Originally Posted By sdlovesmickey I am feeling the urge to hop into my car and drive to the DLR right now (my trip is 43 days away)...since following through on that urge is out of the question I thought we could discuss the little rituals you and your family have to prepare for your trip/build up the excitement. I know we have discussed this at some point in time, but I am feeling nostalgic and needy so humor me! My DD (age 7) and I like to start "practicing walking" to get our legs ready for all the walking we are going to do in DLR. Of course we usually do this in preparation of our summer trips. We try to walk a few times a week for at least a month in advance. We also listen to our Disney CD and add things to our Disney box that we want to take on the trip. I try to purchase little surprises for her for the car and/or plane trip such as sticker books, etc. I usually start that several months ahead of time and then pull them out when we start the trip.
Originally Posted By crazycroc Yes, I have a ritual that I perform prior to my trips. About two weeks before we go, I start to stick a different sized needle into my eye every day, every four minutes to simulate hearing a new Hannah Montana song in the car.
Originally Posted By danyoung sd, I do a lot of the same things you do, especially the walking! I start training about 6 weeks out, and gradually increase my duration and frequency of walks. By park time I'm in MUCH better shape than normal! I also like to divide the week into parts, to make things seem to go by quicker. For instance, if I were planning to arrive in a Disney park 2 weeks from today (Monday), I'd call today 2 weeks out, Tuesday and Wednesday just under 2 weeks, Thursday and Friday a week & 1/2, Saturday and Sunday just over 1 week, and then Monday would be 1 week out. I used to start counting days about 2 months out, but that would be just plain silly.
Originally Posted By kari12177 I wear in my new tennys, and i now use gel-ins by dr scholls, they really do help, i make a ton of lists for all three of us, so i dont forget anything.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains I make cancelable reservations - then about two weeks out I start bidding on priceline for a better price (never more than $51 for a three star) 4 days before I am happy with my new priceline hotel and cancel first room - I do a bit of laundry - Night before I leave - throw clothes in suitcase throw bags in back of truck - Remind kids to charge their DS's and pick out a couple movies. Sleep - get up next morning leave stopping off at starbucks on the way out of town!!
Originally Posted By Main Street Dad Great topic. I'm on LP much more often when we get close to a trip. I also watch the vacation planning dvd a few times. Most of our "rituals" however are during the drive there. Leave early, fuel at the same places along the way. Lunch at the same restaraunt (Wendys in Evanston), admire the scenery and water falls through the canyon above Salt Lake, stop for the night in Primm. The biggest one is breakfast at the IHOP in Barstow on the second day of travel. I'm not exactly sure why that became a must, but it sure is... We're a strange bunch
Originally Posted By kari12177 Oh, I forgot, I have to get smashed before I get on the plane. I have a fear of flying, so its a big ritual.
Originally Posted By koolaidmom about 1 week before we leave, we start a staging area. Things we don't want to forget get put into the staging area. It makes it seem like the trip is real when we get to start doing this. We are going in 97 days.yippee
Originally Posted By Pollyana I get serious about the trip countdown page when I get into the teens. Tomorrow it will be 19 days to go. And when we get there, we have to do the Jungle Cruise first.
Originally Posted By disneylandfan8 Checklists for everyone!!!! We edit them and print them every time we go. I also start putting things in a big bag or suitcase so they won't be forgotten! And, I, too, read everything I can on LP before I go!!! Also check the Weather Channel right up to the last minute. Don't want any surprises!
Originally Posted By Pollyana Yea, I like to check the weather. Funny thing, when we lived in Seattle, we went to Dland to warm up. Now, we live in Phoenix and we go there to cool off.
Originally Posted By ShivaThDestroyer I never really thought about this one. Like Pollyana, I do the DL Trip Countdown and can't wait to mark off each day, I always try to wash the car the day before we leave and we have a certain Denny's Restaurant that we just have to stop at along the way. (2 former CM's also work there. There is also the Lebec rest stop on the Grapevine that we have to stop out, buy some gummy bears and take the same short walk before we get back in the car. Once we get to DL and pass through the turnstiles, we have to enter to Main Street using the right archway and when we leave on the last day it has to be on the opposite side...and last but not least, buy at least one new set of EARS!
Originally Posted By crazycroc We ride pirates of the caribbean last, and I say a silent secret prayer to Jesus about Walt Disney and hope that his soul is in heaven with the Christian/American equivalent of the 40 virgins. I hope he has a special place in heaven.
Originally Posted By crazycroc Sorry, I misread...that's what we do right before we leave and also I like to thank Walt silently in my head for making Disneyland. {if that makes sense, like I'm saying "Thank you" in my thoughts, but not outloud.}
Originally Posted By crazycroc But it's not like he's God or anything...just I dunno, I can't explain it. I know he can't hear me, but...if he could.
Originally Posted By danyoung >Once we get to DL and pass through the turnstiles, we have to enter to Main Street using the right archway...< WHATTT??? Are you INSANE??? Everybody knows that the proper way to enter DL on the first day is through the LEFT tunnel!!! Oh wait, that's just me . . . I have always said that my life has two states of being - outside a Disney park, and inside a Disney park. The demarcation is the turnstile. As I click through it, I click over to that fun state of being that I never seem to get enough of!
Originally Posted By ssturgeo I start my countdown clock as soon as my plane is booked...also a countdown in my cube for everyone at work to see...187 days now til DL, but only 179 til I fly out. I start a list of things I want to do while there....a packing list, which I keep on my computer and just update each trip; Make CM appreciation cards to take; get my "Mousekeeping" envelopes read, and before I leave put the tips in so I can just take them out of suitcase and leave them each morning; I print a blank calendar page for the month we are going and start filling in dining ressies, etc., as they are made; print out the DL website calendar for the month we are going, entertainment schedule, etc.; we always stop at the Fullerton Outlet store before checking into the hotel...hard to think of the rituals...they have become part of my life and I do them automatically! Sharon Next Trip Nov. 16-22
Originally Posted By SoThisIsLove <<Yes, I have a ritual that I perform prior to my trips. About two weeks before we go, I start to stick a different sized needle into my eye every day, every four minutes to simulate hearing a new Hannah Montana song in the car.>> crazycroc, you are hysterical. And, Walt knows all about you, I'm sure of it. So go ahead and thank him! Sharon: what's the CM appreciation cards? Could you tell us and I promise I won't steal your idea. I just think it's a terrific one! Pollyana: It's almost time! I'm soooo happy for you! Well...my tradition this time (so maybe it's not a tradition yet, huh?) is that I've kept the "ABC's 25 Days of Christmas" car scent thing hanging on my rearview mirror as a souvenir since my trip last November. The parking garage was handing them out and they had a heavenly vanilla scent to them. Now it's scentless, faded and quite strange-looking in the Arizona heat, but tough bones. There it shall stay until at least July 19th, when I return again for my triumphant one-day return. Second tradition that's not a tradition yet: hitting disneyshopping.com and buying clothes to wear. Third tradition: being on LP, watching ride videos on YouTube endlessly, printing out menus, maps, tips, pictures of LP'ers so I can memorize their names/faces (I'm so oldtimers, like that's gonna help!) That third one actually IS the one that can be legitimately called a "tradition". But admitting the first two ones were the sign that I need help and am getting to be more and more legitimate a fan every day. One more thing: it's always been the left tunnel for me. Until this last trip. Letting DH feel his way around...learning to feel his Disney groove, I let him lead the way...and yeah, he leans to the right. So....off we go! In September, we'll let the DD's lead us and we'll see who breaks the tie. xoxo
