faithgurl:

Hi,


I was planning a trip to orlando themeparks next year but I don't want to confine my trip only at themeparks. I was thinking of going other states as well, maybe new york etc. Anybody can advise how many days will be enough at orlando and any recommendations on other states? As I have not been to US before, I have totally no idea where to start and how to plan for a US trip. Can anyone advise? Thanks a lot!

We will be traveling to New York and Washington DC before flying to Orlando for theme parks. If you are not too much into theme park like us, I think 1 week is more than enough in Orlando I think. Depending on your budget, you decide on how many days you want to spend sightseeing in the other cities up north. We are spending 5 days in New York as there is alot to see and do there and 4 days in DC. Don't be too ambitious to cover too many cities.

In NY, we buy the NY Pass for 3 days and will get 7-day metro card to use the bus and subway. Try to stay in Manhattan where all the tourist attractions are. If you go in Nov/Dec, time your visit for the Christmas light up at Tmie Square. The tickets for going up to the Crown of Statue of Liberty is very popular and you have to book 4-6months in advance if possible. If you go in June holiday, you can travel up to Naigara Falls. You need 2 days for this trip and there are tours that take you there. You will have the option to enter Canada to see the Fall from the Canadian side. The Fall is open in Winter but our time is too squeezed to put in in the plan.

For DC, I am still planning. Perhaps after my trip, I can tell you more about all. NY is very cold in Dec, you can try to do earlier in Nov so you can do outdoor activities more comfortably.

NY and DC has a lot if museums and monument. I think it can be a bit boring for small children. If your kids are teen, should be okay.

tiredmama:

I am so stressed... all of you are booking already done with ADRs and have touring plans in mind... I have been so bz with my dad's illness and home stuff.. that all the planning has halted.. is it really too late to do any ADRs ? so many rest to choose from ??? we not into character dining... did that before at the LA Disneyland ... shd I still go for ADRs ? I think my FP window is not out yet... and I haven't done any planing for USS :-(((((

Anyone staying at wdw same time as me... will be onsite from 2nd Dec to 8th Dec (check-out)... keep all the good ideas coming... I will be referring to them when I have time !! Thanks

I also have not done much for ADR. We don't wish to be tied down by the restaurant booking times and locations. We will eat anything that is available nearby wherever we are. However, I will do a couple of booking to splurge a bit at those that have good food and ambience. My kids are pretty easy going and they don't mind eating hotdogs for lunch or just eat brunch to save time for rides.

We are all small eaters so I did not buy the meal plans. This way, we have a lot of flexibility. Can share food and safe money and get variety.

I leave most of the theme parks planning to 2 teens as I have to plan for sightseeing in New York City and Washington DC, spending 9 days there before flying down to Orlando. They are more excited about Universal Island Adventure's Harry Potter than Mickey at WDW but I still booked for the Mickey Very Merry Christmans Party just for the experience. Read there will be snow, cocoa and cookies and party last till 12 midnight. I hope they can tahan. We only do 2 parks at WDW as the kids want to go Busch Garden to try the latest and sickening Falcon Fury thrill ride.

For Universal, I book a Harry Potter exclusive vacation package. Dd is so excited about the breakfasts they inlcude at 3 Broomstick and Leaky Cauldron. Both want to skip lunch to eat all the HP special tit bits and snacks when there. Will be staying at Loews Pacific Resort. For WDW will stay at Port Orleans Riverside for the quiet romantic ambience.

lukemommy:

hi, I am also a SAHM with 2 kids, 1 boy 6yo and 1 girl 3yo, both born via C-section. Hubby wants 3 but I said impossible coz I was already 42 when gave birth to 2nd child...if my 1st child is a girl I would stop at 1 but the 1st child was a boy so took the risk to have 2nd one and luckily it's a girl Both fight day and night ! the girl is more gungho and daring than the brother.haha

I don't know what you mean by fighting day and night but it is important to help engineer ways in our family lives to help the siblings to build good relationship.

My ds and dd are very close. They go out for movies or go for nice meals together when they have time. They are 14 and 17 btw. When ds was in UK for his student field trip, he sent his sister postcards every other day and buy different stamp design to use for postage as his sister collects stamps. At this age, they still hug each other. Looking back, I think my effort to help them bond has bear fruit. It is important to start them very very young.

I have told my children, mom and dad's greatest gift for you is a loving relationship between them and providing you with a sanctuary to retreat to after a hard day's work outside of home. But your greatest gift back to us is to always love one another and help each other in need, then we will pass this life without having to worry about both of you.

sleepy:

I had cesarean. My gynae said not impossible but not advisable to have more than 2. So dh decisively stopped at 2.


I don't mind having 6 kids though

I also had 2 Caesarian . My gynae never told me to stop. Anyway we stopped because at that time DH and I were 100% independent parents. No help from extended family. It was tough but looking back we are happy we had no interference from relatives. We set up our family in the way we want, built our own family culture and values and because of this DH and I bonded deeply thru the hardship.

I always think not all parents are made equal. Some do have a much difficult time bringing up kids and hence may want to have fewer.

I was lucky, my 2 babies sleep thru the night type. They don't whine and both very easy to teach. I think God has helped me knowing we have no help from parents so give us 2 easy to handle kids. I wish I had 4. 2 girls and 2 boys is best. I still think it is good to have at least 2, either 2 girls or 1 boy 1 girl. Daughters are very important. When you have a daughter, you will get 1/2 a son :). But boy also important. Dad needs a boy to love and do guy things together.

Sel69:

As for airport transfer from MCO to USO, I booked with Happy Limo. I am travelling with my sister-in-law's family so we have a total of 9 pax. We booked a 10 pax van for USD91. So plus gratuity, it'll only cost us about USD10+ per pax. U may want to check them out. We got this from MouseSavers.

Where are you staying in WDW and USO?

Thanks! Will check out mousesavers.

Me too… Will be there around same time. But we go to New York City first, take Amtrack to Washington DC then fly to Orlando. My kids are keen to see the iconic places in East Coast.


We are flying by BA 1 stop at Heathrow. Return flight from Orlando has 11 hours stopover and must change from Gatwick to Heathrow airport so we plan to spend a few hours in London too, perhaps catch a Matinee for a musical at West End as it will be a Sunday.

I need airport transfer from MCO to Univseral Studio Resort. They charge $37 per head for taxi arrangement. Is it cheaper to just take taxi myself from airport?

RA is really for you only if you are crazy about the subject. For us, my daughter is applying for one RA and we encourage her because she has shown to have alot of passion in the subject and the subject teachers are also encouraging her to do so.


It is not difficult to tell if a child is passionate and talented in a subject. You can see her doing all sorts of things about the subject outside the school curriculum and she will talk about it alot.

For chicken stew recipe. I don’t have the script. It is all in my head and always changes as I use guesstimate. I will try to write them down next time and put photo here.

Gifts from Heaven:

Hi osim,
can share ur recipe for PC congee and chicken stew?
I've a tefal PC but I've never used it for cooking anything else except soup :roll: .

TIA.

Sure! Here's the recipe, I use more rice as the recipe seems a bit too little for my family of 4. Sorry, the cooking time is not 6 mins but 10 mins. I remember wrongly.

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zbear:

So what is the difference between a Pressure Cooker and Thermal Pot if both have the same functions?

Pressure cooker (PC) cooks food at pressure of 12-15 PSI (pounds per square inch). At that pressure, the steaming point of liquid is raised by about 20 deg Celsius so food can cook at a higher temperature of up to say 120 deg Celsius instead of the usual 100 deg. That is why it cook so fast.

From what I observe from my WMF PC, first the cooker bring the liquid inside the pot to 100deg with application of high heat, then steam is pushed out thru a valve and up to a certain point , I hear a click locking sound of the valve which means the inside is ready to build pressure. The pressure gauge will start to rise and when it reaches the pressure you want, you lower heat. From then on is the start of cooking time.

If you forget to lower heat and pressure keeps building inside pot, there is another safety valve near handle that will cause the steam to leave the pot to reduce pressure. Another safety feature is the steam will also release from side of lid in worse case scenario. But when steam is released from the safety valve, it makes a sound that gradually gets louder as more steam releases. The new generation of PC are safe to use but must go for reputable brands.