janiebegood
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2008
For the past four years or so, my DH and I have planned to make a special, once-in-a-lifetime trip to Hawaii to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary -- New Year's Eve 2008. I made reservations for a beachfront efficiency on Maui and checked into some touring options. All that remained was purchasing plane tickets.
Ten months prior to our departure, I went online to search for decent flight options. Two hours later, in tears, I drove up to our local AAA office, plopped myself in a chair and sniffed, "HELP! I can't find any flights to Maui for less than $1,700!" Two MORE hours later, even Stacy, my sweet AAA travel agent, was getting a little weepy. Nothing. Nada. Terrible prices, terrible schedules. We were looking at spending a minimum of $5,000 just on airfare, and then still had to pay for that beachfront efficiency, a rental car, all our meals and any touring we wanted to do.
Time for Plan B! We found that for less than half the cost of that Maui trip, we could go to Disney World -- at holiday season rates -- for four nights, including a theme-park view room at the Polynesian, airfare, park hopper tickets and Disney Dining Plan. We could fly direct, stay in the same time zone, and have access to a superior child activity center for our DD so we could celebrate our anniversary with a special grown-ups-only dinner.
Now, any time I add something to our trip, usually in the form of something I've bought that the DIS boards have convinced me I can't live without, my DH says, "Is it still less than it costs to go to Hawaii? Okay."
While many of you are on a quest for the perfect Disney vacation, I hold no such illusions. The only perfect trip is the one in my mind, where the crowds are manageable, the weather is delightful, and I manage to enjoy a leisurely meal at Coral Reef with an ADR time of 7:40 PM and still make it to the World Showcase in time for IllumiNations at 9 PM. See? It's a perfect fantasy.
In this fantasy, my DD (who will have just turned 7) is the even-tempered, cooperative, lovely child that she is 90% of the time, and my DH, Disney curmudgeon that he is, gets so heavily sprinkled with pixie dust that he sneezes convulsively for the first hour, then enjoys himself immensely.
Part of this fantasy also includes that most elusive of treasures -- The Perfect Disney Bag. It's not too small. It's not too big. It's comfortable yet stylish. It's easy to get into, yet secure from pickpockets. It has a place for everything, yet doesn't get in the way on rides. It's lightweight AND sturdy; it's well-constructed AND reasonably priced.
So far, I can mostly show you what is NOT The Perfect Disney Bag.
Too Small:
Baggallini Wallet.Bagg (Small):
http://www.ebags.com/baggallini/wallet_bagg_small_microfiber/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=5790
Sherpani Cres:
http://www.ebags.com/sherpani/cres_08/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=109294
Classic Cotton Vera Bradley Hipster ("old" style): http://www.ebags.com/vera_bradley/hipster_new_colors/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=118196
Too Big:
Microfiber Vera Bradley Hipster: http://www.ebags.com/vera_bradley/hipster/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=109506
Sherpani Vida: http://www.ebags.com/sherpani/vida/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=82452
(In the Vida's defense, this is the bag I carry every day, and I'll be taking it on vacation, so it could still get some play -- much depends on the weather. If I need a pocket umbrella and an extra layer of polar fleece, I give the edge to the Vida).
Close, But Not PERFECT:
Everest Waist Pouch: http://www.amazon.com/Fanny-Phone-P...bbs_5?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1218906267&sr=8-5
Pluses: The price is right -- $8.95. I like the idea of wearing all my stuff instead of carrying it. It actually holds all my crap and still has room leftover. It's got outside pockets for cell phone and KTTW.
Minuses: It's a flippin' fanny pack. And the latch only works in one direction -- if you fasten the latch backwards because you accidentally twisted the strap, it's darn near impossible to open. I had ordered a small one for my DD to wear, but she fastened it the wrong way the first time she tried it on and I thought she might still be wearing it when she left for college -- that's how hard it was to get undone. We've moved on to a more forgiving product for her.
Undaunted, I have now ordered this:
Heys USA TravelMate: http://www.ebags.com/heys_usa/travelmate_reg/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=97266
I ordered it in gray, figuring I could con my DH into wearing it if necessary. I'll keep you posted as the quest continues!
UPDATE (August 25): Well, the Heys TravelMate is nice...but not The One. The flap drove me nuts. It felt like cracking a safe just to get to my chapstick. Back it goes!
UPDATE: Vera Bradley has re-styled the Hipster! I exchanged the Microfiber Hipster for a Classic Cotton Hipster in the new style. I got Caffe Latte. The re-design is much more Disney-friendly, since it includes two secure outside pockets (one with a zip, one with a snap), plus three slip-in pockets on the interior. One is even wide enough for my glasses case! Yay!
Here's the link to the re-styled VB Hipster: http://www.verabradley.com/Site/Store/ProductDetail.aspx?Sku=10447&
----------------------------------------------------------
Additional Posts:
1) "Our ADRs -- Sheer Dumb Luck? Or Pixie Fairy Intervention?"
Click here: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=26962944&postcount=4
2) "Why You See 'ARMED NATIVE' bumper-stickers in Orlando"
Click here: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=26977470&postcount=15
Ten months prior to our departure, I went online to search for decent flight options. Two hours later, in tears, I drove up to our local AAA office, plopped myself in a chair and sniffed, "HELP! I can't find any flights to Maui for less than $1,700!" Two MORE hours later, even Stacy, my sweet AAA travel agent, was getting a little weepy. Nothing. Nada. Terrible prices, terrible schedules. We were looking at spending a minimum of $5,000 just on airfare, and then still had to pay for that beachfront efficiency, a rental car, all our meals and any touring we wanted to do.
Time for Plan B! We found that for less than half the cost of that Maui trip, we could go to Disney World -- at holiday season rates -- for four nights, including a theme-park view room at the Polynesian, airfare, park hopper tickets and Disney Dining Plan. We could fly direct, stay in the same time zone, and have access to a superior child activity center for our DD so we could celebrate our anniversary with a special grown-ups-only dinner.
Now, any time I add something to our trip, usually in the form of something I've bought that the DIS boards have convinced me I can't live without, my DH says, "Is it still less than it costs to go to Hawaii? Okay."
While many of you are on a quest for the perfect Disney vacation, I hold no such illusions. The only perfect trip is the one in my mind, where the crowds are manageable, the weather is delightful, and I manage to enjoy a leisurely meal at Coral Reef with an ADR time of 7:40 PM and still make it to the World Showcase in time for IllumiNations at 9 PM. See? It's a perfect fantasy.
In this fantasy, my DD (who will have just turned 7) is the even-tempered, cooperative, lovely child that she is 90% of the time, and my DH, Disney curmudgeon that he is, gets so heavily sprinkled with pixie dust that he sneezes convulsively for the first hour, then enjoys himself immensely.
Part of this fantasy also includes that most elusive of treasures -- The Perfect Disney Bag. It's not too small. It's not too big. It's comfortable yet stylish. It's easy to get into, yet secure from pickpockets. It has a place for everything, yet doesn't get in the way on rides. It's lightweight AND sturdy; it's well-constructed AND reasonably priced.
So far, I can mostly show you what is NOT The Perfect Disney Bag.
Too Small:
Baggallini Wallet.Bagg (Small):
http://www.ebags.com/baggallini/wallet_bagg_small_microfiber/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=5790
Sherpani Cres:
http://www.ebags.com/sherpani/cres_08/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=109294
Classic Cotton Vera Bradley Hipster ("old" style): http://www.ebags.com/vera_bradley/hipster_new_colors/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=118196
Too Big:
Microfiber Vera Bradley Hipster: http://www.ebags.com/vera_bradley/hipster/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=109506
Sherpani Vida: http://www.ebags.com/sherpani/vida/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=82452
(In the Vida's defense, this is the bag I carry every day, and I'll be taking it on vacation, so it could still get some play -- much depends on the weather. If I need a pocket umbrella and an extra layer of polar fleece, I give the edge to the Vida).
Close, But Not PERFECT:
Everest Waist Pouch: http://www.amazon.com/Fanny-Phone-P...bbs_5?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1218906267&sr=8-5
Pluses: The price is right -- $8.95. I like the idea of wearing all my stuff instead of carrying it. It actually holds all my crap and still has room leftover. It's got outside pockets for cell phone and KTTW.
Minuses: It's a flippin' fanny pack. And the latch only works in one direction -- if you fasten the latch backwards because you accidentally twisted the strap, it's darn near impossible to open. I had ordered a small one for my DD to wear, but she fastened it the wrong way the first time she tried it on and I thought she might still be wearing it when she left for college -- that's how hard it was to get undone. We've moved on to a more forgiving product for her.
Undaunted, I have now ordered this:
Heys USA TravelMate: http://www.ebags.com/heys_usa/travelmate_reg/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=97266
I ordered it in gray, figuring I could con my DH into wearing it if necessary. I'll keep you posted as the quest continues!
UPDATE (August 25): Well, the Heys TravelMate is nice...but not The One. The flap drove me nuts. It felt like cracking a safe just to get to my chapstick. Back it goes!
UPDATE: Vera Bradley has re-styled the Hipster! I exchanged the Microfiber Hipster for a Classic Cotton Hipster in the new style. I got Caffe Latte. The re-design is much more Disney-friendly, since it includes two secure outside pockets (one with a zip, one with a snap), plus three slip-in pockets on the interior. One is even wide enough for my glasses case! Yay!
Here's the link to the re-styled VB Hipster: http://www.verabradley.com/Site/Store/ProductDetail.aspx?Sku=10447&
----------------------------------------------------------
Additional Posts:
1) "Our ADRs -- Sheer Dumb Luck? Or Pixie Fairy Intervention?"
Click here: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=26962944&postcount=4
2) "Why You See 'ARMED NATIVE' bumper-stickers in Orlando"
Click here: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=26977470&postcount=15