Newsies: From Scratch - May And September 2024! - UPDATE 4/21

[lindseyanne]

Ahhhhhhhhhhh, I used to lurk on your trip reports, I’m so glad you’re back!

 

[Newsies]

I like the travel journal that you used. Just enough room to jot down a few things to help you remember the day. Also glad you mentioned the new journal app for iPhone. That may come in handy for taking notes on the fly!
I used to use Passporter (which you are most likely way too young to know about, lol)
I really like a planner in which I can keep everything together in one place; printouts of reservations(for the trip down as well as while we’re there), receipts, etc., and I just can’t find anything that I like as much as I liked PassPorter. Heck, I can’t find much of anything at all!
So I’m thinking of just using some white out and reusing my PassPorter

I like the Erin Condren Petite Planner, too! Like you said, just enough room to jot a few quick notes. Excited to try the journal app if I don't have time to set it up, but I finally have a weekend coming up where I can just relax... so maybe I'll set up my Petite Planner this weekend!

It's so funny you mention Passporter, I just went down a rabbit hole about this company not too long ago... you are correct in that I was very young when Passporter was in its heyday but I approached their team to write an article about something on their website not too long before my first DCP started in 2016. Something triggered the memory of it a few weeks back and I couldn't remember the name of the company, eventually found Passporter's main website (which, as far as I can tell, is a time machine back to 2003) but their forum and the website where they posted articles is gone now. I bet the physical books were a crazy awesome resource before My Disney Experience!

Ahhhhhhhhhhh, I used to lurk on your trip reports, I’m so glad you’re back!

This is absolutely too sweet Thank you so much for commenting, you just made my day! So nice to see you here. Hope you're doing well!

 

[rdkeim]

I'm mostly a lurker but wanted to say I'm enjoying reading about your plans. It sounds like a wonderful trip! May is one of my favorite times to be in WDW. Love all the personalized souvenirs you have your eye on. And the eats! I hope the Poly is a better experience this time around. Your trip is right around the corner!

 

[elsbit]

Ooh I like all the little extra purchase ideas you have found! Now I want to do some of them Turns out we will be at some of the same parks at the end of your trip! Maybe I will see you in the fancy birthday ears.

 

[Newsies]

I'm mostly a lurker but wanted to say I'm enjoying reading about your plans. It sounds like a wonderful trip! May is one of my favorite times to be in WDW. Love all the personalized souvenirs you have your eye on. And the eats! I hope the Poly is a better experience this time around. Your trip is right around the corner!

Hey hey, thanks for commenting! Glad you're enjoying the report so far We are so very excited for this trip and appreciate all the well wishes!

Ooh I like all the little extra purchase ideas you have found! Now I want to do some of them Turns out we will be at some of the same parks at the end of your trip! Maybe I will see you in the fancy birthday ears.

So epic that we're going to be there around the same time!!!! Maybe we'll run into each other!!!

 

[Mollydolly334]

I never knew about the embroidered tote bags!!! How fun!!

 

[Newsies]

I never knew about the embroidered tote bags!!! How fun!!

Omg. Are your ears ringing right now? I'm about to update this PTR and I just typed out your username because I'm mentioning you in the post

Yes!!! I just found out about the tote bag hack and I need to come home with one!

 

[Newsies]

Everything I Watch Before I Visit WDW
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Hello hello! @Mollydolly334 had an amazing post in her current PTR (which you should all definitely read) a few months back about different music that reminds her of Walt Disney World and I thought it was a really epic post. It got me thinking about how I hype myself up for different Disney trips and the memory lanes I go down every time I try to get in the Disney spirit. The way I do that is by watching different movies and TV shows! I noticed last year that I have a pretty specific time frame for watching these movies and I've always wondered why. I'll break it down for you!

A Month Before

The Tigger Movie

This is SUCH a classic "scroll-through-DIS-while-a-movie-plays-in-the-background" movie for me. I watched this ALL the time when I was little, I think this was my first ever "favorite movie." I swear I wore this VHS tape out from watching it so much. It's so adorable! It's just so comforting and the music is so catchy, and anything Pooh related reminds me of Crystal Palace and our 2014 trip for some reason. Anyway, now that I can revisit it on Disney+, this is a good movie to just have on the background while I scroll through New Posts OR revisit some of my old favorite TRs.

Ratatouille

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Okay... it's a BIT of a cheat to put this on this list because the truth is, I watch at least part of this movie almost every Sunday now I know I sound crazy but let me just explain. I'm on a journey of learning to love to cook and meal prepping every Sunday. I spend a good chunk of my Sunday morning/afternoon in the kitchen now, brewing up a creation that I found on Pinterest that looks good enough to eat for lunch three days in a row. So it feels like I'm learning everything alongside Remy -- how to prepare and cook meat, how to season certain dishes, how to be creative and feel inspired! And watching Ratatouille has really helped me grow as a cook in the past few months. It's quickly becoming my favorite Pixar film.

But to be fair, I also watch Ratatouille a lot before my Disney trips just to get excited for Remy's Ratatouille Adventure and the tres chic new Ratatouille expansion in Epcot. And it's one of Grace's favorites, too, so sometimes she'll watch it with me.

Any and Every Princess Movie

Given that the princesses have such a huge presence at WDW, it's not shocking that each Princess triggers a different happy memory I have at the Parks, especially at Magic Kingdom. Beauty and the Beast always evokes happy memories of drinking LeFou's Brew at Gaston's Tavern and watching the Beauty and the Beast show at Hollywood Studios. My entire 2014 trip was centered around Frozen on the heels of its epic 2013 release. And I think I've watched Princess and the Frog three times since they announced Tiana's Bayou Adventure will be opening this summer.

The Week Before

A Goofy Movie

Despite the fact that this movie doesn't really have a presence in the Parks, I always watch this movie before we leave for Walt Disney World. When I was growing up, this movie was one of the most accessible Disney movies for me. In that awkward spot between the creation of the Disney Vault and the rise of Streaming, A Goofy Movie was one of 5 or 6 movies that Disney Channel actually played in between reruns of Suite Life of Zach and Cody and Phineas and Ferb. In fact, they played A Goofy Movie pretty frequently in the summertime, so I have great memories of coming inside for dinner after a long day of playing outside and this being on TV while my sister and I ate in the living room. This was especially true in the summer of 2010, ahead of our very first Disney vacation -- I always remember watching this movie a few times after coming home from summer camp and anxiously awaiting our vacation!

Peter Pan

I think many of you know that I have a very, very storied history with Peter Pan. Around the time I became a super hardcore Walt Disney World fan in high school, I was all about Peter Pan -- it was my favorite movie, Peter Pan's Flight was my favorite ride, and Peter Pan was my favorite character to meet in the Park. The artwork and aesthetic just spoke to me, for whatever reason. Then, in 2016, I completed my dream of doing the DCP, where I was cast -- by chance -- as an attractions hostess at Peter Pan's Flight/it's a small world. While that DCP changed my relationship with the movie (and the ride, lol), I now have an incredible soft spot for Peter Pan. I don't watch it all the time anymore, but when I do watch it, it's because I'm getting ready to head back to my favorite place on earth and take flight on Peter Pan's Flight again

Lilo and Stitch

Should be REQUIRED watching for every single person visiting Disney's Polynesian Village Resort. I watch this every single time my family is scheduled to stay at the Poly without fail. How could you watch this movie and NOT be excited for Dole Whips, 'Ohana breakfasts, and walking around the Lava Pool?

The Night Before

A MARATHON of ALL MY FAVORITE RETRO DISNEY TV SPECIALS!

Above everything in this world, there are certain TV specials that remind me of when I was little and I literally dreamed of going to Walt Disney World. I think my obsession with visiting the Parks was jumpstarted when I first saw the Unwrapped special where they visit WDW. And I remember running into the TV room whenever Roseanne or Full House was on in hopes that it was the episode where they visited Disney. And above all: I still remember the 2000 VHS tape of the Disney Planning Video that I watched on repeat at my grandma's house and in my family car's portable VHS player.

So now, mere hours before we visit Walt Disney World, I light a Polynesian scented candle, wrap myself up in a blanket on the couch, and marathon the following -- usually in this order:

My Dream Walt Disney World Vacation 2000 - InteractiveWDW
Unwrapped: Disney Delights (currently offline and looking for anywhere that has it!)
Roseanne S8 E17: We're Going to Disney World
Roseanne S8 E18: Disney World War II
Full House S6 E23: The House Meets the Mouse: Part I
Full House S6 E24: The House Meets the Mouse: Part II
​

And usually, if there's time... I'll start Lilo and Stitch again, for good measure, until dad wakes up and tells us it's time to go

Am I the only crazy person that has a list of Disney movies/TV shows that they watch almost religiously before every trip?

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[Mollydolly334]

LOVE the shoutout Thank you so much!!

And YES I definitely have a little routine of things I like to watch as well!!! What a great post!!

1. I always try to watch both the Full House and Boy Meets World WDW episodes a couple days before the trip. I also always watch Lilo and Stitch before vacations in general (it applies to both Disney and Hawaii so I’ve watched it like 5 times in the past 2 years ).

2. I also try to re-watch my favorite Disney vlogs (Bosox2001, Jade Billington, and Jeff Smith on YouTube) as well as Stacey’s Must-Do Disney and “Disney Hype” Resort TV/the old DME videos on YouTube!

3. Finally, I also like to watch specific movies on the plane. I download my “comfort movies” from Disney + to watch on my iPad, which are: Mary Poppins/Saving Mr. Banks, The Parent Trap, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, and The Princess Diaries! These are just my feel-good movies that get me into vacation mode!

 

[Newsies]

LOVE the shoutout Thank you so much!!

And YES I definitely have a little routine of things I like to watch as well!!! What a great post!!

1. I always try to watch both the Full House and Boy Meets World WDW episodes a couple days before the trip. I also always watch Lilo and Stitch before vacations in general (it applies to both Disney and Hawaii so I’ve watched it like 5 times in the past 2 years ).

2. I also try to re-watch my favorite Disney vlogs (Bosox2001, Jade Billington, and Jeff Smith on YouTube) as well as Stacey’s Must-Do Disney and “Disney Hype” Resort TV/the old DME videos on YouTube!

3. Finally, I also like to watch specific movies on the plane. I download my “comfort movies” from Disney + to watch on my iPad, which are: Mary Poppins/Saving Mr. Banks, The Parent Trap, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, and The Princess Diaries! These are just my feel-good movies that get me into vacation mode!

You are very welcome, you are crushing it on your PTR!!! Have to catch up ASAP.

Amazing picks for pre-vacation watching. I just watched the BMW episode for the first time last year! BMW wasn't a show I watched as a kid (), but last year my friend shamed me into starting it on Disney+. I put it down at the beginning of S4 for some reason. Don't know why, I really liked it... I should pick it up again!

You have the BEST comfort movies. Parent Trap, Lizzie McGuire, Princess Diaries are all in my top 5 favorite live action Disney Movies. The other two are Freaky Friday and Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen!

 

[Mollydolly334]

You are very welcome, you are crushing it on your PTR!!! Have to catch up ASAP.

Amazing picks for pre-vacation watching. I just watched the BMW episode for the first time last year! BMW wasn't a show I watched as a kid (), but last year my friend shamed me into starting it on Disney+. I put it down at the beginning of S4 for some reason. Don't know why, I really liked it... I should pick it up again!

You have the BEST comfort movies. Parent Trap, Lizzie McGuire, Princess Diaries are all in my top 5 favorite live action Disney Movies. The other two are Freaky Friday and Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen!

Ahhh, see, I think that was your error!!! I LOVE BMW, but only from season 4 onward I think it was still really corny and they were still trying to find their footing in the first couple seasons. If you liked the first few seasons, you'll really love the later ones! The character development gets really good as they get into high school and the humor becomes more refined/mature, with some actual adult issues added in there too!!

YESSS Freaky Friday I love that one too! That was a fixation movie for me- it came out when I was in 4th grade; I must have watched that movie at least once a week for a full year!! Lindsay Lohan was the QUEEN of that era.

 

[Newsies]

Ahhh, see, I think that was your error!!! I LOVE BMW, but only from season 4 onward I think it was still really corny and they were still trying to find their footing in the first couple seasons. If you liked the first few seasons, you'll really love the later ones! The character development gets really good as they get into high school and the humor becomes more refined/mature, with some actual adult issues added in there too!!

OKAY... you convinced me... going to pick up BMW while I catch up on your PTR and write my next update here!!!

YESSS Freaky Friday I love that one too! That was a fixation movie for me- it came out when I was in 4th grade; I must have watched that movie at least once a week for a full year!! Lindsay Lohan was the QUEEN of that era.

She really was just the undisputed queen of movies in the early 00s!!! Get a Clue, Parent Trap, Mean Girls, Freaky Friday, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, JUST MY LUCK... so many classics. It's her, Anne Hathaway, and Hilary Duff as the reigning queens of cinema forever.

 

[Newsies]

Let's Get Physical

Yes, in the wise words of Olivia Newton-John:

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This is going to be a slightly more personal update than I've posted before in this thread. Maybe more personal than I've ever gone on DISboards, not to be dramatic, but want to talk about my health and some recent changes I've made in my life and how Disney has motivated me to stay consistent with them.

It all started last year when I found a new primary care doctor. I was sick and tired of feeling sick and tired, and after several (failed) attempts at gym programs and diets, I wanted to see what a professional would have to say about helping me lose some weight. We did blood tests. We tried different rounds of medication. We did MORE blood tests. We saw a few different specialists. But at the end of it, when nothing was working, she referred me to begin a weight management program in network that was run by other doctors. I was on the waitlist for a few months, then back in the first week of March, I had my first appointment with program!

I was nervous to go to my first appointment with each of them, but I couldn't be happier with how things are going so far. There are three different people in my corner in this program: a doctor (who I see monthly) to handle medication and other treatment options, a dietician (who I see every two weeks) to keep me accountable for diet choices and nutrition, and a lifestyle coach (also every two weeks) that keeps me accountable for meal prepping and fitness goals. They have all been great -- really, they've been my biggest cheerleaders throughout all of this and celebrating all of the different wins I've made in progress towards my goals. I'm not tracking weight, but I am tracking the various changes I've made in my life. Some of them have been pretty big.

At the beginning of the program, the doctor prescribed a medication that has been absolutely transformative in my life -- it's been a huge help in suppressing my appetite and has even changed my appetite re: the foods I crave and the foods I enjoy eating. That means it's been keeping me focused and motivated on my lifestyle goals in the way I haven't been during other programs.

Here are the lifestyle goals I started with at the beginning of March:

1. Drink a protein shake for breakfast every morning I didn't think I would be able to do this, but I've had a Fairlife Nutrition Shake every morning since I started in March and I feel like it's been the foundation of all the changes I've made. This helped me break the biggest cycle I wanted to break: waking up in the morning and immediately running out to grab a donut/bagel and an iced latte for breakfast. Sometimes, I still reach for a pastry or a whole wheat bagel with peanut butter in the morning -- but only when I really want it and after I've had my protein shake! These protein shakes (and I think my medication) have also helped me get used to the taste of sugar substitutes. I don't drink soda every day, but now I can drink a Diet Coke without gagging, and when I get coffee before heading into the office, I can drink sugar free vanilla instead of caramel and use a bit of my protein shake as a creamer substitute and I feel great.​
2. Meal prepping the first few days of my week I talked about this in my last update! This helps me save a few dollars off of DoorDashing lunch at work (most of my office does this), and it gives me a few days of clean eating. I cook a protein, a starch, and a vegetable every Sunday to have for lunch Mon-Wed. I've had so much fun learning how to cook different foods and exploring different cuisines I haven't tried in the past.​
3. Walking at least 20 minutes every day This brings us to the status of this update!​

My lifestyle coach encouraged me to walk 20 minutes every single day at the beginning of March and that sounded like a really, really good idea to me -- not just for the benefits it would have on me long term, but for the benefits it would have on me when I went to Walt Disney World!

Obviously... the biggest challenge I have when touring WDW is the amount of walking I have to do every day. By day 3 or 4, my legs and feet are absolutely screaming and I have to spend more time at the pool, less time at the Parks. I always tell myself that I'm going to ramp up my walking a month or two before I head to the Parks so I can start training my body, but I seldom do it. I've been going on my cute little walks around the neighborhood every day since March now and I've seen so many positive impacts on my health: I'm sleeping better, I have more energy, I'm all around happier!

Then on Thursday, at my latest meeting with my lifestyle coach... she encouraged me to walk 40 minutes a day/10,000 steps instead of my normal 20 minutes.

Okay... so that is still a drop in the bucket compared to a day at Walt Disney World. But! It's still a challenge for me... a challenge that I'm totally up to.

Friday morning was beautiful, so I woke up bright and early, 6:30 am, and immediately went outside to listen to Taylor Swift's new album and go on my first ever 40 minute walk. I did great! I did the same thing today around the same time, and I'll do the same thing tomorrow.

Yesterday, I didn't go on a 40 minute walk, but... I did stand in line for 3.5 hours for Record Store Day at my local Record Store Record Store Day is a special day every year where local record stores will get limited quantities of special edition records that are manufactured just for this day. I got in line too late and didn't get anything I really wanted -- there was a really cool picture disc of Rumours by Fleetwood Mac, Noah Kahan/Olivia Rodrigo had a 7" disc of Stick Season/Lacy -- but I did get both of the Rolling Stones releases, a special Wallows release, and a variant of Taylor Swift's new album that I don't already have on Vinyl, which technically wasn't a special release itself, but it did come with a special postcard you could only get yesterday.

After waking up early again to stand in a line for a few hours, I had a big headache, so I was down for the count for the rest of the day. Around 3 PM I woke up again and went out with my family. My dad and I have both been talking about getting new sneakers for Walt Disney World, so we went to a special local running shop where we went through a fancy fitting process and I walked away with my first pair of fancy running sneakers!

This is the HOKA Clifton 9:

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This is an awesome little shoe!!! I had seen a couple of my fav Disney TikTokers posting about HOKA, so the brand had piqued my interest before yesterday, but I couldn't believe how great they felt in the store and this morning when I broke them in on my walk. I shelled out a ridiculous amount of money on them, yes, but it was money well spent IMO -- I know these are going to be awesome shoes to have when I'm running between Toy Story Land and Sunset Boulevard in four weeks!

That's it for this post. Maybe more personal than I typically share with the DIS -- but I'm just excited that my legs are hurting now versus a month from now when I'm trying to get the most out of my favorite place on earth!

 

[Paulaparm]

Good for you!
It’s hard to start but so worth it! I’ve also started eating right and working out and am pleased with my results and more importantly feel better!
I wanted to tell you that I found an indoor walking program on YouTube that I really like. Just search walk at home if you’re interested
I saw those FairLife shakes at Walmart today and thought I might try them. I love their chocolate milk so thought they might be good for a quick breakfast.
And…why is it so expensive to eat healthy??? We are cutting down on the carbs, as that is what works for us. Looking for some snacks today and they are just ridiculously priced!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

The extra walking will definitely help your legs at Disney!!

I’ve always worked out during various programs on Beachbody and now my Peloton but never a big walker. Well in 2020 we got a dog and I started walking her daily for at least 30 minutes and sometimes 2 walks a day.

Let me tell you. I could REALLY feel the difference on my 2022 trip. Yes my legs were achy at times after walking 30k steps some days but nothing like the previous trip in 2018. And that’s with me just about to turn 40 right after that 2022 trip and being a few pounds heavier than the previous trip.

Congrats on your lifestyle changes and feeling better overall!

 

[elsbit]

I am also on a health journey. I drink a fairlife protein shake every morning but I like to heat it up so it's just like hot chocolate. I heat it for a minute and a half in the microwave and then I add two teaspoons of benefiber so I get some extra fiber.

 

[piglet1979]

You are doing awesome. This will defiantly help in Disney.

 

[Newsies]

Good for you!
It’s hard to start but so worth it! I’ve also started eating right and working out and am pleased with my results and more importantly feel better!

You are the best! I'm so happy we're in this together. You're doing great and I'm glad you feel better, that's so important!

I wanted to tell you that I found an indoor walking program on YouTube that I really like. Just search walk at home if you’re interested

THANK YOU thank you thank you! Just looked this up -- finding that I have a hard time getting my steps in when I'm WFH versus in the office, so this is super helpful!

I saw those FairLife shakes at Walmart today and thought I might try them. I love their chocolate milk so thought they might be good for a quick breakfast.

They're the only ones I've ever tried that don't taste like sludge. When my coach first told me she wanted me to drink them I was like but I'm super glad I listened to her!

And…why is it so expensive to eat healthy??? We are cutting down on the carbs, as that is what works for us. Looking for some snacks today and they are just ridiculously priced!

Omg. This. An 8-pack of the Fairlife shakes is $36 on Amazon. It's so expensive to eat right!!!

The extra walking will definitely help your legs at Disney!!

Thank you -- I hope so!!

I’ve always worked out during various programs on Beachbody and now my Peloton but never a big walker. Well in 2020 we got a dog and I started walking her daily for at least 30 minutes and sometimes 2 walks a day.

Let me tell you. I could REALLY feel the difference on my 2022 trip. Yes my legs were achy at times after walking 30k steps some days but nothing like the previous trip in 2018. And that’s with me just about to turn 40 right after that 2022 trip and being a few pounds heavier than the previous trip.

Congrats on your lifestyle changes and feeling better overall!

THANK YOU for sharing your story with me and for the words of encouragement! I tried what was supposed to be the best fitness and diet program in NJ, and while the community was super encouraging and positive, I just couldn't get into the program like that. I'm seeing more success just popping in my earbuds and taking a few walks around the block until I close my rings for the day. I'm so relieved to hear that getting into a walking routine with your dog was able to help you enjoy WDW better -- I really appreciate you sharing this with me! You rock.

I am also on a health journey. I drink a fairlife protein shake every morning but I like to heat it up so it's just like hot chocolate. I heat it for a minute and a half in the microwave and then I add two teaspoons of benefiber so I get some extra fiber.

You're doing great!!! That sounds like such a good idea... I'm usually a mix-my-vanilla-shake-with-a-plain-iced-coffee girl, but I gotta try heating up my chocolate shake now! I'll let you know how I like it, thank you for sharing!

You are doing awesome. This will defiantly help in Disney.

THANK YOU for the support! I appreciate this so much. You're awesome!

 

[elsbit]

The fairlife shakes are also sold at Sams Club and Costco!

 

[Newsies]

The fairlife shakes are also sold at Sams Club and Costco!

Thank you!!! We don't have a Sams Club near me but next time my family does a Costco run I'll check!