PART FOUR!! *December 2012 Roll Call* Holidays, FLE & MVMCP!! A very, merry thread!

[cybrkitn]

Did I forget to say that we leave TOMORROW??!!?? In 47 hours we will be on the Disney Dream....I can't believe it is finally here!!!

Enjoy your cruise! All the planning and everything finally comes to a head!

The excitement of our trip is finally hitting my mom, brother and DS10. I don't think the excitement bug has bit DH as of yet. Probably will once we get there though.

 

[1stvisit0909]

My only added suggestion would be to either:

a) Quietly let the TSA agent "in on" why you're making the run (so they don't flag you as suspicious when you leave the line)

b) Make your exit just prior to entering the TSA security line.

Nobody wants to have to go through an extra round of security checks.

Believe me, I know.

I was "randomly checked" FIVE times in the Vancouver airport in 2004. including my laptop got the super special swab, and my checked luggage got unpacked and repacked, AND sent down the "special" line. My carry ons were emptied. I myself was wanded 4 times at different parts of the airport - INCLUDING being pulled out of line as we were boarding! I was like seriously people, what could I POSSIBLY have at this point??!

And, I've been fortunate enough to get the full body "pat down" (lovely, let me tell you, she should have at least had to buy me a drink or dinner or something) b/c I forgot to take my sweatshirt off.

Hmm. Maybe hubby should bring the Santa presents.

 

[jwgm2012]

My LGMH tags are all set and ready! I'll have one of them on my pink backpack. I chose an LGMH from Milliepie over on the Disney Cruise forum after Googling "lime green mickey head". It has Tinkerbell above one of Mickey's ear which is in a pixie dust swirl.

Aww man, I don't have one of those but I'll be in either a Houston Texans navy blue, long sleeved shirt or a light grey New Orleans Saints sweatshirt. I'll probably have my Vera Bradley crossbody (and so will everyone else) it's black with bold colored flowers see, simple - you'll spot me in no time!

If you want to avoid the flu, it's not too late to get a flu shot. The "real" flu (as compared to a cold virus) will truly ruin your trip. I'm getting a flu shot Friday. Other than that, I'm being fanatical about using alcohol-based hand cleansers- especially at the airport! Almost all viruses are transmitted by contact.


Thanks! Great ideas. The puzzles & candy especially. DS20 is a Sudoku fan and DD18 loves crosswords. They really aren't too old for little kid stuff- my daughter has been longing for me to replace the VCR tape of the Aristocats- I think I'll download it to take on the plane. I'm sure the other kids have favorite movies I never upgraded to digital, too. This is a good chance to do that.

I still haven't gotten my flu shot - I'm three days out from our trip, do I get one? I'm always so paranoid of getting the actual flu from it - I've read if there's a virus already in your system, the shot somehow perpetuates the come-on... don't know if there's any truth to it...


I like your idea of downloading the movies - another thing to include, keeping in line with the germs - some cool Bath and Body Works hand sanitizers - in Christmas scents, of course!

 

[DisneyDreamerMN]

I haven't been on in a day and a half and don't remember which page on I am on, so I have some reading today.

DH and I made a no sweets pact until Saturday (when we are at WDW). We'll see how this pact goes. There always seems to be chocolate lying around and it magically ends up in my shopping cart.

Still battle back issues. I went in to the Dr's office yesterday and she gave me muscle relaxers, but all they do is make me tired. I am going to keep trying to be positive that this will pass by Friday. I am going to try a little packing tonight and hope that it puts me into a Disney mood.

 

[SAT887]

Aww man, I don't have one of those but I'll be in either a Houston Texans navy blue, long sleeved shirt or a light grey New Orleans Saints sweatshirt. I'll probably have my Vera Bradley crossbody (and so will everyone else) it's black with bold colored flowers see, simple - you'll spot me in no time!

I still haven't gotten my flu shot - I'm three days out from our trip, do I get one? I'm always so paranoid of getting the actual flu from it - I've read if there's a virus already in your system, the shot somehow perpetuates the come-on... don't know if there's any truth to it...

I like your idea of downloading the movies - another thing to include, keeping in line with the germs - some cool Bath and Body Works hand sanitizers - in Christmas scents, of course!

I haven't gotten my flu shot either as well as DD3... I've only gotten a shot 2x before and have gotten the flu 2x max.... Only 1x in the past decade.... Fingers crossed we don't get anything!!'

 

[SAT887]

I haven't been on in a day and a half and don't remember which page on I am on, so I have some reading today.

DH and I made a no sweets pact until Saturday (when we are at WDW). We'll see how this pact goes. There always seems to be chocolate lying around and it magically ends up in my shopping cart.

Still battle back issues. I went in to the Dr's office yesterday and she gave me muscle relaxers, but all they do is make me tired. I am going to keep trying to be positive that this will pass by Friday. I am going to try a little packing tonight and hope that it puts me into a Disney mood.

Did you google other pain management methods? Maybe there is an alt drug with less of a side effect?

 

[Tltorrez]

So for those of you who get their mail held... Does the PO deliver it all when you get back or do you pick it up?

Either one. Go to USPS.com and you should be able to set it all there. It was super easy.

 

[jwgm2012]

Still battle back issues. I went in to the Dr's office yesterday and she gave me muscle relaxers, but all they do is make me tired. I am going to keep trying to be positive that this will pass by Friday. I am going to try a little packing tonight and hope that it puts me into a Disney mood.

Back issues are so freakin' hindering! DBF has been struggling with a lower back ache for a few months now and finally went to the Dr. He was given an Rx for rehab and excercises for stretching at home. At rehab his therapist told him to use heat at night and that's seemed to help A LOT! We bought a heating pad at Target that has an automatic shut off - he puts it on at night before we go to bed and has really felt so much better in the mornings when he wakes up. We'll definitely be taking that with us - I'm sure all the walking and standing isn't going to be easy!

 

[SAT887]

Either one. Go to USPS.com and you should be able to set it all there. It was super easy.

I think I'm going to have it held. My sis and her BF will be house and pet sitting but would rather not have them forgetting to get the mail for me... Thanks I will be going online later!

 

[SAT887]

You know with our trip report thread we are going to start - we should have some contests.... Like best food porn pic, nicest CM, best Photobomb etc...

 

[Tltorrez]

Question:

For those of us Roll Callers NOT at WDW for X-mas (Dec 24th/25th)...what are you doing in terms of holiday prep? Scaling back? Decorating/wrapping/shopping earlier than normal?

We're flat out nuts, here. We're at WDW from the 5th - 15th. We've got 3 young kids. We're trying (and so far, so good) to get just about everything (short of baking) done before we leave for WDW. Last night, my wife and I sat down and wrapped pretty much every gift currently in the house (about 30+ packages). Shopping is pretty much done for the kids. Halls are decked (inside and out).

We ARE scaling back on the "decking". Less stuff outside and a mini-tree inside. Just makes things a bit easier.

I'd love to hear about others plans/experiences. Interesting to hear how it all fits together with the trip prep that we're all doing, too!

I'm not putting up a tree. I might put up other decorations and I might bring the little tree back from Disney. (I'm going to let DS10 decide whether to ship it home or pay it forward.) Christmas will be at SIL's this year.

I always try to get my shopping done by Dec 1 anyway so that's about on target. I've been shipping packages to SIL's so they don't come while I'm gone. I hate wrapping. I'll do that when I come back.

The thing I'll miss most is the sugar cookie tradition. But I just don't see that happening.

 

[pilferk]

I'm not putting up a tree. I might put up other decorations and I might bring the little tree back from Disney. (I'm going to let DS10 decide whether to ship it home or pay it forward.) Christmas will be at SIL's this year.

I always try to get my shopping done by Dec 1 anyway so that's about on target. I've been shipping packages to SIL's so they don't come while I'm gone. I hate wrapping. I'll do that when I come back.

The thing I'll miss most is the sugar cookie tradition. But I just don't see that happening.

Actually, that's the primary reason we're trying to get as much done as possible before we leave next week:

Baking.

My wife bakes...and makes candy...like a fiend around the holidays. That's pretty much our "go to" gift for teachers, bus drivers, co-workers, etc. She makes 8+ kinds of cookies, 6 or 7 kinds of truffles, and usually a couple batches of peanut brittle and honeycomb. It's a spectacle...

And I am her loyal and dutiful assistant. Oh...and I make the peanut butter blossoms.

IF we can get the lions share of the rest of the holiday prep done...the 9 days after we get home should be enough to get all that done.

On the flip side, the house is going to smell AMAZING!

 

[Tltorrez]

Panicking a bit, but for a good reason, because

48 HOURS FROM NOW I'LL BE IN FLORIDA, PROBABLY WAITING FOR OR ALREADY ON DME!!!

Ok 48 hours is a very small number! That's making me excited!

 

[sunnysideup3]

48 hours from now (if you're thinking EST), we will have landed at MCO 15 min ago and are walking to DME!

 

[Tltorrez]

You know with our trip report thread we are going to start - we should have some contests.... Like best food porn pic, nicest CM, best Photobomb etc...

Great idea!

 

[mom2travel]

Well good thing I went in to the walk-in! Walked out with a prescription for a Z-pack.. I have bronchitis! Luckily I don't feel absolutely god-awful, and it's a 3 day super prescription, so I'll take the last one the morning we leave and pack the Robitussin with us. Glad I went in...it's better than getting sicker in Disney.

It sucks, because I've been helping my boss with her side cookie business for the holidays to earn some Disney money and I was supposed to work tonight, but I guess I need the rest/free time more.....

Glad you went in. Feel better soon!!!

 

[mom2travel]

You know with our trip report thread we are going to start - we should have some contests.... Like best food porn pic, nicest CM, best Photobomb etc...

Oooh, that sounds like fun!

 

[Valgoof]

I still won't shop til we get back - I'm the kind that loves to run round looking like this whilst muttering under my breath omg omg omg omg. I find that type of panic fun

So, not really scaling back, just panicking more.

I think we all would have been shocked if you had said all your shopping was done.

Panicking a bit, but for a good reason, because

48 HOURS FROM NOW I'LL BE IN FLORIDA, PROBABLY WAITING FOR OR ALREADY ON DME!!!

So excited for you and everyone going this week!!!!

Went online this morning to check shipping status and only one item is showing up on my order - out of 5. I spent the last 22 minutes on the phone with JCP and ended up being told "sorry, but looks like the other items fell off the order because they're not in stock" I said "but I have an order confirmation showing they were ordered??" She responded with, "well we must've ran out before that"... Everything ordered were Christmas gifts!

gina

That is awful! DH had the same thing happen with Toys R Us. They had video games for buy one, get one for a dollar. So great deal, right? But on Saturday he checked the order and they only showed one as shipping. So he called and they told him the same thing. They must have sold out before his shipped. One game at full price is not such a great deal.

Believe me, I know.

I was "randomly checked" FIVE times in the Vancouver airport in 2004. including my laptop got the super special swab, and my checked luggage got unpacked and repacked, AND sent down the "special" line. My carry ons were emptied. I myself was wanded 4 times at different parts of the airport - INCLUDING being pulled out of line as we were boarding! I was like seriously people, what could I POSSIBLY have at this point??!

And, I've been fortunate enough to get the full body "pat down" (lovely, let me tell you, she should have at least had to buy me a drink or dinner or something) b/c I forgot to take my sweatshirt off.

Hmm. Maybe hubby should bring the Santa presents.

Yes, thinking hubby should take the gifts and you take the kids.
I flew to Brazil in 2002 through Charlotte and Miami. On the way down AND back, I was pulled out of line at Charlotte for a random check.

I like your idea of downloading the movies - another thing to include, keeping in line with the germs - some cool Bath and Body Works hand sanitizers - in Christmas scents, of course!

Love the Christmas scents!! I have candy cane bliss and vanilla bean noel ready to pack. Yes, I just went and looked at them to get their exact names.

You know with our trip report thread we are going to start - we should have some contests.... Like best food porn pic, nicest CM, best Photobomb etc...

That should entertain us in Jan and Feb.

 

[mom2travel]

Actually, that's the primary reason we're trying to get as much done as possible before we leave next week:

Baking.

My wife bakes...and makes candy...like a fiend around the holidays. That's pretty much our "go to" gift for teachers, bus drivers, co-workers, etc. She makes 8+ kinds of cookies, 6 or 7 kinds of truffles, and usually a couple batches of peanut brittle and honeycomb. It's a spectacle...

And I am her loyal and dutiful assistant. Oh...and I make the peanut butter blossoms.

IF we can get the lions share of the rest of the holiday prep done...the 9 days after we get home should be enough to get all that done.

On the flip side, the house is going to smell AMAZING!

Sounds like my plan. Trying to get all the decorating done by this weekend so I can bake like a madwoman the weekend after we get back. Usually make 10-15 different kinds of cookies. DD & DH have already put in requests

 

[pilferk]

Love the Christmas scents!! I have candy cane bliss and vanilla bean noel ready to pack. Yes, I just went and looked at them to get their exact names.

We're packing some Fir scented Sensicles to hang around the room.

We hang them in the house, at Xmas time, because we do an artificial tree...and I miss the scent of a real tree. Unfortunately, a real tree means trying t extract the cat from the branches on a regular basis....something we seem to avoid with an artificial (with the help of a spray we found at Petco...which doesn't seem to work so well on real trees).