The "Yeah, I'm famous, I'm on Youtube!" report-Opinions needed 2/22

[Hedy]

So today was the day of the obligatory Target and Dollar Tree trip. It was very successful (I did Mom’s stocking/St. Nicholas Day shopping as well, and I picked up part of YoungerNephew’s Xmas present just in case I don’t see anything for him in WDW). At Dollar Tree, I got a copious amount of glow stuff. I figure what I don’t use in WDW I can use on NYE with the boys…right? Except for the fact we don’t have them booked yet…oh well. I also picked up some light up Xmas pins for Mom and I to wear on our trip. I was kind of disappointed, other people on the boards had reported getting Disney Xmas window clings there but I didn’t see any Disney ones-I guess I’ll just have LGMH’s on my window.
At Target, I got a lot of toiletries, and travel sized stuff. I have Gold Bond Powder, generic Benadryl cream and generic calamine lotion-can you tell I’m trying to fight getting heat rash again? I also have Airborne, and some Christmas stuff. I opted to get a Christmassy sweatshirt or T-shirt at WDW rather than Target. I also picked up moleskin and blister band-aids. My cool locking pin backs also came today.
I made my mousekeeping envelopes today. Yippie!
We watched the Travel Channel WDW show this week. It was very helpful to my planning. I learned Mom wants to see HM and POTC (which I knew), I also got her excited about Philharmagic. She’s not dying to go on Soarin’ again, which is good because I was worried about it since we’re going to Epcot in the afternoon. She also wants to go on Kali River Rapids if it’s not too cold, which surprised me-I didn’t think she liked it that much (I thought she liked Soarin’ better than Kali, if that makes any sense).
To-Do
*Go to Dollar tree-get glow jewelry -check!
*Book Mom’s rental car-check[
*Book Mom’s Key West hotel-check
*Fill out Passporter-Check
*Cashout for last SR rewards before I go-check, and I even got an extra one in thanks to Crazy Credits last week.
*Order Disney Rewards Card-Done!
Before December 1:
*Soak LGMH’s
*Get covers to stick on LGMH’s and ADR list, and maybe clingy window stuff
*Decorate Mousekeeping envelopes-They’re blah, but done
*Buy M&M tubes done
*Buy spray sunscreen-may be procured, thanks to Abbybeth
*Get things for MamaKat’s St. Nicholas Day presents-done
*Soak pennies

Rash-fighting, blister-fighting, little flashlight and light up pin.

Glow stuff!

 

[abbybeth]

a package was sent out to you today! let me know when it arrives!

 

[jordanyosh]

Nice. I LOVE buying sundries for my trip. It's a rush.

I do have to comment on the statement about non Veggie choices at AK. I too am bummed about that. They had a great Grilled Veggie Sandwich on Foccacia bread at the Tusker House, but it's a buffet now so...

 

[Hedy]

Oh, look, I've become banal daily updates pre-trip report girl. I studied WDW Poly Princess' TR's today at work though, so one can hope I'll improve (plus, I'm going to DollarTree and Target this weekend, so at least I'll have new stuff to take pictures of at that time).

Anyway, the menu for Yaking Yeti, I mean, Yak and Yeti is up, and I am underwhelmed (I didn't really see any veggie options, why the AK is the least veggie friendly park I will never know). Ergo, my Monday plan looks like this:
Monday, December 10
EMH at AK. Ride EE, grab Kali fast passes. Ride Safari. Ride Kali. Hang out in DinoLand. Grab snack. Look at animals. See Parade. Head to MGM. Grab fast pass for RnR or ToT. Eat at ABC Commissary. See Fantasmic. See Osboune Lights. Go back to POFQ. Grab snack at POFQ.

In other news, now that I'm taking my tour, it looks like I may not be using one park day on my 8 day park hopper. I'm considering adding to expiration to my ticket because of that, plus I would then have 5 plus options left, enabling me to buy straight park hoppers for my next trip (plus I'd have my 3 day park hopper from this package).

Oh, the best laid plan of mice and men....
I logged onto AllEars today because I'm entering their Illumination Viewing contest. I noticed that the menu for Tusker House was up. I figured I might as well check it out, why not. Hmm...miniBoma....sounds good. Unlike Yaking Yeti, they have a whole vegetarian section.
So anyway, I cancelled my Asherkus ADR, and will instead be going to Tusker House for lunch on my AK/MGM day.

 

[KathyRN137]

If you like to talk to tomatoes,
If a squash can make you smile,
If you like to walk with potatoes,
Up and down the produce aisle,

...have we got a meal for you!!

(Freely adapted from the Vegggie Tales theme song.)

Glad you found a place to graze in Africa....

Kathy

 

[Hedy]

If you like to talk to tomatoes,
If a squash can make you smile,
If you like to walk with potatoes,
Up and down the produce aisle,

...have we got a meal for you!!

(Freely adapted from the Vegggie Tales theme song.)

Glad you found a place to graze in Africa....

Kathy

Thank you!

 

[Hedy]

Two Weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Two weeks from right now, I'll be in the Magic Kingdom.

I trust you all had a good Thanksgiving? I did, thank you for asking.

Nothing much new on the trip planning front, save that I think I've figured out my packing strategy. I'm taking my big purple suitcase (checked), then I'm carrying on my small purple suitcase and my messenger bag with laptop. I may also pack a small duffle bag in my big suitcase just in case. I got some TSA locks at the mall last weekend (forgot to get them at Target) I'm packing my LL Bean purse in my small suitcase, and I'm also bringing my Sunshine Rewards string backpack.

I'm also making a things to buy list:
First day, as soon as I get into the magic kingdom or at Jackson Square Gifts: Pressed penny book, new autograph book, and a seasonal hat* (I'm flipflopping between Mickey, Minnie, Tink, and Princess). I am such a grown up.
Other times on the trip:
Christmas shirt of some sort
Perhaps something for YoungerNephew, unless I decide I like what I've gotten him already more than what I see
Grab bag from $10 store from ElderNephew
Christmas present for person I have in brother/in-law draw
Something for daughter of mom's friend's upcoming baby (they don't know what gender it is, so I'm thinking something other than Mickey ears)
Antenna toppers, as I now have a car which requires some
License plate frame
And you know there will be other stuff
*Which reminds me, if you were my lavender Red Sox hat, where would you be? I have my back up Tink hat, but I'll miss my Sox hat if I can't find it. It's become a running gag on the Jellyrolls meet thread that we're wearing Sox or Pats stuff, as a disproportionate amount of us are from MA.-ETA: Found-it was zipped in my messenger bag from when I was last in NYC...yes, I'm that girl who wears her Sox cap around NYC.

 

[jordanyosh]

Two Weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Two weeks from right now, I'll be in the Magic Kingdom.

I trust you all had a good Thanksgiving? I did, thank you for asking.

Nothing much new on the trip planning front, save that I think I've figured out my packing strategy. I'm taking my big purple suitcase (checked), then I'm carrying on my small purple suitcase and my messenger bag with laptop. I may also pack a small duffle bag in my big suitcase just in case. I got some TSA locks at the mall last weekend (forgot to get them at Target) I'm packing my LL Bean purse in my small suitcase, and I'm also bringing my Sunshine Rewards string backpack.

I'm also making a things to buy list:
First day, as soon as I get into the magic kingdom or at Jackson Square Gifts: Pressed penny book, new autograph book, and a seasonal hat* (I'm flipflopping between Mickey, Minnie, Tink, and Princess). I am such a grown up.
Other times on the trip:
Christmas shirt of some sort
Perhaps something for YoungerNephew, unless I decide I like what I've gotten him already more than what I see
Grab bag from $10 store from ElderNephew
Christmas present for person I have in brother/in-law draw
Something for daughter of mom's friend's upcoming baby (they don't know what gender it is, so I'm thinking something other than Mickey ears)
Antenna toppers, as I now have a car which requires some
License plate frame
And you know there will be other stuff
*Which reminds me, if you were my lavender Red Sox hat, where would you be? I have my back up Tink hat, but I'll miss my Sox hat if I can't find it. It's become a running gag on the Jellyrolls meet thread that we're wearing Sox or Pats stuff, as a disproportionate amount of us are from MA.-ETA: Found-it was zipped in my messenger bag from when I was last in NYC...yes, I'm that girl who wears her Sox cap around NYC.

That's alot of bags...Can I call you the WDW bag lady?

When I went to WDW/DCL in Dec 05, alot of the stuff I bought for people doubled as Xmas gifts.

 

[Hedy]

That's alot of bags...Can I call you the WDW bag lady?

When I went to WDW/DCL in Dec 05, alot of the stuff I bought for people doubled as Xmas gifts.

Heck, I'm the everywhere bag lady.

I'd been planning to do more shopping down there, but then I started to worry that I wouldn't find stuff that people would like down there, plus waiting to finish my shopping until mid-December would drive me nuts. I figure YoungerNephew should be easy, as well as my exchange person.

 

[KathyRN137]

I'd been planning to do more shopping down there, but then I started to worry that I wouldn't find stuff that people would like down there, plus waiting to finish my shopping until mid-December would drive me nuts.

Well, you could always try to do as much of it as you can before you leave and "wrap things up", so to speak, when you get to WDW!

I agree with you... I would be too nervous to plan on doing too much Christmas shopping while I was there.... too much pressure!

You're getting close now!!

Kathy

 

[Hedy]

Today I was again reminded why the DIS impresses me. As those of you who have been subjected to my to do lists have known, I needed to buy spray sunscreen. A couple of weeks ago, Abbybeth PM’d me and said she and her parents had some left over, would I like it? I said I would, thank you. Two bottles arrived today. : :

This sort of thing is what continuously wows and impresses me about the DIS. I’ve been engaging in various internet communities for years (I’ve had some sort of blog since 1999). The DIS has got to be one of the most caring ones I’ve seen.

In other news, my JetBlue rate dropped another $40. I was happy with what I paid in May (around $320 round-trip, MA to FL in December was ok by me.) However, the $90 I have in JetBlue credit will be put to good use, I anticipate.

 

[disneygirlinnj]

Ohhhhh just caught up on the whole trip report...have a great time!! haha..my mom is the same way 'what do you want to do mom?' 'ohhh i don't know... you decide' 'do you want to see the Christmas lights?' 'oh sure...that sounds fun'...haha!

 

[jordanyosh]

10 more days. wow.

 

[quiltymom]

Hey Heather --

I just read your report. If I were you I'd be bouncing off every wall in the house! The last week and a half just fly by...

If you haven't cleaned your pennies yet, after trying many, many variations on a theme, here's what has worked best for me: Barkeeper's Friend. I put a bunch in a small bowl, add just enough water to make it a runny paste, and let them soak in that for a while. Then just rub the pennies between your fingers for a bit and most of the gunk will be off.

Also I found that the Self Seal wallet card-size laminating pouches by GBC (Purchased at Office Depot) worked wonderful for the LGMH's. I made a bunch with regular non-heat laminating film, and I was not happy with the results. This new stuff is thick enough to keep from tearing, a definite bonus. I just punched a threading hole at the top and was good to go.

What fun to be doing a solo trip. I wouldn't mind doing one myself sometime, but I know the kids wouldn't dream of letting me go alone. Do anything you want - don't worry if you'll be the only adult. Heck - Disney turns all of us into little kids!

I can't wait to hear how your trip goes. Have a blast!

 

[Hedy]

Hey Heather --

I just read your report. If I were you I'd be bouncing off every wall in the house! The last week and a half just fly by...

If you haven't cleaned your pennies yet, after trying many, many variations on a theme, here's what has worked best for me: Barkeeper's Friend. I put a bunch in a small bowl, add just enough water to make it a runny paste, and let them soak in that for a while. Then just rub the pennies between your fingers for a bit and most of the gunk will be off.

Also I found that the Self Seal wallet card-size laminating pouches by GBC (Purchased at Office Depot) worked wonderful for the LGMH's. I made a bunch with regular non-heat laminating film, and I was not happy with the results. This new stuff is thick enough to keep from tearing, a definite bonus. I just punched a threading hole at the top and was good to go.

What fun to be doing a solo trip. I wouldn't mind doing one myself sometime, but I know the kids wouldn't dream of letting me go alone. Do anything you want - don't worry if you'll be the only adult. Heck - Disney turns all of us into little kids!

I can't wait to hear how your trip goes. Have a blast!

Thank you! I think I'm leaning towards vinegar, as I have it in the house. I checked out my options for laminating my LGMH's earlier this week, but I decided packing tape was the most economical option.

 

[jordanyosh]

Nine more days!!!!!!​

 

[Hedy]

I was going to do a YouTube link to Papelbon's ALCS dance, but I can't find any with DIS appropraite comments.
Can I get a...single digit dance? It's crazy, for months I've been saying "Once x happens, I'll be that much closer to WDW," and suddenly the last few things (memorial mass, MD appt.) are coming up! I'm planning on doing a crazy run through the Ultimate packing checklist on Saturday, plus soaking my LGMH's and pennies.
I'm planning on having:
a dole whip
MK popcorn
school bread
bengeits
a Mickey ice cream cone

Any other must haves?

 

[jordanyosh]

a turkey leg

Do you like hummus? Tangierine Cafe has some good hummus.....

 

[disneygirlinnj]

a churro!

 

[Hedy]

a churro!

I'll have to try one....I think I had one at that *other* Orlando park, but not at WDW

a turkey leg

Do you like hummus? Tangierine Cafe has some good hummus.....

LOL. I'll have to try the hummus.


Weather.com is going to be the death of me. I checked the forecast yesterday, and it was predicting rain in Boston, which doesn't help much with the parking vs. taxi airport dilemma. I checked it this morning, and it was predicting snow for Saturday. Nooooooooo! Now it's predicting partly cloudy. I'm breathing for now. It's scheduled to thunder in Orlando on Sunday, but I'll live.

In other news, I watched the two specials on the Travel Channel this week-I wasn't wowed by either, but that's JMO.