Showing posts with label blogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogs. Show all posts

Monday, February 25, 2013

Getting There is Half the Fun


Ok, maybe not actually getting there- but the planning is a big part of any trip to WDW. As with many fans, it first started long ago, while getting ready for one of my first trips. What? I have to make restaurant reservations ahead of time if I want to eat in the parks? Huh…ok, I’ll look into that. A few quick internet searches later had me gulping and wondering what I had gotten myself into. I had no idea about the depth and breadth of planning resources available online. I dove in and read everything I could get my hands on, and the rest, as they say, is history. I quickly realized that for me- getting ready for a trip is almost as much fun as the trip itself. Disney plusses the magic by providing great resources on all aspects of trip preparation.  Along with Disney’s main website, they also offer the Disney Parks Mom’s Panel, a great resource with a panel of experts ready to answer any and all planning questions. In addition to the official Disney sites, there are countless forums, blogs, and websites to aid in planning. I’ve made some great connections in the Disney blogosphere and twitterverse, and I’m always amazed at the generosity and support in the Disney fandom. Whatever kind of information or planning help you’re looking for- it’s out there! A blogroll sharing some of these helpful sites is in the works for my sidebar.

As of this writing, I am four days out from what will likely be my last trip to WDW for a while. This is a short trip- just four days- but I plan to make the absolute most out of it! I’d show you my spreadsheet, planning lists, ADR chart, and time schedules, but I think I might scare you away…

Instead, I’ll show you something I find invaluable. As I start my packing, I have to to put a plug in for something that changed my travel system in a profound and positive way: packing cubes. It's hard to explain how & why they’re so great, but they make it easy to pack and super easy to keep organized. They are zippered pouches, in various sizes, that go right into your luggage. Everything stays where it should, and they allow me to pack much more in a small space than I'm able to without them. Oh, but whatever you're thinking about them right now- they're WAY better than that. A review I once read about them sums up my feelings well: I used to think, “what could I possibly need these for”? Then I tried them, and now I think, “I can’t believe I used to pack like a caveman”.  

Try them, and you’ll see what I mean…

Have you ever used packing cubes?

(No disclosure necessary- I'm just a big fan!)