get the itinerary done early so I can make ADRs, and I check menus to QS and ADR places to have an idea of what I want to order, if I'm being good about my diet. I also schedule in where we will be in our non-park time, such as checking out the other resorts- we have a few more to visit. I make a paper calendar of our schedule with any confirm #s, and also notes about things to look for, such as the new Jock Lindsey Bar at DS, a new hidden Mickey, or a details about the parks I want to see. I think about what clothes we'll need, including costume for Halloween party, etc, and make sure I have a good pair of sneakers that are comfortable.
Then, I mark my calendar, counting down the weeks (only 4!) or days before we leave. I listen to park music loops on Youtube or the ones I"ve downloaded from there, or I listen to Disney-themed internet radio stations on Live365 or Tune in, etc. There's one loop of the Pirates queue music that I sometimes play softly a night along with a babbling brook CD I downloaded from Amazon onto my Kindle...ZZzzzzz. DH and I love to talk and plot about our upcoming trip, and I look for Disney news on this website and the D blog to share with him.
The trips are too far apart and the anticipation is fun, so I try to build up the anticipation in little ways and just enjoy.
Then, I mark my calendar, counting down the weeks (only 4!) or days before we leave. I listen to park music loops on Youtube or the ones I"ve downloaded from there, or I listen to Disney-themed internet radio stations on Live365 or Tune in, etc. There's one loop of the Pirates queue music that I sometimes play softly a night along with a babbling brook CD I downloaded from Amazon onto my Kindle...ZZzzzzz. DH and I love to talk and plot about our upcoming trip, and I look for Disney news on this website and the D blog to share with him.
The trips are too far apart and the anticipation is fun, so I try to build up the anticipation in little ways and just enjoy.
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Minnie1986
Well-Known Member
Lol, I have literally followed this exact ritual for the last month. First trip in five years is in 58 daysRead menus, plant outfits, watch 1 Disney movie every weekend, and every day, without fail, update my Countdown to Disney.
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Minnie1986
Well-Known Member
I have made so many spreadsheets for this trip, I'm starting to scare my boyfriend. Glad to know that I'm not the only one who loves Excel when Disney time approaches!I wish I had more to do! 43 days to go and I feel all that's left is WAIT...and eventually pack. I am glad you started this thread. Maybe you guys can give me some reminders. I have done the following so far..
- All the obvious Disney stuff - ADRs, FP, online check-in, customized MBs, paid off balance
- Ordered groceries through Garden Grocer
- Started a box of all the toiletries we will need - all sample sizes. That may seem wasteful but when we leave whatever is left is getting pitched. I don't wanna come home and have to unpack deodorant
- Took inventory of said box to tape on outside so I know exactly what's in there without having to rummage
- Ordered about 10 different crossbody bags to find the perfect one and returned the rest.
- Made sure all of the family had good, comfy shoes
- Made sure entire family had all the necessary clothes, (we are a jeans/jean capris and t-shirt kind of family and Disney is more a tank top and shorts kind of place, IMO)
- Made reservation, (and confirmed twice now because I am a spaz) for hotel in between home and DW
- Printed all directions to and from and back again for the trip in case GPS fails us
- Created spreadsheet, (don't judge...I have real issues
- Ordered our costume t-shirts for MNSSHP
- Bought plain white t-shirts to make some of these - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/161777811585827535/ although I may change my mind and make regular Mickey tie dyed shirts
- Printed copies of insurance cards and placed in folder with all important numbers, copies of reservation confirmations, printed copy of spreadsheet that I referenced earlier, hard tickets that were sent to us for MNSSHP
- Created mini spreadsheet of all the drinks and snacks that I will order when I drink and snack around the world - I will fold this up and carry in my perfect crossbody bag
- Printed off menus of all the places we have ADRs at so my family can hopefully narrow it down beforehand and we don't spend 76 years waiting for my oldest daughter and mother to order...I love them but - ugh when it comes time for them to order
- Watched the planning DVD a bajillion times
- Made a jar of movies to pick one from each week, (our countdown started at 477 days sooooo), picture below
- Ordered necessary birthday cake
- Also ordered surprise welcome celebration for kids since they already knew about trip
- Narrowed down which neighbor we will enlist to pick up our mail
- Purchased timers for random lights in house
- Researched tips for everything basically, printed ones I thought were worth printing...placed in folder previously mentioned. It's actually an expandable file.
- Hijacked this website because it is all I have left when it comes to waiting...sorry!!!
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ekutchey
Active Member
We stock up on shinny new pennies for the penny press machines. We also get a map with the location of new machines or new artwork for the pennies. And of course quarters to pay and shinny quarters for the quarter press. Also a few dimes - Space Mountain store has a neat dime press machine.
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Minnie1986
Well-Known Member
Won't lie, I definitely started putting outfits together and designating a corner of our bedroom to suitcases, etc, after work yesterday. 57 days to go!
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JennSmith
Well-Known Member
I am going to start that this weekend. I only have 2 weekends between now and the time we leave. I actualy have 3 but one of those is Labor Day weekend and we will be going back home to visit my in laws that weekend. So it's just this weekend and the one after Labor Day - yay! It is still kind of dragging though...
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Minnie1986
Well-Known Member
I feel like the closer you get to your departure date, the longer the days seem to take.
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iluvMainStMagic
Active Member
I feel your craziness!! I have a couple of crossbody bags but wouldn't call either one "perfect" - do you mind sharing which one you chose to keep?? Thanks! 12 days to go!
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JennSmith
Well-Known Member
I kept this one...I feel your craziness!! I have a couple of crossbody bags but wouldn't call either one "perfect" - do you mind sharing which one you chose to keep?? Thanks! 12 days to go!
It is smaller so that's why it just won't work. If I didn't need to carry a poncho, a frog togg, a m&m tube filled with quarters and pennies, my camera, a cell phone, normal stuff that we all carry like credit cards, etc I would have been fine. The frogg togg and camera are what killed me I think. I would have been able to pull of the smaller bag had it not been for those 2 things. My cell phone camera is just not quick enough and my husband will probably suffer from heat stroke if I don't bring the frogg togg lol. They were both from ebags though.
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iluvMainStMagic
Active Member
Thank you!! I'll check them out. I also need a slightly bigger bag than I really want to carry.
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