In the midst of trying to get ready to leave for our WDW vacation on Friday, I've had two sick girls. :( So please forgive me if I've been or will be a bit absent from the blogosphere this week. Which brings me to next week: we'll be at Disney! While I won't be posting here during our vacation, I do intend to tweet, so follow me @ValerieBGibbs for updates and photos. I also encourage you to enjoy these "best of" posts that give tips on how to pack and plan:

http://affordingthemouse.com/?p=4202 Trip Prep: Packing

http://affordingthemouse.com/?p=2527 How I Pack: What to Bring

http://affordingthemouse.com/?p=2530 How I Pack: Packing the Kids Clothes

http://affordingthemouse.com/?p=2538 How I Pack: the Disney Tub

http://affordingthemouse.com/?p=2548 How I Pack: Mou$elaneous Tips

http://affordingthemouse.com/?p=3962 What Goes into the Backpack

BTW, there are several important Disney "birthdays" being celebrated today--October 1. Most notably, Walt Disney World turns 42 today! (Have I mentioned that WDW opened just a week after my birth? Yep, so I pretty much just let the cat out of the bag on my own age.) Epcot turns 31 today. And, finally, the Caribbean Beach Resort is 25. (FYI, it also happens to be Julie Andrews and former President Jimmy Carter's birthdays.)